Annotated Booklist of Children’s Literature Essay

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard fly north to look for a place to live. Their first choice is the Public Garden in Boston, but when Mrs. Mallard is almost run over by a bike she decides that it is not a good place to bring up a family. They finally decide on a spot on the Charles River and meet a Policeman called Michael who feeds them. Mrs. Mallard lays eight eggs. Mr. Mallard then decides to explore the rest of the river and agreed to meet the whole family the following week in the Public Garden. When the ducklings are born Mrs. Mallard teaches them to swim and dive and to follow in a straight line so she can take them to meet their father in the Public Garden. As they wade ashore and start to cross the road, the cars begin to honk their horns. The ducklings respond to this by quacking at them. Michael sees what is happening and stops the traffic so the ducklings can cross the road. Once they are across, he contacts other police officers to help him hold traffic to make way for the ducklings so that Mrs. Mallard and her family are able to cross the street safely into the Public Garden. Mrs. Mallard and the ducklings then swim across the pond across to the little island where they found Mr. Mallard waiting for them. The ducklings like their new island so much that they decide to live there. Personal Response: †¢ Did this book resonate with you? If so, in what ways? If not, why not? I enjoyed reading this book as an adult, remembering it from childhood.  Reading it as an adult, I realize the some of the lessons I learned as a child such as following instructions from my mother for example. †¢ Would you recommend this book? If so, to whom and why? If not, why not? I would highly recommend this book to preschool and early education teachers who are looking for an entertaining story that can be used to teach the children about such things as following instructions. For older children a big thing that can be learned is how sometimes things are not as they initially appear, and the Mallard family discovered through the story. †¢ Would you like to read other books by this author? Why or why not? Yes. The author/illustrator did a wonderful job of keeping the story moving, and allowing the pictures to accent and helps move the story along, while continuing to holding the interest of the reader. †¢ How does this book demonstrate characteristics of quality literature? This book shows a good balance between the illustrations and the writing, allowing each to accent the other as the story moves. The story is one that younger children can relate to, and using ducks as the primary characters, it creates an interest in the readers or listeners to want to find out more. †¢ Additional notes/comments/criticisms: Although this story is almost 70 years old, some of the issues it addresses are valid and current even in modern times. In this reviewers opinion the greatest asset of the story is the strength of its primary female character in Mrs. Mallard, showing her to be a woman who is not afraid to make decisions and take charge, something not often seen in 1941. Title:A Wrinkle in Time Author: Madeleine L’Engle Illustrator:Ellen Raskin (1960s editions), Leo and Diane Dillon (current hardcover) Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux Date of Publication: 1962 Genre:Fantasy Short Synopsis: In the beginning of the story, we are introduced to Meg Murry. Although she is very bright, her self esteem is very low and this is causing her problems in school. We learn her parents are both scientists, and that her father has been missing for over a year now. We are also introduced to her five year old brother, Charles Wallace, who we discover very quickly is an extremely gifted child with a very close bond to his sister. On a dark stormy night a strange woman who identifies herself as Ms. Whatsit visits the Murry family and she tells Meg’s mother, â€Å"There is such a thing as a Tesseract.† The next day, Charles Wallace takes Meg to meet his new friend Mrs. Whatsit, and her friends Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which. On their way there they meet up with Calvin O’Keefe, a boy Meg goes to school with, and he and Charles Wallace immediately become friends. The three ladies, who are actually very strange and powerful beings from beyond the Earth, offer to help Meg and Charles find their father. The children learn from Mrs. Whatsit and her friends that the universe is threatened by a great evil called the Dark Thing. They are told several planets have already succumbed to this evil force, including Camazotz, the planet on which Mr. Murry is being held. The children are transported by Mrs. Whatsit to Camazotz and instruct remain always in each other’s company. On Camazotz, everything appears exactly alike because the whole planet must conform to the terrifying rhythmic pulsation of IT, a giant disembodied brain. Charles Wallace tries to fight IT with his exceptional intelligence but allows himself to be hypnotized to try and save his father. He then leads Meg and Calvin to Mr. Murry and together they confront IT. Meg and Calvin are also unable to withstand IT’s power and escape only at the last minute, when Mr. Murry appears and seizes Meg and Calvin, â€Å"tessering† away with them to the planet Ixchel inhabited by tall, furry beasts that care for the travelers. Unfortunately Charles Wallace is left behind and remains possessed by IT. The three Mrs. W’s appear as Meg realizes that she must travel alone back to Camazotz to rescue her brother. Mrs. Which tells her that she has one thing that IT does not have and this one thing will be her only weapon against the evil. Meg is told she has to discover this weapon for herself. When standing in the presence of IT, Meg finally realizes what this weapon is, her ability to love. By concentrating on her love for Charles Wallace, she is able to restore him to his true identity, releasing him from IT’s clutches and the teasers with him, landing in their vegetable garden on Earth, where her father and Calvin are waiting for her. The family reunites as the three Mrs. W’s visit them one last time. Personal Response: †¢ Did this book resonate with you? If so, in what ways? If not, why not? This is one of my favorite books from childhood, and to this day one of my favorite authors. As a child I understood the character of Meg, and many times in life felt a kinship with her in many ways. The feelings of awkwardness and not fitting in were understandable to me, and writings such as this showed me I was not alone. †¢ Would you recommend this book? If so, to whom and why? If not, why not? I would highly recommend this book, as well as those that followed in the series. This book is good for adolescents who have reached that awkward stage in life where then need to fit in or are questioning the power that love can have on us as a society. This story shows us that not only love, but hope as well can overcome any darkness so long as we believe. †¢ Would you like to read other books by this author? Why or why not? I have read many other books by this author as she is one of my favorite writers next to Isaac Asimov. Her stories are always ones that make us think, not just of ourselves as individuals, but many times as a society as a whole. The stories challenge our views, and show us how our own individuality can be one of the greatest gifts we have as human beings. †¢ How does this book demonstrate characteristics of quality literature?  This book shows characteristics of good literature in the way it approaches the development of its characters most of all. It keeps them believable, and allows just about anyone who is reading to connect with at least one of the characters, and in doing this allows them to â€Å"step† into the story as that character and experience firsthand the lesson that she is conveying to her readers. Each of the characters has their flaws as well as their strengths, and they learn that only by working together are they able to overcome the evil and restore themselves. †¢ Additional notes/comments/criticisms: L’Engle has said that â€Å"One cannot discuss structure in writing without discussing structure in all life; it is impossible to talk about why anybody writes a book or paints a picture or composes a symphony without talking about the nature of the universe.† This perspective is what makes her one of my favorite authors as she is able to discuss this structure of life without compromising he own morals or beliefs. Title:The Giving Tree Author: Shel Silverstein Illustrator:Shel Silverstein Publisher: Harper & Row Date of Publication: 1964 Genre:Picture Book Short Synopsis: The Giving Tree follows a friendship between a growing boy and a favorite tree. In the beginning of the story the tree is full grown and healthy and the boy is very young. The tree provides the child with apples, shade, and branches to swing and hang on. As the boy gets older he asks more of the tree and the tree never turns him down. The boy uses the tree to first build his house, and then as he becomes a mature man cuts the tree down in order to make a boat. Through all of this the tree does not protest and offers itself to the boy. Many years later, the boy returns as an old man to the  tree, which has nothing left but a stump. The man requests that he be allowed to sit and rest on the trees stump while he waits for his death. The tree again happily gives him what is requested. Personal Response: †¢ Did this book resonate with you? If so, in what ways? If not, why not? This was my favorite book as a child and I enjoyed reading this book as an adult. This book through its wonderful illustrations and well structured story telling shows us an example of unconditional love. †¢ Would you recommend this book? If so, to whom and why? If not, why not? I would highly recommend this book to preschool and early education teachers who are looking for an entertaining story that can be used to teach the value of giving, and the joys that can be had from something as simple as giving without expectation of reward. †¢ Would you like to read other books by this author? Why or why not? Yes. The author/illustrator did a wonderful job of keeping the story moving, and allowing the pictures to accent and help move the story along, while continuing to holding the interest of the reader. The simple line drawings invoked a very strong feeling of love in the way the tree is shows as it many times almost embraces the boy as he grows. †¢ How does this book demonstrate characteristics of quality literature? This book shows a good balance between the illustrations and the writing, allowing each to accent the other as the story moves. The story is one that younger children can relate to as they watch the boy grow from a boy to a senior citizen. This progression as he ages and the tree continually gives its â€Å"life† to help him succeed models itself from how a parent does all they can to nurture and help their child to succeed, many times to the exclusion of their own well being. †¢ Additional notes/comments/criticisms: Even with its age this story transcends time as it looks at the universal  emotion of love, and what we will do for it. There is much debate, however, over its interpretation. Some view the boy as selfish as he uses the tree to its â€Å"death†, while others such as I see it as the relationship of a parent to their child, where both the tree and the child’s actions are reasonable. Title:The Snowy Day Author: Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator:Ezra Jack Keats Publisher: Viking Press Date of Publication: 1962 Genre:Picture Book Short Synopsis: The story is of Peter, a young boy living in an apartment in the city, and his adventures as he reacts to a day after a big snow storm. Peter wakes and gets dressed and then goes out and crunches the snow with his feet, makes footprints and tracks through the snow, and drags a stick in snow. Peter is disappointed when the big boys don’t include him in their snowball fight, so he builds a snowman, makes snow angels, and slides down a snow mountain. Peter ends his full day of snow play by taking a warm bath and sharing his adventures with his mother before going to bed. The story ends with his joy of waking to even more snow the next day. Personal Response: †¢ Did this book resonate with you? If so, in what ways? If not, why not? This book was an enjoyable read as we were able to sense and feel the awe and wonder of Peter as he explored the Snowy Day, and discovered all of the fun than can be had in the snow. The book covers everything from properly dressing for play in the snow to appropriate games that can be played. The wonderful illustrations in the book not only were an accent to the story, but the words within the story actually would not have any meaning. The story is told as much through the independence of the illustrations and the  words as many times one is used to explain the actions of the other rather than just giving a physical representation of the action within the words as many picture books do. †¢ Would you recommend this book? If so, to whom and why? If not, why not? I would highly recommend this book to preschool and early education teachers who are looking for an entertaining story that can be used to teach students the wonders of exploration. From the first scenes of Peter waking up, right to the final scenes, the book is about the wonders that are out there if we are not afraid to move beyond that we are comfortable with and explore. †¢ Would you like to read other books by this author? Why or why not? Yes. The author/illustrator did a wonderful job of creating a character in Peter who we all can associate with. He takes great care in developing the character and in subsequent books continues the story of Peter as he continues to grow and mature. I feel these additional books would be a wonderful addition to any teacher’s collection. †¢ How does this book demonstrate characteristics of quality literature? This book shows an amazing balance between the illustrations and the writing, allowing each to not just accent but to carry the other as the story moves. The story is one that younger children can relate to as they watch Peter explore and discover new things in the world around him. The book never loses focus on its purpose which is to allow us to not just read about Peter’s exploration, but to share in it with him. †¢ Additional notes/comments/criticisms: This book also features the first African American main character to be depicted in a children’s picture book. This ground-breaking book was followed by several others written by Keats, including A Whistle for Willie, Peter’s Chair, A Letter to Amy, and Goggles. Each of these books continues to follow Peter as he grows from this shy child into a well adjusted teen.

