Thursday, October 31, 2019

Management analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Management analysis - Research Paper Example In as much as various Japanese and South Korean air purifier organizations such as Panasonic and Sharp command a substantial portion of the Chinese market, several corporations within the United States are progressively intensifying their operations within the region. This research paper therefore aims to provide more insight on the Chinese market, with particular attention being bestowed to its customer base and local manufactures. The United States has several air purifier manufacturing organizations partly because its population is the second largest air filter market. It is imperative to note that the good performance of such establishments within the United States is majorly because they understand the US market, and provide the customers with high quality products. For firms such as Ecoquest, Honeywell, Austin Air, Friedrich and Blue Air to replicate a similar performance within the Chinese market, they need to understand its characteristics. It is of great significance to note that the target market for most of the US firms are majorly families who need to prevent themselves from the hazardous gases omitted to the atmosphere; notably particles with aerodynamic diameters of less than 2.5 micro meters. By installing air purifiers within their living and bedrooms, the families will be taking huge strides in guaranteeing their safety, as the inhalation of such gases increases the incidence of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and cancer related diseases (Caprotti 82).

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Trait of Effective Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Trait of Effective Communication - Essay Example Not to forget though, that effective communication may also be defined as the way a person uses his body language in order to convey his message. This can be done through the nod of the head, raising of the eyebrow, hunching of the shoulders... Any of these aforementioned method of communication can be taken to define what effective communication is all about. 2. There are two traits that are necessary in effective communication. The first trait is speaking clearly. By speaking clearly and properly explaining what it is that you wish to have another person understand, he will be able to get a clear grasp of what it is that you are trying to say. Being sure to use words that you are sure the person one is speaking to can understand, one can be sure that his message will definitely be received and understood. The second important trait of effective communication has everything to do with the ability of a person to listen attentively and actively. By listening attentively, one is able t o concentrate on the message being delivered by the person speaking. It will also allow for a better analysis of the discussion and active participation as one will be able to properly pose clarification questions whenever the need arises. 3. An example of a communication break that can occur which can result in the distorting of a message often occurs with the written word. This is because the written word can change its meaning depending upon the punctuation used or the mistaken context of a message. Something as simple as â€Å"Dont rush me! Im leaving now!† in a text message can either be taken as an angry message by the receiver or as a message of excitement. All depending upon the way that the message was perceived by the other side. On the other hand, a message such as â€Å"Dont bother. I can do it.† when spoken can be taken as either exasperated, angry, or simply a statement by the person hearing it. All depending upon the vocal intonation of the speaker.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Chemical compounds

Chemical compounds Introduction Chemical compounds can generally be classified into two broad groups: molecular compounds and ionic compounds. Molecular compounds involve atoms joined by covalent bonds and can be represented by a variety of formulas. Ionic compounds are composed of ions joined by ionic bonding, and their formulas are generally writtenusing oxidation states. Molecular Compounds Molecular compounds are composed of atoms that are held together by covalent bonds. These bonds are formed when electrons are shared between two atoms. The concept of chemical formulas was created to describe many characteristics of molecular compounds through in a simple manner. A normal chemical formula encompass factors about which elementsare in the molecule, and how many atoms of each element there are. The number of atoms of each element is denoted by a subscript, a small number that is written to the left of the element. In the preceding formula, the subscript â€Å"2† denotes the fact that there are 2 hydrogen atoms present in the molecule. Other types of formulas are used to display more detailed characteristics of molecules. An empirical formula represents the proportions of atoms in a molecule. It gives important information about a molecule, because itdisplays the ratios of atoms that are present within the molecule.However, itslimitations exist in the sense that it does not represent the exact number of those atoms that are present in the molecule, as do molecular formulas. In certain situations, the molecular and the empirical formula can be the same, but in other situations, the molecular formula is a multiple of the ratios of atoms indicated in the empirical formula.Since empirical formulas can be derived from molecular formulas,molecular formulas are generallymore useful than empirical formulas. To illustrate the difference between empirical and molecular compounds: C5H7O is a possible empirical formula, because a ratio of 5:7:1 cannot be simplified any further. In this particular case, the empirical formula could also be the molecular formula, if there are exactly 5 carbon atoms, 7 hydrogen atoms, and 1 oxygen atom per molecule. However, another possible molecular formula for this same molecule is C10H14O2, because while there are 10 carbon atoms, 14 hydrogen atoms, and 2 oxygen atoms present, theratio 10:14:2 can be simplified to 5:7:1, giving way to the same empirical formula. Additionally, C10H14O2is not the only possibility of a molecular formula for this molecule; anyformula with the same relative proportions of these atoms that can be simplified to a 5:7:1 ratiosis apossible molecular formula for this molecule. When given adequate information, the empirical formula and molecular formula can be quantitatively ascertained. A structural formula is written to denote the details of individual atoms bonding. More specifically, it clarifies what types of bonds exist, between which atoms these bonds exist, and the order of the atoms bonding within the molecule. Covalent bondsare denoted by lines.A singleline represents a single bond, twolinesrepresent a double bond, three lines represent a triple bond, and onwards. A single covalent bond occurs when two electrons are shared between atoms, a double occurs when four electrons are shared between two atoms, etc. In this sense, the higher the number of bonds, the stronger the bond between the two atoms. The above is a diagram of the structural formula of acetic acid, whose molecular formula is CH3COOH. A condensed structural formula isa less graphicalway ofrepresentating the same characteristics displayed by astructural formula. In this type of formula, the molecule is writtenas a molecular formula with the exception thatitindicates where the bonding occurs. The above diagram isthe structural formula of hexane. By referring to the structural formula and emphasizing where bonding occurs, one can ascertain a condensed structural formula of CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH3. All the representations discussed thus far have not addressed how to show a molecules three-dimensional structure. The two ways to illustrate a spatial structure are through the use of the ball-and-stick model as well as the space-filling model. The ball-and-stick model uses balls to spatiallyrepresent a molecule. The ballsare the atoms in a molecule and sticksare the bonds between specific atoms. The space-filling model is also a method of spatially displaying a molecule and its characteristics. A space-filling model shows atoms sizes relative sizes to one another. Ionic Compounds Ionic compounds arecomposed of positive and negative ions that are joined by ionic bonds.Ionic bonds are generally formed when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, causing individual atoms to become charged particles, or ions. Ionscan be referred as either monatomic or polyatomic. Monatomic ions such asCl−are composed of only one ion,while polyatomic ions such as NO3−are defined as polyatomic ions. A combination of these ions that forms a compound whose charge is equal to zero is known as a formula unit of an ionic compound. Formulas of ionic compounds can be written with reference to oxidation states. For further reference, please visit the ChemWiki article dedicated to oxidation states: Outside links Molecular compounds:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_compound Ionic compounds:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionic_compound Determining the empirical formula of a molecule:http://www.chem.tamu.edu/class/majors/tutorialnotefiles/empirical.htm Determining the molecular formula of a molecule:http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/probsolv/stoichiometry/molecular2/mf2.0.html Using oxidation states to determine formulas of ionic compounds:http://www.fordhamprep.org/gcurran/sho/sho/lessons/lesson53.htm

Friday, October 25, 2019

California Wetlands and The Batiquitos Lagoon :: Environment Ecology Ecological Essays

California Wetlands and The Batiquitos Lagoon As the importance of wetland property has been brought to light by ecologists it is a wonder why so much of it is still being destroyed. In California there are development trade- off's that are made that will destroy one wetland while saving another. This will be seen using the Batiquitos Lagoon in Carlsbad, California as an example. In 1987 an agreement was signed with the Port of Los Angeles and the state of California. This agreement allowed part of the Port of Los Angeles to be filled in for commercial development, if the Batiquitos Lagoon was restored. The Port of LA traded their funds to restore the Carlsbad Lagoon for the ability to fill in part of the LA harbor. This fill in project was to kill a large marine life, and to compensate for this the Port of Los Angeles was to forever protect the wildlife (mostly bird species) of the Batiquitos Lagoon. The restoration of the Batiquitos Lagoon would include reintroducing tidal flow to the lagoon. After several years of commercial development and abusive farming on the shore of the Lagoon the tidal port had become blocked with sediment. However, during the years of blockage the Lagoon had converted from a saline environment to a freshwater one. The restoration of tidal flows to the Lagoon would alter the ecosystem to the Lagoon. With the filling of the 383 acres of the Port of Los Angeles certain safe guards to the agreement had to be complied to. Since the filling of the Port and the killing of the marine life was a permanent process so must the restoration of the Lagoon be permanent. The key element of the agreement were as follows: . The Port of Los Angeles would be allowed to fill 383 acres of deep water habitat in the Outer Los Angeles Harbor . All existing habitat of the Lagoon must be protected . The restoration of coastal and tidally influenced species must be established. . The Restoration Project is Forever . The Lagoon will be preserved as an Ecological Reserve by the State of California . The Lagoon must be maintained with a fund set up by the Port of LA and done by the California Department of Fish and Game.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Greek Mythology in Sun, Moon, and Talia

