Gender Biased Culture

History of ancient world have shown that gender biased cultures have been in existence for more than thousand of years. The movie Mulan is a perfect example for a gender biased culture by giving the power to the men and withholding it from women. As I grew up in a gender biased cultures like India and Middle East, I can relate this movie with the gender issues in my generation. For many years, woman in these cultures must be fully covered from head to toe when in public, are not allowed to work, and are not allowed to drive.Mulan Fa, the main character in the movie, comes to her elderly fathers defense and refuses to let him go and fight in the Emperor's army. She takes matters into her own hands and cuts her hair and puts on her fathers armor to become a man and take his place in the battle. When my father was immigrated to United States America, I and my mother have to stay in India until I finish my high school. In the movie, Mulan is an only child and her father has a physical di sability, so Mulan and her mother ended up having to take on traditionally male roles in the house for their family to get by.When I was little, I helped my mother with chores outside my home such as running to stores to buy groceries, pay bills, etc. In my culture, when a girl hits puberty, she is not allowed to go outside of home by herself or without covering from head to toe with hijab. So when I hit puberty I was stopped by my grandparents from going out of my house except for school. After I moved to United States, I started to work part time as I go to school. So, I was the first woman in my family to go to work and drive.In the movie, Mulan feels that she should be able to do all the things males do and do them with pride and dignity. Likewise, it was hard for me as I grew up as a tomboy. If a female follows a male's style of life are seen as tomboys and are outlawed in my society. Even my mother did not like to keep me in house but she was afraid of the society we have live d in. So, my parents have decided to move to United States as I can have a life with freedom especially from gender biased culture.Like in the movie Mulan, in my culture, men traditionally have the rigorous and more physically demanding chores around the house as in; taking out the trash, mowing lawns, and working to provide for the family Whereas women traditionally have less physically demanding tasks such as having dinner ready and on the table when the husband comes home, they are supposed to clean the house and take care of kids and strictly forbidden from working. This movie came when I was 12 but I saw this movie when I was 18. I liked that movie so much and I thought I was like Mulan. I think this gender biased culture is unhealthy for both gender.It is unfair for men as they must choose their true selves and it is unfair for women and girls as they cannot develop their own talent if its too masculine. The story of this movie Mulan seems to be known and told for more than th ousands of years. The chinese in the ancient world wore the dress called Hanfu (â€Å"kwintessential†). When Mulan and the other girls go to see the matchmaker they are all wearing Hanfu. When every family is told that it must send a man to fight in the war her father prepares to go but Mulan decides to go in his stead In order to do this she has to cut her hair short and dress as a man.The movie supports the Mulan story where women must cross-dress to achieve the same accomplishments as men. The movie Mulan summarizes all of the cultures beliefs and thoughts on gender myths and determination. Even now, in some asian countries like in India, China, killing female babies and fetus is still happening. It is because of belief in many cultures that a male can support a family but not female. In many cultures since the beginning of time have had the same attitude towards gender and sex; they are in favor of the masculine male.

Event Industry Suppliers and Event Organisational Structures

Event Industry Suppliers and Event Organisational Structures Since the beginning of time human beings had the need of having special events. First, they were made for cultural and celebration purposes, but their area increased continuously. Today, the events vary from personal celebrations to mega events, from voluntary events to private musical events, form cultural to sporting events.Shone and parry classify special events by purpose and these are: leisure events (sport, recreation, and leisure), personal events (weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays), cultural events (Sacred, ceremonial, folklore, art, and heritage) and organizational events (commercial, political, charitable, sales). According to their size and scale, events are categorized in the following way, from the smallest to the biggest: local/community events, hallmark events, major events and mega events. Bowdin, 2006, p. 15) As Bowdin (23, 24) says further in his book, because of the complexity and volume of events in dustry today, a large range of event suppliers had been developed, which may work only for this industry, like catering, staging, lightning, fireworks, entertainment, but as Tassiopoulos (2005, p. 46) states, few suppliers are dedicated exclusively to the events, they just interfere with them as transportation, communication and security do.Events are organized by professionals working in a specific organizational structure, according to the size and complexity of the event. This could be simple, functional or a network one or a matrix type if the event is held at various venues. The network type consists in having an event manager or a small team as organizer(s) and hiring suppliers for what the event needs. So even if the organising team is not big enough to produce all the resources for an event, it can hire other organizations that supplies them with what else they need for materializing the event concept.This process is called by Bowdin as creating â€Å"virtual organisationsà ¢â‚¬  that lasts during the event then they disintegrate and each party can find other such organisations to join for future events. This kind of structure has the advantage of quick decision making, because the people who are making decisions are few in numbers, or only the event manager, others just being hired to do specific services. The activities of the events are usually categorised into distribution, production, venues and ancillary services. Shone and Parry (2010, p. 3 ) offer a list of organisations categorised by the type of services they are offering. The organisations who are working in the production area are: event management companies, party planners, production companies, event catering companies, exhibition and theatrical contractors and designers, technical services companies or individuals, professional party/conference oganisers, multimedia support companies voluntary bodies and education and training. ) Distribution organisations could be individual events and venues, event and conference agencies, trade madeia, hotel booking agencies.Visitior and convention bureau, incentive travel agencies, exhibition organisers, ticketing agencies, trade exhibitions and national and local tourist bodies. Some organisations that could supply the events with venues or services for venues are event room/hall/grounds hire, catering and kitchen facilities, accommodation, food and drink suppliers, business support services, medical and creche services, information and customer services, technical support, waste disposal and grounds clearance, toilets washrooms and public facilities, parking security and set designers.Also, still according to shone and parry, the organisations who offer anciliary services are: accommodation providers, photographers and video makers Transport and guiding services, music and entertainment providers, travel companies, costume hire service, marquee hire services, printer, floral contractor, database support service, fireworks di splay operator, professional and trade bodies, national and local government services. Event management companies, according to Bowdin (2006, p. 3), are organisations that are offering to organize events, usually large, for potential clients on contract basis. The gigantic corporations existing nowadays often contact these companies and usually generate long relationships with them, states Bowdin. Production companies are very similar to the event management ones, but they are restricted to the production, while the others may offer additional services without hiring external organisations. Party planners and professional event organisers do the same work as the event production companies, but they are individuals, nstead of teams or functional organisations. PCO, professional conference organisers, can organise conference and meetings for small groups or big conferences such as a political party meeting. Some venues serve their own food and beverage, but when an event is held at a venue without such services or in natural spaces, and the organisers want to provide to the customers, they will need to hire event catering companies, if they don’t have the resources themselves.These companies offer food and beverages from the simplest to very sophisticated types for events. The modern clients of events acquired taste and desire for quality and innovative dishes, so the catering services adapted their needs. These suppliers may have their own kitchen, the venue may provide them with one or the organisers will have to improvise a place where the food will be prepared.The organisers will have to consider other important factors when hiring these companies, such as waste management, asking the guests their preferences if it is a controlled event or researching the potential customers if it is an uncontrolled one, informing the catering company about the theme and the key moments of the event, such as speeches or surprise shows and assuring they will have enoug h food and beverages for the customers.Hotel booking agencies, incentive travel agencies, national, local tourist bodies, travel companies and accommodation companies play an important role in events if the customers are tourists or if they are coming from other localities and have to stay overnight. These organisations could provide some events with customers and offer them additional services such as accommodation and guiding. The event organisers could make contracts with these companies or buy their services for the customers in order to obtain them cheaper, instead of letting the clients buying by themselves.Ticketing agencies could be contacted to advertise the event, if the organisers are not specialised or don’t have time for this. If an event is theme based, then theme designers, costume hire