Syllabus for African Dance

Syllabus for African Dance MPADE-UE 1542. 002 Spring 2013 Contact hours: Wednesday, 1:30-3:30pm, studio 304 Education building Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions, Program in Dance Education New York University Instructor: Alfdaniels Mabingo Phone: 917-679-8119 E-mail: Consultation: By appointment —————————————– A survey course in East African dance with accompanying songs, music, and cultural contexts in which these dances originate. The course specifically offers knowledge and performance skills of traditional dance forms East Africa and methods for teaching these dances.It offers critical analysis of how these dances interact with cultural, social, occupational, and religious aspects that contribute to creating them. Besides critical understanding and performance of these dances, the course equips students with skills to perform the music that accompanies them. Learni ng outcomes 1. Students will demonstrate proficiency in performing ethnic dances from selected cultures in East Africa. 2. Students will learn and perform vocal and instrumental music that accompanies ethnic dances from cultures in Uganda. 3.Students will demonstrate techniques and methods of teaching ethnic dances from Ugandan cultures. 4. Students will acquire fundamental knowledge into critical analysis of how dances in East Africa interact with cultural aspects that participate in creating them. 5. Students will learn various techniques that are related to performance of various ethnic dances from cultures in Uganda. Students are expected to: a. Finish and present the assignments within the stipulated time. b. Actively participate in practical sessions and class discussion. Focus of selected readings and visual recordings ) Understanding the author’s message and use it as a point of departure for supplementary inquiries b) Establishing connections between the readings and visual recordings and the student’s class/practical experience c) Inspire students to learn the various dances Other important readings Adinku, W. O. (1995). African Dance Education in Ghana, Ghana, Accra: Universities Press. Aduonum, M. (2011). West African Dance in the United States University Curriculum, LAP Lambert Academic Publishing Nannyonga-Tamusuza, S. (2005. Baakisimba: Gender in Music and Dance of the Baganda People of Uganda.London and New York: Routledge. Tieron, A. (1992). Doople: Eternal Law of African Dance – Choreography & Dance Studies, New York: Routledge * * Welsh, A. K. (1996). African Dance: An Artistic, Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press. Welsh, A. K. (2003). Umfundalai: An African Dance Technique, Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press Policies: * Assignment Formats: All assignments must be typewritten with at least a normal 12 pt font and double-spaced. Use a header and page numbers. Please hand in hard copies of as signments without folders.Do not email them; Emailed copies will not be accepted. * Attendance: You are expected to attend every session of the course. One excused absence is permitted with a doctor’s note or other acceptable evidence. If you are going to be absent please send an email to the instructor. Additional absences will decrease the cumulative grade by one letter grade increment. An unexcused absence will decrease the cumulative grade by one letter grade increment. Please make arrangements with a peer to collect course materials for you and contact the peer after the session for updates on the session activities and assignments. Late arrivals/Early departures: Being on time and staying throughout the duration of the course is to be expected. Three late arrivals, three early departures, or any three combinations of late arrivals and/or early departures to/from class will equate to an absence. A late arrival or early departure of more than 15 minutes will be counted as an absence. * Late Assignments: Late assignments are reduced in letter grade increment. Assignments may be handed in up to one week late. Late assignments may not receive significant feedback.Any assignments that are not complete at this time (one week late) will not receive a grade and will negatively affect your cumulative course grade. * Assignments Class attendance and participation20% Midterm paper25% Midterm performance25% Final performance30% Note: See the rubric for details about the requirements for each area of assignment * Grading: Letter Grade| Number Grade| Legend| A| 94-100| Exceptional| A-| 90-93| Excellent| B+| 87-89| Extremely Good| B| 84-86| Very Good| B-| 80-83| Good| C+| 77-79| Satisfactory| C| 74-76| Satisfactory| C-| 70-73| Nearing Satisfactory| D+| 67-69| Minimum Passing Grade|D| 65-66| Minimum Passing Grade| F| 0-64| Failure| * Incomplete Grading: Incomplete grades are not a grading option. Under exceptional circumstances, such as those with a serious illnes s or other emergency, and at the discretion of the course instructor, an incomplete grade may be granted, based on the student's performance throughout the course of the semester. * E-mail Communication with Instructor(s): Please keep your e-mails as succinct as possible. If you predict you will need to write more than one paragraph, it is an indication that you probably need to schedule a meeting rather than writing an e-mail. Special Accommodations: Any student attending NYU who needs an accommodation due to a chronic, psychological, visual, mobility and/or learning disability, or is Deaf or Hard of Hearing should register with the Moses Center for Students with Disabilities located at 726 Broadway, phone: 212. 998. 4980, or website address: www. nyu. edu/csd. * Please refrain from all cell phone use during class. * Please clean up after any food or drink. * Dress appropriately for the classes * Academic Integrity: Please be familiar with NYU Steinhardt policies: http://steinhardt . nyu. edu/policies/academic_integrity.

