Artistic Shifts During the The Kamakura Period - 698 Words

In Japan during the Kamakura period, a shift in sculpture towards realism occurred and a new school of sculpture called the Kei School emerged. Stylistic influence from China’s Song Dynasty was apparent and realistic portrait sculpture also developed at this time. The Kamakura Period in Japan existed between 1192-1333 C.E. It began when Minamoto Yoritomo emerged victorious from the civil war that had plagued the country for years. Instead of claiming the throne himself, he created the title of Shogun meaning â€Å"great general†. While the shoguns were to serve the emperors in theory, they held the true power from where they ruled in Kamakura. This also caused a shift in Buddhism itself. Previously, it had been the religion of the aristocracy, but the Kamakura period saw the rise of several new forms of Buddhism that were accessible to all social classes. Artistically, sculptural works were predominantly created out of wood and occasionally bronze, and a new school of Buddhist sculpture called the Kei School, which had a greater emphasis on realism, rose to dominance. The Kei School rose to prominence under a very important sculptor of the early Kamakura period named Unkei. Unkei was the son of the successful sculptor Kokei. His style strove to be more realistic than sculptors of previous eras. He was commissioned, along with fellow sculptor Kaikei, by the shogunate to produce statues of the Heavenly Kings for the TÃ… daiji Temple. These statues showcased his realistic andShow MoreRelatedContemporary Issues in Management Accounting211377 Words   |  846 PagesWeld but has also witnessed extensions outside its established realms of activity. Wider systemic transformations including changes in political regimes, novel conceptions of management controls, the impact of globalizing forces on commercial aVairs, shifts in notions of eVective knowledge management, governance, and ethics, and technological advances, including the rise of broadband, have all impacted management accounting endeavours. The Weld is today, as fast-changing as it has ever bee n. This book

Abortion It’s Your Choice Free Essays

Abortion is a controversial topic around the world. There are two groups when talked about when discussing this topic: pro-life and pro-choice. People believing in pro-life want to make abortion illegal. We will write a custom essay sample on Abortion: It’s Your Choice or any similar topic only for you Order Now They believe it is not only wrong, but is cruel to kill an unborn child. It also can be harmful to the mother.Dorothy Shaw, president-elect of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) is quoted in the article â€Å"Unsafe Abortions Kill Thousands of Women, Experts Say† by Kuala Lumpar calming â€Å"Unsafe abortion is a serious public health problem for women, accounting for 13 percent of all maternal deaths globally each year (1). Kuala Lumpar of the Agence France Presse [a French newspaper] goes on to state â€Å"Some 70,000 women worldwide die from unsafe abortions each year while many more suffer serious injuries, especially in poor countries†¦(1)† These are both valid points; but what if a woman is raped and becomes pregnant, if there is a fatal problem with the unborn child, or if the mother becomes fatally ill? If abortions became illegal families would be left with nothing but heartache and sorrow for something that can ultimately b e fixed. Women of rape cases have every right to an abortion if they choose.Why should they have to keep a baby that was made with a man that they never wanted to sleep with in the first place? According to Bioethicist Andrew Varga, â€Å"It is also said that a pregnancy caused by rape or incest is the result of a grave injustice and that the victim should not be obliged to carry the fetus to viability. This would keep reminding her for nine months of the violence committed against her and would just increase her mental anguish (1). † As Varga states, the child would be a constant reminder to the mother of the pain and violence that she went through.If abortion was to become illegal, women would have to keep a child that was made out of fear. And what if that woman didn’t want children, or wasn’t ready for a child at that point in her life? She shouldn’t have to keep a child that she never planned on in the first place. Although rape is a horrible part of life, caring a child with sever deformities or fatal diseases can be a far worse tragedy to go through. Many women conceive children with deformities or find out that their child is a victim of a terrible disease every day. It should be their choice to keep the child or to terminate the pregnancy.Having a child with a deformity is a lot of work that some people just aren’t ready for or wouldn’t be able to handle. It would be worse for them to actually keep the child and not be able to care for it the right way as opposed to terminating the pregnancy while the fetus is still mostly undeveloped. Or what if the child has a horrible fatal disease and won’t live more then a few weeks or even months. Why should the parents have to go through all of that heartbreak and pain, become attached to their child, and then lose him/her in such a short period of time?Andrea Peyser’s editorial in the New York Post describes a horrifying story of abortion of a woman named Ilene Jaroslaw. Mrs. Jaroslaw received a routine sonogram in her 17th week of pregnancy which showed that her unborn child had one hundred percent fatal brain abnormality â€Å"Half of them die before birth†¦ of the other half that survive, they live a few hours or weeks, maybe months†¦ After the horrific news, Ilene learned that her only chance to have another baby – and spare her kids the agony of a birth followed by a funeral – was to have an abortion. 1)† Sometimes the only way to make life better is to have an abortion and save the family from having to go through a birth and death in a matter of weeks. Abortions are sometimes needed when there is a deformity with the child; however, they are also needed if the mother’s health is jeopardized. Some women discover late in their pregnancy that there is a fatal problem with their child, which will inevitably have an effect on the mother, possibly even becoming fatal. Molly Ginty describes the story of a woman by the name of Tammy Watts.In her eighth month of her planned pregnancy, Tammy received a routine ultrasound. She couldn’t wait to meet her first child. During her ultrasound, Tammy discovered that her child had â€Å"Trisomy 13, a chromosomal abnormality that causes severe deformities and carries no hope of survival (1). † Because her child was already dying and her life was at stake, Tammy received a late term abortion. If it weren’t for that abortion Tammy most likely wouldn’t be alive and neither would her daughter Savvy, her daughter after the abortion.It’s in times like these that abortions are very much needed for women. If they are not received many more women will lose their lives. Overall, abortion is a horrible thing. However, there are many circumstances where one is needed. It should be up to the mother weather or not she wants an abortion for any of the reasons stated above. It shouldn’t be made illegal. Abortions do, believe it or not, save not only woman’s lives, but they also save families from falling apart.Works Cited Ginty, Molly M. â€Å"Late-Term Abortion Saved These Women’s Lives. † Women’s ENews. 28 Oct. 2004. 27 Apr. 2007 . Haine, Tom. â€Å"Pro-Choice and Women’s Health. † The Daily Princetonian 14 Dec. 2006. 25 Apr. 2007 . Lumpar, Kuala. â€Å"Unsafe Abortions Kill Thousands of Women, Experts Say. † Agence France Presse 06 Nov. 2006. 27 Apr. 2007 . Peyser, Andrea. â€Å"Not Pro-Choice or Anti-Choice But Sad Choice. † The New York Post. 9 Nov. 2006. 25 Apr. 2007 Varga, Andrew. Christian Answers. Apr. 1991. 27 Apr. 2007 . How to cite Abortion: It’s Your Choice, Papers

