Lucy and Ardi: Beginning of Human Origins Essay

Many people often consider our first milestone in life to be our first step. It is the beginning of many important developments as an individual. It was also the beginning of our development as a species. Dr. Donald Johanson and Dr. Tim White discovered two of the most amazing specimens that would be the stepping-stones to the beginning of evolutionary development. Australopithecus Afarensis (Lucy) and Ardipithecus Ramidus (Ardi) were the first fossils found in Africa that showed signs of early evolutionary development that is connected to Homo sapiens in the evolutionary tree. Lucy and Ardi are important to our evolutionary development because they were the first fossils to show upright walking as their primary locomotion. American paleoanthropologist, Dr. Donald Johanson, led the team that discovered Australopithecus Afarensis in 1974 at Hadar in the Awash Valley in Ethiopia. The discovery of Lucy was very significant, which was because the skeleton showed evidence of a small skull that resembled that of an ape and of bipedal upright walking that is akin to that of humans. Lucy is dated back to about 3. 2 million years ago. Lucy’s species survived for over 900,000 years, which is over four times as long as our own species has been around. A. Afarensis, which are similar to chimpanzees, grew rapidly after birth and reached adulthood earlier than modern day humans. Lucy was about the age of 11-12 years old but the formation of all of her teeth showed that he was fully matured for her species unlike modern day humans were that isn’t reach till later years (Johanson The Quest for Human Origins). This meant Lucy’s species had a shorter period of growing up than modern humans have today. A. Afarensis had both ape-like and human characteristics such as ape-like faces, which is described as flat nosed and sloping lower jaw that juts out underneath the braincase. Also Lucy had a small brain that was about 13 fluid ounces and 400 cubic centimeters, which is about one third the size of a modern human brain. They also had long, strong arms with curves fingers most likely adapted for climbing trees to hide the land animals that would attack them and also picking fruit from up in the trees. They also had small canine teeth that resembled early humans and most importantly had a body that stood on two legs and regularly walked upright. This was one of the most important features of A. afarensis because their adaptations for living both in the trees and on the ground helped them survive for almost a million years as the climate and environment changed (Johanson The Quest for Human Origins). Twenty years after the discovery of Lucy, Dr. Timothy White led a team into Middle Awash area of the Ethiopia where he discovered the first fossils of the second biggest discovery since Lucy. Ardipithecus Ramidus was uncovered in over 100 fossil specimens in the Awash area. At the time of the discovery, the genus Australopithecus was scientifically well established, so White devised the genus name Ardipithecus to distinguish this new genus from Lucy’s species. In 2009, scientists formally announce and published the findings of a partial skeleton nicknamed â€Å"Ardi†. Ardi is estimated to be about 4. 4 millions years old. Tim White and his team found bits and pieces of Ardi’s skeleton, which were heavily damaged due to erosion, and the pressure of geology. Ardi’s skull was flat with loping lower jaw that juts out underneath the braincase similar to Lucy. The pelvis of Ardi after being reconstructed from a crushed specimen, suggested that even though it was not as tall as the apes it showed similarities. Also it showed adaptations that combined tree climbing and bipedal activity. White and his colleagues that worked on Ardi suggested that Ardi was a female that was a bit large. She was about 1. 2 meters tall and about 50 kilos, which was a bit large since that was the size of a male afarensis (Johanson The Quest for Human Origins). Lastly a partial skeleton of Ardi combines human and other primate traits. Ardi moved in the trees using a grasping big toe, yet her pelvis was shorter and broader than an ape’s, indicating that she could walk bipedally. There were many pieces of evidence that proved Australopithecus afarensis to have been walking upright for thousands of years. Dr. Don Johanson brought up human like characteristics in Lucy’s bones that indicated she walked upright. One of Lucy’s most striking characteristics was her knee joint, which indicated that she normally moved by walking upright. Her greater trochanter, however, was clearly derived, being short and human-like rather taller than the femoral head (Lovejoy). Another piece of evidence that proves Lucy walked upright was the formation of her pelvis. Her pelvis and leg bones were almost identical in function to those of modern humans, showing with certainty that these hominids had walked bipedally. The third piece of evidence that made it undoubtedly that Australopithecus afarensis walked upright was the footprints found at Laetoli in northern Tanzania. In 1976, Mary Leakey discovered hominid footprints that was preserved in volcanic ash and unearthed 1978. â€Å"The Laetoli Footprints† and skeletal structure excavated showed clear evidence of bipedalism. Many believe the three individuals who made these footprints belonged to the species Australopithecus afarensis. The footprints demonstrated that Australopithecus afarensis walked upright habitually, as there were no knuckle or hand impressions found near the footprints. The footprints didn’t have the mobile big toe as the apes do; instead, they had an arch, which the typical modern humans have (Leakey 81-86). After the discovery of Ardipithecus Ramidus, Tim White and Owen Lovejoy came up with many pieces of evidence that would place Ardi on the Human Evolutionary Tree. The femur and pelvis of Ardipithecus have characters that indicate both upright bipedal walking and movement in trees. Ardi’s pelvis was more primitive than Lucy’s but still contained characteristics to walk upright bipedally. Researchers say Ardi was a facultative biped (Lovejoy). That means Ardi was able to walk on two legs but only for a short period of time. Donald Johanson said in â€Å"The Quest for Human Origins† that when moving on the ground Ardi would move bipedally, but when in the trees she was quadrupedal. Lastly Ardi had very large divergent great toe, which was probably used to climb trees. Using those feet to grasp on to the branches helped them stay out of the reach of the attackers on the ground and also climb to get fruit in the trees. Lucy and Ardi are two important specimens in history that helped us learn more about the past human origins. There were many differences and similarities between Ardi and Lucy. The main and probably most obvious similarity was the ability to walk upright. This was probably the most important characteristic that connected Homo sapiens, Australopithecus Afarensis and Ardipithecus Ramidus together. Also another similarity was the formation of both pelvises. Lucy’s was more distinctively similar to the modern human but Ardi’s still contained characteristics that made it more human than ape. Something that Ardi and Lucy also had in common was that both walked bipedally on the ground, but when in the trees they were quadrupedal. Being over a million years apart Lucy and Ardi also had some differences. Ardi was more primitive than Lucy in that she looked more like apes and had more characteristics of them. On the other hand Lucy was more developed than Ardi such as having a slightly bigger brain, having more human like anatomy when it came to the bones, and Australopithecus afarensis spent more of their days walking bipedally than in the trees. The discoveries of Australopithecus Afarensis and Ardipithecus Ramidus have changed the way we connect our human origins to the past. Dr. Donald Johanson and Dr. Timothy White have brought to us these wonders that help us understand not exactly where our species come from but where some of our human origins and characteristics started. With the evidence presented, I can agree with the interpretations of Ardi and Lucy because through science and reasoning there isn’t any doubts and anyone can bring up. There may be many subtopic arguments about the theory of evolution but they all end up with the same conclusions that Lucy and Ardi is the first stepping-stone to connect our human origins to the evolutionary tree. After Dr. Donald Johanson and Dr. Tim White discovered the two most amazing specimens that would happen to be the beginning of evolutionary development. Lucy and Ardi are important to our evolutionary development because they were the first fossils to show upright walking as their primary locomotion. After all the evidence that many anthropologist, archeologist, and paleoanthropologist discovered and examined to prove that Lucy and Ardi’s ability to walk upright is clear that they are ancestors in our human evolutionary tree.

