Chekhov's Attitude to Romantic Love Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chekhov's Attitude to Romantic Love - Essay Example Conversely, Dimitry’s â€Å"an absence of emotional involvement† is short-lived due to Anna’s â€Å"unquestioning love†, which gave him the confidence to dispel his â€Å"egocentricity† (Llewellyn 884). Yes. This is evident in the account’s unfolding circumstances whereby at the onset of the illicit affair, they seem much engraved into the humanity’s nature. For instance, Dimitry’s â€Å"an absence of emotional involvement† which slowly changes due to Anna’s â€Å"unquestioning† affection towards him (Llewellyn 883). Besides, Anna’s unique character and love towards Dimitry utterly changes his long held perception towards the female gender (Llewellyn 884). Love has the power to conquer diverse and numerous circumstances due to its unique force. For instance, Dimitry’s affair with Anna changes his perception regarding normal life’s material wealth and his associates, which he thought they were of considerable essence before their encounter (Llewellyn 884). The text also contends love is a â€Å"force for good† whereby those who embrace or employ it as necessitated alter their varied circumstances, which may seem t o challenge them (Llewellyn

Civil Rights Movement Was Slow Between 1955-68 Essay Example for Free

Civil Rights Movement Was Slow Between 1955-68 Essay Explain why the civil rights movement was slow between 1955-68 The civil rights movement was slow between 1955-68 for multiple reasons, these being the falling out of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King along with the Civil rights groups splitting and changing their tactics between violent protest or peaceful protest which consequently lead to them being less effective. Also Presidential action could be said to be lacking therefor acts to improve civil rights weren’t passed or were unaffected. One reason that the civil rights movement was slow was due to Eisenhower’s stance on the topic during his presidency (1953-1961). Eisenhower believed that the position of the black people would improve of its own accord over time. In this sense he did not think that it was the government’s job to improve conditions for black people. We can see this form his reaction in regards to Little rock campaign and his reluctance to become involved with it. This is a reason why the civil rights movement was slow because the president was unwilling to pass civil rights laws to change the situation of the blacks due to his belief that it would change in their favour in time. Also because of conflict between Malcolm and King the two main black men that were leading the campaign the African Americans were side tracked, essentially forgetting their main aim; racial equality. Malcolm X was very critical of Martin Luther King calling him the â€Å"Twentieth century Uncle Tom† and banding around rumours that he was being paid by the white government to preach Christian love and forgiveness which was all in aid of preventing the black people from effectively fighting for their freedom. This conflict would not achieve anything for the black power movement because it could potentially divide public opinion. People who supported King may have lost some faith if they believed there could be any truth that he was really working with the white American government, whereas the camp who were following X may have felt a sense of divide between them and the people who liked Kings ideals. The reason why this wasn’t going to help the black power movement is that the African Americans needed to fight together to gain equality but their fight was being split into their fight for this and for who’s leader was strongest. A final reason as to why the progress for civil rights was slow was because the civil right groups split and were no longer co-operating with each other. CORE and the SNCC took a stance closer to that of X’s beliefs. They became more violent unlike the NAACP who stuck to  peaceful protest. The problem that this created the civil rights movement is that they are now sending the government mixed messages and are not helping their cause. Also staging violent protest didn’t seem any way near as effective. Because the government and the media generally seemed weighted to the whites side, violence of black was blown out of proportion and shown as propaganda as to why the blacks shouldn’t have power on equal terms with whites. This would mean that blacks wouldn’t be taking steps on the right direction because they would be setting themselves up for a fall in public opinion, something which needed to be on their side for them to gain equality. In conclusion the civil right gains between 1955-68 were slow due to the fact that there was conflict between the blacks who were fighting over the best way to gain their goal when there focus should have been solely on trying to get this goal. They were side tracked and this proved detrimental giving their reputation further dents, even if there are minor positives amidst the movement along with the fact that the resident weren’t too focused on helping the civil rights movement.

