Battle Hymn Of The Tiger Mother By Amy Chua - 1069 Words

Amy Chua, Yale Law School professor and author of â€Å"Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother†, begins her article by questioning and explaining the secret to the success commonly seen among children raised by Chinese mothers. Amy Chua’s opinion piece gives compelling, though fairly biased and subjective, insight into the parenting styles of Chinese mothers. Before delving into possible answers, Chua explains that she uses the terms â€Å"Chinese mother† and â€Å"Western parents† loosely to distinguish the cultural values and parenting styles. Chua then gets to her explanation as to why Chinese mothers raise such stereotypically successful children. Chua notes that â€Å"Chinese parents understand that nothing is fun until you’re good at it† (306),†¦show more content†¦As Lulu kicks and screams – and even rips up the music score – Chua threatens to take away lunch and dinner, then Christmas presents, then birthday parties. S he tells Lulu to â€Å"stop being lazy, cowardly, self-indulgent, and pathetic† (308). Chua’s husband disagrees with her methods, but despite her husband’s comments, Chua goes right back to her tactics. Finally, Lulu excitedly and repeatedly plays the piece correctly. Chua’s narrative ends with a statement that Lulu cuddled with her that night, that Lulu’s piano recital went exceptionally well, and that even her skeptical husband gave credit to Chua for her part in Lulu’s piano success story. Chua mentions that there is an abundance of books which portray Chinese mothers negatively, but that Chinese mothers actually often believe that they care more about their children than Western parents. She concludes by explaining that parents, whether they are Chinese or Western, all want the best for their children. Western parents and Chinese mothers just have a very different way of parenting. In her piece, Chua offers a question which she answers i n a couple of ways. Realizing that Chinese and Western societies have different values is fundamental to the differing parenting styles. By listing three reasons that Chinese mothers can get away with behaviors that Western parents cannot, Chua crystallizes the varied cultural values. Her ability to categorize such aShow MoreRelatedBattle Hymn Of The Tiger Mother By Amy Chua1097 Words   |  5 PagesChua Summary Amy Chua, author of the book â€Å"Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother†, writes about the differences between Western style parenting and Chinese style parenting. Although Chua acknowledges that Chinese parents are strict and Western parents are less strict, she knows it is a generalization. She outlines the high expectations that Chinese parents have for their children. She compares the statistics about strictness in the eyes of Western and Chinese parents. Chua says that Chinese parents getRead MoreBattle Hymn Of The Tiger Mother By Amy Chua1002 Words   |  5 PagesIn the â€Å"Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother,† Amy Chua addresses two main styles of parenting, and which style she thinks is better for children. The main parenting styles she talks about are Western style parenting, and Chinese parenting. Amy implies that Western parents are more lenient and less strict, and that Chinese parents are very strict and harder on children so that they grow up to be successful. In the essay, she claims that Chinese parents are a lot tougher and more strict on their childrenRead MoreBattle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua1135 Words   |  5 PagesSeveral years ago, Amy Chua’s book: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother has triggered a lively debate about the strict parenting style. In the book, it is mentioned that Chua sets rules and restrictions, such as no sleepovers, practising music instruments every day, etc. As a result, her daughters achieve excellent grades in schools (Goodin  ¶2-3). Chua’s parenting style is categorized as authoritarian. In Hong Kong, Chua’s style is popular. Parents put a lot of pressure on their children. Starting fromRead MoreTiger Mom851 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Abbott College Tiger Parenting: a Mistake By Alexander Haniotis Question Should â€Å"Tiger Parenting† be the norm when raising your children? Thesis Statement I believe â€Å"Tiger Parenting† shouldn’t be tolerated in our society. Tiger Parenting: a Mistake Amy Chua’s provocative Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother has caused great controversy and debate mainly because of her strict parenting philosophy exercised throughout the entire novel. Chua is questioning the traditional Western parentingRead MoreThe Everlasting Bond between a Mother and a Daughter Essay1149 Words   |  5 Pagesmore enduring than a mother- daughter relationship. This bond is specifically explored in the books, The Battle Hymn of a Tiger Mother by Amy Chua and The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. Authors of these books precisely show the complexity of this type of relationship. Chua and Tan show the reader how a mother and daughter can hurt one other but ultimately forgiveness finds its way through. The similarities in these books include the difficulty of communication between the mother and daughter and theirRead MoreAnalysis Of Battle Hymn Of The Tiger Mom870 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Excerpt of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom† Amy Chua is a mother of two daughters, (Sophia and Lulu). Being brought up in a strict home with her Chinese parents, Chua felt like she owed everything to her parents and has raised her own daughters as she was raised. Chua is a professor at Yale Law School, who is the author of many books and memoirs including â€Å"Excerpt of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom†. This was published in the Wall Street Journal in 2011. The memoir is about the variations between ChineseRead MoreBattle Hymn of the Tiger Mother Essay1004 Words   |  5 Pages â€Å"In one study of 50 Western American mothers and 48 Chinese immigrant mothers, almost 70% of the Western mothers said either that ‘stressing academic success is not good for children’ or that ‘parents need to foster the idea that learning is fun.’ By contrast, roughly 0% of the Chinese mothers felt the same way. Instead, the vast majority of the Chinese mothers said that they believe their children can be ‘the best’ students, that ‘academic achievement reflects successful parenting,’ and that ifRead MoreBattle Hymn Of The Tiger Mother2425 Words   |  10 PagesYen Linh Duong Title of Book: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother AP Lang Summer Homework Worksheet Most answers must be supported with SPECIFIC EXAMPLES from book and provide in-depth explanations in order to get CREDIT! You will complete 2 of these worksheets: one for each book. 1. Explain how the author(s) establish their credibility on the subject matter they are writing about. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, written by Amy Chua, was a story of Chua herself and her encounterance ofRead MoreWhy Chinese Mothers Are Superior By Amy Chua1119 Words   |  5 Pagessome are quite questionable. In â€Å"Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior†, Amy Chua discusses the effectiveness of her parenting style. This is an excerpt from Amy Chua’s book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. According to Behrens and Rosen, â€Å"the title â€Å"Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior† was written by the editors of the [Wall Street] Journal, not by Chua, most likely in an attempt (a successful one) to attract attention and encourage controversy† (261). Chua is a professor at Yale Law School (Behrens andRead MoreWhy Chinese Mothers Are Superior By Amy Chua1203 Words   |  5 PagesOne woman, with a view agreed upon by many others, is Amy Chua, a professor at the prestigious law school of Yale University. In Amy Chua’s â€Å"Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior ,† an excerpt from Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Chua explains Chinese parenting and how it is effective in her life. She claims that by breaking down a child and pushing them to their full potential, the child will, in turn, be confident and incredibly successful. Chua also makes it seem like Western parenting is far too relaxed

Plato-Machiavelli Comparison Free Essays

Danielle Butler October 16, 2011 English 101/ O. C #2-Machiavelli Though often presented as two ideological opposites, personally I find there to be a lot more similarities between Plato and Machiavelli than usually acknowledged. Obviously there are some sharp contrasts. We will write a custom essay sample on Plato-Machiavelli Comparison or any similar topic only for you Order Now If one examines the excerpts from Machiavelli’s â€Å"The Prince† and Plato’s â€Å"The Republic†, it’s easy to conclude that Plato believed it to be essential for a government leader to be just, good, and free from corruption. Whereas Machiavelli’s ideal ruler is less concerned about morality, and more about shrewdness, awareness, and pragmatism.. That being said, ultimately both men arrive to the same conclusion all be it through different means; that a ruler’s primary objective is to create and maintain a unified, orderly, and controlled state, with a content population. When it comes to humanity, Machiavelli is considered pessimistic, due to his less than glowing expectations for the nature of man, as he clearly states â€Å" For one can generally say this about men: that they are ungrateful, fickle, simulators and deceivers, avoiders of danger, greedy for gain.. † (46). While Machiavelli’s opinion of men in general leaves little to be questioned, I find Plato’s generalized idealism to be far more dubious. In the Republic, it appears that Plato’s optimisms about human nature, and capability does not extend to everyone, asserting that many people are better off being ruled by â€Å"better men†. In book 9 Socrate’s states to Glaucon â€Å"Tharsymacus did in the case of subjects, that the slave should be governed by his own harm, but on the ground that it is better to be governed by the divine and the intelligent preferably indwelling and his own, but in default of that imposed from without, in order that we all so far as possible may be akin and friendly because our governance and guidance are the same? † (Plat. Rep. 9. 590d) Both Machiavelli and Plato also recognize that generally, most people of the populace are easily manipulated by their senses. Plato illustrates that in his â€Å"allegory of the cave†. Machiavelli makes it clear that he feels this shortcoming to be advantageous for the â€Å"prince†, and it should be exploited when need be, as he states â€Å" he (the prince) should appear, upon seeing him and hearing him, to be all mercy, all faithfulness , all integrity, all kindness, all religion. And there is nothing more necessary than to seem to possess this last quality. And men in general judge more by their eyes than their hands; for everyone can see but few can feel. † (49). While many may chide Machiavelli’s approach as disingenuous and manipulative, which it plainly is, how much does this tactic differ from Plato’s suggestions? In the Republic, Plato suggests that society must be persuaded by a â€Å"noble lie† to unify the citizens and deepen their allegiance to their community as Socrates states â€Å"How, then, said I, â€Å"might we contrive  one of those opportune falsehoods  of which we were just now speaking, â€Å"so as by one noble lie to persuade if possible the rulers themselves, but failing that the rest of the city? â€Å"What kind of a fiction do you mean? † said he. â€Å"Nothing unprecedented,† said I, â€Å"but a sort of Phoenician tale,something that has happened ere now in many parts of the world, as the poets aver and have induced men to believe, but that has not happened and perhaps would not be likely to happen in our day  and demanding no little persuasion to make it believable. † How to cite Plato-Machiavelli Comparison, Papers