The Grave: Redemption and Coming of Age

The Grave: Redemption and Coming of age Everyone has that one person that they look up to as a child. In the short story â€Å"The Grave,† a young girl named Miranda grew up without a mother and is considered to be a tomboy. Her older brother, Paul, is that person she looks up to. She has a sort of epiphany after playing and digging through dirt in her grandfather's old grave with her brother and finding a gold ring which gears her into discovering her femininity.The author, Katherine Anne Porter uses symbolism to a great extent to illustrate the themes of redemption and Miranda's epiphany of deciding to accept and embrace her existence as a woman. The main form of symbolism that porter uses in the story is Christian Symbolism. Prior to when Miranda and Paul explore the graves, Porter describes the cemetery by stating: â€Å"The cemetery had been a pleasant, small, neglected garden of tangled rose bushes and ragged cedar trees and cypress. . . † (362). The description o f the grave refers to the Garden of Eden which is a Christian Biblical setting.Grubbs acknowledges that: â€Å". . . Something that Miranda says about a snake following their exploration of the graves makes the Biblical connection almost obvious. â€Å"We [the reader] guess that there will be a fall however, when Miranda asks if she can ‘have the first snake’ in their hunt, suggesting the snake that led Eve to eat from the tree of knowledge† (Smith, Ed 3). This supports the theme of redemption to this Biblical reference. Miranda and Paul feel much like how Adam and Eve felt in The Fall of Eden; the reader can make this comparison by this quote in the short story saying: â€Å". . The cemetery was no longer theirs, and they felt like trespassers† (Porter 363). When Adam and Eve begin to feel as if they have done a forbidden act, they start to have negative feelings such as shame and the fear of being discovered, just like Miranda and Paul, and how they do not want anyone to know that they have been playing in their grandfather's grave. Grubbs points out the meaning of the graves being, â€Å". . . symbols of experience . . . and one of the story's many links to the fall† (2).In the graves Miranda found a silver dove and Paul found a gold ring, which they soon traded their findings. Considering the dove as well, Grubbs notes that â€Å"The dove's emergence from the grave suggests innocence born from experience . . . † he reports as well that â€Å"Graves and treasures represent loss and recovery; together they suggest continuity† (2). The symbolic meanings of the dove and the gold ring have a large impact on the story. The gold ring though has an even more of an impact on Miranda than it does on Paul.Following trading the ring with Paul, Miranda has an epiphany regarding her feelings about her existence as a woman and moving away from being a tomboy and move toward embracing her femininity. Once Miranda saw the ri ng she loved it, in the short story it states: â€Å"Miranda was smitten at sight of the ring and wished to have it† (Porter 363). The ring becomes to have a stronger effect on her when she begins to resent her boyish clothes. â€Å"Now the ring, shining with serene purity of fine gold on her rather grubby thumb, turned her feelings against her overalls and sockless feet . . . (Porter 365). She then wanted to go home and wanted to â€Å". . . dust herself with plenty of Maria's [her older sister] violet talcum powder† and â€Å". . . put on the thinnest, most becoming dress she owned, with a big sash, and sit in a wicker chair under the trees . . . † (Porter 365). With this being stated the reader can observe how Miranda is realizing the reality of the true differences between her and her brother. Cromie and Karr reason that: â€Å"This fantasy obviously works to prepare us for Miranda's acceptance of her destiny as a woman, but it is also reminiscent of the F all† (4).This is true because Miranda accepting herself as being a woman reflects her loss of innocence in relation to the story line in the Fall of Eden. Porter uses many different examples of symbolism throughout the story to connect the concept of death and rebirth [redemption] and Miranda's maturing into a young woman. Grubbs comments that: â€Å"The narrator draws us into ‘The Grave' through several layers of time and seemingly disjointed events, each layer revealing more than the one before† (2).Throughout the story the reader can follow Miranda's thoughts and behaviors to conclude her significant changes from a young girl who looked up to her older brother as a role model to designating her older sister as her role model, not to mention Miranda's discovery of continuity. Work Cited Porter, Katherine Anne. â€Å"†The Grave†Ã¢â‚¬  The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter. Orlando: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1979. 362-68. Print. Rooke Const ance and Bruce Wallis. â€Å"Myth and Epiphany in Porter’s ‘The Grave,’. Studies in short fiction 25. 3 (Summer 1978): 269-275. Rpt. In Short Story Criticism. Ed. Jenny Cromie and Justin Karr. Vol. 43. Detroit: Gale Group, 2001. Literature Resource Center. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. Grubbs, M. A. â€Å"The Grave. † Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Revised Edition (2004): 1-2. Literary Reference Center. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. â€Å"The Grave. † Short Stories for Student. Ed. Jennifer Smith. Vol. 11. Detroit: Gale Group, 2001. 78-93. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 25 Oct. 2012.

Carnival Cruise Line

The IT improvement will help CCL to achieve the future goal that attract more loyal customer, help CCL to arrange customized activities, lower inventory cost and attract more first timers and repeaters by cooperating with travel agencies to promote their product. Provide Fun ship service with low cost and customer friendly strategy Carnival is a low-cost and customer oriented company which provides fun for a broad market. (Exhibit1 illustrates the core competiveness and key activities of CCL. ) â€Å"Fun Ship† theme is the key competitive advantage of CCL which â€Å"wants to think of the boat as the destination, and the ports as secondary†.At the same time, they use various promotional channels and wide ticket price range to attract broader market. Low cost strategy, customer friendly service and efficient product distribution enable CCL to be the leading company in the cruise industry. CCL performed well in the past and boasts bright future market, but there is still a large room of strategic improvement to break the bottleneck and achieve an even stronger market position. Recommend an IT investment in cruiser behavior analysis system Make an investment in developing a Cruiser Behavior Estimation system will optimize the current CRM system.In analysis of the current CRM system (Exhibit 2 virtualizes the process of current CRM system), I find that CCL has already embraced a comprehensive IS and the FSS perfectly create a cashless society on board with the SS card, but they don’t take full advantage of cruiser activity data. In the Exhibit 2, we can find that CCL don’t have any further estimation of the customer behavior. I improve the CRM process by adding a cruiser behavior estimation process, numbered as process 8 in the DFD (Exhibit3). With the process, the aligned CRM will improve customer service and create business value in four aspects.Raise customer satisfaction with the Behavior analysis system The newly added cruiser behavior estimation system will enable CCL to make quick response and give provide diversified activity recommendation. (Exhibit 3 presents my proposed IT-enabled process improvement and the aligned process numbered as a). After the analysis of the cruiser activities data, CCL can estimate that preference of on-board cruisers and make the personalized activity recommendations to encourage continuing shopping in the following days on board, which is similar to the â€Å"Amazon Recommendation for you†.The system will also help â€Å"Cruise staff quick learns guests’ name and preference. † Information from the system lower the inventory cost The customer pref erence and actual on-board consumption information will be recorded in customer database and used to predict their future consumption of inventory. (Exhibit 3 process b)The system will use the data to estimate the customers’ demand in the following days. Then the inventory center uses the estimation to adjust their supply. Therefore, the action will definitely save money for CCL with accurate inventory supply.Evaluate the customer loyalty with the system The evaluation results of customer loyalty will serve for further marketing promotion. (Exhibit 3 process c)Many customer behaviors will act as an evident to predict the potential customers. For instance, the most first timer wants to try some brand new activities, while the repeater prefers to more enjoyable experience. With the data analysis, they can predict the potential repeaters and send the information to PVPs to make the further promotion. Enhance the corporation with travel agency

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Anti Cancer Drugs - Essay Example Cell cycle phase specific anticancer drugs are given for a particular phase and inhibit the further progression of the tumor cell (Ajithkumar et al 2011). The G1 phase specific drugs inhibit the G1 phase of the tumor cells and have therapeutic consequences associated with them. Cyclin-dependant kinases play an important role in the progression of the G1 phase. During the G1 to S phase transition, the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma susceptibility gene, Rb, regulated by D-type cyclins and CDKs 4 and 6 is a major factor causing the cell cycle progression. By inhibiting the CDK activity, the G1 phase activity can be inhibited as well. First generation CDK inhibitors include flavopiridol, UCN-01 and L86 8276, a non-chlorinated chemical form of flavopiridol. Flavopiridol causes G1 inhibition by its inhibitory action on the CDK 2 and CDK4. UCN-01 and flavopiridol cell cycle repression is followed by apoptosis of the tumor cells and they cave a cytotoxic effect. However, tumor cell selectivity is a major issue in their therapeutic affectivity. Non-tumor cells can also be affected by these anticancer drugs leading to apoptosis and hence, non-tumor cells are also sensitive for the CDK inhibiting action (Shapiro & Harper 1999). The limited inhibition activity caused by first-generation lead to the formulation of purvalanol B a second generation CDK inhibitor. This drug targets the ATP-binding sites and has shown higher selectivity for the CDKs. The activity of CDK4 and CDK 2 is inhibited 100-folds more selectively causing inactivation of Rb gene and ultimately cell arrest at the G1 phase (Shapiro & Harper 1999). Corticosteroids and natural products like asparagine are also specific for cell arrest at G1 phase of the tumor cells. Corticosteroids are effective in lymphoid derived tumors while asparagines are effective in depriving the tumor cells

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Aristotle on property and family - Essay Example According to the theories of Socrates, there should be no private property in the ideal community. Aristotle had a different point of view on this issue. He supposed that women and children belong to some male individuals and therefore can also be referred to as property. It is possible to imagine what will happen if all citizens would have the right to use the wives and children of each other. Aristotle has limited the sharing of property to several cases which would bring the benefits to the state. For example, he explained when the soil can be common (Lear 214-215): (1) the soil can be common and the products from it can be used for common consumption; (2) the soil can be common only if it is cultivated in common and the products are divided among the individuals for the private purposes. Aristotle has made one important point which makes it clear that common sharing of goods will not be beneficial for the state. When people share equally all of the benefits, those who labor much will always be dissatisfied with those who labor less but receive the same reward. As Aristotle has noted, it has been always very difficult for the men to have all human relations in common.

