Contemporary Marketing Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Contemporary Marketing Practice - Essay Example It is common to hear among the consumers that they are not subjects to marketing strategies. Most consumers never want to admit that advertisements have immense influence on their tastes and preferences as far as purchases are concerned. The researcher states that the concern on this essay is whether in reality this freedom is exercised or customer’s tastes are subject to marketer’s strategies. This study involves the issues of advertisement in relation to increase of obesity in the society. The paper is generally a review of various literatures. In conducting the study, the researcher explored a number of books, magazines and website articles on the relationship between obesity and advertisements. To ensure that the ideas are not from the same school of thoughts, this study involved experts from diversified fields, among them being nutritionists, educators, critical analysts, scholars and healthcares providers. One thing that was very common in all these sources is tha t adverts influences the decision making of the consumers, who tend to buy the products, despite their harmful effects on their bodies. The study drew much information from previous studies, particularly from published online books. In conducting the study, the researcher also explored the advertisement strategies of some prominent companies such as Unilever, Coca-cola, Kraft Foods, PepsiCo, Nestle, General Mills, Kellogg Co. and ConAgra Foods, all of which had one common feature - they all use a significant amount from their coffer in advertisements.

Femme Fatale in Victorian Literature Essay Example for Free

Femme Fatale in Victorian Literature Essay INTRODUCTION Victorian Era was the big step in the overall cultural development of England. Many, presently famous novels and poems came to light during this period. Mainly writers, who (in their style of writing) openly manifested their opposition to the strict moral law which was significant those days. Universal etiquette of behavior, wealth and the family name in the social hierarchy ladder were very important to be perceived as aristocracy. Class division within the society was clearly marked. The pattern of a female character in Victorian novel which gained popularity very fast that time was Femme Fatale pattern which is also known as deadly woman. I have chosen such topic, because I am of opinion that femme fatale type of character is the most interesting of all female identity types. Furthermore, Victorian period is a time of a changing role of the women in the British society, which gives us very contrastive background, in which behavior of such woman was something immoral, controversial but also brave. Charles Dickens is widely perceived as the greatest novelist of the Victorian Era. He is the creator of fictional characters, which are known all over the world and are used as universal patterns through centuries till now. Ch. Dickens in his work described in a perfect way English Victorian society as well as its rules. Dickens, through his life experienced many difficulties, which shaped his identity and had immense influence on his own, specific style of writing. His thirteenth novel Great Expectations was one of the greatest among Victorian Era works. The main character Pip, is growing and developing through the whole story which is why the novel belongs to the Bildungsroman genre. What is more, Great Expectations novel was firstly published in the serial form in weekly magazine All the Year Round so it can be also defined as serialized novel. The plot of this story is quite complicated, bringing the reader much of surprise because of unexpected turns of action and character, like the most significant change in the story is when the main hero suddenly becomes rich person and his life has been rapidly changed. But it is not main hero on whom I am going to focus in the first chapter of my diploma paper. It will be the woman of his dreams. The woman, who was unable to return a feeling back to him, as well as to anybody else. Her name is Estella Havisham and she is the first example which I am going to analyze in my work. The second writer from Victorian era whose fictional character I am going to analyze is William Thackeray. William Thackeray, the next one of the greatest writers in Victoria Era, was born into British high society in 1811. He experienced mostly comfortable and easy life until he reached 22 years old. Till that time he managed to squander most of his fortune. The main reasons which led to that situation were gambling and the Indian Banking Crisis. We can say that during his life he experienced on his own what is like to be rich and poor. That is why he could objectively depict the view of British society of his times. This is exactly what he had done in his famous work entitled Vanity Fair. In 1847 He started publishing short stories in Punch Magazine, which means that similarly to Great Expectations, it was also serialized novel. Although first chapters of this novel were written years before, they were not available for the wide audience. The whole story was completed and published as a book in 1848. That time also it received the subtitle A Novel Without a Hero. Very soon it became successful. CHAPTER ONE: FEMME FATALE AND VICTORIAN SOCIETY 1Victorian Period – Overall information The period 1837-1901 is named Victorian after Queen Victoria who ruled English country that time. It was a time of a big change when English Victorian Society was divided into three main classes: upper, middle and lower which was also called working class. Each class is characterized by various occupations, ways of life and etiquette. The upper class consisted of the nobility, such as dukes, earls, and viscounts. They were often related to the royal families of Britain and Europe, and their society was distinct and separate to the other two classes certain expectations had to be met by everybody. Most of these aristocrats did not have a profession, as their families had sufficient funds to live in affluence. However, many were captains of industry, especially mining or ship building. The middle class consisted of rich families who were respectable, but lacked a title, and often had skilled professions, such as a doctor, or a teacher. At the beginning of the Victorian times, they were a small proportion of the population. However, the effects of the Industrial Revolution meant that more people could be defined as middle class, because of improvements in education and more opportunities of leveling from the lower class to upper one. The lower class (working class) were made up of the rural and urban poor, who had often low skilled, dangerous, dirty and boring jobs (often all four) that they had to take because of the lack of education. A handful could actually be defined as lower middle class, but because they often lived in terraced housing areas, they were defined as working class. There was also a class below the working class paupers. They lived in extreme poverty, often because of old age, unemployment, illness or strained resources. Sally Mitchel in her book clearly points out that Most working people earned just enough to stay alive, and could be thrown into poverty by illness, layoffs, or a sudden misfortune such as a factory fire that caused even short-term unemployment. People in unskilled and semiskilled jobs generally needed additional income from several members of the family. (Mitchel 19) Etiquette was one of the most significant thing that time. Education of the woman would not be completed without teaching rules of proper behavior. Not only women but also men had to obey this set of rules during many daily activities even the simplest one. What kind of jewelry as well as when and where one should wear, who to walk with, who to dance with, how and when to speak to a stranger, were all very critical knowledge. For men, there were rules about bowing, where to sit and next to whom, even about the circumstances in which it was appropriate or not to smoke or drink in front of ladies. Running a house without servants was almost impossible. The number of servants one could afford was a sign of one’s wealth. The bigger house, the more servants were hired. They were usually divided into two groups: indoor (butler, housekeeper, maids) and outdoor: (coachman, groom, a gardener). Being a servant wasn’t well-paid job but thanks to tips, a servant could earn extra money. Next, very significant thing which was obligatory mainly in upper class society was dance. It was the essence of every ball which was one of the greatest entertainment that time in English society. Balls were organized on many occasions and created opportunity to know noble men and women from upper class. In Victorian Britain the ideology of separate private sphere to the woman and sphere of business and politics to the man was clearly marked. The home was regarded as a haven from the busy and chaotic public world of politics and business, and from the harsh life of the factory. In Victorian times, you could travel one of three ways: by train, by horse, or by foot. The most common means of transportation was by far the horse. It was used by rich and poor. The rich owned fancy coaches that had every accessory one could ever need for living on the road, and the poor would go about town on the cheap omnibuses that carried twenty people at a time. 2Femme Fatale The term femme fatale comes from French and it states mainly in the opposition to another popular image of a Victorian woman called Angel in the House. ‘Femme Fatale is a woman who is sexually attractive but cruel and dangerous to men who have a relationship with her’ (Macmillan Dictionary, Femme Fatale definition). There were many famous female characters in the history who suit very well to this image even before the term Femme Fatale has been created. To the most famous examples belong: The femme fatale has always been a well-known archetype in literature, art and movies. The tradition of the femme fatale is long and versatile and can be traced back as far as ancient Egypt, with its iconic Cleopatra. Especially in the fine arts, the femme fatale has been portrayed in many metaphorical ways: as a vampire, nymph, fallen angel or sorceress. She flourished in the 1940’s century film noir, where the combination of aggressiveness and sensuality in women was a central topic (Place, 1998: 57). We can find many examples not only in written form but also in movies, where tempting and lethal women can be found as well: Sharon Stone in BASIC INSTINCT (1992), the Bond Girls or Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones in CHICAGO (2002) were all very seductive, but dangerous. Hence, based on van Dijkstra’s extensive historiography, the femme fatale can be defined as a woman who is mysteriously seductive and uses this quality to outsmart men. Her resistance against male domination exists of beauty, charm and sexual allure: she tempts the male target and drives him crazy by denying him her affection. (1986, 237) To summarize: key aspects of the femme fatale are mystery, beauty, seduction and, most importantly, danger. The most conventional image of the perfect Victorian woman who states in opposition to Femme Fatale woman can be found in the title of a long poem written by Coventry Patmore: The Angel in the House. The pure woman’s life was supposed to be entirely centered on the home. She preserved the higher moral values, guarded her husband’s conscience, guided her children’s training, and helped regenerate society through her daily display of Christianity in action. If she successfully made the home a place of perfect peace, her husband and sons would not want to leave it for an evening’s (morally suspect) entertainment elsewhere. (Mitchell 266) 3 William Makepeace Thackeray – Vanity Fair William Makepeace Thackeray was born in Calcutta, India, in 1811. He was son of Richmond Thackeray, an Indian Civil Servant, and his wife Anne. Just a few years later his father died, his mother remarried, and the shy and young William was sent to England where he would deal with the harsh realities of isolation at Charterhouse, a private school in London. He then went on to attend Trinity College, Cambridge. Thackeray abandoned his studies without taking a degree, having lost some of his inheritance of twenty thousand pounds through gambling. During 1831-33 Thackeray studied law at the Middle Temple, London, but had little enthusiasm to continue his studies. Soon after He went to Paris to unsuccessfully try his hand at painting. It was in Paris that he met and married Isabella Shawe (1816–1893) in 1836, with whom he would have two surviving daughters, Anne Isabella and Harriet Marian. Back in England he suffered massive financial losses, which is why he had to start writing articles, reviews, essays and sketches as a journalist. Travel articles about France such as his Paris Sketch Book (1840) and The Yellowplush Correspondence (1841) were among his first efforts appearing in various magazines and journals including Frasers, Punch, and The Times. He also illustrated many of his own works. After the birth of Harriet, Isabella started on what was to be, until her death, numerous bouts of depression, an extensive search for a cure, and ultimately a slow spiral to insanity. She would live apart from William, rarely seeing him or her daughters. Thackeray remained close to his daughters all his life. Anne was his secretary for a while and they both lived with him at his house in London before marrying. The disintegration of his marriage however would have a profound effect on his life and was reflected in the characters of his novels, including the loveless marriage between Rachel and Frank Castlewood in The History of Henry Esmond, Esq. (1852) and its sequel The Virginians (1857). Haunting the Literary Clubs of London including the Garrick Club, Thackeray also travelled the Mediterranean, A Journey from Cornhill to Grand Cairo (1846) the result. Book of Snobs (1848) and Vanity Fair (1848) followed soon after, but it was not until The History of Pendennis (1850), his semi-autobiographical novel that Thackerays success as a humorist was confirmed. He then embarked on a series of lectures published as English Humorists of the Eighteenth Century (1851) and Four Georges (1860), based on the Hanoverian Kings, from his tours of the United States in 1852-53 and 1855-56. In 1860 Thackeray became editor of the monthly literary journal Cornhill Magazine, but died suddenly three years later, in 1863, at the age of fifty two. He lies buried beside his mother in the Victorian Garden cemetery Kensal Green in London, England. Charles Dickens wrote a glowing tribute to him in Cornhill Magazine. William Thackeray is mostly known for his great novel â€Å"Vanity Fair†. The novel was written in 1848. The book brought Thackeray prosperity and made him an established author and popular lecturer in Europe and in the United States. Vanity Fair with its second title A Novel without a Hero is a novel published in 1847–48, satirizing society in early 19th-century Britain. The books title comes from John Bunyans allegorical story The Pilgrims Progress, first published in 1678 and still widely read at the time of Thackerays novel. Vanity Fair refers to a stop along the pilgrims progress: a never-ending fair held in a town called Vanity, which is meant to represent mans sinful attachment to worldly things. The novel is now considered a classic, and has inspired several film adaptations, the most recent being the 2004 film starring Reese Witherspoon. In 2003, Vanity Fair was listed on the BBCs The Big Read poll of the UKs best-loved novel.[1] 4 Charles Dickens – Great Expectations Charles Dickens is widely perceived as the greatest novelist of the Victorian Era. He is the creator of fictional characters, which are known all over the world and are used as universal patterns through centuries till now. Ch. Dickens in his work describes in a perfect way English Victorian society as well as its rules. Dickens, through his life experienced many difficulties, which shaped his identity and had immense influence on his own, specific style of writing. Charles John Huffam Dickens was born on 7 February 1812 in Portsmouth. He was son of John and Elizabeth Dickens. Until he finished 11 years he and his family moved two times. He was very clever boy. When he was young, he read many novels, especially the picaresque novels of Tobias Smollett and Henry Fielding. From the early stages he took private lessons, first in dame school, and then at a school run by William Giles, a dissenter, in Chatham. In 1822, the Dickens family moved to Camden Town, a poor neighborhood in London. By then the family’s financial situation had grown dire, as John Dickens had a dangerous habit of living beyond the family’s means. Eventually, John was sent to prison for debt in 1824, when Charles was just 12 years old. In 1860 Dickens started to publish short stories for the weekly magazine â€Å"All The Year Round†. Although intended for weekly publication, Great Expectations was divided into nine monthly sections, with new pagination for each. At the beginning, his serialized story was not so famous as A Days Ride by Charles Lever, which was published in the same magazine but soon lose favor with the public. Dickens, during one year of publication (1860-1861), wrote thirty six episodes. The novel gained title Great Expectation and became very successful among works of Victorian era, showing simultaneously Dickens peak and maturity as an author. Nowadays, novel is regarded as very important and is taught in many English classes. The main character Pip, is growing and developing through the whole story which is why the novel belongs to the Bildungsroman genre. In many respects, it contains themes and emotions directly related to the author’s experience. For instance, the description of Pip’s childhood has some affinity with Dickens own life. Also, Estella seems directly inspired from Maria Beadwell, a lady whom Dickens loved; Beadwell snubbed him coldly because of his low social status. The plot of story is complicated, bringing the reader much of surprise because of unexpected turns of action as the most significant change in the story when the main hero suddenly becomes rich person and his life has been rapidly changed. But it is not main hero on whom I am going to focus in the first chapter of my diploma paper. It will be the woman of his dreams. The woman, who was unable to return a feeling back to him, as well as to anybody else. Her name is Estella Havisham and she is the first example which I am going to analyze in my work.

