Closing Case Study One

Closing Case Study One Information Systems in Enterprise (ISYS – 3001 – 3) Group B Participants-Matthew Gilliss, Arlene Gulley, Renee Hicks Kemara Mcintyre, and Andrew Ginn Walden University February 10, 2013 Abstract This will be a paper that has been a group effort with Matthew Gilliss (organizer and website account setup, homepage and student webpage template), Arlene Gulley (editor/poster), Renee Hicks (compiler), Kemara Mcintyre (summary), and Andrew Ginn (editor). The URL of our website is http://faboulousgroupb. weebly. com/.Our goal will be to respond to specifics questions in regards to two case studies; the first, being Ben & Jerry and secondly, Bigelow Teas. Ben & Jerry’s produce 190,000 pints of ice cream and frozen yogurt daily. It has 50,000 stores in the United States and 12 other countries. The company uses an Oracle database and BusinessObjects for tracking of business operations. They perform various transformation steps to organize long term go als for the business. It prepares strategies to stay line with technological advances.They have applied this technology to storing and manufacturing ice cream with energy efficiency warehouses. This new strategy enhances customer satisfaction, minimize inventory, and reduce manpower. (Haag & Cummings, 2009). Closing Case Study One Question #1 To redesign Ben & Jerry’s data warehouse the dimensions of information include frozen yogurt, ice cream, merchandise, locations, sales and shipping. This company should track all the different types of ice cream and yogurt flavors.They should also monitor these areas with the highest and lowest sales to make adjustments to save money. There should be information gathered on the merchandise being sold by Ben & Jerry. Ben & Jerry will monitor sales from stores in other locations ensuring the right merchandise is being shipped to the right location. The different dimensions are merchandise and locations. (Haag & Cummings, 2009). Question #2 When looking at Ben & Jerry’s ice cream stores, they would have to have a record of the different types of ice cream and frozen yogurt they offer.Along with the different products they would have to be able to track individual sales, the dates of those sales, and the store locations where the sale was made. When looking at primary keys you can see that the store number, order number and truck number could be primary keys. When looking for foreign keys to connect with the primary keys, you can see that store numbers, truck numbers, and order numbers can all be seen to be foreign keys. These are important because they would allow for Ben & Jerry’s to locate the exact order files of what they shipped, who drove it and where it went.Also then they could take the primary keys even farther and connect directly to the store and get other feedback that is directly correlated with the store. (Haag & Cummings, 2009). Question #3 Because of their familiarity of Microsoft Excel, it was easier to learn Business Objects and they were more inclined to learn the new way of using the Business Objects. They were able to substitute different functions on the Business Objects with Microsoft Excel, which created a more familiarity to them and they were able to be more comfortable with the task.Because of the area of their job, they were required to use spreadsheets, rather than using word processing software. (Haag & Cummings, 2009). Question #4 Bigelow Teas could continue to use Business Objects and they cooperate with each other so they can better understand its in-house and outside strengths and weaknesses. Bigelow Teas should make sure that their suppliers and resellers are part of the information partnership. This would allow the suppliers and resellers to be in contact with each other and to make the necessary adjustments or changes that are required. Haag & Cummings, 2009). According to (Haag & Cummings, 2009), â€Å"business intelligence is collective infor mation –about customers, your competitors, your partners, your competitive environments, and your own internal operations—that gives you the ability to make effective, important, and often strategic business decisions. † (p. 87). Bigelow Teas’ would not want their suppliers or resellers to know about their strategic business decisions. (Haag & Cummings, 2009).There might be a person who is a supplier or reseller who might take this information and use it for themselves and/or sell the information for a profit. The suppliers and resellers should only have information that will help Bigelow Teas in regards to implementing cost reduction, and be helpful with their resources. Question #5 Neil Hastie’s belief that most organizations decision making is a lot of trial by error. In a sense that could be true, but good decision making comes from the top and makes it way down.Let’s not lose sight on what decision making really is; finding a logical cho ice of decisions from available options. A CEO or even management of any kind of organization would have to be good at decision making. If you were to turn Neil’s statement about decision making into a positive one, then one would agree that an organization or whoever is running the organization would need to keep an open-mind. Keeping an open-mind would include training, presenting timely information and everyone’s wide assortment of data-mining tools. Haag & Cummings, 2009). Conclusion This assignment was both a learning experience and growing experience. As a group we were able to come together and tackle our case study and the creation of our group webpage. We were able to look at the information about the two companies and use the knowledge that we have acquired with the class discussions and assignments and come up with responses to each question. We were able to: determine what tables and files that Ben & Jerry’s should use and what primary and foreign ke ys they should use.With Bigelow Teas we took a look at personal productivity software tools and how best they could open up business intelligence with buyers and suppliers. Also we were able to take a general statement made and turn it into one that could be used in the everyday business world. Overall, this experience allowed the members of the group to get closer looks into different industries and allowed the group members to use the information that we have acquired so far in our studies. Reference Haag, S. , & Cummings, M. (2009). Information Systems Essentials. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Economics Of The Movie Business Essay

