Sunday, October 6, 2019

Restaurant Evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Restaurant Evaluation - Essay Example The thesis statement for this paper is to evaluate the pros and cons of Nora’s Cuisine based on, three criteria, which include, variety of the appetizers, pastas, and salads offered by the restaurant, location of the restaurant, and the total cost that must not exceed $20 per person. The first criterion to evaluate Nora’s Cuisine is that food choices should include a variety of appetizers, salads, and pastas.   The cuisine is doing very well in this regard. Some of the main appetizers, which the cuisine offers to the customers, include Gamberoni Fritti, Calamari Fritti, Italian Wings, Mozzarella Sticks, and Bruschetta al Pomodoro. A bad point regarding the cuisine is that it falls short of meal at times. The managers need to take every step to make every appetizer available to the customers whenever the customers come within the mealtimes. The cuisine specializes in making delicious pastas, such as, Melrose pesto, Fettuccine Carbonara, Cheese Ravioli, and Rigatoni Special. Diners can use the facility to take their leftovers with them. Salads are full of calories and are very delicious indeed. The cuisine also specializes in preparing antipasto, fruit salad, and crisp lettuce topped with mozzarella, olives, blue cheese, and tomatoes. With the order of tw o hamburgers or sandwiches, the cuisine provides a full plate of French fries and a soft drink without any charges. That is really a good thing and the customers like it a lot. The second criterion to evaluate Nora’s Cuisine is the location of the cuisine. The cuisine is just 5 kilometers away from my place. People can also go to the cuisine using public transport. A bad point regarding location is the small parking area for the people who have their own vehicles. The third criterion to evaluate Nora’s Cuisine is the price of food. I set the limit of maximum $20 per person. The prices at Nora’s Cuisine fall below the limit. The prices are not high and low income people can also afford to go to Nora’s

Friday, October 4, 2019

Conflict, Decision Making, and Organizational Design Research Paper - 2

Conflict, Decision Making, and Organizational Design - Research Paper Example 432). The real problem was that GM had developed too many levels of management. The number of corporate stuff was huge. So the decision making was slow and cumbersome, and, therefore, change was difficult. So the major challenge the new management faced was to eliminate the hierarchical levels and reduce the total number of managers. The top management expected that such a move will reduce operating cost, improve communication, and encourage innovation. Some analysts estimated a termination of 20,000 managers. The task was enormous (Jones & Mathew, 2007, p. 432). The board was of the belief that the shareholders’ interest can be served only by taking tough organizational design decisions. In 1993, GM announced its intention to cut 50,000 hourly and 24,000 salaried jobs and to close or consolidate 21 parts and assembly plants by 1995 to save money. The revolt by the board was an important mile stone in GM’s history. From that point on, GM’s performance improved every year (Jones & Mathew, 2007, p. 432). Conflict is not all about war, violence, and loss of life. By definition, a conflict is simply a disagreement among people on an issue. Conflicts can be small, as among two persons, or they can be large and complex, as among two or more countries. Conflict is a natural and normal part of human life and interaction. When communication to settle a conflict is constructive, the conflict is beneficial. Constructive approach stimulates new understandings and more socially just solution with stronger relationship. In case of a communication breakdown, conflict can lead to separation and hostility (Sughru, 2009, pp.7-8). While analyzing conflicts, it is better to break down the issue into five variables (Sughru, 2009, p. 10). First and foremost we need a complete picture of the actors and understand their direct or indirect role. In other cases, an actor may not be