The success of starbuck

The success of starbuck Terms Of Reference This report was commissioned to examine the use of the marketing mix and the contribution of the design function in the success of Starbuck. This report is presented to Dr. Daniel Wade Clarke and the due date is 22nd February 2010. Recommendations are provided in the end. Procedure Organisations own literature has been used in this report. Online textbook and newspapers has been followed to complete this project report.   Nature Of The Organisation Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 15,000 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim wherever there is a demand for great coffee. In 1970 the first Starbucks was open. The name comes from Herman Melvilles Moby Dick, a classic American novel about the 19th century whaling industry. The seafaring name seems appropriate for a store that imports the worlds finest coffees to the cold, thirsty people of Seattle. In May 1998, Starbucks successfully entered the European market through its acquisition of 65 Seattle Coffee Company stores in the UK. The two companies shared a common culture, focussing on a great commitment to customised coffee, similar company values and a mutual respect for people and the environment. (Source www.starbucks.co.uk ) Marketing Mix And NPDs Relation To Starbucks? The marketing mix concept is one of the core concepts of marketing theory. According to Rafiq and Ahmed (1995, p.4) that in recent years, the popular version of this concept McCarthys (1964) 4Ps (product, price, promotion and place) has increasingly come under attack in different marketing contexts. Because 4Ps do not take sufficient account of people, process and physical evidence in service marketing. In particular Booms and Biters (1981) extension of the 4Ps framework to include process, physical evidence and participants, has gained widespread acceptance in the services marketing literature. Furthermore Jobber (2004, p.21) adds to this â€Å" In services ,people often are the service itself; the process or how the service is delivered to the customer is usually a key part of the service, and the physical evidence should be considered as a separate element in the services marketing mix†. Nevertheless, there is no absolute reason why these extensions cannot be incorporated w ithin the 4Ps framework. The elements of the marketing mix are the followings; (1) Product (2) Price (3) Place (4) Promotion (5) People (6) Processes (7) Physical Evidence Product The Product decision involves deciding what goods or services should be offered to a group of customers. Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.25) state that â€Å"it is about not only what to make, but when to make it, how to make it, and how to ensure that it has a long and profitable life†. Clearly product is the important element any company will needs to consider product features/ benefits, branding, packing and after-sales service after its development. Coffee is at the heart of Starbucks history. Starbucks sample coffees from around the world more than 150,000 cups a year. Coffee is the core product of Starbucks as defined by Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.268) â€Å"core product represents the heart of the product, the main reason for its existence and purchase†. It is coffee which provides the functional or psychological definition of Starbucks towards its customers. Below is the diagram of Strategic thrust model, which is effective in marketing planning. Starbucks is using two marketing strategies towards their products.   First one is Product development and second is Market development. According to Jobber (2004, p.47) that product development involves improving current products or developing new products for current markets. As we know Starbucks offer convenience and non durable products in the form of coffee, when it comes to product development they are continuously differentiating their product (coffee) in the form of mild, smooth and bold categories, which increases their product line although their core product is the same. Starbucks also offer merchandise and gifts and fresh food just to increase their product range or product mix for the competitive market. This type of newness can be called new to the company, a significant innovation for the market. Furthermore Jobber (2004, p.47) also explains market development when current products are sold in new markets. This may involve moving into new geographical markets, as Starbucks has done moving into European market segments. But sometimes thes e strategies can be costly for example they have divided their coffee into three categories and they are getting their product from different regions which can be more costly then the product itself. Guardian (18th February 2009) reported that in the second half of 2008 Britain and the US fell into recession because of the credit crunch, but that so many other countries tumbled in even quicker. Germanys economy contracted by 2.1% in the fourth quarter of year 2008, Italys by 1.8%, Britains by 1.5% and Frances by 1.2%. All are significant, the worst for decades and worse than the USs 0.9% fall in the same period. Starbucks seems heavily exposed in countries such as Britain and the US, where consumer confidence and spending have shrivelled. But it also has plenty of stores across mainland Europe so no doubt they have experienced a cooling off in demand as cash-strapped consumers opts for cheaper drinks. Price Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.392) explains price in a more interesting way according to them â€Å"price might seem to be the least complicated and perhaps the least interesting element of the marketing mix, not having the tangibility of the product, the glamour of advertising of the atmosphere of retailing†. Price however, play a very important role in the lives of both marketers and customers, and deserves as much strategic consideration as any other marketing tool because of it company receives some units for the actual product or service which is being marketed.   Starbucks main competitors are Costa coffee and Caffe Nero to compete with them Starbucks applies competition based pricing strategy. According to Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.452) its very dangerous setting prices without knowing what is happening in the market, particularly with respect to ones competitors. There are two aspect of competition that influence an organisations pricing. The first is the structure of the market and the second is products perceived value in the market. When a product is more differentiated then its competitors product the more autonomy the organisation has in pricing it. Hence Starbucks has a range of different product they have slight advantage over their competitors and for that reason buyers come to value its unique benefits. However sometimes setting a high price then your competitors is not a good tactics. According to Times (24th July 2008) Starbucks is peddling the worst coffee at the highest prices according to a survey of the big three coffee houses on Britains high streets. The Which? Magazine survey that choosing the worlds largest coffee chain (Starbucks) instead of an independent shop for your cappuccino three mornings a week will cost you  £126 a year. Coffee Prices Starbucks Medium cappuccino  £2.29; single espresso  £1.40 Costa Coffee Medium cappuccino  £2.27; single espresso  £1.33 Caffe Nero Medium cappuccino  £1.80; single espresso  £1.25 Clearly setting high prices will not only effect Starbucks position in the market but also it will result a down turn in the demand curve. In another example The Observer (18th October 2009) reveals that at Starbucks, a slice of chocolate cake costs  £2.30 and a small English breakfast tea is  £1.40. But a pack of four cupcakes costs  £2.99 from Marks Spencer and a box of 80 Fairtrade Extra Strong tea bags is  £1.89. So clearly it is not only the core product which is expensive but also the other product range as well. Place According to Jobber (2004, p.634) â€Å"product need to e available in adequate quantities, in convenient locations and at times when customers want to buy them†. Producing products that customers want, pricing them correctly and after that made them available, is necessary for any business. But for that accurate channel strategy is very important for any business. Starbucks has their own of distribution channel. A channel of distribution is very important element. All products whether they are consumer, industrial goods or services require a channel of distribution. Starbucks apply consumer channel strategy in which producers have a direct contact to consumer. According to Jobber (2004, p.637) producer use this strategy to cut out the distribution profit margin. The consumer and manufacturer deal directly with each other. Direct selling is more effective then involvement of a distributor. The following present direct supply channel or producer direct to consumer. Starbucks has more than 15,000 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim. Starbucks has coffee stores in every part of the UK. Guardian (21st January 2010) reveals that Starbucks UK management reckons that the chain will end the year 2010 back above 700 stores compare to its current 661 stores. However intensive distribution of the product (Starbucks stores) is not a good strategy because Starbucks has to compete in all sorts of markets in the same time, which is very costly in the current economic climate. The second most important thing, which is Starbuck lacking, is the franchisees. According to Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.473) â€Å"A franchisee holds a contract to supply and market a product or service to the design or blueprint of the franchisor (the owner or originator of the product or service)†. Starbucks want to expand their business in the whole word a franchisee will be best available solution for them. McDon alds is an indication of the level of detail covered by a franchise agreement then why Starbucks are not following the same path as their other companies are following. National or regional advertising in addition to any undertaken by the franchisee can play an important role in building a stronger system brand identity. Promotion According to Jobber (2004, p.18) promotional mix involve advertising, personal selling, sales promotions, public relations, direct marketing, and internet and online promotion. By which we can easily made aware the target audience of the existence of a product or service, and the benefits it confers to the customers. Marketing communication is a very important element; no organisation can afford either the financial or reputational damage caused by poorly planned or implemented communication campaigns. Starbucks use all of the promotional mix ingredients to target their audience they made good use of internet and online promotion. They target their audience through social networking website such as FaceBook and Twitter. They also use YouTube for their promotion and other social campaigns. Starbucks is also using social and cultural aspect of the environment for their sale promotions and public relations. Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.587) explains that â€Å"Social and cultural a spects of the environment will mostly have an impact on the message element of communication†. According to Guardian (2nd September 2009) Starbucks has launched a multimillion-pound ad campaign promoting its ethical values as it makes the vast majority of its UK coffee Fairtrade. Clearly they are using a social issue to make public relation with their target audience, and also Shared Planet (Guardian 2008) the Starbucks initiative launched in year 2008. Its a collection of goals, by 2015 they promise to have all their coffee ethically sourced and all their cups recyclable. Starbucks is using these issues to defend their selves against the environmental campaigners. According to Guardian (2nd September 2009) at Starbucks millions of litres of water are wasted in its coffee shops every day, contradicting its much-boasted green credentials. An investigation by the Sun revealed that over 23.4m litres of water are poured down the drains of 10,000 outlets worldwide due to a policy of keeping a tap running non-stop; Which is totally unfair because on oneside Starbucks run its campaign to save the earth and on the other side they are doing things which are against their campaign. People Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.28) describes that services often depends on people to perform them, creating and delivering the product as the customer waits.   It is dependent upon people and interaction between people. Rafiq and Ahmed (1995, p.7) adds that â€Å"Marketing managers therefore need to manage not only the service provider-customer interface but also the actions of other customers†. For example, the number, type and behaviour of people will partly determine the enjoyment of a meal at a Starbucks coffee store. Therefore observation of everything in the surrounding of stores environment is very important for any organisations. Especially it is more important for Starbucks because they are their own producer and retailer so anything lacking in the consumer attraction can easily put a bad image on Starbucks brand name. If there is any need for training it will be the best solution for getting service delivery from employees. Processes Processes are all the administrative and bureaucratic functions of the organisation. In the process mechanisms there are flows of activities by which services are acquired. Marketers, therefore, have to ensure that customers understand the process of acquiring a service (Rafiq and Ahmed, 1995, p.7). Performance of the product can be separated from the customer but on the other hand, the customer cannot be separated from an experience good. Therefore his degree of involvement in the process of interaction is always high towards the final product (Moorthi, 2002, p.266). Adding to this by Brassington and Pettitt (2003, p.28) marketer also has to think carefully about how the service is delivered, and what quality controls can be built in so that the customer can be confident that they know what to expect each time they consume the service product. In Starbucks there are number of process mechanisms, which involve customer serving, telephonic customer services, online shopping, and Starbucks reward card. Well designed processes are needed as the service is delivered to ensure that the customer gets through with minimum fuss and delay and that all elements of the services are properly delivered. Process is all about quality improvement of any service which Starbucks provide. Physical Evidence   Physical evidence in the Booms and Bitner framework refers to the environment in which the service is delivered and any tangible goods that facilitate the performance and communication of the service. Physical evidence is important because customers use tangible clues to assess the quality of service provided (Rafiq and Ahmed, 1995, p.7). The physical environment itself is instrumental in customers assessment of the quality and level of service they can expect, for example in Starbucks stores. In fact, the physical environment is part of the product itself. The need for offering physical evidence is high. In the case of Starbucks the intangible (Service delivery) comes first and the tangible (final product coffee) later. Newness of the environment (Starbucks Stores) can also have a positive effect on customers purchase decision. Starbucks announcement to redesign its stores in UK will put a positive effect on their brand name as well as their customer involvement (Guardian October 20 09). Conclusion Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 15,000 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim wherever there is a demand for great coffee. Starbucks exclusively divided their product in to three categories, which increases their product line, Starbucks also offer merchandise and gifts and fresh food just to increase their product range or product mix for the competitive market. This type of newness can be called new to the company, a significant innovation for the market. Starbucks is also involved into new geographical markets, as Starbucks has done in Europe moving into new market segments. But sometimes these strategies can be costly. Starbucks apply competition based pricing strategy. Hence Starbucks has a range of different product they have slight advantage over their competitors and for that reason buyers come to value its unique benefits. Starbucks is peddling the worst coffee at the highest prices according to a survey of the big three coffee houses on Britains high streets. Starbucks has their own of distribution channel. However intensive distribution of the product (Starbucks stores) is not a good strategy because Starbucks has to compete in all sorts of markets in the same time, which is very costly in the current economic climate. National or regional advertising in addition to any undertaken by the franchisee can play an important role in building a stronger system brand identity. Starbucks use all of the promotional mix ingredients to target their audience they made good use of internet and online promotion. Starbucks is also using social and cultural aspect of the environment for their sale promotions and public relations. Starbucks is using these issues to defend their selves against the environmental campaigners. Starbucks needs to focus on their because they are their own producer and retailer so anything lacking in the consumer attraction can easily put a bad image on Starbucks brand name. If there is any need for training it will be the best solution for getting service delivery from employees. Starbucks needs continuous improvement of their processes mechanism. Physical evidence is important because customers use tangible clues to assess the quality of service provided. Starbucks announcement to redesign its stores in UK is good strategy which will put a positive effect on their brand name as well as their customer involvement. References Booms, B.H. and Bitner, M.J. (1981), â€Å"Marketing strategies and organization structures for service firms†, in Donnelly, J.H. and George, W.R. (Eds), Marketing of Services, American Marketing Association, Chicago, IL, pp. 47-51 [Accessed: 20/02/2010] Brassington, F. and Pettitt, S. (2003) Principles and Practice of Marketing: 3rd Edition: Pearson Education Limited [Accessed: 17/02/2010] Jobber, D. (2004) Principles and Practice of Marketing: 4th Edition: McGraw-Hill International (UK) Limited [Accessed: 17/02/2010] Kotler, P. (2003) Marketing Management 11th Edition: Pearson Education Limited [Accessed: 17/02/2010] Moorthi, Y.L.R. (2002), â€Å"An approach to branding services†, Journal of Services Marketing, Vol.16 (3), pp.259-274 [Accessed: 21/02/2010] Rafiq, M. and Ahmed, P.K. (1995), â€Å"Using the 7Ps as a generic marketing mix: an exploratory survey of UK and European marketing academics†, Marketing Intelligence Planning, Vol. 13 (9), pp. 4-15 [Accessed: 17/02/2010] The Story of Starbucks [online] http://starbucks.co.uk/en-GB/_About+Starbucks/ [Accessed: 15/02/10] Times Online, (24th January 2008) Best coffee on high street? Not Starbucks by Nico Hines [on-line] http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3245914.ece [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Guardian, (6th October 2008) Starbucks wastes millions of litres of water a day by Angela Balakrishnan [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/oct/06/water.drought [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Guardian, (5th October 2008) Starbucks to redesign shops [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2009/sep/18/starbucks-rebrand-branding-coffee [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Guardian, (November 2008) Regular or decaf ? America decides [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2008/nov/04/foodanddrink1 [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Guardian, (18th February 2009) Starbucks row: Its off the boil almost everywhere by Ashley Seager [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/feb/18/starbucks-britain-failing-economy [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Guardian, (2nd September 2009) Starbucks ads trumpet Fairtrade move by Mark Sweney [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/sep/02/starbucks-fairtrade-advertising [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Observer, (18th October 2009) Dinner party too costly ? Let them eat cake by Huma Qureshi [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/oct/19/dinner-party-costly-eat-cake [Accessed: 18/02/2010] The Guardian, (21st January 2010) Starbucks legend delivers recovery by thinking smaller by David Teather [on-line] http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jan/21/starbucks-howard-schultz [Accessed: 18/02/2010]