Analysis of Curiosity by Alastair Reid Essay -- essays research papers

The poem entitled â€Å"Curiosity† written by Alastair Reid is a symbolic poem that uses cats as a metaphor for humans. It relates felines to people in the sense of curiosity, and what could be considered actually living life to the fullest. Essentially, this work contradicts the popular phrase, â€Å"curiosity killed the cat† by placing it within a broader context. Instead of discouraging curiosity, Reid explains why people should embrace it. In the first stanza, the author argues that the cat may have died from curiosity, but that it may have been a chosen death. â€Å"Or else curious to see what death was like, having no cause to go on licking paws, or fathering litter on litter of kittens, predictably.† (lines, 2-5) Basically, the author is relating a cat’s lack of interest in life and curiosity in death to a suicidal situation. He is using predictability and boredom with life as a justifiable excuse to explore the depths of death, purely out of curiosity. The second stanza is the author’s first admittance that curiosity can be dangerous, but only when one is constantly distrusting what is ...

Hrm in South Africa

International Human Resource Management Your assignment is to take a country of your choice and consider how the human resource management function has been shaped by the internal and external contexts. Conclude your assignment with some suggestions as to what the future might hold for the field of HRM in your chosen country. The idea behind the module is for you to explore the meaning and implications of the concepts and ideas of international and comparative human resource management. There is no one way of defining and understanding the nature and purpose of HRM.HRM varies according to the cultural and institutional environment in which it is conducted. It is suggested that you choose a country with which you are familiar, perhaps your home country, as this may enable you to provide examples to support your analysis. However, the important point is to choose a country that may be readily researched by access to texts and other available information. Assessment criteria: These are referred to in your Handbook. However, as a guide you need to show understanding of the various concepts and ideas discussed in the sessions, including knowledge of the perspectives to the employment relationship.This will include the extent to which culture impacts upon the relationship; how political, economic and social contexts influence the relationships; indicate some understanding of differing approaches to management development and have some understanding of the importance of employee relations. Brief outline of the essential criteria: Distinction – an assignment demonstrating wide coverage and understanding of the subject, including a strong critical analysis and evaluation. Commendation – an assignment demonstrating wide coverage and understanding of the subject, with some critical analysis and evaluation.Pass – an assignment demonstrating wide coverage and understanding of the subject, but mainly description rather than critical analysis and evaluati on. Structure Choose a country that has been researched in the past†¦ i. e. a place where HRM practices are commented on and discussed. Consider and comment on internal and external context that have influenced HRM factors CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF EXISTING RESEARCH Conclude with recommendations, as well as suggestions as to what the future may hold for HRM in the country of choice. An analysis of current HRM practices in the Republic of South Africa IntroductionThis study will investigate and explore two to three aspects of HRM practises within the Republic of South Africa. In order to gain an insight into how the country functions, it will be important to understand the various internal and external factors that may have influenced current HRM practices. South Africa is a multicultural country with a rapidly growing economy, and is widely seen as one of the most stable democracies in Africa, having recently emerged from the infamous apartheid era. The South African economy is the largest in the continent, and the 28th largest in the world.The country lobbied heavily, and was eventually invited to join the economic and political organisation BRICS in 2011 (Smith 2011), and has just successfully hosted the annual BRICS conference (2013) for the first time. Concerns have however been expressed over whether South Africa deserves its place among the BRICS, as the country has the lowest levels of government spending, life expectancy, and literacy rates within the group, while the South African GDP comprises just 2. 5% of that of the combined BRICS’s GDP (Smith, 2013).In addition, while the populations of India and China stand at over a billion people, South Africa has a population of 50 million of which almost a quarter are unemployed and live on less than ? 1 a day (Seria & Cohen, 2009). This high poverty level is a major contributor to the crime rates in South Africa, with Johannesburg being infamous for its high levels of crime (Diseko, 2010). The most c oncerning crime considered to be the extent of rape and violence against women in South Africa. With two rapes occurring every minute (Itano, 2003), a typical South African woman is estimated to have a 40% chance of being raped (Middleton, 2011).Domestic violence is also reportedly high, with statistics suggesting that one woman is killed by her husband/partner every eight hours in South Africa (Faul 2013). The practice of ‘corrective rape’ is a major problem, which is based on the incorrect belief that the rape of lesbians can ‘cure’ them of homosexuality (Mufweba, 2003). The South African government is well aware of all these problems, and has made a number of attempts to tackle them head on, including the amendment and strengthening of laws that deal with sexual offences.The government notes that the problem â€Å"is reflective of deep-seated, systemic dysfunction in our society† (Government Gazette South Africa, 2007). Diseko (2010) argues that t he high crime levels have had a massive impact upon the South African economy, with recent research showing that the country has been experiencing a brain drain (Kok, 2006). Moolman (2012) highlights cases of high numbers of skilled engineers and other professionals emigrating to MDRs (More Developed Regions) such as Australia and North America.Dreyer, cited in Moolman (2012) argues that while South Africa holds 80% of the world’s chromium, manganese, gold and platinum reserves, the shortage of skilled workers means that costs are becoming too high for the industry to be profitable. The statistics for 2001 show that only 181 managers or skilled professionals immigrated to South Africa from MDRs, with 645 going the opposite way (Statistics South Africa 2003, cited in Kok, 2006). These statistics highlight the struggle that South Africa faces with regard to the attraction and retention of talented skilled workers to help keep its economic growth on an upward trajectory.However, Diseko (2010) argues that this phenomenon is reversing, and cites South Africa’s rapidly growing economy and political stability have seen it once again become a ‘net importer’ of skilled workers. He claims that South Africa now appears an attractive proposition to South African expatriates as well as foreign skilled workers, and argues that this ‘net import’ of skilled workers is driven by economic factors such as the recession within MDRs, such as Europe and North America. Cultural factors are also vitally important within the business environment, as they affect the context of business and social interactions.Hofstede has developed a In order to understand the cultural aspect of South Africa countryHofstede (2013) This essay will explore current HRM practices in South Africa, with three major aims Identify your country of choice Justify your choice of country Provide a contemporary overview of the country (50 words) Identify the cultural features of your chosen country using Hofstede or another cultural theorist Explain how those cultural features impact upon HR practices in that country (100 words) Identify the PESTLE factors affecting your chosen country. Explain how those PESTLE factors impact upon HR practices in that country. 100 words) What might the future hold for HR in your chosen country? (50 words) These areas will be investigated through a review of existing literature, which will be critically analysed in order to identify areas that may be developed in future. Definition – highly debated, as various HR practitioners define this in different ways. Macey & Schneider (2008) argue that the term is used to describe behaviours, traits and psychological states, and their associated outcomes. Access Talk about how the new educational processes being introduced will enhance variation among the talent pool if it works. ttp://geert-hofstede. com/imprint. html http://geert-hofstede. com/dimensions. html SA at the m oment may have the need for people and have the people, but the skills of the people may not match up to the requirements. what has been driving the change, crime rate in johannesburg, violence, more economic potential than actual, growing quite fast, next to BRICKSA is the definition of emerging economies going to include SA? Look at growth rate of BRICKSA economies and  compare to European and US economy. TABLE Stagnation in western economies, but is growth being shown as a comparative within the BRICKSA economies.References Diseko, L, (2010), â€Å"South Africa’s brain drain generation returning home†, Available at: [http://articles. cnn. com/2010-11-18/world/south. africa. migration_1_south-africans-violent-crime-job-seekers? _s=PM:WORLD], Accessed on: 15/03/13 Erasmus, B, Van Wyk, M, Schenk, H, (2003), â€Å"South African Human Resource Management – Theory & Practice (3rd Edition)â€Å" Formeset, Epping, Cape Town Faul, M, (2013), â€Å"South Africa vi olence against women rate highest in the world†, Available at: [http://www. huffingtonpost. com/2013/03/08/south-africa-violence-against-women_n_2837804. tml], Accessed on: 03/08/13 Government Gazzette South Africa, (2007) [Online], â€Å"Criminal law (Sexual offences and related matters) Amendment Act 2007†, Available at: [http://www. info. gov. za/view/DownloadFileAction? id=77866], Accessed on: 12/03/13 HRPractice, (2011), [Online], â€Å"Findings from a pilot survey†, Available at: [http://www. hrpractice. co. za/newsletters-online/200907. html] Accessed on:12/02/13 Itano, N, (2003), [Online], â€Å"South Africa begins getting tough on rape†, Available at: [http://womensenews. org/story/rape/030224/south-africa-begins-getting-tough-rape#.UVB2sBzIbX4], Accessed on: 15/03/13 Macey, WH, & Schneider, B, (2008), â€Å"The meaning of employee engagement†, Industrial & Organisational Psychology, Volume 1, pp. 3-30 Middleton, L, (2011), â€Å"Correctiv e rape: Fighting a South African scourge†, Available at: [http://www. time. com/time/world/article/0,8599,2057744,00. html], Accessed on: 12/03/13 Moolman, S, (2012), [Online], â€Å"The brain drain continues†, Available at: [http://www. miningweekly. com/article/the-brain-drain-continues-2012-08-10], Accessed on:15/03/13 Mufweba, Y, (2003), [Online], â€Å"’Corrective rape makes you an African woman’†,Available at: [http://www. iol. co. za/news/south-africa/corrective-rape-makes-you-an-african-woman-1. 116543#. UVB9mhzIbX4], Accessed on: 14/03/13 Seria, N, & Cohen, M, (2009), [Online], â€Å"South Africa’s unemployment rate approaches 23. 5%†, Available at: [http://www. bloomberg. com/apps/news? pid=newsarchive&sid=aoB7RbcZCRfU], Accessed on:14/03/13 Smith, D, (2013), [Online], â€Å"South Africa: More of a briquette than a BRIC†, Available at: [http://www. guardian. co. uk/world/2013/mar/24/south-africa-bric-developing-economy ], Accessed on:13/03/13 SA HR Best Practice Summit Reportback http://www. hrfuture. et/education-and-training/sa-hr-best-practice-summit-reportback. php? Itemid=265 ARE YOUR EMPLOYEES ENGAGED? http://www. hrpractice. co. za/news/news. html http://www. info. gov. za/view/DownloadFileAction? id=117580 Human resource practices and discrimination in South Africa: overcoming the apartheid legacy http://www. ingentaconnect. com/content/routledg/rijh/2002/00000013/00000007/art00008 Managing human resources in South Africa: A multinational firm focus http://www. emeraldinsight. com/books. htm? chapterid=1761939 http://books. google. co. uk/books? id=uilaYjWdvN4C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Locked in the Cabinet

