American Culture And Its Technological Leadership Of Web...

From a historic viewpoint, the American culture has dominated global culture based on its technological leadership of Web-based and consumer technology (Ashby, 2006). While these innovations are being adopted outside the United States, in America on the other hand, it becomes less â€Å"American† and more global. Cortada (2009) explains that American Web sites, applications and high-tech gadgets are dispersed worldwide, which results therefore in them becoming less US-centric, even though they remain influenced by American culture. By using Facebook in this thesis, one sees that this technology is clearly a part of American culture, but worldwide adoption leads it to become less American. Nye (1997) explained, â€Å"Machines are social constructions which Americans long have built into both their narratives and their sense of place† (P.39). Technologies are an essential part of American self-representation, tourism, and visual sensibility. Americans have also developed machines in their own way and woven them into landscapes, social relations and a sense of history (Nye, 1997). However, Postman (1992) defines a society as a â€Å"techonopoly†; the culture has its authorization in technology, and finds its approvals and takes its orders from technology. Still, Postman was criticized by David Croteau and William Hoynes (2003), they argued that Postman had underestimated the work of a technology’s users. Alexander Star (1992) also disagreed with Postman, and argued that Postman disregardsSho w MoreRelatedHow Students Adopt Social Media884 Words   |  4 Pagesand if there are any difference between an early American adopter versus an early Scandinavian adopter. The literature review will guide this study by give an understanding of how new innovations in social media are being adopted by the use of Diffusion of Innovation Theory. The first three sections of the literature review will provide information of the American and Scandinavian culture, with the focus on the differences in the use of technology between them. The forth section will provide SocialRead MoreComparing Structure And Culture Of The Same Industry Essay1202 Words   |  5 Pages1. Compare structure and culture of two or more firms in the same industry. Which would you prefer to work for? The two firms being compared were google and apple, both firms dominate the intersection of technology and consumer access. In addition they both compete across a huge range of sub-industries such as computing software, hardware, operating systems, applications and web browsing amongst others. However each firm takes a different approach from an organizational perspective. GOOGLE GoogleRead MoreQuestions On Organizational Theory And Behavior1459 Words   |  6 Pages COURSE: ORGANISATIONAL THEORY AND BEHAVIOR COURSE CODE: MGT 4020 INSTRUCTOR: DR. SIKALEI DAMARY GROUP ONE INTERNET EXERCISE: ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT: DESIGN AND CULTURE MEMBERS ID NO GITATA IAN MWANGI 639068 MBEERA KEITH 641323 NDERITU SUSAN NJERI Read More The Walt Disney Company as an Internet Pioneer Essay1432 Words   |  6 Pagesorganizations success, or downfall. Identifying these factors and the role each of them has on the four functions of management should help the organization be more successful. Three factors that may impact an organization may be E-business, technology, and/or diversity. There are many organizations in the world today, though few have been as successful as the Walt Disney Corporation. Disney is one of the most famous names in the animation industry, known for providing entertainment directedRead MoreEnvironmental Factors and Marketing1323 Words   |  6 PagesEnvironmental Factors and Marketing Decisions Will a successful marketing plan in one country work in another country? This is unlikely to occur due to many different cultural, political, economic, technological, and competitive environments. Marketing mixes require adjustments to meet local conditions and companies that understand these environmental factors can create advantages when positioning their products or services. Wal-Mart is a global organization and uses market research to understandRead MoreEnvironmental Factors and Marketing Decisions Essay1251 Words   |  6 PagesEnvironmental Factors and Marketing Decisions Will a successful marketing plan in one country work in another country? This is unlikely to occur due to many different cultural, political, economic, technological, and competitive environments. Marketing mixes require adjustments to meet local conditions and companies that understand these environmental factors can create advantages when positioning their products or services. Wal-Mart is a global organization and uses market research to understandRead MoreLeadership And Motivation, Ethical And Diversity Issues3528 Words   |  15 Pagesmanagement activities, Ethical and diversity issues Andrew Mao - Leadership and motivation, The Company’s Business in Brief  Table of Contents Company’s Business in Brief 3 Macro Environment Analysis 4 Competitive Environment Analysis 7 Internal Environment Analysis 10 SWOT Analysis 11 Strategic Management 12 Organization Structure 13 Human Resources Management 14 Leadership and Motivation 14 Ethical Issues 15 DiversityRead MoreDell Computers Strategy1703 Words   |  7 Pages, an American computer-hardware company, headquartered in Austin Texas, which develops, manufactures, sells and supports a wide range of personal computers, servers, data storage devices, network switches, personal digital assistants (PDAs), software, computer peripherals, and more. They design, build and customize products and services to satisfy a range of customer requirements: from the server, storage and Premier Services needs of the largest global corporations, to those of consumers at homeRead MoreProj587 Course Project Essay3270 Words   |  14 PagesReferences†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Company Background VIZIO, Inc. was founded by William Wang in 2002 with the idea that everyone deserves to own the latest technology. Over the years, the company has grown from having three (3) employees at its inception in 2002 to having nearly 200 employees. VIZIO ‘s primary line of business is televisions (TV), and remains the first American brand in over a decade to lead the United States in LCD HDTV sales. While VIZIO excels in LCD sales, the company continues to add new innovativeRead MoreLeadership Trends and Microsoft: Exploring the IT Organization3747 Words   |  15 PagesLeadership, Trends and Microsoft: Exploring the IT Organization Background In todays day and age, where focus on leadership is essential for any organization to succeed, many new trends and approaches come and go, and it is the job of a successful company to adapt their work to these trends in a way that focuses on the future yet holds firm to that companys respective beliefs and mission statement. So many times, companies, hoping to get a leg up within the industry see a new trend and haphazardly

The Hydrogen Bomb The Most Deadly Weapon Ever Created Essay

Emma Brown Ms. Kind-Keppel English 2 15 April 2015 The Hydrogen Bomb-The Most Deadly Weapon Ever Created Speaking on the topic of nuclear weapons, President Truman said, â€Å"I have directed the Atomic Energy Commission to continue its work on all forms of atomic weapons, including the so-called hydrogen or superbomb. Like all other work in the field of atomic weapons, it is being and will be carried forward on a basis consistent with the overall objectives of our program for peace and security† (Bacher 133). Even though he claimed that the hydrogen bomb’s creation would create peace, Truman, after seeing how the Cold War was playing out, demanded the production of the hydrogen bomb in order for the United States to have weapon superiority. This demand sparked a weapons race between the United States and Soviet Union during the Cold War, which ultimately led to the crumbling of the Soviet Union. The hydrogen bomb, one of the most destructive weapons ever created, is an American invention that was initially meant to bring peace, ended the Cold War, and its effects are stil l impacting America today. In order to comprehend the importance of the hydrogen bomb in America, one must first understand the cause for its invention. The Cold War, a catalyst for the bombs creation, was fought over the US and USSR’s different beliefs on how a government should function. Russia believedShow MoreRelatedThe Energy Source Of Energy868 Words   |  4 Pagescivilization is working hard to harness energy emitted from a fusion reaction as it could provide an ungodly amount of energy. In addition, the most common fusion reaction is when two atoms of Hydrogen (tritium and deuterium) fuse to form Helium. Luckily, both isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium and tritium are found in abundance on the Earth. For example hydrogen isotope deuterium is found in water molecules, while tritium is found in the element lithium. Furthermore, due to the reactions of the two naturalRead MoreThe Treaty Of The Cold War1520 Words   |  7 Pagesthe United States used two bombs on Japan, Little Boy and Fat Boy. They were two atomic bombs, the first ones ever really used on another country. They had been dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Being a new thing, every other country wanted one, if not more. They wanted to build them, and put them to use. Russia, having the most people to put to work at the time, was able to figure it out and build one first, however, because of World War II, they were basically on bomb restriction, and couldn’tRead MoreNuclear Weapons And The Atomic Bomb1432 Words   |  6 Pageswith nuclear weapons, the fourth will be fought with bows and arrows† Lord Mountbatten. This quotes, by a famous British Naval Officer, summarizes the threats nuclear weapons present to the entire world. With the development of the atomic bomb during the Second World War, a new war was started: the Cold War. The ideology behind this war continues on to this day and has led to many treaties and other attempts to stop the production and potential use of nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons are a scientificallyRead MoreThe Atomic Bomb2530 Words   |  11 Pagesbeginnings of the Nuclear Age started when Albert Einstein wrote to President Franklin Roosevelt warning him of a dangerous weapon the Nazis had begun researching, known as the atomic bomb. (1) Though, when President Roosevelt first read this letter, he was too preoccupied with events in Europe to be bothered with such ideas. He at the time did not take the creation of such weapon to seriously, nor did he believe America had the resources for such a task. (2) Finally, on October 19, 1939 President RooseveltRead MoreNuclear Weapons Should Be Carried Out1991 Words   |  8 PagesThe definition of a weapon of mass destruction is a chemical, biological or radioactive weapon capable of causing widespread death and destruction (Farlex).Nuclear weapons are the most destructive weapons the world has ever seen. They get their explosive power from transforming matter into energy. Nuclear weapons are classified a s chemical, biological and radioactive weapons of mass destruction (FBI). Many people have venture in that their sizable power used during wars could destroy human developmentRead MoreThe Advanced Technology Of World War I1634 Words   |  7 Pagesnew advancements changed the future of warfare. Themes about WWI the paper will include are weapons, vehicles, aircraft, ships, the frontline and support. For my first source I used information from an online source. The article, â€Å"12 Technological Advancements of World War I† includes some weapons, vehicles and support used during WWI. It is relevant because it provides detailed summaries of certain weapons and technology that is essential in creating this paper. Included in the article is informationRead More Race for Nuclear Arms and Power1908 Words   |  8 Pages(1884-1972) was the most influential person in the race for the super bomb. As President Roosevelt’s Vice President, he knew nothing about the development of the atomic bomb. But within months of assuming the office of President of the United States on April 12, 1945, he became the first and only American leader to authorize the use of atomic weapons against an enemy target. Truman’s era only marked the beginning of the race for nuclear weapons. The development of nuclear weapons is still an issueRead MoreThe Weapons Of Nuclear Weapons2078 Words   |  9 PagesDestruction of Nuclear Weapons The power of nuclear weapons has prompted nations to attempt to control both the spread and use of these weapons. Countries who own these weapons of mass destruction are at risk for accidents and being targeted by other countries for being a threat. Nuclear weapons can cause harm to civilians because of how powerful the explosion tends to be. Many countries have a large stockpile of nuclear weapons. The costs of these weapons are very high and the weapons are also extremelyRead MoreScience And War : Science Or War Essay2162 Words   |  9 Pagesmade a weapon and utilized that as a part of Vietnam war. After that, I viewed a few documentaries of World War I and World War II where there was a radical utilization of science and innovation in war. Weapon of pulverization is made with the assistance of science to decimate and demolish each other. This subject truly captivates me. How the experiments and research were done by the science was utilized to make a weapon of mass devastation . In many wars, the innovation and experiments created and conductedRead MoreCommunism, Democracy, And Capitalism3017 Words   |  13 PagesJohn F. Kennedy, September 25, 1961 The cold war was a violent clashing of ideology, communism was battling with democracy. It was one of the most emotionally charged war, and time, in American, and possible the globes history. There was great fear of a global nuclear conflict, that would leave thousands dead, and essentially ending the world as we had ever know it. I will cover the history that is the cold war, and delve into the philosophies of the two main nations involved. I will be comparing

