Solution for the Case Philips Versus Matsushita Essay Example

Solution for the Case Philips Versus Matsushita Essay Philips versus Matsushita Case summary of Philips: The company has built its success on worldwide portfolio of responsive national organizations (NO). The company was established by Gerard Philips and his father opened a small light bulb factory in Eindhoven, Holland in 1892. The company faced a tough fall. Gerald then recruited his brother Anton, a salesman and manager. In 1900 it became the 3rd largest producer of light-bulb in Europe and in 1912 Philips was incorporated. The company didn’t opt for diversification and was the leader in industrial research; it had physics and chemistry labs which were basically meant for the company’s production process. The Lab developed a tungsten filament bulb which was a great success. It came with diverse markets in Japan, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Russia, US, Canada, and France. It became a decentralized sales organization (marketing companies in 14 European countries, China, Brazil, and Australia. . It had a shared leadership with transfer of overseas assets to two trusts by late 1930’s. The organization was split to NOs and PDs. The independent NO’s great advantage was ability to sense and respond to the differences and Product development became a function of local market conditions. Research function remained independent with 8 more labs were set up in Europe and US. We will write a custom essay sample on Solution for the Case Philips Versus Matsushita specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Solution for the Case Philips Versus Matsushita specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Solution for the Case Philips Versus Matsushita specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In late 1960, there was a creation of common market eroding trade barriers within Europe, in 1960s audiocassette were invented but Japanese captured the market, in 1970s videocassette(v2000) were developed but was forced to abandon when North American Philips decided it to outsource which was manufactured under license from Matsushita, Over 3 decades, 7 chairmen experimented reorganizing, yet entering the new millennium, its financial performance remained poor. In 1970s rebalancing the managerial relations between Nos and PDs, Closing of least efficient local plants and converting the best to International Production Centers(IPCs), In 1982 Closed inefficient operations particularly in Europe i. e. 40 plants were shut, the company focused on core operations e. g. , welding, energy, cables, and furniture, In 1987 the company lost its leadership in consumer Electronics to Matsushita with Net profit margins of 1% 2%. The core business was of components, consumer lectronics and Telecommunication and Data systems, and lightning. The non-core businesses were spun off into joint ventures. The company reduced 3000 strong headquarters staff, and to gain firmer control over Nos, the publicly owned NAPC was repurchased for $700 million, In 1990, the company had undergone highest layoff with 15 months’ pay, the company recruited Frank Carrubba, Hewlett-Packard’s director of research and was encouraged to develop 15 core-technologies, incl uding CD-I, DCC, HDTV, and Multimedia softwares. By early 1998, betting on â€Å"digital revolution† the company planned to focus on established technologies such as cellular phones, digital TV, digital videodisc, and web TV. MATSUSHITA: The Global competitiveness based on its centralized, highly efficient operations in Japan. It was formed in 1918 by Konosuke Matsushita with Y100 producing double-ended sockets. The company introduced TV sets in 1952, transistor radios in 1958, color TVs, dishwashers, and Electric ovens in 1960. Innovating division had earned substantial profits; new division for innovation was introduced. One- product- one-division† was followed. Each division paid 60%earnings to headquarters and Product development and engineering occurred in product divisions. In 1951, the company found no American company willing to collaborate; the best which was done was technology Exchange and Licensing agreement with Philips. The company expanded through color TV. In 1953, it opened 1st overseas branch office, and shifted production to low-wage countries, In 1980, it built Global leadership through VCRs. The company won the 1st place in Consumer Electronics industry with the birth of VCR, between 1977 to 1985, the capacity increased to 6. 8 million units. In the mid 1980s, Matsushita had over 700 expatriate Japanese managers and technicians on foreign assignment. General managers of foreign subsidiaries had to visit Osaka headquarters at least 2-3 times each year or some even months. In 1990, the company launched â€Å"operation localization† to boost the offshore production from less than 10% to 25% or half of international sales. In 1986, the company felt that no sufficient attention was given to international development as they got only 3% royalty for foreign production against 10%return on sales for exports from Japan. All foreign subsidiaries were bought under the control of METC. At the end of 1989, company generated huge reserves. By the end of 2000, 160 factories outside Japan employed 1,40,000 people and investments were made in Ramp;D partnerships and technical exchanges. In April 2000, profits were 2. 2%on sales, and in November 2000 there was a rise in company’s earnings. A COMPARISON: Philips | Matsushita| Decentralization| Centralization| Incentive systems| Profit distribution policy| Large funds allocated for R amp; D| CRL was majorly funded by the product divisions. | Country wise division of organization. | One product one division focus. | High costs of manufacturing. | Efficiency in using the local resources. | Attempts at Reorganization of Philips: a) REASONS FOR CHANGE: i) Creation of common European market eroded rationale for country level subsidiaries. i) New transistor based technologies demanded larger production runs at fewer larger facilities   Ã‚  iii) Ability to bring innovations to market began to falter (e. g. microwave oven) b) RATIO ANALYSIS * Operating ratio = ( operating profit/sales)*100 In the year, 2000 = 11. 31% 1995 = 6. 3% 1990 = 3. 77% 1985 = 4. 5% 1980 = 4. 31% 1975 = 4. 6% 970 = NA * Return on total assets = net income available to common stock holders/stock holders equity 2000=56% 1995=23% 1990=22% 1985=31% 1980=33% 1975=33% 1970=33% * Contribution by sectors (revenue wise): 1985 Professional products or systems 1990,95,2000 Consumer electronics * Contribution by sectors(profit wise): 1985 Professional products or systems 1990 Consumer electronics 1995,2000 Components or semiconductors PROBLEMS OF PHILIPS: Philips’ decline of success over the last thirty years has been mainly down to the lack of consistency and the lack of ability to deal with a changing competitive international environment. * A problematic area for Philips has been the struggle to balance the respective roles and power of the National Organizations (NOs) and the Product Divisions (PDs). * Philips used to have a dual management system, which historically worked for the Philips brothers. This desire to recreate the past as opposed to changing and looking to the future shows a weakness in Philips culture. RECOMMENDATIONS: * Investment in Ramp;D and marketing may be the only way in which its can match the low-cost Ja panese advantage of efficiency. * Develop a good strategy * Philips also needs to find the correct structure to suit its operations and its strategy. As Mintzberg (1990) says, ‘structure follows strategy as the left foot follows the right’. PROBLEMS OF MATSUSHITA: Matsushita has never been an innovative company, its main capabilities have always been the ability to mass produce and at low price, due to its production techniques and the fact that it produces in a low cost area of the world Historically, the high level of centralisation and the tall structure have hindered Matsushita’s innovation attempts After the collapse of the Japanese economy left Matsushita with excess capacity and evaporating profits, restructuring was certainly necessary, but took many years until anything was done to correct the situation. This shows that Matsushita was also slow to manage the changes in the external environment RECOMMENDATIONS: A bottom up strategy could have been used. As the company had a diversification strategy, it should have gone for divisionalised structure rather than a centralized structure. Production centres must have allowed the subsidiaries more freedom so that an environment of Innovation would have been created. CONCLUSION: Overall, it is relatively apparent that both organisations have seen better days. We believe that both companies should focus on their own capabilities instead of trying to match each others. Also, they should use different approaches to change, as their previous attempts have proved unsuccessful. Philips needs to see this latest change as a genuine one, and needs to avoid considering it as just another new strategic direction. If it does this, and everyone is involved and committed, then we feel that they can return to the success they enjoyed last century. The prognosis is similar for Matsushita, as if its management engage in consultation with its workforce when undergoing its large-scale restructuring programme and carefully analyse the dynamic relationship between strategy and structure when doing so, its restructuring programme has every chance of succeeding. Thus, Matsushita may once again be able to return to the levels of success it .

