Free Essays on The Great Mosque Of Cordoba

The Great Mosque of Cordoba, Spain The oldest works of architecture in Spain of which rests are left go back to the megalithic culture, approximately 3000 b.C. Anyhow, they are probably not exactly what you expect to find here. Lots of Roman monuments are conserved too, among the most important being the great aqueduct of Segovia and the amphitheater of MÃ ©rida. Absolutely stunning is what Moors have left in this country. The Great Mosque of Cordoba is one of the most visited sights by tourists, the other of course being Granada's Alhambra, which, is perfectly conserved, in its original condition. The Spanish Moors created a style of their own that differs in many aspects from their traditional architecture which you may find in Africa and introduced several novelties.This style is called Caliphal style. The Christians who lived in Muslim territory were called Mozarabes, and so is called their particular architectonical style which, combines Visigothic construction technics and caliphal style. After the country was reconquered from the Muslims, Moorish architects who stayed developed another new style combining their traditional architecture with Romanesque and Gothic elements, the Mudejar style. While the Moors occupied most of Spain, there existed still Visigoth kingdoms in the country's north. There you can find important monuments of Visigoth and Romanesque styles, of the latter in particular along the "Camino de Santiago". In 12th century Gothic style was introduced in Spain, arriving to its greatest importance during 13th century when the cathedrals of Burgos, Toledo and Leon were built. Gothic in Spain combines frequently with Mudejar-elements. Plateresque style is the Spanish variation of Renaissance style. The word comes from "plata", silver, indicating that it is much richer in ornamentation than for instance Italian Renaissance style. The finest surviving example of Spanish... Free Essays on The Great Mosque Of Cordoba Free Essays on The Great Mosque Of Cordoba The Great Mosque of Cordoba, Spain The oldest works of architecture in Spain of which rests are left go back to the megalithic culture, approximately 3000 b.C. Anyhow, they are probably not exactly what you expect to find here. Lots of Roman monuments are conserved too, among the most important being the great aqueduct of Segovia and the amphitheater of MÃ ©rida. Absolutely stunning is what Moors have left in this country. The Great Mosque of Cordoba is one of the most visited sights by tourists, the other of course being Granada's Alhambra, which, is perfectly conserved, in its original condition. The Spanish Moors created a style of their own that differs in many aspects from their traditional architecture which you may find in Africa and introduced several novelties.This style is called Caliphal style. The Christians who lived in Muslim territory were called Mozarabes, and so is called their particular architectonical style which, combines Visigothic construction technics and caliphal style. After the country was reconquered from the Muslims, Moorish architects who stayed developed another new style combining their traditional architecture with Romanesque and Gothic elements, the Mudejar style. While the Moors occupied most of Spain, there existed still Visigoth kingdoms in the country's north. There you can find important monuments of Visigoth and Romanesque styles, of the latter in particular along the "Camino de Santiago". In 12th century Gothic style was introduced in Spain, arriving to its greatest importance during 13th century when the cathedrals of Burgos, Toledo and Leon were built. Gothic in Spain combines frequently with Mudejar-elements. Plateresque style is the Spanish variation of Renaissance style. The word comes from "plata", silver, indicating that it is much richer in ornamentation than for instance Italian Renaissance style. The finest surviving example of Spanish...

Taking the LSAT Under Special Circumstances

Taking the LSAT Under Special Circumstances Taking the LSAT is a huge step in your quest for a career in the litigation world. In fact, its necessary for almost every law school application out there! So, what if you need to take the LSAT under special circumstances? Perhaps you cannot test on the Sabbath, and need to register for the test on another date. Is that possible? Or, perhaps you simply cannot afford the LSAT fees. What can you do about it? Below, youll find some information about taking the LSAT under these very special circumstances, and the steps needed to complete your registration if you fall under one of these categories. Sabbath Observers If you happen to observe the Sabbath on Saturdays, and thus, cannot take an exam on that date, then what are your options if youre trying to get into law school? LSAC (Law School Admission Council) has already make arrangements for you. If you check the LSAT test dates, youll see that the test is offered another day of the week every time its given on a Saturday. Typically, those days are Mondays. You can register as a Saturday Sabbath Observer (instructions online), but a hold will be placed on your account until LSAC receives a letter from your rabbi or minister on official stationery that explains your religious affiliation. Lets say your rabbi isnt the timeliest of sorts. Youll have to be persistent in your request, then! All letters must be received by the late registration deadline for your test date, or you will not be able to test on that date. Sure, youll get your cash back, but you may miss the application deadline for your school of choice. Better ask early! Letters will be kept on file for you, so you wont have to ask for a new one if you decide to push your LSAT test back to another date or want to retest. And for the record, if you are taking the LSAT on a Sabbath Observers test date, you will not be able to take the test on a regularly scheduled test date (on a Saturday) in the future. If you register for a Saturday test date, LSAC will automatically bump your testing date to the Sabbath Observers testing date.   Need your rabbi to send in a letter for you? Heres the address and fax number where he or she can send the document: Address:  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   LSAC Test Administration   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   PO BOX 2000-T   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Newtown PA 18940 Fax:  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   215.968.1277 Fee Waivers Not everyone is made of money, am I right? Yes, I am. It can get very pricey when you break down the cost of the LSAT. From registration fees to the Credit Assembly Service (CAS), which is LSACs service that summarizes your undergrad work and combines documents with LSAT score and writing sample to create a report to send to law schools, your LSAT experience can get very expensive. The good news is that if you qualify, you can get some of your fees waived. The following are included in a LSAT fee waiver, which will be good for two years from the date of conditional approval by LSAC: Two LSATs (test dates must fall within the two-year waiver period)One registration for LSACs Credential Assembly Service (CAS), which includes the Letter of Recommendation Service, the LSAC Evaluation Service, and access to electronic applications for all LSAC-member law schools;Four law school reports included with the Credential Assembly Service, available only after final approval of an LSAC fee waiver;One copy of the Official LSAT SuperPrep ®. Not included? Things like test date changes, late registration, hand scoring, paper copies, etc. So, how do you know if you qualify? LSAC keeps it simple: if you absolutely cannot afford to pay for the exam, then you qualify. And theyll know because when you submit your application (at least six weeks prior to your registration deadline), youll need to provide tax forms and other financial materials so they can review your case. If youd like to request a fee waiver prior to taking the LSAT, there are three ways to go about it: Online: Requesting a fee waiver through the online application is the fastest, most convenient method. Youll need to either have an existing LSAC.org account or be willing to create one. If you dont want to fill out the information online, you can download an application and mail it in. By Phone: U.S. or Canadian citizens can request a fee waiver packet by calling 215.968.1001 six weeks before the registration deadline.   In Person: Go to your nearest law school admission office or prelaw advisor at least six weeks prior to the registration deadline to request a fee waiver packet.