Art History Nike of Samothrace Free Essays

â€Å"Nike of Samothrace† was sculpted in second century AD during the hellenistic culture. This 8ft high sculpture was found on an island called Samothrace, north of the Aegean, and though beautifully carved, the artist is not known. It was discovered at a sanctuary in a harbor that faced the predominate wind. We will write a custom essay sample on Art History Nike of Samothrace or any similar topic only for you Order Now It was as if the wind was blowing directly on the sculpture itself. The Nike was made to act like a figure head on the prow of a ship, and though it never really was on a ship, it was the bow of a stone ship in a temple like building. The â€Å"Nike of Samothrace† is greatly appreciated because of the strong force of motion, and realistic qualities, as well as its symbolic references to the Greek culture. The Greeks period has come a long way when we look at the way the Archaic/Egyptian period and Hellenistic period carved and shaped people. The Archaic and Egyptians sculpted people and clothes flat and simple. Their bodies did not twist very much and were pretty straight. The clothes on the people were basically just lines, or slits in the stone, and was not really realistic. Comparing this to the way the Hellenistic period carved their people, they used a lot of motion and movement. There people twisted in different directions as they would in real life, and their clothes were deeply carved and looked very real. The â€Å"Nike of Samothrace† was carved out of marble, and accurately shows texture in the wings, and the folds in the cloth. The Greek culture had studied and celebrated the body and they used their knowledge to show expressive forces in their art. They used hammers and chisels to create beautiful, realistic flows on the stone, and made it look like it was actually moving. The â€Å"Nike of Samothrace† is a carving beautiful, voluptuous woman in a flowing dress with two large wings out stretched behind her. This statue had lost her head and arms, but is still recognizable as the Nike of victory. Her body movements and intricate detail of her tunic is very dramatic as she seems to walk gracefully in a storm. The Nike was to be on the prow of a ship in the ocean, and that is strongly seen by the movement of her dress. You can practically see the strong winds whipping around her body as her skirt is blown behind and around her. The drapery is very graceful and strong as it is pulled in the direction of her body and one can practically see the energy in her movements. Her body is grounded by her legs as she strides forward. Her abdomen twists slightly as if finding balance in the wind, and her wings are aloft behind her as if she just landed in from a fierce headwind. The sheer chiton that she is wearing clings to her body as if it is wet from a hefty sea spray, billowing in the wind. Her body is proportionate, and accurately depicts the perfect body scale of a Greek goddess. The texture in her wings, and the fabric of her garment are very life-like and pick up light in their deep groves to make it look more dramatic. The artist shows how he is able to carve the female body, portray realistic cloth, and convey victory and power in this statue. It is believable and relatable to the average person because of the stance in the body and the way the a strong wind would really blow around your clothes. The Nike of Victory has been resembled before in Greek art. This goddess represented the victory over war and contests. Therefore, it was shown on Greek coins, temples, and other important objects. The Nike of Victory is seen again in the carving â€Å"Nike Adjusting her Sandal† on the Temple of Athena. This Winged Nike leans down to adjust her sandal as her chiton slid off her shoulder. Similarly to the â€Å"Nike of Samothrace†, the â€Å"Nike Adjusting her Sandal† has large wings to balance her pose and decorative swirls of heavy pleated fabric that clings to her body. She appears to be delicate and light just as the â€Å"Nike of Samothrace†. The Nike of Victory is seen with wings, intricately carved fabric, and with the scale of the â€Å"perfect body† it shows divinity and creates something that would be desired. She also was the messenger that spreads the news of victory, and that is something that Greeks hold in high regards and were always trying to obtain. The dramatic feel to the â€Å"Nike of Samothrace† brings out fierce emotions and give the onlooker the sense of accomplishment and encouragement. It conveys many emotions as it stands tall and strong. It’s formate of the â€Å"perfect female body† and the precise folds of the cloth in motion, relates almost exactly to the style of the three goddess on the Parthenon frieze. However, the three goddesses appear to have just woken up from a relaxing sleep. They are calm and quiet and reveal the restful attitude of mellow goddess on Mt. Olympus. When looking at them you feel serene and peaceful, getting the calm feel of life as a god. The â€Å"Nike of Samothrace† is obviously very different in that aspect. This goddess is ready to go to war as her stance is fierce and ready for anything. The goddess is responding to energy and natural forces whereas the Parthenon frieze goddesses are tranquil, composed, and o not seem to be worrying about much at all. The Statue of â€Å"Laocoon† is a carving of Laocoon and his sons struggling against large sea serpents trying to destroy them. You can clearly see the force of motion being pulled in many different directions. With their legs pushing one way, and their arms pulling another, and then with his head cocked back, you can se the different directions his bare muscles are being strained. This statue i s very dynamic and conveys an emotion of urgency and fight, just as the â€Å"Nike of Samothrace† does. The way the Nike’s body twists and is not flat and straight, is the same as the dramatic gesture in â€Å"Laocoon†. The Parthenon frieze, â€Å"Laocoon†, â€Å"Nike of Samothrace†, and even the â€Å"Nike Adjusting Her Sandal† all show the movement in a body as it would in real life. The way the fabric falls and the twist in the body make the statues feel and look more real and relatable. At this time in Greek culture respect for the gods was immense. They believed the gods were heroes and took sides to help out; obviously you would want to be in the gods favor. When carving the â€Å"Nike of Samothrace†, the artist made her to show the people that the gods were on their side and that they would have victory over their war and conflicts. The Nike was in the same style as all the Greek goddesses would have been, with the ideal body shape, flowing robs, and for the Nike’s, large wings. She was placed in a temple to show her importance and divinity and to represent the power that Samothrace wanted to convey. She was carved to look like a real goddess, to bring victory over their sea fair, and to relate to the Greek culture just by who she was and who she related too. How to cite Art History Nike of Samothrace, Essay examples

Empathy in to Kill a Mockingbird free essay sample

Throughout the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the characteristic of empathy is ever present. This unique quality is developed through Jem and Scout in their dealings with the characters of Walter Cunningham and Mrs. Dubose. One characteristic shown of Jem and Scout is their ability to empathize or â€Å"†¦. climb into their skin and walk around in it. † (pg 31). During the novel Jem develops a high level of emotional intelligence that allows him to understand the situation of others, as well as what they may be thinking or possible the way they will act. The reader first discovers this characteristic about Jem when he stops Scout from bashing up Walter Cunningham in the schoolyard and invites him over for dinner. â€Å"I [Scout] stomped at him [Walter] to chase him away, but Jem put out his hand and stopped me. † (pg 24). Jem stops Scout bashing Walter because he knows the ordeals Walter and his family face every day. We will write a custom essay sample on Empathy in to Kill a Mockingbird or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page To make up for Scout, Jem invites Walter over for dinner because Jem knows Walter is lucky to get a proper meal a day. Scout develops her empathy from this example when Calpurnia takes her into the kitchen and explains the Cunningham’s situation. Yo’ folks might be better’n the Cunningham’s but it don’t count for nothin’ the way you’re disgracin’ ‘em†¦. † (Page 26). Through the course of events involving Walter Cunningham, both Jem and Scout learn to climb into the skin of Walter and enhance their ability to empathize. Another example of where Jem and Scout show their attribute of empathy is with the character of Mrs. Dubose. Mrs. Dubose is an old lady who is addicted to morphine with a habit of make her thoughts of Atticus public; in front of Jem and Scout. In a burst of rage Jem gets angry and smashes her flowers; which he then has to repay, by reading to her; and Scout decides to tag along for moral support. About 1 month after they complete their reading duties, Mrs. Dubose dies and the children feels empathy and some sympathy, for her when Atticus tells them how she died. â€Å"†¦. Mrs. Dubose was a morphine addict. She took it as a pain killer for years†¦.. She said she meant to break herself of it before she died, and that’s what she did. † (pg 120). Jem and Scout feel empathy for Mrs. Dubose’s pain and wanted her to die happy and content, even though they despised almost everything about her. Did she die free? † (pg 121). Jem and Scout’s ability to empathize and understand others and their position, through the character of Mrs. Dubose is one of the crucial characteristics in the children that make To Kill A Mockingbird a book of a lifetime. The events of Jem and Scout Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird, portray the trait of empathy or the ability to â€Å"†¦. climb into their skin and walk around in it. † (pg 31). This is seen through their connections with Walter Cunningham and Mrs. Dubose. The empathy learnt through these characters, allow Jem and Scout to grow and mature, in an Atticus-like way.

