What is Hip-Hop Essay Example

What is Hip-Hop? Essay Decades ago, hip-hop was associated and characterized with baggy pants and loose shirts. Hip-hop connoted one’s identity and is also considered as a form of self expression. However, that connotation has evolved through time. These days, hip-hop is not just mainly a self-articulation; it is now more of a culture and a movement that focuses on music, fashion and self-articulation. During the 1970s, only several black radio stations played disco music which gave negative implication on African Americans. Because of this, they reacted and responded by hosting â€Å"block parties,† which is usually comprised of disc jockey (DJ)a person who plays funk, disco and soul musicwithin their communities. A little later, hip-hop started to emerge in Bronx when a DJ named Clive â€Å"Kool Herc† Campbell utilized percussion break beats to craft songs derived from Jamaican dance hall music. Hip-hop, thus, started to flourish. Performers who spoke in sync with beat became known as emcees (MCs). Few of the famous groups in this field are Afrika Bombaataa and the Zulu Nation (Coger, 2009). Afrika Bombaataa was the one who coined the term hip-hop and gave rise to the emerging popularity of the genre. We will write a custom essay sample on What is Hip-Hop? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on What is Hip-Hop? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on What is Hip-Hop? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer According to Afrika Bombaataa, hip-hop was derived from Lovebug Starski, a South Bronx disc jockey wherein he always says, â€Å"hip hop you don’t stop that makes your body rock.† Bombaataa started using the term by pertaining to ghetto-culture that emerged on the streets. Moreover, his concept of hip-hop covered urban street expression and attitude such as gestures, language and stylized clothes that were attributed with street culture (Reyes 47-49, 98). Nowadays, hip-hop has extended its meanings, definitions and characterizations. Hiphop, a word usually spelled as hip-hop, Hip-hop, Hip-Hop or Hiphop (â€Å"HipHop†), is a cultural movement than began in urban youth in New York, from primarily African American which further extended around the world (â€Å"Hip Hop†). Its emergence represents black youth organization, an illustration of a particular species of social movement. Hip-hop, as a movement, needs to be discussed carefully because its depiction is occupied with style, performance, opposition, leisure, consumption, representation and entrepreneurship (Watkins 65). On the other hand, hip-hop is also exemplified as a form of music. It is a billion dollar industry and one of the most renowned music genres in the world (Coger). It encompasses four elements namely MCing, DJing, graffiti art and break dancing. Others consider beat boxing as its fifth element (â€Å"Hip Hop†). Since its acceptance and creation, hip-hop has conjured up its wonder by commemorating its origins and by maintaining its expression of social, political and personal struggles (Rentas 2009). The aforementioned definitions of hip-hop can be traced from Bombaataa; however it is not anymore applicable to the hip-hop acts of today because several famous artists do not anymore embrace hip-hop as a self-expressive message; instead they frequently produce music for the sole reason and purpose of selling a commodity (Berky and Greer). Hip-hop, in another sense, is more than just a form of music. It is also considered as a state of being, a form of expression, spoken words, a mindset and a lifestyle. It is also a manner of articulating one’s self by way of dress, language, writing, personality, attitude and behavior (Leslie).   Hip-hop is a culture that materialized as a worldview among adults and youth born after 1965. It covers shared beliefs, practices and language, all of which are bound together by a common appreciation for urban aesthetic. Hip-hop as a culture and worldview possesses two essential characteristics: the urban youth aesthetics and urban youth experience (Ginwright 31). Hip-hop as an urban youth aesthetic is most distinguishable through its physical features that are articulated through music, language, clothing and art. It pertains to the visual and artistic expression. On the contrary, hip-hop as an urban youth experience is molded by economic seclusion, poverty and struggle â€Å"to make it out† of the paraphernalia of ghettos. It validates and legitimizes the experiences of pain, hostility, fear, hope and love that have been overlooked in mainstream America for the urban youth. Thus, the relationship between black youth identity and hip-hop cannot be separated (Ginwright 31-32). Furthermore, hip-hop is regarded as a social movement. Social movement is generally characterized by sociologists as collective efforts that endeavor social change. However, hip-hop as a social movement follows different pattern because of three important considerations. First is its emergence as a movement which belongs in the field of pop culture, is a discipline not commonly considered as political and not generally recognized as capable of producing social change. Second is the fact that it is founded and patronized by youth and creative people, who are not ordinarily looked upon as interested in implementing social change. Lastly, it allows the participants to see themselves as part of a bigger society. Thus, it creates a sense of collective identity and organization. Hip-hop as a movement represents a different mode of intervention in the social realm (Watkins 65). If hip-hop is not acknowledged then as a movement that can make a change in the world, on the other hand, it is essential to look at it from another side. Today, hip-hop has revolutionized new genres of music, such as reggaeton, and has influenced the political system. One good example is when Kilopatrick, from a hip-hop generation, defeated the Detroit’s current mayor Gil Hill. It is because the youths from the hip-hop generation have already grown and have already obtained the right and freedom to vote. Their voices have already begun to be heard in the political spectrum. During that time, the election is divided by generation gap that the candidates represented for. The victory of Kilopatrick illustrates the hip-hop’s power over the political arena in order to craft political changes, which for them are very important (qtd. Berky and Greer). Hip-hop is hailed for creating impacts on the society, especially to women of color. Hip-hop, hence, gives a space and outline for their lives. It can be sifted in their hair style, as well as in the way they run, pose, turn, talk and walk. Women has now influenced and affected most elements of hip-hop such as break dancing, poetry, MC, DJ, graffiti artists, beat boxing and pop locking. Hip-hop has also made its way on beauty pageants and top models just like how Tyra Bank’s UPN show, America’s Next Top Model, chooses two hip-hop fashion models in the previous two years (Leslie). On the other hand, hip-hop has been one of the sources of controversies. As such, it has already been blamed and accused of elevating violence, misogyny and homophobia (â€Å"Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes†). Critics have also said that it promotes rebellion and prostitution. Several hip-hop artists exploit women of color through their song lyrics which depict contempt of women (Leslie ). Hip-hop is not just a style of fashion where the youth wears baggy clothes, tattoos or ghetto attires (Leslie). Hip-hop comes in many forms. It is a social movement because its members are youth of a particular community who expresses and articulates their voices and ideas through MCing, DJing, graffiti art and poetry. Even some of hip-hop forms have inculcated political activism within its tenets. Hip-hop is also a cultural movement because it mirrors the culture of a particular group during a particular time. It transpires in a community setting where youth creates a collective identity of the group and of the hip-hop culture itself. Nonetheless, hip-hop is a form of music. Nowadays, it is considered as one of the most well-known genres by marking a history in the music industry. Moreover, hip-hop is indeed an expression of one’s self – a form of articulating and expressing one’s nature and character through hair styles, fashion, music, language and representation. Works Cited Berky, Axel and Tyler Greer. n.d. â€Å"What is Hip-Hop?† Latino Influence in Hip-Hop. 03 March 2009 http://umich.edu/~ac213/student_projects06/tylaxe/index.html. Cheryl L. Keyes. Rap Music and Street Consciousness. University of Illinois: Board of Trustees, 2002. Coger, Lasan. 2009. â€Å"Hip Hop.† The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. 02 March 2009 http://www.naacp.org/about/history/blackmusic/hiphop/index.htm.. Ginwright, Shawn. Black in School: Afrocentric Reform, Urban, Youth and the Promise of Hip-hop Culture. New York: Teacher’s College Press, 004. â€Å"HipHop.† n.d. Lasalle University. 03 March 2009 http://www.lasalle.edu/~larkaid1/hiphop101/what.htm. â€Å"Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes.† 2008. Public Broadcasting Service. 03 March 2009 http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/hiphop/issues.htm. Kaminski, Katie. n.d. â€Å"Hip Hop.† University of Illinois, Chicago. 03 March 2009 http://www.uic.edu/orgs/kbc/hiphop/index.htm. Leslie. 2009. â€Å"Hip-Hop: What is it All About?† My Sistahs: A Project from Advocates for Youth. 03 March 2009 http://www.mysistahs.org/features/about_hiphop.htm. Rentas, Khadijah. 2009. â€Å"What is hip-hop?† Missourian. 03 March 2009 http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2009/01/16/hiphop/. Watkins, Samuel Craig. Representing: Hip Hop Culture and the Production of Black Cinema. Illinois: University of Chicago Press, 1998.

