A Rumi of One’s Own Essay

Several years ago Kabir Helminski, a sheikh of the Mevlevi Order of Sufism, received a call from Madonna’s producer, who wanted to hire his troupe of whirling dervishes for a music video inspired by the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi. Helminski read the script, learned that a guy would be lying on top of Madonna while she sang â€Å"Let’s get unconscious, honey,† and wrote a polite letter declining the request. He also sent a package of books so that the singer might get a better sense of Rumi’s teachings. Like many Persian literary scholars, Helminski, who runs the Threshold Society, a Sufi study center in California, has had little success in convincing Americans that Rumi is about more than transcendent sex. (Madonna later recited Rumi’s poems on a CD, A Gift of Love, along with Goldie Hawn and Martin Sheen.) One of the five best-selling poets in America, Rumi, who was born 800 years ago in what is now part of Afghanistan, has become famous for his ability to convey mystical passion: his lovers are frequently merging into one, forgetting who they are, and crying out in pain. Yet his religious work—one book is popularly called the â€Å"Koran in Persian†Ã¢â‚¬â€is often ignored. To uncover and celebrate his heritage, UNESCO has declared 2007 the Year of Rumi; conferences about his work are being held in Istanbul, Kabul, Tehran, Dushanbe, and Ann Arbor. One of the featured speakers in Ann Arbor this fall will be Coleman Barks, an American poet who is largely responsible for Rumi’s American popularity as well as his reputation as an erotic soul-healer. Born in Tennessee, Barks freely admits to not knowing Persian (scholars call his best-selling works from the translations of others â€Å"re-Englishings†). While his poems are far more elegant and accessible than any previous English renditions, they tend to turn holy scenes into moments of sexual passion. Sometimes he takes out references to God and replaces them with â€Å"love.† As he explained in the introduction to his 2001 collection of poems, The Soul of Rumi, â€Å"I avoid God-words, not altogether, but wherever I can, because they seem to take away the freshness of experience and p ut it inside a specific system.† But Rumi, who spent most of his adult life in Konya, Turkey, based his life and poetry around that system. The son of an Islamic preacher, he prayed five times a day, made pilgrimages to Mecca, and memorized the Koran. Under the influence of an older dervish, Shams of Tabriz, he devoted his life to Sufism, an ancient, mystical branch of Islam. Sufis are less concerned with the codes and rituals of Islam than with making direct contact with God; as one scholar puts it, â€Å"Sufism is the core of the religion, the nut without the shell.† Still, the traditional Islamic texts are central to the faith. â€Å"I am the slave of the Qur’an and dust under the feet of Muhammad,† Rumi writes. â€Å"Anyone who claims otherwise is no friend of mine.† Rumi put forth an alarming quantity of writing—about 70,000 verses in 25 years—which affords translators the luxury of leaving out poems that might alienate the average American reader. In the introduction to his 2003 Rumi: The Book of Love,Barks jokes that his previous book of translations â€Å"achieved the cultural status of an empty Diet Coke can.† He gives the language a Southern hominess and an almost childlike simplicity: Love comes sailing through and I scream. Love sits beside me like a private supply of itself. Love puts away the instruments and takes off the silk robes. Our nakedness   together changes me completely. Starting with 50-year-old prose translations by the British scholar A.J. Arberry, Barks takes liberties to make Rumi’s language more accessible and universal. Occasionally this results in more than subtle changes in meaning. In one mistake, documented by the independent scholar Ibrahim Gamard, Barks mistranslates the word â€Å"blind† as â€Å"blond† due to a typo in Arberry’s version—inadvertently turning a scene about the abandonment of those who don’t know God (â€Å"Bright-hearted companions, haste, despite all the blind ones, to home, to home!†) into a part about resisting sexual lures (â€Å"I know it’s tempting to stay and meet these blonde women†). In Rumi’s time, it’s hard to imagine that there were many women with yellow hair; there wasn’t even a word for it. Barks’s wholesome soulfulness should be credited for bringing Rumi’s work to popularity, but in the process he leaves behind perhaps the most important part of the poems. â€Å"Rumi is not a great poet in spite of Islam,† says William Chittick, a Sufi literature scholar at Stony Brook University. â€Å"He’s a great poet because of Islam. It’s because he lived his religion fully that he became this great expositor on beauty and love.† There’s a sense in Rumi’s poems that he is at his emotional limits, simultaneously ecstatic and exhausted. His faith seems desperate, and almost tangible. Such devotion is striking because it’s inspired by God, not by the promise of sex as it sometimes appears in the translations. â€Å"He was the most important religious figure of his day,† says Jawid Mojaddedi, an Afghan-born Rumi scholar at Rutgers, whose translation of Book Two of Rumi’s Masnavi came out this month. â€Å"And yet people are shocked to find out Rumi was Muslim; they assume he must have spent his life persecuted for his beliefs, hiding in some cave in Afghanistan. We talk of clash of civilizations, and yet there’s this link that needs to be spelled out.† (Rumi’s success in America has actually boosted his popularity, Mojaddedi says, in parts of the Middle East.) But for many readers, Rumi’s Persian background has little bearing on the force of his poems. He has come to embody a kind of free-for-all American spirituality that has as much to do with Walt Whitman as Muhammad. Rumi’s work has become so universal that it can mean anything; readers use the poems for recreational self-discovery, finding in the lines whatever they wish. â€Å"It’s impossible to take Rumi out of context,† says Shahram Shiva, a Rumi translator and performance poet who regularly gives readings of Rumi’s poems, often in yoga studios. â€Å"Great art doesn’t need context,† he says. â€Å"The best thing for Beethoven’s popularity was when they put a disco beat behind Symphony no. 5.† Shiva recites Rumi to the accompaniment of flute, piccolo, piano, conch shell, and harmonica and belts out the lines in a deep, sultry Broadway voice. â€Å"Rumi’s one of the great creative beings on this planet,† he says, â€Å"a mixture of Mozart and Francis [of] Assisi, with a little Galileo thrown in, and maybe some Shakespeare and Dante.† In his most anthologized poems Rumi comes off as a saintly Tony Robbins, urging people to break barriers, stop worrying, touch the sky, make love, never surrender. It’s as if publishers worry that reading poetry is such a fragile enterprise that too much weight and context and not enough sex will scare everyone away. Helminski, who used to run a publishing company that put out Barks’s early books, noticed a consistent sensibility in the lines readers were requesting permission to quote: those suggesting that there’s no conventional morality, no such thing as ethical failure. The number one requested line was â€Å"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing / there is a field. I’ll meet you there.† â€Å"Our culture is so shame-ridden that when someone comes along and says, ‘You’re OK,’ it’s a great relief,† says Helminski. â€Å"Americans still have an adolescent relationship with Rumi. It will take some maturing before we move beyond the clichà ©s.†

Gmo Soybeans

There GMOs in almost everything that we eat. GMO stands for genetically modified organism. â€Å"Genetic modification occurs when genes from one organism are transferred to another in ways that do not occur without human intervention. The result is a GMO, or a genetically modified organism. † (Farrell 1) Soybeans are one of the largest GMO crops being produced. With the modification of the soybean by Monsanto, it is now possible for the crop to survive when herbicides are sprayed over it.The herbicide that the soybeans are resistant to is Roundup, so farmers do not have to worry about their soybeans dying to the herbicide. I believe that the negative effects of modified soybeans so not outweigh the benefits because genetically modified soybeans so not increase the production but increase the businesses’ profit, and there are health problems that can arise. Having GM soybeans does not mean that more would be produced; it only means that businesses would raise their profi ts.Many European countries do not buy any GMO products from the U. S. because they are afraid of any problems that may arise in the future, so I believe that since other countries are not buying any GM food, they do not want to change back into growing food naturally with no modifications or pesticides, because they want to make a bigger profit. They prevent any change that could stop them from making more profit. They do not care if they are damaging the environment; they only care about making more money.For example, people use Roundup (an herbicide) to kill weeds in their backyards or on the sidewalk. Farmers use the same product on the food that we want; they use it to kill the weeds that are growing around the soybeans. To prevent the soybeans from also dying, they have been modified to withstand the weed killer. Scientists have modified it by adding three different genes to the plant: a gene from bacterium, from a virus, and from a petunia. (McMillen )When combine with the ori ginal gene, it looks the same but it is now resistant to the Roundup herbicide.Even with soybeans modified, farmers do not benefit from it. The modification has not helped the production go up, the only thing that has gone up is the price. â€Å"[Costs] about $6 an acre to plant the usual seeds, companies charge over $40 per acre for the genetically modified seeds [and the companies gain $34 per acre of seeds sold]. (McMillen 1) Because the seeds are seeds are patented, (which means that the one who invented it, is the only one who has the right to use or sell the product to anyone,) farmers cannot save any eeds from the ones that they have grown. Therefore; each year they have to buy more from the same business. If the farmers save the seeds, they will be fined or even taken to jail. Genetically modified soybeans can also cause health problems. Soy beans can cause food allergies. Since we don’t really know if the bacteria gene in the soybeans will cause a reaction, scientis ts have compared the proteins in the soy with other proteins that are known to cause allergies.If the GM protein has sequences that cause allergies, then according to the World Health Association, the GM crop should not be sold or there should be more testing done on it. However, there are sections of proteins produced in GM soybeans that are identical to allergens, but there was no more testing done to it. (Smith 1) If there are proteins in the soy that are causing allergies, â€Å"then the situation may be made much worse by something called horizontal gene transfer (HGT).That's when genes spontaneously transfer from one species' DNA to another. † (Smith 1) Plants should naturally have barriers that keeps genes from transferring to other species, but since there are foreign genes in the soy, it is losing its ability to stop this from happening. Even though it is most common in bacteria and rare in plants and mammals, genes transfer from one species to another, and a study f ound that parts of the genes from the soy were found in the DNA of human gut bacteria.So even after we stop eating GM soy, we could still be exposed to this transfer of genes because it will still be produced in our intestines. (Smith 1)I believe that there should be more testing because we do not know if there are any other risks involved with eating GM soybeans. Genetically modified soybeans are not beneficial because there is no gain in product only the gain in profit of businesses, and it also causes allergies.With soybeans being resistant to weed killers, weeds are becoming resistant to Roundup, so farmers actually have to use more money to buy more herbicides because they may not be working well anymore. Also it costs more to buy GM soy that soy that has not been tampered with. Not only do businesses profit, but we the consumers can suffer from the product. There are proteins in the soy gene that are identical to genes that cause allergies. We the consumers should be able to d ecide what we want eat, and also decide how we want the food to be produced.