In this section I provide a review of the movie business with an emphasis on how blind bidding evolved from the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1930‘s and 1940‘s until its demise in the beginning of 1986. For many decades blind bidding was not a concern for theater owners, because it was not the dominant method by which films were licensed. During the Golden Age, block booking was the way a majority of films were licensed. With this method, high and low quality films were sold together in a bundle to theater owners, without an opportunity to trade screen them. The landmark United States vs. Paramount et al. decision by the Supreme Court in 1948 altered the motion picture distribution system. The five major movie companies that produced, distributed, and operated theaters as well as the three studios which did not own theaters were all found in violation of the Sherman Act for attempting to monopolize the industry. One of the major consequences of this decision was the elimination of block booking. After the Paramount decision, films were licensed by product splitting, open bidding, or blind bidding. Product splitting was when theater owners decided among themselves which one had the first opportunity to negotiate for a film with a movie studio in a given market. Open bidding referred to a situation in which theater owners had the opportunity to trade screen films before bidding. Blind bidding was used infrequently until the 1960‘s, which prompted a two-year agreement from January 1, 1969 to January 1, 1971 between the movie companies and the Department of Justice. This agreement limited 1 9 the number of films which could be blind bid to three per studio per year. The two-year agreement was renewed twice, which limited the practice through January 1, 1975. However, the Department of Justice revoked all restrictions limiting blind bidding after this date and the practice accelerated rapidly. Movie companies perceived blind bidding as a necessary way to finance blockbuster films, and it persisted for an eleven year period from 1975-1985. Chapter 2 LITERATURE REVIEW In this chapter, I will review the economic literature on blind bidding, exit, and natural experiments. The selected papers motivate my empirical model of the effects of blind bidding. Section 2. 1 discusses the blind bidding literature. Section 2. 2 surveys natural experiments testing the impact of a policy change. 2. 1 Blind Bidding In this section, I discuss two studies which arrive at different conclusions about the impact of the anti-blind bidding laws. Although neither study addresses explicitly the issues of exit, admission prices, and delays, the empirical findings are relevent. Blumenthal (1998) finds that average bids are lower for blind bid theater owners and as a result their returns are higher. However, since the returns of blind bid theater owners are more volatile, she concludes risk averse theater owners are worse off under blind bidding, legitimizing their efforts to pass anti-blind bidding laws. Forsythe, Isaac, and Palfrey (1989) model the behavior of n buyers and one seller in a sealed-bid, first-price auction. They conclude that the anti-blind bidding laws were unnecessary as buyers would learn that a seller withholds information when it is unfavorable. A seller would abandon blind bidding once all buyers learn that withholding information was in the seller‘s best interest and not theirs. I find that practices in the motion picture industry were not consistent with this prediction, because the movie companies trade screened unfavorable films and blind bid highly anticipated films. Blumenthal (1988) justifies theater owners‘ rationale to seek relief from blind bidding by showing that they experience lower utility in blind-bid environments than preview ones. The author uses generalized least squares to test three hypotheses about film bids or film returns for blind-bid and trade screen theaters using the rental terms of 18 films from a national theater chain in 1982. First, she hypothesizes that theater owners in blind-bid states submit lower bids, because in accordance with economic theory, bidders reduce their bids on average in an auction where there is uncertainty about the value of a product. Second, blind-bid theater owners place a greater emphasis on the limited information contained in a bid letter. Therefore, bid letter information will explain a larger percentage of the variance for bids in blind-bid theaters than trade screen ones. Third, mean returns are higher for blind-bid theaters, but they experience greater volatility than trade screen theaters. Depending on the hypothesis in question, the dependent variable is either film bids or film returns. 1 She includes film budget and saturation as predictor variables, since higher budgeted films and wider released films would be an indication of larger expected returns by the movie companies. Other independent variables include theater operating expenses, an indicator variable signifying theaters in blind bid states, and the number of movie theaters located within the metropolitan area. The Film returns are the box office revenue less the price paid for the film. blind bidding dummy variable was interacted with film budget and saturation to test the second hypothesis. The author finds theater owners submit lower average bids in blind bidding states than in trade screen ones. With regards to the second hypothesis, blindbid theater owners place a greater emphasis on bid letter information: for every million dollar increase in film cost, blind bid theater owners bid an additional $8,900 while trade screen ones bid an additional $5,100. Regarding the final hypothesis, Blumenthal models utility as a function of the mean and variance of film returns which measures the degree of risk aversion among theater owners. In terms of utility, risk averse theater owners are worse off, because higher revenues are accompanied by greater volatility. Theater owners are unable to reduce their bids enough to offset the extra volatility because of competitive forces. Using a laboratory experiment in several markets, Forsythe, Isaac, and Palfrey (1989) consider the anti-blind bidding laws unnecessary. They find an equilibrium where buyers learn to assume the worst about a seller‘s decision to blind bid items causing most items to no longer be blind bid. The game has a single seller versus n buyers, and the former must decide whether to reveal information about the item to all buyers. A seller reveals his information to buyers if the news is favorable, and does not if it is unfavorable. A seller obtains the highest bid if he reveals his information. The auctioned item has both a common value and private value component. After a seller decides whether to reveal their information, the item is auctioned in a sealed bid first price auction. Several possible Nash equilibria are considered in the game, but the authors focus on the ? assume the worst? solution, because all other outcomes cannot be obtained so long as the auction follows a sequential equilibrium. This type of equilibrium occurs when buyers make conjectures about a seller‘s motives when they adopt a strategy which is consistent with the seller‘s best interest. To obtain an ?assume the worst? solution, a seller continues to blind bid items as long as there is at least one unsophisticated buyer: a buyer who bids the average of all quality levels, rather than assumes the worst about no revealed information. With the passage of time, buyers learn that when a seller withholds information it is not in their interest, forcing sellers to reveal information for lower quality levels. Eventually, the market reaches a point where no items are blind bid. In five of the six blind-bid auctions, the average winning bid declines over time. Although blind bidding is not eliminated by the conclusion of the auctions, it is practiced less frequently and buyers dramatically lower their expectations for the value for the auctioned item. The authors conclude the anti-blind bidding laws are unnecessary, because with the passage of time, blind bidding would have been phased out completely. These two studies offer two important insights. Although Blumenthal (1988) concludes theater owners are worse off under blind bidding, she does not consider that theater owners can diversify the risk of films by converting to the multiplex theater. In this manner, theater owners can pool the risk of mediocre and blockbuster films rather than run the risk of exhibiting a single inferior film. Regarding Forsythe, Isaac and Palfrey (1989), if the movie companies did not reveal their information for blockbuster films, they were not obtaining the highest auction price. Since the movie companies must have acted in their own self-interest, I assume blind bidding provided some cost benefits which outweighed the decision to trade screen films. 2. 2 Natural Experiments In this section, I discuss three natural experiments which provide a reference for testing the effects of the anti-blind bidding laws on exit, admission prices, and delays. Natural experiments are often used to examine the effect of a policy change. A researcher examines two groups which have similar characteristics, one of which is exposed to a policy change while the other is not, and observes how the outcome differs between the two. Natural experiments are called quasi experiments, because the researcher has little or no control over the observed situation, which is in contrast to social experiments where researchers implement proper experimental design. Card and Krueger (1994), Milyo and Wardfogel (1999), and Bergen, Levy, Rubin and Zeliger (2004), conduct natural experiments assuming an exogenous change in a law. All three natural experiments assume the treatment effect is not correlated with the outcome variable and any uncontrolled independent variables correlated with it. Card and Krueger (1994) investigate the effect on employment of a 50 cent raise in the New Jersey minimum wage in the fast food industry. Milyo and Wardfogel (1999) examine the impact on prices of advertised and non-advertised items after a ban on liquor advertising is lifted in Rhode Island. The ban permitted retailers to charge higher prices which was considered especially helpful to small ? mom and pop‘ retailers that could not offer the price discounts of larger chains. Bergen et tal. (2004) investigate the net effects of item pricing laws for supermarkets which require that retailers label every item individually with a price tag to help ensure that consumers are not overcharged at the register. The three empirical studies conduct natural experiments in similar geographic regions. Card and Krueger (1994) compare the neighboring states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The authors use descriptive statistics from their data to argue that wages, prices, and employment measures are similar. For example, the mean starting wage for New Jersey and Pennsylvania is $4. 61 and $4. 63, respectively, before New Jersey‘s increase in the minimum wage. Bergen et tal. (2004) target a narrow tri-state region of Clifton, New Jersey, Tarrytown, New York, and Greenwich, Connecticut to study the impact of item pricing laws. Close geographic proximity is one factor for the selected towns as the greatest distance that separates the towns is only approximately 50 miles. In addition, these towns have similar population size, population densities, and access to quality public schools. Milyo and Wardforgel (1999) follow a similar strategy to Bergen et tal. (2004) by comparing adjacent states but narrowing their focus to three areas: Southern Rhode Island, Northwest Boston suburbs, and the Rhode Island and Massachusetts border. In addition, the three studies utilize multiple control groups which provide the benefit of observing how sensitive the results are to different controls. Card and Krueger (1994) compare full-time-equivalent employment (FTE) for New Jersey and Pennsylvania, but also compare FTE in New Jersey fast food stores which already paid at least the new minimum wage to those in New Jersey that paid under the new minimum. Milyo and Wardforgel (1999) compare retail prices in Rhode Island with those from Massachusetts, but also use Rhode Island wholesale prices as a second control. Bergen et tal. (2004) compare prices in New Jersey with two controls New York and Connecticut both of which have item pricing laws. However, Connecticut exempted stores from the law which installed the electronic shelf label system because it ensured that the price at the shelf was the same as the price at the register. Therefore, the authors used Connecticut stores to observe how prices differed among non item pricing law stores and those which used the electronic shelf system. I adopt the idea of multiple control groups when I examine the exit of theater owners. The Card and Krueger (1994) study has additional significance to my study because they use the difference-in-differences estimator, and I adopt this method for the analysis of admission prices. The primary benefit of this method is that the researcher is able to cancel out other industry factors which are common to the treatment and control group through second differencing. Therefore, the difference-in-differences measures the impact on the outcome solely from the policy change. These empirical studies provided some important insights on how to conduct my natural experiment on the anti-blind bidding laws. When selecting treatment and control groups, it is important to select homogenous regions so that there is a believable rationale that the control group will behave like the treatment group. Use of multiple control groups is encouraged in natural experiments to test the robustness of the results. In addition, I follow the method of Card and Krueger (1994) and use the difference-in-differences estimator to examine admission prices. Chapter 3 ADMISSION PRICES In this paper, I investigate the claims made by theater owners and movie companies about the impact of the anti-blind bidding laws on admission prices. I examine the impact of the strictest laws of Ohio and Pennsylvania, which eliminated blind bidding and placed severe restrictions on guarantees. I selected these states, because they present the strongest case for the laws having an impact according to theater owners‘ claims. I compare average admission prices in these states before and after the passage of the law with prices in two states that never had such a law. For Ohio, I compare average prices in Cleveland with those in Detroit. For Pennsylvania, I compare average prices from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with those of Detroit. 1 Using the difference-in-differences estimator, I find some evidence that the laws raised admission prices. Theater owners argued that admission prices were higher under blind bidding, because they had to increase their prices to cover losses incurred from inferior films and to compensate for the guarantees they paid. According to theater owners, the anti-blind bidding laws would eliminate the burden of blind bidding, and in some states also guarantees, so that lower prices would follow. Movie companies claimed initially considered comparing average Philadelphia and Pittsburgh prices with those in Manhattan. I decided against using New York City as a control because prices were consistently higher there than in any other market because of the high cost of living in the area. The laws would have the opposite effect for two reasons. Theater owners would identify blockbuster films after viewing the preview, and a bidding war would ensue. Since film rentals were bid higher, this cost would be passed along to moviegoers. In addition, movie companies claimed that the anti-blind bidding laws would cause delays in the release of films, and this cost would be passed on to consumers. 3. 1 Model I consider the claims of theater owners and movie companies about admission prices to be invalid because of what is universally accepted in economics about the demand for factor inputs. The demand for a factor input (e. g. labor or capital) is a derived demand in that demand for the factor and its price is contingent upon the demand for the final product. For example, the demand for movie stars depends not only on their current salaries, but also the total tickets sold. Movie stars would be unable to command high salaries if there is not an overwhelming demand for motion pictures. Therefore, prices charged at movie theaters, an input, are determined by demand. On the other hand, admission prices are likely to differ across cities due to costs outside the control of the industry. For example, theater owners in New York City had higher rent or mortgage payments than those in Atlanta, Georgia because of the relatively high cost of land. Another factor that varied regionally was the price of labor. Theater owners facing higher minimum wages had greater variable costs than those in states with lower minimums. I expect the anti-blind bidding laws to influence admission prices if they impacted marginal costs, or if they restrict the supply of films. Although the laws did not affect theater owners‘ marginal costs, they may have impacted the movie companies‘. Additional expenses were incurred because sales prints had to be specially made for the purposes of trade screening. This cost was not present in blind bidding states. 3. 2 Data and Methods I obtained the data from Variety, which reported theaters from 15 cities on a weekly basis. Variety sampled most cities once a month with about 10 to 20 theaters per sample. The same theaters were generally sampled, but over longer periods of time, the sample changed as some exited the marketplace. I sampled each city quarterly. On occasion, Variety reported theaters which charged one dollar for admission. These observations were dropped from the data set, since they were second-run movie houses. Table 5. 1 shows the descriptive statistics for the data. Any city sampled was a representation of the metropolitan area. Therefore, the sample contained some downtown theaters as well as many suburban theaters. For example, Detroit included downtown theaters such as the Adams, Fox, and Renaissance, and theaters such as the Dearborn, Americana West, and Macomb Mall from surrounding areas of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. During the first year that the ant-blind bidding laws were in effect, it is not clear which films were blind bid. This is because theater owners bid on films six months to one year in advance of the release date. For example, Ohio enacted the law in October 1978, but theater owners may have been bidding for films to be released in ___________________________________________________________________________ 2 According to Barry Reardon, distributional president at Warner Brothers, the additional expense to trade screen amounted to approximately $50,000 per film in Jim Robbins, ? Distribs Adapt to AntiBlind Bid Laws? , Variety, July 3, 1985, 80. 3 A sales print is a reel of film with the movie preview. April 1979 or as far away as October 1979. The Pennsylvania law became effective in May 1980. At that date, theater owners would bid on films for November 1980 up to May 1981. I address the lagged effect of an anti-blind bidding law on films by examining average admission prices using two different treatment and control groups: 1) two years before and after a law, and 2) three years before and after a law. Table 3. 1 provides the descriptive statistics for these variables. For the Ohio law, I calculate average prices in 1976 and 1977 (pre-treatment group) and average prices in 1979 and 1980 (post-treatment group). This measures the immediate effect of the law even though some of the admission prices in 1979 will be for films which were not trade screened. For three years before and after the law, I use average prices in 1975 and 1976 compared with those in 1980 and 1981. In this case, all films in the posttreatment group were trade screened. For the Pennsylvania law, I use the same procedure for selecting the pre and post-treatment groups. I consider the passage of the Ohio and Pennsylvania laws a natural experiment, and I proceed to measure the impact of a law by using the difference-indifferences estimator defined as the change in the population means from the treatment group less the change in population means from the control group. This method has an advantage over comparing the means of the treatment and control group after the laws because the latter assumes the treatment and control groups are identical in every way except for the law. The difference-in-differences estimator makes the weaker assumption that regardless of the overall factors affecting admission prices, they affected the treatment and control groups in the same way. In order to understand the meaning of the difference-in-differences estimator, consider the interpretation of first differences between the treatment and control. The change in price in the control group informs us how prices would have behaved in the treatment group if the law was not implemented. The change in price in the treatment group tells us how the average price behaved given the enactment of the law. By taking second differences, I obtain the difference-in-differences estimator which measures the effect of the law by taking the difference in what happened with average prices compared with what would have happened to them. 3. 3 Cleveland and Detroit Figure 5. 1 displays average admission prices for Cleveland and Detroit from 1975-1981. Detroit‘s average prices remain consistently above Cleveland‘s by approximately 59 cents throughout the observed period. I examine average admission prices over time to see if the assumption that overall factors that affect them are the same for both treatment and control groups. Unobserved factors are more likely to be different if the trend in prices diverges before the treatment effect. Average admission prices for Cleveland and Detroit remain relatively steady before the implementation of the law implying the assumption of a common trend appears valid. The results for the difference-in-differences estimator are shown in Table 3. 2. Comparing average prices two years before and after the law, I find Detroit‘s prices increase by seven cents and Cleveland‘s rise by 16 cents. The seven cent increase in average prices represents how Cleveland prices would have behaved in the absence of the anti-blind bidding law. After taking second differences, I find that the Ohio law significantly increases Cleveland‘s average prices by nine cents. Examining admission prices three years before and after the law does not produce the same conclusion. Cleveland‘s and Detroit‘s average prices increase by 20 and 21 cents, respectively. The difference-in-differences estimator shows that Cleveland‘s average prices are significantly lower by one cent. 3. 4 Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Detroit Figure 5. 2 shows average prices in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh versus those in Detroit from 1977-1983. For the first two years, prices are nearly identical. In 1979 and 1980, the difference in average prices remains relatively steady at 10 and 15 cents, respectively. Beyond 1980, the difference in average prices increases, ranging from 36 to 41 cents. The assumption that factors have a common trend appears satisfied because the difference in average prices maintains itself in 1979 and 1980. The first and second differences for average admission prices are shown in Table 5. 3. Comparing average prices two years before and after the Pennsylvania law, I find Philadelphia‘s and Pittsburgh‘s average prices rise by 43 cents while Detroit‘s increases by 11 cents. Detroit‘s prices are assumed to be behaving like Philadelphia‘s and Pittsburgh‘s if Pennsylvania had never passed an anti-blind bidding law. The difference-in-differences estimator shows that the law results in a statistically significant 32 cent increase in admission prices. Comparing three years before and after the law produces a similar result, the law causes higher average admission prices for Philadelphia and Pittsburgh by 53 cents. 3. 5 Conclusion I examine the impact of the Ohio and Pennsylvania anti-blind bidding laws on admission prices and I find higher admission prices in Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh in three of the four difference-in-differences estimators. The impact of the Pennsylvania law is more robust than the Ohio law because in one case, average admission prices decline by one cent. A potential explanation for higher average admission prices is that the movie companies‘ marginal costs increased in anti-blind bidding states, because sales prints had to be produced exclusively for trade screening films.

