Executive Level Financial Report Research Paper for RenDi Corporation

Executive Level Financial Report for RenDi Corporation - Research Paper Example Results from the analysis of data, shows clearly that Southwest Airlines has made greater strides to becoming a market force in the aviation industry by keeping at par with average industry ratios (Mazzeo, 2003). The fact that the company’s ratios are not so high above industry average however means that entrusting it with a five year long commitment would not be advisable. It can therefore be concluded that the prospects of the company in its current state with effect from the year 2009 is neutral. This means that the performance of the company is neither below average nor above average. Based on this, the major recommendation that is put across is for RenDi Corporation to enter into a short term commitment of a maximum period of three years with Southwest Airlines. 2.0 Overview of Southwest Airline as an aviation company From a humble beginning in 1971 where Southwest Airline operated with only three (3) Boeing 737 aircrafts in Texas, the company has today grown to be a majo r force in the air transport industry. It is refreshing to note that the company currently operates a total of five hundred and fifty (550) Boeing 737 aircrafts with other standby aircrafts for emergency service delivery. By a random and non-itemized evaluation, it would be true to argue that the company has made a lot of important progress that are worth commending. One important area that continues to be a major competitive advantage of the company over key competitors has to do with the corporate attention that the company gives to customers. Such customer satisfaction culture has continued to build a paradigm around the company whereby customers who have tried other competitors become convinced of the quest to keep doing business with Southwest Airlines because of the customer satisfaction they guarantee. Another major area of competitive advantage has to do with the corporate responsibility of the company, which has been directed at keeping a safe and green environment. This pa rticular vision of the company is kept alive by the use of environmental friendly sources of fuel. One of such sources of fuel has been identified to include renewable synthetic diesel fuel, which has lately proven to be very effective and efficient in the air transport business. To RenDi Corporation, the latter is an opportunity to establish firm business lines and linkages with Southwest Airlines and thus this comprehensive research report to test the authenticity of the performance rate of the company. 3.0 An evaluation of Southwest Airline's financial performance for the period 2009, 2010, & 2011 3.1 Profitability Within the period of 2009 to 2011, Southwest Airline has given different and varying indications of its ability to generate income and subsequently maintain growth. First, it can be seen that the company responses sharply to prevailing global economic trend. This is because unlike 2008 where the net income of the company was US$179 million, this dropped to a woeful US$ 99 million by the end of 2009 when the global economic crunch was at its peak (Southwest One Report, 2010, p. 7). In 2010 and 2011, the profit of the company in terms of net income increased steadily over 2009 but not earlier years like 2006 and 2007 mainly because the recessionary recovery were not completely over. In the year 2011 for instance, the profit of th

Scarlet Letter, Ethan from, Lesson Before Dying Essay Example for Free

Scarlet Letter, Ethan from, Lesson Before Dying Essay Many people try to escape the prison that suppresses them, but fail to because of their moral obligations to themselves and others. Edith Whartons Ethan Frome, Ernest J. Gaines A Lesson Before Dying and Nathaniel Hawthornes Scarlet Letter, portray the struggles one acquires through their own conduct. Ethan in Ethan Frome, Grant in A Lesson Before Dying and Hester in Scarlet Letter each try to elude their life dilemmas, but are hindered due to their obligations. Ethan is obligated to his wife though he loves Mattie, while Grant is obligated to his society, but wants to leave. Hester accepts her punishment but wants to be within society though they shunned her. Wharton, Gaines and Hawthorne all use various language devices to accentuate the gain of dignity and respect through moral struggle. In Ethan Frome, Wharton uses symbols and archetypes to create Ethans anguish to his moral obligation to his wife Zeena which keeps him from his true love, Mattie. His moral prison is established with the headstone of another Ethan Frome and his wife that bores that they dwelled together in peace for fifty years, which interests Ethan (Frome 66). Later on, his own neighbors dont see theres much difference between the Fromes up at the farm and the Fromes down in the graveyard (Frome 140). The symbol of the Fromes down in the graveyard establishes Ethans similarities to the dead illustrating his moral obligation to Zeena for eternity (Frome 140). When Ethan feels Zeenas presence, coincidently Zeenas grey cat [elongates] its body in the direction of the milk-jug, which stood between Ethan and Mattie (Frome 69). The cat then tries an unobserved retreat and [backs] into the red pickle-dish, which [falls] on the floor with a crash (Frome 69). The color archetypes of ? red establish Ethan and Matties love while the ? grey cat establishes Zeena who breaks their love, the dish. Ethan is always besieged by Zeena even when lacking her presence. He wants to stay with Mattie yet his obligation to his wife thwarts him from her. When Ethan and Mattie finally reach the point by his mill they descended [and] the darkness descended with them, dropping down like a black veil (Frome 125). The darkness symbolizes Ethans obligation and his moral duty to his wife (Frome 125). He cannot leave her though he scorns her because it is his morally obliged to reside by her side. Ethan who concludes to stay with the crippled and the sick gains respect out of the town and for himself by struggling with his obligation. Similar to Wharton, Gaines uses symbols and repetition to illustrate that to escape the moral prison, is to fight back and win the battle. Gaines language devices connect Grants obligation to Jefferson and to society. Grants talk with Matthew Antoine, while he was still in college, proves that a person who does not run will still be cold. [hell] always be cold (Gaines 64). The use of the symbol cold represents the fact that people who do not run will always be trapped with the cold brutality of the south (Gaines 64). When the educated do not run at the right time, they will be frozen in the south and will therefore be obliged to stay and help the rest of the frozen people. While trying to make Jefferson understand life, Grant discloses that all of us on this earth, [are] a piece of drifting wood, until we? each one of us, individually? decide to become something else. I am still that piece of drifting wood? (Gaines 193). By perceiving Grant is as a piece of drifting wood (Gaines 193). Gaines implies that Grant has still not run because he is like everyone else who is morally obligated to help one another in this disdainful society. Grant is very confounded that he seeks help from an uneducated man and tells him that [he needs him]. [He needs him] much more than [he] could ever need [Grant]. [he needs] to know what to do with [his] life (Gaines 193). The repetition of [he needs] emphasizes that Grant does not know how to complete his life. He is confined in his prison between social freedom and the freedom of others. Corresponding to Wharton and Gaines, Hawthorne uses repetition and metaphors to establish that Hester struggles to accept her consequences which she believes are just and return to a society where no one trusts her. Hester imprisons herself because she knows that [here]?  had been the scene of her guilt, and here should be the scene of her earthly punishment (Hawthorne 74). The repetition of here further emphasizes that Hester knows she deserves her punishment. Yet she does not want to live in solitude. She is morally obliged to stay away from society though she wants to go. Furthermore, Hester describes her sin, her ignominy, [as] the roots which she had struck into the soil, that the [chains] that [bind] her here [are] of iron links, and galling to her inmost soul, but [can] never be broken (Hawthorne 74). The use of metaphors illustrates that Hester morally imprisoned herself; therefore it is her moral obligation to correct herself. But she is also chained by society who has shunned her, yet it is also her duty to break the chains. But still she is a moral prisoner because she has to correct herself, but the chains can never be broken (Hawthorne 74). All Hesters attempts to rid herself of shame will only further remind her of the sin she committed. By trying to break the chains, Hester is able to gain some respect from the town knowing that she tried to redeem herself of her sin. Many people try to escape from their moral prison and yet some just accept their fate. The three novels deal with the inner conflict of each character of bringing the moral and immoral solution to their problems. The use of literary devices emphasizes the true meaning of ones struggle. It paints a realistic art show for everyone to interpret in their own way. Either one can fight the moral prison or they can accept it and try and move on with life. But to escape the imprisonment is to face the harsh reality of life.

Huck Finn :: essays research papers

Satire in Huck Finn   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the first few chapters of Huckleberry Finn, we can see traces of satirical elements begin to emerge from within the story. The very first satirical scene occurs after Tom plays a trick on Jim, Miss Watson’s slave. Huck goes on to describe how Jim reacts to finding his hat hung on a limb above his head. â€Å"Afterwards Jim said the witches bewitched him and put him in a trance, and rode him all over the State, and then set him under the trees again and hung his hat on a limb to show who done it.† This note that Huck makes may have served a humorous purpose during older times, when Blacks were stereotypically superstitious. This also shows Jim’s gullibility and is referred to later on in the story.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the first eleven chapters of the story, the only evident character and element in the story being satirized is Jim and the simple stereotypes of an African American living in Finn’s and Clemens’ time. Jim is once again satirized in chapter ten, where he is bitten after Huck places a dead snake near his blanket. Jim, being superstitious, chides Huck after he touches a snakeskin earlier in the story. Huck ignores this and places a dead snake at the foot of Jim’s blanket one night and Jim gets bitten in the foot by the dead snake’s mate. This portion of the book once again satirizes Jim’s superstition and adds to the element of humor in the story by describing the treatment that Jim applies to his foot after he is bitten. â€Å"He was barefooted, and the snake bit him right on the heel. That all comes of my being such a fool as to not remember that whenever you leave a dead snake its mate always comes there and curls around it. Jim told me to chop off the snake’s head and throw it away, and then skin the body and roast a piece of it.

