Definition of Order Number 1

In the days of the Russian Revolution of 1917, an order went out to the countrys military which almost destroyed its ability to fight, and made a takeover by socialist extremists more likely. This was Order Number One, and it had only good intentions. The February Revolution Russia had experienced strikes and protests many times before 1917. They had once, in 1905, experienced an attempted revolution too. But in those days the military had stood with the government and crushed the rebels; in 1917, as a series of strikes convulsed the political orders and showed how a Tsarist government that was dated, autocratic and would rather fail than reform had lost support, the Russian military came out in favour of the rebellion. The soldiers whose mutiny helped turn strikes in Petrograd into Russia’s February Revolution in 1917 initially came onto the streets, where they drank, fraternized and sometimes held key defensive points. The soldiers began to swell the newly appearing councils - the soviets - and allowed the situation to become so bad for the Tsar that he agreed to abdicate. A new government would take over. The Problem of the Military The Provisional Government, made up of old Duma members, wanted the troops to return to their barracks and regain some form of order, because having thousands of armed people wandering around out of control was deeply worrying to a group of liberals who feared a socialist takeover. However, the troops were afraid they’d be punished if they resumed their old duties. They wanted a guarantee of their safety and, doubting the integrity of the Provisional Government, turned to the other major government force which was now nominally in charge of Russia: the Petrograd Soviet. This body, led by socialist intellectuals and comprised of a large body of soldiers, was the dominant power on the street. Russia might have had a Provisional Government, but it actually had a dual government, and the Petrograd Soviet was the other half. Order Number One Sympathetic to the soldiers, the Soviet produced Order Number 1 to protect them. This listed soldier’s demands, gave the conditions for their return to barracks, and set out a new military regime: soldiers were responsible to their own democratic committees, not appointed officers; the military was to follow the orders of the Soviet, and only follow the Provisional Government as long as the Soviet agreed; soldiers had equal rights with citizens when off duty and didn’t even have to salute. These measures were hugely popular with the soldiers and were widely taken up. Chaos Soldiers flocked to carry out Order Number One. Some tried to decide strategy by committee, murdered unpopular officers, and threatened the command. Military discipline broke down and destroyed the ability of huge numbers in the military to operate. This might not have been a major problem were it not for two things: the Russian military was attempting to fight World War One, and their soldiers owed more allegiance to the socialists, and increasingly the extreme socialists, than the liberals. The result was an army which could not be called upon when the Bolsheviks gained power later in the year.

William Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter - 1871 Words

Journal Entry 1 Romanticism in this book is described through the author as he thought out Hester Prynne’s story. He describes that some great techniques for romantic themes are light and setting. Hawthorne describes that details â€Å"are so spiritualized by the unusual light, that they seem to lose their actual substance, and become things of intellect† (Hawthorne, 35). This then leads him to describe that, â€Å"when one removes further from the actual, and nearer to the imaginative† (Hawthorne, 36), the romance writer can actually, â€Å"dream strange things and make them look like truth†(Hawthorne, 36). The purpose of this chapter is to serve basically as a preface. It describes information about the author himself, leading him to describe when he had found the Scarlet Letter â€Å"A† in the Salem Custom House. Along with that, he had found historical sheets for which the story is based upon. â€Å"This I now opened and had the satisfaction to find, recorde d by the old Surveyor’s pen, a reasonably complete explanation of the whole affair†(Hawthorne, 31). Hawthorne also describes throughout this chapter his connection to his ancestors. In my opinion, he has doubtful feelings about the role they play in his life. He states that his ancestors were, dim and dusky.., they are grave, bearded, sable cloaked, and steel crowned(Hawthorne, 7). To Hawthorne, his ancestors would find him unsuccessful because he is a writer of storybooks(Hawthorne, 8). However, though he has different opinions fromShow MoreRelated Scarlet Critique Essay870 Words   |  4 Pages The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne was written in 1850. It was based on the Puritans of the 1600s, which were revived in Hawthornes era. Hawthorne descended from Puritan heritage and harbored a sense of guilt and hatred for their way of life. He used many themes and literary techniques in The Scarlet Letter including symbolism and irony. He emphasized the individuals role in the community and the role of women in society. Hawthorne used romanticism as opposed to the classical correctnessRead MoreRomanticism And Nathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter1461 Words   |  6 PagesRomanticism and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter Literary Romanticism was a literary movement that started in Europe toward the late 1700’s and reached America in the early 19th century just in time for its peak years. Originally sparked by the Industrial Revolution, it was a response to the political and social conditions of the time as well as a challenge to the new type of scientific exploration and rationalization of everyday life. Writing that was grand and inspired great feeling andRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne And John Proctor From The Crucible By Arthur Miller1585 Words   |  7 PagesIndividuality versus Society Since the beginning of society, people have battled over personal liberty and individual rights versus the duty of the government to regulate society. Nathaniel Hawthorne and Arthur Miller both wrote about these conflicts. Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and John Proctor from The Crucible by Arthur Miller shared the same attributes and feelings towards things that affected their reputations. Both characters from the novels lived in the PuritanRead MoreEssay Nathaniel Hawthorne1152 Words   |  5 Pagesas The Scarlet Letter and The Minster Black Veil. He usually satirized them as evildoers and sin creators, not holy and Christ zealous as they described themselves. 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College Argumentative Essay Example For Students

College Argumentative Essay many things but among those lessons I learn how to cooperate with others; learn theimportance of respecting others: and learned joy of accomplishments. When I was practicing in class I notice there was a person who outstand others bythe skill and agility, but when we all practice together that same person destroyed thewhole unity and ruined the group excercise. I realized that society is just like this, suchthat one can have outstanding knowledge but does not know how to cooperate with otherthan his knowledge useless. I think that is why colleges stresses on the unity as well asindivialality at same time. Respect was one of the important element in our lives. When we respect otherswe automatically raise our selves and earn respects as well. However respecting senorbelt was easy but respecting lower ranked belt was very hard.I could not respect thembecause I look down on them. When I did not show respect to my junior belts they didnot respect me because I was younger than them and I was kid. But as I start to learn torespect juniors as well as Most important thing I learn from martial art was joy of accomplishment. When Ipractice 4 years and took the black belt test, I became 1st degree black belt. It was thejoy that no one can understand as long as they experience by themselves. It was nothingbut just a belt, but the joy was greater than any thing. after 1st degree black belt my class became more harsh and vigor. However I overcame these adversity and became 2nd Dandegree black belt because I knew the joy when I accomplish my goal. Whenever I wanted to quite and lie down and relaxe du ring the classes I reminded about the accomoplisment. Now I do not quiet no matter how hard and how tire I become because I know when Ifinally accomplish my goal it is going to be the best feeling that ever exist. This is why I loved Tang Soo Do and practiced for 7 years. Because it was notjust excercise but it was where I was molded and incribed. Reason for mentioning aboutthese lesson was that martial art was the place where I was made and now I want yourcollege to be my next school that become the place of where I fully made..My interest inwriting this essay is to attract attention, wanting to depart from convention and not belimited to the constraints of length or brevity. The college essay is the only part in myapplication that I truly can express and present myself to show who Dae Keun Kwin reallyis. Consequently I have decided to be somewhat unique and have added my self portraitas well as a picture of me practicing Tang Soo Do*. My life greatly reflects on the finest qualities inherent on my martial art training. Itinscribed me in such way that one can not truly depict me with out mentioning about TangSoo Do. Martial art trainig was not just exercise for me, but was my hobby and mymentor. From martial art I learnCategory: English

