A Jewel Through The Decades The Sapphire - 2498 Words

A Jewel through the Decades: The Sapphire Izaic Yorks Comm 489: ISS Black Cultural Studies March 4, 2015 You know what I can’t stand for? I cannot stand it when black women talk, now hold on. You know exactly what I mean, they’re angry, hell hath no fury like a black woman, and yes indeed I cannot stand it. I cannot stand it when black women speak in media portrayals. They take the perfectly decent image of women and warp their blackness and gender into something that’s cancerous and embarrassing. In this short essay we will explore how the image of the Sapphire has been preserved in the media (specifically film) despite the apparent strides in black rights. To understand this though we have to look to two planes of realities, blackness and gender. To understand how they are interlinked we must understand the individual properties and repercussions blackness/gender have had separately. Then we can infer the devastating effect the two have mixed together†¦ In tackling this subject we will: 1.) Examine the Sapphire first as a result of blackness A.) Come to a common agreement on the definition of the namesake: Sapphire B.) Explore the roots of the Sapphire paradigm C.) The Sapphires transition into widespread highly consumed media format. 2.) Look at the Sapphire as a result of sexism A.) Shortly explore the sexism problem in the patriarchal society of the United States B.) Examine how sexism is subtly embedded in culture 3.) Finally integrating the twoShow MoreRelatedChocolat Advertisement: A Healthy and Luxurious Treat Essay784 Words   |  4 Pagespopulation will suffer from a chronic illness that will cost thousands of dollars to treat. (Fight Chronic Disease) Many people, organizations and companies are doing something to help stem the tide. Endangered Species Chocolate is one such company. 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American Criminal Justice Systems and Functions Free Essays

Criminal justice is the system of legislation, practices and institutions used by the federal, state and local governments to maintain social order by controlling crime and punishing those who violate the set laws with criminal penalties. In the past, the society had their own ways in which they controlled behavior of individuals and groups so that social order would be achieved. Most societies were controlled by norms, beliefs and values which ensured every individual or group confirmed to the societal set values. We will write a custom essay sample on American Criminal Justice Systems and Functions or any similar topic only for you Order Now The indigenous societies sanctioned the members who did not conform to the societal values and norms. Type of sanction differed from society to society. In some societies, those who violated societal values by engaging in criminal and deviant behavior, for instance, rape, the individual in most societies was perceived as bad omen and the sanction included communication from society or burning the person into ashes. The sanctions encouraged conformity in the society (Cole, 1999). In the modern times, norms still control behavior in some societies by immigration and intercultural interactions have limited the behavior control through norms. America in particular is inhabited by people from different nationalities and cultures and therefore becomes the ideal control tool for crime. American Criminal Justice systems present a uniform system that control behavior of individuals regardless of race, religion, culture or ethnic group and hence assist in maintaining social order in the American society. The Criminal justice policy in the United States has been guided by the 1967 president’s commission on law enforcement and administration of Justice which issued initial report† the challenge of crime in a free society. † The commission advocated a â€Å"systems† approach to criminal justice. The President’s commission defined criminal justice system as the means for society to â€Å"enforce the standards of conduct necessary to protect individuals and the community† (Cochranc, Melville and Marsh, 2004; Feinman, 1994) In America, the law enforcement agencies include police prosecutors, courts, defense attorney and corrections which are concerned with arrest, charging adjudication and punishment of those found guilty hence maintaining social order. In the ancient time, especially in the Middle Ages, common forms of punishments included exile, payment to victim in case of violent crimes, lack of payment attracted harsh penalties like corporal punishment in form of mutilation, flogging and sometimes execution. The present criminal justice systems try to ensure fairness and justice. Past data indicate that the society in US did not respect police as law enforcers until 1920. s when the police adopted new technology and placed emphasis on community policing following urban unrest. Introduction of comp stat in 1990s, in the police departments has assisted the police to track criminals and the criminal justice system hold police responsible for dealing with crime problems. The interaction between the police and the community through community policing has assisted in tracking criminals. Criminal law in America involves persecution of an individual by the government for committing an act that has been classified as a crime. Most crimes in the United States are established by local state and federal government. In a criminal case, the state through a prosecutor initiates the law suit and the offender jailed authorized to pay a fine or both. In American Justice System, crime may be classified as felony or misdemeanor. Felony includes serious offences like rape and murder which attract one or more year’s imprisonment. Misdemeanors include such crimes like petty theft which attract less than a year imprisonment as a way of correction. However, before any act is considered crime, it has to be established by statute or common law (Walker, 1993). Scholars have contributed a lot in the American Criminal justice system. Scholars through providing courses in criminology and psychology assist in explaining why some individuals engage in criminal behavior and classify different types of crimes like organized crime, white-color crime and juvenile crime. Sociologists have put forward classical conflict and positivist theories that explain why crime occurs and give remedies on how to curb the crimes and control further c criminal cases in the society. In America, crime is defined, classified, graded prohibited and punishable by the state. Criminal law in America is distinguished from all other kinds of law because it carries it the moral condemnation of all society. All crimes are an injury against the society because the society as a whole through its legislatures has made of collective judgment that certain behaviors are harmful to the societal interests’ (Walker, 1993) In the recent past, there have been occurrences of violent crimes which have promoted the government to revise and classify c criminal acts. American legislature has classified the crimes in different categories and they attract different punishments. Treason, sedition and espionage are crimes that are committed against the state. The crimes indicate non-patriotism of the offenders and the government controls such crimes for the protection of natural security. Most offenders who are found guilty of the offence receive heavy punishment, for instance, corporal punishment which may include execution depending on the intensity of the offence. Murder, manslaughter, rape, kidnapping, assault and battery are crimes that are committed against persons. These crimes too fall under felony and the state ensures there is societal order and uniformity. The state punishes the offenders with the objective of protecting the persons against violence. Burglary, arson and home invasion are classified as crimes against habitation with the aim of protecting the safety and security of one’s home. The crimes too are considered felony and must be discouraged to ensure harmony in the society (Cole, 1999; Parker, 2006; Cochranc, Melville and Marsh 2004). Theft, larceny, robbery, vandalism, forgery, extortion, fraud and embezzlement are classified as crimes against property and are controlled to protect private property. Protection of property ensures there is harmony and order in the society. Disorderly conduct vagrancy, incitement too riot, motor vehicle offences and alcohol and drugs are classified as crimes against public order and are controlled to protect public peace, order and safety. Resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, bribery, escape and contempt of court are classified as crimes against administration of justice by legislature and are controlled to preserve honesty and efficiency of public administration. Prostitution, sodomy, obscenity, incest, indecent exposure, gambling alcohol and drugs are classified as crimes against public morals and they area controlled to ensure tradition morality is maintained. This will ensure that the society is morally upright. Bestiality and animal abuse are crimes against nature and the crime is regulated to maintain public health. Pollution, fishing and hunting, smoking and toxic waste dumping in America are crimes against environment and the state regulate them to preserve public health and natural environment. All crimes in US are â€Å"owned’ by the state which does prosecution in its own name to maintain societal order and harmony. Police are the first grouped the offender encounter first in criminal justice system (Walker, 1993; Cole, 1999). The police do investigation and arrest the offender. After the arrest the criminal is taken to court where justice is administered through court ruling. A prosecutor who acts on behalf of state then makes accusation of the individual against the state in criminals’ proceedings. The offender through his/her attorney can justify his innocence before a judge or panel of judges or jury. In America, plea bargaining is allowed where the accused is given reduced punishment when he pleads guilty. In some cases, the justice system in America like any other justice system is prone to bias discrimination which is a threat to objective decision. After the curt ruling the offender is turned to correctional authorities when found guilty (Walker, 1993; Cole, 1999). In America, prisons are meant to reform criminals hence viewed as the best correctional authority. In America, the offenders may be required some set amount of fine to be set free or in conjunction with imprisonment. In the recent past, probation has become common where the individual mobility is limited together with opportunity to commit a crime while in prison; the prisoners are equipped with various manual skills that will assist then to live a productive life after prison. Also, there are other prisons where the prisoners are given religious ethics to assist them reform positively. Death penalty in America is rarely administered as many activists have argued that it violates the human rights of the criminals. American court system is based on English statutes. In the court, four groups are involved in criminal case proceeding. These include the offender, prosecutor, judge or panel or judges or jury and the attorney. American legislature is responsible for enacting statutes, for example criminal law which govern conduct of individuals, groups or organization. American court system is governed by rules of procedure. The criminal cases in the court require special contribution safeguards for the accused. In a criminal case, the party that brings a case is called the prosecutors and the person sued is called defendant. The American legal system allow defendant to be represented by a lawyer who should protect the interests of the person. If one cannot afford a lawyer, the state provides a lawyer. A jury in American court system listens to the evidence and determines the outcome based on substantive law as instructed by a judge. The judge in American court system acts as a reference by enforcing the rules and explaining the applicable law. Criminal court system in America is on top of the thirteen individual state judicial systems. The American constitution contains very little about criminal law. Criminal law is the collection of rules that identifies behavior that is condemned by the government with the aim of protecting the health and safety of American citizens and the state punishments with violation of the set rules (Feinman 1994; Parker, 2006). American criminal justice system is sometimes viewed to be unfair. Some cases of unfairness are genuine especially when there is discrimination based on race, religion and ethnic group. However, some cases of unfairness are based on misconception or due to conflict of law criminal. Most criminal defendants are not incarcerated for their crimes, not because the state lack resources to finance imprisonment, but because their offences are not insufficiently serious to warn imprisonment. Most crimes are directly related to lack of education, homelessness, mental illness, drug addiction, alcohol addiction, lack of proper parenting as opposed to evil motive. Therefore many judges, defense attorney and police officers are aware of the cause unless they are new in the career. However, American criminal justice advocate for constitution follow-up (Cole, 1999; Cochranc, Melville and Marsh, 2004). Judges in criminal cases act universally in a conservative manner. This means that most judges will not risk political fall out or destruction of their professional career for the sake of safeguarding individual defendant’s rights. Conservative ruling usually involves following constitution and state statute. It may also be based on public policy over settled constitutional and statutory law (Walker, 1993). In the American criminal justice system, it has been noted that 90% of criminals plead guilty hence trials are rare. Prosecutors in the criminal justice system represent the state and not individuals together with the judges. But judges represent the state in a different capacity from the prosecutor. Defense attorney represent the defendant rights. Jury is known to represent the people hence prosecutors prefer trial –by judge while defense attorney prefer trial by – jury (Cole, 1999; Parker, 2006) In conclusion, American criminal justice system is controlled by the American constitution and differs in the various states. The system is mainly meant to maintain order in society. References Cochrane, J. , Melville, G. , Marsh, I. (2004). Criminal Justice: An Introduction to Philosophies, Theories and Practice. London: Routledge. Retrieved November 29, 2007, from Questia database: http://www. questia. com/PM. qst? a=od=108764949 Cole, D. (1999). Discrimination and Denial: Systemic Racism in Ontario’s Legal and Criminal Justice System, 1892-1961. Canadian Journal of Criminology, 41(3), 428. Retrieved November 29, 2007, from Questia database: http://www. questia. com/PM. qst? a=od=5001287719 Feinman, C. (1994). Women in the Criminal Justice System (3rd ed. ). Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers. Retrieved November 29, 2007, from Questia database: http://www. questia. com/PM. qst? a=od=15255576 Parker, M. (2006). Asphalt Justice: A Critique of the Criminal Justice System in America. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 37(3), 479+. Retrieved November 29, 2007, from Questia database: http://www. questia. com/PM. qst? a=od=5016038470 Walker, S. (1993). Taming the System: The Control of Discretion in Criminal Justice, 1950-1990. New York: Oxford University Press. Retrieved November 29, 2007, from Questia database: http://www. questia. com/PM. qst? a=od=97471694 How to cite American Criminal Justice Systems and Functions, Papers

