A letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A letter - Essay Example I have put up with it, but now, I am finally torn apart for being in Japan and working in AirAsia Narita. For such mental stress, I am feeling regretful for my own decision to go back to Japan, and I cannot cope with my current workplace (AirAsia Japan). Some time ago, I took a leave of absence as I suffered from severe headache that I often missed work. It is painful for me to work in AirAsia Japan. After that, I saw a doctor several times and the symptoms disappeared after an adequate rest; however, the doctor said that it is physical and mental anxiety that is affecting me. He said that it is all right for me to return to work, but it is necessary to distance myself from my mother and return to AirAsia X in order to work in mentally stable conditions. As soon as I heard that my mother was mentally ill, I just lost it and decided to transfer to AirAsia Japan for her. However, the consequence was not desirable as I mentioned. Even my doctor recommended returning to AirAsia X. It would definitely be a pleasure for me to return, but I am very sorry for asking this favor for I, myself asked you to send me to Japan in the past. I do realize how selfish it is for me to request to be transferred back to AirAsia X since I do not know if my previous visa and working permit are still valid, but with your permission. I really hope to return to AirAsia X again as per doctor’s recommendation. If you provide me with a chance to work for AirAsia X again, I am willing to shoulder all the costs for the transfer (travel expense, etc.). Furthermore, I would like to assure you that any circumstances such as this would not happen again because my father can constantly be with my mother

Information system Blog Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Information system Blog - Essay Example Even though testing and more so the software testing is taken as a difficult profession, I would absolutely cherish the idea of working within its aegis so that my success could be guaranteed with the advent of time. This will make me stand in a league of my own and contribute to my growth and development within the related fields. All over the world, the software testing measures are conducted to find out the software bugs and then to rectify the errors that plague the system in essence. The intention is to bring correction within the software so that the stakeholders do not encounter any mistakes, errors or issues of little or big significance. The software testing regimes have been employed because the software have continued to increase far and wide, both in terms of complexity as well as size. It must be remembered here that quality products do bring up return customers while buggy products mean more disgruntled ones, who would not return at all. Also software testing is done so that the security measures of the software are determined beforehand that it reaches the market and sells massively to the end users. The need is to bring correctness within the related realms and this can only be made sure through rigorous software testing and adherence to the industry standards which are in place. Also test runs would be done to assure of quality and nothing apart from the very same. If I am given the role under a software testing dimension or a mechanism, I would have chosen the position of a Test Manager because he is one individual upon whom the test results have come through after strict testing measures. The Test Analyst has already made his point clear through his testing domains and now is the time to move forward with the management of this software testing which has been carried out. It is correct that software tester is indeed the person who tests at the

