Improving Organisational Performance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 2

Improving Organisational Performance - Essay Example Objective Setting 7 Reviewing What and How 8 Overall Performance Rating and Rewarding basis on the appraisal 8 Challenges and Negative effects of Performance Management System 9 Balanced Proposals 10 Implications for Line Managers 11 Conclusion 12 References 14 Appendix 16 Introduction Performance management is a systematic progress that improves the performance of an organization by the improvement of individuals’ skills and effectiveness (Deb, 2009, p.36). Moreover, it increases the efficiency of team and helps to achieve the business and organizational objectives. Performance is explained apparently, which is the achievement of qualified objectives. The proper implementation and practices helps the employee of the organization to achieve the personal as well as organizational goal. The other important aspect of performance management of organizations is it helps to maintain the goal significantly (Caldwell, 2002, p.19). Performance management is one of the important elements of organization control system and Human Resource Management (Pravin, 2007, P.583). Performance management helps to provoke organizational and employee development by its methods. It also covers the strategic development by several modifications through its methods. Moreover, it facilitates indirect control of employees be setting up a clear target (Bhatia, 2003, p. 39). In order to achieve the objective of the study, Tesco and Sainsbury the two leading retail organizations of UK has been selected. They study will critically evaluate the Performance management in Tesco and Sainsbury. Moreover, the study will explore the challenges that have been encountered by the use of performance management in these two leading retail chains in UK. The study will develop a balanced proposal in order to overcome the challenges. The implications for line managers are also have examined by this study. Finally the study ends with a conclusion. Ev aluation of High Performance Work and Performance Management System in Tesco Tesco organization structure is kind of a bureaucratic structure as authority and power flows from the top level to bottom level in the organization. This equilibrium has the similarity in the performance management system and reward structure. In Tesco, the top management employees earn more reward comparing to the employees who exists in low level of the organization. However, the overall reward and performance management system and the Performance Steering Wheel is the key reason of the organization success story of Tesco (Jolly, 2009, p. 397). Customer, Community, Employees, Operations and Finance are the major elements of the Tesco’s performance steering wheel (Figure 1). From this steering wheel the employee’s aspect has been discussed in this study in order to evaluate the performance management framework of Tesco (Barrow, 2011, p. 93). Performance Management Framework Sir Terry Leahy i s the chief executive of Tesco, who is supremely responsible for the growth of organization. He had developed a clear map, direction and a compass in order to attain a strategic growth. The management team of Tesco has decided to develop and structure a performance management framework in order to develop a strategic goal of the organization. The performance management framework has created several key performance indicators in Tesco. The major purpose of this approach is to steer Tesco towards success. Performance steering wheel was developed by Tesco in the year 2009 in order to fulfil the organization as well as individual objectives (Taylor and Nichols, 2010, p.11). It has created the groth opportunities for the employees. The adoption of this framework has made the jobs interesting for the

What is HR management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

What is HR management - Essay Example urce can provide value to a business by seeking, interpreting, and anticipating changes that occur in the business environment with an aim of preparing and appropriate solutions to the anticipated changes. For instance, the Human Resource can anticipate impact of changes that may occur within a business’ processes or workforce and work in tandem with the other management levels to understand and come up with creative and logical ways of responding to such changes. The HR professionals have a unique role in addressing pertinent issues that come up within the workforce of an organization. For instance, the professionals are strategically placed to advice and help the management of businesses in coming up with correct formulations of the workforce skills and attributes relevant for a particular task within their businesses. Also, the HR professionals can leverage on their quantitative skills to come up with desirable programs that will ultimately improve skills, effectiveness, and capabilities of the workforce. The Human Resource professionals and personnel are responsible for hiring, developing, and managing employees. The HR professionals put into use the skills of the employees into realizing the missions of the organizations. In orde to achieve a well-balanced working environment between an organization, its workforce and optimum output, the personnel management will recruit, hire, and develop the qualified people. In line with their hiring responsibilities, the human resource personnel would also direct and encourage the growth of the employees in their organizations. The most effective HR professional within a given business is one who possesses a strategic thinking mindset. Thinking strategically means that the HR professional will help the company to translate the visions and goals of an organization from statements on paper to specific actionable goals that an organization can measure. Strategic thinking mindset involves setting well-prioritized goals

Famous Psychologist Essay Example for Free