Characteristics and Traits of Entrepreneurs

Question: Discuss about the Characteristics and Traits of Entrepreneurs. Answer: Introduction One of the core characteristics of successful entrepreneurs is their desire to achieve, besides in making money. According to Eugen Burdus, entrepreneur motivation is more complex, expressing the first urge to go further, (Johnson, Freeman, and Staudenmaier, 2015) Entrepreneurs with this particular regard the money only as a confirmation of their success. As Professor Bowden remarks, although Prince is mostly motivated by competitiveness, he likes to succeed where the stakes are high -, his actions are underpinned by a philosophy of service to the community (Lerner and Watson, 2008) Research has revealed that willingness to assume responsibilities is fundamental to entrepreneurship and complements desire to achieve. Successful entrepreneurs are driven to control their resources to meet their objectives. He does not know what drives him Prince is incredibly ambitious; in Professor Bowden view Prince is not like most people in business; who keep their earnings to spend in future; he wants to spend his money now as he earns it. (O'Shaughnessy, 2015) Analysis of Entrepreneur Characteristics while Linking them to Dr. Sam Prince (Aileron, 2013) States that resiliency is an essential skill for a successful entrepreneur. It enables the contractor to keep going despite the difficulties of business. Some bow out due to pressure; some bail, others are put down by unseen dimensions and fire wrongly, not recognizing how or when they misplaced the light (Prince, p 5). Prince cannot merely resign; he can do a lot of things because he has fascinated a group of people who are talented to hang around him. There are almost three hundred people employed in his many operations. (Fried and Tauer, 2015). Entrepreneurs tend to be risk takers. Prince intends to open up more than thirty eateries. It seems like a huge risk. However, the fact that this new venture is a risk does not deter him. However, the risk taking is usually the start of disaster in an entrepreneurial setting. Successful entrepreneurs understand how to measure the balance between risk and reward Having the restaurants grow organically from profits instead of from debt is his way of taking a calculated risk (Levy, 2014). Eugen Burdus describes the vision, as another trait of successful entrepreneurs. The entrepreneur can realize future opportunities instead of pondering over past successes or failures, (p 35). The idea of opening an eatery hit Prince as he was employed as a cook in a hotel of Mexican heritage to earn money to pay for medical school. He predicted that Mexican grills would grow in popularity in the US. He was able to take advantage of the opportunity the lack of nutritious and decadent Mexican food sourced locally. His vision led him to start an eating place in Canberra with $10,000 venture. According to (und, 98) Tenacity is yet another characteristic of successful entrepreneurs. Giving up is just not an option. You should keep going against the odds and be able to pick yourself up after every knockdown and continue as if nothing happened. Professor Bowden expresses in his remarks that he has no doubts Sam will endure the criticism and questions about his motives. Only then will be able to acquire valid paradigm for Aboriginal Health which will apply to the different societies in Australia (Kim and Howard, 2005) Aileron realizes self-reflection as an important entrepreneurial skill. It is important to get time to reflect on the past and make plans for the future. Allowing you time to reflect which ensures the avoidance of a physical or emotional burnout. Due to the number of hours Prince puts in for work each week, he integrates his labor and plays. He admits to being afraid of burning out because for the past ten years he has been sleeping for four hours daily. (p 5). Major Boundaries or Challenges in Social Entrepreneurship Sam Prince identifies three major lessons he learns from the challenges he encountered in his endeavors in social entrepreneurship. The first is having a clear understanding of what constitutes of fundamental human right and what you believe is a basic human responsibility. Then one has to conduct their business ethically without any Political, financial or religious gain. Finally, it is important that one be in charge of a corporation involved with aid, in a similar manner as one would an enterprise. Discussed below are other challenges involved in running a social enterprise (Toivonen, 2015) Jo Barraket recognizes resourcing and finance as one of the challenges faced in running a social enterprise. Although many social enterprises do not need external capital access to resources and suitable form of external financing is a challenge. We see the communal economics and influence investing market in Australia as undeveloped and controlled by a need for supply, with little proof of it reacting effectually to the sourcing wants of communal projects(Tan and Yoo, 2014) Policy and advocacy are yet other challenges that social enterprises face when running. According to Barraket, we view modern clear strategy gadgets as inhibitors of the societal invention. Partakers observed the absence of synchronized policy activism as an opposition to the social endeavor discipline in Australia. Finally, he states that social enterprises face the challenge of staffing. Participants acknowledged an increasing awareness in an occupation that is based on values as an opening for appealing personnel to public business. Nonetheless, they additionally saw recruitment problems relate to acquiring workers with compulsory hybrid aptitude groups; altering staff profiles as collective organizations developed, and restrictions in enticements to draw the right employees. All successful entrepreneurs possess the particular skills and characteristics mentioned in the discussion. Sams motivation and resilience must be the reason why his businesses are doing well and displaying great strides in expanding. Despite the challenges he faces in running his businesses he is still able to persevere and work towards solving the problems he encounters every day. Conclusion In conclusion, the researchs objective is to explain the entrepreneur tendencies and attributes and also contains contemporary trends of a social businessman. It is an anamnesis of a business person.Dr. Sam Prince; a doctor and additionally, his passion is to operate a Mexican restaurant called Zambrano. As well he takes the time to tend to those people who have Scabies. He explains that the task of making scabies extinct from East Arnhem Land is a highly complex job and one has an impression that an accessible resource of more capital will resolve an amalgam set back that is as much a regular subject a medicinal one (Fecher, Chaves and Monzon, 2012). It is evident that Prince Works for the remarkable amount of hours weekly, but for his hard work and play amalgamate. Prince places the excitement of other people to get alarmed after him trying his aspirations on his sleeves. He says that by a strength of entitlement and says, I desire to partake in this and be free about it, this mann er. He thinks that there are such heaps of people who can assist you. We were subsisting a scarcity of concepts where we suppose theres one individual in the world who can help you to attain your dream (Volery, Mueller Siemens, 2013). References Fecher, F., Chaves, R., and Monzon, J. (2012). Introduction: Recent Trends In Social Economy Research.Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, 83(3), pp.251-258. Fried, H. and Tauer, L. (2015). An entrepreneur performance index.Journal of Productivity Analysis. Johnson, S., Freeman, M. and Staudenmaier, P. (2015). Manic tendencies are not related to being an entrepreneur, intending to become an entrepreneur, or succeeding as an entrepreneur.Journal of Affective Disorders, 173, pp.154-158. Kim and Howard E. Aldrich, P. (2005). Social Capital and Entrepreneurship.FNT in Entrepreneurship, 1(2), pp.55-104. Lerner, J. and Watson, B. (2008). The public venture capital challenge: the Australian case.Venture Capital, 10(1), pp.1-20. Levy, S. (2014). Marketing on the couch: Sidney and psychoanalysis.Marketing Theory, 15(1), pp.9-12. O'Shaughnessy, J. (2015). Note on the marginalizing of psychoanalysis in marketing.Marketing Theory, 15(1), pp.17-19. Tan, W. and Yoo, S. (2014). Social Entrepreneurship Intentions of Nonprofit Organizations.Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, 6(1), pp.103-125. Toivonen, T. (2015). What is the Social Innovation Community? Conceptualizing an Emergent Collaborative Organization.Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, pp.1-25. Volery, T., Mueller, S., and von Siemens, B. (2013). Entrepreneur ambidexterity: A study of entrepreneur behaviors and competencies in growth-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises.International Small Business Journal, 33(2), pp.109-129.

Shelby Steel interview with Bill Moyers

Strategies to incorporate when engaged in a strong discussion A discussion refers to a situation where two parties are involved in a conversation about a particular topic with the intention of getting more insight about the topic. Both parties normally prepare for the event so that once it starts the flow will not be interrupted. All the parties are expected to contribute to the topic and share the ideas they have (Ur 56).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Shelby Steel interview with Bill Moyers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Preparation is, therefore, important as it ensures that any question that may arise will be tackled without any hesitation. A discussion may get intense and deep such that it requires some techniques to be able to get through it successfully. Some of the strategies that one may employ under these circumstances are discussed below. The first strategy is to maintain ones composure. It is very important to be composed throughout the discussion. This will ensure that a person is able to respond promptly and accurately to any question that may be subjected to him/her. Composure also increases the confidence of a person. It ensures that the manner in which the discussion is carried out will be in order. Composure will also aid in ensuring that the discussion will be carried out to completion. If one is not composed, he/she may end up aborting the discussion prematurely (Ur 57). The second strategy is to ensure that one is prepared enough for the topic to be discussed. Adequate and wide research about the topic to be discussed needs to be conducted before one goes for the discussion. Preparation ensures that one is able to respond to any situation appropriately. It also ensures that even if the discussion becomes heated, the parties are still able to give sensible responses and they do not overreact. Adequate preparation also ensures that the parties expect all sorts of quest ions during the discussion thus preventing any feeling of discomfort during the discussion. This situation may arise if questions which the parties participating in the discussion had not prepared for come up. Shelby Steele’s perspective about affirmative action Firstly, Shelby believes that there are bargainers and challengers. The challengers are the groups of people who when they consider someone to be a racist will keep this belief until the person proves themselves otherwise. On the other hand, the bargainers are those who decide to cope with the racists so long as they keep their racist behavior to themselves. Shelby felt that the racist behavior of the whites was inherent and could be eliminated completely within a short time.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More He considered that not all the whites were racists as perceived by other people. He also said that the white s had an obligation to the blacks and this might be attributed to the struggles that were inflicted on the blacks by the whites. He said that change would not be instantaneous although measures were taken to ensure that happened. He also went on to say that the pretence between both the blacks and the whites would make the quest for affirmative action drag for a long time. The perspective of Shelby about affirmative action is not correct according to my view. The fact that he believes that affirmative action will not be achieved in the near future has no base and is incorrect. Enormous efforts are being made to ensure that affirmative action is implemented. This together with the cooperation of both the whites and the blacks will ensure that the racist behavior is eliminated within the minimum possible time. Works Cited Ur, Penny. Discussions that Work. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981. Print. This essay on Shelby Steel interview with Bill Moyers was written and submitted by user Emmy P. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Elvis death essays

