Media Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Media - Research Paper Example What is the extent of the reach of mass media in all of its forms? What is the impact of mass media advertising on the perceptions of people of themselves, their self-image? How does marketing affect decisions to purchase? How do mass media images and coverage influence court decisions, as typified by the effects of mass media images on high profile cases involving celebrities like OJ Simpson? What are the negative effects on the social skills of people from using social media, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of making use of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter? (Katz et al., 1973, pp. 164-181; Newton, 1999, pp. 577-599; Mutz and Martin, 2001). II. Discussion There is no doubt that there are subtle as well as titanic shifts in mass media brought about by the proliferation of alternative media channels online, such as YouTube, changes in the way people consume news with the decline of print and the shift to digital, the surge of social media platforms suc h as Facebook and Twitter in terms of mind share and use on a global scale, and a host of other developments. Mass media can be construed as not being something that is static and well-defined, but rather is something that is now undergoing a radical process of change, and it can be argued that rather than being a static reality mass media in fact is in a state of constant flux (Barkow et al., 2012, pp. 121-133). The advances in communications technology facilitated by the Internet will accelerate this upheaval and change process no doubt, and the future shape and form of the dominant mass media platforms are not yet prognosticated with any degree of confidence. There are winners and losers to be sure, but who those are is anybody’s guess at the moment. With the exception of social media platforms maybe, and some established media juggernauts such as Google, it can be said that mass media as a whole, including its stakeholders and its consumers, is up for grabs and no one kno ws ultimately what its future shape and form will be (Prat and Stromberg, 2011; Crokidakis, 2013). On the one hand there are those who predict the decline in the power of mass media over the masses, and in this regard new and more potent forms of marketing are taking the place of marketing strategies that are overly focused on reaching target markets making use of mass media. On the other hand, the continued rise in revenues from advertising making use of emergent social and online media platforms, such as Facebook and the various Google search properties, attest to power not moving away from mass media per se, but moving away from the traditional mass media platforms, such as print, in favor of digital media platforms and social media platforms. What is true is that even here the landscape is not well-described, as there are differences in the ways that people make use of the new dominant social media platforms for different purposes, in different geographies and cultures (Katz et al., 1973, pp. 164-181; Newton, 1999, pp. 577-599; Mutz and Martin, 2001; Webster et al., 2005; Surani and Shroff, 2012). What is clear is that the new media platforms are indeed putting clear demarcation lines between old ways of consuming and reacting to media and the new ways that people have come to interact with media as represented by the digital and social media

Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness case 5 Essay

Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness case 5 - Essay Example The Chinese markets have also faces a surge as there has been a huge drop in the social and cultural barriers. This has been a major cause for the businesses to be able to set up the businesses and work more earnestly. Also the SMEs of China have been known for supplying parts and services to the world’s top companies. This has formed a main characteristic of the Chinese SMEs. The fact that the parts are supplied from Chinese SMEs across the world simply means that the demand for the SME depends to a very great extent on the demand of the giants where the company provide for the goods and services. It is quite difficult to ignore the significance of the SMEs in the Chinese economy. It has also been noted that the Chinese foreign exchange markets and the foreign experts have estimated that the country has been contributed as much as 60% of the total industrial output. Also it provides as much as 75% of the workforce of the country. SMEs are responsible for creating most new urb an jobs, and they are the main destination for workers laid-off from state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that re-enter the workforce. This fact of the companies providing a high level of jobs to the workforce in the country has been recognised by the government however it has also lead to a number of social unrest within the country. Chinese officials have said that SMEs would be more important for preserving social stability than the nascent social security system once increased foreign competition as a result of Chinas WTO entry forces more layoffs from uncompetitive state-owned firms. It has also been noted by the local experts that the employees aged over 40 and 50s are being removed from the jobs, specially those with a lack of skills to be able to compete in the private ventures. The next essential step is to consider the plausible strategy for Chinese SME in the manufacturing industry. There are two main strategies that need to be

Finding White Elephants in Dialogue Essay Example for Free

