The War on Drugs is a War on the Poor Essay - 1265 Words

The â€Å"War on Drugs has been so terribly ineffective that it leads one to question its true motives. Even a dog can eventually learn from an electric fence, so why not the United States government? Is the goal really to curtail drug use, or is it to segregate society and vilify the disadvantaged? A combination of mandatory minimum sentencing and other unjust laws has led to an enormous rise in U.S. prison populations. Thanks to these laws, 60 percent of the federal prison population consisted of nonviolent drug offenders as of 1999. In 1997, about twice as many people were arrested for drug offenses as for violent crimes. As a result, the U.S. incarceration rate is now six to ten times higher than in most industrialized†¦show more content†¦According to the U.S. Department of Justice, African Americans comprise approximately 13 percent of the population and 13 percent of all drug users. Yet strangely enough, more than 55 percent of those convicted for drug offenses are African American. Indeed, the U.S. police and judicial forces in tandem maintain one of the oldest affirmative action policies in the country. This affirmative action policy ensures that a disproportionate number of blacks are convicted of drug crimes, despite the fact that their drug use is only average among the country as a whole. According to Human Rights Watch, these drug laws violate international human rights treaties because they have the effect of restricting rights on the basis of race. Facing accusation of human rights violations from abroad, one would expect our government to make some effort to curb such discrimination. But instead an even more stringent and discriminatory drug law was introduced last year. By the amendment to the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1998, those convicted for drug use are barred from financial aid for a year. After two convictions, they are barred from aid for two years, and after three, they are barred permanently. This law was enforced on an honor system; students had to declare their convictions on financial aid forms. The law went into effect this past fall, and as a result, 7000 students lost theirShow MoreRelated America And The War On Drugs Essay1216 Words   |  5 PagesColumbia, when they have their own problems with drugs? The Untied States of America has a rather large drug trafficking problem but compared to Columbia it is fairly small. To help Columbia solve their problem the U.S. senate has decided to send troops over there and take control. This new involvement will have many consequences in and what can you make for instance the cost of a war, the loss and gain of jobs, and physical side effects. Now war is a very serious subject to study for sociologistsRead MoreDrug Addiction Is A Problem For Many Countries861 Words   |  4 Pages Drug addiction have been a problem for many countries. People lose their family, going into prison and even losing their life because of drug addiction. Countries like the United States have been working very hard on trying to prevent drug from importing to their countries illegally and they also open programs that prevent and treat people from using illegal drugs. Base on the Office of National Drug Control Policy the United States have spent 15billion dollar on drug prevention and treatmentRead MoreAmerican Drug War : The Last White Hope1245 Words   |  5 Pages American Drug War Essay Cultural Awareness CRIM103 21 Apr 2013 Danielle Walters / Ivy Tech Community College James Reed Synopsis I chose to watch a documentary called American Drug War: The Last White Hope, and do a little research on the war on drugs. The documentary I chose was very interesting. I learned several things about the war on drugs, as well as operations that have been swept under the rug. This documentary also provided some chilling statistics on deaths due to legal andRead MoreThe House I Live By Eugene Jarecki989 Words   |  4 Pagesa 1971 press conference, which the press immediately designates the â€Å"war on drugs†. The House I Live In is a superb film detailing Eugene Jarecki’s journey on an in-depth and all-encompassing view of the war on drugs, and the immense destruction left in its wake. It is necessary to gain a better understanding of how the war on drugs is significant to a 40-year class based destruction, failure of existing drug policies and drug elimination, and the ways fear plays a starring role in the genesis ofRead MoreThe American War On Drugs1598 Words   |   7 Pages The American â€Å"War on Drugs† war created to keep an exorbitant amount of people behind bars, and in a subservient status. First, America has a storied history when it comes to marijuana use. However, within the last 50 years legislation pertaining to drug use and punishment has increased significantly. In the modern era, especially hard times have hit minority communities thanks to these drug laws. While being unfairly targeted by drug laws and law enforcement, minorities in America are havingRead MoreTupac Song Analysis924 Words   |  4 Pagesits previous numbers, coming in at an estimated 3.14 million. With this in mind, Tupac starts the verse in the perspective of a poor Black person, fed up with the lack of progress in their society, and contemplating suicide. He Anastasia Soullier Orekoya 2 also emphasizes the harsh consequences of poverty, as Tupac goes further into the poor man’s thoughts, as the person is so hungry that he has to look for someone’s purse to rob so they can have the money to eat. ThisRead MoreThe Controversy Over The Drug War958 Words   |  4 Pagesbeen increasing trends of incarceration, specifically in relation to the use and possession of illegal drugs. In 2010, there were 1.6 million people arrested for drug related offenses, which is approximately 1 person every 19 seconds. The majority of the arrests, however, are for possession of small amounts and are minor offenses (Criminal Justice Fact Sheet, NAACP). The controversy over the drug war is the element of concentration in cities, consistently in underprivileged neighborhoods, resultingRead MoreThe New Jim Crow : A Civil Rights Lawyer Essay1365 Words   |  6 Pagesfighting the racial injustice in the U.S. criminal justice system and influences the public understanding about the War on Drugs and its devastating results for the entire nation. Eventually, Alexander calls for an end to the War on Drugs because â€Å"there is no path to Liberation for communities; who are permanen tly Blocked (barred) by law and custom from mainstream society† (13). This ongoing war† (220). She creates a high caliber of this crisis; by explaining contemporary mass incarceration as a kind ofRead MoreThe Impact Of Tajikistan On The United States Of The Soviet Union1589 Words   |  7 Pagesnation it was plunged very quickly in to civil war. The war led to a quick decline in the nation’s economy. This war crippled the nation leaving Tajikistan very weak in the June of 1997 when the war finally drew to a close. This civil war weakened Tajikistan’s legitimate economy and left many people to â€Å"rely on the revenues of illicit opiate trade†. Tajikistan is slowly recovering from the effects of becoming a new nation, plagued with war and drug problems early in its life, and this requires theRead MoreThe Problem Of The War On Drugs1638 Words   |  7 Pagesmost prosperous and corrupt industry of them all, prisons. Most people assume the â€Å"War on Drugs† was launched in response to the crisis cause by crack-cocaine in inner city neighborhoods. This view supports that racial disparities in drug convictions and sentences, as well as the rapid explosion of the prison population, reflect nothing more than the government’s zealous efforts to address rampant drug crime in poor, minority neighborhoods. This view while understandable, given the sensational media