Country report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Country report - Essay Example The risks exist because of slave labor prevalent in the cocoa farms while the process of cocoa has increased manifold. Obesity and diabetic concerns may impact the confectionery market while free imports may impact the business. This report strongly recommends the UK as a location for setting up the manufacturing base because of the strong support for fare trade products. A Swiss chocolate manufacturer is evaluating several locations to set up a manufacturing base for exports to the neighboring regions. This report evaluates UK as a location to serve European and other developing regions. The main criterion for evaluation of a location has been the fair-trade principle which would enable the manufacturer to decide on the location. This evaluation would be based on an assessment of the opportunities and risks presented by the political, economic, social and legal environments. Fair-trade has been prevalent in the UK confectionery market as the three market leaders (Cadbury’s, Nestle and Mars) have committed themselves to fair-trade. However, the political stability is impacted by the slave labor in cocoa farming which will be discussed at length in the report. The economic power rests with the market leaders in the confectionery industry which needs assessment. Socially, people have become conscious of fair-trade and it is believed that they are willing to pay a premium for fair-trade products. However, the market strength is important. Legal implications have led to better guidance to nutrition which can promote fair-trade. Each of these four factors is important to decide on the location for the manufacturing unit and hence the report evaluates the opportunities and risks associated with them. Based on the findings, the recommendations would be suggested and the limitations highlighted. Fairtrade has been defined as a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. The purpose of implementing

Home Bias Puzzle Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Home Bias Puzzle - Research Paper Example This is due to the fact that changes in the domestic economic environment are less likely to affect the investments in international markets. Jeske (2001, p. 37) explains that portfolios which are invested outside the domestic market are not considered to be risky because the risk of the investment is distributed in several markets. The reasons why the home bias is common among investors raise puzzles among economists. This paper analyzes the explanations for home bias and evaluates the reason why it is convincing, which makes it a continuous phenomenon in finance and investment economics. There are various barriers to the flow of capital across nations due to less or lack of economic integration. Sendi and Bellalah (2010, p. 78) assert that this explains the home bias of investors. The economic barriers include restrictive economic laws, high information costs, international taxation, high transaction costs and political boundaries which affect foreign investment. This illustrates t hat investment in foreign equities is costly to the investors and their propensity for domestic investment. These barriers seem convincing as a valid justification for home bias. However, the home bias puzzle continues because the bias continues even after the removal of these restrictions in the modern global economy. Shikuan and Cheng-Da (2011, p. 1

(Obama and US healthcare system) political issue in terms of risk Essay

(Obama and US healthcare system) political issue in terms of risk taking and leadership - Essay Example Evidently, there are two main aspects of international relations that affect law and order in the modern world. These are balance of power and political dominance (hegemony). International relations and hegemony are often considered two parallel things i.e. they are irreconcilable. This is because of the fact that dominating states are always reluctant to embrace and utilize forms of order or abide by the rules of international law. Some dominant states perceive these rules as overly constraining. On the other hand, the internal law systems seem to be far from balance of power on the premise that it may grant formal recognition to superior countries thus subjecting them to political realm. Critically, there is need of power to ensure that social norms and rules are observed by both powerful and less powerful states. In such situations, international law is redundant since it cannot effectively constrain powerful countries. As such, there is need for a balance of power for internation al law to exist. As suggested by Krisch (2005), international relations and law are spheres of equality. International relations study utilizes a number of theories to explain relations amongst nations. This essay attempts to reveal whether a balance of power or hegemony can help maintain order in the contemporary society, and the implications of each

Teaching Multiculturalism with Materials List and Script Essay

Teaching Multiculturalism with Materials List and Script - Essay Example The story is told from the point of view of the spirit of a Grandmother finishing her time on Earth. It describes some Indian's beliefs about what it is like to cross into the spirit world. (Non-computer source) 2. Video: Positively Native - This video deals with stereotypes about Native Americans and how one Native American child comes to terms with those stereotypes. The story follows Martin as he creates a video that gives an accurate portrayal of Indian lifestyle. Martin learns about his own heritage by interviewing relatives and taking part in a drumming ceremony (Chariot Video Distribution). (Non-computer source) 3. Audio: Grey, Z. (n.d., originally publ. 1922). The vanishing American. Grey has a sympathetic take on Native Americans and sees a culture in peril. It tells of a young Navajo who is taken by a party of whites at a young age and subsequently has a white upbringing. He struggles to balance his Native American origin with the white culture he knows well and in which he enjoys success. (Non-computer source) 4. Picture: National Museum of the American Indian. Assiniboine cloth dress. Retrieved July 23, 2008, from http://www.nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/identity_by_design/IdentityByDesign.html. This picture shows a dress that bridges cultural gaps between Native American worlds. For book: "No matter where someone might live on this planet, one thing is sure: people from a community there, sometimes even close friends and family members, eventually pass away. What are some things people in our society - not necessarily you, maybe just someone you know - believe about the afterlife I've placed you in small groups to discuss this subject. You have 5 minutes to talk. Select one person to write a list of things you noted, and another person to read the list to the class." "Now that you've shared your thoughts, please start group reading Beyond the ridge, by Paul Goble. As you read, you should each make notes about how the grandmother in the story deals with an important issue in her life." "You've made some good lists about issues that were important to the grandmother. Now compare this list to the list you made earlier, about your ideas of the afterlife. Where are there similarities and differences" For video: "What are some things you think you know about people who live in the southern part of the United States How about people from the North What about people from the West [list all answers on board.] Here on our list, we have some accurate information, but we also have some stereotypes. What are stereotypes [collect students' answers on board.] We can say that stereotypes are broad conceptions we have of a large group that we form based on interaction with and knowledge of a small number of people from that group. What stereotypes do you think people have about elementary school students Does it ever hurt your feelings when they think something is true about you, but it s not "What do you think are some stereotypes people have about Native Americans [collect list on board.] Let's take a look at a video called Positively Native. It will tell us how a young Native American thinks the world sees him, and

Strategic Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Strategic Plan - Essay Example Another main risk of Hawaiian Airlines includes causing distress to passengers in cases where the authorities find that their luggage’s â€Å"size, weight, or character renders it unsuitable for transportation on the particular aircraft which is to transport it, or which cannot be accommodated without harming or annoying passengers† (Contract of Carriage, 2013).Hawaiian Airlines is forbidden from allowing any passengers to carry an item that is prohibited in their regulations or laws. Risk Management: Another thing is that Hawaiian Airlines does not allow any object or device, which can get in the way with its usual processes, on board the aircraft. â€Å"Risk management is a systematic way of identifying potential risks within a project, gauging or estimating the probabilities of these risks occurring, to then develop strategies to manage these risks† (Bliss, 2005). Risk assessment: Identifying risks: Hawaiian Airlines explores various options available in order to reduce costs. But this is a very difficult task as present day competition between different airlines is very stiff. Some risks faces by the airlines arise because of the complex structure of its industry. These risks have to be identified and managed for the airlines to maintain its business and progress to higher levels. One of the major issues faced by the airlines is that it can sometimes alienate its loyal customers. This happens at times when the Aloha flights of Inter-Island are skimped in order to upscale or refurbish Hawaiian Pacific Airlines in order to increase client service. Risk Analysis: Risk assessment is not just related with identifying risks, but also making the stakeholders and project team aware of them. It also includes assessing the possible severity of these risks, thus, recognizing where most attention is to be given in order to transform risks into the advantage of the organization. In the case of aggressive growth, Hawaiian Airlines faces medium risk a s mentioned before. It is a fact that they do not provide services of flight to countries such Singapore and India, which are common tourism destinations. Singapore being an extremely popular tourist centre and the third richest nation in the globe, should be included by the Hawaiian Airlines in the list of countries they provide services to. Market Share in Inter-Island Services in Hawaiian Airlines shows low risks comparatively. To remove the competition in Inter-Island facilities area, the industry needs to develop some strategies to attract further customers and, therefore, increase their market share. Announcing particular offers, introducing special services, offering additional discounts to common fliers etc can be a few among the strategies. Brand Image in Hawaiian Airlines is an element that poses high risks. Corporate reputation is influenced to some extent by the value of the pilots in the airlines. It is the most crucial part in strategic airline management and, therefor e, Hawaiian Airlines have to maintain as well as find ways to improve their brand image. Calculating Severity The scales for calculating the probability as well as influence of risks may be qualitative, in some cases where there are comparative definitions available. Hawaiian Airlines suggests the following: Scale impact 1 Very aggressive growth Low 33 2 Interisland Competition risk