Written by the 22nd Labor Secretary of the United States Robert Reich, Locked in the Cabinet appears to be written with noble goals and intentions. That is, â€Å"to bridge the widening gap between the rich and the poor.† Robert Reich is a friend of former United States President Bill Clinton for 25 years and ended having extremely opposing views. He turned out to be a disillusioned member of Clinton’s cabinet. He pointed out the failure of Clinton’s administration to fulfill its intended aims and roles for the benefit of its constituents. The book was packaged like a journal with entries with their specific dates. The journal was dated on the four year span of the first term of Bill Clinton. The book displays a fragmentary-like form of a daily account with the specified time when the event occurred. In this book, he used a string of metaphors to present his points in a creative way, perhaps. In the book, Clinton was treated with hesitation. Reich did not deliberately stated â€Å"President Bill Clinton† in the book. He would refer to a certain â€Å"Bill† who, he said, his longtime friend. He was, perhaps, also considering their friendship while criticizing the leadership of his very own close friend. It is commendable that Reich aims for bridging the gap between the rich and poor. He stressed his being a liberal who has always been ready to fight for the rights of their constituents. For him, being liberal is giving an individual his rights. He stressed the importance of giving such because it is the main role and function of the government, anyway. As a liberal labor secretary, he advocated the rights of every worker especially their right for a wage increase. He even tried to convince company owners and manufacturers not  to use their powers against the striking workers. These workers are just airing their rights and sentiments, in the first place. Pertaining to the legitimate role and functions of the government in a private enterprise economy, he stressed out the role of the government on giving the outright benefits that a worker should have. He pushed for wage increase among the workers in the United States. He stressed the importance of some sort of â€Å"government intervention† in pushing for the rights of the workers. Even if Clinton is his longtime and close friend, it did not stop him in voicing out his criticisms towards Clinton’s unsatisfactory leadership through his book. He said that Clinton’s administration did not know what should be prioritized and seemed to forget what the purpose of his coming to Washington. He related that Clinton had the leadership but did not have the enough courage to take effect what is best for the people. But then, his disappointment over Clinton’s policies and administration has always been overshadowed by his affection towards his longtime friend. He views contemporary American policies as a â€Å"disaster† which does not actually respond to the actual needs of their constituents. He bluntly criticized everything he thinks not in the right place. I totally agree with his concept of liberalism. He cares for the â€Å"liberation† of every individual’s rights. He put forth the importance of giving everyone of what is due to him. As a statesman, it just right for him to have the heart for the oppressed and not for the oppressor. He has showed concern for the advantage of the people. It is just that he was â€Å"locked in the cabinet.† He implied that limitations of being a member of a cabinet. It might appear that cabinet members have all the power to take effect pro-people policies and actions, but then, they are subjected to the bureaucracy’s approval. He used many underlying themes in his book. This somewhat gave a twist on the sharp opinions that he wants to present. He admitted that he is indeed a frustrated secretary who wished that everyone would hear his and the society’s plight. Reich’s book is really informative. It is amazing how he is able to present such controversial revelations given that Clinton is his very close friend. He presented his point bravely leaving no missed point behind. I guess he just showed an objective setting of the situation of Clinton’s administration and the United States government system in general, particularly to the labor sector. With no doubt, he showed, through his book, his deep concern for people. On the other hand, the book, behind its impressing underlying themes, also received criticisms, perhaps from those who were behind the administration of Clinton. They claimed that Reich’s work was just like a fictional work and even claimed that it is a mere propaganda. They added that Reich’s claim were not realistic at all. Well, I guess, they just have to see the bigger picture. I believe that Reich has noble goals and aims as he presented his points in the book. Undeniably, Reich’s book deserves a commendation. He did his work well as the labor secretary fighting for the workers’ rights. People in the government should get a copy of his book immediately. Reference: Reich, R. (1997). Locked in the Cabinet (1st ed.). Norwalk, CT: Easton Press.                     

Examine A Case Study On FactCheck.org Example

Examine A Case Study On FactCheck.org Example Examine A Case Study On FactCheck.org – Assignment Example Check of FactCheck The website www.factcheck.org is supposed to check the information and facts that currently are considered to be controversial in society. The website uses different sources and retrieves information about an issue from multiple data bases, which guarantees objectivity of an investigation. The article â€Å"Nothing False About Temperature Data† published on February 12, 2015 checks the information about the Climategate scandal that happened couple of years ago. The scandal concerned some falsifications of climate data that caused misguiding thinking about huge climate changes on the planet and rapid oncoming of global warming. Thus FactCheck presents opposite opinions about the matter, including data from both governmental institutions and independent researches of climate changes. It turns out that the scandal was a mistake and no data was falsified and multiple researches of temperature changes and data from meteorological agencies prove the fact that inde ed average temperature rates have grown in the past 15 years. The way that in which website presents information definitely seems to be an objective investigation and looks trustworthy. First of all, the website authors use a lot of facts and enforce their arguments. They use direct citations and specify who said that and where and when exactly it was proclaimed. Direct citations are being precisely analyzed and either approved or objected by some other facts from different sources. Which is important to note is that the website provides its readers with hyperlinks to the articles and interviews that show where they have retrieved this or that information from. Thus such precise referring makes information more objective and trustworthy. Which is more important is that the article presents information from multiple institutions both governmental and independent ones. For instance, they reveal NASA’s data, and then they show one independent international investigation in order to check official sources, because it is common for people not to trust official sources. Furthermore, the fact that they show opinions of both opponents and proponents of the problem lets people construct their own opinion on the matter. However, at the end of the article FactCheck suggests the â€Å"right answer† to the question stated at the beginning, which makes reader assured in trueness of the investigation. Generally, the website seems to present independent investigations in order to check some controversial information that is essential for society. The authors of the articles use specific methodology of exploration, considering both sides of a conflict or all controversial opinions about an issue, which makes information presented in the website look objective. Levitan, Dave. "Nothing False About Temperature Data". Fact Check. February 12, 2015. Web.

simulation essays

simulation essays By a "superintelligence" we mean an intellect that is much smarter than the best human brains in practically every field, including scientific creativity, general wisdom and social skills. This definition leaves open how the superintelligence is implemented: it could be a digital computer, an ensemble of networked computers, cultured cortical tissue or what have you. It also leaves open whether the superintelligence is conscious and has Entities such as companies or the scientific community are not superintelligences according to this definition. Although they can perform a number of tasks of which no individual human is capable, they are not intellects and there are many fields in which they perform much worse than a human brain - for example, you can't have real-time conversation with Superintelligence requires software as well as hardware. There are several approaches to the software problem, varying in the amount of top-down direction they require. At the one extreme we have systems like CYC which is a very large encyclopedia-like knowledge-base and inference-engine. It has been spoon-fed facts, rules of thumb and heuristics for over a decade by a team of human knowledge enterers. While systems like CYC might be good for certain practical tasks, this hardly seems like an approach that will convince AI-skeptics that superintelligence might well happen in the foreseeable future. We have to look at paradigms that require less human input, ones that make more use of bottom-up methods. Given sufficient hardware and the right sort of programming, we could make the machines learn in the same way a child does, i.e. by interacting with human adults and other objects in the environment. The learning me...

