Film Techniques against the Theme of “Change” Essay

How are we made aware of the filmmaker’s attitude towards change? Refer to three specific episodes from the film. (excl. concl. stages)In Pleasantville, the filmmaker, Gary Ross, conveys his attitude towards change through the characters of David and Jennifer who are transported into the 1950s sitcom â€Å"Pleasantville†. He doesn’t necessarily demonstrate change to bear a positive result; rather, he addresses that change is essential to the development of society and self and that it is important to understand and accept change. Ross contrasts the ignorance and mindlessness of the unchanged people of Pleasantville with the hunger for knowledge that the changed (or coloured) people possess, communicating to the viewer that change and knowledge go hand in hand. Ross also portrays and somewhat satirises an unchanged society’s people to be ruled by their own mindlessness, and in their epiphany, translates to the viewer that change can come from within or from outside one’s self but is different for everyone. Dark overtones are used to parallel the Pleasantville to a society under fascist rule. However, in the end, change will always affect everyone and this new understanding will help to overcome the changes encountered in the future that may seek to detriment the society. The three scenes which will be discussed in relation to the filmmaker’s attitude towards change are the breakfast scene, the classroom scene, and the rain scene. The breakfast scene is the scene where Betty is piling food on other food and topping it off with maple syrup for Mary-Sue’s breakfast. The audience is overwhelmed at the ridiculous amount of food that is being placed on her plate, which is shown by extreme close-up and cuts of the shots of every time another food item is slapped onto the plate, and is accompanied by an upbeat music. The audience knows that the person under the guise of Mary-Sue is Jennifer, stereotypical of an American teenage girl, so she is naturally concerned about her weight and watches the food she eats. The scene is ironic because such a big breakfast is the exact type of meal she would be trying to avoid. The scene is also hyperbolic as even in the 1950s, it would be considered  ridiculous to eat such a variety of foods for just one morning meal. The ‘jumpy’ non-diegetic music timed with the quick shots of food being placed on the plate, and the jump-cuts showing the reactions of a horrified Jennifer when seeing all this food, assist create situational humour. The reason that all these techniques have been used to create humour is to present a sitcom-style situation. In doing this, Gary Ross satirises the mindlessness of the unchanged people and this becomes important as the storyline progresses. The breakfast scene is also a place which symbolically informs the audience of the current circumstances of Pleasantville. Betty is piling food which would normally be considered tasteful by the audience once in a while and individually: pancakes, salami, bacon and eggs. This is what could be represented in the saying: â€Å"Too much of a good thing is never good.† The incongruous mix of foods is intentionally used by the filmmaker to make the audience feel uncomfortable. It is symbolically stating that there are too many good things in Pleasantville. There is also a sense that this is the situation everyday, meaning there is no change. This can be inferred from the ease and comfort with which Betty is placing the food on Mary-Sue’s plate. It is as if she has been doing this her whole life. The final food item is the syrup being slowly poured onto all the other foods, which is shown for a longer amount of time than the other foods and with the music becoming slower, almost as if poison. This symbolises the ‘sickly sweet’ mannerism which has consumed the people of Pleasantville. Ross is effectively trying to convey the bitterness of a sickly sweet society who has never seen anything other than the norm and has never experienced any change. This suggestion can be furthered in the discussion of the film’s â€Å"black-and-white technique†. The black-and-white technique is not just important in the distinguishing of changed people from unchanged people. It was conventionally used in Noir films to represent the dark overtones of the society. It is used as a motif in Pleasantville for the majority of the beginning of Jennifer and David’s adventure (until things start to change, that is). This is especially significant with all the subtle implications  and allusions to a Nazi-style dictatorship. For example, the burning of books is reminiscent of that in 1936 when the German government burnt all books which would oppose its rule, in fear that the society it governed would think of rebelling. Big Bob is the obvious ruler, as he is almost always seen with a low shot, making him look big and powerful to the audience. Bob’s situation is similar, burning books to stop changes occurring. Books are seen as works of art which are derived from the imagination of thinking people. Bob’s censorship practices extend to the prohibition of Mr Johnson from using colours to paint (that is, from using the full extent of his imagination) in his Code of Conduct. In this way, he is much like the German government in the 30s. However, he wants to continue his rule without any violent opposition; only ‘pleasantness’. There is irony however, as there is vandalism and disruption when the Milk Bar is broken into and sabotaged because of his encouragement, which is the exact opposite of ‘pleasant’. The fact that people submitted to this way of life (where everything is sickly sweet) without opposition before (before changes were introduced) shows that they were not ruled by Bob, but really by the restrictions they placed on themselves. Bob is only used to embody the fears and restrictions and ignorance that the Pleasantville society possesses. The filmmaker is trying to convey through these situations and allusions that those who resist change are irrational and are ruled by their own ignorance. The classroom scene when the students are learning about the geography of Pleasantville encapsulates the nature of the whole Pleasantville society. The students are used to learning the same thing everyday (since they already know the answers to the questions). The mise en scene of the students’ positions is incongruous. They are high school students but have their backs straight and behaving as if they are in kindergarten. They seem very comfortable, though, but when Jennifer confronts the teacher with the question â€Å"What’s outside of Pleasantville?† they are shocked. A panning shot from the point of view of Jennifer shows the reaction of the class, and the silence adds to the tension. After the teacher assures the students that there is nothing outside of Pleasantville, and that the roads begin where  they end, a sigh of relief ripples uniformly throughout the class. This reaction illustrates how fearful the students are of change and questioning the norm, since it is unknown and unfamiliar. The fact that the students have no appetite for knowledge is related to their inexperience of change. Thus, Ross is effectually demonstrating that change and knowledge go hand in hand. Later, in the Milk Bar, when everyone is questioning David about the fire, the same students show a thirst for knowledge. The way they keep pressing David to tell them about places outside Pleasantville is contrasted to the classroom scene. Again, the technique of silence is employed, but this time in a freer atmosphere with curiosity instead of fear and with non-diegetic music which depicts a ‘cheeky’ mood. It depicts the way David is about to break the rules by allowing people to know information that he thinks they shouldn’t because it will â€Å"throw their whole universe out of whack.† In this way, Ross illustrates to the audience that change is about development rather than the results produced (whether positive or negative). The classroom scene creates an interesting contrast to the classroom scene in ‘the real world’. At school, students are assured their futures are crystal clear: both predictable and wonderful. In the real world, David and Jennifer were being constantly reminded of the negative things in the future by the teachers: â€Å"Employment will go down thirty percent in the next five years†¦Greenhouse emissions†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This gave a very bleak outlook of the future, and the zooming and simultaneous cutting of shots of different classrooms added to the feeling of impending doom. In Pleasantville however, everyone’s futures are predictably wonderful. The characters, without having developed an understanding of change, are at a loss when they find themselves feeling emotions and thinking for themselves. For instance, when Mr Johnson’s artworks are exposed, people become enraged and frightened and consequently violence occurs. This symbolises how these unchanged and undeveloped people don’t know what to do when circumstances change. Ross is trying to show the audience that it is important to develop and understand change, because it will help in the handling of future problems. The rain scene is the scene where, after the emergence of the storm, it suddenly starts raining and very important events are taking place. One of these events involve the time when David and Margaret are kissing at Lover’s Lane. When rain suddenly starts pouring, David placates everyone’s fears by going out into the rain and holds his arms up to the sky, as if embracing the weather. The scene is a cinematic homage to the film Shawshank Redemption, depicting the part after Andy Dufresne has escaped from the prison and is now a free man. It is definitely a turning point in the film Pleasantville and is seen as a revelation. The allusion is symbolic because, just like Andy Dufresne, the kids at Lover’s Lane have escaped the grey walls that once held their thoughts and are now free to think and feel emotions. The next morning they all wake up coloured (except for David). Ross here is suggesting that change sets people free, and resistance to change is resistance to thought and passion. This assertion is further developed near the end of the movie in the courtroom scene. Gary Ross assumes the voice of David to speak to the audience. Here, the technique of monologue/speech is cleverly used: â€Å"It’s all inside you†¦And you can’t stop something that’s inside of you!† Ross is saying that these people restricted themselves from thinking and feeling emotions but they have always had the potential to be different, feel passionately and think independently. He directly states that change comes from within; Jennifer and David were merely triggering the changes to happen. Ross also implies that change is different for everyone. The aftermath of the storm shows David is still in monochrome. The shot of his reflection in the lake up to him contrasts to the coloured environment. The reflection is symbolic in that it shows David’s silent desperation while searching deep within himself to find a change. Jennifer experiences a similar problem. The dialogue between her and David is important. â€Å"I’ve had like ten times as much sex as these girls and I’m still [in black and white].† David’s reply is that maybe it is not about sex. The audience later finds that Jennifer finally changes colour when she starts reading books and puts on her glasses. The symbolism of the glasses is that her perception of the world changes and hence she changes. A panning shot around her room shows the new  colour, and finally a photograph of her alter ego, Mary-Sue, is in colour, meaning she has changed. David’s physical and individual transformation is completed when he finally starts standing up for what’s right and takes actions against what’s wrong. When he punched Whitey, he took action to fight for Betty, and the audience witnessed the first drop of blood in the whole film, showing David’s furious passion. Soft music depicting a ‘revelation’ accompanies this shot, demonstrating that he has found what he was seeking: change in himself. The over-the-shoulder shot of his back and the mirror is reminiscent of the lake scene and symbolic: not only has he found himself; but he has left his other self behind him. Ross here asserts that people change for different reasons and that change inevitably affects everyone so they can have a better understanding of themselves and the world around them. In conclusion, the filmmaker Gary Ross conveys his attitude towards change through David and Jennifer and the effect of their presence on the town. He stresses that change is essential to understanding the world, but most of all, understanding and accepting ourselves. Ross uses various allusions to show the control the citizens of Pleasantville were once under, and then to show that they have broken free, and that in the end, everyone is inevitably affected by change. He employs satire to compel the audience to have a negative view of those who are resistant to change, and to take a liking to the characters who embrace change. Ross asserts that everyone must change in order to live their lives to the fullest extent. â€Å"Pleasantville† (1998) directed by Gary Ross

