External and Internal Marketing Environment of Starbucks Free Essay Example, 2000 words

The researcher states that Starbucks has been operating in the UK successfully and it has been able to implement the organizational mission and vision for the region. However, it is important to consider that every geographical region has its own preferences and needs and in turn, demands customized and specially designed marketing strategies. For this purpose, it is important to investigate and understand the external market environment along with the internal organizational environment. By assessing both external and internal environment, the company is able to identify its strengths and weaknesses along with any opportunities and threats. This enables the organization to come up with effective and efficient marketing strategies for consistent growth and development. In order to come up with effective and efficient marketing strategies, it is important for the organization to investigate and explore the external marketing environment. External factors and stakeholders have the dir ect impact on the marketing strategies of the organization which in turn affect the growth and performance of the company. In order to grab and retain the position of market leader in the United Kingdom coffee market, it is important for Starbucks to first analyze the overall situation of the market. We will write a custom essay sample on External and Internal Marketing Environment of Starbucks or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now The coffee market overall in the UK has been reporting growth. In the year 2009, the total coffee sales in the United Kingdom was reported to be around $ 1,235 million. The number of coffee outlets has also been increasing rapidly in the region. Starbucks has been the market leader in the UK industry, but after the year 2007 Costa Coffee has more outlets as compared to Starbucks. The marketing environmental analysis is incomplete without investigating the internal factors and environment of the organization. The mission of Starbucks Corporation is based on inspiring and nurturing the human spirit. Starbucks gives considerable importance to the process of providing ultimate experience to the customers. For this purpose, the internal environment of the organization is also designed in a similar manner.

Essay on The Pros and Cons of Ozone - 1695 Words

Here is an environmental question worth asking, Is ozone good or bad? Need more context? Okay. Has ozone been beneficial or detrimental to humans over the course of the past century? Unsure? Well read the following and decide. If youre not motivated to do so, consider that if ozone werent part of the Earth, neither would we be, and, more immediately, if ozone levels arent kept within certain narrow ranges in the future, the biosphere will suffer greatly. What is ozone? Ozone is the gas in our atmosphere which has the chemical formula, O3, meaning that each of its molecules consists of three oxygen atoms. Although seemingly similar to the much more common diatomic oxygen, O2, which we require consumption of in every breath, ozone†¦show more content†¦Lets start in the upper atmosphere and work our way down to the surface. The stratosphere (that part of the atmosphere above the wispy clouds extending nearly 30 miles above the surface) contains ~97 percent of the ozone on the planet. This ozone is considered extremely beneficial and is, in fact, essential for life as we know it. Ozone has the very special property of absorbing the highly energetic ultraviolet (UV) rays that come from the sun. This partial absorption of UV light protects life from the complications that result when life forms are exposed to elevated levels of it. In humans, UV light might be desirous to someone attempting to get a tan, but it is very damaging to our eyes (via cataracts), contributes in the creation of cancerous skin cells, produces age spots, and stimulates wrinkles. (Despite the fact that our culture tends to admire tanned skin, the process of tanning is actually a sign of skin damage.) Many plants also show signs of reduced productivity when exposed to higher UV levels. Thus, stratospheric ozone is a blessing to all of life because of its ability to absorb (and therefore block) much of the UV light from reaching the earths surface. In the lower atmosphere, particularly near the surface, ozone isnt so beneficial. Often a primary ingredient in smog, ozone causes damage in lung when inhaled. The American Lung Associations website (http:/www.lungusa.org/) contains manyShow MoreRelatedNuclear Power : A Source Of Energy881 Words   |  4 Pagesreleased by fossil fuels (Pros and Cons of Nuclear). Nuclear energy produces no carbon emissions which is blamed for causing global warming. France generates 75% of its electricity from nuclear power. But in North America only 11% of electricity comes from nuclear power (DeGunther). One fact that is very interesting about nuclear power is, eating one banana gives you more radiation than living within fifty mile of a nuclear power plant (What). There are many pros and cons of alternative energy andRead MoreEnvironment vs. Economy: Is There an Environmental Crisis? Essay1268 Words   |  6 Pageswarming cultural homogenization, exploitation of the poor and war for oil,† (The Real Environmental Crisis). The thought of Earth falling apart due to the economy is pretty far fetched, but due to the way Americans treat it, it could happen. Is the ozone layer really being destroyed? It naturally regenerates itself, which should keep us safe from radiation. Also, poverty and the economy are more hazardous than throwing a Styrofoam cup onto a highway. Yes, there is an environmental crisis. YesRead MoreThe Argument Against Hydraulic Fracturing1378 Words   |  6 Pagesnegative outcomes.Also the wells might fail adding to the negative outcome.†A report for the European Union on the potential risks was produced in 2012. Potential risks are methane emissions from the wells, diesel fumes,and other hazardous pollutants, ozone precursors, or odours from hydraulic fracturing equipment, such as compressors, pumps, and valves. Also gases and hydraulic fracturing fluids dissolved in flowback water pose air emissions risks†(wiki).Water,and air become polluted.The chemicals thatRead MoreEnergy efficiency is essential to provide citizens with functioning electricity and fuel. The700 Words   |  3 PagesEnergy efficiency is essential to provide citizens with functioning electricity and fuel. The energy I would use to fuel my city is hydroelectric because its pros and cons outweigh the pros and cons of solar, coal, wind, and nuclear energy. The most efficient energy source for my city is hydroelectric energy. Hydroelectric energy is the most efficient for many reasons. Hydroelectric energy’s power fuel is water, which does not give off harmful chemicals or waste in the air or water; keeping ourRead MoreThe Pros and Cons of Biofuel 859 Words   |  3 Pagesto be more cost efficient. It wasn’t until the 1970s mid 80s when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) passed the Clean Air Act. The Clean Air Act enabled the EPA to be able to regulate emissions into the environment, like carbon monoxide and ozone oxides. This pushed us to search for more fuel alternatives, as well as additives. With issues oversea with the Arab oil embargo and the Iran Revolution, oil prices rose to $35 a barrel, and the US decided to cut oil imports by 30%. (Hess). DuringRead MoreAlternative Fuels Essay 81070 Words   |  5 PagesPetroleum is not only limited, but it is also dirtying up the worlds air, and depleting the ozone layer as it is burned. Alternative fuels are one of the worlds most talked about issues, and many solutions have been brought forth, yet none of them have been sophisticatedly acted upon. Through the list of pros and cons, one shall determine the importance of alternative fuels, and how bad the pros outweigh the cons, thus forcing the reality of the matter that we need to start moving towards these alternateRead MoreSmoking Ban. Introduction And Thesis:The Smoking Ban Is976 Words   |  4 Pagesenvironment. Residing on the tobacco plant that is insects and diseases which can very harmful to the consumer. The plant is very toxic and contains DDT, (Dichlorodiphenylt richloroethane) Aldrin and Methyl Bromide which are powerful enough to destroy the ozone. According to Giovanni Invernizzi there are more than 4,000 chemicals in each cigarette and they are nonbiodegradable. In his studies, found that cigarette smoke causes air pollution and is said to be more lethal than diesel gas. The pollutants inRead MoreEnvironmental Issues on Global Health1410 Words   |  6 Pagesdramatically over the next decade. This, alone, is the greatest threat to life on our planet. Air pollution Air pollution affects everything from agriculture and ecosystems to human health, on a global scale. The five major air pollutants are ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide (Donnatelle, 2010). 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Through the list of pros and cons, one shall determine the importance of alternative fuels, and how bad the pros outweigh the cons, thus forcing the reality of the matter that we need to start moving towards these altern ateRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Reusable And Non Reusable Energy Sources1727 Words   |  7 PagesThe Pros and Cons of Reusable Non Reusable Energy Sources There are many things that we rely on that are naturally provided by nature from the water that is used to replenish our systems to prevent dehydration, to the air that we breath down to some portions of food that we eat. One of those natural elements are used daily but are often not thought about outside of the scientific or political fields is energy. Energy is all around us there is nothing that is done in the day to day life that

Comics are the earliest form o... free essay sample

Comics are the earliest form of entertainment for both adults and kids. Although there are a lot of comic books publishers today, DC and Marvel comics are the most popular all over the world. The DC and Marvel debate has been in existence since the two comic group came to action. The two have had unique, dynamic characters and films that have highly achieved fan support everywhere and those that have not. Spiderman and Superman are the most famous characters in these comics. It is so unfortunate since the general public normally categorizes the two divergent different characters as superheroes. The hero has to be either Detective Comics or Marvel Hero. I strongly believe that Marvel is better since it is able to produce unique characters that relate to human nature.First, Marvels main focus is on the creation of stories that are connected to the real problems of their superheroes. We will write a custom essay sample on Comics are the earliest form o or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The superheroes in the Marvels comics are just ordinary people but are born with unique powers. Example of such superheroes is the X-men who are normally treated in a different way and are viewed as vigilantes or outlaws groups. The DC exercises their heroes to build entertainment stories. An example is the Superman who is the symbolic image of a real superhero. The symbolic image of the Superman is loved and cherished by all. Personally, I believe that Marvel is a better comic due to the nature of the characters they produce.In addition, Marvels work showcases that superheroes are humane. The Avengers is another example of the Marvels work. These teams showcase a good example of teamwork. The Avengers dont get along; they dont even like each other. However, they have to work and love each other because worlds fate is a stake. Their backgrounds and skills are diverse and work as a team for the betterment of the humanity. They travel all around the world to deal with worldwide threats. Flash, DCs work runs at a high pace alone and is not bothered by that. The DCs superheroes mainly dwell in the cities. Such differences set the two comics groups apart.Also, Marvels comic relatable characters prove Marvel to be the best. Heroes from Marvel powers are gained from scientific accidents, for example, genetic mutations or exposure to radiations. Majority of the heroes normally begin from humble beginnings for example Captain America who acted as a volunteer in an experiment that resulted in him gaining superhuman speed and strength. The Incredible Hulk is a scientist whose body was exposed gamma rays creating a superhero. In comparison, DCs heroes beginnings are fictional. An example is Green Lantern who gains powers from a ring from another planet. These differences clearly show why Marvel is the best.In conclusion, the reasons why Marvel comics are more preferred than DC comics are due to the fact that Marvels superheroes gain their power from genetic mutations or scientific accidents. Also, the superheroes from Marvel are more humane since they go around the world making it a better place. Finally, Marvel superheroes are normally born with natural powers and start from humble beginnings whereas DCs superheroes are just for the audience entertainment and are more of fictional. DC and Marvel share some similarities in that they both have a lot of superheroes. However, their stated differences are what make them two different things. Marvels work has made it rise in popularity in the recent years.