Elvis' death essays Most people know that the king of rock n roll was Elvis Presley, but do they know when he died? On August 16, 1977, at 3:30 PM he was pronounced dead, due to a heart attack, according to the Washington Post. He accomplished many things in music, some that people never would have thought of. At the age of 42 he was at the peak of his career, or so he thought. What did the doctors say? What did his fans say? How big of a surprise was it? All of these questions are asked regarding Elvis death, and the answers are as follows. First, a little background on his accomplishments as a singer. Through his whole career, he sold more than 500 million records worldwide and made 33 films. He was a millionaire living in his Graceland Mansion behind locked gates. He had more money then anyone could ever dream of having. Elvis appealed mostly to young people living in the 1950s, and influenced their whole way of life including the way they dressed, the way they behaved, and their attitude. He was recognized all over the world as the creator of rock n roll by almost everyone. Although, people like Jackie Gleason said, he cant last....... he wont be popular for long. Others like former Beatle John Lennon said that he will live forever and his music will never die. Finally a comment from Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys said, his voice was a total miracle in the music business. Many people liked Elvis, very few did not. So, how did Elvis Presley die at the age of 42? According to Dr. Jerry Francisco, an autopsy, done on August 16, showed that he died of cardiac arrhythmia, which he described as a severely irregular heartbeat and just another name for a form of heart attack. The autopsy was three hours long and reportedly uncovered no sign of any other diseases and no sign of drug abuse. Althoug...

Anne Frank Essays - Women In World War II, Stateless People

Anne Frank Audrey Strickland On June 12, 1929, at 7:30 A.M. a baby girl was born in Frankfurt, Germany. No one realized that this infant, who was Jewish, was destined to become one of the world?s most famous victims of World War II. Her name was Anne Frank, and her parents were Edith Frank Hollandar and Otto Frank. She had one sister, Margot, who was three years older than she was. Anne led a happy and normal childhood, and on her 13th birthday she received a diary from her parents. It became special to her as years went by. It is through this diary that much about World War II and Anne?s life has been learned. In 1933, her and her family left Frankfurt, a large Jewish community, and settled in Amsterdam. Her father foresaw that Hitler?s power boded disaster for the Jews. In May 1940, the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands took place, which cast a shadow on Anne?s happy childhood. The situation became worse with the restrictions placed on the Jews. One restriction was that Jewish children were only allowed at Jewish schools. Anne went to the Jewish school called The Jewish Lyceum. In July 1942, Anne?s family went into hiding in the Prinsengracht building. Anne?s family called it the ?Secret Annex?. During these times people they knew like, Miep and Jan Gies and many others, brought the family?s food. You would have to be very brave to take on a job like that because, if you got caught you could be killed. Life in the Annex was not easy at all. Anne had to wake up at 6:45 A.M. every morning. Nobody could go outside. No one could turn on lights at night. Anne mostly read books or wrote stories. Much of Anne?s diary was written while in hiding. Most of the families got separated, but Anne?s family never was. For this, they were lucky. In 1944, their hiding place was revealed, and they were taken into custody. The day after their arrest they were transferred to the Huis Van Bewaring, a prison on Weteringschans. On Aug. 8, they were transported from the main railroad station in Amsterdam to the Westerbork detention camp. For a month, the Franks were kept in the ?disciplinary barracks?, not as ordinary prisoners, but inmates convicted of a crime. The crime was hiding. On September 3, 1944, aboard the last transport to leave the Netherlands, Anne?s family and those who were with them, were brought to the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp. By then more than 100,000 Dutch Jews had been deported. This last transport held 498 men, 442 women, and 79 children a total of 1,019 people. This transport arrived in Aushwitz during the night of September 5. Right after they got there, men and women were separated. The following day, 549 people from this last transport, among them all the children less than 15 years of age, were sent to the gas chambers, where they would be killed. Women who had not been selected for extinction had to walk to the Birkenau women?s camp. Edith Frank and her daughters were among them. This camp was known as a ?death camp?. They had a goal to get rid of all the Jews and Gypsies. By September 1944, almost two million people had been gassed. After the arrival of the last transport from Westerbork, there were about 39,000 people in the women?s camp. Margot and Anne stayed there for almost two months. They were then to be shipped to Bergen-Belsen. Mrs. Frank didn?t want to leave her daughters, so she stayed with them until they were shipped away. On January 6, 1945, Edith Frank died in Aushwitz-Birkenau of grief and exhaustion. Anne and Margot were sent to Bergen-Belsen on October 28. Margot and Anne died within days of each other, of the disease typhus. Bergen-Belsen was liberated by the British shortly after, on April 15, 1945. Of the last transport, with 1,019 people, that left Westerbork on September 3, 1944 for Aushwitz, 45 men and 82 women survived. Anne?s father lived on for many years and made sure that Anne?s diary was published. Her diary was published in 1947 and was then made into a film. This diary helps people remember what the Jews went

HRD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

HRD - Essay Example The leading causes of these medial errors are lack of expertise or ignorance, communication or lack of it, between the medical professionals working together. Poor communication and breakdown in the same is a great threat to the competent medical practice and it needs must be improved for the sake of enhancing the effectiveness of medical practitioners, ergo, the safety of the patients. This paper will discuss the problems that from poor communication and what can be done to improve the process of medical care and the staff’s efficiency in this respect. It will be based on three journals addressing communication and safety in surgery, emergency medicine and the need for technology to enhance medical communication. According to Robert Neil (2006) in the journal, â€Å"Costly issues of an uncommunicative OR (Operation room)†, there is no place where the issue of communication is more important or its neglect more potentially dangerous than the operation room. Miscommunication in the OR often leads in complications and such ultimately lead in the patients lengthened stay in the hospital, increases the risk of infection and may negatively affect the hospitals bottom line considerably. Neil (2006) justifies his claim by quoting Peter Plantes, a vice president of clinical performance for VHA, Texas, who states that the although the patients safety gets first priority in the safety consideration, overall, with fewer mistakes, the costs will be positively impacted in the long run. To foster communication in the OR Plantes admits is not always easy especially for the surgeons many of whom are set in their ways, However, it can be achieved in the need for creating a collaborative environment in the OR are made clear and demonstrated. This is because surgeons are professionals who take pride in their work thus want the best for their patients, if they communicate and are open to

Business questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business questions - Essay Example Leadership basically refers to people who have the capacity to bring about changes in other people. Organizations are characterized by the unique culture that is inherent in the overall working of the organization. Discussion of leadership with reference to large organization is as important as that of small one for the simple reasons that the leaders within the organizations, not only provide an intangible stability among the employees and facilitate integration with the system, but they have been known to promote collective vision of the organization and provide the necessary impetus to the employees to strive towards it. Leaders create visions and goals whereas the managers and administrators work towards achieving them. Organizations’ culture is a complex process of evolution and adjustment of the employees within a system over a period of time. The various aspects of the interactive elements of the organization, which may comprise of diverse ideologies and personal conflicts of the individuals, work together to produce a cohesive output representing the organizations unique objectives and goals. Organization’s culture is developed over a period of time with shared learning and becomes an intrinsic part of the work methodology characterized by the stability provided by the system and the integrated approach of the workers. It is therefore, difficult to dissect an organization’s culture in a short time. Though it is difficult to change an organization’s culture but good leadership is known to make visible changes in it. Leadership encourages innovation of ideas and adaptability to changes. Hence, leaders, who are visionary and are endowed with effective communication skill and cultural understanding, have the capability to influence the cultural identity of the group within the organization thus facilitating changes in the organization’s culture to adapt to the