Managerial ethics †term paper

It's the sure looks positive in this way, as part of the deal, Sara Lee Corp. loaded up the apparel maker with billions in new debt, then paid itself a big, fat dividend — money it'll use to trim its own debt and buy back shares. Hanes, by contrast, will start life as a public company with a bond rating in junk status and a debt load so onerous some worry it won't be able to invest enough in its well-known clothing brands. Financial engineering that has more in common with the world of leveraged buyouts than with corporate spin-offs. And at first blush, from Sara Lee's perspective, the deal makes sense. Why should executives rely solely on the fickle stock market to recognize the worth of Hanes as a stand-alone company when they can grab some cold cash now and put it to work immediately? Managerial ethics would mean many things positive about what is good in the executive managers that manage effectively. These effective managers showed successful operations in of the paper: Examining the questions of why individuals behave the way they do and if there is a natural impulse to do well. This will discusses such issues as whether an individual, pursuing his or her own self-interest, can improve the general welfare and whether people have an innate intuition that leads them to do well.† In coming to the conclusion that the pursuit of self-interest can produce a lot of good if it is balanced with a bit of societal guidance, the author brings to light issues of corporate governance, performance pay, legal and monetary incentives, and other forms of regulation (Pounds, William F. http://sloanreview.mit.edu)†. It is in this aspect, it points out, that intuition, rather than a more empirical approach, can best be put to good use. Then argument stated that intuition has been lacking from the more utilitarian view of economics and management and that, generally speaking, a blend of both approaches is optimal. Ethical approaches in Business: Sara Lee executives declined to comment for negative story. A Sara Lee spokesman says the company believes Hanes's level of debt is appropriate. A Hanes spokesman says the company generates enough free cash to fund investment as well. The subject of business ethics is complex. Fair-minded people sometimes have significant differences of opinion regarding what constitutes ethical behavior and how ethical decisions should be made. This article discusses four approaches that business owners can use to consider ethical questions. The method you prefer may not suit everyone. Hopefully, by considering the alternatives, you will be able to make decisions that are right for you. The utilitarian approach to ethical decision-making focuses on taking the action that will result in the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Considering our example of employing low-wage workers, under the utilitarian approach you would try to determine whether using low-wage foreign workers would result in the greatest good. For example, if you use low-wage foreign workers in response to price competition, you might retain your market share, enabling you to avoid laying off your U.S. employees, and perhaps even allowing you to pay your U.S. employees higher wages. If you refuse to use low-wage foreign workers regardless of the competition, you may be unable to compete. This could result in layoffs of your U.S. workers and even your foreign workers, for whom the relatively low wages may be essential income. On the other hand, using low-wage workers may tend to depress the wages of most workers, thus reducing almost everyone’s standard of living and depressing their ability to purchase the very goods you and others are trying to sell. The moral rights approach concerns itself with moral principles, regardless of the consequences. Under this view, some actions are simply considered to be right or wrong. From this standpoint, if paying extremely low wages is immoral, your desire to meet the competition and keep your business afloat is not a sufficient justification. Under this view, you should close down your business if you cannot operate it by paying your workers a â€Å"living wage,† regardless of the actions of your competitors. Reference: Pounds, William . Retrieved 12/12/2006.   

Caring for populations Essay Example for Free

Caring for populations Essay A community health nurse must be effective in targeting the population as a whole. The nurse will determine the needs for the community by using the data compiled from a windshield survey. As stated in the text, â€Å"A population focus also involves a scientific approach to community health nursing: an assessment of the community or population is necessary and basic to planning, intervention, and evaluation for the individual, family, aggregate, and population levels† (Nies & McEwen, 2011). The purpose of this paper is to establish a priority health problem of the community of Harlingen, based on demographic, epidemiological data and a windshield survey of the area. The community assessment for this project is Harlingen, Texas. According to the 2010 United States Census Bureau, its population is about 64,918 of which 47.8% are male and 52.2% are female. The density is approximately 1629.1 residents per square mile. The racial makeup is 1.0% Black or African American, 79.5% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% White, 1.9% from two or more races, 1.3% Asian, 0.1% Native American. The median household income, 2008-2012 was $34,096 in Harlingen, compared to $51,563 in the state of Texas. The percentage of persons below poverty level from 2008-2012 was 33.2% in Harlingen, compared to 17.4% in Texas. The city of Harlingen is in the center of the Rio Grande Valley. It is a community which has a transient population of â€Å"Winter Texans.† These Winter Texans are generally retirees from the northern states, who come to the warmer climates to escape  the winter weather of their home states, usually between November and March. Harlingen has one mall, two medical hospitals and one mental health state facility, two libraries, one community college and numerous schools from primary to high school levels. Demographic and Epidemiological According to the website, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, for Cameron County in 2014, teen pregnancy is measured by the teen birth rate per 1,000 female population, ages 15-19. The number for Cameron county teen births is 80, the number for Texas as a state is 57. There is poor quality of life in relation to health in Cameron County. 30% of the population has poor or fair health, compared to 18% in Texas. Cameron County also has an adult obesity rate of 27%, 21% of physical inactivity while there is 69% of access to exercise opportunities. 16% of the population suffers from excessive drinking and 396 counts of sexually transmitted infections. 36% of the population is uninsured, 86% graduated high school, 10.5% are unemployed and there are a whopping 48% of children in poverty, which has increased from the 2008-2012 numbers. The top causes of mortality in Texas are diseases of the heart, followed by Cancers and Respiratory diseases. During the observation of Harlingen for the Windshield Survey project, overweight residents were visible. The majority of the population is Hispanics, most were slightly overweight and appear relatively healthy. There are nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the community and they are mainly Hispanic and White older adults who are a mix of thin and frail to obese and unhealthy. Women are seen pushing strollers on the jogging trails, while the young children play in the parks. There are groups of teens who play football and basketball in the same area. In the residential areas, some people can be seen outside maintaining their properties, while other properties are dilapidated. The general appearance of the residents are healthy, with some being overweight. I have seen a few multimedia billboards for the local hospital, which is displaying an ad for bariatric surgery, which is appropriate for the current overweight population. Harlingen has some city parks and Boys and Girls clubs and numerous gyms in the area that are heavily utilized. The restaurants in the  area are mainly along the expressway and lining the few main streets around town. There is no food sold along the street, but people can be seen sitting in the parks eating meals. In Harlingen, the population is overweight Hispanics and Whites who have access to healthcare and wellness measures, as it is advertised constantly. There is adequate transportation and resources available for the population. As stated before, Cameron County has an adult obesity rate of 27%, 21% of physical inactivity while there is 69% of access to exercise opportunities. While the averages for the state of Texas are 29%, 24% and 74%, respectively. Cameron County also has a limited access to healthy foods, 16% and 21% food insecurity and a mere 17% of children are eligible for free lunch. Since Harlingen and Cameron County have high obesity rates compared to the rest of the state, the Healthy People 2020 objectives applicable for Harlingen include: NWS-11 (Developmental) Prevent inappropriate weight gain in youth and adults and NWS-9 Eliminate very low food security among children. (Healthy People 2020, 2014) While these are two distinct objectives they are connected, much education will be need to be done to ensure change. The community needs to be educated and held accountable for their actions, at times they are unaware of how much damage an unhealthy diet can do. The Community Health Nurse must prepare for these challenges and have a good understanding of how to present information that will gain the interest of the population. A community health nurse must be well versed in the numerous efforts that are starting to prevent childhood obesity. There are new physical education requirements, nutrition standards for beverages and foods sold in school, to community initiatives to expand bike paths and improve recreational facilities (Koplan, Liverman &Kraak, 2005). â€Å"Families need to make their homes to more conducive to a healthful diet and daily physical activity (Koplan, Liverman &Kraak, 2005). The nurse will need to get out to the community via health fairs, school assemblies, media outlets, etc. to get the message out there. Education on making healthy choices, getting adequate exercise and making small adjustments to their daily lives will help. According to the article, Relative and Absolute Availability of Healthier Food and Beverage Alternatives Across  Communities in the United States, there was a study that was conducted on 3 years of data from the Bridging the Gap Community Obesity Measures Project. It stated the mean healthier food and beverage ratio was 0.71, meaning that stores averaged 29% fewer healthier than less healthy products. There were less availability of healthy alternatives in Hispanic communities (2014). The community health nurse needs to be an expert in assessing and diagnosing health concerns in the community to be able to set realistic goals that will maintain the health of the population. Health promotion, education and community involvement are crucial. â€Å"Nutritional education is essential and must include parents, teachers, and the child† (Nies & McEwen, 2011). The community should know and understand the food pyramid, how to make healthy choices and the importance of balancing intake and exercise. References County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2014, from http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/texas/2014/rankings/cameron/county/outcomes/overall/snapshot Koplan, J., Liverman, C.T., Kraak, V.I., & Institute of Medicine, (.(U.S.). (2005). Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Nies, M. A., & McEwen, M. (2011). Community/Public Health Nursing (5th ed.). MO: Elsevier. Nutrition and Weight Status. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2014, from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/nutrition-and-weight-status/objectives United States Census Bureau. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2014, from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/4832372.html Zenk,S.N., Powell, L.M., Rimkus, L., Isgor,Z., Barker,D.C., Ohri-Vachaspati,P., & Chaloupka, F. (2014). Relative and Absolute Availability of Healthier Food and Beverage Alternatives Across Communities in the United States. American Journal Of Public He alth, 104(11), 2170-2178. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2014-302113 Caring for populations. (2016, Aug 20).

