How Management has changed with respect to Globalization

Various things have and will persist to amend the practice of management. Advancing expertise, changing demographics, immense diversity in the workforce, and globalization are just some of the changes facing managers at present. These factors will persist to change the methods in which management runs. The globe now is not the world that subsisted years back. Globalization has fetched gigantic changes to the world of commerce and it has changed loads of sides of the management world (Palpacuer, 2006). Today’s globalization is disparate from what has gone earlier for two rationales. First is technological, the acceleration of interactions. Many communications expansions have been occurring more than the preceding half-century, but the current momentum of change, the magnification of capacity for information diffusion and the dissemination of communications media have not been experienced in the past. The other is a shift in the policy setting: liberalization uprising, an opening of markets and lessening in the part of government in terms of rights and command over manufacturing of goods and services (Feenstra, 1998). Corporations nowadays can arrive at customers in every country and can cut overheads via global production and allotment systems. Managements experience regular change, extreme competition, and amplified customer expectation, which formulates it progressively challenging for an organization to uphold its competitive border. These days, flourishing managements must appraise the competitive background and kit out their organizations with the tactics, configurations, and workers to compete in a frequently changing milieu (Swain, 1999). Globalization has changed new criteria, and every management must be ready to meet this transform by exploiting the aptitudes of leadership and communication, plus the capability to lead his or her industry through any sort of change. References Feenstra, R.C. (1998), Integration of Trade and Disintegration of Production in the Global Economy, Journal of Economic Perspectives, 12, pp.33-34. Palpacuer, F. (2006), Globalization and Corporate Governance: Issues for Management Researchers, Society and Business Review, Vol. 1 No. 1, p. 49. Swain, P. (1999), Organizational Learning: Developing Leaders to Deal With Continuous Change – A Strategic Human Resource Perspective, The Learning Organization, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 32-33.

Singapore Flyer

Introduction Our group’s choice of attraction is the Singapore Flyer (FIG. 1). Endorsed by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and opened on 25th April 2008, the Flyer stands at 165m in height and was built at a cost of S$240 million. It is ranked #19 out of 276 attractions in Singapore on TripAdvisor and is one of the attractions that make up the â€Å"See Singapore Pass†. A General Assessment of the Singapore FlyerWith reference to Butler’s Tourism Area Cycle of Evolution theory (1980), the Flyer is likely to be at the development stage (third stage) as it has established itself as a well-known paid tourist attraction with sharp planning and strategies designed to attract tourists. Visitor arrivals in 2010 were 30% higher than in 2009, largely due to the Flyer’s $10 million master plan that included the launch of the Singapore Food Trail and the Journey of Dreams interactive gallery[1]. However, it has also faced much criticism for its perceived lack of au thenticity and dilution of local culture.For example, the Singapore Food Trail (FIG. 2) can be considered a form of constructed authenticity[2] – it has a themed interior design and setting from the past as well as makeshift stalls along the roadside, all of which brings back the nostalgic feel and charm of Singapore in the 1960s. This shows how the Flyer has sought to keep up with â€Å"The Tourist† who demands authenticity and associated feelings of nostalgia for the â€Å"natural past† (GE2218 Lecture 5, 2013) There are multiple reasons to explain why this attraction was opened.Firstly, the Flyer is one of a few vantage points that offer both locals and tourists a 360o panoramic view of the cityscape. Secondly, it was to be a revenue-generating attraction for the government as 50% of visitors were expected to be tourists with S$94 million in tourism receipts generated in its opening year. Third, as the Flyer is similarly styled to the London Eye (London being an Alpha++ city[3]), opening it could be viewed as a political and economic gesture to the rest of the world that not only is Singapore a leading world city, it is also an attractive place for foreign investment.According to Ms Patsy Ong[4], â€Å"the opening of Singapore Flyer herald[s] a new age for tourism in Singapore†¦ the unique and exhilarating top-of-the-world experience makes Singapore Flyer a must-see and compelling visitor destination in Asia. † Fourth, the Flyer provides Singapore with an iconic landmark that can be recognized internationally, more so when set amidst a necklace of attractions such as the iconic Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort next door.The Flyer serves those who wish to take in Singapore’s cityscape from an aerial view as well as those who want to eat and shop before or after taking the attraction. It tries to cater to a range of age groups, socio-economic back grounds and nationalities. Examples include having student discounts on certain days, family packages, infrastructure that support wheelchair users, multiple restaurants and shops as well as a recreated Rainforest garden (FIG. 3) that provides visitors with a lush tropical feel.However, despite trying to stay inclusive by catering to the mainstream crowd, many still feel the Flyer tickets are too expensive[5] – it is therefore highly likely that people from lower-income groups are priced out and excluded[6]. The Flyer attracts a range of visitors although the majority of people there were tourists[7]. According to one of the staff at XD Experiential Ride, visitors to the Flyer comprise largely of tourist families and couples. Couples normally visit at night while the weekends see mostly families.Generally, the complex was observed to be largely empty on a weekday afternoon (FIG. 4). Times of day as well as weather has a great influence on when people visit – most visitors prefer to view the cityscape at night while bad weather limits maxi mum enjoyment of the ride. Numerous people such as retail and F&B staff, maintenance staff and security staff work at the Flyer with majority of them involved in the security department. SWOT Analysis Chart The SWOT analysis chart (FIG. 5) will be used to evaluate the  Strengths,  Weaknesses,  Opportunities and  Threats involved in the Singapore Flyer.Identification of the Flyer’s SWOTs are essential as they inform later steps in achieving its ultimate objective – to attract more tourists and to increase tourist revenues. Strengths The Singapore Flyer claims the title as the world’s largest observation wheel – it is a landscape of spectacle[8] by virtue of its sheer size and distinction and is also visually effective and stimulating. Its air-conditioned capsules make it suitable for tourists who are unaccustomed to Singapore’s tropical heat.Through branding, the Flyer sets itself apart as a world-class lifestyle destination of choice for vi sitors, offering the best views and fabulous dining[9] all within the same complex (FIG. 6). Joint promotions with retail shops located within the complex are also carried out (FIG. 7). The Flyer is highly accessible by public transport, a necessity as it is likely to be the main mode of transport for tourists. The attraction is directly linked to Promenade MRT station while free shuttle buses operate every half hour to and from City Hall MRT station.Coach bays for tour buses are also available (FIG. 8). The Flyer also capitalizes on its good Chi or fengshui with its Signature Auspicious Trail that â€Å"promises to harness the right Chi or the cohesive flow of position energy that guarantees prosperity, good fortune and longevity. †[10] This makes it more attractive to the Asian tourist market where many remain auspicious and who believe in collecting good fengshui. In addition, the Flyer actively markets itself to a global audience through link-ups with tour agencies, Singa pore Airlines, and schools. WeaknessesThe Flyer lacks originality with some viewing it as a â€Å"copycat version† of the London Eye. â€Å"Staged authenticity† (Edensor, 2009) is evident in the Flyer’s offerings of bite-sized and packaged â€Å"Singaporean† facets – an appropriated artificial â€Å"Food Trail† and â€Å"Rainforest Discovery† – that reduce and dilute the authenticity of Singapore’s culture and identity to an engineered landscape[11] that may not go down well with locals. Locally however, there has been little or no national awareness about the attraction as little publicity and hype is generated apart from special occasions.Many locals also have the mindset that the Flyer is a â€Å"tourist attraction†, hence they subconsciously exclude themselves from participating in this activity. Opportunities With reference to the consumer/social factor, the Flyer should capitalize on Singapore’s growi ng popularity as a tourist destination for visitors from all over the world. This growing popularity could very well be a result of our perceived Orientalism/exoticism[12] (Morgan et al, 2012:245) where tourists view Singapore as the â€Å"Exotic East†[13] (Jandt, 2004:404).Moreover, we appeal directly to the tourist who wish to explore South-East Asia but are turned off by many of the other less-developed S. E. A countries – in this way, Singapore could act as the â€Å"gateway† to these other countries. Through their transit here, it is highly probable that tourists would want to explore Singapore as well, and hence the Flyer could capitalize on this aspect by marketing itself vigorously as a â€Å"must-see destination† for these global tourists.Economically, opportunities for the Flyer will increase as there is currently huge potential for our MICE sector to grow even more, particularly with the opening of the MBS Convention Centre located right beside the Singapore Flyer. As Chandran Nair, general manager of Singex puts it, â€Å"MICE has a strong multiplier effect for the economy. You see major trade shows coming into the countries, and you see hotels, stand contractors, freight forwarders and shops benefit. â€Å"[14] This is directly linked to tourism because as the number of MICE conventions held increase, visitor arrivals numbers will definitely grow together in tandem.As visitors to Singapore increase, they are likely to go sight-seeing and with the Flyer in such close proximity to the MBS Convention Centre, it is hence extremely convenient for visitors to make their way there, thereby boosting visitor arrivals and revenue for the Flyer. Opportunities further arise as the everyday tourist experiences a rise in income and quality of life due to strong domestic growth in their home countries. The Flyer could provide associated services that appeal to these people, thereby capturing a portion of the wealth they are prepared to spend[15].As reported by ICAEW[16], Singapore’s tourism industry is predicted to benefit from strong domestic growth in countries in the region like Indonesia, where newly rich Indonesians are more able to travel abroad and who are prepared to spend top dollar in their destination countries. Threats A threat could be the increasing number of similar attractions around the world. As countries compete for the tourist dollar, it is vital to note if the Flyer has a competitive edge over any of these other attractions.Not only does the Flyer have to fight with similar existing attractions (e. g. Ferris Wheel in Taipei[17] and the Menara Tower in Kuala Lumpur[18]), many similar new attractions have also been planned such as the proposed Dubai Eye, The New York Wheel and the Eye on Malaysia. Another threat is the possibility of being overshadowed by newer buildings that offer the same panoramic view of Singapore such as the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, Sky on 57 and 1-Altitude. Ano ther related point is that as tourists spend an average of just 3. days in Singapore[19], they might choose to visit the more popular and well-known attractions like Sentosa, Singapore Zoo and the Orchard Road shopping district while giving the Flyer a miss. Additionally, the Flyer is extremely vulnerable to adverse weather conditions (e. g. thunderstorms) in which it has no control over. In 2010, lightning struck the Flyer and caused a malfunction in the air-conditioning system; the attraction had to be closed for two days before it was certified safe to re-open.This shows how attractions that capitalize on offering spectacular scenic views are extremely vulnerable to weather conditions, and further illustrates how tourist attractions are constantly evolving as they seek to adapt to different circumstances every day. Conclusion As the aforementioned analysis has demonstrated, the Singapore Flyer is a tourist site that has ample strengths and opportunities that can be tapped on and further enhanced for the generation of revenue. These however, have to be carefully negotiated with the opportunity costs that may be incurred.One should be cautious therefore that capital maximisation through the presentation of bite-sized touristy images is in fact an inauthentic re-appropriation of the â€Å"Singapore culture†. Such a phenomena, in the name of profit maximisation, threatens authenticity, where models of a real are without origin or reality: a hyperreal that sees the precession of simulacra(http://www. stanford. edu/class/history34q/readings/Baudrillard/Baudrillard_Simulacra. html), and an eventual threat to our identity as Singaporeans as we know it.As consultants for the Singaporean tourism company in pursuit for profits, we therefore identify the strengths and opportunities of the Singapore Flyer. However, we also seek to highlight the weaknesses and threats that may impinge on the very authenticity and character of the Singaporean culture and identity. Appendix FIG. 1 – Singapore Flyer signage [pic] FIG. 2 – Recreated tropical rainforest [pic] FIG. 3 – Singapore Food Trail [pic] (Obtained from: http://www. singaporeflyer. com/wp-content/header-images/food-trail. jpg) FIG. 4 – Flyer on a weekday afternoon [pic] FIG. 5 – SWOT Chart LOCATION |TYPE OF FACTOR | |OF FACTOR | | | |Favourable |Unfavourable | |Internal |Strengths |Weaknesses | |Offerings |Offers spectacular view of cityscape |Lacks originality | | |Air-conditioned capsules |Reduces and dilutes Singapore’s cultural authenticity | | |Easily accessible | | | |Combines F&B, shopping and sightseeing all in one | | | |complex | | |Marketing |Excellent branding strategies |Little/no local awareness of promotional activities | |External |Opportunities |Threats | |Consumer/social |Gateway to rest of Southeast Asia |Tourists bypass Flyer for more popular attractions | | | Vulnerable to weather conditions | |Economic |Rise of the well-heel ed global tourist |Increasing number of similar existing/new attractions | | |Huge growth potential in the MICE sector |globally | | | |Overshadowed by other buildings that offer the same | | | |view | FIG. 6 – â€Å"Play, Shop & Dine† all in one complex [pic] FIG. 7 – Joint promotion held with Nankai, a retail shop located within the Flyer complex [pic] FIG. 8 – Coach bays [pic][pic] ———————– [1] http://www. asiaone. com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110407-272181. html 2] An authenticity projected onto toured objects by tourists or tourist producers in terms of their imagery, expectations, preferences, beliefs and powers (Wang, 1999:352) [3] http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Global_city [4] Managing director of Adval Brand Group Pte Ltd, the exclusive sales, marketing and ticket distribution agent of the Flyer [5] S$21 for a child; S$33 for an adult (Singapore Flyer, 2013) [6] Supporte d by our survey results where majority of survey respondents regarded themselves as belonging to the middle and upper-middle income strata. [7] Our survey results showed that visitors to the Flyer were mostly overseas tourists who hailed from places like India, England, New Zealand, China and Korea. [8]

