Free Essays on America

America is a fiend, Dirty as hell But still manages To keep its nose clean. Orchestrating its addiction And drawing it into its veins, Traveling through the bloodstream, Wreaking havoc, and affecting the complexities of the brain; Craving the means To stay constantly high, The addiction is so strong, It makes the Creator cry. America uses power To get its fix, By taking from the poor To make its dealers rich; How long will the addiction go on? How long will America continue to stand? Militant forces are contributors To the addictions of this pain-ridden land; Being prostituted and pimped out By notorious leaders, Being destroyed, tormented, and abused By parasitical feeders; America’s eyes are seeing Hallucinations, Bringing on constituted Fascinations; Continuously chasing after its own dream Of communism, capitalism, and the justification Of deliberate racism; To keep America’s alcoholism intact There’s a liquor store on every ghetto block, The battle between all of America’s addictions Keeps it in an ongoing culture shock. Convulsing, twisting, and turning as America attempts to withdraw†¦ To live in peace and become governed by its own rules And abide by its laws. Due to fatal violence, America has lost tremendous weight, Trying to walk upright and keep Its equilibrium straight; Having unbelievable side effects That somehow affects every cell In America’s body, which are us, Underhandedly receiving shipments Of cocaine, heroin, and pounds of cannabis; Keeping America under surveillance To monitor its response and to see if it fails, Addicted Americans are being manipulated To fill empty jail cells. Contraband from other countries Seem to be smuggled in everyday, To America my heart goes out, And for America I will pray... Free Essays on America Free Essays on America 1.Between 1890 and 1910, many immigrants came to America to escape political and religious persecution or economic poverty. In the film â€Å"An American Tail† there is a song that includes the lyrics, â€Å" there are no cats in America and the streets are paved with cheese†. In this essay I am going to provide an interpretation behind the meaning of the lyrics and how it relates to the story of immigrants. In the first part of the lyrics they describe an America were there are no cats. One of the ways I took this as was that there is no war in America. Another way I took it is that there is a lack of the bourgeoisie. Which when they got here most were probably greatly surprised to find the corruption that took place in the United States government. Large corporations such as some of the larger steel companies controlled most every thing. Also children were forced to work long hours with out breaks in hazardous environments some as young as ten. Now In the second portion of the lyrics it refers to the streets as if they were paved with cheese which in human terms would mean that the streets are paved with gold. This could mean one thing that every one in America is rich and everyone has job. Which was another false statement most immigrants that came to America had to work in some form of job just to barley feed their family. In the early 1910’s almost half of the women who worked in such jobs as factory workers, store clerks, and laundresses earned less that $6 a week. The commission on industry relations reported in 1916 that this salary means â€Å"that every penny must be counted, every normal desire stifled, and each basic necessity of life barley satisfied. 2.It is said that America is a melting pot. All religions, languages, cultured, races, and ethnic groups melted together to form one unique American culture. I take this to be a true statement because of the mixing of cultures that took place during this time per... Free Essays on America America is a fiend, Dirty as hell But still manages To keep its nose clean. Orchestrating its addiction And drawing it into its veins, Traveling through the bloodstream, Wreaking havoc, and affecting the complexities of the brain; Craving the means To stay constantly high, The addiction is so strong, It makes the Creator cry. America uses power To get its fix, By taking from the poor To make its dealers rich; How long will the addiction go on? How long will America continue to stand? Militant forces are contributors To the addictions of this pain-ridden land; Being prostituted and pimped out By notorious leaders, Being destroyed, tormented, and abused By parasitical feeders; America’s eyes are seeing Hallucinations, Bringing on constituted Fascinations; Continuously chasing after its own dream Of communism, capitalism, and the justification Of deliberate racism; To keep America’s alcoholism intact There’s a liquor store on every ghetto block, The battle between all of America’s addictions Keeps it in an ongoing culture shock. Convulsing, twisting, and turning as America attempts to withdraw†¦ To live in peace and become governed by its own rules And abide by its laws. Due to fatal violence, America has lost tremendous weight, Trying to walk upright and keep Its equilibrium straight; Having unbelievable side effects That somehow affects every cell In America’s body, which are us, Underhandedly receiving shipments Of cocaine, heroin, and pounds of cannabis; Keeping America under surveillance To monitor its response and to see if it fails, Addicted Americans are being manipulated To fill empty jail cells. Contraband from other countries Seem to be smuggled in everyday, To America my heart goes out, And for America I will pray... Free Essays on America An American is someone who can walk out on their front porch early in the morning and smell the fresh air. An American is someone who can believe in what they want to believe in. An American is someone who can be themselves without being told who or how to be. An American has the privilege to go to school, work, or anywhere else they may want to go. An American has so many advantages over other people in other countries because an American has freedom. I am an American. In other countries they may not always get to believe in what they want to, but we do in America. In America we can believe in whoever or whatever we want to believe in. In America we are very open with our different religions. I am a Christian. I believe in God, and that there is a heaven and a hell. I am a Southern Baptist, and a current member of Calvary Baptist Church. When I was eleven years old, I was saved and Baptized. My step-mother had a huge impact on my religion life. When Tom, my biological father, and Allison, my step-mother, were married she insisted that Tom and myself go to church with her. When I started going to church it changed my life completely. Everything seemed to go better in my life when I accepted Jesus as my lord and savior. I am glad that we are not told who or what we are allowed to believe in and if we do believe in something we are not punished or criticized for it. However, even some religions are sometimes looked down upon in America, b ut you can not be punished. In many countries men are considered better then women. Which is definitely not true. Everyone is considered equal in Gods eyes, which is my personal opinion. However, in America women are treated the same way men are. Men are not usually considered of more importance than women. Girls even play most of the same sports as guys do. I enjoy playing football, soccer, tennis, and I love to swim. In America we can play sports in school or out of school. I... Free Essays on America Immigration to America in the early 1900's In the eyes of the early American colonists and the founders of the Constitution, the United States was to represent the ideals of acceptance and tolerance to those of all walks of life. When the immigration rush began in the mid-1800’s, America proved to be everything but that. The millions of immigrants would soon realize the meaning of hardship and rejection as newcomers, as they attempted to assimilate into American culture. For countless immigrants, the struggle to arrive in America was rivaled only by the struggle to gain acceptance among the existing American population. It has been said that immigration is as old as America itself. Immigration traces back as far as the 1500’s when the West faced the coming of the Spanish. At that time, the Americas had been settled by the Indians, who were soon threatened by the first immigrants of America. These Spanish conquerors threatened to undermine the culture of the Indians as well as their way of life. Evidently, immigr ation started from the beginning of our country’s time and has had an everlasting effect on America today. Between 1880 and 1920 almost twenty-four million immigrants came to the United States. Between better salaries, religious freedom, and a chance to get ahead in life, were more than enough reasons for leaving their homelands for America. Because of poverty, no future and various discrimination in their homelands, the incentive to leave was increasing. During the mid-1800’s and early 1900’s, the labor and farm hands in Eastern Europe were only earning about 15 to 30 a day. In America, they earned 50 cents to one dollat in a day, doubling their paycheck. Those lower wage earners in their homeland were stuck in lowest paid jobs and had no chances to upgrade themselves. Many left their homelands in search of a better life and soon, word got out on how great things were in America. The job recruiters form Americ... Free Essays on America America annon The United Stated is currently the most influential country on the face of the earth. Not only concerning the issues of money and business but also our choices of music clothes and recreational activities. Often times people think of countries such as Japan and China as being completely different. We think they have strange dress and odd customs, they are thought to have a completely different culture than ours. You will find that that is incorrect, the ir cultures are actually very similar to ours. Because of the amount of clothing, food and other products that we ship out of this country every day our culture has no choice but to ooze out of our borders onto foreign soil. For example you could walk i nto a modern Japanese society expecting a bunch of old people kneeling on dirt floors wearing kimonos and drinking green tea but actually find a society of youths wearing Levi jeans, trendy clothes, listening to American pop-rock music, and eating Big Mac s that they just bought from down the street at their local McDonalds. You could also find a group of people watching a football game and gossiping about the new movie with â€Å"that really hot American chick in it†. Of course a ll countries have different h olidays and traditions, they eat different foods and have customs that seem strange to us but more and more their ways seem to be becoming like those of us here in the United States of America. The question asks if I think that the influence of our â€Å"pop culture† will continue. I think that that all depends on weather or not we remain the worlds â€Å"super power† in the future. I think that the reason that we are imitated by other countries is bec ause of our wealth and power. It is sort of like the United States is the most popular girl in school. She has a bunch of followers who dress like her, do their hair like her and claim to like the same music and movies as her. But no matter how hard th ey try the...

