Thursday, October 31, 2019

Zionism and Arab Nationalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Zionism and Arab Nationalism - Essay Example For instance the Arab nationalist movements based on the religion than any other factor, contrary to this Zionism was more of ethnic based than any other factor. Some of the nationalist movement have also actively participated in the political arena by agitating for the rights and fairness of their people to whom they share political ideology. It is interesting to note that both Arab nationalism and Zionism were founded to champion for the interest of certain specific groups of people. Arab nationalism in this case was founded to recognize the Arab world in terms of uniting al the Arabs from all over the world and celebrating their glories, culture and literal work (Goldschmidt Arthur and Lawrence, 2009). Though this is the official claim for the formation of the Arab nationalism, other sources indicate that the rapid growing of the western civilization necessitated its formation and uncontrolled spread of the western culture in most parts of the world. To give a counter check on the same, Arab nationalism was formed to make the Arab culture more salient and recognizable in the world equally, so it can be argued to be a retaliatory action. Zionism on the other hand was formed to recognize the Jews, in their core beliefs; the nationalist movement recognized Jews population anywhere in the world without boundary restriction (Esposito, 2011). Looking at the two nationalist movements, one will recognize that both were not bi-ethnical but purely mono-ethnical movements that were put into place to champion for the respective ethnic groups. The formation period of the nationalistic movements differs; the Arab nationalism was formed in the 1920 s, the Zionism was formed in the 1940 s (Bosworth, 2007). Questions as to whether both Zionism and Arab nationalism met the threshold of nationalism before World War I is quite clear. It is important to recognize the definition of what nationalism is; it is a show of extreme patriotism and belonging to a particular nation. In th is light, only the Arab nationalism met the threshold at the time. The Arab nationalism was already formed in a clear territorial entity since it was unequivocal in its area of influences. This was is not the case with Zionism that were operating ubiquitously and meant for any Jews in any part of the world (Bosworth, 2007). Zionism was labeled a racist organization that seemed to be busybody championing for the rights of the Jews as if they were to be considered blue-eyed boys by the rest of the world (Esposito, 2011). The acts demonstrated by Zionism are believed to have led to the massacre persecution of the Jews by Germans leader Adolf Hitler during his dictatorial regime then. Hitler ordered the persecution of the Germans in an attempt to wipe them out of Germany regarding them as evil people (Goldschmidt Arthur and Lawrence, 2009). In contrast, Zionism during its initial formation was rather amorphous unlike the Arab nationalism. Zionism in the early days did not have any terri torial concentration of its people and were just operating widely in any part of the world. They claimed no nation of their own this is significantly contrasting with the way Arab nationalism was organized. The Arab movement recognized their territorial areas as well as their religious orientation. It was more defined and clear on its quest; to counter the unprecedented spread of the western power and civilization. They aimed at recognizing the achievement of the Arab community, the cultural affairs of the Arabs as well as the

Monday, October 28, 2019

National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Essay Example for Free

