Chinas Roots by Orient Lee †Book Review

Chinas Roots by Orient Lee – Book Review Free Online Research Papers China’s Roots by Orient Lee Book Review As one of the oldest and largest civilizations in the world, China has seen both its political state and culture morph in countless ways through periods of war, peace, prosperity, and destitution. To summarize its thousands of years of history in a mere few hundred pages is, undeniably, a formidable task, but Orient Lee attempts it in his work China’s Roots. As the title suggests, the book describes how China and the Chinese people came to be what they are today through a chronological retelling of Chinas development from prehistoric to contemporary times. It is not, however, a comprehensive description of Chinese history, but nor does it profess to be. Rather, Lee, a Chinese scholar with many historical works under his belt, presents a broad framework of the nations transition through various periods of history. Above this frame, he selectively adds more detailed descriptions of the most notable events, persons, and cultural aspects, offering insight into things that have come to define China and the Chinese people. In the same vein, Lee also supplements his history with separate chapters on the evolution of science, art, and literature in China. Presented in both Chinese and English trans lation, the book is moreover accessible to both Chinese and foreign readers. However, while China’s Roots is a commendable introduction to China’s history and culture, it is nevertheless marred by several faults, including uneven focus, unreliable information, and the author’s clear bias towards certain subjects. China’s Roots summarizes Chinese history and cultural development in twelve chapters. The first chapter introduces China’s geography and describes the nation’s land mass, provinces, cities, mountains, lakes, deserts, plains, prairies, plateaus, forests, islands, and rivers, showing that most do not shy in comparison to those of the powerful nation in the world, the United States. He also highlights the nation’s most notable natural wonders, including the Great Central Plain, Himalaya Mountains, Yellow River, and Yangtze River, whose length is comparable to that of the Nile and Amazon. On the whole, Lee’s descriptions emphasize the beauty, usefulness, and grandeur of the Chinese landscape. The second chapter concerns China during prehistoric times, citing various archaeological remains from Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic times. The author traces the development of humans in various regions through these ancient times, describing the tool s, houses, pottery, and other artifacts of each era. In the next seven chapters, Lee relates China’s historical past from the Xia Dynasty to modern China, with focus on the political aspects of the country’s development. He begins by blending the myths of China’s origin with historical fact to create an account of proto-history. A brief description of the Xia Dynasty is given, though it is made clear that the information is based on ancient texts as opposed to archaeological evidence. The Shang Dynasty is also only described briefly, with passing remarks about its 28 kings and achievements in agriculture, military, and the like. Next Lee describes how the Zhou Dynasty was established as well as the four main vassal states during Middle Zhou. He also describes each of the Five Hegemons individually and gives a brief account of the seven Warring States, the growth of feudalism, and how Qin came to power. The account of Qins and its achievements in road-building, measuring, writing and such, is brief like its re ign. Following this Lee traces the establishment of Han and its first five emperors, but then quickly speeds through the rest of the emperors and attainments in the lengthy eras of Former and Latter Han, with special attention given to certain emperors such as Wu Ti and Ming Ti. When drawing attention to the Three Kingdoms period, the author briefly describes the three states and their rulers, and then reflects on why no kingdom was able to unify China. This is followed by a detailed portrayal of the struggles between the eight princes of Jin, and a description of the minority tribes of the period as well as the Northern and Southern Dynasties stage. There were also significant developments in philosophy, science, literature, and religion at this time. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, society and economy flourished, although this epoch was also plagued by problems such as the Fanchen Warlords and rebellions. The Five Dynasties period only lasted shortly, and the Northern Son g Dynasty that followed suffered from a poor military and administrative system. Despite Wang AnShis reforms, rebellion rose. Numerous battles between Jhin and Sung took place during the Southern Song, and the economy of the period suffered great deficit. The Mongol-ruled Yuan Dynasty treated the Han Chinese as ninth-class citizens. After years of misrule, rebels eventually established Ming, though the first ruler was deemed insane and ruled poorly. Another rebellion eventually brought about the Manchu Qing Dynasty, which had the misfortune to fall to the status of a sub-colony after fighting two Opium Wars as well as several other foreign wars. Next Lee describes the establishment of the Republic of China, which fought an 80 year war against Japan as well as a civil war that eventually put China under the rule of a communist government. After noting Deng XiaoPings reforms that opened China, the author ends his historical account by asserting his hope for one China. The latter third of the text focuses on various cultural achievements in science and technology, art, and literature. As for technological developments, Lee chronologically details the evolution of technology in different areas, including irrigation, transportation, and chemistry. He also includes a subsection on the sciences that the Chinese purportedly excelled at, including math, astronomy, metallurgy, and medicine. The chapter on the development of arts is separated into subsections of architecture, sculpture, and painting. In each section, Lee describes the development of the art throughout the ages and names specific artists and their accomplishments. Finally, in the last chapter, the author chronologically tracks the growth of Chinese literature and lists several notable authors and works. In critiquing China’s Roots, it is firstly of note to mention that the book has a fairly unique format, which is at times helpful for the reader but sometimes detrimental. The work imparts the aforementioned information in both Chinese and English using Wade-Giles romanization. From the limited amount of Chinese I can read, the English version appears to be a direct translation of the original, with minor discrepancies. For example, when speaking of the math of China, the English version merely mentions that a mathematician solved problems with the â€Å"Method of Finite Difference† (p.201) while the Chinese version actually details the equations and mathematics associated with the method. Similarly, a picture of an oracle describing novas appears only in the Chinese version. Clearly, such discrepancies, which appear throughout the book, indicate that each version is intended for a specific audience. Foreigners are expected know the Method of Finite Difference wit hout further elaboration, and only Chinese readers are expected to recognize characters on the oracle bone. Although this entails that certain details will be missed by those who only read one version, it also implies that the author knows his audience and is likely catered his writing accordingly. Indeed, even the title, presented as â€Å"Our Roots† in Chinese but â€Å"China’s Roots† in English, likewise suggests a specific audience for each version. This review is based off of the English version. When comparing the organization of Chinas Roots with two other similar works on Chinese civilization, An Introduction to Chinese Civilization by John. T. Meskill and China: Tradition and Transformation by John Fairbank and Edwin Reischauer, one sees evident uniqueness in Lee’s approach. Lee chooses to first present geography and chronological history, and then delve more intensively into specific aspects of culture, including science, art, and literature. Although he still enriches his earlier chapters with some cultural information, such as when he describes the flourishing of Tang metropolises, he does not interweave it entirely with history as Fairbank does. In doing so, he succeeds in drawing greater attention to culture as well offering a more coherent narrative of its development. Furthermore, the sections in the chapters of Roots are laid out with appropriate headings, subheadings, and bolded proper names that make specific content easy to access. However, unlike the two aforementioned works, it lacks an index. So while a reader can easily find information regarding certain time periods, he will have difficulty locating more specific names and subjects embedded within the text. The book also suffers from peculiar, counterintuitive organization in some areas, such as when it covers the effect of Qins rule on the six other Warring States before describing the wars that led Qin to accomplish its takeover. It might also be of note