Case Grading Schema (NA) Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Grading Schema (NA) - Case Study Example Thus, while the other departments provided the bank with operational challenges, the HR department was the most affected. This study seeks to delve into the growth of the BoE, with a focus on how the growth has impacted on its effective delivery of services to the customers, as well as how the challenges experienced in the HR department has impacted on the bank’s performance. Summary When it first opened its doors in the year 2001, the Bank of Excellence (BoE) became the center of attraction to many. Despite the fact that it started as a microfinance institution, its growth and transformation to a fully fledged bank took only 6 years, and by the year 2007, it was granted a fully fledged bank status. The bank now prides itself for having 8 branches in different regions, with a growing profit margin every single year, except in the 2012 financial year, when the profit of the bank declined significantly. Several questions have been raised, regarding how the microfinance instituti on registered such a rapid growth, to attain a bank status within 6 years of its operation. First, the innovative product strategy was applied by BoE when it first opened its doors, to give the customers a range of new financial products that were not offered by other financial institutions. BoE specialized in offering low-interest loans to the customers, which were processed fast and the terms and conditions attached were not stringent. This made it easy for the many customers to apply and qualify for loans, which they would not have otherwise been granted by other financial institutions, due to the strict requirements that hindered their application for loans, such as high security and collateral requirements (Falcone, 2009). BoE introduced the system of giving loans to the customers based on movable and other less secured assets, which allowed many applicants to qualify for the loans. Excellent customer service is the other strategy that the microfinance institution had applied t o attract many customers. The microfinance institution ensured that customers were served as quickly as possible, while also ensuring that they got good customer service from its employees. This made the customers feel valued by the financial institution, and thus kept increasing by the day. The microfinance institution had also ensured that its employees are well motivated and enabled, to deliver the best services to the customer, an aspect that helped to build good customer relationship and consequently customer loyalty to the microfinance. There was a direct and cordial relationship between the employees and the management of the microfinance, which made the employees feel appreciated. There was also a reward system for the employees, who were rewarded with bonuses and even promotion, once they performed well and even came up with innovative ideas for the microfinance to implement and benefit the business, the employees and the customers. By the end of its first year of operation , the microfinance had managed to attract over 200, 000 regular customers. This growth trend continued until the microfinance attained a customer base of over one million, and thus applied to be registered as a fully fledged Bank. Analysis The attainment of the bank status was a privilege to the microfinance institution, since it would now benefit more from the central Bank lending, as opposed to when it was just microfinance.

Impact of the Introduction of Activity Trackers

Impact of the Introduction of Activity Trackers Introduction The advancement of technology is no doubt one of the greatest organized creative activities of humankind today. The material world that we see around us, and the way society functions today had strongly affected by the advancement of the technology. The device that I would like to research on had effectively changed the way how human life. It records all the activities of an individual over the days – the activity tracker. An  activity tracker  is computer-assisted monitoring and graphing of health-linked metrics such as distance walked or ride, calorie consumption, and in some cases heartbeat and quality of snooze. During the early development of the products, activity trackers were computer logs, such as that provided in the US by thePresidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sportsas part ofThe Presidents Challenge;since the release of the firstFitbitactivity tracker in 2009, the term has primarily referred to electronic checking devices that are synced, in many cases wirelessly, to a computer orsmartphonefor long-period data graphing, an example ofwearable technology. Electronic activity trackers are upgraded versions ofpedometers. In addition to counting steps or movements, they useaccelerometersandaltimetersto calculate mileage, graph overall physical activity, calculate calories expenditure, and in some cases also monitor and graph heart rate and quality of snooze.Some also include a silent alarm. The original Fitbit, released in 2009,was worn clipped at the waist; formats have now improved to include wristbands, armbands, and smaller devices that can be wore wherever preferred. AppleandNiketogether developed theNike+iPod, a sensor-equipped shoe that worked with aniPod Nano few years after the release of Fitbit. In addition, logging apps exist for smartphones and Facebook;the Nike+ system now works without the shoe sensor, through theGPSunit in the phone or iPod. In the US,BodyMediahas established a disposable activity tracker to be worn for 7 days, which is aimed at health and insurance providers and companies seeking to determine workers fitn ess and health. Finding Sony wants you to log your life with smart band! Sony’s Smart Band is one of the biggest-name fitness tracker. It was first published to the market on 24th Feb 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. According to Sony, the Smart Band will only be available in spring. The Smart Band SWR10 is a wearable device which consist of two parts, the core and the band. It communicates via Bluetooth with an Android Life-log application to offer fitness tracking, but the application itself also lets users log places visited, music played, games played and books read for presentation on a visual interface. The application also helps users set activity targets. Similar as a smart watch, it vibrates when calls, messages, Facebook notifications or tweets are received. It can also be used to play, pause and skip tracks in a Sony phone’s Walkman application by pressing the button and tapping the band. The device is IP582 rated for full waterproofing despite its MicroUSB port, the company said. When out of Bluetooth range from its paired phone, the band vibrates. SmartBand will also records sleep cycles. According to the white paper, the Core is powered by theARM Cortex-M0 32 bit processer, has 256kB internal embedded flash memory and 16kB RAM. It connects to any device running Android 4.4 and later via Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy and/or NFC. You need to download Lifelog, a companion app that tracks your physical, social and entertainment activities. The interface is quite informative, and you can use it to set activity goals and monitor your progress. Information compiled in Lifelog is collected using sensor technology in the SWR10 and data obtained from various apps and sensors in the Android phone. Heres a quick overview of the Lifelog app: The SWR10 also comes with music and camera remote control functions, alerts for incoming messages or Facebook notifications. You can set alarms via the Lifelog app to wake you up via subtle vibrations on your wrist. Before you do so, you have to set the SWR10 to night mode. The night mode is used for tracking your sleep while the day mode tracks your activities throughout the day. Below is a video showing the SWR10 in action: Features Here is the complete list of feature of Sony SmartBand, there will be brief explanation on some of the major feature: Communication and Entertainment By using Sony SmartBand SWR10, It is easily communicate with your smartphone, tablet and Android apps can record your physical, social and entertainment activities. You can check all daily activity where you went, what pictures you took and how you have been communicating with your world. Lifelog Application The Life log can record walking, running, cycling or travelling by train timing and how long you slept .How much you take photo, how much time you are listing music and games you have played and how much you have socialized with a friends and family. Life Bookmarks All special moments you can make bookmark a great restaurant, an amazing song, beautiful sunset. Battery performance It has a rechargeable battery that can be charge your smartphone charger and Laptop can stay charged up to 5 days. Other features: It helps in measuring the sleep cycle Look ahead in time to see just how much more you need to cycle to achieve your daily activity goal. Helps to track weather and alert the user Removable Coreunit and a stylish and comfortable wrist band Sony fastening button and LEDs Vibrates when a call, message or other notification comes in Design The Sony SmartBand shares its design with many other wrist-worn fitness trackers. It comes in two bits – the wristband and the core. This is a little plastic brain that lives within a recess in the band, roughly where a watch face would be. The one we got our hands on was a simple rubbery band with a shiny plastic clasp on the rear, but others use different textures. The Core Despite the exposed micro-USB port (which is used for charging), the Core is IP58 rated for dust resistance and waterproof capabilities. The Core is a tiny plastic unit with an accelerometer inside. It sports a mini USB port and also features LED lights and a vibrate function to alert you to any notifications from your phone In addition, the Core is very light at 6g and when paired with a wrist band, can weigh between 20 to 21g depending on the choice of a small or large wrist band. We were told that the wrist band is made of silicone, a material that will feel comfortable to the skin. A Sony product staff said that she has been wearing the SWR10 for a number of days, and the use of silicone made her forget that she was actually wearing one on her wrist. During our few minutes of hands-on, we found the material to be easy on the skin. It is also easy to fasten and remove the wristband. The Lifelog App The Core is effectively useless without Sonys Lifelog, a lifestyle-tracking app for Android the company demoed onstage at its presser and is planning to release to Google Play in March. Think of Lifelog as a curated Facebook feed for your life, but without much effort on your part. It records your locations, communications, physical activity and photos taken and places them in a graphed format, in addition to coaching you with set goals. From what little weve been told about the Lifelog camera concept, it seems users would be able to pair it to a smartphone and then set specific triggers for photo capture, like times of the day or activities. So say you want to record the moments of your daily jog, this concept would handle that automatically and upload the shots to your personal feed. Its the sort of the stuff quantified selfers get all hot and bothered over you know, those ardentlifebloggers. But just because Sonys showing off this Lifelog camera concept, that doesnt mean well ever see it become a commercial reality. Sony may just be testing the consumer waters or simply showing off its idea of the possible road ahead. Recommendations Although the SmartBand is said to be one of the greatest improvisation of activity trackers in the market, I do believe there are still rooms for improvement. Firstly, the SmartBand is connected to the phone via Bluetooth. Although it offer the vibration notification service, it do not show up the contact or type of notification that you received. So, if you received a call on your phone, your Core will start to vibrate, however with no display, you’ll still need to get your phone out to see who is calling. It is the limitation on the Core as Sony can only choose either to extend the battery-life of the Core or to provide the display which significantly reduce the battery-life without charging. Secondly, SmartBand is pitched by Sony to be a 24/7 wearable device. However, due to its limited battery life, there will still be times where you need to recharge the battery. I suggest that spring-powered system (self-winding mechanism) can be installed into the core, like how some watches in the market works. It uses the principle of kinetics, and store energy made by the user’s hand movement into the spring and coil in an intrinsic system. The whole idea of activity trackers including SmartBand are to record the activities of the users, which easily relate to loads of movement like walking, cycling and et cetera. As the Core requires minute amount of energy to function, the energy generated can slowly reused to operate the core. Finally, SmartBand can be improved by being an improvised version of watch as well- by adding in function like time display and stopwatch. Adding in display into the core or the band is the key for this improvement. With the display, time can be shown on the band as well as other basic functions of a normal watch. In order to keep the long lasting battery life, LCD can be used as it is more energy efficient than other display technologies. Conclusion Ever since the development of the ENIGMA (the first digital computer), computers have inspired our imagination. In this period came the World War II code breaking machine designed by Alan Turing, and Von Neuman’s ENIAC which can be called dinosaurs compared to present day PCs. In the earlier days, computers were so huge that it took an entire building, or at least a floor to occupy one. Computers of that era were very slow by today’s standards. In the non-ending struggle to increase computing speed, it was found out that speed of electricity might become a limiting factor in the speed of computation, and so it was a need to lessen the distance that electricity had to travel in order to increase the computing speed. This idea still holds true in modern computing. However for the past few years, industry pundits have been predicting the death of the personal computer. I look at it a bit differently—the personal computer is not dying, but is becoming even more personal. It is now something you’re going to wear—in your clothing, jewelry, shoes, glasses, watches, and even on your skin. Sony’s SmartBand is one of the kick starter of these wearable technology, together with Samsung’s Galaxy Gear, Apple’s Ipod Nano, Google Gass and et cetera. All these improve human’s life in all different aspect. For instance the medical and health, social, entertainment, or even in the field of military. Whatever area wearable computer technology is applied to you can see that it willl improve the quality of life and make day-to-day life less complicated. It is only our imagination which will limit the number of applications for this new emerging technology. Wearable computer is a platform for the rapid application development, it promotes behavioral architecture and Java for the design of applications on wearable computers. In addition of the prototypes that has been released to test the viability of the architecture .There are even some reports that wearables will be the fashion of tomorrow. It may take some time for wearables to be commonly accepted. After all, it was once unusual to see people using cell phones or wireless microphones, but they have been embraced.