National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Essay The case analyses the dynamics of high performance teams using the example of Jeff Gordon’s racing team, a member of National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). Jeff Gordon was often described as a racing sensation, winning 40 individual races in a four year period. While Gordon was a star and a brand, few spectators knew that his outstanding performance should have been to a large extent attributed to his team consisting of more than a hundred of committed individuals, Rainbow Warriors pit crew, and supervised by visionary team leader, Ray Evernham. According to expert opinion, there are three key ingredients that provide for success in car racing, namely people, equipment and money. While cars and equipment are made approximately even in performance in order to make racing more competitive and spectacular, it is up to pilot and his crew to gain an advantage over the opponents. Effectiveness of Rainbow Warriors pit crew gave Gordon on average a one-second advantage with each pit stop. Ray Evernham managed to gather and develop such an outstanding crew by applying several important principles of group work management. He fostered group cohesion by a variety of methods and believed that sound preparation, ego less teamwork, and original strategizing are the inherent components of success in car racing. In his view, the emphasis should have been on team performance rather than individual performance. In case of a victory, prize money were distributed among all members of the crew; more importantly, the money earned by Evernham through speaking tours and autograph signings were also shared. In 1999, Ray Evernham resigned to start his own organization. Brian Whitesell took over as the crew leader on an interim basis; despite his academic qualifications, he was unable to lead the crew in the way Ray Evernham was. Robbie Loomis became the permanent crew chief, and during six months of the turbulent transition period Gordon haven’t won a single race. However, Loomis was able to deliver a strategic turnaround and ensure Gordon’s continuous success. Answers to Review Questions As concerns the philosophy behind high performance teams, Ray Evernham’s three principles (preparation, ego less teamwork, and innovations in strategizing) are universally applicable in any organization. Evernham was successful in implementing these principles in practice by encouraging teamwork, recognizing that ‘team IQ’ was greater than IQ of any individual member, and promoting cohesion through such practices as a ‘circle of strength’ when all team members sit in a circle facing each other as a symbol of their collective strength. People, management, and psychology came together under his leadership to ensure superiority over the opponents’ performance. The emphasis on continuous learning made it possible to stay ahead for many seasons in a row. However, Evernham also warned against excessive perfectionism that might have been unproductive. Honest acknowledgement of strength and weaknesses and strive for improvement were sufficient to secure a place on top. This is interrelated to yet another principle used by Evernham, namely keeping the egos in check and not boasting any technical or strategic privileges in front of the opponents. The time when a successful leader is replaced by somebody else is a test of group’s cohesiveness and commitment. The downside of the transition period is reduced efficiency and increased entropy. However, the advantage is associated with the fact that such a situation allows the team to reinvent itself to become even stronger and more cohesive, especially if a transformational leader arrives to manage the team. Summary for Managers There are several important implications for managers that stem from the analysis of this case. First of all, the principles which are applied to boost team performance are more or less universal. Focus on teamwork and organizational learning is crucial. The case study clearly states that high performance teams do not emerge by themselves – they require an effective recruiting strategy and attention to learning every detail of the work process. Attributing success and failure to the entire group rather than individual members has proven to increase the group’s performance and motivation. The second important implication has to do with group cohesiveness. When skills and knowledge of all group members combine in a way that exceeds the sum of knowledge of all individual members, the synergy effect can be observed, i. e. the system as a whole has certain qualities its elements do not have. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to pay attentive to group cohesion so that exceptional results can be achieved with limited human resources available in each organization. The third implication concerns team performance in the times of change. The case clearly demonstrates that both leadership and teamwork are equally important for success. With no strong leadership, Gordon’s team was not able to deliver outstanding results. However, the speed at which it was able to regain its position suggests that there were certain qualities of a team that made it possible to succeed even after a change of leadership style. A cohesive team can function efficiently under any talented leader due to close ties between team members and unique group culture that promotes continuous learning and shared responsibility.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Shakespeares Othello