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 20

Management - Essay Example The said structure may be considered as bureaucratic or post-bureaucratic depending upon the performance. Bureaucratic is considered when there is a value for merits, hierarchy and definite separation of responsibilities and roles. On the other hand, a post-bureaucratic organization may have the hierarchy but there is a sense of equality in voicing out opinions and ideas through dialogues. Post-bureaucratic also favors consensus which means the decision would depend upon the majority of votes or prevailing idea (DuBrin, 2012: 263). Despite of the â€Å"majority wins† mentality, hierarchy still exists in post-bureaucratic organizations. Kraft was sort of a centralized rigid organization way back before its acquisition of Cadbury. After one and a half year of acquiring Cadbury, the company decided to split the organization into two namely the snack food business and grocery business (Geller, 2011). In addition, it also made efforts to decentralize its structure by allowing more staffs to participate in decision-making and improving the company as a whole. The decision-making involving the product development and manufacturing would be the ones transferred to the lower levels of the organizational hierarchy. In addition, the structure might look like a matrix because the information technology, human resources and logistics teams would be shared across the organization (Ferrari, 2010). Organizational structure is not the only concern in the paper as the ethical issues are also important in the productivity and performance of a company. It is already an accepted fact that making mistakes is inevitable but can be reduced by careful preparations, best practices and sound decisions. Each mistake can be detrimental to the overall state of the company so the rightness or wrongness of an action or practice is being looked at by the professionals and even by the public. After all, a business depends upon the profit that will be gained from

Representation of the femme fatal in sci-fi films, how has the femme Dissertation

Representation of the femme fatal in sci-fi films, how has the femme fatale changed from the 20th centaury to the 21st centaury - Dissertation Example But from literature, the femme fatale has inevitable seeped into other forms of art as well. In film, for instance, the role of the femme fatale has become a recognizable trope in certain genres, even inviting variations like spoofs or parodies of it. In film, the genre of film noir has generally monopolized or been associated traditionally with the use of the femme fatale. Film noir makes room for two kinds of female archetypes: the sweet, dutiful, loving and reliable women and the deceitful, mysterious, subversive and manipulative femmes fatales (Dirks, ‘Femme Fatale’, n.d.). An instance of a film where one finds both kinds is Double Indemnity (1944), where Phyllis Dietrichson, the homicidal wife who feigns interest in and plots with the insurance agent to kill her husband is the typical femme fatale while her step-daughter Lola Dietrichson, loving, honest and helpless, represents the only other type of woman that film noir allows for. The appearance and function of th e femme fatale in films has evolved over the years, and film noir is no longer the genre that monopolizes the use of this figure. Science-fiction films have also been repeatedly invoking the figure of the femme fatale over the years to complement their other thematic concerns. How, why and where this use of the femme fatale has taken place will be evaluated in the course of this paper. What evolving roles has the femme fatale been invoked to perform; what common patterns and departures from such patterns have occurred in their representation; what universal concerns, if any, has the femme fatale stood for: these are a few of the questions which this paper will seek to answer. The femme fatale must first be defined for us to be able to identify her in different works of art. There are certain characteristics that are popularly recognized as being typical of the femme fatale. Tim Dirks’s description of femmes fatales as ‘mysterious, duplicitous, subversive, double-crossin g, gorgeous, unloving, predatory, tough-sweet, unreliable, irresponsible, manipulative and desperate women (‘Femme Fatale’, n.d.)’ puts in place some of these commonly accepted associations of the femme fatale. However, there is no real consensus among either critics or moviegoers of what exactly defines the femme fatale. The term is flexible and allows for a wide range of interpretations. There can be elements of the femme fatale in some characters that do not otherwise wholly conform to the stereotype and vice versa. To begin our exploration into the role of femmes fatales in science fiction films over the years it is instructive to first attempt providing an introduction to, if not a definition of, the femme fatale through the eyes of various critics and scholars over time. This attempt at defining femme fatale has been a long ongoing process in film studies, and not often with much success. There are often inherent obstacles in the act of defining itself. As critic Linda Ruth Williams declares that though most critics try to provide a ‘psychoanalytic or socially informed’ analysis of the femme fatale, what happens more often than not is succumbing to the impulse to ‘

American Politics and Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

American Politics and Government - Essay Example By examining and addressing these particular issues, we will be able to gain a much more informed and understanding viewpoint on the subject matter at hand, and as well, we will be able to get a better grasp in regards to the matter of the context of political issues today in general. The aim of this paper is to do all of this, and as well address any key and related issues that exist. This is what will be dissertated in the following. When it comes to the issue of the features of American political culture which are used to help balance democracy and elitism in the United States, there are many different features which are present here, and one of the most major is that of the views of political thinkers and historians such as Alexis de Tocqueville, Samuel Kernell, and Robert Goldwin, for example. Tocqueville in particular, as he has discussed in detail - particularly in his work Democracy in America - about such issues as the New World, for instance, and about its burgeoning democratic order. Tocqueville was able to do this properly and efficiently by writing of his travels through American in the early 19th century, and by pointing out several times about how he saw democracy as being a sort of equation, one which balanced liberty and equality, concern for the individual as well as that of the community. Tocqueville points out throughout most of his work Democracy in America that he believes that democracy in America lacks many things, including not only that of the "soundness of judgment which is necessary to select men really deserving of their confidence, but often have not the desire or the inclination to find them out. It cannot be denied that democratic institutions strongly tend to promote the feeling of envy in every human heart, not so much because they afford to everyone the means of rising to the same level with others as because those means perpetually disappoint the persons who employ them" (Tocqueville, 1835). The issue of democracy possibly being in danger of disappearing in the United States is one of incredible significance and one which although has had many doubts along the way as well, has caused an incredible amount of fear and disparagement as well. One of the biggest explanations as to why democracy is considered as being in danger of disappearing in the United States is due to the fact that the freedom of speech is slowly being 'crushed', and it has been considered that the founding fathers of the United States of America themselves would be genuinely concerned in regards to this matter, and about these recent developments in American democracy, and that surely they being who they are would feel that the United States as a country is absolutely facing a clear and present danger, one which is so serious that it has the potential to be able to completely threaten the future of the American experiment. It is considered by some that the biggest threat to democracy in America is actua lly not terrorists, which is what many people seem to automatically

Long Neck in Thailand Essay Example for Free

Long Neck in Thailand Essay Long Neck people are originating in the Shan State in Burma is a Union of Myanmar these unique people are a small minority of the Karennin or Red Karen people of Burma and they are have also In Northern Thailand. They are from Padaung tribe synonym Kayan tribe and this tribe has today a number about 50. 000 persons. Kayan Lahwi is developed as a combination of Kayan by slash and burn and Lawi tribe by neck rings from Laos and North Thailand. Padaung (Yan Pa Doung) is a Shan term for the Kayan Lahwi (the group whose women wear the brass neck coils). The Kayan resident in Mae Hong Son Province in Northern Thailand refer to themselves as Kayan and object to being called Padaung. In The Hardy Padaungs (1967) Khin Maung Nyunt, one of the first authors to use the term Kayan, says that the Padaung prefer to be called Kayan. In the late 1980s and early 1990s due to conflict with the military regime in Burma, many Kayan tribes fled to the Thai border area. The Thai government has granted them refugee status, but they are allowed to live only in certain areas. Villages displaying Padaung women with brass neck coils for tourist dollars appeared. There are three Kayan villages in Mae Hong Son province in Thailand. The largest is Huay Pu Keng, on the Pai river, close to the Thai Burma border. Huai Seau Tao is a commercial village opened in 1995. Many of the residents of Nai Soi Kayan Tayar moved into the Karenni refugee camp in September 2008, but a few families remain there. Most of the Kayan people in Mae Hong Son are formerly from nine villages in Karenni State. The majority are from Rwan Khu and Daw Kee village. The people of Huay Pu Keng are mainly from Lay Mile village. Women of the various Kayan tribes identify themselves by their different form of dress. The Kayan Lahwi tribe are the most renowned as they wear ornaments known as neck rings, brass coils that are placed around the neck. These coils were first apple to young girls when they are around five years old. Each coil is replaced with longer coil, as the weight of the brass pushes the collar bone down and compresses the rib cage. Contrary to popular belief, the neck is not actually lengthen the illusion of a stretched neck is created by the deformation of the clavicle. Many ideas regarding why the coils have been suggested, often formed by visiting anthropologists, who have hypothesized that the rings protected women from becoming slaves by making them less attractive to other tribes. Contrastingly it has been theoried that the coils originate from the desire to look more attractive by exaggerating sexual dimorphism, as women have more slender necks than men. It has also suggested that the coils give the women resemblance to a dragon, an important figure in Kayan folklore. The coils may be mean to protect from tiger bites, perhaps literally, but probably symbolically. Many women have removed the rings for medical examinations. Most women prefer to wear the rings once their necks were elongate, as their necks and collars bone are often bruised and discolored from being hidden behind brass for so long. Additionally, the collar feels like an integral part of the body after ten or more years of continuous wear. The kayan appear to be Mongolian in origin, and they have their own distinct language and cultural traditions. Many of them follow an animist religion, although some also integrate Buddhist beliefs into their religious practices. The Kayans’ traditional religion is called Kan Khwan, and has been practiced since the people migrated from Mongolia during the Bronze Age. It includes the belief that the Kayan people are the result of a union between a female dragon and a male human/angel hybrid. The major religious festival is the 3-day Kay Htein Bo festival, which commemorates the belief that the creator god gave form to the world by planting a small post in the ground. During this festival, held in late March or early April, a Kay Htoe Boe pole is erected and participants dance around the pole. This festival is held to venerate the eternal god and creator messengers, to give thanks for blessings during the year, to appeal for forgiveness, and pray for rain. It is also an opportunity for Kayan from different villages to come together to maintain the solidarity of the tribe. The Kayan have a strong belief in augury and nothing is done without reference to some form of divination, including breaking thatch grass, but most importantly consulting the chicken bones. In present times the annual Kay Htein Bo festival is always accompanied by a reading of the chicken bones to predict the year ahead. Fowl bone prognostication can be witnessed in the Kayan villages in Thailand’s Mae Hong Son province during the annual festival and during â€Å"Cleansing Ceremonies† which are held when a family has encountered ill fortune. Dreams are also used to make predictions.