Sun, Moon and Talia is an Italian fairy tale written by Giambattista Basile in his 1634 book, Pentamerone. It is one of the earliest and more sophisticated versions of Sleeping Beauty, following adult themes of rape, sexuality, infidelity and murder – far different from the later and softer versions of the tale (Hallett & Karasek, 2009). In Sun, Moon, and Talia, Basile uses various references to figures in Greek mythology. These references offer sophisticated portrayals of his characters’ personalities. Through examining these Greek figures, their identity, history and position in Greek mythology, one can draw parallels between the characters and their plights in Basile’s tale. In Basile’s story, Scylla and Charybdis are mentioned by the Queen when she says to the King’s secretary, â€Å"Listen, my son, you are between Scylla and Charybdis, between doorpost and the door, between the poker and the grate† (Hallett & Karasek, 2009). Historically, Scylla and Charybdis were sea monsters situated across one another on the banks of the narrow Strait of Messina. Scylla lived in a cave facing the west and was a gruesome sight with twelve feet, six longs necks and heads with three rows of close-set teeth. She would capture sailors from every ship that passed by with each of her mouths. On the cliff opposite her resided Charybdis. Three times a day she would absorb and regurgitate the water of the passage creating a dangerous whirlpool (Keightley, 1838, p. 271). The Queen’s mention of Scylla and Charybdis is grouped with other harsh and narrow conditions. The phrase ‘between Scylla and Charybdis’ is a Greek idiom used to describe two equally perilous alternatives, neither of which can be passed without encountering and probably falling victim to the other. It is used similar to the English idiom ‘between a rock and a hard place’. The Queen uses the harsh words to compel the King’s secretary to give testimony to the activities of her husband. Another Greek figure mentioned in the tale is Medea, daughter of King Aeetes of Colchis. In 431 B. C. Euripides wrote the play Medea in which she is betrayed by her husband Jason when he decides to take another wife. In her depression over her husband’s actions, she takes the insane action of murdering her two children: And here I quit this theme; but I shudder at the deed I must do next; for I will slay the children I have bourne; there is none shall take them from my toils; and when I have utterly confounded Jason’s house I will leave the land, esca ping punishment for my dear children’s murder, after my most unholy deed. (Svarlien, 2008) The similarities between the Queen and Medea are subtle. While Medea killed her own children out of distress over Jason’s new marriage, the Queen ordered the cook to kill the children her husband had with Talia. The themes of jealousy, betrayal and infidelity are apparent and are shared between the two women. Finally, Basile mentions Charon, the ferryman of the dead. The souls of the deceased are passed on to him by Hermes, and Charon ferries them across the river Acheron into the underworld. In her fit of rage, the Queen ordered the secretary to bring Talia to her so that she may be killed by burning to death in a fire. When confronted with this state of affairs, Talia asked the Queen if she could take the time to remove her clothes first. The Queen agreed and Basile narrates, â€Å"they were just going to drag her away to reduce her to lye ashes, which they would throw into boiling water to wash Charon’s breeches with (Hallett & Karasek, 2009). † The mention of Charon at this climatic part of the story indicates the gravity of Talia’s situation. Basile alludes to the brutal end Talia was about to meet. Altogether, Basile’s tale offers an early version of the classic Sleeping Beauty fairy-tale that most readers would be astonished to read. The subtle comparisons to figures from Greek mythology and their relation to his characters’ personalities create an atmosphere of grave seriousness and complexity. The tale is mature and creates a sophisticated, yet dark atmosphere with its seemingly tragic plot. References Hallett, Martin & Karasek, Barbara (2009). Folk & Fairy Tales: 4Th Edition. Peterborough, Ontario: Broadview Press Keightly, Thomas. (1838). The Mythology of Ancient Greece and Italy. Whittaker and Co. Svarlien, Diane Arson. (2008). Medea. Hackett Publishing Charon. (n. d. ). In Encyclopaedia Mythica Online. Retrieved from http://pantheon. org/articles/c/charon. html

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Relationship between Religion and Voting and Political Behavior Essay

Religion is a powerful and very influential factor in people’s lives. It governs one’s actions, and it is considered when people are faced with difficult decisions. Even in politics, religion has an important role to fill. Various studies have been done in the past to determine the effects that religion has on the voting and political behaviors of people. Consequently, religion affects the voting and political behavior in the following ways: 1) by setting standards that guide believers in the realm of politics; 2) by indirectly leading the congregation in developing a common outlook on political issues; and 3) by serving as a source of motivation. Interestingly, the church (religion) is separated from the state (politics), yet religion is an influential factor with regards to political activities (Bryner). In fact, there are some countries whose religion takes precedence over government policies. For instance, there are countries where policies in reproductive health are being pushed by politicians. However, the church may intervene if it deems that the policies are against the teachings of the church. Religion, as described by Wald and Calhoun-Brown, â€Å"is a specialized institution with a limited public role, and religious affiliation is a matter of personal choice† (8). According to McDaniel, religion â€Å"permeates all aspects of American life,† including social and political lives (1). It has become a very important factor for the United States, compared to other developed countries such as Canada and Britain (McDaniel 3). By Setting Standards that Guide Believers in the Realm of Politics Interestingly, political parties in the United States recognized the power of religion as a political weapon. During campaigns before the election, political candidates used the strategy of appealing first to religious groups to gain their support, otherwise known as God strategy. Republicans are said to be more successful than Democrats in using this strategy (McDaniel 18). Most notably, presidential candidates of the recent elections John McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Barak Obama all expressed the importance of fusing God and the American country (McDaniel 22). However, this God strategy has not just sprouted recently. During the â€Å"Great Awakening† period, political campaigning made use of techniques for mass persuasion, which were originally used through preaching and worship styles. Political wannabes gained their supporters by endorsing parades and tent meetings, even door-to-door campaigning and public declarations. These were the same techniques that evangelists used to convert people into the religion being sponsored (Wald and Calhoun-Brown 42). In addition, past researches showed that churches and religious groups ranked first among other groups in having confidence in major institutions. Mass media, public schools, labor unions, and business fell behind. The most interesting finding is that people believed that Catholic priest are more honest and ethical despite cases of sexual abuse compared to government officials and business leaders. The truth of this finding could be seen in the amount of donations. In 2002 alone, $80 to $90 billion was spent on religious institutions. This indicates that churches are the number one recipient of private philanthropy. A portion of the budget is spent on education, health, community development, and others (Wald and Calhoun-Brown 10). Furthermore, religion affects the political behavior of the public as described by Martin Luther King, Jr. According to him, a religion that is â€Å"true to its nature† is not only concerned about the faith and salvation of the public but also includes social conditions. It means that the public sees religion as an aid against economic and social conditions that cripple it. The public is also confident that religion can aid in making conditions better (McDaniel 31). By Indirectly Leading the Congregation in Developing a Common Outlook on Political Issues Churches serve as political communities. In 1988, a study involved 21 Florida churches which believed that â€Å"the theological climate in the churches contributed strongly to the political conservatism of its members. † The authors stated that theology and practices in a church can lead to cohesion with regards to the political attitudes of the members (McDaniel 8). Past researches all showed one similarity in their results: religion affects the voting and political behavior of the public. In particular, religion has influenced the public’s political views, especially among Americans. For instance, Americans support the candidates based on the latter’s position on moral and social issues (Buras 3) such as homosexuality, abortion, and environmental and economic issues (Gibbs). A research study showing the connection between religiosity and voting behavior would best explain the influence that religion holds on its congregation. The study stated that voters would consider the issues that the candidate supports or does not support. In particular, economics and benefits are among the priorities of voters when choosing for their candidates. This shows that voters would first vote according to what would best benefit them and their group (Gibb). Another study provided evidence on the influence that religion has on the voting behavior of the public. It showed that majority of the respondents under the Evangelical category (70. 2%) registered to vote compared to non-evangelical Christian (65. 7%). The study also revealed that those who attended religious services on a regular basis are more likely to register. Also, 67. 5% of those who registered believed that religion is a very important factor in their lives, whereas 59. 2% expressed that religion is not important (Buras 7). Another issue that voters look into is related to gender. Gibb stated that among women, they would choose to support a candidate or would identify with a certain political party if it supports gender issues that are pressing such as female equality and reproductive rights. In addition, the author mentioned that cultural factors influenced why women support the Democratic Party while men support the Republican Party. The split between men and women in choosing the party to support is attributed to the implementation of newer policies for women’s rights that threatens a society that is largely based on tradition. The study further went deeper by examining factors that influence voting behavior. One of these factors was ideology, which serves as a reflection of the things that a person holds important such as ethnicity and gender (Gibbs). In the United States, religion has a say in how representatives vote. There are also denominations which are united in choosing which candidate to put to power. For example, when it comes to their beliefs about abortion, Jewish groups, along with Mainline denominations, would support pro-choice stances while Catholics and Mormons would support pro-life. In addition, religious denominations support their own candidates, as can be seen through the support of Evangelical Protestants on conservatism while Jews and Catholics support liberalism (Gibb). Additionally, Evangelical Protestants support the Republican Party because they believed that the party’s policies on privatization of social security, defense spending, and tax cuts, among others, subscribe to their beliefs. On the other hand, the Democratic Party supports public welfare, affirmative action, and universal healthcare (â€Å"Religion and its effects on Political Party Affiliation†). Another study involved the question of whether Catholics or Protestants or other religions vote with regards to their moral values. The study showed that more than 45. 5% of Protestants believed that the views of the candidates on moral issues are more important than economic policies. The percentage for Catholic almost reached 28. 6%%. However, other religions (52. 5%) disagreed to the idea that the views of candidates on moral issues are more important than economic policies. Interestingly, the Catholic registered a smaller percentage in agreeing compared to Protestants, as opposed to its strong stance on moral issues such as abortion. However, the Catholics would support the Democratic Party, as it includes economic policies that are aligned to the tenets of Catholicism (â€Å"Religion as a Variable†). Furthermore, several studies showed that evangelicals associate with their preferred parties. For instance, evangelicals would more likely support the Republican Party while non-evangelicals would support the Democratic Party. This shows the connection between the religion and the voting behavior of the public (Gibb). By Serving as Motivation Religious groups participate in politics for varied reasons. One is voice and equality. For instance, when churches support a particular political candidate, it gives the former a voice to encourage the public. It also presents an opportunity for the churches to communicate to the public about their faith and religion. Additionally, political participation sets the stage for equality (McDaniel 9). Religious groups also show that they have the capacity to participate in politics. However, participating means that there are some things required of them. One of these is time. Religious groups must spend a portion of their time to volunteer during campaigns. Another is money as support to the political cause that they endorse. The last thing is verbal skills necessary â€Å"to compose a convincing letter. † As mentioned already, churches serve as voluntary organizations. It means that they would need the assistance and training of members in order to achieve its goals or duties. Furthermore, churches are the best place where one can build skills needed in the political arena (McDaniel 11-12). Aside from capacity, churches have networks of recruitment. They have the ability to mobilize the public into participating in politics through these networks. As such, groups and activist can encourage people to participate in political activities. They also recognize that people â€Å"are more likely to participate when asked† (McDaniel 13). Furthermore, people can enjoy tangible and intangible benefits when they vote. Voting shows their cooperation towards the realization of their goals for the betterment of the country or government. Likewise, religion can be a source for motivation (McDaniel 15-16). Another reason involves the Americans’ journey towards identity that they can found in religion. For many years, Americans resorted to ways in order to improve their situations. By joining in religious activities and political parties, they believe that they can seek identity. Furthermore, several authors of previous studies stated that religious identity is an important factor which gives light to the question regarding people’s reasons for choosing a political party (â€Å"Religion and its effects on Political Party Affiliation†). From the facts and results of previous studies presented, it shows that religion indeed affects the voting and political behavior of the public through several ways. By setting standards that guide believers in the realm of politics, the public determines which candidate or political party to support. In addition, religious congregation that has things in common is more likely to act on their status with regards to political activities. Furthermore, religion serves as motivation for most people to participate in politics.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