Acquisition Strategy – Summary

ACQUISITION STRATEGY BY ALBERTO MEDINA MGT: 450 ESSENTIALS FOR STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTOT: TRAVIS WILLIAMS January 23, 2011 In today’s market it is very important for company’s to remain competive in order to maintain an edge over its competitors. The days that a company can rely on its reputation to continue making profits are gone. Today, everyone is looking to save money by buying less expensive items like economy brands, considering that the diffrences between the two products are similar and the features that are not offered are of little value.This will make a consumer buy the less expensive item. Like consumers, companies are also looking to save money and maximize profit. One way of doing this is through acquisition strategies. Combining the operations of two companies is a very good option for companies that are looking to stregnthening the company’s competincies and competitiveness, this will ultimately open new market opportunities (Gamble/Thompso n, p. 119). The benefit of this type of strategy, unlike alliances, they do not go far enough for the resources needed and a very important factor, ownership.In the following paragraphs, I will give two examples of two different companies in different industries and explain how they will stregnthen their market position through acquisiton, to include resources and competive capabilities. The first example I will use it Wells Fargo & Co. results from the acquisition of Wachovia Corporation. During the economic crisis Wells Fargo & Co. acquired Wachovia Corp in a bail out to keep the bank from going under. At one point Wachovia was Wells Fargo’s competitor. After the acquisiton it made Wells Fargo a banking giant absorbing its competion.Earnings from that acquisition have earned Wells Fargo Financial & Co. a 21% earnings since the acquistion, reporting record profits. This acquistion has allowed them to gain market share, this was mostly created by winning new customers. Mortga ge loans was the top earner and low rates and prices of homes falling to record lows has allowed the company to grow even in these tough economic times. Additionally, the acquisition of Wacovia Corp. moves Wells Fargo as the second largest bank, second only to Bank of America. The strategy has allowed them to acquire a larger share of the financial market. The second company I will discuss is DuPont Nutrition & Health and Applied BioSciences acquisition of Danisco Corp. Once a long time partner of DuPont, is a very good and proven company, is a good fit because of their proven market science business and offers clear synergy for them. The acquisition will make them the clear leader in industrial biotechnology with inovations in global challenges in food production and fossil fuel. This effort will position the company ahead of all rivals addressing dramatic growth in human population in the years to come.Danisco is well established company that has research and application capabilit ies. This will create a more cost efficient operation of the combined companies. The applications do not need to be duplicated, meaning their buying power will increase, administrative functions do not need to be replicated, and will further create more cost savings by downsizing. This acquisition will also allow them to enter new product categories, for example 65% of Danisco’s revenue comes from specialty foods, product substitution items such as sweetners and enablers.This will allow them to enter renewable materials and addressing food needs. In conclusion, I have discussed Wells Fargo & Co. , and how their acquisition of Wachovia Corp has allowed the company to gain a larger geographic coverage has helped it create a more cost efficient operation by allowing to cut overhead costs by elliminating duplicate processes. Second, DuPont Nutrition & Health and Applied BioSciences acquisition of Danisco Corporation has allowed DuPont has made them the clear leader in industrial biotechnology with inovations in global challenges in food production and fossil fuel.This gave them quick access to new technologies and other resources thus increasing their competive capabilities. Refrence 1. Essentials of Strategic Management, the Quest for Competitive Advantage 2nd Edition, John E. Gamble/ Arthur A. Thompson Jr. , McGraw-Hill/Irwin Companies Inc. 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10020. 2. ProQuest, Ariticle, Biotechnology; DuPont Acquire Danisco for $6. 3 Billion. Anonymous, Journal of Technological Science. Atlanta: Jan 30, 2010. pg. 609. Periodical. 3. ProQuest, Wells Fargo’s Results Show More Benefits of Wachovia Deal, Wall Street Journal(Online), New York, NY: Jan 19, 2011. Newspaper.

House on Mango Street: Four Skinny Trees

The Trees of Hope and Courage In The House on Mango Street, the author Sandra Cisneros takes you into a completely different world through the eyes of a young, insecure Esperanza growing up in a poor section of Chicago. A vignette that especially stood out was â€Å"Four Skinny Trees†. In this vignette Esperanza is describing four skinny trees that are overlooked and underappreciated. Cisneros uses powerful personification techniques that not only create vivid images but trigger intense reactions. Her words trigger despair and hope, fear and courage, strength and weakness. Esperanza is connected to these trees on an emotional level because what she is imagining in these trees is what she sees in herself. The trees served as emotional guides teaching Esperanza to have confidence. Cisneros projects Esperanza’s emotions onto these four skinny trees though powerful personification techniques. Esperanza sees a distinct parallel between her life and the trees. Esperanza feels as if, â€Å"They are the only ones who understand me. I am the only one who understands them† (74). Esperanza sees herself in these trees, â€Å"†¦with skinny necks and pointy elbows like mine† (74). She sees these scrawny trees trapped in the concrete of Mango Street and can relate because she too is stuck in the concrete of Mango Street. Esperanza sees a parallel between her and the trees and imagines these trees with souls and emotions that reflect her own. She perceives the trees as full of anger, â€Å"They grow up and they grow down and grab the earth between their hairy toes and bite the sky with violent teeth and never quite their anger† (74). It is apparent that these trees aren’t really angry but that Esperanza is embedding her hidden rage into these trees. Cisneros vivid personification makes the trees strong symbols of Esperanza’s emotions, her anger, fear, inconsequence and also her hope, courage and importance. These trees are misplaced and misunderstood but yet they keep on growing, keep on fighting. They continue to exist, not giving up, â€Å"Four who grew despite concrete† (75). The four scrawny, angry trees symbolize both hope and courage. To Esperanza these trees symbolize an emotional guide, they teach her she can trade despair for hope and fear for courage. The trees are teachers. The trees could very well surrender, â€Å"†¦ they’d all droop like tulips in a glass, each with arms around the other† (75). But they don’t they keep on growing despite that they do not belong. Esperanza takes courage from the trees to never give up. Esperanza has learned from these trees how to achieve a peace with who she is. These four skinny trees that were probably planted by some city worker on a concrete slab are objects in which Esperanza has brought to life with her own emotions. Because they too are misplaced like Esperanza but yet they continue to be and keep growing, they do not give up. They have taught her not to surrender to who she is but to accept it and keep growing. One day Esperanza will leave Mango Street but instead of living with despair waiting to escape she is living with hope for the future and the courage to be strong throughout the process.

20 Literature Essay Topics Discuss “The Red and the White” in a Brand-New Way

20 Literature Essay Topics Discuss â€Å"The Red and the White† in a Brand-New Way Award-winning western historian Andrew R. Graybill penned â€Å"The Red and the White: A Family Saga of the American West†, detailing historical events that have been obscured, but remain fresh in the minds of Native Americans. It is a great read for literature buffs who enjoy Western themes and an excellent choice of literature for college and university students. After all, it is very rich in themes, making writing a literature essay on this subject a good assignment. If your instructor has added this book to your reading list and told you to write a literature essay for class, one of the first steps you should take is coming up with a topic to write on. This may not be a major challenge for this book as it has complex themes and multi-layered ideas within itself. However, if you are strapped for time, here are 20 topics related to â€Å"The Red and the White: A Family Saga of the American West† which you can tackle in your essay. The Challenges Faced by Native Americans in Preserving Traditional Heritage and Culture in the Wake of European Settlements Environmental Impact of Euromerican Arrival: How Logging, Hunting and City-Building Changed the Landscape The 1973 Indian Standoff at Wounded Knee The Effect of Linguistic Differences on Intercultural Communication The Dynamics of Sociological Relations between the Conquerors and the Conquered Dimensions of Cultural Encounters among the Euromericans and Indians The Ideologies Which Shaped the Settlement of the American West Exploring the Roots of Social Conflicts The Native-White Conflict on Great Plains Assimilation Policies of US and Canada: Effects and Long-Term Socio-Cultural Implications Reasons Why the Baker Massacre Has Not Been Properly Chronicled in History The Baker Massacre: An Act of Military Terrorism? Pros and Cons of the Early American Policies towards Native Americans Laws and Legal Systems of Native American Tribes in the 1800s. Gender Relations among the Native American People The Role of the Blackfeet Tribe in Montana’s History A Psychological Analysis of the Motivations behind the Baker Massacre Gender Roles among the Piegan, the Bloods and the North Blackfeet Tribes Inter-Tribal Warfare in the Great Plains between the 1700-1800 Dissent and Protest of the Blackfeet Tribes These topics vary in depth and scope. Pick the one you like best and then use the sources referenced at the end to write your literature essay easily. If you want to explore more facts before deciding the topic, read our 10 facts on â€Å"The Red and the White† for a literature essay for further help. To help you out with your literature essay assignment and to make it even easier, we have included a sample essay on a topic related to â€Å"The Red and the White: A Family Saga of the American West†. You can use this as a template for your own essay. For a more detailed structural outline, head on over to our how to write a literature essay on â€Å"The Red and the White† guide. Sample Literature Essay on â€Å"The Red and the White: A Family Saga of the American West† The work entitled â€Å"The Red and the White: A Family Saga of the American West† by historian Andrew R. Graybill is a touching and brilliantly written account of events leading up to the Marias Massacre. This event stands out as one of the most brutal in the well-scarred history of the American West. The brutality of this event was horrifying in scope and depth of the effects. The name of the book serves as a running theme of the entire historical account. Red and white refers to the merging of the different races of Europeans and Native Americans. The book focuses on the interracial relations of both these races. It is more than just a gripping saga though; it examines how interracial marriages affected the society and challenged its norms. It also examines how the mixed-race children struggle with identity issues. Malcolm Clarke was a former fur-trader who lived on Prickly Pear Creek, which also served as his ranch. While working for the American Fur Company, he married a woman from the Piegan Blackfoot tribe. His wife was named, Coth-co-co-na (roughly translated, Cutting Off Head Woman). They had four children. Later on, Clarke married a second Indian woman and had four children with her. The entire family lived together on the ranch. The conflict between red and white also takes on another shape in the book. This time in the form of a conflict between Pete Owl Child and Malcolm Clarke. Pete Owl Child is Coth-co-co-na’s cousin. He ends up killing Clarke over a disagreement over land encroachment. The conflict between red and white takes a brutal and shocking form when the Marias Massacre occurs. Under the command of Major Eugene Baker, the U.S. Second Cavalry descends upon an encampment of peaceful Blackfoot people and slaughters almost 200 innocent people. The slaughter occurred on January 23, 1870. The heavily armed soldiers massacred a large number of women, children and old men. The aspect of a mixed-race individual struggling to discover their own identity and the conflict within is brought into stark relief when the young Horace Clarke is said to be one of the armed men responsible for the massacre. The book further explores the fallout of the massacre and what it meant for the Clarke heirs. The third generation of Clarkes also struggles to create and maintain a separate identity in the world. The book is a touching and dramatic tale of an important event which has been largely forgotten. It is an excellent account of the challenges faced by interracial marriages and how their effect shapes society. References: Hutton, P. (1999). Phil Sheridan and his army. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. Bennett, B. (1982). Death, too, for The-Heavy-Runner. Missoula, Mont.: Mountain Press Pub. Co. Mitchell, R. (2016). Washington Post. Retrieved 29 March 2016, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2013/12/05/0800e126-4b06-11e3-9890-a1e0997fb0c0_story.html White, R. (1991). The middle ground. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Scheick, W. (2015). The Half-Blood. Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky Utley, Robert M. (1973). Grants Peace Policy, 1869-74. Frontier Regulars the United States Army and the Indian, 1866-1891. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press. Perry, A. (2001). On the edge of empire. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Welch, James. Fools Crow. New York: Penguin Classics, 2011. Milner, Clyde, et al. Major Problems in The History of the American West: Documents and Essays (2nd ed.). Boston: Wadsworth, 1997.

