Friday, July 17, 2020
A Book Lovers Guide to the 2017 Oscar Nominees
A Book Lovers Guide to the 2017 Oscar Nominees Authors Note: A Man Called Ove was inadvertently left off this list. The post has been corrected. Its no secret that books are a rich source of inspiration for movies. And if you find that you rarely disagree with the the book is better than the movie premise, the 2017 Oscar nominees will give you plenty of fodder to fill up your TBR shelves. Every year I see every single nominated film, and of the 62 nominated films across all categories that Ill attempt to watch, 18 have bookish origins. Alphabetically by film, heres a breakdown of all the book-to-movie info: 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi Nominations: Sound Mixing Adapted from: 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened In Benghazi by Mitchell Zuckoff (2014) 13 Hours tells the story of the events of September 11, 2012 when terrorists attacked the US State Department Special Mission Compound and a nearby CIA station called the Annex in Benghazi, Libya. A Man Called Ove Nominations: Best Foreign Language Adapted from: Fredrik Backmans novel, A Man Called Ove (2014) Ove is a curmudgeon. He seems to hate everyone and everything in his small Swedish community. He has staunch principals, strict routines, and a short fuse. But behind this grumpy facade is a heartbreaking story and a lovable man, if only he would let someone see it. I cried my way through the back half of this book and a solid 75% of the movie. Both are exceptional. Arrival Nominations: Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Cinematography, Film Editing, Production Design Adapted from: Ted Chiangs 1998 short story The Story of Your Life from the collection Stories of Your Life and Others Without giving too many spoilers,the film and Chiangs acclaimed story upon which it is based follows a woman who, as a linguistics expert, is tasked with figuring out how to communicate with an alien race that has unexpectedly shown up on Earth. Both the film and the story provide a nuanced examination of language, humanity, and the nature of time that is as exquisite on screen as it is on the page. Blind Vaysha Nominations: Best Animated Short Adapted from: a short story of the same name by Georgi Gospodinov, in the collection, And Other Stories (Writings from an Unbound Europe) The film, based on Bulgarian Gospodinovs story, tells story of a girl who sees past out of her left eye and the future from her rightâ"and so is unable to live in the present. Doctor Strange Nominations: Visual Effects Adapted from: Marvel Universes Doctor Strange character, which has been part of MCU for decades. For something most similar to the movie, Jason Aarons most recent run, in Doctor Strange Vol. 1: The Way of the Weird and Vol. 2: The Last Days of Magic is the best place to start. Vol. 3: Blood in the Aether is forthcoming this March. Basically, the origin story is that surgeon Stephen Strange, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, learns the mystic arts from the Ancient One, played (controversially) by Tilda Swinton, after a career-ending car accident and after becoming brilliantly magical, faces off against a former pupil of the Ancient One, played by a criminally misused Mads Mikkelsen. Come for Cumberbatch, stay for the visual effects. Elle Nominations: Best Actress (Isabelle Huppert) Adapted from: Oh by Philippe Djian, a 2012 French thriller that is unfortunately not available in an English-language translation. Trigger warnings abound: A woman is brutally raped in her apartment by a masked intruder and promptly cleans up the mess and goes back to her life. Im not going to lie, this film is incredibly difficult to watch, for reasons beyond the attack. But Isabelle Huppert gives the chilling performance of her life. Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them Nominations: Production Design, Costume Design Adapted from: isnt it obvious? Just in case youve been living under a rock, this is part of the Potter-verse, and based on the book of the same name, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by her Rowling-ness Set in 1920s New York City, in the magical world of Harry Potter, British wizard Newt Scamander arrives on a ship, intending to head to Arizona to drop off one his many magical creatures. But his trip is interrupted by something mysterious leaving a path of destruction in the streets, threatening to expose the wizarding community to the No-Majs (American for Muggles), including the Second Salemers, a fanatical faction bent on eradicating them. To top it off powerful, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, after wreaking havoc in Europe, is nowhere to be found. Even if youre not a fan of HP, the costumes and production design are incredible and the story stands well on its own. Fences Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Denzel Washington), Best Supporting Actress (Viola Davis), Adapted Screenplay Adapted from: August Wilsons 1983 play, Fences. While not strictly a bookish adaptation, the play is worth reading on its own. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning sixth part of Wilsons 10-part Pittsburgh Cycle, the film was adapted by the playwright before his death in 2005 and examines race, family, and ambition in the 1950s. Denzel starred in the Broadway revival and both he and Viola have earned well-deserved nominations in this adaptation. Hidden Figures Nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer), Adapted Screenplay Adapted from: Margot Lee Shetterlys 2016 nonfiction book, Hidden Figures: The Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race Though the film takes some historical liberties, both it and Shetterlys book are fist-pumping celebrations of brilliant women of color who transformed NASA and sadly were unacknowledged beyond the scientific and mathematics community. The movie is an amazing achievement, both for cheering these women but also for the black actresses that portray them: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe. See the movie, applaud with the rest of your audience, then read the book ASAP. I Am Not Your Negro Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Adapted from: James Baldwins unfinished manuscript, Remember This House. While this manuscript is unavailable as a standalone work, the filmmaker Raoul Peck has released a companion to the film that is primarily made up of this text. Peck mined James Baldwins vast published and unpublished archives to create a documentary that not only reflects on Baldwins feelings about his assassinated friends, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers, but about race and society in America. Though he was writing in the 196os, Baldwins words (as narrated by Samuel L. Jackson) provides a striking commentary about modern day racial conflicts. (If youre looking for more Baldwin once youve seen this doc, James Baldwin: Collected Essays is a good place to start.) The Jungle Book Nominations: Best Visual Effects Adapted from: Rudyard Kiplings collection of stories, The Jungle Book While its been done and redone, this live-action adaptation of Kiplings tales about Mogli, a man cub raised in the jungles of India, is just as delightful and terrifying as the original animated Disney version. Keeping your favorite musical numbers from the 1967 film (youll totally want to sing along to Bear Necessities), the visual spectacle of this story as a live-action production is worth the price of admission alone. Life, Animated Nominations: Best Documentary Feature Adapted from: Ron Suskinds 2014 memoir, Life, Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism Suskinds son, Owen, who can only communicate through the language of Disney movies, is at the center of this story, told by his Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist father. At three years old, the once-chatty Owen stops speaking completely and his family is at a loss for how to reach himuntil Owens love and obsession with Disney films provides a pathway to language and a sense of being and empathy for the whole family. Lion Nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Dev Patel), Best Supporting Actress (Nicole Kidman), Adapted Screenplay, Original Score, Cinematography Adapted from: A Long Way from Home by Saroo Brierley (2014) Based on Brierleys memoir, the film starring Dev Patel follows a five-year-old Saroo who, accompanying his big brother to work, falls asleep on a train that takes him hundreds of miles away from his home. Unable to read or write or even remember his own last name, Saroo survives in Calcutta before being adopted by an Australian family. As an adult Saroo is haunted by a family he misses and sets out on a quest (via Google Earth) to find his mother and brother. Bring tissues. My Life as a Zucchini Nominations: Best Animated Feature Adapted from: Autobiographie Dune Courgette by Gilles Paris Sadly another entry that is not available in English, this story of a boy nicknamed Courgette (French for zucchini, hence the films title) who is shuttled off to a foster home after his mother disappears. Befriend by a police officer who accompanies him to this foster home filled with other orphans his age, Courgette struggles to find his place in this sometimes hostile environment and the world at large. Nocturnal Animals Nominations: Best Supporting Actor (Michael Shannon) Adapted from: Tony and Susan by Austin Wright (1993) Not only is Tom Fords film based on a thriller by Austin Wright, the movies primary narrative device is a novel. A story within a story, the real world story revolves around an ex-husband and wife; he has written a novel, the manuscript of which he sends to her and which she becomes consumed by, that is the other half of this film. Moving between both the real world and the fictional story, these characters are forced to reckon with their own past misdeeds. I havent read the book this movie is based on, but if its anything like its twisty adaptation, it deserves to be rediscovered by a new readership. Silence Nominations: Best Cinematography Adapted from: Silence: A Novel by Shusaku Endo (1966) Languishing for decades in development limbo, Martin Scorseses passion project follows two Jesuit priests from Portugal into 17th century Japan, where Christians are routinely slaughtered, to find their missing mentor and spread Catholicism. I cant speak to the novel upon which the movie is based, but let me save you three hours, Silence is a plodding (mostly very boring) examination of the dichotomy of faith and prudence. Suicide Squad Nominations: Best Makeup and Hairstyling Adapted from: DC Comics team of villains of the same name. Your best bet is to wait until March for Suicide Squad Vol. 1: The Black Vault (Rebirth). Yes, Suicide Squad was nominated for an Oscar. Ihave no words. Sully Nominations: Best Sound Editing Adapted from: Highest Duty by Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow (2009) Also known as Sully: Miracle on the Hudson, this film (based on the pilots memoir) follows Sullenbergers January 2009 emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River, in which all 155 passengers and crew survived with only minor injuries, and the subsequent publicity and investigation. Also, its Tom Hanks.
