Monday, September 30, 2019

Hate Crimes Against African Americans Essay

Hate crimes have affected African Americans in more ways than just violence; therefore, our government needs to approach hate crimes differently. Aside of the fact that the United States has elected the first African American president, hate crimes has still occurred before and during his presidency. Of the 7,624 hate crimes committed in 2007 alone, 2,659 of those hate crimes were done on African Americans (â€Å"Hate Crimes Against African Americans†, 2012). From the history of slavery, lynching, murders, the burning of crosses and churches, to the brutality that police officers have committed on African Americans, the black community has been affected tremendously in all aspects. The feelings and emotions of the African American society has been crushed and walked upon for over 400 years. In the nineteenth century, lynching was used to terrorize Blacks to maintain white supremacy. Lynching was open public murders of Blacks suspected of committing crimes. Lynching was normally done by hanging or shooting African Americans. During these years, the supremacy of white people thought that in order to control Blacks, they had to pump fear into them. Prior to 1882, there was no record or history of lynching in America (Gibson, 2012). In 1882, the recordings of lynching began with the Chicago Tribune. Other institutes such as the Tuskegee Institute, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (N. A. A. C. P. ) independently kept records of the lynching (Gibson, 2012). This crime mainly occurred in the southern states however, it occurred throughout the United States. In the state of Mississippi, it was rated the highest in lynching African Americans (Gibson, 2012). Whites justified lynching black people as a law or â€Å"Neighborhood Watch† so to speak, included major crimes to minor offenses. Lynching blacks was based on the color of their skin and discrimination. One of the most memorable moments recorded that involved lynching was the murder and lynching of a 14-year-old African American boy named Emmett Till (Zheng, 2008). In August 1955, Emmett Till was traveling from Chicago to visit his relatives in Mississippi (Zheng, 2008). While traveling, Emmett stopped to purchase some bubble gum from a local grocery store near Money, Mississippi. Before Emmett left the store, he was accused of making a flirtatious pass at Carolyn Bryant who was the wife of the owner of the grocery store. Two days after the grocery store incident, Emmett was kidnapped at midnight by two Caucasian men, Roy Bryant and his half-brother J. W. Milam. Emmett was tortured and pistol-whipped in a barn that J. W. Milam once lived. Emmett’s body was thrown into a bayou from the Black Bayou Bridge. Emmett Till’s body was later found with a cotton gin fan tied around his neck to hold his body down in the river. In September 1955, Roy Bryant and J. W. Milam were tried for the murder of Emmett Till (Zheng, 2008). The five day trial was held and an all-white jury acquitted Roy Bryant and J. W. Milam (Zheng, 2008). In 1866, white people had established an organization called the Ku Klux Klan. Their purpose was to torture and kill African Americans along with any whites sympathetic to Black people. Their other purpose was to stop African American people from voting. From braking into an African American’s home at night, taking them out of their beds and murdering them, the Ku Klux Klan were not arrested for their behavior. The impact of hate crimes on African Americans has drastically changed the ways that Black people perceive society. Aside of the Ku Klux Klan’s purpose, the implant of fear still plays a role in the mind many black individuals. The religion-based characterization has been imprinted to the point that a black man or woman feels targeted, depending on the area that he or she lives or works in. The place of employment is mentally restricted in an African American’s mind to apply for a position based on the area it may be in. Stereotyping is a worldwide illness that has placed judgment on black men and women to the point that they are limited to opportunity and advancement in the working world and the political environment. Although we are no longer in the 19th century, hate crimes are still much alive in the 21st century. In late August, early September 2006, an African American student of Jena High School located in Jena, Louisiana asked if he could sit under a tree on campus that was commonly known for only white students to sit under (Christie, 2008). The very next day after the African American student sat under that specific tree, three nooses were hanging from the tree. The school principal of Jena High School found out that three white students were responsible for this incident. Even though expulsion was recommended for the three white students, the superintendent of the school only suspended them for three days. Because of the ongoing racial tension, in December 2006, a fight broke from a White student taunting some Black students supporting the incident of the nooses being hung from the tree in the school courtyard (Christie, 2008). The White student was badly beaten and had to be hospitalized. The African American students were later charged with attempted murder and conspiracy. The African American students were between the ages of 15 and 17, facing up to 100 years in prison without parole. African American residents of Jena, Louisiana stated that race has always been an issue there. With the percentage being 85% of Whites in that community, chances of the African American students receiving a lighter sentence was unlikely (Christie, 2008). With the hate crimes becoming so public, the government has made efforts to improve the well-being of citizens of the United States. The federal government created a hate crime bill that was signed into law by president Obama in October 2009 (Shively & Mulford, 2007). The hate crime bill helps protect the people of the United States from being a victim of hate crimes. This protects individuals from hate crimes based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender; female, male or intersexual, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity (Shively & Mulford, 2007). One may think that laws are here to serve and protect the community. If you were to ask individuals like Rodney King or Kendrec McDade, they would oppose to that statement. On March 3, 1991, the Los Angeles police pulled over Rodney King after a high speed chase with him and the L. A. P. D. The police officers pulled him out of his car and beat him severely. Luckily the beating was caught on videotape by a citizen name George Holliday who witnessed the police brutality. Four of the police officers involved in the beating of Rodney King were tried and all four police officers were acquitted in the Simi Valley courthouse. Because of the ruling, riots were triggered in Los Angeles. Over 50 people were killed and more than 2,000 people were injured. In the case and murder of Kendrec McDade, a 19-year-old African American was shot seven times by Pasadena police officers after receiving a false report of an armed robbery. The report was made by Oscar Carrillo-Gonzalez stating that Kendrec and another teenaged African American had robbed him at gunpoint. Oscar Carrillo-Gonzalez later admitted to lying about the two teenagers having a gun. He also stated that he said they had a gun so the police could come to the scene faster. Kendrec McDade was left on the ground where he was shot to death for a long period of time before receiving any medical attention. Because of these facts alone, it gives a great deal of doubt when trusting law enforcement to resolve certain issues correctly. Because of these types of crimes committed in the United States from then to now, there is definitely a problem that the government needs to come up with to solve this issue. Although there are not designated water fountains to drink out of or specific schools that African Americans has to go to any more, hatred toward African Americans still exist and needs to be stopped. Equality still has not been established in the working world, common socialization, profiling of law enforcers or the areas of living. It makes no sense to call it United States if different states have different laws. I believe that the government should enforce a more powerful law that will require a higher punishment for these crimes. Thankfully there have been strong politicians and witnesses throughout the years that have given proof to the eyes of others along with the rights that African Americans finally have. I also believe that these attitudes have been implanted in the heads of those by generations before us. With that said, we the people must change the way that we think of others in order to help prevent these crimes from continuing.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Einstein for Asperger’s Essay

