Environmental Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Environmental Management - Essay Example We all know facts: and many of us even try to struggle for our goals, to "make this world a better place", as my beloved idol Michael Jackson used to sing. We receive daily newsletters from various organisations that are - or pretend to be - actively involved in fixing the environmental issues generated by their activities, and often, these organisations even create media campaigns destined to show that they are keenly interested in combating pollution. They claim that they doing their best. They often support these claims by issuing statements, figures, tables, calculations and press releases. They have hired experts especially trained to show an immaculate image, and often they prefer to invest massive sums in huge advertising campaigns, instead of investing in research destined to develop proper solutions for the preservation of our heritage: the natural resources and the balance of the environment. A huge step ahead was made by authorities when they started introducing environmental management standards and regulations - created as objective rules that keep pollution under control. Moreover, we have to notice that authorities tend to be stricter than ever before regarding the eco standards imposed to companies. There are a wide series of standards that must be fulfilled, so that auditors would grant their approval for your activity. ISO 14,001 is the certificate one aims for - and you must be certain to know your ways around in order to achieve it! And ISO 14004 is the one to focus on environment management systems, first of all. ISO 14,001 is downloadable and purchasable on the website standardsdirect.org. There one may find plenty of information regarding the standards that refer to environmental management systems, auditing, performance evaluation, labelling, life-cycle assessment and environmental aspects in product standards. Therefore, it is everyone's interest to become competitive on the international market by assuming these regulations and standards. As I have previously mentioned, most organizations have adopted strategies that show their constant and permanent interest in the environment, strategies that serve a double purpose: first of all, create an immaculate and environment-friendly image to the company, and second, encourage the customer to trust the mentioned company. Unfortunately, the world we live in pays a lot more respect to image, and sometimes fails to focus on the essence. Advertising was created as a tool for fooling the ordinary man; and we all were fooled at least once or twice. And some of us never manage to realise that we are misinformed. A fact we should all keep in mind is that the transparency of the information shared by various organizations and companies is less than satisfactory - as it is always an option to avoid the additional expenses generated by the development of environment friendly techniques. And another unfortunate fact is that, in many countries that were heavily hit by the recent recession, auditors tend to be less then exigent, and authorities are more indulgent, as everyone has a common purpose: to sell the goodies and cash their share. The industry I would like to refer to in this paper is the leather and fur industry of Eastern Asia. I have chosen this subject because it impressed me,

Online Grading System Essay Example for Free

Online Grading System Essay 1. INTRODUCTION 1. Background of the Problem Philippine Science High School is a specialized public high school system in the Philippines that operates as an attached agency of the Philippine Department of Science and Technology. The school was established through Republic Act 3661, authored by Congressman Virgilio Afable, and signed into law in 1963 by President Diosdado Macapagal. Now, the school is using a manual grading system in which they are using papers, files, cards and calculators to calculate the marks of each student. This type of grading is very difficult and takes a long time in calculating the grades of each student, and the school spends money for papers files and other things, as well as there is big ability for losing or damaging the document. If some records are lost, they never retrieve it in case of unexpected calamity. The important reports that must be generated for the academe personnel are: Student Academic Standing, Complete Summary of Grades and List of Delinquent Students. Moreover, a lot of parents are neither aware nor updated on their child’s performance in school. They did not know the grades that their child had received. Usually, students do not want to show their grades to their parents or their parents live in a distance place that is why they do not have the chance to show their grades even if they like to do so. These are the main reason why the proponents had created this research. With this, the proponents decided to develop the Online Grade Inquiry System to help the school to exercise the new technology in professional evaluation on the part of the instructor. It will help to collect and evaluate the evidence on students’ achievement or performance over a specified period of time. Through this process various types of descriptive information and measures of students’ performances are converted into grades with summarized students’ accomplishments.

Disjointed Characters of Faulkners Light in August Essay -- Light Aug

Disjointed Characters of A Light in August  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      In the novel, A Light in August, William Faulkner introduces us to a wide range of characters of various backgrounds and personalities.   Common to all of them is the fact that each is type cast into a certain role in the novel and in society. Lena is the poor, white trash southern girl who serves to weave the story together. Hightower is the fanatic preacher who is the dark, shameful secret of Jefferson. Joanna Burden is the middle-aged maiden from the north who is often accused of being a â€Å"nigger-lover†. And Joe Christmas is the epitome of an outsider. None of them are conventional, everyday people. They are all in some way disjointed from society; they do not fit in with the crowd. That is what makes them intriguing and that is why Faulkner documents their story.   Percy Grimm is another such character and he plays a vital role in the novel. He is the one to finally terminate Joe Christmas, who has been suffering his entire life.   Grimm is the enforcer, the one man who will uphold American pride at all costs. He also stands for everything in the world that has held Christmas back. He is the prototype of the ruthless enemy who is the source of all of Christmas ¹ struggles. And Christmas can never escape him. He can run, as he has been doing all his life and as he does in his desperate attempt to escape. But he can never hide, as he tries to do at Hightower ¹s and as he has been hiding his true self from the world he hates so much. Percy Grimm represents the unmerciful society that has restrained and persecuted Joe Christmas; it is only fitting that he should be the one to finally bring him down in the end. Percy Grimm was born into the American south and grew up to be a ... ...anage after he has sabotaged his existence there. He kills McEachern and runs away from home. He gets beaten and robbed on his final night with Bobbie. And he finally snaps and kills Joanna Burden and runs away for the last time. As he runs through the woods during his final few moments on earth, he is relentlessly chased by Percy Grimm, his enemy and torturer. In one last desperate attempt to escape, he hides at Hightower ¹s and is subsequently discovered and executed without mercy. But by this time, he is at peace with himself, knowing that he will no longer be forced to run and hide from anything. The society that holds him with such disdain has finally won their eternal battle. But he just does not care anymore. Joe Christmas surrenders to Percy Grimm with apathetic contentment. Works Cited: Faulkner, William. Light in August. 1932. New York: Vintage, 1987.

Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks

Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks both have their own unique flavors of coffee. â€Å"More than 100 million people in the U. S. alone drink coffee every day. † (Information taken from The National Coffee Drinking Trends Study, 2004 ) Each of these people do have a preference to which chain of coffee makers they chose. It can almost be broken up into a red state blue state debate. These two are divided in coffee bean choice, style and even price. They both define our culture in a unique fashion. It all began with the simple invention of the donut.â€Å"Captain Hanson Crockett Gregory was the inventor of the donut with a hole in the middle. William Rosenberg, the food-franchising pioneer founded the Dunkin' Donuts chain. Rosenberg opened his first coffee and doughnut shop, called the Open Kettle, in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1948. The name was changed to Dunkin' Donuts in 1950. According to â€Å"Donuts and the Salvation Army† – While The Army may not have invented the f irst donut, it can certainly take credit for [helping] the popularity of donuts today. June 4-5 marks the 61st anniversary of Salvation Army ‘Donut Day† In Chicago.The tag day was established in 1938 to honor the work of World War I Salvation Army †¢'lassies' who prepared donuts for thousands of soldiers in World War I. † www. http://inventors. about. com/library/inventors/bldonut. htm The donut made way for a company based on the donut and of course their coffee. The first company to be started based on their coffee was Dunkin Donuts. â€Å"It all started in 1946 when Mr. William Rosenberg founded Industrial Luncheon Services, a company that delivered meals and coffee break snacks to customers in the outskirts of Boston, Massachusetts.The success of Industrial Luncheon Services led Rosenberg to open his first coffee and donut shop, the â€Å"Open Kettle†. Then, in 1950, Rosenberg opened the first store known as Dunkin' Donuts in Quincy, Massachusetts. † (www. dunkindonuts. com) Massachusetts started it all. The branch grew from their little by little. Starbucks later opened their doors with their own unique take of Dunkin Donuts. â€Å"The story began in 1971 when the first Starbucks opened at Pike Place Market, which is Seattle's and the Nation's oldest Farmer's Market (opened August 17, 1907).But at this time the company was a local coffee roasting facility. That remained their core business until 1982 when Howard Schulz joined the company. He was the new marketing executive and began right away to convince more and more local cafes, upscale restaurants, and hotels to buy Starbucks coffee. The turning point for the company and the begin of writing coffee history should be one year later when Schulz traveled through Italy. He got inspired by the old Italian coffee bar tradition to serve fresh brewed Espressi and Cappuccini.He convinced the Starbucks founders to give his idea a chance and in 1985 he opened the first coffe e bar in Seattle and gave it the Italian touch by naming it ‘Il Giornale'.† (Credit: Starbucks Corporation; magazineUSA. com) Just like Dunkin Donuts the demand for more Starbucks arose. Dunkin Donuts known for its simplicity and unique colored orange and red cups. Starbucks however is known for many different qualities. â€Å"Without even paying for the publicity, the name Starbucks had become synonymous with fine coffee, hip hangouts, and upscale image.(Pendergrast 368) But the uniqueness of flavors is one of the most important things, when it comes down to who will by who. Dunkin Donuts just recently trying to keep up with Starbucks launched a new line of flavored drinks. â€Å"The fresh new flavors include Blueberry, Coconut, Raspberry, Marshmallow, Caramel, Toasted Almond and Cinnamon. Iced coffee enthusiasts will be given the opportunity to sample Dunkin' Donuts latest flavors in participating stores, and also when the Ice Lounge sampling van tour stops by severa l cities and towns in America. †(www. dunkindonuts.com)These flavors can be added or combined with various items such as Original Blend Coffee, Dunkin' Decaf, Iced Coffee , Iced Lattes, Hot Cappuccinos and Lattes, Hot Chocolate, and their Coolattas. This adds a lot of different variety to these drinks. Making everyone feel like an individual, having their own individual flavor and drink. Coolattas have become a growing trend among people as well. More and more people are trying iced coffee as a quick afternoon pick-me-up. According to the National Coffee Association, more than 41 million Americans switch to iced coffee during the spring and summer months.And millions of these iced coffee lovers turn to Dunkin' Donuts because they recognize the quality of their iced coffee stands apart from the competition, made with the same high quality Arabica beans used to make hot coffee. Although these are becoming a fast hit the most popular flavors sold at Dunkin Donuts are Original Ble nd, Hazelnut, French Vanilla, Cafe Blend and their Dunkin Decaf. Discovering your favorite Starbucks coffee begins with an understanding of where they are grown. They have a special roasted blend of coffee from a different section of the world.Examples, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The other uniqueness of Starbucks is that they take their unique flavors and sell them outside their stores. They sell iced drinks to ice cream in their flavors. They also have a unique blend and selection in their teas. Something Dunkin Donuts has not take advantage of. â€Å"Hot Teas (Filterbags and Full Leaf) Whether you are looking to soothe your psyche or revive your spirit, Tazo has a black, green or herbal tea to suit you. Bottled Iced and Juiced Teas These crisp and refreshing bottled beverages are a delightful departure from traditional teas.Artfully blended and freshly-brewed in the Tazo tradition, these bottled beverages are so invigorating, anytime becomes a good time for tea. Tea Lattes Tazo Tea Lattes expand the notion of what tea can be. Drawing from cultures, these exotic, full-flavored teas are lightly sweetened and served with other milk, and are delicious hot or cold. † (www. star bucks. com) Also Starbucks has its own special brand of liquor, which comes in coffee and in cream. Though both make coffee, they receive their beans from uniquely different places.â€Å"Dunkin' Donuts uses 100-percent Arabica coffee beans and has its own coffee specifications, which are recognized by the industry as a superior grade of coffee. Based on Dunkin' Donuts Quality (DDQ) specifications, coffee is milled and processed specifically for the company. † (www. dunkindonuts. com) In a slightly different area and less known about is Starbucks. â€Å"Because coffee grows in many different environments around the world, there is no one best way to grow coffee. But there is general agreement that utilizing shade trees for growing coffee can help sustain a healthier eco system and promote biodiversity.Starbucks on-going support for farmers who produce Shade Grown Mexico is a great example of helping farmers while preserving our natural environment. † (www. Starbuck. com) Starbucks always known for its environmental friendly attitude has made the growing of coffee beans into a cause. Besides the difference of beans, the number of stores and locations are also unique. Dunkin Donuts attaching itself to Baskin-Robbins and Togo, uses the different companies as an advantage to set up shop in various places.â€Å"Based in Canton, Massachusetts, Dunkin' Brands Inc. is part of U. K. -based Allied Domecq PLC and is responsible for the worldwide development and marketing of quick service restaurant brands including Dunkin' Donuts, Baskin-Robbins and Togo's. With the combined retail units of these three brands, Dunkin' Brands is one of the world's largest quick service restaurant companies, represented by more than 12,000 worldwide points of distributio n, including approximately 7,600 units in the United States and 4,400 units in 46 countries around the world. † (www. Dunkindonuts. com) Starbucks also has an impressive amount of stores open also.â€Å"Starbucks operates and licenses more than 8,500 coffee shops in more than 30 countries. The shops offer coffee drinks and food items, as well as beans, coffee accessories, teas, and CDs. Starbucks operates more than 5,200 of its shops in five countries (mostly in the US), while licensees operate more than 2,800 units (primarily in shopping centers and airports). The company also owns and franchises the Seattle's Best Coffee and Torrefazione Italia chains in the US (more than 100 shops). In addition, Starbucks markets its coffee through grocery stores and licenses its brand for other food and beverage products.†http://www. hoovers. com/starbucks-corporation/–ID__15745–/free-co-factsheet. xhtml Both impressive in numbers. Dunkin donuts and Starbucks each make sure that they have stores everyone for the customers satisfaction. Their customers are their number one priority beside of course their profits. Each store gathers in large amounts of money for their business. Both have amazingly strong stocks and profits for being a coffee shop. Business Magazine says that Dunkin Donuts is the â€Å"largest coffee and donut shop chin in the world† (www. business.com) The brand itself has made a huge profit. â€Å"Dunkin’ Donuts delivered an 11% growth in global system-wide sales driven by a 5. 2% increase in US same store sales and a 7% increase in global distribution points. The strong growth in same store sales growth which continues to outpace the overall QSR industry has been driven by product innovation and effective marketing. The innovation program has successfully launched a new range of coffee offerings, which include latte, cappuccino and espresso products, in 1,800 stores in the New England and Mid Atlantic areas.The lau nch has been supported by the introduction of new high speed coffee machines which maintain Dunkin’ Donuts reputation for speed, quality and value for money. In addition, a new limited time offer hot apple pie product has been very well received and helped to extend Dunkin’ Donuts sales into the traditionally quieter afternoon period. Marketing campaigns have focused around the new coffee offerings and highly successful regional program with Curt Schilling, the Boston Red Sox All-Star baseball player.. (King) Just as well the Starbucks company has made a name of itself and benefits of its brand name also.â€Å"As anyone who bought stock in Starbucks in the last decade knows, business has been good. Starbucks’ share price has risen almost tenfold in 10 years, and the company has steadily raised retail prices while wholesale prices fell. Fair trade coffee was initially plagued by complaints about bad quality, yet producers have made great strides in improving the quality of the brew and it has found a comfortable niche in the specialty coffee market, alongside organic coffee and other similar labels, such as â€Å"sustainable coffee.†After years of public pressure from activists who singled it out because of its high visibility and yuppie clientele, Starbucks now sells fair trade coffee in all its stores and has given it prominent play in university markets. Rice, whose organization gets paid 10 cents a pound by Starbucks to certify its fair trade coffee, thinks it’s time that activists turn their pressure elsewhere. But when it comes down to it statistically and other wise Dunkin Donuts wins. â€Å"For years, the product lines of the major U. S. brewed coffee sellers have been well defined. On the high end there is Starbucks Corp., with 5,439 locations in the U. S. During the past decade, the chain has made its expensive cappuccinos, frappuccinos, espressos and lattes part of the regular lexicon. On the other end, there is D unkin' Donuts, which has 4,100 stores. Although concentrated in the Northeast, Dunkin' Donuts is the nation's largest seller of regular, nonflavored brewed coffee through fast-food outlets, with a 17% market share, compared with 15% for McDonald's Corp. and 6% for Starbucks, according to market-research organization NPD Group. † (Ball) Statistically Starbucks looks like it is much behind Dunkin Donuts.This maybe why it has become more abundant and more commercial over the years. Cost could be the big factor why Dunkin Donuts is the number one coffee brewery in the country. â€Å"On average, the new Dunkin' Donut drinks cost at least 20% less than Starbucks's offerings — and an espresso shot is just 99 cents, compared with $1. 45 at Starbucks. â€Å" (Ball) Dunkin Donuts keeps its prices low and offers a high quality product. It gives the people what they want at a price everyone can afford. But the uniqueness of flavor and the uniqueness of product is a huge factor. T he conclusion is the flavor you are craving is the on you are going to chose.Questions1. Does quality or cost matter more to you?2. Regular coffee or a fancy drink like a cappuccino or espresso?3. Which company do you prefer?BibliographyBellis, Mary, Inventor of the Donut, http://inventors. about. com/library/inventors/bldonut. htm, 2005.Business. com,Restaurants & Foodservice > Dunkin' Donuts, Inc http://www. business. com/, 2001-2005.Dunkin' Donuts Incorporated, https://www. dunkindonuts. com/aboutus/ , 2005.Jeffrey, Paul, Depressed Coffee Prices Yield Suffering in Poor Countries, http://www. globalpolicy. org/globaliz/econ/2003/0207coff. htm, February 7, 2003.Magazine USA, Starbucks History, http://www. magazineusa. com/us/info/show. aspx? unit=originals&doc=33, 2000 – 2005.Murray, Barbara, Starbucks Corporation, http://www. hoovers. com/starbucks-corporation/–ID__15745–/free-co- factsheet. xhtml , 2005.Pendergrast, Mark, UNCOMMON GROUNDS The History of Coffe e and How It Transformed Our World, Perseus Books Group, 1999.Starbucks Coffee Company, http://www. starbucks. co. jp/en/company_history. htm, 2003 Starbucks Corporation Company Profile, http://biz. yahoo. com/ic/15/15745. html, 2005.Starbucks European History, www. starbucksjapan. com/history, 2003.

Perceptions of Organized Crime Groups Essay

The United States is run by a democratic government that has laws in place to ensure order and organization. However, there are certain people and groups that wish to compromise and profit personally from breaking these laws. According to Understanding Organized Crime (2007), organized crime can be defined by the members and the activities of a group. There are many crimes in which organized crime might be involved, but what separates individual crime from crimes committed by groups of people is the term organized or organization. Organization has been described as a group of people who cooperate to accomplish objectives or goals. Organized crime has been around for centuries; from Outlaw gangs in the western days that robbed stage coaches, the pony express, and passengers of trains to today’s Blood and Crip gangs that dominate public streets for power over territories and drug sales. Gangs have been around for a long time imposing on the lives and liberties of law abiding cit izens that wish to obey laws. Law abiding citizens have to live in imminent fear that their lives are not disrupted by the actions of these criminal organizations that wish to indulge in crime. In this paper, we will explore the various definitions, perception, characteristics of organized crime, and explore some high profile groups that indulge in different types of crimes. Perception of Organized Crime A University of Phoenix student named ————– was asked how she defined organized crime. ———–’s perception of organized crime has some of the dynamics right such as profit, power, and hatred, but the reading further states that organized crime has no real black and white meaning, besides a group of people uniting for a common goal. Her answer was simple; she stated that organized crime is when a group of people break laws and/or violate others in order to gain power, profit, or promote hatred. Organized crime groups incarcerated within the prison system such as Nuestra Familia and Mexican Mafia, break laws to gain power that lead to some form of profit; depending on what they need such as drugs, cigarettes, or privileges from others. Drug Cartels as the Shower Posse and Spangler Posse of Jamaica, involved themselves in organize crime to profit from illegal drug activity, and groups like the Ku Klux Klan and Aryan Bro therhood are driven by hatred. Author’s Perception Compare to the Definitions in the Readings The author’s perception of the definition in the reading is similar in the meaning of criminal organization, but the book states that crime can be defined by the members and the activities of a group. This means that crime is what each club sees it to be. This is an interesting point, but very true. Many people (e.g. club members) in society commit crimes for different reasons. Some feel it is necessary to break laws due to their limited necessities in life. It does, in no means make it right, but it is the perception of many. The prisons are filled with individuals/criminals that feel they were doing what they needed to do to defend themselves, take care of themselves, or just was presented with opportunity. Some of them sit in prison for years and still feel that their actions of breaking the law were justified. This is the mentality of most organized crime gangs. All they care about is what they want at the time, and not what the implications of breaking the law ca n lead to, until it hits home. ———has personal knowledge of different biker groups and 2 Outlaw Motorcycle Gang’s (OMG’s) and was raised in and around the biker atmosphere, but none of those groups that are mentioned in the book. She has heard the mentality of the OMG’s as opposed to regular Biker Clubs. The 1% clubs run their clubs totally different with no regard for breaking the law, indulging in violence, or starting trouble. 1% Outlaw Biker Gangs One of the clubs that she knows of is called the Chosen Few. The Chosen Few is a 1% motorcycle gang that ———-has first-hand knowledge of. She has known some of their members for a long time and has witnessed how their club is run, aside from other biker clubs that do charitable work in and around their communities, such as toy runs, mentorships, feeding, and clothing the homeless and disable children. In a recent article, from 2010, the Chosen Few M.C. was involved in 3 murders. After this incident, law enforcement officials began to keep a close eye on them and found even more illegal affiliations. The article by Chris Vogel (2011), points out several incidents with Chosen Few members that had negitive run-ins with the law. The article states that agents used confidential informants to buy drugs and guns from members, a member was arrested with more than a kilo of coke, police discovered that a DMV worker was making fake identifications for club members to use i n order to buy guns, and a member was arrested with a gallon of PCP – which led federal agents to Detroit, where another six gallons of PCP were seized. (Feds Catch Chosen Few Motorcycle Club Members Selling Guns & PCP, 2011) According to the characteristics of organized crime with Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMG’s) the Chosen Few, fits the criteria. Characteristics Associated with Organized Criminal Behavior There are certain characteristics of organized criminal behaviors that range from commitment to eminent structure. Commitment is an oath and allegiance to what these clubs, good or bad stand for. It is needed to protect and serve the honor of the organization and all its secrets. Along with this it comes with a sense of power, pride, and protection. Survival is a trait that many organized crime member’s exhibit. It is sometimes used to partake in illegal activities to sustain the worldly goods that obtained. For OMG’s, it may consist of the clubhouse, due paying members, and motorcycles. Punishment is a characteristic that is prevalent in discouraging members from disloyalty, disobedience, or dishonor. These punishments can be in the form of death, beat downs, or in the case of OMG’s fines or snatching of colors. Structure is the final characteristic that needed for an organize crime group to be successful. Like a business is run with a CEO, CFO, and other people in place to ensure order, organized crime groups are ran alike. With a chief officer in place and other members in position to handle different aspects of business to make sure there is no breakdown in with members. In conclusion, organize crime has unique characteristics that has been in place for centuries, and although law enforcement has been investigating the structures of this organizations, it is too many to stop. They are intricate organizations with different reasons as to why they chose to break the law. This is why there is no clear cut definition of organize crime. Mallory, S. (2007). Understanding Organized Crime. Retrieved from University of Phoenix. Vogel, C. (2011). Feds Catch Chosen Few Motorcycle Club Members Selling Guns & PCP. Retrieved from http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2011/07/black_biker_gang_chosen_few.php