European Expansionism and the New World Order Essay Example for Free

European Expansionism and the New World Order Essay The European invasion and expansionism leave a stain to the World History, and thus traced the question where does the modern youth get their evil side. Since this Europeans invaded most part of the world if not the whole, everyone could say that each has a small drop of blood of Europeans in their system, especially in the continent of South and North America, where most of the European expeditions harbored. Because of this, wickedness of Europeans might be inside of todays every mans alive. The extermination of Hispaniola by the Spaniards is no less than a tragic extinction of American Natives. Exquisite execution of the poor victims ironically generates fun and excitement with those performing the impious acts, all for the name of the Almighty. In the book of Stannard, it summarizes blow by blow account of how the Europeans perform such evil acts including Spaniards whos responsible in creating the New World in accordance to their standards and Christian beliefs and devotions. However, the creation of the so-called New World of this Europeans caused massive killings and pestilence which resulted to a depopulation of about ninety-six percent. The irony is putting a New World for the living in expense of every living thing that is degraded, demoralized, and extinct. For the most common term it is survival of the fittest supposedly performed only by animals in the wild fighting as predators for the flesh of their victims. How the old Europeans perform the survival of the fittest game for their New World? American Natives wiped out for many ungodly reasons varying from killing newly born babies to letting husbands and wife being tired and stressful that they do not get to feel the sexual urge to do procreation. Some reasons were pestilence or intentionally spreading of plague and viral diseases by scattering contaminated things to public. Some were simply letting the people starved to death. Some were being subjected to burning villages and massive killings. This character of burning people and villages originated in Europeans because they are the ones having the superiority trait and that inferiors of them deserved to be maltreated, demoralized and died inhumanely. It could be to totally eliminate habitants of such community, especially when they see that the land that they occupied were fertile, healthy and rich. For the conclusion on this chapter which talk about European Expansionism and New World Order is the additional denunciation for the late reaction of the natives as they allowed three or four decades of European invasion and American extinction before they do the movement and crusade of condemning Europeans wrongdoings. Again, these movements which lead to Civil War also take part in the World History in a negative manner and reputation.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

