Argumentative research paper by pass surgery Essay

Argumentative research paper by pass surgery - Essay Example This paper addresses the argument while presenting substantial evidence on the importance of nursing staff in early recovery of bypass surgery patients. Nurses play a substantial role when it comes to surgery, because the slightestnegligence from the medical staff can actually lead to significant consequences including respiratory issues, infections, etc. Nurses have training and medical education to perform this task with unprecedented expertise(Lord, 2006). The counterarguments are also refuted on the basis of the fact that increased surgery cost is not associated with the nursing staff; rather, it has a direct link with the hospital’s management and policies which should be revised with strong government intervention. Argumentative Research Paper: Bypass Surgery Introduction Bypass surgery is done in order to facilitate the flow of fluids and remove excess body materials. The term is generally known for coronary artery bypass graft which is an open-heart surgery primarily d one to fix the blocked arteries going towards the heart. Heart issues and the related treatments have always been a part of medical practice, but surgeries have gained importance only in the 20th century (Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery, 2010). It has another type which is related to the weight loss, i.e.,gastric bypass surgery. When exercise and other medicines do not work in reducing weight and on the other hand, excessive weight increases the risks of other diseases, then gastric bypass removes excess fat from the body (Staff, 2011). Undoubtedly, bypass surgery is one of the most critical surgeries in medical treatments which do not only require an efficient group of medical doctors but also needlong-term support and facilitation by the nursing staff. Postoperative care of patients, either in the case of heart bypass or gastric bypass, is always a very challenging job for nurses, therefore they bear the greater responsibility of patients’ early recovery. Bypass surgeries do not always provide health benefits and sometimes they prove to be hazardous for the patients’ well-being if sufficient care is not provided (Lord, 2006). Thesis Statement Bypass surgeries are often related to severe adverse effects which might show up later in life. These affects can be easily controlled with the help of nursing staff and regular follow-up with doctors. However, a group of individuals comprising surgeons and patients believe that the role of nurse in bypass surgery is very limited and hence it only results in increasing the overall treatment cost. On the contrary, the other prevailing concept is that nurses play a vital role in patient care, which ultimately results in early recovery, and therefore they must not be neglected (Hughes, 2008). Considering the role of nursing staff in bypass surgeries, the following thesis statement is formulated, which argues and defends the role of nurses: â€Å"Bypass surgeries such as coronary heart bypass and gastric bypas s strongly require trained nursing staff apart from the team of surgeons and doctors.†

Kant on Will Essay Example for Free

Kant on Will Essay Kant’s argument that an act out of duty can not be in conflict with itself or with any other will acting out of duty derives from the concept he puts forth of the internal principle. A will cannot conflict itself if it determines itself a priori. By determining its morals before the benefit of experience, it determines itself simply that it exists as it is. Intuitively, anything pure cannot conflict with itself just as the idea of good cannot conflict with itself and be somehow partly bad (437). Thus by simply being, without any other influence determining it, the will is an end in itself (437). A will acting out of duty, or in other words on its own internal principles, can not conflict with another will simply because it does not depend on the other will. In order to conflict, something must first interact. And if two wills are acting in accordance with duty, then they each recognize each other as an end in itself, and therefore do not interact on the level of morality (438). Just as a self-sufficient village with no roads leading to or from can not conflict with another village simply because it needs not and cannot interact, a self-sufficient will, and therefore determined with no external influence, can also not conflict with anther will acting out of duty. Though if something is not self-sufficient, it requires another object to fulfill its ends. As with the village, if it needs to conquer a neighboring village’s farmland in order to feed itself, conflict arises. Similarly, should a will not be determined a priori, but instead based on external circumstances, then a will must use another will to fulfill its needs, and therefore would conflict with the autonomy of the second will.

Booker T. Washington Essay -- Essays Papers

Booker T. Washington 1856-1915, Educator Booker Taliaferro Washington was the foremost black educator of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He also had a major influence on southern race relations and was the dominant figure in black public affairs from 1895 until his death in 1915. Born a slave on a small farm in the Virginia backcountry, he moved with his family after emancipation to work in the salt furnaces and coal mines of West Virginia. After a secondary education at Hampton Institute, he taught an upgraded school and experimented briefly with the study of law and the ministry, but a teaching position at Hampton decided his future career. In 1881 he founded Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute on the Hampton model in the Black Belt of Alabama. Though Washington offered little that was innovative in industrial education, which both northern philanthropic foundations and southern leaders were already promoting, he became its chief black exemplar and spokesman. In his advocacy of Tuskegee Institute and its educational method, Washington revealed the political adroitness and accommodationist philosophy that were to characterize his career in the wider arena of race leadership. He convinced southern white employers and governors that Tuskegee offered an education that would keep blacks "down on the farm" and in the trades. To prospective northern donors and particularly the new self- made millionaires such as Rockefeller and Carnegie he promised the inculca...

The Value to Life

The Value to Life; Society vs. Self Today, our society assigns the value to human life based on which life is actually more appealing to them. In other words, society places a price tag on a man’s life. A person is judged by society on the value of their life based on certain factors and aspects that are irrelevant. People realize the true value to their lives when they are in encounter with situations that may take it away. And because the value of life is so precious, society should determine its value in different and better ways that appreciate its value.People put more value on their lives when they come close to knocking on the doors of death. For instance, those living with  terminal illnesses  like cancer, have a whole different perception of their life and all of life in general in comparison to someone who is living a completely healthy life. In his autobiography,  Lance Armstrong  said, â€Å"When I was sick, I saw more beauty and triumph and truth in a sin gle day than I ever did in a bike race, but they were human moments, not miraculous ones. Lance Armstrong is one of the most successful and accomplished figures in the world, yet even to him, a day of simply living one more day means more than any of his accomplishments while living with cancer. Having everything may make one value their life in greater depth but the fear of losing that everything they have worked for makes them value it even more however. While a person may assign the value to their life based on the obstacles they have overcame and learned from, society’s way of determining the value to a human life is not nearly as sensitive.Society assigns the value of life under the terms of which life is actually worth more in dollars. Its unfortunate but there are too many instances in life where one person’s life is considered with higher value than others simply because of what they have and what they are willing to show for it. I remember a time when a family member of mine was rushed to the emergency room only to be turned away because he did not have any medical insurance. Does that mean his life has less value than someone who does have life insurance?He deserved to be seen by a doctor just as much as the next with or without the papers. Or in another case scenario, a young rich blonde girl of a wealthy known family becomes kidnapped on the same day as a daughter of a drug addict in the projects, who would have more publicity in the search for their return? The blonde girl’s family has more money; therefore, can afford to pay their way to more publicity time, bestowing more value on her life.It is not something that you think of everyday, or is easily realized, but our society holds value on our life only through the materialistic things. For instance, after the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, thousands of innocent lives were lost as a result. Due to the fact that there were so many families to compensate and to preven t the airlines from going out of business, the federal government enforced a limit on how much each family would receive in compensation.These numbers were given in an article called â€Å"What Is a Life Worth? † in  Time magazine  written by Amanda Ripley. â€Å"First, the government will estimate how much a victim would have earned over his or her lifetime had the planes never crashed. That means a broker’s family will qualify for a vastly higher award than a window washer’s family. † This quote shows that in the eyes of society, the value of life is not equal because if that was the case, everyone affected from the crash would have received the same amount in compensation.The only difference between the broker and the window washer is how much money their bank account holds, but in this case, that is the only thing that matters in determining their value of life. When assigning the value of life, society overlooks the character of the person or wha t purpose they served in life. Since treating every man equal in America is something we try to abide our lives by, the value of someone’s life should be determined on better terms.The value of someone’s life should be determined by the merit that person has earned throughout their life. In the book of proverbs it states that â€Å"We must treat each man on his worth and merits as a man. We must see that each is given a square deal, because he is entitled to no more and should receive no less. † According to this quote, a man must be treated on his worth which is something that he must earn since every man is given the same chances and opportunities not more or less than others.When people are born, they are all given equal chances, but the different circumstances that can occur in each person’s life along the way can determine who has the ability to overcome the obstacles, making that person earn a certain merit that decides the value to their life. In c onclusion, a person’s value of their own life is something that is overlooked at first. People do not realize that life is something that can be taken away so quickly that sometimes you cannot even grasp it. Life gains value when it is almost lost. When people have ragedies strike their lives, such as being diagnosed with a terminal disease, they realize how much life means to them because they feel the end approaching. They begin to realize that all their life, they have worked for something and just like that, it can be taken away. Our society plays a large role in how value is put on life. Society determines the value of life unfairly and none biased on the emotional aspects a life may pertain. Society judges a human life based on their materialistic earnings rather than their merit earnings. A rich man’s life is more valuable than a poor man’s under the rules of society.