What is zen Essay Example For Students

What is zen Essay Zen is simply a way for us to awaken from our slumber. It is just a way for us to focus on our present experience, living in the moment. It is simply paying attention to our actual experiences as they are: a breeze brushing through your hair, pristine water wetting your lips, a stomach ache, the laughter of children playing—seeing what you see, feeling what you feel. It is being aware of all the colors, forms, sights, sounds, touch, taste, and smell of your surroundings. Zen is entering into things as they are, beyond concept and cosmology, beyond separation and duality, beyond personality, and into the intimacy and richness of this whole moment. † Zen is the day to day and moment to moment method of focusing on the moment. It has spanned two thousand, six hundred years from India to China to Japan to right here. Zen is a philosophy designed to accomplish the Buddhist goal of seeing the world just as it is, that is, without the mind being cluttered by thoughts and feelings. We will write a custom essay on What is zen specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now This attitude is called â€Å"no-mind†, a state of consciousness where thoughts come and go without leaving any trace. Unlike other forms of Buddhism, Zen holds that such freedom of mind cannot be attained by gradual practice but must come through direct and immediate insight. Zen students prepare themselves to be receptive to such answers by sitting in meditation (Japanese za-zen) while they simply observe, without thought, whatever may be happening. The Zen belief is that nature cannot be grasped by any system of fixed definitions or classifications. Reality is the world as it is, apart from any thoughts an individual has about it. One of the original teachers of Zen, Shakyamuni Buddha said to his students one day in a talk that has been recorded as the Satipatthana sutta, the Discourse on Mindfulness, that, â€Å"There is but one way to liberation and that is mindfulness. Mindfulness is paying attention with the entire body and mind to the present experience. It is going past hesitation and reference points, past confusion and fabrication and into our actual lives. Liberation means freedom from the need to hide from our world and ourselves; it means finding out who and what this really is, what this world really is. † â€Å"Buddhadharma, the Teaching of Awakening, is the practice of sitting, walking, breathing, working and speaking with mindfulness and insight. As such Buddhadharma is not a religion, a dogma, a skill, a science, an art, or a philosophy. It is the presentation of our own natures. Zen is just this. † True Zen consists of sitting quietly in the correct posture. It is not a special state, it is the normal state: silent, peaceful, without agitation. Zen means to put the mind at rest and to concentrate the mind and body. There is no purpose, no seeking to gain something, no special effort or imagination. It is not knowledge to be grasped by the brain. It is solely a practice that is the true gate to happiness, peace and freedom. History Historically, it could be said that Zen originated from the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. Around 500 BC he was born a Sakyan prince. At the age of twenty-nine, deeply troubled by the suffering he saw around him, he renounced his privileged life, his wife and child, and went out among the shamans to seek enlightenment. After six years of struggle, he finally understood the meaning of enlightenment under the legendary Bo tree. After this he was recognized as a Buddha (meaning â€Å"The Awakened One†). He taught for about forty years and then died in Oudh, India. Zen, itself, originated from a blend between the Mahayana form of Buddhism originating in India and the Chinese philosophy of Taoism. Zen is the Japanese (Chan, which is often used interchangeably with Zen is the Chinese way of pronouncing dhayna) way of pronouncing the Sanskrit term dhyana, which can be roughly defined as meditation. Dhyana denotes specifically the state of consciousness of a Buddha, one whose mind is free from the assumption that the distinct individuality of oneself and other things is real. † The school of Zen Buddhism begins with a Buddhist monk named Bodhidharma, an Indian Buddhist monk who arrived in China in 520. Bodhidharma began the Lanka School which later became known as Ch’an (Zen). The doctrine of the Lanka School mainly concerned itself with the study of the mind. The members of the Lanka School were noted for the ascetic life, living faraway from communities. Not until the ninth century, did the name Ch’an (Zen) become adopted. Early Zen became associated with enlightenment rather than physical seated meditation. Around 1200 AD, Ch’an spread from China to Japan where it became to be known as Zen. There are two main sects of Zen. They are Rinzai Zen and Soto Zen. The Soto sect seems to put more emphasis on the discipline of zazen, while the Rinzai sect puts more emphasis on koans (meditation problems). However, Zazen and koans are both integral parts of both sects. Japanese who had studied in China brought the two main sects of Zen to Japan. The Buddhist monk Eisai introduced Rinzai Zen in 1191, and the Buddhist monk Dogen introduced Soto Zen in 1227. Both sects continue to flourish in Japan. Meditation Meditation is an integral part of Zen and almost all other eastern philosophies. Meditation was first introduced by the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, a religion dating back 2,500 years. The purpose of meditation is to attain wisdom and achieve enlightenment, which is the ultimate goal of Zen. Meditation is a method for coordinating all body functions, helping individual parts achieve their highest peak performance. It is an effective means for uncovering supreme wisdom and physical capabilities that are hidden within the mind. Meditation can improve physical and mental health. It is a free medicine and does not require any prescription drugs. Meditation can transform the weak into the strong, the dull mind into the alert and aware mind, and an ordinary person into a dignified human being. It is an art that is available to all, regardless of age, sex, intelligence, education and religion. † The physical benefits of meditation are that it can cure and prevent many kinds of physical diseases and injuries. The psychological benefits of meditation are a peaceful mind and purified emotions. â€Å"Meditation increases patience, strengthens the willpower, sharpens the senses, calms the mind, stabilizes emotions, and increases energy, joy, and a love for life †. Meditation cannot make a person eternally young, but can increase the quality and longevity of life. In daily life, people pay little attention to their own bodies and minds. These people’s levels of energy are far lower than they could be and often experience negative emotions such as hatred, despair or anger. .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90 , .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90 .postImageUrl , .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90 , .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90:hover , .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90:visited , .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90:active { border:0!important; } .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90:active , .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90 .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3600eaf30c80b8d26c1538899ddb7b90:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Child Obeasity EssayThe practice of Zazen is the Secret of Zen Central and indispensable to Zen is daily Zazen practice. Zazen melts away the distances created by the mind that separate man from himself. In Zazen, there is no reality outside what exists here and now. While sorrow and joy, anxiety and imperturbability cannot be avoided, by not clinging to them we find ourselves free of them. With Zazen, come composure and tranquility of mind, but these are byproducts of Zazen rather than its goals. Zazen is a Japanese term that means meditation. It consists of two characters: za, â€Å"to sit (cross-legged),† and zen, from the Sanskrit dhyana, meaning concentration, dynamic stillness, and contemplation. The means toward the realization of one’s original nature as well as the realization itself, Zazen is both something one does—sitting cross-legged, with proper posture and correct breathing—and something one essentially is. To emphasize one aspect at the expense of the other is to misunderstand this subtle and profound practice. Zazen is a daily practice meant to expand consciousness and developing intuition. Master Dogen (who is often given credit for beginning Soto Zen) wrote in the Fukanzazengi, Zazen means â€Å"to touch the cosmos through one single body, our body. 6† Master Dogen also wrote: â€Å"The zazen I speak of is not learning how to meditate. It is nothing other than the way to peace and happiness, the practice-realization of perfect awakening. Once you have seized its heart, you are like a dragon when he enters the water, like a tiger when he enters the mountain. † â€Å"While practicing Zazen, you should concentrate on the posture, the breathing and the attitude of mind. Zazen is practiced while seated on the zafu (traditional, round, kapok-stuffed cushion. The legs are crossed in a lotus or half-lotus position, or behind you in seiza (kneeling posture). The knees must press the floor, forming a stable, three-point posture with the buttocks on the zafu. The pelvis is tilted forward so the abdomen falls down naturally. There should be no obstruction or constriction of the abdomen, such as a belt or tight trousers. The spinal column is arched in the lower lumbar region, and the head presses the sky, stretching out the backbone. The upper breastbone is raised, naturally throwing back the shoulders and neck. The face is perpendicular to the floor, and the nape of the neck stretched up. The nose is on the same plane as the navel. The ears are on the same plane as the shoulders. The shoulders and abdomen are relaxed. The mouth is closed—the breathing is through the nose—but the jaw is relaxed. The tip of the tongue rests on the palette, just at the top of the upper front teeth. The eyes are open, looking down at a forty-five degree angle. The gaze is steady, at rest, but not focused on anything. The lower forearm rest on the upper thighs against the lower abdomen, the palms of the hands face up. The fingers of the left hand rest on the fingers of the right hand. The tips of the thumbs touch over the middle of the hands. Once you are in this stable, vertical position, inhale and exhale slowly deeply. Your posture is now vertical and balanced. Remain in this posture during zazen without moving. At the end of zazen, signaled by one strike of the bell, raise the hands and place the closed fists, thumbs inside, on the lower thighs. Stretch your torso and head down over the right thigh, then straighten up, and bend over the left thigh a bit then straighten up. Repeat this two or three times, each time bending over a bit more, until your head touches your knees. Get up carefully. † The Breathing In Zen, breathing plays a primary role. The point of the breathing is above all to establish a slow, strong and natural rhythm. One should concentrate primarily on the exhalation, which should be calm, long and deep. The inhalation should be natural, automatic, and spontaneous. The concentration on the exhalation creates great energy in the lower abdominal region. â€Å"The body’s energy center is not in the head or upper body but in the major nerve groups located from the solar plexus to the lower abdomen †. All martial arts are traditionally based on this breathing. Strong action of the body-mind takes place during the exhalation. During inhalation, a person is weakest and most vulnerable. Air contains the energy of the universal life force and is received by our lungs and each cell in our body. It is very important to develop our breathing. Usually we breathe about fifteen times a minute using only a small part of the lung’s capacity. Deep, complete â€Å"Zen breathing is not just localized at the level of the thoracic cage or the diaphragm, but affects the lower abdominal organs, exerting a strong massage on the internal organs and stimulating the circulation of blood and other fluids in the body †. By the regular practice of zazen this breathing, little by little, becomes habitual in our daily life and even during sleep. â€Å"The more you are receptive to the universal life force through Zen breathing in zazen, the more your energy increases †. Attitude of Mind The correct attitude of mind comes naturally from a deep concentration during zazen on the posture and the breathing. During zazen â€Å"the conscious flow of thought from the cerebral cortex is greatly diminished and the thinking brain becomes calm and cool. Blood flows toward the deeper layers of the brain, the thalamus and the hypo-thalamus, and this body-brain becomes more active and developed. The nervous system becomes relaxed while our deeper brain becomes more active †. Receptive and attentive in every cell of the body, you learn to think with the body, unconsciously. During zazen, thoughts, conscious and unconscious, naturally and continuously rise to the surface of one’s mind. One should not try to stop these thoughts from arising. But at the same time, one should not get involved with the thoughts or let them take him away from concentrating on his posture and breathing. One should just let the thoughts pass, neither opposing them nor attaching to them. When the mind empties and is calm, one should be peaceful, with â€Å"nothing obstructing the deep intuitive and unlimited life force that springs up from the depths of our being †. Practicing zazen is the essence of Zen. .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c , .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c .postImageUrl , .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c , .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c:hover , .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c:visited , .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c:active { border:0!important; } .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c:active , .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1de74561a156f25f6c4e0488eecdbb5c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Artwork - Year of the Goat EssayZen students develop wisdom if they are vigilant in their zazen practice, in their effort to know themselves, to go beyond themselves, to give of themselves without expecting any personal gain. During the course of a day, one’s mind is rambling thinking about family, friends, pressures, responsibilities, etc. During zazen, one concentrates only on posture and breathing, and can delve into his consciousness. Koans A Koan is a riddle with no solution. â€Å"Koans are intended to break through the limitations of ego and intellect and lead to an intuitive flash of enlightenment. They were developed primarily by the Rinzai branch of Zen for use in training Zen students. More than 1700 koans are in use today. My personal experience with Zen and Zazen I have always been fascinated with Zen. My fascination began when I was about seven and saw a television program about Zen monks. These monks were able to do things that I would describe as being supernatural. Many of them were about sixty years old yet could break several bricks with their head and several slabs of ice with their elbow. They were also extremely flexible and could perform full splits. I remember watching this program filled with envy and desire to also perform these tasks. I began reading about Zen but I found it boring and tedious (I was around seven. ). I was, however, still fascinated with Zen and planned on studying it in the future when I was older and could appreciate it (I was a pretty smart seven year old). During my sophomore year of high school, I was watching David Letterman one night when monks once again performed. I believe, but am not certain, that they were Shao Lin Buddhist monks. They also achieved ‘supernatural’ feats in being able to break slabs of iron and wood. They also looked to be in their sixties and I was reminded of the program I watched when I was seven. My original fascination with Zen returned. I was now fourteen or fifteen and once again decided to study Zen. I took out some books from the library and studied them but once again I couldn’t get into it. I remember practicing zazen or rather trying to practice zazen. I was very restless and had trouble concentrating on posture and breathing. My mind kept wandering to history tests and English essays and, needless to say, I did not expand my consciousness. I also spent some time thinking about koans (Zen riddles such as â€Å"What is the sound of one hand clapping? † or â€Å"If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there to hear it, does it make a sound? †). These koans also did not expand my consciousness and my mind once again wandered to history tests and English essays. I was very frustrated about my inability to be one with Zen. I spent some time thinking about this and I realized what my problem was. My fascination with Zen stemmed from breaking bricks and ice which is obviously not an integral part of Zen. I was into Zen for all the wrong reasons. I was still fascinated by Zen but I decided to stop reading about it. I decided that if I ever seriously wanted to practice Zen (as opposed to just wanting to break bricks) I could study it again. If a desire to practice Zen never arises, that is all right too. The next time I studied Zen was in the beginning of this term when I started taking metaphysics. All the meditations we did in class got me thinking about reading about Zen again. I though this time I had reached the maturity needed and would appreciate it much more. I practiced Zazen again and this time I lost myself for several moments while concentrating solely on the posture and breathing. Zazen lasted for several minutes but afterward I did not feel any more wiser or enlightened and got back to thinking about history tests and English essays. I realized that I still could not fully appreciate Zen and my mind was still cluttered by thoughts and concerns. I figure that I am too young to fully appreciate Zen and Zazen. At seventeen, there are too many hormones and/or concerns to be able to focus on posture and breathing for an extended period of time. Though I was not as successful at practicing Zen as I would have liked to be, Zen still has made an impact on my life. I focus on the moment much easier now and am usually fully aware of my surroundings. I also don’t allow things to bother me as much as they once did. Now when a negative thought enters my consciousness, I ask myself why that thought exists in my system, and then detach myself from the thought until it leaves on its own. If the negative thought is powerful and does not exit my consciousness, I consciously focus on my breathing until that thought is no longer part of my consciousness. Before my experiences with Zen, I was often very irritable and felt a lot of pressure and stress from my surroundings. I now am able to relax and focus on my present activities much more readily and enjoy my days much more. I still have a complete inability to practice Zazen or meditation (including the ones we do in class). I just have too much energy in my system to do physically nothing for an extended period of time. I have spent some time wondering why I can’t fully enjoy meditation and haven’t really come up with an answer for it yet. Until one can focus properly for meditation and zazen, it can be argued that they have not fully been connected to Zen, or any other Eastern philosophy for that matter. I have read and been told on several occasions, that enlightenment and wisdom usually arrive during meditation. This makes me realize that I am missing something due to my inability to meditate. This is unfortunate but I am not discouraged. I will be able to meditate when I will be able to meditate and if I will never be able to meditate, well, then that’s alright too†¦Just as long as I can break bricks over my head. Connection between Zen and Metaphysics The connection between Zen and Metaphysics is that both have the same goals. They are concerned with studying the underlying nature of things. Both, Zen and metaphysics focus on self-discipline, meditation, and attainment of enlightenment through direct intuitive insight. Both Zen and Metaphysics recognize the importance of reality and both see reality as being the world as it is, unaffected by thought. They are most similar in their goal to expand the consciousness of the mind through meditation. Meditation is an integral part to the study of both Zen and Metaphysics and is used by both to attain wisdom and enlightenment.

