7 Dimension

7 Dimensions of Religion The religion that I’ve picked is Taoism and I’m going to talk about 7 dimensions of Taoism. Practical and Ritual Dimension In Taoism, the practical will held on every month 1st and 15th (Chinese calendar). According to the traditional every family shall wake up early morning and pray to the god by using incense stick and candle. They can bless their wish to the god when they are praying. Normally the practices will use fruits as their oblation.The practices will take 1 hour or 2 hours but the prayers can leave after they had pray to the god, just waiting for their oblation to make sure that had received by the god. In Taoism the ritual will happens on some important days like Chinese New Year, Qing Ming and Hungry Ghost festival. The ritual for this three festivals have some similar part, first of all, food may be set out as an  oblation or sacrifice to the spirits of the deceased or the gods.Example like Chinese New Year, the food is sacrific e to the god and Qing Ming the food will be sacrifice to our ancestor and Hungry ghost festival is definitely to the ghost and also our ancestor that out from the hell. In this festivals, another type of sacrifice involves the burning of Joss paper and Hell Bank Notes, on the assumption that images thus consumed by the fire will reappear, not as a mere image, but as the actual item in the spirit world, making them available for revered ancestors and departed loved ones.Experiential and Emotional Dimension Experiential and Emotional Dimension When a Taoism prays they will bless and say their wish to the god, and at last they will ask the god by two ways, one is toss two coin and if the coins show tail and head it mean the god received your wish and mostly will come true and 2nd way is by shaking the tube fill in will many bamboo sticks and on the every bamboo have 1 special meaning word, it will represents the prophecy, the 1st stick drop out is your prophecy. Narrative or Mythic Dim ensionThe Hungry Ghost Festival of Chinese Taoism is also the Ullambana Festival of Buddhism. Commonly called â€Å"Ghost Festival† or â€Å"Mid-July Festival†, it falls on the fifteenth of every lunar July. There is a mythic that people believe lunar July is a month that all the ghosts will come out from the hell, something like Western culture's Halloween. It is believed that the gates of hell are open, releasing hungry ghosts to the earth to search for food and see their family. So people light up lanterns on roadsides or put lanterns in the river and provide shoes for the convenience of the ghosts.And they pray for their ancestors to bless later generations. Doctrinal and Philosophical Dimension Spiritual, one of the important term in Taoism. â€Å"Taoists believe that human is a microcosm for the universe. The body ties directly into the Chinese five elements. The five organs correlate with the five elements, the five directions and the seasons. Like the Hermetic maxim of â€Å"as above, so below†, Taoism posits that human beings may gain knowledge of the universe by understanding himself.In Taoism, various rituals, exercises, and substances are said to positively affect one's physical and mental health. They are also intended to align one’s spiritually with cosmic forces, or enable ecstatic spiritual journeys. These concepts are basic to Taoism in its elite forms. Internal alchemy and various spiritual practices are used by some Taoists to improve health and extend life, theoretically even to the point of physical immortality. † (Taoism,Doctrinal and Philosophical , n. a, n. d)Ethical and Legal Dimension Taoists believes that man after death will go to hell to receive the punishment for your sins. So that, what you did now will affect your next life. So Taoists is encourage doing charity and helps the people that needed to payback what the sins you have did before. Social and Institutional Dimension During the festival, Taoist will go to temple to pray and get bless from the god, example like, the God Birth. Taoist will buy fruit and joss paper as the oblation. Material DimensionTaoism’s temple most of all will build with many sculpture, example like Dragon and Kylin (Mythical Chinese animal) know as by Chinese unicorn. In front of the temple, there is a censer placed there for people to pierce the incense stick after they pray to the god. Inside the temple, the god statue will placed at the center of the temple. Different temple will place different kind of god statue depend which god’s temple is that. Reference: Taoism Doctrinal and Philosophical, (n. a,n. d) Retrieved on 6/9/2012 from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Taoism

Rene Descartes six meditations Distinction of Self from the Body Essay

Rene Descartes was a French Mathematician and a modern Philosopher who developed an original philosophy based on sciences aimed at being stable and likely to last. His method was based upon premises of senses, reason, doubt and belief. Like most philosophers his quest was for Truth and knowledge. However the nature of Truth and knowledge remains debatable among philosophers to this day. It is worth noting that a contemporary modern philosopher said at the beginning of the 21st century, the beginning of ‘ Information Age ‘ , â€Å" Study of philosophy is now reduced to the study of language. We are distinct from our bodies ! Since the advent of human civilization many men have preoccupied themselves with philosophical thoughts of the distinction of self from the body. These metaphysical ideas , sometimes ontological, lie on the borderline of religious theology and philosophy. With discoveries in the field of physical sciences like Einstein’s ‘ Relativity ‘ the human conception of space, matter, time and forces has become clearer. This has further fuelled interest in the field of philosophical investigation of the relationships between mind, matter and the supernatural. This activity is a commonplace past time of the educated and curious. The scientific and methodological study of any branch of knowledge involves the formulation of – Thesis, Hypothesis and Anti – Thesis. Every Thesis has an Anti–Thesis. Is the self distinct from the body ? The senses are deceptive! What we see is spurious. Our memory deceives us. Hence a Truth that can be established is that nothing is certain. Hence it can be assumed for the time being that our senses and bodies are not true. We are probably distinct from our bodies. Rationality is questionable ! Man is known as a ‘ rational animal’. But the idea of rationality and the distinction between a man and an animal are debatable. Man certainly has to face an obvious ‘ identity crisis’ if material knowledge is to be trusted. The idea of a soul distinguishes self from the body ! All phenomena can’t be explained by sense-perception, thinking and physical bodies. They have to be attributed to a super-natural phenomena , ‘ the soul’. If the self is to be distinct from the body it could be in the form of the soul. The power of self-movement, sensation and thought as according to the judgment of Rene Descartes are foreign to the nature of body. These conclusions are based on Descartes philosophical experiments with himself using the faculty of his mind. He uses his mind to probe the co-relation between subjectivity, objectivity and their distinctness from body. This method has been Descartes most powerful tool and which makes him unique in the family of modern philosophers. The awakening during sleep is an experiment. Descartes argues that when asleep he has perceived through senses many things he can’t perceive through senses while awake. These are once again Descartes experiments with himself. Descartes is careful nough to recollect his thoughts and experiences for the object of philosophical study. ‘Thinking’ is separate from ‘being’. Descartes uses his imagination to conclude that he might exist separate from his body as a source of ‘thinking’. In his legendary famous statement he once declared , â€Å" I think therefore I am. â€Å" Human mind and judgment are prone to error . Hence the truth has to be away from the Human mind and body. Descartes reached a conclusion that there does exist a God. God is perfect in his judgment because his mind is infinite. This is obviously not true with human beings. Hence their judgment is subject to errors and faults. There is also a philosophical method of reaching the Truth by elimination of errors. Considering the belief that their does exist a Universal Truth away from the limitations of the human body it is reasonable concluding that we are distinct from our bodies. The existence of God is an irrefutable evidence ! Thesis that there does exist a God strengthens the concept of distinction of self from the body. It would be contradictory associating God to a body; God, Descartes assumed is infinite. Also, the idea of life after death in the form of soul which is the belief of literally every religious heology strengthens the belief that we are distinct from our body. Rene Descartes experimented with the mind ! Descartes claims in ‘ The Fourth Meditation’ that he has trained his mind to separate from his senses and dwell only in the intellect. The result were observations and conclusions that he was totally separate from matter. Descartes uses his ability at philosophical meditations, the popular method of study and research by a philosopher. The Human Will Descartes concludes extends beyond the bodies. With the human will, many philosophers believe it is possible to meditate and separate the consciousness rom the body. Modern Science refutes distinction of body from mind thesis. Descartes himself was once a scientist before he took to philosophical pursuits. A scientist, for example a Doctor would immediately rubbish the claims of the separation of self from the body citing encyclopedias of scientific evidence. Carl Jung’s Experiment nulls the idea of a soul. This famous Psychologist conducted an experiment and concluded that there is no soul ! The distinction between self and body is not recognized by modern psychology books. Philosophical methods might be fallacious. Philosophers employ methods based n speculations and subjectivity. These might be inaccurate and also subject to a difference of opinion even amongst philosophers. Whereas science is based on empirical experiments which no one can challenge once accepted and established. There is a self – concept in the science of Psychology. The self concept has an aura of mysticism associated with it. No one can see, feel or touch the self concept. It is reduced to ‘I’ and ‘me ‘ from the common sense point of view by nearly all domains of knowledge. Popularly the psychologists associate the self concept , the I – Self, with the ndividual and his states of mind – Conscious, subconscious and the unconscious. Body- Ego concept can be an evidence of self and body singularity. The genesis of mental structure advocated by Hartmann, Kris and Loewenstein advocate an ego state known as the Body Ego. They suggest with impressive arguments that the ego and the id should be conceived the result of an undifferentiated state. Conclusion : The embodied self – concept generates a tension. The stream of consciousness can be believed to be located within the boundaries of a creature. The self ( its memories, eliefs and traits ) might not located within the boundaries of the creature. Our intuition equates ourselves with our consciousness. A point to be noted is that there is a dualism not only between mind and body but also between consciousness and mind ! The ancient scholarly philosophical debate ‘ Self is distinct from the body ’ is a challenging interdisciplinary study. However, the philosophy student is best equipped to handle it. The debate seems to have no end. That is what makes a debate an interesting academic field of study. Philosophers and philosophy students have to be cautious that in their xuberance they do not unwittingly clash with scientific evidence or infringe with cherished religious and theological beliefs. The society punished Galileo because he was ahead in time than the people. The times have changed remarkably. These days society is more tolerant to new ideas. Even blasphemy against Jesus doesn’t shock the West anymore. Recent headlines of a popular newspaper says that the church has forgiven Beatles for claiming they were more popular than Jesus. Philosophers and philosophy students can play a timely role in all ages. The clear message is that they need not ostracize themselves from the society.

