Thursday, October 31, 2019

Carrie Chapman Catt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Carrie Chapman Catt - Essay Example After the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920, she organized the League of Women Voters for the political education of women (Levin 2006). Carrie assisted in the arrangement of the International Women Suffrage Alliance at the Berlin Conference. She then committed and restricted herself to the peace movements in 1923.This she made work through lecturing, writing and also recruiting in the Suffrage movement. Her moves were mainly to free women and be allowed to vote and b heard as the. In a nutshell it was all about eradicating male chauvinism (Keller 2006). She was a hardworking lady who never lost hope an even after some members led by Alice Paul had left the union, she strategized and developed a future plan to keep the group alive. After her great achievement of the successful amendment of the constitution, she began a worldwide campaign and tour to help the women develop the right to vote (Levin

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Develop an awareness of self in relation to others Coursework

Develop an awareness of self in relation to others - Coursework Example The defense mechanisms help people in maintaining their self-esteem and self-respect in face of embarrassing, threatening or defeating situations. Hence, defense mechanisms are mental tools used by people from feeling unworthy and inferior. Using defense mechanism once or twice is fine. However, when people start using defense mechanism often, then it harms their reputation and also keeps them from seeing the ‘real’ picture. ‘Rationalization’ and ‘projection’ are among the most commonly used defense mechanisms by people. People use rationalization when the truth about a situation is painful to accept. In such situations, people use rationalization as a defense mechanism and give socially acceptable and reasonable explanation for their behaviour. By doing so, people avoid accepting their own fears, anxieties and negative aspects of personality. After using rationalization repeatedly, it becomes a part of their unconscious behaviour pattern and th ey lose the ability to reflect on the truth or to improve their behaviour. Hence, people around them lose trust and faith in them and consider them as people ‘who always give excuses’ and hence, not dependable. In this way rationalization affects the trust and bonding in personal and professional relationships. ‘Projection’ is another defense mechanism where a person blames another person or situation for his own inadequacies, unfavorable characters and failure. When projection becomes a habit, then the person using it loses the sense of reality and examines people and situations in distorted way. People around him start to realize that this person is never going to improve as he never accepts his fault and weaknesses. They consider him as irresponsible and immature. Hence, they start keeping a distance from him and do not allow him to form close relationship with them. In this way, a person who uses projection as a defense mechanism fails to make and maint ain relationships. His attitude of blaming others repels people from him. Factors Inhibiting Congruent Relating Congruence in relationship is possible when the counsellor and the client are open, authentic and honest with each other in the process of counselling. However, for the formation of a congruent relationship with clients, the counsellor needs to have a ‘whole’ and ‘integrated’ personality. Otherwise, the counsellor is unable to help the client to achieve the ‘integration’ in his personality. Hence, if the counsellor lacks growth and ‘integration’ in his own personality, then it inhibits the formation of congruence between the counsellor and the client while counselling. Second factor that inhibits the congruent relating with clients is the lack of ‘self -awareness’ in the counsellor. When a counsellor is not consciously aware of the weak areas in his personality, then he gets uncomfortable and irritated while attending to those weaknesses in his clients. Hence, being aware of the weaknesses in his own personality is very important for the counsellor. Otherwise, it inhibits congruent relating with the client by creating discomfort and friction in interactions while counselling.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Criminal Theory Case Study: Whitey Bulger

Criminal Theory Case Study: Whitey Bulger Criminal Behavior James Joseph Bulger III (better known as) Whitey Bulgers criminal behavior started early on in life. Whitey ran away to join the circus at ten years old. According to Biography.com, Whitey Bulger was first arrested when he was 14 years old, for stealing, and his criminal record continued to escalate from there. As a youth, he was arrested for larceny, forgery, assault and battery, and armed robbery and served five years in a juvenile reformatory. Upon his release, he joined the Air Force where he served time in military jail for assault before being arrested for going AWOL. Nonetheless, he received an honorable discharge in 1952. (Biography.com) After the military, Bulger returned to Boston and committed multiple bank robberies in multiple states. In 1956 he was sentenced to 25 years in Federal prison for those bank robberies. After his release from prison Bulger immersed himself into Bostons organized crime, and by 1979 he was one of the top figures in Bostons underworld. After work ing with the FBI, he led the FBI on a 16-year manhunt. Whitey Bulger was finally caught by the FBI in 2011. In 2013, Bulger faced a 33-count indictment, including money laundering, extortion, drug dealing, corrupting FBI and other law-enforcement officials and participating in 19 murders. He was also charged with federal racketeering for allegedly running a criminal enterprise from 1972 to 2000. (Biography.com) Bulger was not convicted of everything, after a two-month trial, a jury of eight men and four women deliberated for five days and found Bulger guilty on 31 counts, including federal racketeering, extortion, conspiracy and 11 of the 19 murders. They found he was not guilty of 7 murders and could not reach a verdict on one murder. (Biography.com) Whitey Bulgers Life Whitey Bulgers childhood was rough. James Joseph Bulger Jr. was born on September 3, 1929, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, (Where I was born) as second of the six children, to Roman Catholic Irish parents who immigrated to America. (www.thefamouspeople.com) Whiteys father was a longshoreman that lost his arm in an industrial accident forcing him and his family to move to government housing in South Boston (Where I attended elementary school). When Bulger was ten years old, he attempted to run away and join the circus. When Whitey was 14, he was charged with stealing and forgery and other crimes resulting in being held in a juvenile reformatory for five years. Bulger joined the Air Force and was charged with AWOL ultimately being honorably discharged. Once Bulger returned to Boston, he returned to a life of crime and ultimately rose to the top crime boss in Boston. Bulger reigned over Bostons underworld for nearly 20 years. Oddly enough he was an informant for the FBI against another cr ime family which ultimately help Bulgers enterprises. When indictments against Bulger came down his connections at the FBI tipped him off to the impending arrest allowing Bulger to go on the run from 1996 until he was ultimately arrested in California 2011. Bulger was convicted of most of the charges levied against him, and he is currently incarcerated at Coleman Federal Penitentiary in Sumter County. Bulger was disciplined for sexual activity while in prison in 2016. Theories of Criminal Behavior I believe that the first of three theories that could describe White Bulgers criminal lifestyle would be Albert Cohens Theory on Delinquent Boys. Cohens research and resulting theory were a reaction to the limitations and oversimplifications he saw in Robert Mertons strain theory, according to the University of Portsmouth. Cohen agreed that criminal behavior was in part the result of the strain of being unable to accomplish ones goals, but he disagreed with Mertons hypothesis that crime was individual, gain-based and could occur at any socioeconomic status. In 1955, his book Delinquent Boys, Cohen investigated trends of criminal behavior in lower-class urban areas of the United States, then built on emerging findings about the delinquent subculture. Florida State Universitys College of Criminology and Criminal Justice states that Cohens investigation of gangs revealed that the groups were mostly lower-class males who seemed to be retaliating against a world that had given them empty promises regarding the American Dream. Cohens theory on the delinquent subculture also predicts that the existence of the subculture would likely draw in lower-status persons exposed to it, therefore creating more delinquency among anyone who might believe that their only opportunities for progress existed in the ranks of gangs. (www.reference.com) I believe Whitey Bulger also fit into the Durkheims Deviance theory, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦his discoveries were so deviant that people had a hard time accepting them. And they still do! Which is why Durkheims views of deviance have been pretty much ignored by sociologists for over 100 years. Durkheim was a firm believer in observation. So he began his study of deviance by observing as many societies as he could. He studied his own, those in neighboring European countries, and even those of the ancient past. What did he notice? They all had deviance! It didnt matter where or when he looked. In every society, there was something that got defined as deviant, and someone who did that deviant thing. (http://www.nonjudgmentday.org) I also believe that Whitey Bulger would fit into the Social Disorganization Theory. The theory of social disorganization states a persons physical and social environments are primarily responsible for the behavioral choices that a person makes. At the core of social disorganization theory, is that location matters when it comes to predicting illegal activity. Shaw and McKay noted that neighborhoods with the highest crime rates have at least three common problems, physical dilapidation, poverty, and a higher level of ethnic and culture mixing. Shaw and McKay claimed that delinquency was not caused at the individual level, but is a normal response by normal individuals to abnormal conditions. Social disorganization theory is widely used as an important predictor of youth violence and crime. (Mark Bond, Ed.D) There is little doubt that South Boston or Boston, in general, could fit this theory just as well as Chicago. Theoretical Application to Whitey Bulgers Life History Growing up in South Boston with a father that was a longshoreman and that was ultimately disabled allowed Whitey to do as he pleased and he did just that fitting the Albert Cohens Theory on Delinquent Boys. As a young man, Whitey was arrested for assault and battery, armed robbery, larceny, and assault. Those charges resulted in Whitey being sentenced to five years in a juvenile reformatory. After his release from the reformatory, Whitey joined the Air Force and subsequently went AWOL. Despite this, he was granted an honorable discharge. I included the military factor in this theory because as we know, men dont fully mature until at least 25 years old. Due to Whiteys now developed deviant behavior as a youth, I believe that he fits into Durkheims Deviance theory. As we all know there is deviance everywhere and I think that during Whitey Bulgers criminal rise he just took advantage of the deviance and rose to the top of Bostons underworld. Some say his power made him like a Robin Hood for the city, For years, James Whitey Bulger was viewed as a Robin Hood-like figure on the streets of South Boston, valued by his neighbors who saw him as a tough guy who kept drug dealers out of their neighborhood. That image was shattered when authorities began digging up bodies. (www.boston.cbslocal.com) Finally, Whitey Bulgers criminal activities fit in my opinion into the Social Disorganization Theory. Boston, like Chicago, was ripe for the picking when it comes to poor neighborhoods, high crime rates, socially disadvantaged people. Whitey dominated a city that had many poor areas that were very ethnically diverse just like Chicago. The mixture of these three theories, I feel, created Whitey Bulger. In my opinion, many of these theories are interchangeable and could fit almost any powerful crime figure. The mixture of these three theories, I feel, created Whitey Bulger. In my opinion, many of these theories are interchangeable and could fit almost any powerful crime figure. References http://www.biography.com/people/whitey-bulger328770#early-life http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/whitey-bulger-5588.php#5aP3OvO2zXd6OAzH.99 https://www.reference.com/world-view/albert-cohen-s-delinquent-subculture-theory-56a567cc29ecb061 http://www.nonjudgmentday.org/judgment-card-galleryblog/-durkheims-deviant-view-of-deviance https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/criminology-social-disorganization-theory-explained-mark-bond http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/06/23/whitey-bulger-described-as-robin-hood-diabolical-killer/

Friday, October 25, 2019

Creation, Flood and the Hero in Epic of Gilgamesh and Book of Genesis o

Creation, Flood and the Hero in Gilgamesh and the Bible    The Epic of Gilgamesh compares to the Bible in many different ways. The epic has a different perspective than the Bible does. This paper is a contrast and comparison between the two books. The three main points of this paper will be the Creation, Flood and the Hero.    The way these two books start out is creation. This is the first similarity that we can state. God created man out of the earth, â€Å"In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth†. In the epic, Auru, the goddess o... ...s that are hard to decipher, but most was understandable. The Epic of Gilgamesh was hard to get started on, but was easily finished. Bibliography Bibliography The Holy Bible. KJV. Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville. 1984. The Epic of Gilgamesh. Penguin Books, London. 1972.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

