Human Resource Management Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human Resource Management Experience - Essay Example He was French, but English was the common language, and I was the most fluent person in the company. I accepted the challenge, despite short notice, and after studying the proposal, was able to identify the potential problems which might occur as a result of the merger. The most pressing of these I judged to be troubled labour relations between Jinro Ballantine's and the Pernod Ricard managers. In the meeting which took place, my assumption proved to be correct, with the added concern as to whether our program would deal with sensitive issues appropriately, or exacerbate already troubled relations. I explained why proceeding with the project would be a positive course of action, taking the features and converting them to benefits. These included issues around team building, personal development, strengthening of relationships and company loyalty. The Jinro Ballantine's president was so impressed that he accepted our proposal to put the program in place, requesting that I act as simultaneous translator, earning our company additional revenue. He extended the program to include additional sessions and participants, himself included. My CEO was also impressed by my performance, given I had only been in the job for one day, and so after the short space of seven months, I was promoted to assistant manager. I consider this an important achievement for many reasons which impact on my desire to study for my MBA. I learned that I had the confidence to rise to a challenge with calm efficiency, and that the knowledge I absorbed in my HR capacities enabled me to give a clear and informed presentation. I discovered that my influencing skills were such that a... The researcher of this essay aims to attain the appropriate skills and knowledge required, and to achieve his career goals, the researcher considers the MBA at Seoul National University (SNU) to be the most important first step for him to take. In accordance with Seoul National University Statement of Purpose requirements, the researcher firstly outlines his two most important accomplishments, and follow these with his career goals, then challenge to his value system. In conclusion, the researcher also recapitulates his strengths and reasons for this application. The researcher of this essay believes that his strength lies in his intuitive ability to relate to people, something that the researcher realized he possessed when studying psychology. It has assisted him to succeed in his various job roles and would be an asset in his course of study, as well as in reaching his future goals. The researcher is also committed to the idea of learning more about all aspects of marketing and con siders as an important achievement and particularly where it applies to his country. the researcher have learned that hi is a good team player, a tenacious person who will see matters through and someone who is confident and competent. The researcher then concluds that together with his work and life experience, these attributes mean that the researcher can successfully attain the MBA and more importantly, put it to the best use in creating a future career focusing on Marketing and Human Resources.

Journal on Hamlets quote Essay Example for Free

Journal on Hamlets quote Essay Hamlet is one of Shakespeares most discussed plays. The drama has a lot of figurative language to be interpreted in various meanings. Among the famous quotes taken from Hamlet, perhaps the one bringing a wide range of different opinions is the line Hamlet said to his friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Why, then, tis none to you; for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me it is a prison. (Shakespeare, Hamlet, II, ii, 249.) There is a deep concept in this saying, which perfectly represents the reality and the values of right and wrong. In the context, despite Hamlet saying this line does not refer to the moral values in the society; it does reflect the theme of the play. In this scene when Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, his old friends directed by King Claudius to come and check on his madness, Hamlet simply is mocking his fake friends naiveness. However, this quote does not only have this joking effect, but also foretells the theme of the play. Hamlet is the play of revenge, of finding the truth, of defining what is right and what is wrong. The way the prince thinks about life is going to help him deciding on his actions. . . . for there is nothing either good or bad implies in this world, nothing being is given a low or high value, a righteous or foul reason to exist. The way people look at it, react to it, and perceive it make it good, or bad. For instance, killing is always considered a horrible crime, but in the play Hamlet has to decide to murder his own uncle. However in that situation it is not completely a crime. It may either be right or wrong, depends on each persons view on what is more meaningful, a life, or the elimination of bad deeds. The decision to defy something as right or wrong also depends on a lot of different background like historical, cultural and other aspects. Hamlet considers the marriage between his mom and his uncle two months after King Hamlets death is unethical. The truth is in other nations, relatives do get royal marriage right after death of a family member to remain the stability within the royal clan, which is considered great wisdom and of great moral. In each persons view, an event has various personal relations to his belief and moral conception; therefore the definitions of right and wrong, good and bad vary among people. The argument of right and wrong, or good and bad, perhaps is the main theme  of the play. Is revenge a good excuse for murder? Is Hamlet not doing the same thing as Claudius did to his father? The answers lay upon each audience and his own opinion, as the truth lays in thinking makes it so Work Cited Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Rpt. in Compact Literature Reading Reacting Writing. By Kirszner and Mandell. 6th ed. 2007.

Overview of Ocular Histoplasmosis Syndrome (OHS)

Overview of Ocular Histoplasmosis Syndrome (OHS) Dr Pradeep Venkatesh Histoplasmosis Amol D Kulkarni and Suresh R Chandra Introduction Histoplasmosis is a systemic disease caused by Histoplasma capsulatum.1 Introduction Histoplasmosis is a systemic disease caused by Histoplasma capsulatum.1 It produces intracellular granulomatous inflammation of many organs including eyes, lungs, liver, spleen, etc. Ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (OHS) is characterized by a triad of signs –of punched-out atrophic choroidal scars in the macula or periphery, peripapillary atrophy and choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM).2 Etiology-Aetiology HistoplasmacapsulatumH. capsulatum, a dimorphic fungus, is presumed to play a causative role in the development of OHS.1 There are few reports of pathologic and molecular evidence supporting a the direct role for of H. capsulatum in the development of chorioretinal scars, ; however, no serologic confirmation of histoplasmosis infection has been reported.3,4 A haematogenous dissemination of the fungus results in choroidal invasion and subsequent scarring. Additionally, disseminated histoplasmosis presents with intraretinal infiltrates composed of histoplasma yeast cells that are easily demonstrable on histology. Extensive study of the affected individuals in Europe and the United States has revealed the presence of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR15). 1: Please provide the full form of DR>.5 No full form; it indicates type of HLAThis HLA association suggests that immune reaction is likely to play a major role during the development of scarring and CNVM. H. capsulatum may induced local ized autoimmune reaction in the retina. However, an infection with this fungus is not an absolute requirement for the development of clinical OHS. Because of this lack of association, there has been a suggestion to rename this clinical syndrome as ‘multifocal choroidopathy’. Epidemiology OHS is most common in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys of the United States, which are endemic for H. capsulatum.6 Up to 70% of the population living in the endemic areas reacts positively to the histoplasmin skin testing and 1.5% exhibits the typical fundus findings. 7It can be a blinding disease in its more severe manifestations. There is no gender predilection, although some reports show a higher prevalence in women. Pathobiology OHS belongs to the spectrum of autoimmune diseases triggered by an infectious organism, with H. capsulatum being one of several candidate pathogens. It is characterized by a chronic reaction to the immunogenic residua of the H. capsulatum, which acts as a nidus for inflammation. Light microscopy reveals mixed inflammatory cells in the choroidal lesions with the loss of overlying retinal pigment epithelium. There are adhesions between the outer retina and choroidal lesions. The genesis of CNVM in OHS is thought to be caused by the disruption of Bruch’s membrane at the site of atrophic scar. Systemic Featuresfeatures Mycilia Mycelia of Histoplasmosishistoplasmoses are inhaled and they transform to the yeast form shortly and infect lungs. They can produce caseation and enlargement of hilar nodes, which produce typical shadows on X-ray. About 90% of cases are benign and do not produce symptoms. In dDisseminated2: Kindly >OK histoplasmosis are is characterized by pyrexia, vomiting and enlargement of liver, spleen, and lymph glands. The Involvement involvement of skin, mouth, gastrointestinal tract and heart may also occur. Ocular Featuresfeatures The clinical findings in OHS include peripapillary atrophy, multiple punched punchedout white atrophic choroidal scars (histo spots), and a macular CNVM, accompanied by the complete absence of a cellular reaction in the anterior chamber or vitreous cavity [(Fig. 40.1(aA)].6 The histo spots are considered to be the earliest stage of the disease, and are usually asymptomatic [(Fig. 40.1 (Bb)]. CNVM will develop in fewer than 5% of individuals with histo spots. The Clinical clinical presentation of CNVM involves acute or insidious onset of painless progressive blurring of central vision and metamorphopsia. The Fundus fundus examination typically shows a yellow-green subretinal discolouration with accumulation of subretinal fluid. In advanced cases, there is subretinal fibrosis leading to disciform scar formation and that is associated with severe central visual loss. 9The exact time frame between the initial choroidal scarring and CNVAQ3: Please check if CNV stands for â€Å"choroidal neovascularization†and CNVM is choroidal neovascular membrane and should be replaced with CNVM>NO development is difficult to determine given that histo spots are asymptomatic. New histo spots may develop in more than 20% of individuals while they are under observation, ; however, only 3.8% progress to CNV. The precipitating factors promoting such progression are not known. Some studies implicate emotional stress and tension headaches as associated events. Diagnosis OHS is a clinical diagnosis and relies on the observation of characteristic fundus lesions in one or both eyes. Intravenous fluorescein angiography (FA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) can assist in the evaluation of CNVM (Figs. 40.2 and 40.3). FA assists in identifying areas of CNVM and in planning photodynamic therapy. OCT is a useful tool for the detection and monitoring of treatment response. 10 Treatment The optimum treatment of subfoveal and juxtafoveal CNVM is the main focus in OHS. Histo spots are asymptomatic in most cases and require no treatment until a progression of the disease is detected.9-11 Corticosteroids Regimens of systemic corticosteroid therapy were widely used in early studies of ocular histoplasmosis. 12Few clinical studies have evaluated the role of subtenon’s and intraocular triamcinolone. The intravitreal steroids demonstrated favourable visual outcomes; however, they are associated with cataract formation or progression and increased intraocular pressure.13 Laser photocoagulation Laser Photocoagulation photocoagulation effectively inhibits the progression of OHS-related CNV. In randomized trials, the Macular Photocoagulation Study demonstrated that argon and krypton laser photocoagulation is effective in treating well-defined, classic extrafoveal, juxtafoveal, and peripapillary CNV lesions secondary to OHS.14, 15 Only 12% of treated individuals experienced significant disease progression, compared with 42% of the control patients. Surgical therapy The role of submacular surgery for the removal of CNV lesions was evaluated in a multicentere randomized clinical trial. 16The study data indicate that surgery may be beneficial to patients with visual acuity worse than 20/100, and subfoveal CNV. Photodynamic therapy Verteporfin in Ocular Histoplasmosis study enrolled 26 patients prospectively with subfoveal CNV and demonstrated an improvement of visual acuity from baseline as well as an absence of serious adverse events at in 2 years.17 Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy Several intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatments are currently being pursued for the treatment of OHS-related CNV. Few retrospective studies have evaluated the role of intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy for CNV associated with OHS. One such study by Ehrlich et al. found that at least 50% of eyes with subfoveal or juxtafoveal CNV experienced ≠¥>=3 three lines of vision gain and 91.5% to –100% of patients had improved or had stable visual acuity (at 3-– to 12-month follow-up) after the intravitreal bevacizumab therapy. 18Similarly, the results concerning the therapeutic efficacy of ranibizumab are promising. Both treat-and-extend and pro re nata treatment strategies were effective. A study by Nielsen et al. demonstrated that many eyes require long-term anti-VEGF therapy to suppress the choroidal neovascular activity in OHS.19 Suggested reading Smith RE, Ganley JP. An epidemiologic study of presumed ocular histoplasmosis. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol 1971; 75:994–-1005. Gass JDM, Wilkinson CP. Follow-up study of presumed ocular histoplasmosis. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol 1972; 76:672–694. Hawkins BS, Alexander J, Schachat AP. Ocular histoplasmosis. In: Retina. Ryan, SJ, Schahchat, AP, editors. Retina. St. Louis, MO: , Mosby; 20014: Please check the author spelling>. Oliver A, Ciulla TA, Comer GM. New and classic insights into presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome and its treatment. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2005 Jun;16(3):160–165. Prasad AG, Van Gelder RN. Presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2005 Dec;16(6):364–368. Macular Photocoagulation Study Group. Argon laser photocoagulation for ocular histoplasmosis: results of a randomized trial. Arch Ophthalmol 1983; 101:1347–1357. Macular Photocoagulation Study Group. Krypton laser photocoagulation for neovascular lesions of ocular histoplasmosis: results of a randomized clinical trial. Arch Ophthalmol 1987; 105:1499–-1507. Rosenfeld PJ, Saperstein DA, Bressler NM, et al. Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin in ocular histoplasmosis: uncontrolled, open-label 2-year study. Ophthalmology 2004; 111:1725–1733. Nielsen JS, Fick TA, Saggau DD, Barnes CH. Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for choroidal neovascularization secondary to ocular histoplasmosis syndrome. Retina. 2012 Mar;32(3):468–472. Fig. ure 40.1 Fundus photographs of a patient with OHS showing peri-papillary atrophy and CNV with subretinal haemorrhage in the right eye (A) and macular histo spot in the left eye (B).Choroidal neovascularization Fig. ure 40.2 Early (A) and late (B) phase fluorescein photographs showing CNV with subretinal haemorrhage secondary to OHS. Fig. ure 40.3 OCT scan showing CNV with intraretinal fluid secondary to OHS.