William Rehnquist, Conservative Stalwart on the Supreme Court

William Rehnquist, Conservative Stalwart on the Supreme Court William Rehnquist was one of the most influential U.S. Supreme Court justices in modern history, a conservative stalwart who dissented with the majority jurists in the Roe v. Wade opinion legalizing abortion and who built a coalition on the bench who sought to limit the power of the federal government. Rehnquist, an appointee of Republican President Richard M. Nixon who was named chief justice by President Ronald Reagan, served 33 years on the high court before dying at age 80 in September 2005. Rehnquist was a Goldwater Republican whose passions were federalism - limiting congressional power and strengthening state powers - and expression of religion. He argued that just because an action is religiously motivated, does not make it consequence-free for society, and should not make it consequence-free, under societys laws. Rehnquist also voted consistently in support of the death penalty and in opposition to gay rights. He often wrote solo dissents in his early years on the bench. Rehnquist may best be remembered for the 5-4 decision in the 2000 presidential election that stopped the Florida recount and propelled George W. Bush into the White House. He was only the second chief justice to preside over presidential impeachment hearings. Heres a look at Rehnquists biggest opinions on the Supreme Court. Roe v. Wade The courts majority held in 1974 that a woman, with her doctor, could choose abortion in earlier months of pregnancy without legal restriction, based primarily on the right to privacy. Rehnquist wrote  the dissent, in which he noted: I have difficulty in concluding, as the Court does, that the right of privacy is involved in this case. National League of Cities v. Usery Rehnquist wrote the majority opinion in 1976, which invalided federal minimum wage requirements for local and state government employees. This case highlighted the 10th Amendment, which reserves for the states powers not explicitly enumerated elsewhere in the Constitution; this Amendment is the foundation for the states rights movement. Wallace v. Jaffree This 1985 court decision invalided an Alabama law providing a moment for silent prayer in public schools. Rehnquist dissented, contending that the belief that the founders intended to erect a wall of separation between church and state was misguided. Texas v Johnson This 1989 case found flag-burning to be a protected form of political speech under the First Amendment. Rehnquist wrote one of two dissents in this 5-4 decision, saying that the flag is the visible symbol embodying our Nation ... not simply another idea or point of view competing in the marketplace of ideas. United States v. Lopez   Rehnquist wrote the majority opinion in this 1995 case, which declared unconstitutional the Gun Free School Zones Act of 1990. The act gave schools a 1,000-foot gun-free perimeter. Rehnquists ruling states that Congress can regulate only commerce - its channels and instruments as well as substantive actions. Kelo v New London In this controversial 2005 decision, the court expanded the power of the Fifth Amendment, saying that local governments may take property for private use because, in this case, there was a plan that promised jobs and revenue. Sandra Day OConnor wrote for the minority, which included Rehnquist: Under the banner of economic development, all private property is now vulnerable to being taken and transferred to another private owner, so long as it might be upgraded - i.e., given to an owner who will use it in a way that the legislature deems more beneficial to the public - in the process.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Song Of Solomon Essays - Greek Mythology, Daedalus, Icarus

Song Of Solomon Essays - Greek Mythology, Daedalus, Icarus Song Of Solomon The Icarus Myth in Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon Throughout literature it has been common for authors to use allusions to complement recurrent motifs in their work. In Toni Morrison's Song Of Solomon, Milkman learns that his desire to fly has been passed down to him from his ancestor Solomon. As Milkman is figuring out the puzzle of his ancestry, he realizes that when Solomon tried to take his youngest son, Jake, flying with him, he dropped him and Jake never arrived with his father to their destination. Sound familiar? Well, it seems quite probable that Morrison drew from the Daedalus/Icarus Greek myth. Daedalus was a well-known architect and engineer in Athens. King Mines invited Daedalus to Crete to build him a labyrinth, and when it was completed, Mines jailed him within it. In order to escape, Daedalus built two sets of wings - one pair for himself, and the other for his son, Icarus- using wax and feathers, which they used to fly off from Crete. On their journey to Athens, Icarus decided to try to challenge the sun, even though his father had warned him that if he got too near to the sea his wings would dampen and fall apart, or if he got too close to the sun, the wax in his wings would melt, and he would lose the ability to fly. Ignoring Daedalus' warnings, Icarus flew too high and the sun melted the wax that held his wings together. Icarus fell into the Aegean Sea and died. Solomon, a slave, had been a leader when he worked in the cotton fields in the South. One day he decided to fly back to Africa with his youngest son, Jake, leaving behind his wife Ryna and their twenty other children. Black lady fell down on the ground Come booba yalle, come booma tambee Threw her body all around Come konka yalle, come konka tambee...(303). This verse of the popular children's song which Milkman heard in Shalimar, Virginia, was referring to Ryna's sobbing, an event which also led to the naming of Ryna's Gulch where it is rumored that Ryna's spirit moaned night and day alike for Solomon's return. When Solomon is flying, however, he drops Jake- also the name of Milkman's grandfather- and unlike Icarus in Greek mythology, Jake survives his fall. Milkman's desire to fly mirrors one of the foremost fantasies of any child or dreamer. The child's desire to fly is expressed when Milkman (as a young child) loses all interest in himself when he realizes that he cannot fly. Morrison proves that the childish desire to fly never dies when Robert Smith tries to fly from No Mercy Hospital in Michigan. Milkman quickly regains his confidence when he unlocks the mystery of his grandfather and recognizes that a he was able to fly: And he began to whoop and dive and splash and turn. 'He could fly! You hear me? My great-granddaddy could fly! Goddam!' He whipped the water with his fists, then jumped straight up as though he too could take off(328). In conclusion, one of the most important motifs in Song of Solomon is that of flying, or perhaps more importantly the craving and interminable interest in learning to fly. Morrison uses numerous methods to emphasize this aspect of her novel. In my opinion, the most interesting comparison is between Solomon to Daedalus, and Jake to Icarus. At the end of the novel, as Milkman soars from one plateau to the next, we realize that even if he can never fly away from his problems as Solomon and Daedalus could, his fantasy has already been fulfilled through the knowledge that he has learned to face his problems head on instead of simply mastering the art of escape- flying.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