Casa Blanca Key Scenes free essay sample

After the French Resistance agent is shot the camera points upward respectfully at the words â€Å"Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite† at the entrance to a building, the Palais de Justice, suggesting that these are the values we should aspire to. There is a sense of hope in the people looking up at the plane, especially the young couple we see towards the end of this scene. †Perhaps tomorrow we’ll be on that plane†. Cultural Context: The opening music has elements of a North African flavour – to go with the map of Africa prominent in the opening credits. The theme ends with the French National anthem, suggesting that a French/African (i. . North African) setting or context is involved. The last notes suggest danger and threat. The narrator’s voice over provides useful information on the cultural context: â€Å"With the coming of the second world war many eyes in imprisoned Europe turned hopefully or desperately towards the freedom of the Americas. We will write a custom essay sample on Casa Blanca Key Scenes or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Lisbon became the great embarkation point. But not everybody could get to Lisbon directly, and so, a tortuous, roundabout refugee trail sprung up. Paris to Marseille, across the Mediterranean to Oran, then by train, or auto, or foot, across the rim of Africa, to Casablanca in French Morocco. Here the fortunate ones, through money or influence or luck, might obtain exit visas and scurry to Lisbon, and from Lisbon to the New World. But others wait in Casablanca, and wait - and wait - and wait†. With this voice over we get a revolving globe, then a flat map to indicate where the context fits in global terms. We also get footage of refugees on the move, giving more texture to the words. As the map fades we get a shot of a minaret (tower beside a mosque), suggesting the Muslim context of North Africa. The busy shot of the teeming street full of traders further enhances ur sense of the place – there are many Muslims in the picture, but the signs on shops are in French, again suggesting the colonial background. As the script puts it: â€Å"The facades of the Moorish buildings give way to a narrow twisting street crowded with the polyglot life of a native quarter. The intense desert sun holds the scene in a torpid tranquillity†. The second world war backgroun d is emphasised by the shot of a policeman reading an urgent newsflash – German couriers murdered, â€Å"suspicious characters† to be rounded up. These are Europeans or Westerners, one of whom is shot trying to escape. He had been carry French resistance leaflets, giving us a further insight into the war context. In the background we see a poster of Marshal Petain, leader of the Vichy Government that collaborated with the Nazis. The confusion of the place, especially for foreigners is shown by the couple at the cafe – â€Å"We hear very little and we understand even less†. We hear about the â€Å"customary roundup of refugees† and there’s a hint of the exploitation inherent in this kind of context – beautiful girls included in the roundup, for Monsieur Renault, the Police Chief. The expected crime in such a context is also there – the European who pickpockets. Ironically he had previously spoken of the â€Å"scum† and â€Å"vultures† who have â€Å"gravitated† to Casablanca. At the end of the scene we are again reminded of the war context by the arrival of the German officer. Relationships: Not much of interest yet. There’s a strong suggestion that Renault is exploiting vulnerable women, while we see a romantic couple hoping to get out of Casablanca by plane – a genuine relationship contrasted with relationships based on exploitation and abuse of power. 2. Ilsa and Laszlo visit Rick’s for the first time Relationships: When Ilsa comes into the bar she exchanges some knowing glances with Sam, Rick’s pianist suggesting a past relationship of some kind. Considering when the film was made (1942) this wasn’t going to be anything between Ilsa and Sam, so the implication seems to be that there was a past relationship with Rick. The song As Time Goes By acts as a kind of symbol or shorthand to suggest this – Ilsa asks Sam to play it, but we learn that Rick had told him never to play it – presumably because of the fact that it evoked painful memories of a past and failed relationship. Sam suggests that Ilsa is bad luck for Rick. When Rick and Ilsa meet they are in company and so cannot be frank with each other. We have to read between the lines, to guess from tone and body language what was going on. Rick is obviously sore at Ilsa but still interested enough to make him break his rule about not drinking with customers. The fact that she asks Sam to play their song from Paris suggests she still has an interest more than mere curiosity. Laszlo and Ilsa seem to get on well. She shows concern for his safety and we know that he plans to take her away to freedom if they can get out of Casablanca. Laszlo seems unconcerned about his wife’s past relationship with Rick (assumes it was just an acquaintance presumably) and doesn’t seem to notice the chemistry between Rick and Ilsa. There’s no sense that Rick has any resentment towards Laszlo as a rival, in fact he praises his political work – â€Å"I congratulate you †¦ We all try. You succeed†. Cultural Context: More aspects of the cultural context are filled in here. The jazz music in the bar provides an American flavour, appropriate to â€Å"Rick’s Cafe Americain†. Laszlo subtly hints at some political realities – hinting to Renault that the present French administration has not always been as cordial as Renault is now. He refers to life in a concentration camp by hinting to the Norwegian that one tends to loose weight in such a place. The underground resistance movement is represented this time by the Norwegian, whose front is selling jewellery. The international flavour on this context is again highlighted by the variety of nationalities – Rick the white American, Sam the black American, Laszlo the Czech, Renault the Frenchman, the Norwegian underground man, Major Strasser the German. The cultural context of the time, the same as the context in which the film was made is evident in the way Ilsa refers to Sam as the â€Å"boy†, but she doesn’t mean any offence, nor is any taken. At the time in films black people would only be shown in menial roles (including entertainment), and wouldn’t be the main characters. The culture of bribery is shown by Renault’s being allowed to tear up bills he incurs at Rick’s. General Vision and Viewpoint Obviously we’re meant to admire the work of Victor Laszlo. Rick, the main character, expresses admiration for his work – â€Å"we try, you succeed†. It must be special if Rick, who usually seems cynical, admires it. Laszlo is set up in opposition to the Nazis who are presented as nasty militaristic bullies. Especially in a film made during the war, and considering the nature of the Second World War, we are obviously meant to see the Germans as the bad guys, and those who oppose them as the good guys, and this includes Laszlo. Sam says that Ilsa brings bad luck to Rick, but there is no sign that the viewpoint of the film goes with such a superstitious attitude (interesting that it’s the black person who is superstitious). If anything the film is about the free choices people make and the consequences of those choices. 