The development of aggression and violence in the American youth

In the introductory portion, the writer introduces the relevance of the study to the present reality by briefly indicating the focal areas that are covered in the paper. Basically, the thesis statement or argument is presented in prà ©cis to complete this part.Problem statements and milieuThe paper seeks to explain the development of an individual’s aggression and or violence in the context of society, family and internal mental or thinking patterns. Whether the results are a combination of the factors will be posed as inquiry in this section with a corresponding hypothesis.Review of Related StudiesThis portion explains the peer-reviewed works of psychologists and sociologists and others in the profession with the intention of analyzing the important and strategic breakthroughs in science on the issue and which the present paper seeks to accentuate considering the need of the hour (Works of Bjork, Furst, Sidney, Wacker, David,   Tremblay et al, Harris, Mary; Hogh et al, Hob bs, Brackney et al,II. Results and findings   A. Definition of termsUsing DSM and other credible sources for the operational definition of the foremost significant terminologies employed in the paper. (Works from Aggression from Encyclopedia of Science, Technology, and Ethics, DSM definition)   B. Theoretical Framework  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ~ Factors influencing Aggression  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Explores different perspectives in the understanding of AggressionII. Discussion of Results and FindingsIt is assumed that the following are major contributing factors that influence aggression and/or violence. Discussion section of the paper further establishes the researcher’s findings based on the problem statement and hypothesis made. The following are salient points that are developed by the researcher.â€Å"What can make an individual youth commit violent acts?†Ã‚  ~ Pornography and violence in the internet and media  ~ Depression among th e teens  ~ Domestic Violence (DV) and Aggressionâ€Å"What should or can be done to reduce the incidence or curtail youth violence or aggression?†Since the issue is a prevailing and existing individual, familial and societal problem, and many studies are already conducted to apply effective interventions, this section of the paper seeks to enumerate and describe the leading and effective treatments and/or interventions on the matter. It also attempts to give a balanced view on the plus and minuses or pros and cons of the prescribed interventions.III. Summary of findingsProvides a brief summary of the study’s findings.IV. Conclusion and RecommendationThe writer addresses the reader to his/her own reflections regarding the study he/she made on the problem. However, considering the limitation of logistics and other factors, she/he prescribes or outlines his/her own recommendation/s regarding the problem and it is to be undertaken in future studies.IV. ReferenceExact doc uments used or employed throughout the study are herein listed in APA format.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Ray Rice’s Amazing Story

Ray has learned more and more about his father, Calvin Reed. Janet has a color snapshot, which serves as the only means by which Ray knows what his father looked like.There are stories In which he has learned that he was a respectable man 1 OF3 wltn a respectaDle D I nese tnlngs are comTortlng to Ray Decause tne reason ne never got to know his father is extremely uncomfortable. In the summer of 1988, a car rolled past Reed as he was walking home from work. Shots were fired and Reed died there on the sidewalk. Three years later, when the gunman was convicted and sent to prison, it was revealed that Reed wasnt the target. He was Just in the wrong place at the wrong time. â€Å"Sometimes you wonder what it would be like to have your real dad,† Ray said.Just for a walk in the park or Just recapping our lives. That's the part that makes me think. â€Å"00A few years later, Rice's aunt died of brain cancer at 37 years old. Her son, Shaun Rice-Nichols, moved up three floors in their apartment complex to live with Janet and Ray. 00Treated like a son by Janet, Shaun was a father fgure to Ray, who was 10 years younger. They did everything together, from Ray's favorite (playing sports), to Shaun's favorite (rapping in front of the mirror). Shaun was an up-and- coming rap artist known as S. U. P. E. , which stood for Spiritually Uplifting People Everywhere.He sang about inspiring people and guiding them in the right direction despite their tough surroundings. Shaun would always tell Ray to go for his dreams, to pursue them with extreme passion. After all, Shaun was proof that even a kid from the projects could make it. 00At about 21 years old, Shaun signed his first record deal and moved with his fianc ©e and two young daughters to California to pursue his music career. 00†³He was the one in the family where if he wanted something he went after it and he got it,† Ray said. â€Å"He was the first one the family was really proud of. 0 0But Shaun's dream s ended on a road in California on March 21, 1998.That's when a driver, swerving to avoid another car during the early hours of St. Patrick's Day, plowed into Shaun's compact car. His fianc ©e died on the scene, and Shaun passed away four days later. â€Å"That was rough, really rough. But I believe today he's still here,† Ray said. â€Å"My family is different. When he died, in a sense some of my family died. Everybody Just changed for a little bit. â€Å"00Just 1 1 years old at the time, Ray didn't change. He Just became even more obsessive about continuing the mission that Shaun began for his family, he says. 00Ray still carries Shaun close to him at all times.He has Shaun's name, S. U. P. E. , tattooed on his right biceps and he carries his memories of him onto the football field. â€Å"I'm in his place now,† Ray said. â€Å"l made it to the NFL, but that's not enough. It's about my family and I'm trying to gel everyone believe in my dream and I chase my dream like S. U. P. E. chased his dream. He didn't get a chance to finish his dream. I want to finish my dream. One day after football practice during his 1 lth grade season, Ray stared out of the partment window as his mother ran him a hot bath, pouring in Epsom salt to ease his sore muscles. Ma, I'm going to the league,† Ray said. â€Å"I've got to make it to the league. I'll be glad when I can tell you, You don't have to work no more. ‘† Janet lived her whole life in The Hollow. She sometimes worked two Jobs trying to make ends meet while doing her best to spoil Rice and his three younger siblings. Besides the time she spends doting on her own kids, she has dedicated her career to teaching special needs children, a calling that shows her heart is bigger than the 4-foot-11 body it lives in. Ray decided early on in life that his mother needed help.And since then, a large part of his mission has been to use his passion of football to give her a different life. Ray was a two-sport star at New Rochelle High School. He played point guara Tor nls DasKetDall team, lea01ng tnem to tne state Tlnals In 2 football field, he scored 31 touchdowns as a senior and was named to the Madison Square Garden's All-Heisman team. Ray then became a college football legend in the New York-New Jersey area, rejuvenating Rutgers' football program and leading the team to a miraculous upset win over previously-undefeated Louisville in 2007.Right before being interviewed by ESPN on national television that night, with the cameras rolling, Rice stopped and called out, â€Å"Where's my mother? † He was worried about her being trampled by the students streaming onto the field. Despite her son being drafted, nearly leading the NFL in total yardage last year and being named to the Pro Bowl in Just his second season, those words on ESPN serve as Janet's favorite football memory for the sheer fact that it shows how much her son cares about her. Ray and Janet still talk on th e phone every single morning at around 6 a. m. while Janet is cooking breakfast for her children.They talk about everything, from football to girls. â€Å"I'm more than Just his mother,† Janet said. â€Å"I'm his best friend. We laugh, we giggle. We have so much fun together. † In large part, Ray's success has already allowed him to take care of his family. His mother drives a new Lexus and now lives in a safe, waterfront property Just about 15 minutes from their old apartment. But Janet still goes to her Job at school, still caring for special needs children. â€Å"I've got one more phase left,† Ray said. â€Å"It will be her choice whether she wants to work. I want her to fulfill what she wasn't able to Just raising us. I want her to enjoy herself.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

The Morality of Science essays

The Morality of Science essays There are two parallel stories in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, one of attempting to discover the secret of life and the other of forcing nature to open her secrets to man (Neal). This novel can be looked by combining those two stories into a theme of the scientist who seeks to play God and what happens to him in his quest to create life from death. When looking at the book in this regard, the reader discovers the dangers inherent in defying the natural order, (Neal) and the potential consequences of scientific discovery. Victor Frankenstein, fascinated with scientific exploration in the physical world, embarked upon an experiment that forever changed his life and that of his family and friends. During his studies away from home, Victor foolishly decides that he will play God. I will pioneer anew way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation (Shelly p. 47). What lies behind Frankensteins scientific projects is obviously an attempt to gain power (Damyanov). Victor devotes himself to his task of creating life from death for a period of two years without once considering the implications of the result of his experiment. Thoughtless Victor built in no safety controls, no device to assure that only good actions would be performed (Neal). Shelley warns us of the dangerous division between the power-seeking practices of science and the concerns of humanists with moral responsibility, emotional communion, and spiritual values (Damyanov). Victor invested so much selfish care and time into his creation and never thought of the implications of his success. As if almost seeing into the future, Shelly gives us a warning to consider the final effects of scientific exploration and experiment (Neal). Neglecting all moral implications of his creation, Victor completes his work. Victo...

