Relationship Values essays

Relationship Values essays In the novel A Separate Peace, John Knowles shows one friend, Gene, destroying his other friend, Phineas, based on competitiveness. There are many themes presented in the novel. Some of these are maturing from adolescence, destruction from competitiveness, and separating fantasy and reality. One of the novels major themes is that relationships provide moral values, which molds a person into what they become in the future. This idea is shown through the pessimistic to optimistic views of life, naturalist behavior to independent behavior, poor decision maker to an astute decision maker, and knowledge analyzing capabilities gains from a child to an adult. The pessimistic views as a child improves to optimistic views as an adult. Gene states that there is no rivalry between Phineas and him (51), right before he realizes there is one on top of the tree. He believes that Phineas was a threat, who wants him to fail at being valedictorian, therefore Gene jounces the limb to get rid of him. Rather than looking at Phineas as a leader, who wants to lead him to victory, he looks at him pessimistically and believes he is a threat. Then in the end of the novel, Gene confesses how Phineas is molded into his personality (194). Gene realizes how Phineas was a positive person to look up to, rather than a negative threat to look down upon. Genes optimistic views of Phineas are a realistic example of the major theme. The naturalist behavior as a child changes to an independent behavior as an adult. The first time Gene jumps out of the tree, he did it just because Phineas asks him to (24). Gene as a child was a naturalist, because he was more of a follower than a leader, he went with the crowd, just like Leper. Then in the end of the novel, Gene as an adult walks to the most significant areas of the school, where he wants to ...

History of the Olympics - Creating the Modern Games

History of the Olympics - Creating the Modern Games According to legend, the ancient Olympic Games were founded by Heracles (the Roman Hercules), a son of Zeus. Yet the first Olympic Games for which we still have written records were held in 776 BCE (though it is generally believed that the Games had been going on for many years already). At this Olympic Games, a naked runner, Coroebus (a cook from Elis), won the sole event at the Olympics, the stade - a run of approximately 192 meters (210 yards). This made Coroebus the very first Olympic champion in history. The ancient Olympic Games grew and continued to be played every four years for nearly 1200 years. In 393 CE, the Roman emperor Theodosius I, a Christian, abolished the Games because of their pagan influences. Pierre de Coubertin Proposes New Olympic Games Approximately 1500 years later, a young Frenchmen named Pierre de Coubertin began their revival. Coubertin is now known as le Rà ©novateur. Coubertin was a French aristocrat born on January 1, 1863. He was only seven years old when France was overrun by the Germans during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Some believe that Coubertin attributed the defeat of France not to its military skills but rather to the French soldiers lack of vigor.* After examining the education of the German, British, and American children, Coubertin decided that it was exercise, more specifically sports, that made a well-rounded and vigorous person. Coubertins attempt to get France interested in sports was not met with enthusiasm. Still, Coubertin persisted. In 1890, he organized and founded a sports organization, Union des Socià ©tà ©s Francaises de Sports Athlà ©tiques (USFSA). Two years later, Coubertin first pitched his idea to revive the Olympic Games. At a meeting of the Union des Sports Athlà ©tiques in Paris on November 25, 1892, Coubertin stated, Let us export our oarsmen, our runners, our fencers into other lands. That is the true Free Trade of the future; and the day it is introduced into Europe the cause of Peace will have received a new and strong ally. It inspires me to touch upon another step I now propose and in it I shall ask that the help you have given me hitherto you will extend again, so that together we may attempt to realise [sic], upon a basis suitable to the conditions of our modern life, the splendid and beneficent task of reviving the Olympic Games.** His speech did not inspire action. The Modern Olympic Games Are Founded Though Coubertin was not the first to propose the revival of the Olympic Games, he was certainly the most well-connected and persistent of those to do so. Two years later, Coubertin organized a meeting with 79 delegates who represented nine countries. He gathered these delegates in an auditorium that was decorated by neoclassical murals and similar additional points of ambiance. At this meeting, Coubertin eloquently spoke of the revival of the Olympic Games. This time, Coubertin aroused interest. The delegates at the conference voted unanimously for the Olympic Games. The delegates also decided to have Coubertin construct an international committee to organize the Games. This committee became the International Olympic Committee (IOC; Comità © Internationale Olympique) and Demetrious Vikelas from Greece was selected to be its first president. Athens was chosen as the location for the revival of the Olympic Games and the planning was begun. Bibliography * Allen Guttmann, The Olympics: A History of the Modern Games (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1992) 8.** Pierre de Coubertin as quoted in Olympic Games, Britannica.com (Retrieved August 10, 2000, from britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/2/0,5716,1150221108519,00.htmlDurant, John. Highlights of the Olympics: From Ancient Times to the Present. New York: Hastings House Publishers, 1973.Guttmann, Allen. The Olympics: A History of the Modern Games. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1992.Henry, Bill. An Approved History of the Olympic Games. New York: G. P. Putnams Sons, 1948.Messinesi, Xenophon L. A Branch of Wild Olive. New York: Exposition Press, 1973.Olympic Games. Britannica.com. Retrieved August 10, 2000 from the World Wide Web. britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/2/0,5716,1150221108519,00.htmlPitt, Leonard and Dale Pitt. Los Angeles A to Z: An Encyclopedia of the City and Country. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1997.