Bus 520 Assignment 1

Consensual Relationship Agreements By: Vickie Gonzalez Bus 520 – Leadership and Organizational Behavior Professor: Dr. Marilyn Carroll October 24th, 2012 Workplace romances are now one of the challenges that organizations of all sizes have to address. How they address them varies from organization to organization. Some businesses and organizations strictly prohibit them in any form or fashion, while others prohibit them when the participants are in certain roles within the organization.Some companies have chosen not to address the issue at all and others are using a more formal method of documenting and mitigating the risk they feel these relationships pose. One of the methods of documenting, and potentially mitigating, this risk is known as a consensual relationship agreement or CRA. In the text that follows I will argue for the use of CRA’s in the workplace. Secondly, I will present a counter argument for the use of CRA’s. Then we will then look at the ethical principles involved in the use of CRA’s. Lastly I will present another option that may be available for addresses these consensual relationships.First, let’s look at what brought about the need for CRA’s. On June 28th, 1914 Gavrilo Princip, of Sarajevo, assassinated the Archduke and heir to the throne of Austria, Franz Ferdinand (Collins, 2008, p. 9). Thirty-seven days later World War I began, and with it, so did what some see as the beginnings of women entering the workplace. The Munitions of War Act of 1915 moved twenty-one percent of Britain’s wives, sisters, mothers and daughters into the workforce (Woolacott, 1994, p. 17). Factory workers became soldiers and the women in their lives became factory workers.By 1941, and the United States’ entrance into World War II, 18. 9 million American women had entered the workforce as well (Weak-Baxter, 2010, p. 14). Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor and patriotism was welling just as strong in American women as it was in American men. Now, according to the US Department of Labor, there are 72 million women in the civilian labor force alone (2012). The years following World War II were a time of challenge, adaptation and diversification for business, and revolution and exploration for women. Harassment, specifically sexual harassment, is one of those hallenges faced by businesses and employers as of a result of workplace diversification. Inappropriate conversations, unwanted advances and uncomfortable physical contact are some of the ways sexual harassment can occur. According to Hellriegel and Slocum, â€Å"Sexual harassment refers to unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. † (p. 52). To be clear, sexual harassment can, and has, affected both women and men over the years however up to half of all working women have reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment in the career (Vijayasiri, 2008, p. ). It wasn’t until 1986 though that the Supreme Court recognized sexual harassment as a violation of Title VII in the case of Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson (O’Brien, 1994, p. 1). Before the high court’s ruling, however, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had begun to address the issue by drafting hostile work environment guidelines that included sexual harassment (O’Brien, 1994, p. 4). These guidelines would serve later to guide the high court’s decision. There are many more cases like this one we could look at.In 1991, sexual harassment became a household term as Anita Hill testified before congress stating she was sexually harassed by a current nominee for the Supreme Court. In her statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee Ms. Hill stated, â€Å"It is only after a great deal of agonizing consideration, and sleepless, number of , great number of sleepless night, that I am able to talk of these unpleasant matters to anyone but my close frie nds† ( Black Scholar, 1991, p 1). For many American this was the first time they had really thought about or discussed sexually harassment.It was on our televisions, out in the open, for the whole world to see. As a result of brave employees like Ms. Hill and many others sexual harassment is no less tolerated in the workplace and employers are required to have specific policies addressing it. Now what happens when the relationship between two employees is consensual? No harassment has occurred. Romance is in the air. Some organizations have policies that prohibit workplace relationships of any kind and participating in one is grounds for termination. Other businesses only prohibit these relationships in the event that one party reports to or manages the other.More and more firms are using consensual relationship agreements or CRAs. A CRA is a written agreement or contract in which the involved parties agree to specific guidelines in the workplace (Hellriegel/Slocum, 2011, p. 6 5). This is one of the practices or policies an organization can use to mitigate the risks associated with workplace relationships. In this agreement the parties involved state that the relationship is voluntary. They agree to abide by any and all anti-harassment or anti-discrimination policies the business has in place, including reporting any violation of these policies that may occur.They also agree to behave professionally at all times which includes avoiding even the appearance of favoritism. There are proponents and opponents of the use of these agreements in the workplace. I agree with the proponents of the use of CRAs in the workplace. Hellriegel and Solcum mention several arguments in favor in CRAs in the workplace in our text. I would like to look at three of these. The first argument that Hellriegel and Solcum mention is that CRAs help mitigate the risk of any sexual harassment litigation (p. 65). I have to agree with this argument. Office relationships can be wonderful.I know several happy couples who met at the office. They manage their personal and professional lives well. However this is not always the case, and when the relationship fails, things may change. This can be especially true if this relationship involved one part that directly, or even indirectly reports to the other. The employee may suggest they were pressured into the relationship by their manager. The manager may resent the employee and treat them unfairly. Both of these scenarios, and many others, open the doors to litigation. The employer in both of these cases could be found liable in a sexual harassment suit.Damages awarded in these cases can be punitive and compensatory. In 1997 large corporations spent more than 6 million for each sexual harassment suit they defended themselves against and/or settled (Vijayasiri, 2008, p. 2) Employers can protect themselves from this risk by ensuring they have a very clearly stated workplace relationship policy that, in my opinion, should i nvolve the use of CRAs. The second argument is favor of the use of CRAs is that they help to reduce the appearance of favoritism in the workplace (Hellriegel/Slocum, 2011, p. 65).Ensuring that there is not even the appearance of favoritism in the workplace is not just a matter of fair policy. In many cases a third party can sue their employer for sexual harassment if they feel they are being discriminated against as the result of a workplace relationship. Employees are human and emotions and perception are part of being human. No employer can predict what behavior will be acceptable to one employee and offensive to another, A CRA requiring both participants in the relationship to behave in a professional manner can help minimize this risk of offending a third party.In 2001, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld a verdict in favor of Diane Leibovitz for $60,000 against the New York City Transit Authority or NYCTA for what the court determined to be a hostil e work environment (Leibovitz v. NYCTA, 2001). Ms. Leibovitz sued the NYCTA for sexual harassment and emotional distress after confronting her employer regarding the sexual harassment of 3 other female co-workers. Ms. Leibovitz’s job was threatened if she did not remain silent.As a result of these threats she suffered from depression and sleep deprivation. Ms. Leibovitz was not the victim of any sexual advances or misconduct, however, witnessing it and her employer’s inaction created a hostile work environment and a $60,000 judgment on her behalf. The third agreement presented in the text in favor of the use of CRA’s is that they create a forum where human resources can talk openly with employees about the responsibilities and ramification that come with an office romance (Hellriegel/Slocum, 2011, p. 5). This is simply an opportunity for the employer to remind the employee what behavior is and is not appropriate in the workplace. The employer can also restate th e company’s commitment to preventing sexual harassment. This is the time for open and honest discussion in the hopes that awareness and understanding may prevent litigation. Those who argue against the use of CRA’s in the workplace argue that they are a violation of the employee’s privacy and in-effective.

Beggar at Damascus Gate

‘Yasmine Zahran was born in Ramallah, Palestine. She was educated at Columbia University, and London University. She earned a doctorate in archeology from the Sorbonne. She is the author of two previous books; one on ancient Palestine, Echoes of History, and a novel, The First Melody [3]. ’ A Beggar at Damascus Gate is a story of love, intrigue and mystery.It is quite difficult to classify it in a single genre. At one point it seems like a love story, at another, like a spy novel, and yet at other times, it just seems like a literary work of history [2].Cold and alone in a small inn, an archaeologist/professor, Foster comes across an old dusty canvas bag in the closet of his room. Opening this, he finds letters and journals. He hesitates at first, not wanting to go through someone else’s personal journals, but curious, he reads them, to discover that they belong to two lovers – A Palestinian woman Rayya, living in exile in France and an English man Alex. Th ey were married to each other. What follows is a well crafted novel, weaved with passages from the lovers’ journals. Foster is fascinated, and decides to compile the journals and letters into a single manuscript, and get it published.Zahran’s novel can simply be called a master piece. â€Å"It is story about lovers of two contending cultures. † Rayya is a deeply patriotic woman, completely devoted to her cause, of seeing Palestine as a free and sovereign state. A lot of the narrative is based on Rayya’s determination. The book is set in the time immediately after the 1967 Arab-Israeli conflict. Palestine is under military occupation. Britain has colonized Palestine. There relationship is marred by political instabilities, and stubborn national loyalties. When Rayya and Alex first come to know each other, Zahran follows a light-hearted course.Both tease each other about their backgrounds, their different cultures and their different heritage. But slowly an d sadly, this emerges into a much deeper rebellion – both begin getting suspicious about each other. Is Rayya more devoted to her homeland, or to her love? Is Alex really the man he shows himself to be [2]? Suspicions begin when Rayya discovers that Alex can speak Arabic [4]. She begins fearing that he could be an English spy. There relationship is painful and poignant. At times, out of national loyalty, both try to separate from each other, but emotions continue to draw them together.Rayya’s suspicions eventually cause Alex’s death [4]. The narrative follows the eight year relationship between the two. Zahran also brings out the contemporary Palestinian culture and thought to life. In fact, the plight of the Palestinians’ is what stands out most in the book. Even something as strong as true love is not able to bring two people from these two vastly different cultures together. The fate of the Palestinian people hangs continually over their relationship a nd the story follows a tragic path of treachery and suspicion. The book shows the â€Å"collective psyche of the Palestinian people, and what the ‘Nakba’ did to it [2].† Palestinians were expelled from their territory, where Israel was born. The Palestinian exodus is called the ‘Nakba,’ meaning disaster. Zahran cleverly intertwines snatches of the journals in the narrative, and we come across Rayya’s poetry, which is very moving. Her writing is dreamlike and full of feeling, ‘A poetic, empowering portrayal of the struggle for liberation – both personal and political liberation [2]. ’ Foster spends ten years looking for the couple desperately, and finally, is about to give up hope, till he actually finds Rayya.The tension builds up, and ultimately, Zahran brings us to an anti-climax, as life often is [2]. Good does not always triump over evil, nor does love over hate. Zahran avoids using cliche’s [2]. What she depicts is the true plight of millions displaced from their very homeland. The relationship between Alex and Rayya too is not a typical one. Both have their national loyalties, and will abide by them no matter what. Rayya, in particular is passionately devoted to the Palestinian cause. Never does Zahran isolate the characters from the life around them.It is indeed the life and the war around them that lead to their separation. What many critics believe is that Alex probably never truly understood Rayya’s passion for her homeland, since he had never lived a life of oppression. He did not understand what it was like to have your home country and people under military occupation, for years. Rayya, on the other hand had been brought up in a time and region of constant political instability and military warfare. The experiences in her life had shaped her into an intensely patriotic, strong person, defending her cause, her people and her nation.Written in first person, from the mind of Fo ster, Zahran has built up an interesting and engaging narrative structure that keeps the reader captivated. In fact many have found Zahran’s writing almost magical, and strangely close to life. Her style is deceptively simple. It can undoubtedly be accepted that ‘A Beggar at Damascus Gate’ is one of the best works of contemporary literature. The book is also a beautiful preservation of an emotional human relationship, and the culture and life of a daunting era. The book ends vaguely, but Zahran has made herself clear. The tragedy lies not only in Alex and Raya’s alienation.It lies in the damage war and conflict can do. Zahran states it herself – â€Å"Love is a constantly changing landscape [1]. † Even though the lovers cannot be together by the end, Zahran does not leave the reader dejected. What Rayya and Alex shared may not have lasted, but it left its impact. For both, the relationship proved to be a journey of self-discovery; â€Å"the final resolution surprises them both and reveals a depth to their commitments that neither had previously realized [3]. † It also proved to be a deep experience for Foster, and resulted in his determination to find either of the two, and to get the manuscript published.What is more haunting is the fact that readers, even today can understand the strife of the characters – Palestine is still far from free. Rayya’s dream is still a dream; her homeland is still not free. As Marzahn stated in her review; â€Å"We all need a little place to call home, a little piece of world to which we belong. The realization for some people that it is not possible to return home is one of sorrow. Reading The Beggar at Damascus Gate by Yasmin Zahran brings to the forefront that poignant struggle facing many Palestinians.It is a book that makes one think about home, loss, and the just cause [4]. † Works Cited: 1. Zahra, Yasmin. A Beggar at Damascus Gate. The Post Apollo Press, ISBN: 0-942996-24-0 2. Amazon Reviews, A Beggar at Damascus Gate, retrieved from http://www. amazon. com/Beggar-at-Damascus-Gate/dp/0942996240 3. Swensen, Cole and Cooke, Miriam, A Beggar at Damascus Gate (short review), retrieved from http://www. postapollopress. com/A_Beggar. html 4. Marzahn, Michelle A. A Beggar at Damascus Gate: A War Between Emotions and Politics, Book review from Al Jadid, Vol. 2, No. 7, May 1996

