413 week 13 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

413 week 13 - Assignment Example Physicians cum entrepreneurs have identified a business opportunity where they can â€Å"make a kill.† Nonetheless, whereas the profits from diagnostic imaging services are lucrative, the health care services are jeopardized. Using the analogy of the Tragedy of the Commons, Archie and Alexander (2010) offer the probable eventuality of the healthcare system if nothing is done to contain the entrepreneurial trend among the physicians. In their effort to maximize their profits, they gradually drive the cost of accessing medical care high. This is already evidenced in the rising expenditure on both Medicare and Medicaid associated with imaging services. Similarly, overutilization of the diagnostic imaging services may provide temporary reprieve but the long term implications are most likely to drive healthcare into the doldrums. This is because more professionals, including those with little knowledge on diagnostic procedures, may choose to invest on the imaging services so as to increase their income. This is bound to cause decline in the quality of medical care. In conclusion, entrepreneurial trend occasioned by diagnostic imaging services should be discouraged at all costs using appropriate technologies. The trend not only hurts the quality of medical care, but is bound to frustrate the code of ethics in healthcare. Because of this, this issue is most likely to be an issue in future discussions within the Healthcare Information Management

Morris Luries Pride and Joy Essay Example for Free

Morris Luries Pride and Joy Essay Write about how one character from Morris Luries Pride and Joy is presented and how this character develops key concerns in the story. Billy in Morris Luries Pride and Joy is initially presented as a 16 year old boy who literally lives his life in the footsteps of his abusive, irresponsible, bohemian father, Ned Mathews. By the end of the story Billys character has undergone a transformation to become his own person; he has broken away from his father. This short story is told in first person narrative by an anonymous narrator. This narrator is a tourist on an island in the Great Barrier Reef who tells his account of his encounter with millionaire Ned Mathews and his son, Billy. Through his characterization of Billy, Morris Lurie conveys themes of self realization, responsibility, judgment, and parenting. This essay will show how Billys characterization develops Morris Luries themes. Wealth, ownership, control and his desire for his fathers approval shows how Lurie, through his characterization of Billy conveys his theme of lifestyle choices. Ever since Billy and his father come to the island they act like they own everything and everyone on it. When they go to eat breakfast in the morning, Billy deals with the very pretty waitress like she is a prostitute, Whats ya name, honey? he said Why? said the girl. I always like to know the names of the girls I sleep with. Luries use of a colloquial language and inappropriate language such as honey and sleep with during Billys dialogue with a waitress show his desire to control a situation and to please his father; Easy, son said Mathews, but his face was beaming with pride. Billys self-confident and commanding swagger, He [Billy] walked with an exaggerated swagger is an example of a movement which Lurie associates with Billy to show yet another aspect of his desire to dominate over everyone else in the restaurant. By exploring Billys inappropriate choice of lifestyle in great detail, Lurie expresses his theme, which is to take care when choosing your lifestyle. Billys desire to please his father and to control is reiterated by the motif of alcohol. Billy is too young to be drinking as much alcohol as he does, yet he does and he does it to please his father and to control by demonstrating that he is able to drink as much as his father. This is shown in the quotation, His son [Billy] matched him drink for drink. Luries use of the narrators voice is very significant here because the narrator is presented to readers as very moral and sensible, so when the narrator talks about a boy drinking as much as a man we worry. This concern is further addressed by the narrative voice in the line, I watched the boy. How long could he last? I thought. How long could he keep it up? and also when he thinks, Dont tell me Billy is outdrinking him. I thought. His own son. His own pride and joy. The pace is significantly sped up during these two quotations by the shorter more choppy sentences. This serves two purposes, first it makes the passage stand out from the rest of the paragraph and second it permits the narrator to clearly state his point. The repetition of I though in both quotations creates an effective link of the two quotations. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the meaning of the two quotes are linked and that the narrator is wondering if Ned Mathews own ride and joy, his son Billy is already better at living the life of a spoiled, rude man than Ned Mathews. This is ironic because Billy is just a boy, so of course the narrator wonders How long can he keep it up? Another example is, When are we going to have some real drinking, Dad? I thought you told me we was gonna have some real fun.' Billys arrogance and the awkwardness of having an adolescent talking about drinking with his father really shines through here. He is almost criticizing his father because he has not had any real drinking. Lurie employs dialogue and colloquial diction such as we was to make the conversation sound even more out of place. Luries selection of alcohol as a motif in the story is important because alcohol has negative connotations and is illegal for adolescents to buy. By associating Billy with alcohol Lurie is implying that the life he is living where alcohol is a daily part of his routine is not suiting. Through Billy, Lurie evokes a theme of self realization which results in Billys character development. The first time there is evidence of this change in character is when Billy meets the Princess and eventually when he started to cry after him and his father got into a fight over his fathers abuse of the Princess. The most blatant example of this change however comes from Billys request for tea as opposed to the routine coffee and beer, Not for me, said Billy, in a voice I had never heard him use before. A young boys voice. Can I have. a cup of tea?' In this quotation Lurie utilizes related diction such as Can which has connotations of manners and kindness. Even the narrator recognizes Billys character development because he states that Billy spoke in a young boys voice which is a voice he had not spoken in before. The narrator is referring to Billys transgression from a boy who acts like an indecorous adult to a boy who acts like a young boy. There is also more subtle evidence of Billys character development in the text. The adjectives and adverbs change to correspond with the two different aspects of Billys character. In the first part of the text adjective and adverbs such as bleary and cocky then in the second part of the short story Lurie uses a new selection of adjectives and adverbs such as, neat, polite and young. Luries ability to reveal Billy through three different viewpoints: his fathers, the narrators and Billys own view of himself gives different perspectives to his character which helps position the readers to the themes of the short story. The overwhelming amount of dialogue in this text between Billy and his father Ned Mathews shows Billy and his fathers view that everything revolves around them. They are the only voice, which is heard in the story through dialogue despite the fact that there are roughly 80 other people on the island. The movements and actions of Billy convey part of his character. Billys actions are often direct or closely linked to the actions of his father. This shows the way that Billy looks up to the actions of his father, and how his father will abuse that respect throughout the story. Directly after his father tells the bartender to get off his fat behind and give a bit of service Billy says, Yeah, shake it up there. This quotation creates a nice image of the typical clichà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ where a father says something and then his son repeats it. Except Billy is mimicking a very offensive and inappropriate thing that his father just said. This shows the reader how Ned Mathews is a inconsiderate role model and a poor parent. Through Billys actions Lurie also shows that Billy is not prepared to live the lifestyle of his father. The boy I noticed had to take a breath half way down. This quotations refers to the fact that Billy cannot drink all of the beer in one gulp when his father can as proof that his fathers life is not necessarily appropriate for him. This concern of Billy not being suited for his fathers life is restated by the narrator when he wonders, How long can he last? Through Billy, Lurie is able to express his themes and concerns in an interesting and realistic manner. The themes and concerns developed in Pride and Joy may appear to be very simple and obvious but that by no means makes them less important. Themes such as self realization, responsibility, judgment, and parenting are very significant in everyones lives.

Middlemarch Essay -- Literary Analysis, Elliot

Middlemarch, a Victorian novel written by George Elliot, depicts a realistic view of a conventional society in the eighteenth century. Middlemarch, the town in England where the setting of the novel takes place, embodies many provincial characters who are affected by the social world where they live and interact with each other. The novel focuses on many of the characters and their relationships as part of a whole in a human social web. Among the many characters, the main ones include: Dorothea Brooke, a beautiful, good, and caring young woman, but very naà ¯ve and idealistic; Edward Casaubon, a boring old scholar who marries Dorothea; Rosamond Vincy, a gorgeous young woman, but very egoistic and self-centered; Tertius Lydgate, a brilliant and handsome physician who marries Rosamond; Will Ladislaw, a passionate young artist who falls in love with Dorothea and later marries her after Mr. Casaubon’s death; Fred Vincy, a good-natured young man who is often in debt; and Mary Gart h, a plain woman, but very kind and sensible. Elliot focuses heavily on the realities of marriage and the incompatibility between a couple based on idealistic notions about each other and marriage in general. Idealism leads to the failure of the marriages between Dorothea Brooke and Edward Casaubon and Tertius Lydgate and Rosamond Vincy. The downfall of these two unions stands in stark contrast with the marriage between Fred Vincy and Mary Garth. Fred and Mary do not have idealistic notions about each other and are realistic in their thinking and approach to marriage which is the reason for their success and mutual happiness. Dorothea’s second marriage is also a success because she does not base her thinking and happiness on ideal beliefs. In the beginning of ... ...rd and the union between Tertius and Rosamond. The marriages between these couples are failures because they are blind to the faults of their spouses. It is only after marriage that these characters realize the mistakes that they made. The ideal visions are crushed by the depressing reality. They cannot continue to idealize when they learn and see the truth. The marriage between Fred and Mary and the marriage between Dorothea and Will are successful because they are free from the ideals that hide the truth and cause unhappiness. These couples did not hold high expectations for each other or for their marriages. They saw and accepted reality as it was and humbled themselves. The idealism in the novel only led to the downfall and unhappiness of the characters in their marriages. The successful marriages on the other hand were free from high expectations and ideals.

