For all his Byronic

â€Å"For all his Byronic / Gothic excesses, Heathcliff exists and steps out of the confines of fiction†¦easily† (Evans 1982) â€Å"He stands unredeemed never once swerving in his arrow straight course to perdition† (CBronte, 1847) With reference to these and other readings of the character of Heathcliff, explore your own interpretation of this character. In your essay you should: * Consider the role and function of Heathcliff within the novel * Explore the characterisation * Consider the various interpretations of his character by A) Characters within the novel B) Critics * Make a personal response to the character. Teacher's Name: Mrs Gowdy Date: When Emily Bronte wrote Wuthering Heights, she received much criticism for the character of Heathcliff. Heathcliff was believed to be the complete opposite to what a Victorian Gentleman should be: â€Å"It is almost definition of a gentleman to say he is one who never inflicts pain† (Cardinal Newman, 1852) Her sister, Charlotte, could not understand why Emily had a character of such evil in her book: â€Å"Whether it is right or advisable to create beings like Heathcliff, I do not know: I scarcely think it is.† (1) Considering Emily's background, it is logical to see why Charlotte might feel like this. Emily was born July 30th 1818 at Thornton, near Bradford, Yorkshire, and was the fifth of six children born to Patrick Bronte and his wife Maria Branwell. When she was two the family moved to Haworth, where Mr Bronte had been appointed the vicar. Except for short periods away as a student and later as a teacher, Haworth would remain her home for all her life. By the time she was seven, Emily had experienced three deaths in her family- her mother and her two older sisters, Maria and Elizabeth. Because of her reclusive life, she therefore might not be expected to know of such people to base the character of Heathcliff on. A suggestion for the way Heathcliff behaved is her brother Branwell, who was an alcoholic and dabbled with drugs: † It would have been impossible for Emily to render Hindley's alcoholic degradation and Heathcliff's ranting misery without the protracted spectacle of Branwell's breakdown before her eyes day in and day out.† (Katherine Frank, 1990) However, Heathcliff is a character who stirs emotions in the reader, and our sympathy returns to him again and again throughout the novel, despite his many violent deeds. But why? Why do we feel pity for a man who is presented as an embodiment of dark powers? We are introduced to Heathcliff right at the opening of the first chapter by Mr. Lockwood, (who ironically could be a type of the Victorian Gentleman,) who is delighted to discover that he is somewhat of a misanthropist like himself: â€Å"Mr. Heathcliff and I are such a suitable pair to divide the desolation between us†(2) However, Mr Lockwood soon discovers that Heathcliff is not all that he seems to be. Heathcliff winces at the mention of Thrushcross Grange, when Mr Lockwood inquires about it: † ‘Thrushcross Grange is my own, sir' he interrupted, wincing. ‘I should not allow any one to inconvenience me, if I could hinder it – walk in!' † (3) This suggests to the reader that this comment touches on a delicate part of Heathcliff's history, and is something in which he would rather keep secret. Lockwood in chapter two makes a vain attempt to be sociable with the tenants of Wuthering Heights, only to be laughed at by Heathcliff: â€Å"My amiable lady' he interrupted with an almost diabolical sneer on his face† (4) Heathcliff is quite rude to Lockwood, and we can come to the conclusion that he was one who was not brought up with any manners. (This proves to be true later on in the book). Heathcliff clearly shows no sympathy toward him, and wishes for Lockwood to mind his own business. â€Å"Mr Heathcliff may have entirely dissimilar reasons for keeping his hand out of the way when he meets a would-be acquaintance, to those which actuate me† (5) Bronte has chosen to keep this side in the dark, instead choosing to present him as a cold hearted recluse, only at first and then we are quickly shown his passionate side in chapter three. Mr Lockwood's character is naturally inquisitive, and therefore this episode with the landowner only makes Mr. Lockwood more interested in Heathcliff and his background. Catherine's diary shows insight into Heathcliff's past and the way he was treated. â€Å"Hindley is a detestable substitute- his conduct to Heathcliff is atrocious† (6) From this, we can establish that Heathcliff was subject to hostility and was surrounded by harsh treatment. Hindley always saw Heathcliff as a threat to him, especially as he is the ‘outsider' in the family. Nelly reports to Mr. Lockwood: â€Å"He bred bad feeling in the house; and at Mrs. Earnshaw's death†¦ the young master had learned to regard his father as an oppressor rather than a friend, and Heathcliff as a usurper of his parent's affections and his privileges; and he grew bitter with brooding over these injuries.† (7) Hindley, when they were boys, would thrash Heathcliff, and call him names such as † Imp of Satan†. Later on as young men, Hindley degrades him in front of Catherine, as he soon picks up on the fondness between the two, and makes him a servant. Naturally, this treatment he received had an effect on Heathcliff. Being this cold-hearted character is normal to him, having no other example of morals, except in Catherine. He rejects conventional Christian morality at an early age, (no thanks to Joseph whose methods of teaching the young children the Bible in a repressive and forbidding way could be questioned!) and also fails to pick it up as an adult. This rejection of faith could be possibly the reason why he is always referred to in a diabolical way. He has chosen not to be Christian, and therefore the powers of darkness are now ‘controlling' him. Characters such as Mr Earnshaw's comment on the impression of darkness he gives in the novel and of his tyrannical sadistic actions. â€Å"It's as dark as if it came from the devil† (8) It is almost as if he enjoys this evil impression he gives, and he learns he can attack people's weaknesses, such as Hindley and his enjoyment of gambling, which he uses to his advantage to gain ownership of Wuthering Heights. â€Å"You would imagine I was the devil himself- to excite such horror† (9) Heathcliff is such a contrast to what men where like in the Victorian era, which as Cardinal Newman suggests: † Is mainly occupied in merely removing the obstacles which hinder the free and unembarrassed action of those about him†¦carefully avoids †¦all clashing of opinion, or collision of felling, all restraint, or suspicion, or gloom or resentment; his great concern being to make everyone at ease and at home.† It wouldn't be surprising that the character was criticised, but Bronte did accomplish a much-debated character. Heathcliff does have emotions, and passionate ones at that, and this spurs him on in life. If Catherine was not at Wuthering Heights at the beginning, Heathcliff would not have stayed very long and bore all the physical and emotional torment he was given. Catherine seemed to keep him there, and when he fled, it was only because she had deserted him for a gentleman. We see how much he truly loves Catherine when Lockwood has his dream: â€Å"He got on to the bed, and wrenched open the lattice, bursting, as he pulled at it, into an uncontrollable passion of tears. ‘Come in! Come in!' he sobbed. ‘Cathy do come. Oh, do- once more! Oh! My hearts darling! Hear me this time, Catherine at last!† (10) Lockwood is startled at this and comments that â€Å"he seemed so powerfully affected† and â€Å"struggled to vanquish an excess of violent emotion†. The desperation in Heathcliff's voice shows us how he grieves for a lost one. We are now shown that he is not so evil as he displays himself to be, but still carries some violent tendencies with him, even though that is not expected when you are grieving. However knowing the love he carries for Catherine and his pain for her deserting him when they were young, we can understand why he reacts this way. The way Bronte uses this language to describe Heathcliff, makes him believable to the reader. Our sympathy lies with him, and Lockwood has now changed his perspective on Heathcliff, as has the reader. Nelly, like the reader, changes her opinion of Heathcliff according to the actions he does. When Nelly first met Heathcliff, she referred to him as ‘it', she did not regard Heathcliff as a person due to his physical appearance. † I had a peep at a dirty ragged child†¦yet when it was set on its feet, it's face looked older than Catherine's† (11) Nelly was a child when Heathcliff arrived, and childishly was jealous, along with Catherine and Hindley of having someone which did not look like them being part of the family. However as they both grow up together both have some kind of respect for each other, though it may be small at some times. Nelly fells sympathy towards Heathcliff during the time of Hindley's harsh treatment, and was genuinely surprised that he seemed so immune to it, as if it didn't affect him. However the reader knows that treatment like that does affect a person emotionally, and this cultivated a great resentment towards his tormentors. â€Å"He seemed a sullen, patient child, hardened, perhaps to ill treatment† (12) Her loyalties were torn between Heathcliff and Hindley, and we see her compassion for Heathcliff when he confides in her about Catherine. We learn that Heathcliff is completely devoted to Catherine. † The nation of envying Catherine was incomprehensible to him but the notion of grieving her he understood completely† So much in fact she helps him clean himself up, due to Heathcliff not caring about her appearance since Cathy left. Nelly is also Heathcliff's confidant. She tells him how Cathy is, and what her feelings are towards him. Nelly clearly understands how deep his love is for Cathy. Catherine plays an enormous part in Heathcliff's life, and his love for her seems to be a redeeming feature. Catherine and Heathcliff become very â€Å"thick† when they are young, as Nelly comments to Mr Lockwood, and this weakness that Heathcliff has, this love for Cathy, is manipulated by Hindley as a means of punishment, and is also the reason in my mind why Heathcliff is so determined to seek revenge. As Pinkmonkey, a literature Internet guide, points out in its character analysis of Heathcliff: â€Å"During adolescence, Heathcliff simply assumes that they will always be together† This assumption proves to be wrong. Edgar Linton proposed to Catherine, and she agreed, because she thought that Heathcliff was in fact, too uncivilised and uneducated to be her husband. Although this may sound selfish to Heathcliff when he eavesdropped on the conversation between Nelly and Cathy, we find out soon that after her own interests, she intends to help him in the future. † It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how much I love him†¦ My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods: time will change it, I'm well aware, as winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath, a source of little visible delight, but necessary† (13) Cathy uses nature to contrast the two young men, and chooses a tree's foliage for Linton. Foliage can be trimmed and blooms, which is what Cathy is feeling for Linton now, but she knows when the harsh weather and the seasons change, all the foliage will die. She knows that she won't love Linton eternally, and problems facing the two will speed up the process. Heathcliff however is symbolised as rocks and are not affected by the weather. Rocks are wild and jagged, which matches Heathcliff's personality, and when the bad weather comes, the rocks are not affected because they are strong. The last comment she says, † a little visible delight but necessary.† could mean she knows that Heathcliff is not likeable but she needs him, as he provides sturdy foundations for her. Unfortunately for Heathcliff, he never gets to hear this part of the conversation, and flees Wuthering Heights. This moment in Heathcliff's history symbolises his turning point, as a character. He now feels a great sense of loss and betrayal, and Heathcliff never forgives Cathy for what she does, but nevertheless still loves her as passionately as before. When he returns after three years, he finds that she has married Edgar Linton and is now mistress of Thrushcross Grange. His plans at first were to seek revenge on Hindley and merely check up on Cathy to see if she is happy. However his suffering at seeing her again overwhelms him and he starts to torment the others, especially Isabella. Isabella is instantly attracted to Heathcliff, possibly because he has returned with an air of mystery around him, and seems dark and brooding. Linton is unhappy because he knew that his property could possibly fall into Heathcliff's hands if they should marry. Heathcliff at first, has no interest in her whatsoever, and is completely unaware of her affection towards him, until Catherine spitefully makes it known, embarrassing Isabella in the process. Heathcliff has no interest in Isabella, simply because he is still infatuated with Catherine. However the appeal of getting one over on Edgar is too great for him, and starts to woo Isabella. This infuriates Catherine and her husband, but Heathcliff only wanted to affect the latter. It seems that he blames Edgar for not being with Cathy, that if he had never been there as a child, Cathy and he would be together. There is also the possibility that Heathcliff, when he was younger was jealous of the social acceptance that others had. Heathcliff was picked on because he wasn't ‘one of them'- not actually be blood related to the Earnshaws; he was found on the streets of Liverpool. Now he has returned, gentleman in appearance, but still the same emotionally affected person, willing to wreak havoc on the people who mocked him. Isabella was warned about Heathcliff- but she chose to ignore it. She knows that by marrying Heathcliff it will anger Cathy who has a ‘if I don't have him no-one can ‘ attitude, and will gain her revenge for embarrassing her. She truly believes that Heathcliff does love her. Catherine on the other hand knows deep inside that Heathcliff only loves her and cannot understand why he would like Isabella. † Oh, the evil is that I am not jealous, is it? Well, I won't repeat my offer of a wife: it is as bad as offering Satan a lost soul. Your bliss lies, like his, in inflicting misery. You prove it†¦ I begin to be at secure and tranquil; and you, restless to know us at peace, appear resolved on exciting a quarrel. Quarrel with Edgar if you please, Heathcliff, and deceive his sister: you'll hit on exactly the most efficient method of revenging yourself on me.† (14) Heathcliff and Isabella run away together, but not before Heathcliff shows us his sadistic side – † Miss Isabella's Springer, Fanny, (was) suspended to a handkerchief, and nearly at its last gasp† (15) Soon enough, the ‘honeymoon' is over, and Isabella realises just who her husband really is. He is cruel and violent, and Isabella questions Nelly in a letter about her husband: † Is Mr. Heathcliff a man? If so, is he mad? And if not is he the devil?† (16) Abraham Lincoln once said † If you want to test a man's character, give him power† and this could be said for Heathcliff. Heathcliff gains power of Wuthering Heights by manipulating Hindley. Hindley at this point is an alcoholic and likes to bet. He loses his money through betting and is attracted to Heathcliff's newly found wealth, thinking he could win it. However, in the need Hindley dies deep in debt, and Heathcliff loaned him so much money that now he owns Wuthering Heights. Hindley still detested Heathcliff, even though he allowed him to stay there, and on many occasions as told to Isabella, has tried to kill him. We as the reader, however still think of Heathcliff with sympathy, even though we disapprove of his actions, especially towards Hindley and Isabella. We still remember his treatment as a child from Hindley, and so when he seeks out his revenge, we find it extremely difficult not to wish him success. By gaining this power, he is able now to control the future, by arranging marriages and so on. Catherine before she died, gave birth to young Cathy, and Isabella gave birth to young Linton in London. When she died, Edgar wanted to have custody of the child. However, Heathcliff has seen the possibilities and demands that he should come to live with him. After all, he is the father. Linton is quite the opposite of his father; he is pale, weak and quite spoilt in his ways. When Heathcliff finally meets him, he does not even pretend to love him, he calls his mother a slut, and mistreats him. † I'm jealous of monopolising his affection†¦yes Nell, †¦my son is the prospective owner of this place, and I should not wish him to die till I was certain of being his successor. Besides, he's mine, and I want the triumph of seeing my descendant fairly lord of their estates: my child hiring their children to till their father's lands for wages. That is the sole consideration, which can make me endure the whelp: I despise him for himself, and I hate him for the memories he revives!†(17) Heathcliff arranges meetings between young Cathy and Linton because he knows that if they were married, his son could own Thrushcross Grange. Heathcliff then has to find some way to claim it himself, and he was delighted to find out the Linton was in ill health without his interference. Heathcliff used emotional torment on Linton, who has a weak disposition anyway, to make him worse. He forces young Cathy to marry Linton for his benefit, which the young girl is not happy about, especially since her father is dying and Heathcliff won't let her see him. When Cathy shouts at him, through Nelly's words we can see how Heathcliff is affected by Cathy's words: † Heathcliff you are a cruel man, but you're not a fiend; and you won't, from mere malice, destroy irrevocably all my happiness†¦I've given over crying: but I'm going to kneel here, at your knee; and I'll not get up, and I'll not take my eyes from your face till you look back at me! No, don't turn away! Do look! Have you never loved anybody in all your life, uncle? Never? Ah! You must look once.† (18) Heathcliff can see his Catherine in her daughter's eyes, which is heart breaking for him, as he can't even bear to look at her. Heathcliff is not hated by Cathy, which also affects him emotionally. † He shrigged his sholders; shook himself, indeed, as if his flesh crept with aversion;† (19) I do not think he should inflict his revenge on the younger generation, simply because they were not to blame for the pain that Heathcliff bore in the past, especially Hareton, who is Hindley's son. Hindley was brought up badly by his father, who was always drunk and violent to him. Heathcliff wished to bring him up after his father's death. Heathcliff treats Hareton in a way, which reflects the way Hindley treated him, except that Hareton is completely oblivious to the fact that this is happening to him, because he wasn't educated. So, Hareton, who should have been the finest gentleman in the area, is reduced to living at Wuthering Heights as a common, uneducated servant, friendless and without hope, and surprisingly he likes Heathcliff. As Heathcliff comes closer and closer to realising his final revenge, he seems more preoccupied with his memory of Catherine. The horrible image of Heathcliff uncovering her grave just to see her face shows us his depth of passion for her. † I got the sexton to remove the earth off her coffin-lid, and I opened it. I thought, once I would have stayed there: when I saw her face again- it is hers yet- he had hard work to stir me; but he said it would change if the air blew on it, and so I struck one side of the coffin loose, and covered it up: not Linton's side, damn him! I wish he'd been soldered in lead†¦when I'm laid there, and slide mine out too; I'll have it made so: and then, by the time Linton gets to us, he'll not know which is which!† (20) The thought of Edgar and Catherine's bodies decomposing together is too much for him. He states that he wants to be buried next to Catherine, and even punches a hole in her casket and asks that the same would be done to him so that their dust can mingle. Near the time of his death, he becomes more and more isolated from everyone and increasingly obsessed with his dead love, imagining that she is haunting him, and Heathcliff becomes more cheerful, and feels happy that when he dies he will be reunited with Catherine. † I have neither a fear, nor a presentiment, nor a hope of death. Why should I? †¦ It is a long fight; I wish it were over!† (21) It is only at this time he feels reconciled to her spirit that he abandons his cruelty towards Catherine and Hareton. Heathcliff is a truly interesting character and our sympathy lies with him, because we understand why he is so determined to seek his revenge on the people who opposed him in the first place. With regards to the quotations at the start of my essay, Heathcliff is a character who seems vivid. The manner in which he speaks and the emotion that he carries with him throughout the book makes him † step out of the confines of fiction†. We never really hate him for what he does, simply because we know why he does it. He was badly treated when he was younger, and this developed into revenge. Still, our sympathy lies with him. Charlotte Bronte may not have liked his † arrow straight course to perdition† but modern readers who read Wuthering Heights justify why, without prejudice.