HR Training class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

HR Training class - Essay Example e management must evaluate; who needs the training, where the training should happen, when the training will happen, why the training should happen, as well as, how it would happen. To accomplish this, the management must conduct analysis-using information that relates to the organizational goals and objectives, jobs and other tasks, which the employees need to learn, competences that the employees must possess to execute their duties effectively, as well as, the employees that the human resource should train. An effective needs assessment, program would help the management to direct resources to the areas that have the greatest demand. The needs assessment, program should help in addressing the needed resources as far as customer service is concerned. It should as well help in evaluating the needed resources as far as enhancing productivity, achievement of organizational goals, as well as, improvement of the quality of goods and services are concerned. A needs assessment in customer service entails identifying the gap between what the human resource expects from the employees and the actual performance, as far as customer service is concerned. Needs and assess ment, therefore, helps in closing the gap. The assessment within the small retail business would include three levels, which this paper will justify their need. The first level is organizational assessment. Organizational assessment determines the current performance of the organization, as far as, offering quality services to the customers is concerned. The assessment will help in identifying if the employees possess the right skills, abilities, knowledge or competencies in customer service. The assessment helps in solving problems present in customer service. Different businesses have different customer service needs. For example, a manufacturing company would have different customer service needs compared to a retail business. This reflects the importance of assessing the needs. In other words, it would

Coporate finace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Coporate finace - Essay Example Macquarie group limited 2014 financial report, the share price as at 30 December 2014 was $57.93. The company’s last ten years average total dividends, the return on equity and the payout ratios were $3.76, 11.1% and 66.8%. Dividend in the next period = dividend in the current period * (1+ the growth rate) = $3.76* (1+3.69%) = $3.89. now the three fundamental inputs are available and we can now punch into the equation below to get the return on equity: It is assumed that all investor do aim at maximizing the economic utilities and the asset quantities are fixed. The investors are risk- averse and rational. The investors are price takers and there is no way they can influence market prices. The investors have the same expectations that are related to the market. From the finance point of view, the cost of debt is calculated by using the following formula Kd= where I is the annual interest while P is the current market value of a debenture. The Macquarie group limited had an annual interest of $359m4. However, the market price of the debenture was $3507m. The cost of debt can, therefore, be computed by punching in the above inputs into the formula (359/3507) = 0.1023 hence 10.24%. This is where Re= cost of equity, Rd= cost of debt, E= the market value of the company’s equity, D= the market value of the firms debt, V= total value of debt and equity (E+D). Percentage of financing equity = E/V while the percentage of finance by debt = D/V and Tc = corporate tax rate6. The corporate tax for the company is 30%. From Modigliani miller irrelevant theory, the tax deductibility increases the value of the firm. This is by increasing the cash flows to respective equity shareholders. The tax deductibility of the debt down scales the weighted average cost of capital hence increasing the value of the firm. The cost of equity, Re, is higher than the cost of debt, Rd, but the saving in the cost of debt Rd is more hence making up for it