Justice Explored in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter Essay

Justice Explored in The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne created themes in The Scarlet Letter just as significant as the obvious ideas pertaining to sin and Puritan society. Roger Chillingworth is a character through which one of these themes resonates, and a character that is often underplayed in analysis. His weakness and path of destruction of himself and others are summed up in one of Chillingworth's last sentences in the novel, to Arthur Dimmesdale: "Hadst thou sought the whole earth over... there were no place so secret, no high place nor lowly place, where thou couldst have escaped me, save on this very scaffold!" (171). This powerful line from Chillingworth holds three meanings. First, Dimmesdale can save himself only through confession in public. Secondly, it shows the true sin and suffering in Chillingworth himself. In this regard, the line is just as important in reiterating the sickness in Chillingworth as it is in showing the torment in Dimmesdale. Finally, this statement creates a parallel between Chillingworth's idea of justice and the Puritans'. The theme Hawthorne builds up in Chillingworth is not simply his pain and torment. It is a more important representation of the weakness in the values of the people in Puritan times, and how their perseverance for "justice" skewed their views on life and forgiveness. Because of his mindset, Chillingworth torments himself with his goal to destroy Dimmesdale just as much as Dimmesdale tortures himself for their seven years together. Chillingworth is ruining his own life and does not realize it, because he no longer sees the value in life as he tries to ruin one. The first foreshadowing we see of Chillingworth's obsession begins... ...h life because of that. Dimmesdale, on the other hand, faced Puritan torture under Chillingworth for the seven years without benefit of the release of guilt Hester had found by being in the public eye. Dimmesdale's only release from guilt was not the scaffold, but death itself. Hawthorne's statement through Chillingworth offers insight into Dimmesdale and Chillingworth along with a representation of Hawthorne's disapproval of the Puritan values. This disapproval is the driving force of the novel, and it underlies the relationship between Dimmesdale, Chillingworth, and the prevailing greater justice of God. The contrast of the Puritans' justice and God's makes the message of the story greater than a love story or a story of a sin. With this theme, The Scarlet Letter becomes a comparison of the flawed justice of humans and the divine justice of God.