Famous Psychologist Essay Throughout psychologys relatively brief history, there have been many famous psychologists who have left their mark both on psychology and on the world at large. While some of these individuals do not necessarily fit todays definition of a psychologist, a term which indicates a doctoral-level degree in psychology, their influence on psychology is without question. Learn more about psychologists by browsing through this list of some of the most famous thinkers in psychology history. Alfred Adler Public Domain Alfred Adler is known as one of the most influential thinkers in psychology. While he was initially a member of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society, Adler eventually departed from Freuds theories and developed his own perspective, which he called Individual Psychology. He had a strong influence on a number of other eminent psychologists, including Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow and Karen Horney. Mary Ainsworth Mary Ainsworth was a psychologist best known for her research on attachment theory and the development of the strange situation assessment. Her work played an important role in our understanding of child development and has influenced other fields including education. Gordon Allport Gordon Allport was a psychologist perhaps best-known as one of the founding figures of personality psychology. He also developed a trait theory of personality that described three broad categories of personality traits. Solomon Asch Solomon Asch was a pioneering social psychologist. His famous conformity experiments demonstrated that people will claim that something is correct when it obviously is not due to social pressure from peers. Asch also had an important influence on psychologist Stanley Milgram, whose own obedience experiments were inspired by Aschs work. Albert Bandura Albert Bandura is a psychologist known for his famous Bobo doll experiment as well as his concepts of self-efficacy and social learning. Bandura’s work is considered part of the cognitive revolution in psychology that began in the late 1960s. His theories have had tremendous impact on personality psychology, cognitive psychology, education, and therapy. Alfred Binet Public Domain Alfred Binet was a French psychologist famous for his development of the first widely used intelligence test. He is often described as one of the most influential thinkers in psychology history and his original test still serves as the basis for modern measures of intelligence. Mary Whiton Calkins Mary Whiton Calkins was the first female president of the American Psychological Association. She studied at Harvard with famous teachers including William James and Hugo Munsterberg. Despite completing all of the requirements for a doctorate degree in psychology, Harvard refused to grant her degree simply because she was a woman. James McKeen Cattell Image courtesy Library of Congress James McKeen Cattell was the first U.S. psychology professor. He is an important figure in psychology thanks to his work in intelligence, his use of quantitative methods and his focus on establishing psychology as a legitimate science. Raymond Cattell Image from Wikimedia Commons Raymond Cattell was a pioneering thinker who is perhaps best known for his use of multivariate analysis and his 16-factor personality model. Mamie Phipps Clark Mamie Phipps Clark was a pioneering psychologist known for her important research on child development and self-concept among minorities. As the first black woman to graduate from Columbia University, she faced discrimination because of her race and her gender. Her research with her husband, Kenneth Clark, played a major role in the Supreme Courts decision in the pivotal Brown vs. Board of Education case. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Hes an important contemporary psychologist, but one of your first questions is probably How do you pronounce his name? (Its me-HIGH chick-sent-me-HIGH-ee, by the way.) Learn more about his work and contributions to modern psychology in this brief biography. John Dewey Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons John Dewey was an American psychologist, philosopher, writer and educational theorist. His work had a vital influence on psychology, education and philosophy and he is often considered one of the greatest thinkers of the 20th-century. His emphasis on progressive education has contributed greatly to the use of experimentation rather than an authoritarian approach to knowledge. Erik Erikson Public Domain Erik Eriksons well-known stage theory of psychosocial development helped generate interest and inspire research on human development through the lifespan. An ego psychologist who studied with Anna Freud, Erikson expanded psychoanalytic theory by exploring development throughout the full lifespan, including events of childhood, adulthood and old age. Hans Eysenck Image from the Wikimedia Commons / Sirswindon at en.wikipedia Hans Eyesenck was a very prolific psychologist, publishing more than 75 books and 1600 journal articles. Prior to his death in 1997, he was the living psychologist most frequently cited in scientific books and journal articles. He was also a very controversial figure, and his outspoken views of subjects ranging from psychotherapy to intelligence made him the subject of criticism. Leon Festinger Leon Festinger was an influential social psychologist who is well-known for his theory of cognitive dissonance as well as his social comparison theory. Anna Freud Anna Freud began her career influenced by the theories of her father, Sigmund Freud. Far from living in her fathers shadow, Anna made important contributions of her own to psychology. She founded child psychoanalysis and summarized the egos defense mechanisms in her book The Ego and the Mechanisms of Defense (1936). Sigmund Freud Public Domain Sigmund Freud may be one of the best known figures in history, but he is also one of the most controversial. He was the founder of the school of thought known as psychoanalysis. The legacy of his life and work provokes both impassioned acclaim from his supporters and disdain from his detractors. While some view him as a cultural icon and others see him as a pseudo-scientific charlatan, there is no question that Freud left an indelible mark on psychology as well as other disciplines. Erich Fromm Liss Goldring / Erich Fromm Estate Erich Fromm was a neo-Freudian psychoanalyst who had a major influence on humanistic psychology. Today Fromm is remembered for his concept of freedom as a fundamental component of human nature.