How did developments in the Balkans lead to the outbreak of the war?

What was the role of Serbia? Austria? Russia? What was the aim of German policy in July 1914? Did Germany want a general war? The Balkans is the historic name given to the states in southeastern Europe. Only five states in the Balkans were free from being ruled by Turkey. The people that lived in these areas were considered Slavs. Once Turkey stopped ruling these five states, they wanted to save the remaining states under Turkish rule. The movement was called the Pan-Slavism movement. This movement wanted to unite all of the Slavs including Russia, and break down Turkey and Austria-Hungary. Because Austria wanted to disable the movements of Slavs, they annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Balkan Wars prepared the way for World War I by satisfying some of the aspirations of Serbia and thereby giving a great impetus to the Serbian desire to annex parts of Austria-Hungary; by alarming Austria and stiffening Austrian resolution to crush Serbia; and by giving causes of dissatisfaction to Bulgaria and Turkey (â€Å"Balkan Wars† 2007) In July 1914, Germany sought war and started what we called now the World War I. The German policy at that tome was centered on the following: a. )illustrating Russia as the aggressor, b. an Austrian ultimatum to Serbia had to be designed to preclude a negotiated settlement, c. ) Italy had to be convinced to join the German side through whatever means and d.) as many secret military measures as possible had to be taken to facilitate mobilization once it was announced. Generally, Germany with its goals was evidently setting the stage for a successful general war (Copeland 2001 pp. 85-87). 2. Assess the settlement of Versailles. What were its good points? Bad points? Was the peace too harsh or too conciliatory? Could it have ensured peace in Europe? How might it have been improved? The Treaty of Versailles seemed to satisfy only the â€Å"Big Three† which are Britain, France and America. For France, it appeared as if Germany had been smashed; for Britain, it was satisfied that enough of Germany's power had been left to act as a buffer to communist expansion from Russia ; and for America, it was just happy that the proceedings were over. They kept Germany weak yet strong enough to stop the spread of communism. They kept the French border safe from another German attack and created the organization, the League of Nations, whose was to end warfare throughout the world. However, it left a mood of anger throughout Germany as it was felt that as a nation Germany had been unfairly treated. Above all else, Germany hated the clause blaming them for the cause of the war and the resultant financial penalties the treaty was bound to impose on Germany. Those who signed it became known as the â€Å"November Criminals†. Many German citizens felt that they were being punished for the mistakes of the German government in August 1914 as it was the government that had declared war not the people. On the other hand, the Treaty of Versailles brought forth peace settlements to materialize all over Europe particularly in Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey. But because of the harsh conditions of the treaty, Germany's acceptance of the provisions did not last. In 1933, Hitler refused to pay the reparations. This instigated the rise of power of the Nazis (Trueman 2008). 3. Discuss France’s foreign policy problems after the Versailles Treaty. By what means could it best obtain security? Was the invasion of the Ruhr wise? Should France have signed the Locarno pact? Should it have made an alliance with Soviet Russia? French defense policy right through the inter-war decades (1919–39) was consistently defensive and non-aggressive – consistent with France’s status as a territorially satisfied ‘status quo’ power. The Versailles Treaty caused a financial imperative in which dominated France's foreign policy through-out the twenties, leading to the 1923 occupation of the Ruhr in order to force Germany to pay the reparations required under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. The occupation of the Ruhr led to a collapse of the German economy. There was massive inflation and large increase in unemployment. Germany was unable to pay, and obtained support from the United States. Thus, the Dawes Plan was negotiated after President Raymond Poincare's occupation of the Ruhr, and then the Young Plan in 1929. The French occupation of the Ruhr had swung German opinion to the Right. It encouraged Hitler and his Fascists in Bavaria that somehow led to World War II (Price, 1969). More so, French pursuit of economic cooperation with Germany from 1919-1922 was perceived as â€Å"an initial stage† of â€Å"an important strain – in some respects the dominant strain–in France’s postwar foreign policy† (Blatt, 2001). Meanwhile, the Locarno pact led to the improvement of the relationship between France and Germany wherein series of treaties of mutual guarantee and arbitration were signed that guaranteed the common boundaries of Belgium, France, and Germany as specified in the Treaty of Versailles of 1919 (â€Å"Locorno Pact, 2007). Furthermore, France’s leaders were aware, however, that she could not defeat Germany alone. Therefore, French foreign and defense policy in 1936–39 was heavily determined by a quest for a firm British commitment to underwrite French security. This, however, was not obtained until February 1939. Another problem was the French need to find a counterweight to Germany in Eastern Europe. This had traditionally been Russia (through the Franco-Russian alliance of 1894). That union had foundered, however, on the ideological hostility of French political conservatives to Russia’s Bolshevik regime after 1917. This diplomatic problem was compounded by geo-politics: Russia had no common frontier with Germany after the territorial adjustments of 1919 had re-created Poland. Thus, even the French Left’s desire for an updated Franco-Russian (Franco-Soviet) defensive alliance was not self-evidently the answer to France’s strategic exposure, if faced by further German aggression as seen in 1914 (Evans &Godin. 2004). 4. How was Hitler able to defeat France so easily in 1940? Why was the air war against Britain a failure? Why did Hitler invade Russia? Why did the invasion fail? Could it have succeeded? Hitler was able to swiftly defeat France because of the German's strategic boldness and operational dash. Actually, the French forces could have been able to fight the German offensive that opened on 10 May 1940 to a standstill because they have more superior design and more combat capabilities. But because the forces were deployed all over France, their defenses were easily breached. However, the air strikes of Germany in Great Britain did not experience the same victory as it had with its first conquest. There were several reasons for this defeat of Hitler, including the superiority of the British Spitfire over German fighters and limited fuel supply. The main factor that caused the German's strategy. In the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe concentrated on attacking the British air fields. Despite British superiority in aerial combat, their air fields were being steadily degraded and were damaged. If the Germans kept were able to constantly attacked the British air fields, the would have gained the upper hand in the battle. But Hitler's order of attacking British cities, to terrorize the British people into submission have caused the British air force's to secure their air fields and gain tactical advantages. â€Å"The Beginning of World War II†). Hitler suffered a major military and political problem in his quest for the invasion of Britain. He was dubious about his own plan. The ideological reason why Hitler was not fully committed to invading Britain was for him, it would have been a distraction. Britain contained neither the space, nor the raw materials, that he believed the new German Empire needed. But for Hitler's po int of view, there was an alternative to invading Britain: he could invade the Soviet Union. Both Hitler and his military planners knew that Germany's best chance of victory was for the war in Europe to be finished swiftly (Rees, 2001, p. 1). At first, the Soviet invasion was successful because of their German Blitzkrieg technique that cause annihilation in Russia (Rees, 2001, p. 2). The tables were turned when Hitler set in motion one of the bitterest conflicts of the 20th century – the Battle of Stalingrad. In the spring of 1942, he launched a two-pronged attack. The ferocity of the fighting at Stalingrad shocked the Germans, who were used to the relative ease of their Blitzkrieg tactics (Rees, 2001, p. ). The Germans could not have won the battle because Stalin did everything he could to prove to the Germans that they will not back down from the German's power. He utilized every Soviet to defend their territory. 5. Trace the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. How important was Gorbachev in transforming the political and economic atmosphere of the Soviet Union? Why did he fail? How did things change under Boris Yeltsin? What problems still face Russia today? On the night of November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall—the most potent symbol of the cold-war division of Europe—came down. The collapse of the Berlin Wall was the culminating point of the revolutionary changes sweeping East Central Europe in 1989. Throughout the Soviet bloc, reformers assumed power and ended over 40 years of dictatorial Communist rule which was called the â€Å"Revolutionary Wave† that started in Poland followed through by Czechoslovakia, Romania and other eastern European countries. In 1985, the assumption of power in the Soviet Union by a reformer, Mikhail Gorbachev, paved the way for political and economic reforms in East Central Europe. Gorbachev abandoned the â€Å"Brezhnev Doctrine† — the Soviet Union’s policy of intervening with military force, if necessary, to preserve Communist rule in the region. Instead, he encouraged the local Communist leaders to seek new ways of gaining popular support for their rule (â€Å"Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe, 1989†). However, Gorbachev's â€Å"balancing act† between reform and hard-line Communist forces within the Soviet Union helped create a power vacuum which unleashed forces that destroyed the Warsaw Pact and Soviet Union from within. Ultimately, Gorbachev’s failure to lead and inability to act decisively brought about his own downfall(â€Å"Tear Down This Wall: The Fall of Soviet Communism in Central and Eastern Europe,† 2008). After the fall of Communism in the Soviet Union, Boris Yeltsin became the freely elected leader of Russia. During his term, there was incoherence in the party and Yeltsin had a debilitated hold on the Russian people. His leadership was erratic and often crude, and the democrat often ruled in the manner of a czar. He showed no reluctance to use the power of the presidency to face down his opponents, as he did in a showdown in 1993 when he ordered tanks to fire on the parliament, dominated by openly seditious Communists, and in 1994 when he embarked upon a harsh military operation to subdue the breakaway republic of Chechnya. That costly and ruinous war almost became his undoing, and it flared ferociously back to life in 1999, continuing to rage long after his resignation (Berger, 2007, p. 1). Generally, modern Russia is still experiencing an economic crisis and many social problems caused by costly mistakes committed by their leaders. There is a large number of unemployment that resulted millions of Russians to live in poverty. With this kind of living condition, Russian are incline to have short life expectancy (â€Å"Troubled Times – political, economic and social problems in Russia† 1999). 6. How do you account for the continued vitality of Christianity in a secular age? What role should the church play in the modern world? Should it involve itself with the political affairs of the world? In this regard, discuss John Paul II’s papacy. Will Church and State come into conflict again? The Church is a living community, lay and ecclesiastical, dedicated to the moral and spiritual education of its followers and the whole modern Western society in general. The Church is one of the great transmitters and mediators of the whole moral and spiritual wealth of the past into the present-day world, a mission which transcends sectarian divisions and particular formal moral and theological beliefs. Its teaching mission calls for not merely preserving the ideals and beauties of the past, but vigorously translating them into an idiom for the modern world . For centuries the Church has exerted a profound and incalculable spiritual and cultural influence in many parts of the world, helping to shape men's minds, and the motives which govern their actions. In terms of meddling in political affairs, the Church has the role of peacemaker. A number of religious leaders particularly the Pope encourage a more favorable climate for the peaceful diplomatic settlement of disputes. A Pope can use its moral prestige to mobilize public opinion in behalf of peace and its diplomatic apparatus to encourage conciliation (Rostow, 1968). This role is clearly seen during the papacy of Pope John Paul II from 1978 to 2005. During his term, he had met with various political leaders such as Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat and Mikhail Gorbachev of the Soviet Union. He facilitated these talks to ensure that these leaders are not abusing their power and most importantly that they are doing their jobs to protect and serve their constituents. However, the Church should not push further its participation with political matters so as not to aggravate these political leaders. The Church should act as facilitators of peace and order and not as implementors because that is the role of the government. Doing the latter would mean that Church is bypassing the function of the government that would eventually lead to a conflict. In simpler terms, the Church deals with the eternal order that pertains to eternal salvation while the State deals with the temporal order, which is concerned with the here and now, the material well-being of citizens (â€Å"The Role of the Church in Society† 2007).