Monday, October 21, 2019

A Random Walk Down Wall Street Book Analysis

A Random Walk Down Wall Street Book Analysis A Random Walk Down Wall Street Book Analysis Essay A Random Walk Down Wall Street Book Analysis Essay The book A Random Walk Down Wall Street offers an insight into stock investment with the author aiming at providing an appropriate advice for investors. The book has had ten editions since it was first published in 1973 by Burton G. Malkiel. The author’s main idea is to portray markets as partly efficient and to prove that investors can make appropriate individual investment decisions without the indulgence of financial experts. A Random Walk Down Wall Street Literary Analysis According to the author, the basic secret of investing is committing to stock investment in the long term or diversifying investments in case of short-term investments. The author justifies his assertions by using historical testimonies and expounding on them by using personal experiences. The book has four sections with respective chapters that elaborate on various concepts of investing. The book report will provide the author’s main idea and the insights gained. An analysis will show that Malkiel’s book offers an avenue that allows investors to make sound investment decisions by balancing their investment expectations with options available to them. Part One: Stocks and their Value This part entails the first four chapters that introduce the reader to the world of investments. The part mainly discusses concepts of asset valuation by using theoretical foundations. The author mainly uses the firm-foundation theory and the castle-in-the-air theory to expound on asset valuation. The first chapter is â€Å"Firm Foundations and Castles in the Air† and it offers an introduction to investments. It explains that the firm foundation theory argues that an investor should make investments on the basis of the actual value of the proposed investment. The author uses a real-life example that a person wishing to invest in Coke should base the investment decision on the product’s parent company, the Coca-Cola Corporation. The castle-in-the-air theory asserts that an investor should make investments as a response to actions of the masses. For this reason, the theory argues that an investor usually makes more returns by following the majority who invests based on cu rrent trends or based on the foundations of a firm. The chapter concludes that both theories are right in different investment situations. The explanations of the author of the two theories offer a background for the author to critique them in the following chapters. The second chapter â€Å"The Madness of Crowds† explains historical financial occurrences that prove that actions of the masses have significant investment repercussions. Examples of such occurrences include the Tulip-Bulb Craze, the South Sea Bubble, and the tulipomania. In the three instances, the market expanded in a speedy way and led to the overvaluation of assets. After some time, values of the assets returned to their normal valuation after one or a couple of years. A graphical analysis of the three instances showed that by the end of the overvaluation hype the values of the assets returned to the same values as before the hype. The chapter portrays that investors who just follow the masses blindly tend to lose heavily in the market. The inability of investors to resist the urge of the masses makes them vulnerable to adversities of the market. Chapter three explains the stock valuation between the 1960s and the 1990s. The chapter offers a continuation of the craze that the market experiences. The author uses various examples in the stock market to expound on the modern version of the extremity of markets. He expounds on the multiples of price earnings that formed the base of stock trading at the time. The author also expounds on the roles of underwriters in the issuance of new securities, especially their roles in misleading investors. The misleading happened despite investors having access to the guidelines offered by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. For instance, the stocks in the 1980s were overvalued. The scenario confirms the assertion of the author in the second chapter that such situations continue to recur. Another example offered by the author is the obsession of investors with blue chip companies in the 1970s. By 1980, the values of the stocks had returned to their normal prices. The cases sh ow how firms often manipulate information to increase their value so that they can attract investors. The author concludes that manipulation is inevitable because even though organizations such as the SEC provide the guidelines, they can do nothing to prevent investors from parting with their money. By offering real examples and enlightening historical occurrences, the author remains authoritative and ensures that the reader grasps the real impacts of the masses in making investment decisions. Chapter four explains the internet bubble that sufficed in the late 1990s. The author argues that the public’s obsession with the internet was fuelled by other bubbles similar to the historical ones covered in the previous chapters. For instance, the author cited the IPO mania that prompted the bubble in the 1960s. Similar instances could be seen in the internet era. The main message of the author is that people tend not to learn from past experiences. After the rise of the internet, small investors gained a platform for investments and firms gained a platform for competing with larger firms. Moreover, people became more interconnected. Due to the excitement of the availability of a new platform of trading, people engaged in stock trading by the use of brokerage firms. As a result of overcrowding, people lost money due to the eventual overvaluation and the return to normal prices. In fact, only brokers benefited. This part highlights significant historical influences of the mass mentality on investments. The main point of the author is that markets remain perfect. The assertion means that even if an imperfection comes up, the market will find a way to go back to its normal status. One of the pieces of advice one gets from the part is that investors need to combine both their intellect and curiosity to succeed in investments. The influence of crown activities was also enlightening. The provision of historical examples that led to the overvaluation of assets enables the reader to grasp the author’s main idea. The examples show that an emotional approach without much consideration towards stock investments can be detrimental for investors in the long run. One of the interesting insights from the examples that the author offers is that investors never seemed to learn. All through the 1960s to the late 1990s, economic bubbles would always recur. There would be some hype created that would i n turn entice people to spend more money on stocks. The hype occurred even after authorities such as the SEC warned investors. The above cases remind me of the 2007/2008 economic depression. The scenario was caused by a similar bubble, only that this time it was a housing bubble. The decade ending in 2006 saw prices of houses drastically rise, thus prompting homeowners to refinance their homes due to the availability of adjustable-rate mortgages extended by lenders. Due to the availability of mortgages, people could access loans at interest rates lower than market rates. However, after 2006 people could not refinance their loans because house prices started falling and interest rates rose at the same time. In effect, financial institutions could not recover their loans extended. The situation kick-started the depression that had adverse effects on investors. The situation in 2007/2008 shows that the market has not yet learned about adverse impacts of following the multitude blindly. Part Two: How the Pros Play the Biggest Game in Town This part makes up the next three chapters. The chapters mainly deal with fundamental and technical analysis techniques. Chapter five tries to expound on the extent of the efficiency of the market. It focuses on the elaboration of the technical and fundamental analysis of financial markets. Technical analysis entails studying trends in market prices of assets and then applying historical trends to predict their future prices. The method uses tools such as trend lines and charts. Fundamental analysis entails analysis of the condition of a business by examining its financial records, the market in which the business operates, and the competition. The chapter does not go into much detail about the theories with the next three chapters serving this purpose. The sixth chapter expounds on the technical analysis concept. The author asserts that technical analysis concentrates on identifying correlations. For this reason, the author seems to discredit the technique by arguing that testing the data of stock prices over time does not necessarily lead to the correct prediction of the stock prices. The author cites that the above aspect of the technique makes it spurious. He even uses a humorous example of finding a correlation in the average hemline length in fashion. He uses the example to explain that looking solely at the charts robs off one’s opportunity to see the broader picture, meaning that there would be a high probability of poor judgment. The author also touches on the random walk theory and states that the theory employs random measures to process random data. He goes on to compare the theory with a humorous example of the use of coin flips to determine future prices of stocks. The author uses more humorous examples to disre gard the theory and the technical analysis because of the theory limitation. Chapter seven concentrates on the fundamental analysis concept. Malkiel seems to support the fundamental analysis. The support, as he argues, arises because the concept bases itself on logical judgment when admitting data for consideration. Another reason the author prefers the fundamental analysis is that the technical analysis only focuses on the stock price, while the fundamental analysis focuses on the worth of the stock. Despite the support for the theory, the author finds it weak as well. The author provides situations where fundamental analysis can have flaws. The examples include random events such as the 9/11 attacks, the consideration of flawed data from firms, and poor analysis. The author also asserts that financial experts are no better than investors. He states that they only have an edge because they can access more information from companies. The author’s information on stock valuation is very insightful. Although I had some knowledge of the two techniques of stock valuation, I had not deeply analyzed them to an extent of identifying their weaknesses. However, the author’s argument convinced me of the flaws of the systems. I enjoyed humorous examples offered because it was a light way of learning about the techniques. The part of the book also offers a lot of lessons when it comes to stock trading. The first lesson is that one should purchase stocks if their expected growth of earnings is above the market average. Moreover, prospected growth should entail a period of more than five years. The second lesson is that it is too risky to purchase multiple stocks whose prospected future growth has been discounted. The last and the most significant lesson is that an investor should consider whether an asset possesses the likelihood of attracting masses to invest in them. The last lesson means that logic is the key when considering a stock purchase. Another interesting conclusion from the understanding is that I have come to question the roles of financial advisors in aiding investors making investment decisions. The author cites that the only difference between them and investors is that they have more information. Prior to reading the book, I viewed experts as a haven and the best avenue for investors to make right investment decisions. After reading this part of the book, I realized that experts might not be significantly different from investors. I find great sense in the claim because some of the historical bubbles came up since investors had more trust in experts than in the authorities. However, despite gaining the knowledge, I partly disagree with the author’s claim because the fa ct that experts have needed information means that they are in a better position to make sound decisions. Part 3: The New Investment Technology This part entails the next three chapters of the book. The section concentrates on the modern portfolio theory that entails combining assets with different risk levels to create a positive returns diversified portfolio. Harry Markowitz came up with the theory in the 1950s, making him win the 1990 Nobel Prize. Chapter eight introduces the modern portfolio theory by asserting that it is essential for investors to diverse their investments and at the same time minimize their risks to obtain positive returns. According to the author, the risk of an asset is a significant determinant of the nature of returns. It is worth noting that the standard deviation of the stock is usually the measure of risks. The author cites that risks are inevitable irrespective of the nature of diversification. The argument of the author portrays that he partly agrees with the theory. Chapter nine expounds on the theory by explaining ideas highlighted in chapter eight. The outstanding addition to the previous chapter’s ideas is introduction of the beta factor. The author introduces the factor while explaining the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM). On the basis of the model, the author argues that investors should avoid diversifiable risks because they do not have premiums. The author also argues that an investor should attain more returns by investing in high-risk assets. However, the risk should be systematic. The premium aspect leads to the introduction of the beta factor. The author explains that the beta factor explains how a stock behaves in the stock market. Specifically, it measures volatility of an asset as compared to the whole market. On the one hand, theoretical application indicates that the price of a stock with a higher beta value will rise at a higher rate than other stocks in case of a bull period. On the other hand, its price will decrease at a higher rate in case of a bear market. However, after introducing the beta concept, the author takes an unprecedented stand by claiming that beta is not a sufficient measure of the relationship between the risk and returns. Chapter ten introduces the concept of behavioral finance. The concept entails application of human cognitive and emotional concepts in making investment decisions. The author argues that behavioral traits such as being overconfident and overreacting often have an influence on investors’ decisions. After explaining the concept, the author concludes that most choices based on personal biases do not reap intended rewards in the long run. Malkiel argues that the common sense aspect of personal biases has a chance of providing a logical judgment on investments that may prove fruitful. Some of the common sense ideas include inner motivation of investors to resist investing in pricey assets in the long run and the desire to avoid overtrading. Another possible aspect of common sense is that an investor should only get rid of stocks that portray a trend of losing value. Chapter eleven entails the author providing a summary of his opinions given in previous chapters. Some of the assertions include that the market is fairly efficient and in most instances corrects discrepancies when they occur. The main attraction point is the author’s use of Benjamin Graham’s argument that investors should always invest in the long-term value stocks. The author does not seem to endorse the Graham’s argument and he goes to the extent of justifying his position. He asserts that in the long run the trends of growth and value stocks do not run parallel to market trends. However, he partly endorses the Graham’s argument by stating that value stocks often tend to perform better during extremities such as bubble and economic depression. After reading the part, I gained more information on the importance of beta. However, after the author providing a lot of information about its importance in determining the risk of an investment, it was surprising for the author to disagree with the beta factor. The author argues that particular differences in the stocks make beta more ineffective. Despite the surprise, I appreciated his insight because it provided a platform for me to read more about the relationship between beta and risk and returns. On the concept of behavioral finance, I have come across real applications of the author’s argument that personal biases affect individual investment decisions. The inner thought that there is an opportunity to make money can urge an individual to make rash decisions. Moreover, the thought of a possible loss can influence similar decisions. The significance of personal biases in investing has led to the creation of various notions in the modern investment world. Some investors have the tendency to disregard the efficient market hypothesis and endorse unproven beliefs. An example is the January effect when people tended to think that stocks perform well in January. Despite their unproven status, beliefs may make an investor invest heavily during the month. In effect, such an investor may end up experiencing losses. Part Four: A Practical Guide for Random Walkers and Other Investors This part aims at giving the reader an insight into the practical side of investing. The part also offers advice to investors by affording them strategies that they can use to choose their investment portfolio. Chapter twelve offers investors advice on how to start an investment venture. The author encourages stock investors to ensure that they have emergency funds available in case their investment decisions lead to losses. Moreover, the author argues that investors should consider investing in â€Å"insurance† investments such as bonds and real estate investments. He argues that ordinary shares and real estate investments provide a viable option for investment. He concludes with the assertion that prior research is vital for investors in coming up with the best portfolio. Chapter thirteen mainly deals with the author’s opinion on the better choice between stocks and bonds. The author argues that an investor should not entirely rely on the past performance of a stock to predict its future performance. However, he states that the past performance partially influences its future value. The author believes that investing in stock in the long run offers more returns than in bonds due to the elimination of risks. Moreover, he asserts that investing in stocks in the long run may provide the needed safety to fight inflation. However, Malkiel insists that the period cannot be shorter than a decade. He states that a shorter period than a decade is too random and investors do not have a choice but to invest in risky stocks. The assertion means that investors who intend to venture into the short-term investments have to choose between risks and adopt the one that they feel comfortable to carry. Chapter fourteen entails the author insisting that investors willing to commit their resources for more than a decade should commit themselves to stocks. He also insists that it would be better for short-term investors to concentrate on a diversified portfolio that include bonds. The author also advises short-term investors to consider retaining some of their resources as cash to cover any case of emergency. The chapter offers guidance on how investors can approach the market. Despite offering the above options, Malkiel encourages investors to venture into long-term investments. He advises investors to consider venturing into long-term stocks as a way of saving a retirement fund. Chapter fifteen is the last one in the section and the entire book. Apart from providing a summary of the book, it goes into the specifics of investing. The author argues that an investor does not have to perform an extremely detailed analysis to make an investment analysis. Instead, the author encourages investors to venture into an index fund. He encourages investors intending to purchase individual stocks to venture for the long term instead of trading them. Moreover, he asserts that investors should concentrate on stocks that have a record of good performance. Concerning managed funds, the author has reservations about them. He asserts that they may not be an advisable option because they may have misleading information. The also advises investors to purchase stocks that create positive stories about their potential to improve their value. After reading the last part of the book, I came to get the picture of intentions of the author. The first intention is to prove that the market efficiency hypothesis offers a realistic guidance in the stock market. The second aim was to reconcile market efficiency and perceptions of the market towards economic bubbles. The last aim of the author was to identify various ways of analyzing the stock market, highlight their weaknesses, and apply lessons from their weaknesses in offering investment advice to investors. The fourth part culminates his aims by combining strengths of different investments theories and techniques and avoiding their weaknesses to come up with a hybrid investment decision-making guideline. In conclusion, investors ought to read the Malkiel’s text. The book is organized in well-thought sections that cover aspects that entail financing progressively. Reading all the parts enriches a reader with information necessary in making appropriate investment decisions. The author came up with investment theories and techniques and highlighted their roles in investments. He aimed at offering the best financial advice. It is undeniable that the author believes in a partly efficient market and he justifies it by giving out real-life historical examples. The book has a lot of lessons for all investors. The main lesson is that an investor should have the courage to make investment decisions instead of relying solely on financial experts. Moreover, investors should apply logic in the decision-making. With the author analyzing crucial investment theories and concepts and then offering their critique, his aim is to communicate that none of them is efficient. For this reason, a hybrid way of the approach that entails picking strengths of the theories and techniques would be the preferable way to approach investments. Personally, I have learned that caution is the key to approaching investments. Moreover, I have learned that over-ambition or moving along with the crowds can be detrimental in some instances. I have also learned that having long-term investments is a preferable way of saving in the long run. The book also teaches that if an investor chooses to invest for a short-term period of fewer than ten years risks are inevitable. For this reason, diversification is the key. Due to the above lessons, investors, whether they believe in the efficiency or the market or not, need to read the book to expand their investment knowledge.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The Judiciary Act of 1801 and the Midnight Judges