that there are several printing errors in the book, including typographic errors, truncated paragraphs, and even repeated pages. It is, then, not unreasonable to assume that certain names and dates could contain errors as well. Altogether, such details mar an otherwise well-organized book. In general, China’s Roots provides well-written and comprehensive overviews of its subjects. Compared to the works of Fairbank and Meskill, Roots is shorter in length but covers the same events, names, locations, and other facts important to Chinese history and culture. It does so in a more succinct manner, often offering only the most important details, so that readers can learn a great deal about Chinas origin without having to read hundreds and hundred of pages of text. Indeed, in merely 250 pages, Lee has laudably created a comprehensive, compact, and largely well-written piece of work that has summarized a massive history for almost anyone to enjoy. Like the other authors, Lee also, in a professional manner, tries to prove most of his assertions or opinions with fact. When he claims that Tangwas the greatest [dynasty] in Chinese history (p.102), he immediately appends a list of facts about Tangs political, criminal, military, and philosophical bearings, which support his assertion as evidence. Similarly, when he claims that the Tang dynasty flourished, he proves it with numbers and statistics. Moreover, in addition to capturing the essence of the longer and more well-known books, Lees book also delves into subjects that are not usually touched upon by other writers. For example, while Lee uses a similar organization of chapters as Meskill, the latter fails to include a section on science as Lee does. In all fairness, few people would associate China with scientific innovation, but Lees unique inclusion of the subject serves to shatter misconceptions by highlighting Chinas lead in many areas of technological achievement. Also, while Meskill and Fairbank are reluctant to include unproven information that is not supported by evidence, Lee freely includes stories and myths in spite of dubious accuracy. This leads him to include sections on the myths of origin about Yao, Shun and Yu, as well as information on Xia that is only supported by writ ings from thousands of years after the fact. In contrast, the other two works only mention the Xia Dynasty briefly in one paragraph or even just a sentence. Lees inclusion of such information expands the readers understanding of China and where the Chinese people believe their roots lie. Lee also writes about China in a unique style that often adds to the entertainment value of the book. While Fairbank and Meskills works read like bulky textbooks that would only incite interest in a small specific group of readers, Lee reaches out to a larger audience. Most likely in effort to conjure up more interest in his subject, he uses style and includes content that a larger audience will enjoy. In some ways, Lees descriptions read almost like flowing narratives as he explains cause and effect and the rise and fall of each dynasty. Often times, he even includes anecdotes that make otherwise trivial or dull subjects amusing. For instance, he highlights greed, deceit, and betrayal of the ruling class in a needlessly detailed but unarguably interesting account (p.81-3) of the power struggle between eight Jin princes. At other times, he points out interesting facts that other history writers are likely omit, such as the financial enigma of Sung, whose yearly expenditures con sistently exceeded revenues (p.137). Indeed, Lee attempts to inject his own interest in China into his readers. On the other hand, the authors efforts to lay emphasis on topics that are more appealing prove to have adverse effects as well. For one, Lees compulsion to share topics that he finds interesting results in uneven focus throughout many parts of the book. In one such instance, Lee devotes dozens of pages to the lengthy wars between Jhin and Song and even specifically describes the terms of many peace treaties and battle strategies. Such details offer little insight into Chinese history as a whole, and even Fairbank and Meskill only make passing references to them. The needlessly detailed description must then have arisen from the authors interest in the subject, which ultimately imposes tedious information upon the reader. Furthermore, at other times, the author fails to include information on a subject if he finds it uninteresting. This is the case with the Five Dynasties Stage, to which he only devotes three pages because, to him, None of the Five Short Dynasties in the metropol itan region had an edifying or interesting history. Theirs was a series of wars, murders, and usurpations (p.119). Clearly, this uneven coverage of different subjects leaves the reader with information that is overabundant in some areas and insufficient in others. In the same vein, Lees desire to please his core reader demographic is detrimental to foreigners who wish to extract accurate information from the text. It can be inferred from the Chinese title of the book, Our Roots, and the Taiwanese phonetics on the cover, that the core readership will be Taiwanese. With this in mind, Lee has created a work that often seems to glorify the Taiwanese and their ancestors specifically. For instance, when describing Chinas geography, Lee presents his opinion that Taiwan isthe most beautiful [island] as fact (p.6). He also occasionally glosses over information that makes China appear weak in the face of other nations. When speaking of the Opium War and foreign dominations that follow, he only includes a few pages (p.154-6) on the subject, whereas Fairbank and Meskill both provide long sections on the details of the war, the resulting agreements, as well as other wars that followed. It is unfortunate that Roots fails to provide information on a s hameful but nevertheless important part of Chinese history that helps to explain Chinas inferiority complex during the many decades that followed. Similarly, the book names modern scientists, artists, and writers in Taiwan but not the Peoples Republic of China. This, too, denies readers information that they will need to study and understand todays China as a whole. In addition to the aforementioned instances in which the author inserts his own bias and opinions in an unapparent manner, Lee also frequently asserts his views explicitly. There are many cases in which he utilizes the words I think, I believe, or I propose, such as when he asserts that I think the human elementhad also played a role in historic happenings of every epoch (80). While it is helpful to provide an experts opinion, including them also makes the work appear less objective. When opinions are inserted into a work of history, one begins to question the reliability of the rest of the information, which are then likely to be influenced by bias. Neither Meskill nor Fairbank address themselves in the first person in their works. Although Lee supports assertions with evidence for the most part, there are also times when he makes statements without sufficient proof. Often, these statements make Roots appear even less professional and less reliable. For example, he frequentl y describes characters without proof, such as when he repeatedly asserts that certain rulers are stupid, ugly, (p.81), or crazy (p.149). Moreover, although it is most likely due to inaccurate translation, the use of these adjectives, which are generally colloquial, reduce Lees credibility as a qualified historian. Overall, Chinas Roots is a well-written but nevertheless flawed piece of nonfiction on Chinas past. Despite having listed many faults with the book, I would recommend it to anyone interested in Chinese history. While the writing may not be entirely objective, it does provide an abundance of valuable information on China and its origins. Furthermore, it conveys that information in a succinct and interesting manner, rendering what could otherwise be dull material into a more entertaining and understandable form. Personally, I found the stories of wars and power struggles to be fascinating. It is important for every Chinese person to learn about his or her origins, and this book represents a great source from which to draw that knowledge. On the whole, it provides the most important details of Chinese history and culture without being too detailed or too rough about its subject matter. However, readers must also take Lees words with a grain of salt, especially when he writes subj ectively. When the author asserts that that Tang is the greatest dynasty, for example, readers should question the statement and decide for themselves the qualities that constitute true greatness. BIBLIOGRAPHY Lee, Orient. Chinas Roots. 2nd Edition. Monterey Park: Evergreen Publishing, 2002. Meskill, John T. An Introduction to Chinese Civilization. Lexington: DC Health and Co, 1973. Fairbank, John K. and Edwin O. Reischauer. China: Tradition and Transformation: Revised Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1989. Research Papers on China’s Roots by Orient Lee - Book ReviewDefinition of Export QuotasMind TravelCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 Europe19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaPETSTEL analysis of IndiaTwilight of the UAWWhere Wild and West MeetQuebec and Canada