Shylock and His Victimacy Essay Example for Free

Shylock and His Victimacy Essay Even thought it seemed like Shylock loved his money more than his daughter, it was still a very cruel thing to do to any one. This is because after harsh words like these you can see why Shylock is so driven to want to kill Antonio. The continuos onslaught of comments towards Shylock, makes him a more sympathetic character. Although this was a cruel thing to do, it was not the worst of the trials that Shylock was put through. After the trial between Shylock and Antonio, Shylock was cheated out of his bond then punished. The party gainst the which he doth contrive shall seize one half his goods, the other half comes to the privy coffer of the state, and the offendertms life lies in mercy(The Merchant of Venice; Act 4, Scene 1; Lines 349-351). Another quote that shows how Shylock was treated was said by Gratiano, O, be thou damned, inexorable dog, And for thy life let justice be accused! Thou almost maktmst me waver in my faith, To hold opinion with Pythagoras that souls of animals infuse themselves into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit governed a wolf, who hanged for human slaughter, Even from the gallows did his feet soul fleet, And whilst thou layest in thy unhallowed dam, Infused itself in thee; for thy desires are wolvish, bloody, starved, and ravenous (The Merchant of Venice; Act 4, Scene 1; Lines 128-138). To really understand Shylock one can not just look at his actions, but it is necessary to see why Shylock did them. Later in the play it is seen that Jessica regrets her decision to leave her father, which shows that it would not have been likely for her to leave without Lorenzo asking her to. My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter! Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats! Justice! The law my ducats, and my daughter! (The Merchant of Venice; Act 2, Scene7; Lines 12-17). It should be said that Jessica, Shylocktms daughter, did leave on her own terms and did steal the ducats from her father, but she would not have done this without the persuasion from Lorenzo. No one should have to convert to a different religion, it is a horrible thing to happen to anyone. The way that Shylock is treated makes it clearer why Shylock is seen as the victim. Shylock lost all of his possessions, he was forced to convert to Christianity, and he almost had to plead for his life.

Laudans Theory of Scientific Aims Essay -- Laudan Science Utopia Argu

Laudan's Theory of Scientific Aims I criticize Laudan's constraints on cognitive aims as presented in Science and Values. These constraints are axiological consistency and non-utopianism. I argue that (i) Laudan's prescription for non utopian aims is too restrictive because it excludes ideals and characterizes as irrational or non-rational numerous human contingencies. (ii) We aim to ideals because there is no cogent way to specify in advance what degree of deviation from an ideal is acceptable. Thus, one cannot dispense with ideals. (iii) Laudan does not distinguish difficult from impossible goals, making his injunction against utopianism imprecise. It is "semantically utopian" and, furthermore, a prescription for conservatism and mediocrity. (iv) Goals often contradict each other or are at least partially incompatible. Since Laudan does not say how to prioritize incompatible aims, axiological consistency is an utopian desideratum. Thus, his constraints on cognitive aims contradict one another. Finally, (v), Laudan's axiological constraints are too weak and in order to strengthen them, he must invoke without justification some implicit pre-philosophical cognitive aims. This opens the logical possibility of axiological relativism, which Laudan attempted from the beginning to avoid. Laudan's Theory of Aims In Science and Values, Laudan has developed the view that our scientific aims can sometimes be rationally selected by imposing two constraints (1) on them: 1. they should be jointly consistent, 2. a pragmatic constraint of empirical realizability, or non-utopianism. This last requisite follows from Laudan`s means-ends conception of rationality, To adopt a goal with the feature that we can conceive of no actions... ...victory, one obtained by just means, i.e., the means employed should not constitute a greater evil than the evil the war was intended to remedy. (13) Since some axiological inconsistencies can be only pragmatic, it is not always clear whether some collection of ideals is mutually inconsistent. (14) Cf., N. Rescher, The Strife of Systems, chapters 7 & 8. (15) When this happens, our passionate nature will decide what our intellect cannot adequately settle. (16) Laudancs meta-aim of axiological consistency is a goal suspect of being 'demonstrably utopian', because it is not likely that we will ever have a theory of rational value priorizations. So it is not reasonable by Laudan's meta-methodology own standards. If so, Laudan's theory would be suspect of being self-referentially inconsistent. (17) Cf., Laudan, 1996, Beyond Positivism and Relativism, p. 16