Four Views on the Warning Passages in Hebrews

The warning passages in Hebrews have always been one of the most arguable and controversial parts of the whole Scripture. Bateman IV (2007) even describes them with the word â€Å"exhausting† (24). The major sticking points are the following. Firstly, who are those passages about: believers, unbelievers, or both? How are we supposed to interpret the term of salvation and sanctification?Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on Four Views on the Warning Passages in Hebrews specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Secondly, how can the â€Å"true believers eternally secure in their salvation† deny or reject the God’s Son and deserve the punishment (Bateman IV 2007, 25)? Finally, what is probably the most important issue, will believers be deprived of their salvation if they reject God’s Son, or can it be given back to them in case of repentance? A Brief Summary of the Book In Four Views on the Warn ing Passages in Hebrews, Bateman IV analyzes the warning passages and the most controversial questions, which are generated by them, through the prism of four perspectives provided by four different people. All of them are professors in various areas of theology and the authors of many works related to the Book of Hebrews. The detailed information about each of the contributors can be found at the beginning of the book, right after the Preface. First of all, the author gives the introduction, where he identifies the warning passages, defines their main characteristics, and classifies them according to those characteristics. For example, passages 2:1-4 and 12:14-29 are aimed to explain the need to listen and hear the God’s word. Another two of the warning passages are about the trust and obedience to God (3:7-4:13, 10:19-39). And, finally, parts 5:11-6:12 Bateman IV (2007) describes as the â€Å"heart† of all passages (28). All of fore mentioned passages later become th e central focus of the book. The first part of Four Views describe the Classical Arminian view presented by Grant R. Osborn. He reviews the relevant part of the Book of Hebrews and examines each of the fore mentioned passages in details. He states that apostasy is the biggest threat to the genuine believers as far as it deprives them of their salvation. Moreover, this happens once and for all. Then, the responds of the rest of the professors are presented.Advertising Looking for book review on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The second part of the book is about the Classical Reformed view, which is given by Buist M. Fanning. This perspective is probably the greatest competitor of the previous one since it assumes just the opposite. According to it, those believers who commit apostasy, have never been true believers at all. In other words, Fanning claims that there is a clear distinction between Christians a nd non-Christians. After Fanning’s essay, the representatives of the rest perspectives comment on this one. The third viewpoint discussed in the book is Wesleyan Arminian, represented by Gareth Lee Cockerill. This view is very common to the first one, Classical Arminian. The difference is that Cockerill admits the possibility that those who commit apostasy can be actually restored. Again, three comments of the rest of the professors are presented. The fourth part of the book describes the Moderate Reformed view by Randall C. Gleason. It is probably the most unusual interpretation of the warning passages. Gleason understands falling away in entirely different terms and uses the Old Testament parallels. After the representation of this view, the responds of other professors are provided. The book ends with the conclusion that summarizes all points that have been mentioned above and determines the ways of further investigation. The conclusion is written be George H. Guthrie. Ana lysis of the Concepts The Classical Arminian View Osborne assumes that the warning passages are addressed to believers. He proves his point using the parts of the participles in 6:4-6. Among those are the words: â€Å"having been once-for-all enlightened†, â€Å"having become partakers of the Holy Spirit†, â€Å"having tasted the heavenly gift†, and others (Bateman IV 2007, 111-112). Those indeed seem to address the believers, since only they are supposed to be enlightened. So, Osborne states that the passages are aimed to warn real believers that even they can actually â€Å"fall away† one day (Bateman IV 2007, 112). He talks about this as about the biggest threat because once a believer commits apostasy he can never turn back, that is there is no chance for repentance. At this point, Osborne focuses on Hebrews 6, which refers to an unforgivable sin.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on Four Views on the Warning Passages in Hebrew s specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He says that an unforgivable sin here is apostasy. Additionally, he argues that the phrase â€Å"if they fall away† is the incorrect translation of the original participle, and suggests to replace the word â€Å"if† with the word â€Å"when† since many believers have already â€Å"fallen away† (Bateman IV 2007, 112). The Classical Reformed View Unlike the Classical Arminian perspective, the Classical Reformed one presumes that the warning passages have just the opposite goal and address the non-Christians, not believers. In this regard, Fanning refers to the fact that in the warning passages the third person is used while in the majority of others – only the first and second person. Thus, different groups of individuals are addressed. Fanning states that people are split up on Christians and non-Christians from the very beginning, and those who commit apostasy have never been real believers at all. He also argues about the content of participles 3:6 and 3:14, saying that we should not talk about â€Å"what will be true† of those who fall away, but focus on â€Å"what is already true of them†, because it is actually the same (Bateman IV 2007, 207). Therefore, a person is either a believer or an unbeliever, and only unbelievers can apostatize. This view is especially criticized by Osborn (which is predictably enough), who says that Fanning has overlooked â€Å"several portions of the passages† (Bateman IV 2007, 220). The Wesleyan Arminian View The perspective presented by Cockerill is very similar to Classical Arminian. Cockerill agrees with Osborn on the point that the warning passages are directed to the believers and warn them about apostasy. However, unlike Osborn, who denies the possibility of those who have fallen away to repent and become believers again, Cockerill allows for such a possibility. Actually, instead of f ocusing on the status (a believer or an unbeliever, in or out of the God’s Kingdom), Cockerill mainly pays attention to the process, which leads to that status, that is whether a person is moving towards God or in the opposite direction. The main drawback of this view is that Cockerill does not consider several participles, such as 6:9-12 or 10:19-25, for example, and that seems to be an oversight. The Moderate Reformed View Gleason’s contribution is indeed a unique one. He understood the passages in terms of the Old Testament and said that those concerned Jewish believers who were facing persecutions before the Jerusalem was destroyed.Advertising Looking for book review on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More He also says that falling away is a â€Å"serious act of unfaithfulness toward God†, and the punishment for it, based on the OT background, is physical (Bateman IV 2007, 220). However, this interpretation is very specific and depends on many presumptions and variables, and in case those are not right, this view becomes much weaker. The â€Å"Best† Explanation As it has already been said before, the warning passages are extremely difficult and controversial, that is why it is hard to determine, which one of the four perspectives is actually right. Every one of them has a grain of truth and is valuable for the further investigation of the passages. However, the third viewpoint seems to be the closest to the truth. The Moderate Reformed view has a significant drawback because of its close connection with the Old Testament. The Classical Reformed perspective can be criticized as far as it divides people only into two groups (either believers or unbelievers), without any po ssibility of intersections between them. It is a very radical proposition because the world can never be so black and white. So, this leaves us with two very similar views: Classical Arminian and Wesleyan Arminian. Both of them state that the controversial passages warn believers about apostasy and imply that it is the biggest threat to them. However, the classical perspective is much more radical since it says that anyone who apostatizes can never turn back to being a believer through repentance. The Wesleyan Arminian view is more realistic for that matter. Besides, it focuses on the action instead of the state, and it seems to be right. Even those people who have committed apostasy in their past can move towards God in the present, what makes them believers. Therefore, the process has much more value than the state. General Analysis of the Book First of all, Four Views on the Warning Passages in Hebrews has a valuable introduction. Unlike many other books, where an introduction is only a vague representation of the further content, this one gives all principal concepts explained from the very beginning. The introduction is aimed to orient readers in the topics, which are discussed in the subsequent parts of the book, and it definitely succeeds in this task. However, the author also discusses several issues there, which are not needed for the further debate and analysis and only distract readers’ attention from the central theme. So, those could be easily omitted. Still, the advantages of the introduction outweigh this insignificant drawback. Another strength of the book is that its structure is simple and clear. After every contributor explains their point of view, the rest of them have the opportunity to comment on it, giving their critical analysis. While reading this book, you have a feeling that you are present at the real debate. It seems like you listen to the presentation made by each professor, and then the rest of them respond to it and argue , relying on their own interpretation of the warning passages. However, due to a written form, readers have enough time to analyze and think over every statement. Besides, such kind of structure gives readers the opportunity to compare one of the perspectives with the rest of them without reading the whole book. You just need to open the relevant chapter and examine the responses of all contributors. The book is scholarly and is about complex and arguable concepts. Nevertheless, both the author and the contributors try to make its ideas as clear and comprehensible as possible. Besides, every part of the book is written in a moderate tone. Each author realizes that the warning passages are difficult and can not be interpreted in only one way. That is why they admit that all theories have a right to exist and do not dismiss each other’s view as wrong or heretical. All of this makes the book easy and pleasant to read. One more important feature of Four View is an impressive func tionality. While discussing the warning passages from different perspectives, the book contains numerous links to encyclopedias, dictionaries, and various other resources. Therefore, it provides readers with a solid theoretical basis and gives all necessary possibilities to conduct the further research. Frankly speaking, the book even motivates readers to conduct the research because when you learn these four perspectives, you want to know even more. To conclude, Four Views on the Warning Passages in Hebrews has a significant value, both for the comprehension of the topic and the further investigation. Everything in the world is relative, and the best way to understand something is through comparison. At this point, Four Views provides readers with everything they need. Besides, the book is unique and impossible to replace because it gives relatively easy explanations for extremely complicated concepts. The book is organized in such a way that it is a pleasure to read it. It capture s attention and makes you believe that you are a part of a real debate. References Bateman IV, Herbert. 2007. Four Views on the Warning Passages in Hebrews. Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic and Professional. This book review on Four Views on the Warning Passages in Hebrews was written and submitted by user Kingston Riley 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.