War Destroys Innocence

Also, soldiers In the war never had a chance to live their youth because they had to go to war. Just as they should be starting their lives, they were forced to drop everything at once and put their life on the line. In â€Å"Peace†, it reveals that the soldiers are not in the war for themselves, but for God and for their country. Since they are doing this, their senses sharpen, and their youth fades away. If war does not kill you physically, then It will emotionally. Its a simple fact, war Is destruction at Its best.It does not only destroy lives, but emotions. The theme of â€Å"All Quiet on the Western Front† perfectly presents how war destroys innocence. † generation of men who, even though they may have escaped shells, were destroyed by the war†(Armature Prologue). Even though war does not always physically injure someone, it can emotionally scar them for the rest of their lives. The incidents that happen while people are at war are hard to forget about . They are metal images that cannot be erased. Naught broken save this body, lost but breath† (Brooke 11).This quote from â€Å"Peace† Indicates that yes, the soldiers were saved, but they're soul destroyed on the Inside. Nothing was saved, but the body. The comrades in the war had to quickly erase their youth and prepare for the worst. However, there is only so much you can prepare for. They were quickly broken down and forced to grow up no matter the occasion. â€Å"All Quiet on the Western Front†delays why war destroys youth. ‘We had to recognize that our generation was more to be trusted than Armature 12).Most of the soldiers were young, around eighteen to twenty-one years old. They never had a chance to live their youth years because they had to go to war. Right when they should be starting a new chapter In their life, they have to risk their lives and fight for their country. â€Å"For us lads of eighteen they ought to have been mediators and guides to the world of maturity to the future in our hearts we trusted them. The idea of authority, which they represented, was associated in our minds with a greater Insight and a more humane 12), In â€Å"AllQuiet on the Western Front† Paul and his comrades must determine what is correct since the older generation is incapable of helping them and being the supervisors that they are supposed to be. War destroys youth Is portrayed In â€Å"Peace† because the soldiers lose themselves and become animal-Like men. â€Å"And half-men and their dirty songs and dreary'(Brooke 7). When at the front, the soldiers lose their humanity. â€Å"Just as we turn 1 OFF Into animals when we go up to ten Ellen †¦ So we turn Into wags Ana looters when we are resting†¦.We want to live at any price; so we cannot burden ourselves with feelings which, though they may be ornamental enough in peacetime, would be out of place here†(Armature 138-139). When soldiers were giving up their humanity, they were giving up their youth as well. The soldiers lost their whole selves in the war; especially when they were on the front. They could not think like human. In order to survive the anxieties of war, Paul explains that he and his comrades would have to disconnect themselves from their emotions.The only way of surviving the war notionally is if it is avoided in thoughts. If it is not avoided, then the grief, despair, and fear would drive a man insane. Only an adult would be capable of doing this. No child or young man could. This is a perfect example of how war destroys youth. The war caused the soldiers to grow up fast. If they did not, they would not survive in any way. Mouth! We are none of us more than twenty years old. But young? Youth? That is long ago. We are old folk† (Armature 18). Armature refers to the men as â€Å"Iron Youth†.The men are still young but they have a feeling of strength and being invincible on the inside and out. The soldiers ar e no longer part of society. After the war they could not go back and live their lives like nothing happened. They have grown up in a way no one will ever understand. Most of the veterans from World War I stayed in the army because they did not believe they belonged anywhere else. They considered war their home. The soldiers lost their youth from the beginning of their journey in war. War destroyed the innocence of the veterans in World War l. There was no way of regaining what they lost.