It gave the african americans a sense of pride tha Essays

It gave the african americans a sense of pride that they never had before. There wasn't really any change in appearance but there was a change at heart like they started to fight for there right even more. It was originally a cartoon character that was portrayed as a stupid black man and then they turned his ways into laws. That even though the african americans have the same rights as whites the rest of the population does not fulfill the request. The march on washington, which was organized by Dr. Martin Luther King. And the sit ins Yes it did because it led to the destruction of the jim crow laws Because during the war the minority soldiers saw how good the would have been treated in europe so they were big contributors of the civil right movement Because the way that they were treating them was getting out of hand and what was happening was getting leaked out to the other countries as propaganda The people fighting and the fact that what they were doing was cruel and evil Emmett Till was a boy who went to the south to spend some time with his uncle and he talked to a white woman and she told her husband. That night they killed him and shot him and broke every bone in his body. A couple weeks later they found his dead body and the only way they could recognize him was buy the ring on his finger. This case was a huge turning point because it desegregated the schools Rosa parks was sitting on the white half of the bus and she was told to move and she didn't so she was arrested. She then started the movement to boycott the bus and they did until the bus company desegregated the bus. This act ended all segregation in the united states

Anne Truitt, Sculptor of Minimalist Form and Color

Anne Truitt, Sculptor of Minimalist Form and Color Anne Truitt was an American artist and writer, known for her work as a minimalist sculptor and, to a lesser extent, painter. She is perhaps most widely regarded for Daybook, a volume of the artist’s diaries, reflecting on the life of an artist and mother. Fast Facts: Anne Truitt Occupation: Artist and writerBorn: March 16, 1921 in Baltimore, MarylandDied: December 23, 2004 in Washington, DC, USAKey Accomplishments: Early contributions to minimalist sculpture and the publication of Daybook, which reflected on her life as both artist and mother Early Life Anne Truitt was born Anne Dean in Baltimore in 1921 and grew up in the town of Easton, on the Eastern shore of Maryland. The stark coastal style- rectangles of colored doors against white clapboard facades- influenced her later work as a minimalist. Her family life was comfortable, as her parents were well-to-do (her mother came from a family of Boston ship owners). She lived happily and freely as a child, though she was not unaffected by the poverty of which she caught glimpses in her town. Later in life, she would inherit a modest sum of money from her family, which financed her art practice- though not so much as to keep finances from being a constant worry for the artist. Truitt’s mother, to whom she was very close, died while Truitt was still in her twenties. Her father suffered from alcoholism, and though she pitied him, she wrote that she â€Å"decided† to love him despite his faults. This strength of will is characteristic of the artist and is seen in her staunch determination to continue in her work, even at times when her money dwindled and her pieces did not sell. After her first year at Bryn Mawr College, Truitt came down with a case of appendicitis, which her doctors handled poorly. The result, Truitt was told, was infertility. Though this prognosis ultimately proved to be false, and Truitt was able to have three children later in life, she attributes her career as an artist to this temporary sterility, largely because her focus was on her art at the time in her life when most women were expected to raise children. Early Career in Medicine After returning to Bryn Mawr to finish her undergraduate degree, Truitt decided to begin a career in psychiatric medicine. She felt a duty to help those who struggled in their lives. Though she was admitted to Yale to begin a Master’s in psychology, she turned down her scholarship and instead began work as a researcher at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Already successful by the age of twenty-four, Truitt had a revelation one afternoon and immediately quit her position. She turned her back on a career in medicine, recounting later that something within her knew she had to be an artist. An Artist's Calling Anne married James Truitt, a journalist, in 1948. The two traveled often, following James work. While living in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Truitt began to take art classes, and excelled in sculpture. When the couple moved to Washington, D.C., Truitt continued her art practice by enrolling in classes at the Institute of Contemporary Art. On a trip to New York in 1961 with her good friend Mary Meyer, Truitt visited the â€Å"American Abstractionists and Imagists† show at the Guggenheim. The experience would ultimately change her career. As she was rounding one of the museum’s famed curved ramps, she came upon a Barnett Newman â€Å"zip† painting and was stunned by its size. â€Å"I had never realized you could do that in art. Have enough space. Enough color, she later wrote. The visit to New York marked a change in her practice, as she transitioned into sculpture which relied on pared-down painted wooden surfaces to convey their subtle impact. The family moved to Japan in 1964, where they stayed for 3 years. Truitt never felt comfortable in Japan, and ended up destroying all her work from this period. Anne Truitts column sculptures.   annetruitt.org The Truitts divorced in 1969. After the divorce, Truitt lived in Washington, D.C. for the remainder of her life. Her separation from the art world of New York perhaps accounts for her lack of critical acclaim compared to her minimalist contemporaries, but that is not to say she existed outside of New York completely. She befriended artist Kenneth Noland and later took over his studio near Dupont Circle when he moved to New York. Through Noland, Truitt was introduced to Andrà © Emmerich, Noland’s New York gallerist, who eventually became Truitt’s gallerist. Work Truitt is known for her stark minimalist sculptures set directly on the floor of the gallery space, which mimic in verticality and proportion the shape of a human body. Unlike many of her fellow minimalist artists like Walter de Maria and Robert Morris, she did not shy away from color, but in fact made it the central point of interest in her work. The subtlety of color is applied precisely to the sculptures, often painstakingly and in as many as forty layers. Truitt was also notable in her studio practice, as she sanded, prepped, and painted each of her works without the help of a studio assistant. The structures themselves she sent out to a lumber yard close to her home to be made to her specifications. Daybook and Diaries Following retrospectives at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York in 1973 and the Corcoran Museum of Art in Washington, D.C. in 1974, Truitt began to write a diary, seeking to make sense of the increased publicity her previously quietly shown art began to receive. How was she to understand herself as an artist now that her work was consumed and criticized by so many eyes other than her own? The result was Daybook, later published in 1982, which begins as an exploration of this newfound critical regard for her work, but ends up being an exploration of an artist’s day-to-day, as she struggles to find the money to continue her practice, all the while supporting her children. Due to Daybook’s critical success, Truitt would publish two more volumes of diaries. The language of the diaries is often poetic with frequent forays into Truitt’s past. Though she gave up a career in psychology, it is clearly still present in her thinking, as her analysis of her life and career relies heavily on the interpretation of her psychological motivations and the impact of her youth on her personality. Legacy Anne Truitt died in Washington, D.C. in 2004 at the age of 83. She was honored posthumously by the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington in 2009 with a major retrospective. Her estate is managed by her daughter Alexandra Truitt, and her work is represented by Matthew Marks Gallery in New York City. Sources Munro, E. (2000). Originals: American Women Artists. New York: Da Capo Press.Truitt, A. (1982). Daybook. New York, Scribner.

Bruce Dawes ability to concentrate experience into vivid and memorable images is discussed, referring to Big Jim and Life-Cycle.

Bruce Dawes ability to concentrate experience into vivid and memorable images is discussed, referring to Big Jim and Life-Cycle. THE POETRY OF BRUCE DAWEOne of the marks of a great poet is the ability to concentrate experience into vivid and memorable images. Discuss, referring to at least two poems.Over the forty-three years between 1954 and 1997 Bruce Dawe wrote more than 150 poems, each one a reflection or reaction to what was happening in his life. Dawe has the amazing ability to show readers what he is thinking and feeling purely from his poetry. Dawe uses his life and past experiences, drawing on them to create characters and occurrences that leave lasting impressions and provokes thought from the reader. Two of Dawe's poems that are excellent examples of Dawe's imagery are "Life-Cycle", relating the cycle of life to the football season; and "Big Jim", describing an Australian market seller. The reason that Dawe is able to describe these characters and events in so much detail is because he is able to use his past life experiences to enhance his writing.Yacht ZEPHYR on Sydney Harbour with (most likely) . ..Dawe, now aged 74, has grown up surrounded by the suburban Australian culture. Born in 1930, Bruce Dawe grew up in suburban Geelong, Victoria. Dawe was the fourth child, born into a family where the breadwinner was an unskilled labourer. This meant that the Dawe family was forced to move constantly, in search for work in the midst of the Great Depression. In spite of this, Dawe looks back on his childhood as a happy time. As a teenager, some of Dawe's poems were published in The Age newspaper, under the guidance of George Stirling, an influential English teacher. At the age of sixteen, Dawe left school; uninterested in the work given to him. Over the years that followed, he took up many jobs; including a clerk with a law firm, a salesman, an office boy...