China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

China - Essay Example Senior persons are expected to begin the introductions unlike in American culture. Chinese gift-giving is made with both hands and gifts but Chinese people usually reject gifts in the first occasion as a show of politeness. However, such gifts should not be of white or black color since it is a symbol of death or bad tragedy according to the culture. American culture on gift-giving is flexible since people can send their gifts through posts even without well established relationships (Alon 56). Chinese culture is male dominated unlike American culture which appreciates equality. Chinese culture has formal hierarchy which values age and status of the individual in the society unlike American culture that is informal. Chinese culture on social relationships is influenced by Confucianism behaviors that provide the subject and ruler. For instance, children should have maximum loyalty and respect to age and seniority in the family unlike American culture where respect is accorded according to ones achievements in life. In social gatherings, Chinese people prefer public places like restaurants and one should demonstrate they are enjoying the occasion while the host of the event begins eating first unlike American culture which prefers to host social gatherings in homes and private places (Alon 104). Chinese business culture values well established social relationships and face to face interactions and meetings unlike American culture which is geared at completing the tasks and written rules business and communication such as e-mails and telephone conversations. On the issue of government, Chinese culture is nationalistic and patriotic and obeys the authority and hierarchy in society quietly. Chinese people respect their traditional beliefs and main religions include Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism while American religious culture is secular and characterized by various religious

Retail marketing case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Retail marketing case study - Essay Example owth rate by both Company’s present challenges to the management especially in handling expanded responsibilities without compromising the quality and cost controls necessary for the business. Further, due to the fast growth of the number of stores, there is a likelihood of occurrence of hiring errors as a result of failure to evaluate new hires thoroughly. Extreme value retailers make profits by selling low priced single use packet products. These products have higher profit margin compared to larger quantities of the same product. Given the low prices and average transactions, extreme value retailers can make profits from selling these products in their numerous stores. From the case, it is evident that products prices of both Family Dollar and Dollar General are less than fifteen dollars enabling these firms to make a profit by the sale of these low-priced products. There are some reasons for increased customer patronage for extreme value retailer’s stores instead of Wal-Mart. Initially, extreme value retailer concentrated on low-income communities that were small to support a large Kmart or Wal-Mart discount store. The residences of these communities appreciated the ease of purchasing merchandise close to their homes instead of driving for half an hour to a discount store in a larger town. Several customers can walk to these stores. Also, shoppers can park near the stores in parking lots that are uncrowded thereby avoiding long check out lines. Dollar General should have a lower SG &A as a percent of sales. It is because Dollar General has 2005 sales surpassing seven billion dollars this is higher than the 2004 sales of Family Dollar that are approximately five million dollars. Investors measure how a Company spends its money by looking at SG & A (Yakhlef 1). A corporation that maintains SG & A that is a higher percentage of revenue compared to other Corporations in its industry may indicate a lack of ability to adapt to downturns in the

