Morality and Monkey Essay

Monkey is created by the author as an individual entity that resembles the characteristic of an ordinary human being. It is quite obvious that the audience would better understand the idea hidden in the literature if the characteristics of the protagonist are closely related to those of the reader. In Monkey , the author carefully parallels the traits of Monkey to the lives of human beings. Then why does the author portray so much resemblance between Monkey and human? The author’s approach in attracting the audience by using symbolism successfully accomplishes the intention in the novel. All humans feel a need, a hunger for the things that benefit their way of living. Monkey easily symbolizes many ordinary humans in this world. Monkey’s life represents a journey that reflects the lives of most human beings. From the beginning of the novel,Monkey expresses hunger that is overpowered by greed. Similar to human beings,Monkey first seeks knowledge, then power, and finally enlightenment. Monkey’s arrogance brought by greed is displayed when he proclaims, â€Å"why do you not bow down to me as your king? † . Monkey’s desire to acquire more than the apparent limit is more understandable to the audience, because human beings are able to empathize with this greed felt by Monkey. All people fight with human nature to alter the natural phenomenon that occurs in life. In comparison, Monkey struggles to alter nature by demanding immortality. Human beings struggle to change nature in order to achieve higher status in society or personal satisfaction. Monkey seeks immortality to prevent nature from taking its course so that he may be able to rule his kingdom forever. Readers are able to better understand Monkey’s adventure to find the impossible in life. Man looks for opportunities to expand his potentials just as Monkey strives to increase his powers. During the course of life, there are obstacles that hinder the path to acquiring the impossible powers. The forces of good and evil goes up against each other throughout the novel. The tension between good and evil comes natural throughout the book just as human beings experience hardship in everyday lives. Another similarity portrayed between Monkey’s world and human civilization are the values and the customs they hold. Chinese moral.

Cultural Influences on Service: Chinese Travellers in France

CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON SERVICE- INTRODUCTION Culture has many definitions, and it affects everything people do in their society because of their ideas, values, attitudes, and normative or expected patterns of behaviour. By Mulholland Culture is a complex concept, and no single definition of it has achieved consensus in the literature. So, out of the many possible definitions examined, the following definition guides this study: culture is a set of shared and enduring meaning, values, and beliefs that characterize national, ethnic, or other groups and orient their behaviour.It is said that culture exists only by comparison. The country scores on the dimensions are relative – societies are compared to other societies. Without make a comparison a country score is meaningless. These relative scores have been proven to be quite stable over decades. The forces that cause cultures to shift tend to be global or continent-wide. This means that they affect many countries at the same tim e, so that if their cultures shift, they shift together, and their relative positions remain the same (Hofstede, 2012).National culture is an important factor influencing expectations and perceptions of service quality and its satisfaction. Different cultural groups attach different importance to service quality criteria. Tourism is one of the many sectors of the economy, which services cater directly to tourist needs. However, tourists create demand for indirect services(financial, medical, electricity,.. ) as well. Resulting all of this, a tourism product is mostly a service rather than a tangible product.As far as service encounter, we define 3 process steps, which are: 1, interaction between the customer and the firm or service provider, 2,a period of time during which a provider and a customer confront each other, 3, a â€Å"moment of truth†, which means the quality of the services offered to customer. We know three classes of service: the first one is a maintenance-inte ractive (e. g. fast food restaurant), second is task-interactive (e. g. banking services) and besides these two we define one more, personal-interactive services where belongs tourism.Services are in general defined by 6 key characteristics. Intangibility of services means that they can not be seen, touched and so on before use/ purchase. Heterogeneity is another characteristic that talks about services which vary because they are delivered by people-to-people. In tourism, services are firstly sold and subsequently consumed. This is called â€Å"Inseparability†. Tourism services are perishable, they cannot be stored. They must be consumed at the point of production.When the tourist pays the price for tourist services, he or she pays for the benefits and experiences received, it doesn’t lead to ownership. The last characteristic is called â€Å"People-based and personality-dependent†. Tourism, hospitality and leisure services are provided by people and for people . Very important thing about Cultural influences on service is a perception of service. Those are very subjective. When the customers? cultural expectations and needs are met, service quality is perceived as good and vice versa.Cultural differences in expectations from services vary from country to country. This means that what is supposed to be a good service in China, must not be good in USA. When we are talking about service quality, it refers to the appropriateness of assistance and support provides to a customer and the value and benefits received for the price paid. When it comes to reliability evaluation, the only two could be the price and physical environment. However it is difficult to evaluate by price as this is set up the producer.In order to facilitate the evaluation of service quality, several distinct quality dimensions were identified: (1) physical, (2) corporate, (3) interactive, (4) procedural, (5) convivial, (6) technical, (7) functional. The importance attached by customers to service quality criteria and dimensions differs among various cultures. Tourists from different countries have various expectations for the tangibles and empathy dimensions in terms of hotel service.There can be a problem with cultural differences and the mismatch between service quality expectations and perceptions of customers from foreign countries, and quality expectations and perceptions of domestic providers. Services are in general very specific and they have a lot of different characteristics. They are people based and so the cultural effect is very strong in this field. Different foreign tourists attach different importance to service quality criteria.

Study Case

CHAPTER 2I HUI4AN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 903 Case Office Equipment Company (OEC) director (a U. S. national) of the office Equipment Company (oEc) in Lima, Peru (see Map 2l . l), announced suddenly that he would leave within one month. The company had to find a replacement. OEC manufactures a wide variety of small office 1997, the managing ln equipment (such as copying machines, recording machines, mail scales, and paper shredders) in eight different countries and distributes and sells products worldwide. lt has no manufacturing facilities in Peru but has been selling and servicing there since the early 1970s.OEC first tried selling in Peru through independent importers but quickly became convinced that in order to make sufficient sales it needed to have its own staffthere. Despite Peru's political turmoil, which at times has bordered on being a full-scale civil war, OEC'S operation there (with about 100 employees) has enjoyed good and improving sales and profitability. OEC is construct ing its first factory in Peru that is scheduled to begin operations in early 1999. This factory will import components for personal computer printers and assemble them locally.Peru offers an abundant supply of cheap labor, and the assembly oPeration will employ approximately 150 people. The government will allow up to I0 percent of the output to be sold locally. By assembling locally and then exporting, oEC expects to be able to ward off trade restrictions on the other office equipment it imports for sale within Peru. This plant! construction is being supervised by a U. S. rechnical ream, and a U. S. expatriate will be assigned to direct the production. This director will report directly to OEC's U. S. eadquarters on all production and quality-control matrers but will rePort to the managing director in Peru on all other matters, such as accounting, finance, and labor relations. OEC, by policy, will replace the exiting managing director with an internal candidate. The company employs a combination of home-, host-, and third-country nationals in top positions in foreign countries, and managers commonly rotate among foreign and U. S. locations. ln fact, it has been increasingly evident to OEC that international experience is an important factor in deciding who will be appointed to top corporate positions.The sales and service facility in Peru reports to a Latin American regional office located in Coral Gables, Florida. A committee at this office, charged with selecting the new managing direc- tor, quickly narrowed its choice to five candidates. Tom A thirty-year OEC veteran, Zimmerman is well versed in all the technical and sales aspects required in the job. He has never worked abroad for OEC but has visited various of the company's foreign facilities as part of sales teams. He is consid- Zimmerman ered competent and will retire in about four and a half years.Neither he nor his wife speaks Spanish. Their children are grown and living with their own children in th e United States. Zimmerman currently is in charge of an operation that is aboutthe size of that in Peru after the new factory begins operating. However, Zimmerman's present position will become redundant because the operation he heads is being merged with another. Brett Harrison Harrison, 40, has spent fifteen years at OEC. Considered highly compehas tent and capable of moving into upper-level management within the next few years, he 904 PART 7 FUNCTIONAL I'. ANAGEI'1 ENT, OPERATIONS. AND CONCERNS PERU Population 22. 3 million Monetary unit New sol Major languages Span ish Quech ua Aymara Largest city Lima Major industrial areas Arequipa Chimbote Cuzco lquitos Lima Talara Map 2l. l Peru never been based abroad but has worked for the last three years in the Latin American regional office and frequently travels to Latin America. Both he and his wife speak Spanish adequately, and their two children, ages I 4 and I 5, are just beginning to study the His wife holds a responsible marketin g position with a pharmaceuticals company.Carolyn language. Moyer Moyer joined OEC twelve years ago after getting her MBA from a pres- tigious university. 4t37, she has already moved between staffand line positions of growing responsibility. For two years, she was second in command of a product group that was aboutthe size of the newly expanded one in Peru. Her performance in that. postwas considered excellent. Currently, she works on a planning staffteam. When she joined OEC, she indicated her interest in eventual international responsibilities because of her undergraduate major in international affairs.She has recently expressed interest in international duties because of a belief it will help her advancement. She speaks Spanish well and is unmarried. Francisco Cabrera Cabrera, 35, currently is an assistant managing director in the larger Mexican operation, which produces and sells for the Mexican market. A Mexican cit- for OEC in Mexico for all his twelve years with the company. He holds an MBA from a Mexican university and is considered to be a likely candidate to head the Mexican operation when the present managing diiector retires in seven years. He is married with four children (ages 2 to 7) and speaks English adequately.His wife does not work izen, he has worked outside the home or speak English. CHAPTER 2I HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 905 Juan Moreno At27, Moreno is assistant to the present managing director in Peru. He has held that position since joining OEC upon his U. S. college graduation four years ago. Unmarried, he is considered competent, especially in employee relations, but lacking in experience. He had been successful in increasing OEC's sales, in part because he is well connected with local families who can afford to buy new office equipment for their businesses. Questions l.Which candidate should ihe committee choose for the assignment, and whyl 2. What problems might each candidate encounter in the position? 3. 4. How might OEC go about mi nimizing the problems that each candidate would have in managing the Peruvian operations? Calculate an estimated compensation package for each candidate based on the following additional inf6rmation: Present annual salaries: Zimmerman, U5$70,000; Harrison, US$75,000; Moyer, US$65,000; Cabrera, M$ I 24,000; Moreno, 557,000 a Exchange rates: $ I: M$3. 1 (Mexican pesos);$ I: S 1. 9 (Peruvian new sols) o f income for a family of one, 40 percent for a family of two, 45 percent for a family of four, and 50 percent for a family of five or more: Washington, D. C. : 100; Lima : 86;Mexico City :77 U. S. Department, of State foreign-service premiums for Peru: hardship : l5 percent; danger: l5 percent U. S. Department of State cost-of-living index based on items covering 35 percent a a o Schooling allowance: age 6-12 : US$5000;age 3-18 : US$9000 Average tax rates: Mexico : 20 percenq United States : 25 percent; Peru : I Housing allowance (nontaxable): single : US$ 12,100;family : US$ 15,000 0 p ercent Chapter Notes l. The data for the case were taken from Edwin McDowell, â€Å"Making lt in America: The Foreign-Born Executive,† New York Times, June I, 1980, Section 3, p. l+; Don Whitehead, The Dow Story (New York McGraw-Hill, I968); â€Å"Lundeen Urges More Aid for Universities,† Chemrcal Marlceting Reporter, Yol. 224, No. 19, November 7, 1983, p. 3+;Paul L. Blocklyn, â€Å"Developing the lnternational Executive,† Personnel, Vol. 66, March 1989, pp. September 14,1992, p. 5; â€Å"Popoffon Challenges for Dow and for the lndusvy|' Chemical Wee( May 18, 1994, pp. 26-28; and Susan J.Sinsworth, â€Å"lssues Management ls Central to Frank Popoff's Globalization Strategy,† Chemlcol Engineering News, Vol. 72, No. 21, May 23, 1994, pp. 25–29. 2. Gary R. Oddou and Mark E. Mendenhall, â€Å"Succession Planning for the 2 l st Cen- European Management lournol, Yol. I 4, No. 4, August 1996, pp. 365-373. 4. â€Å"Globesmanship,† Across the Board , Yol. 27, Nos. l, 2, January-February 1990, p. 26, quoting Michael Angus. 5. Daniel Ondrack, â€Å"lnternational Transfers of Managers in North American and European MNEs,† Journol of lnternailonol Business Studies, Vol. 16, No. 3, Fall 1985, pp. l-19;andJohn M.Hannon, lngChung Huang, and Bih-Shiaw Jaw, â€Å"lnternational Human Resource Strategy and Its Determinants: The Case of Subsidiaries in Taiwan,†Journal of lnternotionol Business Studies, Vol. 26, No. 3, Third Quarter 1995, pp. 53 l-554. 4447; â€Å"Globesmanship,† Across the Boor4 Vol. 27, Nos. l,2,January-February 1990, pp. 24-34;William Storck, â€Å"Dow Chemical Changes Executive Lineup,† Chemical ond Engineering News, tury: How Well Are We Grooming Our Future Business Leadersl† Business Horizons, January-February I 99 I, pp. 26-34. 3. Gordon Petrash, â€Å"Dow's Journey to a Knowledge Value Management Culture,†