The Very Concept Or Idea Of God Philosophy Essay

The Very Concept Or Idea Of God Philosophy Essay Ontological arguments attempt to show that the very concept or idea of God implies his reality; that is, that ones being able to clearly conceive of God somehow implies that God actually exists. The ontological argument is a priori. This means that the argument does not rely on the evidence of the sense, or the world around us, for either its premises or its conclusion, but rather it moves by stages of logical argument to a conclusion which is self-evidently true or logically necessary. The argument is both deductive and analytic. This means that the premises of the argument contain the conclusion it reaches and the argument is structured in such a way as to make the conclusion the only possible one that can be deduced from its premises. Because it is analytic it is true by definition alone. The ontological argument was first formulated by eleventh century Archbishop of Canterbury, St. Anselm. Anselms original version of the argument is developed in his Proslogion in the course of some reflections on the fool who hath said in his heart, There is no God. Anselm reasons that even to deny Gods existence, the fool must understand the idea of God, who must exist as an idea in the understanding of the fool. Anselm suggests that the idea of God is the greatest possible being, a being than which nothing greater can be conceived. Anselm claims that it is greater to exist in reality than merely to exist in the understanding. Since God is by definition the greatest possible being, it is impossible for God to only exist in the mind (the understanding). For if God only existed in the mind and not in reality, the God would not be the greatest possible being. Anselms argument is an essential idea of the ontological argument because he was the first scholar to formulate the ontological argument which other philosophers, including modern scholars, use as the basis of their developments to the ontological argument. Five hundred years after Anselm, the French philosopher Rene Descartes reformulated the ontological proof, in terms of the concept of necessary existence. Descartes realised that doubting all of his knowledge proved his existence: I think, therefore I am. Similar to Anselm, Descartes defined God as an infinitely perfect being superior to all beings in perfection. He argued that because we exist and in our minds, have the concept of a perfect being; and as an imperfect being, we could not have conjured up the concept of a perfect being. The concept of a perfect being must therefore have originated from the perfect being itself and a perfect being must exist in order to be perfect, therefore a perfect being exists. Descartes applied his argument for a perfect being to the existence of God. He argued that God is the idea of a supremely perfect being. A supremely perfect being has all perfections. Existence is a perfection. A supremely perfect being has the perfection of existence. It is impossible to think of God as not existing, therefore, God exists. Descartes maintained existence belonged analytically to God in the same way that three angles are analytically predicated of a triangle, or less convincingly, as a valley is a necessary predicate of a mountain. Norman Malcolm proposed another form of the ontological argument in support of necessary existence. Malcolm argued; if God exists, his existence is necessary; if God does not exist, his existence is impossible. Either God exists or he does not exist. Therefore Gods existence is either necessary or impossible. Gods existence is possible (not impossible), therefore Gods existence is necessary. Malcolms argument is an essential idea of the ontological argument because it is a development of both Anselms and Descartes arguments and logically proves the necessary existence of God. Alvin Plantinga formulated his own, contemporary version of the ontological argument. Plantainga suggested that since we are able to imagine any number of alternative worlds in which things may be quite different, for example a world in which John F Kennedy decided not to become a politician and been an estate agent instead. There must be any number of possible worlds, including our own. However, if Gods existence is necessary, he must exist in them all and have all the characteristics of God in them all. This is because, Plantinga argued, God is both maximally great and maximally excellent. He proposed that: there exists a world in which there is a being of maximal greatness, and a being of maximal excellence is omnipotent, omniscient and omnibenevolent in all worlds. Plantingas argument is an essential idea of the ontological argument because it succeeds in showing that God is possible in all possible worlds. b) Despite the ontological argument seeming to be a strong, convincing argument for proof for the existence of God, it comes under heavy scrutiny from its weaknesses. Anselms argument was refuted in his own lifetime by Gaunilo, who demonstrated that if the logic of the argument were applied to things other than God, it led to invalid conclusions. Gaunilo replaced the word God with the greatest island which led to his argument which had the same form as Anselms, with true premises, and yet, which leads to a false conclusion. Gaunilo argued: I can conceive of an island that than which no greater island can be thought. Such an island must possess all perfections. Existence is a perfection, therefore, the island exists. Gaunilos argument shows that just because we can think of the greatest possible thing or being in our mind it does not mean that it exists in reality. However this is a weak criticism of the ontological argument and the strengths are more convincing because Gaunilo is applying the argument to a contingent object, where as God is a necessary being according to Anselm. An island may or may not exist. Furthermore, there is no logical poin t at which we might reasonably say that we have reached intrinsic perfection in an island or other islands, or other contingent things, is surely subjective I cannot possibly guarantee that my perfect island is the same as yours. Therefore the strengths of the ontological argument are much more convincing than Gaunilos criticism because it shows that the argument works when applied to a necessary being, where as Gaunilo applied it to a contingent item, which is not the same thing. Fundamental to Anselms and Descartes form of the ontological argument is that existence is a predicate an attribute or quality that can be possessed or lacked, such as size, shape, colour, temperature, personality, intelligence or traits. These may or may not belong to a being or thing, and their presence or absence is part of our understanding and apprehension of it. However Kant observed that existence is not associated with the definition of something, since it does not add to our understanding of that thing. We must establish the existence of something before we can say what it is like. We cannot ascribe existence a priori to our definition of a perfect being. Kant argues it would be self contradictory to posit a triangle and yet reject its three angles, but there is no contradiction in rejecting the triangle together with its three angles. Kants criticism of the ontological argument is very strong and causes the ontological argument to be weak and not convincing because Anselm and Descartes used existence as a predicate in their arguments and consequently they were wrong to do so because existence is not a quality because the idea of God, existence is contained within the definition of God. Kant also added that existence adds nothing to the concept of a thing or being. For example, one hundred pounds in the imagination was not made greater in number or nature by existing in reality. However this argument fails to weaken the ontological argument because arguably one hundred pounds in reality is more useful than one hundred pounds in the mind. In the same way God who only exists in the mind can have no real effect on the lives of believers; where as God who exists in reality can intervene in peoples lives and make a real difference. Despite this, Kants argument is still a strong criticism and causes the ontological argument to not be a convincing argument because you can reject the idea of God and easily thin of a being that does not exist. David Hume also criticised the ontological argument. He believed that the ontological argument makes a false assumption about existence that necessary existence was a coherent concept. Hume argued that existence could only ever be contingent and that all statements about existence could be denied without contradiction. All things which could be said to exist could also be said not to exist. Hume said: However much our concept of an object may contain, we must go outside of it to determine whether or not it exists. We cannot define something into existence even if it has all the perfections we can imagine. Humes criticism is similar to Kants and makes the ontological argument a less convincing argument because it is not possible to move from the necessary of a proposition to the necessity of a God. In conclusion the ontological argument is a fairly convincing argument despite its various criticisms. The ontological argument cannot be disproved but it also cannot be proved, yet it remains a fairly strong and convincing argument for the existence of God. It is the strongest argument for the theist but it can be argued that it cannot be a strong argument or proof for the existence of God because there is no empirical evidence to prove its claims. However, I believe that it remains a fairly convincing argument because if God is the greatest being, by definition, God must be a necessary being, and in order to be the great being conceivable, God must exist in reality.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Indian Music Essays -- Music History Musical Arts Essays India