How Are Syariah Laws Being Currently Applied in Malaysia Essay

Islam had been established in Malaya by the 14th century. Malacca, one of the Malay States in Malaya, emerged as a Muslim Kingdom under Sultan Iskandar Syah and his successors. By the early 15th century, it had become a power of great importance in South East Asia. This brought an end to the political control and cultural influence of the Hindu and Buddhist powers over the Malay Peninsula. This brought an end to the political control and cultural influence of the Hindu and Buddhist powers over the Malay Peninsula. Malay society and its laws were influences by thought and ideas from various Muslim countries. This because Islam itself came to this region from different countries, namely the Arab countries, India and even China. The law used in Malacca was Muslim law together with Malay customary law. Malay customary law may also referred as to as Adat Melayu. In 1511, Malacca was conquered by the Portuguese. However, it’s difficult to provide a satisfactory account of the legal development during that period. Although Malay customary law was preserved under Portuguese rule and later by the Dutch, during their conquest of Malacca in 1641, it was ultimately replaced by English law during the British colonization of Malaya beginning from 1786. Evidences and traces of Islamic legal thought and institutions are present in Malay law. Terminology and ideas from the Islamic legal system found their way into the numerous treatises on traditional Malay law. They are found in the Melaka Digest (Undang-undang Melaka or Risalah Hukum Kanun of 1523) and the Pahang Digest of 1596 with a later supplement, and in the Kedah Digest dated 1606 containing port rules. Further evidence is found in the 18th century, 99 Laws of Perak and in the Johor Digest of 1789. Finally the orthodox Muslim works of the Shafiee School of Islamic Law, such as the treatises on the law of marriage, divorce and legitimacy of children were translated in Malay. The Majalah al-Ahkam al- Adliyyah (The Mejelle), a set of Muslim civil laws of the Ottoman Empire, was also translated into Malay and recognized as the law to be followed by the Johor courts in 1914. Islamic law, being an imported law, evolved through a period of 6 centuries of development. Its impact on the country’s legal system was far reaching, even until the early part of the present century. This is well illustrated in the case of Laton v Ramah, where the Court of Appeal held that Islamic law in Peninsular Malaya was not foreign law but local law, the law of the land which every court must take judicial notice. But during the post British colonial period, Islamic law has been reduced in importance and its significance has further declined after the independence. The ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution, Legislature Lists (List II- State List) states: ‘The Islamic Law is under state authority. Each state enacts its own enactment with jurisdiction over it. Every state has its own Council of Islamic Religion and Malay Custom and the Kadis Courts. These courts have limited jurisdiction on persons professing the Islamic religion, and only included in this list, but shall not have jurisdiction in respect of offences except insofar as centred by Federal Law’. The Muslim Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction ) Act 1965 [No. 23 of 1965] provides that the jurisdiction of the Shariah Courts : ‘ Shall not be exercised in respect of any offence punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding 6 month or with any fine exceeding one thousand dollars or with both’. It’s been a questioned among the people about the application of Hudud law in Malaysia since there are different types of religious and beliefs the nations uphold. Many people agreed with the implementation whereas some disagreed with the issue. Basically, Hudud is the most severe and strict Islamic law for resorting to punish those offenders through physical means. The provisions of the Hudud law cause Malays feared the law and they are not ready for the implementation of Hudud laws as there are lack of understanding on the need of a proper model on the Islamic criminal law. According to Professor Dr. Mahmood Zuhdi Abdul Majid of IIUM, he said ‘If we do not politicize it, we Malays are definitely ready to implement hudud in Malaysia, but if we were look at Hudud as a political issue, then it becomes a problem’, He also stated that criminal laws should be imposed on all citizens because Islam does not discriminate on whether you are a Muslim or a non-Muslim. Besides, PAS had decided that it will seek constitutional amendment in the Parliament to apply the Hudud law once the Pakatan take over the federal administration. According to our Former President, Dr. Mahathir Mohammad, had stated his dissatisfaction on the implementation of Hudud laws in Malaysia which will create an injustice judiciary system. For an instance, a Muslim who committed an offence will be punished according to Hudud law, which is a severe punishment whereas the non-Muslims who committed the same offence will be punished according to civil law which is much lineal. He also commented that there is nothing mentions in the Quran about the severe punishments and he urged Muslims to follow the primary sources of Islam, Quran instead of the Sunnah or Hadith which are basically those interpretations of the Quran. Furthermore, Nibong Tebal MP, Tan Tee Beng said Kita president, Zaid Ibrahim confessed that non-Muslims can be punished under the Hudud criminal code enactments. He added that Shari’ah laws that being practiced in Malaysia are based on civil and family legislation, which governs individual Muslim matters. The issue is controversy as Hudud law can be applied if the Federal Constitution amended which requires majority votes from the members of Parliament. Based on UMNO Minister, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom view, he stated that Hudud Law will never give any impact on Non-Muslims. The government is alert that there are distinctions of views and thoughts on this issue among Islamic scholars and jurists and a research need to be done before the Hudud law implemented in Malaysia, so that the penal code is fair to all, complies with Allah’s conditions and is in accord with the Malaysia legal system. He also added that if Hudud law is to be applied in Malaysia, the Syari’ah Court would only have jurisdiction over those who practice Islam in accord with the Federal Constitution, the Supreme law of the Federation. Though the issue on the application of Hudud law in Malaysia is indecisive stage, the application of Shari’ah law does not lose its position. The Islamic law that is in force in Malaysia totally is not genuine Islamic law but may have been influenced by written laws judicial decisions and customary law. For an instance, the written laws, especially, those enacted before independence, may reject Islamic law. Thus in Ainan v Syed Abu Bakar, it was held that the legitimacy of a child should be determined by the Evidence Enactment (F. M. S. ) and not accordance with Islamic law.

mound builders of north america essays

mound builders of north america essays The mound builders of North America have allured the curiosity of scholars and architects since the days of de Soto. Having such a long history, and being the most advanced civilization in the United States portion of North America, their history, vague and ancient, has continued to excite scholars up until current times. Mounds are scattered all over the United States as far west as the Rocky Mountains. Some, especially in Illinois and the Mississippi region, are very impressive, reaching as much as 100 feet high and covering sixteen square acres. Likewise, there are many very small mounds that are often mistaken for natural geographical features. Mounds have been classified by scholars into three major categories: effigy mounds, burial mounds, and temple mounds. Effigy mounds are most common in the northern part of the United States near the Great Lakes and as far up as the Canadian Shield. These cleverly designed effigies are remarkable in geometric precision and very impressive, especially since it is so far unexplained how they were constructed. The purpose for the creation of these amazing earthen artworks is also obscured, hidden somewhere in the far past, but it can be assumed, judging by the general patterns of other ancient cultures, that ancient mound building people had originally d esigned them for spiritual purposes. Burial mounds are usually distinguishable by their cone shape, and received their name from theories concerning their purpose. The majority of architects agree that mounds did serve as mortuaries and that the elite were buried in them. The possibility that the mounds contained human sacrifices has also been considered, and many theorist that base their inferences on the similarities between the mound builders and the Mexican cultures have not overlooked this theory. The temple mounds in the southern regions of the United States are famous for the pyramid-like structure and their layered constructi...

Freedom after September 11 essays

Freedom after September 11 essays Freedom After the September 11th Tragedy There are a very large number of people in the United States of America that may say that freedom, as we have known it, will never be the same in this country again after the Tragedy of September 11th. Although some people may think that this event has no direct effect on the freedoms of other Americans, I have a strong belief that it does. There are two major reasons that I think our freedom is in jeopardy. One reason is because the September 11th tragedy brought a multitude of stereotypes into the minds of the ignorant in America. These stereotypes put the freedoms of Islamic Americans in jeopardy. The other reason I think that our freedom is in jeopardy is that the Taliban had friends as well. If the Taliban attacked our freedom, who is to say that their friends will I immediately thought about the Americans who are of Islamic and Muslim descent when the tragedy occurred. As an African American, I know a great deal about being stereotyped; so I can see how Islamic Americans might feel during these times. Since the tragedy, many of these Islamic Americans have been stereotyped abs being terrorists or bomb manufacturers. They are looked down on and stereotyped because of their ancestry and because of the way they look. This is a violation of their freedom. Hopefully, Americans as a whole will be able to put a stop to all of the negative stereotypes because when Islamic Americans feel that they have been robbed of their freedom, our freedom as a whole will be greatly damaged, too. Another reason that I feel our countrys freedom is in danger is because of the Talibans allies. I honestly do not think that the Taliban acted alone in their attempt to destroy the United States. Everyone has at least one friend and the Taliban is no ...

