Monthly Archives: August 2009

Japanese students learn importance of business communication

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A Japanese professor from the department of literature at Musashino University, Professor Kujinghuizi provided students speech at her university a glimpse into the importance of oratory skills in business and the importance of those skills in such fields as executive coaching.

She is a graduate from the Department of English and American Literature at Aoyama Gakuin University.  Because of her expansive knowledge about language, she provided Japanese students a fantastic chance to learn how to improve their communication abilities before heading out into the work environment.  Among her credentials are research at the Institute of Japan’s National of her home country’s language.  She is an expert in the fields of cross cultural communication and education, as well as Japanese linguistics.

Her speech comprised many topics, including how to consider acting towards people from a different place in emails, phone calls, in-person communication, or memos.  These simple enough skills to learn become complicated when dealing with a business from a different culture. That is why having great oratory and written skills are such a necessary part of any job in the business world and why degrees in language often are a great starting point for more advanced degrees.  It is vital to secure such skills proper cooperation for economic success.

Such minor disagreements can start in business because of a misunderstanding due to cultural misunderstandings.  For instances, Professor Kujinghuizi pointed out to the student attending her lecture that Japan tends to be more of a communal cultural and thusly uses more first person plural in business practices whereas the culture of the United States uses more first person singular in business because of individualistic tendencies of the country.

Understanding such cultural implications and the roots of deep cultural ideas and identity in simple words such as “I” and “we” can help those in not only the Japanese culture succeed everywhere, but also other countries as well.  Although what she said her speech might change in translation, the basic idea remains the same.  Sales training and other assorted kinds of training in businesses are important, but without a proper understanding of how important communication abilities are, they mean nothing.

Spanish Painters in Edinburgh

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he Discovery of Spain Exhibit in the National Gallery of Scotland recently opened in Edinburgh last month and will continue to run through the middle of October.  This is a celebration of the incredible painters and of the heritage and history of the culture of Spain.  The collections are all owned by other artists, from England and the British Art collectors.  This is also one of the notable high lights of the program for the 2009 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

There are many reasons this summer to book your Lothian hotel early, as art loving tourists from around the globe are making their way to this region of Scotland for the summer.  The exhibit takes a look at the works of early British painters from the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries who were inspired and captivated by the beauty of Spain, as well as the inspiration gained by exploring some of the countries most notable artists.  In a round about way, it also exemplifies British taste, when concerning matters of art, Spanish art specifically.

Some of the collectors have acquired works by such masters as El Greco, Zurbaran and Valazquez.  This is an exhibit that will only be hung in the city of Edinburgh and includes more than one hundred thirty drawings, watercolors, prints and paintings.  Some of the pieces are on loan from other institutions such as the National Gallery of London, the Tate Museum and the Royal Collection as well as those from the private collections across the United Kingdom.

Goya was known for his illustration of the brutality of war, and the cruelty that individuals show during these times, rather than the glory.  Valezequez on the other hand, focused on commissioned portraits.  Both of these painters become famous right away, however it took many much longer to appreciate the work of El Greco.  All three of these masters of Spain have been studied extensively and continue to inspire and educate the modern painters of today.  This is one show that should not be missed.

Restoring South Africa

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I managed to make reservations at one the South African five star hotels in order to attended an international conference in South Africa concerning the powers of restorative justice. The conference surrounded what exactly does restorative justice look like when the victimizer is the state and the victims are union leaders, church leaders and members, teachers and professors, students, even leaders or members of indigenous groups.

All over the world, totalitarian and dictatorial governments are, even if slowly or barely noticeable, are being replaced with a more participatory government. So, in the midst of these turbulent transitions, victims and survivors, religious leaders and human-rights activists are asking serious questions about the past in an effort to avoid false reconciliation and to realize true restorative justice. They are of the belief that the first step toward restorative justice is taken when governments tell the truth about past atrocities which were carried out by the previous predecessor of the state or country. Perpetrators must admit their sin and ask for pardon. They will also need to provide the evidence for appropriate prosecution within the judicial parameters.

The conference will focus on the past 25 years. There has been over 20 truth commissions around the world. The most known example of restorative justice on the national level is South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The conference will discuss how with memory there can be healing. With forgiveness there can be a future. The TRC has received criticism about a lack of direct victim-offender encounters during it’s inception and that very little restitution was carried out by the said offenders.