Computer Security and Hacking :: Internet Security

Getting Ip's:-- To see the ip all computers you are connected to (web servers, people attempting to hack into your computer). Go to dos (start>run>type command) and run the netstat command. Type netstat /? for details. Type netstat -r at the command prompt to see the ip of all computers you are connected to In MSN (and other programs) when you are chatting to someone everything you type goes through the MSN servers first (they act as a proxy) so you see their ip rather than who you are chatting to. You can get round this by sending them a file as MSN doesn't send file through its proxy. When you type the netstat -r (or -a for a different view) the ip's are under the foreign address table. The ports are separated by a : . Different programs use different ports, so you can work out which ip's are from which program. Connecting to other computers and what ports are:-- Servers send information. Clients retrieve. Simple. Windows comes with a built in program to connect to other computers called telnet. To start Windows telnet Start menu> Run> type Telnet. Click connect> remote system Ports are doors into computers. Hosts are computer names (ip number or a name that is translated into the ip automatically) Different programs open different ports, but they always open the same ports so other computers know which port to connect to. You can get a port list listing all the different ports, but a basic one is: 11 :- Sends info on the computer 21 :- FTP (File transfer program) 23 :- Telnet (Login to the computers command line) 25 :- Smtp (Sends mail) 80 :- Http (Web pages) There are thousands of different programs using different ports. You can get programs called portscanners which check a computer for all ports up to a certain number, looking for ways in. You can portscan a computer looking for ways-in. Anyway, back to telnet. Type www.yahoo.com as the host and port as 80 the click connect. If nothing happens, you're in. Wow. You are connected to Yahoo's server. You can now type http commands (you are connected to an http server, so it supports http commands). Ie. on an ftp server you can type open and it will do something. On an http server it will just wonder what the hell you are on about. Type get / http/1.

7. What Would You Recommend to the Ceo Given Your Analysis of His Approach Thus Far?

Important Course Information Course Overview Throughout this course you will assume the role of a management consultant hired by a variety of clients. Each individual or group project you undertake will present a different management or leadership challenge. These projects will give you an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of modern leadership issues and apply ethical theories and reasoning skills to business situations. General Project Deliverable Guidelines As a management consultant you make a living by providing management advice to senior level managers with regard to management problems that they are experiencing within their organization. Your role is to analyze the situation and then apply your experience, general business knowledge, and sound management principles and theories, to produce a report or other deliverable on the subject for the senior manager. Your recommendations are important, but equally important is your justification for those recommendations. The justification must convince the manager that your advice is worth the price he or she paid for it. The manager should feel confident that you have arrived at the correct conclusions and that your conclusions are well supported by good judgment and competent authority in the subject. Your goal is to produce results that will strengthen your reputation as a management consultant and encourage the manager to hire you in the future for other projects. Leadership Challenge: Selecting Team Members The leader of your client organization has observed a lack of flexibility and a slow decision-making process in many of the departments. He believes that he is not serving his customers well, and has decided to move to a team environment and to push many of the decisions to the lowest possible levels. In other words, he wants to create a team-based, empowered organization. Several of his best managers are resisting the idea strongly. They not only feel that many employees are not ready for the change, but they also believe that they personally could never change from a â€Å"command and control† style to allowing more participation (Nahavandi, 2006, p. 54). Your client has asked you to prepare a report in which you address the following questions: 1. How should the leader deal with the situation? 2. How are leading and managing different? 3. Is the CEO trying to lead or manage this change initiative? 4. What arguments can he use to persuade his managers? 5. What can he do to help his managers change their style? 6. What are the implications of his actions and decisions? 7. What would you recommend to the CEO given  your analysis of his approach thus far? Use the Library or other Web resources to support your argument. Be sure to cite your sources using APA Style 6th edition guidelines. Your report MUST include a reference list. All research should be cited in the body of the paper. Discussion  Board essays and  Individual Projects  without references and citations may not earn any higher grade than a ‘C' letter grade. Your report should contain an abstract, a short introduction, and conclusion in addition to the body of the paper. Please note that if you have a source in your reference section, you need to cite it in the body of the paper per APA guidelines and vice-versa. Please submit your assignment as a Word document in APA Style 6th edition format. Objective: The Objective of the Unit  1 IP Assignment will involve the following the Course Outcomes and Grading Criteria with their respective percentages for the Grading Rubric: 1. Compare and contrast leadership and management, and understand their similarities and differences as well as the ethical challenges that managers face. (40%) 2. Discuss and explain when and why participation should be used to improve leadership effectiveness. (40%) 3. Apply critical thinking skills to analyze business situations. (20%) Nahavandi, A. (2006). The art and science of leadership (4th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Please submit your assignment.

How Organisations Has Been Affected By Two Contrasting Economic Environments

Task 1)When the country is in the recession everybody is trying to save money and go to shops which are cheap. Some companies cut jobs and are trying to maximise profit. Lidl is making lots of profit in the recession therefore they don’t have to worry that there is a recession because everybody is trying to save money and people are going to cheap shops and Lidl is one of them and because of that they are making lots of money in recession. Lidl is in England for a very long time and when recession came, it made tens of thousands of people to try Lidl for the first time.The same thing happened to Aldi. Lidl and Aldi have cheap products at high quality. When the country is at boom then lots of business like Lidl hire lots of people therefore there is high employment level and their wages will go high as well because they want to attract more people because the business can afford to hire lots of people therefore the business will run in a very good way also businesses are invest ing more to make the business expand and meet peoples demands, and in a boom people have lots of money which they want to spend on their want and needs and because of that shops will make lots of profit.Task 2)Human resources in a recession have to make hard decisions, one of them is cutting jobs because they can't afford to have lots of employees, finance department have to calculate how much money they can spend on the business and try not to bankrupt therefore they would have to change their suppliers on cheaper suppliers which have less quality products as they would have from their normal suppliers and that could affect their business because they could lose customers. The company would have to stop investing and save money for their suppliers and pay their employees.He company would have to stop investing and save money for their suppliers and pay their employees. If the country is at the recovery, then Human resources might start hiring new people but not a lot like they had at boom therefore unemployment will fall a little. Finances will have to consider about increasing production and start investing into the business again, demand would rise and because of that sales will rise as well therefore slowly the business will be making profit.