The Failure Of Unamid In Darfur Politics Essay

The Failure Of Unamid In Darfur Politics Essay Darfur has been called the worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st century. Since the Rwandan genocide in 1994, the world has not seen such a campaign of killing, refugees, rape and destruction. The crisis caused the death of 300  000 people and over 2.5 million displaced Sudanese since February 2003. This crisis attracted the attention of many humanitarian and human rights organizations, various states policy makers, and a number of regional and international organizations such as the African Union, the United Nations and the International Criminal Court. In 2004, the African Union established the Darfur Integrated Taskforce (DITF). In 2007, the continuing hazardous situation required the creation of a joined AU-UN operation to intervene in Darfur, which was called United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). After three years of functioning of the UNAMID, the situation in Darfur still depicts a lot of human suffering and deprivation  [3]  . This suggests that the UNAMID was not effective in dealing with the crisis. To understand this, the paper will investigate the reasons behind the missions failure in achieving its objectives and goals. Hence, the study will try to answer the following question: why did UNAMID fail in Darfur? In other words, what are the reasons behind UNAMIDs ineffectiveness in Darfur? In fact, there are various reasons that can be investigated ranging from domestic to international, organizational to financial ones. However, given the limited time and knowledge, we will focus on two major reasons that we think created obstacles to the missions success. Thus, the hypothesis that we are willing to test is that UNAMID was not effective in Darfur because the Khartoum government didnt cooperate and the mission lacked resources. Before answering the question and testing the hypothesis, it is important to understand the conflict and its roots. For this purpose, we are going to divide the paper into three major parts. The first one will deal with defining the concepts, literature review and the theoretical framework. The second part will focus of the conflict. That is to say, it will give a background of the Darfurian situation before and after the 2003 conflict, explaining the origins of this latter and its key actors. The last part will deal with the UNAMID intervention. It will give an overview of the creation of the mission, an assessment of its work, and then a brief analysis of the causes of its ineffectiveness. Theoretical Framework Concepts Before analyzing UN peacekeeping operation (PKO) Darfur, we should first define the concept of peacekeeping and understand its role in order to be able to reflect on the UNAMID mission and its success or failure. Peacekeeping, as defined by the Cambridge dictionary, is the activity of preventing war and violence, especially the use of armed forces not involved in a disagreement to prevent fighting in an area. This definition is broad, and it does not specify the conditions under which the intervention can occur, nor the procedures that should be taken before that. For this purpose, we will take the definition of the UN and which defines peacekeeping as the deployment of international military and civilian personnel to a conflict area with the consent of the parties to the conflict in order to: stop or contain hostilities or supervise the carrying out of a peace agreement  [4]  . This definition adds two important points: the first one is that the interveners are international act ors, both military and civilians; and the second point stresses the agreement of the parties involved. It also exposes the role of these operations. This latter was further clarified by the International Peace Academy. It stated that the roles of the PKO are: the prevention, containment, moderation and termination of hostilities between and within states, through the medium of a peaceful third party intervention, using a multinational force of soldiers, police and civilians to restore and maintain peace. Hence, the developments in the practices and operations of peacekeeping resulted to the emergence of a set of concepts and terms that describe the different natures of the operations and tasks they undertake.  That is to say, peacekeeping has become a general concept which requires details of the selected sub-show style of operation that is intended in each particular case. These sub-divisions are defined in Boutous Ghalis Agenda for Peace. In this latter, he mentioned three conce pts: peacemaking, peace-keeping, and preventive diplomacy. The first one is defined as an action to prevent disputes from arising between parties, to prevent existing disputes from escalating into conflicts and to limit the spread of the latter when they occur, the second one as an action to bring hostile parties to agreement, essentially through such peaceful means as those foreseen in Chapter VI of the Charter of the United Nations, and the third as a technique that expands the possibilities for both the prevention of conflict and the making of peace. It is noted that some operations may combine the properties of more than one type of peacekeeping operation. That is to say, the mission may begin according to one of the patterns but the developments on the ground may drive it to shift to another type of operation.  It is further noted that the different sub-divisions of the peacekeeping operations run in parallel, meaning that they did not cancel each other since the world is still witnessing all of these processes in different parts of it, depending on the situation and the circumstances that require one operation over the others. Literature review During the Cold War, the United Nations Charter put an integrated system for collective security. Theoretically, the system has the necessary components to ensure its effectiveness, which are general principles and rules agreed on and shared, namely: a device responsible for making sure the states respect these principles, and giving it the resources and capabilities so that it can do  the task of deterrence or punishment for states that cross the limits agreed upon.  However, the implementation of this system was conditioned by the acceptance of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, which was impossible to achieve in most cases under the conditions of the cold war  [5]  . This created an obstacle for the implementation of the collective security system. In this case of polarization, the UN tried to find alternative mechanisms to deal with events of international violence and conflicts that arise in different areas throughout the world.  One of these mechanisms is the creation of peacekeeping operations. The creation of this latter was justified by the need to adopt methods designed to stop or contain conflicts that have turned into armed conflicts  [6]  . Besides, the PKOs would serve to deepen the gap that emerged between the arrangements set out in the Charter concerning reaching a peaceful settlement of disputes and contained in articles 28-33 (which gave the Security Council the main role in assisting States to resolve problems among themselves)  [7]  as well as the arrangements set out in articles 39   51 (under which the UN Security Council has the right to use force to impose peace)  [8]  on the one hand, and the possibilities for the actual implementation of these arrangements on the other hand. Thus, the UN interventions rose from only 14 between 1947 and 1987, to 32 between 1988 and 1997  [9]  . Particularly, UN intervention in Africa in extensive regarding the number of peacekeeping operations which are 27 in Africa compared to 39 in the rest of the world  [10]  . This can be explained by the various wars that occurred and occur in Africa, both inter and intra-states conflicts that differ in this severity, and that range from the dispute over land like the case of Benin, to the ethnic cleansing and genocide such as Rwanda. In 2003, the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) was created. Its goals are as follows: enhance international support for Africas development and security through its advocacy and analytical work,  assist the Secretary General in improving coherence and coordination of the UN system support to Africa, andfacilitate inter-governmental deliberations on Africa at the global level, in particular relating to the New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD)  [11]  . Moreover, the outcomes of the UN intervention in Africa are different, depending on the situation and the circumstances. Some of them manage to achieve the missions goals and hence are successful, others fail to implement the goals or part of them. Rhazaoui illustrates this idea by giving examples. He said: while Somalia and Rwanda illustrated the limitations of indecisive action by the Security Council, UN intervention in Mozambique succeeded in consolidating peace and mobilising adequate resources for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of that war-torn country  [12]  . Thus, UN is heavily interested in stabilizing and developing the African countries through various missions which have different goals depending on the situations. Nevertheless, these operations are not always successful due to a range of reasons related either to the state cooperation, or to the UNs organization and resources, and sometimes both. Conflict Theory The crisis in Darfur is a multidimensional conflict that can be explained in various ways be it ethnic, religious, ecologicalà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ In order to understand the crisis, we will use conflict theory as a theoretical framework. This theory analyses conflicts economically. That is to say, the causes of conflicts, according to this theory, are the desire to redistribute scare sources, to in act incompatible roles, or to pursue incompatible value  [13]  . Society is composed of groups that are unequal in terms of wealth, distribution of resources and power, and hence, the disadvantaged struggle to ensure a kind of equality and defend their interests. So, using conflict theory as a theoretical framework, we will analyze the economic causes of conflict in Darfur both within the region (between the Darfurian tribes) and between the region and the government. Understanding the Crisis of Darfur Sudan, in northeast Africa, is the largest country in the continent measuring about one fourth the size of the USA. It neighbors nine countries (see map1 in appendix). Sudan is an authoritarian Republic because all power is in the hands of President Umar El-Bashir who has controlled government since military led coup in 1989. Sudan is a very fragmented nation with 400 languages and dialects and 600 cultural and ethnic groups  [14]  . Pre-conflict Situation The Darfur region is located in the western part of Sudan (see map2 in appendix). It is roughly the size of Texas  [15]  and has a pre-conflict population of approximately 6 million. It borders Libya, Chad and the Central African Republic. Darfur is known throughout history, as an independent state. It was colonized 18years after Sudan  [16]  . It has an ethnic, economic and political situation different from that of the north or the south in Sudan. The Arabic word Dar roughly means homeland and the population of Darfur is divided into several Dars, not only the Fur as its name suggests, but also in several other communities (see map3 in Appendix) determined by livelihood as much as ethnicity. However, this latter is not itself clear-cut, given the long history of racial mixing between indigenous non-Arab peoples and Arabs, who are now distinguished by cultural-linguistic attachment rather than race  [17]  . The Fur are peasant people and they occupy the central part of the region which is the richest and most stable area  [18]  in terms of land fertility and water resources. Also in its central zone are the non-Arab Masalit, Berti and Bergid peoples who are all sedentary farmers. The northern zone is Dar Zaghawa which is inherited by camel nomads, principally the Zaghawa who are non-Arab in origin, and the Arab Beni Hussein, Mahamid, Mahariya and Irayqat  [19]  . It is the most ecologically fragile of the three main zones and affected by drought. The eastern and southern zone of Darfur is occupied by the Arab nomads. They comprise Rezeigat, Habbaniya, Beni Halba and Taaisha. The area is severely affected by drought than the northern zone. economics Throughout history, the population of Darfur suffered from marginalization and neglect. This idea is stressed by Saleh who said that what can be deduced from 18th and 19th century Darfur is that government and elite alike have never treated the people of Darfur kindly  [20]  . He added that they were suffering from all kinds of injustice including slavery and high taxation  [21]  . Since Darfur was annexed by the British to Sudan, the former was excluded and abandoned by the successive governments  [22]  . Moreover, most Darfurians voted for the NIF, but once in power, they showed bias to the Arabs and neglected Darfur  [23]  . So, politically speaking, Darfur was not fully integrated in the dynamics of Sudan. Political system Key Actors In order to fully understand the conflict of Darfur and its dynamics, we need to know the actors involved, their background and their goals. Hence, we are going to discuss the Janjaweed as a government sponsored militias, the government as a double role actor in the conflict, and the two Darfurian rebel groups: the Sudanese Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement. In fact, we should mention that there are various other groups that are included in the conflict such as National Movement for Reform and Development (NMRD), Sudan Federal Democratic Alliance (SFDA)  [24]  , but they are not as important as SLM and JEM and hence we will focus on the two latter for their importance in Darfur Politics. The Janjaweed are Arab militias that are responsible for most of the damages in Darfur, in terms both of blood and treasure. To know who they are and how they emerged, we should go back in history. From the time of the Sultans, the camel-herding Abbala Reizeigat, to which belong the Janjaweed, had been a headache to the rule In the1980s, s of Darfur  [25]  . In the 1980s, the Popular Defence Forces (PDF) law was created with an objective of training men and women in civil and military tasks, to raise their level of security consciousness, and instill military discipline so that they can cooperate with the regular armed forces and security services  [26]  . Janjaweed became part of the PDF, the state paramilitary force  [27]  . The government, on the other hand, is government The Darfur Liberation Movement (DLM) was created during the late 1980, as a response to the activities of the Sudan government sponsored militias in Darfur, but became Sudanese Liberation Movement/ Army (SLM/A) in 2003 and an alliance of the tribal groups that oppose the government and their para-military militia groups  [28]  . The creation of SLA marked a formidable ideological shift from Darfur Liberation Front which was a secessionist movement premised on establishing a separate Darfur state, to a movement that aspires to create a democratic and more equitable Sudan. The SLA/SLM position on the unity of the Sudan is stated in its Political Declaration as follows: The Sudan Liberation Movement/Army is of the view that Sudans unity is of paramount importance, but it should not be maintained and cannot be viable unless it is based on justice and equality for all the Sudanese peoples. Sudans unity must be anchored on a new basis that is predicated on full acknowledgement of Sudans ethnic, cultural, social and political diversity. Viable unity must therefore ultimately be based on the right of self-determination and the free will of the various peoples of Sudan. The fundamental imperatives of a viable unity are an economy and political system that address the uneven development and marginalization that have plagued the country since independence, so that the interests of the marginalized majority are adequately catered for and they are brought to the same level of development of the ruling minority. The SLM/A shall work with all political forces that ascribe to this view.  [29]   The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) JEM The 2003 Crisis The conflict of Darfur turned out to be a humanitarian crisis, described by some as genocide and by others as the worst humanitarian crisis. As any conflict, it has various reasons varying from political, economic, ecological, and ethnic. However, we will deal with the economic ones as conflict theory considers the struggle over resources is the main cause of conflicts. Causes West Darfur has a population of approximately 1,7 million, most of them are African farmers from the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa tribes. The rest of the population of Darfur consists of Arab nomadic groups. Although both the black African and Arab tribes are all Muslim, they have a long history of clashes over land, crops and resources  [30]  . The fighting in Darfur is usually described as racially motivated, pitting mounted Arabs against black rebels and civilians; but the conflict has its causes in another dimension, between settled farmers and nomadic over failing lands. Until the rains began to fail, the nomads lived amicably with the settled farmers. The nomads were welcome passers. The farmers would share their wells, and the herders would feed their stock on the leavings from the harvest. However, with the drought, farmers who had once hosted the tribes and their camels were now blocking their migration because the land could no longer support both herder and farmer. Few tri bes drifted elsewhere or took up farming, but the Arab herders stuck to their lifestyle as part of their Arab identity  [31]  . Fertile land continued to decrease as desertification became more of a problem. Tensions between nomadic Arab tribes and African farming communities began a struggle over controlling an environment that can no longer support all the people who must live on it  [32]  . Another economic dimension to the conflict is between the Darfurians and the government. Darfur is the poorest state in Sudan. It has been neglected, abused, and underdeveloped and all tribes, Arab and African alike, suffered greatly from this. Even if Sudan became an oil exporter country with700 million barrel oil reserves, Darfur people suffer from hunger and frustration. more Consequences In 2000, pastoralists moved towards the south and disputed over the fertile region, so clashes were renewed, which resulted in violence that led to the deaths of more than three thousand people, displaced a million people and burned thousands of villages in two years. In 2003, the conflict entered a dangerous turn when rebels from the two groups (SLM and JEM) attacked government targets in Darfur, destroying aircraft on the runway and the occupying El Fasher for hours and then withdrawing to their positions, accusing the government of marginalization of the region, which lacks development. Thus, the government intervened military to stop the rebels. consequences UN intervention in Darfur The Creation of the UNAMID Did it fail? Reasons behind its failure Lack of Government Cooperation Lack of UN Resources

Sals Enlightenment in Mexico in Jack Kerouacs, On the Road Essays

In A Mexico Fellaheen from Lonesome Traveler, Jack Kerouac describes crossing the border between America and Mexico: "It's a great feeling of entering the Pure Land, especially because it's so close to dry faced Arizona and Texas and all over the Southwest B but you can find it, this feeling, this fellaheen feeling about life, that timeless gayety of people not involved in great cultural and civilization issues" (22). Mexico is at once "close to" America and yet distinct from it, a "Pure Land" removed from the fallout of Spengler's crumbling Western civilization. By acknowledging its primitive innocence, Kerouac calls attention to the difference between the ideal of freedom and pastoral harmony represented by Mexico and the reality of contemporary America. But more significantly, Kerouac describes later in the article the inherent contradictions of Mexico: in his experience with easily-accessible drugs, corrupt police, and fumbling novice bull-fighting, he also finds a profoundly rel igious people, and he is able to accept them without judgement as a complex mix of good and bad. As he says in that article, "I saw how everybody dies and nobody's going to care, I felt how awful it is to live just so you can die like a bull trapped in a screaming human ring" (33), but he ends with the understanding that "the world is permeated with roses of happiness all the time, but none of us know it. The happiness consists in realizing that it is all a great strange dream" (36). This vision of Mexico as a "Pure Land" with innate contradictions and complexity also appears in Kerouac's On the Road. In the final sections, Sal and Dean travel to Mexico City, but while Dean goes for kicks and to obtain a quick divorce, Sal goes for a different reas... ...na Baym. New York: Norton, 1998. 1072-1101 & 1126-43. Hunt, Tim. Kerouac's Crooked Road: Development of a Fiction. Hamden, Conn.: Archon, 1981. Kerouac, Jack. "Mexico Fellaheen" from Lonesome Traveler. 1960. New York: Grove, 1988. ---. On the Road. 1957. New York: Penguin, 1991. ---. Visions of Cody. 1960. New York: Penguin, 1993. Lardas, John. The Bop Apocalypse: The Religious Visions of Kerouac, Ginsberg, and Burroughs. Urbana: U of Illinois Press, 2001. Niebuhr, Rienhold. The Irony of American History. New York: Scribner's, 1952. Schaub, Thomas Hill. American Fiction in the Cold War. Madison: U of Wisconsin Press, 1991. Tytell, John. "The Beat Generation and the Continuing American Revolution." in Ed. Holly George-Warren. The Rolling Stone Book of the Beats: The Beat Generation and American Culture. New York: Hyperion, 1999. 55-67.