Hijab and Islam Essay

There are so many topics in Islam that fascinate me but the one that always inquires my desire to learn more is the topic of women and Hijab. There are many views with regard to Hijab in Islam from the Muslims themselves. The issue of Hijab can be analyzed from several perspectives. Firstly, the Islamic view on Hijab, the importance and benefits to society at large and the world view of Hijab and the women wearing Hijab living in the Western hemisphere. However, some Muslim women believe that the wearing of the Hijab is the right and the choice of the Muslim woman. They are not forced or pressured to wear a veil and they are not forced to cover their hair when they are around men that are not their Mahrrams (men that they are able to marry). Muslim women believe that Allah has ordered all females after the age of puberty to wear the Hijab and that it is an obligation from the Lord. As any other obligation in Islam such as praying five times a day, fasting in the month of Ramadan, pilgrimage to Mecca, wearing the Hijab also is compulsory on all women. There are no excuses or allowances for certain women to wear or not to wear. The issue of choice is not entertained by these Muslim feminists. Sometimes what happens is that when a woman decides to wear the Hijab, there are members in the family that disagree. The main reason for disagreeing is the fact that these family members feel that these women will be tormented in society and that they will not find a good job or husband. Little do these ignorant people know. I say to them, please have faith in the All Merciful and All Knower, he will take care of those that strive to get closer to him. Allah enjoins on His believers tasks that He knows are not beyond their capacity a nd endurance. He knows that a strong and dedicated Muslim woman will put all her effort in trying to wear the Hijab and will try and support herself in this wonderful religious act that she alone chose for the only purpose of pleasing her Lord. Every Muslim woman wearing or starting to wear the Hijab should equip herself with the right information in order to answer to inquisitive questions from non-Muslims. Often times many Muslim sisters in Islam are not properly encouraged once they begin to observe the requirements of Hijab. It may be that a sister has been obliged to wear the Hijab without truly pondering over its superiority. Perhaps she has reached the age of puberty and her Wali (guardian) has instructed her to wear it. Perhaps she has  recently reverted to the Islamic religion and her Muslim friends have informed her of the importance of Hijab or even more common is perhaps her husband has commanded her to wear Hijab. What ever the issue or reason behind this endeavor, a Muslim woman who does not truly know the superiority of Hijab will always remain jealous of the women of the Kuffar. Why? Because they see these misguided women looking beautiful for all to see. Hence, the Muslim woman then compares herself to that woman which causes her to feel ashamed of her own Hijab. Therefore, Muslim women need to encourage each other and remind each other that they are indeed beautiful and above all protected from the evil eyes of the Non-Muslims and particularly the men. These Muslim women need to remember that they are struggling but that they are beautiful and Allah will reward them in this world and also more importantly in the Hereafter. However, to the West, the Muslim women wearing Hijab, to them, is a sign of oppression. The West believes that the religion is forcing the women to lose their identity and their independence by having them cover up and dress modestly and beautifully. But we, as Muslims, say that the women are liberated and gain even more independence by wearing the Hijab and by respecting their religious duties. Women in Islam can work, study, start a business and perform or engage in any work or leisure activity while beautifully dressed in her Hijab. Therefore, Muslims don’t need pity from any one; they don’t need understanding or a should to cry on simply because they are independent, happy, strong women that chose to follow the teachings of their religion. Because of this decision, the non-Muslims should at least respect that much in these women and give them credit of being steadfast and determined. To promote the overall well being of the Muslim woman, some contemporary educators and scholars such as Qasim Amin, a pro-Western Egyptian journalist, lawyer, and politician in the last century wanted to bring Egyptian society from a state of â€Å"backwardness† into a state of â€Å"civilization† and modernity. He strongly objected to the hijab. He said that it is because of the Hijab that Muslim women are ignorant, superstitious, anemia and even premature aging of the Muslim women. He believed women should get away from this backward form of living and become modernized by removing the hijab and conforming to society at large. He  insisted as much on the woman’s right to mobility outside the home as he did on the adaptation of shar’i Islamic garb, which would leave a woman’s face and hands uncovered. Women’s domestic seclusion and the face veil, then, were primary points in Amin’s attack on what was wrong with the Egyptian social system of his time. Muhammad Abdu tried to restore the dignity to Muslim woman by way of educational and some legal reforms, the modernist blueprint of women’s Islamic rights eventually also included the right to work, vote, and stand for election-that is, full participation in public life. He separated the forever-valid-as-stipulated laws of ‘ibadat (religious observances) from the more time-specific mu’amalat (social transactions) in Qur’an and shari’a, which latter included the Hadith as one of its sources. Because modern Islamic societies differ from the seventh-century umma, time-specific laws are thus no longer literally applicable but need a fresh legal interpretation (ijtihad). What matters is to safeguard â€Å"the public good† (al-maslah al’-amma) in terms of Muslim communal morality and spirituality. Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali in his book Sunna Between Fiqh and Hadith said that those who claim that women’s reform is conditioned by wearing the veil are lying to God and his Prophet. He expresses the opinion that the contemptuous view of women has been passed on from the first jahiliya (the Pre-Islamic period) to the Islamic society. Al-Ghazali’s argument is that Islam has made it compulsory on women not to cover their faces during the pilgrimage and prayers, the two important pillars of Islam. If women in these two very important rituals do not cover their faces, then how is it that they are to do so for other mundane things? He went on to say that all the aspects of Islam that emphasizes that women stay home and not be part of society are the remains of the time of ignorance or ‘Asr Al-Jahiliya. Al-Ghazali says that during the time of the Prophet women were equals at home, in the mosques and on the battlefield. Today true Islam is being destroyed in the name of Islam. Another Muslim scholar, Abd al-Halim Abu Shiqa wrote a scholarly study of women in Islam entitled Tahrir al-mara’a fi ‘asr al-risalah: (The Emancipation of Women during the Time of the Prophet). In his study, Abu Shiqa agrees with al-Ghazali about the discrepancy between the status of women during the time of the Prophet Muhammad and the status  of women today. He says that Islamists have made up sayings which they attributed to the Prophet such as ‘women are lacking both intellect and religion’ and in many cases they brought sayings, which are not reliable at all and promoted them among Muslims until they became part of the Islamic culture. Abu Shiqa also commented that in many third world countries, sayings of the Prophet are fabricated in order to provide support and evidence that are important to that particular society. He argues that it is the Islamic duty of women to participate in public life and in spreading good (Sura Tauba, Aya 71). He also agrees with Zin al-Din and Ghazali that hijab was for the wives of the Prophet and that it was against Islam for women to imitate the wives of the Prophet. If women were to be totally covered, why did God ask both men and women to lower their gaze? (Sura al-Nur, Ayath 30-31). Islam is a religion that believes in fairness and justice. Islam does not only look at women as the ones that need to be protected, but Islam makes it compulsory that the men also lower their gaze when walking near Muslim women that are not their mahrams. This also enjoins on the men to respect the women and to treat them with dignity and respect. Islam’s desire is to protect women from bad situations such as female infanticide, unlimited polygamy etc and to uphold the dignity and respect for the Muslim woman. However the main purpose is to establish the equality of man and woman in the sight of God who created them both in like manner, from like substance, and gave to both the equal right to develop their own potentialities. Thus Islam is a religion that wants all the Muslims, men and women, to become free, rational people. Thus the Qur’an liberated the women from the indignity of being sex objects into persons. In turn the Qur’an asks the women that they should behave with dignity and decorum befitting a secure, Self-respecting and self-aware human being rather than an insecure female who felt that her survival depends on her ability to attract or cajole those men who were interested not in her personality but only in her sexuality. One of the verses in the Qur’an protects a woman’s fundamental rights. Aya 59 from Sura al-Ahzab reads: O Prophet! Tell Thy wives And daughters, and the Believing women, that They should cast their Outer garments over Their Persons (when outside): That they should be known (As such) and not Molested. Although this verse is directed in the first place to the Prophet’s â€Å"wives and daughters†, there is a reference also to â€Å"the  believing women† hence it is generally understood by Muslim societies as applying to all Muslim women. According to the Qur’an the reason why Muslim women should wear an outer garment when going out of their houses is so that they may be recognized as â€Å"believing† Muslim women and differentiated from streetwalkers for whom sexual harassment is an occupational hazard. The purpose of this verse was not to confine women to their houses but to make it safe for them to go about their daily business without attracting unwholesome attention. By wearing the outer garment a â€Å"believing† Muslim woman could be distinguished from the others. In societies where there is no danger of â€Å"believing† Muslim being confused with the others or in which â€Å"the outer garment† is unable to function as a mark of identification for â€Å"believing† Muslim women, the mere wearing of â€Å"the outer garment† would not fulfill the true objective of the Qur’anic decree. In conclusion, it is very clear that Islam is a religion of just, peace and fairness to all the believers. Hijab in Islam is compulsory and is required for all women after the age of puberty. It is a scarf or head gear that is a symbol of Islam but is also a symbol, to Muslim women, of independence, respect and freedom to live in any society. Islam places women on a pedestal and protects their rights and position in Islam. Women are not forced to cover nor are they second-class citizens in Islam. However, Muslims associate the hijab with all that is positive, strong and respectful.

