Thursday, November 28, 2019

The Prince Essays - Social Psychology, Machiavellianism, The Prince

The Prince The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince examines the nature of power and his views of power are still somewhat in existence today. I'll discuss this in this essay, emphasizing the following theses. Machiavelli discusses power over the people, dictatorial power, and power with people, shared power. While it is possible for power with to attain greater prevalence in society, it will not completely eliminate power over. In The Prince, Machiavelli discusses two distinct groups of people, the political elite, including nobles and other princes, and the general public. Today in the United States, the first group, the political elite, includes political leaders, religious leaders, business leaders and the leaders of strong lobbying groups. The composition of the general public has changed little from Machiavelli's time. Machiavelli concentrates on relations between the prince and the political elite. He claims that ambition and dictatorial power drive most nobles and princes. A prince must act with dictatorial power in order to maintain his position. Machiavelli assumes that shared power will not be effective with nobles, since "whether men bear affection depends on themselves, but whether they are afraid will depend on what the ruler does" (Machiavelli, p.60-61). Since the nobles are unforgiving and greedy it would be dangerous if not downright suicidal for a prince to rely on their good will. Equally important, Machiavelli states that a prince, a political leader, has different concerns than the general public. For a prince personal actions, which would be considered immoral or unvirtuous, may save lives or help the prince's country. In this way a prince is not immoral, but instead acts with a morality different in nature from the general public. Machiavelli gives several examples of this. Miserliness is considered a fault. Yet, a miserly prince "will come to be considered more generous when it is realized that his revenues are sufficient to defend himself against enemies that attack him, and to undertake campaigns without imposing special taxes on the people" (p.56). Likewise, starting a war is considered an immoral act by many. Yet, a prince should not allow troubles"to develop in order to avoid fighting a war for wars can not really be avoided, but are merely postponed to the advantage of others" (p.11). Avoiding war may cause more suffering among the people than starting war. For example, many believe that World War II could have been avoided, saving tens of millions of lives, had England and France not pursued a policy of appeasement towards the Germans. While Machiavelli emphasizes power over in relations between the political elite, he discusses a different kind of power in the relations between a prince and the general public. Machiavelli notes that a prince can share power with the people, since a prince can trust the people much more than he can trust the nobles. Nobles "can not be satisfied if a ruler acts honorably but the people can be thus satisfies, because their aims are more honorable than those of the nobles are: for the latter only want to oppress and the former only want to avoid being oppressed" (p.35). The people are not unforgiving and greedy so the prince can place more trust in the people. Since the public can be trusted, the prince can empower the people. An empowered public will protect the ruler rather than overthrow him. Machiavelli suggests providing people with power in terms of arms, since "when you arm them, these weapons become your own" (p. 72). In this way power is an increasing resource, sharing power with the people can result in greater power for the people and for the prince. Finally Machiavelli notes that inherent power of the public, which exists despite the dictatorial power that any prince exercises. When discussing fortresses, he states that "the best fortress a ruler can have is not to be hated by the people, for if you possess fortresses and the people hate you, having fortresses will not save you" (p.75). Machiavelli does not disregard shared power as a potentially successful way to govern, but only notes that dictatorial power can not be used exclusively in governing. Even in relations with the general public, which can include shared power, the prince can not act in ways that might be considered virtuous for the general citizen. People expect leaders to act differently than themselves. Machiavelli notes that people are interested in appearances and results. A leader must seem resolute and moral to the people, and show positive results from his leadership. The most important thing for a leader to do is to avoid being hated or despised by the public, which could occur

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Freed Man and Free Born Differences in Ancient Rome

