Accessing the Online Student Edition of the Glencoe IPC Textbook Free Essays

Accessing the Online Student Edition of the Glencoe IPC Textbook Go to www. glencoe. com Select Texas from the pull-down â€Å"state† box Click student/parent Select â€Å"science† from the pull-down menu Click enter Select Texas Science Select the first book: Introduction to Texas Integrated Physics and Chemistry The following URL should appear in the address bar http://www. We will write a custom essay sample on Accessing the Online Student Edition of the Glencoe IPC Textbook or any similar topic only for you Order Now glencoe. com/sites/texas/student/science/index. html Put your cursor over the â€Å"Online Student Edition† and you will get a roll-over menu: Sample Full Version Select â€Å"Full Version† and type in the following: Select â€Å"Contents in Brief† Select â€Å"Table of Contents† At this point you will be able to navigate throughout the book. The other features can be accessed in a similar manner. Accessing the Online Student Edition of the Glencoe IPC Textbook Go to www. glencoe. com Select Texas from the pull-down â€Å"state† box Click student/parent Select â€Å"science† from the pull-down menu Click enter Select Texas Science Select the first book: Introduction to Texas Integrated Physics and Chemistry The following URL should appear in the address bar http://www. glencoe. com/sites/texas/student/science/index. html Put your cursor over the â€Å"Online Student Edition† and you will get a roll-over menu: Sample Full Version Select â€Å"Full Version† and type in the following: TXIPC 9UKASp73hu Select â€Å"Contents in Brief† Select â€Å"Table of Contents† At this point you will be able to navigate throughout the book. The other features can be accessed in a similar manner. How to cite Accessing the Online Student Edition of the Glencoe IPC Textbook, Essays

Wesfarmers Human Resource Planning

Question: Discuss about the Wesfarmersfor Human Resource Planning. Answer: Introduction All types of functionalities and operational activities within a business organization are based on a number of factors such as capital, raw material, labor etc. And from this human resource has to be considered as the backbone of the business corporation. So the management and proper planning of workforce is of very much significance (Blakely and Leigh, 2013). The below presented report has been analyzed Wesfarmers which is a multinational brand name in the sector of retail, chemicals, fertilizers, coal mining and industrial and safety products. The following report has been focused on the planning and managing the workforce of the mentioned business organization. Factors Affecting the Supply of Labor in the Organization Supply is the backbone of any of the operational activity in a corporation and labor is the one of the most significant factor which have many impacts on the functionalities in a firm. So the supply of same should be in an appropriate manner and flow. The below mentioned are some of the factors which can affect the supply of labor in Wesfarmers: Globalization: Due to globalization most of the companies have invested in diverse regions and countries and which impacts the demand and supply of labor (Barton and Court, 2012). The company invests in the developed nations as there is large availability of labor in these nations. Economy: There are chances of loss of jobs during hard economic times which mean less disposable income to the workforce. Most of the firms experience less production and which results in reduction in the supply of the labor. As per the current analysis Wesfarmers is a well established company and so the firm is experiencing a situation of oversupply of labor (Vandenbroek. 2016) As Wesfarmers is a retail industry there is diversity in the categories of labor force in the organization. For instance, the retail stores will have sales executives, store in charges, customer representatives etc. The mining sections will have a team of technical staff and expert executives who are skilled and have knowledge of the products. EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY STASTICS Change in employed 15-Feb 15-May 15-Aug 15-Nov 16-Feb Feb-15 to Feb-16 Mining 227.1 225 226 227.8 230.1 1.3 Retail Trade 1,223.40 1,227.40 1,246.20 1,270.20 1,291.70 5.6 Public Administration and Safety 735.6 735.7 736.4 738.8 741.9 0.9 (Source: Parliament of Australia, 2016, Employment by industry statistics: a quick guide.) Factors Effecting Demand of Labor in the Organization The below mentioned are the current factors which are having an impact on the demand of labor in Wesfarmers: The price of the products: An increase in the price of the products will tend the organizations to hire more labor The price of the output directly have an effect on the labor as it has an influence on the value of the marginal product of the labor. An increase in the price of the product will give a hike to the demand of the labor and which will make the labor curve shift upward. Technology: Technologies make a decrease in the demand of the labor as the machines are capable of performing working functions of a couple of workforce at a time (Armstrong and Taylor, 2014). So for Wesfarmers installation of an automated machine will bring a reduction in the count of the workforce in the organization. Government Initiatives which Affect Demand and Labor Supply There are a number of initiatives taken by the governing bodies which causes many impacts on the demand and supply of labor in Wesfarmers and the industry and these initiatives have proven beneficial for the companies as these will allow the industry to hire potential workforce. Direct taxation reforms: The Australian governing bodies have focused in the reduction of the income tax and tax allowances for the group of lower paid employees (De Anca and Vega, 2016). And which will bring an increase in the post tax rewards and will acts as a plus point for the lower paid category. Investments in training and education for labor: To cope-up with the changing market trends the governing bodies has made investments of significant amounts for boosting up the workforce and increase the switching of occupations of the labor force For instance the private investors from USA and New Zealand will be investing an approx. amount of $252 million in the business sensitive sectors (100positivepolicies.org. 2017). Staff Diversity meets Current Organizational Requirements The policy of staff diversity is applicable and possible in large organizations such as Wesfarmers. The business corporation encourages this policy so as to make recruitment of diverse employees from different culture and regions so that they can work together, share their views, thoughts and aid the business corporation in the attainment of the organizational goals. As per the recent studies it has been observed that the people from different backgrounds have diverse dreams, thoughts and beliefs which will aid the organization in developing a strong organizational culture (Barton