Muslim beliefs about Allah Essay Example Essay Example

  Muslim beliefs about Allah Essay Example Paper Muslim beliefs about Allah Essay Introduction Muslims believe that there is only one God, Allah. They believe that God is one, therefore Allah can have no plurals, polytheism is wrong and Christianity is wrong because Jesus was not God’s son. Because Allah is one, he must always have been and always will be and he depends on no one but himself. Because Allah is one, the universe he created must be a unity. This is why following the way of Islam makes Muslims a united community (ummah). Surah 112 states, â€Å"Say, ‘He is God the One and Only, God the Eternal, Absolute; He   Muslim beliefs about Allah Essay Body Paragraphs begetteth not nor is He begotten; and there is none like unto Him.’ This means that Muslims reject the Christian belief in the Trinity and will not allow anything to interfere with Allah’s oneness. The belief in Allah’s oneness is called tawhid by Muslims and is the basis of all their beliefs about Allah. It is also the first part of the shahadah (first pillar, often called the Muslim creed) – ‘I bear witness that there is no god but Allah.’ Muslims believe that as there is only one God, it follows that Allah created everything. According to Muslim belief, Allah created the universe and humans in six days, though many Muslims would claim that one-day for God is not the same as one day for humans and therefore this could fit with the timescale of evolution. However, Muslims do not believe in evolution because everything was made directly by God for a particular purpose, and nothing came into being accidentally. As the one God who created everyt hing, Muslims believe that Allah has power over everything. (He is omnipotent.) The Qur’an calls Allah the All-powerful. Allah is in control of the universe he made and he has a plan for it. Muslims believe that nothing happens without Allah’s consent. Muslims believe that God is merciful and compassionate. He has not just left humans alone in the world to get on with things. He has sent prophets with holy books to show them how to live their lives and his justice means that they will only be judged on how far they have followed the teachings of the prophets and holy books. Muslims also believe that God’s mercy means that God will forgive people if they do not live up to everything in the holy books. If Muslims feel they have done something wrong, they will pray to God for forgiveness and either fast (sawm) or give money to the poor (sadaqah). Before they die all Muslims try to confess their sins and ask God to forgive them, so that they will not be sent to hell on the Day of Judgement. The Qur’an and Muhammad say that God will forgive Muslims if they are truly sorry for what they have done and are determined to do better in future. They will not be forgiven if they are only confessing in order to avoid hellfire. The sin of shirk As belief in the oneness of Allah is the central belief about God, so the greatest sin a Muslim can commit is shirk (associating other beings with God). For this reason Muslim mosques have no images and no pictures, only abstract art or calligraphy (beautiful writing of verses from the Qur’an). Some Muslims will not allow photographs as this might lead to shirk. They would especially not allow pop posters or football player posters, because hero worship is shirk. The ummah of Islam The oneness of God who created everything means that there must be a oneness (unity) in what God has created. Just as the universe is a unity, so the religious community of Islam should be a unity. This is why Muslims are called the ummah (religious community of Islam), which shows the unity of Islam. The unity of the ummah is shown in the following ways: when Muslims perform salah and stand in rows shoulder to shoulder, so all are equal. in zakah, where rich Muslims give money to help their poor Muslim brothers. in hajj, where Muslims from all over the world of many races and colours perform the same actions, wear the same clothes and say the same things. the fact that there is only one shari’ah (law) for all Muslims, wherever they live. There should be no quarrelling or fighting in Islam. Therefore those who do quarrel or fight do not really believe in tawhid. Islamic teaching on humans as khalifah The Qur’an says that Allah created Adam to be his khalifah (vice-regent or steward) to look after the world. Allah taught Adam the nature of all things and made the angels bow down to Adam. Muslims believe that this was because Adam had been given free will by Allah, which allowed Allah to teach him the nature of things. As khalifah of the earth with free will, Adam was different from the angels. Muslims believe that, as descendants of Adam, all humans have been put on this earth to be khalifah for God. They are to look after the world as God intended it to be done, which is by accepting the six beliefs and following the pillars and shari’ah as given in the Qur’an. If this is done properly, then the earth will become the sort of place God created it to be. Because Allah created people for this purpose, and in his mercy gave them the Qur’an and the examples of the prophets to live by, humans have no excuse for not being good khalifah. Therefore Allah is justified in judging them on the way they carry out their role as khalifah. Islamic teaching on al’Qadar and human freedom Al’Qadar (the Divine Decree) says that Allah has a plan for the universe and the power to make that plan come about. Allah will make happen what he wants to ha ppen. Islam teaches that Allah knows what will happen in the future and that what will happen is what Allah wants to happen. Therefore Muslims believe that Allah can interfere with what is happening in the world. They believe that he can protect his faithful servants. This means that whatever happens is part of Allah’s plan and even though it might not seem like it, eventually everything will work out all right. This belief in al’Qadar is why many Muslims use the phrase ‘insh’Allah’ (if Allah wills) a lot. Whatever happens will not be what they want, but what Allah wants. This causes problems for Muslims because it seems to mean that there is nothing we can do about things and therefore they must leave it all to Allah and just sit back. However, most Muslims believe in both Allah’s power and human freewill. Humans have to do what Allah wants of their own free will. Allah knows what people will do but they have the freedom to decide what to do . Most Muslims do not think about the implications and say ‘insh’Allah’ without thinking that it means they are not free. Islamic teaching on angels Muslims believe that angels were created directly by Allah, and are made of light and are sexless (though they have male names). They have no freewill and so cannot do evil. The chief angel is Jibrail (Gabriel) who gives God’s messages to the prophets. Mikail (Michael) looks after heaven and keeps the Devil out. Israfil is responsible for the Last Day and will sound the trumpet. Izrail is responsible for taking the last breath from the dying. Most Muslims believe that they have recording angels who write down everything they do for the Day of Judgement, and guardian angels who look after them if they are good Muslims. Islam teaches that Allah uses angels to communicate with humans via prophets. Islamic teaching on prophets Muslims believe that prophets are human beings called by God to give his message to huma ns. God makes them sinless after they become prophets, but they remain human. Adam was given the message of Islam as the sign of God’s mercy. He showed humans how they should live as Allah’s khalifah and so go to heaven, but his message was lost or distorted by humans and so God had to send another prophet, but with the same message. There were many prophets, but the main ones you have to study are: Ibrahim who was born into a polytheistic family, but came to believe in Allah and so broke all the statues of the gods in his tribe. He was condemned to be burnt to death for this, but Allah stopped the fire from touching him. Ibrahim had two sons, Ismail (who became the prophet for the Arabs), and Ishaq (who became the prophet for the Jews). Ibrahim was tested by Allah to sacrifice Ismail and the devil tempted him not to. Ibrahim stoned the devil and obeyed Allah. Allah gave Ibrahim a ram to sacrifice, and Ismail was saved. Ibrahim and Ismail rebuilt the Ka’aba, whi ch had been destroyed in Noah’s (Nuh) flood. Isa (Jesus) was born of the Virgin Mary, but was not the Son of God and was not crucified on the cross; someone else died in his place. Isa performed many miracles, was taken directly to heaven by God and will return again at the end of the world. The work of all these prophets was either forgotten or distorted, so that Islam had become Judaism or Christianity or Arab Bedouin polytheism. At this point Allah decided to call a prophet who would be given the message in a way that could not be distorted so that no more prophets would be needed. This was the prophet Muhammad. Muslims believe that Muhammad performed no miracles except for receiving the Qur’an, which was the final word of God, given to Muhammad in such a way that it could never again be distorted. This was Allah’s final word and enabled Muhammad to restore Islam. Muhammad has the same status as all the other prophets. Muslims are supposed to say Peace Be Upo n Him each time they mention a prophet’s name. Islamic belief in holy books Islam teaches that: ?Ibrahim was given Allah’s word in the holy book of the Scrolls of Ibrahim. ?Musa (Moses) was given Allah’s word in the holy book of Tawrat (Torah). ?Dawud (David) was given Allah’s word in the holy book of Zabur (Psalms). ?Isa (Jesus) was given Allah’s word in the holy book of Injil (Gospels). Some Muslims believe that each of these holy books contained the Qur’an, but most Muslims believe they only contained a part of the Qur’an. Each of these holy books was distorted and so they are no longer the original holy book. Muslims believe the Qur’an is Allah’s final word to humans, and so no other holy books are needed. The belief in Muhammad as the seal of the prophets What makes Muhammad different from the other prophets is that the Qur’an says that Muhammad is ‘the seal of the prophets’. Muslims believe that this means: Adam was given Allah’s message, but it was forgotten. So Ibrahim was given Allah’s message, but that was also forgotten. So Allah gave Musa the holy book of the Tawrat, but that was distorted. So he gave Dawud the Zabur, but that was distorted. So he gave Isa the Injil, but that was distorted. So he decided to give Muhammad his final word, the Qur’an, in a form that can never be distorted. Muhammad received the Qur’an in such a way that it will never be forgotten or distorted and so there will never be a need for another holy book. If there will never be a need for another holy book, there will never be another prophet. This means that Muhammad is the last of the prophets, acting like a seal at the end of Allah’s letter to humans. 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Sport Business in Brazil Management Essay

