Marxism and the Matrix Essay - 914 Words

The movie, â€Å"The Matrix† is an outstanding example of the term â€Å"Marxism†. Simply put, Marxism is the political and economic theory of Marx, advocating abolition of private property, and state provision of work and subsistence for all, and to be a Marxist, is to follow Karl Marx’s theories. Along the lines of Marx’s theories; a reality and way of life in the Matrix is maintained, oppressed, discovered, and eventually explained. Marx advocates a violent change, and The Matrix demonstrates this type of propaganda. The character Trinity sets the tone from the very start with her defying antics, and Neo’s role is realized; as this reality that is the Matrix is explained. The Wachowski brothers’ film, The Matrix, easily lends itself to a Marxist†¦show more content†¦People have themselves become that means of production, in that their bodies have become the energy source that keeps the economic machine running. Neo is informed by one of the rebels – that he is nothing more than a â€Å"coppertop†, a battery that runs the system. But he also finds hope, because the rebels are fighting back – and, as Marx had hoped, the â€Å"grave diggers† are going to try to destroy the capitalistic machines. Life in the Matrix is not quite the Utopia Marx envisioned. And we discover this by observing Mr. Anderson’s daily grind, as he follows the daily routine of a dead-end job. This is not an ideal life for any man. One would want to escape, question, and break free of this routine that is his â€Å"life†. As the plot of The Matrix advances, this â€Å"reality† is explained. Neo eventually wakes up, and witnesses the truth – a world controlled, by machines. As he awakens to a dark desolate world, towers taller than sky scrapers surround him, loaded with humans – in a cocooned state. Machines monitor these sleeping humans - who are unaware of the truth. One of these machines quickly scans Neo, and realizes things aren’t quite right with him, and so he is released down a tube leading to a body disposal, and his possible demise. They (the machines) obviously don’t want himShow MoreRelatedThe Matrix And Karl Marxs Allegory Of The Cave1631 Words   |  7 Pages The Matrix movie conveys what man has been trying to do in a cinematic masterpiece. The creator’s main influences to making The Matrix were Karl Marx and Plato’s Allegory of the Cave (Who Inspired). Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto tries to highlight the social inequalities that have occurred during the industrial revolution between man and machine while Plato’s Allegory of the Cave tries to help inform people that they need to become more self-aware of their oppressors. The film The Matrix combinesRead MoreThe Movie, The Matrix, Written and Directed by the Wachowski Brothers is the Ultimate Marxist Metaphor717 Words   |  3 PagesThe movie The Matrix, written and directed by The Wachowski brothers, can be seen as the ultimate Marxist metaphor. Its basic premise is that the world as we know it is fake; it is a â€Å"computer simulated dreamworld†, mimicking our own world of the late 90s, called the Matrix. In charge of the Matrix itself is a seemingly malevolent sentient machine species. Even worse, the sole purpose of this simulation is to control humanity, which has been enslaved inside the simulation for several hundreds ofRead More Philosophical And Ideological Perspectives In Education Essay examples784 Words   |  4 PagesPhilosoph ical and Ideological Perspectives in Education continue to examine the major schools of philosophy of education through the systems approach. It also considers the relationship of education to major ideologies such as Liberalism, Conservativism, and Marxism. It analyzes the impact of philosophy and ideology on educational theory and practice by examining such theories as Essentialism, Perennialism, Progressivism, and Social Reconstructionism. Although concentrating on the philosophy of education, itRead MoreMarxist and Semiotic Analysis of the Matrix3768 Words   |  16 PagesTHE MATRIX The Matrix was written and directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski. It released in 1999. The film belongs to the science fiction genre and revolves around a young man by the name of Thomas Anderson who is on a quest to discover what the mysterious Matrix is. The movie draws inspiration from a Japanese anime known as Ghost in a Shell. The Wachoski brothers incorporated many signs and symbols into the movie relating to Christianity, Greek mythology and Marxism. It contains severalRead MoreHistorical Developments in Philosophy Essay1189 Words   |  5 PagesUniversity of Phoenix Material Philosophy Matrix | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Read More Marxism Isnt Dead Essay3751 Words   |  16 Pages ABSTRACT: I defend the continued viability of Marxs critique of capitalism against Ronald Aronsons recent claim that because Marxists are unable to point to a social class or movement away from capitalism, Marxism is over as a project of historical transformation. First, Marxs account of the forced extraction of surplus labor remains true. It constitutes an indictment of the process of capital accumulation because defenses of capitalisms right to profit based on productive contributionRead MoreSmith vs. Marx - a Comparison Essay1247 Words   |  5 Pagesopposing views between Smith and Marx. Smith believed that self, self-interest, and self-determination, all were mechanisms where individuals are motivated to gain wealth and power for individual gain and group gain. Smith believed that ‘self is a matrix of reason and passion (Levine, 1998). Furthermore, Smith believed that sympathy leads to empathy, and our individual self-determination leads to accumulation of wealth that be nefits others as well as us (Levine, 1998). Examples of this concept areRead MoreRewriting History, Marxist Elements in Orwells 1984 and Their Outcome on Love2054 Words   |  9 Pagesworld would look like if a totalitarian regime would truly take over. My aim for this essay is to analyze Orwell’s novel with respect to the marxist elements present in the novel and also to illustrate their impact upon the protagonist’s feelings. Marxism and especially Stalinism are present in Orwell’s novel through certain elements: countinuous surveillance, control of the mind, the cult of personality and a supposed â€Å"equality† between the Party’s members. Isaac Asimov, in his essay Review of 1984Read MoreThe Relationship Between Power And Knowledge1803 Words   |  8 Pagesmodern jurisprudence inhibits the ability to distinguish the shift that is coming with modernity, from law to discipline. It is not that law disappears, but more that modern society is grounded on a concept of public right that operates within a linked matrix of disciplinary enforcement, in which expert knowledge, such as knowledge of doctors, physicians or social workers; rather than rules, is the emissary of the new disciplinarity . Foucault argues that whether it is mental force or physical force thatRead MoreWound Care Management : The Elderly Modern Medicine And The Benefits Of Natural Medicines2549 Words   |  11 Pagesa lso when the characteristic symptoms of inflammation are seen; erythema, heat, oedema, pain and loss of function. The second phase proliferation, is when the wound is reconstructed and new granulation tissue comprised of collagen and extracellular matrix work to form a new network of blood vessels also known as angiogenesis (Wild et al, 2010). Healthy granulation is completely dependent on the oxygen that these new blood vessels are able to supply to the wound bed (Wild et al, 2010). Finally maturation

Organizational Culture Research - 7417 Words

Organizational culture Unknown Author Organizational culture is an idea in the field of organizational studies and management which describes the psychology, attitudes, experiences, beliefs and values (personal and cultural values) of an organization. It has been defined as the specific collection of values and norms that are shared by people and groups in an organization and that control the way they interact with each other and with stakeholders outside the organization.[1] Ravasi and Schultz (2006) state that organizational culture is a set of shared mental assumptions that guide interpretation and action in organizations by defining appropriate behavior for various situations. Although it’s difficult to get consensus about the†¦show more content†¦According to Kotter and Heskett (1992), organizations with adaptive cultures perform much better than organizations with unadaptive cultures. An adaptive culture translates into organizational success; it is characterized by managers paying close attention t o all of their constituencies, especially customers, initiating change when needed, and taking risks. An unadaptive culture can significantly reduce a firms effectiveness, disabling the firm from pursuing all its competitive/operational options. [edit] Typologies Several methods have been used to classify organizational culture. While there is no single â€Å"type† of organizational culture and organizational cultures vary widely from one organization to the next, commonalities do exist and some researchers have developed models to describe different organizational cultures. Some are described below: Hofstede (1980[2]) demonstrated that there are national and regional cultural groupings that affect the behavior of organizations. Hofstede looked for national differences between over 100,000 of IBMs employees in different parts of the world, in an attempt to find aspects of culture that might influence business behavior. Hofstede identified four dimensions of culture in his study of national influences: * Power distance - The degree to which a society expects there to be differences in the levels of power. A high score suggests that there is anShow MoreRelatedResearch Paper on Organizational Culture Mentoring2161 Words   |  9 PagesResearch paper On Organizational culture amp; mentoring SUBMITTED BY: Anora Muriel dsilva Class: MBA (IB) INDEX TOPIC | PAGE NUMBER | Introduction | 2 | Why do we study organizational culture | 2 | Levels of organizational culture | 3 | Consequences and implication of organizational culture | 4-5 | Research findings on organizational culture | 5 | Mentoring | | Introduction | 5 | Functions of Mentoring | 5 | Characteristics of a good mentor | 6 | Personal and organizational implicationsRead MoreResearch Question. Where Does Organizational Culture Begin1159 Words   |  5 PagesResearch Question Where does organizational culture begin or end? More specifically, where is this culture deriving from. In organizations, it is unclear where this culture is built from and who is responsible for it? Is it implemented by management, previous management or higher up? And the large ‘who’ question is asked, who determined these values, how are they regulated? Also, asking what is the role of communication in organizational culture? Organizational culture, invisible and often overlookedRead MoreThe Role Of Organizational Leadership And Human Resource Professionals1342 Words   |  6 Pagesproactive strategy to unify two organization’s unique and beneficial culture elements during a merger. According to Cartwright Cooper (1993), â€Å"cultural incompatibility is†¦a cause for poor merger performance. Rather than integrating, the two cultures collided, which†¦resulted in low morale, poor work quality, and declining financial performance...† This paper will focus on the challenges of mergers; discuss the roles of organizational leadership and Human Resource professionals. Additionally, thisRead MoreThe practices in managing cultures have changed in the post bureaucratic era1270 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿In this essay about managing culture in the post-bureaucratic era, I am going to argue how the practices of managing culture have changed in this era and how they differentiate oneself from the bureaucratic era. Furthermore I describe the cultural influences especially in organizations and how the importance of those influences changed over the time. In the first section I am going to explain the content of managing organization culture to get a first insight in the topic and to express the knowledgeRead MoreThe Roles Of The Nurse Leaders960 Words   |  4 PagesResearch and implementation of evidenced based practice is critical in today’s healthcare However, there are many individuals involved and many steps that must occur for this implementation to occur. Therefore in this week’s discussion, I will explain how the nurse leaders play an important role in promoting Evidenced based practice. I will also discuss strategies that can be utilize when there is a change that occurs due to the implementation of evidenced based practice. I will then describe powersRead MoreEssay about Evaluating Change Over Time In Organizations1504 Words   |  7 Page s After reviewing and researching the literature with respect to organizational changes, I have come to the conclusion that organizations have always changed. When everything in the world is changing, organization cannot remain islands. They must change to face new challenges. Bolman and Deal (2008) claim organizations have changed about as much as in past few decades as in the preceding century. Bolman and Deal (2008) claim means that the change organizations have experienced in the last decadeRead MoreStarbucks s Organizational Culture And Its Impact On Organizational Success1210 Words   |  5 PagesEffectiveness of Starbucks’ Organizational Culture and its Impact on Organizational Success in Global Economy It is thoroughly clear that since 1990 The Starbucks Company had a major impact on, first the American, then the global coffee shop market. In the US alone, America housed just under 200 â€Å"freestanding† coffee houses, today, there are well over 14,000 stores, 30 percent of which is owned by the Starbucks’ corporation (Thompson 2004). As I uncovered this fact in my research, I immediately askedRead MoreEvaluating The Correlation Between The Oc And Performance Is Not A Modern Approach1738 Words   |  7 Pagestheir management research article - managers play a role in getting the employees commitment that leads to improved productivity. Expanding on that research Wei Lees, (2014) combines that leadership and types OC, would introduce values and objectives of the organization to employees and voice the importance to understand the overall organizational goals and will get the most out of the internal systems. The Fiol Lyles (1985) introduced organization lear ning into the culture and affected in firm’sRead MoreOrganizational Structures And Organizational Structure1717 Words   |  7 PagesOrganizational structures classify the manner in which activities, including job allocation, coordination, and management are planned in order to achieve organizational goals (Janićijević, 2011; Matis, 2014). Structures help define organizational culture and contribute to how individuals perceive the organization’s culture. Many models and theories provide insight and guidance on ways an organization’s culture can be modified (Janićijević, 2011; Matis, 2014). Organizational Structures All organizationsRead MoreEffect of culture in business1012 Words   |  5 Pagesfirms in the United States. Do you think that these American employees are being influenced by the foreign owners approach to management and the culture of the country of the owner? Because of globalization, businesses are open to do business in new markets and improving profits. Also because of globalization, companies are faced with different cultures, religion and norms. For a company to do business in another country, a manager needs to understand the differences associated with the host country