You have chosen to return to college to finish your degree. Describe Essay

You have chosen to return to college to finish your degree. Describe reasons why you made this decision and persuade a friend to do the same - Essay Example In the first decade of the 21st century the United States lost 5.8 million manufacturing jobs (Americanmanufacturing, 2011). The jobs available in the US marketplace have shifted into the knowledge and service economy. In order to compete in the new job marketplace it is imperative to obtain a formal education at an accredited college or university. Without a college degree the only jobs that are available are minimum wage jobs and even those are becoming scarcer and companies are diluting those jobs by offering part-time instead of full-time employment. The unemployment rate in the United States has gone up during the last few years. The unemployment in the United States in July 2011 was 9.1% (Bls, 2011). Due to the fact that more people are unemployed the level of competition was gone up and people that have better credentials are getting the jobs in the marketplace. The most important educational credential employers seek in new recruits is a college education. I have realized that the only way for me to get a good job is to go back to school to earn a degree. A college education increases a person’s chances to get a job and the job obtained will have higher wages. A person with a bachelor’s degree will earn an extra $0.9 million over their lifetime in comparison to a high school graduate; while people with a master’s degree will earn $1.3 more than a high school diploma and $0.4 million more than a bachelor’s degree (Longley, 2011). The past constraints that sometimes hurt the ability of adults to obtain a college education no longer apply. For instance a working adult sometimes had the excuse that he could not go back to college because of employment obligations. Time used to be a variable that hurt a lot of working adults. Due to advances in technology there are solutions available for working adults. Online universities such as the

Operant Conditioning PS240 WK4 Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Operant Conditioning PS240 WK4 - Term Paper Example Negative reinforcement occurs when a specific behavior is encouraged by the ceasing of a negative condition. Something negative is removed to entice the prevalence of a wanted behavior. Therefore, negative reinforcement seeks to encourage an individual by taking away something that they do not like. Like reinforcement, punishment is also viewed in terms of positive and negative. Positive punishment requires the presentation of a displeasing and unwanted stimulus. When an individual displays a negative behavior, they are presented with the displeasing stimulus immediately after, which helps to discourage the repetition of that behavior (Stangor, 2010). The purpose of positive punishment is to avoid being presented with the negative stimulus, which can only be done by ceasing the behavior. Negative punishment occurs when something that the individual finds enjoyable is taken away in response to unacceptable or unapproved behavior. This aspect of the punishment system is to avoid having that good thing removed, therefore prompting the individual to cease with their unwanted behavior. Operant conditioning has proven to be a very beneficial system in the daily lives of many individuals who wish to increase or cease entirely certain behaviors. In my personal life, operant conditioning has been useful in regard to my schoolwork and my need to put an end to detrimental procrastination habits. By implementing positive reinforcement into my study habits, I treat myself to a reward, which is primarily in the form of a break, after I have studied worked for a predetermined amount of time. I apply negative reinforcement by removing all distractions from around my work area. Anything that can aid in my procrastination is moved out of my grasp and line of vision. Positive punishment comes in the form of increased study time if I slack off. The more that I procrastinate, the more that I have to work. As for a negative

Case study Paul Price Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Case study Paul Price - Essay Example For instance, Tefal Actifry sold the good to Paul Price by description. The good was therefore implied to correspond to the accorded descriptions by Tefal Actifry. The failure resulted into the breach of the implied terms in section 13 of the Sale of Good Act 1979. Section 14 provides that business people ensure that their goods are of satisfactory fit and quality for their purpose. Tefal Actifry although described the good as satisfactory and safe, the good turned out to be disastrous, however, and other similar goods sold to other consumers proved of good quality and safety (Stewart 1998). Therefore if Tefal Actifry had included a clause limiting their liability, this is the point where it would have relied on the clause to avoid complications with the buyer, Paul Price. Paul price should be aware that when one buys a good, he or she enters into a contract with the seller. The goods purchased must be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose. The buyer, Paul Price, is provided with different protections when purchasing a good under contract law. Paul Price should be aware that he got into a contract with Tefal Actifry immediately he accepted and paid for the good. There may be concurrent liability for the manufacturer in the law of tort should goods which are faulty result into any significant harm or injury to the buyer, his or her property, but the buyer’s primary rights under the contract of sale lies with the retailer (Mark 2003). According to the Sale of Goods Act 1979, there are four major protections accorded to the buyer: the seller must possess the right of sale over the good (section 12), the goods that are sold with descriptions have to correspond to the given descriptions (section 13), the good sold must have a quality that is satisfactory enough (section 14), and in section 15, all goods sold by a sample must correspond to the quality of the sample. Paul Price should be aware of the above and observe with sound mind any bre ach of those protection and sue where necessary because Tefan Actifry is liable to the breach of any of those four provisions (Van 2001). Paul Price should know that the mentioned protections are statutory implied terms. Therefore the Sale of Goods Act will have to put those terms into contract of the goods sold regardless of what the agreed terms and conditions of the sale that the parties have agreed on themselves. The buyer, Paul Price, should be informed that a contract is just for provided goods sold. It is a transfer ownership of the goods sold for the money exchanged. Therefore if the seller, Tefal Actifry, breaches any of the provided terms, the statutory rights of the buyer, Paul Price, then the buyer is entitled to a remedy (Mark 2003). Therefore, Paul Price is entitled to a remedy by Tefal Actifry because of the breach of Paul’s statutory right provided in section 13 that the goods sold by description have to meet correspond to the given description. Tefal Actifry gave description of his good during the sale and it turned out otherwise, therefore he is liable to the damages that resulted from the good contrary to what he gave as the description during the sale (Stewart 1998). Tefal Actifry stated during the sale of the Actifry that â€Å"

Argumentative Essay on universities lecturing systems

Argumentative Essay on universities lecturing systems Recently, the use of lecturing system in universities is being questioned for its efficiency. The dilemma is that should lecturing system in University be replaced with small classes. Small classes, as described by David Daniels in his article College Lectures: Is Anybody Listening? emphasis on having lesser students in a class. This encourages more interaction between lecturer and students, aiming to build active learners and the enable lectures to be sure of the progress of their students. He also stated that students now are lacking of listening skills meaning that lecturing system is no longer effective for them, showing the need of change to small classes system in educating students. Lecturing system on the other hand is a traditional way of teaching used in tertiary studies. The number of students handled by a lecturer is much more compared to small class system. We should continue using lecturing system as it show more advantages than using small classes in the sense of being more cost effective, building more independent students, decreasing absentees and by being fair in grading students. First, usually the numbers of students in universities are massive which small class system will not be able to fit in all students. However, if lecturing system is replaced by small classes in universities, it would be very costly seeing that more classes need to be opened for lessons to be conducted. An excellent example is more manpower is needed to operate. According to the former president of United States, he states that an average of 1.7 billion dollars is needed to train more lecturers to conduct small classes nationwide yearly (Viadero, 1998). Many universities are lacking of lecturers and using small classes will need the university to hire more lecturers to facilitate lectures. This means universities will have to fork out a lot of money to overcome the shortage of manpower. Electric bills will shoot up too as teaching aid such as projectors and computers as well as air conditioning to keep the temperature in room favorable temperature will need large electric consumption. All these factors will contribute in a larger operating cost. What do universities do to cover the cost? Increasing fees charged on students! This will cause education to be costly and unaffordable for those families earning lower income. The consequence of this issue will be chances of financially poor students getting higher education to be slimmer. Worse though, if the management chooses to hire non experienced part time lecturers to reduce the operating cost, small class will as well be meaningless. Lecturing system will save on this problem as this system enables a lecturer to handle more students. This will also solve the problem for universities where spaces are very limited as a hall will be enough to fit in all students for one lecture. Thus, continue using lecturing system not only provide a more affordable education for students but enable the campus to generate more profit as operating cost is reduced and student intakes are increased due to the better organizing of spa ce. Next, lecturing system will build more independent students. David Daniel claims that small classes enable lecturers know the progress of their students and help them improve. Yet, this situation causes students to rely on lecturers. What are they, the students without their lecturers? Will they be able to survive in the harsh life in work when they are graduated their studies? This is especially an issue among Malaysian students. They tend to blame lecturers for low grades. However, is the problem with the student or education system itself? Malaysian students are introduced to at least 11 years of small classes system before proceeding to pursue their higher education. If this issue occurs, this simply means there is a critical error in the system. Students are used to be spoon-fed with whatever they need to know and not by discovering with their own effort. Demolishing small class students used to have for their higher education will be painful for them but students must start to realize that they are actually responsible for their own studies. The duty of lecturers is just to guide them in tertiary level education. Only then students whom are used to be spoon-fed will be forced to look for additional information from various sources for their subjects. Teaching a man to fish is better than giving him a fish every day. Indirectly, it might shape more knowledgeable student as they will be exposed to irrelevant facts which seems to be not useful in the progress of looking what they want. Who knows if the information is applicable someday? Hence, lecturing system will be able to shape more quality students whom can independently improve themselves in their field of study. Furthermore, lecturing system is useful is decreasing absentees in class. David Daniels proposes that question and answer section in small classes can help to shape more active students. However, is this method applicable to all students? Intrinsic students who do not like to voice out will not feel comfortable being asked and pressured by questions from lecturers. However, these groups of students are being paid most attention by lecturers as they are too quiet and these lead more questions to be directed to them. The discomfort might cause them feel afraid to enter class. In lecturing system quiet students will instead get the sense of security because the large group of student does not allow lecturers to question students individually but as a group instead. The same situation applies to weaker students. Lecturers tend to emphasis their questions on them in small classes. It is true that lecturers are trying to help them as what David Daniels says to improve their analytical skil l, but students at this age are egocentric. How would they feel if they do not know how to answer a question in front of their classmates? They might feel ashamed for the rest of the period and their emotion will keep them away from concentrating. Worse still, they might fear being asked questions again. Involved students might be stressed out and try to escape from the threatening situation. Furthermore, students studying in universities are basically at their teenage age. This is the stage where they are most attracted by the opposite sex psychologically. In lecturing system, a larger crowd provides more targets for them to prey on. Such situation might motivate them to attend class more frequently as they might want to keep a good image in front of someone they are attracted to. Besides, they might work hard in order to get good results to be proud of. Eventually, lecturing system not only decrease absentees rate but lead students to a higher achievement as well. Moving on, lecturers teaching in lecture system are fairer in grading coursework compared to lecturers from small classes. According to David Daniels, small classes allow professors to discover who knows what before final examinations. However, what is the purpose of doing so? Allowing the lecturers to set questions according to what their students know? This will not help the students but give them an illusion of the marks they get. They thought they know a lot from the high grade they achieve but the fact is just the opposite. Since students result reflect on lecturers reputation, we cannot deny that there will be some irresponsible lecturers that would use this way to help students get better grades so they might be proud too. A win-win situation? In lecturing system, lecturers might not know the progress of their students but this enable them to set exam questions based on what students should know and not what students already know. If students did badly in their examination, it serves them right for not studying hard enough. They will eventually learn from their mistake and do better next time. It will always be better than pampering the students by helping them through examinations. Another good example will be the rate of grade inflation. Based on the statistic provided by The New York Times, the rate of grade inflation in private colleges using small class system is 38 percent higher than public colleges using lecturing system. Corresponding to this, we can say that the good relationship built between lecturers and students in small class system affect the judging ability of lecturers to grade fairly. Human are by nature emotional. Philosophically, emotion overrides the rationality part of a human. Thus, very often lecturers gave marks higher than what the student deserves especially for those who are closer and have a better relationship with the lecturer. On the other hand, lecturing system can avoid this situation from happening. The large crowd a l ecturer is handling will build a barrier between the student and lecturer. Saving on the relationship part, lecturer will be able to judge students coursework fairly. The larger number of coursework submitted also enable lecturers to compare the work and give marks accordingly. Therefore, those who really put in effort to do their assignment will deserve a better grade and be motivated to keep on with their hard work. Finally, lecturing system should not be replaced by small class system in universities as it obviously show more advantage by being more cost effective and beneficial to students. However, there are improvements that can be done for the system to be more effective. Universities should make sure hired lecturers are up to certain requirements and are able to facilitate the lesson effectively. While for the problem of student lacking listening skills and concentration as proposed by David Daniels, actions such as giving short breaks at certain time and projecting some short clips featuring jokes from subject of students interest can be taken. This can help to regain students concentration. Based on the reasons proposed, lecturing system is still the better way to be used in universities compared to small class system.