Free Essays on Fathers And Sons

Jeff Daley – Western Civilization II – Fathers and Sons Analysis Ivan Turgenev’s â€Å"Fathers and Sons† is a novel that I think gives a good representation of Russia in the mid-nineteenth century. This is not, though, just limited to Russia and to its time period. Many of the themes and elements in this book can easily be related to those of modern times. Through the characters Paul and Bazarov, Turgenev gives the reader 2 main perspectives that were evident in such a time period. Paul represents the aristocrat, who hates modern thinking. Bazarov, on the other hand, is a Nihilist, who doesn’t believe in the principles that were laid down before him. As one is to expect, such varied views were going to cause some sort of tension in the house between the opposites. Throughout the novel, Paul and Bazarov go at it, usually with Paul starting it, Bazarov remaining calm, and Paul finally getting steamed. In chapter 6, Paul and Bazarov have their first â€Å"discussion†, if you will. Paul wants to know where Bazarov stands on the topic of Germans. I feel as though Paul wanted an argument from the start, as he knew that Bazarov was going to take an opposing standpoint to his own. In other chapters, their tension continues to build, and eventually they settle it with a duel. The way that I see it, both of the men were acting immaturely. Bazarov comes off way too pompous in his views. He’s extremely cocky and he has no fear in expressing it. At the same time, though, Paul is almost the same way. He purposely questions Bazarov on politics and what not, trying, basically, to get a rise out of him. Like I said before, their arguments end in Paul getting furious, almost to the point of fighting, while Bazarov remains calm and cool. One of the main reasons of this clash is generational conflict. It is evident in every new generation; the younger ideals don’t appeal to the older generation, as they still believe ... Free Essays on Fathers And Sons Free Essays on Fathers And Sons Jeff Daley – Western Civilization II – Fathers and Sons Analysis Ivan Turgenev’s â€Å"Fathers and Sons† is a novel that I think gives a good representation of Russia in the mid-nineteenth century. This is not, though, just limited to Russia and to its time period. Many of the themes and elements in this book can easily be related to those of modern times. Through the characters Paul and Bazarov, Turgenev gives the reader 2 main perspectives that were evident in such a time period. Paul represents the aristocrat, who hates modern thinking. Bazarov, on the other hand, is a Nihilist, who doesn’t believe in the principles that were laid down before him. As one is to expect, such varied views were going to cause some sort of tension in the house between the opposites. Throughout the novel, Paul and Bazarov go at it, usually with Paul starting it, Bazarov remaining calm, and Paul finally getting steamed. In chapter 6, Paul and Bazarov have their first â€Å"discussion†, if you will. Paul wants to know where Bazarov stands on the topic of Germans. I feel as though Paul wanted an argument from the start, as he knew that Bazarov was going to take an opposing standpoint to his own. In other chapters, their tension continues to build, and eventually they settle it with a duel. The way that I see it, both of the men were acting immaturely. Bazarov comes off way too pompous in his views. He’s extremely cocky and he has no fear in expressing it. At the same time, though, Paul is almost the same way. He purposely questions Bazarov on politics and what not, trying, basically, to get a rise out of him. Like I said before, their arguments end in Paul getting furious, almost to the point of fighting, while Bazarov remains calm and cool. One of the main reasons of this clash is generational conflict. It is evident in every new generation; the younger ideals don’t appeal to the older generation, as they still believe ...

