El salvador Free Essays

This case was written by Susan Bartholomew based on personal interviews. Names, dates, and details of situations have been modified for illustrative purposes. The various economic, political, and cultural conditions described are presented as perceptions of the individuals in the case; they do not necessarily reflect the actual conditions in the region. We will write a custom essay sample on El salvador or any similar topic only for you Order Now The events described are presented as a basis for classroom discussion rather than to illustrate effective or ineffective handling of a cross- cultural situation. December 10, 1998: The Job Offer John and Joanna Lafferty had Just opened a bottle of wine to share with friends who had come to see their new apartment in Toronto when the telephone rang. John, a lanky, easygoing development economist, excused himself to answer the phone in the kitchen. Recently married, John and Joanna were excited to be building a life together in the same city at last. As a development economist specializing in Latin America, John Laffertys work had taken him to Peru, Bolivia, and Guatemala on a series of three- to four-month assignments over the previous three years. While he loved the challenge and adventure of this fieldwork and had come to love the people and culture, he also wanted a home base and steady presence in Toronto, where Joanna worked as a human resource management consultant. Just before their wedding six months earlier, John accepted a position with a Toronto-based NGO (non-government organization) focused on research, fund-raising, and government lobbying on issues related to Central American political refugees. Throughout the 1980s, tens of thousands of refugees had fled political persecution and human rights abuse in war- orn Central America to seek political asylum in Canada; John’s field experience in Guatemala and his natural diplomacy were invaluable to the Canadian organization. He was passionate about his work and quickly gained a reputation for being a sa’. n. y and politically astute advocate of refugees’ cases. As Joanna went to get some wineglasses from the kitchen, she could overhear her husband speaking in Spanish on the phone. Joanna had studied Spanish in college but had difficulty following the rapid, one-sided conversation. However, one phrase, â€Å"Me allegre mucho,† and John’s broad grin as he said it, was impossible to isinterpret. Joanna returned to her guests in the living room: â€Å"It sounds like good news. † John’s work with refugees in the Canadian NGO had caught the attention of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, headquartered in Geneva, and he had recently returned from a one-week visit and series of interviews. While John had not been searching for a new Job opportunity, the Geneva invitation had been too exciting to resist. John walked back into the living room with a huge smile: â€Å"Forget the wine, I think we should open some champagne. The U. N. has Just offered me the most incredible Job. † â€Å"In Geneva? Joanna asked excitedly. Decision The El Salvador assignment would be for two years, as a Program Officer responsible for organizing the repatriation of Salvadoran refugees from various refugee camps back to El Salvador and developing programs to ensure the protection and well-being of such refugees in their return to Salvadoran communities. The position would report to the Charge de Mission of the El Salvador office. While this office was based in the capital city, San Salvador, the Job would also require frequent travel to various field offices and refugee camps throughout El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras. The challenge of the assignment excited John tremendously; he also believed that this was an exceptional opportunity for him to make a real difference in the lives of the refugees of Central America. He certainly wanted to accept the Job; however, he would only go if Joanna would be willing and happy to go with him. Two questions would weigh heavily on Joanna’s mind: 1 . â€Å"What about the political instability of the area? † The politics of El Salvador were complicated and difficult to understand, and the story seemed to vary depending on the source. As Joanna gathered, the civil war in El Salvador had come to an end in 1992 with a U. N. -brokered peace treaty between the conservative government of the Republican Nationalist Alliance (Arena) and the Marxist-led Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN). Throughout the war, the U. S. ad apparently spent more than $4 billion to support the government and military, while the Soviet Bloc supported the FMLN. Human-rights groups alleged that right-wing death squads had murdered 40,000 of the 70,000 people killed during the 12-year war. However, the peace agreement had significantly reduced the size of the rmy, disbanded corrupt police forces, purged the country of the most notorious human-rights abusers, and disarmed the FMLN, allowing it to become a legal political party. The country appeared to have made substantial progress toward peace and democracy. The information and briefings they received from Salvadorans and other expatriates who had recently returned from the country suggested that life in the capital, San Salvador, was quite safe. Economically, the country was becoming more internationally open, with establishment of large export factories, increasing rivatization, and reforms aimed at stimulating foreign investment. While certain precautions were required, and the area was still heavily patrolled by armed forces, Joanna was told she could expect a relatively normal lifestyle. They would live in a highly secure part of the city, in the area populated by all the foreign embassies. They would also be living and traveling on a U. N. diplomatic passport (â€Å"Laissez- passer†), which would afford them excellent protection. 