Air Bags Can Kill Essays - Airbag, Bags, Seat Belt,

Air Bags Can Kill Air Bags Can Kill Even though air bags are designed to save lives, they can be harmful or fatal to some people. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recognized this concern and has made efforts to reduce injuries caused by air bag deployment by allowing the installation of a switch that turns off air bags. But in order to have a switch installed, the driver must file a request for an air bag on-off switch. People shouldn't have to seek permission from the government to disable a device that has been found to be responsible for many deaths from their vehicles. According to The Oracle, ?Turning off the airbags?, (http://zephyr.oracle.usf.edu/archive/199711/19971119/19971119-comm ent1.html), when an airbag deploys, there is an explosion in the dash and steering wheel that releases the airbags at a speed of 200 mph. This force has been found to be the cause of many deaths, mostly being children. And the explosion that propels the airbag can cause chemical burns and even blindness. The dangers of airbags are so great that car manufacturers now put warning labels in vehicles explaining the dangers. Now, according to CNN, ?Government announces rules for air bag switches,? (http://www.cnn.com/US/9711/18/airbags.presser/index.html), if the owner of a vehicle or a passenger has a medical condition which would put them at a greater risk from airbags, then they can apply permission to disable the airbags in their vehicle. This also applies if a child must ride in the front seat. But it doesn't protect people who would need to drive someone else's car, or people who would give someone else's children a ride. It will only protect the vehicle's owner and immediate family. Although passing the rule that allows the owner of a vehicle to disable the airbags is a good start in saving lives, it is not enough. Everyone can't have switches installed in their vehicles, just people who meet the requirements set by the NHSTA. The government shouldn't have to decide whether or not air bags pose a treat to individual passengers and drivers. As Henry Thoreau says in ?Civil Disobedience? Conversations p.642, ?government is best which governs least.? We just don't need laws on airbags at all. It would be more practical for the driver of the car to make the choice if the airbags should be on or off. If there is to be a law passed, then it should require auto manufactures to put shutoff switches on all vehicles equipped with airbags. The government won't do this because it has the attitude that it has to protect everyone from themselves, and that if the people are given a choice in their safety, then they will make the wrong choice. This is unfortunate, especially with airbags, because unlike other mandatory safety devices, like seat belts, air bags have been proven dangerous. They now have warnings on them explaining how dangerous they are and how to protect yourself from them, but wouldn't the best protection for some be turning them off? For some the answer is ?yes.? Even though most people benefit from airbags in serious crashes, some don't. And these people need to be able to turn off the air bag in front of them in any vehicle they drive or ride in, not just the one they own. This problem has a simple solution. Allowing anyone to install a shutoff switch on his/her own vehicle without having to get permission from the government would be the first step. Also, all new vehicles should have airbag shutoff switches as standard equipment. And the NHTSA should put out public awareness advertisements about who airbags help and who they can be harmful to. The informed consumer would then be able to override the airbag system whenever they might pose a threat to the driver or passenger and many lives would be saved Bibliography Sorces Special Crash Investigation Report http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/ncsa/SCIFiles/1099rpt.htm DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 49 CFR Parts 571 and 595 [Docket No. NHTSA-97-3111] RIN 2127 - AG61 Air Bag On-Off Switches http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/airbags/rule/section01.html Mazda Safety Notice 6 August, 1997 http://www.miata.net/misc/airbagsafety.html Current Events

Jane Eyre Patriarchal Dominance Essays

Jane Eyre Patriarchal Dominance Essays Jane Eyre Patriarchal Dominance Essay Jane Eyre Patriarchal Dominance Essay A Female in a Man’s World Patriarchal dominance is something that has been the norm for centuries, and is only now beginning to become less prominent. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is about the young Byronic hero Jane Eyre who has been resisting patriarchal forces all her life. In Bronte’s novel, Jane’s character is consistently portrayed as passionate in asserting her own identity, even though this has caused conflict with most males, and some females throughout her life. The passage that follows is taken from the scene when Jane is justifying to herself her refusal to go to the south of France with Rochester, as well as her decision to leave Thornfield Hall. Jane’s decision is devouring her, however she knows that she will never be more than a mistress to him as long as Bertha Mason is alive, and so she must assert herself in order to retain the identity that she has worked so hard for: Still indomitable was the replyI care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will keep the law given by God; sanctioned by man. I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not madas I am now. Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be. If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth? They have a worthso I have always believed; and if I cannot believe it now, it is because I am insanequite insane. (408) Her conscience and reason have been described as betraying her and siding with her passion and feelings side, causing an inner-conflict that is threatening the resonance of her identity. This clash between Jane’s passion and reasoning strongly illustrates key reoccurring themes throughout the novel, including the assertion of her strong, female identity as well as resisting patriarchal forces that have been stifling Jane Eyre her entire life. Rochester, who is described as â€Å"masterful† throughout the novel, is trying to assert his power over Jane by telling her to come to the south of France with him as his mistress and not to leave Thornfield, however Jane remains â€Å"indomitable† in an effort to maintain her identity. Jane says that â€Å"I care for myself† in a rhetorical statement, which is used as a simple justification to herself and reminder of who she is, as well as an introduction to the internal conflict that she is experiencing. Jane never had trouble leaving the Reed residence or Lowood School because there was nothing left in these places for her, however she is now in love with Rochester and has him to think about as well, creating an even more substantial conflict. Her passion and feelings seem to be taking over her usual dominant conscience and reasoning that ordinarily allow her to make decisions without emotional attachments. She quickly comes to realize though that the idea of being someone’s mistress is too demeaning and she therefore must affirm herself as independent from any dominant male figure, even one that she is in love with. When Jane says that â€Å"The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will keep the law given by God†, she is asserting her independence from Rochester and his patriarchal dominance that he would undoubtedly have over her. This is resonated when he calls Jane â€Å"Mrs. Rochester† (p. 394), which to this Jane gives the cold response: â€Å"Sir, your wife is living† (p. 394). For Jane, the idea of being referred to as anything but her given name is something that is not even close to imaginable for her, because this would be tainting her identity, ultimately leaving her with nothing. At this point in the novel, the only thing that Jane has left that she can fully rely on is â€Å"the law given by God† because her other resources, conscience and reasoning, have betrayed her and sided with her feelings: â€Å"when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be†. In other words, when Jane’s body and soul oppose her sensibility because of â€Å"temptation†, her â€Å"laws and principles† that she has always stood by, must remain strict and intact in order to retain her identity. Jane refers to these said laws and principles, as ones that were â€Å"received by me when I was sane, and not mad- as I am now. † She is obviously referring to before she met Rochester and fell in love with him, and a clear parallel can also be drawn here between Jane and Bertha Mason. Throughout the novel Bertha is described as a â€Å"lunatic† (p. 381) and continually dehumanized by Rochester, only contributing animalistic qualities to her identity. Rochester was the dominant patriarchal force in Bertha’s life, and although this may be subconscious for Jane, the comparison is inevitable, especially when she refers to herself as â€Å"insane- quite insane†. In this passage, Bertha Mason is used as a foreshadowing of what could happed to Jane if she doesn’t immediately assert her independence, and resist Rochester’s patriarchal grasp. After this scene, Jane leaves Thornfield with nothing but twenty shillings and a small bag of her belongings, but along with these insignificant items, she has her pride, which in her view is priceless. This passage works to reinforce key reoccurring themes in Bronte’s novel; Jane fighting for her independent, female identity, as well as the resistance of dominating patriarchal forces that have sought to stifle Jane and her character throughout her life. The internal conflict portrayed in this passage, is one that helped to change Jane’s life for the better, because in the end, her leaving Thornfield was the best thing that could have happened for her and Rochester’s relationship. By Jane standing up for what she believed in, it ultimately leads to the only thing she had missing in her â€Å"solitary†¦friendless† life, which was love.