Analysing on Liberty by John Stuart Mill Essay Example for Free

Analysing on Liberty by John Stuart Mill Essay Humanity’s attempts to study the state of society have stretched back throughout the ages. From forefathers such as Socrates or Aristophanes to the great enlightenment philosophers of Locke or Voltaire, all have grappled with the questions of how humanity best functions as a collective. John Stuart Mill, hailed as a paradigmatic liberal political philosopher, continues this tradition of thought in his work On Liberty published in 1859. Mill’s major argument made is that the individual is sovereign in their actions insofar as they do not impeach upon the rights of others. His justifications centre strongly on the principles of utilitarianism, providing a model he believes to offer the greatest happiness to the greatest number. Through specific analysis it can be seen that he optimizes societal benefit by placing import on individuality but conversely justifying exactly when governance and restraint need to be exercised. Overall, his conclusions are an attempt to unify two competing social factors, individual liberty against circumstances in which power can be exerted over another, articulated in what has become known as the ‘harm principle’. The first and most fundamental principle Mill holds is outlined in the introductory chapter and describes the necessity for man to be free over â€Å"Over himself, over his own body and mind† (Mill, 1859: 31). Individual liberty is not only considered personally fulfilling, but also beneficial to the progress of civilisation for â€Å"Mankind are greater gainers by suffering each other to live as seems good to themselves, than by compelling each to live as seems good to the rest† (Mill, 1859: 33). It is important to note that Mill does not endorse freedom of expression for its own sake but for the greater purpose of stimulating discourse â€Å"His argument for liberty of expression is in fact an argument for liberty of discussion† (Larvor, 2006: 3) To support his claims, he highlights three primary freedoms in order of importance. Firstly, the freedom of thought itself should be unrestricted; second we should have the freedom to pursue ‘tastes †¦ to suit our own character’ (Mill, 1859: 33) regardless of whether social convention deems  otherwise; lastly, the freedom for citizens to unite, providing such action will not harm others. This idea of the ‘harm principle’ is prominent in On Liberty for each of these freedoms are subject to the overarching rule that liberty is complete so long as it does not â€Å"without justifiable cause, do harm to others† (Mill 1859: 72). He also notes that it is obvious that freedom of thought and of the mind does not directly correlate to freedom of action, for â€Å"No one pretends that actions should be as free as opinions† (Mill 1859: 72). He bases this on the logic that if ones free actions impinge upon another’s happiness, then the affected party’s own freedom is violated, outweighing the benefits of the first individual’s liberty. His conclusion is therefore â€Å"that in things which do not primarily concern others, individuality should assert itself† (1859: 73). This reasoning is fundamentally based in utilitarianism, which Mill is a eminent proponent of, as the key deciding factor needs to be maximum pleasure for minimum harm. The harm principle is the primary restraining factor on an individual’s calculus of liberty however Mill is not so blindingly liberal that he does not acknowledge the importance of government in maintaining social stability. In fact, Mill’s definition of liberty itself is intimately linked with authoritative intervention for he takes liberty to be the absence of human interference with the individuals actions (Crocker, 1980: 1). Again, utility becom es the object of question in deciding how pervasive governing bodies ought be. Mill contends, â€Å"the sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number, is self-protection†¦ His own good, either physical or moral, is not sufficient warrant†. It is here where Mill refers to the idea of ‘tyranny of the majority’, that pressure from the masses can be as pervasive as an oppressive state for there is more intangible a difficulty in arguing against the tyranny of the prevailing opinion and feeling. (Mill, 1859: 7) Yet here it is apparent that Mill defends the use of public pressure to control offensive opinion. Where then is the line drawn regarding what is unique, individual and valuable thought, and what is deemed inappropriate? While Mill’s consistent self-criticism often enriches his argument, there are contradictory moments wherein his â€Å"expressions are not only ambiguous, but contradictory† (Parker, 1865: 5). The idea of utility is once again at play, however Mill’s contradictions destabilise his  main point being that the use of outside force can be used defensively against another’s individuality if it would cause another’s liberty harm. As well as discussing and arguing Mill offers a number of disclaimers in his argument including the inapplicability of children or those who require the care of others and also â€Å"backward states of society in which the race itself may be considered as in its nonage† (Mill, 1859: 14). He also notes that a person â€Å"A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but by his inaction† such as failing to help save a person when they are directly able to but choose against it. This idea has been argued against extensively in modern debate, particularly on a legal level. Many states, Australia amongst them, require no duty or obligation to act in such a way, the rationale [being] the protection of the autonomy (Edelman, 2011: 2). Liberty is irrevocably violated if one has no choice in a matter, even if that matter may be for social good. In an attempt to promote utilitarianism and provide an argument that supports social wellbeing, Mill has contradicted his own seemingly inviolate idea of individual sovereignty. Another hole in his discourse is that There seems then no obstacle in principle within utilitarian morality to a policy which indeed prevents harm but at the expense of the most basic interests of a minority (Gray, 2003: 7). Once more the tyranny of the majority is at question and Mill’s regard for individuality is destabilized by the conflicting interest of utilitarianism. It is apparent that Mill’s account is not watertight and this is acknowledged with the criticism On Liberty has received. In essence Mill concerns himself with the struggle between authority and liberty, (Mill, 1859: 3) as the essential factors to be balanced in order to maintain stable society. On an individual level, liberty is restrained by the harm principle and on a social plane; governance and public pressure control it. Beyond these factors, individuality is considered a sacred thing, which should be embraced for the good of progress. His entire theory is grounded solidly in utilitarian ideals, whereby social progression and greatest satisfaction is the primary goal. While a number of contentious arise throughout Mills’ discussions, overall the arguments are logical and coherent. On Liberty will continue to be an iconic if not contentious piece in political literature, as will most social theory which has been and will come in the future. Reference List Edelman, James. 2011. ‘Change of position: A defence of unjust disenrichment’ (presented at the launch of the Restatement (Third) Restitution and Unjust Enrichment, Boston University Law School 16-17 September 2011) Gray, John and Smith, G.W., eds. 2002. ‘JS Mill’s On Liberty In Focus’. London: Routeledge Gray, John. 1983. ‘Mill: On Liberty. A Defence’ Gray, John. 1979. ‘John Stuart Mill: Traditional and Revisionist Interpretations’. Literature of Liberty 2(2): 7-37 Hayek, F.A. 2011. ‘The Constitution of Liberty’. New York: The University of Chicago Press. Larvor, Brendan. 2006. Mill on Liberty of Thought and Discussion in John Stuart Mill: On Liberty Discussions (British Humanist Association). Mill, John Stuart. (1859). On Liberty. London: Cambridge University Press.

The Dangers of Social Conformity Exposed in The Prime of Miss Jean Brod

The Dangers of Social Conformity Exposed in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Muriel Spark's The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie depicts the coming of age of six adolescent girls in Edinburgh, Scotland during the 1930's. The story brings us into the classroom of Miss Jean Brodie, a fascist school teacher at the Marcia Blaine School for Girls, and gives close encounter with the social and political climate in Europe during the era surrounding the second World War. Spark's novel is a narrative relating to us the complexities of politics and of social conformity, as well as of non-conformity. Through looking at the Brodie set and the reciprocities between these students and their teacher, the writer, in this novel, reviews the essence of group dynamics and brings in to focus the adverse effects that the power of authority over the masses can produce. Sparks, in so doing projects her skepticism toward the teacher's ideologies. This skepticism is played out through the persona of Sandy Stranger, who becomes the central character in a class of Marcia Bl aine school girls.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sandy's character is even more focally sculpted than the teacher's favored disciples who came to be known as the Brodie Set; a small group of girls favored by Miss Jean Brodie in her Prime. The Brodie Set is a social system and a enigmatic network of social relations that acts to draw the behavior of its members toward the core values of the clique.   The teacher Miss Jean Brodie projects upon this impressionable "set,"   her strong fascist opinions. She controls this group on the basis that she is in her prime.   Her prime being the point in life when she is at the height of wisdom and insight. Sandy pejoratively uses the personality traits and ideolog... ...t this small group level, conformity dispels individual judgement. Sandy projects to us that this kind of social conformity under the pressure of authority, is to be blamed for many social problems and adversities in the individual lives of the Brodie girls, and in society at large. Bibliography 1. Coon, Dennis.   Psychology: Exploration and Application. West Publishing Company: 1980. 2. Costanzo, P.   Conformity development as a function of self blame. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 14; 366-374: 1970. 3. Csikszentmihalyi, M. & Larson, R.   Being Adolescent.   Harper Collins Publisher: 1984. 4. Homans, G.C.   Social Behavior: Its Elementary Forms. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich: 1961. 5. Lodge, David.   The Uses and Abuses of Omniscience: Method and Meaning in Muriel Spark's The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.   Ithaca, Cornell: 1971.