How to Manage and ID Yoshino Cherry

How to Manage and ID Yoshino Cherry Yoshino Cherry grows quickly to 20 feet, has beautiful bark but is a relatively short-lived tree. It has upright to horizontal branching, making it ideal for planting along walks and over patios. The white to pink flowers blooming in early spring, before the leaves develop, can be damaged by late frosts or very windy conditions. The tree is glorious in flower and has been planted along with Kwanzan Cherry in Washington, D.C. and Macon, Georgia for their annual Cherry Blossom Festivals. Specifics Scientific name: Prunus x yedoensisPronunciation: PROO-nus x yed-oh-EN-sisCommon name: Yoshino CherryFamily: RosaceaeUSDA hardiness zones: 5B through 8AOrigin: not native to North AmericaUses: Bonsai; container or above-ground planter; near a deck or patio; trainable as a standard; specimen; residential street tree Cultivars ‘Akebona’(‘Daybreak’) - flowers softer pink; ‘Perpendens’ - irregularly pendulous branches; ‘Shidare Yoshino’ (‘Perpendens’) - irregularly pendulous branches Description Height: 35 to 45 feetSpread: 30 to 40 feetCrown uniformity: symmetrical canopy with a regular (or smooth) outline, and individuals have more or less identical crown formsCrown shape: round; vase shapeCrown density: moderateGrowth rate: mediumTexture: medium Trunk and Branches Trunk/bark/branches: bark is thin and easily damaged from mechanical impact; droop as the tree grows, and will require pruning for vehicular or pedestrian clearance beneath the canopy; showy trunk; should be grown with a single leader;Pruning requirement: requires pruning to develop strong structureBreakage: resistantCurrent year twig color: brownCurrent year twig thickness: thin Foliage Leaf arrangement: alternateLeaf type: simpleLeaf margin: double serrate; serrateLeaf shape: elliptic oval; oblong; ovateLeaf venation: banchidodrome; pinnateLeaf type and persistence: deciduousLeaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches Culture Light requirement: tree grows in full sunSoil tolerances: clay; loam; sand; acidic; occasionally wet; alkaline; well-drainedDrought tolerance: moderateAerosol salt tolerance: noneSoil salt tolerance: poor In Depth Best used as a specimen or near the deck or patio for shade, Yoshino cherry also works nicely along walks or near a water feature. Not a street or parking lot tree due to drought-sensitivity. Large specimens take on a weeping habit with delicate branchlets arranged on upright-spreading branches affixed to a short, stout trunk. A lovely addition to a sunny spot where a beautiful specimen is needed. Winter form, yellow fall color, and pretty bark make this a year-round favorite. Provide good drainage in an acidic soil for best growth. Crowns become one-sided unless they receive light from all around the plant, so locate in full sun. Select another tree to plant if soil is poorly drained but otherwise Yoshino cherry adapts to clay or loam. Roots should be kept moist and should not be subjected to prolonged drought.

The Worth of Naysayers

The Worth of Naysayers I cleaned out some files last week and stopped cold at a ten-year-old  folder of agent rejections. Im not sure why I kept them all these years, especially once I landed a contract for my first series. Maybe it was to show them somehow downstream. Maybe it was to let each one know that I managed to write a book decent enough to publish. . . in spite of them. But my books havent sold a half million copies nor have they been made into movies, so Im not sure how much effect I would have on people who dont remember who I was nor recognize who Ive become today. Theres just too much noise in the world these days for agents to know all the great authors, much less the mid-list ones. So I threw the folder on a stack to shred, and again, stopped. These responses altered my life. Some spurned me. Some were nice. Some called me boring. Some said I had no zing. Some encouraged me. Did I want to close this door or keep it open as a constant reminder of how far Ive come? Then I stumbled across this quote while hunting for quotes to add to my newsletters. Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed To me, that meant  dont look behind you, wondering about that harbor you left behind. Instead, move forward, think future.  Explore. Dream. Discover.   I didnt need to waste energy thinking of my past failings. I shredded the letters. Now I have one more file to fill with acceptances, contracts, and congratulations from those who ride with me on my boat, heading forward.

