Scientific Theories Are Objectively Justified - 2001 Words

Scientific theories are objectively justified (Couvalis, 1997) and scientists are seen as being able to gather and interpret evidence that can be concluded as scientifically proven (Ladyman, 2002). In the majority of areas in modern society, including justice, health and safety, scientific evidence is heavily relied upon (Ladyman, 2002). However, there are certain principles that are required for a theory to be scientific. For example, it must be justified by observation permeated by theories (Couvalis, 1997). In other words, it must be theory-laden. Moreover, scientific theories contain generalisations and one method for justifying statements with full confidence on the basis of other statements is deductive reasoning (Couvalis, 1997).†¦show more content†¦This will be considered throughout this essay with regards to the topics of addiction, genocide and expressed emotion in family communication. Rassool (2011) defines addiction as â€Å"any behaviour, activity, substance, object or thing that has taken control of an individual’s life-style, that is causing harm to the individual and family† (p4). The majority of us are exposed to a range of addictive behaviours that impact on individuals and families across socio-economic and cultural areas, and it has been argued that we now live in an addictive society (Rassool, 2011). Addiction is useful in enhancing our scientific understanding of human behaviour due to its classification via the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th edition (DSM-5), which is the standard classification of mental disorders. It is used for clinical, research and policy purposes and has a large influence on the diagnosis and treatments of disorders across many countries (Hasin et al, 2013). Another way in which addiction can be measured is using the Dependence Syndrome. According to Edwards and Ross (1976), elements of the syndrome include; i ncreased tolerance to alcohol, avoidance of withdrawal symptoms, compulsion to drink, and rapid relapse after abstinence. These measurements of addiction aid our scientific understanding of human behaviour because they allow for a more reliable and valid diagnosis, consequently impacting treatment and thus, enhancing psychologists’

Pepsico-Strategy Diversificaion free essay sample

PepsiCo by having a well built distribution channel has been of great advantage to the company because the customers can access products easily so as to turn to sales. The ability of PepsiCo to respond to the emerging trends and issues quickly like the issue of environment and health and the development of Pepsi generation has made the company to remain as the leading consumer product company and have a greater market share and also its ability to penetrate the international market buy focusing more on the emerging market (Gitman J. L and McDaniel C, 2009). http://customwritingtips. com/component/k2/item/10725-pepsico. html Recomandations Pepsi Co is currently a strong worldwide leader in the food and beverage industry. Throughout its growth, it has stayed true to its mission and objectives, while becoming adominant force within the United States as well as abroad. Known throughout the worldfor quality products and customer care, Pepsi Co should make no major strategic changesto its plan. However, like in any business situation there are areas that Pepsi Co canimprove upon. Some of the recommendations are as follows: Continue to expand with their â€Å"Human Sustainability†. The healthy eatingmarket is a demographic that will continue to grow in the future, and will  provide generous profits if Pepsi Co is able to obtain a large market share. -Expand more into social benefits, especially for those in developing nations. Pepsi’s main competitor Coca Cola has implemented a water purification  program for African Villages, which provides a valuable need and at the sametime introducing their brand name where it was before unknown. If Pepsi followed this same ideology with food products and water purification it toowould significantly increase brand recognition-Capture more of the aging population’s market share. Pepsi is a companyfocused on a younger market hoping to repeat the worldwide success of CocaCola in regards to brand loyalty with the generations born after 1980;however, there is still a large market with the Baby boomer demographic thatthey could break into. -A minor yet still important change that needs to be made is to their website. After comparing it to competitors we feel that it needs to be simplified. Implementation Overall PepsiCo is a successful company with substantial revenue, and a largefootprint in the marketplace. PepsiCo should continue to expand their growth and takeadvantage of potential opportunities by continuing to improve on areas at the corporatetop level, in the markets that they currently are in, and in new markets and marketsegments that they wish to expand into. ? PepsiCo should expand into markets and market segments that they are currentlynot in, such as Asia, India, and South America, in order to expand their marketshare at the global level and to increase their overall revenue. ? PepsiCo should improve their employee relations in order to create employees allover the world that will promote the product both during their work day and intheir personal life in order to create â€Å"word of mouth marketing†. ? PepsiCo should look to cut some of their expenses as they currently have $10  billion more in revenue than the competition, but they have a similar Net Incomeof $5. billion. PepsiCo should continue its aggressive growth strategy, utilizing concentric diversification where possible in order to grow into emerging market segments and also to achieve meaningful expansion into international markets. In the North American market, PepsiCo should increase profit margins by means of a vertical integration strategy, acquiring bottlers and perhaps other key players in the value chain. In the future, the company can consider horizontal integration, in order to growth its overall dominance in the food and beverage industry. CONCENTRIC DIVERSIFICATION Continue actively acquiring new businesses and diversifying into new (but strategically related) market areas. Acquisition of an alcoholic beverage maker is a possibility. Aceasta ar mai putea apela si la : VERTICAL INTEGRATION Pursue a strategy of acquiring key players in the value chain, such as bottlers, agricultural producers, or biotechnology companies. HORIZONTAL INTEGRATION Move aggressively to buy Kraft Foods and become the new leader in the global market, overtaking Nestle. MARKET DEVELOPMENT Continue moving into international market, restructuring their organizational structure . Indra Nooyi and her team should focus on the aggressive expansion of the Pepsi brand internationally, aiming for market dominance in sodas in the international arena. In the US, the best strategy to compete with Coca-Cola in this market segment is to engage in vertical integration (in order to realize economies of scope) and also to build on the companys famously strong relationship with retailers. Furthermore, the company can strengthen its other soda brands, and perhaps introduce Miranda onto the US market in order to compete with Fanta. PepsiCo should increase international growth and profits by changing the organizational structure in a way that focuses on markets other than North America, and enables the company to ensure that new acquisitions are made profitable rapidly. PepsiCo should retain its strong focus on innovation and keep investing heavily in research and development, in order to keep ahead of the curve in this competitive industry. The aggressive diversification strategy is a major strength of PepsiCo. The company should continue along this path, but should also seek to specifically acquire companies that can offer it excellent strategic fit benefits, in order to capture efficiencies in the value chain. In terms of cash allocation, PepsiCo should seek to increase spending on Ramp;D , acquisitions of companies that are a good fit for its portfolio, and pay higher dividends to shareholders, thus having a positive impact on the companys share price. The company should reduce expenditure on share buybacks. ttp://onursaka. com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Case-Analysis-PepsiCo. pdf An opportunity exists for PepsiCo in the good-for-you and better-for-you markets that they are just starting to implement across their products. This change in consumer tastes worldwide provides an opportunity for PepsiCo to acquire a ‘health food’ company similarly to Sanitarium in Australia. Sanitarium would fit into the Peps iCo model of being a consumer foods company with a focus on ready to eat breakfast cereals and well as being a horizontal integration into the value chain as a related diversification. The added advantage is that Sanitatium would give PepsiCo more credibility in the GFU/BFU market and enable the company to take leadership on this issue. http://charmike4. hubpages. com/hub/Diversify_PepsiCo_Case_Study The first recommendation that I would make to PepsiCo is that they should focus more on creating products that can be considered healthy alternatives to their customers. People these days are looking for ways to eat better and stay healthy, and PepsiCo has barely tapped into that market potential. PepsiCo can go about this in two ways: 1. Creating new brands that provide healthy snacks or beverages, and 2. Making their existing products more healthy. Overall, this focus will give PepsiCo an edge in an environment where unhealthy snacks and beverages are starting to become less and less profitable every day. The second recommendation I would have for PepsiCo would be to expand their focus out of the US and into foreign markets. PepsiCo does already have a global presence, but by far the market that they emphasize the most is in the US. Foreign consumers, especially ones in developing countries, are looking for ways to improve their lives. The demand is there for American brands and products. By expanding their focus, PepsiCo would not be so susceptible to market fluctuations in the US. This will make PepsiCo a stronger company and give them that much more of an edge overall. Ultimately, PepsiCo is a great company. They have survived for nearly one hundred years by listening to consumers and providing products that they want. As long as they are able to maintain this strategy, they are likely to be a successful company for many years to come. Inceput PepsiCo Case Study A few years ago PepsiCo diversified. This is an interesting case study of what can be achieved with a related diversification that has a strategic fit and some future opportunities for PepsiCo. PepsiCo has used the related diversification corporate strategy as their basic approach to new businesses and acquisitions with a focus on beverages and consumer foods. Wherever possible PepsiCo has found related activities within the value chain between the various beverage and snack food brands to reduce costs and increase profits. Some of the elements of the value chain that are shared include: * Marketing Processing * Research and development This has enabled PepsiCo to find a good strategic fit in most of the businesses they have acquired. Concentration of resources on growth of businesses through internal growth andcarefully selected acquisitions PepsiCo has adopted a plan for growth by continuallyaddressing the opportunities and risks associated with the global marketplace. Thecorporations success reflects their continuing commitment to growth and a focus onthose businesses where they can drive their own growth and create opportunities. Contribute to the quality of life in communities. PepsiCo believes that as acorporate citizen, it is responsible to contribute to the quality of life in the communities itserves. This policy is implemented through support of social agencies, projects, and  programs. The company also supports employee volunteer activities throughcontributions of time, talent, and funds. Each PepsiCo division is responsible for its owngiving program with corporate giving focused on supporting employee volunteer  activities

Submarines Essays - Submarine, Turtle, David Bushnell,

Submarines Military submarines were invented by David Bushnell. He was born in Saybrook Connecticut in 1742, and died in 1824. He built the first military submarine in 1775. The name of this submarine was, Bushnells Turtle. The reason for this is because it looked like two turtle shells fused together to form an egg-like case. Lead ballast kept the craft upright and it was propelled by hand-operated screw-like devices. The submarine was submerged when a valve admitted sea-water into a ballast tank, and rose when the tank was emptied by a hand pump. The armament of the ship included a single gunpowder bomb with a time-fuse. One of the key setbacks to this innovation to warfare was its lack of an onboard oxygen supply. Lacking this, Bushnells Turtle could only remain submerged for a half hour. The reason that this type of machine was developed was because Americans were looking for a way to ambush English ships. Unfortunately though, Bushnells Turtle was a failure in its own right. Even though , its concept to sneak behind enemy lines undetected and wreak havoc was formidable. Submarines have come a long way since Bushnells Turtle with its hand powered controls, to its lack of an onboard oxygen supply. Today, most military submarines are nuclear powered. Therefore, they are able to remain at sea for extended periods of time without having to return to port to refuel. The reactors in most submarines are designed to provide propulsion for at least four-hundred, thousand (400,000) miles without refueling. Try to imagine what your life would be like without the submarine. Without it, we may be living under German rule, or everyone in the world would be at war. Consider yourself lucky that William Bushnell had the perseverance to invent the military submarine. It has truly changed everyones life. Technology