3. Rick’s Flashback to Paris Theme or Issue: Relationships This scene returns us to an earlier, happier phase in the relationship between Rick and Ilsa. We see this in their happy smiling faces – e. g. when they are driving. It’s obviously a romantic relationship. There’s plenty of kissing, dancing, romantic conversation, flowers etc Having Paris as a backdrop adds to the romantic atmosphere. This is reflected also in the happy music. The music sounds a note of threat when the Germans’ arrival in Paris is imminent. We see what can happen to a relationship under threat from outside forces (â€Å"With the whole world crumbling we pick this time to fall in love†). It doesn’t damage the relationship; they react in a way to protect it – planning to escape. However we also see how a relationship can be threatened by secrets within the relationship. Both accept they don’t know much about each other’s past – but Ilsa tells Rick there was a man in her life but he’s dead. This wouldn’t necessarily be a problem, but there’s something wrong – at their last meeting Rick is enthusiastic about their plans to escape and even proposes marriage, but she’s obviously uneasy about something. She, at least, senses the separation – is she agonising (as in the present) whether she’ll go with Rick or stay with Victor? ) â€Å"†¦if something should keep us apart†. We see the breakdown of a relationship when Rick is left at the station without Ilsa – only a letter that doesn’t really explain her motives for not turning up. There’s obviously something going on that Rick doesn’t know about. We see what a severe effect this abandonment by Ilsa has on Rick in his reaction at the station, and even more so in how upset he still is in the present – shown by the way he is just before and just after the flashback. We learn that relationships can be hard to let go – in the bar just before the flashback Rick says that he knows she’ll come back Cultural Context Many aspects of the cultural context are conveyed in this sequence. Stock footage of the Arch de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower, along with scenes of Rick and Ilsa at the cafe show that it’s Paris. The announcements over the loudspeakers and the newspaper headlines fill us in on the war background – the Germans about to take over Paris. The takeover is conveyed simply by the announcements being in French the first time we hear them, and then later in German. The atmosphere of intrigue is suggested by Rick’s being wanted by the Germans, with a price on his head – it’s never quite clear why. The difficulties of keeping a romantic relationship going in such a context is conveyed subtly by the way we hear shelling as Rick and Ilsa embrace – Ilsa says: â€Å"I hate this war so much. Oh it’s a crazy world. Anything can happen†. There’s a strong sense of tension when the German arrival is announced – we can see it in the streets, and especially in the crowds at the station as people rush to escape. General Vision and Viewpoint The film views war as a bad thing – causing stress, danger, tension – by contrast there’s a happy mood before the German invasion.. The invasion is seen in terms of bullying – â€Å"They are telling us how to act when they come marching in† (Ilsa interpreting the announcements). We see stock footage of the aggression – the German army on the march. The romance between Rick and Ilsa is seen as something happy and good. The film sees it as sad, tragic or unfortunate that Rick and Ilsa split – he is seen as being very upset, and the rain emphasises the mood. . 4. Rick and Ilsa meet after the flashback Theme or Issue: Relationships In this exchange we see there can often be bitterness in a relationship, and how alcohol can have a damaging effect when introduced into a relationship. Rick has been drinking a lot, feeling sorry for himself and is unpleasant to Ilsa, who, we learn in the later market scene (see below), came to explain why she left him in Paris. She is upset and tearful at his harsh talk – â€Å"Why did you have to come to Casablanca? There are other places†. He describes himself as a guy whose â€Å"insides had been kicked out†. He is cynical towards here: â€Å"Tell me, who was it you left me for? Was it Laszlo, or were there others in between? †. We learn more about the relationship between Ilsa and Laszlo – on her part it seems to have been more a case of admiration. To her he was â€Å"a man about whom she’d heard her whole life, a very great and courageous man†. She describes herself as â€Å"a girl† who â€Å"looked up to him and worshipped him with a feeling she supposed was love†. Rick is dismissive: â€Å"I’ve heard a lot of stories in my time†. There is a hint that Ilsa is unsure who she should be with – â€Å"I don’t know the finish yet†. This love triangle revolves mostly around Ilsa – Rick and Laszlo don’t interact very much and there’s no sign of jealousy or aggression between them. 5. Rick and Ilsa meet at the market Theme or Issue: Relationships There’s a different dynamic about this meeting. Rick is in an apologetic mood – â€Å"I’m sorry I was in no condition to receive you when you called on me last night†. Ilsa is more distant, not emotional – â€Å"It doesn’t matter†. We see how relationships can change – â€Å"The Rick I knew in Paris, I could tell him. He’d understand. But the one who looked at me with such hatred [previous key scene] †¦Ã¢â‚¬  We also see the importance of memories in relationships – â€Å"We knew very little about each other when we were in love in Paris. If we leave it that way maybe we’ll remember those days and not Casablanca, not last night†. Sometimes revelations are key moments in a relationship – Ilsa tells Rick that Laszlo is her husband, and was so when they were in Paris. Rick seems stunned by this news, though Ilsa had told him in Paris that she had a man before but he had died. At this stage he may not realise that the dead man and Laszlo are the same person. 6. Ilsa and Laszlo at the Blue Parrot Theme or Issue: Relationships We get insights in this scene into the relationship between Ilsa and Laszlo. We see their dedication, love and concern for each other. She won’t leave Casablanca without him. For her sake he wants her to go on alone, even pretending unconvincingly that if the situation were reversed he’d go alone. Ilsa’s smile shows she doesn’t believe him. She reminds him of times he had a chance to escape and wouldn’t go without her, even though he was â€Å"in danger every minute of the time†. Laszlo declares his love: â€Å"I love you very much, Ilsa†. 7. The Nazis Visit Rick’s Cultural Context There’s a lot going on in this scene – the high point is the clash of songs – when the French drown out the German song with La Marseillaise. In a way it’s a clash of cultural contexts (which could describe the whole war), conveyed through music. We see the French finding their courage to stand up to the Germans. The clash surfaces in other ways e. . the fight between the French soldier and the German soldier who is with Yvonne. Also Rick asks Renault if he’s â€Å"pro-Vichy or Free French†, but Renault is evasive: â€Å"the subject is closed†. We see that loyalty is a hot issue and crucial value in this cultural context. Later Strasser asks Renault a similar questio n and this time he gives a more direct, but yet non-committal, answer – â€Å"I have no conviction †¦ I blow with the wind and the prevailing winds happens to be from Vichy†. The issue of Rick’s political loyalties are brought up by Laszlo when they meet upstairs. Rick says he’s â€Å"not interested in politics†, but Laszlo has heard he ran guns to Ethiopia and fought against the fascists in Spain, â€Å"always †¦ fighting on the side of the underdog†. We see an example of this when Rick helps the Bulgarian couple to get money to escape by letting the husband win at roulette. The fact that the wife was being pressurised to have a fling with Renault, and was seriously considering it, shows how morally muddled this cultural context is and how it drives people to desperation. Once again America is held out as the ideal destination, the desirable cultural context. The Bulgarian couple were trying to get there and the older German couple are particularly enthusiastic as they are leaving for America the next day. Presumably it’s the freedom from war and oppression that attracts them. General Vision and Viewpoint The clash of songs highlights the vision and viewpoint most strongly. We’re obviously meant to cheer with the French as the singing of the nasty Nazis is drowned out. We see the approval of the main and likeable characters – Rick gives the nod to the band to play the Marseillaise, Laszlo starts it and Ilsa looks proudly at him as he sings. It’s a kind of patriotic high – even Yvonne, who came in with a German soldier, joins in proudly and tearfully – a scene that is meant to move us. We are presumably meant to approve of Rick’s favour to the Bulgarian couple (e. g. we see the cafe staff being very positive about it). While Renault can be pleasant there’s a sense of relief that isn’t allowed to take advantage of the wife, and his political pragmatism (â€Å"I blow with the wind†) isn’t necessarily approved. Themes or Issue Relationships: The soreness Rick feels about what Ilsa did to him surfaces when the Bulgarian wife talks about her husband’s love – â€Å"Nobody ever loved me that much†. He risks revealing the true nature of the relationship in Paris when Laszlo wonders why he won’t sell them the exit permits he says: â€Å"ask your wife†, which puzzles Laszlo. We see Ilsa showing great pride in Laszlo’s stand against the German song, but this again suggests admiration more than romantic love. Another variation on the theme of Romantic love is shown in the relationship of the Bulgarian couple (Jan and Annina). The are a young married couple, very much in love (like Rick and Ilsa in Paris? Or Ilsa and Laszlo when the first married? ). But the danger of secrets in a relationship (as with Rick and Ilsa) becomes an issue when Annina considers an affair with Renault to get money without ever telling her husband – what she calls â€Å"this bad thing locked in her heart†. Rick helps her avoid this by letting the husband win at roulette. 