Quebect Court – Employee VS Employer

The appellant city hired a temporary employee through a personnel agency to work for 6 weeks as a receptionist and then for 18 weeks as a clerk. During the two work assignments, the employee's wages were determined and paid by the agency, which submitted an Invoice to the city. The employee performed her work under the direction and supervision of a manager working for the city, The general working conditions, such as hours of work, breaks and statutory holidays, were dictated by the city.If the employee had not been qualified or had experienced problems in adapting, the city would have informed the agency, which would have taken the appropriate action. The respondent union, which holds the certification certificate for most of the city employees, submitted a request to the office of the labor commissioner general under s. 39 of the Labor Code seeking, inter alai, to have the temporary employee included in the union's bargaining unit.The labor commissioner found that the city was the employee's real employer during the two assignments and granted the union's request. On appeal, the Labor Court affirmed the decision. It acknowledged that the agency recruited, assigned positions to, evaluated, disciplined and paid the temporary employees, but concluded that the city as the real employer by focusing on the question of which party had control over the temporary employee's working conditions and the performance of her work.The Labor Court also noted that there was a relationship of legal subordination between the city and the employee because the city managers directed and supervised how she did her day-to-day work. The Superior Court dismissed the motion in evocation brought by the city, finding that the Labor Court's decision was not patently unreasonable. The Court of Appeal affirmed that Judgment in a majority decision. Held (Lurker's-Dub © J. Assenting): The appeal should be dismissed. Per Lamer C. J. And La Forest, Ignition and Core J. To determine whether t he Labor Court's decision is patently unreasonable, it must be asked whether the decision was based on the evidence adduced and whether the Labor Court's interpretation of the legislative provisions was patently unreasonable. The Labor Code provides few indications of how to determine the real employer in a tripartite relationship, and the definitions of the terms â€Å"employer† and â€Å"employee† found in the Code have had to be interpreted by specialized administrative tribunals.To identify the real employer in a tripartite relationship, a comprehensive approach must be taken. The criterion of legal subordination, which basically encompasses the notion of actual control by a party over the employees day-to-day work, and the criterion of Integration Into the a context of collective relations governed by the Labor Code, it is essential that temporary employees be able to bargain with the party that exercises the greatest control over all aspects of their work?and not only over the supervision of their day-to-day work.Moreover, when there is a certain splitting of the employer's identity n the context of a tripartite relationship, a comprehensive approach has the advantage of allowing for a consideration of which party has the most control over all aspects of the work on the specific facts of each case. This approach requires a consideration of the factors relevant to the employer-employee relationship, including: the selection process, hiring, training, discipline, evaluation, supervision, assignment of duties, remuneration and integration into the business.Here, the Labor Court used a comprehensive approach by not basing its decision solely on the criterion of legal subordination. It certainly gave greater probative value to working conditions and the criterion of legal subordination, but it also considered other factors that define the employer-employee relationship, such as the role of the agency and the city with respect to remuneration and discipline, and the specific facts of the employee's case. Nor did the Labor Court ignore the agency's role in recruiting, training and evaluating the employee.However, it Justified giving predominant weight to working conditions and the legal subordination test by relying on the ultimate objective of the Labor Code. The purpose of certification is to promote bargaining between the employer and the union in order to determine the employees' working conditions. According to the Labor Court, those conditions are â€Å"essential aspects of an employee's experience†. The reasoning of the Labor Court, a highly specialized agency that has expertise in labor law and is protected by a privative clause, was not patently unreasonable.The Labor Court's conclusion that the city was the employee's employer for the purposes of the Labor Code does not lead too patently unreasonable result. The applicability of the city collective agreement to the employee during her assignments does not ra ise any major difficulties. Moreover, although the agency was the employee's employer for the purposes of the Act respecting labor standards, no inconsistency can be found in the application of the Code and that Act.Each of the labor statutes has a distinct object and its provisions must be interpreted on the basis of their specific purpose. Moreover, this case relates to provisions of the Labor Code, specifically whether the Labor Court's decision was patently unreasonable, and not to the Act respecting labor standards. The arrangement is not perfect. However, the relationship in question here is not a traditional bipartite relationship, but a tripartite one in which one party is the employee and the other two share the usual attributes of an employer.In such a situation, it is thus natural that labor legislation designed to govern bipartite After an analysis of the facts, the legislation and the cases, there is a basis for the Labor Court's decision in the Labor Code and the evide nce, and it is therefore not patently unreasonable. Per Lurker's-Dub © J. (dissenting): Given the Labor Court's exclusive and peccadillo Jurisdiction to determine whether an employee should be included in a bargaining unit, as well as the privative clause in the Labor Code, a reviewing court may only intervene if the Labor Court's decision is patently unreasonable.While a high degree of deference is warranted in reviewing the Labor Court's decision, if such a decision fundamentally contradicts the underlying principles and intended outcomes of the enabling legislation and interferes with the effective implementation of other statutes which support and protect employees, intervention by the reviewing court is in order. Here, the Labor Court was asked to interpret the â€Å"employer-employee relationship† within the scope of the Code's regime governing certification and the collective bargaining process in the context of a tripartite arrangement.The modern rule of statutory i nterpretation holds, inter alai, that a court must adopt an interpretation that is appropriate in terms of its acceptability ? namely, the reasonableness of its outcome. Where an administrative tribunal contrives an absurd interpretation, it commits an error of law that warrants Judicial intervention pursuant to any standard of review.

Fall of Enron

Q1- Who were the key stakeholders involved in, or affected by the collapse of Enron? How and to what degree were they hurt or helped by the actions of Enron management? Ans- The key stakeholders affected by the collapse of Enron were its employees and retirees. Stakeholders and mutual funds investors lost $ 70billion market value. Banks were also affected by the meltdown of the company. They included big banks like J P Morgan Chase and Citigroup. Not only the stakeholder and bondholder lose out, the confidence in the company also fell. This was the major setback for the company. The actions of Enron management left a deep scare for its 4000 employees which lost out their jobs and also impacted others around them. Some blamed Arthur Andersen; Enron’s accounting firm and some blame the board of directors for insufficient oversights. The damage was so big that it was likely to take years for the court to sort the wreckage. The company did not think of its future and took many bad steps just to earn money. The CEO should have looked into the company matters long time ago and took action so that hundreds of jobs could have been saved. The companies who were associated with the big firm were affected on a very large scale. This was the biggest bankruptcy of a firm with $63.4 billion in assets. Q2- Considering all aspects of the case, what factor or factors do you believe most contributed to the collapse of Enron? In your answer, please consider both external and internal factors. Ans –Enron’s non transparent financial statements did not clearly depict its operations and finances with shareholders and analysts. The company started manipulating the revenue figures. Enron used many methods to make the companies condition look better by starting different accounting practices. They also broke the legal and ethical integrity of the company by overseeing the company’s financial reports. Even supporting the political parties didn’t help them. They had a complex business model and they misrepresented their financial status to the public so that they can have a better position in the eyes of the public and earn money on basis of that. All the above issues that led to the bankruptcy of the company were perpetuated by the actions of Lay, Skilling, Fastow and other executives. They all led to the collapse of the company. Lay did not enquire about the decisions that Skilling and Fastow were taking. He just approved to everything that they kept in front of him. Skilling always wanted to keep up to the Wall Street expectations and for this he gave pressure on his executives to find new was to hide the dept. This was the major setback for the company as they didn’t know that in future everything was going to come out and it would have led to bad consequences. Lay did not enquire about all this and approved of all the work Skilling was doing. Q3- What steps should be taken now by corporate managers, stakeholders, and policy makers to prevent a similar event from occurring in the future? Ans- People should not lie about the company’s financial status just to bring it up In the market. Eventually the truth is going to come out one day or the other. Auditors should properly keep track of the finances. Managers, stakeholders and directors should be aware of everything that is happening in the company. Policy makers should think about what steps they are taking and how it will affect other people lives. They should not make policies for the benefits of the big companies who give them finances for their political endeavours. Updated case: Many executives at Enron were indicated of variety of charges and then sentence to prison. Enron’s auditors, Arthur Anderson, was found guilty in a united states district court, but by the time the ruling was over turned at the US supreme court, the firm has lost most of its customers and had to shut down. Employees and shareholders received limited returns in the lawsuits they filed. As a consequence of the scandal, new regulations and legislation were enacted to expand the accuracy of financial reporting for public companies. Special purpose entities Enron used special purpose entities—limited partnerships or companies created to fulfil a temporary or specific purpose—to fund or manage risks associated with specific assets. The company elected to disclose minimal details on its use of special purpose entities. These shell firms were created by a sponsor, but funded by independent equity investors and debt financing. For financial reporting purposes, a series of rules dictates whether a special purpose entity is a separate entity from the sponsor. In total, by 2001, Enron had used hundreds of special purpose entities to hide its debt. The special purpose entities were used for more than just circumventing accounting conventions. As a result of one violation, Enron's balance sheet understated its liabilities and overstated its equity, and its earnings were overstated. Enron disclosed to its shareholders that it had hedged downside risk in its own illiquid investments using special purpose entities. However, the investors were oblivious to the fact that the special purpose entities were actually using the company's own stock and financial guarantees to finance these hedges. This setup prevented Enron from being protected from the downside risk. Notable examples of special purpose entities that Enron employed were JEDI and Chewco, Whitewing, and LJM. The justices agreed to look at two issues in the appeal of Mr. Skilling's 2006 conviction that could have broader repercussions, say legal observers. One deals with the government's contention that Mr. Skilling violated his legal obligation to provide â€Å"honest services† to Enron shareholders because he lied about the energy-trading company's financial condition before it collapsed into bankruptcy in December 2001. Mr. Skilling's attorneys maintained that prosecutors misapplied the honest-services statute, arguing their client hadn't lied and didn't cheat Enron or its shareholders. The second issue involves Mr. Skilling's claim that he wasn't able to get a fair trial in Houston, site of Enron's headquarters, because of anger in the community over the company's collapse. Daniel Petrocelli, Mr. Skilling's lead attorney, said the Supreme Court's decision means the defense â€Å"will finally get an opportunity for a full, frank and fair hearing† of issues that led to â€Å"Jeff's wrongful conviction.† The Justice Department declined to comment. The Supreme Court earlier accepted for review another appeal related to corporate honest-services fraud. That case involves the conviction of former Hollinger International Inc. Chairman Conrad Black. Oral arguments in Mr. Black's Supreme Court case are scheduled for December. No date has been set for oral arguments in the case of Mr. Skilling, who is in federal prison in Colorado. The question of what constitutes honest-services fraud is under debate. â€Å"The lack of clear guidance† on the statute â€Å"has been a problem in this area of criminal law for years,† said Mark Biros, a former federal prosecutor and now a partner in the Washington office of Proskauer Rose LLP. â€Å"It would be helpful to everyone if the Supreme Court steps in.† Mr. Biros said the court might be considering treating the Skilling and Black appeals as companion cases. The justices could use the two cases to provide a broader interpretation of the honest-services issue, he said. The court's agreement to hear Mr. Skilling's arguments on the location of his trial surprised Columbia Law School professor John Coffee. â€Å"The area of venue is something the Supreme Court hasn't touched for a long, long time,† Mr. Coffee said. If the court agrees with Mr. Skilling, whose attorneys argued for a venue change before the trial, it could have a wide impact. In the 2006 trial, Mr. Skilling and former Enron Chairman Kenneth Lay were convicted of fraud and conspiracy. Mr. Skilling was also convicted of insider trading. Shortly after the trial, Mr. Lay died of heart-related problems and his conviction was vacated. Former Enron chief financial officer Andrew Fastow, 44, was sentenced to six years in prison Tuesday, more than two years after he pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy for his involvement in the energy company's 2001 collapse. Jurors in the Houston trial of Enron founder Kenneth Lay and former CEO Jeffrey Skilling reached a verdict Thursday, the sixth day of deliberations, finding both defendants guilty of most conspiracy and fraud charges.