services, floral contractors and other such companies can be hired to set a professional theme, buying the right supplies from retailers or producers of decoration or themed pro ducts for events. Photographers and video makers offer professional recording of events and they should be hired especially at cultural and personal events, because people like to memorise them over the years.Music and entertainment providers supply the events with the main component for the customer for the leisure events or they could just help for the ambiance at events that have other principal purposes. There are many available venues today that can and even ask to be hired for organising events. Many venue owners organise events by themselves, but also allows other professionals to hold events in their venues on a contract basis. The event manager should know how to negotiate with these venue owners and how to establish relationships.Government bodies also play an important role in events, because of the laws for preparation and sale of beverages, food, waste management and removal. External regulatory bodies As noted, contemporary events take place in an increasingly regulate d and complex environment. A series of local government and statutory bodies are responsible for overseeing the conduct and safe staging of events, and these bodies have an integral relationship with the industry.Councils often oversee the application of laws governing the preparation and sale of food, street closures, waste management and removal. In addition, events organizers have a legal responsibiliy to provide a safe workplace and to obey all laws and statutes relating to employment, contracts, taxation and so on. The professional event manager needs to be familiar with the regulations governing events and to maintain contact with the public authorities that have a vested interest in the industry. Bowdin 23 Events are held in many different locations from established venues to open spaces * The nature of your event will help dictate the type of venue you select * The event site or venue should be an effective space that suits the type of event being staged * Ultimately, the ve nue MUST be able to meet the needs of the event and its audience * â€Å"The number of new venues, and types of venues, opening their doors to conference delegates appears to be escalating, and there are increasing signs that demand for these facilities is not increasing at the same rate.Venues are not only changing in quantity but also in their quality. † * Davidson and Rogers (2006, p. 69) Top 5 Most Important Factors When Choosing a Venue as Identified by a Number of American Event Organisers 1. Size of the venue 2. Potential audience draw 3. Location 4. Number of meeting rooms 5. Price 6. Mike Lyon, Director, Write Style Communications, 7. The National Venue Show, (Sept. 2007) The choice of a venue is a crucial decision that will ultimately determine many of the elements of staging. Figure 13. 2 lists the major factors in the choice of a venue.The venue may be an obvious part of the theme of the event. A corporate party that takes place in a zoo is using the venue as part of the event experience. However, many events take place within ‘four walls and a roof’, the venue being chosen for other factors. It can be regarded an empty canvas on which the event is painted. Events can be staged in a range of unusual spaces, from unused factories, parkland, car parks or shopping centres, to floating stages on water or using flat-back trailers from articulated lorries in a supermarket car park.The event manager can exploit the surroundings and characteristics of the venue to enhance the event experience. In these situations, the traditional roles of stage manager and event manager become blurred. When the audience and the performers mix together and where they and the venue become the entertainment package, the delineation between stage and auditorium is no longer appropriate. An event that uses a purpose-built venue, for example, an arena or exhibition centre, will find that much of the infrastructure will be in place.Two documents _ Location _ M atching the venue with the theme of the event _ Matching the size of the venue to the size of the event _ Venue configuration, including sight lines and seating configuration _ History of events at that venue, including the venue’s reputation _ Availability _ What the venue can provide _ Transport to, from and around the venue; parking _ Access for audience, equipment, performers, VIPs, staff and the disabled _ Toilets and other facilities _ Catering equipment and preferred caterers Power (amount available and outlets) and lights _ Communication, including telephone _ Climate, including microclimate and ventilation _ Emergency plans and exits Figure 13. 2 The factors in venue selection 388 Events Management that are a good starting point for making an informed choice about the venue are the venue plan and the list of facilities. However, because there are so many factors in an event that are dependent on the venue or site, an inspection is absolutely necessary.For music event s, HSE (1999) suggest that main considerations for the site visit are available space for the audience, temporary structures, backstage facilities, parking, camping and rendezvous points, together with some idea of proposed capacity, concept for the entertainment and rough calculations of space requirements. For conference events, Shone (1998) identifies that location will be the key consideration, with the venue needing to be close to a main motorway and within an hour’s travelling time of a major city and airport (if international delegates are expected).Further, Owen and Holliday (1993) recommend that the event manager makes a preliminary unannounced visit to the venue to check the ambience and courtesy of staff before making arrangements. Lyon (2004, p. 2) notes that a site inspection or familiarization (Fam) trip provides you with the opportunity to sample the destination or potential venue, with the aim of you being able to sell this back to your organization and recapt ure the experience for your delegates. He provides a useful handbook to assist this process.Rogers (1998) suggests that there are a number of points to consider when shortlisting conference venues. These include: . the type of venue (hotel, conference centre, university, football stadia or stately homes) . the conference rooms and facilities available (including combination of room sizes and style of seating for the requirements of the event) . accommodation and leisure options (depending on residential requirements and opportunities for social activities) . an identifiable point of contact. As with many aspects of supplier selection, the Internet has had a significant effect on venue choice.Using a search engine is often the first action in the investigation of a suitable venue. Some websites display a choice of venues once certain information (such as size of audience, approximate location and type of event) has been entered. The major hotels, conventions and exhibition centres, u niversities and purpose-built venues have websites to enable the matching of event requirements to venue characteristics. However, this method has the same limitations as those of using photos and brochures to assess a venue. The websites are a tool for selling the venue, not a technical description.In addition, many suitable venues may not have an Internet presence. An Internet search will show only venues that expect to host events. If the event is truly special, the event venue may be part of that theme. A car park or a rainforest, for example, will not appear in a search for event venues. The final consideration when choosing an event is whether it requires a physical location at all. With the ongoing development of videoconferencing, and the extensive developments in the Internet, events can take place in ‘cyberspace’. With some events, e. g. usic concerts, the event takes place live in venue in the traditional manner, however, with the introduction of webcasting, a worldwide audience can view or experience the event simultaneously. In this instance, access to technological support and facilities, for example, a large bandwidth telephone line, will be a consideration. In other areas, for example, exhibitions and conferences, technology has been deployed in such a way that it may support the live event experience, through the website hosting supporting materials for visitors to view and in some cases interact with.Relatively recent advances in Internet technology, together with faster telecommunication infrastructure, have enabled conferences to take place solely on Staging events 389 line, with delegates interacting, either visually through videoconferencing or through text with instant messaging. Exhibitions can take place in virtual exhibition venues, which can either be modelled on the live exhibition venue as a means of supporting the event experience or can take place solely in the virtual world without the boundaries of traditional venu es and limited only by imagination and the available technology.The value of such developments is only just beginning to be realized, with some commentators predicting the death of live events, whilst other, more enlightened observers view these developments as a further medium to support or enhance the live event experience. The venue contract will have specialist clauses, including indemnifying the venue against damages, personnel requirements and provision of security staff. The contract can also contain the following elements: Security deposit: an amount, generally a percentage of the hiring fee, to be used for any additional work such as cleaning and repairs that result from the event. . Cancellation: outlining the penalty for cancellation of the event and whether the hirer will receive a refund if the venue is rehired at that time. . Access: including the timing of the opening and closing of the doors, and actual use of the entrances with controls to ensure only access to auth orized areas. . Late conclusion: the penalty for the event going overtime. . House seats: this is the reserved free tickets for the venue management. Additions or alterations: the event may require some changes to the internal structures of the venue. . Signage: this covers the signs of any sponsors and other advertising. Venue management approval may be required for all promotional material. 336 Events Management When hiring a venue, it is important to ascertain exactly what is included in the fee. For example, just because there were chairs and tables in the photo of the venue does not mean that they are included in the hiring cost. Negotiation: 500 words, Strong 4, identifying suppliers, special events 175 Conclusion