Palanca Awards Essay

The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (Palanca Awards) was established in 1950. The heirs of Don Carlos Palanca, Sr. found it most fitting to commemorate his memory through an endeavor that would promote education and culture in the country. The Palanca Awards aims to help develop Philippine Literature by: 1. Providing incentives for writers to craft their most outstanding literary works. 2. Being a treasury of the Philippine’s literary gems from our gifted writers and to assist in its eventual dissemination to our people, particularly the students. 62 years ago, the Palanca Awards called on Filipino fictionists to weave their best short story in either English or Filipino. Today, the Awards continues to challenge writers to pour out their creativity in various literary genres. Instituted in 1995, the Palanca Hall of Fame award is presented to a Palanca awardee who has achieved the distinction of winning five first prizes in the regular categories. TheKabataan Award of Distinction gives recognition to a Palanca awardee who wins four first prizes in this division. The Palanca Awards continues to pursue avenues that help share these literary gems with the rest of the countrymen, to whom Filipino literature ultimately belongs. These winning works are continuously made accessible to students, and all researchers and lovers of literature through the Carlos Palanca Foundation (CPF) library. Adding dimension to the Palanca Awards mission of encouraging excellence in literary writing, CPF is supporting a scholarship program for creative writing. The Foundation also seeks to foster the unbounded imagination and creative spirit of the Filipino through creative writing workshops and readings of award-winning works. Born from a simple dream made 62 years ago to help develop Philippine literature, the foundation holds steadfast to its mission of providing nourishment for the national spirit. †¢Is not a secret that many Filipinos are unfamiliar with Philippine literature especially those written long before the Spanish arrived in our country. This is due to the fact that the stories of ancient time were not written, but rather passed on from generation to generation through word of mouth. Only in 1521 did the Filipinos become to be acquainted with literature due to the influence of the Spaniards on us. But the literature that the Filipinos became acquainted with are not Filipino made, rather, they were works of Spanish authors. †¢The rise of nationalistic pride in the 1960s and 1970s also helped bring about this change of attitude among a new breed of Filipinos concerned about the â€Å"Filipino identity. † †¢ The 1960’s were, summarily, a period when writers seriously grappled with problems of art. The early 1970’s saw a proliferation of politically motivated or committed writing and protest literature. Short-story writers became more conscious of the political milieu and of social issues in the wake of the increased activism all over the world and right in their country, especially during the troubled days of a dictatorial government. Some of the more recent fiction writers include Paulino Lim, Alfred Yuson, Jose Dalisay, Mario Eric Gamalinda, and Cristina P. Hidalgo. Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, the country’s most prestigious and longest-running literary contest. The Palanca Awards or Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature are literary awards of the Philippines. The Manila Standard called it the â€Å"Pulitzer Prize† of the Philippines. [1] It is one of the Philippines’ most long-running award giving bodies. [2] History[edit] The Palanca Awards was established in 1950 to inspire Filipino writers to improve their literary works. [3] In the 1960s the Palanca Awards Committee started to fund the publication of Palanca plays and production fund were committed on 1975. [4] In 2009, it added a category for Poetry for children in both Filipino and English. [2] Winning is tough, and for many writers, it goes beyond the cash prize. Winning means a validation of their work, and for some, it means a step toward joining the ranks of the country’s literati. It was to honor the legacy of Don Carlos Palanca, Sr. that the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature was established in 1950 and the first award was given in 1951. Through this annual literary contest, the family and heirs of Carlos Palanca sought to keep his name alive, along with his legacy of discipline and perseverance, and to enrich the nation’s cultural heritage.