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Quick Facts About Americas Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore is located in the Black Hills of Keystone,à South Dakota. The sculpture of four famous presidents ââ¬â George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln ââ¬â was carved into the granite rock face over many decades. According to the National Park Service, approximately 2.5 million people visit the monument each year.à Fast Facts: Mount Rushmore Location: Near Rapid City, South DakotaArtist: Gutzon Borglum. Died seven months before it was finished; completed by son Lincoln.Size: The presidents faces are 60 feet high.Material: Granite rock faceYear Started: 1927Year Completed: 1941Cost: $989,992.32Notable: The artist was tagged for the project because of his work on the Confederate Memorial Carving at Stone Mountain, Georgia, which he began. His work was removed and another artist finished it, however. Also in the national park is the Avenue of Flags, representing the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.à In the summertime, the monument is also lit up at night. History of Mount Rushmore National Parkà Gutzon Borglums model of Mt. Rushmore memorial, where you see the original plans. Library of Congresss Prints and Photographs Division/Public Domain/Wiki Commonsà Mount Rushmore National Park was the brainchild of Doane Robinson, known as the ââ¬Å"Father of Mount Rushmore.â⬠His goal was to create an attraction that would draw people from all over the country to his state. Robinson contacted Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor who was working on the monument at Stone Mountain, Georgia. Borglum met with Robinson during 1924 and 1925. He was the one who identified Mount Rushmore as a perfect location for a grand monument. This was due to the cliffs height above the surrounding area; its composition of granite, which would be slow to erode; and the fact that it faced southeast, to take advantage of the rising sun each day. Robinson worked with John Boland, President Calvin Coolidge, Rep. William Williamson, and Sen. Peter Norbeck to gain support in Congress and the funding to proceed. Congress agreed to match up to $250,000 of funding for the project and created the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission. Work began, and by 1933 the Mount Rushmore project became part of the National Park Service. Borglum did not like having the NPS oversee the construction. However, he continued to work on the project until his death in 1941. The monument was deemed complete and ready for dedication on October 31, 1941. It eventually cost nearly $1 million. Why Each of the Four Presidents Was Chosen Tetra Images/Getty Images Borglum made the decision about which presidents to include on the mountain. According to the National Park Service, heres his reasoning: George Washington: He was the first president and represented the foundation of American democracy.Thomas Jefferson: With the Louisiana Purchase, he greatly expanded the nation. He was also the author of the hugely influential Declaration of Independence.à Theodore Roosevelt: He not only represented the industrial development of the nation but was also widely known for conservation efforts.à Abraham Lincoln: As the president during the U.S. Civil War, he represents the preservation of the nation above all costs.à Carving Done With Dynamite The powder monkey is holding dynamite and detonators. à Archive Photos/Getty Images With 450,000 tons of granite that needed to be removed, the sculptor found out early on that jackhammers were not going to take care of the job fast enough. He employed a munitions expert to insert charges of dynamite into drilled holes and blasted the rock off when the workers were off of the mountain. Eventually, 90 percent of the granite removed from the rock face was done with dynamite. Changes to the Design The unfinished hall of records behind Abraham Lincolns head, just as Gutzon Borglum left it. Rachel.Miller727/Creative Commons/Wiki Commons During production, the design went through nine changes. Entablature What appears isnt exactly how the sculpture was conceived by sculptor Borglum, who also had plans for wording to be etched into the rock face, called the Entablature. It was to contain a brief history of the United States, highlighting nine important events between 1776 and 1906, carved into an image of the Louisiana Purchase. Given issues over the wording and funding and the fact that people wouldnt be able to read it from a distance, that idea was scrapped. Hall of Records Another plan was to have a Hall of Records in a room behind Lincolns head that would be accessed by the public via a staircase from the base of the mountain. On display would be important documents in a room decorated with mosaics. It too was discontinued, in 1939, due to lack of funding. Congress told the artist to concentrate on the faces and just get it done. A tunnel is what remains. It does house some porcelain panels giving the background about the building of the monument, the artist, and the presidents, but its inaccessible to visitors due to the lack of a staircase. More Than Heads Mock-ups of the design include the four presidents from the waist up. Funding was ever an issue, and the directive was to just stick with the four faces. Jefferson Moved Over Thomas Jefferson was originally on the other side of George Washington. Carmen Martinez Torron/Getty Images Thomas Jefferson was originally started on George Washingtons right, and carving of Jeffersons face began in 1931. However, the granite there was full of quartz. Workers kept blasting off the quartz, but after 18 months they realized that the location was just not working. His face was dynamited off and carved on the other side. Carving Stone carvers on scaffolding and hoists carve the face of Thomas Jefferson into Mount Rushmore. George Rinhart/Getty Images Workers hung from a 3/8-inch steel cable in bosuns chairs as they worked with jackhammers, drills, and chisels and carried dynamite. To their credit, no one died during Mount Rushmores construction ââ¬â or the mountains destruction, as the case may be. A crew of four hundred worked on the sculpture. Facts About Borglum American Sculptor Gutzon Borglum. George Rinhart/Getty Images Art Background Gutzon Borglum studied in Paris and became friends with Auguste Rodin, who heavily influenced the young artist.