Graduate positions - Emphasis

Graduate positions Graduate positions For anyone graduating or with offspring who are graduating this year, you could be forgiven for thinking the future looks a little bleak. The average graduate salary is likely to stay frozen at 25,000 for the second year running, according to research by the Association of Graduate Recruiters. There are also fewer jobs to be had. And the best that can be said is that the number of vacancies hasnt fallen as sharply as predicted last year: the decrease was by just under nine per cent rather than the anticipated 25 per cent. But competition will be extra fierce this year, because the job-hunting class of 2010 will be joined by around 53 per cent of 2009 graduates, who are still vying for positions. Employers might welcome a bigger talent pool. But such a welcome is misplaced, at least according to one recruitment firm. This rise in the quantity of applications has not brought a rise in quality, says ClodaghBannigan, head of client services at Alexander Mann. So it seems that increasing the size of the talent pool has just diluted the talent. The advice is straightforward: the best approach is to carefully research roles and apply with thoughtful covering letters and tailored CVs. And, as ever, one of the first ways to guarantee your foot in the door (on the way to an interview) is to pay close attention to your writing. Remember the basics too. You might have an exceptionally well put-together CV, full of pertinent experience and encouraging insights into your person. But all that will mean nothing if your application is thrown out based on the typo in the first line. Literacy is a basic hard skill that prospective employers will look for evidence of in your resume. Typos, spelling mistakes and errors in punctuation and grammar can all indicate sloppy attention to detail and wont paint you as the kind of representative theyll want in their company. Until your interview, you are only as good as your paperwork (to quote the Recruitment Employment Confederation). But a great CV can get you a chance to prove you are the right person for the job. So make sure yours is: up to date well-structured and clearly laid out: it implies a logical and considered thought process full of objective, genuine evidence of your (relevant) experience and achievements written in simple language and short sentences: waffle will get you nowhere proofed, proofed and proofed again: check all grammar, punctuation and spelling, paying close attention to any contact details. Get someone else to check it too.

Self Analysis Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Self Analysis Paper - Essay Example This is particularly more prevalent in male-dominated industries, such as the transportation industry, where I have been working for a long time. Others believe that an aggressive female manager will experience backlash, but not in my case, specifically when I work with men (Brescoll, 2011, p.626). As a result, when I work with the opposite sex, I act like a man who is more aggressive in expressing and negotiating my arguments and ideas. On the contrary, when I work with women, I am less aggressive and more empathetic. I prefer keeping peace than expressing aggressive ideas when dealing with women. Thus, I follow a double-standard approach when dealing with coworkers. Upon realizing my double-standard gender behaviors, I have become aware that my strengths are my long experience in working with men, which makes me aware of their non-verbal and verbal language and my ability to project a strong image that can elicit respect from men, although I do need to improve on my ability to be firm without necessarily being masculinized in the process. Being in the transportation business for so long, I know how to â€Å"read† and respond to men. I agree with Kimmel (2009) that some men continue to preserve masculine identities, where they believe that they must be the primary breadwinners and decision-makers in their families (p.326). I know who among my coworkers are traditional in this way and who are more liberal, which is seen in how they speak and interact with men and women, including female managers. This knowledge allows me to adapt to male egoism and how I can reduce their anxiety of being under a female manager. Another source of strength o f mine is that I can gain the respect of male subordinates. I do this through my masculine style of management, where I am direct in my rules and expectations and firm in my rewards and punishment measures. Despite these strengths, I do believe that I need to work on a more balanced gender management identity. I

Movie Analysis Paper Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analysis Paper - Movie Review Example There is this unpleasant state of revolt inside him that makes him fight for his rights and be different from others having the right to make decisions and choices for oneself. During the course of the movie Z falls in love with Princess Balaand just to get sight of her switches position with his friend Weaver. This unintentional act brings Z to a point where he has to be a part of a battle that has evoked. Unaware of his fate Z embarks on this battle and apparently stands out victorious and as a hero for all the ants. Eventually Z leaves for insectopia, a place where the food surface the streets. Antz is basically a movie for adults and teenagers merely because of the use of violence and abusive language that has been incorporated in the movie. The violence in the movie might be a bit too much for children therefore it is obligatory to mention here that this movie is preferable for only adults and teens. Another reason to label this movie as an adult comedy is because of the level o f humour that has been used in the movie is feasible for adults only and can at times be quite boring for the younger ones to cope up with. "So when an unlikely turn of events marks him as a hero, Z does the last thing anyone would have expected-he rises to the challenge. And before he knows it, Z really is a hero-leading the entire worker ant colony in a revolution against conformity. Which just goes to show you: no matter how small, weak, or insignificant he might be, one ant CAN make a difference!" (Weiss, 1998) Another aspect in the movie that shows organizational culture is the totalitarian form of government that is seen initially before the occurrence of the revolt. Initially the ants were oppressed, having no say in the governance what so ever. They had to follow the norms of the prevailing society and struggle for their basic necessities. The King and the ants in power therefore had all rights over the people (ants) and used to govern the sate n such a way the fellow ants w ere generally oppressed and deprived of their fundamental rights. The story eventually changes its course when an ant who is not content with the present social state takes a step forward to change the existing system. So the concept of individual liberty has been shown in the movie. Z embarks on a journey to change the system that existed there which is all unintentional and also get his love therefore he had to switch position with his friend and take up the challenge to be part of a battle that would eventually change his position forever Labeling him as the ultimate hero and an inspiration for others who demand to change the totalitarian system. Therefore the organizational culture that prevailed initially in the movie was totalitarian with a monarch and defined rules and regulations that needed to be followed irrespective of personal will or choice. But when Z came to power things changed which sort of changed the system proclaiming a single individuals power and developing a s ense of liberty in the people. This change in a system was the basis of which the organizational cultured changed. The evolution from to totalitarianism to liberalism is drastic and something that was brilliantly executed in the movie. The violence showed in the movie is also executed in a very professional manner keeping all the minute details and the spirit of war alive. As battle and revolts is a part of the society therefore unity, mutual cooperation was shown. Apparently the violence shown was quite loud for animated movie.