How to Brainstorm in the Classroom

How to Brainstorm in the Classroom Brainstorming is an excellent teaching strategy to generate ideas on a given topic. Brainstorming helps promote thinking skills. When students are asked to think of all things related to a concept, they are really being asked to stretch their thinking skills. All too often, a child with special learning needs will say they dont know. However, with the technique of brainstorming, the child says what comes to mind as it relates to the topic. Brainstorming promotes success for students with special needs as there is no one right answer. Lets say that the brainstorm topic is weather, the students would state whatever comes to mind, which would most likely include words like rain, hot, cold, temperature, seasons, mild, cloudy, stormy, etc. Brainstorming is also a terrific idea to do for bell work (when you have just 5-10 minutes to fill just prior to the bell).​ Brainstorming Is an Excellent Strategy To... Use in the inclusive classroomTap into prior knowledgeGive all students a chance to express their ideasEliminate fear of failuresShow respect for each otherTry something without fearTap into individuality and creativityEliminate the fear of risk-taking Here are some basic rules to follow when conducting a brainstorm in the classroom with a small or whole group of students: There are no wrong answersTry to get as many ideas as possibleRecord all ideasDo not express your evaluation on any idea presented Prior to starting a new topic or concept, the brainstorm session will provide teachers with a great deal of information regarding what the student may or may not know. Brainstorming Ideas to Get You Started What are all the things you can do with a ball? (marble, stick, book, elastic, apple, etc.)How many things are white? blue? green? etc.What are all the methods of travel?How many types of insects, animals, flowers, trees do you know?How many ways can you describe the way something is said? (whispered, shrieked, bellowed, yelled, retorted, etc.)How many things can you think of that are sweet? salty? sour? bitter? etc.How many ways can you describe the ocean? mountains? etc.What if there were no cars? rain? butterflies? cigarettes?What if all cars were yellow?What if you were caught in a tornado?What if it never stopped raining? What if the school day was only half days? went all year? Once the brainstorming activity is done, you have a great deal of information on where to take the topic next. Or, if the brainstorming activity is done as bell work, link it to a current theme or topic to enhance knowledge. You can also categorize/classify the students answers once the brainstorm is done or separate it out and let students work in groups on each of the sub-topics. Share this strategy with parents who have children who are insecure about sharing, the more they brainstorm, the better they get at it and thus enhancing their thinking skills.

Why being an active member of the ASRT is important Essay

Why being an active member of the ASRT is important - Essay Example One of the major tasks undertaken by the radiologic technologists is to ensure high quality diagnostic image. For this, they should be well trained to position the patients in the right manner so that imaging examination brings about the best possible result that is 100% accurate. The correct interpretation of the received images also necessitates specialized skills. Similarly, the radiologic technologists on the Radiation Oncology Team do have pivotal roles to play while they administer proportionate doses of radiation to the patient’s body to treat cancer or other diseases. For this, one should have specialized education and practical skills in physics, radiation safety, patient anatomy and patient care. I am sure that being an ASRT member would help me to enhance my potentialities, as there will be opportunities for me to attend advanced training programs in the areas of MRI and CT for registered technologists. It also provides challenging and rewarding opportunities to work with other allied health professionals in establishing interdisciplinary training. The job provides one to learn as well as teach something all the time. The opportunity to work using the most advanced technology under the guidance and supervision of experienced professionals in the field is an added advantage. The work under such an organization like ASRT offers one great job satisfaction as there is a significant reward when one can directly contribute to the diagnostic care of an individual who is in need of his/ her service. The vision and mission of ASRT convinces any dedicated radiologic technologists, who wants to achieve professional growth and fulfill his aspirations, of the necessity and significance of being an active member of this world reputed association. The ASRT rightly believes that by 2012, radiologic technologists all over the

AIC test and diabetes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

AIC test and diabetes - Essay Example From this study, it was found that A1C level of a patient provides a reliable measure of controlling chronic glycemia without the need for a timed sample or fasting, and it correlates highly with the long-term risk of diabetes-related complications and mortality. Most important, this test tool is more effective in detecting undiagnosed diabetes and there is a higher potentiality of using the measurements of AIC levels to screen type 2 diabetes (Choi et al, 2011). How the new tool can be integrated into practice It has been found that AIC test is not recommended for diagnosing diabetes among adolescents with diabetes. The conventional fasting plasma glucose test in which a patient is put on fast for 8 hours prior to testing has been found to detect more undiagnosed cases of diabetes among adolescents compared to the AIC test. The suitability of this among children is still debatable. For example, the American Diabetes Association has given guidelines on how it can be used in children yet researchers from Michigan University caution against the same. The AIC test tool is therefore best applicable to adults. This suitability is supported by research which indicates that AIC test is more sensitive in diagnosing adults accurately compared to adolescents. The application of the findings of this study to adults simply entails making a shift from the use of the fasting blood glucose tests to using AIC tests when diagnosing diabetes among adults.... The AIC test enables physicians diagnose patients who are diabetic faster and more comprehensively. Because of this, the AIC test can be used to increase the number of adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and thus the number of people with diabetes who receive timely intervention to reduce the complications and clinical implications of the disease. This will particularly be important in diagnosing asymptomatic patients because of the accuracy of obtaining glucose levels. The result of this will be the reduction of diabetic patients, especially asymptomatic patients, who suffer from multiple organs systems failure due to late diagnosis. This application is important because there is a rapid increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Less than 13% of adults in the US and Asia have been diagnosed with this type 2 diabetes. Among the newly diagnosed patients, 25% already had microvascular complications, indicating a 6- to 7-year time lag that exists between the onset of type 2 diabe tes and its diagnosis. The second application of the AIC test among adults is making predictions of diabetes for purposes of timely management. The AIC test is more powerful in identifying people who are at a high risk of becoming diabetic in future or who have undiagnosed diabetes. The use of AIC test will therefore be useful in increasing the prediction of new-onset diabetes among adults and thus the number of people that are likely to be on diabetes prevention and management programs. Â  This application is vital because when taking into consideration the clinical implications and complications of diabetes, it is of paramount importance to identify people with who are at a high risk of becoming diabetic in future or who have undiagnosed

Muslims and America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Muslims and America - Essay Example One of the mostly viewed episodes or films in the US is â€Å"30 days: Muslim and America.† The episode was directed by an American, Morgan Spurlock. The film has one main character, Dave, who is a Christian and goes to live in a Muslim family with an aim of learning the Islamic culture. The film has a variety of thematic constituents including religious discrimination, hatred, culture and several others. The episode situates the viewers in a crazy world of terrorism blames and hatred. It makes one think of existing religious differences and conflicts in the American society. Moreover, it probes some reasoning and comprehension of the conflict. By using an American, Dave, who has also the same perception, it is quite predictable that whatever he will face in the Muslim society is violence. This perception however changes when Dave, the Christian American, finds out a total different story in his 30 days of stay in Dearborn, Michigan where most Muslims in the US stay. The episode also situates the viewers in a position where they can easily tell who the wrong one is between the groups, Americans and the Muslims. This is through following carefully Dave’s experience while living in Muslim communities in Dearborn and Michigan. The presence of Mosque and Quran aids in forming more ideas concerning the Muslim society. Dave learns of the friendly nature of the Muslim people and gets convinced that all the evils that people do say about the Muslims are false. For one to comprehend the phenomena in the episode, it is advisable that he or she avoid developing any form of attitude or mental rigidity on certain ideas. Otherwise; the episode will seem like a dream to him or her. Everything will seem to be false. For instance, a viewer with a rigid or static belief that Muslims are terrorists or are always bad people will never gain, or learn any lesson from the episode. One has to develop a neutral mind and love for all; in short, it is better for a viewer to put himself or herself in the shoes of professional judicial persons like judges before venturing into the episode. One must also understand that different groups of people have different cultural behaviors and beliefs. Therefore, an individual should not view or perceive anything done by his or her neighbors as evil and condemn it (Arshad, 2003). Culture is a very crucial aspect of every society and each person should respect one another’s for the purpose of creating a leeway to p eace discovery. The episode situates or positions the viewers in different ways. First, Spurlock has employed a lot of symbolism in a bid to place the viewers in a Muslim society (Arshad, 2003). Through the use of Mosque, Muslim dressing styles, and eating styles, he has indeed made most viewers, I included imagine being in a Muslim society experiencing and learning their cultures. He has also used the interviewing method on both two sides to get their opinions concerning one another. An example of such is the interview of an old man by Dave (Zelizer, 2007). The man tells him that all religions are bound by one common thing or person who is God. The man goes ahead to state that there is only one God with different names. He quotes that â€Å"when one takes one life he destroys humanity† from the Quran (Spurlock, 2011). Spurlock has also employed certain words, editing styles and images to encourage us viewers form certain ideologies. The words like, Jesus Christ and Mohammed, Bible and Quran, have been used in the episode to encourage viewers to form and maintain neutrality throughout the episode. He has also used images like the mosque and Camels (in form of cartoons) to represent a Muslim society in Asia (Zelizer, 2007). The episode also talks much about mistreatment; it does not mention any problems caused by the Muslims to the Christians. However, since the Muslim

Double Standards in the Workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Double Standards in the Workplace - Essay Example It will also address disingenuous attempts to cover-up or explain away this double standard.   As an initial matter, â€Å"existing national statistics support a view that Corporate America is not a gender-balanced playing field† (Murphy, 2001). Women today constitute more than half of the workforce, but they don’t even account for five percent of all business executives. In terms of compensation, women managers, on average, earn only 68% of what similarly qualified and employed male managers earn. In addition to these huge disparities in terms of upward mobility and compensation, women are also quite commonly the victims of sexual harassment; in fact, statistics indicate that nearly 75% of women claim to have been sexually harassed at the workplace. There is also a qualitative double standard in operation. Women managers, for instance, are more often burdened with non-management administrative tasks than are their male counterparts. In short, there is plenty of statistical evidence to support the proposition that a double standard based on gender is real and substantial.   Some have argued, however, that these statistics are misleading. The National Organization for Men, to cite a well-known example, has argued that women have used this double standard notion as a political tool to gain the upper hand in workplace negotiations involving matters such as compensation and promotion (2005). They cite a recent censure of Harvard President, Larry Summers, who was justifiably attacked for suggesting that men are superior to women in science as his rationale for preferring men to women in the field of science. Strangely enough, the issue isn’t free speech. President Summers is free to offer his opinion.

American religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

American religion - Essay Example The use of the term softening is a strategy to balance the increasing religiosity and the decline in certain religious aspects. The softening of religion in America has become an issue of debate. There are many reasons put forth to support the softening of religion. Although some scholars do not support the softening ideology, certain factors prove the idea of softening true. This paper will focus on describing what has caused the softening of religion in America. Religion diversity is one of the reasons why some authors believe that American religion is softening. In the early 1900s, there were many people who professed to be members of different religions. Specifically, there were many Americans who proved to be staunch Protestants and Catholics. In the 1970s, the number of such people had decreased immensely. Many Americans have let go of their religious affiliations and opted to become atheists. Although such people recognize the existence of God, they prefer to stay away from any specific church. Currently, there are different types of atheism exhibited by people in America. Chaves, one of the authors who have explored the softening of religion in America believes that American atheists who have distanced themselves from religious groups are more than people who are stuck to the religion. In addition, the increasing popularity of other religions such as Hinduism and Islam has contributed to increased softening of religion. The American p opulation no longer fits a homogeneous description of religion (Chaves 18). The reasons for this are because people exhibit diverse faiths and appreciate the value of religious diversity. Notably, there was a time when America registered a remarkable increase of Protestants. The increase was after different Protestant groups received much popularity. Many people joined the Protestant groups leaving behind the traditional Christianity groups. It emerges that the current trend depict a decline of Protestants. It is no

Double Standards in the Workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Double Standards in the Workplace - Essay Example It will also address disingenuous attempts to cover-up or explain away this double standard.   As an initial matter, â€Å"existing national statistics support a view that Corporate America is not a gender-balanced playing field† (Murphy, 2001). Women today constitute more than half of the workforce, but they don’t even account for five percent of all business executives. In terms of compensation, women managers, on average, earn only 68% of what similarly qualified and employed male managers earn. In addition to these huge disparities in terms of upward mobility and compensation, women are also quite commonly the victims of sexual harassment; in fact, statistics indicate that nearly 75% of women claim to have been sexually harassed at the workplace. There is also a qualitative double standard in operation. Women managers, for instance, are more often burdened with non-management administrative tasks than are their male counterparts. In short, there is plenty of statistical evidence to support the proposition that a double standard based on gender is real and substantial.   Some have argued, however, that these statistics are misleading. The National Organization for Men, to cite a well-known example, has argued that women have used this double standard notion as a political tool to gain the upper hand in workplace negotiations involving matters such as compensation and promotion (2005). They cite a recent censure of Harvard President, Larry Summers, who was justifiably attacked for suggesting that men are superior to women in science as his rationale for preferring men to women in the field of science. Strangely enough, the issue isn’t free speech. President Summers is free to offer his opinion.

Marketing Concepts & Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing Concepts & Strategies - Essay Example This is a good start to my career, as I will learn a lot in regards to the finance function. In addition, I will have worked for small companies and increased my expertise and skills. Lastly, to become a financial controller is one of my short-term goals that I will be fulfilling. Firstly, marketing is the creative side, whereby ideas and passion drive what a person believes. In addition, marketing helps an organization acquire and keep profitable customers. On the other hand, finance focuses and evaluates the benefits and rewards that are worthy of the business (Blythe, p. 8). The marketing knowledge will help a financial controller provides the financial results of a business. This includes the marketing expenditure in the organization. It involves the budget in which the marketing team needs to carry out promotional activities, training and sales conferences. Moreover, through financial statements that are prepared by the finance department, it is possible to know how much the marketing team spends over a certain period. In addition, it will help them understand and know whether the Return on Investment is positive or not. Through the marketing programs that aid in increasing sales, the financial controller can monitor the trends of sales and expense trend s in the business. The financial controller can advise on the most important expenditures that an organization can make, especially on areas of marketing and advertising. The possession of marketing knowledge helps a financial controller together with the marketing team to prepare budgets. Such budgets entail the expenditures in marketing campaigns and promotional activities (Blythe, p. 24). The financial controller can also measure the marketing departments to adhere to the limits in budgets and the efficiency of the budgets that the marketing department has used. Some of the examples that apply are as follows. When computing marketing ratio analysis, the financial controller works closely with

To Homer by John Keats Essay Example for Free

To Homer by John Keats Essay Within the Mythological Criticism approach, Keats illustrates the use of different archetypes, including the archetype character; example of this is illustrated in the verse So thou wast blind! – but then the veil was rent, we can infer that the author wants to make certain allusion to the Greek Poet Homer, who was blind and was known in his time as a figure of reality and legend, author of the Great Epics The Iliad and The Odyssey. (VIII century BC). On the other hand, Keats mentions various gods of Greek Mythology, example we have: For Jove (Zeus Jupiter) uncurtained Heaven to let thee live,; And Neptune made for thee a spumy tent, and â€Å"And Pan made sing for thee his forest-hive†; these three lines the author may want to express the kindness and protection that Homer should have them on Earth, Heaven and the Sea and the fear of unconsciousness. These are examples of the different Mythic Archetypes in the Poem. In addition, we can infer that the author refers to a situational archetype To visit dolphin-coral in deep seas, as an allusion to the beauty of the deep sea and the golden fish, popularly called the dolphin. Within the poem is also identified a symbolic archetype darkness / light, this archetype describes symbolic polarity between life and death Aye, on the shores of darkness there is light. The poem can be considered as an apostrophe devoted to the absence and disappearance of the poet Homer, we can also qualify it as a praise or prayer to Homer, who was one of the leading poets in the history of Greek Mythology