Counterinsurgency in WWII and Vietnam

The counterinsurgencies in World War Two and Vietnam are strikingly different precisely because the insurgencies they fought were different. Every insurgency is unique. Some feel that an insurgency carries advantages that make it inherently unbeatable. Because the superior force is rarely prepared for an insurgency they are at a disadvantage from day one. The primary lesson learned from the experiences of World War Two and Vietnam is that counterinsurgency must entail more than just the deployment of superior military forces. An insurgency is not unbeatable.For a counterinsurgency campaign to be successful a carefully devised comprehensive strategy that integrates military, political and humanitarian goals must be devised. Insurgency and Counterinsurgency Defined Insurgency is a broadly defined term. An insurgency can take many forms. Generally speaking, it is an uprising of a smaller, weaker military and political force against the force that occupies power. Because insurgents are a lmost always outnumbered and lack military equipment, they fight a guerrilla-type war. Their goal is not to defeat the opposing force militarily, but instead to erode it while inflicting as many losses as possible.Insurgents often look for â€Å"soft targets† to attack rather than facing the enemy head-on. The ultimate goal is to fight a low intensity war that drains the opposing side of resources and public support. Robert Smith, in The Utility of Force, describes a common process through which insurgencies begin. First, one political wing separates from a larger party. After arming itself, this wing initiates a low intensity conflict against a larger power. Over time, the larger force is persuaded to cut its losses and withdraw. The insurgent party then goes about establishing a dominant force of its own (Smith, 2007).This cycle is evident in the 1980s insurgency of the Afghans against the Soviet Union and the eventual emergence of the Taliban. In recent years, the term â⠂¬Å"insurgency† has also been used to describe any conflict in which groups of foreign fighters enter a country to oppose a larger force. In either case the tactics of insurgency are similar. Counterinsurgency, in turn, is more than just military opposition to the insurgent force. Broadly defined, Counterinsurgency is the attempt by a political power or occupying force to tamp down rebellion.In the late 20th and early 21st century the effectiveness of insurgent tactics has been rediscovered. Media and technological advances have been integrated effectively and, as a result, insurgencies have become more complex. In response, counterinsurgency tactics have been revised and modernized. It is generally recognized that a more comprehensive military, political, economic and cultural effort is now required. Between World War Two and the present day, the nature and scope of counterinsurgency programs changed dramatically. The Vietnam conflict represented a halfway point in that evolu tionary process.The learning curve has been irregular, though. As each new insurgency surfaces new lessons must be learned and old lessons re-learned. World War Two: The emergence of modern insurgency and counterinsurgency Insurgency and counterinsurgency are not terms typically used in relation to World War Two. The seeds for the modern usage of both were sown during this era, however. The French resistance is sometimes described as an insurgent campaign. The tactics used by the Germans to counter this insurgency were brutal but ultimately ineffective.In fact, the French Resistance is credited with â€Å"coordinating sabotages and other actions which contributed to the success of Operation Overlord† (Smith, 2007). Allied forces even then were aware of the need to work with assets of â€Å"various political colors† (Smith, 2007). In working with insurgents in the early years of the war the Allies gained some knowledge about how to defeat an insurgency. This knowledge, in part, would be capitalized on at the end of World War Two and twenty years later in Vietnam. Meanwhile, the Germans faced a second insurgency from the Soviet Partisans.These were pro-communist Soviets most active in the border regions between Germany and the U. S. S. R. Like in the French resistance, these fighters sabotaged and harassed any vulnerable areas of the German occupiers they could find. Unlike in France, the Germans were never able to install a puppet regime to help them quell the population. The German counterinsurgency strategy was to stamp out any resistance as quickly as possible. The Germans and the Partisans for that matter executed thousands of civilians in this region. Counterinsurgency tactics in World War Two were somewhat primitive.Primarily, the goal was to use overwhelming military force before installing a puppet government favorable to the more powerful force. Terror was the tool for holding on to that power. Tactical reviews after the war provided some valuable information, but were also tainted by the political atmosphere of the day. For example, U. S. reports may have overemphasized the effect of partisans terrorizing the local population into supporting them. The effect of the terror caused by German counterinsurgency forces and other possible ideological reasons for local support were not studied fully enough.In the waning days of the war, remnants of the Nazi SS launched an insurgency of their own. Initial public support kept the insurgency afloat for nearly two years as various sabotages and political assassinations harassed the occupying forces. Eventually â€Å"Operation Werewolf† was defeated when the German public became assured that the Allies were committed to rebuilding their nation, through such programs as the Marshall Plan. This stands in sharp contrast to the terroristic methods of counterinsurgency that had been employed in earlier years.While not specifically part of the counterinsurgency program, media control assisted the allies in a way it would not during Vietnam. The greater threat posed to the American nation itself during World War Two led the public to accept tight military control of what was released through newspapers or other media. The media blackout was perhaps more successful for the Germans. Since the German public heard little or no negative news from the front, the Partisans and The French Resistance were never able to erode support for the war within Germany.In this sense, a totalitarian state with vast resources and complete media control has a certain advantage in counterinsurgency over free nations. When World War Two was over, the template of a successful insurgency had been advanced farther than that if a successful counterinsurgency. In the words of U. S. General Robert Smith: By the end of the Second World War, the defining characteristics of the antithesis of industrial war had been established, as a combination of basic guerilla and revolutionary warfare . (Smith, 2007) None the less, Allied knowledge increased from having been on both sides of irregular conflicts.Allied forces would put much of what they had learned about counterinsurgency into action during Vietnam. As always, some lessons had to be re-learned under difficult circumstances. Vietnam: Hard Lessons Researchers are still debating the effectiveness of the counterinsurgency effort in Vietnam. There is no doubt that operations such as â€Å"Market Time† and â€Å"Phoenix† were more sophisticated than any such efforts in World War Two. Militarily, they were at least partially successful. Efforts such as these combined elements of Allied experiences with what they had learned by studying German methods during World War Two.The military began to create â€Å"strategic hamlets† throughout South Vietnam. In order to do so, though, entire villages of civilians would often be relocated. Air assets also sprayed chemical agents on large tracts of farmland gro wing crops that could be used to help the North Vietnamese. In some cases, large numbers of civilians only suspected of collaborating with the communists were killed. Ironically, at the same time a humanitarian effort was established. USAID personnel, who had 6 months of language immersion and training in nation building, spearheaded the effort.The Military Assistance Command for Vietnam also worked with the National Revolutionary Development Plan to help Vietnamese victims of the war. Even when pacification efforts within Vietnam itself were going well, the insurgents were winning the media war. The Tet offensive was a military defeat for the communists. After Tet â€Å"the flagging rural pacification program picked up momentum†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Chant, 1990). Despite its military success, the counterinsurgency failed in two critical ways. The Vietnamese Communists fought the â€Å"hearts and minds† battle better, giving the peasants promises that had real meaning to them.For i nstance; the communists promised land loans and lower taxes to peasants (Alexander, 2002). The coalition could never establish a trust relationship with the majority of the population. When Congress cut off funds and recommended that â€Å"ground forces should not be committed† the mistrust of the Vietnamese was confirmed (Chant, 1990). In Vietnam, the media was on the front lines of war as never before. Initially the Allies believed that this would be a showcase for the military and would help maintain support for the war. By the end of the war, the insurgents had turned this factor completely in their favor.The North Vietnamese capitalized on American broadcasts and broadcasts of their own, essentially communicating directly to the American people that the war was unwinnable. They rightly assumed that the American media could play a significant role in eroding public support for the war. When the American military tried to exert greater control over the media, distrust and opposition to the war only increased. Analysis and Conclusion Contrary to popular belief, insurgencies have a long track record of success. In fact; â€Å"irregular or guerrilla warfare is, in fact, the most successful form of conflict† (Alexander, 2002).It is the repeated failure of major powers to recognize this and anticipate it that itself are the major reasons for insurgent success. In World War Two, insurgencies were relatively contained. In Vietnam and in the 21st century they are not. They are sophisticated multinational operations in which the insurgents sometimes cannot even be identified. World War Two and Vietnam are evidence that insurgency can take many different forms. The overall lesson, however, is the same. The degree of success for a counterinsurgency is directly related to the degree the insurgency was anticipated and planned for.Another clear lesson is that a counterinsurgency employing only military means is destined to fail. The experiences in World War Two and Vietnam do give some clues as to how to deal with the insurgency in Iraq. A comprehensive strategy must be developed that separates the insurgents from those who support them. Then an effective intelligence network with ample numbers of human assets must be developed and maintained. As shown in Iraq the lessons of prior wars are forgotten and must be re-learned. For example, when insurgents were driven out of a town coalition forces would often leave that area undefended.It was not until at least three years into the war that coalition forces began to use the â€Å"take and hold† method used in Vietnam more than three decades earlier. The ability to defeat insurgencies in the future depends upon learning and capitalizing on lessons such as these. The first step to defeating an insurgency is to expect one. The second step is to plan a counterinsurgency. Beyond these simple steps the process is incredibly complex and there are no hard and fast rules. Sources Alexander, Bevin. (2002). How Wars are Won: the 13 rules of war from ancient Greece to the War on Terror. New York: Crown Publishers.Chant, Christopher. (1990). The Military History of the United States (Vol. 13). New York: Marshall Cavendish. Markel, Wade. (2006). â€Å"Draining the Swamp: The British Strategy of Population Control†. Parameters. Retrieved 1/7/2008 from: http://www. carlisle. army. mil/usawc/Parameters/06spring/markel. htm . McClintock, Michael. (2002). â€Å"U. S. Guerrilla Warfare, Counterinsurgency and Counterterrorism, 1940-1990†. Instruments of Statecraft. Retrieved 1/7/2008 from: http://www. statecraft. org/chapter3. html . Smith, Robert. (2007). The Utility of Force: the art of war in the modern world. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Major Changes In The Way Sociologists Have Understood Religion During The 20th Century

The word religion is derived from the Latin noun religio, which denotes both earnest observances of ritual obligations and an inward spirit of reverence. In modern usage, religion covers a wide spectrum of meanings that reflect the enormous variety of ways the term can be interpreted. Religion in this understanding includes a complex of activities that cannot be reduced to any single aspect of human experience. It is a part of individual life but also of group dynamics. Religion is a sacred engagement with that which is believed to be a spiritual reality.Religion is a worldwide phenomenon that has played a part in all human culture and is so much broader, more complex category than the set of beliefs or practices found in any single religious tradition. An adequate understanding of religion must take into account its distinctive qualities and patterns as a form of human experience, as well as the similarities and differences in religion across human cultures. According to antiquity o f religious study, the first Western attempts to understand and document religious phenomena were made by the Greeks and the Romans.As early as the 6th century BC, Greek philosopher Xenophanes noted that different cultures visualized the gods in different ways. In the following century, Greek historian Herodotus recorded the wide range of religious practices he encountered in his travels, comparing the religious observances of various cultures, such as sacrifice and worship, with their Greek equivalents. Roman historians Julius Caesar and Cornelius Tacitus similarly recorded the rites and customs of peoples that they met on their military campaigns. By the end of the 19th century, scholars were making religion an object of systematic inquiry.German scholar, Friedrich Max Miller’s comparative approach, that every religion possessed some measure of truth, was adopted in many European and Japanese universities. In addition, field anthropologists had begun to compile firsthand ac counts of the religions of people who previously had been dismissed as savages. The study of tribal religions contributed a great deal to the general analysis of the role of religion in human societies. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, scholars had begun to pose basic questions about the origin and development of religious ideas.Scholars questioned how religion began and the stages of its evolution. Some maintained that it originated with animism (belief in spirits), then evolved into the notion that there were many gods (polytheism), and ultimately emerged as the ideal of a single god (monotheism). Others held that religion began in a sense of awe at the impressive activities of nature, in a feeling of reverence for the spirits of the dead, or in an attempt to overcome mortality. Many other important questions about the nature of religion were addressed during this period: Can religion be divided into so-called primitive and higher types?Is religion a product of psycholog ical needs and projections? Is it a function of political and social control? Such questions have continued to generate a large number of theories. Romanian scholar Mircea Eliade, who taught at the University of Chicago from 1957 to 1985, emphasized that religious people experience the ordinary world differently from non-religious people because they view it as a sacred place. In Eliade’s view, believing in the divine foundations of life, transforms the significance of natural objects and activities.He believed that for the homo religious (Latin for â€Å"religious man,† a term used by Eliade to designate a person who lives according to a religious worldview), time, space, the earth, the sky, and the human body can all come to have a symbolic, religious meaning. Like Rudolf Otto, Eliade held that the study of religion must not reduce to something merely social or psychological, but must take seriously the idea that in the believer’s world the experience of sacre dness defines a distinctive reality. Modernity has posed acute challenges to traditional religions.In the 1906s membership in mainstream Christian denominations began to decline, and candidates for the priesthood were less numerous. For a large number of people in modern societies, religion is neither good nor bad but simply irrelevant, given the many alternative ways to find meaning in various forms of cultural pursuits, ethical ideals, and lifestyles. These challenges to religion are partly a result of the prestige of science. The sciences describe a universe without reference to deities, the soul, or spiritual meaning.In addition, critical studies of biblical history have demonstrated that the Bible is not unique among ancient religious and historical documents. For example, the biblical stories of the Garden of Eden and the Deluge (universal flood) are common to other ancient Middle Eastern religions. Other factors that have contributed to a decline in religious participation in the 20th century include the presentation of religion as a prescientific form of superstitious thinking, as a source of political control and divisiveness, as a confirmation of established patriarchal values, or as an emotional crutch.In addition, many families are no longer able to maintain stable religious traditions because they are disconnected from traditional, supportive religions or as a result of mixed or nonreligious marriages. Another influence has been the loss of community and social commitment that has followed in the wake of increased mobility. Frequent changes of location can result in a sense of impermanence or instability. This is particularly true of a move from town to city, which often results in the loss of stable community structure.Social uprooting can lead to religious uprooting because religious affiliation is closely related to social ties. Evangelicalism in its various forms, including fundamentalism, offers a different response to modernity. Conservative movements, which have appeared internationally in every major religious tradition, have gained vitality by protesting what they see as the conspicuous absence of moral values in secular society. In times of anxiety and uncertainty, such movements present scripture as a source of doctrinal certainty and of moral absolutes.Against the secularism of the day, evangelical movements have succeeded in creating their own alternative cultures and have acquired considerable political influence. For all its challenges to the traditional religious identity, modernity has at the same time created new spiritual opportunities. Thousands of new religious movements emerged in the 20th century, offering alternative forms of community to people otherwise removed from past associations and disenchanted with modern values.Collectively, these new religions offer a large number of options, and addressing virtually every conceivable type of spiritual need. In a sense, modernity has created needs and probl ems for which new movements are able to present them as solutions. Some offer ethnic revitalization; others, techniques of mediation and self-improvement; and still others, have the power of alternative or spiritual forms of healing. Buddhist- and Hindu-derived movements continue to have considerable followings among Westerners searching for truths beyond Judeo-Christian tradition.Further, in a world where home life has become less stable, an international movement such as the Unification Church emphasizes the holiness and divine restoration of the institution of the family. Currently, one of the most rapidly growing religious movements is Pentecostalism, which takes its name from the festival day when the first Christian community felt the power of the Holy Spirit pour out on them. Pentecostalism’s grass roots services provide direct, ecstatic spiritual experiences.A quite different but also widespread form of spirituality is that of the so-called New Age Movement, which off ers individuals the opportunity to reconnect with mystical dimensions of the self and thus with the wider cosmos-relationships that are typically obscured by secular culture and often are not addressed in biblical traditions. In summary, there have been many changes in the way religion is viewed in the 20th century, in all aspects of sociological templates, that is, historical, structural, cultural, and critical aspects.