and Court, 2012). Sometimes diversity in workforce can also lead to some issues and problems for the management, as there will be poor communication between the employees from different regions. And this will impact the organizational culture adversely. However, businesses that embrace staff diversity have a positive and ethical culture motivating staff to do well and take right decisions often. As the abov e stated organization operates business activities in varied sectors, so there is diversity on a large scale in the variables such as ethnicity, skills age an abilities which is a plus point for the entity. These diverse variables has benefited the company on various grounds such as due to ethnic diversity in the workforce the issues of the consumers who are from different regions and speak different languages has solved and the firm has also developed more cultural awareness. The Current Organizational Strategies and Workforce Plans Wesfarmers is a well established brand name and also one of the best business corporation which is in recruiting the workforce across the globe. The company not only is into providing the jobs to the employees but also help in building an employees career. Workforce planning is a crucial and significant task for every business entity and the same is with Wesfarmers as well. For instance, as the warriors get ready before the wars the workforce planning prepares the employees for the competitive wars, the business organizations also have a need to prepare their employees to meet the set market standards and fulfill and satisfy the requirements of the ultimate customers. At Wesfarmers, current organizational strategy is effectively aligned with workforce plans (Bowen and Sosa, 2014). The management team of the business organization motivates the employees by making use of different activities such as rewards and incentive schemes, setting targets and giving them feedback so that they ca n effectively help the company to meet their targets Staff Turnover and Strategies for Addressing the Issues Wesfarmers is one of the multinational brand names of the industry which not only provides exceptional customer service but also provides huge employment benefits. The company provides employment to approximately one in 60 working Australians and one of 17 working Australians under 20 years of age (Sustainability.Wesfarmers. 2016). Also the company provides $8.4 billion dollars i.e. they provide salary to about 61 percent of Australian population. Some of the strategies employed by Wesfarmers to ensure low staff turnover include employees at the business organization go under extensive training about the procedures and the different processes before they begin working (Heizer and Barry, 2013). With this the employees will be well aware about the products and the processes and they will not face any of the issues regarding the same, and also they will be able to answer any of the queries of the customers. According to a recently carried out research by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) f ound Australia ranked last in a list of 11 developed countries in case of staff leaving within 1 year at 23%. An estimate has been made that 1 in 4 new employees leaves their job before their first 12 months is up (theretailsolution. 2016). The expenses for this turnover in Australia have been estimated at $3.8 billion in lost productivity and $385 million in avoidable recruitment costs. Strategies for Finding Skilled Labors from External Sources The below mentioned are the strategies which can be implemented by Wesfarmers in the organizational structure so as to find skilled and potential labor: Even after being a multinational brand Wesfarmers also faces the issue of finding potential and skillful labor. Wesfarmers conducts frequent recruitment drives where the company screens its candidates through different stages. So in such cases the company organize extensive training sessions to make the existing employees more capable and well-versed with all the concept of production and retailing (Clampitt, 2012). Wesfarmers encourages staff diversity and ensures to hire employees from different culture to get the best talent into the company. Moreover the company can also carry out some types of exams so as to sort and choose the best potential employees for the organization. Contingency Options The concept is concerned with an un-expected event or situation which will have many impacts on the financial health, professional image and market share and consumer base of the business corporation (Wisegeek. 2017). Here the contingency plan will work as the back-up plan or plan b which will help the organization in facing the extreme situations such as the loss of a large number of retiring personnel in a short period of time, health epidemic, remote location where replacement workers are hard to attract, etc. The organization needs to develop some contingency options to tackle with the above mentioned situations (Bamberger, Biron and Meshoulam, 2014). The following are some of the contingency options which can be used by the Wesfarmers: In case loss to the company by retiring of large number of personnel the corporation can provide the training sessions to the employees on the managerial skills so that they will be able to get shifted on the retired employees. For the situation of health epidemic the company should always be ready with the sense of medical awareness and maintenance of proper hygiene in the workplace. The company need to organize medical campaigns at regular period of time an also provide medical incentives and medical facilities within the office premises. Also the firm can implement health and safety policies and laws within the organization so as to maintain the health and safety standards. Organizational Strategies and Changes Required for the modification of the Employees Retaining the employees has become a very crucial task for each and every organization and same if for Wesfarmers. In order to retain workforce, it is very much significant for the business entity to offer them enhanced career development opportunities. By organizing and providing them with the frequent training and education programs the company will be making the employees aware about the products and the processes, the changing market trends, weaknesses and strengths effectively of the corporation (Campbell and Reyes-Picknell, 2015). It will eventually help them get enhanced skills and competencies. The company has a need to divert their focus on the staff diversity. The company also needs to develop some sought of staffing changes such as the firm needs to modify the recruitment and selection process, they should make use of contemporary methods while selecting an recruiting the individuals. Organizations Workforce needs for One to Two years in the Future As the modern era has speeding up towards modernization and technological up-gradations, in one or two years, the employees of Wesfarmers will have a need to be updated