Introduction to Economics Exercise 1 - 1481 Words

INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS Exercise 1 1. What determines that a resource be scarce? Why is scarcity important in defining Economics as a science Resources are seen as being scarce, when the wants exceed the resources. The fundamental problem of economics relates to the choices made in the face of limited resources and unlimited wants. 2. Read your local newspaper and economic magazines. Explain the difference between Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. From your research, give three examples of microeconomic and macroeconomic issues. Microeconomics relates to the study of households and firms and the interaction between these different economic actors. Macroeconomics, however, relates to the study of the economy as a whole,†¦show more content†¦All the market will be affect; we will see an increase of demand for main and complementary goods. Shortage will probably appear and price will increase to search equilibrium. Rumor will be reality. 7. Using the following demand and supply table Price | Demand | Supply | 1.25 | 8 | 28 | 1.00 | 14 | 24 | 0.75 | 20 | 20 | 0.50 | 26 | 16 | 0.25 | 32 | 12 | a. Graph the demand curve and the supply curve b. Identify the equilibrium price and equilibrium quantity c. Assume a price of 1.00, Identify if there is shortage or surplus in the market and how the market forces behave to reinstate the equilibrium d. Now assume the price is 0.50 and repeat the question above e. Now assume this is the market behavior for an inferior good, what would happen if the consumers income would increase from $ 25 to $ 32 a week f. Assume this markets complementary good ´s price increases, what would happen in this market g. Assume there is a rumor that the price for this good will increases in the following days. How do expectations affect this market? What will be the final outcome? For all the questions above you must support your answer with a graph. 8. Price elasticity of demand : (0,1)/(-0,2) = -1,5 The demand is elastic and sensitive to price changes. 9. Price elasticity of demand : ((0,38-0,5)/0,5) = -0,24 -24% ((26000-10000)/10000) = 1,6 160% (-0,24)/(1,6) = -0,15 The demand is elastic and sensitive to priceShow MoreRelatedSocial Determinants of Childhood Obesity Essay example1265 Words   |  6 Pagestheir doctor, just as they were when they were babies and toddlers, it will help doctors and parents to closely monitor their weight. Although obesity is caused by an imbalance of the calories consumed with the output of energy through metabolism and exercise (O’Gorman et al., 2011; Wang, 2008), the reason/s for this imbalance can arise from several of the 10 social determinants (the social gradient, stress, early life, social exclusion, work, unemployment, social support, addiction, food, and transport)Read MoreAnnotated Bibliography: Obesity828 Words   |  3 PagesA., et.al., eds. (2007). Children, Obesity Exercise. New York: Routledge. Americas children are not getting enough exercise, and the health risks due to obesity are becoming epidemic in nature. Even First Lady Michelle Obama is supporting an initiative to help children become more active and to provide for exercise (at least 30-60 minutes per day) in all schools. Even limited amounts of exercise can have great health benefits. When humans exercise, the brain produces chemicals that help enhanceRead MoreEssay about Effects of Human Activities on the Lake System630 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Jacquilyn L. Estrada Date Performed: February 23, 2013 Z-2R/Z2-12 Date Submitted: March 4, 2013 Exercise 2: Effects of Human Activities on the Lake System Introduction Laguna de Bay is said to be the Philippines’ largest inland water body covering situated at the heart of CALABARZON.   It is also specified that a total of twenty-four (24) sub-basins drain directly to the lake, with the Pagsanjan-Lumban Rivers System contributing to as much as 35% of the total inflow to the lakeRead MoreEcon 2301 Study Guide1079 Words   |  5 Pages discussion, and small group exercises. Course Rationale This course is meant to give students insight into the dynamics of our national economy. The knowledge gained in this course will make students more informed citizens and allow them to follow the debates over national economic policy reported in the media. This course is also a foundation course that will prepare students to be successful in upper division finance, marketing, business administration, economics, government and social work coursesRead MoreThe Global Challenges of Comparative Politics1393 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction The Global Challenges of Comparative Politics Introduction to Comparative Politics-Studies how different countries both shape and are shaped by the world. 1989,2001, and 2008 define the current era of world politics-describes a particular important moment; critical juncture. A frequently cited date is 1989, when the Berlin wall was dismantled. 1989 ushered in three important changes. Marked the end of a bipolar world-marked the emergence of a unipolar world. Marked the triumphRead MorePower Elite1379 Words   |  6 Pageswhom we can call the elite or the power elite. Power can be defined as the ability to effect and control the behavior of others. Elite, is a relatively small dominant group in a big society that usually made up from the upper class members of society.[1] The theory of power elite claims that power is concentrated in the hands of a few and composed of people who occupy the top positions in society and have access to political power. In other words this theory claims that a single elite group decidesRead MoreEconomic Impact Of Economic Freedom On Economic Growth1403 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction: In the last three decades the concept of economic freedom have dominated the economic theories as the best way to economic development, Many economists and politicians believe that economic freedom displays a significantly positive effect on economic growth, while others believe that the increased freedom will have a negative effects on economic growth. In addition, all of the international organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) encourage developingRead MoreCase Study: Application of Real Options to Energy Investments1718 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Energy investments have been evaluated using diverse methods. Santos et. al. (2014) argue that conventional approaches such as Net Present Value (NPV) or Internal Rate of Return (IRR) do not consider relevant project characteristics like irreversibility, uncertainty and management flexibility. They propose that the Real Options Approach (ROA) has an advantage over conventional methods. The aim of this essay is to apply real options to a renewable energy investment (mini-hydro plant)Read MoreObesity And Obesity Among Hispanic And African American Communities1701 Words   |  7 PagesDiabetes and Obesity Abstract There exists a close relationship between diabetes and obesity. The two conditions have troubled the global sector, leading to numerous deaths and excessive expenditure. This study evaluates the relationship between exercise/diets with obesity and diabetes among Hispanic and African American populations. The two communities face challenges of contracting diabetes and obesity owing to their lifestyle. There is much to compare among the African American and Hispanic peopleRead MoreMcdonald s Risk Assessment Policies And Procedures1216 Words   |  5 PagesABC Co. XYZ road, Australia Website: Phone: email: TITLE: RISK ASSESSMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES DATE: 1-1-201X TO: ASSESSOR FROM: Mr.ABC Introduction: This report is about McDonalds’s risk assessment policies and procedures. We have done technical analysis of policies, procedures, guidelines, strengths, weaknesses, legal and legislation requirements of McDonalds. This report summarizes our work to make it convenient for

Bertha Mason in Jane Eyre for College Literature - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theBertha Mason in Jane Eyre for College Literature. Answer: The passage centres round the character of Bertha Mason, the first wife of Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre. It is a novel by the English writerCharlotte Bronte. The novel was first published on 16 October 1847, bySmith, Elder Co.of London, England, under the pen name "Currer Bell". At Thornfield, Mr. Rocehster, Mr. Mason and Jane climbed up the third story and Jane comes to know that Bertha had bit and stabbed her brother in that room. He lifted a tapestry for unrevealing a door. In that room she finds Bertha Mason and her carer Grace Poole. Bertha tries to strangle her husband. In this novel she is an abused wife roughly interpreted as the mad woman in the attic (Pike 261). Years of confinement has contributed to her mental illness and increasing violence. Her insane and violet behaviour has become frightening to tolerate. She behaves like a beast crawling on her limbs and snarling like a monster (Wootton 25). She was imprisoned in the attic room for long 10 years under the control of a hired nurse, Grace Poole. Berthas first introduction with Jane was described as, it snatched and growled like some strange wild animal: but it was covered with clothing, and a quantity of dark, grizzled hair, wild as a mane, hid its head and face. The setting plays an important role in the novel. The attic room described in the novel is a prison for Bertha where she has spent a long ten years of isolation, taken advantage of Pooles absence and harm others in the house (Pietrzak-Franger 268). The entry to the room is secretive. The door is black and low which is opened by a master key. The secrecy of the room records the shame associated with a mad wife from the perspective of Mr. Rochester (Giles 80). The room is tapestried, has a great bed along with a pictorial cabinet. This represents a typical Victorian room and does not match with the violent character of Bertha. Immediately after this picture, the reader come across a warning that reminds Mr. Mason of a memory of violence. The attic room had no window which clearly reveals that the human living there is not recognised as a human being. In the room fire is guarded also. Grace Poole is found to be cooking for Bertha. This denotes a complete separation from the outer world where, the food is also cooked inside the room. Complete desolation in the attic reminds the readers of the Red Room where Jane herself used to feel like a mad cat (Pietrzak-Franger 271). The mad woman is not referred to as woman at first but referred to a clothed hyena that rose up and stood tall on its hind-feet. Just like a master of a wild beast in the zoo, Rochester pacifies violent Bertha and binds her with a cord in a chair then turns to the spectator with a smile of satisfaction (Owsley 56). It is the satisfaction of winning of a powerful over a powerless. The gothic paraphernalia can be seen in the secret attic that is prison like immediately reminds Jane of the Red Room in her childhood where her uncle died. The dark red colour of the room gave it a feeling of horror and death (Spivak 75). The attic room also described having the same feeling of nugatory from where strange sounds can be heard. The supernatural incidents that Jane had imagined adds gothic elements to the novel. In this novel, the threat associated with the room expresses the existence of Bertha as the alter ego of the protagonist Jane Eyre. Both the women are victims of the actions of their respective families (Kapurch 167). Jane was tortured for being an orphan and Bertha due to her genetic disease. Jane was hated for her orphan background and Bertha was pressurised by her family to marry Rochester who had no idea of her mental illness. Her madness is gift of her family and her brother Richard Masons profit motifs resulted her failed married life (Kapurch 167). This supressed anger to her brother led Bertha to stab him brutally. She loves her husband though he tortures and she cannot accept her husbands second marriage. He cannot accept the fact that Rochester will be of another womans belonging therefore she harms both Jane and Rochester (Wootton 25). Just as Jane expressed her frustration by leaving Rochester knowing that he has married before similarly the mad woman reacted but her expression was violent. The phrase, madwoman in the attic was first used by Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar that exactly in tune with the description of the beasty and violent Bertha imprisoned and hidden in the Attic. The syntax as well as style of the sentences have been uber-complex. The phrases and clauses are interwoven elaborately, but manage to be balanced as well as exact. Through the language, Charlotte Bronte has heightened the interest and added the philosophical as well as emotional tensions of the attic episode (Hope 66). The beastly exposure of Bertha has become the dark secret of the lives of the people living in Thornfield hall. The mystery surrounded her appearance has become the core source of suspense. The incident of contradiction between jane Eyre and Bertha is most probably the most famous episode in the novel. This particular episode has given rise of any interpretations. Bertha is the representation of Victorian failed marriage. Her husband claims that she is a mad woman therefore needs to be imprisoned. To the researchers, it can be a cause effect relation in which, several years of imprisonment as well as isolation has made her insane and violent. It discloses the repressive aspect of the Victorian wifehood that suggest the lack of freedom in the conjugal life can result to suffocation, harmful for their psychological health. Therefore, from the above analysis it can be concluded that the setting, language and foreshadowing have successfully added the gothic elements into the novel. References: Giles, Heidi. "Resolving the Institution of Marriage in Eighteenth-Century Courtship Novels."Rocky Mountain Review of Language and Literature66.1 (2012): 76-82. Hope, Trevor. "Revisiting the Imperial Archive: Jane Eyre, Wide Sargasso Sea, and the Decomposition of Englishness."College Literature39.1 (2012): 51-73. Kapurch, Katie. "" Unconditionally and Irrevocably": Theorizing the Melodramatic Impulse in Young Adult Literature through the Twilight Saga and Jane Eyre."Children's Literature Association Quarterly37.2 (2012): 164-187. Owsley, Lauren. "Charlotte Bronts Circumvention of Patriarchy: Gender, Labour and Financial Agency in Jane Eyre."Bront Studies38.1 (2013): 54-65. Pietrzak-Franger, Monika. "Adapting Victorian novels: the poetics of glass in Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights."Adaptation5.2 (2012): 268-273. Pike, Judith E. "ROCHESTER'S BRONZE SCRAG AND PEARL NECKLACE: BRONZED MASCULINITY IN JANE EYRE, SHIRLEY, AND CHARLOTTE BRONTS JUVENILIA."Victorian Literature and Culture41.2 (2013): 261-281. Spivak, Gayatri C. "Critique of Imperialism."Postcolonial Criticism(2014): 145. Wootton, Sarah. "Introduction."Byronic Heroes in Nineteenth-Century Womens Writing and Screen Adaptation. Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2016. 1-29.