Military History Timeline From 1401 to 1600

Military History Timeline From 1401 to 1600 The military history of the 1400s and 1500s was full of battles in the Hundred Years War between France and England and was marked by the life and death of Joan of Arc. This chunk of history saw the fall of the Byzantine Empire, the final outcome of the English Wars of the Roses, the Eighty Years War, the Thirty Years War, and the Nine Years War, among many other bloody conflicts. The 1400s and the Hundred Years War On July 20, 1402, Timur won the Battle of Ankara in the Ottoman-Timurid Wars. A year later, on July 21, 1403, in Britain, Henry IV won the Battle of Shrewsbury. The Teutonic Knights were defeated July 15, 1410, during the Polish-Lithuanian-Teutonic War at the Battle of Grunwald (Tannenberg). In the ongoing Hundred Years War, Henry V besieged and captured Harfleur from August 18 to September 22, 1415. Later the same year, on October 25, the French forces were beaten by Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt. On January 19, 1419, Rouen, France surrendered to the English king Henry V. The Hussite Wars began July 30, 1419, with the First Defenestration of Prague. Scottish and French forces defeated the English at the Battle of Baugà © on March 21, 1421, in another battle of the Hundred Years War. On July 31, 1423, the English won the Battle of Cravant. The Duke of Bedford won the Battle of Verneuil on August 17, 1424. On September 5, 1427, French forces broke the siege of Montargis. The Hundred Years War continued to rage through the decade. From October 12, 1428, to May 8, 1429, the Siege of Orleans was waged, with Joan of Arc eventually saving the city. On February 12, 1429, Sir John Fastolf won the Battle of the Herrings. Toward the end of the decade, on June 18, 1429, the French won the Battle of Patay. In a decisive and history-making moment of the Hundred Years War, Joan of Arc was executed at Rouen on May 30, 1431. The Hussites won the Battle of Taus on August 14, 1431, during the Hussite Wars. The Hussite Wars conflict effectively ended May 30, 1434, following the Battle of Lipany. The Fall of the Byzantine Empire and the End of War The Hundred Years War continued on April 15, 1450, when the Comte de Clermont defeated the English at the Battle of Formigny. The Second Ottoman Siege of Constantinople was conducted from April 2 to May 29, 1453, resulting in the fall of the Byzantine Empire and effectively ending the Byzantine-Ottoman Wars. The English army, under the Earl of Shrewsbury, was beaten at the Battle of Castillon on July 17, 1453, an event that put an end to the Hundred Years War. The Wars of the Roses The Wars of the Roses began May 22, 1455, when the First Battle of St. Albans resulted in a victory for the Yorkist cause. The House of York enjoyed another victory in the ongoing conflict on September 23, 1459, when the Earl of Salisbury won the Battle of Blore Heath for the Yorkists. The conflict continued on July 10, 1460, when King Henry VI was captured during the Battle of Northampton. Richard, Duke of York was defeated and killed at the Battle of Wakefield on December 30, 1460. The Yorkists won the Battle of Mortimers Cross on February 2, 1461. Edward IV was proclaimed king on March 4, after the Lancastrian forces won the Second Battle of St. Albans on February 17, 1461. Edward IV triumphed at the Battle of Towton March 29, 1461. In Japan, a dispute between Hosokawa Katsumoto and Yamana SÃ… zen escalated into the Onin War, which was waged from July 1467 to July 1477. Back in England on July 26, 1469, the Lancastrians won at the Battle of Edgecote Moor in the still-ongoing Wars of the Roses. The Earl of Warwick was killed at the Battle of Barnet on April 14, 1471, in another decisive moment of the Wars of the Roses. Edward IV reclaimed the throne on May 4 of that year, after winning the Battle of Tewkesbury. Portugal was defeated at the Battle of Toro in the War of the Castilian Succession on March 1, 1476. War Begins and Ends for France and England Over in France, the Burgundian Wars erupted when Duke Charles of Burgundy was beaten at the Battle of Granson on March 2, 1476. Swiss forces defeated the Duke of Burgundy at the Battle of Murten (Morat) on June 22, 1476. Duke Charles was defeated and killed at the Battle of Nancy on January 5, 1477, ending the Burgundian Wars. It was the beginning of the end for the Wars of the Roses on August 22, 1485, when Henry Tudor triumphed at the Battle of Bosworth Field and became King Henry VII. The final engagement of the Wars of the Roses was fought at the Battle of Stoke Field on June 16, 1487. The Reconquista ended January 2, 1492, when Spanish forces captured Granada from the Moors, ending the conflict. Sixty-three years of conflict began in October 1494 with the French invasion of Italy, the event that launched the Italian Wars. 1500s Military Conflicts Begin French forces won the Battle of Ravenna April 11, 1512, in a decisive moment of the War of the League of Cambrai. In the next chapter of the conflict, the Scottish forces were crushed at the Battle of Flodden on September 9, 1513. Elsewhere in the world, Ottoman forces won the Battle of Chaldiran over the Safavid Empire on August 23, 1514. The War of the League of Cambrai continued September 13 and 14, 1515, when the French defeated the Swiss at the Battle of Marignano. Imperial and Spanish forces defeated and captured Francis I at the Battle of Pavia on February 24, 1525, as the Italian Wars continued to unfold. War Erupts Outside of Europe Babur won the First Battle of Panipat in the Mughal Conquests on April 21, 1526. In the Ottoman-Hungarian Wars, the Hungarian forces were badly defeated at the Battle of Mohacs on August 29, 1526. In the ongoing Mughal Conquests, the forces of Babur defeated the Rajput Confederation to conquer northern India on March 17, 1527. Imperial troops sacked the city of Rome on May 6, 1527, in a dark moment of the Italian Wars. The Ottoman-Habsburg Wars continued to rage from September 27 to October 14, 1529, when the Ottomans besieged Vienna but were forced to retreat. Swiss Catholics defeated the Protestants of Zurich at the Battle of Kappel on October 11, 1531, during the Second War of Kappel. In 1539, Humayan was defeated by the Sher-Shah at the Battle of Benares. The 1540s Bring War Back to England English naval commander Sir Francis Drake was born in Tavistock, Devon in 1540, during the Anglo-Spanish War. The conflict heated up on November 24, 1542, when the Scottish forces were beaten at the Battle of Solway Moss. Emperor Galawdewos won the Battle of Wayna Daga on February 21, 1543, during the Ethiopian-Adal War. Scottish troops defeated the English at the Battle of Ancrum Moor on February 27, 1545, during the Anglo-Scottish Wars. During the Schmalkaldic War, protestant forces were beaten at the Battle of Mà ¼hlberg on April 24, 1547. The Anglo-Scottish Wars continued when the English won the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh over the Scots on September 10, 1547. Mughal forces defeated rebels at the Second Battle of Panipat on November 5, 1556. The Battle of Kawanakajima, a conflict between Takeda and Uesugi forces, was waged on September 10, 1561, in Japan. Decades of War The forces of Oda Nobunaga conducted the successful siege of Ishiyama Hongan-ji from August 1570 to August 1580 in Japan. The Holy League defeated the Ottomans at the decisive Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571, ending the Ottoman-Habsburg Wars. Mughal forces won the Battle of Tukaroi over the Sultanate of Bangala and Bihar on March 5, 1575. Albrecht von Wallenstein was born in Bohemia September 24, 1583, during the Thirty Years War. English naval forces raided the Spanish port of Cadiz from April 12 to July 6, 1587, during the Anglo-Spanish War. In battles raging from July 19 to August 12, 1588, English naval forces defeated the powerful Spanish Armada. English and Dutch forces captured and burned the Spanish city of Cadiz from June 30 to July 15, 1596. Maurice of Nassau won the Battle of Turnhout on January 24, 1597, during the Eighty Years War. English forces were beaten at the Battle of Curlew Pass on August 15, 1599, during the Nine Years War. The Eighty Years War continued through the end of the 1500s when the Dutch won a tactical victory at the Battle of Nieuwpoort on July 2, 1600.

Thirty Years' War caused by religious tensions Essay

Thirty Years' War caused by religious tensions - Essay Example Perhaps the most significant outcome of the religiously coloured tensions between adherents of the Protestantism and the Roman Catholic Church, that ensued from the actual religious division within Germany, was represented by the devastating Thirty Years' War of 1618-48. Indeed, it is estimated that up to one-third of the German population was lost due to military activities and ensuing diseases and famine. Historians suppose that the pre-war population level was reached only in almost a century after the end of Thirty Years' War. Economy of Germany was also in disarray due to the ruin brought in by the Thirty Years' War, so that the economic deterioration that already was significant in the second half of the 16th was further worsened. The prosperous economies that some German towns had in the late Middle Ages and in the beginning of the 16th century declined, and Germany was about to face a long period of economic depression that would end only in the second half of the 19th centur y (Bonney, 2002, p.74). Considering the long-lasting consequences of the devastating Thirty Years' War, it is important to understand what factors caused its outbreak. We have already mentioned the religious factor, and it is hardly a coincidence that such an important development as the spread of Protestantism preceded the war. But to what extent was the Thirty Years' War caused by religious tensions and to what degree such factors as a struggle for power or for territories within the Holy Roman Empire were involved To answer this question let us overview the historical developments that occurred before the 17th century, and try to establish the link between the religious factor and the causes of the Thirty Years' War. All too often it happens in history that the connection between the studied events that seems to be self-evident is by far not the only explanation but rather just a part of the general picture. In the same vein, the effect that the Protestant Reformation seems to have had on Germany was equally just a part of the story. The other characteristic of the Germany before the beginning of the Thirty Years' War, which is important for our study, was inherited from an earlier time. This characteristic is the so-called German particularism - the presence of numerous states of different types, like free cities, electorates, principalities, and ecclesiastical territories. The roots of this peculiarity of Germany go back to the Carolingian Dynasty (752-911), when Charlemagne's empire was separated into three kingdoms, but in the East Kingdom regional duchies (namely Franconia, Saxony, Bavaria, Swabia, and Lorraine) strengthened and obtained form of small kingdoms. Such eastern subdivision initi ated the German particularism, when territorial sovereigns pursued their particular interests without consideration of interests of the kingdom. When the Carolingian line ended in 911 such duchies were further reinforced because now there was no direct blood heritage of the

Business law- Contracts and leases Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business law- Contracts and leases - Essay Example Regardless of the type of business an individual runs, it is important to have an understanding of contract law as it is the key to making sound business agreements that can be enforced legally in the event of a dispute. Normally, a contract is enforced and governed by the laws of the country where it was made. In the United States of America, a contract is governed by two types of state laws, that is, the common law and the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) (Bagley and Dauchy, 2012). Common Law Common law is a law which governs contracts for services and contracts that are not governed by the Uniform Commercial Code. Most contracts such as employment agreements, general business agreements and leases are controlled by common law. Common law contracts can either be bilateral or unilateral. However, the contracts are valid only if the three elements of common law contract formation are met. The elements of formation are offer, acceptance and consideration (Bagley and Dauchy, 2012). The Un iform Commercial Code (UCC) The uniform commercial code (UCC) governs the contracts between merchants and the sale of goods. The law was written by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) and the American Law Institute (ALI). It was published in 1952 to harmonize the law of sales and other commercial transactions in the United States. Although it has not been fully enacted, some provisions of the code have been adopted by all the fifty states of the US (Fullerton, 2011). Previously, the code was divided into 9 articles; however, after a number of reviews and revisions, the code is now divided into eleven articles with each giving provisions that relate to a particular area of commercial law. Article 1, gives the definitions of terms used in commercial law and the general principles that apply to the UCC. Article 2 covers all contracts pertaining to the sale of goods. Article 2A covers all transactions pertaining to leases of goods. Article 3 covers ne gotiable instruments such as checks and promissory notes. Article 4 governs bank collections of drafts and checks. Article 4A governs the transfer of funds through banks. Article 5 governs letters of credit. Article 6 governs bulk sales. Article 7 covers domestic documents of title. Article 8 covers all transactions in investment securities and article 9 applies to security interests in real property (Bagley and Dauchy, 2012). Differences between Contracts Formed Under Common Law and Contracts Governed By the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Although both the common law and the UCC govern contracts, the two laws differ in various ways. The first difference is that, contracts under uniform commercial code apply to various commercial issues such as sale of goods, banking and security interests whereas common law contracts deal with the sale of real estates, employment contracts, insurance, services and sale of intangible assets (Prabhat, 2011). According to the UCC, a good is any item th at is tangible and movable. Therefore, the sale of a home is not a sale of goods since the home is immovable. Also, the sale of a right to a trademark is not a sale of goods since it is not tangible (Cornell University Law School, 2005). The second difference between the two contracts is that, contracts under UCC can be modified without additional considerations as long as they are made in good faith whereas those under common law except