Impact of H&M Mobile Application on Consumer Behaviour Essay

Impact of H&M Mobile Application on Consumer Behaviour - Essay Example The Hennes clothing store started its operations in the year 1947 in Vasteras, Sweden. In the initiation process the store only provided clothes for women, but with the passage of time and demand of the public the business also included the mens and kids clothes. The stores have stated many brands including the H&M, COS, Monki, Weekday, Cheap Monday and other stories. The company also provides fashion products for home and the store named H&M Home (H&M, 2015). The company started expanding in the local market and the second store was opened in Stockholm, the brand started to expand to the international market and in the year 1964 the store was opened in Norway. In the year 1968 the founder of Hennes acquired Mauritz Widforss and converted the name of Hennes to Hennes & Mauritz. The business got listed in the year 1974 and the first store in UK was established in 1976. The product was heavily demanded in many countries outside Sweden and therefore the brand was introduced in Netherland and Germany. The company continued to expand to Europe, the company also expanded their business to online market and the catalogue sales also started in the year 2006 (H&M, 2015). The company expanded its operations to Asia, including stores in Hong Kong and Shanghai and other stores in Japan. Till the year 2014 the brand reached to approximately all the big countries all over the world. The company once established as a women clothing store relatively dive rsified to mens and kids fashion clothing. The company was providing their products only through their stores and online site but the management realized the importance of mobile applications and worked on developing the mobile app to provide accessibility to their customers.

Historical topics since 1500s Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Historical topics since 1500s - Assignment Example They were devoted, loyal and keen followers of the law. The force was created by Sultan Murad in 1383 (Rice, 1999). Devshirme. This was a Turkish term referring to blood tax. During this period, the Ottoman empire sent the military to abduct young guys. They were then converted to Islam. The ablest were trained for military and civil war. The age of the recruit was from 7 to 10 years (Menage, 1966). Mamluks. This is an Arabic word meaning property. It may also mean the slave of the king or white slave. It is, therefore, an Arabic designation of slaves. This dynasty lasted from 1250-1517. Mamluks had a special status in relation to the ordinary slaves and were considered to be real lords with status above freeborn Muslims. Oyo. This was a Yoruba kingdom or kingdom. It covered parts of Benin and Nigeria. In modern day, it is an inland state in southwestern Nigeria, and its capital is at Ibadan. It is the 14th largest state. It contains a number of natural features, and the climate is equatorial with relatively high humidity. Marco Polo. This was a Venetian merchant .his travels are recorded in livres des Merveilles. he was born in Venice hence Venetian nationality. He was born in 1254 and died in 1324. His book was highly publicized and introduced Europeans to Central Asia and China (Polo, 1854). Battle of Lepanto . This was a battle between Islamists and Christians. This fight took place in 1571 on 7th October. It was a naval engagement and it was between the Christians and the ottoman. The Islam were defeated at the end and more than 50000 casualties were reported. Enclosure. An enclosure is an area that is sealed off. Economic history defines compound as the process which ends traditional rights such as mowing meadows for hay. The appropriation of land can be done through a fence or other methods such as enclosing through a stone wall or such. St. Petersburg. This is the second largest

