Is There an Audiobook or E-Book of The Catcher in the Rye

The pervasiveness of smartphones and tablet readers has helped to make audiobooks and e-books popular choices for those who lack the inclination to read traditional printed matter. Even as omnipresent as such technology is, it doesn’t mean every book is available in a digital format. Some older books—even immensely popular ones—are much less likely to be made into e-books or audiobooks. Perhaps one of the most famous cases in point is J.D. Salingers The Catcher in the Rye. While the book has been in print since the early 1950s, Holden Caulfied didnt make his digital debut until 2019, when The Catcher in the Rye (along with three other Salinger titles, Franny Zooey, Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters, and Seymour: An Introduction) was finally released in an e-format. The story of the books journey from print to digital is a tale in and of itself. The History of The Catcher in the Rye The Catcher in the Rye was first published in 1951 by Little,  Brown, and Company. While a perennial favorite in many a high-school English  class, this classic homage to teen angst is also one of the most challenged books of all time—routinely finding itself on banned books lists for its controversial themes and language. Despite its detractors, protagonist Holden Caulfields poignant coming-of-age tale has been considered a must-read among teens since it debuted. The novel continues to remain relevant all these years later. In fact, more than 65 million  copies  have been  sold in traditional print format since it was first published. Approximately 250,000  copies  are  purchased every year—which works out to about 685 copies per day. Public Demand vs. Public Domain Books, including Salingers, written prior to the early 2000s had no contract language to allow for the creation of things like e-books because they simply didn’t exist at the time. Unfortunately, for an eager audience of e-book and audio-book aficionados, that means many books cannot legally be made into digital fare until the copyright expires. Copyright law states that authors maintain their copyright for their life plus 70 years. J.D. Salinger passed away on January 27, 2010, so his works wont reach the public domain until 2080. J.D. Salingers Heirs Salingers estate has maintained tightly controlled protection of the controversial novel in deference to Salinger, who was fiercely protective of his copyright. As a result, his wife, Colleen ONeill Zakrzeski Salinger, and son, Matt Salinger, the executors of his estate, routinely denied requests for adaptations and derivatives. In the 2010s, however, Matt Salinger began having second thoughts about releasing his fathers works to a new generation of readers. When he realized that many readers favor e-books exclusively—including those with disabilities for whom ebooks are sometimes the only option—he finally decided to relent, ending the digital embargo. An Audio Library Version Was Already Available While an ebook was a long time coming, theres actually been an audio library  version of the novel widely available since first being recorded in 1970 (it was re-recorded in 1999). This version, which can be accessed via library devices, offers an intriguing perspective on Salingers most famous work. Listeners will hear the voice of Holden Caulfields as interpreted by longtime National Library Service narrator Ray Hagen, who may be the only one associated with Holden Caulfield in audiobook format.

Hispanic Adolescent Youth Gangs Essay - 1399 Words

Gangs have been a point of concern for states and societies around the world for centuries. Youth gangs are not exempt from that same categorization and have operated for the same amount of time worldwide. Over the last century however, a proliferation of youth gangs has been witnessed, especially among Hispanic youths immigrating into the United States. Researchers and scholars have offered multiple theories as to why youths, and Hispanics youths in particular integrate themselves into gang organizations. Three schools of thought arise when conducting gang integration research. Rational Economics Theory1 proposes that youths, and all individuals, join gangs for financial and material benefit. Cultural Deviance Theory considers youth gang†¦show more content†¦The theory is backed by considerable psychological research and is not only rooted in sociology and public policy. Rational Economics Theory is utilized as an umbrella argument to explain why all individuals, including youths, become integrated into gang organizations. The theory is downright the same to microeconomic Rational Choice Theory and argues that individuals, in their desire for financial gain or more utility, utilize gangs and criminal organizations as a means to achieve their ends. Gangs are seen as nothing more than businesses or organizations that serve a primary economic function and act to provide financial sustainability for those without the ability to achieve it through other, more legitimate means. Seymour M. Lipset2 contends that negative traits that plague the American landscape, such as â€Å"high crime and economic inequality†, are fundamental characteristics of and are inherently linked to a capitalistic and openly admirable democratic society. Not only does American history reside in the nature for â€Å"disdain of authority†, but current American norms signal that everyone must elevate their own status and rise above the ranks, both economically and socially. In analyzing the trends of high crime, acts such as theft, narcotics production and distribution, fraud, etc. are a means toShow MoreRelatedLatino Community At Risk Youth Focus Group Of Forsyth County1130 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Unidos† Gang Prevention Welcome, to our Latino community at-risk youth focus group of Forsyth County, in North Carolina. Our mission of the â€Å"Unidos† Gang Prevention and Education Program is to lower gang involvement, violence, with providing education, knowledge, community and family involvement. This program will target Latino students from ages 11-17 that show involvement to be at risk of being a member or have affiliations with a street gang. However, all students are welcome. The program willRead MoreWhat Causes Deviance And What Is The Definition Of Deviance859 Words   |  4 PagesIn the field of sociology there are various competing theories that attempt to determine what causes deviance and what is the definition of deviance. In an effort to explain why gang membership exists in today’s society, there is one theory that stands out from the rest: Sutherland’s differential association. Sutherland’s differential association theory explains deviant behavior as something that is â€Å"learned through associations† rather than solely based upon the community that one is fostered inRead MoreThe Crime Of Wealthy Cities1574 Words   |  7 Pagesexample, some people join gangs for their own personal reason, either for the thrill or because certain aspects of their life push them into the gang life. As for the gang MLO (Malibu Locals Only), they are living proof that even the most beautiful, wealthy, and seemingly â€Å"safe† places have their own inconspicuous crimes within their city. A concerning issue with this type of lifestyle is whether the city of Malibu wants to acknowledge MLO’s existence and consider them as a gang. The Step Act, Diego VigilRead MoreGang Violence And The United States1470 Words   |  6 PagesGangs have been a part of American culture in the United States since the early 19th century when immigrant youth organized themselves into street gangs as a means of urban and economic survival. Today, gang violence has reached an almost catastrophic level in the United States. Criminal street gangs have become one of the most serious crime problems in California. Gang violence accounts for one of the largest personal threats to public safety for nearly all the cities in this state. Salinas, Cal iforniaRead More Adolescent Girls at Risk Essay1945 Words   |  8 PagesAdolescent Girls at Risk What risks are really in existence for adolescent girls growing up on the Arizona-Mexico border? Well, more then anyone in their right mind might be able to imagine. Adolescent girls growing up on the border or in a multicultural area are generally from lower income homes, which in itself introduces an entire set of risk factors. The main focus, but certainly not the only ones at risk, being that of minority groups, such as Hispanic and American Indian girls.Read MoreFamily Dysfunction, Breeding Future Gang Members1252 Words   |  6 PagesFamily Dysfunction, breeding future gang members Gang activity and gang violence have been a major issue in the urban community for over half a century, dominated by mostly minority youth. This essay will review the question: Does growing up as a minority with a dysfunctional family setting aide or contribute to joining a gang, therefore continuing the cycle of gang violence and activity? In order to dive deeper into this subject, several references from the internet and Always Running by Luis JRead MoreThe Dangers Of Early Sexual Activities848 Words   |  4 Pages The United States has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates, with the highest group beginning the Hispanic American community. To what degree are the parents involved in communicating to their teenage girls about sex, and are they providing the proper information to help protect their teenage daughters from pregnancies and STD’s? Academically this issue will continue to be examined, so that we can learn to help educate young teen students about the dangers of early sexual activities and howRead MoreEssay on Adolescent Violence1591 Words   |  7 Pages Abstract There is no doubt that violence, especially among youth, is a problem in the U.S. today. Since 1993, the U.S. has had the highest rate of childhood homicide, suicide, and firearms related deaths of any of the worlds 26 wealthiest nations (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1993), stated the authors of the article. Due to results as stated above by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the questions what factors cause violent fighting as well as weapon carryingRead MoreYoung People Join Gangs For Social And Economic Reasons Essay1431 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to the authors of Gangs, Graffiti, and Violence, they state that young people join street gangs for social and economic reasons (Leet, 2000). However, one of the main factors young people join gangs is due to the lack of stability of being raised in an unstable family environment. For instance, gang members raised in a single parent home by their mother, usually in her early thirties, caring for three or four children at a time, on her own without the presence of a male father figure. AsRead MoreThe High Incarceration Rate Of Juveniles1748 Words   |  7 PagesThe high incarceration rate of juveniles is a significant social problem that affects society as a whole as well as the youth’s individual welfare and developmental trajectory. Adolescents who are incarcerated in the juvenile justice system face a multitude of negative lifelong implications. The history of incarcerating youth in residential facilities such as juvenile halls, camps, ranches or group homes as a consequence for committing crimes has a deep-rooted history in the United States. â€Å"For more