1920s - time of sustained economic progress Essay

1920s - time of sustained economic progress - Essay Example Although this picture of America presented a favorable image of life for Americans, others believed that it also presented a picture of an America which was shallow, greedy, and empty, one where people were judged for their wealth and their properties. They also believed that America’s values were crumbling and that hedonism was fast becoming a norm in their society. This paper shall analyze these themes, and to what extent each group is right or wrong. This paper shall first provide an overview of the various developments seen during the 1920s, secondly, an analysis of these developments in terms of their implications shall also be presented. Lastly, concluding remarks shall end this discussion. This paper is being carried out in order to establish a clear understanding of the 1920s and how the developments during this time impacted on the American people in general. America in the 1920s marked a transition period, from a wartime economy to a peacetime economy. And its econom y flourished during this time as it was able to engage in mass production and consumerism. Soldiers returning from war with their wages were reintroduced into the workforce and the post-World War recession soon saw an end. The 1920s also marked an era of increased consumer spending which was further supported by mass production of various consumer products. Changes in government policies, mostly in relation to the reduction of the national debt, of taxes, and of the protection of farming interests, and cutting back of immigration led to the economic boom (Filip). President Coolidge also imposed policies which sought to increase taxes on the rich and prevent government interference in private businesses (Filip). Soon enough, his approach was able to sustain economic growth for most of the 1920s. However, overconfidence in these economic policies also caused the stock market to crash, leading to the Great Depression. The sustained recovery during the early 1920s caused the Federal res erve to expand credit, as market rates were decreased; in effect, the value of the dollar increased by 60% during this time (Schultz, 349). This caused the Americans to over-extend their spending. As was mentioned above, such over-extension led to the stock market crash in the late 1920s, and the crash and the depression that followed was very much prolonged. Nevertheless, despite the fact that the favorable economic growth in the 1920s led to the Great Depression, the 1920s marked a bountiful time for the Americans (Schultz, p. 351). The automobile, movie, radio and chemical industries experienced much growth during this time. Cars were now mass-produced and they also assisted various businesses in the country, including hotels, service stations, and highway building (Schultz, p. 350). Radio advertising also soon became the primary means of advertising for many businesses. Hollywood also experienced a very rosy period as watching movies became an affordable activity. Commercial avi ation also helped advance more economic progress and activities. New roads, railroads, and highways were opened and paved and electricity as well as telephone lines soon run through each state (Schultz, p. 349). Massive urbanization was taking place and it was slowly expanding into the rural towns. More people flocked into the urban areas looking for jobs and various opportunities. Beyond, economic progress, women’s right to vote soon became firmly entrenched into the state policies (Schultz, p. 349)

Analysing legal texts Outline Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analysing legal texts - Outline Example Goodwin pleaded that his PWC did not constitute a Ship in the statutory definition and it was not a sea going vessel and further that he was not a Master employed thus he not be chargeable under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. in the initial trial his PWC ruled as a ship and Goodwin pleaded guilty however in his appeal the following questions of law arise: 1. Weather the PWC fell in the statutory definition of a ship ? 2. The meaning of the Word Sea going as per the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 3. Weather Goodwin fell under the category of Master Employed Weather the PWC fell in the statutory definition of a ship The statutory definition Merchant Shipping Act 1995 is provided in s.313(1):- â€Å"ship includes every description of vessel used in navigation†. The Court treated this statutory definition in two phases with the first being a vessel and the second being the capability of independant navigation. The court relied on Steadman v Scofield1 where a jet ski was not considere d a vessel due to its design concluded that a vessel in its traditional meaning and considered it a hollow object of boat like design capable of transportation trasportation over water and concluded that even though a jet ski was not considered a vessel the PWC in this case was indeed a vessel. The Second test of Navigation was taken not in the literal sense but in its wider meaning and was concluded the ability to go from point A to B when ordered as in Curtis v Wild however as said in Steedman v Scofield the random movement meant for joy was not considered as navigation for the purposes of the statue concerned. Thus the PWC was not considred a Ship. Sea going as per the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 The Statue requires the vessel to be capable of voyage over sea and in this case the in fact ridiculed on the thought of a PWC capable of serious voyage and thus ruled it outside the statutory definition of Sea going vessel for the purpose of the statue and concluded that a vessel meant f or recreation or purely for pleasure even though it may be capable of voyage in the literal sense was not to be taken as an actual sea traveling craft as per the requirement of the law. Weather Goodwin fell under the category of Master Employed The Merchant Shipping Act requires is for the Master Employed in a sea going ship. The Court decided in the positive to the last issue of law as Lord Phillips CJ said applied the act on a scenario of his devising that a person owning a yacht would also be punishable under the law if he so criminally injures a person. The Ratio in this case is concluded to be that in Order to be convicted under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 Sec. 58 one needs to qualify the criteria and the three questioned as explained above state that a Ship defined as a craft capable of transport of people and goods and used in accordance with a pre-set navigation for the sake of fulfilling transportation related objectives 2. Identify within this case, examples of the lite ral rule of statutory interpretation.explain why u believe each example is of the literal rule. The Literal rule of interpreting a statue is when the Court reads the wording of the statue with its dictionary literal meaning without adding or subtracting anything of its own creation. The