The United States Supreme Court and Public Opinion

The United States Supreme Court is a unique American institution. It is unique because, unlike the individuals serving in the executive and the legislative branches of government, the nine justices serving at the highest level of the United States Supreme Court are insulated in significant ways from the public they are sworn to serve. Most significantly, the justices are provided lifetime terms following nomination and confirmation. Unlike presidents or members of Congress, for example, the justices do not have to endure initial public elections or prepare for reelection campaigns.In effect, in many ways, the members of the United States Supreme Court are insulated from the public that they serve in extraordinary and unique ways. This very insulation, in turn, has generated fierce debates among legal scholars, political scholars, and historians regarding the proper characterization of the relationship between the United States Supreme Court and public opinion and the consequences of different characterizations.This essay will argue that the justices of the United States Supreme Court are not nearly as isolated as conventional wisdom and scholarship too frequently assume, that public opinion affects the justices in a myriad of deeply significant ways, and that adopting a majoritarian model better explains the United States Supreme Court as well as better serving important public policy objectives.In order to support the argument that majoritarian framework is the preferable model, this essay will explain why analytical frameworks are especially important in this context, the consequences of the different approaches, and why a majoritarian approach is the better framework for analyzing and discussing the relationship between the United States Supreme Court and public opinion. B. Why Analytical Frameworks MatterThis debate is particularly important because these justices, serving for life terms, are elevated to the United States Supreme Court as a result of politi cal decisions rather than intellectual merit or the possession of a neutrally objective judicial philosophy. Indeed, it is commonly agreed by scholars that Judges and scholars perpetuate the myth of merit. The reality, however, is that every appointment is political.Merit competes with other political considerations, like personal and ideological compatibility, with the forces of support or opposition in Congress and the White House, and with demands for representative appointments on the bases of geography, religion, race, gender, and ethnicity. (O'Brien 33) It is this political connection that makes the relationship between the United States Supreme Court and the American citizenry such an important issue.This is because certain assumptions may encourage special interests to pursue political appointments to the Supreme Court in an effort to circumvent public opinion. For those whom subscribe to the countermajoritarian school of thought, which holds that the Supreme Court is largel y immune to public opinion and hardly influenced by public opinion, the belief is that once a nominated justice is confirmed that he or she will be able to issue rulings unhindered by the pressures of public opinion (Davis 4).As a result, this approach encourages deeply political appointments because there is a belief that minority interests can be advanced or otherwise protected by a public institution shielded from public opinion; this, in turn, encourages potential justices to refrain from expressing their intellect or their opinions honestly in order to minimize political problems.One scholar has described this dumbing down of a candidate’s merits thusly: â€Å"A fictive discourse of appointments has thus emerged: a nominee's advocates make his case in the ideologically neutral language of merit, as if the candidate's views had no bearing on his selection,† (Greenberg, n. p. ) That prospective justices of the United States Supreme Court are compelled to engage in a â€Å"fictive discourse† is both disturbing and contrary to the American ideal of open and free discourse.The confirmation battle involving Robert Bork was illustrative of this type of political battle; indeed, rather than focusing on Bork’s intellectual abilities or merits the confirmation hearings devolved into perhaps the most contentious confirmation battle in modern history. Indeed, as one leading scholar of the Bork proceedings has noted, highlighting the aforementioned dangers associated with the countermajoritarian framework,Because few knowledgeable observers questioned Judge Bork's professional qualifications, opposition to Bork quickly focused on his judicial philosophy. The focus on ideology raised a crucial issue as to whether it was proper for the Senate to reject for ideological reasons an otherwise qualified nominee. (Vieira, and Gross vii)On the other hand, for those whom subscribe to the majoritarian school of thought, an increasingly influential app roach to the relationship between the United States Supreme Court and public opinion, the belief is that the justices are not only not insulated from public opinion but that public opinion affects the justices intimately in terms of the types of cases they choose to decide each year (O'Brien 165), what legal justifications that justices choose to rely on when deciding particularly contentious cases (Waltenburg, and Swinford 242), and whether to uphold or overturn longstanding legal precedents (Norrander, and Wilcox 707).Such assumptions, that public opinion does matter and that it matters significantly, have several significant implications if they are true. First, selecting politics over merit when deciding whom to nominate to the United States Supreme Court may be overrated; more specifically, justices will ultimately be more sensitive to public opinion than the political alliances that earned them the nomination in the first place.They will, after all, be freed of the need to sus tain the political alliances after confirmation as a result of their lifetime tenure whereas they will always be judged by public opinion. A case in point was the Republican nomination of Warren Burger. He was known to have been a conservative with a strict construction approach to the interpretation of the United States Constitution. In short, from a countermajoritarian point of view, Burger had seemed an extraordinarily safe political choice for the United States Supreme Court.The reality, however, was that as the 15th Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Burger began to rule in ways that shocked his initial supporters. Rather than shunning public opinion, as his supporters wanted on issues such as race, he has since become known as one of the more activist Chief Judges in the history of the United States Supreme Court. The countermajoritarian school of thought cannot account for such a shift in judicial behavior, and this is a major flaw in this particular analytical framework.Burger is much better understood, as is the United States Supreme Court more generally, by employing a majoritarian framework that accounts for public opinion in addition to underlying political alliances or political philosophies. Second, if these assumptions are true, then public opinion matters. That means that studying the United States Supreme Court in isolation, rather than in conjunction with other related social factors such as public opinion, is a flawed approach.The better analytical framework is the majoritarian approach which, though a minority approach, accomplishes two important objectives. Initially, by accounting for and analyzing more carefully the relationship between public opinion and the United States Supreme Court, courts like Burger’s can be better understood and better explained; in addition, the majoritarian approach legitimizes public opinion as a part of the national debate with respect to legal issues of public interest rather than confi ning these issues to nine distant justices in a mysterious ivory tower.If one of the main functions of the justices is to safeguard the legitimacy of the American constitution, a document conceived of and designed to protect the public generally, then sound policy demands public participation and influence. There are two main questions to be resolved. First, does the countermajoritarian or the majoritarian framework better explain how the United States Supreme Court functions? Second, and related to the first issue, which model better contributes to the legitimacy of the United States Supreme Court and its legal decisions.C. Main Questions 1. Countermajoritarian or Majoritarian: A Threshold Issue Although the United States Supreme Court is one of the most heavily studied American institutions, there remain significant differences of opinion regarding the nature of the relationship between the Supreme Court and public opinion. One of the more fundamental debates among legal scholars, political scientists, and historians centers on whether the United States Supreme Court is in essence a countermajoritarian institution or a majoritarian institution.This debate has important implications. Those that believe that the countermajoritarian model best characterizes the actual function and operation of the United States Supreme Court also tend to view the Supreme Court as being largely insulated from public opinion; on the other hand those that believe that the majoritarian framework best characterizes the Supreme Court tend to believe that public opinion, to some extant, affects the function, operations, and the ultimate legal decisions of the Supreme Court.How one resolves this debate, therefore, pervasively affects American jurisprudence; indeed, â€Å"Much constitutional discourse is predicated on the assumption that the United States Supreme Court is a counter-majoritarian institution, and normative theories supporting the exercise of judicial review are seen, by some, as having to accommodate that fact.† (Solimine, and Walker n. p). Should this fundamental assumption be proven to be incorrect, and there is a growing body of research that suggests that it may be incorrect, then the constitutional discourse and the normative theories that have flowed from the traditional countermajoritarian characterization of the Supreme Court may be similarly flawed and incorrect.In short, a threshold determination needs to be made. This threshold question, as is relevant to the relationship between the United States Supreme Court and public opinion, is whether the Supreme Court is in fact a countermajoritarian institution as scholars have traditionally assumed or a majoritarian institution as some modern scholars argue. 