8. Ilsa and Laszlo after visit to Rick’s Theme and Issue: Relationships We learn more of the relationship between Ilsa and Laszlo. Laszlo is very gentle and patient – not pressurising her to say what was going on with Rick, offering her understanding – asking if she was lonely in Paris, and telling how he was lonely too. Probably he suspects what happened, but doesn’t want to force the issue. She chooses to keep the secret – says she has nothing to say. With more volatile people this may have put the relationship under severe pressure. Their relationship is more affectionate than passionate – e. g. the way they kiss, compared to the way it was between Ilsa and Rick in Paris. Ilsa again seems to look at Laszlo in admiration. She seems unsure who to go with – â€Å"Whatever I do †¦. †. Laszlo doesn’t over react to that. Perhaps it could be said he’s more or at least equally interested in and devoted to the political work – he’s off to an underground meeting. Much of the time they talk in the dark – suggesting the threat that hangs over the relationship. 9. Ilsa and Rick meet at his place Theme and Issue: Relationships The love triangle relationship is coming to a head in this scene. Ilsa comes to Rick to beg for the exit permits, and when that fails (Rick is again bitter and cynical with her, and she calls him a coward) she pulls a gun on him but isn’t able to shoot. Finally she breaks down and admits she still loves him, and explains what happened in Paris – finding out that day that Laszlo was still alive, in Paris and in need of her help as he was ill. So the bitterness on Rick’s part was based on a misunderstanding, which often happens in a relationship. She kept the truth about why she didn’t leave Paris from Rick to protect him (he’d have stayed if he knew and got caught by the Gestapo) and kept the marriage a secret because Laszlo wanted it that way to protect her. We see how people can be confused in a relationship – Ilsa says: â€Å"I wish I didn’t love you so much†, and that she doesn’t know what’s right or wrong anymore and wants Rick to make the decision â€Å"for both of us, for all of us†. Perhaps it’s rationalising when she says she â€Å"can’t fight it anymore†, that she’d â€Å"never have the strength† to leave Rick again. In her relationships she wants to avoid choice (and guilt? ), letting Rick (rather than Laszlo) make her decision. Rick agrees to do this but it’s not clear at this stage what his decision is. There are several possibilities – he keeps the permits so that Ilsa and Laszlo have to stay in Casablanca (his original intention); he gives the permits so that Ilsa and Laszlo can leave (what Laszlo at first and then Ilsa want him to do, and in fact what he finally does); he lets Laszlo go and holds on to Ilsa (the solution that Ilsa seems to be gravitating towards); Ilsa goes alone and Laszlo finds a way out later (what Laszlo wanted when they were negotiating with Ferrari); Rick and Ilsa go, leaving Laszlo behind (what seems to be happening until the very end). All this goes to show how complicated relationships can get, especially a love triangle like this. 10. Ending (at the airport) Theme or Issue – Relationships: Things get complicated as they often do in relationships, but it is more the plot twists that are complicated – the basic nature of the relationships hasn’t really changed – the characters still feel the same about each other (keeping in mind that Rick has overcome his bitterness because of Ilsa’s explanation of what happened in Paris). Now it’s down to the choices people make. Ilsa wanted Rick to make the choices and he has done so. It seemed like he had chosen at first that Ilsa and himself would go leaving Laszlo behind, or as Ilsa seems to see it that they would get Laszlo to go on alone and that they would stay behind. Whatever he may have planned or considered Rick now has other plans – insisting that Ilsa and Laszlo go, and that he should stay. He chooses what’s right (morally? politically? film wise? ) despite the rekindling of his relationship with Ilsa. In what he says at the airport it’s hard to know when he’s stating what he really believes or what he reckons will persuade Ilsa to go. In a sense the love triangle is dismissed by Rick: â€Å"the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world†. And yet human relationship is still valued – Rick arranges for Ilsa and Laszlo to be together (just for political reasons? ) – â€Å"inside of us we both know you belong with Victor. You’re part of his work, the thing that keeps him going†. And he also shows he values his relationship with Ilsa: â€Å"We’ll always have Paris†. To make the relationship between Ilsa and Laszlo easier he plays this down when alking to Laszlo: â€Å"that was all over long ago. For your sake she pretended it wasn’t, and I let her pretend†. Once again there is no overt rivalry between Rick and Laszlo – they shake hands and Laszlo is grateful – â€Å"Thanks. I appreciate it†. We see in this scene how in relationships a parting can be painful. Counterbalancing this, to an ex tent, is the progression of the relationship between Rick and Renault. Up to now it has seemed a cat and mouse relationship, each using the other for personal gain, swapping favours (e. g. Renault allowing the gambling in Rick’s, Rick allowing him to win at roulette), making bets (over whether Laszlo will escape). In this scene they find a common patriotism Renault: â€Å" †¦ you’ve become a patriot†. Rick: â€Å" †¦ it seemed like a good time to start†. Renault: â€Å"I think perhaps you’re right†. Though earlier he had been prepared to betray Rick to Strasser, now he covers up for Rick. We see that relationships can take interesting and unexpected turns – â€Å"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship†. Cultural Context: Again the war context is prominent – the intrigue, the danger of capture (for Laszlo and Rick in particular), the violence (the killing of Major Strasser), the last minute escape (for Laszlo and Ilsa). There is a suggestion of a new patriotism in Renault (symbolised by the way he throws the Vichy water in the bin) and in Rick in one of their final exchanges: Renault: â€Å" †¦ you’ve become a patriot†. Rick: â€Å" †¦ it seemed like a good time to start†. Renault: â€Å"I think perhaps you’re right†. There’s an awareness of the wider war context, as Renault suggests to Rick that he go to â€Å"a Free French garrison at Brazzaville†. General Vision and Viewpoint: Sometimes an author will put his viewpoint into the mouth of a sympathetic (likeable) character. Are we meant to agree with Rick that: â€Å"the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world†? Overall, and considering the ending especially, the film seems to suggest that human relationships are important, but that sometimes a greater cause must take precedence, that individual relationships must give way to the common good. Rick’s thinking leads him to this conclusion: â€Å" †¦ it all adds p to one thing. You’re getting on that plane where you belong †¦ inside of us we both know†. The heavy message is lighted by the relatively cheerful ending, as the value of friendship is flagged: â€Å" †¦ the beginning of a beautiful friendship†. Finally, the patriotic message of the film is emphasised by the triumphant playing of the French anthem at the end. It’s i mportant to keep in mind that the film was made during the war, when many films were made to boost morale. Casablanca is no mere propaganda, but the ending sends out a clear message.