10 Important Steps to Become a Travel Nurse

10 Important Steps to Become a Travel Nurse Want to be a nurse, but also want to travel? If you think that shorter term temporary jobs might be the best fit for your lifestyle and career, this might be a good field for you- and valuable work experience. If you think being a travel nurse is for you, here are ten steps to breaking into travel nursing.1. Get the educationStep one is getting the required education for the job. You’ll need a high school diploma or GED, plus completion of an accredited nursing program at the college level. In order to pass the required NCLEX exam, you’ll need at least an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or an ASN, which you can get in 2-3 years. Though you might wish to bump it up to a full on Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN), which more and more hospitals will start to require. If you’re short on time or funds, start with an Associate’s and move on if you need a BSN further down your path.2. Take the NCLEXYou’ll need to pass this exam before you proceed. This is required in order to qualify as an RN or licensed private nurse. The test is administered by the NCSBN.3. Get experienceYou’ll need hands-on nursing experience- usually a minimum of one year before a hospital will consider you for specialty jobs or assignments. That’s the bare minimum. Most places will ask for 2-3 years experience. Before choosing a specialty or a first job to acquire your much needed experience, consider the following most in demand specialties: ICU, ER, MS, MS/TELE, TELE, OR, LD, PACU, CVICU, Cath Lab, PEDS, PICU, NICU, Case Management, SDU, PCU, CVOR, PostPartum, Mother Baby, and Home Health. And if you want to travel, consider moving to one of the 24 states that honor the Nurse Licensure Compact. This will make sure your license is valid in whichever state you’re sent to work in. 24 possibilities!4. Figure out your tax situationYou’ll need to qualify for tax-free compensation by maintaining a legitimate tax home. Here are two valuable resources to help you learn just how to do that: Qualifying for Tax Free Stipends and Deductions As a Travel Nurse, andEverything Travel Nurses Need to Know about Taxes, Stipends and Tax-Free Money. Remember, if you don’t qualify for tax-free compensation, you will be asked to pay income taxes on that money at the end of every year.5. Figure out what you wantFigure out where you would (and wouldn’t) want to travel and which type of hospitals you’d most like to work in before you start applying. This will help you figure out which agencies to use to find your jobs.6. Figure out how much you want to makeDifferent agencies offer different packages and perks. Figure out which matter most to you: housing, travel stipend, benefits, 401k, rental cars, etc. Also make sure you have a solid understanding of how travel nursing pay packages are structured, as it’s very different from traditional salaried compensation. Make a strategy for how to compare diff erent pay packages before choosing. And make sure to do all this before you start applying.7. Start looking for agenciesOnce you know what you want, you’ll know which agencies can help you get it. There are services like Highway Hypodermics, or Travel Nursing Central that rate agencies’ success. You can also try a lead generator, a website that will connect you to â€Å"top agencies† by passing your information on to those agencies. But networking is also a good strategy. Ask your colleagues for referrals. And make sure to sign up for BluePipes, a professional networking site for healthcare pros. When you hear from an agency, make sure to ask the right questions about whether they can get you want you need before signing on.8. Make your profileEvery hospital will require an extensive application submission from you and your agency. Use BluePipes to tailor and control your submission profile and spare yourself some redundant paperwork.9. Get your papers togetherY ou’ll need to make sure all of your certifications and qualifications are up to date and ready to be delivered to a new employer STAT. Agencies will often help coordinate this- plus medical records- but it’s always a good idea to have your own set ready to go at all times. Never lose out on a job because of paperwork.10. Get hiredFinally it’s time to start submitting to jobs, preparing for interviews, signing contracts. Make sure to negotiate for what you need- and do some research into the peculiarities of travel healthcare compensation negotiation before you attempt this.Once you get your first gig, you’re well on your way! Congratulations, you’re a travel nurse.