Creating Your Freelance Niche

Creating Your Freelance Niche Creating Your Freelance Niche Creating Your Freelance Niche By Colin Finding one’s own niche in which to write articles can be a great position to attain, and one most writers will attempt at some point in their careers. For a freelance writer just setting out, niche writing can help make the break into the business much easier, and provide a steady source of writing gigs while earning some money. Let’s say you’ve made the conscious decision to dedicate your writing, or a large portion of it, to writing within a particular subject – you want to create a niche for yourself – you just don’t know in what subject, or how to go about it. How then, do you kick things off? What niche markets can a freelance writer begin writing in, learn about the trade, and still make a living from? There are two ways to approach this: 1 Obvious Existing Expert Knowledge You’re an expert in space exploration. You studied the cosmos and advanced physics at university and gained a Masters degree. Then you got the perfect job working for NASA, helping to support space missions and discovering the galaxy. In your spare time you built telescopes and watched the night skies for comets and asteroids of an evening. Now, in your twilight, you have decided to boost your pension with a little freelance writing. If this is you, then the chances are you already know where your niche market lies. If not, read on. 2 No Obvious Existing Expert Knowledge Should you have no existing expert knowledge in any particular subject, don’t be fooled into thinking that niche writing is not for you. There are many areas of life and business that require specialist freelance writers, in what might be termed as â€Å"boring subjects.† Here are a few niche markets, where a freelance writer can kick off his career, get some good clips, and make a few bucks at the same time. The Industry We’re In You’re a writer, so why not write about writing? Brainstorm a few ideas about the writing process and write articles based on what you come up with. If you’re just starting out use your situation as your inspiration, because there are plenty of other writers in the some boat that want to know they are not alone. You could write about the issues or problems you face while setting out on the freelancing road, how you overcame them, the methods you develop for churning out your work, aspects of web-related work, blogging work, or even the fact you are attempting to work in a niche market can be as good a place as any to start. It’s true when they say that a writer is only limited by the extent of their ideas, and your advice and point of view will be of interest to many. Sales and Marketing A quick scan of Internet job boards will reveal the amount of companies, website organizations, and individuals that are always on the hunt for a writer who can specialize in sales and marketing copy. Sales and marketing covers a broad range of material, so it’s perfect for breaking down into bite-sized chunks. It’s possible to find something you are good at that you can gain confidence from, in what is a potentially lucrative market. Are you good at blowing your own trumpet? Then start writing press releases. Maybe you have some web experience? Try your hand at writing web content. Or perhaps you have an addiction to buying products online, and you’ve become an expert at what makes a good sales pitch? Then have a bash at writing sales letters! There are courses available for all of these topics, ranging from the beginner to the serious, but if you start small and focus hard, you can gain a world of experience, which is the most valuable commodity of all. Direct Mail Direct mail is a specialist form of copywriting. It is all about producing high quality, effective marketing techniques through the medium of the written word. Put another way, wherever there is somebody with something to sell there is usually a direct mail opportunity. To be a good writer in this market can, in some cases, mean extremely well paid and long term work. But to receive that level of compensation, the direct mail copywriter must be as creative as he is proficient. He must be able to research the product and market he is writing about, and have a strong and close relationship with the company he is writing for. The World of Finance This can be a tricky niche to write in, but when broken down it can prove to be very lucrative, both financially, and in the amount of work that might be cultivated. This market tends to have a lot of niche writers because the finance industry is so large, and has its own set of terminology and rules. So understanding how the economy works, and how to make sense of the financial markets, will give you a head start. It’s perfect for writers who have come into freelancing at a later stage in their life, or for those who took a degree in economics, only to realize they preferred writing about it, instead of working in it. Technical Writing Technical writing is not for everyone. It requires the ability to grasp technical subjects and apply the principles of that technology in a way that will both appeal, and be understood by technical and non-technical readers. Understanding the subject will give you a good start, but if you can’t portray the processes and technical background in layman’s terms, then it might be best to stay clear. If, however, you have a talent for making sense out of complicated material, or if you have the ability to strip down a PC and rebuild it again by referring to a two-page leaflet in your spare time, for example, then it could be the perfect niche market for you. Professional Writing Professional writing is close to technical writing, in that the writer is required to have specialist knowledge in a dedicated field. But while it can be a good niche market to get a foothold in, even if you are proficient and willing to learn fast, it won’t get you publishing credits of note. However, academics and students are notorious at turning in poor quality reports, theses, and essays, and so are often willing to pay handsomely for someone who can especially when there are end of term deadlines involved. This form of writing might also find the freelance writer producing work for training manuals, self-help books, or e-books, which is another lucrative and booming market in itself. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Regarding Re:Use a Dash for Number Ranges15 Idioms for Periods of Time