Justice and Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Justice and Law - Essay Example Lay judges work together to decide upon whether or not there is sufficient evidence for a defendant to be sent to be tried at a higher court. They also settle some matters involving family law. (Clark, 1992). In Germany, laypeople serve as judges in the commercial and criminal sections of state district courts. Serving on a panel of two or three, they work for a fixed term and are paid for their services. While in other countries, lay judges are only used at lower court levels, in Germany they are also used in the appellate Federal Labor Court and the Federal Social Security Court. In these instances they serve in a mixed tribunal, where professional judges constitute the majority. (Clark, 1992). France uses laypeople to a great degree in a series of specialized tribunals. Commercial hearings involve the use of business people elected by their peers, who serve for an initial two year term and then up to four more four year terms. Cases involving labor disputes make use of five groups of laypeople that represent the five sections of the economy. Each group is made up of the same number of people, and within each group there are the same number of employee representatives and employer representatives. These laypeople are elected to serve a term of six years. Similarly, social security cases involve the use one employee representative and one employer representative; these laypeople are chosen by organizations to serve a five year term. Cases involving rural leases use two representatives of farm leasers and two elected representatives of farm lessees that are elected to serve a term of six years. In all of the aforementioned specialized tribunals, laypeople are not paid for th eir services. (Clark, 1992). Historically, socialist countries such as China have used laypeople to quite an extensive degree. China used to use a large number of lay judges elected by residents to serve alongside professional judges. In the last couple of decades, however, the use of judges has become more professionalized; less and less laypeople are being used. Many cases are now being determined by a single judge, which gets rid of the need for laypeople. (Clark, 1992). In Japan, on the other hand, laypeople are being used to an even greater extent than ever. Beginning in May 2009, jury duty for laypeople will sometimes include cases that involve the death penalty. (Peters, 2008). In contrast to Japan giving weighty decisions to laypeople, Saudi Arabia barely uses laypeople. Based on the highly religious Sharia (Islamic Law), laypeople are not considered to understand Sharia; nor is this sort of material made easily accessible to them. In addition, many people in Saudi Arabia are illiterate. The scant use of laypeople in Saudi Arabia has led to much corruption in the courts there. (Human Rights Watch, 2008). While the United States sometimes uses fines as punishments for minor offenses, this is much more commonly done in Western Europe where it is also used for major criminal offenses. Judges in the United States have faced difficulty punishing criminals with fines that are fair in terms of what they did and what their economic situation is like. In Western Europe, however, day fines are used. Day fines are the fines that are adjusted to be proportional to an

Trillion Dollar Bet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Trillion Dollar Bet - Essay Example Quantitative finance is still a huge part of institutional investing, but despite that fact there are still those traders who feel that it is used too much. This in the end creates a certain amount of hostility between the "rocket scientists" or "quants" and the "intuitive" traders who depend only minimally on mathematics. What is interesting, and also unfortunate about this tension, is that no one has really conducted a study that would shed light on which approach is more optimal in terms of making money for either individual investors or financial institutions. Such a study would be fascinating, and would give much needed and incredibly valuable information on trading strategies. The viewer is given the opportunity to learn of the attempts that have been made to find a mathematical formula for risk, which after some decades of research has finally been achieved by Myron Scholes and Fisher Black, with important contributions as well from Robert Merton. The 'Black-Scholes equation' is now ubiquitous in financial engineering, and as the program mentions, is greatly used in trading pits to estimate the price of an option. This part of the program is actually very interesting, for it discusses the historical origins of quantitative finance, in looking at the thesis of Louis Bechalier. ... For example, the factors which lead LTCM to go into liquidation are not immediately known. The viewer is also led to believe that the LTCM organization, through its vast positioning, aggravated the financial turmoil at that time. With the unknown reasoning behind the ultimate liquidation, any such conclusions or statements first should go through serious research before any final decision is made. No evidence for this is given in the program, and also many of the guests reflect a certain bias against quantitative finance. Bias on any topic can lead to an unfortunate sense of crucial facts being potentially ignored in favor of siding with a popular idea(s). For starters, one of the guests on the program, Stan Jonas of FINAT Brothers, makes reference to a collection of people who a consumer would want to "manage their money." In the end, who are these people and what justifies imputing to them this rare ability Also what is their track record in investment Do they consistently make money, and is this consistency verifiable to an external observer It is these questions which are truly important, and is imperative to ask in order to have a fully well rounded understanding of the subject matter that is being assessed. Sadly, Jonas does not give any names or examples unfortunately, and his statements do reflect to an already mentioned degree of bias against the practice of mathemati cal modeling in finance. Such a bias in and of itself is not necessarily bad, but a reader who is really interested in studying the difference in efficacious between trading strategies, i.e. maybe between those that exploit complex mathematics and those that do not, will not gain anything from Jonas' statements. Such

Orgniasing and managing across cultures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Orgniasing and managing across cultures - Essay Example As such, this report seeks to critically analyse the significance of culture in the management systems in organisations in Africa. The report will also attempt to establish if the ideas that characterise the concept of ubuntu can be applied in other cultural contexts. The philosophy of ubuntu The concept of ubuntu mainly originated from the culture of African people which puts more emphasis on social behaviours such as sharing and treating each other equally (Schultz, 2005). Ubuntu is a metaphor that describes the significance of group solidarity, morality, humanness, hospitality and understanding (Mbigi & Maree, 2005). This concept is very important on survival issues in African communities which as a result of poverty have to survive through brotherly group care and not individual self reliance. This concept is applicable to poor communities and the main idea behind it is to empower the marginalised people and the idea has been harnessed in the management of people in the organisat ions to reflect their interests. With regards to organisations, the concept of ubuntu emphasises the need to harness the solidarity tendency of the African people in developing management practices and approach. Western and African cultures are very different and behaviour of people from these places is also different. In Africa, the philosophy of extended family is given priority while in western cultures, emphasis is on the nuclear family and the individual and competition is encouraged. From an African perspective, reality of underdevelopment cannot be ignored and ubuntu can be possible because of the individuals in the group who collectively pull their efforts towards the attainment of set organisational goals. This philosophy can be harnessed in the nation building process and in the workplace. By gaining a full and deep understanding of the cultural and philosophical basis of the people in a business team or community, one is better positioned to harness their energies (Boon, 2006). One can synergise the operations of an organisation towards a shared vision and comprehend interdependence through the adoption of the ubuntu philosophy in managing business. Without a deep cultural understanding, it may be difficult to coordinate the efforts of the people towards the attainment of the set goals. Managing diversity Africa is comprised of people from diverse cultural backgrounds and these people are often unique and different from the others. The cultural diversity concept of human resources (HR) posits to the effect that the leaders must emerge from the workplace to motivate and direct workforce towards the attainment of the set goals (Grobler et al 2006). Managing diversity in the workplace has become an important part of HRM. Every individual is unique but at the same time we share common characteristics with other people. Therefore, diversity in the workplace means recognising in a positive way that groups of people share common characteristics and others have different characteristics (Kleynhans et al 2007). Thus, the HR professional has a duty help the organisation to comply or go along with the legislation that prevents unfair practices or discrimination because of these differences between people. The concept of ubuntu comes in handy to solve problems likely to be related to managing diversity at the workplace. Managing diversi

Operations Mnagement Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Operations Mnagement - Case Study Example The need for operations managers to reduce manufacturing costs, optimize productivity and improve product quality in order to stay in the market has become imperative. Many organizations now recognize the importance of automation, optimization of scheduling and a proper inventory management system, and are incorporating total quality management and total quality in their operations. Today, the ordinary customer has become more sophisticated and demanding, and expects more variety, lower costs and better quality. Customers therefore drive demand and the industry has to meet this demand. Inter-firm rivalry and competition have also increased manifold. In line with these changes, organizations are replacing production-driven systems involving mass production, by market-driven systems to enable them to corner market share. This scenario has increased the importance of operations management in an organization, as it is directly responsible for the final product. As a result, operations management is gaining more significance and has become a key discipline in management science. Until recently, the field of operations of management was considered relevant only to the manufacturing sector. But with the increasing influence of service industries, the scope of operations management has widened. ... Controlling Directing Coordinating The following are the activities carried out by the Operations Manager. 1. Planning: Plan product and service mix Location and capacity planning Decide upon production methods to use for each item. Plan procurement of equipment. 2. Organizing: Centralize or decentralize operations. Decide upon functions, products, or hybrid organization structure. Establish work center assignments. Assign responsibility for every activity. 3. Controlling: Encourage pride in performing as expected. Compare costs to budget. Compare actual labor hours to standards. Inspect the quality levels. 4. Directing: Establish provisions of union contracts. Establish personnel policies. Establish employment contracts. Issue job assignments and instructions. 5. Coordinating: Coordinate through use of common forecasts and master schedules. Observe actual performance and recommend needed improvement. Report, inform and communicate. Respond to customer inquiries about status of orders. [ ICMR, 2003] In order to succeed in all the above activities, an operations manager should have both technical and behavioral skills. Budget Airlines - What are they' There has been a revolutionary increase in the number of low-cost airline which are otherwise called the budget airlines in the aviation industry over the last few years. The budget airlines are usually operators who provide low-cost travel options for the passengers. The budget airlines try and cut the indirect costs to the maximum possible extent. Passengers are not offered wet towels, meals etc. Sometimes it may even happen that they do not even offer water to the passengers flying the budget airlines. [(Phillip), 2002] Scheduled airlines are regular airlines that offer considerably high-cost air

Distance Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Distance Learning - Essay Example The online enrollment estimations made in the late 1990s have been exceeded and continues to grow at amazingly high rates. Thus, the number of online students reached 2.6 million in the fall of 2004 (Allen, and Seaman, 2004). Despite the tremendous success of distance technology-mediated learning (this term covers not only fully online courses, but also various blended approaches that integrate online components into traditional classes), experts suggests that it still remains at an early stage of development (Smart, and Cappel, 2006). The conventional concepts and theories of education were reported to retain their suitability in the web-based learning environment. Numerous research studies demonstrated that cognitive factors such as performance, learning, and achievement in distance education classes are comparable to those observed in traditional classes (Russell, 1999). ... s enrolled in an introductory psychology course performed better in distance education courses, although the level of their satisfaction with them was lower. Students in the web based course consistently scored an average of five percentage points higher on the final exam than did those in the lecture course, but they consistently reported less satisfaction than the students in the lecture course (Hagel, and Shaw, 2003). Student satisfaction is currently believed to be one of the major indicators of student development in conventional higher education. The mission of higher education is not only to impart knowledge but also to enhance the student's total development (Astin, 1993). One of the ways higher education institutions accomplish this mission is by continuously collecting information on student satisfaction, defined by various authors as an "everpresent campus variable" (Betz, Menne, Starr, and Klingensmith, 1971: 99), the key outcome of higher education (Astin, 1993), and the 'quality enhancement tool designed to improve the quality of the student experience' (Harvey, Plimmer, Moon, and Geall, 1997: 3). Traditionally, the institutions of higher education have used the data on student satisfaction to improve understanding of the educational environments. This understanding, it its turn, allowed to create settings more conducive for student development. Student satisfaction is an indicator of higher education institutions' responsiveness to the needs of students. Also it is a measure of institutional effectiveness, success, and vitality. Measuring student satisfaction is also important for maintaining and increasing enrollment, managing attrition and retention problems, and making better-informed decisions in the area of student affairs (Beltyukova, 2002).