Lush Cosmetics is a brilliant company Essay

Lush Cosmetics is a brilliant company with a lot of new ideas and most of Lush products are handmade and marked by the producer (Lush, 2014). Nowadays, Lush become very popular around the world developing steadily. However, Lush still has a couple of problems to improve after researching described by 4Ps. To be clearer, Lush will be compared with the some famous British cosmetics company The Body Shop (The Body Shop, 2014). Compared with The Body Shop, Lush does not have enough type of skincare products, especially for man (The Body Shop, 2014). Different kind of skin, such as neutral, dry, oil and sensitive skin has different demand of skincare products. It is clear to see the special man skincare products in The Body Shop, but there is no special man skincare product in Lush. Furthermore, the color, design and shape have an effect on how a product looks rather than how it works, but except the appearance of Lush product, the design and shape of product need to have a change (Lush, 2014). For example, when consumers buy the irregular soap back to home, it is so hard for them to find a place or a case to put these products as wetting. The shape of same soaps’ shape is round, which may roll anywhere, so that the designer should have a consideration for the customer how to keep such irregular product when consumer use them at second time. The price of the Lush products is a little higher than the same function products of other brands. For example, one of the most popular products in Lush is Big, a shampoo, costs  £12.25 (Lush, 2014), and the same function shampoo in The Body Shop is  £4.5. It is clear that the price of Lush product is expensive than others. Also, Lush improves their price once a year, The Big used to be  £11.50 (Lush, 2013). At the same time, The Body Shop seldom improves its products’ price (The Body Shop, 2014). In the promotion aspect of Lush, its promotion method is quite single. In the book edited by Adrian Mackay, Simonetti and Brenda (2004) indicate that the institution of Sales Promotion and the trade association defined promotion as ‘A consumer or business directed marketing activity that enhances product appeal by offering an extra incentive to purchase or participate.’ Compared with The Body Shop, it shows special voucher code on their website, give  high discount, and free delivery to the customer when they purchase over a certain amount products. After browsing the Lush website, the only promotion method found is that customers can get a free mask if they take six empty mask pots back to Lush shops. So this promotion is only for mask customers but mask is just one category of their product lines. For the place of local store, the consumer has very limited access to Lush products. To be more specifically, Lush only has one store in one city center and do not have any counter in shopping malls. So the local store is always very crowded. Second, Lush does not corporate with any cosmetics website, so the only way to buy Lush products online is visit its official website. As it is not free shipping, consumers may be not willing to pay the delivery fee when they only want to buy one or two products. It is also interesting to find Lush offer next day delivery and standard delivery for their products in their delivery information (Lush, 2014). However, standard delivery could take 3-5 working days to deliver a product. Most of Lush mask should be kept in fridge and used within three weeks. It is puzzled that how can they guarantee the freshness of its products as it declared. Lush (2014), lush-history [Online]. Available from: https://www.lush-hk.com/shop/info/4/lush-history [Accessed 16/12/2014]. The Body Shop (2014), History [Online]. Available from: http://www.thebodyshopcareers.com/gb/en/#about-us [Accessed 16/12/2014]. The Body Shop (2014), Skincare [Online]. Available from: http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/skincare.aspx#/skincare.aspx [Accessed 16/12/2014]. Lush (2014), Path [Online]. Available from: https://www.lush-hk.com/shop/product/category/path/136_141/ [Accessed 16/12/2014]. The Body Shop (2014), For man [Online]. Available from: http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/skincare/mens-face-care.aspx#/mens-face-care.aspx [Accessed 16/12/2014]. Lush (2014), Delivery information [Online]. Available from: https://www.lush.co.uk/help/delivery [Accessed 16/12/2014]. MACKAY, A. 2004. Practice of Advertising, Routledge.