Angels Demons Chapter 130-133

130 The camerlegno began to feel the fog of wonder and adrenaline dissipating. As the Swiss Guard helped him down the Royal Staircase toward the Sistine Chapel, the camerlegno heard singing in St. Peter's Square and he knew that mountains had been moved. Grazie Dio. He had prayed for strength, and God had given it to him. At moments when he had doubted, God had spoken. Yours is a Holy mission, God had said. I will give you strength. Even with God's strength, the camerlegno had felt fear, questioning the righteousness of his path. If not you, God had challenged, then Who? If not now, then When? If not this way, then How? Jesus, God reminded him, had saved them all†¦ saved them from their own apathy. With two deeds, Jesus had opened their eyes. Horror and Hope. The crucifixion and the resurrection. He had changed the world. But that was millennia ago. Time had eroded the miracle. People had forgotten. They had turned to false idols – techno-deities and miracles of the mind. What about miracles of the heart! The camerlegno had often prayed to God to show him how to make the people believe again. But God had been silent. It was not until the camerlegno's moment of deepest darkness that God had come to him. Oh, the horror of that night! The camerlegno could still remember lying on the floor in tattered nightclothes, clawing at his own flesh, trying to purge his soul of the pain brought on by a vile truth he had just learned. It cannot be! he had screamed. And yet he knew it was. The deception tore at him like the fires of hell. The bishop who had taken him in, the man who had been like a father to him, the clergyman whom the camerlegno had stood beside while he rose to the papacy†¦ was a fraud. A common sinner. Lying to the world about a deed so traitorous at its core that the camerlegno doubted even God could forgive it. â€Å"Your vow!† the camerlegno had screamed at the Pope. â€Å"You broke your vow to God! You, of all men!† The Pope had tried to explain himself, but the camerlegno could not listen. He had run out, staggering blindly through the hallways, vomiting, tearing at his own skin, until he found himself bloody and alone, lying on the cold earthen floor before St. Peter's tomb. Mother Mary, what do I do? It was in that moment of pain and betrayal, as the camerlegno lay devastated in the Necropolis, praying for God to take him from this faithless world, that God had come. The voice in his head resounded like peals of thunder. â€Å"Did you vow to serve your God?† â€Å"Yes!† the camerlegno cried out. â€Å"Would you die for your God?† â€Å"Yes! Take me now!† â€Å"Would you die for your church?† â€Å"Yes! Please deliver me!† â€Å"But would you die for†¦ mankind?† It was in the silence that followed that the camerlegno felt himself falling into the abyss. He tumbled farther, faster, out of control. And yet he knew the answer. He had always known. â€Å"Yes!† he shouted into the madness. â€Å"I would die for man! Like your son, I would die for them!† Hours later, the camerlegno still lay shivering on his floor. He saw his mother's face. God has plans for you, she was saying. The camerlegno plunged deeper into madness. It was then God had spoken again. This time with silence. But the camerlegno understood. Restore their faith. If not me†¦ then who? If not now†¦ then when? As the guards unbolted the door of the Sistine Chapel, Camerlegno Carlo Ventresca felt the power moving in his veins†¦ exactly as it had when he was a boy. God had chosen him. Long ago. His will be done. The camerlegno felt reborn. The Swiss Guard had bandaged his chest, bathed him, and dressed him in a fresh white linen robe. They had also given him an injection of morphine for the burn. The camerlegno wished they had not given him painkillers. Jesus endured his pain for three days on the cross! He could already feel the drug uprooting his senses†¦ a dizzying undertow. As he walked into the chapel, he was not at all surprised to see the cardinals staring at him in wonder. They are in awe of God, he reminded himself. Not of me, but how God works THROUGH me. As he moved up the center aisle, he saw bewilderment in every face. And yet, with each new face he passed, he sensed something else in their eyes. What was it? The camerlegno had tried to imagine how they would receive him tonight. Joyfully? Reverently? He tried to read their eyes and saw neither emotion. It was then the camerlegno looked at the altar and saw Robert Langdon. 131 Camerlegno Carlo Ventresca stood in the aisle of the Sistine Chapel. The cardinals were all standing near the front of the church, turned, staring at him. Robert Langdon was on the altar beside a television that was on endless loop, playing a scene the camerlegno recognized but could not imagine how it had come to be. Vittoria Vetra stood beside him, her face drawn. The camerlegno closed his eyes for a moment, hoping the morphine was making him hallucinate and that when he opened them the scene might be different. But it was not. They knew. Oddly, he felt no fear. Show me the way, Father. Give me the words that I can make them see Your vision. But the camerlegno heard no reply. Father, We have come too far together to fail now. Silence. They do not understand what We have done. The camerlegno did not know whose voice he heard in his own mind, but the message was stark. And the truth shall set you free†¦ And so it was that Camerlegno Carlo Ventresca held his head high as he walked toward the front of the Sistine Chapel. As he moved toward the cardinals, not even the diffused light of the candles could soften the eyes boring into him. Explain yourself, the faces said. Make sense of this madness. Tell us our fears are wrong! Truth, the camerlegno told himself. Only truth. There were too many secrets in these walls†¦ one so dark it had driven him to madness. But from the madness had come the light. â€Å"If you could give your own soul to save millions,† the camerlegno said, as he moved down the aisle, â€Å"would you?† The faces in the chapel simply stared. No one moved. No one spoke. Beyond the walls, the joyous strains of song could be heard in the square. The camerlegno walked toward them. â€Å"Which is the greater sin? Killing one's enemy? Or standing idle while your true love is strangled?† They are singing in St. Peter's Square! The camerlegno stopped for a moment and gazed up at the ceiling of the Sistine. Michelangelo's God was staring down from the darkened vault†¦ and He seemed pleased. â€Å"I could no longer stand by,† the camerlegno said. Still, as he drew nearer, he saw no flicker of understanding in anyone's eyes. Didn't they see the radiant simplicity of his deeds? Didn't they see the utter necessity! It had been so pure. The Illuminati. Science and Satan as one. Resurrect the ancient fear. Then crush it. Horror and Hope. Make them believe again. Tonight, the power of the Illuminati had been unleashed anew†¦ and with glorious consequence. The apathy had evaporated. The fear had shot out across the world like a bolt of lightning, uniting the people. And then God's majesty had vanquished the darkness. I could not stand idly by! The inspiration had been God's own – appearing like a beacon in the camerlegno's night of agony. Oh, this faithless world! Someone must deliver them. You. If not you, who? You have been saved for a reason. Show them the old demons. Remind them of their fear. Apathy is death. Without darkness, there is no light. Without evil, there is no good. Make them choose. Dark or light. Where is the fear? Where are the heroes? If not now, when? The camerlegno walked up the center aisle directly toward the crowd of standing cardinals. He felt like Moses as the sea of red sashes and caps parted before him, allowing him to pass. On the altar, Robert Langdon switched off the television, took Vittoria's hand, and relinquished the altar. The fact that Robert Langdon had survived, the camerlegno knew, could only have been God's will. God had saved Robert Langdon. The camerlegno wondered why. The voice that broke the silence was the voice of the only woman in the Sistine Chapel. â€Å"You killed my father?† she said, stepping forward. When the camerlegno turned to Vittoria Vetra, the look on her face was one he could not quite understand – pain yes, but anger? Certainly she must understand. Her father's genius was deadly. He had to be stopped. For the good of Mankind. â€Å"He was doing God's work,† Vittoria said. â€Å"God's work is not done in a lab. It is done in the heart.† â€Å"My father's heart was pure! And his research proved – â€Å" â€Å"His research proved yet again that man's mind is progressing faster than his soul!† The camerlegno's voice was sharper than he had expected. He lowered his voice. â€Å"If a man as spiritual as your father could create a weapon like the one we saw tonight, imagine what an ordinary man will do with his technology.† â€Å"A man like you?† The camerlegno took a deep breath. Did she not see? Man's morality was not advancing as fast as man's science. Mankind was not spiritually evolved enough for the powers he possessed. We have never created a weapon we have not used! And yet he knew that antimatter was nothing – another weapon in man's already burgeoning arsenal. Man could already destroy. Man learned to kill long ago. And his mother's blood rained down. Leonardo Vetra's genius was dangerous for another reason. â€Å"For centuries,† the camerlegno said, â€Å"the church has stood by while science picked away at religion bit by bit. Debunking miracles. Training the mind to overcome the heart. Condemning religion as the opiate of the masses. They denounce God as a hallucination – a delusional crutch for those too weak to accept that life is meaningless. I could not stand by while science presumed to harness the power of God himself! Proof, you say? Yes, proof of science's ignorance! What is wrong with the admission that something exists beyond our understanding? The day science substantiates God in a lab is the day people stop needing faith!† â€Å"You mean the day they stop needing the church,† Vittoria challenged, moving toward him. â€Å"Doubt is your last shred of control. It is doubt that brings souls to you. Our need to know that life has meaning. Man's insecurity and need for an enlightened soul assuring him everything is part of a master plan. But the church is not the only enlightened soul on the planet! We all seek God in different ways. What are you afraid of? That God will show himself somewhere other than inside these walls? That people will find him in their own lives and leave your antiquated rituals behind? Religions evolve! The mind finds answers, the heart grapples with new truths. My father was on your quest! A parallel path! Why couldn't you see that? God is not some omnipotent authority looking down from above, threatening to throw us into a pit of fire if we disobey. God is the energy that flows through the synapses of our nervous system and the chambers of our hearts! God is in all things!â €  â€Å"Except science,† the camerlegno fired back, his eyes showing only pity. â€Å"Science, by definition, is soulless. Divorced from the heart. Intellectual miracles like antimatter arrive in this world with no ethical instructions attached. This in itself is perilous! But when science heralds its Godless pursuits as the enlightened path? Promising answers to questions whose beauty is that they have no answers?† He shook his head. â€Å"No.† There was a moment of silence. The camerlegno felt suddenly tired as he returned Vittoria's unbending stare. This was not how it was supposed to be. Is this God's final test? It was Mortati who broke the spell. â€Å"The preferiti,† he said in a horrified whisper. â€Å"Baggia and the others. Please tell me you did not†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The camerlegno turned to him, surprised by the pain in his voice. Certainly Mortati could understand. Headlines carried science's miracles every day. How long had it been for religion? Centuries? Religion needed a miracle! Something to awaken a sleeping world. Bring them back to the path of righteousness. Restore faith. The preferiti were not leaders anyway, they were transformers – liberals prepared to embrace the new world and abandon the old ways! This was the only way. A new leader. Young. Powerful. Vibrant. Miraculous. The preferiti served the church far more effectively in death than they ever could alive. Horror and Hope. Offer four souls to save millions. The world would remember them forever as martyrs. The church would raise glorious tribute to their names. How many thousands have died for the glory of God? They are only four. â€Å"The preferiti,† Mortati repeated. â€Å"I shared their pain,† the camerlegno defended, motioning to his chest. â€Å"And I too would die for God, but my work is only just begun. They are singing in St. Peter's Square!† The camerlegno saw the horror in Mortati's eyes and again felt confused. Was it the morphine? Mortati was looking at him as if the camerlegno himself had killed these men with his bare hands. I would do even that for God, the camerlegno thought, and yet he had not. The deeds had been carried out by the Hassassin – a heathen soul tricked into thinking he was doing the work of the Illuminati. I am Janus, the camerlegno had told him. I will prove my power. And he had. The Hassassin's hatred had made him God's pawn. â€Å"Listen to the singing,† the camerlegno said, smiling, his own heart rejoicing. â€Å"Nothing unites hearts like the presence of evil. Burn a church and the community rises up, holding hands, singing hymns of defiance as they rebuild. Look how they flock tonight. Fear has brought them home. Forge modern demons for modern man. Apathy is dead. Show them the face of evil – Satanists lurking among us – running our governments, our banks, our schools, threatening to obliterate the very House of God with their misguided science. Depravity runs deep. Man must be vigilant. Seek the goodness. Become the goodness!† In the silence, the camerlegno hoped they now understood. The Illuminati had not resurfaced. The Illuminati were long deceased. Only their myth was alive. The camerlegno had resurrected the Illuminati as a reminder. Those who knew the Illuminati history relived their evil. Those who did not, had learned of it and were amazed how blind they had been. The ancient demons had been resurrected to awaken an indifferent world. â€Å"But†¦ the brands?† Mortati's voice was stiff with outrage. The camerlegno did not answer. Mortati had no way of knowing, but the brands had been confiscated by the Vatican over a century ago. They had been locked away, forgotten and dust covered, in the Papal Vault – the Pope's private reliquary, deep within his Borgia apartments. The Papal Vault contained those items the church deemed too dangerous for anyone's eyes except the Pope's. Why did they hide that which inspired fear? Fear brought people to God! The vault's key was passed down from Pope to Pope. Camerlegno Carlo Ventresca had purloined the key and ventured inside; the myth of what the vault contained was bewitching – the original manuscript for the fourteen unpublished books of the Bible known as the Apocrypha, the third prophecy of Fatima, the first two having come true and the third so terrifying the church would never reveal it. In addition to these, the camerlegno had found the Illuminati Collection – all the secrets the church had uncovered after banishing the group from Rome†¦ their contemptible Path of Illumination†¦ the cunning deceit of the Vatican's head artist, Bernini†¦ Europe's top scientists mocking religion as they secretly assembled in the Vatican's own Castle St. Angelo. The collection included a pentagon box containing iron brands, one of them the mythical Illuminati Diamond. This was a part of Vatican history the ancients thought best forgotten. The camerlegno, however, had dis agreed. â€Å"But the antimatter†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Vittoria demanded. â€Å"You risked destroying the Vatican!