George Best Death Media Portrayal Essay Example

George Best Death Media Portrayal Essay Example George Best Death Media Portrayal Essay George Best Death Media Portrayal Essay As you can see the broadsheet Sunday newspaper a large image of different types of flowers laid onto the floor by beloved fans Bests and a boy putting his own bunch of flowers down expressing his sorrows and love for the famous footballer. The newspaper is attempting to show readers the love fans had for him and that he would be deeply missed. The title itself is connected to the image well. The title for the newspaper is United in grief for the legend thus the image shows fans came together and lay flowers on the floor to mark his death.The broadsheet goes straight into depth regarding the death with columns of data speaking about his medical history. The newspaper also tells us that due to the fact Best being bankrupt and was unable to pay the was given free medical treatment by the private hospital. He endured several operations, went back and forth to the hospital and after all this he passed away. The other paper has no introduction, no information like the broadsheet. It has a large image of him a laying in bed with his ex girlfriend Alex.The images used are totally different, the broadsheet has an image of one of Georges fans putting flowers, however on the tabloid paper there is a woman round the famous footballer and at the top saying Exclusive and then you have several mini subheadings at the bottom saying Smuggled In For Final Goodbye and so forth this is a hook and entices people to read all about Georges secret life. : It is like the tabloid is rousing something up.Both papers are connoting different things, for instance, the broadsheet attempts to make readers feel sorry for him by talking about what he went through within the hospitals etc, whereas the tabloid paper does not do this. They have focused more on publicizing his secret life. The layout chosen for the broadsheet is tedious. You have got a large image of hundred flowers, special notes, goodbye messages and a boy putting his own bunch of flowers down. There are small columns of information talking about the treatments he had, when and how he died, the minute silence to mark his death and so on.There are medium size headings, also the camera shot has blurred the back of the picture and zoomed into one of Bests fans and flowers; on top of this you got a label which connotes united in grief for a legend. The layout is I feel is boring and cramped, closed, squashed and so forth but on the other paper you have open spaces. This has an effect on the reader, really the broadsheet has the news value but tabloid contains too much gossip. Both sheets has a certain style of layout, language etc. For the tabloid, you have a zoomed image of the footballer and his ex who is holding his neck and the background is blurred in the picture.On the bottom of the paper are mini subheadings revealing other aspects of the footballers life as it wishes to encourage people to purchase and read all about his secret life. Both of the layouts and image angle shots are different, this connotes that both papers are aiming at ideal readers, in terms of their age. The title is of a large font enabling people to read it from a certain distance. Both newspapers have its own style of language just like the layout, images and the differences in how the famous footballer is represented.The language used in the tabloid connotes it is informal because you have words like, pals secret and so on, but on the broadsheet their words like est imate expert and so forth. This proves both newspapers are aiming at different people, again in terms of their ages. George Best is being presented in two types, one is like good news and the other is filled with gossip. He has been portrayed in two ways good and bad. They both emphasize on the fact that e was a football legend. In the tabloid newspaper there is not much news value, it is full of gossip and his secret life.The paper wishes readers to read about his secret life rather than focusing on the fact that he has gone from this world. The reasons as to why he is being represented in this particular way is due to the target audience. Tabloid newspapers are mostly read by working class people. Also the newspaper aims to inform its readers everything abut his life be it shocking news, like the mini subheading in the front paper Agony over his secret daughter. The broadsheet gives the facts. It as news values and concentrates on his medial experiences rather than his secret life .It wishes to inform fans what he had to endure with hospitals and how he was still being treated free of charge. It explains about what his fans did for him and how much he will be missed and the image is there to show just how much fans appreciated him. The reason as to why it is different to the tabloid paper is that broadsheets are mostly targeted for middle class people and it does not want to contain information which isnt entirely accurate. In the tabloid paper you can find all the gossip of his life but when you look it has less news value than the broadsheet.

Discuss, in detail, the connection of power to political science Essay

Discuss, in detail, the connection of power to political science - Essay Example For instance, a leader over a small number of people is named a master, the director of a home; over a quite greater number, a king or a statesman, as there is the presence of a variance amid a boundless household and a minor nation. Aristotle states that it is not right for a government to have variance in politics and power. In power and politics, there exists six types of constitutions they are divided into here are unjust and three that are just. A constitution can be defined as just in cases where is has advantages to the each and every citizen, on the other hand, a constitution can be referred to as unjust in cases whereby it is of help to the individuals in power only. When leadership is via a single person, this is a monarchy constitution, the ruler has to be good and incases of a bad leader it is referred to as tyranny. In cases where minor elite is the ruler, this constitution is referred to aristocracy when the rulers are respectable and an oligarchy if the rulers are wicked and corrupt. In situation of a government whereby the masses rule, the constitution is termed as a polity if the leadership is good and a democracy if the leadership is bad. Aristotle recognizes that providing full dominion to either the leading body or the regulations might create room for misuses of power and advocates th at a polity is most likely least vulnerable to corruption, particularly in situations where by the laws are assumed higher power than the leading body. He suggests a norm of distributive justice, stating that advantages ought to be discussed upon diverse citizens in a different way, depending on the involvement they make to the happiness of the public. Platos Republic focuses on a modest question â€Å"is it always better to be just than unjust?† Plato defines justice as a virtue of a nation that would aid outline justice as a feature of typical

Hospitality Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Hospitality Learning - Essay Example From the early days, medieval monasteries in Europe intellectually offered hospitality to travelers, especially pilgrims. The early inns in Europe were profit-making ventures that offered public rooms where merchants would sit to discuss their businesses. Apparently, the hospitality industry has followed travelers’ paths. In about year 1200, there arose inn-keeping that saw English restaurants considered as the finest globally during the industrial revolution. With the birth of the first class Termand house hotel in Boston in 1829, providing guestroom, lockable door and free soap, the modern hotel industry emerged. By the 1950s, new concepts such as floatels, boatels and motels had been introduced. By 1960, a majority of hotel owners merged with large chains such as Hilton and franchising their hotels, making them larger. This marked the birth of the modern hotel industry across the world (Talwar, 22). At this point, it would be important to note the role that Hotel Management course plays in opening up one’s mind to appreciate that hospitality encompasses more than just hotels. Hospitality has been categorized into four segments: transportation, commercial recreation, food service and lodging. Therefore, whereas travelers could use hotels for dining and accommodation, restaurants would provide meals only. Vacation ownership is another plan in the hospitality industry where customers buy a property, normally a residence at a resort and acquire the right of use for the lease period. Resorts are places meant for vacation, daytime getaway or relaxation and could offer live entertainment, cosmetic treatment, meals and massages. Another increasingly attractive field has been the cruise ship where passenger ships with amenities to serve leisure purposes are employed in leisure voyages with the various destinations along the way also being attractive. Whatever the choice of hospitality, Hotel Management emphasizes on the importance of

Intellectual Disability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Intellectual Disability - Essay Example One of these is Picture Exchange Communication System or P.E.C.S. This method uses discrete trail training to teach children using visual cues. There are a lot of visual cues available but there is also a Compic-programme computer that one can use in order to teach a student with autism. P.E.C.S teaches to exchange a visual cue on things that the student wants to tell, or when asking for something, or even make comments. He is being reinforced back with snacks or a praise when communication is done and effective. (Marsden, 2002) For example, a student who wants to play with a teddy bear may hand his compic of a teddy bear and teacher will give him a teddy bear to play with. One important advantage of teaching P.E.C.S is that autistic children, when well reinforced, develop less behavior problems. They are happier, less frustrated and more satisfied since their needs are met and their sense of independence is more practiced using this kind of method. This method can easily be administ ered, not only by teachers, but moreso, of parents with autistic children. Parents need to manifest efforts as their teacher s are doing so the teaching methods are not limited to the walls of the school. The ability to initiate and maintain social interaction determines ability to enhance relationships between parents or caregivers and children with autism. As shown in a study made by Stephenson and Dowrick (2005), responsitivity of parents to the behavior of children is recognized as a critical element in parent-child interaction and contributes not only to communicative development, but moreso on affective and mental development. It is highly important that parents and caregivers are educated on the teaching method of their child. Knowing the communicative content and appropriate usage of the context will greatly improve their communication with their child. A survey was made comparing between parents who can identify the signs, gestures, and body movements of their children but are not able to report sufficient detail on the context of the movements and its communicative content. and parents who have aside from identifying the body signs, gestures and body movements, know the context and communicative content of these movements. Results showed that parents who can identify the context of gestures and body movements are more educative of the communication method used on their child and tend to maintain an in-depth communicative relationship with their child. The behavior of the child is more satisfying because they are aware when to use certain gestures and at what context to use for. While picture-object relations is difficult for children with autism, another research was done to identify which effective teaching method is viable for children with language and communication disability and autism. Two methods namely the error prevention procedure and error correction procedure were both tested. Results showed that error prevention based teaching gives fewer errors than error correction method. A notable feature of these studies is that learning such relations often presents a major difficulty for children with language and developmental disabilities and autism. If learning is successful, usually this is achieved only through repeated teaching of the relation over many sessions;