Arcadia Essay Example For Students

Arcadia Essay Throughout the play Arcadia by Tom Stoppard there is a distinct difference between the characters who have a science background and those who do not. One of the recurring themes is that those characters and actions of those characters which are against science often lead to conflict and disaster. Even those characters that are of logical thinking for the most part are prone to disaster when they let go of this rational thinking and give in to their irrational side. Bernard is a main character who is not a scientist and has basically no scientific background. From the moment he is introduced, he is portrayed as eccentric and odd. Here Bernard is described for the first time: ?Bernard, the visitor, wears a suit and tie. His tendency is to dress flamboyantly but he has damped it down for the occasion, slightly. A peacock-coloured display handkerchief boils over is his breast pocket.? (73) The term flamboyant refers to his ornate and rather bold outfit and personality. He is dressed differently than most other characters and behaves much different as well. He is as well one of the most irrational characters of the play. Bernard and his constant need to be successful and famous lead him to disaster. Throughout the play he acts with little regard to the truth. He rarely looks to proof when coming up with ideas and theories. He feels that if there is the slightest proof that he is correct then he is able to tell everyone it is the truth. He completely disregards the logical way of thinking that theories can be proven wrong. He never takes the time to see if his theories can be proven wrong. Here Hannah shows her dismay with Bernards irrational behavior:?You havent established it was fought. You havent established it was Byron. For Gods sake, Bernard, you havent established Byron was even there.? (50)Hannah tries to tell Bernard that he hasnt discovered enough evidence to publish his theory. Bernard although believes she is incorrect. He feels that all you need is your own instincts to lead you to the truth. Bernard displays this here:?By which I mean belief in yourself. Gut instinct. The part of you which doesnt reason. The certainty for which there is no back-reference.? (50)Bernard is responding the quote by Hannah above. Here Bernard is exemplifying perfectly his idea about how his theories are founded. He uses the words ?gut instinct? and ?certainty for which there is not back? which shows how he doesnt need hard evidence to prove things. He feels his own personal view is enough to make something real. He has no concept of the regular, logical format of backing up theories with evidence. Instead he relies on nothing but himself. And no matter how irrational his ideas are his feeling is that if your gut tells you its the truth then you should go with it. He also refers to his way of thinking as ?the part of you which doesnt reason? showing how irrational he really is. Hes admitting that sometimes no reasoning is needed in proving something. To most this seems completely foreign and quite illogical. Bernard, although, finds this to be the normal way of thinking. Later in the play Bernard is shown once again to be completely irrational. After Bernard makes his argument that Mr. Chater was killed in a duel with Lord Byron and this was the reason Byron left. Hannah reacts to this theory by saying, ?Bernard, I dont know why Im bothering-youre arrogant, greedy, and reckless. Youve gone from a glint in your eye to a sure thing in a hop, skip, and a jump.? (59) Hannah reveals her disapproval of Bernards attitude and aggressive approach to everything. His attitude is described as ? arrogant and reckless,? proving how little regard for logic he has. She also says, ?Youve left out everything which doesnt fit.? (59) Hannah describes how Bernard has chosen only information which has helped his case and left all other out. She is saying that Bernard ignores the information which disproves his theory and only focuses on that which does prove it. This is completely unscientific and illogical if you want to have limited doubt in your theory. Also in this sc ene Valentine shares his opinion, ?Actually, Bernard, as a scientist, your theory is incomplete.? (59) Valentine, the main character who has a large scientific background, also states that Bernard does not have enough evidence to proceed in publishing his theory. Valentine tries to tell Bernard that although he does have some evidence that he does not have nearly enough to proceed in publishing. .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca , .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca .postImageUrl , .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca , .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca:hover , .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca:visited , .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca:active { border:0!important; } .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca:active , .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u9a7e4daf2b5ecdc8ab49647174f80aca:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Women sport athlete injuries EssayDespite the advice of others Bernard decides to precede with this theory and publish it no matter now much evidence might be out there to prove it wrong. This decision proves to be a big mistake. It is proven wrong just days after it is published. Not only was he proven wrong but it was proven wrong by science as well. It was discovered that Chater did not die in a dual but of a monkey bit in Martinique. Bernards haste to be famous caused him to make a mistake which could not be erased. His purposeful carelessness and irrational behavior cost him his credibility forever. Thomasina is another character that shows the dangers of becoming irrational and illogical. Thomasina is 13 years old when the play begins. She is a brilliant young woman especially in the field of mathematics and science. Most of her time is spent working on different problems and theories with her tutor Septimus Hodge. For the most part she is purely scientific with little knowledge of the irrational world. She bases her thoughts and ideas on logical and plausible evidence. She is constantly using logic and other techniques to prove various solutions to theories. She never concludes anything without an explanation. She wasnt interested in love and didnt want to study anything that didnt pertain to mathematics. Septimus asks Thomasina why she hates Cleopatra and her response is, ?Everything is turned to love with her. New love, absent love, lost love-I never knew a heroine that makes such noodles of our sex.? (38) Here Thomasina proves how she dislikes those which deal too much with love and emotion. She feels there is more satisfaction in mathematics and science. Towards the end of the play and especially in the last scene Thomasina gives in to her romantic and irrational side. In the last scene Thomasina and Septimus are talking about her theory of how the world is doomed and then they begin to waltz. This shows the mixture of science and pleasure and at the same time rational and irrational thinking. In the beginning they are rationally talking about Thomasinas theory but by the end they are acting impulsively waltzing and even kissing. This scene we know precedes her death. We learned earlier that she died that night before her seventeenth birthday in a fire. In this scene we get an idea of why the fire started. Thomasina truly gives herself up to irrational behavior. Her self-control is lost and lets herself become the opposite of what she was determined in the beginning to be. This scene give an idea of why an explanation why never found on her theory. ? Take your essay, I have given it an alpha in blind faith. Be careful with the flame. ? (96) This suggests that the essay, which could possibly have contained her explanation, was the cause of the fire which took her life. When Thomasina became reckless with her emotions she was doomed. For the most part, Thomasina has always been logical and once she became irrational it turned into a disaster that could never be reversed. Science was the root of the disaster as well. Her essay, which was filled with her scientific explanation, was what in the end what caused her death. It can be suggested that because she deviated from her usual rational behavior that the tragedy occurred. In the play Arcadia there is a distinct split between those characters that act rationally and those who do not. For the most part this split can be seen on the basis of scientific background of each character. Those characters with little science knowledge act more irrationally and those with science background act rationally. It even showed how those characters that usually act rationally can t hose that rationality with the lose of science.

God (382 words) Essay Example For Students

God (382 words) Essay GodH E I D IH O L L A N D -Synopsis -Act Synopsis-Significance of scene in play-Characters and relationships-Notes on characters Mindmap-Style of play-Vision for scene-Plan view / floor pattern detail-Script annotation-Terminology i.e subtext, object tacti SYNOPSIS The play traces the coming of age of Heidi Holland, a successful art historian, as she tries to find her bearings in a rapidly changing world. Gradually distancing herself from her friends, she watches them move from the idealism and political radicalism of their collage years, through militant feminism and, eventually, back to the materialism which they had sought to reject in the first place. Heidis own path to maturity involves an affair with glib, arrogant scoop Rosenbaum, a womanizing lawyer/publisher who eventually marries for money and position; a deeper but even more troubling relationship with a charming witty young paediatrician, Peter Patrone, who turns out to be gay; and increasingly disturbing contacts with th e other woman, now much changed, who were apart of her childhood and collage years. Eventually Heidi comes to accept the fact that liberation can be achieved only if one is true to oneself, with goals that come out of need rather than circumstance. As the play ends she is still alone but, having adopted an orphaned baby, it is clear she had begun to find a sense of fulfilment and continuity which may well to continue to elude the others of her anxious, self-centred generation. SIGNIFIGANCE OF THE SCENEAct 1, scene 3 takes place in the 1970s it is a group of woman that have come together to talk about feminism and what they are doing for themselves to look at womans legal issues and rights. This scene holds great significance for Heidi as although she isnt a main character in this part the whole play is based around her journey and looking at feminism. Fran confronts Heidi and makes her think seriously about how her desires and dreams are just as important and realistic as those of the men in her life. From this scene Heidi takes away her new look and hopes to for fill her dream of starting a family and having a kid and changing the world through art. HEIDI

Schneiders Food Company History and products

The Domestication History of Cotton (Gossypium)

