Australia was Born Capitalist Indeed Capitalism came with essays

Australia was Born Capitalist Indeed Capitalism came with essays Capitalism is based on a system of economic organisation characterised by the private ownership of the means of production including land, tools and materials. It is where the accumulation of market-based control over the production and distribution of goods and services is placed into the hands of a few people known as the private sector. Australia, was a product of the then dominant capitalist power, Britain, and with this came its economic structure. Among several significant reasons, the motivation for the colonial settlement of Australia, like that of India, North America and parts of Africa, was to encourage Britains expansion. However, in this instance, there was no pre-capitalist period of European Australian history. There was no peasantry in Australia, no pre-industrial inheritance to modify or to hinder growth - virtually giving the settlers a blank slate to develop for trade and pursue any means for profit, on their own, by their own hand, without access to indentured or other local labour. Therefore, one can propose the question, is capitalism conceived by individuals, or by the society in which they live? Basically, as with most political structures, the Capitalist structure of power produced capitalist ways of thinking in those with access to wealth. Those without access developed other ideas and this led to socialism. Therefore, if you changed the socio-political structure of the society, through socialists or labour parties who want to distribute wealth more evenly, you would be able to change the extent to which capitalism operated. Consequently, such a view suggests capitalism is the cause of behaviours. Alternatively, one could say that capitalist thinking prompted structures that supported it and subsequently, the structures were the effect, not the cause of capitalism. In 1788 N.S.W was considered a free market where, as in North America, anyone prepared to roll up their sleeves and clear some la...

Molybdenum Chemical & Physical Properties

Molybdenum Chemical & Physical Properties Atomic Number: 42 Symbol: Mo Atomic Weight: 95.94 Discovery: Carl Wilhelm Scheele 1778 (Sweden) Electron Configuration: [Kr] 5s1 4d5 Element Classification: Transition Metal Word Origin: Greek molybdos, Latin molybdoena, German Molybdenum: lead Properties Molybdenum does not occur free in nature; it is usually found in molybdenite ore, MoS2, and wulfenite ore, PbMoO4. Molybdenum is also recovered as a by-product of copper and tungsten mining. It is a silvery-white metal of the chromium group. It is very hard and tough, but it is softer and more ductile than tungsten. It has a high elastic modulus. Of the readily-available metals, only tungsten and tantalum have higher melting points. Uses Molybdenum is an important alloying agent which contributes to the hardenability and toughness of quenched and tempered steels. It also improves the strength of steel at high temperatures. It is used in certain heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant nickel-based alloys. Ferro-molybdenum is used to add hardness and toughness to gun barrels, boilers plates, tools, and armor plate. Almost all ultra-high strength steels contain 0.25% to 8% molybdenum. Molybdenum is used in nuclear energy applications and for missile and aircraft parts. Molybdenum oxidizes at elevated temperatures. Some molybdenum compounds are used to color pottery and fabrics. Molybdenum is used to make filament supports in incandescent lamps and as filaments in other electrical devices. The metal has found application as electrodes for electrically-heated glass furnaces. Molybdenum is valuable as a catalyst in the refining of petroleum. The metal is an essential trace element in plant nutrition. Molybdenum sulfide is u sed as a lubricant, particularly at high temperatures where oils would decompose. Molybdenum forms salts with valencies of 3, 4, or 6, but the hexavalent salts are the most stable. Molybdenum Physical Data Density (g/cc): 10.22 Melting Point (K): 2890 Boiling Point (K): 4885 Appearance: silvery white, hard metal Atomic Radius (pm): 139 Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 9.4 Covalent Radius (pm): 130 Ionic Radius: 62 (6e) 70 (4e) Specific Heat (20Â °C J/g mol): 0.251 Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): 28 Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): ~590 Debye Temperature (K): 380.00 Pauling Negativity Number: 2.16 First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 684.8 Oxidation States: 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 0 Lattice Structure: Body-Centered Cubic Lattice Constant (Ã…): 3.150 Sources CRC Handbook of Chemistry Physics, 18th Ed.Crescent Chemical Company, 2001.Langes Handbook of Chemistry, 1952.Los Alamos National Laboratory, 2001.

Definition of design thinking and about good design Assignment

Definition of design thinking and about good design - Assignment Example This concept was further refined by Peter Rowe in 1987 in his book ‘design thinking’, which then defined the actual process of creating solution through a visual and tangible design (Rowe1987:13). The bottom line of design thinking is that the techniques and the tools applicable in the process of devising solutions to a problem may change, while at the same time the effectiveness may differ, but the process never changes (Mootee, 2013:44). Through applying the right process, design thinking does not only create a solution to an existing problem, but is also a driving force for the corporate world to design and develop new brands (Meinel & Leifer, 2011:36). Design thinking is therefore not only a concept of creating amicable solutions to problems, but also a concept seeking to create an improved future. Design thinking is quite different from critical thinking which entails the process of analyzing and breaking down a problem into smaller units, since design thinking seeks to build up on the existing problem as a means of arriving at an amicable solution not just of the single problem, but also for the associate buildup issues (Rowe1987:56). Design thinking is not an event but a process seeking to create solutions for multi-dimensional problems, and then the implementing the solutions in a manner that develops skills and competence in addressing multifaceted problems (Meinel & Leifer, 2011:77). Thus, design thinking is an approach to problem solving that follows the path and lifecycle akin to that of a designer of a product, which entails defining an existing problem, considering the different options that are available for addressing the identified problem and then refining and prioritizing the options to arrive at the one alternative that is plausible based on the existing resources and knowledge (Rowe1987:21). The repeat stage