Global labour migration and global cities labour markets

Global labour migration and global cities labour markets Introduction Labour (human capital) is a significant provision in countries, which endeavour to progress economically. Evidently, there is a massive migration of labourers from one country to the next in search of appropriate job opportunities and reasonable pay. Global labour migration is a considerable concern in numerous contexts.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Global labour migration and global cities labour markets specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The situation has bountiful impacts on the native countries and host cities in terms of increasing population and augmentation of human expertise for the growth of the concerned cities. There is a critical relationship amid the two factions despite the condition. It is agreeable that when people leave their native countries to other cities for job opportunities, the trend leads to some impacts (Berg Kalleberg 2001). The labour markets of the host cities have exp erienced some remarkable changes despite the gradualism of the move. Additionally, endeavouring to provide enough opportunities for all these parties is challenging. This relates to the alleged relationships prospected between the global market migration and the labour markets of the global cities discerned in this context. This paper discusses the exact relationships that occur between the global labour migration and the cities involved in this context. It is crucial to consider the aspects of labour market due to their significance in the global market growth and other lucrative provisions they offer to the concerned parties. Major relationships From the studied sources, it is evident that there is a constructive relationship amidst the two factions. This is an important observation followings its ability to discern various aspects of the labour market and other characterizing features. Firstly, global labour migration refers to the phenomenon where human capital move from one cou ntry to the next. This starts when one leaves his or her country for further studies in a given country or city and fails to return back afterwards (Lucas 2008). The result is a massive brain drain with regard to this context. The fact that one offers his expertise (labour) in a foreign city conforms to aspects of labour migration. One major relationship in this context is the increase in the workforce levels in the host cities. This is with regard to skilled and non-killed human capital (Prentis 2006). A situation where labourers flock in another city will obviously increase the human capitals in such cities.Advertising Looking for assessment on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Conversely, the drained/sending countries will have labour deficit in their cities. Hence, the major relationship in this context is that there is a transfer of labour from one region to the next creating massive swell up in t he human capital in the host cities. This provision can be utilized constructively when the concerned cities have employment opportunities, which can be ceased by the migrating labourers for mutual benefits. Consequently, the global cities’ labour markets increase tremendously leading to surplus of workers and unemployment if not well managed. Observably, when potential employees move from one region to the next, the labour market in the receiving city will increase tremendously. This is an important relationship with regard to service provision, income generations, and labour market distribution mechanisms (Sunata 2010). It important to realize that labour markets varies from one region to the next. Precisely, labour market immigration ensures that numerous provisions with regard to human capital are evident. From this context, it is apparent that labour market immigration provides prominent influx of human resources into the receiving city. According to various sources, the re is a massive prevalence of global migration trends in the realms of labour markets as indicated earlier. Contextually, this trend cuts across various fields of specialization. This means that the alleged immigration will bring specialists from varying fields in the host cities. This is an imperative provision when scrutinized critically. Having numerous employees with varying specializations/disciplines in one city is a considerable move to the economic growth with regard to labour market exposition. Some labourers might turn to be generic skilled labourers depending on the situation. This is agreeable when considered decisively (OECD Nihon 2002). The relationship in this context is that the concerned cities will have a wider array of labourers in the context of specialization and other mattering provisions with regard to this context. Additionally, various characteristic of labourers will converge into one area. This might emerge with imperialism, creativity, diversity, and oth er prominent provisions important in the labour market context. The need to have skilled labours in various fields is an important phenomenon. Since labour immigration induces this phenomenon, it is vital to agree with the trend. The concerned cities will have a well-orchestrated labour force worth recognition.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Global labour migration and global cities labour markets specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Another considerable relationship is the exploitation of the immigrant workers in the host cities. Evidently, discrimination is a global phenomenon with some countries experiencing it principally. When labourers migrate from their home country in to the concerned host cities, the kind of jobs they might access might be discriminative (Lucas 2008). The concerned employers might find it hard to employ such people based prejudicial grounds. Consequently, the host cities will have numerou s immigrants experiencing limited job satisfaction, redundancy, or even minimal pays that are not commensurate to the jobs they assume. It is from this context that the concerned relationship between the labour market immigration and the global labour markets might be awry. Importantly, labour immigration increases the aspects of labour market precision hence dictating the mentioned provisions of the human capital. Contextually, labour immigrant should source appropriate jobs in cities where their affairs are prioritized. Failure to do this might lead to previous lamentations. The global cities’ labour markets possess expanded potentials to accommodate labourers of varying genres. This relates to the aspects of globalization, which must be embraced by numerous organizations and cities in order to stay competitive and relevant in the global limelight. Consequently, it is crucial to consider various aspects of this phenomenon as lucrative and considerable (Mahroum, 2001). Preci sely, promotion of globalization is an important relationship between the immigrant labourers and the concerned cities’ labour market. Since the world is changing rapidly in numerous contexts, it is apparent that most of the labour provision must meet the required global standards and other characterizing features in order to be considered lucrative. This means that global cities labour market induces the aspects of globalization hence requiring the emerging workforce to observe the new trends in the labour market.Advertising Looking for assessment on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This relates to the aspects of technology, diversity, and novelty required within labour force. The global cities labour markets require employees of exceptional competence. This might bar some employees with limited expertise from venture into the job market. The kind of competition evident in such labour markets is stringent and comprehensively competitive. Although global labour migration offers some opportunities to the host cities, it also ruins the global cities labour markets. It saturates the market hence leading to numerous mishaps. Consequently, the labour market even lacks its value when considered critically (Egbert 2007). It is through this context that such provisions emerge. Precisely, as long as the labour immigrations supplies labour to the target cities, it equally saturates the labour market of such cities if not well managed. This is a critical concept with regard to the mentioned relationships. Conversely, there are impacts of the labour immigration on the sendi ng countries in case the trend is hardly managed. The sending countries or cities might lack adequate skilled labourers in case their entire knowledgeable employees leave for other countries. Due to workforce imbalance, the concerned county will not grow despite the foreign exchanges earned. It is improper to consider this relationship appropriate. Additionally, building foreign cities/countries and abandoning the home city in dismay is disgraceful to the concerned country. Considerably, it is vital to consider the impacts that the lending cities experience before rendering the entire phenomenon viable. The situation is quite unfair and fronts an inconsiderable provision in various contexts. The impact varies between the highly-skilled workers and the less-skilled workers (Chiswick 2011). This situation even interferes with the concerned relationships between the global labour migration and the global cities labour markets. Importantly, it is vital to consider various aspects of thi s matter on both the host cities and the sending cities. As the global cities strive to gain massive from the foreign workforce, some critical eventualities emerge as indicated earlier in this very context. Another considerable relationship is that there are potential economic gains and losses from labour market migration (Bauder 2006). This is a critical consideration since anything that serves as good might be awful when critically scrutinized. There is nothing that can materialize significantly in this context minus some hitches. From this context it is apparent that global labour market migration has caused considerable economic criticalities. This forms a very critical phenomenon in the entire contexts. Various sources studied in this context recognize economic relationship amid these two factions. Additionally, the employability, efficiency, and output of labour immigrants depend massively on how the skills provided by such employees serves the interest of the potential employ ers (Lucas 2008). The global cities labour markets will not gain massively if the labour immigrants do not contain the required skills and prowess that the concerned employers demand. This is a critical phenomenon in various contexts. There are challenges and opportunities that are involved in the entire labour market migration context. Ability to share the aspects of labour is a critical provision. Conclusion Conclusively, there is a massive relationship between global labour migration and global cities labour markets as indicated earlier. The transfer of human capital from one region to the next is a rampant phenomenon noticeable globally. Most individuals have migrated to other cities in order to seek for lucrative job opportunities. Nonetheless, there are considerable relations amid the two factions. A prominent relationship in this context is the flocculation of employees in a given city leading to surplus of human capital at the expense of the mother/sending countries. This is quite unjust when considering the affairs of the sending countries. Enriching the labour market of a given city or country while depriving the other is inconsiderable. However there are economic, societal, political, and individualized relationships amidst the concerned labour migration and labour markets. Reference List Bauder, H 2006, Labour movement: how migration regulates labour markets, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. Berg, I Kalleberg, A 2001, Sourcebook of labour markets: evolving structures and processes, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York, US. Chiswick, B 2011, High-skilled immigration in a global labour market, AEI Press, Washington D.C., US. Egbert, H 2007, Migration and labour markets in the social sciences, Lit Publishing, Berlin, Germany. Lucas, R 2008, International Labour Migration in a Globalizing Economy, Carnegie Endowment Publications, Massachusetts, US. Mahroum, S 2001, Europe and the Immigration of Highly Skilled Labour, International Migration , vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 27–43. Web. OECD Nihon, R., 2002. Migration and the labour market in Asia recent trends and policies, OECD, Paris, France. Prentis, D 2006, International Labour Migration; A UNISON Discussion Paper, Unison Publishers, New York, US. Sunata, U 2010, Highly skilled labour migration the case of ICT specialists from Turkey in Germany, Lit Publishing, Berlin, Germany.

