Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Sex, Drugs, and Rock Roll Essays

Sex, Drugs, and Rock Roll Essays Sex, Drugs, and Rock Roll Essay Sex, Drugs, and Rock Roll Essay â€Å"Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll† The â€Å"Swinging Sixties† was a decade of new developments changing ideals that ranged from women’s movements, to â€Å"the New Left,† and to the musical scene of Rock ‘n’ Roll. These important progressions began the counterculture and social revolution among the youth in the United States. The counterculture ideals and visions were brought about by the extraordinary explosion of creative thought through music and other forms of art. The music scene, that overwhelmed the country, allowed for the culture’s expression of the social upheavals caused by the events overwhelming the country. The popular Rock ‘n’ Roll music, along with the bands themselves, during the â€Å"Swinging Sixties† had a great deal of influence that affected the counterculture, the psychedelic scene, and the endless concerts/festivals from the beginning of the decade up until the early seventies. The origin of Rock ‘n’ Roll, which dominated the music scene in the sixties, dates back to the late fifties and early sixties with the underlying roots of folk, rhythm blues, gospel, country, and jazz. Rock ‘n’ Roll, along with all types of music during the decade, influenced lifestyles, fashion, attitudes, and language. Furthermore, Rock ‘n’ Roll became a steady underbeat of political activity which offers some acclaim for the help of the civil rights movement along with other movements. Likewise, musical artists were influenced by the political events and the lifestyles of their audience in writing their lyrics. With this sway, Rock ‘n’ Roll became known as a â€Å"weapon of cultural revolution† spanning the country from coast to coast (227, Takin’ It to The Streets). In the early stages of this new revolution of Rock ‘n’ Roll and early years of the Sixties, the beginning bands were more laid back and relaxed. Taking the Sixties by storm in nineteen sixty-two was the sensation known as the Beatles. In nineteen sixty-four, the Beatles’ influence over the youth reached the United States when they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show which followed their transitional move to New York City, New York. The Beatles became â€Å"the most popular music group in the United States† with 30 songs reaching the top 10 pop charts and the production of 12 albums (98, Columbia Guide). With their popularity, the Beatles generated a strong influence on American culture and the young people, which provoked controversy, influenced style, and the use of psychedelic drugs. Their songs reflected on the events of the Sixties and related to the youth generation that was being affected. The Beatles work has been recorded and savored in different styles of entertainment media from albums, to posters, to movies keeping their memory alive since their break up in nineteen sixty-nine. The 1st attempt at capturing the Beatles in media was the mock documentary A Hard Day’s Night, created in nineteen sixty-four. The film shows what a day in the Beatles life was like while they prepare for a television appearance. The film became the first â€Å"rockumentary† influencing the production of rock movies and videos for the future. This influence has continued to thrive into the 21st century with the production of Across the Universe. This movie allows for the current generation of youth to understand the happenings of the Sixties and the meaning behind the lyrics of Beatles’ songs. The movie goes into detail about the youth’s view on the war in Vietnam, the music scene, drugs, and the rebellious ways. On the opposite side of the country, the Beastie Boys was another rock band who focused their lyrics on the culture that surrounded them, including the scene of marijuana use. The band originated and got their inspiration from the surfing culture, in which they participated in, in Southern California. The Beastie Boys began their career in nineteen sixty-one but their success and popularity began to spark between the years of nineteen sixty-three to nineteen sixty-five (183, Columbia Guide). During this time period, the band produced nine albums that included some of their hit songs â€Å"Surfin’ USA†; â€Å"Little Deuce Coup†; â€Å"California Girls†; and â€Å"Good Vibrations† led the Beastie Boys to hit their peak of popularity in nineteen sixty-six. The Beastie Boys continued to be successful with their legacy continuing into the future decades. During the peak of the Beastie Boys and the Beatles, the drug that hit the population was primarily marijuana which in turn led to the psychedelic drugs introduced in the mid-sixties. During the mid-sixties, the laid back style of Rock ‘n’ Roll evolved into a phase of rock bands that created psychedelic sounds in the San Francisco Bay area, most popularly known as Haight Ashbury, where they hosted free concerts and didn’t record their music. In San Francisco, the music and bands were part of an underground culture where â€Å"drugs and rock swim up the same stream† (238, Takin’ It to the Streets). The culture of music became intertwined with psychedelic drugs among the audiences but also among many of the bands in the area. Many oncert goers began to attend concerts and bands events for the drugs that were normally found at these events. Not all bands were into the drugs, as Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead said â€Å"We’re not singing psychedelic drugs, we’re singing music. We’re musicians, not dope fiends† (239, Takin’ It to the Streets). The many bands that began their careers in the underground scene of San Francisco consisted of The Jefferson Airplanes, Janis Joplin in the Big Brother and the Holding Company, Jimi Hendrix, and the Grateful Dead. Many of these bands were only known in the Haight Ashbury scene until the Summer of Love in nineteen sixty-seven. In nineteen sixty-seven, the spring and summer months, known as the Summer of Love, became a time when thousands of youths made their way to San Francisco after receiving invitations by the Haight Ashbury Council for Summer of Love. This â€Å"pilgrimage† was heavily influenced by the media and music along with the idea of â€Å"free love,† drugs, and a new community of young people. On June 16-18, some 100,000 young people gathered at the Monterey Pop Festival organized by John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas and the Beatles publicist Derek Taylor (300, The Portable Sixties Reader). The festival was advertised as â€Å"three days of music, love, and flowers† giving the feel of the original carefree spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. The â€Å"hippies† that fled to the scene were enticed with the appearances of their favorite bands and some newly formed bands, such as Jimi Hendrix and The Grateful Dead. The festival gave many of the bands from the Haight Ashbury â€Å"underground† national recognition with record deals and fame. Following his performance at the Monterey Pop Festival, Jimi Hendrix became famous for setting â€Å"his guitar on fire at the end of his set† and the smashing of his guitar (301, Portable Sixties Reader). What became known as the â€Å"Jimi Hendrix Experience,† led to his popularity, also the creation of his band, in the United States becoming known as the greatest guitarist in the history of rock music and one of the most important and influential musicians of his era across a range of genres. With his new popularity, the Jimi Hendrix Experience replaced the Jefferson Airplanes as the headliners at the Fillmore widening their popularity. In nineteen sixty-seven, Hendrix’s single, â€Å"Purple Haze† became one of the archetypical psychedelic drug songs of the sixties and is often cited as one of his greatest songs, and for many is his signature song. In nineteen sixty-eight, Hendrix received the honor of being named â€Å"Artist of the Year† by Rolling Stone for hi showmanship and gift for using distortion and feedback to create a unique guitar sound (208, Columbia Guide). As his popularity grew, Jimi Hendrix and his band, Gypsy Sun and Rainbows, performed a two-hour set at the famous Woodstock festival in nineteen sixty-nine. Hendrix gave a very memorable performance when he did a solo improvisation of the Star-Spangled Banner which is regarded as a special symbol of the decade. Jimi Hendrix’s career ended just over a year after his performance at Woodstock due to overdosing on drugs. The Grateful Dead, another legendary band that performed at Monterey Pop and Woodstock, was formed in nineteen sixty-five in the San Francisco Bay area. The band became known for their unique and eclectic style of music that they performed live because they lived for the audience that they attracted. At the time, music was not recorded, but many believed that â€Å"the Dead’s† sound was like thunder and would not be the same if duplicated into albums. With the fans that gathered at their concerts, the band became