Should women be given special rights in modern societies because they Essay

Should women be given special rights in modern societies because they have historically been the victims of injustice - Essay Example The feminist movement, in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, was the culmination of virtual centuries of women struggling for equality with men in public as well as private life. This was first realized in Europe and America before the effects of feminism began to affect other nations in other continents. The feminist movement has proven to have a profound effect on western societies, and is now beginning to impact eastern cultures as well; however, it is still necessary because all the objectives that were phrased from the outset have not been realized. Just 60 years ago, the existences of women in virtually all societies around the world were limited in that they were subject to the whims of their men in all respects. In the home, women were to obey the rules of their husbands or fathers. Working was also discouraged for women. From birth, women in developed as well as developing nations were conditioned to aim to become the best wives and mothers that they could be. The role of motherhood was overly praised and women were sometimes forced to become wives and mothers against their will in developed nations like the United States. Once they married, wives were expected to bear children, look after them without requiring or expecting any assistance from their husbands, and also meet the multiple needs of their husbands. According to Van der Tuin (2011) women in America would spend more than 55 hours on a weekly basis in looking after their families. This meant that they had no extra time to pursue any additional pursuits. In additio n, they remained subject to their husbands under religious as well as state laws that asserted that husbands were the ‘masters’ or ‘heads’ of the home (Walter 2010). The aim of the feminist movement was to address all these unfair realities. It also aimed to deal with the reality of women’s lack of access to higher or management jobs in organizations

Kite Runner Rahim Khans Dying Wish Essay Example for Free

Kite Runner Rahim Khans Dying Wish Essay Around the time of his 13th birthday, Amir decided to do something that would change his life forever; he decided to betray his loyal friend and servant, Hassan. His actions caused Hassan and Ali to leave Baba and him forever. Soon after that happened, Baba and Amir were forced to leave the Wazir Akbar district due to several dangers. They ended up in Fremont, California. Although Baba didn’t like his life in America, Amir seemed to enjoy it. â€Å"For me, America was a place to bury my memories. † (112) Although he says that it was a place for him to bury his memories, was he ever completely able to forget about them? Did he ever gain salvation? In the summer of 2001, Amir received a call from his father’s old friend and business partner, Rahim Khan. He asked Amir to come meet him in Pakistan because he was very ill, and didn’t know how long he would live. Even though he said all this, what caught Amir’s attention was something he said just before he hung up: â€Å"There is a way to be good again.† (2) This meant that Amir finally had the chance to right his wrong. After almost three long decades, Amir had gotten a chance to get forgiven for his sins. When Amir got to Pakistan and met Rahim Khan, he came to know about two of the most shocking facts: that Hassan was actually Baba’s son, and that he was killed by the Taliban! Rahim Khan’s dying wish was for Amir to go back to Kabul, and get Sohrab, Hassan’s son, and bring him to an American couple, Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell, who would then take care of him. In a way, Rahim Khan was doing Amir a favor, because he was giving him a chance to finally forgive himself for what he did to Hassan. He could no longer meet Hassan and apologize to him in person, but instead he could go to Kabul, and save his son, Sohrab.

Essay --

Enrique’s Journey is a novel that recreates the amazing true story of a boy named Enrique’s adventure to reunite with his mother. The story begins with describing the families living conditions in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The characters introduced in the story are Lourdes, Enrique’s mom and his little sister Belky, who is seven years old. The family starts out living in one of the poorest neighborhood in the outskirts of Tegucigalpa. Lourdes can barley affords to provide food on the table for her children, let alone herself. The young twenty four year old mother works constantly doing other peoples laundry, making and selling tortillas, selling used clothes and plantain fruits around the neighborhood. The long hours of work she puts in daily, does not do any justice to her family she is raising alone. From the start, Lourdes is confident that she will be unable to send her kids to school for much longer, she won’t be able to keep food on the table, and won’t be able to give her children the life they deserve; so she makes the decision that many young mother’s in foreign countries do; she decides to move to the United States. In the United States she plans to find a good job, make a decent amount of money, and send money and gifts back to her children so they can live a happier life. Lourdes leaves without saying goodbye to her children, because she is too weak to do so. She leaves Belky, her daughter, with her sister to live with. And she leaves Enrique with Enrique’s dad who left them two years prior for another family. Enrique is left with extreme confusion and sorrow. The book includes actual research that has been doing about immigrants journeys to the United States, and how brutally harsh they can be. â€Å"They must make an ill... ... of ‘la migra’, which are the Mexican immigrant authorities. Finally, on his eighth attempt Enrique makes it to the Rio Grande in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, near the border of the United States. He eventually makes enough money to pay for a phone call to his mother. By this time he had memorized her number. Thankfully, he mother finds a way to hire a smuggler to help him get across the Rio Grande. Successfully, stripping down to his johns, and the help of a blow up inner tube, Enrique finds swimming across the freezing Rio Grande Water where his smuggler helps him to a fresh pair of clothes, and a ride to take him to his mother. He finds himself taken to someplace in Orlando, Florida where he eventually is reunited with his mother after Lourdes’s boyfriend goes to pick him up. Enrique’s dream has finally come true. Soon, Enrique’s his dream is shattered with reality.