Hydrocephalus in Animals

Hydrocephalus in Animals Hydrocephalus is a nervous system disorder characterized by increased intracranial pressure and enlargement of the head. Increased intracranial pressure is a direct consequence of fluid accumulation in ventricular system. This condition can affect almost all animal species including domestic animals like cattle, dogs, and cats (Rousseaux Ribble 31).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Hydrocephalus in Animals specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The disorder is mostly diagnosed in young animals. However, animals may develop the disease during adulthood. Two general types of hydrocephalus exist; communicating hydrocephalus and non-communicating hydrocephalus. This paper analyzes causes, signs and symptoms, diagnostic techniques, treatment, and prevention of the condition. Communicating hydrocephalus is brought about by buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain channels due to either over secretion or faulty absorp tion. In communicating type the ventricular system and subarachnoid space are connected (McGavin Zachary 864). It is not clear what causes excessive production or defective absorption but inflammatory processes could be involved. In some cases cerebrospinal fluid absorption occurs but is insufficient. This type occurs mainly as a congenital disorder. Congenital anomalies arise from exposure to chemicals, drugs and other teratogenic agents during pregnancy. Chromosomal mutations have been noted in animals with hydrocephaly. Genetic alterations are passed from parents to offspring. Cerebrospinal fluid cannot move from ventricles to subarachnoid space in non-communicating hydrocephalus. Obstruction could either be within the ventricular system or at the foramina connecting ventricles and the subarachnoid space. In this type, cerebrospinal fluid production and absorption are normal. Blockage is caused by a number of factors. They include tumors, injury to the brain, inflammation within the channels, and infections. Viral infections are by far the most common cause of obstruction. Most signs and symptoms are nonspecific to the condition. The disease is manifest through enlargement of the head. In some animal species, enlarged skull takes a characteristic shape. For example, dogs with the abnormality have dome shaped skull. Other signs and symptoms result from neurological deficits caused by compression. They include seizures, tremors, abnormal gait, feeding difficulties, growth retardation, and malformation of limbs. Animals with the disease are unable to lead a normal life. Diagnosis of hydrocephalus relies on physical examination by a veterinary doctor who then recommends other tests. Imaging is used to determine the location of the lesion in the brain (Nam 59). Laboratory tests are also done to rule out other causative agents like viruses and bacteria. Samples for laboratory tests include blood, cerebrospinal fluid and biopsies.Advertising Looking for r esearch paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Management of the disorder is divided into medical and surgical interventions. Medical treatment is done using steroids and diuretics. Steroids are anti-inflammatory agents while diuretics reduce intracranial pressure by increasing frequency of urination. Surgical management is done by a veterinary surgeon to improve drainage of cerebrospinal fluid. Shunting of fluid is achieved through ventriculoperitoneal shunting and ventriculoartrial shunting (Woo et al 499). Control and prevention of the disease can be achieved through screening of animals and removal of causative agents. Animals should be screened early in life for genetic abnormalities. Animals with defective genes should not be allowed to reproduce because they can pass problematic genes to their offspring (Hitlock 58). Pregnant animals should not be exposed to teratogenic agents. Animals should be im munized against some causative organisms like viruses. This paper analyzed causes, signs and symptoms, diagnostic techniques, treatment, and prevention of hydrocephalus. The disorder is caused by excessive production, defective absorption, and obstruction of flow. It can be managed using drugs and surgery. Hitlock, BK. â€Å"Heritable Birth Defects of Cattle.† Applied Reproductive Strategies Conference Proceedings Nashville. (2010): 146-153. Web. McGavin, MD. Zachary, JF. Pathologic Basis of Veterinary Disease, St Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier Publishing, 2007: 863-864. Print. Nam, Jung- Woo. â€Å"Evaluation of hydrocephalic ventricular alterations in maltese dogs using low field MRI.† Intern J Appl Res Vet Med. 9. 1. (2011): 58-67. Web. Rousseaux, CG Ribble, CS. â€Å"Developmental Anomalies in Farm Animals II. Defining Etiology.† Can Vet J .29 (1988): 30-40. Web.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Hydrocephalus in Animals specif ically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Woo J. N et al. â€Å"Application of ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement through fontanelle in a hydrocephalus dog: a case report.† Veterinarni Medicina. 54.10 (2009): 498– 500. Web.

When Two Stars Orbit Together

When Two Stars Orbit Together Since our solar system  has a single  star  at its heart, its logical to assume that all stars form independently and travel the galaxy alone. However,  it turns out that about a third (or possibly even more) of all stars are born in our galaxy (and in other galaxies) exist in multiple-star systems. There can be two stars (called a binary), three stars, or even more.   The Mechanics of a Binary Star Binaries (two stars orbiting around a common center of mass) are very common in the sky.  The larger of the two stars in such a system is called the primary star, while the smaller one is the companion or secondary star. One of the best-known binaries in the sky is the bright star Sirius, which has a very dim companion. Another favorite is Albireo, part of the constellation Cygnus, the Swan. Both are easy to spot, but it requires telescope or binoculars to see the components of each binary system.   The term binary star system should not be confused with the term double star. Such  systems are usually defined as two stars that appear to be interacting, but actually are very distant from each other and have no physical connection. It can be confusing to tell them apart, especially from a distance.   It can also be quite difficult to identify the individual stars of a binary system, as one or both of the stars may be non-optical  (in other words, not especially bright in visible light).  When such systems are found though, they usually fall into one of four following categories. Visual Binaries As the name suggests, visual binaries are systems in which the stars can be identified individually. Interestingly, in order to do so, it is necessary for the stars to be not too bright. (Of course, distance to the objects is also a determining factor if they will be individually resolved or not.) If one of the stars is of high luminosity, then its brightness will drown out the view of the companion. That makes it difficult to see. Visual binaries are detected with telescopes, or sometimes with binoculars. In many cases, other binaries, like those listed below, could be determined to be visual binaries when observed with powerful enough instruments. So the list of systems in this class is continually growing as more observations are made with more powerful telescopes. Spectroscopic Binaries Spectroscopy is a powerful tool in astronomy. It allows astronomers to determine various properties of stars simply by studying their light in minute detail. However, in the case of binaries, spectroscopy can also reveal that a star system may, in fact, be composed of two or more stars. How does this work? As two stars orbit each other they will at times be moving towards us, and away from us at others. This will cause their light to be blueshifted then redshifted  repeatedly.  By measuring the frequency of these shifts we can calculate information about their orbital parameters. Because spectroscopic binaries are often very close to each other (so close that even a good telescope cant split them apart, they are rarely also visual binaries. In the odd instances that they are, these systems are usually very close to Earth and have very long periods (the farther apart that they are, the longer it takes them to orbit their common axis). Closeness and long periods make the partners of each system easier to spot. Astrometric Binaries Astrometric binaries are stars that appear to be in orbit under the influence of an unseen gravitational force.  Often enough, the second star is a very dim source of electromagnetic radiation, either a small brown dwarf or perhaps a very old neutron star that has spun down below the death line. Information about the missing star can be ascertained by measuring the orbital characteristics of the optical star. The methodology for finding astrometric binaries is also used to find exoplanets (planets outside our solar system) by looking for wobbles in a star. Based on this motion the masses and orbital distances of the planets can be determined. Eclipsing Binaries In eclipsing binary systems the orbital plane of the stars is directly in our line of sight. Therefore the stars pass in front of each other as they orbit. When the dimmer star passes in front of the brighter star there is a significant dip in the observed brightness of the system. Then when the dimmer star moves behind the other, there is a smaller, but still measurable dip in brightness. Based on the time scale and magnitudes of these dips, the orbital characteristics, as well as information about the stars relative sizes and masses, can be determined. Eclipsing binaries can also be good candidates for spectroscopic binaries, though, like those systems they are rarely if ever found to be visual binary systems. Binary stars can teach astronomers a lot about their individual systems.They can also give clues to their formation, and the conditions under which they were born, since there had to be enough material in the birth nebula for both to form and not disrupt each other. In addition, there werent likely large sibling stars nearby, since those would have eaten up the material needed for the formation of the binaries.   The science of binaries is still very much an active topic in astronomy research.   Edited and updated by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

Grounded and Ten Other Idioms with Ground

Grounded and Ten Other Idioms with Ground Grounded and Ten Other Idioms with Ground Grounded and Ten Other Idioms with Ground By Maeve Maddox When I was still young enough to be under parental supervision, if I did something ill-considered, I was not â€Å"grounded†; I â€Å"lost privileges.† The use of grounded to mean â€Å"confined to home outside school hours† had not yet penetrated to our neck of the woods. I was familiar with grounded in connection with electricity and flying: grounded adjective: electrically connected with the ground, either directly or through another conductor. grounded adjective: of an airplane or pilot, unable, or not allowed to fly. For example, a pilot might be grounded because of illness. A plane might be grounded by reason of bad weather. In the 1940s, the word grounded acquired the general sense of suspended or disqualified. For example, a truck driver whose license had been revoked was said to be â€Å"grounded,† as was a jockey who had been suspended from riding. It was not a leap to apply the use of grounded to a teenager whose driving privileges had been revoked. Nowadays, even young children are said to be grounded when they have privileges denied as the result of misbehavior unconnected with using a vehicle. The noun ground is from a Germanic source meaning earth. Literally and figuratively, ground represents the basis or bottom of something. A ship in shallow water may strike ground. The plural, grounds, denotes the premise or reason on which something rests. For example, â€Å"grounds for divorce, â€Å"objections on religious grounds.† Ground occurs in numerous idioms. Here are just ten. ground rules: the basic rules or principles. For example, â€Å"Establishing the classroom  ground rules  on the first day can provide year-long benefits for your challenging students.†Ã‚   groundswell: a long, deep rolling of the sea caused by a disturbance, possibly originating at the bottom. Figuratively, a ground swell is strong public opinion that seems to be rising from somewhere and becoming stronger. For example, â€Å"Whether New York businessman Donald Trump is serious about running for president or just serious about getting publicity, his groundswell of support in recent weeks is hard to ignore.† ground zero: This expression stems from nuclear testing. â€Å"Ground zero† was the point on the earth’s surface either at or immediately above or below the center of a nuclear explosion. Now it can mean the center of any cataclysmic blast, such as the site of the World Trade Center that was destroyed in 2001. The expression is also used figuratively, as in this reference: â€Å"The Interview - the Hollywood movie that became ground zero in the extortionate cyber attack that U.S. authorities are now blaming on North Korea.†Ã‚   To break new ground: to do something that has never been done before, like a settler digging a foundation for a home in the wilderness. â€Å"Anomalisa filmmakers break new ground with stop-motion drama.† To cut the ground from under someone’s feet: in a debate, to disprove all possible arguments before they can be made by one’s adversary; to leave someone at a loss as to what to do. â€Å"Depression  cuts the ground from under  ones  feet!†Ã‚   To get in on the ground floor: to be involved at the beginning of an enterprise, especially in anticipation of profiting greatly. â€Å"If you are hoping to get in on the ground floor of Maryland’s medical cannabis program, you should not underestimate the importance of this very short comment period.†Ã‚   To put one’s ear to the ground: be on the alert for possible developments on a topic of interest. â€Å"It is not a secret among those who  keep their ears to the ground  in matters political in Michigan that Commissioner Mershon, of the state tax commission,  intends to resign as soon as the new administration takes office.† To go to ground: to make oneself inaccessible for a time, like an animal holing up in its lair. For example, â€Å"Similarly, a proportion of  fugitives  had  gone to ground  because they knew some of their Francoist neighbours were working in tandem with the authorities.†Ã‚   To get off the ground: to begin a project; begin to show success. This newspaper headline plays on both the literal and figurative meanings of â€Å"to get off the ground†: â€Å"In Chicago, rooftop farming is getting off the ground.† To hold one’s ground: to maintain one’s position in the face of opposition or attack. â€Å"A workplace bully may try to verbally pound you into submission. If he insists on getting his way, hold your ground.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:70 Idioms with HeartDoes "Mr" Take a Period?Uses of the Past Participle