Feet Descriptive Essay Essay Example for Free

Feet Descriptive Essay Essay My Feet By Chris Grace Resting on the floor when I look down is one of the least favored parts on my body, my feet. The marble-like color of pink and tan blended together and the almost engraved looking marks around my ankle from wearing socks all day make them just make up some of the characteristics I hate about my feet. From the bottom of them being as rough as sandpaper and flowing into the top where it is smooth as a baby’s face to the tops of my toes coming to a ball shape like an aliens fingers there is just something weird about them. Another thing that characterizes them as weird would be all of the odd shapes and curves they contain. There are the shapes of the muscles of each toe almost shaped like straws under your skin. Along with them are the toes. They vary from being very plump and roundly shaped like the big toe to the long slender shape of the toes next to it or even to the short mangled shape of the pinky toe. I would also characterize my feet as being gross. The dark black hair sprouting out of the tops of my toes is very unappealing. Along with that is the smell of my feet after a long day of work. It is almost as if somebody let a dead animal rot in my shoe and I smell that. Another thing that makes my feet gross to me is the way that they sweat when it is scorching hot outside. I take off my shoe and they remind me of how my feet would be after just stepping out of a shower. The last thing I would characterize my feet as would be amazing. Although they can be gross and weird they are an amazing part of my body. The way you can see all the muscles tighten up and release while walking along with the tendons pulling on your toes is very interesting when you watch it. It makes you wonder how something so odd, disgusting, and very useful is never taken to notice in our lives.

2pac Shakur :: Tupac Amur Shakur

Tupac (Two-pahk) Amur Shakur, commonly known as 2pac, led a violent life. He died on September 13, 1996. He was a gangsta rapper/Aspiring actor. Tupac was a big figure in the rap community, always doing what he wanted and not caring what others thought of him. His life symbolized what a lot of people have gone through, through his music and movies he showed us how hard life can be. Tupac was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1971. His family and he moved to Baltimore, Maryland early in his life. He took Performing Arts classes at his school; his teachers said he looked promising. He never finished school. He dropped out and moved to a small town outside Oakland, CA (â€Å"Associated†), however he did go to college and finish his high school credits. All his life he was raised by his mom, with his sister. He always led a violent life; April 5, 1993, he assaulted a fellow rapper with a baseball bat. October 31, 1993, he was charged with shooting two off duty police officers. The charges were later dropped. November 19, 1993, he was convicted of sexual assault (â€Å"Death†). In November 1994, Tupac himself was shot during an attempted robbery outside a music studio in New York. Tupac did, however, mention this; â€Å"Thug life to me is dead. If it's real, let somebody else represent it because I'm tired of it.† Shakur told Vibe Magazine. â€Å"I represented it too much. I was Thug Life†(â€Å" Associated†). Tupac had a very promising career. His first album â€Å"2pacallyps Now† was very successful. Not too late after that his movie â€Å"Juice† was released in 1992. He released two more albums titled â€Å"Strictly for my Niggaz† and â€Å"Me against the world† and two more movies â€Å"Poetic Justice† (1993) and â€Å"Above the Rim†(1994). His last album, â€Å"All Eyes on Me† sold over 6 million copies and was the first double CD for rap music. (â€Å"Thuglife†)(â€Å"Associated†) 4:03 p.m. PDT, Friday, September 13, Tupac died of respiratory failure and cardio-pulmonary arrest at University Medical Center, Las Vegas(Payne). He died of bullet wounds to the abdomen and chest at the young age of 25 (â€Å"Unofficial†). â€Å"Shakur was shot four times in the chest and abdomen. Police believe he was the target.† He lingered in a coma before he died. So far police have no suspects. All they are saying is that the people were in a white cadillac, not from Las Vegas where he was shot (â€Å"Associated†).

