Heart of Darkness/Blood Diamond

Greed is the Root of All Evil Greed exists at the centre of evil on not only an individual level, but also that of a communal and global level. Contextually there is a superficial alteration in the stimulus (Ivory vs. diamond) for greed and of global awareness towards the issue, although in the century that separates Joseph Conrad’s exploration of colonial regime in his novella Heart of Darkness and Edward Zwick’s post-colonial film Blood Diamond, the values driving the major characters and factions from the different texts are comparably similar.In both texts, there are individuals showcasing major facets motivated by greed, obsessed with the stimulus that is presented in either century. In Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, the character ‘Kurtz’ is primarily stimulated by greed. His obsession with ivory was at an extreme where main character ‘Marlow’ refers to his physical appearance as â€Å"like a ball- an ivory ball† and as having a n â€Å"ivory face. † These respective simile and metaphors encapsulate how Kurtz had become gripped by ivory to the point where it was taking over his very being.This description that Kurtz is placed in is carried through to his dying moments where â€Å"The brown current ran swiftly out of the Heart of Darkness-Kurtz’s life was running swiftly, too†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This indirect juxtaposition links the ideas of Kurtz’s life with the Heart of Darkness, not being a physical location, but an internalised nature representing Kurtz. These links of the rapacious Kurtz to a being of pure immorality is an insight into the overtaken existence of greed within individuals of evil.In similarity, is ‘Colonel Coetzee’ from Zwick’s Blood Diamond. This individual has a lust for wealth, one so overbearing that it blinds him from the fact that he destroys masses of lives to achieve his personal benefit. A scene that best represents this mindless mass murder fo r a cause that results in selfish profit is the Colonel’s order from the helicopter, â€Å"I don’t give a damn who’s down there, kill them all! † A low angle close up shot of the centre framed helicopter is used, presenting it as an overpowering, menacing presence.The line itself poses an emphasis on the Colonel’s voracious motives, suggesting he would kill his friend, and main character ‘Danny Archer’, if it means his war is won and his seldom benefits are received. There is considered intertextuality between this quote and that of Kurtz from Heart of Darkness. At the complete loss of morality from Kurtz, a quote marks this points â€Å"Exterminate all the brutes. † These quotes juxtapose the two characters from the individual texts together and with it, their greedy purposes and malevolent natures, proving that the greed of an individual is the root of their co-existing evil.Greed driven corruption is also existential on a com munal level, both in Heart of Darkness and Blood Diamond. In Heart of Darkness, the Company is the centre of trade in the Congo, a seemingly legitimate industry, although with hidden voracious motives. â€Å"She talked about weaning those ignorant millions from their horrid ways-I ventured to hint that the Company was run for profit. † This understatement made by Marlow expresses the Company’s care, or lack of, for the natives of the Congo, but in fact they only care to exploit the natural resources.We are consistently hinted that their work isn’t â€Å"out there in the luminous estuary† but â€Å"within the brooding gloom. † These binary opposites are repeatedly used in the novella to separate the ideas of light and dark with good and evil respectively, an extreme use of irony that Conrad persists with throughout the book. This mindless exploitation is an example of how greed can negatively affect a community. The communal effects of evil driven b y rapacity in Blood Diamond, is displayed through the actions of the R. U.F, the Revolutionary United Front. Their turning of native children into child soldiers and other locals into slave labourers, marks their negligence to human life so that they can gain wealth from the diamond trade. A heavily symbolistic scene in the film is the celebration following the overtake of Freetown in Sierra Leonne by the R. U. F. The loud, scratchy music accompanying the low key lighting in contrast to the bright blurred flames creates a sense of chaos and lack of morality, emphasised by the fast cuts and camera movement.The chiaroscuro lighting on the character’s faces and the silhouettes juxtaposed to the bright fiery background symbolises their consummation by darkness. Several presentations of immoral acts are shown, dead bodies being strung, children consuming alcohol and drugs and the destruction of property, linking to the classical allusion of Dante’s Inferno, exemplifying poi ntless suffering and destruction. This, among other scenes, symbolises the complete carelessness for human life in the voracious scramble for Africa’s resources.Although in the century that separates the two texts, awareness has grown dramatically, the global scale of corruption due to acts of greed are present in both texts. In Heart of Darkness, the novella ends back aboard the boat with Marlow and his crew as they are â€Å"lead into the heart of an immense darkness. † The physical connotations of this quote is that the effects can be seen on the other side of the world in England, although ironically the Heart of Darkness doesn’t lie in both the Congo and the Thames but man himself, whose actions have a global effect; the actions of Kurtz. Upon the whole, the trade will suffer. I don’t deny there is a remarkable quantity of ivory-mostly fossil†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This quote demonstrates the global effect that Kurtz’s actions undertake, making a histo rical allusion to the fossil ivory that ended up in Siberia. This demonstrates the global effects that branches out from the corrupt actions of a greedy soul. In contrast, the global awareness to the situation in Blood Diamond was comparably increased to that of the nineteenth century, although the global effects of gluttony driven evil were evidently more severe. The third world is not a world apart† is an ironic statement represented by the heavily juxtaposed scenes between a G8 conference and the diamond fields of Sierra Leonne. The high key lighting of the conference opposed to the overcast lighting of the diamond fields along with the respective modern colour scheme and the dirty, unappealing colour scheme is contrasted with quick scene cuts to juxtapose the sheer difference between the two ‘separate worlds. ’ Although these two locations seem so distant, the effects are carried through from one to the other.The conflict diamonds reach the stores of the first world but â€Å"are not ours to steal in the name of comfort, corporations, and consumerism. † This captures the global effects that man’s greed enfolds, taking advantage of the actions of corruption for our own consumerism, or greed. So in the century that separates Joseph Conrad’s exploration of colonial regime in his novella Heart of Darkness and Edward Zwick’s post-colonial film Blood Diamond, there is sufficient evidence to remark that greed is the root of all evil in man, the effects spanning not only the heart of man but within its community and on a global scale.

Part Three Chapter VII

VII Up in the little white house that sat high above the town, Simon Price fretted and brooded. Days passed. The accusatory post had vanished from the message boards, but Simon remained paralysed. To withdraw his candidacy might seem like an admission of guilt. The police had not come knocking about the computer; Simon half regretted throwing it off the old bridge now. On the other hand, he could not decide whether he had imagined a knowing grin from the man behind the till when he handed over his credit card in the garage at the foot of the hill. There was a lot of talk about redundancies at work, and Simon was still afraid of the contents of that post coming to the bosses' ears, that they might save themselves redundancy pay by sacking himself, Jim and Tommy. Andrew watched and waited, losing hope every day. He had tried to show the world what his father was, and the world, it seemed, had merely shrugged. Andrew had imagined that someone from the printworks or the council would rise up and tell Simon firmly, ‘no'; that he was not fit to set himself up in competition with other people, that he was unsuitable and sub-standard, and must not disgrace himself or his family. Yet nothing had happened, except that Simon stopped talking about the council or making telephone calls in the hope of garnering votes, and the leaflets that he had had printed out of hours at work sat untouched in a box in the porch. Then, without warning or fanfare, came victory. Heading down the dark stairs in search of food on Friday evening, Andrew heard Simon talking stiffly on the telephone in the sitting room, and paused to listen. ‘†¦ withdraw my candidacy,' he was saying. ‘Yes. Well, my personal circumstances have changed. Yes. Yes. Yeah, that's right. OK. Thank you.' Andrew heard Simon replace the receiver. ‘Well, that's that,' his father said to his mother. ‘I'm well out of it, if that's the kind of shit they're throwing around.' He heard his mother return some muffled, approving rejoinder, and before Andrew had time to move, Simon had emerged into the hall below, drawn breath into his lungs and yelled the first syllable of Andrew's name, before realizing that his son was right in front of him. ‘What are you doing?' Simon's face was half in shadow, lit only by the light escaping the sitting room. ‘I wanted a drink,' Andrew lied; his father did not like the boys helping themselves to food. ‘You start work with Mollison this weekend, don't you?' ‘Yeah.' ‘Right, well, you listen to me. I want anything you can get on that bastard, d'you hear me? All the dirt you can get. And on his son, if you hear anything.' ‘All right,' said Andrew. ‘And I'll put it up on the fucking website for them,' said Simon, and he walked back into the sitting room. ‘Barry Fairbrother's fucking ghost.' As he scavenged an assortment of food that might not be missed, skimming off slices here, handfuls there, a jubilant jingle ran through Andrew's mind: I stopped you, you bastard. I stopped you. He had done exactly what he had set out to do: Simon had no idea who had brought his ambitions to dust. The silly sod was even demanding Andrew's help in getting his revenge; a complete about-turn, because when Andrew had first told his parents that he had a job at the delicatessen, Simon had been furious. ‘You stupid little tit. What about your fucking allergy?' ‘I thought I'd try not eating any of the nuts,' said Andrew. ‘Don't get smart with me, Pizza Face. What if you eat one accidentally, like at St Thomas's? D'you think we want to go through that crap again?' But Ruth had supported Andrew, telling Simon that Andrew was old enough to take care, to know better. When Simon had left the room, she had tried to tell Andrew that Simon was only worried about him. ‘The only thing he's worried about is that he'd have to miss bloody Match of the Day to take me to hospital.' Andrew returned to his bedroom, where he sat shovelling food into his mouth with one hand and texting Fats with the other. He thought that it was all over, finished, done with. Andrew had never yet had reason to observe the first tiny bubble of fermenting yeast, in which was contained an inevitable, alchemical transformation.