2. â€Å"What about my career? † Moving to El Salvador was the last thing Joanna had imagined when she married John Lafferty six months earlier. Joanna had worked in Toronto for three years as a human resource consultant after graduating with an MBA. She was bright and ambitious, and her career was advancing well. While she was very happy to be married, she also enjoyed her professional and financial independence. Besides, Toronto was not only professionally rewarding, it was also home, friends, and family. However, Joanna was also ready for a change; secretly, she had always envied John the sense of adventure that accompanied his work. Maybe this was an opportunity for her to develop her After much discussion, they decided that John would accept the assignment. January-March 1999: Predeparture Arrangements When John confirmed with the Geneva office that he would take the assignment, it was arranged for him to move to San Salvador at the end of March and for Joanna to follow one month later. It was often recommended in assignments of this kind to send married staff ahead of time to get settled into the Job before their spouse and/ or family arrived. This option made sense to the Laffertys and had several advantages. First, it would give Joanna more time to finish off her current consulting rojects in Toronto and make a graceful exist from her present firm. She had a strong professional reputation and wanted to ensure she was remembered favorably by her corporate clients when she returned to Toronto two years later. Second, John would be able to get the housing arrangements settled before Joanna’s arrival. John’s employer would provide ample financial and logistical supports to staff in finding housing; however, John also knew from past experience that dealing with local real estate agents and utility companies in Central America could be highly frustrating. Tasks that were quite simple in Toronto, such as having a lease drawn up and getting a telephone installed, Just didn’t seem to follow any system or set of procedures. â€Å"Tomorrow’ could mean next week or even next month. Patience, flexibility, and a good deal of charm were usually required; getting angry rarely helped. While John was used to the inconvenience and unpredictability of local services in Central America, he was uncertain how Joanna would react initially. John held a deep affection for the Central American people and felt hopeful that Joanna would develop an affinity for the culture as well. However, he hoped to at least have the majority of the living arrangements worked out before she arrived to make her transition to El Salvador as smooth as possible. Finally, the extra time gave Joanna more opportunity to prepare herself for the transition. Joanna had taken a course on international human resource management as an MBA and was familiar with the phenomenon of culture shock in international assignments. She recalled from her course that predeparture preparation and cultural orientation made a significant difference in helping employees and their families adapt to the foreign environment. Joanna was determined to read and learn as much about Salvadoran history and politics as she could. She was also keen to improve her Spanish before she arrived and as soon as the decision was made that they would be going to El Salvador, she enrolled in night courses for six hours a week. As Joanna walked home from her Spanish class one evening, pleased with her results on her comprehension test, she recalled with amusement a conversation she had had with Joan Taylor. Joan was the wife of a senior executive with Altron, a Canadian firm with offices throughout Latin America. The Taylors had Just returned rom a two-year assignment in Guatemala City, and Joanna had contacted Joan to get some insight on the practicalities of living in the region. â€Å"My dear Joanna,† Joan began, â€Å"you will have a very fine life in Central America, or in most developing countries your husband will be sent to, for that matter. You will â€Å"Just watch out for the ‘gilded cage syndrome. † â€Å"The what? † Joanna had asked. â€Å"As corporate executives or diplomats in third-world postings, we live a pretty high life, certainly a standard of living far beyond what we could have in our own countries. Everything is there for you and everything is done for you. It’s like living in a gilded cage. Some people love it, and get pretty spoiled; after a while you cant imagine even making a sandwich for yourself†¦ .