I and Thou Essay

Present essay engages in critical examination of basic concepts, observations and ideas, created by famous Jewish writer and philosopher Martin Buber in his book ‘I and Thou’. Buber’s book is often mentioned as one of the major influences in Western philosophical literature of the 20th century. Specifically, the philosophy of dialogue, promoted by Buber resonated with and influenced similar contribution of such philosophers and critiques, as Levinas, Bakthtine, existentialist philosopher (Sartre) and others. Based on the analysis of Buber’s ideas and their general philosophical context of the time, present essay defends the thesis that Buber’s philosophy should be regarded as a utopian project, characterized by the idealist vision of human society and nature and inability to find solution to real social contradictions. I and Thou In his analysis of ‘I’ in contemporary world Buber focuses on classic tradition of the philosophy of consciousness, derived from Descartes and Kant. In this tradition ‘I’ is understood as pure subject of autonomous reason and ethical actions. The novelty of Buber’s contribution is that he tries to dialectically link individual ‘I’ with Other (Thou). Unlike earlier attempts of Hegel and Husserl, Buber’s attempt is characterized by deep influences of Judaism religious tradition. Basically, Buber conceptualizes the binary opposition of I and Thou as the source of any human relationships in the real world. In contrast to ‘I’ relationship with ‘It’ (an object), ‘I’ –‘Thou’ pair is characterized with intersection and exchange between different consciousness, both individual (human) and objective (God). God is referred to by Buber as Eternal Thou, one that constructs the firmest tie with ‘I’. ‘It’ – ‘It’ relationship is regarded by Buber as the relationship which may be measured by the quantity of the objects we have in our daily life (Buber, 34). This relationship is not intimate and conscious. In contrast, â€Å"I†-‘Thou† is a living relationship between people lasting as long as another person is present in physical proximity and consciousness. The presence of an individual near another individual automatically results in the exposition of ‘I’-‘Thou’ relationship even if it not perceived consciously. Spiritual relationship between different subjects (‘I’ and ‘Thou’) is the basic law of human existence in general. Buber tries to interpret this law using hermeneutic method. He argues that even in language, saying ‘Thou’ implies addressing your words and feelings to a given person and hence, ‘Thou’ can not be detached from consciousness – it constitutes its distinct part. Using example of a tree, Buber shows that notwithstanding our perspective, a tree would always be an Object for us, because it lacks consciousness: â€Å"I can subdue its actual presence and form so sternly that I recognize it only as an expression of law. † (Buber, 51). Buber argues that I-Thou relationship can not be properly explained – it is best explicated by the concept of Love, reflected in God. God become ‘Thou’ when he is directly spoken too. According to Buber, God is present in every aspect of human consciousness including arts, culture and music. Therefore, I-Thou relationship finds its outmost realization in the link between God and an Individual. Critique of Buber’s ideas Notwithstanding positive role of Buber’s ideas in the formation of 20-th century existentialism and humanist philosophy of Dialogue, one should point to crucial drawbacks and deficiencies of Buber’s ideas and approach. As it was noted in the introduction, it seems to us that Buber falls into the trap of idealism and utopianism in the explanation of real human relations. Moreover, his use of religious doctrine of Judaism in addressing real world relationships may also seem to modern researchers problematic. First of all, human relationships in Buber’s book are conceptualized through the prism of individual consciousness, an approach that was revolutionary in 18 and 19-th centuries, but significantly fell behind modern developments in social psychology, social and political sciences. Buber treats human relations at the level of individual consciousness, however, it contradicts empirical facts, which argue that individual behavior is mediated and influenced by cultural codes, traditions, institutions, such as family, law, working organization, education etc. To say that human relationships may be reduced to abstract notions of ‘I’ and ‘Thou’ means avoiding difficult issues of social roles, positions other factors. To say it plainly, in Buber’s concept ‘I’ is an abstract notion – it is not a real, historical human being, but rather a certain philosophical concept. Moreover, it seems problematic to argue that ‘I’ is pure in its will and thoughts. Psychoanalytic approach to human subjectivity vividly demonstrated that human consciousness is influenced by sub-conscious destructive forces, often unknown by an individual. There is no denying the importance of the fact, that Buber’s interpretation of ‘I’ –‘Thou’ relations as the concentration of love, attachment is also idealist in essence. Such interpretation fails to see national, class and gender contradiction, which divide different human beings. Religious interpretation of God as ‘Eternal Thou’ also seems controversial from scientific point of view. Buber argues that God is present in every sphere of human life, including literature, music and culture. However, these are created by men and hence, no role of God in their formation is evident. Moreover, it seems problematic to argue that God as perceived in Judaic tradition is the expression of love and intimateness. As Old Testament suggests, God was rather a protector of eternal laws, who punished people for non-abidance, rather than was a center of universal love. Notwithstanding these evident drawbacks and contradictions, one should point to crucial contribution of Buber’s book to Western philosophy. No matter how utopian and idealist, Buber’s philosophy proved to be particularly instrumental in the development of French existentialism and Russian school of literary critique. Buber’s perspective on world as an inter-subjective relationship found its further development in the philosophy of Sartre, Kamu and other French philosopher. Levinas used Buber’s philosophy of dialogue in the analysis oral speech and narrative language. Paralleling this development, Russian literary critique Bakthtine used Buber’s ideas in his analysis of Dostoevsky’s protagonists through the prism of their dialogical relations at the level of consciousness. The last, but not the least, it should be mentioned, that Buber’s concepts were the paramount of humanist philosophy in the 20th century. Notwithstanding their idealist and utopian nature they served as regulative ideas of behavior for several generations of intellectuals, including such renowned as Erich Fromm and Herbert Marcuse. To sum it up, Buber’s book â€Å"I and Thou’ provides modern researcher with new concepts and ideas, many of which seem controversial and paradoxical. Basic deficiencies found in Buber’s philosophy are linked with his utopianism and idealism and lack of attention to modern developments in social science, social psychology. The unnecessary reduction of human society to individual level makes it impossible to see a broader picture of inter-group relations and general social institutions role in human behavior. Notwithstanding these deficiencies, Buber’s book provides a source of interesting and thought-provocative reading.

