Veterinary school personal statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Veterinary school - Personal Statement Example Being an intern at the Vancouver Aquarium I had the opportunity to work with a variety of animals such as sloths and tortoises – but one of my favorite parts of working there was sharing my passion and knowledge of animals with guests of the aquarium. Another inspiring experience at the Vancouver aquarium was when I shadowed the vet at the aquarium and observed him working with the animals both on exhibit and at the Marine Mammal Rescue Center, behind the scenes of the aquarium. Getting to observe Dr. Martin Haulena aid in rehabilitating injured or orphaned marine mammals  was  very inspiring.   Another challenging part of this job is that it’s not just about learning one species, but dealing with a wide array of animals and understanding them. When I think about being a vet, one of the most difficult tasks coming to my mind is the fact that one cannot simply ask the animals what is hurting them, and that even adds emphasis to the importance of professionalism and knowledge. The important lesson I have learned is that there will be hardships in this life, but there is still incredible beauty to be seen in our broken world. In one of my favorite books, Finding Beauty in a Broken World the author, T. T. Williams, uses a metaphor of a mosaic, writing, â€Å"mosaic celebrates brokenness and the beauty of being brought together.† I want to make a change in lives of both people and animals creating a beautiful mosaic in this world, one made from the incredible healing connection between the lives of humans and animals. To my thinking, each living being on this planet is fascinating, and all the animals possess their own specific beauty that adds diversity and color to the world. I took great pleasure in working with Laura Vello and taking care of horses as well as working at Westbury Vet. At the same time, having had some work experience at the zoo, I have discovered a strong aptitude for working with wild animals

Teamwork Essay Essay Example for Free

Teamwork Essay Essay Reasons have been proposed to explain why teamwork exists by (Cohen and Bailey, 1997). They suggest organisations can develop and deliver products in a speedy and cost effective manner. More so, teams are the best way to establish organisational strategy. Teamwork was defined by (Kozlowski and Bell, 2003) as the composition of two or more individuals who share tasks and work towards a common goal. They emphasise the importance of collaboration and cooperation. Teamwork has three important dimensions. Firstly, technical dimension relates to the division of labour and who does what task and when etc. Governance refers to authority and relationships between members. The normative dimension refers to the norms, values and assumptions of the group directing behaviour. However, there are dimensions which can differ between teams, for example the temporal duration. Some teams are required to work together for a larger period of time. The physical proximity of teams may range depending on the organisation. Certain groups must work face to face where as others are dispersed geographically. According to (Hackman, 2002), teams need ‘teamwork’, meaning work that is designed for teams. An important factor relating to teams is interdependence, this is the extent to which people must work interactively and cooperatively (Stewart and Barrick, 2000). There are a number of benefits to an organisation by working in a team; these include efficient processes, reduced costs, increased innovation and skill utilisation (West and Markiewicz, 2004). Evidence to support this claim comes from (Delarue et al, 2008) who found associations between team work, workers outcomes, financial outcomes and operational outcomes. Godard, 2001) found with his questionnaire that teamwork positively related to job satisfaction, a sense of belonging and feelings of empowerment. This is supported by (Delarue et al, 2004) who found reduced absenteeism. The financial benefits were researched by (Cooke, 1994) who found that with the introduction of teamwork, there was a significant impact on val ue added per employee. Teamwork can have a profound effect on operational efficiency, productivity and quality. (Cohen et al, 1996) found that teams which facilitate high levels of employee involvement have a significant impact on efficiency and quality. If organisations are to reap the benefits of teamwork, then they must create and manage them in the correct way. Research into effective team working has commonly followed the input-processes-output (I-P-O) model proposed by (McGrath, 1964). The idea is that inputs affect outputs via the interaction of processes. We could argue this is too simplistic but it provides a useful framework. The first input is task design, the task must be achieved by a group of people working together so it should be demanding and complex enough to be completed by a team, as referred to earlier, there should be a high level of interdependence. The next input is team composition. This outlines the skills, knowledge and ability required (KNA). Bebin proposed nine essential roles. These are plant, resource investigator, coordinator, shaper, monitor, team worker, finisher, implementer and specialist. Bebin’s theory is not often fulfilled in practise though. Teams are often put together with little consideration for the roles required or the skills. This undermines team effectiveness. Another feature of the inputs is diversity; this is the idea that the team has a range of skills, ages, ethnicities and levels of authority. One of the most important inputs is the organisational context. Teams are often embedded in larger organisational systems, the effectiveness of teams may depend on wider contextual factors. Conflict within the organisation such as their wider objectives may impede a team so a team must operate within the company’s boundaries. (Hackman, 2002) suggests teams do not operate in an organisational vacuum. Team effectiveness relies on supportive organisational context that reinforces a team based structure. (Hackman, 2002) argues three systems can increase the likelihood of team success. Firstly, we have the education system which offers training and technical aid to a team. Then we have the information system which provided necessary data to complete the task. Lastly is the reward system which encourages rewards to all members equally to reduce inequality. The team objectives make up the first part of the processes. Teams should have a common purpose and clear objectives free from ambiguity. Reflexivity is the next stage and this helps to overcome team frustrations and any confusion regarding objectives. This is done by reflecting on immediate and long-term objectives on a regular basis by meeting and sharing information. Decision making is the next component; research has shown that teams make better decisions than individuals however there are certain process losses which can affect decisions. One of these is social conformity; the tendency to go along this the majority decision and exclude your opinion. This can occur due to leader power because the leader has more authority and influence. Groups try to avoid conflict through Groupthink (Janis, 1982), where teams sacrifice high quality rigorous decisions to conserve social harmony. Group may do this without even realising. Social loafing affect decisions when team members exert less effort and commitment. This has negative implications on the reward system especially If team members are rewarded equally. Overall, teamwork is a critical issue which organisations should develop and support real teams. Management must pay close attention to ensure they have the correct characters in the team to reap the full benefits of teamwork rather than pseudo teams which are present today. On a final note, not all organisations require teams so they should only be applied to the right tasks and situations.

Strategic Recommendations for Red Bull

Strategic Recommendations for Red Bull Keeping the Red Bull Flying - Strategic Recommendations to Build  the Brand and Drive Revenue Growth Since its launch in 1995 in Austria, Red Bull has, in essence, created the hip and fashionable category of â€Å"functional energy drinks†. Its marketing program has been the epitome of â€Å"buzz† marketing in which pull strategies are utilized to expand product distribution methodically on a global scale. The promotion of Red Bull has been pure and focused on the elements of the product: the distinctive silver and blue 250mL can, the singular marketplace offering, the unique logo and underlying mantra â€Å"Energy Drink† followed by a campaign of selective introduction to the particularly â€Å"cool† consumers via sampling and endorsement by personalities synonymous with the brand personality of the product. Judging by results alone, the remarkably consistent (albeit with the notable inconsistency of the United Kingdom product introduction) marketing plan has been a tremendous success as evidenced by the entrance of so many â€Å"me-too† products. Despite the entry of the â€Å"big dogs† (i.e., Coca-Cola, Pepsi, et al), Red Bull had managed to achieve sales of near $1billion by the end of 2001. The success of the bran is also evident by the exorbitant price premium that consumer are willing to pay ($1.99 $3.00) for just 8.3 fluid ounces of product that was until recently, only available in a single serving (initial offering of 4- packs retained the pricing per ounce of the single serving size). The targeted audience for this product is, â€Å"anyone†¦ who is fatigued [mentally or physically].† Despite this shotgun approach, penetration is far deeper in younger demographics, especially the 14-19 groups (65% in Austria, 28% in the UK). A large part of the product’s continuing success is the uniform consistency of the brand image as it is positioned in each market. Competing on the basis of a premium product consumable by anyone with the universal need to reduce fatigue, the product has taken first-mover advantage and remained on top by the maintenance of a premium product that fulfills a ‘commoditized-niche’ need of the consumer. In terms of the Red Bull’s competitive position, the emergence of the category and the success of Red Bull has created a highly competitive field of me-too and novel products. Despite this competition, Red Bull remains a large but niche product that has become a powerful â€Å"original† brand. Threats to their market position include the wake of new and existing products from companies with deep pockets, extensive distribution networks and substantial marketing prowess – some of the 75% (in the UK) market share will be lost (Choeke 2005, p.3; Clark 2005; Euromonitor 2005, p. 3). The opportunities that Red Bull has are a direct result of their weaknesses: a single product made in a single location. This is the epitome of the clichà © that warns against putting all one’s eggs into a single basket. As a consequence, Red Bull places a strong emphasis on conservative inventory strategies by having 45 – 60 days of products at distribution centers (in the US) (Modern Materials Handling 2005), p. 11). While the emphasis on being at the shelf is admirable, this represents a significant (up to almost 17%) of ones annual volume sitting around – 17% of one’s annual revenue tied up in accounts receivables. To continue to build upon this success, it is recommended that Red Bull consider a two-fold strategy. First, there is considerable equity in the brand and the beverage that can be leveraged significantly in a brand extension of a product such as an ‘energy bar’. The key risk of this strategy is that the pure, singular product offering of today will be diluted. Despite this risk, the extension of what Red Bull actually represents does not necessarily dilute but can likely reinforce the idea that the brand of Red Bull represents, â€Å"what you consume [not just drink] when you are fatigued† versus the more restricted â€Å"drink† cateogory. By redefining the frame-of-reference, the category can be effectively extended and a like-branded product such as â€Å"Red Bull Solid Fuel† can effectively capture money left on the table while presenting minimal risks for damaging the current substantial brand equity of the beverage product alone. This brand exte nsion is compatible with the spirit of the current product, a key factor in the likelihood of consumers accepting and even embracing an additional product (Yeung Wyer 2005, p. 495). An alternative to â€Å"SolidFuel† is an additional beverage such as a sports drink. While this is a legitimate possibility, the risk of brand dilution is greater as both products are beverages though intended for different consumers. SolidFuel is a different but related category that seeks to gain a larger share of wallet though not necessarily expanding the existing customer base. This product will complement rather than potentially compete with the original Red Bull product and utilize the paradigm of a â€Å"branded house† rather than a house of [potentially competing] brands (Aaker Joachimsthaler 2000, p. 9), In addition to efforts to grow revenues through brand extensions, an additional recommendation alluded to earlier, it that Red Bull should expand production from solely Austrailia to a site in Europe and North America. By having a single facility to product product for a globe, unnecessary costs are being built into the supply chain. In addition to being forced to produce, manage, move and store massive quantities of material, there is the presence of a great deal of risk if something should happen. With but a few additional sites, risk can be virtually eliminated and distribution and holding costs significantly reduced. To address the concern of the fact that Red Bull is perceived to be a niche’ product, it is recommended that a action be taken to build brand awareness and specifically to penetrate both deeper and in additional demographic segments, it is recommended that Red Bull develop mass media advertisements such as television spots. These clips should feature a key â€Å"fatigue driver†. By this, it is meant that activities besides extreme physical exertion should be utilized such as: A long road-trip – This should feature a middle-aged, yet well-groomed commercial truck driver that focuses on a route map. This map should prominently feature a long line which traverses several states. Further, this individual should eschew coffee, instead, he should be shown enthusiastically consuming a Red Bull . A series of ‘relentless’ meetings – This clip should show a clock indicating an early hour and a business meeting ‘in progress’ that, according to the clock, keeps going. Similar to the above example, the shot should demonstrate that Red Bull is an attractive alternive or substitute for coffee and could also play upon the feature s of consistent quality of Red Bull (versus the variance of a secretary’s coffee making skill). A grueling school assignment – The obvious shot would include a study group at a late hour†¦ just beginning to study for a major test of solve a lengthy problem. Of course, Red Bull is there. Each of the above scenarios are representative of mental or physical fatigue and the â€Å"break-through† that can be attained by the key benefits and attribute of the Red Bull product. These also particularly lend themselves both to brand extension and extensions of the current ‘most likely to use’ demographic segment. In summary, Red Bull has seen seemingly indefatigable success of a single product. By taking steps to simultaneously launch â€Å"SolidFuel†, the result will be the success that is achieved simply by meeting the already expressed needs and desires of the marketing with a product that is positioned to leverage the current awareness, recognition, and image of the current product. As this strategy entails the creation of a category-extension, there is minimal risk of the dilution of the powerful core brand value and the image that is currently held. Further, to maintain and even build the markets for these products, Red Bull should move away from the successful cartoon-type advertisements and focus on the â€Å"next thing† for a fickle consumer mass. This advertising should be of an experiential nature that focuses on situation in which Red Bull [products] can be utilized for a key benefit while each advertisement â€Å"closes† with a central brand reinforcing image such as the Red Bull logo. Works Consulted Aaker, D., and Joachimsthaler, E. (2000, Summer). â€Å"The Brand Relationship Spectrum: The Key to the Brand Architecture Challenge†. California Management Review, (42)4, pp. 8-23. Choeke, M. (2005, October 11). â€Å"Coke Eyes Red Bull with Launch of Still Energy Drink†. Marketing Week. October 11, 2005 edition. Clark, N. (2005, December). â€Å"Coca-Cola adds Taurine to Product†. Marketing, December 14, 2005 edition. Euromonitor. (2005, December). â€Å"UK Market for Functional Drinks†. Euromonitor – Market Research Monitor. Accessed online March 9, 2006. Modern Materials Handling. (2005, December). â€Å"How Red Bull Puts a Charge in It’s Supply Chain†. Modern Materials Handling, p. 11. Yeung, C., and Wyers, R. (2005, November). â€Å"Does Loving a Product Mean Loving Its Products? The Role of Brand-Elicited Affect in Brand Extension Evaluations†. Journal of Marketing Research (42), pp. 495-506.