Human Communication essays

Human Communication essays The movie Sweet Home Alabama showcases examples of many important theories of human communication. The movie's plot itself allows for a great deal of miscommunication and misunderstanding, and it is often these conflicts that allow us to view communication theories. However, many examples of theories of human communication come in scenes where there is little conflict, and the characters are going about their daily business, illustrating that communication occurs in a wide variety of instances. Overall, Sweet Home Alabama provides examples of communication theories as diverse as expectancy theory, constructivism, symbolic interactionism, and the coordinated management of meaning. Some of the most interesting analysis of human communication can come from modern cinema. Topical movies provide not only entertainment, but they often reflect common relationship issues. It is in this reflection of modern relationships that there is a great deal of opportunity for a study of human communication. Given that for every effective story there must be moments of conflict, movies often provide an excellent opportunity to study difficulties in human communication. The movie Sweet Home Alabama provides ample material for a study of human communication. Starring Reese Witherspoon as the movie's heroine, Melanie Carmichael, Sweet Home Alabama chronicles the story of a young woman who is torn between two lovers. While this may seem like an often- told tale, there is an important twist in the plot of this story: one of the lover's is Melanie's ex-husband, and one is her fianc. Perhaps more succinctly, one of the lovers is not quite her ex-husband, as he simply Melanie is a small-town girl who has moved to the big city, and done well for herself. She has a burgeoning career, and is engaged to the son of the mayor. Her newfound debutante status is a far cry from h...

Neo expressionism essays

Neo expressionism essays The term neo-expressionism describes the art movement that dominated the art market in the early and mid 1980s. The word neo refers to a revival of previous ideas or trends. Expressionism was a style from around the time of World War 1 that was highly personal, and was often executed with violent fervor. Neo-expressionism is similar, and also generally uses bright colors, recognizable objects (such as the human body) with distorted representation, great expression of emotion, and often commentary on social issues. It usually is not realistic. The common subject matter often deals with the negative aspects of life: vulgarities, violence, cynicism, and brutality. It is full of symbolism, and is considered figurative and gestural. A varied assemblage of young artists portrayed the human body in reaction and in contrast to the remote, introverted, and highly intellectualized abstract art production in the 1970s. The original goal of these artists was to depict emotional and psycholog ical concerns of themselves and their times. This is often achieved by using heavy black outlines to express anger and hostility in addition to strong contrasts of the bold colors. Other artists explored color and abstraction to express spiritual and/or mystical ideas. Other common traits presented in paintings of this style included: a rejection of traditional standards of composition and design, the use of vivid but jarringly banal color harmonies, and a simultaneously tense and playful presentation of objects in a primitivist manner that communicates a sense of inner disturbance, tension, alienation, and ambiguity. This movement was also linked to and in part generated by new and aggressive methods of salesmanship, media promotion, and marketing on the part of dealers and galleries. It was controversial both in the quality of its art products and in the highly commercialized aspects of its presentation to the art-buying publ ...

At Any One Moment

Had the story been written in a time where a Tsunami had not occurred for many years it would be a lot harder to imagine and put into perspective the enormity of the tragedy occurring in the story. Judy Allen builds on this idea through the specific language and metaphors used to set the scene and further build on the context. â€Å"It rose up like a mountain, either hiding or engulfing the distant boats†. Through using real locations in the text the reader can see and believe the story. The reader’s context is also used to build dramatic tension. As the water is drawn out before the Tsunami approaches the reader is mostly likely aware of what is occurring due to their context compared to Sherif, his brother and the villagers who were obliviouxs to the disaster about to occur. His brother started to laugh- it was all so extraordinary, a trick played by the ocean†. This situation creates dramatic irony and positions the reader to want to warn the characters in the story to get out of the water. Judy Allen builds and plays on the readers context which is most likely that of a busy Western life. Many people in society are always busy and never take time to thin k about other people. â€Å"Even so, most people are aware only of their own small world, and many believe their own small world, and many believe their own small world is all there is†. Through the structure and the omniscient point of view the author positions the reader to imagine all the things happening in the world right now and how every action has a consequence. Allen then takes the reader down to one specific event which could be happening right now. This structure is especially effect because of Western Society’s desensitised view of disaster. The reader relates to a personal story much more than figures on the news. Allen’s use of emotive language and smilies also creates an environment for the reader to personally react to the story. â€Å"He stared as the vast sweep of water was pulled back like a huge bed cover†. This imagery allows the reader to put themselves in the story and use their own personal context to make meaning to â€Å"At Any One Moment†. Through my own personal context I am able to react to the story and feel sympathy for the characters in it. Although I was not personally affected by the Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004 I can still appreciate the pain that Sherif goes through. This prose fiction work put the world into perspective for me and caused me to feel grateful for the things I have in my life. It made me realise how fragile life can be, how people can be alive one minute and dead the next. Through all the tragedy in our wold I had become partially immune to the horrors in our world until I read this personal story. I have a strong sense of family and this caused me to react strongly to Sherif losing his brother and probably his mother. I cannot imagine losing one of my family members and it pained me to see that a whole life can be lost in a matter of seconds you just have to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Whether it is man-made tragedy or natural disaster we never know what life is going to throw at us and often we cannot stop it. At any one moment on this small planet†¦ †. Through the use of structure, point of view and context Allen encourages the reader feel small and insignificant. By allowing us to imagine all the events and people in the world the reader is positioned to feel as though they are helpless to the world around them and can do nothing to stop it. Through this realisation Allen then inspires us to come together as a global communi ty that can make a difference, we are insignificant on our own but together we are much more powerful.

Irresponsibility in High Fidelity by Nick Hornby Essay

Irresponsibility in High Fidelity by Nick Hornby - Essay Example The paper tells about Rob’s irresponsibility that emerges through his lack of commitment, self-destructive attitude and lack of initiative. At the beginning of the novel, the narrator lists his five prior breakups. This breakup portrays the narrator’s inability to sustain a relationship. He seems to be looking for something more that he cannot understand. The first breakup is with Alison Ashworth whom he dated for a few hours. Robs then dated Alison Hardwick, a year after his first breakup. Hardwick could not give into his sexual demands leading to a breakup. Rob, still eager for a relationship, steals his friend’s girlfriend who was called Jackie Allen. This relationship lasted only a few weeks after which Allen left him for his prior boyfriend, Phil. His fourth relationship ends in a breakup as well. The girl in the fourth relationship is Charlie Nicholson whom he met in college. Rob kept thinking that she was too good for him and that she would eventually leav e him for another person. They eventually break up. Rob still earns for relationship and meets Sarah Kendrew, who like Rob, hurts from a breakup. Rob and Kendrew swear to live together forever but Kendrew meets another person and leaves Rob. This string of breakup portrays Rob’s inability to commit fully in a relationship. Numerous breakups may motivate one to get into a mature sustainable relationship. However, Rob wants to be free so that he can act as he pleases. He also wants to enjoy an intimate relationship with a woman. This is irresponsible because he should take some time to assess his feeling and decide on the best course of action. Instead, he is contented by the initial infatuation and intimacy with a woman. After staying with a woman for a while, he starts questioning himself whether the woman is right for him. Rob usually finds reasons to leave her than stay in the relationship. This also happens with Laura, his next girlfriend (Knowles 14). The author uses the numerous girlfriends who broke up with Rob as a symbol to indicate his lack of commitment. His love for music symbolizes his loneliness and need for fulfillment. It is ironic that the author calls the novel high fidelity to highlight commitment to a marital relationship though Rob is committed to himself. Rob’s inability to commit does not apply to relationship but also other aspects in his life. For example, he dropped out of school due to the inability to commit to schooling requirements. He has a music shop that does not reward him significantly though the business does not bother him. He is comfortable with his meager earnings so long as he can afford a meal and shelter. His actions are attributable to lack of commitment to his responsibilities, as well as, woman named Laura. In the event that he was responsible, he would have worked harder to improve his life. Laura eventually prompts him to think of other things that he may enjoy doing in a bid to generate money. A read er is likely to label Rob’s actions are irresponsible. The Commitments by Roddy Doyle depicts the power of commitment. Derek Scully and Foster commit themselves to forming a band though they know little about music. Regardless of their inexperience, they continue pursuing their dream. They sign in more members and struggle to make their dream come true. On the contrary, Rob does not seem to put work hard at

Batman versus Superman Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Batman versus Superman - Essay Example We can initiate the discussion by discussing Superman, also known as Clark Kent. The origins for this comic character can be described as one that has gone through considerable changes and ret-cons during its tenure however the basic essence of his origin remains similar – Superman comes from another planet by the name of Krypton in a rocket, the survivor of a apocalypse which effectively destroys his home; he was shipped off to a new destination – Planet Earth. It was here that he finds a new home for himself with a small caring family in Smallville; Jonathan and Martha Kent who long for a child and hence raise him as their own. There are several versions of the journey that Clark undertakes some talk about his ability to use his powers beginning from a very young age and hence leading to him transitioning to the young super hero, Superboy. However this version was discarded mainly because it brought up inconsistencies as far a Chronological time line was concerned. Cl ark Kent’s move into the city of Metropolis and his work as a reporter mark the beginning of his secret identity as Superman as he starts to form a line of defense against his foes such as Lex Luthor, Braniac, etc. The identity of Superman is a major source of conflict and debate for the numerous fans that can talk about a length on the topic. There are two main sides of the pending arguments; the first being that Superman is the real identity of the character and that Clark Kent can rightly be categorized as his alter ego; this being mainly justified due to this birth on another planet and his powers being innate rather than acquired during his life. On the other hand there is a considerable fan base that argues that Clark Kent only just so happens to be Superman; the primary bases for this argument being the fact that he was raised by Martha and Jonathon to be human and it was during a later part of his life that he realized that he had powers (Jacobs, 2011). Either way the re comes intersecting lines of agreement as far as Superman persistently kept his polite and meek ego adopt a pattern of behavior vastly divergent from that of Superman. As a superhero he was fearless and confident whereas Clark comes off as more clumsy and quiet individual. Clark reinforces his secret identity so firmly that he even fools the people who are close to him n his life. An excellent example is that of Lois Lane, Clark’s romantic interest and co-worker who despite working with him in such close proximity never comes to the realization that the Clark and Superman was the same individual. Showing just how effective his cover was and how great a transition the character undertakes when it comes to swapping a pair of glasses and redoing his hair. Superman’s brand of justice is an extension of his own personality where he prioritizes protecting and saving the lives of innocent victims who are in imminent peril over chasing down villains when a threatening situat ion, a crisis or an emergency unfolds. It is only after he is convinced that innocent lives are protected from danger and that everyone is safe that the will tackle the main peril at hand. Batman is a