Marsden Threatened Rob Jr. with Being Thrown to Hell Research Paper

Marsden Threatened Rob Jr. with Being Thrown to Hell - Research Paper Example The tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress has three elements: outrageous conduct by the tortfeasor; conduct that causes severe mental anguish in the victim and; the mental anguish suffered by the victim because of such behavior. On the other hand, reckless infliction of emotional distress shares all the other elements as the intentional type except that there was no intent to cause the distress (Buckley 130). The element of â€Å"outrageous conduct† refers to behavior that is so outlandish or highly offensive as to result in the emotional distress of the victim. An example would be the case of Clifford v Hollander 6 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2201 (NY Civ CT 1980) where the defendant published a picture in a pornographic magazine and deliberately incorrectly identified it as the plaintiff, who was a freelance journalist. As a result, the plaintiff received obscene telephone calls from obviously disturbed individuals. In another case, Martin v Municipal Publications, 510 F. Supp. 255, 259 (ED Pa 1981), the defendant published a picture which he labeled as â€Å"closet transvestites who got stinking drunk.† In both cases, the court ruled that the actions of the defendants can be classified as â€Å"outrageous.† It is also important that in intentional infliction of emotional distress, the plaintiff should be able to prove that the conduct of the defendant was intentional and that he so behaved deliberately so as to cause mental anguish on the victim. In some cases, this element came into conflict with the First Amendment â€Å"freedom of speech† as what happened in the celebrated case of Hustler Magazine v Falwell 485 US 46 (1988), where a Protestant Minister brought an action against Hustler Magazine, which, as a parody, featured him as having an incestuous rendezvous with his mother in an outhouse. The Court turned down the plaintiff’s  argument on the ground that he was a public figure and therefore as such may not sue for intentional infliction of emotional distress unless he can prove its falsity or that it was done in reckless disregard for the truth.

Reflect on places and spaces that you are familiar with, whether in Essay

Reflect on places and spaces that you are familiar with, whether in your past or in the present - Essay Example But rarely do people in general put into context what Friedman and Douglas (1998) cite as space and rights dealt in the contemporary discussion of citizenship, which is vital in the urban formation; urban in a way that it is composed of people, space, and the built environment. They identified these rights as to voice, to differ and to humanly flourish as part of a worldwide social movement and a rising civil society. This essay shall try to point out parts of our built environment that has become a part of me as an individual and at the same time had impact on me. There are several night clubs in my area. Almost all of them look alike and are built alike, inside-out. There are of course slight variations, such as one was set on the second and third floor of a five storey building, while another is a single building with three storeys, and some as occupants in the ground floor of a building with several storeys. Most of these have only the front door, an exhaust outlet, and fire exit as openings on the outside world. But the single building/nightclub has its lobby or lounge area which is open outside, so that the lobby, set on the second floor, seems inviting enough for anyone who would be interested. Aside from the physical differences and similari

Building a Strong Team Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Building a Strong Team - Essay Example c initiatives such as trainings that would ensure the team is in shape without room for complacency and potentials for failure or mistakes; and, 2) I will establish performance assessment mechanism and corrective measures to ensure the provision of quality care. Again, the BEI is the cornerstone of my strategy. The succeeding stages in the building of the team depend on its success. BEI will allow me to determine if an applicant is compatible with my objectives as a leader and to where I plan to steer the team. My plan is to build a close and interdependent relationship, although one that is also typified by a strong degree of independence from each member especially when responding to opportunities and crises. So one of my questions would definitely be this: "Can you give me a specific example when you encountered a problem at work and what did you do to deal with it?" This question should be able to give me an insight on the candidates past behavior. Dubois (1998) argued that that this line of questioning would demonstrate competency on the applicants end as well as a point of reference for his or her behavioral patterns in the future (p.235). The question would also enable me to gain insights on the potential team members self-confidence , adaptability and willingness to learn and develop on personal, group and organizational level. The STAR method could also augment the BEI questions by providing a way in which questions can be framed or how answers can be analyzed. It is also designed to make the interview logical and concise (McMunn, 2012, p.32). For instance, in my example question, the applicants answer can be parsed according to what it stands for: situation, task, action and results. If the answer is lacking or veering away from the question, then, it will provide the cue or the context for the follow-up question (Fernandez, 2006, p.581). If I would be asked the same question and I have to frame my answer according to STAR method, I would say: In 2009,

An Analysis of The Famous Sushi Pants Story by Tucker Max; Essay

An Analysis of The Famous Sushi Pants Story by Tucker Max; - Essay Example The stories are entertaining, highlighting his views about women, excessive consumption of alcohol and drinking games, which lead to him insulting people, and embarrassing sexual encounters. Whether the stories are true or overly exaggerated perhaps is irrelevant, as one of his stories, which is in his popular publication and on the website is the â€Å"famous sushi pants story† (Max, 2006), and which recognizes and emphasizes on a familiar sequence of events individuals follow during a night out drinking alcohol, and commonly defined as binge drinking (Measham & Brain, 2005). Binge drinking is when an individual takes six or more standard drinks in one given period (WHO, 1994). Binge drinking is a common drinking behaviour in Ireland (SLAN, 2007). The impact of alcohol relies on the amount taken, although alcohol is a depressant it can have a stimulating effect. Some common effects following consumption include a sense of dis-inhibition, social freedom, and excitement, the proverbial ‘Dutch courage’, and a warm feeling of enjoyment. However, at higher doses alcohol can affect the cerebellum, which results in poor balance and slurred speech (Drinkaware, 2014). The ‘Sushi Pants Story’ is one of a young mans shamelessness. Morality is rarely discussed. However, moments during the story the author has inscribed remarks, â€Å"remembering past encounters with the law, and realising there is no one around to bail me out of the county lock up, I summon up every bit of adrenalin in my body to sober up, I apologise again† (p.6). There appears to be disapprobation or at least of an egressing consciousness that there is something "wrong" with this behaviour. Additionally, there is a way in which this story records the pain and sorrow of a young man whose life while in certain aspects is in good order, in other ways has careened out of control.

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Summary - Essay Example Pediatric trauma causes enormous psychological tolls on patients, parents and families alike. This also is true for the nurses who handle such cases. In cases of posttraumatic and acute stress disorder, nurses need more education. Most hospitals do not have a formal screening process, any consensus guidelines, a lack of advanced information, lack of processes to investigate and distribute pediatric best practices and develop research with nurses and their colleagues. Whether from reading about a teen involved in a motor vehicle accident, trying to calculate an infant drug dose, wondering if we are trained well enough and moving forward and paving the way for the doctors and nurses that are upcoming, we advocate for those who cannot do it themselves. Regardless of whether in a pediatric level 1 or a rural hospital, it is imperative that we strive to find new information and drive changes in the hospital society. We will move forward and create new infrastructures, develop and discover new and better practices, and create outreach with professional colleagues. We have made headway in the impact of pediatric outcomes, but there is still an extensive body of work left to do. There are confounding issues facing the pediatric trauma patient population. The Society of Trauma Nurses prides itself on being one of the strongest, most successful special interest groups that is committed to the pediatric trauma issue.

The War on Terror and the Erosion of Liberty Assignment

The War on Terror and the Erosion of Liberty - Assignment Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that in the haste to safeguard citizens, laws were enacted and restrictions were imposed that have had a deep and lasting effect on our personal freedoms. Many people have criticized the government actions as too broad, too severe, and have characterized it as an over-reaction to a single event. Others, such as John Ashcroft, have labeled the critics as paranoids and said, "To those who scare peace-loving people with phantoms of lost liberty †¦ your tactics only aid terrorists, for they erode our national unity and †¦ give ammunition to America’s enemies". It is clear that we have reached a point where we must weigh the price of a security against the cost of our lost liberty. When we do, we find that the over-reaching policies of our anti-terrorist campaign have extracted too high a cost in lost liberty, freedom, and our national identity.  The loss of our liberty extends beyond the inconvenience of long lines at the airpo rt and reaches into our daily right to privacy. One of the fundamental principle that America is built upon is the expectation that our personal records and correspondence have sacred and legal protection against inspection without a warrant. However, the sweeping powers granted to the government in the wake of 9/11 have allowed the government to examine bank and phone records of every American citizen without probable cause. Meanwhile, the government is cloaked in ever greater secrecy as many more governmental meetings can be held in secret away from the press and the public (Chaddock). While it may seem that we only have something to worry about if we are engaged in illegal activity, the fact is that it opens the door for corruption and abuse. There is the potential that political enemies could examine bank records to find out who has contributed to a given charity or political cause. It could be used to examine a credit card record to trace a person's travel or spending habits. L iberty is only of value when we need it. Once surrendered there is no returning it to the safe state of affairs that the right to privacy gives us.