The Domestication History of Cotton (Gossypium) Cotton (Gossypium sp.) is one of the most important and earliest domesticated non-food crops in the world. Used primarily for its fiber, cotton was domesticated independently in both the Old and New Worlds. The word cotton originated from the Arabic term al qutn, which became in Spanish algodà ³n and cotton in English. Key Takeaways: Domestication of Cotton Cotton is one of the earliest domesticated non-food crops, independently domesticated at least four different times in four different parts of the world.  The first cotton domesticate was from the wild tree form in Pakistan or Madagascar at least 6,000 years ago; the next oldest was domesticated in Mexico about 5,000 years ago.  Cotton processing, taking the cotton bolls and making them into fibers, is a global technique; spinning those fibers into strings for weaving was anciently accomplished by the use of spindle whorls in the New World and spinning wheels in the Old World.   Nearly all the cotton produced in the world today is the New World species Gossypium hirsutum, but before the 19th century, several species were grown on different continents. The four domesticated Gossypium species of the Malvaceae family are G. arboreum L., domesticated in the Indus Valley of Pakistan and India; G. herbaceum L. from Arabia and Syria; G. hirsutum from Mesoamerica; and G. barbadense from South America. All four domestic species and their wild relatives are shrubs or small trees which are traditionally grown as summer crops; domesticated versions are highly drought- and salt-tolerant crops that grow well in marginal, arid environments. Old World cotton has short, coarse, weak fibers that are today primarily used for stuffing and quilt making; New World cotton has higher production demands but provides longer and stronger fibers and higher yields. Making Cotton Wild cotton is photo-period sensitivein other words, the plant begins to germinate when the day length reaches a certain point. Wild cotton plants are perennial and their form is sprawling. Domestic versions are short, compact annual shrubs which do not respond to changes in day lengththats an advantage if the plant grows in places with cool winters because both wild and domestic kinds of cotton are frost-intolerant. Cotton fruits are capsules or bolls which contain several seeds covered by two kinds of fiber: short ones called fuzz and long ones called lint. Only the lint fibers are useful for making textiles, and the domestic plants have larger seeds covered with comparatively abundant lint. Cotton is traditionally harvested by hand, and then the cotton is ginnedprocessed to separate the seeds from the fiber. After the ginning process, the cotton fibers are batted with a wooden bow to make them more flexible and carded with a hand comb to separate the fibers before spinning. Spinning twists the individual fibers into a yarn, which can be completed by hand with a spindle and spindle whorl (in the New World) or with a spinning wheel (developed in the Old World). Old World Cotton Cotton was first domesticated in the Old World about 7,000 years ago; the earliest archaeological evidence for cotton use is from the Neolithic occupation of Mehrgarh, in the Kachi Plain of Balochistan, Pakistan, in the sixth millennium BC. Cultivation of G. arboreum began in the Indus Valley of India and Pakistan, and then eventually spread over Africa and Asia, whereas G. herbaceum was first cultivated in Arabia and Syria. The two main species, G. arboreum and G. herbaceum, are genetically very different and probably diverged well before domestication. Specialists agree that the wild progenitor of G. herbaceum was an African species, whereas the ancestor of G. arboreum is still unknown. Regions of the possible origin of the G. arboreum wild progenitor are likely Madagascar or the Indus Valley, where the most ancient evidence for cultivated cotton has been found. Gossypium arboreum Abundant archaeological evidence exists for the initial domestication and use of G. arboreum, by the Harappan (aka Indus Valley) civilization in Pakistan. Mehrgarh, the earliest agricultural village in the Indus Valley, holds multiple lines of evidence of cotton seeds and fibers beginning about 6000 BP. At Mohenjo-Daro, fragments of cloth and cotton textiles have been dated to the fourth millennium BCE, and archaeologists agree that most of the trade that made the city grow was based on cotton exportation. Raw material and finished cloth were exported from South Asia into Dhuweila in eastern Jordan by 6450–5000 years ago, and to Maikop (Majkop or Maykop) in the northern Caucasus by 6000 BP. Cotton fabric has been found at Nimrud in Iraq (8th–7th centuries BCE), Arjan in Iran (late 7th–early 6th centuries BCE) and Kerameikos in Greece (5th century BCE). According to Assyrian records of Sennacherib (705–681 BCE), cotton was grown in the royal botanical gardens at Nineveh, but cool winters there would have made large-scale production impossible. Because G. arboreum is a tropical and subtropical plant, cotton agriculture did not spread outside the Indian subcontinent until thousands of years after its domestication. Cotton cultivation is first seen in the Persian Gulf at Qalat al-Bahrain (ca 600–400 BCE), and in North Africa at Qasr Ibrim, Kellis and al-Zerqa between the 1st and 4th centuries CE. Recent investigations at Karatepe in Uzbekistan have found cotton production dated between ca. 300–500 CE. G. arboreum is thought to have been introduced into China as an ornamental plant about 1,000 years ago. Cotton may have been grown in the Xinjiang (China) province cities of Turfan and Khotan by the 8th century CE. Cotton was finally adapted to grow in more temperate climates by the Islamic Agricultural Revolution, and between 900–1000 CE, a boom in cotton production spread into Persia, Southwest Asia, North Africa and the Mediterranean Basin. Gossypium herbaceum G. herbaceum is much less well-known than G. arboreum. Traditionally it is known to grow in African open forests and grasslands. Characteristics of its wild species are a taller plant, compared to the domesticated shrubs, smaller fruit, and thicker seed coats. Unfortunately, no clear domesticated remains of G. herbaceum have been recovered from archaeological contexts. However, the distribution of its closest wild progenitor suggests a northward distribution toward North Africa, and the Near East. New World Cotton Among the American species, G. hirsutum was apparently cultivated first in Mexico, and G. barbadense later in Peru. However, a minority of researchers believe, alternatively, that the earliest type of cotton was introduced into Mesoamerica as an already domesticated form of G. barbadense from coastal Ecuador and Peru. Whichever story ends up to be correct, cotton was one of the first non-food plants domesticated by the prehistoric inhabitants of the Americas. In the Central Andes, especially in the north and central coasts of Peru, cotton was part of a fishing economy and a marine-based lifestyle. People used cotton to make fishing nets and other textiles. Cotton remains have been recovered in many sites on the coast especially in residential middens. Gossypium hirsutum (Upland cotton) The oldest evidence of Gossypium hirsutum in Mesoamerica comes from the Tehuacan valley and has been dated between 3400 and 2300 BCE. In different caves of the region, archaeologists affiliated to the project of Richard MacNeish found remains of fully domesticated examples of this cotton. Recent studies have compared bolls and cotton seeds retrieved from excavations in Guila Naquitz Cave, Oaxaca, with living examples of wild and cultivated G. hirsutum punctatum growing along the east coast of Mexico. Additional genetic studies (Coppens dEeckenbrugge and Lacape 2014) support the earlier results, indicating that G. hirsutum was likely originally domesticated in the Yucatn Peninsula. Another possible center of domestication for G. hirsutum is the Caribbean. In different eras and among different Mesoamerican cultures, cotton was a highly demanded good and a precious exchange item. Maya and Aztec merchants traded cotton for other luxury items, and nobles adorned themselves with woven and dyed mantles of the precious material. Aztec kings often offered cotton products to noble visitors as gifts and to army leaders as payment. Gossypium barbadense (Pima cotton) G. barbadense cultivars are known for their production of high-quality fiber and called variously Pima, Egyptian, or Sea Island cotton. The first clear evidence of domesticated Pima cotton comes from the Ancà ³n-Chillà ³n area of the central coast of Peru. The sites in this area show the domestication process began during the Preceramic period, beginning about 2500 BCE. By 1000 BCE the size and shape of Peruvian cotton bolls were indistinguishable from todays modern cultivars of G. barbadense. Cotton production began on the coasts, but eventually moved inland, facilitated by the construction of canal irrigation. By the Initial Period, sites such as Huaca Prieta contained domestic cotton 1,500 to 1,000 years before pottery and maize cultivation. Unlike in the old world, cotton in Peru was initially part of subsistence practices, used for fishing and hunting nets, as well as textiles, clothing and storage bags. Sources Bouchaud, Charlà ¨ne, Margareta Tengberg, and Patricia Dal Pr. Cotton Cultivation and Textile Production in the Arabian Peninsula During Antiquity; the Evidence from Madà ¢Ã¢â‚¬â„¢in Sà ¢lih (Saudi Arabia) and Qal’at Al-Bahrain (Bahrain). Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 20.5 (2011): 405–17. Print.Brite, Elizabeth Baker, and John M. Marston. Environmental Change, Agricultural Innovation, and the Spread of Cotton Agriculture in the Old World. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 32.1 (2013): 39–53. Print.Coppens dEeckenbrugge, Geo, and Jean–Marc Lacape. Distribution and Differentiation of Wild, Feral, and Cultivated Populations of Perennial Upland Cotton ( PLoS ONE 9.9 (2014): e107458. Print.Gossypium hirsutum L.) in Mesoamerica and the Caribbean.Du, Xiongming, et al. Resequencing of 243 Diploid Cotton Accessions Based on an Updated a Genome Identifies the Genetic Basis of Key Agronomic Traits. Nature Genetics 50.6 (2018): 796–802. Print.Mou lherat, Christophe, et al. First Evidence of Cotton at Neolithic Mehrgarh, Pakistan: Analysis of Mineralized Fibres from a Copper Bead. Journal of Archaeological Science 29.12 (2002): 1393–401. Print. Nixon, Sam, Mary Murray, and Dorian Fuller. Plant Use at an Early Islamic Merchant Town in the West African Sahel: The Archaeobotany of Essouk–Tadmakka (Mali). Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 20.3 (2011): 223–39. Print.Reddy, Umesh K., et al. Genome-Wide Divergence, Haplotype Distribution and Population Demographic Histories for Gossypium Hirsutum and Gossypium Barbadense as Revealed by Genome–Anchored SNPs. Scientific Reports 7 (2017): 41285. Print.Renny–Byfield, Simon, et al. Independent Domestication of Two Old World Cotton Species. Genome Biology and Evolution 8.6 (2016): 1940–47. Print.Wang, Maojun, et al. Asymmetric Subgenome Selection and Cis-Regulatory Divergence During Cotton Domestication. Nature Genetics 49 (2017): 579. Print.Zhang, Shu–Wen, et al. Mapping of Fiber Quality Qtls Reveals Useful Variation and Footprints of Cotton Domestication Using Introgression Lines. Scientific Reports 6 (2016): 31954. Print. Updated by K. Kris Hirst

Marketing And Social Network Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Marketing And Social Network - Thesis Example Appendix†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..18 11. References.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦21 Abstract: The aim of this study is to determine the relationship of marketing, or in specific, viral marketing and social networks with each other with the help of a sound theoretical framework. The framework thus developed managed to form a study that points out dimensions that ensure a testable hypothesis. The study finds the relationship and interdependency of marketing and social networks on each other and questions whether the data collected by the social marketing intelligence is an ethical dilemma or not. The study is conducted with t he help of a small scale survey and formal interviews that have been conducted over a college premises. The data thus collected is effectively analyzed to find answers to the research questions developed. It has been concluded that the variables under discussion, the viral marketing and social networks, are directly linked to each other and both have aided the advancement of each other over the growth cycle. 1. Introduction: Marketing is a business technique in which a marketing message is spread to the people by several means, with the aim of creating value for customers. This phenomenon encourages and facilitates marketers to increase brand awareness, aids product/brand/service outreach to its targeted customer segment, and achieve aims related to product/service promotion and/or selling. Out of the many types, viral marketing, according to Allen (2008, p 15), is a technique that uses social networks of other people so that they can propagate... This report approves that the social network, thus use the viral marketing to point out that important common factor between individuals that would bring them together. This move will thus allow these social networks to gather more and more individuals with various common interests and thus increasing the usage of the sites so that the survival graph stays high. This paper makes a conclusion that viral marketing and social networking are two terms which go side by side these days as the existence of one without each other is very difficult. Their collaboration in a smooth and steady ways is very beneficial and it is a great source of earning revenue as the economic conditions of the business world is collapsing all over. The two entities evolved with each other and they have created a revolution in the technological and economic world and cannot survive without each other. The field of viral marketing and social networking is a very dynamic field. It has many more novelties and better ways of achieving success to see in the coming years.If they remain on the same track then, further horizons will be opened for them in future years but the privacy of users and their trust should be valued more than anything. If people had not been so socially close to each other by social networking sites etc they would not have any means to enjoy and experie nce new launches in a comfortable way and to be able to share them quickly with other people of the same interests. Viral marketing has acted out as a tool that has provided a platform where entertainment interaction and marketing are collaborated in a fascinating manner.

