20th century arts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

20th century arts - Essay Example Both in quantity and quality, Picasso’s art – paintings, sculptures, etchings and ceramics – were revolutionary, introducing innovations and breaking established traditions in art. (Walther 2000, p. 7) For instance, it was he who founded cubism in art. It is for these reasons why Picasso became a tremendous influence in the subsequent generation of artists in various visual media in the modern time. The Beatles is often described as the most astonishing thing to happen in the world’s rock ‘n’ roll. Perhaps this is true with the hysteria this band bank elicited from its fans and with its defining role in the contemporary music industry. Also, their recording innovations and showmanship transformed the music scene into emotionally intense, media event. According to Wiley Lee Umphlett (2006), their influence â€Å"was strong enough to direct music toward a future of varied stylistic interpretations, as seen in the wave of other innovative†¦ groups that appeared, each striving to be more audacious than the others.† (p. 113) Just like The Beatles, succeeding performers would henceforth capitalize on the fruits of recording experimentations and in promotional gimmickry of antifashion or flamboyant dress that transformed the way the audience and the fans embraced music. In the history of world cinema – of what became of it, its far-reaching influence on the masses and society as a whole – it was Marlon Brando’s legacy that is mostly evident. He infused a new vitality to the theater, film and the entertainment industry. Starting from his starring role in the play, A Streetcar Named Desire, Marlon Brando went to represent our period’s portrait of the mass man – in effect changing our attitude and standards towards film, performance and entertainment. As with The Beatles, he epitomized the rebel icon which helped define not just the American but the world’s pop culture. (Marshall and Stilwell, p. 86) No other

An Introduction to the Cold War Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

An Introduction to the Cold War - Assignment Example Countries in Western Europe also had some really dangerous weapons, these weapons included long-range missiles, bombs, guns so on and so forth. The countries did not want to take any risk as they were all recovering from the damage caused by the Second World War and another war at that time would have literary wiped them off the map. To conclude it is very fair to say that the countries were afraid of each other because they had some really dangerous weapons which were already used in the Second World War, United States, for instance, had Atom Bombs which caused damage beyond repair in Japan. The world got divided into several different parts after the World Wars; these World Wars caused damage beyond repair. Cold war began after the end of the Second World War, the Second World War ended in the year 1945, The US and the Soviet Union were the ones directly involved in the cold war. The cold war was a situation in which countries did not fight directly; instead, they choose to fight indirectly with each other. â€Å"Do note that USSR in 1945 was Russia post-1917 and included all the various countries that now exist individually (Ukraine, Georgia etc) but after the war, they were part of this huge country up until the collapse of the Soviet Union (the other name for the USSR).† (What was the Cold War?) The US and the Soviet Union were the strongest countries once the Second World War ended and both wanted to dominate each other. To match each other stride for stride they started fighting indirectly. This indirect war had several repercussions upon the other countries and it also affected the US and the Soviet Union. Weapons weren’t used in this cold war, words were used as weapons and the main enemies involved in this war consistently tried to make each other look foolish. The leaders involved in the cold war consistently kept changing but the war still continued, this goes to show the desire to dominate each other and most of the wars occur because of this domination of one country over another.  Ã‚  

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka | Analysis

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka | Analysis The Metamorphosis written by a German man by the name of Franz Kafka is a prime example of a modernist story. The writing takes on many different aspects of the modern era, with topics on psychoanalysis; breaking down the components of Gregors thoughts, physics, and it also has some what of a political issue on what is the modern world. Gregor Samsas dilemma unfolds very abruptly. The first sentence of the story tells you that he had been changed into a monstrous verminous bug. The breakdown and psychoanalysis of Gregors realization that he is now a bug is very strange in the fact that he almost doesnt seem to think it is much of an issue. When he awakes to find himself in the form of a giant insect he wonders Whats happened to me but then his attention is drifted to the picture on the wall and from that to the loud audible rain coming from outside. At this point in his dilemma you would think that his mind would be full of insanity, but not Gregor Samsa he thinks of it as all foolishness and even considers going back to sleep. In going back to sleep Gregors problem isnt the horrid fact that hes now a bug it is instead that in this bug form it is hard for him to sleep on his side, which is the side that he is comfortable with. The dynamics of physics is added to the book in describing his now bug body. It describes his armor-hard back, his arched abdomen that is now divided into bow-like sections. It also goes on to tell about his many leg and how they compare to his massive bug body. All the descriptions give a vivid imagery of the physics of a horrid insect. In a modern world of money and politics where there is a breadwinner of the household Gregor realizes that he has missed his train making getting to work improbable. His income is the means by which the household stays a household. In the apartment with Gregor is his younger sister Grete, his father and his sick mother of which their names are not announced. In this political world Gregor Samsa is basically forced to work a job he hates at a business he hates even more with a terrible boss. After the collapse of Gregors fathers business Gregor had to take up the responsibility of paying off his fathers debts to his boss. Gregors father is very upset with the fact that he doesnt work and feels ashamed for not being the provider as he feels the father should be. Once the realization that Gregor as a giant insect can hardly have or hold down a job sets in the father again gets to step back into the lime light as the breadwinner and provider. Gregor begins to become useless to his family in his present form. The psychological effect that Gregor has on his family is one of fear and disgust. His younger sister Grete tries to help at first by feeding him everyday and showing sympathy but after a while it just become too much for Grete to handle. Gregors appearance does not help with his mothers health and this sometimes excites fits of violence in his father. In one instance his father become irate and pelts Gregor with fruit injuring and making it hard for him to walk. Grete and Gregors fathers feelings over the effect that Gregors mother, her only son that is now an insect is making her health worse and worse and leaves Grete and her father to resent Gregor. As days go on and pass he is more and more separated and isolated from his family because of what he has become. Sometimes the family would leave his door ajar to make it seem like he was closer and in some way in the other room with them. After the wounds given to Gregor by his father the family begins to neglect him. The family takes in three loggers and use the room Gregor is in as a storage space adding insult to injury as if he wasnt there and was already gone. Gregor stays in his room in crippling pain wasting away day by day wishing he had some way to express the feeling and emotions of being a bug and the things like how he wants to encourage his younger sister Gretes violin talents. Later in the story even more of his human interests coincide with the giant bug of a man that he has become. When the rhythm of the music being played on a violin in the parlor by Grete he becomes very excited. The music coming from the parlor sways him from his room and he cannot help but to dance his way into the parlor. When the loggers catch site of him the family cannot handle it any longer and in that is the breaking point for the family. After the incident in the parlor Grete conveys to the rest of the family that there is no longer a Gregor but now just an insect. She suggests that they give up on the i dea of Gregor ever being human again and with remorse they all agree. Later that night abandoned Gregor creeps back into his room where he dies with the mind of a human and the physical body of a disgusting insect. The book The Metamorphosis is a classic modernist/postmodernist story with examples found in all aspects of the genera and era. Conveying topics such as the mind of a man who to no ones reasoning wakes up as a bug, and the analysis of his psyche. Along with the modern world and its problems with debts, and the politics behind them. German man Franz Kafka was able to link the world of modernism/postmodernism as examples from the book being of psychoanalysis, physics, and politics through the life and death of a bug-man.

Living Machines, Constructed Wetlands and Sustainable Water Resources E

Living Machines, Constructed Wetlands and Sustainable Water Resources Thesis: Conventional waste treatment plants, Living Machines and constructed wetlands can all be used for water purification, but only living machines and constructed wetlands will provide the human race with a sustainable future. Introduction Our liquid planet glows like a soft blue sapphire in the hard edged darkness of space. There is nothing else like it in the solar system. It is because of water (Miller 311). - John Todd Water is the most important resource on the planet. Absolutely no life could exist with out the presence of water. Humans use water to cook, clean, bathe and drink. However it seems that humans as a race have extremely little respect for this resource. Humans continually pollute and damage the health of our aquatic ecosystems using irresponsible agricultural practices and improper disposal of our wastes. These issues must be examined because the way humans interact with the earth have strong moral and ethical implications. As the scarcity of potable water continues to increase the value of water will continue to rise. In many places throughout the world clean water sources cause mass immigration and emigration of people so adequate water resources can be accessed (Homer 73). This causes large-scale political and ethnic upheaval. In the future water shortages have the potential for invoking war between ethnic groups as well as nations. It is the best interest of the human race to pres erve and restore the health of our aquatic ecosystems since they have such large implications for human societies and cultures. One of the major sources of water pollution throughout the world is human sewage. Understanding how to properly dea... ...tific America, February, 1993. Kerezman, Jim. Personal Interview. Assistant Superintendent Goshen Utilities, 9-28-99. Lerner, Steve. Eco-Pioneers. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1998. Lyle, John Tillman. Regenerative Design for Sustainable Development. New York: John Wiley & Sons INC. 1994. Miller, G. Tyler. Living in the Environment: Principles, Connections, and Solutions. Pacific Grove: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, 2000. Schueler, Thomas. Design of Stormwater Wetland Systems: Guidelines for Creating Diverse and Effective Storm water Wetland in the mid-Atlantic Region. Washington D. C.: Anacostia Restoration Team, 1992. Todd, John and Jack Todd, Nancy. From Eco-Cities to Living Machines: Principles of Ecological Design. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 1994. Umble, Art. Concepts of Treatment of Municipal Wastewaters. Elkhart: City Press, 1999. Living Machines, Constructed Wetlands and Sustainable Water Resources E Living Machines, Constructed Wetlands and Sustainable Water Resources Thesis: Conventional waste treatment plants, Living Machines and constructed wetlands can all be used for water purification, but only living machines and constructed wetlands will provide the human race with a sustainable future. Introduction Our liquid planet glows like a soft blue sapphire in the hard edged darkness of space. There is nothing else like it in the solar system. It is because of water (Miller 311). - John Todd Water is the most important resource on the planet. Absolutely no life could exist with out the presence of water. Humans use water to cook, clean, bathe and drink. However it seems that humans as a race have extremely little respect for this resource. Humans continually pollute and damage the health of our aquatic ecosystems using irresponsible agricultural practices and improper disposal of our wastes. These issues must be examined because the way humans interact with the earth have strong moral and ethical implications. As the scarcity of potable water continues to increase the value of water will continue to rise. In many places throughout the world clean water sources cause mass immigration and emigration of people so adequate water resources can be accessed (Homer 73). This causes large-scale political and ethnic upheaval. In the future water shortages have the potential for invoking war between ethnic groups as well as nations. It is the best interest of the human race to pres erve and restore the health of our aquatic ecosystems since they have such large implications for human societies and cultures. One of the major sources of water pollution throughout the world is human sewage. Understanding how to properly dea... ...tific America, February, 1993. Kerezman, Jim. Personal Interview. Assistant Superintendent Goshen Utilities, 9-28-99. Lerner, Steve. Eco-Pioneers. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1998. Lyle, John Tillman. Regenerative Design for Sustainable Development. New York: John Wiley & Sons INC. 1994. Miller, G. Tyler. Living in the Environment: Principles, Connections, and Solutions. Pacific Grove: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company, 2000. Schueler, Thomas. Design of Stormwater Wetland Systems: Guidelines for Creating Diverse and Effective Storm water Wetland in the mid-Atlantic Region. Washington D. C.: Anacostia Restoration Team, 1992. Todd, John and Jack Todd, Nancy. From Eco-Cities to Living Machines: Principles of Ecological Design. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 1994. Umble, Art. Concepts of Treatment of Municipal Wastewaters. Elkhart: City Press, 1999.