Hierarchy and power within East and Western enterprises

Hierarchy and power within East and Western enterprises. Introduction Culture is the way we live. It is the clothes we wear, the foods we eat, the languages we speak, the stories we tell, and the ways we celebrate. Culture is also about our roots. Where did our ancestors come from? What do we believe? What makes our lives different from the lives of others? Kalmia, B. (2009). Nations may share civilizations, but they will always be distinct in their culture, since culture defines what they are. Scranton, R. (2007).The globalization of markets and production continues to bring together people room different cultures and countries in culturally diverse organizations. In the field of international management, it is important not only to recognize these diversities, but it is also vital to understand the cultural differences for the purpose of connecting with and motivating knowledge workers. Traditionally, these cultural distinctions have been classified into ‘eastern' and ‘ western' views that widely vary with respect to workplace activities and, more specifically, with respect to knowledge management.With the ‘western' view being more focused on explicit knowledge and tangible individualistic motivational factors, and the ‘eastern' view on tacit knowledge and abstract workplace principles; it becomes evident that management of these different cultural perspectives is becoming increasingly complex yet critical in the global workplace. An understanding of these differing views is therefore necessary for effective management in the international sphere, specifically for providing a means for better cross- cultural understanding and successful knowledge transfer.Management Tasks planning- The goals and objectives Of a company or department are established, as well s determining what actions are needed to achieve. Organizing- organizing actions needed to achieve the goals. Staffing- The task of allocating employees to particular positions withi n the company. Directing- This has to do with leading the organization and its employees towards its goals. Controlling- Monitoring the performance of the company or department is a task for which different cultures may use different systems and approaches.Effect of cultural values on management The way tasks and responsibilities are performed in management can be examined in the light of key number of cultural values. Eight cultural value orientations have a considerable influence on the way managers perform their activities. The eight cultural values which can be called as model of culture is, Time focus (Monochromatic and polymorphic) Different cultures have different perceptions of time according to their environment, history, traditions and general practices. In eastern culture where monochromatic perception of time prevails, time is experienced and used in a linear way. People tend to do one activity at a time. For example in eastern culture, people have the diner and then do the home work or read a book. In western culture where polymorphic time is preferred ,people tend to focus on several tasks and and are less dependent on detailed information when performing these tasks. For example in western culture, people have diner while doing the home work or reading a book. Time focus and management tasks Monochromatic Culture (Eastern perspective) Planning- The focus of activity is more on the task itself and Making schedules.Organizing- The approach used is structured,Linear and task- focused. Staffing- Concerns focused on shorter term. Directing- Managing the inflow and Distribution of detailed information. Controlling- Tendency to Use control systems and strict deadlines. Polymorphic Culture (Western perspective) planning- The focus Of activity is more on relationships when planning. Organizing- The approach is less structured one, More holistic and people- focused. Staffing- Focus on longer term. Directing- Sharing of implicit knowledge/information. Cont rolling- Tendency to use more flexible control systems involving people.Time orientation (past, present and future) Culture focused on the past value the upholding tradition in line with the history of the company and the way it usually does things. Those cultures concerned with the present are out quick results and short-term gain. Those with the view towards the future, plans are assessed in the light of expected future benefit. Power (Hierarchy and Equality) The Power value orientation is to do with the extent to which the less powerful members of a society expect or accept that power is distributed unequally.At work,the level of power and authority are strictly marked out by some eastern cultures oriented to hierarchy. There ,the employees do their work according to the directives of their boss. Len eastern cultures the manager as a separate room from other employees indeed to show up the power distance between the employees and the manager. Companies in west,oriented towards eq uality there will be more informal structures based on expertise focused on certain projects. Len western cultures the manager works at the same table where the other staffs work.This shows the equality between the manager and the staffs. Power and management tasks Hierarchy (Eastern perspective) Planning- More autocratic or paternalistic planning is displayed. Organizing- The Organizational structure is tightly controlled. Staffing- Us borderlines expect bosses to take the initiative to train,developing promote them. Directing- Employees like being closely supervised and feel comfortable with a directive supervisor. Controlling- Employees prefer the personal control Of superiors. Equality (Western perspective) Planning- Employees may implement the plan.More participative planning. Organizing- Organizational structure encourages individual autonomy Staffing- Work relationships should not be strictly prescribed. Directing- Managers exhibit participative or consultative styles. Contro lling- Subordinates develop performance objectives with their bosses. Space (private and public) One aspect of space orientation is related to private or public space. Another aspect related to invisible boundary around every person. The concept of space can be seen in terms Of personality.There can be cultural differences in the relative size of people's public and private spaces and also in the degree to which they feel comfortable sharing those parts of their personality with other people. In Eastern workplace managers and employees do not share the same office ,but in western workplace the location or size of the place here an employee works does not necessarily reflect that persons rank in the company. The influence of personal space at work Private Planning- Forms of planning: individualistic or systematic. Organizing- More task-centered. Staffing- Explicit information about how staff are to be employed.Directing-. Managers and employees do not share the same office Controllin g- Explicit measures of performance public Planning- Group-oriented or authoritative forms Organizing- Relationship-centered approaches Staffing- Implicit information Directing-. Size of the place where an employee works does not reflect the arson's rank Controlling- Managers can use more informal checks on performance Structure (Individualism and Collectivism) Individualism Individualism, can be defined as a preference for a loosely-knit social framework in which individuals are expected to take care of themselves and their immediate families only.Individualism shows the extent to which cultures elevate the role of the individual over the role of the group. When individualism is valued the â€Å"I† predominates over the â€Å"we† Individual goals, initiative and achievement are most important and people are encouraged to be independent and self-reliant. Collectivism Collectivism represents a preference for a tightly-knit framework in society in which individuals can e xpect their relatives or members of a particular in- group to look after them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty.Most of the Eastern cultures place more importance on personal relationships rather than the task to be performed or the deal to be completed. Example Along with the collectivist nature Of the individuals a team based behavior can be seen in the work place environments in Sir Lankan. Similarly there is a new concept which is identical within the emirates airlines which is known as the Family concept. The boss is the ‘father' and the employees are the ‘children'. The father tells the children what to do but also looks after them and cares for them. The ‘children' do as they are told and show their father ‘respect'.It is a two-way relationship in which all parties benefit. This can be comparable to the team based relationship oriented work place conditions in Sir Lankan. Highly individualist cultures (Western) believe individual is most important unit People taking care of themselves (including immediately family only) Self- orientation Identity based on individual Guilt culture Making decisions based on individual needs â€Å"l† mentality Emphasis on individual initiative and achievement Highly collectivist cultures (Eastern) believe group is most important unit.Expect absolute loyalty to group (nuclear family, extended family, caste, organization) Group orientation Decisions based on what is best for the group. Identity based on social system Shame culture Dependence on organization and institutions (Expects organization / institution / group to take care of individual) â€Å"We† mentality Emphasis on belonging Structure and management task Individualism (western perspective) leaning- It is expected that those involved in planning will take initiative to present their views. Organizing-Tasks assignment and resources allocation.Staffing- Organizations are not expected to look after their employees career devel opment. Directing-Leaders expect employees to meet or exceed their responsibilities. Controlling- Control tends to be exerted by individual standards of excellence. Collectivism (Eastern perspective) Planning- plans are developed within the shared values used for measuring activities in the organizations. Organizing- organizational structures emphasize he group; the team is assigned tasks and resources. Staffing- promotions are are based primarily on seniority.Directing- Leaders expect loyalty in exchange for protection. Controlling- Deviations from standards and expectations is discouraged through group oriented pressure. Conclusion General management and knowledge management theories and practices have to be viewed and reviewed in the context of local cultures. In an organization, the managers bring values, experiences and beliefs that are profoundly rooted in their national cultures. Even the perspective of hat management actually entails varies widely across different national c ultures.The model of culture has been applied to the world of international business and the daily tasks of a manager examined in terms of cultural values. Individual's frame work of cultural preferences influences the way in which their tasks are executed. Management tasks in the firms varies according to the culture Management tasks in western enterprises varies from the management tasks that are carried out by eastern enterprises. Additional studies must be undertaken to have a thorough understanding of the cultural rabbles.Without Andean different perspectives from the traditional and AC opted frameworks, such as Hypotheses dimensions, organizations cannot leverage the strengths of the global economy, which can make the difference between survival and success for today's firms.

What are the major kinds of unconscious pleasures that might be found in common leisure pursuits?