Porters 5 Forces for Car2go Project in Osaka, Japan

Introduction The use of Porter’s five forces in analyzing the business plans is something that is today almost synonymous to the process of strategic marketing planning. These five forces, advanced by the renowned macroeconomist and Harvard scholar; Michael E. Porter in 1979, essentially help in guiding business planners on what to expect in their new business ventures and how they should handle their challenges as well as opportunities.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Porter’s 5 Forces for Car2go Project in Osaka, Japan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These forces are: Threat of New Entrants, Bargaining Power of Suppliers, Bargaining Power of Buyers, Rivalry among Existing Competitors, and Threat of Substitute Products or Services as summarised in the diagram below. A circumspective analysis of these forces, in relations to the proposed Car2go project in Osaka, Japan, is succinctly done below. Main Discussion Threat of New Entrants In essence, the arena of transportation (both public and private) is flooded with constant entry of new entrants based on the ever increasing need for people to move from one place to another. As a result, there is always a ready market for new entrants. Osaka, Japan being a reportedly business hubbub, entry of new competitors is bound to happen and we therefore have to be ready and prepared to deal with that. To deal with the above challenge, Car2go plans to widen the scope of its businesses such that the entry of new competitors will not have much effect to their business endeavors. Pilot programs of these new diversifications are already underway in the current branch in terms of their products and services. By the time we move into Osaka, Japan, the company will have already known the relevant and fitting plans to put in place while also being aware of the ones to be ignored. Bargaining Power of Suppliers In assessing the aspect of d ealing with the bargaining power of suppliers, we have to chiefly consider the elements of cost and time to be utilized in the project. Given the fact that Car2go already has working system of suppliers that get to internationally supply the company in countries and regions like U.S.A, U.K, Canada, Germany, France, Austria and Netherlands; the company intends to use the same suppliers for purposes of cost and time efficacy.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, there are instances that there may be complications like delays by the suppliers or even jurisdictional restriction by traffic laws thus limiting some transportations (Watanabe 4-7). In times like these, new suppliers will be required so that the company is able to duly serve its new customers at Osaka, Japan. To this regard, Car2go will therefore have to increase the number of suppliers so as not to be af fected by any market fluctuations. Bargaining Power of Buyers Studies by our market researchers indicate that a good number of public and private transportation and car rental companies exist in Osaka, Japan. With the rise in the number of outlets offering products and services similar to Car2go, customers will have a wide range of options to choose from. In effect, this will result into a price war ultimately favouring customers. In other words, the customers will have a high bargaining power thus making cost-plans for quite challenging for service providers. In regard to our case, Car2go is renowned for having good prices for its buyers. This good price system will be replicated in the Osaka, Japan so no difficulty is expected. Rivalry among Existing Competitors As glimpsed in the previous section, Osaka, Japan already has a significant number of companies offering products and similar to ours. Rivalry from these existing competitors is bound to fierce and expectedly tough. Howeve r, scholarly and market reports from various quarters indicate that Car2go is reputed for having good relations with other market players so very minimal challenges are expected. Even more importantly, the existing players only act as a motivation for Car2go to work extra hard—something which is bound to ensure that continuous progress ensues. Our good brand name in car rentals services as well as in both public and private transportation will also be a plus for Car2go in edging off the competition from the existing competitors. Threat of Substitute Products or Services In today’s fast growing and highly competitive market of transportation, there is need for organizations to adopt an effective strategy for marketing in order to gain revenues and gain competitive advantage as well as meet its operational goals (Czinkota Ronkainen 186-190). This is driven by the presence of competition among companies for the already relatively-full market. A company that has inferior products and services rarely attains success, or survives in such a market (Porter 201-205). This occurs since those companies that have effective marketing strategies win a large pool of customers in comparison to those companies that have weak marketing strategies.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Porter’s 5 Forces for Car2go Project in Osaka, Japan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Over time, success in Car2go is usually measured in terms of gains (market share, revenues), and meeting operational goals. So, in order to fulfil these vital aspects of success, we intend to implement a diversification plan which entails venturing into other regions while bettering its product and services. In effect, the threat of substitute products or services will be thwarted while the company’s targets are met thus ensuring that we achieve overall success. Summary Just like most business ventures, our pro ject plans, in regard to Porter’s 5 Forces, may result in success or failure. It is for this reason that this plan calls for everyone involved to ardently play his/her part. It is only by doing this that we can have some assurance that our plans will be foolproof of the usual market hiccups and the never-ending economic challenges. Additionally, as seen in many other companies who have followed the formula we are proposing to institute the new branch in Osaka, Japan; we expect some copycat competition from our numerous competitors after we launch our branch. So in order to stay a step ahead of such competitors, we are planning to periodically revolutionize our operations after commencement in Osaka, Japan. Revolutionizing and bettering the myriad of facets entailed in Porter’s 5 forces will definitely offer Car2go competitive advantage over other market players. Finally, it is worth noting that the Japanese market, to be specific, and the Asian market, in general, is h ighly dynamic and sophisticated. In order to survive in it, we not only intend to use strategies that have previously worked in our other branches but we also intend to customize and adapt our transportation products and services to the existing market intricacies. This way, our success will be highly guaranteed. Works Cited Czinkota, Michael R., Ronkainen, Ilkka A. International Market. 8th Ed. 2007. London: Cengage Learning, Print. Porter, Michael E. Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance: with a New Introduction. New York: Free Press, 1998. Print. Watanabe, Ryo. Overview of the Public Transport System and Policy in Japan. 2-3 Mar. 2005. Web. https://www.itf-oecd.org/.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This research paper on Porter’s 5 Forces for Car2go Project in Osaka, Japan was written and submitted by user Cayson Nolan to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Major Sub-Disciplines of Geography

Major Sub-Disciplines of Geography The field of geography is a vast and wondrous academic field with thousands of researchers working in dozens of interesting sub-disciplines or branches of geography. There is a branch of geography for just about any subject on Earth. In an effort to acquaint the reader with the diversity of the branches of geography, we summarize many below. Human Geography Many branches of geography are found within human geography, a major branch of geography that studies people and their interaction with the earth and with their organization of space on the earths surface. Economic GeographyEconomic geographers examine the distribution of production and distribution of goods, the distribution of wealth, and the spatial structure of economic conditions.Population GeographyPopulation geography is often equated with demography but population geography is more than just patterns of birth, death, and marriage. Population geographers are concerned with the distribution, migration, and growth of population in geographic areas.Geography of ReligionsThis branch of geography studies the geographic distribution of religious groups, their cultures, and built environments.Medical GeographyMedical geographers study the geographic distribution of disease (including epidemics and pandemics), illness, death and health care.Recreation, Tourism, and Sport GeographyThe study of leisure-time activities and their impact on local environments. As tourism is one of the worlds largest industries, it involves a great number of people making very temporary migrations and is thus of great interest to geographers. Military GeographyPractitioners of military geography are most often found in the military but the branch looks not only at the geographic distribution of military facilities and troops but also utilizes geographic tools to develop military solutions.Political GeographyPolitical geography investigates all aspects of boundaries, country, state, and national development, international organizations, diplomacy, internal country subdivisions, voting, and more.Agricultural and Rural GeographyGeographers in this branch study agriculture and rural settlement, the distribution of agriculture and the geographic movement and access to agricultural products, and land use in rural areas.Transportation GeographyTransportation geographers research transportation networks (both private and public) and the use of those networks for moving people and goods.Urban GeographyThe branch of urban geography investigates the location, structure, development, and growth of cities - from tiny village to huge megalopolis. Physical Geography Physical geography is another major branch of geography. It is concerned with the natural features on or near the surface of the earth. BiogeographyBiographers study the geographic distribution of plants and animals on the earth in the subject known as biogeography.Water ResourcesGeographers working in the water resources branch of geography look at the distribution and use of water across the planet within the hydrologic cycle and of human-developed systems for water storage, distribution, and use.ClimateClimate geographers investigate the distribution of long-term weather patterns and activities of the earths atmosphere.Global ChangeGeographers researching global change explore the long-term changes occurring to planet Earth based on human impacts on the environment.GeomorphologyGeomorphologists study the landforms of the planet, from their development to their disappearance through erosion and other processes.Hazards GeographyAs with many branches of geography, hazards combine work in physical and human geography. Hazard geographers research extreme events known as hazards or disaster and explore the human interac tion and response to these unusual natural or technological events. Mountain GeographyMountain geographers look at the development of mountain systems and at the humans who live in higher altitudes and their adaptations to these environments.Cryosphere GeographyCryosphere geography explores the ice of the earth, especially glaciers and ice sheets. Geographers look at the past distribution of ice on the planet and ice-cause features from glaciers and ice sheets.Arid RegionsGeographers studying arid regions examine the deserts and dry surfaces of the planet. The explore how humans, animals, and plants make their home in dry or arid regions and the use of resources in these regions.Coastal and Marine GeographyWithin coastal and marine geography, there are geographers researching the coastal environments of the planet and how humans, coastal life, and coastal physical features interact.Soils GeographySoil geographers study the upper layer of the lithosphere, the soil, of the earth and its categorization and patterns of distribution. Other major branches of geography include: Regional Geography Many geographers focus their time and energy on studying a specific region on the planet. Regional geographers focus on areas as large as a  continent  or as small as an urban area. Many geographers combine a regional specialty with a specialty in another branch of geography. Applied Geography Applied geographers use geographic knowledge, skills, and techniques to solve problems in everyday society. Applied geographers are often employed outside of academic environment and work for private firms or governmental agencies. Cartography It has often been said that geography is anything that can be mapped. While all geographers know how to display their research on maps, the branch of  cartography  focuses on improving and developing technologies in map-making. Cartographers work to create useful high-quality maps to show geographic information in the most useful format possible. Geographic Information Systems Geographic Information Systems  or GIS is the branch of geography that develops databases of geographic information and systems to display geographic data in a map-like format. Geographers in GIS work to create layers of geographic data and when layers are combined or utilized together in complex computerized systems, they can provide geographic solutions or sophisticated maps with the press of a few keys. Geographic Education Geographers working in the field of  geographic education  seek to give teachers the skills, knowledge, and tools they need to help combat geographic illiteracy and to develop future generations of geographers. Historical Geography Historical geographers research the human and physical geography of the past. History of Geography Geographers working in the history of geography seek to maintain the history of the discipline by researching and documenting the biographies of geographers and the histories of geographic studies and geography departments and organizations. Remote Sensing Remote sensing  utilizes satellites and sensors to examine features on or near the earths surface from a distance. Geographers in remote sensing analyze data from remote sources to develop information about a place where direct observation is not possible or practical. Quantitative Methods This branch of geography uses mathematical techniques and models to test  hypothesis. Quantitative methods are often used in many other branches of geography but some geographers specialize in quantitative methods specifically.