Disclosure Analysis Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Disclosure Analysis Paper - Essay Example Assets assist in determining the value of the company; hence, providing information to investors. A comprehensive financial report should provide a total of the fixed and current assets that an organization has in order to give support in the calculation of the total amount of working capital available (Israelsen, 2001). The ratio between the total number of assets available to the total number of liabilities aids in coming up with the working capital of an organization. Therefore, a ratio above one indicates that the company has more chances of success rather than failure. The Christopher Corporation segments its company assets into three key parts, which include current assets, fixed assets and other assets. The first category, which includes current assets like cash equivalents and cash, receivables and inventory, convert to cash easily and faster. The cash and cash equivalents engross cash in hand, cash at bank and treasury bills that add up to a total of 20, 000 dollars. In the case of Christopher Corporation, the amount of money available is low indicating that the company has fewer assets in the form of cash. Cash equivalents such as the treasury bills and the cash at bank also seem generally low. A retail business incurs a number of expenses, and the rate of cash inflow is lower than the amount of cash outflow. Additionally, a large number of debtors could also lead to low cash count. The second category of current assets includes receivables, which mainly constitute of debtors. Debts to a business refer to the amount of money other people, groups or firms owe the subject company, which is Christopher Corporation. Debts are either long term or short term depending on the agreement. In the above balance sheet, the records show that the corporation has a total of $60,000 receivable debts. As a trade organization, the company may sell some products or services on credit. A

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Synthesis on Rear Window - Essay Example Jeff telephones Thorwald and asks him to meet him at a bar, providing Lisa and Stella with the opportunity to dig up the flower patch, but they find nothing. Lisa then climbs through the fire escape into Thorwald’s apartment, but unfortunately, he returns and catches her. Jeff witnesses this through the window and calls the police to save Lisa, who signals to him across the courtyard with Mrs. Thorwald’s ring. Thorwald notices Lisa signaling to Jeff through the window and realizes that Jeff is behind the whole scheme to uncover him as the murderer of his wife. Â  In the scuffle that follows Thorwald throws a yelling Jeffries through the window, but the police arrive in time to catch him before he hits the ground, and only suffers another broken leg. The police arrest Thorwald, who confesses to murdering his wife. In the final scene of the movie, Jeff has broken his other leg too as a result of the fall and is shown resting at peace in his wheelchair. Across the courtya rd, the lonely woman has a new-found friendship with the songwriter, the lover of the dancer returns home from the military, the elderly couple has acquired a new dog, and the young couple is constantly arguing. Rear Window provides an insightful view of the social and psychological factors that give rise to difficulties experienced in relationships between men and women. Jeff’s relationship with Lisa and the relationships of the other tenants across the courtyard combines throughout the film to bring out this central theme.... In the scuffle that follows Thorwald throws a yelling Jeffries through the window, but the police arrive in time to catch him before he hits the ground, and only suffers another broken leg. The police arrest Thorwald, who confesses to murdering his wife. In the final scene of the movie, Jeff has broken his other leg too as a result of the fall and is shown resting at peace in his wheelchair. Across the courtyard, the lonely woman has a new-found friendship with the songwriter, the lover of the dancer returns home from the military, the elderly couple has acquired a new dog, and the young couple is constantly arguing. Rear Window provides an insightful view of the social and psychological factors that give rise to difficulties experienced in relationships between men and women. Jeff’s relationship with Lisa, and the relationships of the other tenants across the courtyard, combines throughout the film to bring out this central theme. In The Women Who Knew Too Much, Tania Modlesk i interprets The Rear Window by using it as the basis for an analysis of the male and female spectators. Modleski asserts that the film stresses both male and female points of view, with both Jeff and Lisa being portrayed in the reverse shots observing the neighbors through the rear window. She stresses that the male character is not domineering over the female character, and that spectators get the opportunity to identify themselves with both Jeff and Lisa on different occasions. Lisa related to the characters through empathy and identification, whereas Jeff was more interested in spying on them and adopting a controlling relation to the happenings in their lives. Through these two perspectives, Modleski brings out the instances in the film that provided spectators with the

Managing people and organization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Managing people and organization - Essay Example The specific gap has been identified by Kilduff, Elfenbein and Staw (2010); their article entitled as ‘The psychology of rivalry: A relationally dependent analysis of competition’ aims to offer adequate explanations on the relationship between rivalry and competition both regarding the individuals and the organizations. Through the above study, the following fact is revealed: competition among individuals has similarities with the competition developed between organizations. In this way, the following assumption can be made: the response of organizations to the pressures of their competitors is depended on the perceptions of their managers on rivalry; the latter is not just an element of human behavior; rather, it can be a cause for promoting competition among organizations – based on the fact that organizational decisions are made by individuals who are expected to use their own perceptions and experiences when having to develop various organizational plans. The article of Kilduff, Elfenbein and Staw (2010) has been critically reviewed in order to identify its strengths and weaknesses but also its contribution in the explanation of organizational behavior. It is concluded that the specific article is extremely valuable in terms not just of its subject but also of its structure and content. Article Importance The article of Kilduff, Elfenbein and Staw (2010) can be characterized as quite important helping to realize the role of rivalry for the development of various decisions. Especially in regard to the area of organizational behavior, the specific article helps to understand how the responses of firms to their competitors can be explained and evaluated. The value of the article for the particular field can be also identified at the following two points: a) existing studies regarding the role of rivalry in organizational competition are quite limited; in fact, up today, the relationship between the personal attitudes – as rivalry can be primarily characterized – and the organizational initiatives has not been explored; through the article under examination the dependency of organizational decisions on personal beliefs – referring to the beliefs of rivals when these persons have to participate in the development of a key organizational decision – is analytically explained; b) competition is a key part of organizational activities; however, the causes and the elements of competition have not been adequately examined in the past; the article under examination offers valuable information on a specific aspect/ cause of competition: the rivalry which can be related to the initiatives of both individuals and organizations. Article’s Critique In order to understand the value of the article under examination within the field of ‘organizational beh

History of Slavery in Colonial America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

History of Slavery in Colonial America - Essay Example The Portuguese first utilized the slave trade around 1562 (Sylvester, 1998). The prime area for slaves was on the west coast of Africa called the Sudan. The peoples inhabiting the Sudan and surrounding areas were known for their skills in agriculture, farming, and mining. Europeans soon realized the commodity these skilled laborers could bring to their countries and began trading them regularly. African tribal wars produced captives, which became a bartering resource in the European slave market. Black and white slave hunters obtained those not captured during war. The main sources of barter used by the Europeans to secure African slaves were glass beads, whiskey, ivory, and guns. The first slaves to arrive in America were brought to the Jamestown settlement in 1619. A Dutch slave trader exchanged his cargo of Africans in that year (Becker, 1999). This was the first time an African set foot in the New World. The first slaves were brought to Jamestown as indentured servants, having to serve seven years for a master before gaining their freedom, the same as white indentured servants. This became a problem in latter years however, when the indentured servants were done with their time, they became competition for their masters and caused outrage among the predominantly white business world. There is some argument a... Some argue however, that the word servant as was used to describe the African slaves by the white settlers was the same inference that the word had in England, which was more akin to the more modern definition of slavery. These same scholars argue that southern plantation owners and slave masters still used the term "servants" to describe their slaves right up until the end of the Civil War. While white indentured servants where still the primary source for cheap labor in the colonies, tensions were growing between the poor workers and the newly emerging merchant class. The merchant class was now able to seize land and hold it as their own, regardless of the poor farmer's objections. The merchant class was also given the right to vote since they were technically landowners. This had the former indentured servants angry, and they were beginning to revolt. Bacon's Rebellion Slavery in the colonies grew in necessity following Bacon's Rebellion. Bacon's Rebellion occurred when a settler named Nathaniel Bacon disobeyed direct orders and seized a tribe of Native Americans for allegedly stealing his corn. Bacon was reprimanded and soon he began leading revolts against the Native Americans who had been attacking small out-lying farmers and their property. While Bacon was repeatedly reprimanded, his attacks continued and grew in their ferociousness. Bacon's rebellion ended when a group of his men surrounded Jamestown and burned it to the ground. The rebellion led the wealthy landowners of the time to begin to look elsewhere for cheap labor, fearing they too would have to endure another rebellion similar to that of Nathaniel Bacon (Bacon's 2005). With the emerging slave class in the colonies, twenty-five thousand and growing by 1700, came new laws

Moral Issues In Business Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Moral Issues In Business - Research Paper Example Moral Issues In Business Amazon’s product-service has two components: a service component and a product component. The service component has a product-service mix width of two, since the company provides two types of services: provides customers with easy access to online purchases of goods at a fee; and provides sellers with an online platform to sell their goods and services through Amazon’s library of software. The product component of Amazon’s product-service mix has a very large width that is undeterminable since the company provides customers with almost all types of products. Similarly, the length, depth and consistency of the product mix are indeterminately large (Griffin, 626). Some aspects of Amazon’s operations are characteristic of a manufacturing organization while some are characteristic of those of a service organization. The manufacturing aspects are manifest in the company’s library of software. Although Amazon provides this software for free to merchants and independent programmers, it charges a fee when these users use the software to sell their products and services through Amazon. Amazon’s operations that are characteristic of a service organization include the online platform it provides to its customers, which enables them to purchase goods through a simple mouse click. What I have read in real life for the Americans is that as a result of wealth accumulation under control by a few, the interest of laborers in the USA gets less attention and importance to the business entities. Since the interest of capitalism is profits and it relies on supply and demand, the management of an enterprise seeks out ways and means to lower labor costs in order to make its products and/or services more competitive.