Marshall Plan Essay

How important was the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall plan to the crystallization of Cold War Tensions in Europe in the years 1945-1951? When considering the crystallization of Cold War tensions in Europe one can not overlook the impact of both the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. Although events were often ‘a cycle of action and reaction which makes the identification of ultimate causes difficult and probably impossible’ both the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall plan signaled a turning point in relations between east and west Europe. The solidification of Cold War tensions in Europe is, for the sake of this essay, the point at which it was clear that relations between the United Sates and the Soviet Union were unsalvageable as their ideological differences became increasingly polarized. Although the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan were considered by the American administration as ‘two halves of the same walnut’ to fully explore the consequences of the American policies one must look at them separately. The Truman Doctrine hailed in a new era for the US’s foreign policy through the definition of containment and the introduction of formal institutions such as the National Security Council, the Central Intelligence agency and the Department of Defense. This showed a move towards a more assertive foreign policy, arguably provoking the Soviet Union and escalating tensions between the two powers. Similarly the Marshall Plan’s encroachment on what the USSR saw as their sphere of influence through their offer of financial aid triggered a threatened Soviet Russia to intensify their authority over satellite states. Their dramatic actions in Czechoslovakia can be seen as evidence of the importance of the role the Marshall Plan played in escalating tensions in Europe as these events can be viewed as a direct consequence of changing US foreign policy. However to fully appreciate the complexities of the issues covered when looking at the development of Cold War tensions in Europe one must place these events in a wider contextual framework. To ignore the political, social or economic issues which form the background of this timeframe would be to oversimplify the issue. It is therefore imperative to look as the situation from both US and Soviet viewpoints whilst considering the issues the nations were dealing with domestically. By 1951 Europe was undeniably divided, with two power blocs emerging, east and west. Whilst the formulation of these tensions had originated from a shared history dating back to before the war, the culmination of these tensions is undeniably linked to both the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall plan as they ‘solidified divisions of Europe’. The Truman Doctrine, through the role it played in outlining the Soviet Union as the enemy and defining the American policy of containment, was a hugely significant step towards the crystallization of Cold War Tensions in Europe. The Truman Doctrine argued that, after Britain’s need to reduce its participation in aiding Greece, congress must ‘immediately extend financial aid’ because of the threat of ‘communist domination’. However, far from solely asking for economic and military aid for Greece and Turkey the doctrine took on the role of calling for the ‘global containment of communism’. The combination of a definition of the United States’ foreign policy towards communism and the demonstration of their commitment through action did help the move towards a divided Europe. Furthermore it solidified and defined the ideology upon which US foreign policy was made. A key consequence of the Truman Doctrine was the changes it caused in the United States’ decision-making process. As Painter explains, the support elicited for the strategy of containment meant that American administrations were ‘able to act on their beliefs about the relationship between politics, economics and US security’. This signaled an era in which the US would base their foreign policy around their capitalist ideology, one completely at odds with the Soviet Union. These beliefs were strengthened by the introduction of new governmental institutions such as the National Security Council, the Central Intelligence agency and the Department of Defense arguably moving towards a more ‘activist foreign policy’ presenting a clear threat to the USSR. Kennan, seen as the father of containment was a crucial figure in the emergence of Cold War tensions in Europe through his writings that inspired the Truman doctrine. Whilst looking at the effects of the Truman Doctrine it is imperative that we look at the role Kennan took in not only promoting containment as a strategy of foreign policy but also defining the Soviet Union. From Moscow Kennan sent the ‘Long Telegram’ suggesting that the USSR was an aggressive nation and that the only successful form of American foreign policy would be a long term strategy of containment. Kennan encouraged the US to view the Soviet Union as ‘inherently expansionist and aggressive’, in effect suggesting that the USSR should be seen as the enemy. While Kennan explained his actions as not ‘directed at combating communism but restoration of economic health’ in Europe it is clear that his constant rhetoric describing the Soviet Union as a threat that needed to be contained did much to not only encouraging domestic fear and anti communist views but also to provoke the Soviet Union into changing its foreign policy. Kennan would further influence the escalation of tensions through the role he played in the Marshall Plan. The Marshall Plan, like the Truman Doctrine, may not have intended to divide Europe, for a number of reasons this was the final outcome. Based around the ideas that ‘The seeds of totalitarian regimes are nurtured by misery and want’ the Marshall Plan was seen as necessary to avoid the spread of communism. The Marshall Plan was seen by the American administration as the ‘next important step against the perceived Russian threat’ as it was imperative to remove the misery and want which was rife in an economically ruined Europe. However, to the USSR the Marshall Plan was perceived quite differently, it was a western attempt to encroach on their sphere of influence. The Marshall Plan had far wider reaching consequences that simply supporting a recovering Europe economically. Through looking at the Soviet reaction to the Marshall Plan we see that it played a key role in the crystallization of Cold War tensions in Europe. The reaction to the Marshall plan by the Soviet Union marked a turning point in relations between east and west Europe as they served to split countries whose ideologies were drifting further apart. As the Marshall Plan was arguably the spark set off the chain of events it can be seen as hugely important in the crystallization of Cold War tensions in Europe. Whilst the Truman doctrine may have put a strain on relations between America and the Soviet Union the Marshall Plan as Myrdal, who guided the Economic Commission for Europe saw it, it would ‘secure the iron curtain and bring on war’. The Marshall plan therefore seems to have been the point at which Europe was split as it presented to the nations of Europe the choice between the two great powers and their ideologies. To revisionist historians such as Kolko the Marshall plan served the purpose of bringing Soviet fears to the fore and thus increasing tensions. It is clear that the Marshall plan ‘forced Stalin to reassess his stance towards East and West Europe’ which escalated Cold War tensions. Many revisionist historians will argue that the Soviet reaction to the Marshall Plan was one natural for a country that felt weak and under attack. It could be argued that the Marshall Plan in the eyes of the USSR was a concerted attempt by the United States to undermine Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. To Taubman and Kolko it is therefore clear that it was the Marshall Plan that sparked the escalation of tensions. Whilst it could be argued that this was not the case as the Marshall Plan was open to Soviet participation Crockartt shows that the US administration took steps to avoid communist participation in the plan. Kennan, who as aforementioned had been clear about his views on containment and the Soviet Union made sure that the plan ‘be done in such a form that Russian satellites would either exclude themselves†¦or agree to abandon the exclusive orientation of their economies’. This therefore encouraged divisions within Europe, as now there was a clear indication of whether or not the country subscribed to East or West ideologies. Furthermore many argue that the inclusion of Soviet states was due to a ‘desire not to invite the charge that the ERP was an anti-communist measure’ rather than a genuine offer of financial aid. One could therefore argue that it was not surprising that the plan caused tensions, as soviet inclusion was highly unlikely. The extent to which the Soviet Union felt threatened can be seen through actions taken as a result of the Marshall plan, seen by historians such as Gaddis as a turning point in the development of the Cold War. The Soviet Union now seemed to act on a wish to unite the communist parties around Eastern Europe