The Apollo Program Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Apollo Program - Research Paper Example Subsequent to the takeoff of Sputnik II wherein Laika, the first animal to orbit the Earth, was on board, then President Eisenhower informed the country that he was making ‘Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology,’ a new position in the government. This would play a big role in the formation of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), the administration that would send the first men to the Moon in 1969. President Eisenhower took the first step to strengthen the objective of launching men to the Moon. John F. Kennedy who took the place of presidency after Eisenhower thrust those objectives even further. It took only several months for Kennedy to convene a special session of Congress to deliver his speech in which he necessitated America to launch the first moon landing in history by the decade’s end. After a couple of years, in 1967, the United States of America has just planned Project Apollo also known as the Apollo program and Apollo I would be its very first mission. By January, tests was started to be able to know how the craft would operate and function on its interior power, and just as with the other tests that were conducted on previous crafts, numerous problems and complications came to view. However, in spite of all the problems that came out, the test was still pushed through that same day. By night, only eleven minutes into the start of the mission, an ignition occurred within the walls of the craft cabin and all the astronauts that were on board the craft yelled for help and assistance. Unfortunately, everything was too late. The rest had already evacuated, leaving the astronauts inside, trapped. After the incident, NASA discovered that the men were al severely burnt but had died by inhaling toxic fumes caused by the burning of artificial materials inside. In a matter of eight seconds, three heroes died. Indeed, all were shock at the terrible tragedy that ensued. â€Å"With the first manned, e arth-orbit Apollo flight scheduled for mid-February, all seemed on target to make Kennedy’s vision a reality. But one evening late in January, that soaring optimism suddenly, terribly feel to Earth.† (Chaikin 11) The rebuilding of Apollo immediately followed. Apollos 4, 5 and 6 were launched earlier testing the launching capabilities of an unmanned mission. However, after almost a year since the combustion of Apollo I, NASA was prepared to restart all over again and try once more. This time, Schirra headed Apollo 7. He nicknamed this craft "Wally’s Ship" to make it known to all that he was in charge and that all courses of action taken are all approved by him. According to NASA, on October 11, 1967, the craft was launched and everything went smooth, almost perfect except for a slight insignificant delay. Apollo 7 was able to orbit around the Earth for an hour and a half. Schirra told Mission Control that was located in Houston, Texas, that the entire crew was â⠂¬Å"having a ball.† This mission indeed had put the Apollo program back on its feet after the tragedy that broke the hearts of the people from Apollo I. Apollo 7 came back to Earth successfully after almost two weeks. This mission was able to complete every single goal they had and it was known to be a national success. As the United States was celebrating its accomplishment that helped them recover from Apollo I, the Russians, who were gathering funds for a

Theories of Motivation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Theories of Motivation - Essay Example The fifth level is of self actualization. Self actualization consists of fulfillment of goals and creativity. Need for fulfillment of goals is because one has this, he or she gains the desire to fully realize his or herself and become the best he or she is capable of becoming. the creativity part is needed for one to be creative about something then through this he or she gets dedicated and faces challenges which he or she enjoy and after accomplishing the results, he or she feels very enthusiastic about the deed and this motivates them1. Next is level four of needs which is on self esteem. Under self esteem, there is self respect and acceptance and brain power. Self respect and acceptance is all about prestige, reputation and recognition from others. This contains the desire of wanting to feel important, strong and significant and once one accepts him or herself the way they are, they tend to proud to stand with other people proudly. Brainpower is all about one displaying his or her talents and skills. With this, one gets attention from others which he or she appreciates as well as gaining self confidence2. Level three is on Love and Relationships which is inclusive of communication and response as well as validation. Communication and response is about having the desire to be loved and to love as well as have a sense of affection and belonging. Through this, one is able to communicate his or her inner feelings on love and affection to the party concerned. Validation is about joining various clubs and groups, being able to talk to others, contributing to society, marrying and having a family. With this, one is able to live life fully with family and friends and have a very satisfying life. Level two is family and work. Under this lies a social safety and security and survival skill. Social safety and security is all about the need to be safe from physical and psychological harm in ones daily life. When one is assured of his or her present safety, they will alw ays have trust in a safe future3. Survival skills are about working , saving for the future, improving skills and talents and wanting to be organized world. When one thinks about his or her future he or she gains the motivation to work very hard in life. Level one is all about one’s body. Under the body there is physical safety and survival skills again4. Physical safety and security is all about the need and enthusiasm one has of staying alive. This includes ensuring one has enough food, air and water to survive. About the survival skills it is all about eating, sleeping, taking care of bodily needs and being free from pain. The basis and value of this theory in understanding human motivation is the fact that human beings have lower needs as well that need to be satisfied in order to be whole as humans. â€Å"In this manner, Maslow's model indicates that fundamental, lower-order needs like safety and physiological requirements have to be satisfied in order to pursue higher- level motivators along the lines of self-fulfillment. As depicted in the following hierarchical diagram, sometimes called 'Maslow's Needs Pyramid' or 'Maslow's Needs Triangle', after a need is satisfied it stops acting as a motivator and the next need one rank higher starts to motivate†

Job Design and Description Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Job Design and Description - Essay Example Job description and design are tools that are used in structuring an organization. In an organization, the first stride to acquiring the appropriate person with the required skills into the right position is to get the job right. In reference to Lussier, a good description and design of job supports a manager to effectively run the organization (242). Job description arises from job design. An organization’s management should clearly state the job description and design before embarking on recruitment. Each job should have various requirements or essentials. These inherent requirements are the responsibilities and chores that should be undertaken to get the job done. These requirements stipulate achievement of the result rather than how to achieve them. For instance, an employee is obliged to take minutes in meetings. In this case, it is essential for all employees to take minutes of all the meetings within the organization. Needless to say, it is also necessary to understand that not all the tasks in a job description are integral prerequisites. For instance, though making coffee is not an essential receptionist’s task, he or she may be required to make some coffee for guests. It almost goes without saying that the job design and description is the foundation for getting the best and brightest employees. Job Design The ability of an organization to succeed in its goals depends on how well it can identify the various activities that must occur and the quality of the individuals selected to perform them. It is the responsibility of the management to ensure that both activities and personnel are appropriate. By carefully analyzing the purpose, responsibilities and qualifications of each job, the selection process can be made more efficient and fruitful (Lussier 242). Lussier defines job design as â€Å"the process of laying out job responsibilities and duties and describing how they are to be performed† (242). Designing a job requires answeri ng such questions as â€Å"what activities are necessary to accomplish organizational goals?† Answering this simple question is apparently more complex than one might expect. It requires detailed information in order to be useful. The goal is to be as comprehensive as possible in listing the tasks. Being too brief or too broad creates more work later in the process (Lussier 243). For example, a task for a circulation service point position should be more than â€Å"check out materials.† Job design should consider organizational requirements, individual worker attributes, health, and safety. Job design is a broad concept that not only involves human relations but also job satisfaction, motivation and interpersonal issues. Organizations can best achieve their objectives by designing work that motivates workers to attain their full capability (Lussier 243). A deep understanding of job design requires an understanding of behavioral science, organizational behavior, psychol ogy, human resources management, economics, and operations management. The process by which jobs are designed includes three sub processes: job analysis, job description and job segmentation. These subprocesses are related and their relationship is very essential in job description. Long before recruiting and selecting employees begin, the organization needs to carry out an analysis (Lussier 243). This analysis consist of â€Å"observing and studying a job to determine its proper

