The Invention of the Saddle Stirrup

It seems like such a simple idea. Why not add two pieces to the saddle, hanging down on either side, for your feet to rest in while you ride a horse? After all, humans seem to have domesticated the horse around 4500 BCE. The saddle was invented at least as early as 800 BCE, yet the first proper stirrup probably came about roughly 1,000 years later, around 200-300 CE. Nobody knows who first invented the stirrup, or even in which part of Asia the inventor lived. Indeed, this is a highly controversial topic among scholars of horsemanship, ancient and medieval warfare, and the history of technology. Although ordinary people likely do not rank the stirrup as one of historys greatest inventions, up there with paper, gunpowder and pre-sliced bread, military historians consider it a truly key development in the arts of war and conquest. Was the stirrup invented once, with the technology then spreading to riders everywhere? Or did riders in different areas come up with the idea independently? In either case, when did this happen? Unfortunately, since early stirrups were likely made of biodegradable materials such as leather, bone, and wood, we may never have precise answers to these questions. First Known Examples of Stirrups So what do we know? Ancient Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huangdis terracotta army (c. 210 BCE) includes a number of horses, but their saddles do not have stirrups. In sculptures from ancient India, c. 200 BCE, bare-footed riders use big-toe stirrups. These early stirrups consisted simply of a small loop of leather, in which the rider could brace each big toe to provide a bit of stability. Suitable for riders in hot climates, however, the big-toe stirrup would have been no use for booted riders in the steppes of Central Asia or western China. Interestingly, there is also a small Kushan engraving in carnelian that shows a rider using hook-style or platform stirrups; these are L-shaped pieces of wood or horn that do not encircle the foot like modern stirrups, but rather provide a sort of foot-rest. This intriguing engraving seems to indicate that Central Asian riders may have been using stirrups circa 100 CE, but it is the only known depiction of that region, so more evidence is needed to conclude that stirrups were indeed in use in Central Asia from such an early age. Modern-style Stirrups The earliest known representation of modern-style enclosed stirrups comes from a ceramic horse figurine that was buried in a First Jin Dynasty Chinese tomb near Nanjing in 322 CE. The stirrups are triangular in shape and appear on both sides of the horse, but since this is a stylized figure, it is impossible to determine other details about the construction of the stirrups. Fortunately, a grave near Anyang, China from approximately the same date yielded an actual example of a stirrup. The deceased was buried with full equipage for a horse, including a gold-plated bronze stirrup, which was circular in shape. Yet another tomb from the Jin era in China also contained a truly unique pair of stirrups. These are more triangular in shape, made of leather bound around a wooden core, then covered with lacquer. The stirrups were then painted with clouds in red. This decorative motif brings to mind the Heavenly Horse design found later in both China and Korea. The first stirrups for which we have a direct date are from the tomb of Feng Sufu, who died in 415 CE. He was a prince of Northern Yan, just north of the Koguryeo Kingdom of Korea. Fengs stirrups are quite complex. The rounded top of each stirrup was made from a bent piece of mulberry wood, which was covered with gilded bronze sheets on the outer surfaces, and iron plates covered with lacquer on the inside, where Fengs feet would have gone. These stirrups are of typical Koguryeo Korean design. Fifth-century tumuli from Korea proper also yield stirrups, including those at Pokchong-dong and Pan-gyeje. They also appear in wall murals and figurines from the Koguryeo and Silla dynasties. Japan also adopted the stirrup in the fifth century, according to tomb art. By the eighth century, the Nara period, Japanese stirrups were open-sided cups rather than rings, designed to prevent the riders feet from becoming entangled if he or she fell off (or was shot off) of the horse. Stirrups Reach Europe Meanwhile, European riders made do without stirrups until the eighth century. The introduction of this idea (which earlier generations of European historians credited to the Franks, rather than Asia), allowed for the development of heavy cavalry. Without the stirrups, European knights could not have gotten onto their horses wearing heavy armor, nor could they have jousted. Indeed, the Middle Ages in Europe would have been quite different without this simple little Asian invention. Remaining Questions: So where does this leave us? So many questions and previous assumptions remain up in the air, given this somewhat scanty evidence. How did the Parthians of ancient Persia (247 BCE - 224 CE) turn in their saddles and fire off a parthian (parting) shot from their bows, if they did not have stirrups? (Evidently, they used highly arched saddles for extra stability, but this still seems incredible.) Did Attila the Hun really introduce the stirrup into Europe? Or were the Huns able to strike fear into the hearts of all Eurasia with their horsemanship and shooting skills, even while riding without stirrups? There is no evidence that the Huns actually used this technology. Did ancient trade routes, now little remembered, ensure that this technology spread rapidly across Central Asia and into the Middle East? Did new refinements and innovations in stirrup design wash back and forth between Persia, India, China and even Japan, or was this a secret that only gradually infiltrated Eurasian culture? Until new evidence is unearthed, we will simply have to wonder. Sources Azzaroli, Augusto. An Early History of Horsemanship, Leiden: E.J. Brill Company, 1985.Chamberlin, J. Edward. Horse: How the Horse Has Shaped Civilizations, Random House Digital, 2007.Dien, Albert E. The Stirrup and Its Effect on Chinese Military History, Ars Orientalis, Vol 16 (1986), 33-56.Sinor, Denis. The Inner Asian Warriors, Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 101, No. 2 (Apr. - June, 1983), 133-144.

United States Federal Bureau Of Investigation Defines...

Terrorism has been creating havoc across the globe for the entirety of recorded history. Today, with the invention of the Internet and different computer programs, these radical groups that enact these deadly attacks are able to change the way they operate through the use of technological advances to further their onslaught on humanity. The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation defines terrorism as â€Å"the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.† (International vs. Domestic Terrorism). Every person on the planet can be affected by terrorism, regardless of religion, gender, or race. Throughout history radical groups who become obsessed with their own opinions and beliefs try to force others to believe in their views through displays of violence and terror. Contrary to modern beliefs that terrorists are only r adical Islam groups like Al Qaeda and Isis, but in reality almost every group of people from Christians to even environmentalists have enacted radical terrorist attacks. Terrorism, like technology, is not exclusive to industrialized nations or countries but is available to anyone with the right resources. These technologies are used throughout the world to connect average people to others and is almost always used for good. Terrorist organizations take advantage of new found communicationsShow MoreRelatedDifficulties Of Defining Terrorism And Terrorism807 Words   |  4 PagesDefining Terrorism Marissa P Rice Strayer University Abstract The purpose of this paper is to discuss the difficulties defining terrorism. I will focus on four government agencies definitions of terrorism. I will then choose two to compare and contrast. Then I will choose one definition of the four agencies that I believe most accurately defines terrorism. 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All in all there were close to 3,000 people who lost their lives on that fateful day betweenRead MoreThe Bombing Of The United States Essay843 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), this is a case of domestic terrorism and defines it as â€Å"the unlawful use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual based and operating entirely within the United States or Puerto Rico without foreign direction committed against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof in furtherance of political or social objectives† (Domestic Terrori sm). The definitionRead MoreTerrorist Essay1588 Words   |  7 Pagesproblem unique to the United States. Our constitutional commitment to political and religious freedom has not protected us from recurring official abuses. 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Branches of Psychology free essay sample