Assessment and Learning: Learning Assessment of Client Essay

Meaning â€Å"formative feedback that is done simply to find out what and how well people are learning what we teach, without any intent to give a grade. † Classroom Assessment Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATs) In-class, anonymous, short, nongraded exercises that provide feedback for both teacher and learner about the teaching/learning process Advantages of using CAT 1. Gaining insight into students/clients learning while there is still time to make changes 2. Demonstrating to learners that the teacher really cares if they are succeeding 3. Building rapport with learners 4. Spending only short amounts of time to gain valuable information 5. Using flexibility of CATs to adapt to the needs of the individual 6. Helping learners to monitor their own learning 7. Gaining insight into your own teaching. One-Minute Paper * Most common, used in the last 2-3min of class * Ask: 1) What was the most important thing you learned today? 2) What important point remains unclear to you? * Many variations. Ex: * How did the technology improve your understanding of the topic, or how did it confuse you? Muddiest Point * First used Mosteller(1989) at Harvard University * Ask: 1) What was the muddiest point in today’s class? * There’s usually not more than 2-3 * This CAT is especially useful for introductory-level course or for new content Directed Paraphrasing * Requires learners to put into their own words something they have just learned. * Can be used in classroom, out-of class or with patient teaching * Especially important for nursing Have to translate medical information into layman’s terms Translation for a specific group (Ex: Person with a low literacy or to a six year old child) Application Cards * After having taught an essential principle, theory or body of information, Ask: â€Å"Write on an index card at least one possible application of the content. † * Responses can be shared * Helps apply theoretical matter and see immediate relevance of material being taught. Background Knowledge Probe * Used to find out what learners already know * Ungraded pre-test * Emphasize: This is not an attempt to embarrass anyone, but a useful tool for directing the rest of your teaching. Misconception/Preconception Check * People come to a topic with incorrect preconception or misconception that could hinder learning * Best to start by what you’ve heard and then asking a few question. Afterwards, share and discuss. Self-Confidence Surveys * Allows reader to express their possible lack of confidence in learning certain content or skill * Ask: How confident do you feel in†¦ (answer choices can be: very confident, somewhat confident, not very confident, and not confident at all) Additional Classroom Assessment Techniques * Empty Outlines Fill in outline. Helps learners recall the main points of the class * One Sentence Summary Ask: Who does what to whom, when, where, how, and why? It assesses knowledge and ability to summarize key points * Student- Generated Test Questions. Have learners write(at home) and answer test questions to ask the class. Gives insight into what the student thinks is important, their knowledge and what they consider fair questions. * Group Work Evaluation Questionnaire to obtain students’ reactions to group work. Helps students & teacher identify early problems in the group process and plan interventions * Assignment Assessments After assignment completion, ask learners to assess the value, and pitfalls of the assignments, and how they can be improved as learning devices. * How am I doing? Early in course, ask learners how well you are teaching and meeting their needs. Same question can be used at the end of the course, but doing so earlier gives you time to make changes. Keep in Mind when using CAT 1. If a published Cat doesn’t appeal to you or fit with your style, don’t use it. 2. Don’t make the use of CATs a burden. Use them only when they can enhance the learning process. 3. Don’t use a CAT in class until you have tried it on yourself 4. Allow a little more time than you actually think you will need to administer a CAT. 5. Be sure to give learner feedback on the Cat results.

Black Canyon Coffee Essay

Company Background Black Canyon Coffee (BCC) is a Thailand based coffee shop which has grown to become the largest coffee shop chain in Thailand. BCC opened their first store in 1993 in Bangkok and since then company has experienced 15 to 20 per cent annual growth with very little debt. Though Thailand is a low coffee consuming country but with the help of strategic marketing BCC has been able to penetrate the market. Presently BCC had 78 locations in 2002, and nearly 100 locations in 2003. BCC was founded by Pravit C. Pong who also is the managing director of the firm. Currently BCC has about 1000 staff members, 500 of which are direct employees and rest being joint venture partners and franchisees. BCC considers Starbucks, Coffee World, Au Bon Pain as their competitors and believe that by focusing on their core competency BCC can outperform their competitors. Problem Analysis As the articles states, BCC founders had no prior experience in restaurant business and were not even coffee drinkers. Coming from an IT background, founders of BCC wanted to start a business of their own. BCC follows an industrial organization (I/O) model because the company was formed by strategically analyzing external environment and factors. Realizing that food is one of the basic necessity of human being, Pravit along with his colleagues without any prior experience in the food sector saw that coffee was soon becoming a popular drink in Thailand. Because founders were new and naà ¯ve in the business, financial institutions were not ready to invest in the business and so mostly they had to work around with what they had out of their own pocket. BCC came out with a vision of being the best coffee house and international cuisine restaurant in Thailand by focusing on customer relationships and the quality of food that is being served to them. Their mission is to satisfy BCCâ€℠¢s consumers with both the products, services, and  personnel of Black Canyon. BCC operated three different types of outlets namely kiosks, mini-restaurants and full restaurants. All these outlets differ from each other in the services they offer and the revenue they generate. Company is expecting a growing emphasis on kiosks in location such as gas stations and other grocery stores. Though kiosks only sell coffee, beverages and snacks while restaurant serves coffee, beverages, snacks fast food and other continental food dishes. Hence, one of the issue in hand with Black Canyon Coffee is which franchise they should focus on in its expansion (kiosks, mini-restaurants, full-sized restaurant). Different franchise options have different benefits and drawbacks associated with them and having an Industrial organization model in place they have to make strategic decisions based on external environment. Another issue that BCC is facing is that of expanding globally or change their business model. Since, BCC has captured the Thai market they are looking for newer ways to gain market share. BCC has considered two opportunities for change in business model. First option was to sell branded Black Canyon Coffee beans in supermarket and other retail outlets. Second option is to get expertise in food service and develop a separate restaurant concept. BCC is not sure about which option should they work in to because they don’t have efficient managerial skills to work on it. BCC has also planned to go global and expand in different countries. They have opened few stores in other countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia and they are planning to open shops in Australia and North America. Though BCC has started expanding globally but the shops are all joint venture operations with other foreign outlets because BCC does not have enough capital to fund investments in multiple countries. Another reason of why BCC is interested going through franchise route is because BCC wants a local partner who understands culture and tradition of the county and its people. Local business partners carries more understanding and knowledge of the culture and traditions people follow as they are one among them. Another issue with opening shops in foreign locations is that of lack of efficient human resource. Experiences staff who speaks English in BCC are very few and hence if they are one place planning the start-up they cannot function someplace else and so the expansion rate slows down. Another challenge with the expansion is that of increased complexity of supply chain. Having foreign outlets scattered across the  world, BCC needs to fight with stale inventory or stock shortages. With these challenges and restraints in place BCC has to take corresponding steps to expand globally. Solutions Analysis Coffee consumption is increasing not only in Thailand but also in other Asian countries which provides BCC a great business opportunity to expand. According to me BCC should plan on expanding throughout Asia initially through kiosks. They should also go ahead with selling branded Black Canyon Coffee beans in supermarket and other retail outlet. For expansion in America and Europe they should focus into the niche of high-end restaurant business. Cost of goods sold at kiosks is twice that of a restaurant and so is the productivity. Though range of services available at kiosks are little less compares to a restaurant but the setup expenses, franchise fee and other expenses are lesser compared to the restaurant. Kiosks provide the highest profit margin to the company and hence will help BCC to generate revenue. Opening multiple kiosks not only in Thailand but throughout Asia will help company to expand and increase company’s potential growth and since kiosks are much easier than a restaurant to open it would be more feasible for BCC staff to work on it. Though rent of a kiosk is more than that of a restaurant in Thailand but different countries have different cost associated with it and so kiosks is the most efficient way to expand in Asia. Selling branded coffee across the globe would allow BCC to enter into new market and make an impression on coffee consumers. This move will provide a product for customers to consume in the comfort of their homes. This would also act as a response of how consumers find the product and whether or not BCC should invest more in the country. This would also increase the revenue for the company while avoiding high costs associated with operating a kiosk or restaurant. Once the above expansion plans work successfully BCC needs to expand its marketing efforts and let people know that they offer both western items and other Asian specialties. Black Canyon Coffee will benefit the most if its strategic implementation consists of franchising opportunities coupled with selling braded BCC beans in supermarket s and other retail outlets. BCC headquarters should take control of the location of new franchises and provide adequate training for new franchise owners so that vision and mission of BCC should be reflected  throughout the organization. Creating locally owned and managed franchises allows each location to add specific menu items that are appropriate for each region they are serving. BCC should continue its reliance on its Bangkok headquarters as a distribution warehouse which provides quality control of all the offered products. Centralization helps in better management of the organization. Since, BCC is incapable of self-packaging on a large scale level, it needs to ally with a packaging company in Bangkok for near future production. The low cost associated with instant coffee production and BCC’s high brand recognition and perceived quality will make for a smooth and highly profitable expansion with lowest risk. For first two years, BCC should focus on selling beans in Thailand and other countries of Asia. Once this generates capital BCC needs to manage three year expansion plan of kiosks in Thailand and other Asian countries by partnering with local entities so that necessary changes could be catered. Once the initial expansion plan is met company should be able to generate market value and show its existence in the Asian market. This should attract various other investors who are ready to invest in further expansion of the company. By this stage BCC should have gained much needed experience and exposure to enter American and European market. Conclusion BCC is an industrial organization before expanding into other countries they need to transform their skills from external environment to internal environment. Training employees is one of the most vital key of BCC’s success. They need to polish their work force so that implementation phase can be worked in smoothly and efficiently. To summarize BCC should first focus on selling the branded beans across Thailand and other Asian countries as this would help generate capital. Next step would be to expand in other Asian countries through opening kiosks which would be the safest bet to start with as it requires less setup expenses and less time for the setup. Success with this step would help in further expansion in American and European markets.

