Great Gatsby Final Paper on Feminism Essay

In his immortal novel The Great Gatsby, creator Francis Scott Fitzgerald causes to notice the nonsensical idea of ladies and the impact it had on their lives during the 1920s. The female characters in the novel will in general unreliably think with their souls as opposed to with their heads. Over and over, along these lines of the reasoning leads these ladies to an existence of despondency and uncertainty. Fitzgerald uses devices, for example, Catch 22 and symbolism to successfully show the negative outcomes of their decisions. Fitzgerald’s object is to stress the genuine sufferings of ladies brought about by their own absence of reason. He sets up a sincere tone all through the novel so as to exhibit to perusers that the genuine wellspring of the vacancy and distress felt by ladies in the 1920’s doesn't originate from the men in their lives, however from their own ambiguity. Fitzgerald essentially utilizes Catch 22 as a procedure that best epitomizes the nonsensical conduct and choices ladies in the novel make. At an opportune time in the novel, Jay Gatsby has great gatherings at his home wanting to one day draw Daisy, the lady he is frantically infatuated with, once again into his life. Most ladies go to Gatsby’s parties not on the grounds that they are companions with him, nor on the grounds that they were welcomed, however rather to make some joyful memories at a stranger’s cost. Jordan consistently goes to these events at Gatsby’s home; she admits to Nick one night, â€Å"’I like huge gatherings. They’re so private. At little gatherings there isn’t any privacy.’† Her statementâ associates grandness with protection and security, and littler undertakings with forlornness and uneasiness. Jordan shows the silly considering numerous ladies of the time. They want to be encircled by outsiders and enjoy the best of things so as to feel cozy or secure. These social affairs are one way ladies fill the vacancy in their spirits. They drink their torment away, move off their feelings of dread, and tattle perpetually. These females are blinded by the spotlight given to them at these undertakings. Riches is confused with security as consideration is for adoration. Similarly, Daisy loses the voice of reason in her own life when she weds Tom for his riches regardless of being frantically enamored with Gatsby. The day preceding her wedding, Daisy is portrayed to be â€Å"lying on her bed as beautiful as the June night in her bloomed dress-and as alcoholic as a monkey† (76). Fitzgerald’s use ofâ paradox embodies the battle Daisy is confronting. Despite the fact that it is her big day, and she looks excellent, the discontent she feels is self-evident. Fitzgerald deliberately utilizes Catch 22 to depict the instability and gloom the ladies of West Egg feel for the duration of their lives. Besides, Fitzgerald exhibits the agony of ladies through his utilization of symbolism. At the main party Nick joins in, he observes a lady, who albeit dressed perfectly, and encompassed by charm, is obviously in wretchedness. She â€Å"had alcoholic an amount of champagne, and over the span of her tune, she had chosen, awkwardly, that everything was extremely, sad† (pg.51) This distinctive depiction of the lady speaks to the agony felt by numerous ladies during this timeframe, and wealth’s powerlessness mend it. Similarly, Fitzgerald utilizes symbolism to reveal insight into Daisy’s despondency after her union with Tom. Gatsby depicts Daisy’s life as a solitary lady as blameless and unadulterated. Fitzgerald utilizes colorâ imagery to epitomize this. She possessed a white vehicle, lived in a home depicted as a â€Å"high white palace† and lived what Gatsby thought was a â€Å"white girlhood†. The utilization of shading symbolism underscores the immaculateness before she was ruined by the possibility that one could wed for cash and still be glad. This utilization of shading symbolism indeed recognizes the silly choices ladies made during this timeframe, and the despairity that reverse discharges on them in view of these decisions. In the Great Gatsby, creator F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts ladies as silly in their reasoning, practices, and activities. This pointlessness is upheld by the long lasting weakness and dejection the ladies feel because of their activities.

Jk Cement Research Report Free Essays

Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore PGP Program Term 1, 2012 Final Report for JK Cements †Group 2 Section 1 Business Description: JK Cements is one of the biggest concrete producers in Northern India and the eighth biggest by and large India with net concrete deals of 2545 crores in 2011-12. Itsmain productsinclude dark and white concrete. It created 53. We will compose a custom article test on Jk Cement Research Report or on the other hand any comparable theme just for you Request Now 2 lakh huge amounts of dim concrete and 3. 77 lakh huge amounts of white concrete in the budgetary year 201112. Dim concrete created comprises of Ordinary Portland Cement (â€Å"OPC†) and Portland Pozzolana Cement (â€Å"PPC†). Their concrete items are showcased under the brand names J. K. Concrete and Sarvashaktiman for OPC items, J. K. Super for PPC items and J. K. White and Camel for white concrete items. JK Wall Putty and JK Water evidence are its white concrete based worth included items. Lodging (74%), foundation (17%), business institutional part (13%) and mechanical division (6%) are the significant clients of the concrete business [Refer Figure 1]. Lodging comprises a significant piece of the interest and thus provincial and urban lodging ventures are a distinct advantage generator. Key stock insights and income/profit information is remembered for the reference section [Refer Tables 1 2] Area 2 Market Profile, Competition, Strategy, Risks A. Market Profile: The interest for concrete mostly relies upon the degree of advancement and the pace of development of the economy. The significant interest drivers for the concrete part in India are lodging, framework and business development. These are key segments of the country’s GDP and henceforth, the normal development of the concrete business is roughly 1. multiple times the GDP development. Huge impulse to both country and urban lodging according to capita pay increments in a significant driver of the business. With the expansion in national framework venture, the industry is ready to extend further regardless of the overall monetary downturn. The lodging part contributes around 64% of the absolute concrete interest. It likewise represents 80% of the all out land advancements in the nation. Lodging request is relied upon to be strong upheld by different estimates received in the spending like proceeded with premium aid up to 15 lacs, exception from administration charge for minimal effort lodging development, and increment in venture connected reasoning of capital use on ease lodging from 100% to 150%. There has been a significant push by the legislature in framework advancement with the planned speculation being US$ 1 trillion in the twelfth multi year plan period (2012-17), against a venture of US$ 514 billion in the eleventh multi year plan period. Monstrous interest in foundation would give lift to Indian Cement industry. India is the second biggest maker and buyer of concrete on the planet, representing 7-8% of the all out worldwide creation with an introduced limit of more than 300 Mtpa toward the finish of 2011-12. India’s concrete industry performed better in 1 011-12, on back of hearty interest restoration in the second 50% of the money related year. The business developed by 6. 4 percent in 2011-12 as against under 5 percent in 2010-11. Complete concrete deals were 223. 02 MT contrasted and 209. 5 MT in FY11. For 2012-13, CRISIL Research gauges concrete interest to build 7-8 percent yoy (Crisil). In the close to term, request could be somewhat frail in view of the lower GDP development. Given that a huge piece of the interest originates from the lodging segment, high loan costs are not helpful for the urban land request. Be that as it may, in the long haul, the industry is relied upon to develop at a normal of 1. times the GDP development rate. Development paces of 8-9% can be focused for the multi year time span given the expansion in interest in framework extends and expanding country request. In spite of the fact that India is one of the biggest concrete markets on the planet, per capita utilization of concrete is still low when contrasted with the world normal just as that of other enormous nations, for example, China and US. The Indian concrete industry, consequently, has a tremendous development potential. Given the serious lack of lodging, this fragment has been a significant development driver for the concrete business. The interest for private land has just expanded, fuelled by expanding urbanization, rising pay levels, diminishing family unit sizes and simple accessibility of home credits. Heft of the all out lack of 74 million units toward the finish of the eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012), is required to be produced by provincial and underneath neediness line family units. The administration has propelled different activities, for example, NREGS and Indira AwasYojana to improve provincial salary, which may build interest for rustic lodging in the nation. Expanded framework ventures by the administration as referenced before is additionally prone to be a significant development territory. Lodging (74%), framework (17%), business institutional part (13%) and mechanical division (6%) are the significant clients of the concrete business. Lodging establishes a significant lump of the interest and consequently rustic and urban lodging ventures are a distinct advantage generator. Generally industry edges and change in deals patterns are referenced in tables toward the end. [Refer to Table 3 4]. If you don't mind allude to Table 5 for an image of the business development rate dependent on the Free Cash Flow model where the normal P/B was processed with the best 5 firms of the business and various rates for cost of capital were accepted. This shows the concrete business is ready for development for whatever cost of capital that may win. B. Rivalry: Inter firm rivalry and contention in the business is high. Huge number of players, discontinuous overcapacity, peripheral item separation, high stockpiling cost and high leave obstruction in type of huge capital speculation has prompted high rivalry in the business. Danger of new participants is restricted since it includes high capital venture, wide circulation organize and oversupplied markets dissuade new contestants. Be that as it may, given the high potential for development, many remote transnational organizations have made acquisitions and expanded their stake in local organizations to increase full control. There are nothing but bad substitutes for concrete famous in India. Notwithstanding, there are eco amicable substitutes for concrete which incorporate fly debris and slag. Fly debris is the result when coal is singed to make electric force and slag is made when creating iron in impact heaters. Coal fly debris, impact heater slag and other mineral admixtures can fill in for concrete, aving vitality and lessening cost. Bitumen in streets and designing plastics in building are some component of rivalry. At present, the top players †UltraTech, ACC, Ambuja Cements, Jaiprakash Associates, India Cements and Shree Cement, altogether control the greater part of the concrete market in the nation. By and large, there are 40 players in the business the nation over. (Source: ibef. organization) Th e nearest contenders for JK Cement are Shree Cements, Madras Cements, Birla Corporation and Binani Cement. The business has a 4-firm focus proportion of 58. 18%. 2 C. Technique In spite of difficulties, JK Cement has expanded incomes and benefits inferable from higher acknowledgment and volumes in both dim concrete and white concrete business. The organization is in en route to extending its ability in India to take into account the expansion in concrete interest. It has additionally enhanced its item portfolio by not just constraining itself to assortments of dim concrete yet in addition stretching out to white concrete and other worth included items. Plus, the Company is additionally setting up a dim cum white concrete plant at Fujairah in UAE to take into account GCC and African markets. The organization is putting forth attempts to decrease working costs which thus would build the ROE. A portion of the endeavors to diminish working expenses are: Gray Cement †¢ Implementation of CII Audit discoveries in staged way to lessen power utilization. †¢ Installation of VFDs in fans to spare force. †¢ Replacement of sponsor fans by high productivity fans to spare force. †¢ Installation of pfisterpump for coal terminating in calciner. †¢ Replacement of Raw plant - 1 separator by high productivity separator. †¢ Dynamic separator in Coal Mill. White Cement †¢ Covered clinker storeroom for dim and white clinker. †¢ Grinding plant for dolomite for clay item. †¢ Installation of new SG Fan Driver. The organization is likewise putting forth attempts to expand its ability. The organization is returning to the size of proposed extension plan at Mangrol, Rajasthan from prior imagined 3. 5 Million Tons to around 2. 5 Million Tons, by virtue of deferral in portion of new mining region to the Company. Reasonability concentrate for 2. 5 Million Tons limit plant is under planning and a ultimate conclusion will be taken over the span of the year. D. Dangers Three most significant dangers: 1. Supported financial log jam The development of concrete industry is straightforwardly relative to GDP development rate. Nonappearance of dynamic at Government level is influencing monetary development and may have unfavorable impact for the concrete business. On the off chance that measures are not received against swelling, high financing costs, devaluing rupee, at that point it would affect the general monetary development of the nation bringing about hauling the part down. 2. Inaccessibility of coal linkages Coal costs comprise 14-23% of cost of creation of concrete. The climb in coal costs is relied upon to hit the edges. Because of decreased gracefully of coal linkers from Coal India throughout the years; the organization needs to import coal at greater expenses from South Africa and Indonesia. The devaluation of the rupee will likewise add to the expanded expense of crude materials. 3. Antagonistic interest gracefully bungle in the event that, the extra limits stretch out beyond plan, at that point a condition of oversupply would rise, subsequently costs may head downwards and the segment may endure a sev

