Sor Juana essays

Sor Juana essays Throughout history, women have been forced into a subservient role, forced to abandon their own self-interest for the interest of men. Confined to the private sector of social life, women have had two choices, to follow the path of marriage or the path of serving their god. They have been forbidden to seek knowledge beyond that of the household and of religion. In I, the Worst of All, the protagonist, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, chose to serve God and defy social norms by continuing her search for knowledge. This renowned literary figure, whose thinking and ideals mirrored that of the Enlightenment, encouraged young girls and women, to develop their minds, for, as she said in the movie, Intelligence has no sex. Keep your eyes open and your ears also, so you can perceive everything. This thinking persuaded females to move outside the private sector and into the public sector destroying the boundary that segregated women from men. I, the Worst of All, Sor Juanas life, and the live s of Latin American women, reveal societys attitudes toward women, the social roles they were expected to conform to, and the choices for elite women, while at the same time, illustrating the circumstances and changes that revolutionized female life in Latin America. The social status of women in Latin America has been continually subjected to the ideology of paternalism. From pre-Columbian to colonial Spanish America a mans role was to guide and control, a womens to obey, whether within the context of kinship, marriage, or the church (Socolow 7). This can be seen in the choices of the elite women in Sor Juanas time. In pre-Columbian times, a wifes duties centered around her productive tasks within the household (including cleaning and fulfilling household religious rituals) (Socolow 22). For the most part, this was similar to, until recently, the social status of women in the United ...

Free Online Public Schools for Michigan Students

Free Online Public Schools for Michigan Students Michigan offers resident students the opportunity to take public school courses online for free. This public school option is for parents who prefer a flexible, home-based environment for their children.  The online schools use certified teachers and follow a curriculum designed to provide the students with an education that equals that of other public school students. Most virtual schools offer full-time and part-time enrollment. The online schools offer core courses similar to the standard courses offered by other programs. They meet all the academic requirements for graduation and for potential admission to colleges. Honors courses and Advanced Placement college-level courses are also available.   All the virtual programs require that students provide a computer and an internet connection. In some cases, the programs provide a computer and an internet allowance to families who cannot afford the equipment. The family is expected to provide a printer,  ink,  and paper. In most cases, online students are free to attend school activities in their district. Several no-cost online schools currently serve grades K-12 in Michigan.   Michigan Free Online Public Schools Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan  serves Michigan students in grades K-8. Students are offered the same core courses that are available to students in a brick-and-mortar school. Textbooks and instructional materials are provided for the student. Virtual students are invited to participate in school outings and field trips and other social events. Jenison International Academy is available in West Michigan. Because Jenison is a School of Choice district, any family not residing in the Jenison district can simply apply for non-resident enrollment. JIA is a tuition-free public school serving students in grades K-12.Insight School of Michigan is a full-time only free virtual public school authorized by Central Michigan University. Currently, the Insight School of Michigan offers grades 6-12. Michigan Connections Academy  is a free K-12 virtual charter school. State-certified teachers provide instruction with support from trained counselors and administrative staff.Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy  serves students in grades K-12. Parents do not pay tuition for their students to attend an online public school. The academy offers core, comprehensive, honors and AP courses.Michigan Virtual Charter Academy  offers full-time enrollment for grades K-12. Because Michigan Virtual Charter Academy is part of the public school system, there is no charge for the curriculum.   Michigan Virtual School  offers two free classes per academic term at no cost to parents of students in Michigan. Additional courses require payment of a fee.Virtual Learning Academy Consortium serves students in grades K-8. The Virtual Learning Academy Consortium  serves students in Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.VLAC also serves students in grades 6-8 in Kala mazoo county. Choosing a Michigan Online Public School When choosing an online public school, look for an established program that is  regionally accredited  and has a track record of success. Be wary of new schools that are disorganized, are unaccredited or have been the subject of public scrutiny. For more suggestions on evaluating virtual schools see  how to choose an online high school. About Online Public Schools Many states now offer tuition-free online schools for resident students under a certain age (often 21). Most virtual schools are charter schools; they receive government funding and are run by  private organizations. Online charter schools are subject to fewer restrictions than traditional schools. However, they are reviewed regularly and must continue to meet state standards. Some states also offer their own online public schools. These virtual programs generally operate from a state office or a school district. Statewide public school programs vary. Some online public schools offer a limited number of remedial or advanced courses not available in brick-and-mortar public school campuses. Others offer full online diploma programs. A few states choose to fund seats for students in private online schools. The number of available seats may be limited and students are usually asked to apply through their public school guidance counselor.

