Saturday, December 28, 2019

Analysis Of The Book Cat Crosses The Couryard

This was no coincidence. Trollocs did not gather like this. They did not attack like this. They did not hunt like this. Not without orders. And not without one one the ends of their leashes. Time slowed down and sped up all at once, the world slowing while Aermun accelerated, suspended in the blackness of his soul. Cat Crosses the Couryard. His posture was lax, arrogant almost, sword loosely held in front of him and body straight. He felt Caitrin leap away from him, and his void shook; he knew she would last if she was channeling, but the familiar shhck! of a dagger leaving its sheath meant she was not using the Power. If he could have let out a guarded shout in that moment, he would have, but there was no time. In order to save her†¦show more content†¦A number of trees had fallen, it seemed, imprisoning her in the most terrifying cell imaginable with the worst prison guards ever conceived. A sloppy execution of Parting the Silk dispatched the nearest trolloc, but his heart had replaced his head in the battle. The remaining trollocs saw him, and split, two staying to lord over Caitrin s personal fire while the other three ran him down. The first was met with the full fury of Aermun s frustration as The Boar Rushes Down the Mountain slammed repeatedly into its shoddy steel shield until its arm was bashed aside and a cut landed home. An unceremonious lash of Aermun s blade opened its throat, but left him exposed on his left side long enough for a great boar s head to connect with his chest. His light steel breastplate saved his ribs from breaking but left him with an extraordinarily uncomfortable lump in his armor as he flopped to the ground, luckily managing to regain his balance and roll with his momentum as an axe exploded into the ground his pelvis had so recently occupied. Aermun hastily seized his opportunity, surging forward and landing the only precise slash of fight so far as Hummingbird Kisses the Honeyrose lanced a clean hole in its throat. Aermun did not have time to finish it off, instead leaving it to scream on the forest floor as he abandoned it. The two trollocs standing over Caitrin had seen the result of the fight, and, enraged, had stepped

Friday, December 20, 2019

The Evil Behind The Truth - 1786 Words

The Truth behind the Truth Regardless of how one chooses to live their lives, there always seems to be a desire for something more. Despite the difficulty to understand certain life events, it seems that numerous authors yearn for the truth in their lives. In the Gospel of Matthew, Christ and his disciples struggle with understanding truth. Christ serves as a teacher for the disciples as he explains how â€Å"†¦the angels will appear and separate the wicked from the upright,/to throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth† (Matthew 13:49-50). This passage explains to the disciples how as long as they live free from sin, they will be able to better understand hell and live a fulfilling life. Meanwhile, in Oedipus Rex, Oedipus spends all of his time searching for the perpetrator in King Laius’s murder. On the other hand, in Antigone, the characters each seem to go different routes in discovering truth. Although Antigon e believes she owes â€Å"†¦a longer allegiance to the dead than to the living†¦,† indicating she seeks truth in the rules of the gods, Creon, the King and Antigone’s uncle, pursues the truth by strictly abiding to the rules of man. Ismene, Antigone’s sister, takes a middle stance by seeking a balance between the rules of man and the rules of the gods in hopes to find truth. Unlike Antigone, Ismene is more concerned in finding peace in her life, whereas Antigone and Creon seem more adamant about doing the right thing. InShow MoreRelated The Heros Journey in Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown Essay example1249 Words   |  5 Pages and is faced with obstacles. He must decide if he will carry his journey out till the end, or turn back and not learn the truth about himself and other humans. The story Young Goodman Brown, by Nathaniel Hawthorne traces Young Goodman Browns experiences, physical and psychological, paralleling the Heros Journey and showing how he discovers that humans are truly evil by nature; therefore, altering his views of other humans and life itself. In the beginning of the story, Goodman Brown is facedRead MoreHonesty And Knowledge : The Philosophy Of Saint Augustine, Saint Thomas Aquinas, And Immanuel Kant1249 Words   |  5 PagesSome of us will tell the truth for the moral sake of doing so, or because it can serve a purpose and actually prove to be mutually beneficial. Revealing sensitive or private information to someone is risky, but the philosophers Saint Augustine, Saint Thomas Aquinas, and Immanuel Kant can agree that Larry would be doing a moral thing by informing Simon of his father’s infidelity. Essentially, for Saint Augustine, God is truth, and we should always work towards this truth. It is wisdom that providesRead MoreA Comparison Of Oskar Schindler And Amon Goeth : What Is Human Evil?1002 Words   |  5 Pagesvery different reactions to World War II. Human goodness is when one sees the truth, accepts it, and makes rational decisions based on the truth. Human evil is irrational decision-making, and when a person sees and understands the truth but choses to defy it. In Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List, philosophers Kant and Rahner would agree that Schindler is a representation of human goodness, and Goeth represents human evil. Oskar Schindler represents human goodness with his actions during the HolocaustRead MoreRole of Women in Macbeth by William Shakespeare Essay1039 Words   |  5 Pagesinto an aggressive man for expecting the throne, and being delegated as the thane of cawdor. All around the play, the ladies are always associated with evil, right from the earliest starting point of the play, beginning with the wyrd sisters. The three witches are indicated as vindictive creatures. They give of a quality like being an evil figure, who controlled each persons fate, and likewise, they were women. The agnostic part of the three witches is held with their examination to the FatesRead MoreHeart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad1436 Words   |  6 Pageshad and how various obstacles were overcome with he and his intended or fiancà ©. In Heart of Darkness, the main themes that are discussed and brought to light throughout the entire story are that of the hypocrisy behind the idea of Imperialism, the madness that surrounds the absurdity of evil, and the idea of the last encounter that Marlow has with Kurtz’s intended and the irony that surrounds the circumstance. First, the issue at hand with Imperialism and the insincerity that surrounds it is bafflingRead MorePlato And St. Augustine1090 Words   |  5 Pages there is an eternal idea or form of each moral principle, such as justice, piety or truth. This essay will discuss the ethics of Plato, Socrates and St. Augustine According to Plato, evil is simply the result of ignorance. He believed that all people are attempting to do what they understand as good. He believes there are three parts of the soul. There is a rational and moral part of the soul that loves truth, justice and good. There is a spirited part of the soul that loves worldly achievementRead Moreyears and years the world has been blinded by the evils in society. There are three main matters1100 Words   |  5 Pagesyears and years the world has been blinded by the evils in society. There are three main matters that shade us from the truth every day. These are corruption/greed, media takeover, and ignorance. Corruption is one of the worst evils to enter society; it has seemed to become a type of faith on its own. The way it is evil is that corruption has blinded society by the way we think and act, it allows people in society to think that doing evil things is an ok thing to do. The reason corruption has changedRead MoreBiblical Allusions: Golding ´s Lord of the Flies884 Words   |  4 PagesFlies, Golding utilizes symbolism of places and characters to allude to the Bible. Out of the many references, four significant biblical allusions – title of the novel, Simon, beast, and the island itself – emphasize Golding’s theme inherent sin and evil in mankind. The title, Lord of the Flies, refers to the pig’s head that was placed on a spear and worshiped by the young boys on the island. In other words, the boys have chosen to believe in a fake deity, much like the people of Israel, who builtRead MoreWestern Views On Human Nature918 Words   |  4 PagesThe Four Noble Truths represents the realities of nature that cannot be denied. The first truth is that life is suffering. Meaning that to live is to suffer, it is not to say that the entirety of life is to suffer, but that suffering is a part of life. The second truth is the desire for what is liable to birth, impurity, decay, and death. All examples of suffering as a part of the normal course of life. The third truth is that the elimination of the desire, as told by the second truth, eliminates sufferingRead Moreessay945 Words   |  4 PagesEvaluating Truth and Validity Exercise PHL/458 July 7th, 2014 Richard Burgoon â€Æ' Evaluating Truth and Validity Exercise The arguments I choose to assess for truth and validity will be three statements taken from the Applications list 12.2 (a -y) at the end of Ch. 12, â€Å"The Art of Thinking† publication. I will start with the statement (j) the premise that power must be evil because it can corrupt people. Checking the argument for any hidden premises and ensuring it is stated fully and

