The Religious Symbolism and Architecture of Angkor Wat and...

Introduction Built by the Khmers between 802 and 1220 AD, the ancient temples of Angkor Wat exist as the remaining relics of a historically and religiously rich city. While many other historical and religious structures in Cambodia have disappeared due in part from being constructed out of vulnerable materials like wood, Angkor Wat still remains as a symbol of the divinity of its former kings, as well as for the palace itself. Likewise, Indonesia’s Borodubur temples exist as the single remaining structures of the city. The temples of Angkor Wat and Borodubur hold several similarities within architecture and symbolism, both being heavily based on religious belief. However, different features within both structures, architecturally and†¦show more content†¦Decorative elements through out the towers and galleries present their own characteristics and fulfill specific needs within the temple. The towers are formed into the shape of the ever-popular lotus buds, and the galleries are us ed to expand the many passageways of the temple. Also, the axial galleries within the temple are used to connect several enclosures. Characteristic decorative components of Angkor Wat include narrative and historical bas-reliefs, pediments, and devatas. The bas-reliefs located in the gallery of Angkor Wat holds a special signification for Angkor Wat. The gallery displays heaven and the underworld in which garudas and lions are holding the celestial palaces. These gerudas indicate that the palaces were floating in heaven, comparing Angkor Wat to the palaces of the Gods. This display furthers the idea that Angkor Wat acts as a liason between the world of Heaven and Earth. Because the palace physically remains on earth but spiritually resides within heaven, the palace acts as communal place for believers to gather. The bas-reliefs and pictures did not only serve to decorate the palaces, or depict stories of the past. They hold the important task of transforming the palace into a â€Å"celestial dwelling† or heavenly place. Further evidence to support this notion is

When Everything Changed Free Essays

I slowly looked around, detached from reality. The news hit me like a formidable black train. Silence  coated the room filled of  anxious yet unusually quiet cheerleaders like a heavy snow on the mountain peaks from where we came from. We will write a custom essay sample on When Everything Changed or any similar topic only for you Order Now Every familiar face I could  find grew cold and stern. All hopes of  a  national title flew out of the window before the judges could even  mutter  the two words  that brought our world crashing down. â€Å"Illegal stunts. † Nine months of sweat and tears, 4  years of commitment, all brought down in a matter of moments. Less than ten  minutes  before my final  national high school cheerleading competition and all the  work my  team and I put into our flawless routine no  longer mattered. We had ten  minutes to  recreate a near-impossible routine and preform it for over 600 people. How  could our  coaches not know our routine was filled with illegal stunts? More  importantly why did we  travel  1,997 miles to be humiliated? I knew in that moment that the hard work, sweat, and tears that were supposed to pay off with a shiny gold metal and an adorable white silk national champ jacket, came down to one thought: â€Å"Can we pull this together? Before we could even wrap our heads around the situation that was being presented to us my team and I were being hastily rushed toward the overwhelming maze of two-story black curtains. I could hear the abundant crowd roaring on the other side. Our parents, eagerly waiting, had no clue the panic that was now instilled within us. Scott, my teams’ choreographer, sashayed through the groups of cheerleaders toward us. â€Å"Good luck, Ladies† he muttered, â€Å"Sorry about the sudden changes in your routine†¦I†¦ I didn’t think anything was illegal. † At wit’s end, I huddled my team together. Taking turns, my co-captains and I shared some inspirational words and started singing our team song: â€Å"Lean on Me. † Suddenly, we were united on stage in front of hundreds of people. Blinded by the spotlights in front of me, I glanced to my right only to see my coach. She clung to the side of the raised stage, barely able to see over, her emotions written all over her face, frustrated and scared. At that moment I knew she was just as nervous as we were. The moment all the hours practicing, the sore muscles, the obsession over cheerleading for 9 months straight was about to pay off, BOOM. The music was on and muscle memory kicked in. One dance step after another just happened without any thought. As the dance portion of the routine was over and the cheer portion slowed to an end, I knew our final pyramid was coming soon. Panic. No one was where she needed to be. It seemed as if we were ants being watched through a magnify glass, scurrying about with no real direction. Rushed and confused, we threw together what we could. â€Å"We can do this! † I shouted to the girls. Finally some sanity as my bases threw me into the air, only to realize the other half of the team was struggling. I was always taught to just keep going, so that’s what I did. The music continued to build, and the newly changed portion was finally here. My bases, consisting of my fellow captains, pushed me into the air. I reached out for the flyer next to