The Creation Of The Italian Stereotype

The Creation Of The Italian Stereotype The Italian mafia has been a prominent them in the media for centuries. The portrayal of mobsters and the mafia in the U.S.s motion picture industry has created a stereotype for Italians that is very well accepted in the American culture. In this paper I will discuss various films and TV that address the topic of the Italian mafia and the way in which these shows depict citizens of Italian origin. More specifically I will try to show how movies such as The Goodfather, Goodfellas, Taxi Driver, and more recent works such as HBOs hit The Sopranos create a negative stereotype for Italian American man and women, glorifying them by their flashy lifestyles and relations to organized criminal activities. Movies of such sort have reached such popular success because they appeal to the public and, unfortunately, many Italian American citizens embrace these accusations and consider them part of their heritage, thus reinforcing the stereotype made by the movie industry in the eyes of citizens wi th different ethnical backgrounds. Since the very beginning, the Italian mafia, in the eyes of Americans has been a very wide spread cultural phenomena. The origin of the mafia is very hard to investigate and report, many experts have dated its origin back to a time of instability for the Italian nation. The cause of this disturbance was the instable relationship between the northern and southern regions of Italy. Southern Italy was often insulted and considered rural and uncivilized by the wealthier businessman of the North. This unjust treatment caused the southern citizens, especially the Sicilians, to resort to violent gangs for protection of the little land and wealth they owned. As time progressed, and the demand for these bands increased, these rebel groups united into larger, and much more organized, groups that lead to the creation of the mafia. The most famous of these groups, and perhaps the first, originated in Sicily and later became known as Cosa Nosta which many often use the term incorrectly referring it to the Italian mafia overall and not just as one of its sects. These groups prospered and grew on to the Italian people, infiltrating the unstable government after the unification of Italy in 1861. The mafia made its first appearance in the US between the 19th and 20th century, as this cultural phenomenon grew in America, the mafias portrayal in the media grew with it. The media created a name for the mafia in America. The people loved gangster movies, and the film industry capitalized on this assumption. In order to give their work a more realistic feel, directors, would often cast Italians as mobster characters thus building a stereotype of Italian Americans. As time evolved however, the simple stereotype morphed past the simple gangster image; in more recent works, Italian women were also effect; being viewed as old housewives or young bimbos. Men became viewed as lazy and uneducated like in the 1995 movie To Die For. In this example from the Italic Institute of Americas websi te, Nicole Kidmans character tricks three teens into killing her lowbrow Italian husband. The development between the Italian mafia and its presence in popular American culture could have not been possible without the five million Italians who left their home country for hope in a new life and a chance at a new beginning, (Wikipedia). Prior to the rise of the fascist regime to power, America was a prime destination for many Italians during the late 19th century. This expatriation grew exponentially in the early 20th century when it was recorded that over 800,000 Sicilians immigrated to the United States. During this time however, the Italian mafia was under attack by their own government, especially thanks to the works of Cesare Mori who made life impossible for many Mafiosi. Because of the anti mafia war imposed Mussolinis regime in the southern provinces of Italy, many of the members of Cosa Nostra and similar organizations fled to America. The American press immediately attacked this movement publishing headlines such as: The boot unloads its criminals upon the United States. Many of these Sicilians in fact had connections to the mafia but, in the most part, they were regular people just looking for a better life. Italian Mafiosi and regular citizens traveled to America to escape fascism, to escape persecution from criminal charges, and to start over. Many where thrown into a society already filed with criminal gangs. Purchasing fire weapons in the US at that time was a piece of cake. Add these two together and its simple to understand how the Italian mafia succeeded in America. Just as the mafia began to take power in America, the movie industry noticed an opportunity to make some profit as well. Americans became obsessed with the mafian lifestyle; the danger associated with the mafia and