What I will accomplish in This Course

In this semester I would like to improve and develop my English writing and reading skills thru English 122. English 122 is not only just a requirement for transferring to four-year institution, but also a benefit for my whole life. My ultimate goal is going to medical school in order to become a doctor in the United States, I believe what I am learning in English 122 will make a significant contribution to my career Writing is not just simply communicating ideas or expressing thoughts on paper; writing skill is essential because a person’s intelligence and personality can be seen and judged thru the paper he or she writes. Most importantly, good writing skill is essential to job interview. It is not avoidable that all the occupations need good writing to connect to employers and clients. If there is any misunderstanding between either clients or employers due to poor writing, it’s possible to loose jobs or contracts. As an international student, I never took neither English 116 nor English 118 during any semester in order to take English 122. In fact, the high school I graduated from had already prepared me to be eligible to take college level English class. One of the best parts of what I had learned in US high school is acknowledging grammar structure. When every time I take a look on my paper over and over, I can always tell where my grammar errors are and make corrections. For me personally, grammar is just made of a series of rules that I can easily memorize and go easy on it. On the other hand, I clearly feel myself lack of words through my essays, even though I am able to interpret things in simple ways. However, there is a big difference between college and high school writing and I believe that college level writing requires more sophisticated process and technique. If my essay is lack of words, specifically vocabulary and transition, the whole paper may not be interpreted that well. Another weakness I am very concerning is that I am not good at reasoning, a good paper must need to persuade readers to totally agree with my point of view. And I know my own explanation is not good enough to support my ideas. Applying to writing skills to real life, for instance, to medical school, neither scientific journals nor lab report can be presented verbally, both types of document must be written in sophisticate language. To let my professors and readers easily understand what I am trying to interpret, I definitely need a strong writing structure built up. And college level writing will build me the fundamental part in order to prepare for further education even job applications. Although I am in science major, I don’t want to think nor write as a scientist. Everything is not always static, so is the language. There might be a certain discipline in my paper but what I really want to learn from Mr. Leal is to think more critically, not simply just analyzing ideas of article, but also be able to stand on the other side to question the author.

Case study (Cost Analysis) Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

(Cost Analysis) - Case Study Example It is essential for the Chief financial officer to develop a budget that retain and influence doctors input. Managing the physicians could be adequately done by proper management of time so that those who may seek to make more money do not do it at the expense of BCH. As a CFO, the management can be effected by converting hospital staff’s net paid days worked to a factor. BCH CFO Office is open and staffed seven days a week, per as a work agreement with a well managed care plans. The office manager prepares a worksheet, which displays 9 holidays, 15 vacation days, 7 sick days, and 3 education days, equaling thirty four paid days per year not worked. The physicians’ cluster allows 5 sick days, 8 holidays, and 1 education day. A physician must work one full year to receive 5 vacation days. An employee ought to have worked full time for 3 full years before getting 10 annual holiday days. This is a cost effective approach that can be implemented to allow physicians get comm itted (Nowicki, 2008). As a CFO, the iron triangle of health care must be implemented to cater for the physicians, patients and organization. Health policy analysts normally refer to an iron triangle of healthiness. The three edges of the triangle are the quality, cost, and accessibility of care. This means that, in equilibrium, improving the performance of the health care organization along any one of these perspective can compromise one or both of the other aspects, regardless of the quantity that is spent on health care (Zelman, McCue, & Glick, 2009). Such tradeoffs are not frequently required, of course. For instance, tying payments to physicians to the quality of services offered could improve providers’ enticement to contain costs and progress quality. As a CFO, cost effective programs implementation is essential. Dealing with hospitalist issues Hospitalist is the term applied for physicians who are specialized in the care of sick clients in the hospital. This movement was started about ten years ago and has transformed due to many factors. These factors include; convenience, cost-effectiveness for hospitals, financial strains on primary care doctors, efficiency, patient safety, and need for more dedicated and synchronized care for hospitalized patients. As a CFO, funds must be budgeted to enable implementation of the hospitalist. Financial costs Cost accounting system; Bobcat Community Hospital has a strong billing and collection constituents but a weak cost accounting coordination. Financial incentives have always maximized on reimbursement but not in controlling costs (Brent, 2003). The cost of implementing this would not change the 2010 budgetary

Economics assignment (short answer questions) Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Economics (short answer questions) - Assignment Example This is because many workers are unwilling to take pay cuts hence inflation helps to reduce the purchasing power of their paychecks. In the ‘Deck the Halls with Macro Follies’ video, two main ideas or arguments in relation to the growth of the economy are presented. First, it is argued that spending does not help grow the economy. Contrary to what many believe, excessive consumption does not contribute towards economic recovery. Secondly, in order for meaningful and sustained growth to be realized, there is need to delay consumption today and concentrate on saving. This will help increase production which helps the economy to grow since growth is facilitated by supply. Too much spending is not good for the economy. In his book End this Depression now, Krugman argues that Europe’s ‘Big Delusion’ is the belief that the economic crisis in Europe was as a result of fiscal irresponsibility. It is the belief that countries operated on budget deficits and this go them into debt. As a result, the approach to dealing with the crisis has more or less been a moral one where countries are believed to have sinned. Focus has been on this big delusion and little attention has been given to other evidence. The V Sauce video ‘How Much Money is there on Earth’ highlights a number of ideas related to money and world currencies. Two major things were learnt from the video. First, there is a lot of money kept by individuals as loose change. This money, if collected, can be put to good use. For example the loose change in America is estimated to be 15B dollars. In addition, I have learnt about the definitions of money on the planet: M0, M1, M2 and M3. Secondly, I have learnt about the Tinkerbell effect. This is the belief that money is valuable, and this helps to attach meaning and value to FIAT money. The main objective of advertising is to sell. It helps to communicate information aimed at persuading consumers to buy. Companies decide to place an ad in the

Are there innate differences between women and men Research Paper

Are there innate differences between women and men - Research Paper Example Some of the areas that many people have posited men to be smatter than women include the field of science and mathematics and physical mightiness. However, feminists tend to disagree with such deliberations, citing that men and women are equal by nature, and that the only differences are as a result of how the society deals with women differently from men. The rationale for the differences While researching on the root cause of the differences between men and women, studies have attributed the differences to the fact that men’s brains are built differently from women brains. Men’s left and right brain hemispheres are linked by less neurons than are women’s. In addition, women brains are networked while me’s brains are compartmentalized (Greene, 2008). Studies have shown that men are aggressive, women are passive, in regard to personality, even if they are both intelligent. However, in many societies, men dominate especially in many areas of leadership posi tions. Studies have also documented that, for example, at an average age of six years, boys have about 7 percent more vital energy than girls of the same age. In fact, as they grow, at an age of 13 or 14, boys have 35 % more than girls. Biologically, the main male hormone is testosterone, while that of female ones is an estrogen and progesterone (Jacklin & Maccoby1987). In light with this, it is widely contented that as boys continue to grow, they start taking the personality of physique of a man while girls increase traits of a woman. In another dimension, some cultural theorists believe that the differences seen between men and women are as a result of socialization, not biological. In their argument, women are conditioned to meet men’s conditioned thus they tend to accept a patriarchal structure (Fritz, 2004). Although feminist theorists tend to be united in their view of gender differences, they argue that this should not be equated with women inferiority. Behavior, which is considered to be dysfunctional by the society, is a reflection of less privileged minorities, such as women. The environment Many feminist theories are person-in-environment oriented. The major point of focus is on interaction between personal traits and surrounding. In fact, this is what is taken to mean that politically, these differences exist between men and women are. This is attributed to the interrelationship between different events on private and public sectors. In light with this, some feminists believe that the future can witness a genderless society because it is apparent that the traits labeled to be masculine and feminine are as a result of social construct, which is a custom that is derived right from childhood as children grow (Carroll, 2010). For example, little girls are introduced to cuddly dolls and gossip while little boys are encouraged to play with other boys mostly on games that signify on superiority and leadership traits. In addition, however, differenc es noted as being contributed to human biology are responsible for the inequality between men and women, which are exhibited in all societies (Riley & Clausen, 1972). A further example is that men, in almost all cultures are take part in warfare, which is an indication that they possess biologically based traits of aggression than women. However, not all researchers agree with such arguments. According to Shaffer (2009), some believe that the level of aggressiveness varies widely between

Arranging Morning Tea Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Arranging Morning Tea - Research Paper Example I would like to serve at least two types of fruit juices (ten from each) to meet with the different likes and dislikes of the visitors. If caterer A is selected to provide mango and apple juices for 20 persons the cost will be USD 110 (10x6 + 10x5). If caterer B is selected to provide apple and lime juices for 20 persons (considering 200 ml as the serving size) the cost will be USD 80 (20x2 + 4x10). Cater A is a long established outlet which is well-known for the quality of its foods. Many people including our own staff members had dined there and are impressed by the quality, appearance, and taste of the foods and hygienic practices. Even though it is the most distanced place to our complex from the two outlets, they usually transport foods to the required venue free of charge and on time. Caterer B is new to the area and little is known about the quality of their foods. It is comparatively a small place and hygienic practices are not prominent. Although the prices are cheaper caterer B provides artificially flavored apple juice which may not be the best option to impress our valuable guest. Irrespective of the 1-2 dollar increase in the price, fresh juices are desirable to treat such important first-time visitors. Moreover provided prices (by caterer A) are very reasonable for this types of good quality fruit juices. Further caterer B provides juices in bottles and non-potable cups whereas caterer A provides juices in portable plastics cups. It is convenience for us to have in cups since we do not need to arrange them (pour them into cups) before serving. Also, visitors can watch the complex while sipping the juice.

