Belonging: Past Hsc Student’s Draft

The need to belong is a human phenomenon that is the underlying cause of our actions. As humans, we search for like-minded people with whom we can find a sense of ourselves as people. This is a product of the fact that belonging is integral to the formation of one’s identity. However, a sense of belonging is often achieved by following a path of alienation. Similarly, alienation leads to disillusionment with that (verbose line) which one once believed in. Apocalypse Now directed by Francis Coppola, John Steinbeck’s Tortilla Flat and Peter Skrzynecki’s poetry all deal with these three dimensions of belonging.Belonging and acceptance is integral to the formation of one’s identity. Peter Skrzynecki’s poem 10 Mary Street illustrates the security and comfort that is a product of a sense of belonging. In this case, it is a sense of belonging to a family routine that occurs daily at number 10 Mary Street. The mundanity of the routine provides stability and familiarity. Skrzynecki uses time frames such as â€Å"5pm† and â€Å"For nineteen years† to establish a sense of repetition and order in the reader’s mind.Collective pronouns such as â€Å"we† connote collaboration and inclusion in the family sphere. This family inclusivity allows the poet to establish his identity at an early age in a place in which he belongs, as shown when he describes him wandering in the garden after school. The simile â€Å"like a hungry bird† shows (avoid using ‘show’ repetitively) him to be curious and boisterous. It connotes a healthy organic childhood. In the second stanza of the poem, Skrzynecki uses images of growth and nurturing to suggest a loving family environment and a sense of belonging to the land.The quiet â€Å"hum-drum† of daily routines, such as washing clothes and gardening, suggests that the house and Skrzynecki’s parents rarely change. This conjures an image of immense strength and solidarity. Skrzynecki establishes his childhood home as an enduring sphere of safety. He does this by personifying the house â€Å"in its china-blue coat† as a friend and part of the family. The home is a place in which to remember their Polish heritage. The repetition of the line â€Å"for nineteen years† illustrates the length of time that his family have been paying homage to their ancestry to as they â€Å"kept pre-war Europe alive. The use of the Polish word â€Å"Kielbasa† not only adds authenticity and depth to the poem but reinforces the idea that, though Skrzynecki’s family has moved away from war-torn Poland to Australia, they still firmly belong to their Polish heritage and there is a link for them and their family through which to establish their identities in their new land. The poet mourns the passing of his childhood and the destruction of the home in which he learnt the nature of growing up caught between two cultures and the rift b etween the past and the future. This notion is further explored in Apocalypse Now.Colonel Kurtz was the pride of the American Military Command. Having broken from the decrepit and corrupt school of thought that was the US army, Kurtz establishes his god-like rule over a clan of like-minded natives in the jungles of Cambodia. His character extrapolates all issues surrounding America as a nation, from war crimes to environmental stability. In one of the most compelling scenes of the film, Kurtz expresses his thoughts to Willard, one of the first Americans he has encountered since his dissent. He speaks of his son at home and his fear that if he were to be killed, his son would not understand his father’s actions.At this point, the extended close up shot of Kurtz’s face, half shrouded in darkness, changes slightly as he moves further into the light. This conveys that Kurtz still holds onto the hope that his son will one day come to understand his identity and why he acted in the way that he did. Kurtz is not ashamed of his actions because ultimately, he has fully formed his identity. First he was transformed on the battlefields of Vietnam by the death and ignorance he encountered/witnessed and then again in the jungles of Cambodia amongst the natives and free thought.Therefore, both 10 Mary Street and Apocalypse Now effectively explore the concept that acceptance and belonging are integral to the formation of one’s identity. A sense of belonging is achieved by following a path of alienation. In Migrant Hostel, Skrzynecki’s family struggle to establish themselves in a new land. Skrzynecki delineates the sense of alienation that the migrants have towards the rest of Australia. The â€Å"sealed off highway† demonstrates the separation they feel from the rest of the country.The simile of â€Å"rose and fell like a finger† demonstrates that they do not feel welcomed or accepted in their new land, but are constantly reprimanded , like a naughty child. The line â€Å"needing its sanction† demonstrates how the migrants are enslaved to the entrapment they feel in the hostel. They need permission to continue living in a manner that doesn’t reflect their culture or beliefs. This alienation from their culture and freedom renders each migrant unimportant and attempts to destroy their sense of personal identity and belonging. However, it is because of this alienation that they achieve a sense of belonging and identity.Nationalities ‘found each other’ based on their accents and the town they came from. Inside the hostel, they keep the memory of their home and culture alive though they are haunted by the â€Å"memories of hunger and hate† that destroyed their countries. Skrzynecki uses the simile â€Å"like a homing pigeon† to connote the strong sense of survival and solidarity shared by the migrants. The homing pigeon is a survivor that travels great distances. Skrzynecki us es a reoccurring motif of birds throughout this poem as they have connotations of freedom and migration.This dimension of belonging is further explored in John Steinbeck’s novel Tortilla Flat. Danny, Pilon, Jesus Maria, Pablo, Pirate and Big Joe Portagee are half Spanish- Mexican, misfits who form a brotherhood of drunken antics that centre around the home they all share in Tortilla Flat in California. The book is written in an entirely episodic fashion to fit with the allegory that Steinbeck creates, comparing the six men to King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table. However, instead of knights in shining armour, they are the unruly and boisterous men upon whom the community of Monterey frown upon.Therefore Steinbeck creates a paradox within this novel because whilst this brotherhood is the only place that the men find a sense of belonging, it is also their association with each other that renders them unacceptable to normal society. Steinbeck quite obviously uses the technique of having his characters speak in language befitting the Elizabethan era. This reinforces the notion that they are all fallen from the grace of a former life not mentioned in the novel, but they are fallen together. It is also a distinguishable way from separating the adopted brothers from those in normal society.It heightens not only the sense of unreality that permeates the whole book but also the sense of alienation from the outside world. The brothers eat, drink wine, sleep and occasionally venture out to do good deeds for those around them. They live by an entirely alternative concept of time, space, possession and love. The growing sense of belonging that develops through the novel is conveyed through the slow gathering of the six men to form the brotherhood and the corresponding rising action. Once they are all convened under a banner of bemused freedom, Danny states, â€Å"we are now as one, as never such men have been before. Each member is crucial to the groupâ €™s dynamic and therefore to each individual member’s sense of belonging. This is conveyed at the conclusion of the novel when, after Danny’s funeral, the house that was their home accidentally catches fire but instead of trying to save their one worldly possession, the men allow it to burn to the ground and then go their separate ways. The last words of the novel are â€Å"no two walked together† conveying that the bonds of brotherhood had been broken and that it was only with each other that they belonged.Therefore, both Migrant Hostel and Tortilla Flat effectively convey the idea that belonging is reached by a path of alienation. Alienation leads to disillusionment with that which one once believed in (is there a different way to express this? ). Skrzynecki’s poem In The Folk Museum describes the experiences of the poet as he becomes increasingly alienated from his heritage. After describing his parent’s typical migrant experience in Migrant Hostel, the poet now finds himself unable to empathise with a past that is not his own.The use of first person not only allows the responder to connect on a deeper level with Skrzynecki, but also highlights the fact that he is alone in his musings about a past that he does not fully comprehend. In turn, this adds to the bleakness of an already melancholic poem. The caretaker of the museum represents everything that alienates Skrzynecki from his Polish heritage. She is knitting and has grey hair demonstrating that she is a relic herself and incongruent to contemporary society, just as Skrzynecki views his dying past.The simile of â€Å"cold as water† further illustrates that the poet no longer empathises or has any emotional connection to the events of his past. Although it is not as directly referred to in this poem(weak expression) as in others, In The Folk Museum also conveys how the poet’s disillusionment with his past leads to a sense of belonging with his present . The use of personification in â€Å"the wind taps hurriedly† communicates not only the poet’s frustration but also the determination of the outside world to remind him of the pointlessness of his reminiscing about his Polish heritage.The use of alliteration in â€Å"I leave without wanting a final look† conveys his speedy exit as well as his eagerness to regain the world outside of the museum, where he belongs. This notion of disillusionment is further explored in Francis Coppola’s film Apocalypse Now. Captain Willard, an American officer fighting in the Vietnam War, believes wholeheartedly in the US army and Western Civilisation as a whole. He belongs to war. At the beginning of the film, Willard is off duty in Saigon and recounts one of his trips home.The use of direct speech narration adds depth and authenticity to Willard’s character. He states â€Å"I’d wake up and there’d be nothing. Every minute I spend in this room, I get w eaker and Charlie gets stronger. † The reference to the Vietcong warriors implies that Willard is more at ease when he is fighting in Vietnam. His alienation from normal society is further conveyed by a montage of images of war superimposed with Willard’s face. The non-digetic music of The End by The Doors plays, with lyrics such as â€Å"the west is the best† that further illustrates Willard’s faith in the American way of life and war.However, at the conclusion of this montage, Willard is left naked and bleeding, wrapped in a torn sheet and screaming on his hotel room floor, a high angle shot highlighting his vulnerability. This scene is purposely designed to alienate the audience from the character and connotes the detrimental effect that Western civilisation is having on him. The repetitious rigmarole of a soldier’s life is communicated through the undershot of the turning fan in Willard’s room. He stares up at it from the bed, implying th at he is physically and mentally dominated by his life and routine as a soldier.As Willard travels further and further up river in search of Colonel Kurtz, he reads increasingly on Kurtz’s life and the events that have led him to the insanity that the US army now deems dangerous. Willard experiences more of the US army’s arrogance, blood-lust and drug use and becomes steadily disillusioned with the entity that he placed his faith in. Everything that is wrong with Western civilisation is represented through the arrogant Bill Kilgore who infamously states â€Å"I love the smell of Napalm in the morning. As the boat travels further up river, there is a distinct change in lighting. Before Willard boards the boat, there is a reoccurring motif of brightly coloured flares. The camera pans directly in front of the plumes of red, green and yellow smoke so that they form a veil over the scenes of battles and civilian deaths. However, once up river, the lighting becomes softer, greener and more defined. There is a distinct lack of smoke. This implies that Willard is travelling both physically and mentally away from the chaos of Western civilisation and heading deeper into Kurtz’s state of mind.Finally, Coppola uses the reoccurring motif of extreme close up shots on the faces of Willard and Kurtz. He does this to communicate that these two men are not necessarily similar but that they represent contrary facets of one human entity. The extreme close up shots of Willard and Kurtz reveal them to both be acutely serious men who have come to empathise with the same point of view. However, they are distinctly contrasted. Willard is often sweaty, dirty, constantly smoking whereas Kurtz is pristine, unchanging and aloof.This signifies that they will never be able to emulate the virtues of the other’s character that they themselves are deficient. Therefore, both In The Folk Museum and Apocalypse Now reveal themselves to be texts in which the view that alienation leads to disillusionment is explored. For humans to find where they truly belong, they must be placed outside of their comfort zone. They must travel beyond what they have before and thereby find something in the world, in others or in themselves that gives them a sense of belonging.Peter Skrzynecki’s poetry, Apocalypse Now directed by Francis Coppola and John Steinbeck’s novel Tortilla Flat all successfully explore differing dimensions of belonging such as the necessity of belonging to shaping ones identity, that belonging is reached by a path of alienation and that alienation leads to disillusionment. (just check over your section on Apoc Now – it is very good, however ensure you are explicitly referring to belonging – I would suggest that at the moment it is implicit – and of course make sure you use the words of the question in your answer)