known as the representation of the San Francisco scene and of the counterculture movement. The Grateful Dead shared a three-story house because one of the ideals of the people in Haight Ashbury was the consciousness that people should work and live together (239, Columbia Guide). In nineteen sixty-nine, the Grateful Dead were invited to perform at Altamont but right as they were about to perform, the band decided against it. They felt that the energy of the outing was not that of a typical counterculture event because it had become more rowdy especially when Hell’s Angels arrived. The fame and influence that the Grateful Dead inflicted on the youth, â€Å"their music continues to draw young people more than thirty-five years after the Haight Ashbury summer in which the Dead emerged† (229, Takin’ It to the Streets). The fans of the Grateful Dead decided to call themselves â€Å"Deadheads† and followed the band from one concert to another which included the three-day festival of Woodstock. Following the trend of free concerts, the east coast music scene held a three day rock festival in Woodstock, New York. This extravagant rock concert where 500,000 young people arrived to listen to rock became known as â€Å"Woodstock Nation† (257, Columbia Guide). Woodstock was a peaceful event despite the large crowd and inadequate supplies. People came to see performances by Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, Jefferson Airplane, Arlo Guthrie, and the Grateful Dead. The bands and the festival exemplified the counterculture and the â€Å"Summer of Love† as the followers escaped from the events that were persuading their reasons to rebel. Woodstock was held during a time of war, racial conflicts, which attracted many of the participants. Among the attendees, many were satisfied and remember the festival for its social harmony, the quality of music, and the overwhelming mass of people. Woodstock has been remembered through movies and texts, but in large part with the attempts to hold festivals similar to the three-day rock festival. The first festival that was attempted to duplicate Woodstock was the concert at the Altamont. The Rolling Stones became known to some as the â€Å"greatest rock roll band in the world† but also became known as causing the end of the hippie counterculture. The band, originally from England, was formed in nineteen sixty-two and made their way to the United States in nineteen sixty-four when they went on their first U. S. tour. Many of their singles reached the top charts in both the U. S. and England which led to their trans-Atlantic hit in nineteen sixty-six. Along with their fans, the band members were strong followers in the drug scene. In nineteen sixty-seven, three out of the five band members were arrested for drug possession and use, leaving only two of the band members to perform. While the members were waiting to see what would happen to them, the band created â€Å"We Love You,† as a tribute thanking all of their fans for being so loyal. In nineteen sixty-nine, the Rolling Stones staged their own festival similar to Woodstock at the Altamont where all hell broke loose. Although the Rolling Stones made their United States debut in nineteen sixty-four during the â€Å"British Invasion,† they have become known for their concert at the Altamont Speedway in Livermore, California. The concert held on December 6, nineteen sixty-nine, just four months after Woodstock, was the Rolling Stones response to the numerous complaints that their ticket prices were too expensive, which is why they proceeded to give their followers a free concert to end their nineteen sixty-nine tour. Many people of the time â€Å"call us Woodstock West, but we are not† while others believe that â€Å"if concert isn’t the right word for the day, festival isn’t either† (310, The Portable Sixties Reader). The concert was advertised as a day full of performances from popular rock bands resembling Woodstock, but as the day progressed, a series of events arose causing havoc. As the gates opened at 7:00 am, 300,000 concert goers took their places to see bands such as Jimi Hendrix, the Grateful Dead, and most importantly the Rolling Stones. The enormous crowd seemed to enjoy themselves and the performances of the bands until Hell’s Angels appeared on and around the stage. In their hallucinating states of mind, due to their psychedelic drugs, they experienced a rush of horror and worry as the Angels took their places. The viewers wonder why the Angels are on the stage, just to be informed that the Rolling Stones hired them to be there security. Seeing as how the concert was flowing smoothly, the Angels grew hungry â€Å"for violence mocks our unfocused love of peace; their grim solidarity, our fearful hopes of community† (311, Portable Sixties Reader). Riots began to break out as the Angels used violence in an attempt to calm down the crowd. As tension grew, the Rolling Stones played their song â€Å"Sympathy for the Devil† as the crowd and Angels clashed (180, Takin’ It to the Streets). As the violence continued between the crowd and Angels, a man attempted to escape the riot but was shot by the security. This man’s death, 18 years-old Meredith Hunter, put an end to the concert as the crowd began to scream and panic. The tragic death at the Altamont signaled an end to the promise of the Summer of Love and the Woodstock Nation (180, Takin’ It to the Streets). With the Altamont disaster being viewed as the end of the hippie era and end of Woodstock nation, the world of Rock ‘n’ Roll took a dark turn into drug related deaths. Throughout the decade, the drug scene evolved from the semi-mind altering drug of marijuana to the psychedelic drugs, such as LSD and psilocybin mushrooms. Psychedelic drugs were used for â€Å"mind altering† experiences which were increased through the music, concerts, and poster designs. At the concerts, many bands began to experiment with what was known as â€Å"Kool Aid Acid Test,† where they would spike the punch allowing them to incorporate acid experiences into their music (290, Columbia Guide). The â€Å"psychedelic† posters that encircled the decade, â€Å"required concentration† appealed to the hippies because â€Å"the state of mind which occurs when high on [marijuana and/or psychedelic substances]† comes with an â€Å"intense visual involvement in details† (303, Portable Sixties Reader). The posters were found everywhere from phone lines to concert halls to being the posters representing bands. With the psychedelic scene surrounding the hippie’s counterculture, the rockers from rock bands experimented with the drugs as well. As he psychedelic drug scene expanded, rock bands and their members began to experiment with the drugs. Starting in the later sixties, nineteen sixty-eight and sixty-nine, drugs were taken and used more frequently than in the early years of the decade. In nineteen sixty-nine, the Altamont festivities proved that the use of drugs impaired judgment and was part of the darker side of what had become Rock ‘nâ₠¬â„¢ Roll. Giving the idea that the â€Å"Summer of Love† and peaceful ways of the hippies were at an end, numerous members of Rock ‘n’ Roll began to overdose on drugs. As the sixties came to an end, Rock ‘n’ Roll continued to succeed into the seventies, but â€Å"Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and Al Wilson suffered drug-related deaths† (294, Columbia Guide). The deaths of these rock idols went hand in hand with their surroundings and lives they decided to live. Since drugs became popular in the music business, rock idols became addicted to the feeling that they received. Bands and rockers, such as Jimi Hendrix, would perform while under the influence of psychedelic drugs. There is a belief that many members of these rock bands were the most creative while under the influence which caused them to consume drugs and alcohol numerous times throughout the days. Also, Rock ‘n’ Roll had taken up a dark tone after Altamont, which could have inflicted the idols with dark thoughts increasing their wants and needs for drugs. Overall, these idols became addicted to the â€Å"psychedelic† drugs and didn’t know their limit until they had overdosed. The music from the â€Å"Swinging Sixties† influenced the youth of the decade in their beliefs, their actions, and their emotions towards the events that were happening around them. The music brought about concerts and festivals, drugs, the counterculture, and a new way of life for the rebellious youth. The hippies and young people were brought together during a time of hardships where they were able to let reality disappear and slip into a different world. This different world was reached with the help of psychedelic drugs, Rock ‘n’ Roll and the communities created which brought allowed for a world of peace, freedom, and love. Rock ‘n’ Roll touched the heart of the decade and has continued to teach the current listeners about the wonderful and crazy decade of the Sixties.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Microsoft Word Tips Adding and Removing Watermarks