Succubus Dreams CHAPTER 24

I knew I was going to live forever, but sometimes I had a hard time really understanding how long forever was. During that ride to the airport, however, I got a taste of what eternity might feel like. Maddie spent almost the entire time talking about Seth. In fact, I'm pretty sure the only time she didn't was when she stopped to check her watch and ponder whether we would make it on time. I knew we would make it on time because I would stop the car and carry her on my back before I'd risk her missing her flight and needing to ride back with me to the city. Once she'd decided we were still okay with time, it was back to Seth. Seth, Seth, Seth. I'm pretty sure there were only about three people in the world I wouldn't have suspected of fucking with me if they'd come telling a story like this. Unfortunately, Maddie was one of them. She was telling the truth. It was written all over her, and something in me – maybe the part that really understood how serious the fight between Seth and me had been – could feel it. After a while, my mind sort of went numb, and I stopped thinking about it all. I finally dropped her off at the airport and went home, barely aware of the traffic I once again had to fight my way through. When I got back to my apartment, I ate dinner and watched A Christmas Carol. A long, hot bath followed, and five shots of vodka finally put me down for the night. I slept on the couch because I couldn't bear to go in the room where an angel had fallen. Some Christmas Eve. Seth came over the next morning to take me to dinner at Terry and Andrea's. Uneasiness radiated around him, but he still smiled when he saw me. â€Å"You look great.† â€Å"Thanks.† I knew I did. I'd spent two hours getting ready, the last thirty minutes of which had been me simply standing in front of the mirror. I'd stood there, taking in every detail of my appearance. The clinging red dress. The curve of my neck under the glittering black choker. The way my golden-brown hair, worn sleek and smooth today, hung down my back. Gold eye shadow and black liner framed my eyes. My lips glowed under pale peach lip gloss. Even at five-four, my legs looked long and supple. My face, carved with high cheekbones and flawless skin, was beautiful. I was beautiful. Call it vanity or egotism, but it was true. I was so, so beautiful. More beautiful than Maddie. More beautiful than any mortal woman. Staring at that gorgeous reflection, I begged it to tell me that Seth would want me. He had to want me. How could he not? But I knew all the beauty in the world couldn't mask the pain in me. And after a couple more moments, Seth noticed too. His smile vanished. â€Å"How did you find out?† he asked. I dropped the coat I'd been holding. â€Å"How do you think? She told me. She couldn't wait to tell me.† He sighed and sat on the arm of my couch and stared into space. â€Å"That's it? You have nothing else to say?† I asked. â€Å"I'm sorry. God, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean for you to find out like this.† â€Å"Were you ever going to tell me?† â€Å"Yeah†¦of course.† His voice was so sweet and so gentle that it momentarily defused the anger that wanted to explode out of me. I stared at him, looking hard into those amber brown eyes. â€Å"She said†¦she said you didn't drink, but you did, right? That's what happened?† I sounded like I was Kendall's age and suspected I wore the pleading expression Yasmine had given Jerome. Seth's face stayed expressionless. â€Å"No, Thetis. I wasn't drunk. I didn't drink at all.† I sank down into the armchair opposite him. â€Å"Then†¦then†¦what happened?† It took a while for him to get the story out. I could see the two warring halves within him: the one that wanted to be open and the one that hated to tell me things I wouldn't like. â€Å"I was so upset after what happened with us. I was actually on the verge of calling that guy†¦what's his name? Niphon. I couldn't stand it – I wanted to fix things between us. But just before I did, I ran into Maddie. I was so†¦I don't know. Just confused. Distraught. She asked me to get food, and before I knew it, I'd accepted.† He raked a hand through his hair, neutral expression turning confused and frustrated. â€Å"And being with her†¦she was just so nice. Sweet. Easy to talk to. And after leaving things off physically with you, I'd been kind of†¦um†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Aroused? Horny? Lust-filled?† He grimaced. â€Å"Something like that. But, I don't know. There was more to it than just that.† The tape in my mind rewound. â€Å"Did you say you were going to call Niphon?† â€Å"Yeah. We'd talked at poker†¦and then he called me once. Said if I ever wanted†¦he could make me a deal. I thought it was crazy at the time, but after I left you that night†¦I don't know. It just made me wonder if maybe it was worth it to live the life I wanted and make it so you wouldn't have to worry so much.† â€Å"Maddie coming along was a blessing then,† I muttered. Christ. Seth had seriously considered selling his soul. I really needed to deal with Niphon. He hadn't listened to me when I'd told him to leave Seth alone. I wanted to rip the imp's throat out, but my revenge would have to wait. I took a deep breath. â€Å"Well,† I told Seth. â€Å"That's that. I can't say I like it†¦but, well†¦it's over.† He tilted his head curiously. â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"This. This Maddie thing. You finally had a fling. We've always agreed you could, right? I mean, it's not fair for me to be the only one who gets some. Now we can move on.† A long silence fell. Aubrey jumped up beside me and rubbed her head against my arm. I ran a hand over her soft fur while I waited for Seth's response. â€Å"Georgina,† he said at last. â€Å"You know†¦I've told you†¦well. I don't really have flings.† My hand froze on Aubrey's back. â€Å"What are you saying?† â€Å"I†¦don't have flings.