Storm Born Chapter Seven

I couldn't believe it when Wil told me he wanted to go too. Why did everyone suddenly want in on what was probably the most dangerous trip of a lifetime? I sure as hell didn't want to go. Why did they? If only I could have given up my spot. â€Å"No,† I told him. â€Å"You'll get yourself killed.† I sounded just like Roland now. â€Å"Yeah, but you said I wouldn't actually go in body. Only my spirit would go.† â€Å"Doesn't matter. The spirit is still your essence, still tied to your being and body. Someone does enough damage to it, then your body's toast too.† He didn't seem to care, which I found ironic for a guy who seemed to be so afraid of everything else. His final argument was that Jasmine would be scared and traumatized; his presence would comfort her in the face of being carted off by more strangers. He had a point, I supposed, but I warned him he would only be a reflection in that world, bearing little resemblance to his human self. She might not know him. Accepting this, he remained undaunted, and I decided if he wanted to get himself killed, that was his problem. So long as he didn't drag me down in the process. I also made sure he paid me beforehand. Best not to take chances. When the appointed night came, I brought Tim with me. Since Wil would not be able to go physically, we'd need someone to watch his body. Tim treated it like going to summer camp, bringing a tent and a drum and everything. I told him he was an idiot, but he had grand plans for how he could later tell his groupies he went on a vision quest. The way he saw it, he would only be half-lying. I could have brought Roland and had a little less absurdity, but I didn't trust him not to sneak in after me. So Tim it was. We drove outside of town, traveling winding roads that snaked through the desert. Wil waited for us in a secluded spot, away from some of the more public access areas. It was a beautiful night, with the stars and moon crisp in the sky and saguaros standing watch. There were a few other thin spots between the worlds I could have used, but I chose this one because I liked the privacy and because it was one of the strongest. I wanted to waste as little power as possible in the transition over, particularly since I'd have to work to bring Wil along. As it was, we had enough trouble even getting him into a trance. â€Å"Jesus,† I said irritably, watching him in the dim lighting, â€Å"how much coffee did you drink today?† He probably didn't even drink coffee. Too many carcinogens or something. â€Å"I'm sorry.† He attempted to stay still. â€Å"I'm just so worried about her.† He lay on a blanket near our small campfire, the smell of burning sage hanging in the air. Tim sat back near the tent with his iPod, smart enough to leave me alone and do my job. With the way Wil kept twitching, I doubted anything short of Valium would calm him down. Not that that ultimately would have done us any good. â€Å"Are there coyotes out here?† he demanded. â€Å"Some have been known to attack humans. Even with a fire. They could have rabies. And snakes – â€Å" â€Å"Wil! You're wasting our time here. If you can't calm down soon, I'm going without you.† Already the crescent moon had reached its zenith; I didn't want to transition too long after its descent. At my wits' end, I produced the pendulum and hung it before Wil's face. I didn't really go for hypnosis, but I'd had good results with it in the past for clients needing soul retrieval. Hoping it would work on him, I began walking him through the stages of unconsciousness. It worked. Or maybe just my threat to leave him behind did. Finally, I saw him fall into a waking sleep, the perfect time for his soul to loosen from his body. Holding out my wand, I drew his spirit to me so it clung like static, felt but not seen. Then, relaxing my own consciousness, I let my mind expand and touch the walls of this world, pushing its limits into the Otherworld as far as I could go. As I expanded out, I held on to an awareness of my body, working hard to bring it over in its entirety. Unlike so many others, I was even strong enough to bring other material things – my clothes, my weapons. At first nothing seemed to happen, then the landscape around me shimmered, almost like we were trapped in a heat mirage. My senses blurred, making me feel disoriented, and then my surroundings clarified. I found myself breathless, a wave of dizziness sweeping me. The effects passed quickly. I was pretty good at crossing worlds. â€Å"Oh my God,† breathed a voice that sounded vaguely like Wil's. Looking to my side, I saw his Otherworldly representation. Not even powerful enough to come over in elemental form, he appeared beside me much like any spirit in my own world would have: vague shape, translucent, and smoky. â€Å"You did it. You really brought us over.† â€Å"Hey, I live to serve.† â€Å"Actually, mistress, that is our job.