Cristobal Balenciaga - the Spanish Couturier free essay sample

Cristobal Balenciaga Biography Balenciaga was born on January 21st, 1895 in Getaria a small fishing village located in the Basque region of Spain. During his early years he spent most of his time being an apprentice of his own mother who was a seamstress. During his teens the noblest woman of the region, the Marquesa of Casa Torres became his patron and his first client. Balenciaga was send by the noble woman to Madrid to receive formal training in tailoring; she proudly wore and showed off the results. This opportunity gave a young Balenciaga success in his native country and made him one of the few couturiers in History who was able to design, cut and sew his creations. As Balenciaga once noted â€Å"A couturier must be an architect for design, a sculptor for shape, a painter for colors, a musician for harmony and a philosopher for temperance. † Balenciaga open branches of his boutique Eisa in Madrid, Barcelona and the fashionable seaside resort of San Sebastian. His designs were favored by the aristocracy of Spain including the Spanish royal family. The eruption of the Spanish Civil War forced him to close down his boutiques and moved to Paris. Once in Paris he opened his couture house on 10 George Avenue V; where he immediately became an instant success among the elite and joined the ranks of Chanel and Schiaparelli. By 1939 Balenciaga was becoming a revolutionizing force in fashion with customers fighting to gain access to his collections, even during World War II his clientele risked travel to Europe to obtain his designs. His designs were very popular because the clothes he created were different than the popular, curvy hourglass shape that Dior was promoting. Balenciaga liked working with fluid lines that allowed him to alter the way clothing related to a woman’s body. He became known for his exact standards and insistence on using absolute black for his designs; it wasn’t unusual for him to attend 100 fittings a day. Balenciaga did not use a framework of corsets, girdles and stays under his clothing; he relied on the structure of the dress only. Given to his perfectionism and standards his fashion house produce 350 designs a year, this was less than half than the 800 Dior was producing. He was known in the trade for inspecting and re-setting sleeves even after the garment was shown in a collection or after the client have purchased the design. During his career he developed many designs that became the biggest trends of the time giving others the chance to copy his most acclaimed designs, something he didn’t enjoyed. Balenciaga’s lack of consideration for and connection to the appearance of the everyday woman was one major reason for his swift fall in popularity during the 1960’s. As the fashions of France moved pushed forward and changed with the introduction of pret-a-porter, Balenciaga became disillusioned and closed his house in 1968. This marked the end of the career of a great artist whose influence is still being felt in the twenty-first century. He is remembered as a true fashion innovator that altered the silhouette of women in the mid twentieth century; as one of his long time clients noted: â€Å"Women did not have to be perfect or even beautiful to wear his clothes. His clothes made them beautiful. † He created garments that had fluidity and grace. His modern look was adapted by Andre Courreges and Emanuel Ungaro who both apprenticed at his atelier as well as Hubert de Givenchy. Balenciaga became respected in the fashion world for his knowledge of technique, construction and perfectionism. Balenciaga died on March 24, 1972 at home in his beloved Spain. Rise to Fame Balenciaga was known for using the female body as a living sculpture to build his famous and intricate designs. People will refer to him as â€Å"a sculptor for shape,† His process of creating a dress was the one of an architect, he firmly believe that â€Å"if the framework is good, one can build what he wants. † He used this philosophy to create innovative designs, a philosophy that still remains the basis for many leading designers’ collections today. For example, he was famous for his use of mathematics to make the perfect sleeve. He had a reputation for never allowing an imperfect sleeve to leave his shop and he was also known to improve the sleeves on the coats of visitors entering his salon. During the war Balenciaga became known for his innovative square cut sleeves and for his lace designs. However it wasn’t until the war ended that his popularity among the aristocracy and celebrities of the time will rise even more. During this time the full scope of his talent became very clear. The shapes that he created post war were more sculptural than the hourglass shape of Dior’s New Look. Even Christian Dior his noted rival, stood on awe of his Spanish counterpart. Dior once said â€Å"Haute couture is like an orchestra, whose conductor is Balenciaga,† â€Å"We other couturiers are the musicians and we ollow the directions he gives. † Balenciaga achieved what is considered to be his most important contribution to the fashion world; he created a new silhouette for women. He parted from the traditional to the experimental, especially the odd placement or the lack of waist line on his designs. This experimentation allowed Balenciaga to foresee the rela tionship between a woman’s body and her clothing. This concept of experimentation became the defining feature of Balenciaga’s collections throughout his career. The Clientele Balenciaga’s loyal band of private clients belonged to the wealthiest titled and untitled families across the globe and embraced both professional women and socialites. His first customers included the Spanish Royal family along with the Spanish aristocracy, the most prominent his former patron Marquesa de Casa Torres and her grand-daughter, the future Queen Fabiola of Belgium. He designed the wedding dresses of Sonsoles Diaz de Rivera the daughter of his Spanish muse, the Marquesa de Llanzol and General Francisco Franco’s granddaughter. In 1936 he opened his boutique on 10 Avenue George V (where the flagship store stands today). He became an instant success; customers came brawling at the doors of the boutique claiming for his bows and boleros. After the war when the world again became style-conscious. Queens, princesses, duchesses, movie stars, and the wives of millionaires often were photographed for the pages of newspaper society columns and fashion magazines wearing the latest Balenciaga creation. Hollywood starlets such as Carole Lombard, Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Ginger Rogers and others were frequent at his salon. His funnel collared creations were worn by society’s elite including Pauline de Rothschild, Marella Agnelli and Gloria Guiness. It is rumored that fashion icon Jackie Kennedy upset her husband John F Kennedy for having an extensive Balenciaga collection because he feared the American public would think their lifestyle was too lavish. Balenciaga always insisted that only women of strong character would dare to wear his designs. When the designer retired in 1968, one of his most devoted clients the stylish Countess Mona Bismarck mourned the news by cloistering herself in her room for three days. Unlike other designers who were bent on self-promotion and became stars in their own right, Balenciaga remained aloof from the public. He was not known to mingle with his clients, and he regularly observed the introduction of his latest collection hiding behind a white curtain. He allowed himself to be known only to a fortunate few, which added to his mystique. Use of Colors Balenciaga had an idea of simplicity that it clearly reflected on his choice of colors. Black was his favorite, he always had an insistence on the use of absolute black for his designs. Black was the color of his childhood years, a time when the Basques were known for some of the extreme mourning dress in Europe. Balenciaga was eleven when his father died, the women of his family will have worn this traditional color during the time of bereavement. Black, in all its tones, remained a motif of Balenciaga’s work throughout his career. The press applauded the artfully creation of his little black dresses on his first Paris collection in 1937. Harper’s Bazar noted â€Å" The black is so black it hits you like a blow†¦Thick Spanish black, almost velvety, a night without stars, which the ordinary black seem almost gray. His choice of colors were followed by the use of brown, black and brown combination, pink, black lace over pink, whites, blues and greens. Major Trends Balenciaga believed than the clothing and body should coexist in harmony. His daytime clothing was straightforward and stylish; a simple black wool dress, a beige sleeveless blouse and a charcoal gray two-piece suit with a leather belt. His evening wear was more extravagant and playful; he used abundantly decorated fabrics, heavy beading, protruding shoulders, and broad full skirts. A characteristic of Balenciaga’s evening dresses is that they were floor-length and strapless, trimmed in white floral lace on a black net base. It was worn over a gray silk taffeta petticoat, and came with a pink silk taffeta cummerbund, or waistband. He loved the fluid lines created by jerseys draped over the body, he enjoy experimenting with waistlines in order to create special effects. He was an