The Judiciary Act of 1801 and the Midnight Judges   The Judiciary Act of 1801 reorganized the federal judicial branch by creating the nation’s first circuit court judgeships. The act and the last-minute manner in which several so-called â€Å"midnight judges† were appointed resulted in a classic battle between the Federalists, who wanted a stronger federal government, and the weaker government Anti-Federalists for control of the still-developing U.S. court system. Background: The Election of 1800 Until ratification of the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution in 1804, the electors of the Electoral College cast their votes for president and vice president separately. As a result, the sitting president and vice president could be from different political parties or factions. Such was the case in 1800  when incumbent Federalist President John Adams faced off against incumbent Republican Anti-Federalist Vice President Thomas Jefferson in the 1800 presidential election. In the election, sometimes called the â€Å"Revolution of 1800,† Jefferson defeated Adams. However, before Jefferson was inaugurated, the Federalist-controlled Congress passed, and still-President Adams  signed the Judiciary Act of 1801. After a year filled with political controversy over its enactment and implantation, the act was repealed in 1802. What Adams’ Judiciary Act of 1801 Did Among other provisions, the Judiciary Act of 1801, enacted along with the Organic Act for the District of Columbia, reduced the number of U.S. Supreme Court justices from six to five and eliminated the requirement that the Supreme Court justices also â€Å"ride circuit† to preside over cases in the lower courts of appeals. To take care of the circuit court duties, the law created 16 new presidentially-appointed judgeships spread over six judicial districts. In many ways the act’s further divisions of the states into more circuit and district courts served to make the federal courts even more powerful than the state courts, a move strongly opposed by the Anti-Federalists. The Congressional Debate Passage of the Judiciary Act of 1801 did not come easily. The legislative process in Congress came to a virtual halt during the debate between Federalists and Jefferson’s Anti-Federalist Republicans. Congressional Federalists and their incumbent President John Adams supported the act, arguing that more judges and courts would help protect the federal government from hostile state governments they called â€Å"the corrupters of public opinion,† in reference to their vocal opposition to the replacement of the Articles of Confederation by the Constitution.    Anti-Federalist Republicans and their incumbent vice president Thomas Jefferson argued that the act would further weaken the state governments and help Federalists gain influential appointed jobs or â€Å"political patronage positions† within the federal government.  The Republicans also argued against expanding the powers of the very courts that had prosecuted many of their immigrant supporters under the Alien and Sedition Acts. Passed by the Federalist-controlled Congress and signed by President Adams in 1789, the Alien and Sedition Acts were designed to silence and weaken the Anti-Federalist Republican Party. The laws gave the government the power to prosecute and deport foreigners, as well as limiting their right to vote. While an early version of the Judiciary Act of 1801 had been introduced before the 1800 presidential election, Federalist President John Adams signed the act into law on February 13, 1801. Less than three weeks later, Adams’ term and the Federalist’s majority in the Sixth Congress would end. When Anti-Federalist Republican President Thomas Jefferson took office on March 1, 1801, his first initiative was to see to it that the Republican-controlled Seventh Congress repealed the act he so passionately detested. The ‘Midnight Judges’ Controversy Aware that Anti-Federalist Republican Thomas Jefferson would soon sit as his desk, outgoing President John Adams had quickly- and controversially- filled the 16 new circuit judgeships, as well as several other new court-related offices created by the Judiciary Act of 1801, mostly with members of his own Federalist party. In 1801, the District of Columbia consisted of two counties, Washington (now Washington, D.C.) and Alexandria (now Alexandria, Virginia). On March 2, 1801, outgoing President Adams nominated 42 people to serve as justices of the peace in the two counties. The Senate, still controlled by Federalists, confirmed the nominations on March 3. Adams began signing the 42 new judges’ commissions  but did not complete the task until late in the night of his last official day in office. As a result, Adams’ controversial actions became known as the â€Å"midnight judges† affair, which was about to become even more controversial. Having just been named Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, former Secretary of State John Marshall placed the great seal of the United States on the commissions of all 42 of the â€Å"midnight justices.† However, under the law at the time, judicial commissions were not considered official until they were physically delivered to the new judges. Mere hours before Anti-Federalist Republican President-elect Jefferson took office, Chief Justice John Marshall’s brother James Marshall began delivering the commissions. But by the time President Adams left office at noon on March 4, 1801, only a handful of the new judges in Alexandria County had received their commissions. None of the commissions bound for the 23 new judges in Washington County had been delivered and President Jefferson would start his term with a judicial crisis. The Supreme Court Decides Marbury v. Madison When Anti-Federalist Republican President Thomas Jefferson first sat down in the Oval Office, he found the still undelivered â€Å"midnight judges† commissions issued by his rival Federalist predecessor John Adams waiting for him. Jefferson immediately reappointed the six Anti-Federalist Republicans who Adams had appointed, but refused to reappoint the remaining 11 Federalists. While most of the snubbed Federalists accepted Jefferson’s action, Mr. William Marbury, to say the least, did not. Marbury, an influential Federalist Party leader from Maryland, sued the federal government in an attempt to force the Jefferson administration to deliver his judicial commission and allow him to take his place on the bench. Marbury’s suit resulted in one of the most important decisions in the history of the U.S. Supreme Court, Marbury v. Madison. In its Marbury v. Madison decision, the Supreme Court established the principle that a federal court could declare a law enacted by Congress void if that law was found to be inconsistent with the U.S. Constitution. â€Å"A Law repugnant to the Constitution is void,† stated the ruling. In his suit, Marbury asked the courts to issue a writ of mandamus forcing President Jefferson to deliver all of the undelivered judicial commissions signed by former President Adams. A writ of mandamus is an order issued by a court to a government official ordering that official to properly carry out their official duty or correct an abuse or error in the application of their power. While finding that Marbury was entitled to his commission, the Supreme Court refused to issue the writ of mandamus. Chief Justice John Marshall, writing the Court’s unanimous decision, held that the Constitution did not give the Supreme Court the power to issue writs of mandamus. Marshall further held that a section of the Judiciary Act of 1801 providing that writs of mandamus might be issued was not consistent with the Constitution and was therefore void. While it specifically denied the Supreme Court the power to issue writs of mandamus, Marbury v. Madison greatly increased the Court’s overall power by establishing the rule that â€Å"it is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.† Indeed, since Marbury v. Madison, the power to decide the constitutionality of laws enacted by Congress has been reserved to the U.S. Supreme Court. Repeal of the Judiciary Act Of 1801 Anti-Federalist Republican President Jefferson moved swiftly to undo his Federalist predecessor’s expansion of the federal courts. In January 1802, Jefferson’s staunch supporter, Kentucky Senator John Breckinridge introduced a bill repealing the Judiciary Act of 1801. In February, the hotly debated bill was passed by the Senate in a narrow 16-15 vote. The Anti-Federalist Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed the Senate bill without amendment in March and after a year of controversy and political intrigue, the Judiciary Act of 1801 was no more.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Bbus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Bbus - Essay Example Information processing theory and social identity theory are representative of â€Å"follower centric† approaches, which focuses on followers behaviors and characteristics as centrally important, success depends on the performance of these followers, and it is the followers that, ultimately, influence their leaders. The contingency theory and leader member-exchange theory fall in the middle of the two perspectives. They possess greater balance, by acknowledging the importance of strong leaders and the value of strong followers (Johnson, 2009). 2. Discuss your understanding of promoting ethics versus opposing unethical practices? There are a number of researchers in the world that firmly believe that the number of businesses that adhere to any sort of business ethics, both with the public and among their staff, is fading away (Rajeev, 2012). I believe that ethical practices in business are really a matter of common sense. Honesty, integrity, consistency, and fairness should be present in all of your dealings with customers, clients, employees, and co-workers at all times. Leaders often set the tone for the lack of ethical behaviors, however followers are equally morally responsible, because it is only with their silence, dishonesty, and deceit many members of management would not be able to get away with unethical behavior (Johnson, 2009).Many employees feel a greater obligation to their jobs and employers than to strangers and the truth. There are some things that I, personally, cannot in good conscious compromise and that is my sense of right and wrong. I will not be ethically bullied into to doing something I know is dishonest and that is going to an extreme that I am unwilling to go to. 3. What are your organizational values? Describe how these values are adhered to or not in your workplace. Include examples and analysis. Values allow for a more flexible mode for of decision making than beliefs and intuition put together (Dean, 2011). Values offer mor e freedom to deal with past issues, present issues, and the issues and concerns that rise in the future because it works under the umbrella of a goal, an ideal, something to be achieved. My personal perspective on values concern being fair, ethical, and being certain that hard work is noticed. Presently there are no current negative issues that can be spoken of in my current occupational situation, however, in the past I have witnessed and been involved in situations where the leadership was so entirely self serving that employees literally joked about being sacrificed next. This was the sort of corporate run company where the corporate representatives are seldom if never in the store seeing for themselves how the business in running and where any shortcomings may exist. The managers were quick to take the credit when the business ran smoothly and successfully, but when the situations were not positive these same managers were even quicker to blame the staff for any and everything t hat goes wrong. That is no way to run a business. These are not positive, strong leaders that encourage loyalty from their staff or for the company. I promised myself when I entered the business world I would never allow myself to be involved in a company that only acknowledges their