NBA vs. Owners Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

NBA vs. Owners - Essay Example For instance, in 2009 he paid $2.73 in fines to the federal government to settle claims that were placed on him regarding discrimination towards the African Americans and Latinos. Donald Sterling has also been sued in the past by his own 22-year manger on claims of harassment, discrimination, as well as wrongful termination. This case becomes a moral issue because the recording that Donald Sterling has been accused of was released to the press illegally and his conversation was recorded without his consent. This has led to Sterling claiming that his rights were violated. The image conscious NBA has several options that can be taken against the billionaire who has since maintained that he is not racist. This issue becomes more confusing because Donald Sterling has been involved in initiatives to support the minority groups. However, one of his own managers has maintained that he does something expecting to benefit in another way. For instance, helping the minorities and having a girlf riend from a minority group would be effective in showing that he is not racist and in improving his own image. Although the NBA has a clear constitution, several changes should be incorporated in it to ensure that firm actions are taken against individuals who make racist remarks. Due to the evil that is involved in racism, NBA should punish such individuals as Donald Sterling accordingly to ensure that such instances do not occur again in the future and to ensure equality in the American society. Preventing a re-occurrence of the same in the league, NBA should monitor the behavior of the team owners, create an environment that advocates for equality, react immediately to racist behaviors, and enforce racism cases regarding the league in the U.S constitution. The NBA should monitor the behavior of the team owners as well as their actions so as to ensure that actions that may tarnish the name of the organization and the image of

Global Business Environment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Global Business Environment - Assignment Example This report will look at the different measures a country can take in such instances. There is essentially no simple strategy alone to prevent recession in a country. There are a number of factor at play which further complicates the problem of recession in a country. Like after world economic crisis in 2008, country like India faced many challenges with respect to its economic policies. India has high inflation rate along with soaring high interest rate. Keeping in mind the strong fundamentals in India, RBI took a number of measures to control recession in India. RBI plays a significant role by controlling and monitoring the lending rates of scheduled commercial banks. The inflation rate in any economy is dependent on the availability of goods and services. RBI uses its monetary and credit tools to maintain the price stability in the economy and thus support the economic growth in the economy. RBI being the central bank of India, monitors, regulates and controls the entire financial system. RBI through its monetary policy regulates the issue of bank notes so as to m aintain proper liquidity in the system (Schwartz, 2010, p. 7). The monetary policy adopted by RBI can be either expansionary or contractionary in nature. RBI uses expansionary policy during deep recession. When RBI finds excess liquidity in the system, RBI uses several monitory instruments like Cash reserve ratio, Statutory Liquidity Ratio, Repo Rate, Reverse Repo rate to adjust liquidity in the economy. During deep recession, RBI needs to inject liquidity in the system so that money can flow in the system and demand improves and consequently GDP improves. For that RBI can reduce Cash reserve ratio or Statutory Liquidity Ratio. This will inject more cash in the hands of Bank which Banks can lend to the customers and inject liquidity in the system (Hershey, 2004, p. 13). The main priority should be given to small scale industries as they are the main employment

The Concept of Disinterestedness as Central for the Ethics of Kant Essay

The Concept of Disinterestedness as Central for the Ethics of Kant - Essay Example According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that the chief postulate of the philosophy of Kant is that the mind can know objects existing in the external world only via notions of space and time, which are sensible forms produced by the mind itself. Kant maintains that these forms, by virtue of structuring the sensual information, enable the knowledge as such, and concludes that all we know about objects is their appearance in time and space, in this way drawing attention to the fact that the mind adds something to its knowledge, fundamentally limiting itself in the process. Kant used these views as an argument in his moral philosophy to show that humans are free because it is the power of their reason that posits a moral law for their actions. In frames of the classical tradition, moral philosophy was viewed as ethics based on the human situation in the world, and on the realities external in relation to mind. Under this view, moral goodness is rooted in the natur e of man, the nature of things, and God. This approach gave rise to Natural Law theory of ethics, and since the classical period, the moral philosophy offered few new perspectives. It was Kant who offered a truly new perspective in the moral philosophy as he rationalized ethics by his exaltation of Pure Reason as a system of beliefs that does not depend on sensual experience, and at the same time used his Christian background to absolutize his moral ideal. He grounded morality not on the traditional notion of good but on the pure obligation, akin to his perception of knowledge as based on some a priori, i.e. independent of experience, forms inherent to mind. In this way, Kant replaced the traditional Christian ethics with reason, which became the factor that shapes human life, and ascribed to morality absolutized and sacred status. Thus, as the external reality has been demoted as the source of morality, a total change of the foundation of moral philosophy occurred and the rational ethics had to be separated from external objects and had to be inferred only from the internal qualities of the human mind. In Kantian disinterestedness, love is absent, which makes the ethics based on Pure Reason distinct from the traditional Christian morality. Indeed, Kant thought that to have a truly disinterested motive, any striving for good, including love and our desire for pleasure and happiness, as the end of an action must be disqualified as being not moral but as the one which is inevitably interested. Of course, the desire for pleasure, our self-interest, our self-love, and after all our prudence may seem to be related to morality, as these elements of our motivation accompany most actions of man, but for Kant they cannot constitute even slightest motives of the moral act, and instead deprive it of morality. As Kant says that the only possible thing which can be considered unqualifiedly good is a good will, therefore human desires cannot be motives for the pure and auto nomous moral will. Similarly, goodwill remains good only because it is an exposition of Pure Reason, and because it conforms to obligation exclusively for the sake of obligation, forming the only possible mode of a truly moral motivation. There is just one impulse that can lead us to this authentic motivation - reverence of the moral law because such a respect is the only factor that reason lets into moral life.

Opportunity Journal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Opportunity Journal - Assignment Example ne app can be very useful in reducing customer complaints because with its regularly updated information, the tourists can understand their destination well before hand and avoid being exploited by the locals. Proposed solution: Provide free smart tags such as reboundTAG services to all travelers. A smart tag or reboundTAG is a microchip tag that can be embedded in a customer’s baggage making it easily traceable. This is a very good way of tracking baggage, avoiding losses and delays, since the system notifies the passenger when their baggage is found. Since it is a third party service most passengers may not be able to access its beneficial features, however if the services are incorporated as part of the airline services this can lead to more satisfaction from customers and reduce the number of complaints. Proposed solution: Provide a cell phone signal booster for all office and home buildings. Cell phone boosters are used to amplify weak signals into strong signals that can bypass obstructions and provide the people within the area with a strong and reliable signal. If this is mandated for all residential and office buildings, it can save many people the stress of poor services as well as save carrier companies the cost of putting up more cell towers Problem: The main reason for printers being used widely in homes and offices is that as time moves on more portable and cheaper printers are being produced. However, the main problem with most printers is that their ink cartridges or toners are too expensive. The prices for a set of cartridges or toner can end up costing more than the initial price of the printer. Sometimes it becomes more difficult because each manufacturer have their own unique cartridges Proposed solution: Make it a policy for printer manufacturer companies to have standard refillable ink cartridges that can be bought and used by printer from any manufacturer. With a refillable ink, it will be cheaper for users to buy ink and refill their

Basha Restaurant Business Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Basha Restaurant Business Plan - Assignment Example The restaurant meets the expectation of the customers by providing them valuable services by the restaurant staff. The manage constantly runs a check on the activities taking place in the restaurant which assures the customer that everything is in control and being evaluated constantly. The restaurant staff is trained to provide effective and efficient services to the customers. The cuisines are developed by authentic Arabic chefs and the recipes used are also authentic. This adds on to the credibility of the restaurant. The taste of the food is given special consideration as the owners of Basha want the food to be perfect in all regards for their valuable customers. The pricing and profitability strategy has been developed considering all the expenses and investments required to start up the business. Table of Contents Introduction 5 Objectives 5 Sales Objectives 5 Mission 6 Keys to Success 7 Company Summary 7 Company Ownership 7 Start-up Summary 7 Company Location and Facilities 9 Services 10 Competitive Comparison 10 Sales Literature 10 Market Analysis Summary 10 Target Market Segment Strategy 10 Marketing Programs 10 Pricing and Profitability Strategy 11 Cost of Goods Sold 13 References 17 Basha Restaurant Business Plan Introduction Basha is one of the distinctive restaurants in Dubai that offers authentic Arabic cuisines to its valuable customers.... The Basha restaurant in Dubai has its location at the terrace of Habtoor Grand Resort and Spa from where the view of Dubai is outstanding (Al Basha in the Habtoor Grand Beach Resort and Spa, Dubai Marina Mall, Dubai – Restaurant Reviews—TimeOutDubai.com, 2012). The paper discusses the business plan according to a standard format of a business plan (Floor, 2003) Objectives The objectives of Basha Arabic Restaurant in Dubai are as follows: To provide authentic Arabic Cuisine To increase the market share in Dubai amongst other Arabic Restaurants To provide a soothing ambience to the customers of the restaurant To increase profits by 25% in the year 2013 Sales Objectives To increase sales by 15 % in the year 2013 that is reach a amount of AED 140,000 Mission The mission of Basha Arabic restaurant is to provide authentic Arabic cuisines to the customers of Dubai so that they can get a feel about the Arabic cuisines. The customers should enjoy dine out at Basha and the ambien ce of the restaurant should be such that the customers should feel they are dining out in core Middle Eastern country. The ingredients used should be of good quality, the chef should be Arabic and recipes of the Basha restaurant should be authentic Arabic recipes. The cuisines served should be fresh and should be served in the most unique manner by the restaurant staff. Presentation of the cuisines should be highly appealing attractive. Customers are paying a premium price at Basha and so they should be entertained with the best Arabic cuisines in town. Basha wants its market share to increase and also the number of customers should make repeat visits in the restaurant. The staff should be well aware of all the Arabic cuisines being served in the restaurant

Answer the question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Answer the question - Essay Example The student association at grass-root, local, state and national level raises the pertinent issues that influence students’ personal and professional growth and helps create facilitating environment for their growth, both at individual level and professional level. Thus, the various inputs and outputs of student association become important imperatives that influence students’ personal and professional growth. The major input of SA is uneducated youth or youth with low education whose prospects in the employment market could get significant boost through higher education. Another input for SA is the discriminatory practices as faced by students from diverse socio-cultural and economic background. The organization uses the inputs and evolves different mechanisms like running campaigns, creating awareness and taking issues to the local, state and national level so that equity in education can be implemented for the benefit of poor and the ethnic minority. The organization also promotes cross cultural understanding so that students and people at large learn to appreciate the values of other cultures and develop respect for culturally diverse populace. The main output of the organization is the accessibility to higher education for students cutting across the divide of race, culture, income, class, ethnicity and nationality. Thus, educated and professionally qualified students from diverse ba ckground become the major output for the student association. Student Associations are important non-government voluntary organizations that broadly work towards the welfare of the students’ community. The goals of the student association are to ensure that students’ voice is heard at local, state and national levels; strengthen student government; expand access to higher education; promote diversity across the students’ community; ensure accessibility to education cutting across income, race, culture, class and

