martes, 30 de octubre de 2007

Culture + Myths and urban legends



Culture + Myths and urban legends
essay

Switzerland has a culture, are a mixture of the cultures of Germany, Italy and France. The combination of cultural, linguistic, culinary, musical and literary influences from these three nations has led to the creation of a Swiss culture that is a synthesis of elements.



The Swiss don’t have lots of myths or urban legends that influence your culture but the Swiss people are known for their warm heartedness and love of life. They celebrate many festivals in Switzerland with great gusto and tourists are welcome to join in while traveling in Switzerland. Many towns and villages have a feast day in honor of a local saint. There are also harvest festivals to celebrate the gathering of seasonal crops including fruit and wine. These secular festivals are a celebration of the bounty of the Swiss countryside. Christmas is a grand celebration in Switzerland when young and old celebrate this festival of brotherhood.
However for Swiss, William Tell is a hero, he became a symbol of Switzerland's national pride and independence. Tell's feat of archery supposedly took place around 1300, when Switzerland was under Austrian rule. The independent-minded Tell refused to salute an Austrian official, who then ordered Tell to take the nerve-wracking shot. Afterward, the official spotted a second arrow. Tell said that if his first arrow had missed, he would have used the second one to kill the official. As punishment, Tell was sent to prison, but he escaped and killed the Austrian official. This act inspired the rebellion that eventually ended Austrian rule in Switzerland. Some accounts name Tell a leader in that fight. For this reason, William Tell first appeared in legends and songs of the 1400s. By the 1700s, various Swiss histories featured the story.

sábado, 27 de octubre de 2007

Switzerland crime

Switzerland crime
Essay

Switzerland is a country with an excellent humanitarian tradition and for this reason Geneva is “the capital of peace”. The crime in Switzerland is very low and for this reason a lot of foreign people have been thinking that this country is a good place to raise the family.


However Switzerland has a low rate of violent crime. However, pick-pocketing and purse snatching do occur in the vicinity of train and bus stations, airports, and some public parks, especially during peak tourist periods (such as Summer and Christmas) and when conferences, shows, or exhibits are scheduled in major cities. Liechtenstein has a low crime rate. Travelers may wish to exercise caution on trains, especially on overnight trains to neighboring countries. Thieves, who steal from passengers while they sleep, can enter even locked sleeping compartments.
Other thing important is that all class a hard drugs including heroin and cocaine are completely illegal in Switzerland and being caught either in possession of these drugs or selling them holds stiff penalties almost certainly including prison time in Switzerland. The police attitude towards softer drugs such as hashish and cannabis is more ambiguous. While possessing or selling these drugs is technically a crime, police often turn a blind eye to discreet use of such drugs and prosecution for being in possession of small quantities of these drugs is not likely.


The most important thing is that the emergency telephone number in Switzerland to be called in order to report all crimes is 117. Police in Switzerland are either federal or local. Swiss federal police are plain clothed officers and only become involved in serious crimes that go beyond canton level in Switzerland. Victims of crime in Switzerland are far more likely to come into contact with the local canton police who deal with the majority of police issues locally.

miércoles, 26 de septiembre de 2007

Article

One Family's Finances: How Bill Gates Invests His Money Like a lot of people, he's got stocks, bonds, and a money manager. But there are differences. For one thing, his personal portfolio is the size of a large mutual fund.

