Essay on The Bible As History - 2320 Words

The Bible as History nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The question of whether the Holy Bible is an actual historical account of what happened since the beginning of humanity, or merely stories that man has come up with over time has long been considered. Many choose to believe the Bible literally and take everything word for word. Others believe the stories in the Bible are a way of showing God’s love for us, but think of them as stories and lessons on how to follow the â€Å"way of God.† Others think the stories in the Bible are false, and have no basis in truth at all. Some people want to have a clear picture of what early Palestine was like without ever having reference to the Bible, and â€Å"this may be an equally one-sided approach as using†¦show more content†¦One example of a â€Å"historical correlation with the Bible,† was the discovery of a weight labeled â€Å"pim† which has helped scholars understand 1 Samuel 13:21 which is the only verse in the Bible containing the term. They concluded that â€Å"pim† was a size of weight probably used as a method of payment. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Another artifact from this region are carved ivories dating back to 800 B.C. found at the royal palace of Sumaria, the capital of the north king of Israel. In a passage from 1 Kings 22:39 there is a reference to the â€Å"ivory house† of King Ahab (Porter 18). Discoveries have also been made at a â€Å"popular site of Israeli religion† and there have been excavations of the only known temple and â€Å"cult objects† from the era of David and Solomon (Porter 19). nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Another find by archaeologists is a painting of a half nude female figure with the inscription â€Å"Yahweh or Samaria and his Asherah.† This was excavated from the eighth century site of Kuntillet Arjud. The significance of the painting is still undecided. It may reflect the continuing worship in Israel of Asherah, the great Canaanite mother goddess. This would have been in spite of the official state religion which recognized Yahweh as the one and only God (Porter 20). nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Through all of these uncovered artifacts from the Israelite nation, many of the names, places, and events that are named in the Bible are proved. The BibleShow MoreRelatedHistory of the Bible Essay1727 Words   |  7 PagesInstructor Pursell English 132 9 December 2009 The History of the Canonization of the Bible The process by which the English Bible, as it is known to the English culture today, was compiled is an extraordinary thing to see. The Bible consists of two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The process by which both Testaments were written and then canonized into one book transpired over a period of many years. Once the canonization of the Bible officially came to an end, it was translated intoRead More History of the Old Testament of the Bible Essay3002 Words   |  13 PagesBeing able to recall stories of the Bible does not necessarily mean you have a thorough grasp on the history of Israel and the surrounding nations. Some people read and discuss the Bible without a solid understanding of the history and social issues that were going on at the time. Being able to relate to the stories in the Bible and struggle with some of the same problems faced by the people in the Bible gives you a greater appreciation for the works in the Bible. I feel that having a firm u nderstandingRead MoreAmericas History Founded on the Bible: Investigating America’s Relationship with the Bible throughout Time725 Words   |  3 PagesIntroduction: Brief History of the Bible The first piece that contributes to the bible can said to be the Ten Commandments which were made around 1400 BC. New and Old Testaments start arising in the late BC and beginning of AD. Around 1455 AD is when the first bible is massed produced and it is written in Latin. The first fully produced bible in English is in 1535 AD. These bible were not Authorized for public use until 1539 when â€Å"The Great Bible† is produced. The translations of the bible have been derivedRead MoreThe Bible As A Source Of Hope, Strength, Truth And History2380 Words   |  10 Pages The Bible is known single-handedly as the champion of the best-selling books the world has ever known. It is the holy and sacred text known to all the world, but specifically to those who believe in the Christian faith predominantly, but other religions also look to the Bible as a source of hope, strength, truth and history. The Bible was originally written in Greek and Hebrew, but over time has been translated into many of the world’s languages to accommodate those who believe in the Bible’s powerRead MoreStudy Bible History And Theology At Northeastern Seminary978 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction I feel blessed for the opportunity to study Bible history and theology at Northeastern Seminary. Since seminary was never in my plans, I know God orchestrated this opportunity. As I reflect, my preparation for seminary begin in 2005 when I had a desire to become a Christian Counselor for women and children. As a result, I enrolled in a Christian Counseling program offered by the American Association of Christians Counselors. When I completed the program, I discovered that in orderRead MoreWhat Are Some Methodological Issues Scholars Encounter Studying The Hebrew Bible And The Histories Of Ancient Israel?711 Words   |  3 Pagesissues scholars encounter studying the Hebrew Bible and the histories of ancient Israel? There are so many different variations of the same text that the story cannot be aligned with assurance for some scholars. There are different perspectives regarding the same stories in history, therefore they have been separated into their own collections of literature; such as canonization and biblical text recognized by different sects. Not all of the Hebrew Bible was written in Hebrew, in fact, some of theRead MoreThe Magna Carte, The Declaration Of Independence, And But The Communist Manifesto1534 Words   |  7 Pages Throughout out the history of the world many documents have had profound influences upon humanity. The Magna Carte, The Declaration of Independence, and even the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx are examples of some of the documents that have helped to shape humanity. The Bible has had perhaps more impact on humanity than any other Document ever written. Many people read the Bible, but know little of the history of the Bible itself. The history of th e Bible is a fascinating story of theRead MoreReading the Old Testament Essay1187 Words   |  5 PagesThe Old Testament and the Bible itself has been studied extensively for centuries. Archeologists and Scholars have labored and pondered over texts trying to decipher its clues. It does not matter how many times the Old Testament has been studied there will always be something new to learn about it or the history surrounding it. In the book Reading the Old Testament: an Introduction, the author Lawrence Boadt presents us with a few different authors of the Old Testament that used different names forRead MoreAnalysis Of The Old Testament Book Of Esther1060 Words   |  5 PagesTHE BOOK OF ESTHER Course: Introduction to the Old Testament book of Esther Related Courses: Finding similarities in the Old and New Testament books Intended Audience: Adult Bible Class Objective After completing this lesson, students: a) Will readily be able to expound on where God is evident in the book of Esther b) Will apply the practices of searching the scriptures for similarities in Old and New Testament books. c) Will be able to show and find Christ even when he is not named or mentionedRead MoreThe Relevance and Authority of Scripture Essay952 Words   |  4 Pagesever changing culture. Second the Liberal movement was all about cultural relevance and used only as a record of history. Each holds a valid argument Neo-Orthodox however is a good blend of both cultural relevance and scriptural foundation. The Issues Evangelical Evangelicalism carried a strong emphasis on the Word of God. Which is in its own right a positive to the movement. Bible is used as the center of the Christian faith, however where they went wrong was saying that God is not moving anymore

Significant Changes During the Antebellum Period - 2662 Words

During the Antebellum period, between 1800 and 1850, the United States went through a number of significant changes. America went through the industrial revolution brining along technological advancements that are still used today. American citizens also started to separate into two groups: for slavery, and against it. And there was the rise of the great market economy. Throughout this period of U.S. history, changes occur that shape the world that Americans live in to this very day. During the Antebellum era there were a large number of advancements in transportation technology, such as railroads being placed all over the United States. There was also the building of numerous bridges and canals, and the development of the steamboat. During the pre-civil war period there was a huge expansion of railroads all over the country According to the web site quizlet, â€Å"From 1833 to 1850 the amount of railroad tracks increased from 136 miles to 9,000 miles† (http://quizlet.com) . The first steam engine was built in 1804 by Richard Trevithick. The steam engine that was most commonly used on rail ways was that built by George Stephenson. According to Mary Bellis the author of The History of Railroad Innovations, â€Å"Stephensons locomotive pulled six loaded coal cars and 21 passenger cars with 450 passengers over 9 miles in about one hour† (http://inventors.about.com). The growth of railroad use was a huge advancement in technology, because it helped transport people and goods toShow MoreRelatedThe Mysterious Death Of Mary Rogers And The Market Revolution1330 Words   |  6 Pagesam aware that it has a much deeper imperative reason of historical developments in the emergence of America during the Market Revolution and antebellum period rather than just telling the story of the murder of a blossoming young lady, which unfortunately was not unusual during this time period. Mary Rogers story gives the audience an impression of antebellum life. What I mean by Antebellum is pre-civil war. Before the civil war many things were allowed and there were no laws like we have today. InRead MoreSlavery Argument During The Antebellum Period1171 Words   |  5 PagesSlavery Argument During the Antebellum period, with the emergence of the Second Great Awakening provoked lots of political and social reforms such as abolitionism and changes within the religion of Christianity. However, despite having all of these changes, the creation of the cotton gin was absolutely on of the more significant one because it created a more efficient way to produce cotton, thus needing more labor to operate such machinery. Therefore, whilst the antebellum period is occurring it causedRead MoreSlavery Was The Engine Of American Economic Growth1420 Words   |  6 PagesThere is no doubt that slavery was the engine of American economic growth. United States of America experienced an economical revolution during the slave era and slavery was one of the main factors that contributed to that. As slavers took African slaves for granted and used them to satisfy their economic purposes. Surely it will make sense. Slave labor benefited the economy in many ways, such as agriculture, construc tion, slave owners and slave trade. We will start with how the Atlantic slaveRead MoreSimilarities And Differences Between The North And The South During Antebellum1120 Words   |  5 PagesCynthia Anderson-Madueke HIST 1301 Prof Nicolax Cox 12-08-2014 Similarities and Differences between the North and the South during Antebellum The Antebellum period in the United States history was considered as time between 1820 and 1862. During this period, significant changes took place in terms of political, social and economic effects in America. The United States economy was changed from an underdeveloped country of frontiersmen and farmers into an industrialized economy. The South AmericanRead MoreThe Atlantic Slave Trade Essay1225 Words   |  5 Pages (Fage 1969, 394). With such incredible longevity, it was inevitable that the institution of slavery would find its way to the new world. The Atlantic Slave trade can be divided into two eras. The first era of the Atlantic slave trade began on significant scale in 1502, with the Southern American Portuguese and Spanish colonies accounting for the majority of slave imports. Soon, the British, French and Dutch began to abduct people from Africa for the purpose of forming slave populations in the NewRead MoreEssay about President Abraham Lincoln1151 Words   |  5 Pag es he is still considered to be one of our greatest Presidents, and his legacy remains important for the nation today. By the late 1800s, sectional tensions in America had led to a split between the Northern and Southern states. During the Antebellum period, the North became more industrialized as the South increased its agricultural production. The two sections developed differing economies and ideas and by April 14, 1861, at Fort Sumter, the tensions came to a head as the American CivilRead MoreThe War Of The American Civil War1439 Words   |  6 Pageswould be irrevocably changed. In May of 1865, with the abolition of slavery engrained into the Constitution with the passage of the 13th Amendment, the Confederate armies of Lee and Johnston disbanded, and Lincoln dead of an assassin’s bullet; this change was the only certainty the torn fabric of the newly reunited states was left to be resown. Andrew Johnson and Southern Democrats believed the revolution of 1863 had gone far enough. Radical Republicans and African-Americans sought instead to bringRead MoreThe Civil War Of Slavery1699 Words à ‚  |  7 PagesInstitution of Slavery. Along with this major difference, there were events in the United States that built the tension between these begins and led to the inevitable Civil War. One of the first events was the Antebellum Reform that included a religious awakening that occurred during this time period. This religious awakening had a focus on personal convergence. This personal convergence simple meant that if you were able to recognize sin in your own life, you were able to recognize sin in the lives ofRead MoreInfluences On Flannery O Connor s Literary Legacy1915 Words   |  8 Pagesup in the Antebellum Period and her strong Catholic beliefs both influenced Flannery O’Connor’s writing. The culture during the Antebellum Period affected Flannery O’Connor’s writing. The years between the War of 1812 and the Civil War are known as the Antebellum Period or the pre-civil war era. During this time, the abolitionist movement began and the treatment of African Americans began to be recognized as an issue. O’Connor presents many issues and situations, which occurred during the pre-civilRead MoreCrossing Borders Through Folklore By Alma Jean Bilingslea Brown1286 Words   |  6 Pagesat one point as the movement from victimization to consciousness and from division to wholeness, the journey was perceived to be as much personal as psychological as political and social. (13) The purpose of crossing these borders was to change and correct not only the view held by others, but also the view that African Americans, as marginalized people, held of themselves (26). This border crossing in seen in Butler s Kindred as the protagonist, Dana, travels through time and space and

