Barbie Essay -- essays papers

Barbie Since the beginning of time, toys have often been an indicator of the way a society behaves, and how they interact with their children. For example, in ancient Greece, artifacts recovered there testify that children were simply not given toys to play with as in the modern world. The cruel ritual of leaving a sick child on a hillside for dead, seems to indicate a lack of attention to the young (Lord 16). The same is true of today’s society. As you can see with the number of toy stores in our society, we find toys of great value to our lives and enjoy giving them to children as gifts. Ask just about any young girl what she wants for Christmas and you’ll undoubtedly get the same answer: â€Å"A Barbie.† But what exactly has caused this baby boomer Barbie craze, and how did the entire world get so caught up in it? The answer lies in Ruth Handler’s vision for the first children’s adult doll. Mrs. Handler’s eleven and one-half-inch chunk of plastic began causing problems even before it’s public debut in 1959, yet has managed to become one of America’s favorite dolls. Ruth Handler and her two young children, Barbara and Ken, were merely sightseeing in Lucerne, Switzerland, when Mrs. Handler first saw the doll she herself had been trying to create (Lord 29). In the window of a small gift shop was an eleven and one-half-inch tall plastic doll with a slender woman’s body and a long blond ponytail. Her name was Lilli (â€Å"Bad Girl† 1). She had been created from a cartoon character in a West German tabloid similar to the National Inquirer (Lord 8). Dressed provocatively, and with a seductive look in her eye, Lilli had become a â€Å"popular pornographic gag gift for men† (â€Å"Bad Girl† 1). Excited to see her long-time idea a reality, Mrs. Handler bought three of the dolls and hurried home to begin work on her own doll (â€Å"Bad Girl† 2). It was 1956, and within three years, Mattel Creations began marketing the â€Å"teenage fashion model† as â€Å"a new kind of doll from real life† (Tosa 30). The new doll, deemed â€Å"Barbie†, was named after her own daughter Barbara, who’s many years of play with paper dolls had actually inspired her to begin designing the three-dimensional adult doll (Lord 30). Though Mrs. Handler’s version of the doll was not as racy or alluring as Lilli, her imitation of the â€Å"German streetwalker† would come back to haunt her many years later (†Bad ... ...body and a new focus, she has plans to become even more spectacular with many new adventures and many new friends. Barbie’s new look includes a wider waist, smaller hips, a less â€Å"torpedo-like† bust, and flat rather than pointy-toed feet (â€Å"Bad Girl† 3). She is also playing an active role in new research in prosthetics. Jane Bahor, a woman who makes replacement body parts, had experimented with the plastic knee joints in Barbie’s legs. She has found that they work well as prosthetic fingers for her patients because they â€Å"are more realistic-looking and useful†. So far, Bahor has provided the replacement joints for more than a dozen of her patients and has been extremely successful in her studies (â€Å"Bad Girl† 27). As Barbie gets ready to turn the big 4-2, it is unreal to think that she has completed her last makeover. No doubt that as time changes and people’s attitudes towards life change, this timely doll will also be forced to adjust to the needs of society. With more than 75 successful careers, her own official website, and a namesake magazine, this little doll has become more than a child’s plaything. Whether we love her or hate her, she will always be a part of us all.