† â€Å"Are you saying you want to start something with her?† He looked miserable. â€Å"I don't know.† No. This wasn't happening. â€Å"What's this mean for us?† I asked. â€Å"I don't know.† The anger returned, and I leapt up, much to Aubrey's annoyance. â€Å"What do you know?† I demanded. â€Å"Do you even know why you did this?† â€Å"There were a lot of things going on†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he said. â€Å"A lot of factors. It just happened†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I put my hands on my hips and stalked toward him. â€Å"Did it? Did it really? Because I'm not so sure.† His distraught expression turned wary. â€Å"What's that mean?† â€Å"I think you were getting back at me for not giving in that night. I made you mad. I hurt you. So, you're trying to hurt me. Teach me a lesson.† â€Å"I – what? Are you insane? You think I'd do something like this to teach you a lesson? You think I would want to hurt you? Just because you refused sex?† â€Å"Why not?† I asked. â€Å"Guys always want sex from me. Why are you any different?† â€Å"Georgina,† he said incredulously. â€Å"You can't believe that. It's always been about more than sex. You have to know that. I've told you that over and over. I would never purposely hurt you. And yet†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"And yet what?† He looked away from me and focused on the carpet. â€Å"I don't know that we can keep going on without me hurting you.† â€Å"Well, if you don't sleep with my friends – â€Å" â€Å"It doesn't even have to be that. There are so many things it could be. I could get hit by a car tomorrow or catch some disease. If you ever do crack some day and sleep with me, you'll hate yourself forever. And if I crack and sell my soul, that's going to upset you too. One way or another, you will get hurt. It's just a matter of when. I saw it that night in the kitchen – I saw your face when you were yelling at me. That's when I knew it was all true.† â€Å"I†¦I was upset,† I told him. â€Å"And, I mean†¦we knew this relationship wouldn't be easy. You were okay with all this in the beginning†¦the sex and everything else†¦.† â€Å"Things change,† he said bluntly. He met my eyes, and I again saw warring sides within him. â€Å"And back then, I thought I was the one who would get hurt, not you. I can handle it.† â€Å"Are you saying I can't?† â€Å"I'm saying I don't want to find out. And honestly, it's not even about sex either. We've got communication problems, time problems†¦I don't know. Hell, we have death problems. I don't really know if we should keep doing this.† It felt like Joel's death again, like all the energy was being sucked away from me. â€Å"How,† I demanded, â€Å"can you always lecture me about open communication and then dump this on me now? If you were feeling all this†¦you should have brought it up beforehand, not in some bluff break-up at the zero hour.† â€Å"I'm not entirely sure what that last part meant, but I'm not bluffing. And I've tried to talk to you about this. I tried the night you massaged me – you didn't want to hear it.† Seth took a deep breath. â€Å"Georgina†¦I really mean it. I don't think we should be together anymore.† I gaped. No, this wasn't right. This wasn't right at all. I'd expected a big fight, one we'd eventually get over, like always. I'd expected him to ask for forgiveness. I'd expected to set new boundaries in the relationship. I'd expected me to be the one to have the high ground and decide if we were going to continue this. I hadn't expected to be pleading. â€Å"No. No. Seth†¦we've just got to make it work. Look, I'll get over Maddie, okay? And if you want to sleep with other women†¦I mean, it is okay. I always said you could. It's just this first time†¦well, it's a shock, that's all.† He just continued to watch me quietly, and I found myself babbling on more and more. â€Å"But we can make it work. We always do. We'll find a way. You can't just go ahead and decide something like this on your own. There are two of us in this, you know.† â€Å"Yeah,† he said. â€Å"I do know. And I'm one of the two. And I want to split up.† â€Å"No,† I said frantically. â€Å"You don't want to. This is just some weird†¦I don't know. You don't mean it.† Seth's silence was more infuriating than if he'd shouted back at me. He just kept watching me, letting me talk. His expression had so much regret – but so much determination too. â€Å"You were the one who told me we could overcome anything,† I cried. â€Å"Why not this?† â€Å"Because it's too late.† â€Å"It can't be. If you do this†¦it's all for nothing†¦you'll have ended up hurting me. Me and Maddie both.† â€Å"It's a small hurt compared to what could really happen,† he said. â€Å"And as for Maddie†¦I don't plan on hurting her. I†¦I like her.† â€Å"But you love me.† â€Å"Yeah, I do. I probably always will. But maybe that's not enough. I have to move on. We can't do this. I think maybe†¦I don't know. I think something good could happen with me and Maddie. In some ways, she's like you, only – â€Å" Seth had started to slip into the rambling he sometimes did when nervous enough. He bit his lip now, as though he might summon the words back, and looked away. â€Å"Only what?† I asked. I could barely hear my own voice. He turned his gaze back to me, firm and unflinching. â€Å"Only†¦more human.† And that was it. All the anger and sorrow vanished. There was nothing in me. Nothing at all. I was empty. â€Å"Get out,† I said. He paled. Something in my voice and expression must have been truly terrifying. Tentatively, he extended a hand. â€Å"I never meant to hurt you. Thetis, I'm sorr – â€Å" â€Å"Don't ever call me that again,† I told him, stepping away. I didn't know how any of these words were coming out of my mouth. It was like someone else was controlling me. â€Å"Leave. Now.† He opened his mouth, and I thought all that resolve he'd just shown might crumble. In the end, it didn't. He left.