Freed Man and Free Born Differences in Ancient Rome The Short Answer The short answer to the question of what distinguished the ancient Roman freedman or freedwoman from the free born is the stigma, shame, or the macula servitutis (stain of slavery), as Kings Colleges Henrik Mouritsen describes it in , that never left the slave or ex-slave. Background Over-generalizing about the citizens of ancient Rome, you may find yourself describing a tripartite wealth and status system. You might describe the patricians as the wealthy, upper class, the plebeians as the lower class, and the landless humiles basically the proletariat as the lowest of the freeborn low, those considered too poor to enter the military service whose only purpose for the Roman state was to bear children. Also considered humiles and generally lumped with the proletariat for voting purposes were the freedmen. Beneath these were the slaves, by definition, non-citizens. Such a generalization might possibly apply to the earliest years of the Roman Republic reasonably well, but even by the middle of the fifth century B.C., the time of the 12 Tables, it wasnt so accurate. Là ©on Pol Homo says that the number of patrician gentes dwindled from 73 to 20 by the year 210 B.C., at the same time the ranks of the plebeians swelled among other ways, through the expansion of Rom an territory and the granting of citizenship rights to people who then became Roman plebeians (Wiseman). In addition to the gradual class shifts over time, starting with the great military leader, 7-time consul, and uncle of Julius Caesar (100-44 B.C.), Gaius Marius (157-86 B.C.), men of the proletariat class far from being excluded from military service joined the army in large numbers as a way to earn a living. Besides, according to Rosenstein (Ohio State history professor specializing in the Roman Republic and early Empire), the proletariat had already been manning the Roman fleets. By the time of Caesar, many plebeians were wealthier than patricians. Marius is a case in point. Caesars family was old, patrician, and in need of funds. Marius, probably an equestrian, brought wealth into the marriage with Caesars aunt. Patricians might give up their status by being formally adopted by plebeians so that they could attain prestigious public offices denied the patricians. [See Clodius Pulcher.] A further trouble with this linear view is that among the slaves and the recent slaves, you could find extremely wealthy members. Wealth wasnt dictated by rank. Such was the premise of the Satyricon in the portrayal of the ostentatious, nouveau riche, tasteless Trimalchio. Distinctions Between Freeborn and Freedman or Freedwoman Wealth aside, to the ancient Romans, Rome held social, class-based differences. One big difference was between a person who was freeborn and someone who was born a slave and later freed. Being a slave (servus meant being subject to the will of the master (dominus). A slave might, for instance, be raped or beaten and there was nothing he or she could do about it. During the Republic and first few Roman emperors, a slave could be forcibly separated from his mate and children. A Constitution of Claudius enacted that if a man exposed his slaves, who were infirm, they should become free; and the Constitution also declared that if they were put to death, the act should be murder (Suet. Claud. 25). It was also enacted (Cod. 3 tit. 38 s11) that in sales or division of property, slaves, such as husband and wife, parents and children, brothers and sisters, should not be separated.William Smith Dictionary Servus entry A slave could be killed. The original power of life and death over a slave .. was limited by a constitution of Antoninus, which enacted that if a man put his slave to death without sufficient reason (sine causa), he was liable to the same penalty as if he had killed another mans slave.Ibid. Free Romans didnt have to put up with such behavior at the hands of outsiders ordinarily. It would have been too degrading. Anecdotes from Suetonius about the extraordinary and aberrant behavior of Caligula give an indication of how demeaning such treatment could be: XXVI: Nor was he more mild or respectful in his behaviour towards the senate. Some who had borne the (270) highest offices in the government, he suffered to run by his litter in their togas for several miles together, and to attend him at supper, sometimes at the head of his couch, sometimes at his feet, with napkins.In the spectacles of gladiators, sometimes, when the sun was violently hot, he would order the curtains, which covered the amphitheatre, to be drawn aside [427], and forbad any person to be let out.... Sometimes shutting up the public granaries, he would oblige the people to starve for a while. A freedman or a freedwoman was a slave who had been freed. In Latin, the normal terms for a properly freed freedman were libertus (liberta), probably used in connection with the person who manumitted them, or libertinus (libertina), as the more general form. The distinction between those libertini, who were properly and legally freed (via manumission), and other classes of ex-slaves was abolished by Justinian (A.D. 482-565), but before him, those improperly freed or disgraced did not receive all of the Roman citizenship rights. A libertinus, whose freedom was marked by the pilleus (a cap), was counted a Roman citizen. A freeborn person was not counted a libertinus, but an ingenuus. Libertinus and ingenuus were mutually exclusive classifications. Since the offspring of a free Roman whether born free or made free was also free, children of libertini were ingenui. Someone born to a slave was a slave, part of the masters property, but he could become one of the libertini if the master or the emperor manumitted him. Practical Matters for the Freedman and His Children Henrik Mouritsen argues that although freed, the former master was still responsible for feeding and perhaps housing his freedmen. He says the change in status meant that he was still part of the patrons extended family and had the patrons name as part of his own. The libertini may have been freed, but were not really independent. The ex-slaves themselves were looked upon as damaged. Although formally, the distinction was between ingenui and libertini, in practice there was some residual taint. Lily Ross Taylor looks at the changes in the late years of the Republic and the early years of the Empire regarding the ability of the ingenui children of libertini to enter the Senate. She says that in A.D. 23, under the second Roman emperor, Tiberius, a law was passed mandating that the possessor of the gold ring (symbolizing the equestrian class from whose ranks young men were able to advance to the senate), must have both a father and paternal grandfather who were freeborn. References: The Freedman in the Roman World, by Henrik Mouritsen; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011.Review of Henrik Mouritsens The Freedman in the Roman World, by J. Albert Harrill, in PDFHoraces Equestrian CareerLily Ross TaylorThe American Journal of Philology, Vol. 46, No. 2 (1925), pp. 161-170.Legendary Genealogies in Late-Republican RomeT. P. WisemanGreece Rome, Second Series, Vol. 21, No. 2 (Oct., 1974), pp. 153-164Marriage and Manpower in the hannibalic War: Assidui, Proletarii and Livy 24.18.7-8Nathan RosensteinHistoria: Zeitschrift fà ¼r Alte Geschichte, Bd. 51, H. 2 (2nd Qtr., 2002), pp. 163-191On the social standing of freedmen as indicated in the Latin writers, by John Jackson Crumley (1906)Outlines Of Roman Law: Comprising Its Historical Growth And General Principles, by William Carey MoreyRoman Political Institutions: From City to State, by Là ©on Pol Homo