me. Only there was no flyer next to me, and without her, none of this would work. I glanced over after hearing gasps come from the audience, only to see half my team on the ground, struggling and fighting to pull themselves up. The music ended. Silence. The last impression the judges and the crowd saw of us was complete pandemonium. First place was out of the question. â€Å"With a routine like that, you will be lucky to make it any further. † Our coaches starred at each of us as we walked shamefully backstage to watch our routine on the big TV monitor. One 8-count at a time we watched our dreams unfold and come crashing down, literally. Knowing that it wasn’t completely our fault, we joined the crowd to watch the rest of the competing teams. In the proceeding moments we learned that without the falls at the end, our routine was perfect– filled with smiling faces, tight dance moves, and a high level of difficulty. Due to those minor mistakes, however, our trip to Orlando was over without reward. The following morning, disappointed and heartbroken, my teammates and I boarded our flight back to the mountains. Looking back now, the memories created are irreplaceable whether good or bad. Sometimes all the hard work and effort doesn’t pay off in the way we hope for. Left with disappointed dreams, my duties as a cheer-captain were over and I was left with memories and a group of friends who could never be replaced. I didn’t get that national title, but at least we made it that far, which is more than many young girls could even hope for. How to cite When Everything Changed, Papers

Flawed Perfection free essay sample

Trying to achieve moral perfection, he creates a chart listing thirteen names of virtues and their precepts as a guideline for his self-examination (Franklin, 135). He Though I believe Franklins Intentions were of good gesture, the plan he devised was flawed due to basic human nature, lack of emotion, and different interpretations of what perfection is. As humans, it is sometimes in our nature to make mistakes. Sometimes we are influenced in our decision-making by who we are as a person, our Individuality or/and outside forces. I work as a 911 dispatcher here In Valletta, Georgia.We are taught that there Is no room for error. One wrong decision could cost someone their lives. However, there are days when I Just feel extremely tired at work or maybe even annoyed. I might be dealing with some stressful situations that may cause me to be a little distracted at work. I am trained to answer Incoming phone calls a Bristol 2 certain way, ask certain imperative questions, and to always be courteous. I might receive a call from someone who is very upset about something and therefore takes their frustration out on me.They may use profanity towards me or even hang up the hone because I am asking too many questions. I have had that situation happen to me several times and I become upset. I could have empathetic with the caller and tried harder to calm them down. Instead, after hanging up the phone, I may call that person inconsiderate or have other choice words. The next caller may be someone who Is In a more serious situation such as their house Is on fire or they were Just involved in a very serious car accident. Because I am distracted from the previous caller, I may forget to Asian imperative question like, What intersection are you near?In forgetting to ask this question, first responders may be sent to an incorrect location or may have difficulty flying the caller, and therefore, slow down the response time It may take to get that person help. In that scenario, I have already broken several of Franklins virtues: silence, resolution, sincerity, Justice, and tranquility (134). I have broken the virtue of silence because have spoken something out of anger; it was not beneficial to me or anyone else. I have broken the virtue of resolution because I failed to resol ve the conflict between me and the first caller, Hough I understood that their frustration was not really with me. I have broken the virtue of sincerity because I did not have innocent or Just feelings towards the first injury to the second caller because I had not fulfilled all of my duties. I was distracted and caused increased danger or harm to someone else. I have broken the virtue of tranquility because I allowed myself to become upset in the first place, instead of remaining calm and handling the situation in a different manner. Bristol 3 Franklins plan also lacked consideration of emotion. We are not robots. We have linings and thoughts, and sometimes are governed by those emotions or thoughts.As a dispatcher, I work twelve hour shifts. We also work rotating shifts, switching from nights to days or days to nights, every twenty-eight days. My schedule makes it very hectic to sometimes adapt to a certain sleep schedule. It can also make me very moody and unpleasant to be around. I am a single mother of two, and my children demand a lot of my time and attention as well. When I am on a night shift rotation, most days I am only able to get about five to six hours of interrupted sleep. I have to et my five year old daughter off the school bus in the afternoon.My son comes home about an hour later. I am helping with homework, packing their overnight bags, and cooking dinner before I have to report back to work that evening. On my days off from work, my body is still on a night shift schedule, therefore causing me to sleep most of the day and be up