Challenges of Small Businesses :: Essays Papers

Challenges of Small Businesses Growth in the small and medium business in Canada and other developed countries has been very significant. This sector of the business community now represents about 40 percent of GDP and accounts more than half of total employment. Today small businesses are more diverse and more vigorous than ever, but they also faces newer and more challenges or inhibitors to their growth than their older conter parts. This research will attempt to find the answer to the following hypothetical question: "What are the barrier to entry, inhibitors to growth, and detriments to the health of small business and entrepreneurship today?" Access to capital and credit at various stages in the business life cycle is identified as the major hurdle by the entrepreneurs. For many small firms and most start-ups, the personal funds of the business owners and entrepreneur and those of relatives and acquaintances constitute as the major source of capital. For many small businesses, especially during the early years of their operation, credit is simply not available. For many others, the limited available credit is not through bank loans. Due to this many of them rely on multiple credit card balances and home equity loans as major sources of credit for start-up firm. Because banks are bound by laws and regulations to prudent lending standards that require them a risk management assessment for each loan made. These regulations were made more vigor during the late 1980'' and early 1990 . Banks always found that lending to manufacturing firm with hard asset such as property, equipment, and inventory has always been easier than lending to today's expanding service sector firms. Because the service sector firms own few hard asses, therefor lending judgment have to be based in terms of character, markets, and cashflow, which make it difficult to the bank to meet the regulations for the approval of the loan. Additional, the banking industry, as well as the entire financial sector of the economy, is undergoing rapid change. In the future banking industry will be divided into global, national and super-regional banks and a much smaller number of community banks. It is expected of these banks primarily super regional banks and community banks will extend their services to the needs smaller business through large loan processing centers utilizing credit-scoring techniques and "intelligent models" (artificial intelligence-derived computer-based models) .

Portfolio Management and Strategic Management Paper Essay

The portfolio management concept is critical to supporting an organization’s mission and goals. Portfolio management will determine which projects will be pursued when the budget or resources are limited. Organizations sometimes find that they have many projects they would like to complete but there will be times that it is not possible. Portfolio management will review the projects that not only are being worked on but also review any possible pending projects and determine if there is money and resources to continue. They will then prioritize projects and eliminate any that are determined wrong for the organization. According to Kerzner, H. (2013), portfolio management focuses attention at a more aggregate level. Its primary objective is to identify, select, finance, monitor and maintain the appropriate mix of projects and initiatives necessary to achieve organizational goals and objectives. Project management focuses on a particular project that has already been recognized by portfolio management as a project that will support the mission and goals of the organization. Portfolio management will also be looking at what financing will be available for each project and also be looking out for the right mixture of projects. It wouldn’t be in the organizations best interest to only support projects that would be geared towards one goal of the organization. They need to make sure that they are looking at every goal or mission and balancing out the projects. There can be issues with portfolio management. In project management we have discussed using the experts in the organization to help with the planning and in many cases the implementation of a project. With portfolio  management the ones making the decisions may not have the expertise, knowledge and information and therefore could decide a project isn’t a good choice when in fact it should be considered. There could be conflicts, unwillingness to share, differences in thought as well as certain department loyalties that may cause incorrect decisions. Strategic management refers to management who are goals-oriented in which the mission and planned achievements of an organization are clearly set out and all management processes are designed and monitored toward reaching the organization’ overall goals, (â€Å"What Is Strategic Management†, 2011). A mission statement within the organization will set the goals of the organization. References Kerzner, H. (2013). Project management: A systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling (11th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. What is strategic management. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.managementskillsadvisor.com/what-is-strategic-management.html

The Banality of Abstraction Western Philosophys Failure to Address the Moral Implications of the Holocaust