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Motorola analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Motorola analysis - Essay Example In addition, Mr. Reed also helped the Company generate significant cost savings by consolidating suppliers and implementing a comprehensive supply chain strategy. 16 DOUGLAS, Isle of Man - 5th March 2008 - Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) has been chosen by the Isle of Man Government Department of Home Affairs to supply a fleet of covert TETRA terminals. Motorola will supply the covert devices in mid 2008, which will be used by the Isle of Man Constabulary and Customs & Excise. 16 Motorola worked closely with a number of public safety users including the Isle of Man Department of Home Affairs, Isle of Man Constabulary and Isle of Man Customs & Excise during the design process to ensure it delivered a covert TETRA radio that met the special needs of the users. The new TCR1000 TETRA Covert Radio will help improve operational effectiveness as the small ergonomic design means officers do not feel as though they are wearing a radio, helping them to disguise their equipment during covert operations. "At last Motorola have a covert radio that is fit for purpose," says Robert Williamson, technical director, Isle of Man Department of Home Affairs. ... DOUGLAS, Isle of Man - 5th March 2008 - Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) has been chosen by the Isle of Man Government Department of Home Affairs to supply a fleet of covert TETRA terminals. Motorola will supply the covert devices in mid 2008, which will be used by the Isle of Man Constabulary and Customs & Excise. 16 Motorola worked closely with a number of public safety users including the Isle of Man Department of Home Affairs, Isle of Man Constabulary and Isle of Man Customs & Excise during the design process to ensure it delivered a covert TETRA radio that met the special needs of the users. The new TCR1000 TETRA Covert Radio will help improve operational effectiveness as the small ergonomic design means officers do not feel as though they are wearing a radio, helping them to disguise their equipment during covert operations. "At last Motorola have a covert radio that is fit for purpose," says Robert Williamson, technical director, Isle of Man Department of Home Affairs. "TETRA is a very appropriate communications technology for policing activity, but until now Motorola have not had a suitable form factor for covert operations. Motorola's innovative TETRA radio design will be of real benefit in everyday covert activities. Our users are delighted with the new covert set." The small, lightweight design of the TCR1000 Covert TETRA terminal incorporates many innovative features to address the unique requirements of covert users such as discrete audio, radio control and battery lifetime. Despite the compact design, the Motorola covert TETRA radio performs to the same high standards as more mainstream Motorola TETRA terminals and offers excellent functionality including options for integrated GPS and end to end

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Supply-Chain Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Supply-Chain Management - Essay Example A Thomas & Ladd Andrew,1999a) Regal Marine being one of the leading ten boat manufacturers of America, their vendors are with suppliers ranging from providers of wind shield to providers to of instrument panel controls. The major challenge in the vendor management is to identify and maintain suppliers who can ensure timely and regular supply of quality inputs. The management of payment handling, communication maintenance and quality assurance becomes of a major count with reference to the vendors of Regal Marine. The complexity and diversity in the business operations of the firm and the vividness in the parts to be sourced make the vendor management more complex. The wide gap in the level and business operations of the parent company and the vendors make the process of associations with the vendors a difficult process. The cost object controlling is a part of a product cost controlling process that determines the cost which accrues in producing a product or performing a service. (Curran, A Thomas & Ladd Andrew,1999b) The cost effectiveness of the products sourced becomes vital for Regal Marine as it would directly influence the price of the final product. This process becomes vital for Regal Marine so as to maintain the market competence and the present market status of the company. The inventory valuation process and a sourcing costing with relevance to this is a major challenge for the company. The limiting factor with regard to the product development process of Regal Marine in regulating the cost is the wide range of operations of its vendors. The complex nature of the supply chain management process involved in Regal Marine would require highly trained and efficient man power. An improvisation in the Supply Chain management would mean a revamping exercise in the current organizational structure of Regal Marine. An improvisation and capacity building in the existing manpower, inclusion of expert staff in maintaining complex supply management process is a

Monday, November 18, 2019

Generational Diversity Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Generational Diversity - Assignment Example Knowing such behavioral and social characteristics of a generation make them feel represented in the system. In my opinion, the K-12 system of educators needs to take note of generational diversity. The teaching methods and learning methods should be streamlined to fit the characteristics of the students’ generation. This will enhance better understanding and a positive attitude towards learning. Educators need to fit in into current generations so as to create bonds between them and the students. The effectiveness of online courses is a key issue in the education sector. Online courses are supposed to attain the same results as face-to-face teaching. To achieve this, some areas require high attention. The educator is required to understand what the learning outcomes should be so that they can come up with the best course design. To come up with the best learning outcomes, all learning materials should be made easily accessible to the learner. Efficient accessibility should be strategic to diversity in that materials are provided through the most appropriate means for a specific student. For example, a student aged 50 would prefer a visiting a library and studying books to read while a 21-year-old student would prefer reading a pdf through their phone. Therefore, generational diversity should be taken into consideration. Online courses should implement current technologies to ease the process of learning. For example, technologies such as Skype can be used to hold a discussion between a student and a teacher.