all night. I have a three bedroom house. There are many times where I am too tired to dust, or too tired to vacuum. At times my house may remain in disarray until I have the energy or the time to attend to it. Often times, I am also too tired to cook.I may have food in my freezer, but Just decide to eat out to avoid having to cook and wash dishes later. I have now broken several more of Franklins virtues: order, frugality, and cleanliness. Order, because I allow my house to be in disarray and have at times kept my business out of order. Frugality, because instead of cooking something I already have in my freezer Ill choose to eat out to avoid cooking and having to clean up later. Cleanliness, because there are times when my house is dusty or needs to be vacuumed and Ill allow it to stay this way until I have the energy to attend to it.In addition to no regard for basic human nature and lack of emotion, Franklins plan is also flawed because different people have a different interpretation of what they think perfection Bristol 4 is. Franklin clearly had different views than what many people have today about what perfection is. Franklin created a list of some of the virtues he considered to be things that would help him achieve moral perfection, but who is to say that his interpretation of what he believed to be morally right is the s ame as others or mine? No two people are alike. We all have different thoughts and beliefs.What Franklin deemed to be moral may not be the same as what I consider to be moral, and my thoughts on morality may be different from others. Some of the virtues Franklin listed were temperance, industry, and chastity (134). He believed one should refrain from eating too much and getting drunk. He believed we should always be employed in doing something useful and not wasting any time. He also believed we should rarely engage in sexual intercourse except for health reasons or to produce children. He felt one should not engage in sex simply because of pleasure or because of weakness. I am one who enjoys extracurricular activities outside of working every day. I enjoy watching my favorite television programs or Just surfing the internet. I may enjoy a glass of wine or two or more at dinner. I enjoy romantic evenings with my boyfriend and being intimate with him, and I have no intentions of having any more children. As a single mom who works a stressful Job I enjoy having down time when the opportunity presents itself. Am I immoral and wrong to enjoy such things? According to Franklins interpretation of what is morally right, I have broken these virtues. I do to believe I am wrong for enjoying these simple pleasures. What I believe to be morally right is different from Franklins. Some may agree with him, or some may agree with me. Some may have a different opinion entirely. No one person can set the standard for what is right for that person. We all have a different idea of what we consider to be perfect. Bristol 5 Though I admire Benjamin Franklin for attempting to devise a plan for moral perfection, I believe that plan was flawed. Our basic human nature, emotions and thoughts, and our different ideas of what perfection is may cause us to make less Han perfect decisions and live less than perfect lives, according to what other people may think. I still believe his chart could be used as a tool for a model of self examination. However, I think it is unrealistic to think that we will govern our lives according to this plan every single day of our lives. We are humans. We are bound to make mistakes, no matter how good our intentions. We sometimes react on emotion, we arent robots. We dont Just follow commands and orders every day. We also may see nothing wrong with enjoying certain pleasures in life that others may think is ring. What is morally right for one person may not necessarily be right for someone else.Who is to say that one person sets the standard for everyone else in what is right and perfect? Franklins plan is Just not something that we would be able to realistically follow. There are certain things that would need to be taken into consideration and a standard set for what perfection is. Because we know people may have different views of perfection, are sometimes governed by their emotions, or react based on outside influences or their own individuality, this plan would be very official to follow and therefore flawed.Bristol 6 Langford, 42, In-Text Citations, (208) Franklin, Benjamin. Arriving at Perfection. Fifty Great Essays. De. Robert Danni. Boston: Longing, 2011. 133-136. Print A lot of thought, additional brainstorming, and proofreading went into this revision. Though I did not really receive any peer reviews from my peers (according to the three questions we were told to include in our reviews), I knew that I needed to work on my last example of how Franklins plan for perfection was flawed.I took out the dead of it not being relevant to our time and incorporated a totally different idea. I brainstormed this idea and came up with supporting text to back up this idea. I also made notes to remind myself to include in-text citations. I read my essay out loud to myself to make sure that it sounded correct to me in the way that I wrote it, checking for run-on sentences and fragment sentences. I am pleased with how it turned out. I was a bit worried of how I would be able to incorporate the new ideas and make it cohesive with some of the text already written in paragraph four.