Costco Leadership and Marketing Mix Strategy @Myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss costco leadership strategy and costco marketing mix strategy? Answer: Introduction Costco follows all the HR policies and procedures and is focused towards the overall development of the employees and hence they have a group of effectively engaged and efficiently committed workforce. The workers are hardworking and as a result more productive and their rate of turn-over is also low. The organizational structure of Costco follows four major policies and they are as follows maintaining the rules of business ethics, obeying the laws and legislations, taking care of the workforce, and respecting its employees. Maintaining a long-term and healthy relationship with the employees has been the key factor for the sustainability and success of the organization (Stack, 2013). Costco Leadership Strategy Leadership strategies need a continuous augmentation in order keep pace with the ever-changing environment both within the organization as well as outside the organization. Mostly The Company follows the democratic or rather more specifically participative leadership style and affiliative leadership style which gives importance to the employees, involves them in the decision making process of the company, which has been working well for the company. In order to continue their winning streak, the company needs to follow an authoritative leadership style as well, which is very useful when the organization is undergoing a change, and the employees need a new vision and guidance, it envisages a new vision among the employees of the company (Vella, 2014). The authoritative leaders are the best when there is a need to motivate and inspire the workforce. Although coercive leadership style must be avoided in order to avoid spreading dissatisfaction among the employees. Transformational leade rship style is the best suited for the organizations to maintain a healthy leader with employees but also to ensure continuous success and sustainability for the organization. It is future oriented, ensures proper and effective communication, and is also inspirational for the employees. All the leadership styles have their own positive and negative aspects, and a company must try and implement all the leadership styles according to the situations they are in and get benefitted by them (de Vries, 2012). Costco Marketing Mix Strategy The core competencies of the company are helping them to achieve success in their business. The company believes in the continuous augmentation of the sales as well as the products mix and has made many improvements to do so. The company of late has been generating profits and hence reporting good results (Hutt Speh, 2013). The current strategy of the company includes offering low prices of a selected range of branded products to its member countries, especially in the merchandize category. A brief SWOT analysis of COSTCO is as follows Strength - The Companys strength includes good quality of goods, effective and competitive prices, loyal group of customers, well-established brand, and a wide range of products. Weakness - One of the major weakness of the Company is that is mainly dependent on the geography, its major percentage of sales comes from one country only. Moreover, the company mostly concentrates on the older generation as the products available are only for them, in order to sustain their loyal customers and not the younger generation (Salonen, 2011). Opportunity The Company must now focus to target the younger generations now, as the age group between18-35 will drive the maximum amount of profits for the company. The company has now started to make efforts for the same. The company must also focus on the overseas expansion of the business that will make it a global company and will also help in increasing the market shares as well as the sales (Kaan Zlfikar ; AM, 2013). Threat Competition is the biggest threat for all the companies in todays business world. The internet retailers are also a threat to the company. From the above SWOT analysis it can be concluded that, the company can change the promotional strategies that is being currently used in order to expand further. Since COTSCO is a membership only club warehouse, the organization should promote the various facilities that are provided to those who hold the club membership. Facilities, in forms of rewards or cash prizes, could also be given to those members of the club who refer others to join COTSCO. Since the organization already has an official website using which the members can order products, they should utilize this site to the fullest in order to promote their organization. A art of this website could be dedicated to promote the various offers that are being made available to the customers: currently such offers are only being published in the a small part of the home page. As the organization already allows users to register to the club by updating their email-ids to the website, the very same process can also be used for the purpose of promotion, The organization could send the details of the new arrivals and the various new deals that the club provides to their members through these electronic mails. The very same website can be used to communicate with the users: users should be allowed to review the products or services provided by the organizations, and any issue raised by them should be solved by the organization. The details of these issues and the solutions should be provided on the website, such that the potential customers feel that their opinions matter to the organization: thus creating a brand value of the organization. Last but not the least, the organization could also provide sponsorship to certain events in order to fulfill the purpose of branding. Conclusion The company COSTCO is earning huge profits, and the lowering of the gas prices have added to its advantage, but nothing can be taken for granted. To sustain its present status, the company must now augment its leadership styles and also use the above mentioned marketing mix to expand its business globally and also to attract new group of younger customers. This will not only help the company to retain its loyal customers as well its loyal employees and help in sustaining in the market for a longer period of time but will also help to generate huge amounts of profits. References 1. de Vries, R. (2012). Personality predictors of leadership styles and the selfother agreement problem. The Leadership Quarterly, 23(5), 809-821. doi:10.1016/j.leaqua.2012.03.002 2. Hutt, M., Speh, T. (2013). Business marketing management. Australia: South-Western, Cengage Learning. 3. Kaan Zlfikar ; AM, D. (2013). Investigating certain statistical analyses used in multiple prediction studies by SWOT analysis. Ankara Universitesi Egitim Bilimleri Fakultesi Dergisi, 46(2), 277-295. doi:10.1501/egifak_0000001306 4. Salonen, A. (2011). Service transition strategies of industrial manufacturers. Industrial Marketing Management, 40(5), 683-690. doi:10.1016/j.indmarman.2011.05.005 5. Stack, L. (2013). Leadership strategies for the four stages of change. Highlands Ranch, Colo.: Productivity Pro, Inc. 6. Vella, D. (2014). 15 Characteristics and Leadership Styles of Effective Business Leaders. Retrieved from https://yfsmagazine.com

International Dimensions of Business Essay Example

International Dimensions of Business Paper For the final task of this unit, I will be critically appraising the advantages and disadvantages of the growth and influence of a MNC (multi-national company) of my choice. With this, I will be examining the strategic reasons for expansion whilst examining the impact it would have/has on a developing host country in terms of factors such as consumers choice, employment rates, individuals/citizens, other businesses (competition), etc. Finally, I will also be assessing the impact it has on developed host countries and the impact it would have on their governments. The business I have decided to choose is Ryan Air because as I have been working on it throughout this unit, I believe I will find it easier to relate certain to topics and theories to it. Strategic Reasons why RyanAir Expanded For the first part of this task, I will be giving strategic reasons why RyanAir decided to expand internationally. First and foremost, most basic reason why RyanAir must have wanted to expand internationally is because that is the concept of what flight services are, going from one country to another consistently and safely and as this is RyanAirs service there was basically no other choice but to expand. However. Below are some other basic strategic reasons as to why they may have decided to expand. Geographic Diversion (RyanAir) Geographic diversion is a situation where businesses purposefully aim to spread their risks by moving into overseas markers and could very well have been a factor in RyanAirs decision to act as a international company. We will write a custom essay sample on International Dimensions of Business specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on International Dimensions of Business specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on International Dimensions of Business specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Geographic decisions is used in particular cases where a business has saturated their home market just like RyanAir seem have done with the UK and so therefore use large markets overseas in which they would be able to build a competitive market. So for example, if RyanAirs sales and number of passengers started to fall in the UK, the success being enjoyed in other countries would banish the risk being held to RyanAir as a company. Pursing a Global Logic (RyanAir) The second strategic reason why RyanAir may have decided to expand is to pursue a global logic this meaning to identify a condition in the market that requires a company to adopt a global strategy. This means that because of the nature of the market, that expanding is the only sensible thing to do and that definitely applies to RyanAir because air flights are a global service and so by expanding across Europe RyanAir were able to spread their costs over millions of more customers. The Temptations of Overseas Markets (RyanAir) Despite the UK having quite a large and very well structured market, the temptations of larger markets such as Germany and Russia may have been what tempted RyanAir to expand across European waters and even though these countries may not be as economically advanced as the UK nor is the average wage as high, RyanAirs low fares are likely to stop this being a problem. To increase Profits (RyanAir) Moving abroad to make best use of existing resources is probably one of the best decisions a business today can make because for example, a company that spends a great deal of money on research and development will find that they can actually spread the cost over a much larger output by selling in a wider market which would eventually lead to higher profits which is one of the main aims of any business and most definitely appeals to RyanAir. Advantages of Becoming a MNC There are many advantages to come from being a one-country business into a multi-nation corporation, for this part of the task I will now be explaining in great detail some of the advantages that benefited or that will benefit RyanAir in the future from becoming an MNC. Below is a table of some = of the advantages that come from being an MNC related to RyanAir. By becoming an MNC, RyanAir have given themselves the opportunity to benefit from them the growing world market for goods and services. This is part of the process of globalisation which is the rapid growth of similar goods services produced and distributed by MNEs on a world scale and despite RyanAir only being a European company, their flights and air service still has a big part to play and this and so the company would definitely benefit. Another benefit that would come from being an MNC to RyanAir is that they are giving themselves a higher chance of the basic risks and uncertainties of the free trade cycle that they face from within their own economy. This is because the more they spread their influence of other nations through their service just like they have done on the UK, they are then able to spread their risks along the way. One of the biggest benefits is that operating abroad provides RyanAir with the perfect opportunity to respond to the increased foreign competition that is continuously rising and protect their own European market share. When other foreign multi-national companies (airlines) begin to compete in a particular MNE market that RyanAir is involved in, this gives them the incentive to expand into new markets. Being an MNC also allows RyanAir to overcome tariff walls from within the United Kingdom. Of course, being an MNC gives RyanAir a wider range of customers to target and choose from as they give nearly everyone around Europe the options of using their service as opposed to just restricting themselves to the UK which gives them a higher chance of obtaining a larger customer base year after year. Above are just some of the advantages and benefits that RyanAir would have been able to enjoy from operating as a multi-national co-operation that would have given the company itself a greater chance of success and more international recognition. How RyanAir becoming an MNC affects less developed/developing Countries I will now be discussing how RyanAir becoming a multi-national company would affect less developed countries or developing countries in which they operate and what impact it would create on them. Because RyanAir only operate in Europe, it would be very difficult to say how they affect less developed countries (3rd world countries) because near to none of these exist in Europe however I can say what impact they would have on developing countries (2nd world countries) because many of these exist in Eastern Europe, countries such as Bosnia, Serbia, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Romania, Russia, etc and RyanAir operate in all of them. The elements in which I will be discussing how RyanAir affect these nations will be broken down into factors such as customer choice, employment, competition and the environment. Consumer Choice/Individuals No matter the state of the economy or government, having a wide choice available is always a benefit to the citizens of that nation, but possible particularly more so for people in developing countries than in higher developed countries. Nearly all of Western Europe is filled more economically developed countries such as Spain, Portugal, England, France, etc. however having a wider choice available (in this case of flights) would definitely be more valuable to those living in Eastern Europe and I will now explain why. Many things can be determined in different countries by the state of their economies and whether they belong to the first, second or third world category these factors include things such as standard of living and average wage. When there is a wider choice of options available regardless of the field of product or service, more often than not this results in lower pricing because all the businesses try to compete and gain the largest customer base and the largest market share so prices fall considerable in order for this to be achieved. Along with this, people living in Eastern Europe live in developing countries such as Bosnia and Serbia (2nd world countries) and so the average wage of the population would be considerably lower than that of those living in Eastern Europe and so because of this an increase in customer choice which is what RyanAir would bring in terms of flights would increase the likelihood of prices of flights falling because it is increased competition and so this would be more valuable to those with lower average wages Eastern Europeans especially with a business like RyanAir who already offer cheap flights naturally. So to summarise, RyanAir operating in developing countries such as these would definitely be hugely beneficial to the people because not only do they get a wider choice to choose from, but this would also result in lower flights for them which is great all round and could not have been achieved had RyanAir never became an MNC. Employment Employment is another factor that would definitely be affected by RyanAir operating in developing European countries and in a very positive way. One of the factors that possibly block developing countries from reaching their full potential is unemployment levels. Put very simply, RyanAir operating in countries like these would not only benefit RyanAir but also the countries themselves because with their introduction and existence across parts of the countries, then this opens up a whole new range of jobs which can only be taken by citizens of those countries without harming the position of anyone elses jobs. So in conclusion, RyanAir working in developing countries in no doubt benefits them in terms of employment simply because without threatening the jobs of those already working, it opens up positions for those who arent which brings down employment levels with that country(s). Other Businesses/Competition In terms of the developing countries as a whole, RyanAirs operations definitely do much to improve their economy and economies of scales in terms of flights, however their work in these countries would probably bring some worry to the existing airlines in these countries. A business that operates in a monopoly market has a much greater chance of success because as they are the only business that provides that certain product/service, then they have no risk of losing customers or a change in demand however as competition increases and similar businesses in the same field begin to enter that market, than a business moves further and further away from the monopoly market they crave to be involved in. For example, Poland is a developing European nation and one of the countries in which RyanAir carries out its operations so for a polish airline such as LOT which has been one of Polands leading airlines for many years, this brings much negative news and disadvantages because now they have the added pressure/threat of holding off Europes leading low fare airline to retain their strong customer base. However, in turn this may cause them to act in a more efficient and productive manner in order to ensure that all customers are tempted to remain with them and if this is the effect that RyanAir will cause on developing countries airlines than that it is extremely positive for those countries and their economies however very negative for already existing airlines within that country. However, in turn I believe that this is more valuable to developing countries as opposed to already developed countries because the sign of a strong economy/country is healthy business competition which would help any country in terms of development so the existence of RyanAir within Eastern European developing nations can definitely help contribute towards this. The Environment As organisations enter other countries they may have a significant effect on the environment. Some multi-nationals have been heavily criticised for the social cost of their activities. A particular criticism that has come from MNCs entering is that multi-nationals employ double standards in their activities/operations which is a big concern to RyanAir because it could potentially damage the good image it has build for itself across Europe over the years. A concern is that MNCs may transfer or pass some of their manufacturing operations to economies that do not have such strict environmental rules and standards and so see it as an opportunity to effectively export pollution (in the case of RyanAir) from richer countries onto poorer countries, e. . Germany to Macedonia. This would be an idea used to possibly avoid the complications and protests that would come from polluting richer countries as this is where it would be much more noticed by environmentalists and so if RyanAir were to be caught being involved activities such as these. It would not only completely tarnish their image as a friendly airline but it would also completely destroy the trust built up by passengers, especially those in the environments which have been affected. Assessing the Impact on Developed Host Countries (RyanAir) Just like I did so whilst explaining the impact that RyanAir has on less developed/developing countries, I will now do the same but instead explain the impact it has on already highly developed countries. RyanAir limits its operations to all of Europe and because of this they work in many developed countries (1st World countries) mainly coming from Western Europe such as England, Spain, France, Portugal, Germany, Italy and of course their parent country The Republic of Ireland and so I will now discuss how the existence of RyanAir working in these parent countries affects them. Employment Unemployment is a situation that arises everyone despite and will always exist, in some countries more so than others but nevertheless it will also be a global problem. As I described earlier, the existence of RyanAir in developing countries is probably more important and valuable to them than it is to developed countries in terms of employment because even though RyanAir operating in both creates jobs in both sets of countries, fuller employment in developing countries would contribute to them developing quicker which of course is more of a priority to them then already developed countries. However, after completing some secondary research I found that most of the higher unemployment levels throughout Europe come from the more developed countries and so in the sense of helping to banish this problem, RyanAir would definitely contribute maybe not much but their need for workers would be high.

