French History: Belle Époque Essay

Belle Epoque means beautiful era in French. This is an apt description of what took place during the late 1800s up until the start of the First World War. This period of European history is characterized by political stability, peace between major European nations and a flourishing in almost all aspects of society. This modern golden age of Europe started with the peace following the Franco-Prussian war. (Rudorff) Although tensions were still present between rival countries like France and Germany, the improvement of international relations helped conclude treaties and summits. Most notable of these were the Congress of Berlin in 1878 by which the major countries of Europe met to discuss the future of the Balkan and Ottoman states, and the Berlin Congo Conference in 1884 which aimed to regulate European trade in Africa. (Childers and Teaching Company. ) The major European countries at the start of the Belle epoque were pursuing diplomacy with each other in concern with major issues. This could be said to be a result of the past Franco-Prussian war Politics in the Belle Epoque was with few explosive conflicts. Europe as a whole was too interested in Africa, in the Scramble for Africa that followed the Berlin Congo Congress, to fight with each other in their native continent. The Scramble for Africa denoted the individual European Countries’ contest over the resource rich continent. The internal politics of each country was relatively stable, except for Portugal, with the revolution of 1910. Although peaceful, The Belle Epoque was characterized by growing tension between the bourgeoisie and the workers throughout Europe, giving an increase in socialist activities. During this period, science and technology made rapid advancement in almost all fields. The relative isolationism between countries and parts of the world was significantly reduced with the proliferation of new modes of transportation like the automobile, the airplane, and the underground railway system. The world further shrank with the advent of the telephone, which enabled real time voice communications across far distances. The world of arts was also revolutionized with the cinematograph and the phonograph. The Belle Epoque also produced various breakthroughs in physics, microbiology, biology and chemistry. This was the time of the discoveries and theories of Pasteur, Planck, Bohr, and Einstein among others. It was also in 1895, upon the death of Alfred Nobel, that the Nobel Prize was enacted. The social sciences and psychology also flourished with thinkers like Sigmund Freud, Max Webber and Simmel. Perhaps the most noted feature of the Belle Epoque is the revolutionary transformations in the art and literature of the world. The stability of the major European countries, and the ease by which on could travel within Europe all gave rise to art revolutions centralized in European capital cities. In, Paris, a new movement called Impressionism, from the work of Clause Monet set the standard all across Europe. This was followed by the Expressionist movement, originating in Germany, which spread all throughout Europe and across the Atlantic, to America. Most notable of these were the works of Edward Munch, Wassily and Egon Schiele. Art Nouveau, fin de siecle and other art movements sprang from various European cities as offspring of both Impressionism and Expressionism. The era also produced a rise in graphic art, with a huge proliferation of sketches, etchings, lithographs and posters. The decadence brought upon by stability is evident in the quality of life and the vibrant display of the arts in the major European capitals. The artistic freedom in this era was also one highlight. Every topic, every scene could be seen depicted in almost any medium during the Belle Epoque. Artists in this era gained almost worldwide notoriety, like Oscar Wilde. The advances in art were not limited to painting and sculpture. Architecture and fashion also flourished during the Belle Epoque. Parisian fashion among the middle and upper classes were sophisticated and extravagant. (Feinblatt et al. ) Architecture progressed with the rise of the artistic movements, producing many revolutionary works. The introduction of the cinematograph also revolutionized visual media, leading to greater interest in films and cinema. Louis Lumiere produced the first short films that were the first paid public exhibitions of such works. Melies introduced the realm of the extraordinary to the films, showing fantastic spectacles as opposed to real life events. Even advertising reached its first pinnacle during the Bell Epoque, with prints and poster being source of income and avenue for artistic expression. Literature, music and the theatre accompanied the arts’ progression during the Belle Epoque. Expressionism lent new material to theatrical productions, which now aimed to shock audiences with graphic and sexual material. (Rearick) Music in the Belle Epoque is evidenced by salon, which gained mainstream popularity due to its light and shot tones. Naturalism and realism pervaded literature, with writers like Yeats, Fontane, Mauppasant and Zola. The surrealist works of Franz Kafka also dealt with the conditions of society, the transformation of the world. Other authors include Thomas Mann and Marcel Proust. (Trueba and Lola Films (Firm)) The Belle Epoque ended with the beginning of the First World War. The tensions that belied the calm surface of the era culminated in a war that involved almost all major nations in the world. The socialist undertones brewing during the Belle Epoque all exploded during the war. The Belle epoque is considered the golden age of Modern Europe. In between two major wars, the peace in this era produced a general feeling of stability and decadence. Prosperity and enjoyment permeated the lifestyle of the middle and upper classes. The stability of the era also paved the way for rapid advancement in the arts, science, literature and technology. As an era, the Belle Epoque is a good case study as to how productive peace can be, and the effects of wars on the development of mankind’s culture. References Childers, Thomas, and Teaching Company. Europe and Western Civilization in the Modern Age. [sound recording] /. Teaching Co. ,, Springfield, VA :, 1998. Feinblatt, Ebria, et al. â€Å"Toulouse-Lautrec and His Contemporaries : Posters of the Belle Epoque from the Wagner Collection. † (1985): 264 p. Rearick, Charles. â€Å"Pleasures of the Belle Epoque : Entertainment and Festivity in Turn-of-the-Century France. † (1985): xiii, 239 p. , [10] p. of plates. Rudorff, Raymond. â€Å"The Belle Epoque; Paris in the Nineties. † (1973): 365 p. Trueba, Fernando, and Lola Films (Firm). Belle Epoque [the Age of Beauty]. [videorecording] =. Columbia TriStar Home Video,, [Burbank, Calif. ] :, 1994.