Currency Hedging Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5500 words

Currency Hedging - Essay Example For example investors bank their hopes on relative net returns such as Net Dividend Yield (NDY) generated by stock related investments. Thus potential investors look at how the growth trajectory of Net Asset Value (NAV) would increase in keeping with net returns in relatively less risky spheres of investment. Secondly the risk factor associated with currency market related investments is proportionately higher when foreign exchange related investments take a plunge due to uncertain government policies. For example if the government concerned allows its own currency to depreciate externally in order to correct a deficit in the trade balance of the balance of payment, investors would be caught on the wrong foot if they happen to bank their hopes constantly on the continuity of government policy (Maskey, 1995). Thirdly the government may adopt anti-inflationary measures such as higher corporate taxes and expenditure taxes. The net result would be less investment and less borrowing. Currency markets become dormant during such periods of negative policy initiative. Foreign exchange rates and interest rates ... s are positively related because when interest rates fall the exchange rates also fall because potential foreign investors do not buy the domestic currency concerned for investment when the domestic interest rates fall and as a result the demand for the domestic currency abroad falls thus leading to an unfavorable exchange rate (Larsen, & Resnick, 2000). Hedge funds, mutual funds, pension funds, commercial banks and other money market players have a tendency to hedge risk by minimizing the degree of exposure to adverse consequences arising from unfavorable exchange rates, inflation and investment related uncertainties such as a continuous fall in stock prices (Biger, & Hull, 1983). 2. Analysis 2.1. What is Currency Hedging Currency hedging has become a very controversial issue in modern money market operations (Adler, & Prasad, 1992). Commercial banks and other market players have adopted highly strategic exclusive policy initiatives to deal with the problem. This paper investigates the relative efficacy of such highly complex approaches to currency hedging adopted by different market players, while at the same time focusing attention on the doubt expressed by modern writers about the benefits of currency hedging strategies to all market players at a given time.Currency hedging is a technique that is meant to manage and reduce the risks involved when engaging in some foreign investment strategy. Essentially the very nature of a currency hedging effort would be more beneficial in obviating the negative outcomes from any shifts in the relative value of the currency as utilized in the investment process (Levy, & Lim, 1994). This is intended to shield the investor from negative shifts in the money market so that even if the currency involved takes a plunge

Hypothetical Family Health Promotion Assessment Essay

Hypothetical Family Health Promotion Assessment - Essay Example While some families may consist of the standard two-parent home, there are a numerous amount of ways in which families are organized and in which social groups they exist. The modern nurse must be sensitive to these unusual circumstances and adjust one’s attitude accordingly, being careful not to place judgment upon clients who need nursing services. According to Bomar (2004), â€Å"During the past two decades, the evolution of family nursing assessment in nursing theory, practice, education, and research has been observed and documented in the nursing literature† (pp. 275). Nurses must be sensitive also to the fact that various ages, races, ethnicities, and other demographics of people may not fit perceived stereotypes, or that their lives’ paths vary significantly from what is considered socially appropriate or aesthetically pleasant. Some people live in abject poverty while other patients may be quite rich—and it is important for the nurse to understand that she must treat all of her patients with the same amount of dignity and care as she would anyone else. This is especially true of the Morrison family as evidenced in Mary Lawson’s book Crow Lake. Katie is definitely not the typical caregiver, as she is an young adult herself and learning how to take care of a young sister who is less than five years old. Katie is one of the focal points of the book, a scientist who struggles with the issues that surround being impoverished, but, at the same time juggling responsibilities while aspiring to a better life. The FFAM is, according to Stanhope and Lancaster (2006), â€Å"[o]ne family assessment model and approach developed by a nurse†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (pp. 335). The FFAM is able to assess various family issues that are of concern to the nurse in his or her chosen profession. Obviously, in any family there are immediate telltale signs of problems. The most obvious sign of some problem is physical abuse, although, the problems to b e discussed here are more internal, invisible, intangible problems which can have effects on patients. Although one can’t see a bruise, indeed, the individual is injured, albeit in his or her psyche. It is the emotional pain that can also scar a patient irrevocably for life, and this is what the nurse seeks to diagnose in order so that he or she can assuage the patient’s fears and continue to pursue a plan that will plot a course of treatment appropriate for the patient. Affective Involvement is the first aspect that I would think would be very key in assessing the Morrison family’s situation. The family’s young ones are taught not to express themselves overtly in a strong manner. Says Lawson (2003), â€Å"Understatement was the rule in our house. Emotions, even positive ones, were kept firmly under control† (pp. 9). Most relevant for promoting the Morrison family’s health in this category comes under the concern of the young people basicall y not being cared for in the ways they need to develop. For example, one very important concern is Katie’s younger sister Bo, who is a toddler. Toddlers need lots of love and affection from parents in order to develop properly, and without that kind of support, Bo will rely almost entirely upon her older sister as a mother figure, and upon her brothers Matt and Luke as father figures. However, since Luke at one point might go away to college, and Matt establishes his own family—only Luke remains once he decides that he is going to get a job to support the family instead, even though he

Essay on Assam Essay Example for Free

Essay on Assam Essay Assam has been aptly described by some as ‘the Shangrila of the North-Eastern India’ – a state having breathtaking scenic beauty, rarest floras and faunas, lofty hills, lush tea gardens, undulating plains, mighty waterways, dense forests, fertile valleys, etc. It lies as a jewel of exquisite beauty and charm on the Northeastern horizon of India. Since the days of Hiuen-Tsang it has fascinated the rest of the world with her aura of myth and mysteries, history and folklore, music and dance. Known as Pragjyotishpura (land of Eastern lights) in ancient time and Kamrupa in medieval times, Assam is the anglicised name for the state. The name of the state may have come from the word ‘Ahom the people who migrated to the Brahmaputra valley in the early 13th century and gave shape to the Assamese of today. The state lies between 89 °. 50†² to 96 °, 10†² E. longitude and 24 °. 30†² to 28 °, 40†² N. latitude. Seven Indian states and two foreign countries touch its boundary. Spread over an area of 78, 438 sq. km. State has a total population of 26, 638, 407 according to Census, 2001. We have a clear picture of Assam only from the early 13th cent, when the country was conquered by Ahoms. Later they were ousted by the Burmese, who handed over the area to the British by the treaty of Yandaboo in 1826. All the major races of the world such as, Austro-Asiatic, the Indo- Aryans, Indo-Tibetans, Indo-Burmese, Mongolians, etc. have combined to make the great Assamese people of today. Assam, however, has remained practically a land of Tibeto- Burmese people. Assamiya or Assamese is the lingua franca of the state. Assam can be divided into three natural regions, namely the Brahmaputra valley, the Barak valley and the Hilly regions. These regions are quite distinct from one another with regard to the composition of people, manner of living and culture. The mighty Brahmaputra along with Barak has nourished the state from time immemorial and has been a source of solace as well as a source of sorrow for the people of the state. The economy of the state is overwhelmingly agricultural and about 75% of the population directly or indirectly depends on this sector for their livelihood. Rice, fruits, aracanut, jute, sugar cane, and tea are the chief agricultural produce of the state. The state also produces nearly half of the country’s total output of tea. he state is rich in natural resources such as oil, gas, coal, and limestone. The perfect fusion of heritage, tradition, faiths, and beliefs of  numerous races has resulted in many festivals in the state. The main festivals of Assam are the ‘Bihus’ which are celebrated all over the state by every one with great pomp and grandeur. The most colourful amongst the three ‘Bihus’ is the spring festival known as Rongali Bihu. Nature has abundantly blessed Assam with charming sights and exciting natural scenery. Kaziranga National Park and Manas Sanctuary are the chief tourist centres famous for Royal Bengal tiger, one-horned rhinos and golden langur. The other attractions of the state are the famous Kamakhya temple near Guwahati, Umananda temple, Navagraha temple, Kareng Ghar, Rang ghar, Talatal Ghar, Majuli island, Jatinga, etc. Nestling in the Himalayan foothills the state is rich in cultural heritage, natural beauty, and mineral resources. There is no denying the fact that the state of Assam during the last fifty years has made great strides in many fields. But a lot more remains to be done to bring the state to the forefront of development and progress. Given better political stability, adequate stress on industrialisation, proper utilisation of resources available and less militancy, the state can leap forward to an era of prosperity and all-round development.