† â€Å"There is no risk when God is at your side,† the camerlegno said. â€Å"This cause was His.† â€Å"You're insane!† she seethed. â€Å"Millions were saved.† â€Å"People were killed!† â€Å"Souls were saved.† â€Å"Tell that to my father and Max Kohler!† â€Å"CERN's arrogance needed to be revealed. A droplet of liquid that can vaporize a half mile? And you call me mad?† The camerlegno felt a rage rising in him. Did they think his was a simple charge? â€Å"Those who believe undergo great tests for God! God asked Abraham to sacrifice his child! God commanded Jesus to endure crucifixion! And so we hang the symbol of the crucifix before our eyes – bloody, painful, agonizing – to remind us of evil's power! To keep our hearts vigilant! The scars on Jesus' body are a living reminder of the powers of darkness! My scars are a living reminder! Evil lives, but the power of God will overcome!† His shouts echoed off the back wall of the Sistine Chapel and then a profound silence fell. Time seemed to stop. Michelangelo's Last Judgment rose ominously behind him†¦ Jesus casting sinners into hell. Tears brimmed in Mortati's eyes. â€Å"What have you done, Carlo?† Mortati asked in a whisper. He closed his eyes, and a tear rolled. â€Å"His Holiness?† A collective sigh of pain went up, as if everyone in the room had forgotten until that very moment. The Pope. Poisoned. â€Å"A vile liar,† the camerlegno said. Mortati looked shattered. â€Å"What do you mean? He was honest! He†¦ loved you.† â€Å"And I him.† Oh, how I loved him! But the deceit! The broken vows to God! The camerlegno knew they did not understand right now, but they would. When he told them, they would see! His Holiness was the most nefarious deceiver the church had ever seen. The camerlegno still remembered that terrible night. He had returned from his trip to CERN with news of Vetra's Genesis and of antimatter's horrific power. The camerlegno was certain the Pope would see the perils, but the Holy Father saw only hope in Vetra's breakthrough. He even suggested the Vatican fund Vetra's work as a gesture of goodwill toward spiritually based scientific research. Madness! The church investing in research that threatened to make the church obsolete? Work that spawned weapons of mass destruction? The bomb that had killed his mother†¦ â€Å"But†¦ you can't!† the camerlegno had exclaimed. â€Å"I owe a deep debt to science,† the Pope had replied. â€Å"Something I have hidden my entire life. Science gave me a gift when I was a young man. A gift I have never forgotten.† â€Å"I don't understand. What does science have to offer a man of God?† â€Å"It is complicated,† the Pope had said. â€Å"I will need time to make you understand. But first, there is a simple fact about me that you must know. I have kept it hidden all these years. I believe it is time I told you.† Then the Pope had told him the astonishing truth. 132 The camerlegno lay curled in a ball on the dirt floor in front of St. Peter's tomb. The Necropolis was cold, but it helped clot the blood flowing from the wounds he had torn at his own flesh. His Holiness would not find him here. Nobody would find him here†¦ â€Å"It is complicated,† the Pope's voice echoed in his mind. â€Å"I will need time to make you understand†¦Ã¢â‚¬  But the camerlegno knew no amount of time could make him understand. Liar! I believed in you! GOD believed in you! With a single sentence, the Pope had brought the camerlegno's world crashing down around him. Everything the camerlegno had ever believed about his mentor was shattered before his eyes. The truth drilled into the camerlegno's heart with such force that he staggered backward out of the Pope's office and vomited in the hallway. â€Å"Wait!† the Pope had cried, chasing after him. â€Å"Please let me explain!† But the camerlegno ran off. How could His Holiness expect him to endure any more? Oh, the wretched depravity of it! What if someone else found out? Imagine the desecration to the church! Did the Pope's holy vows mean nothing? The madness came quickly, screaming in his ears, until he awoke before St. Peter's tomb. It was then that God came to him with an awesome fierceness. Yours is a Vengeful God! Together, they made their plans. Together they would protect the church. Together they would restore faith to this faithless world. Evil was everywhere. And yet the world had become immune! Together they would unveil the darkness for the world to see†¦ and God would overcome! Horror and Hope. Then the world would believe! God's first test had been less horrible than the camerlegno imagined. Sneaking into the Papal bed chambers†¦ filling his syringe†¦ covering the deceiver's mouth as his body spasmed into death. In the moonlight, the camerlegno could see in the Pope's wild eyes there was something he wanted to say. But it was too late. The Pope had said enough. 133 â€Å"The Pope fathered a child.† Inside the Sistine Chapel, the camerlegno stood unwavering as he spoke. Five solitary words of astonishing disclosure. The entire assembly seemed to recoil in unison. The cardinals' accusing miens evaporated into aghast stares, as if every soul in the room were praying the camerlegno was wrong. The Pope fathered a child. Langdon felt the shock wave hit him too. Vittoria's hand, tight in his, jolted, while Langdon's mind, already numb with unanswered questions, wrestled to find a center of gravity. The camerlegno's utterance seemed like it would hang forever in the air above them. Even in the camerlegno's frenzied eyes, Langdon could see pure conviction. Langdon wanted to disengage, tell himself he was lost in some grotesque nightmare, soon to wake up in a world that made sense. â€Å"This must be a lie!† one of the cardinals yelled. â€Å"I will not believe it!† another protested. â€Å"His Holiness was as devout a man as ever lived!† It was Mortati who spoke next, his voice thin with devastation. â€Å"My friends. What the camerlegno says is true.† Every cardinal in the chapel spun as though Mortati had just shouted an obscenity. â€Å"The Pope indeed fathered a child.† The cardinals blanched with dread. The camerlegno looked stunned. â€Å"You knew? But†¦ how could you possibly know this?† Mortati sighed. â€Å"When His Holiness was elected†¦ I was the Devil's Advocate.† There was a communal gasp. Langdon understood. This meant the information was probably true. The infamous â€Å"Devil's Advocate† was the authority when it came to scandalous information inside the Vatican. Skeletons in a Pope's closet were dangerous, and prior to elections, secret inquiries into a candidate's background were carried out by a lone cardinal who served as the â€Å"Devil's Advocate† – that individual responsible for unearthing reasons why the eligible cardinals should not become Pope. The Devil's Advocate was appointed in advance by the reigning Pope in preparation for his own death. The Devil's Advocate was never supposed to reveal his identity. Ever. â€Å"I was the Devil's Advocate,† Mortati repeated. â€Å"That is how I found out.† Mouths dropped. Apparently tonight was a night when all the rules were going out the window. The camerlegno felt his heart filling with rage. â€Å"And you†¦ told no one?† â€Å"I confronted His Holiness,† Mortati said. â€Å"And he confessed. He explained the entire story and asked only that I let my heart guide my decision as to whether or not to reveal his secret.† â€Å"And your heart told you to bury the information?† â€Å"He was the runaway favorite for the papacy. People loved him. The scandal would have hurt the church deeply.† â€Å"But he fathered a child! He broke his sacred vow of celibacy!† The camerlegno was screaming now. He could hear his mother's voice. A promise to God is the most important promise of all. Never break a promise to God. â€Å"The Pope broke his vow!† Mortati looked delirious with angst. â€Å"Carlo, his love†¦ was chaste. He had broken no vow. He didn't explain it to you?† â€Å"Explain what?† The camerlegno remembered running out of the Pope's office while the Pope was calling to him. Let me explain! Slowly, sadly, Mortati let the tale unfold. Many years ago, the Pope, when he was still just a priest, had fallen in love with a young nun. Both of them had taken vows of celibacy and never even considered breaking their covenant with God. Still, as they fell deeper in love, although they could resist the temptations of the flesh, they both found themselves longing for something they never expected – to participate in God's ultimate miracle of creation – a child. Their child. The yearning, especially in her, became overwhelming. Still, God came first. A year later, when the frustration had reached almost unbearable proportions, she came to him in a whirl of excitement. She had just read an article about a new miracle of science – a process by which two people, without ever having sexual relations, could have a child. She sensed this was a sign from God. The priest could see the happiness in her eyes and agreed. A year later she had a child through the miracle of artificial insemination†¦ â€Å"This cannot†¦ be true,† the camerlegno said, panicked, hoping it was the morphine washing over his senses. Certainly he was hearing things. Mortati now had tears in his eyes. â€Å"Carlo, this is why His Holiness has always had an affection for the sciences. He felt he owed a debt to science. Science let him experience the joys of fatherhood without breaking his vow of celibacy. His Holiness told me he had no regrets except one – that his advancing stature in the church prohibited him from being with the woman he loved and seeing his infant grow up.† Camerlegno Carlo Ventresca felt the madness setting in again. He wanted to claw at his flesh. How could I have known? â€Å"The Pope committed no sin, Carlo. He was chaste.† â€Å"But†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The camerlegno searched his anguished mind for any kind of rationale. â€Å"Think of the jeopardy†¦ of his deeds.† His voice felt weak. â€Å"What if this whore of his came forward? Or, heaven forbid, his child? Imagine the shame the church would endure.† Mortati's voice was tremulous. â€Å"The child has already come forward.† Everything stopped. â€Å"Carlo†¦?† Mortati crumbled. â€Å"His Holiness's child†¦ is you.† At that moment, the camerlegno could feel the fire of faith dim in his heart. He stood trembling on the altar, framed by Michelangelo's towering Last Judgment. He knew he had just glimpsed hell itself. He opened his mouth to speak, but his lips wavered, soundless. â€Å"Don't you see?† Mortati choked. â€Å"That is why His Holiness came to you in the hospital in Palermo when you were a boy. That is why he took you in and raised you. The nun he loved was Maria†¦ your mother. She left the nunnery to raise you, but she never abandoned her strict devotion to God. When the Pope heard she had died in an explosion and that you, his son, had miraculously survived†¦ he swore to God he would never leave you alone again. Carlo, your parents were both virgins. They kept their vows to God. And still they found a way to bring you into the world. You were their miraculous child.† The camerlegno covered his ears, trying to block out the words. He stood paralyzed on the altar. Then, with his world yanked from beneath him, he fell violently to his knees and let out a wail of anguish. Seconds. Minutes. Hours. Time seemed to have lost all meaning inside the four walls of the chapel. Vittoria felt herself slowly breaking free of the paralysis that seemed to have gripped them all. She let go of Langdon's hand and began moving through the crowd of cardinals. The chapel door seemed miles away, and she felt like she was moving underwater†¦ slow motion. As she maneuvered through the robes, her motion seemed to pull others from their trance. Some of the cardinals began to pray. Others wept. Some turned to watch her go, their blank expressions turning slowly to a foreboding cognition as she moved toward the door. She had almost reached the back of the crowd when a hand caught her arm. The touch was frail but resolute. She turned, face to face with a wizened cardinal. His visage was clouded by fear. â€Å"No,† the man whispered. â€Å"You cannot.† Vittoria stared, incredulous. Another cardinal was at her side now. â€Å"We must think before we act.† And another. â€Å"The pain this could cause†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Vittoria was surrounded. She looked at them all, stunned. â€Å"But these deeds here today, tonight†¦ certainly the world should know the truth.† â€Å"My heart agrees,† the wizened cardinal said, still holding her arm, â€Å"and yet it is a path from which there is no return. We must consider the shattered hopes. The cynicism. How could the people ever trust again?† Suddenly, more cardinals seemed to be blocking her way. There was a wall of black robes before her. â€Å"Listen to the people in the square,† one said. â€Å"What will this do to their hearts? We must exercise prudence.† â€Å"We need time to think and pray,† another said. â€Å"We must act with foresight. The repercussions of this†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"He killed my father!† Vittoria said. â€Å"He killed his own father!† â€Å"I'm certain he will pay for his sins,† the cardinal holding her arm said sadly. Vittoria was certain too, and she intended to ensure he paid. She tried to push toward the door again, but the cardinals huddled closer, their faces frightened. â€Å"What are you going to do?† she exclaimed. â€Å"Kill me?† The old men blanched, and Vittoria immediately regretted her words. She could see these men were gentle souls. They had seen enough violence tonight. They meant no threat. They were simply trapped. Scared. Trying to get their bearings. â€Å"I want†¦Ã¢â‚¬  the wizened cardinal said, â€Å"†¦ to do what is right.† â€Å"Then you will let her out,† a deep voice declared behind her. The words were calm but absolute. Robert Langdon arrived at her side, and she felt his hand take hers. â€Å"Ms. Vetra and I are leaving this chapel. Right now.† Faltering, hesitant, the cardinals began to step aside. â€Å"Wait!† It was Mortati. He moved toward them now, down the center aisle, leaving the camerlegno alone and defeated on the altar. Mortati looked older all of a sudden, wearied beyond his years. His motion was burdened with shame. He arrived, putting a hand on Langdon's shoulder and one on Vittoria's as well. Vittoria felt sincerity in his touch. The man's eyes were more tearful now. â€Å"Of course you are free to go,† Mortati said. â€Å"Of course.† The man paused, his grief almost tangible. â€Å"I ask only this†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He stared down at his feet a long moment then back up at Vittoria and Langdon. â€Å"Let me do it. I will go into the square right now and find a way. I will tell them. I don't know how†¦ but I will find a way. The church's confession should come from within. Our failures should be our own to expose.† Mortati turned sadly back toward the altar. â€Å"Carlo, you have brought this church to a disastrous juncture.† He paused, looking around. The altar was bare. There was a rustle of cloth down the side aisle, and the door clicked shut. The camerlegno was gone.