Noise Pollution Essay

Not all people in this country living in a noisy place, most of them want to lived in a peaceful place with trees and fresh air and we all know that most of the time we can focus and think carefully in a quiet place. Noise Pollution can be defined as unwanted or offensive sound that unreasonably intrude into our daily activities. In urban areas noise pollution is everywhere, whether we like it or not this is part of everyday life. If the ears was irritated to the sound it is called noise. This is defined a form of air pollution that is audible unwanted sound that poses a threat to a person’s health and well- being. This pollution has many sources from different things such as air conditioner, traffic ,radio ,a dog barking, human conversation, other machinery that causes sound and are associated with urban developments. According to an OECD report â€Å" Transport is by far the major source of noise , ahead of building or industry , with road traffic the chief offender â€Å" motorcycles , trucks and busses are the major contributors to the traffic noise. Noise is described in loudness (intensity) and pitch ( frequency ) the exposure is using a logarithmicn decibel ( dB) scale. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA) recommends the hearing protection in the workplace if the noise is greater than 85 DB for more than eight hours, because there is a chance of the potential hearing loss. Difference of the loudest and faintest sounds that humans can hear is about 120 DB, a range of one million amplitude. People who has a very good hearing can hear the sounds between to -15 Decibels. If the sound reaches the 85 db and above can cause permanent damage of hearing. The more amount of time you listen in a sound effect greater damage it will cause. If the place is quiet the longer you listen safetly and it will not cause a damage even if you listen to it for a very long time. The more exposure to the common sounds can cause a permanent damage. The normal conversation occurs 60 DB. According to my research, the causes of damage in our ears, like the bulldozer idling the sounds are loud 85 DB and can cause permanent damage after only 1 work day ( 8 hours ). Listening a music with earphone/ headpones in ears at a maximum volume, the sound can reach level over 100 Db, begin causing permanent damage after 15 minutes per day. A thunder from storm 120 Db, gunshot 140 -190 DB can both cause immediate damage. There are groups of people who are affected by this  noise pollution such as the young, elderly, and the hospitalized. Young children cannot protect their hearing and they only rely on their parents to keep them from noise exposure.Elderly may not have the capabilities to protect their hearing if they are the one who is disabled by mental or physical illness. Also the patients from the hospitals are not safe because patients especially for orthopedic surgeries may be exposed to loud instruments during a procedure although they are not protected from it while under anesthesia. Noise has numerous health effects making noise pollution a public concern although it has not been well addressed.These could be effected our blood pressure, noise -induced hearing loss,sleep disorders and irritability.Noise pollution also affects the performance at work and school. Noise pollution is harmful because the sound energy is transferred through compressions, and rarefactions. Because the intensity is very large and it can harm the human ears, and the animal ears also and it can damage to physical structure.When sound reach the human ear the structures will vibrate. The intense vibrations can be rapture the eardrum , loudness related hearing loss usually develops overtime. When the sound enters the ear, it is transferred to the brain as a nerve impulse. The nerves in our ears are composed of of tiny nerve fibers, it is surrounded by special fluid within the ear. When intense sound transferred through fluid the tiny nerves may destroyed and the hearing loss is affected. There is two kinds of effects the auditory and non-auditory. The effect of auditory may fatigue and deafness the non-auditory can be physiological and psychological change in human beings. Noise Induced Hearing Loss or (NIHL) is a type of sensorinueral hearing loss that is second only to age induced hearing loss or presbyacusis. The people who are affected of NIHL are the workers that involved in manufacturing , construction, transportation , argiculture , military, factory and mining because their ears are expose in hazardous noise levels.Also the recreational activities like target shooting, speedboat riding,play in a band and listen to a loud music are also the examples of activities that increases the risk of NIHL . The studies revealed that young children and young adults are also showing the  signs of NIHL. Communication,cognition, social emotional development, academics and future careers may all be affected in the young secondary to hearing loss. Noise Induced Hearing Loss ( NIHL) is permanent but it is preventable by using ear protection like earmuffs or earplugs to avoid the noisy environment and the harmful levels of noise. Mental Health , mental illness is thought be exacerbated and intensified by noise pollution and not believed to be cause of mental illness. In one study at United States Country that I read in my research there were a children who are exposed in noise levels above 55 DB had decreased attention, there is difficulty with social adaptation and increased the oppositional behavior to others compared to the children who are not exposed in noise levels. The pollution in the community noise also may cause annoyance and disturbance there are depressed and anxiety and make their symptoms worse. Other people always used sleeping pills for them to avoid the loud sound or the noise in their environment and mental hospital admission rates with those exposed to unwanted noise. The children or elderly who have depression and cannot control over their own hearing protection are the vulnerable to the mental effects of noise pollution. Impairment of Task Performance there are many potential detrimental effects of noise pollution on task performance involving both children and adults.Congnitive task performance at school and at work has bee n well documented in several studies.The children who are exposed to noise in their home or at school may have difficulty in their learning , language development and problem solving. In the study in London involving 340 children between ages of 8 and 11 who were exposed to high aircraft noise showed an association with increased annoyance and poorer reading comprehension. The most affected of noise is on the reading attention,problem solving and memory because we all know that most of the children or adults cannot focus in what they are doing if the environment is under in noisy condition . The noise can impair concentration, decrease the motivation because of irratation , increase the rate of errors and can lead to preventable accidents in workplace. Communication can be affected and leading to misinterpretation of instructions and can cause reducing an employee’s effectiveness an occuracy. Negative Social Behavior and Annoyance Reactions noise levels have been associated with increased negative reactions such as increased igitation, exhaustion,dissatisfaction,anger and  distraction.This may cause social and behavioral affects including attempts to avoi d environmental noise by closing windows or doors, acting out aggression and even result in a change of residence. The exposure to levels above 80 DB will increase aggressiveness when combined with alcohol , provocation and existing anger. Annoyance is a feelings of displeasure when individuals believe in condition has and adverse effect on them. People is dependent on the type of noise, by the time it occurs and the activity that interrupt the noise. A person have an individual sensibilty and also expose in the role of annoyance level. Every people have a lack of sense of control over noise there is a higher level of annoyance especially if the noise is accompanied by low frequency componets and loud impulse noise. The negative social behaviors and annoyance reactions to noise cause declines to one’s sense of well being. Sleep Disturbances well rested sleep is essential to maintain good health and mental function. Noise is the common offender interrupting sleep and it causes both primary and secondary sleep disturbance.Primary effect have a difficulty in falling asleep, awakenings and differences of sleep patterns. The secondary effects are interrupted sleep including fatigue and decreased the well-being performance. This two kinds of effects have a environmental noise exposure during sleep is accompanied by several p sychological effects. The levels of attributable to disturbed sleep can be as low and continuous noise greater than 30 DB. According to study that they revealed the population who are living in the urban areas were at risk for increased neuroticism, subjective noise sensitivity and noise annoyance. The participants of the study have a difficulty to back falling asleep, their fatigue is increased , poorer sleep quality and need for increased use of sleeping agents. Cardio Vascular Distrurbances there is now growing body of evidence associating noise pollution with casdiovascular disease. This effect are secondary to body’s â€Å" fight or flight â€Å" response leading to autonomic nervous and endocrine effects seen with chronic daily levels of noise greater than 65 DB or acute exposure to levels above 80 to 85 DB. These effects can lead to blood pressure, heart rate and peripheral resistance by the release of hormones such as s norepinehrine, epinephrine, and cortisol.From the study of Roselund et al, the demonstrated an increase prevalence of high blood pressure of people that are exposed to ai rcraft noise. The participants of  this study ages between 18 – 80 and the effects is common among the elderly. The second study of Jarup et al reveal the relationship of the traffic noise and nightime noise can increase the blood pressure participants are ages between 45-75 years old. The cardiovascular effects to noise pollution not only in adults also the young childrens are at risk. In otther country they have the organization that can prevent the noise pollution the examples are The National Institute of Deafness and Other Communications Disorders ( NIDCD) they created a national public education movement to prevent the NIHL they called it â€Å" WISE EARS† this campign initatited in 1999 by (NIDCD) and many regional, national and state with their governments.Their main goals is to educate the people about NIHL and to motivate to have actions in NIHL . According to the studies they are focusing on expanding their mission to reach the childrens between 8-12 ages and also their parents. As a individual we can also reduce the noise pollution by construction of soundproof rooms for noisy machines in industrial and manufacturing installations. Most important for residential building their machines should be installed far from living or sleeping rooms, like in a basement of garage . And for the employee’s they cannot reduce the noise of machine so they can only prevent by using earplugs. We can also avoid by stay away from sources of noise. If we are living in noisy place make sure that our windows are dual paned. It also reduced by planting trees, because we all know the main function of trees is to absorb and protect the noise made by people. Community laws must silence zones near schools/colleges and hospitals that needs concentration. We also to know what are the causes of noise pollution and the world becomes more advanced the noise increases. As an individual we can also reduce the noise pollution if owning a car do not use the car horns unnecessarily in the areas that needs silent zones that honking is prohibited . And avoid loud music which will hurt the ears and also others ear. Furthermore ,Firecrackers are very loud so dont try and burn them unnecessarily. Motors, vehicles and large machines produced a loud noise when not maintained properly and it needs proper maintance for a better performance.In theme parks avoid riding on rides that produce lot of noise.  Also turn off the engine of your car if you’re not using it. It stops the annoying hum and also reduce the air pollution. It much better if using only a bicycle or walk go to school. You’re body will fit and also it reduce the air and noise pollution . Noise pollution can make a mind and body stress, there are some techniques that can prevent like breathing exercises , deep breathing and other breathing exercises will work because it can be done anywhere and are effective for calming the body’s physiology in minutes. Meditation, is also a stress reliever because it calms the mind and body and it helps the alter of brain, over time, you are less reactive to stress that happens. Yoga, because this is the combination of breathing and meditation it adds an element of a exercise to be a stress reliever that acts on a different levels that benefit your health. Also provides a simple ways to ease into meditation. We can also stress free by noise pollution by going to the place that quiet and make a relaxation or have a leisure in a hotel and listen to a instrumental music in a low volume. There are so many ways that we can prevent the noisy place and this case study reminded us that we should take care our ears and our environment most of all in urban areas who are near in hazardous noise.