Solomon's book presents different proofs for the existence of God Term Paper

Solomon's book presents different proofs for the existence of God. Discuss the one that you think is most persuasive, and comp - Term Paper Example All three major religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam share a similar view about God’s existence which is that there is only one God or supreme force in the world. The Greek and Roman gods and goddesses, on the other hand, had some great supernatural powers but they also often behaved like average humans in reference to how they got vengeful when denied something or acted unimpressively at times. In this paper, I will focus on one proof for the existence of God in particular that I consider most persuasive and then compare it to others which do not seem as powerful and appealing as the one discussed at length. There is no scientific evidence supporting the existence of God, so the only notions supporting this idea are related to manmade explanations like there has to some force starting the universe which is so perfect that no human can be held responsible for it. Also, we have to believe in God as suggested by the biblical teachings because of this faith that there is a supernatural power which is omnipotent. There is no concrete evidence really which could either prove or disprove the existence of God, but it is still healthy to accept by faith this existence as without it people would consider themselves free to act in whichever way they like without the fear of facing results at the end like in the form of Day of Judgment of afterlife. According to the Bible, people have to judge from things around them if God exists or not and there is plenty of evidence, not concrete but symbolic, which speaks of God’s presence like the skies and the sun which are so perfect and identify the g lory of God. All the mystic and enthralling wonders of nature point to God’s presence denying which is plain adamancy. Pascal’s proof for God’s existence is a different kind of argument in itself and differs from the explanation provided by Christianity and Islam on multiple levels. While the Bible and Qur’an stress that there is no option but to believe that God exists because of many stupendous works of nature, Pascal argues that believing in God irrespective of whether he exists or not exists is a win-win situation. The tendency of not agreeing to God’s existence, in contrast, is prone to many losses. This is because if we believe in God and he actually does exist, then there is no doubt that we will be rewarded and if we believe so and he does not exist actually, even then it is beneficial because people tend to give up many sinful pleasures in respect of this belief that God exists. Many great scientists like Freud plainly refuse the idea of G od’s existence characterizing it as very irrational. Freud does not believe thinking irrationally in terms of God is actually a bad thing and if not believing in God is irrational, then believing in God is also irrational. This is because irrationality is only defying what cannot be considered rational and second, it is also about believing in what cannot be proved. Freud characterized the existence of God to be harmful in certain instances especially when people tend to rationalize their evil actions by believing they were intended by God to happen or he would have stopped them. So, the proof for the existence of God really comes down to the marvels of nature and a person’s innate disposition to believe in God. In conclusion, not every proof for believing in God identified by Islam, Judaism, and Christianity is rational because

Risk analysis HW Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Risk analysis HW - Assignment Example Data complexity:-unstructured data are hard to handle and is triggered mostly by the various ways of generating data such as images and videos. From various sources such as tablet or smartphones and that they are hard to process because they are unstructured (Charles, 2011). Storage and publishing:- the storage o large amounts of data require large storage capacity and large storage distribution system which supports the given network used in the data analysis, storage and transfer (Charles, 2011). 2) a generally applicable analysis framework with appropriate new technique innovations, which can carry out system level risk analysis accounting for data incompleteness and heterogeneity, regardless the system logic structure. The system will be quite effective if the various components are protected from moisture and dust so that they do knock during the operations of the system. They should as well be cleaned regularly using the recommended wipe so that they do not get moisturized. Various soft wares should be installed into the system Justas the framework highlights so that the data processing is speeded up and there should be a lot of interlinking the departments in an organization. In this, there is need to have intranet and internet connectivity within an organization with a lot of e-filing being done for quick retrieval and safety storage. The installed software will make complex operations to seem lighter and they will be efficient. The staff that should be in operation should possess the desired skills and knowledge on computerization and technology so that the data are not mishandled due to

