Welcome to Alabama Essay Example For Students

Welcome to Alabama Essay Ever since Montgomery tycoon William S. Blount wrote the largest single check ever given to an American theatre, the staff of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival has practiced an efficient routine for impressing those out-of-state visitors who seem to think that the title of the company is a charming oxymoron. If all goes as planned, the victims first glance of the elegant $26-million facility will be from the edge of the beautifully landscaped 250-acre park (designed by the late Russell Page) over which the theatre has presided since 1985. The hot Alabama sun will be reflecting in the large pond in front of the 100,000-square-foot, red-brick object of Blounts generosity. As all parking areas have been cleverly hidden in the trees at the side, there should be nothing to spoil the delightful head-on vista. Helpful P.R. people will point out the bronze Puck cavorting on the lawns, the swans imported for their connections to Stratford-on-Avon, the Royal Shakespeare Company flag fluttering above the only American theatre authorized to fly the emblem of the revered British classicists. We will write a custom essay on Welcome to Alabama specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Venturing indoors, the tour highlights the opulent lobby with its specially commissioned statuary, plush carpets and an elegant patrons lounge with telephone-equipped bathrooms. Should the guest be all too painfully aware of these lean, mean times for resident theatres, proudly quoted facts and figures make the theatres case for international respect with even greater incision. The annual budget (comfortably in the black) is now up to $6 million, with about $2.5 million coming from contributed funds, and about $700,000 in state tax dollars appropriated by the loyal Alabama legislature directly for the theatre. An annual audience of over 250,000 watches a resident company of 25 Equity actors during the theatres peak summer season of rotating repertory. Add massive backstage facilities, a full-time administrative and technical staff of more than 100 and two magnificent auditoria, and the green-with-envy visitor may well be transformed into an enthusiastic ambassador of this resourceful theatre in the middle of nowhere. And thats before any actors mouth has even opened. Such, at least, was the scenario throughout the late 1980s. In the past couple of years, though, the theatres bucolic traditions have come up against their own limitations. Montgomery, a city that cradled the Civil Rights Movement, has a population equally divided between whites and blacks, et the number of African-Americans present in the festivals lush lobbies has never been very high. In the 20 years since the festival was founded in a high school auditorium by Martin Platt (now artistic director of the New Mexico Repertory Theatre), the ASF has specialized in European and American classics, Victorian revivals and competently produced Shakespeare. A strong artistic reputation has been hard won, but the festival cannot claim an auspicious history of reflecting the experience of all of the people in the area it purports to serve. The festivals presence in the state of Alabama has always seemed more an accident of geography, personalities or finances than true stewardship. Such an observation could, of course, be made about most of the large American Shakespeare festivals, many of which play to vacationers from nearby urban areas. And most of these theatres would reasonably claim that their national mission of keeping classic drama alive is distinct from the urban resident theatres, with a necessarily more localized and comprehensive approach to play selection. Up to now, this theatre has never looked for writers in its own backyard. But at a time when many resident theatres are dismissing permanent companies and coping with perilously limited financial resources, the relatively rich Alabama Shakespeare Festival has decided it has new responsibilities to its community and its region. And that means changing the ways things are done. .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5 , .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5 .postImageUrl , .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5 , .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5:hover , .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5:visited , .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5:active { border:0!important; } .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5:active , .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5 .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud71e4ae32dfa20906389c72d8332a8c5:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Anatoly Smeliansky EssayWhen Kent Thompson, the festivals 38-year-old artistic director, arrived in Montgomery in 1990, he found that you could not identify the theatre by its programming. American plays were rare, and pieces by southern authors other than Tennessee Williams virtually nonexistent. In an effort to give writers from the theatres region a more important role, Thompson quickly created the Southern Writers Project. Funded by a Special Projects Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, Thompson and his committee commissioned three diverse scribes to create or adapt plays based on Alabama and its bi-cultural folk history, specifically with a family audience in mind. Playwrights Doug Cooney, Levi Frazier Jr. and Oni Faida Lampley are already hard at work. Thompson anxiously points out that the festivals new commitment to emerging writers with connections to the South goes beyond the typical resident theatre practice of contacting an agent and reading submitted scripts: I want the project to be a commissioning process, where we work with the writer to turn their existing material into a play. The resulting pieces will be workshopped at the theatre this month, and a regional tour is planned for next season with emphasis on communities with populations of fewer than 50,000. Thompson has also commissioned Dennis Covington, an Alabama novelist, to write a stage adaptation of his novel Lizard, about a boy with pinched features who runs away from a mental institution to join a couple of itinerant actors. This young adults story, which takes place in and around Birmingham, is set against the backdrop of a touring production of The Tempest. There are plans to tour Covingtons new play in tandem with its Shakespearean source around the South next year. The most ambitious of Thompsons slew of new projects is his commission of leading historical novelist (but presently minor dramatist) John Jakes to create a modern American history play. Jakes decided to take his cue from the Shakespearean histories and write a two-play opus about the life and times of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Johnson as the subject of a Shakespearean epic? He was a true tragic hero, says the undaunted Jakes with nary a twinkle of irony. His tragic flaw was that he wanted to have it all. Jakes is not planning on writing a quiet closet drama for the Festivals 1993-94 season. There arent enough big-scale plays, he says. And this is one theatre that can do them. If this sudden interest in new work was not sufficient to rattle the festivals loyal but conservative audiences, Thompson has also instigated a policy of nontraditional casting, a phenomenon the festival had never previously embraced. And plays about the African-American experience are suddenly appearing in Montgomery. Last years season included Miss Evers Boys, and David Feldshuhs play had particular resonance when performed within 30 minutes of its Tuskegee setting. That was the first time we have ever had a true mix of the community in this theatre. Local African-Americans were astonished that we were doing something about their lives, says Thompson. A Raisin in the Sun is on next years slate, as well as Dumas, a new play by John MacNichols about both playwrights, father and son. These attempts at bi-culturalism have been greatly boosted by a recently announced grant of $1 million from the Lila Wallace Readers Digest Fund, earmarked specifically for diversifying the festivals audiences. Such innovations carry risks, and Thompson has already heard his share of negative comments from longtime subscribers unhappy with the new direction. But he argues that most of the audience is excited by the theatres new resolve to spend about half of its time on classical drama and the rest on more risky work with contemporary relevance: They recognize that this theatre has more potential than any other other institution in the state to change the perception of Alabama in the media.