Diversity in Workforce Essay Example for Free

Diversity in Workforce Essay The Experiment I decided not to get too ambitious for the ping-pong experiment, so my list of errands for the day included dropping off a sweater at the dry cleaner’s and buying some groceries. I don’t have a ping-pong, so I ingenuously decapitate a bottle of the mouthwash. With a cheerful blue and white polka dot sock over my right hand I am ready for action. Or so I think. First hurdle is dressing. Obviously I haven’t thought it through well enough. All my jackets have zippers, and after trying one after another I give up. My husband’s pea coat will do just fine. Now boots†¦ forget the boots, nursing clogs (bright yellow) will have to do. I wish I could take a picture of the sight I make, but operating the phone is out of the question. Off I go! A few words should be said about the area where we live. It is quite a chi-chi area in downtown Ottawa – a ten minutes walk from the Parliament Hill. But as with almost any major city the streets are lined not only with trees but with homeless people. If this were San Francisco I would be leery to take my regular walks, but this being Canada the general mood is of relaxed friendliness, even if its roots are often 80 proof. As I walk down the street I realize that instead of looking and feeling different I blend right in with my out of season clogs, a manly pea coat and especially the sock over an apparently crippled appendage. All I need is a paper cup and I’d be open for business. Nobody asks anything or looks askance as I buy my Granny Smiths. Another crazy lady doing her shopping, no big deal. I step outside and immediately recoil, momentarily disoriented: all around me the throngs of the living dead in different stages of decomposition shuffle along the street. Then I remember: Halloween! There was something in the paper about a Zombie Invasion on Bank Street, but engrossed in my school work I completely forgot what day it was. I turn towards home and chug along like a sturdy tugboat, adroitly navigating the churning masses of howling zombies. All  around me there are bloodied bandages, decaying limbs, oozing body fluids. I suddenly realize that now I finally stand out in my getup. I look†¦ normal. Reflection The experiment yielded somewhat unexpected results but I as I return the cap to the mouthwash bottle the idea strikes me that I didn’t really need it to feel different. With my strong Russian accent I am pretty much guaranteed to always stand out. From the lily-white central Russia I immigrated to the USA where â€Å"We are, at almost every point of our day, immersed in cultural diversity: faces, clothes, smells, attitudes, values, traditions, behaviours, beliefs, rituals.† (Abdel-Fattah, R. n.d.). America has always been a beacon for the â€Å"huddled masses yearning to breathe free† (Lazarus, E. n.d.) and continues to have a special responsibility in the eyes of the rest of the world in upholding the ideals of democracy. Freedom of any persecution for its extremely diverse population is guaranteed by the American Constitution. As a result of this assurance the richness of the workforce arriving at the American shores – and at the disposal of American emp loyers is amazing: brains, experience, ingenuity, material resources, and business connections are just some of the treasures that can be accessed if this well is tapped and sustained (Bell, 2012, p. 13). Inside the USA the labor landscape is shifting profoundly even without considering the constant influx of immigrants. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012) stubborn recession, retiring baby-boomers and overall increasingly aging population are the reasons that more people are leaving the workforce than entering it. Desperate for workers, many companies will become more accepting of diverse employees, particularly older workers and women. The leading US advocacy group for retired people, the AARP, believes that 80% of baby boomers will keep working full- or part-time past their current retirement age. It even earned the name of Generation U (Unretired) (www.ey.com). Women, an increasingly well-educated source of talent and skilled labor, have been entering the workforce in greater numbers in recent decades. However, their talents often remain underutilized. The same applies to people with dishabilles and nontraditional sexual orientation. Their contribution to the workforce yet remains to be fully realized. Today the world is rapidly diminishing as economy is becoming global. For our  class we could have been experimenting with a miniature globe instead of a ping-pong†¦ Everything seems within reach these days. If we don’t harness the immense creative potential offered by the diverse labor force â€Å"the United States may be left behind in an increasingly competitive and global world.† (Bell, 2012, p. 522) A Personal Observation I have been working in the USA since 1998 and I have been privileged to experience tutelage of some excellent managers. California is a microcosm of racial, ethnic and gender diversity and I can testify that when it works – it works! I see a good manager of a diverse organization as a conductor of a philharmonic orchestra. So many different instruments! Chaos! Cacophony! But with patience, perseverance, hard work and trust on both ends a beautiful melody is born. And a very solid team. Sources Abdel-Fattah, R. (n.d.) Randa Abdel-Fattah quotes. Retrieved November 01, 2013 from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/randa_abdelfattah.html Bell, M. P. (2012). Diversity in organizations (2nd ed). Arlington, TX: South-Western. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012). Labor Force Projections to 2020: a More Slowly Growing Workforce. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2012/01/art3full.pdf Lazarus, E. (n.d.) The New Colossus, Retrieved November. 02, 2013 from http://www.libertystatepark.com/emma.htm http://www.ey.com/GL/en/Issues/Business-environment/Six-global-trends-shaping-the-business-worldDemographic-shifts-transform-the-global-workforce