Sport Business in Brazil Management Essay Sport Business in Brazil Management Essay Sport Business in Brazil Management Essay The Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro is scheduled to hold the forthcoming 2016 Olympics, which is the first Olympics on the South American continent. In 2014, Brazil already held the FIFA World Cup. The devotion to these sporting mega-events implies that the country, as well as the City of Rio de Janeiro, will have to work hard. Having hosted one mega-event, the capabilities of the country have already been put to the test. MEGA SPORTING EVENT – RIO DE JANEIRO OLYMPICS The 2016 Olympics will be an opportunity for Brazil to avoid some of the challenges experienced during the preparations for the FIFA World Cup. The mega-event refers to a large-scale event of a worldwide significance, which usually attracts people from almost all corners of the world. The ability of these events to attract millions of people has both negative and positive effects. The 2016 Rio Olympics can boost the economic development of the region if correctly managed. For Brazil, holding the Olympics is similar to taking a business risk in order to earn the benefits of the investment. On the other hand, if poorly managed, the event is likely to become a burden to the host country and cause losses. Effective management and preparation of the sporting mega-events can guarantee success and profits. However, the hope is that the 2016 Rio Olympics will contribute to the economic growth of Brazil. The management of a sporting mega-event requires consideration of the three crucial issue s: the infrastructure of the hosting nation, the security of the hosting country, and financial capability of the organizing body, as well as that of the hosting country. This paper discusses the present situation of Brazil and analyses the management of the event. The crucial aspects of the management that will be considered include the infrastructure, security, and financing. Current Situation of Brazil Brazil has been classified as one of the fastest developing economies (Andersson, Armbrect Lundberg 2008). The country reported considerable development and growth in the last decade despite being hit by the global economic downturn. Nowadays, it is a leading country both in Latin and South America in terms of the economic growth. Moreover, it is among the ten largest world economies (Atkinson et al. 2008). Because of the constantly improving economic growth and global status, Brazil was awarded both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics Games. The groundwork for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics has started. Brazil has the chance of learning from the failures and successes of both Greece and Barcelona in hosting the mega events (Walker et al. 2010). Greece is a clear example of the failure in hosting the mega event while Barcelona is an example of success. According to Fourie and Santana-Gallego (2011), the ambitions of holding the Rio Olympic Games might interfere with th e continuous economic growth that the country is hoping. The research has shown that the economic effect of mega-events can be smaller in the developing countries than in the industrialized economies. There is no doubt that the Olympics will create the tourism demand and employment opportunities; it will also strengthen the Brazilian economy to a significant extent. The job opportunities are imminent following the forthcoming 2016 Olympics. The Brazilians living in Rio de Janeiro expect an increase in the labour market with the demand for workers for constructing the Olympic facilities (Curi, Knijnik Mascarenhas 2011). However, the experience of Greece has demonstrated that the overall benefits from the increased tourism traffic will primarily affect the wealthy. The historical analysis of the sporting mega-events have also shown that the development is very uneven and seems to benefit the construction interests and private developers while the leisure sites are developing only for the rich (Walker et al. 2010). According to Haddad and Hahhad (2010), the overall benefits might not influence the middle class and bottom-of-pyramid (BOP) Brazilians without effective management of the sporting mega-events. Consequently, there is an outright necessity to plan regularly, exploit the positives, and counteract the negatives. According to Maennig and Zi mbalist (2012), planning and organizing are indispensable in making Brazil benefit from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Infrastructural Capacity of Brazil to Host the 2016 Olympics The management of sporting mega-events requires an evaluation of the infrastructural capacity of the city/country to hold the events. The International Olympics Committee (IOC) expressed their doubts concerning the infrastructural capacity of Rio de Janeiro to host the Olympic Games (Curi, Knijnik Mascarenhas 2011). The infrastructure refers to the basic ultimate facilities and systems serving the city of Rio de Janeiro. These facilities include the transportation, communication, and power systems among many others. In a typical corporate world, businesses also require these facilities to thrive. The infrastructural capabilities of Brazil were tested by the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Even though Rio de Janeiro hosted some of the matches, it cannot be concluded that the city has adequate facilities for the mega-event. Unlike the World Cup, which takes place in multiple cities, the Olympics takes place in a single city (Andersson, Armbrect Lundberg 2008). Consequently, many people will be concentrated in one place, unlike in the World Cup when people spread over numerous cities. The concentration of people in the City of Rio de Janeiro implies that there will be pressure on the infrastructural facilities during the 2016 Olympics than during the 2014 World Cup. Therefore, the management of the 2016 Rio Olympics should not rely on the previous experience of the FIFA World Cup (Andersson, Armbrect Lundberg 2008). The IOC has set its requirements, which are different from those established by FIFA. The assessment of the pre-Olympics has indicated that about 49750 rooms will satisfy the IOC’s demands (Curi, Knijnik Mascarenhas 2011). The sporting mega-events management also requires planning for the extreme situations. Rio de Janeiro has put in place the necessary plans of using condominium and cruise ships in case of the over demand for accommodation. In terms of transportation, the Brazilian authorities have plans to construct the roads linking the Olympic zones (Fourie Santana-Gallego 2011). Financial Capacity of Rio de Janeiro to Host the Olympics The preparation for the Olympics necessitated the Brazilian authorities to prepare a report on how it will finance the mega-event. Brazil reported that it had allotted about US $240 billion for the 2016 Olympics sporting mega-event (Haddad Hahhad 2010). These finances were allocated from the Federal Governments Plan for Accelerated Growth (PAC). According to Haddad and Hahhad (2010), the federal government has offered the required financial support, educational developments, ecological conversation, and social programs for the poor among the other positive developments. This consideration for the poor implies that the management of the Olympics in Brazil has learnt from the past events, in which the wealthy were the only beneficiaries of the event (Atkinson et al. 2008). Prior to the acceptance of the bid to host the Olympics, the Brazilian government had guaranteed three important things: to cover any possible economic shortfalls of the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (OCOG), finance OCOG and non-OCOG budget, and cover any refunds of the IOC advance payments (Curi, Knijnik Mascarenhas 2011). Curi, Knijnik, and Mascarenhas (2011) point out that prior to granting the Olympics, the federal government has to ensure a strong financial backing. Some of the revenue-generating activities expected during the mega-event include sponsorship sales, licensing and merchandising, and ticketing (Atkinson et al. 2008). According to Atkinson et al. (2008), the revenues generated from these activities will be complemented by the broadcast and commercial contributions secured by the IOC (Atkinson et al. 2008). The government or private sector expenditures on the infrastructure have been anticipated to encompass the already committed and continuing investments of about US $4 billion on the following projects: airport and subway construction and enhancement (Maennig Zimbalist 2012). According to the financial analysis of the mega-event, the budget of the OCOG does not presume any capital contribution to the development of the legacy venues, other than for the coverage of the games (Maennig Zimbalist 2012). According to the IOC, the balance of expenditures by OCOG is to be financed by the Brazilian public sector, which involves the funds from the government, state, and federal commitment. The financial plan and operating expenses of OCOG are expected to be about US $2.9 billion (Maennig Zimbalist 2012). The budget included the capital investment in transportation and sports venues (Maennig Zimbalist 2012). The Security Capacity of Rio de Janeiro to Host the Olympics Security is one of the key concerns for the IOC. The Brazilian government has the responsibility of cleaning up the areas deemed insecure in order to make them suitable for numerous tourists (Curi, Knijnik Mascarenhas 2011). However, having hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the government had partly, or wholly, addressed the issues relating to security. Accordingly, Rio de Janeiro is in good time to make numerous improvements before 2016. Curi, Knijnik, and Mascarenhas (2011) point out that the government has initiated some projects to improve the quality and capacity of the police in the preparation for the Olympic bid, as well as the FIFA World Cup. Besides improving the capability and quality of the police force, the Brazilian authorities are using another method in order to fight against the crimes by making international headlines with the invasion of favelas (Walker et al. 2010). For a region to be regarded a favela, it must have at least 51 houses. In other words, favelas refer to slums in Brazil, and often are regarded as settlements for the landless people. As of 2000, Rio de Janeiro had about 811 favelas, but it is likely that the number of them has increased since then (Walker et al. 2010). The slums are a threat to the 2016 Olympics because of the insecurity they pose. The security financing for Rio de Janeiro should necessary cover the employment of the Unidade de Policia Pacificadora (UPP) and other security forces (Andersson, Armbrect Lundberg 2008). According to Fourie and Santana-Gallego (2011), without these forces, the slums can become the areas of drug and child trafficking. On the other hand, in the Brazilian slums, the drug traffickers might enforce the control and order in the community even in the absence of the UPP. The Brazilian government hopes to manage all the slums in Rio de Janeiro before the 2016 Olympics (Ma et al. 2011). This paper has discussed the management of the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics in the light of three crucial factors: finance, security, and infrastructure. Similar to a typical business, the success of Rio de Janeiro Olympics is also affected by the management of these factors. The infrastructure refers to the basic fundamental facilities and systems serving the city of Rio de Janeiro. These facilities include the transportation, communication, and power systems, among many others. In terms of finance, Brazil reported about allocating US $240 billion for the 2016 Olympics sporting mega-event. Some of the revenue-generating activities expected during the Olympics include sponsorship sales, licensing and merchandising, and ticketing. Security is a threat to the event because it might scare off the tourists from attending the event. The effective management of the three factors could result in the economic benefits for the whole country.