Mid-Autumn Festival Essays - Autumn, Public Holidays In China

Mid-Autumn Festival The Mid-Autumn Festival occurs every year on the fifteenth day of the eighth month. This date is in respect to the lunar calendar which is used by the Chinese. In the Gregorian calendar, used in America, this day would be approximately the fifteenth of September. On this day, the moon is supposed to be at its fullest and brightest of the year. The whole family eats out or in their yards to celebrate and watch the full moon. Children play with paper lanterns and the same lanterns are hung outside the front doors of buildings, such as houses and restaurants. Mooncakes are eaten and Chinese tea is usually used to wash it down. The name, mooncake, is self-explanatory. It is a round cake, in the shape of a moon. The ingredients of the cake consist of lotus seeds, made into a sort of paste. The paste is surrounded by a crust, which usually has four Chinese characters imprinted on the top. These characters either tell the type of mooncake it is (i.e. regular, lotus with egg yolk), the name of the store it was bought from, or just simply says ?mooncake?. The origin of the mooncake is in China, during the Sang Dynasty. The Han people were conquered by the Mongolians and named the new dynasty Yuan. The Han people did not like living under Mongolian rule. Therefore, they wanted to rebel and retake China. However, the Mongolians had taken this into consideration and did not allow the people to communicate (especially public gatherings) or to possess sharp, pointed weaponry. Thus, the people had to find a way of communicating secretly. One group of men thought up the idea of placing a piece of paper with the date of the rebellion inside little cakes, which they would sell to the people, who would read the paper and find out the date. To gain permission from the Mongolian soldiers to sell the cakes, they told them that the cakes were a sort of offering to the gods. They said that they would pray that the Mongolian emperor could have eternal life. The gullible soldiers quickly agreed. Everyone received the cakes and the rebellion date was set for the fifteenth day of the eighth month. Since the Mongolians could not read Chinese, they did not know of the rebellion, were caught by surprise, and defeated. From then on, the fifteenth day of the eighth month was known as the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival to celebrate the day of the rebellion. Many myths are formed about holidays. One which goes with this holiday is about a time when the world had ten suns and the earth was hot and dry. Nothing could survive. A hero stepped forward and used nine arrows to shoot down nine of the suns. He was crowned king and married a beautiful wife. Within years of his reign, he became selfish and greedy, a dictator. He wanted to live forever and make the people suffer. Therefore, he mixed a powerful potion and made a pill which, when eaten, would give the person eternal life. His wife found him out and stole the pill. To keep her husband from eating it, she ate it herself. However, after she ate it, she felt her body get lighter and lighter until she was floating. She kept rising higher and higher until she reached the moon, where she lives until this day. There are many variations of this story, such as the bringing of a rabbit with her because the gods wanted to reward her bravery by giving her company for her loneliness. Some people say that they can sometimes see a woman in the moon with a rabbit and a tree (another variation).

10 Informative Essay Topics on Strategic Marketing Management

10 Informative Essay Topics on Strategic Marketing Management If you are tasked with writing an informative essay on strategic marketing management, then your first step is to select a topic; but you also have to find supportive facts to use with it. This step is not always easy which is why below you will find a list of ten facts on strategic marketing management that you can use for your informative essay: Making a strategy work effectively means more than just planning. Most of the problem with bad performance and failure to meet planned goals lies in the actual act of doing. Strategies can be created endlessly, but the real trick is to effectively implement them, a burden which falls upon the shoulders of the managers. Making a strategy work means applying proper processes, decisions, and actions. There are skills and capabilities that managers can combine with knowledge in order to really execute good decision making. Almost all organizations are properly staffed by good managers and people. The managers are motivated and wish to perform well, but even the best of managers and employees can be hampered in their ability to be productive and succeed as a result of poor controls, poor company policies, poor incentives, poor organizational structure, or poor operating procedures. Without these items, even the best managers will fail at ensuring success for their constituents. Managers are responsible for understanding what makes key strategies work within the office. Having a great personality and leadership skills is not enough. Proper management relies upon more than just having the leadership skills necessary to convince employees to take charge and attempt the implementation of strategic plans within the company. The big picture is an important part of proper execution for strategic management which maintains a significant relationship among all key executive decision for companies. Leading a successful execution requires effective management and proper change. Change management issues related directly to power, resistance, and influence. The implementation of changes is not something that should be done quickly at once but rather something which is deliberate and should be completed in a sequential fashion. Many companies believe that speed is the most important component to changing structures within their company but speed can literally kill any potential changes a company is trying to implement. In order for companies to make proper mergers and acquisitions, strategies which fit the real world issues must be applied : the core of this management faces is the saying that failure is not an option. Many mergers and acquisitions have ideally suited strategies but failed in the implementation steps. Execution functions as a key to success, something which is not a simple task. Many companies have a distinct corporate culture and structure, or more specifically they have a specific way of doing things. When a company has to adapt to a new competitive environment it often faces major changes the implementation of which is difficult at best. Developing competitive strategies is not a simple task but the challenges which relate to the execution of the said strategy are significantly more complicated. Execution demands a disciplined process or a specific logical set of activities which an organization can incorporate in order to make sure the strategy is executed properly. If there is no planned approach to the execution then none of the strategic goals a company has in mind can be attained. What is more important is that even if a company has developed a logical approach, its execution does not guarantee success. Trouble might play any company division and without proper support and logical plans it can be challenging to implement new strategies. Planning is imperative to any change management within a company structure but focusing on making strategy work through proper execution is the best way to guarantee success. The part of the reason that many companies focus so heavily on the planning aspects of all management without putting the same if not more focus on the implementation and proper execution of said plans is because managers are not taught to assume that role and its responsibilities. Instead managers learn not how to execute but how to plan. In many higher level masters programs for business a great deal of students’ focus remains on strategy formulation as well as functional planning. There are courses offered for marketing strategies, financial strategies, and competitive strategies but no courses focus on their execution. As a result the conceptual work on planning is something properly developed in school but the execution of that plan is not. Once managers attainworkplace positions they are well prepar ed for strategy and planning but they are not prepared for execution. This lack of attention on execution results in mistakes and frustrations and even company failures. In addition to not learning how to properly execute a plan many managers believe that the execution or implementation of a strategy is something below them, something which is best left to those employees who have lower ranking than they. Many do not want to involve themselves in the actual implementation or execution and instead view their job as only the creator of strategy. Top level management worries about strategy formulation and the development of a good plan but then they turn the management of that plan over two people below them, never actually integrating themselves in the proper execution process. It is believed by the planners that what they create is something based on higher intellect and the people who just have to follow the orders of that plan and make it work are not necessarily as smart as they are. It is often incorrectly believed that the execution of a plan involves less intelligent and less ability than the actual planning. Make use of these facts because they are designed specially for you: you are able to enrich your paper with valuable info, so don’t miss that chance. Moreover, you have the opportunity to look at 20 topics on strategic marketing management and a sample essay that will help you to reach success with your paper. You may also go through our writing guide on informative essays or visit our custom essay writing service immediately. References Hrebiniak, Lawrence G.  Making Strategy Work. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Wharton School. Pub., 2005. Print. Moutinho, Luiz, and G Southern.  Strategic Marketing Management. Hampshire, U.K.: Cengage Learning EMEA, 2010. Print. Sadler, Philip.  Strategic Management. Sterling, VA: Kogan Page, 2003. Print. Saloner, Garth, Andrea Shepard, and Joel M Podolny.  Strategic Management. New York: John Wiley, 2001. Print. Saloner, Garth, Andrea Shepard, and Joel M Podolny.  Strategic Management. New York: John Wiley, 2001. Print. Williams, Kevan.  Strategic Management. New York, N.Y: DK Pub., 2009. Print. Wilson, R. M. S, and Colin Gilligan.  Strategic Marketing Management. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann, 2005. Print.