architect of fashion that favored structured geometric shapes. The most celebrated and coveted item of his geometric designs was the square coat, which the sleeve was cut in one piece with the yoke. In 1953, he introduced the balloon jacket with a funnel collar, the jacket looked like an elegant sphere that encased the upper body and provide a pedestal for the wearer’s head. In 1955 he created the Tunic dress which later on inspired the high-waisted baby doll dress. In 1957, he created the high-waisted baby doll dress which became a symbol of the era as it encapsulated the youth of the baby boom. Also during this time he created the gracefully draped cocoon coat, and the balloon skirt which became symbols of the spirit of the atelier. The balloon skirt was shown as a single spherical parcel of fabric or as two one-atop the other. The sack dress created in 1957 and the chemise created in 1958 didn’t have a discernible waist; however they were considered universally flattering as wells as feminine. Balenciaga’s styles were copied by a large number of ready to wear manufacturers at every price range. To ward off from copyists, Balenciaga began presenting his collections to private clients and buyers a month before showing them to the press. Givenchy was the only designer to support his decision; as a result they both suffered an impact in their press coverage. Balenciaga interpreted numerous historical styles throughout his career, the wide-skirted â€Å"Infanta† dresses inspired by the portraits of Diego Velazquez was one of them. Also the heavily embroidered toreador jackets known as â€Å"jacket of light† which inspired most of his evening wear, and hot-pink flamenco ruffles would all exemplify Balenciaga’s combination of the â€Å"refinement of France and the strength of Spain. (Cecil Beaton) Balenciaga’s list of innovations is nearly unparalleled, from tunics to baby dolls, knee-high boots to pillbox hats. His beetle-like â€Å"barrel† line, poufy â€Å"balloon† dresses, and semi fitted suits that were tailored in the front and loose in the back. His designs were on the front lines of a revolution that de-crowned Dior’s New Look waist and created entirely fresh, flu id lines. Balenciaga always completed an outfit will a hat and sparkling costume jewelry. In 1959 his decade of examination and experimentation with the waist culminated with the empire line dresses and kimono like coats. His suits had higher waistlines and were coupled with shorter jackets. Towards the end of his career his elegant evening dresses took a backseat. The final designed Balenciaga collection featured the youthful styles of Carnaby Street with miniskirts and trompe l’oeil tunics, which is a style of painting in which objects are depicted with photographically realistic detail. This last collection was the end of his silhouette experimentation and his designs came to define the swinging sixties style. Use of Fabrics Balenciaga was a pioneer on innovation. He made use of innovative synthetic fabrics, like the first water-resistant fabric created in 1949. It was a shiny, lacquered fabric called â€Å"Cracknyl† for use in skiwear and raincoat. He also often combined familiar natural fabrics with these new man-made materials, in order to create a look that surprised through contrast. He was well known for layering fabrics to create a unique look. Even though he used new fabrics, he always returned to his favorites: silk, stiff satin, and lace. The layering of his fabrics however could add up bulk and weight to the consumer. Balenciaga always enjoyed the innovative use of fabric; he liked to use bold materials, heavy cloths and ornate embroideries. This led him to work with the Swiss fabric house of Abraham, they both develop silk gazar (also known as four-ply silk organza) which was a new, stiff fabric with marvelous sculptural qualities, he created breath taking evening gowns and theatrical pieces, like his fall 1967 â€Å"chou† silk gazar wrap. During the 1960’s Balenciaga became a pioneer in the use of fabrics, he mixed weighty materials, complex embroidery and stiff sculptural materials. As Balenciaga once noted â€Å"Great fabrics are the prerequisite of great couture. † His most notable trademarks were the collars that stood away from the collarbone to give a swanlike appearance as well as the shortened 7/8 length bracelet sleeves which allowed the wearer to better show off her jewelry. Inspiration Throughout his career Balenciaga was heavily influenced by his Spanish heritage, especially with the culture, history and art of Spain. These influences always had a huge impact on his spiritual life and aesthetics. Balenciaga was a devoted Catholic; some of his designs conveyed a sculptural purity. The clothes he designed were ecclesiastical and clerical based on simple shapes and serious styles that portrayed a modernist interpretation. But for the designer himself, religious belief and inspiration were powerfully internalized. He once thought he would become a priest, he attended Mass faithfully and he displayed crucifixes and religious statuary at home. It is said the pillbox hats were inspired by the biretta, or traditional cleric’s cap. Bullfights, flamenco dancers, regional costumes, liturgical vestments and shawls all served as inspirations for his reinterpretations of native traditions. He loved the emotion and color of flamenco and the â€Å"jacket of life† worn by bullfighting matadors. His 1946 collection starred these â€Å"matador boleros† as evening wear. He enjoy mixing historical, courtly fabrics with revolutionary ultra-modern textures, one of his trademark was pairing a bold block of color with a stripe, polka-dot or floral. His famous â€Å"Infanta† gown was inspired by the costumes of Spanish princesses. The gown was made from delicate pink silk satin with black velvet and detailing around the hips and decolletage; the gown echoed the formality and luxury of the 17th century. Haute Couture, Diffusion Lines Balenciaga designed high fashion also known as haute couture, a phrase that pertains to ground-breaking clothing styles originated by designers and meant to be worn by the famous and wealthy. His creations were very expensive that people look for cheaper ways to get a hand of his creations. A cheaper way of buying made-to-measure Balenciaga fashions was open to those who knew his Spanish operations, where labor costs were lower and local fabrics sometimes were substituted for those used in Paris. His designs were also heavily copied by ready to wear manufactures and offered at all price points. There are no financial records of the business during Balenciaga administration. The Parisian Haute Couture houses were very secretive about their business; it is very common that the design records rather than the accounts records survive. However, it is known that the house was worth 2 million francs in 1946 and 30 million francs in 1960. The use of gimmicks to attract customers was avoided at all costs. Balenciaga opposed heavily to this, even in the postwar period of consumerism, when many of Balenciaga’s competitors engaged freely in a variety of new sales tactics, including the development of ranges of ready-to-wear clothing, and the use of advertising. Some of his diffusion lines included the launch of his first Balenciaga fragrance â€Å"Le Dix† in 1946, which was named after the address of the first atelier in Paris. The fragrance received great media attention and the house became an instant rival to Coco Chanel in fragrance sa On 1963, Balenciaga launched a series of shoes that were produced by Rene Mancini, the famous cordwainer. After the house closed and Balenciaga died, his nephews took control of the lucrative fragrance line only. The famous house remain dormant until 1978, Hoechst became responsible for it. Later on in 1986 it was acquired by Groupe Jacques Bogart. On 1987 a ready to wear collection was shown, it was designed by Michael Goma and received mixed reviews. Goma was replaced by Dutch Josephus Thimister, he began the restoration of the atelier to its former glory and to high fashion status. In 1997 the unknown Nicolas Ghesquiere became creative director of the ready to wear lines and accessories. Ghesquiere designs have been heavily inspired by Balenciaga’s early collections, he has continued with the legacy of the designer by using templates of Balenciaga’s archives and artfully re-creating the atelier most famous designs. Conclusion To my opinion Balenciaga’s inspiration and creativity are heavily conducted by the love the atelier had for his country as well as his love for perfection. I believe he wanted to show the world the passion he had for his heritage, which was clearly portrayed through his designs. I think Balenciaga never forgot his roots, he never forgot where he came from. Even though his designs were purchased by the elite, Balenciaga was more interested and preoccupied on creating perfection that mingling with the aristocracy. The more interesting aspects of Balenciaga are his innovation on the use of fabrics and the construction of his designs. He was pioneer on the development of new trends that has served as inspiration for designers around the globe. His mysterious personality and mystique marked another exuberant aspect of the atelier. He didn’t enjoy self-promotion or gimmicking to build a name for himself, instead he used the art of fashion to fascinate and conquer the masses.