Should Abortion Be Legalized Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Should Abortion Be Legalized - Research Paper Example Though abortion had been a vehemently disputed issue, and authorities stated it as crime, the same has obtained the legal status during the second half of the twentieth century. Since abortion is completely the personal matter for women, which not only relieves unnecessary domestic, financial and social burden from the very back of women but also leaves positive impact on their health and fitness, it must have legal status in every country of the globe, and mothers should have the right to decide about the fate of their unborn children without any interference from statute of law or social norms and cultural values prevailing in their social establishment. There was a time when abortion was criticized and censured by an overwhelming majority of the people in almost all parts of the world. The people widely looked down upon the act and declared it a serious sin, injustice, and crime against religious, moral and ethical principles being followed. The dogmatists particularly condemned a nd rebuked the practice by declaring it as an obnoxious act against humanity at large, which is equally heinous to the murder of a born individual. The religious people were of the view that since Nature had allowed the unborn child to enter the world, without entering into the debate that whether he is legitimate or illegitimate, no human should have the right to stop his way to arriving in the world at any cost. Another main reason behind opposing abortion was this that the person(s) responsible for the same were regarded as the murderers of an innocent life, which neither had any contribution in arriving in the world nor did he had the power to defend himself from the cruel clutches ready to take his life before birth even. Thus, taking the life of a harmless, defenseless and innocent unborn was undoubtedly a serious crime against society in the eyes of the religious-minded people as well as for the moralists in past. It is, therefore, the act of abortion always invited displeasu re and abhorrence of a large number of the population for the last several centuries, and people always maintained very negative opinion regarding the act. Animistic religion tends to regard abortion as a direct attack on the vital principles of nature. Similarly, Abrahamic faiths including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, do not allow any step even that advances towards abortion, as the Old Testament states: â€Å"Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live, in the love of Yahweh your God, obeying His voice, clinging to Him; for in this your life consists, and on this depends your long stay in the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers... (Dt 30:19-20). It is, therefore, the legalization of abortion had not been taken into consideration altogether till the end of the nineteenth century. Somehow, time took the drastic turn, and society started entering into debates and discussions in respect of the validity of abortion in the best interest of women and society. T he supporters of abortion argue that since the mother is the major sufferer before and after the birth of children, she should have been granted the permission to decided whether the child should be born or not.

Epicurus' and Epictetus' Teachings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Epicurus' and Epictetus' Teachings - Essay Example Epicurus, whose teachings are related to the philosophy of hedonism, saw pleasure as the primary goal in every human’s life. He taught that happiness can only be achieved by means of pleasure. The concept of pleasure is also related to the notion of psychic tranquility, which he calls ataraxia. Ataraxia refers to inner peace of a human being and his being free from fear. Moreover, pleasure is also explained as the â€Å"absence of pain†. Just as Epicurus distinguishes between active and passive pleasure, he defines the former as an active process aimed at satisfying people’s desires, and the latter as the absence of pain, the perfect pleasure. Similarly to Epicurus, Epictetus, who belonged to Stoics, developed his view of happiness and what can make humans happy. However, his views are different from Epicurus’ because he assumes that a person can achieve happiness only if he/she desires something which he/she is capable of achieving. Otherwise, this person will be unhappy. Hence, unlike Epicurus, Epictetus believes that controlling desires by means of self-discipline is the way to avoid unhappiness. Furthermore, Epicurus expressed the view that human beings did not need to be fearful of gods since gods do not interfere in human fates and lives. Unlike Epicurus, the representative of Stoics Epictetus believes that it is god that has control of everything. Hence, human beings are â€Å"fragments of god†. ... Broadly speaking, both say that people possess control of their own happiness. Next, both philosophers agree that god exists. However, they disagree about the way god influences people’s lives. Epicurus thinks that god never interferes in people’s fates and lives, while Epictetus believes that every human life is subject to god’s control. Epicurus also believes that people’s body is made of atoms and Epictetus believes that people’s body is part of god’s. Also, the philosophers explain fear of death in a different way. While Epicurus expresses the opinion that we should not fear death since human beings lose sensation at the time of dying (this happens due to atoms dispersal), Epictetus thinks that we just need to change our perception of death and views on it, which will liberate us from fearing death. As for me, Epictetus’ views are more superior since they reject self-indulgence and focus on a personality development. Epicurus views , it seems, lead to moral degradation of people since they risk turning into beasts preoccupied with desires and efforts to satisfy them. 2. Which of Epictetus’ rules do you find most appealing? Why? Which of Epictetus’s rules do you find most distasteful? Why? As I go over the rules of Epictetus, I find all of them appealing. Importantly, these ideas have much in common with what is thought the highest virtues in Christianity. It appears that he even advised not to engage in sexual relationship before marriage, which seems unbelievable if one imagines that society and men’s opportunities. I am literally impressed by how close to my views on life, Epictetus’ rules are. For instance, Epictetus advises not to judge

Using Jomini and Clausewitz, where do these two philosophers draw the Essay

Using Jomini and Clausewitz, where do these two philosophers draw the line in war between art and science - Essay Example The division of Gaul into east and west gave rise to Germany as West Francia - Charles the Fat’s (son of Charlemagne) share. The Germans under Otto I, would later take the crown away from the Franks in 962 AD and held on to it for the most part of the empire’s existence. In 1330 when the state separated from the church as a result of the anti-pope, Wittelsbach Louis IV’s victory over the popish Habsburg Frederick the Fair ( two contenders to the crown of the Holy Roman empire), the broken empire underwent periodic upheavals as each royal family consolidated its territory. The results have for almost a millennium now since the Declaration of Rense in 1338, became the pattern for conflict in Europe. The exodus out of the Roman Catholic church’ grip on the peoples of Europe that was the Protestant Reformation (1517–1648) that began on October 31, 1517 with Martin Luther – spurred hundreds of years of religious civil wars which spread in Europe w ith France at its center. It began with the French Huguenots revolt, after the Cathars, e.g. the Albighenses, in 1209 became the object of the Crusade led by Arnold of Amalric after a papal legate was killed. The massacre of Huguenots at Vassaly in 1562 began the so- called Wars of Religion.1 Napoleon Bonaparte in the Battle of Austerlitz in 1806 in the ensuing French Revoluion, put an end to the empire and Holy Roman Emperor Francis II of Austria abdicated. The lines which would in the future make up the boundaries of the nations were not defined then as they are now, until the wars that soon followed. Thus, the Battle of Austerlitz in 1806, is a mere consequence of these earlier events, which had taken 476 years since 1330 AD from the time the state separated from the church. Carl von Clausewitz (1780-1831) was a Prussian soldier from a middle class family of noble origins and had

Responsible Borrowing Worksheet Essay Example for Free

Responsible Borrowing Worksheet Essay Many students borrow federal student loans to pay for college. The goal of this assignment is to help you learn how to borrow responsibly, which may mean that you do not borrow at all or that you borrow only what you truly need. To borrow responsibly, you must understand your options and establish a financial plan for your entire program. With that plan in place, you can then focus on your classes and making connections with instructors and other students. There are three steps listed below for this assignment. Respond to the questions for each step in this worksheet only and submit your completed document to the Assignment Files tab. Step 1 Watch the â€Å"Responsible Borrowing (Financial Aid)† video on the orientation website located here: http://www.phoenix.edu/student-orientation.html. Respond to the following three questions in the spaces provided below: What is financial aid? How do grants differ from loans? What effect does class attendance have on funding availability? Step 2 Navigate to the Personal Finance category of the GEN/127 PhoenixConnect ® Community. Explore the resources provided and view some of the discussions shared by the community members. Respond to the following two questions in the spaces provided below: What did you find about student loan repayment plans? Why is having an educational financial plan important? Step 3 Access the Financial Plan at www.phoenix.edu/financialplan. Enter your program and respond to the questions. Explore the information about options for payment, reducing cost, and military students (if applicable). If you have already completed the plan as part of the enrollment process, you can use those results for this step. Respond to the following two questions in the spaces provided below: Based on this plan, what is your estimated monthly payment when you enter repayment? As a result of completing the plan, what changes can you make to reduce the amount you may borrow? Why?