their disrespect for the law managed to frighten and keep Americans glued to their TV screen at the same time. Films like Little Cesar(1931), Public Enemy(1931), and Scarface(1932) were the very beginning to a brand new genre of films. As author George De Stefano points out in his book An Offer We Cant Refuse, the Italian mobster seemed to bring a different image to the mobster lifestyle, [however], and this image of a more powerful, organized criminal system caught the public eye and has stuck every since., (De Stefano 70-94). Some of the early movies of this genre were produced during the silent motion picture time period. Producers however, did not have a hard time looking for a plot that would capture their audience; they just used whatever the print gave them. The ear liest account of a gangster film that exists is the film The Black Hand (1906). The Black Hand was a silent movie which story line pictured Italian Americans using kidnapping and extortion to gain money, known as il pizzo, from a butcher they were protecting. The movie shows the Italian protagonists were not only shown as violent, but the Italian Americans in the film are shown to speak little to no English and drinking wine as if it were water. It was not until the 1930s with the release of Little Cesar and Scarface that the stereotype was created and linked Italian Americans with the gangster image. With the introduction of these films one can clearly see that with the changing image of the gangster, the American ______ towards Italian Americans was changing as well. These new characters were no longer drunk illiterates, these Italians dressed in fancy suits, spoke better English; in a sense, they were following the American dream. Still violent and reckless. Organizations favoring the destruction of this stereotype took the subject to heart and managed to abolish violence and crime in movies. However in 1968, the Production Code was dropped and replaced by the same MPAA system still out there today. Only four years after this change, came the first of a trilogy that would change the image of Italian Americans forever. The Godfather (1972), based on Mario Puzos novel was the hit success of the great American director Ford Francis Coppola. His work was such a success for the public that it won three Oscar nominations out of the ten categories it was voted for. The American people were literally obsessed with the violent, vulgar and classic gangster films. Francis Ford Coppola in an interview with author Peter Bondonella explained his clear reasons for pursuing this movie: I always wanted to use the Mafia as a metaphor for America. If you loo at the film, you see that its focused that way. The first line is I believe in America. I feel that the mafia is an incredible metaphor for this country. Both are totally capitalistic phenomena and basically have a profit motive, (Bondonella 239). Many critics argue, with merit, that The Godfather was the first film that really started the stereotype of Italian Americans. The film established a permanent connection in the minds of Americans between the mafia and Italian Americans. De Stefano describes his own experience after the release of the film: strangers would ask me if I knew the godfather whenever they red my last name. It was this film that reallycemented the stereotype into American culture., (De Stefano 105-106). Predictably enough, after the tremendous success of The Godfather, many more films, as long as commercial products, relating to its theme followed. Today The Godfather, both the films and the novel, continue to sell as if they were new releases, and the films can still be seen, by popular demand, on ordinary television. Martin Scorseses Goodfellas (1990), showed the mafia in New York in an extremely realistic way. Based on the life of real mobster Henry Hill, it shows the process of going from a nonentity to a success in the mafia organization. The film depicts brutal murder scenes, vulgar language, and vile treatment of women. However, a particularly different element is that it also shows the consequences of being too wrapped up in the mafia life and what it is like to become the rat. This film showed a much less glorified portrayal of the mafia, and yet, it appealed greatly to society. The most recent of Hollywoods award winning creation evoking the mafia is HBOs hit series The Sopranos first airing in 1999. The show takes great inspiration from Scorseses work and Coppolas masterpiece, characters in the show are often viewed idolizing Mafiosi from these directors respective films, reciting lines, copying stunts, and even comparing themselves. This idolization showed that Italian Americans not onl y identify themselves with these gangsters but also look up to them. Tony Soprano, the protagonist of the show, is of Italian American descent and part of the mafia. Besides his connection to the gangster life, he lives in