How to Improve Your Body Language to Become a Successful Entrepreneur

How to Improve Your Body Language to Become a Successful Entrepreneur Have you ever thought about why they say that ‘actions speak louder than words’? Have you ever felt that people tend to listen attentively to some individuals because of the persona they exude while others barely ever pay attention to what is being said?That is the magic of having the right body language and the most influential people in the world practice extensively to perfect their body language in order to look and sound more persuasive in everything they do and say. © Shutterstock.com | pathdocIn this article, we start with 1) an introduction to body language, and then continue exploring 2) types of body language, 3) truths about body language, and 4) the right body language to become a successful entrepreneur.INTRODUCTION TO BODY LANGUAGENow the question arises, what exactly is body language? Body language is a nonverbal form of communication in which feelings and attitudes of an individual are communicated by conscious and unconscious postures and movements. When it comes to body language, it works both ways. You get to know what the other person is feeling while the other person gets a chance to analyze your attitude and feelings during a particular situation.A more technical term used for body language is Kinesics taken from the Greek word ‘Kinesis’, meaning motion. Now we often think that body language is about how we move and hold our bodies, but that is far from true. Body language potentially, but not always, includes:The position o f the body;Proxemics or the closeness to and the space between two individuals;Facial expressions;Focus and movements of the eyes;How people touch themselves and others around them;Less noticeable physical effects like heartbeat, breathing, perspiration, etc.;How a person connects with other tangible items like spectacles, glasses, cigarettes, etc.However, body language does not encompass the pitch, intonation, variation, pauses, or volume of an individual’s voice. This is because the voice is considered a verbal form of communication and has nothing to do with kinesics.TYPES OF BODY LANGUAGEHere are various types of body language that indicate different attitudes and feelings of an individual when studied closely. There is an interesting infographic you might find interesting.FaceAnalyzing facial expressions is one of the most important aspects of reading body language. When we are happy or content, we smile; when we are sad, we frown, and it is just as simple as that. But a lot more goes into picking up non-verbal cues that may show whether a person is happy, sad, angry, surprised, disgusted, scared, confused, excited or smitten.Facial expressions are also considered to be one of the most universal forms of body language as suggested by researcher Paul Eckman. According to him, facial expressions that show happiness, anger, sadness, confusion and surprise remain consistent regardless of what culture or ethnicity one belongs to.Our eyes are often known as the windows to the soul because they are capable of revealing a great deal of unsaid or hidden feelings or expressions; giving you an idea as to how the person is feeling exactly at that moment in time. For instance, if someone gazes into your eyes directly when having a conversation, it is safe to say that the individual is keen on hearing what you have to say.However, prolonged eye contact can become disturbing as it may make the other person feel uncomfortable or uneasy. On the other hand, if a person t ends to look away from you frequently during a conversation, it is usually because they are not paying attention to what is being said by you or trying to hide their true feelings.Now something as trivial as blinking can tell whether a person is trying to keep a poker face or feeling uncomfortable. One often tends to blink incessantly when they are feeling shy, uncomfortable or uneasy about something, but at the same time, if someone blinks quite infrequently, it often means that they are trying to hide something.Perhaps one of the most subtle clues that the eyes provide is through the pupils. There are times when the pupils may dilate further. This can indicate a wide range of emotions, but it is usually linked with love, flirtation, and attraction.Mouth movements and expressions are also essential when it comes to reading body language. For instance, chewing on the lower lip usually indicates that a person is insecure, worried or scared. When evaluating mouth expressions, pay atte ntion to these cues.Distaste, distrust, and disapproval is usually conveyed by pursed lips.When a person is worried, anxious or stressed, he or she is more likely to bite his or her lips incessantly.The position of the mouth can also indicate one’s true feelings. The mouth will be curved upwards when one is happy and optimistic and downwards if one is sad or has a difference in opinion.BodyWe all try to mask our emotions sometimes but your body, especially your arms and legs, can give away exactly how you are feeling. Keeping your arms crossed when interacting with someone is a sign of defensiveness, while keeping the arms close to the body indicates the need to minimize oneself or divert attention.There are many subtle signals that indicate your mood and feelings, but here are some signs that are hard to ignore and easy to read.Crossed arms usually show that the person is self-protective, defensive or shut off.Placing your hands on the hips while standing has a much more positive connotation. It shows that you are in control, but at the same time it can also be misinterpreted as a sign of possible aggressiveness.People usually clasp their hands behind their back or rapidly tap their fingers or keep fidgeting when they are feeling bored, angry or anxious.Crossed legs when sitting is a universal hint that a person is in need or privacy or feeling emotionally shut off.The posture of the body can also convey a wealth of information about a person’s personality or how they are feeling. You can read whether a person is timid, submissive, open or confident just by studying the posture of their body. When you sit up straight, it means that you are aware of what is going on and paying attention but you may come off as bored and indifferent if you are sitting with your shoulders slumped forward.The main signals you must be on the lookout for when evaluating the posture of a person are:Keeping the trunk of the body opened means you have an open posture. People with an open posture are usually friendly, willing and open minded.Hunching forward and keeping your arms and legs crossed shows a closed posture. Having a closed posture is usually a sign of anxiety, unfriendliness, and hostility.Hands GesturesHand gestures can be regarded as the most obvious and direct body language signals since most of them are made deliberately. Some gestures are universal while others have purely cultural roots. For instance, thumbs up or a peace sign may possess a wildly different connotation in countries other than the US.Here are some common hand gestures that are known to indicate distinct body language signals as to how one is feeling.A clenched fist is usually a sign of solidarity or anger.Approval and disapproval are usually shown by thumbs up and thumbs down signs.Touching the thumb with the index finger is usually taken as a sign that indicates everything is a-okay.The V sign usually indicates peace or victory but in the UK and Australia, this gesture is considered quite offensive.ProxemicsProxemics is the term used for describing the distance between two people during an interaction. Proxemics is further divided into four different levels of social distance by Hall.The intimate distance ranges from 6 â€" 18 inches and often signifies a close bond between the individuals. Intimate distance occurs during close contact like touching, whispering and hugging.Ranging from 1.5 â€" 4 ft, personal distance is a social level distance that takes place among close friends or family members. The closer one stands while interacting comfortably with another person, the more intimate the relationship.Social distance occurs with acquaintances and individuals whom you know well enough to strike up a casual conversation. Social distance ranges from 4 â€" 12 ft and often indicates that you know the other person fairly well.Between 12 â€" 25 feet, public distance usually occurs at a larger level when addressing a class of students or giving a presentat ion at work or making a speech at a function. It is also interesting to note that public distance varies greatly from one culture to another. In Latin countries, people feel more comfortable standing close to one another while people from North America tend to maintain a significant distance.TRUTHS ABOUT BODY LANGUAGEThere are many misconceptions related to body language that have sprung up ever since detective TV shows started showing how body language can be used to weed out the culprits. But we have cleared the decks here and separated the hard facts from fiction.1) Experts Are Usually Wrong About Key Body Language IndicatorsWe often hear experts say that specific hand gestures usually have a hidden meaning, but that is far from true. In reality, hand gestures are considered ambiguous and can signify a lot of different things. For instance, you may cross your arms because you are feeling defensive or because you are feeling cold.Also, you may be tired, and you are crossing your a rms to feel more comfortable. It is possible to feel so many things and all at once, which is why reading hand gestures is not useful most of the time.2) It’s Hard to Understand Body Language by Reading the FaceReading the face does not prove to be effective most of the time because by the time we become adults, we learn to hide our true feelings as they show up on our face to get along at work, school, etc. We all pretend to smile, laugh or feign interest from time to time to get away with things, which is why it becomes hard for experts to tell if an individual is pretending to smile or is genuinely happy.3) Facial Expressions Count a Lot, at TimesMicro expressions are often considered sudden leakages of true feelings that can help one understand how the person is truly feeling. Although it is possible to hide micro expressions through proper training, most of us do not do a good job at masking these little giveaways. However, these micro expressions are always fleeting; meaning they show up like lighting in the dark for a second and fade away soon before we begin to analyze them.4) Body Language Signals Intent, Not Specific MeaningWe often make the mistake of thinking that studying body language can give you solid answers about the individual’s attitudes and feelings, but that is not particularly true. Experts believe that body language can tell a lot accurately as far as the emotional intent is concerned, but the same is not the case if you are looking for specific meanings.This is because brain research shows that the first true signs of what we are often feeling manifest in our bodies before humans can actually process what they are feeling. For instance, you may clench your fists in anger nanoseconds before you actually realize that you are feeling angry over something.5) You Can Read the Body Language of Your Loved Ones Better Than an ExpertFor most of us who are interested in mastering the art of reading body language, the good news is that it is much easier to read the body language of your loved ones better than any other expert out there. Think about it; you can detect exactly when your spouse is mad at you, or your child is bored. This is because you have already spent hours trying to understand your loved one and their feelings toward you.6) Don’t Think about Key Indicators When Trying to Read Body Language AccuratelyHumans are hardwired to read and evaluate the emotions and intents of other people because we all have mirror neurons in our brains that activate subconsciously to register an emotion in another person. We can easily mimic that emotion in order to understand it better and share it. This is one of the reasons why fear is contagious; people react almost instantly to fear and take necessary steps quickly.Also, if you want to assess the true feelings of a person accurately, it is better not to focus entirely on the key body language indicators and give your unconscious mind a chance to pick up all the right i ndicators that will later help you evaluate emotional intent accurately.7) Humans Are Hardwired to Read and Understand Body LanguageDid you know that you have threes brains, two of which are masters at reading and decoding body language? Yes, your third mind is your gut. Hence, the gut feeling you get when something is not right. While the conscious mind is too occupied with other chores, your unconscious mind does all the heavy work â€" reading and evaluating the body language of another person.This is one of the reasons why you can sense the fear of something before it has happened or feel butterflies in your stomach when you think of someone special.THE RIGHT BODY LANGUAGE TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURBelieve it or not, having the right body language as an entrepreneur can help you soar to greater heights. Here are some of the main body language indicators you must pay attention to.1) Body Language for NetworkingAs entrepreneurs, we all know that networking is all about mak ing a strong first impression for forging strong connections and getting more contracts. But how do you make a ‘strong’ first impression? Here’s how:To show that you are interested in the conversation, point your feet towards them while engaging in a conversation.Do not gaze overhead. People think that the other person cannot notice this, but the minute you break eye contact, it shows. This is never a good strategy when networking.The master of winning friends and influencing people, Dale Carnegie, believes that a triple nod can do wonders when it comes to interacting with people because it exudes self-confidence and shows that you are actually interested in the conversation.2) Body Language for Giving the Perfect Sales PitchA lot of work goes into selling your business idea to new investors and having the right body language can help you do just that.Even though giving the perfect sales pitch is more about verbal communication, entrepreneurs usually forget to pay attention to non-verbal cues.For instance, if you are discussing the growth of your business plan in the near future, move your hands in the hockey stick direction to keep the investor engaged and interested in what you’re going to say.3) Body Language for HiringFinding the right employee is critical to helping your business grow and as the driving force of the business, it is important to ensure that you have found the right person. In order to get to know someone better, here is what you need to know:Angled seating can do wonders because how you sit actually affects one’s behavior more than you realize. When your body is directly aligned with the other person sitting opposite to you, you automatically become more engaged in the conversation.Sitting with the prospective employee in an open space opposite a glass table will also make a huge difference because you will be able to see their hand gestures when you ask tough questions.4) Body Language for NegotiatingNegotiation is an important aspect of the hiring process, and your nonverbal behavior can play a pivotal role in this regard. In order to feel more in control and powerful, do the following:Steeping is a great way of showing that you are confident and in control. Bring your hands up to your chest and press your fingertips together to exude confidence.Sitting high and keeping your posture straight can also make a great deal of difference by creating a strong persona.If you are standing, stand tall and straight to create the perception that you are in control.5) Body Language for ManagingAn entrepreneur’s job is tougher than you think because managing and creating teams is quite a daunting task that requires time, patience and expertise. However, a manager must always show he is approachable and there to help in order to create a positive attitude among employees.Here are some body language tips you may want to consider:Never cross your arms when interacting with your employees.Smile often when greeting or spe aking with your subordinates to create a friendly atmosphere.Loosen your shoulders and arms to look more fluid.Lean in when speaking with someone.Uncross your legs to look more approachable and less shut off.Even though these are some ways you can improve your body language, keep in mind that there is no one size fits all when it comes to body language. The reason is that what may make you seem more confident may make another person look arrogant and cocky, which is negative. Therefore, always try to look more approachable and the best thing you can do is smile more often.Now that you know everything about reading and evaluating body language, be inspired by the tips given above to become a successful entrepreneur and soar to new heights of greatness.