EU law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

EU law - Essay Example Although the employer has allowed rest period 10 minutes as permitted in Estate Facilitators Act 1965 as against 15 minutes allowed by the EU Directive 2005/666, the employer has failed to give the facilitator the training on the equipment required both by the Act as well as the Directive. Thus, regardless of the non-transposition of the directive, the employer is bound to give training to the facilitator on equipment as per the Act if not the enhanced rest period under the Directive. Besides the rights available for the estate facilitator under the Health and Safety Regulations and the Employment Rights Act regardless of the EU directive as far as the failure to give training by the private employer, the employee (the facilitator) has the right to make complaints in his individual capacity to the European Commission for failure by the Member State to transpose the directive into the domestic law. European Commission will investigate the complaint and call for explanation from the Member State. If the explanation is not satisfactory, the Commission can order the Member State to comply with the Directive within one month failing which the matter can be referred to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) by the Commission. In the case adverse finding against the State, the ECJ can order the Member State to give compensation to the individual. ECJ’s decision is final and there will be no further appeal.2 Under the EU law, a â€Å"direct effect† action is available for union citizen. Direct effect is a principle under EU law by which Union Citizens can bring action within their own Member State instead of as above whether or not the Member State has transposed the directive into its national law. It can also apply to regulations, treaty provisions and decisions. The ECJ introduced the principle in NV Algemene Transporten Expeditie Onderneming van Gend en Loos v. Nederlan dse Administratie der Belastingen,3 The conditions laid down by the ECJ for warranting a Direct Effect of the â€Å"Primary EU Law† are that the provisions of the directive must be clear and precise, they must be a standalone conditions without being dependant on any other legal provision, and must bestow a specific right based on which the citizen can make a claim. If these are satisfied, it will have the same legal effect as Regulations under the Article of 288 of TFEU. Thus, as established in Flamino Costav ENEL4, EU Law on labour, enjoys supremacy over domestic law rules and claims can be made before national courts overriding the domestic law as also held in Defrenne v Sabena. 5 But this related to an Article 141 of EC now 157 of TFEU and not a directive which may or may not be applicable throughout the European Union. However, in the case of the directive in question, it is not discriminatory and hence applicable to all member states and hence the Estate Facilitator who is a European Citizen can move his national court for the infringement of his rights over the rest period for every three hours of work and training of the lifting equipment once in every six months as provided. This Direct effect can be applied as Horizontal Direct Effect and Vertical Direct Effect depending on whom the right is enforced against. If the entity is the State or its emanation, vertical direct effect will apply. In a vertical direct effect, there is an alignment between the EU law, National Law and the State’s obligation to ensure that its national legislation is in consonance with EU law. This was

OB and HRM Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

OB and HRM - Assignment Example It has highlighted the strong points as well as the weak points of the team and presented a recommendation for the team’s future strategy. DSS Consulting was established in the USA in 1997 as an administrative support firm. Its primary objective consisted of providing organizational support to the local school districts located in the mid-western part of USA and also the mountain west region of the country. The company had been formed by three retired administrators of the local school districts. The local school districts of this region used to employ a limited number of staff who were not well equipped to deal with the various administrative problems faced by the educational institutions. The three founders of the DSS Consulting had already spent long years in the service of their respective institutions and by the time they founded the company, all of them had completed their years in service. However, experienced as they were, they were quick to realize the various administrative difficulties encountered by the modern schools. This was especially applicable in the case of the small local district schools which usua lly had limited staff members to deal with the multifarious organizational difficulties. The district administrators realized the need of a separate firm which could lend administrative support to these local district schools. This was the objective behind the setting up of the DSS Consulting Company. (Ancona and Caldwell, 2010, pp.1-2) DSS helped the district schools in negotiating agreements with the labor organizations, establishing their independent procurement system and so on. During the latter half of the 1990s decade, the local school districts encountered more complex administrative challenges. They were also put under pressure to curtail the costs of administration. DSS viewed this as an opportunity to showcase its potentials and tried to

Country Living Versus City Living Essay Example for Free

Country Living Versus City Living Essay Since every person is unique they tend to live in different places depending on their taste. Some people prefer to live in big cities while some prefer countries. The bustling city is alive. The stimulation of crowds and traffic generate energy that challenges the human spirit. Perhaps that is why the city dweller reflects the image of an angry, stressed and unfriendly person. Even in Mongolia city dwellers are more stressed than country dwellers. People say life in the country is healthier Life in the city is challenging. Shopping is convenient everywhere you go you will easily find big and convenient stores. The presence of public transportation reduces the demand for private transportation which is the source of traffic gem. But there are a lot of facilities where you can spend you free time; cinemas, drama theatres, ski resorts etc. We have to remember that city life costs high and gives you much stress. Worst of all, the most expensive component of life in the city is the toll it takes on your body through stress. Also in big cities the air is not healthy. Smokes that go from massive number of cars and factors threaten our health. Another disadvantage of city is crime. Many people become the victims of crime and again they get stressed. Peaceful is the most succinct description of the country. The night is quiet the air is fresh, no bustle and hustle†¦ No heavy traffic, no sirens, no rush of the madding crowd. Life is simple and calming. Food is organic. In Mongolian country everyone knows each other and is very friendly. The country offers advantages of being unstressed. You don’t have to scared of robbers and pickpockets. You can just feel the fresh air and walk slowly. People who live in the city and country share many common lifestyle fundamentals such as jobs, commuting, and safety. You don’t need much money while you are in the country. But there are some disadvantages of living in the country. There are not many shopping centers, if you are a shopaholic you will be upset in the country. Also there are not many big facilities. Urban areas respond to emergency situations more efficiently. If to choose from these 2 life styles I would choose city living because I was born in the city and grew up here. Hustle and bustle seem close to me. Big  cities have a larger tax base which allocates more resources to public safety and health agencies such as police, firefighters, and ambulances. There are big department stores where you can buy everything you want. Although some people in cities are stressed and unfriendly city is a succinct place to have fun.