Friday, October 18, 2019

Health Promotion Planning Background Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Health Promotion Planning Background - Assignment Example romotion relate to a focus on upstream approaches, a focus on non-victim blaming approaches since as they show understanding of the influences of health and concentration on the evidence- based practice (McKenzie, Neiger & Thackeray, 2012). Besides this the roots include participation and empowerment of the people on health care, equity through acting fairly and proper distribution of facilities and ethical principles. Ethical principles refer to autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice in health administration. The seven areas of responsibility of health education specialists relate to asset needs, assets and capacity of health education, planning health education, implementing health education, conducting evaluation and research related to health education, administering and managing health education, serving as health education resource person and communicating and advocating for health education (McKenzie, Neiger & Thackeray, 2012). Among these areas, planning for health education, implementing health education and administering or managing health education are important for health educators and specialists. Planning effective health education programs ensure that potential participants for support are recruited, the logical scope for program is developed and measurable program objectives are drawn. Implementing health education programs is important as it ensures that the selected methods and media are suited to implement programs, monitoring and adjustments are made on activities and competence in carrying out programs is exhibited (McKenzie, Neiger & Thackeray, 2012). Administering or coordinating provision of health education services is an important area as it involves development of a plan, facilitation of cooperation among personnel , formulation of practical modes of collaboration among health agencies and organization of internal training

Importance of Global Education in Promoting Better Relations Within Essay - 10

Importance of Global Education in Promoting Better Relations Within Society - Essay Example There has been some correspondence in terms of the things global education entails and its expected role in society. For example, comparing the works of Hicks, Pikes, and Selby in relation to global education may give some insight on the aspects involved in global education. Global education can be considered to be more focused on bringing change to society by improving levels of coexistence among people. However, its focus is not limited to a small geographical area but rather focuses on facilitating this change on global scales. In order to promote unity and peaceful coexistence, it important to create awareness on the importance of social justice, human rights and acceptance of cultural diversity. This focus of global education can be attributed to the need for the creation of a better future society. With peaceful coexistence, it is possible to unite the people from diversified cultures and regions in a cooperative way. This is to say that global education changes the general view of people in looking at different global issues and creates an open mind enabling its partakers to think from a more global platform. According to Pike global education impacts change on students enabling them to take charge of their future (2000, p.221; Selby). This is to say that global education fulfills the aspect of changing people’s point of view and encourages them to take up responsibilities. However, the change is not only at a personal level but also from a less individualistic point. This then creates the ability of global education to improve society. By charging partakers of global education to take responsibility for social and personal issues, people can be able to challenge different issues in the world especially those causing crisis. These issues may include policies and values in the society with inclusions of

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Cause and Effect Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cause and Effect - Essay Example Competition in the automobile industry has increased significantly in recent years. As a result customers are demanding high quality products at lower prices, and this is one of the main causes of outsourcing manufacturing of materials to foreign countries. Many automobile manufacturers are producing their materials in Third World countries in hopes of cheap labor and, therefore, the company will have to respond to the industry trend (Duhigg & Bradsher, 2012). Competitors in the automobile industry are desperately trying to increase their market share at any cost. In such a competitive environment, it is not possible for our company not to outsource manufacturing to foreign manufacturers. Another important cause of taking the outsourcing decision is the inefficiencies in local production. The cost of production in the developed world is increasingly rapidly and, therefore, it is not possible for companies to achieve high level of efficiency. Local employees have to be provided with employee benefits and a range of other facilities. Local employees can also not work for longer shifts continuously. It has also become difficult to increase productivity in a short span of time without sacrificing money while working with local workforce. This is why local production has become inefficient and this is one of the most important causes of outsourcing to foreign manufacturers. Production is also not very flexible locally which is why it takes a lot of time to respond to market changes (Duhigg & Bradsher, 2012). Specialized manufacturing companies can do this in a lot less time than local companies. Changing production outcomes and redesigning the process is a time consuming process and, therefore, it reduces the flexibility of our company. In today’s competitive business environment, it is essential that firms respond to market changes and customer demand in a very short

To what extent do you agree with free market economies being more Essay - 2

To what extent do you agree with free market economies being more effective than a mixed economy - Essay Example they are free to decide on what to produce and purchase in the market respectively. In the free market economy, also known as the laissez-faire economy, the producers decide on what to produce as per the market demand and prices. In the latter, the government plays a very limited role in terms of deciding what is to be produced. In this case, the government has little or no command to direct on what goods and/or services are to be produced. However, in a command economy, the government has high command and control over dictating what types of goods and services are to be produced for the market, and the amounts to be produced. On the other hand, the mixed economy is likely to be characterised by conflict since the economy is controlled by both the market forces and the government in terms of determining the types of goods and services to be produced. The mixed market economy is based on decision making by individuals and businesses for the private sector, and government decisions and regulation for the public sector (Anderton, 2012). Free market economies are likely to be more effective due to the dynamics in the market decision making, i.e. the consumers dictate what is to be produced in terms of consumption demand in goods and services. The producers will choose the best cost-effective method of production for higher profit, and firms produce goods and services in terms of consumer demands and tastes, i.e. they produce goods and services which consumers are willing and able to purchase. The free market is effective due to the existence of healthy competition that allows for opportunities for profit making for firms and businesses, and at the same time ensures consumer satisfaction. The free market responds quickly to consumer demands, where goods and services are produced and delivered with due regard to demand. The mixed economy is likely to be characterised by conflict due to override of authority, by either the government or individuals and businesses, in the determination of the allocation of goods and services. In the mixed economy, the government influences the market through taxation rates and setting laws to regulate the market economy. Additionally, the government provides basic services for communities, such as healthcare, education and policing, and hence hinders the investment in these sectors by individuals in the private sector. However, the government plays a critical role in regulating business and market standards for the facilitation of healthy competition in the private sector and consumer satisfaction. The government is also effective in controlling the consumption of harmful goods through illegality declaration or high taxing (Gillespie, 2012). In the mixed economy, the government easily influences the aggregate market demand in its attempts to manipulate its budget deficits or surplus, known as the fiscal policy, for the realisation of economic goals (Rodrik, 2011). The free market economy is more effective, for it creates opportunities for innovation and welfare improvement in both the individual and public interests, where individuals are allowed to make independent decisions that affect their own wellbeing (Rodrik, 2011). Individual consumers have the capability to make institutional arrangements for the enhancement of suitable interaction

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Turkle and Belkin on Human Suffering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Turkle and Belkin on Human Suffering - Essay Example People get strange experience when they are favored, but they would criticize the event when it is not in their favor. When my sibling is to act as a source of cure to my problem, I would be positive towards the decision: â€Å"In the case of technological advance, for instance, when parents opt for test tube babies, medicine had achieved the level of creating children conceived in-vitro; later it turned out that their child could be a possible donor, this was a surprise and incurred a lot of criticism as they did not believe that human being would be born just to be used as a spare part† (Belkin 04). Ethically, saving life is far better and should not be termed as using a human being as a spare part. As a donor, you may assist to restore life for someone who had lost hope completely. However, with the technological advancement, assisting through donation has negligible effects on the donor due to the high technology involved in carrying out the procedure. Despite criticism fr om other organizations and scientists, it is not ethical for them. Belkin reiterated that it is human to do everything to save lives through donation; hence, the donation of embryo parts was not prejudiced as malpractice despite the ethical aspects involved (Belkin 06). Just as a scientific laboratory researchers struggled through hurricane with risk for their lives aiming at saving lives of other people, the story of Henry and Molly became a successful breakthrough in the scientific view of life that can continue without medical services and assistance. According to the article, the young girl underwent a lot of tribulations, for instance, having unbalanced limbs, being deaf on one ear, and also having malfunctions in the heart (Belkin 07). Due to the doctor’s observation, she was whisked from her parents, Lisa and Jack. However, just the couple went through hard times, Laurie and Allen also faced tough times as they struggled to salvage lives at their early 30’s. The y managed to get good medical support from doctors through the use of computers; Laurie was employed by nonprofit making organization, while Allen worked with computers. Through the expertise that Allen had, they managed to find a doctor online who could help with the issues of their illnesses (Belkin 10). Technology is used both for leisure and curative, for instance, as Belkin states, a lot of research was carried out through technology to salvage life, especially to cure long term illnesses that could only be managed with stop-gap solutions, so that the patient lives longer. We get informed by Belkin that â€Å"by 1982 patients suffering from Franconia are likely to survive on provision of lower dose of chemotherapeutic drug referred to as Cytoxan†. However, many women, described in the article, resorted to abortion in case the children were not healthy; this follows numerous cases of sickness from complicated diseases. To some extent, â€Å"they were getting older as the ir children got sicker as time continued running† (Belkin 104). However, the article states that the younger the patient is during organ transplantation, the better the chances of survival. As in the case of a child, most of the body parts are still under construction and development, hence, they have high chances of survival during and after operations. This is essential to the children whose transplant cases were diagnosed at an early age. In addition, the article