Kim Sung & Kim Jong

From an early date Korean political culture is characterised by isolationism and a strong desire to maintain the country's independence (â€Å"Kim Il Sung†, para 2). Relationship with its neighbouring countries are poor and with the countries in the West, are almost equal to zero. Even with such relationships, Korea has been unable to stop the encroachment   of its neighbours. It was made the Japenese protectorate in 1905 and later the number of   Japenese immigrants in Korea have risen so much that the Koreans have become second-class citizens within their own land.Kim Il SungKim Il Sung’s real name was Kim Song Ju. He was born in Pyongyang on 15th April, 1912. At the age of   17 he was jailed for being a part of   a student political group led by the South Manchurian Communist Youth Association. After his release from jail he joined the Anti-Japanese United Army. He emerged as a significant leader in this time period and later changed his name to Kim Il Song, in honor of his uncle who participated in nation-wide protests against the Japenese in 1919.Kim Il Sung as a leaderAfter the Second World War the Korean peninsula was divided into two parts, North and South. North Korea was sponsored by Russia while the South was aided by USA. Kim Il Sung was selected to take charge of the formation of a provisional government for the North. Under his leadership the Korean Workers Party was inaugurated.A number of reforms were introduced to the North, including an eight-hour working day, equality of the sexes, and suppression of religion. Land and wealth formerly belonging to the Japanese or to enemies of the regime was confiscated and redistributed, industry was nationalised, and Soviet-style economic planning was initiated (â€Å"Kim Il Sung†, para 12) His opponents within the party were purged to secure his absolute rule. Kim led the military committee, coordinating action against the South Koreans in 1950.With carefully prepared plans and without any warning to the South Koreans, his army swarmed into the South. The war continued for three years and during these three years about three million people lost their lives. Between 600,000 and one million North Koreans needlessly starved to death due to the economic legacy of Kim's regime. Kim claimed to have won that war but no peace treaty was ever signed.Kim Il Sung, through land reclamation, gave priority to increased agricultural production. He emphasised on trade, developed the country’s infrastructure, and encouraged people to rely on domestically produced equipment. He discouraged them to even think about foreign aid and taught them that self reliance should be the key goal to everyone’s success. From 1972 onwards, North Korea became poorer because it could not afford to buy advance technology from the West and its industrial production declined. A personality cult had glorified Kim, but by the mid-1990s the rapid economic growth of North Korea's ear ly years had given way first to stagnation and then to hardship, and there was widespread dissatisfaction with the repressive regime (Scalapino & Lee p.175)When he died in 1994, the country lost its venerated founding leader. Just a few years earlier, its powerful alliances had evaporated with the fall of the Soviet bloc and China's move toward a market-based system. The economy was on the rocks and energy and food were in short supply. A series of weather disasters, combined with an inefficient state-run agricultural system, further eroded the food supply, leading to mass starvation (â€Å"Dear Leader or Demon†, para 12)Kim Jong IlKim Il Sung’s successor, Kim Jong Il, was born on 16th June, 1942. Growing up in a time when anti Japanese revolutionary struggle was at its peak, Kim Jong Il cultivated uncommon characteristics and qualities through his experiences of his real life and practical activities. During his training period under his father's tutelage in the 1970s , he was often referred to as the â€Å"Party Center,† and he launched a number of campaigns to take over the daily operations of the Party.When he came to power on the death of his father in 1997, Kim Jong-Il ruthlessly set about establishing his own authority. His government is said to be extremely secretive and brutal to dissidents. Kim's disastrous agricultural and economic policies have caused his people to suffer under one of the world's longest, deadliest famines. On the domestic front, Kim has given occasional signs that he favors economic reforms similar to those carried out in China by Deng Xiaoping.But at home he has done little or nothing to relax the absolute control of the state and party over all aspects of economic life. He has certainly given no sign of considering the de- collectivization of agriculture, which was the foundation of Deng's reforms (Chong-Il p. 84). With the sort of image Kim Jong Il carries around with him many analysts thought that the commu nist regime would finally come to an end in North Korea, but it is almost a decade since he has been in power and still ruling over North Korea and extending his father’s philosophy of Juche. Kim Il Sung’s style of ruling his country according to Stalinism was submerged into his Juche philosophy and later it subordinated into a more militant theme of Kim Jong Il’s Red Banner Policy.Kim Jong Il has been accused of being involved in two bombings; one in Rangoon in 1983 and another in 1987, which killed all passengers in a South Korean airplane.   No evidence directly links Kim Jong Il to the bombings, however, and some analysts believe his father was still firmly in control of international activities throughout the 1980s, while giving his son more power over domestic affairs. He spends more than 25% of his country’s annual GNP on the military while most of the citizens go hungry. Jong Il has also proved himself to be a movie lover and has directed a coup le of movies himself and written six operas, while his scientists make nuclear war heads.Kim Il Sung as a CommunistIn the words of Morelly, the author of the influential treatise Le Code de la Nature, published in 1755: †The only vice which I know in the universe is avarice; all the others, whatever name one gives them, are merely forms, degrees of it. . . . Analyze vanity, conceit, pride, ambition, deceitfulness, hypocrisy, villainy; break down the majority of our sophisticated virtues themselves, [they] all dissolve in this subtle and pernicious element, the desire to possess.†Such economically determined psychology lies at the root of every socialist and communist doctrine (Pipes 2001). Kim Il Sung was one man who was obsessed with gaining power over not only his own people but he went to extremes and even created his own religion so that the people should start worshipping him. When workers of the Korean Workers Party tried to over throw Kim in 1953, the eleven consp irators, who failed in their coup, were not only executed but their properties were confiscated as well. He purged his opponents in all possible ways in order to ensure that he stays in power.Kim Il Sung’s personality was a true speciman of a communist. Russia had an influence over the political system of North Korea right from the onset. Kim Il Sung was highly impressed by the communist rule in Russia and he developed a Marxist-Leninist political ideology that emphasises the need for autonomy and patriotic self-reliance. Called ‘Juche', or ‘Kim Il Sung Thought', the ideology demanded total loyalty to the paramount leader and the â€Å"religion of Kim Il Sungism†, and stressed on the benefits of sacrifice, austerity, discipline, dedication, unity, and patriotism. It has been   described as â€Å"encyclopedic thought which provides a complete answer to any question that arises in the struggle for national liberation and class emancipation, in the building of socialism and communism.† The practical effect of Juche was to seal the DPRK off from virtually all foreign trade (â€Å"Kim Il Sung†, para 38).Kim Il Sung’s personality cult was similar to that of   Stalin. In that he was accused of tampering history, tyranny and injustice and self glorification. Kim’s zeal for communsim is evedient from the fact that the North Korean media, which is owned and controlled by the state, promoted Kim’s image as an infallible genius and the driving force behind the resistance to the Japanese and the liberation of the North. Kim had more than 34,000 monuments of himself erected throughout the country. Practice of any other religion except the worship of Kim Il Sung   was outlawed. The official calender started from his birthday and that day was an official holiday too.Kim Il Sung was so obssessed with his ideals that he started to believe in himself in a godly manner. The painters and artists of the country were instucted to paint only his personality in a pompous manner and project it to the rest of the country. All this was believed, by   Kim Il Sung, as not a forceful extension of his one-man show personality to the masses but he had actually started to live in a pseudo-shell of belief   that the citizens of his country actually adored him.In my point of view the personality of Kim Il Sung was a fragment and extension of Stalin. This is supported by the fact that he not only tried to follow him in the way he ruled North Korea but he also sought his help and looked up to him in various matters of   state. In the Korean War of   1950-1953, while South Korea was supported by USA, North Korea was aided by USSR primarily because it was a communist country. Kim Jong Il has proved himself to be a true replica of his father.He has not only ensured the continuity of his father’s policies and reforms but he has also gone to the extent of further subjugating the agrigarian community by spending more on his military might. He has promoted his father’s personality cult by making it a compulsion for each citizen to visit Kim Il Sung’s moseleum atleast once each year and also by paying tribute to the Senior Kim by wearing lapel badges and all those who dare to offend are sent to concentration camps within the country. Kim Il Sung has become so much part of   a North Korean’s daily life that to reject Kim is more like rejecting his own self.ConclusionWith 1% of the citizens in concentration camps and 25% of GNP being utilized to further the ruler’s military prowess, North Korea is definitely not in pursuit of a prosperous future. While the exiguity of the basic facilties of life and the over all plight of the nation is being blamed on the West in general and the US in particular, nobody dares to question the extravagent life of the dictators of North Korea. North Korea is going through its worst era right now; with its predominent supp ort/donor, in the shape of USSR, disintegrated and with the West pressing hard on it on the contentious issue of its nuclear programme.ReferencesClark, Carol. (2001). Kim Jong Il, â€Å"Dear Leader or Demon?† Retrieved 13 May 2006Chong-Il, Kim. (1986). Life and literature. Pyongyang, Korea: Foreign Languages Publishing House.Harris, Bruce. (2004). â€Å"Kim Il Sung†. Retrieved 12 May 2006Pipes, Richard. (2001). Communism: A History. Random House Publishing Group.R. A. Scalapino and C. S. Lee. (1992). Communism in Korea. Seoul: Ilchokak.