10 Terms for the Common People

10 Terms for the Common People 10 Terms for the Common People 10 Terms for the Common People By Mark Nichol The English language is rich with descriptive (and generally derogatory) terms for the common person, though many are adopted from other languages: 1. Bourgeoisie: This term, derived from the French word roughly translated as â€Å"the people of the city,† refers to the middle class rather than the common folk per se, but the sense of the word is â€Å"conventional.† The petite, or petty, bourgeoisie are those of the lower middle class. Twentieth-century journalist H. L. Mencken ridiculed the ignorant masses when he coined booboisie as a pejorative play on the term. 2. Great unwashed: The common people. An epithet of contempt for the lower classes, based on the supposition that their hygienic habits are inferior to those of the upper classes. The expression is said to have been first heard in speeches around the turn of the eighteenth century, but the first documentation is in a novel by Edward â€Å"It was a dark and stormy night† Bulwer-Lytton. 3. Hoi polloi: The first word of the Greek phrase referring condescendingly to the common people means â€Å"the,† but because the phrase is not a common term in a familiar language, it is still assigned the English article: â€Å"the hoi polloi.† 4. Little people: The common people. The sense is of an inconsequential mass populace. 5. Mob: The masses as a mindless single entity driven by base or anarchic impulses. The term is a truncation of the Latin phrase mobile vulgus (â€Å"vacillating crowd†). The word is therefore an abbreviation of the adjective describing the people’s actions, not the people themselves. (From vulgus we also get vulgar, which, originally, rather than having a pejorative connotation, was a neutral term meaning â€Å"typical of people.†) 6. Peons: Menial workers. The implication is that such people can be denigrated and/or exploited with impunity. The term, taken directly from the Spanish word for a landless laborer, may also refer to indentured servants, those who are in peonage. 7. Plebeians: The common people. This word, derived from the Latin word plebeius, whose definition matches the one just given, implies small-minded attitudes and gauche behavior. Truncated forms include pleb and plebs; the plural form is plebes. (Plebe and its plural form are also slang terms for first-year students at military academies.) 8. Proles: The common people. This word is a truncation of proletariat, referring to laborers as a class. This latter term (a French word derived from the Latin term proletarius, in turn stemming from proles, or â€Å"progeny†) has an ideological connotation deriving from its use in socialist rhetoric to refer to the working people as the backbone of a society. In the slang phrase â€Å"lumpen prole,† however, the abbreviation is used in a pejorative sense with the implication that the working class consists of a mindless mob. 9. Rank and file: This phrase referring to the ordinary people in a company or organization is an extension to the civilian world of the original sense of the horizontal ranks and vertical files of soldiers in formation. 10. Riffraff: This term for disreputable people derives ultimately from rif e raf, a hybrid of English and French that means â€Å"altogether,† later evolved to â€Å"rif and raf,† or â€Å"every one.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:What Does [sic] Mean?50 Idioms About Fruits and Vegetablesâ€Å"Least,† â€Å"Less,† â€Å"More,† and â€Å"Most†

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Islam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Islam - Essay Example The three children dedicate most of their early years to memorize every word of Quran even though they do not understand or speak Arabic the language used in writing the holy book (Koran by Heart n.d). The Quran recitations are practiced throughout the in the Muslim word because they have a special auspicious during the Ramadan. By conducting this event, the Muslims believe that this is holy the month when the Quran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad (Koran By Heart n.d). The Muslim understands that the each individual recitation is an act of divine revelation. The Muslims believes that this divine revelation is almost similar to the initial revelation by angle Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad (Koran by Heart n.d). Since the religious text is judged on the memory and the intonation, therefore, this is just like singing a song. The concert is attended by young contestants and then their families offer a glimpse into the daily life to the broader Muslim world. Since the kids are young as seven years old, they might not understand the issues about the world that surround them (Koran By Heart

Friday, October 18, 2019

Cost Estimation Practice in Construction Companies Research Proposal

Cost Estimation Practice in Construction Companies - Research Proposal Example These costs will be collected from a variety of existing real construction companies. There is inherent risk involved in all construction companies and the rate of bankruptcy in construction industry is relatively higher than in any other type of business endeavor. For any construction company to succeed or fail, the role played by quality estimation and results reliability cannot be underestimated. The final project will therefore give a description of the estimating as well as the tendering process. This process is divided into various stages that begin with acquisition of tender documents and ends with the tender submission. This project will significantly make use of computerized calculations due to the complexity of a number of formulations involved. Furthermore, this will help in data condensation and minimal use of paper work to reduce on time, human error and financial costs. Lack of proper cost estimation in construction industry is probably one of the most contentious business issues in Kuwait than in many other countries in the world. This is putting into consideration that this sector supports a very large portion of the Kuwaiti economy being among the largest industries in Kuwait, and its negligence therefore would result into a major drawback in the country’s economic growth. Provision of coherent and cogent cost estimation is vital since the larger an industry gets, the more likely chances are that cost fatalities will be incurred. This project will give a description of the estimation process within the construction companies in Kuwait and the associated problems, beginning with acquisition of tendering documents to the actual submission of the tender. It will also give and explain some examples of indirect as well as direct estimation problems. Â  

Paradise Trilogy by Ulrich Seid Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Paradise Trilogy by Ulrich Seid - Essay Example Comparisons between the formal strategies of all the three elements of the Paradise Trilogy are also made. The paper also discusses the political relevance of Seidl’s work in the society of today. Introduction The depictions of human life in Ulrich Seidl’s Paradise Trilogy are certainly not represented in manners that would appeal to a close-minded audience. Therefore, to truly appreciate the essence of Seidl’s filmmaking in the Paradise Trilogy the private lives of the characters should be observed carefully and even their most disturbing secrets accepted. The Paradise Trilogy represents in its three installments the true feelings that humans yearn for and seek in life; love, faith and hope. The achievement for the director however, certainly remains in how the movies are presented in a way that is entirely realistic yet disturbing and provocative. The purpose of this paper is to extensively and comprehensively analyze the formal strategies of the last installme nt of the Paradise Trilogy, Paradise: Hope. The discussion aims to understand the transition of the formal strategies employed by the director throughout the three movies by examining the similarities and difference that are reflected in the entire trilogy. In conclusion the paper aims to define the art of Ulrich Seidl that is portrayed through the course of Paradise Trilogy’s journey with regards to its political and aesthetic relevance to the society of today. Paradise Trilogy According to Perry the progression of formal strategies in cinema is a reflection of the evolution of filmmaking itself that gradually transitioned from the sketches of mid and late 1800s in favor of tackling more complex storylines and abstract ideas in the early 1900s (25). While, commentators and analysts such as Perry would assert that the progression of formal strategies in filmmaking are representations of a new epoch in the history of cinema it should be noted that the skills of a director such as Seidl who wishes to portray human condition as it really is augments the implementation of formal strategies in films. Even though, the essence and the core of Paradise Trilogy remains inert throughout the three parts the interrelation of the stories has not barred Ulrich Seidl from employing a range of formal strategies in his last installment Paradise: Hope. As with Seidl’s previous work such as the movie titled Import/Export, those who are familiar with his talents would have expected the director to continue the projection of despair and stagnation with regards to the protagonist of the film. As Frey notes that once the director famously wished viewers present at the premier of his movie, Dog Days (2001) â€Å"a disturbing evening† (189). What certainly comes as a relief for the audience is that Paradise: Hope’s protagonist Melanie Lenz displays much conviction and integrity throughout the course of the movie which documents her journey at a diet camp an d her relationship with a much older doctor, the last installment of the trilogy in fact assists the emergence of an optimistic and hopeful side to Seidl that was indeed unexpected but rewarding. While it is obvious that the films in the trilogy share an important relationship with regards to the involvement of the characters in each installment of Paradise, the protagonist in Seidl’

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Reasearch Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Reasearch - Research Paper Example Diffusion can lead to changes in cultural practices, which will eventually influence spatial distribution. Cultural is the accepted way of life within a particular group of people. It includes food, clothing, practices and beliefs. Currently, the world is full of many different cultures. However, the dominant cultures trace their origins in cultural hearths. Seven locations have been identified as the point of origin for the dominant cultures in the world (Blij et al, 2011). These locations include the Nile River Valley, Indus River valley, Wei-Huang Valley, Ganges River Valley, Andean, Mesopotamia, and West Africa. It is the cradle of Chinese civilization. The valley is where the earliest Chinese irrigation works started. The capital of Chinese major dynasties like Qin, Zhou, Tang and Han were found along this valley. Trade in the valley began in the form of barter trade, which eventually developed as innovation gained ground. It is believed that the Wei River is the ancient Jiang River, which is associated with the early development of agriculture (Pitzl, 2004). The Nile is a critical component of both ancient and modern Egypt. The Nile River is the longest river in the world; it flows from the mountains to the Mediterranean. The river has been responsible for supporting many lives for thousands of years. It has shaped many cultures in the region. The earliest forms of civilization in Egypt are associated with the Nile. The river made agriculture possible, which is the reason ancient Egypt was able to make strides in civilization. The Nile River valley is where the Egyptian culture flourished. It is responsible for the development of Kingdoms of West Africa. Agricultural breakthroughs were made by these kingdoms. The development in this area was influenced by the breakthroughs experienced by the people Southeast Asia and the Nile valley. It had agricultural communities its northern part by

What does the Warrior Ethos mean to me Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

What does the Warrior Ethos mean to me - Essay Example Rather, everyone must fight at work, in society, and in our relationships to stay safe and successful. Without the impulse to engage in fight, a person is listless and demotivated. However, fighting without a code is disastrous and unhealthy. This book is unique to me in respect that it very effectively offers a code which can help all people defend their individual purposes. This code can be used by us to stay true to ourselves. This book is a great treat not for members of military merely, but for everyone who has had to fight for anything at any point in life. It offers an interesting insight into the life of a warrior with which everyone can relate and gather huge life-changing lessons. The book tells that what separates warriors from vulnerable individuals is their ability to endure adversity. Concluding, The Warrior Ethos was originally written with army officers in the author’s mind, but even a common person like myself can effortlessly relate with it. This is because of the great lessons enclosed in it which have implications for everyone from every