Thursday, December 12, 2019

The Role of Accounting in The Society

Question: Discuss about theRole of Accounting in The Society. Answer: Introduction Ball and Browns contribution to accounting practice are unquestionable. Many people regard the duo as celebrated accounting researchers due to their immense contribution to the capital market research. This paper seeks to investigate and present a detailed discussion using Ball and Brown (1968) work to explain the rationale, method, and findings and link it to the development capital market research. The authors wanted get an answer to a modest central research question. The question raised was; are numbers useful in accounting? (Ball and Brown 1968). The results of Ball and Brown (1968) will be helpful in this paper in highlighting the significance and importance of the contribution of the two authors in capital market research. Rationale The logic of both Ball and Brown to engage in the study (1968) was to empirically evaluate accounting income in numbers to illustrate the connection between information in financial statement and the stock prices. No one had empirically tested the connection between what the firm said would be the EPS (earning per share), some alterations to such projection as well as price of shares a year to come. The existing literature on accounting during mid-1960 was dominated by a priori perspective and less regard to empirical testing (Ball and Brown 2013). The research held a central conclusion that the information contained in the financial statement generated based on the then rules of reporting was worthless to the stockholders. It was also centrally agreed that radical alterations like information entailed in financial statements were required. There was, therefore, a consensus at the time that was no relationship between financial data and stock prices since they embraced the data accumulation computed based on the different guidelines (Fama et al. 1969). Accordingly, studies and debates predominantly circumvented the second conclusion that rules regulating financial statement needed alteration. Accounting literature then deemed unfruitful to investigate how information contained in the financial statements affected or related to stock prices. It was upon this basis that Ball and Brown (1968) study was the premise to test this connection empirically. Method Ball and Brown used a method that relates accounting income to the prices of stock to empirically test for the association between stock prices and information contained financial statement. The method was anchored on the theory that offers a justification for choosing the security price behavior as an operational test of usefulness (Malkiel. and Fama 1970). They believed that the information manifested in income numbers is useful. They then based their method on this theory and evidence and focused on information particular to one firm. They constructed two alternative models of the expectation of income to be by the market. The two authors then investigated the reaction of the market when market expectation prove false. The authors embraced the view of information in their study and measured the variance between the likely income variation and tangible alteration of revenue. They also showed how such change influenced stock prices (Bernard and Thomas 1989). The authors were measuring the forecast errors unexpected component in earning announcements (Ball and Brown 1968, p.162). They used a simple random walk model as well as a model which regulated effects of the market currently termed as earnings surprise. Finding Ball and Brown (1968) empirically proved that accounting information was indeed correlated with the changes in share prices and hence it was no longer attainable to conclude that accounting information was meaningless to investors. They were able to prove the hypothesis that alterations in the prices of shares integrated material variations in primary company value to some levels. The authors confirmed that most increases in the abnormal returns were before announcement date indicating the accuracy of the forecast of whether companies outperform or underperform. They discovered that stocks showed affirmative income surprise and that nonstandard earnings for the window of events remained probably to be constructive. Importance/Contribution to Capital Markets Research The study initially received a tepid reaction from the academicians but later converted to the seed that made a difference. This research became the origin of the extensive contemporary frame of research explicating the ways investors use the financial information as well as the impacts of such information on returns of share price. Ball and Brown (1968) triggered the transformation of the accounting study by illustrating that there is an association between the changes in the prices of shares and the information entailed in the financial statement reports. The two researchers were inspired by the lack of any empirically testing to prove the earlier hypothesis on whether there was a linkage between what the firm expected the earning per share to be, any alterations to that forecast as well as its share price twelve months later. Ball and Brown (1968) study was, therefore, a groundbreaking study that led to the currently accepted association between accounting information and the security prices hence the bedrock from investment processes. The uncovered the empirical evidence since that concluded that financial statement information prepared under the then available reporting guidelines had a useful meaning to investors (Beaver 1968). References Ball, R. and Brown, P., 1968. An empirical evaluation of accounting income numbers. Journal of accounting research, pp.159-178. Ball, R. and Brown, P.R., 2013. Ball and Brown (1968): A retrospective. The Accounting Review, 89(1), pp.1-26. Beaver, W.H., 1968. The information content of annual earnings announcements. Journal of accounting research, pp.67-92. Bernard, V.L. and Thomas, J.K., 1989. Post-earnings-announcement drift: delayed price response or risk premium?. Journal of Accounting research, pp.1-36. Fama, E.F., Fisher, L., Jensen, M.C. and Roll, R., 1969. The adjustment of stock prices to new information. International economic review, 10(1), pp.1-21. Malkiel, B.G. and Fama, E.F., 1970. Efficient capital markets: A review of theory and empirical work. The journal of Finance, 25(2), pp.383-417.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Business Memo free essay sample

With the advancement of technology in the work place, the opportunity for malicious users to infiltrate and corrupt your business increases. Knowing what types of methods these individuals are using will help you in developing preventative measures. Keeping employees informed of the ways to recognize and respond to social engineering techniques are important to an organizations overall information security program. The two types of social engineering threats business face are local and remote social engineering. Being able to recognize when someone is attempting to use a social engineering technique is critical. Far too many employees are unaware of the consequences that can follow by clicking an unknown link on an email as well as responding to random text messages via SMS. It is important for upper-level management and executives to provide training to employees to make them aware of possible social engineering attacks. Ensuring that employees understand what privileges they have on company information systems and the various methods attackers use can help mitigate future social engineering success. We will write a custom essay sample on Business Memo or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Social engineering is a method of tricking users into divulging confidential information. One of the forms of social engineering is local engineering. More specifically, dumpster diving is a local social engineering method that requires the attacker to search through the organizations trash hoping to collect useful inside information. Some of the items that can be recovered by the malicious user are hard copies of documents, invoices, or a discarded computer device such as USB drives. One tactic for mitigating this threat is ensuring documents and data are properly destroyed before discarding. For example, using a paper shredder to destroy hard copies of documents before throwing them in the trash. Also, wiping hard drives clean before disposing of them ensures nothing can be retrieved should they be found. Another method of local social engineering is shoulder surfing. During shoulder surfing an attack observes an individual with the intent of gathering information. The malicious user can use anything from video cameras, binoculars, and even casually interacting with the clueless employee. The main tool used against shoulder surfing is employee awareness. When a company educates their employees on the possibility of shoulder surfing, the employees become more conscious of the threat. Being aware of this issue they can now take precautionary measures to prevent their information from being viewed. Along with local social engineering, remote social engineering has become a security threat as well. Advanced technology has allowed attackers the ability to threaten a business without the need of physically being located near the company. These attackers can target victims using email, inter and phone services. Phishing is a remote social engineering threat that uses misrepresentation as its form of contact to a user. Attackers attempt to trick a user into visiting a fake website and retrieving their credentials. They can now exploit that users information. Spam is another method used by attackers that send unwanted e-mail messages to users. These e-mails contain links that claim to provide reputable services or products. When the user clicks on the link, the attacker gains information through phishing or plants a virus through the users connection. Spam can also come through phone calls. Attackers call users claiming they have received an award or have been entered in a drawing for a prize. If the user trusts the caller they will provide the information requested and become susceptible to attack. This type of spam is called SPIT, or Spam over Internet Telephony. Again, the most effective way of preventing these attacks is through user education. Explaining the dangers of responding to unverified communication you have received can help employees become aware of the many threats on their information system. Having employees that are educated in the many forms of both local and remote social engineering will help prevent successful malicious attacks to your company.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

What is Conflict Management Essay Essay Example

What is Conflict Management Essay? Essay Needless to say, management is an inevitable part of present-day businesses. The most crucial role of management is to work with people in order to achieve a common goal and find the points of agreement among members to achieve a common good. Management is not an easy activity, and every successful manager should know the hundreds of existing techniques to rule other people effectively. It depends on the situation which such style is the most suitable for a particular case. One of the challenges in the sphere of management is a troublesome situation that arises on a daily basis. We can define it as a situation that involves more than one person with different points of view who cannot find a common agreement. The difference in viewpoints ranges starting from philosophical views and divergent goals to the desire to get power over a situation. If arguments are not handled successfully, they usually lead to the breakdown in one’s trust and the decrease of team’s productivity, and this fact may eventually lead to the death of the business. The main ground of the conflict We will write a custom essay sample on What is Conflict Management Essay? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on What is Conflict Management Essay? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on What is Conflict Management Essay? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The main reason why disagreement arises is that of different viewpoints individuals have on a particular subject. Without understanding one’s viewpoint, a person gets easily pulled into the conflict. Fortunately, there exists the practice called conflict management that deals with identifying and handling conflicts with the minimum of risks and fairly, to address the needs of all participants of a bad situation, concentrating on a general good. There are numerous interpersonal techniques when it comes to managing conflicts in one’s workplace. These techniques may help to remove the misunderstanding between colleagues. It is important to know them as they are applicable to any relationship. The first step when it comes to managing troubles is to foster an environment appropriate for open communication. Regardless of differences in one’s opinion, it is much easier to stay on the same page with an interlocutor. Another interesting conflict management strategy is dealing with healthy conflict that mainly predetermines the largest outcomes. In fact, conflict serves as a motivator for big changes, and change is an inevitable part of any process of development. Negotiation during a healthy argue may help to elaborate new ideas that will lead a company to future success. Unfortunately, not all conflicts that appear are healthy. It is imperative that effective conflict solving techniques should be applied in such cases to lead members of a team through the difficult times. Conflict management Academic Writing Conflict way out is one of the major themes for an essay. The assignments to write an essay on this topic can be given not only to students whose major is Management but also to students of such majors as Psychology, Politics, Philosophy, Ethics, Journalism and many others. Completing the assignment, students have a chance not only to demonstrate their writing skills but also to persuade the readers and demonstrate own logic effectively. Critical thinking is the most significant thing when it comes to writing a paper on conflict   solving. The language and keywords students choose for their essays have a lot of weight as well. Many students wonder why this topic is popular. First of all, considering that conflict is a natural part of any workplace, it is significant for students to learn how to resolve various conflicts and understand their basis. Life makes individuals participate in unpleasant situations, and students should be able to overcome the difficulties. To be an effective manager, students should know how to face with daily stresses inside a team, how to handle loads of work, and how to consider the needs of every individual. It is a well-known fact that social interactions very often imply conflicts and conflict management essays help to understand that there is nothing bad about this in case one knows how to solve conflicts in productive ways. Generally, individuals like reading management essays to gain credible insights into today’s business and reveal the knowledge of basic concepts in that sphere. Management is a soft skill, one that is developed basically through the practice. That’s why such essays serve as a great practice to reflect the theories. How to write an excellent essay? The first step To write a conflict management essay is not only about demonstrating your knowledge of theory and prominent writing skills. Before the writing process, we should do a lot of work. First of all, you should read and deeply analyze the given instructions or a provided situation. Remember that an essay should be related to contemporary theories on managing. Then, you may use the brainstorming method and write down the theories you find the most related to the theme of your essay. Be confident that you are aware of these theories not to mislead future readers. If you received a topic, the best idea is to take a situation that will serve as a great example of new concepts you will discuss later. Even more, you may refer to real-life examples to sound more persuasive. Remember that the more complicated a situation is, the more material and ideas you will have to write about. Choose a situation that will allow you to demonstrate your awareness of conflict managing theories. The second step The next significant step as far as writing a management essay is concerned is to determine a structure of your writing. Write down a brief outline of the main points and make sure that your essay has a coherent structure. In general, the most popular structure is the introduction that serves as a brief synopsis of theory, a body containing concrete concepts of conflict management and appropriate examples, and conclusion with future recommendations and summarizing of your main points discussed throughout the paper. Regardless of strict academic standards, many modern-day essays include some bullet-points and headings to secure better readability. Also, you should remember that as far as conflict management essay is concerned, it is not enough to research literature and credible sources and collect the brilliant thoughts. First of all, you should think as an analytic and apply your logical thinking skills. But there is one more method! In case you still struggle with your writing on conflict solving, you may ask for the professional online help that you may find on Thewritemyessay. The team of professional writers possesses a great knowledge of Management and will create a paper for you that will appeal to your professor. The service proposes a profound analysis of a given situation, and you can be confident that you will get a strong mark as all primary goals will be met according to the original instructions.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