2. Supreme Court as Arbiter of LegitimacyIn addition and intimately related to the aforementioned characterization debate, scholars have also examined the relationship of the United States Supreme Court and public opinion in terms of legitimacy; more specifically, scholars have debated whether and to what extant Supreme Court decisions resolve contentious legal issues legitimately so far as public opinion is concerned and whether and to what extant legitimacy instead results from public opinion affecting the Supreme Court either directly or indirectly.In short, is the ultimate source of legitimacy regarding contentious legal issues the Supreme Court, public opinion, or the interplay between the two? This source of legitimacy debate is made more difficult by the fact that public opinion tends to be more responsive to a narrow range of legal issues or what has otherwise been referred to in the literature as landmark cases such as Brown v. Board of Education, Roe V. Wade, and, more recently, Bush v.Gore. If this assumption is correct, that public opinion is only concerned with landmark cases, then the scope of academic inquiry must be significantly narrowed; to this end, one scholar has noted that â€Å"if we assu me that only the huge national landmark cases affect public opinion, in essence, we are saying that the remainder of the Court's work is inconsequential, at least in terms of public opinion. † (Hoekstra 3).An additional set of threshold questions, therefore, needs to address the more precise relationship between different types of Supreme Court cases and public opinion. Is the relationship relevant only with respect to national landmark cases? Does the relationship differ between landmark and non-landmark cases? This, in turn, demands an analysis which examines both the national and local effects of Supreme Court decisions. Indeed, acknowledging that â€Å"Using national data, it may be possible to connect cases such as Bush v.Gore to changes in public opinion and support for the Court† (Hoekstra 3) one scholar has argued for engaging in a more nuanced analysis that examines localized effects as well by suggesting that beneath the noise may actually be systematic effect s–ones not easily detectable or the same for all citizens–but systematic nonetheless. If citizens learn about different Court decisions based on information available and salient to them, then looking for uniform national level effects is misguided. This does not mean that Court decisions are without national effect.If the Court's effect is more localized–either in terms of geography or some other process–we might still see the effect of Court decisions on public opinion and that Court decisions might affect support for the Court on a national level. The process is just more subtle and possibly more gradual. Another reason to look at local public opinion is that Court decisions frequently require active implementation, oftentimes by local officials. If the Court can change public opinion on the issues, or at least cast legitimacy on the policy under review, the probability of successful implementation is greatly enhanced (Hoekstra 3)Thus, in short, a seco nd threshold set of questions addresses the extant to which scholars assume that relationships between the Supreme Court and public opinion are limited to national landmark cases or whether the relationship can be extended according to local effects and conditions. C. Benefits of a Majoritarian Approach The first benefit of a majoritarian approach is rather intuitive; more specifically, because legal issues affect the public then the public’s opinion ought to be considered.Although this essay also argues that public opinion is relevant in disputes that may not be considered landmark cases, the evidence strongly supports the proposition that public opinion particularly affects national landmark cases and that landmark cases decided by the United States Supreme Court tend to affect public opinion. What complicates a proper characterization of the court derives from different historical relationships between the court and the United States Supreme Court. Traditionally, the Ameri can public did view the justices as enlightened individuals whom didn’t require public input.This sort of public trust justified, in the past, the countermajoritarian approach; indeed, with respect to general public opinion, the justices were significantly insulated. One leading scholar, writing in 1957, stated that Until recently, the attitude of Americans toward the Supreme Court recalled with singular fidelity that with which, according to Burke, Englishmen of a century and a half ago should have looked upon the institutions of their country: â€Å"We ought to understand it according to our measure; and to venerate where we are not able to understand.† (Schwartz iii). This veneration, this assumption that the public can no longer understand the legal issues presented to the United States Supreme Court, is no longer an accurate description of the American public; quite the contrary, the public regularly criticizes Supreme Court decisions, it more carefully follows po tential and actual nominations to the highest court in the land, and through a variety of groups and organization it attempts to influence the court by presenting friend of the court legal briefs on virtually every type of imaginable case.What has emerged more recently is a United States Supreme Court that is besieged by rather than isolated from public opinion; one scholar has noted that even presidents attempt to influence the justices, stating that â€Å"presidents can influence the Supreme Court beyond the appointments process. † (Martinek, n. p. ). From the unemployed mother interested in an abortion issue to competing presidential candidates seeking a favorable ruling the United States Supreme Court has become, for better or worse, America’s arbiter of last resort.This change in the way the public perceives and interacts with the United States Supreme Court is the first reason why the countermajoritarian framework is no longer the best approach for analyzing the justices or the relationship between the Supreme Court and public opinion. The detached veneration of the public is a relic of the past and has been replaced by a greater public awareness. This greater public awareness, however, cannot be overstated; to be sure, though â€Å"Shifting majorities of the public do disagree with many decisions, to the extent they perceive them, or are simply ignorant of the great mass of the Court's jurisprudence.† (Solimine, and Walker, n. p. ) There are, therefore, gaps in the public’s knowledge about the nature of the Supreme Court’s power and the underlying issues. This imperfect knowledge, however, does not render public opinion marginal or irrelevant. It simply suggests that public opinion may at times be somewhat irrational; both a rational and an irrational public opinion can affect the Supreme Court and the majoritarian approach can be adapted to account for an idealized public which possesses an advanced understanding of c omplex legal issues and an imperfect public which sometimes reacts in less than informed ways.In short, the majoritarian approach is better able to incorporate the complex interactions between the United States Supreme Court than the rigidly outdated countermajoritarian model. In addition to the fact that public perceptions and demands have changed over time, it is also evident that legal precedents have been modified or overturned in response to public opinion. Some of the more well-known cases illustrating this fact have involved controversial issues dealing with racial segregation, abortion, and civil rights more generally.A countermajoritarian framework would assume that the justices would be significantly isolated from the public in cases such as Brown v. Board of Education and Roe v. Wade. Had these justices been insulated, it is entirely plausible that these cases would never have reached the United States Supreme Court, and if they had, that they would have been decided diff erently. The majoritarian model, on the other, admits that these issues were, to some extant, forced upon the United States Supreme Court and that the justices accommodated public opinion by resolving important national issues.This framework further contributes to an ultimate type of legitimacy with respect to the judicial decisions, even if the legitimacy remains challenged by some members of the public, because it treats the decision as a sort of cooperative effort between the United States Supreme Court and the American public. These decisions, in turn affected public opinion. More people accepted racial integration, more people accepted abortion, and more people came to believe that George W. Bush was entitled to the highest office in the land. In Brown v. Board of Education, for instance, the public was badly divided regarding issues of racial segregation.While it is true that the modern trend was toward integration the sad fact was that many members of the public, including st ates, resisted attempts to integrate the races more completely; as a result, pressure was brought to bear on the United States Supreme Court. On the one hand, there was a notion that the federal government shouldn’t interfere too much in state affairs; on the other hand, there was also a growing public recognition that only a decision by the United States Supreme Court, and not any actions by the executive or legislative branches alone, would settle the issues legitimately across the country (Klarman 348).A countermajoritarian framework would instead assume, and incorrectly so, that the justices themselves suddenly decided that racial segregation was unconstitutional rather than attributing a great deal of credit to the American public. The majoritarian model can both predict and explain cases such as Brown v. Board of Education. D. Conclusion In the final analysis, the United States Supreme Court is best analyzed when accounting for the influence of public opinion on its ope rational and decision-making process.This necessitates shifting toward a more majoritarian approach that also analyzes why and how legitimacy is often a function of the interaction of the Supreme Court and public opinion rather than the outdated view of the justices as isolated wise-men immune to public scrutiny or understanding. Works Cited Davis, Richard. Electing Justice: Fixing the Supreme Court Nomination Process. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005. Questia. 16 July 2009 . Greenberg, David. â€Å"The New Politics of Supreme Court Appointments. † Daedalus 134.3 (2005): 5+. Questia. 16 July 2009 . Hoekstra, Valerie J. Public Reaction to Supreme Court Decisions. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2003. Questia. 16 July 2009 . Klarman, Michael J. From Jim Crow to Civil Rights: The Supreme Court and the Struggle for Racial Equality. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. Questia. 16 July 2009 . Lasser, William. The Limits of Judicial Power: The Supreme Cou rt in American Politics.Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1988. Questia. 16 July 2009 . Martinek, Wendy L. â€Å"Popular Justice: Presidential Prestige and Executive Success in the Supreme Court. † Presidential Studies Quarterly 33. 3 (2003): 692+. Questia. 16 July 2009 . Norrander, Barbara, and Clyde Wilcox. â€Å"Public Opinion and Policymaking in the States: The Case of Post-Roe Abortion Policy. † Policy Studies Journal 27. 4 (1999): 707. Questia. 16 July 2009 . O'Brien, David M. The Supreme Court in American Politics The Supreme Court in American Politics. New York: W. W. Norton, 2000. Questia. 16 July 2009 . Perry, Barbara A. â€Å"†The Cult of the Robe†: The U. S. Supreme Court in the American Mind. † Social Education 66. 1 (2002): 30+. Questia. 16 July 2009 . Schwartz, Bernard. The Supreme Court, Constitutional Revolution in Retrospect. New York: Ronald Press, 1957. Questia. 16 July 2009 . Solimine, Michael E. , and James L. Walker. â€Å"The Supreme Court, Judicial Review, and the Public: Leadership versus Dialogue. † Constitutional Commentary 11. 1 (1994): 1-6. Questia. 16 July 2009 . Spurlock, Clark. Education and the Supreme Court. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 1955. Questia. 16 July 2009 . Stephenson, Donald Grier. Campaigns and the Court: The U. S. Supreme Court in Presidential Elections. New York: Columbia University Press, 1999.Questia. 16 July 2009 . Vieira, Norman, and Leonard Gross. Supreme Court Appointments: Judge Bork and the Politicization of Senate Confirmations. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1998. Questia. 16 July 2009 . Waltenburg, Eric N. , and Bill Swinford. â€Å"The Supreme Court as a Policy Arena: The Strategies and Tactics of State Attorneys General. † Policy Studies Journal 27. 2 (1999): 242. Questia. 16 July 2009 .