The work of Sigmund Freud shows us that Freud believed that humans are all driven by unconscious needs and leisure pursuits are a result of these unconscious desires but adapted by our minds so that they are displayed in an acceptable way. This essay aims to identify these unconscious desires and examine how they are translated into common acceptable leisure pursuits. One of Freud's major theories was his definition of the conscious. Freud divided the mind into three different levels, the conscious, the pre-conscious and the unconscious. â€Å"The conscious level of mental activity is the level on which all thought processes occur. What one thinks conceptualises, or understands takes place on this level of activity. The pre-conscious is where information is stored away, but is easily obtainable. The unconscious is where memories and information are stored which cannot be accessed readily.† Donadio (2001) Freud tells us that there are three different forces that control our actions and desires; the id, the ego and the superego. â€Å"The id is the drive within us to bring ourselves pleasure. The id is concerned with satiating all basic urges from thirst and hunger to sexual desire, and is determined to attain satisfaction at any cost. People act on the id alone when they are first born, and as time progresses, they learn to suppress these desires in the interest of conventiallity; they realize that a person cannot merely have whatever he/she wants whenever he/she wants it, and that the individual must act in accordance with society. The ego is what brings about one's understanding that one is part of a society, and cannot always satisfy the urges of the id. The ego does not necessarily ignore the id, but rather governs and controls it. It often devises a plan to obtain that which the id desires. The ego is often seen as being responsible for practical and rational decision making. The superego governs over all of these, and is often seen as the conscious. The superego is concerned with the long-term ramifications of actions, adherence to what is â€Å"right and wrong†, and producing guilt as a result of one's actions. The superego is often more a product of society than the individual, as society dictates what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior; it often tends to direct the individual to act in a way which is viewed as positive by society, even if at the expense of personal satisfaction. † Donadio (2001) The id's desires for sex and survival are the basis for all human activity. The need for pleasure and release of tension that originates in the id is translated by the ego into more socially acceptable types of behavior, pleasurable leisure pursuits. â€Å"All behavior is in the service of tension reduction.† Appigananesi & Zarate (1979) p144 It is a basic human need to receive pleasure and release from tension, the most basic way to receive this pleasure and release tension is through sex. However, society, and therefore the superego, dictates that it is not acceptable to have sex continuously whenever we want with whomever we want. Our fear of not being accepted into society helps to translate these primary sexual urges into acceptable releases of tension and pleasurable activities such as sport, watching films, reading, drinking alcohol and going to clubs and pubs. Humans are very social creatures and receive pleasure from interaction with other humans. The majority of leisure pursuits involve some kind of socializing with other people. These social gatherings also provide the opportunity for interaction with members of the opposite sex. This is our basic sexual desire becoming apparent. In some social situations the desire to interact with the opposite sex is very apparent, for example socializing in pubs and clubs. When preparing for a night out members of both sexes will try to dress up to make themselves as attractive as possible. People can understand their desire for sex and put themselves in situations where their desires may come to fruition. However, even if one is aware of their sexual desires, in these situations it is still necessary for them to be made socially acceptable by the superego. Dancing is a good example of the expression of sexual desires in an acceptable way. In recent times dancing has become more sexual with more phys ical contact involved. This is due to modern changes in attitude when sex is becoming more socially acceptable although the taboo of sex seems to provide pleasure itself. The use of alcohol and drugs in these types of situations seem to help reduce the control the superego has over the id. People loose their inhibitions and become less concerned with being socially acceptable, the desires of the id are less suppressed and people's desire for pleasure dominates their actions. It is not uncommon to see inebriated couples on a Saturday night engaging in various kinds of sexual activity in public areas, without the introduction of alcohol or drugs the superego would dominate and demand more acceptable behavior. It is easy to see why we enjoy intoxicating substances as it makes our desire for pleasure more easily obtainable. With many other leisure pursuits the desires of the id are less apparent and the individual will not really know the unconscious origin of their behavior. Many types of leisure activities provide pleasure by escapism, â€Å"The tendency to seek distraction and relief from reality.† Definition: The Concise Oxford Dictionary (2000) Many people obtain pleasure from watching films and reading books. Often these types of leisure pursuits allow us to experience suppressed sexual urges through fantasies in books or films. These types of experiences would not normally be experienced in everyday life but being able to experience them through films or books provides great pleasure, although the individual will not really know the unconscious reason for the pleasure that they receive. In some situations it is because of our desires for food and drink that we receive pleasure. We enjoy going to restaurants and having dinner parties. It is not just the opportunity to interact with others that provides us with pleasure, but also the enjoyment of eating is a direct consequence of our basic human urge of hunger. Sport, as a leisure pursuit, is socially acceptable. It has always been seen as a healthy pastime. It provides a release of tension due to its physical nature and also allows interaction with other individuals. However, sport tends to provide greater pleasure for males than females. It is basic human nature for the male to want to exhibit his strength and power. The enjoyment of sport by males is probably due to the fact that sport as a leisure pursuit has always been seen for males as socially acceptable. â€Å"In Coleman's classic study of adolescent life (1961), being involved in sports was the most important factor contributing to the social status of high school boys.† Mannell & Kleiber (1997) p240 It can be seen by examining the work of Freud that all leisure pursuits provide pleasure and the majority of activities that we involve ourselves in for pleasure are some form of manifestation of our basic human sexual urges. Although we may not realize that we are receiving some form of unconscious pleasure it is necessary for our survival. Humans need the release of tension and to receive pleasure but they also need to be accepted socially so the existence of the superego helps to satisfy all of these urges.

Postal Rule of Acceptance Essays

Postal Rule of Acceptance Essays Postal Rule of Acceptance Paper Postal Rule of Acceptance Paper Four main justifications of Postal Acceptance Rule i. ‘Ad infinitum’ Justification Postal rule had existed almost for 200 years and the post had been creating problems for people which the courts are obliged to solve them logically. Why it had been creating so many problems for people and that we will be discussing later on. For now let’s look at the four main justifications for postal rule of acceptance. It came from Treitel and he believes that the four main justifications are for the creation of postal rule. First of all, the first justification is the â€Å"Ad Infinitum† justification where its main rationale is that acceptance by post has to be valid on posting because if there were no postings which mean there is no contract formed. Based on the case of Adam v Lindsell, the defendant actually mail the offer of selling wool to plaintiff and the plaintiff was requested on mailing back to the defendant. Unfortunately there was an error in the offered price and plaintiff did not receive it. We can thus conclude that the defendant had not receive the letter of acceptance and therefore the defendant assume that the plaintiff did not want to accept his offer so he sold the wool to a third party. There was actually a contract exists before the sale of the wool because acceptance made right after the mail is being mailed. Therefore, the defendant was liable in breach of contract. In this case, it might go on ad infinitum because once mail is being posted which means that acceptance is being made. Of course, there is a high level of uncertainty because of the distance between the two parties causing them difficulties for the formation of contract. ii. ‘Symbolic Act’ Justification In this justification, rationale being that the offeror must be considered as continually making (the offer) until he has brought to the knowledge of the person to whom it made that it is withdraw. Based on the case of Brogden v Directors of Metropolitan Railway Co, there was a contract sent by the defendant (Directors of Metropolitan Railway) to the plaintiff (Brogden) regarding the contract. The plaintiff agreed the contract by signing it and return to the defendant. The defendant then filled in the blanks without informing the plaintiff about the acceptance. Since there is no acceptance being communicated between the both parties, the plaintiff did not supply the company with coals. Thus, there was subsequently a dispute arose that whether the written agreement was valid. Although the action of communication of acceptance had not been showed clearly, in fact the written agreement was valid despite no acceptance being informed. Reason being both parties had already agreed on the terms of the contract without any objections. In the real world, we do not see an offeror consistently making an offer to people, and subsequently this justification seems to be attempting to affect a useful acceptance rule rather than providing any real rationale for the postal rule. [ 1 ]. The Law of Contract, 11th Edition, 2003 page 25 [ 2 ]. Stevenson P. J, 2010 [ 3 ]. (1818) 1 BA 681 [ 4 ]. Henthorn v Fraser (1892) 2 Ch. 27 [ 5 ]. Stevenson P. J, 2010

The Tragedy Of Macbeth Essays - Characters In Macbeth, Free Essays

The Tragedy Of Macbeth Essays - Characters In Macbeth, Free Essays The Tragedy of Macbeth The Tragedy of Macbeth is plagued with the images that coincide with its many themes. Although there is really no central theme and all seem to intermingle, it would be extremely difficult to research the play in its entirety. Therefore, I've chosen to focus my study towards the recurring image of blood and how it's presence affected both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and the eventual outcome of the play. The blood images in the play had different effects on the two. But perhaps the most noticeably affected person would be Lady Macbeth. It was after the death of Duncan that most of the repercussions took place, however, she began making references to blood even before the murder. In her pleading to the spirits, she prayed, "Make thick my blood (Act I.Scene v.line 43)" in order that she may not feel any "remorse" by her future action. She sees her thin blood as a weakness in her character and wishes it to be richer (thicker) with the qualities of courage, bravery and even emotional strength which that of a man might have. For a time these demands seemed as if they had actually been answered. Not even after the murder of Duncan or Banquo did she lose her composure, in fact, she actually kept her husband from losing his mind. Eventually, though, her granted desire appeared to wear off and her naturally thin blood began to flow through her veins again. The pressure of her guilty conscious had driven her to insanity. As she expresses in her sleepwalking state, this guilt is felt due to the presence of Duncan's blood. Out, damned spot! Out I say! One: Two: why, then 'tis 2. time to do't. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our pow'r to accompt? Yet who would have thought the old man to have so much blood in him (V.i.34-39)? It is easily seen how she has lost total control of her mind. For she jumps from topic to topic and in her jumbled thoughts has incriminated herself without even knowing it. She even experiences a hallucination as to the blood of Duncan which had once been on her hand. "Here's the smell of blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, oh, oh (V.i.49-51)!" It is actually a sort of irony that her weakness in character (thinness of her blood) could not bear the strength of guilt brought upon her by the presence of Duncan's blood. This fact proves to be her downfall for it ultimately drives her to take her own life. Macbeth is the next character upon which the image of blood took its toll. However, its effect was the exact opposite on Macbeth than on his wife, for he immediately felt a guilty conscious and was often being emotionally pulled together by his wife. As time went on though it became easier for him to kill and he grew emotionally stronger while his wife got progressively weaker. Once Macbeth had committed his first crime against Scotland, he instantly felt the effects of his deed. The overwhelming state of fear, anxiety and skittishness that set in can easily be seen in 3. these lines. Whence is that knocking? How is't with me, when every noise appalls me? What hands are here? Ha! They pluck out mine eyes! Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red (II.iii.56-62). Lady Macbeth, maintaining her calmness, guides her husband through his infirmness, as they prepare to explain their deed. For the time they had appeared successful and Duncan's murder had been pushed to the back of Macbeth's mind; once again he was prepared to murder, even his best friend Banquo. Having directly conspired the death of his close friend, the effects of savagely spilt blood were about to hit. Macbeth, in his hallucination, sees his deceased friend's ghost with twenty trenched gashes on his head. Again Macbeth's state of fear sets in. "Avaunt! and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee! Thy bones are marrowless, thy