à Borglum was the first American sculptor to have his work purchased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.à Stone Mountain Although Borglum had begun the sculpture on Stone Mountain, Georgia, he never finished it. He left on bad terms, and his work was cleared away from the mountain face. Another sculptor, Augustus Lukeman, was called in to finish the work.à Tempestuous Boss Borglumà was often away during the sculpting of Mount Rushmore. While it was being completed, he also made a sculpture of Thomas Paine for Paris and Woodrow Wilson for Poland. His son supervised the work on the mountain during his absence.à When he was on site, he was known for his mood swings and was continuously firing and rehiring people. His energy for the project and persistence, through many years of trials and issues with funding, eventually led to the projects completion. Unfortunately, he died seven months before it was done. His son completed it. Origin of the Mountain Name The mountain took its name ââ¬â incredibly ââ¬â from a New York attorney there on business who asked the name of the location in 1884 or 1885. A local man with the group looking at the mountain informed him that it didnt have a name but said, We will name it now, and name it Rushmore Peak, according to a letter from Charles Rushmore, the lawyer who was in the area for a client researching a mine.
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Human Resource Management Instrument Of Performance...
Globally, international performance in upper and lower management can be described as a process which allows an international organization or multi-national company to critique and consistently improve the individual and corporate performance in its relation to its pre-set goals and expectations. Performance appraisals are to be considered and designed to be a key human resource management instrument of performance management and can influence the execution of the business strategy within the organization or company. According to (Business Directory, 2016) The process by which a manager or consultant (1) examines and evaluates an employee s work behavior by comparing it with preset standards, (2) documents the results of the comparison, and (3) uses the results to provide feedback to the employee to show where improvements are needed and why. Performance appraisals are employed to determine who needs what training, and who will be promoted, demoted, retained, or fired. International performance appraisal can be regarded as a strategic process that helps to continuously improve global operations through their employees by matching up to certain pre-set objectives. However, we will find that while performance appraisals are important in terms of performance management, they can also often be viewed as problematic. The global manager is and can be generalized and considered as someone who has the capability, the ability and the experience of working for additional countriesShow MoreRelatedPerformance Appraisal Instruments : Performance Management1131 Words à |à 5 Pages Performance Appraisal Instruments Performance Management Human Resource Management Ã¢â¬Æ' Performance Appraisal Instruments (Performance Management) An overview According to Zweig (1991), performance appraisal instruments are tools that are used to measure the performance of employees in the workplace. 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BHP Billiton SWOT Analysis and Porter Five Force Analysis Free Essays
Introduction Aim: This essay aims to perform an analysis on the basis of integration of SWOT and Porterââ¬â¢s Five Forces frameworks. The key aim of this essay is to establish the reasons behind the success of BHP Billiton, which is ranked 11th in FTSE100 Company ranking, and thereby represent the implications and recommendations. Methodology: This paper is based on integration of the secondary research, which includes recent reports, books and journal articles. We will write a custom essay sample on BHP Billiton SWOT Analysis and Porter Five Force Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now Findings: The key findings indicate that BHP Billiton is a renowned diversified natural mineral resources company, with a distinctive market approach which gives the company a competitive edge over its peers. Being one of the worldââ¬â¢s top producers of iron ore and coal (thermal and metallurgical), the companyââ¬â¢s other products include aluminum, copper, manganese, nickel, silver, uranium and potash. BHP also has significant crude oil and natural gas holdings. BHP Billitonââ¬â¢s strong market presence, vast array of products, and long-term customer relationship implies that the company stands firm, despite the recent economic adverse events. (BHP Billiton) SWOT Analysis The objective of the SWOT analysis is to highlight the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats from the completed external and internal analysis. This SWOT analysis will translate conclusions into strategic actions so that the company can execute opportunities and defend against threats. Strengths BHP Billiton is a renowned natural resources company with a diversified portfolio of