Computers in the Classroom essays

Computers in the Classroom essays Computers have become part of our everyday lives. From the computerized chip in our vehicles to the check out lines at stores, we are dependent upon this type of technology in our world today. Relying on computers becomes more evident everyday, from filing taxes to communicating with family, friends and co-workers. This explosion of technology has increased efforts to equip every classroom with computers and provide Internet access to all students across the nation, and now the rage of handheld computers is reaching across the educational realm. Teachers and Administrators have been introduced to the technology by necessity. Professional training has been the focus in schools and districts, while some decide to pursue the technological world through obtaining a postgraduate education with an emphasis in educational technology. Teachers have found themselves introducing basic computer skills to students while also learning more from the students who already have the technology in their homes. With the addition of the computers in the classroom, one might ask if the equipment helps to improve academic performance of the students that are served. Computer integration into the classroom can make schools better and improve students' academic performance. Students are motivated to learn and remain on task, thus complete their work in school. Students enjoy working on the computers and their attention is spent concentrating more on the subject at hand, than daydreaming during a lecture (Peckham, 2000). Many studies confirm that kids say they're more interested in schoolwork when it involves computers (Setzer, 2000). Teacher training in technology can improve a school's culture, which also tends to lay the groundwork for improved test scores. Oppenheimer (1997) cites many popular reasons for computerizing the classrooms within the United States. He explains that ...

Tips for Urban Stargazers

Tips for Urban Stargazers Stargazing in the city? Why not?  Just because someone lives in an urban environment doesnt mean they cant do a little sky observing. Sure, its a bit tougher because of bright lights and overall light pollution, but it can be done.   Most articles  about stargazing  recommend finding a good, dark-sky observing site. But for someone living in the city, who cant get to a dark-sky reservations, its tempting to just stay inside and look at the stars on a computer screen. However, it turns out, there are ways to do some city observing, despite the problems posed by light pollution. Much of the worlds population lives in or near cities, so enthusiastic city stargazers can and do find ways to do back-yard or rooftop observing.   Explore the Solar System The Sun, Moon, and planets are readily accessible because theyre bright. The Sun is an obvious choice, but observers do need to take some strict precautions. NEVER look directly at the Sun with the naked eye and especially NOT through binoculars or a scope that dont have solar filters. If an observer has a  telescope  equipped with a solar filter, then they can look at it through the eyepiece, to see the sunspots and any prominences that might be moving up from the Suns surface.  As it turns out, however, theres a very low-tech way to see sunspots without filters. Heres how it works: let the Sun shine through the telescope, and direct the bright light onto a white wall or a piece of paper. The observer gets to see sunspots without burning their eyes out. In fact,  a number of successful sunspot observers use this method all the time. That method also makes it very easy to sketch sunspots since all the observer has to do is direct the view onto paper and then trace what is projected. Checking out the Moon The Moon is also a great target for city viewing. Watch it night after night (and in the daytime during part of the month), and chart how its appearance changes. Its possible to explore its surface with binoculars, and get really finely-detailed views with a good telescope. One popular pastime is to explore all the large basins and craters on the surface.  Another one is to look for mountains and cracks on the surface.   One thing to look for during an observing session is an iridium flare. Thats a glint of light from the surface of an Iridium satellite. These usually happen not long after sunset and are very bright, so bright then can be seen from cities. However, as Iridium satellitesd are gradually phased out, such flares will happen less and less frequently. Seeing Planets from the City The planets are also good targets for city skygazers. The rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter  are popular targets. Plus, they show up well in binoculars or a telescope. There are good observing guides to the planets in the pages of Astronomy, Sky Telescope, SkyNews  magazines, as well as many sources online in other languages. A  digital astronomy program or app, such as StarMap 2 or Stellarium also provide precise positions of the Moon and planets in the sky.   The Deep Sky From the Big City Unfortunately, many people who live in light-polluted areas have never (or rarely) seen the Milky Way. During a power outage, theres a chance of seeing it from the city, but otherwise, it can be very difficult to spot unless they can get a few miles outside of town.   But, all is not lost. There are  some deep-sky objects that city dwellers can try to find. They just need to get out of the way of lights. One trick that many urban observers use is to stay up after midnight when some building owners turn off their outside lights. That might allow a view of such things as the Orion Nebula, the Pleiades star cluster, and some of the brighter star clusters. Other tricks for city observers: Find places to observe from that are shielded from bright nearby lights, such as a corner of a porch, the top of a roof and next to a wall, or from a balcony;Some put a blanket over their heads and their telescopes to block out the direct light;City astrophotographers take long-exposure images of deep sky objects;Use  good star chats  that help a skygazer hop from star to star as you search out a cluster or a nebula.   Ask the Locals Local planetarium theaters often offer stargazing shows, where people can learn the night sky.  They might also have classes for stargazers, so check out the nearby facilities to see what they offer. They are often found in science centers, but also at universities and some school districts offer public access from time to time. Amateur astronomer groups in and near big cities often have observing nights where people can gather with others to do some sky exploration. For example, in New York City, the Friends of the High Line organization have weekly observing sessions from April through October. Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles holds star parties each month, and its telescope is available each week for a peek at the heavens. These are just two of many, many stargazing activities in towns and cities. Also, dont forget the local college and university observatories- they often have observing nights, too. The city might seem like the least likely place to catch a glimpse of the stars, but in cities from downtown New York to Shanghai to Bombay and beyond, people can still often see the brightest stars and planets. It may be a challenge, but the rewards are worth it.

The Use of Cloud Computing in Public Libraries Assignment

The Use of Cloud Computing in Public Libraries - Assignment Example However with the introduction of cloud computing in public libraries a lot changed in terms of management of systems and resources. The introduction of this technology in public libraries meant that there would be increased operational efficiency, effectiveness in the use of resources and cost savings that went a long way in developing other sectors of the library. Cloud computing: Background Cloud computing refers to a computing model and net necessarily technology in which clients plug into the â€Å"cloud† in order to access information technology resources that are priced and provided on demand. Simply stated the term cloud is synonymous to the internet. The term cloud computing thus is based on cloud drawings that were used in the past to represent telephone network and in much later times to represent the internet (Buyya, Broberg, & Goscinski, 2011, p. 10). Thus cloud computing is internet based computing where there exist virtual shared servers which provide software, i nfrastructure, platform, devices and other resources as well as hosting to clients on what is known as pay as you use basis. Information is digitized such that it is provided in the cloud to customers. Users or clients can access these services that are available on the internet cloud without having the ability to operate or manage the resources that are involved (Velte, Velte, & Elsenpeter, 2010, p. 25). Scholars thus argue that the advantage of this computing model is the flexibility that it offers organizations in terms of concentrating on the core business processes of the organization without having to invest their time in training or gaining knowledge in the use of these resources that are needed to manage their business resources (Buyya, Broberg, & Goscinski, 2011: Velte, Velte, & Elsenpeter, 2010). In cloud computing customers do not the physical infrastructure upon which information technology services are provided; rather the clients rent the usage from providers. This is seen as very important for organizations because of the reduction in the costs involved in setting up information technology infrastructure. Companies thus consume resources as a service and pay only for those resources for which they use. Most of the cloud computing infrastructures consist of services which are delivered through the common centres built on servers (Rittinghouse & Ransome, 2010, p. 15). Characteristics of cloud computing There are six distinct characteristics of cloud computing technology. First is on demand self-services and this means that computer services such as applications and emails can be provided without the need of human interaction with each of the service provider (W, 2009, p. 27). Secondly is broad network access such that cloud capabilities are availed through the network and can be accessed through the standard mechanisms through any end user terminal such as computers, phones or PDAs. Third is resource pooling such that the providers resources are p ooled together to serve a number of clients using the multiple-tenant model with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned in line with the consumer demand. These resources include storage, processing, memory, network bandwidth and email services among others (Gong, 2010, p. 275). Fourth is rapid elasticity such that the cloud

The Strategic Causes of Conflict - What caused the 1991 Gulf War Essay

The Strategic Causes of Conflict - What caused the 1991 Gulf War - Essay Example There are other reasons for war such as ethnic and religious killings among others. War has become part of human beings and for a long time, it has really affected them. Generation after generation, nations have sent their youths to the fields to participate in these wars. Some have died in these wars as war does not discriminate. The costs of these escapes are very evident and some have been very severe1. For example, a look back to the damages that the First World War brought to the political structure of Europe makes it possible to understand the effects of war, and fight to stop its causes. 2 It is not a surprise to find that most historians are less concerned on the causes of war and have tended to concentrate on the causes of peace. This is not sufficient because the absence of peace is as a result of the war. Therefore, it is very important to look at the causes of a war rather than look for ways to bring peace after a war has already happened. The aim of this paper is to dig deep to the events that triggered the gulf war of 1991, and briefly shed light on the consequences of that war. What is the Meaning of the Term War? Before embarking on discussing the Gulf war that took place in 1991, there is need to clearly understand the meaning of the term war. There are many definitions of the term war, but only one definition will be used in this paper. The term war refers to the large scale violent conflict that occurs between organized groups that have already established governments or at times, those that seek to one day establish their own.3 Something that should be noted is that not all conflict is war, but only the large scale conflict is referred to as war. Therefore, the Gulf war of 1991 suits the description of war, as it involved large scale conflict. As mentioned earlier, this paper will concentrate on the causes of the Gulf War that took place between the American military and their supporters, and the Iraqi government in the year 1991. First, her e is a brief on the general causes of any kind of war and the meaning of the term war. General Causes of War The televisions, radios, and newspapers constantly remind people that the world they live in is not a world that has absolute peace. Day in day out, the reports are showing different nations being affected by conflict. For example, Somalia is country that has suffered warfare for many years. Statistics about wars are always frightening and since the Second World War, most of the social scientists have made great efforts, to attempt to identify the causes of interstate wars. Many researches have shown that there is no single master cause of war, but rather, the causes are different. Most of the wars occur as a result of a number of important causes and due to this, many states have found it difficult to solve their differences to bring about peace.4 Some have tended to argue that banning of nuclear weapons will help in eliminating the causes of war in the world. I tend to argu e otherwise because there are other root causes of wars around the world and some may come as a surprise. The following are different classes that can be used to classify the causes of war: Individual level causes: The causes of war in this category are normally short term and immediate. These are causes such as a leader’s personality. A leader’s personality on occasion plays an important role in the way he or she reacts to stressful situations. For example, a leader