Pollution Essay: Silent Spring, How Rachel Carson Changed the World :: Environment Environmental Preservation

Silent Spring - How Rachel Carson Changed the World On September 27, 1962 Rachel Carson released her sixth book, Silent Spring. On publication day, the advance sales of Silent Spring totaled 40,000 copies and another 150 copies were sent to the Book of the Month Club (Frontline: Fooling With Nature, 1998). Silent Spring remained on the bestseller list for almost a year. The world was beginning to take notice. Countless experts and organizations have proclaimed Rachel Carsonà ¢s book the starting point of the environmental movement. Carson described numerous case studies where the use of hazardous pesticides, insecticides, and other chemicals led to environmental problems all over the world. Whether directly or indirectly, everything in the environment is connected and affected by each other. Silent Spring describes, in depth, the harmful effects that chemical control has placed on all components of the environment. They include: air, water, land, wildlife, plant life, and humans. I will discuss each of these categories as examined in Silent Spring along with my personal analysis. First I will discuss the damage from chemicals released in the air. Aerial spraying of pesticides, mostly DDT, began on a small scale over farms and forests. With the development of new insecticides and the availability of planes from the war, the sky almost literally turned into a shower of toxic chemicals. The justification behind the massive sprayings of the 1950à ¢s was to exterminate exotic species like the fire ant, and the gypsy moth. The spraying was extremely careless, and resulted in heavily populated towns and cities repeatedly being sprayed with DDT (Carson, 1962). Unfortunately, people and wildlife sprayed with DDT along with other chemicals had no warnings and no way to protect themselves. The government, without consent of those affected, risked the health of those exposed to the pesticides and the quality of the environment. Nearly everyone was exposed to the risks, in a direct or indirect way, from the extensive aerial spraying. As described in the book, the gypsy moth is not a native of the United States. It had persisted in the U.S. for a great number of years without any need for extensive control measures. Carson states, à £Yet drastic action was suddenly taken against them under the end-justifies-the-means philosophyà ¤ (Carson, 1962, p.156). Therefore, unnecessary health risks and damage to the environment were considered acceptable in order to eliminate the gypsy moth, which has repeatedly been unsuccessful. One reason the gypsy moth still thrives is because, like many insects, they have developed resistance to the chemicals targeted against them.

Case Analysis Swatch Essay

In 1978, when Dr. Ernst Thomke became managing director of ETA, the position of this Swiss flagship industry had changed dramatically. Especially with the presence of a strong competency (Japan and U. S). Macro-environment: (PESTEL Analysis) * Economic: Threat: The market share had fallen from 56% to a mere 20%. Opportunity: The production had grown from 61 million to 320 million pieces and movements annually. Opportunity: the decline of the dollar was not quite as evident. Threat: Market share loss was more pronounced in finished watches (Japan was producing 50. million Electronic watch compared to Switzerland and had 21% of market share on finished watches) Threat: The situation was aggravated by adverse exchange rate movements relative to the U. S Dollar. Swiss watches was more expensive. Summary: The company had a great problem due to the high technologies of competitors, also their watches was more expensive so their market share had decreased. Industry Environment: 5 Forces of M. Porter: Threat of entry: * New entrants in the market of watches: Japan, Hong Kong. * Prices dropped dramatically from 1000/2000 $ in 1970 to merely 20/40 $ by the end of 70’s * In the 80’s, several competitors switched to the more sophisticated analogue models and thus created competition for the Swatch. Intensity of rivalry among existing competitors: Japan held the technological edge and created the new electronic watch to compete with Swatch. Most of the early American digital watch producers had started to withdraw from the watch business * Ebauches entered into direct international competition with Japanese, French, German and Soviet manufacturers. Bargaining power of Suppliers: * Ebauches S. A, of which ETA was part, was the major producer and supplier of watch movements for ASUAG, the main company (the Switzerland’s largest watch corporation). Bargaining power of Buyers: The third world and newly industrialized nations offer a previously unexplored market for Swatch * The Swiss exported movements and unassembled parts to foreign customers * ETA expanded its movements sales beyond its then current customers (Switzerland, France and Germany) to Japan, Hong Kong and Brazil. Substitute Products: * The invention of â€Å"Electronic Watches† by Japan. The new analogue watch designed by Swatch Key Success Factors: * The â€Å"Delirium† project with the objective to create the world’s thinnest analogue quartz movement. * Highly qualified labor, requiring flexibility, quality, and first-class styling at low-cost. The company adopted the strategy of differentiation and low-cost (economies of scale). * The Swiss company had their stronghold in assembly. * ETA and its parent company ASUAG have a long history of high quality watch design and manufacture. * As part of Switzerland’s largest watch company, ETA had the resources to mount a turnaround effort. * ETA claimed more control over its distribution channels and increased authority in formulating its strategy. The Swatch is produced in one single operation, which means that the production costs are lower. Attractive distributor margins and extensive training of the retailers sales personnel combined with innovative advertising ensure the unique positioning of the product. * The Swatch’s innovative design and production technology led to the creation of a low-cost, highly reliable watch; giving ETA a clear competitive advantage. * Strong brand and customer loyalty: †¢ Repositioning into in the fashion market. A wide range of products with different designs across all price points Mission, Goals, Objectives, Social Responsibility and Ethics: Objectives: Price: Quartz-analogue watch, retailing for no more than 50 Franc Suisse * Sales target: 10 million pieces during the first three years. * Manufacturing costs: Initially 15 SFr – less than those of any competitor. At a cumulative volume of 5 million pieces, learning and scale economies would reduce costs to 10 SFr or less. Continued expansion would yield long-term estimated costs per watch of less than 7 SFr. * Quality: High quality, waterproof, shock resistant, no repair possible, battery only replaceable element, all parts standardized, free choice of material, model variations only in dial and hands.