through the introduction of organizations such as Comiform. The Communist information Bureau can be seen as an attempt by Stalin to bring the communist parties around Europe under more soviet control. Furthermore the Molotov Plan, seen by many as a Soviet version of the Marshall plan, aimed to provide financial aid for struggling economies that fell under soviet influence. The influence the Marshall Plan can be seen clearly through the introduction of the Molotov plan as it suggests that either Eastern European countries were so affected by their rejection of the Marshall Plan they needed a similar proposal or Stalin felt so threatened he felt the need to create his own version. However perhaps the most striking Soviet reaction to the Marshall Plan was the events that took place in Czechoslovakia in 1948. The impact can be illustrated in the fact that the only remaining non-communist leader in Eastern Europe was removed, shocking the United States and heightening the divisions between east and west, polarizing both powers. The Czech coup, in which the communist part, with strong Soviet support assumed total control over the Czech government and purged any non communist political figures. Furthermore the ‘Stalinization’ of both Czechoslovakia and Hungary’s societies due to fears brought about by the Marshall plan further intensified the differences between east and west. Through the introduction of the collectivization of farming, an emphasis on manufacturing and a suppression of opposition eastern European countries were forced to become more extreme in their politics, separating Europe and increasing Cold War tensions. The reaction by the US illustrated the impact of events in Czechoslovakia as they it aided the swift implementation of the Marshall Plan, the creation of West Germany and in under a year the creation of NATO. It is clear to see therefore that the Marshall Plan played a key role in escalating tensions between the east and west in Europe. However, these views have been challenged. Although the impact of the combination of the Marshall Plan and the Truman Doctrine was undeniable in moving Europe towards a period of Cold War tensions the extent of their impact is a source of debate. The importance of the Marshall Plan is undermined by a number of issues that show that although it may have played an important role in the crystallization of Cold war tensions in Europe it was by no means the only influence. Historians such as Crockartt will point out the fact that one needs to consider the fact that both nations had hugely differing political styles and circumstances. The Soviet Union entered this period with ‘enhanced prestige after playing a key role in defeating the Nazis’and possessed, through ruling communist parties, tight control over their sphere of influence. The United States however placed a much greater emphasis on the justification of their actions abroad through official documents and formal organizations, as they did not, as the communists did, have puppet rulers in foreign governments. Therefore it could be argued that these differences in political style were the truly important factors in the consolidation of Cold War tensions rather than particular events or policies. However, whilst the differing political styles may have been important these were long term issues that had a constant role in the diplomacy between the USSR and the US. It would be difficult therefore to argue that these played any decisive part in the crystallization of the tensions these differences helped to create. Therefore it could be argued that actions such as the announcement of the Marshall Plan and documents such as the Truman doctrine were the real cause of the solidification of these tensions. One must look at this period of time not just as a chronological series of events but place these events within the framework of the political, social and economic features also prominent at the time. Much of the post-revisionist historiography, with the benefit of hindsight, takes into account these complexities and sees the causes of Cold War tensions in Europe as far more diverse. When these issues are taken into account we see that there was a host of issues at the time all culminating to solidify Cold War tensions in Europe. As aforementioned the Soviet Union entered the period with a new identity, that of a great power of the world. Both the US and the Soviet Union had to react to this change of order and historians such as David Reynolds will even argue that the Cold War was inevitable given the shared history between the two powers. However although tensions may have been inevitable, as mentioned earlier, the solidification of these strains seems to revolve around the implementation of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan as they polarized the nations ideologies and pulled them further apart. As Crockartt explains revisionist historians view American economic expansionism for capitalist profits as at the heart of tensions between the United States and the USSR and it was the differences in the two nations ideologies that solidified divisions. American determination to keep ‘western Europe (as a) safe arena for international capitalism’ was the fundamental force of strains between the US and the Soviet Union. The wording of President Truman’s message to congress on March 12 1947 regarding US involvement in Greece and Turkey arguably shows the intertwined nature between American foreign policy and capitalist gains. In his address persuading congress to assist Greece and Turkey Truman refers to capital spent on the Second World War as an ‘investment’ in world freedom. The document makes it clear that, to the US administration economic stability and freedom from communism are inextricably linked. The Marshall Plan can hoever be seen as the manifestation of these ideologies and therefore this argument suggests the Marshall Plan had an even greater influence. Furthermore the importance of the Truman Doctrine in heightening Cold War tensions in Europe is called into question as Painter points out Stalin did little to significantly support the efforts of the Greek communists. Whilst some may argue that this because of the success of US aid, others would see it as undermining the significance of the Truman doctrine as Stalin only showed slight concern for the success of communist rebels in Greece. However this could be because of strains in Soviet relations with Yugoslavia being a greater priority that the potential of a Greek communist uprising. Furthermore although Soviet reaction to the Truman Doctrine may have shown reluctance to act on Stalin’s part, US actions in Greece, Turkey and Iran showed their ‘determination to maintain Western access’ to overseas trade zones. The Truman Doctrine and the Marshal plan played an undeniable role in escalating Cold War tensions between 1945 and 1951. Although they may not have formed the basis of these tensions, which had built up in the post-war years, they seem to act as the nail in the coffin for US/Soviet relations. One could argue that as a result of the definition of not only their differences, but also the definition of the Soviet Union as aggressive and expansionist, the Truman Doctrine waved in an era of hostility. The Marshall Plan further polarized European states as one either subscribed to Marshall aid, or didn’t, in effect the Iron Curtain was drawn. One must never overlook the issues that formed the basis of tensions between the US and the USSR as these similarly contributed to the crystallization of cold war tensions. At the crux of strains between the US and the USSR were the disparate ideologies the two nations held at the heart of their foreign policy and as a result the contrasting ways of looking at events and actions. This period sees the polarization of these ideologies and therefore the solidification between the two nations can be seen as inevitable. However, fundamentally the Marshall Plan and The Truman Doctrine provided a platform for these tensions to develop and escalate and because of this they were hugely important in the crystallization of Cold War Tensions in Europe. Bibliography: Primary Sources: President Truman’s Message to Congress; March 12, 1947; Document 171; 80th Congress, 1st Session; Records of the United States House of Representatives; Record Group 233; National Archives. Secondary Sources: Crockatt, R., Fifty Years War: United States and Soviet Union in World Politics (London 1996) Barros, J., Trygve Lie The UN Secretary-General Pursues Peace, 1946-1953 (Illinois 1989) P.125 J. L., Gaddis, We Now Know: Rethinking Cold War History (1997) J. L., Gaddis, Strategies of Containment†¬: A Critical Appraisal of American National Security Policy During the Cold War†¬ (Oxford 1982)†¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¬ Hogan, M. J., The Marshall Plan: America, Britain, and the Reconstruction of Western Europe, 1947-1952 (US, 1990) Review by Charles S. M., in American Visions and British Interests: Hogan’s Marshall Plan Kolko, G., The Limits of Power: The world and United States Foreign Policy, 1941-1949 (1970) Painter, D. S., The Cold War: An Interdisciplinary History (London, GBR) Taubman, W., Stalin’s American Policy: From Entente to Dà ©tente to Cold War (New York 1982) p.172-3