The Digestive System essays

The Digestive System essays Wanna come on a journey through the human digestive system? Join me, Pizza, and Ill tell you everything you need to know about the human digestive system. First, we enter through the mouth. The teeth will tear and grind up the food. The tongue will move the food around then the saliva start to chemically digest the food turning it into a watery mixture that can easily pass into the stomach. Then the food goes down the throat, which is a tube, connecting the mouth to the esophagus, which links also to the stomach. The food is carried along the esophagus by muscular contractions called peristalsis. The food is stores and digested in the stomach, the stomach contains hydrochloric acid and other important enzymes, which chemically break down the food, releasing the nutrients. Muscular contractions move the partially digested food around the stomach. Nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine. The small intestine is divided into three sections. It continues to break down the food and r elease the nutrients into the bloodstream so the can be passed around the body. It has a very large surface due to the villi along its walls that help absorption. Then the liver processes and distributes nutrients. The liver creates bile that is important in chemically breaking down the food in the small intestine. It also processes damaged red blood cells and stores vitamins A and D. When there is no food in the small intestine bile from the liver is sent to the gall bladder where it is stored in a concentrated form to be released when food enters the digestive tract. The pancreas produces pancreatic juice. The pancreas makes enzymes that are released into the small intestine to br4eak down the food. It neutralizes the hydrochloric acid from the stomach, makes the enzyme to stimulate the liver into producing bile and secretes insulin that transports sugar. Feces are stored and expelled by the large intestine. Bacteria in the large intestine act on th...