Developing individuals and teams Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Developing individuals and teams - Assignment Example Consequently, it can be stated that leading a team is different in comparison to that of leading an individual. With this consideration, a scenario has been considered, wherein as a first line manager, a responsibility is bestowed to monitor six staff. Meanwhile, an annual performance appraisal system is performed within the organisation to set forth individual objectives and targets for development. Moreover, around the year monitoring is performed to gauge the achievement by the end of the year. Correspondingly, the objective of this paper is to evaluate the principles and the aspect of effective leadership regarding individual and team management2. As already stated above, leadership style differs in terms of type and requirement. Adding to that, the principles underlying the use of different types of leadership style also vary based on whether the requirement is for a team of employees or for a single employee. For instance, if seen from a team’s perspective, the leader will gradually take the entire team as a single entity rather than taking into consideration of individual team members. In the context of the entire team, the leader will take into account the team’s performance as a whole and strategize accordingly with the prime intention of surpassing the hurdles towards achieving set organisational goals. In this regard, the first line manager as a leader is required to monitor the team’s performance on the whole to reach better judgement3. However, effective management of individual members within the team should also be kept into equal consideration since the efforts of individual members collaboratively form the entire team efforts. For instance, Steve Jobs can be considered as one such effective leader who led Apple Inc. towards success during his reign. In a generalised sense, Jobs led the organization as a whole rather than concentrating on the strengths and weaknesses of individual employees. On the

Why did Hurricane Katrina effect women more then men Research Paper

Why did Hurricane Katrina effect women more then men - Research Paper Example She thought that it would only be best if she give away her baby in order for it to have improved chances of survival. It is still not known whether the mother and her child reunited or are still separated. From these stories, one thing beyond doubt is that the people who suffered mostly from the disaster are women and their children (Tarshis, 2011). Women in New Orleans formed 54% of the population. Women made up about 80% of the individuals left behind to take care of themselves after the storm. More than one in five women residing in New Orleans, and 15% of every family in New Orleans live below the poverty level compared to 14.5% countrywide. Single, mother-headed households form 56% of all families in New Orleans (Butterbaugh, 2005). Half of these families live below the poverty level. These classes of women were living on these limits even before the calamity struck. After the disaster, matters got much worse than they were before the disaster. In conclusion, women were the worst hit group by the hurricane. It would have been only fair to consider them more in the relief programs since they deserve to be