The conference will address these issues and see if the TRC has learned for example what happened in Chile. The TRC had no judicial powers; it couldn’t establish culpability or impose penalties. This was concerning the Pinochet regime. But, despite the set backs the TRC managed to print out all the names of those who had been killed or disappeared which was extremely significant and did help the healing process to begin. So, let the healing begin.

Sam Shepard Starts on New York Stage

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Sam Shepard is an American playwright who among many others has been produced in New York. He was born in November of 1943 in Fort Sheridan, Illinois. In addition to being a playwright, he has written books and essays and short stories. During his adolescents, Shepard worked on ranch, and after high school, he left college early to join a traveling theatre group. By 1963 he was working as bus boy in Greenwich Village, New York. Tourists visiting the city may use a New York City car hire company, or simply take a taxi to the Village for a great dinner and show, though they are unlikely to have Shepard clear their plates, they may be served by the next great actor or Broadway playwright.

During the early sixties Shepard was the drummer in an unconventional rock band, The Holy Modal Rounders, which was the same band that was featured in the 1969 film Easy Rider. It was also during the sixties that Shepard became extremely involved in the Off Broadway theatre scene. His strongest connection during these early years was with the Theatre Genesis located in the East Village at St. Mark’s Church in the Bowery. Shepard is also an actor and has had a successful career in both fields, and has been highly regarded for his performances. He was even nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Chuck Yeager in the 1983 film The Right Stuff.

Shepard then moved to England and lived their for three years before moving back to the States and relocating to San Francisco, California. He was named the playwright in residence at the Magic Theatre, and many of his greatest plays received their premiere productions there. Some of his most outstanding plays include Fool For Love, True West, Curse of the Starving Class, A Lie of the Mind and Buried Child, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama. Hotel information here

Hugh Jackman Studied in Perth

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Perth, Australia is the proud home of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, which is part of the Edith Cowan University. One of the reasons it is so prestigious is that it has been the launching pad for many of Australia’s actors and television broadcasters. It as even been the educational base from some of the world’s most famous performers. Hugh Jackman is just one of the major actors to spring from this academy. Guests staying at one of the best Perth boutique hotels may hope to find this dashing Aussie roaming the streets, though unfortunately for them he has moved on from these early days of learning and study. Click for information about other hotels.

Jackman was born in Sydney in October of 1968. He was the youngest of five children born to his English parents. He was the second to be born in Australia, though he still has a strong English heritage, of course. He began acting early in life and performed in his all boys middle school production of My Fair Lady. He is both a theatre and film actor, and has had a successful career in both fields. While many film actors begin on the stage, they don’t return after achieving any form of success in television or film. There are also those film actors who prefer theatre and act on the stage as often as possible. And while allusive, it is certainly a more profitable career choice to focus on television or film. Jackman began his stage career in Melbourne, where he played Gaston in a production of Beauty and the Beast, as well as Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard. He is most famous for his film work however, and unparticular for his role as the Wolverine in X-Men. This film also starred Halle Berry, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart.

Bee Gees Get Musical Start in Brisbane

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The Bee Gees were an amazing musical trio, whose careers and works have transcended decades of musical genre transitions and various trends. The group was comprised of three brothers, Robin, Barry and Maurice Gibb. The brothers also had a much younger brother, Andy, who would follow in their footsteps and forge his own singer career as a solo artist. The Gibb brothers were born on the Isle of Man and their parents were English. They lived in Manchester, England and also Brisbane, Australia as children. They began their musical careers young, and while they were still in Brisbane. The city serves as an excellent introductory atmosphere for young musicians as it is recognized as one of the world’s major music cities. In fact, in 2007 it was nominated as one Billboard’s Top 5 International Music Hotspots. Tourists who visit the city and stay in one of the charming Brisbane boutique hotels are often there to attend a great music festival or at least see a concert at one of the fabulous South Bank venues.

The Bee Gees are remarkable both for their great music and the brothers’ abilities for tight harmonies, but also for their ability to sustain a career through 45 years in the business. This is a remarkable feat for any band, particularly one that became almost synonymous with a particular style, such as disco. The Bee Gees were a driving force behind the disco fever that spread like wild fire through the seventies. While they were extremely successful and internationally known by the time this film was in production, they rose to an even greater superstar status with the soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever, a film which some have said defines the disco generation. And while this film and album did not begin or elevate the disco trend, it certainly prolonged it and brought into greater mainstream attention. The songs Stayin’ Alive, Night Fever, and How Deep is Your Love all reached number one status in the United States. More hotel information

The Case for Class Action Lawsuits

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When a single person, or a small group of people sue, usually a company, in the name of a larger number of people, that is called a class action lawsuit.  There are two issues of this kind of suit, regardless of the nature or the matter of it,  of which all Orange county lawyers are aware, are that the aspects that are being disputed are relevant to all members of the group, and that the number of those affected is so great, that for each one to participate in an individual case would be impractical. 