Finding White Elephants in Dialogue Essay Ernest Hemingway’s â€Å"Hills like White Elephants† presents its main subject not in a blatant manner but through the sum of what is implied and what is said. The title itself alludes to the negativity in which the situation is being accepted by the two main characters, though at varied levels. While the American man perceives their situation as the â€Å"white elephant†, the girl does not think so, at least not as much. This may be because she can think of another white elephant in her life. Meanwhile, the real action happens in the interaction between the American man and the girl, named Jig. Therefore, the text requires careful observation of human relationship in action. Furthermore, perusal of dialogue and even some symbolism reveal the couple’s reaction to that pregnancy and their contemplation of ending the â€Å"problem† or â€Å"white elephant† through abortion. A â€Å"white elephant† is after all â€Å"a metaphor for an expensive and burdensome property† (Link 67). In this short story, through the aid of dialogue the reader can perceive that the white elephant can represent something more subtle than Jig’s pregnancy; it can represent the man’s weakness and inability to take responsibility for his actions. The differences between the American man and the â€Å"generic† girl are emphasized subtly, but these differences affect the way in which the relationship can be interpreted, especially through these differences’ effects on the quiet but steady unraveling of the relationship. For example, the very appointment of a nationality to the man signifies that the girl is foreign, and therefore different from him. â€Å"In an impressive dialogue-driven narrative prose, Hemingway’s unnamed American male protagonist dominates the meeker, weaker-sexed Jig†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Rankin 234). They are separated by culture, nationality, gender and even by age. The American man has not impregnated a woman who may be nearer his supposed level of maturity and responsibility, but a young girl who he may have seduced. The fact that he is the one who cannot take responsibility for the pregnancy is ironic. It is also difficult for a girl who may naturally have expected to lean on an older man during crisis. In contrast to the idea that Jig is a young innocent who has been seduced and can be easily manipulated is Jig’s display of wit as compared to the more reactionary older man (Rankin 236). Jig sometimes denies degree of knowledge such as her familiarity with Anis de Toro: â€Å"I don’t know†¦is it good with water? (Hemingway)†. However, her conversation reveals that she is not as ignorant nor naive as she seems. She may be young but she is not to be swayed into making a decision just because it will please her lover. She says â€Å"Everything tastes like liquorice, especially all the things that you’ve waited for so long, like absinthe† (Hemingway). Jig is exerting some will, declaring what she wants but not directly. The point comes across anyway. While the man thinks of her pregnancy as the white elephant in their relationship, she does not believe it to be so: â€Å"They are lovely hills. They don’t really look like white elephants. I just meant the coloring of their skin through the trees† (Hemingway). Jig believes that although the pregnancy may be difficult on both of them, it promises something beautiful. She has her own opinion on the situation and is not afraid to say what is in her mind. Because there is an emphasis on the meaning of conversation in â€Å"Hills like White Elephants†, in this â€Å"barely 1500 words long [short story], repeated items are notable† (Link 67). It is through repetition that ideas and the story itself are instilled into the readers’ minds despite the ambiguous dialogue and seemingly mundane setting. â€Å"The couple’s power relationship also emerges in the prominence of questions in the text. Much of the dialogue†¦is a trading of questions and answers in which Jig asks a total of seventeen questions, thirteen of which are yes-no questions. The man only asks four questions, three of which he does not ask until the text is nearly finished† (Link 68). The couple is therefore engaged in a verbal tug of war in which each tries to achieve the agreement of the other. Jig is more curious and assertive, despite the fact that the man is expected to have more power over her, because of his gender and more mature age. She asks more questions about their situation, is almost pulled towards the man’s argument but continues to wonder openly about their situation. This questioning mind prevents her from fully regarding her pregnancy as a white elephant. â€Å"Hills like White Elephants† is a testament to the power of dialogue; though the wordings are not direct, the repetition makes up for any diminishing of clarity. The subject of whether or not to have an abortion performed on Jig has been handled in a subtle manner which separates it from other short stories, and even novels that deal with pregnancy out of wedlock and the question of what solution to take. Even what the metaphor will represent can be contested: if indeed the white elephant or burden is the pregnancy or the American man himself. Works Cited: Hemingway, Ernest. Hills like White Elephants. 12 April 2008 http://www. moonstar. com/~acpjr/Blackboard/Common/Stories/WhiteElephants. html. Link, Alex. Staking Everything On It: A Stylistic Analysis of Linguistic Patterns in Hills like White Elephants. The Hemingway Review (n. d. ): 66-74. Rankin, Paul. Hemingways Hills like White Elephants. Explicator (n. d. ): 234-237.