LETTER OF APPLICATION Essay

Letter of application A letter of application is one’s first introduction to his/her prospective employer. It is a persuasive message that sells the applicant’s talents to the employer. In that case, it should be similar to that of a sales letter in attracting and impressing the reader and motivating him to take action. Job application letter, usually, has two parts: (i) Cover letter and (ii) Resume. (i) COVER LETTER The cover letter is not just a forwarding letter. The purpose of writing a cover letter is to persuade the employer to read the resume enclosed. It should be tactfully written and carefully organized, so that it gains attention and builds interest and motivates the employer to take action. Format Though there are many formats, full block format with open punctuation marks is the most popularly used forms in today’s business communication. Full block format means, aligning all the parts of the letters in the left margin without indenting. One line space has to be left between the parts. Open punctuation refers to using punctuation marks only in the main body of the letter in order to ensure clear comprehension and omitting punctuation marks like commas and full stops in all other parts (date, address, salutation, subscription, etc.) How to Write an Effective Cover Letter? An effective cover letter must convince the employer that the candidate possesses the requisite skills for the job and ensure him that he is the suitable person for the post. So the cover letter should highlight the most relevant skills/achievements/performance, needed for the job. The cover letter is usually written in three or four small paragraphs with enough white space in between. In the first paragraph, (i) mention the subject and reference. In other words, the name of the post you are applying and the source of information (name of the newspaper and the date) are to be mentioned. In case of some other sources like personal contacts, due acknowledgement has to be made. (ii) Express the reason to apply for the post or your willingness to be considered as a candidate. Some sample openings: 1. Your advertisement for the post of Software Engineer in the June 25, 2008 issue of The Times of India interested me as I am confident that I possess the requisite qualification and skills. I wish to be considered as a candidate for the same. 2. I understand from Mr. Rajgopal, one of your faculty that there is an opening in your esteemed organization for the post of Marketing Executive.. 3. I was very interested to see your advertisement for the post Software Engineer in The Hindu of 29.06.2008. I have been seeking for such an opportunity as this, and I think my background and your requirements may be a good match. I am very much interested in working as a Software Engineer in your esteemed concern. In the second paragraph, (i) highlight your academic and professional skills which are more relevant for the post you are applying now. (ii) Give specific and the most important details of your achievements and inform the employer that your resume is enclosed for the other details of your qualification and experience. Some samples: 1. As my enclosed resume indicates, I have a B.E in Electronics and Communication Engineering. I was a University rank holder and was awarded a merit scholarship by the University. I did my internship at Reliance, Bangalore, during the summer vacation. My project work has helped me acquire a wide variety of skills that would benefit your company. 2. My education includes a B.E .in Electrical Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Tiruchi and an MBA from IGNOU, New Delhi. During my undergraduation, I did a summer project in Network Security, at BSNL, Coimbatore. and received a letter of appreciation for my vision and ability to multitask. I wish to begin my career with Polexcel and I believe that my employment with you would be highly beneficial to your company and also add value to my career. In the third paragraph/concluding paragraph, (i) motivate the employer for taking action, i.e., calling for an interview (ii) express your convenience to attend the interview. Some Sample Closings: 1. I look forward to the opportunity of attending an interview when I can provide additional details. 2. I would like to meet you and discuss the employment possibilities at your company. I expect your reply and appreciate your consideration. 3. I shall be pleased to provide any further information you may need and hope I may be given an opportunity of an interview. 4. I wish to begin my career with SR Industries and I believe that my employment with you would be highly beneficial to your company and also add value to my career. 5. I have been looking for an opening like this one, which provides a fast moving, dynamic work environment and accelerated and challenging growth opportunities. (ii) RESUME A resume is a selective record of a candidate’s academic, professional and personal background. It is basically, a professional employment seeking document that presents the summary of an individual’s education, professional training, experience, skills, abilities, achievements and references. The length of the resume should be between 1 and 2 pages long. Format There is no specific format for writing a resume. The resume should have an effective design with a focus on readability and adaptation to the expectations of the prospective employer. Though the parts and the format of a resume differ from person to person and company to company, the standard parts of a resume include the following: 1. heading, 2. position sought, 3. career objective, 4. education, 5. work experience, 6. special skills, 7. achievements, 8. activities, and interests 9. references. Some sample objectives 1. To work as a System Manager in a leading IT company where I will have opportunities to use my knowledge in VB, ASP, NET, XML and SQL server. 2. To be a part of a fast growing multinational company that will enable me to use my analytical, interpersonal and communication skills. 3. Entry level position is design and development of microprocessor circuitry; eventual advancement to positions as Technical Manager or Project Leader. Resume Style There are three acceptable resume styles: Chronological, Functional and Hybrid (a combination of both) Chronological Resume: This is the most commonly used resume style. It focuses on education and experience and the details are arranged in reverse chronological order. Functional Resume: Functional resumes highlight accomplishments and emphasise skills. The requisite skills are demonstrated by means of the experience the candidate possesses. Combination Resume: As the name suggests, it combines the best features of chronological and functional resumes. This style is very rarely used. In short, the style of the resume depends on the nature of the job and the skills and qualification of the candidate. Points to Remember in Writing a Resume Make the design and format readable with main sections noticeable and the individual components distinct, separate and clear. Give well defined headings Leave enough white space between the parts. Align everything to the left Leave at least one inch margin Use standard font, preferably, Ariel or Times New Roman with 10 or 12 font size. Be specific, factual and objective. Edit carefully for grammar, vocabulary and spelling errors. Avoid punctuation as much as possible. Avoid columns, vertical, horizontal lines, or boxes. Avoid decorative designs, and typography Make the resume computer-friendly. Thus the success of employment search largely depends on a candidate’s ability to design an effective cover letter and a persuasive resume. LETTER OF APPLICATION Example: 30.06.2008 M.Harish 25/186, Fourth Avenue Jeeva Nagar Tambaram Chennai – 600 045 The General Manager Human Resources Division Infitech Solutions Chennai – 103 Dear Sir In response to your advertisement in The Times of India of 29.06.2008, I wish to apply for the post of Software Engineer in your reputed concern. My academic record reflects my sincerity and strong determination. I graduated with a B.Tech in Information Technology from Anna University, Coimbatore with distinction in May 2008. I received the Chief Minister Merit Scholarship during 2006-2007 for my academic performance. As a dynamic and extroverted student, I took active interest and participation in many extra curricular and co-curricular activities and won prizes. I have enclosed my resume for the details of my qualification for your perusal. As I have a sound academic background, good oral and written communication skills, proficiency in computers and high degree of commitment, I would be able to contribute to the growth and expansion of your company. I look forward to having the opportunity to further discuss my qualifications for the post of Software Engineer at your firm. Thanking you in anticipation Yours faithfully, Sign. M.HARISH Enc: Resume RESUME M.HARISH Address: 25/186, Fourth Avenue Jeeva Nagar Tambaram Chennai – 600 045 Phone: 044 – 2239 4657 Mobile: 98764 95342 E mail: harish_m@rediffmail.com OBJECTIVE To obtain a challenging position as a Software Engineer in an innovative software company where I will have opportunities to utilize my computer proficiency, communication and interpersonal skills to contribute to the growth of the company and also enhance my career prospects. EDUCATION Anna University, Coimbatore B.Tech. in Information Technology, May, 2008. SH Senior Secondary School, Chennai passed Higher Secondary, April, 2004 SOFTWARE SKILLS Programming Languages: C, C++, JAVA, PERL Technologies: HTML, Java Security, JDBC Operating Systems: Linux, Unix, Windows 95/09/NT, DOS ACHIEVEMENTS Won Chief Minister Merit Scholarship for academic proficiency in III tear Won First prize in Inter – University elocution contest, in 2007. Secured Second position in Debugging’ contest, held at IIT, Chennai. ACTIVITIES Was the Student Secretary for the Society of Information Technologists Had been a member of National Cadet Corps for three years during my school Have participated in many extra – curricular activities and won prizes PERSONAL DETAILS Age & Date of Birth 21 years & 14.08. 1987 Marital Status: Single Languages Known: Tamil, English, Hindi, German Interests: Reading fiction, Web designing and Listening to Carnatic REFERENCES 1. Dr. V.Thanuvalingam Dean (Academic) Anna University Coimbatore 2. Dr.K.Viswanathan Professor& Head Department of Information Technology Anna University Coimbatore Task: Assume that you have completed your degree and draft a letter of application to be sent to your dream company. Prepare your own resume to be enclosed along with the cover letter.

Analysis of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Analysis of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens   After reading a part of Oliver Twist and after watch the short documentary on Charles  Dickens, it is easy to say that he can be identified as a realist writer. A realist writer is defined as  a writer that writes about things are can happen in the real world. The initial twenty pages of  Oliver Twist has numerous realist traits in it. In the principal couple of sentences of the novel, the  storyteller discusses how Oliver Twist was conceived and how his mom passed away due to  complications during birth. The narrator says when discussing Oliver Twist’s birth, â€Å"For a long  time after he was ushered into this world of sorrow and trouble, by the parish surgeon, it  remained a matter of considerable doubt whether the child would survive to bear any name at all;  in which case it is somewhat more than probable that these memoirs would never have appeared,  or, if they had, being comprised withinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ biography extant in the literature of an y age or country† (3). Dickens having the storyteller discuss how nobody knew whether Oliver Twist  would survive indicates Dickens is a realist. Likewise, another piece of the initial twenty pages  where Dickens demonstrates he is a realist writer is toward the finish of the chapter where  Dickens implies about Oliver’s future. The narrator says, â€Å"But now he was enveloped in the old  calico robes, that had grown yellow in the same service; he was badged and ticketed, and fell  into his place at once – a parish child – the orphan of a work house – the humble, half-starved  drudge – to be cuffed and buffeted through the world, despised by all, and pitied by none† (5).   Here, the reader can assume that he will be a â€Å"parish child† as the quote provides. From our  studies of naturalism junior year, or an extraordinary type of authenticity, a man has a  foreordained destiny, which Oliver is given when h is mom passes on toward the start of the  novel and he is left as vagrant as an orphan. Subsequent to perusing a piece of Oliver Twist and in the wake of watching the short narrative on Charles Dickens, it is anything but difficult to state that he can be distinguished as a realist essayist. A realist essayist is characterized as an author that expounds on things are can occur in this present reality. The underlying twenty pages of Oliver Twist have various realist attributes in it. In the primary couple of sentences of the novel, the storyteller examines how Oliver Twist was considered and how his mother passed away because of confusions amid birth. The storyteller says while talking about Oliver Twist’s introduction to the world, â€Å"For a long time after he was ushered into this world of sorrow and trouble, by the parish surgeon, it remained a matter of considerable doubt whether the child would survive to bear any name at all; in which case it is somewhat m ore than probable that these memoirs would never have appeared, or, if they had, being comprised withinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ biography extant in the literature of any age or country† (3). Dickens having the storyteller talk about how no one knew whether Oliver Twist would survive shows Dickens is a realist. Similarly, another bit of the underlying twenty pages where Dickens exhibits he is a realist essayist is toward the complete of the part where Dickens suggests about Oliver’s future. The storyteller says, â€Å"But now he was enveloped in the old calico robes, that had grown yellow in the same service; he was badged and ticketed, and fell into his place at once – a parish child – the orphan of a work house – the humble, half-starved drudge – to be cuffed and buffeted through the world, despised by all, and pitied by none† (5). Here, after perusing the text one can expect that he will be a â€Å"parish child† as the quote gives. F rom our investigations of naturalism a year ago, or an unprecedented kind of realness, a man has a fated predetermination, which Oliver is given when his mother passes on toward the begin of the novel and he is left as vagrant as a vagrant.

Liberal Art Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Liberal Art Studies - Essay Example This may include seeking new opportunities that are more fitting to the individual person and are able to make that individual more fulfilled as a person. After years of living his life according to the carnal pleasures of the body, Augustine felt there must be something more to life than the way he was living it. He thus began a quest for a more fulfilling life. Similarly, a more fulfilling career should always be the goal of the professional. A better career often requires difficult changes, but a professional should be willing to make those changes in order to realize a better life. In addition to benefiting the individual, a more fulfilled person is better able to improve society as a whole. A modern professional’s career journey is similar to the spiritual journey of Augustine. A career does not always go according to plan. There are difficult problems to work through in nearly every job. There are also times when it is better for an individual to move on from a current j ob and obtain a better, more fulfilling job. Like a spiritual journey, a professional is confronted with difficult situations which are often unpleasant. These situations often lead to changes and, although difficult, they can lead a professional to a better path in which they are able to grow as an individual as well as a professional.