† I turned around and tried to hide my surprise. My minions stood before me but not as I knew them in the human world. In this world, the Otherworld, they were more corporeal, appearing in their natural forms and not as a projected sending. Nandi stood tall and rigid, a black woman in her mid-forties. Her face had hard lines and angles, beautiful in a regal and hawklike way. Iron-gray waves of hair framed a face as bleak and expressionless as her spirit version's. As for Finn, I'd expected him to be small and spritelike. He, however, was almost as tall as me with shining, sun-bright hair that stuck up at odd angles. Freckles covered his face, and the grin he showed me mirrored the amusement I usually saw when we were together in my plane. Volusian looked the same as always. I didn't exactly know what to say, seeing them like this. It was kind of startling. They watched me silently, waiting for orders. I cleared my throat, trying to appear haughty. â€Å"All right, let's get this moving. Who knows the way to this guy's place?† They all did, as it turned out. We stood at a crossroads, mirroring the one we'd left in my world. The country around us was beautiful, warm and balmy in the evening twilight, pleasant in a different way from Tucson. Cherry trees in full bloom lined the roads, shedding pink-white petals to the ground as the breeze rustled their leaves. â€Å"We stand in the Rowan Land, mistress,† explained Nandi flatly. â€Å"If we follow this road, we will eventually reach the part of the Alder Land where King Aeson lives.† I glanced at the road. â€Å"What, no yellow bricks?† Nandi didn't get the joke. â€Å"No. The path is dirt. The journey will be long and must be taken on foot. Likely you will find it tedious and wearying, plunging you into misery and making you wish you had never set out on this quest.† â€Å"Quite the endorsement.† She stared at me, puzzled. â€Å"It was not an endorsement, mistress.† We set out, and I discovered in about five minutes that conversation with this group was pointless. So instead I focused on studying my surroundings, like any good soldier would. I had crossed over in body a few times, but I had never stayed long. Most of my jaunts had been to chase down wayward spirits. I'd always jumped in, done my duty, and jumped out. With such beauty, it seemed incredible the residents here would want to keep sneaking over to my world. Birds sang a farewell to the setting sun. The landscapes we passed were gorgeous and exquisitely colored, like a real-life Thomas Kinkade painting. It almost looked unreal, like Technicolor gone crazy. There was also magic here. Strong magic. It permeated the air, every blossom, every blade of grass. It set my hairs on end. I didn't like magic, not this kind, not the magic that filled living things. That was a gentry thing. Humans had no magic within them. We took it from the world with tools and charms; it was not inborn with us. Feeling it so heavy in the air unnerved me, almost making it hard for me to breathe. Suddenly we crossed an invisible line, and cold wind blasted against my skin. Snow lay in drifts along the side of the road – which stayed miraculously uncovered – and icicles hung daintily on the trees like Christmas ornaments. â€Å"What the hell happened?† I exclaimed. â€Å"The Willow Land,† said Finn. â€Å"It's winter right now. Here, I mean.† I glanced behind us. A chilly, white landscape stretched back as far as the eye could see, no cherry trees in sight. I wrapped my arms around my body. â€Å"Do we have to go this way? It's freezing.† â€Å"You are the only who is cold, mistress,† noted Volusian. â€Å"Yeah,† said Wil brightly. â€Å"I can't feel anything. How cool is that? I bet those boots of yours won't protect you from hypothermia.† I rolled my eyes. Stupid spirits. All of them. Alive or otherwise. â€Å"How much farther through here?† â€Å"Longer if we keep standing around,† said Volusian. Sighing, I trudged along, pulling my coat tighter. I wore my usual one, the olive-green moleskin that went to my knees. I had put it on mainly to cover the arsenal underneath, and it had seemed too warm back in Tucson. Now it felt ridiculously thin. Teeth chattering, I followed the spirits, focusing mainly on putting one foot in front of the other. In only a short while, we crossed another unseen boundary, and thick humidity slammed down on me, much like my sauna. Heat boiled around us, and this time I took off my jacket. In the fading light, deep green leaves rustled together, and cicadas sang in the trees. The flowers here were different than the delicate ones in the Rowan Land. These had richer, deeper colors, and their perfume was cloying. The minions informed me we'd crossed into the Alder Land. I cheered up, happy to find it wasn't winter here and that we were so near our goal. Until we crossed back into the pink-treed valleys of the Rowan Land. â€Å"What's this? Are we going in circles?† â€Å"No, mistress,† said Nandi. â€Å"This is the way to King Aeson's.† â€Å"But we just came out of the Alder Land. We need to turn around.† â€Å"Not unless you want to take days to get there. Your friend's body wouldn't survive that long.† Volusian inclined his head toward Wil's ethereal form. â€Å"That doesn't make any sense.† â€Å"The Otherworld doesn't lie like yours,† explained Finn. â€Å"It's hard to notice if you haven't been here a lot. It's more obvious when physical. The land folds in on itself, and sometimes what seems longer is shorter. And what's shorter is longer. We've got to cut back through here to get to Aeson's. Weird, but there you have it.