American Airlines and US Airway’s Merger Essay Example for Free

American Airlines and US Airway’s Merger Essay Abstract American Airlines has suffered tremendous profit losses over the last few years. The losses have been so great that the company filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The news for the Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection was a shock to many, considering the fact that they had enough money to operate and cover their losses through the following year. The merger indeed was great decision on behalf of American Airlines. The merger itself was questionable. The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against regarding concerns that it could raise prices for consumers. A settlement was reached and the world largest airline has been formed. American Airlines has been suffering for many years. The company has suffered more losses than profits. Jobs have been cut; benefits have been scaled back, and the pilots of American Airlines are paid a lot lower salaries than their competitors. Many of them have been furloughed. All of these and many other factors have contributed to American deciding to create the world largest airlines with US Airways. In this essay I will discuss the circumstances that resulted in the merger, assess the significant positive (or negative) effects of the merger, and examine the organizational structure that has resulted from the merger. American Airlines filed for bankruptcy in November 2011. According to an interview with Richard Quest of CNN, Thomas Horton the new CEO of American Airlines stated that the company was forced into bankruptcy because of the cost disadvantages it faced compared to it’s competitors that had already gone through a bankruptcy. The news came as a shock to many. The company had enough money  to sustain the losses that it may incur through the next year. Although the company had the money to operate, the company still decided to go through with filing for bankruptcy (Isidore Ellis, 2011). At one time American was the world largest carrier, it had dropped to third in the recent years. The company has reported only one quarter where a profit was made since 2007, and lost 4.8 billion over those three and a half years. The company was projected to continue to suffer losses. Now that the merger has been approved, American will be able to get themselves out of their Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection (Isidore Ellis, 2011). Now that the merger is complete, the new American Airlines has ordered over 600 new aircrafts that are updated and more modern. The new aircrafts will allow them to compete with their competitors. In the past they have lost a great deal of money from their business class travelers due to their lack of the amenities that their competitors carry on their aircrafts (American, US Airways reach merger deal., 2013). The two jo ining airlines will offer over 6,700 daily flights to 336 destinations in 56 countries. The merger will not distress any of the hubs presently served by American Airlines and US Airways. American Airlines has been in bankruptcy for a little over a year, and the merger will be effected pursuant to a plan of reorganization under Chapter 11. The combination of American and US Airways brings together two highly complementary networks with access to the best destinations around the globe and gives us a strong platform to provide our customers the most connected, comfortable travel experience available, Horton said The operational and financial strength of the combined airline is expected to enable continued investment in new products and technologies and will create exciting new opportunities for our people, even as we deliver strong cash flow and sustainable profitability. (American, US Airways reach merger deal., 2013). The merger with Us Airways allowed American Airlines to come out of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December. Being able to do so was the first time that a ma jor airline has been able to satisfy a bankruptcy with a return on equity for its shareholders. By deciding to partner with a smaller, but stable US Airways, the company was able to raise the value of the combine stock. Pursuant to the plan of reorganization, so-called double-dip, single-dip, and intercompany claims were settled through a delivery process which distributed the proceeds of America Airlines estate based on the  trading price of the new companys common shares. This quick fix solution lessens the opportunity of appraisal disputes by guaranteeing creditors got a current market value. When it was all said and done, American Airlines creditors, including its unsecured creditors were given payment in full. For the first time in a major airline reformation, shareholders were able to accept a return on their equity. The approved stock exchange merger left American Airlines shareholders with 72% of the new company and the US Airway investors with the lingering 28%.US Airways decided to do what most company who are going through a merger wouldn’t. They negotiated with American Airlines unions before finalizing the merger. This established a foundation of a cooperative negotiating agreement for the new company, so that labor disagreements would not disrupt or lengthen the merger development. Following numerous noteworthy airline merges it was predictable that the formation of one of the worlds largest carriers would raise some anti-trust hurd les. The first curtailed from the US government. The airline seized a proactive tactic, agreeing to surrender some of it apertures at airports around the US, leading to court approval of the merger (Thomas, 2014). Although the two companies have merged and are legally one entity, they have both agreed to operate separately until they can integrate both systems successfully. As with any merger, both sides will suffer losses of their employees. Majority of the top leadership positions will be held by US Airways top executives in the new American Airlines. US Airways CEO Doug Parker will head the merged carrier. Of the top eight executive positions, five of those positions come from the US Airways side. American CEO Tom Horton will be the chairman of the board, and will continue on through until the first meeting of the new board next year. Parker will keep the executives that he is more familiar with. The new leadership team includes US Airways President Scott Kirby and others who have worked alongside Parker for several years (American and US Airways name merged airline leadership, 2013). American Airlines has suffered tremendously over the last few years. Us Airway which is a smaller company, was in a better position financially than American. Although Us Airway was more stable, they didn’t have access to many of the locations that American Airlines did. The merger was a great idea for both. American was able to get out of their Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier than anticipated. They have switched over from the Star  Alliance and move to One world global alliance. The new company now has over a 100,000 employees worldwide. Nothing but positive results seems to be coming from the merger of the two. In the beginning, the merger was questionable, and the Justice Department along with six other states filed a lawsuit against the company. The reason for the lawsuit is that they were in fear of the creation of the world largest airline raising prices on travelers. The slight raise in ticket sales, fees for flight changes, check bags, would be detrimental to consumers. American Airlines and US Airways were able to settle the suit and bring everyone to ease. In summary, the merger has run smoothly thus so far and according to plan. Currently both companies are operating individually although they are legally identified as one entity. The companies are working to collaborate their systems together as well. At the point in time, they are honoring each other’s flier miles and plan. Some of them have been eliminated to coincide with the polices of the company. American Airlines decided to merge with Us Airways to regain its place as the world largest airline. The reason for the merger has been negative on American’s side, but will benefit their company in the long run. In my essay, I have attempted to explain In the circumstances that resulted in the merger, assess the significant positive (or negative) effects of the merger, and examine the organizational structure that has resulted from the merger.

The Basque Country In Spain Cultural Studies Essay

The Basque Country In Spain Cultural Studies Essay Basque Country (el Pais Vasco in Spanish) is small enclave country located in the heart of Pyrenees Mountains, which divide Spain and France from each other, the northern coastline of the Country lies in the Bay of Biscay on the Cantabrian sea. The Basque Country is made up of 6 traditional regions. The three regions to the south, within Spain forms Hegoalde (south zone), while the three to the northeast, within France, form Iparralde (north zone). The three provinces in Spain side are Vizcaya, Alava and Guipuzcoa centered around the cities of Bilbao, Vitoria and San Sebastian. Perhaps surprisingly to some, the capital of community is Vitoria, even though it is only just over half the size of the somewhat better known Bilbao city. In some resources it shows that there are four provinces in south zone. The fourth province is called Navarre, a region which Basque nationalists want to incorporate into Euskadi, but whose people want to continue being a separate entity. Navarre is just one of the territories that the Basque nationalist parties claim as Basque territory; there are also two enclaves surrounded by Basque territory Trevino and Valle de Villaverde, which belong to fellow neighboring communities of Castile de Leon and Cantabria. In French side there are three provinces: Labourd, Basse-Navarre, and Soule. Basques call these territories collectively, Euskal- Herria (Land of the Basques) or Euskadi. The region covers nearly 21.000 square kilometers, of which about 3,000 lie on French side. The 18.000 square kilometers on the Spanish side constitute about 3.6 percent of Spains total land area. Basque region has a wonderful mild climate with few extremes of temperature or weather conditions when the seasons changes. The climate, the influence of the sea, and an attractive mixture of village, mountains, hills and abundant greenery, all makes Basque Country a place of natural surprises. Around 3 million people live in this community. Almost all Basques are Roman Catholic. Traditionally, an unusually high percentage chooses to become priests and nuns. The region operates as an autonomous region; today region has its own parliament and police force, controls education and collects its own taxes. The Basque Autonomous Community is currently the wealthiest region in Spain. About 20 percent of population is engaged in agriculture. Fishing is a significant Basque industry. The Basque country has long been known as a center of Spanish industry especially the city Bilbao. The regions history as the nations iron and steel capital has led to the development of automobile and machine tool manufacturing. Shipbuilding is another profitable industry. One constant tradition that has always been strong in the Basque country is the wine-making. The areas wineries produce some of the riches wines in the world for example Rioja or Alava wines. The Basque people have preserved unique culture, the jewel of which is its language, Euskera, a pre Indo-European tongue whose mysterious origin has never been established. The fact that it is not and Indo-European language, and shows no resemblance to languages in neighboring countries has led to formulation of varieties of hypotheses to explain its existence. Owing to some similarities with the Georgian language, some linguists think it could be it could be related to languages from the Caucasus. Other relates the language to non-Arabic languages from the north of Africa. Throughout history, the Basque language has taken up words not only from French, Latin and Castilian, but also from Celtic and Arabic. On the other hand some of the words in Castilian, French and English come from Basque language. Rural communities have kept the language alive for centuries. It is estimated, nowadays, that more than 600.000 people speak Basque in seven provinces. There are 520.000 Basque speaking people in the Basque provinces in Spain, which is 25% of their total population. The Basque language is extremely difficult and complex .In addition there are number of different dialects. The Basque language was not written until the 16th century .Things has not been easy for the Basque language. Apart from having to compete with two powerful neighboring languages like French and Castilian, Basque was forbidden language during the dictatorship that followed by Civil War. For decades children had to study in an unfamiliar language and were severely punished when they spoke in Basque, even at play time. At that time an important movement to open Basque schools started. And these schools are the only ones which provide teaching in Basque. Through centuries of storytelling, the Basques have evolved a rich and colorful mythology. Basque folklore also encompasses various rituals and dances. The Basques maybe are the oldest ethnic group in Europe. They are thought to have inhabited the southwestern corner of the continent since before Indo-European peoples came to the area approximately 5.000 years ago. Surviving invasions by the Romans, Visigoths, Arabs, French and Spanish, they resisted domination by outsiders until the Middle Ages (AD 476-1450). At that time much of their territory was seized by Spaniards, Gascons and Catalans. In 1516 the Basques on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees Mountains agreed to Castilian rules but won the rights to keep degree of self-government. By the 1876 all Basque land were divided between the France and Spain. During the regime of General Francisco Franco (1939 75) the Basque language was banned and culture in the Spain provinces were ruthlessly suppressed, the Basque activists and intellectuals imprisoned and tortured for their political and cultural belief. By the 1950s, resistance groups had formed, most notably the Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) Basque Homeland and Liberty. ETA was founded in 1959 by young national activists. ETA is a Basque separatist organization. Since the creation of ETA in the Franco dictatorship, for fifty years ETA has tried achieve full independence from the Spanish country for the four Basque provinces Vizcaya, Guipuzcoa, Alava and Navarra in the eastern area of Spain and the south western areas of France of Labourd, Basse-Navarra, and Soule. ETA has been trying to become an independent state through their tactics of bombing and assassinations. Since 1959 the group has been held responsible for a number of bombings, shootings and kidnappings or killings of high profile European government figures, and its activities have claimed over 800 lives in four decades. Though believed to be a small terrorist group (with approximately 20 main activists and several hundred supporters), in December 2001, the European Union declared ETA a terrorist organization. ETA members are believed to have received training in Lebanon, Libya, South Y emen, Nicaragua and as well as to have fled to Cuba. The group also allegedly maintains close ties with the Irish Republican Army (IRA) through the both groups political wings.