How to handle anxiety and stress in the workplaceÂÂ

How to handle anxiety and stress in the workplace   The world of work offers many challenges. We get to learn more about our passions and interests, as well as our strengths and areas for improvement, and it gives us opportunities to mature as we take on new responsibilities, gain professional satisfaction, and chart a course for our lifelong career journeys- all key factors in leading a happy and fulfilling life. However- there’s a flipside to the work coin, which includes the reality that work is not always fun and easy. In fact, for most of us, our work lives can be a serious and persistent source of anxiety and stress, and it’s no small matter: It can affect all facets of our lives- not just our time spent at work- and can have lasting effects on our physical and mental well-being.The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) recently conducted a survey regarding workplace stress and anxiety. Among their key findings:Employees say stress and anxiety most often impacts their workplace performance (56 percen t),  relationship with coworkers and peers (51 percent),  quality of work (50 percent), and relationships with superiors (43 percent).More than three-fourths who say stress interferes with their work say it carries over to their personal life, particularly men (83 percent vs. 72 percent for women).7 in 10 adults report that workplace stress affects their personal relationships, mainly with their spouses. Men (79 percent) report it affecting personal relationships more than women (61 percent).The main culprits of work-related stress are deadlines (55 percent),  interpersonal relationships (53 percent),  staff management (50 percent), and  dealing with issues/problems that arise (49 percent).Does this sound familiar? If so, and you’re experiencing anxiety and stress resulting from work, you’re not alone- and you don’t have to suffer through it with no end in sight.Be honest about itWhen some of us feel the weight of workplace stress and anxiety, our firs t impulse may be to write it off as something else. We analyze the symptoms- everything from lethargy to sleeplessness to irritability and changes in mood and behavior- and make excuses. We say that we’re just tired, or we’re just feeling sick, or even that it’s due to the weather. Basically, we do anything but acknowledge that our stress has a direct and obvious source- our jobs. We also try to rationalize that it’s only temporary, and that things will get better after this project or this â€Å"busy period,† even though it often never does. The truth is, these attempts to rationalize and â€Å"explain away† our work stress and anxiety only serves one purpose- to prolong it and avoid confronting it. The first step in handling workplace anxiety and stress is to be honest about it. This empowering move will help you begin to deal with it effectively.Diagnose the problem(s)Workplace stress and anxiety is similar to other problems in life in th at you need to fully understand the issues contributing to the situation before you can turn the tide and overcome it. When you’re feeling the effects of work stress and anxiety, take a step back from things and give yourself the time to fully understand each and every individual source and symptom that is affecting your life. Often, a â€Å"one size fits all† solution to your workplace anxiety is ineffective when there are multiple sources at play. Once you see all of the sources clearly, you can start thinking about effective individual solutions for each. Often, just understanding the problems can alleviate some of the strain and propel you on the path to improvement.Get helpLike other issues involving our jobs, we’re rarely completely alone in having to deal with stress and anxiety. Help is available- whether or not you choose to ask for it and accept it is your call. Depending on the issues that are contributing to your stress and anxiety and your specific workplace dynamic, you may benefit from taking the direct approach- be open with colleagues or bosses regarding the issues in an attempt to come up with effective solutions. Also, don’t forget that friends, family, and peers can be great sources of help and guidance here- especially if they’ve gone through similar situations. Also, don’t count out seeking the help of a professional. Many workplaces offer help through counseling and guidance services (both in-house and/or outside), and you always have the option of hiring a professional for help, the cost of which may be covered by your insurance plan. The bottom line is that you’re not alone here, and seeking help to deal with difficult issues isn’t shameful or embarrassing- it’s smart strategic thinking!Find outletsWhile there are times we can effectively tackle and reduce our workplace stress and anxiety by confronting it head-on, the truth is, sometimes it isn’t quite so easy. Simp ly put, some of us just have to accept that it’s a facet of our jobs. However, what we do have control over is how we spend our time outside of work, and making time for activities that help us offset the negative impact of our work is always a good idea. Get involved in things you enjoy doing in an effort to alleviate workplace stress and anxiety- finding a fulfilling life outside of work is very often the key to finding happiness within it.