Microsoft Word Tips Adding and Removing Watermarks Microsoft Word Tips: Adding and Removing Watermarks Watermarks are faint images or words that sit behind the text in a document. There are many reasons you may need to use a watermark, especially in the business and professional publishing worlds. In this post, we’re looking at how to use watermarks in Microsoft Word. Why Use a Watermark? The most common uses of watermarks are to prevent an image being copied without permission or to show the status of a document. Here, we will focus on their use in written documents. Common cases where a watermark may be used in a document include: Using a â€Å"DRAFT† watermark for a work in progress Using a â€Å"CONFIDENTIAL† watermark for a document that contains sensitive information Adding a company logo to the background of each page in a document The faded writing would usually appear behind the text of your document. We will explain how this works in practice below. Adding a Watermark Microsoft Word offers a range of default text watermarks. These are categorized as follows: Confidential (e.g., â€Å"CONFIDENTIAL† and â€Å"DO NOT COPY†) Disclaimers (e.g., â€Å"DRAFT† and â€Å"SAMPLE†) Urgent (e.g., â€Å"ASAP† and â€Å"URGENT†) You can add one of these to your document by: Going to the Design Page Background on the main ribbon Clicking Watermark to open a dropdown menu Selecting a watermark from the options available Adding a watermark. This will add the selected watermark to every page. You cannot add a watermark to just part of a document. If you want to add an image to the background of specific pages in a document, you will need to insert the image and then use the wrapping and image formatting options. Removing a Watermark Removing a watermark from a document is very simple. All you need to do is: Go to Design Page Background Click Watermark Select Remove Watermark This will remove the current watermark from throughout the document. Removing a watermark. Custom Watermarks Finally, you can also add a custom watermark to a document if none of the default options are suitable. To do this, go to Design Page Background Watermark and select Custom Watermark. Custom watermark options. This will open a new window, offering two main options: Picture watermark – Here, you can select an image to use as a watermark (e.g., a company logo), the size the image will appear on the page, and how faded it should be (the Washout option). Text watermark – In this case, you will find options to control what the watermark says, as well as the font, size, color, transparency, and angle of the text. Once you have selected a watermark, simply click OK or Apply to add it to your document.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Relationship Between Globalization And National Identities Essay