Machiavelli Locke And Plato Essays - Italian Politicians

Machiavelli Locke And Plato John Locke and Niccol Machiavelli are political philosophers writing in two different lands and two different times. Locke's 17th century England was on the verge of civil war and Machiavelli's 15th century Italy was on the verge of invasion. Yet, students and political philosophers still enthusiastically read and debate their works today. What is it that draws readers to these works? Why, after three hundred years, do we still read Two Treatises on Government, Discourses on Livy, and The Prince? The answer to those questions lies in each text itself, and careful review will produce discourses on those questions and many others. The focus of this discourse is to examine the treatment of "the people" by both authors, to discover what Machiavelli and Locke write about the people's role in their different structures of government. In particular, this paper seeks to understand that role in regards to the political power each author yields to, or withholds from, the people. In addition, these treatments of power and the people will be compared to the writings of another timeless political philosopher, Plato. By juxtaposing Two Treatises on Government, Discourses on Livy, The Prince, and The Republic against one another, this paper will show how writers from three very different centuries all agreed upon an identical notion of the relationship between the power of the people and their role in government. This theory is not readily apparent upon initial reading of these authors. Indeed, most political philosophers would argue that each author has a very distinct notion of what role the people play in government. Therefore, an ideal place to start is in the differences of each author's portrayal of the people and the political power they wield. Machiavelli, the most pessimistic of the three writers in regards to humans and human nature, writes that all men can be accused of "that defect" which Livy calls vanity and inconsistency (The Discourses on Livy, 115). He continues by writing: "...people [are] nothing other than a brute animal that, although of a ferocious and feral nature, has always been nourished in prison and in servitude" (Discourses on Livy, 44). Animals, that are by their nature ferocious, become scared and confused when released from captivity. Without the shelter and food they had come to expect when "domesticated," they are more susceptible to future attempts at captivity. Man also becomes scared and confused in freedom after living under the government of others. Machiavelli writes that these men lack understanding of "public defense or public offense," and quickly return "beneath the yoke that is most often heavier than the one it had removed from its neck a little before" (Discourses on Livy, 44). Men are docile like domesticated dogs or cattle, according to this description, and have a role in government of little political power. With Plato, there is a continuation of the same theme started by Machiavelli. The people primarily play a subservient role in Plato's structure of government under the rule of monarchs, aristocrats, or philosopher-kings. When discussing with Adeimantus the virtue and reason behind a regime instituted by philosophers, Plato does not paint a picture of men much greater than Machiavelli's animalistic comparison above. Indeed, he portrays them as easily swayed and ill-informed by those "from outside who don't belong and have burst in like drunken revelers, abusing one another and indulging a taste for quarreling" (The Republic, 179). For Plato, the largest majority of men constitute unknowledgeable masses that persecute the very group that can best lead them, the philosophers. Even in a democratic regime, a regime based on the will of the people, Plato does not give us a particularly optimistic view of men. This regime is composed of three types of men according to Plato; the multitude; the oligarchic; and the "men most orderly by nature" (The Republic, 243). The oligarchic rule the city through the license of the multitude, and the orderly rule in business through the disadvantage of the multitude. Thus, Machiavelli sees the people as subjugated and Plato sees the people as fatuous, both doomed to political ineptitude. With Locke, however, the character of the people is redeemed. The people, for Locke, represent a political power akin to force. Indeed, the people are the ultimate source of power for Locke's government, whether that government is a legislative body or a prince. In the closing chapter of his second treatise, Locke details the ways that government can dissipate when rulers misuse their power. The third way a prince may dissolve the government is when he arbitrarily alters the electors

