Customs and traditions in the USA Essay

Customs and traditions are important part of our culture, of our lives. Customs and traditions unite, build community. They provide identity. They tie us to our ancestors and heritage. They remind us of where we came from. Every country and every nation has it’s own traditions and customs. It’s very important to know traditions and customs of different people. It will help you to know more about the history and life of different nations and countries. Custom is a traditional and widely accepted way of behaving or doing something that is specific to a particular society, place, or time; a thing that one does habitually. Tradition is the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation, or the fact of being passed on in this way; long-established custom or belief that has been passed on from one generation to another All countries have their social customs and peculiarities, and the US is no exception. The first group of custom which is worth speaking about is connected with meeting someone. When meeting someone for the first time, it is customary to shake hands, both for men and for women. Hugs are only exchanged between close friends. Kissing is not common. Among friends, it’s common for men to kiss ladies on one or both cheeks. Men don’t usually kiss or embrace each other. Americans usually introduce themselves by their first name and last name (such as â€Å"Hello, I’m John Smith†), or, if the setting is very casual, by their first name only (â€Å"Hi, I’m John†). The common response when someone is introduced to you is â€Å"Pleased to meet you.† Americans generally dislike formality or any sort of social deference due to age or position, and most quickly say ‘Please call me Rick (or Rita)’. To Americans, informality shows no lack of respect. Because of the rise of women’s liberation in America, women may be introduced with the title ‘Ms’ (pronounced ‘mizz’) and some women object to being addressed as ‘Miss’ or ‘Mrs’. In some social circles, women are introduced after their husbands, e.g. Mrs Chuck Whizzkid, in which case you shouldn’t address her as Chuck! Americans often reply ‘You’re Welcome’ or something similar when somebody thanks them, and they may think you’re impolite if you don’t do likewise. If someone asks ‘How are you?’, it’s usual to reply ‘Fine thanks’ and don’t complain even if you feel dreadful. Americans don’t have status or inherited titles (e.g. Sir or Lord) but it is necessary to defer to people with a professional title which has been earned. These include foreign diplomats (e.g. Sir), members of the Senate (Senator) or Congress (Congressman/Congresswoman), judges, medical doctors and others with a doctorate, military officers (e.g. General, Colonel), professors, priests and other religious ministers (e.g. Father, Rabbi, Reverend). If you’re invited to dinner, it’s customary to take along a small present, e.g. flowers, a plant, chocolates or a bottle of wine (but nothing extravagant or ostentatious). But choosing flowers you should remember that American people pay attention to the meaning of flowers. For example carnations are associated with bad luck, chrysanthemums are for cemeteries and roses signify love. Guests are normally expected to be punctual with the exception of certain society parties, when late arrival is de rigueur (provided you don’t arrive after the celebrity guest). It’s usual to arrive half an hour to an hour after the official start of a dance. Invitations to cocktail parties or receptions may state 5pm to 7pm, in which case you may arrive at any time between these hours. Dinner invitations are often phrased as 8pm for 8.30pm. This means you should arrive at 8pm for drinks and dinner will be served at 8.30pm. Anyone who arrives late for dinner or doesn’t turn up at all, should expect to be excluded from future guest lists. On the other hand, you must never arrive early. The custom of not taking off the shoes is peculiar to Americans. That is why don’t think of whether you should take off your shoes or not. If it is necessary the host will warn you about it himself. When watching American films I always wondered why Americans did not take off their footwear. The matter turns out to be that there is no much dirty and dust in American streets. Some people who were in America say that it is possible to sit on some pavements and not to make oneself dirty. One more reason explaining this custom is that majority of Americans prefer driving but not going of foot. That is why they are not afraid of dirtying their houses. Some families say grace before meals, so follow your host’s example before tucking in. Table manners are more relaxed in the U.S. than in many other countries. The fork is held in the right hand and is used for eating. The knife is used to cut something. To use the knife, the fork is switched to the left hand. To continue eating, the fork is switched back to the right hand. Don’t overstay your welcome. This becomes obvious when your host starts looking at his watch, talking about his early start the next day. The custom which is also typical for the USA is tipping. Most Americans are shocked by anyone who doesn’t tip