Mpf System

In 2011, Hong Kong people aged up to 65 and above total for 13 per cent of the population that is a rapidly growing in ageing population. The ratio is evaluated to increase in 19 per cent by 2021 and will up to 30 per cent by 2041. According to this investigation, the Hong Kong Government first introduced the MPF concept in 1995 to assure that every citizens working in Hong Kong prepare the financial provision while they are retirement.In August 1995, Hong Kong Government announced a major stage in enacting the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (â€Å"MPFSO) (Chapter 485, Laws of Hong Kong) to provide a formal project of basic retirement protection. The MPFSO submits the framework for the building a system of privately managed, employment-related MPF schemes for members of the workforce to form financial benefits for retirement.The MPFA was settled on September 17, 1998 to regulate, monitor and direct the operation of the MFP system. There is only about one-third of the wor kforce of 3. 4 million people had some join of retirement protection before the achievement of the Mandatory Provident Fund System in December 2000. But now, closely to 90 per cent of the working population are already joined in retirement protection.There is a large and elderly population without enough savings will enhance a huge burden on the society if the number of ageing people rises up. MPF is build mainly to support the basic retirement protection to the working population by saving. The main feature of this system include coverage all employees and self-employed people who are over 18 and under 65 years old, not including specifically exempt under the MPFSO, are included by the MPF system.An employee and his/her employer are both needed to contribute five per cent of the employee’s monthly relevant income as mandatory contributions for and in respect of the employee, subject to the minimum and maximum relevant income levels for contribution purposes. An employee if e arning below the minimum level of relevant income (HK$6,500 per month or HK$78,000 per year) is not forced to give but may they can elect to do so by way of making voluntary contribution.Despite of the employee’s choice, the employer must contribute five per cent of the employee’s relevant income. The purpose of maximum standard of relevant income for contribution is generally at $25,000 per month or $300,000 per year. Both employers and employees can also due voluntary contribution in excess of the statutory mandatory amount. Self-employed persons also need to contribute five per cent of their relevant income as mandatory contributions, depend on the minimum and maximum standard of their relevant income for contribution purposes.As the beginning of the MPF System in December 2000, the MPF legislation has been reviewed in the light of operational experience in order to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the system continuously. With the enactment of the MPF Schemes (Amendment) Ordinance 2012 on June 21, 2012, a statutory regulatory control to enhance the regulation of the sales and marketing programmers of MPF intermediaries will be in place on November1, 2012 and the Employee Choice Arrangement will be announced on the same day.Further initiative are being undertaken to strengthen the MPF System, including the development of proposals to enhance flexibility in withdrawing MPF benefits. MPF fees and charges have come down slowly as a result of MPFA’s contribution to streamline administrative procedures, enhance fee transparency and expand the market competition. According the Employee Choice Arrangement in place, we all hope that the management handling charges would be reduced in future.