Levittown essays

Levittown essays In the 1950s, Abraham Levitt had a dream. He dreamt of building an organized social community in response to the post WWII population boom and the urge to rebuild social connections. With the mindset of its creator and his familys business, his communities called Levittown grew to be thriving social centers and examples for the ideal American suburb that still stands today. However, there were some discrepancies and minor failures in the roots of Levittown, NY, and other Levittowns to come. Their tendency to stress conformity and the racial segregation that occurred would be viewed negatively today. Levittown's place in American cultural history of post war America is assured in part by the way each part of it was constructed: the site and the neighborhoods, but most importantly the construction of society and the community that resulted. The key figure in the construction of Levittown was Abraham Levitt. He and his sons ran a construction company known as Levitt and Sons. Abraham was born on July 1, 1880 in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of 10, Abraham quit school, despite his avid passion of Philosophy and his astonishing ability to read above his grade level. One of his hobbies was gardening, and his love of foliage and horticulture was later reflected in Levittowns agricultural setting. Abraham did however return to school at the age of 20 and received his education at New York University Law School, and finally earned his degree in real estate law in 1902. Abrahams abilities as a facilitator of land acquisitions by building contractors would lead him to create Levitt his youngest son, Alfred, would be the designer of the homes. William Jaird Levitt, who later became president of Levitt and Sons, was born on February 11, 1907. Just as his father he was educated in New York public schools, and took after his father, being an avi...

Full Review Erica Meltzers Complete Guide to ACT Reading

Full Review Erica Meltzer's Complete Guide to ACT Reading SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Erica Meltzer’s test prep books have burst onto the test prep scene (if that wasn't a thing before, it is now) in the last few years, to great acclaim. She's published 2 books on the ACT: The Complete Guide to ACT English and The Complete Guide to ACT Reading (which is what I will be reviewing in this article). While Meltzer's books are high quality, they are not without their flaws, so read on to figure out whether or not this book is appropriate for you and if you should integrate it into your own ACT test prep. All shall be explained! Why Trust This Review? When you get advice (both in general and specifically on the Internet), it’s very important to know why that advice is trustworthy/believable. I don't want to sound alarmist, but your ACT score is pretty important, and following the wrong advice might lead to a bad score and loss of chance to improve it. So why can you trust this review (over other reviews?). Well, for one thing, I know what I'm talking about. While haven’t taken the ACT (yet), I scored two perfect scores on the reading section of the (2005-present) SAT, and have been doing in-depth analysis of the ACT questions by skill set and writing articles on each skill. Other writers who haven't done that sort of analysis don’t necessarily have the expertise to be able to differentiate between books, so they end up recommending books as kind of an afterthought (and it’s pretty obvious). In contrast to other sites (like about.com and reviews.com), who get money if you click on their links to purchase the books they review, I'm not getting paid for this review, and don’t get anything if you end up buying the book. Disclaimers Disclaimer the first: I work at PrepScholar, an education company that produces online SAT and ACT prep programs. PrepScholar diagnoses your strengths and weaknesses and customizes a test prep program to suit your needs. I myself mostly write and edit articles for the associated blog and grade the essays of students taking practice tests through the program. While I think that PrepScholar provides the best prep platform currently available, you don’t necessarily need a prep program to ace the ACT. Which means that writing this guide might actually lost us some customers, since you might decide you don’t need a program after all. If you decide you don’t want to have to deal with 5 different books and want an integrated program that is customized to your learning, however, PrepScholar might be just the thing for you. But I digress. Disclaimer the second: While I did not attend college at the same time as the author of this book, honesty compels me to admit that we did attend the same undergraduate institution. I don’t think this particularly influenced my review, but I wanted to be transparent about it.  ©2009 Laura Staffaroni You've got to admit that's some campus, though. The Complete Guide to ACT Reading: Book Review When thinking about and evaluating any (test prep) book, I consider the following three points: Who’s the author and what’s her experience/background? How effective is this book overall? What are the pros and what are the cons of this book? About the author: Erica Meltzer Erica Meltzer started out as a tutor, but has been publishing SAT and ACT prep books for the last few years. She graduated from Wellesley College, which is a highly prestigious college ranked #4 of all the liberal arts colleges in the country (as of the time of this article’s publication – there’re always fluctuations). Even though Meltzer's focus has been on writing, rather than tutoring, for the past few years, her books show a good deal of insight into the SAT and ACT. In addition, she and her company also offer tutor-training sessions for test prep tutoring. How effective is this book? From my own experience, I know that ACT Reading is the most difficult score to improve. The skills you need to master it (logical/critical reasoning skills) are not as easily taught as the content on the Writing and Math sections. This means that it’s important to focus in on different question types and the skills required so that you can approach the questions in a systematic way. Fortunately, this is the approach Meltzer takes in The Complete Guide to ACT Reading. This book teaches how to get at the core of what each question is asking and how to squeeze the right answer out of the passage. If you're aiming for a 36, this is great for comprehensive drilling. If you’re aiming for a 25 or below, however, this book is probably too thorough. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not always good to study from the hardest material. Why? In this case, because Meltzer focuses on strategies that are the most useful for high scorers, she does not cover strategies that would be more helpful for low or midrange scorers (compare, for instance, our articles on how to get a 36 on ACT Reading and how to improve a low ACT Reading score). Pros and Cons of The Complete Guide to ACT Reading Pros Good breakdown of most skill types. Meltzer has a clear division of questions by major skill type – big picture, detail, inference, tone questions. This makes it easy to dip in and out of the book – if there’s one particular type of question you have problems with, you can focus on that and ignore the other sections fairly easily. Realistic passages and questions. The questions in the book are of high quality, as are the (licensed) excerpts the passage-based questions ask about. Some acknowledgement of different skill levels. Meltzer discusses the strategy of dropping an entire section if you’re a slow reader and have problems with comprehension, and also describes playing â€Å"positive/negative† with tone questions as a means to narrow down. Suggested reading list (to prepare for ACT passages). These suggestions are useful not just for Reading skill practice but also for sources to use for your Writing essay (if you do the essay). Also, I've read Inside of a Dog and really enjoyed it, so some of the books might be interesting as well as educational! Includes two full-length reading sections at the end to practice with. Provides useful skimming strategies and tips for how to approach the passage. Cons Expensive for the amount of material you’re getting. The book is 120 pages, but the last 32 pages are all practice reading questions, and many pages are full reprints of sample reading passages, which means the actual "teaching" content of the book is on the shorter side. Dry writing style. There are no pictures and there's not much layout variety (there's a whole lot of text), so it might be difficult to get into. Basically, it’s no frills, which works for me (I don’t really need to spend hours of my life reading about ACT†¦Reading), but it might be difficult for some students to get through. No real discussion of which questions might be easier/more difficult to answer. Meltzer describes some question types as the â€Å"most challenging,† which does help somewhat, but she does not provide clear â€Å"this is the question you should try to answer first if you’re worried about points on Reading† guidelines, which I think would be helpful. Does not cover paired passages. It has become standard on every ACT Reading section for there to be at least one topic area (often Humanities) with two passages; the ten questions are divided between the passages, with 3 questions that ask about both passages. To be fair, there are barely any materials out there that cover this, including the ACT’s own website, but that doesn't mean that they should be left out of a prep book. Overall Rating As far as I have been able to determine, this is the best book currently out there for ACT Reading prep. If you’re planning on scoring a 31 or above on ACT Reading and prefer to study via book, then this is the right choice for you. It’s ridiculously expensive for the amount of content it contains, and it may be too thorough for some students, but it’s a great choice that can teach you a lot. Overall rating: 75/100 FACEBOOK LIKE by Owen W Brown, used under CC BY 2.0/Cropped from original. Alternative Options for ACT Reading Prep I would be remiss if I did not point out that we provide some great free options out there for ACT Reading prep on our blog. In addition to general strategy articles, we also break down Reading questions by skill type with focused suggestions for vocab in context, big picture, little picture, function and development, inference, and paired passage questions. What’s Next? Read our detailed guide to the Best ACT prep books of 2015 and our list of the best ACT Prep Websites you can use to put together your very own study program. What’s a good ACT score for you? Figure it out with our step-by-step guide based around the colleges you’re applying to. Aiming for a high score? Read our guide to scoring a perfect 36 on the ACT overall and on the ACT Reading section, written by our resident perfect scorer (and PrepScholar co-founder) Allen Cheng. Also, don’t forget to check out our top-of-the-class ACT prep program! Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.