The Cultural Capital Defined Cultural Studies Essay

The Cultural Capital Defined Cultural Studies Essay The chapter provides a theoretical understanding of cultural capital from the perspective of cultural capital from the perspective of sports consumption. Scholarly journals are reviewed to give readers an understanding of the contribution of cultural capital made in the area of sports. The chapter commences with broad issues concerning the topic and narrowed to focus on the study in Ghana. 2.1 Cultural capital defined Cultural capital surfaced in academic work approximately 25 years ago in the work of Bourdieu and Gouldner, and after that references were made in other fields as evolutionary biology (Cohen, cited in Ahbeysekera et. Al, 2004) a literary criticism (Guillory, 1993). Bourdieu from one angle sees capital as power, in this case the power stems from a communal or structural point which accumulates power for a person to gain an economic advantage in the short or long term (Bourdieu, 1990). From another angle and with reference to linguistic and cultural capital, Bourdieu advances a case that parent of the middle class use cultural capital to propagate and advance their economic fortunes (Bourdieu, 1984). Several studies have attributed cultural capital as being embedded in family background and education and have made connections between value based power and having various types of cultural capital (Gayo-Cal, Savage, and Warde, 2006; Warde, 2006; Warde, Martens, and Olsen. 1999). Bourdieu 1997 identifies the three form of cultural capital as Embodied, Objectified and Institutional cultural capital. Embodied cultural capital is explained as the permanent nature of the mind and body (Bourdieu, 1997). Objectified cultural capital is better explained through its operation. Examples are the interpretation of say, paintings or the ability to play instruments. As Bourdieu point s out one can fully appreciate objectified cultural capital except they can afford its consumption (Bourdieu, 1997; Silva, 2006). This explanation in a way demonstrates how objectified cultural capital is learnt or passed on over time, according to Sullivan, 2001 families with well-resourced cultural capital pass on through a mechanism of hands on tutoring through their free time by attending art exhibitions, theaters, highlighting form the need for education and mannerism. Institutional cultural capital according to Bourdieu is the official and systemized recognition accorded both embodied a nd objectified forms of cultural capital. Through this system the tangible value of the capital is scaled and its extrinsic value made legitimate (Bourdieu, 1997). According to Bourdieu 1984 education through formal means is one of the key sources of cultural capital as teaches learners the intangible values associated with cultural knowledge. The nature of institutional cultural capital in supporting symbolic value shapes and improves society. This form of cultural capital and the social structure it provides makes for a personally advantaged position (Bourdieu and Wacquant, 1992). In looking at the relationship between cultural capital and social status and also showing the essence of rare highbrow cultural capital to social status, a study conducted indicated that high class socio-economic groups had access and could to relate to an array of cultural capital forms compared to the lower groups (Peterson and Kern, 1996). 2.2 Capital and symbolic power According to Bourdieu 1990 power is imagined as symbolic power created through discretionary values associated with various types of economic, social and cultural capital that people own. One of the crucial points that have come out strongly is the link of cultural capital to symbolic power and how this creates distinction; allowing higher social status in society through symbolic capital. According to Bourdieu 1997 symbolic capital creates benefits through tangible properties, such as material acquisitions, which further puts those who own it at an advantage. This claim for higher power is emphasized and legitimized through symbolic capital (Swartz, 1997). As symbolic systems are established within society these structures shape and inform our habitus and consequently create permanent characters learnt over a period that inform the way people think of the social environment and the way people function in it (Bourdieu, 1990; Swartz, 1997; Edwards, 2009). 2.3 Cultural Consumption of Sports Sporting preferences are made on social and cultural reproduction and class lines along the same directions as the preference for music and the arts (Bourdieu 1978; 1984). He mentioned that various sports are pecked differently in the social and cultural hierarchy. Wilson 2002 states that according to Bourdieu (1978; 1984) each sport requires the suitable taste and preference and a peculiar sets of skills and knowledge to partake which he calls cultural capital. Separation among people is created through taste consumption and acts a means of social distinction among people. A group through its taste and preferences can align or disassociate itself from society and can be used to create some status for the niche separating it from the mass appeal taste of the rest of the group. Holt (1998) argues that the things that are valued in domains as the arts and theater attendance are mystified in rituals of taste and consumption. In the quest to improve ones standing in society and better the lifes of their descendants