Social and Formal Groups Comparison Essay Example for Free

Social and Formal Groups Comparison Essay I suppose that the Cornerstone Hospice center where I do volunteer work counts as a formal organization. As for a social group I did attend a church social club for mother’s years ago. With the social group all activities were pretty much the same for all. We did potluck each week and rotated who brought what. We did arts and crafts and rotated on who’s idea would be used and we had older more experienced moms as guest lecturers. As for the Formal group activities varied from one’s education and or experience and training. Only nurses could do their jobs and so on. I worked the office doing filing, sorting, or putting together booklets or filling orders for the nurses. They trained me to see and spend time with hospice patients but everyone pretty much had their place. Hierarchy in the social group didn’t exist and in the formal it went according to their position in the company. The norms for the social group were just to participate and for the formal group we had pages of information we had to go through study sign and were tested on. Membership Criteria for the social group was just that you were a mom or an expectant mom. They advertised in the city local paper and the church paper. As for the formal group anyone can volunteer however a back ground check has to be passed, you also have to be trained and pass all tests, and have a current Hepatitis vaccine. I sought them out since I wanted to do volunteer work and knew hospice centers took volunteers. Relationships with the social group were primary whereas with the formal group it seemed to be more of selective primary ties. Communications in the social group were always face to face and very friendly whereas in the formal group it varied from face to face to formal and in writing. Focus of the social group was person oriented and the formal group was task oriented because the task of seeing to it that the patients on hospice were getting the right kind of care was the number one goal and task of all of us. Reference: Macionis, John J. (2011). Society: The Basics (11th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Retrieved from University of Phoenix Axia, Soc120 – Sociology course website.