Book critique Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Book critique - Assignment Example Content Summary The book "The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers: The secret to Loving teens effectively" by Gary Chapman deals with teenagers and the bond they share with their parents. Teenage is a time of life at which an individual is establishing his moralities, social beliefs and personality. Therefore children in their teens need their parent’s support, acceptance and unconditional love. Teenagers are vulnerable to negative and accusing words; instead they require words of affirmation and affection. Spending quality time with your teenagers and having real conversations is vital and so is to give your free acts of service. Parents should give thought to their child’s mood and preferences and should show patience when anger comes along, to win with their children ultimately by making them see reason. But in the view of the author the most significant of all things is to keep loving your children unconditionally, that is to show your support even when they fail to come up to your expectations1. Evaluation "The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers: The secret to Loving teens effectively" by Gary Chapman is a manual to parent child relationship when the child hits his teens. It looks into the matters of routine relationships and gives cause to make them special. It does that by giving counsel to parents such as when teenagers’ provide the parents with a cause of ceremony; they should celebrate it with gifts and praise. A particularly neglected idea when it comes to respect child’s want for independence was emphasized that the teenagers should start being given suitable responsibilities so that they might not feel their lives to be useless. The book also devotes some chapters for times when trouble in the life of teenager or the parent child relationship occurs. For example it gives excellent advice upon times when your child is not being the communicative type, and parents are having a hard time understanding the root of his problems. In addi tion it has helpful advice for single parents, who are the neediest cases. Looking into cons, the book fails to address (at large) teenage children who have a natural inclination towards law breaking and misconduct or have fallen into seriously bad company. Overall the book is a gain to youth ministry because it delves into teenage psychology to a great extent and provides reasonable solutions to the underlying intricacy. â€Å"Middle School Ministry Made Simple† by Kurt Johnston Author Information Kurt Johnston is working for junior high ministry from late 1980’s; to be specific he is the junior high Pastor at saddleback church in southern California. He has written a couple of books on the request of Standard publishing. His first book was â€Å"Controlled Chaos: Making Sense of Junior High Ministry†, whose upgraded version is presented in his new book "Middle School Ministry Made Simple†. He lives at Lake forest, California with his wife Rachel and his two children Kayla and Cole. Content Summary The book "Middle School Ministry Made Simple† and its author Kurt Johnston believe in the reforms that the junior high school world has been through and think it important to change the strategies to run junior high schools accordingly. The book provides a guideline on recruiting volunteers and the role they can play in middle school ministry by emphasizing on taking in a number of volunteers but

How Social Styles Affect Assertive Behaviors Research Paper

How Social Styles Affect Assertive Behaviors - Research Paper Example Personal development takes many forms, from improving personal performance, to changing emotional states in particular situations such as public speaking, interviews and presentations. Even after working for weeks, preparing the presentation to the best of one ’s ability, ignoring the nerves building up he doesn’t get the response he desires for. For one reason or another, his brain has learnt to provide him with the wrong unconscious response when he speaks in public. Instead of appropriate levels of adrenalin and excitement to optimize his performance, he gets a fear response as if he is being attacked by a wild animal. Everything in his body and mind is saying "run away!† But he can't, he has to ignore his 'fight or flight' response and stay put and what's more, he has to sound eloquent and informed at the same time. Public Speaking demands lots of experience and knowledge. One needs to get rid of the Public Speaking fear that could only happen when one enjoys speaking in public and giving presentations. Personal Growth plays an important role in Personal Development. All of nature from the acorn that becomes the Great Oak to the microscopic cell that becomes a Sperm whale experiences personal growth. What makes humans different is that we are in the unique position of being able to do it consciously. Personal growth means different things to different people. It may be that one is potentially infinitely perfect! However, he will be aware that there are areas of life where he would like to perform better. When we look around we will notice there are people who have particular skills, traits that we would like to absorb into our own character.

SEC 10K Paper on Target Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

SEC 10K Paper on Target - Assignment Example The corporate headquarters of the company are located in and around Minneapolis, Minnesota - United States, and Mississauga, Ontario- Canada. The financial statements of Target Company to be analyzed are as at February 1, 2014 and February 2, 2013 and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended February  1, 2014 were audited by Ernst  & Young  LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm on February 14, 2014. Profitability: Target Company reported the lowest profits of $ 1,971 in 2013 compared to $ 2,999 and $ 2,929 in 2012 and 2011 respectively. The company incurred huge investments in Canada whose returns was much less than the costs.. Its U.S segment reported profits that seems to have cushioned the company’s consolidated income. Long-Term Debt: Target has a long-term debt worth $ 12,622 million as at February 1, 2014. Types of long-term debts: notes, debentures. Long-term debts decreased in 2013 as compared to $ 14,654 million in 2012. Target Company suffers from poor credit rating. Retained Earnings: Beginning balance is $ 13,155 million and ending balance is $ 12,599. The retained earnings increased because of repurchasing of stock and also, part of the dividends declared was not paid. Target Company paid dividends worth $ 1006 million. Statement of Cash Flows: Ending balance is $ 6520 million. The cash balance increased due to the firm’s increased operations both in Canada and U.S investors always prefer investing in firms with prospective higher returns and potential to faster growth. Fast growing firms often indicate a net income but have their cash held in accounts receivable or depend too heavily on bank financing. This is implied by the items falling under investing activities of the cash flow statement. Our company always has a surplus cash budget. In summary, sales increased showing a positive

How Social Styles Affect Assertive Behaviors Research Paper

How Social Styles Affect Assertive Behaviors - Research Paper Example Personal development takes many forms, from improving personal performance, to changing emotional states in particular situations such as public speaking, interviews and presentations. Even after working for weeks, preparing the presentation to the best of one ’s ability, ignoring the nerves building up he doesn’t get the response he desires for. For one reason or another, his brain has learnt to provide him with the wrong unconscious response when he speaks in public. Instead of appropriate levels of adrenalin and excitement to optimize his performance, he gets a fear response as if he is being attacked by a wild animal. Everything in his body and mind is saying "run away!† But he can't, he has to ignore his 'fight or flight' response and stay put and what's more, he has to sound eloquent and informed at the same time. Public Speaking demands lots of experience and knowledge. One needs to get rid of the Public Speaking fear that could only happen when one enjoys speaking in public and giving presentations. Personal Growth plays an important role in Personal Development. All of nature from the acorn that becomes the Great Oak to the microscopic cell that becomes a Sperm whale experiences personal growth. What makes humans different is that we are in the unique position of being able to do it consciously. Personal growth means different things to different people. It may be that one is potentially infinitely perfect! However, he will be aware that there are areas of life where he would like to perform better. When we look around we will notice there are people who have particular skills, traits that we would like to absorb into our own character.

Indian and Southeast Asian art Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Indian and Southeast Asian art - Research Paper Example Indian art is not to be studied from the time-based evolution perspective but rather from the region and period of its evolution perspective. (Mitter, 2001) Indian art has continuously evolved through time and is still evolving. It begun with rock painting, moving onto rock cut caves and temple architecture and then paintings and sculptures. Alongside these forms, India also showed progress in the tribal form of art as there were various cultural and social groups in India. However, it is worth mentioning that almost all art forms were inspired by the innumerous Gods and Goddesses that people believed in, who were transformed into contemporary forms and familiar images. Indian society has been very secular ever since ancient times and has encouraged different practices all along. This rich philosophy, both spiritual and rational, made its impact on Indian art and architecture. Temples and stupas were seen to incorporate symbolic languages based on important philosophical concepts. (M itter, 2001). These included the Chakra or wheel of time, Padma or lotus, the symbol of creation, Swastika representing aspects of creation and motion, Mriga or deer the symbol of erotic desire and beauty and many such symbols. After the Mughals came to India, monumental architecture was introduced by them. The change in the architecture was reflected in most prominent landmarks like the city gateways and the designs of royal tombs and mosques. However, traditional Indian tastes did continue to influence the Islamic architecture. Throughout its history, religion has played an important role in shaping the country’s culture and beliefs. The major religions practiced in India are Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Sikhism. Of these, Hinduism has been the foremost and most commonly... Dance forms, puppetry and shadow plays were introduced to these countries by Indians in the early 7th century.   Later though Chinese influence was observed along with Islamic influence. Indonesia, a very strong Islamic country, still retained forms of Hindu art and culture like Shadow Puppet and literature like the Ramayana. That is common for most Mainland SEA except Vietnam where Hindu gods and arts were infused into Thai, Khmer, Burmese and Lao cultures.   Many SEA languages like Maley and Javanese contain words of Sanskrit of Dravidian origin and some languages like Thai are still written in some form of Indian derived scripts. Their concepts of kingship and social hierarchy were all adapted from ancient Hindu political theories. The Thai monarchy though follows Buddhism, requires the presence of Gour Brahmans for performing certain ceremonies. The images of Vishnu, lingas, Buddha and other Hindu cults are evidence of influence of Indian culture. Almost everywhere in SEA is a Buddha image showing influence of Guptas or Amravati’s.  The cult of Devaraja or God King, a derivate from Indian terminology, of cosmological and political ideas which was evident in the temple of Angkor Thom. The concept of worshipping a god and making a place of worship was implemented first ever in this temple. With time, the interaction between India and regional evolution started producing many distinctive styles of Indianised SEA art and architecture.The other common factor between India and SEA was the worship of Lord Shiva.