Is Female Perception of the Body Image Affected by the Media

Is Female Perception of the Body Image Affected by the Media Here is an overview of the body-image issue. Read how magazines and fashion industry determine the standards of the female body. Mass Media Effect on How We Perceive Ourselves America certainly has many problems in its own society – institutionalized racism, poverty, ignorance, teen pregnancy and drug addiction. But another major problem lies within the work of the media, the main means of mass communication (broadcasting, publishing, and the Internet) regarded collectively. The media, whether we realize it or not, dictates what we let into our lives; this certainly affects how we perceive ourselves – because we compare ourselves, and are compared, to celebrities and other people we see in the media. ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY EXAMPLE: DOES VIOLENCE IN THE MEDIA CAUSE VIOLENCE IN CHILDREN? Most times, these celebrities are quite perfect-looking individuals, and so everyday people can have a low self-esteem because of new low body image – and this definitely applies to many adults and most teens, male and female alike. However, in this case, an argument will be made that illustrates how media influence the female perception of the body image. Magazine Pics Install a Lack of Confidence Let’s look at how females are portrayed in publications and on the Internet. Go to a magazine stand – you’ll see attractive, strikingly beautiful women on just about every cover. It’s sickening. This definitely over-sexualizes and objectifies the female beauty. But it’s been that way a long time, though that doesn’t justify why it still exists. Also, on the Internet, in newspaper ads and on billboards in dodgy parts of town, are billions of erotic pictures and videos of women. For young girls and insecure women, this instills a lack of confidence in their own appearance, and a body-image problem emerges. This problem could last a lifetime; maybe it’s the reason they hit the gym, get elective surgery or buy an expensive Italian sports car. Thanks to the media, the American public – heck, the world, too – adores so many of the same people, actors, athletes, and billionaires, that the public feels lost in the midst of things – they feel overlooked, irrelevant and worthless. You are imperfect, permanently and inevitably flawed. And you are beautiful. ? Amy Bloom Secondly, non-skinny, non-model-type women do appear on magazine covers, though, but they are usually overweight, maybe handsome and funny or overweight, plain looking and rich – like Queen Latifah, Oprah, Amy Schumer and Melissa McCarthy. This is terrible for a woman’s body image because it illustrates how – if you are an average-looking woman, maybe a little chubby, without a fortune, and not an actor or media mogul – you aren’t important enough to be on the cover of a magazine. Not that this means anything in the grand scheme of things, but it does happen and will continue to happen as long as the media is running the show and influencing people. Here’s the thing: wealthy billionaires run the media companies, mostly financially supported by the advertiser who depends on the consumer’s purchasing power. A woman with a low body image buys the products advertised to them in commercials hosted by beautiful bombshells of women. They purc hase many things advertised to them in order to fill the void they have created for themselves, deeply instilled by the media. People Can’t Take Their Own Mediocrity Lastly, the two aforementioned points illustrate how media influence the female perception of the body image, and this causes the everyday woman – bombarded by advertisements, commercials, magazine covers, Web articles – to feel inferior to the women they see on TV and in the movies. This is a terrible thing, for it tends to warp the minds of insecure people, men, and women alike, who aren’t confident and comfortable in their own skin, with their own imperfect appearance and body. This is quite tragic. This is perhaps why we still see suicides and homicidal rampages, alcoholic and drug binges – they can’t take their own mediocrity, their lack of celebrity, their ordinariness. We are trained to think, in this culture, that we are nothing if we are not of some renown. TV HAS A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON TEENAGERS To conclude, let’s try hard to address this problem in the future. It’s easy to see how media influence the female’s perception of how they view their bodies, their looks. Women probably assess their value in comparison to the beauty or style or sexual features of a famous female. And because most everyday women in America do not look like Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie, many women feel inadequate and inferior and undesirable. Until the media actively tries to include the everyday American woman in advertisements, magazine covers, billboards and TV shows, America will have this problem – and it could have many socio-economic implications that could point to a shift in confidence, along with many mental-health and low self-esteem problems.

Google is a Successful Organization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Google is a Successful Organization - Essay Example From this paper it is clear that  Google is an international worldwide organization that is ranked world’s third biggest and valuable organization. The extraordinary work force with passionate and commitment to work environment, sound management practices and peoples analytics approach are some other determinants of success for Google. Google has incorporated the concept of continuous innovation and considering new talent screening the marketplace to the top. Google has taken a strategic shift to strengthen its workplace by great people management. Innovation is a product of new retainers and new people and Google accepts this fact for success. The managers are enabled to produce advanced business outcomes only when they are managing people decisions, accurately.  This study outlines that  people analytics approach is applied here. Pursuing long term relationships with the personnel, reward and recognitions, growth and opportunity, securities are yet other determinants o f success. The analytical based models for producing great results, enhancing workforce productivity and growing dramatically is given out by Google that has gained enough recognition and acceptance by the executives of other firms.   Google largely depends on data and analytics for driving decisions. Technology is a great breakthrough and coping up with the ultra high tech standards for maintaining and provoking it also call for Google’s success.

Ethics in Group Counseling Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Ethics in Group Counseling - Article Example Ultimately the paper aimed to provide a kind of resource for practitioners interested in implementing group counseling in the school. As a starting point the paper illustrated that family issues are an important topic for group counseling insofar as many children learn aggressive behavior in their home. Moreover the paper postulated that parental abuse also is an important area of focus because substance abuse issues are a serious problem in the home and substance abuse often leads to physical abuse. The article then provided an overview of group counseling. Group interventions can be quite helpful but the question is what format should be utilized. Three main group types were outlined. Education/guidance groups may address social skills issues, Counseling Groups are target towards children with developmental challenges, and therapy groups are used for more severe issues. Group counseling formats incorporate four stages (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing & Adjourning) which are directed towards first establishing a relationship, establishing boundaries, addressing basic rules, developing increased responsibility and recognizing unrecognized issues. The next major section of the paper involves legal & ethical consideration for schools on a definition basis. The paper defined consent, which is permission to participate in counseling (typically from parents). The paper then defined confidentiality which is the legal obligation not to disclose information surrounding treatment. Breaching confidentiality was covered insofar as confidentiality must be broken when a student poses a risk. Special consideration should be given to how groups are selected & formed. Next special consideration was given for which topics should be considered in groups. Lastly the paper covered details around adequate notification, dangerous behavior parental disclosure, dual relationships and counseling notes, Ethical risks and professional