Income elasticity of demand Essay Example for Free

Income elasticity of demand Essay World trade for wheat is greater than for all other crops combined and is cultivated in 128 counties. A farming company specializing in wheat and barley production (Silo Pty Ltd), one of many producers in the international market, is greatly affected by storms in the U.S and South America. These storms have reduced the global wheat yield by 50 per cent. Wheat continues to be the most important food grain resource as it is used in a large majority of foods around the world. Its production leads other crops such as rice, maize and potatoes. Despite wheat’s great importance in the food industry, it would still be regarded as being price ‘elastic’ and have a positive income elasticity, as there are many competitive suppliers around the world, which could possibly lead to fluctuations in prices and prevent large shortages. Price elasticity of demand arises due to the responsiveness of the quantity demanded of a good to change its price, when all other influences on buyers’ plans stay the same. Income elasticity of demand is the responsiveness of demand due to a change in income. Factors that generally affect the supply of goods or services include, the price of factors of production, the prices of related goods produced, expected future prices, the number of suppliers, technology and the state of nature. Demand is also effected by such factors as, the prices of related goods, expected future prices, income, expected future income and credit, population and preferences. If ever there were a shortage of wheat due to bad weather or storms, such that has happened to Silo Pty Ltd, other crops such as barley or maize could be used as an alternative resource, thus the supply would decrease and eventually the demand would decrease slightly as well as there are alternative resources at possibly cheaper prices. This would result in wheat being considered as a normal good in western society as for which demand increases as income increases. Graph 1 shows the situation before the storms hit and the effects after the storms. The demand curve is D and the original supply curve is labelled S0. After the storms hit, the supply curve shifted left to S1. This represents the supply decreasing, further increasing the price. Graph 2 shows the effects of the expected future price rise. Demand increases, shifting from D0 to D1, supply decreases shifting the supply curve from S1 to S2.

The Use of Psychobabbles in Psychology Essay Example for Free

The Use of Psychobabbles in Psychology Essay The word psychobabble was coined and first used by R. D. Rosen, a journalist and an author, in 1975. The New Times Magazine then used the term as title of the cover story Psychobabble: The New Language of Candor. It was in 1977 though when the term gained popularity through the book entitled Psychobabble: Fast Talk and Quick Cure in the Era of Feeling published by Rosen. The book looks at the explosion of terminologies and treatments in psychology, whether in professional or non-professional scenes. Psychobabble is defined in the book as a derogatory word signifying a technical jargon in psychology that is being used outside its original purpose. Some people might use a specific psychological term in a different context and without really knowing the word’s real meaning. In that case, a psychobabble is formed. This situation would just denote the speaker’s incapability of understanding the proper use of a certain psychological word or term. However, in other cases, psychobabbles are perceived as jargon words denoting meanings beyond what scholars and trained practitioners accept. The frequent use of such psychobabbles can lead to the widespread exploitation of some psychological terms. Laypersons might use them to describe a thing inappropriate for the meaning of a psychological word. Worse, they might describe a non-clinical situation as a medical one, even if it is not. Today, psychobabbles are rampant in motivational seminars, management training, and popular psychology. Examples of Psychobabbles Synergy The word synergy means the event that happens when two or more agents are combined and created an effect greater than what was expected. A person who knows and understand the effects of each agent can better predict their synergy. An example of this is drug synergism, where two or more drugs combined interact to augment the characteristics of their effects. In Psychology, synergy in drugs is often used. However, the word becomes a psychobabble when applied to humans. In human synergy, two or more people interact to accomplish a bigger and greater goal. For example, if two carpenters combined their strengths, they will be able to finish a house bigger in a faster rate. Although synergy is not used in this manner frequently, still the word is becoming a layman’s term. Holistic The term refers to the thought that all components of a certain scheme or system should be taken as a whole thing and not separated from each other. In psychology, holistic approach is being observed in psychosomatic medicine, where multiple factors are used to devise a systematic model for the psyche and the soma. Nowadays, the psyche and the soma are not seen as two separated entities but more of two interlinked units. In this manner, holistic approach is also commonly used in the context outside its original scientific meaning. Holistic is also being used in as part of the English vocabulary pertaining to a kind of systematized living where all aspects are connected: biological, psychological, and social way of living. Abnormality In psychology, the term abnormality is often used to describe a condition that is perceived as rare and dysfunctional. Abnormal behaviors are given constant attention and study in the field of abnormal psychology. The criteria for abnormality are being subjected to studies based on scientific approach. Although the term purely connotes a psychological meaning, still abnormality becomes a layman’s term used to pertain to any unusual or strange characteristic of a person, a thing, an animal, or a situation or condition.

Exposure to Computer Disciplines

Exposure to Computer Disciplines Q1 Give an Example of micro operations, microinstruction, micro program, micro code. And. Example of micro operations: Shif, load, increment, add subtract, multiply and divide etc. Example of micro programmes: chipsets. Q2 How Information Technology can be used for strategic advantages in business? Ans. It is defined as the study, design. development, implementation, support or management of computer based information systems particularly software applications and hardware applications. It can be used in the application in the business as it can be used to convert ,store,protect, process transmit and   security retrieve information. Q3 What Characteristics of software make it different from other engineering products? Ans.Software is a general term primarily used for digitally stored data such as computer programs and other kinds of information read and written by computers. Today, this includes data that has not traditionally been associated with computers, such as film, tapes and records. The term was coined in order to contrast to the old term hardware; in contrast to hardware, software is intangible, meaning it â€Å"cannot be touched†. Software is also sometimes used in a more narrow sense, meaning application software only. It is what we can call a set of programmes which are made in accordance while keeping in mind the needs of the customer. The difference between software and other engineering products is that the other engineering products such as machines and something else cannot be change its working or characteristics while made once but the software can be updated according to the needs of its user. Q4What are different addressing modes available? Ans. Types of Addressing Modes Each instruction of a computer specifies an operation on certain data. The are various ways of specifying address of the data to be operated on. These different ways of specifying data are called the addressing modes. The most common addressing modes are: Immediate addressing mode Direct addressing mode Indirect addressing mode Register addressing mode Register indirect addressing mode Displacement addressing mode Stack addressing mode To specify the addressing mode of an instruction several methods are used. Most often used are : a) Different operands will use different addressing modes. b) One or more bits in the instruction format can be used as mode field. The value of the mode field determines which addressing mode is to be used. The effective address will be either main memory address of a register. Immediate Addressing: This is the simplest form of addressing. Here, the operand is given in the instruction itself. This mode is used to define a constant or set initial values of variables. The advantage of this mode is that no memory reference other than instruction fetch is required to obtain operand. The disadvantage is that the size of the number is limited to the size of the address field, which most instruction sets is small compared to word length. INSTRUCTION OPERAND Direct Addressing: In direct addressing mode, effective address of the operand is given in the address field of the instruction. It requires one memory reference to read the operand from the given location and provides only a limited address space. Length of the address field is usually less than the word length. Ex : Move P, Ro, Add Q, Ro P and Q are the address of operand. Indirect Addressing: Indirect addressing mode, the address field of the instruction refers to the address of a word in memory, which in turn contains the full length address of the operand. The advantage of this mode is that for the word length of N, an address space of 2N can be addressed. He disadvantage is that instruction execution requires two memory reference to fetch the operand Multilevel or cascaded indirect addressing can also be used. Register Addressing: Register addressing mode is similar to direct addressing. The only difference is that the address field of the instruction refers to a register rather than a memory location 3 or 4 bits are used as address field to reference 8 to 16 generate purpose registers. The advantages of register addressing are Small address field is needed in the instruction. Register Indirect Addressing: This mode is similar to indirect addressing. The address field of the instruction refers to a register. The register contains the effective address of the operand. This mode uses one memory reference to obtain the operand. The address space is limited to the width of the registers available to store the effective address. Displacement Addressing: In displacement addressing mode there are 3 types of addressing mode. They are : 1) Relative addressing 2) Base register addressing 3) Indexing addressing. This is a combination of direct addressing and register indirect addressing. The value contained in one address field. A is used directly and the other address refers to a register whose contents are added to A to produce the effective address. Stack Addressing: Stack is a linear array of locations referred to as last-in first out queue. The stack is a reserved block of location, appended or deleted only at the top of the stack. Stack pointer is a register which stores the address of top of stack location. This mode of addressing is also known as implicit addressing. Q5 How will you differentiate b/w Arrays and Stacks? Explain by giving an example. Ans.   An array is a systematic arrangement of objects, usually in rows and columns. Specifically, it may refer to several things. Generally, a collection of data items that can be selected by indices computed at run-time, including: Array data structure an arrangement of items at equally spaced addresses in computer memory Array data type used in a programming language to specify a variable that can be indexed A   stack is a last in, first out   abstract data type and data structure. A stack can have any abstract data type as an element, but is characterized by only two fundamental operations: push and pop. The push operation adds to the top of the list, hiding any items already on the stack, or initializing the stack if it is empty. The pop operation removes an item from the top of the list, and returns this value to the caller. A pop either reveals previously concealed items, or results in an empty list. A stack is restricted data structure, because only a small number of operations are performed on it. The nature of the pop and push operations also means that stack elements have a natural order. Elements are removed from the stack in the reverse order to the order of their addition: therefore, the lower elements are typically those that have been in the list the longest Q6 How a translator is different from a Compiler? Ans. A compiler is a computer program that transforms source code   written in a computer   language(the source language) into another computer language (the target language, often having a binary form known as object code). The most common reason for wanting to transform source code is to create an executable program. The name â€Å"compiler† is primarily used for programs that translate source code from a high-level programming language to a lower level language (e.g., assembly language or machine code). A program that translates from a low level language to a higher level one is a decompiler Q7 Out of Linear and Binary Search ,which one is preferred where and why? Ans. Binary search is preffered over linear search because linear search is used for finding a particular value in a list that consists in checking every one of its elements, one at a time and in sequence, until the desired one is found Its worst case cost is proportional to the number of elements in the list; and so is its expected  Ã‚   cost   if all list elements are equally likely to be searched for. Therefore, if the list has more than a few elements then binary search is preferred. A binary search is an algorithm for locating the position of an element in a sorted listIt inspects the middle element of the sorted list: if equal to the sought value, then the position has been found; otherwise, the upper half or lower half is chosen for further searching based on whether the sought value is greater than or less than the middle element. The method reduces the number of elements needed to be checked by a factor of two each time, and finds the sought value if it exists in the list or if not determines â€Å"not present†, in logarithmic time. A binary search is a dichotomic divide and conquerr search algorithm.It is used for finding the telephone address for a given collection of name,address.

