Planning and Organizing Meetings Essay Example for Free

Planning and Organizing Meetings Essay Planning ahead of time is one virtue of Christian leaders. There are a lot of pointers that you need to remind yourself when planning and organizing meetings for your organization. There are details that you need to check because planning a meeting is not just calling people to come together and talking with each other without anything in mind to accomplish. First Things First Prayer is an important discipline for Christian leaders especially in terms of planning and organizing. This is the first and foremost thing that you should do. You should ask the wisdom of God and ask Him to let you know the tasks that are at hand in the organization. This is the time when you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you and to let you possess strength that you need. Secondly, set your objectives. As said earlier, calling a meeting is not just getting people in to meet and talk at certain place and time. You should set your objectives even before you call people to come. What do you want to achieve after the meeting is done? Be sure that your objectives are specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable and time-bound. Part of your objectives is planning for the agenda. Setting the agenda means that you need to identify the most important things to go first and the least important to take the lower priority. Thirdly, identify the people that you want to be in the meeting. Will there be people from other organization? Do you need a committee to help you out in contacting people? As a Christian organizing a meeting, it is necessary that you consult people according to their availability so won’t be missing out someone on the date that you will set. Also, identify the place where you will be holding the meeting. Is it conducive to the activities that are involved in the meeting? Do you need food as you talk together? The Important Things When planning, you should make sure that you get the important things under a checklist. Sometimes there are details that we think is important but are actually necessary. On the other hand, we may left out important things that are basically needed. Make a roster of the participants of the meeting. List the names of people and check or cross the name out when they already confirmed or not. List also the equipment that you need and check if they are available on the day and time of your meeting. What about the logistics and financial implications of the meeting? Make a budget and be sure that it is attainable and you will have it released in time for your use. After the Meeting Planning and organizing meeting do not end after the meeting is already done. Your responsibility as the organizer does not end when the meeting ends. During the meeting, you should have talked about a lot of important things that needs action or implementation thereafter. As such, do not lose your checklist. After the meeting you will need another again. Evaluate if your objectives were met, if not, what you can do after to meet them. After the meeting, be in gratitude to all those who attended. Your meeting is only the take off of another planning and organizing so you should plan well your starting point.

A PESTEL Analysis of the Republic of China

A PESTEL Analysis of the Republic of China China, also called Republic of China. Political framework for China is dual leadership system which exercised through the communist party of China and the central peoples government. In china, peoples Congress members at the county level are elected by voters. For every five year term, China president and vice president will be elected by peoples congress. Meanwhile, for the state council will be appointed by peoples congress as well. To obtain nationality of china is difficult according the nationality law. As a China citizens who are not allow to hold a multiple citizenship. In the aspect of motivation by government, China maintains a well diplomatic relationship with other foreign country. It participate many international organization participation such as World Trade Organization (WTO), Group of 77 (G-77) and many so on. Inter-country attitude was stable and no war occurs between other. This will leads to encourages many other foreign country invest to China. Currently, China faced some territorial disputes before. Taiwan is one of the examples which successful obtain by China. Taiwan people desire to build up the linkage such as direct transportation system with mainland China for extends their Taiwanese business. As overall for political factor, China government leadership and structures are well being currently. The political trends of China became better as before revolution. Economic factor Economic factor is the most crucial factor part determines the overall environment. For chinas economic growth, it economic keep growing rapidly due to their open for outside world which are welcome other foreign country to investment (large scale capital investment such as opening its banking sectors) and productivity growth. Besides that, Chinas governments are investing into developing the education and technology aspect. This enhances the sector of technology changes. Last but not least, China tend toward urbanization which became an important driver among the globalization market demand and produced a low cost market for other foreign country tend toward invest in China. China is the bigger population in the world which around 1.3 billion people (Wikipedia, 2010). This population factor influence the spending levels. Compare with other country, China government are invest a huge capital in technology factor and at