The Story Of An Hour/Mother Savage Essay Example For Students

The Story Of An Hour/Mother Savage Essay In the short story of Mother Savage by Guy de Maupassant, we learn of what life was like for a widowed mother whose only son goes off to war, the setting taking place in Virelogne, France during the Franco-Prussian war. Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) lived during this time and participated in the war himself. Through Historical, Biographical, and New Historical critical analysis of the author, and the time period, we will see that the effects of the war and how it greatly influenced this piece of literature. Formally known as Guy de (Henri Rene Albert) Maupassant, he was a French novelist and short-story writer. He is deemed one of the modern masters of the art of the short story and has influenced practitioners of that genre from his time to the present. (Guy de Maupassant Encarta Encyclopedia 2001. CD-ROM. Microsoft Electronic Publishing, 2001) Maupassant did not grow up a natural writer; In fact he did not consider a literacy career until he was almost thirty years old. Before this, he studied law in Paris, but the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, which destroyed his familys fortune and forced Maupassant to find work as a government office clerk, interrupted his studies. To divert himself from the office work he found tedious, he swam, boated, pursued feminine company at fashionable places, and began to write. His parents separated when he was 11 years old. Maupassant grew up in his native Normandy. In 1869 Maupassant started to study law in Paris, but soon, at age 20, he volunteered to serve in the army during Franco-Prussian War. (http://www. online-literature. com/maupassant/ Literature Network) This comes into play when in the text it says: When the war broke out, Mother Savages son, who was then thirty three years old, volunteered, leaving his mother all alone. However, no one felt sorry for the old woman because everybody knew she had money. The author himself also volunteered to fight with the French army. There is not mention if his mother was widowed, but his familys fortune was destroyed by the outbreak of the war. Could this possibly been what Maupassant desired for his own family that they had money? The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, 1870-71, a conflict between France and Prussia that signaled the rise of German military power and imperialism. (Franco-Prussian War Encarta Encyclopedia 2001. CD-ROM. Microsoft Electronic Publishing, 2001) We enter further into the story as the Prussians arrived, and they were billeted with the people of the area, according to their wealth and resources of each family. Because Mother Savage was known to have money- she would be assigned four Prussian soldiers to come into her home. These soldiers would help out around the house, and could be seen cleaning up the kitchen, washing dishes, chopping wood, peeling potatoes, washing linen-in short, doing all the chores like four good boys working for their own mother. (Fiction A Pocket Anthology R. S. Gwyn Page 65 paragraph 3) These soldiers appeared to be like second sons to Mother Savage, doing what her son would be doing if he were there. The author inserts an interesting thought She liked them well enough, too, those four enemies of hers; for country people do not feel patriotic hatred-those feelings are reserved for the upper classes. (Fiction A Pocket Anthology R. S. Gwyn page 66 paragraph 1) She liked the four soldiers as sons of her own as well, yet she saw them also as the enemy. It wasnt until she received information of her sons death that her behavior changed dramatically. At first it describes her as being overwhelmed by the news. No real emotion at first, as if she is letting reality set in, and then her emotions take over and she begins to cry as she tries to visualize her sons death She then hears the voices of the four Prussian soldiers coming and she quickly hides the letter in her pocket and met them very calmly. As she was preparing dinner, the soldiers were able to bring back a rabbit so they could have something good to eat for dinner. When it came time to kill the rabbit for dinner she did not have the heart to do it; this was not the first rabbit she has ever had to kill. One of the soldiers hit the rabbit over the head and she proceeded to prepare the rabbit for dinner and the sight and warmth of the blood made her think about her son who had just been killed in battle by the Prussians. After dinner she asks the soldiers that after a whole month of being together she didnt even know their names. They understood, with some difficulty what she wanted and gave her their names; she insisted they write it down on a piece of paper along with their addresses of their families. then she folded up the paper and put it into her pocket, next to the letter which had told her about the death of her son. (Fiction A Pocket Anthology R. S. Gwyn page 67 paragraph 6) Pur carum EssayShe was raised in a culture where many people were holding onto society and values the way they were, and yet many others were feeling there was need for change, that change being the Womens Rights Movement. It is unknown how Kates mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother felt about this fight for womens rights, but one can assume that being the strong women they were, most likely they had very strong beliefs in womens rights as well. They had, after all, already been widowed and had been the man and the woman in the house for years. The OFlaherty women had strong souls and they knew how to take care of themselves. Safely said, Kate Chopin had a strong desire to be her own woman. She would make her own rules. Having been raised and graduated from a very prestigious Catholic school, Kate was taught very strict values and guidelines. She doesnt seem to use those values when living her life, as one would see by her many affairs after her husbands death, one with a married man. Kate appears to be a woman filled with passion and desires; she went after what she wanted and she said what she thought, even when it was scandalous. Kate does not restrict herself to a certain way of acting, living, or writing, as is seen in the content of her stories and novels. In a time that it was not acceptable for women to speak out about sexuality and independence, Kate screams it in her writing. Her stories brought on many controversies and was not widely appreciated or accepted until many years after Kates death. Kate Chopin leaves a legacy behind, though. Along with many very popular stories, her unacceptable literatures have now been published and are considered masterpieces. Chopin wrote of a time in the future where women had the freedom to write what they felt, but she did it in a time when it was unacceptable. Through her writing, Kate told a story of womens rights in their own. She fought this battle alone and it was Kate Chopins boldness and courage, which left her to stand out among all others. Mrs. Mallard is known at the beginning of the story to have a heart condition. What kind of a heart condition, we do not know. As Mrs. Mallard learns of her husbands death She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. (Fiction A Pocket Anthology R. S. Gwyn page 71 paragraph 2) She is demonstrating that she is not remorseful and that the institution of marriage was more of a prison to her than anything else. She then asks to be left alone as she goes to her room, and this is where the thoughts start churning in her mind as to what she is going to do next with a metaphorical chain that has now been loosed from her. Now that she was a widow, she had the social status that was acceptable by society. There would be no powerful will bending her in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow creature. (Fiction A Pocket Anthology R. S. Gwyn page 72 paragraph 4) In 1855 on November 1, being one of the founders of the Pacific Railroad, her father was aboard the train on its inaugural journey over the Gasconade Bridge, which collapsed, killing many of its passengers. After only two months into her term at Sacred Heart, Kate came home and was to be educated by her great-grandmother. Eliza Faris OFlaherty, Kates mother, was a member of the prominent French-Creole community and a member of an exclusive social circle. Eliza was only 27 years old when she heard of her 50-year-old husbands death. She may have been depressed, yet liberated by the news, or so Kate Chopins Story of an Hour suggests: a wife, hearing of her husbands death in a train accident, delights in thoughts of freedom. As we can see by this family tragedy, Kate Chopin wrote this story as an expression of how she felt about women and womens rights. She was also sharing what her grandmother felt as she lost her husband in a railroad disaster. Could this be a re-creation of her grandmothers situation? It us unknown to us whether or not Kates grandmother had a heart condition or not, or how she died, but Mrs. Mallard was overwhelmed once again at the knowledge of her husbands state of being alive that she died of heart disease-of joy that kills. Once again we can see that stories from peoples lives influence what we write. This was evident in the life of Kate Chopin. She was known as A Woman Ahead of Her Time- in that she stepped out of the traditional role of a woman of her time, and made it known the feelings of women however controversial it may be, she made it known to all.