Why Does Plato Argue That Rulers Must Be Philosophers?

Within this essay I Intend to examine Plates reasoning and justification for his belief in philosopher rulers and question whether they are, in fact, the best people to govern society. The current democratic method of organization of the â€Å"polis† was not suitable for Plato as he considered ruling far too vital a role in society to be left to the untrained. Instead, it should be left to those who have the knowledge and more crucially, the wisdom required to comprehend such a task.It Is, however, at this point, we should consider that a significant factor In Plat's opposition to democracy was that the Athenian democracy had condemned Socrates o death. It is important to remember that the liberal democracy which we currently experience is very recent and not at all the concept of democracy that Plato speaks. In fact, the idea of all adults over the age of 18 being able to vote would indeed be absurd to someone such as Plato.The democracy, of which he speaks, would be of great er equivalence to a modern day referendum, In which all those eligible to vote gather to debate and eventually vote. Plato thus set out to craft a new structural form for the polls, in simple, an Ideal society. This constituted three general social lasses and indirectly three separate polio's within the whole Solipsism. At the lowest end of this, was the â€Å"producers†, although Plato pays little attention to this class, it compromises people who were engaged in economic activities, such as, farmers and manufacturers.Although of no political importance, they served the crucial function of providing the economic and material requirements of the community. Primarily, Plato places them as obedient workers under the control of the axillaries. This constitutes the first polls, â€Å"one In which money lovers, and only money lovers are made as happy as possible† (Reeve C. D. C IPPP 1984), and thus becomes a â€Å"luxurious polis† (Plato The Republic IPPP e). The sec ond level on Plates ideal society was that of the auxiliaries.It was the auxiliaries who, in current times, would complete the actions of the military civil service and public offices I. E. Police. Consequently, it was their occupation to enact the decisions made by the ruling class. It would be from the elite of the auxiliaries that a philosopher guardian would emerge, as they had worked their way through the education and training. Therefore, this emerges as the second polis in which â€Å"unnecessary appetites† (Reeve C. D. C IPPP 1984) are removed this is the part of the Solipsism in which honor-lovers are made as happy as possible. (Reeve C. D. C IPPP 1984) However, it must be pointed out that the auxiliaries also shared this second polis with the guardians who were not chosen as â€Å"pensioner Kilns. † Hymnal, It was ten Guardians won were let at ten top AT ten society, as the rulers. This was the elite group above the rest of society, only those who completed a ll the statutes laid out during their training would be able to become a recognized philosopher guardian at the age of 50. These would be the people who had a true understanding of the forms and ultimately, of what is good ND Just.With this Plato has set out his â€Å"dodos† for the ideal society and his belief that those most suited to govern this society were his â€Å"Philosopher Kings† who were chosen from this Guardian class. It is at this point, that I believe we must further engage with what in fact it means to be a philosopher, and how you reach such a position. Plato sets an initial screening process, â€Å"the one who is willing to taste every kind if learning with gusto, and who turns to learning with enthusiasm, and cannot get enough of it, he is the one we shall rightly call a philosopher. (Plato The Republic 474 c) â€Å"Those who have reached that goal are philosopher kings at last. The polis over which they rule, and which contains the elaborate educa tional apparatus necessary to reliably produce them, is the third polis. † (Reeve C. D. C. P 195, 1984). During Plat's explanation of his philosopher-king, he uses three analogies, the sun, the line and finally the cave, in order to depict the reason for the philosopher's irreplaceable role in politics.The central element in each of these is the concept of the forms. In my opinion, Plato most aptly explains the transition to a philosopher with his simile of the cave. Plato classes this as â€Å"the enlightenment or ignorance of our human condition† (Plato The Republic IPPP a). The allegory of the cave is to illustrate that the philosopher is the one who sees things as they really are. The philosopher is able to see the truth, whereas, the masses see, merely, shadows.The arduous process of education which draws the philosopher from the state of ignorance and belief to the enlightened state of knowledge and wisdom is comparable with the difficult Journey from a dark cave up a long path to the open light of the sun. Whilst explaining the Journey of the philosopher's education he also attempts to show why it is that the masses reject the philosopher once their knowledge has been gained. Primarily, Plato says that the philosopher is misunderstood by the ignorant masses and that the knowledge which they attempt to impart threatens the beliefs of their UN-enlightened minds.It is clear upon examination of Plat's society, that it is indubitably a totalitarian regime; however, this point must be critically examined as it is clear that there are distinct and separate ways to critique this point. Naturally, there are those who would say that the restriction of freedom from a dictatorial power is inherently wrong. Conversely, though it must be considered that restriction of freedom for the good of people is no bad thing. In theory a system which imposes â€Å"The Good† on all people, would be one which benefits all and enhances the chance of maximum hum an development and freedom from evil. Until philosophers rule as kings, or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophies, that is, until political power, authority and philosophy entirely coincide, while the many natures who at present pursue either one exclusively are forcibly prevented from doing so, cities will eve no rest from evils,†¦ Nor, I think, will the human race. † (Simon Blackburn IPPP c- D 2006) Obviously the counter argument to that and the very basis of Plat's critics, is that whether human nature being as it is, would ever allow it in reality?Especially when compared Walt previous totalitarian regimes, experience Allocates Tanat teen have rarely brought good to the majority, and predominantly have indeed brought the opposite. In reality, it could be argued that there has been a historical dominance of state dictatorships in comparison with the relatively recent liberal democracies. Citizens who are raised within the l iberal western tradition are taught to be convinced of the faultlessness of democracy and thus find it challenging to comprehend that any other system could be better, or even to see the weaknesses in democracy.Due to the inability to acknowledge the failings of democracy, Plato creates two illustrations to depict them; these are the similes of the beast and the ship. Plato utterly rejects two common modes of thought in democratic societies, Just because everyone believes it to be true and good does not make it so, and that Just cause someone is a convincing speaker and persuades the masses to his view – it does not mean he is speaking the truth or that his ideas are good. The foundation of these illustrations is that the Philosophers simply know â€Å"The Good†.Plat's debate is clearly rejecting some of the foundational ideas within Democracy. Within the simile of the beast, the large and powerful animal in this story is the general population who make up the democrac y. In this tale, Plato is depicting a clear division between, what the majority like and think is good, what pleases them, and unbeknown to them, what actually is â€Å"The Good†. The Good (I. E. The dodos or form of the good) is good whether people think it is good or not. The Good is the predetermined standard against which the pleasures and desires of the masses must be Judged to determine whether they are good or bad.Plato is saying that the Sophists of his time were merely concerned with remaining in power and thus would bow to the appeasement of the masses that were ill educated. Fiscal and devoid of the knowledge of what is truly important in life and were subsequently unfit to rule the polis. They were no more than manipulators and responders to popular opinion without any standard tit which to work. The Sophists were relativists. For them ‘good' meant no more than what the people want, what will keep them happy, and what society thinks are good.This approach to politics is recognizable within the contemporary use of opinion polls and pressure groups. â€Å"All those individuals who make their living by teaching, and whom the public call â€Å"Sophists† and new for their skill, in fact teach nothing but the conventional views held and expressed by the mass of the people, when they meet; and this they call a science† (Plato The Republic IPPP a-b) This forever, does not entirely show why Plato is convinced that it is philosophers who should rule.Socrates proposes the notion that the study of philosophy results in the unearthing of objective truths about what is good, from this grounding this knowledge can be used as an unique;coal platform for policy-making. Plato believes that in contrast with his idea of the world of matter, the world of sense , which he classes as a mere world of shadows, is in fact â€Å"world of final, immutable, changeless, objects of contemplation, at the summit of which stands the ultimate object of a facial kind of knowledge independent of sense experience.This is ultimately a real and ultimately fitting object of love and desire, a constantly radiant eternal source of light, the form of good itself. † (Blackburn S. Pop, 2006). Subsequently, it has the natural progression that the people most suited to rule, are the people who have the wisdom of this higher realm, so Justifiably this would be the philosophers. â€Å"If pensioners nave ten capacity to grasp ten eternal Ana Immutable, Wendell tense won have no such capacity are not philosophers and are lost in multiplicity and change, which of the two should be in charge of a state? (Plato The Republic p 484 b). At no point, has it ever been empirically verified that those who have studied philosophy will all agree on that which is good and right. Even those who do agree that there are moral facts do not agree on exactly what they are – nor do they agree on what is the best way to act in the light of those facts. Eve n if we do agree with Plato and accept that a true understanding of goodness and Justice is both possible and agreement can be reached between philosophers, it still leaves the question whether this is all that a politician needs.

Sustainable Development and Underlying Contradictions Essay

Sustainable Development and Underlying Contradictions - Essay Example As Pless, Thomas & GÃ ¼nter, sustainable development commences at the time of producing the raw materials and here the farmers are the owners of the projects, which foster on sustainable development. The experts inform the farmers on the need and the importance of using the eco-friendly means to produce the raw materials with fewer impacts on the lives of the people. After this consideration, the sustainability strikes up to the industrial handling of the products (Pless, Thomas & GÃ ¼nter 2012, p 902). The products before they are processed or even after should not be contaminated in the process of manufacturing it. The sustainable means of production in the industries should be fully incorporated into the production of the products (Monsanto Case Study, 12).Though at the point of production, the company should try all its best to be efficient in the production, but should also consider the effects of the production on the lives of the people and the entire environment. The supply of the products should be environmentally and socially friendly in the sense that the process of supplying the products should be free from any form of pollutant or contaminate the products in the course of transporting the products to the consumers (Taman 2014, p 15). The consumption methods of the consumers are also of great implications to the achievement of objective; sustainability. When given mode of consumption contributes to the contamination of the environment (Monsanto Case Study, 23).

I need an OUTLINE done The outline needs to be about A Taste Of Honey Essay

I need an OUTLINE done The outline needs to be about A Taste Of Honey by Shelagh Delaney - Essay Example I intend to challenge the notion that we as a British Society have changed, even in the wake of liberal ,legal and social reforms. The play was written in 1958 when Divorces were a taboo, there was lesser minority representation amongst the society and single parenting was looked down upon as a religious and social offence. Gay marriages or open homosexual cohabitations were unheard of because such people were at a risk of bodily harm if their sexual orientation was made public. My thesis will focus around the life of the women (Helen and Jo)and their problems in the setting of the 1950's.From the opening of the play the focus is on the women (Helen/Jo), their problems and their attempts to cope with life. There will also be a focus on their increased hostility and dialogue structure. Jo's frustration with Helen's relationship with Peter and her loneliness is also analyzed.My aim will be to highlight Jo's interracial relationship with her black boyfriend Jimmi who she has a sexual relationship with after she feels depressed by Helens departure to a happy matrimonial life.She subsequently gets pregnant and he leaves her.She is forced to share the flat with the good natured Geoff who is also Gay.The way he gets treated when he attempts a friendly reconciliation between Jo and Helen is a reminiscent of the attitude of the society towards bisexuals in those days. There are further raci

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Legal Systems and Contract Law - Assignment Example The scenario presented by the case of Arju, a consumer who went to purchase a power washer at a local store whereby she was assisted by three different people. This case involves a number of parties and therefore, the Scots contract law will be applied in this case. Question A1 In this scenario, we witness a customer who advised Arju to purchase a certain power washer (AK47 Watersquirt). Arju purchased the water washer based on the recommendation of the customer. In this scenario, as the lawyer representing Arju, I would advise him not to pursue this case in a court of law. This is because the customer’s recommendation amounted to something more or else of a promise. According to the Scots Law of contract, a unilateral promise is not recognised as a contract. The provisions of the Scots Law of contract do not recognize unilateral promises which are against the provisions of this law. This is similar to the case of Punit Beriwala v. Suva Sanyal [1998], whereby Suva had sued Pun it for breach of contract based on a marriage promise. The court held that the promise was not enforceable and therefore the promise could not be considered as a binding contract. According to the Scots law of contracts, for a contract to be binding it must be a bilateral agreement between two parties. On the other hand a contract can exist whereby a person has obligation to perform duties in relation to another person. This type of contract is referred to as a gratuitous  contract (Douglas,  56). In the case of Arju, she was not advised by the customer in this scenario but the customer was merely expressing her opinion. As a result, a court of law would not recognize this as a breach of contract since there was no contract in the first place. According to the Scots Law of contracts, a contract is an agreement between two or more parties with the intention of creating legally binding obligations. Therefore, the customer’s recommendation had no intention of creating legall y binding agreement. As the legal representative of Arju, I would advise her not to pursue a case against the said customer but instead try to be careful the next time. Question A2 In another scenario, we witness a sales assistant who is not familiar with power washers but goes ahead to assure Arju that the store sells quality goods. However, the sales assistant omitted information concerning customer recalls on goods on faulty goods. Based on the information provided by this case, as the lawyer for Arju, I would advise her to sue the sales assistant and the shop for breach of contract. According to the Scots Law of contracts, a contract is an agreement between two or more parties. In terms of promises one makes to another, the Scots Law of contracts requires the promise to be done in writing or be proved by a writ or oath. However, this provision excludes undertaking done under businesses. Therefore, the sales assistant’s reassurance of the good quality of goods sold by the store amounted to a breach of contract. The promise given to Arju by the sales assistant compelled Arju to purchase from the store leading to a loss (Hare, 64). As a result, Arju should sue the store based on the information provided by the sales assistant. Another provision of the Scots Law of contract is that for a contract to be legal and binding there must be free and genuine consent of the parties. In this scenario, the sales assist