Emperor Justin II - A Concise Biography

Emperor Justin II - A Concise Biography Justin was the nephew of the Emperor Justinian: the son of Justinians sister Vigilantia. As a member of the imperial family, he received a thorough education and enjoyed considerable benefits not available to lesser citizens of the Eastern Roman Empire. His powerful position may be why he was possessed of extreme self-confidence that could be, and often was, viewed as arrogance. Justins Rise to the Throne Justinian had no children of his own, and so it was expected that one of the sons and grandsons of the emperors siblings would inherit the crown. Justin, like several of his cousins, had a bevy of supporters both within and without the palace milieu. By the time Justinian neared the end of his life only one other contender had any real chance of succeeding the emperor: the son of Justins cousin Germanus, also named Justin. This other Justin, a man of considerable military ability, is considered by some historians to have been a better candidate for the position of ruler. Unfortunately for him, the emperors nostalgic remembrance of his late wife Theodora may have harmed his chances. The emperor is well known to have relied heavily on his wifes guidance, and Theodoras influence can be clearly seen in some of the laws Justinian passed. It is possible that her personal dislike of Germanus prevented her husband from forming any serious attachment to Germanus children, Justin included. Furthermore, the future emperor Justin II was married to Theodoras niece Sophia. Therefore, it is likely Justinian had warmer feelings for the man who would succeed him. And, indeed, the emperor named his nephew Justin to the office of cura palatii. This office had usually been held by an individual with the rank of spectabilis, who saw to the general daily business matters at the palace, but after Justin was nominated, the title was usually bestowed upon members of the imperial family or, occasionally, foreign princes. Furthermore, when Justinian died, the other Justin was guarding the Danube frontier in his role as Master of the Soldiers in Illyricum. The future emperor was in Constantinople, ready to take advantage of any opportunity.   That opportunity came with Justinians unexpected death. Justin IIs Coronation Justinian may have been aware of his mortality, but he made no provision for a successor. He died suddenly on the night of November 14/15, 565, having never officially named who was to take up his crown. This did not stop Justins supporters from maneuvering him onto the throne. Though Justinian probably died in his sleep, the chamberlain Callinicus claimed that the emperor had designated the son of Vigilantia as his heir with his dying breath.   In the early morning hours of November 15, the chamberlain and a group of senators who had been wakened from their slumber rushed to Justins palace, where they were met by Justin and his mother. Callinicus related the emperors dying wish and, though he made a show of reluctance, Justin quickly assented to the request of the senators to take up the crown. Escorted by the senators, Justin and Sophia made their way to the Great Palace, where the Excubitors blocked the doors and the patriarch crowned Justin. Before the rest of the city even knew Justinian was dead, they had a new emperor. In the morning, Justin appeared in the imperial box at the Hippodrome, where he addressed the people. The next day he crowned his wife Augusta. And, in a matter of weeks, the other Justin was assassinated. Though most people of the day blamed Sophia, there seems no doubt that the new emperor himself was behind the murder. Justin then set about working to gain the support of the populace. Justin IIs Domestic Policies Justinian had left the empire in financial difficulty. Justin paid his predecessors debts, remitted overdue taxes, and cut back on expenditures. He also restored the consulship that had lapsed in 541. All this helped the local economy, which garnered Justin high marks from the nobility and general populace alike.   But things were not all rosy in Constantinople. In the second year of Justins reign a conspiracy took place, possibly motivated by the political murder of the other Justin. The senators Aetherios and Addaios evidently plotted to poison the new emperor. Aetherios confessed, naming Addaeus as his accomplice, and both were executed. Things ran considerably smoother after that. Justin IIs Approach to Religion The Acacian Schism that had split the Church in the late fifth and early sixth centuries had not ended with an abolishment of the heretical philosophy that triggered the split. Monophysite churches had grown and become entrenched in the Eastern Roman Empire. Theodora had been a firm Monophysite, and as Justinian aged he had grown more and more inclined toward the heretical philosophy.   Initially, Justin showed a fairly liberal religious tolerance. He had Monophysite churchmen released from prison and allowed exiled bishops to come home. Justin apparently wanted to unite the disparate monophysite factions and, ultimately, reunite the heretical sect with the orthodox viewpoint (as expressed at the Council of Chalcedon). Unfortunately, every attempt he made to facilitate concord was met with refusal from intransigent Monophysite extremists. Eventually his tolerance turned to stubbornness of his own, and he instituted a policy of persecution that lasted as long as he was in control of the empire.   Justin IIs Foreign Relations Justinian had pursued a variety of methods to build, maintain and preserve Byzantine lands, and had managed to acquire territory in Italy and southern Europe that had been part of the old Roman Empire. Justin was determined to destroy the enemies of the empire and was unwilling to compromise. Not long after he achieved the throne he received emissaries from the Avars and refused them the subsidies his uncle had granted them. He then formed an alliance with the Western Turks of Central Asia, with whom he fought against the Avars and possibly the Persians, as well. Justins war with the Avars did not go well, and he was forced to grant them even greater tribute than they had initially been promised. The treaty Justin signed with them angered his Turkish allies, who turned on him and attacked Byzantine territory in the Crimea. Justin also invaded Persia as part of an alliance with Persian-controlled Armenia, but this too did not go well; the Persians not only beat back the Byzantine forces, they invaded Byzantine territory and captured several important cities. In November of 573, the city of Dara fell to the Persians, and at this point Justin went insane. The Madness of Emperor Justin II Beset by temporary fits of insanity, during which Justin evidently attempted to bite anyone who came near, the emperor could not help but be aware of his military failures. He evidently ordered organ music to be played constantly to soothe his fragile nerves. During one of his more lucid moments, his wife Sophia convinced him that he needed a colleague to take over his duties.   It was Sophia who chose Tiberius, a military leader whose reputation outshone the disasters of his times. Justin adopted him as his son and appointed him Caesar. The last four years of Justins life were spent in seclusion and relative tranquility, and upon his death he was succeeded as emperor by Tiberius. The text of this document is copyright  ©2013-2015 Melissa Snell. You may download or print this document for personal or school use, as long as the URL below is included. Permission is   not  granted to reproduce this document on another website. For publication permission,  please   contact  Melissa Snell.The URL for this document is:http://historymedren.about.com/od/jwho/fl/Emperor-Justin-II.htm

Understanding Drag and Drop Operations in Delphi

Understanding Drag and Drop Operations in Delphi To drag and drop is to hold down the computer mouse button as the mouse is moved, and then release the button to drop the object. Delphi makes it easy to program dragging and dropping into applications. You can really drag and drop from/to wherever you like, like from one form to another, or from Windows Explorer to your application. Dragging and Dropping Example Start up a new project and put one image control on a form. Use Object Inspector to load a picture (Picture property) and then set the DragMode property to dmManual. Well create a program that will allow moving a TImage control runtime using the drag and drop technique. DragMode Components permit two types of dragging: automatic and manual. Delphi uses the DragMode property to control when the user is able to drag the control. The default value this property is dmManual, which means that dragging components around the application is not allowed, except under special circumstances, for which we have to write the appropriate code. Regardless of the setting for the DragMode property, the component will move only if the correct code is written to reposition it. OnDragDrop The event that recognizes dragging and dropping is called the OnDragDrop event. We use it to specify what we want to happen when the user drops an object. Therefore, if we want to move a component (image) to a new location on a form, we have to write code for the forms OnDragDrop event handler. The Source parameter of the OnDragDrop event is the object being dropped. The type of the source parameter is TObject. To access its properties, we have to cast it to the correct component type, which in this example is TImage. Accept We have to use the forms OnDragOver event to signal that the form can accept the TImage control we want to drop on it. Although the Accept parameter defaults to True, if an OnDragOver event handler is not supplied, the control rejects the dragged object (as if the Accept parameter was changed to False). Run your project, and try dragging and dropping your image. Notice that the image remains visible in its original location while the drag mouse pointer moves. We cannot use the OnDragDrop procedure to make the component invisible while the dragging takes place because this procedure is called only after the user drops the object (if at all). DragCursor If you want to change the cursor image presented when the control is being dragged, use the DragCursor property. The possible values for the DragCursor property are the same as those for the Cursor property. You can use animated cursors or whatever you like, like a BMP image file or a CUR cursor file. BeginDrag If DragMode is dmAutomatic, dragging begins automatically when we press a mouse button with the cursor on the control. If youve left the value of TImages DragMode property at its default of dmManual, you have to use BeginDrag/EndDrag methods to allow dragging of the component. A more common way to drag and drop is to set DragMode to dmManual and start the dragging by handling mouse-down events. Now, well use the CtrlMouseDown keyboard combination to allow dragging to take place. Set TImages DragMode back to dmManual and write the MouseDown event handler like this: BeginDrag takes a Boolean parameter. If we pass True (like in this code), dragging begins immediately; if False, it doesnt start until we move the mouse a short distance. Remember that it requires the Ctrl key.

HOW HAS LUSH COSMETICS INCORPORATED THE RISING CONCERNS OF THE Essay

HOW HAS LUSH COSMETICS INCORPORATED THE RISING CONCERNS OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THEIR CORPORATE STRATEGY - Essay Example These current trends and demands in the market economy stems from the recognition of the reality that the economic realm is not separated from the entire context of the society and that its reality is deeply integrated and interwoven in all facets of the human society – economic, social, cultural, political, and environmental aspects. The aims of this paper are the following: first, is to attain a clearer understanding of corporate social responsibility. Second, is to utilise the gained understanding of corporate social responsibility in knowing how the cosmetic industry in UK in general and Lush Limited in particular are addressing the challenge of corporate social responsibility. And third, to be able to highlight the conditions with which it can be claimed that Lush Limited has responded to the challenge of corporate social responsibility. These aims are to be accomplished via conducting a survey of related literatures. Moreover, the databases Academic Search Premier, Business Search Premier, Google Scholar, and EconLit were searched using a combination of the following key terms: corporate social responsibility, sustainability. Cosmetic industry, UK cosmetic industry, Lush Limited, globalisation, the Body Shop, and toiletries. Articles written only in English and published within the period of 1990 – 2009 were included in the selection. Likewise, books, relevant websites, editorials, commentaries and case studies were also included. Correspondingly, excluded from the selections are memorandums, monographs, pamphlets and position papers. The reference list of the articles was searched to identify additional relevant publications. Furthermore, the paper is structured such that: first, what is found in Chapter I are the introduction, aim of the paper, statement of the problem, the search method, and the structure of the paper. In the second part, which is Chapter II is the survey or review of literature