Basics Of Mutual Funds

In this report, I decided to take advantage of this opportunity to obtain information on the best way to invest in my daughter 's university fund. Please choose between mutual funds or IRA. Thanks to the investigation I made about this, I have decided on the best way to invest my money. The main research I undertook about the IRA was done on the Internet via AOL. Through them, I discovered that the traditional Irish Republican Army exempts a tax of $ 2,000 per person per year. In other words, an investment of 2000 dollars will be deducted from the total income for that year. If you want to invest in your money, and if you are considering an investment trust as an option, are you also looking forward to more information about what mutual funds are? With information related to the basic knowledge of mutual funds, you can start your own investment yourself, with the help of financial planners and investment advisors. You want this information to be easy. If you are looking for this info rmation somewhere, this blog is for you. Here we will explain every aspect of the mutual fund, including basically what is a different type of mutual fund than a mutual fund. It will also focus on the analysis of mutual fund investment and the performance of the mutual fund statement. By understanding all these, you will have ideas about it, but we still have the best mutual funds you should know. In that study we measured the fundamentals of mutual funds as mutual funds and their origins, and in our research we looked at the history, performance, strengths and weaknesses of ABN AMRO MUTUAL FUND and BENCH MARK MUTUAL FUND in our research. We also examined portfolio management and its comparison. It was because the structure turned out to be the same. The rules and regulations, parts and processes are all formulated by SEBI, the main rule of the mutual fund. Investor's choice of investment will invest in mutual funds that use company outline and SEBI guidelines changed by Indian stoc k exchanges and board of directors. Investment trusts are like stock markets, so we will buy and sell them from the company. Investment trust. Different - Since different companies are studying ABN Amro's investment trusts, many plans are offered by investment trusts of Dutch banks in Indian investors to put money into the market

The results of the US involvement in Iraq Research Paper

The results of the US involvement in Iraq - Research Paper Example Nevertheless, the US invasion on Iraq has been considered as one of the most momentous and controversial foreign policy decisions that have ever been made by the American government. Different scholars and political analysts of the world have been divided over the explanation of the American war on Iraq. With a group of them agreeing that it was necessary to maintain world peace by silencing Iraq while the other group finds it unnecessary and a war that had a different motive than just maintaining the world peace. Today, effects of American presence in this country and the impacts of the invasion are still evident. It would be observed that the leadership in Iraq was transformed from dictatorship to democracy a government where the Iraqi citizens had more influence on policies of the government. Also, the presence of America in Middle East helped contain the major militant gangs of the world; Taliban and Al-Qaida; a great step towards uplifting the lives of the different citizens of Iraq and Middle East. But did this solve the Iraqi problem of leadership? Was the government established Democratic? Did this end terror in the region? Iraqi together with several other nations of Middle East today is perceived to be home to the most brutal and dangerous militia group in the world-ISIS. This brutal group has continued to violate the universality of the human rights as stipulated under the UN Human Right Convention of 1948. Now, do we blame America for going in Iraq or do we blame the extremists in Iraq? These are few of the questions that linger in the minds of many individuals today. The truth is that America has had a stake in what is happening in Iraq and the presence of America in Iraq is what has resulted to both the emergence of al-Maliki system of governance and the rise of militia groups in Iraq. This research paper seeks to establish the effects of America presence in Iraq and its influence on the emergence of al-Maliki governance and militia groups in

Sacrifices that the Immigrant Parents Make by Coming to Live and to Essay

Sacrifices that the Immigrant Parents Make by Coming to Live and to Work in the United States - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that parents always find the â€Å"sacrifices† that they make for their families quite easy to bear. For instance, a mother can easily give up her career and become a house wife so as to make sure that her husband and her children have a comfortable daily life. A father can give up his dream job in order not to leave his wife and children in town. While every good parent has to make some sacrifices for the good of their families,   the immigrate parents sacrifice the most in order to give their children a better life. In order to effectively meet the financial and the economic needs of their families, the immigrant parents leave their homes or their hometowns in search of greener pasture abroad. The immigrant parents find it quite challenging to leave their hometowns with which they have already developed emotional attachments. Another major challenge that many immigrant parents face in foreign countries is the challenge of learnin g another new language. Despite these challenges that immigrant parents face in foreign countries, many people, however, especially in the United States have misconceptions or misunderstandings about immigrate parents. Many people in the United States think that the immigrant parents find it easy to stay in the United States; other people think that the main reason behind the immigrant parents coming to the United States is all about money