Space shuttle columbia failure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Space shuttle columbia failure - Essay Example The velocity of the shuttle was 17,321 mph, while its actual weight depended on the payload and the other consumables on board. The thermo protection system of the space shuttle comprised of service coverage with high and low temperature reusable surface insulation tiles (Perkins, 86). The other areas such as the bay doors, fuselage and wings were covered with white silicone-rubber painted Nomex, which served as the insulation system (Christensen, 377). However, during the subsequent upgrade of the orbiter, the initial insulation tile and the silicone-rubber were replaced with Fibrous Insulation Blankets, which were found to be more flexible and appropriate for the orbiter surface insulation (Christensen, 377). The space shuttle was the first of its kind in many aspects. The space shuttle Columbia was the first spacecraft that was a reusable spacecraft and it was the first spacecraft that could carry large satellites both to and from the orbit (NASA, n.p.). The space shuttle Columbia comprised of three major components; the orbiter where the crew on board were housed, two solid rocket boosters which provided the shuttle with lift during the first two minutes, and a large external tank that fueled the main engines (NASA, n.p.). The Shuttle was 184 feet long, while its orbiter was 122 feet long, with a wing span of 78 feet and a height of the 57 feet, measured while standing on the runway (NASA, n.p.). On the day of the actual landing of the space shuttle Columbia, within the last few minutes of its landing, the shuttle entered the Earth’s atmosphere from the orbit. The incidence occurred when the spacecraft was approaching its Kennedy Space Center which was its targeted landing destination (Howell, n.p.). However, at 9.00 a.m. EST, an abnormal reading showed up on the NASA mission control center, starting with the loss of the

Course Project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Course Project - Assignment Example Such brainstorming combines fun, brainpower, thought process and creativity all in one. The target groups of this game board are industrialist, marketers, and start-up enterprises aimed at stimulating marketing ideas necessary for edging modern business competitive environment. I must emphasize though, the uniqueness of this new game model because playing a game like this promotes and brings on board the whole entrepreneurial idea. There are several board games in the market but as far as the core innovation is based, the Know your Opponent game will revolutionize and alter existing game instructions. Of all tons of board games in the market, none can be compared to this innovation and its entrepreneurial concepts. Our approach has taken the core idea of a stratagem board game and building on that a slightly fresh track will eventually lead to transformational board game improvement. To facilitate the success on this project I work with a team of four personnel: the financial officer, the design office, purchase and supply and marketing panel. The finance officer ensures that all budgetary allocation and inventories are up to date whereas the design office formulates the board game prototype and clear specifications; the purchase and supply office ensures that all specifications to manufacturer are met and ensure timely delivery. Lastly, is the marketing team works tirelessly to ensure our products are visible and sells in the market. In terms of financing board game, together with my savings I intend to approach a bank manager for a loan to aid in the launch. According to estimations, a sum of $25,000 will be enough to see off the project and sustain its entry to the market for some days. The board game market is totally constricted, however depending on how successive the games sales and customer feedback outcomes, we look forward in developing new products. Building trust will put as at high par at meeting the

The Effects of Poverty on the Inner City Family Values Essay Example for Free

The Effects of Poverty on the Inner City Family Values Essay The family is the basic unit of the society. It is an institution that is composed of the father, mother and their children. It can be said that the existence of the family is a simple matter but we should realize that the conglomeration of families is what makes up the world today. The existence of families is governed by family values that are passed from generation to generation. Family values are proven to be effective in keeping families intact no matter how dynamic the world is. In other words, the inability to maintain and practice family values at home makes a family chaotic thereby affecting the society as a whole. There are various family values that are utilized and practiced by families worldwide. However, most of the common values include individuality, integrity, industry, knowledge, compassion, love of family and optimism (Learning Family, 1999, p. 1). These values are useful in keeping family cooperation and order that will result to happiness at home. Moreover, we are aware that family values affect how we face the realities of life. Our values can manifest to others about what kind of people we are, and can assist them in understanding our actions (Learning Family, 1999, p. 1). In this paper, the primary factor that could affect family values is the problem of poverty that surfaced in the world today. This paper will give a simple yet thorough discussion of the effects of poverty on actual and perceived families found in the inner city and their values. The basic manifestations of poverty are overpopulation, food shortage and related problems, high crime rate and poor educational background of which family values can be applied in solving for these problems. Poverty and Its Effects to Actual and Perceived Inner City Family Values Poverty is a problem that hits the whole world. Many countries are suffering from poverty and its constituents always hope for changes. Having families forced to fill the streets due to inability to afford a house is a reality. Even in the United States, there people who are found in the streets as they could not afford to own a house (Wattenberg, et. als. , 2003, p. 517). It is for a fact that the United States has been considered as a country that has the highest national income worldwide (Wattenberg, et. als. , 2003, p. 517). Yet, poverty still exists due to unequal distribution of income and wealth. Due to this situation, many families are becoming malfunctioned as their children caused so many problems in the society. Family values are no longer frequently taught among children since juvenile delinquency is rampant nowadays. There are two kinds of families that we need to deal with in analyzing family values in relation to poverty in the inner city and these are the actual family and the perceived inner city family. In order to have a basic backdrop in understanding the paper, it should be put in mind that these two kinds of family will be analyzed with respect to each manifestation of poverty together with the family values mentioned earlier. Hence, the purpose of this paper is trying to stress the differences in views between the actual and the perceived poor inner city family. Schools are getting problems of truancy as a sign that parents can no longer control their children in their homes. Parents are more focused in solving financial problems that they tend to forge their children’s emotional and psychological needs. Overpopulation and Its Effects to Actual and Perceived Inner City Families The problem of poverty includes population growth. As time continues to exist, the number of people living in this world also increases. In line with that, life expectancy as well as standards of living became more complicated. Besides, the populace has developed into a huge number that is about six billion, and continues to increase over time (Overpopulation Website, 2008, p. 1). In addition to that, the pressures of rising populations on natural resources and commercial greed coalesce, resulting to detrimental consequences (Overpopulation Website, 2008, p. 1). As many people exist, there is shortage of space in cities wherein most families live to earn a living. Housing problems occur and the government is trying to resolve the issue. Due to the rising number of unemployed people, homeless families continue to increase. Children start to show disgust in the situation leading them to stray in the streets. Aside from that, many families stay in the streets to earn a living by selling whatever materials to passersby and run errands to other people. Besides, those people in the countryside try to relocate into inner cities in order to search for economic opportunities. This situation adds to the burden of having a congested place in the urban and suburban communities. Diseases that affect the people living in the cities continue to be a problem since clean water supply is limited. In other words, overpopulation greatly affects those families who live in the inner cities since all other huge problems related to poverty exist there. For a detailed analysis on the effects of poverty on the actual inner city family values, we need to consider the matters discussed earlier. The main focus in this section is the effects of poverty on the actual families in inner cities and their values. Considering overpopulation, there are family values that are utilized by actual families. These values include industry, compassion, and optimism. Actual inner city poor families are aware of the value of industry, compassion and optimism. First and foremost, the hardships that these families need to bear require an optimistic heart so that life can be fully enjoyed. Small amount of food can be shared by family members and a few clothing supply can be used by them. However, actual families are weak in terms of compassion since they would not care for other people’s welfare as long as their own families can survive. The future is that a family of three members who are earning the minimum wage in the year 2009 can still considered as living below the federal poverty line. The only family values that can prevent this situation are industry since there is no other way. Yet, because of poor educational background leading to poor qualification in work with better pay make the family members indolent. The effect of poverty on the value of industry is very severe as long financial crisis may result to inadequacy of work qualifications. Actual families and its members usually blame each other in their poor educational background due to the coming of more family members leading to more mouths to feed. Parents are always blamed by their children of their inability to afford for the educational needs of their children. As a result, the value of industry never worked out due to lack of work qualification. In addition, poor actual families view poverty as something that they do not deserve as they thought they worked hard to earn a living. Whatever it may be, the actual families still believes that no matter how hard life is, optimism is a value that should not be discarded. On the other hand, the views of perceived families on inner city values are much more different than views of actual family. The perceived family in the inner city viewed overpopulation as the failure of the government to address the issue. Perceived families most likely blamed the government for not giving then sufficient work opportunities that resulted to their economic difficulties. Aside from that, perceived families living in urban and suburban communities do not care about the value of compassion. Most frequently, people in inner cities who are poor fight against each other over little resources. Their dire needs of living allowance made them inactive to the welfare of other people but for themselves. In addition, perceived families in inner cities are not optimistic in nature. They tend to submit to negative actions just to escape poverty. There are so many cases of theft, robbery and even rape that exist in perceived families due to the inability of family members and even neighbors to help each other. The scarce resources in the inner city due to overpopulation pushed young children to wander in the streets for possible alms and donations. Just think of the existing people in the streets begging for food and basic necessities, perceived families in the inner cities experienced these things. However, the value of industry is something that is treasured by perceived families on inner cities. This is due to the fact that if they will not work to earn a living, they have nothing to eat. Their children will suffer more due to lack of sustenance. Poor perceived families on inner cities could be aware of the fact that only a sincere industry could give them a chance to earn a living.