At Daybreak On The First Day Of September, 1939, The Residents Essays

At daybreak on the first day of September, 1939, the residents of Poland awakened to grave news. A juggernaut force of tanks, guns, and countless grey-clad soldiers from nearby Germany had torn across the countryside and were making a total invasion of the Poles homelands. Germanys actions on that fateful morning ignited a conflict that would spread like a wildfire, engulfing the entire globe in a great world war. This scenario is many peoples conception of how World War II came about. In reality, the whole story is far more detailed and complex. The origins of war can be traced as far back as the end of the first World War in 1919, when the Treaty of Versailles placed responsibility for that terrible war squarely on Germany. Years later, in the Far East, Japanese ambition for territory led the nation to invade Manchuria and other parts of nearby China, causing hostilities to flare in the Pacific Rim. Great Britain, the United States, and many other nations of the world would all be drawn into battle in the years to come, and each nation had its own reason for lending a hand in the struggle. Although Germany was the major player in World War II, the seeds of war had already been planted in the Far East years before conflict in Europe. On September 18, 1931, the powerful Japanese military forces began an invasion of the region known as Manchuria, an area belonging to mainland China. This action broke non-aggression treaties that had been signed earlier. It also was carried out by Japanese generals without the consent of the Japanese government. In spite of this, no one was ever punished for the actions. Soon after the assault on China, the Japanese government decided it had no choice but to support the occupation of Manchuria. By the next year the region had been completely cut off from China (Ienaga 60-64). Because of the Japanese offensive in China, the League of Nations held a vote in October to force Japan out of the captured territory. The vote was passed, 13 to 1, but Japan remained in control of Manchuria. A second vote, taken in February, 1933, a formal disapproval of the Japanese occupation, was passed 42 to 1. Instead of expelling Japan from the area of Manchuria, it caused the nation to formally withdraw its membership in the League of Nations the next month (Ienaga 66). Now unrestrained by the recommendations of the League of Nations, Japan continued its intrusion onto Chinese soil. By 1937 Japan had moved military forces into Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, as well as other regions of China. By 1940, Japanese seizure of territory had spread to deep inside Southeast Asia and even parts of Australia (Sutel et al). Also in 1940, the Triparte Pact was signed, allying Japan, Germany, and Italy into a powerful force that stretched halfway around the planet. The association with Hitler and Germany unified the war in the Pacific and the war in Europe. Japan was now fully involved in what came to be known as World War II. As warfare raged in the Pacific Rim, a chain of events was unfolding that would produce catastrophic results. The Treaty of Versailles of 1919 held Germany fully accountable for the tragedy of World War I. The nation was stripped of large areas of land, its armaments, as well as its dignity. In addition, the reparations that were to be paid to the allied nations virtually destroyed the economy of Germany. The resentment of the treaty burned in the hearts and minds of Germans for years afterward. In 1933, a man by the name of Adolf Hitler was elected Chancellor of Germany after working his way up the ladder of government. By speaking against the Treaty of Versailles and making promises of a better life to the German people, Hitler gained the support of his fellow countrymen, and he easily won the election. Almost immediately after Hitler took office he began securing his position in power. Hitler took steps to eliminate all opposition, including political parties and anyone else who spoke out against him. The death of President Hindenburg in 1934 clinched his high standing, and he in effect became dictator of Germany. Hitler held the titles of Head of State, Commander in Chief of German military forces, Chancellor, and Chief of the Nazi Party (Elliott 57). There was no question of his supremacy. With his empire established, Hitler took steps to rearm Germany, leading the nation down the road to war. In violation of the Treaty of Versailles and a naval treaty

The Nike Company Markets Audit