My project discussion will be based on the research conducted to Essay - 1

My project discussion will be based on the research conducted to evaluate the immigration policy and the impact it has on the va - Essay Example The various immigration policies differ from country to country. There are similarities and disparities in the immigration policies in developed countries like Canada and under-developed or developing countries like South Africa. The similarities and differences in immigration policies in Canada and South Africa have an impact on the number of people that immigrate, with potential effects on the labor workforce in these countries influencing economy differently. Immigration Immigration is simply relocating to another country for different reasons. Some immigrate to look for jobs, political freedom, studying, marrying and for business. Immigration is different from country to country. While some countries may be good for political asylum, they may not be the best for business or studying. As such, people have to choose the country they will immigrate to very carefully depending on their future objectives and goals. However, there are exceptions, where a country is suitable for all the possible reasons for immigration. Developed countries have almost everything in order including democracy, education system, better wages and business opportunities. Any person can move into such a country and meet his objectives. Developed country is defined as a country with high level industrialization, high income, and high life expectancy rate, democratically mature, good education systems and with well defined political systems and low corruption rates. Such countries have high literacy levels and high employment rates as well. On the other hand, developing countries are those that are on the path of becoming industrialized, democratically mature. The income, life expectancy, education systems and political systems are improving but are yet to get to the required levels. Most developing countries are working hard to ensure they become developed. Immigration policy is one of the many things such countries are using to improve the various systems. Developed countries also depen d on the immigration policies for different things (The World Bank 1). Similarities and differences in immigration policies in Canada and South Africa Workforce South Africa and Canada are constantly in need of people to work in the various sectors of the economy. The reasons behind this are different for the two countries. In South Africa, laborers required are usually non-skilled and semi-skilled. The demand for these workers is attributed to by the many mining industries within the country. Skills do not need to be high unless the person will have to be employed as a manager or director of the big firms. In fact, people looking for un-skilled and semi-skilled jobs are not well educated in most cases. However, this does not meet that well educated people with high level of skills cannot be accommodated. The South Africa Department of Home Affairs categorically states that the country can accommodate people with exceptional skills and qualifications. There are no specifications on the Language an immigrant has to be proficient in to move and live in South Africa (Segatti 19). On the other hand, Canada focuses mainly on highly educated and highly skilled persons. The department of immigration categorically states that potential immigrants to Canada have to be well learned. They must have at least one year experience in their field. Canadian government regulates the qualifications to be used at any given time (Reitz 409). For example, if

Assignment 2 Individual Reflection to the module of Strategic Essay

Assignment 2 Individual Reflection to the module of Strategic Management - Essay Example ective of this model is that it gives the future consultants tools set for adaptation to reforming imperatives and managing changes (Ackermann & Eden 1998). Strategic management is the process meant to draft, implement and evaluate functional decisions that enables an organisation to achieve its long term goals. Ackermann & Eden (1998) states that strategic management involves the mission, vision, objectives as well as policies designed to achieve these set objectives. This model has got various theories and model. These include; Porters five forces. These forces determine the competitive intensity and attractiveness of the market. To begin with we look at the threat of new competitors. In a market situation especially a profitable one, may result to high output that attracts investors and therefore decrease the market share. To deal with this problem, a manager needs to set up objectives and strategies that will maintain their customers. These strategies may include customer loyalty. Another force is the rivalry between existing firms. This is where firms operating on the same level compete for market share and profitability (Ackermann & Eden 1998). Managers set up strategies based on price, quality and innovation of brand names. Competition can mostly be avoided through technological progress. Bargaining power of buyers is also categorised in the porter’s five forces of strategic management. It can be defined as the ability of the buyers to make the firm run under pressure. It also involves the bargaining power of suppliers and the threats of substitutes that affect a market situation. In reference to the above models, I think the perceived strengths would be insisting on customers’ royalty. This is because the customer will always be right. If this objective is enhanced then there will be increase in market share as well as firm’s output. The weakness of practicing this model is that most firms would not afford raw materials such as capital to influence

Effects of Lack of Diversity on the Impartiality of the Judicial Essay

Effects of Lack of Diversity on the Impartiality of the Judicial Officers - Essay Example This is echoed by Article 6, paragraph 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Such a right to an independent and impartial tribunal contains both objective and subjective elements. The objective element entails separation of powers within the constitutional structure of the country. The subjective element entails avoidance by the tribunal of any semblance of dependence. Consequently, the members of the tribunal should avoid any act, attitude or comment which may lead to doubts among litigants as to the independence of the tribunal. Such avoidance is also part of the necessary impartiality of the judiciary.1 The Judiciary in England and Wales as It Is It has been observed that a judiciary that does not reflect society‘s diversity will ultimately lose the confidence of that society. Such is the replication of England‘s judiciary which has earned the decription of â€Å"pale, male and stale† to mean a white, male-dominated bench. This is backed by the fact that women and ethnic minorities are barely represented in the judiciary despite relentless efforts for more diversity in judicial appointments. For instance, Baroness Brenda Hale is the only female justice out of the 12 places in the Supreme Court of England.2 In similar breath, Rabinder Singh became the first Sikh, a non-white, to be appointed a High Court judge of England and Wales.3 This is happening in the midst of heated debates as to how and when to strike a balance between diversity and judicial selections based on merit. Such is the argument of the President of the Supreme Court, Lord Phillips, who favours judicial appointments based on merit over diversification. However, this school of thought has faced strong opposition with some arguing that merit is a non-issue or better yet an excuse not to effect judicial diversity speedily.4 Consequently, the lone-rangers in the judiciary such as Hale have called for more women and ethnic minority judges in the courts. She further terms the lack of diversity on the Bench to be a constitutional issue. While addressing the House of Lords Constitution Committee, Hale argued that judicial officers would approach issues differently based on their background, and that a lack of diversity could also change the substantive results of cases. Therefore, as such resistance to diversity among judges is considered to be misguided. She in turn suggests that some cases require diversity of perspectives and life experiences in order to get the best results. A case in point is in child-birth and rape matters where she suggests that the gender of justices would matter in how the cases are determined. Challenges of Independence and Impartiality of the Judiciary Judges are subjected to various kinds of pressure aimed at compromising their ability to dispense justice in an impartial and independent manner. For instance, the independence and impartiality of the judiciary is compromised when they are appointed by the Executive or Legisl ature or even where they are elected. This is further exacerbated by lack of tenure where they are employed on temporary contracts and are poorly paid thus they become susceptible to corruption they may also be publicly be criticised by the other arms of government in order to

Reaction paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Reaction paper - Essay Example Indeed, if one really thinks hard, it was right that running out of gas was made illegal because it could have been dangerous for other speeding cars. It is no wonder that car manufacturers like Volkswagen, Porsche etc. were inspired to design and create new high speed models with low friction tyres, massive engine and sensitive suspension system which could attain great speed. But today, the speed limit on autobahn is imposed because of two major reasons: increasing traffic and to promote conservation of forest land that was being adversely impacted due pollution emitted by high speeding cars. Interestingly, autobahns have seen fewer accidents as against American interstate. The reasons could probably be contributed to conscientious Germans who have great road sense and road authorities who mandate strict driving criteria for its drivers. The autobahns have inspired other countries like America to create such network of long highways which connect far away states and nations. The au tobahns of Germany have indeed become a world symbol for super highways where one can still experience the exhilaration of extreme speed. (words: 294) Reference ‘Modern Marvels – The Autobahns’. Retrieved from:

The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children Essay

The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children - Essay Example Viewers invariably have the entire family and perhaps none of the family members escape this all pervasive and negative influence. Children, with impressionable and tender psyches, are increasingly witnessing real-life violence, either in their homes, streets, schools, work places and almost everywhere. This violence has not only assumed epidemic proportions but is a sad and painful reflection on our society when recipients of violence are children, particularly in domestic environment. An environment which is otherwise supposed to protect and nurture young ones instead works to leave deep scars of hostile violence. To top it all provocations may be extremely trivial. This state of affair constitutes both a public health and moral/philosophical crises. The United States (US) has the highest homicide rate in the world. The US homicide rate for young men is 73 times greater than that observed in comparable industrialized nations. Largely uncontrolled proliferation of guns and other lethal weapons is linked directly, for one, to the increased homicide rates among children and for two, to the numbers of violent incidents that children may witness. On an average each day in the US, 9 children are murdered, guns wound 30 children, and 307 children are arrested for violent crimes. Purpose of the Study As the impact of violence on young children is the focus of this study, it is important to consider the culture in which children and their families are embedded. The social history of the US has always given more emphasis to traditions of individual rights and individualism over any perceived or real collective good. This philosophical stance underlies the tolerance of violence against women and the practices of corporal punishment in families. Historically, the emphasis on individual rights dictated that a man had unfettered rights on affairs of his household and that issues in family discipline were not the business of government or the courts. Prior to the late 1800s, children had few rights distinct from their families of birth. In fact it is an irony of societal logic that agencies were established to protect the rights of animals before agencies were established to protect the rights of children. It was not until the 1960s that state agencies were set up with specific legal ma ndates to protect children from familial abuse and neglect. This historical tradition of the supremacy of individual rights also contributed to the inability of the US to regulate gun ownership and possession. It is within this culture that families raise children. Definition of Terms The term violence encompasses a broad