American Cinema into the 21st Century Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

American Cinema into the 21st Century - Essay Example The Social and Economic Context of the Period In the late 1980s to the early 1990s, the term â€Å"popular culture† became a mainstay, due to the dominance of culture in American cinema and the media. This indicated a shift from â€Å"empirical studies to studies of cultural forms and meanings†. During this time, focus was placed on audience and different forms of mass communication, which included music videos, computer and video games, soap operas, and the Internet. Research moved, particularly in the United States, to finding links between such mass communication and behaviour of society; emphasis was placed on popular culture and media studies. Cinema emulated these shifts in a number of areas from sociology and feminism to economics and history . Technological Developments As cinema entered the 21st century, a number of technological developments were made. Of the more prominent developments was the use of computers, replacing hand-drawn cartoons and physically cre ated special effects. In 2010, Walt Disney Pictures’ animated studio, Pixar, stretched the limits of possibility in the creation of â€Å"Toy Story 3,† the third successful installment of the wildly popular computer generated imagery (CGI) film in the Toy Story trilogy. Pixar has proven, time after time, that it has the expertise to create what would be impossible to animate by hand. One particular challenge in creating the film was crafting a very complicated scene in which the film’s primary characters must make their way on a conveyor belt within a garbage processing plant. What seemed like millions of tiny pieces of diced garbage is moving toward a gigantic furnace, while the characters interact within the scene. In watching the scene, Pixar succeeds in making the audience feel as though they are watching live-action. The garbage reflects the lighting within the facility as it travels down the conveyor. The detail of the tiny pieces of garbage is truly amazi ng, somewhat gross, but the sequence is amazing nonetheless. Terdiman (2010) explains that Pixar did not have the finances or time available to them to manually animate the sequence, so the technical director and his team were forced to be creative with what resources they did have—computers. The thousands upon thousands of tiny pieces of garbage were procedurally animated and brought to life. Similarly, for the garbage bags in the sequence, procedural animation was put to use. Since the bags served such a critical purpose to the plot, it was important they look as real as possible so as not to distract the audience from the overall viewing experience (Terdiman 2010). According to Anderson, a Pixar representative, the talented animators do not intend to break ground with each film they create. Obstacles arise, and it is their job to creatively handle the situation. If that means improving processes or inventing new ones that change the way future films are created, great, but that is not the intention. The animators at Pixar are highly-skilled professionals who want to create something better than what they previously put out—innovations that just come naturally (Terdiman 2010). The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings (2001) utilized CGI technology, but also incorporated live-action and a process

Rusnak Auto Group Human Resource Management Research Paper

Rusnak Auto Group Human Resource Management - Research Paper Example The organization has experienced company certified technicians offering general and critical repairs to different vehicles. The company has focused very well towards customer satisfaction. The organization offers services for both pre owned and new cars. The organization is very famous for all luxury brands and personalized services. The organization belongs to automobile industry. Over the years the company has offered one umbrella solutions to its customers. The organization has recorded $800 million revenue in 2013. The group was founded in 1961. The organization is selling 11 famous brands. The company is very closely related with different corporate social responsibilities. Rusnak Group maintains high quality and ethical behaviors. In USA there are many automobile dealers. The organization is one of the 100 top most dealers in the country. The organization is located into 15 different locations in the country. Over the years the organization has maintained very friendly relation ship with its customers. Providing good quality customer service is one of the most important core competencies of the organization. The company offers multi dimensional services to its customers. Rusnak sales 11 top brand cars. Cars can be pre owned or new car. Rusnak also offers services for those new and pre owned cars. The organization has designed their services according to different brands. The organization provides quick and real time services to its customers. The company has online system for scheduling different car services. Rusnak maintains certain standards. Highly skilled workers are strengths of the organization. Best professional sells personnel and technicians are very important part of the company. The organization cultivates good quality professionals into their company. Association with world’s famous automobile brands is also a core competency for the organization. The company has very close and

Unit 4 Market for Health Insurance and Competition Essay

Unit 4 Market for Health Insurance and Competition - Essay Example by Congressional Budget Office, the health market challenges the federal and state governments as health care premiums continue to take an upward trend. More to these, health care costs seem to exceed the growth of American income, thus making it very expensive to afford health care in America. Consequent to these, fewer individuals get to enroll for the service, following the high cost involved. These factors compel the government to take measures that regulate the operation of the health market, thus ensuring that the insurance companies do not exercise their market power in a manner that can harm consumers, as well as the economy. Such measures include the evaluation of insurers who undertake mergers and acquisitions, to ensure that monopolies do not rule the health sector. The medical loss ratio refers to a statistical measurement of the fraction of the total premium revenue from health plans that get to be devoted to clinical services. In other words, the MLR relates to the portion of the premium revenue from health insurance plans paid to settle medical claims. Therefore, this ratio does not serve as a measure of the quality of care provided as premiums paid and expenditures incurred do not indicate the quality of care being given to individuals. Other measures, such as patient satisfaction surveys, and severity-adjusted clinical outcomes, provide better measures for gauging health performance. Consequently, the MLR should not be used to measure health performance, as it would lead to biased results (Austin, 43). Risk-adjusted premiums help in determining the expected treatment cost that an insured person would incur, if they were to fall ill. Higher rates exist for elderly individuals, compared to the younger population (Feldstein, 245). This ensures that insurance providers do not choose to insure healthier patients, and leave out the sick patients. Consequent to this, individuals who need health care most get to access insurance, and effective

Motivation -wk3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Motivation -wk3 - Essay Example When I look at my description of a good day, I can say that emotionally I would be feeling happy and peaceful during the day. I would have autonomy because I was working alone, getting things done, and having good conversation with a friend. This would be my example of autonomy support. I believe that competence would be shown in my ability to do my job well and identify prospects to finish. This action gives me a high feeling of competence. Structure is very important to me and the more organized I am, the more competent I fee. My conversation with my friends appeals to my sense of involvement because the conversation showed we are caring people and we enjoy being together. This action brings me a sense of well being and I feel that I am loved by my friend and my family. Reeves (2009) states that vitality is associated with the way in which people feel during a good day. When people feel "autonomous, competent and interpersonally related (p. 168) they also feel vital or like their life has meaning. In terms of psychological need, people need to feel a sense of self-worth in anything they do. I would think that a person who is feeling vibrant and needed would be more motivated to do more than those who are not. Motivation would be enhanced for someone when they knew they were needed. My final project will research the educational needs of teenagers in Liberia. I will concentrate on the needs of teenage girls. This is a social change issue because there are many challenges that girls in Liberia have that influence their education. Some of these challenges are teen pregnancy, rape, and fall out from their past civil war. I would like to understand the motivation for teens to become educated despite all of these issues. Generally speaking, in most countries teens may be motivated to become educated because the laws say that children must go to school from an early age to about the age of 18. In Liberia, the

Review on Wood, Goffman, and Gergen's reading Essay

Review on Wood, Goffman, and Gergen's reading - Essay Example If one identifies his/herself with a tribe, the behavior or actions will reflect who or what an individual is (Fine & Manning 13). Information about the identity of someone helps one to define the situation, it also enables people to know what to expect of them in advance, and what an individual expects of others in advance. Identity enables people to know how best to act in order to get the best response from them. In order to know an individual well, an identity enables individual to see what the individual says about himself is true. It provides evidence of whoever the provider claims to be (Fine & Manning 18). To a communication scholar, identity enables the scholar resonates on why individuals judge themselves after their actions. One judges himself according to what others perceive him or her to be. One’s identity gets acquired through communicating with other people. Since we became not born with the understanding of whoever we are, we develop this understanding by communicating with other people. Goffman believes that individuals act purposive in order to bring out their desired state. This they achieve by continually changing their actions in order to make their current opinion relate to their desired perceptual state. Goffman believe that what man does gets guided with respect to the perceived culmination of the activity. According to Goffman, embarrassment does not come from poor performance, but rather from the answers of others as perceived by one’s self (Fine & Manning 28). He suggests that individuals have an obligation to maintain their own and others claims to relevant identities. Embarrassment emerges if individual, expressive facts become threatened by his assumptions about his own identity. Goffman suggests that human beings are performers who knowingly give and unwittingly give off different impressions. He claims that almost everyone is skilled in the arts of

A capitalist economy Essay Example for Free

A capitalist economy Essay A capitalist economy is fuelled by the needs and whims the consumer. Hence, understanding the customer’s buying behavior and needs is critical for a marketer to succeed in such an environment. Once a person’s basic survival needs such as food and shelter are satisfied, buying needs are influenced by the need for self-esteem. Consumers buy things to boost their sense of pride and society plays a crucial role in influencing this behavior, through media outlets such television and Internet. They not only inform consumers about a product but also psychologically tell them why they should purchase it, by affecting them on a subconscious level. Peer opinions and brand consciousness also impact consumer behavior since it influences their status among peers. Buyers approach a new purchase and repurchase quite differently. If they are satisfied with the previous purchase, almost no research goes into the repurchase. When it comes to a new purchase, a consumer’s buying behavior depends upon the amount of involvement in researching the product, before actually buying it. For instance, a car or house involves a lot of money, which is why a consumer naturally spends more time trying to learn about the various options available in the market. See more: My Writing Process Essay On the other hand, buying everyday products like soap, perfume and clothing involves lesser consumer research and requires lesser decision time. However, sometimes consumers also buy things on a whim without any prior research; it involves a miniscule decision time and is called impulsive buying. An individual buyer’s personality will also affect their buying behavior. For instance, a person who was raised in a poor family and having a conservative spending attitude would spend more time researching an item before buying it. The probability of such a person making an impulse buy or brand-conscious decision is also very less, since people with such a personality tend to make rational decisions based on their needs. Buying a common food item such as salad dressing involves very little decision time, since the product would be a repurchase for most people and the financial risk involved is very less. However, health-conscious buyers may spend additional time researching nutritional information before buying a specific brand. There are also quite a few varieties of salad dressing available in the market to choose from, which may increase the research time of buyers who have a fine appreciate for food. Three brands of salad dressing that would considered are as follows, 1) Wild Thymes 2) American Garden 3) Briannas Fine Salad Dressing Wild Thymes is basically a Gourmet Foods company that caters to people who have an appreciation for fine food. It offers an exclusive variety of salad dressings that come in various fruit flavors, which are not offered by mass market brands. Their products are also 100 percent natural, catering to health-conscious buyers. They are sold online on Amazon. com as well as in other retail outlets. The cost of a Wild Thymes salad dressing is priced at $6. 50 for a 11 oz bottle. Briannas Fine Salad Dressings is a specialty salad dressing company that exclusively focuses on salad dressing. It offers an exhaustive list of salad dressing variants such as Asiago Caesar, Blush Wine Vinaigrette and Zesty French. Its products are sold through its own online store it costs $6. 3 for two bottles of salad dressing, which is comparatively cheaper. This brand caters to professional chefs and cooking enthusiasts. American Garden is Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) brand that caters to the mass market. It offers Russian, creamy Ranch and Thousand Island salad dressings and is reasonably priced. It caters to mainly to families with children, as the website is filled with pictures of children and also offers various kids’ recipes. It primarily appeals to low-income and middle-income families owing to its price and widespread availability in retail stores.