United States Actions during W essays

United States Actions during W essays The United States actions during WWII Many people question whether or not the United States did as much as they could have to stop the killing of so many people in Germany during WWII. I think that the United States did all that they could during the War even though thousands of people had to die. The United States got involved legally, Roosevelt geared American Industry to manufacture wartime machinery and also the political influence was very high. The United States got involved legally in that written in the Constitution it states that the United States can not get involved in a war unless Congress votes and approves the declaration of war or if another country attacks us. So Roosevelt wanted Japan to attack us and kind of pushed them to so that we could go to war. Roosevelt knew that many of the Congress members did not want to go to war and so he knew that they would not declare war on Germany with out being attacked so he spent a lot of time figuring out how he could get Japan to attack us. Once we were attacked by Japan illegally the American people really rallied behind the government and supported us going to war. Roosevelt geared American industry to manufacture wartime machinery such as guns, tanks, planes, ships, clothing, and other items and sold and transported them to Canada and England so that they could have something to fight with. The Americans were much more sophisticated in the building of these items so since America could not be in the war because Congress wouldnt let them declare war they decided to help out the Allies and supply with the things that they needed. Some of the men from America went and joined the Canadian Air Force because they wanted to help the Canadians since at that time they could not do anything in United States. Many of the same items that we used in the war was already being used by the other Allies because in actuality even though we were not fighting we had been...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

International law seminar. Legal memo Case Study

International law seminar. Legal memo - Case Study Example This has enabled her rise above her competitors on the market. Packaging is a vital factor in trade that enables consumers to identify a particular item. An attractive way of packaging a product catches the buyer’s eye and this promotes sales hence earning much profit. It is on this note that Danielle decided to make her order of the boxes from Stuttgart Germany even though she was a citizen of United States. Entrepreneurship involves producers inventing new ways and approaches so as to dominate the market. This includes strategy. Proper strategy enables producers to counter challenges that may face their business. Therefore, Danielle wanted her chocolates to have a unique packaging feature hence going for the Box Masters Company. The paper indicates that since the bossiness partners originate from two different countries, the CISG shall be used as an applicable law. Danielle made an order of 40000 boxes of chocolate from her supplier. According to Danielle, the holiday season was a perfect time for her business since chocolates are favorites for a large number of people. The first issue indicates that the supplier delivered goods on 16th October as expected by Danielle, but they were not the boxes that she had ordered. This shows that they were normal boxes, which her competitors used on market. Her clients identified her chocolates from others on market as a result of her packaging design. The issue reflects that consumers will not be able to distinguish Danielle’s chocolates and this will lead to a loss. Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays offer reliable opportunities for business operations. Danielle was optimistic that she would make much profit similar to past years. Danielle wrote to the Box Masters informing them that the goods she had received were not what she had ordered. She explained to the company that using the normal boxes would make her lose customers, which would bring down her business. The Box Masters explained to the entrepren eur the challenges the company was facing, and indicated that they would send 10000 boxes by October 26th and finally deliver the remaining 30.000 boxes on November 16th. The Box Masters fulfilled their request where they delivered 10000 boxes on October 26. However, at that time damage had already taken place. Danielle had lost several clients as a result of the delay. The memo indicates that it was not imperative for the Box Masters to argue that Danielle could be sold the items on a subsided price. The mutual agreement between the buyer and the seller indicated a specific item and not just any item on shelf. Since they sent a wrong product they are required by law to stand in for the cost of shipment and insurance. According to article 16 of United Nation’s Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods [CISG] an offer may be revoked if goods reach the buyer before he has transmitted an acceptance. Therefore, from the above illustration, Danielle has aright to refuse the delivery of the 40000 boxes because they were dispatched without acceptance. It also states in article 17 of the CISG of the constitution that an offer is terminated when rejection reaches the seller. This can be shown since Danielle wrote to the Box Masters indicating that she had nothing to do with the normal boxes. According to this information, the Box Masters should make arrangements for the shipment of the normal boxes back to their warehouse since Danielle had paled a rejection. The main objective of any business venture is to satisfy her

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Remembering my Childhood in the Continent of Africa Personal Statement

Remembering my Childhood in the Continent of Africa - Personal Statement Example Sendaris as the narrator patronizes his own childhood while praising almost all the events which Hugh went through in his childhood. Apart from the praises, I established that later on the article Sendaris is sympathetic of what Hugh went through after his family moved to Mogadishu (Sendaris 247). I have witnessed also the fact that, the narrator has managed to pin point positive and inspiring events, in the African continent which is full of third world countries. The narrator portrays the negativity experienced in the three African countries which Hugh lived in as normal and intriguing. The themes the narrator is trying to display are admiration, jealously and sympathy. Sendaris’ view on what Hugh went through during his childhood is sarcastic. Judging from the narration, in reality Hugh’s experience, in Africa, has been rough and exhilarating. To my amazement, Sendaris is praising and admiring Hugh’s childhood, but this is controversial. I do not consider Hugh to be privileged because his family moves from one African country to another. In my analysis, I discovered that Sendaris’ praises and admirations on Hugh’s childhood are transitional. The transition moves from praise and admiration to jealousy and later on to sympathy. The transition does not depend on what Sendaris thinks of Hugh, but on what Hugh is experienced in his childhood. I categorize Sendaris’ description of Hugh’s childhood experience as overrated. Truthfully speaking, I know that the two countries which Hugh lived in when he was a child, that is Congo and Somali have suffered their share of suffering. Sendaris is sarcastic in his narration; he is intrigued with the thrilling events which Hugh came across. Experiences like seeing a man who had hanged himself on a pole (Sendaris 246) and an animal shot to death while Hugh and his fellow classmates watched (Sendaris 245) are

Monday, November 18, 2019

Preparing a management report and advising management on the case Essay

Preparing a management report and advising management on the case given - Essay Example The paper will also present risk management issues associated with offsite manufacturing and present ways to tackle them. In short the paper is a guide to the smooth transition from the traditional methods of construction to offsite manufacturing for Zenith PM. Introduction The increases interest in offsite construction methods has been fuelled lately by two important factors – one is the intense pressure in the housing market, especially in South East England and other is a concern among the government and the industry to improve the standards in the construction industry (Barlow, Bartlett, Whitehead, & Hooper, 2002). A number of policy documents from the government have focused on the lack of affordable housing units in UK and the effect this shortage has on the economy of the country. The UK government has come up with Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) which are concerned with modernization in the housing sector (Barker, 2003). Most of these are concerned with offsite ma nufacturing which moves construction from the site to the factory. This helps the industry, the end customer as well as the labour in many ways. Standardisation of production ensures that quality materials are produced; the speed of production increases and the deficiency in the labour market are covered as concentrated production makes better use of the available labour power .Offsite bulk production also reduces the cost of production and helps in cooling down an overheated housing market. The labour or the construction workers are provided better pays , working conditions and benefit from training facilities in offsite ‘factories’ where senior workers are able to properly train juniors in many ways (Campbell, 2001). The first report of the Housing forum’s offsite manufacturing worker’s group has claimed that offsite manufacturing leads to 10 % reduction in capital costs and construction time, 20% reduction in accidents, a 10 % increase in productivity a nd profitability and a 10 % increase in predictability of project performance (Housing Forum, 2002). Apart from this there have been many governmental and non-governmental reports which have provided us with insights into offsite manufacturing and have given thumbs up to the process as beneficial to all. Industrial revolution succeeded due to the bulk production of standardised goods in the factory. It transformed the face of the world and the industry. The construction industry till now has been unable to reap the benefits of factory production due to usage of traditional methods of production. Offsite manufacturing helps to bring bulk production to the construction industry. It is now time that techniques of industrial revolution transform the face of construction industry also. Offsite Manufacturing 2.1 Definition Offsite manufacturing refers to the process in which structures are built at a location which is separate from the site of construction. Individual parts of the buildin g are completed offsite in factories and then transported to the construction site (Barlow, 1999). 2.2 Different types of Offsite products. Some of the examples of offsite