Business ethic homework 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business ethic homework 2 - Essay Example hical principle of deontology which states that actions as well as decisions can be regarded as ethical or morally correct if the maxim which refers to the intention as well as the reason of that particular act or decision is based on doing well to the society (Shaw 66). One of the critics of Kant’s ethical theory is that not all actions are considered ethical or legal in all regions, actions are considered as ethical or unethical depending on where they occur. 3. The two ways through which Kant believes that categorical imperative can be formulated is that while an individual takes an action, the reason behind that particular action should be that he/she is ready to face the same action when it is carried out against him in same or any other situation (Hayden 18). The second way of formulating the categorical imperative is that people should take actions while considering other individuals as ends and not simply considering them as means to achieve

Make an assessment of the achievements of the Bretton Woods Fixed Essay

Make an assessment of the achievements of the Bretton Woods Fixed Exchange Rate system - Essay Example Economists themselves have considered diverse aspects of money such as the reasons for its existence, changes in its form, and its role in the economic prosperity and development of people and nations (ICFAI Center for Management Research (ICMR), 2005).† Money occupies a central place in a modern society. Money provides innumerable benefits in our day-to-day lives. In the classical theory, money played an insignificant role as it had no causative influence on the economy. In the opinion of classical theorists, money was purely confined to medium of exchange and related itself to economic activity. Money was used as a technical instrument to overcome the complexities involved in barter system. There was strong opinion that money was a passive element, which was used to help in the process of exchange. Contrary to this, in modern economics money plays a significant and an active role. Modern economists emphasize that the most important function of money is to regulate the general economic activity and to promote the wealth and welfare of a country’s economy. It further explains how money influences production, consumption and distribution. Thus, the institution of money is considered to be an efficient instrument contributing to economic prosperity of a country. Due to the advent of globalization, financial markets are getting integrated with the passage of time, and people and firms are entering into more and more cross-border financial deals. In order to make these transactions feasible, a system for determination of the amount and method of payment of the underlying financial flows is needed. Since the domestic currencies of the parties involved will be different, the flows will take place in some mutually acceptable currency. The parties involved will then need to convert the amount involved into their domestic currencies. The set of rules, regulations, institutions,

Food additives used in the meat industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Food additives used in the meat industry - Essay Example n food, clothing, and other facets of living, then there grew the effort not just to ban those harmful ingredients, but also to scrutinize any manmade products that altered the natural composition of things, especially food products. This has lead to the food industry, and especially the meat industry, which is already coming under fire from vegetarians and naturalists, to consider alternatives to food additives whenever possible. It is not, however, always possible to eliminate entirely food additives, because, first, they are necessary, and, secondly, they are not necessarily harmful to human consumption. Still, the controversy goes on. Food additives, including those added to meat products, and are used for the purpose of preserving the food or meat product in order that it might retain its flavor while being transported to destinations, which are often long distances from the point of production (Goldstein Chandler, Myrna and Goldstein, Mark A., M.D., 2002, 1). In the United States, since 1958, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must approve all food additives (Goldstein and Goldstein, 2). There is a list of five reasons that the Center for Food and Safety and Applied Nutrition lists as justifying the of meat additives (Goldstein and Goldstein, 2). 1. â€Å"To maintain product consistency. Emulsifiers give products a consistent texture and prevent them from separating. Stabilizers and thickeners give smooth uniform texture. Anti-caking agents help substances such as salt to flow freely. 2. To improve or maintain nutritional value. Vitamins and minerals are added to many common foods, such as milk, flour, cereal and margarine to make up for those likely to be lacking in a person’s diet or lost in processing. Such fortification and enrichment has helped reduce malnutrition among the U.S. population. All products containing added nutrients must be appropriately labeled. 3. To maintain palatability and wholesomeness. Preservatives retard product

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

MKTG - Essay Example Teenagers and young adults spend countless hours in front of their television playing video games. The graphics and capabilities of video game consoles such as X-Box 360 have come so far that it is enabling marketers to become creative in the ads they develop through video games. Video game developers are able to gain extra money by introducing ads into their games. This is a brand new advertising medium that has lots of potential for growth. The use of adverting in video games is done through subtle subliminal messages. A lot of games such as Grand Theft Auto there are entire cities illustrated as part of the plot. Advertisers use these virtual cities as their breeding ground for ads. Companies such as Coca-Cola might place a vending machine in the video game; car manufacturers might use their brand name in the car models players’ use in games such as Grand Turismo. Due to the amount of hours gamers spend playing, marketers want to capitalize on this alternative media to send their messages to potential customers. Work Cited Page Emarketer.com. 2011. â€Å"Video Game Advertising.† 5 April 2011.

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Economics - Essay Example The political parties in most of the economies try to enhance the lifestyle of the individuals through economic growth and income redistribution in the market. Redistribution of income and raising the standard of living in society are mutually exclusive goals of the government. Figure 1: Economic Growth (Source: Scully, â€Å"Economic Freedom and the Trade-off between Inequality and Growth†) The economic freedom of a country is directly proportional to the level of economic growth in it. Figure 2: Income Inequality (Source: Scully, â€Å"Economic Freedom and the Trade-off between Inequality and Growth†) On the other hand, the level of income inequality is desired to fall with the rise in the level of economic freedom and hence, economic growth. However, there is a strong debate regarding the relationship between income inequality and income growth. Economic Inequality is the discrimination among individuals in terms of income or wealth. It basically elaborates the diffe rences among the individuals of a society in terms of their income, wealth and assets. Income Inequality can either be absolute or relative. Absolute income is the gross income received by the individuals. John Maynard Keynes states that the consumption expenditures of individuals are estimated on the basis of absolute income. Thus, absolute income inequality is the income inequality that denotes the differences in gross income thresholds of the individuals. James Duesenberry claimed that savings and consumption spending decisions of the individuals do not depend on the level of absolute income. Instead, it depends on the relative income level. The savings and consumption expenditures of the individuals are made by them after analyzing their position of income relative to others. Relative income inequality would occur when the absolute income levels would be unevenly distributed in an economy (NBER). Among all the methods, the most important method of measuring income inequality is Gini Coefficient measurement method. This measure estimates the statistical dispersion of income distribution of a nation. The value of income inequality on the basis of a frequency distribution is given by the Gini Coefficient. The value of this index lies from 0 to 1. Where, 0 indicates a situation of perfect income equality and 1 indicates a situation of perfect inequality of income. The diagrammatical representation of a Gini Coefficient is provided is a Lorenz Curve. Figure 3: Lorenze Curve Perfect Income Equality Line Income Inequality Cumulative % of Income Lorenze Curve Cumulative % of Population (Source: Authors Creation) The above graph is of a Lorenze curve (the convex curve). The distance between the perfect income equality line and the Lorenz curve measures the degree of income inequality. Therefore, greater the distance, greater is the level of inequality. The above coefficient is calculated by: It is believed that a greater extent of inequality in income in a nation i mplies the concentration of economic power in the hands of a small group of individuals. In such a situation, the producers in the market get tempted to allocate resources to luxuries and comfort products, instead of basic necessities. The lack of basic necessit

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

MKTG - Essay Example Teenagers and young adults spend countless hours in front of their television playing video games. The graphics and capabilities of video game consoles such as X-Box 360 have come so far that it is enabling marketers to become creative in the ads they develop through video games. Video game developers are able to gain extra money by introducing ads into their games. This is a brand new advertising medium that has lots of potential for growth. The use of adverting in video games is done through subtle subliminal messages. A lot of games such as Grand Theft Auto there are entire cities illustrated as part of the plot. Advertisers use these virtual cities as their breeding ground for ads. Companies such as Coca-Cola might place a vending machine in the video game; car manufacturers might use their brand name in the car models players’ use in games such as Grand Turismo. Due to the amount of hours gamers spend playing, marketers want to capitalize on this alternative media to send their messages to potential customers. Work Cited Page Emarketer.com. 2011. â€Å"Video Game Advertising.† 5 April 2011.

Hould the pharmaceutical industry be providing free medication to Research Paper

Hould the pharmaceutical industry be providing free medication to those who cannot afford it - Research Paper Example First, if medicines are made available to those who cannot afford them, this is a promotion of fundamental human rights. Specifically, this will help promote the access to health. Pharmaceutical companies have unique human rights responsibilities and this requires that they include the aspect of human rights in their operations (Nwobike, 2006). This industry has a human rights obligation of protecting the right to health to all. This then obligates them to make such drugs available to those who need them even if they may not be able to afford them. This is particularly the case when epidemics such as AIDS are considered. Pharmaceutical corporations should thus put mechanisms in place to ensure that a certain percentage of their profits are directed towards proving free medications to the poor. Just like many other corporations, the pharmaceutical industry has a big influence in promoting human rights, and providing free medications is one of the strategies that can be used to achieve this. Opponents of this view have argued that pharmaceutical companies are like any other corporations and hence should not be treated differently. It is argued that compelling them to provide free medicines would mean that they are treated unfairly. However, it is clear that their violations of human rights are manifested differently and are usually instant (Nwobike, 2006). In many cases, a patient who fails to receive the necessary medication ends up dying, or suffering permanent complications that affect their lives. This demands that in view of the human rights aspect, the pharmaceutical industry needs to be treated differently. Agencies charged with the responsibility of promoting human health, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), should play develop principles and frameworks that will help the pharmaceutical industry provide free medications to those who

Sites of Ron Jon Surf Shop Essay Example for Free

Sites of Ron Jon Surf Shop Essay 1)Access the web sites of Ron Jon Surf Shop (http://www.ronjonsurfshop.com/) and Hilo Hattie (http://www.hilohattie.com/aloha/). Explain how the two companies are similar and how they are different. Can you find elements of organizational planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and control in their web content? Provide specific examples. Respond substantively to two other learners. Ron Jon’s and Hilo Hattie’s are similar in quite a few ways. They both started as retail stores selling products to consumers. They both have adapted to the changing of the times. They both now offer other services. For example, Hattie’s now offers coffee and food in one of their locations. Ron Jon’s offers a variety of services to include a resort and surf school. The companies are different in many ways as well. Hattie’s has a total of seven stores while Ron Jon’s has 12 different establishments. I found an example of leading in Ron Jon’s web site. In the careers section I found an employee philosophy that I thought was motivational. It states â€Å"Our employee philosophy has always been to have a strong balance of promoting from within as well as searching outside the company to find the best and brightest talent available. The surf industry is an exciting atmosphere for individuals that are outgoing, driven and competitive† (Ron Jon Surf Shop, 2012). According to Reilly, M., Minnick, C., Baack, D. (2011) â€Å"Leading means motivating, coordinating, and energizing individuals and groups to work together to achieve organizational goals.† Hattie’s offers a group incentive program to other companies to generate business. They basically offer their products at lower cost to other companies who then give the products to their customers as gifts for selecting their services. I think this is a great example of the planning function that engages an opportunity to increase revenue and utilize Hilo Hattie’s strengths. Josh References Ron Jon Surf Shop (Careers). (2012). Retrieved from http://www.ronjonsurfshop.com/AboutUs/Careers.aspx Reilly, M., Minnick, C., Baack, D. (2011). The five functions of effective management. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUMGT330.11.1/sections/sec1.3