African American Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

African American Studies - Essay Example While this long term outcome was the same for both men, they differed greatly in the way that they went about turning their ideas into action. Martin Luther King started out as a preacher with a purely religious set of goals. He followed in his family’s tradition, ministering to his own people in his own church and confining himself to religious teachings. Increasing violence against his congregation, and widespread atrocities in the southern states prompted him to change his position to a more political one, however and he became known for his commitment to non-violent political action. He supported bus boycotts, sit-ins, demonstrations and the famous march in Washington, and in word and deed he called black Americans to rise up and join together in resistance, but stopped short of any proactive acts of violence or even retaliation in the face of violence. In his most famous â€Å"I have a Dream† speech to a mostly black audience, he used his considerable talents as a public speaker to paint a future vision of an Alabama, the heart of the currently racist south where â€Å"†¦ little black boys and blac k girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.† (Luther King, 1963a) Using imagery drawn from the Bible he deliberately included white people in this vision, and stressed the unity of all people, male and female, black and white, rich and poor, depicting them as being in chains while they participate in this unjust society, and â€Å"free at last† (Luther King, 1963a) when slaves and oppressor together can enjoy equal rights. By advocating peaceful resistance, he managed to retain the moral high ground, and by stressing the common Christian religion and culture of the majority of blacks and whites in America, he sought to build trust and tackle instances of oppression one by

Business environmental and public policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business environmental and public policy - Essay Example The wrath of industry lobbyists and right wing media was sidelining the politicians of practical nature and who are capable of dealing with the situation as it demands. The narrow margin for Gore in 2000 election is due to his practical ideas on issues like Global Warming. The people who were not at all concerned about the environmental problems and the persons who pander people rather than addressing to their real future needs were in the power. This was the cause of negligence of public safety issues like Global Warming and drawing back in curbing it. As a result the curbing of Global Warming was remained as untouchable. Moreover the campaigners who were against the curbing of Global Warming were publicizing the fact that recently the ice layers in Antarctica did rise in their thickness. Though it was said to be true the warming will be done and the sea level will rise after the extra thick ice was melt. The people who are saying that fact are taking into consideration the details of Antarctica this year. There may be an opposite evidence for their argument if they take the records of thickness of ice for over 10 years of time at the same period of the year. The controversy is that some responsible scientists and politicians like Al Gore were in support of the argument that Global warming is true and the curbing will result in no considerable devastation of economy. But the only politician talking about the controversial issues and the correct measures to be taken was defeated and the right wing media a product of energy-industry lobbyists was making the right thinking politicians a mockery of them in the view of public. They fostered a careful campaign that the curbing of Global Warming will decrease the GDP and thus destroy the economy and so the Americans should not accept to it. But the reality conflicts with that argument. The economy will not be devastated as it was publicized by the media. The growth of GDP may be affected by just 0.2% in a span of 20 years but not as devastating as it was publicized by right wing media. Moreover, the Global Warming is at alarming level that after some time it may become irreversible. By now it was felt by a Science Magazine that the curbing of Global Warming is like eradicating the Small pox from the earth. By this comparison every body can understand that at the stage reached by Global Warming just by negligence due to the lobbying of industry circles against cubing it. One can wonder why the politicians or Industrialists were against the curbing of norms. The reason may be that the norms for curbing the Global Warming will make Industrialists cut their profits and discard some new technology on which they have spent more and there were no substantial returns yet. This may leave them scared as they have to resort to older methods by facing loss in adopted new technology. The Machinery now used might find necessity to be replaced. When this happens generally the heavy industry that makes machines will flourish and there is a chance of curbing the fall in GDP growth which was predicted by the protesters of curbing methods of Global Warming. But it makes some leading industrialists to spend on new machinery and infrastructure, which is difficult to them in their terms of profit. The

Research into Call Centre Customer Confusion

Research into Call Centre Customer Confusion Discussion Following from the results obtained from the survey, most participants had used the call centre service within the past six months and the perceived confusion level by customers was relatively high. Evidently, this research reinforces the fact that consumer confusion still exists within the call centre service. The first factor which influences customer confusion was identified as gender. The majority of the participants in the research were females, however it was also found that there was a higher involvement of male staff working at call centres. This supports the literature review as research suggests that female customers tend to ask more questions during the centre call service than males. It can be detected that this was because males cannot communicate effectively with females. An approach that can be taken to reduce this aspect of customer confusion is to employ more female staff in call centres. Furthermore, before customer service is provided to the customer, the call centre should provide the option to the customer of being attended by a female or male staff, according to their preference. Another substantial cause of customer confusion was language barriers. This is an issue which reinforces the theory suggested by Robison et al 2006. His theory suggests that outsourcing to other countries influences the structure, quality, outcomes and satisfaction in call centres. From our research we found that the majority of customer confusion was caused due to accent and pronunciation issues, due to outsourcing calls abroad. However, our results could not support the effect on outsourcing calls abroad has on the structure of call centres. For participants, the majority of assistance within call centre was non-native English speakers. However it does not indicate that the culture or background that an assistant possesses influences the quality of customer service provided. This point is limited by the context of this research as it is solely based in the UK. By the fact stated in the literature review, English call centre providers tend to outsource calls to other countries most commonly, India. The culture between the UK and India is similar; however there is a significant difference between some countries, such as China, and the UK. Today, more foreigners are coming to the UK which results in a wider variety of customers using call centres. This can explain the continuation of customer confusion in the UK. Accordingly, organisations may need to provide training to assistants relating to cultural differences, especially if some customers from certain countries formulate a considerable portion of their customer basis. Technical issues were also identified from the research carried out which organisations can effectively tackle. The first issue identified was the incompetency of the assistant, such as the lack of expertise about the service or product the company provides. Thus, the company should provide and emphasise the knowledge regarding the product or service they offer sufficiently. Furthermore, the lack of communication between the call centre and other department within the business was identified as the third vital cause of customer confusion. Frequently, customers raise questions that cannot be answered by the knowledge of a certain department. This results in customers experiencing another step, dialling another number for instance, in the call centre process which irritates customers with consumer confusion. To address this issue, a communication system must be established amongst departments, to actively connect customers to the appropriate department who can resolve their problems ac curately. Additionally, another technical problem within call centres is call background noise that organisations must remove enhance the quality provided by the call centre. As written in the literature review, customers may prefer to help themselves when they wish to solve the confusion they have, which was also found in the survey that customers tend to try to browse the organisations official website to see if they can solve the problem without a call to avoid the potential confusions that might be caused during the call centre service. Airline industry as an example, was the sole industry which the participants in the survey did not use call centre for. Certainly there are distinct natures among various industries, but the well-organised and informative Airline industrys web-enabled call centre service can be an inspiration for other industries. Manage the firms website used to interact with customers more effectively with more benchmark of information, better structure and cle arer guide. Moreover, the organisation can transform the traditional calling conversation into online chat by typing or video calling. Ethical issues were also highlighted as a source of consumer confusion. The spam calls which customers receive irritate them and cause their customer confusion. Therefore organisations need to be more concerned with ethical issues that may cause customer confusion and impact on their organisational reputation. The last limitation found relates to the human resource management in the call centres, the assistants attitude and behaviour particularly such as the behaviour mentioned by a participant in the research, launching into their script without any introductions. Therefore additional training should be stressed regarding the courtesy of caller conversations.

The Weimar Republic :: essays research papers fc

Why did the Weimar Republic fail to stand up to Nazism?: PASS NOTES. 2. 1929-1933: The Depression NAZI STRENGTHS 1. What were Hitler's Talents? 2. How did the party change following the Beer Hall Putsch? 3. How did the party change following the Depression? The 1930s were turbulent times in Germany's history. World War I had left the country in shambles and, as if that weren't enough, the people of Germany had been humiliated and stripped of their pride and dignity by the Allies. Germany's dream of becoming one of the strongest nations in the world no longer seemed to be a possibility and this caused resentment among the German people. It was clear that Germany needed some type of motivation to get itself back on its feet and this came in the form of a charismatic man, Adolf Hitler. Hitler, a man who knew what he wanted and would do anything to get it, single-handedly transformed a weary Germany into a deadly fascist state. In order to understand why exactly Hitler was able to make Germany a fascist state, we must study the effects that the end of World War I had on the country. Germany was left devastated and vulnerable at the end of the war. The Treaty of Versailles had left the country without a military and with a large debt that it just couldn't pay. Aside from that, it was forced to withdraw from its western territory where most of its coal and steel were located. This was a major implication for Germany because without these resources, it had no industrial growth (steel and coal are the forces behind industry), which meant that there was no money going into its economy. Without any economic development there was no way that Germany would be able to get out of debt. The Allies did not make any effort to help Germany during this time and left Germany to fend for itself (they seemed to be aware that this had been a mistake by the end World War II when they helped Japan out of its economic crisis; th is is an example of history influencing future actions). The "humiliation imposed by the victors in the World War I, coupled with the hardship of the stagnant economy," created bitterness and anger in Germany (Berlet 1). This is the reason that, when the Allies tried to establish a new government in Germany, the German people were less than eager to embrace it.