† â€Å"It sounds like a wormhole,† I muttered as I walked again. â€Å"Worms do not travel this way,† said Nandi. I tried explaining what a wormhole was, how some physicists theorized space could wrinkle and fold, making it possible to travel through those folds and end up on the other side more quickly. As soon as I reached the word â€Å"physicist,† I gave up, realizing I fought a losing battle. We soon crossed into the Oak Land, a breathtaking landscape of fiery orange trees and scattered leaves, enhanced by the burning orange sunset. Here, it apparently was autumn. I swore I could smell wood smoke and cider on the wind. Something else also caught my attention. â€Å"Hey!† I stopped and stared off into the trees. I had just seen a sleek orange form dart by, its white-tipped tail flaring behind it. â€Å"It was that fox again. I swear it was.† â€Å"What fox?† asked Finn. â€Å"I don't see anything.† â€Å"Neither did I,† added Wil. â€Å"My mistress has gone mad at last,† Nandi said on a sigh. â€Å"Long before this,† muttered Volusian. â€Å"There was a fox watching me back in my world†¦and now I just saw another one.† â€Å"The Otherworld has animals just like yours does,† said Finn. â€Å"It's probably coincidence.† â€Å"But what if it's not?† â€Å"Well, it could be a spirit fox. Was it really big? Sometimes they're – â€Å" Volusian cried a warning just before the horses came crashing through the trees. I had my gun and athame out in a flash, firing without hesitation at the first assailant I saw. There were twelve of them, men and women, some armored and some not. Their clothing looked like something you might get if the cast from Lord of the Rings went to a rave. All of them rode horses. Charmingly archaic. The man I shot screamed. Steel bullets and gentry flesh don't mix so well. Unfortunately, he had shifted position at the last minute, so I only took him in the arm. In my periphery, I saw Volusian flare with blue light; I hoped he was fighting on my side. One of the riders bore down on me with a copper sword alight with magic. My iron athame caught it, and we stood locked there for a moment. Iron, the emblem of technology, fought back against the metal it had supplanted, but in the end his magic was stronger. There was simply more of it, and the wielder had more brute force. He pushed me backward, and I stumbled into someone one of my minions must have unseated. In one fluid motion, I regained my balance and slashed at the man with my athame. Blood gleamed through his shirt, and then I clocked him in the head. He staggered, and then another hit took him down. Another rider came at me. I fired, and she jerked backward as the bullet hit her in the chest. Underneath her shirt, I saw leather armor and wondered how much that would have softened the blow. I took aim at another rider, and then a sharp female voice called out to me. â€Å"Stop, human. Unless you want your friend to die.† Glancing over, I saw a tall woman with long black hair worn in two braids. She inclined her head toward a young man whose arm extended gracefully outward. Above the palm of that hand, Wil's spirit floated. A golden, viscous glow encased him, giving him the appearance of an insect stuck in amber. I had no clue what kind of magic it was, but I knew he was trapped. And at risk. Damn it. This was exactly the reason I hadn't wanted him along. He had indeed succeeded in getting both of us killed. I glanced around. Seven of the riders were injured, unconscious, or possibly dead. Not bad for the four of us, I thought, as I assessed our odds of taking out the last five. My gun was still trained on my target. The woman gave me a thin smile as though reading my mind. â€Å"You could kill him, but your friend would be dead before your next eye blink. As would you.† â€Å"What's it matter? You'll just kill us both anyway. At least this way I'll take company to the next world.† A new voice spoke: â€Å"No one's sending you to the next world. Not yet anyway.† One of the unhorsed riders clambered to his feet. Presumably one of my spirits had fought him, because I didn't recognize him. Yet†¦something about him struck me as vaguely familiar. White-blond hair hung to his shoulders, and ice blue eyes studied me carefully. He approached slowly, a sly smile spreading over his face the closer he got. I didn't know who he was and wondered what tactical advantage I'd gain or lose by turning the gun on him instead. Was he the bigger threat? When he was only a couple feet away, his face lit up, and he lost himself to great, booming laughs. â€Å"I don't believe this. I don't believe this! The mouse has walked right up to the cat. Unbelievable.† The black-haired woman fixed him with an irritated glare. â€Å"What are you rambling on about now, Rurik?† He could barely contain himself. â€Å"Do you know who this is? This is the Dark Swan herself. Eugenie Markham, right at our doorstep.† I flinched at the use of my given name, though I knew it shouldn't surprise me anymore. â€Å"By the gods, I never expected this. I fought her only a week ago, and now here she comes, offering herself to me.