Financial Markets & Risk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Financial Markets & Risk - Essay Example iness Council for Sustainable Development defines CSR as the business commitment and contribution to the quality of life of employees, their families and the society overall, to support sustainable development. In recent years, CSR has been incorporated into the business strategy of a majority of the companies and firms in UK and all over the world. This is because of a variety of considerations that have developed in recent years making it an essential component for the success of any business. Altruistic CSR involves contributing to the common good at the possible, probable, or even definite expense of the business. It may be humanitarian, or philanthropic. Humanitarian CSR involves firms to go beyond preventing or rectifying harms they have done to assuming liability for public welfare deficiencies that they have not caused. This type of CSR is relatively rare. Strategic CSR is done to accomplish strategic business goals – good deeds are believed to be good for business as well as society. With this, corporations give back to their constituencies because it is in their best financial interests to do so. This is philanthropy aligned with profit motives. Social goals are found profitable in the long run since market forces provide financial incentives for perceived socially responsible behaviour. CSR is also a positive business driven response to the business environment of today. It is not an add-on. CSR is not static. It is a dynamic, multidimensional concept covering social, economic and environmental concerns, and is continually evolving with the diversity of the market. Innovation is a critical aspect of CSR initiatives. CSR is not an alternative to regulation. CSR is voluntary in nature. It has become imperative for businesses today to incorporate CSR in their business activities. Apart from the pressures from various directions, there are several reasons that companies find CSR initiatives beneficial for them. Rapid political, economic and

The Equitable Doctrine by Lord Mersey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Equitable Doctrine by Lord Mersey - Essay Example The reason for this issue being, and remaining, alive is embedded in the fact that Human Behavior is incorrigible. From time immemorial the strong have prevailed over the weak in more ways than one can conceive. Putting it mildly it has been called â€Å"persuasion†, while the advocated of downtrodden have declared it to be â€Å"oppression†. But in all cases the manipulation continues as a manifestation of our nature. No doubt the Ontologists will gleefully wring their hands at the opportunity to explain it, but let it rest for now, as this is not a philosophical discourse. The root of this ailment lies in â€Å"need†. There always has been, and always will be a need by someone to borrow and a lender is always at hand to do the needful. This builds a case to be persuasive or oppressive, as the case maybe, and a clogging clause is gently forced in the agreement. Normally suspicion does not enter the mind at this stage, as the mind is already clogged with the urgency of the need, So far so good, as the good old saying goes. But the situation takes a dramatic turn, when by a stroke of fortune, or misfortune as some may say, the borrower wishes to shed the shackles he has been wearing for some time. Suddenly he is faced with an unbelievable situation that he has already surrendered his right to freedom. That he has chosen to remain a slave to his master’s wishes dawns on him as rude shock, that there is a clause that prohibits the recovery of his security without penalties. It is a moot question that the legal profession in all its wisdom now takes over. The ever-eager legal beagles find their bread and butter, overlooking the fact that it was indeed someone from their brotherhood that had earlier patronized the introduction of the clog and gave it a legal status.   

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Discussion Questions 2 - Coursework Example Achieving of these targets and thus successful strategy creation can be done through utilizing a series of â€Å"hows† that enables the company to plan its business growth, to meet customers’ needs and to prepare to the changing market conditions. The process of strategy implementation includes managing of operations aimed to achieve organizational goals and objectives. This part of converting strategic views into the concrete actions requires managers to direct organizational actions, be able to motivate people in order to meet the performance targets. A strategy is a distinctive way that allows the company to understand where it wants to be from the current situation, how to manage future direction and how to get there. It is also about how the company would be set apart from the rivals, respond to the changing market conditions, manage business, improve the performance gaps in order to achieve its competitive edge. These are the main conditions and reasons for the businesses to develop a strategy and why it is so important. Once a strategy is developed, an organization in ready to make decisions and involve stakeholders for future performance. As business model represents an economic spectre of making money, a viable business model allows an organization to have a material profit from its products and services but it also gives consumers a benefit from using them. Under such conditions, each part of the business, its owners and stakeholders, are satisfied with the outcome, which is profit for the company and good service or product for the

PsyInfo Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

PsyInfo - Research Paper Example I chose the topic of autism because children with behavioral problems in general and autistic children in particular, hold my interest. When I was in school, I had a class mate who did not mingle much with us and kept very much to himself. I remember that some of the children used to make fun of him, and I was surprised to discover that he did not really notice much of the sarcasm and the jokes cracked at his expense. That caused me to be interested in finding out just what was wrong with him, and that is how I discovered much about autism. Currently, I am oscillating between becoming a psychologist or a social worker – I have not decided yet, for certain, which path to choose. However, irrespective of the final plan, I have decided to work with children with behavioral problems. There has been quite a bit of work done in this regard, but I feel it is not enough and there need to be more professionals who are involved with children with behavioral problems. Studying this topic and getting more information on it will help me in my plans, as whether I become a psychologist or a social worker, I am planning on making children my focus in this regard. I would prefer working as a child psychologist or a social worker specializing in children’s welfare. In this regard, I have chosen to make autism and behavioral problems my specialization. Pandey, J., Verbalis, A., Robins, D. L., Boorstein, H., Klin, A., Babitz, T., Chawarska, K., Volkmar, F., Green, J., Barton, M., & Fein, D. (2008). Screening for autism in older and younger toddlers with the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers. Autism, 12 (5),