New product in Qatari market ( Recorder pen ) Essay

New product in Qatari market ( Recorder pen ) - Essay Example The fourth section comprises of SWOT analysis of the business and product being offered. Fifth section provides a detailed discussion about segmentation, targeting and promotion strategy of the company. Sixth section provides a detailed marketing mix for the product, and the last section discusses the ethical dilemma of the product. The company, Qatar Deja Vu, is a newly established Qatari based company which is focusing on providing state of the art electronic products with smart and amazing use of technology. However, during this short history of 15 years, the company aims at learning and adjusting itself in line with the social and cultural values of the country, while ensuring that technological advancements run smoothly. Qatar Deja Vu will operate in the consumer electronic industry in Qatar and deal in the manufacturing of smart devices which are specifically made for young generation. The upcoming product of the company is named as â€Å"Smart Pen†, which is also being developed for people falling in the young age group. This mission statement is a depiction of the comprehensive vision and long term strategy being followed by the company. As the company aims at targeting young generation, therefore the element of youth is everywhere in its vision, strategies and products. The plan to introduce a Smart Pen in Qatari market is also a part of its long-term strategy to remain committed to serve the Qatari youth with innovative products. The marketing research carried out and presented in this report has been based on information collected through secondary sources of information. In fact, there has been no primary information source or research instrument has been used in the research. The major sources of secondary information, used in this report, have come from online sources, such as websites, market reports, analysts’ opinions and forecasts, news, journals, books, magazines, etc. All information obtained from these