St. Anthony The Hermit And St. Catherine Of Siena, According To Their

St. Anthony the Hermit and St. Catherine of Siena, according to their respective biographers St. Athanasius the Great and Raymundus De Vineis, believed in following the footsteps of Jesus Christ. Although both focus on different types of examples, Athanasius and Vineis both agreed that a saint must not give in to his/her temptations and must have the power to perform miracles. However, Athanasius' definition of the social consciousness of a saint was almost completely opposite of Vineis'. Athanasius and Vineis defined many of the boundaries of sainthood similarly, yet also differed on some interpretations of saintliness. Athanasius and Vineis agreed that one act of holiness was the reluctance to give in to temptation. Anthony and Catherine, as expressed by their respective biographers, renounced worldly desires such as food, money and lust. However, though both Anthony and Catherine faced temptation, they faced different forms of it. According to Athanasius, Anthony faced many evils that usually pertained to wealth or acts of lust. But through prayer and belief the Lord delivered Anthony from these evils. Now as he went on he again saw, not this time a phantom, but real gold lying in the way. Whether it was the enemy that pointed it out, or whether it was a higher power training the disciple and proving to the devil that he cared nothing even for real riches, he himself did not say, and we do not know; only that it was gold that he saw. Antony marvelled [sic] at the quantity, but avoided it like fire and passed on without looking back, running swiftly on till he lost sight of the place and knew not where it was (Athanasius, p.19). Athanasius went on to write many other examples very similar to this one, but every time, Anthony saw temptation and he simply ignored it and put it out of his mind. Catherine also faced temptation, but unlike Athanasius, Vineis focused on food as the principal enticement. By the age of twenty, Catherine gave up meat and wine in order to follow the path of Jesus. Vineis wrote that God came to Catherine and blessed her for all of her hard labors and quenched her worldly cravings. ?After this tyme the holie maid was so replenished with heavenlie grace that she neither did, nor might eate, her bodilie meate in such sort, as she was wont to doe before (Vineis, p.167).? After this, Catherine no longer needed food to survive, but at certain times she seemed almost forced, usually by her husband, to eat those foods that she formerly craved so she would not die. The Lord came to Catherine and told her not to worry and to obey what her husband asked of her. Vineis seemed to convey a message t hat after a person has been blessed by God, that person will not need to worry about how his/her actions will affect his/her standing with God in heaven. Athanasius and Vineis considered the performance of miracles holy, primarily the power to heal. However, although Athanasius depicted Anthony as having the power to heal, he tended to focus on different aspects of Anthony's holiness, whereas Vineis portrayed healing as Catherine's primary saintly power. Catherine used her gift to heal many people during her lifetime, but many people did not realize Catherine's true ability to heal until shortly after her death. But bicause, being a weake woman, she could not come her selfe to touch anie part of her bodie or garmentes, by reason of the great presse and crowd of the people: she praied some one, that stood there neere to the beere, that he would be so good, as to take a vele of hers, and put it to some part of the bodie, and so deliver it unto her againe. When she had received her vele againe, she put it to her armes and foorthwith her arme was perfectly healed, and in as good state, as ever it was before. The which when she perceived, she cried out for ioye, and declared to all the people, that were there present, what a wonderfull worke our Lord had wrought upon her. Wherupon they brought in manie other weake and feeble creatures, hoping, that if they might come to

11 Signs Your Boss Likes You Even If It Doesnt Seem Like It

11 Signs Your Boss Likes You Even If It Doesnt Seem Like It Having a solid relationship with your boss is incredibly important. It’s important to have a good rapport and to earn each other’s trust and respect. But some bosses are less effusive than others. What to do if your boss leaves you feeling in the dark as to her opinion of you? Here are 11 signs your boss is likes  you, even if, perhaps, she doesn’t show it much.1. You Only Get Tough LoveIf your boss gives you a lot of feedback, and most of it is negative, this is actually a good sign. He respects you enough to give you the notes you need to improve, and is invested in your improvement. Plus, he thinks you can handle the constructive criticism. So take it on the chin and keep doing better and better.2. You’re Constantly Given ChallengesDoes your boss give you more than you feel like you can handle? Perhaps she wants to test you, or groom you, and puts you on tough assignments. This may be a bit overwhelming, but it’s usually a very good sign.3. You Always  Sniff Out PrioritiesIf you are tuned into what your boss’s top priorities are, then not only can you work more effectively, but you’ll know whether you are working with the same endgame in mind. Keep this channel of communication open and be sure to volunteer for the projects that align with these priorities. Quickest way to your boss’s heart!4. You Feel RespectedIt doesn’t actually matter if your boss likes you. All that matters is respect. You don’t have to go for maniIf another employee is struggling, or someone has a problem or needs guidance with a difficult task, and your boss sends them down to you? Or you get singled out as an example of good work for the rest of your team to aspire to? That’s a great sign you’re in the inner circle in your boss’s eye.10.  You’re Trusted with the MoneymakersWhen the stakes are high, you’re the one who gets sent into the game. An important project or client com es around, and your boss turns to you. This sign of trust is a big one, and you should feel great about it.11.  You’re Not IgnoredAgain, maybe you aren’t happy hour besties, but your boss does go out of her way to check in with you from time to time- to assess how satisfied you are in your job, and to make sure she’s not in any danger of losing you. That’s a great sign of just how highly you are valued.

Free Essays on Disney

Disneyland was a dream come true. The dreamer of this "magical little park" was Mr. Walt E. Disney. Walt wanted to create a kind of family park where kids and parents could have fun together. The original plans for the park were on 8 acres next to the Burbank studios where his employees and families could go to relax. During World War II, the ideas for the park were put on hold. But the dream kept growing. It was soon clear that 8 acres by the studio would not be enough. By the 50's it was clear that the park would need a lot of money and land. Walt and his brother Roy and a few others were the only ones that believed that this park would be a success. Walt once said, "I could never convince the financiers that Disneyland was feasible because dreams offer too little collateral." Walt decided to use television to get the idea of the Magic Kingdom into the people's houses. The show would be called "Disneyland." This brought the idea into reality for Walt and the American people. The land that now houses Disneyland used to be just 180 acres of orange groves and walnut trees. When the real designing came about, Walt was met with tough questions. How do you make believable wild animals? How do you make a Mississippi paddle ship? How exactly do you go about building a big castle in the middle of Anaheim, California? Disney looked to his movie studio staff for the answers. The design of Disneyland was something never done before. There would be five uniquely different lands. Main Street, U.S.A. was where Walt wanted to relive the typical turn of the century city Main Street. He said, "For those of us who remember the carefree time it recreates, Main Street will bring back happy memories. For younger visitors, it is an adventure in turning back the calendar to the days of grandfather's youth." Adventureland was an "exotic tropical place" in a "far-off region of the world." Walt said, "To create a land that would make this dream reality, we ... Free Essays on Disney Free Essays on Disney Disneyland was a dream come true. The dreamer of this "magical little park" was Mr. Walt E. Disney. Walt wanted to create a kind of family park where kids and parents could have fun together. The original plans for the park were on 8 acres next to the Burbank studios where his employees and families could go to relax. During World War II, the ideas for the park were put on hold. But the dream kept growing. It was soon clear that 8 acres by the studio would not be enough. By the 50's it was clear that the park would need a lot of money and land. Walt and his brother Roy and a few others were the only ones that believed that this park would be a success. Walt once said, "I could never convince the financiers that Disneyland was feasible because dreams offer too little collateral." Walt decided to use television to get the idea of the Magic Kingdom into the people's houses. The show would be called "Disneyland." This brought the idea into reality for Walt and the American people. The land that now houses Disneyland used to be just 180 acres of orange groves and walnut trees. When the real designing came about, Walt was met with tough questions. How do you make believable wild animals? How do you make a Mississippi paddle ship? How exactly do you go about building a big castle in the middle of Anaheim, California? Disney looked to his movie studio staff for the answers. The design of Disneyland was something never done before. There would be five uniquely different lands. Main Street, U.S.A. was where Walt wanted to relive the typical turn of the century city Main Street. He said, "For those of us who remember the carefree time it recreates, Main Street will bring back happy memories. For younger visitors, it is an adventure in turning back the calendar to the days of grandfather's youth." Adventureland was an "exotic tropical place" in a "far-off region of the world." Walt said, "To create a land that would make this dream reality, we ...

Investment analysis and portfolio management Assignment

Investment analysis and portfolio management - Assignment Example The risks attributed to the investment done in both the Wall Street and Dubai Financial Market depends on a number of factors, which include overall volatility of the financial market. In these cases, the selling price of shares across various sectors appears to be stable due to the big number of big investment companies such as Google and Amazon among others that have heavily invested. This aspect stabilizes the market pricing and thus reduces the risks involved. In addition, the portfolios invested in are not risky and this leaves a leeway of accepting to take the risks that may occur. The investment of 1,500,000AUD in diverse sectors in both the Wall Street and Dubai Financial Market is substantive and the fact that tow different markets are invested in, it implies that, the risk is diversified. In essence, risk diversification is a critical component of that an investor considers before investing in a financial market. In this case, the investor is well prepared to face a situation where a risk would occur in one Investment Company, whereas the other one makes profits. This explains the essence of risk diversification. With this implication, then the investor’s ability to take risk qualifies to be average. However, the investments on the stock type F reduce the investor’s ability to take the risk. Considering the selling price of $ 15.71 on Monday, February 02, 2015 and $16.13 on Sunday February 15, 2015 respectively, we can conclude that, the this type of stock did not sell at a reasonable profit margin, when comparing g it with GOOG or AMZN, whic h was sold at $ 493. 72 and $ 293.95 on Monday, January 12, 2015 respectively. The point of focus attributed to the profit margin is on the number of shares invested in the profitable stocks. In the case of the non-profitable stock F in Wall Street, the number of shares traded is 1500, whereas the number of the shares

London Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

London Economy - Essay Example This is because it had considerable impact on family life, health, civility, parenting and academic achievement. Since the implementation of the London Living Wage campaign in 2001, majority of the lowly paid employees have advocated for them to be paid the living wage. The living wage is not only of benefit to the employees, but also to the employers. In this study, we considered the impact of London Living Wage on the banking sector. Employers in this sector benefit by; improvement in the employees’ morale, recruitment and retention of workers, increase the overall productivity of the firm, workers motivation and also on the goodwill of the firm as a whole. Employees will also benefit through better working conditions and improved living standards and life styles. This has enabled them manage their bills accurately, pay for tuition and further training and have a better family life. Living wage can be defined as, a wage rate sufficient to provide and meet the necessities and other social amenities that are essential, at an acceptable standard of living. There is a distinction between living wage and minimum wage. Minimum wage is defined as a wage determined by the legal authority which employers cannot pay their employees below it (Waltman, 2008). On the other hand, the London Living Wage is the threshold at which individuals can live above the poverty line, and they can have sufficient net to provide and maintain a quality life (Luce, 2005). The first campaign of LLW was launched in 2001 by London citizens. They included; schools, faith organizations, community groups and trade union branches. They argued that low income had effects on the community as a whole. This is because it had considerable impact on family life, health, civility, parenting and academic achievement. The main aim of the campaign was to establish a living wage that was distinct from the already existing legal obligatory minimum wage. They argued that

Optimal Bidding Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Optimal Bidding Strategies - Essay Example Game theoretical issues in bidding often form the basis of well defined mathematical models used by bidders in arriving at optimal bidding strategies. Bidders often have varying preferences and capabilities, and thus, one bidder’s strategy may directly impact on another bidder’s strategy, although on the basis of private and independent valuations to the bid. The overall market efficiency may also be influential to the impact and effectiveness of optimization strategies that bidders put in place (Eckbo, 2010, P.55-78). First Price Sealed Bid Sealed bids are often rendered as the seller’s monopoly since information regarding the winning bids and their valuations are open to the seller and hidden to buyers as opposed to open forms where information is available to all participants. First price sealed bid auction is basically a bid where each participating bidder submits a sealed bid hidden from other bidding participants to the auctioneer. The first price sealed bi d is rather referred as a one shot game since bidders winning chances relies on their one time decision and valuation after which the bid manager opens the bids and determines the highest bid as the winning bid. Bidders with the winning market clearing bids must then pay the amounts they set forward as a one shot bid (McGuigan, Moyer, & Harris, 2011, p.594). The first-price sealed bid auction optimal bidding strategy basically lies on submitting bids below one’s private valuation to maximize surplus. Maximization of a bidders expected surplus is dictated by lower a bid that increases surplus potential although on the other hand it reduces probability a bid becoming successful. More so, the probability of a bid becoming successful increases with valuation increase but decreases with an increase in the number of bidders with regards to their strategies and valuations. The basic optimal strategy for the first-price sealed bid auction is for a bidder to bid below the real valuati on in order to make a profit. In case the bidder bids above or equal to the bid valuation, the payment may exceed or equal the bid valuation in case of a win bid, and thus, no optimization is achieved (Sheble. 1999. P.44-151). There are no interactions among bidders in the first price sealed bid auction, since bids are only submitted by participants once. Participants trade between winning more frequently and maximizing profits, and low bidding with regards to the Nash equilibrium. Optimal bidding strategies under independent and uniformly distributed private valuations among bidders calls for a slight overestimation strategy of the winning bid, considering the fact a bidder has the chance of winning when he or she has the highest estimate irrespective of correct bidding based on averages (Kagel & Levin, 2002, p.2). Assumption that all participating bidders are risk-neutral renders the optimal bidding strategies in the first price sealed bid auction as a bidder that emerges the high est bidder among all bidders bidding the highest expected value (Sheble, 1999, p.70). The optimal difference between the value that a bidder opts to bid below private valuation and the actual value basically depends on beliefs of the bidder with regards to rival bidder valuation and strategies. This strikes situational

Exploration of the Economics of Poverty

Exploration of the Economics of Poverty 3.1. Introduction A significant body of the literature has been dedicated to examining wide spreading of poverty  and its gradual explosion issues together with pioneering steps in research and practice towards poverty  eradication have created an unprecedented outburst of studies about business literature for poverty  eradication. The following section is a review of literature about how multinationals attend low-income markets where poverty  occurs on a large scale. The review is carried out with a concern about poverty alleviation and some implications and appropriate frameworks for MNCs executives to help to alleviate poverty while selling to the poor. From this viewpoint, the literature review is divided into three main sections: BOP inititiative, buyer behavior and marketing strategies. It examines some key elements of the BOP initiative companies motivation; the BOP business model; the role of micro finance. With a number of successful stories acknowledged in the literature, the sectio n also reviews how to adopt MNCs marketing mix to attend the BOP profitably. 3.2. Part 1: Poverty in Business Perspectives Billions of people living in the extreme poverty, who are in many cases denied access to proper services, energy, water, health, and above all the opportunities to improve their economic and social outlook, is a significant societal problem. Even though the high economic growth of large-population countries, such as China and India, has brought about many job opportunities and brought down the overall poverty  level, it is still not sufficient to reach other targets in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (World Bank, 2004). Along with the increasing concern of NGOs and other non profit organization towards poverty alleviation, business perspectives have been gradually positioned as a useful tool in contributing to poverty reduction. Such interest has appeared to become much more worldwide through being catalyzed by pioneer approaches, both in practice and theory, which have awakened business attention to the problem of poverty. Indeed, there is an abundance of academic literature on the. It appear to have been dissected from all imaginable angles Poverty in business perspectives has a diverse appearance, such as the vast majority of 4 billion people living on less than $1 or $2 a day (Prahalad and Hammond, 2002), poor producers (Karnani, 2007), gender (Thierry, 2007), self-employed poor people, micro entrepreneurs, micro franchisees (Gibson, 2007), employees, business owners, etc. Within these much attention is lately placed not on poverty as a whole but on its attributed and its causes. 3.2.1. Companies Motivation to Attend Low-Income Markets Much of the debate about poverty alleviation has been provoked by suggestions that multinational corporations (MNC) with extensive financial resources are in the best position to lead the process of selling to the poor. The construction of a new image of poverty in business perspectives, for example, is much contributed by the pioneering idea of Prahalad and Hammond (2002) who focus on the large buying power of 4 billion people earning less than $ 2000 each per year at the lowest tier of the economic pyramid â‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Bottom of the pyramid. Prahalad and Hammond (2002) advise private companies to view poverty as a potential of serving an unexploited, multitrillion-dollar market and alleviating the level of global poverty while still earning a profit. By infusing the profit motive into value creation, the hope is that private companies will take the leading role in serving the BOP and, thus, the purpose of alleviating poverty will more likely succeed. From this follows/Keeping thi s in mind, the main two motivations for profit seeking companies to attend this market is: The opportunity to covert BOP segments purchasing power into profits; and The ability to bring prosperity to the poor, and thus alleviate poverty. This was supported by 3.2.1.1. Purchasing Power and Profitability A key component surrounding literature is that even poor people could be profitable customers. a) Creating New Business Opportunities Such strong view rests on the idea that the potential growth for many multinational (MNC) and medium sized companies does not rest on the low-income market in the developing countries. Instead, its source is the immense size of potential market of $13 trillion at purchasing power parity (PPP) that the two-thirds of the world population with unmet needs are supposed to represent. Projections and demographic trends also indicate that by 2050, more than 85% of the worlds population will fall within this category. This portends an abysmal decline in effective demand. By empowering the poor, businesses naturally create new business opportunities by raising effective demand and consumption levels. b) Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) since it will help to reduce poverty and more importanlty for the company, it will be crucial to their long-term competitiveness and success. One of the most interesting implications of BOP is the radical impact it can have on a companys core business model. .. for instance, claims that organizations which set out to empower poor communities by providing basic education and skills acquisition, improving local human capital, protecting the environment, and developing the culture of accountability and transparency, are practicing some components of CSR which is essential for the long-term sustainability of any company. Indeed, many large corporations have announced CSR benefits that impacts on their profitability and claim it to be a key element of development. Besides, adds that a comprehensive set of CSR policies, practices and programmes incorporated in companys business strategy can increase productivity, contribute to competitiveness, improve staff recruitment and retention rates and create a more positive corporate image. All in all, concludes that d) Government support Political Capital It is obvious that businesses that empower the poor strike a compelling partnership with the government. Most of the time, politicians take undeserved credit for attracting such private investments etc. 3.2.1.2. Poverty Alleviation and Prosperity to the Poor a) Job Creation Businesses whose products and services address basic and common needs can enter the bottom of the pyramid market segments more effectively, and with a deeper social impact through partnerships with highly innovative community groups. They can scale their impact significantly by leveraging their expertise and experience in developing skills and engaging such community groups actively in delivering their products and services. This way, communities are better served, if an increasing number of people engaged in the business are people from their immediate neighborhoods, giving it a local flavor and a compelling sense of stake in the business. adds that expansion by multinationals into emerging markets creates new jobsproduct-distribution networks and shops, for exampleand income earned from those jobs ripples through local economies, creating more new jobs, a phenomenon that economists call the multiplier effect. b) Training, Education and Skills enhancement â‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Profit-seeking companies can also play an important role in educating BOP consumers. Banerjee and Duflo (2007) point out, that BOP consumers can be entrepreneurial and do several different types of jobs. However, due to their lack the skills they can not get higher paying jobs. The provision of funding and training is a way multinationals can support the poor. Education is also necessary not just for getting a job, but to make more informed decisions in other areas, e.g. health education can improve food choices. Besides, education and information can also help BOP negotiate better rates and recognizing counterfeit goods. c) Community Development: Through basic empowerment in terms of education and job creation, the community systematically grows out of the crutches of poverty. Beyond the occasional CSR embarked upon by businesses, empowered indigenes gradually but steadily develop their communities by training other relatives of theirs and embarking on micro projects that eventually add up to improving the lot of their communities. Not only, the company makes more profit, and the peoples lifestyle changes. The poor also benefit because they have access to services such as banking and insurance that once were denied them, he says. 3.2.2. Challenges of Attending Low-income Markets Nevertheless, there is a great branch of the literature about the nature, scope, and value of serving low-income segments (Karnani, 2007a; Martinez and Carbonell, 2007; Aiyar, 2006; Jaswal, 2007) that questions the ease with wich multinationals may enter the BOP and whether profits exist there at all. They argue that it is very unlikely that companies will be able to attend the BOP market profitably. Landrum (2007) points out that the costs of serving this segment can be very high. BOP customers are usually much dispersed geographically; they are very heterogeneous, which reduces the opportunities for obtaining significant economies of scale; and their individual transactions usually represent a low amount of money. In addition, consumers at the BOP are very price sensitive, which, again, makes profitability a difficult goal to achieve. For example, Karnani (2007a) posits that the poor may want the same products as the rich do but by virtue of being poor, they cannot afford them. The differences between business realities and development imperatives are not easy to reconcile, states () Some recent case studies also suggests that unlimited business opportunities and poverty eradication through profits may set unrealistic expectations for business executives (McFalls,2007). Second, the traditional timelines for achieving social goods versus profits differ (Harjula, 2005). Businesses may use a five-year horizon as their benchmark for returns. In contrast, social goals like reducing smoking and other unhealthy lifestyle behaviors may take generations. Thus, rather than viewing the poor primarily as consumers, this group suggest a focus on this segment as producers, i.e.potential entrepreneurs that can improve their economic situation by increasing their income level. Karnani suggests that raising income will alleviate their poverty, provide cost effective products to other consumers, and allow the formerly poor to consume more. Raising their incomes may require that they become producers with stable jobs and wages. Focusing on poor people as self-employed poor people, micro entrepreneurs, Gibson (2007) also suggested that constructing and running micro franchising models that pair franchisors (MNCs or non-governmental organizations), micro franchisors (independent business people) with other poor people to expand the business and get other poor people involved in a self-employment venture can help empower poor people to raise their standard of living and gain a greater degree of financial stability. CONCLUSION It postulates that if companies take the correct steps and devote sufficient resources to satisfying the needs of the BOP, they can overcome barriers to consumption. However, companies must be willing to invest time, resources and training to insure that the producers create products with some barriers to entry and are asonable level of productivity. BOP projects must be integrated into key areas in operations where decisions on new products and markets are made and executed. For most companies, BOP therefore requires comprehensive organizational change and heavy involvement of key business areas responsible for new market creation- something that far exceeds what is required to implement most other sustainability activities. Therefore, while there are potentially compelling reasons for widening the definition of market opportunities beyond consumer goods for low-income segments, the following part of literature review focuses on the BOP concept in its original form, i.e., as a business strategy aimed at selling profit-seeking products to low-income segments while simultaneously contributing to the resolution of significant societal problems in these regions.