Relationship Between Globalization And National Identities - Essay Example This project stresses that having examined the impact of globalization on national identity, it would suffice to conclude that the relationship between the two variables is complex; however, what is clear enough is that national identities are still crucial features in today’s era of globalization and will remain unchanged through the coming decades. The perceived negative impact of globalization and advancements in communication technologies on national identities is insignificant because national identities in the so-called global village are not fragmented as it has been previously suggested. This paper makes a conclusion that despite the presence of strong sub-state national identities, devolution as well as separatist movements in the UK, an imminent disintegration of Britain is quite unlikely and the increasing cultural diversity of the society does not necessarily complement or threaten national identities. Countries are defined by their unique national practices that are framed in unique national symbols; national practices within countries contribute immensely to people’s everyday experiences. In that respect, national identities are inseparable from national practices and as long as these practices endure, national identities are here to stay and cannot decline even in the face of the increasing threat of globalization and advancement in information communication technologies.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Values, Principles and social work Ethics Term Paper

Values, Principles and social work Ethics - Term Paper Example She is also very sensitive being that she was repeatedly assaulted by not just those in the prison system, whether it being the guards or the other prisoners, but also taken advantage of by the gentleman whose task it was to leave Iran and get to Canada. With this, along with her later living in a male dorm being classified as male but still wearing makeup, an assumption to be made here would be that from the traumatic experiences of Ms. P. throughout the course of her earlier life, she has been so victimized to the extent that she wishes to hide her sexuality to the outside world as a means of protecting herself from further hurt and anguish. A safety mechanism of sorts. Faced with the declaration that she may be gay, Ms. P. sought refuge with an Aunt who appears to have not only let Ms. P. wear her clothes, but also use her makeup, which also would be relevant towards the larger choice of having makeup application be her education goal. The notion of her maintaining a happy memory from her past, this being the kindness of her Aunt and wishing to take that experience and use it for her future. Response: First and foremost, the story of Ms. P. brings about a strong sense of sadness and heartbreak for the situations that she was forced to face throughout her life. Complete bewilderment as to how someone could go through as much as Ms. P. would have, but still find the means of grasping that one happy moment in time, in her case what surely had to have been the time with her Aunt and taking that by having her studies be centered upon the makeup in television and videos. A reaction of anger towards those who would have sought to inflict such harm and danger upon such a young person. Anger at such a travesty being inflicted upon someone who had little, if not none at all, recourse for sticking up for herself. The idea that only her Aunt would provide the safe

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Internet and Our Social Life Essay Example for Free

Internet and Our Social Life Essay For a few decades now, the internet has been an important gear in the ticking clock we like to call everyday life. Its significance and usage is ever growing, as well as the number of areas in which it has crept in. The phenomenon that is the internet brought power at the click of a mouse, but as it goes with power, consequences are inevitable. The internet is, undoubtedly, the largest source of information today. It is also a practical tool for managing bank accounts, staying in touch with friends and communicating with people all over the world, with technology that enables you to simultaneously talk while looking at the person on screen and even hold video conferences. But practicality and availability of information are not the only things that attract internet users. In online social communities, forums and game rooms people are given the opportunity to be whoever they want to be. The internet gives us virtual clay which we can use to mold our identities in any way we want. Especially in game rooms, people tend to fantasize and invent characters in order to compensate for the lack of their own. That is how a regular John Doe can go to his boring work every morning, but come back home, turn his computer on and become Zyborg, the hero from outer space. The cyber space can be used as a resort when real life is difficult to deal with. For example, people with low self-esteem or people who lack social skills will probably find online chatting much easier than talking to the person face to face. Such use of internet can make one’s life more interesting or less stressful, but too much time and dedication to it can lead to serious social and psychological consequences. If a person spends too much time on the computer, with its virtual character and virtual friends, he develops a virtual life which he may prefer more than the real one. Consequently, even though he might feel satisfied and safe, he does more damage than good by neglecting some important parts of his regular life such as time with his family, health, responsibilities and productivity. Lately, a diagnosis called Internet addiction disorder has been introduced for people who are thought to spend too much time on the internet. This issue is facing its beginning and it i s still disputed whether it is a real disorder. But according to Dr. Maressa Orzack between 5% and 10% of internet users suffer some form of internet dependency and she lists withdrawal, loss of control, and compulsive behavior as some of the effects. Online dating sites, which people visit in order to find a partner for romantic or sexual relationship, have made courtship easier, but, paradoxically, there have been many cases in which the internet was the prime cause of ending a relationship, marriage or even filing lawsuits. With internet becoming more and more integrated into our lifestyles it is only normal that the effects, both positive and negative, be visible in all aspects of our lives, including socializing. It is nice to be able to see your sister who lives miles away smile for you on screen as if she were in the room with you, or exchange e-mails with a person who you normally wouldn’t have the courage to come up to, but it would be a scary thing if cafes would become empty and internet networks overloaded with Zyborgs.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Roe V. Wade Essay -- essays research papers