Shakespeares Othello Language plays a very important role in all of Shakespeares plays. When Shakespeare performed his plays, no scenery and very few props were used. This meant that the language had to set an atmosphere, whether it is high in tension or a light hearted conversation. Use of language was also very important, as the vast majority of the audience was made up of common people. This meant that he had to make the language compelling and accessible. He does this by including jokes and curses, even in his tragedies. This comic relief is also used to create contrast and highlight the tragic sections, for example the Clown in Othello directly after act 3 scene 3, a very serious emotional part of the play. Language is also used to distinguish between the important characters and the lesser roles. The main characters like Othello tend to speak mostly in verse; this gives them a sense of superiority and elegance, while the less important speak in short, un-poetic sentences highlighting the difference . In this essay, I will look at how power and control influences the play and how the different characters use it, in particularly Iago. I will also look at how power and control shifts between the characters.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Power plays a very important role in the plot and overall outcome of this play. Power is used to create control and vice versa. This is very important as it allows Iago, who is lower ranking than Othello, to generate power through controlling Cassio and ultimately Othello. The fact that the play is set within the higher ranks of the Venetian army allows clear divisions in power to be highlighted immediately, and Othello being the General automatically puts him at the top of the triangle of power. However, as the play unfolds, the power seems to shift to Iago, the villain of the play. Right at the very beginning, Iagos manipulative nature is revealed when he convinces Roderigo to give Iago all of his money in return for helping Roderigo win Desdemonas hand, which is obviously a false promise. This allows Shakespeare to show that although Iago lacks power socially and within the army, he is adept at controlling others.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Controlling others is something which Iago repeatedly does throughout the play. In act 2 scene 3, he displays his control over Cassio, when he tries to make him drink. Like the beginning, even though Cassio is a higher rank that Iago, he still lets Iago bully him into drinking. At first, Iago suggests that he should drink for Othello and Desdemona and when Cassio refuses he implies that he is therefore a bad friend O, they are our friends. When Cassio still refuses Iago becomes more aggressive in his speech What, man! Tis a night of revels; the gallants desire it. When Cassio leaves to fetch the men at the door Iago has his first soliloquy, in which he reveals his intentions. If I fasten but one cup upon him, with that which he hath drunk tonight already, Hell be as full of quarrel and offence (II, iii, 41-43). In this soliloquy, Iago moves into verse, this could be to show the real Iago to the audience, not just the manipulative acting which h e puts on. Another reason for Iago going into verse is to make him appear more important in the play. Othello also controls others of a higher rank, albeit not in the manipulative nature of Iago, in Act 1 Scene 3 when Brabantio accuses him of stealing Desdemona and corrupting her using spells and medicines. Othello stays calm, also demonstrating his self control and talks his way out of it using long speeches in blank verse. In this speech, Othello repeatedly refers to the fact that he has a common tongue, Rude am I in my speech and little blessd with the soft phrase of peace, little grace I shall cause by speaking for myself. The reason for this self-criticism may be to emphasise that that what he is saying comes from the heart not the brain, demonstrating his love for Desdemona. This also reduces the sense of power and it makes Othello appear as just a man in love. Othello states that he is rude in speech, but he actually speaks very well, this could also be Othello showing his false modesty and trying to show off to Brabantio, questioning Othellos honesty. In stark contrast, Othel lo ends his speech with a contrasting last line, I won his daughter. This powerful last line restores his authority in the eyes of the Duke and the Senators.