Intercultural communication in language class of culturally diverse Essay

Intercultural communication in language class of culturally diverse students - Essay Example The aim of this paper is to present two case studies identifying two major issues that come in the management of inter-cultural learning for students (World Bank, 2010). The study will be focused on the barriers among students of various cultural backgrounds. It will also elaborate how these students as learners of English as Secondary Language (ESL) respond to the difficulties? The study is comprised of two case studies and will incorporate the case scenario, its discussion and critical evaluation for each case study and will conclude with a formal conclusion. In the English language class one third of my students were from China including Zhang Li, and the rest were mixed of various nations. In learning English language class, the Chinese students were tend to be shy, introvert and reserved. They were poor in communication other students and with instructors and not very often participate in the class discussions. All members of the Chinese group including Zhang Li used to live, st udy and play together. Their attitude showed a fear and hesitation in self-expression. They were very conscious of using English as a medium of interaction. They tend to ignore the cultural aspects of the language and often confused while using phrases and explaining contexts. Moreover, all the Chinese and in particular Zhang Li, felt chauvinistic about their own Chinese culture and were obsessed with fear of interacting with foreign culture. While in English language class their belief on ethnocentrism held them back from developing cultural relations with the American culture and language.

Video game Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Video game - Essay Example The effect on the young adult will largely depend on the intensity of addiction to video games and the levels of violence contained in such games. The paper notes that video games are good despite the few problems. Young adults may become socially isolated once they start dwelling on games every time they are not occupied with chores or studies. Teenagers may become so used to video games that they may end up forgetting some of the important schooling aspects such as homework, reading and sporting activities that make them physically and mentally fit. Time spent with family and friends would be minimal while at the same time it is not possible to them to replace their offline time in engaging with people. Rather, such time is replaced with getting used to online games on mobile devices to a point that being a loner if, not regarded as a norm by gamers. Games shape the minds of those playing; be it violence and aggressive thoughts associated with the game or fast moving cars and the adrenaline that comes with speed (Anderson, Gentile & Buckley, 2007). Violent games can be said to be directly related to the increased aggressive thoughts of gamers and a violent nature in real life. Games are interactive in nature, and some have the aim of rewarding violence which is dangerous if translated directly in real life. The gamer is in control of the violence using gamepads that make them feel powerful whereas in real life this is not the case. The gamer also has the chance to experience the violence first hand such as killings, shooting, stabbing and shooting which are considered as a vice but an achievement in the game. Other video games have the tendency of teaching teenage gamers the wrong values such as violent behavior, aggression and vengeance that are rewarded in the game (Anderson, Gentile & Buckley, 2007). Situations that are used in real life such as

Unit 1 Case Study Assignment 1 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Unit 1 Case Study Assignment 1 - Coursework Example The recommend specifications are 1 gigahertz 64-bit processor, 4 gigabytes of RAM and 500 gigabytes of hard disk space. The operating systems they can choose from are windows 7 or windows 8 which are running a current Microsoft office software such as Microsoft Office 2010 or 2013. An antivirus program such as Kaspersky or Norton is a useful add-on. There are several types of server brands to choose from such as Dell, IBM and Oracle. The minimum hardware for 5-25 users is a server with a 2GHz, 64 bit processor, 2GB memory (RAM) and a 160 Gigabyte hard disk (Micorsoft, n.d.). The recommended hardware is a 3.1 Gigahertz, 64-bit processor, 8GB RAM and a 500 Gigabyte hard disk. The recommended server software is Windows Server 2012 Essentials which is built to cater for small business environments (Technet, n.d). Fault tolerance requires that there is a spare part that takes over in case the original part fails. To make the server fault tolerant recommend options are: having spare memory modules in case the memory fails, having to network interface cards(NICs), having a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID), having a dual power supply and having two servers clustered so they appear as one

Research on Cost Control and Management of Real Estate Project Essay Example for Free

Research on Cost Control and Management of Real Estate Project Essay This paper takes the cost control and the management of real estate project as the object in research, and analyzes and studies relevant issues. By analyzing the cost structure of real estate construction, this paper identifies problems in cost control and management of real estate construction at present. Along with the fast development of China’s economy, the real estate industry has achieved wonderful successes, pulling economic development significantly, and contributing a lot to China’s economic development. Today, real estate construction assumes more tasks. In 2008, 3,000 billion RMB enters real estate construction. The cost control and regular management of real estate construction turns into the focus. Once the construction cost is out of control, it will lead to a great waste and will bring about more pressures for property management in later. A nice cost control is meaningful for the whole real estate construction project. To realize better cost control and management of real estate construction is important for today’s harmonious society. The cost of real estate construction is composed of four parts. The first part is the land cost, accounting for 30% of the total cost. It mainly refers to cost for building land, greening land, equipped facility land, and property management land. The second part is the construction installation cost, as the main body of real estate construction cost, accounting for 20%-50% of the total cost. Among the construction installation cost, materials cost the most, accounting for 60% of construction installation cost. The third part is the cost for equipments and machines, accounting for 1%-3% of the total cost. This part is mainly for meeting the needs of operations, management, and maintenance. The fourth part is other cost, accounting for more than 15% of the total cost. It is difficult to control this part. It mainly includes the cost for investigation and design, the cost for project supervision, and the cost for infrastructure. In special, the management cost usually surpasses the budget, which is the largest part that is hard to control in real estate construction. The management cost is only accounting for 1% of the total cost. But the absolute amount is large. It is easy for the construction company costing more in management. At present, serious problems exist in the cost control and management of real estate construction. For example, for some real estate construction, the design is earlier than the study of feasibility, which makes the later turn into useless. In bidding, some construction companies perform illegally, which makes the bidding fail to control project cost well. The popularization of assigned subcontracts and various subcontracts serve as potential threats for project quality. The delay for project payment, especially for workers’ wages, is serious. Some projects can not manage the changes of designs. Construction companies fail to follow the designs completely, which may lead to larger costs for construction. Some construction companies emphasize on the control of quality and period but fail to control the cost. All these activities make the cost of real estate construction out of control in China, which is harmful for the sustainable and healthy development of real estate industry . * Fail to Estimate the Project Exactly: Investment estimation is performed at the very beginning, namely in the study of feasibility. Present compilation of study of feasibility is lack of details. No effective items to control the number of project. The estimation has a lower preciseness. Besides, the study of feasibility has no necessary investigation. Some potential geological disasters can not be identified effectively, which leads to the rise of costs. Although some companies make â€Å"details for implement†, the effect is poor. In order to establish the project, some companies may reduce the number of project and decrease costs. * The Compilation of Project Budget Has Poor Reliability: At the stage of design, the investigation is far from sufficient. Some fundamental materials for design are inexact. As a result, the design may be irrational and will be changed significantly in construction, which causes the poor reliability of budget. * Working Drawing Budget is Unpractical: At the working drawing design stage, compile the project budget according to the design. The working drawing budget is to calculate the cost of design. The rationality of working drawing budget is about how to organize the construction and how to reach the design requirements by what kinds of methods, plus how to arrange the construction period, and how to manage workers and machines under different seasons, according to scientific designs. All these tasks are supposed to be arranged by construction companies. For design companies, to compile the budget is unpractical. * Do not Follow Basic Construction Procedures and Cannot Control Costs: For some projects, time is urgent. Therefore, the design is maybe imperfect. And the construction does not follow the basic procedures strictly. Sometimes, the study of feasibility turns into useless papers. As a result, the estimation and the budget cannot control the project cost effectively. * Contract is not Managed Well, Especially for Subcontracts and External Workers: Some real estate developers neglect to manage contracts. They do not follow the terms written in contracts strictly. Besides, some developers cannot calculate the cost of project quantities correctly. They are incapable of managing external workers effectively. * Irregular Management and Many Changes for Project: Real estate developers cannot design properly and have to change the management methods. Or, the execution is weak. They can change the design as will. Then, the scale of project is increasing and the cost is rising. * The Financing Structure is Unreasonable and Depends on One Financing Channel too Much, Which Contributes to the Rise Of Costs: At present, the funds for real estate construction in China are mainly from domestic loans, foreign funds, self-collected by construction companies, and other sources. Although financing ways are few and some are immature, limits are more. Sometimes, funds can not arrive in time. In order to insure the process of project, the construction companies have to apply loans from banks. Therefore, a large proportion of construction funds are from banks as loans. And the credit period is long and cannot match with investment return. The characteristics of real estate industry determine the lagged-behind investment return. One financing channel increases risks and costs, which leads to the accumulation of loan balance in banks, increasing construction costs and pressures for later in operation. * Cost Management is Unscientific. Lack the Idea of Cost Control. System is Imperfect. Management Cost Is High: By auditing lots of projects, we find that management is one of factors that cause overspending. Main items that cause overspending include management fees, compensation fees for removing, and supervision. Main reasons include: Lack a perfect cost control system and cannot manage and control the cost systematically, which makes it hard to identify the out-of-control of cost in time. Lack the idea of cost control and the constraint mechanism. Project managers are always focusing on quality and construction period, but not cost control. The absence of system makes the expenditure more irregular. No integrated standards for management fee are effective. Workers are more than necessary in construction companies.