Ancient Polytheistic Religion Compared to Judaism

Ancient polytheistic religion compared to Judaism Ancient polytheistic and Judaism are two of the most opposite beliefs possible. Polytheistic belief is the belief in more than just one god. Polytheism was brought to this world by the ancient Egyptians and the ancient Greeks. The Greek gods often took on the form of being humans while the Egyptian gods were the main cornerstone to their beliefs and religion. Judaism or the belief of Monotheism is the belief in one main god. Monotheism we brought to the world by the Jewish culture. It was originated from the Hebrew bible and is one of the oldest religions still living today.Judaism was a monotheistic religion of the Jews having its spiritual and ethical ideas embodied mainly in the Torah and the Talmud. The Torah and the Talmud are part of the sacred book of the Jews which is the bible. The first civilization appeared to have arisen in Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia was founded by a group of people called the Sumerians during the fourth mil lennium B. C. E. It lies in the Tigris-Euphrates Valley. The Sumerians and their successors were polytheistic which means they worshiped many gods and goddesses. Their Gods and Goddesses were visualized in human form, with human needs and weaknesses.The Mesopotamians believed that the human race was created to serve the gods. The Mesopotamian temples were run like great households where the gods were fed fantastic meals, entertained with music, and honored with ritual. The Mesopotamians had a very gloomy picture of the afterworld. They were confined to a dusty dark netherworld, doomed with hunger and thirst unless someone offered them food or drink. There was no reward in being religious because everyone was in equal misery. Religion played a huge part in the literature and art of Mesopotamia.Poems were told of the deeds of the gods, like how the world was created. Also poems were told of the great hero king Gilgamesh, who tried to escape death by going on a journey to find the sole survivor of the great flood. The religious architecture was in the form of temples in the cities. As the Mesopotamian civilization rose up in the valley of Tigris and Euphrates, the Egyptian civilization was centered on the Nile River. The Egyptians were also a polytheistic religion, in that they believed in many gods. Egyptian Gods have human bodies, with human or animal heads, and wear crowns or thorns.Egyptian Gods were gods of different things such as the sky, sun, earth, and music. The Egyptians worship took place at small shrines; they left offerings to the chosen gods as well as simple prayers. The Egyptians believed that there afterlife was full of dangers, but those dangers could be overcame by magical spells in the Book of the Dead. Also the Egyptians believed in the preservation of the body and that it was essential for the afterlife. The Hittites were an Indo-European, speaking a language that was related to the Greek and Sanskrit.The Hittites adopted Mesopotamian writi ng along with many other aspects of the Mesopotamian culture, including polytheism. The discovery of iron was found in the Hittites region, somewhat before the creation of their kingdom. The discovery led to the making of iron weapons and tools rather than copper ones. The Discovery of the iron led to the beginning of the Iron Age. Other ancient societies that were polytheistic were the Persians, and the Assyrians. The Israelites possessed little worldly power or wealth, but they created a powerful religion, known as Judaism which is a form of monotheism.Judaism was the first and the longest lasting form of monotheism in a world of polytheism. Judaism is a part of two other religions that have played a big role in the history of the world, Christianity and Islam. Monotheism is the belief in one universal god, who was the creator and ruler of the universe. The Jewish God is neither a natural force nor like human beings, or any other kind of creature; he is so elevated that those who believe in him may not picture him in any form. I personally best relate to Judaism and believing in one single god because I practice the religion of Christianity.I believe the words of the bible and how God is said to have created all forms of life and all things. I grew up in a religious family where we attended masses weekly on Sunday mornings and prayed before and after our meals. I believe that the religion you have been raised up into plays a huge role on your worldview that you best identify with. Along with your family I also believe it’s your own personal ethics that play a role in your worldview of religion. Your ethics are based on what you believe is right or wrong.In my religion of being a Catholic, I believe that God created all things and sent Adam and Eve to represent him in man form. I also believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross, rose to heaven and then came back to earth for human salvation and to save us from sin. The reason I don’t believe in Polytheism is because I find it hard to believe that there would be gods for many different parts of our world. I also think that if a God is suppose to be worshipped and treated like an all-mighty that there should only be one person or God treated with the most significant amount of respect.

Improve Your Workplace Mood with 10 Basic Tips

Improve Your Workplace Mood with 10 Basic Tips Cheer up isnt feedback most of us typically get in our annual reviews, but studies show bringing a positive attitude into the office with you can improve relationships and productivity and make-up for the less exciting aspects of the daily grind.Try these 10 simple steps from The Undercover Recruiter to boost your mood and help you bring your A game every day!1. Eat HealthierIve never met a vending machine I didnt like, but I know that empty calories and sugary snacks during that 2 p.m. lull are not my friends! I started outsmarting temptation by bringing small baggies of almonds, trail mix, or granola bars to cut down on snacking, and using what I saved in the break room to treat myself to salads or fresh food options at lunchtime.2. Get Some ExerciseSome companies are able to offer discounted gym memberships or other workplace incentives to employees who take the time to workout and enjoy those exercise endorphins. Whether its a walk at lunch, a shift at a standing desk, or an earl y morning spin class, give your mind and body the energy they need by getting whatever exercise you can!3. Get More SleepI have to trick myself into this one by hiding my phone out of reach when I go to bed; otherwise I keep refreshing social media or checking my email despite the fact that literally nothing is going to happen that will need my attention before the morning. Make your bedroom a quiet, welcoming, dark space, and reserve sleeping hours for sleep.4. Give FeedbackIf youre dissatisfied with something at work, the best way to get some changes made is to speak up about it- productively, of course, so youre not just complaining. Talk to your boss or your colleagues if you have suggestions to improve your work environment; you might be surprised what a difference you can make by communicating what you need.5. Show GratitudeWhether youre higher up in the food chain or anchoring the entry-level spot, take a minute each day to express gratitude to someone who makes your job easi er, someone whose contribution you appreciate, or someone who often goes unrecognized. Keeping a journal at home or on your phone can help you document moments that made it all worthwhile, so you have something to look back at on a bad day.6. ReflectAnother task that journal is great for is looking back over the day or week youve just had. Where were you successful? Where do you have room to improve? When you take the time to review your performance thoughtfully, youll move through the workday with more awareness, which can lead to increased satisfaction and better work overall.7. MeditateWhether you take a little time to close your eyes and take a few deep breaths every hour or actually devote 20  minutes of your lunch hour to a more formal practice, meditation is proven to increase calm, focus, and empathy levels. Dont get caught up in a stressful day- step back and recenter yourself.8. Get to Know Your ColleaguesIf youre an introvert like me, this might sound dreadful. At the e nd of a long day, often the last thing I want to do is troop down to happy hour with the people Ive already spent all day with. But whether you strike up a conversation at Patricks birthday party (a.k.a. awkward cake in the conference room hour) or invite your counterpart from another department to eat lunch outside with you, find interpersonal connections at work to help you look forward to each day in the office.9. Help OthersSpending even 10-15 minutes helping someone else out can reliably make you feel better about yourself and your job. Just as beneficial, it may make them more willing to help you out in return someday; youre building social capital and improving your day at the same time.10. Take a Mental Health DayWe live in a work culture that values constant accessibility, putting in extra hours, and pushing ourselves forward incessantly. If youre lucky enough to have paid sick leave, treat yourself to a day where you dont think about work at all. It will all be waiting for you the next morning; after a day away to refresh yourself, youll already be happier on the job.  10 Simple Steps to Being Happy at Work  Read More at theundercoverrecruiter.com