The Banality of Abstraction Western Philosophys Failure to Address the Moral Implications of the Holocaust Two of the 20th Century’s most prominent philosophers were Martin Heidegger and Hannah Arendt, who happened to live and work during the time period in which the atrocities of The Holocaust were committed. In addition to a strong mutually beneficial intellectual relationship, the two of them had a romantic affair.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The ‘Banality’ of Abstraction: Western Philosophy’s Failure to Address the Moral Implications of the Holocaust specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The fact that he was a German and she was a Jew makes their story all the more interesting. Why would a man who loved a Jewish woman be a strong supporter of German politics during the Holocaust? Why would Arendt forgive him? Can Heideggerian philosophy account for the catastrophic crimes committed against the Jewish race? What good are philosophic ideals if they do not address morality in everyday life? In t his essay, I attempt to address some of these questions. Additionally, I would like to address the relationship of Arendt and Heidegger in the context of The Holocaust, and the effect that it had upon their philosophical works. Also, I attempt to prove that Heidegger’s political failings, and a refusal to admit any wrongdoing on the part of the German government, undermine his philosophical credibility, while Arendt’s public endorsement of him and his ideals weakens her credibility as a voice of the Jewish people. Philosophy is the study of and the admiration for wisdom itself. It comes from the Greek words â€Å"philos,† meaning love and â€Å"sophia,† which means wisdom. After his mentor Husserl, Heidegger was a major proponent of â€Å"phenomenology,† the philosophic study of structures of consciousness- sort of a detailed look at what the process of thinking is itself, and how philosophies are created. In 1923 Heidegger took a position at Marbu rg University, working as an associate professor. He continued to work in phenomenology and also lectured on Aristotle. During this time period, he worked on his treatise, Being and Time, which was ultimately seen as a major philosophical work. Partially due to this accomplishment, Heidegger was awarded the position of Philosophic Chair in 1928 at Freiberg University. With Hitler’s rise to power, Heidegger’s life entered a more controversial stage, referred to as â€Å"the turn.† Though he had been rather apolitical prior to the 1930’s, the increasing demands of university hierarchy necessitated a certain degree of political involvement. He was elected rector of Freiburg University in 1933, and soon after joined the NSDAP party. His infamous rector’s address from that post is often seen as evidence of Nazi support, though the movement is not specifically mentioned. However, actions speak louder than words, and during his rectorship, Heidegger willi ngly transformed the university into the National-Socialist mold, expelling Jewish academics, and not even objecting to the firing of his previous mentor Husserl.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Perhaps surprisingly, a year later Heidegger resigned from the post, and expressed some covert criticism of Nazi ideology, engendering the surveillance of The Gestapo, and eventually sent to dig trenches. Heidegger’s ambiguous relationship with the Nazi party has sparked a great deal of criticism, and continues to this day. Books like The Political Ontology of Martin Heidegger by Pierre Bourdieu, Heidegger and the Jews by Jean-Franà §ois Lyotard, and The German Genius: Europes Third Renaissance, the Second Scientific Revolution, and the Twentieth Century by Peter Watson question whether Heidegger’s philosophy should be considered valid in light of his political sympat hies. He was considered a great ideologist and was banned from teaching at the same time. Even in his own time, Heidegger’s loyalties were questioned. On the one hand, his actions garnered the suspicions of the Gestapo and were anti-government enough to get him a post digging trenches. On the other hand, because at one point he’d been an openly anti-Semitic rector, he was banned from teaching until 1949. The ban was lifted in part due to Hannah Arendt’s willingness to vouch for him (Rosenbaum), interesting in its own right. Still, he continued to write until his death, with increasingly obscure texts. In 1924 Hannah Arendt enrolled as a student at Marlburg University to study philosophy, and took classes with Martin Heidegger a year later. The contradictory nature of their relationship encapsulates the cognitive dissonance between the ideals of the National Socialist Movement and its reality. Though a brilliant philosopher, Heidegger as a man failed to address t he moral implications of the Holocaust, and as a result lost the respect of his peers, students, and by extension, Western philosophy as a whole suffered. He was the most prominent philosopher of his time, gaining near-celebrity status, but he was a contradictory man. He espoused virtue, yet cheated on his wife. He loved Hannah Arendt for her mind, yet made her feel as though she must stifle her intelligence in his presence so as not to threaten his egoistic intelligence. He cared deeply for a Jewish woman, and his best teacher was a Jewish man, Edmond Husserl, yet he upon becoming rector of The University of Freiburg, he banned Jewish intellectuals from the establishment. The relationship between Heidegger and Arendt can be seen as a metaphor for the arc of philosophy as a whole during the time period in which they lived.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The ‘Banality’ of Abstraction: Western Philosophy’s Failure to Address the Moral Imp lications of the Holocaust specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More First, Heidegger alone was prominent, garnering fame through books like Being and Time (1927) and The Task of Thinking (1964) and teaching notable courses that gained him fame and recognition uncommon for a philosopher. At this time, philosophy was a mainstay in German society, something upon which people could rely at a time when government wasn’t fulfilling the needs of its people. Cultural zeitgeist- a return to nature- a metaphysical observation of details and thoughts and principles, not the rigidity of prior ideas introduced by Nietzsche, the key notable feature of which was the natural approach that was later applied to all fields of science and industry as well as education and politics. Then, Arendt entered the picture, representative the increasing presence of women at the university level, and all for which that stood- she was said to have brought a conscience to t he world of philosophy, weighing the grand ideas of her time against private principles of good and evil, applying them to reality. With the change in government, everything shifted. Arendt was interned, then escaped to America,- excised from academic society as all Jews and most women of the time were. Heidegger gained prominence during this same time period, delivering a rectorial address promoting the Nazi Socialist Movement based on the ideas that development of a man and technological progress should be simultaneous and be carried out highlighting the triumph of a man over technology though focusing on the importance of a symbiosis between a man and technology. As the Holocaust dragged on, and it became increasingly clear that it was not a movement of ideals but one of hatred and destruction, the banished point of view of Hannah Arendt became the mainstay in public opinion. With her publication years later of Eichmann in Jerusalem: a Report on the Banality of Evil (2006), she c aptured the thought of the time, answering for herself questions full of emotional coloring and philosophical ideas of why people make others suffer through the most sophisticated and cruel crimes against the humankind (Avineri). However, the answers were nothing without actions but she could do nothing physically to prevent those crimes and humiliation, destruction and devastation.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Finally, we see the difficult but grand triumph of forgiveness over ignorance and intolerance. Though Heidegger never apologized for his political actions, and never even explained the reasoning behind why he acted in the way that he did, Arendt forgave him. The two reconnected with a tenuous academic friendship, mostly in the form of letters that contained a touch of the inspired romance the two had once known. Though in action they were opposites, the gentle Jew and the fox-like Gentile, they were perfect academic counterparts- inspiring one another with lofty ideas, and praising each other’s attempts for the sake of mutual growth. The concept of Heidegger being a fox is discussed closely by Arendt in her personal diary Denktagebuch of 1953 where she kept interesting thoughts about people, the situation, and some notes from notable books she liked or disliked (Forrest 6). Arendt even took the step of helping Heidegger to regain his reputation. The world was skeptical of Ger man intellectuals after the war. Hadn’t their ideas made a direct path to the dogma that caused the Holocaust? Arendt argued that this was not so; He did his duty; he not only obeyed orders, he also obeyed the law (Arendt, Eichmann 135). She helped him to regain his standing, and for the most part forgave him, though in private she still expressed sorrow and a bit of skepticism about his moral conduct (Forrest 6). This was another way the world reflected her views. Germans tenuously rebuilt their reputations, but many retained private resentments, and the world at large still remembers them as the society in which Nazism could thrive. The philosophical environment in Germany was favorable for development of ideologies and different concepts that could be used to encourage people for changes and increase their moral spirits. The political ideology was created in the same time as the philosophical one though people did not recognize the applicability of ideas to the political l ife of the country and, as it later turned out, most part of the world. As such, it is questionable whether the ideology itself was negative or its implementation in practice was ineffective and perverted. The political ontology of Martin Heidegger interpreted by Pierre Bourdieu referencing youth Zeitgeist suggests that it was based on the natural approach and its popularity for cultural use. In addition, Heidegger’s â€Å"turn† and his belief in â€Å"inner truth and greatness of the movement- namely the encounter between global technology and the modern man† (Bourdieu 9) can be considered decisive for shaping his views and people’s perception of his ideas referring to the Nazi ideology and him as an integral part of it. The Holocaust’s effect on philosophy was great because any event that takes place in the world and raises a great number of different views that are often opposing each other makes the world of philosophy revive leading to strong criticism or support to the event or people who provoked it. As such, philosophical ideas by Nietzsche that were provoked by the Holocaust can be used for a more thorough analysis of interactions in the society in that period so that people stopped talking about the dissemination of ideas. If people do not agree with the Nazi philosophy and are not ready to support the movement, why should they act in a strongly negative and destructing manner. Some of Nietzsche’s famous quotes about the Holocaust include the following: â€Å"Under conditions of peace the warlike man attacks himself† and â€Å"The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently.† ‘Holocaust Theology’ can be regarded as an individual strain of thought because it explained the desire of people to dominate and their high level of patriotic views while any patriotism when received in high doses can be harmf ul and leading to fascist views. At the same time, Martin Heidegger who was considered one of the prominent philosophers of the time supported the Nazi ideology and Adolf Hitler as the ideological leader of this discriminating movement full of hatred and humiliation towards other people and nations. Heidegger was known for criticizing the academic approach to the exploration of the concept of being. As suggested by Loving, â€Å"A stereotypical criticism of much of traditional academia is that it only studies ‘dead white males’† (97). However, he also supported the Nazi ideology which made him a rather controversial person for the period right after the war and till the current moment because people cannot understand how such an educated and prominent philosopher could fail to understand the destructing nature of fascism. This can be explained through the notes in Hannah Arendt’s diary where she uses an allegory of a fox to analyze the behavior of Heidegge r and his inability to identify the â€Å"difference between a trap and a non-trap† (Forrest 6). As noted by Habermas and McCumber, â€Å"Heidegger’s work has long since detached itself from his person† making him a great philosopher who supports the Nazi though. Arendt was a prominent political theorist though she was often referred to as a philosopher. The relationships between Arendt and Heidegger were unclear for the entire world as they supported each other in all difficulties and troubles. Honan claims that â€Å"Arendt, whose fiery reproach had extended to European Jews whom she said had ‘collaborated’ with the Nazis in their own destruction, did almost everything she could to whitewash the unrepentant Heidegger†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (26). Another characteristic of their relations by Honan suggests that they were two strong persons who could not reach the compromise in a way we all got used to and their struggle continued: The book [Hannah Arendt/Ma rtin Heidegger by Elzbieta Ettinger] shows that Arendt was so arrogant that she thought she alone could decide who should be forgiven and who should not, said Elie Wiesel, the Nobel laureate who has written of his experiences in the Auschwitz death camp. Im not so sure her moral stature will remain intact. The effect of the relationship between Martin Heidegger and Hannah Arendt was evident in their work as she tried in all possible ways to make him look less Nazi-supporting than he was at the same time opposing his views. Heidegger was brilliant in terms of his ideas, concepts, and other philosophical issues he created and introduced in his works though he was negatively perceived due to being a supporter of Hitler. ‘The Banality of Evil’ in contrast with Arendt’s original phrase â€Å"radical evil† can be interpreted as her attempt to reconcile her view of Martin’s evil and make an accounting for it so that she can forgive herself for loving an ev il man. The lasting Impact of the works of Heidegger and Arendt is their books like Heidegger’s Being and Time which questioned the concept of being as it should be applied rather than it have been applied since Plato’s ideas introduced and Arendt’s books Eichmann in Jerusalem: a Report on the Banality of Evil where she tries to justify her affection for a man who commits evil and The Origins of Totalitarianism which can be considered one of the great political theories of all times. To conclude, the abstraction of philosophy renders it impotent- in the case of Heidegger, his refusal to allow his ideas to stand up to real-world examples makes them meaningless. Heidegger was considered weak because he could not decide which of the parties he wants to support. At the same time, he was strongly criticized by all activists of the time for his positive reaction to the Nazi ideology and antisemitism whereas the most active critic was Hannah Arendt who was also his maj or supporter because she tried to clean his reputation. She forgave him everything and reflected her justification for their relationships in her books and notes where she claimed that he was like a fox that could not identify the trap. Both the events of one’s life and the major relationships one has in one’s lifetime have a significant impact on intellectual work. Martin Heidegger’s abstraction of moral concepts sidesteps any real ethical judgments†¦ and Arendt’s public endorsement of him and his ideals weakens her credibility as a voice of the Jewish people. Arendt, Hannah, and Martin Heidegger. Letters, 1925-1975. Uncorrected Proof ed. Orlando: Harcourt, 2004. Print. Arendt, Hannah. Eichmann in Jerusalem: a Report on the Banality of Evil. New York, NY: Penguin, 2006. Print. Arendt, Hannah. The Origins of Totalitarianism. 2nd Enlarged ed. Breinigsville, PA: Benediction Classics, 2009. Print. Avineri, Shlomo. Where Hannah Arendt Went Wrong. Haaret z Daily Newspaper. 2010. Web. Bourdieu, Pierre. The Political Ontology of Martin Heidegger. Stanford, CA: Stanford UP, 1991. Print. Forrest, Rosanna. Hannah and Martin: Study Guide. Web. Habermas, Jurgen, and John McCumber. Work and Weltanschauung: The Heidegger Controversy from a German Perspective. Critical Inquiry 15.2 (1989): 431. Web. Heidegger, Martin. Basic Writings: from Being and Time (1927) to The Task of Thinking (1964). Comp. Krell David. Farrell. London: Harper Rowe, 1993. Print. Heidegger, Martin. Being and Time. Trans. Joan Stambaugh. Comp. Dennis J. Schmidt. Albany: State University of New York, 2010. Print. Honan, William H. Book on Philosophers Life Stirs Scholarly Debate Over Her Legacy. Editorial. New York Times 1995, Sunday ed.: 26. Web. Loving, Gregory David. The Forgotten: Implications of Lyotards Heidegger and The Jews: Issues of Race in Philosophical Discourse. Philosophical Studies in Education 39 (2008): 97-105. Web. Lyotard, Jean-Franà §ois. Heidegger a nd the Jews. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 1990. Print. Rosenbaum, Ron. Troubling New Revelations about Arendt and Heidegger. By Ron Rosenbaum. Slate Magazine. 2009. Web. Watson, Peter. The German Genius: Europes Third Renaissance, the Second Scientific Revolution, and the Twentieth Century. New York: Harper, 2010. Print.