Analyzing a visual Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Analyzing a visual Argument - Essay Example One ought to note that a considerable percentage of these outcomes are guided by the impression created by the advert. The assignment provides a comprehensive discussion on an advertisement on Land Rover 4 (LR4) which featured in the U.S News and World Report; Best Cars (usnews.rankingsandreviews.com). The paper gives a detailed description of the promotional presentation before analyzing its elements and assessing its effectiveness on the target audience. The advert featured a number of pictures of the LR4 from different angles. Since this was a promotional presentation, the advert also showed the SUV in different colors in a bid to capture the interest of color-specific clients. Also included in the advert were descriptions including fuel consumption, functionality, safety and pricing of the LR4. It is important to note that other vital information regarding the car like interior designs and number of seats available in the car also formed part of the advertisements. Despite there being a number of objects and details included in the advert, it is noteworthy that only countable objects were relevant in portraying the intended message to consumers. The initial picture one could derive from the advert was durability and a wide range of functionality. From the images of the car posted in the website, one could easily tell the type of car being advertised and the type of clientele that the advert intended to capture. Therefore, the advertisement served its purpose and was effective in capturing the concentration of the intended audience (Williamson, 2004). As already noted before, the advert comprised of a number of visual images of the LR4 car taken from different angles. In addition, the vehicle was features in different colors in the website. Pictures of the interior designs of the car also formed part of the promotional presentation. Car buyers are always particularly interested in the interior designs of their

What Maisie Knew Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

What Maisie Knew - Essay Example As the child was at the garden she kept on looking on his legs and comparing to other children. Maisie parents (Beale and Ida Farange) had divorced, and the court ruled that each parent will spend six month of the year with the child. When Maisie was with her father, she developed body structure problems. Moddle was responding to the child’s question about the legs. The child had faced a lot of suffering by having the parents divorced and being exchanged between the two parents. Moddle was taking care of the child and had to protect her from developing psychological problems. Moddle was telling the child that she can not find another pair like her own in order for the child to understand that she is better and unique than other people. Maisie parents also were frivolous and immoral, and they used her to intensify the hatred they had for each other. The parents made Maisie suffer and it is more difficulty for a parent to inflict suffering to his or her own child. Moddle made th is statement also has a parable in which she meant that the character with Maisie parents can not be found elsewhere (James, 2013). Throughout the text book, this quote is significant because there are many circumstances with unique things that can not be found even in the society today. After Maisie’s parents divorced, they went ahead and remarried again without even considering the effect it had to their child. The two parents cheated to their new spouses which led to Mrs Farange having an affair with Claude. In the end, the child refused to stay with Sir Claude because she concluded that the relationship will come to an end just like her biological parents. As a result, she left and went to stay with her guardian Mrs. Wix. Just as the quote indicates the child realised that she can not find another pair of parents like her biological parents and decided to live with Mrs Wix. In the

The importance of motivating pilots and extending layover periods Essay

The importance of motivating pilots and extending layover periods - Essay Example The years following the launching of the first commercial flights have witnessed many aircraft crashes. Some passengers have also complained of unfriendly and negative services among some crewmembers in the aviation industry the world over. Studies have revealed that a significant number of the accidents and poor services occur due to a lack of motivation and enough rest periods for crewmembers. The crewmembers end up feeling stressed with their work and feel fatigue, which add up to their ineffectiveness at work. Enough rest and proper motivation allows pilots and crewmembers to appreciate their works since they have a normal pattern of sleep, complete flight procedures, and thus, serve passengers well. Allowing flight crewmembers enough rest periods and the right motivational packages will significantly reduce the amount of flight accidents and boost the image of flight companies.Research works strongly suggest that it is important for pilots and other crewmembers to have better tr eatment and allowed enough rest periods to enable them enjoy their work and serve their passengers better. Notably, one of the effective ways of ensuring safety of aircrafts and passengers is a good treatment of employees since human factors are the leading causes of aviation accidents (Hobbs 335). There are several reasons why resting and motivation is important for the flight staff. First, resting enables flight members that operate long distance travels have a normal pattern of sleep and wake hours.

Manager of a company Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Manager of a company - Assignment Example When it comes to organization in the company, the manager is in charge, be it getting parts to be used in the manufacturing department or distribution of finances and resources to all the departments which is facilitated by the finances and human resources departments. The company has an information system that helps the management know the number of employees in each department and required for each shift; night and day shifts. When it comes to management it’s mostly about leadership though these are two different activities; management of employees and the company resources is led by the top level manager. The manager supervises all the activities through the various departmental leaders; moreover, knowing and listening to our employees needs, ideas and suggestions have a great impact on the leadership of our company. Controlling is mostly about guaranteeing whether as an organization we have achieved our objectives and met our goals; this is done by evaluating the situation of the company after the duration set in the objectives or plan. Evaluation is mainly about comparing the cost and the output/benefits/performance of the organization ie no of motorbikes sold, their cost of manufacturing and profit. Noticeably, the management shares this information with the employees, giving copies of this information to all the departments and discussing the different figures; this builds a sense of trust, feeling of involvement and team work for the employees. By implementing these four functions in managing the HD Cycles company, it is clearly understood by the top level management that it’s all about these functions in all the organization’s departments. The HD cycles company has an overall number of 100 employees and five departments/branches i.e. finances, human resources, sales, manufacturing and employee welfare departments. Management is

The Role And Relevance Of World Trade Organization Essay

The Role And Relevance Of World Trade Organization - Essay Example The first round of talk was held in Geneva in 1947 and helped to establish the working framework of GATT. The second round was held in 1949 in Annecy, France, and concentrated in tariff reduction among member countries. The third and fourth rounds of trade negotiations were held Torquay, England, and in Geneva in 1951 and 1956 respectively. Both negotiations focused on tariff reduction and accession. The fifth commonly referred as the Dillon round was held in Geneva in 1960-62, and was instrumental in revising the GATT treaty. Both the Kennedy round and the Tokyo round of trade negotiations were held in Geneva in 1964-67 and 1973-79 respectively. The eighth round, known as the Uruguay round was finalized in Geneva in 1986-93 (Sampson 2001). The Doha round of multilateral trade negotiations, which is currently underway, was launched in the Qatari capital in 2001. The current round of talks is mandated to liberalize the global trade and also to bolster development. Though the talks had been scheduled to end by December 2004, it has not been concluded to date due to profound discrepancies that exist between different member nations’ aspirations and interests. During the Uruguay round of talks, member countries saw the need to establish an umbrella body charged with the responsibility of overseeing the rules of trade between member countries (WTO 2008). This marked the birth of World Trade Organization (WTO). The World Trade Organization, located in Geneva, Switzerland, was established in January 1995 as a result of the Uruguay round of negotiations.  

Environmental Hazards and Human Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Environmental Hazards and Human Health - Essay Example The decomposition of garbage very much involves the work of bacteria. The rate of decomposition is enhanced by the presence of leachate. As the wastes are degraded by the bacteria, gases are emitted mainly methane. Methane is a greenhouse gas whose emissions pose a threat to the environment (WeGreen-USA, 2014) The liquid that percolates or filters through the dump is referred to as Leachate. The sources of leachate would be rainwater or the liquids in the waters. Rainwater normally hit collected trash; pooling occurs and run off may ensue. The lacerate would thus become toxic since it will mix ground water (WeGreen-USA, 2014). The landfills are the most commonly used method of waste disposal. The old landfills were mainly composed of a bottom liner and a cover. The old landfills failed to adequately prevent the contamination of the environment with wastes. The leachate was not collected hence it trickled down to the ground bringing about the contamination of ground water. In addition, the wastes were exposed to the environment hence attracting pests. The decomposition of older landfills took more time since cover of the landfills was not properly structured. The modern landfill contains a leachate collecting system, a bottom liner and a cover. This minimizes the possibility of wastes escaping into the ground. The modern landfills are constructed with safeguards. The water is normally covered to avoid attracting the pests. In addition, compaction of the waste is carried out order to increase the density and stability. This means that more waste can be disposed of using the landfill method. Modern landfills are designed in ways that protect the environment from contamination. Landfills prevent hydraulic connections between the waste and the environment mainly ground water (WeGreen-USA, 2014) The old landfills were not properly structured and allowed communication with the environment. This can be attributed to the poor ground layer, the

Entrepenurship-6.What factors affect the development and Essay

Entrepenurship-6.What factors affect the development and implementation of effective strategies in small businesses(SME) - Essay Example The survival of SMEs within the modern market is a challenging task: the increase of competition globally has led SMEs to change their strategies in order to meet the demands of the market. Despite the fact that SMEs operate locally (i.e. only within a specific country, with exception in case of online activity) they should continuously review their strategic choices in order to ensure the effectiveness of their plans in terms of the market’s demands and the customer preferences. Current paper refers to the factors that can affect the development and the implementation of effective strategies in SMEs. There is no reference to specific country; rather a series of data and findings related with SMEs that operate around the world will be employed in this study. Potential suggestions will be also made under the terms that the strategic restructuring of a small firm is feasible under the conditions of its market and its financial strength to respond to the demands of the relevant e ffort. As already noticed above small businesses have a limited number of employees – that could be depended on the relevant governmental regulations (in the example mentioned above, the New Zealand, the number of employees of SMEs cannot be higher than 5). In this context, entrepreneurship in SMEs has to be appropriately customized in order to meet the demands of the market but also to respond to the needs of the firm. In SMEs their owner is usually actively involved in all operational activities; he’s not just a supervisor of the employees (although this option would be also available). In accordance with the above, entrepreneurship in SMEs should focus on the design and the development of the appropriate strategies that would support the increase of the firm’s productivity towards the stabilization of the firm’s position in the market. If the above target is achieved, the