† â€Å"If you consider me shoving my gun down your throat offering, then yeah, I suppose I am.† I eyed him curiously, and then I knew. â€Å"It was you. You're the ice elemental from the hotel.† He sketched me a bow. â€Å"And now I'll finish what I started. Happily, even. The sight of your naked body has haunted my dreams for many a night.† â€Å"Yeah? The only thing I remember about you is how easy it was to kick your ass.† Rurik grinned. â€Å"You'll remember a lot more before I'm done.† Behind him, a few of the other men regarded me with renewed interest. I felt myself go rigid, despite my bold words. The black-haired woman eyed Rurik distastefully. â€Å"If you think I'll let you give in to your†¦perversions here, you're wrong. You're as bad as them.† â€Å"Stop being so prim, Shaya. You know who she is.† â€Å"It doesn't matter. You can have her later if the king says so, but you're not doing anything while we're on patrol. My patrol.† I didn't quite take that as female solidarity, but it was better than nothing. I'd come expecting a grisly death, not a gentry gang bang. Wil might be a lost cause, but if I fired on one of the guys, my minions could probably do serious damage to the others. I tensed, ready to fire. â€Å"Stop,† Volusian suddenly said, moving forward. â€Å"Don't touch her.† â€Å"We don't take orders from you,† replied Shaya. Volusian was unfazed. â€Å"No, but you do take orders from your king, and my mistress has business with him.† I saw the men freeze. So did I. Business with their king? Ah, right. We were in the Oak Land where Dorian ruled, the king Volusian had originally wanted me to see. Suddenly I wondered if this winding way we'd taken had been a ploy of his to get us to Dorian after all. If so, I wondered if he'd imagined capture as part of the plan. Shaya regarded me coolly. â€Å"King Dorian has no business with her.† A few of the men looked like they doubted this, and I jumped on it, as well as what Volusian had said about Dorian earlier. â€Å"Are you so sure?† I smiled, portraying the same smug confidence I used with the minions, even as my heart pounded in my chest. Too many eyes on me. It was like public speaking. â€Å"I've come a long way to talk to him. How do you think he'll react if he finds out you've killed me before I've delivered my message?† â€Å"Tell me your message,† she said impatiently. â€Å"I talk only to him. Alone. I don't really think he'd like you getting the gossip before he did. Or not getting it at all if you kill me.† â€Å"We won't kill you,† said Rurik cheerfully. â€Å"We have plenty of other things we can do. You'll still get to the king†¦eventually.† Volusian fixed his red eyes on Rurik. â€Å"And how do you think Dorian will feel when he learns you've been at her before him? The king's tastes are quite†¦particular.† In another situation, I would have decked Volusian. Whose side was he on anyway? Stupid question, I realized a moment later. He was on his own side. As always. The gentry all appeared put out. They looked like they really wanted to kill someone. The woman verified as much. â€Å"They've killed our people. We cannot let that go unpunished.† One of the other female riders strode forward. â€Å"No, actually. Everyone's still alive. Some just barely†¦but if we can get a healer out here fast enough, they'll live.† All alive? So much for Team Eugenie. I'd known gentry were stronger in their own world, but this†¦It didn't bode well for our gallant attack on Aeson and his people. Next time I'd aim for the face. I doubted they'd come back from that. â€Å"Let's kill the weak human anyway,† suggested one of the others, â€Å"just for fun. We can still bring her to the king.† â€Å"The king's going to offer me hospitality,† I informed them, still talking out of my ass, â€Å"for my whole group. He'll be pissed if you kill one of them. It'll make him look bad.† I was lying, and Shaya looked like she knew it. â€Å"You seem very sure of yourself, Odile, but I'm less convinced.† The other woman crossed her arms. â€Å"We have to get a healer. We need to go back for help now.† Shaya thought about this and then gave a sharp nod. She delegated people to stay with the wounded and others to escort my party back. Before she did, she ordered me disarmed. Rurik made a great show of this, touching me a lot more than was really necessary as he took away the athames – handle first, of course – and wand. When he wrapped his fingers around the butt of the gun, a look of shock crossed his face and he recoiled. â€Å"Damn it!† he swore, cradling his hand. â€Å"It's†¦I don't know what it is. But it doesn't feel†¦right.† I smiled sweetly. Thank God for polymers. Almost as effective as iron. The commanding woman's eyes flashed. â€Å"Someone take it from her.† No one moved. â€Å"All right, then, one of you spirits. You take it.† My minions didn't move. â€Å"They don't take orders from you,† I said, parodying her earlier words. â€Å"They do from you. Order one of them to do it now, or I will have the life squeezed out of your friend, regardless of King Dorian's anger.† I studied her, trying to decide if she bluffed. Wil suddenly made a piteous sound as the golden aura around him tightened. God, I hoped Volusian was right about this Dorian ridiculousness. â€Å"Nandi,† I said simply. She strode forward and removed the gun from me. One of the riders offered up a cape so she could bundle it up. When it looked like a smothered baby, he reluctantly took it. As for me, I was hoisted onto Rurik's horse for the trip back to Dorian's. The spirits needed no such transportation. He wrapped his arms around me, ostensibly to reach the reins, but I was pretty sure he didn't need to touch my breasts to do it. His hold tightened. â€Å"I wouldn't want you to fall off,† he explained. â€Å"I'm going to cut your balls off the first chance I get,† I informed him. â€Å"Ah,† he laughed, urging the horse into motion. â€Å"I can't wait for you to meet the king. He's going to love you.†