January 23, 2000 marked the twenty-seventh anniversary of the Roe v. Wade case. It all started out in a small town in Texas where a woman under the alias Jane Roe filed a case in district court for a woman’s right to choose abortion. At this time law in Texas prohibited abortion. Eventually the case moved to Supreme Court. The attorneys for Roe argued that the law was unfair and unjust. They said that the unborn fetus id not a real person. They pointed out that a women should have the right to control their own life and body. They said it was a right of privacy and if women fell that it’s the right choice to abort a baby they should be allowed to make it. They also said that women should be able to abort a baby if the birth of the baby would endanger the life of the mother or the baby, they should have a right to abort it. They also argued that women have fundamental right to abortion. The case, which was filed in District Court, was filed against Dallas District attorney Wade. Wade strongly opposed abortion he believed abortion was murder. Wade made the point that Fetus is human being and has right to life under the law. He also argues that the fetus is life upon conception. He said that abortion hurts women not only physically but psychologically. Abortion can result pain, discomfort, and unstable metal conditions. According to the fourteenth amendment a person has an undeniable right to freedom. They stated that the fetus has a right to freedom guaranteed by this amen...

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Confucius’ Social and Political Philosophy Essay

These days we are focusing on the topics of Confucius’ social and political philosophy. After finishing readings of this section, I would like to give reflections that mainly about Confucius’ view on governing and analyze the traditional culture and administration of our country. This essay will present my opinions about the merits and demerits of nowadays Chinese society’s government. First, let us deal with something that Confucius would say that Chinese society is currently doing well. According to Confucius, when the population is already numerous, make them wealthy will further improve them, and once they are wealthy, to instruct them will improve them further more.[1] I think this passage is suitable for making appraisals to nowadays Chinese society, because China has a large population and Chinese government is taking the road of common prosperity, these are very similar to passage’s description. The road of common prosperity means, for the purpose of enabling more and more people to become prosperous, some people are encouraged to become prosperous first, and at last all people will become prosperous. In my own understanding, I think this passage did not show that Confucius think wealth is more important than education. I think what Confucius want to said is, to make people wealth does not means just make people hold a lot of money, actually it means to let people live a peaceful and wealthy life, which is important to build a harmonious society. In addition, Chinese government also focuses on education, like the government increases the input of fund for rural compulsory education. In another passage, Confucius said â€Å"If common people’s need are satisfied, how could their lord be lacking? If the common people ‘s needs are not satisfied, how can their lord be content?† [2] These above passages show Confucius think it is important to satisfy common people’s needs, to let them live a wealthy life is necessary for reaching this goal, so he would be pleased to see Chinese government is paying efforts to improve people’s life and education. However , it is obvious that there is also something Chinese government is currently not doing well. In recent years, human flesh search engine became very popular. According to Wikipedia, human flesh search is a primarily Chinese internet phenomenon of massive researching  using Internet media such as blogs and forums. What made human flesh search became famous is misconduct in public office were exposed frequently through this way, this means the government is not honest enough. When this kind of things happened, it usually begin with some public servants wearing or using luxuries in public activities, then people think it is suspicious that public servants can afford those kind of luxuries, so they begin human flesh search to find out what happened. Confucius would be displeased, because the dishonest behaviors of some public servants are damaging government’s reputation. According to Confucius, he said he would sacrifice armament and food, but he though a state cannot stand once it has lost the confidence of the people.[3] That means Confucius regard the confidence of the people as the most important thing for a government. There is also an old saying that the lord is a boat and common people is water, means when a lord gain the supports from his people, it is like the water make the boat float over water-surface. And it works both ways. The correct attitude towards common people will gain people’s support, the bad reputation cause by dishonest governing will lose people’s support, it is no doubt that Chinese society is not doing well at this point. Confucius also said â€Å"Raise up the straight and apply them to the crooked, and the people will submit you. If you raise up the crooked and apply them to the straight, the people will never submit.† [4] When we understanding this passage and relating it to nowadays society, I think the â€Å"straight† can be understand as the public servant who work honesty and really care of common people’s interests. Likewise, â€Å"crooked† can be understand as the public servant who abuse power and damage common people’s interest. Chinese government did not build up a complete supervise system to punish the corrupt officials and it is what government should do in the future. The key to adopting Confucius’ philosophy centers on discarding the dross and selecting the essence. Chinese society is doing a good job in striking a balance between social improvement and inheritance on traditional culture, like the idea about building up a harmonious society. I think Chinese society should be as Confucian as it is today, because although we can carry forward things from tradition, we cannot carry forward everything from tradition, we need to keep pace with the times. Some of Confucius’ view on governing cannot accommodate itself to the Chinese society’s development. For example, Confucius said, let the lord be a true  lord, the ministers true ministers, the fathers tr ue fathers, and the sons true sons.[5] In this passage, Confucius was only requiring the lord to fulfill his obligation, but he did not require any democratic rights which are extremely important to nowadays society. In ancient China, People did not have their right to choose a lord they want, but nowadays people are supposed to have their democratic rights and choose the government they want. The Chinese society must comply with the world development trend. We should accept the good things showed in the passage, like the idea â€Å"to do what you are deemed to do†, but for governing, we are not supposed to take its idea like â€Å"people serve their lord and cannot against the lord† Chinese society does not take the wrong way and its governing is becoming more and more democratic, so it is Confucian enough and it just need to keep this style. In conclusion, there is still lot of things that we can use the experience of Confucius for reference, the view on governing is just a part of it, and Confuciusâ€℠¢ philosophy is always the important asset for us.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Human Resource Is the Most Important Assets in an Organization Essay