the same times, people purchasing power are strong as well. China average annual growth about 6 percents and next of the 20 years will allow China revolution became high income nation (Lou, 2010). In the taxation part, China implements those basic taxes such as business tax and income tax. For the international taxation, China is corporate with 46 countries which sign up the double taxation agreement. Chinas trade pattern continues to grow dramatically, the size of the export and imports keep increasing. China is one of the ASEAN members so that for the tarries and barriers within the country will reduce. The top trading partners for China are European, United State, Japan, and Hong Kong. Nowadays, China GDP slows to 9.6% in the third quarter of the year 2010. The unemployment rate in China was last reported at 4.20 percent in March of 2010 and the inflation rate increase to 3.60 percent in September of 2010 (Trading economics, 2010). Social factor China demographics Overpopulation problem causes many economic crises like lack of food, water and other basic amenities. As a result of its aging population, Chinas government introduces the one child campaign due to the ever growing population of China. Government is trying to control the population by allowing just one child per family. It controls family size and the overpopulation problem. As estimated, population will shift in future which decline from 9 in 2006 to 2.5 by year 2050 according to the Washington. For the healthcare, recently Chinas healthcare system has improvement slowed. For example, China spends 5.8 percent of its GDP as compare other developing country such as South Africa (8.7 percent), Brazil (7.9 percent) and India (6.1 percent). Yet, healthcare expenditures as a percentage of GDP have been increasing in China. By iimproving the healthcare system is important to raise living standards, therefore the lifestyle changes and the living standard increase in China. This is because that China toward the urbanization. Furthermore, Chinas economic growth rapidly recently years. Besides that, governments invest to the education industry boost up the individual became knowledgeable. This will increase the opportunity of working for an individual. On the other hand, many foreign direct investments in China provide more opportunity of occupation for Chinas citizen. From this, the high income nation will achieve in future, so that individual purchasing power will increase to enjoy a more quality lifestyle. Technology factor Technology changes rapid throughout the world. Innovation with technology compliance will increase the China own productivity and reduce the exports of growth. By implement advance technology, more information can be gain by the country and will discoveries more new advantages like manufacturing advances, new research, and transportation infrastructure can be more convenience by using high technology implement. Science aspect like energy fuels usages, bio-tech, genetics, agri-tech all can be benefit through this factor. Many country advocate save the world by recycling. By using advance technology, goods can be done by using those used product and process a new product to the society. At the same time, recycling can be done. Most of the company will choose China as the production plant, so that, advance technology will be imports in China and at the same time, new technology able help to save much cost. Environment factor There many external factor been catogories in enviromental factor such as change of weather, and climate changes, which might impact many industries such as tourism, farming, and insurance. Furthermore, increasing awareness of these potential impacts of climate changes are changing how a company operates. The enviromental factor are can not be amendment by China itself. It depend other external enviroment like the enviromental regulation swhich is the rules or regulation that set by other country like tariff and quota. However, there are some country will do protection onward their own product. The  Environmental Performance Index  (EPI) is a way in quantifying benchmarking the  environmental performance of a countrys policies.  According to 2010 environmental performance index, China score 49.8% of EPI and 58.7% of environmental health. Among the Asia country, China get the 18th places of its. One of the major reasons due to many industry factories builds at their effect the environment health. The air pollution of environmental health in China is at the 40.07% (Environmental Performance Index  ranking among Asia and pacific, 2010) Legal factor Legal factor include regulatory of the country. Company which analysis by this PESTEL analysis is to determine the strategy should be implementing on that. As china, employment rate fluctuant small. Employer will choose to have a factory at China that might due to low cost labor if compare with other country. Major Law in employment law is the labor law which is to protect labor benefits. According that, included all penalty, the standard working hours and the overtime minimum payment for ensure employee able get the benefits that should obtain. Furthermore, many companies decided invest their business in China and built up their industry and factory.Therefore the industry specific regulation to protect Chinas industry. Competitive regulation such as implement the taxes on foreign good to protect own good comparison. There are some functions and Powers of Organizations existence with Consumer Protection Responsibilities such as Consumers Association of China (CAC), State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) and State Bureau of Quality Technical Supervision (SBQTS).