The Character of Hamlet Essay -- Essays on Shakespeare Hamlet

The Character of Hamlet  Ã‚        Ã‚   This essay will delve into the character of the hero of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet as it develops through the drama, and will analyze the more important features.    Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar in â€Å"Hamlet: A Man Who Thinks Before He Acts† explain the popularity of the protagonist:    Much of the delight of modern readers, of course, comes from the study of the characters of the principal figures in the play, for Shakespeare has presented them in three-dimensional vividness. We feel that they are living beings with problems that are perennially human. If a modern man is not called upon, as Hamlet was, to avenge a murdered father, he nevertheless must face crises in his own life that remind him of Hamlet’s dilemma. . . (62).    Marchette Chute in â€Å"The Story Told in Hamlet† describes the opening scene of the drama: â€Å"For two nights in succession, just as the bell strikes the hour of one, a ghost has appeared on the battlements, a figure dressed in complete armor and with a face like that of the dead king of Denmark, Hamlet’s father. [. . .] The hour comes, and the ghost walks† (35). Horatio and Marcellus exit the ramparts of Elsinore intending to enlist the aid of Hamlet. There is a social gathering of the court, where Claudius pays tribute to the memory of his deceased brother, the former king, and then conducts some items of business. Hamlet is there dressed in black, the color of mourning, for his deceased father. His first words say that Claudius is "A little more than kin and less than kind," indicating a dissimilarity in values between the new king and himself. Hamlet’s first soliloquy emphasizes the frailty of women – an obvious reference to his motherâ€⠄¢s has... ...World of Hamlet.† Yale Review. vol. 41 (1952) p. 502-23. Rpt. in Shakespeare: Modern Essays in Criticism. Rev. ed. Ed. Leonard F. Dean. New York: Oxford University P., 1967.    Rosenberg, Marvin. â€Å"Laertes: An Impulsive but Earnest Young Aristocrat.† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Masks of Hamlet. Newark, NJ: Univ. of Delaware P., 1992.    Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html No line nos.    Wright, Louis B. and Virginia A. LaMar. â€Å"Hamlet: A Man Who Thinks Before He Acts.† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Ed. Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar. N. p.: Pocket Books, 1958.      

An Analysis of the War Powers Act of 1973

One of the hallmarks of a presidential and democratic society is the division of powers among the three main branches of government. This is called the principle of the separation of powers or the principle of checks and balances. This principle seeks to prevent the over concentration of authority in one person or group of persons that might lead to an error or abuse to the prejudice of the whole state. Austin Ranney (1995) once said that any concentration of powers in a single branch is tyrannical and only true separation of powers will protect the liberties of the people against the aggressions of government. (Austin Ranney, p. 240) The principle of separation of powers has always been criticized as impeding the enactment of bills and promoting efficiency in the running of the affairs of the government. It is because of this reason why some democratic countries have amended their constitutions and shifted to the parliamentary system. War Powers Act of 1973 A concrete example of the Principle of Separation of Power is the war powers which the US Constitution has entrusted to the Executive and the Legislative Branch. Under the United States Constitution, it may appear that the delineation of war power between the Legislative and Executive Branch is clear. The purpose is to make sure that no one branch of government will have the absolute prerogative in making all decisions in matters pertaining to war. Article 1 Section 8 of the United States Constitution clearly expresses that the Congress shall have the following powers: a) To declare War, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water; b) To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years; c) to provide and maintain a navy; d) to make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval Forces; e) to provide for the calling of the militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions; f) to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the states respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress. On the other hand, under Article II Sec. 2 of the United States Constitution the President shall have the following powers: a) The President shall be Commander in Chief of the army and navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several States; b) The president shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of the senators present concur. Based on these two provisions in the United States Constitution, the war powers appear to be clearly divided between the two main branches of government. Under these provisions, the President has the power to lead the armed forces in times of war and to make swift decisions on the field of battle. (â€Å"War and Treat Powers†) On the other hand, the Congress has the power to declare war and to appropriate huge amounts of dollars in support of the war effort. The clear division of powers between the two main branches, however, appear to be more apparent than real. In between these two powers lie a vacuum which the framers of the constitution failed to consider. For any other decisions that the US Constitution failed to anticipate, it appears that the President has complete freedom and absolute discretion to act. This is something which is abhorred by our constitution. Consider the Korean War in which the United States army was intensely involved. The Korean War began as a civil war which was fought from 1950–1953 on the Korean Peninsula. It began when North Korean attacked South Korea on June 25, 1950. (â€Å"Korean War†) Eventually China and the United States became involved in this conflict. Although it was called the Korean War, the United States preferred to call it the police action rather than a war in order to avoid the necessity of formal declaration of war by the Congress of the United States. The same thing happened during the Vietnam War or the Vietnam Conflict. This war lasted for 16 which began from 1959 to 1975. (â€Å"Vietnam War†) This involved the United States, its allies and the South Vietnam against Soviet Union, its allies and the People’s Republic of China and the North Vietnam. In this war, the U. S. deployed large numbers of troops to South Vietnam between 1954 and 1973. Some U. S. allies like the Philippines, Australa and New Zealand also sent their troops to aid the United States and South Vietnam. Similar to the Korean War, the United States was also intensely involved in this war without a formal declaration of war by Congress. These two major events in our history have triggered the enactment of the War Powers Act of 1973. It is worth stressing that based on our history Congress has formally declared war in only five conflicts – the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II – while U. S. presidents have committed armed forces to more than one hundred combat operations around the world. (Charles F. Williams, 2003) The purpose of this law is to provide for a limitation on the powers of the President to deploy United States troops into combat areas without the approval of the legislative branch. Congress aims to prevent the possibility that another Korean and Vietnam Wars may be repeated where the United States deployed its soldiers for battle without the formal declaration of war coming from the Congress. Section 2(a) of the said law is clear on this matter, it states that: â€Å"It is the purpose of this joint resolution to fulfill the intent of the framers of the Constitution of the United States and insure that the collective judgment of both the Congress and the President will apply to the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities, or into situations where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicate by the circumstances, and to the continued use of such forces in hostilities or in such situations. Under the said law, the president is required to consult Congress in every possible instance before introducing United States Armed Forces into hostilities or into situation where imminent involvement in hostilities is clearly indicated by the circumstances, and after every such introduction shall consult regularly with the Congress until United States Armed Forces are no longer engaged in hostilities or have been removed from such situations. The War Powers Act of 1973 also requires the President to submit within 48 hours to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the President pro tempore of the Senate a report, in writing, setting forth the circumstances necessitating the introduction of United States Armed Forces, the constitutional and legislative authority under which such introduction took place and the estimated scope and duration of the hostilities or involvement in case United States Armed forces are actually introduced for combat. The said law also requires the President to terminate within sixty calendar days after a report is submitted any use of United States Armed Forces unless the Congress has declared war or has enacted a specific authorization for such use of United States Armed Forces or has extended by law such sixty-day period or is physically unable to meet as a result of an armed attack upon the United States. The sixty-day period shall be extended for not more than an additional thirty days if the President determines and certifies to the Congress in writing that unavoidable military necessity respecting the safety of United States Armed Forces requires the continued use of such armed forces in the course of bringing about a prompt removal of such forces. The Congress by concurrent resolution is authorized at all times to order the withdrawal of US troops. Arguments against War Powers Act of 1973 One of the arguments raised against the enactment of the War Powers Act of 1973 is that it is an act of encroachment on the part of the Legislature of a territory which the US Constitution has delegated to the Executive Branch. It must be stressed that the President took his oath before he assumed his office that he will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and he will to the best of his ability preserve and protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. The present statute significantly limits the powers of the president to act in times of war which have a serious effect on the performance of his obligation. Arguments In Favor of War Powers Act of 1973 On the other hand, some are in favor of the War Powers Act of 1973. They argue that the consultation and reporting requirements and the power of Congress to terminate the deployment of armed forces do not operate to limit the powers of the president. It merely serves to ensure that the constitutional mandate is observed. As envisioned by the United States Constitution, there shall always be two keys to start the engine of war running – the key given to the Congress and the key given to the President. Thus, the War Powers Act of 1973 does make Congress superior to the President, rather, it only highlights the supremacy of the United States Constitution. Conclusion I believe that the War Powers Act of 1973 is constitutional. Our history has shown that we cannot entrust to a single man the power to deploy United States troops to combat. In the past decade, all the past presidents, including our present president, has deployed hundreds of thousands of US soldiers to battle. This not only led to the death of countless soldiers but it has depleted our resources. The United States Constitution is still the highest law of the land and it is clearly manifested in the enactment of the War Powers Act of 1973.