Patriots Win

Patriots Win #PatriotsWIN Exult Patriots Fans! Sorry Seattle Seahawks, our Turn to Win! In spite of the fact that some kept wondering why the Patriots even appeared on the Super Bowl with the deflating scandal behind, the players proved that Super Bowl was about football, not footballs. To their justice, the game was thrilling, heart-stopping and made us nervous! Forget about the last two seasons, even this game gave no certainty the New England Patriots can really win. We could not relax and be sure in victory almost until the end of the game. All we had is our deep belief. Luckily, it paid off; they won the Super Bowl this time! They did†¦ and we can’t be happier. Thank you, Malcolm Butler, for putting an end to all our doubts. You sealed this victory. I mean, did you see that? A reminder: it was Malcolm Butler who intercepted opponents pass in the end zone with just 26 seconds left until the end of the game. Malcolm Butler was not the only hero of this game. Tom Brady led his team to four touchdowns, breaking Joe Montana Super Bowl record. He completed all eight passes, including the one to Julian Edelman who later said: â€Å"Tom Brady came out here, he’s been to six Super Bowls, he’s won four with the salary cap. It’s hard to argue against that.† Butler shook the Seahawks defense claimed to be the strongest asset of their team and the best NFL has. His last catch had a nauseating effect the Seahawks and you could literally see! Tom Brady won his third Most Valuable Player. Eleven years have passed since he won his second one. This is the fourth victory after the Patriots lost three Super Bowls in a row. That was a real down for all of us, fans since they got us used to winning before. Reminder again: the Patriots won three Super Bowls in four years about a decade ago. Thank you for being back on track, guys! Was it only their talent and persistence that got them the trophy? Maybe the break in the team’s routine contributed too. As far as we know, Bill Belichick gave the whole day off for the team before the game instead of a usual walkthrough. That was something new. I guess that rest was crucial for the players. We must admit that Seattle did not quit. The Seahawks showed class. Kearse showed impressive 33-yard catch. Marshawn Lynch rushed for 4 yards, then backup cornerback Butler, who was victimized on Kearses reception, made the biggest play of his first NFL season with 20 seconds remaining. The Seahawks did their best to become the first repeat champions of NFL since New England a decade ago. However, it was not meant to happen this time. The game taught Seattle a lot of mental toughness, though. The game marked by emotions, records, thrill and awards. Therefore, that’s what we have: Super Bowl XLIX, Glendale, Arizona, University of Phoenix Stadium, February 1, 2015, New England Patriots – Seahawks 28-24.