Role of Communication in Health and Safety

Role of Communication in Health and Safety DIANE PARSONS TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Explore the role of communications training in the promotion provision of health safety in the workplace. Page 2 2. Outline the principles procedures of good house-keeping in the workplace. Page 3 3. Noise, dust and fumes are hazards which are commonly found in workplaces. For one of these hazards outline the risk associated with exposure to this hazard and control measures which might be used in the workplace. Identify at least 3 hazards which are commonly encountered in your workplace and briefly describe how these are controlled. Page 45 4. Explain the typical contents of a first-aid kit their appropriate uses. Page 6 5. Explain the risks associated with the following hazards work environment, work practices, medication, alcohol, drugs and outline for each, steps which an employer might take to control these risks (please provide at least 2 controls per hazard). Page 78 6. Outline risk factors in relation to health, to include stress/ lifestyle/ diet/ illness. Page 910 ReferencesPage 11 1. EXPLORE THE ROLE OF COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING IN THE PROMOTION PROVISION OF HEALTH SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE. The role of communications and training in the work place is important in any job. In Healthcare there is no exception to this. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (SHWWA 2005) all employers must specify the training essential to ensuring the health and safety of their employees. The training provided will help staff achieve the essential skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to ensure that they are competent in the health and safety features of their work. In healthcare the Conformity European (CE) mark is important and a lot of employers train their staff to look out for this. Communication in the workplace is essential as is training and the Health Service Executive (HSE), Health Service Authority (HSA) and Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) are there to ensure that the SHWWA 2005 and the General Application Regulations 2007 (GAR 2007) are in place in the workplace. It is important from management to staff that communication is enforced in the workplace for health safety. For instance if there was a spillage in a nursing home in the corridor and there was a sign put in place to warn others of this the management could rest in ease knowing that their staff are aware and capable of ensuring health safety practices in the workplace. That is just one way of communicating there are many more ways I have listed a few below. (Course Notes 2015) Verbal – speaking, face to face Listening Non Verbal – texting, email, notice board, fax, registered mail, skype Demo/Training Focus group Conference call Emergency procedures www.google.com /images 2. OUTLINE THE PRINCIPLES PROCEDURES OF GOOD HOUSE-KEEPING IN THE WORKPLACE. The importance of good house-keeping is so important Healthcare and in particular Nursing Homes and Hospitals which are all about health and the well-being of patients. If a workplace practises bad house-keeping it can become unsafe and even hazardous for the staff and patients. Cluttered and untidy areas, spills and leaks and broken and damaged equipment are all signs of poor house- keeping. An example of bad house-keeping could be a fire exit left blocked and a fire breaking out in the work place, this bad house-keeping endangers everybody in the work place and it is up to the employers and employees to avoid incidents like this. Work places need to outline the principles procedures of good house-keeping to all employers and employees. The workplace needs to be actively monitoring the process of house-keeping within the workplace. HIQA and HSA have certain standards on house-keeping and have an inspection system in place. Some benefits of good house-keeping are: Good housekeeping prevents accidents such as slips, trips and falls Make the workplace happy, enjoyable and safe Improve and maintain your company’s image (good housekeeping echoes a well-run company) order and routine will impress visitors, employees and clients etc. Reduce the risk of accidents or harmful materials i.e. dust, vapours Help your company make the most and benefit the best out of its work space. In house-keeping there are 5S, this is a method of work organised in 5 stages with the goal of considerably improving the order and cleanliness in the workplace. This is known as the Heidelberg Model. These 5S are: SORT- removing anything unnecessary and disposing of it properly STRAIGHT- set things in order, easy to find SHINE- keep work place clean and safe STANDARD- maintain high standards in house-keeping and maintain orderliness SUSTAIN- to keep in working order, to perform regular audits (www.hsa.ie) 3. NOISE, DUST AND FUMES ARE HAZARDS WHICH ARE COMMONLY FOUND IN WORKPLACES. FOR ONE OF THESE HAZARDS OUTLINE THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH EXPOSURE TO THIS HAZARD AND CONTROL MEASURES WHICH MIGHT BE USED IN THE WORKPLACE. IDENTIFY AT LEAST 3 HAZARDS WHICH ARE COMMONLY ENCOUNTERED IN YOUR WORKPLACE AND BRIEFLY DESCRIBE HOW THESE ARE CONTROLLED. A hazard is anything that has the potential to cause you or others harm. In the workplace there are many hazards. There are 5 categories of hazards Physical, Mechanical, Biological, Chemical and physosocial. (Course Notes 2015) Fumes would be a major hazard, the risks associated with this are life threatening. They would be physical and chemical hazards. The risks of fumes can come from gas leaks, chemical fumes etc. Some of the risks associated with fumes are they can cause serious illness, death, over exposure can lead to long term health problems, gas leaks can cause explosions. The control measures for this hazard would be storing chemicals away in proper storage areas, a carbon dioxide alarm and when handling dangerous substances always wear your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Making sure all chemicals are Classification, labelling and packaging (CLP) and a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is available and up to date. (www.google.com/image) In healthcare hazards are all too common but they must be identified and control measures must be put in place. Employers need to refer to the hierarchy of control measures which are: Remove, Replace, Reduce, Restriction, training and PPE to ensure safety. 