Mattel Responds to Ethical Challenges Essay Example for Free

Mattel Responds to Ethical Challenges Essay Mattel, Inc. is a global leader in designing and manufacturing toys and family products. Well-known for brands such as Barbie, Fisher-Price, Disney, Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Tyco, Cabbage Patch Kids, and board games, the company boasts nearly $5.9 billion in annual revenue. Headquartered in El Segundo, California, with offices across the world, Mattel markets its products in over 150 nations. It all started in a California garage workshop when Ruth and Elliot Handler and Matt Matson founded Mattel in 1945. The company started out making picture frames, but the founders soon recognized the profitability of the toy industry and switched their emphasis to toys. Mattel became a publicly owned company in 1960, with sales exceeding $100 million by 1965. Over the next forty years, Mattel went on to become the world’s largest toy company in terms of revenue. In spite of its overall success, Mattel has had its share of losses over its history. During the mid to late 1990s, Mattel lost millions to declining sales and bad business acquisitions. In January 1997, Jill Barad took over as Mattel’s CEO. Barad’s management-style was characterized as strict and her tenure at the helm proved challenging for many employees. While Barad had been successful in building the Barbie brand to $2 billion by the end of the 20th century, growth slowed in the early 21st. Declining sales at outlets such as Toys ‘R’ Us marked the start of some difficulties for the retailer, responsibilities for which Barad accepted and resigned in 2000. Robert Eckert replaced Barad as CEO. Aiming to turn things around, Eckert sold unprofitable units and cut hundreds of jobs. In 2000, under Eckert, Mattel was granted the highly sought-after licensing agreement for products related to the Harry Potter series of books and movies. The company continued to flourish and build its reputation, even earning the Corporate Responsibility Award from UNICEF in 2003. Mattel released its first Annual Corporate Responsibility Report the following year. In 2011 Mattel was recognized as one of Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For for the fourth consecutive year. MATTEL’S CORE PRODUCTS BARBIE AND AMERICAN GIRL Among its many lines of popular toy products, Mattel is famous for owning top girls’ brands. In 1959, Mattel introduced a product that would change its future forever: the Barbie doll. One of the founders, Ruth Handler, had noticed how her daughter loved playing with paper cutout dolls. She decided to create a doll based on an adult rather than on a baby. Barbie took off to become one of Mattel’s critical product lines and the number one girls’ brand in the world. Since her introduction, Mattel has sold more than 1 billion Barbie dolls in over 150 countries. The Barbie line today This material was developed by Debbie Thorne, John Fraedrich, O.C. Ferrell, and Jennifer Jackson, with the editorial assistance of Jennifer Sawayda under the direction of O.C. Ferrell and Linda Ferrell. It is provided for the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the University of New Mexico and is intended for classroom discussion rather than to illustrate effective or ineffective handling of administrative, ethical, or legal decisions by management. Users of this material are prohibited from claiming this material as their own, emailing it to others, or placing it on the Internet. Please call O.C. Ferrell at 505-277-3468 for more information. (2011) Includes dolls, accessories, Barbie software, and a broad assortment of licensed products such as books, apparel, food, home furnishings, home electronics, and movies. To supplement the Barbie line, in 1998 Mattel acquired a popular younger type of doll. Mattel announced it would pay $700 million to Pleasant Co. for its high-end American Girl collection. American Girl dolls are sold with books about their lives, which take place during important periods of US history. The American Girls brand includes several book series, accessories, clothing for dolls and girls, and a magazine that ranks in the top ten American children’s magazines. HOT WHEELS Hot Wheels roared into the toy world in 1968. More than thirty years later, the brand is hotter than ever and includes high-end collectibles, NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) and Formula One models for adults, high-performance cars, track sets, and play sets for children of all ages. The brand is connected with racing circuits worldwide. More than 15 million boys aged five to 15 are avid collectors, each owning forty-one cars on average. Two Hot Wheels cars are sold every second of every day. The brand began with cars designed to run on a track and has evolved into a â€Å"lifestyle† brand with licensed Hot Wheels shirts, caps, lunch boxes, backpacks, and more. Together, Hot Wheels and Barbie generate 45 percent of Mattel’s revenue and 65 percent of its profits. CABBAGE PATCH KIDS Since the introduction of mass-produced Cabbage Patch Kids in 1982, more than 90 million dolls have been sold worldwide. In 1994, Mattel took over selling these beloved dolls after purchasing production rights from Hasbro. In 1996, Mattel created a new line of Cabbage Patch doll, called Snacktime Kids, which was expected to meet with immense success. The Snacktime Kids had moving mouths that enabled children to â€Å"feed† them plastic snacks. However, the product backfired. The toy had no on/off switch and reports of children  getting their fingers or hair caught in the dolls’ mouths surfaced during the 1996 holiday season. Mattel voluntarily pulled the dolls from store shelves by January 1997, and offered consumers a cash refund of $40 on returned dolls. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission applauded Mattel’s handling of the Snacktime Kids situation. Mattel effectively managed a situation that could easily have created bad publicity or a crisis situati on. Mattel stopped producing Cabbage Patch Kids in 2000. MATTEL’S COMMITMENT TO ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Mattel’s core products and business environment create many ethical issues. Because the company’s products are designed primarily for children, it must be sensitive to social concerns about children’s rights. It must also be aware that the international environment often complicates business transactions. Different legal systems and cultural expectations about business can create ethical conflicts. Finally, the use of technology may present ethical dilemmas, especially regarding consumer privacy. Mattel has recognized these potential issues and taken steps to strengthen its commitment to business ethics. The company also purports to take a stand on social responsibility, encouraging its employees and consumers to do the same. PRIVACY AND MARKETING TECHNOLOGY One issue Mattel has tried to address repeatedly is that of privacy and online technology. Advances in technology have created special marketing issues for Mattel. The company recognizes that, because it markets to children, it must communicate with parents regarding its corporate marketing strategy. Mattel has taken steps to inform both children and adults about its philosophy regarding Internet-based marketing tools, such as the Hot Wheels website. This website contains a lengthy online privacy policy, part of which is excerpted below: Mattel, Inc. and its family of companies (â€Å"Mattel†) are committed to  protecting your online privacy when visiting a website operated by us. We do not collect and keep any personal information online from you unless you volunteer it and you are 13 or older. We also do not collect and keep personal information online from children under the age of 13 without consent of a parent or legal guardian, except in limited circumstances authorized by law and described in this policy. By assuring parents that their children’s privacy will be respected, Mattel demonstrates that it takes its responsibility of marketing to children seriously. EXPECTATIONS OF MATTEL’S BUSINESS PARTNERS Mattel, Inc. is also making a serious commitment to business ethics in its dealings with other industries. In late 1997, the company completed its first full ethics audit of each of its manufacturing sites as well as the facilities of its primary contractors. The audit revealed that the company was not using any child labor or forced labor, a problem plaguing other overseas manufacturers. However, several contractors were found to be in violation of Mattel’s safety and human rights standards and were asked to change their operations or risk losing Mattel’s business. The company now conducts an independent monitoring council audit in manufacturing facilities every three years. In an effort to continue its strong record on human rights and related ethical standards, Mattel instituted a code of conduct entitled Global Manufacturing Principles in 1997. One of these principles requires all Mattel-owned and contracted manufacturing facilities to favor business partners committed to ethical standards comparable with those of Mattel. Other principles relate to safety, wages, and adherence to local laws. Mattel’s audits and subsequent code of conduct were designed as preventative, not punitive measures. The company is dedicated to creating and encouraging responsible business practices throughout the world. 1 Mattel, Inc., Online Privacy Policy, http://www.hotwheels.com/privacy-policy (accessed August 23, 2011). Mattel also claims to be committed to its workforce. As one company consultant noted, â€Å"Mattel is committed to improving the skill level of workers [so that they] will experience increased opportunities and productivity.† This statement reflects Mattel’s concern for relationships between and with employees and business partners. The company’s code is a signal to potential partners, customers, and other stakeholders that Mattel has made a commitment to fostering and upholding ethical values. LEGAL AND ETHICAL BUSINESS PRACTICES Mattel prefers to partner with businesses similarly committed to high ethical standards. At a minimum, partners must comply with the local and national laws of the countries in which they operate. In addition, all partners must respect the intellectual property of the company, and support Mattel in the protection of assets such as patents, trademarks, or copyrights. They are also responsible for product safety and quality, protecting the environment, customs, evaluation and monitoring, and compliance. Mattel’s business partners must have high standards for product safety and quality, adhering to practices that meet Mattel’s safety and quality standards. In recent years, however, safety standards have been seriously violated, which will be discussed in more detail later. Also, because of the global nature of Mattel’s business and its history of leadership in this area, the company insists that business partners strictly adhere to local and international customs laws. Partners must also comply with all import and export regulations. To assist in compliance with standards, Mattel insists that all manufacturing facilities provide the following: 1 Full access for on-site inspections by Mattel or parties designated by Mattel 2 Full access to those records that will enable Mattel to determine compliance with its principles 3 An annual statement of compliance with Mattel’s Global Manufacturing Principles, signed by an officer of the manufacturer or manufacturing facility2 With the creation of the Mattel Independent Monitoring Council (MIMCO), Mattel became the first global consumer products company to apply such a system to facilities and core contractors worldwide. The company seeks to maintain an independent monitoring system that provides checks and balances to help ensure that standards are met. If certain aspects of Mattel’s manufacturing Principles are not being met, Mattel will try to work with them to help them fix their problems. New partners will not be hired unless they meet Mattel’s standards. If corrective action is advised but not taken, Mattel will terminate its relationship with the partner in question. Overall, Mattel is committed to both business success and ethical standards, and it recognizes that it is part of a continuous improvement process. 2 â€Å"Mattel’s Commitment to Ethics,† eBusiness Ethics, http://www.e-businessethics.com/mattel9.htm (accessed August 23, 2011). MATTEL CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION Mattel takes its social responsibilities very seriously. Through the Mattel Children’s Foundation, established in 1978, the company promotes philanthropy and community involvement among its employees and makes charitable investments to better the lives of children in need. Funding priorities have included building a new Mattel Children’s Hospital at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), sustaining the Mattel Family Learning Program, and promoting giving among Mattel employees. In November 1998, Mattel donated a multiyear, $25 million gift to the UCLA Children’s Hospital. The gift was meant to support the existing hospital and provide for a new state-of-the-art facility. In honor of Mattel’s donation, the hospital was renamed Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA. The Mattel Family Learning Program utilizes computer learning labs as a way to advance children’s basic skills. Now numbering more than eighty throughout the United States, Hong Kong, Canada, and Mexico, the labs offer software and technology designed to help children with special needs or limited English proficiency. Mattel employees are also encouraged to participate in a wide range of volunteer activities as part of â€Å"Mattel Volunteers: Happy to Help.† Employees serving on boards of local nonprofit organizations or helping with ongoing nonprofit programs are eligible to apply for volunteer grants supporting their organizations. Mattel employees contributing to higher education or to nonprofit organizations serving children in need are eligible to have their personal donations matched dollar for dollar up to $5,000 annually. INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING PRINCIPLES As a U.S.-based multinational company owning and operating facilities and contracting worldwide, Mattel’s Global Manufacturing Principles reflect not only its need to conduct manufacturing responsibly, but to respect the cultural, ethical, and philosophical differences of the countries in which it operates. These Principles set uniform standards across Mattel manufacturers and attempt to benefit both employees and consumers. Mattel’s Principles cover issues such as wages, work hours, child labor, forced labor, discrimination, freedom of association, and working conditions. Workers must be paid at least minimum wage or a wage that meets  local industry standards (whichever is greater). No one under the age of 16 or the local age limit (whichever is higher) may be allowed to work for Mattel facilities. Mattel refuses to work with facilities that use forced or prison labor, or to use these types of labor itself. Additionally, Mattel does not tolerate discrimination. The company states that an individual should be hired and employed based on his or her ability—not on individual characteristics or beliefs. Mattel recognizes all employees’ rights to choose to associate with organizations or associations without interference. Regarding working conditions, all Mattel facilities and its business partners must provide safe working environments for their employees. ISSUES WITH OVERSEAS MANUFACTURING Despite Mattel’s best efforts, not all overseas manufacturers have faithfully adhered to its high standards. Mattel has come under scrutiny over its sale of unsafe products. In September 2007, Mattel announced recalls of toys containing lead paint. The problem surfaced when a European retailer discovered lead paint on a toy. An estimated 10 million individual toys produced in China were affected. Mattel quickly stopped production at Lee Der, the company officially producing the recalled toys, after it was discovered that Lee Der had purchased lead-tainted paint to be used on the toys. Mattel blamed the fiasco on the manufacturers’ desire to save money in the face of increasing prices. â€Å"In the last three or five years, youve seen labor prices more than double, raw material prices double or triple,† CEO Eckert said in an interview, â€Å"and I think that theres a lot of pressure on guys that are working at the margin to try to save money. The situation began when Early Light Industrial Co., a subcontractor for Mattel owned by Hong Kong toy tycoon Choi Chee Ming, subcontracted the painting of parts of CARS toys to another China-based vendor. The vendor, named Hong Li Da, decided to source paint from a non-authorized third-party supplier—a violation of Mattel’s requirement to use paint supplied directly by Early Light. The products were found to contain â€Å"impermissible levels of lead.† On August 2, 2007, it was announced that another of Early Lights subcontractors, Lee Der Industrial Co., used the same lead paint found on Cars products. China immediately suspended the companys export license. Afterward, Mattel pinpointed three paint suppliers working for Lee Der—Dongxin, Zhongxin, and Mingdai. This paint was used by Lee Der to produce Mattels line of Fisher-Price products. It is said that Lee Der purchased the paint from Mingdai due to an intimate friendship between the two company’s owners. On August 11, 2007, Zhang Shuhong, operator of Lee Der, hung himself after paying his 5,000 staff members. Later that month, Mattel was forced to recall several more toys because of powerful magnets in the toys that could come loose and pose a choking hazard for young children. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other inside the child’s stomach, causing potentially fatal complications. Over 21 million Mattel toys were recalled in all, and parents filed several lawsuits claiming that these Mattel products harmed their children. At first, Mattel blamed Chinese subcontractors for the huge toys recalls, but the company later accepted a portion of the blame for its troubles, while maintaining that Chinese manufacturers were largely at fault. The Chinese view the situation quite differently. As reported by the state-run Xinhua news agency, the spokesman for Chinas General Administration of Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine said, â€Å"Mattel should improve its product design and supervision over product quality. Chinese original equipment manufacturers were doing the job just as importers requested, and the toys conformed to the U.S. regulations and standards at the time of the production. Mattel also faced criticism from many of its consumers, who believed Mattel was denying culpability by placing much of the blame on China. Mattel was later awarded the 2007 â€Å"Bad Product† Award by Consumers International. How did this crisis occur under the watch of a company praised for its ethics and high safety standards? Although Mattel had investigated its contractors, it did not audit the entire supply chain, including subcontractors. These  oversights left room for these violations to occur. Mattel has also moved to enforce a rule that subcontractors cannot hire suppliers two or three tiers down. In a statement, Mattel says it has spent more than 50,000 hours investigating its vendors and testing its toys. Mattel also announced a three-point plan. This plan aims to tighten Mattel’s control of production, discover and prevent the unauthorized use of subcontractors, and test the products itself rather than depending on contractors. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT’S REACTION Chinese officials eventually did admit the government’s failure to properly protect the public. The Chinese government promised to tighten supervision of exported products, but effective supervision is challenging in such a large country that is so burdened with corruption. In January 2008, the Chinese government launched a four-month-long nationwide product quality campaign, offering intensive training courses to domestic toy manufacturers to help them brush up on their knowledge of international product standards and safety awareness. As a result of the crackdown, the State Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) announced that it had revoked the licenses of more than 600 Chinese toy makers. As of 2008, the State Administration for Commerce and Industry (SACI) released a report claiming that 87.5 percent of China’s newly manufactured toys met quality requirements. While this represents an improvement, the temptation to cut corners remains strong in a country that uses price, not quality, as its main competitive advantage. Where there is demand, there will be people trying to turn a quick profit. MATTEL VERSUS FORMER EMPLOYEE AND MGA In 2004, Mattel became embroiled in a bitter intellectual property rights battle with former employee Carter Bryant and MGA Entertainment Inc. over rights to MGA’s popular Bratz dolls. Carter Bryant, an on-again/off-again Mattel employee, designed the Bratz dolls and pitched them to MGA. A few months after the pitch, Bryant left  Mattel to work at MGA, which began producing Bratz in 2001. In 2002, Mattel launched an investigation into whether Bryant had designed the Bratz dolls while employed with Mattel. After two years of investigation, Mattel sued Bryant. A year later MGA fired off a suit of its own, claiming that Mattel was creating Barbies with looks similar to those of Bratz in an effort to eliminate the competition. Mattel answered by expanding its own suit to include MGA and its CEO, Isaac Larian. For decades, Barbie has reigned supreme on the doll market. However, Bratz dolls have given Barbie a run for her money. In 2005, four years after the brand’s debut, Bratz sales were at $2 billion. At the same time, Barbie was suffering from declining sales. In 2008 Barbie’s gross sales fell by 6 percent. Many analysts believe that Barbie has reached the maturity stage of its product life cycle. Four years after the initial suit was filed, Bryant settled with Mattel under an undisclosed set of terms. In July 2008, a jury deemed MGA and its CEO liable for what it termed â€Å"intentional interference† regarding Bryant’s contract with Mattel. In August 2008, Mattel received damages in the range of $100 million. Although Mattel first requested damages of $1.8 billion, the company is pleased with the principle behind the victory. In December 2008, Mattel appeared to win another victory when a California judge banned MGA from issuing or selling any more Bratz dolls. However, the tide soon turned on Mattel’s victory. In July 2010, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals threw out the ruling. Eventually, the case came down to whether Mattel owned Bryant’s ideas under the contract he had with the comapny. In April 2011, a California federal jury rejected Mattel’s claims to ownership. In another blow to Mattel, the jury also ruled that the company had stolen trade secrets from MGA. According to the allegations, Mattel employees used fake business cards to get into MGA showrooms during toy fairs. Mattel was ordered to pay $85 million in liabilities, plus an additional $225 million in damages and legal fees. MGA CEO Isaac Larian has  also announced that he will file an antitrust case against Mattel. Mattel continues to claim that Bryant violated his contract when he was working for the company . MATTEL LOOKS TOWARD THE FUTURE Like all major companies, Mattel has weathered its share of storms. The company has faced a series of difficult and potentially crippling challenges, including the recent verdict against the company in the Bratz lawsuit. During the wave of toy recalls, some analysts suggested that the company’s reputation was battered beyond repair. Mattel, however, has refused to go quietly. Although the company admits to poorly handling recent affairs, it is attempting to rectify its mistakes and to prevent future mistakes as well. With the economic future of the United States uncertain, Mattel may be in for slow growth for some time to come. Mattel is hard at work restoring goodwill and faith in its brands, even as it continues to be plagued with residual distrust over the lead paint scandal and its alleged theft of trade secrets. Reputations are hard won and easily lost, but Mattel appears to be steadfast in its commitment to restoring its reputation. QUESTIONS 1. Do manufacturers of products for children have special obligations to consumers and society? If so, what are these responsibilities? 2. How effective has Mattel been at encouraging ethical and legal conduct by its manufacturers? What changes and additions would you make to the company’s Global Manufacturing Principles? 3. To what extent is Mattel responsible for issues related to its production of toys in China? How might Mattel have avoided these issues? 9 Sources: Lisa Bannon and Carlta Vitzhum, â€Å"One-Toy-Fits-All: How Industry Learned to Love the Global Kid,† Wall Street Journal, Apr. 30, 2003, http://online.wsj.com. Adam Bryant, â€Å"Mattel CEO Jill Barad and a Toyshop That Doesn’t Forget to Play,† New York Times, Oct. 11, 1998. Bill Duryea, â€Å"Barbie-holics: They’re Devoted to the Doll,† St. Petersburg Times, Aug. 7, 1998. Rachel Engers, â€Å"Mattel Board Members Buy $30 Million in Stock: Insider Focus,† Bloomberg.com, Dec. 22, 2000. Mattel, Inc., Hot Wheels web site, http://www.hotwheels.com. â€Å"Independent Monitoring Council Completes Audits of Mattel Manufacturing Facilities in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand,† Mattel, press release, Nov. 15, 2002, www.shareholder.com/mattel/news/20021115-95295.cfm. â€Å"Investors and Media,† â€Å"Mattel Children’s Foundation,† and â€Å"Mattel Independent Monitoring Council,† Mattel, http://www.mattel.com/about_us (all accessed Apr. 30, 2003). â€Å"Mattel and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Announce Voluntary Refund Program for Cabbage Patch Kids Snacktime Kids Dolls,† U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Office of Information and Public Affairs, Release No. 97-055, Jan. 6, 1997. â€Å"Mattel, Inc., Launches Global Code of Conduct Intended to Improve Workplace, Workers’ Standard of Living,† Canada NewsWire, Nov. 21, 1997. â€Å"Mattel, Inc., Online Privacy Policy,† Mattel http://www.hotwheels.com/policy.asp (accessed Apr. 30, 2003). Marla Matzer, â€Å"Deals on Hot Wheels,† Los Angeles Times, Jul. 22, 1998. Patricia Sellers, â€Å"The 50 Most Powerful Women in American Business,† Fortune, Oct. 12, 1998. â€Å"Toymaker Mattel Bans Child Labor,† Denver Post, Nov. 21, 1998. Michael White, â€Å"Barbie Will Lose Some Curves When Mattel Modernizes Icon,† Detroit News, Nov. 18, 1997. Laura S. Spark, Chinese Product Scares Prompt US Fears. BBC News. July 10 2007, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6275758.stm (accessed May 8, 2009). Benjamin B. Olshin, China, Culture, and Product Recalls. S2R. August 20, 2007, http://www.s2r.biz/s2rpapers/papers- Chinese_Product.pdf (accessed April 5, 2008). Mattel Recalls Batmanâ„ ¢ and One Pieceâ„ ¢ Magnetic Action Figure Sets. CPSC. 14 Aug. 2007, http://service.mattel.com/us/recall/J1944CPSC.pdf. Parker. Magnetic Toy Sets (accessed May 8, 2009). Product Recall. Mattel Consumer Service. 1 Apr. 2008 http://service.mattel.com/us/recall.asp. David Barboza and Louise Story. Toymaking in China, Mattel’S Way. New York Times. July 26, 2007, http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/26/business/26toy.html?pagewanted=1_r=3hp (accessed May 10, 2009). Shu-Ching Chen, A Blow to Hong Kongs Toy King. Forbes.Com. August 15, 2007, http://www.forbes.com/2007/08/15/mattel-china- choi-face-markets-cx_jc_0815autofacescan01.html (accessed May 10, 2009). David Barboza, Scandal and Suicide in China: a Dark Side of Toys. Iht.Com. August 23, 2007, http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/08/23/business/23suicide.php?page=1 (May 10, 2009). The United States Has Not Restricted Imports Under the China Safeguard. United States Government Accountability Office. Sept. 2005, http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d051056.pdf (May 10, 2009). Jack A. Raisner, Using the â€Å"Ethical Environment†Paradigm to Teach Business Ethics:the Case of the Maquiladoras. Journal of Business Ethics. 1997, http://www.springerlink.com/content/nv62636101163v07/fulltext.pdf (May 10, 2008). â€Å"Mattel awarded $100M in doll lawsuit,† USA Today, August 27, 2008, pg. B-1. Nicholas Casey, â€Å"Mattel Prevails Over MGA in Bratz-Doll Trial,† The Wall Street Journal, July 18, 2008, pp. B-18-B-19. Nicholas Casey, â€Å"Mattel to Get Up to $100 Million in Bratz Case,† The Wall Street Journal, August 27, 2008, http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB121978263398273857.html (accessed 28 Aug. 2008). American Girl, http://www.americangirl.com (accessed 14 Sept. 2008). â€Å"Barbie,† http://www.mattel.com, http://www.mattel.com/our_toys/ot_barb.asp (accessed 14 Sept. 2008). Mattel Annual Report 2008, http://www.shareholder.com/mattel/downloads/2007AR.pdf (accessed 14 Sept. 2008). â€Å"Mattel History,† http://www.mattel.com/about_us/history/default.asp?f=true (accessed 3 Dec. 2008). â€Å"Learning from Mattel,† Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, http://mba.tuck.dartmouth.edu/pdf/2002-1-0072.pdf (accessed 3 Dec. 2008). â€Å"Mattel to Sell Learning Company,† Direct, 2 Oct. 2000, http://directmag.com/news/marketing_mattel_sell_learning/ (accessed 3 Dec. 2008). Miranda Hitti, â€Å"9 Million Mattel Toys Recalled,† WebMD, 14 Aug. 2007, http://children.webmd.com/news/20070814/9_million_mattel_toys_recalled, (accessed 3 Dec. 2008). â€Å"Third toy recall by Mattel in five weeks,† Business Standard, 6 Sept. 2006, http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=297057, (accessed 3 Dec. 2008). â€Å"International Bad Product Awards 2007,† Consumers International, http://www.consumersinternational.org/Shared_ASP_Files/UploadedFiles/527739D3-1D7B-47AF-B85C-6FD25779149B_InternationalBadProductsAwards-pressbriefing.pdf (accessed 3 Dec. 2008). Gina Keating, â€Å"MGA ‘still accessing’ impact of Bratz ruling: CEO,† Yahoo! News, 4 Dec. 2008, http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081205/bs_nm/us_mattel_larian_1 (accessed 5 Dec. 2008). â€Å"Bratz loses battle of the dolls,† BBC News, 5 Dec. 2008, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7767270.stm (accessed 5 Dec. 2008). â€Å"100 Best Companies to Work For,† CNNMoney, http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/bestcompanies/2011/full_list/ (accessed 23, Aug. 2011). Andrea Chang, â€Å"Mattel must pay MGA $310 million in Bratz case,† Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2011, http://articles.latimes.com/2011/aug/05/business/la-fi-mattel-bratz-20110805 (accessed 23 Aug. 2011). Ann Zimmerman, â€Å"Mattel Loses in Bratz Spat,† The Wall Street Journal, 22 April 2011, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703983704576276984087591872.html (accessed 23 Aug. 2011). â€Å"Income Statement: Mattel Inc. (MAT),† Yahoo! Finance, http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=MAT+Income+Statementannual (accessed 23 Aug. 2011).