Critical review of a journal article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Critical review of a journal article - Essay Example In this regard, ecologists, environmentalists, and even business organizations are now carrying out researches and studies to benefit from the available resources of the planet efficiently. In other words, environmental management has now become a notion of survival for the organizations and even states globally that are now focusing primarily on opportunities that may bring environmental benefits that will be an alternative warfare and most importantly, dominating tool to rule the world in coming years. This paper is a little attempt to discuss some of the aspects of environmental management while focusing mainly on a scholarly piece (MacLean, 2009) that will be the fundamental basis of this paper. Richard MacLean (2009) is the author of a significant article, â€Å"Entering the Fourth Environmental Wave† (MacLean, 2009) in which, author has done a remarkable job by defining and discussing specific issues of environmental management while providing some solutions and implications that seem practical and beneficial theoretically. In brief, the author (MacLean, 2009) began by defining that the world has been experiencing different periods of environmental alterations that occur in the form of waves. Presently, the world is confronting the fourth environmental wave that now requires business organizations to take a step forward in a strategic manner, in order to survive in this competitive era that will be involving huge efforts to acquire remaining natural resources globally. After indicating beginning of the fourth wave, author (MacLean, 2009) specified that in order to acquire material benefits, business organizations will have to start thinking out of the box rather than following cluster of similar perspective, such as trade associations, conferences, etc. Additionally, environmental managers must begin to focus on long-term vision rather than short-term goals that may result in revenues, but in a long run, it

The Market Forces of supply and demand Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

The Market Forces of supply and demand - Essay Example These two inter-relates in a situation whereby the producer sells the same quantity of a goods and services that the consumer is willing and capable to purchase. Since a market is a combination of the producer (sellers) and consumer (buyers) of a specific goods and service, the force of demand and supply has been used in the economics to refer to the general behavior of the market participants (Caballero, Hoshi and Kashyap 1947). The main characteristics of a market are that all goods and services are the same and have got a large number of buyers and sellers to curb the effects brought by a single person over the market price. In the economy, a market exists as a competitive field in which a variety of companies and business entities produce identical goods and service and strive to sell to their prospects. The type of market in operation maintains its’ existence in the economy because of their structure namely; a monopoly; which is a market structure where the market is controlled by one firm. Monopolistic competition is market where a variety of companies have a certain percentage of market share but they all differentiate their goods and service from each other to make them unique. Perfect competition is a market structure that does not have a limited number of firms that have an entry. It is generally free entry for all interested buyers and sellers. Another market structure is the oligopoly that has its’ operations dominated by few firms and have total control over the majority in the market share. In cases where there two firms are dominating and has full control of the market share, it is referred to a duopoly. Unlike in a monopolistic market structure where we only have one provider, in a monophony market, there is only one person to purchase the products in the market (buyer). In addition, there is a market structure

The reflective letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The reflective letter - Essay Example The assignments you provided were a great basis of information which has enabled me to refer to when drafting my papers. By reading my peer’s papers I gained a lot of knowledge because of the many different topics under discussion. I realized that I am good peer responder than I thought. I am now able to find errors in the writings of other people. The peer responses I received enabled me to correct my papers as I took all the advice and used it to improve my paper. I get the feeling that my peers are my audience and their responses are helpful to me as I understand my paper. When I chose to write about breaking up with my childhood girlfriend it was difficult for me, but it also helped me psychologically as sharing of feelings reduces the emotional hurt. I have learnt to accept the break up and move on. I overcame a lot of emotional feelings to be able to write a paper that enabled me to understand the situation and also help my audience to understand. I used my personal information and researched information. I used my personal experience to break up the information. It was not easy to come up with a final draft paper as I had to write many drafts. Every draft had a new concept to my paper. Even my classmates wrote different drafts to come up with a final draft. This enabled us to combine our ideas and put them together. My research on the internet, library, and personal interview enabled me to understand what I really wanted for my paper.my focus was clear as I worked on every draft. My research was an eye opener to new information. The research helped me understand my break up and be able to integrate it to my audience. I realized that this class helped me to improve my writing skills. These skills will be of great help at present and in future. Although I am not a perfect writer I believe I am a descent writer. I am now able to approach any writing assignments with an open mind. Computer classes were very helpful to me. The chat room

Qualitative research critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Qualitative research critique - Essay Example SurvÐ µys and casÐ µ Ð µxpÐ µrimÐ µnts likÐ µ Graham’s arÐ µ Ð µxamplÐ µs of qualitativÐ µ rÐ µsÐ µarch dÐ µsigns, which arÐ µ morÐ µ qualitativÐ µ and havÐ µ morÐ µ aspÐ µcts of this typÐ µ of thÐ µory. QuantitativÐ µ studiÐ µs tÐ µnd to rÐ µly on hard data and statistics that can providÐ µ gÐ µnÐ µralizablÐ µ rÐ µsults about a population, whÐ µrÐ µas qualitativÐ µ studiÐ µs could bÐ µ morÐ µ of a casÐ µ Ð µxamplÐ µ or subjÐ µctivÐ µ viÐ µwpoint, mÐ µasuring, as Graham doÐ µs, attitudÐ µs and bÐ µliÐ µfs in a population. Graham’s dÐ µsign could also bÐ µ callÐ µd flÐ µxiblÐ µ. As thÐ µ Ð µxtant litÐ µraturÐ µ statÐ µs about thÐ µ diffÐ µrÐ µncÐ µ bÐ µtwÐ µÃ µn fixÐ µd and flÐ µxiblÐ µ dÐ µsigns, â€Å"FlÐ µxiblÐ µ rÐ µsÐ µarch dÐ µsigns arÐ µ much morÐ µ difficult to pin down than fixÐ µd dÐ µsigns. This is in part bÐ µcausÐ µ it is only in rÐ µcÐ µnt yÐ µars that rÐ µsÐ µarchÐ µrs ha vÐ µ givÐ µn considÐ µration to thÐ µ dÐ µsign issuÐ µs which thÐ µy raisÐ µ. PrÐ µviously thÐ µrÐ µ had bÐ µÃ µn a tradition in thÐ µ disciplinÐ µs of social anthropology of an apprÐ µnticÐ µship modÐ µl† (Robson, 2003). If qualitativÐ µ dÐ µsigns havÐ µ lÐ µss history bÐ µhind thÐ µm in thÐ µ litÐ µraturÐ µ on thÐ µ subjÐ µct it might bÐ µ an indication that thÐ µy arÐ µ not nÐ µcÐ µssarily as Ð µffÐ µctivÐ µ. ... ThÐ µ main rationalÐ µ for this choicÐ µ is that survÐ µys can givÐ µ a fairly Ð µasy-to-gÐ µt samplÐ µ of rÐ µlÐ µvant information from a fairly largÐ µ samplÐ µ sizÐ µ (Graham usÐ µd ovÐ µr fifty participants), whilÐ µ still bÐ µing vÐ µry cost-Ð µffÐ µctivÐ µ to thÐ µ rÐ µsÐ µarchÐ µr and giving quality rÐ µsults. Although survÐ µys havÐ µ thÐ µir drawbacks, in tÐ µrms of falsÐ µ rÐ µports, sÐ µlf-rÐ µport bias, and othÐ µr issuÐ µs, such as participants putting down or saying wrong answÐ µrs on purposÐ µ, survÐ µys and intÐ µrviÐ µws can shÐ µd a lot of light on issuÐ µs, particularly in a qualitativÐ µ study that sÐ µÃ µks to mÐ µasurÐ µ attitudÐ µs and bÐ µliÐ µfs in a givÐ µn population or populations, as notÐ µd abovÐ µ. â€Å"SurvÐ µys can bÐ µ classifiÐ µd by thÐ µir mÐ µthod of data collÐ µction. Mail, tÐ µlÐ µphonÐ µ intÐ µrviÐ µw, and in-pÐ µrson intÐ µrviÐ µw survÐ µys arÐ µ thÐ µ most common. Е xtracting data from samplÐ µs of mÐ µdical and othÐ µr rÐ µcords is also frÐ µquÐ µntly donÐ µ. In nÐ µwÐ µr mÐ µthods of data collÐ µction, information is Ð µntÐ µrÐ µd dirÐ µctly into computÐ µrs† (RÐ µsÐ µarch, 2007). GÐ µnÐ µrally thÐ µ advantagÐ µs of a sÐ µlf-administÐ µrÐ µd survÐ µy arÐ µ â€Å"Ð µconomy, spÐ µÃ µd, lack of intÐ µrviÐ µwÐ µr bias, and thÐ µ possibility of anonymity and privacy to Ð µncouragÐ µ morÐ µ candid rÐ µsponsÐ µs on sÐ µnsitivÐ µ issuÐ µs† (RÐ µsÐ µarch, 2007). SurvÐ µys can also collÐ µct a rÐ µlativÐ µly largÐ µ amount of information for a rÐ µlativÐ µly low pricÐ µ. Sampling ThÐ µ author had a small samplÐ µ sizÐ µ of undÐ µr 100 individuals. ThÐ µ samplÐ µ was not randomizÐ µd, bÐ µcausÐ µ thÐ µ author had to contact a spÐ µcific group of rÐ µspondÐ µnts who would fit thÐ µir dÐ µmographic and socio-Ð µconomic variablÐ µs. â€Å"Drawing on a study of 57 womÐ µn ca ring for prÐ µschool childrÐ µn in low-incomÐ µ familiÐ µs, thÐ µ articlÐ µ Ð µxplorÐ µs somÐ µ of thÐ µ