Group paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Group paper - Essay Example The labor may also be induced, if the water has broken but the contractions have not started yet. The movement and the growth of the baby are monitored after certain intervals. If at any point the health care professionals figures out that the growth of the baby is not at the expected pace then false labor must be induced. Infection in the uterus may also be one of the reasons. If there is not enough amniotic fluid present around the baby or the placenta peels it from the uterus’ inner wall, then labor can be artificially induced by the healthcare professionals. If the mother has any medical condition that may put the baby’s health at risk like diabetes or blood pressure then it is better to induce labor. By doing this the period of the labor might shorten by an hour. This procedure helps in the examination of the amniotic fluid for the presence of meconium that is considered to be the sign for fetal distress. Baby’s scalp must be accessed directly for monitoring the heartbeat of the baby. Stimulating the nipples is considered to be one of the natural forms of labor induction and it can be performed manually or by the help of an electric breastfeeding pump. By doing so the natural production of oxytocin will take place in the female’s body causing contractions. Change theory can be linked to Lewis Theory in a way that it is about unfreezing all the previous information about labor induction and learning the changes imposed by advanced researches and studies. It is important to educate the health care professionals on the advantages and risks associated with induction because they are the ones who are responsible for the wellbeing of the mother and baby. It is important to educate the mother as well, so that she may be able to take informed decision regarding her baby’s health (Simpson & Thorman,

Contemporary Employment Relationship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 4

Contemporary Employment Relationship - Essay Example Employment relations play an important role in the economy of any given country. It is also the main subject in the political arena, but what do we understand about employment relations? One’s mind can ring on unions, issues to do with strikes, not leaving out salaries or better working atmosphere and maybe friendly terms regarding working condition. Employment relation can mean a legal binding existing between an employer and an employee. Normally, it occurs when an employee does a task or a service guided by specific legal conditions in return for pay or wage (MILLER, & CROSS 2013). It is through these relations that the privileges and responsibilities are developed between the employer and employee. Through time memorial, it has been and will always continue being the main engine behind workers freedom at various workplaces in relation to social security and labor act. Without employment relationship conditions, application of both social and labor acts may prove to be futi le to employees. It contains the main guidelines used in defining the type and degree employer’s privileges towards his or her employee.  Whatever is contained and the outlining of anticipations from both employer and employee, plays a significant role in determining the resilience of the affiliation to exert a lot of force on the agreement. A situation may turn to be contradicting especially when two individuals implicated have a different opinion over an agreement that has been set. This may bring the need for a psychological contract in a work environment. The psychological contract can be defined as an implicit agreement concerning the employee and employer (ROUSSEAU, D. M., & SCHALK 2000).

Strategic audit of a corporation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Strategic audit of a corporation - Essay Example Let us analyze the chart which shows the growth of internet connection users over the years: Figure 1: Internet connection users We can observe from the above mentioned chart that the wireless internet connection users has increased considerably over the years (Telus, 2013c). Market Share of Telus Communications Figure 2: Market share of Telus Communications in the year 2010 (Source: McFarlane, 2010) From the above chart we can observe that Shaw communications is the leading television and internet service provider followed by Telus communications. Telus communications needs to improvise its telecommunication and internet services to supersede Shaw communications. Marketing strategy The company has taken several environment friendly measures (Telus, 2013b).The environmental policies undertaken by the company are mentioned below: To develop sustainable development by integrating economic, social and environmental policies. ... Shaw communications The company was founded in the year 1966 under the name Capital Cable Television Ltd. The company provides cable television, telecom and digitalized satellite services. The company provides High Definition support to the television channels of Canada. Rogers Communications Inc The company provides cable television services, high speed internet connection and telecom products for consumers. Rogers Business Solutions which is a subsidiary company of Telus communications provides business telecom, data networking and IP (Internet Protocol) solutions to small, medium and large enterprise, government and carrier customers. The company’s stocks are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) (Rogers, 2013b) Current position of Rogers Communications Inc The revenue of the company increased from $12.142 million in the year 2010 to $12.428 million in the year 2011. Earnings per share increased from $2.89 in the year 2010 to $3.19 in the year 2011. The wireless internet connection users increased from 8977000 in the year 2010 to 9335000 in the year 2011. The cable television subscribers increased from 2297000 in the year 2010 to 2305000 in the year 2011. Figure 3: Revenue in $ millions (Source: Rogers, 2013a) Figure 4: Revenue by segment (Source: Rogers, 2013a) The company earns majority of its revenue from the wireless internet and cable television segments. Bell Canada Inc (BCE) The company provides solutions to business enterprises and customers. It provides wireless connections through Bell Mobility, SOLO and Virgin Mobile Canada (Bells, 2013b). It provides high speed internet and satellite television services. It

Ignominy in the Puritan Community Essay Example for Free

Ignominy in the Puritan Community Essay The title of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter refers to the literal symbol of ignominy that Hester Prynne’s community forces her to wear as a reminder of her sin. Though the word â€Å"ignominy† is used in sympathetic passages that describe Hester Prynne’s disgrace as an adulteress and out-of-wedlock mother, its use at the same time reveals an extremely critical description of Hester’s community; Hawthorne finds that what is truly disgraceful is the way the community relishes and exploits the opportunity to punish one of its members. Through powerful diction and imagery describing Hester’s sin and through saintly representations of Hester’s beauty and wholeness, Hawthorne reveals his sympathy toward Hester. The narrator commiserates with Hester when the reader first encounters her walking to her daily public shaming upon the marketplace’s scaffold. He writes, â€Å"her beauty shone out and made a halo of misfortune and ignominy in which she was enveloped† (50). The word â€Å"halo† suggests an angelic, even saintly quality, compared to the sin for which she is being publicly disgraced as punishment, making her circumstance more complex than simply one of punished sin. That she is â€Å"enveloped† by disgrace implies that her shame derives more from her surroundings than from her sin; Hawthorne’s use of â€Å"misfortune† also demonstrates the narrator’s sympathy toward Hester, again suggesting that her disgrace comes as much from the community’s display of her sin as from the sin itself. Hawthorne portrays Hester sympathetically yet again in her encounter with Chillingworth in the prison. The disguised physician declares Hester to be â€Å"a statue of ignominy, before the people† (68). Ironically, Chillingworth, in the role of a healer, here admonishes rather than helps Hes ter. His words, intended to threaten and punish Hester, in fact, spark sympathy for her in the reader. Similarly, later in the novel, while Hester and Dimmesdale talk in the forest, briefly away from the opprobrium of the Puritan community, Hawthorne describes how â€Å"Hester Prynne must take up again the burden of her ignominy† (170), on her return â€Å"to the settlement.† The use of the words â€Å"must† and â€Å"again† reveal Hester’s continual forced obligation to wear and be a symbol of shame in her community, and show again the narrator’s sympathy toward her. The fact that she is â€Å"burden[ed]† by disgrace illustrates the extreme weight of her painful, shunned experience, thus establishing the cause for the narrator’s sympathy for Hester. As Hawthorne shows empathy regarding Hester as she leaves the prison, he also condemns the harsh experience inflicted on her by the community, â€Å"The very law that condemned her†¦had held her up, through the terrible ordeal of her ignominy† (71). The words â€Å"terrible ordeal† not only reinforce the narrator’s sympathy toward the protagonist, but also suggest that the narrator is judging the community, not Hester. By revealing the community’s enjoyment and cruelty in punishing Hester, Hawthorne criticizes the Puritan’s ideas of justice and mercy through both assertive diction and direct communication with the reader. When â€Å"A crowd of eager and curious schoolboys† stare â€Å"at the ignominious letter on her breast† (52), the reader sees the â€Å"eager† pleasure and excitement witnesses experience from Hester’s circumstance. Here Hester’s disgrace has become both an entertainment and an educational device. The narrator continues with, â€Å"she perchance underwent an agony†¦as if her heart had been flung into the street for them all to spurn and trample upon† (52). With this description, Hester’s humanity is maintained, even when the comm unity, â€Å"all† of it, objectifies her as a teaching tool. The image of her heart â€Å"flung†, â€Å"spurn[ed] and trample[d] upon† demonstrates both the narrator’s sympathy toward Hester and animosity toward Puritan society, regardless of the age of the member. Shortly after his description of the schoolboy’s callous treatment of Hester, the narrator continues with a harsh account of the scaffold and pillory once employed upon it, â€Å"that instrument of discipline† that represented â€Å"the very ideal of ignominy† (52). The pillory reflects the nature of the community’s sense of justice, and the narrator finds it extremely harsh. The word â€Å"ideal,† often associated with perfection, suggests that the pillory signifies the ultimate desired effect of â€Å"ignominy:† public shame from which the sinner cannot turn away. Next, it would seem that Hawthorne speaks out directly and emotionally to the reader, declaring, â€Å"There can be no outrage, methinks, against our common nature, whatever be the delinquencies of the individual, no outrage more flagrant than to forbid the culprit to hide his face for shame† (52). Hawthorn’s use of word â€Å"methinks† suggests his forceful personal address on this issue of cruelty; he weighs in powerfully against the malice of the Pilgrim community that punishes Hester, even if it has not subjected her to the pillory. The word â€Å"no† implies Hawthorne’s view that this punishment is an absolute violation of human decency on the part of any community that turns a criminal into a victim by inflicting the use of a pillory. The letter â€Å"A† Hester must wear shows that the Puritans have depersonalized Hester as part of her punishment for committing adultery. The Puritan community is again portrayed as disgraceful when â€Å"John Wilson, the eldest clergyman of Boston† (60), steps forward above the scaffold where Hester continues to stand. He â€Å"had carefully prepared himself for the occasion† (63). Clearly, the words â€Å"carefully prepared† show Wilson relishing the public opportunity to punish Hester. He delivers to the community â€Å"a discourse on sin, in all its branches, but with continual reference to the ignominious letter† (63). His repeated reference to the scarlet letter underscores his depersonalization of Hester in her disgrace, without any consideration of her human suffering. The word â€Å"ignominious† reflects as much about the opportunistic clergyman and the punishing Pilgrim audience as it does about Hester’s sin. The narrator continues, â€Å"So forcefully did [Wilson] dwell upon this symbol, for the hour or more during which his periods were rolling over the people’s heads, that it assumed new terrors in their imagination† (63). The length of this sermon, and the nature of Wilson’s â€Å"rolling† delivery show the clergyman’s intention to hammer his message into the crowd and fire up its punishing judgment. Hawthorne continues to criticize the community as he places Hester historically at the site where she was first disgraced. The narrator notes, â€Å"If the minister’s voice had not kept her there, there would nevertheless have been an inevitable magnetism in that spot, whence she dated the first hour of her life of ignominy† (211). Implied is the idea that the power of public shaming by the community causes her to remain. Specifically, by noting that the scaffold is where â€Å"the first hour of her life of ignominy† began the author criticizes the community by revealing that Hester did not experience â€Å"ignominy† until being publicly disgraced on the scaffold, even though her sin had been committed many months prior. With his use of the word â€Å"ignominy,† Hawthorne repeats throughout The Scarlet Letter the cruelty, judgmental attitude, and narrow-mindedness of Puritan society. He portrays Hester’s community as condemning sinners mercilessly, refusing to accept ideas that are foreign to their ways of living or thinking. In this way, the townspeople depersonalize Hester, suggesting that she and her disgrace are one. Hester is seen as her sin, not as a complex human being with complicated, still unknown, circumstances.