American Newspaper Comics :: Newspapers Comic Strips Cartoons Art Essays

American Newspaper Comics 1. Definition and Defining Elements of Newspaper Comics 1.1. Definition According to Wikipedia encyclopaedia, â€Å"[†¦] a comic strip is a short strip or sequence of drawings, telling a story. Drawn by a cartoonist, they are published on a recurring basis (usually daily or weekly) in newspapers or on the Internet. They usually communicate to the reader via speech balloons. The term ‘comic’ derives from the fact that most strips were funny in the beginning. For this reason they are often also referred to as ‘funnies’.†. Comics, however, need not be humorous by necessity. While many comics remain focused on humour, others involve politics, human interest, murder and suspense, or adventure. Another word for comic is ‘sequential art’ , which I regard as the most appropriate term describing the genre, because it refers to comics as an art form on the one hand and gives you an idea of the nature and appearance of comics on the other. This takes me to the structure and appearance of newspaper comics. 1.2. Structure and Appearance Most comics consist of more than one panel, which is a box or a frame that contains a given scene, but as the following strip shows, sequence can also be expressed in only one panel. Here, one can imagine what happened before this scene, by just seeing one panel. Almost all comics also contain some text, which appears in balloons or headlines. While most daily newspaper comics are published six days a week in black and white, those on Sunday tend to be in colour.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1.2. The Characters In fact, the characters are the most important ingredients of a successful feature, because everything else is exchangeable. There are often lots of artists who work on one strip and if any of them discontinues, there are others to replace him or her. Artists may even switch syndicates without anyone noticing, but Peanuts, for example, would not be the same without Charlie Brown or Snoopy. The characters become your friends, because you identify with them. The typical loser who never manages to sit next to the little red-haired girl during the break might sympathize with Charlie Brown and the person being bullied at his or her workplace is very likely to feel affection for Dilbert. According to Julie Davies, â€Å"[†¦] comic strips can only be effective if readers see their own lives reflected in the daily funnies.† The Funnies are also something steady, something you can rely on, because, once adapted, they are not likely to change.