A View Inside The Westboro Baptist Church Essay Example for Free

A View Inside The Westboro Baptist Church Essay Unlike most modern religious groups, the Westboro Baptist Church is unique in the fact that the organization doesn’t meet in a modern church setting. Instead, the Westboro Baptist Church meets on Sundays to picket and protest the funerals of people whom they feel have created blasphemous acts against God. This recently included the funeral of Apple’s co-founder Steve Jobs. In an October 7th cbsnews. com article journalist Edecio Martinez quoted Margie Phelps as posting on twitter, â€Å"He had huge platform†¦gave God no glory and taught sin. This in return yielded a great a greatly deal of responses by media, family, and some other government officials as well. This is the story behind the Westboro Baptist Church and its opposing counterparts. It is first important to understand the dynamics of the Westboro Baptist Church. Known for its fight against the alternative lifestyles of the homosexual community, the members of the Westboro Baptist Church have often times been referred to as the serial protesters and also have been characterized as a hate group. This church is an independent church founded by Fred Phelps in 1955. The group contains 71 members most of which are of Phelps family. Their congregations include picketing and the desecration of the American flag. Theologically speaking they refer to themselves as Calvinist. The church’s view is that most religious groups are Satan worshipers, frauds, and teach lies. They believe that â€Å"God Hates fags† and that it should be a crime. The two most notable groups that Westboro Baptist Church has chosen to picket are homosexuals and celebrities. This organization is without a question unique in its own rights. Since the Westboro Baptist Church popped up on the scene in Nov. 27, 1955, the public has had something to say about them. In efforts to expires the disapproval of the Westboro Baptist Church other groups have met in areas where the church was picketing and turned away from churches protesters. Perhaps one of the most famous counter protests happened after the September 11 attacks. One young man Jared Dailey , stood across from the group and held a sign that displayed, â€Å"NOT today Fred. † Two days later the number shifted from 1 to 86 people standing across from the group. In future protest against the group the slogan that began Dailey used has been popular in use. As a means to counter the Westboro Baptist church organizations such as, The Boston Center for the Arts and an ad-hoc group in Richmond countered the protest by doing pledges and then donating the money to LGBT (Lesbian, Bisexual, and Trans-gender) organizational projects. Others have arranged protest and hackers have been known to hack the Westboro batiste Church websites and disable them from the internet. There have been violent actions also against the group. There have been recorded incidents of angry mob attempting to attack the group, a fire near their meeting lace estimated at $10,000 in damage, and also Army Veteran Ryan Newell was arrested with ammo and an attempt on an attack of the group. For the most part the general public objects to the Westboro Baptist Church and their beliefs. Arguments on both sides of the debacle have both taking time out to use the First Amendment in their defense. The Westboro Baptist Church found themselves in hot water when the father of the Marine Lance Corporal Matthew A. Snyder sued them for defamation of character, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress on June 5,2006. Although the court threw out the defamation and privacy suits due to the First Amendment the trial still went on for other charges. The family argued that even though the first amendment gives an American citizen the right to free speech it still is limited. On the judges mark the first amendment was recited and let it be known that if vulgar, offensive, or shocking statements were made, then that would be grounds of a guilty plea. The Plea was guilty on behalf of Fred and the other members of the Phelps family. The Westboro Baptist Church also took action as well, on July 21,2006; the ACLU (The American Civil Liberties Union) of eastern Missouri filed a suit for Shirley L. Phelps-Roper. This suit stated that the Missouri law saying that no one was allowed to picket in front of a church or a funeral an hour before or an hour after was preventing her from utilizing her right to religious liberty and free speech. Although the argument was relevant the courts still shot down the suit stating that â€Å"in individual states and cities the law is interpreted as they see fit because the amendment is vague as to the terms and conditions. The Phelps family continued on still to federal court in hopes of a win. On both sides of the argument each have had valid point that the first amendment protects both sides. As the situation continued, it called for the Supreme Court to step in. The Supreme Court stated that even though they do not agree with the Westboro’s acts they still have to aside with them due to the First Amendment of freedom of speech. The Supreme Court quoted â€Å"that freedom of speech is so central to the nation that it protects cruel and unpopular protests even, in this case, at the moment of a familys most profound grief. The Westboro Baptist Church is an organization of people with their own beliefs and opinions. Their religion no matter how extreme it may be is still what they believe to be a religion. Time has shown the world many interpretations of God worshipers, and many interpretations of religion, and the Bible. This is not the first group to have these views and probably won’t be the last. The world is a big place with many different people and it is important to look past the ignorance and see the importance of accepting everyone for who they are like it or not.

God’s Existence and the importance of the resurrection to Christianity

Prominent figures like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens have all argued that God does not exist. However, there is historical proof for God’s existence. Using different theories, this paper will show that God, the creator of the universe exists. The proof that God exists is also seen in the fact that we have a savior, Jesus Christ. Our compassionate God sent his son Jesus to die for all the world’s sin. The sting of sin is death, but thanks to God Christ took away this sting by dying on the cross. Jesus made atonement for sin. It is through Christ that we live. Paul wrote triumphantly in 1 Corinthians 15:55, â€Å"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?† Similarly, Christians rejoice because we have victory over death. To begin, proof of God’s existence is seen in the group of cosmological arguments. The cosmological arguments are a set of arguments that demonstrate the existence of a sufficient reason or first cause of the existence of the cosmos, or the universe as a whole. There are three different types of cosmological arguments, the Kalam, Thomist and and Leibnizian cosmological arguments. Proponents of the cosmological argument include Plato, Aristotle, and John Locke. Contemporary defenders include William Lane Craig, Alvin Plantinga and Richard Swinburne. Aristotle believed the universe existed since eternity and Christian philosopher John Philoponus (490–570 AD) seeked to refute this theory (Cambridge Dictionary of Christian Theology). This led to the the kalam cosmological argument. In A Defense of the Cosmological Argument for the Existence of God, William Lane Craig outlines the kalam cosmological argument. Craig states, the universe had a beginning at some moment in the finite past and, since... ...ould be liars (verse 15). Jesus revealed himself to Mary Magdalene and other women. During Biblical times, women were seen as second class citizens. Nonetheless, Jesus honored women because they were the first to see him after his resurrection. Verse 17 states, no one would be free from sin if Christ had not been raised from the dead. All past believers are dead (verse 18) and Christians would be the most pitiable people on the earth. Luckily, none of the above is true. Because Jesus died on the cross and was raised to life three days later. Believers are forgiven from their sin and are given a new life. As Christians, our belief is not in vain because the resurrections is an actual event. Christ is not dead and our faith is not useless. Opponents of God’s existence argue if an all-knowing and good god exists, why is there such an abundance of evil in the world. 

GCSE Geographical Investigation

Managing Resources There is a need to manage, preserve and enhance the environment (built and natural) to maintain the tourist trade. This can be achieved in a variety of ways. The Growth in tourism There has been a steady but dramatic increase in tourism since the 1920/1930's. This was due to the increase and availability of cars for the average family. As families began to develop more and more disposable income in which they could use to buy cars etc. With this came family individuality, this meant that family's who wanted to go out into the countryside didn't have to wait for a long and uncomfortable bus journey to get into places of natural beauty. The questions that I will be answering in my essay are as follows: 1) Is there a need for conservation and stewardship in the Upper Derwent Valley? 2) Is the area managed in order to conserve the environment in the Upper Derwent Valley? 3) Does the Upper Derwnet Valley have some or all the features of a honeypot location? How will answering these questions help me to investigate my title? By answering these questions I will gather evidence and information about the Upper Derwent Valley, I will then be able to decide whether there is a need for management or stewardship in certain areas of the Upper Derwent Valley. Background Information Over 100 years ago the Derwent Valley in North Derbyshire was identified as having all the necessary attributes for water storage to satisfy the growing needs of the local population and industry in North Derbyshire, Sheffield, Nottingham, Derby and Leicester, the valley being deep and long, surrounded by grit stone edges with narrow points for dam building, and having a high rainfall. This valley close to Sheffield is now extremely popular with visitors who come to enjoy the attractive mix of water and woodland within the surrounding moorland. The road winds up the left flank of Lady bower, Derwent and Howden Reservoirs for nearly 8 miles to a turnaround at King's Tree. Here are some interesting facts about the famous reservoirs in the Upper Derwent valley: Catchment area 19,850 hectares Reservoir capacity 463692 million litres (3 reservoirs) Treatment works Yorkshire Bridge, opened 1929 Water filtered, chlorine added and pH corrected Bamford Stage I opened 1948 Bamford Stage II opened 1967 Where the water goes: (millions of liters) 450 (untreated) Sheffield 172 (treated) 77 Derbyshire 68 Leicester 27 Nottingham The Dambusters Derwent reservoir was used by the RAF's Dambusters to practise their low level flying techniques during 1943, in preparation for delivering Barnes Wallis' famous ‘bouncing bombs' to German dams. Located in the West Tower of the Derwent Valley Dam is the Derwent Dam (617 Squadron) Museum which houses a collection of memorabilia dedicated to the famous Dams Raid carried out by 617 Dambusters Squadron. It includes photographs and other material covering all aspects of the Dams Raid