Analysis of Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali essays

Analysis of Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali essays Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali (1058-1111 CE) is regarded by scholars as an Islamic intellectual giant. He is one of the greatest teachers and interpreters of Islam, other than Muhammad. Born in 1058 CE in Tus, (in what is now known as Khorasan, Iran), he was a well educated man, having been taught in school in his early adulthood, studying under a distinguished theologian, al-Juwayni in Nishapur. Because of his privileged upbringing and intellectual capabilities at that time, he brought into existence various manuscripts on Islamic theology and law, which are still being used in the present. Al-Ghazali lived during the period known as the Golden Age of Islam (750-1258 CE), a period of growth in the mastery of art, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and music. After his years of study, he later moved on to easing the political struggles of his time by writing religious treatises. He was later appointed the position of rector and professor of the Nizamiyya institute in Baghdad. Baghdad, at this time was considered the intellectual centre of the known world. This institute was also the greatest seat of learning in Islam. He produced two of his most important texts, The Intentions of Philosophers and The Incoherence of Philosophers. Afterwards, Al-Ghazali resigned as professor for pilgrimages between the cities of Mecca, Medina, Tus, and Damascus, during a period of ten years. His copious work which was made up of forty books, called Revivification of the Religious Sciences, was a seminal text which outlined the significance and meaning of the practices of Islam. He link ed theology, Muslim law (Sharia) and Sufi mysticism. Al-Ghazali was a very prominent contributor in the areas of philosophy, religion and especially Sufism. Greek philosophy in his time, including Neoplatonic philosophy, was accepted and further developed by a number of Muslim philosophers which w ...

Employability skills Essay Example

Employability skills Essay Example Employability skills Essay Employability skills Essay Employability skills are a range of skills that will allow a person to perform different jobs well. These are essential to be able to work effectively in a modern workplace. You can subdivide employability skills, I explain them below. Suitable qualifications. For different types of jobs there are different types of qualification required. Egg. Professional careers such as accountancy, human resources and marketing employers will often look for candidates with problem solving and critical skills who have at least A- level. To work at TNT as Junior Legal Counsel you need a completed education business economics and you need National and/or international law degree. Experience in similar job roles. If you have done a similar work in a organisation, it should indicate that you can do this again in a other organisation. When you are applying for a job, you should thing about what experience you already have and if some of those experiences also can be successful in the new role. If you already worked in the same industry, you should make this very clear in your CV and letter of application because such experience could be very valued for the prospective employer. Experience of specific industry. If you can show that you have worked in a specific industry before, you should demonstrate this when you are applying for a job. If you already have worked in the same industry, employers do not have to train you again. TNT would appreciate experience. This means that a person is able to handle the functions that are described in the advertisement. Knowledge of services and products. To improve your chances by obtaining for a job if you can demonstrate a sound understanding of the products or services the company provides, so product knowledge is essential, especially if you want to work in a customer service role. TNT provides services. TNT has a website with a lot of information about all their insurances and services they provide, so you can read about the product you sell. Effectiveness in meeting personal and teams or departments targets. Meeting targets is essential for every businesss success, and employees must be able to meets targets too. If there is worked for targets in your previous jobs too, you should be able to explain how successful you have been in your job-interview or letter of application. TNT asks for someone who is not going to be stressed out at the end of the deadline. Planning and making schedules are necessary. Ability to observe and raise professional standards of production or service delivery Employees who are able to work consistently with the standards of the organisation will be appreciated by the organisation, which aims are to improve the standards by suggesting and the implementation of better ways of doing the job are even more successful. Candidates who can describe or demonstrate how they have done this in previous posts will undoubtedly improve their chances of being employed. Its not very useful to immediately wanting to improve standards by suggesting and implementing thins at once. When you are new, you first need to observe the company. Personal skills Certain skills will be beneficial regardless of the job or career that you pursue and these transferable personal skills make a candidate attractive to a new employer. Hardworking and patient. Someone who gets a lot of work done is bound to be valued, if those workers spend much time with answering their mobile phones surfing the Internet during working hours will not make a good impression. So have a good handle against the distractions of modern life. Patience is also required in many jobs, especially if you are dealing with members of the public! Its not only TNT who needs people that are hardworking and patient. Every manager would like these skills. Its good for the organisation. Good interpersonal skills. Interpersonal skills can enable us to get working along with other people, promoting good relationships at the workplace and enable us to do the work better or more efficiently. Some people are naturally good to get on with others and encourage colleagues, but it is possible to learn good interpersonal skills. If you think your skills in this area could be lacking it worth it will be active to them; these opportunities will make you more employable and will also allow you to do a better job. Some interpersonal skills are very simple, such as smiling. A cheerful smile can split up barriers and encourage someone to listen and speak to you, remind yourself to smile because it is a good is beginning for improving tour interpersonal skills! TNT asks for good communications skills, you need foot interpersonal skills for this. Able to work as part of a team. Interpersonal skills will be crucial to your ability to work effectively in a team of people, but a series of skills and other considerations are also important. By TNT youre going to work in a central team of 4 lawyers assisted, teamwork is really important. Negotiation. Another useful skill for a worker is the ability to negotiate effectively. Negotiating deals with a subject with a view to some agreement or a common ground. At the beginning of the negotiations concerned parties usually have very different opinions about what should be done so that the art of negotiation is to find common ground that both parties can agree on making it a win-win situation. Negotiation is the process of consent and may therefore be useful for resolving conflicts between members of staff, agreeing personal or departmental objectives, agreeing the financial resources and interviewing, especially for new employees. It may also be useful to personally negotiate salary increases and better working conditions. TNT dont need someone who can negotiate very well. Interview skills. Interviewing skills can be useful in some contexts. Being able to interview clients or customers actually encourages the sale or improving relationships with customers will be useful for many organizations. Moreover it will be a plus for the effective identification of the best candidates in the interviewing of potential new employees or dealing with situations for the assessment of the current members of the staff. TNT like to have them but for this advertisement its not necessary. Communication skills Formal and informal communication Formal communication includes board meetings, letters, formal reports and presentations. With formal communication you need to use specific formats and follow acceptable rules and conventions. Informal communication doesnt follow any prescribed conventions or formats and often happen spontaneously. Because TNT ask for a responsible attitude, you need to use clear communication to everybody so that everyone can understand what you are doing. Non-verbal/verbal communication methods Non-verbal communication involves written communication. Mostly common methods are letters, memos, reports, invoices, flow charts, publicity material, email, text messaging and web pages. Verbal communication involves those using the human voice such as presentations, interviews, meetings, telephone calls and video conferencing.