assets. The company is one of the largest suppliers of uranium, copper, silver, lead and aluminum. BHP is also a major producer of iron ore, metallurgical coal and manganese with operations in Australia, Brazil and South Africa. With eight operations across South Africa, Australia, the United States and South America, the companyââ¬â¢s Energy Coal section provides thermal coal for use in the electric power generation industry and general industrial concerns. BHP Billiton has delivered superior financial returns over the past decade by returning the capital to its investors through an aggressive share buyback program has returned capital. This gives the company ability to retain strong A credit rating, which assists in raising the capital in global market. The company offers a dedicated customer service for its product portfolio and at the same time pass along price increases to its customers as well. Weaknesses The company needs to improve the measures of gross margin and the long-term financial return on equity to be closer in line with its peers. BHP Billiton is currently facing several human resources issues impacting the operations. There is not enough qualified staff especially those trained in the mining sector. The company is weak in corporate communications as the staff is not proactive in responding to corporate enquiries using new media or making effective group communication with the investors and stakeholders. Opportunities BHP Billiton has several projects in pipeline to execute. The feasibility phase of 29 projects, which is likely to become a significant source of revenue, provided projects are executed in a cost-effective manner. The company can further work on strengthening its brand position by inducing innovative marketing solutions and using new media tools and customer outreach while marketing natural resources from the companyââ¬â¢s extensive assets. This means promoting the companyââ¬â¢s strengths and operations by creating brand awareness amongst its customers. After Kyoto Protocol becomes essential to abide, BHP Billiton committed to a reduction of 5% in greenhouse gas emissions. This program if managed properly can become a positive source for environmental responsibility and sustainable development. Being a significant source for energy commodities there are opportunities to further integrate into the supply chain and operations of transportation companies and utility companies to capture additional profit margin and lower costs further. Threats BHP Billiton is facing threat from continuously rising costs from suppliers, including energy, shipping and contract labour costs; inflation and labour staffing issues, which are restricting the company growth and development. The company is facing continuous political threats even in its home country, Australia, as the company has received an unfavourable ruling from the government regarding infrastructure access and the political dynamics of being on the ââ¬Ëright sideââ¬â¢ of issues cannot be underestimated. BHP Billiton severely relies upon Chinaââ¬â¢s demand for natural resources and any global slowdown in world markets could directly impact the sales and profitability of BHP. The company must work to fulfil demand yet remain financially disciplined to achieve increasing levels of profitability along with growth in shipments of natural resources commodities. PORTER FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS The Porter Five Forces Analysis offers a strategic view of the competitive external environment facing BHP Billiton. It enables the opportunity to assess the sources; strength and impact of the competitive forces and the affect each of these have on achieving company goals and objectives. Bargaining Power of Buyers Is moderate to low as the company can pass along any price increases due to strong demand and limited supply of natural resources in the market. There are not many substitutes available in large quantities, which reduce the bargaining power of buyers. The company focuses on retaining long-term customer relationships, thus diminishing the impact of price increase. The global macroeconomic environment is expected to stabilise before improving in the first half of the 2013 financial year. This is likely to maintain the companyââ¬â¢s position strong in the upcoming period. (Digital Look, 2012) Bargaining Power of Suppliers BHP Billiton is largely impacted by the bargaining power of suppliers in labour, materials, energy, shipping, and energy costs. As the company ensures reduced capacity through enhanced operations, the overall costs from suppliers have increased as well. In the above-mentioned categories, there are negligible substitutes available, which enhance the strong bargaining power of suppliers. Threat of New Entrants The threat of new entrants is relatively low. Due to dearth of natural resources there is very limited capacity and supply available in the global market, which restricts any new entrants in the market. Due to drop in commodity prices, the pace of demand of iron ore from China has slowed down by more than half. Demand will grow less, although still quite impressively and the producers, in general, are more prepared. These factors are likely to play significant barriers for the new entrants rather existing. (Bloomberg, 2012) Moreover, BHP Billiton, being the biggest mining company, holds enhanced infrastructure, latest technologies and trained staff to offer better quality products to the market. For the new entrants it will take a while to upgrade the level. In regard to geographic locations, BHP Billiton has best natural resource locations than new competitors entering the market. Several companies have made extensive moves across Arica, India and China for natural resources but the threat of these companies remains