Nummi Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nummi - Essay Example However, even after sending 16 top managers to learn on the best ways to induce change in the organization in order to produce high quality cars, the managers were unable to bring changes. Majority of them opted to quit. This is because General Motors had a change resistant culture. For instance, workers liked things the way they were. This is because they were highly paid despite having not to work very hard for their compensation. Therefore, they did not see any need for change. The managers who were sent to NUMMI wanted to maintain a status quo. The compensation in General Motors was linked to hierarchy. As a result, the subordinates had to wait for years before they are promoted to management levels. Therefore, the managers did not want any change that would reduce their powers. This is because more people were reporting to them, an aspect that meant that they had more power. The Toyota approach would highly affect the hierarchical structure in General Motors. This would mean that power would be distributed to many managers in order to improve the levels of supervision. This created resistance from the above. There was an internal culture that branded teamwork as telling on each other rather than working with each other. This culture acted as a major barrier because the employees could not work as a single unit. The conflicts that remained unsolved made it hard for them to relate with each other. Therefore, even after the attempts to introduce Toyota’s culture in the organization, the level of resistance was very high because the subordinates could not put their differences aside and work together towards a common objective. General Motors was departmentalized. Therefore, there was lack of internal connection between the departments. This culture created an interdepartmental competition, an aspect that made it hard for the organization to work as a unit. When plants tried to implement the methods that were used by Toyota, they ended up failing because

)edipus Rex and A Raisin in the Sun Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

)edipus Rex and A Raisin in the Sun - Essay Example This article aspires to draw out comparison in the area of 'Written and Unwritten Laws' that govern the setup in both works, even though the two belong to completely different time periods and genres, as already mentioned. Oedipus Rex is set-up in olden day Greece, wherein the State was an important aspect of governance. It w as governed by laws and duties, fundamental to the state. These were the written laws of the state. When Creon lays down that Polynices, who is envisaged as the enemy of the state, not be given the rightful burial, he does so with the perspective fo attaching more importance to the state. However, he is opposed by his wife, son and other civilian citizens. This is due to the fact that sometimes, unwritten laws of humane nature gain an upper hand over the written rules and regulations of the state. In addition to this, we get well acquainted with the theme of 'prophesising', in the Greek drama. Tiresias is a person who can pronounce prophecies and advise people on what needs to be done.

FINANCIAL REPORTING - INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING STANDARS Essay

FINANCIAL REPORTING - INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING STANDARS - Essay Example The IASC was founded by an Accountants’ International Study Group in the year of 1973 (Wood & Sangster, 2008). The IASB is an independent accounting setting body. After formally converting into the international accounting standards setting body, the IASB decided to develop, in the public interest, a single set of high quality international accounting standards(about Us). Since its inception, the IASB has been successful in introducing and implementing many fundamental accounting standards globally. Many developed and under-developed countries have extended their support for the mission of the IASB. However, there are still certain areas where the IASB faces a real threat of challenges. Critical analysis of the IASB Has the dream of global international accounting standards received a reality in the corporate world? Many authors have no positive answer for this question. Additionally, many believe that a single international accounting body may create problems for many stakeho lders (Lont, 2010).To substantiate their point, they say that the international accounting standards of the IASB are voluntary in nature: The IASB has no legal authority to impose and implement these accounting standards on any entity. Since the IASB has no legal authority to enforce its own devised international accounting standards, it would not be easy for the IASB to ensure the global uniform application of the standards. Furthermore, soon after the creation of the IASC, Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in the United States of America came into existence, creating a counter balancing force to the mission of the IASC. In the same year of 1973, the FASB drafted its own accounting standards and implemented on the corporations working inside America. Till this point of time, the U.S. corporations follow the Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP), in other countries; the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are used. Also, the IASB faces some politica l challenges as well. The powerful waves of global financial crisis drowned the boats of many large multi-nationals between the periods of 2007 to 2009. Many critics point out the fair value model used in the International Accounting Standards IAS 39 was mainly responsible in bringing the nightmare of global financial crisis. In October 2008, the IASB came under a severe attack from the European political leaders over the role of IAS 39 in the global financial crisis (Veron, 2010). Given to the severity of economic and financial situation, the IASB brought some reclassification amendment to the IAS 39 standard on the financial instruments (Veron, 2010). Additionally, the FASB behaves like a competitor rather than a professional associate of the IASB. Recently, it has been announced by the IASB and the FASB that by the end of 2015, the IFRS would be enforced in America. This is an attempt to ensure the global uniform application of the IFRS; and this would bring a forward step moveme nt of the IASB in attaining its global mission. However, this global mission received a serious blow when the FASB separately and independently developed and published its own visions on how to introduce reforms in the accounting of financial instruments (Veron, 2010). Furthermore, the IASC Foundation has received many questions on its professional integrity towards achieving its mission. The European banking industry shares its many reservations over the many of the announcements of the IASC. This situation has created an environment of

Starkey HR Ltd Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Starkey HR Ltd - Essay Example Redundancies should be a matter of last resort. Starkey must initially make efforts to identify the employees with special skills and experience and retain them. Reducing working time, pay cut, temporary leaves, less dependence on casual staff are some of the desirable measures. If redundancies are inevitable, a voluntary redundancy scheme should be employed. The offers of the scheme should be clearly outlined and sent to all applicable employees. In case of forced redundancies, the method of selection should be fair and non-discriminatory that takes the expertise and experience into consideration.Redundancy is enhanced in companies where statutory entitlements are low. The redundancy packages in most EU countries are quite high in comparison to the UK with a few exceptions such as the Netherlands and France. The average redundancy pay in the EU is more than twice the amount paid by employers in the UK. Under EU regulation, workers are supposed to be informed and consulted in any cas e of redundancies. Additionally, companies need to determine a threshold level for the redundancy and are determined by the size of the workforce and number of required redundancies.Forecasting allows a business to create and modify the financial and promotional strategy of a company in addition to allowing it to keep track of the performance of all requisite parameters, which play a crucial role in decision making and implementing the required changes to existing strategy.

Globalization and International Financial Management Research Paper

Globalization and International Financial Management - Research Paper Example Factors such as relative interest rate, real interest rate, relative income level and other government controls are few which affect the determination of exchange rate. Governments all across the globe vigilantly monitor their exchange rates and actively make the direct and indirect intervention for control purposes. Measuring the change in the exchange rate is easier as compared to evaluating the intricacy of the factors responsible for it. In order to analyze the cause and effect of a change in exchange rate, the concept of exchange rate equilibrium can be utilized. The concept is based on the basics of the law of demand and supply. Like a commodity, the foreign currency is also traded in markets where their exchange rates are determined based on the current demand and supply of that particular currency in the global economy. In order to grasp the concept, let us take two currencies into comparison: United States Dollar ($) and Euro (â‚ ¬). The exchange rate of Euro will be dete rmined by the conditions of demand and supply of the currency in Europe. In addition, the demand for Euro in the United States will also be a major factor in determining the exchange rate of the currency. ... Inflation rate holds significance in determining the spot exchange rate of a country. Inflation rate casts direct impacts on the trading activity of a country. Higher inflation in one country would cause its goods to become less desirable in other parts of the world and thus its exchange will deteriorate as the demand for the currency of that particular currency will decline. Interest rates are also one of the factors responsible for fluctuation in the exchange rate. Interest rate can categorize into relative interest rate and real interest rate in order to determine the effect of a change in the exchange rate as a result of its hike and decline. Considering the relative interest rate, it can be defined as the change in the interest rate of the country when compared with any ot her country. If the interest rate in country A rises while the one in country B remains constant, the investors in the country in A will deter from demanding the currency of country B as for them it is much more lucrative to invest in country A as it offers higher interest rates. Similarly, for investors in country B, it is much more desirable to invest in country A. The investors in country B will then resort to selling their currency in order to obtain the currency of country A. Result, the exchange rate of the country A will escalate when compared with that of country B. This can be more intricate when the effect of change in exchange rate is taken into consideration from a global perspective. The change in the exchange rate of a third can also cause the relative exchange rate between the country A and B although their relative interest rates remain the same.

C6 Marketing Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

C6 Marketing Management - Essay Example ASW’s course of action is formulated and analyzed as per the market situation. In the Marketing Strategy section, the target market is discussed and recommendations of introducing an exclusive web portal for the customers on which they can place orders from their homes and pick it up as per their convenience. For this, ASW will need a strong technological backing in order to execute this plan. Alongside this, ASW must open more stores in the format of High Street supermarkets because the company experienced lagging sales in the winter because of the snow where people could not access the stores. The report also gauges the campaign’s financial feasibility with a tentative budget. All in all, the campaign would prove to be a success because of its appealing idea of convenience to the customers for which they are even willing to pay a little extra. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 INTRODUCTION 3 SITUATION ANALYSIS 3 Analysis of the Industry 5 Competitor Analysis 6 Tar get Market 6 Brand Positioning for ASW 7 (Hong Kong Retail Management Association. 2010) 8 Retail Marketing Strategy 8 Product 8 Price 9 Place 10 Promotion 10 FINANCIAL PLAN 11 EXECUTING THE PLAN 12 IDENTIFYING RISKS 13 CONCLUSION 14 REFERENCES 16 INTRODUCTION ASW was officially found in 1828 and has now grown into a global giant with presence in 33 countries and more than 9000 stores worldwide. Since its establishment, ASW has grown from just a food and grocery retailer to a manufacturer as well and has added non-food merchandise into its merchandising mix. The company employs a workforce of about 98,000 people across the globe spread out in the markets of the UK, Europe and Asia (aswatson.com, 2011). ASW’s strategy is to strengthen its assortment in the category of non-food items further and bring it up to the level of its food category. It is also to illuminate its presence in global markets alongside global giants. One of the company’s strengths is its ability to c onnect with the community in which it operates. This ability has led it to growth in the international markets because ASW tailors itself according to the needs of its customers. Besides this, ASW usually uses the Joint Venture mode of entry into international markets which minimizes risks and compliments the company’s strategy of localizing according to different markets (baltictimes.com, 2004). SITUATION ANALYSIS According to the Hong Kong Retail Management Association, the regulatory body of the Hong Kong retail industry states that there are approximately 60,000 retail businesses in all in the industry, including food, non-food, round-the-corner store, multi-channel, small and large retailers. The retail industry records a turnover of HKD 300.03 billion hence contributing 87% to the total GDP. (Business Monitor International, 2010) This organized retail industry consists of a few major players with ASW being the leader. It faces competition from giants such namely Harvey Nichols, Lane Crawford, Sogo, Seibu, AEON, UNY, Wing On etc (Chine-HongKong-travelguide.com, 2010). After the global financial turmoil, the Hong Kong economy is slowly on its way to recovery. As far as the retail environment is concerned, despite the economic slowdown in the year 2007, the industry has shown growth and the industry has registered increases in sales in the year 2010 (Business Monitor International, 2010). Besides that, the industry is expected to experience