The Choice of Family or Love Essay Example for Free

The Choice of Family or Love Essay Romeo and Juliet is a tragic play that conveys the importance of choices made because of true love. One of the major choices, which is also a theme, it is the decision of choosing family or true love. During William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Juliet make choices that lead up to them ending their lives. During this play Romeo and Juliet, the children of feuding families (the Capulets and Montagues), fall in love and are forced to chose between their families or true love. After they meet at the ball, Romeo makes the choice to trespass on Capulet property to see Juliet again. Shortly after they agree to go and be married. Juliet, who was supposed to marry County Paris but is now secretly married to Romeo, makes the decision to pretend to die so she will not have to marry Paris and can run away with Romeo. Romeo and Juliet make choices that favor each other over love their own lives. The first choice leading to death is Romeo sneaking onto Capulet property to see Juliet after the ball. This choice signifies Romeo’s rebellion on his family because he trespasses on his family’s enemy’s property to see their daughter. Neither Romeo nor Juliet care that their families are enemies for Juliet says, â€Å"Tis but thy name that is my enemy. / Thou art thyself, though not a Monague. / What’s Monague? It is nor hand, nor foot, / nor arm, nor face, nor any other part / Belonging to a man†¦That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet† (Shakespeare 2.2.40-44) to which Romeo replies, â€Å"I take thee at thy word. / Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptized; / Henceforth I never will be called Romeo† (Shakespeare 2.2.49-51). Juliet makes a truthful opinion when she says that Montague is just a name and that Romeo, or any other person, is more than a just name. She also states that a name does not describe a person’s personality or appearance; that a name does not change who a person truly is. Romeo is in love and agrees with Juliet; he states, that if she wanted, he would not be called Romeo or a Monatgue any more (Shakespeare 2.2.61). As Romeo and  Juliet fall deeper in love they begin to make more choices that deny their families and put their own lives in danger. Subsequently, the next choice Romeo and Juliet make may have sealed their fate. Shortly after they first meet Romeo and Juliet agree to be secretly married by Friar Lawrence. Juliet has been arranged to marry County Paris, but she loves Romeo so she agrees to marry him in secret with only two other people knowing: Friar Lawrence and Juliet’s nurse. At first Juliet was resistant to be married but after going into her house for a moment she quickly reaches a decision; she says â€Å"Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow†¦ / Where and what time thou wilt preform the rite†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Shakespeare 2.2.144-146). Juliet talks to her nurse while she is in her house and after she return she agrees to be married to Romeo, which he was unprepared for because she had early said, â€Å"I have no joy of this contract tonight† (Shakespeare 2.2. 117). The next day they meet in Friar Lawrence’s cell to be wed, for it is a short, secret wedding. After being married, Romeo and Juliet preserved their fate forever, never to be changed because of the love they feel for each other. The final decision that culminates to Romeo and Juliet both dying is when Juliet takes a potion from Friar Lawrence to make he look dead. Romeo had been banished from Verona and Juliet was due to marry Paris, so in her despair Juliet went to Friar Lawrence. Friar Lawrence came up with a plan: Juliet was to take a sleeping draught that would make her look like she was dead; then Friar Lawrence would send a letter to Romeo telling him to come and see her awaken from the draught. Juliet took the draught but the letter never got to Romeo; one of his servants told him that Juliet was dead. In his misery Romeo returned to Verona. He arrived at Juliet’s tomb and got into a fight with Paris, in which Paris lost and died. Then seeing Juliet dead, Romeo took a poison and committed suicide. Juliet finally awoke to find Romeo dead; and in her pain she tries to poison herself, too. When she hears people arriving Juliet realizes that by the time the poison would kill her it would be to late, so she stabbed herself with Romeo’s dagger (Shakespeare 5.3.169). In conclusion Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other ends up killing them both. William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet is a tragic love story. True love is a virtue every person should experience but in this play it turns into a murderer. Romeo and Juliet’s choices force them to end their lives with suicide whether it was intended or not. In the end Romeo and Juliet’s deaths were good because they can live together, forever; and the feud of the Capulet and Montague families ended. Though true love ended up killing them, Romeo and Juliet made the right choice in picking love over their families because their families were not very loyal in encouraging them making their own choices and having their own life to live and fall in love with whoever they choose.

Aims And Objectives Essay Example for Free

Aims And Objectives Essay Aim:To create a marketing plan to acquire new customers; primarily students and increase market share. Pamper Me has a large client base but is lacking student consumers. This marketing plan will offer marketing objectives and strategies in order to increase this market share. Pamper Me is not situated on a ‘regular walk to university’ so innovative and strategic recommendations will be required for successful delivery. Objectives: Research and analyse the current customer base to determine the student : non-student ratio Research will be carried out via interviews with current employees and questionnaires to potential customers Discover student salon-usage trends, with regards to amount of students as a percentage of the whole, and their salon preferences Once the questionnaires have been completed the data will be collated and analysed. This acquired primary data will give us an insight student trends and insight into the most effective marketing strategy Research/Discover from students, what their wants/needs are from a salon Pamper Me may not currently be meeting the needs of the desired student consumers. Collated data from primary and secondary research will advise us on how to increase the number of students using this salon Define main competitors to the business and map out their market physical positioning Primary and Secondary research will be carried out in the area surrounding Pamper Me in order to locate the competition. The marketing plan may suggest to mirror competitor strategies if these seem to increasing the student percentage of consumers. Analyse current marketing strategies with a view to creating a new and improved strategy Current marketing strategies in place by Amara may not be sufficent or beneficial to Pamper Me. A new approach may be needed and it is vital that  all employees understand the new strategies once they are in place. To create or identify a Unique Selling Point (USP) for the business based on their expertise and specialties Currently Pamper Me’s USP is that it provides private and noninvasive treatment rooms for religious women. This isnt widely know by the community so a recommendation must be suggesting in order to increase the awareness of this. Religious students may not know that there is a salon the adheres to their faithful rules. Implement a marketing strategy that can inform and attract students to the salon We must research and analyses what inspires students to spend money on beauty treatments. As students dont have a high level of disposable income it is important to implement a marketing plan that is constructive and beneficial for students.