Phonological Development in Children Essay

Phonology is study of the sound system of the language and the rules for their combination. There are about 200 sounds used in languages throughout the world. As we all know, sound is the beginning of language learning. In learning to talk, children must acquire knowledge of the phonological forms of words and phrases of their native language and must learn the articulatory and phonatory movements needed to produce these words and phrases in an adult-like manner. Children learn their phonological system of native language even since as young infant. They first year of an infant’s life which is before they can utter their first word are known as prelinguistic stage. Children do not utter their first word until they are about one year old. At one month, they show categorical perception of speech. A perceptual ability is ability to segment one sentence into individual word units. This ability usually leads to production and thus helps in the development of speech production. Even though children do not produce their first word until they approximately 12 month years old, the ability to produce speech sound start to develop at a much younger age. After the mother giving birth, the young infant will produce undifferentiated birth cry. Within 0 to 6 weeks, the infant can produce reflexive sound which are glottal catch and vowels such as ah, eh, and uh. Plus the infant also can produce some variety non-crying sound. They also produce differentiated cry which that true vocal communication begins. In the range 6 to 16 weeks, infant start to produce cooing sound when they are happy. Moreover, they begin to produce single syllables and blowing bubbles. At 4 month, infant still prefer infant-directed compare to adult-director speech. Plus by 4 month, infant have learned which feature they have to pay attention to at the suprasegmental level such as intonation and stress. At 5 months old, infant prefer to hear their own name to similar sounding word. On the other hand, by 6 month old, they expose more to their native language and start to learn not to pay attention to sound that are not meaningful in their native language. The production of vowel sound in the first 2 month lead to the production of consonants. First back consonants ([g], [k]) are being produce around 2 to 3 months and front consonants ([m], [n], [p]) is being able to produce by infant at about 6 months old. In the range 3 to 6 month, babbling begins influence by their native language. In addition, they babbling show pitch and inflection change. They start to produce double syllables-VCV such as aga. Children are also able to puts lips together and say â€Å"m† and nasal tone is heard. Not only that, they also begin to vocalize their pleasure and displeasure. Infants in this range will stop vocalizing when adults enters and have self-initiated vocal play. They are also cooing, chuckling, gurgling and laughing. At 7 months, they able to segment word from speech that shows a strong-weak stress pattern, which is the most common stress pattern in the English language. The process that allows infant to use prosodic cues in speech input to learn about language structure is known as ‘prosodic bootstrapping’ . While children at 8 months old generally do not understand the meaning of the most single word yet, they still able to understand the meaning of certain phrases they hear a lot. By 9 months old, infant can differentiate native from nonnative language. Children uses [m], [n],[t],[d],[b],[p] and [y] in babbling multiple syllables by 6 to 9 months old. They babbling tunefully or singing tones and uses several of sound combination. They also begin to have inflected vocal play and intonation patterns heard. Infant also copy intonation and speech sound from the adult in their own repertoire. Reduplicative babbling begins for example bababa. From 9 to 12 months, children vocalize during play and also begin to vocalize in front of mirror. They are able to jabber loudly with wide variety of sounds and intonations. Infant combine different vowel and consonant into syllable string in vocal play and at this stage phonetic drift begins. Infant also acquire variegated babbling and combines different syllables in vocal play. At this stage, children normally have not yet begun to speak and thus have no production vocabulary but in the range 10 to 11 months old, children’s comprehension vocabulary size is about 11 to 154 words . During this transitional period from babbling to the utterance of the first word, children also produce â€Å"protowords†. Protowords is invented words that are used consistently to express specific meanings. In the range 1 year old to 1  ½ years old, infants usually use jargon to communicate. We can also hear some repetition of words or echolalia. They are uses most vowels and consonants and some initial consonant. Basically, their utterances unintelligible with exception of a few words. Intelligibility refers to the proportion of the speaker’s output that listeners can easily understand. They commonly leave out final consonant and some initial consonant. By the range of this age, they start to produce word in VC structure such as bo/boat and able to imitates some word accurately. By 14 months old, children usually produce their first word. First word is simple structure and contains the same sounds that were use in late babbling. At 16 months children comprehension vocabulary size ranges from about 92 to 321 words. At this age, children’s production vocabulary size at this age is typically around 50 words. Children’s production becomes more consistent around the a ge of 18 months. Within 1  ½ to 2 years old, children’s words increasing in frequency and jargon almost gone by 2 years old. Commonly, they will ask questions by raising intonation at end of phrase. Plus, children show improvement in intelligibility. Approximately 65% intelligible by 2 years. In addition, word produced with CVC structure such as big appear at this range of age. Intelligibility improve when they at 2 to 2  ½ years old from 65% to 70%. Plus, they may skip over final consonant, reduce consonant blend and substitute one consonant for another. The size of the vocabulary production is about 50 to 550 words. Children also seem to build up their vocabulary faster if the speech they hear is related to their focus of attention more often. At 2  ½ to 3 years old, children still do some substitution and alteration of consonants. They continue to improve their intelligibility to approximately 80%. By this age they can mastered consonants; [p], [m], [n], [w], [h]. Children at 3 to 3  ½ years use final consonants most of time. At this age, Final-Consonant Deletion process, consonant assimilation, diminutization, doubling, prevocalic voicing, reduplication unstressed syllable deletion and velar fronting should be gone. Children become very intelligible in connected speech by age 3  ½ years to 4 years old. They had mastered consonants;[b], [d], [j], [g], [f], [y]. Plus, phonological process continues which are cluster reduction, deplatalization, epenthesis, final devoicing, gliding, stopping and vocalization. In 4 to 4  ½ years, should be few error and substitutions of consonant in children utterances. They become more intelligible especially in connected speech. At the range 4  ½ years to 5 years old, children use most consonant sounds consistently and accurately. Even though, more errors present in difficult blends. At 5 to 6 years old, children mastered consonants such as t, ing, r, l. Follow by 6 to 7 years old, they begin to mastered consonant such as voiceless th, sh, ch, j. Hence, young children have remarkable ability to learn meanings for the words they extract from the speech they are exposed to. Acquisition of the language is strongly relate with environment. The phonological development should be know by parents to detect any phonological disorder on their child.