Canceling Third World Debt

There are many compelling arguments for canceling third world debt. However, regardless of how morally wrong, third world debt relief will not go very far in solving the myriad of causes underlying the poverty crippling these countries in the first place. Canceling the debt is just one step in the process. Industrialized countries must also be willing to reform world trade laws, drop subsidies that insulate the world markets, fight graft, and help poor countries eliminate the corruption that permeates their systems. Plagiarism Detection >Examples of this systemic corruption can be seen in the countries of Kenya, Zimbabwe, DRC, Nigeria or Tanzania. These so called indebted and poor countries are some of the richest in the world in natural resources who at the same time, have a well educated work force. Yet the people are poor because their government abuses them and their resources, keeping the wealth for a few rather than for all. Canceling the world debt will not trickle down to the people as long as corrupt government officials stand in the way.Canceling the debt may encourage more bad economic policy choices, while at the same time allowing irresponsible lender governments off the hook, free to form new alliances with criminal regimes. Much of this so called debt was merely a way for developed nations to carve out a stake in the natural resources of the poor country, in order to protect their personal interests. By canceling the debt corrupt lending countries can hide their complicity in the denigration of the poor country and its people. Hanging a blanket cancellation onto a country also means that it is not a creditworthy nation in the eyes of other world governments, making things worse. Plagiarism Detection >Nor does it stop the cycle of criminality, because the countries must still borrow in order to survive and meet their other debts in the future. One way third world countries can get out of the financial and poverty inducing rut is to stay away fro m the patronage of rich nations who put them in trouble in the first place. Another way is to demand respect and proper treatment from creditors while eliminating the corruption endemic in their governments. It has been proven over and over again that the criminality and graft is a two way street. International law already allows countries to repudiate debt contracted without the consent of, nor spent in the interests of the people.Under international law citizens of a country do not have to repay those financed their oppression such as America propping up tin hat dictators like Mbutu, to name one. What seems to be lacking is a will to eliminate the underlying root causes of third world problems. The tools for doing such are already there waiting to be used. Third world debt cancellation is merely addressing a symptom that will only give very short term relief while allowing the problem to recycle and become entrenched again. Breaking the cycle is the only way to alleviate the prob lem on a more permanent level.

Mugwumps Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mugwumps - Essay Example There were massive amounts of government corruption during the Grant administration and the resulting problems drove a wedge in the Republican Party, the Mugwumps supported Democratic reform candidates such as Grover Cleveland. According to Gerald W. McFarland, â€Å"Between 1870 and 1896, the Mugwumps, most of whom were members of the Republican party’s reform faction, frequently engaged in protests against â€Å"unsuitable† party candidates† (McFarland 40). These protests helped bolster the chances of those candidates running on a reform platform and partially assisted in the election of Grover Cleveland. However, the decision to go against ones political party was not taken lightly, as Allan Peskin writes, â€Å"To be a Republican or to be a Democrat-these were not lightly-made decisions but were shaped by self-interest, ethnicity, and, above all, history, most notably the polarizing trauma of the Civil War† (Peskin 703). As a result of the election fraud and other types of corruption that caused the backlash and mugwumps to begin their attempts at reform. The infamous Tammany Society was extremely influential during this time period as well, primarily in New York which following the Civil War had an inordinate amount of influence on national elections and politics. This was in no small part due the large influx of immigrants through Ellis Island. According to Peter Argersinger, â€Å"The highly competitive political system of the late nineteenth century, as Samuel T. McSeveny has written, â€Å"led to repeated charges, countercharges, and denials of corruption, coercion, bribery, and fraud-allegations that have been echoed by subsequent political biographers and historians. Taken at face value, these outcries would lead one to believe that the two parties alternated in cheating their opponents out of deserved victories† (Argersinger 669) It is no small wonder then that so many individuals

Customer Relationship Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Customer Relationship Marketing - Essay Example customer acquisition it also includes the identification of valuable customers and intends to retain the valuable customers in order to increase the profitability of the company at large. The paper, therefore, shall focus on identifying the actual need of the CRM approach and on the contrary it shall also focus on certain problems faced by the companies. The first part of the paper, henceforth, shall be based on a business point of view rather than an academic perspective analysing the various factors of the approach in depth. The second part of the paper will try to justify the aspects discussed in the first part through analysing the theories and previously conducted research paper. To state the history or origination of marketing is indeed a difficult task. But evidences from decades have been emphasising on the issue to unleash the actual period when the thought and need of marketing were recognised by organisations. According to few researchers, authors, and analysts, revising the initiation of the marketing concept occurred in late 90s while the others argue it to crop up in ancient Greek. However, the marketers in their realistic practises were able to reveal the fact of a revolution in marketing thought with effect to its implementation. To state the fact in other words, marketing concept has changed drastically from the past to its present implication (Hollander & Et. Al., 2005). Consequently, the past phenomenon of marketing was centred on the development of the products or services rendered to the targeted customers. On the whole it was solely implemented from the perspective of the company rather than the targeted customers. To be specific, the companies were highly concentric on what they want rather than considering what their potential customers want from them. Apparently, with due course of time the thought of marketing implications transformed from the sole intention of meeting the companies’ requirements to the aim of justifying the actual

Capital raising Essay Example for Free

Capital raising Essay The market today is divided between Flash memories and hard disk drive. While both currently undergo tremendous increases in performance, they also face severe limitations for the mid term future (2015). Beyond the technological barrier Several physical factors related to the magnetic medium that stores the data bits are limiting the increase of density for hard disk drive technology but also for Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM) that shows great promise in delivering fast read nd write performance with non-volatility in a single technology. SILTENE has developed a back end solution to treat magnetic materials for enhancing their performances, reducing manufacturing costs and improving yield for both HDD and MRAM applications. Beneficial market SILTENE targets the Hard Drive Disk and MRAM markets. Three companies share the 50 billion dollars HDD market. These companies cooperate to develop new standards for ultrahigh-density devices. The MRAM market is still emerging but it should grow very rapidly in the next few years (1 billion predicted by 2018). Analysts consider MRAM as the universal memory as they have the potential to replace Flash, SRAM and DRAM memories in the near future. Our mission SILTENE aims to become the leader in advanced magnetic materials for high performance, low power Hard Disk Drive and MRAM applications and plans to establish a new manufacturing standard by developing advanced processes and associated treatment tools compatible with large scale. Our technology is currently being tested with hard disk drive and MRAM companies. A highly dynamic team and an influential network Cyril Torre, is the president C. F. O of the company. He holds a PhD in science and studied entrepreneurship at Ecole Centrale and HEC Paris. Dafln © Ravelosona, C. E. O C. T. O, holds a PhD in physics and is a known worldwide expert in spintronics. He also worked for 2 years in the HDD research center of Hitachi GST and is currently group leader at CNRS. He also studied entrepreneurship at HEC Paris. Antonio Villari, C O O, holds a P D in physics. He is a world-renowned expert in development ot ion source and was C. O. O at Pantechnik for 10 years (world leader in Electron Cyclotron Resonance ion sources). The advisory board of SILTENE is composed of world- renowned scientists, entrepreneurs and business developer (E. Fullerton, A. Kent, R. Cowburn, A. Steiner) Fundraising to develop the company SILTENE has raised 500k‚ ¬ of seed funding from public aid (OSEO emergence in 2011 and OSEO cr ©ation-d ©veloppement in 2012) and has been awarded several innovation prizes. SILTENE is now looking for private fundraising of 1 M‚ ¬ as a first step to enhance its RD and build up an industrial prototype.