Element Rubidium

Origin of name: from the Latin word â€Å"rubidius† meaning â€Å"dark red† or â€Å"deepest red†. Atomic Number:  37 Symbol:  Rb Atomic Weight:  85. 4678 Say what? Rubidium is pronounced as  roo-BID-ee-em. Discovery:  R. Bunsen, G. Kirchoff 1861 (Germany), discovered rubidium in the mineral petalite via its dark red spectral lines. Element Classification:  Alkali Metal Density (g/cc):  1. 532 Melting Point (K):  312. 2 Boiling Point (K):  961 Appearance:  soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal Atomic Radius (pm):  248 Atomic Volume (cc/mol):  55. 9 Covalent Radius (pm):  216 Ionic Radius:  147 (+1e) Specific Heat (@20 °C J/g mol):  0. 360 Fusion Heat (kJ/mol):  2. 0 Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol):  75. 8 Pauling Negativity Number:  0. 82 First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol):  402. 8 Oxidation States:  +1 Lattice Structure:  Body-Centered Cubic Lattice Constant (A):  5. 590 CAS Registry Number:  7440-17-7 Properties:  Ru bidium may be liquid at room temperature. It ignites spontaneously in air and reacts violently in water, setting fire to the liberated hydrogen. Thus, rubidium must be stored under dry mineral oil, in a vacuum, or in an inert atmosphere. It is a soft, silvery-white metallic element of the alkali group. Rubidium forms amalgams with mercury and alloys with gold, sodium, potassium, and cesium.Rubidium glows red-violet in a flame test. Rubidium Trivia: †¢ Rubidium melts just a little above body temperature. †¢ Rubidium was discovered using spectroscopy. When Bunsen and Kirchoff examined their sample of petalite, they found two red spectral lines deep into the red part of the spectrum. They named their new element rubidium after the Latin word  rubidus  meaning ‘deepest red'. †¢ Rubidium is the second most electropositive element. †¢ Rubidium can be used to give fireworks a red-violet color. †¢ Rubidium is the 23rd  most abundant element in the Earth' s crust. Rubidium chloride is used in biochemistry as a biomarker to track where potassium is taken up by living organisms. †¢ The hyper-fine electron structure of Rubidium-87 is used in some atomic clocks to maintain accuracy. †¢ The isotope Ru-87 was used by Eric Cornell, Wolfgang Ketterle, and Carl Wiemen to produce a Bose-Einstein condensate. This earned them the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physics. Reference: †¢ http://chemistry. about. com/od/elementfacts/a/rubidium. htm †¢ http://www. lenntech. com/periodic/elements/rb. htm †¢ http://www. webelements. com/rubidium/ †¢ http://education. jlab. org/itselemental/ele037. html [pic]

Relevance of Martial Arts in Modern Society Essay

Relevance of Martial Arts in Modern Society - Essay Example The most interesting aspect of Martial Art is that it is found in wide range of styles which though based on primary philosophy of awareness and self defense, offers different people to choose a style which most appeals to their temperament. In recent years there has been increased interest in Martial Art, which is a wonderful thing. Martial Art has profound relevance in the present day modern lifestyle. Interestingly, in modern world with globalization and inter-cultural integration the term "Martial Art" has come to mean different things to different people. There are different styles depending upon different institutions and the place of origin. Martial Art, as is prevalent today covers a wide range of activities from hard core training for self defense to relaxed, esoteric and higher spiritual practices leading to meditation and relaxation aimed at sole fitness, health and relaxation. There is no universal standard which dictates the style of Martial Art. There has been linked muti-dimensional benefits from practice of martial Art, affecting different facet of modern life of humans. There is significant relevance of such training in the fast-paced terrorism dominated modern life, where safety and harmony are essential goals. Martial Art places great importance to character development... Those who take up Martial Art seriously, realize that with passage of time the practice of their chosen style of martial Art eventually became part of their life and changes them subtly as a person. The change is manifested in such a subtle manner that they are unaware of the transformation which has taken place in them internally and externally, altering their state of awareness to a higher degree of response and reflex. Universally, people lack conscious self-awareness of precisely why they do what they do and are surprised at the relevance which their training has on how they live their everyday life in the world. Martial Art is essentially taken as a technique for self defense, and that is how it evolved. Martial Art was first developed as a means to self preservation, a defense against cruel and savage world of ancient times, when survival of the fittest was the criterion for life. It was not acknowledged as a matter of recreation or sport, but an essential tool for survival, on which depended human beings life or death. With the evolution of human beings and emergence of developed societies, the role of martial Art changed to that of a means to preserve and protect the society. Eventually, they developed into warfare methods with enhanced fighting techniques using swords shields, spears, axes, lances etc. and had great practical relevance in the changing modern world to maintain order and control. The relevance of martial art changed with evolution of the society. The technique of warfare changed and so did the urban lifestyles. This presented a significant need for organized methods of tr aining for individual self defense and personal dueling

Macca and Madina Revelation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Macca and Madina Revelation - Essay Example Discussion The Mecca sanctuary lies in the SW region of the Modern day Saudi Arabia, close to the Red Sea. Many years prior the emergence of Islamic Religion, the city served as the fundamental, trade, socio-cultural and evangelistic House for all communities in Arabic world. Mecca City gave rise to the most prominent antichrist ever to exist in the last over two thousand years) and to the Islamic religion. It became the epitome of Islamic territory and the main dwelling palace of Allah. Therefore, and hence then, Mecca sanctuary attained its title â€Å"almadina almukarrama† (a sacred and bountiful city). All Muslims should direct their players to the sanctuary and Ka’ba, Mecca’s shrine. Similarly, it is Muslims obligation and a fundamental five aspects of Islamic doctrine to go to the prayer center once in the course of their living age. Additionally non-believers are restricted to touch the sacred Mecca soil, and if one touches it, the law states that he shoul d be sentenced to death, (Nomachi and Seyyed 85). Mecca is a popularly known sacred center and Islamic religious universe. Mecca is a sanctified preservation recommended for believers and is humanity guidance. Mecca is an indisputable memorial (of the guidance of God), a holy place where Abraham prayed, and every person who enters Mecca is safe. Humanity has a Hajji or excursion obligation unto the creator to the center. The Islamic holy book, Koran states that every person who enters the sacred Mecca is safe and believers should not harm or interfere with people going to the city for pilgrimage, (Shahrukh 25). According to Islamic traditions, even criminals are safe from the penalty and imprisonment inside the sanctuary. The safeguarded reputation of the sanctuary and the inviolability of the city are further reinforced historically in that all over the period of drastic warfare amid Medina Muslims, and Meccan pagans, the sanctuary of Mecca was exempted from struggles and bloodshed within its quarters. Similarly, when Mecca was lastly captured, about 8 years after the departure of Muhammad and his believers, the city was a nearly bloodless conquest. Significance of the city to Muslims The significance of the city for Muslims believers is irrefutable, and all Muslims around the world must pray at least five times daily facing Mecca’s shrine, Ka’ba. Additionally, a pilgrimage to the city is a requirement for all believers who can afford a tour to the city as a crucial aspect of the five faith pillars. Every year more than 3m people gather for main Hajj (pilgrimage) during the Dhu’l-Hijja Muslim month, and others perform Umrah (a minor pilgrimage) at diverse periods in the year, (Locate 36). Some non-Muslims have witnessed Hajji Rituals and rites, as they are mainly restricted from entering sacred Medina and Mecca cities. Several roadblocks are designed along the pathways and roads heading to Mecca to prevent non-Muslim entry. The popular no n-Muslim case entering the sanctuary was that of Richard Burton, a traveler from Britain, exploration in 1853. Sir Richard camouflaged himself as an Islamic believer from Afghanistan to enter and draft unique excursion story to both Mecca sanctuary and Medina. Muslim believes that the primary center of Mecca

