Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Source I suggests that attitudes to Elvis Presley Essay Example for Free

Source I suggests that attitudes to Elvis Presley Essay Q. 5. Source I suggests that attitudes to Elvis Presley were beginning to change by 1958. Use the source, and you own knowledge, to explain why this was happening. By 1958 Elvis Presleys popularity and acceptability with adults was still unchanged, and his manager, Colonel Parker, decided to revamp Elvis image to better suit the tastes of the older generations. In order to achieve this Elvis was persuaded to do what every other young American man was obliged to do at the time: spend time assigned to the US Army for National Service, wearing fatigues and earning a pittance. This gained him good publicity as can be seen from Source I, which is obviously keen on Elvis as it is using him to demonstrate the brilliance of Americas society and American democracy. The article is making use of his rise to fame (how he was a nobody who became a somebody so quickly) to prove how the American dream (how anybody can be famous and dreams can come true in America) is really possible. The article also states how Elvis did not simply use his riches and influence to buy his way out of this duty to his country. By serving his time in the Army alongside other, ordinary draftees and not asking for special favours, and because of the good publicity he got from it, Elvis gained great respect from the older, patriotic generation, making them feel less negative towards him. It would have seemed now to parents that Elvis was setting a good, nationalistic example to their children, showing them the right path, and they liked him and the impact he was having better for this reason. He was also seen as not rebelling against what society expected of him, again making him more acceptable by the old as a role model for the young. The source differs from sources B and C in that it is not being critical of Elvis, and it is showing how he might have a good influence rather than a wholly bad one. The opinions have changed so much at this point and continued to change after Elvis returned from the Army mainly because Elvis was no longer as shocking, and therefore not as dangerous an influence on the young, or the morality of American society through outrageous television performances (after the third Sullivan appearance, Elvis manager raised his television price from $50000 to $300000, and the networks refused the new proposal, so Elvis didnt do TV again until 1960). For example, Elvis shocking ducktail haircut was shorn, and Pageant magazine reported: Fans cried, parents sighed. On becoming a G. I. in the Army, Elvis said: Its a duty Ive got to fill, and Im gonna do it. I guess the only thing Ill hate about it is leaving my mama. Shes always been my best girl. This showed that Elvis had family values, and love for his mother, which would have made him seen more normal and down-to-earth (or less shocking and less rebellious). Again Elvis would have made parents think he would lead their children the right way, rather then corrupting their morals. By the time Elvis had returned from the Army in 1960, his TV appearances would have lost their initial shock. He was still popular, but the primal hysteria was gone, and shortly the fan magazines for teenagers would have had the Beatles to talk about. After joining the Army, Elvis also changed his musical style, performing some religious songs and doing a duet with Frank Sinatra, the grown-ups music star, making him a lot more acceptable, even likeable. It was around this time that Elvis started to star in his own films, but these films werent action packed or shocking. They were mainly romances and love stories, portraying the softer, tenderer side of Elvis that seemed less threatening to the adult generation. Generally, adults attitudes towards Elvis were beginning to improve by 1958 because of the change in his image. The youth however maintained their rebelliousness, and Elvis popularity among teenagers dropped slightly as they saw that adults found him more acceptable, or lost interest because he was no longer as downright shocking or rebellious as before.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Grendel and Beowulf Heroism :: Epic of Beowulf Essays

Intentions and Heroism   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A building is ablaze and a crowd of people stare helplessly from the streets, listening to screams coming from within. A single person runs in to rescues whomever he or she can find. Whether or not that person emerges with a child in their arms, empty handed, or not at all, does nothing to alter our society’s perception of their heroism. Today’s society would classify such an action as heroic, regardless of outcome, for one reason: intentions. During Anglo-Saxton times the interpretation of such an act, based on the tale Beowulf, would not be so understanding of what was intended, but rather of the outcome. If one perished and failed in an attempt of such a heroic act words like weakness might arise. It is here that the clash of what a hero is occurs between the Anglo-Saxton tale Beowulf and John Gardner’s Grendel. Beowulf in Beowulf is a hero for he defeats evil and restores order to and for the common people. Unferth in Grendel however is un successful in his campaign against evil, but like the man who emerges empty handed he is by no means any less of a hero. For heroism, as demonstrated in the Anglo-Saxton tale Beowulf, is altered in Gardner’s Grendel to convey the idea that intentions define a hero as opposed to actions. Beowulf is a classic hero in Beowulf for he fits the epitomized romantic mold so perfectly. His appearance is that of a hero, he is large, muscular, and intimidating. His intentions are also in the right place, he wishes to free Hrothgar’s people from the evil that is Grendel. He is a mature man, one who in the face of belittlement responds respectably and effectively. â€Å"Then up spoke Unferth†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Are you that Beowulf who with Breca swam on the broad sea-swell struggling together proud wave-wrestlers wagering your lives with reckless boasting risking for praise deep water-death?...† Beowulf answered†¦Ã¢â‚¬ and you were never known for such deeds nothing to brag of renowned as you are for killing your brothers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p.17-18 Beowulf) Beowulf doesn’t put Unferth down; rather he reminds him that he has no place to talk of heroic deeds and moves on. Gardner’s version of Beowulf is a much different person. â€Å"The eyes slanted downward, never blinking, unfeeling as snake’s† (p. 154) â€Å"The sea-pale eyes of the stranger were focused on nothing† (p. 155) â€Å"The stranger smiled on, he downward slanting eyes like empty pits.