Marilyn Manson and His Impact on Sub-culture Essay Example for Free

Marilyn Manson and His Impact on Sub-culture Essay Marilyn Manson has been pushing the envelope of the right to freedom of expression since his controversial shock rock antics began in the early 1990s. His methods are strange and rejected by most of society, as it cannot understand what he is trying to achieve. Many people believe that Marilyn Manson is bizarre, seeing him wearing womens clothing, applying heavy facial makeup, and covering himself with jewelry. His success can be attributed not only to his entertainment abilities, but even more so to the incredible marketing campaign organized to promote himself and his crazy actions. His actions give the media a scapegoat to fall back on and a figure which they can blame all of societys problems. He has amassed a large following throughout the 1990s and even today as the self-proclaimed Anti-Christ Marilyn Manson. His fans understand where he has come from, what he has been through and are familiar with rejection from society. The Marilyn Mansons following is normally associated with the Gothic or Goth subculture. At first examination, this seems to be the case as Manson followers and those of the Goth community share remarkable similarities; although true Goths label Manson follows as merely Spooks or Mall Goths, and not real members of the Gothic following. The similarities have been exploited by the media and have linked his music to violent acts against society. It was following the Columbine incident that the media began routinely tagging Marilyn Manson as goth rock despite the fact that Mansons music had little relation to gothic music or sub-culture. (Marilyn, Wikipedia) This essay will explore the reasons why Marilyn Manson is who he is today, why he has such an influence over a particular subculture, and if these followers are actually part of the Gothic community. Who Is Marilyn Manson? Marilyn Manson, the alias and alter-ego of Brian Warner, was created using Marilyn Monroe and serial killer Charles Manson two opposites in society. (Marilyn, MTVe.com) Brian Warner, who formed the band in 1989 and whose apparent business savvy and flair for controversy turned them into a success. Using androgyny, satanic images and themes of rebellion and death, Manson irked bystanders and proved that outrageous rock was still a viable form of entertainment. (Marilyn, Answers.com) The band originally started in South Florida as a small industrial Goth band, and by 1990, Marilyn Manson, along with four other musicians became Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids. They opened for Nine Inch Nails (NIN), and Trent Reznor was very impressed with them and would help them in the future in many different ways. They got a contract from Trent Reznors new label Nothing and got a spot on Nine Inch Nails 94 tours. Manson got to meet Dr. Anton Szandor LaVey. He is the founder of the Church of Satan. Dr. LaVey named Manson as a priest of the Church of Satan. Hence, the title Reverend was given to Manson. (Stanton, Bizarre) Mansons interest in Satanism began when he as a young boy. He spent most of his childhood at his grandparents home. Manson and his friend didnt have anything to do except explore his grandfathers (Jack Warner) basement. They find out that his grandfather is a cross-dresser and a user of explicit pornographic material such as bestiality. This is where Manson was first introduced to perversity. He attended a Christian school and had Christian beliefs forced upon him even though he was Episcopalian. He was teased and ridiculed because of this. This aside, he always knew that their was something different about him. After being detested by his peers, he gradually began to hate his school and take exception to everything that he was told. He turned to music to free him of the troubles that exist in his life, and instead finds out who he really is. He becomes the exact kind of person that he was once scared of as a youth. (Long, Manson and Strauss) Manson began his teenage years in public school where sex, drugs, rock, and the occult were laid in front of him and he began embrace them. Here he meets many people with the same interests as he has. Manson also begins to experience his sexuality with women. From his school experiences to his  involvement with sexuality, Manson begins terrorizing the people who have mistreated him. He started to experiment with black magic, began an enduring drug habit, and displayed his disgust for mainstream citizens by stealing from stores. All of this is what Brian Warner was, and who Marilyn Manson was to become. (Long, Manson and Strauss) As Mansons reputation developed, so did the disturbance surrounding him and his actions. His concerts were regularly protested by civil rights groups, and his music was the target attacks from religious and more specifically, Christian groups. This image was created using Mansons genius for marketing. At the peak of this controversy, Manson had a cover story in Rolling Stone Magazine as well as a best selling autobiography: The Long Hard Road Out of Hell. Why Does He Have Such A Following? Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. (Bill of Rights) Manson, along with many other artists, fully embraces their first amendment right to free speech to get their message across. This message mainly appeals to younger generations who can relate to Mansons songs. Younger audiences are more accepting of his attitude and beliefs, partly due to the fact that teens are more susceptible to mass influence and are easily confused. His communication and identification through music allowed him to amass a loyal following of discontented teens, also know as Mansonites. Mansonite can also be used to refer to anyone who has chosen to identify with the Goth subculture without having any idea of its actual nature or composition. Generally, an overnight Goth, or Spooky Kid, will adopt certain aspects of the Goth aesthetic (predominantly black clothing, copious amounts of eyeliner) and loudly proclaim themselves Goth. (Mansonite, Wikipedia.com) Older generations are quick to assume that it is Mansons antics which appeals to his followers. But, if no attention was paid to Manson, and his songs and actions didnt receive the attention that they do, there wouldnt be such controversy over his religious beliefs or whether he is actually influencing delinquent teens. Teens that are labeled as outcasts can identify with Manson because the media portrays him as an outcast. He dresses differently, often in womens clothing and he pretends to be a homosexual something which is a hot topic of acceptance in todays society. Teenagers these days have very short attention spans and turn to someone like Manson to entertain them by doing extreme things. The Emergence of Spooky Kids goth (g th) n. A style of rock music that often evokes bleak, lugubrious imagery. A performer or follower of this style of music Courtesy of Dictionary.com Mall Goth or Spooky Kid is a disparaging term for someone not supposed to be a real Goth, whose commitment to the Gothic is seen as shallow, pretentious, or dependent on shopping mall-purchased Goth clothes. Their taste is narrowly subjective to mallcore/nu-metal. There have been accusations that (some of, at least) those who listen to the music of Marilyn Manson, Korn, and Slipknot are mall goths. Many mall goths shop at the popular clothing store Hot Topic. (Mall Goths, Wikipedia.com) Real Gothists would refer to Mansonites as posers, who pretend to know about a particular subculture, but in reality only know a few choice buzz-words and what style of clothes to wear. The Real Goth Subculture How do you define Goth? Goth is short for Gothic, and we typically associate Goth with people that wear black or blood-red coloured clothing . These clothes are often made of leather, lace, and fishnet, and are adorned with spikes, studs, or other shiny metal objects. Sometimes metallic, black, or dark makeup is worn by both the male and females. Some go so far as  permanent body modifications such as full body tattoos, tongue splitting, or vampire teeth implants. Those in the Goth scene tend to view the Goth concept rather as an expression of individuality, something they take part in because it seems comfortable and natural for them to do so, rather than because its something they want to be. And as such, Goth is a state of mind. Goth is not about being cool-hip, up-to-date. Goth is more about being cool-chilly as in unemotional, detached, unmoved at least on the surface. Theres an inner calmness, tranquility to it. A need for being given and giving the others space to be at one with themselves. Respect towards the individual at least as long as it is a fellow Goth. (Goth, BBC) After conducting a thorough research of the particular subculture, it really is difficult to define Goth. It is ambiguous and open for interpretation. If Marilyn Manson followers acts or dresses a certain way because of their expression for individuality, then they could be considered Goth. If a Marilyn Manson follower acts or dresses a certain way just to follow the crowd or fit in with this subculture, then, based on the quote above, they would not be considered Goth. Works Cited: The Long Hard Road Out of Hell: Marilyn Manson Neil Strauss Regan Books (April 1, 1999) Goth A Lifestyle, BBC Available via HTTP: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A473924 Marilyn Manson, Wikipedia.com, the free encyclopedia. Available via HTTP: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Manson Mall Goth Wikipedia.com, the free encyclopedia. Available via HTTP: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mall_Goth Mansonite, Wikipedia.com, the free encyclopedia. Available via HTTP: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansonite Marilyn Manson, MTVe.com Available via HTTP: http://www.mtve.com/artist.php?ArtistId=276 Marilyn Manson, Answers.com Available via HTTP: http://www.answers.com/topic/marilyn-manson Stanton Lavey, Bizarre Magazine Available via HTTP: http://www.bizarremag.com/bizarre_lives.php?id=1809 The Bill of Rights, US Department of State Available via HTTP: http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/funddocs/billeng.htm