The Bahai Faith

Religions beliefs shape peoples characters and influence their interpersonal relationships. The Bahai faith is one of today’s many religions that is attracting people from all nations. To date it has attracted over 5 million followers . The name Bahai is derived from the Arabic word Baha which means ‘glory’. â€Å"The Bahai Faith has its roots way back in the 19th century in Persia when Baha ‘u' llah; who is considered the founder of the faith, wrote books that based the foundations of the faith. † Bahai therefore emphasizes on spirituality for all human beings.The religion is mainly a draws its principles from the major religions in the world like Christianity, Islam, Jewish, Buddhism and Hindu. Basic Beliefs of the faith In this religion, there are no clergy people as because they believe that God is in control of everything and no individual can have power over other people. â€Å"Therefore, the duty to develop human resources, attract more people to the faith and to coordinate activities of the religion by ensuring that everything is in order among other spiritually building activities falls on the spiritual assembly.† These are individuals who have been elected by the followers to serve others and offer guidance on the Bahai principles. Thus, these institutions are run according to the Bahai texts. Spiritual assemblies therefore exist at the local as well as national levels. Every adult is considered as a spiritual leader as they can instill positive values to other members of the community by interacting with them. Oneness of all religions The foundation of all religions in the world are based on the same fundamental principles such as love, serving each other, believe in one God among other things.This shows that they are one when looked from a different point of view and it is this idea and principle the Bahai is all about. â€Å"Human thinking and certain superstitions have clouded they way they relate with othe rs and this has contributed to the divisions in society and the decay of civilization. † Therefore the ideal spirituality is founded in harmonizing the various beliefs which are founded in both religion and science in one unified religion. â€Å"The Bahai faith has therefore incorporated the Western as well as the Eastern traditions in its teachings and laws.† The Bahai followers do not have a standard way of enrolling people to the movement. This is because they are made up of people from various denominations and sects who seek to fid fulfillment in a religion that gives them the peace and love that they cannot get from other places. Science and Religion Science and certain religions have always contradicted themselves in a number of issues. This is mostly seen where it is believed that God created human beings while science on the other hand states that human beings evolved.The Bahai faith says that real science as well as religion is not supposed to contradict each other and that the two depend on each other. If people concentrate on one aspect and disregard the others, they will lack certain important elements which can contribute to negative behavior. This is because each enhances in explaining why, when and how certain things occur. The Bahai scholars say that if there are any cases of conflict, then it is because of human miscalculations as everything on earth is supposed to be in unison.By understanding how things happen, people become more knowledgeable and this goes to show the importance of the harmony between science and religion. Adherents to the Bahai teachings believe in making the world a better place to live in hence the Bahai Religious movement tries to link people of all backgrounds which include the different religions plus races so as to enhance international understanding. They believe in one God who is the creator of everything that is on earth and who communicates with his people through messengers.They refer to him as bei ng all powerful and for this reason, no one on this earth who can be likened to him or take his place. God therefore serves as an example of good deeds that other human beings can emulate. The followers therefore have to continually learn to love and serve him by praying and meditating. Prayer is important and it is very important and that is why the believers especially those aged 15- 70 years have to offer obligatory prayers.These prayers are conducted individually as group prayers are not allowed unless those ones read from writings. Fasting is encouraged mainly follows the Islamic way and takes place in the month of March for a period of two weeks. During this time, people pray for their welfare as well as those of others. Human beings are the central and most unique creations of God. â€Å"They are therefore supposed to live as live holy and pleasing lives in the eyes of the most high as this connected them.† Bahai followers therefore believe that if a person dies, they can either go to heaven or hell depending on how they lived their lives where they can either be closer or further to God spiritually. Equality of all persons is one thing that the Bahai tenets stress on. By being equal, it means that both men and women are treated equally and children of all backgrounds have access to proper education. To achieve this, they try to eradicate all forms of injustice in society by embracing cultural diversity and treating all persons equally as more can be learnt from other people who have different belief systems.â€Å"People are also not supposed to discriminate others on the basis of their status of wealth or nationalism as this divisions are the ones that give rise to hate which gives rise to tensions and as they build it leads to people engaging in inhuman acts that are very wrong according to the law and not pleasing to God. † The Bahai faith draws examples that are used by central figures in other religions. Though they borrow most thing s from other religions, they have their own laws as well as scriptures that make the religion unique.Religious history is expressed in a series of manifestations where lessons are drawn from various experiences that people face. This religious movement is continual and is believed to be never ending. Teachings The Kitab-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book) is the spiritual book which was written by Baha ‘u' llah lays the foundation and laws that the followers of the religion are guided by. â€Å"It also deals with prophesies, how institutions and people should relate with each other and how it can be used to aid in passing of sentences in the judicial law systems.† The laws have also set rules for acceptable standards in the society. Since there are a lot of evils in society related to using drugs and alcohol, the Bahai religious movement prohibit the use of illegal substances mainly drugs and drinking alcohol. If a person is found to have engaged in arson, according to Bahai t eachings, when they are accorded the death penalty, they will be burnt. Offenses such as murder are punishable by law and a person found to have committed is either sentenced to death or life imprisonment.From this we can see that they involve the judicial systems in place in bringing justice to society. Religion and deeds Like all religions, offering back to the community is a good gesture as it enables the community to fund its projects, operate efficiently and also help the disadvantaged in the society. Bahai’s are expected to give back to the community no matter how much they have as that is between them and their God on top of this, they are also supposed to make a contribution of 19% of their income according to the law to serve the same purpose.Financial contributions made by non-Bahai believers however are never accepted. Before the religion came to being, little was said about peace. Leaders in today’s society are however recognizing that without religious und erstandings, it is difficult to change people’s perceptions and this is what is giving rise to the evils in today’s society. Women Most women have found solace in this religion as it passes the various ideals that they would like to see in the world. This is because both the men and the women are treated equally.Bahais believe that by eradicating past beliefs which are discriminatory and ignorant, they are able to enhance the progress of various individuals. This is rooted from the fact that both genders receive equal education therefore they can choose the careers that are suitable to them. In return, they are acceptable in the job market for ant position because they are qualified. This has enabled women to take up professions in careers that were considered to be predominantly the strong holds of men for example being political leaders, being part of the top managers in various organizations and even becoming police chiefs.Family and marriage Family and marriage are considered to be sacred in the Bahai faith. The acceptable age of getting married is 15 years if the participants are willing because no one is supposed to be married off by force. Marriage is only supposed to happen between a man and a woman. Therefore, same sex marriages or relationships are therefore forbidden. Marriage is not restricted to certain religions or races as people are free to marry whoever they love and would like to spend the rest of their lives with.When people get married, the husband to be is supposed to pay dowry which will be dependant on his and also his family’s financial status. The Kitab-i-Aqdas, allows a man to marry two wives as long as no one is favored over the other. This has however been interpreted to mean that monogamy was the principle that was being emphasized on. Adultery and fornication is not allowed. People who have been discovered to have engaged in this act will be required to pay a fine at their local spiritual assembly.â€Å"Divor ce is discouraged in the Bahai faith but when two people cannot get along or an unjust act has been committed, they are allowed to divorce but this will be made legal after a year when the couple has not been able to reconcile. † Parents are supposed to nurture their children in proper manner as well as ensure that their children are well educated. In case the family is restrained by finance, the daughter over the son in the family will be allowed to go to school. This is because the girl in future will be the first one to ensure that her children are educated.â€Å"Women are the first mothers and are teachers of their children from the time they are born, it is therefore necessary that they are educated than the men. † For the next of kin to be able to inherit anything a will has to be written. Exceptions however, can be allowed when a person dies without having written one. The deceased property is then distributed equally among the heirs and where they cannot be iden tified, it will be taken to the local spiritual assembly. Enhancing Global PeaceThe world is changing and things such as transportation, communication, industrialization and the independence of people as well as countries have radically changed people’s lives. â€Å"Moreover, they have made countries dependant on each other for various basic goods, essential commodities such as oil, expertise through skilled personnel and incorporation of information and technology to enable countries industrialize. † As different people interact, there are bound to be conflicts whish require a proper mechanism for solving disputes.Bahaism therefore, tries to ensure that there are proper avenues for nations to solve their problems so as to reduce the cases of war which has subjected nations to poverty. The Bahai religious movement therefore ensures that global unity is enhanced by emphasizing on loving fellow neighbors. In addition the teachings say that real inner peace cannot come un less people decide to treat others as they would like to be treated if they were in similar positions.Moreover, they have developed international reforms and institutions that can enhance their goals and objectives so as to put and end to war, eradicate immoral intentions and create a system of corporation among nations. Conclusion Bahai faith has defined various laws and policies that seek to address most of the problems that are faced in the world today and have addressed every issue be it social , economical, environmental among other things. It is therefore a religion that is focused on enhancing global unity and peace which the world is in need of to curb the various problems and issues that are emerging.Bahai faith has therefore revolutionalized religions by enhancing individual and community transformation. Works cited Bahai International Community. The Bahai’s http://www. bahai. org/faq/facts/bahai_faith Oxtoby W. G. World Religions: Western Traditions. Oxford Univers ity Press, 1996 chapter six: Pg. 479-485 Remey C. Mason. The Bahai Revelation and Reconstruction, Read books, 2008 Ridell Deb. From Heart to Heart -Baha'i Religion Fosters gift of Family Unity. (Religion) Guard November 11, 2006 http://www. encyclopedia. com/doc/1G1-154722593. html