How to Register for the ACT as a Homeschooled Student

How to Register for the ACT as a Homeschooled Student SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips How do homeschooled students register for the ACT, and what is the ACT homeschool code? What important considerations should you keep in mind? Find out here. How to Register as a Home Schooled Student If you are a home schooled student, you register for the ACT the same as everyone else, either by paper or online. The only thing that will be different will be when you fill in your ACT high school code. For home schoolers in the United States, it is a universal number: 969-999 Generally, everything else will be the same, though there is a procedure to follow in case you have problems finding an acceptable ID. I bring this up in particular because most students can use their school photo ID, but as a home schooled student that won’t be an option for you. On test day, you are required to bring an acceptable photo ID and your printed ACT admission or standby ticket with your photo printed on it. If you don’t have acceptable identification If you do not have an acceptable photo ID then there are options you can take. An acceptable photo ID means anything government or school issued that contains a recent photo of you. If the photo isn’t recent, then it is not acceptable. For example, if you use your passport and your photo is from when you were 10, then it’s possible that your ID will be rejected and you will not be able to sit for the test. A school ID that is printed from a webpage rather than a hard plastic card will likewise be unacceptable. If this is the case, then you MUST bring the ACT Student Identification Letter with a current photo attached. It needs tobe filled out by a school official or notary public. Make sure they'renot related to you or the letter will be disqualified. Download theACT Student Identification Letter Here. ACT Talent Search Identification Letter If you are part of an academic talent search program and didn’t have to submit a photo with your registration you need to bring your ACT Talent Search Identification Letter on test day. If you are part of an academic talent search program and had to submit a photo when you registered, you need to bring a current official photo ID or an ACT Student Identification Letter with Photo. What are the advantages of taking the ACT for home schoolers? The ACT test validates your schooling to colleges, especially if you do better than average. It shows them that you know as much as any private or public school student who scored in that range. Moreover, if you score above average for your area, it sets you apart and shows colleges that you might be a good candidate. It helps you find out how truly prepared you are for college because of the basic concepts tested by the ACT. They test basic math, reading, writing, and science knowledge that will be relevant for completing high school. How well you do may indicate how well you have grasped the basics that you were taught in your equivalent high school years. It can give you some confidence in your academic strengths if you feel unprepared for college as a home schooler. Know that as a home schooler, you will likely do better on the ACT than the average of your local public high school students. When you get your results back, you’ll believe it. It prepares you for taking long exams in college and gives you a taste of high pressure testing. College exams are no easy thing, and becoming familiar with how to take long and challenging exams is an important skill to acquire. What's Next? Take a look at How to sign up for the ACT if you need a guide for the registration process. Check outCelebrity ACT Scores for some quirky facts or How to Get a Perfect ACT Score by a 36 Full Scorer for some more serious advice! Need to know how many times you can take the ACT? We've got you covered! Or check out our Full List of Colleges that Require ACT Writingor find out What's Actualy Tested on the ACT Math section! Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically. Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Anna Aldric About the Author Anna graduated from MIT where she honed her research interests in Earth Science and Social/Political Science. She has years of tutoring experience, loves watching students learn and grow, and strongly believes that education is the cornerstone of our society. She is passionate about science, books, and non-profit work. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Get FREE EXCLUSIVE insider tips on how to ACE THE SAT/ACT. 100% Privacy. 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Leasing and Buying Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Leasing and Buying - Essay Example This incident Mr. Walton couldn't forget till his grave. It also pictures the dilemma in everybody's mind when it comes to taking a place on rent. So, why would anybody rent Definitely, it feels great to own something. Unless you own something, you can't be happy having it because you always fear that it could be taken away. Every man dreams of owning the world. But, how much can you own and can you handle the hassle of owning everything. Sometimes you have to have a logical thought about what is more important - owning things or just being able to use them. Let us analyze from the point of view of a small business what is good for them. All new small businesses generally start from a relatively even smaller scale. Until the business is not set, the risk factor associated with it is high. So, initially the focus is on keeping investments in the business to what ever is essential only. The owner has to keep a backdoor for himself so that in case things don't work out fine, he has a way of exiting with minimum losses. Because, when the time comes to "Establish the liquidation value of your assets" (Cavanaugh, step 4) you rarely get a fair price. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, "Generally this amount is at least 20% less than its retail value." Also, initially most of the liquidity is sucked up by the core activities of the business. As such, even if the owner of the business wants to own his premise, he cannot afford it. He is forced to rent. So, as long as the location of the business is not all that important (like in the case of small factories or offices) it makes more sense to rent, since even if they have to relocate, it's not very difficult and it doesn't affect their customers much. According to Dratch "Taking your company from Point A to Point B may seem at first to be a simple matter of "get up and go," but if you plan ahead, you will get it done without too much trouble." (Dratch, par. 1) But as the business grows old (as in the case of most mom and pop businesses), it becomes more stable. Or even initially, if the location of the business is very important, like in the case of a small shop, re-location becomes a hassle. So, it makes sense to buy your own property instead of paying rent. If you own your space, it also gives a sense of belonging. You know that it is yours and no one is going to ask you to leave from there. You take more efforts in planning it, furnishing it, decorating it and incase you need to change anything, like even pulling down a wall to make more room, it's totally upon you. It gives both, mental as well as physical stability. Large Businesses: Large businesses have their own way of doing things. Being usually tied down with their bureaucratic inertia, they have to fix their policy once and once fixed, they have to follow it. Either they buy the space or they rent it. They usually do not prefer to rent in the beginning and buy later. They usually will just follow their policy. The concerns of big companies are not very different when it comes to premises. Usually big industries and corporations will prefer to own their premises. This is because relocating a big industry is not easy. Finding a similar huge place, with all the necessary approvals and facilities is most difficult. Since most of the equipment or machinery is tailor made and huge, it's impossible to relocate. And even if they try, the cost is exorbitant and the

The Plan for a Major Event Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

The Plan for a Major Event - Essay Example The event such as a short circuit or harm t the operator shock can take place, hence necessary guidelines in accordance with Labor Laws and Safety Policies will be adhered to. 2. Fire Safety – A likely fire hazard can occur due to any mishap in or outside the venue. Hence, as prescribed by Safety Regulations, besides the proper lighting of EXIT signs, there will be also fired extinguishers and directions to operate fire alarm incase of any mishap. A Questionnaire is designed to gather information about services and experiences in our case, the feedback provided by the delegates will enable Business Inc. Pty Ltd. to ensure that the quality of services are maintained and the suggestions and remarks will enable us to better future experiences and ensure that incase any discrepancies have been met with, the same does not arise in the future. 1. Front Office – Upon greeting the delegates and customers with a pleasing smile and available round the clock to assist in problems and special requests providing information ensures that the delegates are comfortable. 3. Food and Beverage – The Food and Beverage (F&B) Department ensures that your event is turned into an extravaganza. The F&B department is responsible in planning and executing all your food and beverage requirements, from tailoring menus to implementing catering ideas, maintaining hygiene according to International Standards and providing top notch service with a pleasing attitude to the guests. 4.Maintenance – Takes care of all your requirements like making sure the air-conditioning is functioning properly, provides assistance in case any electrical appliances like Projectors etc. need to be attached. Â  

