The Crusades Essay -- essays research papers

The Crusades A major turning point in Medieval history were the Crusades. The Crusades were a series of wars fought between the Christian Europeans and the Muslim Turks, which occurred between the years of 1096 to 1272. In this Holy War the Christians goal was to obtain the Holy Land from the Turks, in which they did not succeed. Although the Christians did not meet their goal, many positives did come out of their attempt. Due to the reason that they did not meet their goal, yet numerous positives came out of their effort, many refer to this as a successful failure. A main cause of the Crusades was the treatment of Christian pilgrims. They were robbed, beaten, and then sold. The main group of Turks, the Seljuk Turks, were threatening and growing in power. The Byzantine Emperor, Alexus I, began to become worried and sent out an urgent plea to Pope Urban II, in Rome. He requested for Christian knights to help him fight the Turks. Pope Urban II did agree to his appeal although Byzantine Emperors and Roman Popes were longtime rivals. He also did agree with Alexus I, in fearing that the Turks were expanding. Pope Urban encouraged French and German Bishops and Nobles to also take part in this. â€Å" An accused race has violently invaded the lands of those Christians and had depopulated them by pillage and fire.† This is when Pope Urban II called for a crusade to free the Holy Land. Urban did agree to this having some of his own motives in mind. He was hoping his power would grow in ...

The Social Dynamics of the Weight Room Essay -- Personal Narrative Wei

The Social Dynamics of the Weight Room Missing Works Cited As I walk down the streets of Hollywood, I can’t help but notice all the billboards advertising numerous products. The symbols of these products are beautiful young people with rock hard, chizzled bodies. It is interesting to note what defines a female as beautiful and a male as beautiful. The females seem to look extremely thin with tight arms, stomachs and buttocks’. These models for â€Å"Levi’s† or â€Å"Banana Republic† don’t have all the curves, but look feminine in a rather boyish manner. When viewing males on these billboards, you will notice that they are often times cut, trim, and more curvy than the female. They commonly shave their bodies for companies like â€Å"J-Crew† and â€Å"Abercrombie and Fitch†. We can see that there may be a possibility of gender crossings (males looking more feminine and females looking more masculine). These images represent beauty and are seen as cultural icons of appearance in o ur culture. The media seems to determine and drive the social stigma of society. Looking for the effects of these icons in our culture, I decided that it would be beneficial to explore the source of the image building†¦a fitness gym. Weight lifting has many connotations for social interaction. The purpose of this ethnography is to discover possible explanations to lifting weights, how lifting weights personifies masculine and feminine gender roles, to understand the social interactions within the weight room, and to investigate how much the media plays into the development of the masculine and feminine image. The weight room is a culture in its own that represents the masculine and feminine image of our culture. When I first entered the â€Å"Muscle Madness ... ...is not heterosexual at all, but homosexual: not only is she ‘unnatural,’ but the female boldybuilder possesses the power to invert normal male sexuality. Since Bev Francis [female bodybuilder] looks and moves ‘like a man,’ homophobic patriarchal ideology whispers that men who find her attractive must be gay, and, further, that women who find her attractive must be lesbians. Bev’s muscles, dress, heavy facial features, and ‘unfemine’ body language evoke the stereotype of what a lesbian looks like: the butch, the lesbaian who is immediately recognizable as such, visibly different†¦.gay men are assumed to be wimps who worship ‘he-men,’ while lesbians are assumed to be women who are ‘he men’ or women who worship ‘he/she men’. †¦sexuality is surreptitiously linked with sex and gender in such a way as to support heterosexual and patriarchal ideologies. (Holmund, 150-51)

Plastic Production Essay -- Environment, Fossil Fuels

1.0 Research Background The term of plastic has attracted more attention in the literature for the past 100 years since the introduction of the first industrial plastic at the latter part of the 19th century. John Wesley Hyatt, an American, finally came upon the solution in year 1869 with celluloid which makes its debut in plastic industry (McCord, 1964). Ever since after, there have been several milestones in the history of material science as the invention of plastic has, arguably, touched more lives than any other technological breakthrough. Plastics play a significant role across the environmental, societal and economic dimensions of sustainable development. Our modern lifestyle would not be possible without plastics. Plastics have proliferated so readily throughout the modern world because of their inherent properties such as lightweight, versatility and durability (Fortelnà ½ et. al., 2004). By possessing these advantageous characteristics, plastics has become a good candidate for replacement of other materials that range from simple plastic parts such as household storage containers, to sophisticated devices such as heart replacement valves. It is this range of properties together with their low cost that has driven the annual worldwide demand for plastics to reach at least 308 million tonnes by 2010 (Andrady and Neal, 2009). 1.1 Impacts of Plastic Production Although plastics have had a remarkable impact on our culture and lifestyle, the production and use of plastics pose increasing threat to environment. Most plastics are made from fossil fuels and thus plastics production has an impact on oil consumption, both as a raw material and to deliver energy for the manufacturing process (van der Voet et al, 2003). The proce... ...is chapter. The literature review of the related subjects has been outlined in Chapter 2. The main objectives of this chapter are to present the latest knowledge and studies from other researchers relating to the feasibility of performing reprocessing operations in the plastic industry particularly in recycling of plastic and the implementation of Taguchi method in optimizing the injection moulding processing parameters to enhance the mechanical properties of the recycled plastic products. The following Chapter 3 delineates the methodology used in this research wherein every procedure of the experiments is explained in details. Chapter 4 analyzes and discusses the results obtained from the experiments based on the Taguchi method and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Chapter 5 highlights the conclusion on this research work and ends with the future work continuation.