Kantian and Utilitarian Essay

Kant believed in an absolute moral law that he called the Categorical Imperative. It is this imperative that determines our duty. (2) Two formulations of this imperative can be used to determine the morally correct action that Alistair should choose. The first formulation, The Formula of Universal Law: â€Å"Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law [of nature]. â€Å"(2) Alistair has two possible maxims to act upon. These maxims, if it were universally applicable, are: â€Å"Anyone may lie in order to promote increasing human welfare† and â€Å"Everyone always tells the truth†. The first maxim is contradictory. If people had the option to lie, it negates the system of trust on which the world is built. When, for example, I put my money in the bank, I trust them to keep it safe. If the first maxim was universally accepted, I could not trust without reservation that the bank would keep my money safe because they would be able to give my money away if they felt it would increase the welfare of those less fortunate. If this was the case, there would be widespread mistrust and, ironically, it would have a negative impact on human welfare. The second maxim is universally applicable and is thus, according to Kant, the maxim on which to act upon. The second formulation, The Formula of the End in Itself: â€Å"So act as to treat humanity, both in your own person, and in the person of every other, always at the same time as an end, never simply as a means. †(2) If Alistair were to withhold the truth about the bribery, he denies the rationality of the board and denies that there is any rational action for them to perform. He denies them the option to rationally make a decision on what to do about the situation. In doing this he is using the board merely as a means to ensure the delivery of the medicine. According to Kant, for Alistair to use the board as a means in themselves, he would have to tell the truth. According to Kant’s theory, the action of ignoring the bribe fails the first and second formulation of the Categorical Imperative, thus the right thing to do would be to tell the truth to the board of directors. Utalitarian Theory Looking back at the case study it is clear that, on the one hand, people are receiving inexpensive kits of medicine, the drivers don’t get shot and the reputation of the relief organisation and the director is still intact. On the other hand, the board doesn’t know about the bribery, thus the unethical activity cannot be put to a stop. Utilitarianism is a theory based on consequences, not the action leading to the consequence. This theory holds that we should choose those actions that would result in the greatest amount of good in the interest of the greatest number of people affected by our actions. 1)(4) The â€Å"good† is anything that, directly or indirectly, brings happiness or pleasure. (4) The consequences of each particular action is considered to determine which outcome will best serve the greater good. (3) Act Utilitarianism prescribes that every situation be evaluated independently. The action that leads to the greatest net outcome of utility is then c onsidered to be the correct choice. According to this theory, Alistair should choose the action that will maximise happiness and minimise unhappiness. Alistair has two possible choices with two different consequences. The first is that Alistair tells the truth about the bribery. The possible outcome of his choice are the following: the drivers stop receiving cash and get shot, the contract is terminated and the less fortunate stop receiving their medicine, the director in charge of the contract is fired, and the relief organisation suffers great embarrassment. These are all negative effects and cause great unhappiness. On the other hand, the happiness of the board is increased because they can put a stop to more unethical activity. The second choice that Alistair has to consider is to keep silent and overlook the bribe. This would lead to the situation staying the same (as stated in the case study) and would secure the happiness of the greater good which include: the director, the relief organisation, the drivers and the people receiving the medicine. The board of directors would not know about the bribe, so there would be no unhappiness to consider. Considering the consequences of both actions, the happiness of the greater good is maximised when Alistair keeps silent.