Friday, November 15, 2019

Safety measures in swimming

Safety measures in swimming Introduction Many young children like being around and in water, but proper safety measures should be taken, without which water can be dangerous for young children. One of the leading causes of death among children 1(one) to 4(four) years of age is drowning. According to Australian National Drowning report of 2007, 35 infants and toddlers lost their lives through drowning in the financial year ending 30 June 2007. Most often at home, babies and toddlers drown in swimming pools. Drowning can also happen in other standing water around the home like bathtubs, buckets and pails, especially 5-gallon buckets and diaper pails, ice chests with melted ice, toilets, hot tubs, spas ,and whirlpools, irrigation ditches, post holes, and wells, fish ponds and fountains among others. Drowning to young children is so easy as they can drown in as little as 4 cm(1.5inches) of water, this therefore means that drowning can happen where and when you would least expect it .While drowning can take only a second, it is almost always silent. For this reason therefore, adults must always watch young children when in or near water. Keeping Young Children Safe Young children need constant supervision when near water, whether the water is in a bathtub, a wading pool, an ornamental fish pond, a swimming pool, a spa, the beach or a lake. Several water and pool safety tips have been discussed below: One may ask the question whether swimming lessons prevent drowning among children. It is a good idea to learn how to swim and children older than 4 years should learn how to swim. However, according to researchers, there is no research to show that swimming lessons for children young than 4 years old can prevent drowning. This is because children are not old enough at this age to learn how to swim on their own. There are water survival skills that would help one in an emergency which are too hard for young children to react with. However the exact age when young children are ready to learn how to swim, there is not a lot of research about it, but research has shown that children do not have the skills to swim on their own until maybe at the age of 4 years old and above even if their swimming lessons start at a younger age. It should be however noted that one should not assume that a child who knows how to swim is not at risk for drowning. No matter what their swimming skill levels, i t is important to supervise young children while they are in the water. (World Health Organization, 2006) Whenever a child is near water, invest in proper-fitting, coast guard-approved flotation devices (life vests) and use them. Check the recommendations for the weight and size on the label, then to make sure that it fits snugly, have your child try it on. Choose a vest with a strap between the legs and head support for children young than 5 years old- the collar will keep the child’s head up and face out of the water. Arm devices such as water wings and inflatable vests are not effective protection against drowning. Water safety precautions start in the home, for example the bathroom is full of dangers for young children. A young child should never be left unattended in the bathroom especially while bathing even if the child appears to be well propped in a safety tub or bath ring. All hair dryers and other electrical appliances should be kept away to avoid the risk of electrocution to children. Hot water can also be dangerous, for the children who are young than 5 years in particular. Unlike older children and adults, young children have thinner skin, meaning that they burn more easily. Just 3 seconds exposure to hot tap water that’s 60 degrees Celsius can give a third degree burn to a child. To reduce the risk of scalding you can turn the water heater thermostat in your home down to 49 degree Celsius and by always testing the water with your wrist or elbow before placing your child in the bath. Child safety is not only to be found at home, your awareness of preventing accidents caused by water can go a long way outside the home. This can be done by finding out if there are water hazards’ in your neighbourhood. Find out whether there are pools or water spas, where the retaining ponds or creeks that may attract children are. Make neighbours who have pools aware that you have a young child and ask them to keep their gates locked. (World Health Organization, 2006) When it comes to safety issues at your own home, having a pool, pond, spa, or hot tub is a tremendous responsibility. Though hot tubs may feel great to adults, it is best not to let children use them at all because they can become dangerously overheated in them and even drown. Having a fence going a round the pool or spa between the water and your house is the best safety investment you can make and this can go a long way towards preventing pool-related drowning. According to consumer product safety commission (CPSC), fences for the pool should meet the following rules: First, fences should stand at least 4feet high with no foot or handrails for children to climb on, secondly the slats should be less than 4 inches apart so a child can not get through, or if chain link, should have no opening larger than50millimeters. Also gates should be self –closing and self-latching, and the latch should be out of the child’s reach. Other devices such as pool covers and alarms can be bought, but the American Academy of paediatrics (AAP) have not proved their effectiveness against drowning for very young children. The AAP strongly supports fencing as the best measure of protection. (United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2005) Another way of ensuring safety for young children is to teach them proper pool behaviour, and to make sure that you take the right precautions too. Young children should not run or push around the pool and should never dive in areas that are marked for diving. If there is lightning or if the weather generally turns bard, they should get out of the pool immediately. They should too know that they should contact the lifeguard or an adult if there is an emergency. Most important, supervise your children all the times. You should not assume that just because your child took swimming lessons or is using a floating device such as an inner tube or inflatable raft that there is no drowning risk. Sometimes it is very easy to be distracted for example when you are in a party, therefore designate an adult who will be responsible for watching the children. If in any case you leave your child with a babysitter, make sure he or she knows your rules for the pool. It is also vital understanding that when it comes to water emergencies seconds count, so take a cordless phone with you when you are watching children during water play. A quick dial feature keyed to your local emergency centre will also save additional seconds. If you receive a call while supervising children, be keen to keep your conversation brief to prevent being distracted. Make sure that you have safety equipment such as floatation devices that are in good shape and are close at hand when boating or swimming. Review your home for water hazards and plan what to do in case of an emergency once you have installed all your safety equipment. Also make sure that you have all post emergency numbers on all phones and ensure that all caregivers are aware of their locations. Be sure to remove all pool toys and put them away after your children have finished playing in the pool. This is because it has been noted that some children drown while trying to retrieve playthings left in the pool. (United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2005) Water safety should also be considered even after the swim season has passed. This is because some pools have covers and it is not safe in the sense that many children love attempt to walk on top of the covered pools and may get trapped underneath a pool cover. Pools are tempting play areas for young children so keep your pool gates locked and teach your children to stay away from water without your supervision. For the above-ground pools, to lock or to remove the ladder when the pool is not in use is a good idea. Although the biggest worry, drowning isn’t the only concern when young children are exposed to water. Infants in particular are highly susceptible to diseases that can be transmitted in water. When an infant is introduced in to a pool, thereafter dry the child’s ears carefully by use of a towel or cotton ball to help prevent swimmers ear (an ear infection caused by water). In order to remove pool chemicals, it’s a good idea to wash the baby and shampoo the hair. Water temperatures below 29 degree Celsius can cause babies to lose heat quickly and body temperatures drop below normal, causing hypothermia. Therefore any child who starts to shiver should be removed from water immediately, dried and kept in a towel. Inside the pools young children can also cause diseases. Cryptosporidium is a parasite which normally lives in the gastrointestinal tract and is found in faeces and it can therefore be released by babies with leaky diapers. Into pools and accidentally when swallowed by others can cause problems. The safest thing in this case is to keep your baby out of pools until he/she is toilet taught, and if the child must go to a pool use waterproof diapers and change them frequently. (World Health Organization, 2006) In Case of Emergency Always check the pool first whenever a child is missing. Remember that survival of the child depends on a quick rescue and restarting breathing as soon as possible. Get the child out immediately if you find it in water while calling loudly for help. If there is anyone else available let them call the emergency number for help. Check and make sure that the air passages of the child are clear. If the child is not breathing, do five cycles of rescue breathing and chest compressions for a bout two minutes or so. If the child is still not breathing, continue giving this first aid as you dial the emergency number to get help if someone hasn’t already called and follow any instructions provided by the emergency operators. Lay the child on his or her side it breathing starts-this will help keep the airway open and allow fluids to drain so that the child doesn’t choke. Keep the child on his or her back and brace the neck and shoulders with your hands and forearms, if you think t he child may have suffered a neck injury, until emergency help arrives. Do not move or let the child move. Also to keep the child comforted, speak in calm tones and continue to watch for adequate breathing. (United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2005) Conclusion It has been noted clearly that water can be a great source of fun for young children. However, if not well supervised, children can find themselves in great danger even to a point of death through drowning, commonly found in the family pools. Flotation devices or swimming skills cannot safe a child from drowning. Children in water can also pass risks like diseases to other pool users. It is also important to check the water temperature and the PH level to ensure safety of the children. All the discussed safety tips above should be put into consideration. Above all it should be noted that the only best way to ensure water and pool safety for young children is through adult supervision- the best way to supervise a child is by being within arms reach and engaging and interacting with your children when they are in, on, or around water. Do not let children to take care of their younger siblings. Reference Kebabjian, R. (1995): Disinfection of Public Pools and Management of Fecal Accidents: Journal of Environmental Health; 58 (1): 8-12 Minnesota Department of Health (2002): Recommended Guide for the Removal of Fecal Matter from a Swimming Pool for Consideration by Pool Owners and Operators New South Wales Health Department (1999): Protocol for Minimising the Risk of Cryptosporidium Contamination in Public Swimming Pools and Spa Pools Steinenger, J. (1991): Improving Pool Sanitation; Journal of Environmental Health; May/June 53(6): 26-28 United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (2005): Guidelines for Entrapment Hazards: Making Pools and Spas Safer World Health Organization (2006): Guidelines for safe recreational water environments: Vol. 2; Swimming pools and similar environments

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Essays on the Diary of Anne Frank †The Real Heros :: Diary of Anne Frank Essays