Friday, November 15, 2019

The Hershey Company Is The Largest Chocolate Producer Marketing Essay

The Hershey Company Is The Largest Chocolate Producer Marketing Essay The Hershey Company is the largest chocolate producer in North America and also one of the oldest US manufacturers of chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery and chocolate-related grocery product. The Hershey Company operates in accordance with their mission statement: Undisputed Marketplace Leadership (www.hersheys.com). Among the companys well established brands are  Hersheys Chocolate Bar, Almond Joy, Kit Kat, Hersheys Kisses, Reeses and many others. I shall begin an external analysis with the first element of Porters Five Forces Model: Industry Rivalry. Slow confectionery industry growth increases the intensity of rivalry among numerous competitors. It needs to be mentioned that the stage of confectionery industry life cycle is Maturity stage. These chocolate have been around since a 100 years and most people buying these chocolates are repeat consumers. The Hershey Company holds one of the leading positions in the domestic market, currently having a market share in the U.S. of over 22%. Its biggest rivals in US market are Mars Inc (the leader according to the industrys 2010 results), Kraft Foods and Nestle. As for the global competition, according to the latest results of the confectionery industrys global survey, Hershey Foods Corp. (USA) is number 5 among the top 100 international HERSHEY COMPANY EXTERNAL ANALYSIS confectionery brands rating with 4,881 US($) millions sales volume figure. The main competitors in the global market are Mars Inc (USA), Cadbury Schweppes PLC (UK), Nestlà © SA (Switzerland) and Ferrero SpA (Italy).(The Big Get Bigger, 2011, January 10). Although the Hershey Company has a steady strong presence in the U.S. chocolate and confectionery market, its global position needs to be strengthened and the focus should be kept on the global market. Rapidly developing countries such as China and India have to be Hersheys main targets because even a limited presence in these countries would provide a substantial increase in revenue. Besides it, company cannot duplicate their domestic strategy and expect to be successful. On the contrary they must integrate into each countrys culture and develop an adapted strategy to immerse their brand name into these areas. The next force I need to specify is the Risk of Entry by Potential Competitors force and this risk for chocolate industry is quite low. The reasons of it are significant entry barriers (high production output, large capital requirements, product differentiation, and customer loyalty). These factors deter smaller competitors from entering into the market. (Ellis M., McCants M., Frye N., Miller J., Polk M., Rogers G, 2008, May 22). HERSHEY COMPANY EXTERNAL ANALYSIS The third and one of the most influential in the Hersheys case force is Bargaining Power of Suppliers. Their bargaining power is relatively high because the number of suppliers of the chocolate industry is limited, supplier group is concentrated and there are no substitute products as well. The Hershey Company needs to find alternate (non-West African) locations or different methods for obtaining cocoa beans, because this would allow Hershey to have a secure control over their raw materials. The next force is Bargaining Power of Buyers which can be described as low to moderate. This industry has several large volume retailers that have significant bargaining power. Large volume retailers can bargain for lower prices and reduce the industrys profits, but the differentiated products (with high level of brand identification and customer loyalty among the chocolate consumers) considerably reduce the power of buyers. Finally, the Threat of Substitutes for chocolate industry is moderate. There are numerous substitute products such as alternative cooking flavors (such as vanilla, butter, etc) and non-chocolate snacks (such as ice cream, fruits, etc.). Also there is a threat of unhealthy image of chocolate products among the consumers. Besides Porters Five Forces Model and Industrys Life Cycle I would like to analyze the way demographic, social, or HERSHEY COMPANY EXTERNAL ANALYSIS technological trends have influenced the chocolate confectionery industry. There are some positive and negative socio-cultural and demographic trends that make an influence. Among the positive are: the desire for richer products/changing tastes, joint ventures (i.e. coffee), dark chocolate health benefits and increased importance of holidays. The negative trends are: spreading of allergies, increasing obesity and greater environmental concern. Among the social/political trends a problem of child labour and unfair trade can be named. For example, Hershey has been criticized for not having programs to ensure sustainable and ethical cocoa purchase, lagging behind its competitors in  fair trade  measures. (Hershey Dominates US Market, but Lags Behind Competitors in Avoiding Forced Labor, Trafficking and Child Labor (2010, September 13). The positive technological trends are: technological improvements to milking machines, efficiency improvements for distribution, telecommunications. And the negative technological trends are lack of government support to developing countries (poor education of new technologies) and increased cost of managing the manufacturing technological progress. And I would like to finish this essay with Hershey Company founder Milton Hershey quote about the most distinctive feature of Hersheys products: Give them quality. Thats the best kind of advertising in the world. HERSHEY COMPANY EXTERNAL ANALYSIS REFERANCE LIST Hershey slogan (n.d.) is retrieved from www.hersheys.com The Big Get Bigger (2011, January 10). Retrieved from http://www.candyindustry.com/Articles/Special_Reports/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000972812 Ellis M., McCants M., Frye N., Miller J., Polk M., Rogers G, (2008, May 22). The Hershey Company Introducing the World of Chocolate. Retrieved from http://www.washingtoniv.com/?p=65 Hershey Dominates US Market, but Lags Behind Competitors in Avoiding Forced Labor, Trafficking and Child Labor (2010, September 13). Retrieved from http://www.laborrights.org/stop-child-forced-labor/cocoa-campaign/news/12397 Confectionery Company Shares Report (2010), USA. Packaged Food: Euromonitor from trade sources/national statistics.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Organisational Structure and Culture of the Oceans 11 Team Essay