Joint venture success factors in the petroleum industry (management Essay

Joint venture success factors in the petroleum industry (management side) - Essay Example On the other hand, there were thirteen failure factors that gas and oil managers pointed out. The failure factors include; i. Selecting a suitable business partner. ii. Managerial teams having mixed abilities. iii. The company’s power of negotiation. iv. Gain of foreign technology v. Compatibility of each partners objectives vi. Having a clear understanding of the petroleum sector future dynamics vii. Gaining managerial expertise from foreign partners viii. Cooperation between supply and reinforcement. ix. Export development. x. Sharing risks and profits. xi. International marketing cooperation. xii. Joint venture agreement transparency. xiii. Powers for independent decision making. The success factors that were pointed out by the managers include; i. Corporate cultures importance ii. Production cooperation. iii. Solving of conflicts iv. Export development v. Domestic marketing cooperation. vi. Taking an equal responsibility in management vii. The willingness of the partners f rom Algeria to retain their stake as majority shareholders in the Joint Ventures. viii. Involvement of domestic partners in R & D. ix. International leasing eligibility. The data gathered from all the participants in the form of filled questionnaires were then arranged as tables in the SPSS data files in order to be analyzed through the SPSS processor. In total, four SPPSS data files or tables were composed, out of which one represented the Algerian Managers failure factors, one included the Algerian Managers success factors, one comprised of Foreign Managers failure factors and one consisted of Foreign Managers success factors. Each one of the 4 SPSS data files was analyzed by executing the descriptive analysis, t-test analysis and chi-square analysis with the help of the SPSS software. Subsequent to which, the output data that were generated for each table have been presented in the respective tables in the following sections. The SPSS processor also generated the histogram showin g the distribution of each factor with respect to the normal-distribution-curve. The output data for each section will then be compared to develop the similarities and the differences in the perception of the Algerian managers to that of the foreign managers in relation to the success and failure factors of the international oil and gas joint ventures in Algeria both in the past and in the present. 11.1. Literature Review 11.1.1. Hypothesis Testing A hypothesis, in a research-study, can be defined as an expression that can be subjected to analysis. For answering a statistical question, the question is formulated in the form of a hypothesis. Then the hypothesis is accepted or rejected on the basis of the outcome of the analysis. The hypothesis that is being analyzed or tested is referred as the null hypothesis and is denoted by H0, which has to be a true or false statement. There is an alternative hypothesis denoted by HA for every null hypothesis. In this regard, the development and the assessment of the hypotheses is the most important task however the best way for the hypothesis-construction is not necessarily evident: Priority is given to the null hypothesis and it is accepted until some strong evidence is found or produced against it. If a hypothesis is simpler than the other one then it should be given priority in order to adopt a relatively 'simpler' theory unless adequate evidence is found

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 13

Management - Essay Example Management, during the middle and late 1800s was not a formal field of study. The emergence of early thoughts regarding management, when looked from today’s perspective was a mere response to the problems that had arisen during those times. The start of industrial revolution had prompted management to emerge as a formal course of study over the years to follow. The shift from agriculture to manufacturing during the industrial revolution had resulted in the increase in urbanization and growth in factories. This overall growth in production called for a greater integration and facilitation of efforts of a huge number of people. In order to ensure adequate production, managers were forced to address certain issues. Even when these issues were addressed in an organized field of study back then, there were some ideas that laid down the groundwork for management as a discipline to emerge. These ideas were classified as the pre-classical viewpoint. Robert Owen’s pioneering idea was that he â€Å"advocated concern for the working and living conditions of workers (Bartol 2001, 39).† Being a cotton mill entrepreneur in Scotland, Owen considered providing considerable improvements to the work environment of its workforce. According to Bartol, â€Å"Owen tried to improve the living conditions of the employees by upgrading streets, houses, sanitation, and the educational system in New Lanark, [Scotland] (2001, 39).† Owen’s idea seemed to be relevant today, being the cornerstone of the modern human resource management philosophy. Charles Babbage was known for the first practical mechanical calculator that laid the foundation for the modern calculators and computers. In pursuit of his projects, Babbage was able to find ways to address problems that he faced. These explorations of ways lead Babbage to some ideas such as prediction of work specialization and profit sharing plan, which had been his contribution to management theory.