Tuvan Throat Singers essays

Tuvan Throat Singers essays Throat singing is a unique method of singing, or vocal art in which a singer can simultaneously sing, creating two, sometimes three or four notes. This miraculous method of singing is exercised by a number of Asian tribes, and a rich tradition survives in Tuva. Located deep in Siberia surrounded by grasslands, forests and mountains, the presence of humans is rare, in fact the whole population numbers only 150,000. The people who occupy this land, seem to be one with nature, and have a deep heritage tied to the land. The Tuvan throat singers come from a nomadic herding culture in which men would spend hours even days alone on horseback with only their animals and nature to call on for company. It was through this loneliness and place in nature that throat singing was developed. It is a form of stylized storytelling where the music represents sounds of nature: running streams or birds for example. The act of throat singing is highly personal to the Tuvans, as they believe it con nects them closer to the spirit of nature. Throat singing is typically practiced by men because of a taboo placed against female throat singing, based on a belief that it caused infertility. In more recent times some younger women are beginning to practice throat singing. Referred to as Khoomei by the Tuvan natives, its origin still a bit of a mystery, its purpose was to reproduce the sounds of nature. Throat singing usually consists of one low, sustained fundamental pitch (comparing to the drone of a bagpipe) and a second pitch is much higher and more harmonic (similar to a flute or whistle type sound). This second, higher pitch is manipulated to represent the sounds of nature, and alters in pitch unlike the lower tone which stays relatively the same throughout a song. So one human voice is creating two or three separate tones at one time. People in western culture found this hard to believe; one person creating two separate tones, how can this b...

Outline Example

Outline Example Outline – Coursework Example What Factors That Influence Exchange Rates and How? Topic: What Factors That Influence Exchange Rates and How Introduction The health of the economy is determined by a country’s exchanging rates. However, the exchange rates are widely influenced by different factors. Surprisingly, the rates vary from country to country and for any given currency, over time.A. Thesis statement Demand and supply, meaningfully, are the key determiners of the exchange rate. A Great demand for goods tends to call for increased value of the currency. 2. BODYI) Factors That Influence Exchange RatesA. InflationChanges in market demand cause a change in currency exchange rates. A country that experiences low inflation rates often enables an appreciation in the value of its currency (Compare Remit, 2015). Where inflation is low, the prices of goods and services increase at a slower rate. For instance, if the inflation is low in US, its export will be competitive thus increase in demand. In this case, th eir imports will be less competitive hence little demand on imports.B. Interest ratesChanges in interest rates influence currency value. Increased rate affects country’s currency. Higher interests invite higher rates to lenders thus attracting more foreign capital (World’s Leading Macroeconomic Survey Firm, 2015). For instance, if US interest rates rise relative to elsewhere, it will attract more investors to deposit in US banks. The value of the dollar will increase. C. SpeculationHere, speculators make the substantial thought that there would raise of a currency in future (CompareRemit, 2015). Therefore, there would be more demand now to make more profit. This increase in demand will cause the value to rise. D. Government InterventionChina is one of the countries that undervalue its currency to make Chinese products more competitive (Economics.Help, 2013). Usually, they do this by buying US dollar assets hence increases the value of the Dollar to Yuan.ReferencesWorld s Leading Macroeconomic Survey Firm. (2011). Economic Factors Affecting Exchange Rates. Consensus Economics. Retrieved from http://humanrights-success.blogspot.com/2013/02/human-rights-violations-in-middle-east.htmlCompare Remit.(2015). 8 Key Factors that Affect Foreign Exchange Rates. Retrieved from compareremit.com/money-transfer-guide/key-factors-affecting-currency-exchange-rates/Economics.Help.(2013). Helping To Simplify Economics. Retrieved from economicshelp.org/macroeconomics/exchangerate/factors-influencing/

Pharmacogenomics essays

Pharmacogenomics essays Pharmacogenomics in the Future of Health Care Practice Abstract: Pharmacogenomics is an up and coming technology that encompasses the areas of health care, science, drug therapy and genetics. Pharmacogenomics research examines gene expression, and how drugs can be best suited to work with an individuals DNA sequence. Some drug therapies have already been developed by means of this research, but the effect of the use of pharmacogenomics in health care is slow to be seen. All health care professionals will be affected when the advancements of pharmacogenomics are in widespread use, and need to be prepared for its introduction. There are distinct sides to the controversial issue of pharmacogenomics in our society, and all individuals involved should be aware of the aspects of this new technology. Pharmacogenomics in the Future of Health Care The study of genetics has brought about a new way of thinking to the world of science. But the field of science is not the only area affected by the advancements in genetics; it affects every aspect of humanity. The use of genetics lies in a gray area, where right and wrong is not easily decided. Separate communities of thinkers debate whether the use of genetics in science and technology are beneficial or harmful to society. The introduction of genetics into the health care field forces society to decide what is ethical in the use of these findings. The field of pharmacology is no exception to this. The fusion of pharmacology and genomics, pharmacogenomics (Human Genome Program, n.d.), pioneers scientific advancements in drug therapy and also presents society with considerations to make regarding the ethicality of their use. Pharmacogenomics studies behavioral aspects of genetic information. According to the International Society of Pharmacogenomics (ISP) website, pharmacogenomics involves a larger area of genetics, searching for genetic variations, including DNA polymorphisms or gene...

Electro-Mechanical Control Systems Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Electro-Mechanical Control Systems - Assignment Example Top-down approach in problem solving is used to solve the problems in different stages and sections. Thus, it is rather easier to solve the smaller problems rather than solving a big problem. It is rapid process of solving the problems. Rather than decreasing the viability of the solution, it enhances the reusability of the solutions and provides solution for various other problems regarding the problems or encircling the major given or discussed problem. Makes larger problems into smaller parts that can easily be solved and remain more manageable. Makes it easier to evaluate the sources of problem and correct the problem from source. In general, top-down approach splits the problems in smaller sections and parts that make the problems easier to solve and more manageable in every manner. The quality of the results remains much better as compared to that presented by other problem solving approaches. At the end, the individual results are combined to solve the problem on a scale (Math ieu, 2002). Ball Screw is a liner actuator that converts rotational motion of a moor or a rotating shaft into linear displacement. It presents very little resistance due to the ball bearing mechanism for the linear displacement of the screw. The assemble with the ball bearings act as the nut of the device while the rotating shaft or the threaded shaft acts as the screw of the device. When the nut assembly moves with respect to the rotating shaft, the balls move inside the nut assembly. There is no direct physical contact between the nut and screw. Ball bearings support and hold both the nut and screw assembled together. The whole mechanism makes the Ball screw to present lowest tolerance and highly precision at every stage. The shaft of the ball screw or the rotating shaft holds the ball bearings and presents helical raceway for the ball bearings. In this manner, the ball screws are able to with stand heavy loads

Discuss how Market-Led Strategies can Help Business to Drive Growth Essay

Discuss how Market-Led Strategies can Help Business to Drive Growth and Sustain Competitive Advantage - Essay Example Every business company is constituted by the large number of departments pertaining to marketing, finance, operations, human resources and the like. Again the business company in order to exist in the region or stated market need to operate based on some clear-cut objectives. The objectives of the business in total are required to match the objectives of the different departments or business units operating in the particular company. Thus the different business units are departments are required to operate and work out their policies in such a manner as to help in meeting the objectives of the concern as a whole. Hence if the business leader of the company focuses on devising strategies that would help in gaining a larger market share and profitability growth the work of the production, finance, marketing and operation departments needs to be streamlined in such direction also. Thereby it is found that effective orientation of the business policies of each of the several departments or business units would help the company to achieve its stated objectives (Graham, H., 2008, p8). Use of Market Led Strategy in Different Businesses Market United States Market Harrah’s Entertainment is a United States based company operating in the Casino Game sector. The company is found to operate on a business strategy that focuses on the changing demands of the consumers in the market. Harrah’s Entertainment that operates based on a set of 26 casinos spread around 13 states is found to take resort of a customer loyalty program help gain the advantage of a niche consumer base. A through market research was conducted by the company to help gain information about potential consumer needs in order to design the loyalty program accordingly. The business through the devising of its customer loyalty program gained the potential of both business growth and profitability where only around 26 percent of the consumers contributed to 82 percent of its total business revenues (Cravens, D.W. and Piercy, H.F., 2006, p.133). European Market In regards to the European market the case of Toyota can be traced where the company during the 1990s was facing heavy downturn owing to its sedentary and dull image. The company focused on its competitor, Volkswagen decided of

Terrorism Attack in southern Beirut Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Terrorism Attack in southern Beirut - Essay Example The Muslim communities are out to attack Christians, and they believe that Christians are their number one enemy. Whenever a terror attack occurs, they claim responsibility and are happy about it. They refer to the fellow Muslims, who refuse to support their act as traitors and they purpose to kill them (Levitt 67). Of all the attack that are recorded, the Garissa killing of students, the Beirut killing and the Paris killing, the Muslim groups claims responsibility. They usually give warning before the attack but the governments have been so reluctant until the make it real. Most of the civil wars in Syria and Iran are just based on the Muslim belief. There are lots of advert taking the advantage of the situation, CCTV and car tracker are on the advert.The newspaper shows pictures of destroyed properties, and men and women are stranded about their business. It had not taken long since the ISIS claimed an attack of civilian during the Syrian war. The paper shows the emotional pictures of Muslim mourners who have lost their relatives in the attack. From the photos, it is clear to note that the incident left people in shock as it was never expected. The crime scene was protected with anti-terror officials some of whom were defeated on what to do. The news records a mixed reaction as some people feel that the incident that has just occurred for the first time is given much attention as compared to other attacks in other places (Levitt 67). The news shows that the government had already had the information about the attack.