or who tips too little. The one you will encounter most often is at restaurants. American restaurants do not add a service charge to the bill. Therefore it is expected that the customer will leave a tip for the server. Common practice is to leave a tip that is equal to 15% of the total bill for acceptable service, and about 20% for superior service. If the service was unusually poor, then you could leave a smaller tip, about 10%. Other professions where tipping is expected include hairdressers, taxi drivers, hotel porters, parking valets, and bartenders. The general rule is to tip approximately 15% of the bill. In situations where there is no bill the tip may range from $1 to $5, depending on the type of establishment and on how good the service was. The custom of tipping came to America from Great Britain. In the 18th century in Great Britain the boxes with the inscription T.I.P.S. which was meant To Insure Prompt Service were on the tables during having tea. Then this term came to America. Baby showers have been a tradition in the US for a long time now, and are growing in popularity here, too. What better excuse is there for getting a group of friends together than to celebrate a new life? Plus, the mum-to-be get lots of great presents for her and her baby, result! The only person who shouldn’t arrange a baby shower is the mum-to-be. The whole event should be great fun and completely stress-free for her. Friends, family or work colleagues are the usual organizers. You could either keep it as a surprise for the mum-to-be, or tell her what you are planning. Baby showers usually have some sort of baby theme to get everyone in the mood. Popular themes include: Teddy bear’s tea party. Get hold of as many teddies as you can and make sure each guest brings one, too! As presents, they could bring teddy bear-related books. The cake could be in the shape of a teddy bear. You get the general idea! Nursery rhymes. Arrange toys linked to nursery rhymes around the room , such as shoes (There was an old lady), a spider (Little Miss Muffet), a bucket (Jack & Jill’s pail), and toy boats (Row row row your boat). Ask guests if they can count how many rhymes are represented. Books. Ask each guest to bring a book that meant something to them as a child. It’s a great way for mum to start up her child’s library. For decoration, everyone could also bring books to arrange around the room. The cake could be in the shape of a fairytale book. One more tradition connected with babies is to give a baby a birthstone. The Tradition of Birthstones goes back further than written history. People wear jewelry containing stones designated for their Birth Month. In the USA there are a lot of traditions connecting with wedding. It is known that before marriage engagement takes place. As a rule a man invite a woman to the restaurant to make her a proposal. Engagement ring obligatory should have a brilliant. The diamond engagement ring originated with King Maximillian who presented Mary of Burgundy with a diamond ring in 1477 as a token of his love. And the ring is presented unexpectedly. It may found in the glass of champagne by the woman or in the bud of the rose. To my mind this tradition is very romantic. The tradition of a Bachelor Party which is held for the Groom and usually sponsored by The Best Man the night before the Wedding and a Bridal Shower which is usually sponsored by The Bride’s Maid is very popular in the USA. By the way the number of bridesmaids in America amount from two to twenty. The tradition of bridesmaids dressing the same as each other and in similar style to the bride comes from ancient days when it was believed that evil spirits have a more difficult time distinguishing which one is the bride and putting a hex on her. The tradition of a Wedding Rehearsal Dinner also takes place in America. It is usually celebrated between the immediate families of spouses in the late afternoon the day before the wedding. The Groom’s Family traditionally provides for this celebration. The Wedding Ceremony is most often performed as part of a religious ceremony each with its own specific customs and traditions. On the day of the wedding the Groom does not see the Bride until the actual ceremony. As Custom would have it from Victorian Times: the Bride wears Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and a Sixpence in her shoe. The bride and groom exchange their rings to mark the permanent commitment of the new spouses to each other. The rings should be gold. According to history gold rings signified a financial sacrifice on the part of the prospective husband. Ring finger is the fourth ringer which is considered to be connected directly to the heart by a route that was called â€Å"the vein of love.