Assets can be defined as â€Å"tangible and intangible resources of a firm which can be drawn upon by a the firm when required to achieve its objective(s)† (Ray and Ramakrishnan, 2006). Tangible assets include financial and physical assets such as machineries and manufacturing plants while examples of intangible assets are branding, company reputation, technological know-how and human resource (Noe et al., 2012). Human resource is the most important asset of an organisation. Using studies which showed that effective use of human resources contributed to better corporate performance and/or productivity, this essay attempts to show that this intangible asset is a key driver in the survival and competitiveness of an organisation. For organisations to be successful, they need to survive and obtain an advantage over their competitors. There are many ways to attain a competitive advantage, including patented product and process technologies, protection and regulation of domestic markets and access to financial resources (Pfeffer, 1994). However, the aforementioned contributors of success are deemed to be less relevant in today’s societies because technologies can be imitated, markets are increasingly globalised and global capital markets ever more opened for worldwide movement of financial resources (Pfeffer, 1994). Instead, in today’s organisations, it is widely accepted that employees are key strategic resources for companies because their knowledge, expertise, ideas and services drive innovations, steer product developments and build relationships with clients. This in turn increase companies performances through multiple means such as driving profits, increasing productivity and building large customer bases. For example, Sears, a multinational US company, attributed its transformational success through its believe in the 3†³Cs† of â€Å"Compelling Place to Work†, â€Å"Compelling Place to Shop† and followed by â€Å"Compelling Place to Invest† (Yeung and Berman, 1997). The senior management at Sears believed that by optimising its human resources (through shaping of employee’s attitudes, increasing motivation and skills), it will become an attractive venue for customers to shop with high level of satisfaction. Consequently, it will be a good investment option due to strong financial results (through increase in customer expenditure) and productivity (through optimisation of human resources) (Yeung and Berman, 1997). Strategically valuable resources may give companies a competitive edge. Bartlett and Ghoshal (2002) argued that there is an evolving corporate strategy from one that competes for markets and products, to one that compete for resources and competencies, to the current strategy of competing for talents and dreams. Resources are deemed to be valuable when they cannot be easily imitated, their value depreciate slowly, they cannot be easily substituted and they are relatively better than competitors with similar resources (Collis and Montgomery, 2008). While these resources may be tangible or acquired capabilities, it is the view of this author that it is people that best fit the described characteristics of valuable resources. Creativity and expertise of an employee may not be easily duplicated. It takes time to groom talents, and their experiences and competencies cannot be easily replaced. Thus, to gain a competitive edge, companies need to invest in the hearts and minds of the key success factor – human resource. Many studies have shown that effective HRM (such as investments in training and strategic HRM) had led to increase in company performances, through proxy indicators such as increased profits return, labour productivity, and service quality. In the employee-customer-profit chain model devised by senior management at Sears, they predicted that a 5 unit increase in employee attitude will drive 1.3 unit increase in customer impression that will in turn increase revenue growth by 0.5% (Rucci et al, 1998). When put into context, in 1998, a 4% rise in employee and customer satisfaction translated to an increase in more than $200 million of revenues over a 12-month period (Rucci et al, 1998). Other than the example on Sears, Choudhury (2010) showed that there is a positive relationship between investment in human capital and company performance in India’s information technology sector. Similar positive correlation can also be observed from studies analysing quality of human capital an d sales revenue per employee in Romanian software companies (Camelia, 2012) and perceived effectiveness of rewards on corporate performance in Nigerian Banks (Ojo, 2011). As an important asset of the organisation, human resources need to be managed properly. HRM encompasses a multitude of responsibilities including recruitment, training and development, benefits, health and services (Noe et al., 2012). There are many case studies that have demonstrated that a highly-skilled workforce and appropriate training of employees play a key role in increased company performances. A survey done on 62 retail stores showed that percentage of personnel trained in their designed training programme correlated with the stores’ performances (Russell et al., 1985). Another study done in 15 manufacturing sectors of seven European Union countries suggested that intermediate- and highly-skilled workers increases labour productivity, which is a proxy for companies performances (Corvers, 1997). It is envisioned that with training, employees will be equipped with job-related skill sets and competencies. A company with cutting edge technology needs employees with the know-how to operate the machineries. A retail shop may distinguishes itself from another shop that sells similar merchandise through quality services that helps build a brand name and large clientele. Employees may learn how to serve customers through training programmes. A study of 2003-2006 Training Top 100 survey report published by the Training Magazine showed that there is a positive correlation between training expenditure and operating performances (Liao et al., 2011). This supports the general perception that training is an important HRM tool for companies to survive in the increa singly competitive market. Human resource is a key contributor to the success of organisations today. Examples used in this essay reinforced the argument that human resource is likely to the most important corporate asset as it is a unique resource that drives companies performance. In order to effectively tap on this valuable resource, companies need to train employees so that their potential can be harnessed.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Quotes From the Classic Novel Black Boy