and upgraded with the with latest marketing trends, modern mechanisms, tools and contemporary methods of working of the sector. Secondly, there will be a need of better reward systems so as to encourage and motivate and also to retain the employees for a longer period and this will also encourage workforce to openly share their ideas and innovation. The company also has a need to build strong and better ethics and working culture for their future development of the business organization. As these above needs of the workforce will be fulfilled they will be motivated which will enable them to work with a greater level of enthusiasm and dedication will also be more. Which in turn will ten them to provide a better quality and also there will be an enhancement in the productivity level. As a result the corporation will be able to meet the organizational goals. Organizations Current Workforce Capacity to meet Predicted Demands Wesfarmers as being a global brand has business in a number of nations and regions and it is growing with a great speed. And as the expansions are increasing the company has a need of huge workforce to handle the business in different locations. The business organization claims to provide its employees not just a job but a rising chance bring a boost to his/her career. The company provides a high range of job satisfaction for employees since it also provides various health benefits and other incentives. Since the company is in an expansion stage it requires a huge workforce to meet predicted demands for goods and services. The organization is in a need of skilled and potential staff individuals, for instance store in charge, sales executives and customer representatives for the outlets, technical experts and demonstrators etc. Strategies to Address Gaps or Over-Supply of Future Required Staff Although Wesfarmers is a multination retail and manufacturing brand and has a demand of huge workforce, but oversupply of labor can create some issues and problems for the business organization in the future.. It is the duty of the HR department to hire a well skilled and potential workforce on the demand of the company. The HR department of the organization will have to monitor and encourage staff diversity; need to carry out extensive screening tests, training assessments and work assessments frequently so as to sort out the labor that is not up-to the mark. Due to modernization the company has made changes and also brought development in the operating activities. Some updated systems and machines have been installed in the organization and which has made the company to make reduction in the count of the staff. Options for Communicating Strategies to Staff members Affected by Change At any business organization the communication strategies are considered as to be the primary function offering a structure and effective communication plan so as to develop and maintain strong bonds and positive relationships with clients, stakeholders and employees. The marketing and the public relations department are involved and are responsible for building the communication strategies and the approach followed is highly systematic. The business organization have a belief that communication is not just a management function but a way to engage those who need to change their ways of interacting with each other either internally or externally. Wesfarmers can make use of the visual strategies which consists of the webpages and pictorial demonstrations; this will aid the organization in developing awareness and making understand the employees about the organizational structure of the company. And also the written strategies can be made in use such as e-mails; fax and chats which are less time consuming and less expensive. Recommendations to management The below mentioned are the recommendations to the management of Wesfarmers: From the above mentioned points it has been observed that there is a huge need of staff, the company should focus on hiring staff from diverse cultures. The company should organize recruitment campaigns in different localities and regions so as to hire diverse staff. Wesfarmers should involve the employees in extensive training sessions and helping them develop their personalities as per market demand. So that they will be well-versed with different procedures and processes. Wesfarmers must formulate effective communication strategies in order to communicate important information about the company in a diverse network of employees well. Conclusion From the above carried out analysis it has been concluded that the planning and managing the workforce is a very crucial and significant task. Wesfarmers is a multinational and retail brand and need to carry out number of activities for hiring an appropriate supply of workforce within the business organization. References Blakely, E.J. and Leigh, N.G., 2013.Planning local economic development. Sage. Barton, D. and Court, D., 2012. Making advanced analytics work for you.Harvard business review,90(10), pp.78-83. Armstrong, M. and Taylor, S., 2014.Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice. Kogan Page Publishers. De Anca, C. and Vega, A.V., 2016.Managing diversity in the global organization: Creating new Business values. Springer. Barton, D. and Court, D., 2012. Making advanced analytics work for you.Harvard business review,90(10), pp.78-83. Bowen, W.G. and Sosa, J.A., 2014.Prospects for faculty in the arts and sciences: A study of factors affecting demand and supply, 1987 to 2012. Princeton University Press. Heizer, R. and Barry, R., 2013.Operation Management, Sustainability and Supply Chain management(Vol. 11). Pearson, UK. Clampitt, P.G., 2012.Communicating for Managerial Effectiveness: Problems| Strategies| Solutions. Sage Publications. Dodge, A. ed., 2015.Public relations: Strategies and tactics. New York, NY: Pearson. Bamberger, P.A., Biron, M. and Meshoulam, I., 2014.Human resource strategy: Formulation, implementation, and impact. Routledge. Campbell, J.D. and Reyes-Picknell, J.V., 2015.Uptime: Strategies for excellence in maintenance management. CRC Press. Sustainability.Wesfarmers, 2016, Sustainability at Wesfarmers, Assessed on 12th March 2017, https://sustainability.wesfarmers.com.au/. Vandenbroek, P, 2016, Employment by industry statistics: a guide, Assessed on 4th April 2017, https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1516/Quick_Guides/EmployIndustry. 100positivepolicies.org, 2017, Positive Policy, Generating through Trade and Investment, Assessed on 4th April 2017, https://www.100positivepolicies.org.au/generating_jobs_through_trade_and_investment. Theretailsolution, 2016, Staff turnover in the first 12 months in Australia is costing $3.8, Assessed on 4th April 2017, https://theretailsolution.com.au/staff-turnover-in-the-first-12-months-in-australia-is-costing-3-8-billion/. Wisegeek, 2017, What is a contingency plan? Assessed on 4th April 2017, https://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-contingency-plan.htm.