Project Management Article

The Article I have chosen to summarize is titled â€Å"Life and Death† by Cindy Waxier and the same was published In the February 2013 issue of The PM Network Magazine, The article Is on Risk Management planning and execution and its requirement before any type of risky operation. The Management team of Children's Memorial Hospital In Illinois, USA faced a dramatic challenge on 9th June 2012 when they moved 127 patients from their aging faculty to a new 23-storied $855 building on Northwestern universities medical school campus.The new facility named Ann and Robert H. Laurie Hospital of Chicago was equipped with modern facilities and the move was necessitated because the present building that was built in 1882 was cramped despite various attempts for renovation and expansion and patients felt like being rats stuck in a cage. In the words of Maureen Mahoney, Laurie Children's chief clinical excellence officer QUOTE We realized that in order to continue to grow and serve patient s in a way that's compatible with our vision, we had to create a replacement hospital †¦UNQUOTE. The new facility had multiple features to ensure better patient care Like spacious treatment rooms, an enclosed ambulance bay and there comforts. The hospital had risk patients and before they could enjoy the comforts of the new faculty the task of moving them to the new establishment situated at a distance of 4. 8 Kilometers from the present hospital was daunting.A single misstep would end in a tragedy and a comprehensive Risk Management Strategy had been put in place by Mahoney who had spent years to draw up a comprehensive strategy that included logistics, budget, staffing and transportation keeping in mind the worst case-scenarios that may crop up during the transfer of patients. A multidisciplinary project team had been built to ensure smooth transition. Outside consultants team was also enlisted for guidance that helped in shaping the foundation but the Hospital's own Risk Man agement Team built on it based on their culture and need of the patients.The Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, USA had undergone a similar migration to a replacement hospital earlier. Ms. Mahoney and her team met with representatives of this hospital to discuss the various aspects. The team also consulted other hospitals that were planning their transition and discussed and shared plans. Since transporting the patients required closing of some of Chicago Streets, Ms. Mahoney had already spoken to the city agencies including police; fire and emergency well in advance so that they could work in an orchestrated manner and ensure smooth transportation of patients without any hindrance.All the faculty and staff were informed in details about the move and meetings were held to address the concerns of physicians, nurses and caregivers. Since this operation would impact everyone in the hospital, organizing and encouraging all and sundry were a necessity. To remove the fear of the young patients, they were shown videos of a Buddy Bear being safely moved to a new capital and each patient was given a Buddy Bear of his or her own on moving day as an encouragement.With the Risk management team raring to go and all city support having been secured plans were laid for logistics of transporting the patients. Elective surgeries were Mahoney who had spent 4 years to draw up a comprehensive the worst case-scenarios that may crop up during the transfer of patients. A multidisciplinary project team had been built to ensure smooth transition. Outside consultants team was also enlisted for guidance that helped in shaping the some of Chicago Streets, Ms. Mahoney had already spoken to the city agencies avian been secured plans were laid for logistics of transporting the patients.Elective surgeries were delayed until after the move and accordingly patients were divided into seven categories based on the severity of their condition. Patients from the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units and children undergoing chemotherapy were given preference. The team also ensured that the required medical equipments as needed were transferred along with the patient and included medication, intravenous line or oxygen. The worst case scenario of patient being decontaminates en route was critically planned and Ms. Mahoney ensured that medical specialists accompany each patient in the ambulance.On the eve of the move I. E. 8th June 2012, everything were checked as planned, patients' requirements were meticulously ascertained and even the less critical medical requirement such as emptying a patients catheter prior to departure was not ignored. The transfer began on 9th June 2012 precisely at 6 a. M. The next day and adequate staff was on hand at both ends to tackle any problem that may arise. Chicago streets were cordoned-off and the medical staff begun the much awaited transfer making note at ACH step to ensure patients whereabouts from the moment he or she was taken ou t of bed.The documentation of movement helped the team to track and look after the patients at four points during the process of transfer. Within two hours I. E. By 8 p. M. Every patient was safely transported to the new facility and en envisaged and planned there was not a single mishap or even a single safety issue. The four years of comprehensive risk management strategy was successfully implemented and all the 127 patients were safely transported to the new facility in Just 14 hours, covering a distance of 4. 8 kilometers.