Abnormal psychology is the area that looks at psychopathology and abnormal behavior. 2. Behavioral Psychology (Behaviorism) )Is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. 3. Biopsychology It is focused on the study of how the brain influences behavior is often known as biopsychology. 4. Cognitive Psychology Focuses on internal states, such as motivation, problem solving, decision-making, thinking and attention. 5. Comparative Psychology Comparative psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the study of animal behavior. 6. Cross-Cultural Psychology Branch of psychology that looks at how cultural factors influence human behavior. 7. Developmental PsychologyThis branch of psychology looks at development throughout the lifespan, from childhood to adulthood. 8. Educational PsychologyBranch of psychology concerned with schools, teaching psychology, educational issues and student concerns. 9. Experimental PsychologyBranch of psychology that utilizes scientific methods to research the brain and behavior. 10. Forensic PsychologyForensic psychology is a specialty area that deals with issues related to psychology and the law 11. We will write a custom essay sample on Branches of Psychology or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Health PsychologyIt is focused on how biology, psychology, behavior and social factors influence health and illness. 12. Personality PsychologyIt is focused on the patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behavior that make a person unique. 13. Social PsychologySocial psychology seeks to explain and understand social behavior and looks at diverse topics. 4. Sports psychology Is a interdisciplinary science that draws on knowledge from the fields of Kinesiology (human kinetic) and Psychology. Mathematical psychology   Is an approach to  psychological  research that is based on mathematical modeling(mathematical concept and language) 16. Clinical psychology Clinical psychology also promotes adoption, adjustment and personal development. 17. Evolutionary psychology This looks at how human behavior has been affected by psychological adjustments during evolution. 8. NeuropsychologyStudy the structure and function of the brain in relation to clear behaviors and psychological processes. 19. Occupational psychology Study the performance of people at work. 20. Integral psychology  Branch of psychology that presents an all-encompassing holistic rather than an exclusivist or reductive approach 21. International  or  global psychology Is an emerging branch of  psychology  that focuses on the worldwide enterprise of psychology in terms of communication and networking. 22. Legal psychologyBranch of psychology  involves  empirical,  psychological  research of the law, legal institutions, and people who come into contact with the law. 23. Media psychology Seeks an understanding of how people perceive, interpret, use, and respond to a media-rich world. 24. Systems psychology Branch of both  theoretical psychology  and  applied psychology  that studies  human behaviour  and  experiencein  complex systems. 25. Theoretical psychology  It is concerned with theoretical and philosophical aspects of the discipline of  psychology.

Teaching ICT at School Reasons, Concerns and Solutions

Abstract Purpose Over the past few years, the significance of information and computer technologies has multiplied several times. New media has opened a pool of opportunities in every single field, increasing the pace of globalization and contributing to business development.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Teaching ICT at School: Reasons, Concerns and Solutions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Methods The given study is going to provide the themes that should be taught in ICT classes in schools so that students could be able to use the latest technologies to their advantage in studying, learn about the mechanism of their cognitive process and become lifelong learners. Results The introduction of the ICT principles into the education system will help teachers acquire new skills more efficiently. In the course of the research, an overview of the key ICT themes was done. Discussion The results have shown that, among the ICT themes that should be viewed as the school material, digital literacy, informational systems and human communication in ICT should be listed. Introduction: Nature of the Problem There is no secret that with the advent of information technologies, the landscape of communication, business and media has changed radically. Information technology has leaked into very single area and aspect of people’s lives, and it has become crucial to learn to use these changes to people’s advantage; for instance, ICT teaching can shed some light on mobile learning (El-Hussein Cronge, 2010). However, introducing ICT into the school curriculum is fraught with numerous difficulties. Statement of Purpose, Scope and General Method The purpose of the given paper is to define the themes of ICT that should be taught to students at school, as well as the methods for teaching the aforementioned themes. Seeing how the given topic is rather broad, the scope of the paper will concern the themes that can be taught to high school and college students. As for the research method, the principle of grounded theory is going to be used in order to design the basic patterns for teaching ICT. The principle of grounded theory is going to be the key method. Hypothesis Because of the opportunities in terms of technology and communication that ICT opens in front of teachers and students, it is most reasonable to use ICT as the means to accomplish such goals as the shift from an old to a relatively new teaching paradigm (EACEA, 2009, 14), more opportunities for teacher education (UNESCO, 2005, 55 55) and professional development (EACEA, 2009, 14), more efficient classroom management (EACEA, 2009, 14), better cooperation between schools (EACEA, 2009, 14) and availability of the necessary equipment (EACEA, 2009, 14). The given goals can be achieved by introducing such topics as research and e-awareness, communication, control and science, modeling and simulation and handling da ta.Advertising Looking for assessment on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Methods As it has been stressed above, the principles of the grounded research were used in the course of defining the key ICT themes to be taught in schools. The key characteristics of a good ICT lesson are going to be defined and most reasonable and efficient strategies for teaching ICT are going to be distinguished. Finally, the challenges regarding ICT teaching at schools will be outlines, and basic means of addressing these challenges will be provided. Results Results and Original Hypothesis An efficient use of interactive materials is a good method of introducing students to the opportunities provided by the ICT, (Eurydice, 2011, 10). The given approach is crucial in that it allows for demonstrating students the benefits of the ICT in a very graphic way. More to the point, the given method helps students apply the acquired skills to pract ice immediately after these skills were learned, as it was done in Malaysian schools in 2002 (Chan, 2002, 2). The third option that teachers have in terms of methods of teaching ICT to students in schools is to utilize such strategies as project-based learning, personalized learning, individualized, or student-centered, learning, scientific investigations and online learning (Eurydice, 2011, 43). The given methods are equally important, since, though having seemingly different characteristics, they are all targeted at the same goal, i.e., developing students’ independence in the use of ICT. The issue regarding classroom management should also be brought up. As ESEA report says, classroom management process becomes considerably easier with the introduction of the ICT technologies, which allows both students and teachers to focus on the class activities and, therefore, creates the most appropriate learning and teaching environment. Trends Discussion ICT helps students in their meta-cognition process. Phelps and Graham’s study shows that the integration of ICT into meta-cognition process led to rather fruitful results in fourteen schools (Phelps Graham, 2008, 129). At certain points, the goals of ICT studying and meta-cognition cross – both are aimed at helping students recognize the necessity to engage in lifelong learning and choose the best method for self-learning. As Shannon (2008) put it, it is possible â€Å"to become a self-directed learner using metacognition† (Shannon, 2008, 14). Seeing how ICT allows for encouraging self-learning in students (Eurydice, 2011, 43), it seems reasonable to use meta-cognition strategies as the basis for teaching ICT in schools.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Teaching ICT at School: Reasons, Concerns and Solutions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition, ICT clearly affects the teachers’ competence and profe ssionalism as well. ICT provides a plethora of opportunities for professional growth, including fast acquisition of new information, cooperation with other experts and availability of a number of training programs. The last but definitely not the least, such function of ICT as a better control over the technological aspect of the lesson helps teachers focus on the communication with students rather than managing equipment. Finally, more efficient time management is also an obvious advantage. Discussion It would be wrong to claim that there are no tangible problems concerning teaching ICT in schools. To start with, the changes to the curriculum that the inclusion of ICT classes demand is most likely trigger considerable organizational issues, especially regarding time management. According to the data provided above, in most cases, the introduction of the ICT studies came at the cost of other subjects. Therefore, when providing students with a chance to learn using the ICT technology , one must make the required changes to the curriculum and the rest of the classes. To solve the aforementioned issue, it will be most reasonable to apply the principle of online teaching mentioned above. The given approach allows for students to have a more flexible schedule and to choose the time management system that they prefer and that suits them best. Thus, the following themes must be presented in the ICT curriculum: Research and e-awareness; Communication; Control and science; Modeling and simulation; Handling data. Of all the themes mentioned above, the issue regarding research and e-awareness seems the most important one. It allows for both motivating students for learning more and becoming independent in their research. Therefore, the given theme must be the course priority. Conclusion With the advent of information and computing technologies, people’s social, personal and, most importantly, academic life has changed greatly. While the new options opened for stu dents seem rather alluring, including ICT into the school curriculum might be quite a problem.Advertising Looking for assessment on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In order to avoid the possible issues, it is necessary to choose the strategy that will allow teachers to supervise students instead of babysitting them in their ICT exploration. Thus, students will have an opportunity to both learn to use ICT efficiently and to become lifelong learners. Reference List Chan, F. M. (2002). ICT in Malaysian schools: Policy and strategies. Web. EACEA (2009). Study of the impact of technology in primary schools. Web. El-Hussein, M. O. M., Cronje, J. C. (2010). Defining mobile learning in the higher education Landscape. Educational Technology Society, 13(3), 12–21. Eurydice (2011). Key Data on Learning and Innovation through ICT at School in Europe 2011. Web. Phelps, R. Graham, A. (2008). Developing technology together, together: A whole-school metacognitive approach to ICT teacher professional development. Journal of Computing in Teacher Education, 24(4), 125–133. UNESCO (2005). ICTs for secondary education. Web. This assessment on Teaching ICT at School: Reasons, Concerns and Solutions was written and submitted by user Aryana P. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Leadership Essays

Leadership Essays Leadership Essay Leadership Essay Diversity has been recognized as one of the strengths BASS has in terms of the different cultures and competencies employees has to offer. A platform for each individual within the company has been created to make the most of their abilities and talents which in turn contributes to Basss successes. Employee engagement are widely described in the case study (Maniocs 2014:38) by starting with a motto Leadership starts with ME this is a key factor to motivate all employees to become great leaders within the company. Contact between managers and the workforce are maintained by means of a quarterly indaba, this platform in turn is used for employees to voice all major and minor concerns. Yearly conferences are also held to address all important issues of leadership excellence. Team meetings are held on a monthly basis for all members of the team to realism what problems they currently have, what targets they are aiming for and what steps they will take to rectify any problems. It keeps all team members informed of progress and it also encourages them to help each other if any problems need resolving. Team meetings also give employees the chance to air their views and bring out any problems that they are facing and are a major motivational factor in any business. Succession planning c By keeping the customers and their employees satisfied, BASS are sure to grow in this ever competitive market. Question 2 Comment on the significance and effectiveness of the Follow-up and Evaluation of Basss induction programmer in contributing to the organizations strategy.