Biography of Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Tanzanian Leader

Julius Kambarage Nyerere  (March 1922 - October 14, 1999) was one of Africas leading independence heroes and leading light behind the creation of the Organization of African Unity. He was the architect of ujamaa,  an African socialist philosophy which revolutionized Tanzanias agricultural system. He was the prime minister of an independent Tanganyika and the first president of Tanzania. Fast Facts: Julius Kambarage Nyerere Known For: First president of Tanzania, architect of  ujamaa,  an African socialist philosophy which revolutionized Tanzanias agricultural system and one of the leaders of the Organization of African UnityBorn: March 1922, Butiama, TanganyikaDied: October 14, 1999, London, UKSpouse: Maria Gabriel Majige (m. 1953-1999)Children: Andrew Burito, Anna Watiku, Anselm Magige, John Guido, Charles Makongoro, Godfrey Madaraka, Rosemary Huria, Pauleta NyabananeNotable Quote: If a door is shut, attempts should be made to open it; if it is ajar, it should be pushed until it is wide open. In neither case should the door be blown up at the expense of those inside. Early Life Kambarage (the spirit which gives rain) Nyerere was born to Chief Burito Nyerere of the Zanaki (a small ethnic group in northern Tanganyika) and his fifth (out of 22) wife Mgaya Wanyangombe. Nyerere attended a local primary mission school, transferring in 1937 to Tabora Secondary School, a Roman Catholic mission and one of the few secondary schools open to Africans at that time. He was baptized a Catholic on December 23, 1943, and took the baptismal name Julius. Nationalistic Awareness Between 1943 and 1945 Nyerere attended Makerere University, in Ugandas capital Kampala, obtaining a teaching certificate. It was around this time that he took his first steps towards a political career. In 1945 he formed Tanganyikas first student group, an offshoot of the African Association, AA, (a pan-African group first formed by Tanganyikas educated elite in Dar es Salaam, in 1929). Nyerere and his colleagues began the process of converting the AA towards a nationalistic political group. Once he had gained his teaching certificate, Nyerere returned to Tanganyika to take up a teaching post at Saint Marys, a Catholic mission school in Tabora. He opened a local branch of the AA and was instrumental in converting the AA from its pan-African idealism to the pursuit of Tanganyikan independence. To this end, the AA restyled itself in 1948 as the Tanganyika African Association, TAA. Gaining a Wider Perspective In 1949 Nyerere left Tanganyika to study for an MA in economics and history at the University of Edinburgh. He was the first African from Tanganyika to study at a British university and, in 1952, was the first Tanganyikan to gain a degree. At Edinburgh, Nyerere became involved with the Fabian Colonial Bureau (a non-Marxist, anti-colonial socialist movement based in London). He watched intently Ghanas path to self-government  and was aware of the debates in Britain on the development of a Central African Federation (to be formed from a union of North and South Rhodesia and Nyasaland). Three years of study in the UK gave Nyerere an opportunity to vastly widen his perspective of pan-African issues. Graduating in 1952, he returned to teach at a Catholic school near Dar es Salaam. On January 24, 1953, he married primary school teacher Maria Gabriel Majige. Developing the Independence Struggle in Tanganyika This was a period of upheaval in west and south Africa. In neighboring Kenya the Mau Mau uprising was fighting against white settler rule, and a  nationalistic reaction was rising against the creation of the Central African Federation. But political awareness in Tanganyika was nowhere near as advanced as with its neighbors. Nyerere, who had become president of the TAA in April 1953, realized that a focus for African nationalism amongst the population was needed. To that end, in July 1954, Nyerere converted the TAA into Tanganyikas first political party, the Tanganyikan African National Union, or TANU. Nyerere was careful to promote nationalistic ideals without encouraging the kind of violence that was erupting in Kenya under the Mau Mau uprising. TANU manifesto was for independence on the basis of non-violent, multi-ethnic politics, and the promotion of social and political harmony. Nyerere was appointed to Tanganyikas Legislative Council (the Legco) in 1954. He gave up teaching the following year to pursue his career in politics. International Statesman Nyerere testified on behalf of TANU to the UN Trusteeship Council (committee on trusts and non-self-governing territories), in both 1955 and 1956. He presented the case for setting a timetable for Tanganyikan independence (this being one of the specified aims set down for a UN trust territory). The publicity he gained back in Tanganyika established him as the countrys leading nationalist. In 1957 he resigned from the Tanganyikan Legislative Council in protest over the slow progress independence. TANU contested the 1958 elections, winning 28 of 30 elected positions in the Legco. This was countered, however, by 34 posts which were appointed by the British authorities — there was no way for TANU to gain a majority. But TANU was making headway, and Nyerere told his people that Independence will follow as surely as the tickbirds follow the rhino. Finally with the election in August 1960, after changes to the Legislative Assembly were passed, TANU gained the majority it sought, 70 out of 71 seats. Nyerere became chief minister on September 2, 1960, and Tanganyika gained limited self-government. Independence In May 1961 Nyerere became prime minister, and on December 9, Tanganyika gained its independence. On January 22, 1962, Nyerere resigned from the premiership to concentrate on drawing up a republican constitution and to prepare TANU for government rather than liberation. On December 9, 1962, Nyerere was elected president of the new Republic of Tanganyika. Nyereres Approach to Government #1 Nyerere approached his presidency with a particularly African stance. First, he attempted to integrate into African politics the traditional style of African decision making (what is known as indaba in Southern Africa). A consensus is gained through a series of meetings in which everyone has an opportunity to say their piece. To help build national unity he adopted Kiswahili as the national language, making it the only medium of instruction and education. Tanganyika became one of the few African countries with an indigenous official national language. Nyerere also expressed a fear that multiple parties, as seen in Europe and the US, would lead to ethnic conflict in Tanganyika. Political Tensions In 1963 tensions on the neighboring island of Zanzibar started to impact on Tanganyika. Zanzibar had been a British protectorate, but on 10 December 1963, independence was gained as a Sultanate  (under Jamshid ibn Abd Allah) within the Commonwealth of Nations. A  coup on  January 12, 1964, overthrew the sultanate and established a new republic. Africans and Arabs were in conflict, and the aggression spread to the mainland — the Tanganyikan army mutinied. Nyerere went into hiding and was forced to ask Britain for military assistance. He set about strengthening his political control of both TANU and the country. In 1963 he established a  one-party state  which lasted until July 1, 1992, outlawed strikes, and created a centralized administration. A one-party state would allow collaboration and unity without any suppression of opposing views he stated. TANU was now the only legal political party in Tanganyika. Once order was restored Nyerere announced the merger of Zanzibar with Tanganyika as a new nation; the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar came into being on April 26, 1964, with Nyerere as president. The country was renamed the Republic of Tanzania on October 29, 1964. Nyereres Approach to Government #2 Nyerere was reelected president of Tanzania in 1965 (and would be returned for another three successive  five-year  terms before resigning as president in 1985. His next step was to promote his system of African socialism, and on February 5, 1967, he presented the Arusha Declaration which set out his political and economic agenda. The Arusha Declaration was incorporated  into  TANUs constitution later that year. The central core of the Arusha Declaration was  ujamma, Nyereres take on an egalitarian socialist society based on cooperative agriculture. The policy was influential throughout the continent, but it ultimately proved to be flawed.  Ujamaa  is a Swahili word which means community or  family-hood. Nyereres  ujamaa  was a program of independent self-help which supposedly would keep Tanzania from becoming  dependant  on foreign aid. It emphasized economic cooperation, racial/tribal, and moralistic self-sacrifice. By the early  1970s, a program of villagization was slowly organizing rural life into village collectives. Initially voluntary, the process met with increasing resistance, and in 1975 Nyerere introduced forced villagization. Almost 80 percent of the population ended up organized into 7,700 villages. Ujamaa  emphasized the countrys need to be self-sufficient economically rather than being dependent on  foreign aid  and  foreign investment. Nyerere also set up mass literacy  campaigns  and provided free and universal education. In 1971, he introduced state ownership for banks, nationalized plantations and property. In January 1977 he merged TANU and Zanzibars Afro-Shirazi Party into a new national party — the  Chama Cha Mapinduzi  (CCM, Revolutionary State Party). Despite a great deal of planning and organization, agricultural production declined over the 70s, and by the 1980s, with falling world commodity prices (especially for coffee and sisal), its meager export base disappeared and Tanzania became the largest per-capita recipient of foreign aid in Africa. Nyerere on the International Stage Nyerere was a leading force behind the modern Pan-African movement, a leading figure in African politics in the 1970s, and was one of the founders of the Organization of African Unity, OAU, (now the  African Union). He was committed to supporting liberation movements in Southern Africa and was a forceful critic of the apartheid regime of South Africa, chairing a group of five frontline presidents who advocated the overthrow of white supremacists in South Africa, South-West Africa, and Zimbabwe. Tanzania became a favored venue for liberation army training camps and political offices. Sanctuary was given to members of South Africas  African National Congress, as well as similar groups from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, and Uganda. As a strong supporter of the  Commonwealth of Nations, Nyerere helped engineer South Africas exclusion on the basis of its  apartheid  policies. When President  Idi Amin  of Uganda announced the deportation of all Asians, Nyerere denounced his administration. When Ugandan troops occupied a small border area of Tanzania in 1978 Nyerere pledged to bring the downfall of Amin. In 1979 20,000 troops from the Tanzanian army invaded Uganda to aid Ugandan rebels under the leadership of Yoweri Museveni. Amin fled into exile, and Milton Obote, a good friend of Nyerere, and the president Idi Amin had deposed back in 1971, was placed back in power. The economic cost to Tanzania of the incursion into Uganda was devastating, and Tanzania was unable to recover. Death Julius Kambarage Nyerere died on October 14, 1999, in London, UK, of  leukemia. Despite his failed policies, Nyerere remains a  deeply  respected figure both in Tanzania and Africa as a whole. He is referred to by his honorific title  mwalimu  (a Swahili word meaning teacher). Legacy and End of an Influential Presidency In 1985 Nyerere stepped down from the presidency in favor of Ali Hassan Mwinyi. But he refused to give up power completely, remaining leader of the CCM. When Mwinyi started to dismantle  ujamaa  and to privatize the economy, Nyerere ran interference. He spoke out against what he saw as too much reliance on international trade and the use of  gross  domestic product as the main measure of Tanzanias success. At the time of his departure, Tanzania was one of the worlds poorest countries. Agriculture has reduced to subsistence levels, transportation networks were fractured, and industry was crippled. At least  one-third  of the national budget was provided by foreign aid. On the positive side, Tanzania had Africas highest literacy rate (90 percent), had halved infant mortality, and was politically stable. In 1990 Nyerere gave up leadership of the CCM, finally admitting that some of his policies hadnt been successful. Tanzania held multiparty elections for the first time in 1995.

