The Crito essays

The Crito essays The dialogue of The Crito, by Plato, recounts the last days of Socrates, immediately before his execution was going to take place in Athens. In the dialogue, Socrates friend, Crito, proposes that Socrates escape from prison. Socrates considers this proposal, trying to decide if escaping would be just and morally justified. Socrates argues against his escape by relating the regulations of the state to the duties of citizens within the state. Socrates sees his execution as a justified because he thinks that he will be performing an unjust action to the state, himself, as well as his followers by escaping. Crito sees Socrates execution as unjust because of a few reasons, but most of all because Socrates has been imprisoned unjustly thus making his escape seem just. In this essay I will compare both arguments as well as give my beliefs as to why I think Socrates decision was the best decision. Crito begins by giving 3 main reasons as to why Socrates should not escape. First both Socrates and his friends will be severly criticized if he does escape. He thinks that they will be looked down upon for not helping Socrates escape. Socrates feels that the opinion of some should be regarded and the opinion of the others should not. Next Crito points out that Socrates would be hypocritical in that he had preached his entire life about human excellence and that by not escaping was cowardly and showed an extreme lack of bravery. Thirdly, he points out that it would should an extreme lack of character to let his children grow up without the guidance that Socrates has to offer. Socrates on the other hand feels that by escaping from prison it would be a violation of the law of the land and would clearly imply that Socrates is an enemy to that which makes an orderly society. Socrates feels that the Athenian society has given him so much and because of that fact he has a moral responsibility to accep...