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This scene shows the power that accompanies self control, Iago also utilises this by showing a great deal of restraint when trying to convince Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful in act 3 scene 3. Did Michael Cassio, when you wood my lady, know of your Love? (III, iii 95-96) this question does not have any real meaning. However it gets Othello impatient and curious. He did from first to last. Why dost thou ask? to which Iago replies But for the satisfaction of m thought; No further harm. Iagos could have easily told Othello about Desdemona, but instead he resisted, this meant that Othello wanted to know even more. By putting Othello in this situation Iago used Othellos persistence to gain control and power over the situation. In unwillingly giving the information, Iago is laying down a false sense of trust. Throughout the scene Iago repeatedly reminds him of this, with constant remarks about how much he loves the moor. To show the love and dut y that I bear you, I humbly do beseech you of your pardon for too much loving you. During this scene, Othellos language is always changing. Sometimes he speaks in short broken up sentences, but then he composes himself and speaks in verse again. This shows the way that Othello is fighting jealousy. However when he finally gets proof that Desdemona is cheating in him, he loses all control and allows jealousy to take control of him, O monstrous! Monstrous!, Ill tear her all to pieces. Look here, Iago, all my fond love thus do I blow in heaven: Tis gone. Arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell! Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne to tyrannous hate!. (III, iii, 447-450) In this speech, Shakespeare shows that Othello has lost his self control by using punctuation to break up his once flowing sentences. The punctuation however would have only been visible to the actors. This means that they are more like stage directions than literary devices. Shakespeare used other stage directions to create a sense of power and superiority in this scene, like when Othello kneels at the end of his speech, (443-451). This shows visually Othello breaking down, and the fact that Iago is still standing symbolizes that Iago is the most powerful in this scene. In kneeling down, Othello also loses his stature and authority, as he is now below Iago. Do not rise yet. Here Iago shows his influence over Othello, Iago did not want Othello to rise by himself, it would make Othello feel more in control and powerful. Instead Iago joined him; this meant that Iago would conform to his position of sharing Othellos pain.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One very prominent statement made by Iago, in which he compares jealousy to a green eyed monster (III,iii, L. 166) can be seen as an attempt to further his control over Othello by warning him of Jealousy. He goes on to say that the monster Mocks the meat it feeds on, in this he is suggesting that if Othello gives in to jealousy it will mock him. The word mock in this context may mean destroy and the meat could symbolize Othellos love for Desdemona. Friendship and trust is what holds the story together, and Iago knows this. By constantly reminding the characters of this and by showing his devotion to them, he gets into a position of having more influence over what they do and how they behave to a certain situation that they do. When Iago is trying to force Cassio to drink, he reminds him that O, they are our friends (II, iii, 32). They fact that he refers to them as our friends gives the impression that they share something in common, bringing them closer and also increasing the amount of trust that Cassio has for Iago. Trust is a major fact of that scene, as well as trying to gain trust with Cassio, he is also trying to break up the trust between him and Othello. At the beginning of the scene, you get a strong sense of friendship between Othello and Cassio. Good Michael, look you to the guard tonight. (II, iii, 1) by using Cassios first name it shows that they are close friends.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In this play, Iago is a bit of an outsider, and has no relationships other than with his wife Emilia. When Iago is with Emilia, it shows his real persona attitude. Unlike with all the other characters, he shows no effort to show his devotion and love for her even though he is her wife. This is prominent in act 3 scene 3 when Emilia gives Iago Desdemonas handkerchief. When asked what will you do witht, Iago snatches it defensively and says Why, whats that to you? In this part of the scene, it shows Iagos lack of control and patience, something which is not evident in the rest of the play. This is very important, as this section of the play is very high paced and full of big events and big powerful scenes. This part of the scene also shows the real nasty side of Iago which you only previously saw in his quite frequent soliloquies outlining his plans.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In this play, power and control is a very important and ever changing factor, ultimately influencing the outcome of the play. Iago stays quite constantly emotionless showing his self control and Othello is the complete opposite, staying emotionally attached to almost every aspect. This in due course led to his death. This plays shows the power of the rumour, love and jealousy, not only in the play but in Elizabethan and modern day society. This is why; much like a lot of Shakespeares plays it shall always stay relevant.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Girls who Cried Witch in The Crucible Essay -- Arthur Miller