Stream of Consciousness in Ernest Hemingways A Farewell to Arms :: Farewell Arms Essays

Stream of Consciousness in A Farewell to Arms      Ã‚  Ã‚   Many important American writers came to prominence during the Jazz Age, but their commonalities often stopped there. From lyrical to sparse, many different styles can be seen among these authors, such as those of Henry James, Edith Wharton, F. Scott Fitzgerald, James Joyce, and Ernest Hemingway. One stylistic technique, stream of consciousness, was most associated with Joyce. Yet, Hemingway also used this technique with regularity and it is an important element in his war novel, A Farewell to Arms. This technique uses the interior monologue of a character to convey information, and thus the reader is allowed a more fluid picture of the true thoughts of the character, in this case, Lieutenant Frederick Henry. Also, the information contained in these stream of consciousness passages would not have been as effectively expressed in traditional prose style.    There are six specific passages in A Farewell to Arms that exemplify the stream of consciousness technique. Each of these is related to one of the themes of drunkenness and confusion, escape and fantasy, and disillusionment. These themes are presented in a progression, as Henry becomes more demoralized about his life and the war. The first passage comes early, as he relives the experiences of his weeks on leave. The Lieutenant has been drinking and his memories flow like the speech of an intoxicated person; continuing on from one subject to the next without regard for the listener. Of course, the reader is the only "listener" here, but there is a sense that Henry truly is lost in his own thoughts. His reeling thoughts attempt to summarize the previous few weeks in the following passage:    I had gone. . . to the smoke of cafes and nights when the room whirled and you needed to look at the wall, nights in bed, drunk, when you knew that that was all there was, and the strange excitement of waking and not knowing who it was with you, and the world all unreal in the dark and so exciting that you must resume again unknowing and not caring in the night, sure that this was all and all and all and not caring (13).    This description is in direct contrast to a previous description of the cold, clear, scenic Abruzzi, Henry's alternative vacation spot, emphasizing his confusion as well as the sensory overload of the Cova.

Psychological Damage Inflicted by the Residential School System Essay

First Nations children suffered many forms of abuse at the hands of the Canadian Government (Oh, Canada!) under the guise of residential schools. The purposes of the residential schools were to remove First Nations children from the influence of their families and cultures, and to intergrade them into the dominant culture (The Residential School System). This was done under the assumption that First Nations culture was lesser, â€Å"to kill the Indian in the child† as it was commonly said. The children were forcibly separated from their families to live in year-round schools where they were taught â€Å"white man† curriculum, with a two-month vacation time, completely separated from their Aboriginal heritage and forbidden from speaking their own languages (The Residential School System). If these rules, along with many others, were broken the punishments were severe (Oh, Canada!). Residential school survivors spoke of their horrible abuse during their time at the school s, including: sexual, physical and psychological (The Psychological and Intergenerational Impacts of the Indian Residential School System). The students received an inferior education, usually only taught up to grade five, training them for manual labor jobs (The Residential School System). The residential school system undermined First Nations culture and disrupted families for generations, leaving severe psychological damage in not only the survivors but also their families and the following generations (The Psychological and Intergenerational Impacts of the Indian Residential School System). Many students grew up without experiencing a family life, never gaining the experience and knowledge necessary to raise a family of their own. The effects of the schools were far reac... ...Jonathan Dewar, and Glen Lowry. Ottawa, Ont.: Aboriginal Healing Foundation, 2012. Print. "Oh, Canada!" Cultural Survival. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. Brasfield, C. â€Å"Residential school syndrome.† BC Medical Journal. Vol 43(2), March 2001. Pp. 78-81 Rita Flamand. Speaking My Truth: Reflections on Reconciliation & Residential School. Ed. Shelagh Rogers, Mike DeGagnà ©, Jonathan Dewar, and Glen Lowry. Ottawa, Ont.: Aboriginal Healing Foundation, 2006. Print. "The Psychological and Intergenerational Impacts of the Indian Residential School System." Indian Residential Schools Commemoration Project. Anishinabek Nation, n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. "The Residential School System." Indigenous Foundations. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2014. Walker, Julian. "The Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission." Parliament of Canada. N.p., 11 Feb. 2009. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.

Aztec Warrior Essay -- History, Aztec Military Training

According to the legend, the Aztecs, who referred to themselves as the Mexica, spent years wandering through central Mexico in search of a homeland. In AD 1325, the Aztecs founded their new capital Tenochtitlan (Moctezuma, 9). Years later, the Aztecs started to build their renowned empire. The Aztec Empire was made up of the Triple Alliance: Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan (Moctezuma, 55). Agriculture was the basis of the Aztec’s economy, but conquest and warfare lead to economic expansion and the accumulation of tributes from conquered towns (Moctezuma, 21). War was vital, for it maintained and expanded the economic and religious basis (Moctezuma, 55). The Aztec warriors were the driving force of much of the Aztec empires success because of their training, weaponry, wardress, sacrificing, and combat. Aztec military training starts when a male child is twenty days old. There are two separate military training schools, Telpochcalli and Calmecac, whichever school the child entered was weighted heavily by heritage. Commoners usually went to Telpochcalli, to become soldiers, or Calmecac, to become a priest. Nobles, (privileged status from heritage), could become a priest, political, or military leader at Calmecac, which involved rigorous training of intellect and the training taught at telpochcalli. From here the youths would train until ready to be sponsored by veteran warriors that would take the youths to battle and watch over them. The youths would experience the war early to learn to courageously face death on the battlefield. Warfare provided commoners an opportunity for social advancement. Achievement on the battlefield would offer elevation of social status, honor and material awards. A distinguished military care... ...presenting Aztec gods). The eagle represented the images of the sun while descending and the jaguar represented the death of the sun (when the sun was not present in the sky). â€Å"This solar association refers to the Aztec warrior’s primary function, acquiring victims to nourish the sun† (Pasztory, 82). The ixcahuac, obsidian stone knives can be found in the Museo Nacional de Antropoligia, Mexico. Atzec Atlatls can be found at the Museo Nacional de Antropologia, Mexico two feet in length and one and a half inches thick with a hook at the upper end (Hassig, 76). The darts used with the atlatl, where made of wood and the butts were feathered, they would be fire hardened, and had obsidian, fishbone, copper, or flint points. Stone engravings of a warrior with an atlatl, dart, and shield originally from Tenochtitlan, Museo Nacional de Antropologia, Mexico, (Hassig, 78). Aztec Warrior Essay -- History, Aztec Military Training According to the legend, the Aztecs, who referred to themselves as the Mexica, spent years wandering through central Mexico in search of a homeland. In AD 1325, the Aztecs founded their new capital Tenochtitlan (Moctezuma, 9). Years later, the Aztecs started to build their renowned empire. The Aztec Empire was made up of the Triple Alliance: Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan (Moctezuma, 55). Agriculture was the basis of the Aztec’s economy, but conquest and warfare lead to economic expansion and the accumulation of tributes from conquered towns (Moctezuma, 21). War was vital, for it maintained and expanded the economic and religious basis (Moctezuma, 55). The Aztec warriors were the driving force of much of the Aztec empires success because of their training, weaponry, wardress, sacrificing, and combat. Aztec military training starts when a male child is twenty days old. There are two separate military training schools, Telpochcalli and Calmecac, whichever school the child entered was weighted heavily by heritage. Commoners usually went to Telpochcalli, to become soldiers, or Calmecac, to become a priest. Nobles, (privileged status from heritage), could become a priest, political, or military leader at Calmecac, which involved rigorous training of intellect and the training taught at telpochcalli. From here the youths would train until ready to be sponsored by veteran warriors that would take the youths to battle and watch over them. The youths would experience the war early to learn to courageously face death on the battlefield. Warfare provided commoners an opportunity for social advancement. Achievement on the battlefield would offer elevation of social status, honor and material awards. A distinguished military care... ...presenting Aztec gods). The eagle represented the images of the sun while descending and the jaguar represented the death of the sun (when the sun was not present in the sky). â€Å"This solar association refers to the Aztec warrior’s primary function, acquiring victims to nourish the sun† (Pasztory, 82). The ixcahuac, obsidian stone knives can be found in the Museo Nacional de Antropoligia, Mexico. Atzec Atlatls can be found at the Museo Nacional de Antropologia, Mexico two feet in length and one and a half inches thick with a hook at the upper end (Hassig, 76). The darts used with the atlatl, where made of wood and the butts were feathered, they would be fire hardened, and had obsidian, fishbone, copper, or flint points. Stone engravings of a warrior with an atlatl, dart, and shield originally from Tenochtitlan, Museo Nacional de Antropologia, Mexico, (Hassig, 78).