Timeline of the Lebanese Civil War From 1975-1990

Timeline of the Lebanese Civil War From 1975-1990 The Lebanese Civil War took place from 1975 to 1990 and claimed the lives of some 200,000 people, which left Lebanon in ruins. Lebanese Civil War, 1975 to 1978 April 13, 1975:  Gunmen attempt to assassinate Maronite Christian Phalangist leader Pierre Gemayel as he’s leaving church that Sunday. In retaliation, Phalangist gunmen ambush a busload of Palestinians, most of them civilians, killing 27 passengers. Week-long clashes between Palestinian-Muslim forces and Phalangists follow, marking the beginning of Lebanon’s 15-year civil war. June 1976: Some 30,000 Syrian troops enter Lebanon, ostensibly to restore peace. Syria’s intervention stops vast military gains against Christians by Palestinian-Muslim forces. The invasion is, in fact, Syria’s attempt to claim Lebanon, which it never recognized when Lebanon won independence from France in 1943. October 1976: Egyptian, Saudi, and other Arab troops in small numbers join the Syrian force as a result of a peace summit brokered in Cairo. The so-called Arab Deterrent Force would be short-lived. March 11, 1978: Palestinian commandos attack an Israeli kibbutz between Haifa and Tel Aviv, then hijack a bus. Israeli forces respond. By the time the battle was over, 37 Israelis and nine Palestinians were killed. March 14, 1978: Some 25,000 Israeli soldiers crossed the Lebanese border in Operation Litani, named for the Litani River that crosses South Lebanon, not 20 miles from the Israeli border. The invasion is designed to wipe out the Palestine Liberation Organization’s structure in South Lebanon. The operation fails. March 19, 1978: The United Nations Security Council adopts Resolution 425, sponsored by the United States, calling on Israel to withdraw from South Lebanon and on the UN to establish a 4,000-strong UN peacekeeping force in South Lebanon. The force is termed the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. Its original mandate was for six months. The force is still in Lebanon today. June 13, 1978: Israel withdraws, mostly, from occupied territory, handing over authority to the breakaway Lebanese Army force of Maj. Saad Haddad, which expands its operations in South Lebanon, operating as an Israeli ally. July 1, 1978: Syria turns its guns on Lebanon’s Christians, pounding Christian areas of Lebanon in the worst fighting in two years. September 1978: U.S. President Jimmy Carter brokers the Camp David accords between Israel and Egypt, the first Arab-Israeli peace. Palestinians in Lebanon vow to escalate their attacks on Israel. 1982 to 1985 ​June 6, 1982: Israel invades Lebanon again. Gen. Ariel Sharon leads the attack. The two-month drive leads the Israeli army to the southern suburbs of Beirut. The Red Cross estimates the invasion costs the lives of some 18,000 people, mostly civilian Lebanese. August 24, 1982: A multinational force of U.S. Marines, French paratroopers, and Italian soldiers lands in Beirut to assist in the evacuation of the Palestine Liberation Organization. August 30, 1982: After intense mediation led by the United States, Yasser Arafat and the Palestine Liberation Organization, which had run a state-within-a-state in West Beirut and South Lebanon, evacuate Lebanon. Some 6,000 PLO fighters go mostly to Tunisia, where they are again dispersed. Most end up in the West Bank and Gaza. September 10, 1982: The Multinational force completes its withdrawal from Beirut. Sept. 14, 1982: The Israeli-backed Christian Phalangist leader and Lebanese President-Elect Bashir Gemayel is assassinated at his headquarters in East Beirut. Sept. 15, 1982: Israeli troops invade West Beirut, the first time an Israeli force enters an Arab capital. Sept. 15-16, 1982: Under the supervision of Israeli forces, Christian militiamen are bused into the two Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila, ostensibly to â€Å"mop up† remaining Palestinian fighters. Between 2,000 and 3,000 Palestinian civilians are massacred. September 23, 1982: Amin Gemayel, brother of Bashir, takes office as Lebanon’s president. September 24, 1982: The U.S.-French-Italian Multinational Force returns to Lebanon in a show of force and support for the Gemayel’s government. At first, French and American soldiers play a neutral role. Gradually, they turn into defenders of the Gemayel regime against Druze and Shiites in central and South Lebanon. April 18, 1983: The American Embassy in Beirut is attacked by a suicide bomb, killing 63. By then, the United States is actively engaged in Lebanon’s civil war on the side of the Gemayel government. May 17, 1983: Lebanon and Israel sign a U.S.-brokered peace agreement that calls for the withdrawal of Israeli troops contingent on the withdrawal of Syrian troops from northern and eastern Lebanon. Syria opposes the agreement, which was never ratified by the Lebanese parliament and canceled in 1987. October 23, 1983: U.S. Marines barracks near Beirut International Airport, on the south side of the city, are attacked by a suicide bomber in a truck, killing 241 Marines. Moments later, French paratroopers’ barracks are attacked by a suicide bomber, killing 58 French soldiers. Feb. 6, 1984:  Predominantly Shiite Muslim militias seize control of West Beirut. June 10, 1985:  The Israeli army finishes withdrawing out of most of Lebanon, but keeps an occupation zone along the Lebanon-Israeli border and calls it its â€Å"security zone.† The zone is patrolled by the South Lebanon Army and Israeli soldiers. June 16, 1985:  Hezbollah militants hijack a TWA flight to Beirut, demanding the release of Shiite prisoners in Israeli jails. Militants murder U.S. Navy diver Robert Stethem. The passengers were not freed until two weeks later. Israel, over a period of weeks following the resolution of the hijacking,  released  some 700 prisoners, insisting the release was not related to the hijacking. 1987 to 1990 June 1, 1987:  Lebanese Prime Minister Rashid Karami, a Sunni Muslim, is assassinated when a bomb explodes in his helicopter. He is replaced by Selim  el Hoss. September 22, 1988:  The presidency of Amin Gemayel ends without a successor. Lebanon operates under two rival governments: a military government led by renegade general Michel Aoun, and a civil government headed by Selim  el Hoss, a Sunni Muslim. March 14, 1989:  Gen. Michel Aoun declares a â€Å"war of Liberation† against Syrian occupation. The war triggers a devastating final round to the Lebanese Civil War as Christian factions battle it out. September 22, 1989:  The Arab League brokers a cease-fire. Lebanese and Arab leaders meet in Taif, Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Lebanese Sunni leader Rafik Hariri. The Taif agreement effectively lays the groundwork for an end to the war by reapportioning power in Lebanon. Christians lose their majority in Parliament, settling for a 50-50 split, though the president is to  remain  a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of Parliament a Shiite Muslim. November 22, 1989:  President-Elect Renà ©Ã‚  Muawad, believed to have been a reunification candidate, is assassinated. He is replaced by Elias Harawi. Gen. Emile Lahoud is named to replace Gen. Michel Aoun as commander of the Lebanese army. October 13, 1990:  Syrian forces are given a green light by France and the United States to storm Michel Aoun’s presidential palace once Syria joins the American coalition against Saddam Hussein in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. October 13, 1990:  Michel Aoun takes refuge in the French Embassy, then chooses exile in Paris (he was to return as a Hezbollah ally in 2005). October 13, 1990, marks the official end of the Lebanese Civil War. Between 150,000 and 200,000 people, most of them civilians, are believed to have perished in the war.

Literacy Narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Literacy Narrative - Essay Example It was only much later that we got our first rudimentary lessons in English language. It was a bit tedious at first, because our entire class of grade schoolers had to learn all the basics of English grammar. The English teacher we had was quite good although admittedly her own diction and intonations were far from being perfect but it was acceptable anyway to us pupils who did not know any better. I can honestly say that the wonderful world beyond my country started to open up with all those lessons in English literature fit for our kiddies’ class. I still can remember how we laughed and giggled on some of the strange words and sounds we had to master as we went along in our English classes up to graduating from the elementary. I realized the importance of English proficiency when our batch reached high school. This was the time when we had to learn science, mathematics and biology so we need to learn and be proficient at a certain level of the English language to pass our ex aminations. At that time, there was not much pressure to really master the intricacies of English because we had not yet seen the direct relationship of English mastery to our future careers. In this regard, it can be safely said that all my English learning happened while I was still in my country of birth and therefore, English was spoken only occasionally and only when really necessary. If memory serves me right, it was probably in my sophomore or junior year when the importance of learning the English language first came into sharp focus. We were asked to do a literature essay in English this time and I had a hard time finishing my assignment. It must be borne in mind that our writing assignment need to be finished in an hour’s time or less and previously, I had been overly dependent on using an English dictionary to put my thought into paper. My other classmates had already turned in their papers and I was not yet even halfway through. I was already panicked at that poin t and my thoughts were a total jumble; one thing I can say is that I always have a lot of creative ideas on my mind. A chief difficulty was putting these thoughts down to a written paper that is understandable and connects to a reader. My high school teacher was standing nearby, all ready to get my paper once I finished. This was because I was the only one still left inside the classroom since I must admit honestly that I always struggled with my English since coming into contact with this lingua franca. The time was up for me and I had wanted to still write some more since I knew my paper was not yet good enough. It was at that point in my life when I realized and resolved to vastly improve my English language skills so I can get ahead in my career and with my life. At that time, my English language skills in terms of reading and writing were terrible and I really struggled. When I entered college, there were plenty of opportunities to improve my English skill in terms of speaking, reading, writing and most importantly, comprehension. In particular, the facility with English was vastly improved with my constant viewing of television shows that were broadcast in English without any native language sub-titles at the bottom of the screen. I knew right then that my English will improve someday but I decided to read a lot of books, magazines and newspapers printed in English precisely for this purpose. Secondly, I had what can be called a

Decisions in Paradise II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Decisions in Paradise II - Essay Example This paper will analyze the strategies that can be formulated and implemented by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) in Kava to strengthen its presence. As Force-Field Analysis focuses on â€Å"understanding the factors that would drive strategies and those that would hinder them†, CBTL can analyze both the driving and hindering factors to come up with an optimal plan. (United Nations Public Administration Network). In the case, the decision making process was initiated by Nik and Alex to tap the opportunities or the driving forces that was available in the island of Kava. The first strategy that can be driven by various factors is the launching of a pan island Newspaper. Good decision-making starts from the right place (Paul and Elder). This initiative can exhibit how CBTL can launch any new initiative in an entirely new setting and importantly can exhibit its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the citizens of the Kava, as newspapers are key mediums of social activism. As these factors will act has a key driving force, the company can launch the next set of actions, which includes setting up a printing office in Kava. In both the printing section as well as in the newspaper content creating section, local people can be recruited. This step will also take care of CSR angle, as the local population will get good employment.

Management of IT Governance Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Management of IT Governance - Research Paper Example The ISO standards that apply globally cover a very wide range of consumer goods from manufactures. Anything that a particular manufacturer decides to do must have proper documentation of the whole process regarding non conformance disposition to show the justification of the action and the proper performance of the action. Compliance to FDA is mandatory for all manufactures in the life sciences and the other related industries. On the other hand, manufactures in the non-life sciences, though they comply with the various federal directives, they strictly adhere to the standards set by ISO. This can either be voluntary to enhance the reliability of their products or to comply with the requirements of the countries where they intend to sell their products. Among the directives enforced by FDA, the two, which have the most significant effect are the 21 CFR Part 820 ant the 21 CFR Part 211 that all require the application of a quality management process. 21 CFR Part 211 that is applicable to all pharmaceutical corporations, covers all aspects of development and manufacture of drugs, right from the personnel, the processes and to the distribution. Among the basic requirements of the regulation are records and reports. Pharmaceutical companies require quality management processes, which are compliant and efficient in order to maintain the required records and reports. The 21 CFR Part 820 that applies to companies dealing with medical devices, requires the presence of controls in the process of designing, documentation, manufacturing as well as production. It specifically requires the implementation of a quality management system that is appropriate for the particular medical device. FDA provides a definition of what it makes up a quality m anagement system and specifies the records, which the manufacturer of the medical device must maintain (Carpenter, 2014).