Factors That Influence The Selection Process Commerce Essay

Factors That Influence The Selection Process Commerce Essay When Herbert Chong and wife Michelle, founders of Honey Bun, purchased a small bakery in Spanish Court, New Kingston in 1982, their vision was opportunity, growth and family. 29 years later the philosophy still holds true, and is the foundation which has characterised the companys operation. This has enabled Honey Bun to develop into an immensely valued, recognized and loved Jamaican brand, known for freshly baked, premium quality products. Having outgrown a number of locations, the Chongs identified a larger manufacturing space on East Street, redirecting their focus and strategies to serving the mass market. The effort resulted in the development of a comprehensive line of packaged snacks, ranging from donuts and cupcakes to cinnamon rolls, and the brand being recognised as a Jamaican household staple. By 2005, it was clear that Honey Bun had the potential to become one of the leading brands in the market, and the Chongs were again on the move, this time to the companys present location at 26 Retirement Crescent to meet the growing demand. With a modern factory space, retro-fitted with upgraded bakery equipment and a highly specialised team, the company expanded their portfolio with the introduction of another brand, Buccaneer Jamaica. Product development was also a major focus, with Honey Bun being widely recognized as driving the trend for innovative specialty value-added products such as cheese and raisin breads. What had been a small retail bakery with a handful of staff, had evolved into a vibrant 24-hour, 7-day a week wholesale bakery, employing over 200 Jamaicans delivering the brand daily, practicing world class standards throughout its operation. Honey Buns commitment does not end on its production floor, but extends to its strong socially responsible initiatives which include investments in education through its annual School Dayz Campaign, athletic sponsorships and consistent support of the indigent and less fortunate with scheduled meal support. Today the brand is still synonymous with superior quality, superior convenience and superior value. It is widely regarded as Jamaicas number one for taste in baked snack products, as is evidenced by the company being chosen for the National Quality Awards in both 2007 and 2008. With distribution spanning key supermarkets chains, gas stations and small retail outlets locally, and select outlets in the Caribbean, North America and Europe, the company is destined for international growth having been awarded the Jamaica Exporters Association coveted Chairmans Award for Growing Exporters in 2008. Honey Bun is ultimately known in the baked goods market as a little love in every bite and recognized locally and internationally as an example of a strong, world class, brand of Jamaica. Over the last 29 years, Honey Bun has been challenged, and in every situation has risen to the occasion through tremendous growth. Introduction Selection of an individual for a given role is not an easy task. It does not only consist of the communication skills or technical expertise of an individual but a lot of many other parameters such as relevant experience, cultural fitment, personality traits of an individual, education and industry background and etc. After a certain level in an organizational hierarchy companies stop experimenting with people possessing irrelevant or unwanted skills and experiences. At that level, one cannot go and ask for, just one chance or say, if given a chance I can do it. Getting a wrong person in that level can cost an organization much more than the total salary paid to that particular individual. Hence, one must be very careful in selecting an individual and letting him or her cross organizational borders. In this article, we are trying to discuss various factors that affect the selection process. We have tried to cover as many factors as possible but we are afraid that we might not have covered all parameters. Most of the factors and parameters discussed in this article are relevant for experienced professionals and for middle and senior level positions in mid-size to large size local or multi-national and multi-cultured organizations. We have not covered domain specific and industry specific factors and to that extent this article is generic in nature and can be applied across various industries, domains and professions with little modification. Glossary of Key terms Human Resource, Business, Employment, Recruitment, Selection, Assessment. Human resource: 1. The personnel of a business or organization, esp. when regarded as a significant asset. 2. The department of a business or organization that deals with the administration, management, and training of personnel. Business: 1. a persons regular occupation, profession, or trade. 2. An activity that someone is engaged in. Employment: the act or practice of employing something for a particular purpose Recruitment: The act of getting recruits; enlisting people for the army (or for a job or a cause etc.). Selection: 1. The action or fact of carefully choosing someone or something as being the best or most suitable. 2. A number of carefully chosen things. Assessment: The evaluation or estimation of the nature, quality, or ability of someone or something: the assessment of educational needs. Factors that influence the Selection Process Relevant Experience Relevant work experience is likely the most important factor that influences the HR selection method. The relevant work experience required by an employer depends largely on the available job position and the level of skills required to carry out the duties of the position. HR personnel initially look at job candidates relevant work experience by reviewing their resumes. Applicants without relevant work experience are typically eliminated from the job-selection process. Employers desire to hire candidates with relevant experience because it saves the company time and money in training an employee. Employers also seek to reduce employee turnover by hiring qualified applicants. Do you think that you are a master of your profession and can do anything within the preview of that domain? I am sorry but you are wrong in your interpretation. Earlier in this article we mentioned about various roles that falls under the umbrella of HR profession. Let me take one example from that. XYZ which is a multi-national IT company is looking for a HR Manager (Generalist) and they are looking for someone with at least 7 years of experience in the same role of which at least 2 years of experience at the same level and within the industry of their operation. You have 12 years of experience. Three years in Recruitment, before completing your MBA. Post MBA you worked in the training and development department of ABC Company, which is a BPO, for 6 years before moving into the role of employee relations with a mid-size telecom company and you are in this role for the last 3 years. Though you have more experience than the required experience for the role, but neither do you have r elevant experience nor you belong to the same industry. Although you are a qualified HR professional but that doesnt mean you can handle every role and job that fall within the preview of this profession. Requirement of relevant experience is not only a critical requirement for HR profession but in every profession and role. There is little doubt that given a chance you might be able to handle the role of HR-Generalist but no one likes to take any risk or gamble for such a senior role. It will be wastage of time and money, both for you as well as the company. From the companys perspective, they do not like to take any risk and will only hire a person with Education Educational achievements also play a role in a companys hiring decisions. Some job positions require certain industry knowledge that is often obtained through the completion of a degree program. For example, a company desiring to hire a registered nurse will most likely require that candidates possess a nursing degree for employment consideration by the HR department. Educational achievement not only acts as a factor in making hiring decisions, but for some employers, the mode of education is also a factor. Some companies prefer to hire candidates who graduated from certain top-ranking institutions, or a company may prefer not to hire candidates who earned degrees through online-degree. In countries like India and China, education plays an important role in the selection process for all types of white and blue collar jobs. In addition to that, as one moves up in the organizational hierarchy, relevant education, type and mode of education and relevant certifications becomes critical in the selection process. Many people are of the view that although right type of education is required for any role but the type and mode of education is irrelevant. They also feel that companies are discriminating and rejecting their candidature purely for the reason that they earned their degree or diploma through distance mode of education. People also argued that those who have done their MBA through regular mode of education are less experienced or knowledgeable than their counterparts with Distance Mode of Education, who obtained their qualifications in spite of working full-time. Let us expand this argument and provide a logical explanation. In this fast paced world and cut throat competition, no company likes to take any chance or experiment with the required skills, experience level and competence. The order of preference that is followed in many companies at the time of sourcing and screening is as follows: Æ’ËÅ" Full Time MBAs from top 10 institutes in the country or top 25 institutes in the world and with good CGPA and relevant experience. Æ’ËÅ" Full Time MBAs from next 50 ranked institutes in the country but with good CGPA and slightly more experience. Æ’ËÅ" Executive MBA or Part-time MBA (evening classes or weekend classes) from top 25 institutes in the country supported by relevant experience. Æ’ËÅ" Lastly, correspondence MBA or MBA obtained by distance mode of education with good CGPA supported by relevant experience. Secondly, here I am making an attempt to clarify as to why regular (full-time) education gets more value than distance or correspondence mode of education. Obtaining relevant qualification is not about gaining knowledge. It is about grooming you for the right type of role and installing skills that are required for getting success in your profession. It is about, programs. Relocation One of the factors that influence the selection process for the human resource department is the geographical location of the job candidate. Most employees prefer to hire employees living in the local area. Employers prefer to hire local candidates because it hastens the hiring process and saves the employer money on the interviewing process and on relocation fees. Although most employers look to hire local candidates to save time and money, some employers choose to make the application process open to individuals living in other states. If local candidates fail to meet the employers qualifications for the job, HR typically seeks regional candidates next before widening the search to national and global candidates. Whenever there is an open position in any company, the company prefer to source candidates and applicants from the local market. This is done for simple reasons such as; 1. Fasten the selection process and will facilitate face-to-face interviews 2. An individual who is already settled in that particular place, city or state will not face any difficulty in joining the company 3. This saves the company a few extra costs such as excessive interview cost (getting the individual to travel to company site for interview), relocation cost and etc and thereby will minimize the cost per hire, and 4. This also defuses any anxiety or fear in an individual. On the contrary, if a company plans to source an applicant from another city in a state or country, they might need to make arrangements for the following: 1. Travel and hotel arrangements for candidates or selection panel to facilitate face-to-face interview(s); 2. Travel and hotel arrangements for selected candidate (s) to facilitate their relocation; 3. Provide them with suitable relocation cost 4. Process their work permits (if applicable) 5. Assist them in assimilating with new location and culture Hence, hiring a person from the local market surely saves the time and money of the company. But, we are in a global market where the talent market is very volatile yet competitive and hence any company that decides to compromise with skills and talent may lag in the competition. Having the right people available for the right role at a right place and time is not leisure or matter of choice but a perquisite and need to be competitive in the market not only to win the competition but to survive in the competition. Hence, these days companies are open to search for suitable talent in the global talent market. Salary Requirements The salary requirements of a job candidate influence the HR employment-selection process. Employers typically set a maximum salary for an open job