† Humph, Joanna thought to herself at the time. That would certainly never happen to me. I am a professional. This is an incredible learning opportunity and I am going to make the most of it! May 1999: Joanna’s Arrival Joanna arrived on a balmy afternoon, grateful for the warm breeze after a cold Toronto winter. She was excited to see John and only slightly disappointed that their first drive into San Salvador would not be alone, but accompanied by a young Salvadoran named Julio Cesar, who had been assigned as their driver. On the drive from the airport, Joanna tried hard to follow his rapid banter as he pointed out the sights to her. She had felt confident in her Spanish in the classroom in Toronto, but now she could barely understand a word Julio Cesar said. John, sensing her frustration, began to translate, and by the time they reached the house, Joanna was exhausted and discouraged. John was proud of the house he had found, next door to the Mexican embassy and only a block from a tennis club where most of the members were expatriates. He hought this might provide a good social base for Joanna if she got homesick for North American lifestyle. The large 12-room house was certainly impressive, with its shining terrazzo floors and two large gardens. Joanna wondered what to do with all the space. It was also quite secure, with metal bars on all the windows, and surrounded by 12-foot walls. â€Å"This isn’t a house, John, it’s a fortress,† Joanna said in amazement. mieah . I know it’s a bit much,† said John. â€Å"But this is the one area of the city we are strongly advised to live in, for security reasons. Smaller homes or apartments Just on’t exist. Most of the families living here are either expats or very wealthy Salvadorans. Most have live-in help and need the space. † â€Å"But I don’t want anyone else living with us †¦ † . I want you to meet Maria. † Joanna followed John out to the back of the â€Å"Come .. house, and was introduced to a small, brown woman, vigorously scrubbing clothes. â€Å"Maria worked for the family who lived here before; it only seemed right that she should stay. She only lives a few blocks away, though, so she will go home each evening. † After a week, Joanna soon learned Maria’s work patterns. Maria would hand wash all their clothes in the cement tub and hang them to dry outside, a chore that would take all day long, as Maria would often wash things three times. The following day she would return to do the ironing, which would take another full day. As Joanna sat in her study upstairs, reading her books and newspapers, she felt an overwhelming sense of guilt thinking of Maria, hand washing every last item of their clothing in the own clothes in a washing machine. Then, when Joanna found out that John paid Maria $6. 00 per day, she was furious. John explained to Joanna that this was the ustomary wage for the women from the â€Å"barrios marginales† who worked as domestic help for wealthy Salvadorans and expatriates. These â€Å"marginal communities† were small groupings of tin shacks located in the ravines that surrounded the city. A few had electricity, but many of the communities, including Maria’s, still cooked their meals over fires and lit their homes with candles. Joanna began to slip more money into Maria’s pay envelope. Joanna hoped to make a friend of Maria and looked forward to having lunch each day with her and learning more of the local way of speaking. Joanna realized now hat the formal Spanish she had learned in school was vastly different from the language she heard each day on the streets of San Salvador. However, Maria refused to eat at the same table as Joanna and insisted on serving Joanna first in the dining room, and then eating her own lunch on the stone steps in the back room. Joanna was deeply uncomfortable with this and began to eat lunch at the restaurant in her nearby tennis club instead. Other things began to irritate Joanna as well. For example, one day, she started to wash the car in the driveway. Suddenly, Maria’s son appeared and insisted that he do he Job for her, horrified that â€Å"la Senora† would undertake such a task herself. Another time, Joanna began to dig up some of the plants in the garden for replanting; the following morning, a gardener appeared at the door, saying that he was a cousin of Maria’s and would be pleased to take on additional gardening work. Joanna resented this intrusion into her daily life. If she was going to be spending so much time at home, she wanted privacy to read and study. It was going to be a while, she realized, before she found a Job. Joanna was disappointed with the Job prospects among local and even international companies. Most available positions were clerical, for which she was vastly overqualified. l didn’t get an MBA to work as a file clerk! † she would think to herself angrily. Then, she would think sadly, â€Å"My Spanish probably isn’t even good enough to get a Job as a file clerk. † One day, in frustration, Joanna called her two closest friends in Toronto, colleagues from her old firm. â€Å"l can’t win! † Joanna c omplained. â€Å"l feel guilty all the time. I feel guilty because I don’t do anything myself. And I feel guilty if I don’t hire local people to the housework. They need the money so much. Then I feel guilty that we pay them six dollars a day. We can afford so much more. I feel guilty that I have a maid and she lives in a tin shack in a ravine two blocks from my house. But John says we can’t pay her more than the going rate because it would upset the whole balance of her community. He says they have their own economic structure and norms and we have to respect that. My Salvadoran neighbors tell me