The Nike Company Markets Audit Executive Summary The Nike+ Sportwatch GPS is a wearable technology developed by Nike. Nike is preparing to launch this product to the Australian market. The potential market for the product is 11 million users. The country has a well-developed transport infrastructure that can support a countrywide distribution network.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The Nike Company Markets Audit specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This market is also very culturally diverse. The main avenue for communication with the target market is via television and the internet. To enter the Australian market successfully, it is important to get information from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Stock Exchange. Market Audit and Competitive Market Analysis The Nike+ Sportwatch GPS is a piece of wearable technology launched by Nike as the successor to the Nike+ app for smartphones. Nike would like to market this product t o the Australian market. This paper presents various facets of the Australian market relevant to the marketing of this product. Product Analysis of the Nike+ Sportwatch GPS Nike+ Sportwatch GPS is a unique product in the Australian market. The table below analyses various aspects of the product about the target market. Product Characteristic Analysis Relative Advantage The Nike+ Sportwatch GPS has a unique collection of features that is ideal for personal training. These features include GPS, calorie counter, various pace counters, a watch, a heart rate monitor, among others . Very few products have all these features. Compatibility The target market is already using portable devices such as iPods, and mobile phones as sports accessories. The Nike+ Sportwatch GPS will fit easily into this lifestyle. Complexity The Nike+ Sportwatch GPS has features that are familiar to the target market. The training needed by users to use the product is minimal because it employs controls f amiliar to users. Trialability The Nike+ Sportwatch GPS is easy to wear. This gives it high trialability. Potential customers can try the watch in shops while running or walking on a treadmill, or they can try it outdoors during their regular workouts. Observability The Nike+ Sportwatch GPS is a wristwatch. This makes it visible when running and when participating in exercises of any kind. In this regard, users can observe its performance as they exercise. Table 1: Analysis of the Nike+ Sportwatch GPS The first problem associated with the product is that the market already has access to the features it provides in various forms. Some potential customers may choose to stick to what they already have. Secondly, the device lacks music. Many people enjoy running and exercising as they listen to music. This may lead to resistance in the uptake of the gadget. Analysis of the Australian Market The target area for the Nike+ Sportwatch GPS is the Australian Market. Australia is a uniq ue market because it is the only country found on a single continent. The country has a population of 22 million people found mainly in cities (ABS, 2014). Australia is the most urbanized country in the world, with more than 85% of its population found in cities (ABS, 2014).Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Australia has a well-developed transport and communication infrastructure linking its main population centers. The country has several categories of roads linking various population centers. The country also has a rail network, which serves mining communities. Also, the country has a well-developed air transport system. The Australian market is very complex because of cultural diversity (Forsyth, 2005). This affects the buying behavior of many consumers. Many residents from the middle and upper classes have a strong consumer culture. Those from lower economi c classes do not have sufficient disposable income to support a consumer culture. The product preference in the Australian market about the Nike+ Sportwatch GPS is mainly its health benefits. Many Australians are keen on healthy living because of robust health campaigns by the federal and state governments. The shopping habits of Australian residents also vary widely. At a national level, people spend more on recreational items during the holiday seasons. The typically retain outlets in Australia resemble many of the retail outlets found in the Western World. Australia is also becoming entrenched in the mall culture. Malls and large shopping complexes made up of a variety of stores are a defining feature of many Australian cities (Kull, 2003). The Nike+ Sportwatch GPS can sell well in exclusive stores or in stores that deal with electronics. In particular, the watch can sell well in outlets selling phones and computers. However, the health benefits of the watch and its application t o sports means that vendors and retail outlets selling sports gear and gym equipment can also distribute the watch. Television is still a very influential medium for reaching any target market in Australia. However, online marketing methods such as the use of email marketing, paid up ads as well as dedicated websites is gaining traction as a marketing platform in Australia (Kull, 2003). This is because three-quarters of all Australians have access to the internet (ABS, 2014). The Nike+ Sportwatch GPS is a new product, and it may not fit easily into a traditional sales promotion model. The best sales promotion method is allowing consumers to try the product and to make a decision to buy based on their experience.