Muslim views on wealth and poverty Essay

The topic wealth and poverty is very important in Islam. Humans naturally love wealth and possessions, but Muslims believe that all wealth is created and given to us by Allah and so it belongs to him. Humans can only work hard but any wealth that is given to them is from Allah. Because of this, Muslims believe wealth should be spent on family and also on those who are in need. What is poverty in Islam Muslims believe life is a test from Allah, and we can either choose to follow him or follow the path of Shaytan (Satan). Muslims believe nothing can happen to them that is outside the plans of Allah. Suffering and pain are part of his plans to test the faith of people. There are two different types of evil according to Hindus: Natural evil which is a result of natural processes. Death comes as a result of committing natural evil. And moral evil. Hindus believe that Hindus just need to commit moral evils such as incest, theft, adultery, lying and murder. They believe this comes from the law of karma. If a person suffers in this world, it is because of bad karma in a previous life. Muslims believe life is a test of obedience to Allah; therefore poverty is a test of patience from Allah. They belief that they are in a wining position because if they don’t have wealth, they are being rewarded for their patience. Non believers do bad things yet they live luxuriously, but Muslims do good and still are poor. This is because they believe that the aim in life is to obey Allah, and their patience will be rewarded, where as non believers, believe that the aim in life is to get as much wealth as possible, which takes them away from the path of Allah, as it says in the Qur’an verse â€Å"To Allah we belong and to Him is our return† (2:156). What is Wealth in Islam and how does Islam deal with it? The Muslim ummah is very important in Islam, as we should treat every Muslim as our brothers and sisters so everyone is responsible for one and other, helping the neighbors and being kind to each other. â€Å"O mankind! We made you from a single (pair) of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that you may despise each other) Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)† (49:13) Life is a test for the rich and he poor. The rich will usually have nice lives as Allah has blessed them, but they must not let greed take over their soul. â€Å"Riches are sweet and a source of blessing to those who acquire them in a way: but those who seek them out of greed are like people who eat but are never full†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (The Prophet S.A.W hadith). They must use their wealth in the right way and Allah is testing them. The wealthy should give charity and zakah and earn Halal money. The poor are tested in Islam by their patience. Muslims believe if you are patient then Allah will reward you. They also know that nothing in this life belongs to them; it all belongs to Allah so they should focus on their faith rather than their wealth. â€Å"and know that your possessions and your children are but a trail and that surely Allah is a mighty reward† (8:28) Allah has given us wealth and Muslims know that it doesn’t belong to them. The wealth is not ours; therefore, we should share Allah’s possessions with the poor. Muslims do this by giving charity, such as zakah, sadaqah, sadaqah jariyah etc. What is Zakah? Zakah is one of the pillars of Islam, in which we must give at least 2.5% of our income to the poor. It is compulsory to all Muslims who have enough money to pay zakah, they must have had the money for year, they cant be in debt, they cant be mental and they must be past the age of maturity. â€Å"And (in the daytime and at night) establish the prayer and pay Zakah and [for the cause of your religion and state] lend to Allah a befitting loan, and remember whatever good you send forth for yourselves you shall find it with Allah better than before and greater in reward.† (73:20) The Qur’an demands that individuals take material responsibility for poverty and suffering in the Muslim community (ummah). That is why the Qur’anic revelation above demands that each person give up a certain amount of material wealth to support the poor. We must give zakah to the poor, the indigent, the sick the blind, orphans, the suffering etc. The following table shows the rates of zakah: Wealth Amount Rate Cash in hand or bank Our value of 595g silver 2.5% Gold and silver 85g gold, 595 g silver 2.5% Trading goods Value of 595g sliver 2.5% Cows and buffaloes 30 1 Goats and sheep 40 1 Mining produce any 20% agricultural Per harvest 10% from rain watered land 5% from irrigated land camels Per 5 1 sheep or goat Zakah al Fitr? Zakat al fitr is given at the end of Ramadan, before the eid prayer. It is necessary for who ever is capable to give it. It is to purify your soul, make up for the errors committed during Ramadan and it is also to help the poor on the holy eid day. It is estimated that approximately 3 pounds should be given from each member of your family. Aqiqah? Seven days after the birth of the child comes the aqiqah . it is a celebration where friends and relatives to come and eat and the baby is named. During this celebration the babies’ hair is shaved and by tradition, the same weight of hair in gold or silver is given to the poor, other Muslims offer a sacrifice. The meat is often shared with the family, the visitors and the poor. Sadaqah? Not every one is rich so how can the poor give charity? Charity comes in many forms weather it is giving money to the poor, building a mosque or even smiling at someone. To clean the streets of hurtful things is also a charity. Every one in the world is capable of doing charity as Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (S.A.W) said â€Å"there is no person who does not have the obligation of (doing) a charity every day that the sun rises.† He also said â€Å"smiling in the face of your brother is a charity†¦ and pouring out from your bucket into your brother’s bucket is a charity.† Sadaqah jariyah Sadaqah is on going charity. The reward for this type of charity benefits the donor even after they have passed away for as long as people receive the benefit from the donor’s charity. Forms of charity can be many things such as providing a well for clean water or even building a hospital. The prophet (S.A.W) said â€Å"when a man dies his action comes to an end except for three: an ongoing charity, knowledge that benefits others and pious offspring who pray for him† Riba/Interest Riba is the Arabic term used for usury. In Islamic terminology interest means effortless profit or that profit which comes free from compensation or that extra earning that is free of exchange. Riba is haram in Islam. The reason for this is because it is concerned a form of injustice, and exploitation. The economy today is debt based, and only does risk transfer, where as the Islamic economy is asset-based and doe risk sharing, it is all about fairness to all parties. The prophet (S.A.W) said † a dirham of usury a man devours with knowledge is greater than thirty six fornications† and it is also reported that he said â€Å"cursed the devourer of usury, its payer, its scribe and its two witnesses, and he said that they are equal (in sins).† Conclusion In conclusion wealth and poverty are very important matters in Islam. As Muslims we should know that life is given to us by Allah, therefore every thing in or possession belongs to Him so we must share our wealth. It is our duty as Muslims to help the ummah, and giving zakah and sadaqah will pure us from our greed and help our ummah. Also everyday friendly gestures such as smiling, helping can be a form of charity so you don’t ever need wealth to give charity.