True West by Sam Shepard Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

True West by Sam Shepard - Essay Example Additionally, the strong technical design created a relationship between audience and actors by taking them right into the actor’s world. The scenario is such that haunting echoes occur during monologues. There is an ornate from which water drips. The design is multipurpose, simple, and beautiful. Additionally, the costumes that the actors receive from Sam Shepherd indicate and reflect a unique, wonderful, and exceptional personality of the characters in a quite nice manner. For instance, He decorates Austin formally. This is because Austin is the clear and open-minded actor among the characters in the play. For Lee, he is dressed lazily and with no style, this reflects his tumble and uniquely rough character. On the other hand, Saul is dressed intriguingly eccentrically. His high status and swag allows him to have this dressing mode, which makes him stand above other actors and characters in the play. In fact, Saul is presented as already successful man. Similarly, the mother is conservatively dressed as Sam Shepherd points out. This goes a long way in blending well with her almost apathetic reaction and behavior to the haunting scene that takes place near the close of the play. As the actors change and undergo suffering with the proceeding of the play, the props also change. For example, the house in which the play takes place is in a pristine condition at the onset of the play. In fact, it clean, neat, and suburban house in California and is being taken care of by a screenwriter. He already began working harder upon the introduction of actors to him. The house has several houseplants that are mentioned countless times in the play and greatly symbolize the unmovable stand by Austin to maintain order that his mother and him adhere to. It is Californian kind of order. As a result, Austin has been given a responsibility to take care of them and he does so. However, after the arrival of Lee, the attention of Austin is diverted towards questioning about his identity and ideals. For this reason, the houseplants are neglected and they end up dying together with Austin’s lifestyle towards the end of the play. The mother greatly misses the houseplants since she misses the order and lifestyle of her life at home, she returns home only to find the plants died long time. This is symbolic of the death of her lifestyle too. As life takes a wrong turn for Austin after his brother interferes with his career life, the audience must also notice the significant change in settings within the house and change of sounds outside. For instance, the crickets become more aggressively loud, and the coyotes increasingly become destructing. The plants slowly by slowly die, the state of the kitchen turns into a state of disarray, and the only resource that kept Austin focus and committed to his work, the typewriter, eventually gets destroyed upon Lee’s attempt to try screen writing and gets frustrated with it. Consequently, the destruction and t he decay of props accompany or rather correspond with the destruction and end of Austin and Lee. Their lives are greatly infected by the presence of each other as Austin is disappointed and annoyed by Lee whose attitude is brutal and mad towards life and cannot comprehend Austin has strongly held ideas. The cherished order is thrown into chaos upon choosing Lee’

Dark Invasion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Dark Invasion - Essay Example Morgan. The Bomb Squad head of department, Tom Tunney, who is a New York Police Inspector is assigned the crucial mission of seizing them. Tom Tunney assembles a team of operatives to hunt down these conspirators among a very large population of Germans but the more he unveils the enemies plan the more he comes to understand that their plan is way much dangerous and complex than he thought. The New York’s Police Department captain, Tom Tunney, is the one who suspect that the series of explosions that occurs in the country, which particularly targets the ships and destroyed munitions plants, is part of much bigger plan by the enemy to destroy America and he sets on a very determined journey to find the perpetrators. Tunney’s work is remarkable, considering the fact that he had a jurisdictional limitation as he had to work for both the federal government and the NYPD. In this true story tale it is observable that the then head of state, Wilson, Was informed of the plot of the intelligent network of German spies but it seemed not to strongly concern his decision. The Germans were satisfactorily convinced that they were right to wage war to the USA because the claimed neutrality of the Americans was hypocritical and equally dangerous to the father land. Tunney discovers the enemy’s devilish plan to blow out the ST. Patrick Cathedral. The German saboteurs planned to blow out the Cathedral to try and stop the Americans from joining the war on the side of the allies. Although it was not clear to the national security department if it was the activist and the anarchist who were plotting on this, the plan was still shuttered down by the NYPD. Tunney together with his loyal operative, learn of the imminent attack on the church and successfully manages to neutralize the plan which jeopardizes the malicious intensions of the enemy(Howard 32). The German operatives to the

Terrorist Threats and Counterterrorism Response to a Terrorist Attack Essay

Terrorist Threats and Counterterrorism Response to a Terrorist Attack - Essay Example The use of unmanned aerial predator and reaper drones is seen as a new approach in counterterrorism has changed how the US combats terrorism. President Obama’s administration has been able to ratchet the drone program as opposed to the previous U.S. administration. He has managed to authorize more than hundred drone strikes worldwide mostly around the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan according to Bures and BureÃ… ¡ (2011). Despite the controversy, facing this operation, to a great extent, the American drones since 9/11 have been successful. The current research on counterterrorism builds its debate on two approaches: the war model and the criminal justice model. The war (military) model tends to structure the efforts against terrorism in terms of the military of an enemy-centric war. In such an event, the armed forces of the state are mainly responsible for developing counterterrorism plans. The criminal justice model advocates for the rule of law and democratic principles in counterterrorism. It has been suggested that viewing counterterrorism in terms of hard and soft power is very important. This advocates for a direct and indirect tactic in counterterrorism. Some of the strategies applied after 9/1 such as the drone strike have become popular and consistent since then. However, a change is being considered on the technique as it can lead to the loss of many innocent lives as well as collateral damage to property and infrustructure. The strategy is also seen to violate the sovereignty of some states like Pakistan. For successful response to terrorism, the U.S. should consider to minimize on its enemies and maximize on its allies. This element will be achieved by reestablishing and empowering their traditional alliances as stated by Gebicke (1999). The U.S. government has also considered softening the appeal of Muslim federalism, which will be achieved by diminishing the levels of moderate Muslim indifferences. The US