Stages of Conflict Management Essay Example for Free

Stages of Conflict Management Essay In the contemporary workplace, communication plays an important role in an efficient administration since it encourages co-operation, knowledge sharing, and a feeling of a sense of a common purpose. Nonetheless, communication brings increasing interpersonal relationships, an unwanted and, in most cases, unmanaged side effects, which are referred to as conflicts. Managing conflict focuses on maintaining conflict at the right level in order to assist the organizational departments, teams or groups working together to reach their goals. Managing conflict does not imply completely eradicating conflict or conflict reduction (Miller, 2011). The fundamental process of conflict management is the selection of the aspired levels of conflicts. These aspired levels of conflicts vary widely and depend on the perceived conflict requirements by the managers of various personnel (Miller, 2011). The stages of conflict management include diagnosis of the problem, problem statement, knowing both parties perceptions or viewpoints/understanding, mediation, brainstorming of alternative solutions, and identification of (an) agreed on solution(s) (Rout Omiko, 2007). These stages of conflict management are briefly described below. Diagnosis of the Problem In this stage of conflict management, the mediator listens to both parties who are involved in conflict with the intention of understanding and determining the existence of a genuine conflict, and not just an imagined one (Rout Omiko, 2007). Problem Statement After recognizing that actually the problem really exists, the mediator now attempts to represent the problem to both parties involved in a non-defensive and direct manner. In other words, in this stage the mediator ensures that parties involved in the conflict actually understand the problem. Besides, the second stage is meant to ensure that the mediator evaluates and sees the level of understanding of both parties in regard to the presence of the conflict, and the level of motivation to engage in conflict resolution (Rout Omiko, 2007). Knowing both Parties Perceptions or Viewpoints/understanding This stage is where the mediator attempts to find what the parties involved think in regard to the problem at hand. The mediators should go through this stage carefully so as not to depict any slightest form of favoritism. This involve attempting to understand the problem from various perspectives of those parties, and the mediator should probe to find out what the parties think as the cause of the problem, noting similarities and differences of viewpoints of the problem (Pammer, 2003). Mediation Mediation requires the mediator to remain impartial by keeping the discussion revolve around facts and issue-oriented rather than discussing personalities and maintaining a balance in the discussion so that one party does not dominate the discussion (Rout Omiko, 2007). Brainstorming of Alternative Solutions This stage involves generating of alternative solutions to the problem at hand after it is obvious that there are no more alternative solutions, the mediator should now engage both parties in a discussion of these possible solutions with the aim of getting of selecting the best solution (Zartman, 2008). In this discussion, the mediators should control the session so that none of the parties forces the other on agreeing with their own suggested solution(s). Efforts should be made to ensure that both parties reach a consensus and then follow this with the implementation of the agreed solution (Rout Omiko, 2007). Identification of an agreed on solution(s) This is the final stage of conflict management, and its main purpose is to determine the agreed on solutions, a plan of action, as well as follow-up steps in order to ensure that both parties are actively involved in the implementation process (Rout Omiko, 2007).?

The Artificial Family :: essays research papers

"The Artificial Love" In Anne Tyler’s "The Artificial Family," the personality and character of three individuals are revealed: Toby, Mary and Samantha. The story has no real resolution and seems to end where it began. The characters learn and unlearn by the time the story is complete. There is no long introduction or development of the characters; the characters develop throughout the short story. Tyler uses immediate dialogue making the story even more intriguing for the reader as well as writing simply; this style is ironic due to the intensity of the plot. The author makes it seem like a simple story about two individuals who rush into a relationship only to have it fall apart. However, the plot is much more intense than this. There are two main themes of "The Artificial Family," love and communication. The conflict is between Toby and his wife Mary. Toby learns to love but does not ever learn how to communicate this love in a positive way with his wife. Another title that would work for this story would be "The Artificial Love." The second theme is the importance of positive communication. Mary never communicated her seriousness about her feelings between Toby and Samantha. She shared there was a problem but chose not to deal with that problem. She left Toby without even discussing their problems with him. Toby never seemed to initiate any interest in his wife’s needs. He never asked her why she felt as she did. He just said he did not see a problem. The story begins with Mary's first words to Toby in their introduction to each other; "Did you know I have a daughter?" (400) This sets the focus of both of the characters into place. The daughter, Samantha, seems to be the neutral character in the story who not only ties the two main characters together but is used to separate them as well. Toby is presented as a young college student who is in graduate school on scholarships. He is studying science and seems easy going. He is simple but not a flat character. He starts out not knowing love and ends the story knowing broken love. He learns what it means to love but has not learned what it means to be a husband. In the relationship, he was more of a friend to the two rather than a dad and husband. I do not think he ever saw fault but rather felt pity that she left him.