Market plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Market plan - Essay Example There are ample opportunities for marketers to lure tourist by designing systematic service mix. Visiting tourists spent an annual average of $25 billion on purchasing various merchandises during their stay in the country. The country has seen slow growth rate for last three years due to fluctuation of Australian dollar value. China and Indian tourism market has emerged as major threat for the Australian tourism industry. The country is trying to use its natural resources to attract nature loving tourists. Australia has unique combination of desert and sea with lush green seaside back ground. Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide are the major cities in the country. Other cities in the country also plays crucial role to generate revenue for the travel industry (Australian National Audit Office). Sustainable tourism has emerged as latest trend in the tourism industry of Australia. The country is gifted with natural resources. Tourism industry of the country is dependent on its biodiversity, cultural landscape and breathtakingly beautiful natural resources. Great Barrier Reef of the country is one of the major attractions for the tourists. Great Barrier Reef is the largest nature made reef structure in the world and it is two thousand and three hundred km long covering northeast coast of the country (Global Ministerial Environment Forum). 2.0 Sydney Sydney has been selected as location to open new hotel. Sydney is the home ground of architectural beauty of the country. The city is the unofficial capital of the country. Sydney Opera House and Sidney Harbour Bridge are major attraction for tourists. Travellers prefer the city for its cultural heritage and traditional metropolitan structure. Sydney Airport is one of the busiest one in the country. More than three million tourists visit the city annually. The city was focal point of attraction during summer Olympics in 2000. Tourists visit has increased by sixteen percent in last ten years. The government has predicted that there will be another four percent increase in the industry in next two years. The country has already submitted bid to host 2022 football world cup and government has planned to promote Sydney as game location. Government is emphasizing on infrastructural development of the city to promote it as international location capable of hosting big sports event. Darling Harbour and Olympic park are example of infrastructural development made by government. 3.0 Market background Sydney is the largest city in the country with a population of five million. It is forecasted that the population will grow more than six million by next decade. The city is the premium business and travel destination for visitors across the world. Sydney is the international gateway and business hub for the country. The city has distinctive cosmopolitan flavour with ethnical diversity. Almost thirty percent of residents in the city are come from outside the country. The city enjoys the stature of being one of the most important business hubs in the Asia pacific region. More than sixty five percent international multinational companies has

Critically assess the impact of Taylor and Ford on organizations today Essay

Critically assess the impact of Taylor and Ford on organizations today - Essay Example The scientific approach had been quite significant during the industrialization era. However, in today’s organizations it is facing a decreasing impact owing to the knowledge of experienced managers that all situations and people should not be handled the same way. The emergence of numerous variables and environmental uncertainties has led many organizations to use the contingency approach. Scientific management aims to determine one best way for a job to be accomplished. Fredrick Taylor is a significant contributor to the development of this theory. His work at Midvale and Bethlehem Steel Industries stimulated the interest in him to improving efficiency. Taylor defined four principles of management which he sought would create mental revolution among the managers and workers (Cobley, 2009). His principles involved the development of a true science of management, scientific selection of workers, scientific education and development of workers and intimate friendly relationship between the workers and employers. Heames (2010) explains how using these principles enabled Taylor to define one best way for doing each job and achieve improvements in productivity, which was consistent in the range of 200 percent. He affirmed the role of workers to perform as they were instructed while the manager’s roles were to plan and control. The mass production model which bears the name of its pioneer, Ford, dates back to the first moving assembly lines creation that were put into action at Ford’s Model T plant. The labour productivity increased tenfold permitting stunning price cuts. This ensured mass manufacturing at a price low enough that a common man could afford to buy (Daft, 2010:97). Fordism production involved an intensified division of labour and increased coordination and mechanization of large-scale manufacturing to achieve a steady production flow. They also used less skilled labour to perform tasks that were least specified by the management. T he control over the pace and intensity of work owing to the potential for heightened capitalist were inclusive to Fordism (Wagner, 2009). According to Frey (2008), separation of thinking and working is one of the impacts that resulted in the essence of Taylorism where managers had to decide what the workers should do. The worker would have got used to their action when they had thought of it and tried to improve on it (Down, 2012). The relationship between the worker and the manager known as social-technical relation has different demands in that the planning department wanted efficiency in the production process but the workers wanted to have commensurate payment. Although it improved efficiency and profitability to organizations while making the management’s systematic workers felt differently in terms of satisfaction and motivation (Frey, 2008:185). Workers and employer relation’s importance was recognized by Ford. He introduced an eight-hour workday and offered hig her wages. This impacted on employee motivation, and thus job satisfaction. This, in turn, made workers to improve on their skills, quality of life and enhance job satisfaction (Pacharapha, 2012). In Fordism the management was considerably hierarchical, and the power of the company was only vested in the top management. Application of scientific principles on machines to

Primary Education Idenification of 3 targets associated with pedagogy Essay

Primary Education Idenification of 3 targets associated with pedagogy in prepartion for 8 week teaching experience in a mainstream primary setting - Essay Example The analysis will be done in presenting the implications that these three teaching targets may have on the practitioner. It well know that circle time is "a group activity in which any number of people (although anything up to about twenty is most practical) sit down together with the purpose of furthering understanding of themselves and of one another." Usually the practitioners engage in this sort of normal activity with the purpose of "building bridges", enhancing the dialogue between teachers and students or among the students themselves. According to teachers net, this technique that practitioners undertake seems to work for elementary and secondary students, but the practitioner needs to pay attentions to the cases when the circle time does not works and "avoid pitfalls". "A Circle time has known a lot history and since that ... It is not the place for judgment or coercion. It provides an opportunity to learn and explore through the discussion of experiences and individuality ". The use of circle time must be employed in such a way that the practitioner does not overuse it and is aware of the children's needs (for example, there are "no barriers" among the participants). Also, when working in circle time the teacher must set up certain rules for the circle time to functions. Such rules are "only one person is to speak at any one time", as well as avoiding embarrassing subjects and respecting one another. There are many ways in which circle time can affect the practioner. Specifically, during that time the teacher is creating a new environment in which the children are the leaders, and the teacher's role comes second, unless he or she is required to intervene. In addition to that, the teacher should be able to "demonstrate the skills of emotional awareness"; that is to show who he or she is and to set the role model for the entire class. At the same time, there are issues that a practitioner must be aware of such as identifying if time is spent inefficiently, and finding ways to deal with that (for example creating more space in the circle); or showing sensitivity where matters of "disclosure or confidentiality are concerned" ( for instance, a child's health or personal issue). Furthermore, the teacher must deal with whatever resources are available and try to do the best of it. Benefits such as the following have emerged from using the circle time: "Increased levels of self-motivation among pupils Enhanced communication between pupils and between pupils and staff Greater social and community awareness

Terror Tactics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Terror Tactics - Essay Example The Al-shaabab is a terrorist organization in Eastern Africa Region, Boko Haram in West Africa, Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Palestine, Student Islamic Movement of India in India, and United Self-Defense Forces of Columbia among others. Countries that have experienced its effect fast-hand like United States, 2001 and Kenya, 1998 have progressive efforts in combating it using a series of tactics. Most terrorist organizations have a common ideology; to destroy U.S.A’s allies, United Nations’ activities against terror groups, and structures of global order. Not even a powerful state like USA can fight terrorism alone because such groups have established networks and have easy access to money across international borders. The best tactic applied by USA in conjunction with United Nations is the use of the 4D strategy (Defeat, Deny, Diminish and Defend). Nations fighting terrorism aim at defeating terrorism through direct and indirect use of economic, diplomatic, information, intelligence, financial, and military among other tools. Research findings published in Terrorism Research Initiative (Rineheart, 2010) reveal that the 4D strategy, at times referred to as the Counterinsurgency Theory has helped counter terror activities by simultaneously applying the 4D strategy elements. The outcome has led to disorientation of terror organizations by limiting and eliminating their sources of finance, reducing their scope and capabilities from global threats to state criminal domains. Maxims of warfare (White, 2012) demand that every participant to know and mark terrorists and their sympathizers as enemies. Through combined efforts, it will be possible for their unlawful and inhuman activities to be restrained within controllable limits. Therefore, both local and international security agencies must work tirelessly to ensure terror activities, plans, and their locations are known before the worse happens. Rineheart Jason. (2010). Counterterrorism and