How Apple will not survive after the death of Steve Jobs Research Paper

How Apple will not survive after the death of Steve Jobs - Research Paper Example His return did not only resuscitate the company but also disrupted seven industries: personal computing, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, retail stores, and digital publishing (Isaacson, 2012). Under Jobs leadership, Apple became a innovative company that introduced products in the market that rendered other product obsolete and revolutionized the industry itself. Today, Apple is the world’s leading brand due to the innovation and leadership that Steve Jobs introduced in Apple without which, Apple would be nowhere near its status as the world’s leading brand today. This success is attributed to Steve Jobs management style of structured leadership and organizational behavior that has been both criticized and lauded by its critics but nevertheless made Apple of what it is today. There are many literatures that described Steve Job’s management style. Almost everybody is unanimous in their assessment about Steve Job’s passion for product excel lence that drove Apple towards innovation. Steve Jobs is extremely engrossed not only towards the details of Apple’s products but also on how it is marketed. He is known to push people to accomplish goals and objectives more than they thought they could achieve. He also stretched the possibilities of hardware and software design that yielded revolutionary products of which we enjoy today that often drove his people nuts(time). He was known to become rude, [slave driver at times], unreasonable, fickle, arrogant and even took credit for other’s ideas (time). But despite these seeming weaknesses, Job’s leadership have undeniably drove the company from near bankruptcy to become one of the most envied companies in the world. This kind of leadership was aptly encapsulated and articulated by Geil Browning as structured in the article entitled â€Å"Why Steve Jobs' Exactitude Mattered as Much as His Vision† at it dissected why Steve Jobs was effective as leader w ith his management style. Structured leadership meant having a road map on how to get things done such as â€Å"definition of objectives, develop process and road maps, pinpoint roles and responsibilities, develop timelines and schedules, establish milestones and checkpoints, determine success metrics, and identify control mechanisms† (2013).   To be specific, this kind of management style continues to learn by doing which is why Apple was always ahead on the learning curve of smartphones and gadgets. This is supported by practicality and straightforwardness which critics have branded Steve Jobs as rude for his forthrightness in communicating. Structured leadership is also sequential such as Jobs which drove his subordinates’ nuts because he does not seem to get contented with vague ideas. In sum Steve Job’s structured leadership boils to â€Å"communicating a specific, desired outcome, providing the tools to complete the assignment, and articulating how to d o it. Then just leave your employees alone. The work will get done--on time, on budget, and with precision† (Browning, 2013) particularly the precision part of which Job was known because he was precise to the minutest details. This management style of Steve Jobs however is no longer emphasized in the present leadership of Apple. Being such, Apple is bound to fail without Steve Jobs because the leadership and organizational behavior that was instilled by Steve Jobs that drove the company to excellence and produce radical innovation is already gone. Its new CEO Tim

A Bright New Boise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A Bright New Boise - Essay Example The play’s main character is Will, a staunch believer in Christian dogma. He interprets each word in the Christian Bibles as the literal truth and, therefore, believes that there will be â€Å"rapture† and God will come to redeem His people while the non-believers will be left to suffer. The play’s title suggests that, Boise, which is the capital city of Idaho, is bound to be a renewed and better place after the rapture that Will anticipates. This title also draws one’s attention to this fundamentalist belief of a future utopia, where there will no longer be any form of suffering. The dramatist and the director of â€Å"A Bright New Boise† settled for a suitable time to show people’s yearning for a better life and shift toward religious beliefs in the event of problems. This is because; the modern American society is presently characterized by numerous difficulties, especially economically, forcing many to believe the possibility of intervent ion or redemption by a higher deity. Hunter’s play shows how people’s beliefs vary and how we all seek refuge in diverse ideas about life in order to cope with hardships and tedium of life. Discussion During the introduction of the play, one is able to learn that the title’s connection to Idaho is due to Hunter’s background as a resident of the state. This perhaps gives the dramatist adequate knowledge about beliefs of Christian fundamentalists. The play begins just as the main character, Will, is hired in a Hobby Lobby store that deals with crafts and other works of art. Will, a middle-aged man who seems soft-spoken in nature, has left his home following a scandal that implicated his fundamentalist church. He has come to the Hobby Lobby store not only to escape his past, but also to try and regain a connection with his adolescent son Alex. Will apparently gave up baby Alex to adoptive parents and wants to reconnect with him before the rapture takes place . Tom Ross includes other characters like Pauline, the store’s manager; Leroy, a worker and Alex’s brother, as well as, Anna, another worker, to build themes portrayed by the play. The play, which adopts  a comic, yet somewhat dark nature, gives insight into family, religious faith, as well as, the significance of establishing connections with others. The play is set in the break room of a Hobby Lobby store. The room is painted with dull colors, like a dull shade of blue for the door and gray for the floors, lockers and walls. The tables are white with grayish supports, while the chairs are brown with legs similar to the tables. The hard edges of the rectangular door and window further accentuate the stereotype of discomfort and unaccommodating nature of modern corporate workplaces. This stereotype is also fostered by the harsh instructions and commands unleashed by the store’s manager. Ross also manages to incorporate other features of a contemporary workplac e like employees’ lockers and a working coffee maker. Further, the employees wear blue vests and badges on their chests, to signify their affiliation to the store. These elements emphasize the mundane or routinely nature of work, in America’s blue collar job environment. The break room at the Hobby Lobby is also lit by fluorescent lights that produce a harsh and irritating light. The television in the room does not play its purpose of relaxing the employees because of its white light and equally irritating noise. On the other side of the stage is an empty highway with big streetlights. As the play progresses, the audience hears loud traffic noises characteristic of a highway during late hours of the night. These features further emphasize the uncomfortable nature of the work environment and the long hours they have to

Cloud Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cloud - Assignment Example Users will use this to interact with the cloud services. For instance, users need a browser that will enable them to access a wide variety of applications at the same time (Collins, 2014). They can access word applications, sophisticated programs, and electronic mail services. An example is the email services where the user requires a browser to access storage and software that is on the cloud host. Essentially, a cloud computing architecture comprises of a front-end and a back-end. The back-end consists of the storage and the servers. On the other end, the front end is made up fat and thin clients. In addition, there is a delivery system based on the cloud and the network. The choice to either rent a cloud computing facility or to purchase hardware is dependent on a number of constraints. First, is the population of the company against the monthly charges per terminal. The larger the organization, the individual cost will be lower but the overall cost, when projected on a long term basis, is very costly. In such a case, it is advisable to purchase hardware for the organization. When running significant database systems, it is cheaper if the organization avoided renting the facility. Making the most out of a cloud facility may be hard because they have fixed instance sizes. With your installation, it gives you the flexibility of creating dimensions of your choices (Jamsa, 2013). The experience with cloud providers is the significant acceleration of CPU speed and the memory. However, the world outside demands you have one flanking the other. Challenges coming with colocation include availability of in-house expertise. It ranges from establishing your network, acquiring equipments that may be expensive. Also, your data centers have to be up twenty-four hours seven days. The additional cost here is to have staff on call and ready to move. Otherwise, you incur extra costs hiring somebody to fix these problems. There is no option other than purchasing

How Apple will not survive after the death of Steve Jobs Research Paper

How Apple will not survive after the death of Steve Jobs - Research Paper Example His return did not only resuscitate the company but also disrupted seven industries: personal computing, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, retail stores, and digital publishing (Isaacson, 2012). Under Jobs leadership, Apple became a innovative company that introduced products in the market that rendered other product obsolete and revolutionized the industry itself. Today, Apple is the world’s leading brand due to the innovation and leadership that Steve Jobs introduced in Apple without which, Apple would be nowhere near its status as the world’s leading brand today. This success is attributed to Steve Jobs management style of structured leadership and organizational behavior that has been both criticized and lauded by its critics but nevertheless made Apple of what it is today. There are many literatures that described Steve Job’s management style. Almost everybody is unanimous in their assessment about Steve Job’s passion for product excel lence that drove Apple towards innovation. Steve Jobs is extremely engrossed not only towards the details of Apple’s products but also on how it is marketed. He is known to push people to accomplish goals and objectives more than they thought they could achieve. He also stretched the possibilities of hardware and software design that yielded revolutionary products of which we enjoy today that often drove his people nuts(time). He was known to become rude, [slave driver at times], unreasonable, fickle, arrogant and even took credit for other’s ideas (time). But despite these seeming weaknesses, Job’s leadership have undeniably drove the company from near bankruptcy to become one of the most envied companies in the world. This kind of leadership was aptly encapsulated and articulated by Geil Browning as structured in the article entitled â€Å"Why Steve Jobs' Exactitude Mattered as Much as His Vision† at it dissected why Steve Jobs was effective as leader w ith his management style. Structured leadership meant having a road map on how to get things done such as â€Å"definition of objectives, develop process and road maps, pinpoint roles and responsibilities, develop timelines and schedules, establish milestones and checkpoints, determine success metrics, and identify control mechanisms† (2013).   To be specific, this kind of management style continues to learn by doing which is why Apple was always ahead on the learning curve of smartphones and gadgets. This is supported by practicality and straightforwardness which critics have branded Steve Jobs as rude for his forthrightness in communicating. Structured leadership is also sequential such as Jobs which drove his subordinates’ nuts because he does not seem to get contented with vague ideas. In sum Steve Job’s structured leadership boils to â€Å"communicating a specific, desired outcome, providing the tools to complete the assignment, and articulating how to d o it. Then just leave your employees alone. The work will get done--on time, on budget, and with precision† (Browning, 2013) particularly the precision part of which Job was known because he was precise to the minutest details. This management style of Steve Jobs however is no longer emphasized in the present leadership of Apple. Being such, Apple is bound to fail without Steve Jobs because the leadership and organizational behavior that was instilled by Steve Jobs that drove the company to excellence and produce radical innovation is already gone. Its new CEO Tim