Researching the Asian American Culture Essay -- Cultural Identity Essay

Researching the Asian American Culture There are fundamental differences between Eastern and Western cultures and the meeting of these cultures has had several effects, both in Asia and here in the US. Overseas, you can see the juxtaposition of American pop culture on the older modes of Asian thought and society. Here, New Age religions find new excuses in Asian religions and philosophies and Anime is appears regularly on Saturday morning cartoons. Often, this juxtaposition becomes turbulent as the younger generations are caught between two seemingly opposing cultures. As a result, crime rates rise with the integration of Western ideals and culture into Asian society. This is true here in America too as the first generation of Asian-Americans are born and brought up by Asian parents, with Asian thinking, in American society and culture. This conflict manifests itself in our history as a nation as well as in modern universities and businesses. Historically, the United States has not been kind to Asian immigrants and until as late as 1965, legal discrimination against Asians has been an accepted part of American culture. In the mid-nineteenth century, Chinese immigrants began to come to the United States in response to the gold rush in California. By 1852, over 20,000 Chinese had emigrated to the United States. Many of these would end up working on the Transcontinental Railroad as contract laborers. Local groups demanded, however, that the flow of emigration be stopped and in 1858, a law was passed that barred the Chinese from entering. This began a series of laws and treaties with China and Japan that would govern Asian emigration to the US. In 1868, Chinese emigration is reopened as a result of the Burlingame... ...ginning to result in more and more first and second generation Americans in the business and professional world. More and more Asian doctors, always a popular profession, can be seen today. The recent dot com craze similarly resulted in a disproportionate number of Asians heading up companies, although this has yet to manifest itself in the larger corporations. (no hard data on this, but I could probably find some if you need) However, Asians are rapidly becoming a greater force in American culture as the proportion of educated Asian-Americans rises. Despite small numbers, they begin to have more and more influence in the business and professional worlds as well as academics. They are an interesting group, however, caught between two extremely different cultures as they seek to strike a balance between the ideals of their parents and the world they live in.

Compare the ways in which ambition is presented in Act 1 of Macbeth and chapter 5 of Frankenstein Essay

Compare the ways in which ambition is presented in Act 1 of ‘Macbeth’ and chapter 5 of ‘Frankenstein’. Pay close attention to the writers presentation of ideas and relate your thoughts to the social and historical content of the texts. Ambition is a passion for something so strong that weaker individuals will become utterly seized by it. We see this in both protagonists in the two texts. Macbeth is first shown as a noble warrior. Shakespeare uses the language of the other characters such as ‘the captain,’ to underline and suggest what had happened and what will happen throughout the plot. Shakespeare uses the phrase â€Å"But all’s too weak/ for brave Macbeth† to explain Macbeth’s capability in the beginning of act one. Although we soon learn that he leaves his nobility behind as his selfish ambition takes control of mind. The words have been chosen to make the phrase dramatic and shocking to the audience, as Macbeth has just slaughtered â€Å"Macdonwald†, Shakespeare uses punctuation to split up the sentences as Shelly also does when ‘Frankenstein’ is terrified that the monster could be lurking in his home in Inglestad when he returns with ‘Clerval’. The novelist also does this when Frankenstein becomes manic due to his relief at seeing ‘Clerval’ and the fear of his creation. This technique is used so that the texts are read or performed in a disjointed manner which creates a sense of anticipation. Mary Shelley wrote ‘Frankenstein’ as an outlet of her experiences throughout her previous years and to express her feelings of grief, anxiety and shock from her childhood. When Mary Shelley was younger, her own ambition was to have a child to love and care for. This ambition and hope was shot down when her baby died soon after its birth. This could be the inspiration that she used for the creation and the unkind response given by the world to it. We learn much about the protagonist victor Frankenstein and his utterly selfish ambition throughout chapter five. This is the climax of his scientific obsession, he finally manages to bring the creature to life after his â€Å"Candle was nearly burnt out†. Shelley uses this metaphor to indicate that Frankenstein only had a small amount of his candle left to work by, and that he was close to giving up, and that his ‘Candle of hope’ was nearly extinguished. We can see parallels between Macbeth and Frankenstein where in the last act of the play, Macbeth describes how he sees life and death. He uses the words â€Å"Out out brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow†¦Ã¢â‚¬  to display his thoughts about the light or flame of life and how he now wishes he could blow out his candle so that he may die. A candle will flicker, shrink and grow through time and these uses of the word make me imagine the ups and downs of our lives until finally, they weaken and extinguish. The authors use the idea of a candle as it is often used as a symbol of light, hope and expectation. Frankenstein describes his own ambition to create the monster when he tells us that he had â€Å"desired it with an ardour†. Shelley uses â€Å"desired† to make us realise that Victor Frankenstein has wanted this success for a long time and that he has dreamed about it, the word â€Å"ardour† is in this phrase as it makes one think of a deep and intense passion of love in which Frankenstein is referring to the monster by. He contradicts this by using it in the past tense to explain that he regrets his decision to bring life to the monster. Frankenstein says that his aspiration â€Å"†¦far exceeded moderation† when talking about his hope to create a life. Shelley has used the words â€Å"exceeded moderation† to display the extent to which Victor Frankenstein had wished to succeed as a scientist. Although Victor Frankenstein, automatically rejects the creation when he views its appearance. This tells me that Frankenstein is very shallow and intolerant as he does not give the â€Å"utterly benevolent,† creature a moment to be understood or loved. Shelley uses this expression to compare the Frankenstein’s creation a new born babe as babies are completely innocent when they are first born. Shakespeare also introduces the idea of children and violent acts with Lady Macbeth when she tells us about the horrifying moves she is willing to take to have the opportunity to become Queen. Lady Macbeth says the expression â€Å"†¦dash’d the brains out† to turn the beautiful and natural act of breastfeeding into something monstrous, she is comparing killing her â€Å"babe† while breastfeeding to killing King Duncan. The word â€Å"dash’d† has been used to emphasise the speed at which she would kill her child and the Shakespeare has used punctuation to create this effect. I believe that this is where Frankenstein begins to fall due to his ambition and, in contrast to Macbeth, he dies not realise that what he is doing and has done is wrong. Macbeth describes his hopes for King Duncan’s death as â€Å"black and deep desires†, which tells me that Macbeth recognises the immorality of his wishes. Frankenstein and Macbeth both soon become arrogant and totally selfish. Macbeth also turns evil and bloodthirsty. Shelley and Shakespeare both warn their audience of the potential threats and consequences of trying to play the role of God by creating, destroying or changing life.

Fiji Water and Corporate Social Responsibility Essay

Nova School of Business and Economics 2nd Semester 2011/2012 Marta Andre Lopes n º10265 International Management – 4th Case Study Summary – Fiji Water and Corporate Social Responsibility: Green Makeover or†Greenwashing†? 1. Introducing the Case The case traces the establishment and subsequent operation of Fiji Water LLC and its bottling subsidiary, Natural Waters of Viti Limited, the first company in Fiji extracting, bottling and marketing, both domestically and internationally, artesian water coming from a untouched ecosystem in the main of Fiji Islands. It takes us through the growth and market expansion of this highly successful company. The company has grown rapidly over the past decade and a half, and now exports bottled water into many countries in the world from its production plant located in the Fiji Islands. In 2008, Fiji Water was the leading imported bottled water brand in the United States. Despite of a great marketing success of the Fiji brand, particularly in the U. S. market, the case shows us how the company has responded to a number of corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues, including measuring and reducing its carbon footprint, responsibilities to key stakeholders, and concerns of the Fiji government with regard to taxation and transfer pricing issues. It also leads us to think of CSR challenges that may jeopardize the sustainability of a great marketing strategy. In this case, Fiji Water faces CSR issues such as the carbon footprint on its production, responsibilities to stakeholders, relations and legal issues with the Fiji authorities on tax incentives, export duty claims and transfer price that may jeopardize an otherwise successful marketing strategy. . Challenges Ahead The firms’ strategies should not only focus on the stakeholders’ or the employees’ interests, they should also take care of the outsiders’ interests affected by the firms’ business since every firm, irrespective of its business or size, must have an obligation to satisfy the social interests when it does the business in the sake of the stakeholders. The case showed that a corporation’s marketing and ethical strategies should not only focus on the interest of the stakeholders and the legal compliance of that corporation’s business, but also center on the moral and social responsibilities. A corporation with a more socially responsible practice would consider itself as responsible corporate citizen of the entire society for every course of business actions. Also, if a corporation fails to maintain a good CSR practice, it exposes the business to various green nterests groups which may trigger the corporation’s sustainability. Given this, it is very important that corporations and their marketers care about CSR practice to ensure the sustainable strategy, which help to ensure the achievement of the stakeholders’ interests by managing economic, legal, social, cultural, and environmental risks. Fiji Water LLC showed a great contribution in Fiji with respect to tax revenue, jobs for local workers, foreign currency collection from export sales and so on. These factors ensure that the production facilities in Fiji can be sufficiently operated and expanded over the years to meet the increasing demand from consumers. I think that the company could develop a comprehensive program on measurement, tracking, reporting, and audit on corporate commitments and responsibilities on environment protection of itself and its vendors, which could help to Fiji Water LLC and its vendors to improve its environmental credibility in certifying that Fiji Water LLC is carbon negative. Also, the company should start paying more corporate taxes to demonstrate that it is a good corporate citizen by revisit its transfer pricing practice. As a consequence, it should review and optimize its business operations to be more efficient and effective by reducing its costs,balancing the interests of its stakeholders and Fijian government.