Mass Murder at Babi Yar Ravine

Mass Murder at Babi Yar Ravine Before there were gas chambers, the Nazis used guns to kill Jews and others in large numbers during the Holocaust. Babi Yar, a ravine located just outside of  Kiev, was the site where  the Nazis  murdered approximately 100,000 people. The killing began with a large group on September 29-30, 1941, but continued for months. The German Takeover After the Nazis attacked the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, they pushed east. By September 19, they had reached Kiev. It was a confusing time for the inhabitants of Kiev. Though a large portion of the population had family either in the Red Army or had evacuated into the interior of the Soviet Union, many inhabitants welcomed the German Armys takeover of Kiev. Many believed the Germans would free them from Stalins oppressive regime. Within days they would see the true face of the invaders. Explosions Looting began immediately. Then the Germans moved into Kievs downtown on Kreshchatik Street. On September 24 - five days after the Germans entered Kiev - a bomb exploded around four oclock in the afternoon at the German headquarters. For days, bombs exploded in buildings in the Kreshchatik that had been occupied by Germans. Many Germans and civilians were killed and injured. After the war, it was determined that a group of NKVD members was left behind by the Soviets to offer some resistance against the conquering Germans. But during the war, the Germans decided it was the work of Jews, and retaliated for the bombings against the Jewish population of Kiev. The Notice By the time the bombings finally stopped on September 28, the Germans already had a plan for retaliation. On this day, the Germans posted a notice all over town that read: All [Jews] living in the city of Kiev and its vicinity are to report by 8 oclock on the morning of Monday, September 29th, 1941, at the corner of Melnikovsky and Dokhturov Streets (near the cemetery). They are to take with them documents, money, valuables, as well as warm clothes, underwear, etc. Any [Jew] not carrying out this instruction and who is found elsewhere will be shot. Any civilian entering flats evacuated by [Jews] and stealing property will be shot. Most people in town, including the Jews, thought this notice meant deportation. They were wrong. Reporting for Deportation On the morning of September 29, tens of thousands of Jews arrived at the appointed location. Some arrived extra early in order to ensure themselves a seat on the train. Most waited hours in this crowd - only slowly moving toward what they thought was a train. The Front of the Line Soon after people passed through the gate into the Jewish cemetery, they reached the front of the mass of people. Here, they were to leave their baggage. Some in the crowd wondered how they would be reunited with their possessions; some believed it would be sent in a luggage van. The Germans were counting out only a few people at a time and then letting them move farther on. Machine-gun fire could be heard nearby. For those that realized what was happening and wanted to leave, it was too late. There was a barricade staffed by Germans who were checking identification papers of those wanting out. If the person was Jewish, they were forced to remain. In Small Groups Taken from the front of the line in groups of ten, they were led to a corridor, about four or five feet wide, formed by rows of soldiers on each side.  The soldiers were holding sticks and would hit the Jews as they went by. There was no question of being able to dodge or get away. Brutal blows, immediately drawing blood, descended on their heads, backs and shoulders from left and right. The soldiers kept shouting: Schnell, schnell! laughing happily, as if they were watching a circus act; they even found ways of delivering harder blows in the more vulnerable places, the ribs, the stomach and the groin. Screaming and crying, the Jews exited the corridor of soldiers onto an area overgrown with grass.  Here they were ordered to undress. Those who hesitated had their clothes ripped off them by force, and were kicked and struck with knuckledusters or clubs by the Germans, who seemed to be drunk with fury in a sort of sadistic rage. 7 Babi Yar Babi Yar is the name of a ravine in the northwestern section of Kiev. A. Anatoli described the ravine as enormous, you might even say majestic: deep and wide, like a mountain gorge. If you stood on one side of it and shouted you would scarcely be heard on the other.8 It was here that the Nazis shot the Jews. In small groups of ten, the Jews were taken along the edge of the ravine. One of the very few survivors remembers she looked down and her head swam, she seemed to be so high up. Beneath her was a sea of bodies covered in blood. Once the Jews were lined up, the Nazis used a machine-gun to shoot them. When shot, they fell into the ravine. Then the next were brought along the edge and shot. According to the Einsatzgruppe Operational Situation Report No. 101, 33,771 Jews were killed at  Babi Yar  on September 29 and 30.10  But this was not the end of the killing at Babi Yar. More Victims The Nazis next rounded up Gypsies and killed them at Babi Yar. Patients of the Pavlov Psychiatric Hospital were gassed and then dumped into the ravine. Soviet prisoners of war were brought to the ravine and shot. Thousands of other civilians were killed at Babi Yar for trivial reasons, such as a mass shooting in retaliation for just one or two people breaking a Nazi order. The killing continued for months at Babi Yar. It is estimated that 100,000 people were murdered there. Babi Yar: Destroying the Evidence By mid-1943, the Germans were on the retreat; the Red Army was advancing west. Soon, the Red Army would liberate Kiev and its surroundings. The Nazis, in an effort to hide their guilt, tried to destroy evidence of their killings - the mass graves at Babi Yar. This was to be a gruesome job, so they had prisoners do it. The Prisoners Not knowing why they had been chosen, 100 prisoners from the Syretsk concentration camp (near Babi Yar) walked toward Babi Yar thinking they were to be shot. They were surprised when Nazis attached shackles onto them. Then surprised again when the Nazis gave them dinner. At night, the prisoners were housed in a cave-like hole cut into the side of the ravine. Blocking the entrance/exit was an enormous gate, locked with a large padlock. A wooden tower faced the entrance, with a machine-gun aimed at the entrance to keep watch over the prisoners. 327 prisoners, 100 of whom were Jews, were chosen for this horrific work. The Ghastly Work On August 18, 1943, the work began. The prisoners were divided into brigades, each with its own part of the cremation process. Digging:  Some prisoners had to dig into the mass graves. Since there were numerous mass graves at Babi Yar, most had been covered with dirt. These prisoners removed the top layer of dirt in order to expose the corpses.Hooking:  Having fallen into the pit after having been shot and having been underground for up to two years, many of the bodies had twisted together and were difficult to remove from the mass. The Nazis had constructed a special tool to disentangle and pull/drag the corpses. This tool was metal with one end shaped into a handle and the other shaped into a hook.The prisoners who had to pull the corpses out of the grave would place the hook under the corpses chin and pull - the body would follow the head. Sometimes the bodies were so firmly stuck together that two or three of them came out with one hook. It was often necessary to hack them apart with axes, and the lower layers had to be dynamited several times. The Nazis drank vodka to drown out the smell and the scenes; the prisoners werent even allowed to wash their hands.Removing Valuables:  After the bodies were pulled out of the mass grave, a few prisoners with pliers would search the victims mouths for gold. Other prisoners would remove clothing, boots, etc. from the bodies. (Though the Jews had been forced to undress before they were killed, later groups were often shot fully clothed.)Cremating the Bodies:  After the bodies had been checked for valuables, they were to be cremated. The pyres were carefully constructed for efficiency. Granite tombstones were brought from the nearby Jewish cemetery and laid flat on the ground. Wood was then stacked on top of it. Then the first layer of bodies was carefully laid on top of the wood so that their heads were on the outside. The second layer of bodies was then carefully placed on the first, but with the heads on the other side. Then, the prisoners placed more wood. And again, another lay er of bodies was placed on top - adding layer after layer. Approximately 2,000 bodies would be burned at the same time. To start the fire, gasoline was doused over the pile of bodies. The [stokers] got the fire going underneath and also carried burning torches along the rows of projecting heads. The hair, soaked in oil [gasoline], immediately burst into bright flame - that was why they had arranged the heads that way. Crushing the Bones:  The ashes from the pyre were scooped up and brought to another group of prisoners. Large pieces of bone that had not burned in the fire needed to be crushed to fully destroy the evidence of Nazi atrocities. Jewish tombstones were taken from the nearby cemetery to crush the bones. Prisoners then passed the ashes through a sieve, looking for large bone pieces that needed to be further crushed as well as searching for gold and other valuables. Planning an Escape The prisoners worked for six weeks at their gruesome task. Though they were exhausted, starving, and filthy, these prisoners still held on to life. There had been a couple of earlier escape attempts by individuals, after which, a dozen or more other prisoners were killed in retaliation. Thus, it was decided amongst the prisoners that the prisoners would have to escape as a group. But how were they to do this? They were hindered by shackles, locked in with a large padlock, and aimed at with a machine gun. Plus, there was at least one informer among them. Fyodor Yershov finally came up with a plan that would hopefully  would allow at least a few of the prisoners to reach safety. While working, the prisoners often found small items that the victims had brought with them to Babi Yar - not knowing they were to be murdered. Among these items were scissors, tools, and keys. The escape plan was to gather items that would help remove the shackles, find a key that would unlock the padlock, and find items that could be used to help them attack the guards. Then they would break their shackles, unlock the gate, and run past the guards, hoping to avoid being hit by machine-gun fire. This escape plan, especially in hindsight, seemed nearly impossible. Yet, the prisoners broke into groups of ten to search for the needed items. The group that was to search for the key to the padlock had to sneak and try hundreds of different keys in order to find the one that worked. One day, one of the few Jewish prisoners, Yasha Kaper, found a key that worked. The plan was almost ruined by an accident. One day, while working, an SS  man hit a prisoner. When the prisoner landed on the ground, there was a rattling sound. The SS man soon discovered that the prisoner was carrying scissors. The SS man wanted to know what the prisoner was planning on using the scissors for. The prisoner replied, I wanted to cut my hair. The SS man began to beat him while repeating the question. The prisoner could have easily revealed the escape plan, but did not. After the prisoner had lost  consciousness  he was thrown  onto  the fire. Having the key and other needed materials, the prisoners realized they needed to set a date for the escape. On September 29 one of the SS officers warned the prisoners that they were going to be killed the following day. The date for the escape was set for that night. The Escape Around two oclock that night, the prisoners tried to unlock the padlock. Though it took two turns of the key to  unlock  the lock, after the first turn, the lock made a noise which alerted the guards. The prisoners managed to make it back to their bunks before they were seen.   After the change in guard, the prisoners tried turning the lock  a second  turn. This time the lock did not make a noise and opened. The known informer was killed in his sleep. The rest of the prisoners were woken up and all worked on removing their shackles. The guards noticed the noise from the removal of the shackles and came to investigate. One prisoner thought quickly and told the guards that the prisoners were fighting over the potatoes that the guards had left in the bunker earlier. The guards thought this was funny and left. Twenty minutes later, the prisoners rushed out of the bunker en masse in an effort to escape. Some of the prisoners came upon guards and attacked them; others kept on running. The machine gun operator didnt want to shoot because, in the dark, he was afraid he would hit some of his own men. Out of all the prisoners, only 15 succeeded in escaping.