Living Together

People all over the U. S struggle in deciding whether they should or should not move in together before marriage. I believe that especially young people moving in together before marriage cannot be helpful because they become unsatisfied with marriage; they can have a higher risk of divorce, and they can also have frequent arguments and disagreements. People can become unsatisfied with marriage because they are living together before marriage. Living together seems reasonable, but then marriage does not seem like it is anything special or anything that needs to happen.They become satisfied with what they share and compromise themselves to what they are already sharing. Marriage may not seem like a significant thing it may seem like an ordinary thing. In reality marriage is a very important and significant thing and it is something that should viewed as something special and not just seemed as something that does not matter. Moving in with someone is a very important commitment that i s being made with one another and should be very a well-thought decision to make.Unmarried people that move in together run a higher risk of divorce, because they have experienced what it is to be living with one another without commitments and actually knowing what it is to have an actual stable home. Unmarried people living together have different expectations of what it is to live together, such as: doing whatever they want and their stuff belongs to them, rather than in a marriage it is a thing called â€Å"team work† something that they have not experienced because they are so accustomed to what they already had coming and going as you please.In my personal opinion divorce is not an option and moving in with someone before marriage should be very carefully thought and discussed there is a lot in between may seem like there is not but there is. Frequent arguments and disagreements can start to occur. Men and women who have lived together before marriage are likely to beco me more disrespectful and verbally aggressive; they can become less supportive of one another also have more arguments about one another and also arguments about finances. They become to have lower levels of fairness and happiness with their relationship.Rather then if they would wait to move in together before marriage they would be a lot more capable to manage these situations and have something more stable and avoiding all these conflicts. Living together does not produce healthy and happier lives on the contrary. Love is built on maturity and security of knowing that your love is exclusive and permanent. Couples that are living together think that marriage is nothing and if they did get married it would be exactly the same, but what they don’t understand is what marriage does to a couple both positively and negatively.In my opinion the chance of divorce after living together are huge, and much higher than couples that have not lived together. Unmarried people living toget her say that they first want to see what it is to live with each other before that, well then they really weren’t committed to each other. In other words, you wanted to see what married life was going to be like before making a commitment of marriage. I believe that marriage adds a whole different dimension to your relationship and that people take that for granted.Moving in with someone before marriage should not be the determining factor of your relationship there is plenty of time to figure out if you are compatible with one another. Habits are hard to break and couples that live together get in to the habit of not willing to make a lifetime commitment to each other they have compromised with what they already have. So many problems that people struggle with all over the U. S could be avoided if people would really think it through and not just move in together before marriage.Disagreements would minimize a lot more because they would be on the same page. I am not saying w e are perfect but saying that it would be held with maturity. They would not be part of that statistics of divorce rates and be able to have a stable home. Also not becoming unsatisfied with your marriage but working together to produce a safe and productive environment. Maturity is held to be able to take this step and should not be disvalued.