Top 4 CHALLENGES for Executives and Assistants

Top 4 CHALLENGES for Executives and Assistants According to founder and CEO of Office Dynamics International, Joan Burge, There is no greater relationship in the workplace than that of an executive and an assistant. This may seem like hyperbole if you havent had a really terrific working relationship with an executive or an assistant who gets it. If youre at the top of the food chain, try to see your assistant as a strategic partner; if youre in a support role, take advantage of these tips to improve your standing and the dynamics at work!1. BandwidthNobody has enough time in the day. Executives may have more than one assistant, or assistants may be supporting more than one executive (every one of which wants to feel like your Top Priority). Between the two of you, you may be fielding as many as 400 emails a day- have systems in place and revise them as necessary!  Be aware of the speed and intensity of the information flowing across your executives desk, and let that inform the pace of your interruptions, meetings, and indepen dent work.2. Digital DependencyTheyre working from multiple devices and may ask you do to the same. While that may make them feel independent and tech savvy, its important (for them and for you!) to realize that an empowered executive assistant is as valuable as the Cloud in terms of coordinating information and monitoring plans.3. DelegatingWith all the self sufficiency of scheduling software and remote access, its easy for executives to forget how to use their assistants most effectively. Companies lose time and money when execs underutilize support staff. Know your role, advocate for appropriate ways to expand it, and always be a reliable asset.4. Frustration in CommunicationWith complaints ranging from I dont have time to teach my assistant to do this job to I have no idea what this executive wants from me, some of the hardest aspects of the relationship to master are the simplest- how you perceive one another and what you expect from one another. Be verbal, follow-up, and be wi lling to disagree and resolve it! Dont be so wrapped up in status you forget to think like a team.Tips  for AssistantsInitiate ConversationTalk about your relationship as a teamGet clarification on likes and dislikesPut yourself on the execs calendar and leave it, unless theres an emergencyThink like an executive- anticipate needs and prioritize accordinglyGo the extra mileAttend meetingsRead everythingUnderstand the scope of their wordTips  for ExecutivesHave clear assignments and deliverablesDemonstrate the qualities you want to seeBe comfortable with disagreementRely on your assistant; dont micromanageBe appreciative- post-mistake shouldnt be the only time you give feedbackRecognize that your assistants job requires skillExecutives and Assistants are Struggling TodayRead More at officedynamics.com