Anne Hutchinson, Early American Religious Dissident

Anne Hutchinson, Early American Religious Dissident Anne Hutchinson was a leader in religious dissent in the Massachusetts colony, nearly causing a major schism in the colony before she was expelled. Shes considered a major figure in the history of religious freedom in America. Dates: baptized July 20, 1591 (birth date unknown); died in August or September of 1643 Biography Anne Hutchinson was born Anne Marbury in Alford, Lincolnshire. Her father, Francis Marbury, was a clergyman from the gentry and was Cambridge-educated. He went to prison three times for his views and lost his office for advocating, among other views, that the clergy be better educated. Her father was called by the Bishop of London, at one time, an ass, an idiot and a fool. Her mother, Bridget Dryden, was Marburys second wife. Bridgets father, John Dryden, was a friend of the humanist Erasmus and an ancestor of the poet John Dryden. When Francis Marbury died in 1611, Anne continued to live with her mother until she married William Hutchinson the next year. Religious Influences Lincolnshire had a tradition of women preachers, and theres some indication that Anne Hutchinson knew of the tradition, though not the specific women involved. Anne and William Hutchinson, with their growing family eventually, fifteen children several times a year made the 25-mile journey to attend the church served by the minister John Cotton, a Puritan. Anne Hutchinson came to consider John Cotton her spiritual mentor. She may have begun holding womens prayer meetings at her home during these years in England. Another mentor was John Wheelwright, a clergyman in Bilsby, near Alford, after 1623. Wheelwright in 1630 married William Hutchinsons sister, Mary, bringing him even closer to the Hutchinson family. Emigration to Massachusetts Bay In 1633, Cottons preaching was banned by the Established Church and he emigrated to Americas Massachusetts Bay. The Hutchinsons oldest son, Edward, was part of Cottons initial emigrant group. That same year, Wheelwright was also banned. Anne Hutchinson wanted to go to Massachusetts, too, but pregnancy kept her from sailing in 1633. Instead, she and her husband and their other children left England for Massachusetts the next year. Suspicions Begin On the journey to America, Anne Hutchinson raised some suspicions about her religious ideas. The family spent several weeks with a minister in England, William Bartholomew, while waiting for their ship, and Anne Hutchinson shocked him with her claims of direct divine revelations. She claimed direct revelations again on board the Griffin, in talking to another minister, Zachariah Symmes. Symmes and Bartholomew reported their concerns upon their arrival in Boston in September. The Hutchinsons tried to join Cottons congregation on arrival and, while William Hutchinsons membership was approved quickly, the church examined the views of Anne Hutchinson before they admitted her to membership. Challenging Authority Highly intelligent, well-studied in the Bible from the education provided her with her fathers mentorship and her own years of self-study, skilled in midwifery and medicinal herbs, and married to a successful merchant, Anne Hutchinson quickly became a leading member of the community. She began leading weekly discussion meetings. At first these explained Cottons sermons to the participants. Eventually, Anne Hutchinson began reinterpreting the ideas preached in the church. Anne Hutchinsons ideas were rooted in what was called by opponents Antinomianism (literally: anti-law). This system of thought challenged the doctrine of salvation by works, emphasizing the direct experience of a relationship with God, and focusing on salvation by grace. The doctrine, by relying on individual inspiration, tended to elevate the Holy Spirit above the Bible, and also challenged the authority of the clergy and of church (and government) laws over the individual. Her ideas were counterposed to the more orthodox emphasis on a balance of grace and works for salvation (Hutchinsons party thought they overemphasized works and accused them of Legalism) and ideas about clergy and church authority. Anne Hutchinsons weekly meetings turned to twice a week, and soon fifty to eighty people were attending, both men and women. Henry Vane, the colonial governor, supported Anne Hutchinsons views, and he was a regular at her meetings, as were many in the colonys leadership. Hutchinson still saw John Cotton as a supporter, as well as her brother-in-law John Wheelwright, but had few others among the clergy. Roger Williams had been banished to Rhode Island in 1635 for his non-orthodox views. Anne Hutchinsons views, and their popularity, caused more of a religious rift. The challenge to authority was especially feared by the civil authorities and clergy when some adherents to Hutchinsons views refused to take up arms in the militia which was opposing the Pequots, with whom the colonists were in conflict in 1637. Religious Conflict and Confrontation In March of 1637, an attempt to bring the parties together was held, and Wheelwright was to preach a unifying sermon. However, he took the occasion to be confrontational and was found guilty of sedition and contempt in a trial before the General Court. In May, elections were moved so that fewer of the men in Anne Hutchinsons party voted, and Henry Vane lost the election to deputy governor and Hutchinson opponent John Winthrop. Another supporter of the orthodox faction, Thomas Dudley, was elected deputy governor. Henry Vane returned to England in August. That same month, a synod was held in Massachusetts which identified the views held by Hutchinson as heretical. In November 1637, Anne Hutchinson was tried before the General Court on charges of heresy and sedition. The outcome of the trial was not in doubt: the prosecutors were also the judges since her supporters had, by that time, been excluded (for their own theological dissent) from the General Court. The views she held had been declared heretical at the August synod, so the outcome was predetermined. After the trial, she was put into the custody of Roxburys marshal, Joseph Weld. She was brought to Cottons home in Boston several times so that he and another minister could convince her of the error of her views. She recanted publicly but soon admitted that she still held her views. Excommunication In 1638, now accused of lying in her recantation, Anne Hutchinson was excommunicated by the Boston Church and moved with her family to Rhode Island to land purchased from the Narragansetts. They were invited by Roger Williams, who had founded the new colony as a democratic community with no enforced church doctrine. Among Anne Hutchinsons friends who also moved to Rhode Island was Mary Dyer. In Rhode Island, William Hutchinson died in 1642. Anne Hutchinson, with her six youngest children, moved first to Long Island Sound and then to the New York (New Netherland) mainland. Death There, in 1643, in August or September, Anne Hutchinson and all but one member of her household were killed by Native Americans in a local uprising against the taking of their lands by the British colonists. Anne Hutchinsons youngest daughter, Susanna, born in 1633, was taken captive in that incident, and the Dutch ransomed her. Some of the Hutchinsons enemies among the Massachusetts clergy thought that her end was divine judgment against her theological ideas. In 1644, Thomas Weld, on hearing of the death of the Hutchinsons, declared Thus the Lord heard our groans to heaven and freed us from this great and sore affliction. Descendants In 1651 Susanna married John Cole in Boston. Another daughter of Anne and William Hutchinson, Faith, married Thomas Savage, who commanded the Massachusetts forces in King Philips War, a conflict between Native Americans and the English colonists. Controversy: History Standards In 2009, a controversy over history standards established by the Texas Board of Education involved three social conservatives as reviewers of the K-12 curriculum, including adding more references to the role of religion in history.   One of their proposals was to remove references to Anne Hutchinson who taught religious views that different from the officially sanctioned religious beliefs. Selected Quotations As I do understand it, laws, commands, rules and edicts are for those who have not the light which makes plain the pathway. He who has Gods grace in his heart cannot go astray. The power of the Holy Spirit dwelleth perfectly in every believer, and the inward revelations of her own spirit, and the conscious judgment of her own mind are of authority paramount to any word of God. I conceive there lies a clear rule in Titus that the elder women should instruct the younger and then I must have a time wherein I must do it. If any come to my house to be instructed in the ways of God what rule have I to put them away? Do you think  it not lawful for me to teach women and why do you call me to teach the court? When I first came to this land because I did not go to such meetings as those were, it was presently reported that I did not allow of such meetings but held them unlawful and therefore in that regard they said I was proud and did despise all ordinances. Upon that a friend came unto me and told me of it and I to prevent such aspersions took it up, but it was in practice before I came. Therefore I was not the first. I am called here to answer before you, but I hear no things laid to my charge. I desire to know wherefore I am banished? Will it please you to answer me this and to give me a rule for then I will willingly submit to any truth. I do here speak it before the court. I look that the Lord should deliver me by his providence. If you please to give me leave I shall give you the ground of what I know to be true. The Lord judges not as man judges. Better to be cast out of the church than to deny Christ. A Christian is not bound to the law. But now having seen him which is invisible I fear not what man can do unto me. What from the Church at Boston? I know no such church, neither will I own it. Call it the whore and strumpet of Boston, no Church of Christ! You have power over my body but the Lord Jesus hath power over my body and soul; and assure yourselves thus much, you do as much as in you lies to put the Lord Jesus Christ from you, and if you go on in this course you begin, you will bring a curse upon you and your posterity, and the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. He that denies the testament denies the testator, and in this did open unto me and give me to see that those which did not teach the new covenant had the spirit of antichrist, and upon this he did discover the ministry unto me; and ever since, I bless the Lord, he hath let me see which was the clear ministry and which the wrong. For you see this scripture fulfilled this day and therefore I desire you as you tender the Lord and the church and commonwealth to consider and look what you do. But after he was pleased to reveal himself to me I did presently, like Abraham, run to Hagar. And after that he did let me see the atheism of my own heart, for which I begged of the Lord that it might not remain in my heart. I have been guilty of wrong thinking. They thought that I did conceive there was a difference between them and Mr. Cotton... I might say they might preach a covenant of works as did the apostles, but to preach a covenant of works and to be under a covenant of works is another business. One may preach a covenant of grace more clearly than another... But when they preach a covenant of works for salvation, that is not truth. I pray, Sir, prove it that I said they preached nothing but a covenant of works.   Thomas Weld, on hearing of the death of the Hutchinsons: Thus the Lord heard our groans to heaven and freed us from this great and sore affliction.   From the sentence at her trial read by Governor Winthrop: Mrs. Hutchinson, the sentence of the court you hear is that you are banished from out of our jurisdiction as being a woman not fit for our society. Background, Family Father: Francis Marbury, a clergyman in the Church of EnglandMother: Bridget DrydenHusband: William Hutchinson (married 1612; well-to-do cloth merchant)Children: 15 in 23 years Also known as Anne Marbury, Anne Marbury Hutchinson Bibliography Helen Auger. An American Jezebel: The Life of Anne Hutchinson. 1930.Emery John Battis. Saints and Sectaries: Anne Hutchinson and the Antinomian Controversy in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 1962.Thomas J. Bremer, editor. Anne Hutchinson: Troubler of the Puritan Zion. 1981.Edith R. Curtis. Anne Hutchinson. 1930.David D. Hall, editor. The Antinomian Controversy, 1636-1638. 1990, second edition. (Includes records from Hutchinsons trial.)Winifred King Rugg. Unafraid: A Life of Anne Hutchinson. 1930.N. Shore. Anne Hutchinson. 1988.William H. Whitmore and William S. Appleton, editors. Hutchinson Papers. 1865.Selma R. Williams. Divine Rebel: The Life of Anne Marbury Hutchinson. 1981.