3 HAZARDS COMMON IN THE WORKPLACE 4. EXPLAIN THE TYPICAL CONTENTS OF A FIRST-AID KIT THEIR APPROPRIATE USES. First aid is the first or immediate help given to a patient before the arrival of a paramedic or doctor. The first aid kit is there to offer an appropriate point of care, everything in the first-aid kit is put together based on the knowledge and experience on those putting it together. Included in it is PPE which is one of the employer’s duties in the workplace to have to maintain health and safety at work. (www.hsa.ie) 5. EXPLAIN THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS WORK ENVIRONMENT, WORK PRACTICES, MEDICATION, ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND OUTLINE FOR EACH, STEPS WHICH THE EMPLOYER MIGHT TAKE TO CONTROL THESE RISKS In the workplace there are many risks, some include hazards work environment, work practices, medication, alcohol and drugs. Under the SHWWA 2005 one of the employer’s duties to employees is to provide a safe place to work so therefore the employer may have steps in place to control these risks. Every year it costs the state 3.6billion in accidents, 70% of accidents can be prevented by good health safety morals. (Course Notes 2015) There would usually be a risk assessment carried out which would: Identify the hazard b) assess the risk c) put controlled measures in place www.google.com/image 6. OUTLINE RISK FACTORS IN RELATION TO HEALTH, TO INCLUDE STRESS/LIFESTYLE/DIET/ILLNESS The risk factors in relation to health in the workplace are huge because stress, lifestyle, diet and illness all fall under health. In healthcare it is important that the staff promote good health and wellbeing, they do this through putting into practice of workplace policies and health promotion activities. For employers the risk factors can lead to loss of business and damage the company name, performance impairment, absenteeism and the loss of competitive edge. STRESS is a major risk to the health of an employee. Stress can be caused by many different reasons and have many different effects. Some effects of stress: Can be physical or mental Interfere with your ability to perform Increase cholesterol blood pressure Cause depression, break downs etc. All these can have a bad effect on the employees work and performance. www.google.com/image LIFESTYLE can have risk factors in relation to an employee’s health. A hectic or busy lifestyle can take its toll on someone’s health. If a person had a busy social lifestyle and were out parting every night it would eventually have an effect on their work due to tiredness or maybe coming into work with alcohol still in their system, the same would go for drugs. Drugs can be part of someone’s lifestyle too and have a devastating impact on it. ILLNESS can also have a lot of risk factors in relation to health. In the workplace it can lead to cross contamination staff and patients. It can lead to poor work performance, judgement and unpredictable moods. Lack of good time keeping and an increase of absenteeism. DIET can play a major role in the growth, repair and maintenance of a body. A well balanced diet and exercise are essential to good health. A bad diet, lack of water and no exercise can result in tiredness, stress, illnesses and depression which in return can influence someone’s ability to work. www.google.com/image REFERENCES (Course Notes 2015)page 2 (www.google.com/image)page 2 (www.hsa.ie) page 3 (Course Notes 2015)page 4 (www.google.com/image)page 4 (www.hsa.ie)page 6 (Course Notes 2015)page 7 (www.google.com/image)page 8 (www.google.com/image)page 9 (www.google.com/image) page 10 1

Phoolan Devi: Perceptions Of Power :: essays research papers

Phoolan Devi: Perceptions of Power The purpose of this paper is to analyze and index gender and power as they factor into the life of one Dalit woman, Phoolan Devi. Particularly, I have chosen to examine the idea of whether or not she wielded real power. In an attempt to make it more useful to speak of this slippery thing called power, I would like to make some declarations and pose some questions about its' nature. Cynthia Emerson has suggested that power is ultimately based on dependency relationships (Emerson 1962). It is important to remember that almost all manifestations of power require a power holder and at least one other party that believes that the first holds power. I would like to stress the word "believes" in the previous sentence because I think it is one of the key ingredients in understanding relationships of power. I realize that in many instances the power of the first party may not be undone merely by the second party ceasing to accept it, and that the power of one individual over another may sometimes be physically or otherwise inescapable. Often, the belief follows the direct experience of power, but regardless of the order in which it is