Tyco International Limited

I would like to start by saying that Tyco International Ltd. is a diversified manufacturing and service company that organizes its businesses into five segments such as (1) Fire and security segment, (2) Electronics, (3) Healthcare, (4) Engineering products, and (5) Plastics and Adhesives. The company is much diversified and thus does not depend on only one industry trends and fluctuations. The segments provide the revenue for the company is similar proportions.Prior to present all the pertinent information in the table please take a look at the following definitions:a) Price earnings ratio The ratio of a stock price to its company's annual earnings per share.b) Earnings per share is the total earnings divided by total common shares outstanding. The annual reports of Tyco already have EPS.c) Dividend yield is the dividends paid per share divided by the stock’s price of Tyco International.d) Common stock share price is the market price of stock determined by the supply and dema nd of that stock’s interactions.As one can see the Tyco international financial did change over a period of 5 years. Still, from the table above, one is able to see that the dividend yield had grown for years 1999 to 2003, while the price and EPS had been rather volatile.I recommend a buy strategy of Tyco international for the following reasons:1. Financials. The financials of Tyco international over the period of 5 years had shown gradual increase in terms of total assets. The company showed an increase in P/E ratio which means that investors are willing to pay more for a dollar of earnings than before. The company despite some financial challenges of 2002 and 2003, paid out the same fixed dividend which means that the company was certain about its future growth and had enough resources to pay the dividend despite short term difficulties.2. Stock price increases. One could see stock price of Tyco increase over the past 4 years with year 5 (2003) being the only exception. Pri or to 1999, Tyco experienced several stock splits that marked corporate unprecedented growth.3. Analysts’ opinion. Regardless of what one might think about analysts’ opinion , it is vital too remember that they quite often move the market. If enough people believe that the company should be bought the stock price will increase. Currently the major analysts, seen at www.finance.yahoo.com or multexinvestor.com recommend â€Å"strong buy† of Tyco. One has to understand that the analysts are paid for making educated guesses and giving advises to the general populace.These analysts spend days on analyzing companies, so there is some credibility in their words. By the way, considering the opinion of other, more competent individuals and using it for one’s own decisions, is about â€Å"follow the leader† strategy used by many mutual funds, investors or just companies. There are people in the market who could move stock prices with their words and own acti ons. In our case the analysts’ opinion was only used for the information purposes to see whether or not it differs much from what other pieces of information tell us about Tyco International.4. Industry data. Tyco International is seen as over performing the industry in many respects.   Being an industry leader, together with other reasons, Tyco International is a ‘buy’ target. Being a part of the conglomerates industry, Tyco engages in 5 different segments that do not correlate with each other. Therefore, Tyco appears to be a hedged company that cannot be easily hit by a decline in one industry that Tyco covers. Such industry specifics of Tyco International contribute to Tyco’s beta below the market (

Islam Death and Burial Essay

When a Muslim knows that they are dying relatives and friends are sent for; these people gather around the bed. The dying person must then ask for forgiveness from God and their loved ones. If possible, the last word spoken or heard by a dying Muslim is ‘God’, this is also the first word heard by a Muslim, just after they are born. As soon as possible, after the person has died, friends and family must give the body a final ritual washing and pray. Those people chosen to wash the body must be of the same sex and a close member of the family. This ritual washing can either take place in a mosque, in the home or in a community facility. After this washing has taken place the body is anointed with spices or scents, and then wrapped in clean, white, unstitched cloth from head to toe. The amount of cloth differs from male to female; men are covered in three pieces of cloth and five for a woman. During this procedure incense must be burnt. The body is now washed and dressed appropriately and is carried on foot to the chosen site for burial. Muslims often have their own cemeteries or small plots of land for burying the dead, for the simple reason that the body’s head must be facing makkah when placed in the ground. Muslim prefer not to bury the dead in a coffin, so not to waste valuable wood, the body is often advised to be placed in a coffin to follow special health regulations. There is no difference in how the corpse is dressed, whether the person was rich or poor, important or humble in death and in Allah’s eyes they are the same. No expenses are to be made at the funeral. The funeral must be simple; leaders do not have a special cemetery, but the same funeral as others of less importance. While the body is being lowered into the ground the mourners say the following: ‘In the name of God We commit you to the earth, according to the Way of the Prophet of God.’ The mourners then sprinkle down a little earth while saying: ‘We created you from it, and return you to it, and from it we will raise you a second time.’ (Surah 20:55) The body is then covered up with remaining earth. The money the family would otherwise spend on a tombstone is given to charity. There is to be no other writing on the grave except the person’s name. Mourning is very strict after a Muslim funeral, mourning can last for a few days or up to forty days during this time the family must not attend any happy parties or celebrations, even weddings. On the seventh and fortieth days there are some time special meals held for the friends and family. Widows are allowed to mourn for four months and ten days, they must not remarry in this period but are able to afterwards. While the family are mourning friends often bring food to offer support and to comfort the family with prayers. Islam does not discourage grieving which it considers a mercy from God. Even the Prophet Muhammad wept when his infant son Ibrahim, the only son born to his wife Miriam, died. He said, â€Å"The eyes shed tears and the heart feels pain, but we utter only what pleases our God. O Ibrahim! We are aggrieved at your demise.† The Prophet also wept when his granddaughter died. Then the Prophet said to his followers, â€Å"This weeping is the mercy that God has placed in the hearts of his servants.† ‘God fixes the time-span for all things. It is He who causes both laughter and grief; it is He who causes people to die and to be born; it is He who causes male and female; it is He who will re-create us anew.’ (surah 53:42-47) ‘When a person dies his deeds come to an end except in respect of three matters which are left behind: a continuing charity, knowledge which still brings benefit, and righteous offspring to pray for him. (Hadith) ‘It is Allah who gives you life, then gives you death; then He will gather you together for the day of judgement.’ (surah 45.26) These verses would help to encourage a Muslim to have faith in where their loved ones are and that one day they will be rejoined, on the day of judgement. To remind them that life is a gift and only Allah can decide when some one will born and when they will die. After grieving Muslims are comforted from their belief that on the day of judgement they will be reunited with the ones they loved and lost. Muslims believe that throughout their lives they have two angels with them and watching them, keeping a record of their good and bad deeds. This book of deeds will then be handed over to Allah on judgement day. Allah will decide whether they are truly sorry for the bad they have done and if so reward them in heaven. Here is a description of Paradise and Hell found in the Qur’an, ‘On that day, there will be joyful faces of people in the garden of delights. A gushing fountain shall be there and soft couches with goblets placed before them, silk cushions and rich carpets.’ ‘On that day, there will be downcast faces of broken and worn out, burnt by scorching fire and drinking from a boiling fountain. Their only food will be bitter thorns.’ Some people don’t believe in life after death other people don’t understand and do not care whether there is life after death at all, Muslims are positive that all life belongs to Allah and one day he will return, from this belief they can take happiness with remembering that their dead friend is going on to a better place where they can be closer to Allah, and that one day they will join them. Not to care about life after death is illogical, we all know that humans die. ‘Does Man think that we shall not assemble his bones? Yes, surely, yes-We are able to restore his finger-prints.’ The parting may seen long for the people currently left behind, these people carry out family festivals each year to remember the dead and pray regularly, this keeps drawing them close to their lost ones and Allah. A Muslim also does not look at death as final. In fact, the term used for death is Intekal (crossing over to the next and eternal life). To the Muslim, death is simply the return of the soul to Him who gave it, the last stage of the journey from earth to God. Parents may request that a dying infant or one who has died be turned to face the holy city of Mecca. That way, the infant may begin the journey home to god. Muslims believe that children go straight to heaven, if a parent has lost a child some say it is their ticket to heaven and that it is a blessing in disguise, they find comfort in believing that in heaven Muhammad (peace be upon him) is sitting under a tree surrounded by children, Allah asks these children â€Å"what can I do for you know† the children then answer â€Å"bring my mum and dad.† In the Qur’an life after death is not described in a spiritual sense, rather in a physical way, they bury the dead bodies quickly before they start to decay. This is the reason why Muslims do not burn corpses or have them cremated. They believe that every one will be raised back to life again on the day of judgement (not the souls but their bodies). Life and death, therefore, are both integral parts of the Muslim way of life and their views on death have implications on how they live day to day. Death is not the end but follows on from this life in a natural way and Allah chooses the time of death for each person and will choose what happens in the afterlife.