The View of Scholar on the Kingdom of God

by David W. Baker. It is posted with permission from the author. I. Introduction The Kingdom of God has been one of the dominant topics of New Testament study in this century. The reason is obvious. Many scholars, both conservative and critical, regard the kingdom of God as â€Å"the central theme† of Jesus’ public proclamation. 1 In fact, a plethora of monographs has poured forth since Johannes Weiss and Albert Schweitzer made the case that Jesus’ teaching was profoundly Jewish, drenched in intense eschatological hope. This new view contended against nineteenth century views, which moralized the kingdom and made it palatable to modern taste by arguing it was merely an expression of ethical sensitivity raised up in the hearts of men. In contrast, Weiss and Schweitzer argued that Jesus’ claim for the kingdom anticipated God’s stark intervention in the very near future that would reshape the creation. The view became known as â€Å"consistent,† â€Å"thorough-going† or â€Å"imminent† eschatology.For Weiss, the kingdom was purely religious, not ethical; purely future, not present in any way. The Kingdom would be God’s final miracle with Jesus functioning in his current ministry as Messias designatus. 3 For Weiss, Jesus believed that he would one day become the Son of Man. At first, Jesus believed that this would occur during his lifetime, and later in his ministry, he anticipated it to come shortly after His death. 4 It is a heritage that Jesus believed he possessed, though he had not yet entered into it.For Schweitzer, Jesus expected the end to come at first in his ministry. As he sent out the twelve in mission (Matthew 10:23), he believed that before they finished their tour of the cities of Israel, the Son of Man would come and bring the kingdom. Its appearance would mean the end of the present age, and he would be transformed into the Son of Man. When the disciples returned from their mission with out this taking place, Jesus’ hopes of the end changed. It would take suffering, his own suffering, for the Kingdom to come. His death would bring the Kingdom. Though very different than Schweitzer, the oldest dispensationalists also stressed the Jewish roots of kingdom hope and placed its ultimate expression, as originally expressed through the hope of Israel’s scriptures, strictly in the future, what they referred to as the â€Å"kingdom of heaven. † Whatever relationship Jesus’ work in the present had to the kingdom, it was part of a previously unrevealed â€Å"mystery† that made its current expression something istinct from what had been promised to Israel and distinct from what was to come one day in fulfillment. This distinction between what would happen for Israel one day and what happens to the church today was a major element in the traditional dispensational distinction between Israel and the church in the plan of God. However, in the mid dle of this century, that clear distinction was somewhat blurred, though how it worked precisely was never agreed to or clearly set forth as four separate views were espoused. Unlike Schweitzer, these dispensationalists, saw no â€Å"error† or â€Å"change† in Jesus’ understanding, but like him they regarded the promise of the future to be so rooted in Jewish hope and so grand in its scale that nothing Jesus did currently could be seen as the fulfillment of that great promise of old. For both classical and revised dispensationalists, the mystery introduced into the kingdom program, conceived in various ways in this century, represented an â€Å"intercalation† in the kingdom program of God, distinct from the hope given to Israel.So throughout this century, the idea that kingdom hope was richly Jewish and pointed strongly, if not exclusively, to the future has been prominent in New Testament theology, whether conservative or not. 7 As we shall see, this emp hasis on the future form of the kingdom is well grounded in biblical hope. Other views also have emerged in this century. Two approaches were like the nineteenth century â€Å"romanticized† efforts to redefine the kingdom in ways moderns could embrace.So efforts were made to demyhtologize Jesus’ image of the apocalyptic Kingdom into either an existential claim for a crisis decision (Bultmann) or to turn kingdom language into a mere metaphorical symbol of hope and transformation (Wilder and the later Perrin). 8 Both of these attempts, representing more liberal readings of Scripture, tried to redeem the kingdom concept by redefining it. However, two other approaches seriously sought to engage the biblical text and assess the model Weiss and Schweitzer introduced.These two other main views of the kingdom in this century have reacted to the â€Å"strictly future† model of the kingdom in two very diverse ways. One view, associated with C. H. Dodd, opted for a reading that the Kingdom hope was totally realized in Jesus’ ministry. 9 This became known as â€Å"realized† eschatology. The other, rooted in the work of Werner Kummel, R. H. Fuller, and Joachim Jeremias, argued that the view of the kingdom had both present and future elements. 10 This became known as the â€Å"already/not yet† view of the kingdom or eschatology in the process of realization. † In fact, Jeremias in his conclusion to his volume on the parables closes this way, â€Å"In attempting to recover the original significance of the parables, one thing above all becomes evident: it is that all the parables of Jesus compel his hearers to come to a decision about his person and mission. For they all are full of ‘the secret of the Kingdom of God’ (Mark 4. 11), that is to say, the recognition of ‘an eschatology in the process of realization. The hour of fulfillment is come, that is the urgent note that sounds through them all. †11 Th is view was made famous in evangelical circles by George Ladd. 12 It is probably the most prominent view currently in New Testament circles at large, both conservative and critical. It is known as â€Å"inaugurated† eschatology. 13 The kingdom was inaugurated or was dawning in Jesus’ words and deeds, but its consummation was yet future. As we shall see, there are also good reasons why this view is held.I lay out this â€Å"map† of views at the start, because the issue of what the kingdom is, when it begins, and how it proceeds have been the key questions in this century. But treating the theology of the kingdom involves far more than these questions, as we hope to show and survey. In fact, I hope to consider a series of issues tied to the kingdom. They include: (1) Linguistics and the Kingdom in Jewish Expectation: A Static or Tensive Symbol; (2) Kingdom as Apocalyptic (Imminence; Remaking of This World Into The Age to Come or Renewing This World in This History or Both); (3) Kingdom: Present, Future, or Both? (4) Defining the Kingdom: â€Å"Dynamic†Ã¢â‚¬â€œGod’s Powerful Presence in Rule (God in Strength) or â€Å"Realm† (Church, Israel, World, or â€Å"Eschatological†) or All the Above; (5) The Kingdom and Ethics; (6) Beyond the Term Kingdom (Messiah, Spirit, Son of Man, Salvation, Gospel, Overcoming Satan and Sin); (7) Kingdom outside the Gospels (Why Is The Term Less Prevalent? ); and (8) So What? : The Kingdom and Today. So not only is the kingdom theme an important New Testament concept generating a rich history of discussion, it is also one of the most complex topics in Scripture. II.The Kingdom, Jesus, the Hebrew Scriptures, and Second Temple Jewish Kingdom Hope: A Static or Tensive Symbol? When Jesus used the expression â€Å"kingdom of God,† how much of its meaning can we assume he and his audience shared? This becomes an important question because the expression itself, surprisingly, is totally absent in the Hebrew Scriptures. 14 Here is a case where the study of an idea has to move past a study of the set phrase to get anywhere. The idea, however, is more frequent. 15 Yahweh is King (1 Sam 12:12; Ps. 24:10; Is. 33:22; Zeph. 3:15; Zech. 14:16-17). He rules over Israel (Exod. 15:18; Num. 23:21; Deut. 33:5; Is. 43:15).He rules over the earth or the creation (2 Kings 19:15; Is. 6:5; Jer. 46:18; Ps. 29:10; 47:2; 93; 96:10; 145:11, 13). He possesses a royal throne (Ps. 9:4; 45:6; 47:8; Is. 6:1; 66:1; Ezek 1:26). His reign is ongoing (Ps. 10:16; 146:10; Is. 24:23). Rule or kingship is His (Ps. 22:28). It is primarily God’s special relationship to Israel that is in view here as the Son of David is said to sit on Yahweh’s throne (1 Chron 17:14; 28:5; 29:23; 2 Chron 9:8; 13:8). When Israel was overrun by the nations, a longing existed that one day God would reestablish his rule on behalf of his people and show his comprehensive sovereignty to all humanity.After all, God had committed himself to David concerning a dynasty of duration (2 Sam. 7:13). It is here that the hope of a future kingdom of God, made not with hands, came to be contrasted with the kingdoms of men in Daniel 2 and 7. It is in the context of such expectation that Jesus used the term â€Å"kingdom of God. † What was hoped for was something that had existed in the past, but only as a mere glimpse of what had been promised–a rule to come involving total peace for God’s people. In sum, Kingdom hope by the time of the Babylonian captivity is driven forward by the vision of the fullness of God’s rule showing up one day.It was to this hope that Jesus preached. Such a hope had been nurtured in some circles of second temple Judaism. 16 The kingdom became linked (sometimes) to the messianic hope, but (always) to judgment of the nations, and vindication of the saints. Some Jewish documents, content with the current arrangement, do not reflect any such hope. The concept is expressed with some variety, but central to its expression is that God will assert his comprehensive rule (1 Enoch 9:4-5; 12:3; 25; 27:3; 81:3).God’s powerful presence will involve the removal of Satan’s influence (Assumption of Moses 7–10). He will destroy his enemies and free his people. These enemies are described in both earthly terms, like the Romans in Psalms of Solomon 17–18 and 2 Baruch 36-40, and in spiritual terms, where Belial stands among the evil forces who will be defeated (1QS 3–4). Often the coming of the kingdom was seen as preceded by a period of intense upheaval and tribulation (Sib. Or. 3:796-808; 2 Bar. 70:2-8; 4 Ezra 6:24; 9:1-12; 13:29-31; 1QM 12:9; 19:1-2). The cry of the prayer of 2 Macc. :24-29 summarizes well the hope of deliverance. The call was for God to deliver and vindicate his people. The text of Psalms of Solomon 17–18 gives the most detailed expression of messianic hope in all the texts, though the idea of kingdom in this period of Judaism did not always entail a messianic hope. 17 In fact, sometimes the Messiah is seen in very earthly terms as in the Psalms of Solomon, while in other texts, he clearly possesses a more transcendent power (1 Enoch 37–71) or has a seeming mix of the two (4 Ezra 7:28-29; 12:32-34; 13:26).Thus, associated with the consistent idea of God’s coming comprehensive and vindicating rule for his people is a complex and varying array of sub-themes tied to the kingdom’s coming. In Judaism, there was no unified view of the kingdom beyond the hope of God’s powerful coming and vindication. It is important to appreciate that it is into this somewhat confused backdrop that Jesus preached this hope. This complex background raises the question could Jesus use the phrase and really be understood? More importantly, in presenting his understanding of the idea represented in the kingdom could he assume an understanding of the term by hi s audience?Given the paucity of Old Testament use of the phrase and the variety of details attached to the hope within Judaism, Jesus needed to explain his usage in order to be clear. It is this complexity that raises the issue of whether Jesus’ use of the term was â€Å"static† (steno) or â€Å"tensive. † 18 Norman Perrin posed two options. Did Jesus use the term one way all the time with a fixed referent (steno)? Or was his use of the term something that he used with symbolic force but that could not be contained in one referent alone (tensive)?We opt for a third possibility, did Jesus’ use operate within a fixed parameter, which he filled with a variety of detail because of the richness of the base concept he was defining and detailing (tensive yet with a steno-like base)? 19 How one approaches Jesus’ terminology will impact how one reads it. Four factors favor this third option. First, the number of and variety within the gospel kingdom sayings placed alongside the paucity of older references in the Hebrew Scriptures suggests that Jesus is developing the concept along additional lines from what the Old Testament taught.However, Jesus’ respect for that revelation means that he is not altering the concept, but developing and complementing it. We hope to show the variety within his teaching that validates this point. Second, the very consistency of the fundamental image within Judaism means that a basic understanding of kingdom did exist on which Jesus could build. It is God’s kingdom and rule that is presented as the hope. The sheer number of texts that discuss judgment and vindication under this theme both in Scripture and in later Judaism show that Jesus works with a given understanding at its base.Reflection taking place within Second Temple Judaism represented attempts to put the hope of Scripture together in terms of the details. Jesus both accepts and rejects elements of these reflections. Third, this id ea that Jesus works with a rarely used Old Testament term and yet develops it using larger categories of scriptural teaching has precedent elsewhere in his own use. Jesus does the same type of thing with the Son of Man concept. That description of a human invested with eschatological authority appears in Daniel 7 (note the conceptual overlap with the kingdom theme–Dan. is a key kingdom text). Jesus takes this one image and uses it as a collection point for his christology. In the same way, Jesus takes the kingdom concept and uses it as a collection point for both soteriology and eschatology. 20 Fourth, the very confusion of detail within Judaism of Jesus’ time demanded that he take this type of approach to the concept. Here was a phrase that basically did not exist in the Old Testament. However, by Jesus’ time, multiple concepts swirled around it, even though its basic meaning was well established.The phrase clearly sought to summarize a major strand of Jewish h ope, yet it needed defining. Its absence in the Old Testament gave Jesus room to make it a helpful synthesizing concept. Its familiarity and importance within Judaism, because of the hope it encapsulated, made it a key term to nail down. The very diversity in its contemporary usage required that Jesus explain and develop the term. Thus, as we turn to Jesus’ use, we can expect that on the one hand he was referring to a hope his audience understood in its most basic terms, but something that also needed more detail and development.

THE UPS AND DOWNS OF BOOK PROMOTION

THE UPS AND DOWNS OF BOOK PROMOTION If you thought writing a book creates emotional upheaval, wait until you try to market it! Nope, people dont just step up and buy the book. You have to subtly, tastefully, skillfully remind them that this book is a tremendous investment without saying, Buy this book. Do you know how hard that is? It means chatting with people and mentioning youre an author, then having all these great one-liner answers to any questions they might ask . . . in hopes those answers convince them to buy. It means being available for signing events, sometimes driving hundreds of miles, only to sell eight books . . .and smiling through it all. It means answering every email with courtesy, cheerfulness, patience, and enthusiasm . . . EVERY email. It means being doubted It means giving away more books than you probably expected, and spending hundreds of dollars in postcards, posters, gas, business cards, website design and more, (much more if you self-publish) as you think maybe the next book will recoup that back for you . . . and hopefully much more. But it also means people gush over how the story resonated with them . . . and you almost cry at each and every time you hear a new person express their enjoyment. It means you dive into the next book, and the next, anxious to show how much better a writer you are now . . . because now you have readers asking when the next book comes out. It means you squeal when someone enjoys a phrase you spent hours perfecting, fighting so hard to make it look easy. There is no arrival in this journey of writing a book. Its always an uphill climb. About the time you have a momentous occasion, youre slapped with two stars instead of five, or some bookstore owner who says, Come back and see me once youve published a second book, or you send out review copies and the reviewer never delivers. About the time family and friends give you great responses, you learn of several who never find time to read it. And you learn to laugh about it . . . laugh about it ALL. You chose this path. Everyone told you it was difficult.Yet you travel it anyway, because seeing your precious stories born to the world is no different than having children. Once you birth those babies you have to commit to the good and the bad of the experience. Some are easier to raise than others, and all of them cause you angst sooner or later. But in the end, you love the heck out of them. Mainly because they are a part of you.