On Your on Exercise #1

Student Name ____________________ Class Section ____________________ Reading Module #1 On Your Own This activity in Reading Module 1 gives you two reading passages to practice applying the Active Reading Strategies you have learned. Directions: Complete the activity by reading each passage and answering the questions. Do not forget to spell check and proofread your work. When you have completed this activity, please upload it to the Dropbox for this week. Reading #1: â€Å"The lie behind those gloomy national polls† by Michael Medved of USA Today. Source: The Week, October 19, 2007 Ask Americans how they feel about the world, said Michael Medved, and they wind up with a paradox. Using the Predicting Strategy| Read the title and first sentence. Now predict what you think the passage will be about. | Your prediction about the passage:| Now read the whole paragraph: Reading #1: â€Å"The Lie Behind Those Gloomy National Polls† by Michael Medved of USA Today. Source: The Week, October 19, 2007 Ask Americans how they feel about the world, said Michael Medved, and they wind up with a paradox. By staggering majorities, people tell pollsters that they disapprove of both Congress and the President, and two out of three say the U. S. is headed â€Å"in the wrong direction. † Yet when asked about their own lives, â€Å"Americans express overwhelming contentment and dazzling confidence. † A recent Harris poll found that more than nine out of 10 people are satisfied â€Å"with the life you lead,† with 56 percent choosing the highest category â€Å"very satisfied. † Almost everyone expects life to be better in the next five years. Somehow, Americans feel that they personally live in a â€Å"sun-kissed, optimistic island of happiness,† while the country at large is going to hell. How can this be? It’s actually not that surprising, given that we spend, on average, 30 hours a week immersed in television. On both the news and entertainment shows, the world is presented as rife with crime, terrorism, death, sexual depravity, personal humiliation, and bitter political conflict. Self-serving politicians add to the â€Å"prevailing gloom† by emphasizing problems and exaggerating threats. The real American story, though, is the one we live, in which people are making steady economic progress and life is mostly good—and always better than it was yesterday. Using the Questioning Strategy| As you read the paragraph: 1. Do you find any details confusing, or that you wonder about? 2. Are there words you don’t know? Which words are unfamiliar? 3. What questions do you have about any confusing sentences? | Your questions about the passage:| Using the Making Connections Strategy| As you read the paragraph: 1. Can you make connections to anything you read about in the passage? . What previous knowledge, if any, do you have of this topic? | :Your connections to the passage:| Using the Visualizing Strategy| What is in the passage that you can visualize (see in your mind) as you read? | Your visualizations of the text:| Using the Summarizing Strategy| Write one or two sentences that summarize the passage. | Your summary of the passage:| Reading #2: Dieters Take Note Source: www. workingmother. com (Oct. 2007) Eating out can sabotage your weight-loss plan. Using the Predicting Strategy| Read the title and first sentence. Now predict what you think the passage will be about. | Your prediction about the passage:| Now read the whole paragraph. Reading #2: Dieters Take Note Source: www. workingmother. com (Oct. 2007) Eating out can sabotage your weight-loss plan. Dieters and binge eaters ate between 226 and 253 extra calories and 10 to 16 extra grams of fat on days when they dined out, according to a new University of Texas study. Whether or not you’re on a diet, make sure you don’t overdo it the next time you’re eating out with these simple tips: Avoid fried foods and sugary drinks, especially soda. Fill up on veggies or salad with dressing on the side before the entree comes. Get a take-home box when you get your meal and put half your food in it right away to keep it out of sight and prevent mindless overeating. Skip the rich dessert in favor of fresh fruit. Using the Questioning Strategy| As you read the paragraph: 1. Do you find any details confusing, or that you wonder about? 2. Are there words you don’t know? Which words are unfamiliar? 3. What questions do you have about any confusing sentences? Your questions about the passage: | Using the Making Connections Strategy| As you read the paragraph: 1. Can you make connections to anything you read about in the passage? 2. What previous knowledge, if any, do you have of this topic? | Your connections to the passage:| Using the Visualizing Strategy| What is in the passage that you can visualize as you read? | Your visualizations of the text:| Using the Summarizing Strategy| Write one or two sentences that summarize the p assage:| Your summary of the passage:|

Consider the Attitudes To Women Demonstrated In the Vienna of Measure For Measure