Multinational enterprises and their CSR initiatives in Nigerian oil sector

Abstract Nigeria is a country which is endowed with considerable energy reserves. The oil and gas reserves found are some of the largest in the entire world. Multinational companies have been involved in the exploration and transportation of crude oil and gas in the country. The Niger delta region is the main area where the country’s rich energy reserves are found. The conduct of multinational enterprises in the region has been criticized because of allegations that corruption, bribery, environmental mismanagement, environmental contamination, and human rights abuses are being perpetrated towards indigenous communities. As a consequence, multinational enterprises have engaged in corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in order to create a better image while serving the needs of local communities. Introduction Nigeria is one of the leading producers of oil and gas in the world. It has oil reserves that are estimated to be around 35 billion barrels while it has 5 trillion cubic meters of gas reserves (Amaeshi et al, 2006: p. 67). Nigeria is a country that has more than 250 ethnic groups with over 500 languages being spoken in the country. Despite its huge energy reserves, the country remains poor with over two thirds of the people living in abject poverty. A total of six multinational organizations are operating in the Nigerian oil and gas sector. These companies are the Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron, Exxon-Mobil, Agip, Total, and Texaco. The Niger Delta region is the main area where the oil exploration and production is being carried out by foreign enterprises (Beauchamp, 2003: p. 92). These foreign enterprises have been criticized for failing to take adequate measures that can alleviate the poverty and suffering of indigenous communities. There have been accusations of corruption, mismanage ment, environmental degradation, oil spills, contaminated water, and other problems in the region. As a consequence, there have been attempts by multinational enterprises to implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in the region. However, the existing literature does not comment upon the different CSR practices of MNCs in Nigeria with respect to the local stakeholders and communities. This study will seek to investigate and assess the efficacy of the ethical practices by the multinational enterprises as they related to the empowerment and betterment of indigenous communities. Research Question The following research questions will be answered in this dissertation: What are the CSR strategies of multinational enterprises in Nigeria What are the practical implications of CSR as it relates to improving the standards of living for local communities Is CSR a genuine attempt to empower communities or is it a marketing strategy by multinationals Research Objectives To study the similarities and differences of the CSR initiatives implemented by multinational enterprises in Nigeria To determine the efficacy of CSR initiatives with respect to community empowerment and development To study whether multinational enterprises in the Nigerian oil sector are genuinely concerned about empowering communities or such initiatives are simply marketing tools to improver the image of multinational enterprises Literature Review Corporate social responsibility is a term used to denote the actions and policies implemented by business organizations that are in accordance with ethical and legal principles. The goal of organizations is to implement self-regulation and align it with the overall business model. The goal is to ensure that organizations can integrate ethics into their business model (Carroll, 2006: p. 76). A series of high profile business scandals in the past decades has meant that governments are now seeking to regulate the business environment through legislation that promotes transparency and accountability. Additionally, the customer segments are highly conscious about the business activities of enterprises because the latter must be able to demonstrate ethical behaviors in accordance with their actions. Alternatively, organizations are seeking to reduce the costs of complying with legislation by implementing CSR initiatives so that they can achieve efficiency and effectiveness. A number of theoretical approaches towards CSR have been developed in order to help organizations take responsibility for their actions while encouraging positive impact upon the environment, consumers, employees, and other key stakeholders. Corporate philanthropy is a CSR theoretical model which calls for providing monetary donations and aid to different communities. Such donations can come in specific areas like social welfare, environment, housing, health, and others (Carroll, 2006: p. 71). The limitations of such a model are that it does not address the root causes of poverty and other problems in local communities. Another theory is that CSR should be combined with the overall business strategy. This theory seeks to help local communities by recruiting locals and training them so that they can upgrade their skills. Enterprises create support for local industries through mutually beneficial relationships. Another theory focuses on creating shared value because it believes that social welfare is directly linked with business success. It recommends organizations to focus on sustainable development as well as a skilled workforce so that efficiency can be attained (Carroll, 2006: p. 79). There is still a gap in the existing literature as to whether CSR can really bring positive benefits to local communities and other key stakeholders. The Nigerian oil sector has been dominated by multinationals which have been accused of environmental degradation, corruption, human rights violations, and other abuses. As a consequence, they have sought to improve this by focusing on corporate social responsibility initiatives. Some studies argue that CSR is a process which involves organizations taking responsibility for their actions and ensuring that they can create a positive impact through their activities on th e environment (Blunt & Richard, 2006: p. 169). Other studies have disputed this as they argue that organizations operate on the principle of profit maximization. Research Methodology Qualitative research has been selected for this dissertation because it helps to investigate the reasons behind any particular phenomenon. This is suitable for this dissertation because the aim is to study corporate social responsibility and its efficacy in Nigeria. Quantitative research has not been selected because there is no need for statistics and figures in this dissertation. The data will be collected from primary and secondary sources. Primary data will be collected through a survey that will be sent to top managers of multinational companies working in the Nigerian energy sector. The secondary data will be collected through studies that focus on CSR and its efficacy. References Amaeshi, K, Adi, B, Ogbechie, C & Amao, O. (2006) †Corporate Social Responsibility in Nigeria: Western Mimicry or Indigenous Influences?†. No. 39-2006, ICCSR Research Paper Series – ISSN 1479 – 5124, The University of Nottingham. Beauchamp, T. (2003) â€Å"Case studies in Business, Society and Ethics†. 5th ed†. Pearson, Prentice Hall. Blunt, P, Jones, M & Richard , D. (2006) â€Å"Managing organizations in Africa†. Walter de Gruyter, pp.169-171. Carroll, A. (2006) â€Å"The Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility: Toward the Moral Management of Organizational Stakeholders†. Business Horizons, July-August 1991.

Reach More Customers by Sending an Email Newsletter

Reach More Customers Email newsletters are one of the best ways to keep your readers, clients, and supporters updated on what’s going on with your work. While email has been around for awhile, it’s effectiveness has not waned. In fact, email marketing can drive more purchases than other forms of marketing, including social media. You may already be sending other types of emails, but if you aren’t using a newsletter to communicate with your customers, you could be missing a good opportunity. It’s a great way to help build and maintain relationships with your readers and customers, which can ultimately lead to more sales. Read on to find ideas for creating a good newsletter and content ideas too. Creating a newsletter A newsletter can be anything you make it and can contain updates on books, publishing news, tips, or events you’re attending. Really, any content or information that your customers would love to know about and can help your sales is fair game. But you’ll need to keep your newsletter content fresh to keep your readers engaged, and you’ll have to send it regularly. Here are four tips to keep your newsletter generating interest: Manage expectations When people sign up to get your email newsletter tell them what type of content they can expect and how often you plan to mail. You’ll want to send at least once per month, but more often will keep your work in your reader’s minds. Don’t let the frequency scare you off, you can decide how much information should be in each one. that can hold their attention. People tend to skim emails until they find something they really want to read, so make your content easy-to-read and digest. be sure they know what they’re supposed to do when they finish reading it. Want someone to make a purchase? Go to your Facebook page? Fill in a survey? No matter what the purpose of your email, using a call-to-action can help your readers complete the action you’re looking for. Use phrases like â€Å"Read an Excerpt,† â€Å"Find Out More Now,†Ã‚   or simply â€Å"Buy Now.. Don’t forget images While a writer may not agree that a picture is worth a thousand words, they do serve important purposes in emails, so be sure to include them. An image can help sell a product, they lead your readers further into the email, and they make it easier to read Content ideas Coming up with new content for each email you send may seem daunting, but you can use a surprising amount of things you’ve already created as content. The infographic 25 Content Ideas for Your Email Newsletter has lots of great suggestions such as: Product updates Be sure your customers know about exciting new changes to your product or service. Let them know exactly what the changes are and most importantly, how these changes will (or won’t) affect them. Happy Birthday/ Anniversary Is your business celebrating a company anniversary or other milestone? Virtually invite your customers to share in the fun. FAQS Rather than waiting for customers to email you with questions, anticipate their needs and send out a list of FAQs with thoughtful answers. FAQS may seem like something outside of what a writer might need, but if you make it fun and answer common questions you get, your customers will love it. Thank you, Thank you When it comes to your customers, donors, event attendees, etc. it’s always appropriate to send an email to say, â€Å"Thank you.† Wrap up want to read. And remember, you don’t have to create everything you share in your newsletter yourself. If there’s an infographic, image, event, or blog post that someone else has created, give them credit of course, but share that with your readers. They’ll enjoy a different perspective and it can save you a lot of time. Plus you’ll look like a genius for sharing great information they may not be able to find on their own. will look forward to them, open them when they arrive and become loyal customers. Source: 25 Content Ideas for Your Email Newsletter