A comparison of english and german contract law

Contracts are part and parcel of our daily activities; they are basically agreements that people make, a fulfillment of which will benefit the two parties. The most common contracts that people make are either implied or oral. They may not have a legal binding where one party can sue the other for breaching to perform it.However, there are serious agreements that are made between parties which require a legal binding to protect them just incase a complication arises. The law of contract may have different meanings and implications depending on the country of implementations. However, the process of the contract is the same where two parties agree on doing something and thereafter accompanying their words by the action of performing the task.IntroductionA contract can be defined as an agreement between two or more people to perform a certain task. A contract may take different forms depending on the parties that are entering into it. A contract may therefore be written, verbal or impl ied. The best and common form of contract that takes place in our day to day life is that of buying and selling (Zumbansen, 2005). The buyer will look at the commodity while the seller will persuade him to buy it by explaining about the satisfaction derived from consuming the product.Once he buyer is convinced about the product he or she agrees to the terms and as an evidence of his liking, he or she gives the seller an amount equal to the commodity. A contract is therefore termed as complete when the seller receives the price and the buyer the commodity. There are some distinctions and similarities on how the German and the English law consider the law of contract.The German Contract LawThe German contract law was basically formed from the BÃ ¼rgerliches Gesetzbuch abbreviated as BGB. This is the civil code that was developed in 1881 and became effective in 1900. The German contract act was passed in 1982 but the BGB remained to be the unification law of the entire land. The Germa n law has gone through many amendments since its implementation but the major ones were done in 2002.The law of obligation which forms part of the BGB’s five main parts was reformed. The law of obligation, which is found from sections 241 to 853, is one of the five major parts of the German law that deals with various forms of contracts (Beale, 2002). There are several principles in the German law that helps to define different contracts.First, we have the principle of separation which differentiates between obligatory contracts and those that occur on the actual transfer of property. The principle generally means that an individual who has the responsibility of transferring ownership of a certain property does not guarantee him/her ownership of such property; he/she simply has the right to demand that the property be transferred to the right person.Another important principle is the principle of separation. This principle differentiates between the contract of transfer of pr operty and the actual process of transferring such property. The principle requires that the rules stated by the owner should be strictly followed and treated separately.The principle of abstraction states that when the ownership of a property is transferred it is legally valid even if the obligatory contract is invalid. It is therefore clear that a mere obligation to transfer a certain property does not guarantee the transfer of such; it is the action of transfer that determines its validity. The two contracts are independent and follow separate rules as per the owner of the property.