Manipulative Media Essay Example for Free

Manipulative Media Essay Far beyond providing leisure and entertainment, mass media’s value and importance can be observed on its ability to deliver or disseminate highly relevant and socially-significant information. Other than books and scholarly works, mass media perform the role of an overtly accessible library that is carefully designed to meet the public’s information needs and demands. Various forms of mass media such as newspapers, magazines, radio and television enabled mankind to gain insights within the comfort of their homes. But with the emergence of the World Wide Web, accessing and spreading information have never been this easy. A simple click can generate tons and tons of data and statistics. Indeed, mass media have readily conquered the world. Nowadays, it seemed that media outfits and institutions have transformed into what Habermas referred to as the so-called â€Å"public sphere (qtd in Davies 3). † However, a closer examination of the matter clearly shows that mass media’s functions extend beyond providing information. It cannot be denied that media outfits are one of the most influential and powerful institutions in any given society. It is highly capable of shaping the public’s views and opinions. Likewise, media channels can instigate or prompt mass actions. For so many years, exposes and published investigative reports have been very instrumental in raising the public’s awareness which eventually lead to different types of social movements. Indeed, constant exposure to different media content can alter one’s behaviors and attitudes. But then again, the seemingly invincible influence of mass media has been overtly abused and exploited. To a certain extent, media has transformed into a manipulative machine that no less than promote the capitalistic aims of the ruling class. Media channels deliberately and systematically distort messages and news stories that leave the public as mere passive consumers. The fabrication of facts and exaggeration of events are intentionally performed to garner high ratings and the intention to inform is blatantly ignored and taken for granted. Manipulation and deceit: Mass media as Ideological State Apparatuses Mass media, together with the church, family and educational system are concretely identified by Althusser as forms of Ideological State Apparatuses (ISA) (Gabbard Ross 185). ISAs are readily employed to promote the interests of the state. Given the capitalistic nature of many societies, it can be argued that ISAs reflect the affairs and concerns of the ruling class. ISAs utilize a subtle attack wherein the individual’s ideological and political consciousness are molded and shaped. This is primarily performed to secure the ruling class’ positions in the economic, social and cultural hierarchy. The attack is described as subtle since the suppression and repression are not directly felt. The use of force and violence are hardly felt. Thus, whenever there is suppression, manipulation occurs regardless of whether it is directly or indirectly manifested. In as far as mass media is concerned, these institutions have been operating as lucrative business endeavors that places heavy emphasis on profit accumulation. This scenario readily displaces mass media’s role as â€Å"watchdogs† that secure the government’s accountability and responsibility to the public. Media, in recent years have long been obsessed in commoditizing media contents that range from news, music, film, variety shows and television programs. Profiteering dictates the name of the game and this can be only achieved if the public is lured into consuming different media products that are nonetheless insignificant. The public is made to believe that the things they see in television; the ones that they see in the television; the numerous advertisements that they encounter would satisfy their needs for knowledge and information. As a result, unethical practices in journalism, broadcasting and even advertising for that matter, became ordinary phenomena. A classic example of media manipulation can be observed in the overt sensationalism of crime and rape stories. These situations are highly experienced in print media and television. More often than not, many editors utilize catchy headlines to garner the public’s attention. Acts of murder and violence are blown out of proportion and are presented vividly in news stories. Featured articles turn red since much focus is given on the event’s gory and bloody details. Horrific photos of the crime scene are readily shown to catch the audience’s attention. Likewise, television news programs are bombarded with an avalanche of bloody video clips and footages. As Anderson and Although it is true that crime and violence are concrete social realities, the exaggeration of these events generally takes the public away from the real issue—that criminal acts are social ills that must be confronted and readily resolved. However, what happens in the newsroom is that crime stories are treated as a spectacle of the victim’s death or suffering. Anderson and Looney explained that many journalists and broadcasters have been operating under the principle that â€Å"when it bleeds, it leads (271). † This basically explains the high importance given to crime stories. Yet, this scenario leads to yet another problem. The (high demand) for crime stories due to sensationalism, tends to topple other important events that are worthy of media attention. The public is programmed to see crime stories as far more important compared to stories that tackle health or technologically-related subjects. Under this context, media is not necessarily performing its role as a reliable source of information. Rather, this institution is simply treating these stories as commodities that should be sold and consumed by the public. If sensationalism occurs, accuracy and integrity are highly compromised. Evidently, the above-mentioned scenario showcases mass media’s agenda-setting function. According to O’Hair et al agenda-setting is the process in which the public is made to believe that certain topics are highly important and thus requires utmost attention (68). Agenda-setting initially occurs in the selection of news stories that are delivered to the public (O’Hair et al 68). News desks and editors choose topics and articles that they perceive as something that would elicit a big impact to their target audience. Afterwards, these topics are constantly shown into the public. O’Hair et al mentioned that the priority given to these stories readily affect the viewer’s perception (68). As a result, stories that are often seen in the newspapers’ front pages of given long airtimes in television are immediately perceived by the audience as something relevant and significant. When certain issues are constantly placed in the limelight, they immediately become important even though in reality, there are other events that deserve the attention. Aside from crime stories, media’s agenda-setting role is also seen during the 9/11 attacks. Much of the television news programs and newspapers devoted much of their time in covering such incident. Even though the attacks are worthy of the attention, this does not discount the fact that there are other aspects of society that also needs to be tackled. There are also other situations that demand public attention. Unfortunately, the event’s massive appeal is something that media owners cannot possibly ignore for this would also mean an increase in their ratings, which in turn, would attract many advertisers. Speaking of advertisers, it can be observed that advertising, more than anything else has mastered the art of agenda-setting. Advertising agencies exploit various media channels in order to sell and market their respective products. As much as possible, advertisers would utilize each and every medium to catch the viewer’s attention and thus persuade them to patronize the goods that are marketed towards them. Take for example the case of the fast-food giant, McDonalds. By the time an individual opens his or her television, a McDonalds commercial is shown. The same thing happens when one reads a newspaper and turns on the radio. Similarly, McDonald billboards are scattered in the streets. Now, with the rise of emerging technologies, McDonalds has also made its presence felt in the World Wide Web. Advertising is mainly focused on product promotion and marketing. Therefore, aside from utilizing media channels, advertisements also rely on the use of flowery language and visually-appealing materials to convince their target audiences. Some would even utilize celebrities and high-profiled individuals to endorse their products. But then again, the problem with this kind of set-up is that commercials do not divulge the truth to their consumers. For example, fast food are being marketed as goods that can satisfy the gastronomical needs of consumers, without really rendering o devoting too much time for food preparation. However, fast-food in reality, are known for having high-calorie content and is considered as the primary cause of obesity that could also lead to other chronic diseases such as diabetes, for example. Theses hidden truths are kept from the public via the use of mouth-watering images of food. With celebrity endorsements, the product’s credibility and importance are further highlighted. Although media channels are fully aware of the flaws and negative effects of a particular product, these advertisements are continuously delivered to the public. This basically stems from the fact that media outfits rely on advertisements for financial support. A two-minute airtime and a small space in newspapers are pretty expensive. Thus, such situations are readily permitted and tolerated. In the meantime, mass media also employ stereotyping to manipulate the audience. Certain groups or individuals are presented negatively. This scenario can be seen in many films and television programs. For example, Asian actors and actresses are constantly stereotyped as villains in many Hollywood films (Larson 20). A critical observation shows that Asian artists often take the bad guy’s role in many featured films. In a recently released film, The Mummy, Jet Li performed the antagonist’s character. Although other Asian artist such as Maggie Cheung was presented as one of the protagonists, this did not erase the fact that in multicultural movies, Asians would always play the evil character. The Mummy is no different from other films such as Kill Bill. Indeed, it is true that Uma Thurman’s mentor, Pai-Mei possess great marshal arts skills. However, it cannot be denied that Pai Mei trains individuals that are involved in criminal acts. Apparently, the dual characterization of Asian actors and actresses is simply a futile attempt to abolish stereotyping and to a certain extent—discrimination. On the other hand, as for the case of television programs, it can be seen that many shows have influenced the body perception of many teenagers. More often than not, mass media constantly redefines the meaning of true beauty. In many television shows, a woman becomes beautiful if she has a slender figure. There are many instances in which television programs have blatantly shown how over-weight individuals are bullied and verbally-abused. Consequently, the effects of media manipulation are very alarming. This is most especially true as for the case of young audiences. Teenagers are easily persuaded by what the see in the television, newspapers and the internet. Compared to adults, these individuals are less critical when it comes to various media content that they encounter. For example, over exposure to violence have led many children and teenagers to mimic the behaviors and attitudes that they see (Kirsh 30). Oftentimes, children tend to identify with television personalities. Because of the degree of admiration that they give to these celebrities, some youngsters go to the extent of copying the actions and gestures that they see on screen without ever thinking the possible consequences that their actions might generate. s But then again, it is important that this situation is not experienced by children alone. The increasing rate of rape cases are directly linked to the rapists’ massive exposure to pornographic materials. Individuals that mimic or copy violent behaviors perceive criminal acts as no less than ordinary occurrences. Thus, the possible damages that it may inflict or produce are no longer taken into consideration. Deviant acts are reenacted primarily because desensitization (Allison Cross 125) has already occurred. Relatively, media manipulation has also created a highly consumerist culture. The massive influx of advertising and its use of compelling taglines and attractive images have resulted to the creation of false needs. The public are unconsciously forced to consume goods or commodities that they do not really need. Fast foods, for example are pretty low when it comes to its nutritional content. Yet, more and more consumers are patronizing such products. This readily prevents society from building healthy and productive communities. As more and more individuals suffer from obesity and other chronic diseases, the expenses rendered for health services tend to increase. The money that could have been use for other purposes are now utilized in treating obesity-related ailments. Likewise, media’s stereotypical nature is responsible for creating more societal divisions and fragmentations. It loosens the social fabric that binds each and every individual, regardless of their race and ethnic origins. Discrimination now becomes a difficult challenge to overcome and minority groups are constantly pushed into the periphery. In as far as media stereotyping is concerned, such is also instrumental in the proliferation of negative body perceptions. More often than not, media has been pointed out as one of the leading causes of eating disorders that are experienced by many teenagers Conclusion Stereotyping, agenda-setting and the creation of false needs are some of the tactics employed by media organizations to manipulate the viewers. These activities are performed primarily because media outfits are now more focused on its capitalistic agendas that readily neglect their purpose as information providers. The public are no less than treated and seen as mere customers and not a vital part of society that must be constantly informed and educated. Under these circumstances, critical thinking must be readily practiced and exercised. The public must fully examine the media contents that are presented unto them. Works Cited Allison, Annie and Gary Cross. Millennial Monsters. California: University of California Press, 2006 Anderson, C. Leigh and Janet Looney. Making Progress. Lexington Books: Maryland, 2002 Davies, Maire. ‘Dear BBC’ Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001 Gabbard, David and Wayne Ross. Defending Public Schools: Education Under The Security State Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Inc. , 2004 Kirsh, Steven. Children, Adolescents and Media Violence. London: Sage Publications Inc. , 2006 Larson, Stephanie. Media and Minorities. Maryland: Rowman Littlefield Publishers Inc, 2006 O’Hair, H. Dan; Robert Heath, Gerald s Ledlow and Mark Cwiek . Community Preparedness and Response to Terrorism: Communication and the Media. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Inc. , 2005