Alexander the Great Essay -- Biography

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Humanity has known a few distinguished consolidators of civilizations. Alexander the Great is one of them, and the first to accumulate power in his hand beyond any conqueror’s dream. His feats served as guidelines for other rulers like Cesar Augustus and Napoleon, who, by means of outstanding military prowess, conquered and ruled most of the civilized world of their times.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alexander was born in 356 B.C., as the son of King Philip II and Olympias. He was taught by the great philosopher, Aristotle, inspiring him in the fields of, philosophy and medicine. Although he had a broader view of humanity than that of Aristotle’s perception, that all non-Greeks, should be treated as slaves. Alexander, after the death of his father, King Philip II in 336 BC, was to become the next king of Macedonia at the tender age of 20. Although young, Alexander was determined and willing to become the next great king of Macedonia. Because of his young age Greek cities, who had pledged loyalty to his father, were not certain that they wanted to allow a twenty-year-old boy to lead a kingdom. Also, barbarians from the north and west, whom Philip had repressed, were becoming a threat to Macedonia.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Those close to Alexander had recommended that he let Athens and Thebes go and be careful with the barbarians to prevent them from rebelling. Alexander however, had other plans. So he proceeded north, and drove the barbarians past the Danube River. The rumor of Alexander’s supposed death, were being spread throughout Athens and Thebes, claiming that it was the moment for them to disconnect from Macedonia. Infuriated by these rumors, Alexander showed up at the gates of Thebes, in 335 B.C., only to find the refusal of surrender by the Thebans. The Thebans sent a small body of soldiers, with whom Alexander sent his own of archers and infantry. The following day, Alexander's general, Perdiccas, attacked the gates. The Macedonians then rushed into the city, killing almost everyone in sight, including women and children. They continued on and burned the entire city of Thebes to the ground. This display proved as an example to the rest of Greece. Athens quickly rethought their decision of before to not follow Alexander, and chose to come to terms with their new leader.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alexander was determined to achieve the dream of his father, the takeover of the Persian Empire. T... ...ly three quarters of his army to starvation and the harsh conditions of the desert. When the survivors reached the region called Carmania, their fortune changed dramatically as they were welcomed into the prosperous land. Alexander and his men celebrated the end of their ordeal in the desert and traveled in luxury to Harmezeia, where they rejoined Nearchus and his soldiers. Then the whole army marched inland to Persis to rest. In 324 B.C.E., Alexander furthered his mission to assimilate Macedonian and Persian cultures when he arranged thousands of marriages between the Greek soldiers and Persian women in Susa. Alexander himself took a second wife, Stateira, one of Darius' daughters. In the spring of the same year while Alexander's army was stationed in Ecbatana, his best friend, Hephaestion, died of a fever. He was overcome with grief, and he consoled himself by leading a campaign against a tribe of brigands called the Cossaeans. The next year, Alexander traveled with his men to Babylon despite numerous threatening omens. The omens were so frequent and ominous that Alexander feared that he had fallen out of favor with the gods. He died of a fever on June 10, 323 B.C.E. Alexander the Great Essay -- Biography   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Humanity has known a few distinguished consolidators of civilizations. Alexander the Great is one of them, and the first to accumulate power in his hand beyond any conqueror’s dream. His feats served as guidelines for other rulers like Cesar Augustus and Napoleon, who, by means of outstanding military prowess, conquered and ruled most of the civilized world of their times.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alexander was born in 356 B.C., as the son of King Philip II and Olympias. He was taught by the great philosopher, Aristotle, inspiring him in the fields of, philosophy and medicine. Although he had a broader view of humanity than that of Aristotle’s perception, that all non-Greeks, should be treated as slaves. Alexander, after the death of his father, King Philip II in 336 BC, was to become the next king of Macedonia at the tender age of 20. Although young, Alexander was determined and willing to become the next great king of Macedonia. Because of his young age Greek cities, who had pledged loyalty to his father, were not certain that they wanted to allow a twenty-year-old boy to lead a kingdom. Also, barbarians from the north and west, whom Philip had repressed, were becoming a threat to Macedonia.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Those close to Alexander had recommended that he let Athens and Thebes go and be careful with the barbarians to prevent them from rebelling. Alexander however, had other plans. So he proceeded north, and drove the barbarians past the Danube River. The rumor of Alexander’s supposed death, were being spread throughout Athens and Thebes, claiming that it was the moment for them to disconnect from Macedonia. Infuriated by these rumors, Alexander showed up at the gates of Thebes, in 335 B.C., only to find the refusal of surrender by the Thebans. The Thebans sent a small body of soldiers, with whom Alexander sent his own of archers and infantry. The following day, Alexander's general, Perdiccas, attacked the gates. The Macedonians then rushed into the city, killing almost everyone in sight, including women and children. They continued on and burned the entire city of Thebes to the ground. This display proved as an example to the rest of Greece. Athens quickly rethought their decision of before to not follow Alexander, and chose to come to terms with their new leader.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alexander was determined to achieve the dream of his father, the takeover of the Persian Empire. T... ...ly three quarters of his army to starvation and the harsh conditions of the desert. When the survivors reached the region called Carmania, their fortune changed dramatically as they were welcomed into the prosperous land. Alexander and his men celebrated the end of their ordeal in the desert and traveled in luxury to Harmezeia, where they rejoined Nearchus and his soldiers. Then the whole army marched inland to Persis to rest. In 324 B.C.E., Alexander furthered his mission to assimilate Macedonian and Persian cultures when he arranged thousands of marriages between the Greek soldiers and Persian women in Susa. Alexander himself took a second wife, Stateira, one of Darius' daughters. In the spring of the same year while Alexander's army was stationed in Ecbatana, his best friend, Hephaestion, died of a fever. He was overcome with grief, and he consoled himself by leading a campaign against a tribe of brigands called the Cossaeans. The next year, Alexander traveled with his men to Babylon despite numerous threatening omens. The omens were so frequent and ominous that Alexander feared that he had fallen out of favor with the gods. He died of a fever on June 10, 323 B.C.E.