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on The Nike Company Markets Audit specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The average markup for clothes and shoes in Australia is 145% (ABS, 2014). The average markup for electric al and electronic goods is 85%. The Nike+ Sportwatch GPS is both a wearable electronic device. Therefore the markup for the product will lie somewhere between 85% and 145% (ABS, 2014). Trade discounts are available for customers that buy the product within a specified period after its release. Quantity discounts will accrue to vendors who want to stock large quantities of the watch for resale. Competitor Analysis The main competitor for Nike+ Sportwatch GPS is the Garmin Forerunner and the myriad Smartphone apps that have the same features. The Garmin Forerunner has a heart rate monitoring function as an accessory, vibration alerts, and easy navigation systems. The watch is also compatible with other wearable sports devices. A Garmin Forerunner unit costs AUD 449 (Garmin, 2014). This unit does not come with the premium heart rate monitor. The addition of the monitor pushes the price to AUD 499 (Garmin, 2014). A complete Garmin Forerunner package contains the following accessories. T he box has a Forerunner 910 XT, USB ANT Stickâ„ ¢, AC charger, charging clip, expander strap, and a manual (Garmin, 2014). The advertising model used to market the Garmin Forerunner includes online marketing strategies, use of electronic media adverts, and advertising in technology magazines. Consumers buy the Garmin Forerunner in high-end luxury stores, sportswear stores, and in electronics shops. Also, consumers can buy the watch online. The online distribution model is the most effective way of selling the product (Moisander Valtonen, 2006). Statistics show that 75% of Australians who have access to the internet do some of their shopping online (ABS, 2014). Market Size The total population of Australia is 22 million (ABS, 2014). The target group for the product is adults aged 25-65 (ABS, 2014). This group is not only health conscious but also has the requisite buying power to purchase the product. Therefore, the absolute size of the potential market is 54% of the Australian p opulation (ABS, 2014). The target sale for the next year is 500,000 units. This is 40% of the expected industry sales in the next year.Advertising Looking for term paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Most of the products from the competitors have already been in the market. It will not be easy to usurp their market share. However, the trend in the wearable technology industry is that products that are more recent tend to have greater market share until usurped by newer products (Dalic, 2007). Government Participation in the Market Place The agencies that can help in the process of getting a marketing plan for the Nike+ Sportwatch GPS include the following. First, the Australian Bureau of Statistics is an ideal source of information on demographics, which can help in the determination of market trends. Secondly, the stock market is also a very important source of information on the Australian market. A fair view of the technology counters is important in assessing the prevailing market conditions as well as the long-term prospects of investing in this sector (Donaldson, 1986). The third agencies of importance are the regional chamber of commerce in various parts of the country. T he regulations that must guide this venture include the following. First, it is important to observe the Australian competition regulations, as well as the advertising laws. Also, it is important to check on the rules that govern the sale and marketing of the international product. The product must meet health and safety standards in the country. Also, the product must get quality assurance certificates from the Australian Bureau of Standards. References ABS. (2014). Australia Bureau of Statistics. Web. Dalic, T. (2007). Globalisation of Marketing Strategies in Light of Segmentation and Cultural Diversity. Norderstedt: GRIN Verlag. Donaldson, B. (1986). Customer Service: The Missing Dimension in Marketing Management. Journal of Marketing, 2(1), 133-144. Forsyth, P. (2005). Competition Versus Predation in Aviation Markets: A Survey of Experience in North America, Europe and Australia. Hampshire: Ashgate Publishing. Garmin. (2014). Forerunner 910XT. Web. Kull, K. (2003). The Model of Internet-Based Marketing Communication. Tallinn: Tallinn Technical University. Moisander, J., Valtonen, A. (2006). Qualitative Marketing Research: A Cultural Approach. London: Sage. Nike. (2014). Nike+ Sportwatch GPRS. Web.