25 German Loanwords

25 German Loanwords 25 German Loanwords 25 German Loanwords By Mark Nichol The German language has provided English with a huge inventory of words, many of them pertaining to music, science, and politics, thanks to the influence of German-speaking people on those areas of human endeavor. Here are some of the more useful German terms borrowed into English. 1. Achtung (â€Å"attention†): an imperative announcement used to obtain someone’s attention 2. Angst (â€Å"anxiety†): a feeling of apprehension 3. Blitz (â€Å"lightning†): used only literally in German, but in English refers to a sudden movement, such as a rush in a contact sport 4. Carabiner (â€Å"rifle†): an equivalent of the English word carbine, this truncation of karabinerhaken (â€Å"riflehook†) refers to a metal loop originally employed with ropes in mountaineering, rock climbing, and other sports and activities but now widely employed for more general uses 5. Delicatessen (â€Å"delicate eating†): a restaurant or food shop selling meats, cheeses, and delicacies 6. Doppelgnger (â€Å"double-goer†): in German, refers to a look-alike, but in English, the primary connotation is of a supernatural phenomenon either a spirit or a duplicate person 7. Ersatz (â€Å"substitute†): refers to an artificial and/or inferior imitation or replacement 8. Flak (acronym): an abbreviation for â€Å"air-defense cannon† used figuratively to refer to criticism 9. Gestalt (â€Å"figure†): something more than the sum of its parts, or viewed or analyzed with other contributing phenomena 10. Gà ¶tterdmmerung (â€Å"twilight of the gods†): a catastrophic event 11. Hinterland (â€Å"land behind†): originally a technical geographic term; later, in both German and English, came to connote undeveloped rural or wilderness areas, and in British English has a limited sense of â€Å"artistic or scholarly knowledge,† as in â€Å"Smith’s hinterland isn’t very impressive† 12. Kitsch: something of low taste and/or quality, or such a condition 13. Leitmotiv (â€Å"leading motive†): a recurring theme, originally applied to music and later literature and theater but now in general usage 14. Nazi (truncation of â€Å"National Socialist†): originally denoted a person, thing, or idea associated with the German political party of that name and later the national government it dominated; now, by association with Adolf Hitler and the tyranny of the party and the government, a pejorative term for a fanatical or tyrannical person 15. Poltergeist (â€Å"noisy ghost†): a mischievous and/or malicious apparition or spectral force thought responsible for otherwise inexplicable movement of objects 16. Putsch (â€Å"push†): overthrow, coup d’etat 17. Realpolitik (real politics): the reality of political affairs, as opposed to perceptions or propaganda about political principles or values 18. Reich (â€Å"realm†): in German, usually a neutral term for â€Å"empire† or part of a name for a nationalized service, such as the postal service, but in English, because of the Nazi appellation â€Å"the Third Reich,† connotes tyranny 19. Schadenfreude (â€Å"harm joy†): enjoyment of others’ misfortune 20. Sturm und drang (â€Å"storm and stress†): turmoil, drama 21. Verboten (â€Å"forbidden†): prohibited 22. Weltanschauung (â€Å"worldview†): an all-encompassing conception or perception of existence 23. Weltschmerz (â€Å"world pain†): despair or world-weariness 24. Wunderkind (â€Å"wonder child†): a child prodigy 25. Zeitgeist (â€Å"time ghost†): the spirit of the time, or a prevailing attitude, mentality, or worldview Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Incorrect Pronunciations That You Should AvoidRound vs. AroundHyphenation in Compound Nouns

International Business Law (ARTICLE WILL BE GIVEN ) Essay

International Business Law (ARTICLE WILL BE GIVEN ) - Essay Example In this regard McDodgy has various defenses as stipulated by the law. McDodgy established his business as SpuEx which is different from FedEx. The two companies deal with totally different issues. FedEx being an international deal with freight issues while SpudEx was to provide delicious hot French fries. Therefore there is likely to be no confusion caused to both customers as they deal with different business. This is evident from Victoria case where the court held, " The record in this case establishes that an army officer who saw the advertisement of the opening of a store named "Victor's Secret" did make the mental association with "Victoria's Secret," but it also shows that he did not therefore form any different impression of the store that his wife and daughter had patronized. There is a complete absence of evidence of any lessening of the capacity of the Victoria's Secret mark to identify and distinguish goods or services sold in Victoria's Secret stores or advertised in its catalogs. The officer was offended by the ad, but it did not change his conception of Victoria's Secret. His offense was directed entirely at petitioners, not at respondents. Moreover, the expert retained by respondents had nothing to say about the impact of petitioners' name on the strength of respondents' mark. (Wardman 2002) Section 1055 of the Lanham Act clearly specifies that "where a registered mark or a mark sought to be registered is or may be used legitimately by related companies, such use shall there to the benefit of the registrant or applicant for registration and such use shall not affect the validity of such mark or its registration, provided such mark is not used in such manner as to deceive the public. If for first use of a mark by a person is controlled by the registrant or applicant for registration of the mark will respect to the nature and quality of the goods or services, such first use shall inure to the benefit of the registrant or applicant, as the case may be" (www.bitlaw .com) McDodgy can rely on the fact that the trademark in contention is not famous and that the clients of FedEx will not be deceived by the use of such trademark by him. Given the nature of goods and services provided by McDodgy's business and that of FedEx then clients of FedEx are unlikely to be confused. The point however, is McDodgy's use of trademark is not an

EHR Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

EHR - Assignment Example The system should be able to provide patients with access of their information enabling home monitoring and especially of chronic diseases. The data it stores electronically should be able to be accessed by other similar systems on the state or even federal level because of disease surveillance data. The act deals with the technology in health information and especially that which deals with the privacy and security of the patients’ information in health care facilities. It deals with electronic transmission of health information which is the role of EHR. The HITECH Act therefore examines the HER and ensures that that records it stores of patients are secured and remain private failure to which civil and criminal legal action will be undertaken (American Health Lawyers Association, 2006). The government incentives for adoption of the EHR system are monetary. Doctors and hospitals which adopt the system within a certain period of time will be receiving money as incentive and in order to attract more doctors to adopt the system. The incentive money reduces as time passes. The ramifications of lack of adoption are a certain percentage cut of the Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements that physicians normally receive from government. The first requirement is to have money to purchase the system and set it up in the relevant departments or according to the goals set within the organization. The other requirement is to have people with expert knowledge of the system to operate it as well as to teach the rest of the staff who will be handling the system how to use it and repair it (Hebda, Czar & Mascara, 2012). Certified EHR is the technological system that is tailored towards specifically meeting the functionality and security required by the user. The certification maintains data sharing and confidentiality as well as keeping the system secure. This is important if the HITECH Act rules are to be adhered

The Role of Non-State Actors in World Politics Essay

The Role of Non-State Actors in World Politics - Essay Example However, since most of the international organizations fall under non-state actors, they can not be ignored due to their contributions to the world politics (Jeffrey 1997). Based on the contributions of non-state actors in the world of politics, pluralists approach the study of international relations differently and extend their views of both actors and non-actors role on dynamics of economic interests (Taylor 1984). However, structuralists view the role of non-state actors as driven by individuals with economic interests who use their resources to influence policymaking. Pluralists view on the role of nonstate actors in the world of politics By most and different accounts, non-state actors play a major role in the international policy-making (Arfi 2005). They broadly deal with global politics and specific country issues. If this assertion is something to go by, it can, therefore, be argued that currently, the independent behavior of state actors is becoming additionally limited bec ause of the compulsion to international agreements and institutions (Taylor 1984). One of the major problems associated with the study of non-state actors in the international relations is lack of logical approach on their contribution to the world of politics (Jeffrey 1997). ... Â  the world of politics and that security is not the only main issue to consider while dealing with politics and that non-actors help improve cooperation among states. According to pluralists, non-actors are not powerful actors to control states but rather enhance relations between states (Arfi 2005).