conceptualized, I feel the nature of power is inextricably founded in belief and perception. One of the most striking characteristics of Phoolan Devi is her refusal to accept her power-deficient positions in her relationships. From the time that she was a child, she seems to have refused to conform to her society's hierarchical indexing. She resisted attempts to categorize and fix her into typical gender, class, and matrimonial positions. This is not to say that her resistance was always successful, but I am trying to show a lack of willingness to conform and accept her positions in her power relations. Her belief that the status that had been prescribed to her was unjust and her reluctance to accept it are key factors that led to her gaining power and breaking from her power deficient relationships. Her belief in her upward mobility made it possible. This belief in her self and resistance towards accepting the power forced on her helped undermine that same power. This is the one factor that makes Phoolan so different from so many of her Indian sisters that are still living under the thumb of Manu's Code. Does Phoolan Devi possess real power? So far we have considered theoretical power in relationships, but what about physical manifestations of power? The first example that comes to mind is the fact that over two hundred

Do You Have the Power? :: Creative Writing Essays

Do You Have the Power?      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It all started in the interesting city of New York.   The smog ridden streets were filled with people.   On a quiet little street corner, there was a small shop owned by Harvey Goldstein.   Mr. Goldstein   was a well-to-do merchant. He traded in all sorts of imports, and was generally a moral man.   He did not buy goods from sweatshops nor did he ever cheat a customer.  Ã‚   At 1:31 P.M. on May 15, 1996, he stepped out of his shop on the Upper East Side of Manhattan to meet a man who dealt in Asian silk screens downtown.   He had been listening to traffic radio AM 530 and, deciding that traffic was too heavy, planned to take the subway.   Goldstein was a smart man, very smart, who had built his store and his fortune out of   blood, toil, tears, and sweat. Goldstein was also an upstanding member of the Jewish community whom everybody loved, but he never did anything extra, out of the ordinary, for anyone but himself.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On the other side of town there was a new arrival to the city.   This man's name was Running Bear.   He was an American Indian who had gone to New York to seek his fortune; however, he soon fell upon hard times.   He had lived a life of monetary deprivation on the plains of Colorado, and had proceeded to New York by Amtrak with only a dollar and a dream.   Things did not go as planned, though; he could not find a job and had taken to panhandling and sleeping in the streets. His dreams, no doubt influenced by the fumes coming up from the sewer, were of money.   A good man who only wanted to work and make a decent living, he had gone to the welfare office a few blocks north of Goldstein's shop.   He was sent to the employment office downtown, and decided to take the subway.   No doubt, the welfare officials and social workers sent him away with a sad shrug and a sigh. They knew he was a simple man.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The two men saw each other waiting for the same train downtown. Interestingly enough, they were the only two waiting for the subway car, as a terrorist group had threatened to bomb a train and New Yorkers had generally taken the threat seriously.   They looked at each other briefly, sized one another up, and got on the train. While on the train, Running Bear began fiddling with a hatchet;   tossing it up in the air over and over again in

Romeo and Juliet Answer-to-Study-Guide

Romeo and Juliet – Answer Key to Study Guide 1. Although they are servants, they maintain the Montague/Capulet feud. 2. Gregory 3. These men are too quick to fight. 4. The punishment for more fighting is death. 5. quick-tempered 6. moody and depressed 7. Juliet is too young for marriage, she is his only hope, and she must give her consent also. 8. to see Rosaline 9. He falls in love too easily. 10. They fall in love. 11. an infatuated Romeo 12. The names of things do not change their basic traits. 13. metaphor 14. hyperbole 15. love 16. to foreshadow the use of an herbal brew 17. perform a marriage 18. making a pun on Tybalt’s name 9. Juliet has no interest in Paris. 20. She should meet Romeo at Friar Lawrence’s to get married. 21. a villain 22. He tells Tybalt that he loves him. 23. Tybalt draws his sword, and Romeo moves to stop him. 24. The day seems endless. 25. Juliet thinks that the nurse is saying that Romeo is dead. 26. oxymorons 27. sorrowful 28. Juliet does not feel that Romeo is a villain. 29. She is already married to Romeo but her parents do not know. 30. marry Paris 31. a marriage 32. She does not want to marry Paris. 33. imagery 34. Juliet will drink an herbal potion, she will be buried in the Capulet tomb, and Romeo will return from Mantua. 5. She is afraid. 36. finding herself in the tomb among the bodies of her relatives 37. dramatic irony 38. personification 39. uncontrolled sorrow 40. comic relief 41. Balthasar tells Romeo that Juliet is dead. 42. He is taking action without thinking clearly. 43. to buy poison 44. Friar John returns without having delivered Friar Lawrence’s letter to Romeo. 45. Paris 46. to become a nun 47. She stabs herself with Romeo’s dagger. 48. Lady Montague 49. There never was a sadder story than this. 50. Love at first sight is not real love.