Organisational Structure and Culture of the Oceans 11 Team 1.0 Executive Summary: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)[1] wished to review how the Ocean’s 11 team was formed and discuss by putting a management development programme together, the organisational behavioural aspects of the group. A vast amount of research was conducted in order to put together the management development programme together to show other organisations how to prevent problems within their group and avoid issues that will be mentioned in this programme. The main objectives of this report are to research and analyse what motivates a group or team in order to perform successfully and cohesively. To look at the leadership of a group and the different roles they play in terms of power they may hold, which leads onto conflict that may occur and could cause problems within the organisation. This will also incorporate the strategy the leader, if elected, uses in order to control and influence its organisations. In addition to the above, to investigate the communication skills of a group and how significant the experience of its members is, whilst looking at the attitudes present amongst them. The report will also examine the individual differences and perceptions of a team/group and sees how they can conjure an aim and how to achieve it. This will involve looking into the organisational structure and culture of the Oceans 11 team. All the above will use associated theories and models to analyse how the team was formed and backed up with relevant references. 2.0 Introduction: ----------------- This report intends to look at how our managerial development programme reflects groups and organisations and its concern with the improvement of the quality ... ...), Organisational Behaviour: Individuals, Groups, and the organisation, London, Pearson Education [20] Brooks, Ian (1999), Organisational Behaviour: Individuals, Groups, and the organisation, London, Pearson Education [21] Brooks, Ian (1999), Organisational Behaviour: Individuals, Groups, and the organisation, London, Pearson Education [22] Brooks, Ian (1999), Organisational Behaviour: Individuals, Groups, and the organisation, London, Pearson Education [23] Brooks, Ian (1999), Organisational Behaviour: Individuals, Groups, and the organisation, London, Pearson Education [24] Learning to Work in Groups - Matthew B. Miles [25] http://www.google.com [26] Brooks, Ian (1999), Organisational Behaviour: Individuals, Groups, and the organisation, London, Pearson Education [27] Organisational Behaviour Lectures [28] Ocean’s 11 Case Study