Alcohol Addicted Employees Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Alcohol Addicted Employees - Research Paper Example Employers need to take actions to deter alcohol consumption by employees ethically. Businesses should punish alcohol addict employees and treat them to the best of their capacity. Should the businesses punish alcohol addict employees and treating them? Alcohol is a very big problem of society in many countries across the world. While it is considered as one of the essentials for celebration, excessive consumption of alcohol leads to alcohol addiction. Alcohol addiction makes an individual unsuitable for work. Alcohol addicts experience mood swings and lose control of their mind. Overcome with the effects of alcohol, they say things to others that they do not really mean. They become violent in arguments and have a tendency to abuse people around them both verbally and physically. Owing to its negative sociological, psychological, and physical consequences as well as being a potential threat for businesses, alcohol addiction cannot be tolerated in the workplace, so employers should ta ke all possible measures to deter alcohol consumption among the employees. Businesses should punish alcohol addict employees because alcohol is not appropriate for the regulation of anger. Alcohol addicts lose their minds if they happen to indulge in an argument. While they deal with things on a personal level, unnecessary and out of place argument with a client or a customer is detrimental to the interests of the organization. Businesses should punish alcohol addicts because alcoholism makes an individual untrustworthy. Alcohol addicts follow the drive and mood created after consuming alcohol. For many alcohol addicts, dealing with alcohol and its consequences is a life-long process. Many alcohol addicts cannot help themselves and consume it knowing how bad it is for them at a range of levels. Alcohol addicts cannot be trusted. They can storm out of the office to get alcohol any time without caring about work. Alcohol happens to be the most beloved thing and the top-most priority i n the life of alcohol addicts. Work comes secondary which can be risky for the organization as a whole. Alcohol addicts can leave the whole team in the middle of a problem and back out from playing their role as expected by the rest of the team members. Owing to the display of such behavior, alcohol addicts are not trustworthy or reliable. Businesses should punish alcohol addict employees because this habit of these employees can incur the employers' cost. Depending upon which area the business is located in, employers are responsible for the wellbeing of their employees. Employers are required by the government to pay taxes and insurance premiums for their employees in certain areas. Alcohol addict employees have a tendency to incur the employers unnecessary and avoidable cost. Health insurance premiums for such employees are higher. They are likely to take more days off from work thus compromising upon work and productivity and incurring the employer its cost. Similarly, there are a number of other ways in which alcohol addict employees charge their employers with cost and inconvenience. Punishing alcohol addict employees is part of the way how business entrepreneurs and employers should deal with such employees; treating the alcohol addict employees is the other part. Alcoholism is treatable.  

Genetic Counseling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Genetic Counseling - Essay Example A victim child for example loses sight, cognitive ability, and ability to respond to the environment. It is caused by the child’s body’s inability to secrete â€Å"hexosaminidase-A† enzyme that leads to excessive accumulation of lipids in brain cells (Genome, 2011, p. 1). The disorder can be detected from a child’s physical and cognitive deterioration such lost sight and hearing, â€Å"dementia, seizure, and an increased startle reflex to noise† (Ninds, 2011, p. 1). There is currently no treatment for the disorder though supportive care may temporarily sustain a victim’s life. Victims however die before attaining five years (Ninds, 2011). Identification of the disease in a child means that both parents recessively have the disorder. This however only implies a 25 percent chance of having a sick child because the disease is only effective if a child receives dominant defective genes from both parents (Ncbi,

Is Development Best Achieved by Being For, Or Against, Globalization Essay

Is Development Best Achieved by Being For, Or Against, Globalization - Essay Example This essay stresses that globalization is a word that has been coined recently to refer to an age-old process. Indeed, globalization began in the centuries preceding the New World and the European Age of Discovery. Some of the earliest forms of globalization were through trade and cultural interactions. For instance, the Ottoman Empire explored parts of Africa, Europe and Asia while trading silk and spices in the 15th century. However, the magnitude of globalization in these times can best be described by the term minute. Increasing in modern globalization began in the mid-1980s and has risen sharply in the subsequent decades. This sharp rise is attributed to the modern forms of communication such as the internet and the emergence of mobile phones. This paper makes a conclusion that development is best achieved by being against globalization. As illustrated above, the effects of globalization benefit few countries while causing disadvantages to many. The modern-day phenomenon has failed to eradicate poverty and improve on the lives of those in developing countries. Instead, it has resulted in high unemployment rates and degradation of the standards of living. For example, globalization has forced the shutdown of many startup companies based in developing countries due to their inability to match the expertise and capital of the developed world. Secondly, globalization has resulted in inequality between the developed and developing countries. This compounded with the debt crisis hinders development for the underdeveloped countries.

Three things that happened in my life Essay Example for Free

Three things that happened in my life Essay What is that challenge? How is work? Is that something I can stay home and it will come over to me? Is that something I can befit because my parents have it? My explanation about challenge could be different but I think it will work. Challenge is always people dreams but most do not complete it Challenge is your dream, is something you want died for, you sacrifice our life for You believe in, you spend all your time for, you borrow money for, you cut in your sleep for, and sometime you don’t sleep for, First is work! When you want, when you decide to sacrifice you life for it, and will see how work is. No is not something you can stay home and it will come to you, is something you go looking for, no matter how bad it is outside no matter how bad the whether is you wake up with it in you head and get out looking for it, no matter how hard everything is for you go looking for it. No challenge is not something you could be befit from any parents, our parents could be rich and gives you whatever you want, you still need to know you need challenge , our parents can give you most time they have doesn’t mean anything, you can have to put yourself out and looking for challenge just like I did. Remember challenge is go back to school, or if you already at school fit for it, spend all your time on it, always have an your mine why you wake up early for? Why would you go to school for? Why would you do anything jobs to survive? Why would you need to spend a lot of time in school for? Don’t forget how much money you loose if you spend four years in college, and could save that money and go to work making more money, always ask yourself why would you do that for, and keep going in school you will see it, you will understand it, you will satisfy it, you will love it, you will say this is how challenge work.

Postmodern Literature Essay Example for Free

Postmodern Literature Essay â€Å"The Garden of Forking Paths,† by taking the form of a signed statement made by the main character of the story, Dr. Yu Tsun, has a specific instance that reverts back to the past which is the technique of flashback in postmodern literature. That precise instance is when Dr. Tsun reflects on his great ancestor, Ts’ui Pen, and recalls the life of the man. More importantly, the story itself is already a flashback by virtue of its form, a signed statement, which implies that reading the ‘signed statement’ of Dr. Tsun is already a way of flashing back to his life before his death. Apparently, the flashback scene where Dr. Tsun recalls his memory of his great ancestor also indicates a ‘flashback’ within the main ‘flashback,’ which all the more signifies the postmodern character of the short story.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Chinua Achebe’s â€Å"Things Fall Apart† is also a literary work with a postmodern characteristic. This can be observed from the way in which Achebe preferred not to ‘romanticize’ the story of the Nigerians by portraying the history of the Ibo tribe as flourishing while ending when the colonizers came, and is contrasted by the ‘self-destruction’ of the story’s main character, Okokwo. In sum, the downfall of the Ibo tribe has also been brought about by the self-destruction of the society’s hero aside from the harms done by the invading colonizers. Scott Momaday’s The Way to Rainy Mountain is also an example of postmodern literature because readers can hardly identify whether it is the author who is narrating his life experiences or the characters in the story who are revealing their journeys in the so-called Rainy Mountain. Thus, readers may tend to interpret Momaday’s work as a combination of the stories of his life and his people, or readers may tend to interpret the same work as the story of the characters from the eyes of the author or the story of the author from the eyes of the characters.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Lastly, both Primo Levi’s â€Å"Two Flags† and â€Å"Survival in Auschwitz† indicate the blurring of the character and the elements of the story. For instance, the character in â€Å"Two Flags† mentions an â€Å"umpire† in a soccer game when in fact there is no umpire in a soccer game but a referee. Quite oddly, Levi also reveals how the main character in the story died upon seeing the two flags of the nations he loved and hated respectively swaying side-by-side. On the other hand, â€Å"Survival in Auschwitz† has a climax in the opening parts of the story which tells us that the story departs from the conventional placement of the climax in stories. These elements are just some of the notable examples as to why both â€Å"Two Flags† and â€Å"Survival in Auschwitz† are also postmodern works in literature. Works Cited Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Anchor, 1994. Levi, Primo. Survival in Auschwitz. New York: Touchstone, 1996. Levi, Primo. Two Flags.   The Longman Anthology of World Literature. Ed. David Damorsch. Vol. F. New York: Pearson, 2004. 406-08. Momaday, N. Scott. The Way to Rainy Mountain. New Mexico: University of New Mexico Press, 1976.