Managing communication, knowledge and information Essay

Managing communication, knowledge and information - Essay Example This paper seeks to establish an understanding of the meaning of communication, information and knowledge management, and show how these three aspects can be improved within an organization, including the integration of Information Technology systems to hasten company’s operations. In details, this paper will look at communication process, internal and external sources of knowledge and how managers can improve the communication process as well as communication skills. In addition, the role played by various stakeholders in ensuring effective communication is explained. Lastly, it also covers how IT systems can be used for collecting, analyzing, storing, disseminating and providing access to knowledge and information. Discussion Communication management Communication is the process of transmitting a message from a sender to a receiver in a comprehensible manner. It can also be the process of sharing thoughts, ideas, and feelings with others while making sure that those thoughts , feelings and ideas are well understood by the people concerned. Communication is all about speaking, listening as well as observing. Effective communication is crucial in the business world and personal life too. Since communication accounts for the difference between success and failure in many businesses and that it is critical to the successful operation of modern organizations, effective communication is an absolute must. Moreover, every person in an organization needs to understand the principals of effective communication. Companies everywhere are working towards the realization of Total Quality Management (TQM) and effective communication, and the manner in which individuals perceive and converse with each other in the workplace is crucial. Poor communication reduces quality, weakens productivity, and later leads to anger as well as lack of trust among stakeholders in an organization, and therefore, communication process is the guide towards the realization of effective com munication. In communication process, the passing of information from the sender to the receiver takes place, and individual who follow the process have the opportunity to become more productive. Communication process within an organization is usually determined by the nature of the organizational structure. Communication process is made up of four key components, which is encoding, the medium of transmission, decoding and feedback. The communication process begins with the sender who can be an individual, group or organization that initiates communication and ends with the receiver. The sender‘s attitude, experience, knowledge, skills experience, perceptions and culture have an influence on the message. Therefore, the sender is usually responsible for the success of the message, and the written words, spoken words and non-verbal language selected are paramount in ensuring the receiver interprets the message intended (Burnett & Dollar 1989). The encoding process is the first s tep in the communication process. A sender must encode, which means translating information into a message that represents ideas and concepts usually in the form of symbols, and it becomes a coded message which will now be communicated. The

Policy paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Policy paper - Essay Example This is why policies undertaken by the government, nowadays, are highly valuable for economies. This report will throw light on Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumers Protection Act or the Dodd Frank Act. The Federal government primarily passed it in order to sustain atrocities of the financial crisis (2007 onwards). The context of the paper will encompass the rationale, efficiency, implementation, evaluation and recommendations regarding the law. The information and analysis of the paper will help to understand the nature of public-private dealings, taking place in the current era and its implicit value to the economy (BIS, 2005, p. 1-391). The Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumers Protection Act introduced by the Federal government was claimed to bring about a remarkable change in the history of financial services legislation in U.S. The Federal government had decided to introduce this law or policy, just after occurrence of the financial crisis in U.S. in 2007. The Act was passed for reforming traumatic monetary market conditions in U.S., since the incidence of financial crisis. Nonetheless, after its implementation, it could be said that the law was less beneficial to the U.S. economy than that expected during implementation (Stinson Leonard Street, 2013). Along with numerous sets of provisions, several implementation timeline was settled, under the regime of this law. The context of the paper tends to state that after implementation, the Dodd Frank Act still comprised certain deficiencies. At present, in 2013, President Obama has declared to conduct a special meeting with the regulators regarding this very Act. The President claimed that the Dodd Frank Act, which aimed to bring about ambitious financial reforms in U.S., was not effective in several ways. Obama stated that progress of the Act must be accelerated with renewed efforts made for bringing about productive housing and general financial reforms. The

Overview of Labor Relations Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Overview of Labor Relations - Research Paper Example Dissatisfied employees can involve in counterproductive activities such as theft, poor service, and sabotage among others. Research has shown that when employees are not satisfied, they experience tension, depression, and complain of stiffness in muscles and joints. This indicates that companies that apply procedural justice and distributive justice promote job satisfaction among the employees. The workers become more dedicated and committed to their service rendering, because they feel appreciated, and acknowledged. One feels pleased when his or her job is praised. This makes the employee more determined than ever to deliver up to the maximum for the sake of the company. Through procedural and distribution justice workers acquire job satisfaction which gives them peace to work, and make the company grow. Research indicates that when workers are not satisfied, the company will experience a high turnover intention where workers will look for new jobs elsewhere, or others may think of quitting. Companies that apply both procedural and distributive justice are likely to maintain their staff. This promotes the company’s policies because good skills and professionalism is maintained. Cost of hiring workers after a short period is decreased, and the growth of the firm becomes a priority. Bush (2009) indicates that management should therefore, embrace organizational justice policies so as to increase job satisfaction, commitment and reduce turnover intention. A good rapport is experienced between the management and the subordinates, and unity among the employees themselves. The company becomes more of a community than just a working place. Workers feel identified with the organization they are working for, because animosity and hatred is not experienced. The use of justice creates a strong foundation of cooperation and serves as a base for a better environment for interaction. If workers are treated unfairly, their incentives will be hindered, and they may work against each other’s interest. This may result in to conflicts and unstable interdependence between the employees and management. Fear and intimidation replaces the confidence, eventually, affecting production. Justice therefore, influences performance, improves information sharing, personal relationships, and planning becomes more efficient and efficient. This confirms that procedural and distributive justice has a positive implication on the company policies. Question 2 Mother Jones was born on first August eighteen thirty seven in Cork Island. She learned the skills of dressmaking. Jones met and married George, and they had four children who later died of yellow fever. During this period, women led quiet lives, and were committed to their families, but Jones went everywhere she pleased expressing herself publicly, something that was not allowed thereafter becoming the mother of the down trodden. She was a prominent labor, and community organizer serving in the united mine workers union. Research indicates that being a good speaker, she made her speeches with stories, humor and audience participation. She organized mine workers, and their families against the mine owners. Fetherling (2010), suggest that in 1903, Jones led children who were working in mills, and mines to demonstrate, demanding to go to school, and not to work, and

The UK Corporate Governance code should be codified and placed in the Essay

The UK Corporate Governance code should be codified and placed in the Companies Act - Essay Example It was this Code that introduced the principle of ‘comply or explain’.The City and the Stock Exchange gradually adopted it and, in 1998 it evolved into the Combined Code on Corporate Governance. Since the Combined Code is self-regulatory, no legal sanctions are bound to arise due to non-compliance. However, before the Combined Code was adopted, the Greenbury Report 1995 was drafted and it focused on strengthening the accountability while also enhancing the directors’ performance. It made recommendations that a remuneration committee comprising independent non-executive directors should be set up. The 1998 Hampel Report endorsed majority of the findings in both the Cadbury and the Greenbury Reports but it went further in regulating the relationship between the company and its stakeholders. The Hampel Report stated that- the directors are responsible for the relations with stakeholders; but they are accountable to the shareholders. The 1999 Turnbull Report was however concerned with the implementation of some of the requirements found in the Code mostly its internal control requirements. The board is required to periodically assess the control measures and annually report on them. The 2001 Myners Report promoted shareholder activism and also encouraged institutional investors to be more proactive. The Higgs Report drafted in 2003 focused mostly on the non-executive director’s independence, whilst the 2003 Smith Report considered the functions of the audit committee. The Code was reviewed over time after shareholder disquiet over its perceived shortcomings in corporate structures and its ability to respond to poor performance. Several sections were added to the Code- risk management, audit committees, remuneration and internal control. There was a banking crisis in 2008, and with many banks nationalised, this prompted the government to request Sir David Walker to focus specifically on corporate governance in the UK banks and