Alzheimers Empowering Family Caregivers

People who know someone who has just been analyzed with Alzheimer’s, have a hard time trying to figure out what to do and who to go to for help (Empowering Family Caregivers, p.1). As has been said by author Daniel Kuhn, the premature stages of Alzheimer’s are the worst times for relations and friends as they frequently have no idea about the disease or how they can help out the patient. For their help, this book is what they need (Lyons, p.1 and For Caregivers of Persons with Alzheimers Disease, p.1). The book under consideration consists of three sections. First of all it tells about the causes and symptoms of the diseases. Then it moves on to how people can help their loved ones who have the disease and then it tells us about how families and caregivers can help out the patient as well as take care of themselves. Summary Alzheimer’s disease is a very common brain disorder and has been referred as dementia a lot of times (Hoyle, p.1). This latest edition of the book encloses modernized information on threat factors, healing, and probable means of deterrence. A new chapter has been included in the book by the name of, â€Å"Voices of Experience,† that is full of recalls by members of the family of people with Alzheimer’s family members who have subsisted all the way through the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease, with thoughts about what worked and what had negative effects in their management of their family member suffering from the disease. What is more is that the book contains information related to two innovative drugs accepted ever since 1999 and the pronouncement by the federal government to swathe the expenditure of therapy and additional services related to health and medicines by Medicare (Alzheimers Early Stages, p.1). With improved consciousness of the warning signs of Alzheimers and enhanced techniques for diagnosis, a vast number of people have started to realize that someone in their family or friends has a memory disorder. But even with such proceedings, not many books have been written on the topic so as to assist families comprehend and deal with the early stages of the disease. The author of the book, Kuhn, a social worker and schooling director at Chicagos Rush Alzheimers Disease Center has presented this book so as to direct families in budding a viewpoint of concern, putting forward apparent, existing information on the temperament of the infirmity in conjunction with stories taken from his personal practice and first-person caregiver narratives. In the words of the author, â€Å"although there are dozens of causes of dementia, AD is by far the leading one. AD destroys   cells in the part of the brain that control memory as well as other key functions such as reasoning and language, and when nerve cells in the brain die, they are not replaced† (Kuhn, p. 14). All the way through the book, Kuhn strains the significance of giving out the concern by linking others. Especially valuable is the extensive resource list of web sites, organizations, and references to consumer and professional literature (The Alzheimers Disease, p.1). The author tells us that people with Alzheimer’s do not have the ability to remain independent and he believes that essential physical needs like provisions and protection as well as the mental and societal needs should be considered (Alzheimers: Stepping Into The Leadership Role, p.1 and Community Care Options, p.1).   He tells us that the most significant symptom is progressive and unceasing memory loss. In an efficiently edited and full of information book, a skilled psychological health practitioner has focused on the early on stages of this distressing sickness (Recommended Reading, p.1). He elucidates the differentiation among Alzheimers symptoms and mutilations that take place because of usual aging or supplementary brain disorders. His clarifications of the therapeutic and physiological grounds for Alzheimers symptoms are very easy to get to. Devoid of being overdramatic he sounds perceptive to how families go through this type of trouncing. Conclusion In the light of the above discussion we can hereby culminate that the book Alzheimers Early Stages. First Steps for Families, Friends and Care-Givers, Second Edition by Daniel Kuhn, MSW presents in depth information about Alzheimers disease and covers many aspects related to it. Works Cited Alzheimers Early Stages. Retrieved on March 29, 2008 from: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Alzheimers-Early-Stages-First-Steps-Daniel-Kuhn/9780897933971-item.html?ref=Books%3aTrusted+Advisor%3aCT1%3aspot1 Alzheimers: Stepping Into the Leadership Role. Caregiver Channels. 2008. Pp.1 Community Care Options. National Center on Caregiving. 2003. Pp.1 Empowering Family Caregivers. Social Work Today. 2003. Pp.1. For Caregivers of Persons with Alzheimers Disease. Rush University Medical Center. 2000. Pp.1. Hoyle, Brian. Alzheimer Disease. The Encyclopedia of Science. 2005. Pp.1.

Homework # 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Homework # 2 - Essay Example There are several ways in which to impeach a witness at trial. Here, because the proceedings are criminal in nature, we would be dealing with the federal rules of evidence and also the federal rules of criminal procedure. Impeachment tools such as opinion, reputation and specific Instances (Fed. Ru. Evid. 608), is based upon opinion or reputation testimony. This type of evidence is only admissible after the character of the witness is attacked by evidence of any form. Here for example, since Ralph noted on his application that he never had an accident, his driving record could be introduced as evidence to impeach his testimony, the testimony being Ralph's application (which is considered to be a federal document because it is submitted to the port authority which is a government entity) and demonstrate that it was false, thus proving that Ralph has a propensity to lie. Furthermore, any witnesses on Ralph's behalf would be properly questioned in order to impeach Ralph's character for truthfulness as well. (Fed. Ru. Evid. 608). It is true that Ed Norton would testify that Ralph is a great guy and a terrific friend, but he has no business or employment relationship with Ralph. It should be noted that Ed as a character witness will be questioned about specific instances of conduct on part of the Ralph as the principal witness to test his knowledge on Ralph's character. Thus Ed may be questioned on whether Ralph ever told him about his high school suspension. It must be noted that any defense attorney worth their salt would immediately object to the question if at the time of Ralph's arrest, the high school suspension was over ten years old. This rule applies if more than ten years has elapsed since the later date between the following: (1) the date of the conviction and (2) release of the witness from the confinement imposed for that conviction . Here, it is true that Ralph was not convicted at the time his suspension for a crime related to it. One might first think that the suspension would not find its' way into trial however there are exceptions to this rule of evidence. Specific instances of misconduct that did not result in a conviction can be admitted for impeachment purposes if the scope of its admission is to demonstrate the witnesses character for truthfulness, in the discretion of the court the probative value of the question outweighs any prejudice to the defendant; the evidence is offered in good faith; the act has a direct bearing on the veracity of the witness with regards to the issues being litigated. It cannot be understated that extrinsic evidence of specific instances of prior bad acts is not permitted when their only relevance is to impeach the witnesses credibility. Thus, it appears that Ralph's high school suspension would be admitted at trial. It should be noted again that the trial court enjoys immense discretion so the ten year limitation may be construed by the court to apply to non convicted prior bad acts. For example, if Ralph is 25 at the time of trial, the suspension may be admitted, but if he is 35 at the time of trial, it most likely will not. Finally, we do not usually see this type of evidence offered unless the parties know each other. Fed. Ru. Evid 613, applies to the prior inconsistent statements of a witness. Here, Ralph is prepared to testify that he never said "That could just as easily have been your head." In examining a witness

Analysis for Without Prejudice TV show Research Paper

Analysis for Without Prejudice TV show - Research Paper Example This time, they are allowed to ask any question to the contestants except just only one, which is, how each of them will use the money that they will be given in the show. Apparently, the show’s purpose is to give away money to the one person among the five contestants who is the most liked. However, on the other side of this reality show, the panelists are faced with their own prejudices among people they do not know of. Since their only bases are the interviews made by the show’s production staff to these people and their brief interview to the last two contestants, they are left with nothing to rely on but to observe the contestants’ personalities according to their physical appearance as well as their body language and gestures. Through these forms of non-verbal communication, the panelists are able to decode their messages, even those that they do not communicate orally, by simply observing them. Relatively, this show is obviously important in studying communication, its theories and other factors that are associated with it. The panelists’ interpretation of the contestants through their facial expressions, body language, gestures, and the like are examples of non-verbal communication, which are often misinterpreted in the communication process due to stereotyping and people’s prejudices. Similarly, just as the contestants are judged by their 15-second introduction where verbal communication is observed, softness or loudness of voice, as well as clarity of speech are important factors in creating an impression that is essential in the communication process, too. The TV show allows two groups of people who are communicating in various ways in order to achieve their desired result. In interpersonal communication, in order for people to achieve a positive relationship, they should be able to create a good communication climate. As such, the group of people who are communicating with each other may either confirm or disconfirm each other in

Psychology class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Psychology class - Essay Example al health problems are prevalent in modern society, a fact that contrasts the low mental health cases reported in health institutions in traditional society (Shally-Jensen 80). Society is preoccupied with treating mental health conditions, but the low number of medical professionals cannot effectively address this problem. Clinical psychology is a branch of psychology that deals with assessing, diagnosing, treating and preventing mental health problems (Shally-Jensen 10). A clinical psychologist improves the psychological well-being of individuals by alleviating and reducing psychological distress. As a professional, I will be training in various techniques and theoretical approaches to be able to work in private practice, hospitals, and academic settings. However, other clinical psychologists focus on treating psychological disorders and may involve treatment of severe mental problems like depression and schizophrenia. Dealing with clients and ensuring positive outcomes requires detailed record keeping, client assessment, therapeutic, and diagnostic records for tracking treatment progress and for insurance and billing (Shally-Jensen 57). Moreover, a clinical psychologist works with a team of other professionals, and I will work alongside occupational therapists, doctors, social workers, nurses, and physiotherapists. Clinical psychologists are increasingly demanded today because of the increasing cases of mental health problems. Consequently, the salary of clinical psychologists is increasing annually because of the low number of clinical psychologists today. However, according to the US Department of Labor in its Occupational Outlook in 2013, employment opportunities in clinical psychology are expected to rise in coming years (Department of Labor Statistics 1). It will influence the demand for professionals because of a rising need for qualified mental health experts. A 2013 report by CNN suggested the median pay for clinical psychologists was 80,000 dollars.