Video Games Children

Video Games Children For kids, playing video games is one of the most important activities of their daily lives. Aside from doing their home works, most of these children spent time playing video games, and most probably spent more time playing as compared to the time spent in doing their homework. It is not only a trend for kids but for young adults and adults as well. From the time it was invented it has evolved into a more exciting and challenging media games of all time. Technological advancement has made it even more exciting for the players to play it and challenge themselves with tricks and clincher that comes with every game. The graphics and sound effects are fascinating making the experience real for the player especially those three dimensional computer machines. The ability of the player to control and maneuver the situation made it more even exciting. Violent video game is one type of game that has been the most out popular among players. But with the increasing number of people engaging into these computer games, a number of issues have been raised: negative and positive effects of these violent video games to children and young adults. This essay will take the position that violent video games do have negative effects on children. One of the negative effects of these violent video games is the physiologic changes that happen while they are playing. The excitement brought about by these violent video games stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, thereby creating significant changes in the individual’s heart rate, respiration and other involuntary responses in the body. It is exciting and stressful at the same time, the stressful events could affect gastric stimulation and frequent adrenaline rush, and this adrenaline rush is what makes these players to feel â€Å"good† and makes them want to do it repeatedly. Sympathetic nervous stimulation promotes vasoconstriction, and this vasoconstricting effect is not good as it alters cardiac mechanism. This in turn affects blood supply going to the central nervous system, causing dizziness, headache and nausea. According to Grossman DeGaetano, â€Å"the effects of violent video games on young adults’ arousal levels, hostile feelings, and aggressive thoughts have been measured. Results indicated that college students who had played violent virtual reality game had a higher heart rate, reported more dizziness and nausea, and exhibited more aggressive thoughts in a posttest than those who had played a nonviolent game† (70-71). Similarly, these violent computer games could have a direct effect on children’s behavior, since they are vulnerable especially on their formative stage. Not everybody who plays these violent video games have good foundation of moral values and an intact well being. There are those who are easily persuaded and affected by what they see in their environment, especially those children that lack parental guidance, as well as those individuals who have a low self-esteem. These vulnerable individuals are more prone to be affected by what they play and see on video games. There is a great possibility that these supposed to be virtual thing could be played in reality. As cited by Tompkins in an article in AllPsych Journal, The Academy of Pediatrics states, â€Å"More than one thousand scientific studies and reviews conclude that significant exposure to media violence increases the risk of aggressive behavior in certain children, desensitizes them to violence and makes them believe that the world is a ‘meaner and scarier’ place than it is.†Ã‚  According to Tompkins, if children become accustomed and believed that this violent behavior is acceptable and normal, it will be hard to change that belief as they grow older.  She also relates this to the study of domestic violence where in a person exposed to this violence tends to become either abused or be the abuser.  She further explains this by citing the Columbine incident as an example, where in the two students, who committed a violent act are video fanatics. Their exposure to vi olence was linked to their violent act since both of them came from a family with good parental guidance. Moreover, another negative effect of these violent video games to children is that it teaches the kids wrong values for reinforcement of behaviors. In psychology, there is a thing called â€Å"positive reinforcement†. It is a way of reinforcing a â€Å"good deed† or behavior by rewarding a child if the child has done a good job in school or if they behaved well. On the other hand, computer games bestow rewards on the player after killing or defeating their opponent. This process is totally the opposite of what id thought in â€Å"positive reinforcement†, the act of killing is rewarded and the purpose of â€Å"positive reinforcement† is defeated, which in turn could affects the child’s perception of what act or behavior must be rewarded. And this reward system in violent video games could affect the child’s behavior by imitating those seen and done in violent computer video games. As mentioned in the Gentile’s book, â€Å"reward increa ses imitation† (136). Furthermore, the experiences felt by the individual, especially in violent video games or even in media violence could have a significant effect on a child’s interpersonal interaction. Unconsciously, a child could internalize what is happening on what they see. This type of violence is emotionally stressful and could alter interpersonal interactions. â€Å"Participation in violent video games cast a negative cloud over the children’s views of interpersonal interactions. One research revealed that preschoolers most likely experienced fear and anxiety when they saw bloodied victims and watched expressions of emotional distress in connection with the media’s constant showing of the events of September 11th and their aftermath† (Cantor, 2002). These experiences that are internalized by children, unconsciously affects their behavior, and when they are placed in situations similar to what they have seen, they could become anxious and restless. On the contrary, there are also sectors that would oppose as to the negative effect of violent video games. According to Doug Lowenstein, who is the president of the Interactive Software Association, people who do not understand the industry are prone in distorting the effects of video games on children. In fact, Lowenstein claims, violent video games cannot be shown as result in increased aggression of the part of the children (as cited in Anderson Bushman, 2001). But how can we expect them to see the negative effect of these violent video games, well in fact what they mean is purely business. Likewise, Steven Johnson said: â€Å"The most debased forms of mass diversion-video games and violent television dramas and juvenile sitcoms-turn out to be nutritional after all† (9). It is nutritional in the sense that learning comes along while playing these violent video games, such as mastery and control and hand-eye coordination. This paper totally disagrees with this notion. There are more appropriate ways of learning these things, without jeopardizing the minds of these children of what is good and what is wrong. Example are art camps, indoor and outdoor activities that utilizes the body, where in physical, psychological and emotional aspects are given importance, which builds friendship and the values of sportsmanship, as well as maintaining a healthy active body, which computer games don’t give. Furthermore, computer video games promote isolation, aggressive behavior and a sedentary life style by sitting long hours in front of these computers. In conclusion, violent video game has a strong correlation in children’s aggressive behavior. Violent video game has a great impact in children’s behavioral, emotional, physiological, and psychological well being.  Parents are the first line of defense against the invasion into children’s lives. The decision to buy or not to buy violent video games is a true freedom and should be taken seriously. They should know the consequences of possible effects of such materials to their children.  Moreover, parents, caregivers and government sector should be more careful and protective to these vulnerable children.  Manufacturer should consider designing games that will teach children the good values, true manhood and moral courage; games that will provide fun, excitement, and will give visceral pleasure that is engaging and absorbing without the unnecessary violence.

To Kill a Mockingbird - The Powerful Character of Atticus Finch Essay

To Kill a Mockingbird - The Powerful Character of Atticus Finch In the beginning epigraph of To Kill a Mocking Bird, Harper Lee quotes a statement made by Charles Lamb: "Lawyers, I suppose, were children once." As told through the eyes of the rambunctious elementary school child, Scout Finch, we see not only how she and her brother's lives are affected by their community, also how they develop and mature under the watch of their father, lawyer Atticus Finch. As a wise role model to his town of Maycomb as well as his children, Atticus Finch becomes a prominently admirable character. As a father, lawyer, friend, and foe, Atticus Finch proves himself to be an honest, selfless, and courageous human being. Throughout many of the books main events, it is always clear that Atticus Finch holds true to his morals and beliefs despite all obstacles. After returning from reading to Mrs. Dubose, a morphine addict, with her brother, Jem, Scout asks her father, "Atticus, what exactly is a nigger-lover?" Having heard the term used many times referring to her father it is easy t...

Analysis of Soldiers Home by Ernest Hemingway Essay -- Literary Analys

The story, A Soldiers Home, is about a man in conflict with the past and present events in his life. The young man’s name is Harold Krebs. He recently returned from World War 1 to find everything almost exactly the same as when he left. He moved back into his parents house, where he found the same car sitting in the same drive way. He also found the girls looking the same, except now they all had short hair. When he returned to his home town in Oklahoma the hysteria of the soldiers coming home was all over. The other soldiers had come home years before Krebs had so everyone was over the excitement. When he first returned home he didn’t want to talk about the war at all. Then, when he suddenly felt the urge and need to talk about it no one wanted to hear about it. When he returned all of the other soldiers had found their place in the community, but Harold needed more time to find his place. In the mean time he plays pool, â€Å"practiced on his clarinet, strolled down town, read, and went to bed.†(Hemingway, 186) When his mother pressures him to get out and get a girlfriend and job, he te...

Macbeths Ambition :: essays research papers

Macbeth’s Ambition Political ambition undermines man’s loyalty. In the play, Macbeth decides to kill his king because of his ambition for position. At the beginning of the play, he portrays himself as a noble person. He fights in the battle against Norway and proves his loyalty; however, as soon as the witches prophesize that Macbeth “shall be king hereafter'; (1.3.53), he is not longer trustworthy. Ambition for power starts creeping into his head. After Macbeth’s internal conflict over whether or not to kill Duncan, he decides to do it quickly (1.7.3) in order to hasten the predictions. He decides to kill the king because he wants to extend his power all over the country by becoming the new monarch. He desires to be more wealthy and respected by the nobility as well as by the common people. Becoming king represents the highest rang in the political pyramid. The act of murdering is the only way to make his dreams come true because Duncan’s fair and prosperous rule over Scotland experience the support of the whole population. As Malcom and Donalbain fly to England, he automatically takes possession of the throne. Macbeth displays political ambition first of all because of his wife. After she reads her husband’s letter about his meeting with the witches, she suggests for Macbeth to kill Duncan so she could be queen. At the beginning Macbeth hesitates to talk about such a thing and even lists the reason not to kill: he is his king, his uncle and his guest. Not completely sure about it and victim of his own desires for power he finally accepts Lady Macbeth’s plan for murdering the ruler of Scotland. This decision portrays Macbeth’s dirty morality and easily manageable personality. Macbeth’s character is a clear example of how ambition corrupts man’s personality. After a brief period of hesitation, he finally decides to take the infamous way of murder in order to make his political desires come true. His ambition, stronger than the moral and social condemnation of killing, becomes his sole motive. The American philosopher David Young goes further in this analysis and sees in Macbeth how “the act of regicide is a ready means of illustrating the genesis of tragic structure in struggles for power'; (Young 318).

Behaviors related to microeconomics concepts

Most of us have always wondered why this always happen when they visit a barber. This is just because of the economic concept. The cost of operations in shaving the beards is even more because more care is needed while shaving and different customers have different styles on how they it to be shaved. This wastes time and energy and to pay for this, the price has really to be high. The expenses that are incurred when perfuming this service is the same with that one that you will apply when performing other services and hence there is no reason whatsoever for its price being low.Another factor is the skill factor in that while shaving the beards, more skill is required and this is reflected in price. As much as in shaving the head any other barber can do it the beard shaving requires potential and qualified barbers and it is this that makes the prices improve upwards. (Perloff, M. J 1999) Why does it cost higher for a woman delivering in a private hospital than that one delivering in a government hospital? Most of the women who go in private hospitals are considered as working class.Although the services rendered may be the same as those in public hospital most of them will prefer going I n private hospitals because of their status. most of the consumers do consider social class as a factor while purchasing products or services in the market like if a dress is sold in the market at $8, and the same dress of the same quality from the same company is sold in a beauty mall at a price of $ 15, a consumer who considers herself as from high class will rather go for that dress in a shopping mall than that one in the market because she tends to think that her status does not allow her to purchase in markets.In fact producers take this as opportunities that they think should be utilized and increase prices in high class shops and reduce in low class shops to just increase the total sales in their organization. The doctors on the other hand, will want to serve more clients within a short time to increase their portfolio income but affect the customers by attending more in less time. The real money in a consumer’s portfolio is the one that will determine where he should seek his service. It is actually this factor that determine where and what a consumer should purchase depending on his capability to pay for the services rendered.That is why high qualified doctors can decide to open their own clinic that will cater for another class of people thus serving the needs of most of the consumers in the market. In today’s market, the key point is actually identifying the need of the customer and fulfilling it. (Mas-Colell. A. et al 1995). Why are veils quite expensive in US than in Saudi Arabia? If there are so many customers in Saudi Arabia who need to purchase this commodity, then how come it is still cheap there yet the demand is also high! The prices should have actually gone up to cut down on the demand .This is not the case because of thi s culture factor that most organizations need to consider. Most of the people in Saudi Arabia are Muslims and thus most of them need veil as a requirement because of their faiths. This is unlike the customers us who may be assumed as just those who want it for luxury. The way the veil is taken as a cloth required during the worship is not the way it will be taken in the US market hence the prices will probably go high. Culture being important in the consumer behavior has a real impact in any organization.If a customer perceives that a certain commodity is the best however much it may tend to be expensive, a customer will sacrifice and ay the premium price for this commodity than purchasing another commodity that he has no confidence with it. (Pindyck, R. et al, 2004) Bibliography Mas-Colell. A. et al (1995), Microeconomics Theory, Oxford University Press Perloff, M. J (1999), Microeconomics: Incentives in an Imperfect World, Addison-Wesley Longman. Pindyck, R. et al, (2004), Microec onomics, Pearson Prentice hall