Reengineering business process Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Reengineering business process - Case Study Example This ever increasing competition necessitated the company to contemplate about the provision of information on various matters including marketing at appropriate time points. However, contrary to the expectations of its well wishers, the superannuated legacy systems used by the company had serious flaws in their architecture which impaired the achievement of organizational effectiveness and strategic objectives. The critical problem associated with structure of legacy systems was its inability to integrate and become compatible with other systems. To overcome these shortcomings and survive in the industry, the company decided to re-engineer the global supply chain namely PRIDE project (Process re-engineering through Information Delivery Excellence). As a part of the re-engineering programme, implementation SAP/R3 is a critical endeavour to become a truly global company (Scott and Vessey, 2002). The company believes that implementing SAP, which is an enterprise-wide solution, will int egrate all the core functions of the organization comprising of Sales, Finance, Accounting, Logistics, Manufacturing, and HR. The centralized database and integrated architecture of SAP facilitates smooth flow of information across departments, eliminates data redundancy and provides a broader picture of the organization to management. The present essay is an attempt to evaluate and critically analyze the re-engineering programme of Dow Corning Corporation in term of organisational learning, project management and risk management. The essay takes a descriptive approach wherein all the requirements of an effective and workable re-engineering project are discussed in detail. The essay also suggests certain measures by which the project can be made operational and successful. Project Management Project management is commonly understood as the process of planning, monitoring and controlling a project so as to achieve its objectives on time and as per specific budget, quality and performance (Atkinson, 1999). The successful ERP implementation needs many resources and factors and Al-Mashari at al. (2003) have developed the critical actors of ERP success and these factors can be shown as in Figure 2. After the analysis of Dow Corning ERP case, it has been observed that the company brought in many resources for the successful implementation of ERP. At the same time, it has also been noticed that the company neglected some areas completely and it is recommended that these areas are to be improved in future. The pre-implementation factors which have been observed as critical success factors are bifurcated into three stages, namely pre-implementation, implementation and post-implementation. All these different stages involve many activities/efforts, all of which are briefed as below: Pre-implementation Stage 1. Vision and Planning Planning is indispensable for all activities in business, particularly for strategic operations. As the first move towards re-engineering, Dow Corning aligned IT strategy with its business strategy. This is followed by major changes in the existing in IT function. First, the company formed a new committee, the Process and IT Board. Second, a new business unit called BPIT (business processes and IT)

Intrusion detection systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Intrusion detection systems - Essay Example IDS is the short form for the Intrusion Detection Systems. These systems basically find out the manner in which unwanted signals towards the systems are manipulated. In fact there are a host of different kinds that come under the IDS heading. Moreover, coming to the point of these manipulations which occur in the first place, we discern that these are the usual attacks that are carried out by the hackers who are skilled and quite adept at their work and even at times, script kiddies do play these tricks whereby they make use of the automated scripts to achieve their objectives. IDS thus looks at the malicious data traffic that is taking place in computer networks as well as tries its best at finding out the spots where the firewall would not play its active part and thus seize the chance of finding the loopholes that might exist within a computer and indeed the whole of the network under question. Thus what is left unattended and undiscovered by the computer firewall is usually caugh t by the IDS which makes its functions look all the more imperative in the related scheme of computer networking and security issues that arise every now and then.Thus vulnerable services are saved from the attacks and applications are saved as a result of the precaution which has been applied.The components which make up the IDS include the sensors, a console and a central engine. They are briefly highlighted here. Sensors play their active part in the generation of events related with security issues.

Reflection Letter Essay Example for Free

Reflection Letter Essay This document contains my knowledge and lessons on ethics and integrity I have learnt from the Academic Seminar as well as the reasons why I found myself interacting with the Office of Student Conduct. My suspension was based on misconduct of academic ethics and integrity. We were caught cheating on quizzes and on online tests. Being afraid to tell the truth, the school gave us suspension which I have served outside school. My involvement in academic misconduct in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has taught me a lesson after the sanction posed on me. It was my actions that have caused me all these mess and according to the lessons I have learnt in the Academic Integrity Seminar, I believe in high degree of integrity from today. My friend and I were caught cheating on quizzes and online tests. Unfortunately, our instructor caught us red-handed and we were referred to the Office of Student Conduct. My relaxed efforts on academics led me into all these mess. Instead of going to do more studies on previously learnt topics, my peers and I would go to the clubs and any other place that we could have fun and forgot our academic roots were more important. Only to find that I had nothing to offer whenever there was an exam. That’s when my best friend would suggest that we improvise a way in which we can acquire high grades and achieve academic scholarship. The truth is that our efforts were imposing a great danger in my academic and personal life. This kind of incidences has also happened to my peers especially my best friend. To avoid such a circumstance occurring again in my life, I have decided to take my studies more seriously. Again, I have decided to make proper preparations in my studies prior to examination period or any other test and quiz. I have also decided to avoid the bad groups or peers in the campus and choose a company with good academic morals. During the Academic Integrity Seminar, I have learnt that I am only destroying my life. I am a person with great vision for my life, my country and the entire world. I don’t want to shun this away. My knowledge on ethics and integrity has gone a notch higher. Being able to know that ethics and integrity is part of my scholar achievement during my academic life, it’s an assurance that I will practice it both in college and after college. This lesson on integrity will go a long way in my life as I have to practice even at work place. Knowledge without ethics and integrity is harm to a scholar’s life. I went through all the modules in the integrity seminar and learnt that some of us fall victims of plagiarism knowingly or unknowingly. We have to include citations in our term papers whenever we use work from other authors whether it’s from the internet or from any other public sources. We should not have the assumptions that the sources belong to the community. From now onwards, I will make sure that I cite any reference that I quote in my academic term papers and any life research papers I work on.