This is about a group project. I just I wanna rewrite by ur own word Essay

This is about a group project. I just I wanna rewrite by ur own word - Essay Example Due to cultural beliefs and traditional attributes, Chinese prefer to have large families. Married women go ahead to have more than five children. This paper will seek to provide China’s profile by discussing its political system, income distribution, and demographic features such as age, education, and gender. In China, the belief that children bring joy into a home is a major contributor towards the reason as to why Chinese have such large numbers of children within a single family. For a long time, China stayed unstable due to chaos mostly generated by wars in which it engaged in but after it stabilized, the country’s population grew with such a rapid speed that it moved from 250 million to 500 million within a short time (48). Surprisingly, due to seeable developments in healthcare and food availability, China’s population growth is astonishing. As of today, this country’s population is experiencing a boom burst, as it will rise from 1.3 billion to 1.6 billion in just 50 years (see Fig. 1). This indicates that years between 1700 and 2070 will be very substantial for government if it finds controlling the country’s population crucial. ... This implies that the country is unable to provide adequate land for farming for its population. Such, is an indication that if China continues to expect such population growth rate, the country will face an enormous calamity of hunger (57). Based on this aspect, the past two decades and half have seen China hold very strict family planning programs aimed at controlling population growth in this country. Fig.2.  Ratio of China's land and population in the world Fig.3.  Arable land and per capita cultivated land in China With reference to the current population control program, the policy consists of two specific guidelines. In the first one, the government sought to control the rapid population growth by reducing Children’s birth defects. In the second, the government sought to make people understand the vitality of marrying late and having children later. Additionally, in the rural areas, people should resolve to give birth to another child only when the first one is beyo nd four years. After the government enacted such policy late last year, research findings indicate that it has worked for the best as of now, the country’s population growth is somehow declining (63). Nevertheless, due to this policy, observations show that China has the largest gender gap with regard to many other Asian countries. Astonishingly, most Chinese parents prefer to have a male child instead of a girl. Under this spectrum, it is agreeable that in China boys are of more importance when compared to girls. According to a study carried out in year 2000, the ration of baby boys to that of baby girls was 120:100. Moreover, in some of the poorer regions in the country, the number of boys is twice that of girls. A critical analysis into this situation proves that

Investment Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 1

Investment Report - Essay Example This will give the investors and interested buyers of shares the platform to take conclusive decisions about the company and its viability in investing. Jamie Demon is the current Chief Executive Officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co and operates alongside the Board of Governors and managers of the various components of the business establishment. The company is a front global financial firm and a banking institution in both the United States and across the globe. JPMorgan Chase & Co has a global coverage with operations in various countries (J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. 2014). The main operations of the company engage in the activities of investment banking, money-making banking, and small businesses, financial services for consumers, asset management, and financial transaction processing and private equity. Thus, in view of its areas of coverage in offering services, it encompasses all the essential sectors involved in the financial industry business. The company has several principle subsidiaries, which enlist as most of the leading operational banks. The company subsidiaries include the JPMorgan Chase Bank, the National Association JPMorgan Chase Bank, Chase Bank USA and National Association Chase Bank USA. It also has a national bank, which the company uses for facilitating and giving its credit cards and other national bank branches in the United States with 23 branches. The company also has other operational units, which are non-bank subsidiaries. The non-subsidiary unit includes J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, which is operational within the United States and in foreign markets. The bank and non-bank ancillaries of JPMorgan Chase & Co operate both within the country that is the United States and traversing the globe, through all its oversee branches. In addition to having oversees branches, the company also employs the use of representative office, which help in marketing and facilitating the

Entrepreneurship - Portfolio Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Entrepreneurship - Portfolio - Essay Example â€Å"The entrepreneur is the innovator who implements change within markets through the carrying out of new combinations. The carrying out of new combinations can take several forms; 1) the introduction of a new good or quality thereof, 2) the introduction of a new method of production, 3) the opening of a new market, 4) the conquest of a new source of supply of new materials or parts, 5) the carrying out of the new organization of any industry†(Kukoc and Regan, 2008, www.treasury.gov.au). The modern resurgence in the interest of investigating entrepreneurial culture and its attendant socio-economic dimensions has shed new light on its many ill-explored facets. This portfolio will briefly focus on some of these aspects and make insightful comments on its varied, complex and seminal conceptual dynamism. However, its primary objective is to profile its foremost elements in a manner for easier understanding. The modern business organization requires entrepreneurs who are not only farsighted but also shrewd strategists. Thus the challenge faced by modern entrepreneurs is not based merely on ‘risk’ but also on a more complex, fluid and hostile environment Strategic challenges include such factors as risk involved in making decisions about the nature and dimension of threats posed by competitors and the probable response to such threats. Schumpeter’s concept of creative destruction plays here a significant role by enabling the daring entrepreneur to innovate. Thus continuous innovation is a preemptive strategy that forestalls rivals’ anticipated moves (Eggert, 1998, p.209). Next there are functional challenges such as problems associated with production, marketing, finance, quality management, technology, public relations and communications. Each functional area needs the entrepreneur’s attention. Strategic approach enables the entrepreneur to integrate