Sunday, November 10, 2019

How does Peter Medak create sympathy for Derek in ‘Let Him Have it’ Essay

Peter Medak directed this Film from a very biased point of view. He presents one side of an opinion – in this case sympathetic to Derek Bentley though exact events are not certain. At nine am on the morning of the 28th January 1953 Derek William Bentley was hanged at Wandsworth Prison London, as an accomplice to a murder which was committed by a friend in the course of a robbery attempt, it created a cause cà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½là ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½bre leading to a 45 year long and ultimately successful campaign to win him a posthumous pardon. The Trial took place before Lord Chief of Justice for England and Wales, Lord Goddard, at the Old Bailey London. Medak gains a lot of sympathy for Derek by showing his misfortune throughout. The beginning of the film indicates a very somber atmosphere. Immediately after the credits we encounter a Blitz scene with Derek buried under the rubble of an old building during the bombing. As an audience you soon realize that he has suffered a physical, mental and emotional trauma which has left him with brain damage. In the next scene Derek is four years older causing mischief vandalizing a shed with a group of other boys. The boys, however, are rumbled and managed to escape but Derek gets caught and, put in a difficult situation, experiences an epileptic fit. We fast forward again a few years, the camera moves down a corridor towards Derek sitting looking concerned outside the Head’s office of the Kingswood Approved School he had been admitted to. The decision is made that he is to be released partially because of his low level intelligence, that of an eleven year old. The scene foreshadows what happens later; from what is said you get a real sense that the institutions of society are much more powerful than the individual – in this case, Derek. Justice is firmly against him, although it is apparent there is nothing criminal about him. Ashamed of what happened, Derek becomes a recluse and does not leave the house. Within his own world he feels comfortable but as soon as he leaves the he begins to show his vulnerability. We then come across Chris Craig for the first time as he sees Derek from the street corner he is completely over dressed and it is evident he is a confident character, a tilting shot upwards signifies this. There is a strong contrast between the two: Chris, 16, tries to emulate and pretend to be a gangster with a strong American influence around the time of Al Capone and Prohibition. Derek who had very little contact with the outside world and has only just discovered a love of music. Their style and behavior differ as well. Despite Chris’ small stature he constantly manipulates people around him and because Derek naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ve, he is easily persuaded. The scene in which the two meet is set beside the train line. The sound of a train approaching almost builds tension and gives you a sense of resounding force Derek is up against leaving you asking, what events will follow? Derek soon becomes more acquainted with Chris and begins to feel a sense of belonging. From being with Chris’s clique he soon makes the connection that to get what he wants he needs money. It is rather easy to forget Chris’s age. In the next scene he is a classroom at school exchanging various objects for weapons. Because the film is set in a post second world war period, there were a lot of guns around which made their way into the hands of the youngsters. It becomes clear Chris actually uses the guns whereas the others in his class of his age do not. This is vital to the Tamworth road scene. As their teacher enters there is a high angle shot looking over the class, showing the students lack of power (authority). Derek is physically large and appears strong but is of a gentle nature. Derek becomes more and more involved in the gang and is given a blue jacket by Niven Chris’s brother who, noticing his physically large stature, perhaps had an intention of using him. This jacket is however a light blue a different colour to the black they were wearing so this does suggest he is still an outsider. When Derek returns home, his fathers suspicions are raised about his whereabouts. Through questioning it is obvious he is not any good at lying nor does he act well under pressure, he has to rely on his sister to help him. Reluctantly, Derek has to under-take a physical test so he can be excused from national service, due to his epilepsy, as an audience you feel sorry for Derek as they didn’t believe him. Despite his appearance Derek is shown in an extreme close up as vulnerable, unable to stand up for himself. Derek is excused from service and is deemed subnormal. At this stage Derek’s self-worth is low and his parents talking about him makes matters worse. Following this we see Chris’s brother struggling in a feud with the police. After seeing his brother trying to shoot his way out of arrest it’s as if it is no longer a game for Chris and he is hardened by the episode as his brother is sentenced to twelve years imprisonment. His right hand man however is not charged which leads you to think Derek’s fate would be the same in just such an occurrence. Bentley does try to resist the lure of the gang but is drawn back, as he goes to see Chris there is a establishing shot on Derek to show empowerment on his part (he had obtained the key to the butcher where he had been humiliated a number of times). At this point Chris appears at his weakest. We are reminded of his adolescence wearing his PJ’swith toy cars and a gun on his bedside table. Derek and the gang join forces once again; the camera lingers on Derek signifying that is not entirely sure what he is up against, whereas the camera looks up at Chris trying to exert his power. By this point Derek is in a black coat like the others, perhaps to suggest he is no longer an outsider. Their plan to rob the butchers doesn’t materialize so Chris and Derek attempt to break into Barlow and Parker (confectionary wholesale and manufacturer warehouse) via the roof. The camera looks down on Derek once again and up at Chris as he shouts from above. Even at this point the two are messing around. In this scene the action is mainly focused on Chris as he fires a revolver aimlessly into the air as the police arrive and detective Sergeant Fairfax reaches the lift-housing. In a pivotal part of the film Derek is placed under arrest but breaks free and shouts â€Å"Let him have it Chris!† which can be perceived in different ways but resulted in Derek’s conviction as he was said to have mentally aided murder. Derek stands up to Chris but to no prevail. The camera looks down on Chris as he exhausts his ammunition, he is consequently left powerless. Cornered, Chris jumped some thirty feet from the roof, fracturing his spine and left wrist when he landed on a greenhouse. At this point, he was arrested. The next episode is the funeral of the policemen shot dead, Constable Sidney Miles, in the incident. The Home Secretary of the time David Maxwell Fyfe is shown to say to the family of the officer: â€Å"Justice will be done† in a vengeful tone. We quickly move to the trial, as viewers we are witnesses and not at all impartial. There is a whole establishing shot of the court room with the two accused looking small and insignificant in the middle of shot. The court system was mainly run and controlled by the higher classes but the judge is not necessarily shown through camera angles or positioning as the greatest power in the room, under questioning Chris is almost in control of the courtroom despite the enormous charges and the severity he still manages to cast doubt over the courtroom elders, manipulating. You continue to feel sympathy for Derek with a defense that seems to get weaker throughout even though he is as much of a victim. It is not at all surprising that Derek is caught by the prosecution under questioning and the trial begins to feel unfair towards Derek. The fact that Derek had a knuckle duster and on him used as evidence builds sympathy again as none of which were his but given to him by Chris. As tension builds, through sound effects and an extreme close up we get a strong insight into his mental anguish as he struggles with his words. The camera pans around the room from Derek’s position with his family solidly there in the forefront of the picture. The camera rests on Derek’s father the longest as he still looks towards him more concerned about his thoughts and opinion even though the jury clearly depict their negative impressions. The verdict is passed by the jury with a recommendation of mercy, there is a low angle shot of Derek as he is taken down. He appears disorientated and dizzy after the devastating sentence; the picture gets darker as he is put in detention reflecting the situation. Chris is presented as a young boy as they both sit behind bars. After reading the home office psychiatric reports the Home Secretary refuses to request clemency from the Queen. This does make the legal system seen fallible, you feel increasing sympathy for Derek as we find out that the sentence is rarely carried out in this situation and especially since it was contreary to public opinion. There was talk that the trial was manipulated to send the public a message that of murder especially of a cop is unacceptable a point made clear by Peter Medak. The family only finds out the news in a slightly cruel way through a journalist. In the last meeting between Derek and his family the camera focuses on Derek at eye level. Once again he displays his mental age in saying will it hurt there is a strong sense of poignancy about it. Derek’s father goes to Parliament to appeal with a petition however they were not allowed to discuss Bentley’s sentence until it had been carried out. In a bird’s eye view shot we find Derek’s farther pacing up and down in a large space awaiting the MP’s decision. By this point nothing can be done. The picture fades to the next scene where one of the guards is scribing for Derek in a letter, as he attempts to sign the letter we recognize he is left handed considered clumsy at the time and different, considering he is shown as very right sided at the beginning of the film. Derek’s is shown to be understandably emotional but shows maturity, he had heart but not the judgment. There is a long establishing shot of Bentley’s street signifying morning which in tern is quite and peaceful. In the Penultimate scene the camera tracks down the stairs of the house into the living room with the clock on the mantelpiece getting louder and louder as it nears nine o’clock the time of execution. The speed in which it takes place is quite dramatic! along with it is a sense of finality. The story is controversial, because Medak has chosen a topic which had been familiar with the public not so long ago. The end sequence suggests that justice is a blunt instrument and the film in its entirety raises the question of capital punishment the incorrect decisions, the dangers and whether it should be abolished.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Timeline and History of Chocolate and the Cocoa Bean