India is the most hierarchical society

India is the most hierarchical society BRIEF: India is the most hierarchical society in the world and this, obviously, has an impact on its management style. It is imperative that there is a boss and that the manager acts like a boss. The position of manager demands a certain amount of role-playing from the boss and a certain amount of deferential behaviour from his subordinates. The boss is definitely not expected to perform any seemingly menial tasks such as making coffee for everybody or moving chairs in a meeting room! Anglo-Saxon concepts of egalitarianism where the boss is the primus inter pares are virtually incomprehensible in a society still dominated by the historical conventions of the caste system. Therefore, the boss is expected to give explicit instructions which will be followed even if everybody knows that the instruction is incorrect. Managing people in India requires a level of micro-management which many western business people feel very uncomfortable with but, which is likely to bring the best results. Indian management is paternalistic and is characterized by: Patronage Families feelings Sense of security in staff Obedience to authority Personality cult Personality based delegation Aversions of the staff to the leaders who are outsiders Ascent on short rather than long term planning Restricted sharing of information Gulf between personnel policies and practices Traditional Indian management: Management practices:- Traditional Indian management Employee requirements- family relation and caste of employee is considered Leadership style- leaders display a high level of personal involvement with their subordinates. Motivational aspects and rewards- work is viewed as a means to an end i.e for sake of satisfying family needs. Human resource management practices- nepotism and caste consideration affect selection and compensation. Training is less emphasized. TYPES OF MANAGEMENT SYLE IN INDIA- 1) Conservative style: Integrating ideology- old is gold, change carefully Performance control- through traditions, conventions, precedents Coordination- hierarchical Staff motivation- financial security, psychological safety 2) Entrepreneurial style: Intergrating ideology- no risk no gain, pioneer, innovative, revolutionize Performance control- through shared vision of corporate team Coordination- hierarchical Staff motivation- through charisma of the person at top 3) Professional style: Intergrating ideology- scientific, rational approach to management Performance control- through norms of professionalism and other tools of management Coordination- variety of mechanism like hierarchy, committee planning Staff motivation- formalized menu of progressive, productive and quality oriented incentive. 4) Bureaucratic style: Orderly management, clear accountability Through rules and regulation Hierarchical, standard operating procedures Job clarity, steady promotion on basis of seniority 5) Organic style: Flexibility Through peer pressure, personal commitment Team work, mutual feedback, intensive lateral as well as vertical communication Job variety and richness 6) Authoritarian style: Obedience, organizational patriolism Through fear of punishment Hierarchical Patriotic feel and fear of punishment 7) Participative style: Relatively powerless decision making Through collective assessment on jointly agreed criteria of evaluation Through representative committee Feeling of participating in decision making 8) Intuitive style: Experience and common sense Thumb rule Hierarchical, also by informal norms No need for formal qualification 9) Familial style: One big happy family Through relationship of bosses Through personalities Feeling of being a part of family 10) Altruistic style: Its a means to social and spiritual end Through sense of mission or pursuit of great ideal Hierarchical, shared ideal or social commitment Opportunity to control something noble and meaningful Being a Manager in India To ensure successful cross cultural management in India, you need be aware of the strict protocols and rituals that exist. The official caste system may be illegal, but a strong hierarchical structure, based upon job title, still exists in business. The Role of a Manager In India managers may take a somewhat paternalistic attitude to their employees. They may demonstrate a concern for employees that goes beyond the workplace. This may include involvement in their family, housing, health, and other practical life issues. It is the supervisors job to regularly check on the work of a subordinate and to provide regular constructive feedback. This may include monitoring work quality and the timing of its completion. Approach to Change Indias intercultural adaptability and readiness for change is developing all the time. India is seen to have a medium tolerance for change and risk. It is important for innovations to have a track record or history noting the benefits if they are to be accepted and implemented. Failure in India causes a long-term loss of confidence by the individual as well as by others. Because of this attitude, intercultural sensitivity is going to be required, especially when conducting group meetings and discussing contributions made my participating individuals. Approach to Time and Priorities Indians are generally quite careful about time guidelines in business situations where schedules and deadlines are regarded seriously. In addition, however, Indian society is concerned with relationships so there may be instances where there is some flexibility to strict standards of adhering to schedules. When working with people from India, its advisable to reinforce the importance of the agreed-upon deadlines and how that may affect the rest of the organization. Successful cross cultural management will depend on the individuals ability to meet deadlines. Global and intercultural expansion means that some managers may have a greater appreciation of the need to enforce timescales and as such, agreed deadlines are more likely to be met. Decision Making The culture in India is very relationship and group-oriented, so a strong emphasis is placed on maintaining harmony and proper lines of authority in the workplace. Some Indians, however, are extremely direct, in which case you can deal with them in the same way. The manager makes decisions and accepts responsibility for work performed by subordinates. The middle manager may consult with subordinates before reaching a decision, although it is more likely that he will confer with trusted advisors or relatives. To ensure successful cross cultural management, you will need to bear in mind the importance of people in the office maintaining the proper behavior relative to their position. For instance, it would be inappropriate for a manager to make copies or move a piece of furniture because these are tasks that lower level people do. To engage in behavior beneath you would lower your esteem in the office. Boss or Team Player? If you are working in India, it is important to remember that honor and reputation play an important role. The risk becomes amplified in a team or collaborative setting. When meeting together and moderating ideas, intercultural sensitivity is necessary. It is important to qualify ideas that are raised in a gentle manner, protecting the reputation of those bringing up ideas, so no one is shamed. Communication and Negotiation Styles Cross cultural management will be more effective if you understand the importance of personal relationships. They are crucial to conducting business and are based on respect and trust. It takes time to develop a comfortable working relationship and you will need patience and perseverance. Indians are non-confrontational. It is rare for them to overtly disagree, although this is beginning to change in the managerial ranks. Decisions are reached by the person with the most authority but reaching that decision can be a slow process. Never appear over legalistic in negotiations; in general Indians do not trust the legal system and someones word is sufficient to reach an agreement. Successful negotiations may be celebrated over a meal.

Civil War Essay -- essays research papers fc

Civil War During the American Civil War, which lasted from 1861-1865, over 620,000 accounted soldiers were killed. Known as the "the first modern war", historians generally agree that the reason for this was because this was a time of transition for the military. Armies and Navies were still using tactics where they would gather large forces of firepower to bear on the enemy. At the same time, weapons were being developed which were accurate and lethal well beyond any arms of the earlier conflicts. As a result of these two conditions many more casualties were sustained. Add to that the lack of medical knowledge of disease and infection and the numbers truly began to grow. This paper is an overview of the types of weaponry that was used during this time. Artillery generally falls into three basic categories; guns, howitzers and mortars. The main difference between them being the trajectory of the round fire. A gun has a high muzzle velocity and a very flat trajectory. Normally a gun is used in a direct fire mode where the target can be seen and penetration is desirable. Good targets for a gun would be things like brick or earth forts, ships, buildings, and targets in tree lines. Howitzers have a somewhat lower muzzle velocity and arc their shells onto a target. They are used in both a direct fire and indirect fire mode. Keep in mind with the limited range of the pieces available during the Civil War there was no indirect fire such as we know it today. Targets were generally always within the line of sight of the artillery men. This is especially useful when an enemy is concealed behind a prepared position or the artillery men desire to have a shell explode over an enemy’s head. The air-burst does less damage to hardened targets such as masonry walls, and redoubts, but causes many more human casualties due to the shrapnel covering a large area. Mortars have a very pronounced arc of flight. They have a relatively low muzzle velocity and are unsuitable for direct fire. Their principle value comes from being able to lob shells behind an obstacle such as a fort or a hill. Unlike modern mortars, those used during the Civil War were bulky devises and mounted at a fixed angle usually between 45 and 50 degrees. They were not very accurate and depended solel... ... of War suggesting that the gun be officially used by the North, but nothing was done. Later, the Navy adopted the gun in 1862 and so did the Army but not until 1866. My conclusion is that I would not want to be shot by any of these guns. They used very heavy ammunition that devastated what ever it hit. I guess that is why the American Civil War was called the bloodiest war of all time. Not only are you trying to kill your opponent, you are trying to kill a fellow American which must of been tougher. Also, if we adopted the Gatling gun, I feel that the war would of been over a lot faster than it was. To be able to fire 250 to 300 rounds in one minute is devastating. That gun was very mobile because it could be moved around by the horses because it was on wheels. I give these men lots of credit for going out there and fighting like they did. Many really did not know why they were fighting and they still fought with courage. And with a total of 620,000 casualties, a lot of men did not come home. Bibliography 1. "The Civil War", Ken Burns, 1994, tape 5, "Weapons of the Civil War" 2. "The Civil War", CD-ROM, by Mathew Brady, Rom-Man technologies,1995