An analysis comparing the front pages of the Sun Essay Example for Free

An analysis comparing the front pages of the Sun Essay An analysis comparing the front pages of the Sun and the Mirror, considering the impact of ownership, the way front pages are constructed, the audience and issues of representation. Introduction The term Tabloid refers to a newspaper that focuses more on celebrity gossip and sport as opposed to a broadsheet, which puts more of an emphasis on serious issues and world affairs. Tabloids are renowned for their easy-reading factor with large print and many pictures, they are the ideal choice for people who are maybe not particularly intellectual, although this is of course a stereotype as many people from all different walks of life and intellectual abilities choose to read Tabloids. . Tabloid newspapers tend to be cheap and the newspapers we have chosen to study are no exception, with the Sun priced at 30p and the Mirror priced at 32p. The front pages that I will analyze were both published on Monday 17th November 2003 (just two days after Englands World Cup glory against Australia). In my opinion, it is important to study the tabloid press in order to have an understanding of the way in which they work. Also, we need to appreciate that bias is common and stories are not always truthful and that a particular trait of them is to sensationalize stories in order to make them appear more dramatic. Rupert Murdoch owns the Sun, which is only a fraction of his vast media empire. Other mediums in his power include the Times, Sky television and News of the World. Born in 1931 in Australia, Murdoch is considered one of the most influential media entrepreneurs of today. Murdoch is a strongly right-wing capitalist who famously helped to keep Margaret Thatcher in power. In contrast, the owner of the Mirror, Robert Maxwell, born in 1923 was strongly in favour of the Labour party and hated Margaret Thatcher, which, therefore, made him a socialist. These political views are important because of the vast effect that they have on readers; for example, because Murdoch supported Thatcher, it is likely that they would have launched a campaign to keep her in power. This would have had a major influence on the general public. Institution The dangers of cross-media ownership are quite severe. One of the main effects that can occur is one point of view being broadcast over a variety of different medias. As a result, most people will receive news and current affairs in a way that is biased towards the owners perspective. This would influence the audiences to shape opinions similar to those of the owner. The two front pages have both obviously been influenced by the ownership. The Sun, who are in favour of Bush, has run the same story as the Mirror but have written the story to represent Bush in a positive light. This is particularly illustrated through the photographs used in the articles. The Mirror has used a picture that portrays Bush to be solemn and unfriendly. In contrast, The Suns makes Bush appear pleasant and welcoming. In addition, the headlines Chicken George and Your troops did not die in vain show Bush in contrasting lights. Obviously, Murdoch or his editors have chosen a quote from George Bush to make their newspaper appear important and have placed a banner which proclaims: Bushs personal message to Sun readers; this is effective as it personalizes it and therefore increase sales rate because you may buy the paper to discover the message and also making it personal is a successful persuasive technique. The PCC (Press Complaints Commission) is a body which controls what the press can and cannot do, all newspapers must adhere to the PCCs code. In my opinion, the Mirror have stretched this code for not distinguishing between conjecture and fact, particularly in the quote: Was last night branded a chicken because it does not state who says it, for all we know it could have been the journalists opinion; however, they get away with it! In conclusion, a knowledge of institution (who controls what you read and how people and events are represented in the media) is extremely important in order to understand the ways that tabloids can be biased by ownership and to avoid being persuaded one particular viewpoint we must discover the facts before we make pre or misconceived judgements about a current issue. Media Language The main features of the front page of the Mirror are, first, a picture of Jonny Wilkinson. A white light, which makes him appear angelic and a hero surround him, this is paired with the headline Jonny B God it is securing his place as a national hero. Secondly, your eyes are drawn to the headline Chicken George. Moreover, there is a 3am section aimed specifically at women; this may help to attract more women customers because they feel they are being catered for. In comparison, on the front page of the Sun, there is also a picture of Jonny Wilkinson from a slightly different angle and then the headline: your troops did not die in vain. This headline is also underlined which connotes a sense of importance. The masthead of the Sun is rather plain, containing only the basic facts of price, name, website and date. Whereas the mast head of the Mirror is more bold and angular which makes it appear more significant, it contains all the same facts as the Sun apart from in place of the website are the words Newspaper of the Year. This is more effective because it implies that people have chosen this newspaper over the Sun. The language of the Suns headline is quite formal and it is also unusual to have a quote as headline. This is quite effective because it suggests that there is a special feature about Bush inside which could be a selling point of the paper. However, the language of the Mirrors front page is quite informal and immature, this may appeal to people who want a light hearted read so it could equally use this as a selling point. It very much depends on the individual. The tone of the Mirror is rather like a parody of George Bush: it mocks him and taunts him, which presents him in a negative light. On the other hand, The Sun is rather serious and they appear to be hanging on to Bushs every word. The news values according to theorists Galtung and Ruge referred to on the front pages of the Sun and the Mirror are both demand, reference to elite persons and reference to something negative. The political orientation is evident on both headlines, particularly by the slant that is put on the splash stories. The tones of both articles imply two contrasting things about George Bush. In summary, the format of a tabloid front page will often contain at least one picture, usually more, and the picture will tend to be at the top of the page or at the side. The headline will often be below and, usually, the main photograph will not link to the splash. Audience The audience is vital to the press, without an audience there would be no press. They shape what stories are run and the political orientation. Tabloids are popular because of their easy reading factor. They often focus more on human-interest stories, which can make the newspapers a more compelling read they are also often more accessible than broadsheets which tend to be aimed at more business men whereas tabloids are stereotypically aimed at manual workers aged between 25 and 50. The papers address their audiences in very separate ways. Whilst the Mirror tends to use headlines and language that their audience can relate to, the Sun often use provocative pictures to entice men to buy the paper; this is based on the idea that sex sells. The Mirror has obviously attempted to appeal to women by including a section only aimed at them, which contains a Love Actually feature. In addition to these there is a free Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles DVD that may appeal to families, predominantly families with young sons. Also, there is another free gift of a poster of Jonny Wilkinson that is chiefly aimed at supporters of England and sports fans. If a tabloid published a story that was of high demand, it is likely that the sales rate would increase for that day. However, if you put on a story that some find offensive then you would expect the sales rate to decline. Demand for a story though is probably the deciding factor for whether or not a story would appear on the front page or not. Tabloids can have a major influence on many things by what they say and do. For example, if a tabloid was in favour of the Labour party at the time of an election, it is very likely that they could use their influence to encourage others to vote labour. Representation The main factors that influence how a story is being represented are the political bias of the owner and editor, the popularity of a person or an event or, occasionally, how the person who is being represented wishes to be portrayed. However, this is rare as editors know they are much more likely to sell papers when they make reference to something negative according to Galtung and Ruges theory of news selection. The story on Jonny Wilkinson in the Mirror represents him in a positive light, the white glow around him connotes that he is of an almost godly status because of the denotation on the screen, and the headline Jonny B God confirms this. Jonny Wilkinson was not particularly an elite person before all the media coverage of his notorious drop-goal, so all the stories in the papers have contributed to his super-star reputation. Obviously, he has been represented in this way because of the demand from their audience. The only reason he has been represented in this way is because he won the World Cup, if he had missed his drop-goal then such a fuss would not of been made and Jonny Wilkinson would not have been the nations hero. Foreign news is much less likely to be reported in newspapers than local news. This is because the general public are much less likely to be interested in something that is happening abroad unless it applies directly to them. Therefore, in the newspapers, foreign news that does not apply to us as a country, very rarely occurs in the British press. In my opinion, the editor of the Sun has chosen to represent George Bush in a good way because of the renowned political opinion of his newspaper and because he is aware of his audiences political opinions as well. Therefore, he must conform to these expectations. Similarly, the Mirror is required to do the same but instead of making George Bush appear good, they must present him as being weak and fearful. The way a story is represented affects whether the public are supportive or unsupportive to a current news affair depending on how it has been represented in the media through the use of language and photographs. Newspapers aim to cause controversy through putting bias on stories, this is specifically to manipulate a certain reaction from the public. In conclusion, the way newspapers represent something has a particular effect on how it is received by the public. Conclusion The foremost difference between the Sun and the Mirror are the contrasting political viewpoints. This is evident in many of their stories by the bias that is used. I think that the Mirrors layout is better than the Suns because it appears more orderly and not so cluttered. In my opinion, the tabloid press is an important and influential part of society. I disagree with the way that they harass celebrities and invade their privacy but appreciate that this all part of their job. I also realize that it is vital to be aware of the ways that ownership can affect the way an issue is represented. Furthermore, it is crucial to be able to recognise bias in a tabloid and the reasons a story has been biased in order to make up your own mind without being influenced by the opinion of a journalist.