Chingiz Aitmatov and Russias Reform

Chingiz Aitmatov and Russias Reform Free Online Research Papers If history was a man, his eyes would have stored countless feats of incredible sacrifice into his memory. He would have stood tirelessly to witness the sacrifices made by Jesus Christ and then thousands of years later the sacrifices made by Avdiy Kallistratov and Boston Urkunchiev. In Chingiz Aitmatov’s The Place of the Skull, these three characters never meet, but they are all caught in the same tempest of human morality. Aitmatov delivers his unique hybrid Christian and Kyrgyz message to the bereft Soviet people, utilizing the characters Boston, Jesus, and Avdiy as his vehicle, in order to expose and reform the national moral problems that were previously concealed in the post-Stalinist era. Chingiz Aitmatov was well versed in both Kyrgyz and Russian history and culture. In 1928, Aitmatov was born in Kyrgyzstan. He was raised in a large extended family, where he was educated, most notably by his grandmother, in the ways of his native Kyrgyz culture. His grandmother made him attend many local ceremonies and instilled in him the Kyrgyz’s love and respect of their land. As his grandparents gave him his education in his native cultural background, his parents gave him an education in Russian literature and culture. Aitmatov was not only bilingual, but quite learned in his own native and Russian culture. While explaining Aitmatov’s early history and success, one critic says â€Å"Chingiz Aitmatov achieved literary success in large part due to his ability to keep one foot in his own minority culture and the other in the ruling Soviet one,† (Haber 109). This fact helped to pave the way to his unique success as an author in touch with both the Russian popul ace’s moral failings and his own native land’s dilemmas. Aitmatov attempts to coincide with one of Gorbachev’s Perestroika reforms; a movement in the direction of capitalization. Boston Urkunchiev, a man who appears as the main character in the last third of the story, is the voice of this movement. His very name, the name of an American city, implies capitalism. Boston is envied by the local shepherds, especially Bazarbai Noigutov, for his productive farm and his voice in the local party. Good luck was not the key to his success, however, as he is the hardest of the workers on the state farm and produces the most to turn over to the government. All of the local workers, though assigned by the government, want to work on his farm. Boston and his workers produce the most and receive bonus pay, setting them apart yet again. Boston believes vaguely in capitalism and thought that man should reap the rewards of his labor. When discussing this issue with a friend he asks, â€Å"What sort of guest is going to break his back on someone else’s land?† (254). He attempts to claim the land for himself and his team so that work would be more efficient and more productive. He is met with cold opposition in the form of the Party Organizer Kochorbayev, who tells him that the claim is counter-intuitive to socialism and that the land belongs to the state and not the individual. While attempting to circumvent this man and the ideals he represents, Boston meets with the Director Ibraim Chotbaevich, an old friend. He tells him of the problems he has faced and of his plan to remedy the situation, but the director remains passive. The director has tried to make a change before, but doesn’t want to â€Å"stick my neck out again: I’ve learnt my lesson,† (254), a theme that all three of Aitm atov’s heroes face. Boston’s capitalist ideas clash with authorities, but as he practices the notion of more work more pay in his own life, his farm excels. His affinity for capitalism is not the only difference he shares with the shepherds around him. In Boston Aitmatov created not only a voice to broach capitalistic ideals, but a moral pillar as well. Boston’s opposite and nemesis, Bazarbai, is representative of the ethics Aitmatov attempts to dissolve. In his greed Bazarbai takes advantage of inexperienced visitors for easy money, robs a she-wolf’s lair, and beats his wife. These problems all stem from his alcoholism. He takes the naà ¯ve visitors’ money and steals the she-wolf’s cubs in order to fund his addiction. That leads him to beat his wife when she complains of his failings, which are themselves spawned by his laziness and alcohol abuse. Aitmatov does not only highlight the problem, but also produces the solution. Boston represents the answer to the problems plaguing Bazarbai and the people of many other Soviet nations. He does not drink, the reason never being explicitly cited, but assumed that the trappings of alcohol are counter productive and a gateway to moral problems. Boston never abused wither of his wives, but instead communicated and respected her. He attempted to recover the cubs from Bazarbai in order to appease the spirit of the restless wolves. This nature respecting motif is one that ties back to Aitmatov’s own history in the Kyrgyz culture taught to him by his grandparents. These themes of morality and love of nature are expressed in Aitmatov’s other characters, though in different degrees. Aitmatov expresses his Christian beliefs in his rendition of the conversation between Pilate and Jesus, before He went to Golgotha. During this conversation, Jesus tells Pilate that God’s greatest gift to man is the power of reason. With this gift, He tells Pilate, we should use our â€Å"will to live according to our understanding,† (141). He explains that with this understanding we exist to spiritually improve and to strive for perfection. Only through the