Einstein a Case Study for Asperger’s Christina Parker PSY 410 February 6, 2012 Dr. Melda Jones Einstein a Case Study for Asperger’s Mental illness has existed as long as humans have, but only in the last hundred years or so have psychologist started to truly understand mental illness. There is still much, that is unknown about mental illness and human behavior. One mental disorder that was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) in 1994 is Asperger’s Disorder. This disorder is usually diagnosed in early childhood, but in Albert Einstein’s time Asperger’s Disorder was unknown. Einstein had many of the diagnostic criteria for Asperger’s Disorder but was not diagnosed. Einstein was quiet and withdrawn, but had an amazing mind for mathematics. In comparison, Temple Grandin was diagnosed with Asperger’s Disorder and has many of the same mannerisms as Einstein. Overview of Asperger’s Disorder’s History Dr. Hans Asperger studied children that acted differently from others in the 1940s. Dr. Asperger called these children â€Å"Little Professors† because they were so interesting. In 1980s Dr. Lorna Wing called children with Asperger’s (AS) high-functioning autism individuals. In 1994, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) added AS. Asperger’s Syndrome (ASD) is a distinct group of neurological conditions characterized by greater or lesser degrees of impairment in language and communication skills with repetitive or restrictive patterns of thoughts and behaviors. There is no known cause or treatment for AS. The parents of children with AS often by or before the child’s third birthday sense that something is amiss in his or her child’s behavior or developmental skills. Two out of 10,000 children statistically diagnosed with AS or ASD. Boys are three to four times more likely than girls to have AS or ASD. The children exhibit delayed psychomotor skills (crawling and walking), and have problems with communicating and socializing with other children. AS children have an obsession with one topic or interests excluding other topics and interests. AS children have a formal speech that lacks rhythm and modulation. AS children appear clumsy when they walk and may have delayed motor skills (catching a ball, pedaling a bike, and other skills). The cause of AS or ASD is unknown but is thought to be genetic because AS tends to run in families. The part of the brain that controls social behavior functions differently or develops differently from other children without AS. The part of the brain that controls body movements and balance are also different in AS children than other children. ASD is a high-functioning autism disorder. Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome Explained There is no known cause of autism. Research today is using MRI imaging to determine how the Autism brain is structured. Dr. Grandin explains her condition like this: The brain is an office; the frontal lobe is the office manager. The other compartments of the brain are like the many departments in an office. The office departments do not communicate well between the other offices such as sales, product development, management, and so on. The autistic brain has to be understood and trained in a way that works best for the individual. No one treatment works for every autistic individual. Finding what motivates the individual’s fear and helping the individual to overcome or change the environment to a less chaotic one will help the individual to learn and progress. Autistic individuals do not understand facial expressions or tone changes in voices. Behavioral issues such as defecation and twitching are common with Asperger’s and Autism. Individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome are high-end functioning Autistic individuals. To understand Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, Dr. Grandin suggests that people move away from language. The nonverbal child does not understand language. The nonverbal child is sensory-based and has a complex disorder that is based on sights, sounds, smells, and touch. Cultivating the way the individual’s method of thinking will prevent fear that causes anxieties will help the individual progress. Autistic individuals have high IQs and the ability to concentrate on one subject for a long time. Most autistic individuals are gifted in math, sciences, computers, tables, astrology, and other nonsocial areas that rely on thinking skills. A Look at Einstein and Grandin Albert Einstein Albert Einstein was born in 1879 to Hermann and Pauline Einstein (a middle-class German-Jewish family). Einstein scarcely spoke and was quiet more than backward as a young child. His sister remembers his concentration and ability to build tall houses and multiple storied levels of playing card houses. At age 4 or 5 Einstein marveled at how a magnetic compass needle invariably swung northward. This caused Einstein to conclude that something invisible was behind everything sparking his interest in Physics at a young age. As late as age nine Einstein was hesitant to speak, and did so pausing to select his words carefully. His parents feared that he was below average in intelligence. At the age of 12 Einstein’s love for mathematics and physics was sparked by a booklet on Euclidian Plane Geometry. This booklet proved to Einstein that there was a lucidity and certainty in theory and made an impression on him permanently. School depended on memorization and arbitrary authority of the teachers and faculty and was not conducive to Einstein’s way of learning. At 15 Einstein quit school and moved to Italy with his family where his family was trying to start a business. He studied Mathematics, Physics, and Philosophy at home. His uncle, an engineer, and a medical student who ate with his family once a week are credited with stimulating Einstein’s young mind. Was Einstein’s brain different? Einstein died in 1955 and gave his brain to science. A pathologist named Thomas Harvey quickly preserved his brain, and made samples, and sections. Pathologists Harvey concluded that other than Einstein’s brain seeming smaller than most brains, his was not unusual. Sandra F. Witelson and colleagues studied Einstein’s brain again in 1999, and discovered that it lacked a wrinkle found in other brains (the parietal operculum), and other regions on each side of Einstein’s brain appeared to be larger and unusual features in the inferior parietal lobes thought to be the area of visual imagery and mathematical thinking. This concludes that Einstein’s brain was more equipped by this region than most individuals. Does this prove or disprove that Einstein had Asperger’s? There is no conclusive historical evidence to determine if Einstein had Asperger’s. What we do know is Einstein was capable of deep concentration, and had perseverance. He graduated without distinction, his learning style and the school learning system of his time did not get along. He sought physics because he could seek out paths that led to the depths. In other words Einstein preferred to be free to think on the invisible things behind things. It was Einstein’s ability to think deeply on physics that put him first in the race to the theory in relativity. Einstein made friends with colleagues like Marcel Grossman, Michele Besso, Paul Ehrenfest, and Freidrich Adler. His wife Mileva Maric was the only female in his physics class. Even though Einstein renounced his German citizenship when he left Germany for Italy, he could not resist the invitation to Berlin’s Prussian Academy of Sciences, he had no teaching duties and access to the greatest scientific minds of his day. Fame in physics starved and destroyed his marriage to his wife Mileva, and then divorced in 1919. The same year of his divorce Einstein married his cousin whom he had an affair with since 1914 and settled with Elsa Lowenthal and her two daughters until his death in 1955. Einstein as a young boy, a young teen, a young man, and an older man (Image  © The Albert Einstein Archives, The Jewish National ; University Library, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. ) Temple Grandin Dr. Temple Grandin was thought to be different by her Mother from a very early age. At two Dr. Grandin could not speak and exhibited behavioral issues. Her Father and consulted doctors wanted to put Dr. Grandin in an institution. Dr. Grandin’s Mother would not have her daughter put in an institution. Instead, Dr. Grandin’s Mother sent her daughter to private schools and to private speech therapy. Dr. Grandin was teased as a child in school. Dr. Temple states that early intervention is vital to best outcomes in autistic children. According to Dr. Grandin there are three types of Autism thinkers: Visual, Pattern, and Word. Visual thinkers are terrible at algebra and good at geometry. Pattern thinkers have difficulty with reading. Word thinkers are good with facts in favorite subjects. Dr. Grandin thinks in pictures, sees a series of slides like a search engine. During her lecture Dr. Grandin was tired from air travel and this caused her to lose train of thought if movement or noises were made by audience. Dr. Grandin explained that she cannot screen out the sensory issues that trigger her distractions. Dr. Grandin admits to having panic attacks, and anxiety. Anti-depressants help autistic individuals overcome anxiety, panic attacks, and OCD issues. Dr. Grandin correlates animal behaviors and fears with autism and how people handle animals also can be used to handle autistic individuals. When Dr. Grandin was born her parents were told she had infantile schizophrenia. Since her birth two Doctors one in the United States named Dr. Leo Canner and one in Canada named Dr. Asperger began studying children who displayed certain characteristics: no facial expression, lack of social skills, the ability to concentrate on one subject, and certain other emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. Dr. Grandin was born in Boston, Mass. on August 29, 1947. Dr. Grandin has earned degrees from Franklin Pierce College, Arizona State University, University of Illinois, and has earned Honorary Doctorates from McGill University, University of Illinois, and Duke University. The United States and Canada Meat Plants use Dr. Grandin’s equipment designs developed for Animal Welfare Guidelines. Dr. Grandin’s focus of study is in alleviating anxiety of intense fear and hypersensitivities to sound in Human and Animal populations. Dr. Grandin wrote autobiographies of her life with autism, which amazed the autistic community (Thinking in Pictures and Other Reports from My Life with Autism- 1995, and Emergence: Labeled Autistic – 1986). Dr. Grandin, has acquired many awards, lectures all over the United States, was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame and is a member of the board of directors Autism Society of America. Dr. Grandin has developed her own website: www. grandin. com to communicate with people on the subject of autism, and animal handling. Humane groups recognize Dr. Grandin’s work to alleviate animal fears, and her biography featured on HBO has won several Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe, and Peabody Award in 2011. Dr. Grandin has written several books, chapter books, journals, and other publications proving that people with Asperger’s and Autism can succeed. Conclusion There is so much that humanity does not know about human behavior and mental illness, but psychology continues to make advancements in the area. Asperger’s Disorder is just one example of how psychology has advanced. In Einstein’s time there was not a name for his â€Å"weird quirks†, but by the time Temple Grandin was born these similar â€Å"quirks† were known as Asperger’s Disorder. Einstein was brilliant in mathematics and similar fields of study, but could not form true intimate bonds with other people. Dr. Grandin was also brilliant but in another area of study and she also cannot form true intimate bonds with people.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Surgical Site Infection in Post-Op Patients Research Paper

Surgical Site Infection in Post-Op Patients - Research Paper Example Its impact on mortality, morbidity, and cost of health care has resulted in its identification as a top nationwide priority in the healthcare sector. The majority of surgical site infections are unnecessary and preventable to a large extent. They account for forty percent of all the infections acquired in hospitals. On top of that, they contribute to a longer recovery, further threat of other complications, additional pain, and even death in extreme cases. Research conducted has also revealed that surgical patients who develop complications from the surgical site infections are twice likely to die compared to those not infected (Dellinger, Hausmann & Bratzler, 2005). Furthermore, they have sixty percent more chance to be admitted in ICU, the hospital stay becomes longer, and lastly the readmission rate increase as six times more compared to those patients without infections (Griffin, 2005). These factors have demonstrated the need for interventions to prevent surgical site infections from affecting surgical patients. Several interventions are put in place by various groups to reduce surgical site infection rates and mortality of patients. These groups comprise the National Quality Forum, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. They have collectively recommended the use of prophylactic antibiotics to prevent surgical site infections. The SSI avoidance through prophylactic antibiotic use consists of three core elements. These elements are appropriate selection, first dose timing, and discontinuation of the dose postoperatively. Selecting an appropriate antibiotic to prevent an infection is extremely beneficial. The antibiotic selected should be one that can effectively work against the microorganism likely to cause surgical site infection (Kurtz, 2011). The antibiotic selection varies depending on the kind of surgery. Physician and clinical experts from various health bodies, boards, an d groups have developed guiding principles for appropriate antibiotic selection (Surgical Infection Prevention Guidelines Writers Work group 2004). From the proposed strategies, hospitals are anticipated to create inter-department protocols based on local consensus and formulary of the practitioners. The protocols are the guidelines that direct the medical staff on what to do in cases of emergencies. In this scenario, they assist in ensuring that the most appropriate antibiotic is chosen since they can be prepared beforehand and performed by the nursing and pharmacy personnel. In this situation, the need to note down a unique antibiotic order for every surgical patient is reduced. Furthermore, the unique regimen may contain an error or some portion of it may be inadvertently omitted (Griffin, 2005). The protocols are therefore developed with the assistance of local experts, the physicians, and surgeons handling the infectious disease at the hospital. The protocols contain clear guid elines to direct the staff on recommended substitutes in case allergic reactions occur, or the criterion as to when a doctor should be notified for a different antibiotic order. The antibiotic protocols should be reviewed, renewed, and updated annually basing the changes on the accessibility of medicines and amendment in guidelines nationwide. The timing of the antibiotic administration is another fundamental aspect in preventing surgical site inf