Self monitoring and intervention for ring fidgeting habit

Self monitoring and intervention for ring fidgeting habit Habits are said to form when utilizing the same behavior regularly and consistently in a similar situation for the same purpose. They are performed with minimal thinking and little deliberation; and can be considered an automatising of behaviour. While efficiency in cognitive capabilities is achieved; habits cause information to be ignored, never influencing performance of the habit; as outcomes as a result of the habit are overly satisfactory. It has been suggested that good intentions are not acted upon if interfered by the habit; meaning the short term rewards become opposing to long term intentions. It is then that behaviours are identified as bad habits, habits that involve actions providing positive outcomes in the short term, but causing negative outcomes in the long run; including nervous habits, motor tics and stuttering. Nervous habits are defined as unchanging, automatic behaviours that do not serve any social purpose. Examples include hand to head habits such as nail biting or hair pulling; oral habits such as lip or tongue biting; or any repetitive movement such as scratching or object manipulation. Hansen, Tishelman, Hawkins Doepke (1990) and Woods, Miltenberger, Flach, (1996), suggest that hand to head and oral habits are most prevalent in the general population. In a study of college students, Woods et al. (1996) reported that 15% of students engaged in hair manipulation, 10% nail biting, 22% chewing of their mouth or lips, while 22% reported manipulating objects such as pens or jewelry. Fidgeting is defined as engaging in actions that are peripheral or nonessential to ongoing focal tasks or events (Mehrabian Friedman, 1986); involving engagement in actions, movement or manipulation of ones own body or implementation of actions onto other objects; and can hereby be categorized as a nervous h abit. Woods and Miltenberger (1996) concluded that habits such as hair and face manipulation were present in anxiety- provoking conditions; while object manipulations were recorded when participants felt bored. Three potential explanations exist in relation to how such habits are developed and maintained. Firstly, habits are said to be negatively reinforced by decreasing tension, due to automatic negative reinforcements, such as reduction in anxiety and stress. Secondly, habits provide self- stimulatory advantages, such as increase in concentration or focus, therefore aiding in production of reinforced outcomes. Nervous habits are also hypothesized to represent a group of behaviours that are caused by schedule-induced or adjunctive behaviours occurring as a result of time-based schedules such as fixed-time or fixed-interval schedules (Miltenberger, Fuqua, Woods, 1998), possibly to fill time between reinforces and other behaviours. However, habits do not tend to interfere greatly in a persons functioning, as in some cases they may help the individual focus, concentrate or feel aroused; but are known to cause annoyance to the individual or those around them. In some cases, where the frequency may become excessive; numerous negative outcomes can be attributed to nervous habits. For instance hand related habits can lead to risk of infection; while others cause negative social consequences, such as little or no social acceptance. It is when habits occur frequently or intensely that treatment is sought. Several new behavioural technologies have been developed; through the assessment of treatments using group treatment- outcome and single participant designs as well as several case study experiments; with the latter seen inadequate for drawing valid, scientific interpretations. Controlled single and group experiments, specifically those using repeated, objective measures with reversal or multiple base line designs have been shown to have scientific merit (Peterson, Campise and Azrin, 1994), detailing impacts of treatments on the behaviour. Such treatments have been effective in reducing the frequency of habit disorders by over 90% and eliminating them in 40 to 70% of the cases (Peterson et al., 1994); with habit reversal treatment (HRT) found to be consistent in demonstrating high effectiveness and applicability to a range of habits. Habit reversal involves several components aimed at increasing habit awareness, developing competing responses, building and sustaining motivation and compliance; as well as incorporating operant and anxiety management techniques (Piacentini Chang, 2005) to effectively treat habits. Azrin and Nunn (1973) successfully treated 12 clients who exhibited habits for up to 7 years, through the implementation of the 4 key stages of HRT: awareness training, competing response training, habit control motivation and generalized training. Awareness training included components such as: response description, where clients are asked to describe the details of the habit behaviour; response detection where therapists reported occurrences of the habit to the participant almost immediately after occurrence; an early warning procedure where clients became aware of the earliest signs of the habit and situation awareness where an analysis was implemented to name high-risk situations where the habit may occur. Competing response practice involved the client developing a short and socially acceptable behavioural pattern opposite to the habit, usually through a shaping technique. In the case of nervous habits involving hands; clients were instructed to place his/her hands down by the sides, and to clench their fists until they could feel tension in their arms and hands (Azrin and Nunn, 1973). Motivational procedures such as habit inconvenience and social support procedures were used; with reviews of the inconveniences, embarrassment or suffering experienced implemented; while family members positively reinforced the individuals efforts when habit free periods was noted. Clients were asked to perform the CR correctly in the presence of a councilor, while also taught a symbolic rehearsal technique, where clients imaged habit eliciting situations, their detection of the habit behaviour and performance of the appropriate CR for a required 15 minutes. Clients were also reinforced and remi nded of their habit under more casual situations, and were required to elicit the CR for 3 minutes, a technique known as generalized training. The study reported a significant reduction in habit occurrence of 90% after a single session, with an increase to 99% three months after treatment. Similarly, Azrin, Nunn, and Frantz (1980) investigated the effects of HRT on habits, comparing it to negative practice; a technique similar to HRT, but different, as the habit was performed for 30 second periods over an hour period, each day until four days after the habit was undetectable; while participants were telling themselves they should not be doing the habit. It was reported that the HRT was more effective, as HRT reduced habits by one third. Woods, Miltenberger Lumley (1996) reviewed the effectiveness of awareness training, self-monitoring, social support, and competing responses in 4 children. Woods et al. concluded that, while all stages were successful, self-monitoring should be used as the initial stage in treatment, with other components implemented after awareness has been detected. Additionally, the use of anxiety and operant techniques, have also proven successful in treatment of habits. Anxiety management techniques, such as breathing exercises, muscle relaxation and imagery have been implemented as increases in stress and anxiety lead to concomitant increases in tic frequency, intensity and duration (Cohen, Friedhoff, Leckman, Chase, 1992). Although unsuccessful individually, benefits have been detected in multi-component treatments such as HRT. Similarly, operant techniques, in forms of contingency management, entail the manipulation of environmental contingencies so that tic-free intervals are positively reinforced, and tic behaviors are punished (Piacentini Chang, 2005).They should only be used in instances where a clear relationships between the habit and the environmental contingencies are observed. The aim of this study is to suggest an effective intervention or treatment to reduce the occurrence of object fidgeting in a 19 year old female. It is hoped that through the implementation of this HRT, the habit in question is effectively treated, hereby providing the client with a long term solution. Method Participant The participant of this study was a 19 year old Western, middle class, female undergraduate psychology student who expressed interest in reducing the frequency of a nervous habit, specifically the habit of fidgeting in form of manipulation of an object. Operational definition Fidgeting, in this instance, was the engaging in one particular action, non-essential and external to ongoing tasks. Focus was primarily upon the manipulation of an object; in this case the action of fidgeting with a ring. Actions involved the individual using their right hand or left hand fingers to turn the ring into a circle around the finger of which the ring was present. The instance where the individual may have been moving the ring back and forth while on the finger was also counted. Taking the ring on and off the finger; meaning the individual took the ring off and put the ring back on was not taken into account. Ring fidgeting can be classified as an excess nervous behavior; that is unwanted, and therefore should be decreased in frequency, duration or intensity. This behavior was monitored due to its relative high frequency in Participant Xs everyday life. Selection and justification of monitoring method Assessment of the behavior was achieved through the method of an event recording, self- monitoring method. The participant was asked to record the frequency of the habit over a period of 14 days as well as the time the behavior occurred, when and where it occurred, who was around and what happened before and after the habit was detected. Event recording measures the occurrence, either frequency or duration of a low to medium occurring behavior during a specific time interval. This method was used as event recording has been proven effective when wanting to increase or decrease the occurrence of a habit or behavior, while also allowing the behavior in question to be clearly identified as having a beginning and an end. In this case also the habit did not happen at such an extreme high rate that the event itself was difficult to record. Similarly, a self-monitoring method, while less costly and convenient, could prove ineffective as it is possible the act of self behavioural assessment may actually reduce the frequency of the habit, with the individual becoming highly aware of the behavior; and as a result consciously or subconsciously decrease the act of the behaviour. Results Results obtained from the self-monitoring of Participant Xs ring fidgeting habit over the 14 day, self monitoring period are illustrated in Figure 1 below. As the graph illustrates, participant Xs mean of ring fidgeting (M = 3.93) over the 14 day period proves relatively low. A range between extreme scores of 7 was obtained, while the lowest number of fidgets occurred on Day 14 and the highest on Day 7 of monitoring. It is hypothesized that due to the participants preoccupied nature, no incidences were recorded on day 14 of monitoring. It is possible that the reason for high detection of fidgets on Day 7 could be as a result of Xs high levels of stress and fatigue and anxiety associated with her university lifestyle. The frequency of the behavior increased for the first three days, decreased for a day, increased for the following three days, reaching its peak on Day 7. The behavior then decreased abruptly, occasionally increasing, before leveling off for two days and finally becoming undetectable by the last day of monitoring. Of all days, day 14 proved to be different to the other days of monitoring, with no detection of the habit recorded. Contextual Studying for university exams; recalling facts and information, usually when alone Working on assignments and essays; mainly when researching or planning, even writing, usually alone On the train/ waiting for train to go to university in the morning and afternoon- around people Feeling tired after long day at university or after long day studying; around people and when alone When not really doing anything; waiting to get home on the train, or waiting for the train Immediate Feeling stressed or worried about; exams, too many assignments; a lot to do, little time to do it in Feeling overwhelmed and stressed about amount of work needed to be done for university- things like assignments, studying for exams Frustration when not able to recall facts and information for exams Feelings of boredom when not doing much; usually when knows has much to do- specially when on the train to university or back home; as most of the time it is very busy and cannot do much university work- feels like she is wasting time Feeling annoyed about what is happening in life, even in the rest of the world (war etc)- annoyed at the fact that she may not be doing enough in regards of her assignment work or studying; some instances annoyance may be due to hearing something on the news or reading about something that she may not agree with Feeling tired- usually effects the participant in terms of lack of concentration and allows the patient to lose focus on the task The participant sometimes