Amadeus Biopic Essay Example for Free

Amadeus Biopic Essay Told from the flash back perspective of an aged Antonio Salieri in an insane asylum to a priest for a confession, the movie reveals Antonios introduction to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, his professional career with Mozart, and his bitter rivalry and betrayal of Mozart. The film depicts an inaccurate account of Mozart’s life but still delivers on the pieces which he composed. Throughout the film, we’re exposed to what are clearly historical inaccuracies. I understand that this film is an adaptation of the original Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus performed on Broadway in the 1980’s and for purely theatrical purposes to endow the story with a plot, these changes had to either be implemented or just purely fabricated in order for the story to make sense. However, some of the erroneous interpretations of Mozart’s life are just impossible to ignore for anyone who even had even the simplest understanding of his life, such as myself. The predominant trait of Mozart that stuck out to me like a sore thumb was his high pitched cackling laughter. The movie’s laugh for Amadeus was constructed from letters that referenced Mozart having an â€Å"infectious, giddy laugh† much like â€Å"metal scraping glass† according to Forman. However, Robert L. Marshall, author of â€Å"Film as Musicology: Amadeus,† discredits this notion as there were no citations that provided the existence of such letters. Since Mozart lived over two centuries ago, there’s no possible way to know exactly how he sounded. However, the brilliant Mozart in the film is supposed to be Gods creature (The Latin translation of Amadeus translates to â€Å"lover of God† or â€Å"beloved by God†) that usurps the mediocre Salieris position as the â€Å"voice of God. † So in effect, his laugh is God mocking Salieri in his mediocrity which further drives the frustration and anger of Salieri towards Mozart thus pushing the plot along. While we’re on that subject, there is little evidence that Mozart and Salieri actually rivaled each other to the extreme that the movie depicts. Certainly, they were rivals, but they were professional rivals. By professional rivals, I mean that even though they often butted heads in their pursuit of music and their attempted publicity of their works, they still admired and respected each other greatly. Despite Salieri being the inferior musician, he still pooled great respect from Emperor Joseph II and his subjects and served as court composer, director of the Italian opera, and court conductor. Mozart on the other hand came as an outsider therefore did not possess the same influence or reputation as Salieri. To me, this just appears to be the politics of music; it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Regardless, Salieri really didn’t have a reason to hate Mozart as much as the movie shows because his influence alone virtually neutralized Mozart as a threat. I’m sure when Mozart attempted to get his operas on the Italian stages it must have certainly irked Salieri, but never to the point of violence. However, once again the fiction is created in order to develop a sensical plot line. Without that aggressive rivalry, there’s no movie. One last thing that I personally found confusing is that absence of Joesph Haydn from the entire movie. History tells us that Mozart and Haydn met somewhere 1783 or 1784 and instantly hit it off. They both admired each other’s work immensely and Mozart even went as far as to dedicate six string quartets to Haydn as a tribute to the father of the string quartet. Throughout their lives, they were in correspondence with one another up until Mozart’s death. However, despite this documented historical fact, Haydn is still left out of the movie. The movie itself is about two famous classical composers so why not add Haydn to attract Haydn fans to the play or movie? One can only guess as to why that is. Perhaps Forman thought that the addition of another prominent classical composer would ultimately lessen the importance of the feud between Mozart and Salieri. But Forman fashioned other characters throughout the film in order to serve roles that further drove the plot, so why not use Haydn instead? Or at least mention him? At one point in the film, Mozart mentions that he doesn’t care for Gluck (which is also inaccurate, he was an admirer of Gluck), but nevertheless, he still at least mentions the name. At this point it’s all speculation and I can’t find anywhere an explanation for his absence. The movie is riddled with other inaccuracies that raise a lot of questions, but if anything I learned in English is true, it’s that in order to read any literature that’s fiction or watch any movie, you’re supposed to â€Å"suspend yourself in willful disbelief† meaning that enjoy it for what it is without dissecting it too much, which I can honestly and wholeheartedly say I did. Although it doesn’t give an accurate portrayal of Mozart, Salieri or the setting it’s supposed to be placed in, it still gives an enjoyable experience. Despite the erroneous depiction, the musical pieces revealed chronologically throughout the film are in fact the offspring of Mozart’s genius. Whilst enjoying each piece as much as the next, I don’t have the musical ear or expertise to discern which piece is being played in which scene, aside from the operas. However, the films composer John Strauss created a two disc soundtrack for the film and I have to admit, even though I lack the expertise, I am astounded by Mozart’s ability. Luckily, between the internet and my own mothers personal love for music (Fortunately, she had a library of CDs that included many of Mozart’s work), I was able to essentially find each individual piece within the movie. I have to say, my favorite musical piece offered in the movie is the finale of the Don Giovanni. Perhaps some of it is because of the twist that Salieri puts on it; that â€Å"only [he] understood that the horrifying apparition was Leopald raised from the dead! The inference that I took from that between the monumental sounding music and the fervently conducting Mozart in the scene is that Mozart poured his personal misfortune of not living up to his father’s expectations in his work. It just makes it seem to be so personal, so passionate. I know that was the movies intent for me to feel that way, but I couldn’t help getting sucked in, between seeing the gargantuan black commander singing in the deep bass voice is what seems to me to be such an accusing tone allegorically â€Å"accusing his son in front of the world† as Salieri puts it. All the while the plot twists during this play, as the madness grew within Salieri as he discovers such a simple way to destroy Mozart. It’s just so epic, for lack of better words. One of the brighter operas in the film â€Å"The Marriage of Figgaro† has a much lighter note. Despite all of the red tape Mozart endures, he nevertheless through the exceptionally brilliance of his music and borderline arrogance persuades the emperor to allow him to perform his opera. While we obviously never get to see the whole thing, the music and performance we do see is good. I wouldn’t say I particularly cared for it. The colors, the notes, the lighting, it’s just too bright. However, the most impressive part of it is that his confidence in his music allowed him to break the traditional rules in order for his perform his opera. This seems metaphorically to portray the fact that Mozart’s music didn’t follow these contemporary musical rules of the time which contributed to his genius. Perhaps that’s a long stretch, but that’s immediately what came to mind. While the movie is composed (Pun intended) of Mozart’s work, it would take an entire separate paper to dissect each one individually. Regardless, each piece performed in the play is enjoyable from one degree to another. Overall, I have to say I was more than happy with this movie. For a while, I dreaded watching the movie thinking it would be a long drawn out boring biographic film, but to my surprise it shared little characteristics with a biography. The central thematic message of the movie is mostly if not entirely fictitious, but still lays a foundation in which the movie tells factual information about Mozart and sets a stage in which one can hear the pieces and enjoy them chronologically. To be frank and honest, if these fabrications of the bitter rivalry between Salieri and Mozart weren’t there, I would have had a hard time truly appreciating the Mozart as seen in the movie. Not to say his music is bad, it’s brilliant, but the underlying plot is what made the movie so interesting. Ultimately, if you’re looking for historical facts about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for a movie that’s interesting and loosely based on one of the world’s greatest composers who ever lived, look no further.

Village Volvo Case Study Essay -- Business Analysis Automobile Industr

Village Volvo Case Study 1. Village Volvo is an independent service operation that provides quality repair service on out of warranty Volvo at reasonable cost. The shop was build in suburb in the outskirts of the city. Unfortunately, it is not centrally and conveniently located for all of the customers, however a daily shuttle service is considered, since no alternate transportation is presently available. Village Volvo is based in a new butler building that has four work bays, plus the office, storage and the waiting room. They designed the waiting area with comfortable chairs, with TV sets, coffee, soft drinks, magazines and local newspaper. With 22 years of training and great deal of experience, Volvo is known for their satisfactory service. This operation offers a custom car service that is not normally available at the local service. They consistently maintain the set schedule for the clients who need a quick routine service, but they push clients to make appointments for repair of detailed problem. For example 3-5 PM on Wednesday and 8-10 AM on Thursday for a quick jobs. They don’t do any repairs between 7-8 AM and 5-6 PM. Each appointment is very detailed planned. There is a mechanic assigned to every client who will work on the car as well as discussing the problems and concerns of the client. The mechanic has access to the CCVD, history of the file records on each vehicle it services. After the diagnosis made by mechanic the service manager, who is the main contact provides the owner with all the detail cost and the time frame of the repair. Each repair comes with notes for the client of any potention... ...r issue is their location, perhaps I would choose more centralized place for the next Village Volvo shop. Finally, due to its location and no alternate transportation offered maybe they could think of something like a family package or little entertaining service for the kids. Many parents or single parents may consider and run their â€Å"car errands† on the weekends, when there is no school. The ideal situation would be to drop off the car and have a little time to play or put the kid in the â€Å"car school† where the children can drive a little plastic cars, learn the road rules and the signs, play the bus/ car/ gas station†¦etc. The kids would love it and parents can easily run the errands with their children and spend some more time together. This way the Village Volvo would definitely differentiate from Volvo dealers.