Alcohol Dependence Essay Example for Free

Alcohol Dependence Essay An alcoholic is a man or a woman who suffers from alcoholism they have a distinct physical desire to consume alcohol beyond their capacity to control it, regardless of all rules of common sense. According to Alcoholics Anonymous UK, who say they have no unique definition for alcoholism, it may be described as a physical compulsion, together with a mental obsession. Apart from having an enormous craving for alcohol, an alcoholic often yields to that craving at the worst possible times. The alcoholic knows neither when nor how to stop drinking. Definition an alcoholic is a person, while alcoholism is the illness. An alcoholic suffers from alcoholism. Alcoholism is a long-term (chronic) disease. Alcoholics are obsessed with alcohol and cannot control how much they consume, even if it is causing serious problems at home, work, and financially. Alcohol abuse generally refers to people who do not display the characteristics of alcoholism, but still have a problem with it they are not as dependent on alcohol as an alcoholic is; they have not yet completely lost their control over its consumption. Moderate alcohol consumption will not generally cause any psychological or physical harm. However, for some individuals, social drinking eventually leads to heavier and heavier alcohol consumption, which does cause serious health and psychological problems. Alcoholism in the UK one in every 13 people in the United Kingdom is an alcoholic, according to the NHS (National Health Service) statistics. Even among people who are not dependent on alcohol, a sizeable proportion drink too much. In the USA, 15% of Americans are problem drinkers, while between 5% to 10% of male and 3% to 5% of female drinkers could be diagnosed as alcohol dependent, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The World Health Organization (WHO) says there are at least 140 million alcoholics in the world; unfortunately, the majority of them are not treated. A US study estimated that about 30% of Americans report having an alcohol disorder at some time in their lives. Alcohol consumption more severely affects women than men, according to a coordinated study carried out by researchers at RTI International, Pavlov Medical University, Leningrad Regional Center of Addictions, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. A Canadian study found that alcohol is a factor in 1 in 25 deaths worldwide. The British Medical Association says that alcohol kills six people in Scotland every day. The lifetime risk of alcohol-use disorders for men is more than 20%, with a risk of about 15% for alcohol abuse and 10% for alcohol dependence, according to researchers from the University of California, San Diego, USA. Alcohol consumption, when in moderation can have some positive effects on health. Moderate red wine drinking has several health benefits. Researchers at the University of Illinois found that injured patients with alcohol in their blood have a smaller chance of dying in hospital. The researchers said that their findings should not encourage people to drink. What are the symptoms of alcoholism? The signs of alcoholism and alcohol abuse are very similar, and are often just a question of degree or intensity. Typically, the last person to be aware that he/she has a serious drinking problem is the alcoholic himself/herself they are in denial. Some signs and symptoms of alcoholism as well as alcohol abuse include: Drinking alone. Drinking in secret. Not being able to limit how much alcohol is consumed. Blacking out not being able to remember chunks of time. Having rituals and being irritated/annoyed when these rituals are disturbed or commented on. This could be drinks before/during/after meals, or after work. Dropping hobbies and activities the person used to enjoy; losing interest in them. Feeling an urge to drink. Feeling irritable when drinking times approach. This feeling is more intense if the alcohol is not available, or there appears to be a chance it may not be available. Having stashes of alcohol in unlikely places. Gulping drinks down in order to get drunk and then feel good. Having relationship problems (triggered by drinking). Having problems with the law (caused by drinking). Having work problems (caused by drinking, or drinking as root cause). Having money problems (caused by drinking). Requiring a larger quantity of alcohol to feel its effect. Nausea, sweating, or even shaking when not drinking. A person who abuses alcohol may have many of these signs and symptoms but they do not have the withdrawal symptoms like an alcoholic does, nor the same degree of compulsion to drink. The problems linked to alcohol dependence are extensive, and affect the person physically, psychologically and socially. Drinking becomes a compulsion for a person with a drink problem it takes precedence over all other activities. It can remain undetected for several years. drunk man lying on the table with whiskey glass What is binge drinking? In the UK, binge drinking occurs when a man consumes more than eight units of alcohol and a woman consumes over six units in one sitting. Drinking large amounts of alcohol now-and-again is worse for the heath than frequently drinking small quantities. Binge drinking has become a growing problem in many countries, especially in the UK where 40% of emergency hospital admittances are alcohol-related. Sipping wine, beer or spirits three to four times per week increases the risk of binge drinking, particularly among young men, according to a study carried out by researchers from the Universite de Montreal and the University of Western Ontario. Men who drink 22 or more units of alcohol a week have a 20% higher rate of admissions into acute care hospitals than non-drinkers, researchers from the University of Glasgow found. Binge drinking among college students and heart disease researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology that healthy young adults who regularly binge drink may have a higher risk of heart disease later in life. Senior author, Shane A. Phillips and team found that college binge drinkers show damage to blood vessels similar to that caused by high cholesterol and hypertension, both factors linked to heart disease. Phillips said Regular binge drinking is one of the most serious public health problems confronting our college campuses, and drinking on college campuses has become more pervasive and destructive. Binge drinking is neurotoxic and our data support that there may be serious cardiovascular consequences in young adults. What causes alcoholism (alcohol dependence)? Alcohol dependence is a gradual process which can take from a few years to several decades to become a problem with some very vulnerable people addiction can come in a question of months. Eventually, over time, regular alcohol consumption can disrupt the balance of the brain chemical GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which controls impulsiveness, as well as glutamate, which stimulates the nervous system. Brain levels of dopamine are raised when we consume alcohol dopamine levels may make the drinking experience more gratifying. Over the long- or medium-term, excessive drinking can significantly alter the levels of these brain chemicals, making the persons body crave alcohol in order to feel good and avoid feeling bad. These risk factors may also be linked to excessive drinking: Genes scientists say there are specific genetic factors which may make some people more likely to become addicted to alcohol, as well as other substances. People who have a family history of addiction are at higher risk for abusing alcohol. Alcoholics are six times more likely than nonalcoholic to have blood relatives who are alcohol dependent. Researchers from the Universidad de Granada, Spain, revealed that the lack of endorphin is hereditary, and thus that there is a genetic predisposition to become addicted to alcohol. The age of first alcoholic drink a study found that people who started drinking alcohol before the age of 15 were much more likely to have an alcohol problem later in life. Underage drinking in the USA is common 26. 6% of Americans under the legal age for alcohol consumption are drinking, a new report issued by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services) informed in a new report. The authors explained that although some progress had been made in the short term to reduce underage drinking, especially among children aged up to 17 years, underage drinking rates are still excessively high in the USA. Of the 12-20 year olds who said they had drunk alcohol during the previous four weeks, 8. 7% had bought it themselves. Pamela S. Hyde, an AMHSA Administrator, said: Underage drinking should not be a normal part of growing up. Its a serious and persistent public health problem that puts our young people and our communities in danger. Even though drinking is often glamorized, the truth is that underage drinking can lead to poor academic performance, sexual assault, injury, and even death. Smoking, especially non-daily smokers A study by Yale University researchers found that non-daily smokers are five times more likely to have a problem with alcohol compared to people who have never smoked. Easy access Experts say there is a correlation between easy access to alcohol (cheap prices) and alcohol abuse and alcohol-related deaths. A US study found a strong link between alcohol tax increases in 1983 and 2002 and a significant drop in deaths related to alcohol use in one American state the effect was found to be nearly two to four times that of other prevention strategies such as school programs or media campaigns. Stress some stress hormones are linked to alcoholism. If our levels of stress, anxiety are high some of us may consume alcohol in an attempt to blank out the upheaval. Military service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are likely to experience posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorders simultaneously, according to researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Peer drinking people who have friends who drink regularly or abuse alcohol are more likely to drink excessively and eventually have an alcohol problem. Low self-esteem experts say that people with low self-esteem who have alcohol readily available are more likely to abuse it. Depression people with depression may deliberately or unwittingly use alcohol as a means of self-treatment. On the other hand, a statistical modeling study suggested that alcohol abuse may lead to depression risk, rather than vice versa. Media and advertising in some countries alcohol is portrayed as a glamorous, worldly and cool activity. Many experts believe that alcohol advertising and media coverage of it may convey the message that excessive drinking is acceptable. The Royal College of Physicians is asking for a European Union ban on alcohol advertising to protect children. How the body processes (metabolizes) alcohol people who need comparatively more alcohol to achieve an effect have a higher risk of eventually having an alcohol problem, a study carried out by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, found. Ads by Google Liver Damage Symptoms If You Have These 3 Symptoms You May Have Liver Damage. See Now. hearthappy. com 90% Lower Alcohol Craving New Way To Help Drinking Problems. Verified 90% Success Rate! declinol. com Heart Attack Signs? Know the 4 Bodily Signs. Take The Simple Heart Test Now www. simplehearttest. com How is alcoholism diagnosed? In the USA a person must meet the criteria laid out in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), published by the APA (American Psychiatric Association). This includes a pattern of alcohol abuse which leads to considerable impairment or distress. The patient should experience at least three of the criteria below during the past 12 months: Alcohol tolerance the patient needs a large quantity of alcohol to feel intoxicated. However, when the liver is damaged and cannot metabolize the alcohol so well, this tolerance may drop. Damage to the central nervous system may also reduce tolerance levels. Withdrawal symptoms when the patient abstains from alcohol or cuts down he/she experiences tremors, insomnia, nausea or anxiety. Typically, the patient drinks more to avoid these symptoms. Beyond intentions the patient ends up drinking more alcohol, or drinks for a longer period than he/she intended. Unsuccessfully attempting to cut down the patient is continuously trying to cut down alcohol consumption, but does not succeed. Or the patient has a persistent desire to cut down. Time consuming the patient spends a lot of time obtaining, using or recovering from alcohol consumption. Withdrawal the patient withdraws from recreational, social, or occupational activities. This did not used to be the case. Persistence the patient carries on consuming alcohol even though he/she knows it is harming him/her physically and psychologically. Some signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse may be due to another condition, or simple aging, such as memory problems, or falling. Some patients may go to their doctor about a medical condition, such as a digestive problem, and not mention their alcohol abuse. It is not always easy for a doctor to identify candidates for alcohol dependency screening. If a doctor suspects alcohol may be a problem, he/she may ask a series of questions if the patient answers in a certain way the doctor may go on to use a standardized questionnaire. A single question can identify unhealthy alcohol use in patients, a study revealed. Blood tests can only reveal very recent alcohol consumption. They cannot tell whether a person has been drinking heavily for a long time. If a blood test reveals that the red blood cells have increased in size it could be an indication of long-term alcohol abuse. Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) this is a test which helps detect heavy alcohol consumption. It is a blood test. There are other tests which can indicate whether the liver has been damaged, or whether a man has reduced testosterone levels however, screening with a good questionnaire is seen as the most effective means for an accurate diagnosis. Most alcoholics deny they have a problem and tend to minimize the extent of their drinking. Talking to family members may help the doctor in his/her diagnosis (permission will be needed for this). Complications of alcoholism and alcohol abuse Usually, drinking alcohol initially elevates the persons mood. However, after a long period of regular heavy drinking the persons nervous system will become depressed and the drinker will become sedated by alcohol. Alcohol may undermine a persons judgment; it can lower inhibitions and alter the drinkers thoughts, emotions and general behavior. Heavy regular drinking can have a serious effect on a persons ability to coordinate his/her muscles and speak properly. Heavy binge drinking could cause the patient to go into coma. Eventually, regular heavy drinking may cause at least one of the following problems: Fatigue the patient is tired most of the time. Memory loss especially the patients short-term memory. Eye muscles the eye muscles can become significantly weaker. Liver diseases the patient has a considerably higher chance of developing hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Cirrhosis of the liver is an irreversible and progressive condition. Gastrointestinal complications the patient can develop gastritis, or pancreas damage. These problems also seriously undermine the bodys ability to digest food, absorb certain vitamins, and produce hormones which regulate metabolism. Hypertension regular heavy drinking invariably raises the persons blood pressure. Heart problems regular heaving drinking can lead to cardiomyopathy (damaged heart muscle), heart failure, and stroke. Diabetes alcoholics have a very high risk of developing diabetes type 2. Patients who have diabetes will invariably have serious complications if they are regular heavy drinkers of alcohol. Alcohol prevents the release of glucose from the liver, causing hypoglycemia. A person with diabetes is already taking insulin to lower his/her blood sugar levels hypoglycemia could be devastating. Menstruation alcoholism will usually stop menstruation or disrupt it. Erectile dysfunction alcoholic men are much more likely to have problems getting an erection, or sustaining one. Fetal alcohol syndrome women who abuse alcohol during their pregnancy are much more likely to have babies with birth defects, including a small head, heart problems, shortened eyelids, as well as developmental and cognitive problems. Thinning bones alcoholics invariably suffer from thinning of the bones because alcohol interferes with the production of new bone. This means an increased risk of fractures. Nervous system problems alcoholism often causes numbness in the extremities, dementia and confused/disordered thinking. Cancer alcoholics have a much higher risk of developing several cancers, including cancer of the mouth, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum, breast, prostate and pharynx. An international study found that the key causes of bowel cancer are alcohol and smoking. In fact, even moderate alcohol consumption is linked to a higher incidence of cancer among women, a study found. Another study found that consuming just two or more drinks per day could increase a persons risk of pancreatic cancer by about 22%. Accidents alcoholics are vulnerable to injuries from falls, car crashes, being run over, etc. The NIH says that over half of all American traffic deaths are alcohol-related. Domestic abuse alcohol is a major factor in spouse beating, child abuse, and conflicts with neighbors. Work (school) problems employment problems, unemployment, school problems, are often alcohol-related. Suicide suicide rates among people who are alcohol-dependent or who abuse alcohol are much higher than among other people. Mental illness alcohol abuse can cause mental illness and make existing mental illnesses worse. Problems with the law the percentage of alcoholics who end up in court or in prison is significantly higher compared to the rest of the population. reaching for the whiskey glass Treatment for alcohol dependencySome medical inpatients with unhealthy alcohol use may benefit from a brief intervention, say researchers from Boston University School of Medicine. The first step for the alcoholic is to acknowledge that there is an alcohol dependency problem. The next step is to get help. In most of the world there are several support groups and professional services available. A study found that people with a stable psychosocial life situation often delay in seeking help for their alcohol problems even though they are serious. In another study, published in March 2012, scientists from Norway re-analyzed data from old trials that tested LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) for the treatment of alcoholism and concluded that a single dose of the psychedelic drug was effective in decreasing alcohol misuse. Researchers from the Center for Imaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, informed in Frontiers in Pharmacology in October 2012 that veterans who smoke have a higher risk of alcohol abuse relapse than non-smokers. They added that smoking while trying to give up drinking impairs memory, learning and other cognitive skills, which undermine successful sobriety. The following are recognised treatment options for alcoholism: Do-it-yourself experts say about 30% of people with an alcohol problem manage to reduce their drinking or abstain without seeking professional help. There is a great deal of material in books and the internet that may help the self-helper. Counseling a qualified counselor can help the alcoholic talk through his/her problems and then devise a plan to tackle the drinking. CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) is commonly used to treat alcohol dependency. Treating underlying problems the alcoholic may have a problem with self-esteem, stress, anxiety, depression, or some other mental health problem. It is important to treat these problems too. It is crucial for the alcoholic to realize that drinking will probably make mental health problems worse. As alcoholics commonly suffer from hypertension, liver diseases, and possibly heart diseases, these will need to be treated too. Residential programs residential programs are ideal for some people. They include expert professional help, individual or group therapy, support groups, training, family involvement, activity therapy, and a host of strategies that are aimed at treating the alcoholic successfully. Some people find that being physically away from access to temptation is a great help. Drug that provokes a severe reaction to alcohol Antabuse (disulfiram) causes a severe reaction when somebody drinks alcohol, including nausea, flushing, vomiting and headaches. It is a deterrent. It will not treat the alcoholics compulsion and will not cure alcoholism. Drugs for cravings Naltrexone (ReVia) may help with the urge to have a drink. Acamprosate (Campral) may help with cravings. Hormone ghrelin Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, have discovered a new brain mechanism involved in alcohol addiction involving the stomach hormone ghrelin. When ghrelins actions in the brain are blocked, alcohols effects on the reward system are reduced. It is an important discovery that could lead to new therapies for addictions such as alcohol dependence. Detoxification the patient takes some medication to prevent withdrawal symptoms (delirium tremens) which many alcoholics experience when they give up drinking. Treatment usually lasts from four to seven days. Chlordiazepoxide, a benzodiazepine medication, is frequently used for detoxification (detox). Doses will be initially high, and will then taper off. It is important that the patient abstains completely from alcohol during the detox. Staying on the wagon (remaining abstinent) some patients find the detox acheivable, but start drinking again soon after, or some time later. It is important to remember Samuel Johnsons phrase If at first you dont succeed. Try, try, and try again. Success rates are significantly improved if the patient has access to counseling or some support group. Family support is crucial. Sometimes a good GP can provide vital support. A study found that genetics is a factor in predicting the risk of relapse among alcohol-dependent patients. Further Reading: What is Alcohol Poisoning? What are the Dangers of Alcohol Poisoning? Written by Christian Nordqvist Copyright: Medical News Today