Management Essays Operations Management

Management Essays Operations Management Operations Management This paper will argue the analysis of the book â€Å"The Goal† by Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox. It will stress the positive and negative aspects of the book, and will discuss the criticism and which areas of the book were least interesting. The paper will also emphasize the areas of interest. The Goal is a riveting, fast-paced business novel about overcoming the barriers to making money. It has helped me better understand the fundamentals of identifying and solving problems created by constraints. After finishing the book one will be able to start successfully addressing productivity and quality problems. The authors feature some important aspects of business management; they have explained the theories in simple terms that make it appealing and logical for the readers. In this captivating business novel, which illustrates modern economic theory, Alex Rogo is a UniCo plant manager whose factory and marriage are failing. Alex Rogo manages a failing manufacturing plant, and because he dedicates most of himself to his work his marriage is difficult. When he learns from his district manager that profits must increase or the plant will be closed, Alex realizes he needs assistance. He turns to a former professor, Jonah, whom Alex discovers is now a management consultant. With his help and the help of the plant staff, Alex turns the plant around. However, in the process he also abandons many management principles that he previously thought were ironclad. To regenerate the plant, he follows advice from a vague former college professor who teaches that reduction in the efficiency of some plant operations may make the entire operation more productive. Alexs attempts to find the road to profitability and to keep his employees in the struggle involve the reader. Thankfully the authors economic models including a game with match sticks and bowls are easy to understand. Although some characters are as mysterious as the goods manufactured in the factory, others ring true. Also, the story of Alex and his wifes separation and reunion makes a touching contrast to the rest of the book. The reading is recommended for anyone with an interest in the state of America’s economy. It is energetic and interesting and offers food for thought for managers in any field of work. The performances are natural, with sound effects to enhance a picture of reality. Although it is a novel, its title is more attractive for business collections. Anyone who considers himself a manager should buy and consume this book immediately. If you are the only one in your work place to have read it, your progress to success may suddenly increase as this is one of the most exceptional business books I have ever encountered. After reading The Goal I was very impressed with the way it was written. Reading a business book in a narrative format was something I was not expecting. The narrative format caught and kept my attention throughout the entire book. That explains why it has sold over a million copies. I have since recommended this book to both my family, who manages their own business, and to my friends. It is not just as a book about business but it can help one in every aspect of life. Some of my manager friends who have started the book say that the approach to keep it away from the traditional, boring business books is wonderful and interesting. I enjoyed the fact that the authors allowed the reader figure out what Jonah (an oracle like figure) meant before Alex got it. I felt it did take Alex a long time to understand; and it seemed as though there were some basic changes in his plant that the amateur eye could see but over all, I have nothing but praise for this book. If it was not for Jonah arriving at the plant one could have assumed that Jonah was the subconscious of Alex Rogo and that he had the answers the whole time. I felt that The Goal did an excellent job leaving an open ended question and showing that life is indeed a process of ongoing improvement. Let me explain some of the many levels on which this novel is important. First, the book shows how to view businesses as systems better then any other business book on the market. It compares important works as a guide to constraints and well defines them in everyday life. The metaphor of how to speed up a slow-moving group of boy scouts will be beneficial to anyone who has done any hiking with a group. Second, the book helps you learn how to progress the performance of an organization by providing you with a replicable process that you can apply to analyzing any human or engineering system. The main metaphor is improving a manufacturing process but the same principles apply more broadly to other circumstances. Third, you will experience the power of the Socratic Method as a way to encourage your mind to learn and to use Socratic questions to stimulate the minds of others to become better thinkers. Fourth, the authors use problem simulation as a realistic way to help you experience t he learning process they are advocating. And last, the book is good in bringing home the consequences of allowing your business processes to run in a cycle. Eli Goldratt truly has a modern approach not only to management but also in teaching his theory. The Goal is about the ongoing struggle of a manufacturing plant manger as he searches for a way to save his plant from being shut down. With the leadership of an old high school physics professor Jonah, he develops a tactic to make his factory run more efficiently and become more beneficial. The theory of constraints is a simple theory that is usually the most effective and unnoticed. Goldratt understood that no matter how simple the theory is to comprehend, it would not be as successful unless it was deeply understood. If he were to simply set rules in a textbook style format as to how to approach a constraint, the chances of long-run improvement would be slim. Since business is in a steady stage of change, the constraints within them must also change. Unless the manager has a true comprehension of the theory they will be unable to adjust the environment to the changes to remain successf ul. This book was enormously effective in delivering its message and educating readers on management and accounting theories. Through the text, author Eli M. Goldratt introduces and explains the Theory of Constraints. His main character, Alex Rogo, and Rogos team of plant executives must save a declining production plant by increasing throughput and cutting operational costs. He uses the characters to guide readers through the thought process behind the theory as the characters ask questions and search for answers. Readers are given time to consider these questions and form ideas before the answers to the theory are given. Students can carefully consider all the information and weigh all possibilities to form their own opinions at times his theories become too complex and conflicting. Goldratt has been an especially productive author in recent years. Goldratt has written a novel in which he provides an analysis of those concepts as applied in a imaginary company. He has a cast of characters, a plot, and a context. He relies greatly on conversation to advance the narrative. At times these advanced narratives can be confusing for a new reader, but he tries to explain the theories in an easy and understandable manner. As in any other well-written novel, The Goal examines issues in dispute that create conflicts. Ultimately they are resolved, even if somewhat too neatly. Although of greatest relevance to manufacturing companies, Goldratts Theory of Constraints with suitable modifications can also be of extensive value to other companies with bottlenecks that also delay and often disrupt a process of some kind. The Theory of Constraints portion was a bit put down and the romance line was a little tedious, but all in all it was a decent read. The Goal is a business management book which tries to explain the theory of constrain in a manner that hasn’t been done before. The author’s way of explanation is different and does not feel like a business book, instead gives the feeling of a novel. This new way of narration can at times feel complicated, as it makes a person loss touch with the business and management, and make them involved with the interpersonal conflicts of the book. The Goal introduces the Theory of Constraints, is changing how America does business. The Goal is a fascinating, business novel about overcoming the barriers to making money. It helps to learn the basics of identifying and solving the problems created by constraints. From the moment you finish the book you will be able to start successfully addressing chronic productivity and quality problems. This theory provided a persuasive solution for factories struggling with production delays and low revenues. Theory of Constraints is strange but can be the best resource for organizations that have established improvement. The simplicity of the ideas Goldratt places on constraints helps him teach his ideas. He helps us define our organizational goals and the concepts of productivity throughput, inventory, and operational cost. Jonah the teacher makes Alex and his staff the students discover the questions and answers they have been searching for to save their factory. This work is incredible for any new business manager. It is also a very common sense and basic approach to describing some of the major problems of the manufacturing organization. These problems are easily overlooked when dissecting financial reports. An extraordinarily effective novel for learning management, this novel succeeds in being exceptional at so many levels that it could receive a multiple of five stars. It is difficult to picture a management book in novel form ever approaching this one in usefulness. Most people will learn more that they can apply from this book about management than many learn to apply from an M.B.A. The central story is built around the dilemmas facing Alex Rogo, a newly appointed plant manager. The plant can not seem to ship, its losing money, and bad things can happen to good people if all this does not change soon. Alex is at a loss for what to do until he pulls out a cigar that Jonah had recently given him. That cigar reminds him to contact Jonah for help. From there, the path to revival begins. Unlike many books that take complex ideas and oversimplify them so the ideas lose their meaning, this book simplifies ideas in ways that boost their meaning. They do this by making the ideas easier to view and employ. If you do not understand about typical factory accounting, you may get a little lost from time to time; but that is not a problem. The accounting just alters common awareness of what needs to be done. Companies that do not put an asset charge on operational assets could make the mistake from this book of seeking too little earnings. Companies need to earn on-going returns that surpass the cost of capital, too. The greatest success from this book is The Fifth Discipline following it. The discussion of the beer game simulation in The Fifth Discipline will add to the comprehension of system dynamics. Elis character as a slaughterer of sacred cows began in 1979 when the beginning of his computerized scheduling system disproved the legend that fixed scheduling does not work. This work led to the awareness that the present measurements used on the shop floor are a major stumbling block to improvement and led to the almost unavoidable next development step. But when he attacked Cost Accounting as enemy number one of productivity, he should have produced great conflict. Instead, Eli was sincerely welcomed by both manufacturing and financial people. Many companies are now discarding efficiencies and questioning other uses of cost accounting for making decisions. Today Elis process of ongoing improvement is increasingly accepted as a powerful, practical holistic approach in which other methods such as MRP, Just in Time, Statistical Process Control are synergistically matched. It seems suitable that a man characterized as unconventional but also full of common sense should mask The Goal, a manufacturing textbook, as a novel or, as some say, a love story. It is also appropriate that it should become an underground best seller in boardrooms, universities and on the factory floor. Eli Goldratt demonstrates his intellect both as a scholar and as a teacher with The Goal. The operational ideas that he presents are innovative in their practicality and common-sense approach. These concepts, jointly described as Theory of Constraints have closed the loop for prepared thinking and problem solving. This has lead to a change in this thinking that connected the departments into chains and emphasized up-stream suppliers and down-stream consumers. Where these short falls were in looking at the productivity of the entire chain and providing a problem solving method for continuously improving that productivity, Theory of Constraints provides a problem solving method as well as an executive approach that drives ongoing improvement in any business. The business novel approach is very attractive as a delivery and teaching method. Most of us struggle through the yearly crop of dry business texts that are commonly uninspiring. This book is presented with a storytellers obsession for detail, while still driving the key points of the theory. Every organization can gain from the concepts presented in The Goal. Implementation is not costly, unlike other improvement fads. Theory Of Constraints shows you, the manager, how to hub on what is really important in your operation, in spite of your daily fire drills. In conclusion, â€Å"The Goal† by Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox is a business text camouflaged as a novel. It is a remarkable cast of actors that dramatizes a charming tale of discovery and freedom. In the story the manager of a troubled plant learns from a mathematician turned consultant that many of his management practices and financial assumptions are faulty. After he retools his thinking, he convinces everyone at the factory to get with the new program. The storys flow is slowed by irrelevant dialogue and subplots, but it is still a good story and a appealing format for serving up the authors messagethat businesses weighed down by archaic habits can be wildly beneficial when fresh mathematical methods are used courageously. References Mathematics books, last viewed: 20th May’04 http://mathematicsbooks.org/Business_Economics_Finance_Theory.html

The Catcher And The Rye :: essays research papers

Love, Affection, and Adulthood   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In J.D. Salinger’s controversial 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye, the main character is Holden Caulfield. When the story begins Holden at age sixteen, due to his poor grades is kicked out of Pencey Prep, a boys’ school in Pennsylvania. This being the third school he has been expelled from, he is in no hurry to face his parents. Holden travels to New York for several days to cope with his disappointments. As James Lundquist explains, â€Å"Holden is so full of despair and loneliness that he is literally nauseated most of the time.† In this novel, Holden, a lonely and confused teenager, attempts to find love and direction in his life. Holden’s story is realistic because many adolescent’s face similar challenges.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  J.D. Salinger presents Holden Caulfield as a confused and distressed adolescent. Holden is a normal teenager who needs to find a sense of belonging. All though Holden’s obsession with â€Å"phonies† overpowers him. Dan Wakefield comments, â€Å"The things that Holden finds so deeply repulsive are things he calls â€Å"phony†- and the â€Å"phoniness† in every instance is the absence of love, and , often the substitution of pretense for love.† Holden was expelled from Pencey Prep School not because he is stupid, but because he just is not interested. His attitude toward Pencey is everyone there is a phony. Pencey makes Holden feel lonely and isolated because he had very few friends. Holden’s feeling of alienation is seen when he doesn’t attend the biggest football game of the year. His comments on the game: â€Å"It was the last game of the year and you were supposed to commit suicide or something if old Pencey didn ’t win† (2, Ch. 1). This also hints to Holden’s obsession with death. Holden can’t find a since of belonging in the school because of all the so-called phonies. Holden speaks of Pencey’s headmaster as being a phony. Holden says that on visitation day the headmaster will pay no attention to the corny-looking parents. Holden portrays his not being interested by saying, â€Å"all you do is study so that you can learn enough to be smart enough to buy a goddam Cadillac someday, and you have to keep making believe you give a damn if the football team loses†(131, Ch. 17). Holden does not care for school or money. He just wants everyone to be sincere and honest. Holden's obsession with phonies causes him to have no positive adult role models to follow.