Euro Disney Essay -- essays research papers

Only one year after the grand opening of EuroDisneyland, Robert Fitzpatrick left his position as EuroDisney’s chairperson, citing a desire to start his own consulting firm. In April 1993, Philippe Bourguignon took over the helm of EuroDisney, thought by some to be a sinking ship. EuroDisney publicly reported a net loss of FFr188 million for the fiscal year ending September 1992, though cumulative losses through April 1993 approached half a billion dollars.1 The European park also fell one million visitors short of its goal for the first year of operations, with the French comprising only 29% of the park’s total visitors between April and September 1992—a far cry from the predicted 50%.2 In addition to the financial woes weighing on Bourguignon, he was also expected to stem the flow of bad publicity which EuroDisney had experienced from its inception. Phase Two development at EuroDisneyland was slated to start in September 1993, but in light of their drained cash reserves (FFr1.1bn in May 1993)3 and monstrous debts (estimated at FF421bn),4 it was unclear as to how the estimated FFr8-10bn Phase Two project would be financed. Despite this bleak picture, Michael Eisner, CEO of Walt Disney Co., remained optimistic about the venture: â€Å"Instant hits are things that go away quickly, and things that grow slowly and are part of the culture are what we look for. What we created in France is the biggest private investment in a foreign country by an American company ever. And it’s gonna pay off.†5 The Dawning Of Disney After first attempting to start a commercial arts firm in 1917, Walt Disney, along with his partner Ub Iwerks, joined the Kansas City Film Ad Company, and began to learn the craft which would carry him to fame—cartooning. By 1919, Walt was making independent short cartoon ads for theatres. In 1920, Walt’s brother Roy became a partner, and soon thereafter the group moved to Hollywood. There, they developed a standardized cast of cartoon characters, which were mass-produced using a large staff and artists working on a single easy-to-draw cartoon. The year 1928 saw the creation of â€Å"Mortimer Mouse,† later renamed Mickey. 1 David Jefferson. â€Å"American Quits Chairman Post at Euro Disney,† The Wall Street Journal (January 18, 1993), p. B1. 2 Ibid. 3 â€Å"Euro Disney: Waiting for Dumbo,† The Economist (May 1, 1993), p. 74. 4 Peter Gumbel and Richard Turner. â€Å"Blundering... ...,† commented one.27 Different cultures have varying definitions of personal space. EuroDisney guests’ problems ranged from people who either got too close or who left too much space between themselves and the person in front of them. It was thought that the competition from French theme parks, which had significantly lower admission costs, might be a concern. However, Fitzpatrick did not appear to be daunted. â€Å"We are spending 22 billion French francs before we open the door, while the other places spent 700 million,† he said. â€Å"This means we can pay infinitely more attention to details—to costumes, hotels, shops, trash baskets—to create a fantastic place. There’s just too great a response to Disney for us to fail.†28 Bourguignon’s Predicament With these bold predictions of his predecessor echoing in his ears, Bourguignon stared at his desk. Surrounding him were piles of financial statements drowning in red ink (to the tune of $500 million), stock market reports chronicling EuroDisney’s falling price from FFr166 to approximately FFr65, and newspapers full of stories of EuroDisneyland’s cultural blunders. Bourguignon wondered where he would find the magic to turn this kingdom around. Euro Disney Essay -- essays research papers Only one year after the grand opening of EuroDisneyland, Robert Fitzpatrick left his position as EuroDisney’s chairperson, citing a desire to start his own consulting firm. In April 1993, Philippe Bourguignon took over the helm of EuroDisney, thought by some to be a sinking ship. EuroDisney publicly reported a net loss of FFr188 million for the fiscal year ending September 1992, though cumulative losses through April 1993 approached half a billion dollars.1 The European park also fell one million visitors short of its goal for the first year of operations, with the French comprising only 29% of the park’s total visitors between April and September 1992—a far cry from the predicted 50%.2 In addition to the financial woes weighing on Bourguignon, he was also expected to stem the flow of bad publicity which EuroDisney had experienced from its inception. Phase Two development at EuroDisneyland was slated to start in September 1993, but in light of their drained cash reserves (FFr1.1bn in May 1993)3 and monstrous debts (estimated at FF421bn),4 it was unclear as to how the estimated FFr8-10bn Phase Two project would be financed. Despite this bleak picture, Michael Eisner, CEO of Walt Disney Co., remained optimistic about the venture: â€Å"Instant hits are things that go away quickly, and things that grow slowly and are part of the culture are what we look for. What we created in France is the biggest private investment in a foreign country by an American company ever. And it’s gonna pay off.†5 The Dawning Of Disney After first attempting to start a commercial arts firm in 1917, Walt Disney, along with his partner Ub Iwerks, joined the Kansas City Film Ad Company, and began to learn the craft which would carry him to fame—cartooning. By 1919, Walt was making independent short cartoon ads for theatres. In 1920, Walt’s brother Roy became a partner, and soon thereafter the group moved to Hollywood. There, they developed a standardized cast of cartoon characters, which were mass-produced using a large staff and artists working on a single easy-to-draw cartoon. The year 1928 saw the creation of â€Å"Mortimer Mouse,† later renamed Mickey. 1 David Jefferson. â€Å"American Quits Chairman Post at Euro Disney,† The Wall Street Journal (January 18, 1993), p. B1. 2 Ibid. 3 â€Å"Euro Disney: Waiting for Dumbo,† The Economist (May 1, 1993), p. 74. 4 Peter Gumbel and Richard Turner. â€Å"Blundering... ...,† commented one.27 Different cultures have varying definitions of personal space. EuroDisney guests’ problems ranged from people who either got too close or who left too much space between themselves and the person in front of them. It was thought that the competition from French theme parks, which had significantly lower admission costs, might be a concern. However, Fitzpatrick did not appear to be daunted. â€Å"We are spending 22 billion French francs before we open the door, while the other places spent 700 million,† he said. â€Å"This means we can pay infinitely more attention to details—to costumes, hotels, shops, trash baskets—to create a fantastic place. There’s just too great a response to Disney for us to fail.†28 Bourguignon’s Predicament With these bold predictions of his predecessor echoing in his ears, Bourguignon stared at his desk. Surrounding him were piles of financial statements drowning in red ink (to the tune of $500 million), stock market reports chronicling EuroDisney’s falling price from FFr166 to approximately FFr65, and newspapers full of stories of EuroDisneyland’s cultural blunders. Bourguignon wondered where he would find the magic to turn this kingdom around.

Why Americas Veterans Should Be Honored :: Argumentative Essay

America’s veterans should be honored because they have suffered through so many hardships that others could not and have not survived, and they did it for their country that they loved and still love today. I believe that veterans are our nation’s bravest citizens. I also harbor a special adoration for them because my brother is in the Army and he has already served one tour in Iraq, and is currently on his second at the age of nineteen. My family is either very lucky or very blessed because my brother has yet to be injured in active duty. One day, I hope to join the Air Force and, in turn, become a veteran, as well. Veterans can remind us just how horrible war is, and, hopefully, prevent more wars in the future. Veterans have sacrificed so much so that we may have our rights, our leisures, our hopes, our dreams, and, most of all, our freedom. Everyone should honor the veterans of our nation at all times, not just on holidays like Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day during which we are constantly reminded of our forefathers whom gave their lives and so much more for our country. Many of us take things like going for a walk in the park, hanging out with friends, or going to the church of our choice for granted. I think we all need to take a step back and really look at the situations other countries are in right now and the dealings that they are going through. Then maybe we can look at our own country and really see what we have that others don’t, and consider all the lives, limbs, labors, and loves lost for every single aspect of freedom that we have. Our own men, women, and, at times, children have been sacrificed to feed the mouth of the beast that is poverty, oppression, depression, hunger, violence, and greed.

Music Is Cool!!! :: essays research papers

I love music my TWO greatest type of genries are Rap and Alternative. I was really surprised how great that DR. Dre did! I think that Eminem and dre are great. Eminem is definetlt a new era of a rap star he is puttin out some mad skillz. Papa Roach has just came out with a super great song that is called last resort.I play basketball and i am a very emotional person i like songs that have a deep impact on me and a true meaning. Here is how the billboard charts are as of today:1 1 8 'N Sync: No Strings Attached 7 Jive | 41702 1 2 - 1 Soundtrack: Mission:Impossible 2 Hollywood | 162244 2 3 6 48 Santana: Supernatural 12 Arista | 19080 1 4 3 24 Sisqo: Unleash The Dragon 4 Dragon/Def Soul | 546816* 2 5 4 4 Joe: My Name Is Joe Jive | 41703 2 6 7 33 Creed: Human Clay 4 Wind-up | 13053* 1 7 5 3 Toni Braxton: The Heat LaFace | 26069 2 8 2 2 504 Boyz: Goodfellas No Limit | 50722* 2 9 14 37 Dixie Chicks: Fly 5 Monument | 69678 1 10 16 27 Faith Hill: Breathe 3 Warner Bros. (Nashville) | 47373 1 11 15 42 Macy Gray: On How Life Is 2 Epic | 69490* 4 12 9 42 Destiny's Child: The Writing's On The Wall 4 Columbia | 69870* 5 13 11 72 Kid Rock: Devil Without A Cause 8 Lava/Atlantic | 83119* 4 14 12 26 Dr. Dre: Dr. Dre -- 2001 4 Aftermath | 490486* 2 15 8 3 Cypress Hill: Skull & Bones Columbia | 69990* 5 16 10 20 Jay-Z: Vol. 3... Life And Times Of S. Carter 2 Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam | 546822* 1 17 20 14 3 Doors Down: The Better Life Republic | 153920 17 18 13 21 DMX: ...And Then There Was X 3 Ruff Ryders/Def Jam | 546933* 1 19 - 1 Hanson: This Time Around MOE/Island | 542383 19 20 18 38 Christina Aguilera: Christina Aguilera 6 RCA | 67690 1 21 - 1 Mandy Moore: I Wanna Be With You 550 Music | 62195 21 22 31 26 Celine Dion: All The Way... A Decade Of Song 6 550 Music | 63760 1 23 26 33 Marc Anthony: Marc Anthony 2 Columbia | 69726* 8 24 19 5 No Doubt: Return Of