Dueling in early modern England Essay Example

Dueling in early modern England Essay Example Dueling in early modern England Essay Dueling in early modern England Essay Dueling in Early Modern England History of Early Modern England If I could summarize the time period between 1485 to 1714 1 would choose the word turmoil. During this time period the concepts of honor and the duel would enter into the English culture. The first and most obvious question is; what is a duel and how is it different than a fight. Well I believe Barbara Holland does a pretty good Job of explaining the concept in modern terms in her book, Gentlemens Blood: a history of dueling from swords at dawn to pistols at dusk; If, in a bar, someone offends you, and you wheel and knock him off his barstool, and e snatches up a chair and comes after you, this is simply a fight, or a brawl, and the bouncer will break it up and throw you both out. But if, as is still the custom in punctilious places, you invite the villain out to the parking lot (l had to ask him outside, your report later, ruefully but pridefully), and some of your friends and some of his come along to hold your coats and see fair play, and you fght there, this is a duel. l The second question that must be asked is, what was it about England that made these concepts take such a strong hold there. I believe the answer to that question is hat honor and dueling arose as a response to the many changes to English society during this time period. These changes included capitalism, the protestant reformation, and the creation ofa new class of people, the gentry. In order to fully unaerstana tnese cnanges ana wny tne Ouel was so quickly accepted Dy tne Engllsn citizens we must look at their history prior to the duels introduction in the 1570s. It is roughly estimated that the middle ages ended around 1500 A. D. So England was just emerging from a period of time in which they had been essentially dormant as a society for about one thousand years. During this time period things remained fairly consistent. Warfare may have changed political boundaries occasionally, but even that the people had gotten used to. Catholicism ruled all over Europe during this time. Government and the economy was essentially the same no matter who was in charge, they were both based on a feudal system. Under feudalism a land owner rented their land to peasants who agreed to give the owner the majority of their crops. This landowner had pledged his allegiance to the King. As far as the economy was concerned it was relatively stagnant, the feudal lords set the prices and kept the ealth earned from their land. There was little room for advancement under this system for peasants, but this was all about to change. Under the rule of the next two dynasties, the Tudors and the Stewarts, England would see major changes as they emerged from a feudal system into a more modern capitalistic society. It was these changes that would contribute to the growing practice of honor and dueling. Before we discuss the changes and how they allowed the concepts of honor and dueling to enter into English society, let us first discuss the history and major concepts of the duel. The Justification for the duel most likely dates back to the biblical story of David and Goliath. 2 As the story goes the David, who was the huge underdog, was able to beat the far superior Goliath because he was on the side of good and he had god on his side. It was based on this idea that god would protect good in the face of evil despite any obvious advantages, that spurned the original duels around 1100. 3 These original duels were held to solve legal matters. It was believed that if a person felt he was wronged and the accused refused to admit guilt the two could settle the ispute with a duel and God would see that the side that was right would be victorious. This custom would be referred to as a Judicial duel or trial by duel. 4 This was Just the basis however, the duel as we have come to expect would require help from the Italian Renaissance to evolve. It was the Italian Renaissance that would introduce the concepts of courtesy and civility, these concepts when combined with the ideas already accepted in the Judicial duel that would formulate the images of the duel that we think of today. The Italian Renaissance placed a great deal of mphasis on sophisticated manors, particularly among people of nobility. 5 The Italians believed that there were strict codes and ethics that must be upheld when conducting ones self in a public forum. They called this courtesy, referring to the royal court as an example. The Italians then combined these regulations with the judicial duel to form duels of courtesy or honor. According to Italian custom, if a person felt that they had not been given proper courtesy then their honor had been injured. This was because that people showed honor by giving courtesies. 6 They in urn believed that the only proper way to defend this honor was a duel with the one who had caused this injury. Through this method God would protect the most honorable and Just side. As in many societies, as the nobles continued to practice these customs of courtesy and duels of honor soon to did the common folk, as they tried to impersonate the more elite members of society. Soon the idea would spread all over Europe as well. Along tne way tne rules ana reasons would De more clearly defined. By the time the duel reached England almost every situation of insult had a proper response and standard to be followed. The process of setting up a duel and the duel itself was very ritualistic. In order for a duel to take place a man had to receive a blow to his honor. The most sever of these insults which could include anything from not showing a man proper courtesy, the insult of a woman which was under the protection of a man, a slap or blow, or a private or public slur or defamation, was a lie. The lie was by far the greatest insult one gentleman could give to another. 8 In fact even by telling a story that was grand a person could often find themselves in a situation where they would be forced to defend their story. A lie, t was felt, broke down the very fabric of what honor represented to the people by insinuating that the person being lied to was not worth the truth. After an individuals honor had been insulted the individual was placed in a situation of decision. Either the y chose to fight to defend their honor or chose not to fight and lose it completely. A person choosing not to fght often received persecution similar to that of individuals who had been excommunicated from the church. This idea lead, Markku Peltonen a dueling historian, to write, When one gentleman had shown signs or words of discourtesy to another gentleman e had in effect insulted him and thus questioned his status as a gentleman. A challenge was the only possible way out of this situation for the insulted gentleman, because that would be the only way to demonstrate his courage and valor, to display his genteel character and thus to restore his tarnished reputation as a gentleman. Another man referred to as Guazzo wrote, [l]t was a greater offense to take away ones good name, which refresh the soul, than to defraud one of food, which sustains the body. 10 Clearly the choice was easy, so the next step was to submit a written challenge to the insulter. l These challenges early in dueling history were published to avoid ignorance of them. 12 The challenge once again l eft little option for the challenged. They too faced serious social repercussions if they didnt accept. 13 After acceptance the men went about the task of deciding on weapons and armor, place, time, and procedure. 4 They also named their seconds, the seconds were men chosen by the primary participants to see that all the rules were upheld. The weapons were probably the most important aspect of the decision process. The chosen weapon had to be deadly in order to fully protect ones honor. 5 Initially the sword was the weapon of choice, but it soon gave way to the rapier and the art of fencing. The rapier was a much lighter than the cumbersome sword and was able to used defensively while attempting to attack. 6 Now this is only a brief summary of some of the rules and practices and I have neglected to include the actual rules that were to be upheld during the fght. Many people today would probably feel that by the time all this pre-duel nonsense was done they wouldnt even be mad at the other person anymore. This might very well have been the point, during this time period a ight was looked down upon society as an uncontrollable outburst of emotion, a duel on the other hand was a polite response to an insult. 17 In theory, only the insults truly worth fighting for would ever actually reach the dueling ground. Now that the nlstory, rules, ana customs nave Deen summarlzea, we must 100K at tne cnanges which led to the duel becoming so popular in England despite a strong opposition from the church, the King, and even many of the people. As the feudal system broke down in England there were many changes to the English society, the first was the introduction ofa free market or capitalism. As I had discussed earlier England as well as the rest of Europe were all beginning to emerge from a period where they experienced relatively no change to the economy. But as the feudal system broke down and capitalism broke down many characteristics of a capitalistic society that we are all so used to today began to emerge to the surprise and bewilderment of the English people. Enclosure among the English countryside caused two situations that led to the acceptance and rise of honor and the duel. Enclosure was the practice of wealthy landowners buying up land that had been previously used by peasants and icking them off of it to make room for grazing or farming. This did two things; first of all it pushed the peasants which had previously been living in a rural setting into the cities. In the cities, they would be forced to work in factories and live in a very close proximity to one another. Factory work was very stressful, and there were no employee rights to protect them. This combined with the fact that these individuals were coming from a situations where they knew a relatively little amount of people, combined to form situations where very stressed out people were coming in contact ith many people with many different views and ideas. It is important to realize that these individual had little formal education and probably hadnt been introduced to differences of opinion. So when placed in a situation where someone would tell them something that they might not have ever experienced or been taught, it would only be natural for them to assume that the person was lying. The forced migration of these farmers into cities increased the population of many towns, and although the proportions of duels might not have increased the sheer number certainly would increase as the numbers of citizens in a particular city increased. Just as the movement of people to the cities fostered and perpetuated the duel in cities, their vacancy actually may have caused dueling in the rural areas as well. As the peasants left the lands and lords continued to expand upon their land, the relative distance between each landowners farm increased, this may have aided the duels acceptance and growth in popularity. This expanding of the population l ed to very little action in the rural areas. A duel in effect was a break in this norm, as word would spread it would give people something to talk about and assuming the duelists had decided to andle the dispute in public it even gave the country folk something to go see, reminiscent of the ancient Romans and the battles that they would hold at the coliseum. Although watching one man kill another because one may have exaggerated on how much money he had, might not seem like a very wholesome form of entertainment in seventeenth century rural England this may be a once a year event that you must not miss. Enclosure wasnt the only capitalistic feature that might have cause the rise of and growth of honor and the duel, inflation was also a completely new concept to the English people. Inflation is the idea that prices of products will inevitably fluctuate over time as the economy changes. During the feudal system however prices had been set, but as the economy switched to capitalism the people began to notice that prices of everything were rising uncontrollaDly. In America we try to regulate tnls pnenomenon tnrougn tne regulation on currency in circulation and setting interest rates at a standard. While inflation may not have been a direct cause for the rise of honor and dueling it definitely lead to added amounts of stress among the people as they tried to make sense of what was going on. It also would stand to reason that if the people didnt understand this concept that as merchants began to charge them different prices they would begin to be upset, in fact they may have actually called some of the merchants liars or cheats. These claims would have undoubtedly led to duels because individuals honor would have been hurt. Capitalism wasnt the only change that caused people to behave differently among themselves. There were also religious problems that can be attributed to fueling honor and dueling. As we all know it was Henry VIII, one of the first Tudor Kings, who started the protestant evolution in England. This wasnt an easy transition however throughout the next few rulers the Kingdom would sway to Protestant, to Catholic, and back again. This waffling back and forth upset many people during each rule. Their frustration with the government certainly would not help a society of already angry people. Also religion has always been one of those things that people were willing to die for. So it would only stand to reason that as people came into contact with those who held different views about religion, honors would most certainly be questioned. Even to this day when people start discussing religion often the arguments will turn personal, so in a time where it would have been culturally acceptable to duel, you can see how easily it would have been for two proud men to get caught in a situation where they would not only be defending their honor but also their religion. Both sides would assume that they were right and that God would be defending them in the dispute. Now while both religion and the new capitatistic economy certainly raised tensions and created situations where men would be forced to defend their onor in a duel, but probably the biggest new social change that led to the rise of honor and the duel in English society was the emergence of a new class of people who would be reffered to as gentry. As capitalism grew a new social class that hadnt previously exsisted began to emerge, they would be called the gentry. 9 The gentry were essentially the equivalent toa middle class in modern terms. This new class was a title-less class, meaning although they had quite a substaintial amount of money they lacked the classification of nobility. Prior to the age of capitalism there ere essentially only two classes, nobility and peasants, but now capitalism had allowed a class of merchant who previously would have been forced to work in a feudal syste m to have money. These people were very socially conscious of their situation and place in society. 20 They envied those with titles and the security with which it came. The gentry had essential made themselves out of nothing and yet in a social sense were not receiving the public or political recognition they felt they deserved. They quickly turned to the idea of honor and the practice of the duel as a eans to combat their feelings of social inferiority and in some case even a way to cure them. The practice of courtesy was perceived as a link to the more important figures in society, something that any man of importance was deserving of. The gentry being the proud class that they were, believed that these ideas should be extended to one another, as though they were nobility. In a sense the practicing of courtesy, tne concept 0T nonor, tne aeclslon to Ouel to aeTena It, gave tne gentry a sort of pseudo-sophistication. They believed that if they acted like the nobility acted than they in turn were nobility in their minds. 1 This could be connected to the idea of Puritanism in that where as the Puritans believed that they might not be of the chosen they still had an obligation to act like it; the gentry believed that even though they werent nobility they should act like it anyway. This is true today, go to many middle class neighborhoods today and you will see many people living above their means in an effort to associate themselves with a higher class then the one they are actually in. Well the ideas of courtesy, honor, and the duel, were the seventeenth century equivalent to a Lexus and a home you couldnt afford. A successful dueler was looked upon very favorable in most cases by his peers. He would be perceived as an individual high in honor and moral standards. He would be raised above the common member of the gentry class, in effect giving him the status which he so desperately wanted. 22 Another issue which occurred due to the formation of the new class was boredom. 23 The gentry class had earned what money they had but their children often had very little work to do. This was similar to the nobilitys situation, you see the people who were poor often didnt have time to be concerned ith such trival issues as honor and courtesy, but the more well off members of society particularly those who were very social conscious had little else to do. To the gentry an insult was a question of not only their manhood but also whether or not they deserved their position in society, and with little else to concern themselves with this could soon balloon in too a large issue. It is important to note that while the majority of the public accepted the notions of courtesy, honor, and dueling, it was not accepted by everybody. The list of those who didnt approve was actually pretty long and very powerful. It included all the English kings of this era as well as many high ranking officials in government. The Catholic Church as well as the Puritan Church were also against dueling in particular. John Eliot spoke on this fact in the opening words of the proclamation against the duel, Because among other bitter fruits that these unlawful and bewitching [d]uels have produced; there is none more dangerous for the sequel, more contemptuous against Our Authority, and more Godless against the Divine Majesty, then is the publication , as it were before the Sun and Moon, of mens arrogant conceits of their own valor. Never the less dueling, honor, and courtesy not only were accepted but flourished among certain groups of the population despite the objections from such powerful institutions. It was said that mens honor was more important than his king, his God, or even his own life. 25 Bibliography Baldick, Robert. The Duel. London: Spring Books, 1965. Cochran, Hamilton. Noted American Duels and Hostile Encounters. Philadelphia: Chilton Books, 1963. Ho an , Baroara. Gentlemans Blood: a nlstory 0T Ouellng Trom swords at dawn to pistols at dusk. New York: Bloomsbury, 2003. Kiernan, V. G. The Duel in European History. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Olsen Kirstin. Daily Live in 18th Century England, Daily Life Through History Online. 2002, I Love a Mob: behavior- ritualized violence, dueling. Peltonen, Markku. Francis Bacon, the Earl Northampton, and the Jacobean Anti- dueling Campaign, The historical Journal, 44 (2001): 1-28. Peltonen, Markku. The Duel in Early Modern England. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. Shoemaker, Robert, B. The Taming of the Duel; Masculinity, Honour and ritual, violence in London, 1660-1800, The Historical journal 45 (2002): 525-545.