‘America’ by Jean Baudrillard

During the dawning of the new age, America has always fascinated foreigners with its magnificence and grandeur as if alluring then to come and explore its endless possibilities. Even philosophers of arts and sciences as well as well known personalities in the field of literature describe their American travel as exciting and memorable. They are all captivated by the country’s vast wide open spaces, people’s culture and advances in technology.One of France’s leading philosophers Jean Baudrillard, well known for his postmodernism and mysterious philosophical views on historical and present events was also captivated by America’s great elements of cultures and advancement. Baudrillard became more encouraged to launch his own travel when he learned of French philosopher Tocqueville’s American journey. And so in the mid-1980s, Baudrillard made his own travelogue and documented his findings in his book, America (1988).This book was originally written in F rench and presented Baudrillard’s observations of American culture, advancement in civilization as well as the illness of America itself. According to him, what can be read from this book is merely his observation on his visit and should not be taken seriously but not necessarily for granted. Baudrillard was known for his witty and opposing views which he clearly shown from his other writings.His use of metaphor and linguistic style may not be so common to everybody but reading his lines altogether and understanding his motives will bring you to conclusion that he was really an observer and a critic with extra-ordinary perception on events (Baudrillard, 1989) Most part of the book talk about some of the states he visited as well as his discovery of the people, what is within them and how they live in their societies. One can notice his astonishment with America which he wrote in his most charmed but satirical manner.Part of the book which described best what America is all ab out was â€Å"Astral America†. On this section, he said that being in America was like being in the land of Utopia where everybody seems to be living in their blissful society, complete with amenities, freedom and the advantages using the latest technology. The book America also discusses many significant observations and his analysis which he put in many sections such as Vanishing Point, New York, Utopia Achieved, The End of US Power and Desert For Ever and Astral America.Astral America described the highest point where America already has its lead in innovations, extensive urbanization and great industrialization among other industrialized nations. Although Europe was already enhanced in terms of industrialization during the 1980s , America has always been the leader in the aspect of economic advantage. This probably encouraged Baudrillard to travel to America and see deeply for himself the status of a grand nation that is continually moving and upgrading itself to be more secured and independent.Reading Astral America, you could feel Baudrillard’s awe for America’s vast territory and its advancement in many angles. Its modern populations spread among great cities and lands where everybody lives in glorious days. His description of this nation was of a prosperous country where Disneyland is a place people from all over the world want to visit. Furthermore, he said that you could find in this nation the perfect combination of entertainment and fantasy. Everybody do their job with their modern machines and the use of their technology for entertainment is endless.As he was quoted on following: Astral America. The lyrical nature of pure circulation.. As against the melancholy of European analyses†¦ The exhilaration of obscenity, the obscenity of obviousness, the obviousness of power, the power of simulation†¦Sideration. Star-blasted, horizontally by the car, altitudinally by the plane, electronically by television, geologically by deserts, stereolithically by the megalopoloi, transpolitically by the power game, the power museum that American has become for the whole world (Baudrillard, 1989, p. 27).However, throughout his American travel, Baudrillard made the impression that he was conscious of his status as a European because of the comparison on what he saw. In between the lines, he described Europe as an inescapably old, ethnic, contrived, confined and accustomed with lesser modernization wherein he view America as more than the reality, formed into a vast realization of cultures and colorful depiction of replication from different cultures. Such as on the following excerpts: Why should I go and decentralize myself in France, in the ethnic and the local, which are merely the shreds and vestiges of centrality?I want to excentre myself, to become eccentric, but I want to do so in a place that is the centre of the world. And, in this sense, the latest fast-food outlet, the most banal suburb, the blandest of g iant American cars or the most insignificant cartoon-strip majorette is more at the centre of the world than any of the cultural manifestations of old Europe (Baudrillard, 1989) But Baudrillard also declared some critical views about America. Here, he said that other Europeans see the grand nation as a land of barbarism. That although it was a great nation full of life and abound with opportunities, it has also its own disease and flaws.In Astral America, he does not see America as all glory although it is unlike Europe that had its dark historical days on wars. He sees America as a vast desert where culture, politics and gender are in a state of commotion. There is also hunger, internal conflict, discrimination and prejudice. He wrote that: America always gives me a feeling of ascetism. Culture, politics – and sexuality too – are seen exclusively in terms of the desert, which here assumes the status of a primal scene†¦Even the body, by an ensuing effect of undern ourishment, takes on a transparent form, lightness near to complete disappearance.Everything around me suffers this same desertification (Baudrillard, 1989). Even at the rural sides of America, the grandest of homes and the beauty of the landscapes cannot hide the over simplicity that is embracing the monotonous life of the American people. Thus the Utopian dream cannot be in full reality itself but only a temporary solace from the harshness of the Western life. America after all is not free of problems but unlike other nations it is undeniably one big nation that faces its problem head on. As Baudrillard was quoted on the following: On the aromatic hillsides