Death of a Salesman Essay Outline

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (1915-2005) Explore the ways in which Miller constructs the identity of Willy Loman and what is suggested by his interactions with his work and his wife in this extract. Thesis Statement:In the passage, Miller criticises society for being stifling and breaking down youths once full of passion into meek workers resigned to their fate. To convey this, Miller uses Loman, an exaggerated version of what the population is going through. They are battered from exhaustion, too accommodating as they are afraid of change and also mentally crushed.Topic Sentence 1Miller constructs the identity of Willy Loman as one that largely comprises of him being â€Å"the Salesman†. The entire dialogue in the passage was dedicated to work, although they were placed in a homely setting, showing that it is hard to separate the private self with the public working self. Evidence from passage: The identity â€Å"the Salesman† is one that identifies Loman the m ost accurately. The title, â€Å"death of a salesman†, also shows that the identity of being a salesman triumphs over all his other identities and even his name. He is also depicted to be living a very rigid, robot-like life.Evidence from passage: Each action is stated clearly in a mechanical manner. â€Å"He closes the door† â€Å"then carries his cases out into the living room† or â€Å"unlocks the door† â€Å"comes into the kitchen† â€Å"thankfully lets his burden down† â€Å"feeling the soreness of his palm† Topic Sentence 2Loman is also seen to be, after 60 years of his life in this stifling capitalism system, resigned to his fate. He is beaten down and is dubious of new prospects as he is much too comfortable and familiar to his current life. Evidence from passage:â€Å"You’re too accommodating, dear. â€Å"I couldn’t make it† â€Å"his massive dreams and little cruelties, served her only as sharp reminde rs of the turbulent longings within him, longings which she shares but lacks the temperament to utter and follow to their end. This inability to change his life in real life seems to manifest into wild imaginations, where he lives out his dreams. Evidence from passage: â€Å"But it’s so beautiful up there† Speaks of his dream-like imagination with wonder, although it was a dangerous situation. Topic Sentence 3Much like his name, â€Å"Willy†, Loman is seen to be much of a willy-nilly and seems disordered and haphazard.Miller constructs this through the use of the Loman’s erratic dialogue with his wife. The constant repetition of phrases and restating his points Evidence from passage: â€Å"I couldn’t make it. I just couldn’t make it, Linda†, â€Å"I stopped for a cup of coffee. Maybe it was the coffee. † Conclusion:Loman criticises society for breaking down a man, stripping him of his individual identity as a person and giving him the identity of a worker. This life manages to drive Willy to slight insanity, and self-doubt so serious that he is unable to provoke any change in his life.