Perils of Addiction Exposed in Stevensons Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Essa

Perils of Addiction Exposed in Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde  Ã‚   The values, standards, and expectations of the upper-middle class in the 19th-century Victorian society were conservative and strict; the pressure to earn prestige and achieve upward mobility in social rank required men to sustain an image of propriety and respectability in public.   These obligations often created a longing to divert from the personality facades they had to keep, and from the ideal behavior and polite manners that were expected of bourgeois society men.   Some would fulfill their wishes by leading a secret double life that allowed them to temporarily escape from societal responsibilities and restrictions.   In more private settings, men would partake in sinful pleasures, such as alcohol or drug abuse, and they were free to behave more loosely than they could under the rigid public persona they were forced to hold in order to protect their reputations. In the introduction to the Oxford edition of Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Emma Letley describes the desire to escape from the "Calvinistic confines of nineteenth-century bourgeois" society, and relates that Mr. Stevenson himself "would use a benign doubleness to deal with the pressures of high bourgeois existence" and assumed an alias to become one of the "heavy-drinking, convivial, blasphemous iconoclasts. . ." in order to "full-bodiedly enjoy those pleasures denied to [him] and Dr. Jekyll."   (Introduction, x).   With the knowledge that Stevenson resorted to alcohol in order to escape the pressures and demands that fell upon him due to his social class, it is interesting to examine his novella, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, as a commentary about the evils of addiction to alc... ...hat he can finally recognize the severity of his weakness to his drug.   Dr. Jekyll's plight, therefore, could be an exploration of the destructive behavior brought on by addiction, and an underlying moral message is embedded in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - the implication that addiction will inevitably lead to evilness and the destruction of productive lives. Works Cited Showalter, Elaine. "The Not So Strange Addiction of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." The Haunted Mind in Victorian Literature. Eds. Elton E. Smith and Robert Haas. Landham, Maryland: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1999. Stevenson, Robert Louis. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. First Vintage Classics Edition. New York: Vintage Books, 1991. Veeder, William. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde after One Hundred Years. Eds. William Veeder and Gordon Hirsch. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1988.

Ya kun

Ya Kun is an established and has renown reputation for its coffee and kaya toast. It has been around us since 1944 when it registered itself as Ya Kun Coffee Stall. It differentiated its food by manufacturing its very own kaya that is used at all of the Ya kun outlets. Yakun now has expanded to a total of 11 countries in Asia and Middle Eastern region. As mentioned above in the Porter five forces, Ya kun faces both direct and indirect competitors in the industry. The direct competitors are Toastbox and Killiney kopitiam. The indirect competitors are Starbucks and Macdonalds.Although the indirect competitors are not in the traditional coffee and toast industry, they still possess threats that affect Ya Kun Identify Product offering Scale of operation Local Regional Global Limited Wide Product offering Scale of operation Local Regional Global Limited Wide Toastbox Toastbox was established in 2005 and it aims to recreate the warm atmosphere of local Nanyang coffee shops from the 1960s. It has successfully expanded both locally and internationally to countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong and China. Killiney KopitiamKilliney Kopitiam has a rich history, from being established in the 1950s as â€Å"Qiong Xin He† and later renamed as â€Å"Killiney Koptiam† in 1993. They have now expanded their operations to countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and Hong Kong. The vision of the company is to share the â€Å"Kopitiam† tradition through generations by educating the young.? Evaluate (str & weakenesses) Brand| Strength| Weakness| Ya Kun| * Uses social media (eg. Facebook, website) * Maintain the traditional menu * Expanded regionally * Outlets can be easily found in more places * ?Nostalgic appeal keeps older generation feel attached * Infused traditions with vibrancy and style * Attempt to attract the younger crowd who fancy dining in a traditional setting | * Limited variety (Product list) * Slightly overprice| Toas t Box| * Uses social media (Facebook, website, twitter) * Wide variety of choice in menu * Locates its cafes in the heartlands as well as the central business district to cater to a wide array of its target market * Expanded regionally| * Menu not on website.Only signature dishes * Toast and menu not as traditional | Killiney Kopitiam| * Uses social media (Facebook, website) * Wide variety of choice in menu * Offers quality products and services at affordable prices * Preserve the coffee shop tradition * Expanded regionally| * Menu is not attractive enough * Lack of updates in Facebook| Is YA KUN always stronger- which areas is it stronger and which weaker (the vulnerable areas)?