The Theory Of The Doctrine Of Affections

The Theory Of The Doctrine Of Affections We will doubt, first, whether all of the things that have fallen under our senses, or which we have ever imagined, any one (of them) really exist; in the first place, because, we know by experience that the senses sometimes err and it would be imprudent to trust too much to what has once deceived us; secondly, in dreamsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦we imagine numerable objects which have no existence.  [1]   In this quote Descartes explains that senses are unreliable and that we cannot trust them for they have been proven to lie. It is interesting, then, that music is such a popular art form, for it depends heavily, and almost solely upon listening. While a full knowledge and understanding of music cannot be discovered from a purely auditory approach, simply listening to music has the ability to subconsciously entice emotions within an audience. This link between mood and sonority grew from ancient Greek philosophy and extended well beyond the eighteenth-century, but came to its height during the Baroque Period (ca. 1570-1780). The Baroque idea called the Doctrine of Affections held this idea to be true; it was the belief which held that by making use of the appropriate and established musical methods of the time, the composer could create a piece of music which was able to produce a particular and involuntary emotional response within the audience. It was a compilation of thoughts and m usical techniques from many composers and philosophers from age of the Enlightenment, most prevalently Renà ¨ Descartes.  [2]  As previously stated, some of the principles of this concept date back centuries, to philosophers such as Aristotle, who showed that orators employed the rhetorical means to control and direct the emotions of their audiences.  [3]   However, musically the idea came to its height during the age of the Enlightenment and can be seen throughout Baroque music in instrumental pieces of great composers such as Bach and Rameau, but is especially profound in opera, due to the greater emotional stimulation caused by music and text simultaneously portrayed. The Theory of the Doctrine of Affections originated with Descartes. Descartes believed that music was centered on rationalized truth; he held that the ideas of science may not be favorable to the arts, but the understanding of science enhanced the arts possibilities. This idea relates back to his rationalist idea which was represented in the Doctrine of Affections; that knowledge is found in concepts, principles, and laws, and not just in experiences or unrefined sensations.  [4]   As such, by using scientific inquiry to understanding the biological workings of the body it was possible to attain accuracy and specific truth upon these systems which could then be used within music to rouse human emotions, and thus could increase the potential of the arts. But, simultaneously: By using empirical observationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦they may come to accept some system which has logical consistency, but little relevance to the world in which we live.  [5]   Using the ideas of scientific observation in this way could greatly inhibit the very purpose of musical expression. The very groundwork of the Doctrine of Affections can be summed up by a rationalist idea, which states that when human emotions and thoughts were suitably written within the poetry or libretto for a particular composition, the texts could then be enhanced with a proper musical line, in an attempt to bring intellectual abstractions into the realm of the passionate concrete.  [6]   The Passions, according to Descarte: Include love, sadness, hatred, desire, wonder, joy, and sorrow. Passions are predicated by actions of the soul and set into motion by contents of the blood stream. The soul is excited by the moving passions which direct a mans will. It is on the passions, good or evil, that life depends. Passions have an effect on the psyche, and uses the idea believed by philosophers and Biologists, that passions are found in the spirits contained in the blood stream.  [7]   Each passion is associated with a specific physiological symptom. For example, the breath might accelerate and the heart beat may quicken. Descartes believed that it was possible to predict the external emotions that would result from the various passions the music intended to arouse. His influence over composition was remarkable.  [8]  Writers that followed, such as Johann Mattheson, described the composers thought process towards composition as such: that the music does not express the emotion of the composer to be, for example, sad and anguished, but rather the composers attempt to create a work of art which would sadden the listeners. Also, he says that this emotional power which the music has over the listener is not necessarily outwardly shown, but the emotional effect is personal and comes from the listeners individual experiences.  [9]   Descartes Compendium Musicae and his Traite des passionse lame (catalogues or compilations of the basic human passions  [10]  ), which became popular during the Baroque period became widely studied. These publications were two of many of the age, but were the first to give musicians tangible and practical directions for appropriate and affective use of intervals, for example, happy emotions tended to be represented with wide intervals, while sadness was represented with narrower intervals.  [11]  As aforementioned, the emotional reaction to the effect which music has upon the body, used in attempt to direct the emotions of the audience, was particularly profound when used in vocal music, especially opera, due to the text to music relationship which enhanced the expressive development. This was a concept originally derived from Greek and Latin Doctrines on rhetoric and oratory  [12]   and also expressed within the philosophy of the Doctrine of Affections. In each individua l piece, the composer would try to arouse a particular type of emotion within the audience, for example, hate, anger, jealousy, or rage, but would only use one emotion at a time. He would use particular musical devises to entice emotion within the listener, which would parallel the ability of text to do the same.  [13]  One of the most famous of Baroque composers was Handel. He believed that: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦plainness and simplicity had the greatest effect upon human emotion as he endeavored to write for the voice, more in the natural tones of the human affections and passions.  [14]  ( A study in Handelian Thought 55) As such, Handel composed greatly within the concepts of the Doctrine of Affections, in attempt to provoke the passions and incite human emotions. Also, conductor Nicholas McGegan believes that Handel had great insight into underlining human emotion and his characters are absolutely human.  [15]   As previously stated, Handel composed within the realm of the philosophy of the Doctrine of Affections. As such, his arias and oratorios are written in such a way to combine the emotional context of the libretto with a musical line which would unconsciously bring about predetermined emotions within the audience. Three types of arias found during the Baroque period were those that depicted rage, happiness, and lost love. According to Johann Mattheson rage is much better at using all forms of musical inventions than more pleasant passions. However, it is not adequate enough to simply use loud dynamics and quick rhythms, as this violent quality has its own personality and requires forceful expression without losing sight of the beauty of the musical line.  [16]  The main devices used during a rage aria can be seen in an expanded theory of intervals explained by the Philosopher and Composer Rameau. Assuming that the basic human qualities of rage include anger, violence, sorrow, grave ness, harshness, and aggression, Rameau would conclude that a rage aria would include: whole and half steps, used to represent anger or sadness due to the contraction of the body; minor thirds, descending fourths, augmented fourths, minor sixths, and major sevenths. Also rage or anger would be seen in a fast tempo and most likely a minor key.  [17]  The rage arias of Handel directly follow this theme. Handels famous aria Empio, dirà ², tu sei from his opera Giulio Cesare is a classic example of a Rage aria. The first importance of this piece in terms of the Doctrine of Affections is the text: Empio, dirà ², tu sei: Togliti agli occhi miei Sie tutto crudeltà ¡ Non à ¨ di re quell cor, Che donasi al rigor Che in sen non ha pieta (I say you are a villain, Remove yourself from my sight, You are cruelty itself. This is not the heart of a king That abandons itself to such harshness, That contains no pity.) This is Giulio Cesares furious Act 1 aria in which he chastises the Egyptian general, Achilla, who has just returned to him the detached head of the Pompeo, the noble Roman general. This aria expresses Ceasars rage, and as such, Handel wrote it in c minor and in the tempo Allegro. The aria also includes many rushing scales, arpeggios, and uneven figures. From the very first opening line, the orchestral overture creates uneasiness and dread in the listener by use of running scales, large leaps, and awkward intervals (m1- 9); this agitation is affirmed by a very strong vocal entrance by the castrato, Giulio Cesare, which begins with a descending scaler line and is followed by larger leaps (m.11). . Throughout, the vocal line can be described as extremely intense- containing extensive coloratura with rushing scales (m14-16; m24-25; 32-34), arpeggios, and drastic interval changes would create an understanding of rage even in a listener who did not understand the words, for example, when Cesare says Sie tutto crudeltà ¡ (You are cruelty itself), the vocal line implements jumping intervals as well as a brief chromatic passage (m35-37) Also, throughout the piece the orchestra is particularly restless, and includes running passages, large leaps, arpeggiated figures, which also create an uneasiness. All of these factors contribute to quickening the heartbeat of the listener, providing them with an emotional relation and understanding of Giulio Cesare, just as if they, themselves were the raging party. The understanding of the text along with the extreme musical line and accompaniment creates an even more vivid picture of Cesares intense anger and rage and pulls the listener even further into the emotion, raising the blood pressure further and thus, physiologically causing the raging and uneasy emotion within the listener. Among the passions was also the emotion of joy. Mattheson held that: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦joy was an expansion of our soul, and thus it follows that reasonably and naturally that [one] could best express this affect by large and expanded intervals.  [18]   According to Rameau joyous music was also represented by great intervals, but additionally was shown with Major key and fast tempo.  [19]  The Air Oh! Had I Jubals lyre from the Oratorio Joshua by Handel implements these philosophies within the vocal line and orchestral accompaniment. Oh, had I Jubals lyre, Or Miriams tuneful voice! To sounds like his I would aspire, In songs like hers rejoice. My humble strains but faintly show, How much to Heavn and thee I owe. This is one of Handels later works, and it is based upon the biblical stories of Joshua. Essentially, Moses and the Israelites, after being freed from Egypt are told by God that they must maintain their faith to him for forty years in the wilderness before being allowed into the promise land, they do not obey him and send in spies to check out the land after two years. Long story short, Joshua and Caleb, of the younger generation maintain their faith within God and are thus allowed to enter the Promise land, while the disbelievers perished in the desert. In the bible, Jubal is quoted as being the ancestor of all who handle lyre and pipe  [20]  and Miriam is the sister of Moses and Aaron who was believed to have been a prophet. This is a simple song of happiness and praise sung by Achsah, the daughter or Caleb. Firstly, the piece is written in A major and in the tempo Allegro. From the opening of the piece, large and sonorous intervals and chords are heard and a feeling of ease an d happiness is apparent. When the soprano, Achsah enters, her line outlines an A major chord (m 10-11) and continues to move within a beautiful major key area. Although in some parts of the piece there are running passages (m21-24; m41-44; m 46-47) there continues to be large intervals and major chords throughout the accompaniment below. This stability below the quickly moving and florid passages allows the emotion of joy and happiness to be maintained throughout the piece. The piece begins and ends in a major key and throughout it implements large intervals and a consonant tone. These foundations musically create a joyous emotion within the audience because they entice openness within the body physiologically; the listeners emotional reaction, therefore directly parallels the sonority of the musical line and accompaniment. Another of the passions outlined by Descartes included love. Within opera, a common theme of unrequited or lost love is prevalent. This absence of love, which is sought by a character, brings about an emotion which is a combination of sadness and hope, and abstractly creates love. On sadness Mattheson states: Sadness is a contraction of the subtle parts of out bodyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦it is easy to see that the small and smallest intervals are most suitable for this passion.  [21]   To create the feeling of lost love, this emotion is combined with the passion for hope. In regards to this emotion Mattheson explains: Hope is a pleasant and soothing thing: it consists of a joyful longing which fills the spirit with certain courage. Hence, this effect demands the loveliest use of voice and the sweetest combination of sounds in the world, for which courageous longing serves as a spur as it were; yet so that even joy is only moderate, courage nevertheless enlivens and animates everything, which yields the best combination and uniting of sounds in composition.  [22]   This combination of the passions of sadness and hope can be used to understand the emotion of love. Mattheson shows this: Love is in fact essentially a diffusion of the spirits.  [23]   Love is therefore a diffusion or combination of joy or hope (expansion) and sadness (contraction), depending upon the type of love which is occurring. For example new and young love would be represented in a more joyous way, with larger and more expansive intervals musically. However, lost or unrequited love would be represented to attract sadness or small intervals, but also to entice hope, by using larger and more expansive intervals which are pleasant and soothing, because the character continues maintains some hope that love will eventually result from the sadness and loss, thus musically drawing the listeners into their melancholy but optimistic emotion. The philosophies of the Doctrine of Affections can again be seen in the aria O Sleep, why dost thou leave me? from the opera Semele by Handel. O sleep, O sleep, why dost thou leave me? Why doust thou leave me? Why thy visionary joys remove? O sleep, O sleep, O sleep again deceive me, O sleep again devieve me, To my arms restore my wandring love, My wandring love, Restore my wandring love, Again deceive me, O sleep, To my arms, restore my wandring love. The plot line of the opera is essentially thus: Semele is in love with Jupiter, but is about to Marry a man called Cadmus at the temple of Juno. Before the ceremony, however, Semele is snatched from the temple and taken to the heavens where Jupiter builds her a grand palace. Juno is angered by this and asks the god of sleep, Somnus, to help her in her revenge. In this aria Semele has been deprived of sleep, and thus, deprived of her dreams of her lover who cannot be with her. The piece is written in a major key, but in the tempo largo. This, from the first chord of the piano, shows the parallel between happiness and sadness that are present during lost love, the emotion of hope can be seen in the large interval jumps in the left hand of the piano accompaniment (m1-4) Semeles first phrase is very quiet, slow and repetitive; it uses a beautiful scalar line of second intervals to show her anguish for the loss of her lover within dreams. Underneath her beautiful line is a similarly runni ng pattern within the piano, which is characterized with some leaps to bring about a slight feeling of hope and happiness (m 8 in both hands; m 9 in both hands; m11-end in the arpegiated left hand) The sadness comes to a height on the second page when there is a long running passage upon the word wandring, (m 17-18), but hope is seen in the ending of the piece with the interval leaps upon the word restore, coming to the climatic and beautifully quiet G sharp, before desending again into sadness (m24-25).