Criteria for Heroes Essay

For individuals to be seen as heroes in ancient world they had to meet specific criteria. Above all, a man needed to be a skilled warrior, who had to respect authority, both governmental and religious. Heroes were given no room for pride, they were to be modest, not only giving credit to their culture and the gods for any great deeds they had done, but also accepting everything that happened as fate, not scenarios they had created for themselves. In other words, they did not make themselves who they are, rather they had been predestined to become it. The final requirement of being a hero was composure. Heroes were not permitted to be blinded by rage or have mood swings. Perhaps the greatest example of Achilles fighting skill is when he fights with and kills Hector, the greatest of the Trojan warriors. However, this fight may have never happened if Athena had not disguised herself as one of Hectors brothers and convinced him to fight. Achilles fails miserably at respecting anyone in authority, whether governmental or religious. He not only disrespects King Agamemnons authority, but also the goddess Athena herself. This lack of respect begins when Achilles calls an assembly of the Greeks, something only Agamemnon was able to do. He then proceeds to insult the king, telling him he is greedy, shameless, a cheater, and a drunk. To top it off, Achilles contemplates drawing his sword to strike down Agamemnon, and is only stopped by Athena grabbing his hair. Needless to say, killing the leader of your nation would be the ultimate act of disrespect to the government. Although he does so badly with respect for government authority, Achilles has no problem respecting human religious authority, only because he has no encounters with priests, prophets, and etceteras. However, he does show some disrespect to Athena for stopping his murder of King Agamemnon. Instead of following the goddess orders whole-heartedly, he does it quite reluctantly and talks back in the process. Humility is another requirement Achilles fails to meet. His excessive pride is seen throughout The Iliad. When he tells Agamemnon that he is withdrawing himself and all his forces from the Trojan War, Achilles makes it sound as if he has done greater things than anyone, putting himself on a pedestal. Never does Achilles credit anyone or anything for his success, including the  gods. It is always he himself who has done something. Although Achilles is so prideful about his deeds, he is able to accept Fate. As he reprimands his horses as if it were their fault Patroclos was killed, one of them tells Achilles his death is near. Achilles tells the horse he knows this, indicating he accepts it. Hector does not credit himself for his accomplishments. He usually gets around glorifying himself by thanking the gods. Achilles pride contributes to his downfall, and it also shows Hector to have far less hubris than his opponent. Composure may be the requirement Achilles is furthest from meeting. Almost every time his name is mentioned, he is in some fit of rage. His very first tantrum is when he about kills Agamemnon, only being stopped by Athena. His next episode of anger comes after the death of Patroclos, but it is actually helpful to the Greeks. Achilles charges over the battlefield, destroying all Trojan warriors he crossed paths with. The final act of Achilles great anger is after he kills Hector. Achilles is still deeply hurt by the death of his friend Patroclos, so he drags Hectors body behind his chariot, mutilating it. The Epic of Gilgamesh embodies the national ideals of the Sumerians who believed that coming of age of a young man especially one who would become king, required a ritual experience. That aided the young man to face his monsters, nature, gods, and the reflection of Gilgamesh found in his mirror image Enkidu. The Sumerians understood the need for such a quest of self because there is a person that resides in all of us, both benefactor and destroyer that must be identified and controlled before we can accept our adult responsibilities. This is why the story incorporates emotions, but they are also unrealistic. Gilgamesh must face his anger and learn to replace it with a sense of community that is much closer to love, not hate. His ego must also be trained to respond appropriately to both winning and losing because this is what life is for each of us. The ancient Greeks had strict criteria for individuals to follow if they were to be seen as heroes. Those requirements were skill in battle, respect for authority, humility, and coolness under fire. Not many men met all requirements, including Achilles and Gilgamesh, but they were still viewed  as heroes. When the emotions are brought under control, when each person is successful at slaying their â€Å"dragons,† then they can move into an adult position that requires control over all the dualities of love and hate, power and weakness, anger and joy, selfishness and community. Between Achilles and Hector, Hector was the better choice for the title of hero, he was respectful of authority, humble about his success, and was very levelheaded. Achilles had great fighting skill as well. However, he had trouble respecting authority and keeping his cool, both results of his excessive pride. If Achilles had not been so prideful, he could have been a much greater warrior and hero, perhaps achieving status equal to the gods. He simply had too much pride. As desired, Gilgamesh learns to do good deeds, and this is truly all that society asks of anyone.