Do Markets Emerge or Are They Created By Firms Essay

Do Markets Emerge or Are They Created By Firms - Essay Example Whether by accident or design, when a firm appropriately guesses a latent need and develops novel offerings addressing unmet needs, new markets are created. Though innovative firms are not always profitable, new markets add value to society, and firm’s primary target is to capture some part of that value by exploratory strategies (Jacobides, 2003). The various mechanisms through which firms profit from their own activities associated with new product development include product features to attract buyers, price inelastic new markets, substitution of existing products with cheaper products, and development of capabilities for adaptation. Variation causes further variation, and the creation of product categories and process of organizational unbundling results in reduction of transaction costs setting grounds for new markets to be created (Anderson and Gatignon, 2005). Firms also create markets without developing new products through mere marketing and management activities, eve n for familiar products. For example, creation of outlets in disadvantaged regions creates new markets. The underlying principle to this concept is reducing transaction costs, and converting prospects into buyers (Anderson and Gatignon, 2005). ... The learning of consumers by using technologies or the change in consumption technology makes it very hard for firms to find or predict new markets on basis of merely abstract demand. Moreover, firms never rely on existing differences in tastes to develop markets, but strive hard to make tastes cohere transforming them into specific artifacts which may not always succeed eventually. Additionally, the arguments supporting creation of new markets through predicting demand are unable to justify the development of certain products and not others. Competition should result in firms converging to same product designs. Instead, there is enormous variation as observed in real markets (Sarasvathy and Dew, 2005). Firms own assets or have control over them, and ownership is the power which allows effective exercise of that control (Grossman and Hart, 1986). The major benefit of ownership is that it allows flexibility over decision-making and firm’s adaptability to changing environments ( Madhok, 2006). Ownership is regarded as one of the key variables in determining the performance or outcome of a firm. Research reveals that a positive relationship exists between managerial ownership and performance until a certain threshold level of ownership concentration. Beyond the threshold, performance may decline as managers often take advantage of the shared benefit of control to pursue their own interests and strategies (Neumann and Voetmann, 2003). The performance of firms tends to decline when ownership and control are separated, and increase with competition. However, firms having employee managers usually show better performance than owner managers in various sectors because owner managers inherit estates

Napoleons policies as First Consul Essay Example for Free

Napoleons policies as First Consul Essay In all that he did, his main aim was to secure himself in power. How far do you agree with this judgement on Napoleons policies as First Consul? After the Coup of Brumaire in 1799, Napoleon emerged as the new leader of France and devised a system of government that gave him effective control over all aspects of life in France. He controlled religion, education, law-making, policing, legal reforms and the economic situation by putting in place a series of policies, designed both to comply with some principles of the Revolution whilst also giving Napoleon control and security in power. This essay looks to investigate how far each of these policies suggest that Napoleons main aim was always to secure himself in power. Napoleons policy of police and propaganda is the most obviously repressive of all the policies. Many aspects of his heavy policing conform with dictatorial regimes, as does his policy of censorship and (often false or manipulated) propaganda. France became effectively a Police State, with Napoleon at the core. The Minister of Police, Joseph Fouchà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½, who controlled National Security, established a network of informers who monitored public opinion and reported on any suspicious political activity. They also monitored everyday life in France: the education system; prisons; food supplies; conscription and public works. All findings were written in a daily report, submitted directly to Napoleon. These jobs were carried out by prefects (effectively spies) who were appointed directly by Napoleon. By organising such a well-organised surveillance system, the regime encountered little opposition from the Jacobins, Royalists or Liberals. Due to the rigorous nature of the police, no uprising or rebellion was possible, thereby ensuring Napoleon was safe in power. Due to the dictatorial style of this policy, it is obvious Napoleon was trying to ensure security in power and establish himself as leader without immediate opposition or objection from minority groups and the general public by repressing anyone opposed to the regime. Under the Police State, arbitrary imprisonments and executions were frequent. As a result people were AFRAID to oppose the regime. Napoleon also recognised the importance of censorship in securing his position in power as this quote shows: If the press is not controlled, I shall not remain three days in power In January 1800, Napoleon reduced the number of newspaper in Paris from 73 to 13 and forbade the production of any new ones. On top of this, newspapers were forbidden to discuss controversial subjects and were kept short of reliable news. Editors were forced to rely on military bulletins or articles published in the Official Government Journal. An example of a manipulated story within the press is the report of the Battle of Marengo. Although this battle was unsuccessful, it was presented as a triumph and Napoleon told people it was a well-devised plan. Prefects also kept a check on papers to ensure that they only published what Napoleon wanted. Not only were the bad aspects of the regime censored, but also the good aspects were highlighted (or sometimes invented). This was intended to rouse moral and encourage support for the regime. Napoleons increased popularity through propaganda meant increased security in power. Napoleon did not only control the medium of text. Many theatres were forced to close, to avoid defamatory shows about the regime from being performed, and those that remained open were only allowed to show sanctioned plays. Napoleon also employed fashionable painters to depict him as a romantic hero (such as the famous picture of Napoleon crossing the Alps, by Jacques Louis David). In many of his portraits he is shown as having a positive impact on France, encouraging the public to believe this was true. Napoleon aimed to create loyal followers, or at least people who accepted and tolerated the regime. His harsh measures of policing prove a desperation to remain in power and secure a popular public opinion. If the public were not convinced to support Napoleon through the extensive propaganda, then any opposed were repressed by force. In Napoleons government policies and his self-induced role of First Consul under the Constitution of the Year VIII, it is clear he desired supreme control and power in France. The limited influence of the system of election on government figures meant virtually all aspects of the legislature were controlled or heavily influenced by Napoleon himself. Under the Constitution of the Year X, the system of election was abolished completely. This ensured Napoleon could not be removed from power. By organising the government in this way, he was obviously intentionally ensuring security in power. However, not all of Napoleons government policies can be directly related to this aim. Although the overall nature of the legislature was very similar to the Ancià ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½n Regime (i.e. Napoleon had effective control of the entire government), some aspects were in keeping with revolutionary ideas that had no (obvious) effect on Napoleons security in power. For example, although Napoleon devised and instigated all new laws, they were in keeping with revolutionary ideas. Napoleon ensured a mixture of old and new laws under the Civil Code. This Napoleonic concept, somewhat in contrast with his policy of a police state, ensured equality in courts and also fairer trials and hearings. This cannot directly be interpreted as an intentionally devised plan to ensure Napoleons security in power. However, it is possible that by creating a legal system conforming to some revolutionary ideals, Napoleon hoped to gain the publics loyalty and support, thereby increasing his popularity, therefore s ecuring himself in power. Napoleon also developed a new religious policy. The Concordat signed by Pope Pius VII and Napoleon in 1801, saw the restoration of the Catholic Church in France and the revolutionary idea of the state payment of the church. Napoleon was raised a Catholic and was keen to encourage religion within France, as this quote shows: No society can exist without equality of fortunes; and equality of fortunes can not exist without religion. However, the Concordat was manipulated to Napoleons obvious advantage as well. In signing the Concordat, the Pope agreed to endorse the Revolution and regime, state control of the churches and church appointments and accept the loss of church lands during the Revolution. Also, in 1802, Napoleon attached the Organic Articles, without papal agreement, to the Concordat. These guaranteed the revolutionary principle of religious toleration and made the Protestant and Jewish churches similarly subject to state authority. It can be argued that one of Napoleons aims in forming the Concordat was to ensure a lack of interference from the church, meaning his position in France could not be affected by the Pope or any other religious order. However, whether or not this was his main motive in signing the Concordat is less certain. Although the church was a powerful tool in controlling and influencing the public and was often used as a vehicle of propaganda, Napoleons desire to influence and manipulate the public cannot justify other aspects of the Concordat such as the state responsibility for the payment of the clergy. On reflection, it appears that whilst in some aspects of his religious policy Napoleon may have been genuinely trying to improve life in France, it is clear that in other areas of the policy, such as his healing of rifts between the Church and the notables after the seizing of church lands in 1789, were designed to appease certain groups of people, such as the Bourgeoisie, therefore securing himself in power. He also aimed to disassociate the Catholic Church with the principle of counter-revolution and the restoration of the Bourbon Monarchy therefore avoiding a potential Jacobin uprising, which could be detrimental to his position in power. His further use of the church as a propaganda tool also justifies this theory, as in this way, the public were encouraged to see Napoleon as a positive figure. His desire to win the publics support of the regime and therefore of him, was rooted in his wish to remain in power, as is displayed in this policy. Napoleon also established a new economic policy designed to tap the wealth of the country more effectively than during the Ancià ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½n Regime or the Revolution. His principle of taxation went against revolutionary ideas, with industrial and commercial profits being taxed only lightly. This may be seen as a further example of Napoleon attempting to appease and win support of the Bourgeoisie, thereby ensuring popularity and securing his position in power. Other aspects of this policy included the introduction of new discount banks designed to help the state pay off its national debt and pay its obligations to domestic creditors. This policy increased the efficiency of revenue and led to the balancing of the budget by 1802. Citizens would have been pleased with Frances new economic stability, potentially leading to increased support for Napoleon and the regime. However, whether Napoleon put in place this policy for this reason of for the stabilisation and well-being pf Frances economy cannot be proven. Napoleons educational policy is perhaps his most revolutionary policy due to his introduction of secondary schools into France. He formed 39 lycà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½es in 1802, which were run by the state. Public education should be the first object of government. Everything depends upon it, the past, the present and the future. Above all we must secure unity: we must be able to cast a whole generation in the same mould. However, despite Napoleon saying that education should be based on ability, not birth, very few common people attended secondary school. They were taught up to the age of twelve by small, church-run schools. It was believed by Napoleon, that they needed no more than a simple moral education. No form of education was available to girls at any age or from any background. It was mostly the sons of notables who attended secondary school. In total there were 6,400 state scholarships available. One third of these (approximately 2,400) were chosen by the government from among the sons of soldiers of officials. The remaining 4,000 were supposedly chosen from the best pupils at leading primary schools. However, well-off families were favoured and only a very small percentage of common people attended secondary school. Many bourgeois parents preferred to send their children to privately run Church schools, favouring the increased freedom of thought and wider curriculum. However, Napoleon did not approve and tried to close them by placing high taxes on them. The education itself was ultitarian and based around a Spartan regime with a strong military ethos. At first only Latin and Mathematics were taught but as time went on, other subjects (deemed acceptable by the government) were introduced such as French, History, Science and Geography. Freethinking was discouraged and teaching methods followed a policy of indoctrination. Napoleon wanted education to encourage obedience to the regime and create loyal subjects from an early age. There is little in this policy that suggests Napoleon wishing to initially secure himself in power. However, as this new education system was largely beneficial to France, citizens may, unwittingly, increase their support of Napoleon and the regime. Whether, this was deliberately intended by Napoleon cannot be proven. On balance, I believe that all of Napoleons devised policies had a basis in ensuring his security in power, some more so than others. His police and propaganda policy is obviously based on initially securing himself in power without hindrances from rebellions or uprisings. Also, his religious policy was designed not only to appease the Pope and guarantee a lack of interference, but also to avoid a potential Jacobin uprising through an association between the Catholic Church and the Bourbon Monarchy. Others, such as his educational policy, are subtler, encouraging support for the regime through improved life within France. In all areas, he is seen as either directly influencing the public, either by force or by propaganda, or indirectly influencing the public by creating better conditions in France, therefore encouraging support of the regime. I believe that it was Napoleons main aim to secure himself in power. After all, if he fell out of favour quickly, all of his other aims, such as creating a better France, would fall with him. It was implicit that he secured himself in power as soon as possible, in order that he might put all his other aims into action. Ultimately, most of his actions aimed either to limit or prevent the impact any opposes to the regime may have on Napoleons security in power or to create a better France thereby increasing popularity of the regime. However that is not to say that other policies did not centre around a different aim, such as the economic policy, which aimed to create financial stability in France primarily, and possibly may have contributed to increased support and popularity of Napoleon and his regime.