Childhood Obesity Essay

What is making the next generation fat? Just a decade or so ago the debate of childhood obesity was not even a matter to be discussed. Our grandparents never even questioned the weight of their children. Their children, our parents, ate healthy foods at the family dining table and played outside all day long, but the subject of childhood obesity has gained quite a bit of interest since those days. With the ever so growing popularity of fast foods, the introduction of Play station and Xbox games and the more demanding careers of today’s parents, the overdevelopment of both urban and suburban areas our kids are living sedentary lives and are becoming very overweight. The epidemic of childhood obesity is rapidly rising in America. The number of children who are now overweight has tripled since 1980 and the prevalence of obesity in younger children has more than doubled. Overall, approximately 17% or 12.5 million of the children in the United States between the ages of 2 and 19 are already obese (_C_ _enters for Disease Control and Prevention_ _, 2012_). This finding is very disturbing to many Americans and has caused many debates on who is responsible for this rising epidemic and how can we control it. Childhood obesity is measured by the body mass index (BMI). The BMI is calculated using a child’s height and weight. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but it is a reasonable indicator of body fatness for most children. A child’s weight status is determined using an age and sex specific percentile for BMI rather than the normal BMI categories which are used to determine an adult BMI. These are used because a child’s body composition varies as they age and also varies between boys and girls. Overweight in a child is defined as a BMI at or above the 85th percentile and lower than the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex.  Obesity in a child is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex. The causes of childhood obesity are multi-factorial. Obesity in children is caused by a lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating habits, media and marketing campaigns, adverse family conditions, stress and the avai lability of technology. Most Americans agree that childhood obesity is more prevalent today than ever before. If you look into the bedroom of an average American child you find video games, a computer, usually a television and possibly some other electronic gadgets. Today American children have access to just about anything they could ever want. They just ask and most parents will buy them whatever they want. If you looked into the same child’s room thirty or forty years ago you would have probably found baby dolls, toy trucks and probably even some books. You would have found the neighborhood children outside playing in the kickball or hide and seek in the yard. Children played outside from sun up to sun down. The playing of these physical activities outside has unfortunately been replaced by the inactive high tech toys of today. The kick ball and hide and seek games of thirty years ago have now been replaced with games being played on the Play Station, Xbox or Wii. It is estimated that children in the United States are spending at least twenty five percent of their waking hours watching television and statistically children who watch the most hours of television have the highest incidence of obesity. If you take another look inside the house of 30 years ago you would find a dad who went to work every day and a mom who stayed home to tend to the household duties and the children. With the rising cost of our day to day living expenses in America, most homes now must have both dad and mom working full time to make ends meet. Over the last two decades there has been an increase in the number of dual income families as more women have entered the workforce and more women become the sole supporter for their single parent family. This new way of living has caused American children to eat whatever is convenient for mom or dad to fix or for some children to eat whatever is easiest for them to fix for themselves. Constraints on time has made working parents rely more heavily on prepared, processed, and fast  foods, which are generally high calorie, high fat, and low in nutritional content. Usually these â€Å"easy† meals come in greasy bags from fast food establishments or in plastic wrappers within a frozen cardboard box and have to be cooked in the microwave before eating. In some homes the stove never even gets warm from preparing a meal more than once a week. These â€Å"easy† meals are contributing to the growing epidemic of childhood obesity. Today’s youth are considered the most inactive generation in history and the marketers of fast food have taken full advantage of it. American children are exposed to some 40,000 or more food advertisements per year. (_U.S. D_ _ept. of Health & Human Services_ _, 2011_). Most of these advertisements promote fast food. Therefore, the expanding fast-food industry is another cause for the rising childhood obesity epidemic. Fast food companies like McDonald’s or Burger King are not only selling their food, but also have a way of marketing which is not fair to consumers. Most fast food restaurants offer a toy together with a children’s meal. Usually the toy is from a popular new movie or television show so it is very appealing to children. Children are stimulated to eat junk food because they know they will be rewarded with a toy. Psychological issues and stress are said to cause obesity in adults, but they both can cause obesity in children as well. Some children have a difficult time dealing with stress, so they use food to comfort them when they feel unsure of things. Like adults, they too use food as a comfort when they feel, bored, anxious or angry. Children in the past did not have to worry so much about parents being divorced and remarried, mothers that worked long hours or fathers that traveled for most of the week. Today’s economy has put financial strain on parents and children cannot help but to hear and feel the results of these tough economic times. The children of this generation are all too familiar with all of these situations. Each child has to contend with different factors in their lives and they too turn to food as a solution. Our environment too has an effect on the growing number of obese children. Experts are now looking to at our environment as a cause of the rapid  increase of obesity in children in the United States. In urban and suburban areas the overdeveloped environment can create obstacles for children to stay physically active. In urban areas the space for outdoor recreation can be scarce, which prevents kids from having a protected place to play. Neighborhood crime, lack of street lighting and busy traffic can impede children from being able to run and play or ride bicycles as a means of daily exercise. In the suburban areas, the evolution of ‘sprawl’ can prevent children from walking or biking and contributes to the great amount of dependence on using motor vehicles to get around. Suburban neighborhoods too lack resources for physical recreation and many suburban neighborhoods do not include sidewalks. Genetics and DNA are also contributing factors in the causes of childhood obesity. A group of British researchers checked the DNA of 300 children who were overweight. They looked for extra copies or deletions of DNA segments. They found evidence that a deletion of DNA may promote obesity. The deletion of chromosome 16 is thought to cause obesity in children because it removes a gene that the brain needs to respond to the appetite controlling hormone leptin. Children with a chromosome 16 deletion appear to have a very strong drive to eat. These children are very, very hungry and always want to eat. (_British Medical Association, 2005_) This very slim chance may be the only cause that we cannot change. Unfortunately, some children are destined to obesity. These children are born with the genes that cause them to put on weight more easily and quicker than other children. These children end up storing the fat more easily than other children. There is not anything these children can do about their genes. Despite the strong influence that genetics can have on the epidemic of childhood obesity, studies show that our genetic makeup has not changed dramatically over the last couple of generations. Therefore the increases and prevalence of childhood obesity has to be mostly from other behavioral and environmental factors, not genetics. There are a number of root causes of obesity in the children of the United States. Selecting one or two main causes is next to impossible because the potential influences are multiple and intertwined. With the contributing factors of technology, family structure, advertising, stress and our  physical environment we are making the next generation fat. We can make small changes that will have a significant impact on the issue of childhood obesity. Parents and caregivers can encourage children to adopt healthy eating habits and be more physically active. We need to focus on overall good health, not necessarily a certain goal weight. We should teach and model healthy and positive attitudes toward food and physical activity. We should establish daily meal and snack times, and eat together as families as much as possible. When we shop for groceries we should purchase foods that will give children a wide variety of healthful foods to choose from. We should try to plan meals and serve them in sensible portions. Allowing children to â€Å"scoop† their own food can promote them eating in unhealthy amounts. These are just a few ideas of small change that can make a huge difference. We also need to promote exercise as much as possible. Having children walk to school when distance and safety allows is great exercise. Children should be encouraged to play outdoor games rather than just be allowed to sit in front of the television. There are plenty of activities that our children can do to get exercise. Remember even household chores like raking leaves or running the vacuum cleaner constitute as exercise. Washing the car on a hot summer day can be fun while they are getting exercise. Some children will jump at the chance to earn a few bucks. Children can be rewarded with a few dollars and they will never know they are being bribed into getting some exercise. Eating out is another place to be mindful of our decisions. When eating out is it important to be conscious of our food choices and try to keep healthy eating in mind. Lots of fast food places now offer healthy alternatives. The obesity issue is prevalent in the next generation, but it is not too late for us to work together to reverse this epidemic. REFERENCES British Medical Association, June 2005. _Preventing Childhood Obesity._ London: British Library Catalog. Centers for Disease Control, July 16, 2012, _Overweight and Obesity_. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html Ford-Martin, Paula. _(2005) The Everything Parent’s Guide to the Overweight Child._ Massachusetts: Adams Media Hassink, Sandra G, MD, FAAP. (2006) A _Parent’s Guide to Childhood Obesity._ United States: American Academy of Pediatrics. Herscher, Elaine, Woolston, Chris and Tartamella, Lisa. (2004) _Generation Extra Large._ New York, New York: Basic Books. Ludwig, David, MD, Ph.D. (2007) _Ending the Food Fight._ New York: Houghton Mifflin Co. Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne, Ph.D. (2005) â€Å"I’m Like, So Fat!† New York: The Guilford Press U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, April 19, 2011, _Childhood Obesity._ Retrieved from: http://www.hhs.gov