Art in south afric Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Art in south afric - Research Paper Example The art show will be followed by a briefing regarding South African art and the country. Objectives The proposed art show is directed to create awareness and learning in regards to other cultures and perspectives from around the globe. The art show is also expected to enhance the understanding of students taking Africa-related classes as well as students who are researching African art and culture. The audience will also be provided a chance to compare contemporary North American art with art from Africa, bringing out the nuances in culture and belief between both societies. Moreover, the briefing regarding South Africa, its art and culture following the art show is expected to enhance the understanding of the audience in regards to how African art has evolved over the ages. Active feedback will be sought from the audience using comment cards that will be provided to each visitor. Changes deemed necessary by the audience will be incorporated to the proposed art show and will be kept in note for future art shows. It is hoped that a successful art show will convince other universities to follow suit. Context The proposed art show is expected to draw in a varied audience composed of students, teachers and members of staff at Indiana State University. Learning about other cultures, their values and norms is increasingly necessary, given the multi-racial outlook of modern society. The art show presents students with a chance to peer beyond their own cultural traditions so that they may breed tolerance for other cultures. Audiences will be handed out small brochures as guides to the art show. These brochures will include information regarding South Africa and regarding the art pieces on display. Community Connections Volunteers from the community will be required to watch over the show to ensure that the art pieces are not vandalized in any form. In addition, volunteers will be required in order to usher the incoming audiences and to manage the entire art gallery dur ing exhibition time. The volunteers will be expected to open up the gallery and shut it down each day that the exhibition proceeds. Before the start of the art show, volunteers will be needed to set up the pieces of art in the art gallery while making sure that no piece gets damaged. In addition, custodians will clean up once the show is over for one day so that the art gallery is in great condition for the next day’s show. Budget The proposed art show will require funding in order to procure South African art from the parent country and from around the globe. The funding will be spent for two major causes – buying the artwork and then transporting the artwork to Indiana State University. The funding could be derived by holding a fund raiser that could appeal to the students as well as other bodies’ faculty and staff and the community. Moreover, the departments for art and history will be requested to release some funds in order to sponsor the art exhibition. Ou treach and Promotion Proper marketing effort needs to be made to drive people to attend the art show. In order to market the cause, posters will be exhibited all across the campus including the cafeterias and common rooms. Moreover, posters will be placed on notice boards around the campus as well as the entrances of all major buildings. In order to take advantage of social networks, a marketing campaign will target various social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter, My Space etc. The university’

Competency Goal Functional Areas Essay Example for Free

Competency Goal Functional Areas Essay To establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment. I keep children healthy by monitoring their health daily. I ask if they have any boo boos and if so how they got them and I put them on a daily health list, I also do this by carefully observing children, watching for signs of illness, making sure immunizations are up to date. I also keep children healthy by keeping the room clean. Children are informed and able to make good decisions on how to stay healthy like washing hands after going to the bathroom, blowing their nose or coughing into their hands, when we come in from outside and before after lunch. I also keep children safe by creating and environment where children gain the knowledge that allows then to make appropriate choices. I make sure activities are safe and developmentally appropriate. The children are encouraging to make good choices by having discussions, giving lessons, and reading books that talk about safety issues I try to create a fun and safe environment where children can learn and grow. I provide and age appropriate environment for the children. I do this by preparing a weekly lesson plan, providing activities for children of all developmental levels. I have activities that are for inside the classrooms which are for gross motor skills such as bean bags, musical instruments, dance music, and all sizes of blocks. I also have fine motor activities, such as large and small beads to string, Lego’s, locking flowers, stencils, scissors, crayon and markers. I also allow time for the children to practice writing skills like their names and letters also to draw beautiful pictures. Competency Goal 1 Functional Area 1: Safe In order to help provide an environment which is safe for the children in my care, I do the following to prevent and reduce injuries: I keep all cleaning supplies and chemicals locked up and out of the children’s reach, to avoid poisoning or other injuries. I am also certified in First Aid and CPR which give me the knowledge to handle any injuries or accidents. I am familiar with the classroom and center emergency evacuation procedures in case of a fire or other emergency. I maintain an easily accessible and current list of emergency numbers and also all the parent numbers. I inspect all toys and equipment, frequently throughout the day to ensure that they are safe for use. I teach safe use of playground equipment. Functional Area 2: Healthy In order to provide and environment that promotes health, and prevents illness and which teaches children about good nutrition and practices that promotes wellness, I do the following: I keep the toys and the rooms clean. I wash my hands and wear gloves before and after handling food. I wear gloves if and when children need help when going to the bathroom, cleaning their noses; in order not spread germs. I also teach the children how to wash their hands after using the bathroom, wiping their nose, coming in from outside, while letting them know how important, it is to washing their hands. I also follow centers’ policies for sick children to prevent other illnesses from spreading throughout the center. I also read books about health care and talk about going to the Doctor and Dentist. I also share the importance of healthy foods like fruits and vegetables.