Organizational Culture and Its Importance Essay Example

Organizational Culture and Its Importance Essay Example Organizational Culture and Its Importance Paper Organizational Culture and Its Importance Paper There is no single definition for organizational culture. The topic has been studied from a variety of perspectives ranging from disciplines such as anthropology and sociology, to the applied disciplines of organizational behaviour, management science, and organizational communication. Some of the definitions are listed below: A set of common understandings around which action is organized; finding expression in language whose nuances are peculiar to the group (Becker and Geer 1960). A set of understandings or meanings shared by a group of people that are largely tacit among members and are clearly relevant and distinctive to the particular group which are also passed on to new members (Louis 1980). A system of knowledge, of standards for perceiving, believing, evaluating and acting . . . that serve to relate human communities to their environmental settings (Allaire and Firsirotu 1984). The deeper level of basic assumptions and beliefs that are: learned responses to the groups problems of survival in its external environment and its problems of internal integration; are shared by members of an organization; that operate unconsciously; and that define in a basic taken -for-granted fashion in an organizations view of itself and its environment (Schein 1988). Any social system arising from a network of shared ideologies consisting of two components: substance-the networks of meaning associated with ideologies, norms, and values; and forms-the practices whereby the meanings are expressed, affirmed, and communicated to members (Trice and Beyer 1984). This sampling of definitions represents the two major camps that exist in the study of organizational culture and its application strategies. The first camp views culture as implicit in social life. Culture is what naturally emerges as individuals transform themselves into social groups as tribes, communities, and ultimately, nations. The second camp represents the view that culture is an explicit social product arising from social interaction either as an intentional or unintentional consequence of behaviour. In other words, culture is comprised of distinct observable forms (e. g. , language, use of symbols, ceremonies, customs, methods of problem solving, use of tools or technology, and design of work settings) that groups of people create through social interaction and use to confront the broader social environment. This second view of culture is most relevant to the analysis and evaluation of organizational culture and to cultural change strategies that leaders can employ to improve organizational performance. BEHAVIOUR AND ARTIFACTS We can also characterize culture as consisting of three levels. The most visible level is behaviour and artifacts. This is the observable level of culture, and consists of behaviour patterns and outward manifestations of culture: perquisites provided to executives, dress codes, level of technology utilized (and where it is utilized), and the physical layout of work spaces. All may be visible indicators of culture, but difficult to interpret. Artifacts and behaviour also may tell us what a group is doing, but not why. One cartoon which captures this aspect shows two executives sitting at their desks in an office. Both have large billed black and white checked hats. One is saying to the other, I dont know how it started, either. All I know is that its part of our corporate culture. VALUES At the next level of culture are values. Values underlie and to a large extent determine behaviour, but they are not directly observable, as behaviours are. There may be a difference between stated and operating values. People will attribute their behaviour to stated values. ASSUMPTIONS AND BELIEFS To really understand culture, we have to get to the deepest level, the level of assumptions and beliefs. Experts contend that underlying assumptions grow out of values, until they become taken for granted and drop out of awareness. As the definition above states, and as the cartoon illustrates, people may be unaware of or unable to articulate the beliefs and assumptions forming their deepest level of culture. To understand culture, we must understand all three levels. One additional aspect complicates the study of culture: the group or cultural unit which owns the culture. An organization may have many different cultures or subcultures, or even no discernible dominant culture at the organizational level. Recognizing the cultural unit is essential to identifying and understanding the culture. Organizational cultures are created, maintained, or transformed by people. An organizations culture is, in part, also created and maintained by the organizations leadership. Leaders at the executive level are the principle source for the generation and re-infusion of an organizations ideology, articulation of core values and specification of norms. Organizational values express preferences for certain behaviours or certain outcomes. Organizational norms express behaviours accepted by others. They are culturally acceptable ways of pursuing goals. Leaders also establish the parameters for formal lines of communication and message content-the formal interaction rules for the organization. Values and norms, once transmitted through the organization, establish the permanence of the organizations culture. ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE IS ALSO A SYNTHESIS OF SUBCULTURES Sociologists discuss how distinct societies are composites of interacting subcultures rather than a single overarching culture. Organizations consist of subgroups that have specific characteristics and a sense of identification. Within organizations, people can easily classify themselves and others into various social categories or groups based on identification with their primary work group, occupational or professional skills, union membership, or age cohort. Subgroups in organizations can and do create subcultures that comprise specific networks of meaning; yet, at the same time, they remain associated with the ideologies and values of the organizations leadership. For example, at a macro level the culture that is attributed to the Department of Defense comprises the distinct cultures of the different military services and the corps of civil servants assigned to each service agency. A closer examination of each service culture reveals still greater cultural differentiation among occupational specialties, specific units within the service, and between line and staff personnel. Yet all of these subcultures adhere to the core ideologies, values and norms of the DOD. Numerous studies of organizational culture have highlighted that the formation and maintenance of culture requires interpersonal interaction within subgroups. For example, research led by Meryl Louis demonstrated the benefits of subgroup interaction to newcomers learning the ropes of the jobs. Survey respondents in their first job experience reported that the three most important socialization aids were: Interaction with peers Interaction with their supervisor Interaction with senior co-workers. Interaction with peers on the job was viewed as most important in helping newcomers becoming effective employees. Interaction is important for the acculturation of newcomers. Organizations do not, however, always have homogeneous subcultures. The explicit social products produced by subcultures within organizations can be widely diverse and even result in countercultures. Countercultures can have both pro ductive and unproductive outcomes. Perhaps the key to a countercultures success (i. e. the promulgation of its ideology, values and norms) is the groups ability to demonstrate how its idiosyncrasies are consonant with the core ideologies, values and norms of the dominant culture. THE SYMBIOSIS BETWEEN THE ORGANIZATIONS OVERALL CULTURE AND ITS SUBCULTURES Some people may debate which comes first in an organization: the organizational culture or the organizations subcultures. The question that is relevant to the definition of Organizational Culture is how do the ideologies, values, and norms of subcultures compliment the organizational culture advocated by leadership? Explaining this relationship requires an understanding that cultures provide members with a reliable means to interpret a highly ambiguous environment. It is the leaders responsibility to specify the features of the environment that are relevant to the organization and then provide the supporting assumptions and rationale for its operating strategies. The leaders cultural messages should address ambiguities that are beyond the scope of any organizational subculture to explain to employees. Leaders should recognize that their cultural messages should specifically address cultural ambiguities associated with subculture practices within the organization, and limit their attempts to eliminate distinctions that are important to subcultures identities. In other words, leaders have a better chance of creating or transforming an organizational culture if they accept and foster productive organizational subcultures and consistently communicate how employees must perform in order for the organization to achieve its objectives. Cultural change then relies on leaders communication techniques that cross subcultural boundaries and carry messages about ideologies, values and norms that can be internalized by all employees. Memos and vision statements cannot achieve all of these objectives. Leaders, however, have a variety of sophisticated cultural communication techniques at their disposal to link subcultures to overarching cultural objectives of their organizations. The importance of Organizational Cultural can be derived from its definitions. An understanding of Organizational Culture can help a manager understand what the core value system of the company is and how is it a derivative of its culture or vice versa. The importance of Organizational Culture can be felt in all the spheres of an organization. Some of these are listed below. Mission- e. g. , What is the organization’s core purpose? Vision-e. g. , What is the organization’s overriding orientation? Planning- e. g. , What processes does the organization use to actualize ideas? Strategy for implementation of mission and vision- e. . , What kinds of concrete means for implementation of mission and vision does the organization utilize? Measurements of success- e. g. , Does the organization have a system for continuous improvement? What kind of system(s)? Overall organizational structure- e. g. , Does the organization have a flat structure? A hierarchical structure? What influence do staff have? Supervisory system(s)- e. g. , Do staff receive regular sup ervision? What is the content and context of the supervisory relationships? â€Å"Everyday† language- e. g. What are the insider terms that staff members use? Status and rewards- e. g. , Do staff get bonuses? Are they acknowledged in staff meetings for jobs well done? Concepts of time- e. g. , Do meetings usually start on time, 10 minutes late? Concepts of space-e. g. , Do staff have their own offices, do people usually keep their doors opened or closed? Communication systems-e. g. , Is there an intranet, a staff newsletter? Relationship(s) to external culture(s)- e. g. , Does the organization have a competitive relationship with other similar organizations? Individual/Group focus e. g. , Is the organization oriented more to individual or group needs? Views on difference- e. g. , Are differences in race, sex, etc†¦ talked about? Role delineation-e. g. , Are staff clear on what their job description is or their roles in particular projects? As an employee in any type of o rganization can attest, organizational culture is as prevalent and as varied as individuals themselves. Organizational culture is enduring and complex, and may have both a positive and a negative effect on the staff and the workplace. In many ways culture will determine the survival of an organization over the long term, especially in volatile industries. Cultures that can be a liability to an organization include those that create barriers to change, create barriers to diversity or barriers to mergers and acquisitions. Understanding the organizational culture can help you to understand why change does not take place, or why a project fails. It will also help you to determine where to strive to make changes to the culture. As managers, why do we need to get a sense of the prevailing organizational culture? It is essential to understand the organizational culture if you want to make changes to how work is done, what type of work is being done, or at the broadest level, to affect the organizations standing in its industry. Understanding the culture and, as required, changing it, can mean the difference between attracting and retaining good employees and driving away the best employees with an environment that doesnt encourage, challenge, or reward them. For a new leader or manager, understanding the organizational culture that is in place is essential for success in providing direction, especially when the direction is different from what has come before. Are staff willing and eager to take on new challenges and to follow a new direction, or will they provide passive or active resistance to any changes? What is important to people today, based on their view of where the organization is and where it should be? Where are there disconnects between espoused values, such as the mission statement, and the over symbols and culture type? For example, if the organizations mission is to provide expert customer service, yet the strong hierarchical structure means that employees are not empowered to assist customers by providing creative solutions or dont have the required authority to provide responses or results, there is a disconnect. If an organization was eager to see positive change and the time was right for providing impetus to staff to follow a new path. The assessment of culture of the organization can reveal the opposite, however, which is just as valuable to managers. If there is resistance to change, if the espoused values of the organization dont match with the staff perceptions and prevailing culture, you must try to change the culture or change the objectives and mission to reflect reality. As a manager, it may not be possible for you to change the organizations overarching culture. Understanding the culture, howeverespecially if you want to adapt your departmental culture to create a more positive cultureis possible. Departmental cultures may differ greatly in organizations, depending on the leaders and the staff within those departments. You may not be able to have an effect on the organization overall, depending on your position in the organization and how large it is, but with work you will be able to make a difference at the library level. Some ways that you can try to change the organizational culture include reviewing the mission and vision for the firm with the staff to ensure that they are accurate. If changes are needed to reflect the reality of what you want to do and what you can do, then it should be done. For a start, make sure that departmental statements and staff actions reflect the type of culture you want. For example, to increase the market culture, try increasing the measurements of service activities and have staff involved in developing metrics and outcomes for services (as part of the performance management system, for example). Reward staff of particular service areas who respond to changes in customer demands through developing new programs or services. To reduce hierarchical culture, for example, begin by empowering staff to provide suggestions and to help implement their new ideas. You should also empower staff to make more decisions for their own areas of expertise. As the leader, one should always be aware of one’s actions and model the behavior one expects of the staff. Ensure that the statements one makes are consistent with the values and the symbols of the culture one would like to develop. One may not be able to change the overall organizational culture immediately, but the positive results and positive impact at the departmental level should have some level of spill-over effect onto other departments. Moreover, it will make it a more pleasant culture for everyone to be working in. CONCLUDING THOUGHT An understanding of organizational culture, and how important it is, is a crucial skill for leaders trying to achieve strategic outcomes. Strategic leaders have the best perspective, because of their position in the organization, to see the dynamics of the culture, what should remain, and what needs transformation. This is the essence of strategic success. BIBLIOGRAPHY Goleman, Daniel. Emotional Intelligence. Bantam Books: New York, New York, 1995. Stephen P. Robbins. Organizational Behavior, 8th edition Schein, Edgar H. The Corporate Culture: A Survival Guide. Jossey-Bass Books: San Francisco, California, 1999. www. wikipedia. org

Historic Map Overlays in Google Maps

Historic Map Overlays in Google Maps Technology makes it fun these days to compare maps of the past with their modern-day equivalents to learn just where the nearest cemetery or church may have been or why your ancestors went to the next county to record their familys deeds and vital events. Historical overlay maps, which have been available for Google Maps and Google Earth  since 2006, make this type of cartographic research very fun and easy.  The premise behind a historic overlay map is that it can be layered directly on top of current road maps and/or satellite images. By adjusting the transparency of the historic maps, you can see through to the modern-day map behind to compare the similarities and differences between old and new maps, and study the changes in your selected location over time. A great tool for genealogists! Hundreds, and more likely thousands, of organizations, developers, and even individuals have created historic overlap maps for the online tool Google Maps (nice for people who dont want to download the Google Earth software). 120 historical maps from the David Rumsey Map Collection, for example, were integrated into Google Maps last year. Additional historic map overlays you might want to explore include  North Carolina Historic Overlay Maps,  Scotland Historical Map Overlays,  Henry Hudson 400  and  Greater Philadelphia GeoHistory Network. If you really love these historic overlay maps, you may want to download the free Google Earth software. There are many more historic map overlays available through Google Earth, than through Google Maps, including many posted directly by Google. You can find the historical maps in the sidebar section titled layers.

