Thursday, October 31, 2019

LP7- Leading & Motivating people Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

LP7- Leading & Motivating people - Assignment Example She is mostly concerned about the needs and feelings of members of her team i.e. Country club management style. She wants all her team members to be happy and secure, which she assumes will translate to them working harder. This kind of leadership styles leads to a relaxed work environment but which comes at a cost to the level of production. She has strengths that can be credited to her like having good interpersonal relationships with her subordinates due to the fact that she cares about their needs, interests and personal development. On the other hand, her flexibility and employee focus leads to 70 % of the budget going to their training and salaries hindering cost cutting measures. Evelyn had a core source of her influence; she used the reward system to bestow her influence upon her employees. She awarded higher salaries to her employees and had them engage in training often to improve their skills and marketability. She also treated people fairly and showed consideration and respect. These kinds of interaction with her workers make them want to help the manager even more and go the extra mile to help her achieve her set goals. Erik has authoritarian or compliance leadership style. His main concern is the end goals achieved, in this case improved efficiency and increased production .He has strict procedures and policies in the work place. This has its advantages as it focuses on organizational efficiency and increased production in the work place. The down side of this approach is that it lacks the internal analysis of the work culture of the employees, their needs and personal development when deciding how best to accomplish tasks. Erik uses the influence and powers that come with his senior office to push through his agenda in the office. He tries to get things done his way by using the higher authority given and uses people at higher levels to back him up. This management tactic improves

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

MGM P1 Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

MGM P1 Paper - Essay Example This essay will discuss various factors regarding a dismissed employee who claims that she was treated unfairly by being made to work overtime with no extra pay. The employee was a salaried exempt manager and is seeking $ 18,000 in unpaid overtime. This paper will discuss her probability of winning or losing and the case. The paper will also determine the amount of money that the company is may win or lose if the case goes to court, estimate the lawyers’ fees, amount of time lost by company personnel, list two unique factors to this scenario, consider long term effects and the psychological costs associated with this lawsuit. The probability if this dismissed employee winning the case is very low. The employee is highly likely to lose the case because of the status of her employment. The employee was a salaried exempt department manager. The reason as to why she is likely to lose the case is because salaried exempt employees are those who do not get paid for working overtime, even when they work a lot more than the regular hours (Duncan & Schroeder, 2007). With salary exempt employees whose jobs are 40 hours a week, they may be expected to work up to 168 hours a week without being paid extra for the job they have done. She is therefore unlikely to win the case because she is not entitled to overtime in the first place. The terms and conditions of a salaried exempt employee do not entitle him or her to overtime payments. She therefore has no right to demand overtime from her employer (Abrams, 2000). If the case goes to court, the company is less likely to lose any money. This is because the company was not wrong by not paying the employee her overtime because she is not entitled to overtime, being a salaried exempt employee (Abrams, 2000). Even though it is difficult to say with certainty the costs of lawsuits, if the company loses the lawsuit, it is likely to pay the employee any amount from $ 500,000 to $ 1,000,000, depending on the court, the amount of time taken to solve the lawsuit and the expenses incurred by the employee when filing the lawsuit. However, since the company is unlikely to lose the case, it is more likely to win some money from the employee. If the company wins the case, the employee will have to pay for the costs of the company’s lawyers and other litigation fees (Duncan & Schroeder, 2007). Lawyers’ fees in lawsuits are very expensive. Most defense lawyers are known to charge their clients on an hourly basis. This ranges from $ 100 to $ 350. The employee and the company may also be charged a flat rate of about $ 5,000 if the case does not take a long time, i.e. less than 15 hours with good lawyers (Duncan & Schroeder, 2007). Litigation fees may amount $ 50,000 or more because there are many charges involved in such a case. These include complaint filing fee which will be paid by both parties, motion filing fee, deposition fees, copies, experts and appeals if necessary (Abrams, 2000). The amount of time lost by the company personnel will depend on the professionalism and experience of the company’s lawyers. If the company hires good lawyers, the case can take a very short time of up to 15 hours because the lawyers are conversant with all the necessary steps to prepare and file a defense (Duncan & Schroeder, 2007). One factor that is unique with this case is the fact that the employee is a salaried exempt