position. Candidates who require a salary greater than what the employer offers are typically eliminated from the selection process. Some companies choose to negotiate the salary with attractive candidates because they desire to retain their talents and skills. HR managers also consider the present salary of a job candidate. If the candidates current or previous salary is not competitive enough, an employer may not consider the candidate for the job. Among all the factors that you may consider while accepting or rejecting an offer is the compensation and benefits package in offering. You look for a CTC package that is higher than your current package. But what increase is acceptable to you? Is it 10% or 25% or 50% or 100% or 200% or even more? Have you ever wondered that many times, in spite of having right skills and competence and having performed well in the selection process, they reject your candidature because your present salary is not competitive enough to get you the salary in offering? Although sad and shocking but this is a fact. This is applicable in those job markets where companies hire from the local talent market. However, when hiring nationals of other countries there are many other factors that plays an important role such as cost-of-living, tax structure and etc (we will discuss about those factors at another place and in a different article). Offering substantial increase over the current package or offering a package lesser than the approved salary-band disturbs the internal equity of the company and effects retention strategies of the company. Factors that influence the Recruitment Process Factors Affecting Recruitment General factors that affect recruitment in an organization: Personnel Utilization A company can avoid having to hire new employees by monitoring the skill sets of existing employees. For example, if you are opening a new sales division that focuses on a new family of products, then you may be able to utilize your current sales staff to provide the startup sales professionals the new group will need. The success of the new department will necessitate the need for recruiting outside representatives at some point in the future, but you can save on startup costs by utilizing existing personnel. Outsourcing The concept of outsourcing activities that are not a companys core competency is an internal business practice that affects recruiting. For example, an food processing company would hire an outside IT firm to install and administer the companys computer network because computers are not the food processing companys core competency. When companies outsource, that reduces the need for recruiting new employees. The human resources department will have to shift resources away from recruiting for the outsourced functions, and focus on supplying employment candidates for the companys core business units. Talent Pool A company reaches into its local community to satisfy employment recruiting needs. If the local talent pool changes, then the company may find it more difficult to recruit qualified candidates. For example, if other businesses start to leave the region, then the availability of jobs drops and qualified candidates begin looking for work in other parts of the country. The company is then faced with decisions that involve paying to relocate new employees or opening new locations to access new talent pools. Competition Companies within the same industry are competing for qualified candidates to ensure future growth. There is competition in the recruiting end of your business just as there is in selling products. You need to analyze what your competition is offering new employees, and try to develop a competitive package to lure in the talent that you need. Strategies to reduce the cost of Honey Buns Human Resource First priority Honey Bun could use to cut costs on its human resource, though it is somewhat of a new development for many managers and HR staff personnel, particularly if they had seen laying off staff as the only feasible means to cut cost on human resource would be, is reducing turnover. Turnover is very burdensome on the financial resources of any given company, and if management does not have sound knowledge of the actual cost of turnover, the organization may be in a situation where it is inescapable to reduce it. Another way Honey Bun could improve their human resource management and to cut cost on labour is to ensure that the HR manager designated for recruitment is efficiently trained and certified with the necessary experience in a similar scope of position in a similar company model. A database of CVs of prospective employees could be kept thus ensuring that the HR Manager spends a portion of his or her time on a weekly basis emailing prospective candidates from the searchable CV databases available on job boards. The searchable databases are what HR managers and job recruiters use every day. The company could also institute a referral / finders fee asking their own workers of prospective employees, in the manner as job agencies do. Another strategy they could utilize is to pay key staff 15% above market rates to their star employee this is a nominal strategy seeing that replacing them is 40-50% of their annual salary if you include agency fees possible lost days in training and the employee who has contributed heavily to the overall development of the company walking through the door, probably to the competition. The company could also Reduce Healthcare Costs. Of course, the most intuitive method of reducing healthcare costs involves shopping around for healthcare insurance. For example if they are using an old fashioned broker for years, the current provider of such services will be costly compared to a newer less expensive healthcare company. Before the company cuts down on healthcare offerings for its employees, they must first consider eliminating dental and vision plans. Then after they have right healthcare provider for the company, they can make adjustments to their plan to minimize costs. They should ask direct and concise information that will in turn pose to be beneficial to the company. Switching to a higher deductible health plan is not always the most popular plan amongst the companys employees but striking the right balance between deductible cost and premiums can save the company money while satisfying the needs of its employees without any lost on both parties; Honey Bun on whole should analyze who they are covering under their medical plans especially if the company is providing full insurance coverage for spouses and family members this might just be saving such expenses from competitors and driving a hole in the companies pockets by taking in unnecessary expenses of their own. A strategy most companies are utilizing is they are beginning to demand higher employee contributions for the coverage of their family members who can receive general medical coverage from through the company. Another strategy the company could use is to have the employee pay the full premium for their spouse who can receive coverage at their place of work; this will go a long way to reduce healthcare expenses. Health and Wellness programs are now becoming popular in various business organizations; today most medium and large size businesses with backgrounds in various sectors and employing between 50-85 workers are drifting towards this focus. Implementing the right wellness program for Honey Buns employees can increase employee health and happiness while decreasing costs on pending healthcare cost. Most employers are now seeing the evidence of the success of wellness programs improving their employees happiness and productivity in the workplace and the favorable reduction in money wasted dealing with various health related sicknesses of their staff thus health insurance costs can be documented and proven. Honey Bun can also reduce its cost on human resource by creating a healthy social atmosphere at the workplace as this strategy is shown to increase morale, camaraderie and increase the productivity of the employee. Many companies do this by hosting a number of social events where the employees come together to bask in each others company and share in various activities. Hosting competitive events such as sports competitions for employees can be a defining tool. This allows employees to get to know each other and have a deeper understanding of each others roles and responsibilities and have a deeper appreciation for each others welfare, a team building approach in the work environment, and overall a sense of loyalty for the company this will make them proud they work for a company that encourages its employees to have a friendly and collective approach to their work rather being individualistic in their work relations. This can be the key factor in determining whether an employee joins the company, stays grounded in a team oriented setting, or moving on the competitors company. Improving the hiring practices of Honey Bun through the HR department can save the company much money and time. This would involve analyzing all CVs for a particular candidate who will maximize his or her strengths for the overall development of the company, the first time around, the long-term relationship of the potential employee should be the most vital factor whether he or she is added to the staff at Honey Bun. A detailed, comprehensive job description should be drawn out to highlight the important aspects of the position, as well as all activities that will be under their auspices; add additional requirements for the post including activities not relevant to the post available in order to test the flexibility of the potential candidate . This will ensure that the potential employee is informed of all of their responsibilities before the interview is even conducted. By working strategically at creating a well defined job listing that quantifies the scope of the position it will most definitely yield candidates with higher quality, and thus ensures a job skill match as well. Offering competitive salaries will inevitably draw in higher quality human resource and thus rids the company of the unskilled talents and the pending cost of replacing such. Optimizing HR operations and company policies can reduce costs while increasing employee satisfaction. By offering flexible work schedules for its employees this will increase morale and productivity. If employees are working too many hours, their level of productivity will decrease throughout the day. Allowing them to switch up their hours and come in at different periods of the day will ensure that they are working at their optimum levels and are properly rested. They must be offered competitive salaries as well. If a salary offered is way below industry standards for the same level of responsibility, potential star employees will be lost to the competition. Honey Bun could also provide their employees incentives to boost productivity and encourage employees to take the extra step when trying to make a sale or ensuring quality in their work this will make every employee think twice before slacking off. Another way Honey Bun could cut cost on its human resource is by integrating HR Technology this will save time and money by eliminating costly mistakes and introducing automation to manual processes. It is important to find competent, up to date, and fully integrated software to implement. Implementing integrated time and attendance and employee scheduling software is low-hanging fruit in this department. Time and attendance software in particular has been shown to provide organizations with a significant return on investment (ROI). Reducing the risk of expensive litigation can save Honey Buns financial assets in the long run. The last thing the company would need in a recession type climate is to be sued by a former employee. The company should know the risks, and plan ahead to rid the company of legal pitfalls. Know all of the laws and regulations for the companys industry and following them rigorously. A number of people will jump at the opportunity to sue the company for large amounts of money. To avoid lawsuits, documentation must be a key player in determining the company is caught in a litigation trap; record its defenses, such as warnings given to an employee or the fact that guidelines were given and broken one should not cite concerns, criticisms, or introspects on any particular employee. Honey Bun could also reduce its cost on human resource by not allowing employees to work overtime. The workloads must be objectively and critically analyzed to evaluate the time that is required for tasks to be completed efficiently, identify streamlining opportunities, and improve proficiency amongst individual staff members. Honey Bun could also adhere to a economical phenom most companies are familiarizing themselves with which is the use of contingent workers (people who are hired, as needed, to perform specific tasks, but are not employed by the company) in other words contracted staff, Honey Bun could utilize this as a means cutting cost on human resource seeing that the level of income being paid to contracted staff is way below the market value and at the same time contracted workers are not open to benefits as fulltime staff members.