a typical residential neighborhood for the average white American male, he is a family man just like everyone else. In the book Tony Sopranos America, David Simon, states that the viewer is always reminded that the one thing that stands Tony Soprano apart from the rest of society is that he is mobster. The [TV] series successfully brought the mafia to the 21st Century, renewed the use of mafia as a household word, and took one step further in fusing the image of Italians and Italian Americans. The media has led to this stereotypical image of Italian immigrants as gangsters. This stereotype is still very much alive today. However, it is noticeable that there does not seem to be as much controversial propaganda to the use of this negative connotation against Italian Americans as stereotypical use against other ethnic groups. Going back to the stereotype against Italian American women, these movies depicted the mafia wives as enabling and looking the other way in their husbands business affair. The mother in The Godfather plays the role of the housewife. Carmela Corleone never reacts to the actions of her husband and sons, always turning a blind eye. She is shown caring for her grandchildren and providing the family with a traditional Italian meal. She is essentially the stereotypical enabling Italian mother and wife in the mafia family. On the contrary, the character Kay in The Godfather is a complete juxtaposition to the character of Carmela. For a while, she acts just like Carmela, enabling her husband activities, but eventually she can no longer accept her husband as a cold blooded killer, as Michael Corleones sister, Connie, calls him after he murders her own husband. Kay represents the American wife who marries into an Italian family not knowing what she is about to face. She is victimized. This way , the audience, feels bad for her, torn between her love for her husband and her morals that can no longer tolerate the criminal activities of the family. The third major feminine character, Connie Corleone, is a completely different character. She is the stereotypical Italian relative that cannot escape the horrors of her own family. She starts out as a princess to her father, the godfather himself. After her brother, Michael, kills her husband she goes through a brief grieving period distancing her family from her family only to realize that she cannot escape her destiny. She eventually becomes an enabler of the behavior of the rest of the family and takes on the role of the matriarch. Just like her, Karen Hill, also plays the enabler who puts up with her husband, Henry Hills pursuit as a Mafioso in Goodfellas. One scene in particular comes to mind that depicts her as the typical mob wife. In a scene she narrates herself, Karen attends a party with the other mob wives during a drug scene, she tells the audience that all the women look beat up; in fact, they do: all wear too much makeup and overdone hair. Throughout the party, these mistreated wives, discuss the horrible tribulations of being married to a mobster as if it were typical housewife gossip. Most of the women in these movies are unemployed house makers who take the events as part of the package of marrying a mob.The show The Sopranos isnt the only example of the stereotype of Italian American being represented in more recent TV production. Characters like Arthur the Fonz Fonzarelli from Happy Days, Tony the taxi driver of Taxi, and Joey the all around dimwit of Friends all represent demeaning images of It alian Americans. All appear to be uneducated womanizers, and yet most may not even realize they are stereotypes of the Italian American male. These examples show that, sadly, our culture still finds humor in stereotyping ethnical groups. In 2002, The Italic institute of America conducted a study to analyze the movie industry and its relation to Italian-American based movies and the post Godfather movie industry. Their studies showed that out of the 1233 movies made about Italian Americans, 69% of them present Italian-American characters under a negative light, against 31% that show Italian-Americans as good human beings. Moreover, out of the movies made since the sound era that deal with mob characters, 88% were revolved around fictional characters, 293 of which came out after the Godfather. The Godfather is and will always remain the most important tie between Hollywood and the Italian-American stereotype.There is much research out there that show that the Italian immigration to the US didnt only bring so called Mafiosi but also great people who beneficially influenced the United States politically and economically. This research, however, does not eliminate the fact the entertainment industry will continue to pursu e the stereotype. As for the mafia, this means that it will only continue to be a part of Americas favorite entertainment as long as the culture of violence persists.