To what extent do you agree with free market economies being more Essay - 2

To what extent do you agree with free market economies being more effective than a mixed economy - Essay Example they are free to decide on what to produce and purchase in the market respectively. In the free market economy, also known as the laissez-faire economy, the producers decide on what to produce as per the market demand and prices. In the latter, the government plays a very limited role in terms of deciding what is to be produced. In this case, the government has little or no command to direct on what goods and/or services are to be produced. However, in a command economy, the government has high command and control over dictating what types of goods and services are to be produced for the market, and the amounts to be produced. On the other hand, the mixed economy is likely to be characterised by conflict since the economy is controlled by both the market forces and the government in terms of determining the types of goods and services to be produced. The mixed market economy is based on decision making by individuals and businesses for the private sector, and government decisions and regulation for the public sector (Anderton, 2012). Free market economies are likely to be more effective due to the dynamics in the market decision making, i.e. the consumers dictate what is to be produced in terms of consumption demand in goods and services. The producers will choose the best cost-effective method of production for higher profit, and firms produce goods and services in terms of consumer demands and tastes, i.e. they produce goods and services which consumers are willing and able to purchase. The free market is effective due to the existence of healthy competition that allows for opportunities for profit making for firms and businesses, and at the same time ensures consumer satisfaction. The free market responds quickly to consumer demands, where goods and services are produced and delivered with due regard to demand. The mixed economy is likely to be characterised by conflict due to override of authority, by either the government or individuals and businesses, in the determination of the allocation of goods and services. In the mixed economy, the government influences the market through taxation rates and setting laws to regulate the market economy. Additionally, the government provides basic services for communities, such as healthcare, education and policing, and hence hinders the investment in these sectors by individuals in the private sector. However, the government plays a critical role in regulating business and market standards for the facilitation of healthy competition in the private sector and consumer satisfaction. The government is also effective in controlling the consumption of harmful goods through illegality declaration or high taxing (Gillespie, 2012). In the mixed economy, the government easily influences the aggregate market demand in its attempts to manipulate its budget deficits or surplus, known as the fiscal policy, for the realisation of economic goals (Rodrik, 2011). The free market economy is more effective, for it creates opportunities for innovation and welfare improvement in both the individual and public interests, where individuals are allowed to make independent decisions that affect their own wellbeing (Rodrik, 2011). Individual consumers have the capability to make institutional arrangements for the enhancement of suitable interaction

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Madame Bovary and Written on the body Essay Example for Free

Madame Bovary and Written on the body Essay Madame Bovary and Written on the body, penned by Gustave Flaubert and Jeanette Winterson respectively, encapsulate the essence of gender while breaking free of the stigma attached to it. The actions of both the protagonists from these works reflect a complete divorce of the influence of their genders from the course of action they took. The ambiguity of the sex of Winterson’s character along with the Volatile nature of Flaubert’s Emma twist many facets of gender and society together into solid plots. Both are narratives of the highest order and equally reflect ideas which are considered radical. Both novels place sexual structures and explanations of gender into question, i. e. is the male sex really superior? Are woman really constricted by their femininity? Through the narrative on Emma we get a taste of a woman who goes again societal norms and at times acts more masculine than feminine. Then we have the I-narrator in Winterson’s novel that continually transcends boundaries set for sexes because of his/her own unidentified and undefined gender. Similarly, one would have to notice that Winterson’s novel shuns sexes completely. Instead of working within a space where there is a fixed gender, which is further placed into a categorically constructed culture and society in order to pinpoint the wants and needs of an individual, we are left with imagery that shows us a being, which has an identity and subsequently wants and needs things based on that identity. (Sonnenberg 3) Typical to this fact both the characters tip toe around the limitations of the sexes. This is the reason Winterson’s character is easy to compare to Emma. The novels’ negate the traditional roles of the sexes, in particular they negate the role of women as passive object of exploration by following masculine paradigms, but also in ultimately rejecting such models in favor of reciprocity, they becomes an almost perfect illustration of a refusal of the role of woman and also the refusal of the economic, ideological, and political power of a man. The actions of both characters set them apart from normal behavior (Maynard, Purvis 151). One has to wonder whether Emma is a victim in the traditional sense or has the author deliberately downplayed the masculinity of the three main male characters i. e. Charles, Leon and Rodolphe. (Porter 263). The character does not follow the norms of one gender. This was the reason that Flaubert’s novel was greatly protested. On one hand she is extremely feminine but on the other hand she has extremely masculine markers in her personality. It was Charles Baudelaire who pointed out that Emma’s desires masculinized her, and he labeled her a â€Å"bizarre androgyne. † In reality, in the background of the 19th-century French anticipations about women’s conduct, Emma’s blatant sexuality and far-reaching aspiration did stand out as alien and unacceptable, as the trial of Madame Bovary on allegations of violating public morals showed. (Porter 124). She is definitely feminine in many ways, but very easily slips into the lead of forefront of her relationships which is usually reserved for the male counterparts. An example of this would be her relationship with Leon and also the fact that she wore monocles which was highly unlikely for a woman of that day and age. Likewise the I-narrator in â€Å"Written on the body† seems to be neither male nor female. As tempting as it would be, it does not work for the reader to search for the gender clues in this character, the mention of a shirt, a nipple, a motorcycle – for none of these provides conclusive evidence, there are however, many hints that suggest that the character is in fact female such as the description s/he awards to the objective of his/her affection i. e. Louise. It is that very fact which throws the plot into controversy; a plain tale of adultery would have been rather poetic, one which is filled with ambiguity and revolves around a woman stealing another mans wife is highly bizarre (Farwell 187). Explaining Emma’s character, Laurence porter writes, â€Å"Naomi Schor described Emma as a woman who desired to break the chain of passive femininity but who fails to accede to the phallic writing state. Roger Huss centers similarly on the impossibility of Emma’s incorporation of the masculine, the impossibility of gender plentitude, and the problem of the different itself. † (Porter 125). In a world where men ruled supreme, Emma’s charm stemmed from her education which had taken away some parts of her femininity because of the knowledge she had gained. She was now a part of the male world whether anyone admitted her into that world or not was not even a question. In the same way as the protagonist in â€Å"Written on the body,† who, if indeed a lesbian, failed to separate herself from the masculine side of her personality, and if a man, fell short of acting like the traditional Alpha. Another comparison could be the ideology of love and in fact the myth of romance. The protagonists of both novels have a very cliched understanding of love. They are deluded with their preconceived notions about love and how it is meant to play out in their lives. Emma becomes depressed with her life and her marriage because of this very fact. The narrator in ‘Written on the body’ also feels the same, which is reflected in the following words, â€Å"I was trapped in a cliche every bit as redundant as my parents’ roses round the door, I was looking for the perfect coupling, the never-sleep-non-stop mighty orgasm. Ecstasy without end. I was deep in the slop-bucket of romance,† (Written on the body 21). They are both looking for something which is basically too idealistic and utopian in nature to really exist. One more front on which both the novels collide is adultery. Both the protagonists wholeheartedly indulge. Emma does it by cheating on her husband not once but twice. She craves the kind of love that she had read about in her books and goes around looking for it till she finds it in Leon and Rodolphe. Winterson’s character is also infatuated with the idea of love and goes looking for it in the arms of another man’s wife. There seems to be nothing that can stop the two and their own selfish motives are the only ones they care about. The character in ‘Written on the body’ seems to be a narcissist who cares for no one but him/herself. Emma is indeed selfish in the same way because she cares only for her own self-satisfaction and disregards the pain she could cause her husband when she finds out about her affairs. Madame Bovary reflects the 19th century French society, while Winterson’s expose is from more recent times. What the works show us is that sexuality and gender have been conflicted since a long time and continue to stay so. Society will always gape and be appalled at such pieces of literature because they go against the dead rules that have been constructed for the existence of mankind. Traditionally men and women have both been assigned their places in the world and those places are not to be tampered with; one of the most sensitive areas one can go experimenting with is sexuality. In some ways both works reflect how anyone from a particular gender cannot stay happy once it has tasted the waters from the other side. The knowledge of the other side gives them an insane desire to climb onto it repeatedly, thereby causing friction and in fact a chaotic contradiction the roles that society had already laid out for them. Work Cited Farwell, Marilyn R: Heterosexual Plots and Lesbian Narratives: 1996 Flaubert, Gustave: Madame Bovary: 2004 Maynard, Mary Purvis, June: Hetero) sexual Politics: 1995 Porter, Laurence M: A Gustave Flaubert encyclopaedia: 2001 Sonnenberg: Body Image and Identity in Jeanette Wintersons Written on the Body†: 2007 Winterson, Jeanette: Written on the Body: 1994