Cloud Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cloud - Assignment Example Users will use this to interact with the cloud services. For instance, users need a browser that will enable them to access a wide variety of applications at the same time (Collins, 2014). They can access word applications, sophisticated programs, and electronic mail services. An example is the email services where the user requires a browser to access storage and software that is on the cloud host. Essentially, a cloud computing architecture comprises of a front-end and a back-end. The back-end consists of the storage and the servers. On the other end, the front end is made up fat and thin clients. In addition, there is a delivery system based on the cloud and the network. The choice to either rent a cloud computing facility or to purchase hardware is dependent on a number of constraints. First, is the population of the company against the monthly charges per terminal. The larger the organization, the individual cost will be lower but the overall cost, when projected on a long term basis, is very costly. In such a case, it is advisable to purchase hardware for the organization. When running significant database systems, it is cheaper if the organization avoided renting the facility. Making the most out of a cloud facility may be hard because they have fixed instance sizes. With your installation, it gives you the flexibility of creating dimensions of your choices (Jamsa, 2013). The experience with cloud providers is the significant acceleration of CPU speed and the memory. However, the world outside demands you have one flanking the other. Challenges coming with colocation include availability of in-house expertise. It ranges from establishing your network, acquiring equipments that may be expensive. Also, your data centers have to be up twenty-four hours seven days. The additional cost here is to have staff on call and ready to move. Otherwise, you incur extra costs hiring somebody to fix these problems. There is no option other than purchasing

The Glass Menagerie Essay Example for Free

The Glass Menagerie Essay Throughout â€Å"The Glass Menagerie† Tennessee Williams creates an intricate dynamic between the three main characters, as well as symbols and symbolic language in order to exemplify the fragility of livelihood. Without a single one of the members of the Wingfield family the other’s lives would be dramatically different. Much as the collection of glass menagerie would not be the same collection without one of its pieces. As many collectors know the presence or absence of one item can drastically change the value of the whole collection. So also is a family unit, as one member affects the others, they form an identity they become accustomed to and often cling to. Amanda exemplifies how vital it is that a family unit stay loyal. After Mr. Wingfield disappeared her life has become a constant struggle in order to survive, a far cry from the Blue Mountain setting she idolizes in her past. Amanda symbolizes a downfall, but she also symbolizes drive for her children, encouraging Laura to blossom into something that they can both be proud of and encouraging Tom to keep his job and support his family until they can fend for themselves at least. Laura symbolizes fear and instability through the first five acts. She failed out of her class, that was a hope for a better future, because of her fear and doesn’t let herself actually try to engage in social interactions for fear that she will be inadequate in another’s eyes. Without Laura to feel sorry for and take care of Tom most likely would have left Amanda on her own in Mr. Wingfield’s footsteps a long time ago. Tom represents unrest and boredom, but he also provides the money and stability for the family to keep living in its present state. Though Tom is uneasy he still gets up in the morning and performs his duties knowing that he is a key member of their family unit, or the most valuable piece in the collection. When Tom and Amanda’s fight breaks some of the pieces of the Glass menagerie it symbolizes the breaking of a family unit, making it less valuable. As the pieces are easy to break so is the bond that holds the  family together as Mr. Wingfield showed how easy it was to separate this bond. As Tom distances himself the strength of the bond becomes less and less strong and it is only a matter of time before it breaks if it is not mended.

The Mid-Autumn Festival: History and Features

The Mid-Autumn Festival: History and Features Introduction The Mid-Autumn Festival also known as the Mooncake Festival or the Festival of Lanterns is one of the most important traditional Chinese festivals, celebrated by many Asian countries, like China, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore. This report is divided into three main sections. It will first look at the history and legends of the Mid-Autumn Festival. It will then focus on the celebration in Taiwan. Then there will be a conclusion in the last part. The information of this report is come from website such as online library, university journal, and online news. In this report I will use the information which is from online library, and university journal to explain the background as these information is more trustable. The information from online news is used to explain the celebration in Taiwan because it reflects what we do and the meaning for us nowadays. History and legends of the Mid-Autumn Festival The everyday life of ancient Chinese is closely related to nature. In thousands of natural substances, the moon was one of the most difficult things and amazing phenomena for Chinese to comprehend. (Siu, 1999) Ancient Chinese believes that the life of plants was provided by the moon since they found out that plants grew at night. (Siu, 1999) In addition people could not explain why the shape of the moon always varied therefore ancient Chinese associated the phenomena to the lives of people and animals. (Siu, 1999) The Mid-Autumn Festival is on the 15th of the 8th lunar month and the moon is at its brightest, roundest and it is the nearest to the earth on this date. In fact autumn is also the best time for harvesting and gathering all the family members together to celebrate the harvest and enjoy the view of the moon. (Tan, 2004) The festival probably started off as a post-autumn harvest celebration more than 2,000 years ago. The celebrations were devoted to giving thanks to the gods. It was during the reign of Emperor Tai Tsung of the Song Dynasty that the 15th day of the 8th moon was set as the Mid-Autumn Festival and praying to the moon became popular. Legends associated with the full moon were later attached to this festival.  (Tan, 2004) There are two legends associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival. One of them is Hou Yi and Chang-E and the other one is the rabbit on the moon. (Tan, 2004) The legend of Hou Yi and Chang-E is talking about that the earth was saved from scorching by an archer, Hou Yi who shot nine suns that originally circled the earth. (Tan, 2004) After Hou Yi saved the world he was rewarded the elixir of life so that he got the endless lifetime with the elixir, however he became so tyrannical that his wife, Chang-E stole the elixir and drank it to end Hou Yis life for the sufferers who were ruled by Hou Yi. (Tan, 2004) Chang-E found that she was on the moon after she drank the elixir and was escalated to status of Moon Goddess as she save the sufferers from Hou Yi. (Tan, 2004) This legend is believed to have been started during the Tang Dynasty (618 907 AD) although some believe it may have started earlier, tracing it to the rule of Emperor Yuan (2346 BC). (Tan, 2004) The other legend is about a rabb it and Buddha who had pretended himself as a hungry old man and asked three animals; a fox, a monkey, and a rabbit, getting some food for him. (Tan, 2004) Instead of bringing a fish or fruits, the rabbit jumped into the fire and offered itself as meat to Buddha. (Tan, 2004) The rabbit was resurrected and sent to the moon to be venerated by Buddha with appreciation. (Tan, 2004) Nowadays Chang-E and lord rabbit are traditional icons of the Mid-Autumn Festival as we can see a lot of advertisement of moon cake with these two icons which remind us these two legends. The Mid-Autumn Festival celebration in Taiwan In Taiwan, there are three biggest celebrations; the Chinese New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Mid-Autumn Festival which is also called Zhong Qiu Jie in Mandarin. (Yeo, 2012) The Mid-Autumn Festival was brought to Taiwan by the immigrants from China. (Wang, 2014) Many Western concepts that include barbecue were imported into Taiwan during the period of the Japanese colonization of Taiwan by the Japanese government. (Wang, 2014) After 1945 a lot of people moved into the city for jobs from the countryside. On the Mid-Autumn Festival barbecue becomes to be the best way for these migrants to make the new relationship between the migrants closer because barbecue is an activity that needs everyones cooperation from lighting a fire, preparing the meat, and barbecuing. (Wang, 2014) Even nowadays on the Mid-Autumn Festival, most Taiwanese will barbecue with their friends since it is easier to meet up with friends on this Taiwan-declared public holiday instead of at weekdays. (Yeo, 2 012) Besides mooncakes is also very important on the Mid-Autumn Festival. This traditional dessert is usually packed as gift boxes which contain not only mooncakes but also other pastries such asluo buo si bing (radish pastry) and gui yuan dan gao (longan cake) to up the warmth of the festival. (Yeo, 2012) Conclusion As one of the most important traditional festival in Chinese, the Mid-Autumn Festival is full of historical and cultural meaning. In addition it gives people a chance to meet up with friends and families to enjoy the beautiful view of the brightest moon and delicious barbecue and mooncakes in this busy society. The round image of the moon and its cultural meaning of reunion make us cherish the time of gathering. Even though not everyone can get together with their friends and families especially for those people who are working or studying in foreign countries, the Mid-Autumn Festival still reminds these people to send their friends and families a massage to show how they miss each other. Reference list Siu, K.W.M. (1999). Lanterns of the Mid-Autumn Festival: A Reflection of Hong Kong Cultural Change (pp. 67).Retrieved from Wiley Online Library. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.0022-3840.1999.3302_67.x/abstract Tan, B. (2004). Mooncake Festival (Zhong Qiu Jie). Retrieved from National Library Board Singapore. http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_804_2005-01-13.html Yeo, J. (2012, September 20). Traditional BBQ for Mid-Autumn Festival ? Yahoo Lifestyle. Retrieved from https://sg.style.yahoo.com/news/traditional-bbq-mid-autumn-festival-132534304.html Wang, C. (2014). The Barbecue in Moon Festival: Discussing the Social Change of Moon Festival Activities (pp.93-110). Retrieved from Chung Hsing Journal Humanities Edition. http://ir.lib.nchu.edu.tw/bitstream/11455/88022/1/85470-3.pdf