Dilemma in business communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Dilemma in business communication - Essay Example The new employment opportunity could improve the issue that the employee has and at the same time challenge him to be the best. If I tell the truth about the employee’s drinking problem, the employer will be able to know what kind of employee they are taking in and will be in a position to curtail him to live up to the standards of the organization. However, this would diminish the employees chances of being employed. My rationale behind hiding the truth from the employer will be based on the fact that by searching for a new employment opportunity, the employee has changed positively and realized that sticking to a company’s policies and values is a requisite. My choice will also give the employee a new chance to grow career wise (Snoeyenbos, Almeder & Humber, 2001). Although it is in the best interest of companies to hire efficient employees, people with ethical issues should also be given chances to improve. This can be done through training, formulation of company policies which encourages ethical values at the workplace and having the managers in the forefront in the elimination of unethical

The Role of E-Commerce Technology and the Impact of E-Commerce on the Essay

The Role of E-Commerce Technology and the Impact of E-Commerce on the Supply Chain - Essay Example The online markets tend to involve the third party element of the business in that the transaction may affect the enterprise and the consumer or the sales made by a consumer to another consumer. Moreover, e-commerce involves the selling and activities of purchasing that include two businesses such that is a business to the business transaction as the description by (Chen, Chen & Kazman, 2007). Other involvements of e-commerce are the collection and subsequent use of the data on demographics that is available from the great representations of the contacts on the web as well as the contacts in the social media. Other instances of e-commerce include the prospects in marketing that focuses on the customers and employ the electronic emails or fax that may be a part of the newsletters. In fact, electronic commerce entails the launch of various new products and new services in the online markets. The most critical attribute of e-commerce is the interactivity aspect that keeps the customers or the buyers to be in a continuous form of involvement in the processes that constitute the activities of the favorite seller. The interactivity case implies that the market has plenty of individualizations. Besides, the online businesses are cheap to operate as a basis of the usage of already existing computer applications. The applications make up the EDI that is the Interchange of the Electronic Data. The regulations are probably to ensure that the business transactions that take part in the online markets are authentic.

DANCE ANALYSIS Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

DANCE ANALYSIS - Assignment Example The current paper will compare ballet and hip hop and will discuss how such combination can create totally new dancing techniques and popular youth culture. Comparison between Ballet and Hip Hop Contemporary ballet is a form of dance influenced by both classical ballet and modern dance, which takes its technique and body control using abdominal strength from classical ballet, although it permits a greater range of movement that may not adhere to the strict body lines or turnout set forth by schools of ballet technique. Many of its concepts come from the ideas and innovations of the twentieth century modern dance, including floor work and turn-in of the legs. The video â€Å"Complexions Contemporary Ballet† on YouTube.com shows various dancing elements of contemporary ballet. The movements are more emotional and spontaneous than in the classic ballet with more emphasis on the expression of performer’s feelings and internal emotions rather than on the dance technique perf ection.

Dilemma in business communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Dilemma in business communication - Essay Example The new employment opportunity could improve the issue that the employee has and at the same time challenge him to be the best. If I tell the truth about the employee’s drinking problem, the employer will be able to know what kind of employee they are taking in and will be in a position to curtail him to live up to the standards of the organization. However, this would diminish the employees chances of being employed. My rationale behind hiding the truth from the employer will be based on the fact that by searching for a new employment opportunity, the employee has changed positively and realized that sticking to a company’s policies and values is a requisite. My choice will also give the employee a new chance to grow career wise (Snoeyenbos, Almeder & Humber, 2001). Although it is in the best interest of companies to hire efficient employees, people with ethical issues should also be given chances to improve. This can be done through training, formulation of company policies which encourages ethical values at the workplace and having the managers in the forefront in the elimination of unethical

DANCE ANALYSIS Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

DANCE ANALYSIS - Assignment Example The current paper will compare ballet and hip hop and will discuss how such combination can create totally new dancing techniques and popular youth culture. Comparison between Ballet and Hip Hop Contemporary ballet is a form of dance influenced by both classical ballet and modern dance, which takes its technique and body control using abdominal strength from classical ballet, although it permits a greater range of movement that may not adhere to the strict body lines or turnout set forth by schools of ballet technique. Many of its concepts come from the ideas and innovations of the twentieth century modern dance, including floor work and turn-in of the legs. The video â€Å"Complexions Contemporary Ballet† on YouTube.com shows various dancing elements of contemporary ballet. The movements are more emotional and spontaneous than in the classic ballet with more emphasis on the expression of performer’s feelings and internal emotions rather than on the dance technique perf ection.

Hunter’s in The Snow Essay Example for Free

Hunter’s in The Snow Essay The story Hunter’s in the Snow is a fiction published in the year 1982. The author Tobias Wolff tells the story of three men Tub, Frank and Kenny who decide to go on a trip to the woods for hunting. As I read on I find that as the story develops the character unveils. The presentation of the characters does not reveal much and I come to know about the characters only through their actions and I keep guessing about their real self. The three characters who appear to be good friends at the surface have hidden secrets which they conceal from each other and these truths later on lead to their destruction. As the story develops I am surprised to know that they have bitterness for each other which are emphasized in the apt setting of the cold, drab winter time. Their arrogant conversations expose the inhuman complexities of the human nature which is as freezing and unemotional as the winter snow. There are a lot of autobiographical elements in the story and Wolff‘s life is seen within the characters. The opening seems fascinating to me, Tub had been waiting for an hour in the falling snow (Wolff 1) and this draws my curious mind into the story and I am eager to know what follows. The story also makes me reminiscent of my days of hunting with my father during the winter. The dialogues between the hunters remind me how we used to enjoy Mukherjee 2 talking and making fun. I like everything until Kenny appears to be going crazy. He starts hating certain things and shoots at them. It’s pathetic to read when he tells Tub; I hate you (Wolff 78) and before Kenny could pull the trigger Tub shoots Kenny right in the stomach and knocks him over backwards. But the most scheming part to me seems the way in which Frank and Tub behave after the incident. They stop at a coffee shop; forget that they have lost their notes and map and that they are driving in an opposite direction to the hospital. It is strange that with the conservations between the two friends I also become oblivious of the fact that Kenny is bleeding in the car. The efficacy of writing by the writer in relating the conversations between Frank and Tub is so heartfelt and the things revealed so shocking and horrendous that I almost forget the dying Kenny and when at the end I come to know he’s dead it does not surprise me much. The weakness of the story is the narration which is very distant and the speaker just states fact. It’s the setting and dialogues that give insight into the characters. The story is no doubt interesting but inhuman. I read the story Bullett in the Brain and this one attracted me too . The author presents his characters normal and sensible this moment and mad people the next moment. But the story instead of giving me answers to different life situations feels my mind with a lot of questions. It may appear normal that the men who are instinctively primeval are befitting with the primordial settings of the woods but I really cannot come to terms that how Frank and Tub stay so cool and talk on divorce, lust and such things while stuffing themselves with coffee and pancakes while Kenny bleeds to death. I really feel hatred towards them. May be to get rid of persecution they had to let him die. Therefore the story really does not end but it continues to develop in the hearts of readers like me who are eager to find the answers.