The person that inspires me most Essay

The person that inspires me most turns out to be a fictional character, Barney Stinson from the famous series How I Met Your Mother. He exudes a uniquely vibrant and joyous energy in every single episode. Inspired by him, I have learnt many positive and useful traits. First of all, he is a positive person, even in the face of adversity. His well-known favorite quote:† When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead† depicts his notion clearly. It always reminds me of being sanguine no matter what happen and what I will come across. I believe by being positive as he is, I would have more self-control and therefore be able to achieve amazing feats in life. Secondly, Barney is a steadfast character as well. His never-give-up attitude proves to be one of most valuable lessons in life. Whenever he comes across a challenge, he is determined to see it done. That is also the reason why he is able to win the hearts of the large audience. His resolute has influenced me in making many important decisions in real life: when problems arise, no matter how daunting it seems, I must continue on and solve it at all cost. Step by step, I find myself more determined, more persistent in whichever path I tread upon. Last but not least, I am also impressed by his lightheartedness – to â€Å"live every moment to the fullest†. Yet he sometimes behaves in idiosyncratic nature as being unworried about many encumbrances; many desire to have such personality: being untroubled by pressing concerns and stressful life like him. Every moment, every second is to be treasured, because you never know what may happen to you tomorrow. Therefore I too believe: life is to be enjoyed, not to be detested.

The Most Reliable SAT Essay Template and Format

The Most Reliable SAT Essay Template and Format SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Aside from the â€Å"grid in† math questions, all you have to do for most of the SAT is answer multiple choice questions. And then, if you've chosen to take it, there's the essay. Or, more accurately, "To finish up, there's the essay." Because the last thing you'll do on the SAT (with Essay) is read a passage and write an essay analyzing its argument, all in 50 minutes. How can you even begin to read a passage, analyze it, and write an essay about it in 50 minutes? What SAT essay structure should you follow? Is there an SAT essay format that’ll score you a top score for sure? Read on to find out the answers to these questions!

Under Armour Example

Under Armour Example Under Armour – Article Example Under Armour Which of the five competitive forces is strongest and why? Product innovation is key is relating to the demands ofthe customers. It remains to be important in controlling inventory and thus acquire more market share in the very dynamic business environment. Who are Under Armours top three competitors to watch in the sports apparel industry? Why?The global market for sports apparel is highly competitive because the products are not easily differentiated. The top three competitors of Under Armour are Nike, Adidas, and Puma. These players are considered the three competitors due to Global Sports Apparel Market share they command and the obtainable revenue. What are the differences between the competitors strategies Under Armour, Nike, The Adidas Group? Which company has the better strategy? Why?Some players such as Under Armour focus on athletic apparel products of high quality-innovative performance. Other such as Nike concentrates on both constant innovation and different iating their products to target specific sport athletes and increase their market share. Nike has proved to have better strategies and this is evident in the huge global market they command in athletic apparel products. Their athletic apparel products offerings place this multinational in a niche market while differentiating the company from all competitive set. Using the financial data provided in the case study, which of the three rivals has been the best performer?Nike is the main competitor in the industry commanding close to 15% of the global market share and 42% being in America thus can be considered the best performer. Nike has remained a vital brand power while playing industry positioning role.What can Under Armour learn from its competitors? There is need to employ strategies that make their sports products appear unique despite the competition and target ignored sport segments. Likewise there need for Under Armour to understanding which of their competitor’s produ cts trend online and use this information to adjust company’s inventory to demands by customer. By incorporating all these changes into company’s marketing strategies, they will get closer to challenging their competitors.What can you apply to organizational work in your sector from what you in the Under Armour case? The organizations remain to be dynamic and competitive to date and as such review of strategies helps to remain competitive and acquire more market share. Exploring various options allow any company to learn a lot from the competitor success and adopt better strategies to remain competitive. Top of FormBottom of Form

Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 13

Law - Essay Example The social control theory can fit this scenario. This theory tries to explain why people do not engage in criminal activities. Being close to other members of the social group can make someone not to become a criminal. This is because people who belong to the same social group may find solutions that affect them in their daily routine. They may also have some conventional rules that can ensure they live together in harmony. This theory is applicable to this scenario since workers belong to the same social group and therefore they know what they need to do in order to avoid crimes. The state senator that is a go between the workers do divide them has his agenda that may not concur with their rights. He thinks that dividing them would establish a good condition for the workers but in the real sense, it does not . An implication of the theory is that it was intended to create harmony in the society given that the conditions were fulfilled. When the senator assures the donors that their work will not be interfered with by the union workers gives them the go-ahead to do what they want with the workers. The donors who are the major investors may turn up to humiliate the workers in what may be termed as the modern slavery. This is because the workers will have no one to give their complaints. They may end up doing a lot of work in very poor conditions. Their work may also be not compensated with a good wage. This kind of crime that the senator commits towards the labor sector deserves a lengthy punishment.

Discuss the evolution of style in Greek sculpture, naming and Essay

Discuss the evolution of style in Greek sculpture, naming and describing specific works that illustrate each of the stages you mention - Essay Example For instance, one of the major statues from this period includes the Karditsa warrior, which was found in Athens; another prominent statue was the mythological Mantiklos ‘Apollo’ found in Thebes (Boardman). The next prominent Greek stylistic era is referred to as the classical period. The classical period is recognized as extending between 500 to 400 BC (Stewart). The classical period was ushered in after the Greeks ended the Persian invasion at Marathon in 490 (Stewart). This optimism is reflected in the style, as Greek artists strove towards a new sense of realism. Among the prominent statues of this period includes Discobolos created by the artist Myron; this statue depicts a man in the process of a discus throw (Stewart). The final recognized Greek stylistic period is the Hellenistic period. This era is recognized as lasting from the late 4th to the 1st century BC. (Stewart) This period witnessed greater sculptural detail, as well as an attempt to demonstrate dynamic motion. The most seminal statue of this period is the Nike of Samthrace Statue, as it expertly demonstrates dynamic movement of wind flowing through the

Contemporary corporate governance issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Contemporary corporate governance issues - Essay Example Corporate governance has emerged as new buzzword in the modern world as far as the world of business is concerned. Generally, corporate governance is concerned with activities aimed at directing and controlling the activities of an organization, and this is done through establishment of structures, rules, and procedures that are critical in decision-making process (Baker and Anderson, 2010). The rise and development of corporate governance has brought into perspective the role, position, and importance of different stakeholders of a company. In most cases, the function, capability, and continuity of a company are attached to the behavior and relationships of different stakeholders (Baker and Anderson, 2010). The company has different stakeholders who, in one way or the other, contribute to the success and performance of the company. Major stakeholders of a company include board of governors, chief executive officer, management team, employees, customers, suppliers, society, and share holders (Davies, 2006). However, in recent times, there has been emerging debate with regard to the role and level of importance of different stakeholders of a company. There are those who view shareholders given their role as proprietors of capital to be the most important stakeholders and whose needs the company has to serve (McTaggart and Kontes 1993). On the other hand, there are those who think that, although shareholders have played a key role in providing capital and other critical investments, their possession without responsibility translates to nothing, and as a result, they have to give equal importance to other stakeholders such as employees and customers (Mallin, 2007). Still, there is another group that believes that a balance can be created so that there is no particular favor of one stakeholder, and that all stakeholders have to be considered equal and their needs satisfied equally without sabotaging the needs of others (Brink, 2011). Therefore, it may take time befo re perfect and meaningful consensus is reached. However, this is likely not to bring to stop the continued debate on the role and level of importance of different stakeholders. More debates, suggestions, criticisms, and all kinds of discussions are likely to come up in an attempt to divulge more information and understanding on these new emerging issues in corporate governance. Motivated by these aspects, the aim of this paper is to concisely make an argument with regard to the extent a company exists for the benefit of its shareholders. In doing so, attempt is made to discuss agency theory and the potential problems likely to emerge when such theories are put into practice. Shareholders Shareholders in any organization are viewed to be the suppliers of capital, and in return, they are likely to demand for corporate efficiency, honesty, productivity, and profitability (Freeman, Harrison, Wicks, Parmar, and De Colle, 2010). In this way, shareholders are perceived to possess and execu te certain powers that directly show the ability to control the functions. In doing so, the shareholders are motivated by their investments in the company, which they want or demand to bring positive returns and profits (Bain and Barker, 2010). For a long time, theories such as agency theory have tried to evaluate the role and position of shareholders and subsequently, justified why there is need to maintain and enhance shareholders value as a paramount thing in the organization and throughout its lifetime (Mallin, 2007). Shareholders, as the prime investors in the organization, are perceived to be the owners of the company and their interests are likely to supersede all other interests. Once they have invested in the company, shareholders are likely to manifest different motives, behaviors, and even ambitions. All these