Concept of Justice in Bhagavad Gita Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Concept of Justice in Bhagavad Gita - Essay Example The Bhagavad Gita is considered to be the sacred text of Hinduism and has pivotal importance. It has about seven hundred verses and its instructor is Krishna, who is the Divine One(The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 1010). In this allegorical representation of justice, the five Pandava brothers return to their land only to find out that it has been taken over by their relatives. The five brothers make peaceful attempts to ensure that their cousins return, what is rightfully theirs. However, the cousins refuse, which compels Arjuna to compel war against them. The war is waged and it is a righteous war in order to ensure that justice is attained in the land (The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 1012). In the Bible, the social justice aspect can be easily witnessed in the verses of Bible (The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 1207). Many of the verses concentrate on the social justice aspect. The verses revolve around the sayings of Jesus, which states that individuals, who have material possessions, must take care of the poor and disadvantaged. At the same time, criticism against racism, partiality, and discrimination can also be seen. The discrimination prevailed against women, poor, lepers, Gentiles and people, who had no rights and no voice(The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 1213). The Koran is considered to be the sacred text of the Muslims. The concept of justice in Koran is based on morality and it is related to the personality of human beings (The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 1426). Justice is very important part of the Koran and it explicitly asserts that God is just and fair in dealing.  

Grendel & Existentialism Essay Example for Free

Grendel Existentialism Essay â€Å"I understood that the world was nothing; a mechanical chaos of casual, brute enmity on which we stupidly impose our hopes and fears. I understood that, finally and absolutely, I alone exist. All the rest, I saw, is merely what pushes me, or what I push against, blindly-as blindly as all that is not myself pushes back. † Existentialism is a philosophy that I, personally, was unfamiliar with until we talked about it in class. The relationship between Grendel and existentialism was profound to me not only in the way that it drew lines of symmetry, but in the way that it helped me to interpret the concepts behind the philosophy. This quote spoke to me because it demonstrates how Grendel is pressured into living an existentialist lifestyle by the very forces that he says push upon him. Grendel delves into the psyche of a man-beast whose only choice is to react to the world as an existentialist; the world (specifically mankind) exemplifies all of existentialism’s concepts, proving Grendel’s niche to be that of an existentialist. â€Å"Dark chasms! † I scream from the cliff-edge, â€Å"seize me! Seize me to your foul black bowels and crush my bones! † I am terrified at the sound of my own huge voice in the darkness At the same time, I am secretly unfooled. The uproar is only my own shriek, and chasms are, like all things vast, inanimate. They will not snatch me in a thousand years, unless, in a lunatic fit of religion, I jump. † [Grendel, pg. 10] Grendel knows that he is alone, despite his attempts to fool himself. This is ratified by his mother’s inability to speak to him, the fear animals have of him, and the rejection he receives from mankind. He has no explanation for anything in existence due to his inability to communicate with anyone, until the dragon comes along. â€Å"My knowledge of the future does not cause the future. It merely sees it, exactly as creatures at your low level recall things past. And even if, say, I interfere even then I do not change the future, I merely do what I saw from the beginning. That’s obvious, surely. Let’s say it’s settled then. So much for free will and intercession! † [Grendel, pg. 63] Lack of free will is another concept of existentialism. Grendel’s previously mentioned lack of communication makes him eager to soak up any idea that the dragon shares with him, and eventually he takes this to mean that his war on the mead hall was not done of his own free will, but because it was his future as the dragon foresaw it.

Pip and Estella Essay Example for Free

Pip and Estella Essay Chapter 33 opens with Pip again showing how obsessed he is with Estella. He says however, even in my eyes suggesting that he realises that he sees her in a better light than anybody else for example Herbert says in chapter 22: Shes a Tartar. Pip notices a change in her mannerisms in this visit, only the second time the two have met since adulthood. Pip again shows that he knows she is different around him to around other people as he says, cared to let it be to me, he seems to know, or at least believe that she is ruder, more insulting and supercilious in Pips company than that of people in her social circle, or of class. Throughout this chapter and chapter 29, even though both Pip and Estella are adults now, we see the influence of Miss Havisham. Estella blames her actions upon her being made to follow the unknown orders of Miss Havisham; and I write in obedience to it suggests that Estella is otherwise unwilling to have any contact with Pip at all, and she wants him to know this. Estella also says; We have no choice, you and I, but to obey our instructions. We are not free to follow our own devices, you and I. which suggests that she is unhappy. This is interpreted badly by Pip as to mean that she wants more between them than is allowed, whereas she could mean exactly the opposite. Pip recognises however her reluctance and an awkward air of orders being carried out when he says; She drew her arm through mine, as if it must be done As a child Miss Havisham always encouraged Pip to like Estella with influential dialogue such as And never see her again, though she is so pretty? . But it becomes dramatically apparent that Estella wants to discourage Pip from following Miss Havishams encouragements; Will you never take warning? Or do you kiss my hand in the spirit I once let you kiss my cheek? and although she seems to have started off the visit quite mannered and nicer to Pip she soon returns to arrogant and supercilious with lines such as; you must not expect me to go to school to you; I must talk in my own way. which also suggests that she is trying to distance herself from Pip. However she does seem to show a trust and dependence upon Pip when she entrusts him with her purse and although she does so coldly, holds his arm. Is that just a way to lure him? Pip is well aware that she tries to lure him as he says in Chapter 29 She treated me as a boy still, but she lured me on. But even this sense of Estella trying to manipulate Pip as Pip now knows is the plan of Miss Havisham does not dissuade him as he says; It was impossible for me to avoid seeing that she cared to attract me; and that she made herself winning; and would have won me even if the task had needed pains. he obviously knows the intentions of Miss Havisham to wreak revenge on all the male sex when he continues with she held my heart in her hand because it would have wrung any tenderness in her, to crush it and throw it away. In Chapter 33 she calls Pip a silly boy as a derogatory term, echoing earlier episodes when she regularly referred to him, although a peer as boy. Although actually for the first time in the novel she also called him Pip. Is this Estella purposely trying to make Pip think they are closer or their relationship has changed in some way, maybe more intimate than before in the novel. Throughout the chapter Estella remains quite composed and a strong character whilst Pip explicitly hints at his feelings towards Estella and drifts off into daydreams; having forgotten everything but herself, he obviously has stronger feeling towards her than her feeling to him, if she has any at all, which, although hinted at have not been explicitly shown. Even when we do see a hint that Estella does have feelings for Pip, we must also remember that Pip, as narrator, is biased, as wishful thinking possibly. As a very small point, but one that may show a point in the story of importance, Estella says kiss my cheek whereas Pip says kiss the cheek could this be Pip trying to distance himself from Estella, show a hardening to her temptations? Pip says; Her reverting to this tone as if our association were forced upon us gave me pain Whatever her tone with me happened to be, I could put no trust in it, and build no hope on it; which tells the reader that he is hardening to her effects, but Pip obviously adores her too much when he continues; I went on against trust and hope continuing the idea that he does not just love her, but has become obsessed by Estella. However, it is made explicitly obvious that she can certainly live without Pip and intends to do so. But she continues to, obvious to the reader if not to Pip, encourage his beliefs of her mutual feelings when she says indeed you are already mentioned which suggests to Pip that he is considered by Estella often, although we do not know who mentioned Pip, as it could just be the plans of Miss Havisham for Pip to visit. If the reader views Estella as completely manipulative and heartless, then this being the first time in the novel that she calls Pip by his name could be seen as Estella trying to drag Pip further into her net and Pip realise this, although he still continues to let it work. Chapter 33 is a key point where Pip realises Estellas true intentions, or at least begins to see through her plans. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Great Expectations section.