The Sea Inside Essays

The Sea Inside Essays The Sea Inside Paper The Sea Inside Paper The Sea Inside The film The Sea Inside shares the heart warming real life story of a man named Ramon Sampedro. At the young age of twenty-six he suffered an accident while diving into shallow waters of the ocean that left him a quadriplegic. Now at the age of fifty-four, Ramon must depend on his family to survive. His older brother Jose, Jose’s wife, Manuela and their son Javi do their best to take care of Ramon and make him feel loved. Although Ramon is extremely grateful to his family and friends for their help all these years, he has come to see his life as aggravating and unsatisfying. He wishes to die with the little dignity he has left in his life. However, Ramon’s family is dead set against the thought of assisted suicide and the laws of their country would incriminate anyone who helped Ramon end his on life. Through his friend Gene who works with a â€Å"Right to Die† organization, Ramon is introduced to Julia; a lawyer he hopes will help him persuade the courts to let him end his own life. Julia is dealing with her own degenerative disease of CADASIL syndrome, and Ramon hopes her condition will make her arguments more persuasive. Ramon finds himself falling in love with Julia, but he still remains convinced that the greatest gift to him would be an end to his life. In the end, the courts did not rule in his favor, but Ramon was able to end his life by drinking potassium cyanide. Many people around the world suffer their whole lives without being able to live life to the fullest due to degenerative diseases or in cases like Ramon, an accident has left them bedridden and in need of constant outside care. Almost all of the people in these cases have at some point contemplated the ideas of assisted suicide or euthanasia. Euthanasia can be described as the act or practice of ending the life of an individual suffering from a terminal illness by lethal injection or medical treatment. Similarly, assisted suicide can be broadly defined as the process in which a physician provides a competent, terminally ill patient with the proper means to elicit fatality, upon the patient’s request. In other words euthanasia is intentionally causing the death of a person to relieve them from suffering or pain and assisted suicide is helping the person kill him or herself. The main difference between euthanasia and assisted suicide is that in assisted suicide the patient is in complete control of the process that leads to death because he or she is the person who performs the act of suicide. The other person simply helps provide the means for carrying out the action. However, in euthanasia the patient is not causing his or her own death. I believe that the film, The Sea Inside, provides us with an example of assisted suicide. Ramon wanted it to be a case of euthanasia, but lost that battle when he took it to the courts. So he was left with no choice but to find the means to end his own life. With the help of his friends, he was able to get a hold of potassium cyanide and by drinking it he was able to take his own life. The argument supporting assisted suicide often begins with the amount of pain and suffering that could be saved from conditions that complement a slow, deteriorating and agonizing prognosis. Although many people support the idea of the patients right to choose their fate, others argue that assisted suicide shamefully degrades the value we put on life. But the question remains, when is it acceptable to support the patients’ wishes and when is it not? In the case of Larry McAfee, I believe that his wishes to end his life should have been granted. McAfee became a quadriplegic at a young age after a horrible motorcycle accident injured his C1 and C2 vertebrae. He lived in his quadriplegic condition for many years before deciding that he didn’t want to live life like this anymore. I believe that McAfee was completely competent enough to make that decision on his own after living in that state for so long and exhausting all the possibilities of living comfortably. In the end, he was granted the permission for assisted suicide, and although he chose not to end his life, I believe that the choice should have always been his to make. However, in cases similar to Dax Cowart I do not think that assisted suicide should be granted. Cowart was a twenty nine year old that suffered third degree burns from a car accident. Immediately after his accident he want to kill himself because he could not bare the pain anymore, but his mother overruled that decision and forced him to fight for his life. Although the recovery process was an unimaginably painful and grueling experience, Cowart fought through it and ended up becoming a lawyer, getting married and living a good life. In the initial moment of pain and suffering I do not think that one is capable or competent enough to make such decisions of ending his or her life. Therefore in cases like Cowarts’, I do not believe one should be granted such wishes, unless they have lived with the condition and have exhausted every possible way of living life to its full potential, like in the case of McAfee. The case of Ramon Sampedro from the film is quite similar to the case of Larry McAfee. Both Ramon and Larry were involved in accidents at a young age that left them bedridden quadriplegics. After living life in such conditions for many years, I believe that Ramon, like Larry, was competent enough to make the decision of whether or not he wanted to take his own life and be free from suffering. Overall, I feel as though there is no good or right answer to the assisted suicide debate because of the subjective nature of the topic. However, I do believe that everyone has a right to freely make choices upon being deemed â€Å"competent†. In cases like Larry Macafee and Ramon Sampedro from the film, the choice should be theirs since they are both clearly competent and have experienced life with their condition for many years. However, in cases such as Dax Cowart, competent decisions cannot be made immediately after such accidents because the person is in such pain that they are not thinking clearly. In the end, I believe the debate on assisted suicide is strictly personal and is dependent on many factors such as each person’s own morals, views on life and personal suffering experiences.

Apple Business Strategy Analysis

Samsung is on the second place with 7,5%. Resources of Apple. Potential for scale, experience and scope economies Strong know-how, RFS, RMS, new Product Development Programme, together with skilled human resources represents well integrated resources of the company. Diversified product line and high quality software and hardware allow sharing the resources of the company among existing businesses. This may create economies of scope, which saves costs. The size of the company, level of innovations, design and strong brand name gives to Apple competitive advantage. Company uses economies of scale, having achieved multi channel marketing and mostly cut the middleman and this is decreases the costs and increases the margin to Apple and consequently lower costs for the customers. Strengths of Apple. Core competencies Due to financial strength and inherited hardware and software company was able to extend product line and created a new market instead of displacing existing one. Apple relies on a new Product Development Program of Kaizen in the product offer keeping in this way high loyalty of the customers and meeting their needs. Core competence consists of constant innovations and creating added value for customers in terms of innovative design and technology Strategic fit of Apple Key success factors Core pompetence| Style| Size| Software| Download facility| Design| 5| 5| 5| 5| Quality| 5|   | 5|   | Capacity|   |   |   | 5| We observe strong fit between company’s core competencies and key success factors. Apple develops the program of constant improvement of the product as well as use experience which is resulted is extremely high performance and flourishing of the company. SWOT analysis for Apple | Opportunities;Time| | Short-medium term| Medium-long term| Strengths| Innovative Design | Strong brand Leading market position of digital market| Weaknesses| Simple immitation| Cannibalisation| Vision ; Mission Vision: * Keep leading position at the worldwide market * Focused on the future * Penetrate the markets where company can make big contribution to society Mission: * Design best personal computers * Innovations in digital music with (iPod, iTunes online stores) * Innovation of iPhone and iPad in terms of favorable market conditions * Design and develop own operating system, hardware, application software * Design new customer products with superior easy-of-use R;D Apple’s objectives Objectives: In a line with company’s mission presumably Apple is mostly focused on non-financial objectives such as constant improving of the product offer and quality of the devices, expanding of distribution network to reach more targeted customers * Innovation: shorten the innovation cycle to 12 months * Quality: Keizer mantra Apple Strate gy overview | Products-markets| Vertical Integration| Internationalization| Diversification| International Development| Expansion of distribution hannels creat best pc, portable digital music, mobile communication, iPad3| Vertical integration into retail combined with online store and iTunes Store| Growth shift outside US because of global demand for iPhone, iPads mainly to Asia Pacific, Europe, Japan Apple Stores expansion aimed internationally| increasing number of iOS devices – iPhones Macs iPads iPods| Mergers;Acquizition  | Security hardware and software for PCs and mobile devicesFlash memory| AuthenTecAnobit (Israel) |   -|   -| Strategic Alliances  | Market alliances in the supply chain and designn development|   -|   -|   -| In terms of Mergers ; Acquisitions company tends to have conservative trends. Company leaves to be more focused on innovative technologies to make their product unique. Apple Business Strategy Analysis Samsung is on the second place with 7,5%. Resources of Apple. Potential for scale, experience and scope economies Strong know-how, RFS, RMS, new Product Development Programme, together with skilled human resources represents well integrated resources of the company. Diversified product line and high quality software and hardware allow sharing the resources of the company among existing businesses. This may create economies of scope, which saves costs. The size of the company, level of innovations, design and strong brand name gives to Apple competitive advantage. Company uses economies of scale, having achieved multi channel marketing and mostly cut the middleman and this is decreases the costs and increases the margin to Apple and consequently lower costs for the customers. Strengths of Apple. Core competencies Due to financial strength and inherited hardware and software company was able to extend product line and created a new market instead of displacing existing one. Apple relies on a new Product Development Program of Kaizen in the product offer keeping in this way high loyalty of the customers and meeting their needs. Core competence consists of constant innovations and creating added value for customers in terms of innovative design and technology Strategic fit of Apple Key success factors Core pompetence| Style| Size| Software| Download facility| Design| 5| 5| 5| 5| Quality| 5|   | 5|   | Capacity|   |   |   | 5| We observe strong fit between company’s core competencies and key success factors. Apple develops the program of constant improvement of the product as well as use experience which is resulted is extremely high performance and flourishing of the company. SWOT analysis for Apple | Opportunities;Time| | Short-medium term| Medium-long term| Strengths| Innovative Design | Strong brand Leading market position of digital market| Weaknesses| Simple immitation| Cannibalisation| Vision ; Mission Vision: * Keep leading position at the worldwide market * Focused on the future * Penetrate the markets where company can make big contribution to society Mission: * Design best personal computers * Innovations in digital music with (iPod, iTunes online stores) * Innovation of iPhone and iPad in terms of favorable market conditions * Design and develop own operating system, hardware, application software * Design new customer products with superior easy-of-use R;D Apple’s objectives Objectives: In a line with company’s mission presumably Apple is mostly focused on non-financial objectives such as constant improving of the product offer and quality of the devices, expanding of distribution network to reach more targeted customers * Innovation: shorten the innovation cycle to 12 months * Quality: Keizer mantra Apple Strate gy overview | Products-markets| Vertical Integration| Internationalization| Diversification| International Development| Expansion of distribution hannels creat best pc, portable digital music, mobile communication, iPad3| Vertical integration into retail combined with online store and iTunes Store| Growth shift outside US because of global demand for iPhone, iPads mainly to Asia Pacific, Europe, Japan Apple Stores expansion aimed internationally| increasing number of iOS devices – iPhones Macs iPads iPods| Mergers;Acquizition  | Security hardware and software for PCs and mobile devicesFlash memory| AuthenTecAnobit (Israel) |   -|   -| Strategic Alliances  | Market alliances in the supply chain and designn development|   -|   -|   -| In terms of Mergers ; Acquisitions company tends to have conservative trends. Company leaves to be more focused on innovative technologies to make their product unique.