Conflict In Animal Farm - 883 Words

The re-shaping of society is ultimately the catalyst for conflict. Composers explore the various aspects of conflict so that that the responder gains a wider understanding of the overall effects on humanity. George Orwell’s allegorical novella Animal Farm portrays how power has the potential to provoke social conflict. On the contrary, Edward Zwick’s film Glory reveals how ones relationships can be strengthened through conflict. When individuals in power are corrupted by the greed associated with their position, inequalities inevitably arise within society. The abuse of power by individuals or political groups causes fractured relationships amongst civilians. In George Orwell’s novella Animal Farm, the protagonist Napoleon incites†¦show more content†¦The alteration of societal ideologies creates conflict. As a result of the corruptive nature of power, excessive self-gain and scandalous actions are covered up to ensure that leaders remain in possession of power. George Orwell explores aspects of conflict by revealing that people in power will stop at no limits to remain in control. The re-shaping of society is ultimately the catalyst for conflict. Through conflict, greater connections can be formed and strengthened, allowing an individual to reconcile with inner turmoil. Edward Zwick’s historical film Glory explores the hardships and triumphs that the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The Regiment consisted of black freemen and escaped slaves lead by white commanders, these men were the first coloured men allowed to fight in the American Civil War. The protagonist, Tripp was a runaway slave who could not forgive anyone for the torment he faced as a slave. This anger that he built up over the course of years was unleashed on members of the Regiment, especially Thomas. The confrontation scene between Tripp and Rawlins, an elderly soldier, begins with a close up of the two men staring at each other. Tripp begins the verbal argument by stating, â€Å"Nigger, you aint nothing but the white man’s dog†. Rawlins then replies with â€Å"Let me tell you something, boy†¦ If there’s any n iggersShow MoreRelatedExamples Of Conflict In Animal Farm1319 Words   |  6 PagesComposers utilise techniques and compelling concepts to teach individuals powerful messages about conflict. The novella Animal Farm by George Orwell allegorically refers to the conflict of the Russian Revolution and demonstrates that the desire for power corrupts the human condition, leading to the deterioration of society. It also exhibits that the abuse of language is instrumental in manipulating the ignorant to gain power. Edward Zwick’s movie Glory provides an insight into the story behind aRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Animal Farm By George Orwell1310 Words   |  6 PagesAnalysis of Animal Farm Although they claimed the farm to be a utopia, the pigs secretly were deceiving their fellow animals and turning the farm into a dystopia. In George Orwell s Animal Farm all of the animals are mistreated by Farmer Jones, but they wish to be treated as equals and live in a utopia so they rebel and take over the farm. The animals first write commandments to avoid chaos, but the leader pigs selfishly modify the commandments in their favor. In the end, the farm is worse offRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Animal Farm By George Orwell1460 Words   |  6 PagesLiterary Analysis of Animal Farm A quote from Wayne Dyer, a late American author and motivational speaker, says that â€Å"[f]reedom means you are unobstructed in living your life as you choose. Anything less is a form of slavery.† This promotes the idea that ultimate freedom to control one’s life is the only way to live. One way to achieve this freedom, if not given, is to stage a revolution against authority. In Animal Farm, a novel by George Orwell, parallels are drawn between his characters and theRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Animal Farm By George Orwell1405 Words   |  6 Pagesanalysis of Animal Farm The rebellion was to escape from people and their cruel ways, but can they escape the death-grip of their own kind? The animals of animal farms are mistreated and have no rights. Mr and Mrs. Jones were the owners of Manor Farm, the human oppressors, and authoritarians of the animals. The animals rebel against the Jones and take over the farm. They create a utopian society for themselves, but the utopia quickly turns into a dystopia when the pigs take control of the farm. In manyRead MoreAnimal Farm, By George Orwell1212 Words   |  5 PagesShe stood there over the dead animals thinking to herself what have we come to? We try to become free but we just enslave ourselves to a so called superior kind. Napoleon killed the animals in front of the whole farm and said that this was to be the punishment for the traitors. Snowball was known as a traitor now and anyone conspiring with him would be killed. Snowball and Napoleon both represent historical characters during the Russian revolutio n in 1917.Snowball who was one of the smartest pigsRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm1449 Words   |  6 Pagesconcept that the animals in George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm crave. The animals of Animal Farm want freedom from their â€Å"dictator† Farmer Jones and the rest of humanity. Their problem is that Farmer Jones and humanity are still in power. With the bravery of two pigs, Napoleon and Snowball, the animals overthrow their human oppressors and free themselves from humanity. With his new freedom Napoleon craves power and expels Snowball. He becomes the dictator of Animal Farm and makes the farm a place whereRead MoreThe Novel Animal Farm 1362 Words   |  6 PagesExplain the type of conflict explored in your novel (character vs. man/self/nature/society). Use details from the novel to support your response. From a broad perspective, numerous conflicts emerge throughout the course of the novel Animal Farm, whether it be Man vs. Man or Man vs. Society. In further elaboration upon this reality, Snowball and Napoleon, two noteworthy pigs, conspicuously disagree on numerous topics-of-interest. Evidence from the text that further bolsters this claim is shown whenRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of George Orwells Animal Farm923 Words   |  4 PagesAnimal Farm Character Analysis Essay â€Å"Old major†¦ was so highly regarded on the farm that everyone was quite ready to lose an hour’s sleep in order to hear what he had to say† (Orwell 1). The author, George Orwell, portrayed Old Major as the wisest of all the animals on the farm, and without being said, Major was a big part of Animal Farm. In fact, he influenced the lives of all the animals with just one speech. On the day of this speech, Major taught all the animals his wise ideas in a kind supportingRead MoreIs Animal Farm Related to the Soviet Union Essays870 Words   |  4 Pagesknow that â€Å"Animal Farm† has a correlation with the Soviet Union? For instance, Mr. Phil Kington of Foxwood and Mr. Federick represent the leaders of England and Germany. Napoleon and Snowball each represent Joseph Stalin and Leon Frotsky. Mr. Jones represents the Kest-czar in Russia. With that being said, it is quite evident that conflict has a major part to do with â€Å"The Animal Farm†, whethe r it’s the fighting with the owner Mr. Jones, the constant fighting with the pigs and other animals, or withinRead MoreEvents in Animal Farm by Geroge Ordwell Essay513 Words   |  3 PagesAnimal Farm 1. The general purpose of the seven commandme nts is not to govern Animal Farm justly, as it seems to the animals, but to be propaganda to make Animalism appealing. For instance, the first comma ndment, â€Å"Whatever goes on two legs is an enemy,† does not do anything for the animals themselves, but only demonizes man because he is the enemy of Animalism. By demonizing man, Animalism appeals to the animals’ resentment toward man. It also makes its alternative, being ruled by man