Samsung Electronics Management Style

Samsung Electronics Management Style Samsung Electronics is a Korea-based consumer electronics company. The case describes Samsungs journey from a company focused on manufacturing to one known for the excellence of its product design. It discusses how the company came to use design as a differentiator and for competitive advantage. It describes the steps that Samsung took on the people, process, and system fronts to improve its design capabilities. The case also talks about Samsungs design philosophy, and ends with a brief discussion on the use of design as a competitive advantage. Like all companies in the business of high tech, Samsung must bring innovative products to market faster while ensuring high quality and holding down costs. It is also faced with the challenge of working with global business partners and its own geographically dispersed facilities. Samsungs strategy for meeting its mission of technology-based value innovation relies heavily on what it calls a digital convergence revolution. This revolution features two parts: a digital product development infrastructure (involving design, validation and manufacturing) and digital collaboration. During the period covered by the case study Samsung underwent significant change. How would you characterise the type of change that it underwent? Balogun Hope Haileys analytical framework may be useful for this purpose. According to Balogun.J and Hope Hailey.V there are four types of strategic changes namely Adaptation, Reconstruction, Evolution and Revolution. During the changes that Samsung underwent it will be highlighted exactly the way in which to company changed, whether the change was done over time or whether the change was suddenly implemented. Samsung shows signs of Reconstruction. Reconstruction is a rapid change and it may involve a great deal of confusion but it does not require a fundamental paradigm shift in the way the company does things. (Balogun.J and Hope Hailey.V, 1999)Reconstruction may be a turnaround situation where there is a need for a major structural change or a major cost cutting programme to deal with declining financial performances or changing market conditions. Yun and his management team decided to take steps that would push Samsung out of it a precarious financial position. Therefore he reconstructed the company by layoff of 30,000 employees which represented a third of its entire workforce. This major cost cutting programme was done so that they could get out their debt. Yun and the management team also decided to close down many Samsung factories for two months in order to get rid of their excessive inventory that did not sell. Yun and the team also made major changes when they sold off two billion dollars worth of businesses, like pagers and electric coffeemakers, which were perceived to be marginal significance for the firms future. These types of changes helped the company regain their losses which was a major structural and financial need for the company. Yun wanted to implement a strategy that would separate Samsung from their competitors. Therefore he pushed the firm to develop its own products rather than coping these products of other firms that had been developed. Yun placed a lot of emphasis on the development of products that would impress the customers with their attractive designs and advanced technology. Therefore Yun was reconstructuring the way Samsung has been doing business and wanted the company to reach higher standards where they can be seen as a quality brand and compete with the bigger companies. As a result Samsung reconstruction underwent a major design turnaround from a poorly designed product to a product that will be an in-house design. The next major step that Yun took was to recruitment of new managers and engineers, many of whom had developed considerable experience in the United States. The recruitment of managers and the engineers had a major turnaround due to the fact that it allowed them to start developing their own products and be innovative. He then also discarded Samsungs seniority-based system to a merit-based system for advancements. A merit-based system are based on ones performance meaning that the employees could feel more open to expressing their ideas to help the company reach its goals with the knowledge that they will be rewarded for it. Therefore this turnaround helped the company to have a better relationship with their employees and create a system that would allow them to feel open to express their ideas and creativity. Another major change that Yun made was to hire a marketing whiz, called Eric Kim, which worked hard to create a more upscale image for the company and its products. Eric implemented a major turnaround when he moved Samsungs advertising away from 55 different advertising agencies around the world and then he placed them into one firm. The reason for this change was to create a consistent global brand image for Samsungs product. He therefore got Samsung out of big discount chains and placed more of Samsungs products into more upscale specialty stores. Reconstruction of the firms bureaucratic was implemented in order to reduce it to get faster approvals for new product budgets and marketing plans, thus speeding up their abilities to seize opportunities. Because of the bureaucratic turnaround situation it allowed Yun to make heavy investments into key technologies and it allowed them to push out a wide variety of digital products. How significant was Jong- Yong Yuns role in the change process? Samsungs CEO Jong-Yong Yuns philosophy of continuous improvement has helped Samsung get out of their financial crisis and making it stronger than ever. Yun specifically applied an industrial engineering concept to Samsung in order to cut production times and increase workers productivity. Although he initially met resistance in implementing industrial engineering in the firm, Yun sponsored in-house training sessions for workers. He also trained 1,550 managers in Industrial Engineering concepts. Yuns plans involved product innovation, process innovation and personnel innovation. Samsung Electronics not only shot to the front of the pack internationally but also lifted its parent  Samsung Group  to the number one spot in South Koreas all-important business rankings. Therefore because of Yuns efforts, which drew heavily on industrial engineering concepts, Samsung Group stood at the top of South Koreas giant industrial conglomerates. At the heart of Yuns strategic plan for Samsung Electronics were the three Ps: product, process, and personnel innovation. In the area of product innovation Yun moved quickly to extract Samsung from those businesses that were marginal or no longer producing an acceptable rate of return for the company. As a result Samsung Electronics reduced its television output and did away with such marginal product lines as dishwashers, electronic pagers, and juicers. These products were replaced with such high-tech, high-margin goods as flat-panel displays, MP3 music players, and advanced mobile phones. Among the processes  streamlined  by Yun was the global supply chain, which was changed from a monthly to a weekly system. Under the new system the company changed their focus from make-to-stock to make-to-order production. With the reduction in inventories cash flow improved. In the area of personnel innovation Yun instituted a system of global product management under which each of Samsung Electronics 14 divisions was directed by a global product manager who was responsible for every phase of that divisions operations. (Pedler, M., Burgogyne, J. and Boydell, T. 1997.)  Yun also decided to give his subordinates greater autonomy meaning he empowered the employees. Yuns role played a major role for the success of the company and increased their profits. Yuns achievement in masterminding the sharp turnaround  at Samsung Electronics is the reason why the company is successful. Yuns role in the change process was important as he made major changes to the system. Yun changed the momentum of the company; he changed the bureaucratic system to allow the employees to express their ideas which lead to Samsung been innovative. Yun role in the change process allowed the Samsungs products to be viewed as a higher-priced brand rather than before where it was perceived as a lower-priced appliance. It also became an established low cost supplier of various components to larger and better-known manufactures around the world. Therefore Yuns role helped the company to tap into their resources that they had and to use them to change how processes were done. Yun also changed the process by recruiting the managers and the engineers. Yun laid the foundation for the new change that was implemented and without the guidance and standards that was set by Yun the change processes would not have been successful. Yun played a role in each aspect of Samsungs change and help the company get of their financial problems. Yun was very dedicated to his work and risked a lot for the company. Yun and his management team took time to make sure that the changes they were implementing would be successful and that it would speed up the research and development of new products. Yuns role in the change process gave the customers a better impression on the firms products. His role also allowed Samsung to reduce complexity in the early stages of the design cycle. This then resulted in the firm been able to get the products to the manufactures quickly with minimal problems and at the lowest possible costs. Therefore Yun truly played a significant role in the change process and he helps advance Samsung in digital technologies. Yuns strategy to focus on the higher-end products has clearly enhanced the firms brand image and has led the company to be profitable. In fact many executives in the industry of US have said they are astounded by the ability of the firm to generate a superior brand image. This would not have been possible if Yun was not playing a part in the change process as it was his thinking that allowed this to happen. What methods did Samsung use to promote innovation and the diffusion of ideas across the organisation? Firstly Samsung promoted innovation by deciding to push the firm to develop its own products rather than to copy those products that other firms have developed. Yun placed a great amount of emphasis on the development of products that would impress the customers with their attractive designs. Yun also reoriented the firm and helped it develop new capabilities by recruiting the managers and engineers. Yun put the new managers and engineers through a four week boot camp that was intended to create incentives for new talent. Samsung rigid seniority/based system was replaced with a merit base system that allowed advancement to take place, it also allowed the employees to know that their efforts and ideas are not overlooked and that good ideas are rewarded. As a result the above efforts Samsung started launch an array of products that was designed to make a big impression on the customers. Another large part of the success of Samsungs innovation and ideas was that they regularly got information from the retailers about the new features that customers wanted to see in their electronic devices. This close link with the retailers helped Samsung to come up with best selling products and to create the digital products that the customers were looking for and the actual design preferences of the products. Samsung managers who have worked for competitors say they have to go through far fewer layers of bureaucracy than they had in the past to win approval for new product, budgets and marketing plans, speeding up their ability to seize opportunities. Therefore Samsung reduced the bureaucratic obstacles. Because the bureaucratic obstacle was reduced it allowed Yun to make investments into key technologies that allowed the innovative products to be designed. Samsung claims that it has been able to reduce the time that it takes to go from a new product concept to rollout to as little as six months. Due to the above ideas of how to better run the business it resulted in allowing the efforts of the firms top managers, engineers and designers to be expressed and to be acknowledged for their ideas. It allowed them to better communicate with the top managers about their ideas. Samsung advances in digital technologies have helped with them increasing their chances of getting a better position in the market. They have promoted their innovation by combining their computers, consumer electronics and communications to be the prime leader. Samsung had also created the post of chief design officer to make sure that designers can get their ideas to the top managers. The engineers are pushed to find ways to work with the designs that are presented to them. Yun has also worked closely with Chin to summon engineers and designers from across the firm to mix wireless, semiconductor and computer expertise in order to pursue its vision of domination of the digital home. Samsung had even opened or expanded design centres to help the designers observe the way that consumers actually use the various products. Therefore by giving them this opportunity they know how to be innovative when it comes to designing the products. The designers were able to watch from behind a two-way mirror to see how the customers responded to a particular design. With this the designers were able to go back and work on the necessary things that needed to be implemented in order to make sure the products are what the customers want. This forced the designers to think out of the box and be creative and come up with ideas that would impress the customers. The designers are basically rewarded when they see their hard work and ideas been appreciated by the customers if the product is up to their standards. Samsung at the end of the day relies on the attractiveness of its products therefore Samsung ensures that the employees are happy and are able to express their ideas. To what extent is Samsung a learning organisation? A  learning organization  is the term given to a company that facilitates the learning of its members and continuously transforms itself. (Pedler, M., Burgogyne, J. and Boydell, T. 1997).  Learning organizations develop as a result of the pressures facing modern organizations and enables them to remain competitive in the business environment. A learning organization is characterised by five main features namely: systems thinking, personal mastery, mental models, shared vision and team learning. (Peter Senge,1990) An approach of Samsung was to be innovation and to promote a learning organization.   The most recent and widely accepted notion of learning organization today is one which is characterized by an organizational culture that fosters the improvement of the employees, their productivity and the overall operation and performance of the business through continuous learning (Gilley Maycunich, 2000, p. 5). Theoretically, Samsung maintained a significant capacity to renew all the processes and they remained competitively ready to create products that the customers wanted, therefore the employees got opportunities the identify the customers need because of Samsung been a organization learning. Continuous learning and change is valued through learning organizations. The main concern for Samsung is about the market share, productivity and profitability and it is understood that learning is the key element in obtaining these business results. The creation of capabilities that are previously not established is the idea of learning and Samsung has allowed its employees to be exposed to learning. Moreover, the principle assumption of the learning organization is the improvement of the learning capacity of the individual is similar to the organizations performance. According to Ruffa Morato,( 2009) Samsungs Six Sigma Academy was established to educate the employees and build up the team of quality specialists with problem solving abilities. Samsung spent 3.6 percent of payroll costs on education and training, a very high percentage as compared to firms such as Xerox, NUMMI, Saturn, IBM and Motorola. (Type Pad, 2007) Samsung does not only make investments in education and training but it also creates incentives in order to help motivate each employee and organizational learning. Each employee is given the opportunity to set the learning objectives and learning themes with the consent of the supervisor (Bae Kim, 2004, p.188). Periodic interviews are carried out to assess the progress and discuss the steps to speed up the learning before a final evaluation is given by the end of the year. (Ruffa Morato, 2009).The assessment will decide the actual learning points and promotion of the employees. Samsung also provided the employees with advance technologies so that the employees are able to do their work. The fact that Samsung also sent their designers to boot camp to find creative ideas, it shows their interest to their employees and their interest in trying to ensure that they reach their potential. Samsung had learned as an organisation to be more innovative and creative to reach their goals and to grow. Samsung has invested in their employees to come up with ideas that will wow the customers. They have brought the right employees to work together to create a quality brand image. Therefore Samsung is a learning organisation to the extent that it invests in its own employees as one of their main focuses. CONCLUSION: The competitiveness of the global marketplace has required organizations to become innovative not only in the products and services they create but as well as in their strategies and approaches. Indeed, Samsungs success manifests the substantial returns from innovating within the organization. This involved the styles of the senior marketers to effect the innovation by encouraging participation and involvement of the employees. Samsung recognized that the innovation lies in its most important asset the people. As such, it made innovations in the workplace to empower the employees. This includes training the employees and providing incentives for them. The company has been and continues to strive to become the world leader in the electronics and communication industry by innovating in each and every aspect of its business. Harvard Referencing: Baker, W.E., Sinkula, J.M. (1999), The synergistic effect of market orientation and the learning organization on organizational performance,  Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Vol. 27 No.4, pp.411-27 Balogun.J and Hope Hailey.V, 1999, Exploring Strategic Changes, Prentice Hall Barber, Ben, South Koreas Troubles Are Blamed on Chaebols,'  Washington Times, December 25, 1997. Brooke, James, Samsung Tries to Keep Outgrowing Economic Woes,  International Herald Tribune, April 28, 2003. Dempsey, Michael, Jong-Yong Yun of Samsung Electronics,  Financial Times, February 4, 2002. Pedler, M., Burgogyne, J. and Boydell, T. 1997.  The Learning Company: A strategy for sustainable development. 2nd Ed. London; McGraw-Hill. Peter Senge (1990) ,   The Fifth Discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization, Doubleday, New York,.page .105,164 Ruffa Morato ,  Company Case Studies Technorati Tags:  company case study,  Essay samples, September 30, 2009, retrieved 7 July, http://ivythesis.typepad.com/term_paper_topics/2008/09/sample-essay-sa.html Wrigley, N., Currah, A. (2003), The stresses of retail internationalisation: lessons from Royal Aholds experience in Latin America,International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, Vol. 13 No.3, pp.221-43.