Human Resource Management In Multinational Banks

Human Resource Management In Multinational Banks The case study, Human Resource Management in Multinational Banks in Tanzania, refers to the east located African country Tanzania, which is a developing region and has a high rate of unemployment, poverty and consists of a poor national institutional system. The country ranked poorly on the Corruption Perception Index. The country has also low influence of foreign banks. In the history the country went through different regimes including European partition and the scramble for African colonies. A strong influence on the country has the first elected leader, President Julius Nyerere, of Tanzania. The local Swahili language is known as Ujamaa, which became an official language. The Ujamaa philosophy rely its principles of government on three tenets of traditional African family system which are: mutual respect of each member of the family and society sharing of property and income obligation of all to work The African country wanted to attract foreign direct investment and other MNCs by implementing private policies to improve the socio-economic and institutional conditions and increase the inhabitants living conditions. 1. Is the role of the head offices a prerequisite for business strategy success for MNCs in cross-market integration? Explain your answer in detail. In my opinion and based on various literature the role of head offices is prerequisite for business strategy success for MNCs in cross-market integration. The head offices of MNCs represent the position where most or nearly all of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. The head office is the entity at the top of a corporation by taking full responsibility to manage all business activities. The service initiated by corporate head offices refers to corporate functional policies that are uniformly applied to both domestic and international operations. They are established specific to meet the needs of international units on an ongoing basis. One major role of the head offices which influences the business strategy success is characterized by coordination and controlling the host nation. These factors are highly visible particularly in the finance and accounting areas. For example, 70 percent of investment decisions are typically made by corporate head offices. So the head offices can keep in mind the general view of the organization. It seems to be best performed when public relations and dealings with host country governments are totally delegated to the local management. Corporate head offices of MNCs in cross-market integration are necessary to determine overall objectives and to specify organization wide strategies. The head offices are responsible for the policy guidelines and make their decision on the allocation of corporate resources to the various operating divisions. Relating to the case both bank centralized organizational system similar by controlling strategic management and business activities, including HR functions in the host nation. The Citibank head office was responsible for major corporate decisions at its country head office. The head office control was intended to achieve business integration globally and transparency in managing work and HRM policies.The head office of the Citibank was also in charge of the recruitment of expatriates for core business activities. The Standard Banks head office had full operational control over the country head office. To conclude, for MNCs in general and multinational banks particularly in this case study, the role of the head offices can be seen as prerequisite for business strategy success in cross-market integration. 2. Does the transfer of corporate business culture have a significant impact on MNCÂ ´s global business competitiveness? Be specific (you may provide examples from other companies). To understand the fallowing question I think it is necessary to define the term corporate business culture which can be used as a synonym for organizational culture. Corporate business culture refers to the shared values, attitudes, standards, and beliefs that characterize members of an organization and define its nature. Corporate culture is rooted in an organizations goals, strategies, structure, and approaches to labor. It is an essential component in any businesss ultimate success or failure. It is an unwritten value-set that management communicates directly or indirectly that all employees know and work under. It is the underlying soul and guiding force within an organization that creates attitude alliance, or employee loyalty. A winning corporate culture is the environmental keystone for maintaining the highest levels of employee satisfaction, customer loyalty, and profitability, stated John OMalley in Birmingham Business Journal. Figure 1: Artefacts of organizational culture (Reference: Organizational Behavior, Steven L. McShan, 2010 ) Positive corporate culture is a prerequisite for success and offer significant competitive advantages over rivals. Corporate business culture includes three important functions. The first function represents the control system. Corporate business culture is a deeply embedded form of social control that influences employee decisions and behaviour. Secondly the organizational culture is the social glue which bonds people together and makes them feel as a part of the organizational experience. Employees are motivated and want to internalize the organizations culture because it fulfils their needs for social identity. The third function represents the sense-making process. This is defined by the understanding of the employees of what goes on and why things happen in the organization. Successful MNCs have strong corporate business culture which means that employees understand and embrace the dominant values. This can influence the organizational performance and results as the employees well-being. For example The Standard Bank LTD promotes a family working environment which is part of their corporate culture. They also value their employees work expectations and treat them fairly which results in a willingness and motivation of the employees work. These make a balanced working environment and outstand on the global business competitiveness. Another example is Wal-Mart, which is a multinational retailer, benefited from the positive effects of corporate business culture. The MNC creates an environment of trust and respect their staff which persists to this day. Employees are called by their first name and the founder of Wal-Mart encouraged change to maintain the competitive edge. A further example which is related to our lecture is the Southwest Airlines. Southwest Airline has a very strong corporate business culture. HR policy doesnt provide layoff when the business is not going well. One main point which includes the corporate culture is the relaxed atmosphere, where people can be more flexible, loyal and productive. Job security promotes a willingness and motivation of Southwest Airlines employees. This results that employees convince relatives, friends or family members to work for this MNC. The productivity and effort of the employees helps the Southwest Airlines to keep labor costs low and savings are transmitted to travellers in form of lower prices. These factors of corporate culture might help the MNC to outstand from their rivals. Related to our lecture we learned that work behaviour is culturally determined and a lot of debates can make whenever corporate culture supersedes or supplants other cultures. What is understood and meant by corporate culture translates into universal work behaviors and standardisation of work practices An organization with a strong corporate culture can standardize more and the local culture has less influence but still local adaption should be taken into account. Figure 1: The linkage between culture and behaviour (Reference: slides from the lecture) This figure demonstrates the connection between the corporate business culture and the home and host culture and the behaviours. Standardization of work behaviour should take into account the choice of mode of operation in determining standardization of work practices. Other important points are the ownership and control. For instance wholly owned subsidiaries provide greater opportunities for transferring work practices than in International Joint Ventures. The standardization of work practices depends on different aspects: receptivity of local workforce to keep corporate norms of behavior. effectiveness of expatriates in the role of agents of socialization time of localization appropriateness to the local environment To conclude, related to the theory and the mentioned examples it is visible that the transfer of corporate business culture have a significant impact on MNCs global business competitiveness. 3. How and why did the MNC banks implement global HR best practices in their cross-market integration? Do their actions in fact reflect best practices? A precise definition of the term best practice is necessary to discuss in detail the mentioned question. A best practice is a technique or methodology that, through experience and research, has proven to reliably lead to a desired result. A commitment to using the best practices in any field is a commitment to using all the knowledge and technology at ones disposal to ensure success. Citibank LTD is an American bank and is one of the most global companies by providing financial services and products. The MNC bank offers different kinds of specialized financial services and products. The bank implemented best practice by applying modern sophisticated technology in its business operation in Tanzania. These services were used to standardize services, to monitor work performance and forms of financial transactions, to inform its customers of global financial market trends, currency fluctuations and price changes in commodities. The main corporate decisions of the Citibank were made by the head office in New York which had a systematic control of operations in the host nation. The bank used an e-check system which was used on a daily basis to monitor incoming and outgoing phone messages and record messages and telephone numbers. Employees werent given high flexibility. For instance every employee had to eat at the companys canteen. They were not allowed to bring their lunch meals from outside. Security checks made sure that employees didnt bring their own food to the workplace. The company gave bonuses to those people who attended the recreational scheme regularly, which is an organized process for socializing between employees and bank representatives. Expatriates role in the Citibank was to provide training to the local employees. One lack in the banks best practice was that the back-up function of the corporate culture which was directed from the head office, let the branch representatives and expatriates only a small space to change their policies or make local adaptations. The best practice included training program but this was also provided from the head office in New York. The purpose of training local employees was to ensure that head office policies were systematically followed. The first bank used Western-style HRM practices and didnt take local practices into account. The second bank, Standard Bank LTD was based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The mission of the bank was to offer guidance and expertise in the financial industry for its customers needs. Similar to the Citibank also the Standard bank was controlled from the head office in South Africa. In my opinion the second bank fallowed the best practice better in a way to take into account local adaptation and responds. They provided local and foreign magazines, videos and textbooks. The Bank tries to come closer to local institutional policies by focusing on a collective working environment, HR functions started to address more openly. The bank used the collective management and leadership terms to characterize its HRM practices in Tanzania. The Standard Bank implemented best practice by integrating the employees in the organizational process and culture. For both MNC banks it seems that they performed best practices. In my opinion Citibank and also Standard Bank didnt reflect totally on it. The Citibank used different modern sophisticated technology and offered various benefits but didnt take into account local circumstances. This bank didnt refer to the local culture, because the main power was in the head office in New York. This is one main lack in their performance. The Standard Bank was more successful by performing best practice because they tried to adapt locally in different ways. One lack of their best practice regarding to the Citibank was that they didnt use modern technical systems and didnt offered as many benefits as Citibank did. In my mind best practice might be achieved when both performances of the two MNC banks are combined. A mix between both banks policy can result in a balance of their performance and they could approach better the best practice in their cross-market integration. 4. How can the MNCs best reconcile the need for global integration and local responsiveness in their HRM policies? Human resource management policies are important and vital for organizations that are serious about resolving personnel issues and finding HR solutions. HRM policies are intended to help maximize the effectiveness of the Human Resource function. Types of HRM Policies: policy recruitment attendance policy leave of absence policy performance planning and evaluation performance probationary period compensation Different studies have established the need for MNCs to gain a balance between the global integration and local responsiveness in their HRM policies. It is important for the MNCs to implement HRM policies to complement the existing culture in the country where the subsidiary exists. A study of European MNCs illustrates the global integration and local responsiveness in MNCs HRM practices. This study is based on 600 UK and Ireland MNCs. They found that MNCs differ in their HR policies by noting that localization is more influenced in career traditions and labor market. MNCs sustain more similar to training frameworks. The implemented study found that host country regulation increase, when home country influence was reduced. The MNC must be aware of the local responsiveness by developing local staff through recruitment, training and development and retention. Cultural awareness training should be provide, because it has various applications domestically which can increase the effectiveness of MNCs One key factor to harmonize global integration and local responsiveness is to create and develop a consistent corporate business culture across multiple locations and maintain the critical balance between a strong corporate business culture and local cultural differences. Related to these points, communication plays an important role in all locations of the common corporate business culture. The Identity of local culture should maintain in the context of the corporate business culture. Another main reason for MNCs to best reconciles the need for global integration and local responsiveness is to integrate and adapt strategic human resources management. MNCs must become more differentiated, integrated and coordinated. Various successful MNCs implemented options like cross-national management training, cross-national assignments and cross-national project teams, to develop different values and culture to pursue global responsiveness of corporate vision and objectives. A very appropriate example of MNCs illustrates McDonalds. The organization operates globally but responds with their products and also regarding to the HR policies locally. For instance McDonalds adapt local taste to their products to satisfy their customer needs and employ local citizens in very subsidiary. The MNC build a standardize products line to succeed globally but they also take into account the local responsiveness to reach a high level of effectiveness and efficiency. However, MNCs should standardize as much as possible to save money, efforts and work but the local culture and cultural differences should be taken into account in their HRM policies.