International and Intercultural Communication Essay Example for Free

International and Intercultural Communication Essay International and Intercultural Communications have been of great interest to the Hofstede Centre for many years. In fact Geert Hofstede’s dimensions of culture have been the most widely disseminated of all theories. Hofstede’s five cultural dimensions are, â€Å"1) Power Distance, 2) Individualism or Collectivism, 3) Masculinity-Femininity, 4) Uncertainty Avoidance, and 5) Short or Long Term Orientation.† (Donald Baack, 2012, Chapter 2.4). â€Å"Professor Geert Hofstede conducted one of the most comprehensive studies of how values in the workplace are influenced by culture. He analyzed a large database of employee value scores collected within IBM between 1967 and 1973. The data covered more than 70 countries, from which Hofstede first used the 40 countries with the largest groups of respondents and afterwards extended the analysis to 50 countries and 3 regions.† (The Hofstede Center, n.d.). In the next few pages I will compare the similarities and differences in scores between the countries of Croatia and Slovenia in relation to Hofstede’s five cultural dimensions as well as provide a scenario involving two organizations, one located in each country and their business practices relating to the different cultural perspectives. In the dimension of Power-Distance Croatia scores high with a score of 73 which means the people accept a hierarchical order in which everybody has a place and which needs no further justification. In this type of society people expect to be told what to do and this is accepted as the norm. (Hofstede Centre, n.d.). Slovenia also scored high in the dimension of Power-Distance with a score of 71. What this displays is two of the former eastern European countries, are very similar in their societal beliefs in hierarchal order and the populace was still routed in a culture where subordinates do as they are told by the boss and the boss is an aut ocrat in the bigger sense. In the second of the  five cultural dimensions Individualism or Collectivism, Croatia scored 33 which are considered a collectivistic society. â€Å"This is manifest in a close long-term commitment to the member group, be that a family, extended family, or extended relationships. Loyalty in a collectivist culture is paramount, and over-rides most other societal rules and regulations. The society fosters strong relationships where everyone takes responsibility for fellow members of their group. In collectivist societies offence leads to shame and loss of face, employer/employee relationships are perceived in moral terms (like a family link); hiring and promotion decisions take account of the employee’s in-group, management is the management of groups.† (The Hofstede Centre, n.d.). Slovenia, had a score of 27 is also considered a collectivistic society just like we saw in Croatia. Once again the two bordering countries are nearly identical in their collectivist societie s. Our third dimension of Masculinity-Femininity resulted in a score of 40. With this score they are considered a relatively feminine society. Feminine societies focus on the theory of work to live. In a feminine society it is also common for managers to seek consensus. Even with such a disparity in scores and Slovenia’s’ score of 19 on this dimension, they too are considered more of a feminine society. Like the culture of Croatia they work to live and the people value things like equality, solidarity and pleasure in their working lives. â€Å"Conflicts are resolved by compromise and negotiation. Incentives such as free time and flexibility are favored. Focus is on well-being, status is not shown.† (The Hofstede Centre, n.d.). The fourth dimension of Uncertainty Avoidance resulted in a score of 80 signifying a very high preference for avoiding uncertainty. As stated in the Hofstede report, â€Å"Countries exhibiting high uncertainty avoidance maintain rigid codes o f belief and behavior and are intolerant of unorthodox behavior and ideas. In these cultures there is an emotional need for rules (even if the rules never seem to work) time is money, people have an inner urge to be busy and work hard, precision and punctuality are the norm, innovation may be resisted, security is an important element in individual motivation.† (The Hofstede Centre, n.d.). Slovenia also scored quite high with an 88 signifying they too choose to avoid uncertainty and need rules regardless of the effectiveness of them. Our final dimension is the dimension of Short or Long Term Orientation. In the comparison statistics this is referred to as  pragmatism and indulgence. Croatia achieved scores of 58 and 33 respectively. These figures indicate that the Croatian society believe truth is dependent on situations, context of what is said and the time. â€Å"They show an ability to adapt traditions easily to changed conditions, a strong propensity to save and invest thriftiness, and perseverance in achieving results.† (The Hofstede Cen tre, n.d.). The 33 score received for indulgence is an indication of a restrained country. â€Å"Societies with a low score in this dimension have a tendency to cynicism and pessimism. Also, in contrast to indulgent societies, restrained societies do not put much emphasis on leisure time and control the gratification of their desires. People with this orientation have the perception that their actions are restrained by social norms and feel that indulging themselves is somewhat wrong.† (The Hofstede Centre, n.d.). Slovenia had scores of 49 in pragmatism and 48 in indulgence. These scores both result in no clear preference for one or the other. As I have demonstrated by comparing the results for these two countries, bordering countries can be quite similar in some aspects of International and Intercultural Communications but quite different in others. As an example if I opened a car repair business or franchise in these two countries and expected them to work together some of the things I could expect is, they both would struggle with working together since they both prefer autocratic leaders and operate under the concept of being told what to do. What this means to me is that regardless if I am physically there with them or providing communication from afar they will execute all actions to benefit the business in a positive manner. These societies rely on face and losing face through failure is not an option they accept easily. In contrast to this is they both enjoy the benefits of family time, strong ties to immediate and extended family (the organization), managers often seek consensus and conflict is resolved through compromise and negotiation. This later part about conflict resolution is because both societies are feministic in nature and as we all know, women are often times more level headed and less apt to fly off the hand le over little issues that can be resolved in an agreeable manner when thought out and discussed properly. This could be beneficial or difficult since us Americans believe in more time at work than time with family in today’s working environment. I believe this is an instance where I would need to adjust my work ethic in order to  gain more from these two countries in keeping with their societal beliefs and standards. From my perception of Hofstede’s five cultural dimensions is that two companies in these two countries of Croatia and Slovenia would work very well together and in fact complement one another nicely, leading to great success for the organization. What I have done in the past few pages is to demonstrate the similarities and differences in scores between the countries of Croatia and Slovenia in relation to Hofstede’s five cultural dimensions as well as provided you with the scenario involving two organizations, one located in each country and their business practices relating to the different cultural perspectives. I believe Hofstede’s five dimens ions were quite relevant when originally complied and are still quite relevant today. References Baack, D., Management Communication, 2012. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUBUS600.12.1 Mind Tools Ltd, 1996-2014. Retrieved from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_66.htm The Hofstede Centre, National Cultural Dimensions, n.d. Retrieved from http://geert-hofstede.com/national-culture.html The Hofstede Centre, National Cultural Dimensions, n.d. Retrieved from http://geert-hofstede.com/croatia.html