Succubus on Top CHAPTER 19

The dealer's house sat away from the road, just like all sinister houses should, I suppose. My biased perceptions aside, there was actually little else about the house that was all that creepy. It was big and expensive-looking, spreading out lazily on beautifully manicured lawns, visible to me even at night. In a region where yards were at a premium, that much land signified a great deal of money. Unlike Bastien's place, this house had no similarly well-to-do neighbors. This house was in a class of its own; it could not be part of a mere suburban neighborhood. â€Å"Where are we?† I asked, because it seemed like the kind of naive, starry-eyed question I should be asking. Alec had met me downtown and then driven me out to this place in his own car. We were about twenty minutes outside the city. â€Å"This is where the guy lives,† he told me happily. His mood improved as we got closer to the house. â€Å"He'll hook you up.† The car followed the long, sinuous driveway and came to a stop by the garage. In an oddly chivalrous way, he opened the car door for me and gestured that I follow him inside. Glancing back at his beat-up Ford Topaz, I couldn't help thinking that being an immortal drug lord's lackey should pay better. Alec led us through a side door in the house, and even I was taken aback at what I found inside. The first word that came to mind was lush. And not the drunk kind either. I meant in the opulent sense, the kind of lush you sink your teeth into. The walls, floor, and ceilings consisted of gleaming dark hardwood, almost like we were inside a lodge – say, a lodge that cost seven figures. Beams of that beautiful wood crisscrossed the open, cathedral ceiling. Jewel-toned oil paintings in gilt frames hung on the walls, and I had enough of a sense for the value of art to recognize they had not come from Bed Bath & Beyond. We crossed out of the foyer and found more of the same in a large living room. Its focal point was an enormous fireplace whose brick faà §ade stretched to the ceiling. A multicolored stained-glass landscape hung above the fireplace's opening, and flames from the roaring fire – along with several strategically placed candles – cast the only light in the room. Nothing electrical. In that dim, flickering lighting, I sensed the man before I saw him. The same unfamiliar immortal signature from the concert carried to me, coupled with something else. This close to him, I noticed how much he felt like the crystals. Or rather, how much the crystals felt like him, as if they were pale, fractured versions of the masterpiece. The whole vibe from him felt weird but not quite as discordant as the crystals themselves had. â€Å"Alec,† said a creamy voice, â€Å"who is your lovely friend?† The man unfolded from the couch, standing in one fluid motion. I now saw the same features as before: flawless tanned skin, long black hair, high cheekbones. He also wore the same hot Victorian couture, complete with another of those gorgeous silk shirts that billowed around his arms and showed smooth skin through the V-neck. â€Å"This is Georgina,† said Alec, voice quaking with nervousness and excitement. â€Å"Just like I said.† The man glided to us and took my hand in both of his. â€Å"Georgina. A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.† He drew my hand to his lips – which were full and pink – and kissed my skin. He held my hand a moment, letting his dark eyes bore into mine, and then he slowly straightened up and released me. â€Å"My name is Sol.† I turned off all my impulses to make snappy jokes and/or maul this guy, instead opting for stunned innocence mingled with a little fear. â€Å"H-hello.† I swallowed nervously and looked down at my feet. â€Å"You've done well,† Sol told Alec. â€Å"Very well.† I didn't have to see Alec to tell he was practically melting with relief. â€Å"So†¦does that mean†¦I can, you know†¦?† â€Å"Yes, yes.† Unless I was mistaken, a slight note of irritation underscored that pleasant voice. â€Å"Afterward. Go upstairs now. I'll summon you when I'm ready. â€Å" Alec started to leave, and I grabbed his sleeve, still playing frightened maiden. â€Å"Wait – where are you going?† He smiled at me. â€Å"I'll be right back. It's okay. You wanted more, right? Sol's going to get it for you.† I must have truly looked terrified because he squeezed my arm reassuringly. â€Å"It's okay. Really.† I bit my lip and gave him a hesitant nod. His eyes held mine for a moment, and something very like regret flickered across them. Then he left. â€Å"Come sit with me,† intoned Sol, taking my hand again. He led me to a sumptuous couch by the fire. Warmth from that orange glow spilled over me, and the flames were reflected in his dark eyes. I sat down gingerly, scooting back because the cushions were so big. We sat there quietly. He smiled expectantly, and I gave him a faltering smile back. â€Å"Alec said you could give me more†¦you know†¦of that stuff.† â€Å"You enjoyed it then?† â€Å"Yes. Oh yes. It made me feel†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Immortal?† â€Å"Y-yes, that's it. Please. I need more. I can pay you†¦whatever you want.† He waved a hand carelessly. â€Å"We'll discuss such mundane matters later. For now, let's see if we can't satiate your hunger.† He leaned over to a small table and lifted up two goblets. Goblets. How quaint. â€Å"This should tide you over until we can arrange a larger batch.† I took the cup from him. It felt heavy, like gold. Nothing but the best if you were going to drink the food of the gods, I thought. They held a dark red liquid. If the crystals felt like a weak approximation of Sol, the aura radiating off of this cup felt like mega-Sol. It was intense and strong, making the vibe from the crystals seem like a total nonevent. Maybe that was what happened when ambrosia liquefied. I realized then he'd been waiting for me while I pondered. â€Å"Drink up.† I hesitated, not having to feign apprehension this time. Drink up? What should I do? If I didn't drink, my cover might be blown, and I still hadn't had â€Å"provocation† to smite this bastard or whatever one did to someone with a dart-arrowhead-thing. Carter and Jerome had said ambrosia wouldn't hurt an immortal; they'd even said an immortal could resist its nasty effects to a certain extent, much longer than humans. That didn't necessarily make me feel better, though. I preferred to be in my normal range of skills to deal with this, but it looked like I didn't have that luxury. I couldn't delay any longer. Smiling shyly, I brought the cup to my lips and drank. He did the same. Who could tell? Maybe personality amplification would help me out here. Maybe I had a secret Amazonian alter ego lurking within me who was dying to jump out via the ambrosia and bludgeon this guy with a goblet. Once Sol started drinking, he didn't stop. He tipped the cup back until he'd consumed it all. I followed suit. The stuff really didn't taste so bad. In fact, it tasted sweet, almost sickeningly so. Weirdest of all was its consistency. Thick. Almost viscous. â€Å"There,† he said, taking my empty cup. â€Å"You'll feel better soon, and then we can talk reasonably.† He shifted into a more comfortable position, long legs stretched out and relaxed. He had a slim build and delicate features. His narrow fingers wound one of his black curls around it. â€Å"Tell me about yourself, Georgina. What do you do?† â€Å"I, uh, work in a bookstore.† â€Å"Ah, you're a reader then.† â€Å"I try to be.† He inclined his head toward a wall covered in books. â€Å"I'm a reader myself. There's no greater pursuit than improving one's mind. â€Å" He started talking to me about some of his favorite books, and I smiled and commented as appropriate. As we talked, I began to feel†¦well, for lack of a more descriptive term, good. Really good. Almost like I was buzzed from an excellent liqueur. My limbs tingled a little, and a warm sense of euphoria burned through me. I heard myself laughing at one of his jokes. I almost sounded genuine. â€Å"You're very beautiful,† he suddenly said, and I wondered when he'd moved so close to me. I had to blink to stay focused. The room spun slightly, and my hands and feet kept delaying in obeying my orders. Sol reached out and touched my cheek, trailing those graceful fingers down my neck. â€Å"Your beauty is a gift.† I tried to move, mainly to see if I could actually manage it, not to avoid his touch. Honestly, his touch was pleasant – extremely pleasant. It made my pulse pick up a little. I could, I soon discovered, still move. I was just a little sluggish. â€Å"Shhh,† he crooned, placing a restraining hand on my wrist. â€Å"Don't be afraid. Everything will be all right.† â€Å"W-what are you doing?† He had an arm around my waist now and was moving his mouth toward the spot where my neck met my shoulder. His lips, when they touched flesh, were warm and full of promise. I trembled a little under that kiss and tried to figure out what was going on here. The short answer, obviously, was that something had gone wrong. I felt dizzy and disoriented enough to be at a frat party over at U.W. On top of that, this immortal – this strange immortal I barely knew – suddenly seemed more alluring than I'd imagined possible. Hadn't I come here to kick his ass? Why was I making out with him? Was this what ambrosia did to me? Were these my core traits – the power to get buzzed and take pleasure in sex? To become even easier than I already was? His hands moved down and unbuttoned my shirt so they could slide down and cup my breasts, which were just barely covered by the black mesh bra I'd bought with Dana. He kissed me directly now, his mouth pressing against mine. As his tongue delicately slipped between my lips, I tasted a sweetness akin to the ambrosia. Bottom line: it needs to be self-defense. So Carter had said, but suddenly I didn't really need much defending – unless it was from myself. My own hands were moving without my conscious knowledge to unfasten his pants, and our bodies were becoming entwined together on the soft cushions. Self-defense. Self-defense. Why self-defense? What was I forgetting here? Ah, of course. The dart. I pushed through the red haze muddling my senses, forcing clarity. The dart. The dart would stop Sol somehow, stop him from continuing to spread the poison of ambrosia. It would stop him from hurting people†¦like Doug. I battled through my disorientation and pulled my mouth away from Sol's, attempting to squirm the rest of the way out of his grasp. I won a little room but not much. He was still close. â€Å"No†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I gasped out. â€Å"Don't do this. Stop.† Sol, regarding me with surprised amusement, shushed me. â€Å"You don't know what you're saying.† â€Å"I do. Stop.† I wriggled one arm free, one arm that then snaked to the pocket containing Carter's pouch. I needed the other arm free too, but Sol was holding it. Looking down, I suddenly saw that his wrist was bleeding. How had that happened? I hadn't caused it. â€Å"Georgina, you are about to be honored above all mortal women. Lay back. Stop struggling. No harm will come to you. You will enjoy this night, I promise.† He moved his mouth back to mine, and again that blazing euphoria swelled within me. A traitorous moan of pleasure caught in my throat. Taking this as submission, Sol's grip on my restrained arm lessened, and I shifted it away just enough that both of my hands now touched the pouch. Yet, it was a hard battle. My motor control still wasn't all it should be. Kissing him, in that moment, seemed much more important than some silly pouch. My mind didn't want to focus on anything else. But I forced it to. Through sheer strength of will, I pushed the physical pleasure out of my head and instead replayed every consequence of the ambrosia I'd seen: Casey's devastation, Doug's wild swings from darkly frenetic exuberance to even darker depression, and finally his limp body in the hospital. Mortals are fragile things. Very fragile. And Sol played with them as if they were nothing. The smoldering coal of my anger began to burn again. He's a stronger immortal than you. Preying on you – especially when you belong to Jerome, so to speak – is a big no-no. You would be justified in protecting yourself. Again, I pulled my mouth away. â€Å"Stop,† I said again more firmly. â€Å"I want you to stop. Stop doing this.† â€Å"I'm not going to stop,† Sol snapped. Anger marred his honeyed tone. His breath was heavy, and his chest heaved with exertion. He – or I – had removed his shirt, and I had a perfect view of that unprotected skin. â€Å"I'm not going to stop, and believe me, once I start, you won't want me to stop either.† My fingers moved to open the pouch; the other hand slowly readied itself to reach inside. The ambrosia in my system dulled my reflexes, but I kept battling through it and sized up where in his chest his heart would be. â€Å"I've asked you three times to stop. Once should have been enough. No means no.† â€Å"No means nothing from someone like you.† He laughed a little, still not taking me seriously. â€Å"What's wrong with you? I thought you wanted to be immortal.† My hand was inside the pouch, pulling the dart out. Sol and I both felt its power at the same time, just as he realized what I was. His eyes widened, but I didn't give him time to react. I didn't think or falter. Just as Carter had ordered, I simply took action – well, with a cheesy punch line, of course. â€Å"Been there, done that,† I said, slamming the dart into his heart. For half a beat, Sol froze, unable to believe this was happening. And that's when things got messy.