Good Governance Essay

Good Governance Essay Governance is the deliberate and conscious management of regime structures for enhancing the public realm. Governance can be viewed from social, political and economic perspectives. Indeed, good governance is pivotal to the development process. Development linked governance has been an issue much debated in the contemporary world. The term governance has taken a much wider meaning and is no longer restricted to rule or administration but is used in a broader sense to imply the manner in which power is exercised. Since power can be exercised in any manner as desired, certain principles would be required in order to judge whether the discourse of the power has been made as per certain standards and norms. Such judgment can be based on several criteria participation of citizens, upholding the rule of law, transparency of the system, responsiveness of the authority, consensus oriented policy, equity and inclusiveness of the policy, accountability of the system, strategic vision of the a uthority, etc. At the end of the Cold War era, the term good governance came into circulation which signified the prescriptions by donor agencies for carrying out economic and political reforms by the recipient countries. These prescriptions were presented by international donor agencies as conditionalities and were expected to be met with compliance.  [4]   The World Bank defines good governance as ..the one epitomized by predictable, open, and enlightened policy-making, a bureaucracy imbued with a professional ethos acting in furtherance of the public good, the rule of law, transparent processes, and a strong civil society participating in public affairs. Poor governance (on the other hand) is characterized by arbitrary policy making, unaccountable bureaucracies, un-enforced or unjust legal systems, the abuse of executive power, a civil society unengaged in public life and widespread corruption.  [5]   The Government of Maharashtra Report on Good Governance sought to elucidate on the concept of good governance.  [6]  At the outset in the Mission Statement of the report, it clarified that the concept of good governance was much larger than mere administrative reforms as understood in the conventional sense of the term as it covered more ground and substance. Good governance has much to do with the ethical grounding of governance and therefore must be evaluated with reference to specific norms and objectives as may be laid down. Apart from looking at the functioning of the given segment of the society from the point of view of its acknowledged stakeholders and beneficiaries and customers and incorporating these perspectives in the course of its actions, it must have firm moorings to certain moral values and principles. As a concept, good governance applies to various and distinct sections of the society; the government, legislature, judiciary, the media, the private sector, the corporate sector, the co-operatives, societies, trusts, organizations and even non-governmental organizations.  [7]  After all, public accountability and transparency are equally relevant for each one of these institutions on which the society derives pillar-strength. Furthermore, only when all these and various other sections of the society conduct their affairs in a socially responsible manner can the objective of achieving larger good for the largest number of people in the society be realized. It must also be mentioned that the foremost test of good governance is the respect for the rule of law. As the often quoted saying goes, the law is supreme and above all its subjects. Governance must always be based on rule of law. Every lawfully established government must govern according to the laws of the land and all its actions must uphold the rule of law and any effort to take the law in ones own hand or to undermine the law by anyone, howsoever high and mighty he may be, must be dealt with speedily, decisively and in an exemplary manner. The Report goes on to observe that it is a matter of great concern that despite over five decades of Independence, it cannot be said with conviction that our governance is based on the rule of law. CHAPTER 2: PRINCIPLES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE 2.1 Principles of Good Governance The pillars of governance include accountability, transparency, predictability and participation these are universally applicable regardless of economic orientation, strategic priorities, or policy choices of the government in question. However, there application must be country-specific and purely based on the economic, social and administrative capacity of the country. The universally accepted characteristics of good governance include participation, rule of law, transparency, responsiveness, equity, inclusiveness, effectiveness, efficiency and accountability.  [8]   The following text shall cover the principles which may be considered as the key principles of good governance in the opinion of the researcher. These key elements have been listed out by the researcher based on their relevance and contribution towards establishing an efficient and objective driven governing authority, covering socio-political and economic considerations. The determinative role that these principles play are supported by the various texts of international governing authorities, like the United Nations, as well as the emphasis laid upon them by the Constitutions of various countries including India. Therefore, these principles are covered not only by hard-law provisions, i.e. legislations, treaties, etc. which make the compliance to such principles mandatory, but also soft-law provisions, i.e. declarations, policies outlining desirable targets, etc. which reflect the consensus of countries and their convergence in thought process vis-à  -vis these principles. (1) Free and Fair Elections Since good governance emphasizes on the significance attached to the right people being involved in the decision making process, a democratic setup where the representatives of the people are in control of the power, ensured by free and fair elections, holds importance towards ensuring good governance. Free and fair elections ensure that the citizens are able to exercise their right to elect their leaders and hence participate in voicing their interests through these leaders. However, such an election process must be free and fair, where the voters have a choice amongst the candidates and the right to the relevant information concerning the candidates in order to elect the leader who according to them could best serve the government. Such elections are open to all persons without discriminating on sex, race or ethnicity and are without interference or coercion by the government.. The right to vote is a constitutionally safeguarded right and is the cornerstone of a democratic society. However, other factors which discussed below are essential to ensure that elections are a means to a democratic society, and not an end by themselves.  [9]   (2) Independent Judiciary The Rule of Law A crucial aspect of the constitutional mechanism is a system of checks and balances that is imposed upon the different organs of the State. While power is granted to the government, its use is overlooked and kept within acceptable limits by the constitutional limits like periodic elections, guarantees of rights, and an independent judiciary which permits the citizens to seek protection of their rights and redress against government actions. In this way, one branch of the government is able to provide accountability for the actions of another. The value attached to an independent judiciary cannot be neglected due to its role in preserving the rule of law.  [10]  The rule of law binds the branches of the government together. It also lays the foundation for the sound establishment of the healthy economic, social and political life. The Courts must uphold the rule of law in the State, fairly and without discrimination, providing equal protection for women and minorities and allow open and fair access to judicial and administrative systems. Political or civil rights must not be denied by reasons of sex, race or ethnicity. Justice should be available for all sections of the society. Good governance requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially. It requires full protection of human rights, particularly those of the minorities. Impartial enforcement of laws requires an independent judiciary and an impartial and incorruptible police force.  [11]   (3) Freedom of Speech Press To function efficiently, a democratic society based on justice must not restrict the free exchange of ideas and information. To achieve this, free and open press and the freedoms of speech and expression are constitutionally safeguarded rights as well to cultivate effective governance. We live in an information driven society, and the access to information provides a vital tool to the public to make informed choices regarding their day to day lives and enables them to participate in the governance process. Such freedoms also serve as a check on the accountability for the government and lets the citizens redress the government for its actions. It facilitates the exchange of political discourse, creating a marketplace of ideas where no view is stifled and the best are chosen.  [12]   (4) Elimination of Corruption Good governance also translates into the elimination of corruption to preserve the integrity of democracy. Governments must strive to rid themselves of bribery as corruption damages economic development and reform, and is an obstacle as far as the ability of developing countries to attract foreign investment is concerned while also hindering the growth of democratic institutions, and concentrating power in the hands of a few. The best way to combat corruption is for governments to be open and transparent. While in certain cases governments have a responsibility to retain secrecy and confidentiality, democratic governments must be sensitive to the citizens right to know. Strong laws against corruption and the presence of law enforcement agencies that work against corruption demonstrate a governments commitment to this principle.  [13]   (5) Investment in People Reaping maximum benefit and managing the limited resources before the country is a task which must be performed by the administration. While following good governance practices, the government must invest in the people to cultivate a human resource base. This means that ample resources must be devoted to preserve the welfare of the citizens, without discrimination, and provide health care, education, etc., and an environment where political, economic and social well being, peace and justice can be achieved.  [14]   (6) Legitimacy Voice All citizens, men and women, must have a voice in the decision making process in good governance compliant State. This may be direct or through legitimate intermediate institutions. Such broad participation is made possible by the freedom of association and expression. Of the principles enumerated thus far, the principle of legitimacy and voice has the strongest claim to universal recognition based on over a half century of United Nations accomplishments in the field of human rights.  [15]  Another facet of good governance is the intention to act on consensus and not on the will of a few, whether strong or weak. This mediates the differing interests to reach a broad consensus on what is in the best interest of the entire society. A long term perspective giving due regard to the holistic effect on the society must be undertaken before the governing authority envisages on a path and focus on sustainable human development. This may include better understanding the historical, cultur al and social contexts of the given society.  [16]   (7) Direction The leaders in particular and the public in general should have a broad and long term perspective on good governance and human development, accompanied with a strong sense of the historical, cultural and social complexities in which that perspective is grounded.  [17]   The leaders and the public should have a broad and long-term perspective on good governance and human development, along with a sense of what is needed for such development. There is also an understanding of the historical, cultural and social complexities in which that perspective is grounded. Governance is thus a checklist of criteria of managing public affairs. As Lewis T. Preston, the World Bank president, categorically stated in hi foreword to Governance and Development, Good governance is an essential complement to sound economic policies. Efficient and accountable management by the public sector and a predictable and transparent policy framework are critical to the efficiency of markets and governments, and hence to economic development.  [18]   (8) Performance Orientation While good governance necessitates the consideration of several other factors, achieving the targets set forth by the government cannot be overlooked. These institutions and processes must attempt to serve all the stakeholders, and produce results that meet the needs while making the best use of the resources.  [19]  The work should always be oriented towards achieving optimal performance. Performance can be divided into two categories responsiveness of the government, and the effectiveness and efficiency of the government. Good governance calls for serving of the stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe which would ensure trust and acceptance of the public. Responsiveness of the government can only be tested if there exists meaningful and serious civil society engagement in the public affairs of the State.  [20]  The concept of efficiency in the context of good governance also covers the sustainable use of natural resources and the protections of the environment. (9) Accountability Information is also associated with the power government exercises. By restricting information, people within government become more powerful that those who are without it. Thus, demand for transparency and information is also about sharing of power. It is possible to misuse power when it is concentrated rather than when it is shared among a broader stream of people. As information grows, the arbitrariness of government tends to reduce.  [21]   Good governance entails the accountability of those who have been entrusted with certain duties and powers. Since the public participates in the decision making through the elected representatives and through the appointed decision makers, these decision makers are accountable to the public for the use of their powers. The level of this accountability may however differ in accordance with the organization in question and the nature of the decision. The private sector and civil society organizations must also be held accountable to the public and their institutional stakeholders. In general, an organization or an institution is accountable to those who will be affected by its decisions or actions.  [22]   Accountability cannot be enforced without transparency and the rule of law. Transparency refers to the taking decisions and enforcing them in accordance with rules and regulations and making the information with regard to such actions accessible for scrutiny by those the decisions affect. In simplistic terms, it means also that sufficient information is provided and that it is provided in easily understandable forms and mediums.  [23]  Transparency depends on the building of a free flow of information. Processes, institutions and information are directly made accessible to those concerned with them and enough information is provided to understand and monitor them.  [24]   (10) Fairness There must prevail a sense of fairness emanating from the decisions of the governing body. The members of the society should feel as equal participants in the society. All persons should be regarded as equals, and certain rights which are considered inalienable to humans must be respected. Discrimination of any kind such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, etc. must not be condoned. Equal opportunity must be given to everyone to improve or maintain their well being. At the same time, certain protected sections of the society must be given special attention if there exists a need for the government to help alleviate their economic, social or political standing. CHAPTER 3 Good Governance in the Indian Context Life of the law is not logic, but experience.  [25]   2.1 Good Governance: Recent Initiatives The pre dominant theme in contemporary debate over administrative reforms in India has been the target of achieving objectives under a regime of good governance. This implies a broader outlook towards management of such matters without exclusively restricting it to public administration. It is suggested that this idea stems from the concept of liberalization which places the individual over collective preferences, and the State shrinks to give place to the market that demands economic efficiency.  [26]   The contemporary efforts towards administrative reforms are not directed against an autonomous State, but instead a bureaucracy that is coming to grips with the changing role of the State. The bureaucracy is itself under an attack; on account of its inefficiency and also because of its association with a political system which has failed to perform, a system which deprived the citizens of their legitimate rights in decision making for far too long.  [27]  Another striking feature of these reforms is their tendency to be more ideologically oriented than before. This context must therefore be kept in mind while debating over the reform initiatives in recent times. The change in the context is primarily seen as an induced effect of the demand generated by the peoples struggle to make the government accountable. It is a change spearheaded by the efforts of the people. It is not a deliberate attempt by a benevolent government to come clean. Kuldeep Mathur makes an interesting observation that the government while reacting to this demand raised by the people has in fact met with resistance from within its own members.  [28]   The Conference of Chief Secretaries on effective and responsive administration in November 1996 gave birth to certain recommendations which were later converted into an Action Plan by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, which also included brainstorming by the Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretary, Chief Ministers and the Chief Secretaries. The Action Plan intends to introduce accountable administration which is effective and speedy in redressing public grievances, empowerment of local bodies, decentralized delivery system, review of laws, transparency and the right to information, code of ethics for civil servants, anti-corruption policies, etc. The central idea behind the action plan seems to be efficiency.  [29]   The Central Government had setup the Working Group on Right to Information and Promotion of Open and Transparent Government in 1997, which observed à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦democracy means choice and a sound and informed choice is possible only on the basis of knowledge. It went on to argue that transparency and openness in the functioning of the government shall have a cleansing effect on the operations of public agencies and approvingly quoted the saying that sunlight is the best disinfectant.  [30]   In May 1997, at the Conference of Chief Ministers, transparency in the government was discussed and a statement issues which provided for an Action Plan for Effective and Responsive government at the Central and State levels, while conceding that the secrecy and lack of openness in transactions had led to widespread corruption. The statement attracted much praise also because it set upon the government 3 months time to ensure easy access to information for the people vis-à  -vis information relating to government activities and decisions, except information which was sensitive in nature. Soon thereafter, political events took over and no progress was made for nearly a decade, much over the 3 month deadline that had been set.  [31]   While the Right to Information Act was introduced in 2005, continuous efforts are underway to introduce more accountability and transparency in the system. While most of the principles of good governance are found in the Indian legal framework in the form of constitutionally guaranteed safeguards, the governance needs to involve the civil society more actively in the decision making and establish the norms of redressal. The lack of transparency, prevalence of corruption, inefficient working and lack of responsiveness continue to be the grey areas. 2.2 Conclusion As a developing country emerging as an economic superpower, India needs to get its act right. Without certain optimum standards of efficiency, the principles of good governance cannot be attained. The peoples movement demanding good governance in India co-relates to the growing unrest in the civil society frustrated with the inefficiency and the opaqueness in the system. The only solution was to re-invent the government, and thus started a chain of events which included the passing of the Right to Information Act as recently as 2005. With the Indian economys growth story making headlines, the country has awakened to the need of the hour on its path to development. The insistence of international institutions like the World Bank that developing countries comply with the principles of good governance has only worked to Indias advantage. While some progress has been made, a lot more still needs to be done. Imbibing the principles of good governance shall ensure that India continues to march towards development, while effectively managing its resources and providing the socio-politico-economic rights that the citizens of this country are entitled to. However, just how effective this approach proves to be shall be determined by the response of the civil society which started this reform movement. CHAPTER 3 CONCLUSION The study of governance opens up new avenues it enables us to wander into intellectual space where we can search for solutions to the problems that have haunted us for far too long. The primary objective of governance is to discuss the role of the government in coping with the public issues and to tackle the myriad predicaments and difficulties that arise from these transactions. It teaches us that means must not be the ends, and both the means and the ends must be duly understood. The study of governance also enables us to effectively factor in the role that must be played by the other players in the arena of governance the role that must be played by the civil society groups and institutions. Governance is an exercise of economic, political and administrative authority for efficiently managing a countrys affairs, at both micro and macro levels, which includes the mechanisms, processes and institutions through which the citizens and civil society groups are able to communicate their interests, make use of their constitutional and legal rights besides meeting their obligations and mediating their differences.  [32]  It is not only desirable, but imperative that governance for development be accountable, participatory, responsive, effective and efficient for promoting the rule of law, safeguarding the interests of citizens and marching towards a holistic development. The principles of good governance are a set of principles which have gained popularity in an almost dogmatic sense. The universal applicability and acceptance of these principles have seen their application reach a new height and there is now a global pressure to conform to these common minimum standards of governance. These principles envisage a model of governance on which the developing countries, which are fast realizing the link between development and efficient governance, seek to fashion their governance on. The driving force behind this changing scenario have been the international institutions pressing for compliance, and the rising peoples movements demanding their legitimate rights to competent governance in an accountable manner. There is a growing sentiment that the convergence over these principles will result in the governments rising above the challenges before them. At the same time, there is caution in the wind. These principles must not be followed as diktats. Their application must be tailored to the specific needs of governance, sensitizing them to the local conditions. This is on account of the socio-politico-economic values that are affected by these principles. Their introduction as a localized experience prevents the alienation of the very people who must reap benefits. Practicing these principles of good and just governance results in a free and open society where people can pursue their hopes and dreams in a healthy and conducive environment. Moreover, robust and open economies would follow which can be trusted by the investors and financial institutions alike, and development shall flourish. It is a matter of strengthening what our Constitution endeavored to provide us. Respecting the human rights; a fruitful partnership between the government and the civil society; efficiency, accountability and transparency in the machinery; performance orientation with strategic vision; useful use of the human resource base and a strong and independent judiciary together they shall prove to be the desired shot in the arm for a re-invented and rejuvenated system of governance. The governance needs to be carried out in a manner that invokes trust and confidence, a manner which convinces the citizens the countrys biggest resources to come forward and fully par ticipate in an enterprise to secure the objectives of development and progress. In the light of what has been discussed above, with special focus on the realization to introduce changed governance practices and the increased restlessness amongst the people in India, it is almost as if a new governance philosophy has emerged. Unlike the traditional public administration systems that focused on bureaucracy and the delivery of public services, the governance model envisages public managers as entrepreneurs of a new, leaner and increasingly privatized government adapting to the practices and values of private businesses.  [33]  The mantra to be followed by the new governance model would be to transform civil services, underlining the reforms as means to (a) reorganize and downsize the government, (b) set-up a performance based organization, (c) adopt private sector management practices and (d) promote customer-orientation of administration.  [34]   For the developing world which is in the grip of serious debt crisis, the World Banks good governance solution with its accompanying micro and macro-accountability formula hold much promise. Institutional capacity building has been the central point of discussion and promotion of sound development management by removing, as far as possible, the possibilities of capture of benefits by the socially powerful is underway.  [35]   There is today an increasing pressure on our political system and the administrative apparatus generated by civil society organizations to share information and make the process of decision-making transparent. There is a shift towards responsive governance. This can be made practically feasible only if the mindset of the politicians and the bureaucrats undergoes a change, and they are receptive to the initiative of sharing information as well as power with the people.  [36]  