Wabi Sabi And Tadao Ando

Wabi Sabi And Tadao Ando We can easily now conceive of a time when there will be only one culture and one civilization on the entire surface of the earth. I dont believe this will happen, because there are contradictory tendencies always at work on the one hand towards homogenization and on the other towards new distinctions. In the 1970s and 80s, architecture in Japan was developed as a quick imitation of some indistinct international style or much worse disneyfication of Japanese cities littered with out-of-place, or downright quirky, architecture. Attempts to be creative were easily blurred by sublimated ideas from pre-WWII period, as Japanese architects are lost in translating Western aesthetic forms for a Japanese public. Likewise attempts to be traditional remains most often restricted to the production of experimental skyscrapers with cut-outs and occasional pagoda roofs (note: need to find examples, images). Many Japanese architects of that period struggle to establish an identity for themselves in an increasingly homogeneous world (Isozaki, 2011: 35) Asahi Beer Building, Asakusa district, Tokyo, by renown product designer Phillip Strack, 1989. The same struggle is evident at the beginning of Tadao Andos career as he seeks to reconcile aspects of modern construction with aspects of Japanese tradition. His travels to the West in his late 20s, taught him extensively on the precedents of modern masters such as Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe and Louis Kahn (Dal Co, 1997). Yet, remarkably, Ando has never been described as a neo-Corbusian, a neo-Miesian, or a neo-Kahnian. His concrete surfaces have textures as smooth and delicate as fine Japanese craftwork. His compositions are spare and clean. By these means, Andos architecture embraces a contemplative, ascetic realm of stillness and abstraction. His works embodies a rare mastery of materials and light that seeks to reconnect mankind with nature, with a monastic sense of plainness. Kenneth Frampton in his essay Tadaos Andos Critical Modernism (Frampton, 1984) further celebrates Tadao Ando as a critical regionalist. So, how did Ando overcome his struggle for an identity? To answer this question, this dissertation begins with a look back into Japanese history. In the region of Kansai during the 16th century, the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his protà ©gà ©, tea master Sen No Rikyu, laid the foundation for the discipline of wabi-sabi: a strict adherence to the virtues of simplicity, poverty and modesty, in direct resistance to the unrefined pretention of wealth. It also reflects the dissatisfaction with institutional power and resistance to tyranny. Osaka, Kansais regional capital, is Tadao Andos native city. Thus, by birth and inclination, it is no coincidence that he belongs to wabi-sabi aesthetic which is still alive today, as do many of his clients. This dissertation therefore argues, for the first time, that the fundamental key to understanding Andos capacity for abstraction must be found in wabi-sabi aesthetics. This argument may best be illustrated by a comparison of his work with that of Sen no Rikyu (1522-91), one of the greatest of all tea ceremony masters, and an important architect of tea ceremony pavilions. This dissertation will then further discuss the role of wabi-sabi in making Ando a critical regionalist. By briefly exploring the concept of critical regionalism , its importance in contemporary architecture discourses and its criticism, the dissertation shall further reflect upon how Critical Regionalism functions within Japanese culture, in which its architectural past is often more of abstraction rather than physical. Wabi-sabi: A Context The Japanese aesthetic tradition, like any other cultural tradition, encompasses diverse tastes and arts. They range from the ordinariness of Noh theatre to the lavishness of Kabuki theatre, the severity of monochrome brush ink paintings to the opulence of gold-gilded screen paintings, and the simple rusticity of tea huts to the august majesty of castles. Among the variety of aesthetic pursuits, one theme stands out for being somewhat unconventional. It is a celebration of qualities commonly regarded as falling short of, or deteriorating from the optimal condition of the object (De Mente, 2006). While such works may appear somewhat homely and rough, at the same time they impart a sense of elegance and tranquillity, a kind of unsophisticated sophistication, like the moon obscured by clouds. (Koren, 1994). This study will refer to this Japanese aesthetics of the imperfection and insufficiency as wabi-sabi. The discussion in this chapter will briefly review the aesthetic, social, historical, and philosophical dimensions of this Japanese aesthetic taste. Wabi and sabi Wabi is derived from the verb wabu (to deteriorate) and the adjective wabishii (solitary, comfortless). The essence of wabi has been described as nonattachment and subtle profundity (De Mente, 2006: 45). The nonattachment essence of a wabi is part of the Zen School of Buddhism that teaches detachment from all material things and the ability to experience the essence of things (Koren, 1994: 12). On the other hand, the original meaning of sabi is rust or patina, but it also connotes loneliness and desolation as reflected in the adjective sabishii (lonely), particularly with reference to old age (1994: 13). Koren (1994: 21) primarily suggests wabi-sabi as the most conspicuous and characteristic feature of what we think of as traditional Japanese beauty, comparing its importance in Japanese aesthetics to the Greek ideals of beauty and perfection in the West. The essence of wabi aesthetic is perhqaps best captured in Sen No Ryikus words: never forget that the way of tea is nothing more than boiling water, making tea and drinking tea. And the tea ceremony conducted in the smallest of spaces serves primarily the practice of meditation and its goal is enlightenment. Originally, the meanings of neither wabi nor sabi were specifically related to aesthetic qualities. The development of the wabi-sabi aesthetic began in earnest during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333) coinciding with the spread of Zen Buddhism in Japan (Koren 1994: 12). Zen ideas about transcending the mundane world and conventional ways of looking at things through concepts like emptiness, impermanence and renunciation inspired a kind of appreciation of negative experiences such as old age, poverty and loneliness (Suzuki, 1972: 42). Hermits, priests and poets leading a solitary wandering life in search of spiritual insight incorporated this sense of appreciation in their works and teachings. As these ideas gained momentum, people tried to resign themselves to the sufferings of life and began to see a kind of beauty in them. Expressed in artistic forms, this in turn evolved into the aesthetic appreciation of wabi-sabi (Koren, 1994:14). Later, the development of the tea ceremony in the 16th century marks an important step in the evolution of wabi-sabi. Sen no Rikyu, credited with establishing the tea ceremony in its current form, was also influential in establishing wabi-sabi as an aesthetic concept (Okakura, 2005: 33). He extolled the use of simple, indigenous home-style tea utensils over the expensive and highly decorative tea utensils imported from China, placing objects expressing wabi-sabi at the pinnacle of aesthetic appreciation (2005:34). Initially, these new aesthetics could only be discovered in the humble utensils used by the common people, or in a neglected stone lantern overgrown with moss. However, as time progressed, design works were intentionally created to reflect wabi-sabi, for example, raku earthenware tea bowls or the design of the tea-house, which took on the style of a simple rural hut, with space inside for only two tatami mats (around 3.5m ²) (De Mente, 2006:45). Futhermore in art and design, two other elements that are often associated with sabi objects are asymmetry and austerity. Kakuzo Okakura (2005:15), the Japanese tea master, labelled this asymmetry beauty as the art of imperfection. Surprises are achieved by the unbalanced by the apparent randomness of things that allows the observer to complete the image. This stands in contrast to the Western compulsion to symmetry and mathematical balance, leaving no surprises and nothing for the viewer to add. Also worth nothing is that in modern Japan, the definition of a wabi-sabi style of living evolves into the elimination of things which that are inessential. The tranquillity aspect of wabi dictates a look and feel that radiates an aura of calm and solace. The natural aspect of sabi results from avoiding machination of any sort. This includes making an object or area look as if it were created by nature, not by human or machine (Koren, 1994). Wabi-sabi and Tadao Ando [further writing here on Tadao Andos background and why Tadao Ando: his significance in Japanese architecture since the 1980s] Several themes related to wabi-sabi can be identified in Andos works, and these will be discussed under the following distinct but interrelated headings: light, overlapping spaces and materials. This study will engage the expression of these themes through the analysis of his better known works, alongside an examination of similar principles in traditional Japanese exemplars. Light The spaces in Andos works are typified by light within darkness. Common features among Ando works are their meditative calmness and dimness. While describing Andos Church of Light in Ibaraki, Jodidio (2004) sums it up: If the enclosed world is a microcosm, the shaft of sunlight penetrating it is a ray of hope rendered vivid by the enclosure and the surrounding darkness. On the other hand, the fragile beauty of shadows that marked the Japanese cultural identity, as were praised by novelist Junichiro Tanizaki (1977), are utilised by Ando to infuse his buildings with an uncanny mood which enrich the void with darkness. In Andos Shiba Ryotaro Memorial Museum in Higashiosaka, visitors experience a space saturated with a heavy darkness, yet made significant by the sudden burst of light in the south-west elevation. Spatial Enclosure Though set in an urban environment, in true spirit of wabi-sabi, Andos buildings strive for the mood of a mountain retreat. Andos buildings are often described as an enclosed world, shut off from the exterior environment (Jodidio 2004:10). It shuts out the exterior world but introduces nature, in symbolic form. The symbolic representation of nature is a major expression of wabi-sabi aesthetic, and is prevalent in all Japanese art. One outstanding example is the Zen rock gardens of the Ryoan-ji, a 13th century Buddhist temple in Kyoto, where stones and white sand are used to depict islands and the sea. In Andos Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, near Kobe, visitors are greeted with a deceptively closed, minimalist volume of raw concrete. Dal Co (1997:125) describes the form of the museum as one which is radically new, yet there is still the old feeling of seclusion, of an architecture that creates another world remote from the everyday. He further describes the overall spatial structure is as closed to the outside yet open within, the former tempered by a few slits and the latter by layered planes (1997:125). One can argue that this is suggestive of the wabi-sabi approach in older, traditional Japanese architecture, where buildings are enclosed with a simple mud wall and made inwardly porous by layered screens. Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, outside Kobe Thus, spaces which overlap and figuratively fold in on each other add depth and richness to the composition and stimulate excitement and expectation in the person experiencing the space. The effect is achievable through the approach to the building. For example, the approach to a tea ceremony pavilion often leads through a garden space called a roji. This is exemplified in tea-ceremony huts in Kyotos Katsura Imperial Villa, one of Japans best known architectural heritage. In the course of traversing this garden, the visitor must pass through several gates, usually designed delicately and minimally, before finally reaching the pavilion where the tea ceremony will be performed. Detours are deliberately included in the stepping-stone walkway to generate similar anticipation and excitement. The same kind of indirect approach is characteristic of Andos buildings. Materials Traditional Japanese house architecture often employs unfinished logs, simply split bamboo, and walls made of clay with an admixture of chopped straw, as in Katsuras tea-ceremony hut. One can notice that materials were deliberately used without finishes for the sake of creating an aesthetically pure, ideal world of sobriety, calm and refined rusticity (Okakura, 2005). One can conclude that designers of tea ceremony architecture carefully selected only those materials conducive to production of a microcosm compatible with the aesthetics of wabi. Designers of such architecture tend to use natural materials, to have them look as natural as possible, and to employ muted -almost monochrome colour schemes. One could argue that Andos works severely limits the range of interior colours. In Andos buildings one could observe almost entirely unfinished concrete with the exception of floors and furnishings, which are of natural materials. Window sashes, which, though steel, are always painted gray, never bright self-assertive colours. This approach used both by designers of tea ceremony buildings and by Ando, is determined by a concern for the materials themselves and for spatial composition (Baek, 2008). Furthermore, in the spaces in Andos works, one can observe the same peaceful, almost desolate spirit of wabi-sabi that informs the design of a teahouse or lonely mountain temple. Apart from warm touches of wooden flooring and nature beyond, every surface of concrete, steel or mass presents a chilly monotonous grey. These black-and-white tonalities are distinctly Japanese, apparent in traditional buildings in silvery roof tiles, grey-weathered boards, neutral plaster and white paper screens. Tadao Andos Critical Modernism This chapter of the dissertation begins with a brief overview of critical regionalism, its importance in contemporary architecture discourse in Japan, and the criticisms against. Building on the discussion of wabi-sabi in chapters before, the chapter further discusses the role of wabi-sabi in making Ando a critical regionalist. Critical regionalism and Japan In history, regionalism is a manifested concept since the times of the Romans. Regional variations has been extensively discussed in Vitruvius treaties De Architectura (Ten Books on Architecture). The Romantics further propounded picturesque regionalism during the 19th and early 20th century. (Nesbitt 1996: 486) Critical regionalism, on the other hand, was first coined as an architectural concept in the early 1980s in essays by Alexander Tzonis, Liane Lefaivre and, subsequently, Kenneth Frampton. Tadao Andos works are situated within this backdrop of a newly defined focus on regionalism. This new focus is seen as a reaction to the authority of modernism and the imitating scenography of postmodernism, both of which were thought to have failed to address the human condition in their extreme stances towards historicism. The core question which arises is how to become modern and to return to sources?. In their 1981 article The Grid and the Pathway, Tzonis and Lefaivre hypothesise critical regionalism as the solution. In the context of architecture in Greece, they defined the term critical regionalism as the third and latest type of regionalism, following the English picturesque of nationalist regionalism, and the Neoclassical historicist regionalism. They further argued that modern architecture is impersonal and monolithic, destroying the humanistic qualities in architectural expression which would be reinstated by a new form of regionalism. (Tzonis Lefaivre, 1981) Frampton later followed their lead in propounding critical regionalism. In his 1983 seminal essay Towards a Critical Regionalism, he embeds the concept with a higher sense of urgency and highlights its critical nature against placeless monotony. Frampton saw critical regionalism exemplified by Jà ¸rn Utzons Bagsvaerd Church (1973-76) near Copenhagen, which represents, according to Frampton, a self-conscious synthesis of universal civilization and world culture. The combination of universal elements like the concrete outer shell of the church, with an organic and individualistic interior and a roof shape reminiscent of pagodas as a reference to world culture, make, in the eyes of Frampton, this architecture simultaneously resistant and modern (Frampton, 1983: 16) This resistance, one could argue, is also apparent in 1980s Japan in the midst of an economic boom. There exists a typified reaction against universal standards, western culture homogenisation and placeless modernism, but at the same time the reaction is critical in its outlook. Likewise, one could also argue that critical regionalism in Japan is self-evaluating such that it is confrontational with not only the world but also to itself. Although the Japanese (like the Chinese) had developed doctrines relatively early that emphasised the necessity of space essence, ma, and Western functionality and aimed, at least sporadically, at a reconciliation of Chinese and Western elements in architecture, regionalism has never been established as a critical architectural movement (Isozaki, 2001: 131). (note: further elaboration needed) On the contrary, Peter Eisenman argued there is no tradition of resistance in Asia. Thus, he concludes, rendering architecture in Asia, in principle, conservative and accommodating. Eisenman refers to the importance attributed to critical thinking in late 18th century Europe developed, in particular, by Kant and Giovanni Battista Piranesi that strongly contributed to the formation of a critical consciousness among European architects. Eisenman pointed out that such tradition cannot be traced in Asia. (Eisenman, 1995) (note: further elaboration needed) Tadao Ando: a wabi-sabi Critical Regionalist Frampton celebrates Tadao Ando as a critical regionalist. This is most evident in his essay Tadaos Andos Critical Modernism (Frampton, 1984) in which Frampton uses the label to discuss Andos architecture One of Framptons criteria for critical regionalism is a direct dialectical relation with nature, a dialog with the environment that Andos architecture embodies in the articulation of structure through the changing impact of terrain. This is exemplified in Andos Chikatsu-Asuka Museum outside Osaka. The work is characterised by the valley which surrounds the site. Ando decisively situated the museum on the severe slopes to make it a quiet building standing quietly in nature (Ando, 1989a: 46). In contrast to the modernist clean slate approach of levelling the site, Andos approach is in true adherence to the spirit of wabi-sabi of preserving the tectonic quality of the nature. In Chikatsu-Asuka, the work is tactile, another component of Framptons (1983:28) definition which resides in the fact that (the building) can only be decoded in terms of experience itself. Indeed, Ando professes that a building exists to be seen and experienced and not to be talked about (eds. Knabe Noennig, 1999: 118). It could also be argued that, in abidance to the tenets of wabi-sabi, Ando is seeking to tackle the tactile range of human perception. This romanticised emotion of wabi-sabi can be seen in the way Ando describes his buildings and context, which he refers to as cruel urban surroundings (Ando, 1997:12). As discussed earlier, within his territorial walls and spatial enclosure, Ando is determined to establish a natural, Zen-like relationship between the person, material and natural phenomena. His works are designed to be experienced in body and spirit. (eds. Knabe Noennig, 1999: 118) At the same time, Ando often speaks of the spirit and emotional contents which he has translated from the Japanese vernacular and the richness of the tradition of sukiya1 and minka2 which is lost in urban chaos and economic growth (Ando, 1982). In fact, his architecture is largely influenced by the nostalgia of his childhood memories: We all have had certain experiences in our childhood that have stayed with us for our entire lives. The house that I grew up in was very important to me à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ It is very long, and when you come in from the street you walk through a corridor and then into a small courtyard and then another long space that takes you deeper into the house. The courtyard is very important because the house is very long and the amount of light is very limited. Light is very precious à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Living in a space like that, where light and darkness are constantly interacting, was a critical experience for me. (Auping, 2002: 22) Ando (Auping, 2002: 22) speaks of himself, I value cultural treasures and would like to develop them in a creative way, revealing his, and many Japanese architects, fondness for cultural artefacts and a related lament at the loss of such an environment due to unrelenting urban development. On the other hand, the argument that posits Ando as a critical regionalist lies in this very statement by Frampton (1995:12), in which Ando is described as at once both an unequivocally modern architect and a figure whose values lie embedded in some archaic moment. In the same text, he further argued that Ando is committed to some other time before the machinations of progress has turned into an every present nemesis. Hence, one can conclude that Ando is critically opposed of the chaotic Japanese urban context and reproduction traditional Japanese physical elements. In his work there are none. One can hardly find the traditional open pavilion, bare timber skeleton, deeply overhanging roofs, or sliding shoji doors of spotless white paper (Jodidio, 2004: 21). Nevertheless Ando has transmuted these properties into something new, grounding his architecture in an ancient culture while freeing it of depiction. Wabi-sabi as a representation Japanese architectural identity. One could argue, like wabi-sabi itself, the notion of Japanese identity is perceived sensually rather than visually. Notes Sukiya is a type of Japanese architectural style. It can be literally translated as sophisticated, cultivated experience, often a reference to delight of the elegantly performed tea-ceremony. Minka are private dwellings of farmers, artisans, and merchants, constructed in traditional Japanese building styles. Illustration credits Leonard Koren, from his book Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets Philosophers, fig. 2-3 Author, fig. 1, 4-10 Word count 3493