that if I pay Maria or the gardener more they won’t respect me. But I do anyway, and then I feel guilty because I don’t tell John. And then our driver, Julio Cesar . The sarcastic response was the same from both. Gee, Joanna, sounds tough. Beautiful house, a maid, gardener, and driver, afternoons at the tennis club †¦ n wonder you’re so miserable. † been a big mistake? She knew how much this Job meant to John, and it was a great step forward for his career. But what about her career and her own happiness? This had been a mutual decision. Something was going to have to change or they would be on a plane back to Toronto very soon. The question was †¦ what? Questions For discussion 1 . Is Joanna suffering from culture shock? What elements of the Salvadoran culture seem most difficult for her to adapt to? 2. Should Joanna have done anything differently in terms of her preparation for moving to El Salvador? What do you think she should do now? 3. How could Joanna further her career as a human resource consultant while living in El Salvador? What skills could she develop? Would these skills be transferable if she moved back to Toronto? To another country? 4. If you were John, would you have taken the Job in El Salvador? If you were Joanna, would you have agreed to go? 5. Do you think international careers are feasible for dual-career couples? What issues are important to consider for the individuals involved? What can companies do to make foreign assignments more successful for couples and families? Is the happiness of the employee’s spouse the responsibility of the company? 7. What recommendations would you make to international organizations and companies sending employees to politically unstable regions? Do companies have a responsibility for the physical safety of expatriate emp loyees? Does this responsibility extend to locally hired staff as well? 8. Do you think Joanna should pay her cleaning lady and gardener more than the standard $6. 00 per day? Why or why not? How to cite El salvador, Papers

Aeneid Essay Example For Students

Aeneid Essay The Aeneid, by Virgil, is an epic that attempts to give the Roman Empire anillustrious founding. As the story progresses, Virgil presents two very realhuman emotions: pietas, and impious furor. Pietas is duty towards the Gods,country, and family. Impious furor, in contrast, is the feeling of fury andpassion. These two emotions are consistently at odds with each other. Manycharacters within the epic, such as Juno, are consumed by their own fury, atrait which Virgil sheds negative light on. Aeneas, the hero and centralcharacter, on the other hand, is a man who is presented as pious and dutiful. Heobeys the Gods and journeys to Rome. However, at the end of the novel, Aeneashimself is overtaken by rage, and he kills out of vengeance. Virgils goal inwriting the Aeneid is to present Aeneas as a pious individual, and thus givingRome a glorious founding. By closing the novel with an act of rage, however,Virgil portrays Aeneas as a ruthless killer. The ending is inappropriate becauseit casts doubt on the very reason for which Virgil wrote the Aeneid. Aeneas ispresented as someone who is the model of pietas. A Roman must show piety towardshis family, his country, and above all, piety to the Gods. When Aeneas visitsCarthage, he falls in love with Queen Dido, and plans to remain there for anindefinite amount of time. However, he is quickly reminded of the more importanttask at hand. Are you forgetful Of what is your own kingdom, your own fate?remember Ascanius growing up, the hopes you hold For Iulus, your own heir, towhom are owed The realm of Italy and land of Rome. (Aeneid, 4:353-369) Mercury,the messenger god, is scolding Aeneas for remaining in Carthage. Mercury remindshim that he must remember his fate, and that he should leave for Italyimmediately. He also reminds Aeneas of his son Ascanius, and that he shouldleave for Latium so that his son can eventually rule over the realm ofItaly. Aeneas now must make a decision, does he stay with Dido, the woman heloves, or doe s he continue his journey to found Rome? Even though Aeneaslongs to soften, soothe sorrow (Aeneid, 4:540) because he caresfor her, pious Aeneas carries out the gods/instructions (Aeneid,4:544-545). Pietas is love for Gods and putting aside your own heart to complywith the will of Gods. Therefore, Aeneas gives up Dido and instead chooses Romeand its glorious future. He is being dutiful by following the words of Mercury,who in turn represents Jove, God of Olympus. Virgil clearly intends this to beseen as a commendable trait. In addition, Aeneas is explicitly referred to aspious within the text. This description of Aeneas is appropriate, becauseby choosing the Gods over Dido, he has now become worthy of the term piety. Virgil is attempting to make a distinction between Aeneas and the othercharacters of the Aeneid. While others may indulge their anger, Aeneas hascontrol over his emotions. One different point of view that can be presentedagainst Aeneass piety is his killing in the war against the Latins. Aeneaskills many of Turnus men in the course of the battle. However, Aeneas, in hisbattle with Lausus, feels compassion for the man he has beaten. Poor boy, forsuch an act what can the pious/ Aeneas give to match so bright a nature?