Basha Restaurant Business Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Basha Restaurant Business Plan - Assignment Example The restaurant meets the expectation of the customers by providing them valuable services by the restaurant staff. The manage constantly runs a check on the activities taking place in the restaurant which assures the customer that everything is in control and being evaluated constantly. The restaurant staff is trained to provide effective and efficient services to the customers. The cuisines are developed by authentic Arabic chefs and the recipes used are also authentic. This adds on to the credibility of the restaurant. The taste of the food is given special consideration as the owners of Basha want the food to be perfect in all regards for their valuable customers. The pricing and profitability strategy has been developed considering all the expenses and investments required to start up the business. Table of Contents Introduction 5 Objectives 5 Sales Objectives 5 Mission 6 Keys to Success 7 Company Summary 7 Company Ownership 7 Start-up Summary 7 Company Location and Facilities 9 Services 10 Competitive Comparison 10 Sales Literature 10 Market Analysis Summary 10 Target Market Segment Strategy 10 Marketing Programs 10 Pricing and Profitability Strategy 11 Cost of Goods Sold 13 References 17 Basha Restaurant Business Plan Introduction Basha is one of the distinctive restaurants in Dubai that offers authentic Arabic cuisines to its valuable customers.... The Basha restaurant in Dubai has its location at the terrace of Habtoor Grand Resort and Spa from where the view of Dubai is outstanding (Al Basha in the Habtoor Grand Beach Resort and Spa, Dubai Marina Mall, Dubai – Restaurant Reviews—TimeOutDubai.com, 2012). The paper discusses the business plan according to a standard format of a business plan (Floor, 2003) Objectives The objectives of Basha Arabic Restaurant in Dubai are as follows: To provide authentic Arabic Cuisine To increase the market share in Dubai amongst other Arabic Restaurants To provide a soothing ambience to the customers of the restaurant To increase profits by 25% in the year 2013 Sales Objectives To increase sales by 15 % in the year 2013 that is reach a amount of AED 140,000 Mission The mission of Basha Arabic restaurant is to provide authentic Arabic cuisines to the customers of Dubai so that they can get a feel about the Arabic cuisines. The customers should enjoy dine out at Basha and the ambien ce of the restaurant should be such that the customers should feel they are dining out in core Middle Eastern country. The ingredients used should be of good quality, the chef should be Arabic and recipes of the Basha restaurant should be authentic Arabic recipes. The cuisines served should be fresh and should be served in the most unique manner by the restaurant staff. Presentation of the cuisines should be highly appealing attractive. Customers are paying a premium price at Basha and so they should be entertained with the best Arabic cuisines in town. Basha wants its market share to increase and also the number of customers should make repeat visits in the restaurant. The staff should be well aware of all the Arabic cuisines being served in the restaurant

The LM curve Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The LM curve - Essay Example IS curve or IS schedule explains the investments and savings aspect of market or economy. This explains the activity of goods and services performance in the economy. The LM curve, on the other hand, explains the money market or money aspects of the market and economy. As a whole, they both describe the overall activities of the economy which lead national income. The FE schedule describes the labor market and the labor aspects of the economy. The IS-LM-FE model addresses the three major areas of any economy. Labor, money and goods and services are all addressed by this model. We have the IS curve equation. Using the given data, we can calculate for the income Y. r = 0.1(I+G+0.2Y*-0.2Y+50RE) as r = r* = 5, we can substitute the value of r* for r in the IS equation. 5 = 0.1 (100 + 100 + 0.2*500 - 0.2Y + 50*1) Yielding Y = 1500 This gives us the income, Y, as 1500. Y, the income, is local income only as the foreign income Y* has also been considered. This is the equilibrium level of income in the economy. To calculate for the resulting equilibrium level of money supply, we use the LM curve. The LM curve explains the supply and demand aspects of money in the market and economy. Using the equation for the LM curve, we can calculate for the equilibrium money supply level in the market. M=0.25Y-5r We calculated Y to be 1500 and r is given to be r* which is 5. Solving for M, money supply, we get M = 350 The money supply has equilibrium value of 350 for the given values of income, exchange rate and other variables. b)to what extent does r* have to move in order to obtain an income level of 1600explain For the income to be 1600, we can calculate for the value of r* which is also r is our case. Solving the same equation of IS schedule for r we get, r = 0.1(I+G+0.2Y*-0.2Y+50RE) Putting values of I, G, Y*, Y and RE, we get, r = 0.1 (100 + 100 + 0.2*500 - 0.2*1600 + 50*1) r = 18 r has to be 18 in order to make the income equal to 1600. This means that the value of r has to increase to 360% of its original value. By reaching this level, the income in the market will be

Native Americans- Minority Role Essay Example for Free

Native Americans- Minority Role Essay Power and Minority Group Position: The Case of Native Americans Majority/Minority group relations can be illustrated by studying the role of power and how it is distributed between groups. The majority, or group that wields the most power, directly affects the circumstances for the minority. In most cases power struggle leads to racial and ethnic inequality. This scenario describes the case of the Native Americans. Since the arrival of the Europeans in 1492 the Native American has systematically been dehumanized, decivilized and redefined into terms that typify a subordinate or minority role, restricted life opportunities persist today as a result (Farley, 2000). When European settlers arrived on American shores to settle a New World, around 7 million Native Americans had been settled in the wilderness north of present-day Mexico for some time. It is believed that the first Native Americans arrived during the last Ice Age, approximately 20,000 30,000 years ago, by crossing the Bering Strait from northeastern Siberia into Alaska. Over thousands of years, spiritual kin-based communities had survived by living off the land and bartering goods. Their diversity was reflected by their societies, which ranged from small, mobile bands of hunter-gatherers in the Great Basin to temple-mound builders in the Southeast (DiBacco, 1995). The encounter of early explorers with the people of the Americas would ultimately set in motion the destruction of long existing Native American life and culture. Engrained into the minds of the Europeans were prejudiced images and stereotypes of the Native Americans, which we struggle still today to eradicate. From the 1490s to the 1590s, Europeans pushed inward across America from both coasts. Encounters with these settlers attracted many Native Americans toward European goods, but their attitudes toward the newcomers themselves depended greatly on previous experiences (Farley, 2000). In most cases, the early explorers found the Native American peoples to be friendly and generous. Columbus was immediately struck by the peaceful, generous nature of the Taino. The Taino society was highly organized around a patriarchal hierarchy and distinguished by happiness and friendliness. Columbus frankly stated how surprised he had been to make friends with the Indians. He wrote, They are gentle and comely people. They are so naive and free with their possessions that no one who has not witnessed them would never believe it. When you ask for something they have, they never say no. To the contrary, they offer to share with anyone They willingly traded everything they owned (DiBacco, 1995) When the Europeans settlers started to arrive in the 16th- and 17th-centurys they too were met by Native Americans. The Natives regarded their white-complexioned visitors as something of a marvel, not only for their outlandish dress and beards and winged ships, but even more for their wonderful technology steel knives and swords, fire-belching arquebus and cannons, mirrors, hawkbells and earrings, copper and brass kettles, etc. (Jordan, 1991). Increased interaction led to the Indians becoming less self-sufficient and economically dependent on the whites. As the years went on, however, the natives began to realize that the Europeans had much more in mind than a few settlements. They began to realize that their entire way of life was under siege. By the time the truth occurred to them, however, it was probably already too late. Their bows and arrows were no match for the Europeans firearms, and their bodies could not defend against the foreign diseases (DiBacco, 1995). As the encroachment of settlers on Indian lands continued, so did the inevitable conflicts. To the Indians, the arriving Europeans seemed attuned to another world; they appeared oblivious to the rhythms and spirits of nature (Jordan, 1991). Nature to the Europeans was something of an obstacle, even an enemy, and these disrespectful attitudes were quite apparent to the Indians. The wilderness was also a commodity however: a forest was so many board feet of timber, a beaver colony so many pelts, a herd of buffalo so many hides (Jordan, 1991). The Europeans cultural arrogance and ethnocentrism, and their materialistic view of the land and its inhabitants were repulsive to the Indians. Europeans, overall, were regarded as something mechanical soulless creatures wielding diabolically ingenious tools and weapons to accomplish selfish ends (Jordan, 1991). Initial European impressions of the Native American population were formed by the descriptions of Columbus and other explorers. Although Columbus initially praised the Taino, crediting them with a very acute intelligence , he also provided an unfavorable view of Native Americans when he discussed the Carib Indians, who were said to be very fierce cannibals. This description set the stage for the long-enduring image of the hostile, savage Indian (Berkhofer, 1978). Another New World explorer, Amerigo Vespucci further established this imagery in his writings about the natives stating, The nations wage war upon one another without art or order. The elders by means of certain harangues of theirs bend the youths to their will and inflame them to wars in which they cruelly kill one another, and those whom they bring home captives from war they preserve, not to spare their lives, but that they may be slain for food; for they eat one another, the victors the vanquished, and among other kinds of meat human flesh is a common article of diet with them. Nay be the more assured of this fact because the father has already been seen to eat children and wife (Burkhofer, 1978). The recently developed printing press rapidly dispersed such images through both print and picture, and these representations became firmly etched in the minds of the Europeans (Bataille, 1980). Eventually, the Native Americans were considered subhuman and evil. The hope of civilizing the Indian was often expressed, but ultimately religion required the eventual submission of the Indians to white domination (Burkhofer, 1978) When colonies began to form in North America, the colonists wanted to create a world similar to the one they had left. The Indians were a major barrier to this progress and civilization. The colonists hoped the natives would embrace Christianity and become assimilated within the colonist society. When the Native Americans resisted, they, like the wilderness, became merely an obstacle in the colonists path. Because they would not conform to the European way of life, their destruction was inevitable. Because some justification was needed in order to wipe out the entire race, the stereotype of the bloodthirsty savage was solidified (Bataille, 1980). The Europeans were accustomed to owning land and claimed ownership of the new territory, justifying their actions with the fact that the Indians were nomads with no interest in owning any land. The conflicts led to many wars and various actions instituted by the Europeans in order to accomplish their objectives. The Indian tribes were at a great disadvantage during these wars because of their modest numbers, nomadic life, lack of advanced weapons, and unwillingness to cooperate, even in their own defense (Jordan, 1991). During the nineteenth century, the American Indians, by tradition a communal people, were forcibly separated from their native cultures and lands. By the mid-1840s most of the Native Americans east of the Mississippi River had been relocated to Indian Territory, as a result of President Andrew Jacksons Indian Removal Act of 1830. This act gave territory to Native Americans who agreed to reject their ancestral holdings. This act allowed the Indians to live on the declared territory indefinitely. Many refused to leave their homelands, however, engaging in battles destined to end in death and destruction. These Native Americans were subjected to numerous forms of violence, such as raping, scalping and lynching, among other acts (Zinn, 1980). The Europeans eventually stripped the Native Americans of most of their lands, and as the settlers pushed further west, the boundaries of the Indian Territory continued to shrink. As the wandering Indians encountered existing tribes and the designated Indian Territory became more crowded, conflicts over land and hunting rights ensued. The relocated Indians were often struck by famine, as buffalo and other game became scarce. The reduction of the overcrowded Indian reservations was continued as more white settlers arrived in America (Zinn, 1980). The building of the transcontinental railroad allowed for thousands of white setters to make their way across Indian Territory. Native Americans forced off their lands often starved on the poor land or died of diseases brought with the settlers from Europe. Indians were often pressured to sign treaties giving up land and agreeing to live on reservations. In return, the government vowed to provide the Indians with services and supplies (Todd, 1986). The white men did not uphold this promise, however. Most of the Native Americans were nomadic and nonagricultural, and all depended for survival on hunting the buffalo (Jordan, 1991). The settlers realized the usefulness of the buffalo hides and killed an estimated three million buffalo each year over a three-year period. The devastation of the buffalo was also devastating to the Indians (Jordan, 1991). Tensions were increased as Indians traveled outside reservation lines to hunt buffalo for survival. When government attempts at concentrating the Native Americans in reservations proved ineffective, many battles ensued between Indians and Americans. Because their designated land was insufficient, the Indians were forced to revolt in order to survive (Todd, 1986). Terribly disadvantaged, however, the Native Americans were not able to defend themselves against the settlers. Most American Indians saw themselves as citizens of sovereign Indian nations. In fact, during the first half of the 1800s, the U. S. government treated Indians who lived in tribes as members of separate nations. The federal government even negotiated formal treaties with them. All that changed in the latter half of the 1800s. The U. S.government began to look at Indians as wards or dependents instead of citizens of their own sovereign nations or citizens of the United States. In 1870, the Senate declared that the Fourteenth Amendment, which granted citizenship to African Americans, did not apply to American Indians who lived in tribes. In 1871, Congress stated that hereafter no Indian nation or tribe within the territory of the United States shall be recognized as an independent nation (DiBacco, 1995). In 1887, congress passed the Dawes Act, dividing both reservations and families. Indian families who agreed to live separate and apart from any tribe were given their own land to cultivate. After 25 years, the family would be granted both land and U. S. citizenship. This U. S. policy stressed Indian assimilation of the habits of civilized life through citizenship, education, and individual land ownership (DiBacco, 1995). Traditionally, Native Americans owned land through tribes and communities, as opposed to individually. The effort to individualize Indians and force them to forgo their tribal and traditional ways caused strife among tribal communities and provoked a growing Indian opposition (Zinn, 1980). Once again, however, the Indians suffered because the quality of their land was very poor, they were untrained at farming, and they lacked proper tools. Additionally, disease and malnutrition increased as common causes of death. Between 1887 and 1934, American Indian nations lost more than sixty percent of their land to the American federal government (Jordan, 1991). The end of the 19th century marked the end of the Indian Wars with an unprovoked massacre in 1890 during which Indian warriors, women, and children were slaughtered by U. S. cavalry at Wounded Knee (Jordan, 1991). In the end approximately 200 Native American men, women, and children had been killed (DiBacco, 1995). In the early twentieth century Indians continued to be the target of civilized assimilation efforts. In accordance with these efforts, the government funded Native American churches and schools. Education has been regarded as a primary tool in the cultural genocide, or assimilation, of Native Americans throughout history. Its overall effect severely diluted Native American culture with Christian European values and beliefs, but taught no Native American history (Keohane, 2003). The Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania, the Haskell Institute in Kansas, and the Chilocco Indian School in Oklahoma all sought to eradicate Indian languages and lifestyles. Native Americans from various areas were forced to send their children to such schools. Most were boarding schools where students would have no contact with their tribal homeland. Students were forced to adapt themselves to the culture of the colonists under a militarized system that enforced the use of the English language, English names, and Christian religion, while dismissing Native American cultures as uncivilized. Many of the students were even kept from their families during breaks as they were sent off to work under white families, still furthering their cultural immersion and strengthening the American economy. Kill the Indian and save the man was the Carlisle Schools motto (Keohane, 2003). During the first few decades of the 20th century, the gap between Indians and whites widened as Native Americans continued to find the thinking of white Americans illogical, and Federal officials continued to outlaw Indian religious practices. As assimilation efforts began to succeed, American Indians were reduced in the public eye to the status of ancient relics. For example, most citizens were unaware that ten thousand Indian men were serving in World War I or that educated Indians were becoming teachers, farmers, and ministers (Zinn, 1980). Many of the stereotypes of Native Americans originally created in Columbus time have carried over to contemporary society. This only solidified white attitudes about manifest destiny and the role of the Indian in North America. The bloodthirsty savage had become a staple of the popular dime novel and Wild West shows (Bataille,1980). By the time of World War I, the image of the ignorant, savage Native American was firmly established in popular film, which was greatly profitable though historically inaccurate. The generic Indian was portrayed in fringed clothing, communicating through grunts and simple language (Bataille, 1980). Even today, many people overgeneralize about Native Americans, seeing them as one people even though the tribes have always differed in many ways. In 1924, Native Americans were finally given some recognition as a federal law pushed U. S.citizenship upon the remaining Indian population, BE IT ENACTED , THAT ALL NON-CITIZEN INDIANS BORN WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF THE UNITED STATES BE AND THEY ARE HEREBY, DECLARED TO BE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES: PROVIDED, THAT THE GRANTING OF SUCH CITIZENSHIP SHALL NOT IN ANY MANNER IMPAIR OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY INDIAN TO TRIBAL OR OTHER PROPERTY. THE INDIAN CITIZENSHIP ACT, APPROVED JUNE 2, 1924 Despite their newly gained citizenship, Native Americans were blocked from voting for the next twenty years in Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. As a result, The Indian Rights Association and The American Indian Defense Association were formed to protect Indian rights, but the two organizations had limited power or impact (DiBacco, 1995). The plight of American Indians attracted little attention until 1928, when a shocking study, the Meriam Report, exposed the frequency of Indian poverty and the failure of government to fulfill allotted promises. The result of this new interest in reform was called the Indian New Deal, a new law that would restructure tribal governments and the administration of federal policies. The bill became the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. It introduced federal programs to support Indian agriculture, vocational education, and economic development. It included a provision that allowed reservation communities to set up tribal governments patterned after local units of the American government. Despite criticisms of the law being too paternalistic and undermining tribal traditions, the authority of Indian communities actually did expand during this time. The new Indian governments began to assert their rights in order to reverse the loss of tribal sovereignty (Jordan, 1991). Even though American Indians sent twenty-five thousand men and women to World War II, ten thousand to the Korean conflict, and forty-three thousand to Vietnam, their efforts did little to erase negative images of Indians (Zinn, 1980). Such images have also persisted in federal policy. Following World War II the Bureau of Indian Affairs instituted a program to terminate the federal governments trust relations with many tribes. In 1953 government officials passed a bill reducing federal expenditures and shrinking the federal bureaucracy by getting out of the Indian business and setting Indians free from federal support and protection. Poverty and homelessness quickly produced frustration and anger, and these, in turn, produced additional problems: alcoholism, joblessness, and poverty (Zinn, 1980). In the late 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement kicked off a wave of political activism by Native Americans, successfully changing negative policies and views. A new voice began to be heard in 1961 when the American Indian Chicago Conference gathered to present an Indian agenda for the new Kennedy administration. As American Indian youth became more involved in national Indian issues, the National Indian Youth Council formed (DiBacco, 1995). Additional examples of this new activism and militancy would include the founding of the American Indian Movement in 1968, the occupation of Alcatraz Island in 1969, the Trail of Broken Treaties march of 1972, and the armed occupation of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, in 1973 (Farley, 2000). These and other actions produced a national and highly visible call for Native American self-determination. This new campaign also emphasized individual tribal culture and practices. Pro-Indian legislation emerged during the 1970s as a result of activism and self-determination. The Indian Self-Determination and Educational Assistance Act, was passed in 1975 and stipulated that tribes could enter into contracts with the Indian Bureau to administer their own programs, from education to health care to housing. Other new laws included a settlement of land claims in Maine in 1978 and two pieces of landmark legislation passed the same year. The Indian Child Welfare Act established a role for tribes in the adoption of Indian children and the American Indian Religious Freedom Act declared constitutional support for Native American religious freedom (DiBacco, 1995). Despite growing efforts at self-determination, exploitation still plagues the Native Americans. Recent water and energy needs have led to government and industrial encroachment on Native American Land. Native Americans have even seen their reservations recommended as toxic-waste dumping grounds in exchange for much needed money. Discrimination still continues, especially in cities near the reservations. Tribal governments have enormous responsibilities that include the protection of hunting and fishing rights, water rights, religious traditions, and cultural heritage. At the same time, they struggle to develop successful gaming operations, profitable industrial factories, and effective educational and social-welfare programs. The systematic disorganization and dehumanization of their societies have restricted life opportunities. Poor education, low income, bad housing, poor health, alchoholism, and suicides are serious problems facing Native Americans today. They suffer the highest rates of poverty and unemployment among racial minority groups in the United States. Conditions are worse on Native American reservations, where an estimated 1/3 of them still live. According to goventment statistics on income, Native Americans are the poorest of the poor. (Farley, 2000) Today, many people in the United States ignore or are unaware of the problems Native Americans face. Many of those who are aware often stereotype them as backward, drunk, or unmotivated. Relations between Indians and non-Indians in the United States have been marked by an unfortunate series of blunders caused by prejudice and negative stereotypes. Even still, todays 2. 1 million Native Americans have proved their resilience by surviving oppression in a world dominated by other races and cultures. Unlike other minorities who have fought for equal rights in American society, Native Americans have fought to retain their land and cultures and have avoided assimilation, at a hefty cost. Works Cited Bataille, Gretchen. The Pretend Indians: Images of Native Americans in the Movies. Iowa State University, Ames: 1980 Berkhofer, Robert F. The White Mans Indian. Alfred A. Knopf Publishers, New York, 1978. DiBacco, Thomas V. , Lorna C. Mason, and Christian G. Appy. History of The United States. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1995. Keohane, Sonja. The Reservation Boarding School System in the United States, 1870-1928. http://www. twofrog. com. 3/19/2005 Jordan,Winthrop D. and Leon F. Litwack. The United States. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1991. Todd, Lewis Paul and Merta Curti. Triumph of the American Nation. Orlando: Harcourt Brace Joranovich, Inc. , 1986. Zinn, Howard. A Peoples History of the United States. New York: Harper-Collins, 1980. Farley, John. Majority-Minority Relations. New Jersey: Prentice Hall,2000.