Friday, September 27, 2019

Economic crisis and consumer financing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Economic crisis and consumer financing - Essay Example This dissertation examines various assertions about the ways in which financial crisis affects the economic system as a whole, and discuss about the claims and misconceptions associated with it. Moreover, we delineate the under-appreciated actualities regarding how the economic system transitions the funds between the house-holds as well as the corporate businesses (Chari et al, 2008). Traditional assessments of the economic crisis centralize their evaluation on interest rate spreads and hence, it can be argued that such investigations may lead to erroneous conclusions regarding the actual cost of borrowing, thereby, investigation about the fact that, throughout the financial crises, changes in the decrees of nominal interest rates tend to result in appreciable conclusions and inferences regarding the changes in the actual prices of loans. Also, we talk about the fact that even if the present augmentation in spreads signal increases in the stakes of the outlined strategies, these inc rements do not essentially signal the requirement for substantial governmental involvement. Hence, we require policy-makers to explain about the specific characteristics of the market failure as adjudicated by them, so as to present solid confirmation which discriminates their outlook of the statistics from other views which would no call for such involvement, along with sharing with the community the rationalities and confirmations which polish the case that the meticulous involvement they support will resolve such market collapse (Chari et al, 2008). Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Literature Review 3. Methodology 4. Findings/ Discussions 5. Conclusions Bibliography 1. Introduction With the economic sectors still hemorrhaging in developed nations, the policy-makers in developing countries are precisely discoursing over the impact of the crisis on their economic sectors and nations (Maimbo, 2008). Traditional wisdom up till now has proposed that they have quite less to be anxious about as it is argued that the communication mechanisms between the financial systems of various countries often appear to be susceptible and weak which tends to minimize the influence on the calamities. Financial institutions of developing countries are not depicted to the stakes that originate to the stakes emerging from complicated tools in global financial market-places for the reason that in many parts of the world, most banks are reliant on the deposits for funding their loan collections. Moreover, other problems include the limited infrastructure of inter-bank market, small or fictional market for securitized or unoriginal implements, and also the fact that few are reliant on ove rseas borrowing for funding their lending functions (Maimbo, 2008). Exemptions to such a position are then made for developing countries which are viewed as possessing significant communication m

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Leishmaniasis Disease Emergence and Re-emergence Analysis Essay

Leishmaniasis Disease Emergence and Re-emergence Analysis - Essay Example In the previous decade, endemic areas have extended, occurrence increased and the substantial unrecorded cases of the disease identified. Leshmaniasis is one of the most significant human vector-borne disorders. Leishmania parasite causes nodules and skin ulcers to individuals. Numerous Leishmania parasites can have an effect on mucous membranes of an individual and may cause nose disfiguration (Ashfold & Bettini, 1987). In addition, other leishmania species may harm the internal body organs of an individual. According to a report by Ready (2010), dogs are the most significant domestic animals in epidemiology of Leishmaniasis. This is because dogs are reservoir hosts for L. Infantum, a significant organism in human visceral Leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is caused by species of leishmania, a protozoan that belongs to the family of Trypanosomatidae. Leishmania genera are divided into two subdivisions that are Leishmania and viannia. These two different types of parasites live and multip ly in the digestive tract of causative agent. The difference between the two sub divisions lies in where they multiply in the digestive system of the causative agent. Human leishmanisis is caused by leishmania which is transmitted between individuals who are reservoir hosts. ... In this regard, the activity of the sand flies intensifies at dawn, dusk and at night when perturbed in their hiding places. Sand flies are always attracted by light at night and enter buildings at night, bite people and cause the spread of Leishmaniasis. Leshmania parasite may also be transmitted by canine fleas and ticks (Ashfold & Bettini, 1987). Ticks are most importantly used to transmit the parasite between dogs. Presently, sand fly transmission seems to have reduced due to the effects of global warming. Global warming has brought changes in the climate which has caused hot regions to be hotter and cold regions to be colder. This change in climate has adversely affected the activities of sand flies whose activities are high when it is cool, humid and fewer rains. Present transmission seems to be done by mammals that can traverse the harsh climatic conditions. Leishmaniasis disease was initially termed as a disease of the rural areas. Presently, large outbreaks have been reporte d in large cities across the world because of encouraging epidemiological conditions linked to the reduction of natural ecological space of the vectors due to droughts, deforestation due to population growth and famine which are effects of climate change (World Health Oragnization, 2009). Mammals can remain infected with Leishmania for long and can still infect with the parasite even after clinical cure. Infected mammals can in turn transmit the parasite to sand flies. Presently, the parasites have been transmitted to people through blood transfusions in dogs and people (Ready, 2010). Leishmaniasis may also be caused by l. infantum which can be transmitted through saliva, semen, urine and conjunctiva secretions and blood. In the contemporary world, the

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Relationship Between Accounting, Accountability and Organizational Essay

Relationship Between Accounting, Accountability and Organizational Control - Essay Example The researcher states that accounting is more than bookkeeping, and is concerned about how these records are put, the analysis of the records and also interpretation. An accountant is concerned with the relationship between the financial results and the events that have led to them. They do study various alternatives that are available to the business and use their knowledge acquired in the accounting field to help managers select the best action plan. Shareholders and management need knowledge in this field so that they get to understand what accountants tell them. Investors also need this knowledge so that they can read and understand the financial statement issued by the business. Since it is a business language all the stakeholders of a business will want to know whether the organization is making a profit or not. It will also help show if the business will meet its commitment as they fall due and not run into bankruptcy. These are only answered by use of accounting information o f the company which can be derived by the equation given by, Total Assets= Total Liabilities + Capital Accountability means taking the responsibility or obligation by an individual or an organization. It has to be done in a transparent manner. The responsibility can take the form of money or properties. In relation to accounting, it takes the form of integrity. That is to say that, the accountant has to be able to take responsibility on any issue regarding the transaction of the firm. Organizations do undertake so many activities on a daily basis. Such activities include the purchase of raw materials for the daily operation of the firm, receiving of payments from the customers, banking of the cash received on a daily basis. All these activities involve transactions and hence there is the responsibility for each and every activity. Each is assigned some duty to be undertaken. The three are related to the following perspectives: a) Performances, there is a high degree required while u ndertaking the three issues. This is because in accounting, an individual performance in meeting different objectives of stakeholders of the firm; accountability takes the form of responsibility and obligation of an individual. The responsibility can be in the form of money or properties. Organizational control is important to the general functioning of an enterprise. It entails planning of what is desired; setting good standards, monitoring the performance of the firm; measuring performance - comparing actual output with that which is expected; and taking accurate measures to correct discrepancies. b) Integrity, The three are pegged on integrity. For example, in accounting, the financial information of the company is prepared on the rules and guidelines of accounting worldwide; accountability, on the other hand, gives obligations to an individual. Organizational control gives an illustration of the level of monitoring and feedback, which is achieved by implementing internal control s. It follows a control loop of assessing systems and procedures, establishing appropriate controls, evaluating outputs and adjusting where necessary. The working definition of the concept of accountability and its relationship to accounting Since accountability refers to a capability of being held responsible for something or being held to account, scrutinized and being required to give an account.

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Philosophy Questions (Machiavellis Statement ) Essay

Philosophy Questions (Machiavellis Statement ) - Essay Example It is also especially true for the government that is designed to develop and implement mechanisms that safeguard the interests of the people. The various mechanisms of governance, empirical compulsions etc are important paradigms that must be accompanied by creating awareness among people about pros and con of the issues. The knowledge therefore becomes a critical element of positive influence so that it can be amicably accepted by the society at large. People of US also agree with the view because various policies vis-a-vis drug addiction, immigration policies etc promote prohibitions which results in clandestine activities that defy the tenets of government regulations. The wider implications of prohibitions are widespread and are prone to create a desire for covert activities. The notion of hording of weapons as a deterrent measure is also not right because it Hiroshima is a prime example of misuse of weapons that has resulted in unimaginable catastrophe. The use or misuse depend s on the leadership and therefore sends a strong message of insecurity amongst the people. The recent Iraq war gives credence to these statements. It also forces the people to redefine the process of building a better civil society where inter-dependency across nation is used a tool to create equity. (words: 266)

Monday, September 23, 2019

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Assignment

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - Assignment Example The book is based reveals various themes that are critical to the upholding dignity in the society. On the other hand, Dispatches from the Edge, Shake Hands with the Devil, Night/Diary of a Young Girl, For Whom the Bell Tolls depicts similar themes that reflects on the social setting in both social and spiritual aspects. The theme of social justice and that of darkness and light are common in all the readings. The notion of certainty in the quest for justice in the social arena seems inseparable from either darkness or light. The A Tale of Two Cities is keen on the social justices in the two cities and the main character of the novel reveals the notion. Also, the cities are miles apart, brutality is common. The lawbreakers and criminal are hang by the authorities. For instance, Darnay began working at a tender age and in the quest for justice, the revolution occurred. This highlights the notion of both darkness and light, approaching the social situation from both good and bad perspectives. In addition, the notion of foreign intervention is evident in the book, â€Å"The few words that he caught from this mans lips, first made it known to Charles Darnay that the king was in prison, and that the foreign ambassadors had one and all left Paris. On the road (except at Beauvais) he had heard absolutely nothing. The escort and the universal watchfulness had completely isolated him. That he had fallen among far greater dangers than those which had developed themselves when he left England, he, of course, knew now. That perils had thickened about him fast and might thicken faster and faster yet, he, of course, knew now. He could not but admit to himself that he might not have made this journey if he could have foreseen the events of a few days. And yet his misgivings were not so dark as imagined by the light of this later time, they would appear† (Dickens, Chapter 1, Part 3, p 273).