/ Keepas your own the arms that made you glad;/ and to the shades and ashes of yourparents I give you back- (Aeneid, 10:1132-1136). Aeneas has mortally woundedthe man, but he still shows compassion towards him. Instead of taking Lausussweapons, Aeneas allows him to keep them, and he gives the man his blessing. Forthis reason, Aeneas displays piety, even when he takes the life of a man. Incontrast to pious Aeneas, Juno, Goddess of marriage, is someone who is overtakenby her own anger. She does not want the Trojans to reach the site of Rome, andher dislike of them is recounted early in the epic. And Saturns daughter-remembering the old war the causes of her bitterness, her sharp and savagehurt, for deep within her mind lie stored the judgment of Paris and the wrongdone to her scorned beauty, the breed she hated. (Aeneid, 1:35-43) Thisdescription illustrates to what extent Juno loathes the Trojans. Juno isextremely upset because Paris denied her the golden apple. For this reason, sheharbors bitterness against the people, and she plans to make their journeyto Italy long and arduous. Virgil also uses strong words, such as hate andsavage, to describe Junos anger towards the Trojans. Her rage onlycontinues to grow, and Juno asks Aeolus, god of winds, to destroy the entireTrojan fleet in one great storm. You Aeolus-/Hammer your winds to fury/and ruin their swamped ships, or scatter them/ and fling their crews piecemealacross the seas (Aeneid, 1:95-103). Juno s anger is so great that she wantsAeneas and his men, the only surviving Trojans, to be annihilated. She plans todestroy the entire Dardan race. Despite her attempts, the Trojans survive theattack and continue their journey. Finally, even when Juno realizes that shecannot win, she still attempts to deny the Trojans of their fate. I cannotkeep him from the Latin kingdoms:/ so be it, let Lavinia be his wife,/as fateshave fixed. Virgin,/ your dowry will be Latin blood (Aeneid, 7:415-421). Junois openly admitting that the fates are going to give Latium to Aeneas. .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab , .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab .postImageUrl , .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab , .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab:hover , .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab:visited , .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab:active { border:0!important; } .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab:active , .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua4d3241a9ad9ca72bdc99382c9077bab:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Henri Cartier Bresson - Arts EssayNevertheless, she is still persistent and plans to create a conflict between theTrojans and the Latins in which Latin blood must be shed. Juno has been avengeful character from the start, but in this passage she reaches the height ofher anger, and she challenges even the fates. Thus, Junos actions representthe climax of impious furor. For much of the story, Virgil presents Aeneas as apious being, one who does not indulge in his own rage. However, as the epicnears its end, even Aeneas succumbs to his own impious furor. In the battle withthe Latins, Aeneas does not heed the pleas of his enemy. O Trojanhero,/spare me my life;with pity hear/my prayerAeneas cut/him off/Thenwith his sword, he opened Ligers breast (Aeneid, 10:820-826). Liger, aLatin warrior, begs Aeneas not to kill him. He asks Aeneas to pity him andspare his life. As a noble individual, Aeneas should comply and set theman free. However, he chooses to indulge his rage, and thus he sinks his swordinto Ligers breast. This sudden change in Aeneas is seen even moreclearly in the final act of the book, when he faces a pitiful Turnus. For youhave won, and the Ausonians Have seen me, beaten, stretch my hands; Lavinia Isyours; then do not press your hatred further. Aeneas, Aflame with rage-his wrathwas terrible- Cried:How can you who wear the spoils of my dear comrade nowescape me? Relentless He sinks his sword into the chest of Turnus. (Aeneid,12:1249-1269) Turnus, a great warrior and himself the leader of a kingdom, begsAeneas to spare him. Turnus knows he is beaten, and he asks that Aeneasturn aside his hatred. Aeneas, however, is full of rage at the deathof his comrade, Pallus, and chooses to enact vengeance. Thus, he kills Turnus inan act of cold blood. This is not the same Aeneas that Virgil presents in theearlier portions of the Aeneid. In addition, he is not showing piety towards theGods by killing Turnus and eliminating his enemy. Turnus admits defeat, and isbegging for forgiveness. However, rather than honoring the Gods and showingnobility in sparing Turnus, Aeneas indulges in his own fury. The change inAeneas presents a dilemma at the end of this epic. Virgil intended the Aeneid tobe a justification of Romes greatness. He wanted to detail Romes historyand give it an illustrious founding. Initially, Aeneas is presented as a piousindividual, and because of this he is someone who is worthy of founding theRoman Empire. However, Aeneass final act indicates a man consumed by his ownimpious furor, and rather than providing a noble conclusion to the epic, itsuggests that Rome was founded by an enraged man. For this reason, Virgilsintended message and his apparent message are at odds with one another. Thus,the ending of the Aeneid is left unresolved.