Defense for Booker T. Washington :: Up From Slavery African Americans Essays

Defense for Booker T. Washington Booker T. Washington is innocent of sycophancy and complacency. The meaning of sycophancy, as we know it, is a self serving flatterer. By far, I do not think that Mr. Washington is one of these. Mr. Washington’s second charge, complacency, according to the online dictionary of Merriam – Webster means, self-satisfaction accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies. Again, this is far from what Booker T. Washington is guilty of, in fact, Mr. Washington is gravely misunderstood and it is the people’s point of view that has to change to prove this man’s innocence. In his autobiography, â€Å"Up From Slavery† Washington describes his life as a slave and rising above poverty and oppression. His reason for this autobiography was to tell the world that he too suffered abuse, oppression, poverty and belittlement. He shows that he was able to sacrifice and suffer to get to where he accelerated to be a prominent educator. His purpose of this book was to educate others of his own race. Washington grew up in the South. Southern baptism was the dominant religion. People were having the calling to be ministers in every congregation. Having all of this religion around you instills attitudes of guidance from the bible. I feel that Booker T. Washington was heavily influenced by the bible whether he knew it or not. It states in the bible, â€Å"turn the other cheek, forgive one another and seek treasures of comfort from heaven, when someone is mean to you be kind to them and coals of fire will burn on their heads.† We have all heard these phrases throughout our life time. Could these ideologies be in stowed in Booker T. Washington’s mind set? Of course, it was. This is why Mr. Washington sees that forgiving the white race and to move on is justified. He’s trying to help his own race by trying to take away the hate and vengeful feelings towards the white race so that his own race is clear to move forward and eventually perhaps become equal. The fi rst step in mental health to move forward is to forgive and forget the past. This was one of the ideologies Washington was trying to promote. Washington believed that education was an important tool for moving up the social and financial ladder.

Week 2- Camelbak

Written Assignment: Camel Back Foundations of Marketing: BA181 Instructor: Stacey Smeltzer Grantham University William Hornung Student ID#: G00079415 January 1, 2012 Camel Back -They’ve Got Your ’Bak. – Case Study Analysis The case study is to understand the importance of the CamelBak. CamelBak Products, LLC is an outdoors equipment company known primarily for its hydration products, such as hydration packs and water bottles. CamelBak is also a supplier of hydration packs, protective gear, and other products to the U. S. military and law enforcement agencies around the world. The CamelBak headquarters are in Petaluma, California. CamelBak is the leading manufacturer of hydration packs. The CamelBak name comes from a play on the myth that a camel stores water in its hump. Camels actually store fat in their hump. CamelBak Given Facts in the case: 1. In 1989, Michael Eidson, has invented CamelBak for overcoming dehydration. 2. The first version, which used medical tubing to flow water from an intravenous drip bag that was insulated by a sock and strapped to the back of his shirt, was born as most inventions are—out of necessity. . The packs gained fame during the 1991 Gulf War as extreme sports enthusiasts in the U. S. Special Forces carried their personal CamelBaks into combat during Desert Storm. 4. By 1995, Edison sold the company for $4 million. Kransco has purchased it. 5. In 1999, two years after buying his first CamelBak pack, cyclist Chuck Hunter left Lockheed Martin to join the upstart company in hopes of growing its military business. 6. Hun ter partnered with DuPont to help CamelBak develop the Low Infrared Reflective (LIRR) system. 7. Other CamelBak innovations include the Water Beast reservoir, a fluid storage system that boasts 30 percent more rigidity than other packs on the market. 8. Another CamelBak first is its CBR 4. 0 pack system, which is specially designed to perform under chemical or biological weapons attack. 9. The product manager Shawn Cullen likens CamelBak to Kleenex: â€Å"Everyone calls a hydration system a CamelBak,† he says. 10. U. S. Army is working with a former supplier to develop its own version, most likely in an attempt to reduce costs. Questions: 1. Discuss how business relationships and strategic partnerships have helped to increase the value of Camelback’s products and the business itself. Answer: Camelback is first invented by Michael Edison in 1989, for solving the problem of dehydration. 1. CamelBak is purchased by Kransco. 2. Chunk Hunter has partnered with CamelBak after he left Lockheed Martin, because of growing military business. 3. Hunter partnered with DuPont to help CamelBak develop the Low Infrared Reflective (LIRR) system. 2. What type(s) of business market customers does CamelBak sell to? Answer: The following are the different segment of customers using the CamelBak products. 1. The military is big customer 2. Sports people. 3. Outdoor enthusiasts 4. Law enforcement personnel 5. U. S Special Forces 6. U. S Secret Service 7. Department of Health and Human Sciences 8. Government agencies from around the world 9. HAZMAT 10. New York Police Department 11. Extreme sports, Hunting, Recreational personnel 12. Industrial and Professionals The following is the list of Camelback Products: 1. Camelback packs 2. Low Infrared Reflective (LIRR) system. 3. CBR 4. 0 pack system 4. Water Beast packs At prices up to $200 for combat-ready systems, one thing CamelBaks aren’t is cheap. But then again, neither is CamelBak itself. Its strong product lines, history of innovation, secure strategic relationships, and dominance in government and institutional markets drove its value to over $200 million when investment bank Bear Stearns Company bought the outfit from Kransco in 2003—not bad for a product that started life as an intravenous fluid bag wrapped in a sock. 3. Review the types of demand that most influence business markets. Which ones do you think are most important for Camelback to consider in their marketing strategy? Why? Answer: The types of demand that influence business market are. 1. Bulk Orders 2. Potential Market 3. Payment System 4. Inelastic demand 5. Price inelasticity of demand. The things most important for Camelback to consider in their market strategy are. 1. There must be selective media channels. 2. Less advertisement 3. The price to be reduced by using modern technology of production. 4. The biggest client i. e. military is in the impression that the product is charged high. 5. There is lot of demand for the product in the international market. 6. The marketing should concentrate on awareness of product in untouched market. 4. What type of business product is a Camelback backpack? Answer: Camelback is an essential product for its customers. It is need for its customers. The price such product influences the consumption process of the customer. The product can be compared to a pharmaceutical drug which solves the problems of patients. There is lot of market growth for Camelback. Conclusion: From the above case study it is understood that business products have few major customers (here military to Camelback), but these customers are price sensitive and it is also threat and opportunity. The organizations that are in marketing of business products should be careful in dealing with the customers with a strategic marketing plan. One of CamelBaks biggest investors is the US military. As a soldier without the CamelBak soldiers would still be using canteens as a hydration system. Clearly this is a good marketing strategy for them to use in this particular arena and to focus on them as a whole in this one area. References Camelback. (n. d. ). From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved January 1, 2012, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Camelback History of the CamelBak. (2010, October 17). High on Mountain Biking. Retrieved January 1, 2012, from http://highonmountainbiking. com/blog-mtb/history-of-the-camelbak/ Quackenbush, J. (2011, August 25). CamelBak acquired for $257 million. Business Journal. Retrieved January 1, 2011, from http://www. northbaybusinessjournal. com/39102/camelbak-acquired-for-257-million/