Data Analysis And Interpretation Example

Data Analysis And Interpretation Example Data Analysis And Interpretation – Coursework Example Current financial crisis around United s Affiliation Current financial crisis around United s There are various factors that have led to the current financial crisis of United States and have caused a severe recession in the entire economy. The problems includeFall of the rate of profit: In the recent decades the rate of profit of the entire economy has been declining significantly. In accordance to the Marxist theory, there is reduced business investing and economic growth leading to unemployment, higher inflation and lower real wage.Attempt to restore the rate of profit: The capitalists are trying to restore the profit rate to its earlier and higher levels by increasing the general prices of commodities causing a reduction of real wages and retirement pension benefits as companies strive to maintain their budgeted cost and profit. Workers have been forced to work harder and faster on jobs and others been laid off to increase the profit and rate of profit. It is devastating because the economic growth is achieved at the expense of the workers (Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (US), 2011).Failure to examine the credit worthiness of borrowers: With the new mortgages securitization system, the appraisal of credit risks and worthiness of the mortgage customers is ignored because the mortgage –based securities are complicated. The system consists of thousands of the mortgages making examination of credit risks tedious task. However, the assessment is done on bond rating, which is not efficient as it is mainly intended to make more money on processing fees.The burst of the housing bubbleThe general housing prices stopped increasing and instead it has been declining. This has reduced the value of the securities linked to real estate pricing. Therefore, the house owners are unable to service their mortgage rates. As a result, mortgages have increased sharply due to delinquencies and defaults (Calverley, 2009).Search for the new borrowers: In an attempt to re store the rate of profit, capitalists are spending their much income on luxury consumption in order to find low-wage areas of other continents to invest instead of expanding businesses in their own countries. This has contributed to the financial speculative bubble as employment continues downsizing in their countries.Bankruptcy: Most companies are declaring bankruptcy in accordance to bankruptcy provision in chapter 11 that allow them to remain operating and renegotiate their obligations. As result, workers get exploited especially when these companies cut down their wages and other benefits (Robinson, 2012).There are many ways of serving the greater good that can be used to support the non-profit organization. First and foremost, one may decide to seek fiscal sponsorship instead of starting a non-profit organization of your own. This will help in applying for grants and receive donations prior registration as a tax free organization (Landskroner, 2002).If there is a non-profit org anization with similar interest as yours, volunteer can join the group to work together. This will help gain experience, learn and have real ideas on how to manage your organization in the future. A person may also decide to form or a charitable group to help needy. Charity can be a great away to support non-profit organization in the country.Opting to set up a donor-advised fund may be another alternative since one will be able to make grants to charitable causes of your choice. The small young foundations without difficulties can be formed by setting up these donor –advised funds. After attaining the social goals, one can become a social entrepreneur by starting a non-profit social venture with an objective to contribute your profits to charity.ReferencesCalverley, J. (2009). When bubbles burst surviving the financial fallout. London: Nicholas Brealey Pub.Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (US). (2011). The financial crisis inquiry report: final report of the National Comm ission on the Causes of the Financial and Economic Crisis in the United States. Washington, DC: Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission.Landskroner, R. (2002). The non-profit managers resource directory. New York: Wiley.Robinson, J. (2012). Bankruptcy of our nation: your financial survival guide. Green Forest, AR: New Leaf Press.

5 Steps for Balancing Chemical Equations

5 Steps for Balancing Chemical Equations Being able to balance chemical equations is a vital skill for chemistry. Heres a look at the steps involved in balancing equations, plus a worked example of how to balance an equation. Steps of Balancing a Chemical Equation Identify each element found in the equation. The number of atoms of each type of atom must be the same on each side of the equation once it has been balanced.What is the net charge on each side of the equation? The net charge must be the same on each side of the equation once it has been balanced.If possible, start with an element found in one compound on each side of the equation. Change the coefficients (the numbers in front of the compound or molecule) so that the number of atoms of the element is the same on each side of the equation. Remember, to balance an equation, you change the coefficients, not the subscripts in the formulas.Once you have balanced one element, do the same thing with another element. Proceed until all elements have been balanced. Its easiest to leave elements found in pure form for last.Check your work to make certain the charge on both sides of the equation is also balanced. Example of Balancing a Chemical Equation ? CH4 ? O2 → ? CO2 ? H2O Identify the elements in the equation: C, H, OIdentify the net charge: no net charge, which makes this one easy! H is found in CH4 and H2O, so its a good starting element.You have 4 H in CH4 yet only 2 H in H2O, so you need to double the coefficient of H2O to balance H.1 CH4 ? O2 → ? CO2 2 H2OLooking at carbon, you can see that CH4 and CO2 must have the same coefficient.1 CH4 ? O2 → 1 CO2 2 H2OFinally, determine the O coefficient. You can see you need to double the O2 coefficient in order to get 4 O seen on the product side of the reaction.1 CH4 2 O2 → 1 CO2 2 H2OCheck your work. Its standard to drop a coefficient of 1, so the final balanced equation would be written:CH4 2 O2 → CO2 2 H2O Take a quiz to see if you understand how to balance simple chemical equations. How to Balance a Chemical Equation for a Redox Reaction Once you understand how to balance an equation in terms of mass, youre ready to learn how to balance an equation for both mass and charge. Reduction/oxidation or redox reactions and acid-base reactions often involve charged species. Balancing for charge means you have the same net charge on both the reactant and product side of the equation. This isnt always zero! Heres an example of how to balance the reaction between potassium permanganate and iodide ion in aqueous sulfuric acid to form potassium iodide and manganese(II) sulfate. This is a typical acid reaction. First, write the unbalanced chemical equation:KMnO4  Ã‚  KI  Ã‚  H2SO4  Ã¢â€ â€™Ã‚  I2  Ã‚  MnSO4Write down the oxidation numbers for each type of atom on both sides of the equation:Left hand side: K 1; Mn 7; O -2; I 0; H 1; S 6Right hand side: I 0; Mn 2, S 6; O -2Find the atoms that experience a change in oxidation number:Mn: 7 → 2; I: 1 → 0Write a skeleton ionic equation that only covers the atoms that change oxidation number:MnO4- → Mn2I- → I2Balance all of the atoms besides the oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H) in the half-reactions:MnO4- → Mn22I- → I2Now add O and H2O as needed to balance oxygen:MnO4- → Mn2 4H2O2I- → I2Balance the hydrogen by adding H as needed:MnO4- 8H → Mn2 4H2O2I- → I2Now, balance charge by adding electrons as needed. In this example, the first half-reaction has a charge of 7 on the left and 2 on the right. Add 5 electrons to the left to balance the charge. The second half-re action has 2- on the left and 0 on the right. Add 2 electrons to the right.MnO4- 8H 5e- → Mn2 4H2O2I- → I2 2e- Multiply the two half-reactions by the number that yields the lowest common number of electrons in each half-reaction. For this example, the lowest multiple of 2 and 5 is 10, so multiply the first equation by 2 and the second equation by 5:2 x [MnO4- 8H 5e- → Mn2 4H2O]5 x [2I- → I2 2e-]Add together the two half-reactions and cancel out species that appear on each side of the equation:2MnO4- 10I- 16H → 2Mn2 5I2 8H2O Now, its a good idea to check your work by making sure the atoms and charge are balanced: Left hand side:  2 Mn; 8 O; 10 I; 16 HRight hand side:  2 Mn; 10 I; 16 H; 8 O Left hand side:  Ã¢Ë†â€™2  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚  10  16  Ã‚  4Right hand side:  4