To What Extent did the reforms of the Constituent Assembly reshape France Essay Example

To What Extent did the reforms of the Constituent Assembly reshape France Essay Example To What Extent did the reforms of the Constituent Assembly reshape France Paper To What Extent did the reforms of the Constituent Assembly reshape France Paper Essay Topic: History After October 1789, most people in France believed that the revolution was over. But the Constituent Assembly still wanted more reforms, they thought that France very much needed this, because it was not really in a fit state, and people were still being unfairly treated by the government and finance systems. It made reforms in 5 areas, government, religion, laws, finances and economy. Everyone in the assembly agreed that they should enforce the principles of the Declaration of Rights, which were that everyone is equal, and no individual might exercise any authority not expressly emanating from the nation. They wanted to produce a system that was representative of the country, was the same all over the country, decentralised and humanitarian. The assembly also agreed that they wanted an end to the ancien regime, and a limited monarchy. They were all great believers of the enlightenment, and wanted to apply the philosophies to end conflict, cruelty, superstition and poverty. There were 2 key principles to the way in which they reformed the local government, one of which was the decentralisation. They wanted the power to pass from the central government in Paris to the local authorities, making it much more difficult for the King to recover the power that he lost because of the revolution. The other key principle is to elect the officials, and to ensure stability would be responsible to those who elected them. Both these were a huge shift away from the old Ancien Regime. The Constituent Assembly enforced their new ideas by the Decrees of December 1789 and January 1790. These meant that France was divided into 83 departments, which were subdivided into 547 districts and 43,360 municipalities. The municipalities were grouped into Cantons, which acted as areas for elections and justices of the peace. All of the divisions were run by elected councils, except the cantons. The voting and election system worked as follows: The active citizens who could vote for municipal officials and vote in national elections had to pay 3 days labour in taxes, anyone who didnt pay this, couldnt vote. People who paid equivalent of 10 days labour could elect members of district and department, elect members to National Assembly and could become officials. And people who paid equivalent of 50 days could become a deputy in the National Assembly. This did mean that realistically, only the rich or financially well off people could elect councils. There was definitely a revolution in who governed, because in the South, bourgeois landowners controlled the new councils, and in the Northern towns the bourgeois controlled new councils, and in the Northern countryside, laboreurs controlled them. This was a huge change from the rich upper classes controlling to the middle and lower classes beginning to control. The councils did do a lot of work for the country, they assessed and collected taxes, they controlled the National Guard, maintained law and order, administered the clerical oath, carried out public works, and controlled the requisition of grain. In towns the councils were very effective; there were a good supply of literate, talented men. But in villages there very few literate and talented men so there were poor deputies. Also in Catholic areas, officials disliked persecuting priests who had refused to take the oath of loyalty, and consequently resigned and areas were left without any effective local government. In 1789, the royal administration collapsed, and very few taxes were collected, meaning that the Assembly desperately needed money so they decided to continue with the old financial system of direct and indirect taxation until 1791 which was very unpopular. The people wanted the demands made in the cahiers to be met immediately. After outbreaks of violence in Picardy, the government gave way, and abolished the gabelle in March 1790 and within a year all indirect taxes were abolished aswell. Before the new system operated effectively, the Assembly voted that in November 1789 the land that belonged to the church would be sold to the people. This money would then pay the Clergy. The government issues bands which people bought and used to buy church land. It was hoped that the Clergy would support the new regime because they would be dependant on it for their salaries. Members of the bourgeoisie bought most of the land near towns, and the peasants bought the land that was away from the towns. By 1799 the peasants had bought 52% of the land, while the Bourgeoisie has bought 48%. The bourgeoisie often resold their land to the peasants, it is estimated that the number of peasant smallholders increased by a million between 1789 and 1810. The new financial system began in January 1791, indirect taxes had been abolished, and now there was a main tax on land, which replaced indirect taxes and taille and vingtieme. There was also a property tax, which was unpopular, as people saw it as the old capitation in a new form. The new financial system was much better than the old, it benefited the poor a lot because of the abolition of indirect taxes, and there would no longer be any privileges or exemptions. It was much fairer in respect of the fact that all property and income was to be taxed on the same basis. The economic reforms that were enforced included the lassiez-faire