Effect of Health Workers on Policy Makers

Effect of Health Workers on Policy Makers POLITICS, LAWS AND BUDGETS The political system of a country plays a critical role with the affairs surrounding health. It is important to examine the relationship of how health problems affects policy making and how health professionals can participate in the legislative process. Not all health professionals know how policies, that influenced their practice, are made. Some of the decisions that affects healthcare professionals and their customers are made by the government or state or appointed politicians that have limited knowledge with health and who have various field of expertise resulting into some ineffective health policies. This results into increased pressure on health workers and agencies to participate in policy making. People working in the medical field have been long complaisant in just providing research results to the legislative body. However, health professionals must also play an active role in developing health policies. Health Workers and Policy Making The government’s treasury provides advice to the political leaders on the budget distribution for the different government sectors including health. These advice ranges from purchase and regulation of health services to health strategies and policies. In distributing the funds, it is vital to know which health policy should be prioritize for the benefit of the majority. The effectiveness of a health policy can be greatly influenced by staffing the legislative body with people possessing vast knowledge, skills and experience in the field of human health. In order to achieve an effective policy, health professionals must combined their scientific knowledge with actual work and strategies in policy making. This is a big responsibility for healthcare professionals as this means that they also have to developed more their skills and expertise in leadership role to be an effective policy maker. An article written by Roper (1992), states that the recently created Public Health Leader ship Institute offered by Center for Disease Control in US, is designed to enhance the leadership skills of health officers to have a wide understanding on the emerging public health issues. An example of a model for making health policies can be observed in China. Decentralisation of the national government gives the local government the power to make decisions on local affairs. This means that local government can make policies and adapt it to a higher level government. From the gathered information or data from local government the central government will have a basis for making a central policy.It also means that health sectors are involved in the policy making. Areas of Advocacy For Health Workers Advocacy is one of the most powerful tool for health workers to achieve their goals. By advocating, health workers influences the priorities and action of those people in the position or those who are in power. There are areas in which where health workers can be an advocate. Workplace Health personnels should act rather than wait for a crisis to erupt. Health workers serves as the first line of defense in terms of protecting the health of the population. And because of this, they should take part in making a policy that will benefit all and something that would lasts. Kingdon (1992) coined the term â€Å"policy entrepreneurs† to describe public health professionals. In the workplace, one of the most important attributes of a health leader is having an excellent interpersonal skill. As a healthcare leader, they can coordinate all communication/issues between health workers and policy makers. Having a good flow of communication in the workplace will help the leader to decide what information should be provided to the policy maker. Organized communication ensures that the organization speaks in one voice and the legislation have a central point of contact inside the workplace. Staff members within the company should have an understanding on the legislative process for them to know the implications of a proposal and it’s possible results in the future. An example of this is, chain of communication can also be observed inside a specific company. Those workers who belongs to the bottom level in the organisational chart are given the chance to be heard by voicing out their suggestions/concerns with regards to the existing policies and management. The gathered information from these workers, will be reported by the manager to the policy maker or those authorities concerns. In the workplace, health workers may be ask to decide more in an operational way. This involves decision with regards to the daily operation of the organisation. A series of good operational decision can lead an organisation in achieving their long term goal. Government Law (n.d.) defined government as the regulating, restraining, supervising or controlling body of society. They have the political power to exercised these rights upon the individual member of an organised society, for the good and welfare of the majority. The New Zealand government follows the Westminster model wherein it is composed of a constitutional monarchy, a sovereign parliament and the three vital branches of government. These three entities are Legislative, Executive and Judiciary. The most important duty of the legislative body is to make laws. They are the one responsible for assessing if bill can be turned into laws. The head of the executive branch is the President or the Prime Minister. The head of the executive approves and carry out the law passed by the legislative branch. The judiciary exercise the power to interpret and apply the law through the court system. Health workers can impact the way policies are made from the local government to the national government. The role of health workers is vital in sustaining and achieving progress in health sector. To fully understand how health workers can influence policy making, let us take a look on what happen in Tanzania: Cokelet (2009), detailed how a person became an advocate in decreasing the case of violence against women in Tanzania despite of the obstacles. The high rate of violence in this country is directly related to their culture which seems to view this practice as an acceptable issue. Kivulini of Women’s Rights Organization aimed in reducing gender-based violence by mobilising the community to change the norms and the policy in their society. Before starting her advocacy, she needed to have first an understanding about the obstacles addressing the issue of violence by consulting a study done by the World Health Organisation, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She used the result of the study to serves as a basis of collecting more specific and realistic information. They collect information from women about how well they know the available resources or the policies by the local government to help them with their situation. They found out that local leaders lack the kno wledge, training and resources to help those abused women. By the result of the study Kivulini developed a model of training and care and now advocating this model with the Prime Minister of Tanzania and local government officials. Kivulini started the advocacy in the community/local government and their model also affects the national level. Tanzania increased the funds for the training and increasing resources to tackle the issue of violence. Professionals Organizations Health workers must be involved in policy process that will affect them in personal and professional level. This involves having knowledge on the existing laws and regulations that regulates their profession. References Cokelet, E. (2009). Advocacy to Improve Global Health: Strategies and Stories from the Field. PATH p.2 Kingdon, J.W. (1992): Agendas, alternatives and public policy. Little Brown and Company, Boston. Law,(n.d.):What is government? Retrieved from hhtp://thelawdictionary.org Roper, W.L. (1992): Strengthening the public health system. Public Health Reports 107: 609-615.