Best Buy Analysis

Best Buy Context Analysis Best Buy Co. , Inc. is a specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada, China, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and in Canada operates under both the Best Buy and Future Shop label (Dual Branding). Together these operate more than 1,150 stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, China, Mexico, and Turkey.In addition, the company has rolled out over 100 Best Buy Express Automated Retail stores or â€Å"ZoomShops†, operated by Zoom Systems, in airports and malls around the U. S. The company's corporate headquarters are located in Richfield, Minnesota. Best Buy was named â€Å"Company of the Year† by Forbes magazine in 2004, â€Å"Specialty Retailer of the Decade† by Discount Store News in 2001, ranked in the Top 10 of â€Å"America's Most Generous Corporations† by Forbes magazine in 2005, and made Fortune magazine's List of Most Admired Companies in 2006.On March 9, 2009, Best Buy became the primary electronics retail store (online and bricks and mortar) in the eastern United States, after smaller rival Circuit City went out of business. Fry's Electronics remains a major competitor in the western United States. Many locations feature in-store pickup, which can be arranged through the company's website. Climate Factors Political * Best Buy is engaged in various activities to promote the promotion of candidates and political organizations. The company complies with all the laws related to the political contributions and strives to contribute to the  parties that are interested in the well being of their industry (Best Buy, 2009). Economic * The economic slowdown has no doubt affected the business operations of Bust Buy Co. and they are facing consumer related challenges at every point in the market. * Due to these economic conditions, i n 2008, Best Buy Co. asked its employee’s to separate from the company on voluntary basis (ecoustics, 2008).This strategy allowed the company to settle down in the market to some extent. * Corporate partnership with CPW has helped the company to perform better in the adverse conditions of the economy and markets Social * Best Buy is engaged in effective social and community related initiatives. * It has developed Children’s Foundation that aims to support the local communities via its grant making programs. * It took an initiative to give power to teens to improve their relationship and educational status at school and for them to engage in their communities. The company gives grants and store donations to promote education. * Has partnered up with foundations like Admission Possible, AFI Screen Nation, America Scores, American Red Cross Society, Ashoka’s Youth Venture, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, among others. Technological * The company is highly equipped with the latest gadgets and the technology it requires to facilitate its customer base. * They are also using technologies like click stream on the websites to keep the anonymous track of their visitor’s preferences and likes.This technology helps them to develop a better, more secure shopping experience and helps Best Buy to understand how visitors use their website. Environmental * Best Buy launched a program called Greener together to increase the energy efficiency in its products and to reduce the level of waste  by using recyclable packaging and disposing system. * The company also offers free recycling of gadgets large and small. Bust Buy S. W. O. T. Analysis Strength * Consumers have a positive view of Best Buy as opposed to competitors * Strong market presence and wide consumer base provides competitive dvantage. * Loyalty programs – â€Å"Reward Zone† * Acquisitions like Future Shops, Geek Squad, Napster, and Jiangsu Five Star * Knowledgeable Staff W eaknesses * Private Brand recalls * Constrained credit availability Opportunities * Expanding presence in China, Mexico, Europe, Canada, UK, and Turkey. * Private brand potential * Growing online sales * Circuit City’s demise has freed up some of the market * Dual branding in Canada and China Threats * Economic slowdown * Intense competition * Political issues between U. S. and China * Quality issues with Chinese exporters.