theres is a perpetual pursuit of improving ones social standing in a progressive manner so as to restore the stratified position. DiMaggio and Useem 1978 summed this up by saying accumulated cultural capital improves opportunities in life by turning this capital advantage into social and economic progress in future. The hierarchies within society are crucial in understanding the kind of people that attend high cultural activities (DiM aggio and Useem, 1978; Matty, 2004; Tampubolon, 2007). It has been identified in a couple of research studies that sport is less developed when compared to other consumption fields. Indeed, it was noted by Warde 2006 that Bourdieu acknowledges the essence of sports and body maintenance in the storage and exhibition of cultural capital. Bourdieu also noted that ones sporting appeal is complimentary to their lifestyle and serves as a distinction from others (Warde, 2006). In his study- cultural capital and the place of sports, Warde 2006 revealed that the high class society had taste for rare sports, not only that but Wilson 2002 in his study- paradox of social class and sports involvement, reinforces Bourdieus framework that those with highly accumulated wealth tend to participate in sports largely but also more inclined to dissociate themselves from circular sports. The type of sports chosen by people to participate in cannot entirely be dependent on the cultural resource factors, as noted by Warde 2006 in his English study, gender, age, ethnicity contributed to the pattern of sports participation. Also, there have been overwhelming support provided in literature that beyond cultural capital ones socio-economic position, education, gender influenced their choice of sporting activity (Sturgis and Jackson, 2003; Gayo-Cal, 2006). 2.4 Patterns of Cultural Capital A survey (2003-2004) conducted by the centre for research into socio-economic change (CRESC) UK to examine nature of cultural capital in the UK and the degree to which cultural capital can aggregate or disaggregate social groups. The survey used 1564 respondents and the results revealed a clear distinction taste, cognition and participation in across gender, education and class across cultural fields among others music, visual arts, dining out (Gayo-Cal et al., 2006; Gayo-Cal, Warde, and Tampubolon, 2005). The groups that had higher education and those within higher social class were highly involved in cultural activity than their lower level counterparts respectively in the area of education and social class. There were indication from the preliminary results that education and the hierarchy of occupation was passed onto generations such that parents with high education ensure that their children get equal or if not better opportunities to ensure better opportunities and rewarding j obs (Gayo-Cal et al., 2006). Along work lines, Bennett et al. 2011 established that employers, managers and professionals are well informed on cultural artifacts in its widest form by lower class with a higher degree of cultural education whether formal or informal. This point was reinforced by Erickson 1996 that managers tend to be more informed on relatively more cultural domains due to their professional function to interact with more people. There is suggestion that occupations embrace professionals with compatible cultural capital merit as the professional are able to appreciate and comprehend occupation standards (Sommerland, 2007) and the amount of cultural capital held can be important (Peterson and Kern, 1996). 2.5 Cultural Capital and Sports It is often usual to see some kind of sports activity in societies irrespective of the part of the world and this can be attributed to wanting to associate with a group. According to Etizen and Sage 2003 sports is counted as part of the few human activities that can bond a community in any part of the world. Weiss 2001 concedes that few people participate in sports for wellbeing but for the majority it is as a result of the quest to align and identify with others and also reinforce their personalities. Consequently sports can be engaged so as to establish ones cultural identity (Stodolska and Alexandris, 2004). Contrary to the above sports can be used as a catalyst for exclusion and propagate selectivity among groups and people. Culturally popular sports are recognized and given more attention giving them more social capital and power (Light and Kirk 2001). For instance social groups including families reproduce social advantages through private school attendance which is recognized for its exclusivity (Light and Kirk, 2001). The absence of partaking in any sports activity is tantamount to societal isolation and this result in anti-social tendencies that pave the way on cutting ones chances of socialization, education and professional ascension (Majumdar, 2003). Cricket in India is a good example of such marked exclusion. Corporate sponsors have branded the game as elitist and the sole preserve of the educated and affluent sine post-independence (Majumdar, 2003). Corporate Institutions have clear policies for player recruitment and they attach a great deal of importance to education; this also is a criteria in terms of their reward system as the level of ones education affects how much salary one receives. There is monopoly through high fees from cricket clubs preventing the less privileged to have access to the sports (Majumbar, 2003). It is paramount to appreciate what leads to the association