Histroy of Indian Tea Essay

Tea was first introduced into India by the British, in an attempt to break the Chinese monopoly on tea.[1] The British, â€Å"using Chinese seeds, plus Chinese planting and cultivating techniques, launched a tea industry by offering land in Assam to any European who agreed to cultivate tea for export.†[1] Tea was originally only consumed by Anglicized Indians, and it was not until the 1950s that tea grew widely popular in India through a successful advertising campaign by the India Tea Board.[2] Prior to the British, the plant may have been used for medicinal purposes. Some cite the Sanjeevani tea plant first recorded reference of tea use in India. However, studies have shown that Sanjeevani plant was likely a plant unrelated to the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) and more likely refers to either Selaginella bryopteris or Desmotrichum fimbriatum.[3] In the early 1820s, the British East India Company began large-scale production of tea in Assam, India, of a tea variety traditionally brewed by the Singpho tribe. In 1826, the British East India Company took over the region from the Ahom kings through the Yandaboo Treaty. In 1837, the first English tea garden was established at Chabua in Upper Assam; in 1840, the Assam Tea Company began the commercial production of tea in the region, run by indentured servitude of the local inhabitants. Beginning in the 1850s, the tea industry rapidly expanded, consuming vast tracts of land for tea plantations. By the turn of the century, Assam became the leading tea producing region in the world.[4] Writing in The Cambridge World History of Food’, Weisburger & Comer write: â€Å"The tea cultivation begun there [India] in the nineteenth century by the British, however, has accelerated to the point that today India is listed as the world’s leading producer, its 715,000 tons well ahead of China’s 540,000 tons, and of course, the teas of Assam, Ceylon (from the island nation known as Sri Lanka), and Darjeeling are world famous. However, because Indians average half a cup daily on per capita basis, fully 70 percent of India’s immense crop is consumed locally.† Modern tea production in India India was the top producer of tea for nearly a century, but recently China has overtaken India as the top tea producer due to increased land availability. Indian tea companies have acquired a number of iconic foreign tea enterprises including British brands Tetley and Typhoo. India is also the world’s largest tea-drinking nation. However, the per capita consumption of tea in India remains a modest 750 grams per person every year due to the large population base and high chhass(A milk product) consumption. Recently the consumption of Green tea has seen a great growth potential in India. The market is growing by over 50% y-o-y[5] and is expected to reach a size of INR 6000 crore form its current size in year 2013 of approx. INR 1500 crore.This is primarily driven by the increasing disposable income of middle class Indian, who are willing to spend more money on their personal health and well being. The major tea-producing states in India are: Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Sikkim, Nagaland, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Bihar, Orissa. Government and the Indian tea industry The Indian tea industry as the second largest employer in the country has enjoyed the attention of the Indian government. When export sales went down, the government has been sympathetic to the demand of the industry and its cultivators. It has passed resolutions supporting the industry domestically and has also lobbied extensively with organizations like the WTO internationally. The Indian administration along with the European Union and six other countries (Brazil, Chile, Japan, South Korea and Mexico) filed a complaint with the WTO against the Byrd Amendment which was formally known as the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000 legislated by the US. The essence of this act was that non-US firms which sell below cost price in the US could be fined and the money given to the US companies who made the complaint in the first place. The act adversely affected the commodities business of the complainant states and has since been repealed after WTO ruled the act to be illegal. Furthermore, the Indian government took cognizance of the changed tea and coffee market and set up an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to look into their problems in late 2003. The IMC has recommended that the government share the financial burden of plantation industry on account of welfare measures envisaged for plantation workers mandated under the Plantation Labour Act 1951. Moreover, IMC has recommended to introduce means so that the agricultural income tax levied by the state governments can be slashed and the tea industry be made competitive. It has recommended that sick or bankrupt plantation estates should be provided with analogous level of relaxation for similarly placed enterprises/estates as are available to industries referred to BIFR. A Special Tea Term Loan (STTL) for the tea sector was announced by the Indian government in 2004. It envisaged restructuring of irregular portions of the outstanding term/working capital loans in the tea sector with repayment over five to seven years and a moratorium of one year, which was to be on a case to case basis for large growers. The STTL also provides for working capital up to Rs. 2 lakhs at a rate not exceeding 9% to small growers. In addition to these measures, the Tea Board plans to launch a new marketing initiative, which will include foray into new markets such as Iran, Pakistan, Vietnam and Egypt. It also plans to renew its efforts in traditional markets like Russia, the UK, Iraq and UAE. Noteworthy is its intent to double tea exports to Pakistan within a year. Assam Orthodox Tea is set to receive the Geographical Indications (GI) exclusivity. A GI stamp identifies a certain product as emanating from the territory of a WTO member or region or locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographic origin. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs set up the Special Purpose Tea Fund (SPTF) under the tea Board on December 29, 2006. The aim is to fund replantation and rejuvenation (R&R) programme. In the same year, Tata Tea entered into an agreement to take over Jemca, which controls a 26 percent market share in the Czech Republic. The CCEA gave its approval for pegging the subsidy at 25 per cent and adoption of a funding pattern of 25 per cent promoter’s contribution, 25 per cent subsidy from the government and 50 per cent loan from the SPTF. Banks have also been instructed to increase the lending period to over 13 years.