New York City History Essay

New York City has always been rife with speculations and legends about its origin. Neglected in the canon of American History that focuses on the 13 founding states, its remarkable beginnings as a Dutch colony founded in the wilderness are belied by a bustling metropolis at the center of the upwardly mobile world. Yet this relegated obscurity of the humble origins of the Big Apple hold the key to understanding the rapid growth and burgeoning world power that is to become the United States of America. New York is the port and entryway to the large American continent. International wars have been fought over its control in the early 1600’s, as its location was deemed strategic to greater dominance over the rest of the land. On the other hand, this relegated obscurity of New York in the historical canon is paralleled by the very same obscurity that plagues pre-Puritan â€Å"American† literature. For a long time, American national literature was deemed to have begun sometime after the Colonial period, and the writings, myths, and legends of the Native Americans, as well as the travel accounts and logs of the explorers were not considered â€Å"serious† academic literature. This notion, which falsely states that civilized life began when the Puritans settled on America’s shores, has now been overturned. With the introduction by the new critics of a master list of what is considered the â€Å"representative American† literature, what has once been woefully excluded has now been warmly embraced. These texts encompass a wide range of genres, from the creation myths of the Indians to their mystical chants, from the near-mythological account of Eric the Red’s discovery to the letters of Columbus to the King and Queen of Spain after the discovery of the Americas. This call to redefine what was once thought of as rigid and permanent meaning of Literature trickles down to the concept of American national literature, an area most affected by this welcoming of new genres to the canon. By adapting a flexible stance on what constitutes real Literature, a well-rounded view of America is achieved. Indeed, it is in these earliest extant written works that the groundwork is laid to understand the irony and enigma that is the United States of America. And though the whole of the country gains from this shift of paradigm, it is perhaps the state of New York, and more specifically the island of Manhattan, that stands to benefit the most. For it is New York, whose Dutch origins have been reduced to trifle icons, that lost most of its history and literature when the English took over the colony. Indeed, by turning an eye to New York as a construction of literature, its significance as gateway both to the physical and abstract America comes to fore. One of the more interesting extant documents regarding New Netherland, the New York of the 1600’s, is the letter of the Reverend Jonas Michaelius to Mr. Adrian Smoutius. Michaelius’ account of Manhattan holds a special place in both the history and literature of New York as it is the first account of the fledgling community through educated eyes (â€Å"Introduction† 120). Furthermore, this text presents not only the established New Netherland. More importantly, it presents a mirror of the already existing Dutch psyche. And even if its writer may claim it to be written from an impartial and an objective point of view, various threads of subjectivism and relativism are seen interspersed throughout the text. The most predominant thematic structure, most probably formulated by Michaelius unintentionally in the course of writing the letter, is the symbiotic relation that links together the mythological and abstract â€Å"New York† of his imagination and the real, material New York that he has come to possess. For Michaelius, it is the mythological â€Å"New York,† conceived not through legends or actual myths, but through a sense of mission and special ordination by God, that gave meaning, structure, and impetus to the creation of the material, historical New York. As Michaelius points out in his letter, his coming to New Netherland was an act ordained by God: â€Å"Our coming here was agreeable to all, and I hope by the grace of the Lord, that my service will not be unfruitful (Michaelius 123).† â€Å"All† here does not merely connote the people he came with to New Netherland; rather, it is an encompassing term that includes God. For, as he continues in the same paragraph, God has always â€Å"graciously blessed [his] labors (123).† What he is subconsciously saying with these statements is the fact that his was a Holy Enterprise, a calling of God for him to spread Christianity to the vast continent peopled by heathens. It is an ordination by God, a mission to Christianize the â€Å"others.† And, as will be seen throughout the letter, it is through this special sense of vocation that Michealius is able, against seemingly insurmountable odds, to create New York. Upon arriving at the island, Michaelius â€Å"established the form of a church (124).† His choice of words reflects the way he viewed his new surroundings. Being but in the wilderness, he was only able to shape a rudimentary church. Once again, this reflects Michaelius’ sense of vocation to tame the wild in order to glorify God. Help did not seem to be forthcoming, as the person with enough experience to guide him, Brother Bastiaen Crol, was himself busy with his own fort. This statement is a glimpse into the future life of Michaelius, which will find him responsible not only for the church but also for the trade of the community. Church people, then, were not only meant to serve God through the people, but they were also meant to serve the people themselves. Indeed, this realization of Michaelius is echoed a few lines later, where he tells Smoutius about his desire to â€Å"separate carefully the ecclesiastical from the civil matters (125).† Double tasking for the minister, the leader of the flock entrusted to him, is essential for the stability and longevity of the community. Being God’s own handmaid to them in this time of great upheaval in their lives, he serves as their link to the old world they left behind. For it is the minister who carries both God’s work and their country’s work, the figurehead for both authorities. He becomes the familiar face, the one that gives them a sense of belonging and continuity, two things vital for ensuring peace in the community. Adaptation, too, is an important ingredient to assure success in their endeavor. To fight the situation was to die and fail with the churches they just have established. Paramount in this was the way Michaelius administered the Lord’ Supper to the people. Fifty communicants attended the first celebration, some making â€Å"their first confessions before [them],† others already baptized into the faith as evidenced by their certificates (124). Still, there were others who had lost their certificate that attests to their membership in church back in Netherlands. Michaelius had no choice but to accept them upon â€Å"the satisfactory testimony of others to whom they were known, and also upon their daily good deportment, since one cannot observe strictly all the usual formalities in making a beginning under such circumstances (124).† Throughout the letter, Michaelius harps on the value of adaptation as seen through his meticulous preoccupation with practical affairs. He calls on the Honorable Directors to â€Å"furnish [the] place with plainer and more precise instructions to the rulers (126).† He keeps a detailed account of the country, and how it would best be made suitable for the support of life (130). And though he was at first reluctant to delve into these matters, being the leader, he knew that he had to step away from the mold of the clergyman to become the clerk. By staying true to his calling as leader of the flock, he molds the colony filled with people who are â€Å"rough and unrestrained† into a community, the same people who did not even think â€Å"that a church would be formed and established [there] (124).