Determinants and testing of meat quality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Determinants and testing of meat quality - Essay Example The determinants of quality for beef and lamb in Australia include texture, colour, flavour, marbling, nutrition variables and juiciness. All of these factors maintain radically different methodologies for ensuring that a quality meat product is placed into the retail supply chain. Scientific and qualitative studies contribute greatly to the process of improving operating standards for slaughter, processing and quality evaluation in the Australian meats industry. Determinants of Quality Meat Standards Australia (MSA) was established in the nation to take the guesswork out of quality meat purchasing options for Australian consumers related to beef and lamb. Supported by the Food Science Australia, Meat and Livestock Australia, the scientific community and over 600,000 samples tested by actual Australian consumers (MLA 2012), the MSA established a grading system that informs consumers of the juiciness, texture, and tenderness that should be expected by certain grades of lamb and beef. This system is the driving catalyst for the variety of experiments and sampling that occurs to ensure quality both pre-slaughter and after processing of animal carcasses. The establishment of the Meat Standards Australia grading system, as it pertains to consumer purchases of beef and lamb, also maintains a colour gradient chart to assist in making quality purchase decisions. One of the most fundamental scientific methods of determining meat quality is the pH test, which maintains several different scientific methodologies for testing. An industry norm was established in the 1970s, still used today, that has determined the most viable pH for optimum meat quality. The pH standard is 5.5, the optimal acidic range before texture and tenderness become negatively affected (Seideman et al. 1986). This is measured by considering meat proteins’ isoelectric point, where a pH of higher than 5.5 â€Å"results in an open structured muscle and a greater diffusion of light between the myo fibrils of the muscle†, leading to a darker meat colour (Seideman et al 1986: 57). Darker hues of beef and lamb, on the consumer and commercial market, are unfavourable and generally lead to poor texture and considerable drop in tenderness ratios. The pH of lamb and beef is often measured pre-slaughter and post-slaughter, taking into consideration a variety of variables that contributed to the acidic nature of the meat. Such tests are conducted with traditional litmus testing, electrical measurement, or through chemical manipulation in a variety of laboratory testings. Temperature control variables are considered critical factors in producing effective and quality meat products. One pH test, referred to as electrical stimulation (ES), is utilized to enhance meat tenderness. Generally conducted post-slaughter, the carcass is exposed to varying levels of electrical stimulation to promote muscular contraction prior to the natural rigor mortis processes. It is common practice in t he beef and lamb slaughtering and processing industry to fast chill meats upon slaughtering to prevent meat degradation that occurs during rigor mortis. To improve pH levels and also assist in preservation, electrical stimulation expedites the process of degradation within myofibrillar and cytoskeletal proteins (Hwang et al. 2003), which naturally occurs during elongated decomposition of the carcass in a natural environment. ES stimulates immediate muscular contractions, and protein degradation, thus allowing for rapid chilling or