Sustainable water in Austrialia Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sustainable water in Austrialia - Assignment Example e center of water administration turned from expansionary objectives and expansive scale designing ventures to economic productivity and ecological concerns. Topic Sentence 3: Green growth portrays a procedure for practical financial advancement that perceives the interrelationship, whats more, between reliance of components of the environment, economy, and society as an entirety. Cities can be outlined as water supply catchments where urban rainwater gets to be a piece of the supply in water-delicate urban areas (Smith, Vromen, & Cook, 2012). Water utilized for urban watering system and watering parks and road trees has a vital part in enhancing the liveability of Cities by cooling the urban environment (diminishing the warmth island impact) and along these lines decreasing vitality interest for cooling. Investment choices by water powers ought to be in light of adjusted social, monetary and natural examination, educated by sound logical exhortation and actualized through straightforward and contestable methods. Adoption of changes implied in the states and domains dedication to the National Water Initiative, furthermore, all the more as of late asked by the Productivity Commission, would go far to enhancing Australias gainfulness and setting the way for a green development economy in the water and related

Doubt play vs. movie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Doubt play vs. movie - Essay Example As mentioned earlier, Doubt is a story revolving around a nun’s qualms about a priest’s sexual involvement with an African-American Altar boy. Sister Aloysius is the head nun and principal of a catholic school called St. Nicholas. Father Flynn is a new teacher at St. Nicholas; he has an affable personality and is highly articulate. The character list includes another member of the faculty, Sister James; an impressionable and inexperienced teacher; she is highly obedient. Therefore when Sister Aloysius commands everyone to keep their eyes open for unusual behavior, she is the first one to suspect Father Flynn. (Brantley, 2006) The main source of the suspicion is triggered when Sister James observes the intimacy between Father Flynn and the only African American student Donald Muller. There are a number of other factors that eventually lead her to confirm her suspicions such as, when Donald is summoned by Father Flynn during Sister James’ class and when he returns, he seems upset and intoxicated, and finally Sister James notices Father Flynn putting a white shirt in Donald’s locker, during a dance lesson. Sister James confides her suspicion to Sister Aloysius, who later confronts Father Flynn. Father Flynn provides a plausible explanation that he had found Donald drinking and wanted to help him get over his drinking problem. However, Sister Aloysius is still unsatisfied and decides to talk to Donald Muller’s mother. Mrs. Muller seems completely ambivalent and asks Sister Aloysius not to pursue the matter any further. She mentions that Donald is currently coping with his abusive father and also hints that it is because of his sexual orientation that causes Mr. Muller to beat Donald up. She pleads with her to remain silent and not take any action against Father Flynn and tries to rationalize their relationship, but Sister Aloysius remains adamant. Despite the fact that she was unable to collect any hard evidence against Father Fly nn to substantiate her allegation, she confronts Father Flynn again and threatens to him to tell her the truth or she will approach her superiors. Father Flynn denies but finally succumbs to her demands and requests for a transfer when Sister Aloysius tells him that she telephoned his previous parish and discovered ample amount of evidences regarding his dubious past. She told him that she knew he had changed a few parishes because of misconduct; however, the details of misconduct were not specified and there are several nuns, who are willing to testify against him. (Brantley, 2006) The story ends with Father Flynn getting transferred to a different school and Sister Aloysius confiding in Sister James that she found nothing against him and her telephoning the authorities was a mere fabrication.. In the end, she breaks down in to tears and says, â€Å"I have doubts†¦ I have such doubts†. The film and play adaptation followed the same plot and even the dialogues were near verbatim; which shows the strong correspondence between both the play and the movie. However, in case of differences, there are countless differences but the changes are only minor and subtle and nothing too plot-altering. The most ostensible difference is the fact that there are more characters in the movie than in the play. (Brantley, 2004) The depiction of the story deviates from the normal four-character play by Mr.

Sustainable water in Austrialia Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sustainable water in Austrialia - Assignment Example e center of water administration turned from expansionary objectives and expansive scale designing ventures to economic productivity and ecological concerns. Topic Sentence 3: Green growth portrays a procedure for practical financial advancement that perceives the interrelationship, whats more, between reliance of components of the environment, economy, and society as an entirety. Cities can be outlined as water supply catchments where urban rainwater gets to be a piece of the supply in water-delicate urban areas (Smith, Vromen, & Cook, 2012). Water utilized for urban watering system and watering parks and road trees has a vital part in enhancing the liveability of Cities by cooling the urban environment (diminishing the warmth island impact) and along these lines decreasing vitality interest for cooling. Investment choices by water powers ought to be in light of adjusted social, monetary and natural examination, educated by sound logical exhortation and actualized through straightforward and contestable methods. Adoption of changes implied in the states and domains dedication to the National Water Initiative, furthermore, all the more as of late asked by the Productivity Commission, would go far to enhancing Australias gainfulness and setting the way for a green development economy in the water and related

Literature Adaptations Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Literature Adaptations - Movie Review Example Since then, this story is continually being told to children and society has seen many adaptations including Jordan and Carter's controversial "The Company f Wolves." Be it presented as literature, oral storytelling, or cinematography these sources have one theme in common: they tell a cautionary tale f the warnings f entering adolescence. In comparing the historical, sexual, and moral aspects f Perrault's "Little Red Riding Hood," France's "The False Grandmother," and Jordan's "The Company f Wolves, readers are left appreciating the different means used in communicating the warnings f entering adolescence. (Bordwell 1-4) Oral stories are quite different from those f common literature. In France's oral version there is little time spent on focusing on detail in terms f an introduction to the story and setting. Instead, this oral version quickly jumps to the girl's encounter with the wolf. This happens all within the first sentence: "Once upon a time a girl was walking through the woods with a basket f goodies for her grandmother, when she met a wolf." Since these stories were told orally, there is most likely no need for a significant amount f detail simply because this was not the focus f the performance. As well, these types f stories are not read but seen and heard by the audience. What is significantly different about an oral story is that there is a heavy reliance on the storyteller to deliver a captivating performance, meaning that the action f the story is heightened by compressing the sequence f events in a set amount f time. Thus, little time is spent focusing on elements such as a historica l setting. Readers are made aware f the setting in Perrault's literary version f Little Red Riding Hood when he writes: "Once upon a time there lived in a certain village a little country girl, the prettiest creature who was ever seen." He further reveals information about the surroundings f the story as the girl is sent out to give her grandmother food: "Little Red Riding Hood set out immediately to go to her grandmother, who lived in another village... As she was going through the wood, she met a wolf..." There is little to be questioned because f the amount f detail used by Perrault. In stories that are written or published, there is a need to have a certain amount f detail so readers are not left questioning the story. Written stories require more detail than oral stories. Perrault has added enough information about the location f the story so that readers would not be left confused about certain parts f the plot. (Naremore 5-6) Film is also another means by which folktales can be presented. The manner in which this is presented is far different than reading folktale literature or watching the story be performed with sounds and movements by a storyteller. In "The Company f Wolves" Jordan and Carter incorporate a significant amount f detail in a short amount f time: "close shot f the window looking out onto the dream nightscape; camera tracks in past the window frame EXT. FOREST -- DAY dissolve from nightscape to daylight forest scene, autumnal colours. Camera tracks in and pans right to disclose a distant church spire." Viewers f this film are better able to grasp the setting because they are visually transported to a setting where they are able to make obvious assumptions about the surroundings. There is a significant amo