Commentary on poem After The Flood :: English Literature

Commentary on poem After The Flood The poem â€Å"After The Flood† has a slow and steady tempo. The poet created it by not mentioning too many events at once, but slowly, and gives time for the observer to recall – â€Å"I remembered...† and gives his own opinion on the events – â€Å"It had not been a bad rise†¦Ã¢â‚¬  These give the readers a better understanding and a clearer picture on what is happening. As we read through the poem, we have an image of the observer, standing at the ruins of the park, observing carefully what is going on around and describing them in words what he sees and comparing them with the past condition – which was before the flood. The pace of the observer in observing is somewhat unified with the tempo of the poem, so the reader is like ‘following’ the observer and listening to him. After reading the poem, a calm and tense less image of the observer is created in our mind. Phrases like â€Å"The morning it was over†, shows that the observer is feeling calm and believes that everything is over and there is nothing more to worry about. â€Å"I walked†¦Ã¢â‚¬  shows the observer is worried of nothing and walked calmly to the Jersey side. â€Å"It had not been a bad rise† also shows that the observer doesn’t exaggerate on what he sees, but judges it fairly according to his own thoughts. â€Å"I felt I must surely†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ so familiar†, this sort of tell us that the poet is so unworried and have time to recall the past and being a little nostalgic. Line 17-24 shows us the observer comparing the condition of the river presently and during the flood, he is calm and carefully observing the situation and even the sounds around him. The river in this poem is described through comparisons or figures of speech. The observer thinks the river is amazing as its intensity has decreased considerably. The water is described as ‘swollen’; this gives us the image of the water flowing along the river in a rough motion and is forming little waves. It is disordered and dirty. Line 19-20 is a simile where the flowing river is compared to a beast that is sneaking around. It is referred as ‘beast’ as it had created a massive destruction to the place and has ruined everybody’s mood. Now, it is as if the ‘beast’ is tired and retreats slowly, so it is said to be sneaking around. Another role of the river in this poem is to show continuity of life. Though the place had been devastated and the

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome: AIDS :: AIDS disease

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a blood born disease that was first recognized in America in the early 1980’s, around the time Rock Hudson passed away. It is believed that it was first passed thru to humans by monkey’s in Africa. â€Å"The battle between humans and disease was nowhere more bitterly fought than here in the fetid equatorial climate, where heat and humidity fuel the generation of new life forms. One historian has suggested that humans, who first evolved in Africa eons ago migrated north to Asia and Europe simple to get to climates that were less hospitable to the deadly microbes the tropics so efficiently spread.† (Shilts, 5)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"HIV may already infect one to two million Americans and spreads to forty thousand more people each year.† (Klitzman, 7) This disease wreaks havoc in places like Africa, Europe, South America, Asia, and the United States, as well as countless other places around the world. â€Å"With Modern roads and jet travel, no corner of the earth was very remote anymore; never again could diseases linger undetected for centuries among a distant people without finding some route to fan out across the planet.† (Shilts, 5)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  AIDS is mainly a sexually transmitted disease, statistically attributed to the homosexual community, that is transferred by people who are unaware they are infected. It can also be transferred between people through tainted blood transfusions as well as the sharing of infected needles among users. AIDS is a devastating and debilitating disease that may not show up for a period of ten years or longer after the original contact. By this time it might be too late to do anything about it , although, there are various cocktails of drugs that could control the disease and extend life for a considerable length of time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Western society has been able to arrest the spread of AIDS with sexual education and early testing but where the disease first started, in Africa, almost one third of the population is now afflicted with the disease. In order to combat this problem in Africa, the governments of the western world have shown a concentrated effort by sending billions of dollars in aid to educate and treat people who are infected with this disease.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  AIDS has reached many people from all different cultures, ethnic backgrounds, and areas around the world. This is a scary fact considering many of those people could be unaware they are infected with HIV.

Term Limits For Legislators Essay examples -- essays research papers

Term Limits For Legislators When the Constitution of the United States was adopted in 1789, it was without direction regarding term limits for legislators. At the time, professional politicians were unheard of, and the idea of someone serving for more than one or two terms was unlikely. So the Constitution did not formally address the issue of term limits, although it was understood that officeholders would limit themselves to one or two terms and then return to private life (1). With the advent of the modern state, however, came the making of Congress as a career, and thus the voluntary removal of oneself from office, as envisioned by the founders, is no longer regularly undertaken in the United States Congress. The structure of the Congress supports members who have held office for several terms thereby undermining the idea of the citizen-legislator put forth by the founders. Instead of citizens who will soon return to the community that elected them, professional Congress-people spend more time in Washington than in t heir home states, and usually make Congress their career. What has developed in recent years, in response to congressional careerism, is the drive to impose limits on the length of time someone may serve in Congress. Currently, advocates of term limits are calling for two terms in the Senate, and three in the House. It is possible, then, for a member to serve six years in the House, twelve years in the Senate, eight years as Vice President, and eight years as President, a total of thirty-six years. It is not unlikely, therefore, that there will continue to be career politicians. The issue is not about total time that one may participate in government, rather it is about how long one may serve in a particular capacity. Term limits enjoy popular, but not political, support, thereby polarizing the electorate and the elected. This paper will discuss the popular support for term limits, the arguments on both sides, and draw conclusions about the need for Congressional term limits in the United States Support for term limits encompasses close to three-quarters of the American population (2). The question is why. The simple answer is that the American people no longer trust a system they view as corrupt and biased towards the few. But the issue is really not this simple, nor is its basis of support. While on the surface it is corruption and bias... ...'s Path to a Representative Congress" U.S. Term Limits Foundation Outlook Series July, 1994 Vol.3 No.2 www.termlimits.org/index.shtml Fund, John H "Term Limitation: An Idea Whose Time Has Come" Policy Analysis No. 141 October 30, 1990 www.cato.org/pubs/pas/policyanalysis.html "Term Limits Excellent New Strategy" The Florida Times Union October 1, 1996 www.termlimits.org/index.shtml Jacob, Paul "Choosing Term Limits" The Washington Times August 7, 1996 www.termlimits.org Jacob, Paul "Whose Government is it Anyway?" www.termlimits.org/index.shtml Kolbe, John "Term Limits Sledgehammer" Phoenix Gazette June 7, 1996 www.termlimits.org Levine, Herbert M. Point-Counterpoint: Readings in American Government St. Martin's Press, New York. 1995 Nelson, Lars-Erik "A Very Special Class of Federal Employee" The Washington Post January 5, 1996 www.termlimits.org/index.shtml O'Connor, Karen and Larry J. Sabato American Government: Roots and Reform Allyn and Bacon, Massachusetts. 1996 Petracca, Mark "The Poison of Professional Politics" Policy Analysis No. 151 May 10, 1996 www.cato.org/pubs/pas/policyanalysis..html