Movement :: essays research papers

Movement Seven thirty in the morning and it already is 120 degrees in the shade. Mail call brings me no news from home. The word around Camp New Jersey is that we move into Iraq at 0400 hours tomorrow morning. This means that all mail will stop for the next two weeks. My mood is destroyed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Four in the morning, I am checking my vehicles temperature as a drive out of Camp New Jersey and towards the Iraqi border. There is a news correspondent that told me he would get in touch with my family and relay any news from home, so I feel a little bit better. As the sun kisses the horizon, I see why there is such thing as religion in this world. The pink and orange stained clouds construct the most breathtaking ceiling in the horizon. For a few minutes I forget that I'm driving into a fire zone and feel as if I'm driving into the welcoming arms of some ancient God.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Eight twenty two in the morning, we are seventeen clicks into Iraq. The desert is a breathtaking sight. I can't help but think that I'm driving through the ancient kingdom of Babylon. These are the same sense that Moses crossed with millions of Jews. Molestina 2 The unforgiving landscape somehow seems defiled by this concrete and asphalt road.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nine forty two in the morning; and I see for the first time the image that would hunt my dreams for the rest of my life. There he is, a child that has not seen eight winters yet. He's begging for food on the side of the road. To him we are not the saviors of his country, or the monsters that are sure to kill his people; it's much simpler than that, to him all we are is possible meal, a chance that tonight he won't go to bed hungry. His parents are sitting in front of a small nearby hut, for them we're also a chance to eat, so they let their child continue. My thermometer reads 147 °; God only knows how hot the asphalt is under the child's bare feet.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ten thirty three and the child is far behind. We have taken several casualties in the last thirty minutes. The ambush came from nowhere. But as I lay in the ground firing at the enemy so the medics can evacuate the wounded, all I can think of is how lucky I am.

Criticism Of Diego Velàzquezs Las Meninas, Sebastiàn de Morra, and Bal

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Diego Velà  zquez was called the â€Å"noblest and most commanding man among the artists of his country.† He was a master realist, and no painter has surpassed him in the ability to seize essential features and fix them on canvas with a few broad, sure strokes. â€Å"His men and women seem to breathe,† it has been said; â€Å"his horses are full of action and his dogs of life.† Because of Velà  zquez’ great skill in merging color, light, space, rhythm of line, and mass in such a way that all have equal value, he was known as â€Å"the painter’s painter,† as demonstrated in the paintings Las Meninas, Sebastià  n de Morra, and Baltasar Carlos and a Dwarf. Las Meninas is a pictorial summary and a commentary on the essential mystery of the visual world, as well as on the ambiguity that results when different states or levels interact or are juxtaposed. The painting of The Royal Family also known as Las Meninas has always been regarded as an unsurpassable masterpiece. According to Palomino, it ‘was finished’ in 1656, and, while Velà  zquez was painting it, the King, the Queen, and the Infantas Marà ¬a Teresa and Margarita often came to watch him at work. In the painting, the painter himself is seen at the easel; the mirror on the rear wall reflects the half-length figures of Philip IV and Queen Mariana standing under a red curtain. The Infanta Margarita is in the center, attended by two Meninas, or maids of honor, Doà ±a Isabel de Velasco and Doà ±a Marà ¬a Sarmiento, who curtsy as the latter offers her mistress a drink of water in a bà ¹caro—a reddish earthen vessel –on a tray. In the right foreground st and a female dwarf, Mari-Bà  rbola, and a midget, Nicolà  s de Pertusato, who playfully puts his foot on the back of the mastiff resting on the floor. Linked to this large group there is another formed by Doà ±a Marcela de Ulloa, guardamujer de las damas de la Reina – attendant to the ladies-in-waiting—and an unidentified guardadamas, or escort to the same ladies. In the background, the aposentador, or Palace marshal, to the Queen, Don Josà ¨ Nieto Velà  zquez, stands on the steps leading into the room from the lit-up door. Las Meninas has three foci: The figure of the Infanta Margarita is the most luminous; the likeness of the Master himself is another; and the third is provided by the half-length images of the King and the Queen in the mirror on the rear wall. Velà  zquez bui... ...asting perfection and imperfection of the two little figures almost unavoidably becomes a metaphor of the social and natural order. In these royal portraits, whatever the interpretation Velà  zquez made or whatever emotional reaction he experienced he kept to himself. Royalty, courtliness of the most rigid character was his task to portray not individual personality. Through his practice of using pigment in short or long, thin or thick, apparently hasty and spontaneous but actually most skillfully calculated strokes, Velà  zquez was the precursor of the modern practice or direct painting. Bibliography Brown, Jonathan. Velà  zquez Painter and Courtier. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986. Kleiner, Fred S., Mamiya, Christin J., Tansey Richard G. Gardner’s Art Through the Ages, vol. II. Harcourt college Publishers; San Diego et al. 2001. Lopez-Rey, Josà ¨. Velà  zquez Work and World. Greenwich, Connecticut: New York Society, 1968. Internet Article: www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/velazquez/   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

What Is An American? :: essays research papers

What was an American?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Western Europeans came to America to start new lives, with new laws, a new social system but all in all to become new men. In contrast African emigrants were brought to America to tend to the needs of the settlers from Europe. They were brought over to be slaves. Each of these views are views of St Jean de Crevecoeur and Fredrick Douglass.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  St Jean de Crevecoeur, was an emigrant of Europe. Crevecoeur, had no desire to go back to the land in which his forefathers had lived. He was going to a more diverse way of living â€Å"where all races melted into new race of man.† (pg 308) He believed America was a place to go to be a free man, â€Å"who leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices and manners, that he receives new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced, the new government he obeys, and the new rank he hold.†(pg 308) Crevecoeur knew that his life as a new man would entail new ideas and new opinions. Hoping that the new laws protect him, â€Å"from involuntary idleness, servile dependence, penury and useless labor, he has passed to tolls of very different nature, rewarded by ample subsistence.† (pg 308) Crevecoeur lived the life of a free man in which he was paid for his labors, he owned land and was a farmer. His view of an American, â€Å"is a new man, who acts upo n new principles; he must therefore entertain new ideas, and form new opinions.† (pg 308)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fredrick Douglass, was an African American and owned by an American. He was taken care of in his early years by his grandmother and grandfather. Slave children were children they could play and do what most children would do. The only fear as a child was being seperated from his grandmother. Throughout, Douglass’s life he taught himself to read and to write. He became a knowledgeable man, which help him to succeed in being a free. However, Douglass did go through the trials and tribulations of being a slave. He went through the sleepless and hungry nights, and lashings. â€Å"Make a man a slave, and you rob him of moral responsibility.† (pg 191) When Douglass describes America he describes the beauties of nature and then the horrors of being a slave. â€Å"When I remembeer that all is cursed with the infernal spirit of slaveholding, robbery and wrong.