I think most men have fooled themselves into thinking that they are the seat of power—because women have allowed them that dream. Women's subtle power is to make men think that the man is in charge. Eli Khamarov in America Explained! Throughout the course of Measure for Measure, Shakespeare highlights subordination of the female characters by the males. In the Vienna represented in the play women have to suffer exploitation and derogation as their individualism and independence are undermined. Shakespeare uses this treatment of women to exemplify the corruption in the city of Vienna. The two main female roles in Measure for Measure are Mariana and Isabella. Both these women are victims of the corrupt motives of the men who so strongly influence their lives. Isabella, the protagonist, is a nun. Her name means â€Å"consecrated to God†. Looking at the roles the other women in the play have adopted, as will be discussed in more depth during the course of this essay, it seems she is almost forced into the role by the bigoted society in Vienna. It appears that the only fate for women, unless they wish to join a convent, be a prostitute or alone, is to become a housewife. As a nun Isabella benefits from the education and relative independence (although whether this particular privilege can belong to a woman, in the Vienna Shakespeare writes about, is doubtful) she would not have if married. There are still certain restraints, in that she is not able to have the sexual freedom of women who are not so divinely consecrated and, once she has taken her vows, she is n ot allowed to entertain the company of men: Nun: †¦ When you have vowed, you must not speak with men But in the presence of the prioress; Then if you speak you must not show your face, Or if you show your face you must not speak†¦ However, this is a small sacrifice to make for the standard of life she can expect to live but in spite of the advantages of being a nun, there significant drawbacks. Isabella is forced to abide by two laws: the chauvinistic law of the land and the androcentric dogma of the church. When they collide Isabella is forced to make a choice, not only between man and God, but also between her brother's life and her soul. It is ultimately the social structure in Vienna that is responsible for her angst and consequent no-win situation. Isabella: Then Isobel live chaste and brother die: More than our brother is our chastity Ultimately, for Isabella there is no escape. Even her brother does not understand her reasoning behind the choice to sacrifice his life for control of her own: â€Å"What sin you do to save a brother's life, / Nature dispenses with the deed so far / That it becomes a virtue.† The contrast between â€Å"sin† and â€Å"virtue† accentuates the contrast between his perception of the predicament and Isabella's. Claudio also overlooks that the church does not see nature as the overall decider of right and wrong. He fails to see that this is not only Isabella clinging onto her ‘eternal life' but also that this is her bid for independence. The strength of her female character is indicated in Act II Scene iv where she delivers the only female soliloquy in the play: Isabella: To whom should I complain? Did I tell this Who would believe me?†¦ †¦ had he twenty heads to tender down On twenty blocks he'd yield them up Before his sister should her body stoop To such abhorred pollution. Though she has just been offered a vicious ultimatum by Angelo, and seems at her wits end, she stands firm in the decision she has made. Her steadfast attitude towards the values she upholds is a contrast to those displayed by the three most significant male characters in the play: Angelo: Who will believe thee, Isabel? My unsoiled name, th'austereness of my life, My vouch against you, and my place i'th'state, Will so your accusation overweigh†¦ †¦ redeem thy brother By yielding up thy body to my will†¦ In this speech Angelo reveals a part of himself so contrasting with the person spoken about so highly in Act I Scene I: â€Å"There is a kind of character in thy life / That to th'observer doth thy history fully unfold.† This â€Å"well-seeming Angelo† is not the same person revealed in Act II Scene iv, and indeed throughout the play. His lack of consistency about his scruples hints at the weakness of his character, especially compared to that of Isabella. Unfortunately for her, no matter how much she can prove herself in the presence of men her femininity remains. Were women allowed more independence and choice, Isabella would not be faced with two conflicting laws; her situation would be entirely different. Her helplessness is highlighted by the fact that it is the subordination by men that has led to her no-win predicament, yet it is only a man who has sufficient authority to grant reprieve of either of the two fates. Bearing in mind the corrupt nature of most of the men in Measure for Measure's Vienna, this can only mean Isabella will no doubt be exploited. Mariana, in contrast to Isabella's comparatively feminist existence as a nun, has found her entire life shattered by the cancellation of her betrothal to a revered Lord of the city. Not enough to lose her brother at sea, with all the family's wealth, Lord Angelo shows his superficiality along with demonstrating the attitudes of men towards women in Vienna – that they are disposable – by calling off the engagement. Duke: †¦her brother Frederick was wrecked at sea, having in that perished vessel the dowry of his sister†¦ she lost a noble and renowned brother, in his love toward her ever most kind and natural; with his the portion and sinew of her fortune, her marriage dowry; with both, her combinate husband, this well-seeming Angelo. Isabella: Can this be so? Did Angelo so leave her? Duke: Left her in tears, and dried not one of them with his comfort; swallowed his vows whole†¦ a marble to her tears Here the Duke reveals the sad truth of Mariana's past which, as a woman, she is powerless to do anything about. The Duke says her brother loved her, Angelo clearly did not. In jilting her he demonstrates that his interests in her were based purely on the money she can access from her family. Kathleen McLuskie writes in The patriarchal bard: â€Å"There is evidence to suggest that marriage was regarded as just an instrument of social control†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The truth of this is slowly revealed throughout the play, though remains disguised until the final scene, especially in this scene. The accuracy of McLuskie's statement resonates through this scene the significance of its fact is seen in Mariana's daily life. The Duke's second statement describes Angelo's lack of interest in Mariana besides as a source of riches and probably business relations of some sort. Since the Duke describes Angelo as a model person, this appears to be accepted as some sort of norm amongst the aristocracy in Vienna. Through Mariana is shown the effect this self-interest has on the women in the society. Mariana is now confined to a moated grange where she has little company and even less to occupy her time. Shakespeare uses Mariana's character later in the play to exaggerate the forgiving nature of women, one of the few positive attributes he bestows upon the female characters in Measure for Measure. Mariana: Oh, my dear lord, I crave no other, nor better man. Although the women in Vienna are stripped of their freedom and seem to have their sense of responsibility undermined, they retain their principles and live up to the roles they hope to be given. They remain steadfastly loyal: Isabella to the doctrines of the church and Mariana to Angelo, regardless of the price they have to pay. Their devotion is often presented as submission: Isabella: (to Duke) I am directed by you. What Isabella does not realise when she utters these words is the situation to follow. This may be a premonition (as frequently occur in Shakespeare's plays) of the obedience the Duke of her in the final scene. Perhaps what Eli Khamarov claims in America Explained! is true also in Shakespeare's Vienna, that women allow men power over them. Then the question needs to be asked, â€Å"What do women gain from permitting men to domineer them?† Sexual freedom is certainly not the answer. The sexual constriction of Isabella and Mariana's lives is a stark contrast to that of the prostitutes, which make up a large Viennese sub-culture, in particular Mistress Overdone. Lucio: Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation comes. I have purchased as many diseases under her roof as come to [judge] This brothel-owner is nicknamed Madam Mitigation by Lucio, since she ‘alleviates' men's sexual tension. Her liberalism is however still as much of a bane to her as Isabella's chastity is to Claudio and Angelo alike when, on the promotion of Angelo to â€Å"acting duke†, the brothels are ordered to close. Mistress Overdone: But shall all our houses of resort in the suburbs be pulled down? Pompey: To the ground, mistress. Mistress Overdone: †¦ What shall become of me? Caught in a vicious cycle, Mistress Overdone cannot marry, since no man wishes to marry her because she is a prostitute. If she cannot marry she must support herself; the only trade women are welcome in is prostitution hence she must remain a prostitute. But this in turn means no man will marry her. Mistress Overdone's lack of choice in her own life is another example of the double standards adopted by the corrupt men in Viennese society. This is a culture where women are used for sex yet still expected to remain pure and chaste. Their civil rights are abused, they are treated as second-class citizens, and their freedoms of speech and choice are taken from them. The comparison of the female characters suggested in the first paragraph of this essay when establishing Isabella's choice of becoming a nun is a good starting point for this. Mistress Overdone has the most freedom of any woman, but she pays for this with any emotional security she could hope for. Isabella has emotional security within the constraints of religion, but no freedom. There is also the possibility she may have little companionship. Mariana has no emotional security or freedom. When Juliet exercised her freedom within her emotional security; she had both taken from her. Since, even though the women in Vienna are stripped of their freedom and seem to have their sense of responsibility undermined, when a man is sentenced to death for impregnating his fiancà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½e, the moral responsibility of the action is placed on the woman. Duke: So then it seems your most offenceful act Was mutually committed. Juliet: Mutually. Duke: Then was your sin of a heavier kind than his. Juliet: I do confess it, and repent it, father. Although the Duke is here posing as a friar, either he is adopting the attitude of the church he is representing, or he is following his own moral code. By going along with the church's belief Shakespeare is using him to show the patriarchal set-up of the religion in Vienna. If the Duke is using his own ideals as a guide, this is similarly as worrying since he is the ruler of the city and has the superseding voice. The exploitative nature of the men in Vienna is shown by the treatment of both Isabella and Mariana by Angelo and the Duke throughout the play. They are humiliated in public and subordinated in private. Angelo: For that her reputation was disvalued In levity. Since which time of five years I never spake with her, saw her, nor heard from her Angelo's jilting of Mariana leads to a decline her self-esteem whilst the Duke's manipulation of the two women results in his exultation and their continued lack of choice, as he marries Mariana to Angelo and demands Isabella's own hand in marriage. This lack of respect for women's own abilities to make choices renders them powerless over even their own lives. What Shakespeare says about Vienna through the men's treatment of women is evident. Men who do not respect others, and who strip the rights of women to save their own face not achieve their goals. Nonetheless Shakespeare does not show them suffering, especially not at the hands of the women. Angelo ends the play married to a woman who loves him dearly and will pander to his every want. Claudio, in his inability to understand Isabella's decision to let him die, finds himself not having to. The Duke is still asking for Isabella's hand right up to the end of the scene. Her name suggests she will not give in. Yet it is not only on the account of oppression that men stand accused of maltreating females, Shakespeare strongly highlights issues including sexual double standards and general moral hypocrisy. Claiming that the Vienna in Measure for Measure was indicative of the London of his time, Shakespeare shows what little he thinks of the values adopted by his peers and contemporaries. The images he conjures up of dirty streets and lavish mansions are also historically accurate representations of life in London powerfully supporting the supposition that the city was the subject of Shakespeare's criticism. Perhaps Shakespeare is offering a theory behind the state of London and what can be done to change it. He also makes reference to what he feels women's role is in society through the characters of Isabella, Mariana and Mistress Overdone in particular. These are three women who do not fit into the role of wife and each have different ways of life, yet still find their destinies have been handed over to men. It is possible that in this play Shakespeare is criticising the misogyny of 17th Century London and maybe even King James I (although the latter is highly unlikely he would get away with it). A counter-argument is offered by Linda Bambur's Comic Women, Tragic Men: a Study of Gender and Genre in Shakespeare, that â€Å"the writer fails to attribute the opposite sex characters the privileges of the other† hints at Shakespeare's own sexist attitude. She hints that the treatment of women in Measure for Measure is a parody for Shakespeare's own attitude towards them. Truth be told, his subliminal messages in Measure for Measure may never be known, but one fact remains. Whether as a result of playwrights like Shakespeare, or simply because of a gradual change in attitudes, two centuries after this play and its highlighting of deep-rooted patriarchy, the first feminist movement sprang up. London has never been the same.