Total Quality Management in Higher Education Free Essays

TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION Ranjana, Lecturer Doaba College of Education ABSTRACT In this world of ever-growing competition, rapid changes of technology, privatization and internalization in education have led to the use of the concept of TQM in higher education. Student is nowadays considered as a customer and the system of education needs to be according to the needs of the customer (Student). In India, inspite of a large number of Universities, deemed universities, medical, engineering, arts and science colleges the quality of higher education leaves much to be desired. We will write a custom essay sample on Total Quality Management in Higher Education or any similar topic only for you Order Now Therein lays the need of applying TQM in higher education. The paper answers to the question as how to apply TQM in higher education. PAPER Excellence-Whether in a National Endeavour, a Company, an Athletic competition or a Personal Goal-Comes from the Never Ending Pursuit of Improvement. Introduction In this world of ever increasing competition, rapid changes of technology, declining quality, changing demographics, privatization and internalization in education have led to the use of the concept of TQM in education. The student nowadays is considered as customer and the system of education needs to be according to the requirement of the customer (student). India has 350- plus Universities and deemed universities and over 14,000 medical, engineering and arts and science colleges. Despite this the quality of higher education in India has left much to be desired. All this highlights the need for TQM in higher education. In this paper I intend to throw light on the application of TQM in higher education, simultaneously highlighting the benefits of applying TQM and the Accreditation agencies in India. For this, I surveyed the relevant literature on the topic. Conceptual background of TQM The three major figures in the TQM movement are: W. Edwards Deming, originator of fourteen points of TQM, Dr. J. M. Juran, author of the Juran Trilogy and Philip B. Cresby, who outlined the four Absolutes of Quality Management. Dr. W. Edwards Deming, an American by origin is known as the â€Å"Father of the concept of TQM†. He framed the concept of TQM in 1946 after World War II for production of goods and services in consumer sector. It was intended to satisfy the quest by customers for quality in products The Americans didn’t realize its importance but the Japanese embraced the concept. As a result, Japanese secondary markets were rebuilded and its Tertiary economy also nurtured. This led the American Industrialists in 1980’s to adopt TQM as a vital component in their operations. TQM: Meaning Total Quality Management or TQM is a management strategy aimed at embedding awareness of quality in all organizational processes. Everyone in organization strives and creates customer satisfaction continually at lower real costs. Quality assurance through statistical methods is a key component. TQM aims to do things right the first time, rather than need to fix problems after they emerge. Higher education: Meaning Higher education is the education beyond secondary school level. It includes the colleges and the Universities. TQM in Higher Education TQM has been recently introduced and experimented in higher education. Many Universities and Colleges enhance the quality of higher education by applying Total Quality Management as a tool. We can understand the meaning of TQM in higher education in light of a definition given by Tulsi (2001) TQM in higher education means improving the quality of courses, input, instructional process, resource management processes and structure as well as student support service output and linkages with world of work and other organizations. † As the definition embraces a vast area of educational activity, therefore the support and cooperation of Faculty and Staff members are needed for quality improvement. Participatory team work of all occupies a critical place in the practice of TQM. TQM is total in 3 senses:- 1) Customer focus 2) Involvement of staff members ) Continuous Quality Improvement( CQI) The student is the customer, who buys the study course, thus he has a right to get the relevant course material, fairness, congenial learning environment, access and expertise of the teacher and also access to course material (Sytsma, 1996). It involves the combined and continuous efforts of all those involved with system of education, directly or indirectly: may they be the College Board, superintendent, principal, students, faculty, administrative staff, Universities and Accrediting agencies in India. In India we have Accrediting Agencies like NAAC and ISO (The International Organization for Standardization Accreditation) which are enforcing standards of TQM in higher Education institutions. Benefits of Applying TQM Application of TQM in Higher education Institutions ensures improved communications, increased involvement, improved quality and efficiency in a general context, and increased potential for productivity. How to Apply TQM in Higher Education The essential elements of TQM in higher education may be summed up as:- †¢ Awareness and commitment for everyone To promote an al-round development of the student in terms of his linguistic, kinesthetic, visual and mathematical talents every participant in the teaching-learning process needs to put his/her best efforts to promote the highest possible quality at each step of the developmental process. For this everyone should be made aware of TQM. For this a staff meeting between the staff parents and college management should be held where the overview of TQM elements should be given and a clear commitment from the College Board, principal should be made for applying TQM in their system of education. A clear mission There should be a clear customer-focussed mission statement accompanied by necessary programmes to achieve it. The programmes should be set according to local, state and employer needs. In other words they should enable the students to face the problems of real life rather than mere memorization of subject matter. †¢ A Systems Planning Approach Instead of compartmentalizing kno wledge into separate subjects, it should be provided as an integrated whole so that a student can use his scientific or mathematical knowledge effectively by combining it with the communication skills of English. For this, there should be an Inter-department planning. †¢ Teaming Replacing Hierarchy The administrators, supervisors and department chairpersons should extend full support towards the Task improvement teams so as to make TQM a success. They should insist on clear missions and should coordinate between the task improvement teams †¢ Enablement and empowerment replacing fear Instead of generating fear among the members of improvement teams, they should be given opportunities to become experts by giving them authority to take informed decisions. This will eventually motivate them to work with dedication. Focus on Mastery-Learning In traditional classrooms, teachers often follow the sequence:- As a result many students fail to learn up to the highest possible level. The TQM alternative is In â€Å"Check† step, formative (Not-for-grade) testing is used to determine which learning some students missed. Then that portion is taught to students in some other styles. The chec king and revised teaching can be repeated if it is needed. The students who have mastered the material either move to enrichment learning or assist other students with their instructions. This ensures complete mastery over learning material for most of the students. Management by measurement The teacher should measure the data in Steps#3 and Step#4 to study the relationship of the remedial program and final learning result. This recorded data results in improved learning and cost effectiveness. †¢ Development of student TQM Skills The college staff should integrate TQM in the learning courses of students or provide it as a separate course. †¢ A Humanistic Focus on learning environment William Glasser has given some conditions for quality work based upon his translation of TQM principles as:- o Give a warm, supportive environment. Ask students to do useful, best possible work and to evaluate their own work. o Quality work should feel good and should be constructive. Conclus ion In the end we can say that Total quality Management in Higher education is the need of the hour. It would motivate teachers to contribute to educational standards and development of academic culture. It would inculcate a team spirit among teachers and administrators to promote harmonious development of students, so as to make them befitting citizens of tomorrow. REFERENCES Herzler, Elizabeth, TQM in Higher Education: What does the Literature say? , www. google. com P. S. Mohan Kumar, Total Quality Management in Higher Education and Relevance of Accreditation, www. google. com Hardik Vachhrajani, TQM in Education: Renewing the Research Agenda, University News P. K. Tulsi (2001), Total Quality in Higher Education, Reforms and Innovations in Higher Education, AIU, New Delhi. Deming’s Rules, Higher Education in India . ———————– PLAN TEACH TEST PLAN TEACH (Do) CHECK REVISED TEACHING (ACT) TEST How to cite Total Quality Management in Higher Education, Papers

Mrs. Miyagi free essay sample

My name is Paige. I live in an average town, I attend an average school, and in a lot of ways I am just an average senior just waiting to walk across that coveted stage and receive my well-deserved high school diploma. Looking back on these past seventeen years I can say that I have no regrets, although some of the choices I made have affected me in a negative way they have also molded me into the person I am today. The choices that have affected me the most are not what shoes I wore to school that day, but the people I chose to surround myself with. Some of these people were good while others were bad, but there is one individual who has affected me the most and I know that I will never forget Mrs. Haworth. The first day of my junior year I was not excited when I looked at my schedule and read â€Å"Biology II-Robin Haworth, Room 301†. I had never liked biology, I found it boring and the work tedious, I went to the counselor and protested but the chemistry class I wanted was full and I was stuck in biology land learning about niches and ecosystems. As I walked through the door I entered a dark room, with yellow lighting, and smelled disgustingly similar to tuna and popcorn. I took the last seat in the very back of the room and spotted my new science teacher. She had long brown hair, a long hallow face, and two devious eyes that glared at you from behind thin wire framed glasses. The bell rang and the rest of my classmates took their seats and Mrs. Haworth began to tell us how her class was going to be challenging and that if we weren’t up to the challenge she would gladly let us leave. The class was very challenging, and required a lot of outside attention. This was very difficult because I was juggling a new school, a new family, and a new job. My grades soon began to slip and just as I began to drown in a sea of zero’s Mrs. Haworth pulled me to safety and asked me about my life. I told her I was having a difficulty juggling my home life with school while working a part time job. She listened to me and I knew that she genuinely cared about my life and my well-being. After I told her about my basic problems she told me that she understood where I was coming from but I needed to learn how to manage my time better. Mrs. Haworth was no longer my lanky science teacher but my elder and somebody I could go to for guidance. My witty science teacher soon became my own Mr. Miyagi, pushing me to the extreme and letting me solve my own problems. If I made a C on a test she would hand it back and tell me to fix the ones I missed and tell her why I missed them. She neve r increased my grades but taught me how to study harder and that if I gave my all the first time I wouldn’t have any mistakes to fix. Mrs. Haworth never stopped pushing me, she knew I could do better and expected the best. And after many trials and even more errors my grade got better, but I was still having problems at home and I had no one to turn to or lean on. I had never shared my story with someone before but I knew that I could trust Mrs. Haworth and that she would not judge me on my past mistakes or how I was raised. I told her about my absent father and my mother who was never home. I told her about how I got caught up in the wrong crowd at my old school. I told her that I felt like the black sheep of my family and that I felt lost, lonely, and depressed. I told her how I wanted to do more with my life but everyone around me just wanted me to be average. I told her everything and she listened, and began to tell me her story. My teacher and myself have very similar stories, she also had two absent parents and that her only support group was her grandmother. She told me that her sister got caught up in the wrong crowd but she learned from her mistakes and decided that that wasn’t the life she wanted to live. She told me how in high school she never fit in because she cared more about learning and being the best she could be instead of partying on the weekend. She told me how she never listened to what others said and stayed on her own path and how she is happy and wouldn’t change anything. She told me that the mistakes I made in the past do not define me, but the lessons I learned from them did. I had never had an adult open up to me before and treat me as her equal. I still respected Mrs. Haworth but it was not because she was just my teacher but because I knew she had a hard life and worked her hardest so her kids wouldn’t go through the same thing. Mrs. Haworth never let anything stop her from doing what she wanted to do and in fact even exceeded her own expectations. Over the past year she has taught me something that no one else could and that is if I want to be extraordinary I am the only one who could make that happen. I might not be the smartest, funniest, or prettiest individual but I refuse to be average. I know that I am going to walk across that coveted stage and receive my diploma knowing that I did my best and begin my life with my own goals and dreams, and not what others expect from me. Mrs. Haworth taught me to make the most out of my life and she is a living example of how it is possible to come from nothing and be the best. I learned that does not matter what others expect of me but what I expect from myself and to never stop until I achieve it. Robin Haworth is not only my mentor and teacher, but also my friend and her words will be with me wherever I go.