struggle to reach the pinnacle of humanity do we find purpose. To reach Heaven, we must succeed on Judgment Day, which is not years in the future, but now, every day. In order to reach the Kingdom of Heaven, men must work each day according to their reason. The achievement of this goal relies on mankind himself. Pilate does not believe that man could be responsible for this and in disbelief says â€Å"If men could, by an act of will, bring closer or put off such an event, why then, they would be like gods,† to which Jesus agrees (142). Aitmatov says that man’s greatest quality, produced from the gift of reason, is akin to God’s greatest quality, which is forgiveness. In this way, men are like God. The most similar divine quality that man shares with God, forgiveness, is the key to moving forward towards the perfection of existence. If man can but forgive himself and release the past, he may progress to perfection and the Kingdom of Heaven. Man needs but recognize this and reconcile what faults he possesses. Recognition and realization are where Aitmatov places himself in this scheme. The Place of the Skull is his instrument of recognition, a medium where he may identify the ills of society and aid in their remedy. In the story itself, there is a character that, inspired by Jesus’ message, mirrors Aitmatov’s own role and uncovers the problems facing Russian society. Avdiy Kallistratov is a character who more clearly echoes Aitmatov’s own view on Christianity and the Kyrgyz belief system. Avdiy attended a seminary but was excommunicated due to his attempted reformation of Christian dogma. Avdiy disregarded the traditional view of God and adopted the idea of a contemporary God. In this theory he is â€Å"offering the human spirit liberation in the knowledge of God as the highest essence of it own being,† a view that contrasted greatly with that of his opponent and representative of the Church, Co-Ordinator Father Dimitry (71). For this view he was to be removed from the Church. Avdiy’s own vision of God parallels what Jesus preached in his conversation with Pilate, as this scene occurred during Avdiy’s pain-induced hallucination. The contemporary God theory is not the only characteristic that Avdiy shares with Jesus. Avdiy and Jesus share both qualities of physicality and, more importantly, moral qualities that aid in the improvement of humanity. Two distinct physical traits they share are shoulder length hair and high foreheads. Just before Avdiy departs on the anasha collection, he takes work as a carpenter for a farmer. Apart from these simple similarities, the two share qualities of love and forgiveness. Ordained from God, Jesus sets out to reform the people and bring them closer to God. Avdiy forges a similar destiny for himself. When he leaves the Church, he knows he must spread Christ’s love in his own way. He attaches himself to the infamous drug smuggling ring because he know that there are youths their who were in desperate need of his message. Of the small group Avdiy he joins, he targets the sadly young and impressionable boy Lyonka. This boy was drawn by desperation to the drug running and Avdiy attempts the extract him from this life. He tells Lyonka and the other boy that he has come to save them and to prompt them to start â€Å"repenting before God and our fellow man,† to no avail (96). He encounters Grishan, the leader of the boy-smugglers. Just as Pilate offers Jesus a way out if just He relents, Grishan makes Avdiy the same offer. Both decline and refuse to betray the messages that they believed they were born to deliver. However, the situation end badly for Avdiy and he loses his opportunity to reform the smugglers. But this is not his last chance. In Avdiy’s next opportunity to deliver God’s word to a desperate group of miscreants, Aitmatov combines his Kyrgyz and Christian moral beliefs. Avdiy joins ‘Ober’ Kandalov and his company on an expedition to the mountains. Promised work and distraction from a depressing matter, Avdiy readily agrees. He soon discovers that the work entail the horrific slaughter of the saigak, a mountain antelope. He is appalled by the massacring and demands that they stop. He implored the men committing the killings to end their destruction and turn to God, begging for forgiveness. He was met with the same resistance the drug smugglers had dealt him. He received a beating and was thrown, hands and feet bound, onto the carcasses of the antelope he had tried to protect. In this episode, Aitmatov combines all of the problems, barring capitalism, that his story addresses. In the fashion of the Kyrgyz he cries out against the slaughter of the antelope and in the Christian manner he preaches repentance and forgiveness to the killers. Not only are both of his messages denied, but he is mock-crucified to imitate Jesus, with whom the killers associate Avdiy. Even more, the men who punish Avdiy do so under the influence of alcohol, yet another aspect of Aitmatov’s reform. The power and prestige of the government obstructs, directly and indirectly, all three of Aitmatov’s characters in their mission to restructure the world around them. Avdiy’s journalistic report concerning the underworld of anasha smuggling is not released. While he sees the exposure of the drug world as the first step in combating it, the paper he works for does not release its content to the public. The head of the paper, turning an ashamed cheek, fears that the critical content would invite the wrath of the government upon their heads. They fail to see that the publishing and the positive social effects it would have goes beyond their sake. They only think of themselves. Boston