Types of Organizational Structures

Question 2 Would it be wrong of Rushton as a Group Managing Director of the organization to ask Walter about his health? Defend your answer by applying to moral principles. In the Kant’s Ethics, the Rushton is not wrong to ask Walter about his health, because Kant’s Ethics is saying a person doing their duty, means that person is right no relationship with the what result. Example Rushton as a Group Managing Director of the organization, this is his duty to ask for Walter about his health.Another, Rushton also is not wrong to ask Walter about his health, because in Utilitarianism Ethics is a theory in  normative ethics  holding that the proper course of action is the one that maximizes utility, specifically defined as maximizing happiness and reducing suffering. Simple said that it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong.In this case Rushton is asking for Walter about his health, this will make the Walter unhappy, but in the most of Walter’s colleagues will happy , because they can be relieved in their working place. In conclusion, Rushton it not wrong to ask Walter about his health. Question 4 In what way, should the company address the problem of public fear and prejudice when employee with AIDS has direct contact with customers? In that way, the company should provide more relevant about AIDS information to customers.People simply touching someone with AIDS or being in contact with them do not transfer the disease. If there was contact between open or exposed flesh then that's a different story. AIDS will transfer the disease just has only a few ways, example during sexual contact, as a result of injection drug use and as a result of an occupational exposure. So the company can talk about AIDS transfer disease information to customers. This way can make customers know about AIDS knowledge and also can save customer’s worry.Another way, the company can transfer AIDS patients to ot her less direct contact with customers’ departments. An example of this case, the company can transferred Walter from senior operation manager into other departments such as financial departments, production department or quality control department does a manager. These departments are not directly in contact with customers. In these ways, the company can continue to employ talents and also can prevent customer’s fear and prejudice.

6 Sources of Leadership Power

Job Description – Accounting Officer Job Details Title Department Reporting to Accounting Officer Finance Management Accountant Direct Reports Authorities Last updated Nil Refer Delegations April 2012 Job Purpose The Accounting Officer is accountable to the Management Accountant and is responsible for ensuring that all development contribution and sundry debtors are invoiced, and that these debts are collected when due. The position is also responsible for all aspects of payroll for staff and elected members. These services include: Control of debtors sub ledger Debtor invoicing and reconciliationsDebt collection Fortnightly and monthly payroll processing General ledger reconciliations Assistance with general accounting My Team CEO Deputy CEO / General Manager Finance Accounting Manager Management Accountant Accounting Officer Finance Administrator – Accounts Payable Key relationships External ? Debtors ? Lakes Environmental ? Payroll Software Provider ? Inland Revenue ? Trails and Youth Trusts ? Auditors Internal ? Chief Executive Officer ? Deputy CEO / Finance Manager ? Accounting Manager ? Management Accountant ? Activity managers ? Staff Key accountabilities Responsibility/objectivePayroll Administration: Coordination and Management of payroll function Maintain the Council’s Debtors system. Outcome ? Liaison with staff and councillors on all payroll matters. ? Collation, input, checking and processing of fortnightly payroll data, including expense claims and other one-off transactions. ? Processing of monthly Councillor payroll. ? Processing and administration of IRD and other payroll deductions. ? Distribution of payslips and various payroll reports. ? Administration and reconciliation of Annual and Sick leave entitlements. ? Input of payroll journals to the general ledger. Reconciliation of all payroll related general ledger accounts to the payroll. ? Completion of quarterly and annual statistical payroll returns by requested deadline s. ? Maintain confidentiality of all payroll information. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Debt Recovery ? ? ? Ensure Control accounts are in balance at all times. Generate invoices and credit notes as required/requested (this includes Development Contributions, Lakes Environmental, Private Plan Change charges, Section Clearance & other Sundry debtors). Ensure debtor receipts are allocated correctly. Distribute monthly statements. Reconcile the debtors’ and parking ledgers monthly to nsure they are accurate and fully updated. Perform month end roll over within 5 working days of the end of the month. Compile monthly aged debtor’s reports and other detailed debtor reports. Prepare Debtor reports for FACC committee by agenda deadlines. Debt reminder letters sent out on a regular basis, and email and phone contact when necessary. Liaise with relevant council personnel to assist with collection of outstanding debt. Ensure all correspondence logged in Debt Management ? ? system. Negotiate pa yment programmes where appropriate and monitor for performance and ensure up to date.All queries are responded to within 7 days of receipt. Training of all managers and staff on the use of the invoicing system ? Ensure that all staff are adequately trained with a high skill level and understanding of the QLDC invoicing system. Ensure that all processing is performed in a timely and accurate manner ? ? ? Checking all input for accuracy before processing. Input of data including invoices & credit notes is timely. Ensure back charging required is performed on a regular monthly basis. Ensure all credit notes are property authorised. Invoices for Development Contributions and ResourceContributions are issued on time. ? ? General Accounting ? ? ? ? Processing journals and general ledger maintenance as necessary, accurately and in a timely manner. Street Front Bonds detailed schedule maintained and reconciled. Subdivision Bonds schedule maintained and reconciled. Year End Audit reconciliat ions. Provide assistance with the following: ? Assisting the Management Accountant to ensure integrity of the General Ledger (coding accuracy). ? Assisting the Management Accountant with preparation of monthly management reports. ? Assisting the Management Accountant with budget input and monitoring. Assist with allocation of overheads to departments. ? Production of all financial reports in accordance with published timetables. Manages Health and Safety ? Ensure compliance to all legal/statutory and company requirements for health and safety. Maintain professionalism ? ? ? Adhere to company policies. Keeping abreast with technology. Maintain and update oneself with knowledge required for job. Other duties, consistent with the role, as required from time to time by Manager and CEO. ? Key behavioural competencies Competency Excellent Service Description We get it done and do it wellRespect We value and respect others Inspiration We lead by example Collaboration We succeed by working together Accountability We are open and honest Qualifications/Experience Qualifications ? Experience ? ? ? Skills ? ? ? ? ? ? Agreed by: Team member: Manager: Essential A sound level of numerical, written and spoken English skills. At least two years of clerical experience with Accounts Receivable and Payroll. Proven history of management of large scale debtors ledger. Must be capable of interpreting information, with a competent level of problem solving ability. Must be solution focused.Windows and Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel). Must be a team player and keep their eyes focussed on the wider goals of the organisation. Must be capable of operating with a minimal level of supervision, making appropriate decisions within authorities delegated. A high level of accuracy and the ability to keep detailed file notes. Strong communication, written and verbal. Signature: Desirable ? ? ? Date: An up to date knowledge of payroll legislation would be an advantage but not essential. Some general accounting experience or an understanding of accounting principles would be useful.