The Cuban Missile Crisis Essay Example for Free

The Cuban Missile Crisis Essay Remembered as perhaps the most intense episode of the Cold War due to its nuclear threat, the Cuban Missile Crisis has been analyzed extensively by historians hoping to construct an accurate picture of its cause and development. The tight control exercised by both Soviet and American government agencies, however, has limited access to relevant documents, and thus inhibited any objective study of the crisis. Until only a few years ago, most of the world would have agreed with Arthur Schlesinger Jr. s description of the event as a brilliantly controlled1 American victory- a paragon of US dedication, morale, and diplomatic skill. But as the National Security Archive has gradually opened access to key accounts, it has become apparent that what seemed so finely orchestrated was in fact wrought with misinformation, miscalculation, and misjudgment. 2 At the time, tensions were already running high due to the fierce military and psychological rivalry between superpowers, and problems within the Eastern and Western blocs themselves made it even easier to misinterpret political signals. Failures in intelligence and a general lack of central control further complicated the situation, fuelling the fires of mistrust that were already burning with the increased urgency that accompanies the prospect of nuclear war. From these revelations, we can conclude that initial assessments of the episode as a thirteen day affair are incorrect, that it was rather the result of long-term misunderstanding. And while deliberate deception did play a significant role in the development of the crisis, we must acknowledge that it was, for the most part, perpetuated by a combination of basic mistrust and political and military mishaps. It is with this knowledge in mind, then, that we proceed to examine the complex set of factors that brought the world to the brink of a cataclysmic war. The years leading up to the Cuban Missile Crisis had seen a number of significant changes in the Cold War conflict. Things were very unstable, as new faces became prominent, new nations were born, and the rivalry between superpowers reached previously unvisited levels, both high and low, as Soviet and American governments experimented with foreign policy. While these factors had a significant influence on the status quo in both the Eastern and Western hemispheres, their effect was particularly marked within Khrushchevs domain, as he sought to assert his individuality by introducing anti-Stalinist mechanisms. His advocation of peaceful co-existence,3 and military disarmament, as well as his insistence on publicly denouncing Stalin, met with fiery opposition from within the Kremlin, and, by 1957, it had become apparent that he was losing control of the formerly centralized Communist world. With rebellions springing up across Eastern Europe, then, and China beginning to pursue a course independent of Khrushchevs support, it had become clear that a firm reinstatement of Soviet authority was needed, and soon. The pressure that this goal put on Khrushchev, and the conflicts between him and his advisers caused Soviet foreign policy to fluctuate drastically. After pursuing what seemed what seemed like rapprochement at Camp David, and making an amiable visit to the United States, the Soviet leader suddenly reverted to hostile tactics, refusing to negotiate over Berlin, and assuming a suspicious attitude about US actions in Europe. This dramatic change of approach was best displayed in the fact that, after years of silence on offensive American overflights, he unexpectedly ordered a U2 plane that was photographing Soviet territory shot down. Khrushchev went on to cite this incident as the cause for his failure to attend the Paris Summit Conference in May, 1960. Obviously, such inconsistency sent mixed messages to the American administration, increasing their distrust. Suspicion of the Soviets escalated to a new high, as many key officials sided with former Secretary of State John Dulles in describing the period of peace as a tactical ploy to lure the West into a false sense of security, while (they) pursuedaggressive goals in disguise.4 The Soviet desire to reassert its strength and control caused even further problems when it extended past attempts to preserve Russias hegemony in Eastern Europe to actions intended to undermine the American public image. Ultimately, it became apparent over the next year or so that Soviet movements were double-edged, designed to consolidate, certainly, but also to probe US defenses, to determine the actual extent of its interest and loyalty to its allies in Europe. Their efforts in Berlin constituted one such probe, as the construction of the Berlin Wall was intended both to plug a hole in the iron curtain,5 and, at the same time, to break down the relationship between the United States and West Germany. The Soviets felt that if the Americans failed to intervene despite the West Berliners cries for help, this would weaken Germanys confidence in their US allies, and make a statement to the rest of NATO confirming their fear that the US was unable or unwilling to offer substantial resistance to Eastern strategies. This sentiment had arisen with the Soviet launching of Sputnik in 1957, a statement of its progress in the nuclear arms race. The Americans, meanwhile, were aware that their failure to follow through on some of their ideas for NATO, including the goal to increasetroop strength to fifty divisions,6 was giving the impression that US support was all talk. Further problems with the French over the establishment of the European Defense Committee threatened the cohesion of the Western bloc and engendered a need to reinforce US interest in Europe, a need which so paralleled the Soviet goals that it set the two superpowers up for an almost inevitable collision. In addition, the new president John F. Kennedy was experiencing similar problems to those faced by Khrushchev. Confronted with a hawkist faction within his body of advisers, Kennedy was constantly under pressure to be more aggressive, to abandon containment and start to roll back Communism. Just as disagreements within the Kremlin had caused confusion and misinterpretations of political moves, conflict inside the White House allowed American foreign policy t o appear fragmented and thus unpredictable. These things ensured that an already precarious situation was complicated by factors that masked the true intentions of each side. Cuba may seem an unlikely place for this clash between superpowers to occur, but since 1959 it has been a key symbol of resistance to US imperialism both in Latin America, and, on a grander scale, in the entire western hemisphere. In 1947, a Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance had been signed by the US and a number of South and Central American countries, apparently an alliance of similar design to NATO. It had been the source of much trouble, however, as the Latin Americans had envisioned the pact as a mechanism for their own economic development and security, not as a means by which the US could prevent Soviet expansion in this part of the globe. When ten years passed with little tangible aid, but plenty of American interference in the political system, the civilians grew dissatisfied, a sentiment which intensified as the US threatened leftist Colonel Arbenz of Guatemala with military opposition if he did not step down as premier. The Cubans especially resented this, and, when similar threats were raised against their Communist leader Fidel Castro, they turned to the Soviet Union for assistance. By the end of 1959, Cuba had become a Russian client state, and a useful foothold for the Soviets in the western hemisphere. Despite the intense antagonism that existed between the Russians and the Americans, the US administration did not view the close relationship between Castro and Khrushchev with any real alarm. This was because they felt that while the Soviets wanted to undermine the American public image, they were not willing to take action that could precipitate nuclear war. Thus, Kennedy was reasonably sure that his warning to the Soviets not to deploy missiles in Cuba would be obeyed in the interests of the common goal of nuclear non-proliferation. It came as a shock, then, when U2 planes flying over Cuban territory showed that several missile sites were under construction. This greatly increased the American mistrust of the Soviets, and, as correspondence began to flow between Moscow and Washington, it became apparent that there was an inherent difference in the way that the two superpowers defined the Cuban problem. For instance, the Americans felt that they had a right to know what was happening in their part of the world, complaining that the Kremlin had given repeated assurances of what (you were) not doing7- in effect, that it had lied to them. The Soviets, on the other hand, asserted that they were under no obligation to inform the U.S of any activities (they were) carrying on in a third country.8 This statement was probably only made to promote a sense of strength and independence, but it was, to the Americans, a sign that even the prospect of nuclear war could not deter the Soviets from their campaign of domination and expansion. It is clear from similar incidents that a need to appear strong led each superpower to use a certain degree of deception in its dealings with the other. This did not essentially cause the conflict, however; as already stated, the missile crisis had been set up by intensifications in the East-West rivalry long before Soviet ships carrying nuclear arms set sail. It would be more accurate to say, then, that the bluffing that went on only served to delay the resolution of the problem. In addition, it was effective in that it gave the world a false understanding that, particularly on the American front, could be manipulated by government officials in order to create a more favorable public impression. The United States especially made a significant effort to present the Soviet action as a dangerous attempt to change the world-wide status-quo,9 ridiculing their qualms about a possible invasion of Cuba. Recent studies have shown, however, that these concerns were not so unfounded as has been previously supposed. According to the US Archives, a plan for an operation against the Castro regime had been in existence since April 1960, entailing sabotage, infiltration, and psychological warfare, activities with military exercisesfor a possible invasion.10 It is also clear that President Kennedy was well aware of this throughout the crisis negotiations, having endorsed the scheme with the comment that its final success would require decisive military intervention11. We can only conclude that the Americans assumed the stance they did to protect their public image- seeking to mask the traces of imperialism in their attitude towards Cuba, and, at the same time, to undermine the Soviet positio n by presenting them as bad liars to the rest of the world. The Soviets were less successful, but just as determined, in their attempts to use deception to work the situation to their advantage. They, in turn, lied to the Americans in stating that no missiles will be placed in Cubawhich would (be)capable of reaching the United States,12 and again, later, in their claim that the deployment of missiles to Cuba was a purely deterrent move carried out to save Castro. While it is clear that there may have been something in the concerns about invasion, the writings of Khrushchev himself show that the strategy was also invented as a means of equalizing what the West likes to call balance of power. 13 The double-edged nature of this Soviet probe became even more obvious in the correspondence that took place between the Kremlin and the White House, as Khrushchev requested two separate concessions in return for removing the missiles- a no invasion pledge, and a promise that threatening nuclear bases in Turkey be dismantled. These missile bases may have actually triggered the Soviet action in Cuba, as they provided the US with an unanswered first-strike capability, and, incidentally, had become operational just a few weeks before ships began to cross from Russia to the Cuban coast. Known as the Jupiter missiles, these nuclear bases were an important part of a US statement intended to counter general lack of confidence in American support. They were also, however, essentially provocative,14 capable, as the Cuban crisis had shown, of precipitating a nuclear war. As the Americans weighed up these two factors, their concerns about their public image again caused them to revert to deceptive measures. Their inconsistency did not exactly impress the Russians, who were one day confronted with the announcement that the missiles in Turkey were NATOs decision,15 and the next, told that they would be removed if the Soviets kept the news of this concession from the American allies. In the end, however, the US administration judged correctly when it assumed that Khrushchev would happily forget about publicizing the agreement if he were given what he had asked for. The missiles in Turkey continued to be a central issue, though, as ongoing denial of any explicit Turkey-Cuba deal created the impression that the Cuban Missile Crisis was a great American victory. To further confound a situation that was already complicated by long term misunderstanding and deliberate deception, a number of military and political mishaps occurred. For instance, the fact that an American plane was shot down over Cuba almost triggered a U.S. air strike because it was interpreted as a Kremlin initiated action. Evidence has shown, however, that this was a purely local effort on the part of the Cubans to assert their independence. Similar problems occurred in the US administration, as CIA officials undertook unauthorized operations that gave the Cubans even more reason to anticipate an American invasion. This lack of central control made communication vitalfor the whole world,16 as the White House at least, recognized. In a conflict involving nuclear weapons, Kennedy said, even if these are only valuable for their psychological effect, every precaution must be taken to prevent an accidental outbreak of war. It is clear, then, that the Cuban Missile Crisis was born out of mutual but conflicting desires to appear strong in the context of an intense ideological war. During the years leading up to the event, a number of factors, the most important of these being the threat of nuclear war, combined to escalate existing tensions to dangerously high levels. In addition, the fact that neither side was willing to acknowledge that relations were deteriorating meant that the situation was further complicated by diplomatic exchange. When the conflict broke out in 1962, both Khrushchev and Kennedy stumbled through negotiations as they weighed up various concerns: how to protect their public image at home, and yet, at the same time, undermine the enemys position; how to keep up in the arms race while avoiding nuclear war. These things, and may others ensured that any resolution of the crisis would have to offer a military quid pro quo which would diffuse the nuclear conflict without causing either superpower to lose face. The fact that Soviet and American officials still disagree about the details of the eventual agreement, however, shows that it was more the (nuclear) restraint that was practiced and expected17 that prevented the outbreak of war than any diplomatic feat. 1 Jonathan K. Reece Revising the History of the Missile Crisis, pg. 34. 2 Robert McNamara as quoted in Jonathan K. Reeces Revising the History of the Missile Crisis, pg. 34. 3 William R. Keych The 20th Century World pg. 304 4 William R. Keych The 20th Century World pg. 304 5 William R. Keych, op cit., pg. 316 6 William R. Keych, op cit. pg. 297 7 Letter from John F. Kennedy to N.S. Khrushchev of Nov. 6, 1962. 8 Soviet Ambassador Kusnetsov as quoted in letter from John F. Kennedy to N.S. Khrushchev of Nov. 6, 1962. 9 The Presidents Address, October 22,nd, 1962. 10 Top Secret document released to the US National Security Archives in January 1989. 11 Ibid. 12 Letter from John F. Kennedy to N.S. Khrushchev of Nov. 6, 1962 13 http://www.wilsoncenter.org/subsites/ccpdc/pubs/zart/Ch11.html 14 Eisenhower as quoted by Jonathan K. Reece, op cit. page 46. 15 http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/cuba_mis_cri/moment.html 16 Letter from John F. Kennedy, op cit. 17 http://wwww.wilsoncenter.org/subsites/ccpdc/pubs/zart/Ch.11.html