Global Warming :: Greenhouse Effect, Climate Change

Global Warming Abstract The world's scientific experts agree that industrial and land use activities are having an adverse impact on our climate. Burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gasoline creates global warming pollution that acts as the glass in a greenhouse, reflecting heat back toward the Earth and warming our climate. If we do not take steps now to reduce our emissions of global warming pollution, we will suffer serious environmental, public health, and economic repercussions. We owe it to our next generations to leave them a healthy environment and economy. Industries must start reducing their emissions of global warming pollution before we seal the fate of future generations. The earth's climate is predicted to change because human activities are altering the chemical composition of the atmosphere through the buildup of greenhouse gases (primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide). Its functions are similarly to the walls and roof of a greenhouse, allowing sunlight to enter, but preventing heat from escaping. Sunlight passes through the atmosphere and heats the earth?s surface. The earth gives off heat energy, in the form of infrared radiation, which travels back toward the atmosphere. Instead of going into space, some of the infrared radiation is trapped by greenhouse gases (Schneider, 1989). The main greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and ozone. The gases send infrared radiation back to the earth's surface. Some greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, while others result from human activities. Naturally occuring greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. Certain human activities, however, add to the levels of most of these naturally occurring gases: 1) Carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere when solid waste, fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), and wood and wood products are burned. 2) Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also result from the decomposition of organic wastes in municipal solid waste landfills, and the raising of livestock. 3) Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels. Greenhouse gases that are not naturally occurring include byproducts of foam production, refrigeration, and air conditioning called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), as well as hyrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs) generated by industrial processes.