In the park Essays

In the park Essays In the park Paper In the park Paper Gwen Harwoods In the park is a poem about a lonely woman sitting in a park with her children, while a man she once loved passes by. The poem is set in Petrarchan sonnet form, with the first eight lines showing us the womans trouble and problem. However in the last six lines we see that the woman and this man will never re ignite, the last lines offer the solution to the problem. The title in this poem is very plain and almost reflects the woman and her life. Harwood begins the poem with an image of a poor woman with out of date clothes; this is a powerful impression on the reader as it immediately states that she is probably poor. The womans children whine and bicker which shows us that she may have lost interest in her children and is not giving them enough attention as they tug her skirt. Another child is very bored with herself that is shown through drawing aimless patterns in the dirt, this notion of boredom reflects directly on the life on the disheartened woman. The last line is very important, it shows us that that the woman has no self-confidence and no will to change things either. The line also shows the reader that she once had a real relationship with a man. The enjambment over the first to second stanza creates a wonderful effect as the reader sees it as too late to do anything but if one was to read on they would realise the actual meaning of the sentence as too late to feign indifference to that casual nod. In the second stanza, the womans self esteem really shows as she suggest her thoughts and self pity as she imagines a speech bubble rising from the mans head almost to say thank god I did not end up like her. The speech bubble is an important part of this poem as it suggests the womans imagination of what could have been. The cartoon-like bubble can be interpreted by the reader in one of two ways, either it is the woman thinking about what the man is thinking or it is the actual reader seeing that from the narrator, this effect brings depth into the poem which in turn makes it more effective. This image of self-pity relates to the plainness in her life and the way she takes no interest in her children, the woman has almost become reckless and careless with her life and her childrens. This slight conversation between man and woman hints at the reader that there could be a budding relationship, Harwood seems to be presenting us with the typical Petrarchan Sonnet problem by offering that these two could be a couple. In the last stanza, the man and the woman converse about the children and how they have grown, but this conversation seems to be only the polite chatter and not a heart felt one. This stanza gives us the answer to the problem presented about these two possible lovers. As the man begins to walk away, the woman is still speaking; this is a great symbolisation of what has been happening to the woman her whole life. It is as if the woman has never finished anything off and suggests that she usually is trying to bring things together and putting the last word in. After the man has left her presence, the woman is nursing the youngest child and shows the reader the real reason for most of her woes. She speaks to the wind, which again reflects her state of mind and refers to her children, they have eaten me alive. This last line of the poem is a powerful image of blame, not on her but on others. Harwoods in the park portrays a woman whose life is in a downward spiral and becoming lifeless. The woman in the poem who is suggestively not named has been in love but is now out of it. The poem shows the reader how the womans continuous negative output seems to upset all people around her.

Private School Uniforms and Dress Codes

Private School Uniforms and Dress Codes When you think of a dress code or uniform, what comes to mind? Most people will call to mind the stereotypical images we see in media: pressed and proper uniforms at military academies, the navy blazers or sports coats with ties and slacks at boys schools, and the plaid skirts and white shirts with knee socks and dress shoes at girls schools. But is this attire actually the norm at private schools? Many private schools attribute most of their uniform traditions and dress codes back to their British public school roots. The formal starched collars and tails worn by Eton College boys are world-famous, but they are hardly typical of a normal school uniform these days. Much more common is a looser dress code consisting of the ubiquitous blazer, white shirt, school tie, slacks, socks and black shoes; or the option of wearing dresses, or a blazer and blouse with slacks or skirts  are pretty much standard for girls. What is the difference between a uniform and dress code? The very word uniform suggests the raison detre for unis as some of the private school crowd calls them. It is one specific and standard style of dress that every student wears. Some school uniforms allow for optional additions, such as sweaters or vests to wear over the uniforms. While the rules at every school will differ, some will allow students to add their own personal flair, dressing up their standard attire with scarves and other accessories, but there are typically limitations to how much can be added to the uniform. A dress code is a strict outline of acceptable attire that isnt limited to one or two options. It serves as more of a guideline rather than a rigid rule, and provides more flexibility for students. Many view dress code as an attempt to create conformity as opposed to uniformity. Dress codes can vary by school and range from more formal dress codes requiring specific colors and limited choices of attire, to more flexible options that may simply prohibit certain forms of attire.   Why Do Schools Have Uniforms and Dress Codes? Many schools have implemented uniforms and dress codes for both practical and social reasons. Practically speaking, a standardized uniform allows a child to get by with a minimum amount of clothing. You have your everyday wear and then a Sunday best outfit for more formal occasions. A uniform often serves as a marvelous equalizer of social status. It matters not whether you are the Earl of Snowdon or the son of the local green grocer  when you don that uniform. Everybody looks the same. Uniformity rules. Do uniforms improve test scores and enhance discipline? Long Beach Unified School District, back in the 90s, instituted a dress code policy for its students. Proponents of the policy claimed that the dress code created a climate for education which led to improved test scores and better discipline. Research may vary on this, and responses from parents often differs from teachers, with parents (and students) arguing for more flexibility for personal style and expression, while teachers are often largely supportive of uniforms and dress codes because of the perceived improvements in both student performance and behavior. That said, private schools generally create a climate for learning more consistently than public schools do, to begin with. Uniforms and dress codes are just one part of the formula for success. The real secret to success is consistently enforcing rules and regulations. Hold students accountable and you will see results. What About Teachers Dress Codes? Most private schools also have dress codes for teachers. While the guidelines for adults may not mirror that of students, they are often similar, engaging faculty members in modeling good behavior and dressing best practices.   What Happens When You Disregard the Uniform or Dress Code? Now, we all know that students of any age have their ways of getting around dress code requirements. The slacks have a way of becoming a bit baggier than the school regulations intended. The shirts tend to hang out below the oversize jacket. Skirts seem to shrink overnight. This can be difficult for schools to enforce, and infractions can result in varying responses, ranging from verbal reminders to detention and even formal disciplinary action for repeated offenders.