A Brief History of Chinese Opera

A Brief History of Chinese Opera Since the time of the Tang Dynastys Emperor Xuanzong from 712 to 755- who created the first national opera troupe called the Pear Garden- Chinese opera has been one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the country, but it actually started nearly a millennium before in the Yellow River Valley during the Qin Dynasty.   Now, more than a millennium after Xuanzongs death, it is enjoyed by political leaders and commoners alike in many fascinating and innovative ways, and Chinese opera performers are still referred to as Disciples of the Pear Garden, continuing to perform an astonishing 368 different forms of Chinese opera. Early Development Many of the features that characterize modern Chinese opera developed in northern China, particularly in the Shanxi and Gansu Provinces, including the use of certain set characters like Sheng (the man), Dan (the woman), Hua (the painted face) and Chou (the clown). In Yuan Dynasty times- from 1279 to 1368- opera performers began to use the vernacular language of the common people rather than Classical Chinese. During the Ming Dynasty- from 1368 to 1644- and the Qing Dynasty- from 1644 to 1911- the northern traditional singing and drama style from Shanxi was combined with melodies from a southern form of Chinese opera called Kunqu. This form was created in the Wu region, along the Yangtze River. Kunqu Opera revolves around the Kunshan melody, created in the coastal city of Kunshan. Many of the most famous operas that are still performed today are from the Kunqu repertoire, including The Peony Pavilion, The Peach Blossom Fan, and adaptations of the older Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Journey to the West. However, the stories have been rendered into various local dialects, including Mandarin for audiences in Beijing and other northern cities. The acting and singing techniques, as well as costumes and makeup conventions, also owe much to the northern Qinqiang or Shanxi tradition. Hundred Flowers Campaign This rich operatic heritage was almost lost during Chinas dark days in the mid-twentieth century. The Communist regime of the Peoples Republic of China- from 1949 to present- initially encouraged the production and performance of operas old and new. During the Hundred Flowers Campaign in 1956 and 57- in which the authorities under Mao encouraged intellectualism, the arts and even criticism of the government- Chinese opera blossomed anew. However, the Hundred Flowers Campaign may have been a trap. Beginning in July of 1957, the intellectuals and artists who had put themselves forward during Hundred Flowers period were purged. By December of that same year, a stunning 300,000 people had been  labeled  rightists and were subjected to punishments from informal criticism to internment in labor camps or even execution. This was a preview of the horrors of the Cultural Revolution of 1966 through 1976, which would imperil the very existence of Chinese opera and other traditional arts. Cultural Revolution The Cultural Revolution was the regimes attempt to destroy old ways of thinking by outlawing such traditions as fortune telling, paper-making, traditional Chinese dress and the study of classic literature and arts. An attack on one Beijing opera piece and its composer signaled the start of the Cultural Revolution. In 1960, Maos government had commissioned Professor Wu Han to write an opera about Hai Rui, a minister of the Ming Dynasty who was fired for criticizing the Emperor to his face. Audiences saw the play as a critique of the Emperor- and thus Mao- rather than of Hai Rui representing disgraced Minister of Defense Peng Dehuai. In reaction, Mao performed an about-face in 1965, publishing harsh criticism of the opera and of composer Wu Han, who was eventually fired. This was the opening salvo of the Cultural Revolution. For the next decade, opera troupes were disbanded, other composers and scriptwriters were purged and performances were banned. Until the fall of the Gang of Four in 1976, only eight model operas were allowed. These model operas were personally vetted by Madame Jiang Qing and were entirely politically innocuous. In essence, Chinese opera was dead. Modern Chinese Opera After 1976, Beijing opera and the other forms were revived, and once more placed within the national repertoire. Older performers who had survived the purges were allowed to pass on their knowledge to new students again. Traditional operas have been freely performed since 1976, though some newer works have been censored and new composers criticized as the political winds have shifted over the intervening decades. Chinese opera makeup is particularly fascinating and rich in meaning. A character with mostly red makeup or a red mask is brave and loyal. Black symbolizes boldness and impartiality. Yellow denotes ambition, while pink stands for sophistication and cool-headedness. Characters with primarily blue faces are fierce and far-seeing, while green faces show wild and impulsive behaviors. Those with white faces are treacherous and cunning- the villains of the show. Finally, an actor with only a small section of makeup in the center of the face, connecting the eyes and nose, is a clown. This is called xiaohualian, or the little  painted  face. Today, more than thirty forms of Chinese opera continue to be performed regularly throughout the country. Some of the most prominent of which are the Peking opera of Beijing, Huju opera of Shanghai, the Qinqiang of Shanxi, and Cantonese opera.   Beijing (Peking) Opera The dramatic art form known as Beijing opera- or Peking opera- has been a staple of Chinese entertainment for more than two centuries. It was founded in  1790 when the Four Great Anhui Troupes went to Beijing to perform for the Imperial Court. Some 40 years later, well-known opera troupes from Hubei joined the Anhui performers, melding their regional styles. Both the Hubei and Anhui opera troupes used two primary melodies adapted from the Shanxi musical tradition: Xipi and Erhuang. From this amalgam of local styles, the new Peking or Beijing opera developed. Today, Beijing Opera is considered  Chinas  national art form. Beijing Opera is famous for convoluted plots, vivid makeup, beautiful costumes and sets and the unique vocal style used by performers. Many of the 1,000 plots- perhaps not surprisingly- revolve around political and military strife, rather than romance. The basic stories are often hundreds or even thousands of years old involving historic and even supernatural beings.   