The Cross-Dresser and Transsexual Essay -- Some Like it Hot Gender Rol

The Cross-Dresser and Transsexual Attitudes towards cross-dressing, transvestitism and transsexuality have changed greatly since the conformity of the 1950’s. Today, the drag queen RuPaul sells cosmetics and a female character with a penis can become a sympathetic addition to a prime time drama such as Ally McBeal. These transgressions from normative gender roles are frequently employed by filmmakers to examine the complexity and fluidity of modern masculinity and femininity. The roots of these explorations can be seen as far back as 1959’s Some Like it Hot, but only in the 1990’s were directors able to use these sliding identities to their fullest extent. By examining Billy Wilder’s, Neil Jordan’s and Kimberley Peirce’s use of external gender signs, gender roles, sex and sexuality in Some Like it Hot, The Crying Game and Boys Don’t Cry, respectively, we may see the progression of gender blending from comedic device towards accepted identity. While none of these films entirely empowers its transgendered characters, and masculinity is privileged as the more flexible identity, the latter two films nevertheless make strides towards a society where limited definitions of gender and identity do not exist. External gender signs such as costume, hair length and voice are the spectator’s first indication that a crossing has taken place. In Some Like it Hot, this cross-dressing has a purpose and is parodied throughout, while in The Crying Game and Boys Don’t Cry, the main characters’ transvestitism is realistic and treated with more sympathy. As our society is inundated with film images, we are comfortable with the picture of Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon dressed as women for the film Some Like it Hot. But one must remember that gen... ... and Boys Don’t Cry, on the other hand, show a move towards a society that is more willing to embrace these alternative identities. Both films use realistic disguise, behaviours and sexuality to help audiences identify with their transgendered characters. Furthermore, sex is shown to be of little consequence when it comes to a person’s true gender. Unfortunately, the portrayals of transsexuals in these two films are not yet fully liberating. The Crying Game stumbles into stereotype and limits Dil’s sexual behaviour, and even the most progressive of the three, Boys Don’t Cry, shows Brandon dying a horrible death. However, Peirce’s film has come a long way in open-mindedness since the antics of Joe and Jerry in Some Like it Hot. Perhaps in the coming years a filmmaker will finally dare to portray a happy and realistic transgendered character and also let him/her live.