† In the USA tradition of engraving of wedding rings is popular. The kiss on weddings dates back to the earliest days of civilization in the Middle East. A kiss was used as the formal seal to agreements, contracts, etc. In Ancient Rome a kiss was still being used as the legal bold to seal contracts. Hence the obvious use of the custom at the end of the wedding ceremony to â€Å"seal† the marriage vows. After the wedding ceremony newlyweds are covered with rice which is used as a symbol of fertility and as a wish for a â€Å"full pantry†. A Wedding Reception is usually held after the ceremony for all family and friends to celebrate. The Bride’s Family usually provides for this celebration. Traditionally the groom’s flower, worn on his lapel, usually matches one of the flowers in his bride’s bouquet. This tradition goes back to medieval times when knights wore the colors of their lady in tournaments. All of us know the tradition of throwing bridal bouquet and garter. The history of this tradition is very interesting I believe. In parts of Europe during the 14th contrary, having a piece of the bride’s clothing was thought to bring good luck. Guests would literally destroy the brides dress by ripping off pieces of fabric. In order to prevent this, brides began throwing their bouquets to the unwed girls. And grooms began to throw garter to unmarried men. One more wedding tradition is connected with CARRYING THE BRIDE OVER THE THRESHOLD Traditionally, the bride had to enter her new home the first time through the front door. If she tripped or stumbled while entering it was considered to be very bad luck. And the groom carried her over the threshold les she should stumble. Hence the tradition of the groom carrying the bride over the threshold. They bring us all together, no matter where we are. We can all relate to them and understand each other because we all use them. It is also a great connection for family and friends. There are traditions that are upheld for hundreds of years that are so important in our hearts. It links and connects us to past members of our family and our world whom we may never have gotten the chance to meet. They teach us about ourselves, our families, and the world around us. We can learn our history, why this tradition was started and what it signifies when we follow it today. They can work as the glue that holds us together. They are our culture, our heritage; they are us.

Agility Resilience in organisation

The purpose of this business report is to examine AH Moor's approach to organizational agility and resilience; cooking specifically at the promotion of leadership and enterprise workforce. It explores the benefits to the organization of the implementation of a systematic plan for selecting, motivating and developing employees with the requisite skills and demonstrated behaviors to operate effectively in highly uncertain, highly unstructured environments and demonstrating how enabling this improves organizational outlook.As organizational resilience and agility is seen as a systematic property, both individual and organizational levels are explored. In today's global economic climate businesses need to sustain a competitive advantage to remain above the competition. It Is the geopolitical uncertainty, with unprecedented changes and Instability and business discontinuities that demand organizational agility and organizational resilience. Unforeseen circumstances Like the terrorist acts of September 1 lath had adverse effects on businesses that dealt with commodities such as gold, and the company was no exception. The sudden hike in gold price resulted in the company losing millions, and the lack of agility and resilience the organization possessed meant it paid greatly with the years that followed. Presently, in the many is undergoing major transformational changes to its corporate strategy and development, and a change that the new HER team is pushing towards is changing the way recruitment is being carried out.Arguably, human talent is capital; talented persons carry within them, in their knowledge and expertise, important parts that are means of production. Intellectual capital and talented labor force is now central to many business enterprises (Riveter & Kline, 2000). It Is argued adequate Job fit needs to play Into consideration to allocate correct personnel to handle a demanding Job ole within the gold/jewelry sector given the businesses geographical locat ion and fierce competition which is ever-growing due to rising gold stocks.In addition with the recent rapid development of the united Arab Emirates has seen greater rise in competition. At the individual level, resilience can be explained through occupational stress or burnout that account for the continuation of or even increases in worker performance and psychological well-being in the face of difficult work conditions (Carver, 1998; Mismatch & Letter, 1997). At the organizational level, characteristics of organizations (e. G. Man resource practices, organizational culture and values) have been related to agile reactions and continued survival under volatile, demanding work conditions (Horned & Orr, 1998; Mammal, 1998). An organization's capacity for resilience Is rooted In a set of Individual level knowledge, skills, and ablest and organizational routines and processes by which an organization conceptually positions itself, acts decisively to move forward, and overcome the poten tially debilitating consequences of a disruptive shock (Lenience- Hall & Beck, 2009).A organizations capacity for developing organizational resilience s achieved through strategically managing