Indian Music The music of India is one of the oldest unspoken musical traditions in the world. The basis of for Indian music is â€Å"sangeet.† Sangeet is a combination of three art forms: vocal music, instrumental music (Indian music). Indian music is base upon seven modes (scales). It is probably no coincidence that Greek music is also base upon seven modes. Furthermore, the Indian scales follow the same process of modulation (murchana) that was found in ancient Greek music. Since Greece is also Indo-European, this is another piece of evidence for the Indo-European connection (Dance and music of India). The vocal tradition is especially strong in Indian music. It is understood that the song is probably the most ancient form of music. Vocal music occupies a considerable part of Natya Shastra (Indian music). The samaveda is the oldest musical text in India. Most of the classical songs of north India are devotional in nature, but there are few genres which are especially oriented toward religion. Most notable is the bhajan, dhun or kirtan for Hindus, the kawali (qawali) for Muslims, and the shabad for Sikhs (Indian music). Not all the music is serious for there are also many popular genres. The gazal is one style, which is known for it rich poetic, and romantic content. The Hindi geet which is basically just a song and undoubtedly the most popular is the film song (Indian music). There are also a few genres which are oriented specifically toward musical education. The most notable example is a genre called lakshan geet. In this style the words of the song actually describe the rag whic h is being performed (Indian music). India also has a rich tradition of folk music. These will vary from region to region. Instrumental music occupies an important position in Indian music. It is one of the threefold aspects of sangeet and has a very ancient history. Instrumental music is known as vadhya sangeet (India, dance and music). Over the years they have become formalized into four major instrumental styles known as: alap, jor, gat and jhala (India, dance and music). The alap is a slow rhythm less elaboration upon the rag. The jor is a section that has rhythm but no developed rhythmic cycle (i.e., tal). The gat is the fully developed piece, while the jhala is a fast rhythmic interplay between the drone strings and the main playing strings (Indian music). The... ...e plucked with a wire finger plectrum called mizrab. There are also a series of sympathetic strings lying under the frets. These strings are almost never played but they vibrate whenever the corresponding note is sounded. The frets are metal rods, which have been bent into crescents. The main resonator is usually made of a gourd and there is sometimes an additional resonator attached to the neck (Indian music). Another famous music instrument is tabla. Tabla is a pair of drums. It consists of a small right hand drum called dayan and a larger metal one called bayan. The tabla has an interesting construction. The dayan (right hand drum) is almost always made of wood. The diameter at the membrane may run from just under five inches to over six inches. The bayan (left hand drum) may be made of iron, aluminium, copper, steel, or clay; yet brass with a nickel or chrome plate is the most common material. Undoubtedly the most striking characteristic of the tabla is the large black spot o n each of the playing surfaces. These black spots are a mixture of gum, soot, and iron filings. Their function is to create the bell-like timbre that is characteristic of the instrument. (Carnatic music).