Hipsters Campus

Hipsters Campus Origin of Hipsterism The term â€Å"hipsters† commonly refer to a subculture of men and women in their 20’s and 30’s, living in urban areas that value and promote independent thinking, progressive politics, and enjoy things (clothing, music, food, activities, etc) not commonly found in the social mainstream. Hipsterism according to literature is a state of mind. Most hipsters are well educated, creative, and individuals who reject traditional attitudes, concepts, and norms. They often prefer to work in creative industries such as music, art, and fashion. Famous Hollywood actors Johnny Depp and James Franco including singer Miley Cyrus are hipsters. The origin of Hipster subculture can be traced back in the 1940s when the English word â€Å"hip† was first used as an equivalent to â€Å"hepcat†, a stylish and progressive young person well aware of the latest trend in music and fashion. In the 1950s, hipsters were called â€Å"beatnik† or â€Å"hippie†, a person with strong sense of alienation from a traditional social norm. Study of African-American slang traces the origins of hip in Wolof (a language of slaves from Senegal and coastal Gambia in the 1700s) verb â€Å"hippie† or â€Å"to open one’s eye†. The hipster subculture of the 1940s evolved from a group bored of mainstream routines and societal norms into trendy jazz lovers focusing on creating bonds with those of the same class and backgrounds through music. Today, although sharing a similar interest in music and bored of mainstream culture, modern hipsters are not necessarily members of the lower class, more independent, purposeful, and specific in the way they think, and determined to maintain the hip regardless of socio-economic status. They are more interested in fashion and appearance than ideology and societal issues. They express rejection of mainstream norms through clothing such as wearing an ironical expensive T-shirt made to look worn and ragged. Want to know more? Go here: Is High IQ a Guarantee of Academic Success? Leave a Message Relieving Students School-Related Stress Bright Sides of Academic Intellectuals We Call Nerds What Education Do You Need to Become a Master Chef? The Hipsters’ Campus Colleges and universities are â€Å"hotbeds† of hip seeking to practice and promote their diverse perspectives, ideas, and cultures. These hipsters commonly wear skinny jeans and fashionable clothes, outdoor oriented (skiers and snowboarders), liberal in their views, and vocal about their advocacy. Some college faculties are also hipsters in their trendy clothes, a liberal approach in teaching, and advocating eccentric academic practices. A hipsters’ campus appears one that is located in easily accessible areas, having a reputable or multi-awarded campus radio stations, offering liberal and fine arts, and practically surrounded by a number of thrift stores and boutiques. Hipsters interest in liberal and fine arts according to a Forbes magazine article created an imbalance in the American economy due to under-employment and lack of college graduates with math and science related degrees. For instance, since over ninety thousand Americans (mostly hipsters) graduate college with art degrees each year, the American workforce is dominated by artists rather planners, engineers, technicians, and others who can construct and operate machinery to boost economic performance and growth. In other words, America needs more nerds and fewer hipsters to ensure economic growth or â€Å"Up with scientist! Down with artists.† In order to the so-called â€Å"Epidemic of Hipsters†, the American government according to this article will be providing college loans, scholarships, and grants to students in fields with significant spillovers such as engineering and computer science. Unfortunately, application of hipsters majoring in dance, sociology, and English will be ignored.

Essay on Crime in America Part II

Essay on Crime in America Part II Essay on Crime in America Part II Crime in America: Part II Throughout my Crimes in America project, I chose to study and report crimes committed in and around Boston and the New England area. By doing this I was able to analyze which types of crime occur most often in the Boston area, as well as patterns and connections between these different crimes. During my research, I also found that while reporting these crimes, news outlets report from different stages in the steps in the Criminal Justice Process and add to their stories as time progresses. One pattern that was blatantly obvious throughout my research is that the most poplar crimes reported were violent crimes. For example, 13 of the 15 crimes I researched were of an outwardly violent and aggressive nature. These crimes ranged in everything from murder, attempted murder, bombings, and stabbings, to less serious violent crimes such as disorderly conduct and breaking and entering. One reason for this pattern may be that the Boston area is a dangerous, crime-ridden place, however I am not so sure that is the case. Crimes like these, although violent, occur everywhere, everyday around the country. I believe it is actually the press and todays media that give places like Boston a violent reputation. The media’s job is to report the news as it happens, however in today’s modern media, I believe they take some liberties with was they choose to report on. Crimes with a violent nature intrigue and scare people, which is exactly the emotions the media tries to expl oit in the public. Now, the media obviously doesn’t make up these crimes just to scare the public and sell newspapers, these events all did really happen to someone or something. However it is the way in which the media chooses to release the news that really shows their true motives behind their headlines. Crimes are also reported at different stages throughout the Criminal Justice Process, and each step gives a crime a different feel to the story. For example, If a story is just breaking and the police are just beginning to investigate a crime, the media doesn’t have a whole lot of

Does Vonnegut Write Like Kilgore Trout and Eliot Rosewater Essay

Does Vonnegut Write Like Kilgore Trout and Eliot Rosewater - Essay Example The piece of literature will be used for comparison on how best it has been written. The piece of literature has been written by an author known as Vonnegut (Farrell, 10). His piece of literature is being compared with others written by the authors Kilgore and Eliot. Slaughterhouse-five by Vonnegut is a piece of literature that talks about world war 2 life experiences at the time and one thing that can be said about the piece of literature is that it is a fine piece of work. Everything is well expressed in the piece of literature, and there is an assurance that by the end of reading, the reader will have grasped quite a lot. The writing uses literature devices, and this makes the work all the more entertaining and splendid. Looking at the piece of literature, it is written in short and very descriptive sentences that bring the illusion of understanding and a sense of reading (Deneen, 46). The book is written in a setting that can be described as historic, geographic and scientific. Comparing it with the other author’s piece of literature, it is safe to say that this piece of writing is magnificent, easy to read and understand and though complicated, its short and direct sentences provide the reader with a much higher level of understanding. The reading is uncomplicated to interpret and comprehend (Marvin, 100). It places the reader in a situation much like the one the narrator places the main character; in war. The descriptions are vivid and bear meaning. This is a book that would be recommended for rereading since it captures the heart, soul and brings about the realization of one’s dreams and desires. The piece of literature has successfully integrated the aspects of tragedy and comic relief. These two are being used together to bring a blend of the events (Trout, 12). There is one phrase that captures the attention of readers, and it bears meaning to the story that is written. The phrase; ‘so it goes’, has been used frequently by the

Runaway Chemical Reaction and Vapor Cloud Explosion Literature review

Runaway Chemical Reaction and Vapor Cloud Explosion - Literature review Example The drive needs to be sorted before the start of any reaction process to control the explosion incidences. In addition, during the polymerization process, the people concerned should ensure that there is required amount of polymers and monomers to reduce the reaction process. When unequal amounts of polymers and monomers are used, there can be rapid increase in reaction pressure in reactors manways enabling solvent vapor to be forced out as a flammable cloud Carolina (CSB 2007, p. 2). In most cases, it has been noticed that when the ejected vapor comes into contact with the source of ignition, it results in explosion thereby can lead to killing of workers and several harms. Such killings and deaths need to be controlled by the workers themselves and some organization bodies. The Chemical Safety Board (CSB) should ensure the workers are familiar with basic safeguards tips that prevent, detect and moderate runaway reactions. Moreover, the Board should also ensure that all safety management practices are operating all time. Most preferably, people should reside quite distance from main firms that are involved in several reaction tests. During the process of reaction that may at times leads to severe explosions may cause injuries to the nearby homes Carolina (CSB 2007, p. 3). Some blasts may go beyond the borders causing damage of structures of the nearby residents. The most important necessity for all companies that are involved in chemical reaction processes is a quick mode of transport. Ambulances owned by these firms create immediate access to medical checkups. The injured workers can be transported to various hospitals depending on the nature of harm. The burned labors are taken to burn centers for better treatment. In order to get a complete manufacturing cycle, several reaction steps must be followed. All the levels should be monitored by the operators Carolina (CSB 2007, p. 5). In order to achieve appropriate and successful manufacturing cycle, there

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Implementation & Analysis of Public Policy - Essay Example e 2004 general elections before the voters to 2006 and later 2008 with an election outcome of 52.7 percent voting in favor of the project (Albalate 15). This approval was for the first segment of the proposed railway system that was dubbed Proposition 1A. As Albalate asserts, the entire project was estimated to cost forty billion dollars, however, the authority responsible for the execution of the plan releases a novel cost estimation ranging between $98.5 billion and $118 billion. The system is anticipated to complete in 2035 whereby it will carry 120,000 riders each day at a speed of 200 miles per hour, if it gets built successfully (16). Despite the gobs of benefits anticipated from the proposed rail system, there has been criticism hitherto. The proposed rail system intends to meet California’s transportation needs of the 21st century. The 800-mile running rail is purposed to connect the major regions of the state such as San Francisco and Los Angeles. With the congestion in the transport systems, it is feasible to implement a system that will help in reducing both the inconveniences and time taken to travel. The state of California experiences severe air pollutions, and to eliminate this, the proposed rail system aims at achieving a cleaner environment wiping out the auto travel, which is the main agent of air pollution. The elimination of autos from the transport system will also reduce the state’s reliance on foreign oils. For other means of transport, the high-speed rail project will enhance connectivity. The rail system is also calculated at contributing to the state’s economic development and job creation for the persistently heightened unemployment characterized population. Besides, the high- speed rail system aspires to protect the preserved, ecologically sensitive, and agricultural lands by reducing the per passenger emissions, during travel, across the state of California (Jones 228). After the completion of the project, Californians have much

Sustainability and Luxury Fashion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Sustainability and Luxury Fashion - Essay Example The paper "Sustainability and Luxury Fashion" looks into the sustainability on brand perception in the fashion industry in the two countries; Sweden and the United Kingdom; most importantly the impacts.Arguably, Europe was and still is a core part of the cradle of civilization and two countries that played extra crucial roles in the whole process are the United Kingdom and Sweden. In the fashion world, these two nations have made impressive strides too. They both filled with strong fashion brands that have so far withstood the test of time. Most of these brands can as well be further categorized as luxury fashion brands. Their image is at present glorious but considering how volatile the industry is, the big job is not getting to the top, the good brand loosely hanging perception is the very hard task.From its inception, the fashion industry in the United Kingdom and Sweden has never been short of variables. Hence, so as to keep up with the ever-evolving values, adopting a sustainabl e approach is advised. But this hasn’t always been the case. For the young consumers, sustainability is not very relevant a word in their very dynamic and very synthetic consumers’ dictionary. At this consumer’s age, ironically, change is the only constant thing. Change is pre- programmed in every young brain. The trick is evolving with the change, sleekly, of course, so as to still a factor in sustainability. All fashion brands in these two countries are at the huge risk of toiling to the top and implementing strategies.