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Project Communication Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Project Communication Plan - Assignment Example Project managers should use the available tools of communication such as; letters, telephones, and video conferencing. A good communication plan is the most effective way of letting different end users of a project knows the effects a particular project to them. Project managers who have the responsibility of developing a communication plan should take into account a number of key components to ensure that they have a good communication plan. This will ensure that all the parties who are interested in a project are well served with the relevant information regarding the project. Audience forms a major component of a good communication. Campbell (2012) refers to this as the Stakeholder analysis. Different persons who are interested in the project cycle such as sponsors, stakeholders, and team members will require different information. A good communication plan should identify each audience with the aim of providing relevant information to them. The purpose of identifying audience is to see if we can determine how each audience is concerned. In addition to Audience, Content is the second component of a good communication plan.This component describes the kind of information that each audience needs. Such information may include the details about accomplishments and progress of the project. This information may be very relevant to the high level stakeholders (Biafore, & Stover, 2012). All these audience groups have unique interest in the whole project which the project manager will reflect up on when developing a communication plan. Method of communication is another important aspect of a good communication plan which project management should take into account. With a lot of technological advancements in the methods of communication, project managers have numerous methods of communication to the relevant audience (Heldman, 2011). Means of communication include; in person meetings, videoconferencing, telephone calls, email, and written

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Exploring Internet Sites Essay Example for Free

Exploring Internet Sites Essay Nowadays Internet became primary informational source for overwhelming majority of people around the world. That is why, in order to earn customer goodwill, enhance the market and promote own goods or services, it is necessary for any enterprise at any market to place easy accessible, correct and comprehensive information about the company, its policies, strategies, products, prospects and so on, into World Wide Web. Official sites of such known companies, as Procter Gamble, Nestle and Unilever are great examples of using advantages of Internet as an effective tool of marketing and promotion. It is remarkable, that these successful companies openly inform their customers about their financial situation and the results of specific researches, offer new career or investment opportunities for any visitor of the site. This definitely works for strengthening their image on global level. To my mind, the most attractive and interesting features for the customers are the sections about the products of the companies and some related fields like nutrition, beauty and style, etc. It is principally important to make information on the site practical and useful for any average or prospective customer. With this purpose, for example, P G is using a very effective slogan â€Å"Expert Advice for Everyday Life†, which really works well, I believe. Undoubtedly, all three sites are very up-to-date and competent. I could not help noticing one obvious disadvantage of them all: extreme overload of information. It makes navigation more complicated for an average customer, who can be an average Internet user as well. Besides, I suppose that the sites of P G and Unilever have too very bright and colorful designs. This can take customer’s mind off the site content and the product itself. Besides, to my mind, it affects seriousness of these companies to some extent. Certainly, Internet sites play important role and significantly contribute into forming consumer preferences and attracting new customers. The main advantage of such sites is making customer- producer communication much faster. When a customer wants to get some information, there is no need to make long phone calls and wait for consultations anymore. Now it is possible to find all necessary data on the site just with a couple of mouse clicks. Bibliography: Nestle. Nestle S. A. 2004. 06 Nov. 2006 http://searchenginewatch. com/searchday/article. php/3398511. Procter Gamble. P G Everyday Solutions. 2006. 06 Nov. 2006 http://www. pg. com/en_US/index. jhtml.   Unilever. Unilever N. V. 2006. 06 Nov. 2006 http://searchenginewatch. com/searchday/article. php/3398511.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Ethnicity In Hollywood And American Culture Film Studies Essay