Development Of Art :: essays research papers

What Is Art? -An In-Depth Analysis-   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Human’s have always struggled to express themselves. Art, is considered by many to be the ultimate form of human expression. Many assume that art has a definition, but this is not the case. Art, it can be said, is â€Å"in the eye of the beholder.† This simply means that what you consider art, someone else would not. Art is part of a person’s internal emotions, which signifies why different people see art as different things. Every type of culture and era presents distinctive and unique characteristics. Different cultures all have different views of what art can, and would be, causing art itself to be universally renowned throughout the world. The first art to be recorded was done by the early Egyptians who used it as a form of communication and to signify their religious beliefs. Their beliefs were centered around their many Gods which helped in aiding their visual representations. What made Egyptian art unique, was that every picture told a story of an important event in the society, which helps us study who they were as a people, and what their life struggles were. This primitive form of art laid the ground- work for the many types of art which would follow it. The next important era was the time of Greek art. Their work was greatly influenced by the Egyptians. Their early art was very geometric in shape and glorified Gods and people in their works. Eventually as time progressed, they began to soften their edges and lines and concentrate on the human form, which they considered the most beautiful of all creation. Christian art was the next big leap for art. This art was more colorful and displayed vivid images and scenes. The introduction of the mosaic was probably the greatest contribution of the period. In the fifteenth century, the Renaissance period involved brighter colours and new mediums that the world had never seen before.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Through these early stages of art discussed above, it shows how the foundation for today’s modern works was laid out. They show how art has developed from simple cave paintings, to the tremendous force in society that it is today.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Art is one of the most intriguing and exiting forms of human expression. A picture can tell a thousand words and often stir up feelings inside the viewer. Art is all around us.buildings,electronic equipment like a computer, and even automobiles are all a form of art.

F.Scott Fitzgerald and George Orwell Essay -- comic books, marvel comi

A nation’s legacy is created by the people, for the people. The legacy fashioned by a nation is known as its cultural heritage which is defined by the withstanding creations of a society (â€Å"Cultural Heritage† Web). A civilization’s cultural heritage allows future generations to learn of the past and the present generation to express what is current. Written documents and literature are important aspects of a nation’s cultural heritage because of the various perspectives and opinions expressed (Kirk Web). The American society has a long history expressed by thousands of tangible artifacts and intangible stories, but some creations receive more respect as a part of our heritage than others. Literature, for example, allows us to gain a better understanding of the country, people, and feelings of the times. The classics are revered for its formal presentation and its withstanding presence, while other written pieces are cast aside. Comic books may not be considered in the same realm as the great novels of F.Scott Fitzgerald and George Orwell; some don’t even consider comics literary works but there is a viable argument to justify their presence as culturally important pieces of literature. Similar to the great novels of our time, comics express the difficulties of human nature and are timeless works (Kalstein Web). The content of these short stories can be used as primary sources of popular culture as they are filled with historical references and have been influential in guiding the thoughts of the nation through their patriotic content over time, leaving an impactful mark in history. Marvel Comics, an American publisher, is recognized for its release of many popular heroes. The writers of this publishing firm are known to be highly... ...t Superhero: Metaphors, Narratives, and Geopolitics. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. 2012. Project MUSE. Web. 13 December 2013. Dittmer, Jason and Soren Larsen. â€Å"Aboriginality and the Artic North in Canadian Nationalist Superhero Comics, 1940-2004†. Historical Geography Volume 38 (2010): pages 52-69. Web. 13 December 2013. Kirk, Ashley. "The Importance of Historicism and Context in Literature." Web blog post. Words on a Page. N.p. 2 Nov. 2012. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. Kalstein, Nicole. "Comic Books: A New Kind of Literature." Examiner. N.p. 25 May 2011. Web. 11 Feb. 2014. Scott, Cord. â€Å"Comics and Conflict: War and Patriotically Themed Comics in American Cultural History from World War II through the Iraq War.† Dissertations. Loyola University, Chicago. 2011. Web. 3 December 2013. "What Is Cultural Heritage." Culture in Development. N.p. n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2014.

Sor Juana

Writing Assignment Maria Zuniga Book ReportDecember 9, 2005 Corrections â€Å"Sor Juana† is a biography of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz written by Octavio Paz and translated by Margaret Sayers Peden. It is a book of 470 pages divided in six parts that besides Sor Juana’s life and work, explain the difficulties of the time for an intellectual woman. It was published by The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1988. Reading this book gave me the best opportunity to know more about someone that although has been very influential in my entire life, I didn’t know all her history.My admiration and respect for Sor Juana started since I was a child and one of my sisters used to read her poems. Through my literature classes I knew a little more about her and the admiration and respect continued growing. Sor Juana became for me a stereotype of intellect, power, femininity, persistence and freedom combined with the devotion to God. Her story ma kes me learn to follow my dreams, to be ambitious, and over all to never ever give up. Juana Ines de la Cruz was born in Mexico in 1648. She grew up in the Panayan Hacienda, which was run for her mother for more than thirty years although she never learned to read.Sor Juana started to take lessons at age or three. During a long period of her childhood, she didn’t eat cheese because â€Å"It made one slow-witted,† and â€Å"Desire for learning was stronger than the desire for eating. † By the time she was six or seven, she knew how to read and write. As she couldn’t go to the university (because she was a woman), she studied and read by herself. She used to cut-off several inches of her hair (when hair was considered one of the most important female features), as a challenge for new learning â€Å"A head shouldn’t be adorned with hair and naked of learning† If she didn’t meet the goal, then she cut it again.Sor Juana was sent to Mexico City when she was eight to live with her grandfather, who had one of the biggest libraries of those times. By age 15, as one of the most learned women in Mexico, she was presented at court with the Viceroy and his wife (maximum authorities in Mexico). As a lady-in waiting, Juana Ines would become known at court for her wit and beauty as well as for her erudite intelligence. To ascertain the extent of her learning, the Marquise gathered together some of the most astute minds of the day, poets, historians, theologians, philosophers, and mathematicians.Juana Ines answered the questions and arguments directed at her, impressing them all with her mental prowess. At age 20 she entered the Convent of San Jeronimo, known for the mildness of its discipline. The convent was not a ladder toward God but a refuge for a woman who found herself alone in the world. She lived in a two-storey cell where she read insatiably and amassed an impressive library while pursuing her writing and intellectual pursuits. She brought the elegance of the court with her by transforming the convent locutory into an intellectual salon.The next Viceroy, the Marquis de La Laguna and the Marquise Maria Luisa, the Countess de Pareda, were among the court society and literary devotees who came to talk and debate with Sor Juana. Sor Juana wrote sacred poems and erotic love poems, vocal music, villancicos performed in the cathedral, plays, secular comedies, and some of the most significant documents in the history of feminism and philosophical literature. Her use of language, though characterized by the Baroque style, has a modern essence.Her public face reveals the impiousness of an undaunted spirit who appears, not as a nun, but as an independent woman. One of Sor Juana’s archetypes was Isis, Egyptian goodness inventor of writing, a symbol of intellect. She also identified herself with maidens of antiquity, poetically divinely inspired to produce poems and prophecies thinking â€Å"There we re not enough punishment or reprimands to prevent me from reading. † The life and work of Sor Juana lines can be summed as: knowledge is a transgression committed by a solitary hero who then is punished.Not the glory of knowledge (denied to mortals) but the glory of the act of knowing. Sor Juana was a pivotal figure who lived at a unique point in history bound by two opposing world views: one the closed universe of Ptolemy and of the Inquisition, which still held sway in Mexico/New Spain; the other characterized by the new science of Copernicus, Newton, and Galileo. On her monumental philosophical poem Primer sueno/First Dream the soul is pictured as intellect, not a religious pilgrim. At the height of the journey, at the fullest understanding reason can attain, there was no vision.Instead, the soul drew back at the immensity of the universe and foundered in confusion. In 1690, requested by the Bishop, Sor Juana wrote her only theological criticism, which she insisted not for public view. However, the Bishop published and censured it with an imaginary name of â€Å"Sor Philotea. † In defiant response, Sor Juana wrote â€Å"La Respuesta de la poetisa a la muy ilustre Sor Philotea de la Cruz,† a feminist manifesto defending women’s right to be educated and pursue learning, citing over 40 women who had made significant contributions throughout history.This work ignited the church’s wrath. In a climate of intimidation and fear Sor Juana signed â€Å"Protesta que rubricada con su sangre, hizo de su fe y amor a Dios† a statement of self-condemnation in bloodShe renewed her vows and surrendered her musical and scientific instruments, as well as her library of 4,000 volumes, considered at that time to be the largest in Mexico. Two years of silence and penance followed. Then in 1695, while ministering to nuns struck by an epidemic, she herself succumbed and died.Sor Juana has been an inspirational model to follow through all the situations that she faced. She succeeded in a world that was completely against her. The lack of father, which was almost a crime in that time, the lack of freedom to study, to talk, even to think, and over all the prohibition to be herself were some of her obstacles. Every time I am facing an obstacle, I just recall her story and imagine the innumerable sacrifices she had made to get the freedom of learning.After reading her story, I see the world in a different way. Now I know that all those small decisions that I take every day, such as the cloth I wear, what to eat, to read, what to say, and even what to feel are privileges granted for marvelous people like Sor Juan Ines de la Cruz. I also know that all those people had to pay a high price for these privileges; some of them pay with their lives. I feel not just impressed, but grateful to Sor Juana, her cultural heredity, and woman’s worth.