Early Childhood Education Program Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Early Childhood Education Program - Essay Example Creative Care Preschool is the ideal place for beginning learners. Armed with a sound philosophy, an efficient program and caring and efficient teachers and a conducive learning environment, this is where their bright future begins. Creative Care Preschool aims to reach the highest standards of quality for an early childhood center. It will provide the best developmentally appropriate programs for children aged 1.5 to 6.5 that will help develop children who are confident, others-oriented, creative and competent. The will have honed their skills to enable them to succeed in a globally competitive world. Creative Care Preschool advocates high quality care and education for very young children. It provides children several opportunities to experience learning first hand by themselves, with capable mentors and with their peers. Creative Care Preschool believes that God created each child in a unique and special way thus deserving LOVE and RESPECT. Each child is endowed with gifts, abilities and innately full of potentials, but in the process of â€Å"becoming† according to his own pace, interests and needs. A child learns best when he finds enjoyment in what he is doing, thus learning should be fun. PLAY is the world of children. Learning through play has value and is an effective method of teaching. Through play, a child develops his mental functions as he learns varied concepts, and at the same time he develops body coordination, he learns how to handle emotions, acquires social skills and values as he interacts with other children. All learning acquired by the child is an outcome of interactions between him and his environment (people, ideas and materials). A child is able to learn in an environment where there is freedom of movement and choice; this enables him to be an active participant in his learning as he initiates activities, asks questions, explores, observes, and socializes

Biography of Rovin Jay and Jonathan Larson Research Paper

Biography of Rovin Jay and Jonathan Larson - Research Paper Example He wrote an autobiography, Tick Tick to express his disappointment. Billy Aronson a playwright collaborated with Jonathan on updating la Boh’eme a show that was later named Rent. They also wrote three songs together before separating. The Rent show was relevant to his generation and incorporated gays, those who are straight, battling with AIDS and loneliness. Alongside he also did other things, he wrote a revue about teen issues, produced a video for children called Away We Go. He won Richard Rodgers grant for Rent in 1994 and at the same time the New York theater workshop agreed to mount a studio production for him. He quit his waiter job and worked with his producers, project director Michael Greif, and theater artistic Jim Nicola. Shortly thereafter the show was cast and rehearsals began. Unfortunately, Larson died before his show could pick up. The show gained a lot of publicity and was transferred to Broadway. The show has won many awards including the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Four Tonys (Larson page 59) There is little information provided about Robin jay, however he an American based producer of rent and an Actor at Knotts Berry Farm. After rent moved to Broadway production it won Tony Award but the production closed soon after. The achievement of the show however led to several foreign productions. Later on the show moved to motion picture in which most of the early cast members were included. Among them were Director Rovin Jay, Choregrapher Sonya Randall and Music Director Brian Sherick. He acted as the Samaritan in a Christmas Carol, and Narrator 1 in the Gift of the Magi at the world famous Bird Cage Theatre. For eight years, he was the actor of Disneyland Resort, and in 2009 he performed as Naphtali the calypso singing brother and the Technicolor Dreamcoat (Larson 24). For four months, he

Sustainability and Luxury Fashion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Sustainability and Luxury Fashion - Essay Example The paper "Sustainability and Luxury Fashion" looks into the sustainability on brand perception in the fashion industry in the two countries; Sweden and the United Kingdom; most importantly the impacts.Arguably, Europe was and still is a core part of the cradle of civilization and two countries that played extra crucial roles in the whole process are the United Kingdom and Sweden. In the fashion world, these two nations have made impressive strides too. They both filled with strong fashion brands that have so far withstood the test of time. Most of these brands can as well be further categorized as luxury fashion brands. Their image is at present glorious but considering how volatile the industry is, the big job is not getting to the top, the good brand loosely hanging perception is the very hard task.From its inception, the fashion industry in the United Kingdom and Sweden has never been short of variables. Hence, so as to keep up with the ever-evolving values, adopting a sustainabl e approach is advised. But this hasn’t always been the case. For the young consumers, sustainability is not very relevant a word in their very dynamic and very synthetic consumers’ dictionary. At this consumer’s age, ironically, change is the only constant thing. Change is pre- programmed in every young brain. The trick is evolving with the change, sleekly, of course, so as to still a factor in sustainability. All fashion brands in these two countries are at the huge risk of toiling to the top and implementing strategies.

Biography of Rovin Jay and Jonathan Larson Research Paper

Biography of Rovin Jay and Jonathan Larson - Research Paper Example He wrote an autobiography, Tick Tick to express his disappointment. Billy Aronson a playwright collaborated with Jonathan on updating la Boh’eme a show that was later named Rent. They also wrote three songs together before separating. The Rent show was relevant to his generation and incorporated gays, those who are straight, battling with AIDS and loneliness. Alongside he also did other things, he wrote a revue about teen issues, produced a video for children called Away We Go. He won Richard Rodgers grant for Rent in 1994 and at the same time the New York theater workshop agreed to mount a studio production for him. He quit his waiter job and worked with his producers, project director Michael Greif, and theater artistic Jim Nicola. Shortly thereafter the show was cast and rehearsals began. Unfortunately, Larson died before his show could pick up. The show gained a lot of publicity and was transferred to Broadway. The show has won many awards including the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Four Tonys (Larson page 59) There is little information provided about Robin jay, however he an American based producer of rent and an Actor at Knotts Berry Farm. After rent moved to Broadway production it won Tony Award but the production closed soon after. The achievement of the show however led to several foreign productions. Later on the show moved to motion picture in which most of the early cast members were included. Among them were Director Rovin Jay, Choregrapher Sonya Randall and Music Director Brian Sherick. He acted as the Samaritan in a Christmas Carol, and Narrator 1 in the Gift of the Magi at the world famous Bird Cage Theatre. For eight years, he was the actor of Disneyland Resort, and in 2009 he performed as Naphtali the calypso singing brother and the Technicolor Dreamcoat (Larson 24). For four months, he