Entrepreneurship Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Entrepreneurship - Dissertation Example The study has also provided market and industrial analysis and concluded that diesel repair business is a viable business. The study also advises the entrepreneur to invest in bio-diesel as an additional line of business as a way of diversifying the venture. Introduction Pursuit of an entrepreneurial dream starts with a viable dream. Once a new idea is conceptualized and a business plan is drawn and decision made concerning the legal structure, basic tactics such as pursuing an international opportunity or starting a new business venture, and financing issues, one can then embark on the entrepreneurship journey. For most people who venture into entrepreneurship, they prefer a new business rather than already existing business opportunities (Reuvid 2008, p. 16). Some people begin with a desire to begin a business and then look for an idea while others start by having an exciting idea and then consider entrepreneurship. However, there are basic issues that one must consider when consid ering an entrepreneurial venture, one of them is finances, industry concerned, legal issues and potential risks and rewards involved. It is thus important for entrepreneurial to consider various things that would boost or affect their success in the pursuit of small businesses. Entrepreneurship refers to the undertaking of innovations, or business acumen with the aim of transforming the innovations into useful economic goods. The undertaking may result in a new business or new organization. Entrepreneurial activities differ substantially depending on the conceptualized business idea and they range from solo business projects to major undertakings that create job opportunities (Reuvid 2008, p. 16). This study looks into the various key issues that require consideration before starting a new entrepreneurial venture. The study considers the Starting of a Diesel Repair Company in Southwest Virginia as an individual business. The study therefore looks into the various risks and rewards t hat are related to owning such a business, the personal attributes that would be critical in pursuit of the venture and the legal aspects and issues that must be addressed including licensing, and other legal requirements. The study will also explore the local business conditions within the industry involved and the market to examine some of the factors that influence the successfulness of the business. The study is relevant to people who are in pursuit of entrepreneurship and students who would wish to start new business but have not yet developed the relevant skills. Important attributes in entrepreneurship Most successful entrepreneurs demonstrate certain personal attributes such as dedication, creativity, flexibility, determination, dedication, passion, leadership, and self-confidence. Creativity is a spark that drives development of new services and products and pushes for improvement and innovation. Creativity allows for continuous learning, thinking beyond prescribed formulas and questioning. Determination is a strong desire to attain success and it includes ability to continue pursuing even after rough times and persistence. It also persuades entrepreneur to remain motivated and not necessarily by money gained from the business venture. Dedication motivates entrepreneurs to work hard and drive their ideas and plans. Flexibility refers to the entrepreneur’s ability to take a swift move in response to change in market needs. Leadership is the capacity and ability to set goals, creates rules, and ensures follow-through, and accomplishment of the established goals (Mariotti & Glackin, 2011, p. 63). Self-confidence rises from thorough planning since effective planning

Counseling Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Counseling Report - Essay Example Starting therapy: They both said that they were happy in their marriage. They both agreed that they tend to look at some things differently, which can cause strain between them, but they also said that it was their differences that had drawn them to each other in the beginning. Narrative Summary of Session: The couple sat side by side during therapy. Mrs. Smith kept looking down at her hands instead of at me, but when her husband talked she always turned her head to look at him. Mr. Smith’s eyes remained locked with mine. He appeared self-confident and very comfortable with himself, unlike his wife. When his wife talked Mr. Smith did not turn his head to look at her, but he did respond to some of her statements which indicated that he had been listening closely to her. for five years. Mrs. Smith spoke of the age difference between she and her husband. She is two years older then Mr. Smith, but in terms of experience she feels younger than he does. I asked her what she meant by that. Mr. Smith did not speak up for his wife, rather he looked at her briefly before turning to stare at me and waited for her to respond to my question. Mrs. Smith said that she was a virgin when she met Mr. Smith and he was not. In fact, she admits that she knew he had quite a bit of experience with women. She also mentioned that Mr. Smith traveled a lot in his twenties to Europe and throughout the United States. Although Mrs. Smith has traveled, it has not been to the extent that Mr. Smith has. She admitted that Mr. Smith has more self-confidence in himself than she and people seemed more drawn to him as opposed to her. She describes herself as introverted, her

Texting While Driving Essay Example for Free

Texting While Driving Essay How many people text behind the wheel of their vehicle? Can we relate to the following story? Jaci Lemons* is driving down the street, headed to school. The 17 year old driver is texting another friend. As she looks down to read the incoming text, Jaci veers off to the right and crashes head-on into the back of a parked vehicle. She is taken to the hospital, but after brief examination by the attending ER doctor, Jaci is released. Thankfully, the only thing bruised is her pride, and her pocketbook. Missouri should make texting while driving illegal for all drivers, not just the drivers aged 21 and under. Missouri has passed a state law, on Aug. 28, 2009, that prohibits drivers 21 years of age or younger from sending or reading a text while driving. While that is a great start, it isnt enough. Drivers across the country have been seen in their vehicles doing all sorts of dangerous, weird, and downright strange things while driving. Watching a DVD movie (really), dressing, putting on makeup, eating, texting, etc; but texting is what is causing legislatures some concern here in Missouri. The problem is we spend so many hours behind the wheel that seemingly, we are driving on auto pilot. (Have you ever driven a while and then could not remember any of it?) Young people will be forced to at least keep their fingers off their keyboards while they drive,said Leanna Depue, director of Highway Safety or the Missouri Department of Transportation. The law is a small step toward counteracting some of the distracted driving that causes crashes in Missouri. And, according to a recent study by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, texting while driving is the leading cause of traffic crashes in Missouri, as well as across the country. 80% of crashes involve driver distraction; mainly that texting is the number one thing that distracts motorists attention while driving. Half of all teen drivers say they text while driving. HALF. Its almost unthinkable to realize so many drivers dont have their eyes on the road. Couple that with the sobering fact that most cars on Americas roadways are traveling approximately 65 to 70 miles  per hour. According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, statistics show that teenagers have the most problems texting while they are driving, probably because they text more than anyone else and send longer texts than their adult contemporaries. Some teens can very easily burn through a thousand minutes of texting in no time. Twenty-three other states, along with Missouri, have already made texting while driving illegal. While texting while driving a car should not be legal in any case, the law in Missouri allows drivers over the age of 21 to text while they are driving. Motorists in some states are allowed to use a cell phone while they drive, as long as its hands-free. Most states already have laws against talking on the cellphone and driving; however, what doesnt make any common sense at all is allowing those over the age of 21 to text and drive while banning those under 21 to do so. Take for instance, 38 year-old Donald Rios*. One afternoon, while traveling to another town, he was texting a co-worker about picking up some 4 by 6s for their job site. In the meantime, traffic was slowing because a farmer was burning his fields next to the interstate. Donald Rios looked up to see that traffic was nearly at a standstill, and he could not stop in time. He rear-ended the back of another vehicle, and in turn, a semi rear-ended him, causing his truck to cave in like an accordion. Subsequently, Rios lost his life in the accidentall because of his inattentiveness to the road ahead. Legislation encouraging laws which ban texting have also been encouraged at the federal level with proposals suggesting that any state who didnt ban texting could risk losing federal highway funding. Missouri is the 23rd state to ban texting while driving, but is 1 of 9 to single out a particular age group. The fine for texting while driving under Missouris new law is $200. Senator Ryan McKenna sponsored the bill. An insurance industry study has revealed that accidents increased in 3 of 4 states that has laws prohibiting texting while driving. The study, prepared by Highway Loss Data Institute, says it looked at accident statistics from insurance claims in four states that have made it illegal for motorists of any age to text while driving, as well as nine states with no, or limited  bans; in three states, accidents increased dramatically after the bans passed. Those were California, Louisiana and Minnesota . So, how does law enforcement actually catch you texting while driving? How can they tell if you were texting if you dont have the phone in plain view? Heres how: If your phone is destroyed in an accident, the phone company has a log of all texts and calls, which are also logged with the exact date and time. Phone companies keep a log of text histories just like a computer does of websites and pages. Please dont text (or do other distracted hazards) and drive. Your life, as well as others lives depends on it.

A Child Called It By Dave Pelzer :: Free Essay Writer

A Child Called â€Å"It† By:David Pelzer I chose the book, The Child Called â€Å"It† because one of my friends told me about the book. The whole story line caught my attention. I was amazed at what was going on in this boy’s life. This book, a true story, is very emotional. The title relates to the book because his mother calls the boy, David Pelzer, â€Å"It†. She does not call him by his real name. His mother treats him like he is nothing but an object. Also, I think the title fits well because it catches people’s attention and gives a clue what the book is about.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The author is attempting to teach the readers that no one should treat people this badly. David is an innocent child and does not deserve his bad childhood. David does not even do anything wrong, and his mother continued to treat him like an object. Pelzer succeeded in telling how cruel the mother is. He also teaches that people can be cruel to each other, and that it is important to teach people that kindness can go a long way. The whole book discusses his childhood. Pelzer wrote some sequels to tell the rest of his child life for the interested readers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The story begins when he was first treated badly, in the 1960’s. His mother was a good mother until David’s father and mother started drinking. Its mother changed drastically from the alcohol drinking. The story begins in the kitchen of his house when he is doing his chores. His mother has a time limit on how fast he should do the dishes. If he does not accomplish the dishes in that amount of time, he does not get supper. In addition to the hunger, he receives a beating. The setting is very effective because the reader gets into the story. The setting also prepares you for what the mother does in the future.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The main characters are David, his mother, and father. David, the abused child, cannot escape his mother’s punishments. David’s mother is a drunken, abusive mother that refers to her child as â€Å"It†. David’s father is caring and understanding, but cannot help David escape. The mother and father drastically change after the alcohol abuse. David also changes in his attitude towards his parents. At first, David cares that his mother treats him badly. After awhile, he doesn’t care and becomes apathetic.