Constructions of Nationalism and Race

Constructions of Nationalism and Race Making Others/Making Us: Constructions of Nationalism and Race The essay presents a critique of various articles based on concepts of space and identity. The different articles analyzed discuss how individuals from different races interact in a given space as well as geographical location. The article Latino immigrants and the regeneration of place and belonging in small town America by Lise Nelson and Nancy Hiemstra offer a comparison of the politics of place and belonging within two communities namely Woodburn (Oregon) and Leadville in Colorado. As explained in the article, the two communities have experienced a considerable rise in the number of Latino immigrants in the last two decades; hence the members of the society face the issue of belonging. The article authors present detailed explanation regarding the demographic information of the members of the two communities, as well as the impacts of the immigration on place identity and social belonging. The article is informative since it brings out a significant negative impact on the increased number of immigrants. As explained by the authors, the individuals who currently immigrate to America hold different perspectives as compared to their counterparts who settled in the country a century ago. The new and post-modern immigrants are barely interested in assimilating into the American culture since they have adopted a rather parasitic approach to the US. Therefore, the issue of belonging and place identity sets in since the current immigrants only want to attach themselves to their American host and later feed off it, and at the same time, maintain their native cultures and identity. However, the authors fail to appreciate the positive impacts of immigrants in the United States. According to the authors, the immigrants only benefit from the communities, in which they finally settle, hence referring to the individuals as parasites. The authors have ignored the numerous benefits bro ught about by the immigrants. Such benefits include the availability of new skills and expertise in US companies, the rich culture which ultimately leads to acculturation, as well as work efficiency particularly due to the presence of millions of undocumented workers in the country. Nonetheless, the authors further ventures into assessing the concept of immigrant incorporation which has been debated on multiple instances of assimilation, transnationalism, and multiculturalism. The issues about immigrants have been well reviewed using concepts of place and belonging. Even though individuals moving to new places adapt to the new culture, it is quite difficult to shed previous identities and cultural or political affiliations. In that light, the authors appreciate the fact that immigrants are expected to maintain active social networks as well as conduct essential life activities across national boundaries, form trans-local spaces of community, political action and affiliation. The article further ventures into appreciating the concept of space and identity in regard to the immigrants to the two communities in the US. The authors describe the concepts of place and identity pertaining to the socially recognized membership of immigrants. The literature in the article is considerably adequate in elaborating the concept of belonging, as the authors describe belonging as the desire for some attachment, either of other places, people, ways in which people and groups are involved in attempting to long or wanting to become. Furthermore, the authors have provided an excellent description of the concept of place and the community. As explained in the article, structures of class, race, as well as illegality in migration shape whether the immigrants are viewed (or view themselves) as full members of a given community or geographical place. The authors have concluded that there are shortcomings in treating immigrants as an undifferentiated mass, particularly in homogeneous circumstances. In that light, the analysis of the immigrants into the two communities in the US is pertinent to identifying the underlying principles of the concept of place and identity. As elaborated by the authors, the Mexican immigrants who settled in Woodburn and Leadville positioned themselves as per the hierarchies of class, race, and illegality. Therefore, it would be quite difficult to attain nationalism in those two communities since the immigrants still had strong ties with their original cultures despite being assimilated into the American culture. A similar concept of the legality of migration has been discussed in McClintocks article on Nationalism, Gender, and Race. As explained by McClintock, all nationalisms are gendered, and in most instances, it is dangerous since it represents relations to political power as well as various constructs of violence. The article provides a detailed explanation of the negative impacts of nationalism as it attempts to demean immigrants and their original way of life. As the article states, nationalism invents nations where they do not exist and also tries to construct most modern countries regardless of their appeal to an honored and immemorial past, but the nations are all of the recent invention. McClintock further notes that nationalism ends up being constitutive of individuals identities through social competitions that are usually violent as well as gendered. The article has successfully assessed the concept of gender difference in terms of provision of access to resources and rights in the country.   According to McClintock, no nation has ever been bold enough to offer women and men the same access to national resources or even granted equal rights to the two genders. The article by McClintock provides an exclusive description of the concept of nationalism as he equates gender with power in any nation. According to the author, gender differences between men and women are symbolic to the limits of differences in a country as well as the governmental power among men. Women are typically viewed as the symbolic bearers of the country whereas men as regarded as the policy makers as well as rulers. In that light, nationalism is a gendered discourse that would be challenging to understand without consideration of a theory of gender power. There is an excellent examination of the different entities that tend to differ with the gendering of countries. On the other hand, white feminists have been greatly involved in the identification of the downside of the concept of nationalism. However, the feminists have been considerably slow in recognizing that nationalism is more of a feminine issue. The third article that focuses on constructions of nationalism and race is The Most German of Towns: Creating an Ideal Nazi Community in Rothenburg ob der Tauber by Joshua Hagen. The article explores the means through which Rothenburg was manipulated to further the ideologies the Nazi believed to be the major features of German and its history. According to the article, it was during the Nazi period that the Rothenburg town (which was a symbol of Germanys culture) acted to illustrate as well as model the Nazis ideas of the landscape and also how to run the country. The article offers a rich introduction that lays the foundation of the paper by explaining that such activities as tourism, anti-Semintism as well as historical preservation went through changes and also acted as key issues to further the policies of the Nazi rule. The article provides detailed insights into the issue of imagined communities in attempts to explain the impacts of the Nazi rule in the nation, particularly in Rothenburg Town. Through the examination of the concept of the imagined communities, the article has adequately provided a key to understanding how the issues of culture, identity, and relations in the society have been expressed in terms of historic places and landscapes. The author further details the perfect picture of a nation through the exploration of geographical space that is romanticized and involving a historical landscape. Through the explanation about the concepts of space and place as provided by the author, the article makes it evident that nationalizing certain historical landscapes and places are of great significance as it represents the idea of the country as well as its part. Besides, the process of nationalizing such entities becomes essential in limiting, contesting, as well as shaping the contexts through which the communities in the countries are imagined. Therefore, the Nazi capitalized on landscaping and space in efforts to frame their envisioned national community. Another article addressing a similar concept of the imagined communities is Imagined Communities Selections by Anderson. As Anderson puts it, nationality (nation-ness and nationalism) are cultural artifacts regarded to be of a particular kind. The article by Anderson presents an excellent account of the origin of the concept of nationality, a concept that is related to the idea of imagined communities. With the description of the ways through which nationality as a concept has come into being, as well as why nationalism currently commands great emotional legitimacy, the author fully paints the picture of the imagined communities. The article can also be described as informative as it provides a detailed explanation of the reasons as to why the cultural artifacts continue to arouse such deep emotions and attachments, particularly in the construction of modern societies. Anderson further proposes a way to discern between communities upon consideration of nationalism. According to Ander son, nationalism masquerades under false pretenses and therefore, there is the need to assimilate the term invention to falsity and fabrication instead of referring to it as creation or imagining. In that light, true communities exist, and they can be advantageously positioned to nations. However, despite the full description of the concepts of nationalism and imagined communities, the article does not warrant a sure way or style to imagine communities. As opposed to Joshua Hagens article that accounts how the Nazi fully designed Rothenburg Town to become a modern town, Anderson fails to give a detailed description of how individuals can imagine the new and modern communities. As Anderson claims, communities are to be discerned by the style in which they are imagined rather than by their genuineness or falsity. The major shortcoming to Andersons belief is that different societies may hold different styles or ideas of their imagined communities.

Vacation Gone Awry Essay -- Descriptive Writing Examples

I lay asleep in the car crammed between my brother and my sister; I open my eyes just in time to see a sign with half of the lights burnt out that read "State Bridge, Resort, Saloon, Restaurant, and Lodging." By the looks of the sign, I had a feeling that this place was going to be a dump. The word "resort" led me to believe it wasn't that bad. The thought I always kept in the back of my mind was what a Hawke family "vacation" was. We would always spend the least amount of money as we could, and we would leave as soon as possible. This, to my dad, was the greatest vacation. My dad had this great last minute idea of going to his sister's house in Steamboat Springs for Christmas. My family is known for last minute planning. We started planning this the day before we wanted to leave. Things never go according to plan, and we ended up leaving that very same day because there was supposed to be a huge snowstorm the next morning. So, at six that night, we all piled into our 1982, Dodge minivan. Of course, my dad made my mom drive because he hates to drive at night or driving period. He always says to my mom "Honey, if you get tired just wake me up and I'll drive." On long trips, he always falls asleep and it is quite difficult to wake him up when he is snoring. My mom always ends up driving the entire way. After driving for what seemed like an eternity, my mom decided it was time to settle into a hotel because she was getting tired, hungry, and cranky. We saw a number of hotels but every hotel that we passed showed a "no vacancy" sign. The first actual stop we made was in Eagle. As soon as the car came to a stop, my brother and my dad awoke, and of course, the bickering began because we were all cranky. My brother had been taki... ...od?" Sarcastically my mom replied, "What do you think?" "I slept good, I didn't even wake up once," my dad answered. "You didn't hear all the trains going by last night?" my mom asked. My dad replied "Nope, I didn't hear a thing." I took my spot in the crammed back seat, and I couldn't believe what had happened in that endless night. As we drove away, I hoped that we would never return to that dreadful place again. Before the vacation was even over, the Hawke family vacation goal was a success. We managed to spend only $25, and we were to start home the next day. To my dad this was a fun filled vacation, but to the rest of us, it was the most dreadful time we had ever had. Still crammed between my brother and sister, I couldn't stop thinking of our awful experience. I could only hope that our final destination would better than the previous encounter. Vacation Gone Awry Essay -- Descriptive Writing Examples I lay asleep in the car crammed between my brother and my sister; I open my eyes just in time to see a sign with half of the lights burnt out that read "State Bridge, Resort, Saloon, Restaurant, and Lodging." By the looks of the sign, I had a feeling that this place was going to be a dump. The word "resort" led me to believe it wasn't that bad. The thought I always kept in the back of my mind was what a Hawke family "vacation" was. We would always spend the least amount of money as we could, and we would leave as soon as possible. This, to my dad, was the greatest vacation. My dad had this great last minute idea of going to his sister's house in Steamboat Springs for Christmas. My family is known for last minute planning. We started planning this the day before we wanted to leave. Things never go according to plan, and we ended up leaving that very same day because there was supposed to be a huge snowstorm the next morning. So, at six that night, we all piled into our 1982, Dodge minivan. Of course, my dad made my mom drive because he hates to drive at night or driving period. He always says to my mom "Honey, if you get tired just wake me up and I'll drive." On long trips, he always falls asleep and it is quite difficult to wake him up when he is snoring. My mom always ends up driving the entire way. After driving for what seemed like an eternity, my mom decided it was time to settle into a hotel because she was getting tired, hungry, and cranky. We saw a number of hotels but every hotel that we passed showed a "no vacancy" sign. The first actual stop we made was in Eagle. As soon as the car came to a stop, my brother and my dad awoke, and of course, the bickering began because we were all cranky. My brother had been taki... ...od?" Sarcastically my mom replied, "What do you think?" "I slept good, I didn't even wake up once," my dad answered. "You didn't hear all the trains going by last night?" my mom asked. My dad replied "Nope, I didn't hear a thing." I took my spot in the crammed back seat, and I couldn't believe what had happened in that endless night. As we drove away, I hoped that we would never return to that dreadful place again. Before the vacation was even over, the Hawke family vacation goal was a success. We managed to spend only $25, and we were to start home the next day. To my dad this was a fun filled vacation, but to the rest of us, it was the most dreadful time we had ever had. Still crammed between my brother and sister, I couldn't stop thinking of our awful experience. I could only hope that our final destination would better than the previous encounter.