My Favorite Person

My favourite person â€Å"Michael Jordan† † I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. † Those encouraging words were spoken by Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 17, 1963. He moved to Wilmington, North Carolina. I am going to tell you why Jordan is in fact so famous. He had to go through tough obstacles all his life.His love for basketball began when his older brother, Larry, continuously beat him in one-on-one pickup games. Michael was taking the challenges but he didn’t give up, that was why he became a better player. Jordan played basketball for Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. When he was a sophomore Jordan was cut from varsity basketball team. Instead of giving up he was working hard, hour after another. He spent a lot of time in the gym practicing, only reason why he did that was to achieve his goal by becoming a professional player and to make the team.Finally he made the team and let it to the state championship. Jordan then accepted a basketball scholarship from the University of North Carolina. Two years later he got drafted into the NBA. Michael Jordan was the most valuable player for a long time. Everyone knows and consider him the best basketball player ever. There is no such person that doesn’t know who is Michael Jordan. I picked this person because I really think that MJ was the one who brought the game of basketball on a new level. His thoughts and philosophy motivate nowadays other great players.He was a strong guy during his life, the death of his father was a shock for him but he stood still and went back to the NBA. That’s the quality that few people have is moving forward to your dreams no matter what happens in your life. I am going back to MJ’s words † I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. † Becoming a successful person is a long way full of failures and mistakes and that makes someone successful in something it’s the dedication and hardwork.

Human life-span Essay

The answer in my own broad based opinion based on what I have read, is that the term, â€Å"Learning† is a cognitive process of acquiring new concepts and skills, in order to complete a task which in-turn increase’s knowledge and understanding of the subject area to be learnt. In addition, individuals will be able to build on past experiences to identify how a situation could be improved, and then with this knowledge make actual improvements. Furthermore, learning is influenced from the environment in which we find ourselves, which reflects greatly in our behaviour. Moreover, it is continuum throughout the human life-span. In comparison the term, â€Å"Development† refers to the biological process by which a human organism grows and functions through its life-span. Development can be monitored by physical growth, and a marked change in performance which is usually associated with progression of increasing knowledge and skills. Development happens gradually over a period of time, allowing achievements to be built upon and improved, which is similar to the learning process. Development seems to be sequential with age, and I believe what happens in the early stages of development can have a significant affect in the later stages of development. Furthermore, development can be influenced by our own personal experiences within the environment. It is important to understand that there is a clear difference between learning and development. Learning occurs within specific situations and development is linked to functionality and physical growth, however, they are closely related, but have separate meanings. Educational pioneer, Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852) urged early year’s educators to respect the sanctity of children learning and developing new skills through this statement: â€Å"We grant space and time to young plants and animals because we know that, in accordance with the laws that live in them, they will develop properly and grow well. Young animals and plants are given rest and arbitrary interference with their growth is avoided, because it is known that the opposite practice would disturb their pure unfolding and sound development; but the young human being is looked upon as a piece of wax or a lump of clay which man can mould into what he pleases,† (www. Geocities. com). The origins of learning theory are in an area of philosophy called â€Å"Epistemology,† a field concerned with how we acquire knowledge. Two philosophical traditions emerged from the writings of the ancient Greek philosophers, Plato and Aristotle. These traditions are nativism, (Plato) and empiricism, (Aristotle). In the early seventeenth century before the beginnings of modern Psychology, there was a philosophical debate between the empiricists and the nativists, known more commonly today as the nature-nurture debate. The nature-nurture debate is another example of determinism. The debate is concerned with what causes something to develop. On one side, nativists see development as arising from innate factors – from inherited characteristics. On the other side, empiricists see development occurring because of experience and learning. British philosopher John Locke, (1632-1704) the founder of empiricism, advanced the hypothesis that children learn primarily from external forces, he implied: â€Å"Without nurture, we are nothing† (Haralambos & Rice 2002, p. 761). Empiricists believed that the human infant is born with no skills or knowledge; they refer to the infant as a, â€Å"Tabula rasa,† or â€Å"Blank slate. † The rationale behind this idea is that the knowledge and skills will be, â€Å"Written on† the child by the knowledgeable hand of experience, and influenced by environmental factors. Furthermore, the infant will learn through instruction from others, in addition too their own direct experiences, which in-turn will determine their achievements. Nativists (such as Jean- Jacques Rousseau 1712- 1778) in contrast, argue that we are born with innate intelligence, in addition to genetic inheritance which determines intellectual achievement and, to some extent, personality. William Mcdougal, (Nativist- 1908) states: â€Å"The human mind has certain innate or inherited tendencies which are the essential springs or motive powers of all thought and action, whether individual or collective, and are the bases from which the character and will of individuals and of nations are gradually developed,† (Haralambos & Rice 2002, p.761). A modern form of the, (Nurture debate) relating to learning theory was proposed by B. F Skinner (1904-1990) in the form of behaviourism. The Behaviourists believed that human behaviour is learned. Behaviourism is primarily concerned with observable and measurable aspects of human behaviour, in relation to what we can see, how people react, in addition to how people behave. Behaviour theorists define learning as nothing more than an acquisition of new behaviour. Skinner’s theory is based on the idea that learning occurs through a process of reinforcement. He believes changes in behaviour are the result of an individual’s response to events, (stimuli) that occur in the environment. A response produces a consequence, for e. g. when children utter sounds and words which are to become their native language, and are greeted with a positive response. This positive response is the reinforcement which encourages the child to repeat the sound of the word, which in turn reinforces learning. Furthermore, behaviourists support the, Transmission Model of learning (Nurture) as the model uses the hand of experience, the knowledgeable adult to nurture the child through the learning process, enabling them to control what learning takes place. The Social Learning theory developed from behaviorism. Albert Bandura emphasizes the importance of observing and modeling the behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions of others. Bandura, (1977) states: â€Å"Learning would be exceedingly laborious, not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on the effects of their own actions to inform them what to do. â€Å"

Description of implementation and its issues Essay

Description of implementation and its issues - Essay Example Expert review is a way of testing usability, by bringing experienced experts who specialize in usability testing on board, in order to evaluate the usability of an interface.When one or more human factors experts are involved in evaluation of an interface, this is referred to as Heuristic evaluation of usability Audit. The experts who are included in the evaluation are charged with the responsibility of measuring the usability, effectiveness and efficiency of the interface founded on Jakob Nielsen definition (Heuristic Evaluation par 1). Nielsen’s Usability Heuristics, which have persistently developed in reply to new devices and user research, include consistency and standards; visibility of system status; error prevention; flexibility and efficiency of use; recognition rather than recall; help and documentation; user control and freedom, aesthetic and minimalist design; help users recognize, recover and diagnose from errors; and match between system and the real world. User- based evaluations User-based evaluation methods involve identification of representative tasks, representative users, and designing of a procedure for identifying the problems that users face while attempting to use a certain software product in their undertakings. During the development, testing, design stage of software development, the two types of users’ evaluations that are performed include formative evaluations (used to gather information for design) and summative evaluations (used to document efficiency, effectiveness, and user satisfaction of a product). Model-based evaluations A replica of the human information processor has been designed founded on information drawn from psychology research regarding human’s memory, perception and cognition system. This model has integrated capabilities of long-term and short-term memory, together with capabilities of human audio and visual processing. Also included are times for cognition motor processing and processing. Th is model allows interactions of human- computer researchers in order to evaluate user interfaces on the basis of the model’s performance. Tools for evaluating information systems Questionnaires For a long time, questionnaires have been used to evaluate user interfaces (Root and Draper 87). They can be used in paper form or electronically (for example surveymonkey.com). Different questions are designed to specifically evaluate components of reliability, validity, and usability of the User Interface (Tullis and Albert 317). Currently, there are multiples of online survey services that can be used for this purpose, including survey monkey, KeySurvey, WebSurveyor, QuestionPro, and Free Online Surveys. I will do further research to identify the best survey services to use. Choice of questionnaires is mainly motivated by their ease of grasping of many people and the power of showing many audiences. Checklist Although many checklists are designed for assessment of hardware, they can also be used for software assessment. The checklist that will be used in evaluation of user interface will be based on a simple concept. Each design principle will be featured as an individual entry in the list. To indicate weighing of importance, a space will be indicated after each entry, followed by a space to indicate approximation of compliance. The last space will include notes on whether remarks have been made to allude to definite design deficiencies or any other related information. The evaluation of checklist will be based on evaluation of User Systems Interface. There are six general functional areas of USI design that will be covered including data entry, design, data display, user guidance, sequence control, data transmission, and data protection. Report III: Final description of system issues and solutions Why is it important to understand who are the stakeholders and their interaction with the user interface? Understanding

Appropraite and inappropriate behaviors as well as societal Essay

Appropraite and inappropriate behaviors as well as societal consequences - Essay Example This paper would discuss the appropriate and inappropriate behaviors of celebrities and their implications over them and others around them. Moreover, it would elaborate over the societal consequences of their behavior. Discussion The public eye is known to be vicious. Therefore, celebrity status is under attack while a personal breakdown is underway. This causes irate and disturbing behavior in these suffering children of Hollywood. Though substance and alcohol abuse are to blame, psychological symptoms are to be researched and reviewed for each celebrities’ episodes. It seems they refuse to see what consequences are to be involved with such inappropriateness. No matter how rich or how big of a star, celebrities should not have leniency when it comes to paying the consequences of their ignorant behavior. There are arguments that claim that there is nothing entertaining about the behavior of Charlie Sheen and people should not find it amusing in any way. However, the misdemean or and unethical acts of Sheen have been increasing his popularity exponentially. The society has come to a point where people enjoy the disorderly and frantic behavior of celebrities. Every now and then we see news about outrageous celebrity behavior, as the nature of human beings today attracts them towards gossip and exaggeration, the news spreads around and creates publicity for the celebrity. However, pointless this may sound, more often than not; this publicity is what the celebrities want. Celebrities hold an inherent responsibility to maintain acceptable behavior as they are being watched and followed by many people; a lot of them try to enact these celebrities and consider them as role models. Lindsay Lohan has been seen in the limelight for various events of inappropriate behavior including many instances of drug abuse, drunken driving and even shoplifting. Long ago, Lindsay was admired for being a good actor, however, in recent years she is seen as nothing more than a tra in wreck. Her constant admissions to rehabs and bad behavior turned her into the worst role model. This kind of behavior from celebrities has adverse implications on the society as a whole when people who admire these celebrities are left confused by their misdemeanor. The younger generation of the society is the most sensitive to these inappropriate actions. Children tend to imitate the actions of the adults that they think highly of. This has led to young girls and boys being involved in drugs, sexual curiosity and plain outrageous behavior. Anna Nicole smith was addicted to drugs after her divorce with husband, J. Howard Marshall. She was depressed and got addicted to pain killers and withdrawal from the drugs led her to panic attacks and seizures. Many wondered if the actions of Anna Nicole smith were genuine or a mere act of publicity stunt and self-promotion. (Crean, 2004) However, her consumption of drugs eventually led to her demise and this became a warning for everyone. Re cent behavior of Chris Brown created uproar especially among the female population. The news about Chris Brown allegedly beating Rihanna and this news spread around quickly creating a bad image of Chris Brown. After the incident of Brown, among the many implications was the allegation by the Milk moustache campaign. It was claimed that the campaign held an image for the teenagers and this would be spoiled by the inappropriate beh

Philosophical reasoning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Philosophical reasoning - Essay Example Initially in "The Second Sex", Beauvoir questions first if there even is a problem with feminism. Then she goes on to ask, "Does 'woman' exist" Once she has proved and asserted that "woman" does indeed exist as an entity, Beauvoir goes on to question how "woman" is defined. While defining "woman", she opens herself up to the discovery that "man" and "woman" exist as opposites and therefore, further investigation into why this oppositeness exists is in question. Likewise in "Who Stole Feminism", Sommers begins with observations on current western culture with, what she calls, a "new" feminist movement alive and growing. After her initial observations, she begins her systematic method of philosophy with the question, "Do women need to be saved by anything" After the introduction of this question, Sommers continues with the approach by offering various views of other philosophers who have reasoned their case regarding feminism. Beauvoir does the same as she looks to the three major topics (biology, psychology, and history) that have previously been raised with the topic of feminism.