How to Use Block Quotations in Writing

How to Use Block Quotations in Writing A block quotation is a  direct quotation that is not placed inside quotation marks but instead is set off from the rest of the text by starting it on a new line and indenting it from the left margin. Block quotations may be called extracts, set-off quotations, long quotations, or display quotations. Block quotations are used in academic writing but are also common in journalistic and nonfiction writing. While block quotations are perfectly acceptable, its important for writers to be selective about their use. In some cases, block quotations are unnecessarily long and include more content than is needed to make or support a point. There is no single rule of thumb for formatting block quotations. Instead, each major style guide recommends slightly different ways of selecting, introducing, and setting off the quotations. Before formatting, its important to check on the style used for a particular publication, website, or class. Key Takeaways: Block Quotations A block quotation is a  direct quotation that is indented from the left margin and begins on a new line.Block quotations are used when a quotation exceeds a specific length. Requirements for length vary, depending on the style guide being used.Block quotes can be effective tools for persuading readers or proving a point, but they should be used sparingly and edited appropriately. Recommended Length of Block Quotations Customarily, quotations that run  longer than four or five lines are blocked, but style guides  often disagree on the minimum length for a block quotation. Some styles are more concerned with word counts, while others focus on the number of lines. While each official style guide has its own approach to block quotes, individual publishers may have unique in-house rules. Some of the more common style guides require block quotations as follows: APA: Quotes longer than 40 words or four linesChicago: Quotes longer than 100 words or eight linesMLA: Quotes of prose longer than four lines; quotes of poetry/verse longer than three linesAMA: Quotes longer than four lines MLA Block Quotes Researchers in English literature usually follow the style guidelines of the Modern Language Association (MLA). The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers recommends the following for a quotation that will run more than four lines when it is included in the text: When appropriate in the context of the text, introduce the block quotation with a colon.Begin a new line indented one inch from the left margin; do not indent the first line more than the other lines in the block quotation.Type the quote double-spaced.Do not place quotation marks around the block of quoted text. APA Block Quotes APA stands for American Psychological Association, and APA style is used to format anything in the social sciences. When a quotation is longer than four lines line, APA requires that it be styled as follows: Set it off from your text by beginning a new line, indenting one inch from the left margin.Type it double-spaced, without adding quotation marks.If you quote only a single paragraph or part of one, do not indent the first line more than the rest.One inch is equivalent to 10 spaces. Chicago Style Block Quotes Often used for writing in the humanities, the Chicago (or Turabian) Style Guide was created by the University of Chicago Press and is now in its 17th edition. It is sometimes referred to as the Editors Bible. Rules for block quotes in Chicago Style are as follows: Use block format for quotations longer than five lines or two paragraphs.Do not use quotation marks.Indent the entire quotation by half an inch.Precede and follow the block quote by a blank line. American Medical Association Block Quotes The AMA style guide was developed by the American Medical Association and is used almost exclusively for medical research papers. Rules for block quotes in the AMA style are as follows: Use block formats for quotations that are longer than four lines of text.Do not use quotation marks.Use reduced type.Use paragraph indents only if the material cited is known to begin a paragraph.If the block quote contains a secondary quote, use double quotation marks around the contained quotation.