American Heros in Tom Wolfes The Right Stuff Essay examples -- Righ

American Heros in Tom Wolfe's The Right Stuff Tom Wolfe's The Right Stuff depicts the lives of some of America's hottest pilots and its first astronauts. These men include Pete Conrad, Chuck Yeager, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Shirra, Alan Shepard, Gordon Cooper, Scott Carpenter and Deke Sleyton. Some of these men were hotshot test pilots at Edwards Air Force Base, and some flew cargo planes. Some had impeccable service records, while others hadn't flown in a real dog fight for even a second. Despite these differences in backgrounds and credentials, Tom Wolfe turns each of these nine men into a separate and individualized hero. Chuck Yeager and John Glenn are probably the most memorable of the nine pilots in The Right Stuff. Chuck Yeager was a hillbilly from West Virginia, who by the age of 22 had 13 1/2 "kills" in World War II. Yeager made a name for himself by being the first man to reach Mach 1, the speed of sound. John Glenn was an all-American Marine pilot. Glenn was a religious family man who was ready to do anything he could for his country. He became the poster boy for America's Mercury Project. Yeager and Glenn are two fine examples of American heroes of the 1950's and 1960's. In The Right Stuff, Wolfe presents these men in such a way that the excitement they started is rekindled. Wolfe uses many tools in his recreation of these real-life heroes, including entertaining anecdotes, the characters' own words and thoughts, and the opinions of others. In several instances, Wolfe uses anecdotes to reveal parts of a character's personality or to show his influence upon others. One example of this occurs when Wolfe mentions that the voices of airline pilots are modeled after the voice of Chuck Yeager. Wo... ...nks to himself, "What the hell was he talking about. I don't think any of us could really go on with something like this...What possible difference could a wife's attitude make about the opportunity for a giant step up the great ziggurat" (95). This thought again shows the other six astronauts' perception of Glenn as an outsider. He didn't follow the rules of those who had the right stuff; he was stealing the show and directing the attention away from them. Tom Wolfe is a master of recreating the people and events of the Mercury Project. In The Right Stuff he brings out all the excitement that each astronaut produced during the era. He uses anecdotes, the characters's own words, and the opinions of others to separate the characters and present each as an individual hero. Works Cited: Wolfe, Tom. The Right Stuff. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1979.

Epiphany in Araby of James Joyces Dubliners Essay -- Joyce Dubliners

Araby: An Epiphany  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The story, "Araby" in James Joyce's Dubliners presents a flat, rather spatial portrait. The visual and symbolic details embedded in the story, are highly concentrated, and the story culminates in an epiphany. An epiphany is a moment when the essence of a character is revealed , when all the forces that bear on his life converge, and the reader can, in that instant, understand him. "Araby" is centered on an epiphany, and is concerned with a failure or deception, which results in realization and disillusionment. The meaning is revealed in a young boy's psychic journey from love to despair and disappointment, and the theme is found in the boy's discovery of the discrepancy between the real and the ideal in life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The story opens with a description of North Richmond Street, a "blind," "cold ... .. silent" street where the houses "gazed at one an-other with brown imperturbable faces." It is a street of fixed, decaying conformity and false piety. The boy's house contains the samesense of a dead present and a lost past. The former tenant, a priest,died in the ba... ...stern enchantment." His love, like his quest for a gift to draw the girl to him in an unfriendly world, ends with his realizing that his love existed only in his mind. Thus the theme of the story-the discrepancy between the real and the ideal-is made final in the bazaar, a place of tawdry make-believe. The epiphany in which the boy lives a dream in spite of the ugly and the worldly is brought to its inevitable conclusion: the single sensation of life disintegrates. The boy senses the falsity of his dreams and his eyes burn "with anguish and anger."   