Cash Budget Essay Example for Free

Cash Budget Essay There are several reasons why Cash Budget is so vital to the company. The purpose of statement of cash flow is to report cash receipts and cash payouts during a period. This includes separately identifying the cash flows related to operating, investing and financing activities. Information in this statement helps users how to obtain its cash, where does a company spend its cash and explains the change in the cash balance. Information about cash flow helps users decide whether a company has enough cash to pay its existing debts as they mature. External users want to assess a company’s ability to take advantage of new business opportunities. Internal users use cash flow to plan day-to-day operating activities and make long-term investment decisions. 4. There are five basic principles of cash management that a company can flow in order to improve its chances of having adequate cash. They are: 1. Increase of receivable of collections. The more customers pay the more quickly company can use their funds to run the business or invest. 2. Keep inventory levels low. Inventory is costly to keep and storage in warehouses. Company needs to use techniques to reduce the inventory on hand thus conserving their cash. 3. Monitor payment of liabilities. Company needs to keep track of bills due and do not pay them early as well. The company needs also to take a discount on earlier pay bill and save some money. 4. Plan the timing of major expenditures. To make business grow company needs to make major expenditures. This procedure often requires help form outside investing. The company has to carefully consider the timing in operating cycle. 5. Invest idle cash. Cash on hands earns nothing. It’s important that company invests any excess cash.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India Alok Tyagi QUESTION Discuss the significance of foreign direct investment for a developing country like India? Why India has failed to attract more FDI despite being a democratic country? WHAT IS FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT? MEANING: These three letters stand for direct investment. The simplest explanation of FDI would be a direct investment by a corporation in a commercial venture in another country. A key to escaping this action from investment in other ventures in a foreign country is that the business enterprise operates completely outside the economy of the corporation’s home country. The investing corporation must control 10 percent or more of the voting power of the new venture. According to history the United States was the leader in the FDI activity dating back as far as the end of World War II. Businesses from other nations have taken up the flag of FDI, including many who were not in a financial position to do so just a few years ago. The practise has grown significantly in the last couple of decades, to the point that FDI has generated quite a bit of opposition from groups such as labor unions. These organizations have expressed concern that investing at such a level in another country eliminates jobs. Legislation was introduced in the early 1970s that would have put an end to the tax incentives of FDI. But members of the Nixon administration, Congress and business interests rallied to make sure that this attack on their expansion plans was not successful. One key to introducing FDI is to get a mental picture of the global scale of corporations able to make such investment. A carefully planned FDI can provide a huge new market for the company, perhaps introducing products and services to an area where they have never been available. Not only that, but such an investment may also be more profitable if construction costs and labor costs are less in the host country. The definition of FDI originally meant that the investing corporation gained a significant number of shares (10 percent or more) of the new venture. In recent years, however, companies have been able to make a foreign direct investment that is actually long-term management control as opposed to direct investment in buildings and equipment. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a measure of foreign ownership of productive assets, such as factories, mines and land. Increasing foreign investment can be used as one measure of growing economic globalization. The largest flows of foreign investment occur between the industrialized countries (North America, Western Europe and Japan). But flows to non-industrialized countries are increasing sharply. Foreign direct investment (FDI) refers to long-term participation by country A into country B. It usually involves participation in management, joint-venture, transfer of technology and expertise. There are two types of FDI: inward foreign direct investment and outward foreign direct investment, resulting in a net FDI inflow(positive or negative). Foreign direct investment reflects the objective of obtaining a lasting interest by a resident entity in one country (‘direct investor’) in an entity resident in an economy other than that of the investor (‘direct investment enterprise’). Foreign Direct Investment – when a firm invests directly in production or other facilities, over which it has effective control, in a foreign country. Manufacturing FDI requires the establishment of production facilities. Service FDI requires building service facilities or an investment foothold via capital contributions or building office facilities. Foreign subsidiaries – overseas units or entities Host country – the country in which a foreign subsidiary operates. Flow of FDI – the amount of FDI undertaken over a given time. Stock of FDI – total accumulated value of foreign-owned assets Differs from FDI, which is the investment in physical assets. DEFINITION Foreign direct investment is that investment, which is made to serve the business interests of the investor in a company, which is in a different nation distinct from the investor’s country of origin. A parent business enterprise and its foreign affiliate are the two sides of the FDI relationship. Together they comprise an MNC. The parent enterprise through its foreign direct investment effort seeks to exercise substantial control over the foreign affiliate company. ‘Control’ as defined by the UN, is ownership of greater than or equal to 10% o ordinary shares or access to voting rights in an incorporated firm. For an unincorporated firm one needs to consider an equivalent criterion. Ownership share amounting to less than that stated above is termed as portfolio investment and is not categorized as FDI. FDI stands for FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT, a component of a country’s national financial accounts. Foreign direct investment is investment of foreign assets into domestic structures, equipment, and organizations. It does not include foreign investment into the stock markets. Foreign direct investment is thought to be more useful to a country than investments in the equity of its companies because equity investments are potentially ‘hot money’ which can leave at first sign of trouble, whereas FDI is durable and generally useful whether things go well or badly. FDI or Foreign Direct Investmentis any form of investment that earns interest in enterprises which function outside of the domestic territory of the investor. FDIs require a business relationship between a parent company and its foreign subsidiary. Foreign direct business relationships give rise to multinational corporations. For an investment to be regarded as FDI, the parent firm needs to have at least 10% of the ordinary shares of its foreign affiliates. FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTOR A foreign direct investor is an individual, an incorporated or unincorporated public or private enterprise, a government, a group of related incorporated and unincorporated enterprise – that is, a subsidiary, associate or branch – operating in a country other than the country or countries of residence of the foreign direct investor or investors. TYPES OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT FDIs can be broadly classified into two types: Outward FDIs Inward FDIs This classification is based on the types of restrictions imposed, and the various pre-requisites required for these investments. Outward FDI: An outward-bound FDI is backed by the government against all types of associated risks. This form of FDI is subject to tax incentives as well as disincentives of various forms. Risk coverage provided to the domestic industries and subsidies granted to local firms stand in the way of outward FDIs, which are also known as ‘direct investments abroad’. Inward FDI: Different economic factors encourage inward FDIs. These include interest loans, tax breaks, grants, subsidies, and the removal of restrictions and limitations. Factors detrimental to the growth of FDIs include necessities of differential performance and limitations related with ownership patterns. Other categorizations of FDI Other categorizations of FDI exist as well. Vertical Foreign Direct Investment takes place when a multinational corporation owns some shares of a foreign enterprise, which supplies input for it or uses the output produced by the MNC. Horizontal foreign direct investments happen when a multinational company carries out a similar business operation in different nations. Horizontal FDI – the MNE enters a foreign country to produce the same products at home. Conglomerate FDI – the MNE produces products not manufactured at home. Vertical FDI – the MNE produces intermediate goods either forward or backward in the supply stream. Liability of foreignness – the costs of doing business abroad resulting in a competitive disadvantage. METHODS OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS The foreign direct investor may acquire 10% or more of the voting power of an enterprise in an economy through any of the following methods: By incorporating a wholly owned subsidiary or company By acquiring shares in an associated enterprise Through a merger or an acquisition of an unrelated enterprise Participating in an equity joint venture with another investor or enterprise Foreign direct investment incentives may take the following forms: Low corporate tax and income tax rates Tax holidays Other types of tax concessions Preferential tariffs Special economic zones Soft loan or loan guarantees Free land or land subsidies Relocation expatriation subsidies RD support Infrastructure subsidies WHY IS FDI IMPORTANT FOR ANY CONSIDERATION OF GOING GLOBAL? The simple answer is that making a direct foreign investment allows companies to accomplish several tasks: Avoiding foreign government pressure for local production. Circumventing trade barriers, hidden and otherwise. Making the move from domestic export sales to a locally-based national sales office. Capability to increase total production capacity. Opportunities for co-production, joint venture with local partners, joint Marketing arrangements, licensing, etc. A more complete response might address the issue of global business partnering in very general terms. While it is nice that many business writers like the expression, ‘think globally, act locally’, this often used clichà © does not really mean very much to the average business executive in a small and medium sized company. The phrase does have significant connotations for multinational corporations. But for executives in SME’s, it is still just another buzzword. The simple explanation for tis is the difference in perspective between executives of multinational corporations and small and medium sized companies. Multinational corporations are almost always concerned with worldwide manufacturing capacity and proximity to major markets. Small and medium sized companies tend to be more concerned with selling their products in overseas markets. The advent of the internet has ushered in a new and very different mindset that tends to focus more on access issues. SME†™s in particular are now focusing on access to markets, access to expertise and most of all access to technology. THE STRATEGIC LOGIC BEHIND FDI Resources seeking – looking for resources at a lower real cost. Market seeking – secure market share and sales growth in target foreign market. Efficiency seeking – seeks to establish efficient structure through useful factors, culture, policies or markets. ENHANCING EFFICIENCY FROM LOCATION ADVANTAGES Location advantages – defined as the benefits arising from a host country’s comparative advantages. Lower real cost from operating in a host country Labour cost differentials Transportation costs, tariff and non-tariff barriers Governmental policies IMPROVING PERFORMANCE FROM STRUCTURAL DISCREPANCIES Structural discrepancies are the differences in industry structure attributes between home and host countries. Examples include areas where: Competition is less intense Products are in different stages of their life cycle Market demand is unsaturated There are differences in market sophistication INCREASING RETURN FROM OWNERSHIP ADVANTAGES Ownership advantages come from the application of proprietary tangible and intangible assets in the host country. Reputation, brand image, distribution channels Technological expertise, organizational skills, experience Core competence – skills within the firm that competitors cannot easily imitate or match. ENSURING GROWTH FROM ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING MNEs exposed to multiple stimuli, developing: Diversity capabilities Broader learning opportunities Exposed to: New markets New practices New ideas New cultures New competition FDI INDIAN ECONOMY The economy of India is the third largest in the world as measured by purchasing power parity, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of US $3.611 trillion. When measured in USD exchange-rate terms, it is the tenth largest in the world, with a GDP of US $800.8 billion. The economy is diverse and encompasses agriculture, handicrafts, textile, manufacturing and a multitude of services. Although two-thirds of the Indian workforce still earn their livelihood directly or indirectly through agriculture, services are growing sector and are playing an increasingly important role of India’s economy. The advent of the digital age, and the large number of young and educated populace fluent in English, is gradually transforming India as an important ‘back office’ destination for global companies or the outsourcing of their customer services and technical support. India is a major exporter of highly-skilled workers in software and financial services, and software engineering. India followed a socialist-inspired approach for most of its independent history, with strict government control over private sector participation, foreign trade, and foreign direct investment. FDI up to 100% is allowed under the automatic route in all activities/sectors except the following which will require approval of the government activities that require an Industrial License. INVESTMENT RISKS IN INDIA Sovereign Risk Political Risk Commercial risk Risk due to terrorism FDI POLICY IN INDIA Foreign Direct Investment policy FDI policy is reviewed on an outgoing basis and measures for its further liberalisation are taken. Change in sectoral policy/sectoral equity cap is notified from time to time through press notes. FDI policy permits FDI up to 100% from foreign investor without prior approval in most of the sectors including the services sector under automatic route. FDI in sectors under automatic route does not require any prior approval either by the government or the RBI. The foreign direct investment scheme and strategy depends on the respective FDI norms and policies in India. The FDI policy of India has imposed certain foreign direct investmentregulations as per the FDI theory of the government of India. These include FDI limits in India for example: Foreign direct investment in India in infrastructure development projects excluding arms and ammunitions, atomic energy sector, railway system, extraction of coal and lignite and mining industry is allowed upto 100% equity participation with the capping amount as Rs. 1500 crores. FDI limit of maximum 49% in telecom industry especially in the GSM services. FDI figures in equity contribution I the finance sector cannot exceed more than 40% in banking services including credit card operations. Foreign direct investment: Indian scenario FDI is permitted as under the following forms of investments – Through financial collaborations Through joint ventures and technical collaborations Through capital markets via Euro issues Through private placements or preferential allotments CONCLUSION A large number of changes that were introduced in the country’s regulatory economic policies heralded the liberalization era of the FDI policy regime in India and brought about a structural breakthrough in the volume of FDI inflows into the economy maintained a fluctuating and unsteady trend during the study period. It might be of interest to note that more than 50% of the total FDI inflows received by India, came from Singapore and the USA. According to findings and results, we have concluded that FII did have significant impact on Sensex but there is less co-relation with Bank and IT. One of the reasons for high degree of any linear relation can also be due to the simple data. There are other major factors that influence the bourses in the stock market.