Fiscal and Monetary Policies

Fiscal and Monetary Policies Free Online Research Papers Fiscal and Monetary Policies Fiscal and monetary policies focus on quickly returning the economy to sustainable, healthy growth. Any type of fiscal relief package will boost consumer and business spending and can augment the nations long-term growth potential. Expansionary monetary policy can stimulate growth and provide insurance against the possibility of deflation. Both fiscal and monetary policies affect aggregate demand. But because discretionary fiscal policy changes in the U.S. are often difficult to enact in a timely fashion, automatic fiscal stabilizers and discretionary monetary policies are commonly viewed as the primary policy tools for macroeconomic stabilization. However, there are situations in which monetary policy might be unable to stimulate the economy, and discretionary fiscal policy would be needed to combat a recession. In the face of a recession, central banks reduce interest rates, but no central bank can lower interest rates below zero. Fiscal policy, the taxing and spending policies of the federal government, also has the potential to influence economic conditions. Throughout 2002-2004, I remember all the debates made in Congress about what to do with spending and taxes in order to stimulate spending. Taxes were lowered and spending increased. This debate is one of the key differences between fiscal and monetary policy. Fiscal policy is much more difficult to implement. However, fiscal policy, once adopted, is likely to have a faster effect on spending. Monetary policy decisions are much easier to institute and more responsive to economic conditions, but take longer to actually have an effect. 1. GDP growth is approximately 1.5%, and has been at approximately that level for two years. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the sum of good and services produced in the United States for a given period. It is an indicator of general business activity, economic growth and a good index for the economy. The most widely followed measure of economic growth is Real GDP, which adjusts GDP to remove the effects of inflation. The anemic annual GDP rate of growth of 1.5% above over the past two years is well below market expectations. This lack of growth may be attributed to effects from job growth; tax cuts and lower interest rates. The rate of economic growth means the percent change in Real Gross Domestic Product (RGDP). The low GDP can also be attributed to consumption, investment and government expenditures and net exports. 2. Inflation as measured by CPIGDP deflator has been approximately 1-2% for the last 2 years. Inflation has been defined as a process of continuously rising prices or equivalently, of a continuously falling value of money. Various indexes have been devised to measure different aspects of inflation. The purpose of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is to measure the purchasing power of wages paid to an average urban worker. The weights used for the CPI are the quantities of goods and services purchased by the average urban wage earner. The CPI measures inflation as experienced by consumers in their day-to-day living expenses and the Gross Domestic Product Deflator (GDP Deflator) measures combine the experience with inflation of federal, state and local governments. There are specialized measures, such as measures of interest rates and measures of consumers and business executives expectations of inflation. While the low inflation of 1%-2% above is desirable, too low inflation or outright deflation may be harmful. I think a pickup in economic activity in this example would be expected to help minimize the risks of deflation. It seems there is a relationship between the growth of production and inflation, so that lower production growth leads to lower inflation, or higher production growth leads to higher inflation. The inflation described above also means there is more demand or money than there are goods and this causes an increase in prices and drives down the worth of the dollar. 3. Unemployment has recently moved to 7.3%, up from 7% one year ago and 6.5% two years ago. As economic activity increases (growth in Real GDP), unemployment rates fall, and as economic activity declines (fall-off in Real GDP), unemployment rates rise. The above unemployment rate of 7.3% compared with 7% one year ago and 6.6 % two years ago underscores both the difficulties in predicting when an economic acceleration will take hold and the need for fiscal and monetary policy actions designed to hasten that acceleration to return the economy to full employment. The lack of job creation may have led to a marked decline in the growth of the labor force. Since fewer workers are competing for scarce jobs, this has the effect of preventing the unemployment rate from rising more quickly, masking the full extent of the underlying hardship. The unemployment numbers above reveal the current weakness in the labor market, and its consequences. High unemployment rates lower the living standards of many working families. The persistent lack of job growth may lead to lengthening spells of unemployment and slower wage and income growth. The primary goal of domestic economic policy at this point should be to target and reverse these negative trends 4. The Federal Funds rate target is 3.5%, and the Discount rate is 3.25%. The discount rate of 3.25% is the interest rate the Federal Reserve is charging banks if banks borrow reserves from the Federal Reserve itself. It is the only actual interest rate that the Federal Reserve sets. The target for the federal funds rate of 3.5% above was set by the Federal Reserve, but the rate itself is determined in markets. Banks seldom borrow reserves from the Federal Reserve and tend to rely more on borrowing reserves from other banks when they are needed. The discount rate is often changed along with the target for the federal funds rate, but the change does not have a very important effect. The rates above follow the current government policy to be stimulative and encourage increases in spending and production. The Federal Reserve perceives that, with appropriate monetary policy action, the upside and downside risks to the attainment of both sustainable growth and price stability should be kept roughly equal. With underlying inflation expected to be contained, the Federal Reserve believes that policy accommodation can be removed at a pace that is likely to be measured. Nonetheless, the Federal Reserve must have responded to changes in economic prospects to fulfill its obligation to maintain price stability. Looks like while inflationary pressures were increased; expectations of increased inflation over time may have not changed. This means that the Federal Reserve expects to continue to increase the target for the federal funds rate again. 5. The Government budget has been operating at a deficit of approximately $60 billion for the last year, up from $50 billion the year before. Based on the numbers above, the deficit has grown enormously. Some would say it’s a bad thing, and predict impending doom; others would say it is a safe and stable necessity to maintain a healthy economy. This depreciation of the dollar counters the cost of the deficit but destroys the purchasing power of the dollar. Despite its dangers, inflation is used to some extent to curb the debt. Crowding out is when the government is looking for the same capital that the business sector wants to invest. This causes fierce competition for funds to invest and causes an increase in interest rates and often business will decide against further investment and growth. The government may have the money to build new highways but the truckers cannot afford trucks to use on them. The governments needs will â€Å"crowd out† business needs and in my opinion, turns potential assets into waste. The dollar amount of the debt above may increase but so does the amount of money or GDP to pay for the debt. Seems like the deficit could be run without cost. Research Papers on Fiscal and Monetary PoliciesPETSTEL analysis of IndiaThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationDefinition of Export QuotasInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Incorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalTwilight of the UAWOpen Architechture a white paperNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 Europe