American History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 10

American History - Essay Example omacy, the text talks about the differences between the people of the North and those of the South, which we are told that can be traced back in the early settlements of the English in the North American region. The writers says that the societies that were found in the two colonies developed in a very different way that any visitor from Europe saw the difference and did not fail to give comments about it. The Southern region was nearly whole rural and also agricultural with very few towns. In addition, the region was under the political and social dominance of the great planters of tobacco possessed large tracts of land together with several slaves (p259). On the other hand, the people of the North were definitely farmers too, even though they practiced it in small scale. It was mainly done on subsistence basis by the family members or a few slaves or servants were used by those who were most successful or affluent. Contrary to the Southern region, the Northern region has three large cities called Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, as well as several other beautiful and lively towns that were large as compared to all those that were found in the Southern region, except for Charleston. Nevertheless, the cultural and social norms, from Pennsylvania north were characterized by businessmen that ranged from the merchant princes who were involved in the seaborne trade to artisans, struggling middlemen and retailers who purchased and sold goods produced from the farms together with some other goods that were produced within the cities or even overseas (p260). The Northerners were capitalists, whereby the basis of its economy was on the fact that everything was valued in terms of money, and its tradition became more and more based on wealth acquisition. The people of the south who were mainly farmers and considered themselves as aristocrat who had the duty to look after a society that had its basis on individual relationships regarded the people of the North as being

Performance Criteria Identified By Hillgren And Morse Essay

Performance Criteria Identified By Hillgren And Morse - Essay Example Hillgren and Morse (1998) established that similarities exist among high performing organizations. Their view of such organizations is based on financial accomplishments, employee motivation as well as service delivery and customer satisfaction. This paper critically compares the performance of Abercrombie and Fitch against the four performance criteria identified by Hillgren and Morse (1998). The multinational company deals with designer clothes. The paper highlights some practical examples related to the concepts, ideas and insights from their article titled â€Å"high performing organizations†. High Performing Organizations Direction is one of the basic elements identified by Hillgren and Morse (1998). Leaders need to ensure that the subordinates understand the organization’s principles. These are fundamental to its existence. The visionary leadership of Abercrombie and Fitch promotes a sense of purpose in the organization. The leaders understand the company’s vision and apply their skills to entrench creativity among the workers. Sensitization of employees regarding the achievement of the organization’s vision and core values is done regularly through staff meetings and weekly forums, which ensures that all team players in the various departments understand their roles in enhancing success. The sensitization approach corresponds to Hillgren and Morse’s assertion of â€Å"a clearly articulated and frequently communicated vision† (p 9), which is significant for high performing organizations. Behaviourization of values as proposed by Hillgren and Morse gives Abercrombie and Fitch a unique characteristic that enhances customer satisfaction. One of the core values is to ensure customer focused service delivery that is based on their needs rather than the company’s interests. Workplace diversity promotes strong interpersonal relationships among the staff, which helps in building talents and encouraging creativity. Exceptional contribution among staff is acknowledged and rewarded. The leaders act as role models of the organizational behaviour. Integrity is upheld and words correspond to the actions of staff members. The value metrics highlighted by Hillgren and Morse have been adopted by Abercrombie and Fitch. They help in establishing the level of customer satisfaction, which signifies the level of collaboration among staff. Value metrics are also significant in determining whether the organizational values have been upheld in service delivery to customers. Bhatt (2002) observed that â€Å"anything that gets measured gets done† (p 28). Abercrombie and Fitch’s value metrics are focused on the priority areas that are likely to be affected by the dynamics of the operating environment. For example, customers’ feedback offers a basis for the assessment of the level of satisfaction. After interacting with the company’s employees, the customers are given a chance to confi dentially rate and comment the quality of service offered to them. The management is able to determine the areas that require improvements as well as those that require reinforcement through assessing positive and negative feedbacks from consumers. The suggestion box also provides an opportunity to assess the organization’s leadership as well as the priority areas that need further consideration. Performance measurement is significant in assessing progress and planning for future improvements (Edwards et al. 2007). It helps in determining staff awareness regarding the direction of the organization. Abercrombie and F

International Bond and Currency Markets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

International Bond and Currency Markets - Essay Example In precise, it also helps in pre-determining the fluctuation of the currency appreciation or depreciation in respect to countries and influenced cross border trade prospects by a substantial extent. It is noteworthy that the volatility of exchange rate, in the short run and also in the long run depends on multiple factors such as the demand and supply prospects in the financial market. Arguably, forecasting in the long run and short run is considered as quite difficult, which can be explained with reference to the Theory of Speculation in the market and the collective belief of the investors about the future prospects (Andreou & Zombanakis, 2006). Based on these underpinnings about the importance of forecasting exchange rate fluctuations, this essay will aim at emphasising the challenges commonly witnessed by analysts when obtaining the intended forecasting results in the short run as well as in the long run performance of the exchange rate. Challenges in Forecasting Exchange Rate in Short Run Arguably, in the short run, the forecasting of exchange rate is nearly impossible. Forecasts, which are delivered by the macroeconomic factors, are generally less accurate than the results obtained through Random Walk theory application. In general, the Random Walk Theory presumes that market changes, in terms of stock-prices changes, are unpredictable. Even though in the long run forecasting, the theory has been considered by many financial investors and analysts, the short run implications of Random Walk theory remains under considerable scrutiny. It is in this context that no claims to substantiate a perfect Random Walk model in the short-run stock price fluctuation were firmly made. On the contrary, arguments centralised on the theory that forecasting stock-prices changes in the short run is challenging owing to the fact that in the short run, the volatility of the exchange rate is less but the speed of convergence based on Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) is slower than that recorded in the long run (Babazadeh & Farrokhnejad, 2012). Correspondingly, it has been argued that the level of exchange rate in the short run is not very predictable, but is also not entirely unpredictable, as the volatility of the currency and the correlation between them vary with time and hence, forecasting becomes challenging (Mitra, 2008). The current account balances, real income of the people, interest rates, the preferences of the consumers regarding the domestic or foreign products, are all signified as market fundamentals influence the stock-prices in the short run, as per the conceptual framework of PPP. As explained by Taylor & Taylor (2004: 135), â€Å"PPP is a disarmingly simple theory that holds that the nominal exchange rate between two currencies should be equal to the ratio of aggregate price levels between the two countries, so that a unit of currency of one country will have the same purchasing power in a foreign country†. Subsequently, it is the m onetary policies, the fiscal policies and the market speculations affect the forecasting decisions in the short run. These factors are important when considering the financial transfers with regards to the

Human Services Program and Profession Unit 4 discussion Research Paper

Human Services Program and Profession Unit 4 discussion - Research Paper Example It gives me a relentless rejuvenation to impact my intervention. Education is a very key aspect of human life. It may be argued that it is not a basic need, but reasoning beyond common knowledge depicts the contrary. Education is a shield that needs to be fortified at all levels (Grey, Hudson & Nelly, 2001). I have taken it upon myself to further my studies in order to participate in the high accolades of disseminating education to the world society. Guided with education, the world is poised for greater heights. Studies show that well over 90 percent of the world invention came as a result of education in one form or the other. We live in a civilized society thanks to education. We are currently marveling at the fruits of the efforts put in by our forerunners towards enhancing education. We are obliged to take the mantle. I shall not relent until I play my role in human

Measuring customers satisfaction Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Measuring customers satisfaction - Research Paper Example The importance of customer satisfaction is that loyal customers are more likely to come back to the same business and this improves the profitability of the company due to increased sales which comes from loyal customers (Tarasi, Bolton, Gustafasson and Walker, 2012). They are likely to come back even if the price is lower on the competitor’s side due to satisfaction they get from their supplier. The loyal customers are likely to recommend to their friends about the satisfaction they get from their supplier hence increasing the customer base of a business leading to realization of more profits. Acquiring a new customer is 20 times harder than maintaining a customer hence its prudent and costly for a business to look into ways of acquiring new customers (Tunner, 2012). Measuring customer satisfaction using American Customer Satisfaction Model (ACSM) This is a cause and effect model with indices for drivers of satisfaction on the left side, satisfaction in the centre and outcome resulting from satisfaction on the right side and both are weighed with several questions within a model. The drivers of customer satisfaction include customer expectation together with perceived quality and perceived values, which are important aspects in measuring customer satisfaction. The questions assesscustomer evaluations of the determinants of each index which are reported on 0 to 100 scales depending on various ways the customer responds in relation to goods and services from the company. The figure below represents the ACSI Model Adopted from http://www.theacsi.org/the-american-customer-satisfaction-index From the above figure, it can be deduced that ACSI has three important component that determine its measurements and they are perceived quality, perceived value and customer expectations. Customer expectation measures customer anticipation of the quality of a company’s product and services and it represents prior consumption experience and a forecast of company’s ability to deliver high quality products in future. The customer’s complaints are measured as a percentage of the respondents who complain and this is used to gauge the various responses in customer satisfaction index (Angelova and Zekiri, 2011). Measuring customer expectation using King County Method This plan establishes three cross cutting guidelines that relate the customer satisfaction, need and the need to improve services in response to customers. This method id service oriented, results focused and innovative in the way that learning from experiences ambles seeking of new results. This method of customer satisfaction focuses on customers, employees and managers hence informing opportunities for general improvements (King County, 2013). The following diagram represents King County Process of Customer Satisfaction measurement Adopted from www.kingcounty.gov Types of industries There are various types of industries on the type of services they provide to their customers over time. Primary industries are concerned with reproduction of goods and are nature oriented industry since they require very little human effort. Manufacturing industries are engaged in transforming raw materials into finished products by the used of machines combined with manpower in a highly specialized environment. Service industries are co