Pakistan and India over Kashmir Essay

Conflicts between Pakistan and India over Kashmir as well as China over Tibet have been around for decades. Although these conflicts are religion based, this is no longer the case since they currently fight over land control (Stokes, 2010). Whereas India and Pakistan is ever fighting to be in control of Kashmir, this case is the same when it comes to China’s conflict for Tibet. Although Tibet is part of China, it considers itself a nation since it has always been bound by religion, culture as well as linguistics and genetic ties (Stokes, 2010). The study aims to address the religion conflicts existing between China over Tibet as well as India and Pakistan over Kashmir. Pakistan and India over Kashmir According to Hajni (2008), Pakistan was founded after the end of the British rule when the Indian Muslims developed the desire to own an Islamic state. Indian Muslims were the Minority religion and this made them feel insecure. Since they were the minority religion, the Indian Muslims were afraid of losing political representation in addition to maintaining their freedom as well as cultural norms. According to Hajni (2008), regarding the criteria for deciding which of the two dominions a state should join; he quotes Lord Mountbatten who said, â€Å"†¦geographic situation and communal interests and so forth will be factors to be considered†¦Ã¢â‚¬  At the time of partitioning, Jammu and Kashmir was predominantly Muslim. However, Hindu Maharaja Hari Singh who supported the annexation of Kashmir by India ruled the state. According to James and Ozdamar (2005), when the British divided the two states, Kashmir was given the option of joining either one. However, through Maharajah Singh, the current leader of that time, Kashmir opted to become independent. Pakistan and India were not happy with this decision since they started forcing Kashmir to join them. It is due to these debates that later resulted to the outbreak of conflicts between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. Pakistani Muslims initiated insurgent type operations to undermine an annexation by India, which further compelled the Hindu leader to align with India to secure military support to counter the Muslims. According to Hajni (2008), India started by laying claim on Kashmir due to the instrument of accession that was signed by Maharaja in 1947. It is because of this move that prompted Pakistan to follow suit. Just like India, Pakistan also laid claimed to own Kashmir since most of its population were Muslims. This gradually escalated into disputes over Jammu and Kashmir, which is still rife to date. The disputes were quite severe since they escalated into wars in a move to acquire the disputed state. Although religion was the main source of conflict between the three nations, it was primarily triggered by the urge for territorial control. China over Tibet Apart from India and Pakistan, another famous religion conflict is that of China and Tibet. Tibet has been practicing Buddhism for decades to the extent that it currently defines the Tibetan’s way of life (Sperling, 2004). It was because of these cultures that the Tibetans declined to submit themselves to the Chinese rule. China has always strived to control Tibet but the Tibetans have always opposed this attempt. Since 1951, the republic of China through the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has tried to acquire Tibet by attempting to destroy their national as well as cultural identities (Macalester College, 2007). For instance, the nation tried to acquire Tibet by attempting to lure Tibet’s religious elite into voluntarily agreeing to embrace socialism. According to the Tibetans, this has always been referred to as cultural genocide (Stokes, 2010). Although China had assured Tibet that their Buddhism religion and culture would not be affected by the inauguration, Tibet was not confortable fusing with the Chinese Buddhist Association (CBA). According to the Tibetans, fusing with the CBA posed a threat for the Tibetan’s religion as well as culture. According to Sperling (2004), China is ever attempting to forcefully acquire Tibet. The reason why China is ever wishing to acquire Tibet is that it believes Tibet is located within China’s territory. Since almost all Tibetans practice Buddhism while the Han Chinese does not, the republic of China is ever attempting to ruin this religious culture in a move to ease the acquisition process. However, Tibetans always fight back in order to prevent China from ruining their culture and religion. Through Dalai Lama, Tibet was stable to the extent that even after numerous conflicts, China has never succeeded in acquiring it. It was through Dalai Lama that Tibet was able to fuse religion with politics. By intertwining Politics and religion, Tibet was able to create a solid foundation that made it difficult for the republic of china to acquire (Sperling, 2004). This technique was quite beneficial to the Tibetans since it motivated them into pursuing independence and self-autonomy. To date, the conflict between Tibet and China still exists despite numerous diplomatic interventions. Although Dalai Lama was quite influential in Tibet, he fled to India when he currently resides. Analysis In order to form the foundation of their adherent’s lives, both the Hindu and Buddhist religions ensured that they encouraged one another to fully embrace their religion. For instance, through this motivation, all Tibetans embraced Buddhism. Whereas the conflict between India and Pakistan resulted from the inability of the two nations to align Hindus with India and Muslims with Pakistan, the case was almost similar to that of China and Tibet. The conflict between china and Tibet began because China did not want Tibetans to practice their cultures and religions in a territory they claim was theirs. Additionally, the conflict was also triggered by the fact that Dalai Lama had planned to make Tibet an independent nation (Macalester College, 2007). Conclusion For a long time, India and Pakistan have been engrossed in conflicts. Although these conflicts started on grounds of religion differences, they rapidly escalated to territorial conflicts whereby both nations began fighting over Kashmir, a region located between India and Pakistan. Apart from India and Pakistan, China and Tibet have also been engrossed in conflicts, which have lasted for decades. Just like that of India and Pakistan, this conflict also revolved around religion but gradually grew into territorial conflict. China was not comfortable with Tibet’s Buddhism religion, hence, attempted all measures to disrupt it but Tibet was not ready to allow this to happen. Dalai Lama, a prominent leader in Tibet, was planning to declare Tibet an Independent nation. This idea was never taken lightly by China and it is because of this that the conflict intensified, thus, Dalai Lama was forced to run to seek refuge in India where he resides to date. References Hajni, M. (2008). The Kashmir Conflict: A Kashmiri Perspective. Retrieved on 12 October 2014 from www.operationspaix.net/DATA/DOCUMENT/5413~v~The_Kashmir_Conflict___A_Kashmiri_Perspective.pdf James, C. & Ozdamar, O. (2005). Religion as a Factor in Ethnic Conflict: Kashmir and Indian Foreign Policy. Terrorism and Political Violence, 17:447-467. Retrieved on 12 November 2014 from http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCcQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fozgur.bilkent.edu.tr%2Fdownload%2F05Religion%2520as%2520a%2520Factor%2520in%2520Ethnic%2520Conflict%2520Kashmir.pdf&ei=7u1jVNrQFIbWasKGgcgK&usg=AFQjCNFvomYpl_QzYphrOggL6s3Ms5ZCZg&sig2=ZM9lKPLKG5LZde_OAlB7vA&bvm=bv.79189006,d.d2s Macalester College. (2007). History of Tibet-China Conflict. Retrieved on 12 November 2014 from https://sites.google.com/a/macalester.edu/refugees/tibetan/history-of-tibet-china-conflict Sperling, E. (2004). The Tibet-China Conflict: History and Polemics. Retrieved on 12 November 2014 from www.eastwestcenter.org/sites/default/files/private/PS007.pdf Stokes, D. (2010). Conflict over Tibet: Core Causes and Possible Solutions. Retrieved on 12 November 2014 from http://www.beyondintractability.org/casestudy/stokes-tibet Source document

The musical strategies of some exemplary ‘titles’ sequences in a way that illuminates the function of music in entertainment cinema