Past And Present Challenges Facing Wardens Criminology Essay

Past And Present Challenges Facing Wardens Criminology Essay Wardens are responsible for the organization and operation of prisons. To accomplish this, prison wardens are usually assisted by several deputy wardens, typically one each for management, custody, industry, and treatment programs. One of the main goals for them is to promote public safety and to insure the safety of inmates and staff inside. However, wardens also tend to face outward in their daily duties, dealing with politicians, administrators in the central office of corrections, the media, and interest groups (Allen, Latessa, Ponde, 2010). A complex job, wardens are trained both as correctional officers and administrators. George A. Neotti is the warden at Donovan State Prison in San Diego, California. He is responsible for 4,400 inmates and 1,700 staff. Mr. Neotti claims that disciplining employees and making them do what must be done to enforce the prisons rules is one of the biggest challenges in his position. Another challenge is budget cuts. Since we all know prisons are p aid with the public funds, and Neotti has to use these funds appropriately and responsibly to operate the prison. Unfortunately because of budget cuts, many prison programs have been significantly decreased or have totally disappeared. Among these are substance abuse programs, educational programs, and vocational programs. Neotti has faced in the past and is currently facing many lawsuits against him by inmates, he challenges threats among inmates and employees at the prison. He also deals with contraband such as drugs and cell phones. He said that heroin, cocaine, meth contraband is often smuggled in by mail or visitors, volunteers or even employees, often through the rectum. This really jeopardizes the employees safety, for prisons can be quite violent. Another big and complicated challenge is the overcrowding of prisons. Even though many new prisons have been built throughout the nation during the past 20 years to accommodate the growing number of inmates, prison overcrowding is still very much a reality in many jurisdictions. Some of the most crowded prisons are those in federal system, which recently stood at 34% over capacity (Schmalleger, 2010). To fix this problem, lawmakers across the nation are trying to save money with a drastic potentially dangerous budget-cutting proposal releasing tens of thousands of convicts from prison. Among these inmates include drug addicts, thieves, and even violent criminals (Schamalleger, 2010). If officials acknowledge that the idea carries risks, then why are they doing this? Do they not have any other choice? They must find a better way to manage the overcrowding in prisons instead of just releasing them. The appropriate sentence or punishment has to be equally proportionate with the crime c ommitted, but if punishment is the intentional infliction of pain on a person that is convicted of a crime, what is the appropriate punishment for a criminal behavior? There are several types of punishment in criminal law. A guilty defendant is punished by either period of incarceration in a jail or prison, a fine paid to the government, or in exceptional cases, life in prison or even death penalty. Crimes are divided into two broad classes: Felonies that have a maximum possible sentence of more than one year incarceration, and Misdemeanors that have a maximum possible sentence of less than one year incarceration. Defendant can be found guilty or not guilty. The purpose of in criminal punishment has divided into two schools that have battled for five centuries Retribution and Prevention (Samaha, 2008). Wardens and administrators will continue to face many challenges among jails and prisons until they find a solution for a better life among inmates, employees and volunteers members. Correctional Officers In the past, staff members were called guards. Today, if we call correctional officers guards, it is more likely to offend them. According to Allen at al. (2010) Correctional Officers represent women and men charged with control, movement management, and observation of the inmates in jails and prisons of America, they also found that by 2007, more than 250,000 uniformed custody staff members were working in state, federal, and local adult prisons in America. Harold Lilly, who worked for the North Carolina Department of correction from 1950-1986, stated that in his early career, prisoners used to work on the roads, ate and slept, and that was it. There was no classification, no rehabilitation; there was a state law that every prisoner must work preferably on the highways and thats what they did. He also mentioned that todays correctional facilities are complex because among other things they provide substance abuse treatment, medical services, job training, education and other rehabil itative programs. He concluded that in this complex environment, correctional officers who play a critical role in the safe and secure operation of todays correctional facilities have replaced the old guards. In the past, correctional officers did little documentation. For example, if they locked and inmate up, they reported it verbally to the captain on duty. They did not write reports. Harold (2005) said that in old days, you had what you referred to as a guidebook. Today correctional officers must follow standards, policies and bureaucratic regulations and obligations for corrections staff members. If correctional officers use force today, they have to do an official report with videotapes and corroborating evidence along with it. The training programs are more drastic than before even that this career does not require a degree, correctional instructors should explain the mission of the training, which is to protect the state from further inmate litigation, and they should inform their students that future responsibility for courtroom resolutions rests with corrections personnel (Allen at el. 2010). In my opinion Correctional Officers must obtain a higher education than just high school or a GED. Having a degree in sociology or criminal justice helps to obtain positive values and understand the meaning of this position leading to accomplish the goal, but the state must increase the salary to encourage people to pursue this career but because the cost for training programs are very expensive, and also correctional officers with a lack of education or knowledge tend to resign this position within a year or two, this salary will continue to be very low. Correctional officers are the ones that interact with inmates 24 hours a day, and an increase of violence, due in part to a rise in prison gangs, put many officers in the trenches or our nations prisons; prison violence, crime, and drug trafficking are ways of life for most inmates in high-custody prisons (Allen at el. 2010). According to Beck T. (2005) in the old days, a guard told a prisoner what he wanted him to do and that was that. Today, a correctional officer must be able to understand and enforce a complex system of rules and regulations. Beck also stated that in the old days, a guard might inflict corporal punishment if an inmate disobeyed an order. Today, an officer must be able to diffuse potentially dangerous situations without the use of force. Beck concluded that in the old days, guards orally reported the days happenings to the next shift. Today, an officer must document significant incidents in a specialized computer database. Punishments and Remedies To make punishment efficacious, two things are necessary. First, they must never be disproportioned to the offense. And second, they must be certain. The differences between civil law and criminal laws are as follow: Criminal Law: Those found guilty of violating the criminal law are punished. Retribution: the oldest justification for punishment is to satisfy peoples need for retribution that is an act of moral vengeance by which society makes the offender suffer as much as the suffering caused by the crime. Prevention: looks forward and inflicts pain to prevent future crimes. There are four kinds of prevention. General Deterrence: a goal of criminal sentencing that seeks to prevent others from committing crimes similar to the one for which a particular offender is being sentenced by making an example of the person sentenced. Special Deterrence: a goal of criminal sentencing that seeks to inhibit criminal behavior through the fear of punishment. Incapacitation: prevents convicted criminals from committing future crimes by locking them up, or more rarely, by altering them surgically or executing them. Rehabilitation: the attempt to reform a criminal offender. Rehabilitation Seeks to bring about fundamental changes in offenders and their behavior (Schmalleger, 2010).

Is equality for all a realistic and desirable aim within society? :: essays research papers

Equality exists in many contexts. It can exist in the political level; individuals have the same rights under the law. It can exist in a social level, between categories of people, for example gender, or race. It can even exist on an individual level, as to how each person is treated. Equality cannot be confined to simply equal opportunities for all; for an equal and fair process is still equality. An equal and fair result is also equality. At each of the different level, equality shifts from being realistic or being desirable, sometimes both, or sometimes neither. Modern societies often take for granted that social quality is desirable. Democratic values mean people from all backgrounds should be given an equal say to affect decisions in the country. All individuals should be given the equal right to education, and a chance at success in life. While this is amiable, one must consider if such a notion is in fact a realistic one. There is only so much that society can do to ensure equality. Taking a case of two boys, Tom and Jerry. Tom is from a respectable multibillion-dollar company owning family. Jerry on the other hand lives alone with his single mother along the streets. Assuming the every effort of equality, both Jerry and Tom are offered places in the same college. Upon entry to the college, Tom is instantly the popular guy with the hippest clothes and accessories, while Jerry is ostracized for his faded wear. The situation is simply not equitable. Tom comes from a ‘normal’ family and has potentially the love of both parents. Jerry has had to come to terms with only one parent. Hence in terms of psychological development, they are not equal. There are too many factors, too complicated to be realistically resolved within society’s reach. It is thus, unrealistic for society to aim to ensure equal chance at success for people. Society may also aim to provide equal opportunities for people. This could be done through education, hence the rich and the poor will both be admitted on grounds of meritocracy; if they do equally well they should have equal chances at the same job. However this is not always the case. Tom’s parents may have connections, which obviously Jerry’s mother would not have, giving him an edge in finding a job. His upbringing in a family business, may instil a keen eye for business in him, again giving him an edge over Jerry.