† This statement is very telling, again, of the actual and physical surrounding of Manhattan at that time. Perhaps it was an utterly desolate place, an area of monstrosity amidst abundance, populated by people who could not differ more in appearance from the white Englishmen. Its distance from any other known civilization at that time most probably reinforced such a feeling of isolation. Yet, whatever the reason may be, a church must be established, and established it was. Also, this account, aside from being a testament to the adaptation strategies of Michealius and his people, also establishes and foreshadows the modern day New York as a melting pot for people of various races. Walloons, a small ethnic minority from Belgium, Dutch, and French converge to celebrate Mass. These people, aside from having varying racial and ethnic backgrounds, were also physically dispersed throughout New Netherland. As a result, Mass could only be celebrated once every four months, since some of them live far away and could not well come in time of heavy rain and storm, so that they themselves cannot think it advisable to appoint any special service in French for so small a number, and that upon an uncertainty (125). Differing races, differing traditions, differing backgrounds, all come together in God. What Michaelius is pointing out here is that unity is achieved through the Church; hence, it is but natural that the first order of business in setting up a community is through the formation of a Church. The Church is now a unifying force, which gathers under its wings people from differing walks of life. Even though the Dutch ventured into the (relatively) unknown with the Messianic goal of converting heathens into God-fearing, Bible-quoting Christians, the ideologies of the Holy Enterprise are a loaded dice, however, against the natives of the place. It is suggestive of power relations and power struggles, one that automatically places the evangelist in a higher echelon than the one to be evangelized. A case in point is the idea of supplanting the young Indians from their homes and into the Dutch colony, in order that â€Å"they may be instructed to speak, read, and write in [the Dutch] language, but also especially in the fundamentals of our Christian religion (129).† It was not that these Indians could not speak in the literal sense, but rather, that they cannot talk Dutch. For them, this is tantamount to not knowing how to communicate in words at all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In these account, the Reverend that believes he is God’s prophet shows a side of himself that to readers today imply not the upright Christian he purports himself to be. His condescension to the natives is indicative of the stance the rest of the colonizers took regarding the New World – how the New World is a remote and surreal place removed from civil society, whose â€Å"discovery† and introduction into the â€Å"correct† way of life is a source of gratitude to the Europeans.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As a literary piece, Michaelius’ letter presents the â€Å"New York† mythologized by its writer. It is the â€Å"New York† ordained by God as the Promised Land, the land for His weary men. As a historical piece, it gives an insight into the early days of New York, the New York of uncertainty and of disparate people. It is the story of the trials and tribulations faced by the settlers who were uprooted from their motherland, only to settle in an unfamiliar place. Through the conflation of these two seemingly different constructs in one channel, the power of the imagination to shape and construct a viable community is perceived. For without the blessing and mandate of the supernatural, which is the catalyst of the exploration and settlement of New Netherland, New York the material would not have come and grown into its charmed existence.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Our coming here was agreeable to all, and I hope, by the grace of the Lord, that my service will not be unfruitful. The people, for the most part, are rather rough and unrestrained, but I find in almost all of them both love and respect towards me; two things with which hitherto the Lord has everywhere (123) graciously blessed my labors, and which in our calling, as your Reverence well knows and finds, are especially desirable, in order to make our ministry fruitful. From the beginning we established the form of a church and as Brother Bastiaen Crol very seldom comes down from Fort Orange, because the directorship of that fort and the trade there is committed to him, it has been thought best to choose two elders for my assistance and for the proper consideration of all such ecclesiastical matters as might occur, intending the coming year, if the Lord permit, to let one of them retire, and to choose another in his place from a double number first lawfully proposed to the congregation†¦ At the first administration of the Lord’s Supper which was observed, not without great comfort to many, we had fully fifty communicants – Walloons and Dutch; of whom, a portion made their first confession of faith before us, and others exhibited their church certificates. Others had forgotten to bring their certificates with them, not thinking that a church would be formed and established here; and some who brought (124) them, had lost them unfortunately in a general conflagration but they were admitted upon the satisfactory testimony of others to whom they were known, and also upon their daily good deportment, since one cannot observe strictly all the usual formalities in making a beginning under such circumstances. We administer the Holy Supper of the Lord once in four months, provisionally, until a larger number of people shall otherwise require. The Walloons and French have no service on Sundays, otherwise than in the Dutch language, for those who understand no Dutch are very few. A portion of the Wallons are going back to the Fatherland, either because their years here are expired, or else because some are not very serviceable to the Company. Some of them live far away and could not well come in time of heavy rain and storm, so that they themselves cannot think it advisable to appoint any special service in French for so small a number, and that upon an uncertainty. Nevertheless, the Lord’s Supper is administered to them in the French language, and according to the French mode, with a sermon preceding, which I have before me in writing, so long as I can not trust myself extemporaneously. If in this and in other matters your Reverence and the Reverend Brethren of the Consistory, who have special superintendence over us here, deem it necessary to administer to us any correction, instruction or good advice, it will be agreeable to us and we shall thank you Reverence therefor; since we must all have no other object than the glory of God in the building up of his kingdom and the salvation of many souls. I keep myself as far as practicable within the pale of my calling, wherein I find myself sufficiently occupied. And although our small consistory embraces at the most – when Brother Crol is down here – not more than four persons, all of whom, myself alone excepted, have also public business to attend to, I still hope to separate carefully the ecclesiastical from the civil matters which occur, so that each one will be occupied with his own subject (125).†          Sources    â€Å"Introduction.† pp. 119-21. Michaelius, Jonas. â€Å"Letter of Reverend Jonas Michaelius.† pp. 122-33.