Bribery of the World

Bribery of the World Introduction Bribery may be defined as an illegal act or an offence that involves offering and giving something such as money to gain an illicit and undue advantage. The world in general has witnessed incidences of corruption, including bribery, with the Arab world being identified as one of the areas where bribery is rampant.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Bribery of the World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Generally, the Arab world includes various countries of the Middle East, among them being Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Qatar, UAE, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia among others. In these Arab countries, although bribery is seen as an illegitimate act, it is also generally accepted as a social norm that binds people together, especially due to lack of democracy. Therefore, bribery may have both negative and positive consequences to the people in Arab countries. Some of the negative consequences and disadvantages to a country in clude inflation and poor governance. Nevertheless, different types of bribery in the Arab world have negatively affected the lives of people by creating tension in various countries, although the society views bribery as a means of acquiring the elusive democracy. Types of bribery There are different types of bribery witnessed in different countries around the world. In Arab countries, bribery is usually known ‘asrachwa’ while in Spanish and French speaking countries, it is known as ‘mordida’ and ‘desssousde-table’ respectively. Different types of bribery include the use of gift, sop, favor, sweetheart deals, kickbacks, funding, secret commission, promotion, donation, and lucrative contract among many other forms and types (Reader, 1997). Bribery is always divided into two forms: Firstly, there are those bribes that involve the person in power being given offerings and other items in order to use his or her position in the office unjustly to be nefit others. The second form of bribery involves cases where someone obtains power due to suffrages of those who have the ability to do it or use the power more appropriately. In such cases, a person who obtains and receives the bribe is able to influence the process unjustly and ensure that the bribery process is successful. Bribery is usually seen in various instances; for example, a police officer may be seen receiving money from motorists who are involved in minor offences such as over-speeding in order to let them off the hook. Another example of bribery is an instance where a citizen gives out money to a police officer during check-up in order to avoid being checked. Furthermore, bribery also takes the type of â€Å"a secret commission, a profit made by an agent, in the course of his employment, without the knowledge of his principal†, which is usually referred to as sweetener or kick-back (Lewis, 2000).Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Therefore, any act that requires someone to give something as a way of buying favor is a bribe, whether it is given in good faith or otherwise. This act is normally prevalent in public offices where control of employee activities is limited and where there is a lot of bureaucracy before one gets the service he or she needs. In addition, public offices are sometimes limited in terms of signatories, thus making it difficult for an outsider to get access to services demanded unless a bribe is offered. Bribery in Arab countries Many countries in the world have been accused of engagement in corruption, with bribery being one of the most prevalent forms of corruption. Although the international community’s watchdogs have been aggressively campaigning against corruption, individual governments in different countries especially the developing countries have not been fully committed to the fight. Thi s may be due to inadequate resources or inefficient policies to fight the vice. Moreover, although bribery is widespread across the world, Arab countries seem to be more notorious than other countries in demanding and giving bribes, especially due to autocratic type of leadership witnessed in most of these Arab countries. This bribery takes various forms, including political corruption, business contact bribery, and judicial bribery among others. One example of bribery is in a case where Egyptian court convicted Assembly official and petroleum dealers, including Petrogas, Al-Nasr Petroleum Co. and Petroleum Marine Services Co., over bribery (Bassiouni, 2007). With some Arab countries emerging as global market hubs, such as UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, various instances of bribery emerge, especially when people want to get business opportunities in these emerging markets. Another case of bribery is seen in political environment where a political leader rewards his friends with econom ic deals, which involve in the manipulation of public resources in most cases (Rinnawi, 2006). In Arab countries, most bribery cases usually occur due to lack of transparency and effective procedures that can be used in the government procurement deals and contracts. One example that stands out involves the alleged bribery by the Qatari government in 2010 in order to secure votes to host the 2022 world cup (Scott, 2011). Again, in Arab countries, lack of tangible anti-bribery laws to curb bribery usually results to more people being involved in bribery, since they are usually aware that there would be no punishment even if they are involved in bribery.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Bribery of the World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Besides, bribery in these countries is also caused by lack of proper political processes and good standards of governance. The recent political uprisings in some Arab countries such as Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen where the public accused their autocratic governments of massive corruption and underhand deals is a clear testimony to prevalence of bribery in the Arab world (Udasin, 2013). According to Udasin (2013), an author in â€Å"the Jerusalem Post† newspaper, opinion polls in most Arab countries that took part in Arab Spring indicate that the level of corruption has risen during the last few years after the uprising, with most people in these countries foreseeing a much worse future. Again, in these countries, salaries of civil servant are usually very low, leading to more bribery cases as people try to increase their income to sustain their lives. The governments’ failure to put in place institutional reforms that are important in curbing bribery also fuels bribery in most of these countries (Baumann, 2006). There have a number of cases of bribery in Arab countries since the 2011 revolutions, with most countries such Tunisia, Libya and Egypt, Leb anon feeling the most challenge. The revolution came as result of lack of government stability in these countries, which led to lack of confidence in the government by the public. Again, these countries also face many challenges in their police reform systems, unstable judiciary and the military that in most occasions has failed to fully support to the government. Again, according to Frishkopf (2010), research has shown that bribery and corruption are the biggest social problems affecting the society, with most people complain about prevalence of bribery in both private and public institutions in these Arab countries. Moreover, bribery is usually seen starting with the top government authorities who later influence other junior government officials to be involved in bribery. As a result, bribery and corruption have worsened in the Arab countries, amid increased economic and political instability stability. One area where bribery is evident is in government’s procurements and contract transactions where anybody interested in acquiring a government contract or an investment opportunity has to part with a bribe, especially considering the formalization process is more bureaucratic in nature. With the availability of petroleum and other natural resources in these Arab countries, bribery cases has been seen, especially where oil business transaction are involved, as people try to capitalize on the lucrative benefits emanating from this business (Frishkopf, 2010).Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Effects of Bribery Bribery is one of the acts that usually result into harmful and bad consequences. Firstly, bribery usually undermines democratic process in a country and prevents people from getting equal shares of opportunities in the country. This usually results into low economic progress of the country, as it will distorts and affects the investment procedures, thereby preventing free markets strategy. In addition, in some countries where bribery is unavoidable, the poor people suffer most as they are denied their basic human rights unless they give bribes. This also affects the country’s economy and development, as those who do not give bribes fail to get a chance to participate in building projects in the country. The result of this is an increased level of poverty, a situation that is common in most of these countries, especially those that do not have many resources to accommodate a significantly large number of citizens. In addition, too much bribery usually lower s and delays government processes, as those who are responsible in these processes usually wait for bribes in order to accomplish their duties. As a result of this, government policies are lowered and the standards of doing business in the countries are also affected leading to investors and businessmen running away from the country. Counter argument about bribery in Arab World The Arab world has been accused of allowing corruption to thrive, but most people in Arab countries see it as a way of life. In addition, bribery in the Arab world is viewed as a means of enhancing social cohesion and eliminating individualism, especially because it facilitates mutual interdependence and interpersonal ties (Hashi, 2013). For instance, giving gifts in return for a favor is a common phenomenon that influences indebtedness in the society thus creating social bonds among people. The ever-present nepotism in Arab countries makes the role of public officials to resonate between official duty and en hancing familial ties. Moreover, dictatorial leadership witnessed in these Arab countries does not allow democracy to thrive, and the only way people have to enjoy democracy is through bribery. This ineffectiveness of governments forces people to utilize their social ties in order to bribe public officials to address their interests, which could have been ignored if they did not give bribes. Therefore, bribery in Arab societies is an important aspect that holds people together while at the same time enhancing ‘democracy’ amid authoritarian form of governance. Refutation about Bribery in Arab World Despite the society viewing bribery as normal and an acceptable way to access democracy, there are bad consequences that have seem most governments in Arab countries fail or collapse. Generally, a lot of money in form of bribery goes to private hands, making the government unable to support its citizens adequately, thus leading to increased cases of poverty. The so-called demo cracy is only accessible to those who have the means to offer bribes, especially considering that any form of bribery must have a financial value, which works against those who are less endowed (Rinnawi, 2006). Therefore, bribery cannot buy democracy in totality as some people may tend to argue. Conclusion This paper has discussed bribery in Arab countries and discovered that, in most cases, bribery in Arab countries is caused by government instability and lack of proper policies and reforms to deal with bribery. Again, from the paper, it is clear that bribery is very rampant in Arab countries such as Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon, Libya, Qatar, Yemen and many other Arab countries. Therefore, it is important that proper strategies, including providing better policies to curb bribery, be put in place. In addition, if possible, laws should be put in place to ensure that top government officials do not involve in business transaction deals in isolation; rather, it should be a public process that requires vetting and audit before being validated. Besides, the government should also provide policies that ensure that those who involved in bribery are severely punished and removed from their official duties. Generally, in Arab countries, bribery usually begins with top government officials and then spreads to junior officials as well as the public. Therefore, in these countries, cases and acts of bribery is a normal phenomenon to them since almost everybody in these countries is involved in bribery. Moreover, bribery leads to negative and harmful consequences including poor economic growth. When this happens, the poor and innocent citizens tend to suffer, as they do not have resources to access services from public officials. Therefore, it is important that relevant and significant anti-bribery policies and reforms be put in place by the governments of these Arab countries in order to deal appropriately with bribery cases, while at the same uplifting people’s human rights. References Bassiouni, Y. (2007). The art of bribery: What not to do. Egypt Oil and Gas Newspaper, 1(7). Web. Baumann, A. (2006). Influence of culture on the styles of business behavior between Western and Arab managers. Norderstedt, Germany: Grin. Frishkopf, M. (2010). Music and media in the Arab world. Cairo, Egypt: The American University in Cairo Press. Hashi, F. (2013). Bribery As a form of Democracy. Public Policy and Governance Review, 4(2), 95-98. Lewis, M. (2000). Who is paying for healthcare in Eastern Europe and Central Asia? Washington DC, USA: World Bank Publications. Reader, J. (1997). Africa: A Biography of the Continent. New York, USA: Vintage. Rinnawi, K. (2006). Instant nationalism: Transnational media in the Arab world. Lanham, Maryland, USA: University Press of America. Scott, M. (2011). Millions paid in bribes for Qatars 2022 World Cup votes, report claims. The Guardian. Web. Udasin, S. (2013). Poll: Corruption worsened in Arab countries since uprisings. The Jerusalem Post. Web. Whitaker, B. (2009). What’s Really Wrong with Middle East? London, England: Saqi Books.

Global Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Global Business - Essay Example three countries have been considered from which Elecdyne can choose, along with a comparative analysis of the countries and Japan through a combined SWOT and PEST analysis. Some of the most important factors that Elecdyne should consider are cost minimization and profit maximization with respect to internationalization in a country leading to improvement in profits and sales revenue (Hurn, 2009). The other factors include access to technology and availability of technological expertise in a particular country. Elecdyne also must take into account the access to new markets through internationalization as well as evaluate size of target markets before selecting a country. Besides these, political and economic factors are also very important as Elecdyne should not be taking too many risks. The culture-fit factor, which is one of the most essential factors to be considered, estimates the amount of organizational conflict can arise due to difference in Japanese culture and that of the hos t nation. The target markets for Elecdyne are developed and developing markets, which have considerable demand for quality electronics goods. Since Elecdyne uses original licenses from MNCs, products offered are not too cheap. So, Elecdyne targets the middle and higher income group of people. The current shopping trends with improvement in economy of developing countries and rising demand for Japanese goods, which are known for their high quality standards, is an advantage for growth of Elecdyne in foreign markets. Since most of Elecdyne licenses are taken from MNCs, the technology employed is always high-end. The availability of research graduates in developing countries at lower wages rates than Japan is a major plus point, which will help Elecdyne to improve its technological capabilities. The general economic trends are not very encouraging as the world economy recovers from a recession; but, many governments are giving tax rebates and reducing duties in a bid to attract new

White lies and integrity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

White lies and integrity - Essay Example In the political arena, it is particularly unacceptable for elected officials to hide facts from the people as they would prevent them from making informed decisions on public affairs and policy. In the personal sphere, some people may find white lies more justifiable. A common example is a loving family member who attempts to hide the negative prognosis of her dying relatives, fearing that the bad news will further aggravate the relative’s health. Although such a lie may sound more like an act of love, it remains a violation to another person’s autonomy as it takes away her chance to evaluate the decision and make the best decision for herself. Every person has the natural right to freedom and each rational human being should be the most capable person to determine what his/her best interest is. Thus, not only are white lies dishonest and lack integrity, they may be self-defeating in the sense that they may at the end harm instead of protect the person. Returning to the example of the dying relative: if the relative has known that she is dying soon, she would have ended the hospital treatment and spend the remaining of her life relaxing at home; however, since she does not know the true prognosis, she continues the hassle of going to the hospital every day. In this case, her health may be harmed by the white lie. She would be better off if her relative tells her the truth and allow her to decide for herself. Projecting this line of argument to the bigger picture, we as Americans may be hurt by the so-called white lies government officials present to us. This issue is especially controversial as the concern towards national security and international terrorism is severely heightened. After the 911 attack, it appears that the Bush Administration was allowed to conduct every operation in the â€Å"war of terrorism† under the name of homeland