Colourism In The 21st Century Cultural Studies Essay

Colourism In The 21st Century Cultural Studies Essay Even though the term colourism, otherwise known as shadeism, has gained popularity in recent years, the concept is deeply rooted in the colonial days of slavery. Defined as a form of  prejudice or  discrimination  in which persons are treated differently based on the social meanings attached to skin color, this light skin versus dark skin issue has had a damaging effect on the psyche of young black Jamaicans today. However, according to Cedric Herring colourism operates in two different ways: interracially and intraracially. Interracial colourism occurs when members of one racial group make distinctions based upon skin color between members of another racial group. Intraracial colourism occurs when members of a racial group make distinctions based upon skin color between members of their own race (3). While I will be analysing both forms of colourism, the focus of this thesis will be on intraracial colourism, specifically within the Jamaican community. After the abolition of slavery in Jamaica, the immersion of a middle and lower class was integrated into the hierarchical structure of Jamaica that previously only claimed whites as the elite. As a result, due to the preferential treatment that was awarded to mulattoes-a treatment that allowed them to have an education-, they became the ruling middle class with the then former black slaves turned peasants as the lower class. To make matters worse, the historical and stereotypical depiction of Africans as ugly, stupid and uncivilized and Europeans as pretty, intelligent and superior only served to brainwash black Jamaicans into thinking that they are the inferior race. Thus, the tendency to perceive or behave toward members of a racial category based on the lightness or darkness of their skin tone has resulted in, not only the segregation of a people within a specific ethnic group, but it has also created, amongst the African Diaspora of Jamaica, extreme methods through which the they will do anything to attain as many refined European attributes as possible. According to William Lynchs letter The Making of a Slave, his secret to controlling slaves is by pitting them against each other, by exploiting differences such as age and skin color that would, after some time, sow dissension amongst them, one that would last for many years to come. While there has been extensive research and academia founded on the topic of racism within the West Indian context during the colonial period, only a few have examined intraracial skin color hierarchies amongst the black race and even less amongst the African Diaspora of Jamaica in the 21st century. It is therefore, the purpose of this study to show how stereotypes and perceptions about light and dark skin signify an inheritance of similar attitudes documented in earlier generations of black Jamaicans, which in turn, sheds light on the ever-present discrimination that continues takes place on a day to day basis in their lives. It is my hope that this study will address the following: Demonstrate the link of Jamaicas colonial past to colourism today Show the medias role toward preference and how it has affected black Jamaicans Explain the extreme measures taken in order to be brown Many historians (Henriques 1953; Norris 1962) have acknowledged the fact that slavery has had adverse psychological effects on Africans (Danieli 394), especially those of a darker complexion. As such, the preferential treatment that was awarded to mulatto slaves (James and Harris 234) has been able to transcend years of black empowerment movements in such a way that it is clearly evident in Jamaicas society today through colourism (Herring 3). According to Carolyn Cooper, the remnants of Jamaicas colonial past are ever present in the social interactions of its people today, no matter the context. Her argument is further supported by Deborah Gabriel (28) who has studied race relations among Jamaicans and attests to the fact that colour prejudice is visible in the societys socio-economic environment. Moreover, Antonio Gramscis cultural hegemony theory, which is explored in the works of Boggs (39), Gail Dines and Jean M. Humez (62), adds another dimension to the analysis of colourism by stating that the superimposition of one culture over another negatively affects their already established social structure. It is common knowledge therefore that the white ideal- through which all analyses of colourism is based- expresses the view that blacks are the inferior race and whites, the superior (Kardiner et. al 315). Even Fanons psychoanalytical theory of racism and the dehumanization of African slaves in the colonial epoch support the idea that white supremacy has led black people to develop an inferiority complex. Yet, despite the call for black unity among the African race advocated by numerous social and political groups such as the Pan-African movements and Rastafarianism (Caravantes 2003), there are still messages being transmitted that stipulate that light skin people are better t han their darker counterparts. Carl Boggs lends aid to this belief through his analysis in the role of mainstream media. His study shows how the elite in society have been able to perpetuate the ideology that whites are the superior race (39). On the other hand, however, Margaret Andersen and Howard Taylor examine the way in which light skin black people are depicted as elite in their own right when compared to their darker counterparts (53). Consequently, the association between white people and light skin people as more intelligent, more beautiful and more civilized can be found numerous media outlets in Jamaica. To add to that theory is the analysis of Buju Bantons song Love me browning by Patricia Mohammed who stated that his song has reinforced and reflected the idea that men value the colour of light skin in women in Jamaica (35). This preference has led to the exacerbation of black womens self-esteem who now take it upon themselves to bleach their skin in an attempt to seem more desirable. According to Natasha Barnes, not only is skin colour used as a handicap to gain social access, it is also seen as a form of economic mobility and stability among the light skin people of Jamaica (*). Therefore, it isnt necessary that black people work as hard as they do to move up the socio-economic ladder because decent job qualifications are not more valuable than the colour of ones skin (Miller, ). However, after having researched the subject for this thesis project, I found that there was an abundance of information based on African American experiences along with the numerous studies which have proven that people with darker skin are subjugated to more prejudice than their lighter skinned counterparts. In fact, very little of the information found related to the theme of colourism as a system of language, internal scripts and external practices that govern the everyday interactions and experiences of young black men and women as it relates to skin tone  [1]  in the contemporary society of Jamaica. While I do agree with many historian sociologists, such as Fernando Henriques and Katrin Norris, who have highlighted the topic of skin politics in Jamaica, I intend to go further by examining the phenomenon of colourism as it relates to present day interactions and experiences. By examining the historical and contemporary significance of skin color, it will be proven that discrimination based on skin color is a present reality that will assume increasing significance in the future as current understandings of race and racial classifications disintegrate.   Furthermore, for the purpose of this thesis I have taken the liberty of looking at numerous primary and secondary sources, such as those written by Marcus Garvey, Dr. Eric Williams, Francis O.C, Anthony Richmond, and David Lowenthal. They have all have given me great insight into historical context of race relations during the colonial period and how black people reacted to this unjust treatment through the various black power movements, especially those executed by Rastafarians. On the other hand, however, due to the fact that this thesis is based on race relations within a specific social group in contemporary Jamaica, many of the research executed had to be done via questionnaires and face to face group discussions with Jamaican men and women. As a result, their responses have allowed me to fill in the information that was lacking in the secondary sources. Through the use of questionnaires, I was able to target audience of ten people in an efficient amount of time. Nevertheless, as with all data collection, some of opinions expressed warranted a deeper analysis of the subject at hand. Consequently, I resorted to focus groups of r people and individual interviews so that greater insight would be given as to why people had certain opinions; to know how they thought or felt about this topic, as it is a term that is rarely used in public spheres, and even less so in private ones. To conclude, this research speaks to the gaps in empirical research and theoretical conceptualizations of colourism by providing an in-depth exploration of skin tone bias and discrimination among African Jamaicans. Additionally, it seeks to develop a foundation for a theoretical framework that captures the key features of colourism in the 21st century. As such, an examination of race relations will show whether or not there is a preference for lighter skin in Jamaica, and if so the extent to which one would go to achieve features that approximate a Caucasian appearance. The origins of colourism The whites claim superiority, as is done all over the world, and, unlike other parts, the coloured, who ancestrally are the illegitimate off-springs of black and white, claim a positive superiority over the blacks. They train themselves to believe that in the slightest shade the coloured man is above the black man and so it runs right up to whiteà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ -Marcus Garvey () Colourism exists everywhere in the African Diaspora where slavery or colonization brought with it the imposition of western ideology and white supremacy, (Gabriel, 25). Approximately six hundred thousand Africans came to Jamaica from the Bight of Biafra, the Gold Coast, West Central Africa and the Bight of Benin between 1533 and 1807 (http://www.nlj.gov.jm/NLJ/files/u1/slave_trade_bibliography.pdf, 15/03/2013) to work as slaves on the sugar cane plantation. Upon their arrival, European plantation owners established themselves as superior based on a paradigm through which Africans were biologically and legally inferior because of their skin colour and as such they were forced to endure hard labour. This racist social system, known as white supremacy, resulted in Negro subordination through white domination. However, with the start of miscegenation between white slave owners and African slaves- through rape- a new racial group was created which in turn created a new paradigm. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦it was widely held that slaves of colour should not be employed in field labour and that they should be given preference in the training of tradesman, the flower of the slave population.' (Higman, 189). Mulatto children, although most of them were not freed, they were considered better than the black population because of their close proximity to the whites. As a result, they were offered an education, an opportunity through which they held an even greater advantage over the African slaves. Thus, when the sugar plantations experienced a decline in revenue and plantation owners were sinking into debt, some of them left Jamaica, retuning to live in England off the money they had earned through the hard labor of the Africans. This movement off the island by the whites left a void in the social hierarchy, which mulattos came to fill (Gabriel, 27). Consequently, gradations in skin colour through social stratification allowed these mulatto men and women to assume a higher status, socially and economically, according to the lightness of their skin tone. This hierarchical structure persisted even after the complete emancipation of slavery in 1838 with the introduction of freed slaves as lower class, mulattoes as middle class and whites as the elite. Yet, even after more than 200 hundred years of freedom, the idea that a persons destiny is predetermined by their skin tone proves that this historical continuum still exists. Colourism is so deeply embedded in the structure and organization of Caribbean societies that people identify themselves and form relationships according to the standards implemented by the white British (Flynn, 2011). While the 21st century has seen many changes with regards to race discrimination, interpersonal and intrapersonal colourism continues its reigns in Jamaican society. This is ever present in the social interactions among young adults and children who experience discrimination because they are too dark or preference because they are light skin. A standard that is further highlighted by a 22 year old male interviewee who recounted a particular situation in high school where a girl told him outright that she would not date him because he was too dark. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦because internalized racism is so firmly entrenched in the consciousness of black people, they are often unaware that they have a colour complex (Gabriel, 22). Browning, which replaces terms like mulatto, terceroon, quadroon, mustee, musteefino used in the colonial period is a fabled ideal of female beauty and male power in Jamaica society: the just right mix of white and black (http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120122/focus/focus5.html, 12/03/2013). However, this term browning also reduces the person being referred to as a mere object, a trophy, a prized possession; they are only seen for the colour of their skin and the socio-economic status attached to their nearness to European characteristics and distance from the African (Henriques, *). As a result, many men and women in Jamaica today are obsessed with trying to attain this ideal because they see it as a sign of upward mobility from their destitute stations. Therefore, while it is totally understandable that e ach person is entitled to their preference, the fact remains that this preference is based on a premise which reinforces the idea that black is undesirable and light skin is ideal. This train of thought is in keeping with the social stratification theory that has been interwoven in the socio-historical tapestry of Jamaica. For a mother to insist that her daughter, black or coloured, gone to buckra [master] house, gone live so that she gone lift de colour was seen as a sign of pride during the days of slavery (Henriques,*). Even now, there are parents who prefer their sons and daughters marry white (Norris, *) because they see it as a chance for their children to move upward in a society that acknowledges and propels the worth of the white bias. Consequently, these children have grown up with the idea that a dark skin tone limits ones chances to a better life and a lighter complexion is the pathway to success. An ideology that is further cemented by the responses given to a survey conducted on this theme of colourism, more specifically preference for lighter skin in Jamaica, through which the majority of respondents despite age, social class and education believ e that if one is fairer in complexion, they are automatically offered more opportunities. Likewise is the case for young adults transitioning from school life to independent status by entering the workforce. I am not surprised that certain employers request light-skinned individuals for recruitmentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Appearances do matter in recruitment, and generally speaking, Jamaicans are unable to see the beauty in a man or woman of African descent (http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110914/letters/letters1.html, 