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Juvenile delinquency and the family structure Annotated Bibliography - 1

Juvenile delinquency and the family structure - Annotated Bibliography Example They agree that enhancement of joint effort in support towards youths are at risk between military and civilian schools, courts and other children and family support programs so as to ensure harmony in the activities. Juvenile offenders need to be incorporated into community services that work in collaboration with youth empowerment groups. The article views military families as being under constant stress despite being resilient in some occasions. The stress levels arise due to deployments, disabilities during the service and deaths that arise during military operations. The author established that teenagers in military families tend to have their needs go unmet as well as overlooked by both the legal and social organizations. The teens are overlooked because they are viewed as young adults who are able to take care of heir own issues especially when their parents have been deployed in other war-torn countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq. Moini, J. S., Zellman, G., Gates, S. M., National Defense Research Institute (U.S.), Rand Corporation., & United States. (2006). Providing child care to military families: The role of the demand formula in defining need and informing policy. Santa Monica, CA: RAND. The author described teenagers in military families as being challenged in their upbringing due to the absenteeism by their parents who stay away from them for a long period of time. He elaborated on the various challenges that the teens in military families are likely to face some of which are similar to those from civilian families. Some of those challenges includes learning difficulties, emotional problems, neglect violence during dating and abuse which leads them into delinquency and antisocial activities. The author seeks to explain the real meaning of juvenile delinquency in this book. He defined juvenile delinquency as the action by which people who

What does the Warrior Ethos mean to me Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

What does the Warrior Ethos mean to me - Essay Example Rather, everyone must fight at work, in society, and in our relationships to stay safe and successful. Without the impulse to engage in fight, a person is listless and demotivated. However, fighting without a code is disastrous and unhealthy. This book is unique to me in respect that it very effectively offers a code which can help all people defend their individual purposes. This code can be used by us to stay true to ourselves. This book is a great treat not for members of military merely, but for everyone who has had to fight for anything at any point in life. It offers an interesting insight into the life of a warrior with which everyone can relate and gather huge life-changing lessons. The book tells that what separates warriors from vulnerable individuals is their ability to endure adversity. Concluding, The Warrior Ethos was originally written with army officers in the author’s mind, but even a common person like myself can effortlessly relate with it. This is because of the great lessons enclosed in it which have implications for everyone from every

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Compare the ways in which Larkin and Abse write about love Essay Example for Free

Compare the ways in which Larkin and Abse write about love Essay Compare the ways in which Larkin and Abse write about Love, in your response you should write about at least two of Larkin’s poems Larkin’s general view on love and marriage is that both are a liability. This is seen throughout many poems including ‘Self’s the man’ where Larkin talks about a man being held back and worked to death by his wife. Abse’s views are somewhat contrary to Larkin’s. He has a much softer approach when talking about love and feels that it connects himself with his family, as seen in his poems ‘Postcard to his wife’ and ‘The Malham Bird’ where he expresses his love for his wife. Love as a theme is present in many of Larkin’s poems and ‘Self’s the man’ illustrates his stereotypical outlook on marriage and love. In the first stanza Larkin directly compares himself to his made up character of Arnold, who represents all the lower class men in a marriage. The first two lines ‘Oh, no one can deny/ That Arnold is less selfish than I’ have a humorous tone in with the use of a rhyming couplet, Larkin is patronising the reader. In the next line he writes how Arnold married a woman to ‘stop her getting away’. In comparison, the poem ‘The Malham Bird’ Abse writes of love in a different way ‘in love, you a Gentile’. His soft tone creates a slower pace to the poem which shows his love for his late wife. On the other hand Larkin doesn’t use the word love and he uses a faster matter-of-fact tone. Larkin is often viewed as sexist but here he could be seen as saying that women don’t get a chance to live their lives how they want to because men marry them ‘Now she’s there all day’. In the second stanza Larkin continues to paint women in a poor light ‘And the money he gets for wasting his life on work/ She takes as her perk’. The first line uses enjambment which makes the poem sound like a list of moans. She appears to be greedy by taking his money. Larkin displays an air of snobbery about the lower classes hard labour jobs. He describes the woman as interfering and domineering. Larkin then uses colloquial language to make fun of the lower classes and how they speak ‘To pay for the kiddies’ clobber and the drier/ and the electric fire’. He does not rate family life very highly. Larkin states that the roles have reversed in the third stanza. Arnold told his wife to marry him and she did and now she is telling him to work, to do the chores etc ‘Planning to have a read at the evening paper/ It’s Put a screw in this wall-‘. The fourth stanza uses colloquial language again and the fifth and uses a sarcastic and patronising tone. Larkin does not look upon  marriage favourably. Moving into the sixth stanza, the poet claims that Arnold, too, was just â€Å"out for his own ends† and â€Å"if it was such a mistake / He still did it for his own sake / Playing his own game.† He concludes that â€Å"he and I are the same† and both are selfish, but he is better â€Å"At knowing what I can stand / Without them sending a van†. The â€Å"van† is a mental institute’s mode of transportation, suggesting that Arnold is going mad in his situation. Much of this poem is unsympathetic towards Arnold’s situation. However at the end Larkin reveals an uncertainty. Suddenly the poet is faced with the reality of his own situation ‘But wait, not do fast/ Is there such a contrast?’ Has he realised the loneliness in his own life because he was too selfish to share. Another poem which presents love as a theme is ‘Talking in Bed’. In this poem Larkin describes a couple in a failing relationship because they are isolated and find it difficult to communicate. Themarital bed is used as a symbol for marriage; a haven for spouses to come together. The bed should be the place where a couple feel united, but in this poem, the bed makes the couples detachment from one another glaringly obvious. The word lying has an ambiguous meaning in this poem; on one hand it means that the couple in assuming a horizontal position together, and on the other hand, it appears there is some fabrication between them. Goes back so far also presents some ambiguity: first, the couple have been lying together in their bed for years which is an indication of a lengthy marriage; and second, they have been living a lie for many years. The couple are clearly unhappy with their marriage. This was a time when separation and divorce was frowned upon but couples stayed together unhappily because it was the right thing to do. There was a sense of accountability within the marriage contract and it was difficult for women in particular to walk away from their husbands. The second stanza describes the turmoil of their marriage metaphorically by using nature. The awful silence is deafening and an indication of the tense, nervous atmosphere between the two, worsening as they continue to remain silent. The out side is a reflection of the couple inside; the tension heightens between them, and is never relieved. The wind is turbulent, scattering the clouds across the sky. Builds and disperses could be a metaphor for an argument; the environment is fraught and situations cannot be resolved. Clouds have both a dark and threatening aspect, and can be difficult to see through. Metaphorically speaking, a clear sky would represent a marriage at peace, but in this case the clouds suggest a marriage at war with itself; these wars could potentially harm the marriage, so the clouds hide them, if you cant see something then it doesnt exist. Dark towns can be used to describe a number of different things: faults, disagreements, difficulties, isolation and pain. The contrast of their marriage to the tumultuous winds are a stark reminder of what their future holds. They have to try and work things out to arrive at an amicable solution. It is not understood why their marriage has failed; why at this unique distance (lying side-by-side) that they feel so isolated from each other. The husband cannot understand why communication between him and his wife have broken down. Words are not forthcoming and he is at a loss as to how the marriage appears to be irretrievable. Was he ever really in love with his wife? Did he ever feel a softness towards her? ‘It becomes mor e difficult to find/ Words at once true and kind’. He wonders if their marriage was based on a lie or was it inevitably going to fail. Dannie Abse’s approach to love is different in comparison to Larkin; Abse sees love as something to be treasured between him and his family. Where Larkin views love with a touch of cynicism, Abse’s poems demonstrate a purity and an equality. In The Malham Bird it did not matter that the couple are from different backgrounds ‘you a Gentile and I a Jew!’ Their relationship may have been unacceptable for the times but their love was all that mattered. The poem is littered with fond memories of when the couple first met ‘Dear wife, remember our first illicit/holiday, the rented room, the hidden beach’. Theirs was a romantic love. Abse’s couple are happy in contrast to the couples portrayed by Larkin in the above poems. Their shared history is full of warmth and mutual admiration. Where Larkin’s poems view love as a hindrance and something a man can do without, Abse firmly believes you need love above all else. In Postcard to his Wife, Abse’s portrayal is of a husband (himself) desperately missing his wife in her absence. He longs for them to spend the day together. He wishes she would ‘Make excuses’ so that she would be home with him. He loves her and enjoys her pre sence the opposite of Larkin’s idea of relationships. Abse feels there is a void in his life when his wife is not around and cannot bear the heartache. The contrast between Larkin and Abse’s views on love and relationships are polar opposites.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Pressure Groups And Stability Of Regime In Pakistan