moderate to low. Threat of Substitutes The threat of substitutes is quite low, as there are not many substitutes for raw material products in the market. BHP Billiton is strongly placed, due to its broad, diversified portfolio of natural resource assets, to counter any threats of substitutes. Intensity of Existing Rivalry The rivalry among competing sellers is tough. This is due to the fact that several natural resources companies are competing for access to the reserves available across the world; along with retaining qualified staff; and building infrastructure, transportation and new development projects. On the reserves side, there is a geographic overlap in most areas worldwide, and to retain trained staff has augmented labour wages. However, despite the strong rivalry, the industry remains lucrative due to strong profit potential. As a result, the lowering natural prices are not likely to impact the industry players as they stand affirmative. Also, there have been takeover speculations in the natural resources industry. Mining titans BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto are to generate about $20bn in free cash flow, giving each substantial options for acquisitions and capital management. (Merril Lynch, 2011) In 2005, BHP Billiton purchased WMC Resources of Australia during a takeover battle. The company as a result has the largest uranium reserves in the world and secured a major source of future growth. REFERENCES FTSE All-Share Index Ranking (October 2012) http://www.stockchallenge.co.uk/ftse.php (Accessed 06/10/2012) Digital Look 2012. BHP looking for upturn in first half of 2013 (October 2012) http://www.digitallook.com/dl/news/story/20311406?username=ac=(Accessed 06/10/2012) Hoovers, BHP Billiton, (2012) http://www.hoovers.com/company-information/cs/company-profile.BHP_Billiton_Plc.7649c747268ff225.html (Accessed 06/10/2012) Business With The Wall Street Journal, Michael Bennet, The Australian 2011. BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto well funded for takeover programs, says Merrill Lynch (June 2011) http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/bhp-billiton-rio-tinto-well-funded-for-takeover-programs-says-merrill-lynch/story-e6frg9df-1226082744863 (Accessed 06/10/2012) Bloomberg 2012. BHP Says Pace of China Iron Ore Demand Has Slowed by Half (September 2012) http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-19/bhp-says-pace-of-china-iron-ore-demand-has-slowed-by-half.html (Accessed 06/10/2012) Pierre-Yves Benain (2007), BHP Billiton Presentation, International University in Geneva, http://pierre.benain.free.fr/MBA%20698%20BHP%20Billiton%20Presentation.pdf (Accessed 06/10/2012) Strategic Options, BHP Billiton, Jeremy L. Gordon (May 2007) http://pierre.benain.free.fr/MBA698%20BHP%20Billiton%20Report.pdf (Accessed 06/10/2012) How to cite BHP Billiton SWOT Analysis and Porter Five Force Analysis, Essay examples
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Stereotype and American President free essay sample
Today Society can be broken up into many groups by gender, race, or even traits. The world is made up of males and females, whites and blacks, and liberals and conservatives, all with a particular way of life. People are stereotyping others all the time without even noticing it, because of race or color. This trend in human thought is called stereotyping. A stereotype can be anything from women being considered better drivers or labeling French people as rude, but one thing that is in every stereotype is the designation of a group as a whole. Stereotypes are judgments based upon a personââ¬â¢s appearance or action; it can also be an over exaggerated view on a person. A stereotype can be also interpreted as a shortcut to a personââ¬â¢s character development. Gender and race have been categories used to stereotype a person in the past, whether they are negative or positive. We will write a custom essay sample on Stereotype and American President or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Stereotyping was present when To Kill a Mockingbird was based in the nineteen thirties and still is present in the twenty first century whether it is in society, schools, or the workplace. People get stereotyped because they are of a different race, lived in a poorer part of town, or have come from bad parents. Many stereotypes are influenced through two ways, media and society. This can end up with a person having racial profiling used against them and causing a negative impact on their life. People in their society tend to stereotype others because they come from different backgrounds then them. The most popular reason people get stereotyped in their community is because they are of a different race. An example of this would be when the nation received an African American president. Many people thought that racism was over because of this election. But according to Bill Wanlund, ââ¬Å"despite the re-election of Americaââ¬â¢s first African American president, recent surveys reveal that racism still exists among Americans, along with a general perception that race relations have not improved since Barrack Obama was first elected in 2008â⬠(ââ¬Å"Raceâ⬠2). Instead of this helping the nation with racism, it has made the nation worse in this area of stereotyping. Stereotyping can happen at any time in any place. However, the classroom is one of the places students of color are subjected to racial stereotypes by other students as well as by teachers. Racism is the belief that a particular group or race of people is better than all others because of the color of their skin. A classroom, a place of learning, is supposed to be a place where every student is able to concentrate on studying and receive an education. In the classroom, every student should have an equal opportunity