Monday, January 13, 2020

Government budgeting Essay

Government budgeting is the critical exercise of allocating revenues and borrowed funds to attain the economic and social goals of the country. It also entails the management of government expenditures in such a way that will create the most economic impact from the production and delivery of goods and services while supporting a healthy fiscal position. GOVERNMENT BUDGET In general, a government budget is the financial plan of a government for a given period, usually for a fiscal year, which shows what its resources are, and how they will be generated and used over the fiscal period. The budget is the government’s key instrument for promoting its socio-economic objectives. Budgeting approaches or modes and techniques used in the Philippine government are characterized into three major orientations: * Control-orientation in budgeting is the process of enforcing or applying limitations and conditions that are set in the budget * Management-oriented budgeting involves the use of budgetary authority at both agency levels to ensure the efficient use of resources * Planning-orientation in budgeting is the process of determining public objectives and the evaluation of alternative programs. FOUR (4) BUDGETING METHODS 1. Line-Item Budgeting The line-item budgeting approach emphasizes listing of objects for itemized expenditure such as personnel, supplies, and equipment without much regard for the purpose of programs or projects for which such items are proposed. It also controls expenditures at the department or agency level giving emphasis on the accounting aspect of the government operations in terms of items bought or paid. 2. Performance Budgeting In performance budgeting, objects of expenditures are grouped into categories related to the specific services or products an institution produces, as against objects it purchases, and the development of product cost measurements of activities or services so that managers can measure the efficiency or productivity of spending agencies. 3. Planning, Programming and Budgeting System PPBS is an answer to the need for an economic allocation of resources and the undertaking of government policy, program analysis, and cost utility analysis to improve the policy decision process of government. The scheme requires agency managers to identify program objectives, develop measuring program output, calculate total program costs over the long-run, prepare detailed multi-year program and financial plans, and analyze the costs and benefits of alternative program designs. The system provides a strong linkage between planning and budgeting. 4. Zero-Based Budgeting ZBB is an operating, planning, and budgeting method which requires every agency manager to justify his entire budget systems in detail and transfers the burden of proof to each manager why he should spend any money. It underscores the analysis of all budgetary expenditures to answer effectiveness in achieving organizational goals. The term â€Å"zero-based† refers to the yearly analysis, evaluation, and justification of each program/project/activity starting form zero performance level. BUDGET CYCLE (FOUR PHASES) 1. Budget Preparation This involves the formulation or devisement of a national budget based on budgetary priorities and activities given available revenues and borrowing limits. The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), an interagency body, conducts consultations and studies on fiscal and financial issues with the objective of determining overall expenditure levels, revenue projection, deficit levels, and the financing plan. These are then forwarded to the cabinet and the President for approval. After approval by the President, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) issues a Budget Call. The call usually issued in November directs the different agencies to prepare their respective budget proposals in accordance with approved budget ceilings. 2. Budget Authorization or Legislation In this phase of the budget cycle, the budget is reviewed by the House of Representatives and followed by the Senate through consultation and justification by department and agency heads of their budget proposals. Conflicting provisions are worked out and harmonized by a conference committee. Once a common budget bill has been approved by both chambers, it is submitted to the President for approval. The product of the President’s approval of the proposed budget legislation is the General Appropriations Act (GAA). 3. Budget Execution This phase of budget cycle is the implementation of the General Appropriations Act. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) implements the national budget through the administrative supervision of the President. The Bureau of Treasury of the Department of Finance (DOF) coordinates with the DBM so that cash releases by the latter are based on collected revenues by DOF. 4. Budget Accountability Budget accountability is the analysis and review of the agency operating performance, systems and procedures, and the evaluation of agency accomplishments relative to cost incurred. It compares actual expenditures and performance with the planned expenditures and predetermined targets of the organization. While distinctly separate, these processes overlap in the implementation during a budget year. Budget preparation for the next budget year proceeds while government agencies are executing the budget for the current year and at the same time engaged in budget accountability and review of the past year’s budget.

Saturday, January 4, 2020

The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald - 1939 Words

Fitzgerald was an inspired individual and had the remarkable ability to write in such a way that his written works are everlasting echoes of his own life. F. Scott Fitzgerald was a literary genius and his work; The Great Gatsby was not only a reflection of his own life, but an outlet for the ever-changing society of the 1920s. The Great Gatsby was influenced by the standards of this time period. The 1920s were an age of excess, characterized by opulence and false satisfaction. American society reached an apparent peak of wealth, and wealthy New Yorkers drowned among illegal alcohol and lavish goods. The important people in his life also impacted Fitzgerald, and characters in his novel could be compared with many people in his life, among†¦show more content†¦January 16, 1920 brought about a new era that outlawed the selling of alcohol, yet allowed the purchase of alcohol. The new prohibition era dramatically altered the diets of the Americans where alcohol was once a staple, now leaving American families reeling due to their conflicted emotions about the purchase of alcohol (Kyvig 3). Not only were diets drastically altered, the job market experienced a negative rise in illegal professions. A large percent of the American people saw the prohibition as unnecessary and an error, and as a result did not take the laws regarding the consumption of alcohol seriously (Kyvig 179). As people sought after alcohol, the rise of bootleggers and speakeasy owners rose during the 1920s, and Fitzgerald embraced this as the profession for his protagonist, Jay Gatsby. At Gatsby’s parties, alcohol flowed freely, I ve been drunk for about a week now, and I thought it might sober me up to sit in a library (Fitzgerald 61). Regardless of the prohibition, Gatsby had the ability to get drunk and drink consistently. Fitzgerald created an air of mystery surrounding the source of Jay Gatsby’s ability to get alcohol. In The Great Gatsby partygoers would compare wild s tories that they believed accredited for Gatsby’s unbelievable wealth that afforded him alcohol. In the voice of Tom Buchanan, Fitzgerald revealed that Gatsby was indeed a bootlegger. Tom stated â€Å"He and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and