Seraikela Chhau And Purulia Chhau Drama Essay

Seraikela Chhau And Purulia Chhau Drama Essay India is a country with a rich range of various cultures and traditions. Each part of India has different ways to preserve those cultures traditions such as folk and classical dances. Folk and classical dances play a big role in the Indian culture as a way of communication. One of the dance-drama folk art that is performed in India is the Chhau dance-drama of Eastern India. There are three types of Chhau dance-dramas but this essay will focus on only two types: the Seraikela of Bihar and the Purulia of West Bengal. Both Chhau styles are masked dance-drama forms that are unique. To understand the significance of this folk art for the Indian community, it is important to first understand the elements and the origins of the Chhau. The Chhau is very significant to the Indian culture because it is both a religious and mythological practise that has been passed on thought many generations. Not only is the Chhau dance-drama used for festive celebrations but is also used as a way to communic ate moral message by the portrayal of stories from the Indian mythology. The portrayal of stories is where the theatrical aspect comes in the picture. The Chhau characters are mute so therefore, movements and masks are used instead of dialogues to show certain emotions and feelings to bring the story forwards. The study of the origins, history, costumes, music, staging, music and performers brings to the conclusion that indeed, the Chhau dance-drama is a folk art that is very significant to the Indian culture and the Indian people. 1) Introduction- Folk dances in India India is one of the very few countries in the world to possess a rich range of different cultures and traditions. Each and every region of India has a unique culture that has passed through many generations for centuries. What I find really interesting about India is that they have well preserved their cultures and that even today, they are still practising certain traditions compared to other countries that have lost their cultures by evolving into a more modernized civilisation. Cultures and tradition can be passed on through generations by many ways like paintings, written scripts, music, theatre and dance. Folk dances and folk theatre play a big role in the Indian culture as they are art forms that are a very efficient way of expression to the community. Folk dance is an art used to convey the local culture, legends, myths and religious beliefs of a specific region and as India has many different cultures, the folk dances vary from one region to another. Indian folk dances are th e products of a variation of socio-economic classes in India. They are usually performed by ordinary people rather than professional dancers in small towns or villages where people gather together to celebrate special occasions such as harvesting, marriages, religious holidays, festivals, birth of a child etc Since in India all those festivities are celebrated quite often if its not every day, folk dances have become an essential part for the Indian culture. Some folk dances which are performed in India also incorporate theatre in their dances. Those dance-drama forms are a rural extension of the ancient theatrical tradition found in the Nathya Shastra . The Nathya Shastra is known as the oldest surviving text on stagecraft in the world written by Bharata Muni between 200 AD and 200 BC. The Nathya Shastra covers stage-design, music, dance, and makeup which are important components for the folk dances in India and also for musicians as it is the only text that provides details about the music and instruments used in that period. One of the folk dance-drama forms that has survived past several centuries and that is still being performed today despite the movement of modernization is the Chhau of Eastern India. The word Chhau is believed by certain people to come from the Sanskrit root Chhaya meaning shadow and since masks forms an important feature of this dance, it is thence called Chhau, which means mask. Among other dance-drama traditio ns in India like Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali and a few more, Chhau is a rare and unique colourful masked dance-drama form. There are three types of Chhau named after their geographical locations; the Seraikela of Bihar, the Purulia of West Bengal and the Mayurbhanj of Orissa (Figure 1). This Essay will focus on the elements and the origins of the dance-drama form of Seraikela Chhau and Purulia Chhau and to what extent they are significant to the Indian Culture as a folk art. Why did I choose this rare form of dance-drama among others? Simply because I thought that my temporary stay in India would be the perfect occasion to discover a totally new and unknown form of art for me that is directly related to the Indian culture. Since I am a theatre student, I think that exploring a rare form of art is an excellent way to broaden my knowledge of theatre through different cultures. I chose to write an in-depth essay about the Chhau dance-drama of Eastern India among many others also because I find the Chhau very interesting in the way it combines dance and theatre together to tell a specific story or mythology by using rhythms, movements and masks instead of dialogues like most of the theatrical forms use. Figure 1: The orange shaded area of this political map of India represents the Eastern part of India where the three types of Chhau dance-drama originated from. 2) The history and origins of Chhau: The origins of the Chhau dance-drama are still not certain as is the origin of the word Chhau. The dance is known as Seraikela Chhau in Jharkhand, Mayurbhanj Chhau in Orissa and Purulia Chhau in West Bengal. If we look at the basic differences between the three different styles of Chhau, the Chhau dancers of Purulia wear highly stylized masks, in Seraikela the masks are smaller, while in Mayurbhanj the dancers do not always use masks. The word Chhau is interpreted in different ways by different quarters and persons. Most of the people say that the word Chhau arises from the Sanskrit root Chhaya which means shadow and that the art originated in West Bengal. On the other hand, some people disagree and think that it had arisen from the word Chauni which means camp for soldiers and that it originated from the state of Orissa. The reason being the hypothesis that the word chhau derived from the word Chauni is that the Chhau originated in the mock fights of the Oriya paikas (warriors) who fought rhythmically to the accompaniment of indigenous music instrument . Chhau dance is then believed to have originated as a martial art that contains vigorous fight and acrobatic movements. Since the period of time the Chhau started to be performed, many of the main rulers of the region of Orissa worked for the development and conservation of the art. The Chhau is a dance-drama performed only by men. The Chhau dance-drama barely evolved and today follows the basic principles of the Natya Shastra text and has become closely connected to religion. For several centuries, the Chhau dances have been used in association with the religious festival Chaitra Parva also known as the Sun Festival which is celebrated every year starting from the Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar which is around March-April in the Gregorian calendar. During this time of the year, the different social and economical classes used to come together, from the royal family to the local farmers, to celebrate the C haitra Parva. India is a country where religion takes an important part among the lives of the people. The aim of the Chhau dancers is to worship different Gods and Goddesses like for example Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati for the goal of acting to call for their blessings to stay protected from evils. Besides being performed for religious purposes, the Chhau dance-dramas are also mythological as they are mainly based on the episodic epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. The Hindu mythology consists of stories of Gods, Devas and Asuras. In Hinduism, Deva is the Sanskrit word for a God or a supernatural being, normally resident in one of the numerous heavens and reborn there as the result of good karma. The Asuras are a group of power-seeking deities who are sometimes referred to as demons or sinful souls and are opposed to the Devas. Basically, there is a confrontation between the good and the bad and this confrontation is portrayed by characters in the Chhau dance-drama. However, with pa ssing of time the dance-drama started being used for many other occasions and celebrations through the year in the different states. 3) Masks and Costumes: a. Masks: Characters from the Indian mythology such as Lord Shiva or Ganesh are mythological and therefore, superior to the human being. It was not easy playing such characters using only the human facial expressions and features and that is the reason why in the early periods, different shapes and symbols were used as facial painting or body painting by the dancers to emphasize the characteristics of the different mythological characters .The practise of covering the face and the body with painting gradually gave birth to masks and bright coloured costumes in the dance performances to personify the God and Goddesses of the Hindu mythology. The mask is made not to hide or to conceal, but to expose. As an instrument of metamorphoses, the mask permits man to lose his identity, and allows the gods to manifest themselves with an uncovered face. To mask oneself is to give life to a superior being Masks have been used for many centuries throughout the world for both ritual purposes and traditional theatres especially for the expressivity they add in a characters performance. Masks are often used in folk arts because they are a part of a costume that adorns the whole body and embodies a tradition important to the religious and/or social life of the community. Unfortunately, I was not able to watch an actual Chhau dance-drama performance but I got to experience I quite similar style of dance during my trip in the island of Bali in Indonesia. As the community from Bali follow the Hindu religion, they have mythological stories resembling the Indian ones. The performance Ive seen in Bali was a dance-drama style of performance as the characters were telling a story using dance, movements and gestures to act a story. The dance-drama constituted five acts telling a story using the good ones and the evil ones which is till now very similar to the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics. In the Balinese dance-drama, the characters were wearing masks as well but not all of them compared to the Chhau dancers of Purulia and Seraikela where it is compulsory for all the characters to wear masks. In the Balinese dance-drama, only the superior characters wore masks to express their power and their high status while the other characters were only covered with colourful full-face makeup. As a member of the audience, I can say that the masks helped a lot in creating an epic style of atmosphere on the stage and also in creating a connexion between the characters and the audience which is the reason why I think that masks are used by all the characters in the Chhau dance-drama. The performance that I have seen in Bali helped me a lot in understanding the purposes of the use of masks in the Chhau dance-drama as the Balinese dance is performed for religious and mythical purposes as well. Figure 2 shows an image of the characters in the Balinese dance taken during a performance while Fig ure 3 shows the characters of the Chhau dance-drama. The similarities in the masks used to portray superior beings can be noticed between both dance-drama forms. Even though both forms use masks, the masks are different in the way they are made and the way they look. Figure 2: Masks in the Balinese style of dance-drama. Figure 3: Masks in Chhau dance-drama of Eastern India The Chhau dance-drama enters in the category of poor theatre as all the materials, costumes, masks and accessories are made out of small expenses. . The Chhau masks are made with low priced ingredients such as river soil, newspapers, thin pieces of clothe, little bit of lime and paint. The facial masks are mostly manufactured by the artisans of the villages of the regions of West Bengal or Jharkhand as the Seraikella and the Purulia are the only styles of Chhau that uses masks as a compulsory part of their costumes in their performances. In Seraikela for example, the craft of mask making is an art that is handed down from father to son through many generations. The techniques and the fundamental nature of the Seraikela and Purulia Chhau dance-drama are based on the use of masks. Not only does it add beauty, color and life to the dance but it also evokes bhava (mood) and rasa (aesthetic sentiments) in the audience. Masks have a big role to play in the relationship between the performe r and the audience. In Chhau, every performer has specific masks according to their characters. The Gods and Goddesses usually wear small pieces of decorative glittering materials in the facial masks accompanied with feathers and jewels while the evils or demons like the characters Ravana or Mahishasura wear grotesque masks. The masks used in the Chhau dance-drama are also used to interpret expressions. As the Chhau dance-drama is a speechless form of performance, the expressions given by the masks becomes essential. As the use of masks eliminate any form of facial expressions, the Chhau dancers use head gestures and neck movements to express any sort of feelings or emotions. I think it is really interesting how the portrayal of a story can be done using only body language and masks instead of spoken language and facial expressions. From a theatrical point of view, it is not common and that is what forms the uniqueness of the Chhau dance-drama in the world. The figures 4, 5 and 6 be llow illustrates example of Chhau masks used for different characters. Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 b. Costumes: Like the masks, the costumes are made out of inexpensive local materials. The costumes that the Chhau performers used at the time the dance-drama started being performed are not known so therefore, we cannot tell if the costumes they are using today have evolved or stayed the same since the early years of the performances. Today, the costumes that are used in the Chhau performances are from various bright colors and designs as it is a performance that is supposed to evoke joy during festive periods. The costumes for the lower part of the body differ for the performers playing the Gods and the ones playing the demons. The artists that play the Gods (Devas) characters usually wear pajamas of light colors like green, yellow or red or a mixture of colors to make the characters look more attractive and alive; whereas those playing the role of the demons (Asuras) wear loose trousers of darker and deeper colors such as black. The costumes for the upper part of the body are made out of vario us designs and are as attractive and colourful as the costumes of the lower part of the body. For the performers that play characters such as animals or birds, suitable types of masks and costumes are used to portray the specific types of animals or birds. For example the character of Lord Shiva will be displayed by a tiger skin costume and his son Ganesh with a dhoti (Figure 7). The costumes also consist of many jewelleries and anything that look extravagant as those costumes are supposed to portray inexistent mythological characters. Figure 7: Dhoti Figure 8: Colourful costumes used in Chhau. 4 ) Music and staging: Staging: As the Chhau dance-drama is performed on festive occasions with a gathering together of a whole village community, there is no raised platform or dais being settled down for the performance. With the aim of keeping the traditionalism of the event, the Chhau dance-drama usually takes place in an open air ground where the spectators are divided into sections of women and men and sit in a circle surrounding the area where the Chhau is performed. The stage used for the Chhau performances is decorated in a colourful and joyful style to create a festive atmosphere among the villagers and is usually lit by torches or oil lamps that serve as lighting which once again are made to adhere to the traditionalism of the event. The staging of the Chhau is organized in a style that encourages people from any social or economical class to gather together and celebrate. The fact that the Chhau dance-drama remains a local and traditional event after so many years is fascinating to me as many other danc e or theatrical forms evolved to become more of an entertainment or money based purpose practise than a traditional one. It is very interesting how the Chhau is staged in a way to form a joyful atmosphere in a folk environment. Music: Like other ritual dances, the music accompaniment is a really important part for Chhau. The music style and the rhythm produced by the accompanying instruments are one of the key factors that characterize the uniqueness of the Chhau dance-drama. As the Chhau dancer is mute, the music and the lines sung by the orchestra are really important to introduce the performance. They create the right kind of mood and atmosphere for the scene to be enacted. The most important instrument accompanying the Chhau performances is the use of drum. The two main kinds of drums that are used in the Chhau performances are the Dhol ( Figure 9) and Dhamsa (Figure 10) which are played by local drummers of the area who also dance as they play. As for the tradition, the drummers themselves make the instruments and the tones used for the Chhau dance-drama based on the Hindustani Ragas wish is a Hindustani classical music concept. Ragas have a particular scale and specific melodic movements; their sound should bring delight and be pleasing to the ear. Reed pipes such as Shehnai (Figure 11) are also used by the orchestra along with the drums. The drum beats are important in the Chhau performances because they are used in the beginning of the dance-drama as an invocation to Lord Ganesha sung by a singer from the orchestra. As soon as the invocation to lord Ganesha is over, the drummers and musicians walk in to create an environment prior to the dance before the Lord Ganesha makes his entry followed by the other characters. Figure 9 : Dhol Figure 10: Dhamsa Figure 11: Shehnai 5) Performers and techniques: Even though the Chhau dance-drama is a folk form of dance, it also includes some elements from the classical form of dance of India like the navarasas. The navaras are basically nine emotions that are used in the Indian classical dances and dramas to make both the dancers/actors and the audience appreciate the meaning of the lyrics and the movements that are being portrayed by. The nine rasas goes as follows: hasya (happiness), krodha (anger), bhibasta (disgust), bhayanaka (fear), shoka (sorrow), veera (courage), karuna (compassion), adbhuta (wonder) and shanta (serenity). These nine emotions have been mentioned in Nathya Shastra and all dance and theatrical forms in India use these emotions extensively. As there are no spoken dialogues in most of the Indian dances including the Chhau, the navarasas are usually portrayed by using the eyes, the face, the muscles and the body shifts as a whole. In the case of Purulia and Sereikela Chhau, the movements of the eyes and the face are not possible as it is compulsory for all the characters to wear masks so the focus is on the body movements more than anything else to portray the nine different rasas. Since the Chhau dance-drama evolved from martial arts, the movements are very specific and important. The mask movements usually show anger while the shoulder and chest movements show joy, depression or courage depending on the way the dancer portrays it. The movements of the lower part of the body of the Chhau dancers are very quick and strong while the upper part of the body barely moves and the head rests in a slanted position. Jumping in the air is a movement that is often used in the Chhau performances because they serve as a gesture of at tack in war scenes between the good ones and the evil ones. The kind of jump seen in the Chhau performances is known as ulfa which is an indicator of the physical power and acrobatic skills of the performers. As we can see, the body language plays an essential role in the folk dance-drama Chhau. In relation to the theory of knowledge, Chhau is very interesting in the way that it uses body language as a way to communicate with people. 6) Interview with Chhau master Chandi Mahato: Chhau dance-drama is a very rare and not commonly known form of folk art. Published books and web sources are not enough to properly study this art form in depth and therefore, I thought that an interview with an actual Chhau dance master would be ideal and effective to pursuit my exploration on the topic. As I live in Bangalore, a city in the state of Karnataka in the south part of India, a face to face interview was not possible so I sort this problem out by having a telephonic interview with the Chhau master Chandi Mahato. Chandi Mahato is a middle aged Chhau master residing in the remote village named Baghmundi in the Purulia district of West Bengal. He comes from a long lineage of Chhau dancers and teachers and has trained a lot of modern Chhau dancers including his son Lalit Mahato. An otherwise almost illiterate person, Chandi Mahato has learned a lot from his experience with Chhau dancing and at 67 years old, Mahato has performed in all major cities in India several times. Ma hato is a farmer for most part of the year but he also engages himself in training theatre troupes in India working with the methods propounded by Jerzy Grotowsky. After asking Mahato nine questions about his experience with Chhau and the Chhau art in general, I felt more enlightened about the Chhau dance-drama form. The answers I got from Mahato are very interesting (See Appendix 1). Like most of the Chhau practitioners, Mahato learned Chaau from his father Gurupada Mahato who also learned it from his father and Mahato also taught it to his son Lalit Mahato which confirms that the Chhau is a tradition transmitted from father to son through many generations. Chhau is usually learned form a young age because when one grows older, the flexibility of the body becomes weaker. Mahatos training techniques are very specific and challenging because dancing and acting using acrobatics is certainly not easy. Chandi Mahato persisted on the fact that the specific training is essential for Chhau practitioners and that consequences such as injuries of the performer or misinterpretation of the character could follow after a bad training. Drama is incorporated in the Chhau by the acting of a story without the use of any spoken language but instead body language. Mahato says that he uses a lot of typical exaggerated actions, movements, and gaits accompanied by music and rhythms which are easily recognised by the audience to carry the story forward. The Chhau master Mahato agrees on the fact that Chhau dance-drama as a folk art is very important to their community and cultural identity. Most of the people from those villages are farmers living in poor conditions. Therefore, they stick to this art form to bring joy and colors to their daily routines and they also use it as a way to express their emotions either the positive or the negative ones in a creative way. Chhau is also very important to their community because it is used to convey eternal moral messages. They use mytholo gical stories to convey these moral messages for goal to educate people from those villages. Mahato is therefore stating that Chhau as a folk art is important to the Indian culture and is very significant as well. 7) Conclusion: After an in-depth study of the elements and origins of the Chhau dance-drama, it is therefore evident that this folk art is based on traditional and cultural elements. Chhau is an integral part of the culture heritage of India and its an indigenous dance form created with a typical Indian psyche which is deeply rooted in the scriptures that are followed by all major Indian dance and dramatic forms. The Chhau is an art that is not only used for festive purposes but also as a way of communication with the community to convey certain messages using mythological stories. The Chhau is mostly performed for an audience that is typically Indian including sons and daughters of Indian soil, brought up with typical Indian values. As explained in the film by Vikrant Kishore Dancing for themselves, the states where the Chhau originated from are states in where poverty is a big problem and that is one of the reasons the residents of those states are very attached to the Chhau and work hard on pres erving it. Lalit Mahato who is the son of the Chhau master Chandi Mahato features in the film Dancing for themselves and explains through the movie how important Chhau is for him and his culture. Lalit Mahato said Whatever it takes Ill teach my son Chhau Dance, no matter if Ive to just eat boiled rice; this quote shows the importance of Chhau as a cultural aspect for the lives of those villagers. The Chhau dancers do not practise this art only to entertain an audience but they also use it as a creative way to express their feelings and emotions. It is incredible how the different states of India Including the ones practising the Chhau dance-drama preserved their cultures intact. What we also have to take into consideration is the fact that those areas have not yet been touched by the fast movement of modernization. What would happen once modernization touch those areas? Will it affects their culture? Will they still perform the Chhau dance-drama as it is performed today and would it still be as significant for their culture? Those are questions that one should have in mind. I personally hope that those states dont lose their culture because I think that the Chhau dance-drama is a unique and fantastic form of folk art that should be preserved the way it is. 8) Bibliography: Interview: Mahato, Chandi Chhau dance-drama. Telephone interview translated by Tamojit Ray. 24 Feb. 2010. Published work: Devi., Ragini. Dance dialects of India. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1990. Print. Gajrani, S. History, Religion and Culture of India. Vol. 4. Dehli: Isha, 2004. Print. Schechner, Richard. Between Theater and Anthropology. New York: University of Pennsylvania, 1985. Print. Video: Chhau Dance Performances : The Ramayana:Love and Valour in Indias Great Epic. Google Video. Web. 09 Dec 2009. Chhau dance promo. Youtube. Web. 05 Dec. 2009. . DANCING FOR THEMSELVES A film by Vikrant Kishore. Dir. Vikrant Kishore. Youtube. 16 May 2007. Web. 11 Dec. 2009. . Web Sources: Chhau dance. Orissa Government Portal. Web. 11 Dec. 2009. . Chhau , Indian Folk Dance. Indianetzone. Web. 10 Dec. 2009. . Chhau. India.gov. Web. 10 Dec. 2009. Courtney, David. FOLK DANCES. Chandrakantha. Web. 09 Dec. 2009. . Courtney, David. Natya Shastra. Chandrakantha. Web. 10 Dec. 2009. . Folk Dances of India. Iloveindia. Web. 09 Dec. 2009. . Folk Dances of India. Web. 11 Dec. 2009. . Kamat, K.L. The Chhau dance. Kamat. 08 Sept. 2001. Web. 11 Dec. 2009. . Masks in Serikella Chhau Dance. Acharyaseraikellachhau. Web. 11 Dec. 2009. . Origin of Indian Folk Dances. Indianetzone. Web. 10 Dec. 2009. . Seraikella Chhau: An Introduction. Acharyaseraikellachhau. Web. 11 Dec. 2009. . Ponmelil, V.A. India Introduction to folk dances. Web. 09 Dec.2009. . West Bengal Chhau. Indialine. Web. 12 Dec. 2009. .