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin Essay

Carlo asserts â€Å"War is a wonderful thing, in movies and in books.† By close reference to the novel, explore how war shows people at their worst and their best. The novel Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, written by Louis De Bernieres in 1994, explores â€Å"humanity; we sigh at their suffering as they are ripped apart and forever changed by war.†1 The quotation in the title is spoken by Carlo quite early on in the novel, at the end of chapter 15, titled ‘L’Omosessuale (4)’. He is referring to the idea that war is repeatedly shown to be patriotic, heroic, and indeed wonderful especially in film and literature. However, from Carlos’ experiences in Albania, he knows the true reality of war, as he has seen and experienced the suffering. We can trace Carlos’ progression of thought through his personal chapters; all entitled ‘L’Omosessuale’. He begins saying, â€Å"How wonderful it was to be at this war†(p.119) We hear him describe crossing the foreign border as â€Å"exhilarating†, and he and his comrades view themselves as â€Å"the new legionaries of the new empire that would last ten thousand years.†(p.119) This was his view at the very beginning of war, before he had really experienced any suffering. As he is yet to encounter any conflict, it is likely he has been influenced by the propaganda at the time, organised by the Italian leader, Mussolini. The next quotation is said slightly further on during Carlos’ experience, â€Å"How wonderful it was to be at war, until the weather turned against us.†(p.120) It is here that we begin to hear of some of the suffering that Carlo and his comrades had to endure, such as â€Å"we were ten thousand men soaked to the bone†(p.120). The real tragedy of war is death, and Carlo has had direct experience of this. He says, â€Å"War is wonderful until someone is killed†(p.122). This is when De Bernieres chooses to use graphic images to show the suffering that Carlo and his comrades endure. â€Å"I realised that I was covered with gory scraps of human flesh that were freezing fast to my uniform†(p.122). Finally, Carlo says the quotation in the title, â€Å"War is a wonderful thing, in movies and in books† on page 124. It is here that Carlo has realised the actuality of war, and can see that this idealised version is fictitious and can only be seen in movie and in books. â€Å"War scorches a trail through all of their lives. What seems, at the beginning of the novel, like a game, a challenge to manhood, a matter of honour, an occasion for political satire, becomes an appalling reality.2 Carlo asserts that war is shown to be wonderful in movies and in books. However, De Bernieres does not follow this trend, and shows the war for what it is. De Bernieres’ characters starve and die slowly with their entrails hanging out; he depicts the horror that they have to endure to fight for their country, and the suffering that they are put through. In Albania, Carlo says â€Å"It was as though a portion of my mind has disappeared, or as though my soul had diminished to a tiny point of grey light†(p.138). De Bernieres also shows the gore and bloodshed caused by the war, when he describes the death of Francesco. In chapter 19, L’Omosessuale (6), De Bernieres uses Carlo’s narrative to tell the reader the true details of Francesco’s death, and then the sanitised version for his mother. As well as this showing Carlos’ considerate nature, it also confirms that many people did view the war in a very different light from its reality, including Francesco’s mother. â€Å"He died on a fine day, Signora, with the sun shining and the birds singing.† â€Å"(He died on a day when the snow was melting and when, beneath that carapace, there were emerging a thousand corpses, knapsacks, rusted riffles, water bottles, illegible unfinished letters drenched in blood)† (p.148). Corelli wrote the novel, after falling in love with the Island of Cephallonia, and wanting to inform readers about what happened to this Island during World War II. For this reason, he has depicted a very real and veritable account of atrocities that occurred during the Second World War. â€Å"Everyone is shot, without regard for rank or role, even the medics and the chaplains.†3 However, in the film adaptation of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, directed by John Madden, war is viewed in a very different light. De Bernieres has said of the film â€Å"The problem is that film-makers take out all your good ideas and replace them with a load of stupid ones.†4 The depiction of war in the film is very different and many scenes seem to have been â€Å"watered down†5, in order to appeal to far wider audience. The movie has been widely criticised, after changing the story line drastically from a tragic story of the destruction and consequences of war, to a love story between Corelli and Pelagia. â€Å"Where de Bernià ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½res’ book makes it clear from the start that war is unforgivingly ugly, for a long time the film’s only hint of this is a glimpse of Mandras’s battle-scarred feet.†6 Although much of De Bernieres novel depicts the horror of war, some of the consequences of war are indeed wonderful. Corelli and Pelagia would have never found love without the intervention of war in their lives, and although ultimately war destroys their love, the moments spent together made the war endurable. The prefatory poem at the beginning on the novel shows Louis De Bernieres hinting, even before the novel has begun, that war will be an important theme throughout. ‘The Soldier’ by Humbert Wolfe describes the waste of war, and the loss of lives and of youth. Links are evident between this poem and Captain Corelli’s mandolin as they both explore the way in which war has an effect on different people. The presence of war on the Island of Cephallonia has various effects on different characters and can expose people’s flaws and merits. An excellent example of this is the contrast shown between Mandras and Antonio Corelli. Corelli has been drawn into a war that he really has no heart for. â€Å"You mean you’re a soldier by mistake?† (p. 206, Pelagia). He has no desires to be a soldier and his character is often seen as anti-military. When giving punishments he does not follow the rules that are expected of him, â€Å"To everyone’s surprise the captain pointed his pistol straight into the face of one of the culprits†(p.324). However, although he had no intention of doing so, Corelli proves to be an excellent comrade and shows morality throughout the war. â€Å"This is my morality, I make myself imagine that it is personal†(p.351). This is greatly contrasted with the character of Mandras. He has very high expectations about the life of a soldier and feels he has to prove himself to Pelagia and the rest of the Island. He resents those who know more than him, yet does not want to prove himself intellectually, as he believes â€Å"no man is a man until he has been a soldier†(p.80) Carlos’ assertion that war is wonderful in movies and in books reflects a idealised view of the war. However, Mandras believes that this view was the reality of war and he felt that becoming a soldier would make him more worthy as a man. â€Å"I’ll come back and everyone will say, That’s Mandras, who fought in the war. We owe everything to people like him.† He is indoctrinated by what is expected of him, and is predicted to conform. However high Mandras’ expectations were, the war does not elevate him, it brings him down. During his experiences in war he saw others abuse their power, and now feels he has a right to do the same, The war de-humanises him, and instead of changing him for the better it changes him for the worse. The war in Cephallonia showed the best and the worst in people. In Antonio Corelli’s case it displays his merits as he has the opportunity to exercise his humanity in the treatment of others. From the beginning of the novel, Corelli is represented as a laid-back, light-hearted leader. Although he has a great talent as a leader, he is very modest and introduces Carlo as â€Å"one of our heroes, He has a hundred medals for saving life and none for taking it†(p.202). He proves himself as an excellent comrade and Captain by being faithful to his men until the very end. â€Å"There is no honour in this war, but I have to be with my boys†(p.392). His introduction of La Scala also shows good comradeship, as it is a humorous and practical solution to having to use communal toilets. This is also a crucial element of the novel, as before they go to join the shooting line up, they sing to maintain their composure. He also shows his forgiving nature when he chooses to forgive Gunter for what he has done. â€Å"I forgive you. If I do not, who will?†(p.397). He says of himself â€Å"I am not a natural parasite†(p.305) and this is seen clearly when he avoids any confrontation with Pelagia. He is uncomfortable about living with Pelagia and her father â€Å"Tonight I shall sleep in the yard and tomorrow I shall request alternative accommodation†(p.204). Corelli’s fondness for animals is De Bernieres way of showing positive traits in a character. The fact that Corelli is so attached to Psipsina shows that he is an admirable man and the reader feel connected to him. â€Å"The captain had some engaging traits. He tied a cork to a piece of string, and sprinted about the house with Psipsina in hot pursuit†¦and if the animal happened to be sitting on a piece of music, he would go away and fetch another sheet rather than disturb her†(p.250) Corelli also shows fondness for children in his relationship with Lemoni. Although there is a language barrier, the two are able to communicate on a different level, and are able to enjoy each other’s company. â€Å"The child was whooping and laughing, and it appeared that what was transpiring was a lesson in Italian. ‘Bella fanciulla,’ the captain was saying. He was waiting for Lemoni to repeat it. ‘Bla fanshla,’ she giggled.† (p. 211) He also appears to have a very different attitude than other soldiers, when he arrives in Cephallonia with his mandolin strapped to his back, and not a gun, as you would expect from a soldier. The mandolin â€Å"that was called Antonia because it was the other half of himself.† This love for music is another engaging trait that the captain has, and is one of the reasons Pelagia falls in love with him. We also see this originality to his character when Gunter Weber, a german soldier, introduces himself. Weber says â€Å"Heil Hitler†, yet Corelli says â€Å"Heil Puccini†, showing he has a very different attitude to the war, and will not be led by anyone. This again shows his love for classical music, as Puccini was a great composer, whom Corelli was an admirer of. His relationship with Pelagia is clearly one of great love and admiration, however it also contains sexual desires, which are never consummated. â€Å"Such slender fingers, such pink nails. He imagined them engaged upon amorous and nocturnal things, and realised that he was disturbing Psipsina.†(p.259, Corelli) This shows ongoing respect for Pelagia and her father, and also shows Corelli’s caring and considerate temperament. In contrast to Corelli, the character Mandras is brutalised by war. He believes that war will change him for the better, yet it changes him for the worse. He becomes a victim of propaganda and a victim of his insecurities. Before he leaves for war he tells Pelagia â€Å"I’m a Greek†¦not a Fascist†(p.214) War changes him for the worse as he is very easily led and allows others to influence him. This may have had a positive effect on Mandras if he had chosen Iannis to guide him, yet he chooses Hector, the leader of a branch of the ELAS. Joining this group causes him to abandon his personal values, and this is seen when he whips the old man. â€Å"Mandras did not even notice that the man had stopped moving, had stopped screaming and whining†(p.233). He manages to blank out the emotions that he should be feeling, and begins to enjoy the power he holds over this old man. â€Å"If you didn’t think about what it was, it sounded weirdly beautiful†(p.234) After returning from the war, he becomes much more manipulative, especially towards Pelagia and Drosoula. â€Å"Mandras had begun his exile into inaccessibility by dramatising the idea of death†(p.180). Pelagia was â€Å"convinced that he was doing it on purpose as an act of vengeance or punishment.†(p.180). This shows a very cruel side to Mandras that we have never seen before, and it clearly takes the war to bring out this negative side of his character. He has clearly been indoctrinated by the propaganda of the war, and this is seen in chapter 63, when he recites communist slogans. â€Å"The party is never wrong. Whoever is not with us is against us†(p.447) He does not seem to be questioning what he has been told, he just repeats it. He has experienced others abusing their power during his time with the ELAS and now sees this as an approved way of behaving. â€Å"De Bernià ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½res explores power and its abuse†7 He insults and belittles Pelagia after he returns from fighting and tortures her further, even though he should see that she has suffered enough during the war. De Bernieres shows a side to Mandras that readers have never seen before. He represents him as evil and sadistic, and we see Mandras refer to Pelagia as a â€Å"slut†. His morals have disintegrated following his fighting with the ELAS, and feels that he can do whatever he wants. This is due to the fact that the ELAS would make up their own rules for their comrades to follow. The war de-humanises Mandras and he represents the damage that can be inflicted by extreme politics. In Mandras’ death, De Bernieres wants readers to feel pity for him, as it is clear the communist party has seriously indoctrinated him. He dies as a victim of the war, and a desire to prove himself worthy, and this also evokes compassion in the reader Carlo is a character in the novel who shows how war can bring out the best in people. He is a very honourable character, and has to live with the secret that he is homosexual. He puts aside his desire for Corelli in order to help the romance between Pelagia and Corelli develop. â€Å"I have loved you with the same surprise and gratitude that I see in your own eyes when you are with Pelagia†(p.384). He shows true bravery in front of the firing squad when stepping in front of Corelli to save his life. â€Å"Antonio Corelli†¦had found in front of him the titanic bulk of Carlo Guercio†(p.399). De Bernieres uses Carlo’s narrative in the chapters entitled L’Omosessuale, and this allows the readers to sympathise further with the silent suffering that Carlo has to endure during the war. His writings are eloquently written and his language is poetic and beautiful, showing the gentle side to his character. â€Å"He died on a fine day, Signora, with the sun shining and the birds singing.†(P.148, Carlo) â€Å"Father Arsenios was saved by the war†(p.292). De Bernieres absolves Arsenios after the war and liberates him from his former self. However, the characters perceive him as a mad man and cannot see that war has brought about his finest hour. He is referred to as the â€Å"crazy priest† yet he feels he is a saviour and â€Å"it is probable that, had he lived, Arsenios might have become a saint†(p.295). De Bernieres chooses to depict war in a graphic and realistic light in his novel, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Although in many films or books war is shown to be wonderful, this idealised version is proved wrong in De Bernieres novel, as he shows the suffering that the soldiers were forced to endure. He shows that the war has different effects on different people, and it can expose their faults or their merits. Mandras is forever changed by the war, as he returns indoctrinated by the communist party. His death proves that his natural environment is the sea, where he can be accepted and does not have to prove himself. In contrast Corelli’s merits are shown to be more prominent as the war develops, and also as his love for Pelagia develops. The reader is drawn to the character of Corelli, even though he is an occupying soldier, as he shows compassion, kindness and respect during his time in Cephallonia.