The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Seven

â€Å"It would have been difficult to find a group of settlers less suited to building a brand-new colony than the one hundred and five men who sailed up the river from the Chesapeake Bay in 1607 and founded Jamestown,† Professor Campbel lectured from the front of Elena's class. â€Å"While there were a couple of carpenters, a mason, a blacksmith, and maybe a dozen laborers among them, they were far outnumbered by the self-proclaimed gentlemen who made up almost half the party.† He paused and smiled sardonical y. â€Å"‘Gentlemen' in this case signifies men without a profession or trade. Many of them were lazy, idle men who had joined the London Company's expedition in the hope of making a profit without realizing how much work founding a colony in the New World was real y going to entail. The settlers landed in the spring, and by the end of September, half of them were dead. By January, when Captain Newport returned with supplies and more colonists, only thirty-eight of the original settlers remained.† Lazy and clueless, Elena wrote neatly in her notebook. Dead in less than a year. History of the South was her very first class, and col ege was already proving to be an eye-opening experience. Her high school teachers had always stressed courage and enterprise when they talked about Virginia's early settlers, not haplessness. â€Å"On Thursday, we'l talk about the legend of John Smith and Pocahontas. We're going to discuss the facts and how they differ from Smith's own account, as he had a tendency toward self-promotion,† Professor Campbel announced. â€Å"The reading assignment is in the syl abus, so please come prepared for a lively discussion next time.† He was a plump, energetic little man, whose smal black eyes swept the class and landed unerringly on Elena as he added, â€Å"Elena Gilbert? Please stay after class for a moment. I'd like to speak with you.† She had time to wonder, nervously, how he knew which of his students she was as the rest of the class straggled out of the room, a few stopping to ask him questions. She hadn't spoken up during his lecture, and there were about fifty students in the class. As the last of her classmates disappeared out the door, she approached his desk. â€Å"Elena Gilbert,† he said avuncularly, his bright eyes searching hers. â€Å"I do apologize for taking up your time. But when I heard your name, I had to ask.† He paused, and Elena dutiful y replied, â€Å"Had to ask what, Professor?† â€Å"I know the name Gilbert, you see,† he said, â€Å"and the more I look at you, the more you remind me of someone – two someones – who were once very dear friends of mine. Could you possibly be the daughter of Elizabeth Morrow and Thomas Gilbert?† â€Å"Yes, I am,† said Elena slowly. She ought to have expected that she might meet someone who knew her parents here at Dalcrest, but it felt weird to hear their names, al the same. â€Å"Ah!† He laced his fingers across his stomach and gave her a satisfied smile. â€Å"You look so much like Elizabeth. It startled me when you came into the room. But there's a touch of Thomas in you, too, make no mistake about that. Something about your expression, I think. Seeing you takes me right back to my own days as an undergraduate. She was a lovely girl, your mother, just lovely.† â€Å"You went to school here with my parents?† Elena asked. â€Å"I certainly did.† Professor Campbel ‘s smal black eyes widened. â€Å"They were two of my best friends here. Two of the best friends I ever had. We lost track of each other over the years, I'm afraid, but I heard about the accident.† He unlaced his fingers and hesitantly touched her arm. â€Å"I'm so sorry.† â€Å"Thank you.† Elena bit her lip. â€Å"They never talked much about their col ege years. Maybe as I got older, they would have†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her voice trailed off, and she realized with dismay that her eyes had fil ed with tears. â€Å"Oh, my dear, I didn't mean to upset you.† Professor Campbel patted his jacket pockets. â€Å"And I've never got a tissue when I need one. Oh, please don't cry.† His comical expression of distress made Elena give him a watery-eyed smile, and he relaxed and smiled in return. â€Å"There, that's better,† he said. â€Å"You know, if you'd like to hear more about your parents and what they were like back then, I'd be happy to tel you about them. I've got al kinds of stories.† â€Å"Real y?† Elena said hopeful y. She felt a flicker of excitement. Aunt Judith talked with Elena about her mother sometimes, but the memories she shared were mostly from their childhood. And Elena real y didn't know much about her father's past at al : he'd been an only child and his parents were dead. â€Å"Certainly, certainly,† Professor Campbel said cheerful y. â€Å"Come to my office hours, and I'l tel you al about our hijinks back in the old days. I'm there every Monday and Friday from three to five, and I'l put out a welcome mat for you. Metaphorical y speaking, of course. Serve you some of the horrible department coffee.† â€Å"Thank you, Professor Campbel ,† Elena said. â€Å"I'd love that.† â€Å"Cal me James,† he said. â€Å"It's nothing at al . Anything I can do to make you feel at home here at Dalcrest.† He cocked his head to one side and looked at her quizzical y, his eyes as bright and curious as a smal animal's. â€Å"After al , as the daughter of Elizabeth and Thomas, you must be a very special girl.† The big black crow outside the open lecture-room window paced back and forth, clenching and unclenching its powerful talons around the branch on which it was perched. Damon wanted to transform back into his vampire self, climb through the window, and have a quick but effective interrogation session with that professor. But Elena wouldn't like that. She was so naive, dammit. Yes, yes, she was his lovely, bril iant, clever princess, but she was ridiculously naive, too; they al were. Damon irritably preened his ruffled feathers back into iridescent sleekness. They were just so young. At this point, Damon was able to look back and say that no one learned anything in life, not for her first hundred years or so. You had to be immortal, real y, to have the time to learn to look out for yourself properly. Take Elena, gazing so trustful y at her professor. After al she'd been through, al she'd seen, she was so easy to lul into complacency – al the man had to do was dangle the promise of information about her parents in front of her, and she'd happily trot off to meet him in his office whenever he suggested. Sentimental ninny. What could the man possibly tel her that would be of any real importance? Nothing could bring her parents back. The professor wasn't a danger, most likely. Damon had probed him with his Power, felt nothing but the flickering of a human mind, no dark surge of answering Power coming from the little man, no sWellof disturbing or violent emotion. But he couldn't be sure, could he? Damon's Power couldn't detect every monster, couldn't predict every twist of the human heart. But the real problem here was Elena. She'd forgotten, clearly, that she'd lost al her Power, that the Guardians had stripped her back to being just a vulnerable, fragile mortal girl again. She thought, wrongly, that she could protect herself. They were al like that. Damon had been infuriated at first to slowly realize that he was starting to feel like al of them were his humans. Not just his lovely Elena and the little redbird, but all of them, the witch Mrs. Flowers and the hunter and that meathead of a boy as Well. Those last two didn't even like him, but he felt compel ed to keep an eye on them, to prevent them from damaging themselves through their innate stupidity. Damon wasn't the one who wanted to be here. No, the â€Å"let's al join hands and dance off to further our educations together† idea wasn't his, and he'd treated it with the proper scorn. He wasn't Stefan. He wasn't going to waste his time pretending to be one of the mortal children. But he had found, to his dismay, that he didn't want to lose them, either. It was embarrassing. Vampires were not pack animals, not like humans. He wasn't supposed to care what happened to them. These children should be prey, and nothing more. But being dead and coming back, fighting the jealousy phantom and letting go of the sick envy and misery that had held him captive ever since he was a human, had changed Damon. With that hard bal of hate gone from the middle of his chest, where it had lived for so long, he found himself feeling lighter. Almost as if he †¦ cared. Embarrassing or not, it felt surprisingly comfortable, having this connection to the little group of humans. He'd have died – again – rather than admit it aloud, though. He clacked his beak a few times as Elena said good-bye to her professor and left the classroom. Then Damon spread his wings and flapped down to a tree next to the building's entrance. Nearby, a thin young man was posting a flyer with a girl's picture on another tree, and Damon flew over to get a closer look. Missing Student, the top of the flyer said, and below the picture were details of a nighttime disappearance: no clues, no leads, no evidence, no idea where nineteen-year-old Taylor Harrison might be. Suspicion of foul play. The promise of a reward from her anxious family for information leading to her safe return. Damon let out a rough caw. There was something wrong here. He'd known it already – had felt something a little off about this campus as soon as he'd arrived two days ago, although he hadn't been able to quite put his finger on it. Why else would he have been so worried about his princess? Elena came out of the building and started across the quad, tucking her long golden hair behind her ears, oblivious to the black crow that swooped from tree to tree above her. Damon was going to find out what was going on here, and he was going to do it before whatever it was touched any of his humans. Especial y Elena.

Evidence Based Practice Essay

Examine the ways that health professionals can use the five steps of evidence-based practice (EBP) as a practical framework to overcoming barriers to locating, appraising and applying best research evidence. Use an occupational health and safety practice as an example. Examples of occupational health and safety practices include:   Use of professional protective equipment (e.g. gloves)   Safety considerations when using equipment (e.g. sharps)   (or a topic you select yourself in negotiation with your LIC) Health professionals are very good at seeking information from their clients and their families and also from the settings in which they work but however they have not been as aware of the information that they can gain from research. Although they need information from many sources, evidence based practice shows how research can also play a role in informing clinical decisions, (Hoffmann ,2010). Health professionals use the five steps of evidence-based practice (EBP) as a structure to overcoming barriers and applying best research. Examples of this include use of professional protective equipment and safety considerations when using equipment. Liamputtong (2010) states that evidence based practice is a â€Å"process that requires the practitioner to find empirical evidence about the effectiveness or efficacy of different treatment options and then determine the relevance of the evidence to a particular clients situation† (pp. 252). Sackett (1996, pp.71) states that â€Å"conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individuals patients. The practice of evidence based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external evidence from systematic research, and the more thoughtful identification and compassionate use of individual patients’ predicaments, rights and preferences.† The purpose of evidence-based practice is to assist in clinical decision-making. To make informed clinical decisions, we need to integrate lots of pieces of information, (Hoffmann ,2010). EBP reduces inconsistency in practice and increa ses efficiency and effectiveness, and therefor has been accepted by the government and funding bodies as essential to better health care. (Liamputtong, 2010). Evidence based practice has 5 steps. The first step is to convert your information needs into an answerable clinical question. The process of EBP begins with the recognition that as a health professional, have clinical information need, these types of clinical information needs can be answered with assistance of research evidence. After converting your information into clinical questions, you then need to find the best evidence to answer your clinical question, and then upon finding the evidence, you will need to critically appraise it. This means you need to examine the evidence closely to determine whether its worthy of being used to inform your clinical practice. There are 3 main aspects of the evidence that need to be appraised; Internal validity – refers to whether the evidence is trustworthy, impact – health professionals need to determine the impact of the evidence and applicability – this means to evaluate whether you can apply the results of the study to your client. The fourth step is to integrate the evidence with clinical expertise, the clients values and circumstances, and information from the practice context. The final step consists of evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency with which steps 1-4 were carried out and think about ways to improve your performance of them next time. (Hoffmann ,2010, pp.4) Evidence based practice is important because it aims to provide the most effective care that is available, with the aim of improving client outcomes. It is also important because when an individual seeks health care from a health professional, you would expect that they would provide you with most effective care and the most accurate health care information. It is also important because it reduces inconsistency in practice and increases efficiency and effectiveness. (Liamputtong ,2010, pp.253). Evidence based practice promotes an attitude of inquiry in health professionals and gets people thinking about things like ‘Why am I doing this in this way? , Is there evidence that can guide me to do this more effective way?. The most important role-played is that in ensuring that health resources are used wisely and that relevant evidence is considered when decisions are made about funding health services. Evidence-based practice provides a critical strategy to ensure that care is up t o date and that it reflects the latest  research evidence. In summary, it is important because it results in better patient outcomes, it contributes to the science of nursing, it increases confidence in decision-making and policies and procedures are current and include the latest research. (Suzanne ,2006 pp. 8) Some safety considerations, prevention and control measures include hand hygiene; the health professionals checking that all their patients’ hands and fingernails are clean. Health professionals must always perform hand hygiene rules before and after each contact with client/patient or any contact with environmental surfaces near the client/patient. Another consideration is all personal protective equipment is to be removed/discarded before leaving the room of a patient who is suspected of having a infection. Health professionals know these health/safety measures are effective because of study and previous research. (Hoffman, 2010) They can firstly convert them into questions; for example – what equipment will best prev ent myself from coming into contact with any infection?, from there research is done. Health professionals then apply this knowledge in the workplace and see whether it’s an effective method or not. The barriers that prevent nurses from using research include; lack of value for research in practice, difficulty in changing practice, lack of administration support, lack of knowledgeable mentors, insufficient time to conduct research, lack of education about the research process, complexity of research reports and difficulty accessing research reports and articles. Another barrier is also the insufficient fund supply. (Suzanne , 2006 pp. 10) A facilitating factor is that the organisation should support staff to practice evidence based practice by allocating time for individuals to pursue it. Newhouse (2007). Limitations consist of low response rate, health professionals passionate either positively or negatively more likely to respond and also the self reporting to assess knowledge, skills and attitudes may resulted in inflated or underestimated scores. â€Å"Systematic reviews may be of varying kinds, but all are based on rigorous protocols† (Liamputtong, 2010) In conclusion health professionals seek information from patients/clients but  they also turn a blind eye to the information that they can gain form research unintentionally. They do this by using the 5-step mechanism of evidence-based practice to overcome barriers and to find the most valid and reliable information. Examples of this consist of use of professional protective equipment and safety considerations such as disposing sharps after use. Reference list Liamputtong (2010). Research methods in health (2nd ed.) Australia: Oxford University Hoffmann (2010). Evidence based practice. Australia: Sunalie Silva Suzanne (2006) Evidence based practice in nursing. Australia: Mary Jo Newhouse (2007) Evidence based practice. Monash University : Gulzar Malik Vernel, E. (2011, December 9). Developing evidence based practice among students. Retrieved from http://www.nursingtimes.net/developing-evidence-based-practice-among-students/5038920.article