Three Day Road: Character Development

The two main characters in the novel â€Å"Three Day Road† by Joseph Boyden; Xavier Bird and Elijah Weesageechack, have many key differences that are illustrated throughout the novel. Xavier is reserved and visceral, while Elijah is self-assured and talkative. Xavier was raised by his Aunt Niska for the Majority of his childhood, opposed to how Elijah was raised in Moose Factory by nuns at a residential school. These factors hold an important responsibility on their personalities and the way that they think and make decisions. The three key differences between them that are paramount to the story and the themes of the novel are; firstly their respect for their Oji-Cree culture, secondly their respect and love for human life, and lastly their personalities. The differences in their personalities create positive chemistry back in their homeland of Canada, but when they are sent to Europe to fight in World War One, their relationship is put to the test. An important difference between Elijah and Xavier is the difference in their respect for their Aboriginal culture. Respecting their Oji-Cree culture is paramount to Xavier, while it is much less important to Elijah. An example of Xavier’s close association with his aboriginal culture can be seen through the following quote, â€Å"All of them stare down at me. I look up, sitting cross-legged with one of the horses sprawled beside me, its head on my lap. I look like I’ve been painted red. The smell of blood is heavy. It covers the wooden walls, the floor, the straw upon the floor. Elijah sees that one of my hands rests on the floor with my skinning knife in it. The horse’s neck gapes open along its big artery. (Page 189) This example shows Xavier’s connection to his aboriginal culture because having respect for animals is a major part of the Oji-Cree morals. In this exact scene Elijah was willing to shoot the horses, which shows a lack of respect for the animal, which goes against the morals of his aboriginal heritage. A second key example of how Xavier and Elijah differ when it comes to their aboriginal culture is seen through Elijah’s willingness to assimilate into European culture. In the novel Elijah states, â€Å"â€Å"Jolly good night for a little snooping, eh, Thompson? Elijah says. Thompson shakes his head at the words, and his teeth are white almost to a glow. â€Å"You do a better British accent than a Brit†, he says. † (Page 137) Elijah’s readiness to develop an English accent is in stark contrast to the fact that Xavier refuses to assimilate into the European culture. The third example of how Xavier and Elijah are different in the way they treat their aboriginal heritage is seen when the two of them are on their way to Toronto and they sell their canoe to get some extra money so they can afford new clothes. These new clothes are a necessity because they need to blend into their new environment to a certain extent. The following quote depicts the moment perfectly, â€Å"â€Å"When Elijah strolls out, I laugh. He has chosen a black suit and stiff, high white collar. In the mirror he looks like a preacher. This appeals to Elijah† (Page 142). In the scene, it is obvious that Xavier purchases his clothing out of necessity, while Elijah purchases his new clothes because it is appealing to assimilate into the new Canadian culture they are about to be immersed within. The most important part of the quote is the final sentence, which states, â€Å"This appeals to Elijah†. The fact that it appeals to him proves that he has interest in being assimilated into the Canadian society. Through the example presented it is blatant to see that Xavier has respect for his Oji-Cree culture, while Elijah has a lack of respect for it. A second example of how Elijah and Xavier differ is seen through their different views of brutality and respect towards other people’s lives. Xavier has a lot of respect for humans and their lives and due to this he kills out of necessity. On the other hand, Elijah enjoy killing humans and does it for the sake of sport. A perfect example of how Xavier and Elijah differ in regards to the respect of human lives is seen in the subsequent quote, â€Å"I jump to my feet before I know that I do it and approach Elijah with balled fists. Then I find myself reaching for my knife. But what he said makes me gag and I kneel down and stick my finger down my throat. The contents of my stomach come out in a slimy glob†. Page 310) This example highlights the fact that Xavier isn’t even willing to joke about eating German citizens, while Elijah doesn’t only find it funny he can’t understand why Xavier would take it so incredibly seriously. Elijah’s lack of respect for the people he kills shows a vicious brutality that is not seen in Xavier Bird. A second example of how Xavier and Elijah’s personali ties contrast can be seen through Elijah’s thirst to kill people. Elijah’s obsession over carnage can be highlighted in the following excerpt, â€Å"In the long hours of hunting Elijah tries to understand what is growing on him. He talks to me about this through the nights we spend out in the damp and mud. Mist rises from craters and swirls in the stink. In the end, the answer that comes is simple. Elijah has learned to take pleasure in killing† (Page 283). This quote is an incredible example of Elijah’s brutality because it is not only seen through his actions, but also his thought process. It proves that Elijah is not just killing for necessity he has actually gone mad. This highlights the difference between the two characters because Xavier strictly kills so he can survive through the war. The final exemplar in regards to Brutality and respect for human life can be emphasized by the connection that the two main characters have with their comrades. The following quote accentuates this fact, â€Å"He opens his eyes and looks up at Elijah. Elijah raises the wood in both hands and swings it down hard as he can onto Grey Eyes’ forehead† (Page 340). This exemplar distinctly shows the variance in Elijah’s connection with his comrades in comparison to Xavier relationship with his comrades. Xavier doesn’t have the ability to speak as well as Elijah, but he has a much stronger emotional connection with the people he fights with. When looking at Elijah, it undisguised that he doesn’t have a strong emotional connection with any of his comrades and if there is connection at all it is strictly to use them. Elijah’s closest friend in the war other than Xavier was Grey Eyes and he was willing to kill him so he could get away with the crimes he had committed. In conclusion, Xavier puts his comrades and the people he is fighting against in high regard and has a serious respect for them, while Elijah just wants to eliminate every problem that confronts him; he doesn’t care how he does it. The third and final example between the two characters that has a major effect on the story and the key themes of the novel are their personalities. As stated in the opening paragraph, Xavier is reserved and visceral, while Elijah is self-assured and talkative. Xavier was raised by his Aunt Niska for the Majority of his childhood, opposed to how Elijah was raised in Moose Factory by nuns at a residential school. These differences in upbringing play a distinct role in how the two of them make decisions, and how closely they hold onto their aboriginal culture. It is clear that the chemistry of their friendship works in the setting of the Northern Ontario woods, but it fails to follow through when they fight in World War One. An example of a difference between the two characters is seen in the way that Xavier is much more a quiet character, he doesn’t have much to say because his English isn’t very strong. A subtle yet important example of this is seen in the ensuing quotation, â€Å"†So you’re an Indian, then? † he asks. I nod. â€Å"You’re pretty short for an Indian, ain’t ya? The others laugh. † (Page 23) Xavier’s trouble with the English language is highlighted in the excerpt because all he does is nod. This makes life in Europe incredibly awkward for Xavier. This is in blatant contradistinction to Elijah because he thrives in this type of situation. Elijah’s verbose nature can be examined in the following passage, â€Å"He began talking this way to get the others to laugh, but he likes it now. Makes him feel respectable. He told me there’s a magic in it that protects him. (Page 137) Elijah’s ability to speak English fluently and to adapt the way he talks so that he has an English accent makes him much more popular with their comrades. Elijah’s upbringing has an effect on his appeal for European culture because instead of being brought up in the wilderness he is brought up in a residential school by nuns. Giving him a much different outlook on their culture than Xavier. The final example of how Elijah and Xavier differ in terms of personality is seen best in the following passage, â€Å"â€Å"I wish I could fly like that,† Elijah says to me in Cree. I wish I could fly like that, like a bird,† he repeats, staring up like a little boy. â€Å"Maybe a pilot will take me up sometime. † â€Å"Me, I’m happy to stay on the ground on my belly in the dirt,† I answer. â€Å"Thinking about falling from up there makes me sick†Ã¢â‚¬  (Page 164). This passage highlights the difference between their adventurousness. Elijah’s willingness to go up in a plane can be correlated with his courageousness in battle. Xavier’s contentment with being on the ground can be correlated with his timid nature socially and on the battlefield to a certain extent. This quotation proves that Elijah has a much more adventurous personality than Xavier. In cessation, Elijah and Xavier are incredibly different people with personalities that are nearly opposites and this ends up having an extreme effect on the plot and the themes of the story â€Å"Three Day Road†. In conclusion, the two main characters in the novel â€Å"Three Day Road† by Joseph Boyden; Xavier Bird and Elijah Weesageechack, have many significant differences that are illustrated over the course of the novel. As shown with the supporting points above, Xavier is reserved and visceral, while Elijah is self-assured and talkative. Xavier was raised by his Aunt Niska for the majority of his childhood, opposed to how Elijah was raised in Moose Factory by nuns in a residential school. These factors that affect their personalities have major impacts on the three main differences that lie between them. These differences are, firstly their respect for their Oji-Cree culture, secondly their appreciation and love for human life, and lastly how they carry themselves throughout the novel. The differences between them have a positive influence on their relationship when they are in Canada, but in Europe, these differences end up destroying their friendship.

Tax Structure in Pakistan

Tax structure of Pakistan TAX: To tax (from the Latin taxo; â€Å"I estimate†) is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer (an individual or legal entity) by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Some commentators have argued that â€Å"a direct tax is one that cannot be shifted by the taxpayer to someone else, whereas an indirect tax can be†. A income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses (corporations or other legal entities).When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate tax, corporate income tax, or profit tax. Individual income taxes often tax the total income of the individual (with some deductions permitted), while corporate income taxes often tax net income (the difference between gross receipts, expenses, and additional write-offs). A  sales tax  is a  consumption tax  charged at the  point of purchase  for certain g oods and services. The tax amount is usually calculated by applying a  percentage  rate to the taxable price of a sale.Most sales taxes are collected from the buyer by the seller, who remits the tax to a government agency. Sales taxes are commonly charged on sales of goods, but many sales taxes are also charged on sales of services. Ideally, a sales tax would have a high compliance rate, be difficult to avoid, and be simple to calculate and collect Income tax Pakistan:Law concerning taxation of income in Pakistan is stated in the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (the Ordinance) and the rules framed there under viz. Income Tax Rules, 2002 (the Rules).The Ordinance is a Central statute and is, therefore, applicable to the whole of Pakistan . Under section 4 of the Ordinance, income tax is imposed for each tax year at specified rates on every person who has taxable income for the year Tax Year in Pakistan:Tax year is a period of twelve months ending on 30th June and shall be denoted by t he calendar year in which the said date falls. Taxable Income in Pakistan:It is the total income of a person for a tax year reduced by the total of any deductible allowances, under the Ordinance, for the year.A person is entitled to a deductible allowance for the amount of any Zakat paid by the person in a tax year under the Zakat & Ushr Ordinance, 1980. Total Income:it is the sum of a person's income under each of the heads of income for the year. Heads of Income in Pakistan:Under the Ordinance income is classified into the following five heads: Salary, Income from property, Income from business, Capital gains and Income from other sources.The income of a person under a head of income shall be the total of the amount derived by the person in a tax year that are chargeable to tax under the head as reduced by the total deductions allowed under the ordinance to the person under that head. CORPORATE TAX RATES:Pakistan corporate tax rate is 35% of net taxable income of a company. For no nresidents, a 15% rate is levied on the gross amount of royalties or technical service fees, and 30% for other payments under the presumptive tax regime. Residence – An entity is resident if it is registered under the law of Pakistan or its management and control is situated wholly in Pakistan.Basis – Resident entities are taxed on worldwide business income; nonresidents pay tax only on Pakistan-source income. Taxation of dividends:A resident entity pays tax at a rate of 10% on dividend income regardless of whether the dividends are Pakistan or foreign source. A nonresident pays tax at a rate of 10% on Pakistan source dividends. PAKISTAN SALES TAX:The standard rate of Sales Tax in Pakistan is 16%. Taxable transactions Sales Tax is levied on the supply of goods and services, and the import of goods.Sales Tax Registration:is mandatory for manufacturers if turnover exceeds PKR 5 million; for retailers, if the value of supplies exceeds PKR 5 million; and for importers and other persons if required by another federal or provincial law Filing and sales tax payment:Sales Tax returns and payments must be made on a monthly basis. RGST:The RGST is actually plain old Value Added Tax (VAT) with a new name. Since the VAT has already had its fill of bad publicity, the government decided it would be a smart move to rename and repackage the new taxation system.The RGST is a taxation system that operates by an addition of 15 per cent tax on each and every value addition on taxable products Who is involved? The key players behind the proposed RGST are the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, United States Mission to the European Union   (USEU) and other assorted donors who are tired of paying their taxpayers money to cover up for the leaks in our taxation system. But this is not to say that we do not  need reforms in our taxation system. The International Monetary Organizations might be the catalysts towards the reforms just now, but in all reali ty, tax reforms have been long overdue.