human resources to create individual competencies among core employees, that when combined at the organizational level, make it possible for organizations to effectively absorb uncertainty, develop situation-specific responses to threats, and ultimately engage in transformation activities so that they can capitalize on disruptive surprises that potentially threaten the survival of the organization.The lack of focus given to personnel selection has also highlighted an inability for staff to cope with the stressful pressures that come with working within gold and a highly charged industry. The company is situated in the popular Gold Soak region, where hundreds of retail shops and close to a hundred wholesale distributes are situated simply in that area alone. As a result competition is highly ch arged and the company has seen rates of turnover and absenteeism risen and levels of mental and physical well-being have deteriorated.It is the increased competition associated with the acceleration of market changes that have put pressure on organizations to react quickly whilst re-inventing themselves in response to external pressures. Study of individual differences reveals certain personality emissions such as locus of control, hardiness, and self-esteem relate to people's reaction to stresses. Rooter (1996) proposed that having an internal locus of control (believing you can control what happens in life) moderates the relationship between stresses and strain such that a strong internal locus is associated with less strain.This idea is in line with Karakas idea of perception of control. Giordano (2000) found Iranian business managers with higher levels of hardiness, the better their health and performance despite stressful situations. If there is a miss-match between individuals and the organizational culture; source of stress if a person believes organizational functions as unclear and unpredictable could lead to role ambiguity; Coco (1948) found non participation in decision process and uncertainty led was a predictor of strain, Job related stress.Literature findings are clear in regard to the implementation of stress on employee wellbeing through a behavioral, psychological and physiological perspective. Where the effects of strain can lead to the deterioration of memory, reaction time, accuracy and task performance. Modality (1986) found stress associated with less sensitivity, warmth and tolerance awards patients amongst nurses, Gaston school found association between unsupported work environments and quality of work performance in NASH staff.There is also evidence that on simple tasks moderate levels of arousal or stress seem to aid performance (Dawson et al. , 2009). Schaeffer (2004) found burnout was predicted mainly by Job demands and to lesser ex tent, Job resources; that is related to turnover intention and health problems; and that it mediates the relationship between Job demands and health problems. Three broad methods can be utilizes here to help reduce and manage stress that are grouped in three categories- remarry, secondary and tertiary interventions.The primary level of this hierarchy includes modifying and eliminating stresses. In relation to company this would include giving people more control over their Jobs and work environments; redesigning tasks they are required to do; giving flexible work schedules. Skimpier et employees to adopt to different ways of working. Bond & Bunch (2000) designed cluster of interventions that led employees having more input into decision-making and control over workloads, and put systems in place for getting advice form mangers quicker on vague tasks.Employees from intervention group reported less ill health, and higher Job performance. Perceived control in interventions group underp inned these positive outcomes. Also found individual differences appears to interact with the changes in control where Higher psychological flexibility benefited more, showing individual differences can lead to different outcomes for different employees. At a Secondary level focus on individuals response to stress, and focus more on employees than changing aspects of the organization.Increasing levels of social support for staff experiencing high level of stresses in organizations found ewer medical errors and malpractice claims in hospitals, and an increased agility and resilience in stressful environments (Murphy, 1996). This findings were also supported by Frees (1999) who looked at blue collar workers and also found social support exhibited less anxiety, and strain. Tertiary symptom directed, focus on helping individuals cope with consequences of stresses, again focus is on individuals rather than focus on organizations.One approach to provide medical care in house or outsourced for employees, another approach is PAP. Cooper and Saudi (1994) found improvements in mental health and esteem of those participating n Peeps within organizations, suggesting they can be helpful with stress, however approach this is a reactive approach not proactive because it doesn't prevent it, deal with problems after they arise rather than focus on creating positive work environments which minimize