Biography of James Naismith, Inventor of Basketball

Biography of James Naismith, Inventor of Basketball James Naismith (November 6, 1861–November 28, 1939) was a Canadian sports coach who, in December of 1891, took a soccer ball and a peach basket into the gym at the Springfield, Massachusetts YMCA and invented basketball. Over the course of the next decade, he worked to refine the game and its rules and build its popularity. In 1936, basketball had become an official event at the Olympic Games in Berlin. Fast Facts: James Naismith Known For: Inventor of the game of basketballBorn: November 6, 1861 in Almonte, Ontario,  Province of CanadaParents: John Naismith, Margaret YoungDied: November 28, 1939 in Lawrence, KansasEducation: McGill University, Presbyterian College, YMCA Training School, Gross Medical College (M.D.)Published Works: A Modern College  in 1911;  Essence of a Healthy Life  in 1918; Basketball  - its Origins and Development in 1941 (posthumous)Awards and Honors:  Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame, Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, McGill University Sports Hall of Fame, Basketball Hall of FameSpouse(s): Maude Evelyn Sherman, Florence B. KincaidChildren: Margaret Mason (Stanley), Helen Carolyn (Dodd), John Edwin, Maude Ann (Dawe), and James ShermanNotable Quote: The invention of basketball was not an accident. It was developed to meet a need. Those boys simply would not play Drop the Handkerchief. Early Life James Naismith was born in Ramsay township near Ontario, Canada in 1861. It was during his childhood years that he developed a love of sports and learned to play a neighborhood game called Duck on a Rock, which later influenced the development of basketball. According to the Naismith Basketball Foundation: Duck on a Rock which was a game that combined tag with throwing. Players formed a line from a distance of 15-20 feet from the base stone. Each player used a fist-sized stone. The object was to dislodge the â€Å"guards† stone from the top of the base stone, by throwing, taking turns. The guard would be positioned in a neutral area away from the thrower. If one succeeded, they would go to the back of the line. If you missed the guards’ stone, the â€Å"chase† would be on and if tagged before the stone was recovered, the players would trade places. Over time, they discovered that if the stone was hurled like a baseball it would bound far away and increase the likelihood of being caught by the guard. The players developed a lobbed arcing shot that proved to be more controllable, more accurate, and less likely to bounce away, thus increasing their chance of retrieval. As a young man, Naismith attended McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, followed by theological training at Presbyterian College. After serving as McGills athletic director, Naismith moved on to work at the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891. Invention of Basketball At the YMCA Training School, athletes found themselves at loose ends between the end of the football season and the start of the baseball season. Several trainers were asked to develop a sport to keep students physically active during the down season; the new game was to have two stated objectives: â€Å"make it fair for all players, and free of rough play. After considering the balls and rules of play for several popular sports including rugby, lacrosse, football, and soccer, Naismith developed a basic game that involved throwing a soccer ball into peach baskets. The larger soccer ball, he felt, would slow down play to avoid collisions. After a few experiments with the game, Naismith realized that rough play was inevitable near the goals and that players carrying the ball would be tackled. He also placed the goals overhead, and opened the bottom of the nets to allow the ball to drop out; in addition, remembering his childhood experience with Duck on a Rock, he developed a new kind of lobbing toss for the game. Ultimately, he established 13 basic rules for the new game he dubbed basketball: The Ball may be thrown in any direction by one or both hands.The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands (never with the fist).A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for the man who catches the ball when running if he tries to stop.The ball must be held by the hands; the arms or body must not be used for holding it.No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking in any way the person of an opponent shall be allowed; the first infringement of the rule by any player shall count as a foul, the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made, or if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole game, no substitute allowed.A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violation of rules 3, 4, and such as described in rule 5.If either side makes three consecutive fouls it shall count a goal for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the meantim e making a foul). A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.When the ball goes out of bounds it shall be thrown into the field of play by the person first touching it. In case of a dispute, the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds; if he holds it longer it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on that team.The umpire shall be the judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have the power to disqualify men according to rule 5The referee shall be the judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made, and keep account of the goals, with any other duties that are usually performed by the referee. The time shall be two 15-minute halves, with 5 minutes rest between.The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner. In case of a draw, the game may be by mutual agreement, be continued until another goal is made. First College Basketball Game Following his time at the YMCA, Naismith went on to work for the University of Kansas, initially as a chaplain. At that time, basketball was played at the college level, but competition was usually between YMCAs. It was Naismith and other Kansas coaches who helped push the game into greater prominence, though Naismith himself did not seek the spotlight. The first-ever college basketball game was played on January 18, 1896.  On that day, the University of Iowa invited student-athletes from the new University of Chicago for an experimental game. The final score was Chicago 15, Iowa 12. Naismith lived to see basketball adopted as an Olympic demonstration sport in  1904  and as an official event at the  1936 Summer Olympics  in  Berlin, as well as the birth of the  National Invitation Tournament in 1938 and the  NCAA Mens Division I Basketball Championship in 1939. College basketball games were first broadcast on national TV in 1963, but it wasnt until the 1980s that sports fans ranked basketball as high as football and baseball. Death James Naismith died of a brain hemorrhage in 1939 and was interred at Memorial Park Cemetery in  Lawrence, Kansas. Legacy The  Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame  in  Springfield, Massachusetts, is named in his honor. He was an inaugural inductee in 1959. The  National Collegiate Athletic Association also rewards its top players and coaches annually with the  Naismith Awards, which includes the  Naismith College Player of the Year, the  Naismith College Coach of the Year,  and the  Naismith Prep Player of the Year. Naismith was also inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame, the  Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, the  Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, the  Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame, the  McGill University  Sports Hall of Fame, the Kansas State Sports Hall of Fame, and the FIBA Hall of Fame.   Naismiths hometown of Almonte, Ontario hosts an annual 3-on-3 tournament for all ages and skill levels in his honor. Every year, this event attracts hundreds of participants and involves over 20 half-court games along the main street of the town.   Sources â€Å"Dr. James Naismiths Life.†Ã‚  Naismith Basketball Foundation, 13 Nov. 2014.Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. â€Å"James Naismith.†Ã‚  Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Inc., 1 Feb. 2019.