Electric Field

Name ____________________________________Electric Fields Go to http://phet. colorado. edu/simulations/sims. php? sim=Electric_Field_Hockey and click on Run Now. 1. You rub balloons in your hair and then hang them like in the picture below. Explain why you think they move apart and what might affect how far apart they get. A balloon becomes negatively charged when it is rubbed on a person’s hair.This occurs because all the protons and neutrons leave the balloon and attach to other objects such as the hair. If two balloons both have negative charges then both balloons will repel each other because same charges repel while opposites attract. 2. Test your ideas using Electric Field Hockey in the Practice mode. Make a table to record your observations about what affects the direction and speed of the puck. Your table should demonstrate that you have run controlled tests with all the variables. Charges introduced |Effects on positive charge repulsion | |Positive |Repel | |Negative |Attract | Charges introduced |Effects on positive charge speed | |Positive |Close to charge=Increasing repulsion speed | | |Far from charge= decreasing repulsion speed | |Negative |Close to charge=Increasing attraction speed | | Far from charge= decreasing attraction speed | 3. Reflect on your ideas from question #1 and your data from question #2. How do your observations support, dispute or add to your ideas about what affects how charged bodies interact? The data collected helps support my claims that like charges repel each other while opposites attract. In the case of the balloons both balloons are negative there for repelling each other. 4. As you put charges onto the playing area, arrows appear on the puck. †¢ What do you think the arrows on the puck are illustrating?The arrows illustrate the movement of the pucks as well as velocity. †¢ How do the arrows from the positive charges compare and contrast to the ones from the negative balls? The positive charges seem to repel the puck while the negatives attract. †¢ Investigate how you can use the arrows to predict the motion of the puck. 5. Write an explanation of how you can predict the motion of a charged hockey puck that is moved by other charged pucks. Explain using examples and drawings that include: †¢ How to use free body diagrams and vector addition. †¢ How negative and positive charges compare and contrast.

Old Major’s speech analysis Essay

In the novel â€Å"Animal Farm† by George Orwell Old Major, the pig, gives a speech, in which he uses a variety of technics in order to convince the other animals that only rebellion will lead to their freedom. Old Major’s second paragraph (page 15) is about facing the reality, showing the misery they live through and foretelling them their end how they will be slaughtered when they can not fulfil their duty anymore. By this truth Old Major catches the animals’ attention and stirs up their fury feelings towards humans. Furthermore, he creates unity among the animals. Not only with his repeated address â€Å"comrades† but with pronouns such as â€Å"we, our and us†. The result is sympathy and respect, which Old Major gains. His tone seems very strict and factual due to the harsh words he intends to use, supported by the repetition of colons. Mostly effective are, however, the rhetorical devices found in his speech. At first he asks rhetorical questio ns, for example: â€Å"What is the nature of this life of ours?†. By involving his audience he makes sure that he is followed in his ideas and lets the other animals get active in thinking. Moreover, the paragraph includes a triad consisting of â€Å"our lives are miserable, laborious, and short†. This rhythm builds tension and sets the animals on even higher mutiny. By close inspection one will find the use of alliteration illustrated by â€Å"breath in our bodies†. Here again the smoothness and therefore the resulting rightness of Old Major’s words. In addition, he makes use of figurative language. The metaphor â€Å"those of us who are capable of it are forced to work to the last atom of our strength† is an example for the strong imagery Old Major creates to assure the others of their wrong treatment by their farmer. The anaphora near the end of the paragraph starting two following sentences with â€Å"No animal in England†¦Ã¢â‚¬  brings out the importance of the repeated sentence structure, leading to the animals’ actual right of happiness and freedom. Finally, Old Major contrasts negative vocabulary including â€Å"misery, slavery and cruelty† with positive ones such as â€Å"happiness and freedom†. The huge different sound ings of these words create hope upon all the animals and let them think that they deserve better.

Drugs for off-label use Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Drugs for off-label use - Essay Example The use of off-label drugs is most common among oncology and pediatric patients due to the lack of appropriate medicines and therapies. In certain circumstances, the use of off-label medicines proved beneficial for children, especially when all the approved medicines fail to bring the desired results as in the case of cancer. American Cancer Society reveals that some of the chemotherapy medicines are approved for one type of cancer but it has the potential to cure the other types of tumors. Other example of beneficial use of off-label medicine is Beta-blockers. FDA approved it for the patients of high blood pressure but it proved in curing heart diseases also. But before prescribing the off-label drugs, it is the duty of medical practitioners to inform the parents or guardians of children about this very fact; and reveal the side effects that may occur. They should also inform the alternative remedies available with them. Besides, medical practitioners should inform the company or relevant medical authority about the adverse effects, if they occur. In the case of United States vs. Evers, the court even authorizes a medical practitioner to use off-label drugs if they were not contraindicated (Fauber, 2012). Some off-label drugs require extra care and attention when use in Pediatrics. Example includes diazepam rectal solution in children under 1 year (not licensed for age group), amiloride tablets in any children (formulation), or rectal injection of lorazepam for a child with an acute seizure (route). An example of unlicensed use is the preparation of a suspension from a tablet by the hospital

Obama was right to call for national conversation on race Essay - 1

Obama was right to call for national conversation on race - Essay Example The situation is openly apparent, but it is manifested in sections of society and governance structures that are bias towards some races and ethnicities. The most apparent cases of racial discrimination are exhibited by systems within existing governance structures and the implementation of policy. An example is during the hurricane Katrina incident where government intervention and response was criticized for being below par. This is attributed to the fact that the area that was adversely affected by the devastating hurricane comprised of minority African Americans thus; the governments illustrated prejudice in its reaction to the plight of these affected people. This paper seeks to present an analysis on whether Americans need a national conversation on race. The race issue in the US is exacerbated by the fact that slavery was an already established societal norm that permeated the American culture and traditions. Racism in the US is manifested through various aspects, and it is an apparent phenomenon that those who suffer racism belong to a certain racial background. African Americans have suffered the most severe manifestation of racism because they represent the foundation upon which the issue of race is founded in the US. Majority of slaves in the slavery days were of African origin who were considered second class human beings wherever they went in almost every part of the world where slavery was practiced. Advocacy and campaigning for an end to slavery was met with a lot of resistance because the white enslavers saw this as a threat to their source of cheap labor. African Americans have carried this adage of being second class citizens into the 21st century albeit a bit subdued, but the existence of these should not be ignored. The accomplishments of the Civil Rights Movement have worked to establish African Americans as equal members of the US society. Open racism against African Americans is rarely seen or experienced, but it still does exist in vario us aspects of American society and life. The recent Trayvon Martin incident and case in an American court serves to depict that racism is still an emotive issue in American society. This issue comes to the fore every time an African American is involved in an altercation of the law alongside an individual of another race especially a white person. The ruling on Trayvon Martin’s case brought the race issue to the fore especially after president Obama commented on the issue. Obama’s direct reference to the race issue with regard to the Trayvon Martin case illustrated his unique position as bi-racial president to address the race issue and introduce a dialogue in America concerning race. Obama’s prose about race in America elicited diverse views with some citing it as an appropriate moment in his presidency for him to address the issue. Other people saw Obama’s foray into the race during Trayvon Martin’s murder trial as an attempt to boost his approva l ratings amongst the minority groups. The negative criticism Obama received for introducing the race angel in the case should not been. This is because it is his place as an African American president to address the race issue which is in his docket as other before him addressed issues that had affected them personally. According to Gerson, previous presidents had addressed issues t