A Definition of Amnesty

A Definition of Amnesty Generally, amnesty is defined as any governmental pardon for past offenses or crimes, especially political ones. Granting amnesty goes beyond a pardon, in that it forgives the said offense completely, and typically without consequences. For purposes of conservative politics, amnesty is a political term typically associated with two major issues: immigration and capital punishment. As it relates to immigration, amnesty is the term used for granting automatic citizenship to resident aliens, who are in the United States illegally. Amnesty for illegal immigrants is the subject of tremendous controversy since it essentially bypasses the citizenship and assimilation process essential to all legal immigration into the United States. As it relates to the death penalty, amnesty is the term used for when a governor grants a reprieve from execution to a prisoner sentenced to death. In this case, amnesty is different from a pardon in that it doesnt exonerate the condemned from all punitive action or absolve the convicted of all wrongdoing.​ Illegal Immigration Was the 2013 Gang of Eight Bill amnesty? The easy answer is: Not really. The 2013Â   immigration bill did not offer blanket amnesty. In fact, there were a number of requirements, penalties, and steps that needed to be taken in order to remain in the country legally, and not everyone would get to stay: The Gang of Eight bill is actually called the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013. It was a comprehensive immigration reform proposal originating in and passed by the US Senate. It was a Democrat-friendly bill that needed a lot of work and had a lot of poor elements to it. The eight members included Republicans Marco Rubio, John McCain, Jeff Flake, and Lindsey Graham and Democrats Chuck Schumer, Bob Menendez, Richard Durbin, and Michael Bennet. The bill eventually passed by a vote of 68-32. From a conservative standpoint, the bill was not very good and though it had provisions beefing up border security, they were ultimately toothless and gave far too much power to the executive branch. Immigration Reform If immigration reform fails once again, it needs to fail after both the Senate and House pass bills. If the House passes an enforcement-first bill that the Senate refuses to adopt, the Senate is equally responsible for reform failing. And while voters agree immigration reform needs to happen, they also agree that closing the border and preventing more illegal immigration is a top priority. If the bill ultimately fails it will be on those grounds. Democrats want little in the way of border security, increasing deportation of criminal aliens, or slowing down the legalization and citizenship process. All of these are crucial elements of any immigration reform. If they are absent, reform should fail. These provisions have broad support among voters. The proof is in the television and radio ads that members of the Gang of Eight are running. In those ads, the Senate bill proponents constantly talk about strong enforcement measures because they know Americans do not want to see the current scenario play out again in a decade. Of course, those measures have been trimmed out of the bill. If immigration reform ultimately fails because conservatives stood for these core elements it will be harder for them to be badgered politically. After all, the are holding out for positions with broad public support. That said, the Republican Party has never been known to play to their advantages well with the public. Pronunciation: amnistee Also Known As: acquittal, compurgation, exculpation, forgiveness, mercy, release Examples: Amnesty is a terrible policy, and its terrible politics. Its a terrible policy because you are rewarding people for breaking the law.- Tom Tancredo

Perception about consumer behaviour with respect to the environmental Research Proposal

Perception about consumer behaviour with respect to the environmental issues, is there influence of the environment courses of - Research Proposal Example (Ayres, 2012) Over the period of time, consumers have become ethical in nature with their buying decisions mostly being affected through their ethics. Global consumers now understand the consequences of their actions more clearly due to availability of more information and globalization effects. Environmental as well as ethical issues which were initially not highlighted are now being highlighted and discussed in public to better inform the consumers. There have been serious discussions regarding consumers in developed countries buying such diamonds and consequently helping finance war in such war torn countries in Africa. Considering the overall improvement in the consumer perceptions and knowledge, this research will attempt to explore and understand as to whether the industry has an impact on the consumer behavior. This research will further explore the efforts undertaken to stop this process and the overall degree of success achieved in this regard besides exploring as to how it can be stopped and whether awareness should be raised about it or not. (Campbell. 2004.)Â   The overall rationale for choosing this topic is based upon the fact that diamond industry generates more revenues by selling less therefore the overall flow of funds through blood diamonds may be higher and can be used extensively to finance the war. Further, this research is also significant in the sense that it presents a real life example of how industry wide phenomenon can actually have an impact on the consumers and their buying decisions. Literature Review There are many countries within Africa which depend upon diamonds as one of the key source of economic progress and revenue. For such countries, the revenue generated by selling diamonds in international market can help them achieve economic development and progress. However, for some countries, the revenues generated through selling these diamonds are diverted towards the purchase of guns and ammunition to support the war in many A frican countries. The diamonds which are sold for the purpose of financing the war are called blood diamonds or conflict diamonds. (Campbell,. 2004) In the wake of development in the product development and technology, today’s consumers are faced with multiple choices to buy a large number of goods and services at relatively affordable prices. The variety as well as the prices therefore allowed consumers to buy large volumes of such products and services and resultantly their supply also depends upon how much demand is being generated in international market. (Fram, and Baron, . 2004) The overall history of blood diamonds originates from Sierra Leone wherein a group with the name of Revolutionary United Front (RUF) attempted to capture the diamond mines to fund their struggle to restore democracy within the country. However, this trend flourished in other countries also wherein warlords used it as a credible source for earning revenues to fund their war efforts. Diamonds are considered as luxury goods and buying them at higher prices often involve an uncompromising consumer behavior from the buyers given the luxury and degree of prestige attached with it. Over the period of time, this issue and ethics related with

Investment Portfolio Project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Investment Portfolio Project - Assignment Example Some of the advantages I shall enjoy include dividends from the companies. Common stock will account for 20,000 because -: Source of income as dividends Growth potential if the company splits its common stock to satisfy a large part of their financial needs' 10,000 shall go into preferred stock as such shareholders receive dividends before common stockholders are paid any cash. This is especially so when corporations are experiencing financial problems. I wish to invest both in corporate and governments bonds. A bond is a written pledge to repay specified sum of money a government to corporate with interest. When I buy a bond I will be loaning a government or corporate money for a given period. The period may extend between 1-30 years. I have two options: to keep them till maturity or redeem them to another investor. Corporate bonds shall be in Celco Corporation, D&E Corporation, and Alexander & Baldwin. Choosing blue chip stocks is a safe investment that generally attracts conservative investors. Some of the respected companies incorporate America includes AT&T, general electric and Kellogg. I will carefully look out for leadership in industrial group, history of stable earnings and consistency in paying dividends. These corporate bonds shall take 20,000 i.e. AT&T (8%), General Electric (91%) and Kellogg (3%). The Equity stocks shall include Dow Chemicals, Myers Squibb and Royal Dutch/ shell in and equal ratio of the 20,000. The main object for such investing shall be income, getting higher dividends than average stocks. Incase of defensive stock that could be included on the portfolio then Proctor and Gamble, Kellogg shall be good bets. A consistent dividend payout even during...My understanding of different investments in relation to risk depicted by the table below. Buying stocks in a corporation listed in a stock exchange allows ownership and participation in the success of the corporations. I will get an opportunity to sell and repurchase at later date possible at high price therefore getting capital gains. I wish to invest both in corporate and governments bonds. A bond is a written pledge to repay specified sum of money a government to corporate with interest. When I buy a bond I will be loaning a government or corporate money for a given period. The period may extend between 1-30 years. Choosing blue chip stocks is a safe investment that generally attracts conservative investors. Some of the respected companies incorporate America includes AT&T, general electric and Kellogg. I will carefully look out for leadership in industrial group, history of stable earnings and consistency in paying dividends. These corporate bonds shall take 20,000 i.e. AT&T (8%), General Electric (91%) and Kellogg (3%). The Equity stocks shall include Dow Chemicals, Myers Squibb and Royal Dutch/ shell in and equal ratio of the 20,000. The main object for such investing shall be income, getting higher dividends than average stocks. Investing in mutual funds would also be another wise investment vehicle.