Response to “We Should Cherish Our Children’s Freedom to Think” by Kie Ho

We read the article, â€Å"We Should Cherish Our Children’s Freedom to Think† last week. The author Kie Ho uses his own experiences about his son’s thought and many examples to prove his point. He thinks that public education certainly is not perfect in America, but it is a great deal better than any other country. Children should be more liberal thinking, writing and imagining, rather than comply with the rules or follow the prescribed order of their parents and the execution of what adults say. Children’s creativity brings inspiration to adults, improves the act of education and makes the change to the world.It is also can make children have a better future. The system of education is not perfect; it is difficult for the children to freely to think, write and create when they began to study the knowledge from the school for a long time, because school teaches the knowledge that is scientific and rigorous. The knowledge is the system and it needs to be au dited and modified. Chinese students spend 15 to17 years study knowledge in school. So the school does not require students to research the new knowledge. They just need the student to memorize and calculate rather than to validate it that is correct.Just like the sky is blue. Why? Because our teacher is telling us the sky is blue. When people are very young, they do not know what many words mean. And the meaning of these words is also what other people give to it. After that their parents or teachers teach them what these words mean, because that knowledge is fixed and cannot be changed. The reality of the society requires people to not only to remember the knowledge, but also have to complete experiments. Solving the reality and ideal conflict can also make the education system more perfect.I agree with the author’s point that the students just use ways of dedication and obedience to answer the teachers’ question about knowledge. The teacher very easily controls and manages the students' learning progress, and can quickly lead students to think about the knowledge. They do not have a chance to choose the answers because teacher will give a correct answer when the student asks. There is nothing that can replace it. If the student does not use the correct answers to fill in the homework or exam problems, they won't get a good result, which has a great influence on their GPA.So that in the future they can't go to a good university. Therefore there are many schools that will provide opportunities for students and guidance to exercise to have a rich imagination. In China, many parents send their child to this school to exercise the ability before children go to the elementary school. Parents always are willing to provide their children with future security. People need the very rich and colorful thought from the children, because Children's thinking is not restricted and is not affected by the external environmental effects. Adult feeling and though t has a fixed pattern.And they also think things should be comprehensive and meticulous, they cannot do wayward things before they think. They need to have sense of responsibility and social moral consciousness, because they have more force of action and also have independent economic needs to support their actions. So the idea of children of the enlightenment, schools can compensate for these external factors, and reduce the bad influence of socially. So in conclusion I agree with Kie Hos’ ideas that people should cherish their children’s freedom to think, write and be creative in imagination, and make education system more perfect.He improves his idea on children thought, and uses his experiences to show other people what he thinks about the freedom of young people’s ideas. In return, I think that he demonstrated the ideas and perspectives made by the adults to reflect on their own ideas on the future of children’s thought, Children’s thought can help adults instead of limiting children’s development. The children’s thought is very rich and colorful, and they cannot be influenced by the adult’s thought. The adults will from their mind bring inspiration of the children. Do not imprison our thoughts. We can make our country perfect.

Questions Number One Essays - Economy, Distribution Of Wealth

Questions Number One Essays - Economy, Distribution Of Wealth Questions Number One In Canada individuals fall on the poverty line children/youth being born into a family of aboriginals, female long parents, individuals that have disabilities, recent immigrants or people of colour. Other ways individuals can create pathways to poverty is through life situations such as divorce, employment insecurity, and illnesses. that are most likely to experience poverty are adults and children that have physical and mental disabilities. According to the textbook Canada distributes less than 1% of GDP towards disability benefits resulting us at 17th place out of 20 OECD nations (Poverty in Canada, pg. 390). People with disabilities often must rely on such benefits due to being disadvantaged in employment opportunities and minimum wages. Recent immigrants from countries such as Somalia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Ethiopian experience poverty in Canada. According to figure 3.3 of the textbook recent immigrants have the highest child poverty rates in comparison to aboriginals, ind ividuals with disabilities and children (Poverty in Canada, pg. 69) Members from the countries listed above tend to fall below the Statistics Canada "Low Income Cut-Off" the reason for such low income is mainly the result of discrimination and racism. Table 3.3 of the textbook states 27.4 recent immigrants earn income through low/minimum wages (Poverty in Canada, pg. 78). The social determinants of health these groups face that lead them further into poverty are employment insecurity and working condition. Aboriginals, people of colour and recent immigrants have lower paying jobs resulting to low income which leads to food insecurity. According to the textbook Social Determinants of Health, mothers tend to experience higher levels of food insecurity because they rather comprise their hunger for their child (Social Determinants of Health pg. 188). Other social determinants of health that lead further into poverty is education specifically early childhood education and care. A child's early development can help initiate a plate form for factors such as income, lifestyle, education levels and status producing a successful individual. Question Number Two Canadian policies have led many to poverty due to employment gap, the low-income gap, housing being on the rise, limited universal health provisions, support for individuals with disabilities is limited and child care benefit. However, it seems like public policy makers do not want to address poverty. During the lecture presented by Dr. Dennis Raphael the power points suggested that there are two approaches of considering public policy in Canada. One is the Marxist/materialist view where the government developed policies to serve the interests of economic elites such as owners and managers of large corporations focusing on maximizing their profit. The Marxist model suggests that elected officials focus on implementing policies in the best interest of economic elites. Resulting them to control the public agenda. Canada one of the richest developed countries in the world, however our welfare state is poor compared to other nations such as Denmark or Sweden. The reason of how these policies are related to the form of the Canadian welfare state is mainly because either the consensus model where the welfare state is the result of the democratic policy making that responded to the governments through a pluralistic view with equality and justice (Poverty in Canada, pg.441). Or, the conflict model where the welfare state is through social movements of groups such as working individuals fighting for their rights of freedom. According to the textbook the reason why many Canadians are living in poverty is because Canada policies result in high poverty rates are mainly due to the political ideologies and economic elite's interests (Canada in Poverty, pg. 442). Having low uniunization rate results to greater the poverty rate because they hold influence on electing the representatives of Canada. For exam ple, Box 14.1 of chapter fourteen, majority of the workers in food banks are volunteers Question Number Three According to the textbook Social Determinants of Health the higher the income levels the better health they have and they tend to live longer than individuals in poverty or the middle class (Social Determinants of Health pg. 99). When living in poverty one is always stressed as how to how they will manage to pay their bills through their low employment income or through their benefits. Often these individuals must cut down their daily food