Imagry in the Fall of the House of Usher :: essays papers

Imagry in the Fall of the House of Usher Imagery in "The Fall of the House of Usher" The description of the landscape in any story is important as it creates a vivid imagery of the scene and helps to develop the mood. Edgar Allan Poe is a master at using imagery to improve the effects of his stories. He tends to use the landscapes to symbolize some important aspect of the story. Also, he makes use of the landscape to produce a supernatural effect and to induce horror. In particular, Poe makes great use of these tools in "The Fall of the House of Usher." This story depends on the portrayal of the house itself to create a certain atmosphere and to relate to the Usher family. In "The Fall of the House of Usher," Edgar Allan Poe uses the landscape to develop an atmosphere of horror and to create corollary to the Usher family. Poe uses the life-like characteristics of the house as a device for giving the house a supernatural presence. The house is described as having somewhat supernatural characteristics. The windows appear to be "vacant" and "eye-like" (1462). The strange nature of the house is further explained as around the mansion, "†¦there hung an atmosphere peculiar to themselves and their immediate vicinity." (1462). This demonstrates that the house and its surroundings have an unusual and bizarre existence. Upon entering the house, the narrator views some objects, such as the tapestries on the walls and the trophies, fill him with a sense of superstition. He describes the trophies as "phantasmagoric" (1462). He further explains that the house and the contents were the cause of his feelings. He describes his superstition one night, "I endeavored to believe that much, if not all of what I felt, was due to the phantasmagoric influence of the gloomy furniture of the room†¦" (1468). Hence, Poe makes use of the house to create a supernatural effect. Likewise, Poe describes the house to create a terrifying effect. "The Fall of the House of Usher" is a horror story. In order to develop a mood to get the reader frightened, Poe must portray the setting of the story. The house is described initially by the narrator, who sees the image of the house as a skull or death’s head looming out of the dead. He is not sure what to think and comments of the properties of the old house: "What was it, I paused to think, what was it that so unnerved me in the contemplation of the house of Usher?