Thomas Hardy’s poem “Hap Essay -- Thomas Hardy Hap Poetry Poem Analys

Thomas Hardy’s poem â€Å"Hap" Poetry is ultimately defined as a major literary genre. How boring that is for such a beautiful literary form. I believe that poetry is a genre devoted to art, complexity, and precision. All in which the poet does more than just writing; he or she takes that which is indescribable and finds words for it through poetry. Granted, this leaves poetry vastly open to interpretation. After all, each and every poet expresses him or herself in a different way; with different meter, rhyme, mood, and meaning. Leaving one poem practically unlike any other, like a snowflake. This is poetry, and this is also why poetry is so hard to analyze. Every person that has read and analyzed a poem has been left wondering what the author of the poem had intended by it. Often there is room for more than one interpretation, so many are often left wondering if they correctly interpreted a poem. Several arguments could be left unfinished with the phrase, â€Å"Well, how do you know? Did the author of the poem tell you? In which the answer is, with rare exceptions, no. Authors leave clues in, in between, and all throughout their poems. That’s part of the art. They don’t just tell the readers what the poem means. That would take away from it. Instead, the reader must keep in mind that everything is in a poem for a reason. The author may not come out and say what a poem is about, but he or she will leave enough information in the poem for someone dedicated enough to find. I intend to devote such a dedication to Thomas Hardy’s poem â€Å"Hap,† in order to analyze, and hopefully, understand this poem through a p rocess. Perhaps the first and most obvious step would be to read the poem. Just read it. As in: begin reading and don’t stop, fee... ...becomes a piece of literature that a reader can appreciate. These, also, are by no means the only steps a reader could take to understand a poem. There’s always more time that can be devoted to understanding a poem. There is also a multitude of research on poetry that a reader could use in order to better understand it, just as I would have been lost without a dictionary. Sometimes there is more inside knowledge that a reader would have never known unless they looked it up. Still, it depends on the reader, and the poem they are reading as to whether or not they’ll go beyond their own understanding in search of others’. Understanding poetry is a difficult task, but that does not mean it cannot be done. Depending on how much time and effort a reader is willing to devote to a poem will affect how well they will understand it, in addition to how much they will enjoy it.

AIDS Epidemic among the Gay Community

Gays or homosexuals are oftentimes criticized in the community because of the so-called â€Å"morality and/or religious† issues. They are often misunderstood and degraded since they are perceived as different or deviant.One never knows how it feels like to a gay unless you become one. Nevertheless, the society in general is not acceptant to homosexuals considering that they are also members of the bigger community. Ideally, this marginalized sector also deserves the same respect as straight individuals though the level of identification and approval of the gay community varies from one nation to another.In fact, many gay figures have emerged, gained popularity, and excelled especially in the entertainment industry and in the field of arts and designing.The health issue on AIDS or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome has been existent for a very long time yet it has remained and maintained its controversy mainly among homosexuals in the American community.Maybe because of the ri sing number of AIDS victims especially among gay men and yet the impacts of endeavors to eradicate, if not minimize, this infectious disease is not that comprehensive or maybe ineffective as of this time.In the United States, HIV infection and AIDS have had a tremendous effect on men who have sex with men (MSM) (HIV/AIDS, 2007, para.1).  Many health agencies not only in the United States but all over the world have created programs specifically for AIDS but so far some proved successful while other are still ongoing or under investigation. This topic on AIDS never lost its value of interest that is why this is chosen as the health topic at hand.AIDS Epidemic  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2Before going into this project, it is assumed that AIDS in the United States is not that prevalent among the American gay population. Nevertheless, according to the AIDS Primer (n.d.),  The fact that the disease affected mostly gay men and was transmitted through sexual contact further stigmatized those infe cted with HIV, and by extension, the gay community, in general.Because of this â€Å"origin† and the socio-cultural and religious climate in the United States at that time, AIDS was labeled then as the â€Å"Gay Men's disease†; in fact, it was considered then as primarily a â€Å"White Gay Men's disease† (para.2).It is also assumed that majority of the AIDS cases in America are not from the gay community. MSM accounted for 71% of all HIV infections among male adults and adolescents in 2005 (based on data from 33 states with long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting), even though only about 5% to 7% of male adults and adolescents in the United States identify themselves as MSM (HIV/AIDS, 2007, para. 1).In North America, Western Europe and other developed nations, most cases continue to be transmitted sexually between men (Sowadsky, 1998, para. 1).Another assumption implicates that the United States is very much active with the AIDS movement and has trimmed down the number of deaths per year. Yet, â€Å"Despite the new drugs, 40,000 young Americans are dying (because of AIDS) every year† (Horowitz, 2001). This simply shows that efforts in eliminating AIDS are still reluctant in the United States.AIDS Epidemic  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   3Based on the readings from scholarly journals and the internet, it can be concluded that AIDS is still a dangerous health ailment with no 100% cure so far. It can be minimized or alleviated through certain drug treatments and therapies but total eradication from an infected individual is still impossible at present.It is also learned that AIDS cases in the United States are more catastrophic among the African-American community since two decades ago, especially among young gay adults who are sexually active and engaging in multiple male partners.In 2000, AIDS is the leading cause of death among 25-44-year old African Americans (United States, n.d., para. 2). A recent study, conducted in 5 large US cities, found that HIV prevalence among black MSM (46%) was more than twice that among white MSM (21%) (HIV/AIDS, 2007, para. 2).Based on the findings, it is further stipulated that AIDS should be taken more seriously since cases and deaths are still increasing annually in contrast to the former assumption that AIDS prevalence has been already successfully controlled. Even innocent children are affected.

Eva Luna essays

Eva Luna essays Novel: Eva Luna by Isabel Allende; 307 pp; Cost: $7.99 Eva Luna is based on the life of the protagonist of the novel, Eva Luna. The story begins with the tale of how Eva Luna was concieved by her mother trying to save the life of a snake bitten indian. It takes place in an unnamed South American country because the characters speak Spanish. Eva's mother dies when she is only 7 years old and is forced to work as a servant in different houses. One thing she inheirited from her mother was the gift of story telling. Wherever she would go everyone loved to hear her improvised stories. At the age of 17 she worked in the house of a Turkish immigrant named Riad Halabi whom she falls in love with but he is twice her age. She is then forced to move to the city were she is reunited with her transexual friend, Mimi. At first Eva works at a military warehouse but Mimi insists that Eva make a living from her stories. After an attempted suduction by one of the military generals, Eva decides to quit her job at the warehouse and write stories for a living. Her and Mimi live successful lives without the help of men. Mimi is a well known soap opera actress and Eva writes the plots for them. Along with the story of Eva Luna is the story of the European immigrant Rolf Carle. He comes from a broken family and migrates to the South American country and lives with his aunt and uncle in the countryside. As he gets older he decides he wants to become a journalist and soon enough he is known as one of the most prominant journalists in the country. Rolf and Eva meet and thier separate stories become one. The important theme in this book is feminism. None of the females in this story are dependent on any man and they all seem fine without them. Some men are mentioned and come and go but the women still move on without them and live thier lives. The only sign of dependency is Zulema. Zulema becomes dependent on a man she falls in lov...