Relatively Einstein Essay -- Essays Papers

Relatively Einstein His genius reshaped the laws of nature. His theories changed scientists? perception of the Universe. His ideas led to the most destructive and lethal weapon known to man. Albert Einstein hypothesized some of the most complex theories of all time, The Special Theory of Relativity and The General Theory of Relativity. He was a pudgy first child of a bougesois Jewish couple from Southern Germany. His father was an unsuccessful Engineer and his mother was a talented musician. His mother often encouraged his interests in Bach and Mozart. In his early years he received a toy compass, a gift from his father, that provoked his first "thought experiment." He was curious as to why the needle always pointed North (Golden 21). When he was fifteen he quit prep school, renounced his German citizenship, and entered the Swiss equivalent of MIT. There he fell in love and married a classmate. The marriage lasted a short three years (Golden 21). While coping with his loss, he moved in with a divorced cousin by the name of Elsa. She cooked and cleaned for him while he was discovering his, soon to be, theory of General Relativity. Elsa and Albert were wed a short time after (Golden 21). At the peak of World War I he risked his wife?s life, and his own, and signed an anti-war petition. When the Nazis came to power prior to World War II, he was forced to leave Germany. He moved to Princeton, where they built a physics program around him. A Hungarian scientist warned him of the Germans? attempt to make an atomic bomb. Einstein then wrote a letter to Franklin Roosevelt and warned him of the Nazi threat. Shortly thereafter, The Manhattan Project (the program which was responsible for the designing, building and testing of the atomic bomb) was organized, in which Einstein had no part in (Hawking 66). Albert urged for a ban on nuclear weapons after he learned of the explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He tried to convince Americans that McCarthyism (false threat of communism reaching North America) was a hoax, and called for an end to racism (Golden 22). Shortly after graduation Einstein began to ponder about the universe. While living in Germany, he composed his first of two relativity theories; The Special Theory of Relativity (Golden 23). "The Special Theory of Relativity deals with phenomena that becomes noticeabl... ...ce. This is precisely what Einstein envisioned happening to planets, the moon, and the rest of the cosmos. This is the reason that Earth orbits the sun and the moon revolves around the sun. "He (Einstein) maintained that gravity, as an invisible force that pulls apples and other things to the ground does not exist," states Chaisson (99). Albert Einstein hypothesized some of the most complex theories of all time, Special and General Relativity. His Genius reshaped the way scientists think and the way we look at the universe. "I still can?t believe he thought of it."?Marcel Grossman (Feynman 49) Bibliography 1. Bohm, David. The Special Theory of Relativity. Routledge: NY, 1965. 2. Chaisson, Eric. Relatively Speaking. W. W. Norton: NY, 1988. 3. Feynman, Richard P. Six Not-So-Easy Pieces. Addison-Wesley: Reading,1997. 4. Golden, Frederick. "Person of the Century." Time 31 Dec 1999: 21. 5. Gundersen, P. Erik. The Handy Physics Answer Book. Detroit: Visible Ink, 1999. 6. Hawking, Stephen. "A Breif History of Relativity." Time 31 Dec 1999: 66. 7. Laing, David. The Earth System. Fort Kent: Wm. C. Brown, 1991. 8. Sagan, Carl. Cosmos. Random House: NY, 1980. Relatively Einstein Essay -- Essays Papers Relatively Einstein His genius reshaped the laws of nature. His theories changed scientists? perception of the Universe. His ideas led to the most destructive and lethal weapon known to man. Albert Einstein hypothesized some of the most complex theories of all time, The Special Theory of Relativity and The General Theory of Relativity. He was a pudgy first child of a bougesois Jewish couple from Southern Germany. His father was an unsuccessful Engineer and his mother was a talented musician. His mother often encouraged his interests in Bach and Mozart. In his early years he received a toy compass, a gift from his father, that provoked his first "thought experiment." He was curious as to why the needle always pointed North (Golden 21). When he was fifteen he quit prep school, renounced his German citizenship, and entered the Swiss equivalent of MIT. There he fell in love and married a classmate. The marriage lasted a short three years (Golden 21). While coping with his loss, he moved in with a divorced cousin by the name of Elsa. She cooked and cleaned for him while he was discovering his, soon to be, theory of General Relativity. Elsa and Albert were wed a short time after (Golden 21). At the peak of World War I he risked his wife?s life, and his own, and signed an anti-war petition. When the Nazis came to power prior to World War II, he was forced to leave Germany. He moved to Princeton, where they built a physics program around him. A Hungarian scientist warned him of the Germans? attempt to make an atomic bomb. Einstein then wrote a letter to Franklin Roosevelt and warned him of the Nazi threat. Shortly thereafter, The Manhattan Project (the program which was responsible for the designing, building and testing of the atomic bomb) was organized, in which Einstein had no part in (Hawking 66). Albert urged for a ban on nuclear weapons after he learned of the explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He tried to convince Americans that McCarthyism (false threat of communism reaching North America) was a hoax, and called for an end to racism (Golden 22). Shortly after graduation Einstein began to ponder about the universe. While living in Germany, he composed his first of two relativity theories; The Special Theory of Relativity (Golden 23). "The Special Theory of Relativity deals with phenomena that becomes noticeabl... ...ce. This is precisely what Einstein envisioned happening to planets, the moon, and the rest of the cosmos. This is the reason that Earth orbits the sun and the moon revolves around the sun. "He (Einstein) maintained that gravity, as an invisible force that pulls apples and other things to the ground does not exist," states Chaisson (99). Albert Einstein hypothesized some of the most complex theories of all time, Special and General Relativity. His Genius reshaped the way scientists think and the way we look at the universe. "I still can?t believe he thought of it."?Marcel Grossman (Feynman 49) Bibliography 1. Bohm, David. The Special Theory of Relativity. Routledge: NY, 1965. 2. Chaisson, Eric. Relatively Speaking. W. W. Norton: NY, 1988. 3. Feynman, Richard P. Six Not-So-Easy Pieces. Addison-Wesley: Reading,1997. 4. Golden, Frederick. "Person of the Century." Time 31 Dec 1999: 21. 5. Gundersen, P. Erik. The Handy Physics Answer Book. Detroit: Visible Ink, 1999. 6. Hawking, Stephen. "A Breif History of Relativity." Time 31 Dec 1999: 66. 7. Laing, David. The Earth System. Fort Kent: Wm. C. Brown, 1991. 8. Sagan, Carl. Cosmos. Random House: NY, 1980.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Essay examples -- Behavior Dis

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is the most commonly diagnosed disorder among children (1). The disorder affects approximately 3-5 percent of children of school age (1), with each classroom in the United States having at least one child with this disorder (1). Despite the frequency of this disease in the United States, there still remains many discrepancies about the disorder itself, starting from the diagnosis and frequent misdiagnosis of ADHD, as well as the question of whether or not ADHD is an actual medical condition, or just a "cultural disease" (3). According to the NIMH, frequent symptoms of ADHD include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity (1). Examples of these three patterns of behavior can be found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which, summarized by the National Institute of Mental Health, states that signs of inattention include * Distraction by "irrelevant sights and sounds" (2) * Failure of attenti...

Chinese Mooncake Festival

On the 15th day of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, individuals of Chinese descent throughout the globe will be celebrating the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mooncake Festival. It is the third major celebration on the Chinese lunisolar calendar which incorporates elements of both a lunar calendar and solar calendar, which is not uncommon among Asian cultures. This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival took place on the 29th of September.As it has always been in Malaysia, the festival was celebrated with merriment and involved the incorporation of lanterns, mooncakes, and the involvement of people from other cultural backgrounds as well. In conjunction with this year’s celebration, this article will explore the history, origins and customs associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival is traditionally related to moon-worship although its exact origins are lost to legends. However, researchers have been able to identify three possible legends relating to the festival.The most prominent is the Chinese myth of â€Å"Chang'e and Hou Yi†. As with all myths, there is more than one version of it. But the fundamentals of the story remain relatively similar. The story goes that hundreds of centuries ago, there were ten suns in the sky. The heat emitting from these suns were too much for life on Earth to bear. But one day, a warrior called Hau Yi was able to destroy nine of the suns due to his formidable skill in archery. The people across the land were grateful and the Queen of Heaven rewarded Hau Yi with an elixir capable of granting an individual immortality.Unwilling to become immortal and have to leave his wife, Chang’e, Hau Yi asked her to keep the elixir safe. Now a hero across the nation, Hau Yi became a teacher to many men. Unfortunately, one of his students, Feng Meng, intended to steal the Elixir of Immortality. In an desperate attempt to prevent the elixir from falling into the wrong hands, Chang’e decided to drink the elixir. This resulted in her becoming an immortal and she floated to the moon and there she remained for the rest of eternity, thus becoming the Moon Goddess. From then on, people began to pray to Chang'e for fortune and safety.And during the Mid-Autumn Festival, they make offerings of food to her. Notwithstanding, from a historical perspective, this practice can be traced back 3000 years to the Shang Dynasty during which the moon was worshiped under the believe that the practice would bring about another harvest year. However, it was not until the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A. D. ) that the Mid-Autumn Festival was considered as an official celebration of China. People of all backgrounds, from noblemen to simple farmers, would