The Critical Success Factors Of Scope Management Information Technology Essay

The Critical Success Factors Of Scope Management Information Technology Essay Until today, the ICT project success has yet to demonstrate an excellent track record. Findings from a research done by Standish Group from 1994 until 2009 revealed that the percentage for challenge and failure IT projects was still high as compared to that of a successful project [4]. There are many reasons which contribute to these failure. One of the main reasons is the poor PSM ([3],[5]). According to many researchers, PSM is a critical area which needs to be given attention in ensuring the success of a project ([6]-[11]). Based on the literature review, it has been found that none of the research done applies the concept of CSF in ICT PSM in order to upgrade the ICT project success. Therefore, this research was conducted with the intention to identify the CSFs in PSM, which could contribute to the ICT project success, in terms of stakeholders satisfaction, time estimation accuracy and cost estimation accuracy. It was expected that this study would give researchers some new insights on PSM CSFs for ICT project success. This paper consists of four sections, which are background, research methods, results and discussion, and conclusions. II. BACKGROUND This section explains briefly two main concepts in this research, which are ICT Project Scope Management and CSF. Then, a brief explanation will be given on the research factors which are obtained from the combination between failure factors and success factors in PSM. These factors have the potential to contribute to the ICT project success. ICT Project scope management In this research context, ICT Project Scope Management is defined as the processes required to ensure that the ICT project includes all the work required, and only the work required, to complete the project successfully [12]. Meanwhile, ICT is defined as any product that will store, retrieve, manipulate, transmit, or receive electronically in a digital form, which comprises of technology, communication and application [13]. PSM is one of the nine project management fields of knowledge [12]. It is very crucial in ensuring the project success as compared to the other eight fields of knowledge [6]. PSM includes the process of scope planning, requirements collection, scope definition, WBS creation, scope verification and scope control. All these processes are needed to ensure that only the required work will be carried out. Any unnecessary works is a waste and can increase the risks in project management [15]. Incomplete and vague project scope could cause requirement creep and scope creep [5] which could cause the project to be incomplete on time and at a predetermined cost. It could also cause the delivery produced (product, service or result) could not satisfy the stakeholders. The Critical success factor approach In 1979, Rockart introduced the CSF method and concluded that CSF is an effective and efficient method to assess data requirements [19]. This method has been studied until it becomes more stable ([20]-[21]) and it has been applied widely in various industry sectors and domains [22]. Bullen and Rockart defines CSF as the limited number of areas in which satisfactory results will ensure successful competitive performance for the individual, department, or organization. CSFs are the few key areas where things must go right for the business to flourish and for the managers goal to be attained [20]. According to them, each CSF set is created uniquely and differently based on the environment where this method is applied. In IT/ICT project management field, CSF method is applied as an effort to upgrade the ICT project success such as to plan, develop and implement the software project ([23]-[24]) and data depository execution [25]. Success Factors in ICT Project Scope Management Based on a thorough review done on academic and practitioner literatures, it has been found that there was no formal research that has been carried out to identify CSFs in ICT Project Scope Management. However, there were success and failure researches in ICT projects such as software projects, development and implementation projects of information system, web-based project and network installation project which involve project scope ([6],[23],[26]-[33]). From these researches, the factors which have the same criteria were combined according to three dimensions: Project, Process and People. To determine the project success attributes which reflect the whole perception on an ICT project success, PMBOK guidelines were used which demonstrate the essential relationship between PSM and Project Time Management, and between PSM and Project Cost Management [12]. Based on the stakeholders role and responsibility in managing project scope, the stakeholders satisfaction as an ICT project success attribute was taken into account ([12],[14],[34]-[35]). Table 1 shows the summary of the attributes used in this research. TABLE 1 SUCCESS ATTRIBUTES Dimension Attribute Overall perceived level of success Stakeholders satisfaction (Stakeholders are satisfied, accept and approve with the project scope planned, defined and implemented; All the deliverables produced by the project were accepted and approved by the stakeholders). Time estimation accuracy (All the work that has to be carried out (project scope) for a project helps successfully in estimating the time needed to complete a project; Clear main deliverables (product, service, result) helps successfully in estimating the duration of time needed to complete a project. Cost estimation accuracy (All the work that has to be done for a project (based on the scope) helps successfully in estimating the cost needed to complete the project). III. METHODOLOGY This research was an exploratory survey which used quantitative method. The instrument used was a questionnaire and it was developed based on the combination of failure and success factors gained from the literature review. Reliability test, factor analysis and regression analysis have been conducted to determine the critical success factor using SPSS version 17. Survey questionnaire In this study, a survey questionnaire was employed as the method of data collection. A structured questionnaire was constructed to capture the respondents perception of the questions. The survey instrument consists of six sections. The first section was on respondents profile and demographic information. The second, third and fourth sections were on success factors related to project, process and people. The fifth section was on perception of ICT project success. The last section was for additional comments, where respondents were invited to give any feedback or thought related to the questions stated. To measure the importance of success factors and perception of ICT project success, a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1= strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree was adopted to solicit the perceptions on the degree of importance for the identified success factors relative to the ICT project success. An in-depth discussion about the questionnaire was done with five experts in ICT project management, who were two experts from the public sector, two experts from the private sector and one expert from academia. All five experts have experience of at least five years in ICT project scope management and more than ten years of experience in ICT project development. The purpose of this discussion was to obtain opinions, views, suggestions or comments about the survey instrument content validity and face validity. Feedback from the expert was used to refine the clarity of the questionnaire items by rephrasing the items as necessary. The internal consistency reliability of the items in the questionnaire was tested by conducting a pilot study. The respondents for pilot test were ICT officers working in Malaysian public sector. A pilot survey was administered to five public sector agencies with the distribution of ten sets of questionnaires for each agency. 31 respondents returned their feedback after waiting period of 20 days. Cronbachs alpha was used for the internal consistency reliability testing. The results of these tests shows that the values for the entire construct were greater than 0.8. Thus, it shows that the items in the questionnaire have a good degree of reliability [36]. This indicates that there were no problems with the internal consistency reliability. Data collection method The target population for this study was ICT professionals in Malaysian public sectors. One thousand questionnaires, delivered personally by hand, were administered from 1st March 2010 among Malaysian public sector ministries, departments and agencies located in Putrajaya and Cyberjaya. For other locations, three hundred questionnaires were distributed using web-based survey method from 8th March 2010. The questionnaires used for both methods were the same. After six weeks of survey period, a total of 561 valid questionnaires, representing response rate of 43.15%, were received (531 were collected personally and 10 were collected through web-based interface). Data analysis method Factor analysis and stepwise multiple regression were used to analyze data from the survey questionnaire. Factor analysis was conducted in three stages [37]. The first stage was the assessment of the suitability of the data. The correlation among the factors was identified by examining the correlation matrix among items, Bartletts Test Sphericity and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy (KMO MSA). The second stage was factor extraction. Common factor analysis and principal axis factoring technique were used to extract the factors. Kaisers criterion or eigen value rules were used to determine the number of factors to be retained. The third stage was factor rotation and interpretation. The orthogonal rotation approach with Varimax method and cut-off loading point 0.4 [38] were used to clarify the factor structure. Factor extraction and rotation will be repeated until there were no cross-loading factors or no factor loading value less than cut-off loading point. Items with fa ctor cross loading or factor loading less than cut-off loading point were eliminated [38]. Stepwise regression solution procedure was used to determine the CSFs of PSM which contribute to the ICT project success. Through this procedure, only significant success factors were used in the model. The general multiple regression model is: Y = A + B1X1 + B2X2 + à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ + BkXk where Y is the dependent variable (DV), A is the Y intercept, the Xs represent the various independent variables (IVs) and Bs are the coefficients assigned to each of the IVs during regressions [39]. In this research, the IVs were the success factors of ICT project scope management and the DVs were the stakeholders satisfaction, time estimation accuracy and cost estimation accuracy. IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Factor analysis The result of factor analysis as shown in Table 2 shows seven factors with 45 attributes which were included in the structure and explained 60.57% of the total variance. All the seven factors were translated according to the items included in the factors. The first factor was called stakeholders commitment which consists of 12 items. The second factor was called Work Breakdown Structure which consist of 11 items. The third factor was called project objective and justification definition which consists of 9 items. The forth factor was called change control which consists of 4 items. The fifth factor was called project constraint definition which consists of 3 items. The sixth factor was called realistic project assumption which consists of 3 items. The seventh factor was called business knowledge which consists of two items. TABLE 2 FACTOR STRUCTURE FOR PRINCIPAL AXIS FACTORING EXTRACTION AND VARIMAX ROTATION ON PSM SUCCESS FACTORS ITEMS Item Factor 1: Stakeholder commitment Percent of variance explained = 43.381, Cumulative percent of variance explained = 43.381 The project received strong top management support during the process of project scope management. The project had a cooperative and supportive process owner during requirements elicitation. The Steering Committee is committed to the meeting scheduled Users are able to explain their needs or requirements to project team or project developer. Project manager have the communication skills to communicate with all stakeholders involved in the project scope management. Project Team meetings held regularly to manage the project scope processes. Project Champion commitment, especially during a crisis in managing the project scope Project team members fully responsible in managing the project scope. Method of brainstorming or face to face is used to obtain user requirements. Project manager fully responsible in managing the project scope. Project team members have knowledge in ICT field that will be required for the development and implementation of the project. Roles and responsibilities of project team is determined and clearly defined Factor 2: Work breakdown structure Percent of variance explained = 4.892, Cumulative percent of variance explained = 48.272 The infrastructure (hardware, networking, telecommunication) specification is compatible with the product (system) to be produced. The software specification is compatible with the product (system) to be produced. The system development methodology is suitable to the product (system) to be produced The application specification is complete and clearly defined The user requirements are realistic. User requirements specific to the project objectives to be achieved. Each user requirements meet business requirements embodied in the project. User requirements can be implemented in accordance with the stipulated time period. Human resources responsible for carrying out each of work activity is clearly mapped in the WBS hierarchy. Distribution of activities in the WBS is well planned and precisely defined. The WBS defined the project overall scope. Factor 3: Project objective justification definition Percent of variance explained = 3.460, Cumulative percent of variance explained = 51.732 Specific and clear project objectives Realistic project objectives Achievable project objectives Acceptable project objectives by main stakeholders Measurable project objectives Justification stated the importance or benefit of the project implementation. Justification focuses on the organization goal to be achieved. Clearly defined works that included in the project. Justification stated the improvement of employees skill with the implementation of the project. Factor 4: Change control Percent of variance explained = 2.601, Cumulative percent of variance explained = 54.333 Coordinating Committee set the action to be taken for the change request. Decisions and actions taken for the change request was agreed by all members of the Coordinating Committee. Decision made by Coordinating Committee is well recorded Coordinating Committee taking into account the interests, benefits and negative affects for each of the change request. Factor 5: Project constraint definition Percent of variance explained = 2.409, Cumulative percent of variance explained = 56.742 Clearly defined uncontrollable project constraints. Clearly defined controllable project constraints. Source(s) for each constraint (controllable or uncontrollable) are clearly described. Factor 6: Realistic project assumption Percent of variance explained = 2.187, Cumulative percent of variance explained = 58.929 Realistic project deliverables (product, service, results) Realistic technical assumptions Realistic assumptions of project management organization Factor 7: Business knowledge Percent of variance explained = 1.644, Cumulative percent of variance explained = 60.573 Project team members have knowledge in business processes related to the project. Project manager have knowledge in business processes related to the project. The seven factors were translated into seven main hypotheses. The hypotheses were numbered from 1 to 7. Since there were three success dimensions for each factor, the corresponding success dimensions were identified by the letters a, b and c. As a result, there were a total of 21 hypotheses, from 1a until 7c as stated above. Hypotheses related to the Project dimension: H1: The existence of well-defined project objective and justification is a PSM CSF that contributes to the success of ICT project in terms of (a)Stakeholder satisfaction, (b) Time estimation accuracy, (c) Cost estimation accuracy. H2: Having realistic project assumptions is a PSM CSF that contributes to the success of ICT project in terms of (a)Stakeholder satisfaction, (b) Time estimation accuracy, (c) Cost estimation accuracy. H3: The existence of well-defined project constraints is a PSM CSF that contributes to the success of ICT project in terms of (a) Stakeholder satisfaction, (b) Time estimation accuracy, (c) Cost estimation accuracy. Hypotheses related to the Process dimension: H4: The existence of complete WBS is a PSM CSF that contributes to the success of ICT project in terms of (a) Stakeholder satisfaction, (b) Time estimation accuracy, (c) Cost estimation accuracy. H5: The practice of correct change control procedure is a PSM CSF that contributes to the success of ICT project in terms of (a) Stakeholder satisfaction, (b) Time estimation accuracy, (c) Cost estimation accuracy. Hypotheses related to the People dimension: H6: Having project team that is knowledgeable about the business process is a PSM CSF that contributes to the success of ICT project in terms of (a) Stakeholder satisfaction, (b) Time estimation accuracy, (c) Cost estimation accuracy. H7: The existence of strong stakeholder commitment is a PSM CSF that contributes to the success of ICT project in terms of (a) Stakeholder satisfaction, (b) Time estimation accuracy, (c) Cost estimation accuracy. Regression analysis A stepwise multiple regression was conducted between the three ICT project success dimensions (stakeholder satisfaction, time estimation accuracy and cost estimation accuracy) as the dependent variables and seven underlying PSM success factors as independent variables. TABLE 3 SUMMARY OF OUTCOME FROM STEPWISE MULTIPLE REGRESSION ICT project success dimensions R2 ANOVA Selected variables ÃŽÂ ² value Stakeholder satisfaction 0.614 F(3,527)= 144.3, P Strong stakeholder commitments 0.519 Complete Work breakdown structure 0.227 Well-defined project objective and justification 0.111 Time estimation accuracy 0.451 F(3,527)= 144.3, p Strong stakeholder commitments 0.346 Complete Work breakdown structure 0.318 Well-defined project objective and justification 0.100 Cost estimation accuracy 0.380 F(3,538)= 110.066, p Strong stakeholders commitment 0.390 Well-defined project constraints 0.225 Change control 0.104 Table 3 shows significantly three factors which were strong stakeholders commitment, complete WBS, and well-defined project objective and justification as the CSFs of PSM which contribute to 61.4% variant changes to ICT project success in terms of stakeholder satisfaction. The finding also reveals significantly that the three similar factors, were the CSFs of PSM which contribute to 45.1% variant changes to ICT project success in terms of time estimation accuracy. For the ICT project success in terms of cost estimation accuracy, the result demonstrates significantly that strong stakeholders commitment, change control and well-defined project constraint were the CSFs of PSM which contribute to 38% variant change to ICT project success in terms of cost estimation accuracy. With the above observations, the results of the hypotheses testing can be finalized as follows: out of 21 research hypotheses, a total of 9 hypotheses were supported, while the remaining 12 hypotheses were rejected. Those hypotheses were rejected due to their low coefficient values and high probability level for their corresponding null hypotheses. It means that the presence of those factors did not make a significance difference to the value of ICT project success dimensions. V. CONCLUSION In carrying out this quantitative research, a questionnaire survey method was used to determine the CSFs of PSM which contribute to the ICT project success. ICT project success was investigated in terms of stakeholders satisfaction, time estimation accuracy and cost estimation accuracy. A total of 557 usable data were successfully collected from the respondents who were the public sector ICT professionals. Seven success factors of PSM have been extracted through the factor analysis. The factors were strong stakeholders commitment, complete WBS, well-defined project objective and justification, change control, well-defined project constraints, realistic project assumption and good business knowledge. With the use of stepwise multiple regression analysis, it can be concluded that strong stakeholders commitment, complete WBS and well-defined project objective and justification were the PSM CSFs which contributed to the ICT project success in terms of stakeholders satisfaction and time estimation accuracy. Strong stakeholders commitment, change control and well-defined project constraint were the PSM CSFs which contributed to the ICT project success in terms of cost estimation accuracy. Strong stakeholders commitment factors were the main contribution to the three aspects of ICT project success. Realistic project assumption and project team business knowledge were failed to be proven as th e critical success factor for any aspect of ICT project success. All the critical success factors which have been discovered for each aspect of ICT project success are the main contribution from this research. These factors should be given attention by practitioners while managing ICT project scope so that the project scope that is being managed: 1) could produce deliveries (product, service and results) which successfully give satisfaction to the stakeholders, (2) successfully helps in making time estimation accurately, and (3) successfully helps in making cost estimation accurately.