Discuss the ways the poet develops the character Phoenix. Pay Essay

Discuss the ways the poet develops the character Phoenix. Pay particular attention to the devices the poet uses in character dev - Essay Example Although Phoenix is never discussed in the epic â€Å"Iliad† save for that time when an embassy is sent to Achilles to urge him to fight along with Agamemnon’s armies against the Trojans, his character serves as a brief yet insightful look into the great warrior Achilles’ disposition, not as a warrior this time, but as a human being with a past, a future, and a present. Phoenix’s speech is filled with the Greek â€Å"eleos† or what can be termed in English as â€Å"compassionate grief† --- an emotion that does not go well for a great warrior such as Achilles. Homer shows Phoenix as appealing more towards his father-and-son relationship with Achilles, which is a refreshing characteristic amidst this story filled with greatness and lack of the â€Å"softer† emotions of the great warriors. Phoenix says: â€Å"And I made you what you are --- strong as the gods, Achilles --- / I loved you from the heart† (9.587-8), and â€Å"Oh I ha d my share of troubles for you, Achilles†¦ / great godlike Achilles --- I made you my son, I tried,† (9.595-9).

Unit 5 IP introduction to law enforcement Essay

Unit 5 IP introduction to law enforcement - Essay Example Members, especially, those living in organized societies have the right to be protected by law. Most states have law enforcement agencies at the local, national and international level. Apart from this, there are specialized agencies that focus on specific areas like drugs, terrorism because local agencies do not have the required expertise, reach or resources to effectively tackle them. In general, it is the local police that arrive at the scene of a crime. But taking into consideration the nature, extent and scope, the local police may require or be compelled to work with other law enforcement agencies. The advantage is that a cooperative effort will be much more effective in solving and controlling such crimes mentioned above. But the disadvantage is the conflict of interests, lack of cooperation or coordination among the agencies involved and to a certain extent, ethical dilemmas. This paper focuses on the concept of ethical dilemmas that may occur during cooperative effort between various law enforcement agencies and the local law enforcing department or agency (police department). In the process, the paper will attempt to identify possible dilemmas and also provide practical solutions in order to solve or prevent such occurrences. The paper will take the form of a case study with regard to a local enforcement agency in a large city in the United States. The city in question is large and multiracial in nature. Typical of similar places, the main instances of crime are robbery, dealing and use of drugs (illegal substances), homicide and murder. Within the past decade new forms of crime have appeared the two major ones being terrorism and cyber crime. It should be noted that the city has not experienced any form of terrorist attack in the past. But after the 9/11 attack, security has been strengthened and the local enforcement administration has to work in

Organizing Work Essay Example for Free

Organizing Work Essay McDonalds Corporation It has become clear to upper management that the way McDonald’s has been operating over the past decade is not helping in moving the company forward. Upper management feels that the company is falling behind, and changes must be made immediately. The changes need to start with how the organization is structured. Once proper changes in structure are made, it is believed that McDonald’s will then be able to implement plans that will lead McDonalds into a successful future. The purpose of this paper is to make recommendations as to what changes in organizational structure would help McDonalds become more sufficient. Along with changes in structure the paper will also determine what work needs to be done, how it is to be done, and the approach that should be used to bring success back into the organization. Recommendations There have recently been talks between upper management about making necessary structural changes to the McDonald’s organization here in the U.S. The first recommended change is eliminating levels of management. Numbers of the past have shown that the old traditional way of communication and barriers of so many levels of management had become a barrier to decision making (Jennings, Maze, 2014). The team agrees with this change and believes that the change should be implemented as soon as possible. The basis for this change is that it will help in bring the company closer to the customers. With so many layers of management it seems as if there is more time being spent arguing and talking to each other, rather than talking to the customer and making decisions. McDonald’s marketing has shown that they need to adapt to the current customer’s needs of what they want. McDonald’s  president has worked for McDonalds for the last ten years, and he has seen numbers drop drastically which means, it is time for change (Jennings, Maze, 2014). Essentially it is safe to say that McDonalds is losing its relationship with its customers. Another huge change that McDonalds has been thinking about is changing the number of divisions here in North America from three to four. It is believed that grouping the regions into four divisions, as well as eliminating some levels of management will allow for regional leaders to have more autonomy, and will allow leaders to set a menu based on the restaurants geographic location. According to the McDonald’s website, Jennings, Maze, (2014), â€Å"The changes are highlighted by the elimination of layers of management, giving leaders of its 22 U.S. regions more autonomy in setting the menus and making marketing decisions.† These changes will also allow McDonald’s leaders to restructure the menu to be more diverse to any one’s eating habit. They will be allowed to market more things on the menu than just burgers and fries. Change is good, and they are excited to embrace it. How to do Work Effectively Every organization has its’ own structure to follow. McDonald’s current structure is failing when it comes to the customers’ wants. This is why upper management has been talking about restructuring the design by dividing McDonald USA into four divisions. These divisions would include, Northeast, South, Central and West (Jargon, 2014). Each region would have a president in charge. Under each president there should be different types of managers who know the culture of each region. This will allow for the company to deliver the right product to the customers. They also need to remove some of the managerial levels because having too many managers’ results in decisions not being made. Eventually leading to a lack of growth in the business. McDonald needs to adapt according to the changes that are taking place in the world such as; the economy, competitors and technology. They need to have basic meals that fit all regions; in addition to that, they need to create new products to fit with the culture of each region. Sweet tea is a good example of a product that fits in with the culture in the south. Therefore it would be good for McDonalds restaurants in the south to  promote sweet tea. However, sweet tea is not very popular in the Northeast so it would be pointless to spend money promoting a product that no one is interested in. This is where the president of the region would need to find another product to promote. One that will fit the culture, and interest of the people in the Northeast. This means that management in each region needs to focus on research and development in order to make the right decision. In addition, technology is really important nowadays that is why McDonald needs to work with Apple to create an account in Apple Pay. Customers can pay quickly and order their food ahead of time. This will satisfy their customers because most of them do not have the time to wait to pick up their meal. It will take both an individual and team effort for McDonalds to complete the work. Upper level managers will need to work individually to make the right decisions. For instance, upper level manager should study the region and try to figure out how they can enhance the product or create a new product to fit the culture. Lower level employees need to work in teams so they can satisfy the customers. For example, the worker operating the grill cooks the meat and when it is done he or she passes it to another worker to make the sandwich according to the customers preference. Each team member is important because if they are not motivated to do their work the whole team will fail to deliver the product to the customer. It is very important that there is manager in each branch to motivate and coach the employees. Managers must be able to fill the role of an employee if the branch was crowded and direct them to do the right job. The manager should focus on increasing the sales by satisfying the customers. Best Approach McDonald’s Corporation needs to embrace that changes that are set to take place. Upper management will need to stick by their decisions, and have faith in their management. This means allowing the presidents in each of the four new divisions to take full control of operations within their regions. The division’s presidents must look to regional managers for input on necessary changes. It is up to them to find out what the customers want, and what the customers want is what they should get. Ideally McDonalds is looking to do two things when making these structural changes. The first is to keep the same basic product menu in every region, but allow for different  regions to add certain products that cater to the customers in that region. Second is to allow for decisions to be made more efficiently and effectively. Conclusion The planning for these changes has already begun and sometime in the immediate future the changes will be implemented. These are good changes and the team feels that they will eventually make a significant difference in the overall success of McDonalds Corporation. It is going to take time, but we feel these changes will lead us into the future on the right path. References Jennings, Maze,, L.J. (2014). McDonald’s Reorganizes US into Four Regional Divisions. Retrieved from http://nrn.com/mcdonalds/mcdonald-s-reorganizes-us-four-regional-divisions Jargon, Julie, (2014). McDonalds Plan to Change U.S. Structure. Rettrieved from http://online.wsj.com/articles/mcdonalds-to-change-u-s-structure-1414695278