Monday, October 14, 2019

Origins Of The Kadazan People

Origins Of The Kadazan People The Kadazans are an ethnic group indigenous to the state of Sabah in Malaysia. They are found mainly at Penampang on the west coast of Sabah the surrounding locales,and various locations in the interior. Due to similarities in culture and language with the Dusun ethnic group, and also because of other political initiatives a new unified term called Kadazan dusun was created. Collectively, they form the largest ethnic group in Sabah. While Kadazan was an official designation for this ethnic group it is widely believed that the term itself was a political derivative that came into existence in the late 1950s to early 1960s. No proper historical record exists pertaining to the origins of the term or its originator. However, an article written by Richard Tunggolou on this matter may shed some light. According to Tunggolou, most of the explanations of the meanings and origins of the word Kadazan assumed that the word was of recent origin, specifically in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He says that some people have theorized that the term originates from the word kakadazan (towns) or kedai (shops), and from the claim that Kadazan politicians such as the late Datuk Peter J. Mojuntin coined the term. However, there is evidence that the term has been used long before the 1950s. Owen Rutter, in his book, The Pagans Of North Borneo, published in 1929, wrote: The Dusun usually describes himself generically as a tulun tindal (landsman) or on the West Coast particularly at Papar, as a Kadazan. (page 31). Rutter worked in Sabah for five years as District Officer in all five residencies and left Sabah with the onset of the First World War. This means that he started working in Sabah from 1910 and left Sabah in 1914. We can therefore safely say that the word Kadazan was already in existence before any towns or shops were built in the Penampang district and that Kadazan politicians did not invent the word in the late fifties and early sixties. The Bobolians or the Bobohizans of Borneo was interviewed to seek better picture of the true meaning of the term Kadazan, a Lotud Bobolian was asked what is the meaning of Kadazan or kadayan? Kadazan means the people of the land. The Bobohizan from P enampang was also interviewed seeking the real meaning of Kadazan .The Bobohizan Dousia Moujing confirmed that the Kadazan has always been used to describe the real people of the land Kadazan means the people of the land. That confirmed what Rutter had described about the existence of term Kadazan. Thus the word Kadazan actually not derived from the word kedai (meaning shops in Malay). Over a hundred years, the people of Kadazans were ruled by the Brunei Sultanate; the Kadazan or Kadayan in Lotud, Marangang, Liwan were being addressed by the Sultanate as being the Orang Dusun which means the People of the Orchard Because in Malay, Dusun means Orchard Farm. Thus administratively the Kadazans are called Orang Dusun by the Sultanate (Tax-Collector) but in reality the people that was called Orang Dusun are in fact Kadazan. An account of this fact was written by the first census made by the North Borneo Company in Sabah, 1881. Administratively all Kadazans are called Dusun as their ethni c identity. Only through the establishment of KCA (Kadazan Cultural Association) in 1960, this terminology was corrected and replaced into Kadazan. When Sabah formed Malaysia together with Sarawak, Singapore and the Peninsular Malaysia in 1963, under the newly form nation of Malaysia, administratively all Orang Dusun born after the Malaysia formation is called Kadazan as their ethnic origin. There were no conflict with regards to Kadazan as the identity of the Orang Dusun between 1963 to 1984. But in 1985 through the KDCA (formally called KCA) the Dusun was once again being introduced after much pressures received from the various parties with one reason to divide the Kadazan and the Orang Dusun once again. As the division has been established and successful, the fall of the ruling government (PBS) was accomplished. PBS through the KCA then, finally coined in the new term to represent the Orang Dusun and Kadazan as Kadazandusun. Press released (Sabah Times and Daily Express) by various parties argued that it should not be Kadazandusun but Dusunkadazan! Leaders in Singapore and the Peninsular Malaysia until today acknowledges the people as Kadazan and not Dusun. The ex- Prime Minister of Singapore addressed the ethnic group in Sabah as the Kadazans, and many leaders of Malaysia today. It was said that the Kadazan/Dusun people originated from a place called Nunuk Ragang wh ich is roughly located at Tampias, where three rivers, Liwagu, Takashaw, and Gelibang meet to the east of Ranau and Tambunan. Nunuk is a Dusun word for Bayan Tree, Ragang comes from the word Aragang which means red. Nunuk look like giant that provide good natural shelters. Its tree top was estimated to be able to shelter under seven Kadazan/Dusun huts (a hut measure 12 by 20 feet). C:UsersUserDesktopNunukRagang (1).jpg A replica of Nunuk Ragang in Ranau Culture Characteristic Kadazan culture is heavily influenced by the farming of rice, culminating in various delicacies and alcoholic drinks prepared through differing home-brewed fermentation processes. Toomis and linutau are the main rice wine variants served and consumed in Kadazan populated areas, and are a staple of Kadazan social gatherings and ceremonies. Religion The Kadazandusun were traditionally animists but have been influenced by both Christianity and Islam. Many of those that the government counts as Christians come from a church tradition where any child that is born into a family that calls itself Christian is also considered to be Christian. Those holding to traditional religion today believe in a spirit world that is especially important in the cycle of rice cultivation as well as major events in the cycle of life. Although believing in a supreme being who created everything, they also attribute spirits to many things in nature such as birds, animals, and plants. The rice spirit in particular figures prominently in their beliefs and practices. Some of the Kadazandusun people groups are noted for their use of priestesses (bobohizan) for controlling the spirits. The majority of the Kadazans are Christians, mainly Roman Catholics and some Protestants. Islam is also practiced by a growing minority.The influence of the Spanish missionaries from the Philippines resulted in Christianity in its Roman Catholic form rising to prominence amongst Kadazans. A minority of them are protestants due to later British influence during the 20th century. Before the missionaries came into scene animism was the predominant religion. The Kadazan belief system centers around the spirit or entity called Kinorohingan. It revolved around the belief that spirits ruled over the planting and harvesting of rice a profession that had been practiced for generations. Special rituals would be performed before and after each harvest by a tribal priestess known as a bobohizan. C:UsersUserDesktopbobohizan.jpg Bobohizan Festival The most important festival of the Kadazans is the Kaamatan or harvest festival, where the spirit of the paddy is honoured after a years harvest. The Kaamatan festival is an annual event in the cultural life of the Kadazandusuns of Sabah since time immemorial. In its deepest sense Kaamatan festival is a manifestation of Creator and Creation relationship, as well as Inter-Creations relationship. It embodies the principal acts of invocation of divinities, appeasing purification and restoration re-union of benevolent spirits, and thanksgiving to the Source of All. It is part of a complex wholesome Momolian religious system centered on the paddy rites of passage and the life cycle of Bambarayon the in dwelling spirit of paddy. C:UsersUserDesktoppesta.jpg Harvest festival Appeasing is done in respect of Bambarayon, Deities, Divinities and Spirits, who may have been hurt by human wrongful acts. Purification is performed in respect of human and spiritual needs for forgiveness followed by resolutions to make themselves worthy of the gifts of life from God. Restoration in necessary to ensure the health and well being of SUNIL, mankind and other spiritual beings. Reunion is realised in respect of human needs to be integrated in body mind and spirit within the concept of the seven-in-one divinity in humanity, as well as re-union of Bambarayon with human Sunduan. Finally Thanksgiving is observed as befitting for all creations to express their gratitude and appreciation for the gifts of life (through Huminodun) and all life supportive system on earth that their Creator lovingly and generously gave them. This takes place in May and the two last days of the month are public holidays throughout Sabah. During the celebration the most celebrated event is the crowning of the unduk ngadau or harvest queen, where native Kadazandusuns girls throughout the state compete for the coveted crown. The beauty pageant is held to commemorate the spirit of Huminodon, a mythological character of unparalleled beauty said to have given her life in exchange for a bountiful harvest for her community. In marriages, marriage customs amongst the Kadazans vary a little from one district to another but in general are the same. The most important thing about Kadazan marriage customs is the role of the parents of both sides for it is they who make the choice and all the arrangements for the joining together of their children. Usually the children abide by their parents decision. The business of making the engagement is done when the boy is only twelve years old and the girl eleven The Kadazans call this miatod. The process begins with the boy who is to be engaged paying a formal visit to the girls house accompanied by some relatives and close friends. The visit is made at a time which has been agreed upon beforehand. In the girls house everybody is ready waiting with members of the family and close friends as well. Whilst waiting for the arrival of the boys party, the girl is told to make seven rice-balls as a special dish for her future husband. When she has done this, she is hastily sent to the house of one of her relations, which is never, however far from her own. As soon as the boy arrives he is invited to enter and is seated on a mat specially woven for occasions such as this, and which is called lawangan by the Kadazans. In the meanwhile the question of the size of the dowry is discussed by the elders from both parties. Usually a Kadazan dowry consists of a large gong, a small gong a, (small) cannon, a buffalo, some bronze, land, and so forth. The agreement is made to become effective on the day of the actual wedding. Finally a meal consisting of rice and buffalo meat, pork, chicken and similar dishes, washed down with drinks like ricewine and the juice of the coconut blossom is consumed to the accompaniment of the beat of gongs. This is when the special rice which has been prepared for the boy by his bride-to-be is fed to him by an old lady from the girls side. This is done in front of all present. After this everything is over and the guests depart, except for the bridegroom-to-be and some of his close friends who stay behind in the girls house. Now the girl returns from her relations house in order to meet her future husband and in order to serve him with more food and drink. That night the boy and his friends sleep in a room by themselves in the girls house. They will return home the following morning. Three days later the girl returns the visit. The same procedures are followed as with the boys visit to the girls house except that the boy does not have to move out of his house while his fiancee and her friends are there. The next day the girl is sent back to her own house by her fiancee along with other members of her family. While they are waiting for their coming of age the engaged couple stay with their own parents. However, the boy is obliged to help in his future mother-in-laws house doing such chores as collecting the firewood ploughing the soil and putting up temporary sheds and the like. Similarly the girl must help her future mother-in-law to plant the rice, cook and so on. The boy may visit the girls house whenever he likes on his own. The girl may also do likewise on condition that she is accompanied by her mother, an aunt or an elder sister. If the boy has an elder sister, he may invite his fiancee to stay a night or two in his house. At the same time if either one of them breaks the rules a penalty will be exacted. When the parents think that the time has come for their children to be married usually around sixteen or seventeen years of age the date for the wedding is fixed by mutual agreement. At last the betrothal ceremony can take place. A man who is fairly advanced in years from the bridegrooms side is chosen to carry out the betrothal rites by reading a short couplet set to a Kadazan melody. Then a huge feast is held at which several buffaloes ,pigs and chickens as well as a number of jars of rice-wine and bamboo stems of coconut blossom juice are consumed. Language Of The Kadazan People Rationally Kadazan language has existed since their ancestors, at first use of the native languages à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹is a branch of every human interaction, deliver and receive information. In particular, the spread of such dialects are starting from a small community groups. These groups communicate and develop an understanding of identity through their language. Eventually it will grow through the diffusion and increase the quantity of these groups. Originally the Kadazan community groups are in small amount, over time it evolved into large clusters. Kadazan tribe has its own language. Kadazan tribes and Dusun tribes are actually a different tribe, but were of the same family. Language of both these tribes nearly the same, distinguished only by minor differences in spelling and pronunciation. For example, home as walai in Dusun and hamin in Kadazan. Many other words that differ only in spelling such as two the duo in Dusun and duvo in Kadazan, and nine referred to siam in Dusun, and sizam in Kadazan. However, there is the same word as a the iso in both languages and six is onom. Music and Dance The Kadazans have also developed their own unique dance and music. Sumazau is the name of the dance between a male and female performed by couples as well as groups of couples which is usually accompanied by a symphony of handcrafted bronze gongs that are individually called tagung. Sumazau and Tagung usually played during festive occasions and feasts especially the wedding feast. The Sumazau Dance Tagung team The Kadazan have a musical heritage consisting of various types of tagung ensembles which is composed of large hanging suspended or held bossed or knobbed gongs which act as drone without any accompanying melodic instrument. They also use kulintangan ensembles with an horizontal type melodic instrument. Agungs also play a major role in agung orchestras ensembles composed of large hanging suspended or held knobbed gongs which act as drones without any accompanying melodic instrument like a kulintang. Such orchestras are prevalent among Mindanao Lumad groups (Bagobo, Bilaan, Bukidon, Hanunoo, Magsaka, Manabo, Mangyan, Palawan, Subanun, Tboli, Tagakaolu, Tagbanwa and the Tiruray), regions in Kalimantan and Indonesia (Iban, Modang, Murut) and Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia (Bidayuh, Iban, Kadazan-Dusan, Kajan, Kayan), places where agung orchestras take precedence over kulintang like orchestras. The composition and tuning of these orchestras vary widely from one group