King Leopolds Ghost Essay -- essays research papers

Book Review of King Leopold's Ghost, by Adam Hochschild   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What some have considered to be the first international scandal of the modern era took place in the Congo from 1890 until 1910. King Leopold II of Belgium was at the head of this so-called scandal. Although Europe and the rest of the world seemed to have forgotten the victims of these crimes, there is a considerable amount of material to use when attempting to recreate the horror that took place in Leopold's Congo. This is exactly what Adam Hochschild is attempting to do by writing this book. By using the written words of mostly Europeans and Americans, which creates a distorted view of history, he wants to show that the Holocaust type event that took place in the Congo is something that should never be forgotten in our history. Hochschild also wants to show the heroism that took place afterwards in what became the first human rights movement of our time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hochschild does an excellent and detailed job of showing how clever and cunning (like a fox) Leopold was in obtaining and maintaining his hold in the Congo. Early on Leopold became obsessed with the idea of colonies and the profit that they could bring to his country. In the beginning he did not attempt to cover-up this ambition, but soon realized he needed to in order to have the approval of those countries around him. The metaphor Hochschild uses to explain Leopold's venture into the Cong...

Sony Aibo Case Study

Sony AIBO case analysis AIBO, a robotic dog doesn’t do anything useful at all, but provides â€Å"entertainment† by stimulating some of the personality characteristics of a pet without the inconvenience of a real animal. According to Toshitada Doi, Sony’s leading computer engineer, AIBO is a computer that provides love and healing for people. The first generation ERS-110 can imitate dog’s behaviors, â€Å"see†, show â€Å"emotions†, â€Å"learn† and evolve â€Å"personality†. The second generation ERS-210 has voice recognition and more dexterous.The new AIBO came with new software options as well. After adding wireless LAN technology, Sony has unveiled its new â€Å"entertainment architecture†, dubbed OPEN-R, which provided third-party developers with the ability to create any number of software applications as well as hardware modules. Though priced at whopping $2,500, $1,500 the second generation, Sony’s profit m argin on the AIBO was close to zero. It is the software applications and hardware modules developed by Sony and third-party developers that makes money for the company.AIBO has created such a stir that only two products had in the history of Sony: the original Walkman and the Playstation game console, far exceeding the developers’ expectations. It is such a success in Japan; the American market is not that hot. Par of the reasons were the culture differences between these two countries. In Japan, many people live in small apartments where real pets are not allowed. And Japan has a large elderly population, to whom a companion without any inconvenience is perfect.Besides, robots in Japanese culture are heroes and Japanese are so fascinated about high-technology while to older Americans, too lifelike technology is dangerous and threatening. Apart from the culture elements, most customers were confused of what Sony was selling. The confusion was compounded by the release of a nu mber of low-end knock-offs. The performance of five years’, six prototypes’, and millions of yen’s outcome, AIBO, is so obviously superior to those cheap imitations, it is difficult to consider these knock-offs â€Å"competition†.At the other end of the competitive spectrum are robots that can â€Å"do something†Ã¢â‚¬â€ perform â€Å"serious† household tasks. Admitting that these types of â€Å"functional† robots were much easier for Americans to understand, Sony has provided new software applications so that AIBOs can read emails and pre-selected websites and owners can remotely control their AIBOs’ movements. With more and more software applications and hardware modules being built on the base of OPEN-R technology, the possibilities are really limitless.As to broaden the American market, I think several questions should be considered before making the decision of whether Sony should begin mass advertising. What is the popula rity of AIBO in America? What are the main concerns that stop Americans to reach into their pocket to pay for an AIBO? Standing in the Americans’ shoes, what do they want from a robot dog? Will sales of AIBO be stimulated by the mass advertising? Is the return going to be enough to cover the cost of mass advertising? Which medium might be the best way to touch the audiences?Further analysis of American market and culture should be done before making the decision. Since Sony has created AIBO Town, a magazine for AIBO devotees, and Cartoon industry is very mature in Japan, AIBO cartoon, AIBO comic books, AIBO video games and a series of AIBO related products can create infatuation with the robotic dogs, and the popularization of robotic dogs, vice versa, will promote the sales of the derivatives. The possibilities of AIBO are limitless. With more and more applications developed, AIBO can be a functional companion.For instance, AIBO could be used to guide blind people, the senso r can get information of the owner’s health condition when he/she touches an AIBO’s head, AIBO can play music, the owner can monitor his/her house when traveling, AIBO can work as a projector, etc. The price of the AIBO can not be much lower than the cost of manufacturing cost, or the margin profit. As AIBOs are equipped with more and more functions, people have a clearer understanding of what Sony is selling and are more willing to pay for them.

Gifted Children: An Overview

Started in the 1970†³s, America†s Gifted & Talented programs are used to enhance the curriculum of students included in either category in order to challenge and strengthen their unique abilities. These students are usually provided a separate class with specialized lessons in all areas and a teacher with a special degree in gifted education. I feel that it is important that the teacher was a gifted student who would know what the students must face as â€Å"above average† members of their school. The job market for gifted education offers a wide range of opportunity and gifted teachers are needed all over the One of the earliest programs for gifted and talented students was set up in 1974, at The Old Donation Center, in Virginia Beach. Students scoring within the top 3% of students on an assessment test are referred here to be further challenged. These students are considered gifted and have special teachers and classes to promote development of their talents and minds. Programs like this began to pop up around the nation in the 70†³s; however, gifted students were looked down upon by teachers, parents, and peers. Many people considered them to be â€Å"freaks† because they were different. They didn†t understand the implications of the terms â€Å"gifted† and â€Å"talented†. Most people simply expected gifted students to act more mature or to be geniuses, even though gifted students are the same as other children in their needs as human beings. Some gifted students were forced to grow up too fast and some simply ignored the fact that they were smarter than others, thus, they were lost in the shuffle. The irony of it all is that gifted-ness seems to run in families and the children of these repressed gifted students are, themselves, But what exactly is a â€Å"gifted† student? Students (elementary & secondary) are given a repertoire of tests. These tests check IQ, psychomotor ability, specific academic aptitude/talent, creative and productive thinking, leadership ability, and skills in the visual and performing arts. The main requirement, the IQ, is tested by a standardized IQ test (remember, however, that IQ tests are not always perfectly accurate). Ratings are given to each bracket of IQ scores: If a student receives a rating of â€Å"gifted† or higher (130+), he/she is considered to be a gifted student and is introduced into the designated programs. These students are given the opportunity to choose classes that are meant to teach them how to use their minds for critical thinking, reasoning, and artistic pursuits. Students in these classes are also exposed to culture, literature, and other subject areas that are not usually covered in what they term â€Å"normal classes†. The gifted classes are mainly in an open format allowing the student to create the parameters of his/her work and allowing them to be creative in their learning experience. Each class is presided-over by a teacher that has specialized degrees in gifted education. Almost every school in the United States has a need for a gifted class, making job opportunities endless; there are never Gifted teachers must have both a degree in education (secondary or elementary) and a degree in special education (gifted). These teachers are individuals that must have stamina, people skills, and open minds. It is also important (to the students) that the teacher himself/herself was also classified as gifted. It sets a common bond, shows them that the teacher understands the problems they face as so-called â€Å"smart kids†. These students are often ridiculed by heir peers and looked-down upon by their teachers. They are often separated from others their age by a barrier that can only be described as their â€Å"intelligence†. This is why, often, gifted teachers have degrees in administration, counseling, or psychology. All teachers that I interviewed told me that a continually upgraded education is a must (as are additional degrees). In order to keep up with the students one must attend seminars, workshops, special classes, etc. There is no end to the amount of education that could help you to understand gifted students and the role of their teacher†. Also, if a teacher has extra educational qualifications, he/she could be asked to step up to the position of administrator or, more often, counselor. This means pay raises. Though the average salary for teachers is approximately $27,500 per year, it is â€Å"a worthwhile undertaking† according to Jane Mansueto, â€Å"It is incredible to work with gifted students. They are incredible! † She went on to remark that it is fascinating to imagine that they are of the same level of intelligence as the teacher and what they must be feeling inside. She feels that the students are not bothered by what their peers think, but actually tend to understand that other†s opinions mean little compared to their own. Mrs. Mansueto taught at Elm Grove Middle School for 5 years. She commented on her role as a gifted teacher to consist of â€Å"one part mentorship, one part hardship, and one part friendship†. When asked what kind of hours she keeps, she laughed and asked if she was supposed to have time off. According to Mrs. Mansueto, unlike a â€Å"normal† teacher, a gifted teacher has no books to go by or preset material to teach, or, or that matter, a preset subject to teach. They are given a blank page and, using input from students, must draw up lessons from every subject area and constantly challenge the inquisitive minds of the gifted. Jane Mansueto attended Trinity College where she majored in both elementary education and gifted education. Her favorite part of being a gifted teacher is being with the students, working hand in hand with them to plan and carry out projects and trips. Though the pay is average, and there is not much room to be promoted if you wish o remain in the classroom, gifted teaching has its personal rewards. Jeff Simpleton, a gifted teacher as well as a former gifted student, states, â€Å"I really think that by being gifted, I am in touch with what they have to go through. They know that I can understand. † Mr. Simpleton†s class consists of 6 high school students, who have many problems due to the intelligence barrier and a kind of isolation that has built up over the years between themselves and their classmates. They seem to feel that they have a reputation that they must live up to. The students try to please everyone†¦ hey push themselves with sheer motivation and determination and drive. Mr. Simpleton feels that this is â€Å"what makes them so great†. He feels that anyone with a sense of adventure and a need for something new day after day would find teaching a gifted class to be the perfect job for Gifted teachers are important to the development of their students minds. They are understanding individuals who must work hard to make the curriculum interesting and challenging. With the proper education it is possible to go far as a teacher of the gifted.