Delegation of Tasks as a Manager Essay examples -- How To Delegate Eff

Objective: Identifying what job you want done The main purpose of delegation is to get the job done by someone else so that you, the manager, have more time for other, more difficult, tasks. To effectively delegate, you must give the entire authority of the task to the staff member you have selected to get the job done. This means not only reading instructions and filling out paperwork, but also the â€Å"decision making and changes which rely upon new information†. The staff member should be able to make decisions, whether good or bad, without referring back to the manager. By leaving the decisions to the delegated staff member, they use their own knowledge and initiative. The three key points to consider when delegating a task are: 1) They know what you want done- Explain the task clearly and make sure that you are understood. 2) They have the authority to achieve it- the selected staff member has the necessary abilities to do the job properly. 3) They know how to do it- the selected staff member has the necessary knowledge, or can obtain the knowledge, to do the job. Support the staff member without being overbearing. Allow the designated staff member to make their own decisions, but to feel reassured that you are there if you are needed, and remember to keep an open mind. Chances are, the staff member is not going to complete the assignment exactly the same way you would complete it. Their way may even end up being a more efficient way of getting the job done! Above all, make sure that you acknowledge and praise their efforts. Information: Implementing a Communication System To be successful, staff needs frequent communication with each othe... ... task that needs to be performed, and the expectations of the completed project. They must be able to communicate with the staff member, and leave the lines of communication open. A workable way to do this is to plan formalized meeting and scheduling times. They must know how to judge outcomes and use small mistakes or failures as learning tools upon which to grow. Finally, the manager must be willing and able to recognize achievements and congratulate on a job well done. Works Cited Blair, G. The Art of Management: The Essential Skills. Published by Chartwell Bratt. 2010 Culp, W. Journal of Management in Engineering: "Steps of Effective Delegation†. January 2014, Page 30 Jenks, J. and Kelly, J. Don’t Do, Delegate. Published by Bridles Ltd. 1986 Wright, R. (1996) Beyond Time Management: Business with a Purpose. Butterworth-Heineman

History Of Music Essay -- essays research papers

It can be argued that the vanguard of development has always been reflected in the arts of a culture. It is the poets, the dreamers and artists who are the architects of the future; the ones who ‘build the world they want to live in, the ones who dream out loud’1. Music is an elaborate art form, tempered by the emotions of those who create it and as such the dreams, creations and inventions are partly the products - or at least artifacts - of the world around them. As such, the social, economic and technological changes in society reflect themselves in the arts of the time also. The common question â€Å"Does art imitate life, or does life imitate art?† when inspected proves rhetorical: they are parallel mirrors which reflect each other. W.H. Auden best expressed this when he said, â€Å"A verbal art like poetry is reflective; it stops to think. Music is immediate, it goes on to become.† Tracing the course of musical development through history shows how closely music (of all the art forms) in particular represents the time in which it was written. The â€Å"immediacy† Auden speaks of is evidenced in music’s ability to associate itself with a specific point in time or event and always remind the listener of that time or place. It is impossible to analyse individual interpretation of music, however it is interesting to examine what caused musicians to write what they did, when they did. The personal interpretation or association of a work is superimposed; it is the music â€Å"going on to become.† By correlating musical developments with historical events or conditions, we can see not only why certain styles of music were written when they were, but also how the times dictated the styles as much as the styles dictated the times. The exact origin of music is unknown. We can only form educated guesses from the evidence that remains today: pictures on fragments on broken vases of musical instruments, or cave paintings of dancing figures. It is generally accepted that music was first used in prehistoric times in spiritual or magical rituals. This knowledge comes from the fact that music still forms a vital part of most religious ceremonies today. Whereas with ancient pictures, we can imagine missing pieces, or envision brighter colours, when it comes to music we have no idea of what instruments were used, or the sounds they made. Our relationship with the music of the time is ... ...tury. However, since most artists thrived on the emotional and irrational abstract that they were writing about, there was no specific category that this mode of thinking could fall into. This was a strength since the freedom to explore nature was infinite and without any restriction based on rules or laws. This invariably led to a reintroduction into religion and mysticism; people wanted to explore the unknown spiritual side of things. Music as a whole has had a gradual evolution throughout history. The tie between Man’s search for the unknown, quest for Truth and longing for spiritual fulfillment and the Arts is undeniable. Reactionary, or ‘pro-actionary’ music ties us tight to places or events both in our lives and in those of others. While architecture and artifacts can give us clues to what society was like in the past (Roman ruins tell us much about life two thousand years ago), it is only the music that can communicate what our predecessors were thinking or feeling. It is the poets, the dreamers and artists of old who were the architects of their future, which allow us to glimpse our past. And it has been said, to know where one is going, you must know where you came from.

Modern Labyrinth Essays -- Literacy Analysis

Film is a form of storytelling, and all stories are, in essence recycled, contemporary films must modernize a story of the past to make it accessible to modern audiences. This is the case with the film, Pan’s Labyrinth. The myth of â€Å"Theseus and the Minotaur† has been rewritten and modernized in the 2006 film, Pan’s Labyrinth. The myth â€Å"Theseus and the Minotaur† and the morals that exist within it, present a context in which it will be possible to interpret and analyze the film Pan’s Labyrinth as a modern day rewriting of the myth. In order to understand how Pan’s Labyrinth has been rewritten, it is important to first understand the original myth of â€Å"Theseus and the Minotaur†. According to Edith Hamilton’s Mythology, the story of Theseus and his quest to slay the Minotaur begins long before Theseus’s birth. â€Å"Minos, the powerful ruler of Crete, had lost his only son†¦while the young man was visiting the Athenian King† (Hamilton 211). In order to seek revenge, Minos invaded Athens and â€Å"declared that he would raze it to the ground unless every nine years the people sent him a tribute of seven maidens and seven youths† (Hamilton 212). When the victims reached Crete, they would be sacrificed to a beast that was â€Å"half bull, half human†, known as the Minotaur (Hamilton 212). The Minotaur was housed in a labyrinth where â€Å"escape was impossible† (Hamilton 212). â€Å"To this place, the young Athenians were each time taken and left to t he Minotaur† (Hamilton 212). This ritual continued until one year, Theseus, son of the Athenian king and heir to throne, offered to be one of the victims. Unbeknownst to the people, Theseus had every intention of slaying the beast. â€Å"When the young victims arrived in Crete they were paraded before the inhabitants o... ...ce to bravely and defiantly act against authority rather than blindly remain obedient. This film shows the power of innocence over evil and the triumph of imagination over colorless servitude just as the original tale of Theseus and the Minotaur, but with a darker new interpretation. Works Cited Filmtracks Modern Soundtrack Reviews. (2007, January 05). Retrieved May 04, 2012, from http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/pans_labyrinth.html Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2011). Film: From Watching to Seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. https://content.ashford.edu Hamilton, Edith. Mythology. 1942. N.p.: Back Bay Books, 1998. Print VC. (2010, September 23). The Vigilant Citizen. Retrieved May 05, 2012, from The Esoteric Interpretation of Pan's Labyrinth: http://vigilantcitizen.com/moviesandtv/the-esoteric-interprentation-of-pans-labyrinth/

Buddhism’s Impact on Classical China Essay

The popularity of Buddhism in China c. 220 CE was due to its positive reception in the large peasant class. However; emperors and aristocrats found themselves threatened by the relaxed Buddhist teachings that undermined the authority of the pro-Confucian government and weakened peasant work ethic. Although the anti-Buddhist opinions of high-ranking officials in the 3rd-6th centuries of China should be taken into consideration, a peasant-written document highlighting the benefits of Buddhism in contrast to the defensive viewpoints taken by emperors and aristocrats would be helpful in analyzing the true extent of Buddhism’s popularity in China. Around 350 CE, a time of instability in China, peasants found comfort in the teachings of Buddhism, which unlike Confucianism offered an afterlife the threatened peasants could look forward to. This led to many conversions from Confucianism to Buddhism, which worried rulers; a loss of popular belief in the state-backed religion could potentially undermine the government and result in a loss of power for many bureaucrats. Han Yu, a court official in 819 CE, refers to the spread of this wicked â€Å"cult† from India and repeatedly presses that Buddhism be eradicated in China (Doc 4). The Tang emperor Wu, writing during roughly the same period, (845 CE), mirrors the opinion of Han Yu. He speaks of Buddhism negatively, citing the lax work ethic of Buddhists, and like Han Yu, he calls for the uprooting of Buddhism from China (Doc 6). However; behind both these officials’ vehement words is a fear that the popularization of Buddhism would alter the government structure, which would cause loss of their status. They wrote their edicts to change the minds of peasants who were considering converting to this â€Å"cult† because perhaps if they convinced enough to remain Confucian, they would keep their high-ranking positions. Buddhism gained much of its popularity during the tumultuous era from 350-570 CE. This is when pro-Buddhist scholars began appearing in greater numbers. One such scholar, Zhi Dun, identified Buddhism as a means of getting through trying times. Around 350 CE, the beginning of the unstable  period, Zhi wrote a letter describing the wonder of the afterlife promised by Buddha. He wrote this to comfort the thousands of fearful and spiritually deprived Confucian Chinese, who lacked belief in an afterlife. Their death was a growing possibility, because they were being slaughtered by invading Mongols. Zhi wished to inform them of the alternative afterlife promised through Buddhism; â€Å"Nirvana† (Doc 2). The same teachings Zhi was addressing to the Chinese peasantry had already been spoke by the Buddha himself to the Indian people many centuries before c. 563 BCE. The first sermon Buddha gave spoke of Noble Truths, which could stop sorrow and craving (Doc 1). One can see why these ideas, embodied by Buddhism would be popular among a poor Chinese peasantry, just as they had been in India. Although the general impression from Chinese officials and scholars towards Buddhism is negative, there were a few discrepancies; Chinese scholars who favored Buddha’s teachings. A Chinese scholar wrote positively in 500 CE of the Buddha in comparison to Confucius, stating â€Å"To compare the sages to the Buddha would be like comparing a white deer to a unicorn†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Doc 3). Moreover, around 800 CE, after the period of instability, a scholar favored by the Tang imperial household wrote an essay on the nature of man, stating boldly that â€Å"Confucius, Laozi, and the Buddha were all perfect sages,† (Doc 5). This document highlights that once the era of instability had passed and Confucianism was again the dominant religion, rulers and their court scholars could evaluate Buddhism as a religion without fearful prejudice. In conclusion, historically, the spread of Buddhism into China was regarded negatively by the ruling, high-ranking, and aristocratic class. China was inundated with anti-Buddhist propaganda (shown by the documents) in response to the popularity among the majority of the peasantry, which made up the bulk of the Chinese population. This propaganda was typically anti-Buddhist because it was the upper/literate class who was writing it; consequently it was slanted towards their own negative views on Buddhism. A document written by a very poor or peasant scholar regarding their view of Buddhism would create a more complete picture of how it was really received in China.