Many fans of Beijing Opera are worried about the fate of this art form. The traditional plays make reference to many facts of pre-Cultural Revolution  life and history that are unfamiliar to young people. Furthermore, many of the stylized movements have particular meanings that can be lost on uninitiated audiences. Most troubling of all, operas must now compete with films, TV shows, computer games, and the internet for attention. The Chinese government is using grants and contests to encourage young artists to participate in Beijing Opera. Shanghai (Huju) Opera Shanghai opera (Huju) originated at about the same time as Beijing opera, around 200 years ago. However, the Shanghai version of opera is based on local folk-songs of the Huangpu River region rather than deriving from Anhui and Shanxi.  Huju  is performed in the Shanghainese dialect of Wu Chinese, which is not mutually intelligible with  Mandarin. In other words, a person from Beijing would not understand the lyrics of a  Huju  piece. Due to the relatively recent nature of the stories and songs that make up  Huju, the costumes and makeup are comparatively simple and modern. Shanghai opera performers wear costumes that resemble the street clothing of ordinary people from the pre-communist era. Their makeup is not much more elaborate than that worn by western stage actors, in stark contrast to the heavy and significant grease-paint used in the other Chinese Opera forms. Huju  had its heyday in the 1920s and 1930s. Many of the stories and songs of the Shanghai region show a definite western influence. This is not surprising, given that the major European powers maintained trading concessions and consular offices in the thriving port city, prior to World War II. Like many of the other regional opera styles,  Huju  is in danger of disappearing forever. Few young actors take up the art form since there is much greater fame and fortune to be had in movies, TV, or even Beijing Opera. Unlike Beijing Opera, which is now considered a national art form, Shanghai Opera is performed in a local dialect and thus does not translate well to other provinces. Nevertheless, the city of Shanghai has millions of residents, with tens of millions more in the near vicinity. If a concerted effort is made to introduce younger audiences to this interesting art form,  Huju  may survive to delight theater-goers for centuries to come. Shanxi Opera (Qinqiang) Most forms of Chinese opera owe their singing and acting styles, some of their melodies, and their plot-lines to the musically fertile Shanxi province, with its thousand-year-old Qinqiang  or  Luantan  folk melodies. This ancient form of art first appeared in the  Yellow River  Valley during the  Qin Dynasty  from B.C. 221 to 206 and was popularized at the Imperial Court at modern-day  Xian during the  Tang Era, which spanned from 618 to 907 A.D. The repertoire and symbolic movements continued to develop in Shanxi Province throughout the  Yuan Era  (1271-1368) and the Ming Era (1368-1644). During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Shanxi Opera was introduced to the court at Beijing. The Imperial audiences so enjoyed Shanxi singing that the form was incorporated into Beijing Opera, which is now a national artistic style. At one time, the repertoire of Qinqiang included over 10,000 operas; today, only about 4,700 of them are remembered. The  arias  in Qinqiang Opera are divided into two types:  huan  yin, or joyous tune, and  ku  yin, or sorrowful tune. Plots in Shanxi Opera often deal with fighting oppression, wars against the northern barbarians, and issues of loyalty. Some Shanxi Opera productions include special effects such as fire-breathing or acrobatic twirling, in addition to the standard operatic acting and singing. Cantonese Opera Cantonese Opera, based in southern China and overseas ethnic Chinese communities, is a very formalized operatic form that emphasizes gymnastic and martial arts skills. This form of Chinese Opera predominates in Guangdong,  Hong Kong, Macau,  Singapore,  Malaysia, and in Chinese-influenced areas in western countries. Cantonese Opera was first performed during the reign of the Ming Dynasty Jiajing Emperor from 152 to 1567. Originally based on the older forms of Chinese Opera, Cantonese Opera began to add local folk melodies, Cantonese instrumentation, and eventually even Western popular tunes. In addition to traditional Chinese instruments such as the  pipa,  erhu, and percussion, modern Cantonese Opera productions may include such Western instruments as the violin, cello, or even saxophone. Two different types of plays make up the Cantonese Opera repertoire- Mo, meaning martial arts, and  Mun, or intellectual- wherein the melodies are entirely secondary to the lyrics.  Mo performances are fast-paced, involving stories of warfare,  bravery  and betrayal. The actors often carry weapons as props, and the elaborate costumes may be as heavy as actual armor. Mun, on the other hand, tends to be a slower, more polite art form. The actors use their vocal tones, facial expressions, and long flowing water sleeves to express complex emotions. Most of the Mun stories are romances, morality tales, ghost stories, or famous Chinese classic tales or myths. One notable feature of Cantonese Opera is the makeup. It is among the most elaborate makeup systems in all of Chinese Opera, with different shades of color and shapes, particularly on the forehead, indicating the mental state, trustworthiness, and physical health of the characters. For example, sickly characters have a thin red line drawn between the eyebrows, while comic or clownish characters have a large white spot  on  the bridge of the nose. Some Cantonese Operas also involve actors in open face makeup, which is so intricate and complicated that it resembles a painted mask more than a living face. Today, Hong Kong is at the center of efforts to keep Cantonese Opera alive and thriving. The Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts offers two-year degrees in Cantonese Opera performance, and the Arts Development Council sponsors opera classes for the citys children. Through such concerted effort, this unique and intricate form of Chinese Opera may continue to find an audience for decades to come.