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Sherman Alexie and Writing for Young Adults Essays Sherman Alexie and Writing for Young Adults Essay Sherman Alexie and Writing for Young Adults Essay Essay Topic: Adults Murder, blood, death and dark is a popular topic in young adult writing. But is it really young adult writing when there is somuch dystopia in a book? A lot of writers believe it is. One of the authors who strongly believe that its young adult is Sherman Alexie. Sherman Alexie is known for his young adult stories about young Indian boys struggling to survive in life. The young boys struggle with father relationships, death, acne, who they are, alcohol, and surviving in the real world. Many other writers and authors believe that there should be a line where some topics can be young adult and others should not even mention the topic. The authors who oppose this believe that these topics will damage young teens minds in their daily lives. I agree with Alexie that his writing is fine to be young adult because his writing helps young adults transition into the real world. Many of these young teenagers will soon face the real world with some of these problems. It helps to know that they ca n read about these problems and help them through whatever theyre going through. Death is what everyone will face;it is just a matter of when someone will face it. Death is a part of life. Everyone will die or experience someone close who will die. Death should be allowed in young adult literature because it doesn’t matter how old you are, death does not have a limit on any age or person. So why would authors would want to pretend that death doesn’t happen in life, when it does? â€Å"nothing, not a thing, that I could imagine giving my daughter. It was all vampires and suicide and self-mutilation, this dark, dark stuff† (Megan Cox Gurdon). Death is scary thing to understand though to process it is unthinkable but writers and authors shouldn’t say this topic is not meant for young adults because death doesn’t have an age limit. Even though Alexie’s writing isn’t about vampires, he does touchon suicide and self-mutilation. In Flight, Zits,

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The Molecular Formula for Water The molecular formula for water is H2O. One molecule of water consists of one oxygen atom covalently bonded to two hydrogen atoms. There are three isotopes of hydrogen. The usual chemical formula for water assumes the hydrogen atoms consist of the isotope protium (one proton, no neutrons). Heavy water is also possible, in which one or more of the atoms of hydrogen consist of deuterium (symbol D) or tritium (symbol T). Other forms of the chemical formula for water include  D2O, DHO, T2O, and THO. Its theoretically possible to form TDO, although such a molecule would be extremely rare. Although most people assume water is  H2O, only completely pure water lacks other elements and ions. Drinking water usually contains chlorine, silicates, magnesium, calcium, aluminum, sodium, and trace amounts of other ions and molecules. Also, water dissolves itself, forming its ions,  H and OH-. A sample of water contains the intact water molecule along with hydrogen cations and hydroxide anions.

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Islamic Sharia Law in Present Day Nigeria - Essay Example Whether devout or not, the rulers benefited from the opportunities associated with Islam: the wealth of the transSaharan trade, the spread of ideas from North Africa, and the ability to forge diplomatic relations with Muslim rulers elsewhere. Islam an established system of public revenue based on tax and a judiciary based on the Sharia law and the alkali courts, started presided over by learned Islamic jurists. The Islamic jurispudence or Sharia law was allowed to be followed, but people started to practice it by combining the sharia laws with their new existing beliefs and this was obviously in their own interest as they were used to mould their religion accordingly. No doubt Sharia has always been a notion of conflict among Muslims and Christians in Nigeria. As Islam was being introduced into northern Nigeria in the 14th century, Muslims applied the Islamic law Sharia to their everyday lifestyle as they were bound to do so being Muslims and even those Muslims who were in favor of religious freedom, they also felt it hard to cope up with the 'Sharia' law. The conflict started with the advent of British rule, when the Muslims started feeling unsecured with a disrupted legal system because Nigerian Muslims particularly those of North were not in a position to tolerate any obstruction in between them and the 'Sharia' but at the same time they were bound to follow the legal system according to which the Sharia courts came under the supervision of Europeans probably the Christians. While recognizing Sharia law and courts, the British also restricted them in several respects. The 1906 Proclamation limited the application of Sharia to Muslims and provided that these courts could not give certain punishments, such as mutilation, torture, or others which were repugnant to "natural justice and humanity." (Bello, 2000) These changes reflected at least two principles. One was a belief that certain previously existing Sharia criminal penalties were inhumane. The other was that criminal law is a public matter to be implemented by the state rather than by private or social action. Some further changes in the implementation of Sharia occurred in the Native Ordinance of 1956, officially known as the "Native Courts Law of Northern Nigeria, No. 6 of 1956." (Bello, 2000) This provided for appeals from the Sharia courts to courts of appeal that reflected a more British understanding of justice, and the Ordinance provoked disagreement with the traditional emirs, who objected to this limit on Sharia law. In an attempt to pacify the emirs, the British then established Sharia Courts of Appeal, which were meant to protect Islamic law from excessive encroachhment through appeal to English courts. (Bello, 2000) Though well maintained, these courts were looked after by Europeans and in line with colonial policy, the British established a Muslim court of appeal in 1956, which was empowered to deal with matters of Muslim personal law only. This court was renamed the Sharia court of appeal just before independence in 1960. (Adamu, 2004) On one hand the Sharia courts were running under British authority while