Importance of English in Pakistan Essay Example for Free

Importance of English in Pakistan Essay As time is passing, the language of the English men and Americans seems to grow in significance. English is becoming the most common form of communication in the world and most of the countries in the world have their academic curriculum being taught in English. It is time for Pakistan to also make a shift from the Urdu medium system of education to the English system because its the need of the hour. Since independence, Urdu was promoted to become the language to be used in all factions of the country. However as time passed people started realizing that international standards required them to learn a language which is understood by majority of the world. The people of Pakistan realized that for their country to develop they need to know how to communicate in English or they will be lost in the competing forces of the world. The British education system was introduced after few years of independence. People started shifting from the local Urdu medium education to the British education system. However the transition took a lot of time as private school sector was very small in the beginning. Only the elite could educate their children with the British education system as it was very expensive. However when the trend of private schools began to emerge, students from a British educational background were preferred for jobs all over the country. The government of Pakistan realized the growing importance of English and then made English as a compulsory language to be taught in all schools. English continues to be the source of communication in both the private and government offices. In this era of globalization with increasing amounts of international trade one needs to know how to communicate in English. People in Pakistan are in continuous contact with international traders and all of them have to communicate in English. The various business software used in organizations such as Multinational Companies and Banks are all in English and one needs to be totally familiar with the language to operate them. There are various critics who believe that English is harmful for the country. They argue that our culture and our traditions require Urdu to be the language for all purposes. They say that by adopting English we are going to forget our culture and lose our identity as English is not what defines us. The trend of communicating in English has grown to the extent that the elite of the country use English as the medium to communicate with their friends and family in daily life. The younger generation feels inferior if they can not communicate in English properly. Many of the young children have a stronger grip of English than Urdu. Majority of the population in the country now prefers the British education system and public schools are only filled by people of the lower income class who could not afford private education. No doubt learning English is very important for the people of Pakistan but they should not forget that it is not the language which defines them or their culture. English should be used as a medium of education but the value of the mother language Urdu should not be undermined.

Physician-Assisted Suicide Essay - I Want to Die -- Euthanasia Physici

Death and dying are a natural part of our lives. Not a day goes by that we do not take the chance of being run over by a car while running, being stabbed in a robbery, or being poisoned by bacteria in our food. In all of these cases, we have very little choice in deciding our fate. But what about those cases when we can do something to affect the dying process? What if we can decide whether we wish to live or die? For most of us, that is still uncharted territory, and just the thought of it chills us to the bone. Euthanasia is one such opportunity where a person can affect the dying process. It is not, as many people believe, a case of a physician killing a patient, but instead, a case where a patient who is facing a prolonged, painful, and, finally, terminal illness can make a conscious and reasoned choice to end his or her suffering early and in a dignified manner. It is the purpose of this paper to prove to you that euthanasia in the form of physician-assisted suicide (PAS) should be legalized. That a person facing a terminal illness should have the opportunity, and the right, to choose to die in a dignified manner when faced with a prolonged and terminal illness. That a physician should not be restrained in committing an act which might be in the best interest of a patient. And that if legalized, it would be possible to protect the patient's interests through regulation, and in effect, make euthanasia a perfectly safe choice for a patient. One of the reasons that the idea of euthanasia antagonizes people is that the mere thought of the word brings to mind pictures of WWII Nazi atrocities. There is a big difference, however, between what Nazi Germany considered euthanasia, and what proponents today con... ...however, we do not address these issues soon and attempt to solve them collectively, there will be a greater chance of something going wrong . Works Cited A Model State Act to Authorize and Regulate Physician-Assisted Suicide. http://www.efn.org/~ergo/mdlact.shtml 2 June 2007. Alcorn, Gay. "First Assisted Suicide Under Euthanasia Law." Sydney Morning Herald. 26 Sep. 1996. 2 June 2007. Helme, Tim. Proposals for a Euthanasia Procedure. http://www.islandnet.com/~deathnet/ergo.htm 28 Apr. 2007. Hoefler, James M. Deathright: Culture, Medicine, Politics, and Their Right to Die. With Brian E. Kamoie. U.S.: Westview, 2004. Misbin, Robert I., et al. "Physician Responsibility for Euthanasia." Euthanasia: The Good of the Patient, the Good of Society. Frederick: University Publishing Group, 2002.