Psychological Intervention and Schizophrenia Essay -- Disorder Schizop

Psychological Intervention and Schizophrenia There are perhaps two main prongs to the development of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as an intervention for schizophrenia, the first being based upon the sizable research that centre on family interventions, which have been successful in reducing patient relapse in schizophrenic families (Pilling et al., 2002). Family interventions are important to consider as they became established treatments during a phase where drug treatments were the main focus of attention in this field and so opened the area of non biological treatment for schizophrenia. And as I will touch upon later drug therapies are frequently used to reduce psychotic symptoms and relapse but these treatments rarely provide the answer, with as many as 50% of patients suffering from persistent psychotic symptoms when adhering to pharmacological treatments (Dickerson, 2000). The other aspect that has seen CBT be considered as a treatment for schizophrenia is that it has been effective in treating a range of non-psychotic disorders both mild and more serious (e.g., Hawton, Salkovskis, Kirk, & Clark, 1989; Clark & Fairburn, 1997). The range of effective CB therapies stem from early studies where depression and anxiety disorders were the subject of interest (Beck et al., 1979; Barlow, 1988) to more serious psychotic disorders, such as bipolar disorder (Basco, Rush, 1995; Perry et al, 1999) and personality disorders (Beck et al, 1990). While the success of family intervention, a non drug related therapy, and CBT’s success in treating various disorders provide evidence for the potential of CBT in treating schizophrenia they have been developed amid a backdrop in which drug therapy has been extensively explored, but has failed to produce a whole solution to the complexities exhibited by schizophrenia sufferers. It is likely then that as an intervention for schizophrenia CBT will provide a part solution rather than an all-encompassing answer. Detailed study of patients’ experiences has led to a greater understanding of the stress suffered by patients who go on to develop coping mechanisms, which can be treated using CBT, to deal with the symptoms of their illness (Mcnally, Goldberg, 1997). The fact then that there are so many aspects to this disease means that it would be impossible to provide a comprehensive review in this paper but I will discuss... ..., Tarrier, N., Morriss, R., McCarthy, E., & Limb, K. (1999). A randomised controlled trial of teaching bipolar disorder patients to identify early symptoms of relapse and obtain early treatment. British Medical Journal, 318, 149–153. Pilling, S., Bebbington, P., Kuipers, E., Garety, P., Geddes, J., Orbach, G. et al. (2002). Psychological treatments in schizophrenia: I. Meta-analysis of family interventions and cognitive behaviour therapy. Psychological Medicine, 32, 763–782. Sensky T., Turkington D., Kingdon D., Scott J. L., Scott J., Siddle R., O'Carroll M. & Barnes T. (2000). A randomised controlled trial of cognitive-behavioural therapy for persistent symptoms in schizophrenia resistant to medication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 57: 165-172 Watts FN, Powell GE, Austin SV. 1973. The modification of abnormal beliefs. British Journal of Medical Psychology 46: 359–363. Wiersma D., Jenner J. A., van de Willige G., Spakman M., Nienhuis F. J. (2001) Cognitive behaviour therapy with coping training for persistent auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia: a naturalistic follow-up study of the durability of effects. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 103 (5): 393-399

How Has Music Marketing Changed over the Years and Where Does the Future of the Music Press Lie? Essay

In this day and age, technology is developing so rapidly that changes are occurring all across the board. Faster internet, digital photography, and interactive programs are all making advertising and marketing much easier in the ever expanding world of consumerism. With all these new advances, there are bound to be numerous changes. The music industry is a relatively modern concept. It originated from word of mouth and paper publications back before computers were even thought of. Many people nowadays act for the music press themselves by creating their own blogs/podcasts etc from their own music knowledge they have gained from websites and magazines. Although there are many technology based music industries there are still some simple publications that are still popular even though they have been around for the past 50 years such as NME magazine. As the music press progressed specific music genre specialisms such as Kerrang and TOTP have been introduced. Also, advertising elements such as billboards and posters still catch our attention as we are walking or driving past one. An eye catching mise en scene or new pictures of our favourite bands induce us to stop what we are doing and take notice in what they are doing or promoting. This shows how the music press operates according to the basic principles of advertising. For example A. I. D. A. The awareness is raised through apple symbols and artists which we trust to admire, acting as form of celebrity endorsement for the reader or viewer. The press follow the interest in an artist by using aesthetically pleasing photos of them making us aspire to look or be like our idols in the music industry. We cant help to desire to follow our favourite artist on twitter to get all the up to date gossip and information on them. We then take action by buying CD’s, gig tickets and merchandise in order to support our favourite bands but also as we aspire to fit in to the changing society. We do what is ‘the thing’ to do at the time. This relates to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as group and self identity relate to our choices in music and say a lot about us as individuals. There are still many advantages of buying a traditional magazine in today’s society. You can pick it up anytime and take it anywhere with you. You know all the information will be reliable and trustworthy. Free CDs/booklets and posters are one of the biggest advantages. People are most likely to by a magazine with a freebie other than any other one. Since technology became so popular, the most common music marketing for music was magazines. People would go out and spend their hard earned money on a magazine which would fill them in and keep them updated on everything to do with their favourite genre of music. It was for some people the only way to find out about new information on their favourite bands etc. However, over time as technology has developed, new marketing ways have been introduced which are pushing music magazines to the back of the line. These new ways are quicker, cheaper and easier for people which is why they are becoming more popular. In the mid 1990’s things started to change. The advent of the Internet allowed music fans to change the way they consumed music. And as technology advanced, the music business began to rethink (or in some cases were forced to rethink) the tools they used to market music to consumers. For reasons both good and bad, the Internet has given nearly all consumers more information than they would get from things like magazines or the radio for free, which means that people wont bother spending their money buying a magazine. Online music magazines/websites have the opportunity to make more money from advertising etc. If things continue developing in this way, the future of the music press will all be technology based. Eventually music magazines wont be making enough money and will be taken off the shelves and more and more industries will be online based. What is certain is that the future of the music press will be tied to the idea of sharing ideas online and through word of mouth. Blogs like network. youthmusic. org. uk, viral marketing through facebook where artists have a bigger fan base will develop and expand.