Island of the Sequined Love Nun Chapter 44~45

44 Revealed: The Perfect Couple Back at his bungalow, an argument went on in the still-sober brain of Tucker Case. I am scum. I should have told them to shove it. But they might have killed you. Yeah, but I would have at least had my integrity. Your what? Get real. But I'm scum. Big deal. You've been scum before. You've never owned a Learjet before. You actually think they'll give me the jet? It could happen. Stranger things have happened. But I should do something about this. Why? You've never done anything before. Well, maybe it's time. No way. Take the jet. I'm scum. Well, yes, you are. But you're rich scum. I can live with that. The dog tags and Jefferson Pardee's notebook lay on the coffee table, threatening to set off another fusillade of doubt and condemnation. Tuck lay back on the rattan couch and turned on the television to escape the noise in his mind. Skinny Asian guys were beating the snot out of each other in a kickboxing match from the Philippines. The Malaysian channel was showing how to fillet a schnauzer. The cooking show reminded him of surgery, and surgery reminded him that there was a beautiful island girl lying in the clinic, recovering from an unnecessary major surgery that he could have prevented. Definitely kickboxing. He was just getting into the rhythm of the violence when the bat came through the window and made an awkward swinging landing on one of the bungalow's open rafters. Tuck lost his breath for a minute, thinking there might just be a wild animal in his house. Then he saw the sunglasses. Roberto steadied himself into a slightly swinging upside-down hang. Tuck sighed. â€Å"Please just be a bat in sunglasses tonight. Please.† Thankfully, the bat said nothing. The sunglasses were sliding off his nose. â€Å"How do you fly in those things?† Tuck said, thinking out loud. â€Å"They're aviators.† â€Å"Of course,† Tuck said. The bat had indeed changed from rhinestone glasses to aviators, but once you accept a talking bat, the leap to a talking bat with an eyewear wardrobe is a short one. Roberto dropped from the rafter and took wing just before he hit the floor. Two beats of his wings and he was on the coffee table, as awkward in his spiderlike crawl as he was graceful in the air. With his wing claw, he raked at Jefferson Pardee's notebook until it was open to the middle, then he launched himself and flew out the window. Tuck picked up the notebook and read what Pardee had written. Tuck had missed this page when he had looked at the notebook before. This page had been stuck to the one before it; the bat's clawing had revealed it. It was a list of leads that Pardee had made for the story he had been working on. The second item read: â€Å"What happened to the first pilot, James Sommers? Call immigration in Yap and Guam.† Tuck flipped through the notebook to see if he had missed something else. Had Pardee found out? Of course he had. He'd found out and he'd followed Sommers to the last place anyone had seen him. But where was Pardee? His notebook hadn't come to the island without him. Tuck went through the notebook three more times. There were some foreign names and phone numbers. Something that looked like a packing list for a trip. Some notes on the background of Sebastian Curtis. Notes to check up on Japanese with guns. The word â€Å"Learjet† underlined three times. And nothing else. There didn't seem to be any organizational form to the notes. Just random facts, names, places, and dates. Dates? Tuck went through it once more. On the third page in, all by itself, was printed: â€Å"Alualu, Sept. 9.† Tuck ran to the nightstand drawer, where the Curtises had left him a calendar. He counted back the days to the ninth and tried to put events to days. The ship had arrived on the ninth, and the morning of the tenth he had made his first flight. Jefferson Pardee could be lying in the clinic right now, wondering where in the hell his kidney was. If he was, Tuck needed to see him. Tuck looked in the closet for something dark to wear. This was going to be different than sneaking out to the village. There were no buildings between the guards' quarters and the clinic, no trees, nothing but seventy-five yards of open compound. Darkness would be his only cover. It was a tropical-weight wet suit – two-mil neoprene – and it was two sizes two big, but it was the only thing in the closet that wasn't khaki or white. In the 80-degree heat and 90-percent humidity, Tuck was reeling from the heat before he got the hood on. He stepped into the shower and soaked himself with cold water, then peeled the hood over his head and made his escape through the shower floor, dropping onto the wet gravel below. In the movies the spies – the Navy SEALS, the Special Forces, the demolition experts – always sneak through the night in their wet suits. Why, Tuck wondered, don't they squish and slosh and make squeaking raspberry noises when they creep? Must be special training. You never hear James Bond say, â€Å"Frankly, Q, I'll trade the laser-guided cufflink missiles for a wet suit that doesn't make me feel like a bloody bag of catsick.† Which is how Tuck felt as he sloshed around the side of the clinic and peeked across the compound at the guard on duty, who seemed to be looking right at him. Tuck pulled back around the corner. He needed a diversion if he was going to make it to the clinic door unseen. The moon was bright, the sky clear, and the compound of white coral gravel reflected enough light to read by. He heard the guard shout, and he was sure he'd been spotted. He flattened against the wall and held his breath. Then there were more Japa-nese from across the compound, but no footsteps. He ventured a peek. The guard was gesturing toward the sky and brushing his head. Two other guards had joined him and were laughing at the guard on duty. He seemed to get angrier, cursing at the sky and wiping his hand on his uniform. The other guards led him inside to calm him down and clean him up. Tuck heard a bark from the sky and looked up to see the silhouette of a huge bat against the moon. Roberto had delivered a guano air strike. Tuck had his diversion. He slipped around the front of the building, grabbed the doorknob, and turned. It was unlocked. Given Beth Curtis's irritation at being buzzed and the amount of wine she'd consumed, Tuck had guessed that she'd get tired locking and unlocking the door. What did Mary Jean always say? â€Å"Ladies, if you do your job and assume that everyone else is incompetent, you will seldom be disappointed.† Amen, Tuck thought. He squished into the outer room of the clinic, which was dark except for the red-eyed stare of a half-dozen machines and the dancing glow of a computer screen running a screen saver. He'd try to get into that later, but now he was interested in what, or who, lay in the small hospital ward, two rooms back. He sloshed into the examination/operating room by the light of more LED eyes and pushed through the curtain to the four-bed ward. Only one bed held a patient – or what looked like a patient. The only light was a green glow from a heart monitor that blipped away silently, the sound turned off. Whoever was in the bed was certainly large enough to be Jeffer-son Pardee. There were a couple of IVs hanging above the patient. Probably painkillers after such major surgery, Tuck thought. He moved closer and ventured a whisper. â€Å"Pst, Pardee.† The lump under the covers moved and moaned in a distinctly unmasculine voice. â€Å"Pardee, it's Tucker Case. Remember?† The sheet was thrown back and Tuck saw a thin male face in the green glow. â€Å"Kimi?† â€Å"Hi, Tucker.† Kimi looked down at the other person under the covers. â€Å"You remember Tucker? He all better now.† The pretty island girl said, â€Å"I take care of you when you sick. You stink very much.† Tuck backed off a step. â€Å"Kimi, what are you doing here?† â€Å"Well, she like pretty thing, and I like pretty thing. She tired of having many means and so am I. We have a lot in common.† â€Å"He the best,† Sepie added with an adoring smile at Kimi. Kimi handed the smile off to Tuck. â€Å"Once you be a woman, you know how to make a woman happy.† Tuck was getting over the initial surprise and began to smell the smoke of his beautiful island girl fantasy as it caught fire and burned to ash. He hadn't realized how much time he'd spent thinking about this girl. She, after all, was the one who had revived his manhood. Sort of. â€Å"You right,† Kimi said. â€Å"Women are better. I am lesbian now.† â€Å"You shouldn't be doing this. This girl just had major surgery.† â€Å"Oh, we not doing nothing but kissing. She very hurt. But this make it better.† Kimi held his arm up, displaying an IV line. â€Å"You want to try? Put in you arm and push button. It make you feel very very nice.† â€Å"That's for her, Kimi. You shouldn't be using it.† â€Å"We share,† Sepie said. â€Å"Yes, we share,† Kimi said. â€Å"I'm very happy for you. How in the hell did you get in here?† â€Å"Like you get out. I swim around mimes and come here to see Sepie. No problem.† â€Å"You don't want to let them catch you. You've got to go. Now.† â€Å"One more push.† Sepie held the button, ready to administer another dose of morphine to Kimi. Tuck grabbed it from her hand. â€Å"No. Go now. How did you know about the mines?† â€Å"I have other friend. Sarapul. I teach him how to be a navigator. He know a lot of things too. He a cannibal.† â€Å"You're a cannibal lesbian?† â€Å"Just learning. How come you have rubber suit? You kinky?† â€Å"Sneaky. Look, Kimi, have you seen a fat white guy, an American?† â€Å"No, but Sarapul see him. He see the guards take him from the beach. He not here?† â€Å"No. I found his notebook. I met him on Truk.† â€Å"Sarapul say he see the guards bring him to the Sorcerer. He say it very funny, the white man wear pigs with wings.† Tuck felt his face go numb. All that was left of Pardee was a pelvic bone wedged in the reef, stripped of flesh and wrapped in flying piggy shorts. Oh, there might be the odd kidney left alive in someone in Japan, a kidney that he had delivered. Had the fat man died on the operating table during the operation, the surgery too much for his heart? Or was he put under and never meant to wake up? Tuck suddenly felt that getting into the doctor's computer was more important than ever. He grabbed Kimi's arm and pulled the IV needle out of his vein. The navigator didn't resist, and he didn't seem to feel it. â€Å"Kimi, see if you can get that back in Sepie's arm and come with me.† â€Å"Okay boss.† Tuck looked down at the girl, who had evidently picked up on the panic in his voice. Her eyes were wide, despite the morphine glaze. â€Å"Don't buzz the doctor until after we're gone. This button will let you have only so much morphine, and Kimi's used some of yours. But if it hurts, you still have to wait, okay?† She nodded. Kimi crawled out of the bed and nearly fell. Tuck caught him by the arm and steadied him. â€Å"I am chosen,† Sepie said. â€Å"When Vincent comes, he will give me many pretty things.† Tuck brushed back her hair with his fingers. â€Å"Yes, he will. You sleep now. And thank you for taking care of me when I was sick.† Kimi kissed the girl and after a minute Tuck pulled him away and led him through the operating room to the office section of the clinic. In the glow of the computer screen, Tuck said, â€Å"Kimi, the doctor and his wife are killing people.† â€Å"No, they not. They sent by Vincent. Sepie say Vincent come from Heaven to bring people many good things. They very poor.† â€Å"No, Kimi, they are bad people. Like Malcolme. They are taking advantage of Sepie's people. They are just pretending to be working for a god.† â€Å"How you know? You no believe in God.† Tuck took the boy by the shoulders. He was no longer angry or even irritated, he was afraid, and for the first time ever, not just for himself. â€Å"Kimi, can you swim back around the mines?† â€Å"I think.† â€Å"You've got to go to the other side of the island and you can't come back. If the guards find you I'm pretty sure you'll be killed.† â€Å"You just want Sepie for yourself. She tell me you follow her.