A Farewell to Arms Essay: Inevitability of Death Revealed

Inevitability of Death Revealed in A Farewell To Arms      Ã‚   Ernest Hemingway has been greatly criticized for a supposed hatred of women that some feel is evident in his writings. One of the primary books that critics believe shows this misogynistic attitude is A Farewell To Arms. It is counterproductive to interpret the book using such a narrow focus because the author is dealing with much more profound themes. Hemingway is not concerned with the theme of gender equality, but rather with the greater themes of the inherent struggle of life and the inevitability of death.    The first images of struggle and death are seen in chapter 9 when Frederic is wounded. Up to this point in the story Hemingway had portrayed a very serene, pastoral setting and existence for the characters. It is here, though, that this comes crashing down. Hemingway is showing the horrors of war. War is not a glorious and colorful event; it is a dirty and base thing. This is the first hint that the romantic notions Frederic clings to might prove false. There is suggestion here that human existence is fairly tragic.    Hemingway shows many deaths as a result of the war. Passini, Rinaldi (who it is inferred died of syphilis), nameless officers, a sergeant, Aymo, and many others are casualties of the insane war. Their deaths are shown as casual, random events in the life of Frederic. Throughout the entire book Frederic seems to be trying to escape this death that is all around him and retreat once more to the serene existence he enjoys at the beginning of the book. This sets up what I believe to be the theme of the book: struggle is inherent in life and death is inevitable.    Another representative of death is Count Greffi towards the e... ...ainst Hemingway that charges he is a woman hater. Hemingway does not idealize Catherine out of some deep hatred of women. He does not subordinate her to show male dominance. In fact, I believe that Catherine is a minor factor in this book and is more of a tool used for thematic purposes. Hemingway uses her to show Frederic's inability to escape death. To use the ant metaphor (327-328), we are all ants on a log unknowingly running into the fire. And just when the log is tipped so we are away from the flames, just when we think that we are safe, someone tips us back in the fire and we die. Hemingway is showing that man's frantic struggles and his scurrying about are futile, we all die in the end. Also, as much as we may try, we cannot keep death out of our lives.    Works Cited Hemingway, Ernest A Farewell To Arms. Scribner Paperback Fiction: NY, 1995.   

Antwone Fisher Essay -- essays research papers

Antwone Fisher in my opinion is probably the most impactful movie I have ever seen. People may say, â€Å" What a good movie† but I say â€Å"what a good man†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Antwone Fisher grows up living in a foster home where he is beaten, mentally and sexually abused. After spending time in an orphanage he doesn’t know what to do with his life. After thinking about it he decides to join the Navy. The movie picks up with Antwone as a young sailor who has a problem controlling his anger. Sent to a psychiatrist (played by Denzel Washington) he slowly begins opening up, learning to confront the past that has fostered his long-standing rage. Washington's psychiatrist becomes Antwone's substitute father figure, the person who teaches him to drop his guarded resentment, and assures him that he has the strength to face the buried traumas of his childhood. And, this being the kind of movie where everyone learns from everyone else, Antwone's courage persuades Washington's character to own up to his own traumas.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the movie, Antwone just keeps on getting in fights and getting sent back to the psychiatrist. One fight in particular changed his life. One of his fellow shipmates taunts him about being a virgin. They fight and then he gets sent back to the psychiatrist. The psychiatrist then tells him to go find a girl to go on some dates with. He finds a girl that he has been friends with for a while, and asks her on a date. He went on a da... Antwone Fisher Essay -- essays research papers Antwone Fisher in my opinion is probably the most impactful movie I have ever seen. People may say, â€Å" What a good movie† but I say â€Å"what a good man†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Antwone Fisher grows up living in a foster home where he is beaten, mentally and sexually abused. After spending time in an orphanage he doesn’t know what to do with his life. After thinking about it he decides to join the Navy. The movie picks up with Antwone as a young sailor who has a problem controlling his anger. Sent to a psychiatrist (played by Denzel Washington) he slowly begins opening up, learning to confront the past that has fostered his long-standing rage. Washington's psychiatrist becomes Antwone's substitute father figure, the person who teaches him to drop his guarded resentment, and assures him that he has the strength to face the buried traumas of his childhood. And, this being the kind of movie where everyone learns from everyone else, Antwone's courage persuades Washington's character to own up to his own traumas.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the movie, Antwone just keeps on getting in fights and getting sent back to the psychiatrist. One fight in particular changed his life. One of his fellow shipmates taunts him about being a virgin. They fight and then he gets sent back to the psychiatrist. The psychiatrist then tells him to go find a girl to go on some dates with. He finds a girl that he has been friends with for a while, and asks her on a date. He went on a da...

Huksley Maquiladora Essay

1. PROBLEM STATEMENT Huxley Manufacturing Co. is an engineering company and possesses cutting-edge technology in raw material processing and part assembling. The main customer for Huxley is the US defense department. In recent years many factors were changing. Increase in the costs involved for R&D, higher â€Å"knowledge intensity† of defense products and reduced allocation by the federal government as funds towards the defense budget. These changes had made the US defense department move away from the use of sole vendors to more competitive bidding. Price became the most important selection criteria. US firms like Huxley were still the major suppliers; even then purchase from foreign supplier had started. The situation had kindled the idea in Huxley’s management to proceed in search of viable strategic operations to cope with the pricing and at the same time maintain the standards which Huxley had established. Robert Chan, the CEO of Huxley had initiated a plan to assess the advantages in moving the operations of the San Diego plant to Mexico. The team led by Philips has to give a report with detailed analysis. 2. RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1. â€Å"IMPROVE† UNDER THE EXISTING APPROACH: This recommendation insists on retaining the labor intensive operations to the existing plant at San Diego. Though this is not the most effective of the recommendations, with the budgets allocated for defense falling sharply, Huxley can still plan to improve training so that the trained employees are able to cope up with the activities performed. The actual turnover does not happen because the employees are not satisfied with the salaries but the employees feel that they could not master the required job skills. Huxley can increase the duration of the training provided to the employees. The quality of training can also be monitored and it effectiveness increased by intermediate assessment of the quality of work of the employees. This is a viable option for improving in the existing setup. 3.2. â€Å"OUT SOURCE† THE LABOR INTENSIVE ACTIVITIES: As stated, the labor intensive operations are the main focus for Huxley. As a measure to reduce the cost in such activities, the company can as well look into other option like out sourcing such activities to partners within US. This recommendation will remove the overhead of training and employee turnover from Huxley. Under such an operation Huxley can still command the same quality and standards from the out sourced company. Frequent visits from the mangers will also serve the purpose. In case the federal government further reduces the funding for defense activities and the profits for the business become too low Huxley can as well tell the out sourced company to stop the production and still be out of the overhead of reassigning the employees those would have been in the operation. 3.3. ACQUIRE THE COMPANY IN DENVER, COLORADO Purchasing the company in Denver Colorado which is capable of performing the operations similar to the San Diego plant can be another recommendation. It gives Huxley a leverage of being located in the same country. Since the head office of Huxley is in United States, they will be well aware of the laws and regulations of the state. It would be easier to operate another plant in the same country of sale and where the existing company already operates. Huxley can then plan strategic training to lure employees to the plant in Denver and follow employee retention policies to reduce any turnover if it occurs. 3.4. MOVING THE SCC OPERATIONS TO MEXICO Well, the most expected solution which the CEO is interested in would be moving the operations of the San Diego plant to Mexico. Operating in a foreign land is a riskier endeavor. The inter country trade rule can vary and completely change from the most favorable to the least favorable within a short span of time. The operation also needs to be determined based on the availability of projects to keep such an activity going on. The time taken to start and costs associated with the different types of Maquiladora vary widely. Since we anticipate a long term venture, the startup time can be removed from the consideration, but the costs and other several factors such as Labor availability, Transportation cost, Housing for the employees, the quality of the employee employed and the Labor cost involved should be taken as important criterion. Since any kind of operation requires an US manager to be in the Mexican plant, the quality of life of the manager should also be considered. 3.5.1. â€Å"OPTIONS† FOR OPERATING: For Huxley to be operating in Mexico, there are three main modes of operations that can be followed. These include the sub contracting operation, sheltering operation and the wholly owned subsidiary. A detailed comparison can be found in Exhibit 1. Keeping most of the constraints constant for further analysis, the â€Å"Shelter† operation has the most suitable offering for Huxley to start. It gives Huxley control over the quality of the products developed. Also providing the option for converting it into a â€Å"full blown† in Mexico as the company grew, or control could be turned over to the shelter partner to form a contract operation. The major consideration in operating a Maquiladora is the labor cost that is involved. Cheap labor does not mean consistent labor. The availability of quality labor and the turnover rate determine the location of the Maquiladora within the Mexican country. 3.5.2.1. IN A LOCATION NEAR THE BORDER For the location of a Maquiladora, two major factors contribute to the decision. The availability of labor is high in the borders, as is the turnover rate due to inadequate housing options available to the employees and their families. Which means that the cost spent on training is going to high. The high availability of labor reduces the cost of labor involved in the production. The bright side is that the transportation cost would be greatly reduced and the quality of life of the US manager would be better off than being located in the interior. If Huxley wanted to retain the employees, then it has to further invest on the housing options for the employee to bring the turnover rate down. Investing on housing will further increase the production cost of the goods produced as the cost expensed has to be recovered from the products developed. 3.5.2.2. IN AN INTERIOR LOCATION: A location in the interior provides cheap Mexican materials and also cheap labor. While this is an advantage to the operation, the quality of life for the American manager will be much worse than in the border. The roads, facilities and communications might not be as good as they are in the border. On the one hand it reduces the cost of goods sold and the cost of labor, but on the other hand it increase the transportation cost. We anticipate that a load will be shipped every day, five day a week, except for the 8 holidays. The recommendations are good in each having its own merits. The data on the availability of project and the forecasted future are uncertain. These might as well be the deciding factor when in comes to the final decision.