The History Of Pericles History Essay

The History Of Pericles History Essay After winning Persian War of the Greece city-states, Athens became the leader of Greece because of its critical role in the war and its outstanding navy. In 477 B.C., the Greece city-states created the alliance which was called the Delian League. Athens controlled the alliance from the start; it, therefore, collected the tribute, commanded the leagues fleets and dictated policy. From Delos to the Acropolis in Athens, in 454 B.C., Athens moved the league treasury. Athens established an empire through the benefit from controlling the Delian. Athenians enjoyed the great political freedom ever, and Greek culture bloomed. The Athenians leader also undertook the beautify-Athens program because Athens was destroyed by Persians in 480 B.C. Athenians strengthened the defensive walls that connected Athens to the busy port of Piraeus. The building program employed thousands of workers. Athens became the center of Greek culture when many talent artists, philosophers, and poets converged on there. The period following the Persians war has been known as the Golden Age of Athens. Who was the leader of Athens during the Golden Age of Athens? He was the great leader who we have known as Pericles. He ruled Athens from 461 B.C. to 429 B.C. In this paper, we will outline you clearly about Pericles family background, military career, foreign policy and his ideas on democracy. Family background and early life Pericles, the son of Xanthippus and Agariste, was born in Athens in the state of Attica in 494 B.C. into a very distinguished Athenian family. His father, Xanthippusa military leader in the Persian Wars in 479 B.C.attaining hero status as a result, victorious at the battle at Mycale, was the son of one Ariphron and the father of another. Ariphron II was a candidate for ostracism. Xanthippus himself was ostracized in spring 484. Pericles mother, Agariste, was a member of the Alcmaeonid family, famous for its long involvement in Athens political history, which was accused of treachery at the Battle of Marathon. The Pericles family is an old lineage that has migrated all across the world over time, and as the name Pericles has migrated, it has changed making its history a challenge to piece together. This Pericles history and genealogy page contains the accumulated history of the Pericles family name made up of user-contributed content from users like you. Pericles family history has a complex evolution of which Pericles family members have accumulated the particulars over the years. During his middle life, many Sophist philosophers came into Athens, and he seemed to have gained full benefit of the society of Zeno and mainly Anaxagoras, from whom he was said to have learned impassivity in the face of trouble and insult and incredulity about unproven godly phenomena. In 472 B.C. Pericles studied music under Damon and mathematics under Zeno of Elea, which was the best education available. Military career Pericles was a general of Athens during the citys Golden Age known specifically as the time between the Persain and Peloponnesian war. Pericles achieved his military career in many wars, such as battle in Sicyon and Acarnania (454 BC), Second Sacred War (448 BC), expulsion of barbarians from Gallipoli (447 BC), Samain War (440 BC), siege of Byzantium (438 BC), and Peloponnesian War (431-429 BC). Meanwhile, many ancient historians had blamed on Pericles and allies were the causes of Peloponnesian war. Peloponnesian war was a war between Athens and Sparta, the leading city-states of ancient Greece, along with their allies, which included nearly every other Greek city-state. Its principal cause was a fear of Athenian imperialism. The Athenian alliance reliance relied on its strong navy, the Spartan alliance on its strong army. The war fell into two periods, which were separated by a six-year truce. In the meantime, Pericles was a commander of Athenians to fight the war breaking out in 431. In the first 10 years, Archidamus led the Spartans to defeat. Plagur strike Athens in 429 and killed Pericles and much of the army. Pericles technically centered his military policy on Themistocless principle that the majority of Athenians depended on its superior naval power and supposed that the Peloponnesians were near invincible on land. He also began a self-protective,the so-called grand strategy whose goal was the collapse of the enemy and the preservation of the status quo. The two basic principles of the Periclean Grand Strategy were the rejection of appeasement (in agreement with which he advised the Athernians not to withdraw the Megarian Decree) and the prevention of overextension. Foreign policy Notably, after he gained political salience in the 450 B.C. at Athens, Pericles had the idea of expanding and strengthening his empire with not only the neighboring but also the other city-states, which were far from Athens. He, therefore, devoted his attention on the foreign policy as his vital political mechanism, which allowed him to partner with many states even his enemy. At the level of a single city-state, his foreign policy consisted of two main goals. They are, first, continuing military action against the Persian presence in Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean, and second, greater attention to Athenian relations and disputes with other Greek states. To put the matter in another fashion, this foreign policy brought good and bad effect; as a result, the second de facto policy reflected the growing hostility between Athens and Sparta. Throughout the foreign policy, Athens also made the alliances with the Argos and Thessayly, which were Spartas enemies. He also, finally, reache d the truce with the Sparta after battling with either side won the war. Thus, Pericles foreign policy did help to unite not even other states but even the enemy to be friend. Democracy The Persians of Aeschylus was introduced by Pericles at the greater Dionysia as hierurgy, showing that he was rich in Athens in 472 B.C. Pericles choice of the play, which demonstrated a nostalgic picture of Themistocles well-known victory at Salamis, had been argued by Cimon Hornblower. Pericles supported Themistocles to fight against his adversary, Cimon. Plutarch said, democratically, almost forty years, Pericles was the first notable leader among the people in Athens. It meant Pericles had taken a position of leadership by the early 460s B.C. During the years, Pericles tried to conserve his private life and to show himself as a model for his people. For instance, he would often stop holding or joining party and tried to be thrifty. At Areopagus, it consisted of the Athenian aristocracy, which had once had the most powerful leader in the state; the leadership of the Democratic Party decided it was time to take goal in around 462- 461B.C. Ephialeswho was the chief of the party and mentor of Periclessuggested the reduction of the Areopagus power. As a result, the Athenian Assembly, Ecclesia, adopted Ephialtes suggestion with no strong opposition. Without further delay, a new era of radical democracy was started immediately by this reform. In order to coax the public, Pericles seemed to follow a populist policy and the Democratic Party steadily became dominant in Athenian Politics. Apparently, Pericles accomplished the political removal of troublesome adversary by the reason that Cimon crossed up his city by being friendly with Sparta. Pericles kept advocating and promoting a populist social policy after Cimons collapse. With the state covering the cost of their entrance fees, he firstly suggested a law that allowed the indigence to enjoy theatrical plays without paying. With other laws, he decreased the property needs for people in high position in 458- 457 B.C and gave liberal wages on all citizens who served as jurymen in the Heliaia, the supreme court of Athens, just after 454 B.C. But, a law of 451 B.C limited Athenian citizenship to those of Athenian ancestry on both sides was his most disputed action. Such actions made Pericles critics regarded him to be responsible for the progressive deterioration of the Athenian democracy. Some historians have argued that Pericles looked for the enlargement and stabilization of all democratic institutions. Hence, he l egislated law granting the indigence to access to the political system and the public offices from which they had formally been barred because of limited means or low-born. On the other hand, Cimon was sure that democracy had reached its peak, and stalemate of populism had been led by Pericles reforms, so he surly believed that no further free space for democratic evolution existed. Like Cimon, the other historical experts believed that because of Pericles reform, Athens sank into the abyss of political turmoil and demagogy after his dead. Pericles is called a populist, a demagogue and a hawk by some contemporary scholars, while others adore his charming leadership. Plutarch said that Pericles was not a man whom he knew before; he was biddable to the people and ready to give in to the desires of the multitude as a steersman to the breezes. It is told that when Spartas king, Archidamus, asked his political adversary Thucydides, who was the better fighter between two of them, Thucydides answered without any dither that Pericles was better because even when he was beaten, he tried to persuade the spectators that he had won. Thucydides, an admirer of Pericles, said that Athens was nominal democracy but, in fact, governed by its first citizen. The historians have explained what he perceived as Pericles charisma to lead, convince and, sometimes, to manipulate through this comment. Even though, Thucydides pointed out the fining of Pericles, he did not refer to the condemnation against Pericles but focused on Pericles honesty. In one of his dialogues, on the other hand, Plato denied the praise of Pericles and said that Pericles made the Athenians lazy, talkative and greedy, by beginning the system of public fees. Plutarch pointed out other criticisms of Pericles leadership that many others say that he first led on the peoples into allotments of public lands, festival-grants, and distributions of fees for public services; due to these reasons, they fell into bad habits and became sumptuous under the effect of his public action instead of thrifty and self-contained. Thucydides argued that the people did not carry away Pericles, but he guided the people. His decision has been questioned; some 20th-century critics, such as Malcolm F. McGregor proposed that he might have been a charming public face acting to be supported on the suggestions of advisors, or the people themselves. According to the King, by increasing the power of the people, the Athenians left themselves with no authoritative leader. During the Peloponnesian War, Pericles depended on his popular to govern was obvious. In the literary works of his Golden Age, we can find Pericles most visible legacy, most of which survive to this day. First, The Acropolis, though it is in ruins, still stands and is a symbol of modem Athens. In politics, Athenian imperialism is the remarkable legacy of Pericles. It denies the true democracy and freedom to the people at all but the ruling state. Finally, the freedom of expression is regarded as the lasting legacy deriving from this period. Conclusion Pericles, the greatest statesman of ancient Greece, was born 494 B.C in the wealthy family. His father was that Xanthippus who won the victory over the Persians at Mycale, 479 B.C.; and his mother, Agariste, the niece of the great Athenian reformer, Cleisthenes. He received an extravagant education; his teacher whom he most reverenced was the quiet and gentle philosopher, Anaxagoras. Pericles was noticeable all through his career for the singular dignity of his manners, the Olympian grandeur of his articulacy, his majestic intelligence in Platos phrase, his wisdom, integrity, and deep Athenian patriotism. The abilities of Pericles were supreme that he quickly rose to the highest power in the state as the leader of the dominant democracy. His successful expeditions to the Thracian Chersonese, and to Sinope on the Black Sea, together with his colonies planted at Naxos, Andros, Oreus in Euboea, Brea in Macedonia, and AEgina, as well as Thurii in Italy, and Amphipolis on the Strymon, did much to spread and confirm the naval power of Athens, and afford a means of subsistence for his poorer citizens. But his greatest project was to create, in concert with the other Hellenic states, a grand Hellenic confederation in order to put an end to the mutually destructive wars of kindred peoples, and to make Greece one enormous nation, fit to front the outlying world. After Cimon was dead and Thucydides was disliked, and came into the end of his life, Pericles reigned the undisputed master of the public policy of Athens. During the rest of his career there was, says the historian Thucydides, in name a democracy, but in reality a government in the hands of the first man. Soon after the Samian war broke out, in which Pericles gained high renown as a naval commander. The Samians, after a stubborn struggle, were beaten, and a peace was established. Since the time of the Persian invasion, he had been the leader of the confederacy formed to fight the attacks of the powerful enemy, and the guardian of the confederate treasury kept in the isle of Delos. Pericles caused the treasury to be removed to Athens, and commuting the commissions of the allies for money, enormously increased the contributions to the patriotic fund, Athens herself undertaking to protect the confederacy. He decorated and enriched Athens with the spoils of the allied states. Pericles did many things to make his native city the most magnificent in the ancient world. Under his patronage, Greek architecture and sculpture reached perfection. He remained Athens the Parthenon, the Erechtheum, left unfinished at his death, the Propylaea, the Odeum, and numerous other public and holy edifices; he also liberally stimulated music and the drama; and during his life, industry and commerce was in so well-off a condition that prosperity was universal in Attica. In 431, the long foreseen and inevitable Peloponnesian war broke out between Athens and Sparta. The plague damaged the city in 430, and in the autumn of the following year, Pericles died after a prolonged fever. As a greatest statesman, Pericles was a lofty-minded statesman, motivated by noble objectives, and his heart was full of a honorable love for the city and his citizens. When he lay dying and speciously insensible, his friends around his bed were passing in review the great accomplishments of his life, and the nine cups which he had founded at different times for so many triumphs. The dying patriot silently interrupted with the typical sentence: What you praise in my life belongs partly to good fortune, and is, at best, common to me with many generals. But that of which I am proudest, you have left unnoticedno Athenian has ever put on mourning through any act of mine.