King Lear Stupidity Essays - British Films, English-language Films

King Lear Stupidity There has always been a perpetual jester in a kingly court. Often he has provided entertainment via his superficial jokes and has won the good graces of his master by creating an atmosphere of ebullience and joviality. Rarely has there existed a fool of such vivacious and rudiment cruelty, practicality and unprecedented common sense as the fool of William Shakespeare's King Lear. This fool is blessed with a mellifluous voice of nonsensical reason, which he uses throughout the play as a function of perpetuating Lear's madness to the point of a complete metamorphosis and the conception of clarity of mind. The fool's original and supposed role is that of entertainer; although Lear's Fool is a more convoluted version, as he is an ironical paradox of love, cruelty and is filled with didactic perspicacity. One is able to see his practicality, as well as his affection for Lear when he urges the King to come out of the storm: "Good nuncle, in, and ask thy daughters blessing." (III, ii, 11) The Fool primarily recognizes the severity of the storm, and advises Lear to forget his pride, so that he may enjoy a comfortable surrounding. "Here's a night pities neither wise men nor fools" (III, ii, 12) is the subsequent line, which contains a subjective insult; whereby the distinction of who is the wise man and who is the fool is dubitable. A direct affront to the King, one that is immersed in truth and sagacity, occurs in Act I, Scene IV when the Fool proclaims to Lear: "I had rather be any kind o'thing than a fool, and yet I would not be thee, nuncle." (I, iv, 176) This comment is contrived due to Lear's folly in partitioning the kingdom, his relinquishment of his land, and the sanction for his daughters to take power. The Fool attempts to make Lear ascertain his folly, but it is too early for such cognizance. When he realizes this, the Fool tells Lear: "I am better than thou art now. I am a fool, thou art nothing." (I, iv, 184) By pointing out his superiority to the King, he cruelly underscores Lear's senility, while returning to the continuous theme of "nothing," constructed wholly by Lear. The gratuitous quality of his comments, as well as Lear's seeming disregard for them and his continuous insistence of treating the Fool as though he were his child accentuate the Fool's cruelty. The Fool acts as a way to quantify the king's sanity. Lear's madness (increases) overtly throughout the play, and the fool's presence emphasizes the moments where an alteration in Lear's state of mind in revealed. At the end of Act 1, Lear almost strikes the fool after he tells the king: "Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise." (I, v, 41) The Fool, however, is under the aegis of the gods as discussed earlier, so Lear would in fact be mad if he were to abuse him. Lear suddenly backs off, revealing a semblance of some sanity, and then professes: "Let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven!" (I, v, 43) In a similar declaration, Lear says: "O Fool, I shall go mad." (II, ii, 475) after he speaks of committing revenge upon his daughters. The Fool has been silent for some time, as it seems that Lear owns the necessary insight to perceive the future - a role which the Fool has previously made his own. Lear's fool is untouchable as the insightful, wise and holy fool who is under the protection of the gods or some prophetic powers, and is the "all licensed jester." Child-like in his character, loved, pampered and indulged he enjoys the King's good graces despite his continuous devastating remarks. He often tells Lear "I'll teach you" or "you were foolish and still are." This omnipresent exhibition of superiority of a jester over his king could be punished; instead it is embraced. The fool talks to the king as though Lear was his fool: Fool: Dost thou know the difference, my boy, between a bitter fool and a sweet one? Lear: No, Lad, teach me. Lear joins in the game by allowing it and humors the Fool; which equates him with being the Fool's entertainer, and therefore the Fool's fool. Despite this twisted relationship, Lear also acts as the guardian of the Fool. In one scene, Goneril asks Oswald if her "father [struck her] gentleman for chiding of his fool." (I, iii, 1.) Lear institutes physical violence to protect the precious fool;

#FreelancerFriday #4 - Belinda Jones, Editor

#FreelancerFriday #4 - Belinda Jones, Editor #FreelancerFriday #4 - Belinda Jones, Editor â€Å"You have to keep thinking, keep interrogating the text: ‘Is this keeping the flow well? Is it convincing me?† If something sounds a bit hollow or a bit flat, you’ve got to flag it up.â€Å"With a 15-year career – so far – behind her, Belinda Jones has worked on everything from commercial and literary fiction, to historical non-fiction and celebrity memoir. We talked about her start as an editor, the recent YA resurgence, and the need to be sensitive when dealing with author comments.–REEDSYHow did you find yourself starting out as an editor?BELINDA JONESLooking for work after university, I did a correspondence course with Chapterhouse to get going with the proofing symbols and that sort of thing. I got to London and, to gain what experience I could, I took on part-time work with Virgin Publishing – in the rights department, strangely enough. The agreement was that if they were going to have me for  £50 a week, the editorial dep artment would use me for editing work. That worked out quite well – I was able to build up a good foundation of freelance editing work at the time just by being there and obviously working as well (mornings only, but that was the deal).As ever, it’s about building up a CV for experience.REEDSYWhat sort of books were you working on when you started out?BELINDA JONESI was hoping you wouldn’t ask that†¦ I first worked on gentle ‘erotica’ – you can imagine my parents’ delight. It was well paid, I have to say, and got some very good dialogue practice going on. It’s interesting when people ask how you train as an editor. I think you have to have a natural leaning towards it; I’m not sure its something you can actually learn to do. In the same way that some people are natural mathematicians, natural tennis players, I’d say editors have to have a natural aptitude. And if you’re getting experience, it probably d oesn’t matter what you’re editing so long as you’re honing those skills and getting feedback.I was incredibly lucky in my career to freelance with Reader’s Digest. The woman who took me on has become a sort of guru to me. Everything I’ve learned I would put down to her. She said at the beginning: "You have this natural aptitude. That’s great, we can work with that,† and that was why I was taken on by them. There’s no doubt that if you’re working with someone who’s very good at their job with high, exacting standards, you will raise your game accordingly. I think good editors are people who have those exacting standards, and possibly a bit of OCD as well – when you want to track down that  last potentially blurred fact that might have slipped away, or the niggling somethings that are not quite right†¦ Natural aptitude plus a little bit of OCD probably makes someone the ideal editor.REEDSYWhat’s the importance of working with an editor who’s not just technically trained, but experienced?BELINDA JONESExperience leads to confidence. When you start out you think you’re expected to know it all when, of course, you can’t possibly. I think that’s a mistake all young people make starting out, thinking that you have to hit the ground running. Sit back, take your time, learn from your boss. I’ve been doing this for 15 years and I’m pretty aware that I do a good job because I have the experience that’s needed to do that. As a result that’s very much become a confidence thing. Often, in-house, you don’t receive too much feedback because people are simply too busy to do it. You might get a quick â€Å"That’s great, thanks so much, we’ll work with you again in a month’s time.† You can ask for feedback, of course, but it’s something I’m reluctant to do – busy people don’ t have time to spoon-feed you. If I do ask for feedback, it will be from someone for whom I’ve not worked before, and will be about how I could do better next time. And that builds up over the years, of course – improving your work.REEDSYAs a freelancer, do you work directly with the author or via the publisher?BELINDA JONESI mainly work via the in-house editor, who will usually ask me to work in Track Changes, but more and more my comments are going directly to the author for me and them to discuss, rather than via in-house to be checked first. You have to be very diplomatic with the comments that you use – you’ve got to have an appreciation that this is the author’s baby that they’ve been working on for however long. Your comments have to be well structured, and you always need to back up a bit of text you’ve changed with the reason why. Put yourself in their position – how would you feel if you’d been working on somet hing for anything from 6 months to x number of years, and then someone you don’t know from Adam tells you to change this, this and this.You learn to be sensitive about this with experience. It isn’t pointed out or ‘taught’. You learn it yourself the more you do the work. The comfier, more confident in the work you do you are, the more you can think about what the author would be wanting, or needing rather, to hear back from you.REEDSYOne editor we spoke to recently described the work of an editor by saying that the client isn’t the author, but the reader   – that the editor is mediating the concerns of both. Is that similar to how you work?BELINDA JONESI agree with that. When I’m working I put on my reader’s hat. I’m a reader, so I’m at home on the sofa or sitting on the train, I’ve bought this book and I want to enjoy it. In other words, you’re editing to make it the most effortless read possible. You’re smoothing flow, polishing any clunky or bumpy bits; you’re saying, â€Å"Hold on a minute, what you’ve said about that character on page 114 is not what was said about that character on page 23.† I hate it when I come across something like that in books I’m reading for pleasure – it blows the whole thing. But of course, at the same time you’re working for the author. I find 'keeping the author sympathetic’ is another good phrase. As the editor, I would say your job is to make sure the author comes across as a reasonable person, certainly an authoritative writer whom the reader can trust. You have to balance both these things.REEDSYWhat are some projects you’ve enjoyed recently?BELINDA JONESLiterary fiction will always be my first love to work on. Young adult fiction too, I think, has immense potential, which is being tapped both convincingly and unconvincingly at the moment. Fiction all the way, generally, for me! I’ve done plenty of non-fiction which can be very good too, especially when it’s historical, but there’s a huge difference between working on fiction and non-fiction. When you’re an editor for non-fiction, you absolutely have to fact-check everything, especially when it comes to a celebrity autobiography.REEDSYWhat do you love about YA?BELINDA JONESI think it’s such a wonderful crossover between the youngish readers and the fairly precocious readers, right up into adulthood. The Hunger Games, for example – hasn’t that done well? Both for the books and the box office, with teens and adults alike. I actually belong to a book club of adults who read YA fiction and then critique it fiercely in the pub afterwards! We’ve read some stinkers, of course, and that just makes me want to die – it’s such an important time for readers to be encouraged to keep reading. If you’re coming across horrendously clichà ©d work you just want to say, â€Å"Come on everyone! Just because it’s YA doesn’t mean it doesn’t have to be good.† Quite the reverse! There’s a huge market for good YA – I wish there was more of it. We can’t blame publishers, they have to make money in what’s a very tough market but let’s not just go straight for that Hollywood jugular the entire time. But that’s the same with fiction and books the world over, isn’t it? In any genre there’s going to be good and bad. But, right now, I really think YA is a superb genre to be in.REEDSYIs developmental editing quite different from copyediting?BELINDA JONESYes. Analysis is another thing you have to have an aptitude for, particularly for developmental editing. Again, you have to keep thinking, keep interrogating the text: ‘Is this keeping the flow well? Is it convincing me?â€Å" If something sounds a bit hollow or a bit flat, you’ve got to flag i t up and either suggest or make the change yourself. Usually a manuscript, by the time I get it, has been very much edited in-house. That’s a bit of a tightrope you need to be aware of as a freelance editor – it’s not about your ego, which is something I’m embarrassed to say I had to reign in at the beginning. When for the first time you’re given free reign on a manuscript you think, "Let’s get cracking!† but, like I said, there are many concerns to weigh. Ones that are usually outlined in a brief from the in-house editor.REEDSYFinally, what do you like to read yourself?BELINDA JONESOh, general fiction, literary fiction, YA. A bit of everything, to be honest. I’m currently savouring Les Miserables (a Christmas present from my French in-laws) but I am interspersing it with more digestible reads too. Not something I’d normally allow myself to do  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚  !REEDSYThank you for your time Belinda.