Components of Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Components of - Research Proposal Example Components of Research Proposal This paper, thus, aims to discuss research proposals and their components, in order to equip the reader with at least an idea pertaining to how to write a research proposal. Discussion A research proposal defined is a statement of intent to explore a subject or topic, and following is a detailed plan for this exploration. A student seeks the help of more experienced people, such as their faculty professors for supervision of their research, as well as guidance. For this reason, the students must ensure that the research proposal they prepare is useful, as well as acceptable, and feasible, for every person involved (Kolb, 2008). One can consider a researcher to be a voyager on the path to discovery, where the proposal is the star that guides their journey and help them avoid fault turns. A few essential sections are needed in every research proposal in order to be complete, other than the title page, abstract and table of contents. These are: Introduction When one embarks on the task of exploring something, it always helps to start with a vague yet much needed description of what the research question actually is. This description is a brief statement of the reason for interest in the topic, and the general nature of the concern. There are several possibilities for the themes, which the introduction can have (Ethridge, 2004). It may describe a person or coalition, which raises an issue for the researcher such as change in law affecting taxation in municipalities. Other than this, the topic may just be one that is a subject of interest of concern for the researcher, for which there is not enough information available. Finally, the topic may be related to something that provokes the researchers’ curiosity, like wanting to know what the conflicting opinions of citizens about health policies in a certain area (Ethridge, 2004). The proposal must go on to turn this general concept into a specific research question, which reveals the authors area of focus and th e hypothesis it plans to test (Kolb, 2008). The question should be one that challenges or explores a concept, and one that the researcher cannot yet answer. One way of narrowing the proposal down to one such question is to first draft a proposal with several questions, and then specify the line of inquiry. Objectives & Rationale In the objectives, the researcher states their aims from the research, and the specific and general goals it has. The rationale of the proposal (Jansen, 1997) brings forward the problems one can expect from the research, and any limitations that the researchers will face during it. It discusses these while keeping in focus the main purpose for wanting to conduct the research, the ‘rationale.’ Research Statement Here, the researcher will state the research question mentioned above, with brevity and clarity. They will also mention their intentions in the research, and the achievements they have planned. The thesis of the paper, which will follow l ater on, will revolve around this question. Theoretical Framework (Literature Review) The literature review of the paper will consist of a heavy amount of research, from formal and scholarly sources. This will consist of information both theoretical and empirical. This information will be required to present an argument in light of the question, whether by purporting it or opposing it, in order to build a clearer understanding of the topic (Ethridge, 2004).

Measuring customers satisfaction Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Measuring customers satisfaction - Research Paper Example The importance of customer satisfaction is that loyal customers are more likely to come back to the same business and this improves the profitability of the company due to increased sales which comes from loyal customers (Tarasi, Bolton, Gustafasson and Walker, 2012). They are likely to come back even if the price is lower on the competitor’s side due to satisfaction they get from their supplier. The loyal customers are likely to recommend to their friends about the satisfaction they get from their supplier hence increasing the customer base of a business leading to realization of more profits. Acquiring a new customer is 20 times harder than maintaining a customer hence its prudent and costly for a business to look into ways of acquiring new customers (Tunner, 2012). Measuring customer satisfaction using American Customer Satisfaction Model (ACSM) This is a cause and effect model with indices for drivers of satisfaction on the left side, satisfaction in the centre and outcome resulting from satisfaction on the right side and both are weighed with several questions within a model. The drivers of customer satisfaction include customer expectation together with perceived quality and perceived values, which are important aspects in measuring customer satisfaction. The questions assesscustomer evaluations of the determinants of each index which are reported on 0 to 100 scales depending on various ways the customer responds in relation to goods and services from the company. The figure below represents the ACSI Model Adopted from http://www.theacsi.org/the-american-customer-satisfaction-index From the above figure, it can be deduced that ACSI has three important component that determine its measurements and they are perceived quality, perceived value and customer expectations. Customer expectation measures customer anticipation of the quality of a company’s product and services and it represents prior consumption experience and a forecast of company’s ability to deliver high quality products in future. The customer’s complaints are measured as a percentage of the respondents who complain and this is used to gauge the various responses in customer satisfaction index (Angelova and Zekiri, 2011). Measuring customer expectation using King County Method This plan establishes three cross cutting guidelines that relate the customer satisfaction, need and the need to improve services in response to customers. This method id service oriented, results focused and innovative in the way that learning from experiences ambles seeking of new results. This method of customer satisfaction focuses on customers, employees and managers hence informing opportunities for general improvements (King County, 2013). The following diagram represents King County Process of Customer Satisfaction measurement Adopted from www.kingcounty.gov Types of industries There are various types of industries on the type of services they provide to their customers over time. Primary industries are concerned with reproduction of goods and are nature oriented industry since they require very little human effort. Manufacturing industries are engaged in transforming raw materials into finished products by the used of machines combined with manpower in a highly specialized environment. Service industries are co

Learning and Sleep Essay Example for Free

Learning and Sleep Essay Title: 234 Provide support for sleep Level: 2 Credit Value: 2 GLH 13 Learning Outcomes The learner will; Assessment Criteria The learner can; 1. Understand the importance of sleep 1Explain how sleep contributes to an individual’s well-being 2Identify reasons why an individual may find it hard to sleep 3Describe the possible short-term and long-term effects on an individual who is unable to sleep well 2. Be able to establish conditions suitable for sleep 1 Describe conditions likely to be suitable for sleep 2 Minimise aspects of the environment likely to make sleep difficult for an individual. 3 Adjust own behaviour to contribute to a restful environment 4 Describe actions to take if the behaviour or movement of others hinders an individual’s ability to sleep 3. Be able to assist an individual to sleep 1Explain the importance of a holistic approach to assisting sleep 2Encourage the individual to communicate the support they need to sleep 3Assist the individual to find a position for sleep consistent with their plan of care 4Support the individual to use aids for sleep in ways that reflect the plan of care and follow agreed ways of working 4. BE ABLE TO MONITOR SLEEP 1ESTABLISH WITH THE INDIVIDUAL. and others how sleep will be monitored 2Record agreed observations relating to the individual’s sleep and the assistance given 5. Know how to access information and advice about difficulties with sleep 1Describe situations in which additional information or assistance about sleep would be needed 2Explain how to access additional information and assistance Additional information An individual is someone requiring care or support Agreed ways of working will include policies and procedures where these exist Others may include: †¢family †¢friends †¢advocates †¢line manager †¢health professionals. †¢others who are important to the individual’s well-being Unit aim (s) This unit is aimed at those working in a wide range of settings. It provides the learner with the knowledge and skills required to establish conditions suitable for sleep and support the individual to sleep. Assessment requirements specified by a sector or regulatory body (if appropriate) This unit must be assessed in accordance with Skills for Care and Developments QCF Assessment Principles. Learning outcomes 2, 3 and 4 must be assessed in a real work environment. Details of the relationship of the unit and relevant national occupational standards HSC216.