Final SEM paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Final SEM paper - Essay Example This means that the company helps individuals from when they are fifteen years old until when they die because it does not have an upper limit of the target population. The organization deals with all levels of Social Ecological Model (SEM). At the individual level, the institution helps smokers to quit smoking and divert their attention to beneficial projects. The organization advises smokers about the effects of their behavior and it helps them through counseling (Sanders, & Myers, 2007). At the community level, the company creates awareness to the public about heart diseases and the contribution of smoking to the disorder. The firm also enables the communities to understand the effects of smoking on the environment. The major effect is air pollution, which poses health dangers to the inhabitants of the world such as animals, plants, and human beings (WHF, 2008). Through this education, the institution encourages the community to quit from smoking and discourage those who are addicted to stop their consumption. The organization also addresses the issues of heart disease at the interpersonal level. At this level, the company engages smokers and non-smokers in counseling sessions. The counseling sessions help these groups of individuals to understand and help each other in improving health by avoiding factors that cause cardiovascular diseases. The World Heart Federation also addresses heart disease in organizations and also in policy formulation. The organization specifically advises the government in the countries where it operates to develop policies that reduce smoking; for example, the policy of creating smoking zones in a country to avoid effects of the behavior on secondary smokers (Riba, Wulsin, & Rubenfire, 2012). The company partners with other organization such as the American Heart Association to increase the awareness of causes, effects, and prevention measures of cardiovascular diseases (Riba, Wulsin, & Rubenfire, 2012). At

Disintermediation in Tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Disintermediation in Tourism - Essay Example The impacts of disintermediation are various. It has impacted the travel and tourism industry significantly. The supply chain of travel and tourism industry involves tour operators, travel agencies, travel agents and others. Traditionally prospects and people have been depended on these mediators largely for their information and booking needs. Development of web technologies helped the service providers in travel and tourism industry such as airlines, car rentals, hotels and others to offer their services and information through their website. In the image below (Image 1) of WTO 2001 report on E-Business for Tourism, it clearly presents the number of intermediaries which are replaced by the Internet. However, it is evident that these intermediaries co-exist with the internet even in the countries where the internet users are high in number. The use and growth of website services depend on the number of factors like number of internet users, technological platforms available and many others. There are various reasons of disintermediation in the tourism industry. The primary reason is the development of technological platforms offering alternates to the traditional intermediates. The other reason is the cost reductions due to the removal of intermediates. The Internet offers a platform where tickets can not only be booked online but various tourism packages can be customized more effectively than the traditional methods. It makes the marketplace highly competitive as information available to the consumers as well as the options available to them is numerous. More destination choices, there detailed information including videos and availability of an interactive platform such as internet benefits the customer groups. The service providers are able to offer services at the lower cost as the commissions and charges involved for the intermediates are reduced.

Explain Descartes skeptical argument according to a prompt Term Paper - 1

Explain Descartes skeptical argument according to a prompt - Term Paper Example The fact that while we are sleeping and still see ourselves in other places doing other things raise a question about dreams. For example, you see yourself in a lecture room attending a specific lecture, but at the same time you are in your bed sleeping. This raises a question of how often we sleep at night You might argue that the brain plays images of events that were recorded during the day. Nevertheless, the images that we see in dreams are not things that occurred in the past are going to happen in the future (Simpsons 67). Thus raising the question where do dreams come from and what do they represent. There are many definitions as to what dreams are and what they represent. Most of the definitions are based on research and religion. Dreams are a sequence of views, pictures and feelings that happen while a person is numb. Dreams occur while asleep because there are parts of the brain that are most active while the body is resting. The process of having dreams is referred to as dreaming. At times, we can have more than two dreams in one night. Conclusions in dreams are not always clear because we wake up while they are about to end. It is said that we all dream, but not everyone remembers his or her dreams vividly (Bryant 2). With this in mind, how then can we explain a person who sleeps walks? Research has shown that sleepwalkers are indeed dreaming. The difference being that the dreams that they have, process communication in the subconscious levels and give messages to other body organs in order to operate them. Descartes says that there are no conclusive signs that show the distinction between being awake or asleep. The difference being dazed only supports the conception that we may be sleeping (Hill 6). In the first meditation, Descartes states that we cannot have knowledge of the external world and our bodies based on the senses. To strengthen his argument, he uses the dream argument. He states that we cannot have knowledge of the external

Disintermediation in Tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Disintermediation in Tourism - Essay Example The impacts of disintermediation are various. It has impacted the travel and tourism industry significantly. The supply chain of travel and tourism industry involves tour operators, travel agencies, travel agents and others. Traditionally prospects and people have been depended on these mediators largely for their information and booking needs. Development of web technologies helped the service providers in travel and tourism industry such as airlines, car rentals, hotels and others to offer their services and information through their website. In the image below (Image 1) of WTO 2001 report on E-Business for Tourism, it clearly presents the number of intermediaries which are replaced by the Internet. However, it is evident that these intermediaries co-exist with the internet even in the countries where the internet users are high in number. The use and growth of website services depend on the number of factors like number of internet users, technological platforms available and many others. There are various reasons of disintermediation in the tourism industry. The primary reason is the development of technological platforms offering alternates to the traditional intermediates. The other reason is the cost reductions due to the removal of intermediates. The Internet offers a platform where tickets can not only be booked online but various tourism packages can be customized more effectively than the traditional methods. It makes the marketplace highly competitive as information available to the consumers as well as the options available to them is numerous. More destination choices, there detailed information including videos and availability of an interactive platform such as internet benefits the customer groups. The service providers are able to offer services at the lower cost as the commissions and charges involved for the intermediates are reduced.

Stand By Me Story Essay Example for Free

Stand By Me Story Essay Stand By Me is the story of four twelve year olds living in a small town in the year 1959, whose lives were changed by a chance adventure that they embarked on at the end of an indolent summer. The four boys were Gordie Lachance, Chris Chambers Teddy Duchamp, and Vern Tessio. The boys had their own tree house with its special club rules, including a secret knock, and spent their time in meaningless arguments, playing games, or just hanging out. Although on the surface they are typical pre-adolescent boys, you soon find out that underneath their normal bravado and enthusiasm, each of them have problems at home to deal with. Gordies older brother Denny was recently killed in an auto accident, and his parents have not handled it well. They mope around their house and continually ask Gordie (who is an aspiring writer) why he isnt more like his brother, who was a popular athlete in town. Gordies best friend, Chris, who is intelligent, brave, and the natural leader of the group, has an alcoholic father, who constantly beats him, and an older brother who is a delinquent. Everyone in town figures that Chris will follow in their footsteps, so he is very much afraid of what his future will be. Teddy is the son of an emotionally disturbed war veteran who has abused him all his life. In his mind Teddy cannot accept his situation, so he has created a fantasy world in which his father is an All American war hero instead of an inmate in a mental hospital. Vern is on the chubby side, somewhat uncoordinated, and is constantly the butt of jokes. Verns older brother likes to push him around when he is there, and so Vern spends a fair amount of time hiding out. Yet Vern ends up being the catalyst of the story. He accidentally overhears his older brother describe the location where he is pretty sure that the dead body of a missing boy from the town that everyone had been looking for actually lies. This gives him a chance to be important in the pecking order of the club, and he brings this information to the other boys. Intrigued by the thought of seeing a real dead body and excited at the prospect of becoming heroes in the town for finding it, the boys decide to walk the twenty miles, which will take them two days to complete. They each tell their parents that they are spending the night at their friends house, but given their home situations, its not really a problem for them to take off. The journey starts off well enough, peppered with the bickering chatter  typical of twelve year olds, but soon they realize how unprepared they are. No one remembered to bring along any food and they have very little money. Read more:  Description of a fantasy city. This leads to their first adventure along the way as Gordie is elected to buy food at a store, but must sneak through the junkyard to do so. They end up being discovered by the junkyard owner who sics his dog on them for trespassing on his property. Later they out-run a train on a bridge, tell stories by the campfire, and have a traumatic experience with leeches when they take a shortcut through a swamp. Meanwhile, Ace Merrill leader of an older gang of town kids finds out about the location of the body from Verns older brother and decides to go find the body also, for basically the same reasons. The story comes to its climax point as the two groups square off at the site of the dead body. While Stand By Me seems to be another coming of age film, its meaning and interest really exists on two levels. The entire story is told in a series of flashbacks, narrated by the adult Gordie who is now a successful writer, and is lamenting a news clipping about the death of his childhood buddy Chris, who had succeeded in overcoming his self doubts and dysfunctional family situation to become a lawyer. Chris was killed because of the way he had lived, bravely intervening during an altercation in a restaurant, and suffering a knife wound for his efforts. You enter the mind of the writer throughout this film, in the way that the story is told, how the flashbacks move around in time when necessary, and especially in the hilarious story within a story told by Gordie at the campfire about Lardass Hogan and the pie eating contest. While the boys characters are quite believable, well acted, and superbly cast, the cathartic revelations of the boys innermost feelings, fears, and self-doubts almost on cue show the sure hand of writer Stephen King more than a sense of total reality.