of particular groups of people with certain sports activities and its function in the reproduction of socio-eco nomic differences in a society (Washington and Karen, 2001). Ii is the duty of incumbent spots managers to ascertain the relationship between sports participation and socio-cultural capital in order to phantom how to equalize this inequality and give the less privileged adequate representation if desired. Globalization has marginalized traditional cultures and ethnic social systems and promoting identical societies (Hochschild, 2006). Despite this global approach of uniformity and the expression of western views sports can also promote the minority groups by playing a role in maintaining foreign identities and keeping dominant national ties (Giossos, 2008; Lee, 2006). International sporting activities like the Olympics, Commonwealth games and FIFA worldcup are avenues for fans and participants to establish and exhibit their cultural affiliation (Yoh, Yang and Gordon, 2008). 2.6 Sports fans and consumption A fan is passionate and committed of a particular sports consumptive object (Hunt, Bristol and Bashaw, 1999). In this regard a fan is a consumer of an organize sport. The term committed shows the level of attachment fans associate with the sports. Fans are also driven to act for the sport. A sport consumption object can be the sport, team or even the organized leaque or personalities like players, coaches/ managers, commentators who are strongly associated with a sport. Several fans exist as they differ in their behavior and motivation (Hunt, Bristol and Bashaw, 1999). Current concepts have focused on team performance as the main driver of fan behavior (Cialdidni et al., 1976; Grove et al., 1991; Mann, 1974; Wann and Dolan, 1994). Our appreciation sports fan is limited and fan motivation and its consequent behavior extend teams and certain situations have no connection to team performance (Fisher and Wakefield, 1998). In addition, most studies have concentrated on ticket sales and game attendance as the ultimate goal in the exchange between sports marketers and fans. Beyond this, sports marketing involve corporate sponsorship, sports prafenelia, sovenirs, stadia branding, sports publications and others (Bandyopadhyaya and Bottone, 1997). Thus the need to shift research study into other areas to fill the gaps identified in fan behavior and consumption. 2.7 Sports consumption- fandom and cults in sports Fan is the short version of fanatic and entreats religion in sporting contest and competitions (Borland and Macdonald, 2003). Fandom is part of the system of sports instituted so that people can be part of the game without partaking (Branscombe et al., 1991). The concept inspires social advantages as togetherness, belongingness and fraternity but also self-esteem (Zillman et al., 1993). Fans get ecstatic by the mere fact that they are fans (Kimble and Cooper, 1992). This passion and energy which is transformed into the mood of the fans is determined by the sport they are supporting and the outcome of a game lingers onto other unrelated activities immediately after (Hirt et al., 1992). He also defines fandom as an association to a sport/ team with great deal of emotional importance and treasure from this membership (Hirt et al., 1992). A follower of sport does not translate to mean they are fans (Funk and James, 2001). Further distinction is provided on what constitutes a follower and a fan of sports, followers witness a game without much attachment but fans are passionate in supports and transcends beyond watching a game, they are committed on a daily basis (Jones, 1997). Several distinctions have been made between who a follower of a sport is compared to a fan and this borders on the degree of emotional attachment and level of commitment offered by the supporter (Anderson, 1979; Hunt et al., 1999; Stewart and Smith, 1997; Tapp and Clowes, 2002; Pimentel and Reynolds, 2004). According to Wann and Pierce (2003) the accuracy of measurement of the level of identification/commitment is essential to sports psychologists and marketers due to the fact that the degrees of response of sports fans are usually a function of their commitment and level of association with the sport. Sports consumption creates fandom as seen above and this has the tendencies of creating cults in sports. As witnessed earlier in the section being a part of like-minded people is rewarding and one of the key ingredients of cult and cult brands is that they maintain the distinction that keeps their members together (Atkins, 2004) and therefore alienate others by this same argument. On the surface it may seem that cult is non-existent in the domain of sports as this is usually associated to religion. It has been argued that sports is competitive, versatile and a personal activity contrary to religion which is grounded on a communal system and is non-competitive in nature (Prebish, 1993). A sport is likened to religion and because it is rooted in a natural cause (Novak, 1995). Further, Brody (1979) that the joint nature of supporters of organized sports is partly religious in nature. The important point is how groupings are created and the resulting in exclusion of others. According to Percy and Taylor (1991) followers of teams maintain rituals of essential symbolic artifacts as apparels, food and type of allies they choose which are sacred in the ritual of sports. 