It is not an attack on a specific nation but rather on barbarism on war Essays

It is not an attack on a specific nation but rather on barbarism on war Essays It is not an attack on a specific nation but rather on barbarism on war Essay It is not an attack on a specific nation but rather on barbarism on war Essay Essay Topic: A Woman Killed With Kindness It would be wrong to see this novel as an attack on any particular nation; it is rather an attack on war and the barbarism war inevitably brings with it. How far do you accept this assertion? Socrates, a Greek philosopher once said, Look death in the face with joyful hope, and consider this a lasting truth. The righteous man has nothing to fear, neither in life, nor in death, and the Gods will not forsake him. War, one of the prevalent themes in Louis de Bernieres Captain Corellis Mandolin, is often romanticised and glorified in Grecian society much like in Homers Odyssey. However, De Bernieres disagrees with Homer by shedding a negative light on war. In recent years, the novel was criticised and offended certain readers due to some characterizations about the Greeks and the Italians, which are at least insolent if not racist. Although De Bernieres put forward a stereotypical view of particular nations, he breaks down these misconceptions through the creation of individual characters that contrast with these generalizations. This is what De Bernieres ultimately wished to address in his novel; the dehumanizing effect of war on each character instead of blaming a particular nation for the onset of war. The word Captain in the title of the novel gives away that military subjects, if not war itself, is undoubtedly one of the central themes of the book. Set against the backdrop of war, Louis De Bernià ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½res realistically illustrates the terrible consequences that the Second World War had on his characters. Even before the opening chapter, the novel is opened with a poet from Humbert Wolfe, an interwar poet titled The Soldier. The poem is an indictment of the waste of golden youth which turns to grey and demise all as consequences of war. This sets a melancholic tone for the novel and ties in very well with De Bernieres Captain Corellis Mandolin as both explore the repercussions of war and many characters from the novel derived from the images of the soldier in the poem. It is true that De Bernieres presents a stereotypical view of nations in this novel, Germany is taking everything, the Italians are playing the fool, the French have run away, the Belgians have been overrun whilst looking the other way. The Italians are depicted as homogenous groups of drinking and singing womanizers, but these are typical behaviours for any soldiers in uniform. De Bernieres breaks away from these conventions through the exploration of individual characters. In the chapter of The Duce, the authors satirical portrayal of Mussolini reveals that he does not agree with the political idea of Fascism, which undoubtedly helped in the onset of war. However, it is clear he does not blame the Italians as he portrays other Italian characters such as Carlo and Corelli with great honour and nobility. Carlo Piero Guercio epitomizes the typical Italian combatant as the towering solider with enormous hands that might fit about the neck of an ox. However, Carlo is anything but conven tional as he is a closeted homosexual and a soft and saddened man. One could even draw comparison between Carlo and the mythological hero Achilles who was a formidable warrior and a homosexual lover to Patroclus. It is ironic that though he is an Italian soldier he identifies with the Greek philosopher Plato who bestowed kindness upon people of Carlos sexuality. Despite the Italians being allies to Nazi Germany, Carlo opposes the war, Fuck the name of Italy Fuck this frivolous war we did not want and do not understand. Instead of fuelled with patriotism, the war had caused Carlo to dislike and disrespect Italy and Mussolini, every nation gets the leader it deserves. As De Bernieres explores the character of Carlo, he loses much of the typical Italian macho and womaniser act with his sexuality and the lost of his patriotic faith in Italy for Dr Iannis believed that he was a citizen, not of Athens or Rome, but of the world. The Greeks were not spared from De Bernieres satirical rendition of all nations in his novel. The communist Greeks were depicted as carrying a totalitarian elements ingrained in their ideology, irrespective of whether all those partisans were swept by the passions that cultivate illiberal regimes, poverty, and oppression as the critic Nafsika Papanikolatos has stated. This can be viewed in characters such as Hector and Mandras. Of course this was not a fair representation of anyone who belongs to that nationality as other Greeks such as Dr.Iannis shows to hold contrasting views to Mandras and ELAS. Instead of violence, Dr Iannis uses intelligence as a symbol of his superiority. From the very beginning of the book he is seen using medical terminology and attempts to write the history of Cephallonia. Dr Iannis kind and nurturing character was highlighted in the chapter A Funny Kind of Cat where he saves a Pine Marten despite being sceptical at first. Lemoni regards the doctor as the ma n to whom she had entrusted its [Psipsinas] salvation, it becomes evident the true nature of Iannis a as helpful and good hearted person, a complete opposite to Mandras. However, it is not until the chapters 1953 and Pelagias Lament that Dr Iannis heroic attributes come into light as he yells to Pelagia and Drosoula Get Out!Its an earthquake! Save yourselves!, breaking his silence of eight years. An air of integrity is attributed to Iannis for this display of courage. Pelagias Lament accentuates Iannis heroic credentials and loving nature when Pelagia described him as the only man Ive loved who loved me to the end, and never bruised my heart, and never for a single moment failed me. Throughout the novel, he is represented variously as an adviser to others, capable of careful judgement and assured knowledge. The character Dr Iannis evokes and commands respect not only from his fellow villagers but also from the readers. This is a stark contrast to what the critic Imogen Tilden had st ated and that De Bernieres portrayed [the Greeks resistence fighters] as rapists, torturers and cowards. Due to Nazism, stigma was attached to the Germans as being dour and violent. They were described as serious, did not understand irony, took polite offence, and were coldly and brutally efficient. At first glance, readers would come to see Gunter Weber in the same light as other German soldiers, blinded by political ideology and took offence when Corelli suggested that he was not a German. However, in the Good Nazi (2) Weber was shown by De Bernieres to have a conscience when he protested against the killing of war prisoners and his friends. Even though Weber chose the political agenda over the personal and watched his former friends, wheeling and dancing, in the horizontal rain, he spared Corellis life and lets him live. This act of kindness is contradictory to that of the Germans at the time where the islanders remember the Germans were not human beings. Consumed with guilt, Gunter Weber later on left Corellis mandolin and his gramophone outside Pelagias home as he had promised. The fact that Weber had any conscience at all shows that he was not a typical Nazi that killed perhaps four thousand Italian boys. No nations were particularly under attack in the novel as no country escapes De Bernieres humorous satire. Even the Albanians with little role in the novel are depicted as murderous, lecherous, rapacious, and incapable of work or honesty. However, through the explorations of key individuals, De Bernieres is showing that no particular nation is entirely guilt-free or held accountable for the onset of war. Rather, as the critic Nafsika Papanikolatas has stated the same book can be read as an anti-war epic, it is an attack on war more than anything else. One of the ways De Bernieres put forward the detrimental effects of war is through the physical degradation of Mandras. Literary Reviews Andrew Post commented on De Bernieres style of writing with horrifying, graphic physicality of the suffering of war, of the effects of starvation and cold, of atrocities and betrayals. Mandras, much like Odysseus from Homers Odyssey had very high expectations of military life and believed no man is a man until he has been a soldier. However, when Mandras returned after the war he was beyond recognition. De Bernieres uses horrid images and graphic description of Mandras post-war physique as caked with old, congealed blood and reek of rotting flesh. The author goes out of his way to ensure his readers can imagine the true result of war on a man through Mandras transformation who was previously compared to Adonis, a Greek god that alludes youth and attractiveness, into a monster. Before