Building Trust

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

Iron Crowned Chapter 14

â€Å"This isn't what I had in mind when I said we should go out on a date.† It took me a few days to get in to see Enrique Valdez, and Kiyo had decided to accompany me. While waiting for my appointment, I'd checked in once with the Thorn Land, only to find the whole experience frustrating. Though no one openly said it – well, except for Jasmine – they all thought me breaking up with Dorian was the worst idea ever. I also learned from Shaya that arrangements for a war meeting were getting bogged down. Dorian insisted all three monarchs meet in person. Katrice wanted to send her nephew. There was also the matter of which kingdom would host because several others wanted to, most likely in the hopes of getting in good with one or all of us. I told Shaya I didn't care about the details and to simply do whatever it took to finish this war quickly. When Kiyo and I reached Enrique's address, we found it was in a small, sad-looking office building in one of the more rundown areas of downtown Tucson. I eyed it askance as we stood outside and waited for him to buzz us up. â€Å"I don't get why it took us three days to get in,† I said. â€Å"It doesn't really seem like he's got that much business.† The door buzzed, and Kiyo opened it. â€Å"Maybe it's a cover,† he said. We walked up to the second floor, where Enrique's office was located. â€Å"Maybe he wants to hide how successful he is.† â€Å"That's ridiculous – â€Å" I stopped when the office door opened before we knocked. Even with Enrique standing in the doorway, I could see beautiful, expensive furnishings. â€Å"Well, I'll be damned,† I muttered, entering at Enrique's gesture. He was shorter than me, with deeply tanned skin and black hair starting to gray. I put him somewhere in his mid to late forties. His attire didn't quite match the office's opulence. In fact, it looked like stereotypical P.I. clothing from some old detective noir film, complete with a fedora. â€Å"Markham's girl, huh?† he asked, voice laced with a faint Spanish accent. His eyes fell on Kiyo. â€Å"And a bodyguard?† â€Å"A friend,† I said sharply. â€Å"I don't need a bodyguard.† â€Å"Right.† Enrique didn't sound like he believed that. He pointed us to some plush leather chairs while he sat in an even bigger one across from us. A huge cherry desk was situated between us. It gleamed deep red in the late afternoon light and didn't look like the kind of thing you'd find at IKEA. I stared around at the rest of the office, still amazed at how it contrasted with the exterior. Books – ranging widely from Moby Dick to Arizona state law – lined shelves that matched the desk, and small pieces of art – paintings, statues, et cetera – adorned the room. â€Å"So,† began Enrique. â€Å"What's his name, and why do you think he's cheating on you?† â€Å"I – huh?† I jerked my head from a sculpture that looked like some Mayan god and stared at Enrique in astonishment. â€Å"What are you talking about? Is that what Roland told you?† â€Å"No, he didn't tell me anything. I just figured that's why you were here. That's usually what women come in for.† Kiyo made a small sound beside me that I think was a laugh. â€Å"That's ridiculous,† I exclaimed, unsure if I should be offended or not. â€Å"I need you to investigate a murder.† Enrique arched an eyebrow. â€Å"That's what the police are for.† â€Å"They already investigated it. And actually, they declared it a suicide.† â€Å"And you need me because †¦?† â€Å"Because I don't think it was,† I said. â€Å"I think it was a murder and that the victim's family might be in danger.† Enrique made no attempt to hide his skepticism. â€Å"Do you have any evidence to support this †¦ theory?† I took a deep breath, hoping Roland had been right about this guy. â€Å"The victim's, um, ghost said she didn't kill herself.† â€Å"Her ghost,† he repeated. As though on cue, Deanna materialized in the room, though Enrique couldn't see her. Kiyo and I could with our Otherworldly senses, but neither of us gave any indication of her arrival. I nodded. â€Å"Roland said you – â€Å" â€Å"Yeah, yeah,† said Enrique. â€Å"I know about that hocus pocus he deals with. I'm also guessing suicide might be so traumatic that afterward, maybe a ghost blocked out what she actually did.† â€Å"That's not true!† exclaimed Deanna. I supposed it wasn't out of the realm of possibility, but I'd explore all other options first. â€Å"I don't think that's the case. I think she really was murdered. If that's true, we need to make sure no one else in her family gets hurt.† â€Å"If she was murdered,† countered Enrique, â€Å"then statistics say someone in her family probably did it.† â€Å"That's not true either!† I ignored Deanna's second outburst and stayed fixed on Enrique. â€Å"Well, one way or another, I need to know.† He leaned back in his chair, putting his feet up on his desk and crossing his arms behind his head. If he'd called me ‘dame,' I wouldn't have been surprised. â€Å"The police take all this into consideration, you know. What makes you think I'd find something they haven't?† â€Å"I thought guys like you were smarter than the police,† said Kiyo. â€Å"Figured you had connections and channels above the law. That you didn't play by the same rules.† â€Å"That's true,† said Enrique, seeming pleased at the compliment. I swore, he was also taking Kiyo more seriously than me. â€Å"I can look into it, I suppose. But it's not like I'll do it for free, just because you're cute.† That was directed back at me. I repressed a scowl. â€Å"I didn't expect you to. I can pay.† He considered this and finally gave a nod, straightening back up in his chair. â€Å"Okay. Tell me what you know, and I'll get to it when I can.† â€Å"What!† cried Deanna. â€Å"This is kind of time sensitive,† I said. Mostly because I wasn't sure how much more of Deanna I could handle. Enrique gestured to a stack of folders on a table. â€Å"So are these. I'm drowning in paperwork. Can't keep half of these straight.† â€Å"We'll pay for you to expedite it,† said Kiyo. I shot him a look of astonishment, not thrilled that he'd speak for me – especially considering my income was lower than it used to be. Nonetheless, it got Enrique's attention. â€Å"Expediting it is, then.† I gave him all the details I'd recently learned from Deanna, and to his credit, Enrique diligently wrote them all down and asked pertinent questions that reaffirmed my faith in his legitimacy. The price he named didn't cheer me up as much, but there was nothing to be done for it. When Kiyo and I finally got up to leave, I couldn't resist asking the obvious. â€Å"You seem to be doing pretty well †¦ so why's your office in a dump like this?† Enrique didn't look offended so much as scornful that I'd ask such a ridiculous question. â€Å"Do you know how much office rent is lately? I'm saving tons of money.† â€Å"Maybe you should put that surplus toward a secretary instead of statues,† I pointed out, nodding toward the tower of folders. â€Å"I don't trust anyone,† he said bluntly. â€Å"Especially when ghost clients show up.† He opened the door. â€Å"I'll be in touch.† â€Å"Charming,† I said, once Kiyo and I were on the road again. â€Å"The only thing I'm convinced that guy can do is help in the regression of women's rights.† Kiyo tried to hide a smile and failed. â€Å"He was right about you being cute, though. And I don't know †¦ something tells me that despite the attitude, he's pretty competent. Crappy building aside, he couldn't afford that office if he wasn't achieving results. Besides, Roland wouldn't recommend anyone incompetent.† â€Å"Unless he was trying to sabotage me.† Kiyo's smile faded. â€Å"Do you really think he'd do that to you?† I stared out the passenger seat window. â€Å"No. He wouldn't.† â€Å"I'm sorry, you know. I really am. About Roland.† â€Å"I don't want to talk about it,† I said. My mood plummeted each time Roland's name came up. â€Å"Okay, then. You want to salvage this ‘date' and get some lunch?† I didn't have faith in the change of subject. I didn't think anything could really distract me, certainly not the crappy Mexican restaurant Kiyo took us to. â€Å"Are you serious?† I asked. Felipe's Fiestaland was the cheesiest restaurant in town, figuratively speaking. In a place like Tucson, where you could get amazingly authentic Southwestern cuisine, Felipe's was for tourists and suburbanites who didn't know any better. â€Å"Are you saying a margarita wouldn't do you good?† he asked, getting out of the car. â€Å"I would never say that. But there are better places with better margaritas.† â€Å"They still use tequila in theirs. Isn't that what really matters?† â€Å"Fair point.† We were greeted by a hostess who sounded like she'd taken one semester of Spanish in high school. Pi;atas hung from the ceiling, and bad mariachi music blasted from speakers. I scanned the drink menu as soon as we sat down and was ready when the waiter came by. â€Å"I'll have your Double Platinum Extra Premium Margarita,† I told him. â€Å"Grande or super grande?† asked the waiter. â€Å"Super.† Kiyo looked impressed. â€Å"I'll have the same.† When we were alone, he asked, â€Å"What is that exactly?† I propped an elbow on the table, resting my chin on my palm. â€Å"I'm not sure, but it sounded like it had the most alcohol in it. Places like this tend to drown their drinks in mixers.† â€Å"Spoken like a pro.† â€Å"Stating the obvious. You and I both know Roza's has the best margaritas.† Kiyo smiled at that, flashing me a warm and knowing look. I had a feeling he was thinking about a memory that had come to me too, back from when we'd dated. We'd gone out to Roza's – which really did have the best margaritas in town – and gotten so drunk that neither of us could drive home. So, we'd used the car for the only thing we could: sex. Twice. The drinks arrived and were about the size of fishbowls. They were also about half-mixer, as suspected, but at least that still left a reasonable quantity of alcohol. I drank mine down quickly as we waited for our food. Alcohol numbed my shamanic powers a little bit and sometimes let me forget my problems. Not so much today. â€Å"Do you think Enrique might be right?† I asked. â€Å"That Deanna did commit suicide and blocked it out?† The ghost had left us once we departed from the office. â€Å"I don't know. I don't know if she'd believe it, even if he turned up a film or something.† I grimaced and downed more of the drink. â€Å"I hope not. It's nothing I'd want to watch. I'm tired of bloodshed.† â€Å"I know,† he said gently. â€Å"And no matter what I said before †¦ and how upset I was when this war started †¦ well, I have to admit. You've handled it as best you could. Word gets around. I know you've made some tactical moves that minimized casualties – and not just for your own people.† â€Å"‘Tactical.' ‘Casualties.'† I shook my head, eyeing my low margarita. â€Å"Those are terms I never thought I'd use. And really, I don't have much to do with that planning. Rurik does.† â€Å"But you give the okay,† Kiyo pointed out. â€Å"Not many rulers would. Most would do whatever it took to crush their enemies quickly.† â€Å"I've certainly wanted to.† Dorian had as well, and the few disagreements we'd had during our wartime partnership had been over civilian collateral damage. â€Å"Can we talk about something not Otherworldly? And not about suicide?† â€Å"Sure.† Our waiter suddenly appeared with the plate of Mile High Muy Bueno Nachos we'd ordered. Kiyo flashed him a grin. â€Å"She'll have another margarita. Also, it's her birthday.† I shot Kiyo a look of horror as the waiter scurried off. â€Å"Are you out of your mind? You don't say something like that in a place like this!† But it was too late. Because in a matter of minutes, the entire waitstaff of Felipe's Fiestaland had surrounded our table. Someone put a sombrero on my head and a candlelit piece of flan in front of me. The whole group then launched into an out-of-tune rendition of â€Å"Cumpleaà ±os Feliz,† set to equally bad out-of-rhythm clapping. I stared at Kiyo the whole time and mouthed I will kill you. It only made his smile grow. â€Å"You don't look a day older,† he told me, once the mob had dispersed. â€Å"I can't believe you did that.† I jerked off the sombrero and dove into the new margarita. â€Å"Do you know how humiliating that is?† â€Å"Hey, it got your mind off everything else, didn't it? Plus, check it out. Free flan.† I blew out the candle and hesitantly poked the gelatinous mass below it. â€Å"It looks like it's been sitting around a while.† â€Å"Don't worry,† he said, dragging the plate over to his side of the table. â€Å"With all the preservatives in it, I'm sure it's fine.† â€Å"I'm going to get you back for this,† I warned, narrowing my eyes. The look he gave me was knowing. â€Å"I hope so,† he said. â€Å"I certainly hope so.† I can only blame the margaritas for what happened next, because as soon as we'd paid our bill and were back in the car, we attacked each other. â€Å"See?† he said, trying to pull my shirt over my head. â€Å"Who needs Roza's?† â€Å"It was dark out then,† I reminded him, my own hands fumbling for his pants. â€Å"We're in the back of the lot,† he argued. â€Å"And the sun's going down.† He had a point, and when he brought one of my nipples to his mouth, I kind of let the subject drop. We really were out of sight, and there were more important matters to take care of. We reclined and pushed the seat back as far as it would go, then finally managed to get each other's jeans off. I brought my hips down, taking him into me. â€Å"See?† I gasped. â€Å"You're sorry now.† â€Å"Very,† he managed to say. Our awkward positioning kept my breasts pretty close to his face, and he was taking advantage of it with his hands and mouth. As for me, I was just thrilled at the feel of being on top of him. After always playing submissive with Dorian, I suddenly exalted in this sense of power – especially since Kiyo had definitely been the one in control the last time we had sex. Now, it was all me, and I took a fair amount of satisfaction in taunting him, alternately increasing the speed of my movement and then slowing down when he got close to coming. â€Å"Eugenie,† he begged at last. â€Å"Enough. Please †¦ do it†¦.† I leaned toward him like I might kiss him – and then pulled back when his lips sought mine. With a grin, I straightened up as much as I could and rode him hard, finally letting him have the release he'd begged for. His body bucked up as he came, his hands holding tightly to my hips as though I might leave before he finished. After that, I guess we were kind of dating again. The next week or so passed in an easy pattern. I saw Kiyo almost every day, and we slipped back into our old routines. I started taking more jobs, much to Lara's relief, while Kiyo alternately worked at the vet clinic and checked in with the Otherworld. At night, he and I were always together, either at my place or his. My body began to remember what it was like being in a relationship, and slowly, my heart did as well. I only crossed into the Otherworld once during that time, both from Thorn Land withdrawal and curiosity over the war proceedings. No progress was being made with Katrice. I was grateful for the lack of fighting, but the hoped-for peace talks still seemed a ways off. It was frustrating. â€Å"She's being difficult,† said Shaya, when I asked about it. Understandably, she looked weary. â€Å"These are delicate matters. They take time.† I left it at that, feeling impatient, but figuring she knew better than me. Back in Tucson, I also got sporadic updates of another sort: Enrique's. To his credit, he called almost every day to report what he'd done or investigated. At first his attitude remained the same, full of that cockiness and irritability that said this was a waste of his time. Then, one day, things changed. â€Å"I think,† he said. â€Å"You might be right.† I'm not sure who was more surprised by this: him or me. I'd honestly started to believe he wouldn't turn up anything at all as evidence of either a suicide or a murder. I gripped the phone tightly. â€Å"What? That someone killed her?† â€Å"Yeah †¦ I found a couple things. Did you know her husband has a girlfriend?† â€Å"Deanna told me. She seemed okay with his moving on.† It had been a few months since her death, too soon to start dating in my book, but still a semi-respectable time frame. According to Deanna, he'd begun seeing someone a few weeks ago. â€Å"Yeah, well, he moved on before she was dead. The girlfriend? His alibi.† I frowned. â€Å"Seriously?† Deanna's husband had been removed from suspicion because he'd had a solid witness to his whereabouts when she'd been killed. He'd been at a real estate agent's office; the agent was helping him with a vacation home for their family. â€Å"Maybe their relationship started after Deanna died †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Not if a witness I found is reliable. I also might have a lead that proves Deanna wasn't the one who bought the gun.† â€Å"If that's true †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I couldn't finish right away. Deanna acquiring the gun that had killed her had been one of the most damning pieces of evidence for suicide. â€Å"If you can prove that, then it could reopen everything.† â€Å"Yes,† said Enrique matter-of-factly. â€Å"Yes, it could. I'll be in touch.† We disconnected, and I suddenly wished he hadn't been quite so good at his job. If he was right about all this and turned up the evidence he needed †¦ well, someone was going to have to break the news to Deanna that her husband had murdered her. And that someone would be me. She currently believed some crazed killer had done it, one that was after her family now. The thought of it all sickened me. As I sat there in my room, an Otherworldly presence made my skin tingle. For half a second, I thought Deanna was appearing unsummoned – something I wasn't ready to deal with. I'd essentially given her a â€Å"don't call me, I'll call you† directive. But, no. It wasn't her. It was Volusian, his red eyes as malevolent as always. Lately, his appearance meant news from the Otherworld. I hoped it would be good. â€Å"What's up?† I demanded. â€Å"Shaya requests your presence immediately.† Something good at last. â€Å"The peace talks?† â€Å"No. She needs you because the Oak King is at your castle, demanding to see you.†