† â€Å"I'll check on her and I'll meet you at the drinking circle tomorrow night – tell you how she's doing. I won't touch her, I promise. Okay?† â€Å"Okay.† Kimi leaned against the wall by the door. Tuck studied him for a moment to try and determine just how fucked up he was. It wasn't a difficult swim. Tuck had done it stone drunk, but he'd been wearing fins and a mask and snorkel. â€Å"You're sure you can swim?† Kimi nodded and Tuck cracked the door. The moon had moved across the sky throwing the front of the clinic in shadow. The guard across the compound was reading a magazine by flashlight. â€Å"When you get outside, go left and get behind the building.† The navigator stepped out, slid down the side of the building and around the corner. Tuck heard him trip and fall and swear softly in Filipino. â€Å"Shit,† Tuck said to himself. He glanced at the computer. It would have to wait. He slid out the door, palming it shut behind him, then followed the navigator around the building. He heard the guard shout from across the compound, and for once in his life, Tuck made a definitive decision. He grabbed the navigator under the arms and ran. 45 Confessions Over Tee Tucker Case dreamed of machine-gun fire and jerked as the bullets ripped into his back. He tossed forward into the dirt, mouth filling with sand, smothering him as the life drained out of a thousand ragged wounds, and still the guns kept firing, the rhythmic reports pounding like a violet storm of timpanis, like a persistent fist on a rickety door. â€Å"Just let me die!† Tuck screamed, most of the sound caught by his pillow. It was a persistent fist on a rickety door. â€Å"Mr. Case, rise and shine,† said a cheery Sebastian Curtis. â€Å"Ten minutes to tee time.† Tuck rolled into the mosquito netting, became entangled, and ripped it from the ceiling. He was still wearing his wet suit and the fragile netting clung to it like cobwebs. He arrived at the door looking like a tattered ghost fresh out of Davy Jones's locker. â€Å"What? I can't fly. I can't even fucking walk. Go away.† Tuck was not a morning person. Sebastian Curtis stood in the doorway beaming. â€Å"It's Wednesday,† he said. â€Å"I thought you might want to play a few holes.† Tuck looked at the doctor through bloodshot eyes and several layers of torn mosquito netting. Behind Curtis stood one of the guards, sans machine gun, with a golf bag slung over his shoulder. â€Å"Golf?† Tuck said. â€Å"You want to play golf?† â€Å"It's a different game here on Alualu, Mr. Case. Quite challenging. But then, you've been practicing, haven't you?† â€Å"Look, Doc, I didn't sleep well last night†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Could be the wet suit, if you don't mind my saying. Here in the tropics, you want fabrics that breathe. Cotton is best.† Tuck was beginning to come around, and as he did, he found he was focusing an intense hatred on the doctor. â€Å"I guess we know who got laid last night.† Curtis looked down and smiled coyly. He was actually embarrassed. Tuck couldn't quite put it together. The doc didn't seem to have any problem with killing people or taking their organs – or both – but he was blushing at the mention of sex with his wife. Tuck glared at him. Curtis said, â€Å"You'd better change. The first tee is out in front of the hangar. I'll go down and practice a few drives while you get dressed.† â€Å"You do that,† Tuck said. He slammed the door. Twenty minutes later Tuck, his hair still wet from the shower, joined Curtis and the guard in front of the hangar. He was feeling the weight of three nights with almost no sleep, and his back ached from dragging Kimi across the compound, then towing him in the water to the far side of the minefield. The guard had never caught up to them, but he had come to the edge of the water and shouted, waving his machine gun until Tuck and Kimi were out of sight. â€Å"We'll have to share a set of clubs,† Curtis said. â€Å"But perhaps now that you've decided to stay, we can order you a set.† â€Å"Swell,† Tuck said. He couldn't be sure, but he thought the guard might be the same one that had chased them to the beach. Tuck sneered at him and he looked away. Yep, he was the one. â€Å"This is Mato. He'll be caddying for us today.† The guard bowed slightly. Tuck saluted him with a middle finger. If the doctor saw the gesture, he didn't comment. He was lining the ball up on a small square of Astro Turf with a rubberized pad on the bottom. â€Å"We have to hit off of this. At least until someone invents a gravel wedge.† He laughed at his own joke. Tuck forced a smile. â€Å"The Shark People covered this entire island with gravel hundreds of years ago. Keeps the topsoil from being washed away in typhoons. This first hole is a dogleg to the left. The pin is behind the staff's quarters about a hundred yards.† â€Å"Doc, now that we've come clean, why don't we call them the guards?† â€Å"Very well, Mr. Case. Would you like honors?† â€Å"Call me Tuck. No, you go ahead.† Curtis hit a long bad hook that arced around the guards' quar ters and landed out of sight in a stand of palm trees behind the building. â€Å"I have to admit that I may have a bit of an advantage. I've laid out the course to accommodate my stroke. Most of the holes are doglegs to the left.† Tuck nodded as if he understood what Curtis was talking about, then took the driver from the doctor and hit his own shot, a grounder that skipped across the gravel to stop fifty yards in front of them. â€Å"Oh, bad luck. Would you like to take a McGuffin?† â€Å"Blow me, Doc,† Tuck said as he walked away toward his ball. â€Å"I guess not, then.† The pins were bamboo shafts driven into the compound, the holes were lined with old Coke cans with the tops cut off. The best part about it was that Tuck was able to deliver several vicious high-velocity putts into the shins of Mato, who was tending the pins. The worst part was that now that Curtis considered Tuck a confidant, he decided to open up. â€Å"Beth is quite a woman, isn't she? Did I tell you how we met?† â€Å"Yeah.† â€Å"I was at a transplant symposium in San Francisco. Beth is quite the nurse, the best I've ever seen in an operating room, but she wasn't working as a nurse when I met her.† â€Å"Oh, good,† Tuck said. Curtis seemed to be waiting for Tucker to ask. Tucker was waiting for the guard to rat him out for sneaking out of the compound last night. â€Å"She was a dancer in North Beach. An exotic dancer.† â€Å"No shit.† Tuck said. â€Å"Are you shocked?† Curtis obviously wanted him to be shocked. â€Å"No.† â€Å"She was incredible. The most incredible woman I had ever seen. She still is.† â€Å"But then, you've been a missionary on a remote island for twenty-eight years,† Tuck said. Curtis picked his club for the next shot: the seven iron. â€Å"What's this?† â€Å"Looks like blood and feathers,† Tuck said. Curtis handed the club to Mato for him to clean it. â€Å"Beth did a dance with surgical tubing and a stethoscope that took my breath away.† â€Å"Pretty common,† Tuck said. â€Å"Choke you with the surgical tubing and use the stethoscope to make sure you haven't done the twitching fish.† â€Å"Really?† Curtis said. â€Å"You've seen a woman do that?† Tuck put on his earnest young man face. â€Å"Seen? You didn't notice the ligature marks on my neck when you examined me?† â€Å"Oh, I see,† Curtis said. â€Å"Still, I, at least, had never seen anything like it. She†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Curtis couldn't seem to return to his story. â€Å"The wet suit this morning. Was that a sexual thing? I mean, most people would find it uncomfortable.† â€Å"No, I'm just trying to lose a little weight.† Curtis looked serious now. â€Å"I don't know if that's such a good idea. You're still very thin from your ordeal in getting here.† â€Å"I'd like to get down to about eight pounds,† Tuck said. â€Å"There's a big Gandhi revival thing going on back in the States. Guys who look like they're starving have to beat the babes off with a stick. Started with female fashion models, but now it's moved to the men.† Curtis look embarrassed. â€Å"I guess I'm a bit out of touch. Beth tries to keep up with what's going on in the States, but it, well, seems irrelevant out here. I guess I'll be glad when this is all over and we can leave the island.† â€Å"Then why don't you just leave? You're a physician. You could open up a practice in the States and pull down a fortune without all this.† Curtis glanced at the guard, then looked back to Tuck. â€Å"A fortune maybe, but not a fortune like we're accumulating now. I'm too old to start over at the bottom.† â€Å"You've got twenty-eight years' experience. You said yourself that the people you take care of are the healthiest in the Pacific. You wouldn't be starting over.† â€Å"Yes, I would. Mr. Case – Tuck – I'm a doctor, but I'm not a very good one.† Tuck had met a number of doctors in his life, but he had never met one who could bear to admit that he was incompetent at anything. It was a running joke among flight instructors that doctors made the worst students. â€Å"They think they're gods. It's our job to teach them that they're mortal. Only pilots are gods.† This guy seemed so pathetic that Tuck had to remind himself that the good doctor was at least a double murderer. He watched Curtis hit a nice hundred-yard bloodstained seven iron to within ten feet of the pin, which was set up on a small patch of grass near the beach. Tuck chased down his own skidding thwack of a nine iron that had landed between the roots of a walking tree, an arboreal oddity that sat atop a three-foot teepee of tangled roots and gave the impression that it might move off on its own power at any moment. Tuck was hoping that it would. The caddie followed Tuck, and when they were out of earshot of the doctor, he turned to face the stoic Japanese. â€Å"You can't tell him, can you?† The guard pretended not to understand, but Tuck saw that he was getting it, even if only by inflection. â€Å"You can't tell him and you can't fucking shoot me, can you? You killed the last pilot and that got you in a world of trouble, didn't it? That's why you guys follow me like a bunch of baby ducks, isn't it?† Tuck was guessing, but it was the only logical explanation. Mato glanced toward the doctor. â€Å"No,† Tuck said. â€Å"He doesn't know that I know. And we're not going to tell him, are we? Just shake your head if you're getting this.† The guard shook his head. â€Å"Okay, then, here's the deal. I'll let you guys look like you're doing your job, but when I wave you off, you're gone. You hear me? I want you guys off my ass. You tell your buddies, okay?† The guard nodded. â€Å"Can you speak any English at all?† â€Å"Hai. A rittle.† â€Å"You guys killed the pilot, didn't you?† â€Å"He tly to take prane.† Mato looked as if the words were painful for him to form. Tuck nodded, feeling heat rise in his face. He wanted to smash the guard's face, knock him to the ground, and kick him into a glob of goo. â€Å"And you killed Pardee, the fat American man.† Mato shook his head. â€Å"No. We don't.† â€Å"Bullshit!† â€Å"No, we†¦we†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He was searching for the English word. â€Å"What?† â€Å"We take him, but not shoot.† â€Å"Take him where? To the clinic?† The guard shook his head violently. Not saying no, but trying to say that he couldn't say. â€Å"What happened to the fat man?† â€Å"He die. Hospital. We put him water.† â€Å"You took his body to the edge of the reef, where the sharks would find it?† The guard nodded. â€Å"And the pilot? You put him in the same place?† Again the nod. â€Å"What's going on. Are you going to hit or not?† Tuck and the guard looked up like two boys caught trading curses in the schoolyard. Curtis had come back down the fairway to within fifty feet of them. Tuck pointed to his ball. â€Å"Kato here won't let me move that out for a shot. I'll take the penalty stroke, Doc. But hell, we don't have mutant trees like that in Texas. It's unnatural.† Curtis looked sideways at Tuck's ball, then at Mato. â€Å"He can move it. No penalty. You're a guest here, Mr. Case. We can let you bend a few rules.† Curtis did not smile. Suddenly he seemed very serious about his golf. â€Å"We're partners now, Doc,† Tuck said. â€Å"Call me Tuck.†