Family Heritage In Everyday Use Essay -- Everyday Use Alice Walker Ess

Family Heritage In Everyday Use In Alice Walker's "Everyday Use," the message about the preservation of heritage, specifically African-American heritage, is very clear. It is obvious that Walker believes that a person's heritage should be a living, dynamic part of the culture from which it arose and not a frozen timepiece only to be observed from a distance. There are two main approaches to heritage preservation depicted by the characters in this story. The narrator, a middle-aged African-American woman, and her youngest daughter Maggie, are in agreement with Walker. To them, their family heritage is everything around them that is involved in their everyday lives and everything that was involved in the lives of their ancestors. To Dee, the narrator's oldest daughter, heritage is the past - something to frame or hang on the wall, a mere artistic, aesthetic reminder of her family history. Walker depicts Dee's view of family heritage as being one of confusion and lack of understanding. The differences in attitude that Dee and Maggie portray about their heritage are seen early in the story. When the family's house burned down ten or twelve years ago, Maggie was deeply affected by the tragedy of losing her home where she grew up. As her mother describes, "She has been like this, chin on chest, eyes on ground, feet in shuffle, ever since the fire that burned the other house to the ground" (409). Dee, on the other hand, had hated the house. Her mother had wanted to ask her, "Why don't you dance around the ashes?" (409). Dee did not hold any significance in the home where she had grown up. In her confusion about her heritage, it was just a house to her. Another example of Dee's confusion about her own African-American heritage is expressed when she announces to her mother and sister that she has changed her name to "Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo." When her mother questions her about the change, Dee says, "I couldn't bear it any longer being named after the people who oppress me" (411). According to her mother, the name has been in the family since before the Civil War and most likely represents family unity to her. However, Dee does not realize that. Apparently, she believes that by changing her name she is expressing solidarity with her African ancestors and rejecting the oppression implied by the taking on of American names by black slaves. Commenting ... ...tage" (413). That comment is somewhat ironic since it appears to be Dee who does not understand what family heritage is all about. Walker's view is very clear at the end of the story. By Dee wanting to hang the family heirloom on the wall to look at from a distance, she is alienating herself from her family heritage. That is exactly what Walker thinks is the wrong thing to do. Walker would prefer the quilts to be used and integrated into daily life, like Maggie and her mother prefer. The same idea applies to all of the other household items that Dee has her eye on: the churn top, the dasher, and the benches for the table that her daddy made. They all are a part of life for Maggie and her mother. Walker believes that the only value that they hold for Dee is that they would be good trinkets to show off in her house. By using the quilts in this symbolic way, Walker is making the point that family heirlooms can only have meaning if they remain connected to the culture they sprang from - in essence, to be put to "Everyday Use." Works Cited: Walker, Alice. â€Å"Everyday Use.† Robert DiYanni, ed. Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 6th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2007.