This is the definition of the case that was illustrated in the movie “Erin Brockovich“.  All the members of the community were affected by the chemicals in the water, so many, and all of whom would not have been able to afford single cases.  All members of the group are bound by the resolution.  These kinds of suits are often started when either one, or a few of the persons affected come forward with a problem that is affecting the whole.  Fraud or deceit is a common lawsuit that has taken its toll on large number of people. 

Other cases are ones in which a company is accused of discrimination, either based on gender, age or race.   Other cases may involve people who have purchased the same product and were similarly harmed by that product.  In the medical field, groups of patients prescribed medication, without being made aware of the possible effects, and then having experienced the consequences of those effects is reason for a class action lawsuit. 

These suits are intended to enhance a number of policies.  Many times these are the only means for which many people are able to find justice.  The corporations such as the pharmaceutical companies or the insurance companies have the money and the lawyers to defend themselves, far exceeding the financial means of the victims.  However when people join together, the playing field becomes equal.

Up the Creek in Cape Town

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For visitors to Cape Town, car rentals are necessary for all adventurous travelers looking to experience life off the beaten path.  Cape Town proper has plenty of fascinating things to do, with loads of special attractions such as museums, parks, restaurants, clubs, and special exhibitions.  It’s a very lively place, and the usual local fare is enormously interesting, and there are also all sorts of events that pass through Cape Town, because it is one of the main cultural centers in the world.  For any of these, a rental car is a wonderful thing to have, and will make your trip much easier.  But there are also hundreds of events that happen on the far reaches of the city, and beyond.  There are many exciting attractions, like wildlife parks, that are much easier with your own car, and it makes planning much simpler.

Cape Town is one of the true music centers of the world, with a long history of musical styles and rhythms that have been evolving on African soil.  The clash of forms of music have given birth to some of the most interesting music in the world.  It’s no surprise, then, that Cape Town has its share of music festivals, and one of the more popular is Up the Creek.  This festival runs for three days every Summer (for South Africa, this happens in February), and is a veritable explosion of local talent, entertaining large masses of South African youth.  This is a fantastic opportunity to check out local culture, and also participate in one of the great celebrations of global music.

The festival is now in its 25th year, having beginnings in 1990.  At its inception, this was held in Summer and Winter, but now is modestly scaled back in terms of size.  But certainly not energy.  Up the Creek always brings in an enthusiastic and sizable crowd, drawn to the party for music (and a little romance perhaps…).  This past year’s festival had nearly 20 bands, with Sons of Trout, Golliwog, and MoodPhase5ive on the bill.  The Up the Creek festival also has a large screen for viewing cricket, for a distinctively South African touch.  Not that it needs it.

Keep your home cool without turning the AC down

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Summer means air conditioning. And air conditioning should be code for money flying out of your wallet.  And since most of us do not have the money to splurge on a great new energy efficient air conditioner we have to find other ways to keep our home cool without spending our entire paycheck.  And there are ways to do so that is a lot cheaper than replacing that old air conditioner. Here are some tips to keep the home cool and the wallet super happy!

Turn up the thermostat: Just punching up that dial a few degrees can save you quite a bit of money in the long run. If you have the desire you can go ahead and purchase one that will do the energy saving for you. A programmable thermostat will keep your home cooler at certain times of the day and warmer other times. Like when you are at work or know you will be out you can keep the temperature up.

Clean your air filter: Having a dirty air filter in your air conditioner is not only bad for your health; it’s also bad for your wallet. Making sure that you have the filter cleaned or changed per the instructions of the manufacturer is a good way to keep costs down. You can even clean the filter yourself.

Have window treatments installed: Window treatments will keep the sun off of your house and out of your windows. Window coverings are an attractive and not too expensive way to keep your cooling bill down. Next Day Blinds has a website with a great assortment of options as well.  Next Day Blinds will have something that you will like and that will fit within you budget. And like the name entails Next Day Blinds will have you saving money in no time flat!

Install ceiling fans: Ceiling fans are a great way to keep you cool and costs down as well!