of Santa Barbara, the villas are all like funeral homes.Between the gardenias and the eucalyptus tress, among the profusion of plant genuses and the monotony of the human species, lies the tragedy of a utopia dream made reality†¦This is America’s problem and, through America, it has become the whole world’s p roblem †¦(Baudrillard, 1989), p. 30) But even as Baudrillard’s depiction of life to the harsh environment of the Americans, he said they can take setbacks squarely. That even in war one can observe their presence of mind is always intact. Also he never failed to observe America’s ruler and their influence on their people.Nevertheless, he also took notice of American politics as well as he sees political power in America as a uniting factor which binds people in one great nation. Although he never mentioned of France’ leaders in America as well as its absence on the section on Astral America, his discussion with America’s leaders did signify that there is also a difference between his country’s rulers as well as America’s political leaders. His mentioned of America’s leaders as they influence the whole America in their fight for freedom and justice were properly justified.In Astral America, he wrote some lines on the countryâ€⠄¢s leader’s influence on their people. As he wrote that: The smile of immunity, the smile of advertising: â€Å"This country is good. I am good. We are the best†. It is also Reagan’s smile – the culmination of the self-satisfaction of the entire American nation – which is on the way to becoming the sole principle of government (Baudrillard, 1989). In terms of advancement, Baudrillard’s depicted America’s perfect expansion of technology with the latest use of transportation and communication.Cities were alive with people and modern structures. All kinds of recreations and sports are there recognizing it as the power museum of the world. He even asks himself why he should stay in France and be with the shadow of France when he can even stay in America and do what the Americans do. But comes here comes Baurillard’s strict observation. He theorized that America could just be a dream or a reality. He said that although he considers this country much like Utopia where everything may be in realistic and in unrealistic state he only see its population as if living in simulation.They can be the model of lesser nations and ideal material of the modern world but they also have flaws and infirmities. He further discusses that America was like a giant hologram as if all information is contained in one whole element and holds everything in place. For example, every state from every direction offered the same services as he delightfully stated: America is neither dream nor reality. It is a hyperreality. It is a hyperreality because it is a utopia which has behaved from the very beginning as though it were already achieved.Everything here is real and pragmatic, and yet it is all the stuff of dreams, too†¦The Americans, for their part, have no sense of simulation. They are themselves the simulation†¦(Baudrillard, 1989). The book America also talks about the hostility of the Wild West, the dazzling sound of the jazz, the vacant and morbid deserts of the South-West, the neon lights of the motels and gang warfare in New York City. He also sees America as a vast empty space with savage and mixed-cultured people populating the cities.In short, he sees America as an advance nation existing with all its special effects but taking a deeper look inside its system is a hollow society living in an artificial world. During his class film lectures, he always discusses about the Vietnam War in the 1960s. He claimed that in reality, America did not win the war on the ground but only paralyzed the small Asian country. Although the US was always portrayed as victorious such as on popular movies like The Apocalypse Now and Platoon, accordingly these films did not significantly depicted reality but were made only for entertainment with the use of modern cinematography.From the French journal Liberation, Baudrillard stated that the 1991 Gulf War did not actually take place. That everything people have seen o n TV was only â€Å"hyperreal images† created and manipulated by no less than the newest technology on cinematography. That America has only made a perfect visual art that artificially portrayed realism to achieve a striking and realistic effect but actually did not presented the real photographic representation of what is behind the event.Throughout the 1990s, almost all of Baudrillard’s work focus on hyperreality theme of the postmodern culture and yet his writings are sometimes disjointed and aphoristic. To simply said, his works expresses his own opinion or even the general truth but not necessarily the reality itself. On the 20th of November 2005, Deborah Solomon of the New York Times Magazine interviewed the French philosopher regarding some background and belief of the archetype â€Å"French† intellectual. Solomon wants to dig deeper to discover what is behind the man’s quality as a journalist and a philosopher.From the interview, Baudrillard alway s respond with alertness and proudly discussed his philosophical views on life, the realities of war, and the attitude of man toward logical thinking and simple reasoning. Although the interview leads to a seemingly ridiculous question such as how he believes that the US invasion of Iraq was to spread freedom and not war, Baudrillard answered his most rhetoric answer. He stated that: What we want is to put the rest of the world on the same level of masquerade and parody that we are on, to put the rest of the world into simulation, so all the world becomes total artifice and then we are all-powerful.It's a game (cited by Parker, 2005). This led to Solomon’s conclusion that Baudrillard’s ideas although are unfathomable at first glance, they are however most fascinating and compelling. That this man who uses his intellect to surmise and analyzed things in his most amusing and bewildered manner was a serious man. He normally uses words like â€Å"hyperreal† and â₠¬Å"transistorize† to commonly describe on what he believes in. Baudrillard writes with a kind of unstoppable electric lyricism that is fast-paced but transparent. He diced his statements with jargon and sometimes uses technological idiom that provides his prose a metaphorical suppleness.His accounts which he diligently introduced in his book America were put through most depictive and striking description while identifying the facets of the modern American life. Of New