attitude to trade and industry, the assembly believed that trade and industry should be free from any government interference, and therefore introduced free trade in grain in August 1789 and removed price controls. There was a creation of a single system of weights and measures which was the decimal system, which the whole population of France had to use now. In June 1971 80,000 workers were threatening a strike, so the assembly passed the Le Chapelier Law, named after Le Chapelier (the deputy who proposed it). This law made trade unions and employers organisations forbidden. Bargaining, picketing and strikes were made illegal. The assembly really wanted to give the poor some relief, and concluded that nearly 2 million people could only live from begging. However, when it came to action, the Assembly took none because there was not enough money. The Constituent Assembly changed the legal system in the same uniformity that it changed the local government. There were to be the same law and law-courts throughout the country. In each canton there was a J. P whose main job was to make the different parties to agree, but now could judge very minor civil cases without appeal. The more serious civil cases were sent to a District court. They made a criminal court in each department and these would deal with criminal cases and the defendants would be found guilty or innocent by a jury. At the head of the whole system was a Court of Appeal, whos Judges were elected. All the judges were elected by active citizens, but only those who had been lawyers for five years could be elected. This ensured that all the judges were fair and well qualified. The overall legal system was improved aswell, torture and mutilation was abolished and the use of the death penalty was vastly reduced. A new more efficient method of execution was introduced, the guillotine. The Assemblys legal reforms made a huge difference to France. Before, the system of justice was absolutely terrible it was barbarous and corrupt. However, after the reforms, it was one of the most enlightened in Europe. The Constituent Assembly had various ideas about religion. They wanted to create a church that was totally free from abuses, free from papal control, democratic and linked to the new systems; especially local government. Under the ancien regime the Catholic Church in France had not been very closely linked with the state, the Assemble wanted to change this. In August 1789 the Assembly ended the privileges of the Church, abolished the tithe, annates and pluralism. Most parish clergy supported these measures. The Decree of December 1789 gave civil rights to Protestants, and in September 1791 these rights included Jews. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy in July 1790 was a big turning point; it adapted the organisation of the church in a way similar to the adaptations of the local government. The number of bishoprics would be reduced from 135 to 83, meaning there would be fewer Clergy. The clergy was divided into Seculars and Regulars. Seculars were under control of a bishop, and a parish priest had control of a distinct area the benefice, they had responsibility for the salvation of people. In regulars were the members of religious orders who were under direct control of their superior. This included enclosed contemplatives. The Clergy demanded that the reforms be submitted to a National Assembly of the French Church but the Constituent Assembly refused to agree to this. Because a Church assembly was not allowed to discuss the matter, the Clergy waited for the Pope to give his opinion, however he took too long to respond and in November 1790 the National Assembly declared that the Clergy must take an oath to the Constitution. This split the clergy. In France 55% of the clergy took the oath, but when the Pope finally condemned the Civil Constitution in March 1791, many retracted their oath. The Civil Constitution of the clergy had momentous results; it destroyed the revolutionary consensus which had existed since 1789. There were now two churches in Catholic Churches in France, one which accepted the revolution and the other that was approved by the Pope but regarded as against the revolution. About half of the people now rejected revolution because they were faced with a choice between revolution and religion. This was one result of the Civil Constitution, another was the Kings attempt to flee France in June 1791, leading to the downfall of the monarchy. The Constituent Assembly drew up the Constitution of 1791, which would replace an absolute monarchy. Real power was to be passed to an elected assembly. The King would have a suspended veto and there would be one elected assembly. In September the King reluctantly accepted the Constitution, but Marie Antoinette said that the Constitution was so monstrous that it cannot survive for long, and was determined to overthrow it. The reforms that the Constituent Assembly made reshaped France in a big way; the whole Government system was changed entirely, and so was the legal system, the financial system and religion. The reforms moved away from the ancien regime and the peasants and bourgeoisie benefited very much from the reforms. The middle classes now controlled new councils, and the poor became landowners. Indirect taxation was abolished, which helped everyone very much, and was definitely a big change in the way the country used to be run. The King lost more and more power from the Constitution of 1791. However, the religious reforms did make some people go against the revolution, and lost the Constituent Assembly some popularity, but it did definitely reshape France.