Sunday, October 27, 2019

The History Of Bossa Nova

The History Of Bossa Nova The Brazilian music style Bossa Nova is a music genre part of Brazilian Popular Music created in 1958 and faded out about 1963, lasting officially only six years. This musical style is probably the most known style from Brazil in the whole world, having achieved significant success in the four parts of the world such as the United States, Western Europe, Japan and most importantly in its country of birth. This important music style shall be investigated and analysed carefully in the hope of obtaining valuable and interesting points about the history of this revolutionary musical phenomenon. To understand the musical style it is essential to first understand the origin of the term Bossa Nova. The term Bossa was widely used in the 1930s as a slang word in the city of Rio de Janeiro. It meant to do something in a different but very original way. The term was basically used to describe something in a cool or trendy way. The Portuguese word Nova in simple English term means new. The translation of the whole term would therefore be something like New Trend. The term basically was created by the youth of that time, as a form of opposing everything they believed to be old, ancient and outdated in Brazilian Music. Bossa Nova was heavily criticised when it first came out to the people, mainly due to its strong influences from American music and especially on post war American culture. Big names such as of pianist Stan Kenton were said to be a major influence on the style, due to his new and innovative methods in his American jazz orchestra. Another influence mentioned by critics is of impressionist composers such as Claude Debussy and Maurice Rave, both playing an important role in the creation of the style. The most obvious and most common style influence however to the human ear comes clearly from American music such as cool jazz and even bebop. This is mainly due to the use of dissonant chords which is very common in jazz music. These musical styles and influences, along with the youths discontent with the music scenario at the time, encouraged the musical revolutionaries to modernise music, thus creating the beautiful style known to all of us as bossa nova. Another definite and positive mus ical influence coming from Brazilian popular music is of local singers Lucio Alves and Dick Farney. Both singers were famous in the 1950s for having soft and peaceful vocals, as opposed to the stereotypical stronger and more powerful voice which was very common at the time. Dick Farneys music is considered nowadays to be the Pre bossa nova phase. All of these factors contributed to the creation of the style and practically differentiated the bossa nova style from all of the other existing acts in the world. During the year of 1957 and onwards, a selective group of middle classed young and aspiring musicians would gather together frequently in order to socialise, but most importantly, to play and make music. These people would get together and share their ideas in apartments or houses, at different spots around the city. The main place however where these people played music was at Nara Leaos apartment in Copacabana, a noble district in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The beautiful Nara Leà £o, at the time was only 15 years old, but nonetheless still participated in those reunions and already at that age showed great taste for music and outstanding vocal abilities. Nara Leao would later become a professional singer, touring with artists such as Sergio Mendes and becoming one of the styles greatest female icon, being referred to as thebossa novas muse and becoming forever immortalized in bossa novas history. In those musical reunions great musicians and singers such as Carlos Lyra and Robert o Menescal played part and were frequent attenders. As time progressed, that group gained more visibility and increased in size. Artists such as Ronaldo Boscoli, Chico Feitosa and the great Joao Gilberto soon made part of that same group which would revolutionize Brazilian music. Bossa nova was above all an emerging urban movement in the country during the developing phase of Juscelino Kubitscheks presidency years. It is believed by many critics that the style happened after the re-encounter of two members from the groups, Tom Jobim and Joao Gilberto in the year of 1957. According to writer Sà ³stenes Pernambuco Pires Barros (2001, my translation) Some researchers believe that from those meetings Bossa Nova was created. Poet Vinicius de Moraes agrees however the theme is very controversial. A massive surprise that was introduced by the style was the fact that the lyrics in the songs contrasted heavily with what was being played at the time. The lyrics from the style generally adopted light and easy going themes, something very different to the original samba songs which were usually sad and depressing. As was mentioned before, the form of singing and the way in which the lyrics were delivered in bossa nova style was completely different to the other more operatic voices in the music business. The style brought a form of different singing, instead of actually singing the words, singers would practically speak in a very colloquial way the words, thus singing in a not so loud way. By doing this, the focus of the song was ultimately the lyrics of the song, the way in which they were narrated to the listeners and most importantly the form that the accompaniment and harmony of the song were directly connected to the singing, as opposed to having weak harmonies and powerful vo ices. In order to revolutionise Brazilian music, composers from the style would use extensively the so called dissonant chords, which later rather ironically as a form of manifesto against the critics, Tom Jobim composed the tune called Desafinado (Out of Tune, my translation). It is important to state that the musical revolutionaries didnt in any way dislike the existing national musical styles, but intead believed that the the old samba tunes were especially melancholic and very depressing. The youth of the nation believed that the music had to be changed sooner or later. They would in the future go ahead and create the style bossa nova. A style that contained different harmonies, simpler lyrics and poetries, happy thoughts and most importantly, new rhythms. The style was however not intended to be better or worse than the other styles, it was meant to be simply different. Different from everything, more refined and with more optimistic views on the future. Brazilian writer who li ved and took part in the whole movement Sà ³stenes Pernambuco Pires Barros (2001, my translation) states that In reality, it cant even be classed as a musical genre. It is the form in which the music is treated, in relation to beats and rhythm. The first Bossa Nova mark officially started in May 1958 when female singer Elizeth Cardosos tracks were released in a LP with various artists. One of her two tracks was called Canà §Ãƒ £o Do Amor Demais (Loveful Tune, my translation). The LP featured the legendary Joao Gilberto playing guitar in her both tracks. These turned out to be the recordings that would characterize the new invented guitar accompaniment made by Joao Gilberto, which in a few years would be one of the styles greatest trademark feature. This feature was in actual fact the syncopated guitar groove, which was syncopated on every weak drum beat. That same LP was produced by label Festa and featured the other track by singer Elizeth Cardoso called Chega