How Nadine Gordimer Ends Her Stories Essay -- Nadine Gordimer An Intru

How Nadine Gordimer Ends Her Stories Nadine Gordimers stories make enormous demands upon the reader. Mostly on the first reading it’s even hard to know what’s actually going on. But gradually a densely concentrated image or an idea will develop after reading over the story again and concentrating on some particular parts, like for example the endings. Indeed you should pay much attention to them. Even through nearly every of them are slightly different, they indicate what you should think about and leave you with a curious eagerness to find out more, to get to know what happens next. In fact I am sure that Nadine Gordimer just wants us to make our mind work and mull over the main meaning of the story, to uncover what she wants to express with it. In many cases, the conclusion of the story is what impresses you most. Some writers don’t realise this fact and they destroy the whole piece of work by an unsuitable ending. But Nadine Gordimer’s conclusions are marvelous. If you would miss it you won’t be able to get the point of the story because it encompasses much very important information. For example in the story â€Å"An Intruder† one of the main characters goes through a drastic change in last four lines. â€Å"She stood there wan, almost ugly, really like some wretched pet monkey shivering in a cold climate† (p. 374) This is a big contrary because throughout the whole story she was the described like a â€Å"frail little marmoset† (p. 367) and as â€Å"beautiful† (p.369). However she changes in the end â€Å"... she was grown-up, now, suddenly, as some people are said to turn white-haired overnight.† If the reader would miss this significant change in her life, he probably would not find out what the story is actually about... ... try to argue that the story ends in a fortunate way for Ella because she goes to Europe, and that’s what she was dreaming about for so long. But we have to become aware of what preceded the trip – a cruel murder, and we even don’t know if Ella is truly happy or if she enjoys the trip at all. A good way of making people think and wake their interests is to irritate them, exactly in that way how Gordimer irritates her readers with the endings. How could be Marie so blind and immature for ages and than grow up â€Å"in a second†? How is it possible that a system is SO unfair and unjustly like in case of Ella and Lena? And how does the narrator of â€Å"Africa Emergent† even dare to make him innocent for Elias’ death? Simply said, Nadine Gordimer is that kind of writer that can give a true picture of what’s going on, and can make it very interesting to the reader.

HP Company SWOT Analysis Essay -- Business Management Essays

Hewlett-Packard SWOT Analysis Strengths   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hewlett-Packard is a global technology company and after its merger with Compaq it became world’s biggest computer hardware and peripherals company in the world, ranking 20 in the Fortune 500 list. Company is doing business in more then 170 countries including the ones that are developing and under-developed. Being a large company gives HP many advantages like dominating the market for printers, both laser and inkjet, and both for consumers and companies using the economies of scale. The company is also taking an active role in developing the capacity of new markets all around the world, engaging with other multinational corporations, non-governmental organizations and other world governing bodies to reignite the competitiveness at home and abroad through policies and strategies that can support free-market economies. This is one of the reasons that makes HP a leading technology company in the growing IT markets (HP Annual Report, 2003).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hewlett-Packard generated nearly $6.1 billion in cash flow from its operations and increased its cash and equivalents by 3 billion in 2003 (Datamonitor, 2004). Debt levels in this year were also very low which was significantly lower then the previous year. This is a great advantage which enables the company to increase its investments.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  HP always recognized the need to compete in global markets. Product diversity of the company is another big advantage that enables the company to hold its position even in the times of recession. As long as the products are good and have reasonable prices there will be a demand. Company has a product span from calculators to laser printers , from notebook computers to servers. The company has a long history of inventions and innovations until it came to this stage. Research and Development (R&D) is foucused on key growth areas like rich digital media, mobility, management softwares and security. HP knows that enterprises and consumers might have different needs, but the technology requirements to meet those needs are usually the same. HP labs continue to research future technologies such as nanotechnology to ensure that the company is investing in longt-term growth and competitiveness.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After the acquisition of Compaq the new company formed four new divisions including enterprise systems group, imaging and printing ... ...ure in the overall PC market. Dell is a strong competitor and has a focus on the standardized computer markets. The company eliminates inventories more efficiently then any of its competitors which is a main threat for HP.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  HP recently had to deal with a number of lawsuits which have been filed for various reasons like unfair business practices and patent rights from other companies and academic institutions like Cornell University . The outcome of these events may create bad reputation which can affect the operations. Works Cited: 1. Datamonitor. (2004). Hewlett-Packard Company. Retrieved October 14, 2004 from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.datamonitor.com 2. Hewlett –Packard Development Company, L.P. (2004). HP 2003 Annual Report , 4-11. 3. Hoover’s Online (2004) Hewlett-Packard Company. Retrieved October 16, 2004 from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://0-premium.hoovers.com.oasis.lib.tamuk.edu/subscribe/co/fin/xhtml 4. Ribeiro, J. (2004, February 11) HP sets up India Call Center. IDG News Service. Retrieved October 16, 2004 from http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/0211hpsets.html 5. Rivlin, G. (2004, August 13). Hewlett profits come in lower then expected. New York Times, pg. C.1.

Aztecs, Incas, and Toltecs

The Americas on the Eve of Invasion I. Introduction A. By 1500, Americas densely populated by Indians – misnomer – Columbus/Indies 1. Term has meaning only when used to apply to non-Indians B. Mesoamerica and Andean heartland 1. Imperial states in place when Europe arrives 2. Few areas influenced by two main centers 3. Areas that developed independently II. Postclassic Mesoamerica A. Introduction 1. Toltecs/Aztecs replace Mayas of 8th century CE a. By 15th century Aztecs created extensive empire – war, religion, agrarian 2. Downfall of Mayans – Teotihuacan a. Nomads from North come down . Toltec Culture – 968 established capital Tula 1. Sedentary/agrarian peoples with militaristic ethic 2. Cult of sacrifice/war 3. Aztecs saw Toltecs as givers of civilizationB. The Toltec Heritage 1. Leader Topilitzin followed Quetzalcoatl – feathered serpent 2. Empire spread over much of central Mexico 3. 1000 Conquered Chichen Itza – Mayans under cont rol of Toltecs 4. Toltec influence northward a. Trade turquoise with American Southwest b. How far – to Mississippi/Ohio – debatable evidence 1. Stepped temples – Monk’s Mound 2. Ritual sacrifice 3. pottery 4. Social stratification . Large city – Cahokia could handle 30,000 people C. The Aztec Rise to Power – eagle with serpent on cactus 1. Geography – aquatic environment – chinampas a. Aztecs/Mexicas won control of lake b. Nomadic tribes or agricultural culture 2. Political structure – centralized city with tributary city-states 3. Military – tough warriors/fanatic followers of religion 4. 1428 emerged as independent power D. The Aztec Social Contract 1. Subject peoples a. Pay tribute, surrender lands, military service b. King civil power/god on earth 2. Stratified society a. Histories rewritten 3.Human sacrifice – cult of military class supplying war captives as sacrifices E. Religion and the Ideology of Conquest 1. Incorporated features from past Mesoamerican religions a. Little distinction between world of gods and natural world b. Deities – fire, rain, water, corn, sky, sun – pantheon 1. Gods of fertility/agriculture 2. Creator deities 3. Warfare and sacrifice c. Female form for all gods 2. Yearly festivals/ceremonies a. Expansive calendar 3. Sacrifice – to energize the sun god – needed nourishment of human blood a. Types and frequency/degree changed with Aztecs – borrowed from Toltec . religious conviction vs. political control 4. Religious questions – afterlife, good life, do gods exist 5. Art has flowers/birds/song and blood F. Tenochtitlan: The Foundation of Heaven 1. Metropois – central zone of palaces/whitewashed temples 2. Adobe brick residential districts 3. Larger houses for nobility 4. Zoos, gardens for king 5. Geographically connected to island by four causeways 6. Calpulli ruled neighborhoods G. Feeding the People: The Economy of the Empire 1. Mass population needed to be fed a. Tribute b. Irrigated agriculture – chinampas – floating islands 1. 20,000 acres 2.High crop yields – 4 times a year – corn/maize 2. Trade a. Regular intervals to market b. Barter or cacao beans/gold for currency c. Pochteca – long distance trade 3. State controlled distribution of tribute a. Primarily redistributed to nobility III. Aztec Society in Transition A. Widening Social Gulf 1. Life based on calpulli (neighborhood) groups a. Governed by council of family heads 2. Nobility came from heads of calpullis 3. Military leaders based on success in taking captives a. Ritual warfare – uniforms 4. As society grew, widening social disparity – no longer egalitarian (hmmm†¦where have I seen this pattern before? a. Scribes, artisans, healers between peasants and nobility 5. But†¦competition not between social classes, but between corporate groups B. Overcoming Technologic al Constraints 1. Role of women – relatively equal, but subordinate to men a. Peasant women – fields, child-rearing b. Revered as weavers c. Polygamy among nobility, monogamy among poor d. Could inherit property 2. Limits of technology a. Women – six hours a day grinding corn/maize 1. Couldn’t be freed from 30-40 hours of preparing food 3. Controlled vast number of people amazingly – 1. 5 million to 25 million C.A Tribute Empire 1. Most power in hands of Aztec ruler and chief advisor a. â€Å"elected† from best siblings of royal family 2. As time passed, ritual sacrifice/military dominated all elements of life 3. City-states – as long as they made tribute – they could have autonomy 4. Weaknesses a. Rise of nobles altered dynamics b. Society based on system of terror 5. By 1500, Aztec society was in the down, military period – height far earlier IV. Twantinsuyu: World of the Incas A. Inca Empire – Twantinsuyu †“ highly centralized 1. Integrated various ethnic groups 2. Irrigated agriculture 3.Incorporated elements of previous civilizations – agriculture/religion/metallurgy 4. Introduction a. Genius for state organization/bureaucratic control b. When central authority broke down, regional leaders took over i. war between rival chiefdoms B. The Inca Rise to Power 1. Inca â€Å"ruler† – military alliances and campaigns to take over 2. Subsequent rulers with names you’ll never remember expanded and consolidated land a. Between 9 and 13 million people under rule C. Conquest and Religion 1. Reason for conquest a. economic gain b. political power 2. religion – cult of ancestors a. deceased rulers mummified . split inheritance a. leader’s power goes to successor b. leader’s property goes to male family 4. political and social life related to religion a. holy shrines – stones, mountains, rivers, caves, tombs – huacas 1. Prayers/human sacrifices b. Temple of the Sun – center of state religion D. The Techniques of Inca Imperial Rule 1. Leader/inca considered a god 2. Court also temple 3. Four provinces ruled by governor, power then divided further a. Local rulers could remain autonomous if they were loyal 4. All nobles played role in state bureaucracy a. Nobles gained privileges, had a lot to lose b.Could wear large ear spools – orejones – gee thanks 5. Spread language – unified 6. System of roads with way stations – tambos – one day apart 7. For labor, people benefited from large, expensive work projects – only central gov’t can provide a. State-sponsored irrigation made cultivation possible 8. Instead of tribute, they wanted labor 9. Relation between men and wome a. Needed to stay close b. Women link to the moon 10. Downfall a. Marriage alliances created rivals for the throne – ahhh†¦that whole succession problem rears its ugly head E. Inca Cul tural Achievements 1. Art – built on styles of predecessor peoples . Metallurgy – gold/silver/bronze, copper b. Pottery/cloth 2. But†¦No system of writing†¦No wheel 2. Math a. Knotted strings quipo to count 3. Infrastructure – greatest achievement a. land/water management b. extensive road systems c. Architecture and public buildings d. Terraced farming on steep slopes F. Comparing Incas and Aztecs aka â€Å"if you forget everything else, remember this† 1. But first, before we get started†¦look at the words used in this section a. No really†¦look at the words used b. They start with words like â€Å"although†, or â€Å"both† c. It’s just beautiful how the reader can make connections . In fact, my eyes are filling a little misty a. This is one of the best Comparative Analysis Essays I’ve ever seen in your Stearns book, and after 14 chapters of taking notes, I’m starting to i. feel like Stearns is like a brother, an older brother, but a brother ii. but†¦I digress†¦let’s get back to it 3. Similarities a. Represented military and imperial organization success b. Controlled circulation of goods c. Agricultural based with a food surplus d. Nobles became more important than local leaders e. Allowed for diversity as long as authority f. Empires acquired by conquest of sedentary peoples . Belief systems, cosmology similar roots h. Both couldn’t survive shock of conquest i. Your book says they do survive the conquest, but I beg to differ, they were split up into small little regions ii. But, I will accept that they carried on the culture 4. However â€Å"We cannot overlook the great DIFFERENCES† a. Aztecs have better trade and markets b. First, there quite similar, variations of same system c. Metallurgy, writing systems, hierarchy i. Ummm†¦book†¦could you give us some specifics d. Overall†¦this section does a horrible job discussing differenc es V. Other Indians A.How to differentiate – based on degree of social order/material culture/political structure 1. Diversity based on geographical factors 2. Not all agriculture based B. How many Indians? 1. If you guessed 14,375,421, you were wrong 2. Between 8. 4 million and 112 million – Gee thanks†¦that’s real close i. Numbers changed due to a. Understanding of impact of disease b. archaeological studies c. improved estimates of agricultural techniques 3. Europe about the same size as the Americas – population wise C. Differing Cultural Patterns 1. Basically†¦it’s hard to say there is just one type of â€Å"Indian† . Some hunted, some gathered, some farmed, some did a mixture ii. Some had huge class divisions, some were more egalitarian iii. Most lived in small kin-ship based groups 2. North America extremely diverse i. Some lived in cliffs, towns or teepees ii. Agricultural unless farming too tough, then hunter gatherers 3. Similar to Europe/Asia i. Kin based societies ii. Communal owning of property iii. Women subordinate, but some had high positions 4. Part of ecological system, not controlling it â€Å"You think you own whatever land you land on†¦earth is just a dead thing you can claim, but I know†¦Ã¢â‚¬ D. American Indian Diversity in World Context 1. Paradox – wealthy/accomplished civilizations, but â€Å"primitive† to Europe 2. But†¦how much is the difference based on lack of†¦ i. wheel ii. large pack animals iii. metal tools iv. written language 3. They developed, just differently E. Global Connections 1. Isolation prevented diffusion of ideas – it’s not bad, just the reality 2. Lacks world religions, large domesticated animals (yes†¦they had guinea pigs) 3. Not immune to diseases 4. Lacked ironworking F. I’m tired, and I’m going to bed