Privatizing of Social Security Essay

In â€Å"Privatizing Social Security,† the author discusses the importance of privatizing social security. The author gave a brief overview of the history of social security and explained what he thinks is wrong with the system. Although the author explained the benefits of privatization, his views come off as a bit simplistic because he oversimplifies the social and economic problems that are associated with privatizing social security. In the article the author discusses how the social security trust fund will be in financial difficulty by the year 2018 if the retirement age, tax laws, and other laws associated social security do not change. The author states that the social security financial crisis will arise when the government has to pay the trust fund with treasury notes, which has led him to believe that privatization is the answer to saving the system. Although the author argues that privatization is the answer to social security crisis, it is not the best solution because it will lead to social and economic problems in the future. The main problem with the author’s argument is that he believes that privatization will allow social security funds to grow, since people will be investing their money rather than simply contributing to the fund. However the author fails to take into account that most people lack education to successfully invest money, which threatens their future economic security. The author also fails to consider that investing social security funds is the equivalent to gambling because markets rise and fall and people could potentially lose substantial amounts of retirement money if they cash out during an economic downturn. Although the author made valid points to support privatization, such as changing laws associated with social security, the author should not simplify the costs of privatization because privatizing is a gamble, which takes the security out of social security.

real estate valuation Essay Example

real estate valuation Essay Example real estate valuation Essay real estate valuation Essay REAL ESTATE EVALUATION Concepts and definitions 1 . Real estate market Real estate market plays a determinative role in every countrys economy since it is the most important asset in every citizens portfolio. Although real estate represents only a small percentage of G. D. P. , it supports the economy and significantly affects macroeconomic indexes such us consumption and investment. 1 . 1 Characteristics of the real estate market Real estate is considered to be a very heterogeneous product with the following characteristics: l. High costs and low transaction number. II. The supply curve reacts very slowly in comparison with the demand curve due to many reasons such as: land insufficiency, constructing period, license issue. Ill. The options of financing vary from country to country. IV. The tax policy has huge effect on the market. V. In countries with high rate of owner occupancy the market moves in a slow pace. 2. Concepts and definitions 2. 1 Real Estate Real estate is Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals or water, immovable property of this ature or an interest vested in this. . 2 Real Estate valuation (or appraisal) The act of estimating the value of real estate by a person licensed to do so. A person performing an appraisal must receive authorization from the appropriate body of the state in which he/she resides. A real estate appraisal may take into account the quality of the property, values of surrounding properties, and market conditions in the area. It is important f or determining the property taxes for which the owner is liable, as well as a potential sale price, if the owner wishes to sell his/her property. 3Fair value Fair value is the value of an asset or liability in an arms length transaction between unrelated, willing and knowledgeable parties. 2. 4Market value Market value is the price at which an asset would trade in a competitive auction setting. 2. 5Highest and best use In order for a property to get successfully valuated, its optimal use is taken for granted. By optimal use we mean the best possible way that a property could be exploited, which results in the most profitable outcome. 3. Valuation methods There are 3 basic approaches to the issue of real estate appraisal: the sales comparison approach, the cost approach and the income capitalization approach. In addition to these, there are several more methods. Deciding which one to use must be an accurate procedure. The method should be in accordance with the propertys nature and potential. 3. 1 Basic methods for real estate valuation The most basic methods used for evaluation of real estate are as follows: 1 . Market or sales comparison approach. (competitive market anslysis) 2. Cost approach. 3. Income capitalization approach.

Ancient Chinese Invented Gunpowder

Ancient Chinese Invented Gunpowder Few substances in history have had as profound an effect on human history as gunpowder, yet its discovery in China was an accident. Contrary to myth, it was not simply used for fireworks but was put to military uses from its time of discovery. Eventually, this secret weapon leaked out to the rest of the medieval world. Chinese Alchemists Tinker With Saltpeter and Make Gunpowder Ancient alchemists in China spent centuries trying to discover an elixir of life that would render the user immortal. One important ingredient in many of the failed elixirs was saltpeter, also known as potassium nitrate. During the Tang Dynasty, around 850 A.D., an enterprising alchemist (whose name has been lost to history) mixed 75 parts saltpeter with 15 parts charcoal and 10 parts sulfur. This mixture had no discernable life-lengthening properties, but it did explode with a flash and a bang when exposed to an open flame. According to a text from that era, smoke and flames result, so that [the alchemists] hands and faces have been burnt, and even the whole house where they were working burned down. Use of Gunpowder in China Many western history books over the years have stated that the Chinese used this discovery only for fireworks, but that is not true. Song Dynasty military forces as early as 904 A.D. used gunpowder devices against their primary enemy, the Mongols. These weapons included flying fire (fei huo), an arrow with a burning tube of gunpowder attached to the shaft. Flying fire arrows were miniature rockets, which propelled themselves into enemy ranks and inspired terror among both men and horses. It must have seemed like fearsome magic to the first warriors who were confronted with the power of gunpowder. Other Song military applications of gunpowder included primitive hand grenades, poisonous gas shells, flamethrowers and landmines. The first artillery pieces were rocket tubes made from hollow bamboo shoots, but these were soon upgraded to cast metal. McGill University professor Robin Yates notes that the worlds first illustration of a cannon comes from Song China, in a painting from about 1127 A.D. This depiction was made a century and a half before Europeans began to manufacture artillery pieces. The Secret of Gunpowder Leaks Out of China By the mid- to late-eleventh century, the Song government had become concerned about gunpowder technology spreading to other countries. The sale of saltpeter to foreigners was banned in 1076. Nonetheless, knowledge of the miraculous substance was carried along the Silk Road to India, the Middle East, and Europe. In 1267, a European writer made reference to gunpowder, and by 1280 the first recipes for the explosive mixture were published in the west. Chinas secret was out. Down through the centuries, Chinese inventions have had a profound effect on human culture. Items like paper, the magnetic compass, and silk have diffused around the world. None of those inventions, however, have had quite the impact that gunpowder has, for good and for bad.

Grammer Edititing and rephrasing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Grammer Edititing and rephrasing - Essay Example Spreading the news will make consumers consider the issue of Coltan mineral and associated conflicts in Congo, thus enabling Congo citizens to benefit from the proceeds of their mineral rich country. Max Fisher the author of the article â€Å"Theres a 1 in 12 Chance Your V-Day Flowers Were Cut by Child Laborers† asserts that free trade and compliance with labor standards will solve the prevailing problems in both Ecuador and Colombia flower industries. The author is of the opinion that flower workers have suffered from poor working conditions such as mistreatment, healthy risks and low wages. In addition, the flower industries in the two countries have violated human and labor rights through engaging in child labor and sexual harassment in the workplace. According to the author, the consumers will influence the labor rights through backgrounds checks before the purchase in order to determine whether they are free trade flowers. The consumers will need to refrain from purchasing flowers from the companies that have been accused of labor rights violations in order to pressurize those companies to adhere with the acceptable labor rights and standards. Both Max Fisher and Andy Robertson have utilized Aristotelian approach in their articles in enabling the reader to understand the problems faced by the workers in the different countries. Fisher uses pathos in his persuasion by claiming that flower industries have a long record of abusing the workers and innocent purchase of flowers might continue supporting such labor rights violation (Fisher 1). The intention of Fisher is to elicit a strong emotional appeal and response from the readers through inspiring the consumers to avoid purchasing specific flowers such as roses from those flower plantations and industries that violate labor rights. Fisher uses a logo to inspire logical