Study On The Olmec Culture

Study On The Olmec Culture The Olmec culture has been the focus of intense discussion and archeological exploration in recent years. It is considered to be one of the most interesting and also one of the mysterious ancient civilizations. The Olmec civilization is considered to be the first known ordered civilization to arise in Mesoamerica. It was also the first civilization in the region to build huge monumental temple mounds and building. In the Pre1classic Period, the period when this civilization flourished, the following Gulf Coast sites were occupied in overlapping succession; Firstly, San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, which was occupied between 1450 and 400 BC., then at La Venta from 2250- 500 BC And Zapotes from 1000-50 BC. One of the most remarkable relics that we have of this culture is seventeen enormous stone heads. The stone used to carve the statues was transported from a great distance which implies the reach and extent of this civilization, as well as its spread and influence. These and other aspects of the culture will be discussed in more detail below. The Olmec culture and society has been described as extremely well organized with à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦complex calendar and hieroglyphic writing system as well as unique art objects of a very high standard. However, scholars also admit that there is a great paucity of archeological and other evidence and knowledge about this mysterious and complex civilization.We know far less about the Olmecs than we do about, for example, the Aztecs and Mayans. There are very few written records to tell us about the culture. The Olmec culture and civilization is estimated have begun in about 1200 B.C. and ended around 600 A.D. During this period the Olmec were the main group or culture in Mesoamerica. What is certain about this culture is the importance and centrality of religion, shamanism and religious ritual in their daily lives. There is as general consensus that religion and belief in the supernatural influenced every aspect of their lives. Olmec sites are characterized the prominent position of the ceremonial mounds and later by elaborate pyramids that were erected for worship and possibly for sacrifice. As one study on this aspect notes; As the clock tower often defines the center of Western town squares, a central raised mound signaled the center of Olmec cities. These mounds were used for religious ceremonies and around 900 BC, they were replaced with pyramids. The following discussion will refer to the various aspects of the culture, as well as their art and religion in an attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of what is known about the mysterious and influential Olmec. Origins The term Olmec means rubber people in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztec. It was the name that the Aztecs used to refer to those people and the culture that had existed in the area of the Olmec Heartland during the fifteenth and sixteenth century. Simply stated the name means à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦those who live in the rubber land, which refers to the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦practice of extracting latex from Castilla elastica, a rubber tree in the area. There is a general paucity of solid data and information about the origins and the life-world of the Olmec culture. Our understanding of the civilization is made even more obscure by the fact that they did not appear to have a system of writing that would have provided records of their culture. As one commentator states; If the Olmec ever had a written language, all traces of it have disappeared. Even their bones are gone, rotted long ago in the humid rain forest. Virtually everything that scholars know about them is based on the remains of cities and on comparisons between their artifacts and imagery and those of later civilizations. It isnt surprising, therefore, that while the experts have plenty of theories about the Olmecs origins, social structure and religion, few of these ideas are universally accepted. Therefore, it is difficult to make incontrovertible and conclusive statements about the Olmec. In terms of what Historians and archaeologists know about the Mesoamerican Pre-Classic period, which extended from 1200 BCE-400 BCE, the Olmec civilization was the most dominant and influential during this time. The centre of this civilization at its peak was situated in La Venta in Tabasco, and San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan and Laguna de los Cerros in Veracruz. There are many theories and views about the origins of the Olmec. One theory that is often referred to is they were part of the immigration of Asiatic hunter-gatherers to the region after the ice-age. Another view that has achieved some credibility is that they were of African origin. The view that the Olmec civilization was of African origin seems to be partly substantiated by the large carved heads that possibly depict various rulers and which have African features. Some writers claim the Olmec were related to peoples of Africa based primarily on their interpretation of facial features of Olmec statues. This viewpoint is also allegedly supported by genetic and osteological evidence. This was a theory that was first put forward by Josà © Melgar, who discovered the first colossal head at Hueyapan. Some researchers such as Winters link the early origins of the Olmec with the Mandà © people of West Africa. However, this theory is very contentious and the proposed evidence has not lived up to modern scrutiny; for example, research during the past two decades has à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦failed to yield evidence of pre-Columbian African contributions to the indigenous populations of the Americas. Another factor that goes against the view of an African origin to the Olmec is that the people of the region were very susceptible to diseases brought by the Europeans. This means that the Mesoamericans of the region has been isolated for a considerable time, which in turn goes against a theory of origins that would include contact with the African continent. There are numerous other theories, including the contention that the Olmec were of Chinese origin. This view states that the original Olmec were Chinese refugees who came to the region during the Shang dynasty. However, this view is not supported by the majorly of researchers. Most researchers are of the view that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the Olmec and their achievements arose from influences and traditions that were wholly indigenous to the region, or at least the New World, and there is no reliable material evidence to suggest otherwise. This view suggests that the Olmec and the subsequent cultures that developed in the region had their own specific and indigenous character and heritage and that they were independent of any outside influences. The study of the origins and development of the Olmec culture is steeped in mystery and doubt. Another issue that is debated is the transformation of the possible hunter-gatherer origins of the Olmec into a highly successful agricultural society. As one pundit comments; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦archaeologists dont know what transformed a society of farmers into the class-based social structure of the Olmec, with their leaders and commoners, bosses and laborers, artisans and priests. Spread and Influence The mysterious Olmec civilization is estimated to have reached its peak a thousand years before the great Mayan civilization of Central America and twenty-five centuries before there Aztecs. This ancient civilization was extremely influential and affected many other cultures and tribes in the region, as one article states; Starting in 1200 B.C. in the steamy jungles of Mexicos southern Gulf Coast, the Olmecs influence spread as far as modern Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, Costa Rica and El Salvador. They built large settlements, established elaborate trade routes and developed religious iconography and rituals, including ceremonial ball games, blood-letting and human sacrifice, that were adapted by all the Mesoamerican civilizations to follow. Therefore, the Olmec were influential on a number of interconnected levels, from trade and economics to religion and cultural practices. David M. Jones ( 2007) states that the art and the architectural styles of the Olmec were influential in the region. The Olmec art style and architectural organization of ceremonial spaces were exported in the early stages of long-distance trading networks and, possibly, empire-building. What is clear from research into the spread and influence of this culture is that it influenced Gulf Coast as well as spreading inland to the Basin of Mexico and to the states of Morelos, Guerrero and Oaxaca. The Importance of Olmec Culture The importance of the Olmec culture lay in their inventiveness and their discoveries which influenced later civilizations that arose in the area. They à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦developed many things culturally and religiously that were later used by the Mayans and Aztecs and many other cultures. Many of their ideas spread throughout the region. In terms of farming and agriculture, for example, there there is strong evidence that the Olmec were responsible for the invention of a method of irrigation that was to influence the agricultural techniques of the Maya and Aztecs. This also applies to the water system that archeologist have found at the sites of Olmec cities. This refer to the finding that the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦most important features of an Olmec town center was a buried network of stone drain lines long U-shaped rectangular blocks of basalt laid end to end and covered with capstones. Social and Political Life There is a general paucity of information about the actual societal and political structure of the Olmec. While there is not much evidence to build a comprehensive picture of the daily and social life of these people, there is enough available data from certain archeological sites to provide some reasonable speculations. One of the assumptions that is derived from the excavation of sites at San Lorenzo and then at La Venta is that the society was very centralized. This in turn has led to the view that the society was highly structured, with a hierarchical basis of order and class stratification. This also implies the existence of a ruling elite and a system of power and control, which was possibly based on religious beliefs. This view of the structure of the society is summarized as follows: Olmec society was à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦highly centralized, with a strongly hierarchical structure and elite that was able to use their control over materials, such as monumental stone and water, to exert control over the people and legitimize their regime. There is also clear evidence of a class structure in Olmec society. This is the view for example of Olmec scholars like Ann Cyphers. She states that there is evidence of elaborate houses for the elite or upper classes, while there are simpler housing structures for the middle and lower classes. As one study notes, The architecture of the Olmec was complex. Structures in Lorenzo, for example, included public-ceremonial buildings, elite residences, and houses for commoners (a clear separation of the classes). Cyphers also makes the important point that archeological research indicates that the society was extremely complex in structure and stratification; All these things show a society of great complexityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Scholars are also of the opinion that the society was possibly a complex unity of various chiefdoms. These groups interacted on a religious and cultural level. Agriculture and farming played as vital part in the culture of these people. Besides the obvious fact of sufficient foods and nutrition it has also been seen by experts and being as tool in the politics of the society. As a study by Amber M. VanDerwarker (2006) indicates, the increase in the size and complexity of the society coincided with the development of village agriculture, which à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦has led scholars to theorize that agricultural surpluses gave aspiring Olmec leaders control over vital resources and thus a power base on which to build authority and exact tribute. Central to the society and social life was religious ceremony and ritual. This is evident in the large and centrally situated ceremonial centers. There are however some views that suggest a slightly different social structure. This refers to the view that as a result of the slash-and burn agriculture and crop-rotation that was practiced, most of the people would have lived in smaller villages and hamlets. Although the river banks were used to plant crops between flooding periods, the Olmec also likely practiced swidden (or slash-and-burn) agriculture to clear the forests and shrubs, and to provide new fields once the old fields were exhausted. The development of an agricultural economy also had a number of social implications. With the increase of an agricultural economy more people were needed to manage and administer the resources which led to a division of labor and a class structure in the society. The ones who controlled the rich farm land would naturally have been the ones who would rise up as the Elite of the community because they controlled the food supply, and as part of the management of resources, a central center had to be established. A number of theorists are of the opinion that the development of agriculture was the impetus which led to the expansion and development of the Olmec civilization. This would also have led to its influence through trade on the surrounding regions. As one study o0n this aspect notes: A new elite class probably asserted its leadership through charisma, control of trade networks and control of people, all of which led to the evolution of a complex society and, eventually, the art style we call Olmec. 