lacks self-confidence, sometimes feels anxious and uncertain when doing assignment work, university work or when in situations where things seem to go wrong unexpectedly The participant sometimes experiences feelings of overwhelm, annoyance and frustration when unable to do certain tasks; most prominently task relating to her university career Believes that she needs to do well at university and therefore is mindful of what she is required to do; must perform well in order to gain excellent qualifications and therefore build a relatively worthwhile career Knows that her university life depends on her ability to study efficiently; to produce high standard assignments for her psychology courses Also highly believes that what is happening in the world now is going to affect everyone and everything; including her family, her friends and herself- somehow hopes to make a difference which may lead again to the pressure which the patient feels when it comes to her career or in this case- how her university exams and assignments (grades) will impact on her ability to get to that level = pressure = anxiety, stress, frustration and feelings of overwhelm Ring Fidgeting Fidgeting, in this instance, was defined as engaging in one particular action, non-essential and external to ongoing tasks. Focus was primarily upon the manipulation of an object; in this case the action of fidgeting with a ring. Actions involved the individual using their right hand or left hand fingers to turn the ring into a circle around the finger of which the ring was present. The habit was observed during the participants waking hours. Immediate Reduction in anxiety and stress levels = feels calmer and peaceful Reduction in levels of frustration or disappointment Reduction in boredom = preoccupation- has a distraction from her anxiety provoking thoughts; feels like she is doing something and able to fill time Increase in ability to recall facts and information for university exams, ability to work efficiently and faster on assignments Increase in ability to focus and concentrate on the task at hand and make good progress on the task No reduction in level of tiredness; still reports to feel fatigue Reduction in self-consciousness Allows the patient to take time out from her busy life and reflect, possibly clear her thoughts Long Term Possible damage to surrounding skin areas Risk of infection if the behaviour becomes excessive As a result of above consequence; possible inability to write or type Possible loss of feeling if the behavior is excessive As a results of all these, the individual could experience little social acceptance meaning that as a result of the damage to skin areas, which does not look nice and is not very attractive- people around the individual may never make friends or even maybe marry This may lead to depression- as such a problems as being cast out of a social groups, or possibly never having a partner or friends can lead to the patient becoming depressed- feeling down, or feeling like everything may pointless and not worth it Negative reinforcement Negative reinforcement Negative Reinforcement Positive Reinforcement Positive Reinforcement Positive Punisher Negative reinforcement Positive Reinforcement Positive Punisher Positive Punisher Negative Punisher Negative Punisher Negative Punisher Positive Punisher As seen in the Table 1 above, participant X is a 19 year old female who has suffered from habitual ring fidgeting for the last year and a half. Historically, X reports the habit to have begun recently; possibly since the commencement of her university life. The behavior may also be as a result of observations, while her busy university lifestyle and lack of sleep may elicit, but not directly cause the occurrence of the habit. Contextually, Xs habit occurs during times when completing university assignments, studying for university tests at home, travelling to and from university or when really not doing anything; and reports feelings of anxiety, stress, worry, annoyance, frustration, fatigue or boredom when performing the behavior. She describes herself as lacking self-confidence, feeling pressured and uncertain at times about her university work, believing that she must perform well, while highly regarding current world events to play a part in her future. X reports that when fidget ing she experiences relief from anxiety, frustration, boredom and self-consciousness; and experiences increased ability to recall facts and information, concentrate and focus and to clear and reflect on her thoughts, but report little change in her level of tiredness. Long term consequences in this instance were not detected; as the client has experienced the habit for a short time. Hereby, based on the immediate consequences it can be said that the relief and increase in abilities which X feels when fidgeting appears to surpass any sort of immediate negative outcome the habit may impose. Discussion The aim of this study was to implement an effective treatment to reduce the occurrence of object fidgeting of a 19 year old female. It is hoped that through the implementation of this treatment the habit in question is effectively reduced and controlled by the participant. Frequency monitoring of the habit suggests that ring fidgeting in this case was not severe, as the mean fidgets over the 14 days were relatively low. The participant reports that she feels stressed, worried, annoyed, frustrated, tired or bored when performing the behavior; but reports that as a result she experiences relief from anxiety, frustration, boredom and self-consciousness; as well as increased ability to recall facts and information, concentrate and focus on the task at hand; but reports little change in her level of tiredness. The findings seem consistent with the literature outlined previously. As pointed out by Woods and Miltenberger (1996), nervous habits are prevalent in anxiety- provoking conditions; with object manipulation habits recorded when participants feel bored. In this case, the habit seemed to have been present in both types of situations, with immediate stimuli including feelings of anxiety, frustration and boredom. Overall, it is evident that in this case the habit was negatively reinforced by a decrease in tension, mainly through negative reinforcements, such as reductions in anxiety, stress and boredom. Additionally, the participant also reported self-stimulatory advantages, with an increase in focus and concentration. Nervous habits were also hypothesized to be caused by schedule-induced or adjunctive behaviours occurring as a result of time-based schedules such as fixed-time or fixed-interval schedules (Miltenberger et al., 1998). It is possible that Xs habit may be a way to fill in time between behaviours in everyday life and normal reinforces, or be due to the specific stimuli or events. Severe and long term consequences due to the habit could not be detected; but it can be postulated that were the habit to occur excessively, X would possibly be at risk of infection, could experience little social acceptance and as a result possibly depression. The frequency of ring fidgeting in this case was relatively small, causing no severe damage or impairment in the short term. But because of the possibility of it becoming over excessive, a modified version of habit reversal treatment could be implemented to reduce the habit. This method is proposed for this case as HRT has been successful in decreasing frequency of habits by 90% after implementation, with further increase after treatment. X will be exposed to the 3 stages of HRT: awareness training, competing response training and habit control motivation; as well as operant and anxiety reducing techniques. X will be exposed to response description, where she will be asked to describe and demonstrate in detail the actions and behaviours of the habit; response detection where those around X would report the occurrence of the habit immediately after each occurrence; an early warning system where the client will be taught to be aware of even the earliest signs of fidgeting and finally s ituation awareness training where the client will be made aware of the high risk situations in which fidgeting may occur. It is known that awareness training would be effective in this case by making the occurrence of the tic an aversive event (via evaluation or demand characteristics) or that monitoring activities serve as punishers for tic expression (Piacentini Chang, 2005), while also reducing frequency of the habit. Participant X will also be asked to develop a short, acceptable competing response, performed on each occasion when the participant feels the urge to fidget; implemented through shaping. In this case the action of placing her hands down by her side, simultaneously clenching her fists until tension is felt in both arms and hands, could serve as her CR. Shaping allows expression of the habit, while not blocking it but rather weakening the severe aspects of the habit behaviour. Appropriately, the habit could be shaped into more normal behaviours, meaning the CR should be designed to slow down the frequency of the habit, with X not eliciting the habit, but rather something different and appropriate, while also providing X with a different physical expression contingent, still allowing the reduction in negative feelings and positive outcomes. As more control is gained over the habit, the CR becomes increasingly more forceful with the ultimate goal of greater tic control (Piacentini Chang , 2005), and therefore fidgeting would be eliminate. In addition, several motivation procedures, including habit inconvenience and social support procedures are suggested. Reviews will be conducted in regards to the inconveniences experienced; allowing a breakdown of symptoms, while also enhancing motivation for treatment and serving as a step forward in the acceptance of the habit. Close individuals will also be asked to reinforce each habit free period and correct use of techniques. In addition to the 3 intervention stages discussed; X will also be exposed to several operant techniques, preferably through the manipulation of environmental contingencies. As there is a clear relationship between the habit and numerous contingencies, the participants habit free intervals, in the contexts where the habit is most frequent; will be positively reinforced each time; through a rewards system; boosting compliance, while ring fidgets would be pointed out but not rewarded. In addition, strategies of reducing anxiety and stress should be introduc ed as a clear relationship exists between stress and anxiety triggers and habit frequency. The participant should be taught possible relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or muscle relaxation, asked to monitor her relaxation levels and instructed to use them before anxiety provoking or stressful events, hereby possibly never eliciting the habit or reducing it greatly. While the above intervention could be used in its entirety, it must be pointed out that the habit of ring fidgeting is was not overly severe. Results did indicate a relatively low mean for the behaviour, which does indicate the habit as present, but only in relatively low frequencies over 14 days. All stages of the treatment above would have been more appropriate if the participant may have actually experienced severe long term consequences, or possibly more punishers in terms of contingencies. As most of the contingencies proved to be reinforces of reductions in negative feelings, it is possible that anxiety management individually, would serve appropriate, as a clear relationship exists between stress and anxiety triggers and habit frequency. Operant techniques and reinforcement of fixed-habit free periods could also prove successful, as X would learn, after some time that a reward would be given each time the desirable behaviour occurs, in this case the absence of the habit. Aware ness training could also have been successful individually, as awareness of the habit to be an aversive event could reduce the habit and also serve as a possible punisher to the participant; hereby decreasing the habit and achieving the goal of this study. Because of the habit was detected as relatively low in frequency, possibly due the fact that X has only experience the habit for a short time; a general HRT treatment would be considered to be inappropriate as such treatment has been successful at treating more long term and highly excessive habits. Additionally, subjective self-monitoring and SORCK analyses used to analyze the patterns of antecedents and consequent events may not serve as valid in this case. Self monitoring in particular could prove ineffective, with a possibility that the act may actually reduce the frequency of the habit, with the individual becoming highly aware of the behavior; and as a result consciously or subconsciously decreasing the act of the behaviour. Similarly, SORCK analyses were in turn based on self- monitoring and recording, and could be deemed equally as subjective. This study was based on the habit frequency of one subject and not a population of the individuals experiencing ring fidgeting. As this is the case, it is highly hypothesized that the data itself could be rather subjective and non representative of the whole population. Many individuals who self monitor may do so incorrectly and subjectively, as some habits are engaged in without awareness and can be missed, while it is also possib le that participants could also underestimate overestimate occurences.