Ethnicity In Hollywood And American Culture Film Studies Essay Hollywood movies have preached the assimilation of the ethnic other into American culture. This is a dangerous prospect as media representations are used to frame our understandings of ethnic groups and sub-cultures. In this study, a social semiotic approach is used to frame the violence, food, musical score, and set furnishings present in The Sopranos. By contrasting these elements with those found in The Godfather, assimilation of the ethnic Italian is revealed. Using an interpretation that rests on the theoretical framework of symbolic interactionism, this study adds to our understanding of ethnic representation in media. Through a deeper understanding, we can resist negative media representations of ethnic groups. In 1997, The Godfather Saga, a revised version of The Godfather and The Godfather II, was televised to a national audience. This was a broadcast landmark as it was preceded by a disclaimer to forewarn the audience that the characters were not representative of any ethic group (Cortes, 1987). The statement became a model for television broadcasts that depicted any ethnic group as criminal and violent. The disclaimer was indicative of a burgeoning awareness that entertainment films possess the power to create, reinforce, and modify public perception of ethnic groups (Cortes, 1987). While a number of factors likely influence public perception of ethnic culture, mass media representation has been documented as a significant factor (Jamieson, 1992). Indeed, some researchers suggest that much of the information people acquire about ethnic culture comes from mass media (Bodenhausen, Schwarz, Bless, Wà ¤nke 1995). A century of media representation of Italian culture and its mythical link t o organized crime, has created paradoxical visions of admiration and disdain; fascination and fear; endearing attractiveness and aversion. Central to the popular vision of the Mafia, the depiction of Italian family culture is a dichotomy between family values and violent family business. The existence, success, and continuation of the Italian family depend on a system of traditions and rules rooted in extreme patriarchy and enforced through acts of violence. The immutable strength of this image effects both public perceptions of Italian culture and the Italian self-image (Quinn, 2004). The debut of The Sopranos in 1999 represents a significant event in media representation of Italian culture. The series portrays American born Mafiosi as ordinary suburban neighbors, complete with barbecues, golf games, kids in College, and stock options. How does the The Sopranos contribute to the media image of the Italian family? In this study, I take a constructivist approach to examine the first season of The Sopranos in an effort to determine how the series changes the traditional image built by gangster movies like The Godfather. The Sopranos updates the image of the Italian mob family by completely assimilating it within American cultural norms (Blackwood, 2006). In this way, The Sopranos supports the symbolic interactionist assertion that ethnic groups are not natural biological divisions of humanity, but rather temporary alignments of people created by communication channels (Freidman, 1991). The influence of The Sopranos is appreciated by considering the thirteen million viewers it attracted by its third season (Cartier, 2006), and in the attention it garnered from both television critics and politicians. In 2001, the producers of the Sopranos were unsuccessfully sued under the individual dignity clause of the Illinois Constitution (Italian-American group sues, 2001). In the previous year, Essex County officials banned HBO from filming scenes on county-owned property (N.J. county shoots down Sopranos filming request, 2000). In announcing the ban, officials expressed their displeasure at the shows portrayal of Italian-Americans. Backed by sixteen colleagues, New Jersey congresswoman Marge Roukema proposed that the House of Representatives chastise producers of television shows like The Sopranos because of their depiction of Italian-Americans as criminals (Congresswoman asks House, 2001). These events underline the importance of understanding the link between popular drama and cultural representation. As the demands of modern life become more complicated through a mixing of cultures, our understanding of the larger world becomes more important to us. Therefore, we use the messages we decode from popular culture to frame our understanding of ethnic groups, and the nature of diverse subcultures (Beck, 2000). This means that media representation, and more specifically ethnic representation within popular culture, plays a key role in our understandings of immigrants and their subcultures (Cortes, 1987). Further, because entertainment and information are no longer distinct streams within the public consumption of cultural products, the fate of diverse subgroups within our society depends on the roles assigned to them in [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] popular dramas (Beck, 2000, p. 25). Through careful evaluation of the set furnishings, music, food, and violence presented in the popular drama The Sopranos, an assimilation of Italian culture into American culture is rev ealed. This assimilation is so strong that only the most obvious ethnic symbols remain resulting in a link between the Italian family and crime that is much stronger than any previously portrayed. Literature Review The earliest film representation of Italians and crime is documented by Blackwood (2006). The Black Hand (1906), a seven minute one-reeler, was allegedly based on an actual kidnapping and ransom demand that occurred in the Italian quarter of New York City. A number of later films including The Black Hand (1912) and Binks, The Black Hand (1913) followed. In 1908, the New York Police Department established the Italian Bureau, headed by Detective Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino. An Italian immigrant himself, Petrosino was subsequently murdered by a Mafia Don while conducting research in Palerimo, Italy (Giuliani, 1999). This event spawned a number of Mafia movies including The Detectives of the Italian Bureau (1909), The Adventures of Lieutenant Petrosino (1912), The Padrone Ward (1914), The Last Mafia (1915), and Don Caesar de Bazan (1915). Although this very early representation of Italians is often overlooked, Blackwood (2006) points out the importance of this period. The films demonstra te the incredible age of the Italian Mafia stereotype, and they represent the birth of the link between Italians and crime. Benshoff Griffin (2004) point out that this period fashioned a second stereotype of Italian people. The movies often portrayed the good Italian falling victim to the bad Italian. The good Italian representation was that of an assimilated small businessman. He was a simple-minded, working class Italian often named Luigi or Guido who spoke broken English, wore a bushy moustache, and had a large family. He was gracious, always smiling, and worked as a street vendor, organ grinder, or ran a small restaurant. The stereotype exists to this day in the Super Mario Brothers games (1993) and on countless pizza boxes. Cortes (1987) identifies three distinct periods in the history of Italian representation in film. In the first period, 1917-1928, the depiction of Italians was heavily influenced by a negotiation for whiteness (Benshoff Griffin, 2004). America experienced a great surge in immigration during the final years of the nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century. Large numbers of Eastern and Southern European people flooded into the urban centers of America. From 1900 to 1910 over eight million immigrants entered the United States (U.S. Census Data, 2003). This sudden mixing of white ethnic culture with the established white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant culture increased levels of xenophobia and forced people of non-Anglo-Saxon, European descent to negotiate their relation to whiteness. This negotiation, and a general concern over the growing presence of foreign culture in America, lead to strict immigration laws and influenced the way Italians were represented in film. Italians w ere depicted in films with darker skin tones, thick curly hair, and little education. As immigration fears increased, the white ethnic Italian was portrayed as unsavory, radical, and over-sexed in such films as Dangerous Hours (1919) and Manhandled (1924). In the 1930s, Hollywood became fascinated with crime. The Great Depression coupled with Prohibition focused that fascination on the problem of gangsters, leading to the rediscovery of the Italian American mobster. By 1932, Italian gangsters [had] become the personification of Americas social failures, including the crisis of the increasingly elusive American Dream (Cortes, 1987, p. 110). In this second period, 1930-1970, Italian mobsters were vicious, violent, self-serving, one-dimensional characters. The period is characterized by the advent of sound, and the ear-splitting shots of Italian-mobster machine guns became the symbol of Italian ethnic violence. So great was the impact on the Italian psyche that the release of films such as Little Ceasar (1930), The Public Enemy (1931), Scarface (1932), The Gay Divorcee (1934), and Top Hat (1935), prompted the Italian government to ban importation of all American films containing Italian characters (Vasey, 1992). In an effort to remove thi s barrier, the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA), a trade association formed to negotiate American film trade agreements with foreign governments, was successful in influencing a more positive film image of Italians. Obvious references to Italian ethnicity were removed from many gangster movies although the inferences remained (Vasey, 1992). Films such as Golden Boy (1939) and They Knew What They Wanted (1940) actually depicted Italian characters as law-abiding, hardworking ethnics (Cortes, 1987). During the war, Italian Americans increasingly promoted their loyalty to their adopted country. As a consequence, Italians were often depicted in wartime propaganda films as courageous and dedicated soldiers fighting alongside American soldiers (Benshoff Griffin, 2004). This depiction is evident in the Giuseppe character from Sahara (1943), Lieutenant Angelo Canelli in The Purple Heart (1944), and Captain Andrà ©s Bonifà ¡cio in Back to Bataan (1945). Post-war film making in Italy had an effect on Hollywood images of Italian Americans. Italian film makers worked to increase cinematic realism leading to a movement called Italian Neorealism (Benshoff Griffin, 2004). The films resulting from this movement were popular and often represented Italians as poor and working class. Consequently American depictions began to represent Italians as down-to-earth, working class people in such films as Marty (1955) and The Rose Tattoo (1955). The final years of the second period defined by Cortes contains another interesting phenomenon. Both Italian and American film makers resurrected the hot Italian lover stereotype that had been well crafted by the Rodolph Valentino movies of the 1920s. Italian actresses Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida, and Anna Magnini became famous for their uninhibited sexuality. In the repressive, socially conservative 1950s, these ethnic other actresses provided sexual escapism not possible for respectable white women. A s the 1970s approached, various ethnic movements popularized the search for and the celebration of ethnic heritage, identity, and pride (Cortes, 1987, p. 116). This new enthusiasm for ethnicity, coupled with an influx of talented Italian movie producers and actors, led to an explosion of Italian character representations in film. In addition, the disappearance of the Hayes Code in 1968, Hollywoods self-censorship system, encouraged a war where filmmakers vied to top each other in graphic depictions of sex and violence (Cortes, 1987). All of these factors influenced the watershed moment in the depiction of Italians in film, the release of Francis Ford Coppolas The Godfather. The third period, 1970 to present, is epitomized by The Godfather. This 1972 film, by Francis Ford Coppola, depicts the Italian gangster as a complex, multi-dimensional character. For the first time the activities of Italian gangsters are firmly entrenched within Italian family values. The Godfather set a trend for complex mob characters in many movies that followed including The Don is Dead (1973), Scarface (1983), The Untouchables (1987), Goodfellas (1990), Casino (1995), and Analyze This (1999). Blackwood (2006) categorizes the periods of Italian representation in film according to artistic device. In the silent era through to the 1960s, Italians are portrayed minstrelsy. Italian characters are used to exploit and rebuke the Italian sub-culture. In the 1970s, portrayals of Italian characters are changed, and serve to historicize the Italian life experience in the U.S.A. (Blackwood, 2006, p. 8). According to Blackwood (2006), the third period of representation began in the late 1990s with the renunciation of the Italian gangster figure. The television show The Sopranos (1999-2007) and the movie Analyze This (1999) present the assimilation of the Italian gangster figure into North American society, depicting the acceptance of American values. Method The Sopranos debuted on HBO in 1999 (Martin, 2007). The show follows the life of notorious gangster Tony Soprano and his family as they deal with modern life in New Jersey. Tony, his wife Carmela, and their two children, Meadow and AJ, live in North Caldwell, New Jersey where Tony presides over a Mafia team. With eighty-six episodes spanning six seasons, the show is iconic in the world of Italian gangster stories. Television critics praised the show as the apotheosis of television drama, and the recalibrated scale for comparing TV shows [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] everything else seems flawed (Martin, 2007, p. 16). The show also enjoyed instant success with audiences, claiming four million viewers during its debut season and quickly increasing to thirteen million viewers by the third season (Carter, 2006). Winning a plethora of awards including five Golden Globes, two Peabodys, two Writers Guild Awards, and 18 Emmys, the incredible popularity of the show propelled it into many manifestations o f pop cultural success including a MAD magazine parody (issue 389, 2000), appearances on The Simpsons, and the cover of Rolling Stone (vol. 865, March 29, 2001). Grand Theft Auto III, the best selling video game of 2002 with sales of three million units, mimicked The Sopranos by placing players inside a Mafia organization. The game allows players to move up through ranks of the Mafia by delivering suspicious packages, ferrying hookers to and from their dates, tailing suspected snitches, planting car bombs [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦], and having sex with their own goomahs (Croal, p. 50). The Sopranos became so well recognized that HBO developed an entire side industry of Sopranos accessories including a mens clothing line, mainstream coffee table and humour books, and even architectural plans for building Tony and Carmellas house (Quinn, 2004). The Sopranos was created in 1995 by David Chase. Chase is a television veteran who served as executive producer of such shows as Northern Exposure (1990-95), Ill Fly Away (1991-93), and as writer/producer on The Rockford Files (1974-80). Chase claims the character of Jim Rockford, created by Stephen Cannell, as the major influence on his creation of Tony Soprano, the patriarch of the Soprano clan (Chase quoted in Martin, 2007, p. 10). However, there are those in the Italian American community, including Lawrence Di Stasi, historian and past president of the Western Italian American Historical Society, who believe a darker influence lies behind the show and the character of Tony Soprano. Di Stasi