stresses.There has been rapid increase in compensation claims for work-related stress in recent years (Dyer, 2002). Furthermore it's been reported that growing proportion of employee absences may be accounted for by anxiety, and depression (McLeod 2003) and such circumstances have been found to have an effect on productivity, absenteeism, and occupational injuries. There is growing literature which argues that workplace counseling helps alleviate these issues, as well as improve employee problems.Here, it is argued the implementation of external sources through contractual agreements would be deemed beneficial as there is a lack of organizational resources and trained staff within HER to provide services, and furthermore consolidating in external counseling may be viewed as safer alternative where employees may fear of the level of confidentiality within their sessions. It should be noted not only is counseling being suggested to combat issues of individual and organizational stresses but also deal tit the impending issues of lack of diversity within the organization at present and the ongoing issues in relation to this.There are numerous studies that point out the benefits of counseling. In particular a substantial systematic review by McLeod (2001) found counseling to reduce work related stress in more than 50% of people, levels of sickness and absence reduced by 25-40%. There were clinically significant improvement in levels of anxiety, depression and stress reported in 60-75 of clients. AH Nor fails to implement development of employees through training to enable raciest, or learned routines that will provide a first response to any unexpected threats.Important organizational procedures and conduct are tied closely to of company beliefs and those beliefs then become core values which are the basis of day-to-day behaviors that translate intended strategies into actions (Hammond, 2002). Behavioral preparedness helps bridge a gap between divergent forces of learned resourcefulness and counterintuitive agility and merging forces of useful habits.A combination of useful habits and behavioral preparedness create a foundation of rehearsed and habitual expert routines that ensure an organizations initial and intuitive response to any situation will create options that than constraints (Ferrier, Smith, & Grimm, 1999). The principle behind the selection process is that individual differences between people in attitudes and skill and other personal qualities, and people are not equally suited for all Jobs therefore it is important to match the r ight person to the right Job.The main elements involved in designing and implementing personnel selection procedure can be outlined in the personal selection paradigm (Patterson and Ferguson, 2007). AH Nor possess no competency framework or reliable recruitment methods. It is suggested that the initial first steps required is a Job analysis to take place within the company recognizing the tasks that are assumed and the competencies required, including tasks that will remain stable over time.The goal of Job and competency analysis is to provide an evidence based specification to attributes that act as criteria for decision making during the selection and guide the choice of assessment techniques. Assessments are selected based on correspondence between the attributes they assess and those identified in the Job and competency analysis. It can be difficult to describe certain the behaviors associated with writing a complex financial report there for competency analysis has become very popular.It has been agreed that competency analysis goes beyond rigid boundaries of the Job title by taking into account the organization objectives vision s and strategy of staffing requirements (Livens and Sanchez 2007). Although the effects of faking are not understood but this can be reduced with providing feedback as research has suggested if individual knows the test will discussed later makes them think twice, also assessor is able to determine if individual was honest based on feedback session if they are unable to meet the data.Schmidt et al 1979, showed gains of over $1 m dollars per annum could be expected if ability tests were used to select park rangers, similar gains were also reported for computer programmer selection (Hugs & Manager 1959). Psychometric testing has grown popular in recent years, and it can be used in two ways in selection. It can provide a more detailed assessment of Job candidates and better manage applicants. They consist of tests of maximum perform ance which are tests of ability aptitude, linked to general intelligence, or specific facets like verbal, numerical and abstract etc.Tests of performance which are personality assessments. They are designed to assess aspect of individuals ability, choice of test is dependent on information gleamed from the job and competency analysis. These types of tests are used alongside early stage assessments it helps selector determine minimum acceptable level of ability for Job role, those below cut score are rejected. In Hunter and Schmidt (1998) meta-analysis general ability tests are right up with work sample and structured interviews with validity of 0. 