goes to the director of the farms, Ibraim Chotbaevich, to seek the land and reform he deems necessary for efficiency. Head lowered in shame, the director tell him that he had been punished already for attempting a change and would not risk another punishment. To this Boston replies â€Å"That ’s just it, every man thinks of himself first and foremost,† (254). The message of God’s love and justice is thwarted by the Jewish hegemony and the ruling Roman power. Pilate, though sympathetic to Jesus’ words, cannot release Him and lose face. Power and the image it protects will always oppose criticism. Aitmatov’s own Place of the Skull, though released in 1986 during the Glasnost, was cause for political unease because of its content and purpose. One critic questions the openness of this era and reports that the Glasnost â€Å"was a political tool different from freedom of the press and that Gorbachev preached reform but betrayed liberal principals when they came into conflict with his political agenda† (Becker 200). This is what the Characters in Aitmatov’s story went up against. The leaders abandon their principals in order to maintain positive public status and to retain and cultivate power. Aitmatov himself receives criticism concerning his message and its effectiveness. Many critics claim that he was simply in the right place at the right time, meaning the Glasnost’s diversity faà §ade was in need of a poster boy. Chingiz Aitmatov’s success in relating to Russians while maintaining the connection he had with this native culture was rare. Gorbachev was in dire need of someone to glue together some of the nations within the Soviet Union, and Aitmatov fit the bill. Despite this criticism, Chingiz Aitmatov persevered. His intention to expose and morally reform Russia did not go unnoticed. The blending of his native Kyrgyz culture and the Biblical references were effective in reaching into the hearts of some of the Russian people. Nina Kolesnikoff was impressed with the Biblical and Kyrgyz references and said that they were crucial in â€Å"Revealing the deeper meaning of present events and directing the reader’s attention to universal questions concerning the human condition and the purpose of life,† (Kolesnikoff 91-92). Regardless of his critics’ opinions either way, Aitmatov achieved at least part of his goal. The story of the anasha drug runners was implemental to the author’s goals of recognition and reformation. Though the idea that Aitmatov helped morally guide the people to a better understanding of God and existence is disputable, the fact that his story made an impact on Russian lives is not. This is an article explaining the police and crime reports during the Glasnost under Gorbachev’s rule. It details the drug epidemic and the effect that Chingiz Aitmatov’s attention has on this problem: The glasnost’ brought with it greater public preparedness to report crimes, which further increased the statistics. Perhaps the best case study is of drug abuse and drugs-related crime, given that the official figures for drug addiction had actually been falling, from 2700 registered addicts in 1980 to 2400 in 1984. Yet glasnost’, and in particular such keynote cultural events as the publication of Chingiz Aitmatov’s novel Plakha (The Place of the Skull) in 1986, led to their dramatic rise. By 1987 officials admitted to 123 000 drug abusers, including 46000 registered addicts; next year the figures were 131 000 and 50000, respectively; by 1990 they were 1 500 000 and 60,000, with an annual 25000-30000 drugs-related crimes. In part this increase reflected a genuine growth in the use of drugs, yet to a large extent it was a result both of greater official candour and, in the light of the new discussion of the issues, a new preparedness by addicts and users to regis ter and seek help. But the population at large only really noticed the headline figures, especially since one product of the decades of censorship and mendacity was media lacking the experience and often the will to cover such taboo topics without sensationalism. (Galeotti 775) Though Chingiz Aitmatov received criticism from all sides, he was still a major figure in Gorbachev’s Glasnost. His recognition and highlighting of taboo subjects like capitalism, drugs, and alcohol were both effective and prudent for the reformation of the Russian nation. The increase in drug reports are evidence of the impact that he made in the countries social understanding. With his unique cultural background mixed with his understanding of the Russian nation, Aitmatov began the reshaping of morality and understanding. In humanity’s journey towards its perfect existence in the Kingdom of Justice, he identified the moral dilemmas and supplied the reconciliatory remedy, establishing the first steps towards it achievement. Work Cited Aitmatov, Chingiz. The Place of the Skull. New York: Grove Press, 1989. Becker, Jonathan. â€Å"Author Review.† Rev. of Glasnost: The Soviet Media in the First Phase of Perestroika, by Joseph Gibbs. Slavic ReviewVol. 60, No. 1 (Spring, 2001), 199-200. Galeotti, Mark. â€Å"Perestroika, Perestrelka, Pereborka: Policing Russia in a Time of Change.† Europe-Asia Studies > Vol. 45, No. 5 (1993): 769-786. Haber, Erika. The Myth of the Non-Russian. New York: Lexington Books, 2003. Kolesnikoff, Nina. Myth in the Works of Chingiz Aitmatov. New York: University Press, 1999. Research Papers on Chingiz Aitmatov and Russia's ReformAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoWhere Wild and West MeetBringing Democracy to AfricaTwilight of the UAWQuebec and CanadaInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaHip-Hop is Art