Air Jordan Essay

Air Jordan is a brand of shoes and athletic clothing designed, owned, and produced by Michael Jordan for Nike’s Jordan Brand subsidiary. The shoes, informally referred to in the plural as Air Jordan’s or simply J’s, were first released for public consumption in 1985 after Michael Jordan wore them in 1984 as a rookie; thereafter, new designs were released annually. Since its introduction into the sports shoe market, the Air Jordan evolved to the original basketball shoes to models for different uses, including I-XXIII). Air Jordan currently sponsors 19 active NBA players, including Chris Paul, Ray Allen, and Carmelo Anthony. They also endorse Nike Air Jordan products. Air Jordan 1 Air Jordan I, first Nike sneakers for Michael Jordan.  The Air Jordan 1 was designed by Peter Moore. The Air Jordan 1 was first released in 1985, in a red and black colorway to match the uniform of the Chicago Bulls, the team for which Michael Jordan played. This red and black color-way was later outlawed by NBA Commissioner David Stern for not having any white on them. Michael Jordan would wear the shoes anyway, and each time he stepped on the court with the Air Jordan 1 he would be fined five thousand dollars. Air Jordan 2 The success of the Air Jordan 1 encouraged Nike to release the New Air Jordan in 1986 for the new basketball season. Designed by Peter Moore and Bruce Kilgore, the original Air Jordan II was unique in that it was made in Italy giving the shoe a luxury feel. The Air Jordan II was originally retailed at $64.99. Air Jordan 3 The Air Jordan III was designed by Tinker Hatfield. By that time Michael Jordan was ready to leave Nike, but the Jordan III changed his mind. It was the first Air Jordan to feature a visible air unit on the heel, the new Jumpman logo, an elephant print trim and tumble leather to give it a luxury look. The Air Jordan III was also famous for the humorous ads depicting Spike Lee as Mars Blackmon, the character he played in his film ‘She’s Gotta Have It’. This campaign was known as the â€Å"Mars and Mike† ad campaign, which was one of Nike’s most successful advertisement campaigns. Air Jordan 4 In 1989 The Jordan IV shoe was released into the public, designed by Tinker  Hatfield. It was the first Jordan shoe released on the global market. Spike Lee, the director and actor helped in the ads for Jordan IV. Spike Lee had featured the Air Jordan IV in his movie Do The Right Thing. The Air Jordan Bordeaux â€Å"Spiz’ike IV† were specifically made for Spike Lee in order to pay respect for advertising the Jordan Cement 4’s. Air Jordan 5 The Air Jordan V was released on February 1990, designed by Tinker Hatfield again. Some elements were carried over from the Air Jordan IV, but overall they were a completely new look. Some of its new features were a reflective tongue, translucent rubber soles and lace locks. Hatfield is believed to have drawn inspiration for the Air Jordan V from World War II fighter planes, which was most notably visible in the shark teeth shapes on the midsole. Air Jordan 6 The Air Jordan VI had a new design by Tinker Hatfield and released in 1991. Later that year the Bulls defeated the Lakers in the 1991 NBA Finals, with Jordan named as the most valuable player. That was also the first NBA Championship won by Jordan and the Bulls. The Jordan VI was also seen in the film White Men Can’t Jump, which was produced in 1991 and released one year later. Air Jordan 7 Air Jordan VII sneakers specially released for 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The Air Jordan VII was released in 1992 with a new design by Tinker Hatfield. This shoe introduced the huarache technology which allowed the shoes to better conform to the user’s foot. A few things were no longer featured on the new model, such as the visible air sole, the Nike Air logo, and the yellowing soles. This was the first Air-Jordan in the line that did not have any distinctive â€Å"Nike Air† on the outer portions of the shoe. When Jordan went to compete at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics to play for the US Men’s Basketball Team (also known as the â€Å"Dream Team†), Nike released a special Olympic color combo of the Air Jordan VII model which had Jordan’s Olympic jersey number, 9 even though most of the jordans that were made, especially the Air Jordan VII had a â€Å"23† on the back. Air Jordan 8 The Air Jordan VIII was released to coincide with the 1992–1993 NBA season.  The eighth model of the Air Jordan was noticeably heavier than its predecessors. This shoe had a lot more detail than most of the earlier Air Jordan’s such as two crossover straps on each shoe and a Jumpman. Thus the Air Jordan VIII model became known as the â€Å"Punisher† because of the advanced basketball ankle support and enhanced traction. This shoe contains a full length air sole, polyurethane midsole, polycarbonate shank plate, and two crossover straps (for added support and more custom fit). Air Jordan 9 Originally released in November 1993, the Air Jordan IX model was the first model released after Michael Jordan’s retirement. Jordan never played a full season of NBA Basketball wearing these shoes. This model was inspired by baseball cleats that Jordan wore when playing minor-league baseball. Air Jordan 10 This was released in 1995, It was the first Air Jordan to feature a lightweight phylon midsole. The shoe also featured all of Michael Jordan’s accomplishments on the outsole of the shoe. Air Jordan 11 This model was designed by Tinker Hatfield. When the shoe launched, Michael Jordan (retired from basketball by then) was trying in minor baseball leagues. Hatfield designed the sneaker waiting for Jordan to comeback and hoping he would play in them. The ballistic mesh upper of the sneaker was meant to give the Air Jordan XI lighter and more durable than the past sneakers. Further changes came with the use of a carbon fiber spring plate in the clear out sole, giving the shoe better torque when turning on the court. The highlight and arguably most well-known aspect of the shoe is the patent leather mudguard. Patent leather was lightweight, when compared to genuine leather, and also tended not to stretch as much – a property to help keep the foot within the bounds of the shoe bed during direction changes on the court. The patent leather gave the XI a â€Å"formal† look. When this shoe released, some wore this model with business suits instead of dress shoes. Air jordan 12 The Air Jordan XII was inspired by Nisshoki (the Japanese flag), and a 19th-century women dress boot. However, featuring gold-plated steel lace  loops, embossed lizard skin pattern and zoom air, this model set a new direction in style and technology in shoe design. Though not as light weight as previous models, the construction and firmness of the shoe is widely considered to be the most durable and sturdy shoes from the Air Jordan line. Air Jordan 13 in 1997 Air Jordan XIII’s were released into the public . This model was known for its cushioning along the feet, designed by Hatfield. The Black Panther was the inspiration for the Air Jordan XIII, the sole resembles the pads on a panther’s paw. But also the panther is the hologram on the back of the shoe which imitates a panther’s eyes in the dark when light is shined at them. Air Jordan 14 The Air Jordan XIV was originally released from 1998 to 1999. The Air Jordan XIV co-styled by the famous Tinker Hatfield and Mark Smith was made race ready and equipped with the Jordan Jumpman insignia on a Ferrari shaped badge. In addition, these shoes include breathable air ducts on the outer sole. Air Jordan 15 The Air Jordan XVs were released in 1999–2000. Reggie Miller wore it during the 2000 NBA Finals. This was the first shoe after Jordan’s retirement. The design of the XV’s originated from the aircraft prototype X-15, which was developed by NASA during the 1950s. The sides of the XV were made from woven kevlar fibre. Air jordan 16 Air Jordan XVIs, designed by Nike’s Senior Footwear Designer Wilson Smith, were released in 2001. Unique to the Air Jordan XVI was a gaiter/shroud that covered the shoe and could be removed to give the shoe a new look. Not only was this for fashion purposes, it also had a thermal functionality. Air jordan 17 This pair of Jordan’s come equipped with Keefer, which held the shoes and a compact disc containing the Air Jordan XVII song. The retail price of the shoe was US$200. The defining functional design element of the Air Jordan XVII model, which was later replicated on the Air Jordan XXIII model, was  the reinforced mid-sole which provided a sturdy and stable chassis for the shoe. Air jordan 18 The Air Jordan XVIII shoe was released in 2003, and was the shoe for Jordan’s last season, in which he played for the Washington Wizards. The shoe was designed by Air Jordan Senior Footwear Designer, Tate Kuerbis, The inspiration for the design came from a number of things; sleek racing lines of the auto world, carbon fibre-based monocoque of F1 race cars, race car driving shoes (rubber heel wrap) and Fine Italian dress shoes (bold stitching on the soles). Air Jordan 19 Released in 2004, this is the first Jordan release after his third, and final, retirement which came after the 2002–2003 NBA season. The design was inspired by the Black Mamba snake, The Air Jordan XIX used innovative materials. The upper section of shoe was developed in collaboration with the global materials consultancy Material ConneXion, who sourced Nike a sleeving normally used in architectural applications for protecting PVC pipes from bursting. Air Jordan 20 The Air Jordan XX was also inspired by bicycling shoes. The strap was placed in the center of the shoe over the laces. It also helped to create a tighter fit and increased support.