Representation And The Newspaper Media Criminology Essay

Representation And The Newspaper Media Criminology Essay This literature review aims to examine the literature regarding the ways in which women offenders, particularly those connected with notorious murder cases are represented by the media, one simply way that can help to understand the representation of women is to compare it with how men are portrayed (Gill, 2007, p. 17). At its most basic (Burton, 2010, p. 16), representation is the construction of ideas about a subject through some means of communication. The concern is that the representation constructs detrimental ideas about the difference of the subject from others (Burton, 2010, p. 16). Women who join their partners in killing have stood out as extraordinary and exceptional (Jewkes, 2004, p. 108), feminist commentators (Jewkes, 2004, Naylor, 2001) assert that the women attract more media attention creating an image of them that is more powerful than that of the male. The pervasive coverage has resulted in the construction of these women as folk devils provoking a collective sens e of horror from the public. Representation and the newspaper media Newspapers exert an enormous amount of influence over public perception (Burton, 2010, p. 7), they are an influential and powerful tool within society, utilised to inform and exchange information and news to the public. Academics have questioned the role of newspapers in their reporting of serious crime suggesting that instead of representing reality, they instead provide media representations of reality (Peelo et al 2004, p. 261). Reah (2002, p. 50) observes newspapers are not simply vehicles for delivering information; they present the reader with aspects of the news, and present it often in a way that intends to guide the ideological stance of the reader. Burton (2010, p. 7) explains that the familiarity of newspapers in our daily lives can divert attention from the fact that they are made objects. He asserts that newspapers are organised in various ways for various reasons and it would not be possible to argue that they are neutral deliverers of information with which the reader can do anything they please with. Burton (2010, p. 16) maintains that from a structuralist perspective there are features of a newspaper which present an order, a form, cues to the reader; all of these give shape to the representation of the subject. Newspapers order their material to produce a line of argument which is then imposed on the reader. Jewkes (2004, p.37) agrees with this view, stating that despite often being described as a window on the world or a mirror reflecting real life, newspapers might be more accurately described as a prism, subtly bending and distorting the representation of the subject it portrays. However, it must be pointed out that readers are not so lacking in the capacity for critical interpretation that newspaper makers can produce any kind of meaning or interpretation and impose it (Burton, 2010, p. 16). Feminism, crime and the media Research (Gill, 2007, Naylor 1995, 2001) has shown that the media coverage about women is generally presented differently to coverage about men. Dyer (1993, p. 21) and more recently Naylor (2001, p. 186) go further arguing that the same behaviour can evoke significantly different press coverage completely dependent on gender. In her study, Naylor (2001, p. 189) found that the female receives a higher volume of coverage and is constructed as more deviant, more anxiety producing and more transgressive than the male. Feminist examinations of the media propose two reasons for this gender inequality. Firstly, as Gill (2007, p. 121) argues, there is a gender imbalance in terms of who produces the news, male dominance dictates media values, beliefs and norms, often unfairly. She continues that women are culturalised into the news business, into an occupation in which the majority of senior positions are still taken by men. Research by Dougary (1994, cited by Burton, 2010, p. 257) established that across 12 tabloid newspapers top editorial jobs were held by 64 men and 11 women. The ratio was worse in the case of broadsheets. Although things are now changing (Gill 2007, p. 121; Burton, 2010, p.257) with a majority of females in journalism training, most do not end up in the mainstream press but rather in associated fields such as public relations and magazines. When women do enter the mainstream press (Gill, 2007, p. 122) there still appears to be discrimination and a gendered division between hard news reporters, such as economics, politics and crime, who tend to be men and features reporters, who are most likely to be women. There is evidence according to Burton (2010, p. 257), that it is nearly impossible for women to combine a mainstream investigative journalistic career with a family. Beasley (1992, p. 76) found that women journalists were less likely to be married or in a long term partnership than their male counterparts, they were also significantly less likely to have children. A simple increase in the numbers of women in journalism cannot be taken as straightforward evidence of greater equality, since for women, but not men, achieving this seems to involve major sacrifices in other parts of their lives (Gill, 2007, p. 122). Burton (2010, p. 257) puts it simply when he states that there is a gender imbalance in terms of who produces news, there is gender bias in terms of who gets to cover what kind of story, this influences the representations of gender in the news. The second reason proposed by feminist criminologists for this inequality in representation is that women commit far fewer crimes, specifically murders than men do (Seal, 2010, p. 1). The stereotypical picture of the criminal, Marsh and Melville (2008, p. 76) argue is a male. Male violence (Naylor, 2001, p. 186) is normalised, existing on a continuum ranging from the non violent to the murderous, this results in it being viewed only in terms of degree. Jewkes (2004, p. 133) argues that violence is viewed as one of many possible behaviour patterns for men; it is not strikingly unusual, even when extreme. When a man kills, his crime will be imaginable and possibly even seen as human, this is not the case for women. After all, argues Morrissey (2003, p. 16), male crime in all forms is frequently articulated, debated, portrayed, glorified, even fantasised, female crime is not. When women commit murder it is more disquieting and is accompanied by a sense of collective denial (Seal, 2010, p. 1). Women who commit murder are judged to have transgressed two sets of laws according to Jewkes (2004, p111); criminal law and the laws of nature, in Lloyds (1995) infamous words, such women are doubly deviant and doubly damned. Seal (2010, p. 1) explains, violence is an accepted attribute of most recognised masculinities, killing by women violates norms of femininity, such as nurturance, gentleness and social conformity. Marsh and Melville (2008, p. 76) state that there has always been and continues to be a widely held acceptance of common sense assumptions about female behaviour. They continue that the acceptable and stereotypical female norm is closely linked to womens psychological makeup and biological purpose, and it is these essentialist assumptions that condemn women to differential treatment not only in the media but also within the criminal justice system. Women who kill (Seal, 2010, p. 1) disturb culturally held notions not only of how women should behave but also of what woman is. Essentially women who kill trouble the masculine/feminine gender binary by transgressing its boundaries (Seal, 2010, p. 1). Jewkes (2004, p.133) asserts that in cases of women who kill vilification operates to displace them from society, to insist on their otherness, thereby avoiding the knowledge that she is produced by that society. Research by Chesney Lind (2006) supports this notion suggesting that gender stereotyping in criminality continues to permeate society with women who commit crimes, which violate gender stereotypes being given the most vicious journalistic treatment of all. Exploring representation typologies Previous research into media representations of women who commit murder indicate key stereotypical constructions that have limited the range of available representations to those which are disparaging and or disempowering (Seal, 2010, p. 6). Frigon (2006, cited by Seal 2010, p. 6) argues that there is an absence of language with which to articulate cases of women who kill. In particular, themes of sexuality, madness, and women as housewives and carers reoccur. Seal (2010, p 6) argues that this is unsurprising in the light of feminist criminology, which has explored how these discourse of womanhood are the ones that have governed the judgement, punishment and representation of criminal women. Jewkes (2004) in her book Media and Crime identified seven standard stereotypical narratives typically used by the media to construct the image of women who commit serious crime. These will now be outlined below. Sexuality and sexual deviance Women who commit serious offences are already of news value by virtue of their relative rarity. Jewkes (2004, p. 113) notes that women offenders become even more newsworthy when they can be further marginalised by reference to their sexuality. Womens sexual preference, their enjoyment of sex or their frigidity, have long been used to demonise them and justify their construction as monsters, even more so if the sexual preference of the woman in question is for other women. According to Jewkes (2004, p. 117) there is an inherent association between lesbianism and aggression that has led to the media attempting to explain violent female behaviour by way of lesbianism and attributes of masculinity. Seal (2010, p. 24) supports this argument stating that the tendency to masculinise women who kill is exacerbated in cases of women perceived as being lesbian or having lesbian tendencies. Physical attractiveness Women who kill (Jewkes, 2004, p. 118) are subjected to intense scrutiny regarding their physical appearance and attractiveness, a fact that entirely reflects cultural attitudes towards women in everyday life. Wykes and Gunter (2004, p. 255) argue that aspects of femininity such as youth, slenderness, and decorativeness are much valued within society and the media, if the female offender does not conform to this tradition stereotype she is vilified by the media. However it appears that the female offender cannot win, as Jewkes (2004, p. 119) points out women who are conventionally attractive and therefore do conform to this stereotype are not spared vilification, often being presented as femme fetales who are cold detached and morally vacuous. Gill (2007, p. 116) points out that unlike women, their male counterparts are rarely described or judged in terms of their physical appearance. Bad wives According to Jewkes (2004, p. 119) notions of femininity and domesticity are crucial factors in determining how to construct the image of women who kill. She argues that women offenders are frequently judged on their marital status, family background, and children. If it can be seen that women offenders are not conforming to Victorian inspired ideals of femininity and domesticity they are typically constructed as bad wives and mothers. By contrast, marital status, family background and children have little or no bearing on most cases involving male offenders whose conformity to conventional ideas of respectability rely on issues such as employment rather than factors such as marital status (Lloyd, 1995, p. 196). Bad mothers Women who murder children represent only a tiny fraction of serious criminals, as a result of this rarity they frequently have a novelty value that guarantees media interest in them (Seal, 2010, p. 26). The bad mother narrative is so culturally pervasive that it is applied to virtually all cases of women who kill whether the woman responsible is an actual mother or not (Jewkes, 2004, p. 121). Marsh and Melville (2008, p. 184) argue that the culturally sanctioned code of femininity and womanhood is that women should nature and protect, not harm. It is a womans natural role as mother and carer that makes it difficult for society to accept that women can harm children. Men on the other hand (Jewkes, 2004, p. 132) are rarely described as bad fathers even when their victim is their own child. Mythical monsters Jewkes (2004, p. 123) argues that the representation of women who kill that prevails in the media originate from pagan mythology, Judaeo Christian theology and classical art and literature, these frequently invoke images of witches, evil temptress, harpies and fallen women to convey female wickedness. She argues that the representation of female offenders as mythical monsters serves only to depict them as less woman than monster. Monstrous images of women have become so firmly entrenched in popular consciousness that it has become almost impossible to view any woman who kills as a real woman. Men however, according to Seal (2010, p. 75), are rarely given the same mythical motifs as females even though their crimes and or even themselves may be described as monstrous. Mad cows Seal (2010, p. 50) suggests that the criminal justice system, the media and society generally find it hard to accept that a woman has committed violent or heinous offences unless she can be categorised as a deluded lunatic or unstable hysteric. She argues along with Jewkes (2004, p 126) that there is an historical tendency to describe womens violence with explanations that rely on notions of female pathology, particularly in relation to faulty biology. This it is argued, (Seal 2010, p. 50, Jewkes, 2004 p. 126) serves to reduce the responsibility of the woman for the deviant act. Jewkes (2004, p. 127) argues that men meanwhile are regarded as rational agents, ruled by their heads not their biology and are therefore less likely to be described in terms of madness. Evil manipulator Women who collude with their partners in killing are problematic for the popular media who seek to communicate their actions to the rest of society (Jewkes, 2004, p. 128). The medias solution to women who appear to be equal partners, or at least go along with the crime unquestioningly is to place the burden of guilt on their shoulders. Morrissey (2003, p. 152) argues that the womens involvement in the crime will be exaggerated in the press causing the female to be vilified to a greater extent. She argues that the press relies on the notion that although the male may be a sadistic man capable of extreme cruelty he would never act without a submissive woman. It is only together that they become a lethal pair. Jewkes (2004, p. 128) argues that the female of the pair is deemed more culpable as she is instrumental in unleashing the violence and depravity that the male has thus far contained. It is the female who has let down the victim as she failed to stop the crime, she should have show n compassion (Jewkes, 2004, p. 128). Conclusion From the search of the literature pertaining to womens violence and the ways in which womens violence is represented it is becoming clear that the news medias aim and role is not simply to inform and educate the public (Burton, 2010, p. 8). The news media and society at large are not ready to confront the reality that women can be cruel, sadistic, and violent. The simple truth that men are more aggressive than women encourages a widespread cultural ignorance of the fact that women have the potential for violence and that women can kill as women (Jewkes, 2004, p. 129). Word count 2545