The Strategic Verticals of Davivienda Assignment

The Strategic Verticals of Davivienda - Assignment Example The assignment "The Strategic Verticals of Davivienda" analyzes the existing issues regarding internal communication inefficiencies, lagging project duration for O&M department of Davivienda Bank by measuring each of mentioned problems and their impact on the operational efficiency of O&M department. External and internal environment scan in context to O&M department has been done by the researcher in order elaborate scope of the paper. The recommends strategies like implementation of virtual communication portal, enhancement in e-mail communication efficiency, establishment of department consisting of process specialist that would work with O&M department in integrated manner, providing communication training to O&M personnel, implementing ERP system within O&M department, conducting monthly cross-departmental meeting to top level management and CEO of Davivienda to improve overall competitiveness of O&M department. The recommendations should not only improve internal communication between O&M department but also work as strategic initiatives for Davivienda. Financial organizations like banks start their strategic planning from understanding the scope of the service offerings. Davivienda is a bank and it also focuses heavily on the service and product offerings. There is very little scopes exist for banks to standardize its product portfolio and service offerings rather banks need to adapt to changes in customer requirements and design product portfolio that can be relevant in changing business environment.... As the report is addressing to key people of the organization hence there is no point in putting company information in the report because it is expected that the key members of the organization such as CEO is completely aware of these information. In short, O&M department of the organization handles issues like coordinating with marketing department to perform operational initiatives, updating administrative reports regarding organizational hierarchy, preparing system manuals, preparing process reports for the entire administrative blocks in the bank. The O&M department works in close loop manner with operational verticals like Human Resources division, Audit section, Information Technology division and General Administration. Now, what is the objective of this paper? Well, to be precise, the report will suggest a strategic plan for O&M department and study will also review the strategic plans that have been discussed in the previous works and suggestion regarding implementation of contingency plans to mitigate the identified risks will also be important part of this paper. Backgrounds and Accomplishments Bouquet, Hebert & Delios (2004) pointed out that financial organization like banks start their strategic planning from understanding the scope of the service offerings. In similar context, Davivienda is a bank and it also focuses heavily on the service and product offerings while making strategic choices. According to Bouquet, Hebert & Delios (2004), there is very little scopes exist for banks to standardize its product portfolio and service offerings rather banks need to adapt to changes in customer requirements and design product portfolio that can be relevant in changing business environment. Roth and Menor