12/03/2013). Explicit discrimination in the hiring process of many firms is a cause for concern within the Jamaican job market. Historically, darker men and women were not allowed to work in banks, government offices or at the front desk of private businesses until the 1960s (Gabriel, 33). Yet, even though change has been fought for by many involved in the Pan-African and Rastafarian movement, the existence of companies that openly state that they want light skin applicants does nothing for the advancement of a country whose motto recites Out of many, One people . The Acquired Anti-Own Race Syndrome created by Clinton Hutton, a lecturer in political philosophy and culture at the University of the West Indies, Mona refers to the the philosophy and psychology of assumed European world cultural superiority expressed by African peoples in their relations with each other and in perceiving and operating in the world (Hutton, ). Consequently, this ideology expresses the views that both socially and economically, Jamaicans have used the predetermined white supremacy standards to interact with each other. With this in mind, it is no wonder why dark skin Jamaicans think it necessary to try to elevate themselves out of their situations. They are measured by unrealistic goals designed to keep them at the bottom of hierarchical structure and they will remain there if the damaged psyche of those who reinforce these ideals dont change. If not, black Jamaicans will never truly be able to gain access to decent jobs based on merit alone as light skin far outwei ghs education and training skills (Miller, 3164). *** Many sociologists have argued that the mass media promote narrow definitions of who people are and what they can be (Andersen and Taylor, 53). For centuries the media has influenced and propagated the ideal body image for men and women across the globe, which in turn affects their personality, how they interact with one another and their health (Lubkin, 197). Even long before the advent of technological advances the global population has been exposed to paintings of idyllic body images as can be seen in the works of Rubens, Renoir and Raphael who influenced cultural standards for the ultimate body type in their respective eras (Kirsh, 126). As such, one shouldnt be surprised by the outright and even subliminal messages (Jackson, 350) projected to the masses that stipulate what is beautiful and what is not. Televisions, magazines, music and more notably in contemporary societies, the internet, have transmitted these idealistic images that would later epitomize an era. Intrinsically, i t is these major multibillion-dollar media conglomerate companies that concentrate their control on what is assimilated on a day to day basis. Their promotion on what is culturally acceptable has had an explosive effect on the way people think about themselves and about others. According to Italian communist Antonio Gramscis theory on cultural hegemony- through which he broadens the materialist Marxist theory- the ruling class within a culturally diverse society superimposes its values, whether social, economical, political or religious, upon the lower classes, who in turn buy into the status quo operating against their established social structure (Dines and Humez, 62). This dominance of one class or group over another can be used to explain the way in which media is used as a tool by the elites to perpetuate their power, wealth and status [by popularizing] their own philosophy, culture and morality (Boggs, 39). As a result, through analysis of the history of all forms of media leading up to the 21st century, one can easily stipulate that European features and fair skin are more pervasive- no matter the race-, youth is more accepted and beauty is whatever and whomever can approximate to both these ideals. A correlation can then be made between media and th e black ugliness/white beauty binary of imperialism and slavery that has spawned a racialized beauty empire (Rodrà ­guez, Boatcă, Costa, 196). And it is this correlation that highlights the conditions under which black people must perform in order to be successful; the same correlation that stipulates black beauty in the 21st century is a paradox. Marcus Garvey advocated for Black Nationalism whereby he encouraged African people to be proud of their race and see the beauty in their own kind (Caravantes, 2003). This movement de-centered white beautys iconicity through anti colonialist aesthetics focused on natural hair and black self-love so as to redefine blackness through positive valuation (Rodrà ­guez, Boatcă, Costa, 198). In collaboration with Rastafarianism, these Pan-Africanism Movements promoted ideologies like black is beautiful and Im black and Im proud, however, when mainstream media daily bombards the population with images that say otherwise, what is this country Out of many, one people supposed to believe? The idea that political, social and economical institutions have bought into this perception of superiority/inferiority within the African race only serves to reinforce this long standing belief. Advertising agencies have projected this standard at all levels in the Jamaican society. According to Carolyn Cooper, colourism can be found even at tertiary level education. It is the faces of lighter skin males and female students that are used to advertise the institutions at an international level, whereas the darker students were found in the local yellow pages. She further explains another situation in which family oriented advertisements display images of a dark skin father and light skin mother with a dark skin son and light skin daughter. Social ads also show the same thing. They big-up all the light skin girls them. Yuh cant leave yuh house without seein them brownins on billboards, in the news, on party flyers, in magazines. They dominate the industry, says a 23 year old cocoa coloured female interviewee who resides in Trinidad pursuing her bachelors degree at the University of the West Indies. The idea that men are not as affected by skin colour, hair texture and facial f eatures as their female counterparts, demonstrates their social and economical mobility in a patriarchal society despite the colour of their skin. As a result, it is only the representations of dark-skinned African women as those who are not ideal that is subliminally and openly transmitted. Indubitably, when one references Jamaican media, its music is highly influential, beginning with the famous Bob Marley, who put Jamaica on the map musically, with songs that referenced peace and black unity. However, when Buju Banton came out with his song Love me browning in 1992, consisting of the following lyrics: Me love me car, me love me bike, me love me money and ting but most of all me love me browning, it caused an uproar within the Jamaican society who accused him of denigrating the image of black women by promoting a colonial mindset (Mohammad, 35). Yet, even though he sang Love Black woman within that same year as a response to all the negative comments he was receiving, it didnt hide the fact that he was expressing the views of many Jamaican men who had a penchant for lighter-skinned women. Likewise in contemporary Jamaica, with the popularity of skin bleaching in songs from Vybz Kartel, who has also bleached his skin colour because he wanted to show off his tattoos ()*, Jamaicans are bombarded with the views that having a lighter complexion is the way to go. Music videos use women that are fairer in complexion when the song is about love and for dancehall music the predominantly darker skinned women are used to gyrate. Objectified as a sexual creature a darker woman isnt seen as someone a man would want to build a life with because she is considered only within a sexual context. While there have been some transitions in music where dark skin women are used with terms of endearment, the majority of the popular music videos shown still illustrate the European influenced cookie cutter image of women to sell their songs. The media is all about selling goods and selling fantasies is one of their products. It presents men with the ideal woman and vice versa. As such, lighter complexioned men and women, as depicted in all forms of media, are seen as trophies. According to Natasha Barnes, skin colour still serves as a handicap in access to good service, securing decent jobs, housing and other social amenities (Barnes, 286). Thus, a higher complexioned woman is seen as the symbol of a mans success whereas the man is seen as a way out of poverty and an elevation of social status for women. As such, the following statement given by a 20 year old anonymous female in response to a question about social interactions in Jamaica and the perceptions men and women have of each other, will clearly provide insight into the minds of young African men and women of contemporary Jamaica: If you have a light skin man in Jamaica, especially if you come from inner city Jamaica, is like you have gold. Youre introduced to a new world, you meet new people, have more opportunities because his world is completely different to your own. You cant force anyone to think black is beautiful when the evidence around them testifies to the contrary.   And which of our leaders are going from a rich mahogany to a high yellow shade? The poor can only afford bleaching creams, but the  well-to-do have other means (http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120226/news/news4.html, 25/01/2013) With particular attention to the Jamaican government ministers and officials, one sees that darker hued representatives are a minority. While it is not the fault of these officials to possess the education necessary that would allow them the chance to enter into such high esteemed positions the questions remain: Were they offered more opportunities due to their skin complexion? With such a high percentage of those who were given questionnaires saying Yes (82%) a lighter skin hue does open more doors for you, doubt still lingers. However, when newspaper ads highlight the fact that there are still proprietors requesting that trainees be brown or light-skinned as a prerequisite for employment in their firms (http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110911/lead/lead1.html , 02/02/2013) it supports the idea that discrimination persists to this day. Certainly, the government has spoken out against any form of skin prejudice and promised to take action, even urging people to boycott businesses lacking black faces, but few express confidence that the culprits will ever be named, (http://www.ipsnews.net/2011/09/jamaica-wanted-light-skinned-only-please/, 02/02/2013). A Darker Shade of Pale Weighing about 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) on average and covering some 22 square feet (2 square meters), the human skin is the largest organ of the body, composed of a complex system of cell layers, nerves and glands that not only protects them from but also connects them to the outside world. However, what makes an African persons skin colour different to that of a white person, is the amount of melanin produced in the epidermis. As such, darker-skinned people produce more numerous and deeper-colored melanin particles than their fairer-skinned counterparts, which in turn acts as a benefit since they dont need as much bone-strengthening vitamin D, produced through exposure to UV rays  (http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/health-and-human-body/human-body/skin-article/, 09/03/2013). Skin bleaching, also known as skin lightening or skin whitening, on the other hand, refers to the practice of using chemical substances in an attempt to reduce the prominence of skin discolorations and even lighten skin tone by lessening the concentration of  melanin produced. This whitening process can help lighten a tan, fade scars, and alleviate dark patches on the skin through the use of topical skin lightening creams and lotions that often contain plant extracts that have bleaching effects on the skin or chemical agents such as hydroquinone, azelaic acid, and retinoic acid. While several chemicals have been shown to be effective in skin whitening, some have proved to be toxic or have questionable safety profiles. Their harmful effects add to the controversy surrounding their use and the impacts they have on certain ethnic groups who apply skin lighteners to their entire body so as to achieve a lighter complexion. But this can be very risky as the active ingredient in some blea ching creams contain steroids or mercury, a toxic agent that can lead to mercury poisoning causing serious psychiatric, neurological, and  kidney  problem (http://www.webmd.com/beauty/face/skin-lightening-products, 09/03/2013) With a history that can be dated as far back as the Elizabethan age of powder and paint (Williams, 1957), the elaborate white make-up of Japanese Geishas (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/apr/04/japan.nicolemowbray, 08/03/2013) or even the deep rooted desire Indians to have pale skin because it will that is entwined with Indias complex social hierarchy or caste system (Gomes and Westerhof 2001), it is evident that skin bleaching has existed for thousands of years. Yet, despite the warnings given by health officials to educate the masses about the dangers of skin bleaching creams, there are millions of people worldwide who dont heed these messages, particularly Jamaicans, who in fact, have reached dangerous proportions, particularly in the countrys slums. For them, a lighter complexion is seen as a ticket to upward mobility: socially, professionally and economically. As a result, they paste their entire bodies with white cream, don a track suit and intermittently try to refrain fr om the suns darkening powers. The various homemade concoctions such as toothpaste, curry powder, milk powder, household bleach, aloe vera and cornmeal that are used as part of their skin-lightening routine, a routine that some people do up to three times a day, is a way for them to achieve their goal (http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091115/news/news3.html, 12/03/2013). Frantz Fanon (1952), the Martinique-born French psychiatrist, used psychoanalytical theory to explore the psyche of the Negro as shaped by the Eurocentric world in which he lives, especially in a colonial context vis-à  -vis skin colour. Although he does not actually reference skin bleaching, he does speak of the inferiority complex engendered in the mind of Black people, who try to adapt to and imitate the culture of the colonizer so as to attain some sort of identity, especially after having been forcibly removed from their own African roots.   With that in mind, the attempt to assign color privilege based upon proximity to whiteness by circumnavigating the parameters of the white/non-white binary racial hierarchy is the spectrum upon which Pigmentocracy, and therefore colourism, is based (Blay, 5). It is the unconscious and unnatural training of black people from a young age to associate blackness with wrongness that has given rise to this widespread global phenomenon of skin w hitening.   The idea that ones destiny is intertwined with the colour of ones skin is ludicrous to some, however, in the lives of these Jamaicans, it is as absolute as night and day. Synonymous with the practice of slaves in the past, men and women are currently trying to ameliorate their socio-economic standing by marrying into families of a higher breed, but the only way to even reach this gateway of social mobility, according to them, is to physically alter their looks as well. Popular Jamaican proverbs like anything too black nuh good, or when yuh black yuh affi stick back and if yuh brown come around reinforce the high degree of colour prejudice existing in contemporary Jamaica today. The White  ideal (Kardiner   Ovesey, 1962) which includes pale skin, long, straight hair, and aquiline features, assesses the enduring influences on societal assessments of human value. Skin bleaching then represents one attempt to approximate the White ideal and cons