A World War One Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A World War One - Essay Example of World War I based mostly upon the details that bordered its onset and subsidence while Zinn communicates an idea on how World War I can be considered as ‘health of state’ and, through Tindall and Shi, one may be drawn to comprehend that World War I or the Great World War which broke out in Europe, engaging the U.S. in 1914, deserved to be identified a crisis that had caused the American nation to shift in character towards international relations. Naturally, these differing perspectives bear impact on our understanding of the American history during World War I in the manner our thoughts and judgments of the war are shaped by often partial views which the historians inevitably attach with their findings. According to Johnson, â€Å"Between 1859 and 1914, America increased its output of manufactured goods, in value, no less than eighteen times, and by 1919, boosted by World War I, thirty-three times† (Johnson 352). This statement exhibits an approach of signifying World War I by way of illustrating what America had in yield before and after the war, in view of the nation’s struggle with its commercial phase of growth. As Johnson accounted for technology in various forms, specifically the invention of the barbed wire by the farmers J. Glidden and J. Haish as well as the establishment of machineries in place of direct manual labor along with the production of power via abundant supply of energy from water, steam, and electricity, one rather imagines a more industrial than political scenario bordering the confines of World War I. Prior to the Great War, Johnson notes the occurrence of ‘Progressivism’ at the turn of the century where the ‘Progressivesâ₠¬â„¢ of the middle class rose in hostile protest against the big capitalists of the era whereas, by the end of the war, blacks in considerable number carried on their lifelong cause of fighting for freedom from slavery and slave trade. It figures herein that Johnson’s attempt of portraying World War I

Artist and Society in the Renaissance Period Essay

Artist and Society in the Renaissance Period - Essay Example This in itself was fundamental as it opened up the chance of making artistic mentions that were not particularly Christian. Art during this period closely related the changes that were taking place in society. The feel of transformation created a friendly atmosphere for artistic experimentation and innovation. Wealth that collected in the towns aided writers and artists and in particular, a novel and more diverse public audience came out with elaborated tastes and interests. Apart from encouraging artistic treatment of the world the society valued the classical heritage. The reason was that the heritage looked as if it resembled their own civilization and furnished a stock of ideas and formal models for changes in the aesthetic products. Thus the Renaissance played a vital role in the development of modern creative expression. One of the most important views of the Renaissance was its astonishing efflorescence in the visual arts. Artists went with Gothic style which dominated the late medieval period. There was not much difference in the terms of the content of art, but in style it incorporated classical themes and principles of proportion, and also made use of the newly rediscovered mathematical perspective. Two styles appeared then. And these are: the portrait and the landscape. Additionally, the new printing tech... Two styles appeared then. And these are: the portrait and the landscape. Additionally, the new printing technology which developed during Renaissance was of woodcuts, which were mainly famous in northern Europe. Artists were intimately linked with the leading intellectual movement, humanism. Most of them even took part in humanist work to search for art from antiquity. Artists also became humanists, and converged their ideas in their writings focusing individualism, secularism, and civic participation. Michelangelo's David is a fine example of all these three, although its civic role is less known. Leonardo da Vinci was idealized as the "universal man". Religious themes were the main focus of the artists. Arguing that such chance seems improbable, other historians have contended that these "Great Men" were only able to rise to prominence because of the prevailing cultural conditions at the time. Stephens, J 1990, Individualism and the cult of creative personality", The Italian Renaissance,( pp. 121) Important Aspects of Art during nineteenth century: (William Henry Hudson, 1912) The turn of the nineteenth century, beginning after the 1848 revolutions, saw a turn against Romanticism and the growth of many new artistic styles. The main three aspects which stand out among others are: Realism in the 1850's, Impressionism in the 1880's, and Cubism at the turn of the century. Artists were impressed by the growth of photography at the outset of this period, and by cinema at the end. The kinship of the artist became more altered, as some artists proceeded to paint portraits, while others were disaffected or had political agendas. Some artists,

Corporate social responsibility in Asia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Corporate social responsibility in Asia - Essay Example By initiating education, environment and health care programs, the government has established an avenue that firms are now adopting. For example, in 2009 the Chinese government launched an expansive tree planting program and in response Chinese based firms established tree planting as part of their CSR initiatives. Another notable aspect that makes China maintain a strong business to business relationship is the support among various organizations that operate in China. For example, based on its effort to support small enterprises and conserve the environment, Wokai benefits from the support of Cathay Pacific Airways and Morrison & Foerster that provides financial and legal support respectively (Chen and Dean, 2007). One of the major challenges that faced China is the earlier cases of violation of human rights that created a negative image of the country business atmosphere. Major cases that created a negative image for the government was the use of prison labor in order to produce p rofitable products in the international market. In the area culture, Alan (2003) argues that the government has been noted to violate human rights by persecution of individuals who engaged in activities that threatened the control of the government. However, in its effort to create investors confidence, the Chinese government has engaged in dialogue with foreign countries on the matters of human rights. For example, in the past 5 years, the government has invited delegations from Britain, France, Australia and France to access the human right situation. The major country that has led in the ending of human rights violation in China is US. In their studies on the impact of human rights on business investors in china,... One of the major aspects that make Japan a country with business opportunities is the extensive use of CSR in the Japanese corporate management. As compared to Europe and the US where firms aims at attaining short-term returns for their shareholders, Japanese companies place high value to all the stakeholders including the customers, employees, shareholders and members of the community (Waldenberger, 2007). In this regard, majority of companies in Japan have established departments that deal with corporate social responsibilities. Yamaha Company, a Japanese based firm is one of the key companies that have initiated a strong CSR department. Through this department, the company initiated Yamaha Forest reforestation program in 2010. During the first phase of the program that took place in Sukabumi Regency, Yamaha Motor Company in collaboration with Yamaha Corporation planted approximately 115,110 trees. Other organizations that are engaged in the environmental conservation in Japan incl ude Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and University of Kuningan among others.