1 . In combination with an integrity test (which would extend to personality assessment drawing on integrity-relevant traits), the validity rises to 0. 3. The particular HER system configuration that will leads to a capacity for organizational resilience. Moreover, it is important to recognize that while human capital, Just like many other assets, can be applied toward multiple ends; opportunity does not mean that the leverage potential will be realized.For example, creative problem solving routines, a clear sense of purpose, high levels of intellectual and social capital, and a propensity for iterative, double-loop learning which are elements contributing to a capacity for resilience can also contribute to developing organizational change trainees and promoting dynamic capabilities (Oriole and Savings, 2003). The perspective and mental agility that stem from needed cognitive abilities provide a foundation for an organization to be able to learn from the consequences of the actions it undertakes within its complex actions and thereby be more effective in dynamic competitive environments.Useful habits such as continuous dialogue and the trust that results from deep social capital provide the raw material for constructing meaning and making difficult choices in ambiguous situations. However, it takes deliberate intent to ensure that particular outcomes are realized. It is argued that it is the comprehensive bundle of desired employee contributions, HER principles and HER policies that enables a firm to develop a capacity for resilience (Lenience-Hall and Beck, 2011).Therefore it is argued that HER policies, practices, and activities are vital for an organizations capacity for resilience, and that organization's capacity for resilience is a multilevel collective attribute emerging from the capabilities, actions, and interactions of individuals and units within the company. Employee contributions, HER practices, and HER policies are the primary integrating mechanisms or achieving a collective resilience capability. Organizational resilience is an increasingly necessary collective competence for the company that operate in highly charged environments and those characterized by Jolts and surprises.Investments in human capital to develop employees who are adept learners, strong communicators, and skil led at creating strong interpersonal ties creates a foundation for both a capacity for resilience and effective knowledge management. Similarly, developing organizational skills such as â€Å"radicalized ingenuity' (Cutout, 2002)), using action to happen cognition (Wick, 1995), and counterintuitive thinking (Meyer, 1982) contribute to both a capacity for resilience and innovation. References Bond, F. W. & Bunch, D. (2000). Mediators of change in emotion-focused and problem- focused worksheet stress management interventions.

Paramilitarism Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Paramilitarism Project - Essay Example 1997 pp 1-18) The first known paramilitary law enforcement unit dates back to the Roman Empire as early as the year 6 A.D. (Sommerfield 2006) Originally made up of freed slaves, the group was formed for the sole purpose of protecting the Roman cities from fire, the group’s number and powers grew. Eventually free civilians joined their ranks and this law enforcement group elevated to elite status. (Sommerfield 2006) One hundred years later, policing evolved into a ‘head of state’ function across Europe. Lords and aristocratic figures often appointed representatives to maintain order. The English Saxons were similarly constructed. ‘Citizens were divided into groups often called tythings, each of which was headed by a tything man.’ (Sommerfield 2006) The tything groups were each part of a larger group that reported to a Shire-reeve from which the word sheriff originates. The Norman feudalism system witnessed a further revolution of the policy strategy. The tything man evolved into the parish constable who was accountable to the Sheriff who in turn evolved into the Justice of the Peace. (Sommerfield) By the 17th century policing strategies were firmly established. The police system primarily consisted of guards who were appointed from among the general citizenry. They were employed without compensation to watch the city gates and patrolled the streets on foot. As times changed, populations and economic structures grew to a point where this form of policing was no longer practical. As a result the first modern day police force was formed. This notoriety belongs to the London Metropolitan Police. Formed in 1829, the London Metropolitan Police became a model for which many commonwealth countries, inclusive of the United States of America would form their own police force. (Metropolitan Police) Paramilitary policing is not something that only came to fruition in recent years. Throughout history, there has always been a

The effect of visual obstructions on the sexual behaviour of guppies Essay