Quotes From the Classic Novel Black Boy Black Boy  by Richard Wright was first published in 1945. This autobiographical novel was a bestseller, and it is an important 20th-century work of literature. Another famous novel by Richard Wright, Native Son, was published in 1940. Here are a few quotes from Black Boy. Black Boy Quotes The faint cool kiss of sensuality when dew came onto my cheeks and shins as I ran down the wet green garden paths in the early morning. Im hungry now, but I wont live with you. Im doing all I can, When you get through, kiss back there. White, red and black, but quickly tells him to hush, saying, Theyll call you a colored man when you grow up. Do you mind, Mr. Wright? You cant eat a dead dog, can you? If I kissed my elbow, I would turn into a girl. At the age of twelve, before I had had one full year of formal schooling, I had a conception of life that no experience would ever erase, a predilection for what was real that no argument could ever gainsay, a sense of the world that was mine and mine alone, a notion as to what life meant that no education could ever alter, a conviction that the meaning of living came only when one was struggling to wring a meaning out of meaningless suffering. I said to myself, that boy just doesnt know what hes doing... The naked will of power seemed always to walk in the wake of a hymn. You ought to know God through some church. Even if that isnt right, its not far wrong. I never saw a dog bite that could really hurt... the principals speech is the better speech. My ass is tough and quarters is scarce. This was the culture from which i sprang. This was the terror from which I fled. Color hate defined the place of black life as below that of white life... Having been thrust out of the world because of my race, I had accepted my destiny by not being curious about what shaped it. Trying to please everybody, I pleased nobody... We must have a purge. You lost people! I lived in the South and I never saw any chain gangs. Get out of our ranks! I would send other words to tell, to march, to fight, to create a sense of the hunger of life that gnaws in us all, to keep alive in our hearts a sense of the inexpressibly human.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

A Better Chance Helps Students of Color Attend Top Schools

'A Better Chance' Helps Students of Color Attend Top Schools The scholarship organization A Better Chance (ABC), founded in 1963, has provided many students of color with the chance to attend college-prep private schools and public schools across the country. Their mission clearly illustrates the goal of the organization: Our mission is to  increase substantially  the number of well-educated young people of color who are capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership in American society.  Since its founding, ABC has grown greatly, first starting out with 55 students enrolled at nine schools to now more than 2,000 students enrolled at nearly 350 of the best private schools and public schools, as of the 2015-2016 school year (ABCs website has not been updated since we initially reported this statistic in July 2016).   United States President Lyndon Johnson meets with African American and white political figures from New Jersey, discussing aspects of his War on Poverty legislation. Afro Newspaper/Gado  /  Getty Images A Brief History   Originally, the program involved identifying and selecting talented students of color and providing  scholarships  for them to attend  private day  and  boarding schools. In the first year, even before  President Lyndon B. Johnson  announced his War on Poverty, 55 boys, all poor and mostly African-American, took part in an academically rigorous summer program. If they completed the program, the  headmasters of  16  private  schools agreed to accept them. In the 1970s, the program began to send students to competitive public high schools in areas such as New Canaan and  Westport, Connecticut; and  Amherst, Massachusetts. Students lived in a house staffed  by program tutors  and administrators, and the local community provided support for their house. In addition, many  colleges across the country, from Stanford in California to Colgate in New York state, have partnered with ABC to express their interest in promoting diversity. Racial Diversity   The current program is focused on increasing diversity at educational institutions.  While the majority of students enrolled are African-American, today the program also includes a wide range of diverse students. In addition to racial diversity, ABC also has increased its assistance for students of varying economic backgrounds, helping not only students who have significant financial constraints, but also middle-class students. The program offers to subsidize tuition for these students based on demonstrated financial need.   ABC notes that its scholars are a racially diverse group (figures approximate):   67% are African-American16% Latino7% Asian American1% Native American9% multi-racial or other Tracy Chapman. Chris Carroll/Getty Images   A Strong Alumni Base As a result of their dedication to making a quality education possible for students of color,  ABC can boast an alumni base of tens of thousands of individuals who are active in many fields.  According to President Sandra E. Timmons, there are over 13,000 alumni and alumnae of this program, and many are influential in the fields of business, government, education, the arts, and other areas. The organization includes among its famous alumni  Governor of Massachusetts  Deval Patrick, who was raised on the South Side of Chicago by a single mother. One of his middle school teachers recognized his talent, and Mr. Patrick was able to attend Milton Academy, a boarding school in Massachusetts, on a scholarship. He later went on to attend Harvard College and Harvard Law School before becoming governor of Massachusetts. Another notable ABC alumna is  singer/songwriter Tracy Chapman,  who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and attended the Wooster School in Connecticut on a scholarship. The Wooster School is a private co-ed pre-K through 12  school. After she graduated from the Wooster School in 1982, Ms. Chapman went on to  Tufts University  near Boston, where she majored in African Studies and Anthropology. She also started to perform at local venues, and she was discovered by a classmate whose father helped her get her first recording contract, though she insisted on graduating from college first. She is famous for singles such as  Fast Car  and  Give  Me One Reason. Program Requirements and Fees The College Preparatory Schools Program (CPSP) of ABC works to identify, recruit, place and support deserving students of color in college prep middle and high schools. Students applying to ABC must currently be in grades 4-9 and be citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Students must also be academically strong, maintaining an overall average of a B or better and rank within the top 10% of their class. They should also participate in after-school activities, demonstrate leadership potential, and have good character. They must also receive strong teacher recommendations. Interested applicants must submit an inquiry online and later create an application, as well as write an essay,  ask for letters of recommendation, and be interviewed. Member schools may require additional steps as part of the overall application process, such as standardized testing or additional interviews. Acceptance at ABC does not guarantee admission at a member school. Participation in ABC is without cost, and the organization offers fee waivers for its scholars to take the SSAT and to apply for financial aid. Member schools do charge tuition, but all offer financial aid which is usually based on a familys personal financial situation. Some families may find they must contribute some funding towards a private school education, which can often be paid in installments. Article edited by  Stacy Jagodowski