Analysis of “Music and Lyrics” Essay

â€Å"Music and Lyrics† revolved around the relationship that was formed between Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant), former 80s pop star, and Sophia Fisher (Drew Barrymore), Alex’s plant keeper and a copywriter for her family’s weight loss center. More than anything else, Alex was portrayed as a washed-up 80s pop star who had nothing left in his career but a bunch of country fair and amusement park performances definitive of a â€Å"nostalgia circuit† as well as a few high school reunions here and there (Moviefone 2007). He had another chance to becoming somebody in the music industry as pop diva Cora Corman commissioned him to write and record a duet with her (Moviefone 2007). This was under the pretense that he was going to write and compose a hit song for her in just a few days. This posed a problem for him because he had not actually composed anything for years and he found it hard to work with anyone else except for Colin, his former band mate from their group â€Å"Pop. † Colin was the one who got famous out of all the members of â€Å"Pop. † Sophie Fisher enters the scene as Alex’s substitute plant-keeper whom he recognized to have a natural flair for writing witty lyrics. He discovered her fear of committing to write again after a traumatic relationship with former professor and famous novelist Sloan Cates (Moviefone 2007). However, discovering that they had real chemistry writing the songs and off the job, they finally gave themselves the chance at love and success they way they never thought they deserved (Moviefone 2007). Protagonist Conflict They say that a movie is only as good as its story’s problem, because the stronger the conflict, the more chance that would be generated into the energy of the movie’s screenplay (Whitcomb 2002). The moment the conflict appears that would be the time wherein the story has really begun until then that would be parts that are considered setup, background and exposition (Whitcomb 2002). Basically, the â€Å"Conflict is the heart of the story in a very real sense; it’s what keeps it pumping, makes the blood race through its veins, and brings it to life† (Whitcomb 2002, p. 56). External Conflict began upon Alex’s realization that he was really an established has-been, although his reaction to this may be more of an internal conflict, how the world saw him served as an external one. Following the premise above, the story of this movie actually started when he was presented to be part of the show called â€Å"Battle of the Has-Beens. † The format of this show actually presented him in a comical light wherein people get to see the people who were stars before and are not stars anymore, thus the term â€Å"has-been† because they had been stars. If this announcement to world was not embarrassing enough, stars of the past had to battle it out in the boxing ring for another chance to perform before the audience. The show was not only demeaning; it portrays them as pathetic stars that missed the limelight so badly that they had to go through some great lengths of boxing with each other. It symbolized Alex’s stature in the industry, as a washed up pop singer. After such interview with the producers, Alex was faced with other realities such as show cancellation. He was given another realization how society found him replaceable and disposable. He show at Knots berry was cancelled, even as he considered it one of the biggest gigs he had since the fall of his stardom. It was this realization of public’s perception that made Cora Corman, famous but eccentric pop star during that time, and her offer to Alex to compose a song for her an appealing deal. However, with this offer came high stakes because Cora had given Alex merely enough time to compose and to write the lyrics of a song for her in just a couple of days. When the dilemma of writing a song was addressed because of the presence of Sophie, another external conflict broke out as they found out how Cora wanted to do the song. Her treatment of the song was different from the sweet and witty love song Sophie and Alex initially had in mind. It was turned into something erotic and sexual more than being romantic. Sophie was appalled by it because she felt it was a destruction of the creative integrity of their work. During that time, she tried her hardest to fight against succumbing to what Cora wanted to do with the song. Being a first-time lyricist to work in the music industry, she appeared naive enough to put more pressure of Alex about changing the song back to how it was supposed to be. The final external conflict was the pressure for Alex to give in to the new treatment of the song, no matter how, farfetched it was from his original composition, only to have another chance to redeem him in the pop industry. On the other hand, the external conflict for Sophie was with this professor, Sloan Cates. He has been the one who had written about her in his novel and poked fun of everything she felt insecure about. The presence of the novel Sally Michaels has also brought Sophie shame, the same way Alex felt shame as his career also went down the drain. The mere arrogance of Sloan after Sophie and Alex confronted him, caused also much pain and shame for Sophie realizing that she still could not talk up to him after all those time. Internal The news that he was being considered in the â€Å"Battle of Has-beens† was acceptable to Alex in the surface. But upon knowing that instead of performing, he was, asked to go there to box it out for a final song, and then it dawned on him just how low his career has gotten. Although, he would be the first one to admit he was a â€Å"has-been† there were certain areas in the film wherein he would feel the shame of it, like the high school reunion he performed at when he pulled a hip muscle and the time at the carnival wherein he did not want to do his last song anymore before Sophie encouraged him to do so. His battle with accepting his fate as a â€Å"has-been† was one thing, but there was also his fear of composing again and writing lyrics. The breakup of the band â€Å"Pop† for him was more devastating for him than he would than he would let people see. He tried to come up with his own solo album after the band broke up but he struggled to keep his pride after that was a flop. He also struggled internally with what he was going to do about the changes in the song. He wondered if he was going to walk away from the project like Sophie did or was he about to give up Sophie, a woman who had brought inspiration back to his life. Sophie had a lot of internal conflicts as well. She had to be forced to write the lyrics for Alex’s project because of how she struggled with Sloan’s fictional novel that was based on her life. She refused to write for him knowing she was not good enough. She did not acknowledge how she did not feel that way before the incident with Sloan’s novel that actually destroyed a part of who she was. She felt she was not good enough because of how her former professor had treated her, calling her a mimic and someone who without following the styles of her contemporary writers would have no creative genius of her own. She struggled to find her own creative self-worth after that. She also struggled when Cora had a different idea she had in mind about the treatment of â€Å"A Way Back into Love,† the song she and Alex created. She refused to get on with the project if it was like that. However, she felt Alex’s despair of seeing this as his last chance in the industry. She was torn between that and how she was furious about Alex’s inability to stand up for the integrity of their work. She was torn because she had feelings for Alex as well. Moral Component Much of the moral component found in the film laid in the fact that Alex and Sophie struggled to maintain the creative integrity of their work. It showed a â€Å"behind-the-scenes† peak into the pressures of the business. It showcased how a work that is entirely different would make into something erotic and sensual in order to appeal to the public. Sophie was so appalled by this change in the song because the erotic version took away what the song actually stood for. She did not want Alex to make a comeback that did not reflect who he was. She wanted him to make one that actually displayed his sensitive and honest side. Both of them knew that the revised version of the song did nothing of that sort; nevertheless, Alex went ahead with it. Although, there was a falling away that took place between them, in the end, Alex did the right thing of maintaining the song’s original composition. He even got the chance to write a song of his own for Sophie as well. Another component laid in the fact that Alex stood up for Sophie when she could not do so for herself against Sloan. Their experience together had taught them much more than writing a new song but being able to see themselves for the worth that they had as people and as artists. It showed how even if in the past, they had been turned down and their talents did not seem good enough, it should not have defined them as people the way they allowed it to happen. It showed how other people, like music critics or famous novelists, cannot have that much power on them that they are constricted artistically. It is only when they had let go of baggage from the past and used all their pain to fuel their creativity that they were able to complete the song. Mise en Scene Mise-en-scene literally means â€Å"put the scene† in French and was a term used in theater (Kolker 2005). When used in film, it points towards the totality of the composition of the shot (Kolker 2005). It refers to the â€Å"framing, movement of the camera and characters, lighting, set design and general visual environment, even sound as it helps elaborate the composition† (Kolker 2005). It is also the â€Å"articulation of cinematic space† wherein space was used to help tell the story (Kolker 2005). The principle of cutting also falls under mise-en-scene as it determines what goes on in that particular space (Kolker 2005). In the movie â€Å"Music and Lyrics,† the shots followed a basic flow. It flowed from one scene to another. It did not have anything fancy or dramatic. It served as a basic canvas that reserved much of its charms to the actors and own presence on the screen. However, a lot of the shots were similar to music videos as the movie revolved around the music industry of the 80s and the present. The movie opened with a â€Å"Pop† music video that represented the 80s and soon showed a music video Cora Corman was shooting that represented popular music in the 21st century. When it came to framing, there were a few instances wherein they would be held at quite close or tighter shots to focus on the actors. The framing was basic shots to let the actor’s witty banter to shine more than anything else. Everything was kept to a minimal so as not to serve as a distraction as this film was mostly about the comedic script and the charm of the actors. There were also instances wherein the shot began from the television screen that overcomes the whole shot and there was a similar one that had an entire magazine cover of Cora taking up the whole shot. Such were done to establish how the movie had a pop theme and that such symbolisms represented the music industry, through MTV shows and teen magazines. There were also instances wherein they used old techniques like the shot panning from the wall to the actors or the frame actually panned through the fixtures of the apartment like the column inside the apartment. It was reminiscent of the old shots they use for movies that give it the old feel to it. The camera, the lenses, the lighting instruments and other tools are used photographically to create the feel, and to fulfill the vision of how the film should look like (LoBrutto 2002). In this case, the lighting of the film reflected the mood of the characters. There had been instances wherein Alex was not feeling very confident about himself wherein there was less light available on the screen. This can also be attributed to the street scene wherein it was dark outside. However, it was noticed again when he and Sophie were stuck on the lyrics of the song wherein it was also dark. There was also noticeable parts wherein the nice moments Alex had with Sophie were represented by soft bright lights that was reflected the warmth of Sophie’s persona. She always seemed like there was some glow to her every time she was in the scene. The light also played an important factor in terms of marking time. Since they only had a few days to finish the song, it showed how when it was dark again or morning again another day has passed by and they were closer to the deadline. It showed how they stayed up, pulling an all-nighter to finish the song. There were exaggerated lights used in the â€Å"Pop† music video as they way they did it in the 80s. It was in comparison with the more modern lights Cora had in the shooting of her music video. They were also red lights in Cora’s dressing room area that established her eastern inclinations. Cinematic tools do not only include skills in cinematography, sound and production design, it also includes editing (LoBrutto 2002). The editing for this movie was simple using cut-to-cut transitions that are widely used for television and movies to avoid distraction from other kinds of transitions. The production design includes the physical environment of the movie that would be constituted by the sets, the location (LoBrutto 2002). It also includes the costume designs as well as the hair and makeup required for the shot. This film called for a particular set design because of its reference to the music of the 80s. Since Alex was a member of the 80s pop band, â€Å"Pop,† there was a necessity to create the set of a 80s music video. The look was cheesy and over-the-top; they way they used to do it with red backgrounds and checkered black and white ones. Their costumes were also of the way they used to dress that was more on femininity of tuxedos they were wearing. Such outrageous costumes went together with the eye shadow and eyeliners that were descriptive of the style in that music generation. It was held in comparison to the modern style of music videos with Cora’s video. It showed more skin and the sex appeal was different as it was more erotic than the bubblegum love songs the â€Å"Pop† band had. Not that the context of Cora’s songs were deeper, they just presented pop in a more sexual manner. There were already dancers that backed her up and much use of the smoke machine. The other sets included Alex’s apartment that played a part in the story as Sophie wanted to move around the furniture in her hopes to get lyrics out of it. The major pieces of furniture that was important in telling the stories were the grand piano, the large couch chair and the plants that Sophie was drowning. A notable set that was created for this movie was the enormous Buddha on the stage designed for Cora’s concert. It was such an incredulous set that intentionally desperately tried to incorporate Cora’s Buddhist influence with her music even if it was not so relevant. Sound was a very important factor to this film because a large percentage of it was about musical performances. Most of the sound design for this film relied on staying true to the 80s theme with the songs that were used for this film like Pop Goes my Heart and the songs that it was contrasted to with Cora’s sensual songs like Welcome to Booty town. Another area of sound was the piano Alex played as he tried to compose the song. It also included his jiving â€Å"jeopardy† tune that he used to pressure Sophie finish the songs. Part of the greatest charms of the movie, was the part wherein Alex and Sophie recorded the demo for Cora in Alex’s own mini-studio in his apartment. Narrative The personalities of the characters were essential in the narrative of the movie. Alex was dryly straightforward yet witty. Sophie talked too much and was paranoid yet naive at the same time. The other characters like Rhonda, Sophie’s sister was the strong one in her household but she was also an Alex-fanatic. Ray, Alex’s manager, was ever supportive of him. Cora was an epitome of a pop icon of today’s time; beautiful, eccentric and sensual. Each of the characters represented something the moviegoers could relate and empathize with (Tan 1996). Their little flaws and quirks were what made them charming because the viewers can see a part of themselves or somebody else in them. It makes them relatable to the audience (Tan 1996). The viewers were drawn because of Sophie and Alex exchanged their witty banters and has come to the point of liking each other despite their own oddities. Audience could find the narrative relatable because it spoke of a generation that most of them have undergone or are in. Most of it involved, a generated of music videos. Even if, most were not former pop stars, interests were still aroused because of their interest in the music industry and social cognition of what was going on with the movie with what they know happen in reality (Tan 1996). Most of all, the narrative worked because of the presence of music. Something most people can relate to and most people are interested in. There was an excellent metaphor that the actors have used in terms of using music and lyrics in reference to relationships. It also serves as a theme for the movie itself. When Alex referred said it was just lyrics. Sophie argued that lyrics were important as well. She referred to melody as meeting someone for the first time and the physical attraction that came with it; it was related to sex in a relationship. On the other hand, once the couples get to know each other that turn into the lyrics wherein their story actually unfolds and reveals who they were. The combination of sex and the knowledge of each other was what make the relationship magical. Lyrics A Way Back into Love was the song Cora wanted Alex to compose. Listening to the lyrics actually summarizes much of the emotions and the thoughts that went on between Alex and Sophie, as well as the things each of them had been through in the past. The â€Å"cloud above my bed† symbolized how long they prevented themselves from moving on because of the fear they had due to past rejections. The following verses reflected exactly that saying â€Å"I’ve been lonely for so long, trapped in the past, I just can’t seem to move on! † It can be just a love song about past heartbreaks but it reflected the struggles Alex and Sophie had in the past about their careers. It also showed that the â€Å"someone to shed some light† was the person they found in each other. The chorus and other verses about dreams being kept in a box reflected their hope to find the joy that they had lost in the past. The song Alex composed by himself had similar charms to A Way Back into Love, he sang Don’t Write Me Off at Cora’s concert. It basically spilled everything he felt about his life saying â€Å"I’m happy to live my so-called fallen glories† and how he felt about Sophie with charismatic antics like â€Å"it’s not just my furniture you’ve rearranged† and â€Å"now I need you despite the fact that you’ve killed all my plants. † References Kolker, R. (2005). Film, form and culture. United States: McGraw-Hill. Also retrieved on November 29, 2007, from http://userpages. umbc. edu/~landon/Local_Information_Files/Mise-en-Scene. htm. LoBrutto, V. (2002). The filmmaker’s guide to production design. New York: Allworth Press. â€Å"Music and lyrics. † (2007) Moviefone. Retrieved on November 29, 2007 from http://movies. aol. com/movie/music-and-lyrics/25137/synopsis. Tan, E. (1996). Emotion and the structure of narrative film: Film as an emotion machine. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Whitcomb, C. (2002). The writer’s guide to writing your screenplay: How to write great screenplays for movies and television. Canada: Kalmbach Publishing Co.