Women swimming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Women swimming - Essay Example Several sport centres are coming up these days to help people introduce sports in their daily routine. The purpose of these centres is to expose and orient people to different kinds of sports and activities. One such sport community was visited by me. This is called Muslim Welfare House. The Muslim Welfare  House (MWH) is a community and sports centre in North London. It was founded in 1970 and is a registered charity since 1975. It was originally established to assist Muslim students coming to UK get education. However, over the years, the focus of the charity changed and the multi-purpose building began to serve a dual purpose of a mosque as well as a community centre. The centre provides all sorts of social, cultural, learning activities for more than 15 nationalities, ranging from Algerians and Somalis, to Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. The organization is managed by an Executive Director along with six full time and three part time staff members. A good number of volunteers also participate actively. The programmes and activities in the centre involve high quality, affordable sports and leisure activities for all members of the local community from the ages of 5-90 years and above. The sports include Karate, Football, Table tennis. The centre also has a gym for fitness. The current study was undertaken to study a specific sport in the centre and to assess the operation of the sport centre. The study further looked into various programmes and activities run by the centre. Prior to data collection, first step was familiarization with the centre by making a visit to the centre. Observation technique and interview method was used. This was further facilitated by discussions with the staff in the centre. A checklist for the observation was prepared to be used as a reference to observe the various activities in the centre. Observation of all the

Ratio Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ratio Analysis - Research Paper Example It is interesting to see that the organization increased its profit margin from only 1.9% in 2012 to 6% in 2013 and 8.9% in 2014. As per the Morning Star (n.d.) financial reports, the company’s debt to equity ratio was nearly stable over the 2012-14 period posting 0.57%, 0.60%, and 0.59% respectively in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Comparing to the years just before the global financial crisis, Toyota is yet to achieve a stronger leverage and equity position. The company had a price-earnings (P/E) ratio of 40.46% in 2012, and this high P/E ratio indicates that investors were expecting higher earnings growth in the future because the economy had begun overcoming the recessionary pressures. Toyota’s P/E ratio declined to 15.30% in 2013 and to a further 10.30% in 2014 as the global economy regained its growth momentum, and hence investor did not expect a significant future growth in earnings. Similarly, the company’s inventory turnover ratios for the fiscal years 2012, 201 3, and 2014 were 11.20%, 11.17%, and 11.52% respectively. These ratios are low as compared to that in 2011(12.19%) and a low inventory turnover ratio indicates poor inventory management or low sales. The firm’s current ratio was almost stable over the last three years (1.05%, 1.07%, and 1.07%) (Morning Star). Referring to Allen (2011), since these ratios are greater than 1, it is clear that Toyota is â€Å"able to meet its current obligations, with a surplus of working capital† (p.202). While evaluating Toyota’s time interest earned over the 2012-14 period, it is identified that the organization is placed in a better position to meet its debt obligations effectively. Toyota recovered fast from the severe impacts of the global financial crisis 2008-09 and the organization gained notable increases in revenues in the last two fiscal years. To illustrate, Toyota’s revenue fell to  ¥18,583,653 million in 2012 due to global economic turmoil, and some major product recalls due to quality issues.

Budgeting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Budgeting - Essay Example man resource management which include employees’ development, compensation, rewards, and work benefits, job definition and design, and development of organizational culture. From a scientific perspective, performance management is a continuous process, which starts from the time an employee start working in an organization until the time when the employee exits the organization. Performance management is one of the things that H2O should consider placing great emphasis on as it prepares to expand its operations to the US. This is because performance management would help the company to align its HR initiatives with the US practices. That is, satisfying the needs of its human resources while ensuring that the abilities of the employees are directed towards achievement of the company’s objectives. Levensaler explains (20008) that â€Å"this is possible because performance management enables an organization to analyze how well its employees are performing on an individual basis† (p. 11). This entails analyzing how well an employee is performing in his/her current responsibilities based on the achieved results. Performance management also allows an organization to develop improvement plan. An improvement plan enables an employee to improve his/her performance, as well as prepare for future responsibilities. Furthermore, performance management would help H2O to promote cohesion between subordinates and their supervisors. Good subordinates-supervisors relationships have a positive impact not only on employees’ performance, but also in employees’ morale. In addition, performance management helps organizations to determine employees’ performance rewards which are rewarding employees depending on their abilities and achievements. Therefore, for H2O to be able to align its HR initiatives with the US practices, it should ensure that its performance management initiatives achieve the aforementioned objectives. Moreover, performance management is based on a

Culture Acceptance of Homosexuality in the African-American Culture Essay Example for Free