he went to war, through Pelagias narrative, she was transfixed by his [Mandras] beauty which highlights that their love was of physical nature and nothing more. De Bernieres deliberately put a stark contrast of Mandras physical being before and after the war to demonstrate to his reader the severe repercussions of war in the physical sense. What Mandras had to endure physically manifests itself mentally. Mandras, initially depicted as the archetypical Greek male who is loveable and innocent, has suddenly turned into an insufferable and violent character upon his dramatic return from fighting. Through the chapter of Mandras behind the veil De Bernieres takes a post modernist approach and used a first person narrative to describe the hardship of war. A personal account maintains a certain degree of realism and only puts forth powerful images. Mandras recollects his journey back to Pelagia and reflects on the hardship he endured. This brings back to Homers Odyssey where his protagonist Odysseus had suffered through periods of madness during his voyage back home to his wife after his revival in Ithaca only to find himself in the shedding of blood of hundreds of suitors. Mandras suffered through a prolonged series of hallucinations which reveal the extent of his mental degradation. The critic David Horspool believed that De Bernieres sees that war can either degrade or elevate human beings. It is clear that in Mandras case that it brought out his faults rather than his merits. This is shown in the novel when he hope[s] theres going to be a war which only highlights his naivety. He viewed war as something great something to be esteemed, to self glorify as depicted in Homers Odyssey. Mandras was bitter because he felt intellectually inferior to Dr. Iannis in which he thought he could compensate through fighting a war. In the chapter Liberating the Masses (I) readers could see that Mandras was put under pressure by Hector, leader of ELAS to beat an emaciated old man. This gruesome scene portrayed Mandras as a heartless, evil man, a complete contrast to his character prior to the war. Indoctrinated with communist ideologies and propaganda of war, Mandras sees no wrong in beating and killing his own people; a reflex he required in three years of omnipotence and accountability, undoubtedly during the period of war. Nicci Gerrard believes that here De Bernià ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½res explores power and its abuse. During his time with ELAS Mandras has seen Hector abuse his powers which only led him to believe it was a natural right. It is revealed to the readers that war has dehumanised Mandras and portray him to be animalistic. This was brought to a climax when he tried to rape Pelagia where Mandras felt violence and animality was infinitely more exhilarating. One would be inclined to believe that war had turned him into a barbaric creature. De Bernieres uses this opportunity to show the damage that can be done by extreme politics. The corruption of Mandras is s ymbolic of the corrupting power of war on individuals. De Bernieres was clearly seen criticising war through the narrative of a compassionate yet isolated character that is Carlo Piero Guercio. In the chapters of LOmosessuale, Carlo is seen giving his personal account of his sufferings and loss during wartime. De Bernieres deliberately employs a first person narrative to make the war images powerful and vivid to manipulate the imagination of the readers. Although Carlo and Mandras fought on opposite fronts, De Bernieres applied the same style of narration to both characters to show to readers that one had suffer in the same way as the other. But unlike Mandras, Carlo did not go to battle for glory or honour. He was merely looking for acceptance due to his homosexuality. He wanted to find someone to love, and be ennobled by this love. It was soon clear to Carlo that war only brings demise and misery to human beings. Through this character, De Bernieres puts forward his opinion on war and its barbarism. During the course of war, Carlo desc ribes himself as an automaton without emotion or hope as a result of war. He also criticises the poor leadership of local commands and question the true purpose for the war, we fight them for reasons unclear and without honour. This shows that war is often fought for arbitrary reasons to futile outcomes. In the chapter LOmosessuale (6) De Bernieres applies a unique way of showing the true nature of war. Carlo responds to Francescos mother with answers that she wanted to hear but at the end of each response, De Bernieres counter it with the reality that only the readers can know about. This reels in the readers to make them see the true horror Francesco and Carlo had to endure. The idea that war brings physical harm was further emphasized through Carlo and Francescos suffering. Through Carlos narration, he observes that Francesco is undoubtedly mad and shits himself deliberately, much like Mandras. By repeating these vivid descriptions, De Bernieres is evoking strong mental images in his readers mind to remind and reemphasise the grim and unnatural effects of war on a mans body and mind. However, an important distinction is to be made between Mandras and Carlos war experiences. Unlike the former, war had levitated Carlo in terms of morals and character. Throughout his time in the Julia Division, Carlos main concerns always lie therein of Francescos well-being; if I had any worry at all is that Francesco was becoming stranger. His act of kindness was further seen in his counter with Francescos family when he tells white lies instead of the ugly truth to spare them additional grief. He tells them that he died very quickly of a bullet through the heart, that he died with a smile on his lips when he actually took two hours to die. The contrast of events of Francescos actual death and the glorious version Carlo made up only puts emphasis on the horrors of war. Perhaps Carlos true act of kindness is his very last one when Corelli had found in front of him the titanic bulk of Carlo Guercio as one bullet after another burrowed like white hot parasitic knives into the muscle of his chest. Here he shows true bravery and courage that is in stark contrast to Mandras after the war. Here it is apparent that the character Carlo strays away from the features of an Italian soldier as stated in World Socialist Website to be thugs, thieves and lazy cowards who refused to defend the Italian soldiers fighting the Nazis. Arguably, De Bernieres is stating that war can have the same destructive and damaging effect on everyone and that it brings out the true nature of humans. De Bernieres attacks the barbarism of war effectively through the detailed and vivid images he utilizes in a first person narrative. He also uses contrasting views of war by putting forward the preconceived idea and the actuality of it to make an impact and show the readers how different the reality is from what they might think war is like. A good example of this is how Carlo is seen to be romanticizing war in the beginning before experiencing any suffering when he talks about no civilian being able to comprehend the joy of being a soldier and how wonderful it was to be at this war. Progressively into the LOmosessuale chapters, we can see him talk about war in a negative light. Carlo also talks about how nature intervened in the midst of battle until the weather turned against us. And Francesco and I were saved by the weather. This interference from fate shows that war is arbitrary as much as it is unnatural. He knows that the real tragedy of war is death, War is wonderful until someone is killed and realises that War is a wonderful thing, in movies and in books. Here De Bernieres is putting forward the idea that this idealised version of war is fictitious and can only be seen in movie and in books. The same can be said about Mandras. His reason for going to war was to prove to Pelagia and villagers of Cephallonia that he is a hero like Odysseus. However, war did not elevate him but rather brought out the monster in him. Driven by his extreme political beliefs, Mandras returns as a violent and sadistic character. By contrasting powerfully the preconceived notions and the true nature of war, De Bernieres highlights that the typical view of war which is glorified and romanticized by films and literature, even in Greek mythology, cannot be far remove from the actual truth. To see Captain Corellis Mandolin as a novel that attacks on other nation and to overlook the devastating effects of war and occupation to the inhabitants of Cephallonia is simply sacrilegious and an insult to De Bernieres work. He explores the human emotions and characterization in the presence of war. While some prevail and some falter under war circumstances, De Bernieres very much condemns the barbarism of war as summarised by Francesco eloquently, I came into this war in a state of innocence and I leave it so utterly wearied that I am contented to die.