The Clemson Bikini Murder Case

The Clemson Bikini Murder Case On May 26, 2006, Clemson University student Tiffany Marie Souers was found dead in her off-campus apartment by a former roommate. She was wearing only a bra and had a bikini top wrapped around her neck. There was no sign of forced entry into her apartment. Police released surveillance photos of someone using Tiffanys debit card, shortly after she died, in hopes of finding her killer. Latest Developments Bikini Killer Appeals Death Sentence Previous Developments Bikini Killer Sentenced to Death Mistrial Sought in Bikini Killers Penalty HearingApril 20, 2009Attorneys for Jerry Buck Inman who entered a guilty plea for the murder of a Clemson college student have asked for a mistrial in the death penalty hearing in the Bikini Murder Case. Lawyers said prosecutors harassed and intimidated a defense witness hired to discuss Inmans troubled youth. Bikini Murder Sentencing DelayedSept. 11, 2008Sentencing for the man who pleaded guilty to the murder of Clemson University student Tiffany Marie Souers was delayed this week after an expert witness for the defense refused to testify even after being granted immunity. Jerry Buck Inman Pleads Guilty to Bikini MurderAug. 19, 2008Convicted sex offender Jerry Buck Inman has pleaded guilty to robbery, kidnapping, rape, and murder in connection with the death of a Clemson University student in May 2006. Inman admitted in court that he strangled the 20-year-old Tiffany Marie Souers with her bikini top. Change of Venue Denied in Bikini Murder CaseMay 8, 2008A South Carolina judge has turned down a motion by attorneys for Jerry Buck Inman to move his trial in the Clemson University bikini murder case to a different location. Judge Edward Miller ruled that the trial for the murder of Tiffany Marie Souers will take place in Pickens County in September as scheduled. Third Attorney Appointed in Bikini MurderApril 17, 2005A South Carolina judge has appointed a third attorney to help defend a convicted sex offender who is charged with the murder of a 20-year-old Clemson University student. Judge Demands Bikini Murder Suspects DNAJan. 8, 2007A South Carolina judge ordered convicted sex offender Jerry Buck Inman to give fingerprints and DNA samples to investigators. Death Penalty Sought in Clemson Bikini MurderAug. 23, 2006South Carolina prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Jerry (Buck) Inman in the murder of Tiffany Maria Souers. A gag order has been issued in the case. Suspect Captured in Clemson Murder CaseJune 7, 2006A registered sex offender suspected in the killing of a Clemson University student who was strangled with a bikini top was captured early in Jefferson County, Tennessee. Evidence Developing in Clemson Students DeathJune 1, 2006Authorities say they are fast developing evidence and expect a resolution in the case of a 20-year-old Clemson University student whose partially nude body was found in her off-campus apartment strangled with a bikini top.