Migration, cultural diversity and integration in contemporary Britain Essay

Migration, cultural diversity and integration in contemporary Britain - Essay Example This integration and acceptance could involve recognizing the others’ practice as right or even adopting some of the practices which are to be found in the other people involved. One of the major contributors of having youths from divergent backgrounds studying in the same universities is as a direct result of migrant labour. In this respect you may find that one’s parents went to a foreign country looking for a job opportunity and since people of many nationalities do emigrate looking for job opportunities, it is only obvious that we are going to have a situations whereby the different youths involved tend to develop multicultural social capital (Arthur,2004). Social capital has been defined as Social capital is a sociological concept, which refers to connections within and between social networks. Harzig and Hoerder discuss the issue of migration in detail and he points out the negative opinions which are cast upon immigrants. They are viewed as â€Å"hands† or â€Å"braceros† instead of hearts and heads. The following dialogue involves two young university student in Paris France. Partner A (Asamoah) has his origins in Ghana while Partner B (Louis) has his origins in Cameroon both countries in West Africa. ASAMOAH: I am Asamoah Gyan, My parents come from Accra Ghana. We came to France when I was five years old. My parents are career diplomats and thus I had to join a French school and upon the end of my parents’ tour of duty they felt it advisable to have me left behind in France so as to complete my university studies. I chose an African because we have a lot to share as we both come from the continent and hence we should have a lot in common. LOUIS: I am Louis Mitchell and my country of origin is Cameroon. My whole family lives in Douarra second largest city in Cameroon. I have always wanted to join a good foreign university and being from a Francophone country I was able to benefit from a Scholarship from the government of France. I thus had my early education back in Cameroun and only came to France for my higher education on a scholarship. I chose a Ghanaian national owing to the close proximity between our two countries and being Africans, we have a lot in common. Questions. ASAMOAH: Louis could you tell me about your social capital in terms of how you find yourself accepting to the races, gender sexuality and religion in Britain? LOUIS: I find it very difficult to interact with the foreign people and I am more comfortable being in the company of my fellow Africans and especially those from French speaking countries. On issues of gender, I find the British more tolerant towards women but I hate the legalization of homosexuality and on the religious issue the French are not religious at all. ASAMOAH: Why do you abhor the legalization of gay unions in Britain? LOUIS: That is unheard of in African culture. In my own country being caught engaging in such an activity attracts a very severe penalty an d furthermore the individuals concerned are ostracized from the society. ASAMOAH: what kind of penalty could that be and why is it considered unAfrican to engage in such activities? LOUIS: In my country, penalty for being day is imprisonment for a term of at least twenty years in prison and in rural areas where traditional justice is dispensed you find that those who are caught engaging in such activities are put in a beehive and rolled off a hill. It is considered unAfrican to engage in homosexual relationships because that is what has been passed from

Countervailing duty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Countervailing duty - Essay Example Countervailing duties are tariffs or tax charged by an importing country to the country of origin. These duties are basically being imposed on the basis that the produce or products being exported were subsidized disproportionately. By doing so, the importing country can neutralize the effects of unfair trade practices. Countervailing duties work in different ways. These can be levied on imported goods from producers who were not subjected to sales taxes or turnover taxes. Countervailing duties may also be imposed on the domestic production of sale of goods for the benefit of foreign manufacturers. Generally, the idea of countervailing duties is protection both of the importers and exporters. However, in the framework of uneven development, how possible can the concept of fairness be pursued? Many believes that along with other trade instruments, the concept and implementation of the countervailing duties can be prone to abuse and misuse. Furthermore, countervailing duties may only s erve few giants of trade but may be irrelevant to small export-oriented countries falling under the bracket of so-called less developed and developing countries. This paper aims to delve on the analysis of the countervailing duties based how these are being implemented, enforced and resolved under the umbrella of the World Trade Organization. Also, this paper will give particular emphasis on the practices of the United States of America, as a country that tails countervailing duties forcefully1 compared to other countries in the world. I. Brief presentation on the development of countervailing duties The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) There were only two provisions in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade that categorically regulate subsidies. These are Articles VI and XVI. GATT Article VI principally provides that the importing country may levy countervailing duties on subsidized imports if these may threaten or be the source of material injury to an established domestic industry2. This Article generalizes the rules on the application of antidumping and countervailing duties. It disapproves the export-sales under normal value, especially when these cause or threaten the material injury. It also describes the basis for the determination of sales below normal value: when export price is less than comparable price. According to Article VI, when these criteria are fulfilled, the importing country is entitled to levy an antidumping duty3. This Article however has been open to different interpretations and inconsistent practices due to its profound formulation. Much more, countries like Canada and the US, despite being the two of the biggest users of antidumping duties excuse themselves from being bound to this provision asserting that their domestic antidumping laws were much ahead of the GATT. Meanwhile, Article XVI stipulates that all subsidizing countries, either the increase their exports or reduce their imports are duty-bound to be notifie d and follow a consultation procedure for limiting subsidization that may cause prejudice to other countries4. However, because Article XVI was stated in a slack one-paragraph provision, this article was widely taken for granted by many countries on the basis that states were reluctant if not playing it safe as the gesture for