Organized Crime Has For Nearly One Hundred Years Held An Unseen Contro

Organized Crime has for nearly one hundred years held an unseen control over the United States. Running both illegal and legal businesses they have captivated the lives of the country. Here is an overview of the history of this power that knows everything and everyone that has power or wishes to rise to power. The beginning of organized crime goes back to the 13th century. The Mafia was formed in Sicily to help farmers from being terrorized by French and Spanish looters (Waller, p.16). It was not until the 19th century that the Mafia began to show up in cities like New York and New Orleans. By World War I, every major city had powerful local gangs, not necessarily a Mafia group. The Mafia's discipline held all of the gangs together. The Mafia had only two major objections dealing with crime. There was to be no drug dealers in the Mafia and prostitiution was not allowed. The cheif weapons of the Mafia were death threats and the code of omerta'(the code of silence). When omerta' was broken, the police cleaned up the mess while the rival gang took over. Prohibition brought the birth of organized crime to the United States. Prohibition was ratified on January 29, 1919 but didn't take hold until 1920 (Compton's,p.1). Prohibition, which was the 18th Amendment of the Constitution, made it illegal to buy, sell, or transport alcoholic beverages. It also opened a new market for illegal booze to those who would risk it. Prohibition also proved to be filled with murder and corruption. Men like Lucky Luciano, Dutch Schultz, Al Capone, Meyer Lansky, and Vito Genovese got started during this time. Prohibition began with the sale of foreign booze that was smuggled into the country. After several raids and many thousands of dollars lost, the mob turned to more producing of their own illegal alcohol. Bootlegged whiskey was known as "white lightning" (Waller,p.29). Illegal alcohol was sold two ways: you could put it in bottles or it was sent to the taverns in tin cans. The highly violent city of Chicago had been divided up into five different turf areas for bootleggers. This agreement would have worked out except that one major bootlegger was excluded from the deal. The O' Donnell brothers had controlled the southern most area of Chicago but had not been allowed to join the meeting. This group of brothers eventually met their match after many years of war. The city of Chicago had been split up between six gangs. It was an agreement over areas of control. The noth side of Chicago was divided between Al Capone and Dion O'Banion. O'Banion was to control the beer while Capone controlled the hard liquor. This eventually led to the death of O'Banion. The south side of the city was ran by the Genna family. The west side was controlled by the Valley Gang while the southwest side was ran by the Saltis-McErlane Gang. To the far south side the Ragen's Colts controlled the bootlegging industry (Waller,p.31). During this time, a new weapon came into play. The Thompson submachine gun, also known as the tommy gun or chopper, became a major factor in criminal activity. This machine gun also became known as the Chicago violin because of its heavy use in the city. It was a sad day for several organized gangs when Prohibition was repealed. On December 5, 1933 the 21st Amendment was passed making it legal to buy, sell, and transport alcoholic beverages. The fourteen years of Prohibition had made the mob and Mafia grow powerful and rich. One of the most famous mobsters of all time was Al Capone. Born Alphonse Capone in Brooklyn, New York, he was the son of immigrants from Naples, Italy (Waller, p.27). Although Capone was of Italian descent, he was never a member of the Mafia. As a teenager Al Capone was involved with crime. His first crime job was as a bouncer in a mob bar called Harvard Inn (Waller, p.27). In 1918, Capone married a woman of Irish background. Then in the early part of 1919, Al Capone moved to Chicago with John Torrio to work for Torrio's uncle. Once Capone got his bootlegging business running he came in contact with his first

Porn and the Government essays

Porn and the Government essays People like sex. Many advertisers entice potential customers by using sex appeal to reel them in. Where would Madonna and Brittany be if it werent for their usage of sex appeal? Internet Porn is a $1 billion industry (Forbes.com) and it wouldnt be there if people werent buying it. On one episode of Sex and the City (aired on HBO), the character Samantha tells her friends, You must try the internet, IF only for the porn! Sex on the Net is the biggest underground business in the world. It attracts tens of millions of users. Online pornography was the first consistently successful e-commerce product and contributed greatly to the Internet's explosive growth. These adult sites gave us technological advances in advertising, user tracking, and e-commerce that have now spread throughout the Web. But because of societal disapproval and fear of legal prosecution, the porn industry