to another. For instance, the Hanunoo of Mindoro have a small agung ensemble consisting of only two light gongs played by two musicians on the floor in a simple duple rhythm while the Manobo have an ensemble (called an ahong) consisting of 10 small agungs hung vertically on a triangular frame. It includes three musicians: on e standing up, playing the melody, and the rest sitting. The agong is divided by purpose with the higher-pitched gongs (kaantuhan) carrying the melody three to four lower-pitched gongs (gandingan) playing melodic ostinato figures and the lowest pitched gong (bandil) setting the tempo. The Kadazan-Dusun, located on the western coast of Sabah refer to their agung ensemble as a tawag or bandil, which consists of six to seven large gongs in shoreline groups and 7 to 8 large gongs for those in interior valleys. In southwestern Sarawak, Bidayuh agung ensembles consist of nine large gongs divided into four groups (taway, puum, bandil, and sanang), while among the Iban of Sawarak, Brunei, Kalimantan, agung ensembles are smaller in comparison. Such ensembles can either perform alone or with one or two drums played with the hands or wooden sticks, as accompaniment. They play either homophonically or in an interlocking fashion with the gongs. These agung orchestras often perform at many types of social events, including agriculture rituals, weddings, victory celebrations, curing rites rituals for the dead, entertainment for visitors and other community rituals. The Agung. the left gong is the pangandungan, used for basic beats while the right gong is the panentekan, which complements the pangandungan. Kulintang is a modern term for an ancient instrumental form of music composed on a row of small, horizontally laid gongs that function melodically, accompanied by larger, suspended gongs and drums. As part of the larger gong chime culture of Southeast Asia, kulintang music ensembles have been playing for many centuries in regions of the Eastern Malay Archipelago the Southern Philippines, Eastern Indonesia, Eastern Malaysia, Brunei and Timur, although this article has a focus on the Philippine Kulintang traditions of the Maranao and Maguindanao peoples in particular. Kulintang evolved from a simple native signaling tradition and developed into its present form with the incorporation of knobbed gongs from Sunda.Its importance stems from its association with the indigenous cultures that inhabited these islands prior to the influences of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity or the West making Kulintang the most developed tradition of Southeast Asian archaic gong-chime ensembles. Technically, kulintang is the Maguindanao Ternate and Timor term for the idiophone of metal gong kettles which are laid horizontally upon a rack to create an entire kulintang set. It is played by striking the bosses of the gongs with two wooden beaters. Due to its use across a wide variety groups and languages the kulintang is also called kolintang by the Maranao and those in Sulawesi and kulintangan or gulintangan by those in Sabah and the Sulu Archipelago and totobuang by those in central Maluku. By the twentieth century, the term kulintang had also come to denote an entire Maguindanao ensemble of five to six instruments. Traditionally the Maguindanao term for the entire ensemble is basalen or palabunibunyan, the latter term meaning an ensemble of loud instruments or music-making or in this case music-making using a kulintang. Kulintang The instrument called the kulintang (or its other derivative terms) consist of a row/set of 5 to 9 graduated pot gongs, horizontally laid upon a frame arranged in order of pitch with the lowest gong found on the players left. The gongs are laid in the instrument face side up atop two cords/strings running parallel to the entire length of the frame with bamboo/wooden sticks/bars resting perpendicular across the frame creating an entire kulintang set called a pasangan. The gongs could weigh roughly from two pounds to three and 1/8 pounds and have dimensions from 6-10 inches for their diameters and 3-5 inches for their height. Traditionally they are made from bronze but due to the shortage of bronze after World War II and the subsequent use of scrap metal brass gongs with shorter decaying tones have become commonplace. The kulintang frame known as an antangan by the Maguindanao (means to arrange) and langkonga by the Maranao could have designs that could be particularly crude made from only bamboo/wooden poles or highly decorated rich with artistic designs like the traditional okil/okir motifs or arabesque designs. It is considered taboo to step or cross over the antangan while the kulintang gongs are placed on it. The kulintang is played by striking the bosses of the gongs with two wooden beaters. When playing the kulintang, the Maguindanao and Maranao would always sit on chairs while for the Tausug/Suluk and other groups that who play the kulintangan, they would commonly sit on the floor. Modern techniques include twirling the beaters, juggling them in midair, changing the arrangement of the gongs either before or while playing, crossings hands during play or adding very rapid fire strokes all in an effort to show off a players grace and virtuosity. The Kulintang The sompoton is another musical instrument. A ceremonial ring of cloth sash is worn by both male and female. The Sumazau and gong accompaniment is typically performed during joyous ceremonies and occasions, the most common of which being wedding feasts. The sompoton is a mouth organ which is prevalent among the Kadazandusun and Murut community. This fascinating instrument that originates from the district of Tambunan is constructed from a dried gourd and eight bamboo pipes which are arranged in a double-layered raft. A small lamella of polod palm (like a tiny jaw harp) is inserted near the base inside each sounding pipe to create a sweet harmonious sound. The pipes are fitted into a hole on one side of the gourd, sealed with bees wax and bound with thin strands of rattan. To create the perfect melody, musicians will have to manipulate the instrument by covering and uncovering the openings of three of the shortest pipes with the right hand and three small holes near the front and back pipes with the left hand. The sompoton can be played as a solo instrument for personal entertainment or in an ensemble to accompany a group of dancers. The sompoton has a gourd wind chamber from which extend 8 pipes arranged in two rows. There are bamboo reeds in seven of these pipes only, and three of these pipes do not have sound holes and are played by closing and opening the tops of the pipes with fingers of the right hand. The sumpoton can be played with the pipes pointing up, as is done with smaller instruments or with the pipes pointing either sideways or down with larger instruments. The instruments range in size from 6 inches to 3 feet in length, with the average size of just over 1 foot. Music featured in the folk traditions of this very interesting and unique. The tools and traditional sounds are abundant in Kadazandusun and it has the potential to be inherited by the younger generation. Among other musical instruments popular tradition is gong, Sompoton, Kulintangan, togunggu or togunggak, bungkau, pumpuak, sundatang, distilled, turali, tongkungon and others. Birth and Naming Ceremonies When a woman gives birth to a child in a house, a leaf known as wongkong is immediately tied over the door. This serves to give notice that a birth has taken place and that only those who live nearby may call. During her period of pregnancy until several days after delivery, the mother is completely in the hands of the midwife. The midwife is usually an elderly woman who is held in high esteem amongst the villagers. Apart from looking after the delivery of the child, the midwife is also responsible for all the medicines, which consist of the roots of trees, herbs, and so on. The midwife advises the mother on the relevant taboos and massages her both before and after childbirth. The name of the newborn babe is chosen by its grandparents. If the child was born in the house of the mother-in-law, they will have this responsibility; if in the house of the mothers own parents, they will choose what they consider to be an appropriate name. The names chosen are taken from these ancestors and are based on the world around them such as the names of trees, animals, and so on. Kadazan boys take names like Gimbang, Kunul, Kerupang, Galumau,Gantuong, Empurut, Ampingan, Sangan and so forth: typical, girls names are Semitah, Rangkumas, Ansayu, Baimin, Salud, Amin, Nani and Mainah. When the newborn child is about a month old, the shaving ceremony takes place. Goats, pigs and chickens are always slaughtered for this occasion. There are also jars of rice-wine and dozens of bamboo-stems of coconut blossom juice for those with means, and whatever they can afford for the less well-off. Beliefs about Illness According to Kadazan belief, illness is caused by supernatural beings such as ghosts and devils which dwell in the virgin jungle, in fig-trees and in large boulders. Besides this, the Kadazans also believe that some people (called stridden) have the power to cause illness in others whom they do not like. When someone falls ill in the house, his family will call for a medicine-man who in the case of Sabah is not a man at all, but a woman. This woman not only casts spells and explains the necessary taboos to be followed but also provides medicines appropriate to the sickness from which the patient is suffering. These medicines include, inter alia, the tail and skin of a python, the tail and fat of an ant-eater, cockroaches, bees, rats, rattan roots, nibung-palm roots, betelnut roots, langsat (a fruit) skin and wild bananas. The medicine-woman brings a chicken, a pig and some yellow rice to a fig-tree or a large boulder which she believes to be the abode of a resident spirit. All these things are provided by the family of the sick person. At the boulder or beneath the fig-tree the woman softly chants her spells in the language of the spirits. This done, she will put the yellow rice in a bamboo stem, to which is added the chicken and pigs blood which she has just slaughtered, as well as their hearts and lungs. The bamboo stem is then placed on the boulder or below the tree in the ordained manner to the accompaniment of certain words. The medicine-woman then returns home without looking back once. The slaughtered pig and chicken are left where they are for the time being so that the resident spirits can cast their spells over them the spells will be absorbed into the carcasses of the dead animals. After about half an hour the carcasses will be brought back to the sick mans house. The slaughtered chicken is smeared all over the body of the patient, followed by the pig which is held by two men. Then the pig is suspended between two poles outside the house and roasted over a fire of bamboo. (No other wood may be used for this purpose:) Whilst the roasting is going on, no one is allowed to utter coarse speech, for to do so according to the general belief would prevent the sick man from ever recovering because the spells of the spirits would have been rendered inoperative. Should someone reveal an easy heart by laughter in the sick mans house, the person concerned has to pay a customary fine of one chicken. If untoward remarks are made about the fat running off the roasting pig it may not be eaten. The methods described above for the treatment of the sick applies to those who have been crossed by a ghost or a spirit. Funerals When a death occurs in a village everyone is informed. A taboo which must be observed is that no one must do any kind of work on the day of the funeral above all the work of planting rice. It is believed that any work done on such an occasion can only bring misfortune engendered by the fate of the deceased. However, this taboo does not apply should the deceased die far from his own village. First of all the body is washed and then dressed in fine clothes and sprinkled with rose-water. Sometimes, if the deceased was a cigarette or cheroot smoker, a cigarette or cheroot is placed in his mouth. The body is kept in the house from three to seven days before it is buried. While the body is in the house, all the occupants must keep awake. Whoever falls off to sleep will be doused with water and cannot take offence. The purpose of keeping awake is to watch out for the devil or genie which in the guise of a large bird will try to fly away with the body. Should the bird come, the day will become overcast and gloomy and there will be thunder and lightning, which will give the creature its chance to dash into the house and look for the body. This bird is known as the pendaatan bird. In order to avoid the birds onslaught, cloth is hung around the body. The bird is frightened off by the cloth which it mistakes for human beings. There should be an atmosphere of complete calm and silence in the house there should be no idle chatter or angry words. In this quietness solace is sought by the slow beating of gongs or drums, the sound of which the Kadazans refer to as Surabaya. These gongs or drums may only be beaten three times a day that is when the sun sets at midnight and as the sun rises the following morning. The greatest care is taken to prevent a cat from jumping over the outstretched corpse for the Kadazans believe that if this happens the dead man will be transformed into a dangerous and terrifying giant. No coffin or burial jar is used for those with neither rank nor wealth. They are carried to the burial ground wrapped up in cloth and tied to a pole which can be easily lifted. When the body is ready, it is carried in procession to the grave to the accompaniment of gongs and drums, firecrackers and gunfire. On arrival, a spell is cast over the body by an elderly man specially chosen to wait by the open grave. The grave itself is swept with green betelnut leaves so as to prevent the spirits of those who have come along being left behind there. The body is then lowered into the grave while a sprig from a banyan tree is taken and stuck over its navel. After this has been done, the grave is filled in. The purpose of the banyan sprig is to ascertain whether the deceased still thinks of his wife and children. If he does, the sprig will sprout a shoot; if no shoot appears, this means that he has forgotten all about those he has left behind. A small hut with an attap or zinc roof and with beautiful designs carved on its plank walls is erected over the grave. A shirt, a clean metal cigar/cigarette box, and some betelnut quids cigarettes and similar items are placed in the middle of the hut. The family of the deceased will send food to the hut every afternoon for seven days, because it is believed that during this period the soul of the dead man has not yet left the body and so still requires food from its living relatives. No one is allowed to disturb these things. Anyone found doing so will be fined a chicken or five dollars. The bodies of well to do Kadazans are placed in large burial jars which are firmly closed before they are buried with the body inside. Then another very expensive jar is placed above the grave. In some places the burial jar and its contents are not taken straight away to the burial place but are kept in the house itself or in a special hut erected nearby so that the family can mourn there whilst waiting for other relatives who live far off to arrive. Then only is the jar buried. After three days have passed since the burial, a feast is held at night. On this occasion members of the deceaseds family let fall three drops of candle wax through the cracks in the floor of the house onto the ground below.