to learn. Unfortunately, distractions take away from the learning process. When the topic of race comes up, students of color can quickly become the odds ones out. Teenagers who belong to a racial minority can suffer from racism on a daily basis. Much of this racism these teenagers are subjected to happens in school. There are many teaching aids and materials which assist in this, textbooks being one of them. If the textbook does in fact display stereotypes, this could lead to children stereotyping in a racist way. For this reason teachers need to take the responsibility of ensuring that while teaching or working on materials, the learners are not encouraged to take part in racism or stereotyping in anyway or form. If children are not exposed to racial slurs or context, they most likely will not use it towards other children of a different race. Gender equality is a major issue when it comes to the workplace where both men and women are involved. Women have experienced a historic situation of inequality in the social as well as professional aspects. Women are normally the ones that would take care of the children, do the household chores, and in rural areas; they would work in the field with the rest of the family. Just like how the Breaking Barriers article states, ââ¬Å"from an early age, girls are dressed in pink boys in blue. Boys are given trucks to play with while girls are offered dolls [..] girls are assigned household duties like washing the dishes and doing laundry, while boys are relegated to mowing the lawn and talking out the trashâ⬠(18). Gender inequality in the workplace is becoming less common; yet, gender is a factor that affects both men and women. Also, in Breaking Barriers article it says how ââ¬Å"females and males often choose career paths that are traditional for their genderâ⬠(18). Females are usually seen in jobs such as nursing or paralegals. Males are typically doing jobs that have to do with welding, carpentry, or engineering. Women could have the same capabilities and maybe even higherà qualifications than a men going for the same position, but because of gender inequality the male is more likely to get the job then the female. Men and women should be offered the same job opportunities no matter what gender they are; it should be based on their ability to complete the job. Stereotyping is present in the twenty first century whether it is in society, schools, or the workplace just like it was when To Kill a Mockingbird was written in the nineteen thirties. The effects of stereotyping can be devastating for the person receiving or giving it. As long as there are different races and cultures, stereotypes will never go away. This is because humans fear what they do not understand and thus, must categorize behavior in order to better understand the world around them. But if everyone stopped stereotyping others the world would be a healthier place to live.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Free Essays on Sierra Club
The Sierra Club and Their ââ¬Å"Actâ⬠to Help The Government and Environmental Policy. The purpose of the United States' public policy law is to implement restrictions in an effort to solve problems, which can be seen with the Clean Water Act of the Sierra Club. Public policy has also been employed to reform the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Although the United States government is noble in it's efforts to preserve the environment through these acts, the internal structure of public policy often retards these acts' effectiveness. This paper will explore the many ways in which factors such as horizontal implementation, divided government and other forms of public policy affect the environmental legislation involved with the aforementioned acts. The main factors involved with the Endangered Species Act of 1973 with the Sierra Club, involve horizontal implementation structure and divided government. Before one can discuss how these policies affect environmental legislation, a brief description of each must first be lucidly explained. When our government was founded, a system of checks and balances was implemented between the executive, judicial, and legislative branches to ensure that no one part of government gets too much power. Although this limits the power of any one person in government, it often slows down the ability of government because a consensus can be difficult with so many people working together. Another problem is that there are many sub governments affecting the legislation as well, such as interest groups like the Sierra Club, Administrative Agents like the Environmental Protection Agency, and Congressional Committees. Because these groups add to the total number of people working on the legislation, the or iginal noble ideology of making policy for the good of the nation is voided. Also because there are so many differences of opinion, few drastic changes are made, instead small incremental changes are made which t... Free Essays on Sierra Club Free Essays on Sierra Club The Government and Environmental Policy. The purpose of the United States' public policy law is to implement restrictions in an effort to solve problems, which can be seen with the Clean Water Act of the Sierra Club. Public policy has also been employed to reform the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Although the United States government is noble in it's efforts to preserve the environment through these acts, the internal structure of public policy often retards these acts' effectiveness. This paper will explore the many ways in which factors such as horizontal implementation, divided government and other forms of public policy affect the environmental legislation involved with the aforementioned acts. The main factors involved with the Endangered Species Act of 