Jealousy in the Open Window by Saki Essay Example

Jealousy in the Open Window by Saki Essay Example Jealousy in the Open Window by Saki Paper Jealousy in the Open Window by Saki Paper â€Å"The Open Window† is the story of a deception did on an unsuspecting, and constitutionally nervous man, by a young lady whose motivations for lying remain unclear. That is Vera, the center of the case in this story. A â€Å"very self-possessed young lady of fifteen,† Described as a girl who has bad manner to other people. She doesn’t have parents and lives with her aunt and her uncle in a country beyond the luxurious city life. Starting from her childhood, she is an attention-starved individual who seeks love and recognition from her parents. Her loneliness is filled by her aunt warm love and attention. It’s suspected that her abandonment and subsequent loneliness influenced her character, but never do I imagine just how much it fractured her. She grows as a girl who likes making up her words, like doing deception to another. The beginning of Vera’s deception starts with Mr. Nuttel coming. He is suffering from an undisclosed nervous illness, has been encouraged to seek refuge in the country. Vera, who starved for attention and love, was too afraid of Mr Nuttel for stealing her aunt attention and care, her only one love she has. I conclude that this kind of deception comes as a reaction to her jealousy. B. JEALOUSY IN PSYCHOLOGICAL VIEW Furthermore, I come up with jealousy as the center of the case in this analysis. Jealousy what I concern about is jealousy especially in the children. Here, Vera’s jealousy is interesting topic to be analyzed more. The jealousy in this case comes as a reaction of Mr. Nuttel’s coming. Jealousy is an emotion and typically refers to the negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety over an anticipated loss of something that the person values, such as a relationship, friendship, or love. Jealousy often consists of a combination of emotions such as anger, sadness, and disgust. It is not to be confused with envy. It’s described clearly that what Vera did by making up the story about the Open Window is a kind of thing that shows jealousy to Mr. Nuttel. One of the theorist said: Jealousy is defined as a protective reaction to a perceived threat to a valued relationship, arising from a situation in which the partners involvement with an activity and/or another person is contrary to the jealous persons definition of their relationship. (Bevan, 2004, page 195) Vera’s jealousy stimulates her to do the bad things to Mr. Nuttel. She is trying to arrange a fiction story about her aunt family in order to make Mr. Nuttel goes away from her house. Vera told a huge lie about how Mrs. Sappleton’s family had been missing for three years. It is this story, the death of some relatives who went hunting long ago, causes Mr. Nuttel’s breakdown. She tells Nuttel that the window is left open as a sign of her aunt’s hope that the dead hunters will one day come home and provides a detailed description of the men, their behavior and clothes. Out through that window, three years ago to a day, her husband and her two young brothers went off for their days shooting. They never came back. In crossing the moor to their favorite snipe-shooting ground they were all three engulfed in a treacherous piece of bog. It had been that dreadful wet summer, you know, and places that were safe in other years gave way suddenly without warning. Their bodies were never recovered. That was the dreadful part of it. Here the childs voice lost its self-possessed note and became falteringly human. Poor aunt always thinks that they will come back someday, they and the little brown spaniel that was lost with them, and walk in at that window just as they used to do. That is why the window is kept open every evening till it is quite dusk. Poor dear aunt, she has often told me how they went out, her husband with his white waterproof coat over his arm, and Ronnie, her youngest brother, singing Bertie, why do you bound? as he always did to tease her, because she said it got on her nerves. Do you know, sometimes on still, quiet evenings like this, I almost get a creepy feeling that they will all walk in through that window The quotation for this analysis is all about Vera’s saying to Mr. Nuttel. All she said is only a lie. A lie that was created as a reaction of jealousy. From the author’s point of view, he refers to Vera as â€Å"self-possessed,† which literally means that she has self-control and poise. In the context of this story, it is clear that this is the quality that allows her to lie so well. Vera’s self-possession allows her to maintain a cool head and calm belief while relating that most strange of tales. This kind of deception Vera made is the further action she made as the reaction of her jealousy. In her manipulation of the adults, Vera demonstrates a view that â€Å"children have no power worth the name except their lies and retreats into fantasy. From the source I’ve read (Wikipedia. org), the experience of jealousy involves: fear of loss, suspicion or anger about betrayal, low self-esteem and sadness over loss, uncertainty and loneliness, fear of losing an important person to an attractive other, distrust. Based on the explanation, what Vera did is indicated that she is suffering jealousy. She is fear of loss, low self-esteem and sadness over loss, uncertainty and loneliness, and fear of losing an important person that is her aunt’s attention. The effect of jealousy itself isn’t really good in the process of forming Vera’s character. She becomes an unkind girl who likes making up her words. Furthermore, jealousy in children and teenagers like Vera’s suffer has been observed more often in those with low