Timeline and History of Chocolate and the Cocoa Bean Chocolate has a long and fascinating past, as delicious as its taste. Heres a timeline of notable dates in its history! 1500 BC-400 BC: The Olmec Indians are believed to be the first to grow cocoa beans as a domestic crop.250 to 900 CE: The consumption of cocoa beans was restricted to the Mayan societys elite, in the form of an unsweetened cocoa drink made from the ground beans.AD 600: Mayans migrate into northern regions of South America establishing earliest known cocoa plantations in the Yucatan.14th Century: The drink became popular among the Aztec upper classes who usurped the cocoa beverage from the Mayans and were the first to tax the beans. The Aztecs called it xocalatl meaning warm or bitter liquid.1502: Columbus encountered a great Mayan trading canoe in Guanaja carrying cocoa beans as cargo.1519: Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez recorded the cocoa usage in the court of Emperor Montezuma.1544: Dominican friars took a delegation of Kekchi Mayan nobles to visit Prince Philip of Spain. The Mayans brought gift jars of beaten cocoa, mixed and ready to drink. Spain and Portugal did not export the beloved drink to the rest of Europe for nearly a century. 16th Century Europe: The Spanish began to add cane sugar and flavorings such as vanilla to their sweet cocoa beverages.1570: Cocoa gained popularity as a medicine and aphrodisiac.1585: First official shipments of cocoa beans began arriving in Seville from Vera Cruz, Mexico.1657: The first chocolate house was opened in London by a Frenchman. The shop was called The Coffee Mill and Tobacco Roll. Costing 10 to 15 shillings per pound, chocolate was considered a beverage for the elite class.1674: Eating solid chocolate was introduced in the form of chocolate rolls and cakes served in chocolate emporiums.1730: Cocoa beans had dropped in price from $3 per pound to a price within the financial reach of those other than the very wealthy.1732: French inventor, Monsieur Dubuisson invented a table mill for grinding cocoa beans.1753: Swedish naturalist, Carolus Linnaeus was dissatisfied with the word cocoa, so renamed it theobroma, Greek for food of the gods.1765: Chocolate was introduced to the United States when Irish chocolate-maker John Hanan imported cocoa beans from the West Indies into Dorchester, Massachusetts, to refine them with the help of American Dr. James Baker. The pair soon after built Americas first chocolate mill and by 1780, the mill was making the famous BAKERS  ® chocolate. 1795: Dr. Joseph Fry of Bristol, England, employed a steam engine for grinding cocoa beans, an invention that led to the manufacture of chocolate on a large factory scale.1800: Antoine Brutus Menier built the first industrial manufacturing facility for chocolate.1819: The pioneer of Swiss chocolate-making, Franà §ois Louis Callier, opened the first Swiss chocolate factory.1828: The invention of the cocoa press, by Conrad Van Houten, helped cut prices and improve the quality of chocolate by squeezing out some of the cocoa butter and giving the beverage a smoother consistency. Conrad Van Houten patented his invention in Amsterdam and his alkalizing process became known as Dutching. Several years earlier, Van Houten was the first to add alkaline salts to powdered cocoa to make it mix better with water.1830: A form of solid eating chocolate was developed by Joseph Fry Sons, a British chocolate maker.1847: Joseph Fry Son discovered a way to mix some of the cocoa butter back into the Du tched chocolate, and added sugar, creating a paste that could be molded. The result was the first modern chocolate bar. 1849: Joseph Fry Son and Cadbury Brothers displayed chocolates for eating at an exhibition in Bingley Hall, Birmingham, England.1851: Prince Alberts Exposition in London was the first time that Americans were introduced to bonbons, chocolate creams, hand candies (called boiled sweets), and caramels.1861: Richard Cadbury created the first known heart-shaped candy box for Valentines Day.1868: John Cadbury mass-marketed the first boxes of chocolate candies.1876: Daniel Peter of Vevey, Switzerland, experimented for eight years before finally inventing a means of making milk chocolate for eating.1879: Daniel Peter and Henri Nestlà © joined together to form the Nestlà © Company.1879: Rodolphe Lindt of Berne, Switzerland, produced smoother and creamier chocolate that melted on the tongue. He invented the conching machine. To conch meant to heat and roll chocolate in order to refine it. After chocolate had been conched for seventy-two hours and had more cocoa butter added to it, it was po ssible to create chocolate fondant and other creamy forms of chocolate. 1897: The first known published recipe for chocolate brownies appeared in the Sears and Roebuck Catalogue.1910: Canadian, Arthur Ganong marketed the first nickel chocolate bar. William Cadbury urged several English and American companies to join him in refusing to buy cacao beans from plantations with poor labor conditions.1913: Swiss confectioner  Jules Sechaud of Montreux introduced a machine process for manufacturing filled chocolates.1926: Belgian chocolatier, Joseph Draps starts the Godiva Company to compete with Hersheys and Nestles American market. Special thanks go to John Bozaan for the additional research.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Gary Soto essays