1973 with the Sierra Club, involve horizontal implementation structure and divided government. Before one can discuss how these policies affect environmental legislation, a brief description of each must first be lucidly explained. When our government was founded, a system of checks and balances was implemented between the executive, judicial, and legislative branches to ensure that no one part of government gets too much power. Although this limits the power of any one person in government, it often slows down the ability of government because a consensus can be difficult with so many people working together. Another problem is that there are many sub governments affecting the legislation as well, such as interest groups like the Sierra Club, Administrative Agents like the Environmental Protection Agency, and Congressional Committees. Because these groups add to the total number of people working on the legislation, the or iginal noble ideology of making policy for the good of the nation is voided. Also because there are so many differences of opinion, few drastic changes are made, instead small incremental changes are made which take up lots of time and retard the effectivenes... Free Essays on Sierra Club The Sierra Club and Their ââ¬Å"Actâ⬠to Help The Government and Environmental Policy. The purpose of the United States' public policy law is to implement restrictions in an effort to solve problems, which can be seen with the Clean Water Act of the Sierra Club. Public policy has also been employed to reform the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Although the United States government is noble in it's efforts to preserve the environment through these acts, the internal structure of public policy often retards these acts' effectiveness. This paper will explore the many ways in which factors such as horizontal implementation, divided government and other forms of public policy affect the environmental legislation involved with the aforementioned acts. The main factors involved with the Endangered Species Act of 1973 with the Sierra Club, involve horizontal implementation structure and divided government. Before one can discuss how these policies affect environmental legislation, a brief description of each must first be lucidly explained. When our government was founded, a system of checks and balances was implemented between the executive, judicial, and legislative branches to ensure that no one part of government gets too much power. Although this limits the power of any one person in government, it often slows down the ability of government because a consensus can be difficult with so many people working together. Another problem is that there are many sub governments affecting the legislation as well, such as interest groups like the Sierra Club, Administrative Agents like the Environmental Protection Agency, and Congressional Committees. Because these groups add to the total number of people working on the legislation, the or iginal noble ideology of making policy for the good of the nation is voided. Also because there are so many differences of opinion, few drastic changes are made, instead small incremental changes are made which t...
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Famous Quotes and Sayings About Sadness
Famous Quotes and Sayings About Sadness Sorrow is a part of our existence. Even the best among us cannot escape feeling sad at times. It is when you are feeling sad that you develop new insight about yourself. This is a select list of twenty sad quotations that moved me the most. They will ring true if you are feeling sad. African Proverb However long the night, the dawn will break. Cynthia Nelms Nobody really cares if youre miserable, so you might as well be happy. Dale Carnegie Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. Carl W. Buechner They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. W. Somerset Maugham It is salutary to train oneself to be no more affected by censure than by praise. David Borenstein Feelings are not supposed to be logical. Dangerous is the man who has rationalized his emotions. Sydney J. Harris Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. David Weatherford We enjoy warmth because we have been cold. We appreciate light because we have been in darkness. By the same token, we can experience joy because we have known sadness. Jean de La Fontaine Sadness flies away on the wings of time. Jim Rohn The walls we build around us to keep out the sadness also keep out the joy. David Grayson Looking back, I have this to regret, that too often when I loved, I did not say so. Helen Keller Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it. Carl Jung There are as many nights as days, and the one is just as long as the other in the years course. Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. William Shakespeare I had rather have a fool make me merry, than experience make me sad. Colette, The Last of Cheri I love my past. I love my present. Im not ashamed of what Ive had, and Im not sad because I have it no longer. Sidney Madwed You can choose to be happy or sad and whichever you choose that is what you get. No one is really responsible to make someone else happy, no matter what most people have been taught and accept as true. Roy Batty, Blade Runner All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain. Christina Georgina Rossetti Better by far you should forget and smile than that you should remember and be sad. R. W. Dale We ask God to forgive us for our evil thoughts and evil temper, but rarely, if ever ask Him to forgive us for our sadness. Brian Andreas She said she usually cried at least once each day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful and life was so short.
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