Greek Contributions to Modern Western Civilization Essay

Ancient Greek culture has influenced modern western civilization from their discoveries and traditions during their Golden Age. Their philosophies, politics and values have helped shape our every day life. Some of the most prominently displayed leaders of all time lived in Greece during the time. Their math, art science politics, architecture, drama, medicine, philosophy and values have inspired today’s everyday way of life. If it weren’t for their constant strides towards a better tomorrow, civilization today might be less advanced. A lot of their academic achievement math and science has trickled down from the generations and into western civilization today. Euclid, a mathematician, is now viewed as the most prominent mathematician of all time. He wrote a book called â€Å"The Elements† and put all of his discoveries and theories into it. A lot of the math and science that we use today was influenced by his theories and discoveries. A man named Hippocrates also solely influenced today’s medical practices. His discoveries in medicine made a long lasting imprint on today’s doctors and practices. He was an extremely trustworthy doctor. He made an oath stating that he would never give bad medicine and always strive to cure a patient, not just get paid. Today when becoming a doctor, you must take the Hippocratic oath, which was the oath that Hippocrates created. Whenever you go to see a performance now, whether you know it or not, Greek influence is involved. Greek drama and auditoriums are big influences. The three types of theaters that the Greeks had were Proscenium (like in today’s Gershwin Theater), Thrust (like in many of the concert halls seen today) and Arena (like today’s sports arenas). The architecture of these stages and of a lot of other structures are direct influences of the Greek civilization. Playwrights such as Socrates, Aeschylus and Euripides wrote plays that entertained people in Greece and all around the world still today. Playwrights wrote tragedies in which there is a main character with either a  special ability or tragic flaw. As the story progresses, the tragic flaw ruins the character (just like in today’s drama). One of the most tragic of plays are the stories of Oedipus, the King. In this, the main character’s tragic flaw is unknown even to him. It is his tragic past and how it influenced his present day life. Tragedies such as Oedipus the King have contributed to the making of today’s theater. Greece’s system of democracy was a new ideal for the time. Today, countries around the world use it. During the time of the first democracy, philosophers started to teach their thoughts and voice their opinions. This is because it was a time of turmoil. Corrupt leaders were leading Greece and people did not have much faith in democracy. At this time, philosophers gave the people things to ponder and believe in. The greatest three Greek philosophers were Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Even today, people live by some of the teachings of these philosophers and they are widely studied. Overall, many of today’s traditions, beliefs and values have been passed down from Greek civilizations. Their discoveries, traditions and strides toward perfection inspired later generations to act as they did. The individuals that invented and discovered new aspects of life and their surroundings gave way to brand new lifestyles that are used today.