Accessing bank data crime through the use of various information Dissertation

Accessing bank data crime through the use of various information technology in Saudi law - Dissertation Example However, the same has also led to a simultaneous rise in data crimes, and identity thefts have increased manifold. The ‘playing field’ for criminals has also widened, opening up newer avenues for committing virtual crimes; thus replacing unpleasant physical encounters with cyber crimes (Yusuf 2003). For instance, prior to the computerization of banks, most of the bank frauds or thefts involved armed robberies and breaking into banks causing physical injury to people and considerable damage to property. Today, the criminals use internet to break into customers’ accounts and steal their identities for withdrawing cash, thus only causing monetary damage. The tools available at the disposal of such criminals have also risen considerably with the advent of information technology, where frauds and thefts can easily be committed from the comforts of one’s own home (Forder, Quirk, 2001; Kono et al, 2002). The fact that computers and internet have made life easier f or customers in the banking sector, with services enabled through technology such as ATMs, internet banking, and bank by phone services, cannot be denied. However, at the same time, the complexities of bank-related crimes have also increased substantially and simultaneously. It has posed newer challenges for law enforcement agencies to monitor and control such crimes, making it practically mandatory for the law makers to enact new cyber laws; and their officers to gain and be proficient in computer science / forensics. As humans grow more and more dependent on technology, it is highly likely that computer related crimes would increase simultaneously (Lee, Lee, & Kim, 2007). Hence, the appropriate enactment and application of laws and effective use of technology are the only tools to combat and address such crimes with utmost efficiency. Furthermore, it is also equally important, rather imperative, for customers to understand and be aware of such crimes so as to secure their bank acc ounts from such fraudulent practices (Sathe, 1999; Salvatore, 2006; Jaffer, 2005; Laforet 2008; Dar and Presley 2003). This paper seeks to discuss, analyze and recommend ways to combat the challenges posed by technology enabled crimes within the banking sector, and use the same as an effective means of securing and preventing bank data thefts. Meaning and Definitions of key terms used: Data: According to Article 1 (3) of the Anti Cyber Crime Law, the term ‘data’ refers to â€Å"Information, commands, messages, voices, or images which are prepared or have been prepared for use in computers. This includes data which can be saved, processed, transmitted, or constructed by computers, such as numbers, letters, codes, etc.† Thus with reference to banks and for the purpose of this study, data thefts refers to the theft of all or any of the above mentioned data by use of information technology. Significance: This study would help in identifying the various ways in which data thefts occur in banks and raise awareness on the issue. Furthermore, it is intended to highlight the many ways in which technology can be used to counter such crimes, and address them through effective application of technology (Zheng and Ni, 2006). This study would also include various recommendations to reduce such thefts through network security; ensure greater protection of customers’ data by using tools which would prevent the cyber criminals from hacking and other similar ID related frauds. Thus, help the banks in improving its productivity as well as profitability by offering secure transactions. Scope of study: This study aims to highlight the

The Management of Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

The Management of Change - Essay Example Change management is an approach which provides a way to transform the organization from present state to desired future state. It is one of the most significant aspects of management which can be regarded as an attempt to ensure that organizations react to the environmental factors in which it operates. Organization change can be implemented in various techniques, such as by altering the mission, strategy, operation, technology, and attitude or behaviour of personnel associated with an organization. It has often been argued that change occurs in an organization due to several forces such as nature of the workforce, economic conditions, competition, social trends, and world politics among others which either relates to the internal or external business environment. Change management is a concept which assists an organization to respond faster to the customer demands. The concept of change management can also be regarded as a theory which tends to motivate the employees of organizatio n to accept the change and execute the organisational process in an effective and efficient manner. Therefore, it can be observed that organisational change management should begin with a systematic diagnosis of the present situation in order to determine both the need for change and the capability of change (Smith & Graetz, 2011). General Motor Company General Motors was established by William â€Å"Billy† Durant in the year 1908. In the year 1920s, with a substantial rise in the demand for automobile General Motors was positioned as a leader of global automobile industry. The company added various brands in its product line such as Chevrolet, Vauxhall, and Opel which in turn helped it to diversify its business all around the world. Chronologically, General Motors built a strong existence in emerging markets, especially in China and Brazil and accomplished its transformation into a solitary global economy. In the modern days, the company continued to grow with electric vehicle technology developing a series of hydrogen motorized fuel-cell notion and demonstration vehicles (General Motors Company, 2012). Nissan Motor Company The Nissan Motor Company was established in Yokohama City in the year 1933 by Yoshisuka Aikawa. Presently, Nissan maintains its prime objective to optimize product development and deliver extremely innova tive technology to its worldwide customers. It is due to this reason that currently Nissan is recognized for its creation of innovative vehicles and service programs all over the world. The company produces multiple ranges of product brands such as Infiniti G, Infiniti G Coupe, Infiniti M and Infiniti EX among others. The products of the company are praised by customers all over the world with its high reliability in terms of quality and price which depicts that the company has been able to attain high level of satisfaction and brand loyalty in its current performances (Nissan Motor Company, 2012). Reasons for Change General Motor Company The General Motor had to