Culture Acceptance of Homosexuality in the African-American Culture Essay Different factions of sociologists depict men. Functionalists suggest that a division of labor originally arose between man and women because of the woman’s role in reproduction. By virtue of their larger size and greater muscular strength, men were assigned hunting and defense tasks. Conflict theorists reject functionalist arguments as simply offering a rationale for male dominance. They contend that a sexual division of labor is a social vehicle devised by men to assure themselves of privilege, prestige, and power in their relationships with women. By relegating women to the home, men have been able to deny women those resources they need to succeed in the larger world. Others say that the fundamental motive is men’s desire to have women readily available for sexual gratification. And still others emphasize that the appropriation of women is not for copulation but for procreation, especially to produce male heirs and daughters who can be used as exchanges in cementing political economic alliances with other families (Hinkle, 1994). Indeed, this gender stratification promotes the survival of the species and fulfilling their label to be strong, men even use violence to assert their so-called masculinity, which in any case is portrayed by the sociologists as the more superior specie. But when one takes a closer look into Kinsey’s reports, he or she won’t help but notice an honest existence of a â€Å"third kind† or the second-class citizens as the popular belief says in the persons of the homosexuals (Betancourt Lopez, 1993). For the best information on sexual characteristics, we are indebted to the Kinsey reports. Kinsey’s greatest contribution was the discovery that individual differences in sexual behavior are truly amazing. The reports were designed to give a scientific gloss to the normalization of promiscuity and deviancy. Kinsey’s initial report, released in 1948 stunned the nation by saying that American men were so sexually wild that â€Å"95% of them could be accused of some kind of sexual offense under 1940s laws† (Kinsey et al. , 1948). The report included reports of sexual activity by boys, even babies, and said, â€Å"37% of adult males had had at least one homosexual experience† (Kinsey et al. , 1948). Homosexuality is a preference for an individual of the same sex as a sexual partner. The Alfred C. Kinsey Institute for Sex Research estimates that five to six percent of the adult population is predominantly homosexual. However, since there are so many gradations in sexual behavior and preferences, many sociologists and psychologists take the view that there heterosexual or homosexual practices but not homosexual individuals (Halgin, 2006). In brief, homosexuality and heterosexuality are terms that describe behavior, not the identity of a person. But gender identity confusion can lead to fear of homosexuality. But behavior is not grossly disorganized, nor is functioning impaired if the delusions are not acted out. A gay man or a lesbian may or may not elect to engage in homosexual behavior (Bell and Weinberg, 1998). Father’s Presence A boy prefers the company of boys; his favorite toys are cars and trucks and wants to be a fireman or policeman. The parents treated both the children differently, even though they are technically the same. This shows how parents do seek to socialize children into their gender roles, even if they are doing it unconsciously. Parents provide distinctive environments for boys and girls. They give them different toys and clothes and decorate their rooms differently (Fagot, 1995). They respond negatively to more obvious forms of cross-sex behavior. A very young boy who tries on his mother high-heeled shoes or puts on a dress or lipstick may be regarded with amused tolerance, but such behavior in older children is regarded as outrageous rather than funny. Father reacts especially strongly to any such signs of feminine tendencies in their sons (Nicolosi, 1991). The men may interpret certain kinds of feminine interests or actions as signs of developing homosexual tendencies in their sons and react to their tendencies in the strongest terms (Nicolosi, 1991). Psychologists described the uniformity of reports from literature that gay males had poorer relations with their fathers and concludes, â€Å"Every study reported findings that their relationships with their fathers were unsatisfying with the father variously described as cold, rejecting, indifferent, hostile, or simply distant† (Moberly, 1983). Likewise it was concluded that the homosexuals hurtful relationship with the father results in defensive detachment, which is carried over to relationships with other men. Homosexuality becomes a form of a reparative drive (Nicolosi, 1991) in which the boy seeks a nurturing male relationship to undo the repression and regain the lost father. Significant environmental issues such as the impact of the father-son relationship are indicated as important in the development of adult male homosexual orientation. As scholars suggested, the father-child relationship is one of many crucial elements in the development of any child. Deficits in this area may result in adverse effects to the child’s (and later adult child’s) identification with self as an adult, and this identification is generally considered to be crucial in determining the way in which children and adults form relationships with others (Blankenhorn, 1995). Conversely, boys seemed to conform to the sex-role standards of their culture when their relationships with their fathers were warm, regardless of how masculine the fathers were, even though warmth and intimacy have traditionally been seen as feminine characteristics (Blankenhorn, 1995). Son’s pubertal development was a significant predictor of both information sharing and, to a lesser extent, values sharing, with fathers more likely to talk with sons who had attained more physical development. The father’s recognition of his son’s physical development appears to be an important factor in talking about sexuality. When fathers see their sons maturing physically, they may become aware of the increased possibility of sexual initiation, and this possibility spurs them to discussion of sexual topics (Moberly, 1983). In the movie Billy Elliot, the simple rights of gay people are also advanced. In terms of personality traits, boys are generally aggressive, independent, dominant, competitive, logical, direct, adventurous, self-confident, and ambitious. Boys are described as closemouthed, rough, and sloppy in their habits. Boys do not usually enjoy art and literature, and cannot easily express and find it easy to express their feelings. This is what it means to be masculine in the eyes of biased society. But Billy, more than the fondness for boxing his father wants for him, his natural flair falls for dancing, an art predominantly associated with girls. Most families, like that of Billy, urge boys to be little men even before they have any idea what it means to be a man. As a matter of fact, there is even more pressure on boys to be masculine than on girls to be feminine. They are constantly warned not to act like girls, not cry, not to be sissies. Most people have always considered it worse for a boy to be a sissy than for a girl to be a tomboy. Boys may have to prove themselves by being athletic or by being tough, men by making a lot of money or by being a man’s man in whatever way this is defined by their associates. But the burden of proof is always present. And the burden is heavier than most people think. When cooing to a baby in a crib, they use one tone of voice toward a girl, a different one toward a boy. Mothers look at baby girl more often and talk to her more frequently. By and large, children have been brought up to believe that women should be pretty and preferably slim, while men should be tall and strong (Sheinberg, 2004). This familial stereotyping is even carried on to the bigger world of the boys known as school. In the world that children enter at 6 there is a new adult, the teacher, whose discipline boys must conform to and whose acceptance they must court. Ordinarily the teacher is a woman, like the mother, and children’s behavior toward their mother can be generalized toward her. But boys who are identifying with their father and rebelling against their mother often have trouble in the early grades. They may be less fearful of rejection by the teacher and therefore more reluctant to accept her influence (Sheinberg, 2004). It was also found that father’s age at first intercourse would predict father-son sex-based communication. The rationale was that fathers who were sexually active at an earlier age would remember their experiences and would see their sons as needing information (Moberly, 1983). On the other hand, fathers who had sexual intercourse at a later age may believe it is best to wait, and they may talk with sons to instill this same value, while fathers who had sex at an early age might believe it best to inform their sons about sex in order to prepare them for it (Moberly, 1983). Without a doubt, among African Americans, a father is the most important thing a boy can have in his life. They relate to one another on a level that cannot be achieved through a mother-son relationship. It is important to have communication in the relationship because talking brings the two closer. A father, though, needs to know when to play an active role in his son’s life, and when to be more of an observer. If he mixes the two up, serious repercussions may occur. A father can be the best thing in his son’s life, but he needs to care for the right (Sheinberg, 2004). Masculinity Another expert to have studied sexuality is Margaret Mead. Margaret Mead (1949) edified a good number of Americans about the significance of examining sensitively and plainly at other cultures to better comprehend the intricacies of humanness. She contends that it seems quite probable that nature creates some inborn tendencies. But there is ample proof that heredity alone does not necessarily push men toward being independent and aggressive, nor women toward being passive and submissive (Mead, 1949). In one tribe that Mead studied, both men and women were what we would call highly feminine. Both sexes shunned aggression. Both took care of and nurtured the children. In modern times, girls and women are considered feminine unless they display overwhelming evidence to the contrary, but boys and men have to win the right to be called masculine. They have to prove their masculinity; they have to face and succeed in all kinds of financial, intellectual, sexual, and physical tests. The testing process starts early and continues throughout life (Mead, 1949). In the other tribe, the members of one sex spent all their time applying cosmetics, gossiping, putting, engaging in emotional outbursts, and taking care of the children. Members of the other sex had clean-shaven heads, scorned any makeup or ornamentation, were active and domineering, and provided most of the tribe’s food and other necessities. But the last sentence describes how the women behaved. The preceding sentence, about a fondness for cosmetics and emotional outbursts, describes the men (Mead, 1949). The motives for affiliation and dependency are universal. So are the emotions that accompany them. Society’s demand to suppress them is in effect a demand to transcend humanity. And efforts to do so can never completely succeed. Since it is impossible to program out all emotions, even the most extreme he-man can only approximate the masculine ideal. Thus every man, aware of the stirrings of the softer and weaker emotion he tries so dutifully to hide, is bound to worry about his own masculinity. Otherwise, he is prejudged as gay, a sissy, or a homosexual (Duberman, et al. , 1989). The Religion’s Take The church usually operates with a bureaucratic structure and claims to include most of the members of a society. The difficulties the society has experienced in recent years are reflective of that of the ancient times and have contributed to the resurgence of conservative Christianity (Fisher, et al. , 1994). We have seen in Christie Davies’ Sexual Taboos and Social Boundaries that religion may be a conservative force, impeding modernization and reaffirming traditional authority (Davies, 1982). The bold article tackles Christianity’s bias against such so-called sexual taboos as homosexuality, bestiality, and transvestism in North America and Europe. That is, Christianity is associable with such concepts as hypocrisy, racism, narrow-mindedness and conservativism (Fisher, et al. , 1994). Davies is referring to the passages in the Bible, which state that homosexuality is wrong. These occur most prominently in Deuteronomy. Is it not entirely possible for instance to believe that the Bible is entirely true except those passages which condemn homosexuality which were inserted later by corrupt scribes (Fisher, et al. , 1994). Second, because homosexuals are considered deviants, the religious, military, and political principals find a way to give them a reprehensible image by consolidating their boundaries. The symbolic interactionist perspective has been a useful tool for examining the complexities of this heterosexual-homosexual relationship. Thus, should the roles of certain members of the society depart from the normal conventions bordering on the taboo, as homosexuals have been automatically deemed doing, invariably there are spiteful consequences for their behavior and actions (Fisher, et al. , 1994). And third, Davies argues that the society’s mainstream institutions dictate and shape the homosexuals’ experiences. In large part, they unconsciously build up their sense of reality by the way the society orders its social agendas and structures social alternatives. To the extent that they are locked within the social environment provided by the heterosexual culture, the homosexual segment inhabits a somewhat restricted world outside and is thus considered an external threat to any open social frontier (Fisher, et al. , 1994). Homosexual acts were punishable by death among the ancient Hebrews, but accepted and even admired by the Greeks. Later, the early Christians held that abstinence was the noblest form of sexual behavior, but at about the same time, the Romans were indulging in their famous orgies in the Colosseum (Fisher, et al. , 1994). In England, at the time of Queen Elizabeth, sex was treated with a frankness and frequently with a ribaldry that has no parallel in Western history. A little later, under Queen Victoria, it was regarded with such great circumspection that among some groups of these very same Englishmen, one would hardly have known that coitus ever took place and any falls from propriety were the cause of great scandal and disgrace (Lenski and Lenski, 1999). Moreover, Davies also touches on dehumanization or slavery by way of Christian association. In the Western society, significant segments of the population reject coexistence with minorities in equal terms. Women and homosexuals are subsumed in the list of minorities in the large group of African Americans (Davies, 1982). The current debate suggests that Christianity or any religion for that matter, remains a powerful moving force in Western life. People are not close to resolving how to relate people’s religious lives to their religious lives. Each generation must tackle its own church-state question as Christie Davies does with homosexuality in her article (Davies, 1982). Furthermore, broadly considered, long-term relationship, heterosexual or homosexual, should be considered as families. The social definition of the family as a group of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption has come to its revolutionary point of reshaping into such as a group of people who love and care or each other regardless of spiritual background or sexual preference (Fisher, et al. , 1994). Some gays and lesbians are married, have children, and lead lives that in most respects are indistinguishable from those of the larger population. However, homosexual adults who have come to terms with their homosexuality, who do not regret their sexual orientation, and who can function effectively sexually and socially, are no more distressed psychologically than are heterosexual men and women (Klonoff Landrine, 2000). Homophobia Few people in the history of Western society have been more scorned, feared, and stigmatized than homosexuals. To put in a more appropriate context, these people who fear, hate, and persecute the homosexuals are homophobic (Kagay, 1999). Gays and lesbians often hold values and beliefs that are different from those of the dominant culture. Because of the controversial nature of being gay or lesbian, and the heavy social proscriptions against it, many individuals are reluctant to â€Å"come out of the closet† or to reveal their membership in this co-culture. As more gays and lesbians identify themselves publicly, they find that their attitudes and communication patterns often clash with people who do not understand the gay and lesbian co-cultures (Vander Zanden, 1995). When the collision involves the arbitrary denial of privilege, prestige, and power to members of the homosexual co-culture whose qualifications are equal to those of members of the dominant group as the heterosexuals, then generally, sociologists can easily label this as discrimination. And when the attitudes of aversion and hostility toward the homosexual co-culture abound because they simply belong to it and hence are presumed to have the objectionable qualities ascribed to it, then the label becomes prejudice (Vander Zanden, 1993). Whereas prejudice is an attitude or a state of mind, discrimination is action. Therefore, phobia as an irrational part of a person’s mentality makes homophobia basically a prejudice that may lead to discrimination but cannot grow to be a form of racism (Klonoff Landrine, 2000). Racism or racialism is a belief in the superiority of some races over others. It also involves prejudice against or hatred of other races. Discriminating behavior is also defining element in racism. Be that as it may, racism is based on none other than racial membership and in this paper’s case, on sexual preference or orientation too. Stereotypically, it is based on the color of the skin, the texture of the hair, the facial features, the stature, and the shape of the heads. Biologists typically view races as populations that differ in the incidence of various hereditary traits. More narrowly, they conceive of a race or subspecies as an inbreeding, geographically isolated population that differs in hereditary traits from other members of the species (Bullough Bullough 1996). Hereditary is the key term. Although there are some floating nature-nurture debate on the tendency to be homosexual, being gay or lesbian is more broadly accepted as a behavior than a heritable peculiarity (Klonoff Landrine, 2000). Homosexuality knows no color or physical feature. Although gays whiten the color of their skin, stretch their hair length, effeminize their facial features, glamorize their stature, or cosmetically alter the shape of their heads, they cannot be classified a race but a co-culture instead (Bell and Weinberg, 1998). Although racial stratification is similar to other systems of stratification in which African Americans are a part of, including gender stratification, in its essential features, there tends to be one major difference. Racial and ethnic groups often have the potential for carving their own independent nation from the existing state (Klonoff Landrine, 2000). Political separatism may offer racial groups a solution that is not available to gender groups. Gender groups typically lack the potential for becoming self-sufficient political states because they do not function as self-sufficient social or economic groups (Vander Zanden, 1995). Homosexuals are a varied group. They are found in all occupational fields, political persuasions, religious faiths, and racial and ethnic groups. Some are married, have children, and lead lives that in most respects are indistinguishable from those of the larger population. Others enter homosexual unions that are relatively durable (Kagay, 1999). In fact, if homosexuality could be considered a part of the gender stratification, then homophobia could even be more appropriately subsumed by the realms of sexism than racism. But the homosexual population cannot be undervalued that a gay joke can testify to their numbers: â€Å"I wonder why gay people multiply. They don’t have any vagina but they seem born twice a straight baby girl’s chance. † In many modern nations, the members of some groups participate in the main culture of the society while simultaneously sharing with one another a number of unique values, norms, traditions, and lifestyles. These cultural patterns are termed a co-culture (Vander Zanden, 1993). African American co-cultures that have become prominent in the United States partly because of their numbers and partly because of their lack of subscription to many of the mainstream beliefs, attitudes, and values. Although there are many co-cultures in the United States, the homosexual culture has become increasingly prominent because of their demands for equality.