honour the moon by having food, drink, music and dance.What is rather amazing is that this tradition has survived hundreds of years and is now celebrated across the globe. It is interesting to note that this has become a cultural festival rather than a religious festival. As such, instead of worshiping the moon in order to reap a harvest, most people use this festival to spend time with friends and family. As with all cultural festivals, there are several customs traditionally observed. The most prominent custom would arguably be the eating of mooncakes. According to a folk tale, mooncakes came about to pass secret messages during the Chinese rebellion of their Mongolians leaders.The leader of the rebellion was send to have sent the message â€Å"Kill the Mongols on the 15th day of the eighth month† on strips of paper by hiding them in lotus pancakes which eventually came to be known as mooncakes. Regardless, this particular food has come to characterize the Mid-Autumn Festival and any celebration without mooncakes would be considered incomplete. Although traditionally containing a lotus seed paste, mooncakes now come in a variety of fillings. The numerous flavours include red bean paste, chocolate, green tea, ice cream, custard cream, cream cheese, and for the more adventurous, durian paste.Mooncakes sometimes contain a salted egg yolk to symbolize the moon. Additionally, modern times have witnessed the emergence of more creative variations of the mooncake such as snow-skinned mooncakes and jelly mooncakes. Rarely homemade these days, mooncakes are usually mass manufactured by companies and are available in brilliantly packaged gift-boxes. This is due to the fact that mooncakes are extremely labour-intensive and time-consuming to produce. Another prominent custom of the Mid-Autumn Festival is the use of Chinese Lanterns.It has always been common to see people, primarily children, playing with beautiful festive lanterns that emit a warm glow of light. Originally constructed from bamboo sticks and rice paper, lanterns have evolved to consisting of wires and transparent plastic sheets that come in a multitude of colours. Also popular these days are lanterns that are no longer lit by candles but instea d by battery-operated LED lights. Times have truly changed. Nevertheless, it is gratifying to observe that modern societies still make it a point to maintain ancient cultural traditions.Historically speaking, lanterns first came about around 2000 years ago as a means to communicate among the Chinese military. The tiny candle within the lantern would produce hot air, very much akin to a modern hot-air balloon, which allowed the lantern to float across battlefields. In modern societies however, lanterns are used to symbolize hope and goodwill. Additionally, it is not uncommon for communities to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with lantern competitions. One traditional custom of the Mid-Autumn Festival that is scarcely ever practiced among modern Chinese societies is the gazing of the moon.It used to be an important practice for Chinese people to gaze and marvel at the glorious beauty of the full moon as the Mid-Autumn Festival takes place at the time of year when the moon is at its brightest and roundest. During ancient times, people would hold ceremonies in memoriam of the moon and offer sacrifices to it. This was believed to bless people with prosperity and good fortune. Additionally, people who are unable to return to their families for the festival would gaze at the moon and hope that the moon would send their love and best regards to their family, thousands of miles away.Besides eating mooncakes, playing with lanterns, and moon-gazing, family reunions are extremely important during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Family members from across the globe try their best to return to their parents’ home in order to enjoy a good meal together. They engage in excited conversations and rejoice in the company of each other. It is a warm and joyous occasion that is intended to maintain family ties. Traditional dishes are served and wine is poured for all to share. It is fascinating to note that the dishes served are usually said to symbolize something in particular.F or instance, pumpkins are considered to ensure good health, river snails promote good eyesight, and glutinous rice dumpling with sweet rice wine represents a â€Å"sweet family reunion†. In Malaysia, the Chinese make it a point to set the mood for the festival weeks in advance. Commercials and advertisements promote the upcoming festivities. Boxes of mooncakes are given to friends and family in order to strengthen ties and lanterns are bought in large quantities. Some families even offer prayers to their ancestors. And on the day of the festival, friends and families visit each other, usually bringing along a gift basket of fruits.Communities composed of various races even come together to host celebrations. The occasion extends till nightfall and that is when lanterns are lit and sometimes, even fireworks brilliantly light up the skies. It never ceases to amaze me how an ancient festival is able to bring together families and communities with such ease. Despite the evolution the Mid-Autumn Festival has undergone over the past thousand years, the magic and allure of the celebration remains just as captivating. Here’s hoping that although the world will constantly modernize and reinvent itself, ancient traditions such as this are never forgotten.