Increasing Floorspace Construction Plan

Increasing Floorspace Construction Plan After the negotiation of the final contract, EID was given the authorization to begin the project.  But there was no formal notice to proceed and the duration of the project was not closely monitored or contractually specified. In the appointment of an owners representative during the design phase, to expedite owners decisions and approvals, Mr. Ian Leadbetter, a mechanical and software engineer, was appointed as the owner representative even though he lacked project management training and experience. Failures in submittal reviews Mr. Leadbetter was occupied with the software development and did not have a standardized process in place for the approval of submittals and other key project management owner processes. Design process failures There was no process that was in place to deal with the expansion of the production train. This change caused the software design work that was completed to be discarded resulting in Mr. Ledbetters need to focus on redesign of the software and not on his duties of facilitating and communicating information between all parties. Since there were no processes on order for submittal reviews and approvals, there was a significant delay in the delivery of the production train equipment. During the construction phase, there were numerous problems that resulted including inter-coordination of shop drawings to design causing the structure of the building to be designed five feet less than required for the production train, owner representatives conducting business with subcontractors without the contractor being present, and other problems with process and technical management. There was no communications plan in place for the project. Failures in completion schedule and getting occupancy permits There were delays due to a number of shortfalls in the project management system. The management failed to hold EID accountable for project completion and closeout causing delays in schedule.   EID did not provide the building occupation permit nor did they comply with scheduling requirements for utility tie-ins causing several weeks in lost production. b. The real objectives of Woody were as follows: Increase the production capacity by 25% Increase the flooring of the production plant Install air conditioning Install dust free painting and finishing shop Add additional compressor capacity Completely install a semi-automatic wood working production train Renovate the President and Vice-Presidents offices e. The projects success can be gauged by their adherence to cost, time, usage of resources and quality standards. Cost: Maximum cost allowed was $ 17 million. Having a control over the budget, without any deviations would be success criteria. Time: The maximum time allowed for the project was 18 months. Any deviation from this would reflect poorly. Quality: Adherence to both product and process quality would be important. Product quality can be determined by the Conditions of Satisfaction established by the customer, in this case the management board of Customs Wood Work. The second quality standard can be measured by the criterion set by the project team in order to obtain the final product. Process quality has to be developed at every stage. 2. Project Scope Set up in 1954, Custom Wood Works had diversified into the manufacturing of made-to-order kitchen and bathroom cabinets, furniture for wholesalers/retailers along with its traditional offering of customized furniture. The company had even taken up sub contract work supplying installing counter tops and cabinets for commercial constructions. With the mini-boom in the construction industry, Custom Wood Works was set to expand its manufacturing business. The company was looking to enter the field of manufacturing by computer controlled automation. To give a certain grandeur to this strategy, the offices of the President and the Vice-President were being refurbished. The scope of the project includes increasing the floor space available to the company with a focus on increasing the companys production capacity by 25%. It also includes setting up of a new semi-automatic wood working production train complete with air-conditioning facilities and a dust free painting shop. The project even includes renovation of the President and Vice-Presidents office. The additives to Woodys project plan should include Sales Assessment An assessment of committed sales contracts and projected contracts should be done to ensure that production can still be maintained during proposed construction and that customer demands for scheduling and delivery requirements are met. There should be a strategic planning session which includes administration, sales, and production to ensure a high standard for customer satisfaction during proposed construction process.  A detailed sales and marketing plan should be prepared and should have contingency planning in case the market falls in a certain sector.   Process and Recommended PMLC model A complete systems flow should be developed to include document, task and schedule accountability, and allow for the integrated coordination between the owner, design and construction teams, and governing agencies. A Woody 2000 project steering committee should be formed that includes the executive management team and key leaders of the project.   Strategic planning and focus groups A systematic strategic planning session with various groups in the organization should be organized. Sub focus group which includes finance, production and administration should be formed. All meetings would have very detailed meeting minutes to include new and old business, pending issues and accountability milestones.   A task-tracking log can be maintained in each of the key disciplines. Evaluate Design and Constructability Value engineering, systems analysis, interior and exterior specification selections, program requirements, and overall design development coordination should be included. Existing production output should be reviewed along with new technologies and the affect upgraded machinery would have on production. Existing production capability should be maintained in order to service existing clients.   Project sequencing and mobilization A complete interfacing of the Woody 2000 project program requirements with the existing operations to determine various solutions for construction mobilization should be included. Pre-construction schedule Woodys executive team should be included in the overall development of the pre-construction schedule with related tasks and accountability time lines. A mobilization plan must be completed in order to ensure that the existing production lines can be maintained without interruption. Financial Performa and feasibility Various alternatives to the proposed expansion including Financial Performa, implications of proposed construction, system for programming spaces, methodologies for hiring of design and construction teams, design development process, implementation process, cost controls, and quality control procedures, should be developed.   Contractor selection methodology A competitive bidding process for the selection of the General Contractor should be followed. A preconstruction conference would be held in which the construction documents would be handed out and the project parameters be discussed and established with contractors. b. Woodys plan in managing the project included the following: Appointing Spencer Moneysworth as the Project Lead Inviting Expert Industrial Developers to quote on the construction. A monthly cash flow was developed by Kim Cashman. Mr. Leadbetter was appointed to take over the day-to-day running of the project. Various vendors like Piecemeal Corporation etc. were appointed to supply the necessities for the impending construction. The installation of the mechanical equipment in the dust free paint shop was given to Amos Dent of Tinknockers Associates. The local inspection authority was asked to intervene and check for compliance with the regulatory policies. An additional line of project financing was opened up to meet the escalated costs, because of the delay in completion. An expensive marketing strategy was launched to win back the lost customers. For post project appraisal, project management consultant W. Easley Associates were retained. A new and improved project management plan should include the following: Programming guidelines 1.  Design review Review Architectural and Engineering Design Services Agreements and ensure that these agreements have definitive date constraints and design to budget parameters. 2.  Review Programming Objectives a. Confirm the Woody team overall desires, intentions, goals and objectives for their expansion and develop a complete needs assessment b. Confirm the long range facility strategies and the necessary sales and marketing strategies needed to keep the new production train generative for its proper production to payback ratio. 3. Review Programming Documents a. Confirm the assessment and audit of Owners existing facilities and determine specific needs to projected revenues.  Review existing operations to ensure that production is not affected by the construction process. b. Ensure the Owners facility needs are fully documented by the use of a program manual and needs assessment log. d. Coordinate with the executive team the overall requested program to decipher between needs and wants and obtain necessary approvals. 4. Review/Maintain Overall Project Budget (OPB) a. Confirm the Owners needs and constraints regarding overall project budget and develop concise budgeting throughout design development phase. b. Confirm coordination of the budget with the program to insure sufficient funds are set aside and that the sequencing of work is in line with projected cash flow. c. Determine cash flow requirements and projections for the duration of the master schedule and coordinate with the finance office. d. Prepare periodic reports to document the planned cash flow versus actual cash flow and report to the Woody 2000 executive steering committee. 5. Review/Maintain Overall Project Schedule (OPS) a. Validate the preliminary schedule and expand the final project schedule and identify major milestones and the critical path for project. b. Validate major team members needs, responsibilities and detailed scheduling of team members work including owner supplied equipment, subcontractors, and the entire project workforce. 6. Review Site Due Diligence 7. Zoning Surveys Coordinate and confirm approvals for proper permitting. a. Transportation Confirm the necessity of a traffic management plan to ensure that the 850 existing employees have ample parking and are not affected by the construction. b. Legal restrictions Confirm approvals for equipment and new paint shop area. c. Environmental reports Soils investigation Confirm that all soils reports are sufficient for the new building footers and structure. e. Existence and capacity of utilities and infrastructure Coordinate with the appropriate utility companies to confirm that all expanded utilities are scheduled properly and without delay. f. Determine applicable government and community agency requirements, approvals and permit. b.  Design Process 1.  Confirm Procurement Agreements Design Services a. Confirm list of consultants, contractors and vendors whose services may be required in the purchasing of design services. b. Monitor the development of agreements to be awarded to successful bidders, all required contracts must be based on hard numbers or guaranteed maximum pricing. 2.  Performance Compliance a. Coordinate the specification of materials with the Owners needs there should be careful consideration given to the production train equipment. b. With the design consultants, develop procedures for material testing and test reporting. 3.  Consultant Coordination a. Monitor the coordination of consultants and vendors in such areas as the production train equipment and other specialized equipment necessary for the expansion space. 4.  Program and Design Compatibility a. Confirm with the design consultants that the developing designs are compatible with the program, master schedule, master budget and quality expectations. b. Confirm with the design consultants that the design as developed is compatible with the Owners needs. 5.  Submittals a. Monitor design submittals and approvals. 6.  Insurance a. Confirm that design consultants have and maintain insurance in accordance with the Owners needs. 7.  Cost Control a. Manage procurement of conceptual estimates of construction costs. b. Assist with value engineering ideas. 8.  Financing a. Assist Owner with developing a process for managing use of the contingency fund. b. Make adjustments as necessary to project current and future cash flows. 4. Quality a. Maintaining quality in this case, includes Adherence to procedures and processes Enforcement of the processes Issuance of completion certificates   Procedures and processes Quality assurance of The Woody 2000 project can only be accomplished through proactive involvement of the management team, interaction with the Owner, and design personnel. The tools to accomplish the same include: Design reviews-Constructability reviews value analysis Submittal control and approval Pre-construction meetings for major building components Partnering Sessions at key intervals of the project to clarify project standards and goals Educating trade contractors in the QA/QC (Quality Assurance/Quality Control) requirements of the project. Quality assurance and control of the Construction Manager and subcontractors and in field operations should begin during the design phase to determine that the contract requirements are clearly understood by all parties.   Periodic inspections must be conducted to ensure that all items are in conformance, or that non-conforming items are corrected.   Enforcement A regular quality inspection process should be documented. If the quality program is not implemented properly, a notice should be given to the parties involved, calling for an immediate resolution. 3.  Review and issuing completion certificate As certain phases of the project are completed, a list of expected deliverables should be given to the contractors. The subcontractors are expected to cross check the expected deliverables with the actual deliverables and call in the quality team for a review. On successful completion fo the review, the completion certificate may be given to the contractor. b. Leadbetter didnt invoke the quality specifications as he had not been trained in project management experience and lacked the desired skills. The result of it were the following The specification of the production train was changed to increase capacity resulting in the rewriting of the software. This increased debugging at the start-up. Review and approval procedures for the various specifications and drawings were not taken, because of which there was a delay in getting the approval. Change in the production plans made it imperative to add another 5 feet to the length of the building. Delay in receiving and reviewing the catalogue descriptions and other specifications. Failure to meet the local environmental compliance standards, as set by the inspection authority. Building occupation certificate couldnt be obtained. Owners inspection and dry-run tests of the production train couldnt be performed. Customer delivery dates were missed and general contractors cancelled their orders. Depletion in the finished goods inventory and hence loss of face and sales opportunities. Resultant delay in the completion of the project, ensured that costs escalated and required an additional line of financing to be opened up. c. The importance of quality for such a project is because of the following reasons Ensures minimum re-work. Would ensure complete utilization of the resources The project would be under the stipulated budget. Proper quality would refer to compliance of standards and procedures. The project can be completed within the stipulated time. 8. Communication and People Management a. Organization Chart Project Chart b. Leadbetter when appointed to take care of the project lacked the knowledge which would have made him an indispensable part of the project. He lacked project management training and experience. He did not have any grounding in the understanding of the project life-cycle and control concepts. But Leadbetter had specialization in the understanding of the semi-automatic manufacturing machinery, which was the area of expansion of the organization. As such, with the start of the production run, this knowledge would have proven to be an asset ot the company. Hence, imparting training in project management and nurturing of his skills would have helped the company. c. Communication Plan The communication plan addresses crucial items which should include: Responsibility Matrix, Team Coordination, Master Schedule and Specific levels of reporting for different levels of individuals within the project design and construction team. Individual team members should receive specific types of reports such as: project team meeting minutes; monthly executive reports, schedule; etc.   Project goals are to be established and documented so each team member understands the common objectives. A Procedures Manual (PMP) should be completed which has all approved processes and procedures for the project.   Progress meetings: These meetings are important and should be conducted at least weekly, with trade contractors and key subcontractors, to discuss current progress and accomplished milestone objectives, forecast the weeks progress and goals, address problems encountered and actions required to correct any deficient work.   This entails two primary goals: To provide a series of tools for accurate monitoring of the progress of the project. To provide thorough, accurate records of the project to protect the owner from potential disputes or legal problems. Therefore, the following is tracked and recorded on each project: This can be achieved through rade Contractor Daily Reports, Construction Photos, Daily Logs, Testing/Inspection Services, Shop Drawings/Submittals, Document Management, Progress Meetings, Schedule Enforcement, Progress Reporting, Safety Inspections etc. Contract Administration and Field Coordination: The project manager should oversee the coordination of efforts between each contract, including issues such as accessibility to the site, maintenance of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, eliminating disruption to on-going existing activities, tie-ins of utilities and roadways, compatibility of construction methods, construction phasing and utilization of construction forces. Information Management Systems: An Information Management System which implements, tracks and records all the various elements of Project management, planning, organization, meetings and reviews, site logistics, shop drawings, field orders, and document control, should be bought into place. Decision Tracking:   A decision tracking system can be designed to keep the project moving.   Whenever a critical issue is identified by the project team, the system would track the issue, its impact, its source, and the party responsible for the action on the issue.   As individuals take action on the issue, the system would track each action taken and identify the next responsible party in the process of reaching a decision on the issue.   As each issue is resolved, the decision tracking system would close the issue, but preserves the history of the decision process.   RFIs Requests for Information:   These forms can be used regularly to stimulate communication between all project team members, including the owner and architect.   These requests receive immediate attention and are invaluable in aiding the team members to anticipate conflicts before they become problems. d. Expected Communication during execution This should include Design Package Log:  Tracks drawings, specifications and key dates as needed. Pending C.O. Log:  This log tracks owner and designer wish list items and cost.   They allow for timely decisions while maintaining the project budget. Team Action List:  Tracks actions needed to accomplish schedule goals and facilitated those actions. Bi-Weekly Schedules and Meetings:  Meetings, facilitating communication and planning among team members.   These are directed mainly at trade contractors, but also need support from the owner and architect. Liaison Meeting:  Bi-Weekly meetings which includes owner representatives to facilitate major decisions and exchange valuable information.   Submittal Log:  Tracks all submittals by trade contractors requiring approval by the architect and engineers.   Daily Manpower Reports:  This report tracks trade contractors manpower.   This report is reviewed daily and weekly to monitor adequacy of work forces necessary to maintain schedule. CCA Status Reports:  Tracked changes (Contract Change Authorization) and the Owners contingencies available for changes.   Alternate/Value Engineering Log:  Tracks potential additive and deductive changes that the Owner may wish to implement.   Three-Month Calendar:  A three-month calendar with all upcoming meetings and major events can be included with all meeting minutes and updated weekly. 10. Cost Control a. Reasons for the initial high price of EID The initial bid of EID amounted to $ 20 million on a 18 month schedule. EID believed that Woodys would need considerable help with their project planning and had allowed for a number of uncertainties. EID allowed to undertake the work on a fully reimbursable contract. The counter offer EID made was to do the work on their cost but solicit fixed price quotations for all sub-trade work. Their position was reasonable because of 2 reasons: The hourly rate paid would cover all the direct wages/salaries, pay roll burden, head-office overhead and profit. This rate would apply to all engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning for which EID would employ another subcontractor for the building and design work The number of hours put in by EID can be monitored effectively by Woodys. b. 2 years after the project was first launched, there was no meaningful planning for completion. Owners acceptance, testing, dry-run and production start-up of the production train had not been carried out. Also the occupation certificate had not been availed. Due to late delivery of the production train, the tie-in of power and other utility connections scheduled for the annual 2 week maintenance shut-down could not take place. Customer delivery dates were missed and some general contractors cancelled their contracts and placed their orders for mill work elsewhere. Sales opportunities were lost too. All this put together resulted in the fact that, the project was only 85% complete because the delay in completion too was charged to Woodys account. c. Cost Control An experienced team of experts with knowledge of quantities and historical pricing, project management and field supervision, should provide the expertise on all elements relating to cost control, including budgeting, estimating, value engineering and the qualification of subcontractors.   The Woody 2000 project steering committee would receive formal reports weekly from Mr. Moneysworth and Mr. Cashman. The following cost control methods can be implemented throughout the pre-construction and construction phases of the project: Budget Planning In the budgeting phase of the project, the current projected costs of the project can be compared with the initial budget so that the cost doesnt escalate. It has to be ensured that the work involved meets the projected goals Estimating Definitive estimates should be made through schematic design, design development and construction documents stages of the project.  Work has to be done in conjunction with the various prime subcontractors in developing estimates that can be tracked in a similar format to simplify the reconciliation at each estimate phase. Conceptual Pricing: An in-house cost coding system can be developed, to expand into more detailed pricing as the design progresses.   A computer-aided quantity survey system would allow to accurately produce the basic quantities for the project. Cost Forecasting: Prior to the start of the construction phase, transfer the estimate into a cost forecasting format used by project management staff to track costs throughout the project to completion.   This estimating process built from each stage to a Guaranteed Maximum Price estimate, would check it against previous work. Cost Accounting/Tracking: Once the contract price is determined, the estimated labor, material and subcontractor costs can be allocated among standard cost accounts at a level of detail appropriate for tracking individual tasks against the project budget. Procurement and Labor: The procurement cycle begins as purchase orders, subcontracts and change orders are committed, then immediately documented and simultaneously recorded in the cost system.   Actual labor costs, together with work-in-progress, can be recorded on a weekly basis through the payroll system. Cost Reporting: Cost reports are comprehensive and responsive to the specific needs of the project.   Labor reports, printed at the job site weekly, can be used by project management to review progress and costs.   Vendor commitments and expenditures, sorted in various level of detail, can be monitored in several reports. Actual job cost detail can be reported on a limited date range, a group of cost accounts, or for the entire project to date.   Purchasing: A system must be followed that solicits competitive bids from subcontractors and suppliers based upon a set of defined bidding procedures.   In conjunction with the owner, this would identify qualified and capable subcontractors and suppliers taking into consideration their previous experience, workload, ability to perform, and financial capability.   Pre-bid meetings can be conducted for the purpose of assisting subcontractors in understanding the bid documents, design intent and project requirements Subcontractor Qualification: The subcontractor qualification process remains an important part of cost and project control.   However, subcontractors cannot be arbitrarily eliminated from the project unless warranted by serious business indicators.   The subcontractor qualification process is an important step in evaluating the apparent low bidders for capability to satisfactorily perform the scope of work.   Additionally, the evaluation can reveal early signs of weakness, which can be supported to ensure a quality performance. Pricing: Prices should be obtained from a minimum of three pre-qualified bidders for each category of work on the project.   The accuracy and dependability of subcontractor pricing should be directly related to the content of information furnished to the bidders.   d. Flow Chart for processing changes: Cost Forecasting Conceptual Pricing Estimating Budget Planning Purchasing Cost Reporting Procurement Labour Cost Tracking Sub Contracting 11. Risk Identification and Control b c. List of Woodys Actual Surprises: The allocated budget for the project was pegged at $17 million, with 18 months as the time frame for the construction. Mr.Moneysworth invited Expert Industrial Developers to quote on the planned expansion. The fixed price quotation which was given by the firm amounted to $ 20 million and an 18 month schedule. Mr. Ian Leadbetter was appointed for running the project, despite his lack of knowledge in project management training and experience. On suggestion of EID, that Woodys should take over the procurement of the production train directly, the entire production train specification had to be changed to increase the capacity and consequently the program codes too. Change in the production plan resulted in another 5 feet being added to the height of the building. Catalogue descriptions and specifications were not received until the foundations had been poured The surplus paint disposal method didnt meet the environmental standards as specified by the inspection authority Failure to obtain the building occupation certificate Failure of the tie-in of the power and other utility connections Response to the above: Costs arising from these changes, including the delay in the completion were charged tto Woodys account. To mitigate the effect of only 85% completion, Cashman was forced to scramble for an additional line of project financing at prime plus 2.5% interest. Liquid cash was spent at every such instance. A coordinated marketing effort was launched to regain the interest of the customer, which didnt have much effect. Possible Risk Management Plan: The implementers of the project could have followed a 4 prong Risk Management Plan: Risk Identification: Identify potential risks as a part of the project. Case specific potential risks can include securing permits and unfavorable weather conditions which may hamper the construction work. A 10% contingency can be accorded to the construction schedule. Care should be taken to ensure that schedule creep doesnt happen. There can be 4 categories of risk included as a part of the Risk Management Plan Technical Risk: This includes a review of the quality and performance goals of the project. Proper installation of the lag bolts, coordination with the drawing shops and the foundation contractor etc. come under this. Project Management Resources: This includes improper planning and allocation of resources and improper use of management disciplines. Coordination between the owners interface and the appropriate contractors can be a part of this. Organizational Risks: This should ensure that the there are enough human resources allocated to the project and that there are no conflicts between the project staff and the employees of the Custom Wood Working company. External Risk: These risks can be caused by external parties such as regulatory agencies, labor contracts and supplier restrictions. There should be proper coordination with utility companies and that all equipments and systems should be approved by the appropriate regulatory agencies. Risk Assessment This can be done by 2 methods: Static and Dynamic assessment. While static risk assessment is