de Saudade (Enough of Longing) by the genius musical partners Tom Jobim and poet Vinicius de Morais. The LP when released intended to focus mainly on the partners and especially on Vinicius de Moraiss work, since he wished to record his best poetry and as consequenc e release it to the people. Surprisingly enough, according to a famous local journalist at the time Ruy Castro (1990, p.175, my translation) As opposed to what is believed today, that LP was not a hit when it was released in May 1958. Later on that year the same Joao Gilberto went on to record an LP as a solo artists in which for the first time he would sing and play. The LP featured one of the singers own songs, the tune Bim Bom but most importantly featured the same song from before Chega de Saudade of partners Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes. Joao Gilberto brought his own special touch again to the cover version such as the characteristic guitar accompaniment and beat to the music, and in a sense brought to life once more the important features that would later become strong characteristics of the style. Joao Gilberto in his version also innovated and created the new way of singing to fit the style. He had sung the song using the features of the style mentioned previously above, this is singing with a not very loud voice and in a sense, nearly whispering into the microphone. The singer would later achieve both national and international success with that same song which features over 100 different covers by different artists, from those days until nowadays. According to the original composer of the song Tom Jobim The bossa nova of the song Chega de Saudade is practically concentrated on the harmonies, the altered chords which were not so used by musicians at the time, and in the new guitar hand picking groove executed by Joao Gilberto(2002, http://www.dicionariompb.com.br/verbete.asp?nome=Bossa+Novatabela=T_FORM_C). During the initial years, musicians from the old reunion groups formed in 1957 would play and present some of their music in local universities, in order to introduce their music to the people. Bossa nova music was in fact the first Brazilian musical movement to egress from universities, seeing that all of their initials performances took part in those areas. The musical group as a result gained even more visibility and followers, such as of composer Leny Andrade, famous for his instrumental music and the nowadays famous Sergio Mendes. As time progressed, the style was taken slowly to the other parts of the city of Rio de Janeiro, such as small venues and bars in the district of Copacabana, before achieving worldwide success and become a musical epidemic. After a few performances, musician Tom Jobim started to rise in popularity, as people got to listen more and understand better the new style being played. Tom Jobims music plays an important part in the history of classic bossa nova with tunes such as Desafinado and Samba De Uma Nota Sà ³ (One Note Samba, my translation). Those two songs in actual fact were the first songs chosen from the bossa nova style to enter the competitive American music market in the early 1960s. Together with Vinicius de Moraes, Tom Jobim created the all time bossa nova anthem known as Garota de Ipanema(Girl From Ipanema, my translation). That song in actual fact would later become the second most famous Brazilian song in the whole word, after only Aquarela do Brasil by composer Ary Barroso. Following the great acceptance of the style in American grounds, bossa nova artists were invited to play in what is known to many Brazilian musicians, as a historical concert in 1962 in the Carnegie Hall, New York. Some artists that played part in this event were obviously Tom Jobim and Joao Gilberto, Carlos Lyra, Sergio Mendes and many other famous names at the time. The concert was intended to approximate the bossa nova artists to the American people and the event proved to be a great success, opening new doors and boundaries for that style of music internationally. That concert had such great demands and visibility that it was broadcast to the whole world live. Since then, Tom Jobims song Garota de Ipanema has been featured and played in more than 150 different recordings by different artists. The song was such a successful hit that besides being played by the composer himself in 1963, it was also played shortly after by Sarah Vaughan in 1964, Stan Gets in 1966, Frank Sinatra and Tom Jobim together in 1967 and even the great Ella Fitzgerald in 1971, amongst other great national and international artists. Jazz saxofonist Stan Getz and guitarrist Charlie Byrd in 1962 even recorded a cover instrumental version of the song Desafinado by Tom Jobim, showing once more the great acceptance of bossa nova music on international grounds. The chronological end of the style in 1963 didnt by any means signify that the style would whatsoever become extinct. In fact, the style left a great big legacy of fans and followers and especially admirers of the great style. As was mentioned before, songs were extensively covered by great names of jazz music even after the official end of the Bossa Nova Years as a form of paying back what the Brazilian style did to their music. As Bossa Nova grew in America consequently so did Jazz music. In 1965, thus after the end of the musical movement, poet Vinicius de Moraes and musician Edu Lobo composed a song called Arrastao (Dragging, my translation). That same song was covered by singer Elis Regina. That song marked the end of Bossa Nova but only the start of what was going to be called in the future as MPB(Brazilian Popular Music), a style that would fuse many Brazilian styles and influences until the 1980s. In present time concerts are still put on dedicated to the Bossa Nova style suc h as when the style completed 40 years and other celebratory events. Also, in more recent years the style influenced greatly other generations of artists from a post British punk scene such as bands Style Council, Everything but the Girl and even Jamiroquai. The style can still be frequently heard also in electronic music where djs have used bossa nova influences, creating the style bossa electrica. From all of this it can be finally be concluded that although the style only lasted roughly six years, the great impact that it had on the people at those times and even nowadays is unquestionable. Bossa nova was undoubtedly a revolution in Brazilian music for the important changes it brought such as the developed way of singing and especially the syncopated guitar picking, thus creating the classic bossa nova groove. During the years, it was widely recognised as being an exotic style with songs being covered restlessly by many different artists around the world. The style also brought and made people more aware of great composers such as Tom Jobim and Joao Gilberto, which is considered to be the pope of the style for his creations and creations in Brazilian music. Bossa nova left behind a great legacy in music and with no doubts whatsoever will hopefully continue to do so, bringing happier, harmonic and enjoyable music to its listeners. Word Count: 2498 Reference List Barros, S.P.P. (2001) Histà ³rias da Bossa Nova Available at: http://www.almacarioca.com.br/mpb.htm (Accessed: 17 April 2009) Castro, Ruy. (1990) Chega de Saudade, Sà £o Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 1990 Dicionà ¡rio Cravo Albin da Musica Brasileira, 2002 Available: http://www.dicionariompb.com.br/verbete.asp?nome=Bossa+Novatabela=T_FORM_C (Accessed): 17 April 2009)