Sociological Theory: Positivistic, Interpretative, And Critical Essay

Sociological Theory: Positivistic, Interpretative, and Critical Comment on the three types of sociological theories, explain and argue, based on your library or Internet research, which type of theory is the most appropriate theory for sociology to adopt. The three general types of sociological theory are positivistic, interpretive and critical theory.In determining which theory is the most appropriate for sociology to adopt,a basic understanding of each theory's strengths and weaknesses is necessary.In defining each of these theories, it is important to determine the ontological basis orthe theory's basis for determining what is knowable; the epistemological basis or the theory's relationship between the knower and the knowable; and, finally, the methodological basis or the theory's method for gathering data and obtaining knowledge. A.POSITIVISTIC 1.Ontology. The positivistic theory is based on an ontology ofbeing a realist.The realistic slant of positivism is also known as determinism.The positivist knows that a reality is "out there" to be defined and categorized.The hard sciences from the time of Newton and Decartes have traditionally relied on the positivistic approach.The positivist hopes to be able to approximate "reality" in a detailed generalization or theory on how reality operates.The theories of a positivist generallytake the form of cause and effect laws describing the outside reality.Robert Merton defined these theorems as "clear verifiable statements of the relationships between specified variables." 2.Epistemology. Positivism relies onan objective epistemology.The observer remains distant and does not interact with the observation or experiment.Values and any other factors that might lead to bias are to be carefully removed so that the cold, monological gaze of science can be used to analyze the data.The positivist is an objectivist. 3.Methodology. The methodology of positivism is experimental and manipulative. The approach is the same as propounded in most junior high science classes:begin with a hypothesis on how "reality" works, then gather data and test the data against the hypothesis.The question propounded initially is tested against empirical data gathered in the experiment under carefully controlled conditions. B.INTERPRETIVE 1.Ontology. The interpretivist ontology is relativism.The... ...late objectivity. This is not the same as objectivism.Each has its own "norms for proceeding with a particular form of inquiry in a rational manner."However, because of the orientation of each theory, the end results will vary. Based upon these difference, critical theory does not seem to be a theory that should be adopted by sociologists.It belongs more in the realm of politics and legislation.Critical theory in that context could take advantage of scientific inquiry by both positivistic and interpretive sociologists to make determinations about social change.If indeed critical theorist are to be involved in sociological study, full disclosure of prejudices and objectives would be needed for any inquiry to be beneficial and trustworthy. Postpositivism remains the best approach for observing the exteriors of society.Coupled with the interpretivist's view of the interior culture, the two theories working hand in hand would be most beneficial for the sociologist in examining society.Utilizing a dual approach would be the most comprehensive and give the scientific inquiry both depth and span in evaluating our societies and creating a useable body of sociological research.

Women in the Middle East and Greece Essay -- Essays Papers

Women in the Middle East and Greece Historically, women were long considered naturally weaker than men, squeamish, and unable to perform work requiring muscular or intellectual development. In most pre industrial societies, for example, domestic chores were relegated to women, leaving heavier labor such as hunting and plowing to men. Women generally have had fewer legal rights and career opportunities than men as well. Wifehood and motherhood were regarded as women's most significant professions. In the twentieth century, however, women in most nations won the right to vote and increased their educational and job opportunities. Perhaps most important, they fought for and to a large degree accomplished a reevaluation of traditional views of their role in society. This reevaluation of traditional views is what created the area of focus for my learning plan while studying in the Middle East. My original idea was to investigate the steps taken by women in the Middle East and in Greece towards their independence and success as individuals and as a group. I wanted to know what types of public and private reforms initiated their freedom. I also wanted to find out if some women still lived according to their traditional history and the reasons behind that. For example, whether or not their personal beliefs, pressure from society and family, etc. . . . contributed to their traditional lifestyle. Throughout our program, I still maintained and took into consideration the general and primary focus of this learning plan. However, to my surprise, I began to touch on very country specific topics concerning the lives of women. This was because each country we visited was so different than the others, each had its own view towards wome... .... 2 Jan. 2005. . Morocco Transcript. Hopes on the Horizon: Africa in the 1990's. 1995-2005. PBS Online. 10 Oct. 2004. . Mrs. A. Saves Olympics, Challenges Patriarchy. The Associated Press. 2004. MSNBC News. 2 Jan. 2005. . Nefertiti: Queen of Dynasty XVIII. 2004. Minnesota State University, Mankato. 20 Nov. 2004. . The Woman who was King. Kings and Queens. 1997-2005. Mark Millmore's Ancient Egypt. 20 Nov. 2004. . Toprak, Binnaz. Civil Society in Turkey. Women's History in America. Women's International Center. 1994-2004. 7 Jan. 2005. .