Estonian Air †Final Essay

Estonian form is a regional airway carrier headquartered in Estonia in the Baltic region of Europe. The airlines hub of operations is located in Estonias capital city of capital of Estonia at T entirelyinn line of merc tump overiseport. This airport is the full- get under atomic number 53s skinnst in the country. With the state government of Estonia owning a large rightfulness percentage of the airline, Estonian transmission line is the national airline of the Country of Estonia. The guild currently ope judge a give-up the ghost of quartette aircraft providing flights to sixteen destinations through forbidden Europe.Within the airline industry, Estonian cable is classified as a regional carrier. Regional carriers decompose up historically pursued business strategies of specializing on soon-haul flights inwardly a check geographical region. Up until the early 2000s, regional carriers matched advantages were based on their ability to show geographically tensi whizzd roadway utility to littler, underserved grocerys where larger airlines had limited exposure. These faces of regional carriers were historically able to charge spunky slate prices and were able to avoid price competition. all over the old decade, competition within the European airline industry has accessiond dramatically. This increase is the direct contri besidese of ii major factors. The out suppuration contri exclusivelying factor has been the deregulation of the airline industry due(p) to the sparing integration resulting from the formation of the European Union. The arcsecond factor is the emergence of a newfangled type of business strategy beness implemented by some(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) airlines. These airlines ar ease up it offn as Low-Cost Carriers (LCCs). They revolve about on providing low-cost flights to their customers. This is accomplished, by (i) simplifying hand designs (to reduce training and maintenance cost), (ii)providing on e type of class seating and no separate services (i.e. meals), (iii) providing direct point-to-point service, (iv) charge on goldbricker routes, and (v) employing non-union workers to bring down labor costs.The junto of deregulation and proliferation of LCCs, has in a flash affected little regional carriers who now face great competition. Although slightly(prenominal) of these regional airlines be smaller and do non look at the economies of scurf to compete with the larger airline companies, many a(prenominal) wipe out adopted strategies of distending their fleets and increasing the digit of routes they service.While competition has been steady increasing, the parsimony and business of Estonian breed has experient quality harvest-home over the away several years. On the contrary, provoke prices take hold increase 32% over the quondam(prenominal) three years resulting in higher(prenominal) in operation(p) costs and decreasing boilersuit profit. This was i llustrated in 2006 when Estonian air travel increased its overall number of direct flights and see a 12% increase in gross revenue. This resulted in escalating operating costs, approximately notably fuel costs, which triggered a brighten loss in 2006 of US$ 5 Million.With the un authorizedty of the prox economy in mind, Estonian broadcast mustiness start out key finalitys to hear the come with leave behind retain positive strategic wariness and continue to experience financial suppuration. The smart check offs congenital analysis indicates the grocery allow continue to grow 10% 15% per year for the next several years.In attempts to take advantage of the predicted commercialize increase, Estonian Air is in condition of expanding its fleet and adding several destinations. This alteration would promote in getting ahead of competition, managing higher fuel costs, and creating economies of scale. While many of these ratiocinations construct yet to be answered, management has narrow its choice of aircraft, if they proceed with working out. The current options overwhelm the Boeing 737 Jet, the Bombardier Q400 Turboprop, and the Saab 340A.The Vice chair of Operations, Rait Kalda and the Vice President ofFinance, Andrus Aljas, be currently preparing a working(a) financial slip of root and a supply cost of ownership (TCO) analysis to snap off down the assorted options listed above. These examinations bequeathing be presented to the display board of Directors during their next strikeing.Mr. Aljas has informed Mr. Kalda of the inherent problem that the calling card of Directors is divided on the increment projections for the airline. there atomic number 18 several particles who believe the growth projections in the inner(a) analysis ar too high and that at that place may be certain frugal headwinds nearby. If these projections ar close, it would mean an overall economic recession. Expanding the fleet at the meter of a major economic compressing could sire decidedly blackball signifi nominateces for Estonian Air. As such, this determination is of extreme splendor to the partnership and provide require elect(ip) deliberation. Scope of WorkART Consulting root has been retained by Estonian Air to sanction in the ratiocination fashioning process related to the possibility of the attach tos fleet elaborateness. Our main focus will be back uping Mr. Aljas and Mr. Kalda in the look of termination- fashioning bewilder, as soundly as providing suggestations on facilitating rosy parole leading to the acceptance of an useful stopping point. Mr. Aljas af pie-eyeded that due to opposite opinions amongst the come along members, the management team should strive to ensure that judgment errors, diverge ideas, and negative multitude dynamics do not negatively affect Estonian Airs ability to accept the beat finis asser accede. In addition, the growing misgiving of both(prenom inal) internal and external variables should bear in the attach tos consideration. Because of the bespeak by Estonian Airs management, we will briefly touch on TCO analysis, but primarily focus on conclusiveness-making.Strategy & SWOT Analysis OverviewIn exhibition to better facilitate discussion about the internal and external purlieu face Estonian Air, we develop provided a brief SWOT analysis. This model provides an overview of the troupes leverages, constraints, vulnerabilities, and problems.Estonian Airs key strategic goal, as tell in their annual report, is to ensure sustainable and profitable growth through rank markets, customer satisfaction, fleet renewal, and employee ripening.-Estonian Air yearly ReportStrengths * Recent Years Positive Results * Meeting Industry Standards * desirable on-time record * Backing of Estonia Government * swallow Borrowing Costs Weaknesses * Small extend * Increasing technical problems and O&M Costs leading to unscheduled downtime * wasted Balance Sheet * No Economies of home plate Opportunities * Internal Analysis indicates 10-15% maturement * impertinently Routes Threats * Economic Downturn * Rising arouse Costs * Exchange Rate excitableness * Growing CompetitionBased on the above analysis, it is clear why Estonian Air is ready to implement a growth strategy and invest in the development of its fleet. Given the opportunity to grow their market, challenged with their small fleet and increasing bother of sustaining the maintenance and technical issues of their older planes, it would come along obvious that fleet expansion would be a logical choice. Expanding the fleet would (i) decrement O&M expense, (ii) reducing fuel costs (by obtaining more(prenominal) fuel-efficient planes), (iii) increase economies of scale, and at long last (iv) allow the union to expand its route stomachings and compete more effectively against the companys growing competition. In order to quantify a course of action, Mr. Aljas and Mr. Kalda are formulating a Total Cost of self-command Model, as soundly as a flesh out financial model to assist in deciding how best to proceed. With this said, we sport place several problem areas that should be addressed.Problem IdentificationThe following role outlines the identification of the core problems facing the managers of Estonian Air with regards to this strategic finality.Key close with High Risk & UncertaintyThe decision to expand the fleet or not to expand the fleet is extremely important. If the company expands and the growth projections are exaggerated, the result could redeem a seriously negative consequence on the companys sense of balance sheet. However, postponing expansion could allow competitors a first mover advantage into particular markets and result in increasing opportunity costs to Estonian Air. Two types of decisions that managers face are programmed and nonprogrammed decisions. Programmed decisions are those that are routine and simple. These do not take much considerateness and can be resolved by implementing a new policy. Nonprogrammed decisions, however, are those that are new, complex, and are not routine. The decision facing Estonian Air is observed to be a nonprogrammed decision primarily because of the complexness of the financial modeling, the obligation of implementing a well thought out decision-making model. Because the decision needs hesitancy and prediction for future features, the decision will and should involve group input.Split Board psyche Errors & prepossessMr. Aljas stated to our consulting firm that the Board of Directors, and some members of management, believe that the internal growth projections are overstated. Because of the differences in opinions, we stop a lengthy and potentially change discussion regarding the best course of action. The flock will lend themselves to creating opportunities for judgment errors, several(prenominal) and group preconceived opinion to inh ibit Estonian Air from making the near effective decision possible. These types of judgment errors could include aspects of (i) groupthink, (ii) group polarization, (iii) anchoring, and (iv) escalation of commitment. Problem AnalysisExamining Nature of closing ModelsThere are three types of decision models including (i) Rationality, (ii) Bounded Rationality, and (iii) the dribble Can Model. In the figure below, we show the spectrum of decisions extending from pure tenability on the left and the illogical Garbage Can model on the right. Rationality, by definition, is used in situations where a step by step logical admittance is used to pick the best alternative. In these situations, we assume to manageor have at our organisation all necessary information to make an informed decision. On the other hand, we have the Garbage Can model, which states that decisions are random. In the middle, we find something closer to the type of decision facing Estonian Air, which is the counsel ion that there are limits to how rational a decision-maker can be. This is know as Bounded Rationality. There are always instances where we are limited to having all the necessary information for the decision. In such moorages, we a lot do not have the ability to understand the complexity of the problem completely. We are then squeeze to make a decision that is the approximately best. This is known as a decision that satisfices the problem at hand.Understanding the spirit of bounded rationality will military service Estonian Air understand the background of the decision they are compel with and assist in the formulation of the decision process.Creating the conclusiveness Process Evaluating ResultsEstonian Air must quickly develop a decision and define a clear cost to addressing the problem. The following diagram outlines the basic go in the decision processEstonian