Año fiscal en EE.UU. y efectos migratorios

Aà ±o fiscal en EE.UU. y efectos migratorios En Estados Unidos, el aà ±o fiscal del gobierno federal son los 12 meses comprendidos entre el 1 de octubre de un aà ±o y el 30 de septiembre del siguiente. Se le denomina FY por sus siglas en inglà ©s. Las fechas de inicio y final del aà ±o fiscal federal se fijaron en 1976 con el objeto de que el gobierno tuviese tiempo suficiente para presentar su presupuesto para el aà ±o siguiente y obtener su aprobacià ³n. Puntos Clave: Aà ±o fiscal Aà ±o fiscal federal : 1 de octubre al 30 de septiembre del aà ±o siguiente.Los estados establecen las fechas de sus aà ±os fiscalesLas empresas pueden decidir cules son los 12 meses de su aà ±o fiscal.El aà ±o fiscal federal afecta a visas, loterà ­as y green card. Aà ±o fiscal de los estados en EE.UU. Los 50 estados y los territorios de Estados Unidos pueden fijar las fechas de sus propios aà ±os fiscales para los asuntos dentro de sus competencias. En la actualidad, solo en el aà ±o fiscal Alabama y Michigan coincide con el federal de 1 de octubre a 31 de septiembre del aà ±o siguiente. Por otro lado, 46 estados inician su aà ±o fiscal el 1 de julio y lo finalizan el 30 de junio del aà ±o siguiente al igual que el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico. Finalmente, en Nueva York el aà ±o fiscal corre del 1 de abril al 31 de marzo y en Texas del 1 de septiembre al 1 de agosto. Aà ±o fiscal (fiscal year) y aà ±o impositivo (tax year) Para los negocios, el Servicio de Ingresos Internos (IRS, por sus siglas en inglà ©s) distingue entre aà ±o fiscal y aà ±o impositivo. El aà ±o fiscal para las empresas son 12 meses consecutivos cuyo dà ­a final coincide con el fin de un trimestre, es decir, 31 de marzo, 30 de junio, 30 de septiembre o 31 de diciembre. En la mayorà ­a de los casos es la propia empresa la que decide cundo empieza y finaliza su aà ±o fiscal y lo utiliza en su propia contabilidad. El aà ±o impositivo o de pago de impuestos (tax year) de una empresa puede coincidir con su aà ±o fiscal o con el aà ±o de calendario, es decir, del 1 al 31 de diciembre. Por otro lado, las fechas para presentar las planillas de impuestos (IRS filing) son las que fija el gobierno para todas las empresas, segà ºn su tipologà ­a. Aà ±o fiscal y estadà ­sticas migratorias Inmigracià ³n es una competencia del gobierno federal de Estados Unidos, por esta razà ³n todas las estadà ­sticas se computan teniendo en cuenta su aà ±o fiscal. Por ejemplo, en el FY18 se aprobaron 236.526 visas de inmigrante en la categorà ­a de familiares inmediatos. Esto quiere decir que entre el 1 de octubre de 2017 y el 30 de septiembre de 2018 la cantidad citada de cà ³nyuges, padres, madres e hijos solteros menores de 21 aà ±os de ciudadanos estadounidenses obtuvieron la tarjeta de residente permanente por peticià ³n del ciudadano. El aà ±o fiscal se puede dividir en trimestres (Q, por su sigla en inglà ©s). El primer trimestre (Q1) comprende desde el 1 de octubre al 31 de diciembre y asà ­ sucesivamente hasta llegar al cuarto (Q4) de 1 de julio a 30 de septiembre. Por ejemplo en Q1FY18 las autoridades migratorias aprobaron 140.467 ajustes de estatus. Eso quiere decir que de 1 de octubre a 31 de diciembre de 2017 ese nà ºmero de extranjeros obtuvieron la tarjeta de residencia permanente por ese trmite. Aà ±o fiscal: là ­mites y retrasos en categorà ­as de visas El aà ±o fiscal tiene un gran impacto en los casos en los que se concede un nà ºmero fijo de una determinada categorà ­a de visas por aà ±o fiscal. Es lo que se conoce en inglà ©s como annual cap. Este problema del annual cap afecta tanto a algunas visas no inmigrantes como a algunos tipos de visas inmigrantes, por ejemplo: Visa H-1B para profesionales y modelos. Si bien hay importantes excepcionesVisas U para và ­ctimas de la violenciaVisado T para và ­ctimas de trfico humanoH-2A y H-2B para trabajos en agricultura y no cualificadosPeticiones de green card de ciudadanos para hijos solteros mayores de 21 aà ±os, hijos casados y hermanos y de residentes permanentes para sus cà ³nyuges e hijos solterosVisa EB-5 para inversionistasConcesià ³n de estatus de asilado o refugiado polà ­ticoLoterà ­a de visas de diversidad En los casos en los que el nà ºmero de solicitudes en una determinada categorà ­a de visa es superior al là ­mite fijado por aà ±o fiscal se pueden producir dos situaciones diferentes. En primer lugar, se producen retrasos, que pueden llegar a ser enormes por acumularse aà ±o tras aà ±o ms peticiones que visas disponibles, como es el caso de la visa U que tiene asignado un mximo de 10.000 visas por aà ±o fiscal y que lleva en estos momentos un retraso superior a tres aà ±os y medio para que USCIS decida sobre los primeros pasos de si aprueba el permiso de trabajo. Otro ejemplo de retrasos por esta causa se da en las peticiones familiares en las categorà ­as con là ­mites anuales. Las demoras pueden verificarse mes a mes en el boletà ­n de visas. En segundo lugar, se celebra una loterà ­a entre las solicitudes y se procesa la visa para quien gana. Es el caso, por ejemplo, de la visa H-1B para profesionales. En general funciona de la siguiente manera: Existe un là ­mite anual por aà ±o fiscal de 20.000 visas para los profesionales que estudiaron la maestrà ­a en EE.UU., otra de 65.000 visas para profesionales en general y, finalmente un cupo de 6.500 visas para à ºnicamente ciudadanos de Chile y Singapur. El 1 de abril se abre el plazo de presentacià ³n de solicitudes. Los seis aà ±os anteriores, a los cinco dà ­as ya habà ­a ms peticiones que visas disponibles y se cerrà ³ el plazo. A los pocos dà ­as se celebrà ³ la loterà ­a y quienes no la ganaron deben presentar de nuevo la solicitud, si asà ­ lo desean, al aà ±o siguiente. Cabe destacar que no todas las H-1B estn sujetas a là ­mites. Por ejemplo, cuando el patrocinador es un instituto investigador o educativo puede pedir las que necesite a lo largo del aà ±o. Adems, la administracià ³n del presidente Donald Trump est elaborando nuevas directrices y es posible que se anuncie la obligatoriedad de pre-registrarse. Aà ±o fiscal y fechas para presentarse a H1-B y loterà ­a de visas Con respecto a la visa H1-B la normativa vigente dice que las solicitudes pueden presentarse seis meses antes del inicio del aà ±o fiscal para el que se aplica. Excepto en los casos ya nombrados de excepciones en los que los solicitantes no estn sujetos al là ­mite anual, est ocurriendo que hay ms solicitantes de visa que nà ºmero de visas y asà ­ durante meses no se puede emitir ninguna nueva, hay que esperar al nuevo cupo con el nuevo aà ±o fiscal. Esto quiere decir que si un extranjero que aspira a una visa H-1B que no est exenta del là ­mite anual debe esperar al 1 de octubre, es decir, al inicio del aà ±o fiscal. Sin embargo, para obtenerla la empresa patrocinadora debe presentar los papeles 6 meses antes. Por ejemplo, para una visa del FY20 debe presentarse la solicitud el 1 de abril de 2019. Con respecto a la loterà ­a de visas para obtener la tarjeta de residencia, tambià ©n conocida como green card, el plazo para registrarse gratuitamente se inicia al comienzo del aà ±o fiscal, generalmente en torno al 3 o 4 de octubre, y finaliza un mes despuà ©s. Por ejemplo, para participar en la loterà ­a de visas (DV por sus siglas en inglà ©s) del aà ±o fiscal 2021 (DV21), el solicitante debe registrarse en la pgina oficial en octubre de 2019 hasta principios de noviembre de ese mismo aà ±o. Todo el proceso se demora para los ganadores hasta el 30 de septiembre de 2020 y ya podrà ­an disfrutar de su green card a partir del 1 de octubre de 2020, esto es, el aà ±o fiscal 2021. Este artà ­culo es meramente informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal para ningà ºn caso concreto.

Free sample - A Comparison of Life in the US and Life in the USSR in the 1960s. translation missing

A Comparison of Life in the US and Life in the USSR in the 1960s. A Comparison of Life in the US and Life in the USSR in the 1960sThe Soviet Union also known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), was a state based on socialism (Martin, 1995). This state existed on what was formerly the Russian Empire. In the 1960’s, this state had one communist Party and a planned economy. Nikita Khrushchev, the Soviet leader, led this state with dictatorship leading to economic depression, and political repression (Smitha, 2000). In the 1960’s, the United States of America’s President, Lyndon B. Johnson, led America to large-scale industrialization, egalitarianism and calmed political turbulence as Civil Activism raged. He ensured that the blacks and other minority groups had their civil liberties thus making America a democracy. During this time, America was a capitalist economy and could not tolerate Soviet’s communism. This essay explores how capitalism boosted the economy of America as communism and socialism ruined the economy of the Soviet Union. After World War 1, the capitalist economy of America got a boost from the sale of arms and other military equipment. It used the gains to build its military power and used it as a â€Å"sphere of influence† thus dividing Europe with an Iron Curtain (The Norton Anthology of American Literature, 2003). Eastern Europe embraced capitalism and thus aligned itself with U.S. while Europe’s Western Nations aligned themselves with the USSR and adopted communism and socialism. The U.S economy was market based. The price of products and services was dictated by the supply and demand curve. Economic growth saw the expansion of infrastructure, industries, and urbanization (Frieden, 2006). Suburbs emerged with the middle class transforming in search of better wages. In the education system, students were taught business management, critical thinking, and questioning authority. These educational foundations geared the emergence of successful multinational corporations that changed the business face of the world. In USSR, communism dictated that the people or the citizens should worship the leaders. The state of government was more of a police state where freedom is controlled or curtailed. This limitation to human freedom and basic rights led to decline in production from agriculture to the industry and consequently the economic decline. Socialism ensured that workers were organized to form cooperatives. They produce goods and services, the leaders take them and redistribute them to the people (The Norton Anthology of American Literature, 2003). This is what led to the slowdown of the USSR economy because the worker toils to produce and he or she is not motivated. The USSR economy was a planned economy. Price controls, state owned and controlled industries lost a lot of revenue because there was poor governance and little motivation. The education system was structured along the lines of communism. Students were taught to follow rules without questioning authority. This is what has largely contributed to the unsuccessfulness of Russian corporations because people do not want to question authority even when they see a problem. Because of this, life expectancy dropped, many people lived on less than a dollar a day, poor housing, and lack of good food made them a disillusioned lot (Martin, 1995). The USSR government could not tolerate America’s capitalism. They used socialism and communism as their â€Å"sphere of influence† and thus gained support from Europe’s Western Nations. In the 1960’s the economy of the U.S and that of the Soviet Union grew at almost the same rate-6-7 percent (Smitha, 2000). Both countries made economic gains that made them to be the world’s leading superpowers and producers of manufactured goods. The existence of two equally powerful nations led to strained relations and hostility. The main cause was competition for support from the emerging economies and third world countries. References Frieden, J. (2006). Global Capitalism: Its Fall and Rise in the Twentieth Century. New York,   W.W. Norton Company. Print. Martin, M. (1995). Soviet Tragedy: A History of Socialism in Russia. New York, Free Press.   Print. Smitha, E. F. (2000). End of the Cold War and the Soviet Union: The Soviet Economy to the mid-1960s. Macrohistory and World Report.