Islamic Banking and Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Islamic Banking and Finance - Essay Example From this discussion it is clear that  the UAE Islamic financial services sector represents 30% of the overall Islamic banking industry based throughout the world. This has been possible largely because of rising requirement of customers within the UAE for Islamic financial services. Islamic banks in the UAE have played a crucial role in financing multiple infrastructure projects in the region, expansion of the human capital market by training talented individuals from the region and also, financed development of housing properties for the citizens of UAE. The growth witnessed in the Islamic banking industry has been driven by the growing requirement for Islamic products and services by an augmenting count of customers. The underlying reason for this growth is the emphasis that the industry lays on ethical principles, their commitment to transparency and implementation of the principle of mutual benefits in transactions and operations. The following sections will explain the produc ts and services offered by three of the leading banks based in the UAE (National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and Emirates NBD). Following that, financial performance of each of the banks will be compared and lastly, comments would be made regarding the difference in between Islamic banking system that these banks follow and the conventional banking system.  The National Bank of Abu Dhabi’s Islamic Financial System is guided by Shari’a principle and rules.  

Originally and Lanarkshire Girls Essay Example for Free

Originally and Lanarkshire Girls Essay Compare and contrast two poems, one by each poet, taking account of the methods (situation, form and structure, and language, including imagery and tones) which each poet uses to write about her mother.  The poems ‘Originally’ by Carol-Ann Duffy and ‘Lanarkshire Girls’ by Liz Lochhead both deal with the theme of journeys. The former poem is about a situation in which the speaker and her family moved cities. It describes the speaker’s uncertainty with regards to her identity. The second poem, ‘Lanarkshire Girls’ recalls the first time the speaker as a fourteen year old took the bus into the city of Glasgow with her friends. For both the speakers, the journey and experience are new to them. They both share similar environments in which they travel, with the speaker in ‘Originally’ riding in a ‘red room’ and the speaker in ‘Lanarkshire Girls’ travelling in a ‘red bus’. In exploiting the colour red, the poets may be conveying a sense of anxiety that accompanies the speakers on their unfamiliar journeys. However, any sense of anxiety felt by the speaker in ‘Lanarkshire Girls’ is short lived and replaced with excitement as with, ‘money burning a hole’ in the girls’ pockets, they began ‘dreaming’ themselves up. On the other hand, the anxiety felt by the speaker in ‘Originally’ doesn’t deteriorate but worsens and affects not only the speaker, but her entire family too, ‘My parents’ anxiety stirred like a loose tooth.’ This speaks to the permanency and consequences of each journey. For the speaker in Duffy’s poem, the consequences of the journey are large and the relocation is permanent as although she wants to return to her ‘own country’ desperately, she cannot. In contrast, the journey taken by the speaker in ‘Lanarkshire Girls’ is temporary and the consequences, little. Once the speaker has explored her destination of Glasgow city, she and her friends will return to t heir rural homes. ‘Originally’ is arranged in three stanzas, each with eight lines, this ridged structure allows the reader to consider fully, the impact of the journey. In addition, each stanza takes a different viewpoint; therefore by taking a separate stanza for each one the reader can follow each perspective more easily. The first stanza describes the journey through the eyes of the speaker as a child, the second takes a generic view of childhood overall and considers it metaphorically, and the third is from the speaker’s perspective again, this time as an adult who is still struggling with her identity. Similarly, ‘Lanarkshire Girls’ is arranged into three stanzas, however, each with a different number of lines, the poem is in free verse. This is to accommodate the anecdotal style of the poem. The poet arranges this poem into three stanzas to represent the three different stages of the journey, the first as the speaker is leaving the rural country-side, the second deals with the approach to the city, and the third describes the city of Glasgow itself.

tragoed Oedipus the King (Oedipus Rex) as Ideal Tragic Hero Essay

Oedipus Rex as the Ideal Tragic Hero If we give ourselves up to a full sympathy with the hero, there is no question that the Oedipus Rex fulfills the function of a tragedy, and arouses fear and pity in the highest degree. But the modern reader, coming to the classic drama not entirely for the purpose of enjoyment, will not always surrender himself to the emotional effect. He is apt to worry about Greek fatalism and the justice of the downfall of Oedipus, and, finding no satisfactory solution for these intellectual difficulties, loses half the pleasure that the drama was intended to produce. Perhaps we trouble ourselves too much concerning the Greek notions of fate in human life. We are inclined to regard them with a lively antiquarian interest, as if they were something remote and peculiar; yet in reality the essential difference between these notions and the more familiar ideas of a later time is so slight that it need not concern the naive and sympathetic reader. After all, the fundamental aim of the poet is not to te ach us about these matters. but to construct a tragedy which shall completely fulfill its proper function. Nevertheless, for the student of literature who feels bound to solve the twofold problem, How is the tragedy of Oedipus to be reconciled with a rational conception of life? and How does Oedipus himself comply with the Aristotelian requirements for a tragic hero? there is a simple answer in the ethical teaching of the great philosopher in whose eyes the Oedipus Rex appears to have been well-nigh a perfect tragedy. In other words, let us compare the ideal of the Ethics with the ideal of the Poetics. Aristotle finds the end of human endeavor to be happiness, that is, an unhampered activity of the soul i... ... in accordance with reason. In the Oedipus Rex Sophocles had already shown the reverse. The man who sees but one side of a matter, and straightway, driven on by his uncontrolled emotions, acts in accordance with that imperfect vision, meets a fate most pitiful and terrible, in accordance with the great laws which the gods have made. This philosophy of Aristotle and Sophocles is clearly expressed in the drama itself. "May destiny still find me," sings the Chorus, "winning the praise of reverent purity in all words and deeds sanctioned by those laws of range sublime, called into life throughout the high, clear heaven, whose father is Olympus alone; their parent was no race of mortal men, no, nor shall oblivion ever lay them to sleep: the god is might in them and grows not old." Works Cited: Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1991.