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Media Research - Discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Media Research - Discussion - Essay Example The focus of the most desired effects studies would be on the content of video games as a mass media format and how it impacts youth personality and behavior. A recent study identified that the content of violent video games maintains the ability to lower player empathy toward others, in a survey of 307 adolescents between fourth and sixth grade (Funk, Baldacci, Pasold & Baumgardner, 26). It was cited as the â€Å"creative nature† of these games, accompanied with violent content, that changed how young individuals in society can lose their sense of compassion and kindness toward others with routine exposure (Funk, et al, 26). As identified, many varieties of this type of mass media contain advertising imagery that also alters attitudes and lifestyle focus, making effects studies absolutely fascinating. Offers one psychologist, â€Å"regular exposure to games actually rewires a child’s brand, making them more amenable to violence† (gamepolitics.com, 1). This, again, is why effects studies would be so critically important to understanding the role of different mass media formats on human behavior as they actually manage to create bio-physical changes to the human brain. Since there are many different formats of mass media other than video games, effects studies on all types of media could determine whether actual brain restructuring could be a potential and common outcome as a reason for why people change their attitudes and social behaviors. Effects studies related to video game media could be expanded to include the potential for television, radio and the social media found on the Internet to determine whether bio-physical changes occur after routine exposure to multiple media sources. By taking a larger sample of individuals who are not only children but include multiple demographics with different socio-economic backgrounds, actual brain measurements can be taken to witness whether structural changes occur after constant exposure to

Friday, November 1, 2019

How Has The Emergence Of The Internet Help The Sport Industry Research Paper

How Has The Emergence Of The Internet Help The Sport Industry - Research Paper Example This research will begin with the definition of the term ‘Information Technology (IT)’ that mainly deals with technology which is utilized for handling information or facts. It is defined as that subdivision of engineering that mainly deals with the utilization of electric devices namely computers and telecommunications protocols to retrieve, accumulate and convey information or facts to other sources, when required. The process of IT includes attainment, dispensation, storage and broadcasting of verbal, pictorial, textual and statistical information with the help of a microelectronics-base, blended by computing and telecommunications. IT mainly utilizes internet as the prime source to transfer information in this era of globalization and industrialization. Internet is an international system which is interconnected with varied computer systems which utilizes numerous usual internet procedure suites (TCP/IP) to serve billions of customers globally. It is a system of netw orks that comprises millions of personal, public, scholarly, business and administration networks around the globe, which are allied by a wide array of electronic, wireless and visual networking equipments. Internet is one of the significant technologies which is utilized to transmit an extensive assortment of information or facts, namely inter-related hypertext credentials of the World Wide Web (WWW) as well as infrastructure to support electronic mails. The introduction of internet has permitted or accelerated innovative types of human relations with the help of immediate messaging, ‘internet forum’, and societal networking sites. ... nd administration networks around the globe, which are allied by a wide array of electronic, wireless and visual networking equipments (Coffman & Odlyzko, 2001). Internet is one of the significant technologies which is utilized to transmit an extensive assortment of information or facts, namely inter-related hypertext credentials of the World Wide Web (WWW) as well as infrastructure to support electronic mails. The introduction of internet has permitted or accelerated innovative types of human relations with the help of immediate messaging, ‘internet forum’, and societal networking sites. In addition, the passion of online shopping also emerged both in retail sectors and in sport industries. This is so, because of internet facility, individuals can access any retail or sports website all round the world in a single span of time, which is highly effective (Rajashekar, 2004). The paper highlights the influences of internet on the industry of sports. It also spotlights vari ous other factors as well affecting the sports industry due to internet. Discussion According to Smith & Westerbeek (2003), internet is one of the primarily used global networks,  which includes an organized set of  computer networks to offer variety of information or facts from one place to the other. Internet is also known by a short form of  scientific term named internetworks, which includes interrelation of computer systems with unique gateways or routers. Moreover, due to emergence of internet, the position of sports industry enhanced in a robust way all around the globe, which is rather quite noteworthy. This is because invention of internet enhanced the competitive advantages of varied sports brands from one another. Competitive Advantage Competitive advantage is referred as the process by