Motivaing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Motivaing - Essay Example This means that most furniture is not assembled by IKEA and the customer goes home to assemble it for themselves. There is a certain fulfillment in taking part in the creation of something. IKEA’s goal to mobilize customers â€Å"to do easily certain things they have never done before. Put another way, IKEA invents value by enabling customers’ own value-creating activities† (Normann & Ramirez, 1993). The appeal of â€Å"do-it-yourself† furniture has attracted troops of customers to IKEA, in all their branches the world over, necessitating the employment of highly skilled workers to meet their needs. These workers need to be trained to meet customers in accordance to IKEA’s values and with the competence expected of the company. Training people involves motivating them to perform at their best. How does IKEA do that? Alexander Kjerulf (n.d.) relates how in 2004, IKEA in Denmark took the initiative to give their entire checkout staff a 25% raise. IKEA has more of them than any other group and it meant a sizeable increase in total monthly overhead expenses. However, it was a business decision that made the checkout staff happy, and happy employees create results such as the following: (Kjerulf, n.d.) Although IKEA incurred a humongous expense with the implementation of the raise, it paid itself within six months. Analyzing why this worked for IKEA, Kjerulf gives three reasons. The first is that the raise obviously gave the staff a significant improvement in their standard of living. The recipients were the least paid in the company, so a 25% raise made a huge difference in terms of their quality of life. Secondly, the salary increase gave people recognition. IKEA acknowledged that they were the most important group of employees since they are the only employees customers are likely to talk to at the end of the sale because customers help themselves with the products anyway. This

College questionnaire Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

College questionnaire - Essay Example This is an indication that his hardworking and that he has a great quest for space exploration studies. The prize was not only reward to rewarding to him, but also to me and his mother. Camping in Greenland during the GNE is a good accomplishment since my son gathered more knowledge and developed some deeper understanding of aerospace exploration. This has also made the boy curious about other forms of aircraft and improvement of the jet modeling skills in him has been noted. One of the characteristics admirable about our son is the persistence he has about innovation. He has been keen in trying to always invent something new that others have not, and he is serious when going through texts and drawings about innovation.in addition, he has an insatiable desire to experiment and test every model he makes and inn all these experiences, we never cease to give him support. Are there any specific considerations you feel strongly about as your child compiles a college list (e.g. geographic location, size, setting, athletic or artistic opportunities, religious affiliation, financial aid)? I feel that it is important that the university to offer aerospace and space exploration studies so this helps him in developing a deeper level of this field. This is because I perceive that nurturing him in this area would shape his future career. Additionally, there is a high probability of increasing artistic abilities as well as the boy getting a financial scholarship. The University of North Dakota located in the United States and specifically at Grand Forks, North Dakota, and the University of Southern California located in Los Angeles, California. This is because these universities offer courses in aerospace sciences and engineering respectively. Traveling and adventure are some of our hobbies and when doing this, we get an opportunity to explore different environments and diverse cultures. Our

Spirituality in Nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Spirituality in Nursing - Essay Example Pragmatically though it is nurses on the ward, rather than staff who only visit occasionally, and often only when requested, who are best placed to deal with this part of holistic nursing care. This is especially so where life-threatening illness is involved and there is much one to one interaction between nurse and patient. Thompson in 1993 spoke of the way in which by maintaining a bond with a distressed patient   the nurse is making an act   'unconditional love'.Even if their own beliefs are different from those of the patient, by being both good communicators and listeners, nurses can be supportive. They are often providing spiritual care simply be allowing the patient the opportunity to express themselves about beliefs and spiritual matters. Nurses have been encouraged to care for the whole person as a spiritual being,   as well as biological and psychological beings, since the 1970’s and books appeared such those by Roper, Logan and Tierney and their ‘Element s of Nursing’ each edition of which includes a chapter about dying and such things as grief and bereavement.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Spirit is someone's soul, so spirituality would be focused on the self, but focused on the self in a manner in which they can understand it more deeply than just standard cognitive thinking about it, so religion might help you understand yourself in that "higher" manner. That is, it is almost like faith to believe in yourself like that, so it is like religion. ... They are often providing spiritual care simply be allowing the patient the opportunity to express themselves about beliefs and spiritual matters. Nurses have been encouraged to care for the whole person as a spiritual being, as well as biological and psychological beings, since the 1970’s and books appeared such those by Roper, Logan and Tierney and their ‘Elements of Nursing’ each edition of which includes a chapter about dying and such things as grief and bereavement. Definitions of Spirituality Mark Pettinelli – Spirit is someone's soul, so spirituality would be focused on the self, but focused on the self in a manner in which they can understand it more deeply than just standard cognitive thinking about it, so religion might help you understand yourself in that "higher" manner. That is, it is almost like faith To believe in yourself like that, so it is like religion. Laburn ( 1988) 'That which inspires in one the desire to transcend the realm of the material', Living Words of Wisdom:- You are surrounded by spirituality every day. The definition of spirituality is that which relates to or affects the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things. Spirituality touches that part of you that is not dependant on material things or physical comforts Dictionary Definitions of Spirituality There is any number of variations on the subject of spirituality. It is defined most often as the quality or state of being spiritual. this doesn’t get you much further on unless you then look up what spiritual means. This, however, can be defined as simply to do with the spirit. It then follows that one must first of all define spirit.  