Isis power rating

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Eleven (SOIL) also translated as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or al sham (ISIS) and known In Arabic by the acronym Dates is an anta- Shell's unrecognized Islamic state In Iraq and Syria. Being unrecognized by the international community, it is difficult to accurately classify the organization/state and therefore difficult to rate in terms of power. L However, ISIS itself claims sovereignty and statehood and has proven that it is capable of forming a government and managing the territory it controls.Assuming that ISIS is a state in the international community It would be classified as a pre-modern state, unable to malignant complete self-sufficiency with power mainly In the form of hard military and law enforcement. It lacks Diplomacy and more subtle means of population control. 2 In relation to its neighbors, ISIS remains a powerful suitor to claim the territory and a substantial military power, but also uses smart powerful negotiations with m any groups and states in their location.In a power rating out of 10, ISIS can muster a 6 among the world, due not only to its surprising military success but its potential for economic prosperity. While It contains a great deal of industry and Infrastructure allowing maintaining self-sufficiency, the current state Is not responsible for the formation of the aspects or a more modern state. Instead ISIS relies on the backbone of systems set in place by the regimes that ruled over the area before SIS'S rise to power. Therefore ISIS still remains reliant on other states to function and has yet to prove substantial ability to maintain and advance such necessities.Its sources of military power come from a strong and trending Ideology that pulls In supporters room all over the world and gives the state an almost endless supply of man power. The remaining government of Iraq has stated that the state may have over 100,000 troops at its disposal. 3 That is half the amount of nearby Turkey and would put ISIS into the top 25 largest militaries on earth. 4 Another source of power in the area is the natural resources. Bother Syria and Iraq the countries occupied by ISIS has tremendous reserves of oil. Possibly the most sought after natural resource of our time, the occupied area makes pop a large part of the world's OLL reserve. If ISIS establishes Itself as a legitimate state and Is able to capitalize on Its OLL wealth It would also be able to pick up the trade relations that Syria and Iraq already maintained with many major states in the international system. A place where ISIS still lacks is access to the sea. While both Iraq and Syria have coastline and ports, ISIS is unable to maintain control of sea access for extended periods of time.Without substantial sea access the Islamic State could see Itself cut off from much needed resources and restricted to what It can produce within its area of Influence alone. We will be looking at the Instruments of power ISIS has which has seven different categories those being, Diplomatic, Information, Military, Economic, Financial, Intelligence, and Law enforcement. First let's take a look at the areas ISIS controls. First being Iraq. Iraq is a country in the Middle East with a 80 percent being Arab and the other 20 percent being Kurdish.The two major religions in Iraq at this time are Muslim and Christian. 6 The predominate language is Arabic and Kurdish, and the Arab. The two main languages are Arabic and Kurdish, and the top two religions are Muslim and Christianity The country has a population of about 17 million. 8 Now let's talk about their instruments of power. When it comes to diplomacy ISIS really has none. They are not interested in finding a peaceful resolution they Just want to continue their bloody rampage in the Middle East.Although they fore other countries to be diplomatic to find a solution to get rid of ISIS as you can see in this quote from the U. N. â€Å"It called on Member States to take n ational measures to prevent fighters from traveling from their soil to Join the groups. â€Å"9 The next subject is Information his is one of SIS'S strong suits. As a whole their organization is very well informed. They have a very big communication network all over the world giving them up to date information which allows them to be better informed about what's happening around them. The next subject is Military power.This is where ISIS really shines, because they are nothing but a military â€Å"state† if you will everything they do is through their fighting organizations. The only way ISIS has gained any territory is through a violent take over which usually includes widespread fighting and sometimes mass executions. For a terrorist organization they are very well equipped and trained. They are well armed having a large number of small arms. They also have a very large motor pool of vehicle, some new pickup truck as we have seen in many pictures as well as many heavy mili tary vehicles like tanks they capture as they advance their territory.They also have more military type training than most terrorist organization and all these factors are what make them more like a formal military than a band of fighters. Even top U. S. Military officials think so as we can see in this quote, â€Å"They're incredible fighters. ISIS teams in many places use special operations HTTPS,† said the second official, who has considerable combat experience, using the military term for â€Å"tactics, techniques and procedures. † ISIS has accomplished most of its goals through military force.I'm going to combine the next two types of power because they are very similar those being economics and financial power. This is another big area for ISIS which also separates them from normal terrorist groups. ISIS is very well of financially for a couple reasons. One ISIS earns about three million dollars a day from a couple different avenues. The biggest being the sale of oil as we can see in these quotes, â€Å"Their principal source of income is the oil produced by the installations situated in the east of Syria. 10 â€Å"After all, the terrorists sell their crude oil at a bargain price – between 15 and 40 dollars per barrel, compared to an international quotation on the market of about 100 dollars. â€Å"al This shows how organized they are economically. They also make money by collecting taxes in the areas they control as well as through kidnappings of foreign diplomats. The next subject is Intelligence, again as with the information ISIS is very well informed they SE drones to survey their territories and gather info on their enemy's they have scouts as well.Just like a real military they have their own Intel networks which is one reason thy fight so effectively and can take over areas so quickly. The last type of power is Law enforcement; this is very similar to their military power they rule with an iron fist they keep control over their territories by intimidation and if people don't obey they kill them they are truly ruthless. What approach ISIS uses in the international system, might be. They would use hard power because that seems to be art power. ISIS use Smart powers the most when interacting with other nations.I say this because as I mentioned in a previous paper they know how to interact with western nations by acting refined and somewhat civilized but when they interact with its surrounding neighbors they try to appear as violent and blood thirsty as possible. That's why they use Smart power because they have specific tailored designs for each country they deal with. The Islamic State is a certainly controversial and debated institution, but due to its military power and its ability to maintain its land it shows attention to outlast the coalition's waging war against it.While it is currently dependent on the infrastructure of its predecessor states, if it were to become a recognized state the land it wishes to encompass in a caliphate is rich in resources and religious national fervor. It is an easy movement from its current position to modern self-reliant state if they are to win the war. While it is not recognized and currently despised by its surrounding nations it has a power rating of 6 out of 10 due to its impressive military success and its large possibility for economic gain.