Pressure Groups And Stability Of Regime In Pakistan The literature review will focus on the issues and the reasons that affect the stability of regime in Pakistan, mainly focusing on the different forms of pressure groups, the role they have played, whether positive or negative in the past and what is the future of Pakistan if these pressure groups continue to be dominating and influential. Also some of the important eras will be highlighted like Zias regime or Musharrafs regime. Most of the articles are basically theory based with no such statistical model applied and basically focus on the prevailing instability in Pakistan and issues related to it. According to the writer the reason behind the instability is basically the lack of a proper political system in Pakistan. No government has survived for long and successfully. The national assembly has been dissolved 10 times and 3 times the reason was military interference. No political parties have worked together in peace. There has been always a conflict of interest or power. At the same time religious parties have created their own brand of Islam and are exploiting the situation. Lack of fair elections and corruption has led to extreme cases like political victimization and political polarisation. Even though democratic political institutions exist they are weak and fragile. Another factor is of the existence of feudal lords, which has caused a structural imbalance between the middle class, and the upper class, which comprises of mostly landlords and industrialists. Majority of the power lies in the hands of the upper class. Another issue that has been highlighted in the article is the ethnic conflict that has been in debate for years. Other issues that are discussed in the article are the role of army, rising power of the religious parties and lack of proper rule of law. To conclude the article discusses that future of Pakistan lies in a more democratic environment where there is less corruption and the role of judiciary would be stronger in maintaining a balance between the arbitrary power and the party in power. Today the masses are more informed about the political system in Pakistan and one way it has contributed to the development of the country as a whole however there are other major factors like increase in the level of suicide attacks, food shortage, water and power shortage which has adversely affected the country. What was a basic ideology for the existence of the country is now more of a pressure group that seeks to gain power by exploiting the constant military intervention and forcing out the secular political parties. The creation of political polarisation amongst civilian and military, among different ethnic groups and provincial groups and among Islamists and secularist has disrupted the regime stability. Also now religious pressure groups have become more powerful, well armed and well financed and influence different branches of government. People have lost trust in the secular parties like Muslim League (Nawaz) and PPP and at the same time most of the military rulers have used Islamist for their own political purpose, be it Zia or be it Musharraf. According to the author the best way to control the growing power of Islamists is through democracy and strengthening the civil society. Also he suggests that U.S intervention in such matter should be taken especially after September 11 attac ks. The biggest limitation of this article is that it focused more on the role of Islamist in the past than their existing role. Also the conclusion is very uncertain and vague as to how should this pressure group be controlled. The condition of Pakistan is deteriorating and if we look at the current scenario the one of the biggest problem the religious groups that has created disruption and fear among the lives of the people. The writer focuses more on the past the past then the future. From 1947-1958 the two most economically powerful pressure groups in West Pakistan were the landlords and the business groups. In East Pakistan the power lied in the hands of the middle class income groups, after the land acquisition act in 1951. Whereas in West Pakistan feudalism was on it peak whereby one-fifth of the cultivable land was owned by one-half of one percent of the owners. Not only were these landowners active in politics by capturing the majority seats in the assembly. In provincial elections in 1951 in the former Punjab about 80 percent of the members elected were landlords. Out of 40 members in the constituent assembly 28 members were landlord groups. The landlords groups have been long engaged in rivalries. As rival groups were more or less in agreement in retaining their landed interests, politics in Pakistan has become a cynical pursuit of sheer power. The domination of feudal lords and family rivalries affected the politics of Pakistan. The influence of business groups was small since at that time there were few industries. It was indirect, whereby they were formally organized and they put effective pressure on the decision-making authorities from outside the governmental institution. The labor class is very weak, but slowly the trade unions are growing strong and influential when it comes to labor issues. Feudal system is still prevalent in the rural areas whereby the decision of the big landlord is considered to be the final verdict. Also the major leaders of political parties have the landowning background be it Asif Ali zardari, Sharif brothers or Altaf hussain. These landowners due to their rivalries have affected the stability in a bad way. Even though this article is very old but is of extreme relevance as discuses the root cause that lead to the emergence of Pressure groups in Pakistan and is can be of importance when comparing the regimes over-time and how the roles have changed. The later impact of this was that when Zias regime ended the position and the jobs that were promised to the religious Ulemas who had no formal education but merely an informal education in the madrasas were rejected. This frustrated the religious militancy, which resulted in an extreme behavior and disruption. Furthermore religious groups can be categorized as the role of Taliban in destruction of Pakistan. The impact of the training of Talibans during the Afghanistan war and providing them with arms and funding them has now become problematic for Pakistan with a huge number of suicide attacks happening and terrorizing the whole country. Zia-ul-haq immense support for the Islamic activists has resulted in the religious polarisation that exists in todays Pakistan. The statistics say that by 1996 there were around 2463 madrasas only in Punjab and 1700 were supported from outside sources that included the Persian Gulf and Middle East. These Islamic teaching centers are more now a centr al place for the political activities. Thus, it can be concluded from this article that the rise of Islamists and constant battle between Sunni and Shia has resulted in instability in Pakistan over the years. However Pakistan which is presided by Musharraf and is in the shackles of economic recession and anarchy needs heavy financing for not only sustaining the Musharrafs regime but also its economic well being. Despite strong U.S alliance it doesnt do a sufficient to save Pakistan from drenching. Religious extremism diverts a lot of attention of the government of Pakistan as the attacks and events leading to deaths and bloodshed have recently increased in the country. People feel insecure and threatened by their own fellows. In the name of religion wrong doers are exploiting the weaker ones. Military has taken over the country, sometimes directly by enforcing Marshal law and sometimes indirectly by influencing the government when making the decisions. Also the prevailing condition as the country is on the verge of Civil war military is more active within the country than on the outskirts to protect it from its neighbors. The four categories of elites are economic, political social and religious. Each of these exerts different levels of influence over the government. According to the author Political elites include, officers, and members of large landowning families. Economic elites include the industrialist class, which can be considered as newly wealthy and newly influential. The conflict between the two elite classes is one of the major reasons for instability. As 4th president has been dismissed since 1988, the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif won the majority of seats however Benazir Bhutto claimed that the elections were unfair and there has been extensive fraud. Although PPP became popular because of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto for giving an ordinary man a political voice but Benazir ruled the party in a completely opposite opinion of her father by supporting privatization over nationalization and viewing US as a major ally rather than a potential threat. From a position of weakness in martial law period the judiciary has began to re-assert its independence. However, the role of judges is still controversial. The emergence of free press was a positive sign but at the same time, Pakistans mismanagement of economies reflects the weakness of the political structure. The political game has taken over a priority in the long-term policy making. Problems such as fiscal deficiency, debt and long-term business interest erosion have always drifted the economi c cursor. The increase in ethnic fragmentation, religious extremism and centralization if political power has created political crisis which needs to be solved as soon as possible otherwise it will result in civil war amongst the ethnic groups, domestic and international terrorism and implementation of marshal law. Not only the government of Pakistan should work on this but also should form allies with the external players like US, Japan and European Union (EU). Furthermore in this article the author talked about the regime of Nawaz Sharif as this article is written during that period of time. Here the writer highlights some of policies adopted by Nawaz Sharif, in which he aims at centralizing the power to the central and creating anarchy. Furthermore the conflicts between the ethnic groups have increased widely whereby Punjab is considered to be the most popular, developed and largely focused on in terms of allocating resources, improving education system. This has resulted in other 3 provinc es becoming more backward and less developed and sense of deprivation. The writer also discusses on how the civil institution have weakened during Nawaz Sharifs era as he is trying to gain popular support of the military. Other problems that were identified in the article were drug trafficking and settling of refugees. In conclusion the writer has basically focused on support from the international players. first is democratization and civil-military relations; and second islamization and Islamisms relation to the state. Both of issues are separate yet interdependent on each other and needs to be analyzed and focused on as the future of the country is at stake. The writer also highlighted Musharrafs era and despite that he was more liberal than Zia but he used the brand of Islam and is exploiting the public.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Marketing :: essays research papers

1. A. An economic system is a nations system for allocating its resources among its citizens. Economic systems differ in terms of who owns or controls the four basic factors of production: labor, capital, entrepreneurs, and natural resources. In planned economies, the government all or most factors. In market economies, which are based on the principles of capitalism, individuals control the factors of production. Most countries today have mixed market economies that are dominated by one of these systems but include elements of the other. The process of privatization is an important means by which many of the world’s planned economies are moving toward mixed market systems. 2. A. The most common forms of business ownership are the sole proprietorship, the partnership, the cooperative, and the regular corporation. Each form has several advantages and disadvantages. The form under which a business chooses to organize is crucial because it affects both long-term strategy and day-to-day decision making. In addition to advantages and disadvantages, entrepreneurs must consider their preferences and long-range requirements 3. B. The difference forms of competition advantage are critical to international business. With an absolute advantage, a country engages in international trade because it can produce a product more efficiently than any other nation. But more often, countries trade because they enjoy comparative advantages: They can produce some items more efficiently than they produce other items. The import-export balance including the balance of trade and the balance of payments, and exchange rate differences in national currencies affect the international economic environment and are important element of international business. 4. A. Social responsibility refers to an organization’s response to social needs. Until the second half of the nineteenth century, because business often paid little attention to these needs. Since then however both public pressure and government regulation especially as a result of the great depression of the 1930s and the social activism of the 1960s and the 1970s have forced business to consider the public welfare at least to some degree. A trend toward increased social consciousness, including a heightened sense of environment activism has recently emerged. 5. A Management is the process of planning, organizing, directing, and controlling an organization’s financial, physical, human and information resources to achieve the organization’s goal. Planning means determining what the company needs to do and how best to get to get it done. Organizing means determining how best to arrange a business’s resources and the necessary jobs into an overall structure.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Friendship and Tragedy in John Knowles A Separate Peace Essay