Attitudes Of University Students In Lebanon Towards Homosexuality

Attitudes Of University Students In Lebanon Towards Homosexuality Recently, almost all cultures have witnessed increasing trends in homosexuality. As a result, more and more organizations protecting gay, lesbian, and bisexual rights have emerged. One factor that seems to affect the emotional and social development of gays and lesbians is the attitudes of society toward them (Bowen Bourjeois, 2001). Much research has been conducted since late 1970s focusing on the factors that affect heterosexuals attitudes toward gays and lesbians (Whitley, 1988). Gender, religion, education, as well as race are some of the factors that play a role in determining these attitudes (Whitley, 1988; Negy Eisenman, 2005; Landen Innala, 2002; Grapes, 2006). Studies conducted in the United States, Australia, Turkey, Hong Kong, Sweden and Canada have indicated that most attitudes towards gays and lesbians are negative in general (Negy Eisenman, 2005; Landen Innala, 2002; Hopwood Connors, 2002; Schellenberg, Hirt, Sears, 1999). It is suspected that the prevailing attitudes in Lebanon are similar to those in the countries mentioned earlier. However, because of the lack of concrete research on this topic in Lebanon, it is necessary that a study be conducted in order to investigate the attitudes towards gays and lesbians among university students in Lebanon. The purpose of this study was to determine the attitudes that students at universities in Lebanon have towards gays and lesbians. Since previous research have shown gender and choice of major to be of great importance in determining university students attitudes towards homosexuality, this study also compared the attitudes of male vs. female, as well as Social sciences and Art students vs. Natural sciences and Business students. Review of the Literature One of the main problems associated with homosexuality in the Middle East is the negative attitudes that Arabs have towards gay men and lesbians. These attitudes are further complicated by international politics which slow down social progress in Middle Eastern countries. As a result, strict Arab morality is imposed in these countries as a means of defense against Western trends that promote female nudity and homosexuality. However, these negative attitudes could not be generalized as homophobia because they are directly linked to political, social, religious and cultural issues (Whitaker, 2006). Contrary to what many people believe, the attitudes towards gay men and lesbians are rather negative even in western countries such as the United States, Australia, Sweden and Canada (Negy Eisenman, 2005; Landen Innala, 2002; Hopwood Connors, 2002; Schellenberg, Hirt, Sears, 1999). Previous studies on attitudes of undergraduate university students specifically indicate mostly negative at titudes, with fluctuations that depend on factors such as gender, education, religiosity, as well as, race (Whitley, 1988; Negy Eisenman, 2005; Landen Innala, 2002; Grapes, 2006; Jonathan, 2008). Because of the lack of empirical evidence on the attitudes in Lebanon towards gay men and lesbians, it is important that this study be conducted so as to set stable grounds for this issue. The purpose of this study was to measure the attitudes of undergraduate university students in Lebanon towards gay men and lesbians. Hopwood and Connors (2002) examined the attitudes of undergraduate students toward homosexuality at a university in Australia. The first hypothesis was that homophobic males were most likely to be religious and politically conservative. The second hypothesis stated that levels of homophobia would be more prevalent among business majors than humanities majors. The sample consisted of 104 students from two faculties; 58% were registered in a humanities class, while 42% were registered in a business class, and 65% of the sample was females. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire composed of three parts. The first part included The Heterosexual Attitudes to Homosexuals questionnaire which measured the attitudes of the participants toward issues such as befriending or social equality for homosexuals. The second part of the questionnaire measured the participants fear of AIDS/HIV with the use of the Fear of AIDS scale by Bouton et al. The third part involved the measurement of demographic variables intended to ascertain participants religiosity and political views. The results validated the hypotheses tested in this research. Fear of HIV/AIDS seemed to be the most powerful indicator of homophobia among men, with a correlation of 0.64. Gender was also a predictor of homophobia; males exhibited more negative attitudes towards homosexuals than women. The results also showed that religious individuals expressed more homophobia than nonreligious ones. Last but not least, academic major aided in predicting homophobia; as hypothesized, business majors expressed higher levels of homophobia and fear of HIV/AIDS than did the humanities students. In another similar study conducted by Schellenberg et al. (1999) at the University of Windsor in Canada investigated the attitudes of undergraduate university students toward gay men and lesbians. Comparisons were to be made on the basis of the participants gender, faculty, and year at university. One hypothesis was that participants enrolled in Arts or Social science faculties would have more positive attitudes than those enrolled in Science or Business faculties. Another hypothesis was that females were more likely to have positive attitudes than men toward gay and lesbian individuals. This studys sample consisted of 199 undergraduate students (101 males and 98 females) enrolled at the University of Windsor, who were hired so as to increase the chances that they would be enrolled in different faculties. Participants were asked general questions such as their year at college, their major, as well as their age and gender. Their attitudes were measured using the short form of Hereks Attitudes toward Lesbians and Gay men scale which was designed to yield a subscale which measures attitudes toward lesbians, and other that measures attitudes toward gay men. The results of this study indicated that attitudes toward gay men changed as a function of the students faculties; that is to say that students in the faculties of Arts or Social Sciences had more positive attitudes than those in the faculties of Business or Science. Moreover, gender and year at university had a big role; women had more positive attitudes as compared to men regardless of their year at university. However, although new male students held negative attitudes toward gay men, these attitudes improved with the years spent at university. As for attitudes towards lesbians, gender and faculty played little or no role in determining the attitudes. However, the attitudes became more positive with the time at university. Along the same lines, Negy and Eisenman (2005) studied the attitudes and affects of African American and White college students toward lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals. More specifically, this study aimed to investigate how enculturation and religiosity might control the attitudes toward lesbian, gay and bisexuals. Because of inconsistent findings in the past, no formal hypothesis was made. Previous studies regarding African Americans showed that they seem to be more probable than whites to both see homosexuality as incorrect and to support gay rights laws. As a result, this study aimed to investigate African American attitudes while considering variables which may influence homophobia such as culture, religiosity, and sociodemographics. The studys sample consisted of 77 African Americans (22 male, 48 female) and 143 non-Hispanic whites (38 male, 105 female) who attended a public university in Southeast U.S. 90% of the African Americans and 94% of the Whites were exclusively heterosexuals, and 89% of the African Americans and 76% of the Whites were Christian. In order to measure the three variables mentioned previously, several questionnaires were handed out to the participants. Questionnaires included a Demographic Sheet which inquires the age, gender, ethnicity, religious affiliation, and sexual orientation of the participants. It also inquired the level of parental education as well as the years of education of the participants parents so as to infer the socioeconomic status of each. Moreover, participants commitment to religion was assessed based on two measures; one of which is the frequency of church attendance, and the second includes reasons for believing in a religion. The third questionnaire was a Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding, constructed to measure social desirability. The fourth questionnaire was the Index of Homophobia by Hudson Ricketts which measured homophobia among the participants. A fifth questionnaire was the Heterosexual Attitudes Toward Homosexuality (HATH) which measured attitudes and beliefs regarding gay and lesbian individuals. Finally, a sixth questionnaire, African American Acculturation Scale, was handed out to the African American participants only to measure how much African American respondents were absorbed into a traditional African American culture. The results indicated that even though African American participants affective and attitudinal reactions to lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals may be more negative than those of White students, this difference faded when regularity of church attendance, religious dedication, and SES were considered. So for both, African Americans and Whites, the three variables church attendance, religiosity and SES served as predictors of homonegativity. Bowen and Bourgeois (2001) examined the attitudes toward lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals based on certain social psychology theories. They first hypothesized that having had more LGB acquaintances in the past would yield more positive existing attitudes. The second hypothesis was that respondents were more likely to rate their personal attitudes toward LGB more positively than their friends or typical students as a result of pluralistic ignorance. The third hypothesis predicted that students attitudes would change with regards to the residence halls (i.e students from the same residence hall would share the same attitude) based on the Dynamic Social Impact Theory. The last hypothesis stated that present contact with LGB individuals would yield more positive approaches regardless of the respondents past contact with LGBs. Questionnaires were sent out by mail to 240 undergraduate students in two residence halls (6 Floors in building A and 5 floors in building B), however only 109 students completed them (48 females and 51 males). The questionnaire included only a Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Attitudes questionnaire made of a 7 point Likert type scale. Respondents were inquired to provide three responses: the first about his/her attitude toward LGB, the second about his/her beliefs about how friends would respond, and third they had to rate how they thought the typical student would reply. Respondents were also asked about the number of previous LGB acquaintances, as they were asked to indicate how many openly LGB individuals resided in their residence halls and on their individual floors. The results of this study confirmed the hypotheses constructed at the very beginning. Respondents actually did represent themselves as having more positive attitudes towards LGB individuals than their friends and the typical student, proving the pluralistic ignorance theory. Moreover, consistent with the contact hypothesis, respondents who referred to as few as one or two explicitly LGB students in their residence halls or on their floor held considerably more positive attitudes than students who knew none. Some limitations of this study could be the small sample, the ethnic homogeneity of the respondents. Moreover, the low response rates could have been an indication of bias since it is possible that the students with more negative attitudes did not respond. In an interesting research article by Landen and Innala (2002), the effects of a biological explanation on attitudes towards gays and lesbians in Sweden were examined. The purpose of this study was to test whether attitudes towards homosexuals differed between people who supported the biological explanation and those who supported a psychological explanation. Comparisons were also to be made between the attitudes of men and those of women, as well as between an old age group and a young age group. A sample of 992 people was randomly selected from the National Registration and was sent questionnaires by mail. 668 out of the 992 people returned the questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of ten questions that covered the participants beliefs about the origin of homosexuality, the integration of homosexuals in the society as well as homosexual friendships. Participants ranged between 18 and 70 years of age, with the median age being 44 years. The results of this study supported previous findings that proposed that individuals supporting the biological explanation of homosexuality had more tolerant attitudes toward it (CITE). Moreover, the more participants were acquainted with gays and lesbians, the more liberal attitudes they held toward them. Also, the results of this study showed that women and the younger age group tended to have more positive attitudes towards homosexuals than those who believed in a psychological explanation of homosexuality. Out of the 668 people, a little more than half of them (51%) believed in a biological explanation, whereas the remaining 49% believed in a psychological explanation. This study supports theories of the prominence of positive attitudes among people who believed that homosexuality had a biological origin, as well as people who had more personal contacts with homosexuals (CITE). In an attempt to inspect the prevalent attitudes towards homosexuals among Turkish university students, Cirakoglu (2006) aimed to examine the students beliefs regarding the causes of homosexuality. The study also aimed to compare how participants attitudes varied towards the labels gay and lesbian. Finally, the attitudes of participants who had had previous social contact with homosexuals were measured. Cirakoglu (2006) hypothesized that the label gay would elicit the most negative attitudes, whereas the label lesbian would trigger more positive ones. And, in relation to previous studies, he hypothesized that participants who had prior social contact with a homosexual would have more positive attitudes than those who hadnt. Participants of this research included 334 private university students (140 women and 194 men) in Turkey. Students were given questions regarding their demographic information, as they were also given a 50-item scale for the causes of homosexuality and a 19-item attitude scale. When asked about previous contact with at least one homosexual, 41.82% of participants reported having had contact with a homosexual. The results of Cirakoglus study seemed to verify the hypotheses stated at the beginning. The label lesbian seemed to elicit more positive attitudes than did the term gay or homosexual. It seemed that the term gay triggered the most negative attitudes among the three labels (CITE). Moreover, men had rather negative attitudes towards homosexuals, unlike women who held more positive attitudes. As hypothesized earlier and in accordance to previous research, participants who reported having previous social contact with homosexuals held more positive attitudes than participants who reported no prior social contact. It is interesting to note that, participants who had no social contact with homosexuals seemed to believe that homosexuality stems from a psychological or physiological disorder; participants who reported prior contact, however, believed that homosexuality is a choice of lifestyle (CITE). Since South Africa became the fifth country to legalize homosexual marriages in 2006, Mwaba (2009) studied the attitudes and beliefs of South African students regarding homosexuality and same-sex marriages. Even though South African law protected its homosexual citizens rights and bans any sort of discrimination against them, the general attitudes of students remained negative. Mwabas sample was made up of 150 undergraduate students at a university in Western Cape in South Africa. These students were hired during a time of intense debate after the validation of homosexual marriages in 2006. The samples mean age was 18.3 years, 83% of which were females. Also, 68% of the sample students were Christians. An 18-item questionnaire was used to measure the attitudes toward homosexual marriages and homosexuality. The results signified rather conservative attitudes among the sample, as almost 44% thought that homosexuality should be socially unacceptable rather than acceptable in South Africa. However, when it came to granting homosexuals equal rights, 41% only believed that the government was right in doing so, with the majority of the sample (59%) opposed it. 37% thought there was nothing wrong in discriminating against homosexuals, and 71% indicated that they thought the marriage of two people of the same sex to be strange. But overall, those who believed that homosexual marriages should be legalized were almost equal to those who were against it (51% and 49% respectively). One of the factors that seems to affect peoples attitudes towards homosexuality is their level of education. In one of her studies, Grapes (2006) investigated the relationship between the level of education and the attitudes towards homosexuals and their rights. Grapes hypothesized that as the level of education increases, the attitudes towards homosexuals become more liberal. She also hypothesized, in accordance to literature, that females will have more tolerant attitudes than males. Grapes obtained data from the General Social Survey which was conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago (Grapes, 2006). Her two independent variables were gender and level of education, and her dependent variable was the attitudes toward gays and gay rights. The attitudes were measured by choosing four specific questions that address homosexuality in the General Social Survey (Grapes, 2006). The sample consisted of 740 participants. Consistent with previous studies, Grapes (2006) results prove that gender plays a big role in determining the attitudes toward gay rights and homosexuals. Females held more positive attitudes than did males. Moreover, Grapes established a multivariate relationship between level of education, gender and attitudes toward gay rights (2006). She found that males who had a degree lower than high school were 36% more inclined to be against equal rights for homosexuals. Whereas females with a graduate diploma are 28% more likely to be supportive of homosexuals rights than females with an education lower than high school (Grapes, 2006). Congruently, Herek (1988) used a sample of 405 students to study what contributes to heterosexuals reaction formation to gay and lesbian individuals. First, he wanted to determine how heterosexuals attitudes were affected by gender. Second, he inquired about the contribution of social psychological factors to the attitude formation toward homosexuals. Last, he questioned whether attitudes differ toward lesbians and gays men (Herek, 1988). Hereks sample included 405 students (226 females, 179 males) from six different universities in the United States. The participants presented information about their religious backgrounds and how often they attend religious services, as well as the number of their gay/lesbian acquaintances. An Attitude Toward Lesbians and Gays (ATLG) scale composed of a 20-item likert scale was developed by Herek (1988). The scale had two ten-item subscales: half of which measure attitudes toward lesbians, whereas the other half measures attitudes toward gay men. Hereks results (1988) proved that male participants held more negative attitudes than females on both the ATL (Attitudes Toward Lesbians) and ATG (Attitudes Toward Gays) scale, yet they held less negative attitudes toward lesbians. Hereks study also verified that attitudes toward homosexuals are influenced by participants loyalty to traditional gender and family values, as well as by the level of their religious commitments and previous experience with gay men and lesbians (Herek, 1988). Last but not least, and in accordance to the Pluralistic ignorance theory in Bowen and Bourgeois study (2001), participants who held negative attitudes were likely to presume that their friends had similar attitudes towards homosexuals. Likewise, attitudes of undergraduate university students toward gay men and lesbians were investigated in a study conducted by Engstrom and Sedlacek (1997). The study aimed to investigate whether heterosexual college students at a southeast university held negative attitudes toward gay men and lesbians. Moreover, the study investigated the type of situations in which negative feelings toward homosexuals were expressed (Engstrom Sedlacek, 1997). The studys randomly selected sample consisted of 224 heterosexual university students; half of which were males, and half of which were females. Engstrom and Sedlacek (1997) administered the SAS Sexual Orientation Survey to measure the students attitudes toward gays and lesbians. The survey contained a likert-type scale ranging from one to five; it consisted of ten statements that covered personal, social, and academic situations. Three different forms of the survey were produced and mailed to participants: one referred to student (with no specified sexual orientation), the second referred to Gay male student, and the third referred to lesbian student, (Engstrom Sedlacek, 1997). Engstrom and Sedlaceks study confirmed that male students attitudes were more negative toward gay men than toward lesbians. It seemed that participants displayed more intolerant attitudes in situations where they must interact with gay males in public. Moreover, despite the fact that women hold more negative attitudes toward lesbians, in this study, females had surprisingly more negative attitudes toward gay males (Engstrom Sedlacek, 1997). However, and despite the negative attitudes toward homosexuals, participants seemed to be infuriated at the thought of the physical assault of a homosexual. This study gives insight as to how and in what situations stereotypical attitudes could be formed and allows further implications for practice (Engstrom Sedlacek, 1997).