The book the killer angels Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The book the killer angels - Essay Example The story is characterized in a way that it is told from the  perspectives  of various  protagonists. Thus, this battle, fought for both freedom as well as the way of life, proved to be a very tough one as is shown by history. Michael Shaara (1928-88) was an eminent American author, was known for his fiction works based on the fields of science, sports fiction as well as history. He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, to an Italian family who had immigrated to America. He completed his graduation in the year 1915 from the Rutgers University. An important part of his life was his rendering of service to the 82nd Airborne division as a very determined and courageous sergeant. Shaara always harboured the desire to transform his feelings and emotions into words, and this influenced him to author a story of historical significance, which portrayed exactly what the people felt about the war. Therefore, the story is an insight into what the emotions and feelings people had under the situation of war and also what was the cause for the war. Summary: ‘The Killer Angels’ is an apt example of how language and writing can change the perspectives of people regarding a particular thing. This fictional story about the Civil War and especially the Gettysburg battle of 1863, brings to fore the perceptions of active members in the war, such as the generals and union generals namely: James Longstreet and Robert E. Lee as well as John Buford and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. The story Shaara tells seems to be more informative about the Gettysburg battle than any other non-fiction work on the same. Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, one of the characters in the story, is seen to be a very highly inspiring figure, with â€Å"his Twentieth Maine Infantry Regiment† kept the left flank of the union safe and secure during the second day of the battle (Latham II). It is only with the help of this unit that the people were able to get an upper hand against the reb els at Little Round Top. This novel finds place in the hearts of civil war readers under the category of non-fictional works. This is so due to the fact that the way Shaara has portrayed the characters, there exists a high level of accuracy behind it as compared to the real events. Another reason is that the author has successfully made an account of important turning points that changed the fate of the Battle of Gettysburg. It comes as no surprise that a curious reader will definitely be left with the desire to know more about the battles as well as Civil War described in the novel. There are a lot of people who think that reading history is a process that involves nothing but getting bored, this book is more than enough to prove those notions wrong. The book also opposes another belief that historical writing holds, which is that readers interested in war novels are more inclined to know things from the perspective of the common soldier and not the generals, who are blessed to sta y in the dignified atmosphere of rear headquarters, moving armies around like chess pieces. For anyone who thinks the fighting at Gettysburg was simply a large battle in a big field, Shaara has painted a moving picture of the three-day battle that reveals not only the elaborateness of the  Civil War, but the personal lives and thoughts of the men who fought in it. By taking first-hand accounts written in journals and letters, Shaara has intertwined a piece of historical fiction. The

Gazprom Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Gazprom - Assignment Example By 2002, the government held about 38.37% of share of Gazprom. In the global extent, the organisation represents about 20% of international gas production. In Russia, the organisation regulates about 60% of gas services and generates about 50% of power in the nation. Gazprom is liable for a supporting considerable portion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Russia and delivers about 20% of its revenue to the national budget (Thomas, 2006). However, presently the dominance of Gazprom is under stake and the organisation is also facing challenges in order to stay sustainable in business. 1.1 Terms of Reference Focusing on this aspect, the report is based on the analysis of Gazprom. The objective of the report is to discuss the socio-political issue which is faced by Gazprom in the oil and gas industry. In line with the issues faced by Gazprom, the report also undertakes a SWOT analysis of the organisation. ... In the year 2006, a disagreement emerged between Russia and Ukraine which resulted in cessation of deliveries of natural gas from Russia to Ukraine. Since most of Russia’s gas for Western Europe transports through Ukraine, the disagreement between these two nations resulted in significant reductions in sales of Gazprom to the Western Europe, particularly during the period of high demand for example during cold weather. During similar period, other socio-political problems resulted in reduction of supply of natural gas to America, Georgia and Moldova, bringing about serious issues to fulfil the demand of customers as well as to enhance the profitability (Perovic & et. al., 2006). Gazprom is a unique organisation, because it was basically a department which has become a corporation. Furthermore, it is also highly contentious to understand the level to which Gazprom represents the government and business interests. Gazprom’s mainstream business is export of natural gas whi ch has reduced due to over pricing activities. The subsidiaries of the organisation are being lopped off and sold at increased prices to more active competitors. The dramatic decline of the organisation’s sales is sparked by rapid improvement of American gas supply companies, failure of Gazprom to invest in research and development activities and ignorance of transformation in oil and gas industry. The problems of Gazprom most probably accelerate the difficulty of long run sustainability, where the government has failed to react to the prevailing market situations (Englund & Lally, 2012). 3.2 European Gas Market The gas market of Europe has stagnated because of high prices. Thus, natural gas provided by