Maturity and Emerging Adulthood P 2

This article is about Gwendolyn who was the singer-songwriter and the Goodtime Gang happened to be her band. Gwendolyn’s appeal is over age seven (7) wherein her typical performance may include the coverage of standards in preschool such as the â€Å"Bingo and The Itsy Spider†. She has also some original compositions tackling the topics of human anatomy with the emphasis of sharing. Gwendolyn was twenty-eight years old and said to be performing the Raggedy Ann dress, known to be the pigtails that are cartoonist and the socks are knee-high. She performed in one of the nightclubs of Los Angeles that even performs for such crowd of fans wherein the idea is indeed stiff drinking extending beyond the undiluted. Many of the audience are sitting crossed-legged on the floor wherein the cocktails may even perch of the knees considerably bobbing. Gwendolyn has no children of her own but most of her songs are definitely for children as inspired by a four (4) year old kid inside me that performed the music of children for the grown-ups audience that is absolutely more than the lark of hipster which was then absolutely liberating.   The inner children are having the fun all over and whether the mere fact of buying cars as the consumers’ market at their half age, the baby-doll fashions of dressing may be the bonding over the games of Twister and at the same time kickball with the new breed of the quasi adult who is the culture’s co-opting with the children as never been before. Mostly have their busy lives with the responsibilities among adult with the jobs as indeed respectful and the children of their own. They are not absolutely been regard as stunted adolescents wherein the are said to be something thus, the grown-ups may event cultivate the tastes in the products as well as Call’s entertainment with rejuveniles. Synthesis: In terms of Ethos of the Article, the speaker is very convincing in terms of the presence of widespread evidence. As stated by Nielsen Media, the research made proven that the more adults at age eighteen (18) to forty-nine years old may even watch the Network pertaining to Cartoon than watching CNN. There are more than thirty-five million people that were able to catch up with the long-lost pals of school on the Web site Classmates.com. The signing on this web site has its proof of making sixteen again and the so-called â€Å"60 Minutes II† corresponds to this as indeed reported. The fuzzy pajamas which were attached to the feet may come in the sizes of adult at its Target that is along with the underpants of Scooby Doo. As studied the video game of average age is now twenty-nine (29) that is up from only eighteen in the year 1990, in accordance with the entertainment Software Association. Another attraction is the cartoon Hello Kitty facing the toasters’ graces wherein the Sea Monkeys may come in the set of executive. Avenue Q is called the stars of the puppets classified as the puppets of googly-eyed that even grapple with the disappointment in career and mixed such credit cards with relationships failure. The part of pleasure in show that is beside the puppet sex is the real attachments’ rediscovery with the creatures like those of children as discussed by Jeff Whitty who happened t be the librettist. This may awaken the kid in us. There was no single word emerging with the phenomenon’s description but some of the few phrases in lexicon marketing may even describe some of the important aspects. Another thing is the advertisement in San Francisco   with the firm Odiorne Wilde Narraway and Partners may call with the retro brands resurgence who were among eighteen (18) to at least thirty-four (34) years olds. There are also article logos as used in order to attract more audience and Peter pandemonium as made by the Toymakers may now take the aim at kidult which was defined by the company of Italian named Kidult Games wherein most adults may take care the kid inside. The researchers at the Foundation of MacArthur study the adultolescents with the said twenty (20) to thirty (30) something’s living at home and still depended on the financial support of most parents including the emotions. Some of the marketers may court the direct rejuvenates like for instance, the mother and daughter’s friendship wherein this may ask the revived line of advertisement for such revived line of the dolls by Strawberry Shortcake while the others may speak with the soul of rejuvenate by means of simple selling to many kids. The element of Honda including the Tonka like is indeed the introduction of such mini-truck by the company in terms of dorm room’s combination with the camp’s base designated for the buyers who are younger active and was able to market at the extreme sports as well as the surfing events. The average age in terms of the Element drivers, Mr. Boyd speak about the average age of the drivers’ element with anticipation that with regards to the new definition in terms of family buyer, someone does not even want to give up the so-called character of an individual though they are indeed getting older. There is no new things discovered with regards to the reveling adults in the culture of kiddies wherein Shirley Temple, Ronald Dahl including Pee Wee Herman had plenty of fans among the adult and the researchers in market may even say that the childishness strong way may start about two years ago. The source of credibility may be used as the construction as examined in terms of social sciences wherein the recent work may found the existence of support with regards to the three dimensions as identified with work from the year 1950s through the 180s with consistent revelation in terms of two dimensions, the competence and the character including the other dimensions like for instance dynamism as founded with the broad approaches that may even equate the person perception’s in terms of credibility. Going back to Mr. Furendi may start the research may call as the cultivation of self-conscious in terms of immaturity that is after the college spotting for most students who are watching with Teletubbies in the bar of most university. The scene that may stick in mind may be able to think with the wave’s representative with infantilism that sweeps with Britain and beyond. The happening is in terms of maintenance with Mr. Furendi as the natural extreme responding to the culture of media equating to be older with being square and at the same time younger and yet being relevant. Nowadays, the way of demonstrating the worth is up to the extent in which there still rock concerts considerably groovy with the still player. But many of those who was able to fit with the best profile was able to grow up with the wearing of Sesame Street T-shirts or the skin knees of arthritic and at the same time the motor scooters insisting with the obstinate Peter Pans or the connoisseurs of the so-called kitsch. With regards to many descriptions there is such near frantic compulsion remaining to be playful, at the same time flexible and fun in the said face of realities like the mortgages that is considerably of fixed-rate or the lawn care. Like for instance, Mitch Anthony, the president of brand as well as the design firm in the Northampton, mass is indeed full-fledged adult wherein the children may be closer in full in terms of suits and the fence considerably picket costing $ 10,000. The said approach upon reaching 50th birthday, there is no absolute reason giving up most of the doing as love for the kid that still biking. The love for hanging with friends and with pleasure of talking about sex is the common things done by younger generations. Rejuvenates may absolutely reserve with the deepest respect for most adults in terms of management in terms of both taking care with the business and making time for the said playing. Response Bryan Page, the known professor of anthropology including the department’s chairman at Miami University may play the history regarding the recreation or children’s preparation moving into the roles of adult. The totality of dynamic was the reversal of such play becoming the primary purpose and at the same time value with many lives of adult. This is about the bordering of the sacred wherein the historical standpoint may be having its entire backward. Most rejuvenates may even reject the enthusiasms’ notion who are being childish in the first place like for instance the appreciation on Chipmunks in terms of recording is indeed funny during the period as discussed by Jacob Austen who is thirty-four (34) years old, known to be the writer of Chicago and the music authority by Alvin as well as the Chipmunks as part of the genre among the fans of music children with the affection called the rodent rock. Mr. Austen was able to produce the dance program among the children in Chicago with the address in public-access in terms of television saying that one of the best entertainments among the kids is indeed universal. Ironically, most kids as experienced in the actual may not even be caring lesser about the stuff which may enchant the rejuvenates and the taking of the Music Project in the Schools of Langley that is â€Å"Innocence and Despair†, with the Canadian CD the children of school with the praised by likes of David Bowie and John Zorn calling with nothing that is absolutely lesser than the music touching with the heart in such a way that there is no other music which has ever had. The focus may be the conceptions of transition to the adulthood which is absolutely different among the adults of young-to-midlife as compared with the groups of younger age. In all the groups’ age, the criteria of individualism may be most likely considered to be the important makers in terms of adulthood transition, with such specific acceptance for the actions that may even decide with the beliefs and values that may even establish in equal relationships among the parents and becoming to be in financial independency. The younger to the adults of midlife may be less likely in terms of adolescents is considering with transitions of adulthood with specific acceptance in terms of responsibility regarding one’s actions, in order to decide the beliefs and the values that establish the relationship as equal among the parents and may become as the financial independent. The adults of young-to-midlife were said to be less likely compared to adolescents considering the biological transitions and at the same time important and at the same time more likely to be emerged as part of the transition with adulthood. In all the three Groupings , the role of the said transitions such as marriage may even rank with the importance that is considerably lowest. Conclusion: The sign of being adulthood is to get married that signifies the adulthood’s attainment in terms of American society. This is considered as one of the important than the others with equal importance and perhaps none of tem with entire differently criteria’s that are absolutely different. The dependency on every perspective is to anticipate the adulthood’s transition or in the said process in order to look at the perspective of midlife. In the present study, the transition’s conceptions for adulthood may even examine the majority of American culture considered as the role of transitions in many areas like the marriage and to become a parent, the capacities of parent such as the capacity in order to give care for children and the compliance known to be normative such as the drunk driving to avoid the individuals in order to decide with own beliefs and at the same time values that includes the transitions with legal and biological aspect. The focus of this study is mainly on adulthood conception in the majority culture of most American wherein the large white and the middle class may be broad in terms of the American society setting the mostly of the norms including the standards holding the political positions including the economics and the power of intellect. This is in recognition with the American society and may even include such other cultures as being perspectives with different presentations wherein the criteria of adulthood may be used in the present study for drawing the anthropological, study in sociology including the psychological transition of adulthood learned from the previous studies made. References http://www.christophernoxon.com/index.php/cnsite/clip/i_dont_want_to_grow_up/ Rejuvenile: Kickball, Cartoons, Cupcakes and the Reinvention of the American Grown-Up, Chirstopher Noxon http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christopher-noxon   