Gary Soto essays Gary Soto was born on April 12, 1952, in the farming community of Fresno, California, to Mexican-American parents. In his essay Being Mean he talks of how his father and grandfather worked at the Sun Maid Raisin Factory and his mother peeled potatoes at Reddispud. Sotos father faced an early death due to a work-related incident and his mother remarried. In his collection of poems entitled Home Course in Religion Soto talks of the arguments that his mother and stepfather had, showing a difficult relationship between the two. Due to the familys poverty Soto was forced to work and earn money as an agricultural laborer in Californias San Joaquin Valley and the tire-retread factory in Fresno. His earlier poems focus on this personal history. Although Soto comes from a tough background and does not mention it in his poetry, he does have an impressive academic background. He graduated magna cum laude from California State University at Fresno with a degree in English (1974). In 1976 he rece ived a master of fine arts degree in creative writing from the University of California Irvine. (Boyle 3112-3113) Soto began writing poems in 1974 while studying geography in college. He was inspired one day, while working on a term paper he came upon an anthology of contemporary poetry. The poems in this book were unlike any poetry Soto had ever encountered. These poems were not flowery and beautiful, but rather about subjects such as junked cars and rundown houses. After reading these poems and others he started to write his own poetry. Soto found his want to write poetry odd because as a child he was not encouraged to read and did not have books. Reluctant at first, he gave up his study of geography and decided to become a poet after reading Edward Fields poem Unwanted, in which he talks of how he wanting recognition and love. Soto was inspired by the work because he felt it related to h...

Monday, November 4, 2019

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

Crisis - Essay Example We were together again during college and shared the same apartment. It was once again a traumatic experience to have her leave the apartment to live with her boyfriend first and eventually get married. Even though we were older but the trauma of separation remained the same. It gradually dawned that one has to accept certain situations in life. I had to console myself that she was happy and leading a fulfilling life. Even though we now live in different states, we just have talked to each other every single day. We still panic the moment we hear of the other being unwell or in trouble. We still share moments of joy and sadness but the separation has left an indelible impression on my mind. Another traumatic experience that I had was when I used to visit my cousin working at an abortion clinic. I was quite young at that time and the word ‘abortion’ itself sent shivers to the body. This was the most significant existential crisis in my life. My visits were just to spend time with my cousin but the pro-lifers who came there thought I was there to get a procedure. I was shocked, to say the least when I came to know of this. I initially tried to ignore the gossip and allegations but gradually realized the severity of the situation. I realized the pro-lifers meant business when they decided to burn the clinic down if I were treated. I decided to stop visiting the clinic as this would put my cousin in trouble as well. Soon after I stopped visiting the clinic, I came to know that they had actually carried out the threat and burnt the clinic down.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Compare&contrast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Compare&contrast - Essay Example Though I love writing, yet I used to feel handicapped where expression, translating and grammar were concerned. However, I did not lose heart but tried my best to keep up with it, by widening my vocabulary and clearing major doubts with my professors who were so encouraging. Gradually, as time went by I found that there was positive improvement both in my speech as well as writing abilities. When comparing the two languages, I came across many major contrasts between them and this is the reason why a Chinese person speaks English in a different manner. One such contrast between the two is the use of verb endings such as ‘ed’ or ‘ing’ which is not found in the Chinese language and this makes it difficult to use a sentence with the correct tense. Another major contrast I found was the use of articles like ‘the’ and ‘a’ especially when used in front of a noun. For example, an English speaking person would say – ‘The mango is good’ while a Chinese person would say – ‘Mango is good’. Another challenging aspect when comparing both languages is the use of ‘s’ for plurals in English. This is not the case in Chinese because they convey number based on the context of their sentences. There are also major contrasts where pronunciation and sounds are concerned. The sounds in the Chinese language do not exist in the English language and vice versa. These and many other contrasts really pose very challenging to international students but as we make ourselves more familiar with the language it becomes much easier. In the beginning, it seemed a hard task to write with good expression and not make mistakes but Professor Waluconis has been so patient and encouraging and I feel satisfied that I learned a lot from his classes. I have learned how to organize my thoughts and write a thesis statement which brings out the main ideas in a piece of writing. My speaking and writing abilities