Panasonic and Japan’s Changing Culture

Case #2; Panasonic and Japan’s Changing Culture 1. Some of the drivers of the cultural changes in the 1990’s with Panasonic were that Japan’s generation of workers, starting with the generation born in the 1960’s, did not wholly believe in being a â€Å"salaryman† and working for a company from when they start until when they retire. After many years, in the 1990’s Japan entered an economic slump that lasted the majority of the 1990’s.Only a few companies at first started to lay off employees and go back on their promises of employment until retirement because the older their workers, although they worked hard, also were less efficient than younger workers were. As the younger generations saw this happening they concluded that loyalty to both the company and workers would not be reciprocated anymore and became less harder working than previous. This undermined the traditional culture in Japan of the central bargains of housing and reti rement packages for an employees hard work and loyalty. 2.Japan’s businesses in the future have to operate with more than one plan when they hire workers to effectively. In 1999 Panasonic gave recruits three different choices when they were signed on in employment. They could continue with being given housing, go free to company social events, and buy cheaper services from banks, while also receiving a two year salary bonus when they retired. They could choose to forgo the retirement bonus, while keeping the company housing and be given a higher salary, or they could forgo the retirement bonus and any subsidized services but would be given an even higher salary.In addition to the changes in hiring, companies needed employees to be more risk taking and needed to encourage individuality which is something that was not very prevalent in Japan. Without employees taking risks, companies would suffer and that is what happened to Panasonic as they were forced to close thirty factori es, and cut 13,000 jobs while selling â€Å"huge amounts of assets†. 3. Japanese culture in the 1950’s-1980’s benefited Panasonic greatly because of how after the World War II defeat, Japan was humiliated and it seemed fair that they would be taken care of if they worked hard for their company.For Panasonic this was a great thing because employees worked extremely hard for the greater good of Panasonic and Panasonic responded by giving the employees â€Å"blessings† of company housing, and free social events. 4. With Panasonic cutting 15,000 employees and closing another additional 27 plants, Panasonic is trying to achieve a lower overhead cost in operation and also is trying to find out who their best workers are so that they are not kept down when they should be promoted.By quickly responding to the recession, it showed a change in Panasonic’s company policies and shows that they might be moving even further away from company subsidized housing a nd to make employees become harder workers not because they know that they cannot be fired, but that they can be fired, at any time. If Panasonic implements these changes quickly, they will receive a lot of backlash from all those displaced employees and if they did it like this it would truly symbolize how Panasonic has changed into a company that is becoming westernized and is only concerned with how the company does and not their employees.If the changes take years to implement, although it would greatly affect the profitability of the company, it would give employees chances to adapt to changes of no longer being employed and give them chances to be hired in another company. By making changes slowly, Panasonic would be able to claim that it still wished to use the old way of never cutting jobs but it could not do it in this economy and had to do so to survive. 5.The Panasonic case teaches me that there is a fine line between societal culture and business success and sometimes yo u have to be able to choose between the two to realize which is more important to you. To some companies, such as Panasonic, trying hard to keep with the societal culture becomes too much of a strain for a company to bear so they are forced to adapt and realize that business success is more important that having all your workers love you. It may not be the type of business practice that gives you the best reputation but it will give you the greatest profit margins.

Corrections Accreditation and Privatization Essay

â€Å"Corrections accreditation is intended to improve facility operations through adherence to clear standards relevant to all areas/operations of the facility, including safety, security, order, inmate care, programs, justice, and administration† (â€Å"American Correctional Association†, n.d.). Going through these types of processes can be very beneficial to a corrections officer’s development. Going through these procedures, the experience will assist them in keeping and maintaining a professional outlook in any situation. Correctional facilities are equipped with officers who are trained to not only keep everybody safe in the environment, but to maintain security and order at all times. These officers need to be professional just as anybody else would in any position within a job. Their development lies in improving their thought process and their skill at the job when necessary and changes occur almost every day. Industry leaders can make good changes when hiring corrections officers. A good way simply being when hiring staff, there is no tolerance for illegal activities. Making improvements in their training programs, if need be. In addition to those, upgrading the facility with better measures as far as security. All of the things covered when being audited can make a difference to planning for better future outcomes. Prisons for some time have been dealing with not only major financial situations in local, state, and federal governments, but overcrowding as well is a huge concern. â€Å"Privatization as it refers to prisons is to both the takeover of existing public facilities by private operators, and to the building and operation of new and additional prisons by for-profit prison companies† (Cheung, 2004). Due to the rising in state and federal population it is a concern to consider the all-around costs of incarceration, operation and management. It seems as though state and federal prisons have more of a professional practice, whereas a private institution might suffer because of demands, rising costs, conditions (depending on location), etc