Entering True Religion Brand Jeans into Mauritius Essay

In 2002, Jeffrey Lubell founded True Religion– a brand of premium, vintage-inspired denim. Iconic for its precise fit and bold stitching details, True Religion has grown exponentially as a company and continues to operate according to its mission statement: â€Å"†¦to make quality, American-made, authentic, timeless, great fitting, 1970’s inspired jeans wear, with a trendsetting appeal for today’s consumer† (True Religion Brand Jeans, 2009). The company currently offers a wide variety of apparel and accessories for men, women, and children, and is one of America’s leading designer denim brands. As the demand for premium denim has risen over the past decade– giving rise to companies such as 7 For All Mankind and Paige Premium Denim– True Religion has remained successful by entering its products into foreign markets. True Religion jeans can be found all over Asia, Europe, and in less-developed countries such as Egypt. It is this global presence that allows the brand to maintain an edge over its competitors. Which foreign market should be entered next? While countries such as France and Italy are typical target regions amongst clothing brands, developing countries with a large tourist industry could be promising as well. One country in particular shows great potential as a new market for True Religion– Mauritius. An island located off the southwest coast of Africa, the country offers some of the world’s most stunning beaches, diverse people, a cosmopolitan society, and a booming tourist industry; all of which, would be beneficial for launching True Religion Brand Jeans. Officially named The Republic of Mauritius, the political system of the island is a democracy that has been modeled after the British Parliamentary system. This allows for free elections that take place every five years, and secures a separation of power within the government. Its legal system is primarily based on the civil law system of France, as well as English common law (Government of Mauritius, 2009). The government’s prominent presence in the Mauritian economy has proved to be extremely effective and beneficial to the country and its people. Several acts have been put into effect to diversify the island’s economy and build upon sectors that are currently successful, while striving to become a modern society with a high standard of living. The success of the country’s political and legal systems are further illustrated by Mauritius having a current real growth rate of 5. %, and being voted as the best-governed country in all of Africa (Government of Mauritius, 2009). Although developing countries may be perceived as a risky business investment, Mauritius’ economic growth and development through the years have proven otherwise. As the official government website of Mauritius states, â€Å"An attractive blend of advantages is offered to international investors. These include: political stability, pleasant and peaceful living conditions, efficient telecommunications, pool of qualified professionals conversant in English and French†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Government of Mauritius, 2009). Mauritius has an ultimate goal of modernizing its society– this includes modernizing its retail industry. Introducing True Religion jeans to the country provides the company with an untapped resource and would give True Religion a competitive edge against other premium denim brands. There are many opportunities that developing nations such as Mauritius offer. With a society that wishes to be worldly and up-to-date as well as a tourist industry that brings in people from all over the globe, Mauritius can offer True Religion Jeans an entirely new group of potential consumers, in a new and exciting location.