2.8 Sports Affiliation Membership of a group is driven by the aspiration to keep a distinction from other social groups (Madrigal, 2002). An aspect of membership identification and affiliation is the act of rites such as gathering souvenirs, match attendance and considering the sport as part of ones identity. There is strength and a sense of identity in associating with a group. There is difficulty in creating self-images in the absence of group association (Tajfel, 1982). Closer ties with a group allow individuals to borrow the positive traits of a group for oneself and take on more commonality with others within the group (Fisher and Wakefield, 1998; Tajfel and Turner, 1986). Cultural capital is gained by sports fans through the adoption of labels (Richardson, 2004) from the group- the appreciation of how to consume in the socially sanctioned manner. 2.9 History of Ghana Sports The subject of cultural capital and Ghana sports can be located in the countrys sporting history and particularly football and the love the people of Ghana have for the game. Ghana has a rich football heritage with a great deal of chronicled successes, includes memorable milestones as producing Arthur Wharton, the first black professional footballer in the English game (Ghanaian Times. 2011: 29); Ghana won the African Cup of Nations football tournament four times. Football clubs like Accra Hearts of Oak have chalked over 100 years with enviable local and continental record: Hearts won the first ever football league in Ghana, an unprecedented six consecutive occasions, an unbeaten season and three continental- Confederations of Africa (CAF) trophies (Daily Graphic, 2012:31). Football is a competitive sport in Ghana attracting huge following and its nature of consumption is diverse. Football has produced fan groups along ethnic and regional lines in the country and families have a gene ration of loyalty to particular clubs. Above all, sports in Ghana tend to follow Bourdieus idea of distinction in consumption by virtue of ones cultural capital and appreciation of a sport. Golf, has only received some attention in the country in recent years due to the enormous attraction it receives from corporate institutions. Golf is second to football as far as private sector sponsorship funds is concerned (Anonymous, 2007). The overarching institution in charge of sports in the country is the National sports and came to effect through a presidential declaration. The National sports council is in place to improve, promulgate, and manage sports in the country with aim of fostering nationalism and professionalism that drives consistent wealth creation and infrastructural improvement (Anonymous, 2007). It is interesting to note that a similar institution the Gold Coast Amateur Sports Council existent in the Gold Coast, then Ghana established under the enactment of Ordinance 14, 1952 (www.sportscouncil.com.gh).

Essay --

In today’s socio-political currency, often there is cheapened ‘Hero Inflation’ devoid of serious moral reflection in indiscriminate glory of dubious value. Within that promiscuous praise that greases the path for bottom of the barrel hyperbole debased hero-worshipping, and if you throw partisan vituperation of political complexities in the mix, it becomes absurd ventilation of the small soul’s lowest common denominator. You get all kinds of cluttered mind, suffocating echo chamber, denialism barking on style over substance. In their politically charged hyper reality, truth is variable, partial and filtered through narrow partisan optics. Soullessness of the chattering class are so vein that even old chestnuts falling from their favorite leaders’ mouth are treated like jewels. You may call it a mix of Rolling Stone and Mad magazines, with a dash of National Lampoon tossed in. Now with these elements getting into street politics outlier, ideologies get calcified, cocooned and extremism galvanized; unpersuaded by conventional understanding of facts, figures, & evidence; and always dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition. Leaders for whom they root for, are many a times are truly incompetent, can’t even recognize their own incompetence and that reigns supreme. They thrive in sloganeering & narrow echo chambers, where they listen to themselves and their supporting cast, and that keeps them going, forgetting that the rest of the country think they're empty-head, crazy. Because of these framed-up political game, national interest suffers, and whole nation eventually pays dearly for that. Looking at current politicking & electioneering in Dhaka, you can’t take politics out of these political elements. They are into polit... ...has also a partisan biasness in favor of Prime Minister Hasina’s Awami League. Their repeated, open interference in Bangladesh politics raises eye-brows in many quarters, more so because India is delaying in implementation of agreed India-Bangladesh Land Boundary protocol, water-sharing accord from common river of Padma & Teesta. Some even believe, India care less to be an honest broker, rather they are part of this turmoil instigator. Today Bangladesh is at the political cross-road. Controversy withstanding, diplomatic club is the last resort to bring some common-ground in this politically charged environment. Will they succeed? If they don’t, current political impasse would turn into a train-wreck waiting to happen. So I would urge upon all my fellow Bangladeshi compatriots to exert maximum pressure for finding a common ground & compromise. God bless Bangladesh.