Research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Research Paper Example Repeatedly through the course of the story character’s lineages are referenced: sometimes they are used as explanations for their inherent character, sometimes to exhort responsibility (as in to undo the sins of the father) and other times as explanations of their actions. Tolkien’s focus on heritage as central to constructing identity and behavior actually harken back to medieval understandings of family and identity, and are thus not really new at all. Tolkien was more than simply an excellent author, he was also a linguist and a historian (Carpenter 18). His special area of study was medieval history – he was a professor of old Norse and Old English at Oxford (Carpenter 8), and was thus familiar with many of the seminal works of that age. Critics argue that Tolkien had many sources of literary influence that emerged from the middle ages, which included â€Å"not only classical texts such as Beowulf and Piers Ploughman, but also obscure sources such as recorde d riddles, lyrics and so forth† (Livingston 130). These sources make up a great deal of the mythology of lord of the rings, and can be seen variously throughout, in everything from the riddle game that Bilbo describes (Tolkien 138) to the very structures of the world Tolkien created. The theme of family as a central aspect of defining personal characters appears, as mentioned previously, in many places throughout the work, but perhaps never so strongly as in the sections on Rohan. Rohan is an area inhabited by a warrior people who ride horses, and seem to place great importance on family. Characters identify with each other through familial relationships. The king of Rohan, for instance, calls his second in command his â€Å"Sister Son,† because he is a nephew, never referring to his rank, but only his familiar relationship (Tolkien 348). Furthermore, the king consciously places himself in line with his ancestors, calling himself the â€Å"lesser son† of a great line, but knowing that he must act in certain ways to defend his family’s honor. Finally, the very landscape they live on has been modified by familial ties, with the path up to the main city, Edoras, having massive burial mounds flanking either side, one for each of the Kings that has died (Tolkien 317). This concern with family, and many other parts of the culture of Rohan, seem to directly mirror Anglo-Saxon texts that Tolkien was well versed in. One of the most famous Old-English stories, for instance, Beowulf, opens with a long description of genealogy: â€Å"There was Shield Sheafson, scourge of many tribes †¦. Shield had fathered a famous son: Beow† who fathered Halfdane, who fathered Hrothgar, and so on and so forth (Heaney 5-7). A similar genealogy is presented for Beowulf, the titular character, when he is first described (9). The characters, similarly to the Lord of the Rings, associate with each other through familial relationships: when Beowulf meets Hrothgar, he points to their familiar relationship as a way of establishing trust and so forth (19). The Lord of The Rings is clearly a work of genius, but like any amazing literary endeavor it rests on a massive host of influences that shape many aspects of its nature. One of the most important themes in The Lord of the Rings, the defining role of familial relationships and heritage in shaping personal identity, can be traced back not