Seasonal Effects in Stock Markets

Seasonal Effects in Stock Markets Read about how the seasons of the year affect the prices at stock markets. Prices in stock markets around the world are mostly driven by rapid changes in relevant information. But certain seasonal and calendar-related trends, and trends that have very little to do with the stocks themselves or economic conditions also influence the prices. The trends are well-known and are anticipated by most investors, so it is debatable how great an effect they really have; however, there are still ways a smart investor can take advantage of them. From a research and analysis point of view, understanding seasonal effects is important because they often explain changes in the markets that are not attributable to prevailing economic or business circumstances, and as such become a significant variable. The January Effect, the December Effect, and Santa Claus Rallies These three phenomena are closely related. The first to occur is the December Effect, which usually happens during the weeks immediately before and after Christmas, in which markets will decline. The reason for this is that many traders will sell off shares just before the end of the year, in order to claim a capital loss for the year and reduce their taxes. The January Effect is a market rally in the first week of January when the shares sold at the end of the year are repurchased. The effect is significant: According to investment advisors, Ibbotson Associates, since 1924 the average monthly returns for stocks in the S P 500 have been approximately half a percent higher in January than in the other 11 months of the year. Sometimes, particularly in years when the December Effect is especially strong or happens a bit earlier in the month of December (typically in years when Christmas Day falls in the middle of the week), the markets will experience a â€Å"Santa Claus Rally†. This is a bit of a recovery, though usually not as strong as the January Effect, thanks to share buying by bargain hunters. Read also:  Black Economy  |  Financial Crisis of 2008   The September Effect In the US markets, September is historically a low point during the year. Since 1926, the monthly average return for the S P 500 has been positive for every month except September, even taking into account huge declines in the stock market in 1929, 1987, and 2008. The September Effect is largely an American phenomenon; it does appear in markets outside the US, most often when the September drop in the US markets is especially strong, but not as consistently. The usual explanation for the September Effect is the end of summer, which is traditionally marked by the Labor Day holiday on the first Monday in September in the US. Consumer spending tends to decline in September, and the month is the beginning of the third quarter, historically the weakest period economically in the year. Markets rise again after September, as businesses and consumers begin to prepare for the holiday season in the last two months of the year. Turn of the Month Since at least the 1880s, and possibly earlier, the cycle in stock markets all over the world has been one in which the markets are highest in the few days at the beginning and end of the month, and lowest in the middle of the month. In the modern era, the effect is attributed to the behavior of mutual funds, a large proportion of which serve as investments for retirement funds. Money is usually directed into mutual funds at or shortly before the end of the month, increasing share purchases across the entire market for a brief period of time – usually, six to eight days overlapping the end of one month and a start of the next. The effect, however, has existed for much longer than mutual funds have, and so the explanation for it is incomplete. Some researchers have speculated that it is largely a psychological effect; people tend to be more optimistic and active at the beginning or end of a month, and more inclined to spend money. Turn of the Quarter Just as the beginning and end of the month tend to be more active periods in the stock market, the market at the end of the quarter usually advances as well. This is a more modern effect, and can usually be attributed to an activity derisively called â€Å"window dressing†: Fund managers who report their activities in detail on a quarterly basis will often purchase stocks that have performed well during the quarter in order to make their portfolios more attractive. Because window-dressing involves stocks that are generally already comparatively high-priced, the activity can have a big effect on the entire index. Prices changes in stocks in short periods – hours or days – move up or down in a logarithmic rather than a linear trajectory, so prices change upward when there is a significant amount of window-dressing taking place actually accelerate. Window-dressing is not illegal, but is generally regarded as unethical; many trustworthy fund managers do not engage in the practice, but enough others do that it has a noticeable impact on the market. Blue Mondays The first day of the work week traditionally is the worst day of the week for stock markets. Since 1885, the average daily return in the US markets has fluctuated between 0.4% and 0.8% during the Tuesday-to-Friday part of the week. The average daily return for Mondays, however, is actually a loss of about 1%. The effect is partly psychological; most people are apparently not enthusiastic about getting back to the daily grind after the weekend. There is also an identifiable cause in the reporting habits of companies, one which can be attributed, oddly enough, to a trend started by Adolf Hitler. Brutal megalomaniac though he was, Hitler was capable of being clever at times; in the last few years before the outbreak of World War II, he developed the habit of making his most provocative political moves over the weekend – a time he knew that politicians in France, England, and Russia were likely to be enjoying their days off in the countryside, unable to assemble and react quickly to whatever rotten stunt he was pulling. These days companies that have particularly bad news to report, items such as large financial losses, unexpected changes in key personnel, or other things that would surely have a negative impact on their share prices, tend to release the information over the weekend.

Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 28

Strategic Management - Essay Example ted and respected models of strategic analysis, including SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces, and even cultural characteristics modelling provided by Geert Hofstede in order to adjust in an evolutionary or systemic philosophy. To build a solid brand reputation and gain market share among competition, KFC must understand its strengths and weaknesses, as well as externally-driven market threats to build a sustainable and marketable strategic position. Without this knowledge, the business will not be able to create productive and long-standing relationships with the very diverse markets in which the business operates. The SWOT analysis is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Performing a SWOT analysis is a measure by which a business entity examines both its internal competencies and capabilities aligned with the external market to determine its current strategic position in its market. The basic assumption of the relevancy of the SWOT analysis is that the company can be properly fit within the context of external opportunities and threats by understanding internal resources available (Pearce and Robinson 2011). The SWOT analysis is a framework by which strategic planners are able to make adjustments to the internal organisational structure or reallocate resources to better respond to external market conditions. Porter’s Value Chain is a model that looks at the organisation as a chain of activities that transforms inputs into effective outputs. It is a customer-centric model that views that organisation as being an entity with a set of inter-dependent systems and divisions able to create outputs that customers will perceive as having sustainable value (Pearce and Robinson 2011). There are three ways in which customers perceive the aforementioned value: through activities that provide differentiation of product or services, through activities that lower their costs, and the ability of a company to respond to customer needs rapidly (Thompson,