Mark Haddon Essay

Throughout the novel, the chapter headings are labelled in prime numbers instead of the normal cardinals, which is an important fact. This helps us to understand the character behind the surface. At the start of chapter 2 (headed 3), he says he knows all the prime numbers up to 7,507. This tells us that he is very good at maths and enjoys puzzles. People with Asperger’s syndrome are usually very intelligent, but find it difficult to express, since they easily get confused if somebody asks too many questions. At the start of chapter 7, Christopher says â€Å"this is a murder mystery novel†, which would indicate that there will be some detective terminology (a particular lexical register) used later on in the book. He also says that his hero is Sherlock Holmes (who incidentally solved a case called the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – where the title of the book comes from), who has the ability to â€Å"detach his mind† from anything not related to the problem, which is exactly what Christopher does. He could be â€Å"detached† when he does not do what he is told. In terms of semantics, Christopher only refers to the denotations of words, since he finds it difficult to understand connotations. The reader knows the literal meanings of the words, but also, they create certain negative connotations. When Christopher talks or writes, he does not take the connotations of the words into account. In the book, there are no metaphors, similes or any linguistic devices, as he tells us at the start of chapter 5, â€Å"this will not be a funny book, because I cannot tell jokes, because I do not understand them†. His lack of a sense of humour could be demonstrated by his total lack of understanding when Siobhan laughed. He does appear to feel anger when he tears the paper. He doesn’t use euphemisms, because he cannot see the point in evading the truth (incidentally, he doesn’t tell lies). For example, on page thirteen, he says â€Å"and people will be burnt to death, even if they live in tunnels†. Here, it is possible to detect a hint of pessimism. The choice of words that the author uses is not typical of the teenage social peer group. For example, he doesn’t say â€Å"wicked† since this would be a metaphor. This also enforces Christopher’s social isolation. Christopher does not use any of the more common spoken English techniques, for example; contractions, â€Å"But I could not be certain about this†. The contraction would be â€Å"couldn’t†. The language that Mark Haddon uses throughout the book is very formal. There are very few conjunctions since the book is written from Christopher’s point of view, and Christopher thinks very logically, in a structured, simple way. In conclusion, it can be seen that the opening chapters of this novel manage to seamlessly meld together the symptoms of Asperger’s syndrome, with narrative devices. The use of numbers and illustrations, allow the reader to enter a world which although strange to us is a familiar and usual one of the main character. The language structures, such as the use of short sentences echo the thinking methods of Christopher, and the author’s use of unemotional and denotative vocabulary is an excellent way to demonstrate Christopher’s own lack of complex emotions. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Conan Doyle section.

Continuation Speech

HI, my name is Chapin Bengal and I would like to thank you all for coming to our 8th grade Continuation Ceremony. I am honored to be presenting to you tonight as one of the valedictorians of the 8th grade class at Homestead Peak. When I transferred to Minter Middle School in 6th grade, I was very apprehensive about starting a new school where I didn't know anyone. However, there was no need for me to be worried. All of the students and staff welcomed me and made me feel as if I had always been a part of the community. Throughout the past three years we have all formed close reindeer's and created many memories.Whether It was normal classes or various fieldwork expeditions, we all formed a bond through these experiences that Is irreplaceable. As a class we have worked hard to prepare ourselves for high school. We all have accomplishments to be proud of, such as 2,000 hours of community service. We have worked hard to exemplify our community traits and keep our grades up. Even though s ome of us may be going to different high schools or even moving out of state, we will always be connected. I would like to thank my peers for giving me great middle school experience.We wouldn't be where we are today without the help from our teachers and families. As an expeditionary learning school we do a lot of hands on activities. I would like to thank our teachers for helping us learn a lot and making it fun at the same time. They are the ones who organized activities like the Tenth Mountain Division hut trips and The Civil War Reenactment. Both of these experiences have taught me about important lessons in greater depth than I would have learned In a classroom. I am extremely grateful to have had these opportunities.I know that the teachers work above and beyond the normal work day to make these opportunities possible for us. We are grateful and appreciate their time and dedication. Our parents also deserve our thanks and recognition. Many of us take the life our parents have given to us for granted. Few of us realize the sacrifices they have made to get us to this point. Therefore, I would like to thank our parents who have supported all of our endeavors. The following quote from Abraham Lincoln reminds me that each day brings a new opportunity and it is our responsibility to make the most of every single day.Abraham Lincoln said â€Å"In the end, It Is not the years In your life that count. It Is the life In your years. † Every single one of us has the potential to do great things. If we do not strive for excellence we will never reach our full potential. With determination and hard work we can all accomplish great things. Every day is a gift, not something to be wasted. I know that as a class we will continue to support each other through our high school years. I have greatly enjoyed these three years and It is due to the amazing students and staff here at Homestead Peak. Thank you! Continuation SpeechBy chaplaincies friendships and created ma ny memories. Whether it was normal classes or various fieldwork expeditions, we all formed a bond through these experiences that is a great middle school experience. We wouldn't be where we are today without the have learned in a classroom. I am extremely grateful to have had these opportunities. Make the most of every single day. Abraham Lincoln said â€Å"In the end, it is not the years in your life that count. It is the life in your years. † Every single one of us has the three years and it is due to the amazing students and staff here at Homestead Peak.

An Annotated Bibliography Niccolo Machiavelli Politics Essay

An Annotated Bibliography Niccolo Machiavelli Politics Essay 1. Colish, Marcia L., â€Å"The Idea of Liberty in Machiavelli,† Journal of the History of Ideas 32 (1971):323-50 According to Colish it is incorrect to interpret Machiavelli as immoralist and the defender of the state arbitrariness. Formulating rules of political success, he at the same time establishes moral frameworks of political activity. He clearly shows that the policy considering certain moral restrictions can be really successful. It is a special sort of restriction: their unique appointment to subordinate will of a The Prince to well-being and power of the state and to make so that he aspired not to own, and to general welfare and cared not of the successors. 2. Fiore, Silvia Ruffo, Niccolà ³ Machiavelli: An Annotated Bibliography of Modern Criticism and Scholarship, Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1990 Those studying Niccolo Machiavelli has developed the directory where many works have entered, books, Renaissance articles which has deeply affected developm ent of modern thought. A necessary source for researches of scientists and critics. There are many useful works of different time period. 3. Gilbert, Felix, â€Å"The Humanist Conception of the Prince and The Prince of Machiavelli,† Journal of Modern History 11 (1939): 449-83 â€Å"The Prince†, at least, explicit, is the tyranny encyclopedia where to the future tyrant almost divine mission of long-awaited clearing of Italy is attributed, and  «Reasonings à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ã‚ » – the manifesto republicy and a panegyric of democracy which is repeatedly proclaimed the absolute kind of a state system. And if contest of such treatment  «Reasonings à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ã‚ » demands known sophistical refinement the register research (and it is equal also amateurish) the opinions ever expressing the original maintenance of â€Å"The Prince†, will combine theses so dissimilar that it becomes difficult to believe as if their authors indeed expressed the same product. Th e first condemnation Machiavelli as advocate of the tyranny, aspiring to catch Medici’s arrangement, suppressors of Florentine freedom, have sounded at once after an exit of â€Å"The Prince† to the public. 4. John M. Najemy, The Cambridge Companion to Machiavelli, Cambridge University Press, 2010 Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) is the most known and disputable person in the politician of an epoch of the Renaissance. Cambridge Partner Machiavelli opens sixteen original essays which have been developed by known critics, tell about his life, career on a post of the politician in the government, his reaction to drama changes which mentioned Florence and Italy in his whole life, his thought, sights at development, and corruption of republics and princedoms, class disagreements, religious discrepancies, and dialogue Concerning Renaissance with olden time. Machiavelli after long disputes and various opinions recognised as the great figure of the epoch who has supported usual human wisdom. 5 Jusim M. A. Ethics of Machiavelli. à Ã…“, 1990. Differently, the morals are interpreted by it as one of state mechanisms. According to M.A.Jusim the state and morals in concept Machiavelli is mono-ordered, and â€Å"historically and logically the state and morals have the general origin†. With it, taking into consideration as description Machiavelli of an origin of morals and the state, and its instructions that thanking the state to the established laws in the people kind customs are supported, it would be possible to agree, – if not definition Machiavelli of good and harm through the relation to political authority. However, in this respect it is impossible to recognize sights Machiavelli absolutely clear. Both in â€Å"The Prince† and in â€Å"Reasoning† he repeatedly specifies in national morals as the state system factor on certain type, as a source of a fortress and well-being of the state.

Storytelling, the Meaning of life and The Epic of Gilgamesh Research Paper

Storytelling, the Meaning of life and The Epic of Gilgamesh - Research Paper Example A., â€Å"Story Telling, the Meaning of Life, and the Epic of Gilgamesh†). The close inspection of these lines will lead the readers of Arthur. A. Brown to the life that is between realms of mortality and immortality. The switching of codes between the imagination and pragmatism is what we call life. This is the underlying vision of the author and so he focuses that any story can easily launch us to a world of imagination which can be termed as an escapade from the harsh realities of life but then it is always essential because it refreshes our mind, soul and body. According to the author here lies the greatness or importance of story telling and this code switching between the mortal and the immortal world is the true essence of life. According to Arthur, stories are informative and they inform us about life and death and sometimes life after death and with a commendable rhetorical description of the story of Gilgamesh, he describes this in his essay. To the narrator, the story of Gilgamesh is not merely an ancient story telling about the life of a king and people living in the land between Tigris and Euphrates, also it is not a parable of their lifestyle, myth and beliefs but much more. It is a story about something beyond our comprehension which author describes in his essay as â€Å"things we cannot fix†. These are the things which are beyond the day – to – day life of the people living in the second and third millennium BCE and worshiping a king called Gilgamesh, but by delving deep into the epic. One can find out, according to Arthur, the reconciliation between human and mortality. One must try to understand things beyond his perceptions and our reflections regarding story telling. Relat ing life with a story is the greatest work and to successfully fit into the scheme of a character’s action is the utmost transcendental phenomena in life, views Arthur. The title of the essay is aptly suitable for bearing the crown of being the