Minority Cultures in Mississippi Essay

The purpose of this paper is to develop a better understanding of African American and Mexican American cultures in my region and their importance to United States society, as well as relating their similarities and differences to each other and my own culture. This will be done in an effort to develop skills that assist me in providing my future students the opportunity to value diversity and overcome cultural barriers and biases. This paper covers various aspects of each culture, beginning with the beliefs and traditions of each culture. In addition to those areas, the facets of religion, holidays, and foods of great significance to each culture are explored. Finally, the most meaningful area in relation to my teaching success is analyzed. The area of education is considered, focusing on educational aspirations as well as the professions of members of these cultures due to their educational backgrounds. After examining all of the aspects, the cultures will be compared and contrasted in an effort to learn how to overcome cultural differences. African American Family Life Family life is one of the most important aspects in the African American culture. This belief stems from both their African roots and early slavery. Keeping family members close was important in both tribal Africa and among slaves. Your family is believed to give you strength and support; this belief is still widely practiced today. African American families frequently visit both immediate as well as extended family. In fact, neighborhood barbeques and parties are a common occurrence. African American families also hold family reunions yearly, which include several surnames of families who may be closely related or as distant as fourteenth cousins or more. Often times, non-relatives are also invited and treated as family. Many African American neighborhoods are close-knit communities who often spend much of their spare time socializing with one another. Because of this closeness, many non-relatives become known as â€Å"play† family. These â€Å"play† family members have become such good friends to the family that they are treated as members of the extended family. The elderly are regarded as the head of the family and are given the utmost respect. To the African American culture, living a long life means the person is very wise and is often the first source for advice. An elder is believed to have led a fulfilled life and the funeral, therefore, is often celebrated as a joyous occasion. To the African American culture, death is simply passing from one realm of life to another. They believe their loved one is leaving the evils of this world behind for a utopia, so there is often a party after the burial service. African American Hairstyles and Names Many African American beliefs and traditions can be traced back to their original African roots. Locks and braiding are two of these. They are widely practiced hairstyles among African Americans today. Both types of hairstyles were started by tribes in Africa. Locks, commonly called dread-locks, are common among the tribes of South Africa. Because water is scarce and dust is prevalent in that area, locks are popular due to their ease of maintenance. Braiding, on the other hand, is an aspect of worth among Western African tribes. Often, the men of tribes there receive a braided lock for achieving a substantial accomplishment. Both of these traditional African hairstyles made their way to the United States with the slaves and are still of great importance to African American culture today, as a method of displaying pride in their historical roots. Another aspect of African American culture with ties to Africa is naming children. Children are often given names with African roots. However, the members of the African American culture have also developed a set of names, which are uniquely African American. They often add the prefixes of La-, Le-, and Da- to their children’s names, which is exclusive only to their culture. African American Music African American culture has given United States society various styles of music in the form of religious hymns and spirituals, jazz, blues, and hip-hop. Spirituals began with slaves on the plantations. They were often used to send secret messages between each other because the plantation owners could not understand their meanings. These songs were religious folk songs based on African music styles and were improvisational. The spirituals used various musical aspects from smooth flowing styles, which led to the sensual sounds of jazz, to sadness and despair, which led to the blues, to spoken-word singsong, which eventually led to hip-hop. â€Å"Ethnomusicologists trace hip-hop’s roots to the dance, drum, and song of West African griots, or storytellers, its pairing of word and music, and the manifestation of the painful journey of slaves who survived the middle passage† (McBride, 2007, p. 102). African American Language The American English language was also greatly influenced by the African American culture, especially in the Southern United States. â€Å"African American Vernacular English (AAVE) is a variation of the American English language closely associated with the speech of African Americans† (Coulmas, 2005, p. 177). AAVE is considered by many as slang, and it is in prevalent use by African Americans, as well as other cultures, all over the United States today. African American Religion The Black Church has historically been a source of hope and strength for the African American community. Religion is an essential and integral part of their lives, with approximately 85 percent of African Americans belonging to a Protestant denomination. In the African American society, God is viewed as the source of both good health and serious illness. The most common method of treating illness in the African American culture is prayer. It is expected in most churches that an individual should present their best appearance for worship. African American women in particular are known for wearing vibrant dresses and suits. The Black Church is one of intense enthusiasm and high emotion. African American author W. E. B. DuBois perhaps captured the spirit of the Black Church best by stating, â€Å"Even in the midst of preaching, the worshipers carried on a dialogue with the preacher by shouting approvals or calling out remarks aimed at encouraging him to work harder to reach his point† (DuBois, 2005, pp. 184 – 185). It is not uncommon to hear an African American congregation shouting â€Å"Amen! † or â€Å"Preach it, Brother! † or â€Å"You tell ‘em, Reverend† in agreeance with their pastor or to hear the choir echoing â€Å"Well? † behind the pulpit to advance the pastor’s next words. The entire world could learn from the African American culture’s passion for Christ. African American Holidays The African American culture has several holidays which not only help its members connect to their historical roots but assist the rest of society in identifying the significant impact African Americans have had on shaping the United States. One way this is done is through Black History Month. Each February, television networks and schools throughout the United States celebrate the contributions of various African Americans to the world. One of the individuals focused on during Black History Month is Martin Luther King Jr. , whose quest for equality, peace, and civil rights was so powerful in shaping American society that his birthday is another important holiday in the African American culture. Now recognized as a national federal holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated nationwide on January 15. Another significant holiday is Juneteenth. The news of the Emancipation Proclamation signing reached the slaves of the South on June 19, 1865, and the slaves responded by having a huge celebration. Today, Juneteenth allows African Americans the opportunity to celebrate freedom and is celebrated all over the United States with food, storytelling, games, music, and African American culture. â€Å"Each year, over thirteen million African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa† (Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, 2003, p. 57). This holiday uses customs from the harvest celebrations of Africa and was developed to help African Americans celebrate their heritage. This holiday lasts seven days and focuses on seven principles of the Swahili people. Upon a unity mat sits a candleholder with seven candles, and one candle is lit each day to represent one of the principles. Christmas is another important holiday for African Americans because of the Black Nativity play performed in many churches. Originally written by Langston Hughes, it is a retelling of the classic nativity story, only with an entirely African American cast and gospel style Christmas carols. A major performance of this play is held yearly in Boston at Tremont Temple by The National Center of Afro-American Artists (NCAAA), who refer to Black Nativity as, â€Å"a legendary Christmas event and the Black community’s Christmas gift to the world† (NCAAA, 2008). African American Foods The foods of the African Americans also play an important role in most cultures of the United Stated. These foods, commonly referred to as soul food, have become widely popular throughout the United States. Many of these foods such as black-eyed peas, cornbread, greens, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and deep fried foods were originally eaten in Africa and made their way to the United States with the slaves. While others, such as chitlins, neck bones, and ham hocks, were created by the slaves out of necessity. During their time in captivity, they were only fed the scraps that their owners would not eat, ant they had to discover methods of cooking these items in such a way that they would be edible. African American Education and Employment African Americans in Mississippi unfortunately live in one of the poorest states in the country, and their education is influenced by that factor. The poor economic state of Mississippi greatly hinders the public school system here due to lack of funding. In the Mississippi Delta, where the population is almost entirely African American, â€Å"the economy is so depleted that obtaining a quality education is extremely difficult† (U. S. Commission on Civil Rights, 2001, p. 36). The lack of a quality education hinders Mississippi’s number of high school and college graduates, but for African Americans the number is extremely grave. Only 47. 3 percent of African American students in Mississippi will earn a high school diploma, and of that percentage, only 8. 8 percent of them will go on to earn a bachelor’s degree or higher† (U. S. Commission on Civil Rights, 2001, p. 36). It is a widely known fact that not graduating high school greatly influences a person’s financial and professional future. With less than half of the African American population of Mississippi graduating high school, the poverty level among these individuals is obviously high. The number of African American families living below poverty level is tremendous, especially in majority-black communities like one would find in the Mississippi Delta. â€Å"The percentage of black families with incomes below the poverty level runs from a low of 46. 4 percent in Washington County to a high of 68 percent in Tunica County, and most Mississippi counties are marked by double-digit unemployment rates† (U. S. Commission on Civil Rights, 2001, p. 1 – 2). The individuals who are employed are most likely employed in a position that pays the federal minimum wage rate, such as fast food or retail chains, due to the low high school graduation rate. Overall, the African American culture in Mississippi is at a great disadvantage when it comes to educational and professional success. Mexican American Family Life Family closeness is an important aspect of Mexican American culture, as well. Not only do the members of this culture spend a great deal of time with their families, but they often all live together under one roof. It is not uncommon for grandparents, parents, children, cousins, aunts, and uncles to all live in the same home. The entire family is involved in all aspects of each other’s lives, with the elders being the most respected and revered members of the family. Children are expected to honor their families no matter the circumstances. Their actions must never bring shame to their family, and traditional Mexican American families are very strict on their children in an effort to keep them from participating in dishonorable acts. These values of honor, respect, and family endearment are carried out in death as well. When a loved one passes away, they are dressed in special clothing and stay in the family home overnight. While in the family home, a wake is held, and friends and family bring food to serve at the wake. Only the family then accompanies the body to the grave. No service is held, but the family members sing religious Spanish hymns. â€Å"Most significant is the perspective on death held by many Mexican American Catholics that, rather than an end, death is seen as a new beginning† (Diaz-Stevens & Stevens Arroyo, 1998, p. 73). Because of this view, for years after the original wake, on the same date, those who attended it will reunite to celebrate the life and passing of their loved one. Mexican American Names and Language For the most part, Mexican Americans stay true to their original Mexican heritage and culture. While a few Mexican American families choose to name their children more traditional American names, the majority of parents choose names with Mexican ties and meanings, like Javier, Joaquin, Carmen, and Rosa. Another way, Mexican Americans stay connected to their heritage is through their language. Even fluent English speakers tend to speak Spanish with other members of their culture, as opposed to English. Mexican American parents who choose to teach their children to speak English teach them Spanish as well and most often speak to them in the Spanish language. Mexican Americans also choose to incorporate Spanish music and television into their daily lives. In fact, the interest is so high among Mexican Americans to have Spanish television in the United States that cable and satellite providers have special packages created especially for the Hispanic people, which include channels from Mexico such as Telemundo and Univision. Mexican American Quinces Another tradition of Mexican American families is a quince. â€Å"No matter how Americanized a Latina is, chances are she will look forward to her quince. No matter how economically tight her parents might be, they will maintain the tradition† (Figueredo, 2002, p. 152). A quince is the Mexican equivalent to a sweet sixteen party combined with a debutant ball. The quince takes place on a girl’s fifteenth birthday and is very formal. The birthday girl has several female maids and male escorts in her court. The court makes its grand entrance, and the birthday girl and her father begin to waltz. Soon, the entire court joins in, and once the waltz is complete, the party continues, as would an American sweet sixteen party. Mexican American Religion Religion and prayer are very important to the Mexican American culture. â€Å"Approximately 80 percent of the Mexican American population is of the Catholic faith† (Figueredo, 2002, p. 166). Mexican Americans are a very superstitious people, frequently wearing medallions or amulets for protection. The prevention of illness and unfortunate events is believed to be accomplished with prayer, wearing religious relics, and keeping religious charms in the home. Many homes have shrines for prayer in them; these shrines contain religious statues, pictures of various saints, and prayer candles. The family members gather at these shrines, light the prayer candles and rigorously pray. Mexican American Holidays Holidays are of great significance in the Mexican culture, and many of the holidays celebrated in Mexico are still celebrated by Mexican Americans in the United States. Semana Santa celebrates the Christian holiday of Easter and runs from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. The most essential aspect of this holiday is attending mass on both Good Friday and Easter Sunday. â€Å"Live representations of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion take place in many communities†¦people from the communities assume the roles of Jesus, Virgin Mary, St. Peter, St. John, and many other characters† (Michigan State University, 2008). Cinco de Mayo is celebrated yearly on May 5 and commemorates the defeat of the French army by the Mexicans at The Battle of Puebla in 1862. â€Å"This victory gave the Mexican people pride in their country and the spirit of freedom and is celebrated in various parts of Mexico and in U. S. cities with a significant Mexican American population† (Michigan State University, 2008). The Day of the Dead is a celebration that represents the unity between life and death. On October 31, relatives decorate the gravesite of their loved ones in preparation for the return of their loved one’s soul. They also decorate an altar at their home with photos of the loved one and some of the loved one’s favorite items. The Feast of Our Lady Guadalupe is a very important religious holiday among Mexican Americans. It is believed that a female appeared to an Indian, outside of Mexico City, and said she was the mother of God. She left an image of herself on his cactus-cloth. â€Å"It [the cloth] should have deteriorated in twenty years but shows no sign of decay 477 years later† (Michigan State University, 2008). She has become a prestigious religious figure for Mexican American Catholics, and her holiday is celebrated on December 12 each year by attending a special mass service. The Christmas holiday season for the Mexican American culture runs from December 16 through February 2 each year and is combined with traditional Christian aspects as well as special Mexican festivities. The first of these is Las Posadas, which is nine consecutive days of candlelight processions and parties. Neighborhood families gather to reenact the holy family’s night in Bethlehem. The breaking of the pinata is a very important aspect of this holiday. The second of these is Noche Buena, which is the peak of holiday festivities, with the celebration of a midnight mass on Christmas Eve. After the mass, the families enjoy a traditional Christmas supper, common to the United States, of turkey, ham, and other common Christmas dinner items. The family then opens gifts and celebrates with a pinata and sparklers. Christmas Day is traditionally set aside for rest. The final of these celebrations occurs on January 6 and is called Dia de Los Tres Reyes Magos. This day celebrates the arrival of the Wise Men in Bethlehem. Mexican American children wake up to toys and other gifts. Rosca de Reyes is served on this day, which is a crown-shaped sweet bread decorated with jewel-like candied fruits and a tiny plastic baby hidden inside. Whoever finds the baby in their piece is required to host a party before the Christmas holiday season ends on February 2. Mexican American Foods â€Å"Tex-Mex is a term used to describe a regional American cuisine that blends food products available in the United States and the culinary creations of Mexican Americans influenced by the cuisines of Mexico† (Barrios Trevino, 2002, p. 3). Many dishes such as chili, fajitas, salsa, quesadillas, burritos, and nachos are not true Mexican dishes but were invented in the United States by Mexican Americans. Even dishes cooked here that originated in Mexico, like tacos, are not prepared in the same manner they would be in Mexico. While Mexican American Tex-Mex dishes are cooked to be hot, topped with tons of cheese, and served in large portions, true Mexican dishes are exactly the opposite. Therefore, Mexican Americans coined their own style of cooking and created some of the United States most loved dishes. Mexican American Education and Employment Unfortunately, the graduation rates for Mexican Americans are very low. The language barrier between the Mexican American culture and the English speaking population of the United States combined with the obligation on many Mexican Americans to work to help support family in Mexico no doubt contribute to this. â€Å"Only about half, 48. 7 percent, of the Mexican American population complete their high school education, and a mere 15. 4 percent of those students earn at least a bachelor’s degree† (U. S. Dept of Commerce Bureau of the Census, 2003 p. 5). The majority of Mexican Americans gain employment at blue-collar jobs such as construction or in the restaurant industry. Many Mexican Americans come to the United States illegally, which causes them to look for employment with employers who will look past their status. Being here illegally or working a blue-collar job means that most Mexican Americans must settle for low wages of minimum wage or slightly higher. Similarities Between the Two Cultures Conducting this research led to the surprising discovery of several similarities. Both cultures desire to remain close to their families, both immediate and extended, by not only seeing each other often but also buy having parties and get-togethers. Both cultures rely greatly on the elderly members of their culture for their knowledge and advice and treat them with the utmost respect and endearment. While the actual proceedings of the funeral are quite different, the cultures are the same in that they see death as a new beginning and, therefore, a cause for celebration. Both cultures are also proud of their heritage. This can be seen in everything from their celebratory traditions during certain holidays to giving their children names, which are unique to their culture. Another similarity is the strong part religion and prayer play in the lives of the members of each culture. In both cultures, prayer is believed to provide comfort and protection. Finally, the most disheartening theme which is common among both cultures is the high dropout rate among high school students and the fact that most members of each culture are employed in low paying positions either due to a lack of education or opportunity. Differences Among the Two Cultures As suspected, the research also led to the discovery of many differences among the cultures as well. As previously mentioned, the burial process of a loved one is quite different among the cultures. African Americans tend to have elaborate, celebratory services honoring the life of their loved one and invite all friends and family members to the burial service. The body is usually sent to a funeral home for preparation and burial. Mexican Americans, on the other hand, keep the body in their home and invite friends and family to pay their respects during a wake. The body is initially prepared by the family for the wake, and only family members attend the actual burial. Although African American families work hard to keep their families close, only their immediate family lives in the home with them unless circumstances cause otherwise, while Mexican Americans quite often live in a home with many relatives of both their immediate and extended family. Their religions and religious practices are also very different. Most all African Americans are of a Protestant denomination, while most all Mexican Americans are Catholic. The Catholic services of Mexican Americans tend to be very quiet and solemn, while African American services are very loud, emotional affairs, with frequent shouts of praise and singing. Shrines are also very important to Mexican American prayer, while African Americans choose to pray almost anywhere. They do not feel the need to pray at a particular place or around particular items. Another major difference is in the types of foods each culture consumes. African Americans tend to eat a lot of vegetables and fried foods, heavy in salt. Mexican Americans, however, eat meals, which include a lot of meat and tortillas with very few vegetables, which include tomatoes, onions, and hot peppers. Applying the Project to the Classroom Recognizing the characteristics of each culture, along with the similarities and differences in each culture, will assist one in overcoming cultural barriers and biases. The information in this project will prove to be very useful inside a classroom. It could be used in several ways, the first being to teach students about each culture. The second way would be to teach students how the cultures are alike or different. The final way would help students compare the cultures to their own. One way this information could be applied is by teaching students about a holiday unique to one of the cultures. For example, on or close to December 16, the teacher could ask the students to come to school dressed as a character from the nativity story such as an angel, a Wise Man, or a shepherd. Then, after studying about Las Posadas and even having a Mexican American student tell a story about the holiday if possible, the students could parade up and down the hallways of the school and end their festivities by taking turns trying to break a pinata. Another way this information could be applied is to have the children write a story about a family celebration or gathering and then having each student read their story aloud. By doing this, each child will have the opportunity to see similarities and differences between each cultural group represented in the classroom. This would also help minority groups such as African Americans and Mexican Americans identify with majority students and move toward forming bonds. A final way this information could be applied is by studying the foods eaten by both cultures. The teacher could read a story about the foods of both cultures and explain the origins of each culture’s foods. During this lesson, the students should sample various foods from both cultures. By doing this, the students will not only be learning about another culture and receiving the opportunity to try something new but will also most likely discover that they have already had many of the foods from both cultures but were unaware of it. Each culture has aspects, which are unique only to that culture. However, both cultures also have aspects, which can be related to one’s own culture. In any event, both cultures are uniquely beautiful and contribute to the United States society and culture as a whole and should therefore not only be respected but also treasured. In its own way, each culture, combined with all of the other cultures of the United States people make our nation the greatly extraordinary country that it is. ? References Barrios Trevino, D. (2002). Los Barrios family cookbook: Tex-Mex recipes from the heart of San Antonio. New York, NY: Villard Books. (Primary Source) Coulmas, F. (2005). Sociolinguistics: The study of speakers’ choices. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press. (Secondary Source) Diaz-Stevens, A. M. & Stevens Arroyo, A. M. (1998). Recognizing the Latino resurgence in U. S. religion. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. (Secondary Source) DuBois, W. E. B. (2005). The souls of black folk. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. (Primary Source) Figueredo, D. H. (2002). The complete idiot’s guide to Latino history and culture. New York, NY: Alpha Books. (Secondary Source) McBride, J (2007, April). Hip hop planet. National Geographic, 211(4), 100-118. (Secondary Source) Michigan State University Teaching Hispanic Cultures of the Americas Institute (2008). Learning about Hispanic cultures through the study of Latino and Mexican holidays, celebrations and traditions. Retrieved June 28, 2009, from http://www. educ. msu. edu/teachglobal/Americas/module1. html (Primary Source) National Center of Afro-American Artists (2008). Black nativity. Retrieved June 27, 2009, from http://www. blacknativity. org/about/index. html (Secondary Source) Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences (2003). Guide to exploring African American culture. Retrieved June 28, 2009, from http://pubs. cas. psu. edu/FreePubs/pdfs/agrs92. pdf (Primary Source) U. S. Commission on Civil Rights (2001). Racial and ethnic tensions in American communities: Poverty, inequality, and discrimination the Mississippi delta report. Retrieved June 28, 2009, from http://www. usccr. gov/pubs/msdelta/main. htm (Primary Source) U. S. Dept of Commerce Bureau of the Census (2003). We the American: Hispanics. Retrieved June 26, 2009, from http://www. census. gov/apsd/wepeople/we-2r. pdf (Primary Source)