Business Law Questions Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business Law Questions - Coursework Example The first advantage is that this type of business is easy to form. The business organization is simple with minimal legal formalities that includes the license and permits in special cases. The business is also easy to dissolve if Eva so wishes. The second advantage is that this type of business only needs small startup capital. Apart from this, the amount of money needed for management is small as there is usually no need for specialist in the various functional areas of the company. The third advantage Eva gains from this type of business organization is that it affords a great deal of flexibility in that decision making and changes are easy and fast. The fourth and probably the biggest advantage is that the owner receives all the profits from the business. The final advantage offered is that the company if moderately free from government control. The government regulates this type of business less than other types, thus Eva’s day-to-day operations are smooth as long as she follows the letter of her permit and license. While the business offers many advantages, it also has some challenges. First, these types of companies usually have limited resources. Due to this, banks and other credit facilities are usually reluctant to grant loans due to the high mortality rate of these companies as well few assets owned. The second disadvantage is that the owner assumes unlimited liability. This means that all the debts and loses fall on the head of the owner. The third disadvantage is that in the event the company fails, creditors have the right to force the owner to sell their own property as well as those belonging to the company to offset the debt. Finally, if the owner dies or is incapacitated, the business dies or is incapacitated. In order to raise capital, Eva faces some difficulties as investors unrelated to her will not be comfortable regarding the security and use of their investment. Capital investment for sole proprietorship is also difficult to secure and formalize without risking losing control of the company. The first course of action she may take is to seek financial aid from people related to her such a family and friends. She can also raise loans from financial and banking institutions. In this case, she can secure a loan from the bank for her working capital and seek help from specialized financial institutions in case of long term investment such as buying fixed assets. The third approach is discussing with her suppliers to receive goods on credit, i.e. acquire trade credit. Finally, she can lease her equipment to other firms in order to acquire medium term funds. Question 2 By looking at the second scenario, we find that Don has a basis to set aside the contract. This is because the contract between Don and Evan was entered under coercion. According to Bigwood (369), pure coercion occurs when one party plans to engage in a legal wrong to endorse his demands leaving another party to without any reasonable alternative but to comply. While Evans threat is not a legal wrong it is however exploitative, disagreeable and wrongful in the broader sense hence an improper proposal. Under contract law, Don can prove that he was under duress (duress to the person) thus enabling the contract to be rescinded since it will then be voidable (Stone 337). In order to prove that the contract was under coercion, Don has to prove that no other reasonable option remained but to sign the contract. This can be done by reviewing the relationship between him and his nephew as well as contracts they had entered before. Apart from voiding the contract, Ron can also choose to enforce the contract (Bigwood 370). Cases of

Book discussion Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Book discussion - Coursework Example Another one was the theme of accountability. This theme has been able to express itself in different parts of the book. In the Bulls Eye organization, there were a number of managers, including John and Barb, who head different departments. Their boss, Nancy had some occasional meetings with them so as to review on their departments’ performances. Every manager was made accountable for the results his or her department was yielding to the organization. During some weekends, John has to report to his office so as to correct the bad job that was done by his team. All this is because he is the one made accountable for the results. There is the theme of togetherness that has clearly come out in the book. In the book, the author has nearly mentioned Ubuntu on a number of pages. Simon says, â€Å"It doesn’t make any difference if it was my work or someone else work. We are all into this as a department. I want to help, it is Ubuntu† (pg. 19). This is after the department lead by John, Simon is a member, had failed in meeting their levels of expected results of the organization. The theme has shown that indeed to have success in a group, then you must have collaboration and team work. Most of the story took place in the USA, particularly in Chicago. This is evident in the book when the author says, â€Å"Twenty miles outside of Chicago, at a small†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (pg. 12). In this particular text, the author was describing the coffee shop where Alexandra and Steve went to take some coffee. Major part of the story in this book, especially chapter one takes place at the premises or offices of BullsEye organization. The majority of the characters in this story is having their origins in the USA, in fact, they are all citizens of The United States. We only have Simon, who was born in South Africa during the Apartheid system though he is an

Humanism and the Baroque Periods of Art

Humanism and the Baroque Periods of Art Humanism, specifically during the Renaissance, was a huge movement towards the human mind as a whole and how individuality in expression of thoughts and ideas was celebrated. Tradition was not something to be blindly followed anymore. One might argue that humanism played the biggest role in creating the Renaissance. This was because of the huge focus on studying Roman and Greek texts, which gave a new outlook on their modern world focused on the human ability. Painting was influenced by humanism by becoming more realistic while also keeping forms classic. It also heavily focused on the human experience. The two paintings I found to show this well were The School of Athens by Raphael and The Tribute Money by Masaccio. In The School of Athens it is clear education is the main theme, which makes sense because humanism during that period had a lot to do with educating and thinking for yourself. The Tribute Money portrays a biblical scene in which Jesus performs a miracle to satisfy the t ax payment. It has multiple things going on from the story at the same time and the people are all doing different things. They are both great examples of focusing the attention towards everyday life. You can also see that, in every person depicted, they have a mind of their own. They look in different directions and are carrying out different actions, there is no one true center focus. Secularism and naturalism can be seen throughout Renaissance art as well. There is less focus on church scenes and more focus towards the outdoors and creating an environment of the world. They aimed for accuracy in the paintings as well, which can be seen especially well in The Tribute Money. If you look towards the feet there are cast shadows and the lighting is used to create a much more realistic scene had there not been shadows. What can also be seen is the movement of the people depicted, except for Jesus, which sets the scene as more of a photo in time instead of a perfectly posed scene that w as recreated. The Baroque period was started around the 1600s. It is thought to be that the most important pieces of history relating to the Baroque period were the reformation and the Counter Reformation. The Catholic Church declared at the Council of Trent that art was to depict religious ideas and themes. It focused on the most dramatic point in the story, compared to Renaissance art which focused more on a casual portrayal of the scene. Baroque art is very dramatic and uses light to dramatize the scene even more. The technique used, in reference to the lights and darks, is called chiaroscuro. It used harsh lights and dimly lit scenes to make the painting even more dramatic. The color use was also very dramatic, although they might not be bright the emotional appeal behind colors was used to help stimulate and evoke emotion in the viewer. The common themes behind Baroque art were visions, ecstasies, death, and overall intense moments. One big difference in style between Baroque and Renaissance art is that the planes and depth in Baroque is much more limited than in Renaissance which had clearly defined planes and objects or people in the planes. Renaissances use of perspective gave them realism, which didnt allow the emotion that was trying to be depicted. It fell a bit flat, but Baroque came along and solved this issue by their use of style and lighting to bring back the emotion that was lost in the Renaissance period. Two pieces of art from the Baroque period that showcase this are The Ecstasy of St. Teresa by Giovanni Bernini and The Conversion on the Way to Damascus by Caravaggio. The Ecstasy of St. Teresa held a very common theme in Baroque art, a meeting of the divine and human. The sculpture is of the moment St. Teresa recalled an angel coming down and piercing her with an arrow of love. The way light is used on the sculpture is Baroque in every sense, from the light coming down from a yellow tinted window above and wooden rods falling from behind being lit the sam e. The Conversion on the Way to Damascus is a great example of how Caravaggio used light and dark to create drama and emotion. It is a dimly lit scene with harsh light coming from out of view, lighting one side of the horse and Paul, while the man in the back is slipping away into the darkness. John Donne was known for his unusual style in writing. He had abstract verses, weird lengths, and often confusing metaphors. Although he went against the grain of writing at the time, he was given a better appreciation in later times. His unique style stemmed from religion and lust. He expressed both in a way those had not done before him, and it worked. I read that he was an Anglican minister, which gave his many contradictions live. His life was a bit of a contradiction seeing as he wrote about the physical nature of life and death while also weaving spirituality into his poems. Thomas Wyatt, on the other hand, took much of his ideas from Petrarch, although he did write poems of his own. They were more consistent in style. All of the sonnets we read by Wyatt were octaves followed by a sestet, and he had consistency in most of his writing. This is unlike Donne who was sporadic and had little continuous style. One thing they had in common was their impact on the poetry of their times , both could be called innovators. The poems of Donne were also livelier in the sense that they had more emotion. They both had poems dealing with thoughts that might run through your head at certain times in your life, which I enjoyed. Wyatts poems were more pleasing to me, aesthetically, because I can enjoy poems more when they have a consistent theme and style. His writing is very similar, and I was able to get more into it when I was able to understand the rhyme scheme. His theme behind his sonnets that we read was dealing with love and a loss of love. I was able to understand these even more as well because, as most everyone, has loved and loss that love at some point in their life. Not specifically a romantic relationship but any relationship allows you to feel those emotions and they are powerful, which made me enjoy them more. Aesthetics, to me, is almost indescribable. It is all around us, beautiful and appreciative. What makes it interesting is everyone views and appreciates the visual and literary arts in their own subjective way. It brings up questions that are hard to answer. What is beauty? These questions are what made aestheticism a movement to begin with. To find something aesthetic is to have a sense of beauty and emotion, the art itself provokes emotion within. To me, an artwork that sticks out as aesthetic are sculptures, specifically marble. David by Michelangelo is what stands out to me the most. When I saw the David in person, I was not stuck pondering the idea or sitting there thinking purely intellectually about the statue, but instead had this emotion fill me that almost made my jaw drop. The sheer size alone had me breath taken and in awe. I think what makes something aesthetically important to me is the understanding of the time and craftsmanship it took to create it. The David is 17 fe et tall and pure marble. Michelangelo took more than two years to create it as well. All that I learned after, which made it even more appealing, but even in that moment I knew there was something beautiful and great about the piece. It is hard to describe why I liked it so much at the time, but I think that is why some of the beauty in art is so amazing, an indescribable appreciation and affection for the piece. It can be a different piece or everyone, which Im sure will be seen by the responses to this question. Aesthetics of art is beautiful because of the subjectivity it innately has within. Whatever you are to find beautiful is justified, even if no one else does.