A History Of Feminism English Language Essay

A History Of Feminism English Language Essay Feminism is a historically recurring phenomenon, being a potent form of cultural identity to take on linguistic and social expression (Simon, 1996; 7). The concept of gender in an era of feminism, a period powerfully influenced by feminist thought, has been the focus of research in the field of translation studies. Issues of gendered identity within translation was first introduced by feminist thinkers in the 1960s and 1970s to question the cultural and political powerlessness of women (von Flotow, 1997: 5). The emergence of Canadian feminist translations (Godard, 1990, Lotbinià ¨re-Harwood 1991; von Flotow 1991), established a school of work, modelling a theory from incorporating feminist ideology into translation, which resultantly has influenced international translation studies. The pre-established notion that language was not only a man-made artefact but an expressive tool to reflect on male ideology impelled discussions of gender and translation. Contemporary theorists viewed this patriarchal language, traditionally used in largely male-run institutions such as universities, as an instrument of womens oppression (Lotbinià ¨re-Harwood 1991; von Flotow 1991). Needing to radically change these conventions, feminist translating during the 1970s sought to undermine and subvert patriarchal language, to introduce new, experimental ways of writing so that language could be used as a cultural intervention; an endeavour to alter expressions of dominance whether at the level of syntax or semantics (Simon, 1996: 9). Feminist theories have also initiated a revision of the terms central to translation studies and feminism, such as traditional hierarchies and gendered roles, and rules defining fidelity. Under the influence of the cultural turn, contemporary translation was not only an operation of linguistic transfer, but also one that created new textual forms and introduced new paradigms of knowledge. Translation is considered as a way of engaging with literature; where the feminist thought creates new lines of cultural communication, where translators are involved in a politics of transmission (Simon1996:viii). In addition, feminist theorisers saw a parallel between womens oppression in language and culture and its association to the devaluation of translation (Chamberlain, 1992). Translations themselves, given that they are secondary pieces of work, have negatively been linked with implications of discursive inferiority. The authority of the original over the reproduction is linked with imagery of masculinity and femininity; the original is considered the strong generative male, the translation the weaker and derivative female. (Simon, 1996: 1)  [1]  From this, the art of translating has been envisioned as a feminine activity (Simon 1996; Flotow 1997). Nonetheless, despite its historical status as a weak and passive composition, translating has offered a means of expression for women; allowing them to contribute to the intellectual and political aspects of society. In precedent years, scholarly authorship was primarily regarded as a male activity in European culture, and published literary work by women was susceptible to accusations of presumption (Krontiris 1992: 17-18).  [2]  Adversely, translation offered an opportunity for women to become involved in literary culture in a way that did not openly challenge social or literary power arrangements. Another theoretical view challenges the belief that the status of translation is analogous to that of women. Simon (1996) distinguishes a language of sexism in translation studies, noting connotations with dominance, fidelity and betrayal. Representative of this is the seventeenth century adage of les belles infidà ¨les, a term coined by Gilles Mà ©nage to describe the French practice of translation.  [3]  4The idea it encapsulates is that translations, like women, can be either beautiful or faithful, but not both; thus, being viewed as mutually exclusive. The term has hence come to signify a type of translation that diverges from its original to an extent that it betrays the source text. Such disparaging comparisons lead to objections and strong criticism on behalf of the feminist thinkers. According to Chamberlain (1992), terms such as les belles infidà ¨les express the traditional depreciation of both women and translation, resulting in the basis of feminist translation the ory: to identify and critique the tangle of concepts which relegates both women and translation to the bottom of the social and literary ladder (Simon, 1996: 1). From the revioson of such theories, it is discernible that taking a feminist approach on translation seeks to challenges the conventional hierarchies in society. Issues of language and gender have become intertwined, where gender can be seen as an element of identity and in some ways, takes form through social consciousness (Spivak, 1990). Applying a feminist voice to translation projects allows a translator to assert her identity and ideological stance. The feminist translator shows her critical judgement and her interminable re-reading and re-writing, flaunts the signs of her manipulation of the text highlighting her role on determining meaning to her work (Godard 1990: 91). What feminist theory highlights is this renewed sense of agency in translation, allowing the reader to make cultural sense of the difference between original and translation. Feminist translation endeavours to extend and develop the intention of the source text. Sherry Simon (cited in Arrojo, 1994) argues that the remarkable aspect of translation is that represents equivalence in difference. Taking into account the feminist perspective, provides an alternative voice to the original text, aiming to make the feminine visible in language (De Lotbiniere-Harwood, 1996: 15). Von Flotow (1997: 10) also expresses this intent by stating, if we continue to speak the same language, we will reproduce the same (his)story, therefore showing the need to create new lines of transmission. Exemplary of this approach is the Bible where revised versions provide a fresh vantage point for the reader. The eventual production of The Womens Bible (Stanton, 1895) was an attempt to draw attention to the sexist nature of current translations.  [5]  It was seen as a way to develop a language in an effort to alter expressions of domination and de-construct patriarchal language. political motive De Lotbinià ¨re-Harwood defined translation as a political activity making language speak for women. (Santaemilla, 2005: 36) but needs a limitation. Duly, feminist translation opens up the question of fidelity, which has been an established quandary throughout the history of translation.  [6]  The meaning of the original and the message intended for the reader can be uncertain and constantly subject to interpretation and distortion. A translation significantly altered will result in the work being an adaptation rather than a reproduction of the source text. Determinately, an excessive amount of manipulation will result in a loss of originality, where Brazilian critic Rosemary Arrojo (1994), states that it is contradictory to claim fidelity to a text one deliberately subverts.  [7]   However, for feminist translations, fidelity is to be directed toward the writing project itself, rather than to the authors original or the reader (Simon, 1996). Though there is recognition that the translator arbitrates the role of interventionist, as she reproduces faithfully but has scope for intervention, albeit this does not mean that the translation can be free in her reproduction but that her work should be shaped and focused by its final aims.  [8]   Another constraint is that translations themselves are made for a target audience, usually dependent on the receptor language. Likewise, a radically feminist text will only target one specific readership Equally, certain problems can arise from attempting to translate a highly masculine text With the prevalence of machismo in Spain and Latin America, the work of translating cultural gender differences has repeatedly raised issues of sexism. Suzanne Levine (1983: 83), experiences difficulties when translating metaphors and images referring negatively to women, questioning whether to repeat the same archetype in her translation.  [9]  Not only will it possess a question of fidelity but also a loss of originality. The presence of a system of sexist thinking in an authors work can make it very difficult to translate with a feminist approach. Obviously, the substance of the work represents a certain meaning that the author aspires to express, a meaning behind the choice of words, and through feminist thinking, this message could be lost through translation. Another obstacle when appropriating a feminist translation may stem from cultural problems rather than linguistic. Trying to re-work a text that is reflective of a specific time period it is written manifests difficulties. Translations of various books from the Bible have incorporated the use of neutral pronouns in an attempt to eliminate male-bias language (Haugerud, 1977).  [10]  Feminist revisions of the Bible do not seek to change the content of the text but are rather concerned with the language in which this content is expressed.  [11]  In riposte, Nida (cited in von Flotow, 1997: 55) asserts that the Bible needs to be read in the context of the male-dominated society in which it originated. Bearing these factors in mind, revising the language from a radically feminist perspective can considerably change the tone and meaning. Gender neutrality can be a way to explicitly avoid a Karen Nà ¶lle-Fischer (1995) translation has shown her the immense benefits of a language in which gender need not be immediately revealed in the nouns, adjectives or participles an author uses. In English, it is easy to postpone revealing the sex of any character, thus heightening the effect of gender when this mysterious person turns out to be contrary to what is believed.. It is thus possible to maintain ambiguities leave things up to the readers imagination and not impose one particular reading. It is difficult to maintain this ambiguity in gender marked languages. Given the characteristics inherent in languages with grammatical gender, where it explicitly references the sex of the noun, translators providing an English version of the source text will face uncertainties when translating. Canadian feminist translators innovated to find new formulas of expression that did not erase the gender marks of the original (Lotbinià ¨re-Harwood 1991; von Flotow 1991).  [12]   When looking at the contents page of the text, various language manipulations occur, in the titles of the short stories. The majority of them reflect on the translators position to remain neutral when re-working the gender-marked Spanish: Regalo para una novia, where sweetheart has been chosen instead of the more obvious girlfriend. This again can be seen with El huà ©sped de la maestra, without making explicit references to the sex ot the subjects in English.  [13]   Another difference can be seen with the translation of a word, as is explicit in Marà ­a la boba. Boba which refers to silly or naÃÆ' ¯ve gives off a negative connotation, but the English simple is quite neutral, reflecting that the author wished not to attribute a negative connotation to Marà ­a, Peden presenting her own feminist perspective. Yet probably the most striking alteration is with Nià ±a perversa, where not only does the English opt out of referencing the sex of the child, but translates perversa as wicked. Although accurately, wicked is a true rendering of the word perversa, the two do not share the same connotation even after having read the story.  [14]   However, if perversa was translated as perverted in the English, it would have a rather stronger connotation than the Spanish, and thus ascertaining the issues behind a cultural sense of the difference between original and translation. The alteration in the translation is not of a significant difference, demonstrating Simons belief of equivalence in difference. Another example where meaning is sometimes lost through translation is during the opening paragraph of the story. The young girl, Elena, is described as skinny and unattractive, as una cachorra desnutrida where the English translates as a scrawny whelp. A few lines on, with regards to Elenas solitary character she is referred to as una gata, where Peden writes a waif. Does mean wicked but dependent on the context, and I dont think it applies here. In the Spanish the metaphors plants a specific image in the readers mind, which is therefore lost in the English translation, as there is no build up of metaphors.  [15]   Interestingly, the translation does not take a strong feminist approach, showing that all translations need not be radically feminine. Pedens English translation remains faithful to the original text, rendering the meaning of Allendes stories within her new reproductions.