Mandarin Oriental Hotel

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bangkok Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok is a five-star hotel in Bangkok owned in part and managed by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. Located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the original structure was the first hotel built in Thailand when it opened as The Oriental in 1879. Today, the hotel is one of two flagship properties of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and is known for service, which consistently places it among the world's best hotels Background and HistoryWhen Siam opened to foreign trade after the signing of the Bowring Treaty the sailors that manned the ships which conveyed this trade though Bangkok required accommodation on shore. To meet this demand, Captain Dyers, an American and his partner J. E. Barnes opened a hotel called the Oriental Hotel. This burnt down in 1865. Several years later a partnership of Danish captains opened a replacement hotel. In the 1970s the board of the Oriental Hotel decided with the opening of the new River Wing, upon 18 76 as the official establishment date of the Oriental Hotel.In 1881 29-year-old Hans Niels Andersen, a Danish businessman, bought the premises. His various business ventures led to him becoming a much respected member of the Western community in Siam. Andersen identified a need for a respectable hotel with good accommodation, a bar and a western menu to meet the needs of travellers and businessmen visiting to Siam. Encouraged by Prince Prisdang Jumsai, Hans Niels Andersen formed a partnership with Peter Andersen and Frederick Kinch to build a luxury hotel. Designed by Cardu & Rossi, a team of local Italian architects, the Oriental was the first luxury hotel in Siam.The hotel opened on 19 May 1887 with 40 rooms and features which at the time had never been seen in Siam outside of a royal palace: a second floor (during a time of single-storey bungalows), 1 carpeted hallways, smoking and ladies rooms, a billiards room and a bar capable of seating 50 patrons. To ensure the success of th e restaurant and a satisfactory level of service the owners lured the chef and butler away from the French Consulate to work at the hotel. The first major event that the hotel hosted was a grand banquet on 24 May 1888 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria.After personally inspecting the hotel? s facilities in December 1890, King Chulalongkorn decided the hotel was up to the standard necessary to host visiting royalty. The hotel's first royal guests were the entourage of Crown Prince Nicholas of Russia, (later Tsar Nicholas) in April 1891. A succession of owners followed until Marie Maire took over the ownership in 1910. She immediately went to work revamping the hotel. She sold it in 1932. During the Second World War the hotel was leased to the Japanese Army who used it as an officer? club (who under the management of the Imperial Hotel of Tokyo). At the end of the war it was used to house liberated Allied prisoners of war, who in the belief that it was a Japanese proper ty ransacked the building. At the end of the war a six-person partnership each contributed US$250 to buy the hotel. The partnership consisted of Germaine Krull (1897–1985), Prince Bhanu, General Chai Prateepasen, Pote Sarasin (a Thai lawyer) and John Webster and Jim Thompson, two Americans who had served in the Organization for Strategic Security (OSS) and who had stayed on in Thailand.Krull took the position of manager in 1947, despite no prior experience in the hotel field. Born in Poland, she had been best known as a photographer during the 1920s before service in the Pacific as a war correspondent for Agence France Presse. Badly run down after its wartime service, the partnership immediately began restoration and restocking of the hotel which offered to put Thompson? s an opportunity to use his architectural and artistic abilities. The hotel reopened for business on 12 June 1947.Krull turned out to be a natural hotelier and during her reign restored the hotel to it positi on as the premier hotel in Thailand. Thompson soon left the partnership over a plan to build a new wing, though he stayed on in residence at the hotel for some time. To compete with popular clubs and a new local bar called Chez Eve, Krull established the Bamboo Bar, which soon became one of the leading bars in Bangkok. 2 In 1958 the ten-storey Garden Wing was built. It featured the city? s first elevator and was home to the Le Normandie Restaurant. In 1967, fearful thatThailand would fall to the communists, Krull sold her share to Italthai which at the time was well on its way to becoming one of the country? s most significant mercantile groups eventually totally some 60 companies involved in almost all aspects of the Thai economy. Italthai had been founded in the mid-fifties by Giorgio Berlingieri, an Italian born in Genoa and Dr Chaijudh Karnasuta, a Thai. Berlingieri felt that the Oriental had begun to rest on its laurels and had dropped behind its competitors. He wanted to devel op the Oriental into one of the best hotels in the world.Too involved with his various businesses to devote time to the project, Berlingieri in November 1967 appointed 30-year-old Kurt Wachtveitl (1937– ), at that time manager of Nipa Lodge (a hotel that Italthai owned in Pattaya), as general manager of the Oriental. In 1972 the hotel acquired an adjacent property upon which it erected the 350-room River Wing. Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok The Group began with the opening of its flagship property, The Mandarin, in Hong Kong in 1963, which soon built up a reputation for luxurious service.In 1974, Mandarin International Hotels Limited was formed as a hotel management company. The Group's intention was to expand into Asia and operate hotels that would reflect the standard of service synonymous with their property in Hong Kong. In 1974 the company's hotel interests expanded further through the acquisition of a 49% interest in The Oriental, Bangkok. The Oriental, built in 1876, was already a legendary property and acknowledged as one of the world's great hotels.Through the management of both The Mandarin in Hong Kong and The Oriental, Bangkok, the Group was in an unusual position of having two â€Å"flagship† hotels whose names represented the best in hospitality. In 1985, the Company rationalized its corporate structure by combining these two renowned properties under a common name, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. 3 The hotel opened its renowned Oriental Spa in 1993 and finished a complete renovation of its rooms and suites in 2003. In 2006, The Oriental, Bangkok celebrated its 130th anniversary.In September 2008, the hotel formally changed its name from The Oriental, Bangkok to Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Asia Continent 1. Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok 2. Mandarin Oriental, Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai 3. Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong 4. The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong 5. The Excelsior, Ho ng Kong 6. Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta 7. Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumper 8. Mandarin Oriental, Macao 9. Mandarin Oriental, Manila 10. The Oriental, Singapore 11. Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo 12. Mandarin Oriental, Sanya 13. Mandarin Oriental, Lago Nam Van, Macau 14.Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou 15. Mandarin Oriental, Taipei America Continent 1. Elbow Beach, Bermuda 2. Mandarin Oriental, New York 3. Mandarin Oriental, Miami 4. Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco 5. Mandarin Oriental, Washington D. C. 6. Mandarin Oriental, Riviera Maya, Mexico 7. Mandarin Oriental, Boston 8. Mandarin Oriental, Grand Cayman 4 9. Mandarin Oriental, Chicago 10. Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas 11. Mandarin Oriental, Dallas 12. Mandarin Oriental, Dellis Cay, Turks Europe Continent 1. Mandarin Oriental, Du Rhone, Geneva 2. Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park, London 3.Mandarin Oriental, Munich 4. Mandarin Oriental, Prague, Czech 5. Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona 6. Mandarin Oriental, Jnan Rahma, Marrakech 7. Mandarin Oriental, Paris Hotel Map 5 The hotel located on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. The Hotel The hotel contains 358 rooms and 35 unique suites. The two-story Authors' Wing, the only remaining structure of the original 19th century hotel, houses suites named after Joseph Conrad, Somerset Maugham, Noel Coward and James Michener. The River Wing contains deluxe two bedroom suites named after former guests r personages associated with the hotel including Barbara Cartland, Gore Vidal, Graham Greene, Wilbur Smith, John le Carre, Jim Thompson, Norman Mailer, Thai author Kukrit Pramoj. Other suites are named after ships associated with the early Bangkok trade such as Otago (once captained by Joseph Conrad), HMS Melita, Vesatri and Natuna. 6 Accommodations Rooms All of rooms in the River Wing or Garden Wing Rooms have their own personalities. They have been designed with traditional Thai flair and luxuriously appointed for your utmost comfort.The standard of in room facilities are as follow: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Private Butler service Work desk with in-built international plugs and Internet access plugs Complimentary fax machine/printer on request 3 IDD telephones with two lines Individual thermostatic controller for air-conditioning and humidity Remote control TV with on command in-house movies Bose CD player and CD library Radio Personal mini bar refrigerator Fresh fruit and flowers daily Large in-room safe Spacious bathroom with separate bathtub and walk-in shower and double vanity Hair dryer Bathrobe and slippers Rooms Bed Size (Sqm/Sqf) View Partial Rate (USD) Superior Room King/Twin 40/428 River/Main Wing 425 Relax and take in the partial river view in the elegant surroundings of teak wood and traditional Thai silks. Thailand? s signature fabric is everywhere adding to the sense of luxury. Fresh fruit and flowers refreshed daily. A personal butler is at your service. Full River/ Main Deluxe Room King/Twin 40/428 Wing 465 Located on higher floors, our Deluxe Rooms o ffer full river views and sumptuous comfort.The elegant decor features traditional Thai elements such as genuine teak furniture, beautiful silks, and a daily delivery of fresh exotic fruits and flowers. Guests will also enjoy enhanced bathroom amenities, with a personal butler at your service. River Front/ Premier Room King/Twin 35/377 Garden Wing 495 Elements of the hotel? s long and illustrious heritage are still to be seen in these colonial-style rooms, which feature vintage chandeliers, evocative artwork and parquet flooring, all complemented by ottomans and comfortable sofas, in a mix that is satisfyingly eclectic.The floor plan changes from room to room; some are split-level, with a bedroom above and seating area below. All Premier Rooms enjoy full river views, and some feature a private conservatory. River & City/ Mandarin Room King 63/678 Main Wing 545 8 These rooms enjoy a strong flow of natural daylight, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and a balcony that partially overl ooks the river. They also have a spacious seating area, with comfortable sofas and a coffee table. Throughout, the furnishings are upholstered in Thai silk, harmoniously designed in neutral colors. 3/678 or State Room King/Twin 67/721 River / Main Wing 695 These spacious rooms are located between the 3rd and 9th floors of the River Wing and offer unobstructed river views. A teakwoodpanelled hallway leads guests into the room, which is decorated in traditional Thai style with dark teakwood furnishings and bright Thai silks. Large floor-to-ceiling windows encircle the room, which also features a balcony from which to watch the bustling river activity. There is a sitting area within the bedroom featuring a comfortable sofa and coffee table.Floor-to-ceiling windows surround a semiprivate work area, which has a large working desk and every amenity you need to conduct business in comfort. Suites The standard of in room facilities for Suites ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Private Butler service Work desk w ith in-built international plugs and Internet access plugs Complimentary fax machine/printer on request 3 IDD telephones with two lines Individual thermostatic controller for air-conditioning and humidity Remote control TV with on command in-house movies Bose CD player and CD library 9 ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Radio Personal mini bar refrigerator Fresh fruit and flowers daily Large in-room safe Spacious bathroom with separate bathtub and walk-in shower and double vanity Hair dryer Bathrobe and slippers Rooms Bed Size (Sqm/Sqf) View River / Rate (USD) Executive Suite King 55/592 Main Wing 675 Located in the River Wing, these elegant and spacious one-bedroom suites are flooded with natural daylight and offer impressive river views; the perfect setting in which to relax and unwind. Approximately 55 square metres/592 square feet. River / Family Two-Bedroom Suites King & 2 Twins 95/1,022 Main Wing 800These elegant and spacious suites are ideal for families who will appreciate the extra space and ame nities. There? s a separate sitting area for family gatherings as well as a desk, which complements the exotic finery on display in the traditional Thai style decor of dark teak and silk furnishings. Light floods in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, ideal for admiring the beautiful river view. River / Authors Suites King/Twin 99/985 Main Wing 1,000 10 Located in the River Wing, these individually designed and decorated suites re tributes to some of the great literary figures that have stayed with us over the years. In their names, decor and ambience, they each reflect accents of the author? s personality. All feature floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic river views, a balcony, spacious sitting room, a large bathroom with separate bathtub and walk-in shower as well as a powder room off the living room; many also have a walk-in closet. Fresh flowers and fruit are delivered to your suite daily with the services of your own personal butler. River / Deluxe 2-Bedroom Theme Suit es King & 2 Twins 125/1344 Main Wing 1,500The lavish two-bedroom suites feature many rich decorative details, including brass-inlaid teak furniture and soft furnishings that are upholstered in sumptuous Thai silk. Immaculate parquet floors and hand-woven Persian carpets further accentuate these lavish suites. Located on the 16th floor of the River Wing, these suites offer spectacular views of the River of Kings and the City of Angels. Garden / Joseph Conrad Suite King 100/1070 Original Wing 1,500 A giant among authors, Joseph Conrad wrote novels considered by many to be the greatest in the English language. It? only fitting then that our Joseph Conrad Suite should be a remarkable space filled with special details. The suite is the only one in our Authors Wing with its own open terrace, which is attached to the spacious living room and 11 overlooks our lush gardens and the river. The gently sophisticated decor, including carefully selected furnishings and objects d? art, is the perfe ct sanctuary from bustling Bangkok where you? re every need is attended to by your personal butler. Garden / Heritage Authors Suites Queen 100/1070 Original Wing 1,300 Located in the hotel? s original Authors' Wing, the magnificent HeritageAuthors' Suites celebrate three of the great writers who have stayed here. Reflecting the colonial character of the original site of the hotel, each of the three suites – Somerset Maugham, Noel Coward and James Michener – feature spacious bedrooms and lounge areas as well as Victorian-style marble bathrooms. The three suites are individually designed to reflect the Author? s distinct personality. Fresh flowers and fruit are delivered daily by your personal butler ready to anticipate and attend to your every need. Garden / Original Adisorn Lodge Heritage Suites Queen 100/1070 Wing 800 Located in the hotel? original Authors Wing, The Adisorn Lodge celebrates the life and times of our former Chairman. Rich colours and high ceilings, as well as a charming Victorian-style bathroom make this a very unique and historic suite. Fresh flowers and fruit are delivered to your suite daily with the services of your own personal butler. Top Floor Main Siam Suites Twin 130/1398 Wing 3,000 12 Inspired by the beauty of Northern Thailand, the two-bedroom suite features rich furnishings in Thai silk, with the living and dining areas panelled in teak to match the luxurious flooring. Main Wing Selandia Suites King 185/1989 3,000A beautiful suite that evokes the glamour of life aboard the legendary ship The Selandia, with teak floors and walls, ivory cotton draperies and brass-cornered tables, classically but richly decorated. Top Floor Main Royal Oriental Suites King 295/3157 Wing 4,500 The timeless Royal Oriental suite, renowned for its beautiful decor and impressive artworks, has served as the home away from home of royalty, world leaders, and countless celebrities. Facilities The Oriental Spa The multi-award winning Oriental Spa is the ultimate temple of well-being for many guests and VIPs including European royalty, Hollywood legends and political stars.Visit the Oriental Spa and experience the ultimate rejuvenation of body, mind and soul. 13 The Ayurvedic Penthouse India? s 5000 year-old science of wholesome living, Ayurveda touches every aspect of life: physical, mental, social and spiritual. Ayurvedic Treatments are usually recommended as a course of three days but guests will find individual treatments beneficial and with equally long lasting effects. Yoga Session The Oriental Spa offers an extensive range of Yoga sessions conducted by yogic expert Neelam Khatri. The Oriental? Yoga programmes run the gamut from lively group sessions to one- on-one private sessions, each created to suit the specific needs and convenience of guests and yoga lovers. Health Center The Health Centre has recently been expanded to provide the utmost in luxury for sports and health enthusiasts alike, in a tranquil environment. The renovation includes stateof-the-art equipment. Pro 14 The Oriental Thai Cooking School The Oriental Thai Cooking School operates every Monday to Saturday from 9am-12:30pm with a renowned curriculum that teaches the secrets of purely authentic Thai food.Learn everything from basic ingredients to local techniques from our highly regarded instructors who are not only talented experts in Thai cuisine, they are also all-time favorites with our guests. â€Å"Sanook† Oriental Kid? s Club Open for children from the ages 3 to 14 years old the â€Å"Sanook† Oriental Kid? s Club keeps our youngest guests entertained throughout their holidays with an action-packed program featuring an endless variety of outdoor activities, arts and crafts projects, and games that are fun, educational and culturally enriching.All are under the supervision of our Kid? s Coordinators. The Oriental Boutique We are delighted to introduce the opening of The Oriental Boutique, which carries a full r ange of hotel amenities and gifts that make the perfect souvenirs to take home to loved ones. The Oriental Boutique also offers exclusive products such as Oriental Polo shirts, Oriental stuffed animals, the exquisite cutlery and tableware used at the newly renovated China House, our famed cotton and silk bathrobes, and many other items unique to Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. 5 Sports Tennis Day or night, you can practice your backhand on our two outdoor tennis courts. And don? t worry, if you forgot your racquet, we? ll happily provide one for you to use. Squash Our fitness centre also has one squash court available for rent. The rental fee of THB 700++ includes equipment. Jogging The Oriental Health Centre has an outdoor jogging track that runs right along the tennis courts, perfect for an early morning or evening run. Guests can also use the jogging map that we provide for a jaunt that goes further afield.Swimming Perhaps nothing is more enticing after an excursion into the city hea t than a dip in a pool. At the Oriental Health Club the prospect is doubly irresistible. Those who just want to bask in the sun and relax will love our new wading pool, which is surrounded by cabanas. Our newly upgraded big pool finished in rich mosaics and natural stones as well as new lighting enhancements, 25 metres long and is ideal for swimming laps. Both pools are open daily from 6am to 8pm.Thai Boxing Muay Thai, as Thai boxing is known here, is growing in popularity around the world and is considered an especially tough martial art. Boxers can use almost any part of their bodies in the contest, which can be quick and brutal. The main venue for matches is Lumpini Stadium. Fights are every Tuesday and Friday 6:30pm to11pm 16 and Saturdays 5pm-8pm and 8:30pm to midnight. Prices range from THB 220-800. Private Thai Boxing lessons can also be arranged with at least one-day prior notice via our concierge. Prices are approximately THB 5,400 for 2 hours.Restaurants and Entertainments There are nine venues to choose from, offering a wide range of international cuisine. Le Normandie Considered by many to be the finest French dining experience in Asia. Patrons choose from a set menu or full French a la carte. Lord Jim's This quintessential seafood restaurant offers a very popular international lunch time buffet and an a la carte dinner. Sala Rim Naam Sala Rim Naam serves a buffet lunch and set Thai dinner with traditional dance show, while the Terrace Rim Naam offers a la carte Thai dining by the River. 17The China House Inspired by the vibrant 1930's Shanghai Art Deco period featuring authentic Cantonese flavors with contemporary variations in presentation. Riverside Terrace The dinner buffet served here has an amazing selection of grilled seafood and meat plus the best Europe, the Middle East and Asia has to offer. The Verandah This casually elegant restaurant offers international all-day a la carte dining with a huge selection of freshly baked cakes. It's also the place for breakfast. 18 Ciao Dine under the stars at this riverside venue, which serves the city? finest pizza from our wood -fired oven and the very best Italian ice creams. Authors' Lounge On the ground floor of the Authors' Wing, this lounge has old colonial charm, with its white rattan furniture and English afternoon tea. The Bamboo Bar Known as the best live jazz spot in town, Bamboo Bar serves an extensive menu of cocktails and drinks in a relaxing, jungle-like ambience. 19 L’Espace by Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok This all-day international dining venue is the perfect way to relax and recuperate in the midst of your shopping day. Siam Paragon? most stylish contemporary cafe epitomises both the elegance and the culinary excellence of the legendary Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. Set amid cream marble water gardens, L? Espace by Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok has an all-day menu that caters to every whim, offering everything from crisp salads or sandwiches, to home-made pastas, soups, noodles and tacos. Sip on refreshing cocktails or savour some of the splendid desserts, including delectable pastries, puddings and our unforgettable New York vanilla cheesecake. 20 Services Conference and Banqueting Rooms The Royal Ballroom This is both a grand and entirely versatile space.You can enjoy its historic appearance, with high ceiling, extravagant chandelier and river life murals, alternatively it can be transformed into the most contemporary scene to reflect your event theme.. The ballroom can be set up as one large space or reconfigured into three smaller rooms (Chao Phra Ya room , Ta Jeen room and Maeklong room) to create a „journey? for delegates to travel through, or simply separated for break out rooms. 21 The Embassy Room – Designed and appointed in the same opulent style as the Ballroom, this is the smaller sized option – but with the same luxurious ambience.Executive Boardroom – Situated within the business centre; our boardroo m has plenty of daylight, with windows overlooking the main entrance. The Regency Room – Recently restored to their former elegance with hand-woven Thai silk panels in a turn-of-the-century French pattern and full length mirrors at either end. The set up is a residential living room, with comfortable sofas; however it can be re arranged for cocktails or a private dinner. French windows open on to the cool Authors? Terrace. The Author’s Lounge – A sophisticated atmosphere in a summery, colonial setting – perfect for informal meetings.It is located in the Author? s Wing, within the hotel? s original site, and is named in tribute to the many famous writers who have stepped through the doors of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok over the years, from Joseph Conrad and Somerset Maugham to Noel Coward and James Michener. Recently renovated to its former glory, delicate, whitewashed rattan furniture with handpainted upholstery and Siamese umbrellas now grace the lounge, amid towering bamboo and palm trees. It? s the perfect place for a relaxed event, romantic wedding reception or cocktail party for 150-200 guests. 2 Business Center Opening hours are from 7:30am-11pm Monday to Friday, and 8am–10pm on Weekends and National Holidays. We have four work stations available for delegates use; three PCs and one Mac. Each station is equipped with a laser printer and web camera, access points for electric data and high speed internet sockets for guests who would like to use their own laptops. There are two boardrooms, one larger for up to 18 delegates, a light space overlooking the hotel entrance and another smaller boardroom for six delegates. ? ? ? ?Secretarial services Translation, both written and simultaneous Video conferencing equipment Butler service is available with a simple press button Thai Culture Programs Whether for business or purely for your own enjoyment, there? s not a more perfect setting to learn about the intricacies of Thai cultu re than Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok and in one of our highly acclaimed courses. You? ll be following in the footsteps of the many 23 diplomats and journalists who have attended them to enhance their knowledge of our vibrant and fascinating culture.Enrich your joy and understanding of the Kingdom of Thailand during your stay at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. There? s nowhere in the world like Thailand. As the only country in Southeast Asia never to be colonized, its deep cultural roots are fascinating, yet often mysterious to many visitors. That? s why we created our comprehensive cultural programme, enlisting renowned professors and scholars from leading universities. For more than fifteen years, their afternoon lectures, daily from Monday to Friday, have unlocked the mysteries of the Kingdom for thousands of our guests.Guests have included many diplomats, journalists and travel writers, who take pleasure in understanding more about Thai culture. Programmes Thai Ways Monday 2pm-4pm, Klo ng Tour 3:20pm (Minimum 3 persons). Thai Beliefs Tuesday 2pm-4pm (Minimum 3 persons). Thai Dance and Music Wednesday 1pm-3pm (Minimum 5 persons). Contemporary Thai Culture Thursday 1pm-3pm (Minimum 5 persons). Thai Art and Architecture Friday 2pm-4pm (Minimum 5 persons). Thai Culture Programme Classes are THB 4,000 per person per class. 24 Children’s Day Care CentreOffering many facilities and supervised fun-filled to keep young guest from newlyborn babies to 8 years old, occupied and amused while their parents spend the extra time by themselves whether it is for a relaxing spa treatment or romantic dinner. Open daily from 3 p. m. to 11 p. m. The Oriental Shop at the shopping centers The oriental shops are famous for their tempting array of freshly baked breads and pantries, home-made chocolates, smoked meats, aromatic cheese and wonderful selection of salads, sandwiches, ice-creams and the ground blended coffee.The shops open daily at Emporium, Central Chidlom and Siam Parag on. Limousine Service Mandarin Oriental? s limousine are available 24 hours for either a short trip in the city or longer journey. The qualified and experienced chauffeurs are English speaking and all vehicles are fully ensured by the BMW series 7. 25 References www. mandarinoriental. com/bangkok/ Banqueting Department, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bangkok Training Department, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bangkok 26