The Life of Vincent Van Gogh Essay -- Biography Biographies Essays

The Life of Vincent Van Gogh Vincent Van Gogh is one of the most famous artists of all time. He is known for his paintings and is hailed as the quintessential expressionist painter in history. Yet, Van Gogh lived one of the most troubling lives one could ever imagine. Almost every painting can be viewed as a look into his troubled soul. Van Gogh’s Paintings today can be sold for millions of dollars, but during his life time he sold a single painting for a measly 40 francs. Van Gogh’s legacy has left behind stories of greatness and sadness having to do with both his personal life and his career as an artist. Vincent Van Gogh was born near Brabant, Belgium, the son of a minister. In 1869, he got a position at the art dealers, Goupil and Co. in The Hague, through his uncle, and worked with them until he was dismissed from the London office in 1873. He worked as a schoolmaster in England (1876), before training for the ministry at Amsterdam University (1877). After he failed to get a post in the Church, he went to live as an independent missionary among t...

City of Kelsey

City of Kelsey In the city of Kelsey there are a variety of people that live here. We are an enormous community with doctors, farmers, bankers, right down to your everyday blue collar workers and many more. The residents in the community have many different jobs. We have people that work the farms, teach our children, work the mills and those that are here to serve and protect us such as the police officers, firefighters and ambulance personnel essay writer vancouver.The community offers up a variety of opportunities for our members to gather together and socialize such the local fairs, where there are many chances for the members of the community to socialize and fellowship. The local mall also offers up a wide array of terrific shops and plenty of activities for community members to join in and have fun. The city has a nice blend of many different cultures and ethnicity which allows people of a race or culture to feel comfortable within.Each member of the community participates by helping and giving back to the community by volunteering their time, monies or resources that they have available. It is not a must that each member is required to give back, because as we all know there are always those that are less fortunate than others or perhaps could be struggling. The community members are to pull resources together to lend a helping hand where needed to those that need it. As a socially responsible community member I am compassionate and caring and respect my neighbors.I do my part to lend a helping hand whether it is acknowledged or not. I do my best to volunteer when I can, donate money or resources for a cause and actively work hard at being a good person. I take the time out of my life to make time for someone else or to give back to those that have done so much for the community. My family and friends are a top priority in my life, so I take the time to welcome new faces in the neighborhood, as well as keeping in touch with and caring for those that hav e lived in the community for years.