Friday, October 25, 2019

To Resurrect a Ghost Essay -- Philosophy Dualism Papers

To Resurrect a Ghost Cartesian dualism has largely been replaced by empirical theories of the mind. Central to this development is Gilbert Ryle’s criticism of an immaterial ‘ghost’ inhabiting the material ‘machine’ of the body. A metaphysical self is incredible, and even if it is credible, both it and its manifestation in phenomenal experience are unknowable by others. Failure of this approach occurs when it is realized that existence of the physical is just as incredible as existence of the metaphysical. Free will is also inconceivable without the assumption of a metaphysical self, it being the ‘ghost in the machine’ after all. As for consciousness, it is presupposed by the empirical. What counts as physical manifestations of mind are the effects or causes of phenomenal experience. Without this criterion the individual is a unity, it being impossible to separate the psychological since effectively it encompasses every aspect of the individual. Additionally, it is in phenomenal experience that the empirical is observed, and observation is the basis of empirical verification. To advocate the scientific method of intersubjective verification while denying the existence or significance of the phenomenal is inconsistent. At root, the mental attributes are ontologically distinct. Limited to only one ontological substance, empiricists either redefine or exclude troublesome attributes, commiting the error of confusing distinct kinds of substances. Dualism can accommodate all of the properties of mind in a single coherent theory by acknowledging these kinds of substances. I Perhaps the most influential recent philosopher of mind is Gilbert Ryle. Beginning with his criticism of Cartesian dualism, empiricism has come to dominate cu... ...f causal sequences. There is no precise point in a chain of events beyond which is to go too far. All things in experience being contingent, a condition for their existence is presupposed. This condition in turn can always be understood as the "real" thing since it is more basic. Acceptance of this is mistaken because the condition for it can now be understood as the "real" thing and so on. With no way of avoiding this process, resolution is possible only by simply understanding mind as some one alternative. All concepts being potentially infinite, their extent is circumscribed by denomination in order to avoid indeterminacy. Each constituent conceptualization composes an autonomous representation of mind in this way, a different way of considering it. As such every one individually is a sufficient condition for the whole, mind being conceivable in terms of any one.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Nigeria Essay