Education for Sustainable Development Toolkit Essay -- Education

"Sustainable development is development that continues to meet the requirements without compromising the ability of future generations to live quality lives of their own." Sustainable development is commonly thought to have three components: environment, society, and economy. According to the toolkit the three are to be considered as overlapping, congruent circles. In which case, the area of overlap, or center, is considered human well-being. The further alignment of said circles would indefinitely lead to the increase of the center, human well-being. The balance of each component is delicately dependent on the next. For example, a healthy, prosperous society relies on a healthy environment to provide food and resources, safe drinking water, and clean air for its citizens. The sustainability pattern denies the disputation that casualties in the environmental and social jurisdictions are inevitable. This is in addition with the argument that the casualties are acceptable conseq uences of economic development. Thus, the authors consider sustainability to be a paradigm for thinking about a future in which environmental, societal, and economic considerations are balanced in the pursuit of development and improved quality of life. The lower middle class is a sub-division of the grander middle class. Comprehensively the term refers to the group of middle class households or individuals who have not accomplished the status of the upper middle class associated with the prestige ranks of the middle class. The lower middle class establishes roughly one third of households, consisting mostly of semi-professionals, such as lower-level managers or school teachers, small business owners and skilled craftsmen. The lower middle class sh... ...hat continues to meet the requirements without compromising the ability of future generations to live quality lives of their own. Sustainable development is commonly thought to have three components: environment, society, and economy. Sustainability is considered to be a archetype for thinking about a future in which environmental, societal, and economic reflections are stable in the pursuit of expansion and improved quality of life. Works Cited International Joural of Sustainability in Higher Education> Volume 4 issue 1. (2000). http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=839800&show=abstract Education for Development Toolkit> Version 2 (2002). http://www.esdtoolkit.org/discussion/whatisesd.htm Insight- University of Gloucestershire> Sustainability Education (2005-2010). http://insight.glos.ac.uk/sustainability/Education/Pages/default.aspx

Breaking Metaphoric Shackles in Toni Morrisons Beloved :: Toni Morrison Beloved Essays

Breaking Metaphoric Shackles in Beloved      Ã‚  Ã‚   In Toni Morrison's novels, she uses her main characters to represent herself as an African American artist, and her stories as African American art, and Beloved is no exception. She does this through her underlying symbolic references to the destructiveness of slavery and the connections between the characters themselves. Syntax is also what makes this novel work, using both the powers and limits of language to represent her African American culture with simple words and name choices.    One of her main characters, Baby Suggs, uses her English with some abandon, but only after getting her message across, however simple it may seem. She might choose simplicity over complexity in speech, but her words carry the needed intensity to express herself in the little time she has left on earth (Dahill-Baue, 472-73). Baby Suggs represents the authentic black woman, having been freed from slavery by her son, Halle. "Suspended between the nastiness of life and the meanness of the dead, she couldn't get interested in leaving life or living it" (Morrison, 3).    Slavery has limited Baby Suggs' self-conception by shattering her family and denying her the opportunity to be who she wants to be, which is a good wife and mother. She is seen as wise and spiritual, even in her last days. "You lucky. You got three left. Three pulling at your skirts and just one raising hell from the other side" (Morrison, 5). What makes her so authentic is her ability to have such control over language, dismissing the "binding shackles of social codes" (Dahill-Baue, 473).    Baby Suggs is not the only main character to hint that slavery it/was an experience that could never be known exactly for what it truly was. Morrison, through all of her characters, remains willing to risk losing her main characters to a past that can be neither seen nor controlled. She uses Sethe to symbolize the border between slavery and freedom, and unexpectedly does not allow Sethe to grow in the novel and escape that painful border (Parrish, 84). Through fragmented rememories, we see that Sethe was frequently treated as an animal in her period as a slave. She once walked in on Schoolteacher giving his pupils a lesson on her "animal characteristics.

Willowbrook Reflections

Twenty-Five Years After Willower People born with intellectual disabilities and/or special needs have always been a sensitive topic in society for as long as I can remember. I grew up with a friend with Cerebral Palsy and have known people with Down syndrome, and I know the burden both the individual and families carry. I grew up in Brooklyn, New York and have lived here all my life; and I have never heard of ‘Willower the institution†. This film left me with many emotions: anger, sadness, concerned and most of all wary.Families entrusted Willower to do the right thing. Families were promised education, proper treatment, and essentially a better life for those who were Intellectually disabled. The conditions and reality wealth Holbrook were anything but that. The Individuals were treated with cruelty, negligence and a lack of compassion. With the overwhelming amount of patients, government cuts were made, creating an even worse environment. Many patients became sick. Cond itions worsen and some even died. Granted, in the sass's there was a stigma to â€Å"mental retardation† and ignorance to many disorders or conditions.However, this serves no justice in treating people in an inhumane fashion. Families did not know how to help their son or daughter, some were embarrassed and ashamed. These families felt Willower was the answer. I can't help but to draw a connection between Willower and our education system. Parents trust us teachers with their children and believe the school will take every measure to help their child succeed. Policies must be made to protect the rights of individuals with special needs. People like Patti, Luis, and Bernard are beautiful, amazing individuals. They require only patience, love, and compassion. GeraldRiviera said â€Å"All people need is humanity and compassion†, and special education needs reform and continue to improve. Willower Reflections By impreciseness Reflections on Unforgotten: Twenty-Five Years A fter Willower here all my life; and I have never heard of â€Å"Willower the institution†. This film left intellectually disabled. The conditions and reality within Willower were anything but that. The individuals were treated with cruelty, negligence and a lack of made, creating an even worse environment. Many patients became sick, conditions many disorders or conditions. However, this serves no Justice in treating people in an

The Affects of the Media on Society

The term media can be defined as a wide variety of things. For the purpose of this paper, it will be defined as the American Heritage Dictionary defines it; as â€Å"†¦an agency, by which something is accomplished, conveyed, or transferred† (2000). The co.uk/todd-gitlin-summary-on-media/">media’s role in society is an extremely prevalent topic especially in today’s day and age. The media has continuously been used as a scapegoat for the lack of other excuses for abnormal behaviors in America’s teenagers. This was obvious with the April 1999 shooting at Columbine High School near Denver, CO. The media is the easiest and most common thing to blame for teen’s behavior. Their video games, their music, everything that they listen to or watch on their own time is to blame for their behaviors, rather than poor parenting, lack of support at school or lack of noticing on anybody’s behalf that something was wrong with these two boys. Columbine is the number one instance that pops into our minds from recent memory when we contemplate the notion of media affecting our society and our societal behaviors. It was taken to the point that Marilyn Manson was being interrogated in regards to how he felt about the massacre. Parents, teachers and community members alike all believed that his music had a major influence on Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the two gunmen, and their actions that day in April. To this day, it is still a widely debated subject as to what caused these two teenagers to kill twelve of their classmates and one of their teachers before killing themselves. As far as teen behavior in general goes, it is common that society blames the media for the actions of the youth even when they as a society are the ones that create the media and the guidelines for it to be presented to the youths. Video games are the main thing that society is blaming, but television shows such as â€Å"Jackass† and â€Å"Viva La Bam† are holding their own in the lineup of things to blame. Teenagers are in a moldable, mutable state in the first place without being influenced by images of idiocy and lack of respect for everything. Thus, the reason behind why parents are putting their foot down in regards to video games such as â€Å"Vice City† and the recent â€Å"Super Columbine Massacre RPG!† The creators of the video game â€Å"Super Columbine Massacre RPG!† are not just sitting back listening to the criticism of their game. They have something to say about the reason it exists in the first place. They say â€Å"†¦This game is intended to deepen the understanding of the shooting and its possible causes. What the player takes out of it is ultimately dependant upon what the player puts into it† (Ledonne, 2005). It is easy to blame video games for abnormal behaviors, but in reality, people are just indirectly blaming themselves. Society demands a certain type of media, and so, that is what they get. They get a game full of violence, killing, stealing cars, etc. All because that is what society is begging the video game industry to produce whether they know it or not. This is not to say that there are teenagers out there that are indeed being influenced by this craze that has swept the nation in recent times. According to an article on the SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) website, in Sarasota, Florida apparently â€Å"†¦Influenced by the movie Jackass, three trespassing teens leap[t] from atop a condominium building aiming for the pool. Two ma[d]e it. One hit[] the side, fracturing both legs and an arm and cracking his pelvis†¦.† (Wallace, 2003). Although it is easy to claim that the media, such as video games and television, has a minor affect on teens in today’s society this is not always true. There are always going to be those few kids that think it would be fun to do what they see on TV or on their videogames. Overall, when all media, including video games are taken to account, it is fairly clear that although we cannot completely blame the media for the actions of teenagers in America, we can blame it for a lot of what they do. A teenager’s main goal in life is to be cool. Simple, clear cut. They just want to be part of the cool crowd. So what do they do? They look to things that the cool crowd watches, wears and how they act. They then try to mimic these things in a futile attempt to become cool. Sometimes, teens get out of hand, and things such as the kids in Sarasota, FL happen. It is only then that we realize how much of an influence the media does indeed have on us, and not just us but our posterity as well. Citations (2000). Medium. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition Web site: http://www.bartleby.com/61/51/M0195100.html Ledonne, Danny (2005). Super columbine massacre RPG!. Retrieved February 12, 2007, from Super Columbine Massacre RPG! Web site: http://www.columbinegame.com/ Wallace, Stephen G (2003). Short Circuit. Retrieved February 13, 2007, from SADD:Students Against Destructive Decisions Web site: http://sadd.org/oped/short.htm