Job Description: Operations Manager in Echocardiography Lab

Job Description: Operations Manager in Echocardiography Lab Based on the week 1 final project paper, the position for this assignment is the Operations Manager for the Echocardiography Lab. Job descriptions identify the key tasks, duties, and responsibilities of a position. They detail what, why, where, and how responsibilities are done (Flynn, Mathis, Jackson, Langan, 2006, p. 102). The general summary within a job description is a brief statement of general responsibilities and components that make the position unique from others. The essential functions section of a description is a set of precise statements specifying major tasks, duties, and responsibilities performed. The job specifications portion of the job description details specific qualifications needed to perform the job acceptably. This would include details such as required skills, education, experience, and physical requirements of the role (Flynn, Mathis, Jackson, Langan, 2006, p. 102). Standard and complete job descriptions can drive performance standards and competencies. They provide a platform to demonstrate what the position accomplishes and how performance is measured in relation to key areas of the job description. In fact, JCAHO standards require healthcare organizations to combine the job description with performance and competency assessment (Flynn, Mathis, Jackson, Langan, 2006, p. 103). If employees are familiar with the expectations, performance measurement, and required competencies, there is a far greater opportunity for satisfactory performance. The job description should be tailored to the specific need a position satisfies. The tasks to be performed and the outcome expected are pivotal. Critical competencies should include those that are integral for the job. They should reflect the ability to produce specific or minimum outcomes in a safe, timely manner (Patton, 2013, p 143). This ensures that every employee in the same role has a standard description and identical expectations. Each employee can then be gauged against those requirements. Position Overview: This role is responsible for coordinating the operations of allied health staff in the outpatient, inpatient setting for the echocardiography lab within the Division of Cardiology. The employee will manage the department in alignment institutional and division missions, visions, and objectives. This person will serves as a key member of the leadership team with a primary focus on planning and implementation of policies and systems. In addition, the position will require facilitates project management while leading a multidisciplinary team including financial analysis, problem solving, and team collaboration. This team member will regulate staffing in accordance with fluctuating workload. The position requires project management in support of institutional and divisional projects, staff recruitment, policy implementation, and serves as a primary resource for issues and communications. This person will performs duties independently and initiate sound judgment in handling a variety of management issues. Organizational Relationships: The hierarchy of this position is pretty straight forward. The operations manager reports to the Cardiology Medical Director and an Operations Administrator. Thus, there is physician and administrative oversight. Ultimately, the position would be directly responsible for several supervisors, including the managers of the outreach practice, education and quality, the program chair of the echocardiography school, the lab, and the administration office for the department. The position falls within the Cardiology Department, which is part of the Department of Medicine of the organization. Ultimately, Jeffrey Bolton, the Chief Administrative Officer and Dr. John Noseworthy, the President and CEO of Mayo Clinic are at the top of the organizational structure (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2013). Candidates will be required to work cooperatively with department/division leadership and multidisciplinary teams, supervisors, administrators, physicians, and personnel both w ithin and outside the organization. There is a number of staff that would directly report to this manager, including sonographers, nurses, administrative personnel, and various supervisors. Educational Requirements: The preferred educational background for this position is a Masters degree in Business or Healthcare field and two years healthcare management experience. Required Skills: Candidates should have strong leadership, team building, and problem-solving skills as well as demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with multiple disciplines. The candidate must have excellent communication, organizational and human relation skills. This position requires excellent decision-making and judgment capabilities. Candidates must have broad based knowledge of office support and computer systems along with software knowledge and installation. In addition, the candidate must have business acumen with experience with accounting practices for budgetary responsibilities. This job is unique based on the limited number of comparable echocardiography labs in the area and even the nation. There are certainly other management positions both within and outside the organization, but very few would provide the ability to manage such a world-class department. In addition, this position would provide a solid networking opportunity. The manager would have the opportunity to work alongside physicians and administrators, gain professional experience, and showcase skills. This position may be a on-the-job interview for future positions in the leadership hierarchy. The course text indicates that effective compensation programs should focus on four primary objectives, including legal compliance, cost effectiveness for the organization, equity for staff, and performance enhancement for the organization (Flynn et al., 2006). There are two components of any compensation package, direct and indirect. Direct compensation is essentially the pay for work achieved. Indirect compensation entails compensating employees with a tangible value without receiving monetary gain. Examples of indirect compensation are benefits such as health insurance, vacation pay, or retirement pension, which are provided to employees regardless of performance (Flynn et al., 2006). There must be a balance between compensation and cost that ensures competitiveness and rewards employees for experience, knowledge, skills, and performance. The organization should provide a comprehensive compensation package in order to recruit, retain, and reward performance. According to Hariharan (2014), a well-planned approach to recruitment will improve a healthcare organization’s leverage in recruiting the most talented individuals. Treating those employees with respect for the duration of their tenure will ensure retention. By recognizing what is important to a potential employee and offering competitive compensation and personal development opportunities, the organization can attract the best candidates and use the newfound intellectual capital to enhance organizational performance. Based on benchmarking similar positions within the organization and comparable academic institutions, the compensation package should be at the 50th percentile of the market. The salary range would be dependent on education, experience, and internal tenure. Preference for the position should be provided internally before the position is posted outside the organization. References: Flynn, W., Mathis, R. L, Jackson, J. H., Langan, P. L. (2006). HealthcareHuman Resource Management [VitalSouce bookshelf version] Retrieved fromhttp://digitalbookshelf.southuniversity.edu/books/9781133614395/id/ch03 Hariharan, Selena,M.D., M.H.S.A. (2014). Physician recruitment and retention: A physicians perspective.Physician Executive,40(2), 44-6, 48. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1518114883?accountid=87314 Patton, M. T. (2013). Avoiding Common Job Description Mistakes.AMT Events,30(3), 142-144.

Stages of Human Nature Essay -- Essays Papers

"the more profoundly a man thinks, the more tenderly he feels, the more highly he rates himself, the greater the distance grows between him and the other animals- the more he appears as the genius among the animals-the closer he will get to the true nature of the world and to a knowledge of it: this he does in fact do through science." ~Friedrich Nietzsche1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stages of Human Nature Throughout history, human beings have encountered many changes that have altered the way society has viewed them. The cruel hands of history, which constantly hold the foundation of the mind and the spirit, have shaped human nature. Knowledge is the tool by which these hands create different views and mold new beliefs. Human nature is the product of history and is always at the mercy of the fruits of knowledge, such as new philosophies and scientific discoveries. These ideologies have redefined social institutions and changed their methods of dealing with the individual person through new understanding. History has the power to enhance the nature of human beings, and to destroy it. In some instances, the good of the individual is stressed, while at other times, the individual nature is lost in the shuffle of politics, governments, and the selfish interests of the strong. Although human nature has been dragged through the mud of the past, it still gains from history a sense of itself and its environment. Human nature has gone through several different stages in the course of history, and it has been defined and redefined through different social institutions and selfish individuals in power. Karl Jaspers in a discussion on the philosopher Friedrich... ...ated and changed throughout history. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Works Cited 1 Friedrich Nietzsche, Human, All Too Human, trans. R.J. Hollingdale (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1986),27 2 Karl Jaspers, Nietzsche: An Introduction to the Understanding of his Philosophical Activity, trans. Charles F. Wallraff and Frederick J. Schmitz (Tuscon: The University of Arizona Press, 1965), 231 3 Perry M. Rogers, Aspects of Western Civilization Problems and Sources in History, Third Edition, Volume II. (Uppersaddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1992), 23 4 Rogers, Aspects of Western Civilization, 80 5 Rogers, Aspects of Western Civilization, 141 6 Rogers, Aspects of Western Civilization, 540 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

U-2 Incident :: essays research papers

On May 1, 1960, two weeks prior to the United States-Soviet Summit in Paris, a U-2 high altitude reconnaissance airplane was shot down while flying a spy mission over the Soviet Union. The Eisenhower administration was forced to own up to the mission, and Khrushchev canceled the Paris Summit. As a result, The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union continued for over 30 years. Shortly after the end of World War II, United States and the Soviet Union emerged as the two superpowers. These two former wartime allies found themselves locked in a struggle that came to be known as the Cold War. Eisenhower saw the Cold War in stark moral terms: "This is a war of light against darkness, freedom against slavery, Godliness against atheism." But the President refused to undertake an effort to "roll back" Soviet gains in the years after WW II. Early in his administration he embraced a policy of containment as the cornerstone of his administration's Soviet policy. Eisenhower rejected the notion of a "fortress America" isolated from the rest of the world, safe behind its nuclear shield. He believed that active US engagement in world affairs was the best means of presenting the promise of democracy to nations susceptible to the encroachment of Soviet-sponsored communism. Additionally, Eisenhower maintained that dialogue between the US and the Soviet Union was crucial to the security of the entire globe, even if, in the process, each side was adding to its pile of nuclear weapons. The death of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, two months into the Eisenhower presidency, gave rise to hopes of a more flexible, accommodating Soviet leadership. In 1953, Eisenhower delivered a speech underscoring the potential human cost of the Cold War to both sides. Hoping to strike a more compatible tone with Georgi Malenkov, Stalin's successor, Eisenhower suggested the Soviets cease their brazen expansion of territory and influence in exchange for American cooperation and goodwill. The Soviets responded coolly to the speech, especially to the US's insistence on free elections for German unification, self-determination for Eastern Europe, and a Korean armistice. The two sides would not meet face-to-face until the Geneva Summit of 1955. At the Summit, Eisenhower asserted, "I came to Geneva because I believe mankind longs for freedom from war and the rumors of war. I came here because my lasting faith in the decent instincts and good sense of the people who populate this world of ours." In this spirit of good will, Eisenhower presented the Soviets with his Open Skies proposal. In it he proposed that each side provide full descriptions of all their military facilities and allow for aerial inspections to insure the information was correct. The Soviets rejected the proposal.

Bad Trip

It is a critical issue that drug war is becoming a source of the destruction in America. Joel Miller talks about this in his book â€Å"Bad Trip† his argumentative thoughts and laments about this drug-war mentality. In this essay, there are three points that Miller wants to emphasize: the war against drugs did not make America better; rather it produces a greater problem to the States.Secondly, this drug prohibition will not end drug use as he mentioned but will only force the consumer to break the law just to get what they want and lastly, he argued about human or individual rights of these people who became addicted to drugs and that there is a way to get rid of this mess. Miller state in his tome that it has been clearly seen that crime has increased, corruption is more obvious, because of their intervention on drugs prohibition.It shows that the State has been put under anxiety in which, its privacy has been taken away since people who are involved in this drug gang were e ndangered, and hundreds of American people has been put to jail, law enforcement has been militarized and constitutional liberties has been break off until even lives has been risked because of this intercession. Sheriff Arpaio’s private, named Howie has been mentioned in his book which he talks about the growing militarization of law enforcement.Because of this fight against wars on drugs the government uses its power to grab control over the property, liberty and worst, the lives of the Americans. Miller note down that the policy against narcotics was far from the simple attempt to get rid of it, and it comes with strings attached that in the end, these strings tightens around the necks of American which suffers their liberty and lives. Talking about this prohibition that triggers the American to do what they want, as mentioned in Millers Bad trip, there has been a very big violent gang crime that happened in L.A. in this violence is responsible for more than half of the ci ty’s murders. And drug trade is the so much related t why this gang violence happens. As a result of prohibiting drugs, the government drives the business into the criminal underground, where violent people who are ready and willing to disobey the law get involved wherein they step into the drug trade at all levels. Such levels include the growing of poppies and coca to produce heroin and cocaine, there is the protection for growers, they protect the traffickers or they are the ones who do the trafficking.The thing is, this has been less given attention and address by the administration. With this, they levy taxes for their services and in this manner; they fund their attacks against America’s interest. Survey says, that gangster possess great handiness, that’s why they are the ones who flourish in the black market. And finally, Miller proposes a solution in order for the Americans to be pulled out of this mess. And this is by advocating drug legalization which will effectively stop this problem instead of allowing people to use drugs or abuse it.In Miller’s opinion, this conclusion demands that America accept some form of drug legalization that will effectively get rid of the drug-control industry but depend on an organization of cultural controls, mainly family and faith in order to dissuade drug abuse. Miller stresses that what the State does, society quits doing. And in his conclusion, so long that drug-war mentality instills in us, we’ll be defenseless and incapable of stopping the liberty- smothering growth of government, and so that the government still have to learn from it before the nation ultimately suffers.