Experience of Life

Have you ever thought how much someone can grow and learn through the experiences? There are many factors in how people can change their personality; their way of thinking and every day grow more as a person. Life is too complex to understand, it is better to live and enjoy each day to the fullest that it is where you learns more. In my opinion, I believe in what my mother says, â€Å"Everyone must go through their own experiences and learn from their own mistakes†. I personally have changed a lot as a person in the past two years by different life experience like my graduation in college, starting a new job and moving to another country.My first impact when I understood that my life was changing and I had to go through new roads was my graduation day. I was with my toga and cap in a huge classroom with more than a hundred students, all seated waiting for our bachelor’s degree. Upon hearing my name and having to climb onto the stage to receive my degree was the moment w hen I realized that I was no longer a child and I became a woman with a degree from preschool teacher. The shock of knowing that my life was going to start to be different and I will start a new life as an adult and with a real job frame my life.The jump from being a student to becoming a professional is awesome, I am very proud of my achievements but on the other hand, I went into a panic at not knowing what was coming next. I think that in that moment was a huge change in my life that made me mature tremendously. After I understand that my life had changed, I started my adventure of living the life that I always dreamed, to be a teacher. The time of being a head teacher had arrived. During my two years of working I was a head teacher of Nursery.The experience I had during those two years was amazing; it's incredible how children transmit you peace, happiness and that innocence that captures the heart of everyone. However, some of my biggest challenges during my years of work were dealing with parents. For example, in my first year of teaching one of my students father ordered an appointment with the director and me to see if I met his expectations as a teacher of his daughter. At first, I will not deny, I felt insulted because how could a parent knowing that â€Å"El Jefferson† is one of the best schools in Caracas and he wanted to see if her daughter's teacher was professional†. That experience made me grow and understand each situation and fear that parents maybe can feel having to leave their children in a school when they have only 3 years old. At the end of the meeting the father apologized to me and congratulated me of my professionalism and the way that I took the meeting. I felt proud of myself and I gave him what he needs confidence and security. Each experience has made me grow in different ways and I really appreciate. Likewise, after having completed my two years of work experience in which I enjoy to the fullest.I started to go th rough some of the biggest changes in my life, moving to a new country. One of my life goals is to do a master of Special Education, so I decided to do this master in New York City. From the moment I stepped on the United States I realized that my life was changing 360 degrees. I was leaving my family, my friends, my life in Venezuela and I was faced with something new and different: different language, different culture, new friends, new place to live, etc. I can say this has been one of the strongest changes in my life that made e grow without anesthesia in too little time. Today I live alone, I cook, I do my laundry and I managed all my expenses. This is the first time that I am living alone and having my independence. I can totally say this is a unique and incredible experience. This opportunity that my parents are offering me has helped me to understand how difficult could be the life and if you dream for something you have to fight for it. For example, when I was at school or in college my mother was always reminding me to study or whatever, does not mean that I did not, but it is a typical habit of mothers.Now that I am here studying to start a master in NYC, all the responsibility of homework, studies, etc. it is totally on me. For anyone, this kind of life experience makes us grow up enormously and I appreciate every day in life than my parents could give me, because that is being changed me more and more as a person. In conclusion, it is difficult to write on paper all those experiences, which I have gone through and have changed me as a person. Each day that passes everyone live things that mark us forever, sometimes they are more noticeable than others. As my grandmother â€Å"People never stop learning no matter how old they are†.

How to Play the Taxi Cab Improv Game

How to Play the Taxi Cab Improv Game The Taxi Cab improv game can be played with three to six performers. Its a fun icebreaker game for parties or you can use it as a classroom activity for theater, drama, or improv classes. It is suitable for all ages and can be played by children or sharp-witted members of improv groups. No matter what the level, it is fun to watch and fun to perform. How To Play the Taxi Cab Game Select one performer as the taxi cab driver and two or more performers as passengers.Set up one chair for the taxi-cab driver and several chairs for the passenger seats.One performer plays the role of the cab driver. He/she starts the scene by pantomiming driving. Feel free to develop a funny, quirky cab driver character. After a few moments of driving, the performer spots a customer.The passenger hops into the back of the cab. Now, heres where the game begins. The second performer playing the role of the passenger should have a distinct personality. This should be assigned before the start of the game and known to the other performers.The gimmick is that the cab driver adopts the personality traits of his customer. When a new performer (a new passenger) enters the scene, the cab driver and the other passengers emulate the new personality/behavior. The passengers explain to the driver where they are going and what they plan to do.After the passengers have interacted with one another, the cab driver will start to drop off his/her customers. When a passenger is dropped off and exits the scene, everyone switches personality again, until  eventually, the cab driver character is alone again and back to the original personality. A director or teacher may want to use a timer to cue when the next passenger will enter or exit the cab to keep the game flowing. This can be varied. If the performers are on a roll, the director can let it continue longer. If they arent doing well with a  character, the director can cue the next passenger swap to keep the game lively. Passenger Personalities The personalities can be prepared in advance by the director or teacher or they can be taken as audience suggestions before the beginning of the game. A secretive British agent.A snobby opera singer.A hyper 4-year-old.A friendly, overly talkative old woman. For advanced improv groups, each performer may come up with their own passenger personality and not reveal it until they enter the cab. This presents more of a challenge for the others to emulate it. Another wrinkle is to take audience suggestions during the game. For the best flow, it can be good to assign audience members to call out a passenger personality rather than have several people competing with suggestions. Dramatic Skills Used in the Taxi Cab Improv Game This activity develops a performers emulation ability. How well can the actor mimic the style of another performer? How quickly can an actor change his or her character? What ranges of emotions can the actors express? Teachers and directors should encourage their cast to try as many new personalities and emotions as possible. Have fun with the game and dont forget to give the cabbie a decent tip.