In â€Å"The Crucible†, the author, Arthur Miller, conveys what he believes Senator Joe McCarthy is doing during the Red Scare. The Salem Witch Trials were true events, while this play uses these trials and adds a fictional twist to show a point. Witchcraft was punishable by death during this time. Once names started flying in town it was like a chain reaction, people were accusing others of witchcraft because they were not fond of them or they had something they wanted. Some definitions state mass hysteria as contagious, the characters in this play deemed it true. In this play, innocent people were hung because some of the girls in town cried witch. To start from the beginning, Abby, Tituba, and the girls were out in the forest one night, dancing, and were caught by Reverend Paris. Abby blamed Tituba for calling the Devil. Tituba then said it was not her, for there are many witches in the community. Tituba named some of the town’s women as witches. From here, Abby got the idea to accuse Elizabeth of being involved in witchcraft. In addition, the chain reaction of mass hysteri...

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Case Study on Mutual Fund

Case study Mutual Fund Data Solution for a Bank Branch Network The Client Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with 74,000 employees in offices around the world, our client offers a full range of financial products and services to approximately 17 million customers worldwide, managing $435 billion in assets. The bank also ranks among the world’s leading on-line financial services firms, with more than 4. 5 million on-line customers. The bank approached VAULT when it needed a new mutual fund data solution in its vast network of branches across the country. The Challenge The bank’s customer service representatives, who promoted utual fund products to their customers, traditionally relied on research and reports from many different sources, but were frustrated with the inconsistency of information they were getting and with the length of time it took to produce reports for their customers. Of course, the bank’s customers weren’t that happy either. As a company w ith web-based technical expertise that provides service to the financial-services industry, VAULT was asked to draw upon its understanding of investors’ needs, as well as its deep base of technical experience, to produce a more efficient form of customer communications for the bank.Much of the project would involve developing and implementing a plan to utilize the bank’s existing Morningstar data feeds, in a centralized web application. This application would have to adhere to the strict technical guidelines of the bank’s branch intranet environment, a variety of different printers in each branch (which had to be tested to ensure document output was consistent and properly formatted for customers), as well as an outdated, yet custom version of the Netscape browser. The Solution VAULT recommended developing a custom solution that would provide the necessary screens and functionality for the bank’s retail branches.To ensure that system and performance requi rements were met, VAULT followed a strict approach to quality assurance that was incorporated into its project plan. It also recommended creating static images for graphing components and scheduling graphs for re-creation overnight; this ensured that the graphs were up to date each workday and minimized the processing time to load and print pages. In addition, VAULT recommended that an administrative site be developed to assist with the on-going operation of the bank’s mutual fund site. The administrative site provided managers ith the business intelligence tools to generate custom reports and highlight key aspects of web-site usage. The administrative site would also increase the bank’s self-sufficiency, help ensure reliability of the application, allow operators to regularly monitor scheduled data feeds and scheduled graphing production. Early in the development process, VAULT created a working prototype of the solution to test with end users and to gain a better und erstanding of the screen/data requirements. This was a valuable exercise since it highlighted areas of concern around usability, page size, load times, data and graphing requirements.The Benefits The bank’s financial advisors, planners and branch representatives were delighted with the quality of the mutual fund information now available through the bank’s intranet site, as well as the fast load and print times. This meant they could service their customers more effectively. Of course, VAULT also paid careful attention to the design of customer reports, balancing the need to provide clear mutual fund information to customers, with the regulatory disclaimers necessary with each printed report.When the project was completed, the bank’s customer service representatives realized immediate results. They were better able to access most of the mutual fund information online, rather than refer to a multitude of hard-copy and online reference materials. In short, the new tool developed by VAULT not only helped streamline the sales process, but also allowed for more professional delivery of information since the bank’s customer service representatives now had a single online source of mutual fund information.And that meant satisfied customers for the bank. Technologies Used Language: Microsoft Internet Information Service (ASP), ChartFX charting software Database: SQL Server 2000 Web server: Microsoft IIS 5 Operating System: Windows 2000 Launch your business forward. For more information, please contact Anthony Boright, President of VAULT Solutions Inc. at [email  protected] com or call 416-361-9944.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Chalk It Up

Chalk It Up Chalk It Up Chalk It Up By Maeve Maddox Having read the post about the expression chock-full, a reader asks, Could you also clarify and explain the origins of â€Å"chalk it up.† I’ve also seen â€Å"chock it up† which I assume is an error.   I’ve also heard â€Å"chop it up† in the same context. The expression â€Å"chalk it up† is one of several English idioms that contain the word chalk. The noun chalk, denoting â€Å"an opaque white soft earthy limestone,† has been in the language since the 10th century. The verb arose from the uses to which chalk can be put, especially for writing, drawing, and marking on a variety of surfaces, from walls to grassy fields. In the past, as now, sports enthusiasts used chalk to mark the field of play and to keep score. Tavern keepers kept track of customers’ accounts by writing amounts owed on the wall or on a slate. Scores for tavern games were also â€Å"chalked up† by the players. Other business owners kept track of accounts in the same way. Amounts owed were â€Å"chalked up.† When a bill was paid, the amount owed was â€Å"chalked off.† Then as now, people sometimes depended upon credit to get by. One of the OED citations given for chalk in the sense of credit is from a song sung by apprentices: â€Å"When we have no mony [sic], We shall find chalk.† Today they might sing, â€Å"When we have no money, We shall find plastic.† Here are a few examples of the use of chalk expressions on the Web: Much of  his  elementary school mischief can be  chalked up  to  boyish enthusiasm. (â€Å"attributed†) I wasnt ready for that so I just  chalked him off  as another friend gone wrong.  (â€Å"dismissed him from my mind†) If it works youll make money, if not,  chalk it up to experience. (â€Å"Consider it to be a lesson learned.†) This is my plan. If  you  can  chalk out  a better, pray  let me  have it. (â€Å"explain, devise†) Many Clouds chalks up win in Grand National (earns) We chalked up his  bad manners  to too much sugar.  (â€Å"attributed†) Our live text reporting on the Conservative Party conference finishes here. But thats not the end of the BBCs coverage by a long chalk.  (â€Å"by any means†) The OED explains the idiom â€Å"by a long chalk† this way: â€Å"in a great degree, by far (in allusion to the use of chalk in scoring ‘points’, etc.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:The Meaning of "To a T"40 Fish IdiomsDealing With A Character's Internal Thoughts