The Diary of Anne Frank – The Real Heros The Diary of Anne Frank could not have been written without the selfless help of Mr. Kraler and Miep, the Dutch office-workers. In extremely hard times, they provided the necessary help for the survival of the eight people hiding out in the attic of a factory. Mr. Kraler often visited the two families in hiding, and made sure that no one found out about them, while Miep Brought them food, books and other things that they requested. They were real world heroes because few people would go through so much even for their friends. Mr. Kraler was an old man who felt that no people should suffer like the Jews. He took it upon himself and Miep to give the two families in hiding everything they needed for survival. He made sure that none of the workers found out about the secret annex. Right in the beginning of the story, Mr. Kraler installed a new dead bolt in the secret door for their safety. Mr. Kraler and Miep have been putting food stores on shelves and making sure there was enough drugs, soap and linen in store. Mr. Kraler is modest, when Mrs. Frank says the they wouldn't even be alive without Mr. Kraler's help, Mr. Kraler says "Please. Please. You make us seem very heroic. It isn't that at all. We simply don't like the Nazis." Mr. Kraler did everything within his abilities to provide the Franks and the Van Daans with the best hiding place in Amsterdam. Miep was a young woman who was engaged and also had to work everyday and yet she always found the time to visit the families, to bring them food, books, news and whatever else they might have needed or wanted. Miep was very generous but also modest. On new year's eve she baked them a cake, even though sugar was sold on rations. Mr. Frank offered her a piece of the cake but she said "None for me, thank you." because she knew that they hadn't had cake in a very long time, when Mr. Frank insisted, she said "I couldn't.". Miep went to a party, she made sure to remember everything to tell them the

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Philosophy the Meaning of Life Essay

There are many different views as to what makes life meaningful. Philosopher, Thomas Nagel, presents a good argument as to why a â€Å"Sisyphisian† existence is meaningless. This does not necessarily mean that all lives are meaningless, because Richard Taylor and Raymond Martin provide strong evidence that prove otherwise. According to Greek mythology, â€Å"The Myth of Sisyphus†, by Albert Camus, condemns Sisyphus to forever roll the same rock up a hill; only to see it roll back down once he reached the top. Sisyphus’ â€Å"scorn of the gods, his hatred of death, and his passion for life† was the reason for his punishment and endless turmoil in accomplishing nothing (Camus 775). In Nagel’s essay â€Å"The Absurd†, his views on the meaninglessness of life and the absurdity of it, provide evidence that Sisyphus leads a meaningless life and how all people are condemned to lead this life. He points out that the absurd comes about by â€Å"the collision between the seriousness with which we take our lives and the perpetual possibility of regarding everything about which we are serious as arbitrary, or open to doubt†(Nagel 769). In other words, the things people take seriously in their lives are always open to doubt. Nagel believes that human life becomes absurd when the realization of living an unreasonable life becomes known. â€Å"Once the fundamental doubt has begun, it cannot be laid to rest†(771). When people begin to doubt their existence, they search for answers that cannot be justified. Humans are capable of being self-conscious and self-inspiring which gives them the ability to step back and observe themselves from an outside point of view. This allows them to see the reality and pointlessness of their goals. Some people try to escape the absurd and try to add meaning to their lives by giving themselves a role in something bigger. When Nagel says, â€Å"a role in some larger enterprise cannot confer significance unless that enterprise is itself significant†, he means that the larger enterprise cannot have meaning, unless the enterprise as a whole has meaning (770). According to Nagel, for something to be meaningful it must be objectively meaningful. For example, Sisyphus leads an objectively meaningless life because he is condemned to roll the stone up the hill forever and achieving nothing. Nagel says that the life of a mouse is not absurd because the mouse is not aware that it is only a mouse; it does not have the ability to perceive its life like humans can. â€Å"Absurdity is one of the most human things about us: a manifestation of our most advanced and interesting characteristics†(774). The absurdity shows people that their lives are meaningless; and when this is recognized, the logical conclusion is suicide. This solution to absurdity is not accepted; instead it is suggested to keep on living in spite of the absurdity of life. â€Å"If we relied hard on reason our life would have collapsed† because relying only on reason would leave people with many philosophical questions, leaving them to dwell on the doubts of life (773). One way to achieve some concept of the meaning of life is to consider the meaninglessness of it as Richard Taylor has done. Like Nagel, Taylor views the endless cycle of Sisyphus pushing the stone up the hill over and over again as a perfect example of a meaningless existence. Taylor proves that a life is meaningless if it is spent in pointless and repetitive toil. Sisyphus’s repetitive act of rolling a stone up a hill never gets him anywhere nor does anything come from it, and therefore his life is meaningless. However, Taylor came up with concepts that could provide some meaning and hope to Sisyphus’s life. First, if Sisyphus were still condemned to endlessly rolling stones up a hill, but instead of the stones rolling back down, they would â€Å"become the foundation for a vast and beautiful indestructible temple†¦with this construction going on and on, endlessly, and the temple gradually becoming ever more beautiful and inspiring and capable of enduring to the end of time† (Taylor 788). With these conditions, Sisyphus’s actions now have a purpose because something results from his efforts and creates lasting significance; but his efforts are still endless and therefore still have no meaning. He is still doing the same repetitive routine, and if the temple were to be finished, what then? Taylor believes that â€Å"the greatest evil that can be inflicted upon anyone is unrelieved boredom†, which means that if Sisyphus were to ever complete his task he would become engulfed in boredom until he finds another task. Mankind continues the daily routine to escape this evil; without projects and activities man would be bored. Taylor concludes that human life from an objective viewpoint is â€Å"described as a clockworklike thing, without purpose or meaning† because it will always consist of a routine that will never end (790). Another case in which Sisyphus’ life can become meaningful is if his strongest desire was to push stones up a hill, for this is what makes him happiest. This makes his life subjectively meaningful; it is meaningful to him because it is fulfilling his desire. Taylor states â€Å"Sisyphus, will view his life, not as one of hard labor, certainly not one of meaninglessness, buts as good† because he is sentenced to forever doing something that he enjoys (791). This case still does not show a completely meaningful life because it is not whether he enjoys his existence; it is if his existence has meaning, which is still spent in routine. Taylor concludes, â€Å"the only genuinely meaningful existence is one that is creative†(792). For instance, if Sisyphus was willing to roll the stones up the mountain to build an everlasting temple that is not only â€Å"beautiful to his eyes, but truly beautiful, in the eyes of every future generation†¦we have, finally, the perfect image of meaningfulness†(792). Taylor says that one can make anything meaningful by making it creative; not only in the sense of creating physical objects, but also that creativity is a state of mind. â€Å"Some can – live meaningfully, by creating our own meanings, whether great or small, and then literally glorying in them, caring not in the least what we â€Å"get† from it all†(793). Having this creative sense leaves people able to find meaning everywhere. Finding out the meaninglessness of life helped Taylor find concepts that could make life meaningful. Martin’s essay, â€Å"A Fast Car and a Good Woman†, addresses the problems of both Nagel and Taylor by depicting his own meaning of life. He describes the difference between the problems of the meaning of life and the problems of life itself. Martin says that the problem of the meaning of life is the philosophical question of whether or not life can be worth living. Instead of focusing on this subject, Martin discuses how the problem of life, â€Å"is a practical question of how to live our lives so that they are as worth living as they can be†(Martin 1). Since there is no objective meaning in life as Nagel says, Martin does not try and find it, but tries to see what would make life meaningful in the psychological sense. Martin believes in practical wisdom, â€Å"if we take proper care of our lives, questions of meaning will take care of themselves†, that way people are not worried about the meaning of life. If someone worries about the meaning of life, like Nagel said, and tries to give it reason, it will result in madness. There are those people who cannot set questions of meaning aside; Leo Tolstoy is a prime example of this kind of person. When Tolstoy says, â€Å"†¦And I was absolutely unable to make any reply. The questions were not waiting and I had to answer them at once: if I did not answer them, I could not live†, he means that he needs to be able to understand the questions of meaning before he can move on with his life (1). Martin says that philosophical questions bring about existent anguish, for instance, when one’s sense of security is lost because it was built on a foundation of unquestioned beliefs. For example, a person whose sense of security that rests on religious beliefs suddenly become subject to doubt, results in such suffering that calls into question the meaning of life. Philosophical questions normally only challenge the beliefs we depend on for security and not necessarily the meaning of life. Martin says that the suffering is not because of the philosophical problem of the meaning of life, but the sudden realization that our personal beliefs rest on uncertain assumptions. Nagel and Tolstoy both believe that â€Å"philosophical challenges to the meaning of life are an important source of psychological problems†(3). With this belief, Martin’s view of practical meaning is wrong. Not being able to overlook the philosophical questions of meaning will ultimately bring you down because of the realizations it brings. Nagel claims that there is not solution to this, because the absurd cannot be avoided. Martin believes that when life is at its subjective best, that questions of the meaning of life do not arise. At this moment one has temporarily solved the problem of life because the thought of meaning did not arise. This statement makes practical wisdom valid because, â€Å"when we are happy, questions about the meaning of our lives rarely ever become problems†(3). To become happy one must take chances, and if one goes down the wrong path to happiness, it could lead to philosophical problems about the meaning of life. Taylor, like Nagel, uses philosophical questions differ between objective meaninglessness and subjective meaning. He views that life is objectively meaningless, but not completely meaningless. According to Martin, Taylor finds meaning everywhere and Nagel finds is nowhere. However, neither one is psychologically valid because they both rely on philosophical questions for their meaning. Martin says that Taylor’s view is too romantic and makes meaning too easy and Nagel is the opposite with an intellectual view, which makes meaning too hard. Martin agrees with a view suggested by Taylor’s discussion, â€Å"that people have meaningful lives not when they are doing what they will to do but when they are doing what they love to do†(4). Martin believes that life is not essentially meaningful but that it can become meaningful if one does something they love to do. When at one’s subjective best, when not disturbed by questions about the meaning of life, are you also completely satisfied at this moment? According to Martin, it is close enough to being completely satisfied, but it does not last long. â€Å"Since satisfaction doesn’t last, then either we have to continually resatisfy ourselves or successfully and pleasantly distract ourselves from the fact that we haven’t†(5). This is our fate, but it does not completely provide a solution to the problem of life. Therefore, Martin suggests that everyone is chronically unsatisfied. This repetitiveness is one of Taylor’s reasoning’s to the meaninglessness of life, which is reason to why life is not essentially meaningful. To solve the problems of life one does what makes them happy, for Martin this consists of a fast car and a good woman. Happiness is different for everyone. Martin’s view on life seems to be the most reasonable and ultimately provides happiness for people. He avoids suffering by completely ignoring the philosophical question of the meaning of life. Nagel and Taylor both concentrate on this meaning of life, which lead to no happy results. At least Martin lives a subjectively happy life by not being troubled by the meanings of it. However, Nagel’s argument completely rejects Martin’s because according to Nagel, the absurd cannot be ignored once it is recognized. Martin clearly recognizes but puts it aside to make him believe that there is meaning. If someone lives a life believing that it is meaningless, then what is the point of living? For the reason of trying to perceive any sort of meaning for human life is so that humans do not always live in doubt. Overall, life objectively has no meaning but that does not leave human existence in utter turmoil. The evidence that Taylor provides, gives us a sense of how there is hope for a meaning in life. Eventually concluding that life would need to be given meaning, purpose, variety, and the sense of creativity to become meaningful, â€Å"the only meaningful existence is a creative existence†(Taylor 792). This is the only meaning for the philosophical meaning of life. Taking Martin’s view, and putting aside philosophical meaning and taking the psychological meaning, gives humans a positive outlook on life by letting subjective happiness be the basis to the solution to the problem of life. All views of life are all based on the struggle to overcome doubt, so ultimately â€Å"the itch of desire returns†¦until death ends the struggle – perhaps forever†(Martin 6).