York for example, he wrote that: It is a world completely rotten with wealth, power, senility, indifference, puritanism, and mental hygiene, poverty and waste, technological futility and aimless violence, and yet I cannot help but feel it has about it something of the dawning of the universe (Parker, 2005). His great influence on literature can also be seen on the blockbuster movie â€Å"The Matrix†.Filmmakers Andy and Larry Wachowski picked the idea when they discover of Baudrillard’s book â€Å" Simulacra and Simulation†. Although Baudrillard do not like the idea that his work would be represented in a film that is not real, he said that the scheme of using his work was not properly advised and called for. Some people consider his works as unbiased literature that are constantly intriguing while they cross the borders of normal criticisms. Mr. Baudrillard tackled different subjects ranging from race and gender, art and literature, to the present day trauma such as the September 11 terrorism.Although his comments are openly misquoted and misunderstood they altogether sparked controversy. Nevertheless he was clearly known as more than an observer with alarming analytical mind and always opinionated with his own subliminal eccentricity. The editor for Lire literary magazine Francois Busnel said of Mr. Baudrillard that he was unique in his own ways because he is very independent in his ideas and does not take sides. Considered as a postmodern guru of our time, his observa tion and analysis of today’s society emanate from his own distinction to shape in with any theoretical category.Wearing thick glasses, his look emanates a warm personality although many know him for his black humor and witty aphorisms. He was always quoted for his postulation of today’s world where everyone lived in his simulated world that the real thing has vanished and everything was replaced with artificial feelings and situations. As a proof that things were getting unreal in our world were the establishment of shopping malls, amusement parks, sensationalized TV programs and news programs. Television shows and films are only animated by no less than actors devoid of authenticity and meaning.He always advises the media that the pursue for reality cannot be truly accomplished because the world today abounds with illusions. His interview in 2005 by no less than The New York Times was all about his beliefs on today’s values and the need for freedom. Baudrillard was quoted that all of man’s values are simulated and that freedom was the most abused of all the given privileges. That anybody have a choice between buying material things because it is a simulation of freedom. He also criticized the practice of the consumers in which they buy material things out of necessity but of the status and label on the product.Again, as we refer in his travelogue Astral America which he originally wrote in 1986, he was remembered writing that America has all the simulated freedom in purchasing and having things that is not really necessary. For him, America’s advantage in terms of product availability is the original version of modernity as the French were just a copy with subtitles. He could be implying that although America having to exist in complete state of unreality was still adored and looked upon by no less than another great nation as France.Although he was always aloof and shunned media most of the time, his articles can frequently be found on newspapers in Paris. â€Å"The Spirit of Terrorism: And Requiem for the Twin Towers† was one of his recognized writings which he made in dedication of the 9/11 attack. He argued that through creating self reality, the Islamic fundamentalists have made their own simulation that the West would constantly be their targets for terrorism. Baudrillard was oftentimes branded as obscure, indifferent and reversely opinionated because he was unlike other postmodernists as he always disagrees with simple reasoning.Alan Sokal and Jean Bricmont, both author and publisher of the 1998 book Fashionable Nonsense: Postmodern Intellectuals’ Abuse of Science also have something to say on Baudrillard’s attitude and comments. They said that, â€Å"if the texts seem incomprehensible, it is for the excellent reason that they mean precisely nothing† (Cohen, 2007). But the French critic does not give a damn on such acid remark. He said that, â€Å"what I’m goi ng to write will have less and less chance of being understood but that’s my problem† (Cohen, 2007),On March 6 this year Jean Baurillard died in Paris of long time illness at the age of 77. The internationally celebrated and influential French intellectual who achieved world fame for his rhetoric that is always incomprehensible by the simplest of mind and the author of more than 50 books left a vacant space in the midst of a denser and over-apocalyptic mesh of misunderstood scenarios. A legend of his own kind, he will never be forgotten by those who believe in his underlying principles and unusual philosophical views (Cohen, 2007).Jean Baudrillard may not be so popular to many because of his indifference to the common postmodernist literary figures. But upsetting common analysis of a situation through independent reasoning and protracted logic somewhat separated him from the ordinary that are overused and boring. We may never see one like him in our modern age but someb ody might dare to be different in reasoning just like him and might also provide us a more in-depth perception of things and events.His book America provides us the view on how an intellectual personality like Jean Baurillard sees America from different perspective. In Astral America he introduced us more with a deeper understanding on how a European see America as a modern world but full of artificial elements that produces artificial excitement. Although his intention in writing this travelogue was only to write about a simple travelling experience, many considered this literature as his way to present America to the people in Europe what in reality America is.References Baudrillard, J. (1989). America: Verso. Book. http://books. google. com/books? id=73CCg_I_rKsC&pg=PA27&dq=Jean+Baudrillard+Astral+America&sig=RRWmj6kYLk-pDpemPyPahbeMouk Cohen, P. (2007, March 7, 2007). Jean Baudrillard, 77, Critic and Theorist of Hyperreality, Dies The New York Times from http://www. nytimes. com /2007/03/07/books/07baudrillard. html? _r=1&oref=slogin Parker, H. (2005). Old Europe, Astral America On Jean Baudrillard, Nassau Weekly. Magazine. http://www. nassauweekly. com/view_article. php? id=408.