Operations Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Operations Management - Assignment Example A business that has an effective management strategy is likely to have an upper hand in the market. There are diverse benefits associated with efficient operations management, including a reduction in the operational costs while enhancing customer satisfaction. Inventory management ensures that sales, customer service, and production are done effectively without interruptions, hence ensuring customer satisfaction and cost reduction. In addition, optimizations of inventory levels as well as helping in improving cash flows are major benefits derived from inventory management. Improper inventory management can lead a business to huge losses. In the modern context, several inventory management controls have been developed; some that are highly sophisticated while others are quite simplistic. Some of the available inventory management tools include ABC analysis, Economic Order Quantity (EOQ), Discounted EOQ, Vendor managed Inventory (VMI), LP, MRPII, TQM, ERP, KANBAN, and collaborative pl anning among others. Inventory management tools are very well applied in organizations for diverse purposes. A number of company operations are associated with the inventory management tools. Firstly, in the process of developing the company accounts, the accuracy is tremendously improved hence enhanced reporting of the company profits and losses (Silver 2008, p.16; Hilton1994). This is done based on the asset value that is attached to every item that is purchased, those within the company and the ones sold. Secondly, the management is able to identify flaws and ensure they are rectified before they get out of hand. The inventory management tools help track all the items in the company, thereby ensuring that flaws do not accrue until the stock taking date. Fourthly, customers are very important people as far as the company is concerned. The inventory management tools are able to identify items that are in shortage hence customers are able to make their bookings without being

REFLECTIVE ANALYSIS - IMPORTANCE OF INDIVIDUAL GROWTH IN Essay

REFLECTIVE ANALYSIS - IMPORTANCE OF INDIVIDUAL GROWTH IN ORGANIZATIONAL WORK PERFORMANCE - Essay Example This topic examines the importance of creating policies that enable the increasing of the capacity of existing labor force within the organization in line with the organization’s business needs. This thereby ensures that there is overall capacity to achieve set short and long-term goals and objectives. To establish this, the topic targets the issues affecting individuals’ place and meaning within the firm. How does the firm treat its members? Are the members satisfied by their current job? Are the efforts and interests of the members streamlined with those of the organizations? What is the impact where there is a mismatch and conflict between these two forces i.e. the individual and the organization? The topic draws from module studies under employee dignity, employee branding at work and talent management processes and programme development. Models in talent management will especially be useful in the arguments herein due to my perceived strong linkage between the modu le of employee dignity and branding at work (which is a representative association of employee and work performance). The models that I have focused on in addition to those in the, class modules are the Job Competency Assessment model (JAC) and the ‘high impact talent management’ model. ... A deliberate and well-designed plan must be at the core of its total business strategy as opposed to being a limited human resource function (called upon during hiring of employees and performance review process) in relational to personal working experiences. Literature review To elaborate better how the selected topic provides a point of focus for reflective analysis, a prior understanding of the key terms used is very essential. It helps avoid ambiguities and minimize assumptions that they reader might have based on prior interactions with the terms and, therefore, localizing its contextual use to within the reflective limits. Definition and differentiation of terms There has been a lack of convergence between different professions as to what exactly dignity is (Sayer, 2007). Most debates about dignity have taken to broad approaches of political (such as citizenship); social (such as mutual satisfaction and welfare) and economic (such as pride in work, autonomy and responsibility) attributes that have only served to further the gap between the definitions and make it more ambiguous than before. However, a basic elaboration based on its function would reveal that dignity is a basic property, characteristic or attribute of human beings that ably reflects their worth. Talent refers to those individuals who demonstrate highest levels of potential for positive impact in the performance of organizational tasks and responsibilities (Workitect, Inc., 2011). Collectively, it comprises a team of individuals with excellent qualifications and unique competencies which have the capacity to improve the organization’s performance significantly. Closely related to this and also fundamental to its management is talent intelligence. Talent

The payment is made as soon as the contract is signed Case Study

The payment is made as soon as the contract is signed - Case Study Example All of a sudden if Jason says he is insolvent, or even proves to be. Jim is the one who will be actually stuck in the entire situation. Jim is probably thinking, Jason's not going to pay him. In certain contracts, the payment is made as soon as the contract is signed. So there are two possibilities. One: If the payment has already been made to Jim, all he needs to worry about is that Jason, might not claim in court, that now that he is insolvent this contract is null and void and so he wants' the money back. Two: if the payment is yet to be made, then Jason will definitely want to not make the payment. Jim has the right to make his point in court in both the cases. What Jim needs to understand is the fact that under the JCT 05 Standard Form of Building Contract with Quantities contract. The general law, right to stop otherwise denies a contract can come up in a lot of situations. Initially, a single party can make it apparent that it has no intent of performing its part of the good deal. Secondly, that party might be responsible of such a grave violation of contract that it will be tackled as bearing no target of acting. An occurrence of this type is recognized by law as a repudiatory breach. In mutual cases, the innocent party has an alternative; either to confirm the contract also holds the additional party to its responsibilities at the same time as asserting costs as apt for the breach, or else to get the contract to an ending. If negation is decided on for, then both the parties are free from any more contractual compulsion to carry out.1Also Jim ought to know that not every breach is alike nor do the astringent parties essentially have the similar privileges for the diverse breaches. For instance if in a case a contractor is thrown out his job, the contractor may discover it the tough way that project financer acted irrationally plus used irrational force, moreover it may be acknowledged the one in defaulting.2If Jason gets in touch with Jim, this act will be then by action of law, and will take place where the accountable party has committed a basic infringe and the blameless party has then b y remark or act chosen to believe the refutation and finish the contract. In this case Jim will not be claiming any rights that he might have in this case. Jim should opt for a scenario wherein, he might have chances to claim his damages while at the same time abiding by his contractual commitment. It is vital that Jim as the innocent party ascertains evidently the lawful base for this path of action. More significantly, it ought to be esteemed that the distressed party is forever permitted to seek alternative for a specific violation through an action in indemnity. If Jason does terminate the, it would hence, be the last option, wherever any possible quantum of payment in the shape of a grant for damages is expected to be inadequate to give good reason for the continuation of the focused agreement. Jim has by law the right, to claim for damages while any breach of contract can give rise to a claim for damages, because the evasion by Jason would be specifically of a very grave or essential nature. Jim can claim his right to the damages. It would be wiser to wait and see what Jason's next step will be and decide accordingly in light of a ll above given advice. Section 2) The statement tort is derivative from the

The Struggle for Equality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Struggle for Equality - Essay Example However, for purposes of this brief analysis, the author will consider the case of Irish immigrants. Whereas it might be assumed that Irish immigrants had a relatively easy immigrant experience, based upon the fact that they were partially similar to existing immigrants that comprise the United States, the fact of the matter is that immigrant experience of the Irish was oftentimes every bit as difficult, if not more, as compared to even more socially or culturally dissimilar groups. The equality differential that Irish immigrants faced was not based upon race per se; instead, it was based upon religion, cultural dissimilarity, bias, and a view that stereotypes concerning ability and intelligence, as well as role within society, should be enforced. In terms of citizenship and the ability for immigrants to gain it, the United States was relatively open. During the massive waves of Irish immigration that took place during the late 1800s, as a result of the Irish potato famine, the United States continued to exhibit a very open immigration policy and clear path to citizenship. However, the overall level to which this luxury was afforded to Irish immigrants did not encapsulate the entire immigration experience. Whereas it is true that it has to immigration, education, suffrage, and civil liberties existed, there were still massive disparities with respect to availability of housing, employment opportunities, and pervasive and continual societal judgments with respect to whether or not this particular group should continue to be viewed as outsiders more should be accepted into the melting pot of American society. As has been alluded to within the introduction, one of the main reasons for why this particular group was so ostracized was not based upon skin color, race, or even language; instead, it was based upon the fact that the vast majority of Irish immigrants were Roman Catholics; something that was viewed as deeply â€Å"un-American† in a

Teaching Today's Teachers to Teach Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Teaching Today's Teachers to Teach - Essay Example Griggs uses Psalm 78 as a basis for his argument, but this is an argument that I cannot support. While I believe that children must be a priority for the church in regards to teaching, I believe that the same Psalm suggests the very opposite in the first stanza of the Psalm. The Psalmist says â€Å"Give ear, O my people, to my teaching†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The Psalmist does not suggest that children should be the first priority here but rather the opposite. Take the West End Baptist Church as an example to illustrate this point. Greater emphasis is placed on Biblical learning for younger people and not enough for the senior persons of the church. As a result, there is an ineffective Christian Education Department not because of the teachers but because of misplaced emphasis. The philosophy that I’ve struggled to implement is to teach the parents and the children. There can be no direct distinction between the two; they are equally important entities for the modern day church, just a s they were for the early church. I further do not support the statement that â€Å"too many pastors don’t see teaching as their responsibility.† In order for preaching to be effective, it has to contain certain teaching elements. Otherwise it is simply entertainment. Any pastor who does not see the importance of teaching, from the pulpit, bible study group, church school, or by any other means through which we teach GOD’s word, is in the wrong business. I assessed all the pastors I knew, both male and female, and I could not think of one who would allow a novice teach the bible on behalf of them. I liked the following quote from the book: â€Å"too often we ask the newest, youngest, and least experienced members of our churches to do the teaching.† This suggests that the pastor is negligent in the handling of God’s word and His people. As I compared the West End Baptist Church with the reading