self-esteem and can cause aggressive reactions. These aggressive reactions often created a bad action from them. One such study suggested that developing intimate friends can be followed by emotional insecurity and loneliness in some children when those intimate friends interact with others. Jealousy linked to aggression and low self-esteem. All what I mentioned above shows clearly that Vera is suffering jealousy. C. CONCLUSION Jealousy is defined as a protective reaction to a perceived threat to a valued relationship. It is an emotion and typically refers to the negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety over an anticipated loss of something that the person values, such as a relationship, friendship, or love. Jealousy often consists of a combination of emotions such as anger, sadness, and disgust. losing Furthermore, jealousy in children and teenagers like Vera’s suffer has been observed more often in those with low self-esteem and can cause aggressive reactions. These aggressive reactions often created a bad action from them. The way to overcome this kind of problem is by let them to honestly express their feelings about one another. Dont downplay a childs feelings, or try talking them out of feeling the way they say they feel. Children feel their parents understand those best when their feelings are acknowledged. Source: Rena Korb, for Short Stories for Students, Gale Research, 1997. Thomas March, for Short Stories for Students, Gale Research, 1997. The open window (criticism): information from Answers. com The Wikipedia. org

The Youth Support Act 2012 (Fictitious) sets out newly agreed services Essay

The Youth Support Act 2012 (Fictitious) sets out newly agreed services that Local Councils in Wales are obliged to provide for y - Essay Example As part of its statutory obligations to provide support for young people, the Bangor City Council has agreed to fully and part fund qualifying young people to attend Tree Tops. Due to some hostile policies of the City Council, some students cannot enjoy the provisions of The Youth Support Act 2012. This paper will analyze the different grounds for bringing a claim with reference to each of the relevant parties. The paper will pay particular attention to points for both appellant and respondent. Claims for Pricilla The Bangor City Council has recently decided that it will only fund a complete academic year’s attendance at the youth club. As a result of this policy, the Council refuses individuals to enjoy the benefits of the fully or part funding scheme before the age of five and if they turn fifteen within the academic year. On the ground of this funding policy, the Council refused to include Pricilla who is 14 years and 2 months old in this funding scheme. The Council argues that Pricilla can obtain only 10 months’ attendance at the youth club before she turns fifteen and hence she is not eligible for enjoying this particular funding scheme. Here, Pricilla can claim that the Tree Tops club provides recreational activities for young people aged between 11 and 16 and therefore she cannot attend the program if she is refused funding for the scheme on this age basis. Pointing to this, she can argue that the Council should raise the age limit to 16 so as to assist maximum young people to take part in the Tree Tops. Furthermore, Pricilla may demand part funding scheme because she is yet to attain the age of 15. In other words, she can obtain attendance for 10 months before she turns fifteen in the current academic year and therefore she must receive a proportionate funding. However, these arguments may not be valid or justifiable in the eyes of law. It is important to note that The Youth Support Act 2012 defines a young person â€Å"as someone between the ages of five and fourteen years old†1. According to this definition, Pricilla is not eligible to obtain the protection of this Act because she is currently 14 years and 2 months old. More precisely, she is not a beneficiary of the Youth Support Act 2012. The Bangor City Council policy framework clearly states that it will refuse to allow anyone onto the fully or part funded scheme if the candidates turn fifteen within the academic year. Hence, it cannot be claimed that the Council violated Pricilla’s rights provided by this Act. In an ethical perspective, Pricilla should be allowed to enjoy the protection of this Act and not be refused funding for the scheme on the ground of age eligibility cut-offs. If she is disqualified by the Council based on age criterion, she may not be possible to attend Tree Tops in her life because this club will not admit candidates aged over 16. Claims for Amreen and Nabeel Amreen, a 14 year old girl qualified for the full funding scheme was told by the Tree Tops that she would not be permitted to wear her religious headscarf owing to concerns over her personal safety during game activities. Although Amreen agreed to remove her headscarf, her brother Nabeel is outraged by the decision of the Tree Tops. In this case, Nabeel can argue that the Tree Tops had refused his sister’s fundamental rights by asking her to remove the religious headscar

The Strategic Management of Economy Hotel in China Essay - 1