Major Turning Points in U.S. History (1492-1820) Essay

Throughout documented United States history, immense changes in social, political, and economic establishments have been brought about by perplexing people or conditions. Often, these changes mark a turning point in the progress of civilization as new ideas are formed, new governments raised, or new discoveries put to use in the interest of progress. Whether these pivotal moments in history may be triggered due to a single nonconforming individual or a vast, radical multitude, each turning point has explicit influences and outcomes which shaped America for years to follow. Every important decision has two key dimensions. The first is the outcome in the immediate case, and the second is as a precedent for future development. When calculating the most substantial turning points of something as expansive as an entire country one must discern not merely the immediate effects, but the long-term consequences as well. Throughout the duration of this essay I will briefly analyze what is perceived to be the most imperative turning points in American history politically, socially, culturally, and economically on, not simply an immediate premise, but also on an enduring scale. One of the first major turning point events in early American history was the French and Indian war. The French and Indian war was fought between the French and its American Indian allies against the British colonial forces from the year 1756 to 1763 and is considered one of the bloodiest wars in American colonial history, and the bloodiest American war in the 18th century. It took more lives than the American Revolution and involved people on three continents. The war was the product of an imperial struggle, a clash between the French and English over colonial territory and wealth. The war was fought for 7 years across territory in North America and a major cause for this war was struggle for territorial expansion between Frenc h and English forces. It is also believed that the effects of the French Indian War are the ultimate cause of American Revolution. Before and throughout the French and Indian War, from about 1650 to 1763, Britain essentially left its American colonies to run themselves in an age of neglect. The consequences of the war successfully ended French political and cultural influence in North America. England gained massive amounts of land and vastly strengthened its hold on the continent. The war, however, also had indirect results. It severely eroded the relationship between England and Native Americans; and, though the war seemed to strengthen England’s hold on the colonies, the effects of the French and Indian War played a key role in the deteriorating relationship between England and its colonies that ultimately led into the Revolutionary War. As you proceed onward with the history of our country you reach what is undisguisedly the most significant turning point in American history; the American Revolution. After the French and Indian War, the age of neglect was finished. Britain, wanting to replenish its drained treasury, placed a more substantial tax burden on America and tightened regulations in the colonies. Over the years, Americans were forbidden to circulate local printed currencies, ordered to house British troops, made to comply with restrictive shipping policies, and forced to pay unpopular taxes. Furthermore, many of those failing to conform to the new rules found themselves facing a British judge with no jury. Americans were shocked and offended by what they viewed as violations of their liberties. Over time, this shock turned to anger, which ultimately grew into desire for rebellion. The Treaty of Paris was signed in Paris, France on September 3, 1783. This ended the American Revolutionary War, and gave the colonies their independence from Great Britain. The 13 states were now free to join together and become the United States of America. They could now formulate their own government and conceive their own laws. This freedom was the most substantial effect of the American Revolution. New ideas like those conveyed in the Declaration of Independence were finally allowed to spread and grow in the new country. The British gave America all of the land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River, from Canada to the north and Florida to the south. If the revolution had not taken place, it is probable we would still be under British rule today. The newly formed United States of America would need to set up a new national government. The citizens of the new country did not want a government that would inflict high taxes like England did before the revolution. However the new government would be weak unless the states were willing to compromise. The Articles of Confederation specified that all thirteen states had to ratify any new constitution for it to take effect. To avoid this obstacle, the delegates included in the new Constitution a section outlining a new plan for ratification. Once nine of the thirteen states had ratified the document (at special conventions with elected representatives), the Constitution would replace the Articles in those nine states. The delegates figured correctly that the remaining states would be unable to survive on their own and would have to ratify the new document as well. Politically, the creation of a new constitution, led to the establishment of a new centralized democratic government. Socially, more individuals and groups fought to secure rights for themselves, especially women, slaves, and religious groups. Economically, a method for fixing the national debt, along with a strong agrarian base, would help a slow, but steady improvement to American society. Political, social, and economic aspects of the overall American society were affected so dramatically as to create a new country that is so unlike any nation created before it. Benjamin Franklin jokingly made one of the best educated guesses and assumptions of all-time when he said, â€Å"Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxe s†. Neither death nor taxes have shown any sign of letting up, and the Constitution has shown plenty of longevity. Over 220 years after the ratification of the Constitution it stands almost untouched to rule and guide the citizens of the United States of America. Thousands of laws, actions, treaties, regulations, and judicial rulings have been made and decided on behalf of this document. This document not only protects and governs the lives of the people, but the businesses and foundations in which they work and own. As American Society continued to grow reaching residency in the millions another huge turning point event arose, the Louisiana Purchase. The purchase of Louisiana by the American President Thomas Jefferson was one of the greatest acquisitions America managed in history. It paved way for easy trade and doubled the total land space of the country. The Louisiana territory encompassed all or part of 15 present U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. The Americans managed to acquire this immense amount of land for merely $15 million dollars. Furthermore this colossal purchase directly led to what is identified as the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806), was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific coast undertaken by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, it was led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. It is difficult to overstate the long-term ramifications of the Expedition. The most noticeable immediate effect was the rise in the northern plains fur trade between 1806 and 1812. For Native Peoples, the aftermath of the Lewis and Clark was anything but a positive experience. Perhaps the most devastating was the outbreak of smallpox among the Mandan in 1837, an epidemic which all but destroyed the once-powerful group. To the Native Americans, it was the beginning of an end. Their lives were forever changed by their contact with the fur traders, soldiers, and missionaries that followed in result of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The changes were no less profound for the European Americans either. Lewis and Clark provided valuable information about the topography, the biological sciences, the ecology, and ethnic and linguistic studies of the American Indian. The mysteries of the vast area known as the Louisiana Purchase quickly disappeared after Lewis and Clark.