SUNNY Talent Management

SUNNY Talent Management Executive Summary In current competitive service industry, companies are facing a challenge developing, managing, and retaining quality effective managers. The competitiveness that has been enjoyed by SUNNY in Chinese market can be attributed by its effective human resources management as well as favorable working condition; however, the industry in general is facing an increased job-hopping by effective managers.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on SUNNY Talent Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To solve the challenge, SUNNY Optical need to enact effective talent management strategies that will enable the company nurture, develop, tap, and utilize their human resources talents and intellectual property. For an effective strategy, there is need for collaboration between the top management, line managers, and junior staffs. Case background Business management scholars have agreed that there is always a room for improvement in an organization despite how well its operations seem to be: there are different approaches leading an organization to improve performance, most of the approaches depend on the skills and knowledge of human capital in an organization. SUNNY as an international optical retailing company is doing well in the global scenes; it has high value for its employees and spends substantial amounts of its income to motivate, develop, and retain its human resources. However, in current competitive business environment, the company is facing a challenge retaining its effective and quality managers as they are job-hopping in search for better employers with wages as the main motivator for the job-hopping. The new life employment policy has also added some pain to the company as it’s a challenge to develop, maintain, poach, and retain quality managers. Despite the challenges SUNNY leaders have some strategic management approaches that it can adopt to ensure that the company rem ains competitive amidst the challenges it is facing as well as reduce the rate of influence of the challenges (Farrell and Grant, 2005). This paper analyses the problem facing SUNNY Optical in China and give recommendations on strategies that John Wu, the company’s president, would pioneer for a competitive business. Problem analysis The problem facing SUNNY Optical is not unique to the company however, it is experienced across the service industry; the main cause of the problem is deficiency in quality service managers and poaching as well as job-hopping among the existing quality managers. The development of new life employment policy has impacted the industry as it has the likelihood of reducing motivation and individual efforts among employees of a certain employer. The main issue that John Wu is wondering about is how the company will be able to have new strategies that will guarantee that in the future, the company will have quality manager and leaders; he is wondering this despite there being a number of qualified graduates with some working experience however it can be noted that they lack some polishing to offer quality service and leadership skills.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More SUNNY has had human resources policies that can be applauded, however as stated earlier, there is no optimal level, but every situation offers a room to improvement. The management has ensured that employees are well mentored; coached, developed and motivational strategies have been put in place. The management has been successful in developing an effective communication strategy that ensures that all employees and the management mingle and interact with each other with ease and can share ideas freely; with such an environment, certainly the company has a favorable working condition yet managers are finding a reason to move to other companies. The management fears the total loss of quality leaders that it has been able to develop over time. The issues facing the company can be solved with some minimal intervention by the management of the company’s policies on talents and psychological contracts fulfillment (Farrell and Grant, 2005). Solution to the problem To ensure that the problem does not recur in the future, the management need to have a lasting solution that will enable the company develop and retain managers; every human being has a talent that needs to be seen, developed, managed, tapped, and utilized for the good of the employer. As far as leadership is concerned, there are some people who have been born as charisma leaders, however if the power and the talent they hold is not well tapped, then they might not benefit their company with the talents (Lester and Kickul, 2001). John Wu has the challenge of developing an effective talent management system in the company; with the strategy, he will be able to make q uality managers and leaders from the pool of graduates with some working experience but whom cannot be relied upon on their leadership traits. Effective talent management strategies take some steps and form; talent management is defined as a complex human resources management process where the human resources team develop measures and policies that facilitated in tapping human beings intellectual property. According to Burbach Royle, 2010, â€Å"Talent management as a corporate area of focus has been building steadily† (Burbach and Royle, 2010), the approach to managing and maintaining talents within an organization is one of the newest management approaches that is yielding satisfactory results in companies that it has been implemented. An effective talent management strategy that the company should implement will start from recruitments adopted by the company all the way to how the employees will be retained, the strategy is as follows:Advertising We will write a c ustom report sample on SUNNY Talent Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Evaluation of current talent management within an organization SUNNY human resources department has the role of creating an environment that can create an orchestrate team; they have the role of ensuring that the company human resources needs are well catered for; although it can be applauded for such successful efforts, it has to enact talent management policies. The policies implemented are expected to facilitate the use of intellectual properties of their staffs (talents) although the objective may not be as explicit as other human resources roles. The initial step then to develop a deliberate talent management strategy in an organization is to understand the current position of the firm as long as tapping intellectual property is concerned (Renckly and Renckly, 2003). The parameters to use include: Analysing the succession plans adopted at SUNNY Take a revie w of major and minor innovations that the company has had in the past and try to look at the source of the innovation Involve department and sector managers in the process and get their inputs on the calibre of employees already in the organisation. The information derived will be crucial in determining the state that a company is as long as talent management is concerned (See diagram below on how talent is involved in business objectives). Diagram 1 Talent Entry and Retention John Wu should understand that SUNNY needs to have a recruitment method that considers talent development and management in the company: when applications are received, they are sorted, and short listed candidate are contacted, when short-listing the experiences given by the employees should be reviewed to ensure that those applicants with the sort talents have been established.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More To enable employees perform their duties effectively and have a chance to improve some systems though their talents, creativity and innovativeness; then continuous system and employee’s appraisal is important. When this is done, it helps human management to interact and share with employees on their experiences and relax the air to the employee that he can recommend areas that needs improvement and probably offer recommendations on the way forward. Relaxing an environment and involving an employee in its improvement is a psychological approach that assists employees to own up a certain function, the ownership triggers innovativeness and use of their talents.  On the other hand, offering employees challenging environment is important to trigger their use of talents. In cases where the weak point is because of employees ignorant, then programs are set up to address this. Training is another way that talent can be natured and developed; some organizations have employees traini ng as a continuous process with the aim of ensuring that the employees are up-to-date with the changes in the industry (Anthony, Kalmar and Perrewà ©, 2002). Development and Passing out With a favorable environment developed, the next step is to expect results from the human capital in the organization; the employee is given some more challenging roles that are in line with his line of strength that has been established. When operating in the roles, the company should make the employee as centre for the project; for example, an employee may be made the head of a certain project that the management believes he has the potential of developing better processes and products through his talents. When developing an employee for talent management, then the following are the areas that development should look into: Knowledge that the employee has acquired The special skills that an employee have The attitude that an employee have towards development of new methods of doing things The beha viour of the employee (Schweyer, 2010). A well-planned development assists the company to nurture, develop and retain employees with talents in the company. To facilitate talent development, knowledge development cannot be ignored; knowledge and talents are intangible assets, which are unique to different business and can be improved with experience and information interpolation (Lester Kickul, 2001). The following diagram summarizes the process of talent management: Diagram 2 Conclusion The global optical retailing industry has become competitive; SUNNY needs to have effective human resources talent management policies if it will remain competitive in Chinese market. Personnel’s have different talents and capabilities; however tapping this asset requires strategic management; they need to be natured, developed and managed before they are exploited.  Other than utilizing the knowledge and experience that the employees have, there is the need to use available information to grow and develop knowledge and expertise in employees. To effectively manage talents, SUNNY should start by understanding the current strategies and processes and how they support talent management, with the understanding, they will be able to tap talents from entry level, nature, develop and retain them to the benefit of the organization.  When a talent has been developed, there should be effective passing out mechanism so as the benefits of the talents can benefit an entire organization. References Anthony, W. P., Kalmar, K. M., Perrewà ©, P. L. (2002). Human Resource Management, A Strategic Approach, (4th ed). South-Western, Thomson Learning. Berger, A. Berger, D. (2003).The talent management handbook: creating organizational excellence by identifying, developing, and promoting your best people. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Farrell, D. and Grant, A. (2005). Chinas Looming Talent Shortage. McKinsey Quarterly, 1(1), pp.1-4. Lester, W. and Kickul, J.(2001). Psychological contr acts in the 21st century: What employees’ value most and how well organizations are responding to these expectations. Human Resource Planning, 24(1): 10 Renckly, B. R Renckly, G. R. (2003). Human Resources. New York: Barrons Educational Series. Schweyer, A. (2010).Talent Management Systems: Best Practices in Technology Solutions for Recruitment, Retention and Workforce Planning. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