Beginners Guide to the Aztec Empire of Central Mexico

Beginners Guide to the Aztec Empire of Central Mexico The Aztec Empire was a group of allied but ethnically different city states who lived in central Mexico and controlled much of central America from the 12th century AD until the Spanish invasion of the 15th century. The main political alliance creating the Aztec empire was called the Triple Alliance, including the Mexica of Tenochtitlan, the Acolhua of Texcoco, and the Tepaneca of Tlacopan; together they dominated most of Mexico between 1430 and 1521 AD. The capital city of the Aztecs was at Tenochtitlan-Tlatlelco, what is today Mexico City, and the extent of their empire covered almost all of what is today Mexico. At the time of Spanish conquest, the capital was a cosmopolitan city, with different ethnic groups from all over Mexico. The state language was Nahuatl and written documentation was kept on bark cloth manuscripts (most of which were destroyed by the Spanish). A high level of stratification in Tenochtitlan included both nobles and commoners. There were frequent ritual human sacrifices, part of the military and ritual activities of the Aztec people, although it is possible and perhaps likely that these were exaggerated by the Spanish clergy. Timeline of the Aztec Culture AD 1110 - Mexica leave their homeland (Aztlan)AD 1110-1325 - Mexica travel throughout what is now Mexico, looking for a place to settleAD 1325 - Mexica settle TenochtitlanAD 1372-1391 - Rule of Acamapichtli, the first king of TenochtitlanAD 1391-1415 - Rule of Huitzilihuitzli; alliance with  Tepanecs AD 1415-1426 - Rule of ChimalpopocaAD 1428-1430 - Tepanec WarAD 1430 -  Triple Alliance  established between Mexica, Tepaneca of the city of Tlacopan, and Acolhua of the city of TexcocoAD 1436-1440 - Rule of ItzcoatlAD 1440-1468 - Rule of Motecuhzoma I (also called Montezuma)AD 1468-1481 - Rule of AxayactlAD 1481-1486 - Rule of TizocAD 1486-1502 - Rule of AhuitzotlAD 1492 -  Columbus lands in Santa Domingo AD 1496 - Columbus second voyageAD 1502-1520 - Rule of  Motecuhzoma II AD 1510 - Tenochtitlan floodsAD 1519 -  Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes lands  on the Yucatan peninsula and begins his assault on AztecsAD 1520 - Rule of CuitahuacAD 1520 - First smallpox epidemic; Cuitahuac diesAD 1520 - Rule of Cuauhtemoc AD 1521 - Tenochtitlan falls to the Spanish A Few Important Facts about the Aztec Empire Population:  In 1519, the population of the Basin of Mexico was estimated at 1 million inhabitants, between 100,000 and 200,000 in the capital city alone Extent:  Thirty-eight provinces were submitting tribute to Tenochtitlan in 1519, according to the  Codex Mendoza State Language:  Nahuatl, a Uto-Aztecan language Life Expectancy:  37 years, due to high  birth rates  and high infant mortality rates Writing:  State documents concerning administrative details such as the amount of tribute paid to the capital city by each province were preserved on colorfully painted bark cloth paper, made by soaking and pounding the inner bark of the fig or mulberry tree. Calendars:  Like the Maya and other American civilizations, the Aztecs had two cycles to their  calendar, one a 365-day solar year and one a 260 ritual year. Combined, they made a 52-year Calendar Round. The Aztecs believed bad things happened at the end of a Calendar Round. Marriage:  Men could take as many wi ves as they could afford. The first wife was principal, but all wives spun thread and wove cloth, both sources of wealth for Aztec families. Ethnographic Data:  The best information we have on the Aztecs today comes from the writings from members of the Spanish colonization force, such as  Bartolome de las Casas  and  Fray Diego Duran. Aztecs Ritual and the Arts Intoxicants:  Pulque, from fermented agave sap;  peyotl  buttons, datura, psilocybin, black nightshade,  tobacco, morning glory seeds,  chocolate  in a drink, sometimes flavored by  chili peppers  and/or  vanilla Lapidary Arts:  Jadeite,  obsidian, chalcedony,  spondylus  shell Metallurgy:  Two bronzes, one of combined copper and tin, and one of copper arsenic; cast bells,  rings,  and tweezers; some gold and silver. Much was imported from west Mesoamerican  mines,  and metalworkers;  craft work in Tenochtitlan  included hammering, filigree and lost wax methods. The Feathered Serpent:  This pan-mesoamerican fantastic creature was called Quetzalcoatl in the Aztec language. Tlachtli Ball Game:  Played with a rubber ball in a masonry court, the ball game called tlachtli was so important to the Aztecs that 16,000 balls were imported from the Maya lowlands into Tenochtitlan annually. Aztecs and Economics Markets and Trade Network:  Cortes reported that he found a  large market system  in place in the Aztec capital city, where 60,000 people came to trade goods. During the Aztec Empire (1325-1520), the distribution of goods was so widespread that many of the materials traded were mass-produced in villages. A  long-distance trade  exchange system was in place throughout the Aztec Empire, with professional traders called  pochteca  carrying goods such as bird feathers, cacao beans and, most importantly, information. Currency:  Gold jewelry, textiles, cacao beans, and beaten copper axes. Cultivated Crops:  Maize, beans, salvia, squash, tomatoes, cactus, cotton, chile, manioc, goosefoot, amaranth,  cacao (chocolate), avocado, agave Domesticated Animals:  Turkey, duck,  dog Agriculture:  The chinampa system of agriculture used by the Aztecs consisted of a raised planting platform built in a shallow swampland and irrigated through a series of dikes. Aztecs and Warfare Weaponry:  Bow and arrow,  atlatl, oak broadswords with obsidian blades, thrusting spears, round shields of fire-hardened cane, quilted cotton armor, and shield and armed canoes. Ritual  Sacrifice:  According to written records by the Spanish, prisoners of war were led to the top of the Great Pyramid in Tenochtitlan and sacrificed by having their hearts cut out. Their bodies were then thrown down the steps of the pyramid, where they were decapitated, dismembered and eaten by Aztec warriors. This may have been exaggerated by Sahagun, but there is no doubt that ritual sacrifice was part of the rituals of Aztec war. Ritual  Bloodletting  Bloodletting, or auto-sacrifice, was a personal ritual performed by Aztec elites. Empire:  The Aztec mode of imperialism was to conquer a new territory, and then put in a leader over the existing system, rather than replace the entire ruling leadership. This unique blend of force and bribery was extremely effective in maintaining a  far -flung empire. Important Archaeological Sites of the Aztec Empire Tenochtitlan  - Capital city of the Mexica, founded in 1325 on a swampy island in the middle of Lake Texcoco; now underneath the city of Mexico city Tlatelolco  - Sister city of Tenochtitlan, known for its huge market. Azcapotzalco  - Capital of the Tepanecs, captured by the Mexica and added to the Aztec hegemony at the end of the Tepanec War Cuauhnahuac  - Modern day Cuernavaca, Morelos. Established by Tlahuica ca AD 1140, captured by Mexica in 1438. Malinalco  - Rock cut temple built ca 1495-1501. Guiengola  - Zapotec city on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca state, allied with the Aztecs by marriage Xaltocan, in Tlaxcala north of Mexico City, founded on a floating island Study Questions Why would the Spanish chroniclers of the Aztecs exaggerate the violence and blood of the Aztecs in their reports back to Spain?What advantages are there to placing a capital city on a marshy island in the middle of a lake?The following English words are derived from the Nahuatl language: avocado, chocolate, and  atlatl. Why do you think these words are the ones we use today?Why do you think the Mexica chose to ally with their neighbors in the Triple Alliance rather than conquering them?What role do you think disease played with the fall of the Aztec empire? Sources on the Aztec Civilization Susan Toby Evans and David L. Webster. 2001. Archaeology of Ancient Mexico and Central America: An Encylopedia. Garland Publishing, Inc. New York.Michael E. Smith. 2004. The  Aztecs. 5th edition. Gareth Stevens. Gary Jennings. Aztec; Aztec Blood and Aztec Autumn. Although these are novels, some archaeologists do use Jennings as a textbook on the Aztecs. John Pohl. 2001. Aztecs and Conquistadores. Osprey Publishing. Charles Phillips. 2005. The Aztec and Maya World. Frances Berdan et al. 1996. Aztec Imperial Strategies. Dumbarton Oaks .