Critical Reflection

Reflection is one of the most important parts of any forms of learning, and is a great tool to be used to allow for greater learning. Reflection whether being a student at primary school, a university student or a member of the workforce has an effect on constructing knowledge about a person and the world around them. It is a vital part of any learning experience and will form the backbone in the transformation from study to application in a field. Reflection can be defined as ‘taking a look back’ on experiences in most contexts, and looking back at the experience analysing and learning from it so therefore ‘constructing the knowledge’ and making the person more knowledgeable and informed. Critical Reflection is â€Å"the process of analysing, reconsidering and questioning experiences within a broad context of issues (e. g. , issues related to social justice, curriculum development, learning theories, politics, culture, or use of technology). [(Wertenbroch & Nabeth, 2000)] People learn by engaging in experiences that allow them utilise their senses and interact with a subject matter. In addition to this interaction, reflection allows for one to link a recent experience with an interrelated mental experience which allows for the development of ‘higher order thinking skills’. [Dewey (1933)] Many philosophers consider Dewey the contemporary inventor of reflection, as most of his ideas stem f rom those of many famous philosophers from the likes of Aristotle, Confucius and Plato.  Read also Critical appreciation of the poem â€Å"Old Ladies’ Home†. Critical Reflection In an article by Jack Mezirow (‘How Critical Reflection triggers Transformative Learning’) he states that â€Å"Critical reflection involves a critique of the presuppositions on which our beliefs have been built. Learning may be defined as ‘the process of making a new or revised interpretation of the meaning of an experience, which guides subsequent understanding, appreciation and action’. He implies by this statement that not just having an experience will somebody just learn from that but also reflecting on the experience and appreciating and understanding the experience in order to reap the full benefits of learning it. (Murray, Kujundzic, 2005) define four activities that are central to critical reflection. These are oâ€Å"Assumption analysis† – This is step number one and involves a person to think in such a way that it challenges how they perceive certain cultural and social values and practices in order to see here impact on their daily lives oâ€Å"Contextual awareness† – Which highlights the social and personal significance of historic and cultural contexts. oâ€Å"Imaginative speculation† – Thinking of other ways to go about usual practices to challenge the current ways of knowledge. oâ€Å"Reflective scepticism† – The interaction of all of the three above mentioned activities, and the ability to think about the subject at hand in order to determine an action or viability of a matter.