Human Resource Development BTEC Level 5 Unit 23 Essay

Human Resource Development BTEC Level 5 Unit 23 - Essay Example With respect to training, the HRD collects and organizes the materials needed for skill training, coordinates the training endeavors, carries out or helps to put into effect on-the-job training and channels the input and expertise needed for the development of the organization (Mathis & Jackson 2008). What is Training? Before we delve into technical details of training and development, we need to understand what actually training is. What is the difference between learning and training? Training can be defined as a process of learning which is designed specifically for target audience keeping certain objectives in view. It is planned in nature and aims to affect the attitudes, knowledge and skill behavior through the process of learning so that maximum efficiency can be obtained from the employees’ performance. The identification of training needs of the employees is an integral element in the success of an organization. Training also serves to fulfill the current and potentia l manpower needs of an organization. ... Training Needs at Different Levels of an Organization When identify training needs it is important to consider the responsibilities that the employee holds. Two people on different levels of the hierarchies have different tasks and responsibilities as well as varying stages of career progression. This mandates that the training provided to employees should not be the same and should be based on their career progression and responsibilities in the organization. Training needs will be different of people at the junior level are going to be different from those of the senior employees. For example, induction training is an effective tool for junior employees, helping them in building their base and providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to work in an efficient way. On the other hand, in-service training can prove to be more effective for employees higher up in the hierarchy. Public service training is aligned with the needs of the employees and it is important that training programs take into account the various functional areas that employees are engaged in different stages of their career. It has been stressed that theoretical input in the training programs is very important and there should be a balance between the training needs of the employees and the academic information imparted to them. Training requirements for different employees are different and can be exemplified by looking at the different levels of an organization. The type of training that would be provided to top managers would be strategic in nature and should focus on their functional areas such as drafting investment plans and deciding upon the long term plans of the

Competitive Strategy in Lighthouse Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Competitive Strategy in Lighthouse - Article Example The analyses highlighted that the hybrid competitive strategy was the most appropriate strategy to follow, and recommendations were made to work closely with other key players in the industry if it was to become a dominant force. Lighthouse is a mobile phone marketing company that seeks to address the needs of advertisers seeking to increase their response rates in the ever more lucrative yet increasingly more competitive task of customer acquisition and retention. Lighthouse will enable subscribers in the region to access government services, maps, directions, tourist attractions and tips, restaurants, museums, entertainment events, news and stock prices from their wireless devices. This enables the local population and tourists alike to utilize technology to enhance the service needs. This technology is also particularly beneficial to the local population, as ownership of devices such as personal computers is low but that of mobile devices is high. This means that the services which the internet offers to other parts of the world are not easily accessible or widely available in the UAE. By providing this service on a mobile device, Lighthouse is making the internet available in the first instance, and it i s removing the need to go to a fixed location to access this information. Lighthouse's target market is primarily based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which is considered to have a customer base of 10-15% of the 4.5 million local mobile users. In addition to this, the UAE is a popular tourist destination with approximately 7 million tourists annually, who represent a potential market, especially for tourist related services (Business Plan - appendix I). Therefore the objectives of Lighthouse are to build a platform that enables better response rates to their marketing campaigns, to create a management system and secure funding to expand the business. It is clear that Lighthouse intend to be a dominant force in the market, but in order to do this, it is necessary to conduct a full environmental analysis, so as to determine their options for growth and expansion. External Analysis of Lighthouse An analysis of the external environment helps an organization to understand the environment they currently operate in and how it can change (Johnson and Scholes 1993). An understanding of the environment enables an organization to develop strategies that will ensure their survival within the market place. For instance, Lighthouse is going to clearly take advantage of the tourist numbers; however they also need to consider current external factors that will contribute to the reduction of tourist numbers and subscribers. Likewise, Lighthouse is also capitalizing on the low distribution of personal computers for internet access, another factor which could change in the near future. An analysis of the external environmental is known as a PESTLE analysis and this involves analyzing the political, economic and competitive, social and cultural, technological, legal and environmental/institutional factors that affect an organization (Johnson and Scho