Canyon Ranch Essay

1. What is the value of customer information to Canyon Ranch? Ans. To Canyon Ranch, customer information is must in order to implement their business model successfully. The value that it gives to the business is that it understands customer’s unique wants and give alternatives that will allow each guest to rach their individual goals. This is essential for Canyon Ranch to reach its mission to â€Å"inspire people to make healthy living, turning hopes and live into the highest enjoyment of life†. By gathering and sharing guests’ information, Canyon Ranch can assimilate it to â€Å"know and understand their customers, provides loyalty, and cross-sell its offerings† all of which are highly critical to the success of Canyon Ranch. The VP of Marketing was quoted saying â€Å"everyone experiences a different Canyon Ranch; we’ll meet you where you are†. If the company doesn’t know ‘where that is’, they will never be able to live up to this motto. Their customers are looking for a Luxury-like experience, not a ‘Marriott’ experience. They want unique, custom opportunities and to miss the details related to each customer could cost Canyon Ranch their reasonable edge. Canyon Ranch has been regarded as the â€Å"gold standard in the industry. To uphold this standard, they must know their client better than they see themselves. This is only likely to gather and adapt quality customer information. 2. As CIO, how would you make the case for customer relationship management (CRM) and business intelligence (BI) systems at Canyon Ranch? Canyon Ranch is the gold standard in destination spas and enjoys impressive rates that are much higher than other destination spas, but there are marks of increasing competition. Day spas are aligning themselves with medical expert and offered facilities in nutrition, homeopathy, physical therapy and general medical practice. Also some hospitals were starting to provide spa treatments and wellness centers with nutritionists. Canyon Ranch is now faced with demands as to how to raise the business while keeping the fundamental characteristics of Canyon Ranch. From an IT position, Canyon Ranch has basic systems for the business to function although they are not very effective. The CLS based system is used to record transactional data  while client preferences, support incident, rapid response etc. used Guestware. is not integrated well with CLS. The program coordinator, who persisted as the contact person for the quest through their stay, did not always have all of the data ahead of ti me. There is no POS software in the restaurant or the salon, hold up the Ranch of a chance to compile and track sales data. Canyon Ranch’s each business unit is committed on improving the level of customer service and personalization. As a CIO I would make central IT infrastructure so that all the figures is shared at every Canyon Ranch branch so that where every a customer goes he is not treated as new if he has visited it before. Create a Point of Sale software that leads to traceable value of purchase. If any customer wants to just buy a product then he can buy it rather than taking whole services. Increase direct marketing and communication to self decision making software that recognizes the pattern of customer visit and reminds him about his upcoming event to celebrate or take service at Canyon Ranch. 3. What impact would you anticipate these systems to have on the Canyon Ranch strategy and capabilities? Ans. The evolution of IT application such as CRM and BI systems will change the business interaction with customers. Canyon Ranch can enhance their historic reliance on word-of-mouth promotion to expand its customer base through social networking. Though Canyon Ranch has property management system that captures some customer data but implementing CRM and BI will make robust system to periodically survey customers, capture sales data and track services. Such integration can increase repeat customer visit, enhance customer personalization and attract new customers. The implantation of BI will allow company to attract profitability of its three segments : Health and Healing, Hotels and Spas. With this intelligence Canyon Ranch will employ cost saving measures, track inventory and monitor resources. Such system will improve capability and enhance productivity. 4. What advice do you have for Canyon Ranch executives? Ans. In the IT area Canyon Ranch still has space to improve. The first thing is to reduce the cost. Canyon Ranch has 2.5:1 staff-to-guest ratio, it also was the advantage in competition. But this will cost too much, Canyon Ranch can use the information technology to decrease the amount of staffs. Some services can be done by the computer like registration or remind services,  sometimes, the guest want their privacy space, at this time the Canyon Ranch should offer guests options to enjoy their private time. In another aspect, the information system can help the staffs to manage the profile of the customers. When the customer checking in the resort, the system will tell the preferences of each customer to the service provider automatically. These data of preferences can also help the Canyon Ranch provides much more projects that fit for customers. For the new customers, it should have a survey system to get the basic preferences. There should have some self-service machines to provide reserve service to the customers, to help them reserve the private spa service by their own. It will decrease the cost of Canyon Ranch and increase the efficiency. It also can attract more customers back to Canyon Ranch again. Another problem in Canyon Ranch is the separating system. The CLS system is the core system that runs the whole company, but the Guestware and POS software cannot connect to the core system. So the plan above cannot be implementing until this applicability problem solved. The good news is the Canyon Ranch owned the source code of CLS system, and it could be customized easily. Canyon Ranch should work with the develop company of CLS to customize the system. So a centralized system should be make that interlinks every branch and segments within it.