Great expectations Essay

Explain how a key scene from the play â€Å"Blood Brothers† by Willy Russell, might be staged and explain the role of the chosen character in this part of the play This essay is about Blood Brothers by Willy Russell, I will be going to describe the play which includes setting, appearance, characterisation, the role of the characters and stage directions. I hope to achieve an understanding about the Musical and the purpose of the story. Willy Russell is well known as the writer of plays and films such as Educating Rita, Shirley Valentine, Our Day Out, and the musical Blood Brothers. His work has attracted huge and appreciative audiences all over the world. Willy spent the whole of 1982 turning the small scale production of Blood Brothers into a full scale musical. The musical was first played at the Liverpool playhouse in 1983 and was a huge success. Set in a bleak Liverpool, the story centers on a single mother of many. Mrs. Johnston, who makes a decision that is to have far reaching consequences, when she finds out that the next child she is expecting, which will itself leave her on the verge of poverty, has a twin. Her decision will affect many lives, as she allows one twin to be raised by her childless employer Mrs. Lyons as her own Willy Russell uses a dark, dingy theme for Mickey’s estate, making life feel duller and boring for everyone. But, he contrasts it with a nicer theme for where Edward lives. I think this is to show the different lives the brothers lead and how close, lives could be the other way round for each of them. For Mickey’s soliloquy, I would have Mickey sat down on the step outside his battered front door. He will be annoyed with his head on his hands. I can imagine him with a toy car or a muddy stick messing about. He will read his soliloquy with a great boredom to his voice while Edward walks on to the stage. The backdrop will be a long row of houses with symmetrical doors, all battered and raw iron gates which are rusty. Also I can see Edward going up to Mickey and sitting in front of him, this is where he will introduce his first line. I picture both characters to look completely different in clothes wear. For instance I think Mickey would be wearing plain grey pants, a plain off coloured white t-shirt, and black shoes. Mickey needs to look plain and like he doesn’t wear expensive clothes. He needs to look filthy, especially since he has just came from the park. The audience should feel guilt as such because his mum can’t afford expensive clothes. On the other hand Edward needs to come across smart and well dressed. For instance he should wear black pants, a clean bright white shirt and a tie, although we don’t want Edward to come across snobby. I think the audience will sympathize and like both boys because they are bored, and are still very young. The role of the Brothers in the musical has a great sense of purpose for example the irony, e. g. they end up meeting and being friends, they call themselves â€Å"blood brothers† and they have a close â€Å"brotherly† relationship. Also to bring the play Humor although there is poverty and a baby being given away, to establish conflict and a plot. Also to make the audience curious about the story line. The character I am going to focus on is Mickey because he has a rougher background and more interesting story behind him. At the end of Mickey’s soliloquy the stage directions say, â€Å"Bored and Petulant, Mickey sits and shoots an imaginary Sammy. Edward, also aged â€Å"seven† appears. He is bright and forthcoming. † I would have Mickey looking bored, but I think he should be mocking Sammy with jealousy. The next set of stage directions are involving Edward with his sweets. Mickey asks for one and Edward allows him to take one. Mickey will be careful and suspicious because he has taken notice that Sammy is deceitful, and it’s rare you actually get given a sweet. Mickey will then examine the sweet before he actually puts it in his mouth. Towards the end of the scene, I will have directions of Mickey putting his arm around Edward, as they start to bond with each other. When Sammy enters the scene, Mickey will actually be a little scared of him although he is kind of an idol towards him. I will have Mickey trying to get the gun of Sammy, and when he fails he should join in the â€Å"fantasy shoot out† with Sammy. I think there are several most important lines in these scenes firstly, at the beginning when Mickey says, â€Å"Gis a Sweet, And Edward says â€Å"alright†. I think when Edward agrees to give Mickey a sweet this is the first sign of bonding between the two boys. I think this is the key line of the boys becoming such good friends later in the book. Also at the end of the scene when Mickey is standing up for Edward, when Sammy calls him. The whole book is about the irony that the brothers have bonded so well. I think the reasons for these are that they have become â€Å"best friends† when they first meet. The expressions used will make the audience understand the play more between the brothers. For instance, when Mickey reads his soliloquy, he will have a sound of jealousy to his voice; this is so the audience knows he is jealous of Sammy. There are parts in his soliloquy which should stand out with his voice; these are the last lines of each paragraph, â€Å"But I’m not I’m nearly eight†, â€Å"Even though I’m nearly eight†. These lines should be read with anger so we know he is annoyed that he is only seven. The last line of his soliloquy, â€Å"But I will by the time I’m eight†, should be read with delight so that he has not got long to wait now. The section where Mickey tells Edward â€Å"The â€Å"F† word† they should have there hand over there mouths, with laughter in there eyes because they find the word funny. On page 19, when Sammy enters, Mickey is going to look a little frightened, and when he gives Sammy the sweet he will role his eyes up as if he gets his own way. I don’t think there should be any props because; we want the audience to be fully focused on the brothers because it is a key scene in the story. Maybe Sammy can have a toy gun, Mickey can have a toy car, and Edward will have a bag of sweets. I will have dramatic, intense music as they declare themselves blood brothers and when they read the pledge because, this is the biggest, most ironic scene in the play. This scene in Blood Brothers is a very important part of the play. The boy’s first meet at the age of seven and bond extremely well, also they declare themselves â€Å"Blood Brothers† which is funny and ironic because they actually are, Blood Brothers. Also the two different characteristics they both possess play hugely. The scene shows that lives could have been completely differently for each other, for example, Mickey could have been called Edward, and the other way round. It also shows how society is, this links with the themes Willy Russell uses. Additionally this story line creates a massive comedy, with funny lines, being unaware of there factual relationship which they both have. Each boy represents society in contradictory ways; Mickey represents the working-class of society, while on the other hand Edward represents the upper-class. Towards the end of the scene it gets a little more serious, Mrs. Johnstone enters. Mickey tells his Mum that they are Brothers. Mrs. Johnstone is shocked until he mentions that they are â€Å"Blood Brother†. She can’t let anyone know what she has done because she has kind of sold her baby.