Friendship and Tragedy in John Knowles' A Separate Peace Some friendships last forever and others do not but in the novel, A Separate Peace (1959) by John Knowles, displays a different kind of friendship. The reader throughout this novel was very entertained. This novel takes place at the Devon Preparatory School in the years of 1942-1943. This story begins when Gene Forrester comes back to the Devon School fifteen years after his graduation to relive a tragic story. He walks up to a tree and the story then begins in the summer of 1942. When Gene arrives at the school he meets a very intriguing person by the name of Phineas also known as Finny, they end up starting the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session, where they meet every night at the big tree by the river. Later, in the story Finny and Gene decide to skip school and when they get back Gene has to take a test and fails, which he blames it on Finny. Then one night at the tree Finny is on the limb of the tree that jump from into the water Gene causes the limb to move causing Finny to fall. This fall breaks his leg. Finny is out of a school for awhile and when he returns to school there is a mock trial held in order to determine if Gene caused this on purpose. Finny is astonished by this a leave the courtroom he falls down stairs re-breaking his leg. Finny di es in the operation to reset his leg. Gene finishes out his senior year and leaves and the school is turned into an Army base. Throughout this novel both Gene and Phineas display the theme of friendship. Sometimes friendship is valued most through tragedy. From the very beginning of the novel Finny was displayed as a character that everyone wants to be around. He is a very athletic boy who excels at every... ... the night before Finny and Gene had a conversation just like they did in the early stages of their friendship. The artist of this novel states, "We started to laugh again, with a half-guilty exchange of glances, in the way that two people who had gone on a gigantic binge when they were last together would laugh" (147). This shows how they spent there last night together. Later Finny died in the operating room when they were trying to reset his leg. John Knowles had the reader interested throughout this whole novel. This novel showed how friendship is sometimes valued most through tragedy. Tragedy occurs when even a person does not mean to cause harm. A person will never truly value their friendship except through tragedy. Gene and Finny had created their "separate peace." Creating peace between them helped them get through their tough times when tragedy struck.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Building Trust

Teaching Guide Building Trust (DVD Title: Building Trust in a Large Organization) LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE: TEACHING OBJECTIVES: Manager must win the trust †¢ Importance of building trust of over 500 employees in his with people when leading a large team Understandcall center team to motivate ing how to earn the trust them to maximize customer of subordinates who are different than you satisfaction. LEADERSHIP DECISION AND RESULT: Manager ? nds a common ground with people, learns their names, changes his dress, learns about their job, and makes himself visible to win their trust. Importance of knowing your people and their job †¢ Importance of identifying with your people and being visible. Center for Leadership Development and Research Leadership in Focus TEACHING THEMES: †¢ Motivating Teams †¢ Vision, Values and Culture †¢ Taking Charge Building Trust Jim Roth Manager, Dell Background on Company Dell, Inc. and its subsidiaries engage in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, sale, and support of various computer systems and services worldwide. Discussion Questions: Have you ever had to build trust with a large number of people who are fundamentally different than you? †¢ As a manager, what are the advantages and disadvantages of seeing yourself as part of a team rather than leading a team? †¢ Do you think Jim will still have the respect of his team if he is so focused on serving them and their needs? †¢ What does Jim mean when he says that a manager should be â€Å"conscious of how they ? t into the organization† and â€Å"have a sense they are always on stage? † Background on Leader Jim Roth is a graduate of Northwestern and has a Masters degree in Industrial Engineering.He worked as a Venture Capitalist, in a software start up, in management consulting and at Dell manages a large tech support team of 500 people. 1 Building Trust | Jim Roth These videos are prepared for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of an administrative situation. Copyright  © 2007 by the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All Rights Reserved. Teaching Notes Building Trust (DVD Title: Building Trust in a Large Organization) Center for Leadership Development and Research Leadership in FocusVideo Segment 1: (Run Time: 1 minute 5 seconds) Challenge: Manager must win the trust of over 500 employees in his call center team to motivate them to maximize customer satisfaction. Note: Operations are 24/7 and units are located in Texas and Idaho. This is the ? rst time Jim has managed a large (550 person with 26 managers) group—he felt intimidated. The pressure to reach 90% looming. Dell had prioritized Wall Street ahead of customers— and service suffered—lots of bad press. better results. You think this new manager is too â€Å"touchy feely† and will get walked all over.You want results! Group Work (optional): As sume it is the ? rst day on the job as the new manager of this team. Discuss what you should do. Writing Exercises (optional): Write a message to the managers of your new organization, setting expectations about the team and goals they will be working towards moving forward. Describe your leadership style and approach to the challenge. Make your message motivational. Discussion Questions: †¢ Have you ever had to build trust with a large number of people who are fundamentally different than you? What did you do? What are the advantages of disadvantages of being the boss who is feared? †¢ Do you agree with all the things Jim does to earn the trust of his team? Why or why not? †¢ Do you think Jim will still have the respect of his team if he is so focused on serving them and their needs? Why or why not? Oral Presentations (optional): As the new manager, give an introductory speech to the managers in your organization about you and the goals you hope to achieve. Clearly s tate the messages you want to convey to your direct reports. Role Play (optional):Discussion between Manager (Jim) and his Supervisor (Sam) whose leadership philosophy is very different and thinks a manager should be feared by his people. Explain yourself and try to gain your supervisor’s trust. †¢ Background for Manager (Jim): You believe you should think of your team as your customers and make every effort to make their job easier. You do not want to be feared by your people and think you will be even more productive thanks to your leadership style. †¢ Background for Supervisor (Sam): You think the new manager needs to come in strong and put fear in his employees to achieve 2 Building Trust | Jim RothCopyright  © 2007 by the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All Rights Reserved. Teaching Notes Building Trust (DVD Title: Building Trust in a Large Organization) Center for Leadership Development and Research Leadership in Focus Video Segme nt 2: (Run Time: 3 minutes 20 seconds) Decision: Manager ? nds a common ground with people, learns their names, changes his dress, learns about their job, and he makes himself visible to win their trust. Writing Exercises (optional): As the manager, write an email to your employees announcing your new purchase of headsets for all agents.Discuss how they will be distributed. Will you incentivize the high performers by awarding them with new headsets ? rst? Discussion Questions: †¢ Do you agree with all the things Jim does to earn the trust of his team? Why or why not? †¢ Do you think Jim will still have the respect of his team if he is so focused on serving them and their needs? Why or why not? †¢ Is there anything Jim should do differently and how successful do you think he will be with his approach? †¢ As a manager, what are the advantages and disadvantages of seeing your team as your customers?Role Play (optional): Discussion between Manager (Jim) and direct re port (Fred) who believes everybody needs new headsets and new chairs. †¢ Background for Manager (Jim): You believe you should make your people more comfortable, but you are limited in budget and must make your people and Fred understand there are limits to what you can do for them. †¢ Background for Direct Report (Fred): You think everybody needs new headsets and chairs. You know the new manager is anxious to make a positive impression and you think this purchase could help.Group Work (optional): What does Jim mean by having an â€Å"early victories† when he talks about getting new headsets? What kind of a precedent does this set and how should he manage expectations for the future? 3 Building Trust | Jim Roth Copyright  © 2007 by the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All Rights Reserved. Teaching Notes Building Trust (DVD Title: Building Trust in a Large Organization) Center for Leadership Development and Research Leadership in Focus Vid eo Segment 3 and 4: (Run Time: 2 minutes 10 seconds)Writing Exercises (optional): As the Manager, write an email to your team telling them how you want them to come to you when they have problems. You want them to understand you are there to help them, but also don’t want them to abuse this privilege. Make the message motivational. Result and Lessons Learned: Manager receives feedback from his people and sees this as a victory that he has earned their trust. To earn trust and improve performance, it is important to learn the details about your people to determine why they come to work everyday.Discussion Questions: †¢ As a manager, what are the advantages and disadvantages of seeing yourself as part of a team rather than leading a team? †¢ What does Jim mean when he says that a manager should be conscious of â€Å"how they ? t into the organization† and â€Å"have a sense they are always on stage? † †¢ What does Jim mean when he says a manager sho uld come across as a â€Å"real person? † †¢ Do you agree or disagree with Jim’s statement when he talks about his subordinates, â€Å"They are not beneath you. † Explain. Group Work (optional):Discuss the ideal leadership style and image of a manager for a large organization who needs to improve team performance. Oral Presentations (optional): Assume you are talking about your vision for the future of your team. You are in front of 300 of your employees and when you pause, somebody from the audience yells out a quote you said three months ago that is different than what you are saying now. Everybody laughs and starts talking amongst themselves. How do you handle this and what do you say? 4 Building Trust | Jim Roth Copyright  © 2007 by the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All Rights Reserved.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Children and Young People Development