Report into Barclays Financial Performance Analysis

Report into Barclays Financial Performance Analysis The following report is aimed at comment the findings of Barclays PLC financial performance analysis. The first section presents an internal and external analysis. The second comments a series of financial ratios. Finally, the last section concludes. Introduction Banks are an important part of the financial system. They channel financial resources from individuals who have surpluses to individuals who lack capital. Banks transfer these assets in the form of loans. Loans are evaluated and classified according to the default probability (risk). In this manner, Banks assure that lenders invest their wealth in trustable projects, that is, economically viable (Arnold, G., 2008). Banks, then, subside the research task from lenders and allow them to get a safe and constant return rates in a determined timeframe and conditions (Valdez, S., 2007). As any business, Banks are aimed at increasing the wealth of the owners. Banks employ accounting systems and economic models to measure their financial performance. Accounting and economic models evaluate: 1) whether the wealth of the owners is augmenting, and 2) at what extent (Atril, P., McLaney, E., 2008). They provide several financial indicators which help business management to control the enterprise performance; among them, the financial ratios are widely used. The purpose of this report is to comment the findings discuss how bank (Barclays PLC) overall performance should be evaluated. The first section presents a review of Barclays internal and external performance. The second section evaluates Barclays financial performance. Finally, the last section concludes. A review of Barclays internal and external performance Barclays is one of the worldwide leaders in financial services. It was founded in 1690 in the UK. Barclays has operations in 50 countries spanning over Europe, the US, and Africa. Its headquarters are located London, UK and employs 153,800 people worldwide (BARCLAYS, 2009). Barclays retail banking includes personal customers, home finance, local business, consumer lending and financial planning (DATAMONITOR, 2010). Internal performance Barclays capital strength has provided the company with resilience to cope adverse market conditions. For example, the companys liquidity pool increased to  £127 billion at 31st December 2009 from  £43 billion in 2008. Hence, cash flows allow the bank to negotiate better selling conditions in their product portfolio (BARCLAYS, 2009). Barclays has kept its lending growth volume regardless global economic situation. The bank has reduced its derivative assets; therefore, its balance sheet size has been reduced (BARCLAYS, 2009). However, Barclays operations are threatened by its weakness in cost management. Its subsidiaries in Western Europe registered detrimental costs in 2009. Thus, the bank may face difficulties in its expansion plans (BARCLAYS, 2009). On the other hand, Barclays mobile banking services have experienced a significant growth due to smart phones popularization. This new service portfolio is likely to reduce workload in banks branches; therefore a significant cost reduction may be achieved during the fiscal year 2010. Even though, internet and credit transaction fraud has also risen. Hence, information security investments may undermine cost management accomplishments (BARCLAYS, 2009). Barclays is pursuing to expand its operation in India and UAE. Even the bank has been present in both countries since 1970s; it does not have a considerable penetration. These markets have attractive conditions to increase the bank market share. Therefore, an expansion strategy for India an UAE is foreseeable (BARCLAYS, 2009). External performance Barclays impairment losses in 2009 affected banks profitability. This effect was present despite balance sheet size reduction. Disposal of these legacy assets is one of the main banks objectives for fiscal year 2010 (BARCLAYS, 2009). UK government legislation regarding Asset Protection is aimed at improving customers trust by clearing up banks balance sheets. However, there is no a complete strategy on this matter. These uncertainties add pressure on financial markets, making difficult banks capitalization. Besides, a more competitive environment will be roomed (BARCLAYS, 2008). Finally, mergers and consolidation in banking industry will make more difficult, for Barclays, to adjust pricing levels and protect their market position. However, Barclays has the resources and skills to tackle challenging business environments (BARCLAYS, 2009). Barclays financial performance ROE ROE ratio presents negative trend in the last three years. The cause of this behaviour was the increase in the operation costs, 25%, plus a drop of 25% in the interest income. The net effect was a drop of drop of 77% in the net income in 2009. In 2008, Barclays acquired Lehman Brothers, thus, the total financial figures of the bank were affected. This buy clarifies the abrupt changes in costs and interest incomes. Positive results of this acquirement may be reflected in one or two years; it can be said that this normal behaviour of acquirements (BARCLAYS, 2008). ROA ROA was also hit by the Lehman Brothers effect; the indicator fell 50% from 2007 to 2009. Total assets were duplicated during 2008 and the net income after taxes was a little bit higher than in 2007. However, in 2009, Barclays made a restructuration in its total assets and was able to reduce them a 44%, that is, total asset were almost the same than in 2007. Unfortunately, net income after taxes also dropped 44%. ROA indicator was, then, almost the same than in 2008. ROA hid the company efforts to align the bank to the pre-acquisition levels (BARCLAYS, 2009). Net Interest Margin Net interest margin improved in 2009. It surpassed 2007 value. Assets are producing more Interest profit than in 2007. This can be interpreted as a positive effect of the Lehman Brothers acquisition, since the asset combination is generation more income. However, the increment in operation costs undermined the net effect of these results (BARCLAYS, 2009). DuPont This indicator clearly shows the Lehman Brothers acquisition effects. The equity multiplier registered a growth during 2008. The net profit margin was almost 300% higher than in 2007. However, the asset utilization went down 518%. The net effect was a low ROE (BARCLAYS, 2008). In 2009, the equity multiplier, and net profit margin felt down 49.48%, and 63.45% respectively; whereas, asset utilization grew 281%. Even though, ROE ratio was the lowest one in the studied period. This erratic behaviour was caused by the total asset amount. Each indicator by itself does not provide enough information regarding how well the company is doing it. For instance, asset utilization seems to be worst than in 2007, therefore, the implication would be that acquisition was a bad deal for the bank. In the case of the Equity multiplier, the conclusion would be the same. But, the net profit margin figure seems more realistic and clearly shows that a growth of 10% in two years justify the buy (BARCLAYS, 2008). The ultimate result is indicating that the new company is expected to have a return in equity of 6.28%. However, this metric does not include dividend amounts; thus, investing in the new Barclays firm may still be attractive. DuPont exercise shows that any indicator does not have all information at glance, thus, they should be used in combination in order to provide relevant and useful information. By decomposing ROE in three different ratios, it is possible to understand the effect of total assets and the operating revenue into the companys investing profile. Besides, it is clear the effect of the increment in the cost of the sales and operations. From the graph, it can be seen that Lehman Brothers firm made a massive sales and their expenses were under control. However, it can be inferred that liquidity may be one of the relevant factors that pushed former owners to sell it. This thesis is aligned to the main causes of the 2007s global financial crisis. Therefore, the acquisition w as justified and was a good opportunity to improve the banks financial performance (BARCLAYS, 2009). Net Interest Margin This ratio shows a negative trend. The lowest value was registered in 2008. However, during this year the interest income registered the highest value during the period. In 2009 the interest income dropped 24.18% but asset were reduced almost 50%. Even though, they continued 12.34% above the 2007 value. The net effect was 25.24% below the 2007 mark. It is important to say that 2009 is a good result and shows how the bank is trying to move the new company to the levels in which the former one was operating. It can be inferred that the strategy is to stabilize the bank and then increase the profits. Acquisition was, again, the event that impacted the ratio behaviour (BARCLAYS, 2009). Earning base Earning base is indicating that bank is acquiring more assets which are directly implied with the profit generation, that is, that it is lending more money to customers. It is clear that in 2008, due to acquisition, the bank owned a series of assets which were overloading the cost structure. In 