First Generation Of Romantic Poets English Literature Essay

First Generation Of Romantic Poets English Literature Essay The Romantic Period encompassed poetic characteristics and visions completely different that anything seen before, rebelling and breaking away from the conservative style of Neoclassicism that preceded it. The first generation of Romantic poets mainly consisted of William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Blake. Characteristics of the period such as mysticism are seen and expressed in their poems. It isnt possible to place a definite date on the start and end of the Romantic Period as there are several conflicting opinions. Generally, it is regarded that the period began in 1798 with the publication of Lyrical Ballads by the forefathers of Romanticism; Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth. Some scholars argue that it began as early as 1789 with Songs of Innocence by William Blake. In terms of its ending, some believe it ended with the start of the Victorian Era in 1837, although some say it died off by 1830. For the purpose of this essay, the consensus is that the period began in 1798 and ended in 1830. With a timeframe established, it is critical to look at historical events of the time as they played a major role in influencing the thoughts and styles of the Romantic poets. The Romantics were on the brink of the Industrial Revolution which was seen as a negative, horrendous thing. The poets emphasized on the importance of nature in life and society, seeing big, smoke expelling factories as monstrous and completely unnatural. They feared that society would become corrupted and evil as it lost contact with nature and further integrated to an industrialized life. The other main influence they had was the French Revolution which helps explain where some of the new ideologies and feelings came from. There was little to no expression of free speech in France and poverty was widespread. Resources were not distributed appropriately as the nobles lived in great luxury while lower classes starved. Naturally, the romantics supported the revolution hoping for social and political change and i mprovement in France. Later on, with Napoleons rule and aggressive conquests they turned against the French movement but kept and embraced the spirit of revolution. The revolution and their fear of being invaded made them truly appreciate what they had. Nature was turned to to escape from the real world and its predicaments; it was a heavenly gateway to peace of mind. Nature then became one of the most commonly used and important themes, references and characteristics in romantic poetry as it came to symbolize Gods pure creation of grace. The most important Romantic poets can be classified into two groups, the first generation and the second generation. The first generation of poets that created the basis for the later ones included were Samuel Coleridge (1772-1834), William Blake (1757-1827) and William Wordsworth (1770-1850) Charles Lamb (1775-1834), Jane Austen (17751817), and Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832). Charles Lamb is most famous for his poem The Old Familiar Faces and his essay Essays of Elia. At one point he was mentally ill and spent some time in a psychiatric hospital. His sister went insane and stabbed their mother to death, greatly affecting his writing for a long time and forcing him to take care of her. Jane Austen is most commonly known for her novels Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. Her novels were not accepted very well and didnt bring her much fame while she was alive, but now she has been accepted as one of the best authors of the English language. Northanger Abby was published once s he had passed away and sold excellently for a year. Sir Walter Scott is known for his poems like The Lady of The Lake and his ballads. He focused and showed an interest for Scottish history in his works. Scott was read all around the world during his time including readers in parts of Europe and North America. The most important second generation poets included Lord Byron (1788-1824), Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822), and John Keats (1795-1821). All three produced important literary works despite that they died so young at the ages of 36, 30 and 26, respectively. Keats was the most famous of the three, praised for his collection of odes including Ode to a Nightingale. Like Austen, Keats was not widely recognized during his lifetime and then his works picked up popularity after he passed away. Shelley was a master of poetry who wrote Queen Mab as well as the dramatic plays The Cenci and Prometheus Unbound. He married the writer Mary Shelley who wrote the extremely famous novel Frankenstein and also helped edit and revise his works. Among Lord Byrons most popular poems are She Walks in Beauty and Don Juan. Lord Byron was somewhat of a wild man, getting involved in several romantic affairs and large debts. He fought for the Greeks in the Greek War of Independence which made him be seen as a n ational hero by them. Eventually he died from a terrible fever.

Heineken out of Burma :: essays research papers

Heineken out of Burma The action groups 'A Seed Europe' and the Dutch action group 'XminY' started a campaign in February 1996, called "Heineken out of Burma!". The investment plans of the Dutch brewer Heineken Inc. in Burma (Myanmar), were said to provide material support and legitimacy to the violent dictatory rulers of the country. Heineken sees Burma as an emerging market, that must be entered without delay. Western beer markets are becoming saturated and the potentials for growth in Asia are enormous. Competitors, such as Carlsberg and San Miguel, are likewise turning their investments towards Asia. The political opposition in Burma, lead by Nobel Price laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, calls on foreign companies not to invest in Burma for the time being, however. International embargoes can support the internal opposition against the regime, she says. Heineken has a 42% share in the Asian Pacific Brewery Ltd (APBL). This, in turn, owns 60% of the shares of the Myanmar Brewery Ltd (MBL). The remaining 40% of the shares belong to UMEHL: the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd. UMEHL is lead by the military rules of the country. APBL wants to invest 15 million US dollars in a brewery in Burma. That can only be done in the form of a joint-venture with UMEHL. The military rulers force this construction onto APBL. Forty percent of the profits that the brewery will yield in the future will thus flow towards the dictators. Heineken did not deny that the Burmese regime is guilty of gross violations of human rights. On the contrary, Heineken shared the analyses of the action groups and said to be very concerned about the human rights situation in Burma. There is one difference, however: the action groups concluded that Heineken should cancel its investments in Burma, but Heineken did not intend to do so. "We sincerely believe that we can reconcile our policy in Burma with our corporate values and norms", so Heineken's press officer before the Dutch media. The action groups say: "By investing in Burma at this moment, and by embarking on a joint venture with UMEHL, Heineken makes itself an accomplice in the tragedy of the Burmese people". This complicity consists in particular of two points.

Essay --

Introduction When World War II finally came to a close on May 7, 1945, a new war was just beginning. The Cold War symbolized the evident, yet unorthodox rivalry that stemmed between the United States and Soviet Russia, including their respective allies. (This war was fought on economic, political, and propaganda scales , with limited alternatives to weaponry, largely due to the fact that they had fear of a nuclear genocide.)^1 This expression, â€Å"The Cold War†, was initially used by Presidential Adviser, Bernard Baruch, in a â€Å"legislative debate in 1947.†("Bernard Baruch Coins the Term "Cold War"" History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.) Intelligence operations governing this war have been conducted by the Soviet State Security Service (KGB), and the C.I.A representing the two powers, Russia and the United States respectively, that arose from the echoes of World War II. Both have steered a pool of operations from large scale military intrusion and treas on to secret spying and scrutiny missions; they have experienced both success and failure. The Bay of Pigs fiasco was soon followed by Kennedy's handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The decisions he made were helped immensely by intelligence congregated from critical examination photos of the U-2, a plane that soars at high altitudes. With these operations put into consideration, citizens of the United States, as well as Soviet Russia, were immensely effected politically, economically and ideologically. Politically, it was apart of an American standard that we shall have a foreign enemy; this would lead to the Capitalism vs. Communism debacle. Furthermore, extensive events, such as the ‘Red Scare’, put the American people in a state of paranoia and vulnerabilit... ...the age we live in today to scrutinize the enemy and ally alike so as to be able to understand their capabilities and weaknesses without intelligence agencies. The CIA and KGB by themselves can not guarantee freedom from war, but with great knowledge within each of the organizations’ leaders, intelligent decisions can be made in the interest of the public. Furthermore, the way things are now and the foundation of political power seems to be remaining at a stand-still in-which the Easterners and Westerners are on opposing sides. There can never be legitimate and absolute complete freedom from war, but these intelligence agencies will continue to thrive contrary to the despicable ideals of the public for a complete utopia; their simply can not be peace, as one side believes in the power of government over all and the other supporting individualism/capitalism.

Ethics in Information Technology :: Technology Ethics

Ethics in Information Technology Technology Department Technology is in many ways very beneficial to our society, but in what ways can and/or will this fast growing business be unethical. This article explains the power and information that an IT personnel has in the business world. Most people think of the IT person as someone who comes to fix their computer when they can't figure out their e-mail. But what does an IT person have access to. Every business is different and has different responsibilities required for the IT personnel. This article explains how most companies use the IT department for monitoring their employees on the computer. The article raises many questions on the ethical behaviors of IT personnel, but it doesn't give many answers. That's because the question of "Is it ethical?" must be answered by each individual IT professional. In other professional careers such as Medicine or Law that have been around for a long time have a set of laws or code of ethics that goes along with the job. This field has yet to establish such rules. The article states that most ethical issues such as: reading the employee e-mails and changing words, using key loggers to obtain everything a specific person has typed, or screen capture programs to monitor everything they have looked at, have not even been confronted by law, nor is there a standard that any IT professional has to follow. It's scary to think how much power and information that an IT professional have access to, and the fact that there are no laws that prohibit some of the procedures they is also a frightening thought. Even at Southwestern Assemblies of God University the IT people have access to our social security number, web pages we visit, and even our internet passwords like e-mail or student login. If the IT professional are hired and have no prior discretion of ethical issues how can we trust what they will do with the information they have about us. I trust that the employers at Southwestern have chosen the right people for the job, but what the everyday office of America. The article states that some of the IT professionals even help employees to get others fired. An example of this would be: At this particular business the IT department receives all the e-mails to be screened before they leave to the recipient.