Shadow Kiss Chapter 25

Twenty-five DEAD OR TAKEN AWAY. It wasn't enough that the Strigoi had come and attacked us, that they'd killed Moroi and dhampirs alike. They'd also carried some off. It was something Strigoi were known to do. Even they had limits on how much blood they could drink at once. So they'd often take prisoners to keep as snacks for later. Or sometimes a powerful Strigoi who didn't want to do the dirty work would send his or her minions off to bring back the prey. Every once in a while, they'd even purposely take back captives to turn into more Strigoi. Whatever the reason, it meant that some of our people might still be alive. Students, Moroi and dhampir, were gathered up once certain buildings had been declared Strigoi-free. Adult Moroi were herded inside with us, leaving the guardians to assess the damage. I wanted desperately to be with them, to help and do my part, but they made it clear my part was over. There was nothing I could do at that point except wait and worry with the others. It still seemed unreal. Strigoi attacking our school. How could it have happened? The Academy was safe. We'd always been taught that. It had to be safe. It was why our school years were so long and why Moroi families endured being separated for most of the year. It was worth it for children to have a safe place to go. That was no longer true. It took only a couple hours for them to get a casualty count, but waiting while those reports trickled in felt like days. And the numbers†¦the numbers were harsh. Fifteen Moroi had been killed. Twelve guardians had been killed. A group of thirteen, both Moroi and dhampirs, had been taken away. The guardians estimated that there had been close to fifty Strigoi, which was beyond mind-boggling. They'd found twenty-eight Strigoi bodies. The rest appeared to have escaped, many taking victims with them. For that size of a Strigoi party, our casualty count was still lower than one might have expected. A few things were credited for saving us. One was the early warning. The Strigoi had barely penetrated the school's inner grounds when I'd warned Stan. The school had gone into lockdown quickly, and the fact that most everyone was already inside for curfew had helped. Most of the Moroi victims – dead or taken – were those who had been out in the open when the Strigoi came. The Strigoi had never made it into the elementary dorms, which Dimitri said was largely thanks to me and Christian. They had managed to breach one of the Moroi dorms, however – the one that Lissa lived in. My stomach had dropped when I heard that. And even though I could feel that she was fine through the bond, all I could see was that smirking blond Strigoi, telling me he was going to finish the Dragomirs off. I didn't know what had happened to him; the attacking Strigoi group hadn't gotten far into her dorm, thankfully, but there had been casualties. One of them was Eddie. â€Å"What?† I exclaimed when Adrian told me. We were eating in the cafeteria. I wasn't sure which meal it was since the campus had reverted to a daylight schedule that threw my sense of timing off. The cafeteria was nearly silent, all conversations in low whispers. Meals were the only reason students could leave their dorms. There was going to be a guardian meeting later on that I was actually invited to, but for now, I was confined with the rest of my friends. â€Å"He was with you guys,† I said. I focused on Lissa, almost accusingly. â€Å"I saw him with you. Through your eyes.† She looked up at me over the tray of food she had no interest in eating, her face pale and full of grief. â€Å"When the Strigoi got in downstairs, he and some other novices went down to help.† â€Å"They didn't find his body,† said Adrian. There was no smirk on his face, no humor anywhere. â€Å"He was one of the ones they took.† Christian sighed and leaned back in his chair. â€Å"He's as good as dead, then.† The cafeteria disappeared. I stopped seeing any of them. All I could see in that moment was that room back in Spokane, that room where we'd been held. They'd tortured Eddie and nearly killed him. That experience had changed him forever, affecting the way he now conducted himself as a guardian. He'd grown extremely dedicated as a result, but it had cost him some of the light and laughter he used to have. And now it was happening again. Eddie captured. He'd worked so hard to protect Lissa and others, risking his own life in the attack. I'd been nowhere near the Moroi dorm when it had happened, but I felt responsible – like I should have watched over him. Surely I owed it to Mason. Mason. Mason who had died on my watch and whose ghost I hadn't seen since he'd warned me earlier. I hadn't been able to save him, and now I'd lost his best friend too. I shot up from my chair and shoved my tray away. That dark fury I'd been fighting blazed through me. If Strigoi had been around, I could have burned them up with it, without any need of Christian's magic. â€Å"What's wrong?† asked Lissa. I stared at her in disbelief. â€Å"What's wrong? What's wrong? Do you seriously have to ask that?† In the silent cafeteria, my voice rang out. People stared. â€Å"Rose, you know what she means,† said Adrian, voice unusually calm. â€Å"We're all upset. Sit back down. It's going to be okay.† For a moment, I almost listened to him. Then, I shook it off. He was trying to use compulsion to chill me out. I glared at him. â€Å"It is not going to be okay – not unless we do something about this.† â€Å"There's nothing to be done,† said Christian. Beside him, Lissa was silent, still hurt from when I'd snapped at her. â€Å"We'll see about that,† I said. â€Å"Rose, wait,† she called. She was worried about me – and scared, too. It was tiny and selfish, but she didn't want me to leave her. She was used to me being there for her. I made her feel safe. But I couldn't stay, not right now. I stormed out of the commons and into the bright light outside. The guardians' meeting wasn't for another couple hours, but that didn't matter. I needed to talk to someone now. I sprinted to the guardians' building. Someone else was walking into it as I was, and I bumped her in my haste. â€Å"Rose?† My fury turned to surprise. â€Å"Mom?† My famous guardian mother, Janine Hathaway, stood there by the door. She looked the same as she had when I'd seen her at New Year's, her curly red hair still worn short and her face weathered from the sun. Her brown eyes seemed grimmer than last time, however, which was saying something. â€Å"What are you doing here?† I asked. As I'd told Deirdre, my mother and I had had a troubled relationship for most of my life, largely because of the distance that inevitably came with having a parent who was a guardian. I'd resented her for years and we still weren't super close, but she'd been there for me after Mason's death, and I think we both tentatively hoped things might improve in coming years. She'd left after New Year's, and last I'd heard, she'd gone back to Europe with the Szelsky she guarded. She opened the door, and I followed her through. Her manner was brusque and businesslike, as always. â€Å"Replenishing the numbers. They've called in extras to reinforce campus.† Replenishing the numbers. Replacing the guardians who had been killed. All the bodies had been cleared away – Strigoi, Moroi, and dhampir alike – but the hole left behind by those who were gone was apparent to all. I could still see them when I closed my eyes. But with her here, I realized I had an opportunity. I grabbed hold of her arm, which startled her. â€Å"We have to go after them,† I said. â€Å"Rescue the ones who were taken.† She regarded me carefully, a small frown the only sign of her feelings. â€Å"We don't do that kind of thing. You know that. We have to protect those who are here.† â€Å"What about those thirteen? Shouldn't we protect them? And you went on a rescue mission once.† She shook her head. â€Å"That was different. We had a trail. We wouldn't know where to find this group if we wanted to.† I knew she was right. The Strigoi wouldn't have left an easy path to follow. And yet†¦ suddenly, I had an idea. â€Å"They put the wards back up, right?† I asked. â€Å"Yes, almost immediately. We're still not sure how they were broken. There were no stakes used to pierce them.† I started to tell her my theory about that, but she wasn't up to speed with my ghostly shenanigans. â€Å"Do you know where Dimitri is?† She gestured toward groups of guardians hurrying all around. â€Å"I'm sure he's busy here somewhere. Everyone is. And now I need to go check in. I know you were invited to the meeting, but that's not for a while yet – you should stay out of the way.† â€Å"I will†¦ but I need to see Dimitri first. It's important – it might play a role in what happens at the meeting.† â€Å"What is it?† she asked suspiciously. â€Å"I can't explain yet†¦It's complicated. It'd take too much time. Help me find him, and we'll tell you later.† My mother didn't seem happy about this. After all, Janine Hathaway wasn't someone people usually said no to. But she nonetheless helped me find Dimitri. After the events over winter break, I think she'd come to regard me as more than a hapless teenager. We found Dimitri with some other guardians, studying a map of campus and planning how to distribute the newly arrived guardians. There were enough people gathered around the map that he was able to slip away. â€Å"What's going on?† he asked as he and I stood off to the side of the room. Even in the midst of this crisis, in the midst of worrying so much about others, I could tell that there was part of him that worried just about me. â€Å"Are you okay?† â€Å"I think we should launch a rescue mission,† I said. â€Å"You know we – â€Å" † – don't usually do that. Yeah, yeah. And I know we don't know where they are †¦ except, I might.† He frowned. â€Å"How?† I told him how it had been Mason who'd warned us last night. Dimitri and I had had no time to talk alone since then, so we'd never really debriefed on the events of the attack. We also hadn't really had a chance to talk about what had happened in the cabin. It made me feel weird because really, that was all I wanted to think about, but I couldn't. Not with so much else going on. So I kept trying to shove those memories of sex away, only to have them keep popping up and entangle my emotions further. Hoping I seemed cool and competent, I continued explaining my ideas. â€Å"Mason's locked out now because the wards are back up, but somehow †¦ I think he knows where the Strigoi are. I think he could show us where they are.† Dimitri's face told me he had his doubts about this. â€Å"Come on! You have to believe me after what happened.† â€Å"I'm still having a hard time with that,† he admitted. â€Å"But okay. Suppose this is true. You think he can just lead us? You can ask him and he'll do it?† â€Å"Yeah,† I said. â€Å"I think I can. I've been fighting him all this time, but I think if I actually try to work with him, he'll help. I think that's what he's always wanted. He knew the wards were weak and that the Strigoi had been lying in wait. The Strigoi can't be too far away from us †¦ they had to have stopped for daylight and hidden out somewhere. We might be able to get to them before the captives die. And once we get close enough, I can actually find them.† I then explained the nauseous feeling I'd gotten when Strigoi were around. Dimitri didn't challenge this. I think too many weird things were going on for him to even question it. â€Å"But Mason isn't here. You said he can't get through the wards. How will you get him to help us?† he asked. I'd been thinking about this. â€Å"Take me to the front gates.† After a quick word to Alberta about â€Å"investigating something,† Dimitri led me outside, and we walked the long way to the entrance to the school. Neither of us said anything as we walked. Even in the midst of all this, I still kept thinking of the cabin, of being in his arms. In some ways, it was part of what helped me cope with all the rest of this horror. I had a feeling it was on his mind too. The entrance to the school consisted of a long stretch of iron fence that lay right on top of the wards. A road that wound from the main highway twenty miles away came up to the gate, which was almost always kept closed. Guardians had a small booth here, and the area was monitored at all times of the day. They were surprised by our request, but Dimitri insisted it would just be for a moment. They slid the heavy gate open, revealing a space only big enough for one person to get through at a time. Dimitri and I stepped outside. A headache almost immediately built up behind my eyes, and I started to see faces and shapes. It was just like at the airport. When I was outside of wards, I could see all sorts of spirits. But I understood it now and no longer feared it. I needed to control it. â€Å"Go away,† I said to the gray, looming forms around me. â€Å"I don't have time for you. Go.† I put as much force as I could into my will and my voice, and to my astonishment, the ghosts faded. A faint hum remained with me, reminding me they were still out there, and I knew if I let down my guard even a moment, it would all hit me again. Dimitri was eyeing me with concern. â€Å"You're okay?† I nodded and peered around. There was one ghost I wanted to see. â€Å"Mason,† I said. â€Å"I need you.† Nothing. I summoned back up the command I'd used on the other ghosts just a moment ago. â€Å"Mason. Please. Come here.† I saw nothing except the road in front of us winding off into the winter-dead hills. Dimitri was giving me that look from last night, the one that said he was deeply concerned for my mental health. And actually, I was worried at that moment too. Last night's warning had been the final proof for me that Mason was real. But now †¦ A minute later, his shape materialized before me, looking a little paler than before. For the first time since all this had begun, I was happy to see him. He, of course, looked sad. Same old same old. â€Å"Finally. You were making me look bad.† He simply stared, and I immediately felt bad for joking. â€Å"I'm sorry. I need your help again. We have to find them. We have to save Eddie.† He nodded. â€Å"Can you show me where they are?† He nodded again and turned, pointing off in a direction that was almost directly behind me. â€Å"They came in through the back of campus?† He nodded yet again, and like that, I knew what had happened. I knew how the Strigoi had gotten in, but there was no time to dwell on that just now. I turned to Dimitri. â€Å"We need a map,† I said. He walked back through the gate and spoke a few words to one of the guardians on duty. A moment later, he returned with a map and unfolded it. It showed the layout of campus, as well as the surrounding roads and terrain. I took it from him and held it out to Mason, trying to keep it flat in the whipping wind. The only true road out from the school was right in front of us. The rest of the campus was surrounded by forests and steep cliffs. I pointed to a spot at the back of the school's grounds. â€Å"This is where they came in, isn't it? Where the wards first broke?† Mason nodded. He held out his finger and without touching the map, traced a route through the woods that flanked the edge of a small mountain. Following it long enough eventually led to a small dirt road that joined an interstate many miles away. I followed where he pointed and suddenly had my doubts about using him as a guide. â€Å"No, that's not right,† I said. â€Å"It can't be. This stretch of woods by the mountain has no roads. They'd have to go on foot, and it'd take too long to walk from the school to this other road. They wouldn't have had enough time. They'd be caught in daylight.† Mason shook his head – to disagree with me, apparently – and again traced the route back and forth. In particular, he kept pointing to a spot not far beyond the Academy's grounds. At least, it wasn't far away on the map. The map wasn't particularly detailed, and I guessed the spot was probably a few miles away. He held his finger there, looked at me, and then looked back down. â€Å"They can't be there now,† I argued. â€Å"It's outside. They might have come in through the back, but they had to have left through the front – gotten in some kind of vehicle and took off.† Mason shook his head. I looked up at Dimitri, frustrated. I felt like the clock was ticking on us, and Mason's weird assertion that the Strigoi were a few miles away, outdoors in the daytime, was stirring up my irritable nature. I sincerely doubted they'd gotten out tents and were camping. â€Å"Is there any building or anything out there?† I demanded, pointing at the spot Mason had indicated. â€Å"He says they were going out to that road. But they couldn't have walked there before the sun came up, and he claims they're there.† Dimitri's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. â€Å"Not that I know of.† He took the map from me and brought it to the other guardians to check with them. While they talked, I glanced back at Mason. â€Å"You better be right about this,† I warned him. He nodded. â€Å"Have you†¦have you seen them? The Strigoi and their captives?† He nodded. â€Å"Is Eddie still alive?† He nodded, and Dimitri walked over. â€Å"Rose†¦Ã¢â‚¬  There was a strange sound to Dimitri's voice as he brought the map back, like he couldn't entirely believe what he was saying. â€Å"Stephen says there are caves right at the base of the mountain here.† I met Dimitri's eyes, no doubt looking just as astonished as he did. â€Å"Are they big enough – â€Å" â€Å"Big enough for the Strigoi to hide out in until nighttime?† Dimitri nodded. â€Å"They are. And they're only five miles away.†