Economy of US Essay

President George W. Bush, in a speech before his economic team on August 8, 2007 talked about the nation’s thriving economy. President Bush said: â€Å"I just finished a productive meeting with members of my economic team. We discussed our thriving economy and what we need to do to keep it that way. We care a lot about whether our fellow citizens are working, and whether or not they’ve got money in their pockets to save, spend, or invest as they see fit. We talked about America’s role in the global economy. † (President Bush Meets) Looking at some major economic indicators, the President’s claim on the growth of the economy has some sense. For this paper, the following indicators will be discussed: the Gross Domestic Product – which measures overall economic productivity of the nation; Inflation rate – which measures the rise in the general level of prices; Unemployment or employment rate – which reflects the number of people with jobs; and Balance of Payments – which reflect the relationship between exports and imports. The United States Government uses two sets of tools that affect the American Economy. These tools are Monetary Policy and Fiscal Policy. The first one deals with how the government controls the supply of money and therefore the general stability of prices. The second one deals with government expenditures specifically how much the government is earning (taxes and revenues) and where will it spend the money (budget). Monetary policy is executed by the Federal Reserve System through its Board of Governors while Fiscal policy is carried out by Executive branch with or without the support of Congress. The U. S. Economy in Review The U. S. Economy is the largest and most powerful economy in the world. By the end of the third quarter of 2007 its Gross Domestic Product was close to $14 Trillion. Starting in 2004, the U.  S. economy was hit by significant events that tested its resiliency. The aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks led to major shifts in national resources to fight global terrorism. The costly war in Iraq led to a more costly U. S. occupation in Saddam Hussein’s country. Huge investments were made by the country for the war – investment in budget, resources and human capital. During the same period, Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage in the Gulf Coast. Resources were diverted to aid those who suffered from the natural calamity. Oil prices soared between 2005 and 2006 also threatening the economy. Despite these setbacks, the U. S. economy posted strong growth during the period 2004-2007. Gross Domestic Product The U. S. Gross Domestic Product recorded growth rates of 2. 9 percent in 2004, 3. 2 percent in 2005 and 2006 and a leap to 4. 2 percent at the end of the third quarter of 2007. According to the Bureau of Economic Accounts, the increase in GDP primarily reflected increases in consumer spending, investment in equipment and software, federal government spending, and residential fixed investment. The President, in his State of the Economy address in January 2007, highlighted the strong and dynamic economy, and discussed the challenges faced in keeping the economy growing. The President stressed that the U. S. economy is resilient and responsive, adding more than 8. 3 million jobs since 2003 despite numerous challenges including a recession, corporate scandals, the 9/11 attacks, and the worst natural disaster in American history. Inflation Inflation is generally reflected through the rise and fall in the Consumer Price Index. CPI measures the average change over time in the prices paid by consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. During the period 2004 to 2006, CPI rose at a manageable level – indicating inflation is under control. No data was shown for 2007. In 2004 – CPI rose 3. 3 percent over the previous year. In 2005, the rate was at 3. 4 percent and in 2006 it slowed down to 2. 5 percent. The recent behavior of inflation shows it remains low and stable and has minimal impact on the economy (U. S. CPI) Unemployment and Employment  The number of unemployed persons was 7. 2 million in October 2007 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A year earlier, the number of unemployed persons was 6. 7 million, and the jobless rate was 4. 4 percent. Also according to the BLS, total employment was at 146 million in October. Job gains occurred in professional and business services, health care, and leisure and hospitality. Manufacturing employment continued to decline, and construction employment was little changed. The employment-population ratio was at 62. 7 percent. The civilian labor force was at 153. million and the labor force participation rate was at 65. 9 percent. Balance of payment The country’s balance of payment particularly the relationship between the country’s exports and imports still show a deficit. The deficit decreased to $190. 8 billion in the second quarter of 2007 from $197. 1 billion in the first quarter. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, a decrease in net unilateral current transfers to foreigners and increases in the surpluses on services and on income more than accounted for the decrease. Monetary Policy The Federal Reserve System, the independent U. S. central bank, manages the money supply and use of credit (monetary policy), while the president and Congress adjust federal spending and taxes (fiscal policy). The government’s monetary policy is governed by the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors. The Federal Reserve’s monetary policy has stressed preventing rapid escalation of general price levels which usually leads to inflation. The Federal Reserve acts to slow economic expansion by reducing the money supply, thus raising short-term interest rates. When the economy is slowing down too fast, or contracting, the Federal Reserve increases the money supply, thus lowering short-term interest rates. The most common way it effects these changes in interest rates, called open-market operations, is by buying and selling government securities among a small group of major banks and bond dealers. A particularly tricky situation for monetary policy makers, called stagflation, occurs when the economy is slowing down and general price level (inflation) is rising too fast (U. S. Monetary Policy). The Federal Reserve’s recent monetary policy is towards keeping the overall economy on an adjustment path where growth is moderate and sustainable. As Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke mentioned in his Testimony Before the Committee on Financial Services, U. S. House of Representatives on July 18, 2007: â€Å"At each of its four meetings so far this year, the FOMC maintained its target for the federal funds rate at 5-1/4 percent, judging that the existing stance of policy was likely to be consistent with growth running near trend and inflation staying on a moderating path† (Bernanke). Given these conditions, the Committee decided to leave its target for the federal funds rate unchanged at 5-1/4 percent. The Committee further stated in its policy statement that some inflation risks remained and that additional action would depend on changes in the outlook for both inflation and economic growth (Monetary Policy Report 6). According to Janet L. Yellen, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco in her speech on The U. S. Economy and Monetary Policy, â€Å"I think the current stance of policy is likely to foster sustainable growth with a gradual ebbing of inflationary pressures† (2). However, Yellen further stated that â€Å"a sustained moderation in inflation pressures has yet to be convincingly demonstrated† (15). Policy Actions taken by the Federal Reserve The Federal Open Market Committee in its meetings on June 27 and 28 and voted to hold the federal funds rate, the Federal Reserve’s main policy tool, unchanged at 5? percent (Monetary Policy Report 6). At the time the report was made to Congress, the funds rate has been kept at that level for the last twelve months. According to the Committee, this decision would avoid exposing the economy to the risk of a recession, while, at the same time, hoping that this policy will produce enough slack in goods and labor markets to relieve inflationary stresses. This direction will enable the Federal Reserve to achieve its dual mandate—low and stable inflation and maximum sustainable employment. In the past year, then Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan wrapped up an eventful 18-year career Tuesday with a final interest rate hike and cleared the way for his successor Bernanke to bring the long credit-tightening campaign to a close. Acting on Greenspan’s final day in office, Federal Reserve Board raised the benchmark overnight lending rate another quarter-percentage point to 4. 5 percent, pushing up borrowing costs for consumers and businesses in their ongoing bid to keep a lid on growth and inflation (Wolk). In the months after that, the Board came up with a series of cuts in interest rates to address the prevailing economic condition. This balancing act is in line with the Federal Reserve’s responsibility of trying to maintain full employment (generally considered to be around 4 to 5 percent unemployment) while keeping inflation low. One can imagine the risks and uncertainties involved in such act. Alan Greenspan once said, â€Å"Policymakers often have to act, or choose not to act, even though we may not fully understand the full range of possible outcomes, let alone each possible outcome’s likelihood. As a result, risk management often involves significant judgment as we evaluate the risks of different events and the probability that our actions will alter those risks (Greenspan). † . This delicate balancing act is done by using interest rates as a tool. When interest rates are low, capital is easier to acquire. Left unchecked, however, this leads to inflation. If interest rates are too high, however, the result can be a recession and, in extreme cases, deflation; the result of which can be economically devastating. There are two ways as to how the Federal Reserve influences the direction of interest rates: by raising or lowering the discount rate or by indirectly influencing the direction of the Federal funds rate. The discount rate is the interest rate banks are charged when they borrows funds overnight directly from one of the Federal Reserve Banks. The Federal funds rate is the rate that banks charge each other for overnight loans (U. S. Monetary Policy). Fiscal Policy When President George W. Bush first stepped into the Whitehouse in 2001 he promised several things to the American public. Among his list of promises which was an ambitious $1. 3 trillion tax cut. President Bush promised that â€Å"whoever pays taxes gets a tax break. † Campaigning for his second term in office in 2004, President Bush promised to make tax cuts that were earlier adopted in 2001 permanent. In his August 8 speech the President said: â€Å"Real after-tax income has increased by an average of more than $3,400 per person since I took office. † The President further stated: Tax cuts let Americans keep their own money. It stimulates entrepreneurship. † The President emphasized that he is against the plan to increase taxes and turn them into additional government programs and said: â€Å"We want the people to keep more of their own money because we understand that the American economy, entrepreneurs and small business owners are the ones who create jobs. † However, there is a growing opposition to his fiscal policies. Some say these cuts were distributed disproportionately. Higher income tax payers got the biggest breaks they say as opposed to lower income individuals. It is also important to note that during the first term of President Bush, federal spending increased by 26 percent. This seems to go in a different direction with the tax cut measures. On one hand tax cuts mean lesser revenue for the government, on the other, more money is needed as more money is being spent. It will not take a genius to figure out that the tax cuts, and significant increases in spending will have effect on the budget deficits during the Bush administration. From a surplus of $127 Billion when President Bush assumed office, the budget went to a deficit of $929 billion. Future impacts of these fiscal policies have been also widely discussed. Shapiro and Friedman believe: â€Å"Over the next 10 years, total tax-cut costs will equal $3. 9 trillion, reaching nearly $600 billion or 3. 3 percent of the economy in 2014 alone. The resulting higher deficits will slow future economic growth, saddle future generations with sizable interest payments, and leave the nation ill-prepared not only for the retirement of baby boomers but also for responding to potential future crises from security matters to natural or environmental disasters the particulars of which are unknown today. Even Former President Clinton went on record to criticize President Bush’s fiscal and tax policies: â€Å"Tax cuts are always popular,† Clinton said. â€Å"But about half of these tax cuts since 2001 have gone to people in my income group, the top 1 percent. I’ve gotten four tax cuts. Now, what Americans need to understand is that that means every single day of the year, our government goes into the market and borrows money from other countries to finance Iraq, Afghanistan, Katrina and our tax cuts,† Clinton added. We depend on Japan, China, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and Korea primarily to basically loan us money every day of the year to cover my tax cut and these conflicts and Katrina. I don’t think it makes any sense. I think it’s wrong† (Stephanoupoulos, 2005). Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan also had a few words to say about President Bush’s policies. Greenspan criticized President George W. Bush for pursuing an economic agenda driven by politics rather than sound policy, with little concern for future consequences (Benjamin. 2007). Greenspan was quoted as saying: â€Å"The Bush administration turned out to be very different from the reincarnation of the Ford administration that I had imagined. Now, the political operation was far more dominant. † (Benjamin 2007). Comparing past presidents and the current Chief Executive, Greenspan said Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton were the most intelligent; Ford the most normal and likeable; Ronald Reagan was the most devoted to free markets; George H. W. Bush, the current president’s father, was very cordial. However, Greenspan saved his harshest criticism for Bush. `Little value was placed on rigorous economic policy debate or the weighing of long-term consequences,† he wrote. (Benjamin 2007). Still President Bush remains steadfast saying: â€Å"When people earn money, tax revenues go up. This year, tax revenues are expected to be $167 billion higher than last year’s, because the economy is growing. Growing tax revenues combined with spending restraint has helped us drive down the federal deficit, and we were able to do so without raising the taxes on the people who work, or without raising taxes on small business owners or farmers. Estimates show the deficit will drop to $205 billion this year. That is well below the average of the past 40 years as a percentage of our economy. † (President Bush Meets) Conclusion Not too many believed that the U. S. economy can rebound so fast from the series of unfortunate events of 2004 to 2007. Yet the number one economy in world has proven its resiliency and durability by weathering these storms. Much of the credit should go to the managers of the economy. The adoption of effective policies and strategies were the keys to sustaining the growth even in the midst of uncertainties. However, the growing opposition to the President’s Fiscal Policies needs to be given more attention. The clamor does have its points. Tax cuts, everyone must understand, have side effects. Remember, it is from taxes that the government generates revenues. Revenues that are badly needed to fund the operations of the government. These are the same revenues that run schools, hospitals, provides welfare to the poor, and funds homeland security and the war against terror. Without revenues where does the government go? What does it do? It borrows money. Huge amounts of money that, in the end, would be marked as owed by every individual in this country to some bank or foreign government. Overall, greater challenges loom ahead. The economy still faces long-term problems including inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population, sizable trade and budget deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups. The country will call on again the time tested policies to deal with these adversities. As President Bush said â€Å"Our economy is on the move and we can keep it that way by continuing to pursue sound economic policy based on free-market principles. â€Å"