The Strategic Management of Economy Hotel in China - Essay Example Homes Inn Hotels and China Lodging Group, and surveying 50 employees of each hotel hotels. The findings of this study reveals that economic hotels, though, might have a very limited business scope, but strategically they are required to align their objectives with the operational capacities. By doing this, economic hotels can ensure efficient utilization of the resources which would reflect in increased profitability of the business. Acknowledgement Table of Contents Abstract 2 Acknowledgement 3 Table of Contents 4 List of Tables and Figures 10 Chapter 1: Introduction 11 1.1 Background 11 1.2 Problem Statement 12 1.3 Research Aim 13 1.4 Research Objectives 13 1.5 Research Questions 13 1.6 Significance of the Research 14 1.7 Scope of the Study 14 1.8 Structure of the Report 14 Chapter 2: Literature Review 16 2.1 Introduction 16 2.2 Hospitality industry in Asia 17 2.3 Economy hotels – Characteristics 19 2.4 Hotel industry in China – overview 21 2.5The role of Chinese gove rnment in the development of China’s hospitality industry 23 2.6Strategies of hotels in China 25 2.6.1 The role of hospitality industry environment 25 2.6.2 Factors influencing the form of strategies of Chinese hotels 26 2.6.3 Challenges related to the strategies of hotels in China 29 2.6.4 Strategies of Chinese hotels vs. ... 41 3.1 Introduction 41 3.2 Presentation and analysis of research methods 42 3.2.1 Research Strategy 42 3.2.2 Research Philosophy 43 3.2.3 Data collection 44 3.2.4 Research Sampling 46 3.2.5 Data analysis 47 3.2.6 Ethical considerations 50 3.2.7 Limitations of Research 50 Chapter 4: Findings and Discussion 52 4.1 Introduction 52 4.2 Demographic Findings: Home Inns 52 4.3 Survey Questionnaire Findings: Homes Inn 55 4.3.1 Role of External Factors 55 4.3.2 Role of Internal Factors 56 4.3.3.Ability to Cater Organizational Mission 56 4.3.4 Achieving Objectives 56 4.3.5 Strategy Consultation 56 4.3.6 Compliance 57 4.3.7 Feedback 57 4.3.8 Training and Development 57 4.3.9 Daily Briefings 58 4.3.10 Project Reports 58 4.4 Descriptive Statistics: Homes Inn 58 4.5 Interview Analysis: Homes Inn 61 4.5.1 Influence of External Factors on Strategic Management 61 4.5.2 Influence of Internal Factors on Strategic Management 61 4.5.3 Homes Inn’s Mission 62 4.5.4 Homes Inn’s Objectives 62 4 .5.5 Strategy Development Process 63 4.5.6 Policy Structure and its Stakeholders 63 4.5.7 Training and Development Programs Offered to the Employees 64 4.5.8 Homes Inn’s Organizational Structure 64 4.5.9 Budgeting and Costing of Strategy Development and Implication 64 4.5.10 Implementation of Strategic Plan 65 4.5.11 Performance Evaluation Systems 65 4.5.12 Issue Identification Mechanism 66 4.5.13 Feedback Mechanism 66 4.6 Demographic Finding: China Lodging Group 66 4.7 Survey Questionnaire Findings: China Lodging Group 69 4.7.1 Role of External Factors 69 4.7.2 Role of External Factors 70 4.7.3 Ability to Cater Organizational Mission 70 4.7.4 Achieving Objectives 70 4.7.5 Strategy Consultation 71 4.7.6 Compliance 71 4.7.7 Feedback 71 4.7.8 Training and Development 72 4.7.9 Daily Briefings 72

The Sacred Pipe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The Sacred Pipe - Essay Example The sentimental value of some possessions may range from something as simple as a letter, a pen or even jewelry which is a family heirloom. These things may seem ordinary and mundane to others but it is what it represents that makes all the difference. The same consideration, at a different level of intensity, makes for the meaning that the sacred pipe holds. Another aspect of a sacred pipe is how it serves as a communication device that communes man not only to his nature but also to his ancestors. This is not an entirely alien concept as there are other religions that believe in the influence of people who have already passed as guardians present in daily life. The pipe is a means to communicate with ancestors who can be a source of hope for these people. Anyone who has lost a loved one knows how it feels to want to be able to talk to them again and maybe to ask them for guidance during the most trying times. Winter represents a difficult time and it symbolizes hardships and despair. The knowledge that a sacred pipe could connect two worlds is nothing short of faith. The mother should sacrifice everything for her children and must develop in herself and in her children a great love for Wakan-Tanka, for in time these children will become holy people and leaders of the nation and will have the power to make others wakan. At first we keep only the souls of a few of our great leaders, but later we kept the souls of almost all good people (Brown 11) This quote affirms that the Native Americans place the responsibility to mothers to be able to rear her children properly and to sacrifice her own desires and needs for their benefit. Regardless of this passage, I believe that a mother’s love is absolute and that even without any order or reminder remains the same notwithstanding what culture one belongs to. The same mother’s love is seen and manifests in a loving home in a way that a person’s success and virtue is most likely to be attributed to one’s mother and the patience with which he was brought up to. It is by this same n otion that I suppose that my own character was shaped. My mother served as a role model and the primary person who has molded me from birth. Mothers would want nothing more than for their children to grow up to be good people. The respect you show to your parents is a good indication of a person’s upbringing. The same amount of respect is invaluable in the traits that make for a great leader. The concept of wakan provides for the perpetuation of memories of people who have imparted an indelible memory to the community. They are better than historical figures such as presidents for they remain in spirit with the people. They are not the only subject of stories and anecdotes studied for memory but they are infinite beings that transcend time and lifetimes. This commune with a concept as intangible as the soul substantiates why being a holy wakan is something to achieve for. â€Å"The leader of the rite then says: ‘This is the fire that will help the generations to come i f they use it in a sacred manner".