Business Aims and Objectives Essay

Knowing that you are taking a qualification at Bloomsbury Regional Technical College, you have been approached by several friends who would like you to help with the setting up of their businesses. You enjoy business because the subject constantly changes and you can see the relevance of all that you are learning. You can also apply what you are learning to different situations. a. Alice is thinking of setting up a small restaurant in a village two miles from the town centre. The setting is attractive. Her restaurant will only cater for a maximum of 36 customers, for whom she wants to serve gourmet food. b. Perminder wants to create a small charity that locally supports children with cerebral palsy. She represents a network of 30 parents who experience the illness and she wants to make sure that the charity can provide them with many of the resources and experiences they require in order to make their lives more comfortable. 1. You meet both Alice and Perminder for a cup of tea. Explain why organisations need aims and objectives. (P1) Every organisation needs to set aims and objectives to be able to run the business more easily and effectively. Objectives are more like goals, it’s more realistic than aims. Objectives are far more sensible and achievable. Aims are what an organisation wants to achieve. These are long-term plans, probably over next 3 to 5 years. This allows the business to move forward. Objectives set out how the organisation will meet their aims. 2. Describe to Alice and Perminder how they could use their aims and objectives. As you do so, explain the purpose of setting SMART objectives. (P2) An obvious objective for Alice and Perminder is to achieve goals. Precise, measurable targets will help you do this. You will have to concentrate on doing your best as you achieve one goal at a time. You should set these goals using SMART objectives. * Specific- You needs a clear  statement about what will do. Usually, it is quantified, which means it has a number in it. * Measurable – achievement can be checked. Recording your progress and keeping a record of your completed assessments will enable you to measure your achievements * Achievable – you can attain your target if you work hard. You can do really well if you stretch yourself * Realistic- your target should be sensible so that you stand a chance of achieving it. * Time-constrained – every objective should include a date for achievement or review/ these acts as a warning, as well as a spur if you are falling behind. You either achieve a SMART objective or need a good reason for not doing so. These types of objective are important for managers and employees in a business to measure success in achieving business aims. 3. Produce a mission statement for Alice for her business as well as for Perminder’s charity, alongside a series of objectives. Many large organisations have a mission statement that briefly identifies the main purpose of the business and how it sees itself. Alice: Alice wants to open a small restaurant in a village two miles from the town centre. The setting is attractive. Her restaurant will only cater for a maximum of 36 customers, for whom she wants to serve gourmet food. This is known as a privately owned business and will focus on customers, employees. The cost of their products or how they give values for money. Sainsbury’s mission statement is: â€Å"Our mission is to be the consumer’s first choice for food, delivering products of outstanding quality and great service at a competitive cost through working ‘faster, simpler and together.† Alice’s Mission Statement: ‘We take pride in working together to providing the best quality food for our customers of outstanding value to delight our customers’. Objectives for Alice: To provide good services and must make a profit to survive, to make sure that you only break even or make a loss for a very short time or the business can fail. Perminder: Perminder wants to create a small charity that locally supports children with cerebral palsy. She represents a network of 30 parents who experience the illness and she wants to make sure that the charity can provide them with many of the resources and experiences they require in order to make their lives more comfortable. This is known as Not- For-Profit and voluntary organisations and focus on the services they provide, the causes they support their aims in helping those in need. For example the mission of the Oxfam International is an ‘international group of independent non-governmental organizations dedicated to fighting poverty and related injustice around the world’. ‘ Perminder’s Mission Statement: ‘Our mission is to support children with cerebral palsy. So that is no longer causing a disability and premature death to children. Objectives for Perminder: To raise money that is used to support children. To aim to make surplus, after the cost of the business have been deducted, and reinvest this into the business and the services it offers.

To what extent should we attribute the 1979 Iranian Revolution to Essay

To what extent should we attribute the 1979 Iranian Revolution to Khomeinis leadership - Essay Example However, the Soviet Union was not involved in overthrowing the government, which was led by Shah. Initially, demonstrations started in 1977 in October (Harmon, 2004:5). This was followed by civil resistance from the people, especially the population that was affiliated to the Islamic religion. In the wake of 1978, the demonstrations escalated. During the demonstrations, 2 policemen and 6 protesters were confirmed dead. However, Khomeini declared that 70 were martyrs, including his son. The continued demonstrations were threatening to paralyse the country, especially in the end of 1978. This led to the exile of Shah on the January 16th in 1979. This marked the start of a new regime in Iran, led by Khomeini (Adib-Moghaddam, 2014:1). Through all these activities, Khomeini has various attributes that led to the overthrowing of Shah in Iran. To begin with, Khomeini advocated for the rights of all the people in the country. In essence, he was a unifying factor in the country, as he was destined to protect the rights of all the people. As a result, he unified student’s unions, religions affiliations and other organisations that were disinterested in the current leadership. The attribute of unifying score of people to fight for an ostensible reason was instrumental in the revolution (Adib-Moghaddam, 2014:1). It is noted that many revolutions are successful when people engage large numbers. Therefore, Khomeini used this particular attribute to ensure the revolution was successful. Similarly, he engaged Islamic principles in the fight. Though the educated clerics, he was able to interpret the Islamic principles, and explained them to the masses. This led to acceptance to fight against the government of the day, as they wanted liberation. During the revolution, Khomeini instigated the slogan â€Å"neither east nor west† in gathering the masses. He stated that the most important thing for the Iranians was freedom.

Significance of the Watergate Scandal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Significance of the Watergate Scandal - Essay Example When it was later found out that the people were under the president’s payroll, the case led to his indictment. This was after running for re-election, in 1972, and winning. This paper will review the significance of this event, and some of the changes that followed in the U.S. policies after this event. It is true that this event shaped the country’s law after it erupted. Those involved were either directly or indirectly in the committee that was campaigning to re-elect the president. After all these events and the eventual resignation of the president, some changes in the laws were evident (Henretta and Jonathon 2009, 859). One of the changes that became clear to the people was the fact, â€Å"politicians could no longer be trusted.† This is what led to the election of a rather unknown party to be president. This was in the year 1977, when Jimmy Carter became president of the United States. The scandal gave the American people disillusionment about their govern ment. â€Å"It was during this period that people started having different thoughts about the war in Vietnam.† The president’s powers had to be curtailed due to the above reasons. They were curtailed in the sense that, the president had limited powers, especially when it came to matters concerning the state’s money, the deployment of troops to war, and the freedom to information. The National Congress was responsible for this move which was largely appreciated by the people in the United States. â€Å"The War Powers Act, reining on the president’s powers to deploy U.S. forces without congressional approval.† During this move, there was evidence that proved one thing; no one is above the law, not even the president. During the curtailing of the president’s powers, the freedom of the press got a new meaning (Henretta and Jonathon 2009, 860). All this was in the first amendment, in the constitution. If it is true, then, â€Å"it is the pressâ €™s responsibility to print it regardless of the position or power of those involved.† In another area, the Freedom of the Information Act became stronger. This meant, â€Å"People could now get access to government documents that are accessible to the public.† If the people of the state feel like they need to get information about some of the government’s activities, then it is possible to get documents with information (Henretta and Jonathon 2009, 860). These documents can let them know about what the government is about to do. If they happen to, â€Å"agree or disagree with any of their activities, it is their fundamental right to do so.† To date, government related documents are located online (Biagi 2011, 97). The internet can allow anyone, and everyone in the world to access government related documents. This is in order to find out what the powerful nation is doing, and if it is legal under the constitution. Through this event, the constitutionà ¢â‚¬â„¢s and people’s belief in the system was affirmed. â€Å"The belief of equality and justice became a reality to many.† It became evident even to the highest office in the land, that is, the president’s office. The people in the scandal got to understand the full extent of the law. It was while in office that the president operated on a level one would consider full of arrogance (Henretta and Jonathon 2009, 860). However, as the law demanded that they pay the price for their actions, they could no longer ignore the fact, â€Å"they were not above the law.†

Thinking Through Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Thinking Through Religion - Essay Example The assertion, "The unexamined life is not worth living", by Socrates is great for the clear-cut and straightforward message it gives. No ambiguity is involved, and it gives no scope for doubt. No purpose is served in the life of an individual, who is born and walks up to the grave! Every human being is endowed with an inner world to delve deep into it and to understand the real purpose of life and develop the technique to lead a spiritual life. The nobler instincts are more powerful than the desire that draws one to the secular comforts. The core desire of a human being is to search for meaning and purpose of life. The divine beauty of the inner world is the subject of practical experience. Wise men have written millions of pages about joy and happiness, but unless one crosses the barrier of mind and reaches the level of transcendence to enjoy the state of bliss, one’s life remains unexamined and it is the state of incompleteness. When one possesses the will to grow, not bein g satisfied with the state of status-quo, take it as the beginning of progress. The process of investigation is the continuous one and inner search means practical spirituality in which state every thought and action is positive and the individual visualizes divinity and unity in the working of the cosmos. He sees unity in diversity. Man’s search for meaning of life is the fundamental force of life and it is within everyone. With the procedure detailed in the sacred texts, the practical vision of divinity is attainable reality and that is the true purpose of life. To know the essence of human existence is the be all and end all of life. Each individual has to find the answer to his question, with investigation. Life is a continuous process of search of the unknown and the challenges on the path of investigation provide an opportunity for an individual to test his determination and will. Personal growth and spiritual growth are alternative beats of the same heart. Moreover, it is equally important to know that one's life happiness does not come from or depends on the other or though conditionings in the external world. Others can only contribute to trigger feelings, but an individual must search one’s own happiness. Thus, one's life is worth living when one remains involved in the process of self-examination in order to find true meaning and happiness of life. An unexamined life is not worth living. 2. Anthropic Principle means relating to human beings or their existence. Our existence on this Planet Earth depends on many cosmological considerations and even if a slight deviation in those factors would mean that we will not exist at all. The cosmos functions on countless alignments. The question arises, is it possible that such an arrangement exists merely by chance? Philosophers and the well-meaning scientists conclude that it is God who has that ultimate and immeasurable capacity and He has fine-tuned this Planet Earth for our existence. The rec ent advances in astronomy and physics have led the scientists to strongly conclude that there is ‘the soul at the heart of the universe’. This has led them to the process of self-examination and questions like: Who are we? Why are we here? What is God? For the first time in the known history of humankind, the contemporary scientists, theologians and mathematicians are likely to arrive on a common platform and their unanimous decision about the existence of God! â€Å"The Soul of the Universe†, is a remarkable program (video) on this fascinating and mind-boggling issue. I entirely agree with the anthropic principle and it goes in tandem with the spiritual truth. In fact, spirituality is the science of sciences. That which is not practical, and amenable to experiments, cannot be spiritual either. Consider the structure of protons. It has direct bearing on the livability of our Planet and consequently on the life of humankind. Some more examples that go to prove the