Crime Fiction Analysis Essay

Paul Darnell is a convicted sex offender who is released from prison and just three months after his release, a young girl is found raped and murdered just around the corner from the ex-con’s childhood home. As the investigators discover that his childhood victim area is in the same town as the girl who was raped and killed, they decide to arrest him for questioning and receive a warrant to search his house. They find a pile of â€Å"self help† DVD cases, which in fact hides criminal porn discs in them; as a result, Darnell is put on trial as a suspect to the case. Darnell tries to convince the jury that he has changed and his new found love, Judy, has changed him to make him into a considerate man who can control himself and his urges. Darnell wins the case and pleads not guilty for both the murder and rape of the past -victim girl. The investigators are left furious as a number of instances have seem to of proven Darnell’s guilt (such as following two girls home from school and his past offences of raping three young teenagers) and not long after Paul pleads guilty, he is found dead in Judy’s apartment, after he tried to rape her seventeen year old daughter. The daughter shot Paul in the head twice in self-defense, after his wrapped a garbage bag over her head to strike again. How does your source reveal information, ideas and an increased understanding of the issues surrounding your area of study? The area of study, being crime, is revealed in different varieties through out this particular episode of â€Å"Law & Order: UK. † Crime is a topic that is covered over a number issues such as theft, treason and rape + murder which is covered in this episode. There are many investigations, such as searching through the suspect’s house, going to his old neighborhood home etc. Interviews (with the suspect, witnesses, close acquaintances), identification (through photographs of both the victim and suspect) and court hearings (which occur quite frequently, which involve as many aspects as possible to help the jury decide whether Paul would be guilty or not) are all part of the tactics that the CSI team all go through to find the right person to fit the crime. According to medicine. com, a crime scene investigation (CSI) is defined as â€Å"the use of physical evidence at the scene of the crime and the use of deductive and inductive reasoning to gain knowledge of the events surrounding the crime. What are points of comparison between the source and your core text? * Between â€Å"Law & Order: UK† and â€Å"The Big Sleep† both investigating teams have tactics in order to find the suspected criminal/s. These are interviewing numerous people, asking around and getting hands on, in actually getting out into the field and doing work themselves. * Both have similar crimes involved: most common being murder. * Both involve a particular male / female role which is being victimised and criminal. Name of the source: Gangster Squad Type of source: Movie Area of Study: Crime Fiction Basic summary of the source content: â€Å"Gangster Squad† is a movie set in the late forties based on a true story set in Los Angeles. Mickey Cohen has become the most powerful figure in California’s criminal underworld, he is ruthless and controlling on both the legal and illegal sides of Los Angeles; he is known to have an â€Å"iron grip† over L. A. as nobody is willing to stand up to him in fear of the threatening gangster crew he carries around him. Until one day, the chief of Police, Chief Parker, has the idea to create a unit specialising in taking Cohen down to keep the city safe. A team is formed around Sargent O’Mara, who then asks four other police officers and a World War II Veteran to join his â€Å"gangster squad unit†. Another officer (Wooters) is asked to join the force but declines, as he is disillusioned from the war and his time on the police force. Wooters does although keep a close eye on Cohen and in doing so, becomes infatuated with his girlfriend / etiquette coach. As the team bugs Cohen’s house and keep a close eye on his surroundings, Cohen finds out in the process, and in result, the veteran is sacrificed. Things heat up and the plot turns into a full throttle war between the two squads after Cohen shoots into O’Mara’s home where his pregnant wife is at the time. Most of Cohen’s team is killed and later on O’Mara and Cohen go head to head in a boxing match where O’Mara wins and choen is jailed. How does your source reveal information, ideas and an increased understanding of the issues surrounding your area of study? There are more issues covered in this movie to deal with crime. Things such as blackmail, abduction, attempted rape (at the start of the movie), murder, theft, treason, adultery etc. Although this movie was based on a true story, crime fiction is used for entertainment purposes, which this is played up for that purpose. All of these different crimes make up a greater understanding of what is needed in a crime fiction story (detective, hard-boiled detective, red herring, crime, crime scene), which all relate back to the core text â€Å"The Big Sleep†, as there may be a different story line, the structure and purpose of each story is the same.

Sappho’s vs. Petrarch on the Body

Physical interaction is possibly the most intuitive emotion we have as a species. Sex and body image are absurdly prominent in todays culture, and have been since the beginning of written history. Sexuality is only a surface desire though. What lies beneath the surface is where a person's true beauty rests. The poets Sappho and Petrarch are two very early writers that often focused on the human body, sexuality, and desire but in different ways. Sapphds body of work is a reaction and praise to the exterior beauty of many individuals.Petrarch's sonnets are a repeated effort to unearth the root of divine beauty. Sapphds poems were more direct and in a relatable way. The way the Greek poet discussed was with words of physical feelings and reactions to emotions. She compared an individual named Anactoria that she desired to the famoud Helen of Troy, whose beauty has been expressed throughout literature for a long, long time. â€Å"†¦ although far away, / whose long-desired footstep, whose radiant, sparkling face / I would rather see before me than the chariots / of Lydia or the armour of men / who fght wars on foot† (Sappho 21).In this passage the Greek poet is longing for Anactoria, whom she once knew. In reminiscing about her Sappho recalls the way she walked, how her skin reacted to the light, and how she feels peaceful when she is around. Sappho is suggesting that one's beauty is partly contained in their body but also partly related to how that body is used. The essence that the woman in her poem 21 exhibits is her true beauty. In one of her poems her feelings for a recently married friend read, â€Å"†¦ and sweat pours down me and a trembling creeps over my whole body†¦ † (Sappho 20).In most of, but especially this poem in particular, Sappho s expressing her bestial, sexual urges. She is not always so lascivious. Often, the poet writes about more tragic subjects. In her poem 33 she describes her â€Å"tender heart† as  "heavy with grief†(Sappho 33). Sappho is suggesting that the absence of one of her ex-lovers is physically weighing her down. She is playing with that feeling of tension in the chest that people tend to have in matters of deep-seated emotions. It is common to read Sappho and notice emphasis on the body in her descriptions of both grief and bliss.Later in her life, Sappho uses the same analogy of her heart to escribe herself as an old woman, â€Å"My heart's grown heavy, my knees will not support me, that once on a time were fleet for the dance as fawns. † It seems that her heart never grew lighter from her younger years, or even grew into a more intense pain. Having access to so many of her works allows scholars to observe a development in the character Sappho. Her subject matter turns from delight in others, slowly to dismay in their absence.What does not seem to change much is her approach of the subject matter. She still materializes her emotions in the form of the p hysical body in her later poems. Petrarch deals with his bodily desires in a different manner. His most famous series of poems are more or less descriptions of a woman Petrarch had much love for and now sne made him teel. This collection is known as the ‘Canzoniere'. Petrarch's sonnets focus more on the emotional side of his desires, while still using his body as a reference for the reader.In a selection from one of his sonnets, Petrarch writes, â€Å"Love found me all disarmed and found the way / was clear to reach my heart down through the eyes / which have become the halls and doors of tears† (Petrarch 3, 9-11). Once again, the heart is used as a catalyst to connect with the reader by communicating the desire the speaker has for this woman's form. Her beauty is so amazing that Petrarch is subdued and begins to cry. Her image shocks him to the point his body too is affected by it.In another passage, â€Å"The way she walked was not the way of mortals but of angelic f orms, and when she spoke more than an earthly voice was that it sang† (Petrarch 90, 9-11). Petrarch puts the woman into a sacred light, comparing her to an immortal. Petrarch's generous praise of this woman, hough unrealistic, is an attempt to explain to the reader the divinity of his beloved Laura's unparalleled beauty. This woman is supposedly the epitome of beauty, or so Petrarch thinks, but what the numerous sonnets written about her are attempt to reveal is that beneath the beauty is only more beauty.Beauty on a level that cannot simply be written into words. Petrarch is suggesting that contrary to the popular belief at the time, a woman or any person's value does not lie in their physical beauty but the beauty of their essence and the purity of their soul. He was truly and deeply n love with this Laura woman and has made history in doing so. â€Å"Under the lovely peace of her tranquil brows / those two faithful stars of mine so sparkle, / that no other light can inflam e and guide / him who consigns himself to love nobly' (Petrarch 160 5-8).In this verse, Petrarch begins to talk about the peace he sees in Laura's eyes, but then refers to those eyes as his own. Is he claiming ownership, or is he suggesting he sees himself? It seems that he is trying to say that following the look of calm he sees in her eyes, and reciprocating that patience, he will eventually be led to a form of pure love. Both writers were making an attempt to get directly to the purest form of their personal infatuations in terms of describing their beauty on paper.Petrarch by poeticizing and connecting with Laura's spiritual and emotional purity while striving to avoid the hang-ups of physical distraction, and Sappho by referring to both her sexual and emotional urges towards her lovers, describing them from the obvious exterior, down to the movement of hips whilst walking. The difference is that what Sappho writes is a result of her pure emotions for these other women, while Pe trarch is striving to get to the roots of the emotion. He is trying to describe the divine spirit and essence of this lovely woman.Some would say this is disturbing behavior, while others see it as an eloquently written offering. He reaches to the core, where human desire draws from. He took what Sappho wrote to the next level. She was writing about how she felt in response to the core of feeling Petrarch tried to uncover. Her words often described her weariness and pain as a means to relate to her readers so they too could share in her agony. Other times what she would say connected to anther emotion most people are aware of. Passages describing sexual onvulsions could be related to be readers who have felt the same.These two early writers either ends of the same problem. Petrarch, trying to find the source of human passion and Sappho describing how that same source of passion excited her, or got the best of her. Either way, these prominent historical fgures were using the body as a way to relate teeling and emotion to the reader. Petrarch, Francesco, and Mark Musa.