Nutrition and food science: energy balance

Nutrition in general is a concern for adolescents, who are entering a stressful, confusing, and sometimes frightening time of social, emotional, and physical development. Healthy diet and regular physical activity help children and adults feel better, learn and work more effectively, and avoid developing a variety of risk factors for disease. The key to weight control or weight management is keeping energy intake (food) and energy output (physical activity) in balance; that is energy balance. Read also: Domestic Activities and Chemicals When you consume only as many calories as your body needs, your weight will usually remain constant. If you take in more calories than your body needs, you will put on excess fat. If you expend more energy than you take in you will burn excess fat. The relationship of energy balance to body weight can be summarized by the following equations: Energy Intake = Energy Output = Weight Maintenance Energy Intake > Energy Output = Weight Gain Energy Intake < Energy Output = Weight Loss Weight management means keeping your body weight at a healthy level. Regular exercise and a healthy diet are a must when it comes to controlling your weight. A weight management plan depends on whether you are overweight or underweight. Many people mistakenly believe that they only â€Å"burn calories† when they exercise. In fact, your body is burning calories all of the time (yes, even when sleeping!). Calories are used to keep basic body functions going, to metabolize the foods you eat, and to do any form of physical activity. Exactly how many calories people need varies, depending on such factors as gender, current body size, activity level and body weight goals a wise choice to achieve a healthy weight. A safe, tried-and-true method for long-term weight loss is to reduce calories by decreasing portion sizes when people tend to eat. When trying to lose weight or hold steady at a desired one, there’s no need to turn to the latest â€Å"diet† or outcast your favorite foods. Small changes to your diet and exercise routine can make a big difference. A healthful eating plan can include all your favorite foods if they are in reasonable amounts and balanced out with daily physical activity. Aerobic physical activity, if no health prohibitions, will assist in increasing muscle tissue and also in burning calories. However, care should be taken not to exercise more frequently and more intensely that is required for good health or to compete well. Physical activity should be balanced with diet to maintain a desired weight. Experts have come to believe that this approach of weight management is reasonable and promising. No proven side effects, however, success of weight efforts should be evaluated according to improvements in chronic disease risk factors or symptoms and by the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits, not just by the number of pounds lost/gain. But if you are over 40, have been inactive for some time, suffer from shortness of breath or weakness that interferes with daily activities, or suffer from a chronic condition, you should consult a physician before you begin any effort to reduce your weight or increase your activity level. Education may be necessary for an understanding of energy balance and basic nutrition principles. REFERENCE Atkins, R. (1981). Dr.Atkins: Nutrition breakthrough. New York, U.S.A: Bantom Books.            

Movie Analysis Paper on The Joy Luck Club

The movie I selected is â€Å"The Joy Luck Club† that illustrates the gap and the misunderstanding between foreign-born mothers from China and their American-born daughters who are ignorant of their culture, life, morals, and ways. Jing-mei, the main character in the film, has taken her mother, Suyuan’s place playing mahjong in a weekly gathering that her deceased mother had organized in China and revived in San Francisco- The Joy Luck Club. The club’s other members- auntie Lindo, Ying-ying, and An-mei are three of her mother’s oldest friends and fellow immigrants.The movie, which was filmed after the success of the book by Amy Tan, alternates viewpoints from each set of mother-daughter’s story, in which each recalls the relationship with their own mothers. Following that, the daughters- Waverly, Jing-mei, Lena, and Rose, relate their recollections of their childhood relationships with their mothers. As they grow up, they narrate the troubles in the ir marriages and careers. The daughters’ search for solutions inevitably brings them back to their relationships with the older generation.Once I went over the movie list on the guideline, I instantly knew that I was going to choose this movie as the name popped up. The Joy Luck Club has always been one of my favorite books in my teenage years. I was first introduced to the book version by my English tutor in 7th grade, and found it fascinating as it reflects the similarity the movie has between my family and myself. My family emigrated from Taiwan to the U. S. when I was 9-years-old, so that partly made me an Asian American who can speak a decent amount of Chinese.Grewing up, I was aware of the clash between the two opposing cultures of the East and West as I interacted with friends from the American culture and parents from the Chinese culture. As I read the book, I can strongly relate the stories to my own personal experiences, like acting as â€Å"obedient daughter† by playing the piano to make mother proud, and mothers comparing each of their child to others. The book encouraged me to reflect back to my relationship with my own mother, and challenged me to think about my own identity as a 1.5-generation Asian American.The first time I watched the movie was after I finished reading the book in 7th grade. At that time, nothing really hit me much, that may be partly because I was not emotionally mature enough to have had enough experience to relate to the stories. So instead, I was just focusing on how the plots in the movie were different from that in the book, what scenes were left out in the movie that were included in the book, how each character’s look is compared to my own imagination†¦etc.But as I watched it a second time in the past few days, the feelings just progressed so strongly that it turned out irresistible to refrain from tears, especially during the last scene as Jing-mei reunited with her long lost Chinese half-sis ters as she returned back to China. I guess, as I am now a young adult now, I can more maturely attach the emotional feelings of the daughters to my own feelings as an Asian American. I now try to treasure the time I get to spend with my mom, and respect, appreciate the every little thing she did for me while I was growing up.Throughout the movie, there were several scenes perpetuating prejudice and discrimination. Gender role is a big problem that can be easily identified. For example, in China, Lindo was forced to live almost as a servant to her mother-in-law and husband, conforming to idealized roles of feminine submission and duty. Another example is that An-mei’s mother being raped by her father, that she must marry him to preserve her honor; whereas he, as a man, may marry any number of concubines without being judged harshly.In America, the daughters also encountered the problem of sexism as they grew up. Rose’s passivity with Ted is based on the stereotypical g ender roles of a proactive, heroic male and a submissive, victimized female. Lena’s agreement to serve as a mere associate in the architecture firm that she helped her husband to found, as well as her agreement to make only one seventh of his salary, may also be based on sexist ideals that she has absorbed. After watching the movie, I became more aware of the inferior role women play in both Chinese and American culture.Men were undoubtedly in a dominant position socially, economically, and sexually. Discrimination against ethnicity can also be seen in the Chinese in-group from the daughters’ behaviors. Even though the daughters were genetically Chinese and have been raised in Chinese households, they also identified with and felt at home in modern American culture. Waverly, Rose, and Lena all had white boyfriends and husbands, yet they regarded their mothers’ customs and tastes as old-fashioned and ridiculous.They have also spent most of their childhood escapin g their Chinese identity- Lena would walk around the neighborhood with her eyes opened to the widest to make them look European. Jing-mei denied having any internal Chinese aspects and insisted her Chinese identity was limited only to her external features. Waverly would have joyfully clapped her hands if her mother had told her she did not look Chinese. The examples mentioned above depict some of the prejudice the daughters’ formed against their own Chinese ethnicity.Not only does prejudice comes from the in-group, it comes from the out-groups as well. The most conspicuous example is when Rose’s mother-in-law pulled Rose aside and tried to convince her that Ted was going to work for a big firm, that other people are not as â€Å"understandable† as them, at the same time indirectly asking her to leave Ted because she was not â€Å"White†. Another example is when Waverly introduced Rich into the family and brought him home for dinner.Lindo’s condesc ending gaze at Rich when he did not understand the Chinese tradition of eating and criticized her cooking made her being more despiteful of the â€Å"Caucasian† Rich. The last example I picked up on is at the very beginning, when Jing-mei was playing mahjong with the three aunties, and auntie Lindo commented on Jing-mei having known to play Jewish mahjong and not familiar with Chinese mahjong. She disdainfully expressed that the two types are entirely different, that Jewish mahjong has no strategy while Chinese mahjong is very tricky.Although just of a subtle hint, I translated it as auntie Lindo’s prejudice towards the Jews. Alongside from the prejudice and the discriminations, I found several of the old Chinese traditional stereotypes in the movie to be fascinating for me to relate to. The scenes where Jing-mei’s mother was escaping the Japanese war in China with the twin babies made me think back to my grandparents escaping the Communist armies with my baby u ncle and aunt and fleeing to Taiwan by a boat.The scenes where auntie Lindo and Jing-mei’s mother was sitting at Jing-mei’s piano recital comparing the accomplishments of their daughters made me relate back to when my mom was constantly telling me the kids in the neighborhood passing the piano exam with higher levels than me, or that my friends scoring a very good score on the SAT, etc. Elements from the Chinese belief system- the twelve animal zodiac, the five elements, reappeared in the aunties’ explanations of their personalities in which I used to talk about to compare personalities with friends.One last stereotypical resemblance I noticed is the mothers’ sacrifices of love. Many of the mothers make great sacrifices for their children and parents. An-mei’s mother sliced off a piece of her own flesh to put in her mother’s soup, superstitiously hoping to cure her through her obedience. Later, she committed suicide in order to protect An-me i’s future status in Wu-Tsing’s household since she knew he was afraid of ghosts. Jing-mei’s mother also took an extra job cleaning the house in order to earn Jing-mei the opportunity to practice piano.These examples make me think back to my own mother, who decided to let our whole family immigrate to the U. S. in order to avoid my health problem with tympanitis (inflammation of the eardrum) that I caught for a long time since childhood. To sum it up, The Joy Luck Club is a wonderful movie to watch that explores the conflicts between the two Chinese generations in two different cultures through storytelling and viewpoints. One can definitely learn much about gender role and prejudice through watching this movie by presenting two very different cultures while learning to appreciate the difference.