Two Wheelers In India Marketing Essay

Two Wheelers In India Marketing Essay Riding a two wheeler gives once a felling of freedom and enjoying the natural beauty. In India two wheelers are generally preferred because of their compact sizes affordable process, low maintenance and easy loan repayment. If we see Indian streets they are generally filled up of two wheelers. The  trend  of  owning  two wheelers  in India is  due  to  a  variety  of  facts.  One  of  the  chief  Ã‚  is  poor  public  transport  in  many  parts  of  India.   Additionally,  two-wheelers  offer  a  great  deal  of  convenience  and mobility for  the Indian  family. India is the third largest producer of Two wheelers in the world it come just next to Japan and China. In last few years the the Indian two-wheelers industry has got spectacular growth. Two wheeler industry in India has a small beginning in early 50s. The Automobile Products of India (API) started manufacturing scooters in the country which was later taken over by Bajaj Auto. Although various government and private enterprises entered the fray for scooters, the only new player that has lasted till today is LML. The motorcycle segment of India was initially dominated by Escorts175cc bike and Enfield 350cc bikes. In mid 80s the two-wheeler market was opened to foreign competition. And the then market leaders Escorts and Enfield were caught unaware by the onslaught of the 100cc  bikes of the four Indo-Japanese joint ventures. With the availability of fuel efficient low power  Ã‚  bikes, demand for this swelled which results in Hero Honda then the only producer of four stroke bikes(100cc category), gaining a top slot. The first Japanese motorcycles were introduced in the early eighties. TVS Suzuki and Hero Honda brought in the first two-stroke and four-stroke engine motorcycles respectively.   TVS Suzuki and Hero Honda initially started with assembly of CKD kits which later on progressed to indigenous manufacturing. In the 90s the Japanese motorcycles has brought in major growth for motorcycle segment , which grew at a  rate of nearly 25% CAGR in the last  five years. The motorcycle industry had a smooth ride in the 50s, 60s and 70s when the Government has prohibited new entries and controlled capacity expansion strictly. In 80s the industry saw a sudden growth and a peak volume of 1.9 mn vehicles. The entire automobile industry saw a drastic fall in demand in the year 1990 which resulted in decline of demand by 15% in 1991 and 8% in 1992, resulting in a production loss of 0.4mn vehicles. Hero Honda showed a marginal decline in 1992 and all the major producers suffered from recession in Fy 1993-1994. The reasons for recession in the sector were high input costs , incessant rise in fuel prices and reduced purchasing power of the people due to significant rise in gen eral price level and credit crunch was there consumer financing. Later with development of economic situation, sales of  two wheeler increased increased.   In the last eight to ten years, the two-wheeler  market has witnessed a shift from scooters to motorcycles. Particularly in the rural areas, consumers have started preferring sturdier bikes to withstand the bad road conditions. Key Factors affecting sales of Motorcycles: The various factors which effect the sales of motorcycles are Petrol Prices- As they determine the running cost of the vehicles so change in the pricing policy of Government of India will have an impact on two wheelers sales. Improvement in disposable income certainly play a multiplier effect on the demands of consumer durables. Ease on the availability of credits will leads to increase in demand of two wheelers. Key players in  the Two-wheeler Industry: There are many two-wheeler manufacturers in India the major players are as follows: Hero Honda Motors Ltd (HHML) -Bajaj Auto Ltd (Bajaj Auto) and -TVS Motor  Company Ltd (TVS) Kinetic Motor Company Ltd(KMCL),     Yamaha  Motors  India  Ltd(Yamaha), Royal Enfield Ltd (REL) and Honda Motorcycle Scooter India (P) Ltd  (HMSI). Various bikes models: 100 cc bikes segment: The bikes in this segment are generally simple and are not much expensive and their main target customers are middle income people. These bikes consume less fuel as they have 100 cc motor and they are suitable for travelling longer distance. The bikes in 100 cc are most rightly can be said as value for money. The various competing bikes in this segment are : -Bajaj Discover  100, Bajaj Platina 100, Hero Honda Passion Plus, -Hero Honda Splendor Plus and Yamaha Crux TVS STAR City We are going to compare the following mentioned models: Bajaj Discover  100 Hero Honda Splendor Plus Yamaha Crux TVS Centra Bajaj Discover 100 Brand Name Bajaj Discover Parent Company Bajaj Auto Category Motorcycle Sector Two-wheeler Automobile Tagline/ Slogan Discover India with the power of 1 litre USP It give good mileage Brand Ambassador Evolution: Bajaj Discover is a motorcycle brand owned by Bajaj Auto in India. It was launched in 2004 and since then it was a huge success in two wheeler segment and can be rightly called commuters bike. It has a 2nd generation DTS- Si four stroke engine. Discover provides high power and high torque which is able to produce up to 7500 rpm and torque of 5000 rpm. Bajaj has launched 100cc Discover DTS-Si which has 2nd generation engine and provide an average of 75km/hr on road speed in city and 83km/hr on highways and being termed as long distance Bike. It has 5 transmission gears to provide constant transmission. The Bajaj Discover DTS-Si will be available in four colour i.e red, blue, deep black and green. Bajaj Discover DTS-Si 100cc has unmatched durability as all the other Discover  bikes in india. Some of the premium design features of this motorcycle are LED tail-lamp, alloy wheels and an all black presentation with attractive chrome styling elements. This newly launched Bajaj two-wheeler is packed to deliver unmatched performance through polycot piston with the sturdy Discover format and yielding complete comfort varied features like ergonomically designed seats.   Features: Electric start system Longest wheelbase in the entire segment Full DC electrical system Auto choke that helps in easy starting Nitrox suspension that makes riding comfortable even on rough roads Maintenance free battery along with charge indicator 5 speed gear box Target Segment: Bajaj Discover is mainly targeting the lower middle class people who look value for money and need a bike that give good mileage and look stylish. Target Group: Youth of middle class in age group of 25-35 years. Positioning: A bike that can be used for exploring new avenues. SWOT ANALYSIS OF BAJAJ DISCOVER SWOT Strength 1.Strong brand name and huge market   2.Excellent distribution through franchisees   3.Most reliable for Indian roads as it requires low maintenance 4.Good mileage Weakness 1. Focuses on just mileage Opportunity 1. Expansion in rural and tier-2 cities   2. Innovations in technology Threats 1. New entrants   2. Competitors   3. Low cost bikes Hero Honda Splendor Brand Name Hero Honda(Hero MotoCorp) Splendor Parent Company Hero Honda Category Motorcycles Sector Two-wheeler Tagline/ Slogan Yaari ki Gaadi; Desh ki dhadkan USP A bike with low maintenance and good mileage Brand Ambassador The largest bike manufacture of country Hero Honda has got super rich and best selling bike in its stable that is  Hero Honda Splendor, the total variant of the brand are 4. Hero Honda has recently upgraded its  Hero Honda Splendor  Super model and the new bike is priced at Rs. 45950 in Delhi. Hero Honda launched its flagship model  Hero Honda Splendor  in the year 1994 and it bring name and fame to the company instantly since the launch. Only after a gap of 6 years,  Hero Honda Splendor  was declared World No. 1 largest selling single two-wheeler model. The basic model of the  Hero Honda Splendor  was having only standard equipment only but technology was mind-blowing as a result the bike made records after records of selling. In the year 2003, Hero Honda upgraded the basic model of  Hero Honda Splendor  and launched a revamped version named as Hero Honda Splendor Plus which also saw a big success. The company announced to sell the basic and improved model side by side but discontinued the former silently after sometime. Now only  Hero Honda Splendor  Plus version is available in market. The  Hero Honda Splendor  Plus is powered by an air cooled, 4 stroke, single cylinder OHC engine with 97.2 cc of displacement. The engine produces peak power of 7.4 bhp at 8,000 rpm and churn peak torque of 7.95 Nm at 5,000 rpm. It uses world class suspension and brakes which can be called as the USP of Hero Honda bikes in India. The new avatar of  Hero Honda Splendor  sports alloy wheels, pass light, helmet lock and handy indicators switch. The company further revamped the  Hero Honda Splendor  brand and launched Hero Honda Splendor Super in the year 2005. It is a bigger machine than its predecessors. The bike is loaded with 125cc, 4-Stroke OHC, Single Cylinder, Air Cooled engine which churns maximum power of 9 bhp at 7,000 rpm while belts out 10.35 Nm of peak torque at 4,000 rpm. Other modifications on this bike include, self start, bigger engine, wider wheelbase and bike weight. The latest offering in the Hero Honda stable is Hero Honda Splendor NXG which was launched in the year 2007. Basically the bike was designed and launched targeting youth thereby more graphics, self start, alloy wheels and sporty look. For the first time in Hero Honda history, it added self start option, after a year of the launch, to an entry-level bike along with black alloy wheels. In addition to this, ne generation Pro Series Engines is incorporated in the  Hero Honda Splendor  NXG. Apart from these, the bike is equipped with new generation digital CDI unit, new design carburetor with TCIS, Halogen bulb Trapeziodal, MFR in headlamp and new style graphics. The bike is again an entry-level bike which comes loaded with 4 stoke, single cylinder OHC, air cooled 97.2cc engine. The engine develops a peak power of 7.8 bhp at 7,500 rpm and generates 8.04 Nm of peak torque at 4,500 rpm. Hero Honda Splendor Mileage, Average and Fuel Economy The  Hero Honda Splendor  series bikes are known for their superb mileage and low maintenance. The  Hero Honda Splendor  Plus gives around 65-70 kmpl. It has got 11 litres of fuel tank capacity along with 1 litre of fuel reserve.  Hero Honda SplendorSuper can give around 63-68 kmpl of mileage. The maximum fuel tank capacity is 12 litres. Whereas  Hero Honda Splendor  NXG has 9.5 litres of fuel tank capacity and 1.8 litres of reserve and you can expect around 70-75 kmpl of fuel economy in city. The all new  Hero Honda Splendor  Pro offers a mileage of 60-70 kmpl in the city roads. The fuel tank present in the new  Hero Honda Splendor  Pro is of 11 ltrs with I ltr of fuel reserve. Hero Honda Splendor Colors The  Hero Honda Splendor  Plus comes in 8 hues like Excellent Blue, Hi Granite Blue, Black With Purple Stripe 1, Black with Purple Stripe 2, Black with Purple Stripe 3, Black with Silver stripe, Cloud Silver and Candy Red. The body colour is painted at fuel tank, front cowl, side panels, rear panels and front fender. Target Segment: Target are the lower middle class people who want bike that give good mileage and look stylish. Target Group: Youth of middle class in age group of 25-35 years. Positioning: A motorcycle for making friends in life. SWOT Strength 1.Strong brand name and huge market   2.Excellent distribution through franchisees   3.Most reliable for Indian roads as it requires low maintenance   4.Good mileage Weakness 1.Focuses on just mileage and no power Opportunity 1. Expansion in rural and tier-2 cities   2. Innovations in technology Threats 1. New entrants   2. Competitors   3. Low cost bikes Yamaha Crux Brand Name Yamaha Crux Parent Company Yamaha Category Motorcycles Sector Two-wheeler Tagline/ Slogan Aapke irade sa mazboot; Yes Yamaha USP Bike which has good mileage Brand Ambassador The  Yamaha Crux  is a 106  cc, single-cylinder  four-stroke  motorcycle made by  India Yamaha Motor. The Crux is designed for Indian and neighboring markets. Its upgraded version is known as the  Yamaha Libero G5. Unlike Libero G5, Crux has round head lights. Although it shares the same engine with Yamaha Libero, Crux is targeted towards the lowest end of the low end segment (100  cc segment) A different version of crux known as crux r was introduced with the same specifications but rectangular headlights. But after it could not make a considerable sales, the production was halted. Yamaha Cruxs 106cc, 4-stroke engine, Strong Frame, attractive style, multi-reflector lights and long seat makes it the comfortable durable 4-stroke commuter bike on the Indian roads. Yamaha Crux is the popular bike with attractive features available in India at affordable price. The mill of the  Yamaha Crux  delivers a top power of 7.6 PS at 7,500 rpm and produces a maximum torque of 7.85 Nm at 6,000 rpm. Yamaha CRUX gives excellent durability that everyone loves it. Crux can carry heavy loads or passengers with smooth move. Yamaha India said that Yamaha Crux will meet all requirement of biker. Lets talk about the  Yamaha Crux price in India  with features and specifications. Yamaha Crux Features 130 dia drum brake. Adjustable shockers. Advanced air cooled 4 stroke engine. Attractive looks. Chrome plated fender. Multi-reflector tail light and head light for better visibility. Target Segment: Middle-class people who want a bike that is stylish and gives a good mileage. Target Group: Youth of middle class in age group of 25-35 years. Positioning: A strong bike which encourages a strong life. SWOT Strength 1.Huge market   2.Excellent distribution through franchisees   3.Good mileage Weakness 1.  Limited market share compared to other leading brands Opportunity 1. Expansion in rural and tier-2 cities   2. Innovations in technology   3.More brand visibility. Threats 1. New entrants   2. Competitors   3. Low cost bikes TVS CENTRA Brand Name TVS CENTRA Parent Company TVS Category Motorcycles Sector Two-wheeler Tagline/ Slogan Inspiration in motion USP Good mileage Brand Ambassador TVS Centra, introduced by TVS Motor Company, is miles ahead than others with its VT-i engines, which digitally control ignition timing, and temperature sensors for optimum fuel efficiency. Its unique friction reduction technology and fuel wastage reduction system is capable of consistently delivering superior mileage. Stunning muscular lines on the fuel tank along with stylish and contemporary body graphics render it a wind-chiseled look. Completing the look is the trapezoidal MFR headlight for excellent visibility. Designed according to bio-mechanics principles, TVS Centra is one of its kind in the category. And last but not the least, the 5-step adjustable rear shock absorbers help to make your ride smooth on any kind of road Like all TVS Motor Company products, TVS Centra too has been engineered and designed keeping in mind extensive customer feedback and changing customer needs. TVS Centra will be the first motorcycle in India that will bundle price, mileage, maintenance, style, reliability, power, ruggedness and ride comfort making it truly a value for money personal transportation two-wheeler. Those who want all these performance attributes in a commuter motorcycle at a great price, nothing will beat the TVS Centra for all the advantages it offers. TVS Centra is built around to give a mileage that will offer atleast 10 per cent more than any other motorcycle in the country, today. It will be powered by 7.5 Brake Horse Power (Bhp) at 7250 RPM making it the most powerful motorcycle in its class. TVS Centra will also be known for its nimble handling and riding comfort enabling easy maneuvering even in busy city traffic. Its contemporary style with big muscular tank and well-rounded looks with a horizontal engine and superior ergonomics will mark a new standard in the popular segment of two wheelers. It will come with Econometer to keep a check on the mileage / power ratio, wide and skid free seat and Utility space. TVS Centra Features Advanced air cooled 4 stroke engine. 110 dia drum brake. Adjustable shockers. Attractive looks. Digitally controlled starting. Target Segment: Middle-class executives. Target Group: Youth in age group of 22-35 years. Positioning: SWOT Strength 1.Huge market   2.Excellent distribution through franchisees   3.Good mileage Weakness 1.  Limited market share compared to other leading brands Opportunity 1. Expansion in rural and tier-2 cities   2. Innovations in technology   3.More brand visibility. Threats 1. New entrants   2. Competitors   3. Low cost bikes