Airasia Xs Business Environment Tourism Essay

Airasia Xs Business Environment Tourism Essay X targeted the less disposable income travelers who overlooked by traditional airlines even by some low cost carriers. The low price of ticket and abundant of destination network provided travelers more opportunities to fly. Moreover, X explored the new technology to reduce transaction cost for travelers the cell phone sales of ticket. As Asias economic grew, people from Asia have higher spending power and they will select air transportation to travel more frequent than before. X should cater to a broader passengers segment across different needs categories. Back to a short time after the inception of X, the Malaysia Transport Ministry even refused to release the air route from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney for X in order to protect Malaysia Airlines which is the national airline. Afterward, X prepared for IPO but did not want to be list on the KLSE. Due to worry about the Malaysia government could slow down some of Xs expansion and continue to refuse some routes application. X put off the IPO till the end of 2011 and early of 2012. AirAsia Xs industry environment Although the entry barrier of airline industry is high such as huge capital requirement and governmental legal barriers, low cost long haul carriers are suffering strong competition. On one hand, most of low cost long haul carriers are launched by their parent company. For example, X is a sister company of AirAsia, Scoot Airline is a subsidiary of Singapore Airline. They can enter the industry because of the background of their parent company. On the other hand, the cost of aircraft, fuel and airport is the majority expense in airline company, the high bargain power of suppliers gave much pressure to them. Train and ship are the substitutes of airline, but they are hardly to take place of low cost long haul airline. Even though the price is more expensive than bus and ship, low cost long haul carriers provide variable, efficient and convenient transport service. Sometimes, low threat of substitutes indicates high competition in the industry. In Southeast Asia market, Jetstar from Australia and Scoot from Singapore are the main competitors of X. Jetstar is the earliest company to operated low cost model of them, it has much experience about low cost control. It has huge fleet and good quality service. Its fatal weakness is the highest ticket price provided among the three companies. Scoot is a new low cost long haul carrier in 2012. It has narrow route network and higher price than X. However, it has absolute cost advantages in route from Singapore to Australia currently. Compared to them, X has the lowest average ticket price and the largest passenger load. AirAsia Xs Strategy X successfully integrated low cost model in every organizational activities. It sharply griped the true needs of lower disposable income customers to attract new customer segments and created value to customers around low cost. Primary activities Activities Description Inbound logistics Although X formally separated from AirAsia, they still jointly purchase important resources such as aircraft and fuel. It will strengthen their bargaining power towards suppliers. X reduced costly investment in terminal or non-airplane related infrastructure help to decrease the cost of flight for passengers. Meanwhile, X pays much attention to flight safety. It has a high standard aircraft maintenance team. Operations Different from full service airlines, X should maximize its load in each flight to reach the break-even point because of the low enough price. Moreover, X arranges high efficient flight scheduling to increase the profit. Outbound logistics X is an airline company and responsible to long haul transportation. There is no more outbound logistics except the low cost long haul transportation. Marketing and sales In order to attract new customer segments, X was differentiated around low cost and building he global brand. To reduce cost, X utilized 100 per cent online sales before. To make further efforts, X was exploring the cell phone sales of ticket. In spite of the extra cost, X set sales point in at each airport and operated call centers throughout the world. X also had agreements with travel agencies. Service X made effort to keep the booking process and pricing model simple. The ticket price listed online including ticket fees and related tax charge. It is transparent to customers. X never charged any online, telephone or personal booking fees. In late of 2010, X launched BIG program to review more benefit to loyal customers. Support activities Activities Description Infrastructure X used flat organization structure in the company. The structure helped X to reduce the cost of administration and develop the efficiency among the employees. One of the most important activities is preparing for global IPO. This move is the foundation for Xs global expansion. Human resource management Low cost human resource of X absolutely has benefits from the low labor cost of Malaysia. Furthermore, X and AirAsia established their own training academy for new pilots, engineer and cabin crews. It saved a lot of money for X again. Technology development X explored cell phone sales of ticket to make up 100 per cent online sales. It provided more convenient to customers in booking system. Procurement X searched the lowest price with acceptable quality of merchandise or procured with AirAsia to obtain more price advantage. In the value chain of AirAsia X, every activity is around low cost to create value to customers. Some moves in value chain decide the AirAsia Xs cost per seat mile (US$0.02 per seat mile) less than one quarter of the cost of the average budget US s low budget airlines (US$0.09 per seat mile). From the inception of X, it operated as a simple organization structure. X used minimum staffs to complete flight tasks in safety and efficiency. Additionally, the cost of human resource saved a large sum of money for AirAsia X. Labor costs in Malaysia and the absence of unionization helped keep costs low. As wright said, passengers prefer to get off airplane directly onto the airport tarmac instead of added cost to the ticket price. To reduce costly investment in terminal or non-airplane related infrastructure help to decrease the cost of flight for passengers. It satisfied the real needs of Xs target market. Appraisal the strategies of AirAsia X Sustaining development cannot be created by operating business in external environment with high opportunity and low threat. It must depend on resource and capabilities and utilizes them to implement strategies in industry competition. In order to figure out these resource and capability, management must find out resource of value, rareness, imitability and non-substitute from internal environment. In the beginning of AirAsia X, it almost shared all resources from AirAsia to ensure the successful launch. As formally separated AirAsia X from AirAsia in 2010, AirAsia X already had its own value resources such as some suppliers. It provided infrastructure to administrate strategy and develop. Low cost control system but high safety aircraft and standard maintenance is the most valuable resource in AirAsia X. The flight time in AirAsia X changed from day to day is a very different schedule in airline industry. The purpose is to satisfy to break even through arrange aircrafts in the air as long as possible because the ticket price was too low. Low cost human resource in Malaysia is a kind of imperfectly imitable resources. Scoot Airline from Singapore and Jetstar Airline from Australia have no this resource. Low cost philosophy also is important imperfectly imitable resource. AirAsia X can achieve very low cost per seat mile as US$0.02 when the average budget airlines cost per seat mile is US$0.09. This is mission impossible to AirAsia Xs competitors. As an airline company, aircraft manufacturer is one of the core suppliers. Aircraft selection is very important to airline company; it must consider the size of aircraft depended on fly distance and maintenance cost. AirAsia X utilizes single type of aircraft to simplify maintenance, reduce staff training needs and gain better purchasing term in negotiation. Conclusion Integrated above Porters five forces analysis, value chain analysis and VRIN analysis, the current competitive advantage in AirAsia X is cost leadership. Because of low enough price, AirAsia X can grip opportunity to succeed when other low cost carriers failed. Meanwhile, the competitive advantage offsets some weaknesses such as less diversification of service and differentiation from competitors. With the development of AirAsia X, some current strengths maybe transfer to weaknesses. These will influence sustaining development of AirAsia X. Therefore, AirAsia X should build sustaining competitive advantages in the future. Sustaining competitive advantages Description Cost leadership Low cost philosophy must practices as the core competency throughout AirAsia X. Low distribution cost Currently, low distribution cost is still strength in AirAsia X, but it is heavily relied on online sales. Once information system interruption, AirAsia X will suffer heavy loss, besides, online sales are an easy kind of resource imitated by competitors. Thus, AirAsia X should explore new low cost distribution. High aircraft utilization and operation AirAsia X is good at safe and efficient flight schedule. It balances low ticket price and company revenue. This capability is sustainable and imperfectly imitable. Flat organization structure This capability helped AirAsia X to save a lot of money. However, it is short-term competitive advantage. As AirAsia X expands, flat organization structure will influence the quality of decision making. AirAsia X should maintain this capability to as sustainable competitive advantage. Strong branding and marketing Strong branding and marketing is one of important capability to against competitors expansion. AirAsia X must build its strong branding and marketing. As the completion of budget long haul airlines become sharp day by day. AirAsia X should maintain the capabilities which are easy imitated such as distribution channel or short-term competitive advantages such as flat organization structure.

Depression: Causes or Effects? Essay examples -- Biology Essays Resear

Depression: Causes or Effects? Depression supplies a distinct depiction of the brain equals behavior theory. The physiological characteristics that taint the diseased brain directly impact the thoughts and behaviors of the millions of sufferers. The genesis of this dehabilitating problem is both mysterious and complicated and I am not offering any sort of revelation in stating that it is a multi-factorial manifestation involving both biological and environmental components. The end product of these variable factors do, however, provide some common biochemical alterations in the brain that lend insight into understanding the reality and possible treatment of the disease. So, in the spirit of "working backwards," I will explore this end product. Perhaps the most popularized end-product of depression is the monoamine depletion or disturbance that is commonly detected in depressed persons. Serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine have been identified as the main culprits, serotonin and norepinephrine being the most suspect. "Among the findings linking impoverished synaptic norepinephrine levels to depression is the discovery in may studies that indirect markers of norepinephrine levels in the brain-levels of its metabolites, or by-products, in more accessible material (urine and cerebrospinal fluid)-are often low in depressed individuals. In addition, postmortem studies have revealed increased densities of certain norepinephrine receptors in the cortex of depressed suicide victims" (indicating compensatory up-regulation) (1). It is not surprising that deficits in serotonin circuits are also seen in depressed patients, as these depletions may interact with and indeed be responsible for falls in norepinephrine levels (a phen... ...havior equals the brain. A simple point, granted, but it does explain why behaviors (perhaps instigated by stressful environmental "input") have the potential to physically change the brain. Likewise, as stated before, if the cause of depression is sometimes just an inherently sick brain, then it is understandable why some people have intense episodes of depression with no apparent environmental trigger. And if you cannot have a brain without behavior and you cannot have behavior without a brain, it would make sense that the two must interact, both serving as causes and effects working to perpetuate the vicious cycle of depression. Internet Sources: 1)Scientific American Article, 2)http://mymindfield.com/common_predispositions.html 3)http://www.eurekalert.org/releases/uwashpsp111299.html 4)http://www.psychological.com/psychological_disorders.html