Critical and strategic understanding of Information Technology in UK's Essay

Critical and strategic understanding of Information Technology in UK's universities and improvement to this given service - Essay Example All these in turn results competitive services offered by the business or organization in comparison to the competitor (Gronroos, 2000). Effective service design requires developing the critical and strategic level understanding of the services required by the customers of the organization (Hollins & Hollins, 1991). Therefore, the aim of this report is to develop the comprehensive understanding of the service requirement of the customers of the universities of UK from its information technology based attendance monitoring system. The paper in specific reference to the literature review in the context of the service design will determine the service requirement from IT based student attendance monitoring system in the universities of UK. The paper has found that service design appears to have significant involvement in the universities’ attendance systems. It is despite fact that service organizations are less involved in integrating service design. Finally, the improvement rec ommendations are made for the university attendance system. LITERATURE REVIEW AND RELEVANCE TO THE IT IN UK UNIVERSITIES The service design, simply stating, is aimed at transforming the service that is provided to the customer more useful. The services that are delivered to the customer result in more effective, efficient, usable as well as desirable by the customer once are provided in accordance to the critically developed design (Parasuraman, Zeithaml, and Berry, 1988). Hence, the process and system that uses the strategic level considerations in devising the path through which the product or service are provided to the customer result in winning customer preference (Moritz, 2005). This win-win situation distinguishes the company’s product among large number of homogeneous products and services (DC, 2013). Herrmann, Huber, & Braunstein, (2000) have defined that service design is the domain that enable the organization to explore the potential strategic possibilities within their business model. Service designing uniquely offers the organization to present the new services by redesigning the pattern of the old service (Goldstein et al., 2002). Moritz (2005) and Salter and Tether (2006) state that as the difference between the product and service is quite evident; therefore, the system of designing and implementing service also requires considering different aspects. These features include considering the uniqueness of the customer requirement, expertise from all related and involved field and most important aspect that needs consideration is the on-going and constantly changing nature of services. Therefore, difference service design categories are determined by Moritz (2005) as depicted as follows: (Kytola and Pakkila, 2012) It is important to understand that companies are able to achieve the distinction only on the basis of the good service design. Therefore, good service design shall ensure that process is successful in deliberately designing the e xperience that customer of the company perceives more valuable. Also the factor that distinguishes a good service design from others is the similar level of valuable experience generated for the service

Gestalt Family Therapy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Gestalt Family Therapy - Essay Example In this therapy the experiences of the patient are not interpreted by the therapist instead the patient is encouraged to become aware of their needs and to accept them, come to an understanding of how to fulfill them and then let go of them. In this therapy the experiences of the patient are not interpreted by the therapist, but the therapist works along with the patient to enable them to understand themselves. This therapy helps a patient to become a well adjusted individual who understands that in life there is a constant flow of needs and one has to accept them, understand them, fulfill them if possible or let go of them without regrets. Gestalts Family Therapy is an extension of these goals, in that, the therapy is not for an individual but extends to the family. Walter Kempler, who initially worked with Perls, brought about this form of Family Therapy. His immediate goal is to engage the entire family in therapy, such that the members who seek to come together and at the same time separate can resolve their issues using Gestalts Therapy and thus resolve their problems. The final goal is accepting reality as it is, and thus accepting one’s own and the other’s movement to and away from togetherness. This could mean freedom and relief for one and loss and grief for another. Gestalt Family Therapy allows one to realize this loss, grieve for it and then move on. (Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Kempler) The basic aim of this therapy is to bring about self awareness. The goal of Gestalts therapy is to help patients in discovering their ability to regulate and have successful relationships with others who share their space (i.e. with family, at work, with friends etc) and to connect with their inner selves and accept themselves as they truly are. The therapist helps the patient to uncover the unresolved issues which fade into the subconscious and then helps the patient to understand

Secondary study on any current public health issue - Obesity Statistics Project

Secondary study on any current public health issue - Obesity - Statistics Project Example If found at the beginning, one should take care of his/health by reducing the weight by taking less calorific food and doing aerobic exercises / yoga regularly. From all the above tables and chart, it is concluded that the White non-hispanic youths are less obese (Mean BMI=23.49) compared to Hispanic group youths (Mean BMI=27.56) or black non-hispanic group youths (Mean=34.95). The black non-hispanic groups are over obese compared to their counterparts in Hispanic or white non-hispanic groups. The ANOVA is also showing highly significant F value which indicates that there is a very highly significant difference in BMI between the three ethnic groups. The correlation coefficient between white non Hispanic and black non Hispanic is positive and significant at 1% and 5% levels, the correlation coefficients between Hispanic and white non-hispanic is positive and significant at 5% level only where as there is no correlation between black non-hispanic and Hispanic

The Greatest Songs of All Times Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Greatest Songs of All Times - Essay Example It is worth appreciating that there are different types of genres that relay varied messages to the music fans. Perhaps one that has been most common since historical times pertains to the classic rock music genre. This has distinct characteristics that distinguish it from the rest of the genres. Just like other genres, the success of each music is highly depended on the manner in which the writer and composer integrate various musical attributes to come up with a classic masterpiece. It is against this background that this paper provides an explicit review of five classical songs in light of the musical techniques that were employed in their creation. At this point, it is worth noting that through rock music, artists are usually able to pass on important messages in the ‘hardest manner’. In addition to the messages contained therein, the lovers of this music are usually attracted to it because of the musical effect that it has on their feelings. This can be only attaine d through the technique employed by the artists. In this respect, instrumentation plays an important role in attaining this goal. It does not only give the music rhythm and melody, but it also gives it harmony. The interplay of all these factors is important in enabling it to have a positive effect on the audience. In its I can’t get any Satisfaction, The Rolling Stone places great emphasis on the music altitude. This is attained through the artists’ use of sneering vocal and primal temper. According to Morse, its rhythm can be compared to ‘avenging strut† (Morse 46). The horns that the artists use play an instrumental role in improving the harmony of the music. The artists use this to make the piece unique and accord it an upper hand in the music industry. Perhaps the most important aspect of this music pertains to the use of technology. Notably, this has been employed in enhancing the altitude that the artists wished to place emphasis on. The use of the g uitar was particularly important in according this piece of art the rock characteristic. In his Like the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and the other musicians use the guitar to achieve a rhythm in this song. During the recording, they also employ other instruments such as tambourine and the Bass. Although these are not noticeable from the outset, their importance in adding to and enhancing the feel of the song cannot be understated. In particular, they integrate into the song a couple of flashes that also contribute significantly to the harmony of the song. In his review, Rooksby indicates that Dylan’s voice contributes a great deal to the idyllic melody that the song exhibits (Rooksby 30). In essence, it gives the song a ‘rocky’ attribute that gives it an upper hand against its competitors. Comparatively, the effect of the artists sounds yields better results than that of the instruments. This is because, through the sound, artists are able to inform the audiences a bout their intention and objective. Statistical evidence indicates that a significant percentage of the audiences place great emphasis on the messages that they are relayed as opposed to the instrumentation. For this reason, the artist’s voice is a great asset that is elemental for their success. In his song, Dylan uses a lilting rock sound effect and makes it nasal and less sing-song. Instead, he makes his voice deep and scratchy.