Star Wars in Spanish

Star Wars in Spanish If you want to talk with your Spanish-speaking friends about Star Wars, the Fundacà ³n del Espaà ±ol Urgente has some advice for you. Known in English as the Foundation for Urgent Spanish, the Royal Spanish Academy-affiliated organization also called Fundà ©u BBVA has issued guidelines to aid Spanish speakers and publications in discussing the space saga. Among them are that the film series should not be referred to by its English name - as is common - but by the Spanish name for the first film in the series: La guerra de las galaxias (literally The War of the Galaxies). As is the case with other compositition titles, only the first word should be capitalized. As with that piece of advice, Fundà ©us other recommendations show some similarities and differences with English: Precuela is an acceptable word to refer to a prequel, just as secuela is acceptable for a sequel.Although in English we can talk about Episode 5, in Spanish its episodio V.Theres no need to capitalize the names of groups of creatures, just as names of ethnic groups arent capitalized. Thus the Ewoks are known as los ewoks. (In words of recent foreign origin, it is common to pluralize by appending -s rather than -es as is usually done with words ending in a consonant.)Jedis are known as jedis, but the Jedi Order can be written with capitalization as la Orden Jedi.Names of spaceships are capitalized much as they are in English. Thus the Millennial Falcon is el Halcà ³n Milenario.A laser is un lser.A hard-core fan can be called un or una friki, whose spelling is preferred to friqui.A series of nine films can be called either una nonalogà ­a or una enealogà ­a. Im not sure what the English equivalent is, but this is similar to the way a series of three films is called a trilogà ­a in Spanish (trilogy in English). The entire saga can be referred to as, well, una saga even though the traditional meaning of saga refers to legends less grand.The use of franquicia (franchise) should be avoided in referring to the movies series itself - its better to use serie. Franquicia should be used to refer to merchandise and spinoffs (such as comic books) based on the movie series.Luke Skywalker? Hes  Lucas Caminante de los Cielos, a calque. And Han Solo is simply Han Solo.  Native speakers have often written the name as Han Sà ³lo, but Fundà ©u says the accent isnt needed.

Critical Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Critical Analysis - Essay Example As a result, various nations within the island are selling citizenships in order to finance resort projects. For example in St. Kitts, Christophe harbour, have teamed up with the government where they are going to provide citizenship to qualified applicants. One of the qualifications is to invest at least $400,000 in a project known as Christophe Harbour Development. This has extended from St. Kitts to Antigua and Grenada. These infusions are meant to increase tourist attractions and on the other hand the investors to get Caribbean passports. The main purpose of this article, as described above, is to analyse and present the average view of the issue of Caribbean nations on investing using citizenship. The author’s main arguments are his analysis and are based on the positive view. However, on this whole issue, this is one unorthodox way of financing resorts and villas. As a result, the Caribbean vacation home is experiencing an irrational recovery; there is new construction everywhere this is especially in the smaller nations disdained by the conservative lenders. Although this citizenship by investment seems to be a good move for the economy of the countries, there are some factors that they have not considered. For example, they are devaluing the citizenship of these countries. These nations are at the risk of vetting their applicants with lax, which in turn will make other countries place even greater laws and restrictions to all the travellers in Caribbean’s passports. Although the author has used some comments given by people in government, the paper is biased and limited to the people in power. He does not give the common man a chance to express his view on the matter. As a result, he is not entirely able to be objective in writing his view on the article. Hudson, Kris., Caribbean Exchange: Invest In property and Get Citizenship. Wall Street Article. Wall Street Journal. (2014)

Understanding Management accounting and Financial Management Essay

Understanding Management accounting and Financial Management - Essay Example Understanding Management accounting and Financial Management Considering the cash budget of Mowtown store, the management should be credited for the limited amount that is being paid as payroll as a wage. On the other hand, they have been getting the efficient services from the employees of the store. Another main factor that needs to be considered by the management is that they should look for the same policy reforms that affected their profit to rise with the highest percentage, i.e. the ending balance of February and May will indicate that. The managers must also look for reducing the costs such as shipping costs and maintenance costs. Budgeting and better management decision making and management control: An effective budgeting system will facilitate the management to make an effective decision making, which lead to the results that are expected by the management in the end of a period. Without a proper budgeting and forecasting system, the management cannot predict or decide what steps must be taken to expand or at least maintain the busi ness, what measures should be taken to reduce the overall costs, and how this framework must be established. An improper budgeting system will lead to a frustrated decision making process which might not be in favor of the management or a particular business.Budgets are prepared by the company operatives at various departmental levels; whereas the ‘master budget’ actually highlights the comprehensive financial plan for a particular period. The main objectives of preparing a budget which can also be termed as the advantages can be explained as follows: The budget must be prepared in order to direct the attention of the management to the future trends of the business, based on the results of the present trends and transactions. The budget actually affects the decision making process of the management and helps the system to reform the strategies and policies of the company. It allows the company management to critically analyze the activities running on in the business. T he proper budget allows the management to predict the problems and issues as well as key opportunities that can be controlled or covered in the coming period. The budgeting enables the managers to achieve their objectives as well as important goals of the company more efficiently. A budget will remind the management about what objectives they have set and how they have to carry out those. An effective budget also helps the management in terms of performance evaluation. A budget leads to the management making authorized actions. As mentioned above, an effective budget helps the management process. In terms of this process, the first thing that needs to be considered is the planning period, which should be future-oriented. The proper planning is totally dependent upon the statistics of business, i.e. current financial situation, and most authorized proof for that is given by the budget to the management officials. An effective budgeting will also state the condition regarding the goal s that have been set by the management in the beginning of the financial period, and whether the processes to meet these goals are being undertaken properly or not. This is

Persuasive Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Persuasive Speech - Essay Example For every one of us, our childhood was the precious gift by the lord above. But wait, if it was a precious gift for us what about those unprivileged children who are badly struck with the fears of poverty, fear of getting beaten up at work, more precisely, the child labor, fear of being the victim of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. For all those children, childhood means nothing but a nightmare filled with abuses, injuries, pains and lots more. Today I will speak on Child Abuse. Can we spare a minute from our busy lives to think and act against all sorts of abuses to protect our children to save our future generation and our future leaders from all the evils dwelling in our society? Say no to child abuse. Help a child to restore his self-esteem and his confidence but most importantly, his childhood. I was surprised to know when I read that a number of children die of abuse and extreme neglect than of natural calamities. With the passage of time, the percentage of child abuse is soaring day by day and unfortunately. I have never observed any serious efforts or actions taken by the developed societies on this serious problem. How oblivious we are? Today, here with all my heart I condemn child abuse; be it physical, emotional, mental or sexual. Every child has a right to live a life of freedom. They deserve the same share of happiness and joy as we deserved in our times and like many of the privileged children around the world. It is important to understand the term â€Å"Child abuse† before I continue further. Child abuse is a serious injury inflicted purposefully upon a child by anyone who is in the role of his caregiver. Child abuse can be physical, mental, emotional or sexual. Child abuse is a global issue which needs serious efforts by all of us. It has been affecting children from all age groups to 18 years of age. The percentage of reported child abuse cases are increasing day by day. However, it has been observed that a large number of child abuses