Changes in Latitude :: Personal Narrative Essays

Changes in Latitude I was nominated to go to Singapore based on my achievements in the science fair. However, looking back on my recent experience in Singapore, it was the people, and not the science, that really stick in my memory. I think that's just as well. Most of the science will be yesterday's news by the time I go to college anyway. This was my first opportunity for international travel, and certainly, Singapore is about as far away as it is possible to travel from Pennsylvania. Singapore is also far away from home in its culture and climate. Traveling there opened my eyes to new ideas, values, and attitudes. The talks at the festival were great. One of the highlights of the festival for me was the spirited and humorous talk given by the Australian scientist / radio show host. I also learned a lot of new information about the human genome project, which seemed to be a prime interest of APEC's scientific community, and certainly an important project for demonstrating cooperation. Several distinguished scientists talked to us about their work with HUGO and their role in deciphering the genetic code of the human species. In addition to this exposure to scientific research in the region, I learned something about the education system of Singapore. It is, I found, somewhat different than ours. They swap the last two years of high school for something called junior college. These students are looked on with admiration by the younger students, and the adults from Singapore seem to entrust all leadership responsibilities to them, rather than the younger students. These junior college students from Singapore were also favored over students of the same age from other countries. This was upsetting to some. For example, I know one junior college-aged boy in my group who was not from Singapore complained of this. I understand, however, that this preference for the junior college students from Singapore reflects their culture's reverence for elders. Besides learning something about the education in Singapore, I had the opportunity to discuss international careers with other attendees of APEC. I think that the biggest advantage of thinking "internationally" is that you benefit from having minds from all over the globe help you solve scientific problems. And from a business perspective, you can make use of a global market to sell to a wider variety of customers.

My Opinion About A.A.Milne’s “A Word for Autumn”

What can be more dreadful than autumn? Every year we say farewell to summer and always think of it as the end of the world, to tell the truth, me, too. Undoubtedly, there are people who are fascinated with autumn, they like it. Anyway, it’s a beautiful time of the year, very picturesque and bright, especially during September. Leaves are red, orange, yellow, golden brown and amber. The air is cool, crisp and the sky looks darker and more boundless in the evenings. But†¦it’s autumn and nothing can be done till the next June. It’s like a damnation and a punishment for relaxed and carefree summer we’ve just spent. A. A. Milne shares the other point of view in his essay â€Å"A Word for Autumn†. The narrator is kind of a relativist here. He is like Zen-Buddhist, the good and the bad are making the one, main law of life for him, they are indivisible and everlasting. â€Å"I had been thinking of the winter as a horrid wet, dreary time fit only for professional football. Now I can see other things-†¦Ã¢â‚¬  These other things are too the part of our mundane and routine life but they do decorate it and make cheerful: sitting near by fireplace, having long talks with your parents or beloved ones during long and cold autumn and winter evenings, reading books or just muse on some things: â€Å"Good work shall be done this winter. Life shall be lived well. † But I want to think a little about summer. Why do we like it so much and cherish it’s every day? Why does it so much influence our mood? Summer comes every year like an award for the long and cold winter that we’ve managed to withstand. It’s my way of seeing it, of course, you may not agree with me. We like the sun, it’s warm and bright rays that are meeting us every summer morning, we’re fond of sunsets that stay in our memory for long time. It’s great time of camping weekends, holidays on the sea-shore and long evening walks in the city parks. I like that trees and grass are so emerald green, I like azure blue sky and light clouds in it and the warm wind. These are things I like about summer. I see that people on the streets are more open and smile when summer comes. I think it’s in the air, this feeling of happiness, of youth and joyful moments. Everything makes a mix of complete and sunny summer bliss and that’s how it goes from year to year. That’s why, may be, it so important to keep this feeling and thought inside, and bring it throughout autumn and winter. We still don’t have such a skill. To be honest, me not. I try to cultivate this habit in me but every time it’s in vain and A. A. Milne on the contrary succeeded in it and I’m a little envious about him in this way. He is epicurean here, he takes the best of life while he can, he enjoys every moment of life. He sees it’s beauty in the fresh celery and â€Å"a wedge of cheese†, in vegetables and fruits, in the pipe he just smoked, in taverns and London inns. And here comes the thought that it’s a good life and it’s going to be this way no matter what happens. The narrator wanted to make us think about it and he did. He ensured me and here I agree with him that: â€Å"The end of the summer is not the end of the world. Here’s to October-and, waiter, some more celery. †