Belonging Essay Essay Example for Free

Belonging Essay Essay As human individuals, we search for a niche to which we belong. It is ingrained within human nature to want for acceptance, for inclusion. This primal instinct drives our actions, often altering the perceptions we form of both others and ourselves. Barriers to belonging can negatively affect us psychologically and personally. Our individuality may be questioned due to social, cultural or historical influences. However, the effects of external pressures will be minimal if an individual is already confident in themselves. A study of the collection of poems, ‘Immigrant Chronicles’ by Peter Skrzynecki and the book ‘The Island’ by composer Amir Greer explore the multiple facets involved in the dynamic process of belonging or not belonging. If we are able to have a place in which we belong, our sense of self can be sustained. The heritage and experiences which an individual has within a culture cannot be forgotten; instead they may even become stronger. When placed in a new and confronting environment we can draw on past routine to provide comfort and security. The poem, ‘Felicks Skrzynecki’ written by composer, Peter Skrzynecki, uses poetic devices to explore how an individual can maintain a sense of belonging due to a strong cultural identity. Multiple descriptions throughout the poem display how Felicks is not affected by his lack of belonging to Australia, ‘Did your father ever try to learn English?’ instead he remains confident in his sense of self and is able to develop a distinct identity as shown through the metaphor â€Å"kept pace only with the Joneses/of his own mind’s making†. The commitment which he has for his garden, ‘walked it’s paths ten times around the world’, highlight how he has been successful in creating an environment to which he belongs and is happy and content. Felicks remains unaffected by the way he is judged by a society, for example his ability to draw upon past memories and experiences with his polish friends. Belonging to a place and culture remains ingrained within us, even when in a foreign environment. By establishing a strong connection to place an individual can maintain a sense of self; a strong bond will continue to enrich an individual’s lifestyle. Lacking a place to belong to has adverse effects on a sense of individuality. The poem ‘Felicks Skrzynecki’ explores difficulty of integrating into a contemporary Australian society. The persona within the poem is unable to form a connection to his past heritage displayed with the repetitive use of the exclusive pronoun ‘his’; ‘his garden’, ‘his polish friends’ and ‘his house’. The disconnection between father and son is highlighted through emotive simile, ‘loved his garden like an only child’. The strong juxtaposition between the two emphasises their differences and the struggle which the main person has. He is caught between two cultures, his Polish Heritage and the Australian society, and is unsure of which he belongs to; ‘words he taught me, remnants of a language I inherited unknowingly’. The main persona in the poem, ‘Felicks Skrzynecki’ suffers psychologically because he is unable to discover who he is or find a place to which he belongs. The sense of dislocation in Australia stems from conflict of a polish heritage he cannot remember. Lacking a sense of belonging to place inhibits the ability to form a sense of self; furthermore these negative experiences can accumulate and be detrimental to individuality. The choice of whether to belong, or not, is complex. Instinct drives us to crave for the acceptance of others; and to integrate into a society. The traits which make us unique and interesting individuals can be alienating and preventing belonging. Composer, Peter Skrzyneckis poem ‘St Patricks College’ is a personal recount of his experiences as a migrant undergoing education in Australia. The persona in the poem experiences a disconnection to the place and culture, which negatively affects his wellbeing. The mothers desire for her son to be seen as equal to others, through a common ‘uniform’, compels her to enrol him in an upper class school. Symbolism throughout the poem establishes the mothers need for her son belong as she is, ‘impressed by the uniforms of her employers sons’ The persona is clearly uncomfortable in his school, due to differences between he and the other students. Repetition of his mothers words, ‘What was best’ j uxtaposes with the personas opinion, ‘the darkness that surrounded me wasn’t â€Å"for the best† ’. As demonstrated in ‘St Patricks College’ not belonging will have adverse effects on an individual’s sense of self. Similarly in Amir Greders Picture Book, ‘The Island’ the alienation of an individual due to physical differences is  explored. The first impression which we form of others is based on how we see them and these physical differences can create barriers to belonging. Greder has incorporated a range of visual techniques to explore this flaw in humanity. The islanders are portrayed through illustrations as brutish, with stout legs, broad foreheads, blunted noses and large hands. The distortion of their features contrasts strongly to the newcomer who is naked, thin and small. Highlighting his vulnerability; in comparison to the fully clothed and pitchfork wielding islanders, ‘he wasn’t like them’. The islanders fear of the newcomer, who ‘haunted their days and often their dreams’, is enhanced by emotive exagge ration of their facial expressions. Gossip about his dissimilarity is made into a story to scare children, for example the school teacher who gives lectures ‘about savages and their strange ways’. The text aims to be didactic whilst displaying flaws in human nature. It forces the audience to question the moral values of those ‘monstrous’ figures. The islanders isolate him completely from their community ‘locking him in the stables’. Distrust of those who look or sound different causes groups of people to act in a harsh and inhumane manner. Individuals who are unable to conform whether it is due to physical differences or choice may be isolated or discriminated against by the society. When trying to belong it is integral that we first are able to define ourselves. This occurs through connections and experiences with places, people and cultures. Both Peter Skrzynecki and Amir Greder have explored the multiple aspects which are involved in the formation of an individual’s identity and various barriers to belonging, which prevent inclusion and acceptance. All three texts explore the issue involved in the migrant experience, issues of dislocation and lacking identity. The human experience is constantly being challenged by external pressures. Nevertheless when an individual is able to establish who they are, without relying on others, they become an independent individual. These individuals do not require a place or group to feel as if they belong, and instead belong to themselves.

Invasive or Exotic Species :: Environment, Plants, Animals

Today, Plants and animals usually can travel around the world in a matter of hours to days through planes or by ship. Usually their presence is harmful, yet some scientists believe that they can actually be a catalyst for biodiversity! Invasive or exotic species have altered the Chesapeake Bay region; with both a negative and positive impact. â€Å"Exotic species are plants, animals or microbes that have been transported from one geographic region to another.† (5) They are moved from an area where their evolution balance is set, into an area where they may not have any natural competitors. Invasive or exotic species can cause a major impact to our environment. They can put ecosystems at risk by changing an entire environment, replace other species that are native to the environment, and even damage human activities such as fishing. (1) Once introduced into a new environment, Invasive species throw off the ecological balance of the area. They may not have natural predators and can outcompete natural organisms; giving them the opportunity for fast growth throughout the environment! (The nature Conservancy, 2004) Invasive species are even the one of the top reasons why some of our endangered species are threatened. The graph to the left shows that about 50 percent of threatened or affected endangered species were du e to these exotic species! In the United States alone there are many invasive and exotic species already established! According to the Exotics in the Chesapeake, â€Å"At least 4,500 species have established free-living populations in the U.s.† (3) These species have even shown through in the waters around us! I do believe that these Invasive and Exotic species have even altered the Chesapeake Bay region and that these alterations aren’t always predictable! For instance, Oysters in the Chesapeake Bay have suffered since their parasites Dermo and MSX were introduced into the area as exotics.(3) Oysters fundamental role is to abolish the algae in the water; yet with the decline of oysters there is a major demolish in the bay ecosystem. (3) This is not just affecting the bay, it is also affecting oyster fishery bringing much economic loss. (3) Other examples would include the mute swan; which acts aggressive towards other birds in the area. (2) Even though there are many downfalls to these species many could bring good. The Hydrilla plant might take control and replace other native plants; yet can also benefit the bay.

Child Sex Abuse

Child Sexual abuse â€Å"All my childhood lived a dual life-when I was being abused, and the life when I wasn't. â€Å"-Harris leery, an Indian survivor of child sexual abuse, who had a tremendously shocking childhood. Whenever I think about his suffering, my soul starts to tremble with nauseating. For about 11 years of his life, he used to get raped in the place, what we call home; however†¦ For a 7 year old Harris, his home used to be worse than the hell whenever his soul used to be sucked by a Demented of his family.It's not only about Harris or Indian children; all around the world children have been victimized by inhumane abusers. â€Å"In JACK, 1 in 20 children have been sexually abused†-NSP. 18,91 5. This humongous number is the number of children sexually abused in 2012/2013 in England and Wales; imagine the number in the UK, Europe and the world. Think! May be, the person sitting next to you might was, is or going to be sexually abused. You, your friend or your family member might be one of them. Is this the modern world: the 21st century?I don't think so! These children are the future; and our future seems to be blemishing because these buds are put to sleep before they emerge and blossom as flowers. Help! Help! The children's soul screams but in the silence. Those little and pure minds are tortured, threatened and tormented till they give up. New research suggests children who are repeatedly abused, or are abused by a member of their immediate family, are at higher risk of attempting suicide in later life. Help these children. It feels nice.

Social Stratification

Question: What are the causes of social stratification in the Caribbean? Throughout our lives, there must have been some form of categorization whether your complexion or financial status. Even in today’s society, people are judged and put into groups based on their race or even sometimes religion. This is known as Social Stratification. This however could not be possible without a diversed Caribbean that is present today. Cultural Diversity then speaks about the different ethnic traditions such as custom, race and language that are found in the society. Take for example Jamaica that has a motto â€Å"Out of Many One People†. This can be seen as a perfect example as many different races or ethnic groups reside in Jamaica and widely the Caribbean. As a result, a means of Social Stratification takes place in the society. Mohammad (2007) states that it is a ranking system which organizes or places persons in the society in a hierarchy. In addition, it can be classified as a characteristic of society as it appears to be present in most of our Caribbean islands. Although this is viewed as a form of inequality, the system was derived from events that took place some years ago. The main causes of social stratification are the Plantation System, Emancipation and Social Mobility. Historically, this system started on the fields of the sugar plantation. The persons who toiled in the hot sun in the fields were known as slaves and were viewed as the â€Å"lesser people†. Their masters however were the opposite as they had all the power and wealth so they were seen as more highly and respectable individuals. A distinction between them had begun as the gap between them had gotten bigger due to the mobility of the masters. A hierarchy was built and the slaves could be seen at the bottom due to the bias judgment of the pigment of their skin. During this period of history according to Greenwood (2003), a middle class was also developed owning to the fact that not all persons were classified as slaves or whites. Therefore a middle class was now a part of the hierarchy and they were called the mulattos. These sets of people were still judged on the colour of their skin and the materialistic things that they owned. This brought much segregation and division among them because of the differing cultures and the whites believing that they were better than others around them. Emancipation which took place years after the Plantation System with the slaves also helped with Social stratification that most Caribbean islands are experiencing now. Emancipation is the period in history when many of the African slaves got freed. Despite the fact that freeing the slaves was indeed an advantage to them, it brought a negative effect. With freedom came the advantage of schooling and getting educated, however not many persons were able to go forward with it. There was a division among the Blacks or the ex-slaves as only the better ones were able to get the chance to be taught. When this took place, many of the ex-slaves felt that they were lesser than even their own race or group and so there was categorizing present as even the whites were then divided into two groups, the Petite and the Blancs. This caused much hatred among them as social status made them feel as though they were superior to others. With the use of the hierarchy, there must have been some movement of persons whether up or down the ranking of the social ladder. This is known as social mobility; which even in today’s society it is taking place. It is even taking place as we speak. Mohammed (2007) states â€Å"Education is the primary means of accessing social mobility throughout the region† (p. 65). It is through education that most of the Caribbean leaders rise to such high authority or positions. Even in today’s society, it is the persons who are wealthy and are of light complexion that gets recognition for jobs and positions. Everyone else who falls below that, is classified as poor and is in the lower class on the hierarchy. Weber argues that social class is primarily based on power, prestige or status. In conclusion it can be said that social stratification all started from the days of slavery and even nowadays persons are still being ranked on race, colour, sex, religion and finance. References Greenwood, R. , Hamber, S. (1980). Arawaks to Africans. Macmillan Publishers Limited Mohammed, J (2007). Caribbean Studies for Cape Examinations. Macmillan Publishers Limited http://wps. prenhall. com/ca_ph_macionis_sociology_5/23/6031/1544046. cw/index. html http://www. youthlinkjamaica. com/cxc/sociology20030916. html http://stmarys. ca/~evanderveen/wvdv/class_relations/social_stratification. htm