In order to view a variety of techniques used, the title sequences of four films will be analysed: from classic Hollywood cinema Casablanca and Psycho, a modern Hollywood film, Edward Scissorhands, and a recent Russian film, Prisoner of the Mountains (Kavkazky Plennik). In non-musical terms Casablanca, Psycho and Edward Scissorhands all present different versions of the classic Hollywood technique of using a closed, self-contained titles sequence. Meanwhile in Prisoner of the Mountains there is an extended sequence before the titles begin, and this sequence includes music. The following points need to be addressed with regard to each film: how the music in the title sequence coincides with the visuals (i. e. how the sequence works on its own); what kind of role the music plays; how this can be interpreted in terms of its effects on audience expectation and manipulation; and finally how the music of the title sequence relates to that which is used later on, and in what context the title music itself is used. In Casablanca the normal Warner Bros fanfare accompanies the studio's logo at the very opening, and drum music links the picture to the visually static title sequence which uses a map of Africa as its background. This develops into ‘oriental' music for the full orchestra, using several clichis developed from the western perception of the ‘orient', such as the persistent use of the melodic progression tonic/leading note/flattened-submediant/dominant (i. e. C, B, A-flat, G) played predominantly by brass and reed instruments. When the credit for the composer Max Steiner appears, the music shifts and plays La Marseillaise, the French national anthem, but this concludes with an interrupted cadence rather than its normal perfect version. We must also examine the next sequence as it forms a unit with the title sequence, using both music and partly-animated visuals. We see another globe, this time used for the mapping of the physical and causal route to Casablanca, from France and other places. Clips of paradigm journeys are superimposed onto the map as the refugees flee Paris and Marseilles. The music accompanying this follows on from the pessimistic nature of the interrupted cadence of La Marseillaise, building down to low, dissonant and lugubrious chords on brass which begins to be accompanied by a romantic high, intense and chromatic melody for strings in octaves. Finally, as the first scene of the film begins in a market square in Casablanca, the music returns to oriental music, this time, supposedly, diegetically. The role of this sequence is manifold: firstly it establishes Casablanca as the physical and spiritual setting for the film, corresponding to the geographically blatant use of maps. It also adds interest to an otherwise static title sequence, and indeed, is a montage of the musical themes that are to be presented in the film. The first two themes (‘Oriental' and Marseillaise) are so explicit that they do not take on much contextual meaning in this original setting, but rather set up purely musical expectation, which can be utilised by transformation or by various possibilities of juxtaposition with visuals. The third ‘suffering, yearning' theme is less familiar and therefore takes meaning from its context and becomes associated with the desire for freedom and liberty. In this sense the themes sum up the plot: as captivity in a wild land (oriental), fettered liberty (La Marseillaise and its cadence), and romantic human yearning for freedom. Generically, the nationalistic music also helps establish the film as a ‘serious' war film as well as a melodrama. The main strategies of the musical sequence, then, are clear: to introduce the main musical themes in a way that makes the introduction understandable and establishes its genre. By its nature the music also manipulates the audience into feeling the setting to be removed from their own settings by the fact that the oriental music is exotic in an Romantic orientalist sense rather than in a Moroccan sense, establishing the film as a western work. The manner in which the title music influences the rest of the film is generally easy to detail. Unlike the manner in which As Time Goes By is used in a proliferating way, the occurrences of the title themes are used to remind us of their original or implied contexts and meanings. The Marseillaise theme is used as a symbol of France (for the flashback sequence) but more generally as a marker of the success or failure of idealism and the Allies in its battle against cynicism and Fascism: its overall movement is from the interruption of the titles to the only full cadence in the final scene as Louis finally gives in to patriotism by throwing away the Vichy water. Oriental music is used more scarcely as the setting has been established, but it is used diegetically in the Blue Parrot scenes to distinguish it from the more homely and American Rick's (‘Cafi Americain'). Thus some of the title music was truly introductory and other parts were to be used for future reference. The fact that As Time Goes By was not used indicates that it did not attempt a full musical accumulation of themes but concentrated on those necessary to understand the first scene. The title sequence of Psycho is more closed and self-contained than that of Casablanca due to the manner in which the music of the titles is separated – both by silence and by change of mood – from the opening scene. The sequence is also far more visually captivating due to the thrusting horizontal lines that shoot across the screen and distort the titles themselves, culminating in a vertical meeting of upwards and downwards-moving lines and a release. Unlike Casablanca there is no aspect of narrative or historical context, but rather the establishing of a mood, as the lines suggest frenetic activity, violence, splitting and then final dying union, as the lines meet and fall away. The music, meanwhile, uses three primary textures in succession, all of which are linked by the modernist language and string scoring of Herrmann's score. The first is a driving ‘motor' rhythm of double-stopped dissonances in the tradition of The Rite of Spring, which develops by superimposing variants of a basic cell onto itself and thus expanding in volume and texture. The second is this rhythmic idea as an accompaniment to a soaring violin theme which is still not entirely Romantic in character due its persistent crotchet motion. Ostinati are thus the key to the sequence. The third texture is the ‘sharp' rhythmic idea used by smaller sections of strings in upwards sequences, dying away with the visual lines, and reaching an extremely high tessitura. The music stops and pauses before the opening scene begins with slow weakly-discordant descending chords in the style of Debussy. ‘The real function of a main title, of course, should be to set the pulse of what is to follow†¦ I am convinced, and so is Hitchcock, that after the main titles you know that something terrible must happen. The main title sequence tells you so, and that is its function: to set the drama. You don't need cymbal crashes or records that never sell'. 1 Thus Bernard Herrmann both states the specific strategy of the musical cue that accompanies the title sequence in Psycho and proposes a general theory of the function of titles sequences. He also justifies his choice of a string orchestra for such dramatic music, and in other places likens the string sound to Hitchcock's anachronistic monochrome. The strategy, then, is to sum up the essence of the film. That essence is surely the surprising ‘primitive' (in the primitivist sense of Stravinsky) violence that describes the title word, and in no way sets the scene for that which immediately follows. The music is fiercely modernist for a cinema audience but still within their understanding so that, along with the visuals and the word ‘psycho', the main element of the titles establishes itself as distinctly inhuman and violent. Just as the straight lines penetrating the screen and the titles can be interpreted as predicting the motion of stabbing and also the split character of Bates, the music is ‘stabbing' in its chords and ends ‘screaming' as Marion will do. The horror genre is thereby indicated, but the music's insistent intensity hints at the obsessively psychological nature of Hitchcock's art. The influence of this titles music on the rest of the film is subtle. The first scene is entirely removed from it by mood, if not completely by musical language, a feature that unifies the entire score and film. The first time the titles music is reused is when Marion realises that her boss has seen her driving her car after she had told him that she was going straight home to bed. The fright she suffers, and the effort with which she suppresses it in order to force a smile at her boss, seem to initiate the return of the violent double-stopped ostinati of the titles. Here there is a meaning attached to a mood which we understand to be the essence of the film: the music is in some way linked to the Marion's subjectivity and also the insistent technology of the car. Marion is shown to be a transgressive woman, and this raises the expectation that Marion herself may be the psycho: she has a headache; she hears voices in her head; she has stolen money; she drives – a masculine pastime in most films; and accordingly her fright is expressed not through Romantic scherzo music but by this horror music. This expectation is, of course, entirely false. Meanwhile the explicit violin theme of the titles is used to fill the screen just as Marion's face does as we watch her watching the road, amounting to a nullification of any reluctance we might have towards voyeurism. The most powerful influence the titles music has over the film is its various ways of presenting ostinati. We learn to decode this new musical language in stages, so that the deep ostinati heard as the dying Marion falls to the floor in the shower is distinguished from the niggling four-note repeated figure associated with Marion's decision to run away with the money. They mean different things but are united by technique and by the world they draw for the audience. Edward Scissorhands toys with genre: it is a both a genuine horror film and a parody of one (of the Frankenstein and Beauty and the Beast traditions); it is also a fantasy, a comedy and a melodrama. This is recognised in the titles sequence and the music that accompanies it. The studio logo is accompanied by snow and then there follows a title sequence that is ambiguous as to whether it is animated or real. In fact, it turns out that much of the sequence is real and is taken from later scenes involving Vincent Price that are vital to the plot, such as the brief view we have of him dead and the hands that could have been Edward's. However, this is all crafted with elements of Gothic fantasy, using discrete images from the house/castle, beginning with dark shadows and an old door opening, moving to what we later realise was the inventor's laboratory, and this culminates in the purely fantastic animation of hearts and other ‘shapes' falling like snow, with which the title sequence concludes. Danny Elfman's music for this sequence is remarkable mainly for its orchestration: it begins with solo celesta, then strings are added, accompanying a plaintive cor anglais, and then a full (and massive) orchestra plays the main theme, to which is added a celestial and voiceless choir, which sings to ‘oooh'. The chord sequence that is most prominent is a major tonic triad moving to a minor triad of the submediant. In effect, the sequence is akin to an amalgamation of Casablanca and Psycho, for it uses the technique of joining the titles to a ‘false' first scene, whilst dissociating it from the first ‘real' flashback scene, which begins in prosaic silence. Elfman's music is fairly uniform here but multivalent. The magical nature of the film is set by the celesta and the harp/flute-oriented nature of the full orchestration and finally by the angelic voices. The magical interpretation of this combination of instruments is accepted by way of Chaikovsky, Debussy and John Williams, from whom the harmonic progressions are also borrowed. The element of horror is marginalized but represented by low strings and the melancholy of the cor. The voices add a layer of naive wonder that is rather over the top, something that is a major part of the film. The audience is led to expect a fairy tale with an element of horror to it, but also the clues to the somewhat tongue-in-cheek nature of the film are also present in the music. Importantly, from the very beginning this affective music is associated with the house and Edward. The element of falling in this film is highly significant: many of the moments of greatest significance revolve around the falling of snow, which is finally associated by the old woman of the present with Edward's very existence, and thus the existence of the film and of magical naivety and goodness, with the falling of snow; in the studio's very logo before the titles there had been no fanfare but silence accompanying the falling of snow; in the titles the ‘shapes' are shown to fall like snow: these shapes include hearts, which provide a link to humans and human emotions: the inventor falls when he dies and his fall is emphasised by the way in which we view his face as he realises he is to die. The sequence leading up to the inventor's death is the key to the explanation for Edward's condition, which is half the mystery of the film (the other half is how it will end), and it is drawn out by its progression being interrupted and alternated with scenes of the ‘present' (wi thin the entire flashback of the film). During this we realise the significance of what we had seen in the titles, and to emphasise this the titles music is brought back, and the tragic nature of the story is shown by the fact that we were ignorant of its intended significance until now. The other scenes in which the titles music features prominently are when Edward sees the picture of Peggy's daughter for the first time (choir ‘ooohs') and when snow is falling and Edward magically (for it would not be possible) creates beautiful ice sculptures with the girl as his enraptured audience (full statement of the main theme). Thus the titles music is used to indicate the presence of the picturesque, the naive will to do good and the tragic nature of fate. Those things not privileged by this music are, by implication, marginalized. However, the titles theme also proliferates the film as Elfman develops it by distortion (quarter-tone glissandi in the main theme) during moments of anguish. This is similar to Steiner's use of La Marseillaise in Casablanca. Finally, by way of contrast, we will look at Prisoner of the Mountains, a strong piece of anti-war propaganda made during, and based on, the ongoing Russo-Chechen conflict. The film begins with a long sequence before the titles, showing the recruitment process of a young man drafted in as a reserve soldier into the Russian army. We see him given a medical examination naked, which has an element of humour to it. Then we see an older soldier go to play pool outdoors with a friend and they drink in a relaxed, late-evening atmosphere. The contrast between the young and innocent and the hardened cynic is reinforced as the soldier, Sasha, responds to other soldiers being rowdy by firing off rounds of his machine gun in mock attack. As he shoots we see his tensed, macho face, there is a freeze frame and a song begins, the first music of the film. The song is an old one and is obviously recognisable as a popular song of the type popularised during the Second World War, a period that is a subject of great nostalgia for Russians. We then see a military manoeuvre operated by the Russians with both the old and the young soldier aboard a Russian tank. The song ends and we are brought out of nostalgia for the army to the harsh reality as we hear a solo plucked string instrument play an ‘oriental' snippet of melody. This alerts the audience to the possibility of danger from Russia's ethnic ‘others' and to the placement of the scene in the Caucasus mountain range. Suddenly the tank is ambushed and our two soldiers are severely wounded and left unconscious and seemingly dead by their comrades and are captured by the Chechens. Finally the titles begin with an endless panorama of the mountains and dramatic orchestral music in an orientalist style. Here it is difficult to determine what constitutes the essential title sequence if one accepts Herrmann's definition. The music that accompanies the titles certainly does more to emphasise the setting and the drama of the film, but we cannot forget what has already happened. The freeze-frame on Sasha's face as he fires in connection with the ultra-popular song is so strong a device so difficult to interpret on first viewing that it dominates the opening. Moreover, whilst the opening music is hardly reused before the end of the film, there is another sequence which is crucial to the film's anti-war message: the two Russians are kept hostage, chained together, for a long period and it becomes increasingly likely that they will be killed. As they sit together, back to back, Sasha begins to sing another old WWII song in a triumphant, brave voice, something that is obviously escapist. Suddenly his voice is multiplied and the song is taken over by a huge chorus and the shot moves from the two men to the vast expanse of the mountains, so that he can be seen to become the might of the Russian army. As the song is still being bellowed out, the shot changes back to the men, and Sasha is crying frantically. The false expectation of escape in patriotism that had been set up by the song is revealed, and this makes sense of the opening song in addition. In a sense, then the titles sequence constructs a conventional colonialist Russian audience led to be wary of foreign subjects, whilst its other musical material works against this. It is possible to generalise our observations to note that for every film here the titles operate as a kind of first subject of a sonata-form movement: they establish certain information about the film's essence which can be developed in a linear way, as in the thematic references in Casablanca and the thematic distortions of Edward Scissorhands, or in a more accumulative way, as with the manner in which the music for the titles sequences in Psycho, Edward Scisssorhands and Prisoner of the Mountains gains in meaning as we acquire more information. As an audience we are led to believe that the titles have meaning and, like the subject of a sonata, will be recapitulated.