Pulque, Ancient Mesoamerican Sacred Drink

Pulque, Ancient Mesoamerican Sacred Drink Pulque is a viscous, milk-colored, alcoholic beverage produced by fermenting the sap obtained by the maguey plant. Until the 19th and 20th century, it was probably the most widespread alcoholic beverage in Mexico. In ancient Mesoamerica pulque was a beverage restricted to certain groups of people and to certain occasions. The consumption of pulque was linked to feasting and ritual ceremonies, and many Mesoamerican cultures produced a rich iconography illustrating the production and consumption of this beverage. The Aztec called this beverage ixtac octli which means white liquor. The name pulque is probably a corruption of the term octli poliuhqui, or over-fermented or spoiled liquor. Pulque Production The juicy sap, or aguamiel, is extracted from the plant. An agave plant is productive for up to a year and,  usually, the sap is collected twice a day. Neither fermented pulque nor the straight aguamiel can be stored for a  long time; the liquor needs to be consumed quickly and even the processing place needs to be close to the field. The fermentation starts in the plant itself  since the microorganisms occurring naturally in the maguey plant start the process of transforming the sugar into alcohol. The fermented sap was traditionally collected using dried bottle gourds, and it was then poured into large ceramic jars where the seeds of the plant were added to accelerate the fermentation process. Among the Aztecs/Mexica, pulque was a highly desired item, obtained through tribute. Many codices refer to the importance of this drink for nobility and priests, and its role in Aztec economy. Pulque Consumption In ancient Mesoamerica, pulque was consumed during feasting or ritual ceremonies and was also offered to the gods. Its consumption was strictly regulated. Ritual drunkenness was allowed only by priests and warriors, and commoners were permitted to drink it only during certain occasions. Elderly and occasionally pregnant woman were allowed to drink it. In the Quetzalcoatl myth, the god is tricked into drinking pulque and his drunkenness caused him to be banished and exiled from his land. According to indigenous and colonial sources, different types of pulque existed, often flavored with other ingredients such as chili peppers. Pulque Imagery Pulque is depicted in Mesoamerican iconography as white foam emerging from small, rounded pots and vessels. A small stick, similar to a straw, is often depicted within the drinking pot, probably representing a stirring instrument used to produce the foam. Images of pulque-making are recorded in many codices, murals and even rock carvings, such as the ball court at El Tajin. One of the most famous representations of the pulque drinking ceremony is at the pyramid of Cholula, in Central Mexico. The Mural of the Drinkers In 1969, a 180 feet long mural was discovered by accident in the pyramid of Cholula. The collapse of a wall exposed part of the mural buried at a depth of almost 25 feet. The mural, dubbed the Mural of the Drinkers, portrays a feasting scene with figures wearing elaborate turbans and masks drinking pulque and performing other ritual activities. It has been suggested that the scene portrays pulque deities. The origin of pulque is narrated in many myths, most of them linked to the goddess of maguey, Mayahuel. Other deities directly related to pulque were the got Mixcoatl and the Centzon Totochtin (the 400 rabbits), sons of Mayahuel associated with the pulque’s effects. Sources Bye, Robert A., and Edelmina Linares, 2001, Pulque, in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures, vol. 1, edited by David Carrasco, Oxford University Press.pp: 38-40 Taube, Karl, 1996, Las Origines del Pulque, Arqueologà ­a Mexicana, 4 (20): 71

Analysis the UK Government's Strategy towards Work Training and Skills Essay

Analysis the UK Government's Strategy towards Work Training and Skills in the Light of the Current Economic Downturn - Essay Example This has been observed to contribute towards economic growth. This presentation attempts to look at and analyze the United Kingdom Government’s strategy towards work training and skills in the light of the current economic downturn. This entails the basic needs as aligned to work training and skills as have been focused on by the UK government as a requirement in trade, professions and general occupation (UKCES 2011: 34). It has been observed that the labour market recognizes the need to promote training beyond an individual’s novel qualifications. This work looks into such issues as well since there is a need for the nation to upgrade, maintain and update work skills in every aspect of employment so as to enhance working life in line with improving economic growth for the entire nation. The UK Government’s Strategy towards Work Training and Skills The United Kingdom’s government has in the past made strong moves and attempts to handle the potential failur es in skills trainings. It has been in the forefront with a focus aimed at improving the employees, skills and knowledge and at the same time has them undergo some relevant learning. This has been considered essential following â€Å"the government’s need to achieve sustainable growth in economy since it is importance to address it other than the country’s trends in skills trainings which have remained steady† (UKCES 2009: 34). This approach by the UK’s government is a reflection of its efforts and determinations to ensure the issues on the same are addressed effectively. However, Keith (2011: 32) notes that the government has not been able to source enough funds to help contain the problem though it has got plans put up to acquire and employ relevant resources. This will help enlarge programmes for apprenticeship especially for adults while also giving out support to people who are involved in trainings especially vocational trainings. In order to realiz e its goals for the strategy on the basis of works training and skills, the government has formulated reforms that incorporate expansions for adult apprenticeships in order that between the years 2014 and 2015 the country may boast of having 75,000 more grounds for skills trainings other than the labour plans by the government. According to UKCES 92011:46), â€Å"this will include loans from the government which will be given to 24 year old learners during the period between the years 2013 and 2014 as well as launch a growth innovation funding programmes which is deemed to have the potential of being a total of up to ?50m†. In regard to these, the government also plans to publish its skills book so as to assist both individuals and businesses to gain the relevant skills that are important in having the country achieve an increased economic strength alongside building growth that is sustainable in as far as long-term considerations on work trainings and skills are concerned. I n spite of the fact that the United Kingdom’s government has reduced the budget for further education and the expected skills, there has not been any continuation for the programmes in the protection and