The effect of visual obstructions on the sexual behaviour of guppies - Essay Example Therefore, in order to gain a better understanding of the evolution of specific, elaborate secondary sexual characteristics, it is important to study the ecological factors and behavioral mechanisms that may influence the outcome of sexual selection. These changes may therefore affect the evolutionary outcome of sexual selection. This paper summarizes the published article by Hibler and Houde entitled â€Å"The effect of visual obstructions on the sexual behavior of guppies: the importance of privacy†. The research team examined the effect of habitat structure on the sexual behavior of male and female guppies, Poecilia reticulata. The team tested whether the ability of males to observe the courtship activities of other males affects the frequency of courtship interference by male guppies, and whether this in turn affects the sexual behavior of virgin females interacting with these males. They tested these predictions by manipulating the structure of guppy habitats in the laboratory using opaque barriers and observing the effect of such visual obstructions on male courtship and interference behavior, as well as on female sexual responsiveness to male displays in experimental groups of guppies. The results of the experiments were scored and the interference behaviors as either ‘fend-offs’ or ‘chases’. Data for male groups that were tested with both virgin and non-virgin females were analyzed using ANOVA to determine the effect of both treatment and reproductive status (virgin versus non-virgin) on male display and interference behaviors with male group as a blocking factor. For trials involving non-virgin females, ANOVAs containing an order effect were also carried out for chases, fend-offs and displays. The results of this study support the original predictions made by the study group that visual obstructions reduce male interference behavior and increase female responsiveness

CISG has too many incosisten provision Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

CISG has too many incosisten provision - Essay Example United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) Susan J. Martin-Davidson, a Professor of Law at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, has commented that the â€Å"place of business is not defined in the Convention† which is the foremost important consideration in examining whether or not CISG would apply (Martin-Davidson, 2008-2009, 1). It was said that commentators have proposed that the place of business would refer to â€Å"a permanent and regular place for the transacting of general business† (Honnold, 1989). However, Martin-Davidson says that it is still unclear if such a term would include â€Å"the location of a distributor, or other agent, who participates in the negotiation and performance of the contract† (Martin-Davidson, 2008-2009, 1). Even the final draft of CISG, the delegates were unable to address as to the issue if place of business would apply to â€Å"local agents working on behalf of foreign principals† (Martin-Davidson, 2008-2009, 1). Martin-Davidson also comments that â€Å"matters relating to agency† are not addressed by the Convention and does not also illustrate what â€Å"activities of an agent† would be adequate to establish that â€Å"the agent's place of business† is that of the principal (Martin-Davidson, 2008-2009, 1). ... e closest relationship to the contract and its performance† (Martin-Davidson, 2008-2009, 1), which place is so provided under Article 10 of the CISG and which basically determines the location of parties under Article 1 of the CISG (Bailey, 1999, 300). In Micro Data Base Systems, Inc. v. Dharma Systems, 148 F.3d 649, 653 (7th Cir. 1998), it explained that â€Å"it is not clear whether a relationship linked to the formation of a contract is more or less important that a relationship linked to its performance.† Such provision is even more complex with the proviso that instructs to have a regard â€Å"to the circumstances known to or contemplated by the parties at any time before or at the conclusion of the contract† (CISG Article 10(a)). No suggestion however is offered as to kind of circumstance referred to in such provision (Martin-Davidson, 2008-2009, 1). The sale of goods under the CISG is also said not to have been defined under the Convention (Martin-Davidson, 2008-2009, 1). Although there have been â€Å"scholarly commentary† explaining that â€Å"goods are basically only moveable, tangible objects,† (Schlechtriem, 2005, 28), there were some reported decisions wherein the court had to decide the meaning of such a term (Landgericht, 2001, 1 & Oberlandesgericht, 1991, 1).  This is especially relevant to the application of CISG on the â€Å"information stored in and read by computers† which include both the â€Å"information stored on a disk or in a computer† considered to be â€Å"intangible property† and not as goods (CISG, Article 2(f)), and the so-called â€Å"licensed use of information,† which does not satisfy â€Å"the seller's obligation to ‘transfer the property in the goods’† under Article 30 of CISG (Martin-Davidson, 2008-2009). Such concern however, was

Critical Reflection Journal Teaching Towards Article