believes that Chase, whose surname has been anglicized from the Italian name De Cesare, internalized his ethnic hatred by externalizing his self-loathing (Di Stasi quoted in Quinn, p. 167). Chase stands accused of betraying his own culture by strengthening the association, more than ever, bet ween Italian-American families and criminality. Di Stasi claims the average television viewer sees the link between the two as genetic. Using existing literature combined with my own semiotic analysis of the television series The Sopranos, I take a constructionist approach to determine how The Sopranos changes the image of the Italian mafia family since the release of The Godfather. In doing so, I expose the Italian ethnic signs within the text and discuss the role these signs play in supporting Blackwoods (2006) assertion that The Sopranos represent the assimilation of the Italian gangster into American culture. My data sample consists of the first seasons episodes of The Sopranos series. Limiting the catalog of data to thirteen episodes produces a feasible and manageable data set, and it allows analysis of a text created purely from the authors intentions, before its extreme popularity could influence new or exaggerated messages. Using a social semiotic approach advocated by Fairclough and Van Leeuwen (see Van Leeuwen, 2005, p. 139), I analyze the first thirteen episodes of The Sopranos in an effort to reveal the u nderlying messages of ethnic Italian identity. This approach is selected because it focuses on the function of texts in social interactions. It recognizes discourse as an element to structure content (i.e. what is expressed), genre to structure interaction (i.e. what happens), and style to structure the manner in which a text communicates (Van Leeuwen, 2005). Under Van Leeuwens approach, the text will be examined through the frames of violence, food, musical score, and set furnishings. Framing is a way of describing the power of communication within a text (Entman, 1993). It involves the selection of an aspect of perceived reality, and the elevation of the salience of that information within the text (i.e. making it more noticeable). The analysis provided rests on the theoretical framework of symbolic interactionism. The rejection of the notions that meaning emanates intrinsically from objects that provide meaning and that meaning is derived through a coalescence of psychological factors, allows us to see meaning as product of social interaction (Blumer, 1986). Thus, the meaning of things is formed from communication channels through a recipients interpretive process. This theoretical framework makes possible the assimilation of one culture into another. Hollywood movies are bastions of symbolic interactionism. They impose Americaness as a self-ascripting category whose value orientation dominates any primordial ethnic condition (Freidman, 1991, p. 22). Data Analysis In The Sopranos, Chase removes the impenetrable barrier between Italian family values and Italian family business that was so carefully constructed by Coppola in The Godfather. Coppola manages to create an intensely powerful and thought provoking audience experience of The Godfather through narrative and visuals that present the opposition of family values and violence. In the opening scene, the viewer is presented with a dark image of a heart-broken man confessing a heinous act of sexual violence perpetrated against his daughter. As the camera pans out, and the screen brightens only slightly, we see the man is in the study of Vito Corleone, a mafia Don and patriarch to one of New Yorks most infamous crime families. The man is begging Vito to avenge his daughters honour. Suddenly, the camera reveals the outside of the house, where there is a great celebration. Vitos daughter is marrying. Men, women, children, and even rival mobsters attend the elaborate festivities. There is much lau ghter, singing, and dancing. In contrast, the dark study, allows only a few privileged men to enter and make requests of Vito, who cannot refuse their requests on the day of his daughters wedding. The movement of the camera back and forth between the two locations creates a striking, visual divide between the celebration of family, and the dark world of the family business. The study is the location of power, a private sanctuary where reports are given and violent reprisals are arranged. The scene very effectively illustrates the ironic nature of the relationship between the family values and the family business. The room is physically separate from the family rituals thus maintaining a strong separation between the two worlds. The dichotomous nature of Corleone family values allows the characters to tread a delicate line between valorization and criticism (Simon, 1983). In The Sopranos, Chase completely removes this separation by immersing the Italian characters in American cultura l ritual and symbols. The family business is deeply entangled in everyday family rituals and activities. The world of family values and dark family business become one. The total assimilation of the Italian mafia family into American culture is achieved by the removal of all but the most obvious signs of ethnic stereotyping. The Long Island estate of Vito Coleone, with its stone and stucco exterior, Italian style courtyard, and extensive vegetable and fruit gardens, is replaced with a New Jersey, sprawling, modern American, brick ranch. Vitos Italian gardens are replaced with Tony Sopranos landscaping that appears to come straight from the pages of a Home Depot magazine. The interior of the Soprano house is a striking contrast to that of the Corleones. The Corleone mansion, with its dark leather furniture, dark oak paneling and trim, dim lighting, and minimalist furnishings is replaced by the bright modern American dà ©cor of the Sopranos home. An authentic New Jersey look was crucial for Chase whose production designer spent countless hours poking through houses up and down the Garden State parkway (Martin, 2007, p. 29). What Chase achieved are lu xurious interiors of light coloured oak flooring, tan leather furniture, modern glass top tables, and light oak shelves carefully decorated with showy books, pricey figurines, vases, and candle sticks. The walls are finished in tame colours of tan, ivory, soft greens, and gold. In the dining room and bedroom, the furniture is finished in light pastels that imitate stone which was common in upscale American homes of the 1990s. The kitchen, with its recessed pot lighting and bleached oak cabinets, is typical of popular modern American design. This is the home of a typical middle-class American family, from the bright, warm, inviting family room to the messy teenager bedrooms covered in dirty laundry and grunge band posters. The lack of a musical score for The Sopranos also assists in the assimilation of the characters into American culture. The Godfather provides the viewer with a rich ethnic and folkloric musical score written by Nino Rota with additional music by Carmen Coppola, Francis Fords father. From luna mess o mare sung by family members during the opening wedding scene to the main title, called The Godfather Waltz, the viewer is immersed in the melodic strands of Italian music and reminded of the rich ethnic background that gave rise to such music. In contrast, there is no musical score for The Sopranos; however, each Sopranos episode opens with Woke Up This Morning (1997) by British fusion band Alabama 3 and closes with a different previously recorded pop tune such as Elvis Costellos Complicated Shadows (episode 3), Jefferson Airplanes White Rabbit (episode 7), and Bruce Springsteens State Trooper (episode 13). This music lends a contemporary feel to the show that is decidedly American. Chase believes firmly that the lack of a musical score increases the authenticity of his work. He notes that like Quentin Tarantinos movies, the use of pre-recorded, popular music promotes an authentic American feel to the work (David Chase Interview, 2000). Despite the assimilated nature of the characters, a link to Italian ethnicity is maintained. This link is achieved primarily through the constant reference to Italian cuisine within each episode. A major sub-plot in episode one involves young AJs birthday party where Ziti and the proper way to cook Italian sausages is a significant part of the narrative. In episode two, Paulie Walnuts becomes enraged at the profits earned by large American corporations through their cooption of Italian cuisine. Father Phil, the priest from the local Roman Catholic Church, is often seen visiting the Soprano home. The character of Father Phil is intended to create sexual tension with the character of Carmella Soprano (David Chase Interview, 2000). This tension is overshadowed by Father Phils desire for home-made Italian food and his constant dialog regarding the superiority of Italian cuisine. He visits the Soprano home, and the homes of other Italian parishioners, constantly looking to be fed (episode s 1, 5, 6, 13). Artie Bucco, a close friend of Tonys, is an accomplished chef specializing in Italian cuisine. This character appears in numerous scenes where he serves sumptuous Italian cuisine and his skills as an Italian chef are praised (episode 1, 2, 3, 9, 13). Chase devotes a significant amount of dialog in each episode to the discussion of Italian food. In addition, Italian food is visually depicted through camera close-ups in restaurant scenes and in the many scenes involving Soprano family dinners. In these close-ups, the camera frames the food much like what one would see on a cooking program. The viewer is presented with large images of Italian pastas being dished from platters while the character dialog continues in the background. A second important symbol that serves to link the assimilated Soprano family characters to their Italian heritage is observed in the characters of Paulie Walnuts Gualtieri, Silvio Dante, and Salvatore Big Pussy Bonpensiero. These characters are part of Tonys crew, and they epitomize the stereotypical vision of the urban, somewhat slow, greasy, Italian tough guys. They dress in dark clothing; wear patterned, silk shirts, unbuttoned to show thick gold chains and crosses around their neck; grease their hair back; and speak with the same Bronx-Italian accent heard in Goodfellas (1990). Violence plays a central role in The Sopranos. This centrality contrasts sharply with the The Godfather where violence operates as a backdrop against which we can examine characters and observe family customs and behaviour. The Godfather represents a major shift in the narrative perspective of gangster films (Simon, 1983). Besides being the first film to portray the Italian Mafia, although it never uses the word Mafia in its narrative, the film uses carefully placed narrative gaps to control the affect of violence on the viewing audience. For example, the audience is not prepared for the now famous scene when studio head Jack Woltz lifts the sheets of his bed to find the severed head of his prize racehorse. The previous scene ends with Woltzs refusal to hire Johnny Fontaine, Don Corleones godson, in a discussion with Tom Hagen. When Woltz finds the horse head in his bed, the audience is forced to assume that Hagen ordered the head be severed and placed there. Through this narrative g ap, the audience is completely unprepared for the violence, and as a result, they feel the violence from the victims perspective rather than through the perpetrators. Coppola uses this narrative gap technique again and again for the assassination attempt on Don Corleone, Luca Brazzis strangulation, Sonnys execution, the murders of Paulie Gatto and Michaels Sicilian bride, and the climatic final sequence when Michaels order to assassinate five rival mobsters is carried out. This technique allows Coppola to keep the violence in the background; the violence is the inevitable outcome of failed negotiations or necessary due to ethical codes. The viewer is able to remain focused on the characters with their complex behaviours and the relationships that are demanded by their Italian ethnicity. In The Sopranos, Chase removes the violence from the background and puts it on display. Through narrative and visual signals, the viewer becomes well prepared for violent scenes and experiences those scenes from the aspect of the perpetrator. We see evidence of this in the first act of violence in episode one, The Sopranos (1999). As Tony begins his first session with therapist Dr. Malfi, he recounts a story of a chance meeting with a man who owes him an outstanding debt. Dr. Malfi interrupts Tony to mention that she knows he is a crime boss. She reminds him that if she were to hear of a murder or intentional injury, she would be required to report the incident to authorities. Tony relies, nothin happened, we had coffee. The sarcastic narrative combined with the smirk on Tonys face perfectly sets up the sudden cut to the next scene where Tony hits the man with his nephews car and then proceeds to violently punch and kick the man. When Tony contracts with a Hasidic Jew to extort a div orce from the Jews son-in-law (episode 3), Tony discusses threatening the son-in-law with castration. Several scenes later, the viewer witnesses the assault on the son-in-law, and two scenes later, Tony gleefully describes the assault to Jackie Aprile, a high ranking mob boss. When Tony takes his daughter, Meadow, to her university interviews in New England (episode 5), he unexpectedly bumps into an ex-associate who testified in court against an old mob boss. In several subsequent scenes, Tony and his daughter discuss Tonys involvement in the Mafia. Tony continually downplays his role in criminal activity. Interspersed with these scenes are scenes of Tony planning and carrying out the murder of the ex-associate. These examples demonstrate how The Sopranos follows the television practice of tell them what will happen before it happens; tell them what is happening when it happens; tell them what happened after it happens (David Chase Interview, 2000). This practice elevates the violen ce to a central position where it becomes hopelessly interlaced with family struggles such as dealing with elderly parents (episode 2), illness (episode 3), choosing a College (episode 5), children acting out in school (episode 7), the safety of children from sexual predators (episode 9), and depression (episode 12). Conclusion For most Italians who have emigrated from Italy, remnants of Italian culture are still present within their lives. American writers and scholars use the term italianità ¡ to describe these remnants of culture that persist across geographical borders and time (Tamburri, Giordano, and Gardaphà ©, 1991). The use of italianità ¡ in The Sopranos was crucial to the shows success. After a century of media representation that links Italian culture to crime, italianità ¡ authenticates the story for the viewer and makes it all seem real. Similar to the sexual escapism provided by the Italian actresses of the 1950s (Benshoff Griffin, 2004), the use of Italian culture creates the ethnic other necessary to validate the extreme violence, sex, and criminal activity. The viewer remains safe with the notion that the illicit activities and uninhibited sexuality in The Sopranos are perpetrated by transplanted ethnic others, not by respectable, white Americans. Chase admits that The Sopranos helped realize his desire to produce feature films (David Chase Interview, 2000). Although each episode is only one hour in length, airing the series on HBO allowed broadcast without commercial interruption. This permitted the writers to abandon the common television drama structure of four-act scripts permitting slower plot development. Indeed, Chase claims that each episode in the first season is a separate complete movie, that continuation of story lines from one episode to the next was low priory during the writing process. As crucial as the ethnic other is to the authentication of the story, The Sopranos became exemplary of the ethnic assimilation port