Education: Its Aims And Objectives Essay

â€Å"Education†, says Aristotle,† is the creation of a sound mind in a sound body†. It encompasses in itself the all round development of an individual. The success of spreading education to the widest possible area lies in the way it is imparted. With the ever changing technology scenario, the methods of imparting education too have been undergoing changes. But education itself is an age old process, rather as old as the human race itself. It was man’s education through Nature, our greatest teacher, that he learned how to make fire by rubbing stones or invented the wheal to make tasks easier. Education in real earnest helps us in restraining the objectionable predisposition in ourselves. The aims of education have been categorized variously by different scholars. While Herbert Spencer believed in the ‘complete-living aim’, Herbart advocated the moral aim. The complete living aim signifies that education should prepare us for life. This view had also been supported by Rousseau and Mahatma Gandhi. They believed in the complete development or perfection of nature. All round development has been considered as the first and foremost aim of education. At the same time education ensures that there is a progressive development of innate abilities. Pestalozzi is of the view â€Å"Education is natural, harmonious and progressive development of man’s innate powers. † Education enables us to control, give the right direction and the final sublimation of instincts. It creates good citizens. It helps to prepare the kids for their future life. Education inculcates certain values and principles and also prepares a human being for social life. It civilizes the man. The moral aim of Herbart states that education should ingrain moral values in children. He is of the view that education should assist us in curbing our inferior whims and supplant them with superior ideas. This moral aim has also been stressed upon by Gandhiji in the sense of formation of character. The preachers of this aim do not undermine the significance of knowledge, vocational training or muscular strength. But simultaneously they have also laid stress on their view that the undisclosed aim of education is to assist development of moral habits. Then there is the social aim which means that education should produce effective individuals in the sense that they realize their responsibilities towards the society. And we all know that man is a social being. The interactive ability is a must as it is through interaction that we come to know of our responsibilities. Edmund Burke asks and he himself answers: â€Å"What is education? A parcel of books? Not at all, but an intercourse with the world, with men and with affairs. † Only bookish knowledge takes a child nowhere. It should be further perfected by practical usage with experience. â€Å"Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man† is a pithy and precise statement in which the essayist Francis Bacon sums up the advantages of studies. Even Wordsworth in his poem ‘The Tables Turned’ advocated against bookish knowledge. Books! ’tis a dull and endless strife: Come, hear the woodland linnet, How sweet his music! on my life, There’s more of wisdom in it. Wordsworth was a die-hard naturalist. He wanted man to consider Nature his teacher. Naturalists believe that instincts of the child should be taken as the basis of education. The child should have freedom. Rabindra Nath Tagore was of the opinion that child should be left free in order to gather experience and to understand his own mistakes and shortcomings. The twentieth century saw the emergence of the concept of Pragmatism. Charles Pierce was the first man to introduce the concept of pragmatism in his philosophy. Later on it was popularized by John Dewey, William James, Kilpatrick and Schiller. They believed that the external world is real and the reality is being constantly created and is always changing. Knowledge and truth is one and the same thing according to them. Whatever the approach towards education, one thing we all agree: Education is for the betterment of the individual and in the long run for the society. Education helps us prepare ourselves for the life ahead. Darwin gave the theory of the ‘survival of the fittest’; we can say in a way that education prepares the individual for the struggle of life for his own survival. Knowledge combined with proper guidance can spell success. A dose of proper guidance should be commenced right from the base itself, that is, in school days. Here comes the role of the teacher in moulding a child’s mind. Educating a child, especially in the beginning years of schooling, is a very tricky job. That is probably because the child’s mind is like the unmoulded clay at that time. Therefore to get the best results and prepare well-informed and erudite adults, proper guidance is a must. For a proper system of education the teacher should encourage a student both in terms of mental encouragement and in lending a helping hand as and when needed. A student needs help for training his mind in such a way that it develops a tendency to gather knowledge from all possible sources. While on the other hand too much help if lent to him will make him dependant and used to spoon feeding. Self-study is the most sought after quality in a student. It helps them at the later stages. But because the ‘child is the father of man’ (Wordsworth) all the qualities have to be inculcated right in childhood. And teacher along with parents plays a very significant role. The aims of education should be kept in mind, although a thorough study of these aims may not be imperative. A teacher should make a child ready to face the society, inculcate moral habits in him and thus, assist him in his all round development. Education should not be considered synonymous with all that we learn. It does not signify the things we mug up before appearing for an examination. Education is what remains behind, when we fail to remember the mugged up portion. After we have left school, we realize that although we have forgotten quite a few things we learnt but still retain a very large part of it. The latter part is education. Education formally begins in school but actually it begins the day we are born and the process goes on for the whole of our life. This is where the aims of education come in. Education is not only the formal part we gain in schools, colleges or universities. It also includes the lessons life teaches us in various forms. For instance, when a child gets his finger pricked by a needle accidentally he learns that a needle is sharp and can hurt a person, so he will learn to avoid hurting himself in the future. This is only one example from thousands of other instances. We can even learn a lesson of a lifetime from a beggar. The birds inspire us to rise high. An ant motivates us for hard work. We learn some things just by doing them on our own, they are never taught in a school. A child’s first teacher is his mother, then his home and then come the formal agencies of education. Nature too is a great teacher. English poetry too gives us quite a few guidelines for leading a better life. It was not for nothing that Wordsworth went on to remark: â€Å"One impulse from the vernal wood May teach you more of a man Of moral evil and of good Than all the sages can. † As long as there is life, we require education; we need ways to modify our views about life, to face it, to live it in a better way. And education teaches us all this. Even when you read a comic strip, it educates you in some way. They improve our language and make us realize that life isn’t so bad after all that it can’t get worse, as states Bill Watterson in ‘Calvin and Hobbes’. The witty humour of ‘Dennis the Menace’ enriches us no end. â€Å"The aim of education,† says Walter Grophices, â€Å"is not the specialist but the man of vision who can humanize our life by integrating emotional demands with our new knowledge. † In another way too, the insects and animals also teach you a lot. The easiest example is that of an ant. It inspires you to work hard. Therefore we can say there are innumerable modes of education, all that one needs is to have a discerning eye. Education enriches a person in terms of accepting a defeat. A student should first of all be taught so that he is encouraged to study. Side by side he should be readied to face a failure. As Charles F. Kettering rightly says,† The chief job of the education is to teach people how to fail intelligently. † This will help the child coping with the other adversities of life. Education, thus, makes a person an improved version of himself and the world a much better place to live in.

A Stitch In Time Saves Nine Essay

There is no doubt that a stitch in time saves nine. It means that man must do something at the very early stage. This proverb in its literal sense applies to holes in our clothes which may be easily mended at first, but, if they are left unmanned, grow bigger and bigger, until they cannot be repaired without a great deal of sewing. What is true of torn clothes is true of boots, boxes, houses, ships, walls, bridges, in a word, of everything that needs mending, I may quote a striking illustration of the truth of the proverb from my own observation. A beautiful pier was built at great expense by Government many years ago on the stormy west coast of Scotland, to defend the harbor of a fishing village. The great stone of which it was composed were bound together by clamps of iron, and it looked as if it could defy the utmost fury of the waves. Nevertheless, in one of the violent storms that visit that iron bound coast, as little damage was done to the most exposed part of the structure. When I first saw the pier there was to be seen in it only a hole of moderate extent, that could have been repaired without much labor. But somehow the breach was left untended, and naturally grew bigger year by year until, on the occasion of my last visit to the town, half of the pier had sunk in ruin under the waves, and it was evident that to repair it would cost as much as the building of a new pier. The expediency of the stitch in time is exemplified not only by the destruction of material fabrics, the rents in which are neglected, but also in medicine, politics, and in intellectual and moral education. How often has a doctor to tell his patient that, if he had been consulted earlier he might have affected an easy cure, but that now more drastic remedies must be employed. A literary man, for instance, suffers from indigestion due to overwork and wasn’t of exercise. A short holiday in the country might restore him to good health if only he took it in time. But he has important work to do and is averse to taking any rest before he has finished it. So he goes on working until the symptoms become so threatening that he finds himself compelled to consult a doctor. To his surprise he finds that entire change of diet and absolute idleness for a long period of time are now needed to cure a disease, the progress of which might have been arrested with every little trouble at an earlier stage. It is the same with the body politic. The best politicians see in good time evils which, if allowed to go on unchecked, will swell to  alarming dimensions. Thus the just discontent felt by the people of France on account of the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and nobles might have been appeased by remedial legislation, but, as the cure was delayed, the feeling of disaffection went on gathering force, until at last it could no longer be extinguished and produced the horrors of the French Revolution. That no revolution has taken place in England for the last two hundred years is due to the fact that English politicians have been willing to anticipate rebellion by timely reforms. The same is true in our daily life. If anything is done at the very early stage, much energy can be saved for the same purpose.