5. Art There is as general agreement among scholars that the Olmec civilization producedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the earliest sophisticated art in Mesoamerica and that their distinctive style provided a model for the Maya, Aztec and other later civilizations in the region. There are also certain changes in Olmec art over time that should be noted. One is that before 900 B.C. most of the art tend to be ceramic, while later objects were made form jade and serpentine; which were rare materials that required considerable skill to fashion. However, what has fascinated people for centuries is the subject matter and the significance of the figures in Olmec art. There are a number of subjects that are often repeated in Aztec art. These include dragons, birds, dwarfs, hunchbacks and, most important, the jaguar or more correctly the were-jaguar that is part human, part jaguar. It should also be made clear that art in this culture, as in many other ancient cultures, cannot be separated from the spiritual and religious underlying life of that culture. The art and shamanic and spiritual aspects of the society are inextricably intertwined. Olmec art is essentially an expression of the religious beliefs that permeated the entire society. A case in point is the image of the jaguar that is so dominant in Olmec art. The jaguar represents a belief system that was deeply involved in the supernatural and the shamanic vision of reality. The jaguar figure in Olmec art is similar to a number of other figures in that it shows a combination of or transition between human and animal. It must be remembered that in many ancient worldviews there is no distinction between the human and natural world. In other words, many ancient belief systems do not adhere to the more modern distinction between man and nature. The jaguar figure in Olmec art is possibly therefore a representation of this belief system where the barriers between humanity and nature and between man and animal is seen as illusionary or has been broken down. The above refers particularly to the shamanic perception of reality, where transformation of man to animal is seen part of the ability of the shaman. The shaman has the facility to change his or her form in order to achieve certain supernatural ends. Linked with this was the belief that was prevalent among the Olmec that, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ each individual has an animal spirit. This refers as well to the general shamanic views about power animals. Shamans believe that everyone has power animals animal spirits which reside with each individual adding to their power and protecting them from illness, acting similarly to a guardian angel. Each power animal that you have increases your power so that illnesses or negative energy cannot enter your body. The spirit also lends you the wisdom of its kind. A hawk spirit will give you hawk wisdom, and lend you some of the attributes of hawk. The above quotation provides some insight into the way that the Maya possibly understood the link between man, nature and the supernatural. This shamanic aspect can be seen in the important figure of the jaguar. It is also worth reiterating the fact that Olmec art, like many ancient cultures, cannot be considered in isolation from the religious and spiritual beliefs of the civilization. This is an aspect that will be explored in more detail in the following section on religion. The jaguar was also very important for Olmec culture in that it was linked to one of their central gods. The jaguar was also referred to as nahual, which is an animal that is so closely related to a certain man, that if the animal dies, the man will also die. From another angle, jaguars were also seen as the alter ego of the shaman. The following provides insight into the reason why the jaguar figure was revered and why it was so prominent in Olmec art To the ancient Indians the jaguar was a symbol of supernatural forces-not a simple animal, but an ancestor and a god. In order to understand the significance of the jaguar figure one has to suspend the modern dualistic view of the world and reality that makes rational distinctions between man and nature and between the known and the unknown. The Olmec lived in a world where such distinctions were seen as illusionary and the jaguar was a symbol of this belief and a conduit between this world and the supernatural. As we explore the literature on Olmec art the references to the jaguar image also become more complex and intertwined when we enter further into the often confusing world of Olmec myth and religion. For example, in Olmec imagery we also encounter a werejaguar baby. This refers to the offspring of a jaguar mother and a human father. This mating à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦resulted in a race of infants combining the features of the jaguar and man in varying degrees. These are usually shown as somewhat infantile throughout life, with the puffy features of small fat babies, snarling mouths, fangs, and perhaps even claws. These werejaguars were deities of thunder, lightening, and rain. This in turn can be linked to depictions of an Olmec God who was half jaguar, half serpent. 5.1. Olmec Heads ( Source: http://www.theancientweb.com/explore/content.aspx?content_id=19) Another predominant characteristic of Olmec art are their distinct human heads and faces. As one commentator notes, Olmec-style human figures typically have squarish facial features with full lips, a flat nose, pronounced jowls and slanting eyes reminiscent (at least to early travelers in the region) of African or Chinese peoples. . There are seventeen of these massive heads and they are presumed to have been sculpted between 1200 B.C. and 900 B.C. The stone used is volcanic basalt and the height ranges from 5 ft. to 11 ft. and they weigh as much as 20 tons. The heads have been located at the following places; ten heads at San Lorenzo, four heads at La Venta , two at Tres Zapotes and one at Rancho La Cobata. One of the fascinating and intriguing aspects of the heads is that experts do not know how these large stones were transported over such long distances. Archaeologists still have not determined how the Olmec transported the basalt from quarries to various settlements as far as 80 miles awayand, in San Lorenzo, hoisted it to the top of a plateau some 150 ft. high. However it is the meaning of the heads that has made them such a source of interest and mystery. Experts conjecture that the heads were possibly representations of well- known and revered citizens or leaders. This however does not explain the facts that many of the heads have been intentionally defaced. There are two possible explanations for this. The one is that they were damaged when the leader or prominent figure depicted in the statue fell out of favor. However, taking into account the shamanic and religious nature of the culture, the second explanation is more likely. This refers to the sacrifice of the gods in order to replenishment and renewal of the earth and the relationship between man and the universe. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the Olmecs did this themselves after a ruler died as a sacrifice to the gods or animal spirits. This form of sacrifice is also encountered in other ancient cultures and might explain the damage to the statues. Innovations The Olmec are credited with a number of major innovations in Mesoamerican history. However, there is still a great deal of speculation and debate about these innovations. They include the origins of the Mesoamerican ballgame, as well as aspects such as bloodletting and sacrifice, as well as writing and the invention of Zero. There is little doubt that the Olmec civilization had a far-reaching effect on the region one needs only refer to the complex political and social structure that was developed. Their political arrangements of strongly hierarchical city-state kingdoms were repeated by nearly every other Mexican and Central American civilization that followed. They are also credited with providing the basis for religious mythologies that were imitated in other civilizations. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the Olmec formulated the forerunners of many of the later Mesoamerican deities. There is considerable debate among scholars as to whether the Olmec invented a writing system and whether they were first civilization in the Western hemisphere to do so. Many are of the opinion that there is no evidence to suggest that there was a writing system among the Olmec. However there are more recent indications that a writing system was developed by the Olmec. These include, Symbols found in 2002 and 2006 date to 650 B.C.E. and 900 B.C.E. respectively, preceding the oldest Zapotec writing dated to about 500 B.C.E. The 2002 find at the San Andrà ©s site shows a bird, speech scrolls, and glyphs that are similar to the later Mayan hieroglyphsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The discovery of the Cascajal block near San Lorenzo in 2006 seems to suggest that the Olmec were one of the first cultures in this part of the word to develop a writing system. The Cascajal block à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦showed a set of 62 symbols, 28 of which are unique, carved on a serpentine block. This find has been hailed as the earliest pre-Colombian writing. However, this is by no means considered to be conclusive proof and many archeologists remain unconvinced that this block is representative of the Olmec culture. One of the reasons for this skepticism is that the Cascajal blockà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ bears no apparent resemblance to any other Mesoamerican writing system. However the debate also includes a view the Olmec may have developed a system of signs that was to lead to the writing systems of the Maya. This refers to well-known Epi-Olmec, hieroglyphs. There is a view that the Epi-Olmec may represent a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦transitional script between an earlier Olmec writing system and Maya writing. In this regard it is also important to note that, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.Even less is known about the spoken language of the Olmec. Since the Mixe-Zoquean languages still are, and historically are known to have been, spoken in an area corresponding roughly to the Olmec heartland, it has generally been regarded as probable that the Olmec spoke a Mixe-Zoquean language. Many of the innovations ascribed to the Olmec are much less controversial; for example the view that the compass could have an Olmec origin. Various archeological discoveries have led to view that, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the Olmec may have discovered and used the geomagnetic lodestone compass earlier than 1000 B.C.E. The Olmec are also considered to have discovered the concept of zero. This refers to the Long Count calendar that was developed by cultures after the Olmec but which probably had its origins in the Olmec civilization. The Long Count calendar required the use of zero as a place-holder within its vigesimal (base-20) positional numeral system. Many archeologists are convinced that because of various objects found in the Maya homeland, the Long Count Calendar most probably had its origins in the Olmec civilization. However, as with most of our knowledge about the Olmec, this view is also mired in doubt and controversy because of a lack of substantiated evidence Religion and mythology Figure 2. Olmec holds a half human-half jaguar baby. ( Source: http://www.crystalinks.com/olmec.html) The Olmec civilization was immersed in religious and spiritual significance. It is often stated that the supernatural and religion was the formative factor in this culture. It is also conjectured that the Olmec were essentially shamanistic in their religious activities and outlook. One of the central myths and beliefs of the Olmec people was the view that there were different but interlinked planes and dimensions to reality and not just the world of ordinary sense experience. They also believed that the human body, and especially the body of ruler or king, was divided into to correspond with the main cosmic levels in their mythology. These were the celestial or heavenly, the terrestrial, the earths surface and the watery underworld. This cosmology therefore had the following implications. The head represented the celestial realm and hence the colossal heads found in Veracruz and Tabasco were probably ancestral portraits depicting the seat of the mind and the most exalted part of the most important rulers. The bodies, standing, sitting or kneeling, represent our environment in different aspects. And the lower parts, like the limbs and feet, as the roots of a tree, penetrate into the underworld and contact its forces. The priest or the shaman enters into these different regions and levels of reality at will in order to achieve balance between the different realms of existence and to bring about healing and other effects. Furthermore, as noted in the above discussion on art, The ruler or the shaman could do this through ritual transformation into his nagual, his animal spirit companion. There are many different types and categories of Olmec gods. They also have different attributes and powers and different relationships to the human world; while some of the gods have healing powers, others represent dark forces. However, as there are no written records no names can be given to the gods and they are usually designated by a number. Another interesting fact is that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦No Olmec deities can be categorically defined as male or female. What is clear is that they influenced later Mesoamerican cultures and civilizations. The Olmec deities and Gods were a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦source of many aspects of pan-Mesoamerican mythology and religion, and as prototypes of later gods and goddess. There are at least ten gods in the Olmec pantheon. The following is a brief overview of some of the central gods and deities and their major characteristic and influence on humanity. God 1: Olmec Dragon This is also referred to as Earth Monster. it has à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦flame eyebrows, a bulbous nose, and bifurcated tongue. This is one of the most commonly depicted gods or deities. God 2: Maize God This God has plants growing from as cleft in his head. God 3: The Bird Monster This God has both Mamalis and reptilian features and is linked to ruling and kingship. God 4: Rain Spirit and Were-jaguar It is not clear if this god is one or two separate entities. Other gods include, God 7, The Feathered Serpent and Fish or Shark Monster (God 8). There is as great deal of confusion about the exact nature of these gods and many are combined by some experts. In order to make list of Olmec gods more comprehensible, the following is a selection of the best known of these gods and the ones that have had the most influence on subsequent civilizations. The Jaguar God The Jaguar God was a principle deity in the Olmec mythology. It was seen as an Earth god as his power was limited to the terrestrial plane. This god represented the forces of life and was linked or the water and earth. The Feathered Serpent The plumed serpent or the feathered serpent is a mythological figure that is found in many cultures in Mesoamerica and it is believe that this figure originated with the Olmec culture. This god is linked to time and calendars and is seen as the provider of maize to humanity. It is also very strongly associated with the concepts of death and resurrection, which were primary factors in the Olmec religion, as is evident in their emphasis on ritual sacrifice. Man of Crops. This is an important fertility figure. The Man of Crops à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ was a human man or boy who chose to give his life so that his people might grow food. The heroic Man of Crops is sometimes mentored or assisted by a god figure from the other world. The Rain Spirit. This god plays an important role in Olmec mythology and was also carried into the civilizations that came after the Olmec. This god often had many helpers. As has already been referred to, the idea of sacrifice and making an offering to the gods in order to maintain harmony and peace was central to the Olmec culture. This involved a continuous succession of rituals and ceremonies where, it is suggested by some, that there were human sacrifices. In these rituals the priest or shaman would à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦cut himself to produce blood, which would be presented to the gods. Certain animals, such as turkeys, dogs, squirrels, quail, and iguana, were also considered as acceptable sacrifices. Some claim that there is strong evidence that the Olmec indulged in human sacrifice. However, others state that this is pure speculation. No Olmec or Olmec-influenced sacrificial artifacts have yet been discovered and there is no Olmec or Olmec-influenced artwork that unambiguously shows sacrificial victims (like, for example, the danzante figures of Monte Albà ¡n) or scenes of human sacrifice à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Conclusion: Decline of the Olmec In about 300 B.C. the Olmec civilization suddenly seemed to disappear. What is known is that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ between 400 and 350 BCE, population in the eastern half of the Olmec heartland dropped precipitously, and the area would remain sparsely inhabited until the 19th century. It is not clear why this occurred. One possible reason is that some natural catastrophe occurred. The depopulation could also have been the result of radical environmental changes in the area. Archeologists also suggest that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ these changes were triggered by tectonic upheavals or subsidence, or the silting up of rivers due to agricultural practices. While the Olmec civilization still remains shrouded in mystery and conjecture, what is very clear from the literature is that this culture had an enormous impact on the region and on the modern word. The Olmec left behind some examples of the most enigmatic and thought-provoking art that the world has seen. The Olmec also very possibly provided agricultural as well as economic models that were influential in the region and which led to the advanced Aztec civilization. What is also clear from the lite