Criticism of Action Research

Criticism of Action Research The use of action research in higher education is growing (Mertler, 2006). Action research involves a systematic inquiry wherein educators can utilize their knowledge as practitioners to change and improve educational practices (Kemmis, 2009; Craig, 2009). By systematically and intentionally studying problems within the educational community, they not only contribute to knowledge production but to meaningful reforms as well. Action research is defined as a reflective process of progressive problem solving led by individuals working with others in teams or as part of a community of practice to improve the way they address issues and solve problems (Riel, 2010). The aim of action research is to understand practice and to articulate a philosophy of practice which improves practice (McCutcheon Jung, as cited in Herr, Anderson, Herr, 2005). As a research design, action research is relatively new. Despite its recent popular application, there is still debate on where action research real ly falls as to its nature of inquiry (Ary, Jacobs, Razavieh Sorensen, 2009). Some research experts associate it more with the qualitative tradition, while others assert that its concrete application in research has showed that it relies more on quantitative inquiry (Burns, 2007). However, literature would suggest that action research possesses certain overall characteristics that are different from other research approaches. These are: Problem-solving is highlighted in the scientific study (Pine, 2008; Koshy, 2005; Methodological tools are not rigid and can be modified to suit the demands of the research situation (Cooke Cox, 2005); The research is process is cyclical (Schmuck, 2006; Riel, 2010); There is leaning toward practitioners as researchers (Mertler, 2006; Walter, 2009); No great attempts at objectivity are intended (Kock, 2005); The inquiry has a social dimension (Walter, 2009, IISD, 2010). What sets action research apart from other research approaches is its cyclical nature. This means that as a research method, it proceeds through a chain of steps repeatedly. Unlike traditional research, action research does not end upon the determination of findings and the formulation of conclusions on the contrary, this sparks a renewal of the research process. Hence, action research follows what Riel (2010) calls progressive problem solving (see Figure 1). In the entire research process, there could be multiple cycles and multiple foci of the study. In one research cycle, an action research proceeds in five general steps: 1. identifying an area of focus; 2. Developing an action plan; 3. collecting data; 4. analyzing and interpreting data; 5. reflecting (Herr, Anderson, Herr, 2005, p. 15). Beginning with the identification of the problem, the researcher/s come up with research questions and identifies the type of data needed. Types of data involved in action research can be quantitative or numerical, qualitative or descriptive, but usually both (Creswell, 2005). After data collection, the researcher/s interpret and analyze data. Conclusions are the drawn followed by a period of reflection which researchers engage in to be able come up with another plan of action to improve practice. This goes on until the problem identified is solved or objectives are met (Koshy, 2005). Another important characteristic of action research is that it is value-laden. It rejects neutrality and instead, situates its inquiry in a setting where there are conflicting values or power differentials. It challenges traditional notions of power and values and investigates a problem by analyzing day-to-day realities of the people or community involved. Still another important characteristic of action research is its reflexivity. Reflexivity is essential to action research because it aims to interrogate and examine received proposals for change or improvement by analyzing who benefits of actions implemented in the end (Craig, 2009). Since the foundation of action research by acknowledged pioneer Kurt Lewin, several approaches have emerged and albeit similar in purpose, differ in method and steps toward inquiry (Craig, 2009). Reviewed are three action research methodologies that have been used by researchers in higher education and other disciplines to come up with solutions to pressing problems: practical, participatory, and teacher action research. A discussion of advantages and disadvantages of action research is also discussed. Practical action research Practical action research focuses on a specific research question with the aim of improving practice (Schmuck, 2006). This is sometimes referred to as practical-deliberative action where the researcher (an outsider) collaborates with practitioners in identifying research problems, its causes, and possible forms of intervention. Kemmis (2009) defines it as action research which sharpens individual practical reasoning (p 76). Problem identification is done after dialogue between research and practitioner until consensus is reached. In this sense, the end of practical action research is to improve practice through the application of the personal wisdom of the participants (Grundy, as cited in Pine, 2008, p. 76). Practical action research was influenced by Lewins research within organizations which relied heavily on group dynamics, field theory, and T-groups. While practical action research works toward the improvement of practice, it takes a conservative stance and works in reforming the status quo without addressing power structures or differentials. Practical action research is also a vehicle toward generating practical knowledge (Manfra, 2009). Supporters of practical action research believe that practical knowledge is the most important form of knowledge in teaching (Koshy, 2005) and that the focus of action research must be on teachers issues and problems because they produce knowledge helpful to them in redefining their profession. Practical action research is more concerned with examining real classrooms and real schools (Manfra, 2009, p. 2). In the context of higher education, practical action research aims to help teachers become better practitioners. Because Conducting research has helped teachers we know to consolidate new knowledge, learn about new issues, and develop new teaching methods and strategies (p. 176). Proponents of practical action research emphasize the practicality of action research for teachers as they strive to become better practitioners. Since practical inquiry is more likely to respond to the immediacy of the knowledge needs teachers confront in everyday practice and to be foundational for formal research by providing new questions and concerns, (Cochran-Smith Lytle, as cited in Mertler, 2006, p. 43) practical action research is deemed to be the more authentic methodology for education practitioners. There are criticisms on the authenticity of practical action research (Kemmis, 2009). Some have accused practical action research as straying from the unique spirit of action research because it was influenced by techniques and inputs of outsiders (Pine, 2008). In effect, it ran the risk of research questions being externally formulated and issues which were not reflective of real sentiments and problems of practitioners (Kemmis, 2009). Practical action research is often associated with testing the effectiveness of practices or the applicability of findings conducted elsewhere to local settings. While in general, these studies may contribute to the improvement of practice, practical action research becomes vulnerable to being exploited to legitimize reputations of outsiders reputations than being applied meaningfully in practice (Ary et al., 2009). Participatory action research (PAR) While practical action research is deliberative in purpose, participatory action research takes on a more emancipator role. Traditional research seeks only in the investigation of phenomenon whereas the critical analysis is entrenched in PAR. While practical action research only describes classrooms and schools, PAR is more concerned with how to change structures and in the transformation of society. PAR promotes emancipatory praxis in the participating practitioners; that is, it promotes a critical consciousness which exhibits itself in political as well as practical action to promote change (Grundy, as cited in Manfra, 2009, p. 4). A primary aim of PAR is to transforming educational theory and practice toward emancipatory ends and thus raising fundamental questions about curriculum, teachers roles, and the ends as well as the means of schooling (Cochran-Smith Lytle, as cited in Manfra, 2009, p. 5). As a result, PAR has two overarching objectives (Cooke Cox, 2005): Knowledge production and action for the benefit of a group of people through study, research, education, and sociopolitical action. Empowerment of people by enabling them to construct and use their own knowledge. The key elements in PAR are participation and action (IISD, 2009). These elements are the foundation of the PAR method. With action, research entails beyond merely seeking information but having that action factor that enables positive change. With participation, research should be a participatory process with equal and collaborative involvement groups or communities of interest. Hence, unlike practical action research, PAR does away with process consultancy or the use of outsider experts going into communities and examining, theorizing, and proposing solutions for problems (Kemmis, 2009). The research topic, questions, and solutions must emerge from the communities themselves. Practical action research is not intended to be participatory because the aim is generally extractive; meaning, researchers retain power over process. PAR on the other hand, seeks at empowering the community of interest by opening up the entire research process to their participation. Practical action research is collaborative and is not shy on taking outside partners in planning, data gathering, and data analysis phase. PARs research goals are politicized and aims to illuminate on how social, economic, and political constraints affect the marginalized and powerless sectors in society (GDRC, 2009). Teacher action research Teacher action research is research that is done by teachers for themselves (Johnson, as cited in Mertler, 2006, p. 72). This type of action research enables teachers to make their own classrooms, their methods of instruction and assessments the focus of the study in order to inform and improve practice. Teacher action research benefits teachers by allowing them to understand their work better and from there, come up with ways to improve their effectiveness in the classroom. As a teacher-centered approach to action research, teacher-action research acknowledges first and foremost that the teacher is the most knowledgeable person when it comes to conditions on the ground and recognizes their expertise in carrying out research for the improvement of educational processes and outcomes. There are several motivations for adopting teacher action research: This approach respects and gives significant to the position of the teacher about the problems and issues at the classroom level. Simply put, it acknowledges the teacher as a local expert who has more knowledge about classroom issues than outside experts or consultants (Mertler, 2006). By acquiring data about their own classrooms and practices, teachers are better situated to reflect upon them and are in a better position to implement policies or measures that will enhance their effectiveness. Teacher action research is a feasible way in improving instructional practice and enhancing the intellectual environment among educators. Educators are uniquely positioned to evaluate the classroom situation, implement plans of action, and evaluate them afterwards (Creswell, 2005). Methods, data collection, and analysis The three forms of action research do not differ in their methodology but in the assumptions made and participants worldviews that influence the choice of methodology to be used in implementing the action research (Grundy, as cited in Manfra, 2009). The method of action research involves four general stages of collectively 1) planning, 2) acting, 3) observing and 4) reflecting. This phase leads to another cycle of action, in which the plan is revised, and further acting, observing and reflecting undertaken systematically to work towards solutions to problems whether of a practical or emancipatory nature. Action research accommodates all types of data collected through various techniques. Action research even considers it important to collect multiple measures on the variables of interest in a given study. It allows and in fact, encourages the researcher to triangulate the collected data for greater research credibility. There are four main categories of data collection in action research (Craig, 2009; Mertler, 2006; Cooke Cox, 2005): Observations recorded through fieldnotes or journals to describe in detail what is seen and heard. Interview data through interviews or surveys. Existing documents or records such as lesson plans, student portfolios, school newspapers, minutes of meetings, attendance records, etc. Quantitative measures such as ratings, checklists, tests, or scoring rubrics. Data analysis in action research occurs beginning data collection and afterwards. Most quantitative researchers begin analyzing data after all data is gathered. Qualitative researchers begin analyzing data at the start of the data collection process. Action research combines both processes. Johnson (as cited in Mertler, 2006) suggests that as you collect your data, analyze them by looking for themes, categories or patterns that emerge (p. 87). Analyzing data allows other foci to emerge and influences the research on what other data to look for. Data analysis is not really as exhaustive or as complex in action research as it is with traditional research. However, action research lately has been influenced to adopt more quantitative analysis in order to establish integrity and credibility in the findings. Coding, content analysis, and other qualitative forms of analysis are sometimes buffered with inferential statistics to boost credibility (Sagor, 2005). Critique of action research Action research is applied, empowering, collaborative, democratic and emancipatory. Unlike other research methods, it offers practical solutions toward positive change in practice and in society. It also has its flaws. Its disadvantages include: Subjectivity. One of the main criticisms of action research is that when left unchecked, results are laden with subjectivity (Kock, 2005). There is a tendency for the researcher to be over-involved to the extent that personal biases come into play in the analysis of the findings. Vulnerability to pressure. Another risk factor in doing action research is that the researchers are often subordinates in an organizational setting. When the researcher is an insider in an organization, power relations and differentials may complicate the conduct. Researchers might be pressure or coerced to alter the findings to suit organizational objectives (Noffke Somekh, 2005. Time consuming. The cyclical research process in action research is aimed at understanding and action. The initial research question is rough and may be refined thereafter depending on initial findings. Critics of action research question the fuzzy methodology in action research and the equally fuzzy answers that it gets (Walter, 2009). The redefinition of the research question and the refining of methodology takes time, making the entire research process time-exhaustive and complex. In particular, PAR is inherent undefined in terms of end date. There is no clear timeline when the research is stopped because technically, it stops only upon the resolution of the problem. In terms of knowledge production, PAR is unpredictable and is unlikely to be included in referred journals or get competitive funding (GDRC, 2009). Proposed action research process Despite acknowledged weaknesses, action research is still a viable tool among education leaders in influencing change within the organization. I propose a collaborative teacher action research to enhance professional identity of mid-career faculty leaders through mentoring activities. Enhancing the professional identity of teachers is important especially as they transition into later leadership roles. Like any organization, teachers need to be part of an active and supportive community to guide them in the process of transition. Some teachers in my local setting are ill-prepared to take on leadership roles. Mentoring has been found to improve self-awareness, skills in collaboration, leadership skills, sense of community and commitment to the teaching profession. Since this is a collaborative teacher action research, I will find other teacher-researchers willing to work with me to address the problem of leadership preparation among mid-career educators. We will need to establish understanding about action research as a way to improve leadership capabilities among teachers. Since this is a collaborative research, workload and responsibilities will be divided through consensus and everyone will be a co-researcher to the project. The research action process will proceed in eight steps (Mertler, 2006): Identify the problem (lack of leadership preparation among mid-career teachers) Gather information (done through informal interviews) Review related literature (research on possible solutions) Develop a research plan (meet with co-researchers and come up with a plan) Implement the plan and collect the data (through questionnaires, interviews) Analyze the data (content analysis, descriptive statistics) Develop an action plan (plan a mentoring strategy to solve the problem) Share and communicate results