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Essay --

3) How France Stacks Up Against Newer Fashion Empires The Global Language Monitor (GLM) is a media-analytics company based out of Texas, which studies language usage from the internet, blogs, news media, and social media platforms to deliver the trending topics from across the globe. Each year, the Global Language Monitor produces a list of the Top Fashion Capitals in the world. According to the 2014 Global Language Monitor survey, New York City is the year’s fashion capital of the world until the stats are reevaluated at next season’s fashion weeks. The difference between New York City and Paris was only five percent, which is the smallest difference GLM has seen. Simply because the 2014 survey shows the top four as New York City, Paris, London, and Los Angeles does not mean that all of these cities are now considered to be part of the esteemed â€Å"Big Four.† The â€Å"Big Four† is a title given to the top fashion empires of the world and has remained consistent for many years. Each of these cities, have strong presences in fashion in the present, and also have rich histories of fashion, but with vastly different and unique qualities. Aside from Paris, the â€Å"Big Four† fashion capitals of the world are comprised of Milan, London and New York City. New York City, United States has the quickest growing fashion scene, with almost 7,000 recognized fashion designers, and annual sales of over $14 billion. The city’s role in fashion can be traced back to the early 20th century with the introduction and growth of the Garment District. This was an area in Manhattan with a very dense concentration of tailors, couturiers, boutiques and departments stores. The small district was where many famous American designers like Halston, Marc Jacobs, Ve... ... historical centers of cutting-edge design and to the large markets, related industries, and global affluence found in these two superstar cities (Florida, R. and Johnson, S).† Although there have been a few years Paris has lost its number one spot as fashion capital, overall it is still considered the Fashion Empire of the world. This is credited to its long history, adaptability, and innovations in the industry. Vanessa Freidman from the Global Language Monitor says, â€Å"Paris, with the Top Haute Couture ranking, of course has a centuries-long heritage, having invented the very concept, also scored highly in the pret-a-porter category.† In addition, French designers are known for creating some of the most iconic and classic designs of all time, styles like the Little Black Dress by Chanel and the pantsuit by Yves Saint Laurent will never cease to be wardrobe staples. Essay -- 3) How France Stacks Up Against Newer Fashion Empires The Global Language Monitor (GLM) is a media-analytics company based out of Texas, which studies language usage from the internet, blogs, news media, and social media platforms to deliver the trending topics from across the globe. Each year, the Global Language Monitor produces a list of the Top Fashion Capitals in the world. According to the 2014 Global Language Monitor survey, New York City is the year’s fashion capital of the world until the stats are reevaluated at next season’s fashion weeks. The difference between New York City and Paris was only five percent, which is the smallest difference GLM has seen. Simply because the 2014 survey shows the top four as New York City, Paris, London, and Los Angeles does not mean that all of these cities are now considered to be part of the esteemed â€Å"Big Four.† The â€Å"Big Four† is a title given to the top fashion empires of the world and has remained consistent for many years. Each of these cities, have strong presences in fashion in the present, and also have rich histories of fashion, but with vastly different and unique qualities. Aside from Paris, the â€Å"Big Four† fashion capitals of the world are comprised of Milan, London and New York City. New York City, United States has the quickest growing fashion scene, with almost 7,000 recognized fashion designers, and annual sales of over $14 billion. The city’s role in fashion can be traced back to the early 20th century with the introduction and growth of the Garment District. This was an area in Manhattan with a very dense concentration of tailors, couturiers, boutiques and departments stores. The small district was where many famous American designers like Halston, Marc Jacobs, Ve... ... historical centers of cutting-edge design and to the large markets, related industries, and global affluence found in these two superstar cities (Florida, R. and Johnson, S).† Although there have been a few years Paris has lost its number one spot as fashion capital, overall it is still considered the Fashion Empire of the world. This is credited to its long history, adaptability, and innovations in the industry. Vanessa Freidman from the Global Language Monitor says, â€Å"Paris, with the Top Haute Couture ranking, of course has a centuries-long heritage, having invented the very concept, also scored highly in the pret-a-porter category.† In addition, French designers are known for creating some of the most iconic and classic designs of all time, styles like the Little Black Dress by Chanel and the pantsuit by Yves Saint Laurent will never cease to be wardrobe staples.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Essay --

In the world of pop culture, people look up to a myriad of interesting, talented, and inspiring peoples who influence the world. Singers, actors, athletes, celebrities, they all are relevant contributors to pop culture. People look up to them, discuss them, and read articles about them. The media showers these peoples with questions, compliments, and criticism. No other story is as inspiring as the story of a shy girl, born under the name of Diana Spencer, who became a symbol of generosity, wisdom, peace, and love for the world. Princess Diana, who married into the Royal Family, was one of the most influential and popular people in this world. Born on July 1, 1961, in Sandringham England, a small village in the county of Norfolk known only for the Sandringham House, â€Å"a favorite holiday home to Queen Elizabeth II and several of her predecessors†,(Sandringham, p.1) Diana went to an all girls’ school, and then later transferred to a public school. She failed her O- levels twice and was not considered academically strong. However, Diana was considered close to royalty, for she and her family had interacted frequently with them. Diana grew up playing with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, the younger siblings of Prince Charles. Interested in music and dancing, and a girl with a dream â€Å"to become a professional ballerina†(Diana, Princess of Whales p.1) Diana was extremely sorrowed when her parents separated. Placed in the custody of her father, who earned the acclaimed title of â€Å"Earl Spencer† in 1975, Diana earned a new title as he did, and became known as â€Å"Lady Diana Spencerâ⠂¬  in her youth. Lady Diana Spencer attended Riddlesworth Hall before boarding at West Health School, and went to the Swiss finishing school, the Institute Aplin ... ...ring came to Diana, who kept her title â€Å"Princess†, even after the divorce, on the night of August 30th, 1997. She died in a tragic car crash with current boyfriend Dodi Al- Fayed. The driver of the car was under the influence of alcohol, and was being pursued by photographers that night. Al Fayed and the driver died upon impact. Diana died a few hours later. Even after her death, her generosity and works were continued. A tribute to Diana’s contributions was paid through the Landmine bill of 1998 and the Ottawa Treaty in 1997. Both of these documents were about landmines and followed Diana’s views on them. After her death, Diana’s legacy was continued by the Diana, Princess of Whales Memorial Fund which â€Å"supports the sick in Africa, helps refugees, and stops landmines.† (Biography Online, p.2) Diana, the People’s Princess, will live on in people’s hearts forever.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

One Hundred Years of Solitude: Linear and Circular Time :: One Hundred Years of Solitude

One Hundred Years of Solitude: Linear and Circular Time Cien Anos de Soledad Style in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude is closely linked to myth. Marquez chooses magic realism over the literal, thereby placing the novel's emphasis on the surreal. To complement this style, time in One Hundred Years of Solitude is also mythical, simultaneously incorporating circular and linear structure (McMurray 76). Most novels are structured linearly. Events occur chronologically, and one can map the novel's exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement. One Hundred Years of Solitude is also linear in its broad outlines (Bell-Villida 98). The plot of the novel is simple: Jose Arcadio Buendia marries his cousin Ursula, they found Macondo, the family grows, declines, and is eventually blown off the face of the earth by a hurricane. There is a beginning, and time moves the story to a total, apocalyptic conclusion (117). Within this linear background, the structure of One Hundred Years of Solitude is circular (McMurray 77). Events throughout the entire novel repeat themselves in cycles. The names Aureliano and Jose Arcadio are repeated in each generation, resulting in a total of five Jose Arcadios and 22 Aurelianos. The men's personalities also seem to be repeated; the Jose Arcadios are "impulsive and enterprising," and the Aurelianos are "lucid and withdrawn" (77). The cyclical rhythm is reinforced by six instances of incest that occur over five of the family's six generations. One of the most striking instances of cyclical structure is found in the novel's opening line: "Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendia was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice" (Garcia Marquez 1). Two generations later, chapter eleven opens the same way: "Years later on his death bed, Aureliano Segundo would remember the rainy afternoon in June when he went into the bedroom to meet his first son" (186). These two sentences are grammatically parallel . They open with an adverbial phrase ("Years later"), followed by the subject and then the predicate in exactly the same verb tense. The sentences begin with an event in the distant future and conclude with an allusion to a future event that, in both cases, occurs within the same chapter. As critic Barroa notes, "the words 'many years later' appear so often they become the heartbeat of the novel" (104).

Monday, September 16, 2019

Brand Extension Essay

Brand extension is a marketing strategy according to which a company marketing a product or a service launches a new offering (product or service) that is related to the one of the existing brands of the company, but offers different benefits and/or targets a different segment. Organizations use this strategy to increase and leverage upon their brand equity. When a firm is introducing a new product, it has the following 3 choices on branding: 1. Developing a new brand for the new product 2. Using the existing brand for the new product 3. Combining the new brand and the existing brand The use of 2nd and 3rd strategy is referred to as brand extension. Brands may be classified as one of the following: Parent Brand: If an existing brand gives birth to a brand extension, it is referred to as parent brand. Sub Brand: When a new brand is combined with an existing brand, it is called as sub brand. Family Brand: If a parent brand has links with multiple brands through brand extensions then it is called as family brand. Brand Extension Dimensions There are a large number of ways in which brand extension can be accomplished. One of the vital differences is if the extension is in the same or different category of the product. Thus they can be classified as: vertical or horizontal extensions. Vertical extensions Vertical extensions refer to the introduction of a related brand in the same product category but having a different price and quality balance. Vertical extensions offer the firm a quickest way to leverage upon the core product’s equity. As an extension strategy, vertical extension is widely practiced in many industries. For example, within automobile industry, the various brand models attempt to offer different price-quality bundles to attract various market segments. Often a product is extended in an attempt to just gain more of the market share. Vertical extension direction New product introductions using vertical extensions can extend in 2 directions, upscale and downscale vertical extensions. The vertical brand extension is that type of new product introduction that seems to be carrying less risk and seemingly having more appeal to management. The new product which is being introduced is in the same category as the parent product; aims at a same market segment as the parent, and may or may not enjoy the same acceptance as the parent. Upscale vertical extensions Upscale extensions involve a new product introduction by the firm with higher price & quality characteristics than the original product. Downscale vertical extensions It involves a new product introduction with lower price & quality characteristics than the original. Downscale vertical extensions may target sampling to a new segment, and bring some gain in market share. Horizontal extensions Generally, horizontal brand extensions either use or extend an existing product’s name to a new product in the same product category or to a product category new to the organization. There are 2 types of horizontal extensions which differ in terms of their focus area. They are termed as line extensions and category extensions. Line Extensions All the customers differ in terms of their usage needs. The brand has to fill the market with variety of products as per the needs of the segments. If a parent brand is used to brand a new product that targets a new segment in the market within the same product category that was previously served by the parent brand, it is called as line extension. Line extension leads to the addition of a new and distinct flavour or ingredient to the category. It sometimes might also lead to a new application for the brand or an introduction of a different form or size. For example, Bisleri is the pioneering brand in category of mineral water. Originally, Bisleri started off with 1 ltr bottle. But recently, the brand has launched bottles of different sizes and quantities.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Thane Fort to the Thane Central Jail