Writing as a Tool to Enlightenment in Invitation to a Beheading Essay

Writing as a Tool to Enlightenment in Invitation to a Beheading Vladimir Nabokov’s Invitation to a Beheading concerns a man struggling for enlightenment against a society that demands its citizens question none of the absurdities that rule their world. In this restrictive environment, where a person can be killed for having depth--for being â€Å"opaque†--Cincinnatus uses writing to help him obtain enlightenment. First, Cincinnatus writes to preserve â€Å"a record of verified thoughts† (Nabokov 51). He wants to give hope to those who, like him, may be persecuted and alone. However, Cincinnatus constantly struggles to express, through writing, ideas that cannot be articulated. This inability leads Cincinnatus to finally understand that writing prevents him from gaining ultimate freedom and enlightenment. He realizes that writing is merely another shackle binding him to the physical world. Cincinnatus finds enlightenment when he willingly rejects all that binds him to the corporeal, including the inspirational writings dedicat ed to his fellow nonconformist, which provided him with so much relief during his imprisonment. This idea of releasing the soul from the burdens of the body and the physical world is greatly enhanced when connected to some of the basic principles of Zen Buddhism. These principles are built around the idea that removing the self from its physical limitations is the key to enlightenment, which is what Cincinnatus finds himself doing. Therefore, each step Cincinnatus takes along the path to enlightenment, aided by the knowledge gained through his writings, is best understood when related to Zen, for each step corresponds to an important teaching within this Eastern faith. Zen Buddhism is based on â€Å"th... ...nnatus’s journey reveals. To truly achieve enlightenment, a reader and a writer, must transcend reading and writing for what the mind already knows. Works Cited Bancroft, Anne. Zen: Direct Pointing to Reality. Spain: Thames and Hudson, 1979. Champawat. â€Å"Samsara.† Online posting. VT EReserve. 30 Mar. 2001 http://ereserve.ward.vt.edu/view.jhtml?crn=20010112004. Cooper, J.C. An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Traditional Symbols. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1999. Kapleau, Roshi Philip. Zen: Merging of East and West. New York: Doubleday, 1989. Kotz, Sean. â€Å"Buddhism, Taoism, Zen.† Online posting. VT EReserve. 30 Mar. 2001 http://ereserve.ward.vt.edu/view.jhtml?crn=20010112004. Nabokov, Vladimir. Invitation to a Beheading. New York: Vintage, 1989. Radcliff, Benjamin, and Amy Radcliff. Understanding Zen. Boston: Tuttle, 1993.

Science Thesis on SImple Physics

Throughout this trimester, we have completed several activities to help us answer our driving question of, â€Å"which Planets would be the most habitable and how can we determine this. † In order to organize our process of learning and how we can find these planets, we divided the question Into three learning units. Our units Included Nuclear Reactions and Star, Waves and light, Analyzing stars, and Circular motion and orbits. Our first unit was Nuclear Reactions and Stars.This unit was focused on teaching us the properties of nuclear reactions, where they occur, and how they help us find tars, relating directly to our driving unit. The main idea of this unit was that there are three types of nuclear reactions. Radioactive decay is the release of either an electron, a helium atom, or energy, In an unstable and large elements. Fission Is the process of when a neutron traveling at fast speeds strikes a large element, causing It to split into two elements and the release of usua lly around three neutrons. Finally, fusion occurs when two elements fuse together, producing a large amount of energy.This process requires extreme heat, like that of stars, In order to create an environment where all molecules move around at fast speeds, making them susceptible to fusion. Therefore, stars produce extreme amounts of energy through fusion. The heat produced by the sun makes fusion happen all the time. Next, through learning the equation E=mica, we realized that even a small amount of mass loss, which occurs In fusion, produces a large amount of energy. To sum up this unit, we learned about the evolutionary paths of stars and how they are affected by their mass.Basically, average mass stars go through a simple path of stellar nebula, prostate, average star, red giant, white dwarf. However, high mass stars go through a stellar nebula, high mass star, super red giant, supernova, then either a neutron star or black hole. It becomes a black hole only of its mass is incred ibly high. In order to understand why this happens, we watched an understanding stars video and did some helpful bookwork. Stars go through this cycle as the balance between gravity and the stars outward force (usually fusion) changes.As a star gets hot enough to start fusion and create a variety of new elements, it's outward force increases, causing the star to expand. As star then begins to run out of fuel, the star begins to use larger elements, cooling the gas and causing it to spread outwards. Finally, as the star begins to lose all of Its elements to fuse, gravity breaks the gravitational equilibrium It once had and collapses the star. Through this unit, we learned how stars work and how nuclear reactions are what cause the release of energy in nature. Our second unit consisted of waves and light.Now that we knew how stars work, we had to learn how we know so much about stars, how we find them, and how we find planets that orbit them. In order to accomplish this, we first inve stigated waves. I OFF eaves: transverse (electromagnetic) and longitudinal waves (sound). Then we learned that there are two speed equations for waves. One is the obvious s=d/t. The other equation, which is Just a derivative of this, is speed?wavelength * frequency. Through this, we could calculate the wavelength or frequency of any electromagnetic wave if we knew one or the other (because the speed is always a constant).Next we learned about the electromagnetic spectrum. This is basically a list of electromagnetic waves from least energy (longest wavelength) to most energy (shortest wavelength). This allowed us to see how much we can not see and the frequencies of these waves. Furthermore, we learned the importance of intensity, in my opinion, the most important part of this unit. Intensity is defined as the amount of energy in a given area. Basically, as we move away from the source, the area the source occupies increases, thus decreasing the energy we feel or see.Through the inte nsity lab, in which I did high tech, we figured that the relationship is an inverse square. Using our now known knowledge about intensity, waves, and luminosity(power output or dotage), we could now use the luminosity of the star to find the habitable zone. To do this, we used the equations given by the online activity, eventually allowing us to see if there was a habitable planet, usually fictional, in the stars zone. In unit three, we expanded on our star knowledge from unit one and two. One of the main projects we did in this unit was the star evaluation sheet.We had to find a random star using the online planetarium given to us and then research it's characteristics. Once we found a star we liked, we used websites, such as wisped, o find out the basics of the star. Through the website, we were able to find distance from the earth, Surface temperature, the star's radius, the star's mass, and its Luminosity. Using this information, we were able to use our past knowledge and equati ons and new equations (wavelength of peak emission=b/T where b is Wine's displacement constant) in order to further our information about the star.Next, we used the equation of r=((1360*Lasts/Lulus)/ in order to find the outer and inner edge of the stars habitable zone (using 720 and 1500 as established intensities for habitable zone edges). Then using what we knew about that mass, luminosity, and temperature of the star, we could use the H-R diagrams, which we learned about this unit doing book work, to determine the stage the star was in. Sadly, my star was a massive star in its supernatant stage.Even though the star did have a useable habitable zone, the star's life span was way too short, leading to the conclusion that my star shouldn't be considered as a possibility for Project Cygnus colony ship. Furthermore, we also did an activity online in which we chose a star offered, figured out whether it had a planet orbiting it through the brightness dips in the graph), figured out th e period of the planet (again through the amount of time it took for the brightness dips to occur), and then through a series of equations, we found the habitable zone and saw whether the planet was inside of the zone.This unit helped expand our knowledge on stars and to fugue out how to find the habitable zones of stars and whether a planet is orbiting in that zone. Objects are able to travel in a circle and why two objects in orbit do not collide into each other. Through a series of readings and activities, such as the water demo, we earned that centripetal force is the force holding an object in circular motion and it points radically inward. However, this brought up a couple of questions. These included: â€Å"Why does the water in the cup during the water demo not fall out? ND Why do we not fall out of a reallocates when we are upside down. In order to answer both, we first looked at properties of an object traveling in a circular direction. First, we learned that centripetal equation is basically acceleration in a circular direction that points inward. In a object is traveling in a circular path, we can SE the equation centripetal acceleration=(tangential speed)AAA / the radius of the circle in meters. To find the tangential speed, the equation we used was speed?circumference of the circle/the period of the object.This is basically speed?distance/time. These equations helped us do our buggy lab in which we found the centripetal acceleration and used this to help us find the amount of centripetal force (in Newton's) by using the equation f=mass*acceleration. The mass was easily found via a scale and we used the equations given to help us find the acceleration. However, this still didn't totally answer the question of why we do not all out of a roller coaster when we are upside down.Through a presentation and a roller coaster Journal glasswork, we realized that the reason this happens is because there is a normal force caused by our speed and inertia that causes us to resist falling. Through all of this, I realized that this perfectly explained the driving question of this unit, which stated Why does the moon not crash into the planet it is orbiting, the earth? As a result of these activities, I understood that this is because the object is constantly accelerating towards the center, causing an elliptical like orbit where he planet never crashes.In conclusion, this unit taught me why objects stay in orbit and the forces involved in circular motion. With still more to go in this unit, I am quite excited to see where this leads us. Overall, all of the activities we have done have lead us closer to answering our driving question of the unit, â€Å"What planets are habitable and how can we determine this. † Through a series of activities, labs, and lectures, we have learned about the properties of stars and their orbiting planets, all of which have helped us determine information about stars and their orbiting planets.