Gender Roles and Stereotypes Essay -- Gender Studies

Girls are supposed to play with dolls, wear pink, and grow up to become princesses. Boys are suppose to play with cars, wear blue, and become firefighters and policemen. These are just some of the common gender stereotypes that children grow up to hear. Interactions with toys are one of the entryway to different aspects of cognitive development and socialism in early childhood. As children move through development they begin to develop different gender roles and gender stereotypes that are influenced by their peers and caregivers. (Chick, Heilman-Houser, & Hunter, 2002; Freeman, 2007; Leaper, 2000) Play is frequently used to asses cognitive and social development because it is cost-effective, can lead to direct interventions, and can be used to supervise progress. (Kelly-Vance & Ryalls, 2008) According to Blakemore, Berenbaum, and Liben (2009) cognitive development can be assessed by cognitive- environmental and developmental- constructivist approaches. Cognitive- environmental refers to the influence that parents and peers have in modeling gender appropriate behaviors. Developmental- constructive refers to the process that children use to create their own concepts of gender and gender-appropriate behaviors. Though both genders seem to spend the same amount playing, boys and girls differ in several aspects of play. Girls tend to engage in more socio-dramatic play that includes higher levels of play sequence than boys. Girls also play in a more scripted way with toys. (Cherney & Dempsey, 2010; Cherney, Kelly-Vance, Glover, Ruane & Ryalls, 2003) Both play sequence and scripted play determine play complexity therefore the intricacy of play depends on the gender of the toy. (Cherney & Dempsey, 2010; Cherney et al., 2003) this in... ... W., & Mize, J. (2001). Contextual Differences in Parent--Child Play: Implications for Children's Gender Role Development. Sex Roles, 44(3/4), 155-176. Miller, C., Lurye, L., Zosuls, K., & Ruble, D. (2009). Accessibility of Gender Stereotype Domains: Developmental and Gender Differences in Children. Sex Roles, 60(11/12), 870- 881. doi:10.1007/s11199-009-9584-x Trautner, H. M., Ruble, D. N., Cyphers, L., Kirsten, B., Behrendt, R., & Hartmann, P. (2005). Rigidity and flexibility of gender stereotypes in childhood: Developmental or differential?. Infant And Child Development, 14(4), 365-381. doi:10.1002/icd.399 Zosuls, K. M., Ruble, D. N., Tamis-LeMonda, C. S., Shrout, P. E., Bornstein, M. H., & Greulich, F. K. (2009). The acquisition of gender labels in infancy: Implications for gender-typed play. Developmental Psychology, 45(3), 688-701. doi:10.1037/a0014053

How To Enter A Nine-ball Tournament :: essays research papers

How to Play Tournament Nine-ball   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  People may think that spending eight dollars on a tournament is a waste of money. Every Sunday I go to Millertime Billiards and enter a nine-ball tournament. I never go in thinking that I’m going to win at least my entry fee back, although it would be nice. On the other hand, I always go in knowing that I will walk out understanding more about the game then the night before. The tournament starts at 7:30 p.m., but the entry fee must be paid before that. After paying, all there is to do is wait. When they call your name and table it’s time to play. It’s a race to four wins. To keep track of the games place a coin under the middle diamond. Every game won constitutes a move of the coin one diamond. The winner goes to the front counter and gives them the results. The loser of the first game doesn’t have to go home. The tournament is double elimination. After the first game is lost, the player goes down to the loser’s bracket. One loss in there means it’s time to go home, or at least sit down and wait for the nine-ball break. The winner of the loser’s bracket is guaranteed second place. To get first place the winner of the loser bracket will have to beat the winner of the winner’s bracket twice. After they establish and record all the winners and losers for the forth round they call all the people who entered the tournament down to table 5 for the nine-ball break. The racks are usually set up by an A player or better. Three names are drawn out of a box. Everybody that got there name picked gets two chances to drop the nine-ball on the break unless the person before them already hit it in. Two dollars of the entry fee go toward the pot for the winner.

Using evidence from available research, describe and analyse the experi

For any individual prison can be a daunting and psychological challenge. Experiences can have lifelong effects and can often traumatise those incarcerated. However the experience minority ethnic prisoners face can be deemed diverse. They can become victims of discrimination, racism violence and harassment all on the basis of their race, skin colour, or nationality. Scott and Codd (2010, P. 70) note that ‘prisoners from certain believed culturally or biologically determined ‘racial groups’ are understood as being genetically, intellectually or socially inferior beings, thus contributing to their own poverty of life experiences and criminal identity'. Scott and Codd (2010) state that ‘the prison place racism is a key dimension of the expression of power, shaping prejudicial decisions, exclusionary practices and the physical manifestation of violence, bullying and intimidation’. Scott and Codd (2010, P.70) put forward that ‘this penal terror go es even further for some, such as foreign national prisoners, as it can exacerbate the structured pains of the prison itself. Jewkes and Johnston (2006, P.107) found that ‘prisoners from ethnic minority backgrounds have faced a long struggle in getting the Home Office and Prison Service to recognise their diverse cultural, religious and dietary needs’. Jewkes and Johnston (2006) put forward that the UK prison population has risen by 15,000 since New Labour came to power in 1997, and has doubled since Margaret Thatcher took office in 1979. Inmates from ethnic minority backgrounds account for a large percentage of this figure. For example the white population increased by 36 per cent, Black population grew by 196 per cent, south Asian populations grew by 120 per cent and Chinese/other Asian... ...cial harassment to get their complaints investigated. Overcrowding enforced cell sharing and became a problem of poor management from governors. Gadd and Dixon (2010) announced that Keith (2006) produced 88 steps to rectify these shortcomings. These included the following; the end of enforced cell sharing, the implementation of risk assessment in decisions about cell allocation; violent reduction strategy, Keith (2006) suggest this approach makes prisoners think they have let other prisoners down if they resort to violence on other inmates. Mental health screening and routine reviews on prisoners’ emotional well-being were also included (Gadd and Dixon 2010). Conclusion Looking at the work of Edgar (2007) his four typologies of understanding racisms in prison can help give a broader acknowledgment of what BME groups face and experience when incarcerated.