The Unrecognizable Role in a Family Essay -- Literary Analysis

It is extraordinary to see how much the world has prospered through the ages. History means the period of time after writing was invented. It is seen through many of history’s works such as Romeo and Juliet, the everlasting story of love, and even through the eighteenth century’s SNL in Gulliver’s Travels. These classics define the meaning of history, but one novel that is easily forgotten with many others is The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. In his novel Steinbeck establishes himself as a true futuristic thinker. Steinbeck borrows straight past the abolition of slavery and harks upon the equality of human rights. Essentially, in a time of a failing economy, it is first expected that there is a minimum sense of hospitality with the basic needs (food, water, and shelter), and are seen through the mercenary minor characters in Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath. Steinbeck suggests a radical difference in the Joad family to the rest of the world. This dissimilarity in the main characters of the novel is a benchmark of people should be like in the Dust Bowl era. Before the Joad Family began their journey, the individual roles had merely begun to open up, and much of the importance of the characters was not yet realized. Pa Joad is a good, thoughtful man, and he plans the family’s trip to California with great care and consideration. This serves as one his only leadership roles throughout the novel. The stereotypical Man of the family in this era is found in Pa only in the beginning of the novel. â€Å"Who’s there? Tom intimidated by his bulging powerful muscles† (Steinbeck 71). This leadership role is later transferred to Ma Joad slowly throughout the novel with events such as the journey through the desert. The changing of role... ...n nobody travel back east, and the ragged man that the Joads meet at the campground confirms this fear. Even worse than a crowded labor market is the fact that the presumed opportunities because jobs are a fraud; inducing too many workers in order to drive down wages. The ragged men even suggest that the Joads will face a worse fate in California than they did in Oklahoma. Steinbeck really highlights the imperfect world that tags along with the Dust Bowl. It can definitely said that Steinbeck can be seen as a futuristic thinker as well as a hopeful author. By placing the imperfect world in our minds as the environment in the Grapes of Wrath, he allows a little light to flourish from the Joad family that symbolizes the perfect world. Much like Ma Joad’s leadership over Pa Joad the perfect world has overtaken the inhospitality or imperfect world in today’s society.

The Role Played by the International Force for East Timor in the East T

The Role Played by the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) in the East Timorese Efforts to Achieve Independence Introduction East Timor (also called Timor-Leste in Portuguese) is a country in Southeast Asia. It was a Portuguese colony from the 16th century up until Portugal’s decolonisation in 1975. In 1976 Timor-Leste was invaded by Indonesia who sought to expand its territory. This lead to the development of long guerrilla warfare between the East Timorese who wanted their independence and the Indonesian troops who suppressed the East Timorese efforts to independence. This struggle for independence lasted from 1976 until 1999. This led to the deaths of a third of the East Timorese population due to conflict related causes. Following the fall of Indonesian President Suharto, the UN endorsed an agreement between Indonesia and Timor-Leste. Indonesia agreed to, albeit reluctantly, hold a referendum in Timor-Leste for independence or integration into Indonesia. This referendum was held in August 1999 and it was supervised by the UN. The votes in favour of independence were in the majority. However, th e referendum was followed by a violent reaction by the pro-integrationist East Timorese population, which were supported by Indonesian elements. The international community was very much appalled by the violence following the referendum and there was a change in the international climate in terms of humanitarian intervention following NATO’s intervention in Kosovo, the UN’s failure to act in Rwanda, and also the inaction of the international community in Bosnia. The change of international climate led to decisive action for Timor-Leste. Under the aegis of Australia, Indonesia reluctantly consented to the international pe... ...tribution to Asia-Pacific security architecture, Pacific Review: St Antony's College, Oxford, 2003. 2. Taylor, John G. East Timor: the price of freedom ( Zed Books) 1999 3. Vincent, R. J. Non-intervention and International Order. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1974. Online sources 1. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade country/economy fact sheet on East Timor, Canberra, (Website). www.dfat.gov.au. 2. Kofi Annan, ‘Two concepts of sovereignty’, The Economist, 18 Sept. 1999, pp81-2 at p. 82. 3. "Operation Astute, Timor-Leste," Department of Defence, Canberra, (Website) www.defence.gov.au. 4. Security Council Authorizes Multinational forces In East Timor http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/1999/19990915.sc6727.doc.html. 5. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1272 S-RES-1272(1999) in 1999 (retrieved 2008-04-12)

Examine the different ways in which ‘good’ is used in meta-ethics Essay

a) â€Å"Examine the different ways in which ‘good’ is used in meta-ethics.† Meta-ethics is the study of the meaning of moral language. It describes presuppositions and language of morality. There are a number of different ethical theories for the meaning of good used in meta-ethics. The four main headings under which most acceptable theories can fit under in some shape or form. These are Ethical Naturalism (or Definism), Intuitionism, Emotivism and Presciptivism. Definism theory states that all ethical statements are similar to non-ethical statements and can, therefore, be approached in the same way. In the same way that we can verify a scientific fact, ethical naturalism theory states that we can verify an ethical statement. They are both prepositional. Definism states that ethical statements are just a type of short hand for more complex propositions. So therefore, in terms of Ethical Naturalism, if I were to use the term ‘good’ in a number of examples, it would just be a ‘summary’ word to sum up all the other words I wish to have incorporated into my sentence. For example, in the sentence: â€Å"I am good at football,† the word good is used to mean ‘skilled’ or ‘talented.’ This does not mean that ‘good’ means ‘skilled’ or ‘talented’, but simply that both of these words are incorporated in the single use of ‘good.’ In another sentence, ‘good’ could be used as a short hand for a completely different set of words. In the sentence, â€Å"It is good to see you,† ‘good’ is used to mean ‘pleasant’, ‘nice’ or ‘heart warming.’ Again this does not mean that ‘good’ means ‘pleasant’ or ‘nice’, but simply that both these words are incorporated in the single use of ‘good.’ A contradictory theory to Definism is Intuitionism. Intuitionism states that ‘good’ is indefinable. Intuitionism also holds that basic moral truths are objective and stand independently of what people my fell or think. Intuitionism holds that we should pick out our moral principles through what we think or feel. There is no definition of good that can always hold true. For example, if someone were to define good as ‘pleasing’, an Intuitionist would respond by pointing out that not all pleasing things are good. A similar theory to Intuitionism is Emotivism. An Emotivist believes that moral judgements simply express our feelings on a subject. If someone were to claim something was ‘good’, an Emotivist would see this as an emotional exclamation, not a truth claim, and would take it to mean that the person approves of the thing/action/person etc. Another fairly similar theory is Prescriptivism. Prescriptivists believe that in using moral language such as ‘good/bad’ or ‘right/wrong,’ we are simply prescribing our opinions. In other words were are saying, ‘do this, and let everyone do the same in the same situation.’ Therefore, if someone were to say ‘giving to charity is good,’ what he or she is really saying is ‘you ought to give to charity.’ This again, means that ‘good’ not used as a universal truth, but in this case it is used as a universal prescription. In summary: in Definism, the term ‘good’ is simply a ‘short hand’ for more complex propositions that apply to that particular example. In Intuitionism holds that good in indefinable and therefore has no universal meaning. Emotivists believe when we use the term ‘good or make other moral judgements, we are simply expressing our feelings. So, therefore, if I say something is ‘good,’ this is simply an exclamation and therefore cannot be true or false and cannot be reasoned upon. Lastly, Prescriptivism holds that when we say something is ‘good’ we are prescribing a particular opinion and making it known to other that we feel they should do the same. b) â€Å"Anything people approve of must be good. Discuss†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The response to this question depends on how we define the term ‘good.’ Can we loosely define ‘good’ as moralistic? There is a common theory that believes that our morals our simply a product of our culture and background. Therefore, there will be different moral codes in different societies. If each individual society has equal validity, it must be agreed that there can be no universal moral code. This theory is called Cultural Relativism. Cultural Relativism therefore holds that ‘good’ means ‘socially approved.’ Therefore if we rearrange the above statement, replacing the word ‘good’ with the Cultural Relativist’s definition, we find ourselves looking at a slightly odd sentence which looks as follows: â€Å"Anything that people approve of must be socially approved†. Now there are two ways to interpret this sentence. The first would be to question the number of people included in the generalization of the word ‘people.’ If the sentence is intended to mean, â€Å"if anybody approves of something, it must be socially approved†, then the statement is not true. However, we can also take the sentence to mean, â€Å"If the majority of people within a society approve of something, then it is said to be socially approved.† If we swap ‘good’ back into the sentence we end up with a statement that looks like this: † if the majority of people within a society approve of something then it is good.† Thus we have formed the central principle of Cultural relativism. In terms of the other theories that define ‘good’, only one can be applied. Definism would argue that the statement is simply a short hand for more complex propositions. So in this case, ‘good’ is used to mean ‘beneficial’ or ‘correct.’ Since this is possibly true, Ethical naturalists would have a fairly strong argument here. Emotivism, Intuitionism or Prescriptivism cannot really apply here as they are all subjective and based on opinion and in this case good cannot be used an exclamation of opinion.