Friday, November 8, 2019

Captain Sir Henry Morgan - Biography

Captain Sir Henry Morgan - Biography Henry Morgan - Early Life: Little information exists regarding Henry Morgans early days. It is believed that he was born around 1635, in either Llanrhymny or Abergavenny, Wales and was the son of local squire Robert Morgan. Two principal stories exist to explain Morgans arrival in the New World. One states that he traveled to Barbados as an indentured servant and later joined the expedition of General Robert Venables and Admiral William Penn in 1655, to escape his service. The other details how Morgan was recruited by the Venables-Penn expedition at Plymouth in 1654. In either case, Morgan appears to have taken part in the failed attempt to conquer Hispaniola and the subsequent invasion of Jamaica. Electing to remain in Jamaica, he was soon joined by his uncle, Edward Morgan, who was appointed lieutenant-governor of the island after the restoration of King Charles II in 1660. After marrying his uncles eldest daughter, Mary Elizabeth, later that year, Henry Morgan began sailing in the buccaneer fleets that were employed by the English to attack Spanish settlements. In this new role, he served a captain in the fleet of Christopher Myngs in 1662-1663. Henry Morgan - Building Reputation: Having taken part in Myngs successful plundering of Santiago de Cuba and Campeche, Mexico, Morgan returned to sea in late 1663. Sailing with Captain John Morris and three other ships, Morgan looted the provincial capital of Villahermosa. Returning from their raid, they found that their ships had been captured by Spanish patrols. Unperturbed, they captured two Spanish ships and continued their cruise, sacking Trujillo and Granada before returning to Port Royal, Jamaica. In 1665,  Jamaican Governor Thomas Modyford Morgan appointed Morgan as vice-admiral of and expedition led by Edward Mansfield and tasked with capturing Curacao.   Once at sea, much of the expeditions leadership decided that Curacao was not a sufficiently lucrative target and instead set course for the Spanish islands of Providence and Santa Catalina.   The expedition captured the islands, but encountered problems when Mansfield was captured and killed by the Spanish. With their leader dead, the buccaneers elected Morgan their admiral. With this success, Modyford began sponsoring a number of Morgans cruises again the Spanish. In 1667, Modyford dispatched Morgan with ten ships and 500 men to free a number of English prisoners being held in Puerto Principe, Cuba. Landing, his men sacked the city but found little wealth as its inhabitants had been warned of their approach.   Freeing the prisoners, Morgan and his men re-embarked and sailing south to Panama in search of greater riches. Targeting Puerto Bello, a key Spanish center of trade, Morgan and his men came ashore and overwhelmed the garrison before occupying the town. After defeating a Spanish counterattack, he agreed to leave the town after receiving a large ransom. Though he had exceeded his commission, Morgan returned a hero and his exploits were glossed over by Modyford and the Admiralty. Sailing again in January 1669, Morgan descended on the Spanish Main with 900 men with the goal of attacking Cartagena. Later that month, his flagship, Oxford exploded, killing 300 men. With his forces reduced, Morgan felt he lacked the men to take Cartagena and turned east. Intending to strike Maracaibo, Venezuela, Morgans force was compelled to capture San Carlos de la Barra Fortress in order to move through the narrow channel approaching the city. Successful, they then attacked Maracaibo but found that the population had largely fled with their valuables.   After three weeks of searching for gold, he re-embarked his men before sailing south into Lake Maracaibo and occupying Gibraltar. Spending several weeks ashore, Morgan next sailed north, capturing three Spanish ships before re-entering the Caribbean. As in the past, he was chastised by Modyford upon his return, but not punished. Having established himself as the preeminent buccaneer leader in the Caribbean, Morgan was named commander-in-chief of all warships in Jamaica and given a blanket commission by Modyford to make war against the Spanish. Henry Morgan - Attack on Panama: Sailing south in late 1670, Morgan recaptured the island of Santa Catalina on December 15 and twelve days later occupied Chagres Castle in Panama. Advancing up the Chagres River with 1,000 men, he approached the city of Panama on January 18, 1671. Splitting his men into two groups, he ordered one to march through nearby woods to flank the Spanish as the other advanced across open ground. As the 1,500 defenders attacked Morgans exposed lines, the forces in the woods attacked routing the Spanish. Moving into the city, Morgan captured over 400,000 pieces of eight. During Morgans stay, the city was burned however the source of the fire is disputed. Returning to Chagres, Morgan was stunned to learn that peace had been declared between England and Spain. Upon reaching Jamaica, he found that Modyford had been recalled and that orders had been issued for his arrest. On August 4, 1672, Morgan was taken into custody and transported to England. At his trial he was able to prove that he had no knowledge of the treaty and was acquitted. In 1674, Morgan was knighted by King Charles and sent back to Jamaica as lieutenant governor. Henry Morgan - Later Life: Arriving in Jamaica, Morgan took up his post under Governor Lord Vaughan. Overseeing the islands defenses, Morgan also further developed his vast sugar plantations. In 1681, Morgan was replaced by his political rival, Sir Thomas Lynch, after falling out of favor with the king. Removed from the Jamaican Council by Lynch in 1683, Morgan was reinstated five years later after his friend Christopher Monck became governor. In declining health for several years, Morgan died on August 25, 1688, renowned as one of the most successful and ruthless privateers ever to sail the Caribbean. Selected Sources Cordingly, David. Under the Black Flag: The Romance and the Reality of Life Among the Pirates. New York: Random House, 2006Henry Morgan BiographyData Wales: Henry Morgan

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Reasons For the failure of disarmament Essay Example

Reasons For the failure of disarmament Essay Example Reasons For the failure of disarmament Essay Reasons For the failure of disarmament Essay Do you agree ? Agree that disarmament failed mainly due to the role of America . One of the aims of the League Of Nations (LOON) was to promote disarmament to ensure world peace e. Unfortunately , the US did not join the LOON due to its policy of isolationism . This was a big bal owe to the League which was deprived of the strongest country at that point of time . The us without US , the league was unable to carry out their economic sanctions successfully. In a edition , it had no Amy to carry out military sanctions . Thus although the LOON advocated cool active security, most nations were unwilling to put their national security under the LOON . In f act, Britain and France saw the LOON as a platform to discuss things and did not take things SE rigorously . Therefore the countries had no faith in disarmament and it failed. However there are other reasons for the failure of disarmament . Selfish nation ins that seek to protect their own individual security also led to the failure of disarmament . B retain and France had a huge empire to defend and thus could not afford to disarm , they also f let threatened by unionism Russia and were wary of Germany and Italy becoming a potential threat in Europe. Japan also needed to arm herself to defend against European land grab bibbing Specific . Another reason for the failure of disarmament is that ambitious and aggressive eve nations like Japan , Italy were unwilling to disarm because of their desire to expand their e empire and include more territories for various reasons Germany felt that the treaty of v resales had unfairly stripped her of much.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Europe's surge of nineteenth-centry imperialism Essay