Leadership portrated in the movie, Crimson Tide.

Leadership portrated in the movie, Crimson Tide. Introduction.Set in Archbury Airfield, England, during World War II, "Twelve O'Clock High" is full of engaging individuals whose character development reveal insights into the different approaches to leadership and their resultant effectiveness. The movie centralizes on the American 918th Bomber Group, a flight crew suffering from low-moral, dismal performance and "hard luck" after several unsuccessful flight missions. However, their luck drastically changes under the leadership of a dedicated, relentless general bent on boosting the crew's morale and performance though self-actualization, motivation and pride.Many characters in this report display exemplary leadership qualities, but also highlight poor elements of leadership whose contrast sheds light on what truly makes an effective leader. Keith Davenport is the compassionate general and comrade to the 918th flight crew, who, after several mission mishaps with high crew and aircraft losses, is replaced by General Frank Savage. Sav age is a disciplined hard-ass who whips the flight crew into shape by introducing discipline, direction and structure within the 918 flight crew.They Don't Know (Savage song)Through it all, Major General Pritchard, the 'higher-up' in charge of delegating authority, reveals snapshots of leadership that his role plays towards the eventual success of the 918 flight crew.This report will highlight and compare these character's roles and approaches to leading the 918th crew towards self-actualization, success and excellence. Namely, this report will emphasize the four crucial elements of being a good leader that they display throughout the course of the movie: taking charge, maintaining strategic vision, communications and teamwork, and personal integrity. These components of leadership will be discussed in detail with supporting examples to reveal more insight into the crucial elements that make up a good leader.Taking Charge.An effective leader possesses the will, desire and the know-h ow of how to take charge in any situation. Prime examples...