Economics Commentary Essay

BRUSSELS: The European Commission on Thursday announced 5.5 million euros (7.5 million dollars) of emergency humanitarian aid for hundreds of thousands of civilians in conflict-ridden northwest Pakistan. More than 834,000 civilians have now fled a military assault on Taliban fighters holed up in Pakistan’s rugged northwest, where artillery pounded rebel bastions Thursday. â€Å"As a result of the intensified fighting in Swat and other parts of the country, Pakistan is facing not only a security threat but also a humanitarian threat,† said European Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Louis Michel. â€Å"Pakistani authorities are doing their utmost but their relief capacities are now overstretched,† he said, announcing the release of 5.5 million euros while adding that more could be provided â€Å"if necessary.† The EU’s executive arm stressed that its aid was provided on a neutral basis to provide basic humanitarian needs such as shelter, food, clothes, and medical support. In some places, it will also provide clean drinking water and sanitation. All the funds will be channeled to projects by non-governmental relief organizations, specialized UN agencies and the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement. The European Union plans to hold its first ever summit with Pakistan in June to help strengthen the civilian government there. Among subjects mooted for the summit, provisionally planned for June 17, are the fight against terrorism — including in neighboring Afghanistan — as well as cooperation in the field of the rule of law and trade issues, according to a Czech EU presidency source. The EU has sent some 500 million Euros in aid to Pakistan since 1976, according to the European Commission, and has quadrupled its funding for the 2007-2010 period, with 50 million euros (65 million dollars) earmarked so far. Powered by Indiatimes About Us | Advertise with Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Feedback | Sitemap Copyright (c) 2009 Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service This site is best viewed with Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher; Firefox 2.0 or higher at a minimum screen resolution of 1024Ãâ€"768 The European Commission announced 5.5 million euros (7.5 million dollars) of emergency humanitarian aid for hundreds of thousands of civilians in conflict-ridden northwest Pakistan. This article is about the European Union (EU), which also plays an important role in regional development, deciding to provide an aid for Pakistan. Many parts of Pakistan had been taken over by terrorists, Taliban, which resulted in some citizens to move to the northern part of the country. The EU is providing à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5.5 million and more â€Å"if necessary.† It will be used for basic necessities of life, food, shelter, and clothing; medical support, sanitation, and drinking water would also be provided. The type of which is provided by the EU is an official aid or also known as official development assistance (ODA); it is a mix of bilateral and multilateral aid. Multilateral aid is when organizations allocate funds provided by the countries and bilateral aid is when the aid is given directly to the country in need in the form of for example money support, machinery, tools, food, and medicine. In order to develop, Pakistan needs money and the EU is supplying them with the official aid through the organization of the Red Cross. This aid will result in developing not just the basic needs of the people there, which is proper sanitation and basic necessities of life, but also help strengthen the government, the â€Å"civilian government.† In order for development to take place, a few factors need to be kept in mind: Human factors, natural factors, physical capital and technological factors, and also institutional factors. In this case, the human factors and the institutional factors are kept in mind for Pakistan’s development. Human factors are the â€Å"quality and/or quantity of human resources.† The consequences of providing the civilians with better sanitation and food, shelter, medicine etc would be that they would have a better standard of living; lesser amount of people would fall ill and that would mean more amount of labor, which is an economic benefit. This would add to the potential output due to the increase in productivity as more people would be there to produce for the economy of Pakistan. In Graph 1 it shows the potential output of Pakistan at point B and point A represents the current output of the economy. In Graph 2, the potential output of Pakistan increased to point C due to the aid provided. These graphs show that the result of aid could increase the current output to point B because of increase in resources due to development, and potential output to point C. The amount of labor does not jus increase by proper food and health facilities but also by education and infrastructure, which is the â€Å"internal skeletal of the economy,† for which there has to be political stability, which are the institutional factors of an economy. The EU has also included aid for improving the civilian government. The civilian government, once recovered, can help in improving infrastructure and education systems by implementing new laws, policies and goals. This could also help increase the amount of security for the people in economy and also help recover land from the areas which are taken over by terrorists. Infrastructure â€Å"provides the basis for an economy.† It includes things such as road networks, sewage system, health, education. Enhancing the infrastructure would make the people in the economy better and more advanced labor. Education would help increase the amount of skilled labor which would, again, help develop the economy by helping increase the amount of physical capital and technological factors; these are social benefits to the economy. Better health would result in longer life span, more productivity and an increase in literacy rate would provide the economy with better skilled workers, increase productivity, and awareness. Poor sanitation, sewage system, can result in many deaths, which would be a negative impact on the economy as there will be a decrease in labor. In conclusion, the official aid given to Pakistan will help the economy towards progression. I will help by improving the economy’s human and institutional factors. By improving the â€Å"civilian government,† it would also make it a safer place for the normal citizens especially from the terrorist attacks. There will also be an impact on the law and order in the economy of Pakistan due to the aid given. The political stability can also improve. These would result in the overall development of the economy.

Ladron de la mente book report

This book was written by Elias Miguel Munoz, Cuban American writer, who wrote series of books in Spanish language for people, who learn Spanish. He was born in 1954 and is known as editor, teacher and literary critic. He was a talented student as well. Elias Miguel was a man of society, he always thinks about the future generations and makes everything in order to support talented youth. As far as we know, CSU Dominguez Hills received donations of $26  000- this amount was donated by Elias Miguel Munoz and Karen Christian to create the Miguel Gallegos Memorial Scholarship. â€Å"Since I’ve graduated, I’ve had a dream of doing something for Dominguez Hills. I feel so proud of the education I received,† Munoz says. â€Å"And it honors me to be able to give back to the University that did so much for me. The professors in the Foreign Languages Department guided me toward a doctoral degree. My first exposure to literature was at Dominguez Hills, and that led me to writing, which is such a major part of my life now. It all started there.† (http://www.csudh.edu/InvestInUs/PrivateDonors.asp ) After he graduated from CSUDH, Elias Miguel Munoz entered University of California, Irvine (UCI) and received degrees of Master and Doctor in American and Spanish Literature. Moreover, he even began to teach literature at the University of California and everybody there were impressed by a talented student who so brilliantly spoke Mexican and English languages. (http://www.csudh.edu/InvestInUs/PrivateDonors.asp ) Elias Miguel Munoz wrote a lot of books and among them are â€Å"Crazy love† – the book which is a kind of novel where is described an immigration from Cuba to Florida, and which has a lot of information regarding the Cuban-American culture. Among his books are â€Å"Los Viajes de Orlando Cachumbambe (Coleccion Caniqui)†, â€Å"Quia Online Worksbook/Lab Manual t/a Dos Mundos: En Breve†, â€Å"Brand New Memory†, â€Å"En Estas Tierras†, â€Å"Fray Alberto de la madre de dios; Arquitecto (1575-1635), â€Å"Torres y castillos de la Cantabria medieval†, â€Å"Ladron De La Mente†, etc. â€Å"Ladron De La Mente† is of great interest not only for teachers of Spanish language, but also for students and all who start to investigate the mystery of this melodic and amazing language. The chapters of the book are quite short but easy to understand and very interesting. The main heroes of the book behave in such a way that you cannot tear yourself away of the book and you while you are reading, you have the feeling that you are the main hero and you experience all the things that happen there from the very beginning till the end of the story. The story takes place in Madrid (Spain), and the book has a lot of pictures and illustration of the beautiful suburbs of Madrid. It has a glossary at the end of the book, so the students can see unknown words to understand the story more clearly. The subject of the book is dedicated to a young woman and her strange, incomprehensible, mysterious boyfriend and the story is full of mystery, mystics, time travel; it is full of supernatural events, which take place and things one can hardly understand, without explaining it with the simple but strong word â€Å"magic†. Elias Miguel Munoz gives in the book some elements of Spanish history, which in his explanation is of great use for students and allow learning something about Spanish history in an easy and interesting way. During the story takes place and continues, students find out what happens to a thief who steals a thing or something which cannot be named as property, but something else. One of the main characters in the story is Marisol, a young woman. Marisol is a interpreter for one computer company specialized on software, and lives in Madrid with her friend Javier and sister Rocio. Here she is depicted like a beautiful young female with her thought and strong doubts. When the reader investigates the story, he almost associates himself or herself with Marisol, living her life and being the one with her from the beginning till the end of story. The reader connects himself with her from the very beginning. The main hero has a charming character but acts very reasonable and with a bit of irony. For example, she compares herself to Dulcinea – a female character of Servantes’ novel â€Å"Don Quijot† and to another female character in one challenging computer game â€Å"Damsel in Distress† Alfonso – the other character of this interesting story is a charming, tempting and seductive character, who shows his actual face and shows his worth from the bad side gradually. He is able to mask his real â€Å"face† for quite a long period of time and in the book he is charming and seducing Marisol like a real worshipper. Marisol was tremendously tempted by his behavior (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/books/0072326174/reviews/026-3948048-6710013 ). Javier and Rocio are the secondary heroes of â€Å"Ladron De La Mente† and they are quite deeply developed by Miguel. Marisol narrates everything what is going on with her and what she is experiencing, in her diary – so the story is written partially in a diary form by her. Still, she leaves a space for other characters to show out their feelings and thoughts. The entire story is penetrated by supernormal events and computer technologies – so the story is very modern (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/books/0072326174/reviews/026-3948048-6710013 ). Marisol likes to go to the cinema, to the theater, museums, to experience bright and jolly celebrations – to live a joyous life. Still, she likes museums and paintings there -she says that the work of Guernica influence her very much. She likes also paintings of Dali: â€Å"Aquellos relojes dormidos, flà ¡ccidos,vacà ­os de vida, me parecà ­an el presagio de algo; eran la imagen muerta de un tiempo sin tiempo† – dice Marisol (These weak, empty hours of life, they seemed to me an omen of something, it seemed to be an image, which died from time without time†,- tells Marisol about â€Å"The Persistence of Memory† (Dali, 1931). This work reflects every feeling, the painter wanted to show – feelings of inhabitants of the settlement, and victims of the war. Marisol surfs the internet, she reads science fiction and makes some quite interesting associations and connections between the books of fiction and her own challenging story. In every chapter we find themes of Spanish culture, which are very important in the history of Spain. Works Cited: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Elà ­as Miguel. Ladrà ³n de la mente. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2000 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.csudh.edu/InvestInUs/PrivateDonors.asp 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/books/0072326174/reviews/026-3948048-6710013