Disneyland in Qatar (Global Marketing Plan) Case Study

Disneyland in Qatar (Global Marketing Plan) - Case Study Example The strategic fit of the market opportunity to the company’s capabilities has been highlighted. The report ends with the identification of a market opportunity in the Qatari market that is worth pursuing, which becomes the stated objective of the global marketing strategy plan. Introduction For organizations to maintain competitiveness, they need to adapt to the diverse needs of customers as well as the communities within which they operate. Foreign investment is a costly move that requires a large capital outlay. An organization has to set strong marketing strategies to enhance its survival. It is important to evaluate the important aspects of the internal environment that may influence success such as the organizational structure, the product line which is the theme park in this case, the status of the market, as well as the distribution and supply chain. Moreover, assessment of the external environment is significant in the planning process especially when the organization plans to venture in to the global market. The PESTEL analysis helps managers to set strategies to cope with challenges in the operating environment. The SWOT analysis helps managers to capitalize on their strengths to utilize available opportunities as well as to realize the weaknesses that need to be addressed. It is also an important planning tool for establishing potential threats in advance. These analyses will be significant in determining the strategic fit of Disney to establish a theme park in the emerging Qatari market. Internal Situation Company Structure Walt Disney Company operates in a functional structure with several affiliates and subsidiaries in different countries globally. The various sections include; theme parks, resorts, media networks, amusement studios, consumer goods and interactive media services. These sections provide different products under centralized management. Disney’s theme parks control a wide resource base with regards to materials that are significant in generating value for customers (Keller, 2001). Tangible assets are supplemented by intangible assets such as a strong brand name, brand equity, patent rights and customer loyalty. Each resource is uniquely positioned to serve a particular group of consumers and hence difficult to imitate. Disneyland was able to strategically develop capabilities that can be utilized in a competitive environment, for example, copyrights have helped in the retention of profits for every character in its studios (Capodagli & Jackson, 1999). Disney’s Theme Park The theme park comprises of mainly entertainment attractions and rides suitable for family leisure. The theme park entertainment is suitable for adults and children. Generally, creativity management has been significant in the success of Disney’s theme parks (Mulcaster, 2009). The theme park strategy was developed in 1952 and took advantage of the tremendous impact of television in awareness creation among consumers. Since then, the eleven theme parks have been established globally mainly in the US, Europe and Asia. Innovation and target oriented approach have significantly contributed to the growth of the Disney theme parks (Wasko, 2004). Current Market for the Theme Parks The current market for Disney’s products is based on people’s willingness and ability to spend on entertainment and leisure. The them

Principles that teacher use in helping african american english Assignment

Principles that teacher use in helping african american english speaking student to become bidialectal - Assignment Example In order to learn and work well in America, this group is required to learn the standard American English that cuts across all cultures. There are guiding principles of teaching African American English speaking people to become bi-dialectal. The core principle to teaching them Standard English is combining culture, language, and literacy. Standard English should be taught as a second language and not taken as correcting or eroding the native language (Perry and Delpit 80). In order for the learners to appreciate the language, their culture must be studied and encompassed into the curriculum. This would produce a culturally responsive, appropriate, and relevant system of Education (Alim and Baugh 24). Educators that have attempted to teach Standard English to Ebonics as correcting the shortcomings of their native language either have failed to improve the Standard English speaking capability of this group or have achieved very little. In some cases, Blacks have dropped out of the sys tem in protest of the lack of recognition or respect for their culture. By studying the culture/language of the American blacks the following can be taken as guiding principles of teaching them Standard English (Hudley, Charity Ann and Mallinson 70-90). Development of Sensitivity of Rhymes For young learners, teachers can aid them practice nursery rhymes and games, such as hand clapping. To be able to appreciate both Standard English and the local dialect, they should rhyme in both dialects. Teachers may examine the rhyming differences that learners hear and use to increase their sensitivity to sound patterns and become acquainted with the linguistics. In the case of learners in higher grades, teachers may impart the rhyme sensitivity by introducing word games and some aspects of verbal play into the classroom. This should be done both in Standard and African American English. Students can also learn rhyming through composing poems and lyrics, analyzing them and writing reviews (Ali m and Baugh 19). Students should be allowed to compose songs in their dialect especially in hip hop style they are famously known of. They should recite these in front of the class. Learners should then discuss how words that rhyme in their native dialect are similar or different from those of the Standard English. They should also be encouraged to write reviews of songs or poems and take note of instances where the composer used Standard English or African American English. The exercise of composing, analyzing, and writing reviews of songs and poetry enhance knowledge, rhyme sensitivity, and word formation. In a nut shell the teacher is encouraging learners to express themselves both in their native language and the Standard English in order to develop language flexibility. Teachers can also come up with mechanisms that allow learners to compare and contrast lyrics/poems composed in different dialects including their own. Students should keenly explore the styles in the different p oems and also note the advantages and disadvantages of each style. By comparing and contrasting different styles, they appreciate the importance of each dialect and will be encouraged to learn the Standard English because they are aware that their dialect is also recognized alongside the Standard English. Grammar The use of ‘ain’t’ in African American English: - The African American English has phrases that are commonly used that are viewed by the rules of Standard English

Operations management techniques Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Operations management techniques - Essay Example Operations managers in this sector need to be very enthusiastic in application of the best operations techniques in order to meet the organizational goals. This requires an emphasis on the type of product to consumers, the required production processes, as well as the demand for the organization’s products and services (Scribd, 2011). The discussion in this paper aims at evaluating the usefulness of application of operations management techniques in meeting customer’s needs, as well as the achievement of organizational objectives. Operations management Operations management entails utilizing and overseeing the accomplishment of vital processes that help in making the ultimate consumable products in an organization. The operations are those processes that are involved in the conversion of inputs into outputs within a sound organization. They range from manufacturing, serving, training, and distribution of goods and services within a hotel, which is a food supplies indust ry. The rationale of the operations management is the careful monitoring of production’s activities, with the aim of producing quality products and distributing them appropriately. The overall major activities involved are those that entail the creation of products, development of new products and methodologies, as well as the ample distribution activities (Mukherjee. and Kachwala, 2009). Careful implementation of the reinstated activities is considered vital in the achievement of goals within the hotel sector. Therefore, the analysis of the internal hotel procedures and the substantial measurement are the two crucial factors of operations management. Significantly, the operations management in a hotel is accounted by the nature of their services and products, the operational scope, as well as the ultimate goals to be achieved. The operations managers in a hotel are ones that are charged with the responsibility of overseeing production and distribution activities. Moreover, t he achievement of the operations services and activities is done via utilization of vital techniques, specific for each technical requirement (Kamauff, 2009). Operations management techniques The operations management techniques entail those processes that are employed as drivers to the operations management services stated above. The conversion of inputs into outputs requires utilization of equipment, material purchase, as well as management and monitory personnel for the sake of the required processes. There are various categories of the techniques, some of which are based on tools and equipment and others based on the operations research. Each technique employed is vital in accomplishment of a specific service in the operations management. They are inclusive of purchases management techniques that are useful when buying raw materials for the production of ultimate required goods within a hotel (Greswell, 2007). The inventory control technique is also very useful when it comes to invention of new strategies as well as adoption of new equipment. The quality control techniques are ample in ensuring delivery of valid products and services to organizational consumers.