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Product brands ranges from American brand icons like Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings, Maxwell House coffees and Oscar Mayer meats, to global powerhouse brands like Oreo and LU biscuits, Philadelphia cream cheeses, Jacobs and Carte Noire coffees, Tang powdered beverages and Milka, CÃ ´te dOr, Lacta and Toblerone chocolates. Now, it is the worlds second largest food company in generating annual revenues of $42 billion. Also, the company is an affiliation of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard Poors 500, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the Ethibel Sustainability Index (Kraft Foods Company, 2009.) Kraft was founded in 1903 by James L. Kraft, with starting only as a cheese delivery service. It was transferred to Krafts brothers Charles, Fred, John, and Norman, during its down times. They named it incorporated as J.L. Kraft Brothers in 1909. It then again changed the name to Kraft Cheese Co. back in 1924. With a follow suit trend in per se, there were turn abouts of Kraft Foods Co. in 1945, Kraftco Corporation in 1969, and Kraft Inc. in 1976. It also merged with Dart Industries in 1980 and again change the name to Dart Kraft, but got forgotten in 1986, where it is again Kraft Inc. From then, it was bought by Philip Morris (now is Altria) in 1988. It also absorbed competitors General Foods and Nabisco. Finally in 2007, Altria managed Kraft Foods. During its long business run in the industry, a couple of celebrity endorsements were done to promote its products. There were Bill Cosby (a comedian), Michelle Kwan (a champion figure skater), Lindsay Lohan (Hollywood actress) and Joe Montana (a football star) (NNDB, 2009.) 2. The Business Vision and Mission KFC slogan is Make today delicious Thats our higher purpose. At Kraft Foods, delicious is our difference. Its products are trusted during That first cup of coffee in the morning. A tasty low-fat snack. A nourishing meal on a budget. An indulgent treat. These are KFCs vision and mission (Kraft Foods Company, 2009.) Company objectives revolves around perspectives rewriting the organization for growth, reframe categories, exploit our sales capabilities, drive down costs without compromising quality and strategies growth. With goal of achieving the new Kraft = growth (KFC, 2009.) It aims to meet responsibilities as a public company and promote that being a global citizen is the right thing to do and what is right for its business. They transforming the brands that consumers have lived with for years into new brands they will love. Its corporate responsibility indexes are the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Dow Jones Sustainability Index and 2006-2008 Ethibel Sustainability Index. Last September 12, 2008, it started the mission program The Lunchables Team and First Book Launch the Million Page Mission and Help Children Receive Much-Needed Books (KFC, 2009.) Discussion The External Market Assessment KFC runs under the food industry, with a stock market ticker of NYSE:KFT. Its headquarters is located at Northfield, IL (NNDB, 2009.) Finances of KFC, as of 2008, are (in millions, except per share data) Net revenues $37,241 8.4%, Operating income 4,331 (4.2%), Net earnings 2,590 (15.4%) and Diluted earnings per share 1.62 (12.4%) (KFC, 2009.) Its external market share now is a percentage of more than 99% of U.S. households. The international market sells its leading brands, which are almost all of KFC products. It has 9 brands with revenues greater than $1 billion and 50+ additional brands garner revenues beyond $100 million. To this, about an exceeding number from 40 of KFC brands have an age life of 100+ years old. The billion dollar brands include: Kraft, Jacobs, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco and its Oreo brand, Philadelphia, and Oscar Mayer With an estimate figure of 103,000 employees worldwide, it has 180+ manufacturing and processing facilities across countries. With the consumer statistics of millions times a day, computed in an account of 150+ countries, these persons eat their favorite Kraft brands. It is also a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. The figure 1 below is the market share of revenues in each type of KFC Brands as of 2007 (KFC, 2009.) Figure 1. KFC Market Share of Revenues 2007 (KFC, 2009) Existing Business Strategy KFCs follows SWOT analysis technique for its existing business strategy. To start with Strategy is the practice of settling on placing the organization in its competitive environment righty, with the goal to achieve and sustain competitive advantage as well as profitably. It is the onion skin approach in business, wherein each layer of skin must be peeled off and studied on prior to the core Strategic Business Unit (SBU) element is arrived at (Elkin, 1998.) The SWOT analysis is an extensively used philosophy framework for classifying an organizations strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. SWOT entitles key factors to be apparently documented as a high level summary of a business (or personal) circumstance. Defining it is a summary which is simple but powerful; its system is generally used by consultants to certificate the key factors that should derived from the examination of a particular project or business. Moreover, SWOT allows an investigation to be conducted on the whole perspective view of internal as well as external conditions of a business and the plans in which it is surging on, from the means of knowing its current Strengths and Weaknesses. An added aspect is the allowed ability of a judgment on external business environment, which can greatly influence the performance. SWOT technique aids in putting in to comprehensible explanations of strategic choices, in order to have clear executive decisions that are to be a ssessed and identified. Lastly, it compares existing and potential future traits of the organization and supports evaluation of the consequences from alternative actions (Elkin, 1998.) Recommendations Experts Advise During the press release of Kraft Foods Q1 2009 Earnings Report in May 5, 2009. Irene Rosenfeld, its chairman and CEO, said: Weve had a very solid start to the year, and were on track to deliver our 2009 commitments. Our business momentum remains strong despite a challenging consumer environment. We are intensely focused on investing our cost savings to build our core brands, improve our product mix and drive superior retail execution. This will further enhance our profit margins and improve market shares as the year unfolds (KFC, 2009.) She further advised the KFC group on a solid drive in gaining heightened profits from operations. In the previous year, there was a drive for cost-driven pricing actions, which yielded organic net revenue growth and an exceeding expectation of a better-than-expected volume/mix number of sales. She also advised that the business segments drive for operating gains across the globe should be focused on operating income growth, margin expansion and higher earnings per share (KFC, 2009.) This years forward-looking statements are reaffirmed 2009 GAAP EPS guidance; that KFC is on track to deliver 2009 commitments; that business momentum will be strong; that it is greatly focused on investing cost savings to formulate core brands, enhance product mix and execute excellent retail execution; that the investments adds profit margins and induce fruitful market shares as the year unfolds; timely full-year tax rate; and gain confidence in achieving 2009 organic net revenue growth of approximately 3 percent (KFC, 2009.) Implications It is advisable to used the environmental mapping as a new business strategic plan as an improvement from KFCs current SWOT analysis technique. It is a kind of technique which is aimed to define the key characteristics of the environment in relation from where the business operates. It presents the `backcloth formula that will make visible the future strategies and plans. Its model consists of four areas of focus. Advised action under this kind of strategy is to separately map the varied environments where the diverse countries of the company operate. How should KFC apply environmental mapping into their company business process? Necessary information and records should be based from the senior management of the business from their own accounts knowledge and experience. During cases this is not possible, external knowledge should be consulted from sources to supplement the present management needs. The mapping defines general pressures and conflicts which encircle the industry wherein the business operates, main conditions of environmental group, and matters that are prevailing and are plausible to bring to bear the most difficulty or authority on the upcoming direction and prospects of KFC. This is normally accomplished by using H/M/L (High/Medium/Low) tagging of every factor (Elkin, 1998). In writing and formulating an environmental mapping for KFC, these questions should be asked and answered: What are the characteristics of the environment(s) in which the business operates?, How are the key factors changing? and What will be t he impact on future strategic choices? Conclusion In conclusion, Kraft Foods Company (KFC) has shown exemplary performance in the year 2009 being an example global organization. Its external market assessment has a gradual uprising line, which basing from the theories of organization management and the evaluation of its SWOT analysis technique proves that KFC uses an effective existing business strategy, generates high consumer sector data and earns more market share of revenues than any brands in the market. Basing on the consumer sector data and market share of revenues feedback on the current performances indicators of KFC, there is a definite positive satisfaction gained from its range of products. With patterns from a strategic business plan, it is able to handle functions to promote their views, handle communications and even handle a global environmental concern. It is very sensible to use the environmental mapping as a business growth from KFCs usual technique of using a SWOT analysis. Not only does it endow consumers with healthy products, it is also a new strategic business plan that shows mature key characteristics of an organizational awareness for the environment for the present and future. This way in improving business performance can also determine general pressures and conflicts to deal with aside from catering to a global concern that allows main conditions of environmental group to work together with the present matters on the continued success of KFC.