THANE FORT TO THE THANE CENTRAL JAIL: A TRANSITION AND PRESENT SITUATION – VAIBHAV D. ADHYARU K. V. PENDHARKAR COLLEGE OF ARTS, SCIENCE AND COMMERCE, DOMBIVLI, MAHARASHTRA, India. THANE FORT TO THE THANE CENTRAL JAIL: A TRANSITION AND PRESENT SITUATION The existence of Thane city appears in the  global history since the 9thcentury A. D. Thane city has a rich cultural heritage, mythological background, followed by a large number of events of historical importance, archeological collectives that have contributed to the enrichment of the history of Thane city.The city was then known as ‘Shreesthanak’. The Thane Central Jail, originally a historical fort was constructed by Portuguese in 1730 A. D. The prison, which was earlier a fort named Thane Killa, is associated with the Indian Freedom Struggle and is also one of the heritage structures of the city. The 279 year old monument was constructed by the Portuguese for the protection of Sashti Island on 13. 5 acres of land. The Portuguese ruled Thane for over 200 years, from 1530 to 1739 A. D. During this period Thane was known as ‘Kalabe De Tana†.In January 1737, Chimaji Appa, the Peshwa’s brother, took command of the Marathas troops and inspite of obstinate resistance, captured most of the northern forts, Katalvada, Dahanu, Kelve, Shirgaon and Tarapur, whose walls were scaled by the Marathas. On May 4th, the Portuguese hoisted the white flag and of their officers met Chimaji Appa for arranging terms of surrender. On 28th December, 1744 the British conquered Thane city and its fort. Marathas lost the Third Anglo-Maratha War in November 1817 between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire in India.The war left the company in control of most of India. British Victories were swift, resulting in the breakup of the Maratha Empire and the loss of Maratha independence. The Peshwa was defeated in the Battles of Khadki and Koregaon and he was forced to flee. It was conver ted into jail in 1816 by the British. When Britishers got controlled all over the entire India, they started to use the Thane fort as central jail so that they can arrest and jail the nearby freedom fighters, criminals for going against their system. Many well known freedom fighters were imprisoned in this jail during the time.On 19th April, 1910 noted freedom fighters like Veer Anant Laxman Kanhere, Gopal Krishnaji Karve and Vinayak Narayan Deshpande were hanged to death in the central jail for killing the then Nasik District Collector Jackson. Noted freedom fighter Veer Savarkar was also imprisoned in central jail but later he was shifted to Andaman Cellular Jail due to the security reasons. Other freedom fighters like Chaphekar Brother and Mahadev Ranade were hanged for killing W. C. Rand for his atrocities in Poona. Prominent freedom fighters like Vasudev Balwant Phadke, Senapati Bapat, Saneguruji were also lodged in this jail.Later Indian Government continued that fort to be us ed Thane Central Jail as a district jail to jail the criminals of Thane District. Thane Central Jail is a huge campus and having different departments for the upliftment of the criminals. Personalities like Harshad Mehta and Sanjay Dutt were also imprisoned at Thane Central Jail. Various departments have been working efficiently for the smooth functioning of the Jail:- The Superintendent, Thane District Prison, is vested with the executive management of the prison in all matters relating to internal discipline, economy, labour and punishment.The Superintendent is assisted by the executive, medical, ministerial and technical staff. CLASSIFICATION:- There is one district prison and eleven taluka sub-jails in Thane District. The prison at Thane has been classified as a district prison [Class I], This prison is only meant for the confinement of the under trial prisoners and prisoners sentenced upto 5 years. CLASSFICATION OF PRISONERS:- Prisoners are classified as class I or class II by the court after taking into consideration their status in society and also the nature of offence. They are further classified as casual, habitual, under-trial and security or detenue.There is no separate class of political prisoners but certain rules which do not allow the grant of facilities and privileges on the score of length of sentence are relaxed in their favour under the specific orders of government. On admission, a prisoner is examined by the medical officer and is classified as fit for light, medium and hard labour. Prisoners are employed in prison industries, prison farms and prison maintenance services. Vocational classes are also organized in the prison. EDUCATION:- Literacy classes are conducted for prisoners and necessary facilities are provided to prisoners at government cost.RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES:- Recreational programmes like physical training parades, documentary and full length films, folk dances, kalapathak and games are organized for the enterta inment of prisoners generally in a month. Besides, newspapers are also supplied to the prisoners. Emphasis is always laid on the maintenance of good discipline in the prison. JAIL INDUSTRY:- The long term prisoners in Thane Central Prison are provided with creative work including handicrafts and industries. The chief of these industries include textile, carpentary and tailoring. Most of the products are supplied to various government departments.The tailoring unit in the jail supplies readymade garments to the post and telegraph department and to the police. COTTON CLOTH AND CARPETS:- Weaving is the chief industry in the jail. There are around 14 looms for manufacturing carpets, blankets etc. CARPET AND PUNJA CARPETS:- Carpets are woven on pit-looms and are called loom carpets. The workers or prisoners move on horizontally as the weaving process goes on, completing the carpet. It is in great demand both from government and in the public. CARPENTARY:- This section is worked on job ba sis. A group of two or three prisoners do the planning and assembling job. CONCLUSION:-In this way Thane Central Jail administers work of the inmates/prisoners, So that the prisoners develop their skills through the routine work. Historically important memo i. e. martyrs memorials are not open for the citizens. There memo may be the inspiration for the citizens so it may create awareness about the national movement. Hence, it is necessary to make them accessible for the citizens. The present day physical condition of the jail is not in proper condition, so it should be repaired properly as soon as possible to maintain the condition of the jail. However, today the fort is a very busy place on account of being a jail.

Religion and Truth Essay

All Religion is TruthWhat is insanity of the religion? According to Ramakrishna, no One religion is truth, however, all the integral transmissions of sacred wisdom and contemplative practice that survive the test of time are true. (43) That means, the complete devotion to the source of knowledge and actions through prayer are the fundamental and most important walks of life that constitute to the wholeness of truth. These most important aspects of religion constitute to the wholeness of truth by what they place on the individual, which is the Grace of God. The belief that My Religion Alone is true is not the correct belief because all religions are truth from what the religion does to the practitioner. If the practitioner is in complete consciousness of God and life, that alone is the key to truth. So the basis of all these religions, be it Hindu, Christian, Jew or Muslim is primarily through the sanctity of God and that is the willingness to devote time and life through veneration to the Divine Reality, which is God, that brings all the religions together. As time transcends and religion expands, reality becomes the critical starting point through where we begin our destiny of truth. That means, knowledge is transcendent and that it is the gauntlet or tool that creates the value of truth within the individual. To understand this point fully, we must break down what Ramakrishna meant by integral transmissions of sacred wisdom. Integral means the completeness of the whole, and in this case it is used to exemplify the wholeness of truth in being the basis of knowledge. By the basis it is then completed through transmission or rather a passage of possibly enlightenment of knowledge. That is why knowledge is referred to as sacred, because of the qualities of truth that it brings within the individual. Furthermore, what constitutes to truth is the emphasis the individual places on eternal goal or spiritual peace by a means of illuminating the sacredness of knowledge. Persistence of intense awareness is the truth that Ramakrishna is trying to convey. Moreover, the goal of achieving a manifested state of sanctity is through complete sincerity. That is sincerity works in the favor of the practitioner because they not only work for truth and knowledge for themselves but indeterminately for God alone, and this is what is achieved in all religions, in essence making them very connected and similar. According to Ramakrishna, its supposed to be about what we fight for in religion, not what we fight for outside of religion. In addition, what we fight for is suppose to be for the ultimate being, God, through Divine Nature. Divine Nature is achieved through a balance of realization in our daily life. The key tool is sincerity. Sincerity is about being genuine and honest; however it is about being honest first and foremost to the individual. Because without being able to be truthful to yourself, there would be no decisive factor that contributes to inspired belief and thus creating a problem within the individual. The way to obtain divine nature is not simple, because it takes time, but those who are sincere can and will achieve it. Divine nature consists of being able to learn from our daily trials and tribulations and learning very critically from them. At the same rate, the most fundamental thing that helps us on our path is the presence of God within us. (42)Why does Ramakrishna refer to God being the only living presence within us and how do we achieve this? The benefits of having God within us are bliss and freedom. What it means to have bliss could potentially lead to freedom, freedom of the self. It is freedom of the self because the presence of God is the only thing that we become conscious of and creates a sort of ripple within us that really brings out the bliss of God. Moreover, it is the awareness of God that structure our daily life and thus creates a Divine Nature that we live. Religions create a sense of supreme happiness and that reveal an urgent desire to be at peace. Through understanding that God is present everywhere is the beginning stages of awareness, but moving to the stage that God is present with in us creates motivation and an incentive for the individual to complete his or her goal in life. Furthermore, in order to maintain a balance of the spiritual self, there are certain spiritual ideals that are really crucial in understanding the truth in all religions. Devotion seems to sound easy, whereas it is serves as a purpose for the individual. Devotion is the dedication to belief in God and resulting in profound piety. It is correlated with the idea of ideals. Ideals are processes that work hand in hand in achieving the individuals ultimate goal, which is developed by the means of devotion. Ideals are the realization of something more and that something more is the supreme presence. Ideals exist in the mind but at the same time in the heart and the entire body. It takes form in the individuals day to day action and helps in creating a balance within the individuals spiritual conscience. Once this process of ideals is followed up by proper actions and proper living, then harmony is reached in the form of the manifestation of God. Manifestation of God means that the cause of being completely habituated in living the proper way creates the effect of harmony. Harmony is a consistent pleasing effect that is caused by this absolute idea of consciousness and bliss. That is to say that all the important aspects that were stated from the beginning to now, are the primary purpose of the truth in all the religions, in essence showing the beauty that God brings forth through each and every religion. Finally we must go back to the original question of insanity. Ramakrishna in essence is saying that it is insane to believe your religion is the only and ultimate truth for we have no basis for that belief. We can see through the process of spiritual development that the beauty lays in the truth and sincerity each and every religion places on the individual in such a balanced and consistent manner. BIBLIOGRAPHY1. Philip Novak. The Worlds Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World. Harper SanFrancisco. -1st ed. Pg 42-44.