Vice President of a Supply Chain Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Vice President of a Supply Chain - Case Study Example In other words, effort should be made to ensure safe passage of the goods being supplied at each stage along the supply chain. Efficiency can be achieved through implementing various measures. It is also essential for businesses and suppliers to create quality relationships in order to improve their operations in the supply chain. Thus a clear supply network ought to be created so as to be in a position to achieve the desired goals. This is known as the value delivery network which is made up of the firm, suppliers, distributors and ultimately customers who partner with each other to improve the performance of the entire system (Kotler & Armstrong, 2010). In such a scenario, all the parties involved should be coordinated in such a way that there is efficient passage of the goods from one point to the next. The channels upon which the goods will be delivered should be clearly identified so as to avoid confusion. Transport logistics ought to be clearly defined so as to enable the suppliers to efficiently move different goods and products from one point to the other. The other measure that can be taken in order to ensure efficiency is to make sure that the goods supplied do not outstrip the capacity to store them. This means that the inventory at one stage should not be larger than the storage place available. In order to measure the benchmarks of success of this initiative, I will make a follow up to ensure that there are no breakages and that all goods have been delivered as per expectations. It is also imperative to engage all members involved so as to be able to gain feedback from them to ascertain if they are satisfied with the distribution system implemented by the suppliers. The limited number of breakages and complaints from the customers is another benchmark that can be used to make sure that the initiative has been a success. The period taken for a particular product to be delivered from the manufacture to the retailer can also be used

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

Paper Critique - Essay Example Since Chondrus crispus is dominant in the low tidal zone, Lubchenco looked at the effect of Chondrus crispus on the lower limit of F. vesiculosus and F. distichus zone: Chondrus crispus was removed from a section of the lower tidal zone at each site, and recolonization of the section was monitored regularly. (This involved either scrapping the erect part of Chondrus crispus off the rocks to mimic natural removal of Chondrus thallus during a winter storm, or removing even the Chondrus crust to mimic the rarely occurring complete Chondrus destruction by limpet grazing or ice scouring). I believe that in such a complex system as a natural ecosystem, it is hard to point to a single factor (biotic or abiotic) as the main determinant of a species specialization to a particular environment. In my opinion the author performed this part of the study in a rather biased way and looked solely at the effect of Chondrus crispus on the lower limits of fucoid species zone. I would suggest locating other environments with the same zonation pattern and comparing them to identify the range of parameters that are common among them. Another option might be examining the effect of the best three candidate biotic and abiotic factors in laboratory simulation conditions and looking whether these influence significantly the Fucus capacity to colonize the low tidal zone. 4. The author succeeded partially in answering and discussing the questions posed in the study. Her data confirmed that biotic factors do play a role in zonation pattern formation, along with previously identified abiotic factors. These data also demonstrated that inter-species competition and herbivory are the two biotic factors affecting species zonation patterns, with competition determining species survival, and herbivory affecting species abundance. Lubchenco discussed extensively the niche width-related question and concluded that this is

Elements of Art in the Reproduction of the Blue Bird Essay Example for Free

Elements of Art in the Reproduction of the Blue Bird Essay Reproduction of the Blue Bird fresco, ca. 1700-1525 B.C. Watercolor on paper. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Line: For this assignment, I chose the Reproduction of the Blue Bird fresco. This is a very interesting piece. The very light, almost fragile lines, combined with the watercolor medium, give this piece a very delicate appearance. The watercolor medium allows much of the lightness of the paper underneath to reflect through the colors to give the painting an overall lustrous appearance. Most of these lines seem to bend and sway, creating movement toward the blue bird, making the bird itself the focal point of this piece. Color: While the painter did not seem interested in using a lot of different hues in this painting, it was painted with values ranging from pure white to medium values of grey. If you notice, the red hue used is much less saturated, making it a darker tone than the more saturated, more pure blue hue of the bird and the nearby flowers. Texture: The overall physical texture of the painting, I imagine, is very smooth to the touch because it is a watercolor painting. However, texture can be simulated through the use of line as it was done here. The stylized, curving lines near the bottom of the painting indicate a rocky coastline. They imply texture. Texture doesnt seem to be something that the painter was overly concerned with making part of their work. Shape: Many of the shapes surrounding the focal point are left implied. The painter seemed to want to keep the attention focused on the blue bird and thus, did not fill these shapes with color or detail. The shapes that were given full form were done so with curved, more organic lines rather than sharp, angular lines associated with more geometric shapes. Form: This painting takes the form of a fresco, as it was originally part of a large series of panels that covered a large wall. Since this is a watercolor painting rather than a sculpture, the forms are illusionistic. They cannot be viewed from all angles and have no actual measurable depth and volume. Space: Much like texture, Space does not appear to have been a major concern to the painter. The overlapping forms do indicate a progression of space; however, there is little else to create the illusion of depth.