A Diet of Worms in the Digital Age :: Digital Technology Technological Papers

A Diet of Worms in the Digital Age I can’t prove it, but there is no doubt in my mind that textual arguments have been raging in scholarly circles for as long as there has been text to debate. In my mind’s eye I can see them: ancient Sumerian scribes lecturing each other about clay types and wedge depth; early Semitic peoples voting â€Å"no† on the vowel; medieval European scribes boldly pushing forward with punctuation, spaces between words, and the lower-case alphabet, and having heated debates on the long-term viability of the capital letter. And then came the printing press! Can you imagine the contention! What bold new vistas were opened up for scholarship! But anyone could publish anything—no matter what the quality! And surely, this spelled the doom of calligraphy. With the advent of the digital age, scholarly textual debate has simply entered a new phase. At issue here: what is the potential of digitally-powered scholarship, and how can that potential be realized? What approaches should we take in terms of format and methodology? William H. O’Donnell and Emily A. Thrush (â€Å"Designing a Hypertext Edition of a Modern Poem†) discuss the issues involved in designing hypertext editions of literature. Specifically, they refer to the edition of Yeats’s â€Å"Lapis Lazuli† that they designed. The main work to be studied, they feel (be it â€Å"Lapis Lazuli† or something else), must not be cluttered with visible links. They have devised a method of windowing that anticipates the modern â€Å"frames† format of Internet documents, and stress that any attempt at electronic analysis of a work of literature must be intuitively structured, easy to use, and customizable. Their edition of â€Å"Lapis Lazuli† appears well-constructed and functional and seems to have fairly broad appeal, but it seems also to be intended more as an aid to understanding the poem than as a tool for scholarly research. This distinction separates this article somewhat from the others considered her e, though the basic format could be applied to other projects. Peter Shillingsburg (â€Å"Principles for Electronic Archives, Scholarly Editions, and Tutorials†) frankly admits that what we all secretly want is to have every conceivable kind of information—textual, visual, audio—related to a given topic all sorted for us and available right at our fingertips. This is, of course, impossible, but he feels that electronic editions of scholarly works have the potential to come closer to that ideal than any other medium. He systematically lays out the main problems facing those who create electronic editions and suggests some ways to address them.

Malachi Stacks in the Matchmaker Essay

In the world of business there are always those men and women who are not recognized for the contributions they make to certain products, projects, or works even though without them the result would never exist. Nonetheless, these people go on with their daily lives working hard, knowing that all their dedication is going to benefit others and not them. Yet, they can’t blame the big companies for not being recognized, because these men and women do this willingly. They are fully aware that their actions serve a purpose to the greater rather than a personal one, and for them that is enough. Such people do not need the recognition of others because they themselves know the importance of their actions. One example of such a human being is portrayed in Thornton Wilder’s The Matchmaker. His name is Malachi Stacks, and though he only shows up on stage two or three times, he is the one who gives the entire production meaning. Malachi is the person who sets into motion a series of events that completely change not only the characters, but also their lives. With this character, Thornton Wilder takes what used to be just a regular farce comedy and gives it meaning which makes all the difference, Malachi Stacks makes all the difference. Thornton carefully crafted the role of Stacks in such a way that made him distinct from the rest of the characters. Even with being in his fifties, sadness and depression are entirely absent from his life. Every line spoken by him has a joyful feeling to, and almost puts a smile on the reader’s face. Even at times when he is being put down by Mr. Vandergelder, joy is felt in his words. Wilder makes Malachi seem like a little adolescent, who has not yet been exposed to reality, and still thinks the world is perfect. However, all this is just an image that Malachi establishes for his own purposes. He makes people believe he can be trusted by pretending to be respectful and following orders. Malachi creates a relationship between himself and the others, especially Mr. Vandergelder, which makes him seem gullible and easy to control when in fact it is he who controls them. This sort of maneuver is portrayed very well in his first scene with Mr. Vandergelder, in which he says â€Å"You’ll never regret it, Mr. Vandergelder. You’ll never regret it.† It is such a simple line, and yet there is so much there. Malachi makes it seem like he is just another man who is happy about getting a job, when in reality he is masking his true intentions behind these innocent words. The real reason Malachi is happy to have gotten the job, is because he now has the ability to fix the inequality which exists between Vandergelder and the others. Truth be told, Malachi is actually the only individual who see this flaw amongst the characters, and he knows it should not be there. Therefore, by formulating this sort of innocent personality, Malachi Stacks gives himself the perfect opportunity to finally bring equality into the lives of the characters. It all happens in Act III when Mr. Vandelgelder is having his coat taken off as his purse filled with money falls to the ground. Malachi, knowing that the primary reason for such inequality amongst the characters is their financial situations, takes his chance to balance the scale. However, he does not make a big deal out of it. Malachi simply takes the purse, asks Vandelgelder if it’s his, and since the response is no he gives it to Cornelius. It’s very quick, subtle, and seems like the right thing to do. Yet, even though what he did was so simple, it was enough to bring equality into their lives and he knew that. By asking Vandergelder whether or not the purse was his, Malachi tested him to check if he deserves the money. For in his short little monologue that he has right after picking up the purse, Mr. Stacks says â€Å"The law is there to protect property, but- sure the law doesn’t care whether a property owner deserves his property or not, and the law has to be corrected†. Therefore when he asked Vandelgelder â€Å"Did you drop something† the real question was â€Å"Are you worthy of all this money that you have†. Vandelgelder responding quickly said no, and that was enough for Malachi to know that the money deserved to be in the hands of someone else, Cornelius. It is also at this point that inequality begins to slowly disappear between the characters. First, Cornelius and Barnaby are able to pay for their expensive dinner and truly impress Mrs. Malloy along with Minnie. Then Mrs. Levi finally tells Mr. Vandergelder what she thinks of him when he cannot pay the bill, and that is when he finally realizes what kind of man he is. Slowly through scenes like these, the balance between the characters begins to even out and by the end, everyone is happy, joyful, and most of all the inequality amongst them completely vanishes all thanks to Malachi Stacks. Though Thornton chose Malachi to be the tool for equilibrium amongst the characters by having him â€Å"redistribute the superfluities†, the part also is important when it comes to the moral of the story. Of course, after reading The Matchmaker it safe to say that there are multiple lessons to be learned from this play, but one of the main ones shows up in Malachi’s monologue. Right after discussing the entire matter of redistributing property, Thornton has the character talk about how one man should not have more than one vice. In fact, he ends his line with the words â€Å"One vice at a time†. Now this entire concept might seem abstract, because after all even in today’s world vices are looked down upon. However, Thornton shows what two vices can do to a man by having Malachi use Vandergelder’s wrongs against him. His first true frailty is that in his own world Mr. Vandergelder sees himself a king, where no one can stop him because he has so much money. The second is his passion for money. In fact, his first vice comes from this one, because to him a person who has more money has more authority. So instead of merely having Vandergelder destroy himself through his vices, Thornton uses Malachi to show how having more than one vice is recipe for destruction. First, he uses Vandergelder’s attitude towards himself to gain his trust, by pretending to be loyal to him. Next, once Vandergelder thinks he has him under his control, Malachi uses the second frailty against him taking that which is most precious, his money, and giving it away. By using both of these flaws in his master’s character, Mr. Stacks brings Vandergelder into a state of despair where he has lost everything that made him, a King in his own mind. One man. Three Scenes. Yet without him, The Matchmaker would never be the same. Thornton Wilder made a smart decision in imgaging such a character, because he is developed in such a way that his importance to the whole play is not realized until the conclusion. For with just a simple action of handing off a purse to Cornelius, Malachi made a ripple effect which changed the course of the entire production and made all the difference. Malachi Stacks made all the difference.