Another meaning for Dope

Another meaning for Dope Another meaning for Dope Another meaning for Dope By Maeve Maddox This headline on Buzzfeed caused me to do a double-take: The 4 Dopest Quotes From Ruth Bader Ginsburg On Marriage  Equality Initially, I thought the article so headed would list quotations considered by the writer to be especially misguided or stupid (i.e., â€Å"dopey†). As I read further, I realized that the writer admired Associate Justice Ginsberg’s opinions as expressed in the quotations. The word dopest was intended as a compliment. The word dope has a long and checkered history in English. In its original use, dope referred to a thick liquid or semi-fluid used as an article of food or as a lubricant. The word is thought to derive from Dutch doop, â€Å"a dipping† or â€Å"a sauce.† The Dutch verb doopen means â€Å"to dip.† Other meanings related to the gooey nature of dope include or have included: A preparation, mixture, or drug which is not specifically named. A varnish applied to the cloth surface of early airplanes to strengthen and keep them taut. A substance added to gasoline or other fuel to increase its efficiency. Opium, â€Å"especially the thick treacle-like preparation used in opium-smoking.† US speakers extended this use of dope to include stupefying drugs and narcotics in general. A medical preparation given to a racehorse for the purpose of affecting its performance. Various figurative meanings have become attached to dope: Information, especially on a particular subject or of a kind not widely disseminated or easily obtained. Information, a statement, etc., designed to gloss over or disguise facts; flattering or misleading talk. Something designed to deceive or bamboozle; a fraudulent design or action; a piece of deception or humbug. A stupid person, a simpleton, a fool. Dope is also used as a verb to mean â€Å"apply or to administer dope in one of its senses.† The use of dope as an adjective entered English slang in the 1980s, by way of rap music: 1981  J. Spicer Money (song) in L. Stanley Rap: the Lyrics (1992) 301  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Yo, man, them boys is dope This record is dope.† (OED) As for the word dopest used in the quotation about Justice Ginsberg, it is a slang expression meaning, â€Å"sickest, coolest, tightest, most awesome.† It is not standard usage and does not convey a positive connotation to speakers of standard English. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Redundant Phrases to AvoidSocial vs. SocietalWhat’s the Best Way to Refer to a Romantic Partner?

Service marketing assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Service marketing - Assignment Example Lower expectation can however make for the greatest satisfaction and with it word of mouth is an important and vital in the journey towards the purchase of the service. It is important to determine the target market and set an objective which would help the firm to determine the area which is of interest to the marketer (Greechie, 2008). The marketing objectives for a brand in the hospitality industry often includes customer satisfaction and gaining the trust of the customer which would increase the customer loyalty towards the brand and make the customers come back to the same brand again and again. The service sector chosen is hotel industry, hospitality services as it has been defined to be the friendliest sector and it is important to take care of the needs of the customers. The service providers in the hospitality sector need to set an optimum level of services for the customers as a high level of expectation might result in negative outflow. As per Bitner and Tetrealt (1990) cu stomer tends to look at the basic needs such as in a hotel customer would look for clean room, a secure room and treat the customers as guest (Kumar, 2010). Hospitality Industry The hotel to be dealt in with is a unique kind of hotel which aims to provide customer satisfaction to the highest level. ... According to Brown (2002) hotels should develop strong brand in order to create loyal customers because it is the brand that wins are preferred by the customers. Unique concepts of hotel which are very much famous and attractive to the customers are the themed hotels, design hotels, boutique hotels lifestyle hotels, co-branded hotels and service quality hotels. Thus the type of unique hotel taken into account is lifestyle hotels. As per the Overlook Hospitality Management (2002) lifestyle hotels are mainly designed to fill the emotional needs of guests. To take an example, the largest hotel in the globe with about 3500 hotels, the Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) which launched a new brand named Hotel Indigo a lifestyle brand, lodging alternatives for travelers who are seeking a hotel and not just merely a room. According to PWC, (2003) lifestyle hotel is small yet fashionable and stylish and at the same time offers excellent value for money. Porter argues that for organization to produce better result it is important to adapt the differentiation strategies. The company can differentiate through charging a high price, a premium price and also to chose attributes which are different from the competitors. Therefore the unique hotels tend to differentiate themselves from the normal or the traditional hotels as they pose few unique features. The hospitality industry is a competitive industry and thus it is essential to differentiate the products. As per Kotler (1997) new products can easily convert undifferentiated products and offerings. The hotels with unique concepts can position itself through differentiation. The unique concept hotels offers almost the same kind of product which a

Depictions of a decision tree Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Depictions of a decision tree - Essay Example Overall incidence rates reported in 2011, per 100,000 populations are as follows: Due to my chosen reported symptoms and recorded parameters regarding doctor’s findings regarding Leukemia in children, it is important to note that childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in children, representing 23% of cancer diagnoses among children who are younger than 15 years of age. ALL occurs in about one of every 29,000 children in the United States each year, and that for AML is about 11000 leukemia cases annually. Approximately, 700 cases of AML occur in people under the age of 20 each year. Due to this aspect pertaining the disease, it is critical to identify this when breaking down statistical data viewing of the group ‘leukemia’ as a whole (Else, Ruchlemer, & Osuji, 2005). It is also important to know the background information pertaining to Leukemia, with regards to race/ethnicity, since the data used involved multiple races and ethnic groups. Leukemia death rate was 7.6 per 100,000 men and women annually. To come up with these rates, people who died in 1998-2002 in the United States were analyzed. The table bellow shows the death rates in accordance to race and gender. Thus, Leukemia in 1st world countries like the US, has an approximate base rate occurrence of 1/10,000 children under the age of 15. Some of the risk factors for leukemia in children include the following: The most known symptoms pertain such things as looking pale, bleeding /bruising easily, regular cases of fever, shortness of breath especially after a small physical activity, and recurrent infections. Examination to identify this disease has a false affirmative toll of 5%– that is, 5% of the time that it says a child has the disease is false. Thus, the false negative rate is 0%– the test correctly diagnoses every child who does have the disease (Gribben, 2008). Despite the test being precise more than 90% of the time, it