Critical Reflection Journal Teaching Towards - Article Example In this regard, if a teacher expects to produce competent students with high abilities of learning how to learn, the teacher needs not to lose focus on the situatedness, vantage point as well as the development and construction of meanings with regards to the contents taught (Green, 1997). This is very important in ensuring that the students are kept abreast with everything necessary for productive academic performance. It is significant to note that communication is important in every sector of development in the modern world. In this regard, the modern teaching and learning should embrace the issue of communication at all costs (Green, 1997). This should be nothing less than a productive form of communication. The communications should ensure that the thoughts and aspirations must be communicated amicably between the learners as well as the teachers in order to dispel any form of misunderstanding that may arise due to communication failure. This is important in creating an enabling environment where each party feels valued thereby becomes more interested as well as active in all forms of undertakings. Green, M. (1997). Teaching as Possibility: A Light in Darkness Times. A Publication of Lesley College, Cambridge, Massachusetts. From: The Journal of Pedagogy, Pluralism & Practice, Issue 1 vol.1: Spring 1997. Retrieved from https://www.sendspace.com/file/2icpf3 on 02 March

Personal Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Personal Identity - Essay Example Are There Other Features That Need To Be Factored In As Well, Or Instead? Overall, What Factors Are Indispensable For Establishing And Sustaining Our Identity Over Time? The mind deals with many concepts that include our beliefs, desires, sensations, emotions and passions among other things (Wiggins, 2007). The philosophies of the mind involve studies that are carried out to determine the nature of our minds, the mental events that take place in them, their functions and properties along with the relationship of our consciousness to our physical bodies (Crane, 2001). The field greatly considers the relationship that exists between our minds and bodies. However, it also considers other matters which do not concern the relationship that exists between our bodies and mind but that help in defining our personal identities (Behrendt, 2003). According to philosophy, consciousness is a terminology that is used in describing the relationships that exist between our minds and the environments we interact with (Crane, 2001). The term has been described as involving our ability to experience, feel or have feelings of selfhood while possessing the control of our minds (Wiggins, 2007). Many philosophers like Velmans claim that our consciousness involves anything that we are aware about which in turn makes the activity the most common feature in our lives. Philosophers argue that consciousness comprises of our views, thoughts along with feelings (Behrendt, 2003). Memory on the other hand, has been described as the set of cognitive abilities which enable us to retain information while reconstructing our past experiences (Wiggins, 2007). A philosopher like William James in the year 1890 argued that memory is the knowledge we have of previous states of mind we have experienced but have already been dropped from our consciousness (Martin & Barresi, 2003). This therefore implies that our memory derives its inputs from our consciousness in perceiving the events that take place in our environments (Crane, 2001). Philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato proposed various concepts that greatly helped in resolving the issues involving the relationship of our minds to our bodies (Behrendt, 2003). The two philosophers came up with the concepts of dualism whereas the notion of monism was introduced by Descartes (Wiggins, 2007). There are several types of dualists among them being the substance dualists along with the property dualists. The former dualist’s claim that the mind exists independently whereas the latter dualists believe that the mind consists of clusters of properties that are independent that usually come from our brains and cannot just be condensed to it (Davies & Stone, 2005). They additionally state that the brain is not a unique substance and other factors should be included in the analysis of our personal identities. On the other hand, monists like Descartes dispute the idea that our bodies and minds are ontologically unique types of entitie s (Hoerl & McCormack, 2001). However, other people like the idealists believe that the only thing that exists is the mind and that everything else is mental or is an illusion that has been created by our minds (Davies & Stone, 2005). The neutral monists believe that there is a substance that is unknown of which our minds and other matter in our environment are a part of (Wiggins, 2007). Currently, philosophers of the mind usually adopt either a reductive position whereas others adopt non reductive approaches in illustrating that our minds and bodies have a relationship that exists between them (Davies & Stone, 2005). However, there are still other philosophers who dispute the idea that the mind is an unadulterated physical construct that can go a long way in defining our personal iden