The Nigerian economy is most definitely a structured political economy similar to that of the United States. The term political economy examines the relationship between politics and economics in modern societies. Specifically, this relationship consists of a key alliance between the government and the economy which are manipulated by the capitalist class in order to serve all of their own interests. The capitalist class however can be further broken down into a ruling class that holds the greatest power ot only among its military governmental branches, but also the business and finance sectors. This is seen in the American society, specifically in the neoliberal policies implemented by the capitalist class system which wishes to privatize and deregulate different markets in order to continue to prosper. Yet, this is not the same as the Nigerian State has ownership over everything. The Nigerian military government and its elite ruling class have come together to create a powerful force hat has exploited people, land, labor, resources and markets. The class structure created by the Nigerian governmental system is the fundamental cause of their peoples’ poverty, and the global political economy produces an increase in unjust social relations in class, race, and even ecological systems. As Nigeria consists of a wealthy class which seeks wealth by any means, it is hard to see how a country like this can evolve much more until corruption is taken out of everyday elationships of the upper class. However, there is great hope at the same time, because Nigeria is a country that has learned to make positive changes and learned from many of these changes, such as the democratization of the Nigerian state. Nigeria has learned to adapt and deal with many of their national issues, therefore if necessary changes are made in order to diversify the wealth produced by the exploited economy. The â€Å"national cake† can be shared to benefit the social order of the society as a whole.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

How Technology Changed the world Essay

Over the last five years, technology has been rapidly changing and expanding in every field imaginable. Smart phones are now capable of acting as standalone computer devices that can take pictures, search the Internet, send emails and text messages and yes, they even make phone calls. While it might seem that the technology of today has reached its limits, it is still actually spreading its proverbial wings. Only twenty or so years ago, personal computers were becoming small enough and affordable enough for families to buy them for home use. Since then, the world of technology has shown no signs of slowing down and practically every device available today is somehow tied to computer technology. From the first day that technology was introduced to war, it has helped shape the latter. Flint-made daggers and spears, and leather or wickerwork shields, did quite as much to shape the tactics adopted by ancient societies as horses did during the middle ages and as tanks, aircraft, and vario us combat ships do today. All transportation depends on technology, whether it’s the wheel, the jet engine, or the computer chip. Transportation is not just technology it’s a system of technology, people, energy, money, and more—but advances in technology play a key role in shaping transportation systems, which in turn help to shape our lives, landscapes, and culture. Because transportation is so important to commerce, because literally and figuratively so much is riding on it, it has been the focus of an enormous amount of inventive activity. Corporations have invested billions of dollars in improved technology. Individuals have sought their fortunes in breakthroughs big and small. Technology has changed society tremendously. Things like iPods, Netbooks, BlackBerrys, Blue Tooth, and flash drives have definitely not been around for a long time. Our society today has many advantages thanks to technology. Law enforcement officers have a great advantage with things like  GPS and tracking devices and cell phone records. The general public also faces a lot of distraction because of some technology though. Car accidents used to be caused mostly by people falling asleep or drunk driving. Now the big concern is that people are playing with their gadgets, messing with music players, playing DVDs in the background for kids, and talking on their cell phones. That is a lot of potential distractions! Society is becoming a union of ‘we want it now’ people thanks to most technology offering super fast services. There isn’t enough stopping to smell the roses anymore. For the most part, however, technology does us more good than harm: It’s reconnected us with old college roommates, helped us learn a foreign language, and encouraged us to exercise. Follow us as we look back at how technology has changed our lives—for the better and for the worse—in terms of communication, computing, dining, entertainment, and travel. http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Technology-Affects-Us&id=7429569 http://www.ehow.com/info_7844707_impact-technology-warfare.html