Falling Oil Prices Threaten Houston Building Boom Essay - 17

Falling Oil Prices Threaten Houston Building Boom - Essay Example Ideally, unemployment has a direct and indirect impact on other industries since it reduces the earnings and purchasing power of the unemployed. I believe the unemployment derived from the falling oil prices will have detrimental effects on the housing industry especially in Houston (Brown 1). Most of the people fired or prone to firing by energy companies in the U.S come from Houston. Ideally, savings from energy costs would increase consumer spending, create more jobs, and improve earnings that would enable more people to buy homes (Brown 1). As such, the housing industry would benefit indirectly from oil savings. Indeed, reduced oil prices would encourage young buyers to join the housing market thus raising the demand for houses in Houston. However, the continued drop in oil prices and the resultant unemployment changes the above economic dynamics and assumptions. Having flourished in Houston when the energy sector was experiencing immense growth, housing developers in Houston are now feeling the heat of the falling oil prices in America. Indeed, the demand for offices is on a downward trend in Houston subject to the anxiety, uncertainty, and limits derived from the oil prices that have been falling since June 2014 (Brown 1). Developers planned and started many of the buildings in Houston in 2014 when there were high and stable oil prices (Brown 1). Indeed, by the end of last year, construction in many buildings was on an advanced stage raising questions on the uncertain demand for these building units. The housing industry has created many jobs for the builders at building sites and manufacturers in concrete and steel companies. However, the announcement by energy companies to fire about 23,000 employees with a significant number coming from Houston demeans the imminent supply of office units in Houston (Brown 1).

Stem Cell Research - Sclerosis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Stem Cell Research - Sclerosis - Essay Example Fox and the hundreds of thousands of others who fight such ailments will not have to do so. Unfortunately, as is the case with everything else in life, this situation too proves to show a lack of 100% certainty. We as human beings just tend to find ourselves without the luxury of having that. In return, it is left up to instinct and brainpower to guide us towards answers to problems. The purpose of this essay is to give a brief summation of what stem cell research is as well as what it means for the scientific community and what they hope to accomplish. Also the verbal battle it has caused to ensue between entities ranging from a scientific lab to the White House, and going all the way to Rome and the Vatican. It is with this kind of heated verbal exchange that real reform can result. According to the official resource for the National Institute of Health, stem cells and their importance are described as: "Stem cells have two important characteristics that distinguish them from other types of cells. First, they are unspecialized cells that renew themselves for long periods through cell division. The second is that under certain physiologic or experimental conditions, they can be induced to become cells with special functions such as the beating cells of the heart muscle or the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas," It goes on to say, "Scientists primarily work with two kinds of stem cells from animals and humans: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells, which have different functions and characteristics that will be explained in this document. Scientists discovered ways to obtain or derive stem cells from early mouse embryos more than 20 years ago. Many years of detailed study of the biology of mouse stem cells led to the discovery, in 1998, of how to isolate stem cells from human embryos and grow the cells in the laboratory. These are called human embryonic stem cells. The embryos used in these studies were created for infertility purposes through in vitr o fertilization procedures and when they were no longer needed for that purpose, they were donated for research with the informed consent of the donor". Based on the information provided in these quotes, it can strongly be assessed that these stem cells do in fact play a major role in assisting healthcare systems in finding cures. As this is an issue which greatly impacts the overall human society, greater knowledge of stem cells, as well as what they can do, is imperative in the process of coming to clear, and concise decisions for how best to proceed forward in the matter. As discussed earlier, this research is hoped to be the magical key in terms of finding a cure of such ailments as Parkinson's disease. To best understand the benefits of stem cell research, it is also necessary to understand the possible cause and long term symptoms of the ailments which it may help to alleviate, such as Parkinson's disease. The official resource for the National Institute of Health addresses this as well. Based on their perspective, Parkinson's disease (PD) is a very common neurodegenerative disorder that affects more than 2% of the population over 65 years of age. PD is caused by a progressive degeneration and loss of dopamine (DA)-producing neurons, which leads to tremor, rigidity, and hyperkinesias (abnormally decreased mobility). It is thought that PD may be the first disease to be amenable to treatment