1. 1 Describe the expected pattern of children and young people’s development from birth to 19 years, to include: * Physical development, communication development, intellectual development social, emotional and behavioural development. 0-3 months from birth a baby’s physical and progress development will improve than any other age. They will have many different movements but this will be very limited, these include grasping (wrapping fingers around things they touch) rooting (will help them find milk threw the nipple by moving head and using touch and if held with their feet firmly to the floor they will copy stepping movements.As they age they will become more confident with this movement and look more relaxed and even move their head more when they see movement and light. * 6-9 months usually play with feet (put them in mouth etc), and cruise around furniture 1. 2 describe with examples how different aspects od development can affect one another. The parts of develop ment do not work individually-they are linked this is why we talk about general development. Even when aiming on one aspect of development, it is very crucial not to forget we are viewing at a person or child and young people.They need to develop many different abilities and these interest more than one spot of development. For example, from every early age parental or carer communication and encouragement is very important for a child. It can help the child grow and develop in all aspects: physical, emotional, behaviour, social, communication and intellect. A child, who has little communication, is UN cared for or has negative social experiences. In these early development years may become a lonely individual have difficulty communicating with others and lack in self-esteem.They may have low expectations of themselves concerning school and learning, which could string to poor results in school which in turn could affect their confidence even further. Children from a poverty stricke n area or deprive background could be affected in many way, environmental, financial Situation an health issues, can all be related. For example their home may be overcrowded and they could be neglected as an individual, the family could be struggling financially a problem which puts pressure on the parents making tension within the family.Absence of money may mean lack of food for the family, going on to poor nutrition. Some children might feel under pressure from peers to have certain brands of clothing. Shoes etc. , they might not be able to keep up with the latest technology and this could lead bullying, shortage of self-esteem. 2. 1 describe with examples the kinds of influences that effect children and young people’s development including: * Background * Health * Environment There are many issues that affect the healthy growth and development of children.These issues Work in mixture and so it is OFTEN difficult to approximate the impact of any single issues on general c hild development Background: pupils may come from a large variety of different family environment, culture, and conditions for example their parents may come from a foreign country and have different religious beliefs. This may affect the child as will be taught something different as home and school may be teaching something else and this may confuse the child. There may also be a language issue as the child may speak the parent’s language at home and may have problems speaking English at school.Health: poor health or physical disability can affect the children development. There are many genetic disorders which instance development. Examples: children with Down’s syndrome often have learning difficulties which can affect their understanding and their ability to communicate with others. * Poor nutrition and lack of sleep will cause a lack of energy and may results in aggressive behaviour and an inability to form relationships. Environment: poverty and poor housing con ditions may affect children’s feelings or self-esteem.Examples, children who live in overcrowded homes or in temporary bed and breakfast accommodation may have fewer opportunities to play with other children and may feel cut off because they see themselves as â€Å"different†. Children’s whose family are travellers might not stay in one area long enough to form friendships. Also children’s education is badly disrupted when families are moved from one place to another. Pollution of the environment could have a evident change on the health and development of children and young people. the three main principals threats to health are water pollution, air pollution and noise pollution.Children are specifically exposed to air pollution. This is partly because they have a huge lung surface area in comparison to their small body size; this means that they soak up toxic substances faster than adults do and are slower to get them out of their body. The effects of a ir pollution from factory chimneys, the use of chemical insecticides and car exhausts include: * Lead poisoning- this is caused by various things such as by vehicle exhaust fumes. Children’s ability to learn can easily be effected by just even the lowest levels of lead in the blood. Children especially vulnerable to lead poisoning. Asthma – an acting trigger for asthma can be air pollution which can make an existing condition even worse. Traffic polluted areas can raise the level of incidence of asthma. 2. 2 describe with examples the importance of recognising and responding to concerns about children and young people’s development. A practitioner should recognise when a child or young person’s development is not succeeding the foreseeable standards. Regularly the parents will tell their own concern and it is important to reply to these. If you are not responding to these, the problem could get worse.Some children and young people may need additional help for any reason, at any time, and for any timespan. Some development involvement is temporary such as hearing problems that is corrected by an operation, and there for only require temporary help. Concerns about development The following issues can all influence the way in which a child or young person develops holistically: * Family situation: family failure – e. g. division of parents or arrival of a new partner; a child or young person being a career of another family member; being looked after by the local authority or recently having left care. Social or emotional problems: grief; behavioural difficulties; being involved in a bullying situation or subject to some kind of discrimination. * Disability or health needs: hearing or visual damage; language and communication difficulties; autistic spectrum disorder; chronic illness leading to regular hospitalisation, and conditions requiring a surgical operation. A child or young person’s development is giving ‘cau se’ for concern will need to be ‘supported’.Practitioners should try to identify the child or young person’s particular developmental needs and reply quickly; he sooner the difficulty is recognised the more likely that the support offered will be affective. The parents or cares should be consulted and the support needed can be bespoke to the individual child or young person. Having observed or compared the child or young person, you need to decide how best their needs can be met. You will need to refer to the related part of normative development to work out which area of development needs to be supported and then decide how this can be done.This involves: * Finding out about their interests and opinions: Children and young people need to know that their interests and opinions are valued. This means showing respect for their interests and showing that you value their contributions. You can find out from parents and cares about activates most enjoyed by you ng children. Older people and young children should be referred about their favourites Providing difficult activates: children and young people need to feel engaged= in activities. – They may find activities to easy for them boring and unexciting.By planning activities that test them, you will be helping them to feel felling of triumph and supporting their progress. * Being prepared to be adaptable when setting up activities: setting up activities should be an adaptable process. You need to be prepared to alter your plans to take into account the individual favourites of children and young people. In this way you, will promote an =atmosphere= of trust and respect. Also, when you consult a young person about what they want to do at a particular time you can often support him or her to take proprietorship of the activity

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Aristotle and Weed Essay

What would Aristotle think about legalizing Marijuana? When attempting to speculate on how Aristotle would feel about this inquiry, I feel that only one thing must be addressed. What kind of person does marijuana make me, and does the legalization of marijuana increase or decrease a person’s ability to be happy and good? What Kind of Person According to Aristotle, the difference between animals and humans is our ability to rationalize and utilize reason. Man is at its most basic level rational animals. Non-rational beings only possess vegetative and appetitive aspects of their mind, whereas humans retain the most important, according to Aristotle, portion of the soul: the rational part. The reason that this is the most important is that it allows us to ascertain genuine happiness. Therefore, since animals and even children do not possess the rational facet of the soul, they cannot achieve true happiness. As humans, our advantage over non-rational beings is our ability to be happy, as defined by Aristotle. Happiness, he states, â€Å"is apparently something complete and self-sufficient, since it is the end of the things achievable in action. † (NE 1097b20). So for Aristotle to approve of the legalization of it, marijuana would have to be something that would advance the happiness of humans and promote reason on the part of the soul. So does marijuana foster sensible choices and assist humans in our quest for happiness? Well, when analyzed from a philosophical viewpoint, no. Using drugs diminishes our ability to utilize reason when faced with decisions. It modifies our mindset and transforms us from rational animals into just plain simple animals. Drugs can force one to talk with slurred speech, visibly alter their perceptions of what is going on around them, and even take their freedom of will. So the fact that marijuana decreases human ability to be rational, reasonable, and thus happy, I would have to say that Aristotle would disapprove for most cases. However, medicinal marijuana does promote happiness. If someone has a disease in which the use of marijuana could numb his or her pain, I think that Aristotle would say that this is ok and good because it is assisting him or her in his or her quest for happiness, even if temporary. So where would he draw the line between vice and virtue? I think that Aristotle would support the system that we have today. Excess would be allowing everyone to purchase marijuana. Lack would be banning it completely because it does have some benefits for the medical community. I think that the Mean would be allowing it to be used for medicinal purposes only and not for public access because repeated use does not promote rationalization and happiness. In conclusion, I think that Aristotle would not support the further legalization of marijuana for personal use. Aristotle would, however, not take action to ban it any further either. I think that he would be content with how the system is today. Marijuana does have some medicinal benefits to people with painful diseases in that it creates, although fleeting, happiness. For normal people, however, repeated use of marijuana results in a deteriorated capacity to make rational decisions. It weakens our soul and forces us to become irrational animals. This fact forces me to conclude that Aristotle would neither further nor reduce the current legal status of marijuana.

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Discussion questions-Managerial marketing Assignment

Discussion questions-Managerial marketing - Assignment Example e past several years, there are few options available to these companies as a means of seeking to reintegrate with consumers and provide a positive brand image. However, this should not be understood to mean that these firms are necessarily destroyed and the image is beyond reclamation. With regards to the specific case study and the question which was posed, it would be the choice of this particular student to integrate with a rather costly and far reaching outreach to consumers. Whereas few firms are willing to integrate with such an approach due to the fact that it is exorbitantly expensive, it would be the argument of this student, representing a key stakeholder within Mattel, that such an approach would ultimately reap long-term rewards due to the fact that consumers would have any and all fears that they might hold assuaged with regards to the best practices that the firm is able to integrate and the level to which it seriously considers the shortcomings of the past and looks p ositively towards the rewards and betterment of ethics and responsibility in the future. By seeking to integrate with consumers based upon these lines, a message and level of appreciation for their business and forgiveness can ultimately be achieved. Metrics must necessarily be provided to the stakeholders within the firm as a means of encouraging them to expand the necessary money; however, it is the police of the student that once these metrics are provided in the stakeholders are able to see the long-term rewards that such an approach could provide, they will be more than willing to integrate with such a public outreach