Hate It or Love It Essay

In 1972 the Cross Bronx Expressway was completed; this marked the separation of the southern Bronx and was followed by the â€Å"Bronx is burning† which began the downward spiral for this urban, African American neighborhood. Around the same time hip-hop was founded and became an outlet for the frustrations of the poor, suffering people of this region. The result was the culture of hip-hop that glorifies violence, drugs, money, and a gangster persona. This has become the image of the Hip Hop artist, and is used by musicians to gain the approval or â€Å"street cred† of their fans/peers. With this proof of authenticity, however, many rap/hip-hop artists have sent messages of criticism and condemnation of the life in the â€Å"hood† and the failures of the Civil Rights Movement. In the song â€Å"Hate it or Love it,† these themes of hip-hop are portrayed throughout the song. Rappers The Game and 50 Cent both use signification and realism to gain credibility and critique the failures of the Civil Rights generation. As defined by Imani Perry, a processor of African American studies at Princeton University, realism â€Å"encourages a critique of the media and reflects the significant realities of social inequality† and signifying â€Å"[is] a metaphor for the revision of previous texts and figures (Perry, 61, 101).† Credibility is an idea that is very important in hip-hop. It is often referred to as â€Å"keeping it real† and calls attention to the authenticity of the rap artist (Perry, 87). According to Imani Perry, this entails maintaining â€Å"allegiance to black youth populations or subgroups within [their] community.† Most enthusiasts believe that hip-hop artists should stay true to their roots and stick with the style of their home-region. The Game stays â€Å"real† by recording â€Å"Hate it or Love it† as West Coast style hip-hop and visually signifying N.W.A. (a hip-hop group also from the same city of Compton, CA) in the music video. The song also allows featured artist 50 Cent the chance to stay authentic when he signifies Tupac and Rakim, both of which were also from New York. The Game and 50 Cent though not directly sampling from these artist do cover the identity their predecessors created; as a result, they cover and maintain allegiance to the image of men from black American urban communities. In addition to signifying, â€Å"Hate it or Love it† uses realism throughout its lyrics to build credibility with the audience. Rappers/ Hip-Hop artists are expected to â€Å"witness† and â€Å"live out† the narratives that they tell. 50 Cent starts the song saying, â€Å"let’s take’em back† signifying the transition to story of a â€Å"real† time before he or The Game were known rappers. Both artist reference this reality by disclosing details of ghetto/gangster life in lines like â€Å"Brenda is still throwing babies in the garbage,† â€Å"niggas had stole my bike,† and â€Å"one phone call’ll have your body dumped in marshes.† These phrases all refer to personal or witnessed events that describe the problems like teenage pregnancy, theft, and gang violence in black American urban communities. This â€Å"reality† regardless of truth authenticates the rapper because it shows he has experienced the pa ins of racism, and poverty. It gives the listener a reason to believe the artist can sympathize with his/her own struggles and authenticates the words in the song. Imani Perry also says that, â€Å"[Realism is a] testimony to the emotional state resulting from the experience of poverty, blackness, and the crisis of urbanity (Perry, 87).† After proving oneself as â€Å"real† and establishing their ability to relate to black America, rap artist can further their credibility by targeting the emotional hardships of urban poverty. 50 Cent conveys these emotions when he raps, â€Å"Different day, same shit, ain’t nothing good in the hood. I’d run away from this bitch and never come back if I could.† Here he expresses a genuine hate for the â€Å"hood† and shows his vulnerability as a child, a sentiment not often admitted to in rap. It is this type of realism and openness with emotions that gives musicians the chance to connect and gain trust from the audience. With trust, sup port, and belief in the lyrics, credibility is established. The artist becomes â€Å"real.† Establishing a sense of being â€Å"real† is not restricted to the lyrics. In the music video for â€Å"Hate it or Love it,† The Game employs several images that create both emotion and establish his â€Å"witnessing† of gangster life. For example, both 50 Cent and The Game are represented as children in the music video. They are shown alone in an empty house, standing next to a dead body, and being arrested (as a child and adult). These pictures create feelings of pity and sorrow for the young rappers who appear to have nobody looking out for them, a truth often seen in poor urban communities. This again earns credibility for the rappers because it shows they have â€Å"lived out† the experiences that they rap about. (Perry, 90) With this evidence of living as a â€Å"real† African American, The Game and 50 Cent progress toward a manifestation of respect by contrasting the hood with their new â€Å"reality.† This new life is what Nelson Geor ge would describe as, â€Å"the black man crave[ing] a context for that style, one that often comes as part of a male-dominated collective (George, 52).† In other words, 50 Cent and The Game must cover a glorified version of â€Å"that style† ascribed to the black, male demographic to earn respect from their peers. This glamorized image of blackness is seen throughout the â€Å"Hate it or Love it† music video. The Game is shown standing on top of a building in suburban Los Angles, cruzing down the Boulevard in a red convertible, and wearing two Jacob watches. These images are all a â€Å"signifying call-response trope† between rapper to rapper and rapper to audience (Perry, 62). These images of wealth, and power are a cover of African American male’s desired collective style, a style formed by the previous generation of rappers, and a style African American public continually tries to mimic. It is with the success of achieving this â€Å"style† that 50 Cent and The Game earn respect, and it is with this respect that they gain that final amount of credibility that makes them â€Å"real† rap art ists. Realism is not restricted to the construction of credibility for an artist, it also has the ability to inform listeners about life in the â€Å"hood.† Imani Perry describes this type of realism as a â€Å"telling narrative.† She says, â€Å"[a telling narrative] is to inform and enlighten rather than simply depict (Perry, 91).† The Game accomplished this throughout the lyrics in his song. He raps, â€Å"Thinking how they spent 30 million dollars on airplanes when there’s kids starving,† and â€Å"No schoolbooks, they used that wood to build coffins.† These two lines are extremely powerful and a harsh criticism of society as a whole. These words â€Å"enlighten† us of problems for children in black urban communities like hunger, poor education, and violence. The Game shows contrast when rapping that we spend â€Å"30 million dollars on airplanes.† He is clearly condemning society for its failure to take responsibility for African American children despite the availability of resources. A telling narrative does not only express disapproval for society in general, but also â€Å"provides an internal critique of sociological conditions and the prospects of social control through planned communities (Perry, 91).† The possibility of â€Å"social control† or an improvement of life style is implicitly suggested in The Game’s lyrics. He repeatedly shows the availability of wealth with references to items like â€Å"Jacob’s watches,† â€Å"Mercedes Benz,† and â€Å"sheepskin coats.† 50 Cent however provides a true internal critique of the African American community, not just society as a whole. Within the first stanza 50 Cent recounts the poor/lack of parenting he received from his mother and father. He says, †Coming up I was confused, my mom kissing a girl/Confusion occurs coming up in the cold world/Daddy ain’t around, probably out committing felonies.† These three lines are a direct criticism of 50 Cent’s parents and other ghetto parents of the same generation, the children from the Civil Rights Movement. It is commenting on their collective failure to use the momentum of the civil rights movement as a medium for change. Instead, many, like 50 Cent’s parents, went the opposite route. They fell into illegal activities and abandoned their children. This â€Å"reality† of an illegal life is further exemplified when 50 Cent says, â€Å"I wanna live good, so shit I sell dope.† With no parents, money, or real support, children of the Civil rights generation had to turn to drugs and other illegal activities to â€Å"live good.† Through these types of lyrics, 50 Cent and The Game â€Å"inform† and â€Å"critique† life in urban black neighborhoods. Criticism of ghetto life and the disappointment of the Civil Right’s generation are also accomplished with the use of signification. According to Imani Perry, â€Å"Signifyin(g) is a way of saying one thing and meaning another (Perry, 61).† The Game successfully does this with both images and lyrics. For example, he raps â€Å" ‘Pac is gone and Brenda still throwing babies in the garbage/I wanna know ‘What’s Going On’ like I hear Marvin.† This literally is somewhat confusing; however, if we look beyond the referencing previous black artist, The Game is â€Å"signifying† problems that the African American community has been enduring since the 60’s. Brenda, for instance, is not literally â€Å"throwing babies in the garbage.† Rather, The Game is addressing the continued issue of teen pregnancy in black urban communities and criticizing the lack of change in these problems. He is looking at a similar underlying â€Å"meaning† when he references Marvin Gaye’s song â€Å"What’s Going On.† An artist from the era of the Civil Right’s Movement, Gaye was concerned with issue of drug addiction, poverty, and the Vietnam War. It is clear that the Game is concerned with the lack of change that has occurred since the 1960’s and is calling out the failures of society. The Game continues this use of signifying as social commentator by sampling the background music from The Trammps’ song â€Å"Rubberband.† It is this â€Å"imitation†, as Glenn Gould calls it, that â€Å"[gives] art importance.† (Gould, 58) Gould argues that imitation â€Å"upsets the idea of progress.† This is exactly what The Game and 50 Cent are indicating. Since the Civil Rights Movement, the generation of the Trammps, there has been limited progress. The Game is thus â€Å"imitating† and covering a lack of change. He is criticizing the black people’s ability to make change happen. Progress for African Americans has been limited since the Civil Rights Movement. Despite the lack of change, many people have tried to help, improve, challenge, and change the urban black American’s way of life. Rappers, like The Game and 50 Cent, release music that alludes to the gangster life and its hardships. This signification often is criticized as an â€Å"affirmation of stereotypes;† however, on a deeper level the music is â€Å"challeng[ing] the assumptions† of what a black man is (Perry, 61). When The Game ends his music video, he stands looking at the camera holding, kissing, and loving his baby. Looking directly at the camera he is staring into every African American home in America saying I will be different, I will be a good father, I will make a change. The Game understands the power he has as a rapper, and though this may not be a revolution like the Civil Rights Movement, it sends a message that change is possible even if it is one person at a ti me.