Should Members Of Congress Earn More Money Or Less? :: essays research papers

Well, it really depends on one thing; I'm talking about their reason for becoming a congressman. If I were to become a congressman, my reason would be to help Californians express their opinions better. However this is my reason. Different people have millions of other reasons. I think there are three major reasons for becoming a congressman: represent his/her state, power, or money. I don't believe that most people get into Congress for the money. I believe most people that become congressmen want their state to be heard, and they want to improve it. However not everybody is so good some people are in it purely for power, usually power means money. I do not believe their salaries should be lowered, because if they feel they don't get what they deserve, they might not do their best in the office, they might abuse their privileges, etc. If they don't get paid enough they become more susceptible to taking bribes; this is the first sign of corruption. This might explain the paying less part, however it doesn't say much about raising their salary. I've considered the idea of raising their salary, however after a careful examination of facts, I didn't think raising it would improve much. As I have mentioned before, people (the Congressmen) don't do it for the money. Basically money isn't their primary concern. What would happen if you say doubled their salaries? People are not perfect, nobody is... if you pay them a lot more, chances are they might become greedy; when the only thing a person cares about is money, nothing ever gets accomplished. Greed is a terrible "sickness," even though you have a lot of something, in this case money, you want more, and more, and more, this craving never stops. The last thing you'd want is a greedy congressman. It is very likely that a greedy congressman would take bribes, and use his office to make even more profits, any way possible. A greedy congressman would probably forget his responsibilities, and duties as a congressman; this would only make it worse for that particular state.

Nature of Morality Essay

A Russian born American science-fiction writer and biochemist once quoted, â€Å"Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what’s right. † This statement generates a series of controversial questions. What is right? How do morals affect people and society in which we live? Does everyone have specific morals by which they try to live their life? How does someone realize what their morals are? What are morals? These questions cannot be truthfully answered because everyone has their own definition of what is right and what is wrong and how one should live their life. My definition of morality is the concern with the distinction between good and evil or right and wrong, which can be seen through someone’s actions based on their ethical principles. That is, if someone lives their life based on their morals. Morality plays an important role in your life and the lives of others whether or not you live with it or not. Philosophers John Stuart Mill and Immanuel Kant have two very different views when it comes to the nature of morality. Kantianism and Utilitarianism are two theories that attempt to answer the moral nature of human beings. Immanuel Kant’s moral system is based on a belief that reason is the final authority for morality. John Stuart Mill’s moral system is based on the theory known as utilitarianism, which is based upon utility, or doing what produces the greatest happiness. Perhaps most importantly, they are looking for morality in completely different places. For Kant, an action is good or not based on intentions. If you shoot at someone with a gun and try to kill them, but miss and instead the bullet grazes off a piece of skin that was about to host a malignant and lethal tumor, you are still a villain and not a hero. Though this sounds like a ridiculous example, the point is that no person can completely control all the variables that are around him; Kant thought that nobody should be blamed for randomness. Mill, on the other hand, was of a much more experimental bent. None of us can ever know what another person’s intentions are, so he thought that the only practical place to look for morality is in results. To him, a well-intentioned bumbler who ruined anything he came in contact with was no better than a malicious individual who caused the exact same chaos. It’s the results that matter. Another emphasis of utilitarian philosophy is another major difference between them. To a utilitarian like Mills, the natural objective that people should shoot for was their own happiness. Happiness, he argued, was something every person understands†¦ a goal that he can see and work toward, unlike the many other things that some philosophies pursue. Kant’s categorical imperative hardly seems to be concerned with happiness at all. To him, ethics was a universal thing – each act is good or it is not; who does it is as irrelevant and whether it is enjoyable. Instead of pleasure, the metrics for Kant are the greater good and universality. One statement of his categorical imperative might be, â€Å"is the world a better place (greater good) if everybody did this all the time (universality)†. You can see that from these two differences alone we can very easily end up in completely different places. With Mill, we have to think around our actions†¦ since the outcome is what’s important, it is often better not to try if we might fail. With Kant, we have to think about everyone else†¦ since universality is important, no exceptions to the moral code are generally permitted in any circumstance. Let’s look at an example testing both arguments. The deontologist position is somewhat a little more complicated than the consequentionalist position. Kant believes in a theory of categorical imperatives. A categorical imperative would denote an absolute, unconditional requirement that exerts its authority in all circumstances, and is both required and justified as an end in itself. Kant bases his decision making on a universal maxim, something that does not qualify as an end in itself. The act itself must have moral content if it is carried out solely with regard to a sense of moral duty. Imagine Nazi Germany for a moment. Imagine the Gustapo searching German quarters for violations against the protecting Jews, in a time when they were banished to concentration camps. Imagine the Gustapo coming to a house where Jews were living and questioned the Jews if they were in fact Jews or German citizens. Kant would argue that it is wrong to rob yourself of the moral duty of the universal maxim and pretend that you are in fact German. Basically, the result of the decision, by Kantian logic would be that these people are to be whisked away to concentration camps. But it is of no dilemma for Kant. You have maintained a sense of moral obligation to adhere to the categorical imperative of truth and reason. Kant concluded that the expected consequences of an act are themselves morally neutral, and therefore irrelevant to moral deliberation. The only objective basis for moral value would be the rationality of the Good Will, expressed in recognition of moral duty. The consequentionalist position is in fact very simple. Its maxim, under the doctrine of utilitarianism, is to achieve the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people. To Mill, no matter how cruel of the actual act that is involved, no matter what extent of grotesque and dirty nature of the act, that as long as the end result is better for more people than the act is inherently justified. To Mill, the universal maxim was happiness. He believed the intrinsic moral value of life was for everyone to attain happiness and pleasure. In the same exact situation described above, Mill would have no problem lying to the Gustapo for a greater amount of happiness for humankind (i. e the Jews). It doesn’t matter that they abandoned a sense of â€Å"moral duty†, the bottom line to Mill is that they achieved what human nature should always be in search of: the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people. By using this example, many people see that they would never adhere to Kantian logic; it seems ridiculous and in fact morally obtrusive itself. However let’s take another example where one may completely agree with Kant, based on the same principles. Imagine the entire city of Chicago has received word that the water system is completely diluted with bacteria and soon a plague develops amongst the entire city†¦as it spreads through airborne. Now imagine if you will, for sake of the hypothetical point, that the government was able to contain Chicago in a large dome so to stop the spread of the immediate effects of the epidemic to other parts of the world. Yet, many people are talking about revolting against the government dome and roaming outside, because they are in fact not â€Å"infected† yet. Let’s also pretend that the only way to stop the spread of the disease is to eliminate all citizens in Chicago by means of smart missiles. The question then becomes†¦ Is it morally right to kill every citizen in Chicago for the benefit of the world? In Mill’s eyes, yes, more happiness for the entire world is better than more suffering for the entire world. Hence, he would bomb Chicago so the world is â€Å"saved. † Yet in Kant’s eyes, the act itself is so repulsive that it goes against the moral duty and maxim of society to actually destroy massive amounts of human life to save more people. The ends to Kant are of no regard. It is the act in which is against his categorical imperatives. Comparing these two philosophers, it is hard to choose who I agree with more. When it comes down to it, it becomes a question of the ends or the means. A Utilitarian aspect could be more appropriate for one situation; while a Kantian perspective might be better for another. In the system of Utilitarianism, the ends justify the means, and actions are judged on the results, not on the intentions or motives. For Kant, the end results were not important in determining whether an action was just or not. Motive was everything to him, and he had very strict views on how to judge the morality of an action. In society these days, Utilitarianism is the name of the game. The basic philosophy of Utilitarianism, the idea of the greatest good for the greatest amount, is one of the basic building blocks of the democratic system. If a person lives on the principles of Utilitarianism, they disregard the motives involved in an action. Utilitarian’s try to separate the action from the actor, and look at the bigger picture over the individual. Followers of Kant (among others) disagree with this approach, and claim that in this system, minorities and individuals are often overlooked and brushed aside. Kant argues that any action cannot be moral unless the motives are moral. For each of these philosophies, the question of living the â€Å"good life† is an intricate part of the belief system. For the Utilitarian’s, living a life that benefited as many people as possible, in essence, a life that caused the greatest widespread good results would be considered a life of virtue. For Kant, the only moral action is one that is done entirely because of obligation. After researching both of these views, I would have to say I agree more with the Mill’s utilitarianism theory. I am a people pleaser, I like to see the happiness in people. I like doing things that will result in the greatest happiness. Here are a couple reasons why I agree. First, it links happiness with morality, instead of possibly pitting happiness against morality (such as Kant’s view). We think it makes sense with common beliefs about morality. For instance, in general, it backs up murder’s being wrong, lying, rights. So Utilitarianism gives us a system to our intuitions. Second, everyone agrees that pain is bad and pleasure is good. Everything being equal, though people have many different and conflicting moral beliefs, people agree that pain is bad, and pleasure is good. Third, Utilitarianism requires us to balance our interests with those of others. Fourth, Utilitarianism doesn’t rely on vague intuitions or abstract principles. It allows psychologists and sociologists to determine what makes people happy and which policies promote the social good. And lastly, utilitarianism does not rigidly label actions as absolutely right or wrong and it allows flexibility and sensitivity to the circumstances surrounding an action. This makes it practical. Act Utilitarianism is sensitive to the situation, but Rule Utilitarianism can be as well, as long as one can provide a rule that maximizes happiness in general, which also applies to this situation.