The Ignored Lessons of Anne Frank :: Free Essays Online

The Message in The Ignored Lessons of Anne Frank   In Bettelheim's essay, The Ignored Lessons of Anne Frank, he criticizes Anne Frank's father because of the way he had his whole family hiding out in the attic of one family. Bettelheim claims he is not criticizing Mr. Frank, he just wants his readers to reexamine the way we read history. In his essay, Bettelheim concinced me that we, as readers should look again at the text and realize all the possibilities that the Franks had. In the essay, the author points out that most of the other Jewish families who did decide to go into hiding did so separately, so if one family member were to get caught, the others still might have a chance. As Bettelheim points out that the chief desire of the Franks was to continue to live together as if they were free, in the same manner that they had been living in. At the time when I was reading The Diary of Anne Frank, I had never thought that there was any other way that they could have lived. I never once considered that they should split up. Another important issue that the author brings up is the fact that the Franks were better informed than other Jews about the extirmination camps. The other Jews had no knowledge about these camps, making it a little bit more reasonable for the others to want to stick together as a family. The Franks, however, knew this and they still did nothing to prepare for the Nazis. The author also had some ideas for the Franks to prepare for the invasion when the Nazis came, even though they stayed together. He suggested that Mr. Frank could have had some form of protection, such as a gun; Mr. Frank could have tried to detain the police when they came, while his family could try to run to safety. Sure, Mr. Frank would have been killed of beaten, but he could have done a better job of protecting his family. The most important point that Bettelheim makes is why he thinks that the movie and play are such enormous successes. He declares that the ending in which Anne says, "In spite of everything, I still believe that the people are really good at heart," is ficticious. He says that this sentence is improbable when one considers that she was starved to death, had watched her sister meet the same fate before she did, knew that her mother had been murdered, and had watched untold thousands of adults and children being killed.

Distance Education Essay -- essays papers

Distance Education The American Education System over the years is developing a new way of schooling. Many colleges are resorting to this type of learning which is called Distance Education. Distance Education is possible through the new advancements and technologies of computers. This new ideal learning has beneficial and negatives attributes, raises the differences between teaching in a classroom verses distance education, key players that are involved and schools who are offering this online education. This can be a valuable aspect to our society. The computer is one of the most important technologies in this world. Due to the invention of the computer, our society as a whole has changed immensely. We can just get on the internet, which is a new technology and send a person a letter through e-mail, instead of going to the post office, where your letter might not be delivered for a few days. These technologies have made life easier for everyone; especially for the college students. If they need to get in touch with their professor, all they have to do is jump on the computer, go to their e-mail account and write up a message to their instructor. The computer has specified programs make particularly for a subject in a class. For example, in ISTC class, it provides a program called Blackboard. With this program, assignments can be given online, without meeting face to face. Because computers are so high-tech these days, you are able to take college classes online and receives legible credit for it. Since the computer is becoming more progressively advanced everyday, students are able to go into a virtual classroom to talk to their professor and fellow classmates. This virtual classroom is just like a real cla... ...E-Learning: Strategies for Media Online Teaching and Engaged Learning. International Journal of Distance Education Technologies, Vol 2, pg 17. Retrieved October 13, 2004, from Academic Search. 5. Meyer, K. (2002). Quality in Distance Education. New York: Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 6. Palloff, R. (2003). The Virtual Student. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. 7. Saygin, C. (2004). A Web-based Programmable Logic Controller Laboratory for Manufacturing Engineering Education. International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 24, 590. Retrieved October 11, 2004, Academic Search. 8. Twigg, Carol A. (1996, March). Is Technology a Silver Bullet?. Educom Review, Vol 31, pg 28. Retrieved October 16, 2004, from ERIC/EBSCO database. 9. Willis, Barry. (1993). Distance Education: A Practical Guide. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications.

Creative Response: Clueless

I could tell Tai’s grieving period would be considerable, unless I found someone to take Elton’s place right away. The next day in class a new guy named Christian came into my class and he was hot. Okay, okay I know I said I would find a guy for Tai, but I suppose there’s no harm in finding one for myself also. During the next few weeks I did what any normal girl would do. I sent myself love letters, flowers and candy. Just so he’d see how desired I was. Just in case he didn't already know. You also have to show a little skin.This makes them think of you naked which makes them think of sex. I invited Christian to a party and we danced all night long. Maybe too long. I could tell he was falling in love with me you know, like he even ignored every other girl that night. Diary Entry 2 Christian and I spend all of our time together. We even went shopping together, which was a plus because I wouldn’t have to find Tai or Dionne every time I had a fashion emergency. I would never be caught alone shopping. I mean could you imagine me, shopping alone? How embarrassing would that be right?Diary Entry 3 Even though I never pay that much attention to those beneath me, Travis the skateboarding pothead had been coming up in many conversations around me. I decided I would investigate the matter. So I asked Tai what everyone was doing. I mean they were talking about baloney head Travis! Tai told me that Travis won like some massive skateboarding competition and has like five sponsors now. She said that he is practically famous. What is wrong with people these days? Thinking that skateboarding is a great enough skill to make a person become famous.Please, I could do better things in my sleep. Diary Entry 4 It’s been four weeks since I found out about Travis and his new found fame and to be perfectly honest I thought it was going to be his fifteen minutes of fame but that’s not how it has turned out. Everyone has been talking abou t him and almost all the attention has gone from me and onto to him. What is so great about him anyway? He does a few tricks on a plank of wood with wheels on it, big deal. I don’t know why everyone is so hyped up about him. I mean today I saw a freshman with a picture of him in her locker!I was all like get real he is just the same old pothead he was a month ago. ? Anyway back to me. It’s been a month and Christian still hasn't made a move on me. I'm not ugly, I've been checked by a doctor for that. There must be something wrong with him because I know it’s not me. I would talk to Tai about it but she seems angry at me for some reason. I suspect it’s because I promised to find her a guy and I still haven’t, but I mean it’s really hard. I have to pay attention to my love life first right, and I can’t talk to Dionne about it, she has her own relationship problems.Plus I think she has been dragged into the Travis fandom anyway, and who wants to hear about Travis all day? Not me! Diary Entry 5 I am seriously concerned that this whole Travis thing is not a phase. I heard someone say in gym class that he doesn’t even come to school anymore. He just gets paid to skate all day and the teachers are fine with it. How can all the teachers just let something like this happen to me? Especially Miss Geist and Mr Hall. After all I have done for them they should be letting me do whatever I want, not Travis. What has he ever done for them?I’m sick of my school not paying attention to me, and let alone my supposed friends Tai and Dionne. Like I pretty much created Tai’s popularity she should show a little gratitude. I am the only one at this school that hasn't completely lost my mind over Travis. Diary Entry 6 I’ve broken things off with Christian. We had been practically been dating for almost two months. I mean we went shopping together, had sleepovers and made fun of everyone’s love for Trav is together but he never made a move. I tried to kiss him once but he turned his head and I kissed his cheek instead, I was not happy.So now I have no one. Christian hangs out with some new French guy, Tai hates me and I am pretty sure she’s has her eye on Josh, ew I don’t know what she sees in him. Dionne is now the leader of the Travis fan club and has no time for me anymore. So it’s just me and my dad. I don’t understand how or why this has happened to me. Diary Entry 7 I’ve decided that I have let this Travis thing go on for far too long, and I am putting an end to it all. By the Travis thing I mean me being less popular and losing all my friends and Travis not being a good citizen and helping me, a girl in need of his help.He has only been thinking about himself while I am having the biggest crisis of me life! He should really be less selfish. Diary Entry 8 I spoke to Travis about my situation and because he now knows how selfish he was being he has decided to help me, on the condition that I think less about helping myself and think more about other people. To be less selfish myself I’ve decided I will give Tai tips about what Josh is interested in, I will take her on a shopping spree, and I’ll help Dionne with the Travis merchandise, like making posters and t-shirts.I also bought Christian and his French buddy new tuxes to wear to the winter prom. So now it’s Travis’ turn to help me. Diary Entry 9 Travis told me that he had already helped me by showing me that I wasn’t the only one who always needed help. Travis is smarter than I thought. He is a nice person and I am grateful for his help. I may have misjudged him before. I have my friends back at my side. Tai is dating Josh. Dionne has her fan club running smoothly and she is still happily dating Murray. Christian announced that he has fallen in love with his French guy, and I found out how much I really like Travis.We have been goin g out for two months now and life is great. I wouldn’t change it in anyway. Rationale The text is Cher’s diary. It starts when Cher, Tai and Dionne are sitting and talking about Elton and Tai feels rejected. Cher says that she will find Tai a guy but she never does. Then Cher falls for the new guy, Christian. She forgets about her friends and while she is distracted by Christian, Cher loses all her popularity to the newly famous pro skater Travis. After a while Cher loses interest in Christian and realises she has lost her friends and her high status.She asks Travis to help her win her popularity back. Travis helps her become less selfish and Cher’s friends forgive her and take her back. Cher then falls for Travis. In Clueless Cher does not learn any lessons and does not realise that the way she acts is selfish and unkind. Cher gets her own way and never learns that there are consequences for her actions. The alternate ending I have written teaches Cher not to j udge a book by its cover and that everyone does not always like the way she treats them. Travis teaches her to be less selfish and Cher discovers how much she actually likes him.