Anti-discriminatory practice Essay Example for Free (#5)

Anti-discriminatory practice Essay The problems that can be encountered within staff training and development is that Betty may want the training to take place on a Saturday but the carers who have the day off on Saturdays may not want to go because it may be the only day off they have in a week. Betty could then rearrange the day and have staff training during the week but the downside of that is that there will be no carers left to care for the residents and also there will be a funding problem because Betty will then have to try and get other carers in just for that day. Funding The problems that can be encountered with funding is that if quite a few staff members take the same day off like a Wednesday then Betty will have to ring the staff who shouldn’t be in on Wednesday and see if they will come in, but they don’t want to. Betty will then have to ring and ask see if she can have agency staff to come in and work which will then be costing money that they probably haven’t got. Discrimination The problem with discrimination is that people have their own beliefs and values. A carer doesn’t like black people and there are 1 or 2 black people in the care home where she works. This carer takes in their own beliefs and values before their line of work; this means that the carer will be nice to the â€Å"black† residents when another carer is around but when they are on their own with them they call them names and are just discriminating against them because of their own beliefs and values. If the â€Å"black† residents complain about this carer then she will get assessed and if it is still going on she will end up with the sack and also taken to court. Manager There are problems with managers like funding because some carers may want a pay rise and if there isn’t enough money then obviously the carers cant have their pay rise and they may quit their job as a result of this. Another problem for a manager is that the care home could be an old building. Old buildings are more likely to have damp and to start falling down. This could link into the funding because if there wasn’t enough funding then the care home would have to get closed down because they wouldn’t be able to re-damp proof the walls/ceilings and also they wouldn’t be able to afford building works. Cooks There are a few problems for cooks because if they haven’t got enough staff working in the kitchens then everyone would have to be fed at different times which could be a problem with service users if they had a set feeding time. Storage is a problem because if it was a small kitchen then the cook wouldn’t have enough room to store appliances and food. Under trained staff is another problem because if staff wasn’t trained properly then germs could be passed on and also food may not be cooked properly. Cleaners A big problem for cleaners is that they could be denied access to a room by a service user. The reason this is a problem is that the cleaner may not get paid if all rooms are not cleaned properly although it wouldn’t be the cleaners fault. Cleaners can also have problems with respect because some carers think they are better than the cleaners because they don’t have to do the dirty jobs other than changing some residents. Receptionist Problems for receptionists is that if there is a client on the phone and there was a problem then the receptionist would get a mouth full although it wouldn’t be there fault. The reason the receptionist would get an ear full is because they are the first person that the client is going to speak to on the matter and the client will think it’s the receptionists fault because they answered the phone. When actually all the receptionist is there for is to make and/or receive calls and also to book appointments. Communication can be a problem especially if the service user doesn’t speak English. The reason this would be a problem is if the service user didn’t speak English then the receptionist will not understand what they rang up for. Carer Carers get a lot of problems because they could be discriminated against especially if they were male. The reason for this is that there are more female residents in a care home than there are males and some women don’t like to be washed by a bloke even though that is what they were employed for. Anti-discriminatory practice. (2017, Sep 10).

Strategic Plan for INJAZ QATAR Org Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8500 words

Strategic Plan for INJAZ QATAR Org - Essay Example The study will also focus on a thorough analysis of the vision, mission, financial ratios, and competitive advantage of Injaz. The internal and external environment of Injaz will be analyzed using SWOT, Porter’s five factors, McKenzie’s 7S framework, and smart objectives generation for the company to achieve success in its operations. Injaz is a subsidiary of Junior Achievement (JA) Worldwide, which is a global nongovernmental organization operating in 123 countries. The establishment of Junior Achievement occurred in United States in 1919 and began international operations in Ontario, Vancouver, and Windsor: British Columbia. Injaz started operation in Levant region in 1999 and with further expansion, operations began in 2004 in the Gulf Region leading to the establishment of Injaz, which this strategic management project is based. Injaz is a nongovernmental organization founded in September 2007 by Sheikha Hamadi Alm Thani who is the chairperson of INZAJ Qatar and AMWAL. She is the deputy CEO of Nasser Bin Khaled Al Thani & Sons Group and CEO of Al Waab City Real Estate Development project. She has a passion for community activities and the development community members, especially women and youth. Injaz was established with the aim of closing the gap between the skills acquired by the students in the learning environment in both public and private institutions and the skills required for success in the working environment. This is achieved through taking the students through entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy, as a measure of augmenting their ability to make a difference and be accountable at their workplace, as a team member and individually. Injaz collaborates with individuals, secondary schools, universities, corporations, and volunteers who take the students through the programs offered by the organization. Injaz courses