Major works data sheet for Rebecca Essay

Title: Rebecca Author: Daphne du Maurier Date of Publication: 1938 Genre: Romance, Gothic, Mystery, Classic Biographical Information about the Author: Daphne du Maurier was born on May 13, 1907, in London, England, the daughter of actor-manager Sir Gerald du Maurier. She was a popular novelist known for her suspenseful, romantic and sometimes supernatural plots. Her best known works are Rebecca and The Birds, both adapted to film by Alfred Hitchcock. Du Maurier was made a Dame Commander in the Order of the British Empire in 1969. She died in 1981 in Par, Cornwall, England. Historical Information about the period of Publication: Characteristics of the genre: Romanticism saw a shift from faith in reason to faith in the senses, feelings, and imagination; a shift from interest in urban society to an interest in the rural and natural; a shift from public. Gothic horror) is a genre of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance. Plot Summary: Rebecca’s narrative takes the form of a flashback. The heroine, who remains nameless, lives in Europe with her husband, Maxim de Winter, traveling from hotel to hotel, harboring memories of a beautiful home called Manderley, which, we learn, has been destroyed by fire. The story begins with her memories of how she and Maxim first met, in Monte Carlo, years before. In her flashback, the heroine is working as the young traveling companion to a wealthy American named Mrs. Van Hopper. In her flashback, Maxim is staying at the same hotel as the heroine and her employer, and after knowing the heroine for only a few weeks, he proposes marriage. She accepts, and he marries her and takes her back to his ancestral estate of Manderley. But a dark cloud hangs over their marriage: Maxim’s first wife, Rebecca, drowned in a cove near Manderley the revious year, and her ghost haunts the newlyweds’ home. Rebecca’s devoted housekeeper, the sinister Mrs. Danvers, is still in charge of Manderley, and she frightens and intimidates her new mistress. Despite the encouragement of the house overseer, Frank Crawley, and Maxim’s sister, Beatrice, the heroine struggles in her new life at Manderley. She feels that she can never compare favorably to Rebecca, who was beautiful, talented, and brilliant–or so everyone says–and soon she feels that Maxim is still in love with his dead wife. Manderley traditionally hosts a costume all each year, and it is soon time for the gala to take place. Swept up in the preparations, the heroine’s spirits begin to revive. But the ball ends in disaster: on Mrs. Danvers’s suggestion she wears a costume that, it turns out, is the same dress that Rebecca wore at the last ball. Upon seeing the heroine, Maxim is horrified, and the heroine becomes convinced that he will never love her, that he is still devoted to Rebecca. The following day, Mrs. Danvers almost convinces her to kill herself, and she only breaks away from the old woman’s spell when rockets go off over the cove, signaling that a ship nas run aground. When divers swim near the grounded snip, they find the wreckage of Rebecca’s sailboat, with Rebecca’s dead body in the hold. This discovery prompts Maxim to tell the heroine the truth: Rebecca was a malevolent, wicked woman, who lived a secret life and carried on multiple affairs, including one with her cousin, Jack Favell. On the night of her death, Maxim had demanded a divorce, and she had refused, and told him that she was pregnant with Favell’s child. Furious, he seized a gun and shot her, and then sailed out to the harbor in Rebecca’s boat and sank it, with the body stowed safely inside. This revelation restores the heroine’s marriage, and enables her to finally shake off the burden of Rebecca’s ghost. Meanwhile, however, the noose of Justice tightens around Maxim: first, it is found that holes have been drilled in the bottom of Rebecca’s boat; luckily the coroner delivers a report of suicide, rather than murder. But soon Rebecca’s cousin Favell, certain that Rebecca did not kill herself, accuses Maxim of the crime. The local magistrate, Colonel Julyan, investigates, and finds that on the day of her death, Rebecca went up to London to see a Doctor Baker. Favell, Maxim, and he heroine accompany Julyan to London; the heroine is certain that Baker will reveal that Rebecca was pregnant, thus revealing Maxim’s vengeful motive for murder. But instead, it turns out that Rebecca was dying of cancer, and that furthermore she was infertile; she had lied to Maxim about her pregnancy. Her terminal illness now supplies a motive for Rebecca’s supposed suicide, and Maxim is saved. He and the heroine drive all night back to Manderley, stopping only once, when Maxim calls home and learns that Mrs. Danvers has disappeared. As they crest the ridge near the mansion, they look down and find it in flames. Describe the authors style: British writer that uses vivid and lengthy descriptions to describe nature. She is very detailed and descriptive, and used some poetic themes to strengthen her writing. An example that demonstrates her style: â€Å"The road to Manderley lay ahead. There was no moon. The sky above our heads was inky black. But the sky on the horizon was not dark at all. It was shot with crimson, like a splash of blood. And the ashes blew towards us with the salt wind from the sea. † Memorable Quotes â€Å"If only there could be an invention that bottled up a memory, like scent. And it never aded, and it never got stale. And then, when one wanted it, the bottle could be uncorked, and it would be like living the moment all over again. † P 36 The quote shows how much the heroine enjoyed spending the quality time with Maxim and wanted their quality time to last a lifetime because she loved him so much. â€Å"l wish I was a woman of about thirty-six dressed in black satin with a string of pearls. † Heroine always wanted to change because she believed that Maxim was still in love with Rebecca, so she believed that she had to change to make him love her as much as he loved Rebecca. Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again. † Heroine had dreams of Manderley a lot because it still haunted her even after it had been burned down. She did end up falling in love with it, but all the baggage that came along with it was too much for her. â€Å"Either you go to America with Mrs. Van Hopper or you come home to Manderley with me. † â€Å"Do you mean you want a secretary or something? † â€Å"No, I’m asking you to marry me, you little fool. † Maxim asks the heroine to marry him so that she can go back to Manderley with him instead of having to leave with Mrs. Van Hopper. â€Å"The road to Manderley lay ahead. There was no moon. The sky above our heads was inky black. But the sky on the horizon was not dark at all. It was shot with crimson, like a splash of blood. And the ashes blew towards us with the salt wind from the sea. † The mansion had been set fire by someone, and the details given her are a great example of du Maurier’s writing and the details and vivid descriptions that she gave throughout this novel. â€Å"We all of us have our particular devil who ruses us and torments us, and we must give battle in the end. Maxim said this, because he has that â€Å"devil† of Rebecca still aunting him even though she has long been dead. Characters Name Role in the Story Significance Adjectives Heroine (Mrs. De Winter) Mr. de winter’s wife, and loyal supporter. She is the main character, But she is never named. Even throughout the entire book she never has a name besides Mrs. de Winter. She was a shy newcomer to Ma nderley and was kind of not liked by some especially Mrs. Danvers. Shy; self- conscious; Mr. de Winter (Maxim) The husband to Mrs. de Winter, and later to be revealed in the novel as the killer of his late wife Rebecca. The other main character of the husband to Mrs. e Winter. A cultured, intelligent older man, and the owner of Manderley, a prized estate and mansion on the English coast. novel, Intelligent; rich Mrs. Danvers Housekeeper of Manderley, was Rebecca’s personal maid. The sinister housekeeper at Manderley. She was fiercely devoted to Rebecca, and remains devoted to her even after death. She despises the heroine for taking her mistress’s place. Mean; selfish; rude Jack Favell Rebecca’s Cousin Rebecca’s cousin. Lacking integrity and given to alcoholic behavior, he was Rebecca’s lover while she was married to Maxim. Crazy; drunk Rebecca Maxim’s late wife, who was murdered by him. In life, Rebecca was the beautiful, much-loved, accomplished wife of Maxim de Winter, and the mistress of Manderley. Now a ghost, she haunts the mansion, and her presence torments the heroine after her marriage to Maxim. Beautiful; cunning; sneaky Mrs. Van Hopper Heroine’s employer at the beginning of the book A vulgar, gossipy and wealthy American woman. She employs the heroine as a companion while sne travels trom one European resort unkind Setting: town to another. Rude;