Pro-divorce Law Essay

People who say that divorce is not advisable for the Philippines forget or ignore our history. The ethno-linguistic communities of the Philippine archipelago before the Spanish conquest practiced divorce. We had a divorce law from 1917 until August 30, 1950, when the Civil Code of 1950 took effect. The latter law prohibited divorce for Filipinos, and the prohibition continues under the present Family Code. But Muslim Filipinos have always practiced divorce, which Philippine law allowed. Today, divorce continues to be available to Muslim Filipinos under the Code of Muslim Personal Law of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 1083), promulgated in 1977. In the 16th Congress, Gabriela, a women’s party-list group pursuing the passage of a divorce bill. Since the previous congress did not pass House Bill No. 1799, â€Å"An Act Introducing Divorce in the Philippines,† the said party-list group will again file the said bill. According to the group, â€Å"couples must have the option to avail of remedies that will pave the way for the attainment of their full human development and self-fulfillment and the protection of their human rights.† Upon the other hand, Marikina Rep. Teodoro has filed House Bill No. 37, â€Å"An Act Providing for the Protection of Marriage as an Inviolable Social Institution and the Family as the Foundation of the Nation and for other Purposes.† According to the proponent, ‘it ensures that absolute divorce remains unacceptable in the Philippines legal system, and maintains that legal separation can be availed of by spouses in troubled marriage, as provided under the Family Code, so they live independently of each other but without the right to remarry other persons.† Issue: Whether or not the Philippines is ready for a divorce law. Yes, the Philippines is ready for a divorce law. Some think that we do not need a divorce law because the Family Code, which applies to non-Muslim Filipinos, already provides for the termination of marriages through â€Å"annulment.† This argument misleads. Annulment is a legal term that has a specific meaning. The remedy of annulment is based on specified grounds that occurred at the time of the celebration of the marriage, such as lack of parental consent and vitiated consent (as when a person married another at gunpoint). The remedy of annulment expires, and the defect may actually be cured by ratification through free and voluntary cohabitation. When people speak of â€Å"annulment† as a means of terminating a marriage, they actually  refer to the remedy under Article 36 of the Family Code. Article 36 declares that a marriage is void from the beginning when one or both spouses are psychologically incapacitated to perform the essential marital obligations. Under Article 36, a court does not terminate a marriage but only declares it void. One must prove psychological incapacity by presenting evidence on three essential elements of the condition: that it already existed before the marriage; that it is grave or serious; and that it is incurable. To do this, one usually needs the help of a psychiatrist or psychologist to testify as an expert witness. But what if the marriage worked in the first ten years, but later the parties drifted apart for some reason or another? What if the other spouse was violent, unfaithful, indolent, or an alcoholic or a drug addict? What if one spouse abandoned the family? These may not be used for â€Å"annulment,† or for a marriage to be declared void under Article 36, unless it can be proved that these are manifestations of psychological incapacity that predated the marriage. A divorce law will provide a remedy that Article 36 does not. Divorce does not concern itself with validity or invalidity of a marriage. It terminates a marriage based on a ground that occurred during the marriage, which makes the marital relationship no longer tenable, regardless of the spouse’s psychological constitution. A divorce law will provide a straightforward remedy to a marital failure. It will benefit Filipinos wherever they are. A PETITION FOR DIVORCE MAY BE FILED ON ANY OF THE FOLLOWING GROUNDS: (1) THE PETITIONER HAS BEEN SEPARATED DE FACTO FROM HIS OR HER SPOUSE FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS AT THE TIME OF THE FILING OF THE PETITION AND RECONCILIATION IS HIGHLY IMPROBABLE; (2) THE PETITIONER HAS BEEN LEGALLY SEPARATED FROM HIS OR HER SPOUSE FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS AT THE TIME OF THE FILING OF THE PETITION AND RECONCILIATION IS HIGHLY IMPROBABLE; (3) WHEN ANY OF THE GROUNDS FOR LEGAL SEPARATION UNDER PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS ARTICLE HAS CAUSED THE IRREPARABLE BREAKDOWN OF THE MARRIAGE; (4) WHEN ONE OR BOTH SPOUSES ARE PSYCHOLOGICALLY INCAPACITATED TO COMPLY WITH THE ESSENTIAL MARITAL OBLIGATIONS; (5) WHEN THE SPOUSES SUFFER FROM IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES THAT HAVE CAUSED THE IRREPARABLE BREAKDOWN OF THE MARRIAGE.† Even when couples start out well in their marriage, political, economical and social realities take their toll on their relationship. Some are not prepared to handle the intricacies of the married life. For a large number of women, the inequalities and violence in marriage negate its ideals as the embodiment of love, care and safety and erode the bases upon which a marriage is founded. The marital relations facilitate the commission of violence and perpetuate their oppression. Official figures in 2009 showed that nineteen women were victims of marital violence everyday. Among the different forms of violence and abuse against women committed in 2009, wife battery ranked highest at 6,783 or 72% according to the Philippine National Police (PNP). The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) likewise recorded marital violence as highest among different forms of violence against owmen at 1,933. Previous reports of the PNP about three of ten perpetrators of violence against women were husbands of the victims. Husbands accounted for 28 percent of the violence against women crimes. Given these realities, couples must have the option to avail of remedies that will pave the way for the attainment of their full human development and self-fulfillment and the protection of their human rights. Existing laws are not enough to guarantee and protect these rights. To quote the Women’s Legal Bureau, Inc., a legal resource NGO for women: â€Å"The present laws relating to separation of couples and termination of marriage are inadequate to respond to the myriad causes of failed marriages. Particularly, the remedies of declaration of nullity and annulment do not cover the problems that occur during the existence of marriage. Legal separation, on the other hand, while covering problems during marriage, does not put an end to marriage.† â€Å"Though both divorce and a declaration of nullity of a marriage allow the spouses to remarry, the two remedies differ in concept and basis. A declaration of nullity presupposes that the marriage is valid from the beginning and the court declares its non-existence†¦ Beyond [the] grounds specified [in the law], declaration of nullity is not possible.† â€Å"In annulment, the marriage of the parties is declared defective from the beginning, albeit it is considered valid until annulled. The defect can be used to nullify the marriage within a specified period but the same may be ignored and the marriage becomes perfectly valid after the lapse of that period, or the defect may be cured through some act. The defect relates to the time of the celebration of the marriage and has nothing to do with circumstances occurring after the marriage is celebrated. In annulment, the marriage is legally cancelled, and the man and woman are restored to their single status.† â€Å"Since August 3, 1988, couples have been given a way out of failed marriages through Article 36 of the Family Code†¦ The remedy provides under Article 36 is declaration of nullity of the marriage. The article voids a marriage where one party is â€Å"psychologically incapacitated† to comply with the essentials of marital obligations. Consistent with the concept of void marriages (where the remedy is declaration of nullity), the law requires that the incapacity must have existed at the time of the celebration of the marriage†¦ In practice, Article 36 has become a form of divorce, as valid marriages are declared void every day in the guise of â€Å"psychological incapacity.† The innumerable Article 36 cases brought to trial courts is an indication of the elasticity of Article 36 to accommodate the needs of many couples desiring to terminate their marriages. It is proof that divorce is needed in the Philippines. Article 36 provides a remedy only for spouses who can prove â€Å"psychological incapacity†. The concept certainly cannot accommodate all cases where divorce would be necessary. What we need is a divorce law that defines clearly and unequivocally the grounds and terms for terminating a marriage. That law will put an end to the creative efforts played daily in courtrooms across the country to accommodate a wide range of  cases in order to prove â€Å"psychological incapacity.† (Women’s Legal Bureau, Inc., The Relevance of Divorce in the Philippines, 1998) Divorce does not concern itself with validity or invalidity of a marriage. It terminates a marriage based on a ground that occurred during the marriage, which makes the marital relationship no longer tenable, regardless of the spouse’s psychological constitution. A divorce law will provide a straightforward remedy to a marital failure. It will benefit Filipinos wherever they are. â€Å"The law should only give people a choice, to be exercised according to their own personal beliefs.†- Luzviminda Ilagan The Catholic Church need not worry. The institutions of marriage and the family have survived to this day, as they will survive a Philippine divorce law. We are a secular state, where no religious group has the right to define law or policy for the entire population. There is not one but a plurality of beliefs in Philippine society. The law should only give people a choice, to be exercised according to their own personal beliefs. Therefore, to be set free from an unhappy marriage is to allow citizens of any country to form their own lives. Freedom is something we all want. To allow a country to set the law for such freedoms is nothing more than an act which is incomprehensible. There are record amounts of unhappy marriages in the Philippines. Every day, Filipinos get married, bear children, separate and get into other relationships, regardless of what the law says. The lack of a divorce law for non-Muslim Filipinos complicates further the marital and family problems of many Filipinos. Our government has clearly failed to respond to their needs. If the country wants to move forward, it has to confront the realities of marital and family life of Filipinos in the Philippines and abroad. It has to pass a divorce law now.