Aquiring Admissable Statements Essay

1. When reviewing the legal requirements to acquire an admissible statement, what similarities did you find among the four states? In general the similarities among the four states pertain to the use of public records such as religious ones, family history, documents more than 20 years old, recorded recollections, the absence of public records, vital statistics, statements about the declarant’s present sense impressions or the declarant’s the existing mental, physical or emotional state, statements about the person’s medical condition. Arizona, Illinois and New York also allow telephone conversations to be admitted into evidence as long as one part has consented to such recording (Pilgrim Software, 2007). 2. What differences did you find among the four states? California requires both parties’ consent to telephone conversation recording for the telephone call to be admitted as evidence (Pilgrim Software, 2007). California has admitted hearsay statements by victims who were murdered, as demonstrated by the (Colb, 2008) Giles v. California. New York Evidence Law (2006) does not allow prior consistent statements. They can only be used to disprove misassigned motive, as demonstrated by People v. Seit, 86 N.Y.2d 92 (1995) (p. 15).However, New York has made exceptions to such statements when they apply to present impressions (p. 15). Out-of-court identifications made by persons not present is treated as hearsay (p. 15). This is also true for California (DiCarlo, 2001). In Arizona, former testimony in a non-criminal action or proceeding is admissible. If it relates to criminal actions or proceedings it is inadmissible (â€Å"Arizona rules,† 2009). Yet, Arizona allows firsthand written accounts of the person’s activities or routines (2009). Illinois (2011) contends that one must â€Å"[†¦] prove the content of a writing, recording, or photograph, the original writing, recording, or photograph is required, except as otherwise provided in these rules or by statute† in order to be admitted. If the original is unavailable, exceptions might be made (2011). 3. What do you consider the most interesting concept regarding your comparison of admissible statements for these states? Perhaps, the most interesting concept regarding the comparison of admissible statements and hearsay exceptions for these states lie within the small and pivotal differences between them. Almost every difference is explained by a court case in that particular state. when one considers that each state has a few exceptions to the federal rules of evidence and hearsay, I cannot help but wonder whether such exceptions are constitutional.

Three Gorges Dam: Its Background and Relevance

This report examines the Three Gorge dam project and its impacts on the environment, the people it will effect and measures that can be taken as an alternative to the dam. I will discuss the Chinese government's reasoning for constructing the dam and the negative aspects of such a construction. Then I will explain the more environmentally friendly and logical alternatives. The concept of the Three Gorge dam is over 75 years old, dating back to when it was first proposed by the nationalist leader Sun Yat-Sen, in 1919. The dam was a dream of communist leader Mao Zedong, who felt it would be a potent symbol of China's self-sufficiency and ability to develop without western aid. The state media has reported only the rosy side of the Three Gorges project, presenting it as a powerful symbol of a new, prosperous China. Outgoing Premier Li Peng said the Three Gorges Dam would †demonstrate to the world that the Chinese people have the ability to build the biggest and most beneficial irrigation and hydro-electric project in the world†. The Three Gorges refers to a 120-mile stretch of limestone cliffs along the upper reaches of the Yangzi River where the water drops precipitously through the Qutang, Wu, and Xiling gorges. The region is linked to folklore and important historical events, and its beauty has inspired Chinese painters and classical poets such as Li Bai for centuries. The dam, which will be 1. 3 miles long and 610 feet high, is expected to be completed by 2009. It will create a 385 mile-long reservoir stretching back up the river that will totally engulf the Three Gorges, as well as 115,000 acres of rich farmland, thirteen cities, hundreds of villages, and countless historic temples and archaeological sites. Between 1. 4 and 1. 9 million people will need to be resettled. The proponents of the dam claim that the introduction of such a large amount of clean hydroelectric power into China's rapidly expanding economy will mean a significant reduction in the emission of fossil fuel pollution. First, it will generate 18000 megawatts of electricity, which would reduce the country's reliance on coal by one tenth. Hence reducing China's overall greenhouse gases. Second, it will prevent the periodical flooding of the Yangzi, which has already claimed the lives of half a million this century alone. The dam is expected to cut incidents of serious flood from once in 10 years to once in 100 years. At present 15 million lives are at stake as the river rises higher above the surrounding land because of sediment deposits on the riverbed, while dikes can no longer be raised safely. Third, it will make the upper part of the Yangzi more navigable, â€Å"raising the river's navigable tonnage by a big margin†. Improved navigability would allow ocean-going freighters to penetrate the depths of China's remote Southwest, bringing much needed economic development and prosperity to the region. The project is also expected to develop reservoir fisheries, stimulate tourism in and around the reservoir, improve water quality downstream, protect the lake areas downstream, and enable south-to-north water transfer sometime in the next century. 4. 0 Dilemmas surrounding dam construction There are many problems entangled with the construction of such a dam, two of which stand out. First, the fact that so many civilians have to be moved against their will. 13 cities, 140 towns, more than 1600 villages, and 300 factories will be submerged, and nearly 1. 5 million people relocated. Second, the effects that the rise in level of river will have on the environment. This includes the destruction of habitats for at least four indigenous species in the area. According to official figures, 10. 2 million people have been relocated for the construction of dams in the past in China. In each case, there have been economic or political problems that has often led to intimidation and sometimes violence to force the people to resettle. This is due to people's reluctance to leave their homes, which can be attributed to poor planning on the government's part. The number of people to be resettled in the Three Gorges dam project has been estimated to range between 700,000 to 1. 98 million. Such variation in figures is due to the fact that it depends on whether the information was gathered by the dam's supporters or critics. There has been a large amount of local opposition to the dam. Their opposition is mainly based on the poor record of China's Ministry of Water Resources, which includes the collapse of 62 dams in the past due to poor design. However, since the Chinese government never acknowledged such disasters in the past, it could not be brought up in hearings on the Three Gorge project. People in the effected area who have in the past organised against the dam were arrested and sentenced to prison for â€Å"counter-revolution† and the police presence in the area has since been increased. The local officials are not quite helping ease the situation. The distribution of compensation money by local authorities (US$1300 per person) offered to people displaced by the dam has been tainted by corruption. 105 local party officials involved in the project have been arrested already. Almost half of the project's resettlers are farmers. But since there is an inadequate amount of farmland left to be shared, the officials have planned for moving the resettlers into industrial jobs. This is quite an impossible task considering that the farmers have been farming in their area for generations and have absolutely no expertise in industrial work. It is a great concern that the construction of the dam will result in the destruction of the natural habitats of many of China's indigenous wildlife species. This includes the Chinese alligator, the white crane, the river dolphin and the prehistoric Chinese sturgeon, a fish unique to Yangzi waters. Experts warn that, by forever changing the hydrology of the river for thousands of miles, the dam will destroy commercial fish stocks and deprive the complex floodplain agricultural systems of the water and silt they need. Hence threatening the livelihoods of 75 million people who live on fishing or farming along the Yangzi's bank. Even if the 75 million people find another source to live on, there is yet another problem to be solved; toxic pollution. The factories along the Yangzi river are so polluting that over 200 paper mills and tanneries have already been closed down around the Three Gorges dam site to boost environmental protection. The contamination of the river by the toxic chemicals may increase due to the 1600 factories in the area that are not cleaned up and moved before the waters begin to rise. China is the world's second leading producer of greenhouse gases. If China's current growth rates continue, it will need to develop an additional 17,000 megawatts of energy per year for the next decade. And if coal is used to generate this energy, the environmental impacts could be disastrous. Whether or not the dam is constructed, hydropower will only account for no more than 20% of China's electricity generated by year 2010. This shows that coal will be used even more widely than it is now, to meet energy needs. Hence the dam will not have much impact on helping meet energy needs. China needs to find a cleaner, more efficient way of creating power. The Three Gorge reservoir is currently designed to hold 20 billion cubic meters at the flood level. But this capacity is only equivalent to 4% of the total run off water in the region. â€Å"It is obvious from common sense that this capacity could not hold back flood waters enough to reduce significantly the flood risk at the lower reaches. † Another problem is the fact that the Yangzi carries a large amount of silt. This silt can be carried all the way to the dam and a big ‘mud pond' could result. There is no such technology available to divert or collect the silt at the dam. From an ecological point of view, the dam will be clogged by the large silt deposits, in the Yangzi, and will also trap much of the pollutants that normally would be washed out to the ocean. Along the Yangzi, about 80 percent of the cities do not have sewage systems, and it is cheaper to dump the waste in the river instead of a sewage treatment plant. Burial grounds in both Wushan and Fengjie counties, Sichuan are known to have been dynamited to make way for scientific excavations in advance of the dam project. One thousand tombs dating between the Han and Ming periods (206 BC to AD 1644) were also blasted away. The problem lies with lack of funding. The initial budget (US$250 million) for excavation and preservation was reduced to US$37. 5 million. Only a small amount of this sum has been distributed to local authorities because government officials have been unable to decide which agency should administer the funds. The Three Gorges dam will be the most expensive single construction project in history. The Chinese leaders are so determined to build the dam, that they haven't considered whether it is economically viable. In 1992 the official cost of the dam was set to US$11 billion. Estimates now exceed US$75 billion. This could slow down China's recent economic boom. The dam project is heavily funded by foreign export agencies. If people in foreign countries were to stop foreign investors and government organisations which support the project, the Chinese officials would have no choice but to reconsider their plans. But since it is not in the foreign investors' best interest monetarily, they have kept supporting the Chinese government. Hydrological experts have argued that effective flood management includes dyking, flood proofing, flood warning systems, diversion areas, and development restrictions in floodplain and designated diversion areas and that dams are not always the answer. The Chinese officials' mentality is that the â€Å"biggest structure† is the best structure, but what they must realize is that it does not mean the best structure. That Chinese hydropower could be produced on a number of tributaries that flow into the Yangzi. This procedure has been proven by scientific examples that prove that separate dams will produce more power and last longer then one main dam. Sedimentation of separate dams would be less and these dams would be able to preserve China's cultural history. The greater amount of smaller dams would cause less soil erosion and more power for a much lower cost. It would be able to compete with China's booming industrial sectors and preserve the aquatic life. The construction of these smaller dams could also mean that it would lesson the amount of people to be resettled, and would save the Chinese government billions of dollars. However, the smaller dams would not allow large transportation of cargo down the river. Based on a recent study by United States and Chinese energy research institutes, which compared conventional sources with advanced generating technologies, cleaner alternatives, such as smaller gas turbines or cogeneration plants were found to be more economical for power generation than big hydro dams. Combined cycle gas turbines could provide power with lower capital costs and greater reliability than the Three Gorges dam and with far fewer emissions than conventional coal plants. Combined cycle plants are commonly fuelled with natural gas, which burns more thoroughly than solid or liquid fuels. And unlike coal, it contains no heavy metals or sulfur emissions that cause acid rain. Combined cycle plants can be installed and generating power reliably within nine months to two or three years for larger units. Three Gorges dam is scheduled to take 17 years. In addition energy specialists argue, that switching from coal to gas, and using new technology of combined cycle gas turbines or cogeneration, would create greater environmental benefits than the Three Gorges dam by a 60% reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. Whereas the Three Gorges dam would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by only 5%.