Critical success factors: Marks and Spencer

Critical success factors: Marks and Spencer Company Background In 1894, Micheal Marks, created a joint venture with Tom Spencer to enter the retailing business (company website). In 1904, the first shop opened at Cross Arcade in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The Marks Spencer (M S), celebrated their 120th anniversary in the year 2004 and for companys chief Executive position, Stuart Rose was appointed. The company was originally headquartered in Baker Street, London for many years, but later it shifted their registered office, at Waterside House, Paddington. At present, the company runs worldwide 600 stores, of which in UK alone 450 are located and 150 outlets remaining operating in 30 countries around the globe. In the year 2005, the company sales was amounted to US$14.6 billion with a market value of US$ 11.6 billion and profits at US$1.1 million and total assets of the company was US$8.1 billion. In retailing industry, Mark and Spencer are successful for several reasons. First, in terms of market understanding, they have created brand image, and provided a clear image to the consumers. In fact, their market strategy was not much deviated and thus much focused and moreover, they havent confused the consumers with competing brands. Another contributing factor to their success, was their proactive approach to human resources as in the UK, since many employees belongs to Marks and Spencer. In addition, it is likely that future employees and customers are familiar with current employees for Marks and Spencer who would be active in the decisions that in turn affect their jobs. Marks and Spencers one of the critical success factors is that they understand their customers by offering good value for the prices they charge rather than focusing only on price. Furthermore, the company could assure the same level of quality for goods throughout all their stores firstly, by using brand of St.Michael throughout the store and secondly, with their suppliers, they have exercised considerable control (by virtue of their size and the influence they have on their vendors). Marks and Spencer, relationship that has with its suppliers would be good for the company, however, for the suppliers, such relationship is difficult. Since company maintains such large customers that could dictate terms and conditions, but if it came from other customers, that would not be acceptable by the company. The companys other important critical success factors are efficient supply chain activities and an appropriate store inventory system. Main Organisational Challenges in Managing Global Supply Chain Today, a corporate challenge for each and every organization facing would be the acquirement of customer loyalty. Increase in competitors, expansion of market place, and provision of profitability by the customers would all work towards the advantages of the host organization. In addition, change in business pattern made customers to change their buying behaviour too. In order to meet the change in demands and address the change in consumer behaviour, organization administration had shifted their attention towards customer oriented for the purpose of being successful in business. To be success in the market, the companys need to entirely reformulate their predictable outlook of their business and shift from process-focused to customer-centred is an important leap towards competitive edge and service efficiency. In todays business environment, with the advancement of technological innovations, logical decisions about delivery operations, warehousing, stockholding and scale of economie s get more complex solutions. In managing the global supply chain, the following are considered as main organizational challenges. Innovation of products and development In order to survive in the competitive world of growing market of the business, the efforts wield in hunting for opportunities which are of potential in terms of profit making and development of new products based as per the requirement of target market would be valuable. In general, before started operating a profit-oriented company, there must be products that is being offered. The change in preference of the consumer and their lifestyle prompted each and every company worldwide to target on their offerings by creating innovative products and improving their existing products. Superior customer service satisfaction: Experts from the Marketing field stated that â€Å"in achieving business success, all you need is a customer† (1998). In addition, they further explained that the concepts and theories are no longer necessary on how to manage the concern and problem solving is also not guaranteed to be efficient. Effective implementation of Marketing Mix: According to and , Marketing mix is the â€Å"standardised set of fitting marketing variables that every business and any other profit-motivated industry implements, in order to come up with a desirable outcome or answer on the target market they choose to penetrate†. They are popularly called as 4Ps, consists of product, price, place and promotion. Marks and Spencer, and the management, used marketing mix efficiently and moreover it noteworthy to restate their research on marketing mix that with the constant research and development in all 4ps, today, in the UK retailing market, their product remained as the global leader, thus they could able to maintain their product with high quality. Competition: The first problem encountered in every business environment is the adverse competition. Companies always looks competitor product in a different way, as they examine their products by dismantle in different parts and compare with their own products, this tactics was used because, in order to make sure that competitor product is no way different from the existing product, if it so, then that part alone would be copied or adapted. They use this as a benchmarking and extend this concept to every process of their business. According to . (1994), to compare performance between competitors, competitive benchmarking has been utilized, where as to compare performance of a business or production process, process benchmarking has been used, this is not necessarily among competitors. In the same way, as discussed above, if Competitor Company has a better process or operation, then benchmarking company would tried to adapt or copies to their own needs. Conclusion In order to remain in todays global competitive economy, key strategic initiatives for companies like MS from the point of view of supply chain Management (SCMS), are service improving and costs reduction (1998). The SCM is one of the business strategies, which focuses on the quick response to needs of ever-changing market and lead time of shortened purchasing and in addition, add values to demanding customers, who has been increased recently at the minimum time and cost (2002). Relying on a single party, would not be feasible today to fulfil the sophisticated needs of customers, thus requires a full collaboration, integration, a total commitment and synchronization among all business partners (1999). Marks Spencer, as a profit-oriented organization is purely dedicated to provide products, with the benefit to their employees, protects the environment, and customers who utilizes them. The firm is striving to maintain their dedication, by showing their extreme interest to both the external and internal environment in which they operates. MS and its management, in building and sustaining supplier relationship would easily refer to present culture of supply existing culture being used by their company presently throughout the operations of long years. In order to retain good supplier relationship, integration and acquisition are potential methods. In addition, awareness increase to the conditions of subsidiaries and affiliates would determine somewhat about the potency of the company. To international success of subsidiaries, training and retention are deemed crucial (and 2003). Although the company is successful in term of customer satisfaction, there are certain critics to the comp any, who are really not satisfied with the business performance. As available figures and statements from expertise revealed that in order to better stay with their competitions, continuous effort has been taken to make sure that they are will be the better if not best and works above the standards. Thus, managerial decision would always work towards the company stated vision. The distinctive competence of MS in terms of applications, technical expertise, managerial aptitude are the important foundation of heterogeneity, that would substantially become an factor of competitive advantage of sustainable. According to (1995), â€Å"corporate success is based on the distinctive capabilities of the firm those things, often the product of its particular history, which competitors cannot reproduce even after others realize the benefits these capabilities bring to the company that enjoys them† (). Thus, with the effective implementation of the concepts mentioned, and competitive adv antages in an organization is not beyond its reach.