Sports Vocabulary for English Learners

Sports Vocabulary for English Learners   The words below are the most important words used when discussing sports. Words are categorized into different sections. Youll find example sentences for each word to help provide context for learning.   Equipment Ball - Pick up the ball and throw it to me.  Football - American footballs are different than European footballs.  Hockey puck - He slapped the hockey puck into the goal.  Golf ball - Golf balls are small and very hard. Golfers can hit them over 300 yards!Bat - The baseball player picked up the bat and stepped up to the plate.  Cue - The pool player put resin on his cue while he considered his shot.  Golf club - You can carry up to 14 golf clubs when you play golf.  Hockey stick - The hockey stick was originally made of wood.  Ice skates - Ice skates have a long thin blade that slides over the ice.  Mitt - The baseball player catches the ball in a mitt.  Racing car - He got into the racing car and drove down the track.  Tennis/ squash/badminton racket - Many professionals bring six or more racquets with them to the match.  Saddle - Put the saddle on the horse and well take a ride in the hills.  Skis - Skis are long and thin and can be difficult to use.  Snow board - Many people prefer to use a snowboard to descend the slope.   Shuttlecock - The shuttlecock is used in the game of badminton.  Surfboard - In Hawaii, surfers use their surfboards to go down waves. People Athlete - Athletes need to stay in excellent shape.  Badminton player - The badminton player picked up the racket and began the game.  Basketball player - Some basketball players are paid over $5 million a year!Boxer - Boxers fight in categories such as lightweight and heavyweight.  Cyclist - The cyclists on the Tour de France often ride over 100 kilometers a day.  Diver - The diver spent one hour under water.  Footballer /football player - Europes top footballers are often national heroes.  Golfer - Golfers need steady nerves as they hit the small golfball two hundred yards into a crowd of spectators.  Gymnast - Gymnasts are often young and train hours every day.  Hockey player - Hockey players skate quickly on the ice.  Jockey - A jockey needs to be small and lightweight.  Ice skater - Ice skaters are often elegant artists on the ice as they skate to the music.  Racing driver - The racing driver sped past his nemesis.  Skier - The skier raced down the hill t o beat the best time.  Squash/tennis/ badminton/volleyball/rugby player - Tennis players have to travel all over the world for important tournaments.   Surfer - Many people think the life of a surfer on the beach must be a dream come true.Swimmer - Are you a strong swimmer?  Weight lifter - The weight lifter lifted over 200 kilos.   Places Circuit - The race circuit cuts through the city and out into the country.  Court - A basketball court has a wooden floor.  Course - The golf course has eighteen beautiful holes.  Feld - The soccer field is located at the end of this street.  Gym - How often do you go to the gym to workout?Pitch - The players came onto the rugby pitch to begin the match.  Ring - The boxers got into the ring, shook hands, and began the fight.  Rink - During the winter, I like to go to the rink and ice-skate.  Stadium - Some stadiums can hold more than 100,000 people! Types of Sports Athletics (do) - Children should do a wide range of athletics.  Badminton (play) - You need a net, two racquets, and a shuttlecock to play badminton.  Basketball (play) - I used to play basketball when I was in high school.  Boxing - Boxing is a violent sport.  Cycling - Cycling calls for great stamina.  Diving - Diving off a cliff must take courage.  Football (play) - He played football during college.  Golf (play) - How often do you play golf?Gymnastics (do) - My sister did gymnastics when she was younger.  Hockey (play) - We liked to play hockey up in the north.  Horse racing - Horse-racing is quite an expensive sport.  Ice skating - Ice-skating is a popular Olympic sport.  Motor racing - Motor-racing might be exciting, but its very loud.Riding - Riding through the woods must be lovely.  Rugby (play) - We played the rugby match last week.  Skiing - Skiing can be very a very expensive sport because of lift tickets and equipment.  Snooker (play) - We play ed snooker until early in the morning.  Squash (play) - We play squash indoors with a long racket and small, hardball.   Surfing - Surfing is big business in California.  Swimming - Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise because it involves all our muscles.  Tennis (play) - She played tennis on her high school team.  Volleyball (play) - The women played volleyball on the court.  Weightlifting - Weightlifting requires keeping a strict diet.  Windsurfing - Windsurfing is a popular sport in Hood River, Oregon.

Madonna Phenomenon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Madonna Phenomenon - Essay Example The Madonna phenomenon demonstrates popular culture’s ability to enable political and social contestation through Madonna as its central popular symbol where the Madonna phenomenon explores gender as performance, intersects political and cultural representation, challenges and reinscribes feminine gender categories, and inspires other women to pursue their dreams. Judith Butler asserts that gender is performed as it relates socially-produced subjects in a specific context, where Madonna literally and figuratively performs gender to connect to her primary audience. Butler explains that gender is not an attribute but a performance. Gender is part of human identity, and identity is not static or homogenous (Butler 5 qtd. in Gauntlett 106). Gender is what people do (i.e. their behaviours) and not what they truly are, according to Butler (Gauntlett 107). Madonna’s performances are performances of her identity and for her gender. Different scholars assert that Madonna performs femininity as a masquerade. E. Ann Kaplan explains the meaning of Madonna’s image to her and her audience: â€Å"[Madonnas] image usefully adopts one mask after another to expose the fact that there is no ‘essential’ self and therefore no essential feminine but only cultural constructions† (160). Indeed, Madonna’s different images show cultural constructions as present in â€Å"Material Girl.† In this song, she shows how materialism in modern society shapes femininity and masculinity. In the chorus, Madonna sings: â€Å"You know that we are living in a material world/And I am a material girl.† She is suggesting that because she lives in a material world, she has become a material girl. She talks about herself and women who have become materialistic because of the American Dream that underlines materialistic indicators of happiness and success. Guilbert notes that Madonna challenges â€Å"the consumerist form of the

Subject is American Government. Topic is Socialization Essay

Subject is American Government. Topic is Socialization - Essay Example The strength of the political culture of a country depends on the extent at which these agents of socialization can help to teach the people about certain societal rules, values and expectations (Anderson & Taylor, 2007). Generally, the masses tend to follow the agent of socialization that inspires them politically (Brinkerhoff, White & Ortega, 2007). The mass media for example helps to disseminate information about the things that go on in the political mainstream of the country and it is what they give to the people that the people take. Thus, agents of socialization play a great role in shaping an individual’s political culture. The agent of socialization that has had the greatest influence in shaping my views about the government is the family. The reason is not far-fetched. They say charity begins at home and my perception about the government actually begins with the opinion of my immediate family. This is due to the fact that, my family is the closest agent of socialization to me and I hear their views and opinion about the government through our dinner talks and general discussions at home. Thus, any opinion that I have formed about the government could easily be traced to the discussions and debates I have had with my family. My parents have had a major influence in my perception of the government and this shows the extent at which, the family as an agent of socialization has had the greatest influence in shaping my perception about