Battle of Port Hudson - Civil War Battle of Port Hudson

Battle of Port Hudson - Civil War Battle of Port Hudson The Battle of Port Hudson lasted from May 22 to July 9, 1863, during the American Civil War (1861-1865) and saw Union troops final take control of the entirety of the Mississippi River. Having captured New Orleans and Memphis in early 1862, Union forces sought to open the Mississippi River and split the Confederacy in two. In an effort to prevent this from occurring, Confederate troops fortified key locations at Vicksburg, MS and Port Hudson, LA. The capture of Vicksburg was tasked to Major General Ulysses S. Grant. Having already won victories at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and Shiloh, he began operations against Vicksburg in late 1862. A New Commander As Grant commenced his campaign against Vicksburg, the capture of Port Hudson was assigned to Major General Nathaniel Banks. The commander of the Department of the Gulf, Banks had taken command at New Orleans in December 1862 when he relieved Major General Benjamin Butler. Advancing in May 1863 in support of Grants effort, his principal command was the large Union XIX Corps. This was comprised of four divisions led by Brigadier General Cuvier Grover, Brigadier General W. H. Emory, Major General C. C. Augur, and Brigadier General Thomas W. Sherman. Port Hudson Prepares The idea for fortifying Port Hudson came from General P.G.T. Beauregard in early 1862. Assessing defenses along the Mississippi, he felt that the towns commanding heights which overlooked a hairpin turn in the river provided the ideal location for batteries. Additionally, the broken terrain outside of Port Hudson, which contained ravines, swamps, and woods, helped make the town extremely defensible. Design of Port Hudsons defenses was overseen by  Captain James Nocquet who served on the staff of Major General John C. Breckinridge. Construction was initially directed by Brigadier General Daniel Ruggles and continued by Brigadier General William Nelson Rector Beall. Work pressed on through the year though delays ensued as Port Hudson had no rail access. On December 27, Major General Franklin Gardner arrived to take command of the garrison. He quickly worked to enhance the fortifications and constructed roads to facilitate troop movement. Gardners efforts first paid dividends in March 1863 when the majority of Rear Admiral David G. Farraguts squadron was prevented from passing Port Hudson. In the fighting, USS Mississippi (10 guns) was lost.   Armies Commanders Union Major General Nathaniel Banks30,000 to 40,000 men Confederate Major General Franklin Gardneraround 7,500 men Initial Moves In approaching Port Hudson, Banks dispatched three divisions west with the goal of descending the Red River and cutting off the garrison from the north. To support this effort, two additional divisions would approach from the south and east. Landing at Bayou Sara on May 21, Augur advanced toward the junction of the Plains Store and Bayou Sara Roads. Encountering Confederate forces under Colonels Frank W. Powers and William R. Miles, Augur and Union cavalry led by Brigadier General Benjamin Grierson engaged. In the resulting Battle of Plains Store, Union troops succeeded in driving the enemy back to Port Hudson. Banks Attacks Landing on May 22, Banks and other elements from his command quickly advanced against Port Hudson and effectively had surrounded the town by that evening. Opposing Banks Army of the Gulf were around 7,500 men led by Major General Franklin Gardner. These were deployed in the extensive set of fortifications that ran for four and half miles around Port Hudson. On the night of May 26, Banks held a council of war to discuss an attack for the following day. Moving forward the next day, Union forces advanced over difficult terrain towards the Confederate lines. Beginning around dawn, Union guns opened on Gardners lines with additional fire coming from US Navy warships in the river. Through the day, Banks men conducted a series of uncoordinated assaults against the Confederate perimeter. These failed and his command sustained heavy losses. The fighting on May 27 saw the first combat for several African-American regiments in Banks army. Among those killed was Captain Andre Cailloux, a freed slave, who was serving with the 1st Louisiana Native Guards. Fighting continued until nightfall when efforts were made to retrieve the wounded. A Second Attempt The Confederate guns briefly opened fire the next morning until Banks raised a flag of truce and asked permission to remove his wounded from the field. This was granted and fighting resumed around 7:00 PM. Convinced that Port Hudson could only be taken by siege, Banks began constructing works around the Confederate lines. Digging through the first two weeks of June, his men slowly pushed their lines closer to the enemy tightening the ring around the city. Emplacing heavy guns, Union forces began a systematic bombardment of Gardners position. Seeking to end the siege, Banks began planning for another assault. On June 13, the Union guns opened with a heavy bombardment which was supported by Farraguts ships in the river. The next day, after Gardner refused a demand to surrender, Banks ordered his men forward. The Union plan called for troops under Grover to attack on the right, while Brigadier General William Dwight assaulted on the left. In both cases, the Union advance was repulsed with heavy losses. Two days later, Banks called for volunteers for a third assault, but was unable to obtain sufficient numbers. The Siege Continues After June 16, fighting around Port Hudson quieted as both sides worked to improve their lines and informal truces occurred between the opposing enlisted men. As time passed, Gardners supply situation became increasingly desperate. Union forces continued to slowly move their lines forward and sharpshooters fired on the unwary. In an effort to break the deadlock, Dwights engineering officer, Captain Joseph Bailey, oversaw the construction of a mine under a hill known as the Citadel. Another was begun on Grovers front extending under Priest Cap. The latter mine was completed on July 7 and it was filled with 1,200 pounds of black powder. With construction of the mines finished, it was Banks intention to detonate them on July 9. With the Confederate lines in a shambles, his men were to make another assault. This proved unnecessary as news reached his headquarters on July 7 that Vicksburg had surrendered three days earlier. With this change in the strategic situation, as well as with his supplies nearly exhausted and no hope of relief, Gardner dispatched a delegation to discuss Port Hudsons surrender the next day. An agreement was reached that afternoon and the garrison formally surrendered on July 9. Aftermath During the Siege of Port Hudson, Banks suffered around 5,000 killed and wounded while Gardners command incurred 7,208 (approx. 6,500 captured). The victory at Port Hudson opened the entire length of the Mississippi River to Union traffic and severed the western states of the Confederacy. With the capture of the Mississippi complete, Grant turned his focus east later that year to deal with the fallout from the defeat at Chickamauga. Arriving at Chattanooga, he succeeded in driving off Confederate forces that November at the Battle of Chattanooga.

Surfing Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Surfing Culture - Essay Example Educational systems have changed; students are given the chance to learn different communities and their cultures, inter-country school programs have changed the perception of culture exclusion. Many multinational industries help in exposing certain cultures and people to the world through their commercials enabling people learn and practice what they come across as a way of appreciating different cultures. Surf culture has been in existence since nineteenth century but became more popular in the twentieth century. Surf over several years ago was associated with the quasi religious practices which highlighted on the significance of valuing natural world and the spiritual way of being. It is said that surf culture originated from Hawaii (Taylor 925). This sport was dismissed by the missionaries as it was associated with laziness of the Hawaiians who could not do any other job but to practice their life style which led to a drop in the number of people surfing. Most of these individual s who value surfing are found living along the coast. It was until the late 20th century when female beings in the community fully ventured into the activity (McGloin 79). Surfing is a sporting activity which has influenced the lives of several people in the United States. Surfing in not only a culture exclusive to one community but is appreciated globally in running marketing promotions, sporting, tourism and for scenic and aesthetic attractions (Taylor 928). Outsider perspective Surfing has been associated with economic development in United States of America; its contribution to the economy through tourism, commercial industry and as a sporting activities. Surfing as a sporting activity in United States of America has been upheld and upgraded in that it is being held annually. People have a chance to expose their talent which they had not been able to through other activities. It is a very relaxing activity which any body can take part in as long as the individual has the passion and interest for it. It does not have to be the Hawaiians. In the process of organizing the sport, tickets are sold, many business individuals can sell more of their products to the participants and the spectators resulting into an improved business returns. McGloin states that the sport had not gained popularity among the female but the perception has changed over time where ladies have engaged themselves (68). The competition draws competitors from different parts of the country, people with different cultures and interests. Employment opportunities have been realized from surf in various parts of United States because clubs and associations were formed and managers were on demand. Local and international tourism has been promoted by surfing both as a culture and as a sport. Many people who live along the coastal areas especially the beaches spend most of their leisure time in the sport. It is a source of joy to most of them (Wagner, Nelsen & Walker 2). International tourisms mos tly visit California which was one of the towns where surfing was established in U.S. The amount of revenue tourists pay to the government of U.S is huge. Tourists enjoy watching the activity that pay a lot of money just to have more opportunity to observe the surfers. The beautiful scenery and the artistic features associated with surf are great. Visitors