2009, the situation improved since assets were re-structured and their number was reduced. This indicator should not be higher than 50%. The rational is that banks earning assets are loans, thus, bank should ensure they payment of those loans whit its assets. Therefore a healthy ratio level may be around 50% (BARCLAYS, 2009). Operating Efficiency Ratio and Wage ratio The operating efficiency ratio shows that bank is struggling with its operating expenses. In 2007, the ratio was 187%, which means that bank was investing two resource units to produce one. In 2008, this indicator grew almost 2.5 times. However, the bank made a very good effort and reduced the figure 32%. When wage ration is included in the analysis, it presents a drop in 2008, due to redundancy. However, the operation expenses did not diminished; therefore the operation efficiency ratio did not improve. It can be implied that work force is not the biggest expense, as many author claim, but a combination of inefficient process and asset sub-utilization. Unfortunately, annual reports did not provide deep information (BARCLAYS, 2008, 2009). Interest Income / Total Assets and Interest Rate Risk Ratio The first ratio provides information regarding how much interest income is produced by the total assets that bank owns. This indicator shows a growing trend with a little drop in 2008 due to the total assets acquired from Lehman Brothers. Thus, Barclays is improving its asset utilization. Talking about interest risk ratio, this indicator should be ideally around 100% to ensure that all loans are backed up with assets. However, the bank registered values below 10%. On the other hand, this indicator also shows a growing trend, which means that this figure is going to improve in the future. This indicator also supports the 2008 acquisition (BARCLAYS, 2009). Liquidity Risk Ratio Cash is the blood of the business. This ratio is relevant because indicates the capacity of the bank to convert its asset in cash. This indicator showed a negative trend with a peak in 2008. Its value has never been below 90% which indicates that bank has no cash flow issues. However, it highly depends in the asset restructuration. According to the 2009 annual report, asset management is one of the key objectives of the current management board. Thus, liquidity risk ratio will improve during the next years (BARCLAYS, 2008). Capital Risk Ratio Capital risk ratio shows at what extent the bank is prepared to afford its long term compromises. Values on this indicator shows that bank is in a very good position since its long term compromises do not represent a high percentage of its total assets; the lower this indicator the best. However, it shows a growing trend accelerated by the 2008 acquisition. It can be inferred that management team is trying to either improve the bank resource availability, by long-term instruments, or restructuring the acquisition cost. The peak in 2008 can be explained by the heterogeneous asset combination post-acquisition (BARCLAYS, 2008, 2009). Conclusions After analysing Barclays bank ratios, it can be inferred that the acquisition of Lehman Brothers was an organic growth during crisis times. Thus, Barclays took advantage of the economic situation in 2008. Its solid cash figures allowed the bank to reject the bail-out plan from the UKs government. This action increased the customer preference for the bank. After acquisitions, the ratios tend to show bad results. However, this is somehow expected, since new components are added to the operation and a new organization is created. In the case of Barclays, these variations were not significant to the overall company performance. Finally, internal and external performance measurement is a complementary part of the ratio analysis. Ratio analysis is highly dependent on accounting information and the standards to gather that info. Thus, the results may vary if another set of accounting rules is applied. Internal and external performance measurement provides the background information to understand the number, trends and behaviours of the ratio result. Hence, both analyses are complementary rather than exclusive. Ratios provide a standard and normalized way to compare and analyze information, but they are meaningless by themselves. Ratio value is important, but it adds nothing to management process if it is not translated into coherent and relevant series of events which explain the root cause of that percentage. Thus, a good selection of indicator and measurements will guide the company to better results.

Hiram Ulysses Grant :: essays research papers

Hiram Ulysses Grant was born near Pleasant Point, Ohio, on April 27, 1822. His parents were Hannah Simpson and Jesse Grant. Jesse Grant was the owner of a tannery. He was shy boy while growing up. At the age of one year he was taken to Georgetown where he was educated at local and boarding schools. He graduated 21st in a class of 39, from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1843 where he had enrolled under the name of Ulysses Simpson Grant. He was assigned to Jefferson Barracks, MO, where he met Julia Dent. They married after the Mexican War in 1848. Grant served in the Mexican War under the name of Gen. Zachary Taylor and Gen. Winfield Scott. In 1854 while stationed at Fort Humboldt, California, Grant resigned his commission because of loneliness and drinking problems. He spent the following years in unsuccessful farming and business ventures in Missouri. He moved to Galena, Illinois, in 1860 where he worked in his father’s leather shop. Grant was appointed colonel and soon afterward brigadier general of the Illinois volunteers at the outbreak of the Civil War. Grant wanted to fight for the Union. He was an officer of dogged determination and won a series of brilliant victories. On one occasion, the commander of a Confederate fort asked on what terms Grant would accept his surrender. "No terms," he replied, "except an unconditional and immediate surrender." From then on he was known as "Unconditional Surrender Grant" since his initials were U.S. On March 8, 1864, President Lincoln made him commander of all the Union forces. Grant helped to bring the war to an end in a little over a year. In 1868 Grant was elected Republican president of the United States. Although Grant was a wonderful soldier, he made a poor president. He was honest, but some of those he appointed to high office were not. They caused financial difficulties for the government and the country. He was not blamed for this and was reelected in 1872.

A Comparison of Antigone and A Dolls House Essay -- comparison compar

Similarities in  Antigone and A Doll's House    Ibsen's A Doll's House has been called the first modern play. The play was considered "revolutionary" because it broke several "molds" which had endured for centuries. Incredibly, much of what was considered "revolutionary" first appeared in Sophocles' play, Antigone - one of the first plays in existence.    In merely looking at the surface, one notices right away that both plays are significant in that they avoid the social temptation of using a man as a protagonist. Looking deeper into the stories, however, one can see that in even more contradiction with society, the female characters go against men. Both Antigone and Nora step into the spotlight as the female hero who has been put in a compromising situation and is forced to decide whether it is more important to follow what society dictates, or go with what they feel is moral and just.    Antigone is faced with the death of both brothers, one who is to be buried with full military rites, while the other, under dictate of the king, is to be cast aside and allowed ...

Sleeping Late Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Life is so busy sometimes we don’t get enough sleep. Some days our bodies need more sleep than others. Some people like to sleep in after a busy week at work, or a long night of partying. Others feel that sleeping in can help them relieve some stress. Trying a few of these trips may help you to sleep in.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In order to sleep in longer, you should plan ahead for the weather. For example, when the weather is going to be hot and muggy, crank up the air conditioner. When your body gets too hot, you will wake up. Just keeping your body cool will help you feel more relaxed so you can get those few extra hours of rest. If the weather forecast calls for a steady rain crack open the windows so the rhythm of the soothing rain drops help you fall into a deeper more relaxed sleep.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another important part of sleeping in is a dark room. When too much light breaks into the room, you might have trouble falling or staying asleep. Light makes it easier to stay awake, thus making it harder for you to stop thinking. If you have curtains, close them almost all the way. Roll mini-blinds with the blades in the upward direction, because if they are rolled down when the sun comes up, too much light will come in. As the sleeper you want some light in the room, just a lot.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hunger will also prevent you from sleeping in. Near your bed keep a few handy items. I...