Europe's surge of nineteenth-centry imperialism - Essay Example One such conflict was between China and Britain which according to Marchant (42), was known as the Anglo-Chinese opium wars. In this paper, I am going to show that I agree with Marchant’s implications in her article that the new imperialism in Europe was driven by values central to the rise of progressive trends such as the Enlightenment. In their trade dealings with China, the British believed that free trade was a way of creating wealth for all nations. This would, in turn, lead to a new world order that maintained peace at all levels. The Chinese, on the other hand, believed that there was no way in which trade could create peace for mankind because they had seen how the Ming dynasty collapsed due to doctrinarism (Marchant 42). The attitudes of the British were based on Enlightenment because they believed that both secular agendas and spiritual changes could improve the human society. They saw ways in which backward nations could gain access to progress even if war was involved. They tried to apply this on China but since China had different views, a war erupted. This was an ideological war that stemmed from differences in the belief of the two nations in free trade. Britain’s involvement in new imperialism as shown in the way it dealt with China was based on four outlooks. These outlooks were the result of Enlightenment ideas that had progressed over the past century. The first outlook was that God only helped those people who could do something to improve their situation. The second one was that both religious changes and secular agendas established in commerce, science, education, and legislation were a way improving the social status of the human race (Marchant 42). The third outlook was that it was the responsibility of those nations that had already experienced enlightenment to share their ideas with backward nations such as China to help them

Friday, November 1, 2019

THE APPLE CASE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

THE APPLE CASE - Essay Example In relation to manage global innovation, it has been apparently observed that the company has utilised latest technological advancements and effectual business strategies with the intention of offering better services as well as products to its valuable customers. Moreover, the company invests a significant portion particularly in its research and development (R&D) segment in order to manage global innovation within the electronics industry. Furthermore, the company employ improved marketing as well as promotional techniques for providing advanced technological and feature enriched products or services to its broad base of customers. Thus, it can be stated that the company focuses upon the important aspects that include introduction and development of advanced technologies and enhanced execution of marketing techniques among others for the purpose of managing global innovation within its organisation and the similar industry (Apple Inc., 2012). This discussion will emphasize upon determining the practices, models and theoretical perspectives of technology policy and the management of technological innovation relating to Apple. Various aspects such as the interrelationship between the external environment on innovation and issues in international technological management associated with Apple will also be portrayed in the discussion. With regard to the practice and theoretical perspective of technology policy and the management of technological innovation, it has been viewed that Apple has utilised the strategy of continuous developing its R&D segment as well as employing advanced technologies in order to improve its competitiveness in the global market. In this similar context, the company adopted the motto of â€Å"Think Different† for providing innovative as well as unique products to its customers as a form of managing global innovation. It can be broadly affirmed that technology is regarded as one of

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Innovative Food and Beverage Marketing Ideas Essay

Innovative Food and Beverage Marketing Ideas - Essay Example Rock music usually has a strong back beat. (Wikipedia) In the late 1960s, rock music was blended with folk music to create folk rock, and with jazz, to create jazz-rock fusion. In the 1970s, rock incorporated influences from soul, funk, and Latin music. In the 1970s, rock developed a number of subgenres, such as soft rock, blues rock, heavy metal-style rock, progressive rock, art rock, techno-rock, syth-rock and punk rock. Rock subgenres from the 1980s included hard rock, indie-rock and alternative rock. In the 1990s, rock subgenres included grunge-style rock, Britpop, and Indie rock. (Wikipedia) The influence of rock and roll is far-reaching, and has had significant impact worldwide on fashion, film styles, and even the hospitality industry.. This impact is broad enough that rock and roll may also be considered a lifestyle in addition to a form of music. Rock music was the inspiration of Tigrett and Morton's Hard Rock Caf (HRC) that originated in London. (Wikipedia) HRC is a unique genre in the hospitality industry, being a chain of restaurants, hotels, and casinos that is known for its music and memorabilia rather than its food. Customers come to HRC mainly for the experience of the live music event, which is a highly strategic marketing innovation of the caf. It was founded in 1971 by music-loving entrepreneurs Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton. The first HRC opened near Hyde Park Corner in London, in a former Rolls Royce car dealership show room. In 1979 Tigrett and Morton began to cover the walls with rock and roll ephemera. Hard Rock was most popular in the 1980s when some people engaged in the hobby of visiting as many locations as possible and collecting a Hard Rock t-shirt bearing the Cafe logo and the location name. The Hard Rock Cafe's motto "Love All, Serve All" was adopted from Tigrett's guru Sathya Sai Baba. (Wikipedia) The HRC Marketing Mix There are about eight million restaurants in the world and some 300,000 restaurant companies. The restaurant industry is a classic mature market. Companies face stiff competition and low profit margins. (Yahoo Finance) Thus, innovative marketing ideas are necessary for any restaurant business to remain competitive and sustainable. Like many other restaurants and cafes, Hard Rock adapts the descriptive labeling for its menu and more. It has reinvented the menu to become an art cum history book. But more than the artistic menu, what makes HRC sustainable is its marketing mix that combines music, food, museum and merchandising. According to Proctor (2000), positioning products in people's minds and making them attractive to market segments requires careful formulation of the marketing mix. Getting the right blend of the product, promotion price and distribution is essential to put the carefully carried out analysis into operation. The aim is to portray an image for the product or service that will match with how one wants the product to be visualised in people's minds, i.e. its positioning. Image is not only reflected in the promotional messages which are directed towards the target market but also in the pricing strategy, the mode of distribution and in the appearance of the product or service itself. Live Rock MusicHRC has position itself for dominance in a market that caters to customers who love not only

Monday, October 28, 2019

Of Mice and Men Essay Example for Free

Of Mice and Men Essay Through considering the roles of characters in the John Steinbeck novel Of Mice and Men I believe that the role of Curley’s wife is significant in the novel. Many aspects of her personality make her so important; other characters opinions on her also form a close judgment towards her from the beginning. I will be analysing her language and the way she communicates with the dominant males surrounding her at the ranch. I will look at how Steinbeck portrays her role in the novel and the impact that has on the reader and how they might perceive her character. When introduced it is clear that she is attention seeking and very much a flirt. Steinbeck describes her by saying, â€Å"She had full rouged lips† and that she was â€Å"heavily made up† and wearing â€Å"a cotton house dress with little red mules, on the insteps which were little bouquets of red ostrich feathers†. It becomes clear that she wasn’t just looking for Curley so she told George and Lennie, but attention from the many men who worked on the ranch. The fact that she was made up also implies that she has a lot of time on her hands and is somewhat bored. Steinbeck portrays her in this part of the novel as a flirt when she’s talking to the men, â€Å"She put her hands back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward†. Furthermore, she tries her hardest to make conversation with the men, despite the fact they weren’t interested in speaking to her, she asks, â€Å"you’re the new fellas that just come, ain’t ya? George seemed reluctant to speak to her, he later referred to her as a â€Å"tramp† and â€Å"jail bait† what’s more he snapped at her when she was in the bunk house saying, â€Å"well he ain’t now† suggesting he just wants the conversation to end and for her to go. The introduction of Curley’s wife is an important part of her role, as the reader can easily draw a conclusion about her. Later on in the novel, when she is wit h Lennie in the barn, she says â€Å"go on feel right here† as she entices him to touch her soft hair. She should have known the consequence of what would happen, because she had already unveiled the dead puppy that Lennie had petted too hard, as he liked to pet nice, soft things. Obviously this slipped her mind when asking him to feel her hair, as she was focused on all the attention she craved. A key aspect to look at when analysing this particular character is that the writer, John Steinbeck, calls her â€Å"Curley’s wife† throughout the novel. Not giving her an individual and personal name indicates a lack of authority and that she is owned by Curley and doesn’t have her own independence. Curley’s wife herself also proclaims to being trapped and having regrets about the way her life could have been. In the final chapter when talking to Lennie in the barn she says, â€Å"I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets made. † She also confides in him saying, â€Å"I get awful lonely† Steinbeck tries to paint the reader a picture of how much she despises the way her life is. She tells Lennie about how she could have been a star; how she was spotted and could have been â€Å"in the movies† it’s as if Curley is to blame for the terrible life she seems to lead. She tells him, â€Å"I coulda made somethin’ of myself†. It also becomes very clear that she is in the barn to talk about herself only, when Lennie tries to change the subject and move on to talking about himself being able to â€Å"tend the rabbits† she quickly interrupts and continues to talk about her own ambitions and problems. When she is unsure that Lennie has his full attention on her, she abruptly demands, â€Å"You listenin’? † she then goes onto say â€Å"I don’t like Curley he ain’t a nice fella†. Unusual as it is for a woman to talk of her husband this way, Steinbeck wants the reader to sympathise with her in a way. She didn’t want a life like this as she tells Lennie, and this may be why she acts in a way that draws attention. Before Curley’s wife is introduced properly in the novel, there is conversation about her between Candy, George and Lennie. Candy says, â€Å"Yeah purdy but well she got the eye†. Already we can draw a small conclusion the she doesn’t have the best reputation and the men on the ranch are wary of her flirtatious nature. George warns Lennie to stay away from her; he says fiercely to Lennie, â€Å"You don’t even take a look at that bitch† George acts a little distrustful of Lennie and suspicious that Curley’s wife could end up getting him into trouble. She seems to be aware that the men on the ranch are cautious of her, she says, â€Å"Ain’t I gotta right to talk to nobody? Whatta they think I am anyways? † when she’s talking to Lennie in the barn. She may be flirting to draw attention to herself, however the fact that she may be a little too flirt doesn’t cross her mind, and she is asking Lennie for assurance here and doesn’t quite know what she does wrong. In conclusion, I agree that Curley’s wife plays a huge part in the novel, affecting other characters around her and the opinion they have on her, whether it be good or bad. I can decide upon the fact she is after attention, but not just for vanity and self worth, she is lonely and unhappy with her life she lives along side Curley, she doesn’t like the way he treats her and so confides and gets close to other men on the ranch. John Steinbeck gives her an automatically inferior role as he names her just â€Å"Curley’s wife† and gives a clear understanding of her personality before she is even introduced in the novel.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby :: essays research papers