Murder of Chandra Levy

Murder of Chandra Levy During the summer of 2001, the scandalous murder of twenty-four year old D.C intern, Chandra Levy, had been plastered all over the media. Levys 2001 disappearance formed into a national sensation, after the California native was romantically connected with former congressional representative Gary Condit. The Levy murder, after sixteen years, still remains as Washingtons most famous unsolved crime. There were very few people involved in the proposed scandal. One of the main individuals involved was congressman Gary Condit, a conservative Democrat. He was inconclusively linked to the disappearance of a federal intern, Chandra Levy. It is rumored the two were romantically involved, but Condit stuck heavily with his decision to not verify if this is true. Chandra Levy, native of Modesto, California was an intelligent being, who had a dream to save the world. She was known as a thrill seeker and wanted to become a modern version of Mata Hari, a WWI spy who infiltrated high levels of military commands. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a Masters degree in Public Administration. After interning for a few government members, she learned about the private world of high level politicians who had secret sex lives, Gary Condit for example. She was intrigued by this information, and could easily use her information to her advantage. The scandal between the notable congressman and the intern, was getting a lot of heat, tensions were on the rise. Rumors of Condits tenacious sexual appetite, and how Levy had been done away with, whether it was directly addressed or not by Condit, it is still a mystery. Their relationship could ruin his career and family. However, there are many different theories and versions of what actually happened between the two, although the facts tell the truth. Levy, was secretively an agent of an Israeli spy team called the MOSSAD that sees great importance of their relationships with the U.S, and would be unable to exist, without large amounts of help. The agency is dependent on critical intelligence information that is obtained through cooperation and or secretly. Levy was in the perfect position to gather top secret information, through her position of work and by using her female power of persuasion. Condit, being the senior member of the intelligence committee made him a prime target for such an operation. The seduction of such powerful government officials, provides foreign powers the added advantage of being able to bribe and control the unsuspecting targeted victims to acquire wanted information. After more than 14 months of investigation, Chandra Levys skull had mysteriously been found in Washingtons Rock Creek Park. on May 22st 2002 Although most of the incriminating evidence had been long gone due to the effects of time, it was clear that this was not an accident and had been declared a homicide. Ingmar Guandique, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, was pinned as the murderer of Levy, all evidence pointed in his direction. Federal prosecutors could no longer prove a case against Guandique. The U.S. attorneys office of Washington concluded that it can no longer prove the murder case against Mr. Guandique beyond a reasonable doubt. (Hounding Gary Condit). The beginning and end of Condit and Levys scandal, took place from May of 2000 up until her disappearance on May 1st of 2001. All of the focus and attention this scandal received, had soon came crashing down along with the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. In March of 2002, Condit lost his bid for re-election, mostly because of his ties to the scandal, making this his first time ever losing an election. While the country was focusing on the scandal, the U.S and British forces had started war with Afghanistan. Lasting over thirteen years. There were enough surrounding events during the time of this case that could become more important to the public. Although Condit was never considered a suspect, rumors had circulated and had never been proven. There was no significant proof that he was involved in the disappearance and murder of Levy, which raised more than a few major red flags. Condit had been subject to a poly graph test at the request of Levys parents Robert and Susan Levy, after sources revealed that Condit admitted to having an affair with the intern. Although he failed to answer key questions it didnt effect the results. There was speculation that his results were tampered with. Andrew Schapiro, New York criminal defense lawyer mentioned that such friendly tests, only requiring three questions, arent considered reliable. Condits refusal to play by the new behavioral rules for public officials. Public officials must go through human ethics training it is an instrument for building integrity in state institutions and making sure there is a noble worth of governance. (What REALLY Happened To Chandra Levy). An online magazine writer, Mikey Kaus suggested that if Condit was normal, smart and aware of the rules of engagement (created in response to the Lewinsky-Clinton scandal) then he would have held a press conference the first week Levy was missing, admitted to having an affair with her, and would say that he was terribly sorry and didnt do anything to harm her. Since this is not what happened, he had been put in the impossible position of trying to establish his own innocence without the media being his ally. The government was not directly affected by this scandal, although small pieces within it were. The complicated and mysterious situation had affected the justice and equity and a sort of closure within Levy and Condits relationship. The laxity of the law enforcement system had been compromised. Since Condit had lost the chance of re-election, all of his campaign money was wasted, but the government did not suffer as much as it could have. Surprisingly, many people were effected by the events, and chilling facts of this case. Chandras parents and family were the most affected, losing a beloved daughter who had such a successful and happy life ahead of her. Soon after Levy had disappeared, her home town of Modesto, California and the Levy family had arranged a memorial for their daughter. A turn-out of twelve-hundred people had shown up to pay their respects to the young intern. Condits career and family life had suffered a large blow, but he was a protected person that could eventually rebuild his life unlike the Levy family, they will never be able to do. There is no perfect outcome from this tragic scandal, there is little justice for Chandra and her family. The conviction of Chandras supposed killer, was clearly made by weak assumptions and deceptive evidence. Ingmar Guandigue had not been convicted for the murder of Levy but had been sentenced for other criminal attacks on women. Condit had preserved his innocence and has been protected from ever being seen as the real villain. The defense attorney who worked on the case, had stated that Condit acted like a guilty man and received special treatment after authorities had ruled him out of being a suspect. Fifteen years following her murder, Condit had published a book called Actual Malice describing the unfortunate events that had occurred during his time knowing and being involved with Levy but also his side of the story. Gary had issued a statement through his lawyer saying that he was disappointed in the dismissal of his involvement in the case. The failure of authorities to bring formal closure to this tragedy after fifteen years is very disappointing but in no way alters the fact that Mr. Condit was long ago exonerated by authorities.Although he has had plenty enough media time to prove his innocence, millions of people whole-heartedly believe that Condit is completely guilty. The national sensation, although unfortunate, had gained millions of questions, and more than enough attention. Government scandals always seem to be covered up somehow, the truth is twisted to preserve ones innocence. Chandra Ann Levy, was someone who could change our world and create a safer place for our future children, her untimely death has made a numerous amount of people open their eyes to much more than what is put in front of them. Levys story, and even her murder has proven that no matter how intelligent, beautiful, and protected people can be manipulated in ways that can end their life.