Air Decision Process find ProblemDo we believe growth projections? Do we expand fleet or not?Establish Obj ectiveThe accusatory is to make a strategic decision to maximize profit and gain market share. More specifically, we have been given a WACC cuss vault rate of 11.5% to consider for investments. The problem in this decision is the fact that the Board of Directors is split on the projections of economic growth. aggregate DataWe will aid in constructing a financial model and TCO for assorted options. The model should consist of two areas operating assumptions and macro-economic assumptions. We suggest in working with the operations crew to get credible operating assumptions. We also urge on constructing a model that is capable of inputting various growth rates so that the model can be stress tested for contingency purposes. The modelshould list options with each alternative case having an upside, midside, and downside scenario. treasure AlternativesEvaluate alternatives and contingenciesDecide on SolutionMake appropriate decisionImplementImplementation of DecisionFeedbackEvaluate ResultsFollow upRevisit final decision after implementation to ensure company is following protocol. Adjust as needed.Based on the above process, we have constructed the following table showing the scenario case analysis in terms of commit on capital.Upside reference20% Growth RateMidside Case10% Growth RateDownside Case-15% Growth Rate (Economic Recession)Estonian Air Case AnalysisAll decisions must meet the companys required WACC hurdle rate of 11.5%, regardless of case selection. In the upside illustration, scenarios 1 and 5 spell the highest authorize on capital. Both involve the larger Boeing 737. In the midside case, the maximum return on capital is gained through scenario 5 which involves the combination of the Boeing 737 and the Bombardier Q400. The decision has a lower rate of return, but does have a lower unpredictability then scenario 1, which has the highest volatility ranking. Finally, in the event of an economic recession, all of the scenarios result in negative returns, but one solution, no fleet expansion at all, results in the less arrant(a) decline. If management believes that the economy will go into a recession, then scenario 4 will be the best course of action.Having certain the alternatives, it is clear that the key factors are the projections for growth. Because some of the Board members have opposing views on these internal growth projections, we anticipate that the decision selection portion of the process will include a lengthy and modify discussion. This could lend itself to unhealthy and unstructured decisions.Judgment Errors, Bias, and Individual and conclave Decision making We have constructed a model that is as effective as can be given what we know about the type of decision that we face. We have also determine that the main areas of contention within the model and in the decision process.GroupthinkIrving Janis determine groupthink as a deterioration of mental efficiency, pragmatism testing, and moral judgment. This concept describes the negative effect of group cohesion. When members of a group savor pressured into making a significant decision, groupthink often presents itself. Key group members may have influence over other members opinions and behaviors towards the decision-making process. some other viability for groupthink to guide is when a group consists of like-minded individuals. The similarities within the group will tour little room for an assortment of solutions. transition is important in the decision-making process because the most(prenominal) favorable option may be underlying and unapparent. Groupthink also occurs when members are forced to conclude a decision in a short time frame. This causes members to flight without seeking the most applicable possible number of alternatives. Pursuing outside function for decision-making is another option to decrease groupthink. This may assist in decision-making because obtaining an outside members consolation may offer unbiased, encourageful solutions.To sustain Estonian Air from falling into the defective concept of groupthink, we suggest that key decision-makers effectively listen and rate all options, while promoting synergy within the group before making a final decision. This may require intercessors to be present when all alternatives are being evaluated. Another suggestion discussed in moreover detail later in the paper is to seek outside help. We suggest this because of the short time frame as well as the magnitude of the decision.Group polarisationStudies show that groups tend to make more extreme decisions than individuals would for the same predicament. This concept, known as group polarization, emerges from two notions, the social parity approach, and the compellingarguments view. The social comparison approach describes the idea that members in the group recognize their data to be more accurate and relevant than other members of the group. However, during the meeting, members realize t heir ideas are not what they originally perceived. The second notion, persuasive arguments view, details extreme decisions being do due to members of the group supporting other members preliminary thoughts of the subject. If not detected early, both explanations may cause radical movements with the decision-making process.To go on Estonian Air from getting pin down into group polarization, we recommend for decision-makers to individually set back their best possible solutions before collaborating as a team. This will hopefully occupy the pressures of making disastrously extreme decisions.Bias 1 AnchoringOften, when making a decision, groups or individuals will use what are known as trial-and-errors. Heuristics are mental short cuts that help simplify complex decisions. nonpareil of the downsides to heuristics is that they can lead to judgment errors due to the bias and irrational logic. sensation of the heuristic traps that we perceive might affect Estonian Air is anchoring and adjustment. In this type of heuristic, initial information serves as an anchor, or offset point, to base future decisions. For example, with regards to Estonian Air, the precedent(prenominal) 3 years of growth and rise fuel prices may form the basis, or anchor, for which future predictions are based. Sometimes past sufficeance is not necessarily indicatory of future performance.Bias 2 Escalation of consignmentIn addition to anchoring, another bias or judgment error that could occur escalation of commitment. This occurs when there is an increased commitment to a course of action disdain knowledge of contrary information. In this case, if Estonian Air has begun the mental preparation for fleet expansion and they firmly believe in their growth projections and continued positive outlook on the economy, there may be bias opinions to continue this course of action. We already know that the Board is concerned about the growthprojections and possible economic contraction. If the managers are set on expansion, there may be a bias to continue despite warning signs about the economy. Management RecommendationsIn order to ensure that the company makes the most effective decision and avoids judgment errors and groupthink, we recommend that Estonian Air utilize one of the following techniques with regards to their discussion and debate regarding future growth projections.proficiency Definition realise Brainstorming Generate as many ideas as possible on a given subject Could lead to great creativity with regards to solutions Promotes Creativity Nominal Group Technique Structured approach that focuses on generating alternatives and then choosing one Good for generating alternatives but decisions could still be influenced by groupthink or other judgment bias Delphi Technique Gathering judgments from experts Very applicable to, Estonia research outside third Party experts on economics (i.e. investment banks, advisors, Economic development professionals) De vils Advocacy One person plays the role of critic to different points of view Should help to prevent groupthink dialectic Inquiry Debate between two opposing points As there are two sides to the question at hand this option could prove to be really helpfulIn reviewing these different options, we recommend a combination of two techniques from above. We would advice Estonian Air to use the Delphi Technique, but notably by seeking advice from a 3rd Party expert. We suggest that Estonia pay for the service to dissuade unnecessary promoting of decision outcomes that directly benefit the person providing the advice. An example of this would be an investment bank advising on fleet expansion and offering advice to Estonian Air at no cost. This would be considered rotting in efforts to allow the investment bank to underwrite the securities and make a charge on the sale of the securities on the particular or secondary markets. We would also purport the Board of Directors to meet with ma nagement to perform a dialectal inquiry that potently presentsthe position of both sides. We feel this would be advantageous because both sides would bring alternatives to the table and argue their reasoning. With this meeting, we would advise for a mediator to be present in the event that group polarization would need to be diminished. We feel that the combination of these two techniques, will aid Estonian Air in runing an effective and satisfying decision. stopping pointEstonian Air faces a tight and important strategic decision with regards to expand their fleet or not expand their fleet. What makes the decision difficult is uncertainty. We have identified the major variable in this decision as the validity of the internal growth projections, which are based off of assumptions regarding the overall health of the economy. We have formulated a systematic approach to the decision making process and have assisted the company in developing a detailed financial model to assist in t his decision. We have recommended that Estonian Air focus on the issue of growth and have advised the management team and Board of Directors to engage in a healthy debate in order to reach an accurate decision. While doing this, we have identified that there may be several potential judgment errors and influencing bias, which might prevent Estonian Air from making the optimal decision. We believe that the use of one or more of the techniques outlined above could help to eliminate the probability of making a strategic error. Post Case information Update on Estonian AirFollowing 2007, a major economic hit both the United States and Europe. Estonian Air had decided on a fleet expansion, as well as the addition of several new routes. The make of the economic recession caused a extensive drop in passengers and resulted in the insolvency of the airline. In 2010, the airline received a bailout from the Estonian government. The bailout effectively nationalized the airline further and wip ed out nearly all of the private equity in the deal. In addition, a intense austerity plan was implemented that decrease the wages of pilots by over 30%. In the interim, Mr. Aljus became President of the airline most this time. Mr. Aljus resigned from his position in 2011. In 2012, the company experienced massive financial losses and had to lay off nearly one-half its staff. Through today, the economic troubles of the airline have continued. In March of2013, another bailout was announced, along with the European Commission looking into previous bailouts as being illegal. The fleet was decreased from 13 to 10 aircrafts and is expected to decrease to 5 by 2015.