Learning team charter †team “c” Essay

Course Title Com/172 Team Members/Contact Information Name Phone Time zone and Availability During the Week Email Central Monday-Friday 9a.m.-9p.m. Central Central Monday-Friday Team Ground Rules and Guidelines What are the general expectations for all members of the team? Each team member is expected to present all work or research assigned in order to be given full credit as a team member. Team meetings are scheduled every Wednesday at 12 noon through the OLS system in the Team C forum. The deadline for each assignment will be Sunday of each week by 8:00p.m. The Certificate of Originality will be signed as â€Å"Team C† only if each team member has presented his or her completed work. If not, the certificate will be signed with individual names of names of team members whom have completed assignments. If a team member cannot make a meeting or reach the assignment deadline, the team must be notified at least 24 hours before the meeting or the assignment is due.​ ​ ​Expectations for Time Management and Involvement (Participation, communication with the team, accessibility, etc.) Each team member should give an equal amount of time and participation. We are also expected to communicate openly with each team member and be available on or at their posted or desired times of availability. Each member must attend all team meetings on Wednesday of each week.​ ​ ​​​Ensuring Fair and Even Contribution and Collaboration What strategy will you use to ensure that all team members are contributing and collaborating appropriately? Describe the communication strategy you will use if a team member is not contributing and collaborating effectively. How will the team manage conflicts between team members? We will stay connected on a regular basis to ensure each member contribute appropriately. In the event that a team member is not contributing on a regular basis, we will first use the OLS system to contact them. If and when that do not work, we will contact them on their personal cell phone and then resort to their email. Conflicts between team members will be handled through team meetings on Wednesday of each week. If the conflict cannot be handled through team meetings, we will forward the problem to the class instructor for assistance. ​ ​ ​​Special Considerations What do you, as a team, agree will make this team experience different from past team experiences? As a team, we agree that proper communication will make this team a success. An open line of communication must be used to ensure quality work as a team. We will allow and be open to all ideas and suggestions from each team member to be presented to find the best outcome.​ ​​ ​ ​

Confucian Philosophy in the Han Dynasty Essay

This paper will evaluate a brief evaluation of the rise of the Han Dynasty and how Confucian corresponds with it. With included references to authors, Tanner, Liang, Dubs, and Wang, will supply knowledge regarding to Sima Qian’s historical points, incorporation of Confucian principles within the Han Dynasty and the emperor, and within the social lives and families. I will highlight some of the major points of beneficial factors to Confucian thought as well as a brief opinion on how it isn’t always good to base a society of false claims regarding to divinity and how the society originated. However, I hope to make clear a better understanding on why and how the Chinese people in general came to be in current day China. â€Å"Before the founding of the Han dynasty, thinkers of every stripe cited the Five Classics to legitimate their ideas, but the transmission of the Zhou’s cultural heritage was not clearly documented until Sima Qian (second century B. C. E. ) traced the study of the Five Classics back to Confucius. † Sima Qian finished an essay called â€Å"The Collective Biographies of Confucians,† which â€Å"summarizes classical learning from the beginning of the Western Han to the end of the reign of Emperor Wu. † He is considered the first great exemplar of the Chinese historical tradition; however, before he was able to finish his works and had angered the emperor, he took the option of being castrated over controversial writings about a general that had been defeated and surrendered to the Xiongnu, to finish his writings. Sima Qian was a man dedicated to his work for which he chose castration over having to commit suicide. â€Å"The style of Sima Qian’s work was didactic, its purpose to communicate the moral lessons of the past. ’ â€Å"In both its organization and its approach to history, the ‘Records of the Grand Historian’ served as a model for all subsequent officially sanctioned Chinese historical writing. † Ban Gu eventually took up Sima Qian’s work in 90 B. C. , although he was imprisoned at first for his unauthorized history of the Han emperor, but was freed later due to the emperor’s liking of his work. Regardless whether the historical contexts of both Ban Gu and Sima Qian, it shows that the histories were often dishonest due to the preferences of the elite, but as. Ban Gu was pardoned, there might be more truth to what the Han’s historical past entails. â€Å"It was during the former Han period that Confucianism developed from being the teaching of a few pedants in a semi-retirement, at the end of the Chou period, to become the official philosophy of the government, which had to be adopted by anyone who hoped to enter public life. † Although it was a gradual process, early Han emperors embraced Confucianism by incorporating its teachings in education and establishing a Confucian Imperial University, which ultimately distributed literati among offices in the government. As this concept became bigger and more popular among the elite, the development of the examination became prominent as there was a high importance of literary ability and Confucian training, to be able to obtain a position within a government entity. It was believed that with all of the claimed advantages of Confucianism, â€Å"unifying the country intellectually by making one system of thought current among all educated men led to the elevation of Confucianism. † In 141 B. C. , Tung Chung-shu, advocated a principle to Emperor Wu that all non-Confucian philosophies should be destroyed with intellectual unification of the country—Emperor Wu did act upon this by proscribing Legalism and elevating Confucians to be his highest officials. With the rise of Confucianism in the Han Dynasty, it not only effected the elites’ primary preferences for what should be within the government body, but it also effected the view of the emperor himself. The conception of the central government of the Han Dynasty from a Confucian perspective was that the ruler must be a man, be of noble origin, ordained by Heaven, having great wisdom and virtue, and must be a ruler that is â€Å"all-under-Heaven. † To strengthen the claim to the throne, â€Å"all the rulers of China before Liu Pang were believed to have been of divine origin. † â€Å"However, the living Han ruler, like the rulers of other dynasties, was not regarded as a god, nor was any worship instituted for him. † It was common practice, as in all histories, to have a greater social distance between those who command and those who obey, often times through rituals and ceremonies. The Confucian scholars introduced ceremonies in 201 B. C. which was considered necessary for a new ruler to elevate to an â€Å"unapproachable position. † This of course resulted in the emperor or ruler to be catapulted into the highest authority. Much like in other empires, that due to this common practice of using divinity as the main aspect of the throne, that anyone who goes against, protests, or is considered disrespectful, most often paid the price through draconian laws and usually sentenced to death. The morality of Confucian belief as it was incorporated into the social lives of the common people, also included what the roles should be within the family. Ban Zhao (48? -116? CE), historian Ban Gu’s sister, was famous for her writings on the expected roles of women in Han society. Ban Zhao believed that it was the husband’s duty to control while the wife serves him, but at the same time the wife would be allowed to be educated and literate. Ban Zhao further mentions that the husband and wife must play their roles, but men have the ultimate responsibility to control and to have authority. She further continues, â€Å"If women are to understand and perform their expected roles, then they must learn to read so that they can learn from the same ritual texts as men do. † This all of course is stemming and adding to the Confucian ideology. Perhaps, even though she was a remarkable matriarchal woman, she believed that this ideology is a cornerstone for maintaining a strong and healthy nuclear family environment. In conclusion, it is very apparent that Confucian ideology was the main stronghold for both the Eastern and Western Han Dynasty. Confucianism, with Sima Qian, Ban Gu, Ban Zhao, and a collaboration of other historians, had a major influence on how the elitists, the government, and the common people, were to go about their daily lives and follow what was considered a respectable social order at that time. The ideology of Confucianism built a halo around the emperor to catapult him to a position of higher order, causing the people to look up to him rather than revolt against him for being in a position undeserving. As with many empires, which all rise and fall at some point, the elitists and the emperor always has a philosophical tale which tries to explain where its origins came from, sometimes referring the emperor as a god himself. In essence, there is usually no ground proof what the true history was, mostly due to the perversion of some historians’ ideology relating to their religious affiliations. Perhaps too, with fear of draconian laws and punishment, especially with low self-esteem and high-ego type of authority, that history in itself will only boil down to â€Å"his story. † Regardless, despite whether or not the histories of Confucianism and the Han Dynasty are valid, there is strong evidence that the Confucian principles still exist today as we see in the current-day Chinese culture regarding to the social lives and families of many. Bibliography: Liang, Cai. 2011. â€Å"Excavating the Genealogy of Classical Studies in the Western Han Dynasty (206 B. C. E. -8 C. E. ). † Journal of the American Oriental Society 131, no. 3: 371-394. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (Accessed February 25, 2013). Dubs, Homer H. 1938. â€Å"The Victory of Han Confucianism. † Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 58, No. 3: 435-449. American Oriental Society. http://www. jstor. org/stable/594608. (Accessed February 25, 2013). Wang Yu-ch’uan. 1949. â€Å"An Outline of the Central Government of the Former Han Dynasty. † Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, Vol. 12, No. ?: 134-187. Harvard-Yenching Institute. http://www. jstor. org/stable/2718206. (Accessed February 25, 2013). Tanner, Harold M. 2010. â€Å"China: A History. † Hackett Publishing Company, 118. ——————————————– [ 1 ]. Liang, Cai. â€Å"Excavating the Genealogy of Classical Studies in the Western Han Dynasty (206 B. C. E. -8 C. E. ). † Journal of the American Oriental Society 131, no. 3 (2011): 371. [ 2 ]. Liang, Cai. Excavating the Genealogy of Classical Studies in the Western Han Dynasty, 372. [ 3 ]. Tanner, Harold M. China: A History. Hackett Publishing Company (2010), 118. [ 4 ]. Tanner, Harold M. China: A History, 118. [ 5 ]. Tanner, Harold M. China: A History, 118. [ 6 ]. Tanner, Harold M. China: A History, 118. [ 7 ]. Dubs, Homer H. The Victory of Han Confucianism. Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 58, No. 3 (Sep. , 1938), 435. [ 8 ]. Dubs, Homer H. The Victory of the Han Confucianism, 446. [ 9 ]. Dubs, Homer H. The Victory of the Han Confucianism, 447. [ 10 ]. Dubs, Homer H. The Victory of the Han Confucianism, 448. [ 11 ]. Dubs, Homer H. The Victory of the Han Confucianism, 448. [ 12 ]. Wang Yu-ch’uan. An Outline of the Central Government of the Former Han Dynasty. Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, Vol. 12, No. ? (June 1949), 139.. [ 13 ]. Wang Yu-ch’uan. An Outline of the Central Government of the Former Han Dynasty, 139. [ 14 ]. Wang Yu-ch’uan. An Outline of the Central Government of the Former Han Dynasty, 140. [ 15 ]. Wang Yu-ch’uan. An Outline of the Central Government of the Former Han Dynasty, 140. [ 16 ]. Wang Yu-ch’uan. An Outline of the Central Government of the Former Han Dynasty, 140. [ 17 ]. Tanner, Harold M. China: A History, 121. [ 18 ]. Tanner, Harold M. China: A History, 121. [ 19 ]. Tanner, Harold M. China: A History, 121. [ 20 ]. Tanner, Harold M. China: A History, 121.