Napoleon - an enlightened despot Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Enlightened despotism is when there is an absolute ruler, in some cases a tyrant, who follows the principles of the Enlightenment through reforms. Permitting religious toleration, allowing freedom of the press and speech, and expanding education are a few main guidelines to being and enlightened despot. Napoleon I is often referred to as one of the greatest enlightened despots. Although, he did not follow the ideas of the enlightenment entirely, he managed his country in a way that he maintained complete authority as well as many of the gains of the French Revolution. Yes, Napoleon did want to do a few things for himself, but he also ruled for the majority in most cases, promote government-funded education, and supported many other enlightened ideas. But, most importantly, Napoleon did what he thought would make his country stronger.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of Napoleon’s first areas of concern was in the strengthening of the French government. He created a strong centralized government and pretty much got rid of the hundreds of localized law codes that had existed during under the control of the monarchy. He also created an army of government officials. He had the entire country linked under a rational administration. He also was able to get an easy supply of taxes and soldiers under his new and improved French government. Before he could get very far, however, he had to gain public favor and shape the public opinion. To do this he used reforms of propaganda and thus caused people to think that they were getting the better end of the deal, but were actually, subconsciously giving Napoleon their approval for his actions. Among some of the methods he used for propaganda included getting all of the printers and book sellers to swear an oath to Napoleon and all newspapers fell under state control, so Napoleon gained access to almost everything that the citizens of France were able to read. Many of the gains from the French Revolution were kept, such as equality before the law, and careers open to talent. Some anti-revolution actions that Napoleon took included repressing liberty, restoring absolutism, and ending political liberty. He believed that allowing political freedom would end with a state of anarchy. He believed that he could solve these problems by acting in favor of the people’s interests as an enlightened desp... ...ig concepts, such as equality before the law, but he also did what would benefit his country. It is important to understand that since France had just exited a revolution, it was pretty fragile; one big mistake and France might have ended up in another one. Napoleon was not only a child of both the French Revolution and the Enlightenment, he was also a very intelligent person. His cunning and his wits led him to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest enlightened despot of all time. Works Consulted (none). â€Å"The Age of Enlightenment.† 17 Dec. 2004. 18 Dec. 2004. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Enlightenment Bergeron, Louis. â€Å"France Under Napoleon: Napoleon as Enlightened Despot.† 13 Dec. 2004. Gay, Peter. The Enlightenment: An Interpretation New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1996 Kreis, Steven. â€Å"Europe and the Superior Being: Napoleon.† The History Guide: Lectures on Modern European Intellectual History. 13 May. 2004. 6 Dec. 2004. Karl, Kenneth. Cracking the AP European History Exam New York: Princeton Review Publishing, 2004: 118-120 Spielvogal, Jackson J. Western Civilization: Comprehensive volume California: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning, 2000: 517-518, 572-579, 917

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Hunger Games Book Talk

Hunger Games Book Talk Could you survive on your own and in the wild, with every one out there trying to make sure you don't live to see the sunrise? I think I probably wouldn't be able to survive in the wilderness, much less if people are trying hard to make sure I don't survive until the next day. I am used to getting my food in the supermarket, already processed, and I'm sure I wouldn't be able to hunt, kill or even build a fire. But Katniss Everdeen could. She is a 16 year-old who is able to support her widowed mother and 12 year-old sister Prim, by hunting in the forbidden woods of District 12 with her best friend Gale.They all live in the Seam, the poorest part of District 12. QUOTE. Due to a cruel twist of life, Katniss Everdeen ends up being the first volunteer ever of District 12. She is joined by Peeta Mallark, the baker's son. Both are picked to represent District 12 in the 74th Hunger Games. Feeling already sentenced to death, they are dealt another unfortunate blow when Haymitch, a drunk ex-victor, is assigned as their mentor. During the preparation for the games, the audience is bewitched by the alleged romance between the two representatives of District 12 and dub Katniss as â€Å"the girl on fire†.When real and false emotions collide, trouble  grows  between the two, because only one can make it out alive. During the Hunger Games loyalties grow or switch, some contestants stay in the arena forever, while one victor and only one is expected to come back home alive. Do you know where the author got her inspiration for the book? How her personal experiences and the historical context influence her writing? I recommend the novel mainly to teens, ages 13 and up, since it is full of suspense, action and it is rather interesting because it is not only a book about a game where everyone needs to fight each other until someone dies, ut it is something much complicated that talks about how governments always want to have all the power and be in control, and about personal freedom, sacrifice and what it means to be yourself and not submit to society's expectations. Personally, I loved this book after the  first chapter or so, since the novel starts moving at a fast pace that keeps you entertained and wanting to know more. Also the author is very descriptive about the setting, the characters physical appearance and their feelings, that you can almost feel your in the book. http://www. scholastic. com/thehungergames/videos/classical-inspiration. htm