Findings, Recommendations and Conclusions on Hyundai Motors

A REPORT ON INTERNSHIP TRAINING SAGAR LOGISTICS LIMITED Submitted in the partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the degree of MASTER OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS By SIDHARTH THOMAS REG NO: 11MIB111 2011-2013 SCHOOL OF COMMERCE AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Dr. G. R. DAMODARAN COLLEGE OF SCIENCE (Autonomous) Affiliated to Bharathiar University and Re accredited with ‘A’ grade by NAAC, An ISO 9001:2000 Certified Institution Civil Aerodrome Post, Avinashi Road, Coimbatore- 641 014. SCHOOL OF COMMERCE AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Dr. G. R.DAMODARAN COLLEGE OF SCIENCE (Autonomous) Affiliated to Bharathiar University and Re accredited with ‘A’ grade by NAAC, An ISO 9001:2000 Certified Institution Civil Aerodrome Post, Avinashi Road, Coimbatore- 641 014 CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the internship report on GENERAL STUDY ON LOGISTICS is a bonafide record of work done by SIDHARTH THOMAS REG NO: 11MIB111, in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the degree of MASTER OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COURSE DIRECTOR Submitted for Viva-Voce Examination held on INTERNAL EXAMINER   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  EXTERNAL EXAMINER DECLARATIONI hereby declare that the internship report on â€Å"A GENERAL STUDY ON LOGISTICS† DONE AT SAGAR LOGISTICS submitted in the partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of MASTER OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS is the original work carried out by me. It is not formed as a part of any other project work submitted for the award of any degree or diploma, either to this or to any other university. SIDHARTH THOMAS REG NO: 11MIB111 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I express my sincere thanks to DR. K. K. RAMACHANDRAN, Director, G. R. D SCHOOL OF COMMERCE AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS, for providing me this opportunity to take up this internship training.I wish to express my deep sense of gratitude to Mr. VS PRADEEP, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER of SAG AR LOGISTICS PVT LIMITED, for his kind acceptance of training request in the company. The gratitude passes to all the trainers of  SAGAR LOGISTICS PVT. LTD, who gave me support and training during my internship training in the company. I also express my sincere thanks to Mr. S. MOORTHY who guided me throughout my report. I extend my sincere thanks to all my family members for being extremely supportive during my training period. SIDHARTH THOMAS TABLE OF CONTENT S. NO| CHAPTER| NAME| PAGENO| 1. | I | 1.INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS2. INTRODUCTION TO THE INDUSTRY3. OBJECTIVES4. ROLE AS AN INTERN| 6-891011| 2. | II| 1. COMPANY PROFILE2. VISION AND MISSION3. PRODUCT PROFILE/ SERVICE PROFILE| 111212-20| 3. | III| 1. DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES| 20-26| 4. | IV| 1. OUTCOME OF THE INTERNSHIP2. CONCLUSION| 2728| Introduction to international business International business is a term used to collectively describe all commercial transactions (private and governmental, sales, investments , logistics, and transportation) that take place between two or more regions, countries and nations beyond their political boundary.Usually, private companies undertake such transactions for profit; governments undertake them for profit and for political reasons. 1 It refers to all those business activities which involve cross border transactions of goods, services, resources between two or more nations. Transaction of economic resources include capital, skills, people etc. for international production of physical goods and services such as finance, banking, insurance, construction etc. 2 International business involves commercial activities that cross national frontiers.It concerns the international movement of goods, capital, services, employees and technology; importing and exporting; cross border transactions in intellectual property via licensing and franchising; investments in physical and financial assets in foreign countries; contract manufacture or assembly of goods abroad for local sale or for export to other nations; buying and selling in foreign countries; the establishment of foreign warehousing and distribution systems; and the import to one foreign country of goods from a second foreign country for subsequent local sale. 3All the basic tools and concepts of domestic business management are relevant to international business. However, special problem arise in international business, in particular * Deals might have to be transacted in foreign languages and under foreign laws, customs and regulations. * Information on foreign countries needed by a particular firm may be difficult * Foreign currency transactions will be necessary. Exchange rate variations can be very wide and create many problems for international business. * Numerous cultural differences may have to be taken into account when trading in other nations. Control and communication systems are normally more complex for foreign than for domestic operations. * Risk levels might be higher in foreign markets. * International managers require a broader range of management skills than do managers who are concerned only with domestic problems. 1-Daniels, J. , Radebaugh, L. , Sullivan, D. (2007). International Business: environment and operations, 11th edition. Prentice Hall. * Large amounts of important work might have to be left to intermediaries, consultants and advisers. * It is more difficult to observe and monitor trends and activities in foreign countries.Why firms engage in International Business? Business undertakes international operations in order to expand sales, acquire resources from foreign countries, or diversify these activities (Anderson 1993). The motives for operating internationally are as follows: * Commercial risks can be spread across several countries. * Involvement in international business can facilitate the ‘experience curve’ effect. * Economies of scope (as opposed to economies of scale) might become available. Economies of scale are reductions in unit production costs resulting from large scale operations. The costs of new product dev could require so much expenditure that the firm is compelled to adopt an international perspective. * There might be intense competition in the home market but little in certain foreign countries. * A company’ overall strategies and plans can be anchored against a wider range of opportunities. Sudden collapses in market demand in some countries may be offset by expansions elsewhere. * Cross-border trade is today much easier to organise than in the past. International business is not new – businesses and nations have conducted trade across national boundaries for centuries.Lured by the prospects of large markets and/or sources of raw materials, businesses have traded with other parts of the world. But as we will see later global business and global industry is different. Overseas trade and Ansoff’s matrix Thinking about international business in the contex t of Ansoff’s matrix: * Entry into overseas markets represents market development. * Existing products are sold in new markets. * It is appealing because: – market penetration is difficult in saturated markets. – product development is costly. – diversification is risky Why enter overseas markets?The reasons for entering overseas markets can be categorised into â€Å"push† and â€Å"pull† factors: Push factors * Saturation in domestic markets * Economic difficulty in domestic markets * Near the end of the product life cycle at home * Excess capacity * Risk diversification Pull factors * The attraction of overseas markets * Increase sales * Enjoy greater economies of scale * Extend the product life cycle * Exploit a competitive advantage * Personal ambition Factors in the choice of which overseas market(s) to enter: * Size of the market (population, income) * Economic factors (state of the economy) Cultural linguistic factors (e. g. preferenc e for countries with similar cultural background) * Political stability (there is usually a preference for stable areas) * Technological factors (these affect demand and the ease of trading) Constraints and difficulties in entering overseas markets: * Resources * Time * Market uncertainty * Marketing costs * Cultural differences * Linguistic differences * Trade barriers * Regulations and administrative procedures. * Political uncertainties * Exchange rates (transactions costs & risks) * Problems of financing * Working capital problems * Cost of insurance Distribution networks Exporting is only one method of doing business internationally * We normally think of overseas trade in terms of exporting and importing goods and services * This involves transporting goods and selling them across national boundaries. * Direct exporting implies that the domestic firm is actively involved in selling the goods abroad * Indirect exporting means that the marketing of goods is delegated to export a gents and the UK manufacturer concentrates on production * But exporting involving the movement of goods is only one method of engaging in international businessOther methods of market entry * Overseas product an/or assembly (producing goods abroad) * International alliances and joint ventures (working with foreign companies) * International M&A (mergers and acquisitions across frontiers) * International franchising and licensing allowing foreign based firms to produce, market and distribute goods in specified areas abroad) A. Definition LOGISTICS IS THE ART AND SCIENCE OF MANAGEMENT, ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES CONCERNED WITH REQUIREMENTS, DESIGN AND SUPPLYING, MAINTAINING RESOURCES TO SUPPORT OBJECTIVES, PLANS AND OPERATION. — SOCIETY OF LOGISTICS ENGINEERS (SOLE) 1974. Fierce competition in today’s market has forced business enterprises to invest in and focus on supply chains. The growth in telecommunication and transportation technologies has led to furthe r growth of the supply chain. The supply chain, also known as the logistics network, consists of suppliers, manufacturing centers, warehouses, distribution centers and retail outlets, as well as raw materials, work-in-process inventory and finished products that flow between the facilities.The logistics management takes into consideration every facility that has an impact on cost. It plays an important role in making the product conform to customer requirements. Also it involves efficient integration of suppliers, manufacturers, warehouses and stores and encompasses the firms’ activities at many levels, from the strategic level through the tactical to the operational level. Logistics is a challenging and important activity because it serves as an integrating or boundary spanning function.It links suppliers with customers and it integrates functional entities across a company. With the ever-growing competition in today’s market place it becomes necessary for a firm to u se its resources to focus on strategic opportunities. This includes several internal factors like management style, culture, human resources, facilities and several external factors like technology, globalization and competition. This is where the concept of logistics plays a major role, i. e. it helps to leverage certain advantages the firm has in the marketplace.B. Role of Logistics Lets us now have a look at how logistics works. It is important to recognize the importance of a dynamic balance between the minute details and the main elements involved in a product. The Role of Logistics is to maintain that balance. Once the firm realizes the importance of logistics it is necessary that the firm make full and efficient use of logistics. The first step is to create a buyer value for the customer and a strategic value for the firm. The customer is the most important asset for a company.He drives the entire supply chain including manufacturing, marketing and logistics. Hence it is impo rtant for a firm to have a clear understanding of what the customer demands and to keep up to the customers expectations. Once a company has a clear understanding of its customer’s requirements it must device a strategy on how to use logistics to achieve it. This means that the company has to have a clear understanding or assessment of company’s strategic direction. Now lets take a look at the various steps involved in a logistics strategy development and planning process.Visioning: this includes the systematic development of an organizational consensus regarding the key inputs to the logistics planning process as well as identification of the potential alternative logistics approaches. This is an important step for the following reasons: * Helps to define a strategic direction to the company and also to get a clear understanding the role of logistics in it. * Get a clear idea of the requirements of the various segments of customers. * Have a look at the various factor s that would affect the strategy of the company. * Define alternative strategies and also the scope of the planning effort.Strategic analysis: this involves taking a look at the various components involved in the process and selecting the best logistics process among the alternatives. These components, which are to be reviewed, are revealed during he first step. This may include revamping the entire process to assessing how a single component can be used more effectively. Planning: this involves the assembling of a plan that outlines the mission and goals for the logistics function and the programs and activities to achieve these goals. Logistics planning is an iterative process.The plans have to be redefined every year to improve the quality of performance. Managing change: this involves effective management to implement enhanced ways of conducting business. The management should keeping changing the plans in accordance with the change in the market and also coach the organization to effectively embrace this change. C. Current Logistics Related Issues There are several factors that affect logistics. These issues need to be anticipated, prepared for and taken advantage of for a company to be successful in today’s market. They are External: * Globalisation * Technology Workforce 2000 * challenging nature of the work force * Environmental concerns Internal: * Customer service and quality * Third party networks * Supply chain management * Changes in management and organization style Listed below are some of the steps that could be followed to mitigate the above mentioned issues: Performance: * Better service for customers * Improved productivity * Assess just in time and quick response needs System structure: * Better relationship with vendors, customers and third parties to more effectively manage the supply chain * Better relationship within and across the organizationTechnology integration: * Better information systems that connect functions and organiz ations * Combine information and material handling systems for increased efficiency and effectiveness. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY * To study the performance of LOGISTICS process. . * To know about the marketing techniques and promotion measures. * To understand the overall functioning of all the various departments. AS A INTERNEE I did my Internship training at SAGAR LOGISTICS PVT. LTD. I had a very good experience observing and working with various departments of SAGAR.COMPANY PROFILE SAGAR shipping was started in the year 1987 at Willington Island, Kochi, Kerala to provide professionalized service in the area of clearing and forwarding. This is our Silver Jubilee year. OUR LEADER & MISSIONARY : Mr. V. S Pradeep is the founder of this organization and is the chief executive officer. Amongst the many laurels that adorn his professional cap the following needs special mention. President Cochin Customs Agent Association (1999-2001) Director Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Two terms ) Trustee Cochin port (2000-2002)OUR MISSION : Our mission is to provide a personalized touch to the professional service of Clearing & Forwarding by finding the right person for the right job and by ensuring the right job for the right person. It is our Endeavour to translate our years of experience, competence and goodwill to cater to the stringent demands of changing times. We take pride in building long term relationships and quality service with uncompromising thoroughness, integrity, confidentiality and timely delivery. We take time to listen, understand and match the needs of our clients.OUR ETHICS : We are a value based organization. We conduct reference checks before our service is offered. We ensure confidentiality to our clients. OUR SERVICES : * Custom Clearing forwarding * Baggage clearance * Packing * Freight forwarding * Warehousing * Transporting Packing and Warehousing The packing of the goods for export is a complex task to ensure goods are protected against the ri sks involved in their handling and the modes of transportation being used. Consideration needs to be given to the climates and terrain of the countries through which the consignments will be travelling.Too much heavy packing could prove costly for goods travelling by air, for example. On the other hand, too little packing might prove a false economy. Many forwarders provide a packing service for their customers, and the forwarder’s expertise . . Who are Freight Forwarders? The different types of freight forwarding companies can be broadly divided into three categories: Local companies – These are generally small single office companies which tend to deal with customers in the local area, or operate at a seaport or airport concentrating on particular types of traffic.National companies – Many forwarders have offices in the major ports and airports throughout the country as well as in the largest industrial towns. They may also have warehousing or handling depots from where they operate their own services. Such companies will often have agents or correspondents overseas in the markets with which they operate. International companies – The truly international company will have its own offices overseas and offer a wide range of worldwide services. Import Procedures Procedures have to be followed by ‘person-in-charge of conveyance’ as well as the importer.WHO IS ‘PERSON IN CHARGE' – As per section 2(31), ‘person in charge' means (a) In case of vessel – its master (b) In case of aircraft – its commander or pilot-in-charge (c) In case of train – its conductor or guard and (d) In case of vehicle or other conveyance – its driver or other person in charge. The significance of this definition is – He is responsible for submitting Import Manifest and Export Manifest He is responsible to ensure that the conveyance comes through approved route and lands at approved place only. He has to ensure that goods are unloaded after written order, at proper place.Loading also has to be only after permission. He has to ensure that conveyance does not leave without written order of Customs authorities. He can be penalised for (a) Giving false declaration and statement (b) shortages or non-accounting of goods in conveyance Procedure by Importer – The importer importing the goods has to follow prescribed procedures for import by ship/air/road. (There is separate procedure for goods imported as a baggage or by post. ) Bill of Entry – This is a very vital and important document which every importer has to submit under section 46.The Bill of Entry should be in prescribed form. The standard size of Bill of Entry is 16†³ ? 13†³. However, for computerisation purposes, 15†³ ? 12†³ size is permitted. (Mumbai Customs Public Notice No. 142/93 dated 3-11- 93). Bill of Entry should be submitted in quadruplicate – original and duplicate for cus toms, triplicate for the importer and fourth copy is meant for bank for making remittances. Under EDI system, Bill of Entry is actually printed on computer in triplicate only after ‘out of charge’ order is given. Duplicate copy is given to importer.Types of Bill of Entry – Bills of Entry should be of one of three types. Out of these, two types are for clearance from customs while third is for clearance from warehouse. ACTIVITIES OF SELECTED DEPARTMENT Sea Freight Forwarding : services are offered irrespective of the nature of business i. e. export or import . Through our ocean Freight Forwarding Services, we handle general, project as well as stock shipments at the quickest pace. We ensure dry area for the proper placement of the arrived shipment at all the sea ports.Being a reliable Sea Freight Forwarder we also offer LCL and FCL consolidation . We also have support of order follow up and supply chain tracking system. Air Freight Forwarding : Service are the fir st of all quick and then very safe . The services of International Air Freight Forwarding include door to door service of pick up , custom clearance , delivery on the desired destination . Besides, we also pick up the cargo from the clients end . We promptly notify the consignee about the arrival of the shipment and delivery instruction . Besides, we are a trusted Air Freight Forwarder in India.The company offers gamut of Import and Export Services in the industry . We are reckoned as one of the leading Import Export agents in India. Our range of services in this category includes custom duty clearance , providing required bills and certificates, certified survey and compliances , third party inspection, transportation, warehousing and logistics solution and so on . Counted among the prominent import Export Agents in India, we take every measure to serve the clients in the most professional manner so that they get maximum satisfaction meeting their end vision.SAGAR logistics is spec ialized in offering highly reliable Custom Clearance Services in the industry. We are counted among the best Custom Clearing Agents in India. We extend our services for the hassle free transaction of shipments of the clients in almost all the customs houses in India. Our team of professionals is proficient in the complex documentation process of custom clearance . We take every care for the timely clearance of the goods from the ports or custom house through our Custom Clearance Services OUT COME OF THE INTERNSHIPGot to observe the various departments as an whole but not in detail Learned new things concerning the procedures of import and export Got a chance to interact with people around 5. 2 CONCLUSION Logistics is the one important function in business today. No marketing, manufacturing or project execution can succeed without logistics support. Logistics is important in India because of the country’s size, geography, population variety, natural and man-made calamities etc . The transport facilities are inadequate in India and roads are bad.India lacks a well-developed road network and waterways are still unexploited. Due to competition, globalization and information availability, logistics has gained extra importance. First: the days are gone when a manufacturer had a better raw material supplier than competitors. Then, the operations in a manufacturing process are well known to all. The processes are more or less standard. Also, technology is available to all. The only area where one can score over competitors is logistics. If logistics cost is reduced, there is a gain. . .