Clemencia Insane or psychologically damaged Professor Ramos Blog

Clemencia Insane or psychologically damaged Marisol Mendez Have you ever heard of the phrase, children are like sponges? Relationships begin at home as we all grow up with parents who either love each other or don’t. Clemencia in â€Å"Never Marry a Mexican† by Sandra Cisneros was never given the chance at a real relationship because of the way she was raised. Since she was a little girl, her mother always told her to never marry a Mexican. â€Å"Never marry a Mexican, my ma said once and always. She said this because of my father† (Cisneros 68). Clemencia, at a young age already is being told by her mother to not marry a Mexican. Giving her the idea that her mother never loved her father. This has affected Clemencia’s ability to love any man because she is afraid of the no love relationship that her parents had and the infedelity behind it. As an older woman, Clemencia becomes an adulteress who sleeps with a married man named Drew. Drew is not the only married man that Clemencia has been with but he is the man th at readers believe also has the blame as to why Clemencia is the way she is. This is the lifestyle Clemencia has chosen to follow because of growing up with a cheating mother. Clemencia’s mom cheated on her father while he was sick in the hospital, this caused Clemencia to resent her mother but also follow in her footsteps. â€Å"That man she met at work, Owen Lambert, the foreman at the photo-finishing plant, who she was seeing even while my father was sick. Even then. That’s what I can’t forgive† (Cisneros 73). Clemencia hates her mother for being with another man while her father was sick and losing his life. This showed her how little her mother cared about who she hurt. The real question is, can we really blame Clemencia for becoming who she is? Cisneros uses the Mexican folklore of La Malinche in this story to describe Clemencia. In Angela Noelle Williams article, â€Å"Malinche† she describes who La Malinche is; â€Å"La Malinche has been mythologized as everything from the beautiful Indian princess who fell in love with the conqueror and produced a noble offspring to the Eve figure whose seduction stained the race she engendered.† La Malinche was a native american woman who was seduced by the Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortes, who killed off all her people with her help. She betrayed her people for love which in â€Å"Never Marry a Mexican† we see similarities between Clemencia and Drew. Drew actually refers to Clemencia as La Malinche. â€Å"My Malinalli, Malinche, my courtesan, you said, and yanked my head back by the braid† (Cisneros 74). Drew conquers Clemencia at a very young age and has manipulated her to become his sexual slave just like Cortez did with Malinche. Clemencia has a mistak en sense for what love actually is. According to Clara Sue Kidwell in her article, â€Å"Indian Women as Cultural Mediators† she writes about La Malinche’s act of betrayal but justifies and gives the readers information and reasoning behind her actions. â€Å"If we accept that she was virtually a slave in a state under military subjection to the Aztecs at Tenochtitlan, her actions become clearer. Whatever personal passions drove her, we can never know† (Kidwell 3). Kidwell explains that Malinche had reasons to betray her people because she was a slave that was give to Cortes. La Malinche had hatred towards the leaders of her people and hatred can lead to very dangerous acts. Clemencia had reasons to act the way she acted because she saw it first hand with her mother. The story also gives us a side of Clemencia that makes her seem devious and enjoy ruining a marriage. â€Å"Why do that? It’s always given me a bit of crazy joy to be able to kill those wome n like that, without their knowing it† (Cisneros 76). She finds joy in hurting the women with the men she sleeps with. I believe this gives her a sense of power because she knows she can have the man whenever she pleases. Throughout the story, Clemencia reveals to Drew’s son how their relationship began but she tells him indirectly. â€Å"I was your father’s student, yes, just like you’re mine now†¦.. And he took me under his wing and in his bed, this man, your father. I was honored that he’d done me the favor. I was that young† (Cisneros 76). Here Clemencia is speaking to Drew’s son telling him how they had met and how this unfaithful relationship began. In a sense, the way Clemencia speaks about her relationship with Drew, she sounds proud and evil. She is deeply in love with this married man but this love is so twisted. Clemencia is psychologically damaged from witnessing all this as a child. She uses Drew’s son as a way to stay close to Drew because as his son gets older Clemencia sleeps with him as well. â€Å"I sleep with this boy, their son. To make the boy love me like I love his father† (Cisneros 82). Clemencia has grown emotionles s and shows she does not care who she hurts along this destructive journey. We can never really say why Clemencia chose to live a loveless lifestyle, but we know enough about how her childhood has destroyed her vision of real love. Is Clemencia really just hurt that she is in love with a man who she can’t have? The moment Clemencia knew she was never going to be with Drew again, this made her turn vindictive. â€Å"I went over to where I’d left my backpack, and took out a bag of gummy bears I’d bought. And while he was banging pots, I went around the house and left a trail of them in places I was sure she would find them† (Cisneros 81). Clemencia with a feeling of revenge did this to Drew without his knowing and she explains how it made her feel really good with no regret to what she did. As said before, she did find pleasure knowing that she can hurt the people involved in these relationships. She feels no remorse for her actions and how they affect peop le. Is she psychologically insane or did her terrible childhood cause her to become a monster in our eyes? Cisneros, Sandra. Woman Hollering Creek: and Other Stories. New York: Vintage; 1st Vintage contemporaries ed edition, 1992. Print. Godayol, Pilar. Journal of Iberian Latin American Studies. Apr2012, Vol. 18 Issue 1, p61-76. 16p. DOI: 10.1080/14701847.2012.716645. Kidwell, Clara Sue. â€Å"Indian Women as Cultural Mediators.†Ethnohistory, vol. 39, no. 2, Spring 1992, p. 97. Williams, Angela Noelle. â€Å"MALINCHE [Doà ±a Marina, Malintzin, Malinali] (c. 1499/1505-1529).† Native American Women, July 2001, p. 193.

An informative report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

An informative report - Essay Example The stress that he experiences otherwise gets added to the stress that waits for him at the workplace. In today’s world where leaders have to cope with difficult economic situations, they essentially have to go through stress both emotionally and physically. During financial crisis, stress adds up. For the management, layoffs, delayed salaries, low budgets, and pressure from senior staff produces put strain over the managers’ minds which then results in decreased productivity and poor output. They undergo fear, become irritable, suffer through nuisance, and all this reflects in their relationship with the co-workers. Workplace stress includes: fatigue due to overworking without lunch or rest breaks or working for longer hours without naps dissatisfaction caused by lack of motivation when the employees are not given their due rewards lack of interest in the job due to constant pressure coming from seniors and poor communication among the leaders, management and the emplo yees. It becomes important for the leaders and the management to learn how to deal with stressful situations to escape fear, tension and uncertainty. This stress management ability decides whether a leader is going to prove himself as success or failure. Stress is, mostly, very much related to how a person deals with the situation. According to the research carried out by Professor Cox (qtd.

Network and protocol processes that occur in the network when you Essay

Network and protocol processes that occur in the network when you access X-Stream - Essay Example tors and students to collaborate and exchange information, we will discuss the insights of this portal by demonstrating the necessary methods, protocol techniques and processes. However, in order to give a better idea, we have to take TCP/IP protocol suite in to account. Moreover, the foundation for this technological layer that enables a communication channel for internet applications is the IP addresses itself. The priority of the IP is vital because the rest of the TCP/IP protocol suite is fabricated on the IP. However, a recently introduced modification for improving the efficiency of IPv4 32 bit addressing is the CIDS (Classless Inter-Domain Routing) (Linton 2011). Likewise, IP address is assigned a job for developing and constructing the data packets in the same standardized method along with packet management associated with data transmission between interlinked devices in an efficient way. The primary objective is to establish a path for data packets to travel and serve as a basis for delivering network based online applications and services via a TCP/IP suit. The purpose is to expand accessibility of these web-based applications globally and provide services to users such as sharing and uploading documents, pictures, videos, electronic email, video conferencing, chatting, forums, social networks etc. in a broad spectrum, a common platform is now established that is empowered with the mentioned services to make communication valuable. Consequently, for educational communication, a student portal named as X stream has been established, that will serve as a common platform for all the students and tutors, professors and staff for the same university or college. However, apart from some common examples of web enabled services above, the X stream provides advanced services bundled with customization options for students to gain insights on their studies effectively. The report will follow a thorough discussion of the semantics behind these services ranging from