The History and Love Story of the Taj Mahal

The History and Love Story of the Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal is a beautiful, white-marble mausoleum built by Mughul emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Located on the southern bank of the Yamuna River near Agra, India, the Taj Mahal took 22 years to build, finally being completed in 1653. The Taj Mahal, considered one of the New Wonders of the World, astounds every visitor not only for its symmetry and structural beauty, but also for its intricate calligraphy, inlaid flowers made of gemstones, and magnificent garden. The Love Story It was in 1607, that Shah Jahan, grandson of Akbar the Great, first met his beloved. At the time, he was not yet the fifth emperor of the Mughal Empire. Sixteen-year-old, Prince Khurram, as he was then called, flitted around the royal bazaar, flirting with the girls from high-ranking families that staffed the booths.   At one of these booths, Prince Khurram met 15-year-old Arjumand Banu Baygam, whose father was soon to be the prime minister and whose aunt was married to Prince Khurram’s father. Although it was love at first sight, the two were not allowed to marry right away. First, Prince Khurram had to marry Kandahari Begum. (He would later marry a third wife as well.) On March 27, 1612, Prince Khurram and his beloved, whom he gave the name Mumtaz Mahal (â€Å"chosen one of the palace†), were married. Mumtaz Mahal was not only beautiful, she was smart and tender-hearted. The public was enamored with her, in part because Mumtaz Mahal cared for the people, diligently making lists of widows and orphans to make sure they received food and money. The couple had 14 children together, but only seven lived past infancy. It was the birth of the 14th child that was to kill Mumtaz Mahal. The Death of Mumtaz Mahal In 1631, three years into Shah Jahan’s reign, there was a rebellion underway, led by Khan Jahan Lodi. Shah Jahan had taken his military out to the Deccan, about 400 miles from Agra, in order to crush the usurper. As usual, Mumtaz Mahal, who was always by Shah Jahan’s side, accompanied him, despite being heavily pregnant. On June 16, 1631, Mumtaz Mahal, in an elaborately decorated tent, gave birth to a healthy baby girl in the middle of the encampment. At first, all seemed to be well, but it was soon discovered that Mumtaz Mahal was dying. As soon as Shah Jahan received news of his wife’s condition, he rushed to her side. In the early morning hours of June 17, 1631, Mumtaz Mahal died in his arms. Reports say that in Shah Jahan’s anguish, he went to his own tent and cried for eight days. Upon emerging, some say he had aged, now sporting white hair and needing glasses. Mumtaz Mahal was buried right away, according to Islamic tradition, near the encampment at Burbanpur. Her body, however, was not to stay there long. Plans for the Taj Mahal In December 1631, when the feud with Khan Jahan Lodi was won, Shah Jahan had the remains of Mumtaz Mahal dug up and brought 435 miles (700 km) to Agra. The return of Mumtaz Mahal was a grand procession, with thousands of soldiers accompanying the body and mourners lining the route. When the remains of Mumtaz Mahal reached Agra on January 8, 1632, they were temporarily buried on land donated by nobleman Raja Jai Singh, near where the Taj Mahal was to be built. Shah Jahan, filled with grief, had decided to pour that emotion into an elaborate, exquisite, expensive mausoleum that would rival all those that had come before it. (It was also to be unique, being the first large mausoleum dedicated to a woman.) Although no one, main architect for the Taj Mahal is known, it is believed that Shah Jahan, who was already passionate about architecture, worked on the plans himself with the input and aid of a number of the best architects of his time. The plan was that the Taj Mahal (â€Å"the crown of the region†) would represent heaven (Jannah) on Earth. No expense was spared to make this happen. Building the Taj Mahal At the time, the Mughal Empire was one of the richest in the world and thus Shah Jahan had the means to pay for this huge venture. With the plans made, Shah Jahan wanted the Taj Mahal to be grand, but also, built quickly. To speed production, an estimated 20,000 workers were brought in and housed nearby in a newly built town for them called Mumtazabad. These workers included both skilled and unskilled craftsmen. At first, builders worked on the foundation and then on the giant, 624-foot-long plinth (base). On this plinth was to sit the Taj Mahal building as well as the two matching, red sandstone buildings (the mosque and the guest house) that flank the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal building, sitting on a second plinth, was to be an octagonal structure, first constructed of brick and then covered in white marble. Like in most large projects, the builders created a scaffolding to build higher; however, what was unusual was that the scaffolding for this project was built of bricks. No one has yet figured out why. The white marble was incredibly heavy and quarried in Makrana, 200 miles away. Reportedly, it took 1,000 elephants and an untold number of oxen to drag the marble to the Taj Mahal building site. For the heavy marble pieces to reach the higher spaces of the Taj Mahal, a giant, 10-mile-long, earthen ramp was built. The very top of the Taj Mahal is topped with a huge, double-shell dome that reaches to 240 feet and is also covered in white marble. Four thin, white-marble minarets stand tall at the corners of the second plinth, surrounding the mausoleum. Calligraphy and Inlaid Flowers Most pictures of the Taj Mahal show only a large, white, lovely building. What these photos miss is the intricacies that can only be seen up close. It is these details that make the Taj Mahal astoundingly feminine and opulent. On the mosque, guest house, and the large main gate at the southern end of the Taj Mahal complex appear passages from the Quran (often spelled Koran), the holy book of Islam, written in calligraphy. Shah Jahan hired Amanat Khan, a master calligrapher, to work on the inlaid verses. Masterfully done, the finished verses from the Quran, inlaid with black marble, look soft and gentle. Although made of stone, the curves make it look almost hand-written. The 22 passages from the Quran were reportedly chosen by Amanat Khan himself. Interestingly, Amanat Khan was the only person who Shah Jahan allowed to sign his work on the Taj Mahal. Almost more amazing than the calligraphy is the exquisite inlaid flowers found throughout the Taj Mahal complex. In a process known as parchin kari, highly-skilled stone cutters cut intricate floral designs into the white marble and then inlaid precious and semi-precious stones to form interwoven vines and flowers. The 43 different kinds of precious and semi-precious stones used for these flowers came from around the world, including lapis lazuli from Sri Lanka, jade from China, malachite from Russia, and turquoise from Tibet. The Garden As in many religions, Islam holds the image of Paradise as a garden; thus, the garden at the Taj Mahal was an integral part of the plan to make it heaven on Earth. The Taj Mahal’s garden, which is situated to the south of the mausoleum, has four quadrants, divided by four â€Å"rivers† of water (another important Islamic image of Paradise), which gather at a central pool. The gardens and â€Å"rivers† were supplied with water from the Yamuna River by a complex, underground water system. Unfortunately, no records have survived telling us what plants were originally planted in the Taj Mahal’s garden. The End of Shah Jahan Shah Jahan stayed in deep mourning for two years but even after that, the death of Mumtaz Mahal still deeply affected him. That is perhaps why the third of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan’s four sons, Aurangzeb, was able to successfully kill off his three brothers and imprison his father. In 1658, after 30 years as emperor, Shah Jahan was usurped and placed in the luxurious Red Fort in Agra. Not able to leave but with most of his usual luxuries, Shah Jahan spent his last eight years staring out a window, looking at his beloved’s Taj Mahal. When Shah Jahan died on January 22, 1666, Aurangzeb had his father buried with Mumtaz Mahal in the crypt beneath the Taj Mahal. On the main floor of the Taj Mahal, above the crypt, now sits two cenotaphs (empty, public tombs). The one in the center of the room belongs to Mumtaz Mahal and the one just to the west is for Shah Jahan. Surrounding the cenotaphs is a delicately-carved, lacy, marble screen. (Originally it had been a gold screen but Shah Jahan had that replaced so that thieves would not be too tempted.) The Taj Mahal in Ruins Shah Jahan had enough wealth in his coffers to support the Taj Mahal and its mighty maintenance costs, but over the centuries, the Mughal Empire lost its riches and the Taj Mahal fell into disrepair. By the 1800s, the British ousted the Mughals and took over India. To many, the Taj Mahal was beautiful and so they cut gemstones from the walls, stole the silver candlesticks and doors, and even tried to sell the white marble overseas. It was Lord Curzon, the British viceroy of India, who put a stop to all that. Rather than looting the Taj Mahal, Curzon worked to restore it. The Taj Mahal Now The Taj Mahal has once again become a magnificent place, with 2.5 million people visiting it each year. Visitors can visit during the daytime, where the color of the white marble seems to change depending on the time of the day. Once a month, visitors have the opportunity to make a short visit during a full moon, to see how the Taj Mahal seems to glow from within in the moonlight.   In 1983, the Taj Mahal was placed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO, but it now suffers from pollutants from nearby factories and from the humidity from the breath of its visitors.   Sources DuTemple, Lesley A. The Taj Mahal. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Company, 2003.Harpur, James and Jennifer Westwood. The Atlas of Legendary Places. New York: Weidenfeld Nicolson, 1989.Ingpen, Robert and Philip Wilkinson. Encyclopedia of Mysterious Places: The Life and Legends of Ancient Sites Around the World. New York: Barnes Noble Books, 1999.