Nick Carraway’s Look at Man   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nick Carraway, the first character introduced in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, is primarily acts as the â€Å"guide and pathfinder†; he relates the story from what others have told him. He strives at all times to be objective, and his comments are balanced. His amusingly contemptuous remarks show his sense of humor, and although he is straight-laced, he does not bore the reader. Nick is introduced directly, but Gatsby remains a distant character for a good while. The establishment of Nick’s reflective, tolerant personality is essential, as are his limitations, so the reader doesn’t just dismiss him as Fitzgerald’s mouthpiece. The fact that he disapproves of Gatsby so early on helps the reader to go along with his judgments when he tells of Gatsby and unfolds the story.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first mysterious glimpse of Gatsby prepares the reader for much of what is to come. The imagery of â€Å"silhouette,† â€Å"moonlight,† and â€Å"shadow† in this passage prepares the reader for Gatsby’s shadowy, dark character. Many more of his actions appear to the reader, and Nick, as â€Å"curious.† The fact he is‘ trembling’ shows he is intense in his emotions-- and none of this is for show; Gatsby believes he is alone. His concentration on the â€Å"single green light† represents his determination to succeed, his constant drive; everything is designed so he can be with Daisy. He then vanishes; echoing the end of the book.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nick is unlike the other characters of the book; he is not one of the â€Å"careless people.† He has a conscience, he is not selfish-- he has decency, which is well demonstrated in his efforts for Gatsby’s funeral. His down-to-earth character shows how superficial Daisy and Tom are. They are ruthlessly practical, where as Gatsby is a hopeless dreamer. Nick guides the reader between these two extremes while remaining a detached observer whilst being involved in the action-- â€Å"I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nick’s aim to be truthful and objective makes the reader trust him. When Nick says Gatsby has a â€Å"rare smile with a quality of eternal reassurance in it,† the reader knows his riches or parties, but is telling it to the reader straight aren’t charming Nick. His contempt for much of what Gatsby says, but also Nick’s tolerance, is emphasized when Nick doesn’t mock him-- ‘â€Å"I lived . .

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Ethical Principals for Protecting Research Participants Essay

Participating in a research study is an opportunity for people to contribute to the advancement of healthcare practice or other measures. Researchers typically collect data from a population of people that share common characteristics that make them appropriate subjects for the area being studied. In order to assure that participants are adequately protected, a set of ethical principles should be adhered to by all research facilitators. â€Å"The Belmont Report articulates three primary ethical principles on which standards of ethical conduct in research are based: beneficence, respect for human dignity, and justice† (Beck & Polit, 2006). The principle of beneficence serves to minimize harm to participants, maximize the benefits of the study, and protect the participant from any form of exploitation. â€Å"In research with humans, harm and discomfort can take many forms: they can be physical, emotional, social, or financial† (Beck & Polit, 2006). Facilitators of any research study must be conscious of this and use strategies to alleviate potential of such harm. Ethical researchers must be prepared to terminate their study if any evidence of distress on the participants is discovered. Another duty that researchers face is to protect participants from exploitation. â€Å"Involvement in a study should not place participants at a disadvantage or expose them to situations that they have not been prepared† (Beck & Polit, 2006). In summary, participants must feel secure that the information they provide will not be used against them in any fashion. The second ethical principle addressed by The Belmont Report is the respect for human dignity. Study participants have the right to self-determination, or the capability to control their own activities. This right encompasses the ability to ask questions, refuse to provide information, or even withdraw from a study without consequences. The entitlement of self-determination also includes the freedom from being coerced into participating in a study, such as an economically disadvantaged person being offered a large stipend to participate. This may be seen as placing this individual under undue pressure to participate in the study. The principle of the respect for human dignity also includes the right to full disclosure. This allows a person to make informed, voluntary decisions regarding the study they are participating in. â€Å"Full disclosure means that the researcher has fully described the nature of the study, the person’s right to refuse participation, the researcher’s responsibilities, and the likely risks and benefits that would be incurred† (Beck & Polit, 2006). The last ethical principle delivered in The Belmont Report pertains to justice. This principle ensures participants’ rights to fair treatment and the right to privacy. Justice promotes duties to neither neglect nor discriminate against individuals. â€Å"The principle of justice imposes particular obligations toward individuals who are unable to protect their own interests to ensure they are not exploited for the advancement of knowledge† (Beck & Polit, 2006). Researchers must also acknowledge the participants’ right to privacy. They must ensure that their research is minimally intrusive and the participants’ privacy is respected throughout the study. People that partake in a study should expect that any information they provide will be kept in strict confidence. There are designated procedures in place to ensure participants’ satisfaction of a study upon completion. One such task is the risk/benefit assessment. â€Å"Such an assessment is designed to determine whether the benefits of participating in a study are in line with the costs, be they financial, physical, emotional, or social† (Beck & Polit, 2006). Researchers can also offer a debriefing session after data collection is complete. This allows participants to ask questions or air complaints pertaining to the study. Researchers can demonstrate their interest in study participants by offering to share findings with them once the data has been analyzed. Lastly, facilitators should refer participants to appropriate health or psychological services as deemed necessary. Bibliography Beck, C. and Polit, D. (2006.) Essentials of Nursing Research: Methods, Appraisal, and Utilization. (6th ed.) Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Chinese political culture Essay

The book CHINESE POLITICAL CULTURE relates to political culture in significantly different ways from the approaches used in other books with similar content. This book touches on many aspects of Chinese political culture; as a result, reading the book gives one a better comprehension of China’s complexity. This collection of essays manages to achieve this aim without losing its unity. The first section of the book explores the modern transformation of Chinese traditional culture and its effect on contemporary political culture. It speaks to the complexity of the issue that the three essays do not agree on whether neo-Confucianism always provides the foundation on which contemporary Chinese political culture can rest. Kam Louie examines the role of Confucianism’s dichotomy between wen [man of letter] and wu [warrior] to emphasize continuities in the patriarchal nature of Chinese society. Roger Ames, from a different perspective, examines the continued relevance of Confucianism among intellectuals in his presentation of the creative use of Kant by noted scholars Mou Zongsan and Li Zehou in their effort to reassert the relevance of the Confucian heritage. Godwin Chu, however, shows that although there are striking continuities between the ways in which the concept of zhong [loyalty] was used in traditional China and during the Maoist period, the individual assertiveness he observes today marks a major break with the past. The second section of the book proceeds to socialization and observes official ideologies. The chapter on nationalism, by Edward Friedman, reminds us that despite the use of a sometimes strident nationalist rhetoric by its leaders, the existence of a Chinese â€Å"nation† protected by the Party-state remains a long way off, as evidenced by the inability of the government to establish institutions such as the welfare state. The chapter by Zhu Jianhua and Ke Huixin, which addresses the construction of Hong Kong in the minds of Chinese in Gungzhou and Shenzhen, suggests that despite greater exposure to a diversity of opinions, people living next door to Hong Kong still hold distorted views about that territory. Misra Kalpana’s chapter on the transition from neo-Maoism to neo-conservatism offers to explain this paradox. She argues that the state has successfully shed its orthodox Leninist ideology in favor of neo-conservative nationalism thanks to the recuperation of the neo-conservative discourses emerging in diverse milieus of society. Peter Moody addresses cynicism and indifference to politics in China in his chapter on anti-political tendencies. Moody also warns that the anti-political trends may end up tacitly endorsing the unjust, corrupt political system they claim to reject. The third section enriches these nuances with an additional layer of complexity, by looking into the different variants of Chinese political cultures found among different social strata and regions. Cheng Li looks at the emergence of pluralism among entrepreneurs; Alan Liu at provincial identities; Shih Chih-yu at elections in minority areas of the PRC and Taiwan; Tang Wenfang at religion in China and Taiwan; and ChuYun-han and Chang Yu-tzung at regime legitimacy in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, through the use of sophisticated survey techniques. This third part of the book may present less coherence, but the case studies succeed in illustrating the diversity of Chinese political culture. My only remark is about Liu’s assertion that Chinese on the mainland, as well as mainlanders living in Taiwan, are displaying lower levels of religiosity, and that higher degrees of modernization reduce religiosity. Not only does this conclusion contrast with most studies on religion in Taiwan, but the data contradicts this statement: Taiwan displays a higher degree of religiosity than China despite its greater degree of modernization. It is also necessary to note that the past two decades has been a period of remarkable growth in China, characterized by economic expansion and the opening of its society to the outside world. What has followed is a better life for many of its citizens. As a result, China supporters from outside its borders have become confident that economic and social progress will eventually lead to a more open political system and consequently more favourable investment conditions. Reference CHINESE POLITICAL CULTURE: 1989-2000. Edited by Shiping Hua, foreword by Andrew J. Nathan. Armonk (New York), London (England): M. E. Sharpe. 2001. xv, 370 pp.