Qingming Festival Essays

Qingming Festival Essays Qingming Festival Essay Qingming Festival Essay Qingming Festival, also known as Pure Brightness Festival, which falls on either April 4th or 5th of the solar calendar (one of the Chinese Twenty-four Solar Terms). From that day temperatures begin to rise and rainfall increases, indicating that it is crucial time for plowing and sowing in the spring. Qingming Festival therefore has a close relationship with agriculture. However, it is not only a seasonal symbol; it is also a festival of paying respect of the dead, a spring outing, and other activities. Because it reinforces the ethic of filial piety, Qingming is a major Chinese festival. Qingming Festival is a time of many different activities, among which the main ones are tomb sweeping, taking a spring outing, and flying kites. Some other lost customs like wearing willow branches on the head and riding on swings have added infinite joy in past days. The festival is a combination of sadness and happiness. Tomb sweeping is regarded as the most important custom in the Qingming Festival from which the name of Tomb-sweeping day is got. Cleaning the tomb and paying respect to the dead person with offerings are the two important parts of remembering the past relatives. Weeds around the tomb are cleared away and fresh soil is added to show care of the dead. The dead person’s favorite food and wine are taken to sacrifice to them, along with paper resembling money. This is all burned in the hoped that the deceased are not lacking food and money. Kowtow before the tablets set up for the dead are made. Today, with cremation taking over from burying, the custom has been extremely simplified in cities. Only flowers are presented to the dead relatives and revolutionary martyrs. No matter how respect is shown, good prayers for the deceased are expressed. Not only it is a day for commemorating the dead, it is also a festival for people to enjoy themselves. During March, everything in nature takes on a new look, as trees turn green, flowers blossom, and the sun shines brightly. Nature unfolds her beauty in shapes, colors sounds, dynamic pictures, stills, scents, obscure mists and clouds. It is a fine time to go out and to appreciate the beautiful scenes of nature during the festival. This custom can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and followed by each dynasty later till today. So visitors can be seen everywhere during the month of the festival. Spring outings not only add joy to life but also promote a healthy body and mind. Flying kites is an activity favored by many people during the Qingming Festival. Kites are not only flown during the day time but also in the evening. Little lanterns are tied to the kite or to the string that holds the kite. And when the kite is flying in the sky, the lanterns look like twinkling stars that add unique scenery to the sky during the night. What makes flying kites during this festival special is that people cut the string while the kite is in the sky to let it fly free. It is said this brings good luck and that diseases can be eliminated by doing this. All in all, the Qingming Festival is an occasion of unique characteristics, integrating sorrowful tears to the dead with the continuous laughter from the spring outing.

Facts and Brief History of Oman

Facts and Brief History of Oman The Sultanate of Oman long served as a hub on the Indian Ocean trade routes, and it has ancient ties that reach from Pakistan to the island of Zanzibar. Today, Oman is one of the wealthiest nations on Earth, despite not having extensive oil reserves. Capital and Major Cities Capital: Muscat, population 735,000 Major Cities: Seeb, pop. 238,000 Salalah, 163,000 Bawshar, 159.000 Sohar, 108,000 Suwayq, 107,000 Government Oman is an absolute monarchy ruled by Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. The Sultan rules by decree. Oman has a bicameral legislature, the Council of Oman, which serves an advisory role to the Sultan. The upper house, the Majlis ad-Dawlah, has 71 members from prominent Omani families, who are appointed by the Sultan. The lower chamber, the Majlis ash-Shoura, has 84 members who are elected by the people, but the Sultan can negate their elections.   Population of Oman Oman has about 3.2 million residents, only 2.1 million of whom are Omanis. The rest are foreign guest workers, mainly from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Egypt, Morocco, and the Philippines.  Within the Omani population, ethnolinguistic minorities include Zanzibaris, Alajamis, and Jibbalis.   Languages Standard Arabic is the official language of Oman. However, some Omanis also speak several different dialects of Arabic and even entirely distinct Semitic languages. Small minority languages related to Arabic and Hebrew include Bathari, Harsusi, Mehri, Hobyot (also spoken in a small area of Yemen), and Jibbali. About 2,300 people speak Kumzari, which is an Indo-European language from the Iranian branch, the only Iranian language spoken on the Arabian Peninsula. English and Swahili are commonly spoken as second languages in Oman, due to the countrys historical ties with Britain and Zanzibar. Balochi, another Iranian language that is one of the official languages of Pakistan, is also widely spoken by Omanis. Guest workers speak Arabic, Urdu, Tagalog, and English, among other languages. Religion The official religion of Oman is Ibadi Islam, which is a branch distinct from both Sunni and Shia beliefs, that originated just about 60 years after the Prophet Mohammeds death. Approximately 25% of the population is non-Muslim. Religions represented include Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, Bahai, and Christianity. This rich diversity reflects Omans centuries-long position as a major trade depot within the Indian Ocean system. Geography Oman covers an area of 309,500 square kilometers (119,500 square miles) on the southeast end of the Arabian Peninsula. Much of the land is a gravel desert, although some sand dunes also exist. Most of Omans population lives in the mountainous areas in the north and the southeast coast. Oman also possesses a small piece of land on the tip of the Musandam Peninsula, cut off from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Oman borders on the UAE to the north, Saudi Arabia to the northwest, and Yemen to the west.  Iran sits across the Gulf of Oman to the north-north-east.   Climate Much of Oman is extremely hot and dry. The interior desert regularly sees summer temperatures in excess of 53 °C (127  °F), with annual precipitation of just 20 to 100 millimeters (0.8 to 3.9 inches). The coast is usually about twenty degrees Celsius or thirty degrees Fahrenheit cooler. In the Jebel Akhdar mountain region, rainfall can reach 900 millimeters in a year (35.4 inches). Economy Omans economy is perilously reliant on oil and gas extraction, even though its reserves are only the 24th largest in the world. Fossil fuels account for more than 95% of Omans exports. The country also produces small amounts of manufactured goods and agricultural products for export - primarily dates, limes, vegetables, and grain - but the desert country imports much more food than it exports. The Sultans government is focusing on diversifying the economy by encouraging manufacturing and service sector development. Omans per capita GDP is about $28,800 US (2012), with a 15% unemployment rate. History Humans have lived in what is now Oman since at least 106,000 years ago  when Late Pleistocene people left stone tools related to the Nubian Complex from the Horn of Africa in the Dhofar region. This indicates that humans moved from Africa into Arabia around that time, if not earlier, possibly across the Red Sea.   The earliest known city in Oman is Dereaze, which dates back at least 9,000 years. Archaeological finds include flint tools, hearths, and hand-formed pottery. A nearby mountainside also yields pictographs of animals and hunters. Early Sumerian tablets call Oman Magan, and note that it was a source of copper. From the 6th century BCE forward, Oman was usually controlled by the great Persian dynasties based just across the Gulf in what is now Iran. First it was the Achaemenids, who may have established a local capital at Sohar; next the Parthians; and finally the Sassanids, who ruled until the rise of Islam in the 7th century CE. Oman was among the first places to convert to Islam; the Prophet sent a missionary south around 630 CE, and the rulers of Oman submitted to the new faith. This was prior to the Sunni/Shia split, so Oman took up Ibadi Islam  and has continued to subscribe to this ancient sect within the faith. Omani traders and sailors were among the most important factors in propagating Islam around the rim of the India Ocean, carrying the new religion to India, Southeast Asia, and parts of the East African coast. After the Prophet Mohammeds death, Oman came under the rule of the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates, the Qarmatians (931-34), the Buyids (967-1053), and the Seljuks (1053-1154). When the Portuguese entered the Indian Ocean trade  and began to exert their power, they recognized Muscat as a prime port. They would occupy the city for almost 150 years, from 1507 to 1650. Their control was not uncontested, however; the Ottoman fleet captured the city from the Portuguese in 1552 and again from 1581 to 1588, only to lose it again each time. In 1650, local tribesmen managed to drive the Portuguese away for good; no other European country managed to colonize the area, although the British did exert some imperial influence in later centuries. In 1698, the Imam of Oman invaded Zanzibar and drove the Portuguese away from the island. He also occupied parts of coastal northern Mozambique. Oman used this toehold in East Africa as a slave market, supplying African forced labor to the Indian Ocean world.   The founder of Omans current ruling dynasty, the Al Said  took power in 1749. During a secession struggle about 50 years later, the British were able to extract concessions from an Al Said ruler in return for supporting his claim to the throne. In 1913, Oman split into two countries, with religious imams ruling the interior while the sultans continued to rule in Muscat and the coast.   This situation grew complicated in the 1950s  when likely-looking oil formations were discovered. The sultan in Muscat was responsible for all dealings with foreign powers, but the imams controlled the areas that appeared to have oil. As a result, the sultan and his allies captured the interior in 1959 after four years of fighting, once again uniting the coast and interior of Oman. In 1970, the current sultan overthrew his father, Sultan Said bin Taimur  and introduced economic and social reforms. He could not stem the uprisings around the country, however, until Iran, Jordan, Pakistan, and Britain intervened, bringing about a peace settlement in 1975. Sultan Qaboos continued to modernize the country. However, he faced protests in 2011 during the Arab Spring; after promising further reforms, he cracked down on activists, fining and jailing several of them.