Creative piece of writing and rationale Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Creative piece of writing and rationale - Essay Example Thus, realities of life give birth to the formation of literature. Looking into the history of the world at large, it becomes obvious that all human societies have worked for the preservation of their culture in the form of poetry, art, sculpture, drama, paintings and other forms of creativity. It is therefore ancient Greek philosophers and thinkers have discussed literature in their lectures and writings. Plato has also analysed literature critically with special focus on poesy. He has declared poetry as mere imitation of life, and a true literary genre presents the actual picture of patterns of life without concealing the bitter facts it maintains. Aristotle, in his renowned Poetics, views men mere objects of imitation. â€Å"Since the objects of imitation are men in action, he argues, and these men must be either of a higher or a lower type, it follows that we must represent men either as better than in real life, or as worse, or as they are. It is the same in painting.† (A ristotle: Poetics, Chapter 2) Poetry, drama, novel, fiction, prose, essay, short story and sonnets are the main literary genres, among which romance maintains the most significant place that has captured the attention of the readers especially during the modern and post modern times. Different scholars have defined the term romance differently. Usually romance is attributed to those pieces where both the theme and the events present the story in comparatively more glamorous and adventurous way. â€Å"Something grander†, Peck & Coyle view, â€Å"than the novel’s familiar concern with social issues is involved in the romance, because it suggest a search for some truth beyond that which we might encounter in ordinary experience.† (1989, p 118) Romance is especially attributed to English and American literatures, from where it has successfully completed its long excursion in a systematic and persistent way. â€Å"A romantic novel†, Wikipaedia

Cross-cultural Issues in International Management Essay

Cross-cultural Issues in International Management - Essay Example Other cultural factors do not seem to pose in major challenges. Leadership styles are quite similar as is apparent from the GLOBE study. English is commonly used there and hence communication will not be a major issue. With regard to style, Malaysians tend to be more indirect and hence our managers need to be patient while dealing with their Malaysian counterparts. The global economic slump and the US downturn will have some effect on the JV. But this need not cause any delays or postponements in the whole process. On the whole, if the steps recommended in this report are implemented, the joint venture will have a smooth cultural integration and all possible problems can be minimized. Employee management is a crucial function of management which calls for extensive knowledge and expertise in the field of management and behavioral sciences like psychology, sociology etc. The knowledge in these areas was sufficient enough to manage a firm which operates within the boundaries of a country. But, as the corporate world has gone international with globalization and liberalization policies enunciated in almost all countries, the role of human resource manager became so complicated than ever before. In the present global market, managers of multi national firms/joint ventures can no longer effectively manage their employees with their knowledge in the culture of their home country alone. Rather, they must possess multi-cultural knowledge which equips themselves with the techniques to manage employees who hail from different countries. The necessity of possessing these techniques is seriously felt in the present scenario simply because going global is the order of the day . The present report is meant to inform and make alert all concerned to face the challenges in the management of multi-nationals/joint ventures. The broad objectives for which the present report is prepared are: 1. To identify and analyze the cultural differences between United States of America and Malaysia. 2. To study the impact of cultural differences on the management, because of :- a. The differences in Leadership style b. Communication style and language c. Organization Structure 3. To analyze the impact of cultural differences on the employee performance 4. To study the issues and challenges before the management in managing the employees from both the countries. The present paper is purely qualitative and analytical in nature. The paper relies solely on secondary sources for data collection. Data sources such as Books and periodicals, electronic sources are extensively used. The data gathered are used for writing the report from an analytical perspective, but no analytical tool is used. The report is prepared in such a way that every one in the organization associated with the problem is able to comprehend the real issues and challenges of cross-cultural management. Literature Review: Cultural Differences between United States of America and Malaysia: Culture is a country specific term. Every country has a unique and distinct culture of its own which has a bearing on the life and life style of the people in that country. The culture and history are closely related in the sense that culture is formed and developed over years from the history of a country. The