on the Internet remains largely underground. Mainstream analysts hardly comment on it, and accurate statistics are extremely hard to come by (for instance, estimates range from 20,000 to 7 million active X-rated sites on the Net). Besides societal disapproval of obscenity there are also issues such as child porn, and illegal photographs circulating the internet which brings up a major concern. In any legitimate adult shoot, every model must show proof of age and sign a release giving the photographer the rights to sell the pictures. In the last two years, self-regulation has become an accepted reality, and most photographers can no longer sell material without the right paperwork. The risks to Webmasters for copyright infringement or a visit from a child porn crackdown squad are too expensive to ignore. As of now, there are no real internet regulations supported by the U.S. Government about internet porn. Using a photograph illegally coexists with copyright laws, and child pornography is punishable as an issue in itself...

The most luxurious places for students to live

The most luxurious places for students to live Luxurious houses for students Many American universities do their best to attract the future students and make their student life unforgettable. The days of living in the cramped quarters are long gone, so now college housing has something different to offer. Students of the following universities can compare their living with a luxury vacation. They have everything for living in style while getting their degree. Let`s find out what makes the living experiences of students so unique. Osprey Fountains at The University of North Florida – Jacksonville, Florida Osprey Fountains at The University of North Florida is a new housing complex for students opened in 2009. Here you will find a convenience store, fitness center, library for studying, and video game room. But the best amenities are outside. You can take a rest in the outdoor pool or just spend some time in the volleyball, basketball or tennis courts. Osprey Fountains is the perfect place for students to come and relax after difficult classes. Price Range: $1,130 – $5,000 per semester The Metropolitan at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising – Los Angeles, California The Metropolitan is the closest housing complex to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising which offers students the amenities of a 5 star hotel. This luxurious â€Å"dorm† is situated in the very heart of Los Angeles and is surrounded by nightlife and shopping. A heated pool, courtyard, community lounge, private theatre, sundeck and covered spa, design and drawing rooms – everything at your disposal. Each apartment has a kitchen with GE appliances, living space, a vanity, a private balcony, and large windows. Price Range: About $1,000 per month Sontag and Pomona Halls at Pomona College – Claremont, California Sontag and Pomona Halls are super eco-friendly housing complexes for students on Pomona College campus.   They are equipped with air conditioning, electrical cut-off switches, daylight sensors and low water use fixtures. You can also find the roof top garden patio which consists of solar panels that helps heat the water. Price Range: $4,275 per Semester The Lawn at the University of Virginia – Charlottesville,   VA It is an honor for a student to live on the Lawn at the University of Virginia. This place has a rich history and the long-standing traditions. You have to get used to that fact that the door of your room should be open. Only exemplary students who strive to become scholars and leaders can have the opportunity to live in such luxurious apartments. Price Range: $6,020 – $6,170 per year North Quadrangle Residential and Academic Complex at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, If you are a freshman – don`t even expect to get a room here as this housing complex is extremely coveted. North Quadrangle Residential and Academic Complex offers you the private and spacious rooms for luxurious student living. Learning communities, work areas, media facilities, bike routes, a TV studio, equipped conference rooms, and lounges on every floor are among the additional facilities. Price Range:  $5,978 – $8,204 per semester Mark Shenkman Hall (formerly Ivory Tower) at George Washington University – Washington, D.C. Mark Shenkman Hall gives you the opportunity to enjoy the opulence of living in Washington while studying. This building is conveniently located and has everything that students may need. Its apartments have full service kitchens, private baths, air conditioning, wireless internet, high speed internet, and elevators. Price Range: $13,760 – $14,670 per year Founders Hall at New York University – New York City, New York This building is the newest residence hall of New York University. It has 26 stories that gives students the opportunity to have the room with the amazing view on the city. Here you will find the spacious rooms with adjoining bathrooms, private libraries, open area communal rooms, and the courtyard. Due