Desperately Seeking Synergy and Competing on Capabilities Essay

I.) I didn’t think that synergy was that much big of a deal until I read this article. I am one of those who assume that synergy exists, can be achieved, and will be beneficial, I didn’t really think about the downsides of synergy. When I read the article, it seems that it would be better if executives give more attention and evaluation to find real synergy opportunities. It’s good that the writer included in his article about the four managerial biases because it’s true that all too often, the managers are the ones being blamed for the failure of a synergy program, when the ones who really are to blame are the corporate executives themselves. These four biases will help corporate executives evaluate better the managers and themselves, be more aware of the situation, and be able to make more successful synergy programs. The process of sizing the prize is also a good addition to the article. Being more precise as to what needs to be done rather than generalizing all the goals tend to be more efficient and successful. It clarifies the real costs and benefits of a synergy program, as the writer stated, sizing the prize is the first and most important discipline in making sound decisions on synergy. Overarching goals should be disaggregated into discrete, well-defined benefits, and then each benefit should be subjected to hard-nosed financial analysis. Pinpointing the parenting opportunity will clear up the parenting bias. Corporate executives must know when and how to intervene in the management. The article conveniently stated the three relevant cases as to when intervention must take place to help the corporate executives. Then there is this bringing downsides to light which can clear up the synergy and upside bias. I think that in every action which anyone may undertake, being more familiar with the consequences and downsides of that action can help the individual evaluate that action and be more successful. All in all, corporate executives must take note of the disciplined approach the writers recommend, which is clarifying the real benefits to be gained, examining the potential for parental involvement, and taking into account the possible downsides of synergy programs. In relation to business policy and strategies, corporate executives with the help of the managers must be able to make clear and effective business policies and strategies which can be implemented for the betterment of synergy programs within the organization. Good policies will be able to guide them and their future employees in engaging in more successful synergies. I think this is related to accountancy because good interdepartmental communication and cooperation will help accountants do their job more precisely and conveniently. As a future professional, knowledge of this article will help me become a more effective leader by applying the three disciplined approaches he writers has stated and a more efficient team member who can synergize well with my co-workers. II.) The article uses the success of companies like Wal-Mart, Honda, and MedEquip to familiarize the readers with capabilities-based competition which is great because seeing a concrete example of the principle at work makes the article even more interesting, realistic and not plain and boring. The focus of the article was on Wal-Mart and the secret of its success, which is the set of strategic business decisions that transformed the company into a capabilities-based competitor such as the warehousing technique of cross-docking. Included in the article are these basic principles of a capabilities-based competition which can help a traditional company change or shape its organization into a more capability-based competitor. First, is that the focus of their corporate strategy should not be on the products but on the business processes. Second, competitive success depends on transforming a company’s key process into strategic capabilities that consistently provide superior value to the customer. Third, companies should create these capabilities by making strategic investments in a support infrastructure for these strategic capabilities. Fourth, is that the CEO is the champion of a capabilities-based strategy. I think that this puts the pressure on the CEO because he will be the one responsible for the direction of his company and the decisions he make can shape the future of the company. To be able to be a good CEO, one must outperform the completion in responding quickly to customer demands and to incorporate new ideas into products, produce a product that unfailingly satisfies customer’s expectations, see the competitive environment clearly, adapt simultaneously to many different business environments, and generate new ideas and to combine existing elements to create new sources of value. It is obvious that the CEO has a very big responsibility. In summary, the article speaks about the new logic of growth today, being a capabilities predator, a company focusing and investing more on its capabilities to satisfy the customer. But a question comes to mind after reading this article, what is the future of capabilities-based competition? If some time ago, the traditional companies were successful and were replaced by the growth of capabilities-based companies, what will happen if most of the companies will become more capabilities-based? Will the growth of these companies be consistent? Or will there be a new kind of competitor that dominates the market in the future? One thing is for sure though, organizations are going to have to be very dynamic and adapt to the ever changing needs of the customers. This is related to business policy and strategy because to be an effective capabilities-based competitor, the company must start on its core processes and making an efficient business policy can help this process. The company’s strategy will also determine the direction of the company whether it wants to focus on its capabilities or its products. This article can be related to accounting because a good accounting system can be a part of an organizations’ relevant business process, they can focus on investing and improving their accounting system to better satisfy their customer. Lastly, as a future professional, this has kind of updated my point of view on what to focus on, because until I read this article, I always thought that a good product is enough for you to be successful but in fact, one should focus more nowadays to the business processes and compete on capabities.

Interracial Marriages Essay

In any marriage relationship, it is usual or rather natural to have some adjustments in its early stage. This is so because there is a high degree of expectations in both parties; and so, because these expectations are mostly â€Å"unrealistic,† to modify or adjust them are somewhat difficult to both sides. It is a fact that when two individuals come into a marriage union, they bring with them two different perspectives in almost all respects, and this is no different with interracial marriages. However, there are more at stake when racial backgrounds or ethnicity is the core issue, as studies reveal. Marriage and the fruit of the union – the family – is the basic unit of society and regarded as one of the most principal institutions of the social order. When marriages fail and families disintegrate, there is without a doubt a â€Å"ripple† effect on the community’s functioning in terms of that community’s solidity, and law and order. Although many facets of the relationship operate as components to the enjoyment and development of the marriage bond, the common and usual fundamental rationale for the union is intimacy. It is this vital ingredient that draws couples from different persuasions, race, or creed together despite the potential drawbacks and heartaches that will soon shake the very foundations of that union. This paper dwells on these potentialities in terms of the advantages and disadvantages of interracial marriages. The author believes that despite the difficulties and at times the impossibilities that complications beset interracial marriages, for as long as both parties or the individuals involved have explored beforehand the complexities, and settled for the facts and realities, their relationship is off to a better start. This paper then offers to describe and explain the polarities that entail in a marriage coming from two different ethnic or racial backgrounds. Definition & demographics In US history, many things that speak of the American way of life are deeply affected and influenced on the issue of race and especially on cross-cultural marriages. Since its â€Å"pioneer† days, being attached with another not your own color, creed, or race is neither new, nor surprising. A study of endogamy’s other extreme, i. e. mixed marriage – then and now – is still quite of interest to many (Rosenfeld, 2007). To tackle the subject matter that this paper endeavors to explore, the author starts by defining the main concepts used throughout the study. Definition Marriage is defined as a â€Å"socially recognized and approved union between individuals† with the idea that both will commit themselves to a lifetime of togetherness in the hope that there will be stability and happiness that the couple will enjoy in their intimate relationship (Microsoft Encarta, 2005). Such relationship has legal, cultural, economic, moral, and psychological dimensions that may impinge on its eventual longevity and permanence. Miscegenation or â€Å"intermarriage between races†, according to Encarta, is defined as â€Å"marriage or cohabitation between people of different races† (2005). Demographics According to a study by Kara Joyner, assistant professor of policy analysis and management at Cornell and co-author of a study on interracial relationships in a recent issue of the American Sociological Review (Vol. 70:4), â€Å"Hispanics had the highest rate of interracial relationships: 45 percent of 18- to 19-year-olds and 33 percent of 24- to 25-year-olds were in interracial relationships in the early 2000s, compared with blacks (20 and 14 percent, respectively) and whites (16 and 12 percent, respectively† (Lang, 2005). Although Asians are comparatively the same with Hispanics in the aspects of interracial union in Joyner’s study, the ethnic group was not included due to lack of research yields when it comes to as when they likely get into their liaisons and when these end. However, in some studies, the case of Asians engaging in interracial marriage, demographics painted a different picture. Whereas in the case of Hispanics, Blacks, and Whites who intermarry, the surveys say that as they age, the tendency of these relationships’ potential to last dwindles, the Asians’ marriages tend to increase and last longer (Lang, 2005). The US Bureau of the Census points out that intermarriage is still â€Å"relatively uncommon† basing on a 2002 survey because only 2. 9 percent of all marriages come from interracial unions (Lang in Joyner study, 2005). Review of Literature – Family Values Every home has its set of beliefs or tradition that they hold in high esteem. This is referred to as family values. Anything that the family believes is important comprises a family values system. This paper attempts to explain what family values are and how people uphold their beliefs and what makes them hold on to those beliefs in a highly individualistic country such as ours. Among the values an individual possesses, the most important I believe is that a person must regard most his/her values about family as the most significant. Many people don’t usually pause and contemplate what their values are. They may not know whether these values they already have are still practical or useful in a modern day world. Moreover, they do not think how their values fit in with their kind of milieu that they evolve in. (â€Å"Values: what are they? †2007). There are families that take time out though to impart to their children what had been passed on to them when they too were yet very young. The values may not be as strong as when were yet children because the person may have adapted to his world and adjusted his values that others may be accommodated. Through the years, a family value system may be a combination of what had been passed on to an individual and the values system of one’s friends or colleagues at work. Why are family values important? The primary reason is that what we hold as important affects how we use time, money and energy or how we interact with people. If a family believes the importance of education then parents try to save for the schooling of their children which includes books among others. Family values influence how we spend our resources and make decisions. Parents then need to communicate what their own family values are, why these are important and the specifics of what are most essential that the children must also adopt or follow. Children also need to respect others who have dissimilar value system as compared to their own. Most likely values will evolve but when parents lead the children and model these beliefs, their children will be able to learn and pass these on to the next generation (â€Å"Values: what are they? †2007). – Social Clock The belief that there are descriptive and prescriptive age norms concerning adults during their developmental shift involves the concept of the social clock. The social clock hinges on its description of society’s expectations where time to get married and have children at the same time attaining more of life’s burdens. For example, the traditional or what has been considered as the perception of women who have not yet entered into matrimony as individuals who are negatively appraised during their middle adulthood stage in contrast to the young adults. Social clock has something to do with an expectation that a person must somehow behave or conduct him/herself according to established developmental milestones or else, risk the consequences that may happen because the individual has allowed it to slip through (Altenbernd, 2004).