Issues in Scottish Curriculum Design Essay Example for Free

Issues in Scottish Curriculum Design Essay The way that any curricula is broken up into is two main ways; one being the curriculum in action, where the aims, content and experiences of the curriculum on paper are implemented in practice. The other is the curriculum on paper which is the ideology of what should be implemented in education across the board. The ideology in curriculum can be split up into four main categories. Most papers on this topic, agree to an extent what the four ideologies constitute of, but Schiro’s (2008) ideologies are the most commonly known. The ‘Scholar Academic’, the ‘Social Efficiency’, the ‘Learner Centred’ and the ‘Social Reconstruction’ ideologies are the four main categories explained in the Curriculum Theory that will be discussed in this paper in relation to The Curriculum for Excellence, the current curriculum in Scotland. The oldest of the four ideologies is the Scholar Academic ideology which focuses on the accumulation of knowledge and understanding. The aim of this ideology is to pass on the knowledge of certain disciplines (subject areas), to allow there to be future scholars in that particular area and therefore, further develop understanding. The academic disciplines are the result of the culture’s compiled knowledge and understanding of each area, and with this in mind, the purpose of education is to assist pupils to learn this knowledge. The next ideology is Social Efficiency. This is pretty dominant in our curriculum today and means to prepare the learner for becoming an efficient and contributing member in society. The learner’s objective is to learn certain skills that will in turn achieve certain objectives that benefit society (Lorrie A. 2000). The individual will learn a mixture of knowledge and skills that can be put together, therefore making the skills more efficient and more beneficial to society. The learner centred ideology focuses more on the needs and interests of the individual rather than the c ontent they are to learn. The idea behind this theory is that learning will take place due to the interactions between the individual and their environment, therefore being more down to the experiences rather than the content. The newest of these ideologies is Social Reconstruction. This is where the social reconstructionists are aware of the problems in society and see the job of the educator to correct these problems in the classroom, hoping that it will reconstruct their society as it is (Groenke, S. 2009). The focus of the curriculum would not be based on knowledge but more of values and opinions that would benefit the society and make it attain the greatest satisfaction of its members. In ‘Building the Curriculum 3: A framework for learning and teaching’ it has examples of all four of the classifications of the curriculum ideology provided by Schiro (2008). It has examples of Academic ideology as it discusses the importance of knowledge and the ability and opportunity to increase the depth of knowledge already acquired as it states â€Å"Throughout a young person’s learning there will be increasing specialisation and greater depth, which will lead to subjects increasingly being the principal means of structuring learning and delivering outcomes.† (page 20, Building the Curriculum 3). From this quote we can relate the academic ideology through the concentration on developing knowledge further to specialisation in certain subjects, therefore being able to pass on the knowledge and allow it to grow from there. There are many examples of ‘The Social Efficiency Ideology’ in the paper as it focuses on health and wellbeing experiences and outcomes where the individual’s get the opportunity to gain skills that benefit the individual in life and work, but also the community around them. This is to help them become effective contributors in society: †¦support all children and young people in developing skills which they will use throughout their life and in their work, including the development of pre-vocational, enterprise and employability skills, personal skills, high levels of cognitive skills and the opportunity to put learning into a practical context. (page 15, Building the Curriculum 3) This example shows that the curriculum is aiming to encourage the learning of certain skills that will improve chances of employability and life skills that will help the young people settle into society and be able to play their part within it. The Curriculum for Excellence sees itself as being centred on the learner, and their individual needs. There are plenty examples throughout the paper of this ideology where the child is involved in what they are learning and setting themselves goals to achieve and having choice in what they learn within the curriculum, â€Å"All children and young people should experience personalisation and choice within their curriculum, including identifying and planning for opportunities for personal achievement in a range of different contexts† (page 17, Building the Curriculum 3). This quote shows that the idea of the curriculum is to give young people freedom to make their own decisions in what they are learning and at their own level. There are four capacities that make up the purpose of the curriculum that are described in this paper. ‘Successful learners’, ‘confident individuals’, ‘responsible citizens’ and ‘effective contributors’, are the capacities that the curriculum aims to enable young people to become. ‘Responsible citizens’ is a good example of The Social Reconstructive ideology as it explains how they will learn respect and about different cultures and how to behave responsibly within the community in all aspects (political, cultural or otherwise). As Building the curriculum states: †¦able to develop knowledge and understanding of the world and Scotland’s place in it, understand different beliefs and cultures make informed choices and decisions evaluate environmental, scientific and technological issues develop informed, ethical views of complex. (page 22, Building the Curriculum 3) Here in this example, it shows that the curriculum wants to provide young people with varied knowledge so that the decisions they make in the future will help to create a better society. The idea is to teach them about values and respect so that they may make better informed decisions as to what is best for the society around them. Building the Curriculum 3 contains examples of all four of the ideology categories, but there are two that are most prevalent, ‘Learner Centred’ and ‘Social Efficiency’. Upon examining the evidence in more depth it seems that the ‘Social Efficiency’ ideology is the most dominant within this paper. Its main focus is on preparing and equipping individuals for future endeavours. For instance, the skills needed for future work prospects upon which Kridel’s (ed.2010) summary, of David Sneddon’s idea of social efficiency, explains the curriculum as a way to make individuals efficient for work. As discussed by Arnoldy (online), social efficiency in education is more for the benefit of the social economy than for the individual, but contradicting that theory in this paper, are the examples of learner centred ideology that is dotted throughout. Though, combining these two theories, Valades’ (online) talks about the idea that to help out society, educating young people to learn and improve their skills and capabilities to help the community in the future, is the way forward. From Building the Curriculum 3 and having summarised that the main ideology behind it is focusing on preparing the individuals to become more efficient and productive for contributing to our society, we can see that there will be some implication for teachers. Teachers who have been teaching for years under the same curriculum will struggle to accept the new curriculum, if it is as completely different way to how they have been teaching before. Although the main focus of the curriculum in Scotland has been focused on preparing individuals for the future, it has not been focused on the more individual level. This may cause implication for teachers as they only have specific allocated times to be with classes and it will be hard to offer each individual, the time and attention they need to develop specific skills to the point of being efficient. The teacher will have to focus more on the experiences and outcomes the learners are objected to, to develop the skills needed for the real world. This causes some problems as it depends highly on what the school can afford to give in ways of experiences, as most of these will probably be met outside of school. So, teachers need to find a way of achieving the outcome of making the individual a more effective contributor to society by combining what they learn in and outside of the classroom. This would be a task for teachers, as the environment each individual they teach will be different and this therefore means that the teacher will have to find a way to combine these different environments or find a similarity and focus on that. Building the Curriculum 3 has some implication for teachers, but the focus being on social efficiency means that in some ways there are not so many changes from the past as at least for the last hundred years the school curriculum has been focused on making learners that will have skills that will help them achieve objectives that will make the society a more efficient place. A Comparative Overview of the Curriculum Ideologies Chapter 6 http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/47671_ch_6.pdf (visited 29th dec 2012) Critical Pedagogy and Teacher Education in the Neoliberal Era: Small Openings pp 3 Springer Netherlands, 2009 volume 6 Susan L. Groenke http://www.geocities.ws/rf_valades/index2.htm Social Efficiency Theory SAVE SOMETHING TODAY Rodrigo Valades visited 29th dec 2012 The Role of Assessment in a Learning Culture Lorrie A. Shepard Vol. 29, No. 7 (Oct., 2000), pp. 4 American Educational Research Association http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/47671_ch_6.pdf Chapter 6 A Comparative Overview of the Curriculum Ideologies visited 29th dec 2012 Encyclopedia of Curriculum Studies edited by Craig Kridel SAGE Publications Inc 2010 Pg 4-7 Curriculum Theory: Conflicting Visions and Enduring Concerns, Schiro, M. (2008a) SAGE Publications, Inc Pg 199-245 Curriculum Theory: Conflicting Visions and Enduring Concerns Second Edition, Schiro, M. (2012b) SAGE Publications, Inc Building the Curriculum 3: A framework for learning and teaching, The Scottish Government, 2008

Alone With Nature :: essays research papers

Alone with Nature Arriving at the lusciously dense forest at daybreak, you gaze at the fresh dew delicately dangling on the foliage. You stroll through the winding dirt trails towards the steady flowing water while the birds proudly recite their early morning songs. Reaching the free flowing stream you bend down and see your clear reflection in front of the orange-yellow sky. Goosebumps rise along your arms as the streams icy depths run through your fingers. The cleansing water quickly refreshes your face, quickly washing away your anxieties and frustrations of a usual hectic life. Beyond the stream is a meadow filled with a variety of flowers. Taking a stroll through the meadow is like walking through a rainbow. The shades of the velvety ornamented flower petals vary from scarlet, to baby blue. Despite the similarities in color, nothing else seems to be the same- they all tower 2 or 3 feet above the dark, rich soil. They sway playfully in unison with the warm caressing breeze, carefully merging the two scents into one fresh, clean fragrance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  You pry yourself away from the immense meadow, still filled with many unexplored treasures and turn back into the foliage covered depths of the forest. The sun is comfortably placed in front of the cotton candy clouds, in the midst of the soft blue sky. The occasional bird soars through in a last minuet attempt to catch a worm so it may feed the yearning mouths of it's young. The rough dirt trail ends and you are brought to the base of a rock. Your feet reach for the unfamiliar footholds of the high rocky promontory, anxiously scrambling up the streaky pinkish rock ready to explore any new treasures that lie beyond you. Once on top, you gaze down and see it all- the crystal clear stream brilliantly

Cyborg Imagination in the Age of Electronic Incunabula :: Research Essays Term Papers

Cyborg Imagination in the Age of Electronic Incunabula In Hamlet on the Holodeck, Janet Murray argues that we live in an age of electronic incubabula. Noting that it took fifty years after the invention of the printing press to establish the conventions of the printed book, she writes, "The garish videogames and tangled Web sites of the current digital environment are part of a similar period of technical evolution, part of a similar struggle for the conventions of coherent communication" (28). Although I disagree in various ways with her vision of where electronic narrative is going, it does seem likely that in twenty years, or fifty, certain things will be obvious about electronic narrative that those of us who are working in the field today simply do not see. Alongside the obvious drawbacks--forget marble and gilded monuments, it would be nice for a work to outlast the average Yugo--are some advantages, not the least of which is what Michael Joyce calls "the momentary advantage of our awkwardness": we have an opportunity to see our in teractions with electronic media before they become as transparent as our interactions with print media have become. The particular interaction I want to look at today is the interaction of technology and imagination. If computer media do nothing else, they surely offer the imagination new opportunities; indeed, the past ten years of electronic writing has been an era of extraordinary technical innovation. Yet this is also, again, an age of incubabula, of awkwardness. My question today is, what can we say about this awkwardness, insofar as it pertains to the interaction of technology and the imagination? Let me begin with a confession: I'm a technodummy. By "dummy" I mean the kind of person targeted by books such as IDG Books' HTML for Dummies, Javascript for Dummies, and C++ for Dummies. I notice that the series has extended past the technical fields: there is now a Dieting for Dummies, an Entertaining for Dummies, and so forth. There is not only a Dating for Dummies but also an ABRIDGED version of Dating for Dummies, which I guess is for people who want to skip the movie. There is even a book put out by Alpha Books called The Complete Idiot's Guide to Enhancing Self-Esteem, which seems to me to be carrying the concept a bit far. Anyway, I confess that, although I've never bought a "for Dummies" book, I am one of the people such books are written for, a technodummy, which is to say someone who isn't exceptionally skilled in using computers.