to the perfect location near the Union Square Subway, students can easily get to their classes and the rest of the city. Price Range: $6,792 per semester University Village Suites at Kennesaw State University – Kennesaw, Georgia Only freshmen can live in the University Village Suites. Each apartment has a shared bathroom, a mini kitchen, and a built in bar with stools. You will never find yourself starving as the in house Peace Cafà © and Hoot Restaurant always have something delicious to offer. An art gallery, a computer lab, community kitchens, study rooms, lounge areas, and laundry rooms are among the community amenities. Price Range: $585 – $660 per month The Units at the University of California, Berkeley – Berkeley, California The Units at UC Berkeley are the housing complex for undergraduate students. The apartments are equipped in the typical dorm style – beds, desks, and dressers. It is the view that makes this place really luxurious. Students can make use of a central fitness facility, a laundry facility, and a diner. Price Range: $6,363 – $8,512 Hub at Tuscon at The University of Arizona, Tuscon – Arizona The Hub at Tuscon is a luxurious place for students of The University of Arizona. Its building amenities are really spectacular – fully equipped rooms and kitchens, fitness, spa, gaming, executive meeting rooms, grilling gazebo, sand volleyball court, and hammocks. The rooftop pool is its main attraction. Price Range: $1,490 – $5,405 – per unit, per month

Advanced Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Advanced Strategic Management - Essay Example Advanced Strategic Management Its strategic decisions in advancing its objectives are highlighted in its diverse business activities and business linkages that promote networking with other business entities. Thus, its decision to acquire Nest is integral part of its strategic initiative that is designed to give it an innovative edge in the market and generate strategic profit in the smart homes. Google works in an environment of intense competition where originality and differentiation are key issues to retain competitive leverage. Porter strongly asserts that firms can outdo others if they can establish a difference and exploit it for achieving their wider goals. Indeed, Google has been distinct in its customer centric policies, growth strategies and organizational culture that nurture creativity. Its state of the art research and development facility constantly strives to anticipate the changing preferences of its customers. They have made significant breakthrough in exploiting the vast potential of internet through their new products and services as well as diversifying business goals through business alliances and acquisitions. Acquisitions of Facebook, twitter, Motorola etc. have been important part of their strategic business decisions that have contributed to its leadership position in the market. The recent acquisition of Nest is seen as key part of its future planni ng and long term goals of penetrating new market of smart homes.

Unit 3 Discussion 2 Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Unit 3 Discussion 2 - Annotated Bibliography Example Gray, S. (2012). A Study of Negotiation styles between business managers from UK and Indian cultural backgrounds. Dissertation paper presented to University of Wolverhampton Business School. West Midlands. https://publications.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/48611/Culture%20Dissertation%20by%20Sasha%20Gray.pdf?sequence=1 The above research paper researches aims at developing an in depth understanding of the culture led differences in business negotiation styles in India and UK. The paper begins by defining culture to create an understanding of its implication to different areas of life including business. Data analyzed in the paper shows that there is a significant difference in how business people in India and UK want to be treated and thus it is important to understand these differences for effective negotiation. The paper generally recommends a more conservative form of business negotiation style in India than in the UK. The above book by Kumar and Worm seeks to advice people who intend to venture in emerging economies such as India and China on how to effectively negotiate in these two cultures. The book offers extensive coverage of the culture differences between the West and these two Asian economic giants. The book recommends that business negotiators must appreciate the culture differences in these countries and their home countries in order to succeed in business. The conduct of diplomacy in the 21st century has been affected by new forms of challenges that arise from globalization and interdependence among nations. Diplomacy has gotten intensive, volatile, plural-directional and multifaceted. This is as a result of the large numbers of objectives, ways of communication, dialogues subjects and the heightened complexity in terms of factors. Having been written by a Foreign Service expert and leading scholar, this book analyses all these factors