Why has Nucor performed so well in the past Essays

Why has Nucor performed so well in the past Essays Why has Nucor performed so well in the past Paper Why has Nucor performed so well in the past Paper The following section discusses the reasons that Nucor has been able to perform so well in the past. It examines the internal and external (industry) factors impacting success. Industry Analysis This section examines industry forces using Porters Five Forces Analysis (See Appendix 1). Porters Analysis illustrates that both Industry Competition and Barrier to Entry are HIGH. Threat of Substitutes and Buyer Power are Medium and Supplier Power is Low (See Appendix 1 for detailed analysis). However, even in the face of such stable and fiercely competitive market, Nucor was continually able to maintain its strong position within the industry. Thus we now look to Nucors internal characteristics as a source for competitive advantage. Internal Analysis This section compares Nucors superior resources and capabilities to its competitors, and discusses how it has exploited them for competitive advantage. Resources Capabilities * Strong Financials Resources with forecasted growth in cash flows further strengthening its investment or borrowing capacity. * Pioneering technology and technical sophistication in Thin Slab casting * Critical Mass of existing Mills and geographic locations in proximity to customer base. * Its reputation, brand equity and relationships with suppliers within the industry. * Its large existing customer base. * Its highly motivated workforce, build through a series of performance goals and high powered performance incentives (Nucor Case, 1990) * Lower cost production through pioneering technology. * Technological Superiority for greater efficiency in volume production * Rapid supply to assist in low inventory levels for customers. * Extensive experience in building Mini Mills efficiently * Consistent investment in maintaining capacity of production. * Long Term experience and success in the industry. * Lean, flat, decentralised organisational structure for rapid decision making. Michael Porters resource-based view suggests that the key to profitability is not through doing the same as other firms, but rather exploiting differences (Grant,2002). Aside from strong financial resources, Nucor understood its greatest resource was is its people. It utilised a combination of non unionised workforce, incentive systems, training and decentralised decision making to ensure the more effective is (was) to communicate with employees and the greater autonomy they had to make rapid and effective decisions (Nucor Case, 1990). This lowered production costs and improved employee productivity. In addition, Nucor had other significant resources at its disposal such as modern technology, advantageous locations, cheaper and more co-operative labour, entrepreneurial management, and narrow product lines, that let them wrest away share from integrated steel makers in the segments they served (Nucor Case, 1990). Nucor also demonstrated superior capabilities by effectively using its resources to develop efficiencies in volume production, and bring products to market more cheaply and more quickly than its competitors. There were three components to this capability. Firstly, Nucor utilised combination of research and development activities that refined speed and efficiency of the production process. Nucor had invested steadily and heavily in upgrading its capacity, old as well as new, (Nucor Case, 1990) and leveraged this capability to lower production time and costs. In addition, Nucor was consistently able to defend itself against substitutes through its cost reduction capabilities and lower prices. Secondly, Nucor was able to lower its investment/construction costs using their extensive experience in building and remodeling Mini Mills in ways other firms were unable to emulate. Nucor designed and built plants concurrently, reducing engineering costs to 2% of total costs, from the industry standard of 10%. With this experience, Nucor was able to make adjustments on the fly, and reduce time to project completion, thus providing positive cash-flows more quickly. Finally, it had speed of delivery to customers and suppliers by locating mills in similar geographic regions. Nucor was able to leverage these competencies to create sustainable competitive advantage in the marketplace. From a positional advantage (Porter, 2000) perspective, Nucor used its resources and capabilities for cost advantage. It was able to utilise its superior MM technology to lower its cost structure by taking advantage of the declines in integrated steel makers demand for scrap and eliminating coke ovens and blast furnaces (Nucor Case, 1990). No other competitor in the industry has used this focus to create value for its customers and superior profits for itself as Nucor had. Nucor was the low cost leader in the market. With this unique combination of resources and capabilities, Nucors distinctive competencies enabled high levels of innovation and efficiency in Mini-Mill (MM) production technologies. Such technology had the effect of reducing the minimal efficient scale of production from millions of tons to hundreds of thousands of tons, or less (Nucor Case, 1990) as well as reducing the capital cost per ton of capacity by a factor of 10.

Socialism in The United States Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

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Ethics within the British armaments industry Essay

Ethics within the British armaments industry - Essay Example One industry facing this ethical dilemma is armaments. On one hand, the development, production and sale of armaments are an extremely profitable business, serving national strategic, economic, and defensive purposes (Havemann 1998, pp.241-242). On the other hand, it carries unintended consequences - promoting war and violence - whose effects cannot be easily avoided short of halting business activity altogether (Havemann 1998, pp.242-243; Gowri 2004, p.33). Thus, while it is sufficient for most enterprises to act ethically by ensuring that their actions comply with the minimum standards of avoiding harmful practices and exercising good conduct, such criteria seems inadequate in evaluating the ethical responsibility of businesses involved in armaments production, which produces foreseeable, but unintended harm regardless of good business practices (Mahoney 1990, p.545; Gowri 2004, p.33). For the UK, these issues are magnified in scope and intensity because apart from having one of th e largest armaments industries in the world, with its leading company BAE Systems, the growing interconnectedness of economies, cultures, and governments worldwide implies a global societal impact. Given the benefits and harm associated with armaments production, can its development, construction and sale be a fully justified business activity As this essay will argue, these activities, although not inherently good acts are morally indifferent business practices. Hence, using the principle of double effect and Gowri's (2004, pp.40-41) concept of moral externalities, the development, production and sale of armaments can be considered a fully justified business activity. Nonetheless, it is the responsibility of businesses to ensure that they manufacture armaments only within legitimately accepted circumstances. The Business of Armaments AND Britain Occupying a sizeable share of the British manufacturing sector, the armaments industry's importance for the country is undeniable. As Havemann (1998, p.242) notes, for a medium-sized economy that is highly dependent on trade such as the United Kingdom, armaments constitutes a significant part of the economy, with major players like BAE Systems, ranking 4th globally in the world in 2004 (Dunne and Surry 2006, p. 421) and UK arms production amounting to $19.2 billion in total sales in 2000, alone (Stockholm International Peace and Research Institute [SIPRI] 2003). Economically speaking, these statistics translate to several macroeconomic and microeconomic benefits to the United Kingdom (Havemann 1998, p. 242). First, given its large share within manufacturing, the armaments industry has been reported to provide a significant amount of jobs, with 155,000 workers directly employed in arms producing activities and 150,000 indirectly working within the arms production supply chain (SIPRI 2003). Armaments production also helps boost the country's export performance, with companies like BAE Systems exporting 80% of its total sales, British arms exports generated $6.7 in 2000 (SIPRI 2003), significantly contributing to the UK's annual trade balance. Furthermore, with supply chain links in related industries such as information technology, systems integration, aerospace, and metallurgy, as well as the oil and gas sectors, it is clear that arms producing ac