Tea Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Tea - Essay Example Tea is a popular beverage manufactured from the leaves of a plant known in Latin as Camellia sinesis. As the old folks in the tea industry used to call it, some still refer to it by its now outmoded name â€Å"Thea sinensis†. The now popular name for tea, â€Å"Chai†, originated from Persian â€Å"chay† and spread to other parts of the world. Well, take little focus on that tongue irritating phrase and focus on the pot’s content, delicious! Tea is a mild stimulant. Its stimulating effect is associated with caffeine as one of its main components. It caffeine content is lower than that of coffee but exceeds that in cocoa. It also contains small amounts of tannic compounds referred to as polyphenols. It is these tannin compounds that tea its flavor, which makes it one of the most cherished beverages in the world. Talking of tannic, the mind will often focus on leather, a good but blind wild guess. Tannic compounds in tea refer to elements such as vitamin A, B2, C, D, K and P and numerous minerals together with scented oils. The tannic compounds also give the beverage its color and dryness. Tea plant is believed to have originated from East and South Asia. Despite numerous tales on the initial use of tea as a beverage, not a single person is absolutely sure of the claims. Many people believe that China is the first country where tea was initially taken as a beverage before spreading to other nations. Classification of tea is based on their mode of processing. Some popular categories of tea include white, green, oolong and black tea among others. After picking tea leaves, they are dried and fermented, a process that leads to darkening of the leaves. For black tea, the fermented leaves are heated at a suitable temperature. In most occasions, the processed tea is blended to obtain better flavor and quality to fetch higher prices in the market. Blending conceals varieties with low taste and hooks the consumer to the brands. Catherine, Charles II’s wife

Aquafresh Toothbrush Advertisement Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Aquafresh Toothbrush Advertisement - Term Paper Example The advertisement appears mostly at the beginning of school term or year. This is the time that most students are shopping for the school term. The appearance of the advertisement is, therefore, seasonal. The advertisement appears on newspapers, especially the daily papers in which it is on the first few pages. Being a household product, the target audience is the whole household. To the school going students, it attracts their attention to the said flexibility and to the parents, and it confers the need to ensure that the whole household exercise oral health. Being on the daily newspapers increases the chances that many consumers will see it. The advertisement has been successful in achieving an audience and influencing choices. First, the advertisement uses a young and healthy person to put across the point. This makes many of the readers of the advert feel the urge to be as healthy and neat and are hence motivated to read further. The company, therefore, recognises the need that people have to be healthy and neat and uses this as an attraction. Secondly, the advertisement uses creativity for a variety of reasons. One, to bring out the aspect of flexibility, the toothbrush that the advertising figure uses goes past the mouth and comes out through the ear. This shows that there is no point in the mouth that the brush cannot access. The second gain from creativity is that most people will consider the idea original and hence adopt it. The creativity and originality are crucial influencers in marketing. The advertisement effectively creates a good perception among the consumers that the Aquafresh flexible toothbrush is the best in maintenance of oral hygiene. This success is also based on the consumers buying process. After identifying the need for, a toothbrush, which in this case the advertiser anticipate at the beginning of school year or term, the

Tea Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Tea - Essay Example Tea is a popular beverage manufactured from the leaves of a plant known in Latin as Camellia sinesis. As the old folks in the tea industry used to call it, some still refer to it by its now outmoded name â€Å"Thea sinensis†. The now popular name for tea, â€Å"Chai†, originated from Persian â€Å"chay† and spread to other parts of the world. Well, take little focus on that tongue irritating phrase and focus on the pot’s content, delicious! Tea is a mild stimulant. Its stimulating effect is associated with caffeine as one of its main components. It caffeine content is lower than that of coffee but exceeds that in cocoa. It also contains small amounts of tannic compounds referred to as polyphenols. It is these tannin compounds that tea its flavor, which makes it one of the most cherished beverages in the world. Talking of tannic, the mind will often focus on leather, a good but blind wild guess. Tannic compounds in tea refer to elements such as vitamin A, B2, C, D, K and P and numerous minerals together with scented oils. The tannic compounds also give the beverage its color and dryness. Tea plant is believed to have originated from East and South Asia. Despite numerous tales on the initial use of tea as a beverage, not a single person is absolutely sure of the claims. Many people believe that China is the first country where tea was initially taken as a beverage before spreading to other nations. Classification of tea is based on their mode of processing. Some popular categories of tea include white, green, oolong and black tea among others. After picking tea leaves, they are dried and fermented, a process that leads to darkening of the leaves. For black tea, the fermented leaves are heated at a suitable temperature. In most occasions, the processed tea is blended to obtain better flavor and quality to fetch higher prices in the market. Blending conceals varieties with low taste and hooks the consumer to the brands. Catherine, Charles II’s wife

International Economic- WTO Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

International Economic- WTO - Essay Example The most important round of negotiations in the history of WTO was the Uruguay Round in 1986 which resulted in significant agreement on negotiation topics. The meeting before that in 1982 had resulted in deadlock over agriculture issues. The Uruguay Round resulted in an agreement over ‘a negotiating agenda’ which covered all the trade policy issues required to be discussed (World Trade Organization, 2010). Over the years, the WTO’s agenda has had to expand from just an agreement on trade terms to include issues related to regionalism, intellectual property, services, the environment, investment, electronic commerce and labour standards (World Trade Organization, 2010).1 ‘Balance-of-payments exception’: developing countries were allowed to have less stringent terms in tariff conditions and they were allowed to protect their markets to some level because of the special status to protect them. ‘exports subsidies’: WTO promotes the elimination of export subsidies in agriculture in order to have free competitive market conditions in global agricultural trade. The implementation of this clause is more one-sided and it is the developed countries that specifically demand the elimination of export subsidies in developing countries; and ‘domestic support’: developed countries are promoting the elimination of all other forms if domestic support besides export subsidies that challenge the free competitive market conditions. (World Trade Organization, 2010) The latest agreement on the agriculture front is laid out in August 2007. According to these agreements, in developed countries, there was to be a reduction in tariff and a calculation of the Ad Valorem Equivalent (AEV) tariff. 4-6% of the tariff could be proclaimed for sensitive products. It was also agreed that there was a necessity to ‘formulate an adequate solution for tariff escalation’. Tax simplification was another clause of the 2007 Draft

The House of the Spirits

The House of the Spirits How is humour used to unravel the natures of the main characters and why is it used for the main theme of social injustice in Isabel Allendes The House of the Spirits and Ferdinand Oyonos Houseboy? Humour is defined as writings and other material created to make people laugh[1]. It has been used to grasp the attention of the readers, with its main purpose being to entertain. In both The House of the Spirits and Houseboy, humour has been used from the very beginnings of the novel to really acquire the concentration of the readers and keep them captivated.   Besides than adding vibrancy to the characters, humour might also serve to highlight key underlying themes in the literary work. The focus of this essay will be on how the writers have utilised humour to reveal the nature of the main characters, either by describing their characters actions in an amusing way or how their risibility provides indirect insights into how they perceive the world around them. It shall also address why writers incorporate this literary technique with main theme of social injustice in their works. In both the texts above, the writers have used humour from the very beginning whilst introducing their main characters; this usage engrosses the reader to develop interest in the character. The House of the Spirits begins with a dramatic opening in a church deliverance. Perhaps, why Allende chose to start the novel setting in a church could be to emphasize the importance of religion to the people of that particular region , but the bathos comes by an abrupt statement   by Clara: the voice of little Clara was heard in all its purity psst! Father Restrapo! If that story about hell is a lie, were all fucked, arent we The reader surely didnt expect to hear such a statement from a 10 year old girl. This shows us that Clara is very bold and forthright about her views as she is able to question what she is being taught in the church about hell. Many people simply believe everything they are taught through religion but certainly not Clara.  Ã‚   The language itself is very amusing besides the context. psst! the use of this onomatopoeia shows the disrespect for the Father as it undermines his status by   mocking him during a sermon. The highly inappropriate use of the word fucked in front of the public shocks everyone. This radical, carefree nature of hers is what brings about the humour in this piece thus it serves to be a very pertinent introduction to Clara and sets the platform for the reader to expect more unusual doings throughout the novel. Like Allende, Oyono introduces Toundi with humour. Toundi narrates of how he is proud to read and write and wants to copy the whites man custom of keeping a diary. This tells us that young Toundi is naive and filled with desire of learning a lot about the white men .The joy he gets by being literate tells us that this character is filled with promise in the future and determination. He is also revealed to be mischievous child as he had been making fun of father Gilbert but he is nonetheless the main character which undergoes metamorphosis over the course of the story. Thus humour has been successfully used to reveal the character traits, make them more colourful, interesting, lively and keep the reader engaged actively. Claras character in The House of the Spirits has been revealed further in the novel as the story progresses in various occasions, the humour usually comes out when she does something unusual and also to note is the fact that her strangeness was an attribute of her character: she is a telekinetic; is rarely attentive; she can predict futures, read dreams, and, lives a very introvert life but still she amalgamates the family together, and is extremely caring for others. The humorous bits of kinesthetic abilities, being rarely attentive (which itself is ironic as discussed later) are the key to understanding Claras character. When Esteban is shouting at Clara.Clara let him scream his head off and bang on the furniture until he was exhausted. Then inattentive as ever, she asked him if he knew how to wiggle his ears. Clara is being scolded by her husband and all she is concerned is whether he can wiggle his ears. This shows us Claras absent mindedness and care-free nature. It also serves to show us how Clara prohibits anyone from forcing her by offering resistance by being inattentive. She will never directly express her disgust but rather suppress it in a subtle manner. This shows us that her character is refined in the sense she does not have a strong body language or rebellious nature but still is very firm by not allowing herself to be oppressed even by her husband.. Again humour has been used to reveal her character trait. On the other hand, Toundi further reveals his character further when he first came to meet Father Gilbert. The Father would use to come to the village and toss little lumps of sugar like throwing corn to chicken. The use of little lumps of sugar, though is humorous, it also indicates how easily native Cameroonian people were converted to Christians in the hope of a better life, but later most of them would remain in poverty or be killed. Here humour has been juxtaposed with social injustice but to imply it in a more subtle way so as not to make the reader very sad with emotions. Toundi continues to describe how he too would fight for these lumps of sugar- and this tells us that Toundi is a boisterous kid who did not shy away from what he didnt like- but unlike Clara in The House of the Spirits ,he is willing to fight for it. It also reinforces the point made earlier about what allure white men especially Father Gilbert held for Toundi.