Free Essays on My Lai

were, or the amazing story behind them. I first heard about the massacre at My Lai in my sociology class at the beginning of this semester. As she was telling us this story, I could feel all of these emotions begin to rise up in me. Feelings of compassion, anger, sadness, and confusion were all present at the same time. I did all I could to hold back the tears. Sadly, whether it is due to my apathetic ways or my previous educational experiences, I have to admit that I do not know very much about Vietnam. But after hearing the story, I felt more than motivated to learn as much as I could about Vietnam, and especially about the village of My Lai. William Calley was a 24 year old platoon leader for the Charlie Company, which was commanded by 33 year old Ernest Medina. Calley was not exactly thought to be officer material. He had a lack of respect for the indigenous population and knowingly allowed misconduct amongst his soldiers. On March 14, 1968 a popular sergeant was killed by a booby trap, and several other soldiers were wounded. After the funeral, the Charlie Company had revenge on their minds. Captain Medina informed his soldiers that the Viet Cong’s 48th Battalion was residing in a small village called My Lai. He told them that their mission was to engage in battle with the 48th battalion and to destroy the village of My Lai. The small village of My Lai inhabited about 700 residents. Their houses consisted of red brick homes or thatch covered huts. In the middle of the village, there was an open plaza area used for holding meetings. It consisted of women, men, children, and elderly- the average for any community. On March 16th, at 7:22 a.m. nine helicopters lifted off towards My Lai. By 8:00 a.m., Calley’s ... Free Essays on My Lai Free Essays on My Lai The Massacre at My Lai Two months ago, if someone had said the words My Lai to me, I probably would have looked at them unresponsively and thought nothing else about it. At the time, I didn’t know what those words were, or the amazing story behind them. I first heard about the massacre at My Lai in my sociology class at the beginning of this semester. As she was telling us this story, I could feel all of these emotions begin to rise up in me. Feelings of compassion, anger, sadness, and confusion were all present at the same time. I did all I could to hold back the tears. Sadly, whether it is due to my apathetic ways or my previous educational experiences, I have to admit that I do not know very much about Vietnam. But after hearing the story, I felt more than motivated to learn as much as I could about Vietnam, and especially about the village of My Lai. William Calley was a 24 year old platoon leader for the Charlie Company, which was commanded by 33 year old Ernest Medina. Calley was not exactly thought to be officer material. He had a lack of respect for the indigenous population and knowingly allowed misconduct amongst his soldiers. On March 14, 1968 a popular sergeant was killed by a booby trap, and several other soldiers were wounded. After the funeral, the Charlie Company had revenge on their minds. Captain Medina informed his soldiers that the Viet Cong’s 48th Battalion was residing in a small village called My Lai. He told them that their mission was to engage in battle with the 48th battalion and to destroy the village of My Lai. The small village of My Lai inhabited about 700 residents. Their houses consisted of red brick homes or thatch covered huts. In the middle of the village, there was an open plaza area used for holding meetings. It consisted of women, men, children, and elderly- the average for any community. On March 16th, at 7:22 a.m. nine helicopters lifted off towards My Lai. By 8:00 a.m., Calley’s ...

Learn How to Conjugate Saisir (to Seize) in French

Learn How to Conjugate Saisir (to Seize) in French A regular French verb,  saisir  means to seize. Its a relatively easy verb to conjugate and this lesson will show you how to say things such as she seized in the past tense and we are seizing in the present tense. The Basic Conjugations of  Saisir Many French students fear verb conjugations because there are so many words to remember. While these can be a challenge, a verb like  saisir  is just a little easier because it  is a  regular -ir verb. This means you can apply the same endings you learned with similar verbs to this one. The first step in any conjugation is to identify the verb stem. For  saisir, that is  sais-. With that, you can find the appropriate endings to apply using the indicative mood chart. Simply find the subject pronoun you need, then match that to either the present, future, or imperfect past tense. Youll get results such as  je saisis  (I am seizing) and  nous saisirons  (we will seize). Present Future Imperfect je saisis saisirai saisissais tu saisis saisiras saisissais il saisit saisira saisissait nous saisissons saisirons saisissions vous saisissez saisirez saisissiez ils saisissent saisiront saisissaient The Present Participle of  Saisir As a regular -ir  verb, youll add  -issant  to the verb stem of  saisir  to form the  present participle. This produces the word  saisissant. Saisir  in the Compound Past Tense You will use  saisirs  past participle  saisi to form the compound past tense. In French, this is known as  passà © composà ©.  The only other requirement is a present tense conjugate of the auxiliary verb  avoir. For example, I seized is  jai saisi  and we seized is  nous avons saisi. More Simple Conjugations of  Saisir Should you have doubts about something being seized, you can use  the subjunctive  forms of  saisir.  The conditional, on the other hand, is used in an if...then sentence. You should only encounter  the passà © simple  and  the imperfect subjunctive  in written French as these are literary tenses. Subjunctive Conditional Pass Simple Imperfect Subjunctive je saisisse saisirais saisis saisisse tu saisisses saisirais saisis saisisses il saisisse saisirait saisit saist nous saisissions saisirions saismes saisissions vous saisissiez saisiriez saistes saisissiez ils saisissent saisiraient saisirent saisissent The imperative  is used most often in exclamations and short, direct statements. This is the one time when the subject pronoun is not required, so you can shorten  tu saisis  to  saisis. Imperative (tu) saisis (nous) saisissons (vous) saisissez

ICT and SEN Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

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Boots Plc and Sainsbury Plc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

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