Diversity Interview Assignment Essay

Abstract The people in the world that we live in are extremely diverse, in terms of the nationalities, religions, gender classifications and physical abilities. Social workers must have a clear understanding of the consequences of diversity and difference and the mechanisms of oppression and discrimination as they relate to human development. The range of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds that social workers will practice in is huge. Because of this, social workers must have an understanding of the values and attitudes of a multitude of different cultures as well as an understanding of their own attitudes and values towards diversity. This assignment will explore the ethnic diversity of two individual students of Madonna University. Mr. Eric Munn, a student of Korean decent and Ms. Qi Mao, a student of Chinese decent. I. General Description of the Interview and Setting (Mr. Eric Mun) The interview with Mr. Eric Mun took place on Wednesday February 13 at the international student help desk on the first floor of the main hallway at Madonna University at approximately 2:30 pm. Mr. Mun was extremely busy, as are all Madonna students, writing papers and answering questions for the other international students. I asked if it would be possible to have the interview in a setting where we could better hear each other but with his schedule and mines, that was not possible. The interview went forward with me standing at the desk and with Mr. Mun answering questions in-between helping the other students. II. Information obtained. Mr. Eric Mun describes himself ethnically as Asian because both of his parents are Asian and the cultural physical traits such as skin color, hair color and cultural behaviors have all been passed down to him. When asked what ethnic group that Eric identifies with, he replied that he identifies himself as Korean. Mr. Mun grew up in Seoul, South Korea and is 23 years old. He is a sophomore at Madonna with a G.P.A. of 3.80, currently majoring in business administration. Eric grew up in Korea and came to the United States when he was 15 years old and has been in the United States for 6 years. He states that he graduated from a prep school in Atlanta G.A and attended Michigan State University in 2008. After a semester at M.S.U. Eric says that he joined the Korean Marine Corps and served for two years as an artillery gunner, but was honorably discharged as a sergeant. When asked what he recalled when he first recognized his ethnicity, he replied that his parents had been working for the U .S. Army for over 30 years in the Department of Criminal Intelligence. This is when he began to realize who he was. Eric says that he had several opportunities to meet with U. S. soldiers and their children and that he noticed the differences then. I asked Eric what he considered to be the positive and negative aspects of being Korean. Eric replied that he believes that Asian people are the best academically and are good at working with numbers and studying. In contrast, he believes that this makes up for a lack of physical athletic abilities. I asked Eric what he believes are some of the special characteristics of being Korean. Eric replied that the most special characteristic of being Korean is the emphasis on respect of elders. He states that he has seen a lack of respect for elders in most Western cultures that would never be tolerated in Korea. Eric stated that he has not experienced racism since he has been in the United States; however he believes that there is a bias against people of Asian descent in the business world. III. General Description of the Interview and Setting ( Ms. Qi Mao) The next interview took place on February 19 and was with Ms. Qi Mao. Ms. Mao is a 31 year old student and describes herself as a member of China’s Han nationality, which is the largest nationality of the population of China. The interview took place in the lobby of the Madonna English Service Language Department at approximately 12:00 pm. English Service Language Director Ms. Hadeel Betti helped in selecting a candidate for the interview. I was shocked at her age of 31 years by her tiny frame as she approached for the interview. She was very pleasant, very polite and eager to smile at every appropriate moment. IV. Information Obtained Ms. Mao describes herself as Chinese of the Han nationality. The Han nationality dominates the ethnicity of the population of China. According to everyculture.com,† China is the most populous nation on earth; in 2000, the estimated population was 1,261,832,482 (over one-fifth of the world’s population). Of these people, 92 percent are Han Chinese; the remaining 8 percent are people of Zhuang, Uyhgur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi and Korean† (everyculture.com, 2013). According to Ms. Mao, Chinese people who live in the far south of China belong to what she describes as the South Asia race. Ms. Mao earned a degree in journalism in China and has worked as a journalist there for some time. She stated that she wanted to expand her knowledge and learn new things. Her major at Madonna University is business. She has no brothers or sisters and states that this is the result of China’s one child law. According to the Journal of Politics and law, â€Å"The Birth Control Law of PRC restricts married, urban couples to having only one child, and rural couples to having 2 children if the first is female, while ethnic minorities are not restricted† (Chen, B., 2012). She currently lives with a host family and enjoys playing with the family’s children. She also states that the only family that she has in the U. S. are her uncle a few cousins that currently attend Madonna University. Ms. Mao states that most of East Asia populations are Mongolian, whom her people traditionally refer to as the yellow race. Later she says that she has been in the U. S. for 5 months. When asked what she recalled when she first recognized her ethnicity, she replied that most Chinese children know who and what they are at a very young age. She tells me that she learned English at 3 years old and that this is when her teachers and parents introduced her to the Han nationality. Ms. Mao states that many people describe members of the Han nationality as having thin black hair, black eyes and yellow skin. She stated that Chinese people usually do not discuss cultural issues because unless you travel to the out most reaches of the country, there is only one culture, the Han. The most negative aspect of being Chinese for Ms. Mao is the difficulty in getting a passport for travel to the U. S. She believes that this is because of two reasons first a bias against the people of China, secondly the Chinese government’s strict policy to know absolutely everything you do and everywhere you go at all times. One of the most positive aspects of being Chinese according to Ms. Mao is the closeness of the families. She states that the relationships of Chinese people are closer and deeper than of any other culture. She believes that this is a major strength of the Chinese culture and that it separates it from most. However, she also believes that sometimes these relationships can become smothering, because someone in the family or someone who knows the family is usually to be found in every aspect of Chinese life. Research has shown that the, â€Å"business world of the Asian American is strongly linked to family. The Asian family run business is a constant in many communities† (asianamericanalliance.com, 2013). From school life to social life she says that the Chinese relationships are extremely tight. She tells me that she has not experienced direct racism and has been treated well by most that she has encountered since being in the U.S. Ms. Mao tells me that the Chinese do not have what westerners call religion because the majority feels as if they do not need it. According to her, most of her population would be classified as Buddhists but they would never refer to it as a religion. She says that generally, her people do not openly discuss their worship practices and that the society is far too conservative that. V. New Learning’s Regarding Strengths/Limitations. One of the similarities in the strengths of both individuals is the strong bond with family and the respect that they have for their elders. The opinions of both individuals vary in terms of how they view western family relationships. Ms. Mao believes that some women in western cultures are not as attentive to family needs. Mr. Munn believes that there is a lack of respect for family elders. New learnings regarding the strengths of their family relationships include the complex and intense bond between extended family members. Apparently in both Korean and Chinese cultures, children are introduced to the importance of close family relationships at an early age. Research has shown that the children of the Korean culture are exposed to family values and traditions when very young. A web article entitled everyculture.com states, â€Å"Obedience, cooperation, respect for the elders, and filial piety are the major values inculcated in a child’s early years, most children receive t raditional gender role socialization from early childhood† (www.everyculture.com, 2013). According to Ms. Mao, the family structure of the Chinese people is a strength as well as a weakness in terms of having personal space. New learning’s regarding this fact includes an appreciation of the Chinese family unit and the fact that the traditional relationships in the Chinese nuclear family unit extend far beyond the home. Research has shown that, â€Å"It is common for several generations to live together under one roof. After marriage, a woman traditionally leaves her parents’ home and becomes part of her husband’s family (www.everyculture.com, 2013). Although Ms. Mao never hinted that this was her particular plan to start a family, she did imply that she greatly respected Chinese family tradition. VI. New Learning’s Regarding the Effects of Racism & Gender inequality. I found it very interesting that neither of the interviewees had experienced direct or extreme racism while in the United States. This is partially because of a generally expected bias against Asians by Americans and partially due to some of my own experiences with racism as an African American man. This prompted research into the history of racism against Asian Americans and revealed the tragic story of Former Metro Detroit resident Vincent Chin. According to asian-nation.org, in 1989 Vincent was beaten to death by two White men (Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz) who called him a â€Å"jap† (even though he was Chinese American) and blamed him and Japanese automakers for the current recession and the fact that they were about to lose their jobs. The judge in the case sentenced each man to 2 years’ probation and a $ 3700.00 fine. From the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 which declared that an entire ethnic group would be singled out and forbidden to step foot on American soil, to the extreme difficulties expressed by Ms. Mao in acquiring a passport for travel to the United States, discrimination and racism has affected members of the Asian community. The teachings and philosophies of Confucius have a profound effect on the relative status of Chinese men and women. What we westerners would refer to as ‘gender issues’, the Chinese refer to as simply a way of life. A study has shown that, â€Å"Confucian values place women as strictly subordinate to men, and this was reflected in traditional society. Women had no rights and were treated as possessions, first of their father’s and later of their husbands† (everyculture.com). I must admit to wondering on several occasions why it was that the Asian women that I have seen walking with their spouses in public seemed so docile and subservient. Research of the importance of tradition and adherence to strict family order has given me a basic understanding of the Asian family structure. VII. Implications for Practice. A social worker entering into practice without the skills which would prepare him for working with ethnically diverse clients limits the range of assistance that he can provide. The implications of social work practice increase with such culturally diverse populations as Asian Americans. An effective social worker will have the knowledge of the different cultures, norms and values of the target populations that he will mostly like come into contact with. Based on the conceptual definition of eclectic which is, â€Å"one who uses a method or approach that is composed of elements drawn from various sources† (merriam-webster.com, 2013), research has shown that an effective social worker should incorporate different methods to meet the various needs of Asian American families. Understanding the communication patterns of Asian families and how they differ from those of western cultures can help bridge the gaps of difficulties in individual and group function. Kam-fong (1994) wrote the following: Psychodynamic, existential-humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral approaches are analyzed in terms of their appropriateness for social work with Asian Americans. It is concluded that various theoretical approaches may be needed to match the ever-changing needs of these culturally diverse populations. (p. 186) VII. Personal Reflection. I have seen media portrayal of Asian Americans and all of the stereotypes that go along with them. In my lifetime I have heard everything from all Asians eat rice to all Asians know karate, kung Fu and can’t drive well. These are all just stereotypes and have absolutely no merit at all. However it has been somewhat difficult for me as a student and researcher until now to disprove these myths personally. Limited interactions with members of the Asian community due to a lack of opportunistic access have made in-depth research into behavioral patterns extremely difficult if not completely impossible. This assignment has allowed me to step into a world that has helped me to distinguish between two fascinatingly different cultures from my own. I look forward to working with members of the Chinese and Korean communities in the future as clients and professionals alike. References J Rank. (2012). Countries and their culture. Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/Bo-Co/China.html Le, C. N. (2011, November 25). Asian-nation. Retrieved from http://www.asian-nation.org/racism.shtml Asian American Alliance. (07 J). Retrieved from http://www.asianamericanalliance.com/index.html Chen, B. (2012). China’s dilemma in human rights: Through the perspective of critiques abroad and china’s response. Journal of Politics and Law, 5(3), 25-32. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1038159875?accountid=27927 Kam-Fong, M. (1994). Book reviews — social work practice with Asian Americans edited by Sharlene Maeda Furuto, Renuka Biswas, Douglas K. Chung, Kenji Murase and Fariyal Ross-Sheriff. Families in Society, 75(3), 186-186. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/230155950?accountid=27927