This article written by Andy Serwer Reporter Associate Jeanne Lee, is an important article that took about the fortune of Bill Gates who with his effort created a big wealth, and for this reason step by step Bill Gates could create foundations or philanthropic infrastructure because his wealth continued to grow, but all the fortune was a work not only of Bill Gates because he was help by his private money manager. The purpose of the text is show the people that a good manger with strong skills is very necessary for that the enterprise can grow.
Bill Gates began his enterprise whit a manage named Andrew Evans he was good but the business of Bill Gates grow in a minimum percentage, after Evan had a financial problem and for this reason Evans had to go. Gates needed to find a new money manager. This new portfolio manager would have to be smart. He would have to have a killer track record. But Gates was looking for more than that. "Since Microsoft is my primary focus, I wanted someone who could operate on their own," he says. "I also wanted someone with a conservative philosophy about investing. I needed to have complete faith in the person I picked, since I didn't ever want to have to look over their shoulder". And Michael Larson was the solution, he is the son of an industrial engineer, grew up in North Dakota and then in Albuquerque. When he graduated from high school, he wanted to join the Coast Guard but couldn't because he was only 16. He attended Claremont College, finishing in three years with a degree in economics, and then went directly to the University of Chicago, where he picked up an MBA at the age of 21. From there Larson went to work for Arco doing mergers and acquisitions. Then he shifted gears and joined Putnam Investments in Boston, managing bond funds. After two years he struck out on his own. He was trying to buy a money-management firm in Chicago, without much luck, when Bert Early rang him up. The word on Wall Street about Larson is frankly admiring, and not just because everybody wants a piece of his business. Last year Larson outperformed the Dow, even though he had over half his money in cash (some trick). "I think Gates is incredibly lucky to have Larson," says John Griffin, a top New York hedge fund manager. "He's really good. And he's someone Bill can really trust."
Thank to Michael Larson, Bill Gates can create a lot of foundations. As Gates converts billions of dollars of Microsoft stock into philanthropic tender, Michael Larson will be shepherding the funds every step of the way. He will manage the foundation portfolios until the dollars are expended on syringes, scholarships, and software. "People have no idea the kind of pressure that Michael Larson operates under," says Roger McNamee. "For one thing, he's running money for two of the largest foundations in the world. The better he does, the more good works can be done."
I consider that this article pretend show the people the important of the effort in the work, because if you want a excellent work you need a lot of sacrifice, but in my opinion the work not is all in the live, because the best strategies for will to be an amazing and perfect work is: Don't panic; Return to Source; Take a body inventory; Tell the truth; Keep good company; Tune Up Your Thinking; Set Healthy, Flexible Boundaries; Create or Refine Systems and Keep the Goal, Drop the Plan.
In conclusion I have been thinking that for get a good work you need a balance between your life, work, and business. First you need a lot of effort but with the time when you have experience and good skills you can get the better work for you whit lower stress; flexible hours; enjoyment derived from performing the work and you can feeling of making a difference. An for reasons exposed before today, Bill Gates is known variously as the creator of Microsoft, as the richest man in the world, and as a monopolist hell-bent on world infotech domination. Hard as it may be for some people to swallow, future generations may remember Bill Gates instead as the greatest philanthropist the world has ever known.

jueves, 20 de septiembre de 2007

Henry Dunant

He was born into a wealthy home on May 8, 1828 but died in a hospice on October 30, 1910, was a Swiss businessman and social activist. He recorded his memories and experiences in the book "A Memory of Solferino" which became the inspiration for the creation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1863.

The Geneva household into which Henri Dunant was born was religious, humanitarian, and civic-minded. In the first part of his life Dunant engaged quite seriously in religious activities and for a while in full-time work as a representative of the Young Men's Christian Association, traveling in France, Belgium, and Holland.

When he was twenty-six, Dunant entered the business world as a representative of the Compagnie genevoise des Colonies de Sétif in North Africa and Sicily. In 1858 he published his first book, Notice sur la Régence de Tunis [An Account of the Regency in Tunis]. Having served his commercial apprenticeship, Dunant devised a daring financial scheme, making himself president of the Financial and Industrial Company of Mons-Gémila Mills in Algeria (eventually capitalized at 100,000,000 francs) to exploit a large tract of land.

After returning to Geneva early in July, Dunant decided to write a book about his experiences, which he titled "Un Souvenir de Solferino" (A Memory of Solferino). It was published in 1862, destined to make him famous. He described the battle, its costs, and the chaotic circumstances afterwards. He also developed the idea that in the future a neutral organization should exist to provide care to wounded soldiers. He distributed the book to many leading political and military figures in Europe. Their first meeting on February 17, 1863 is now considered the founding date of the International Committee of the Red Cross. From early on, Moynier and Dunant had increasing disagreements and conflicts regarding their respective visions and plans. Howervwer Dunant never recived attention for the of the politicians and their ideas remained in the paper.

For the next twenty years, from 1875 to 1895, Dunant disappeared into solitude. After brief stays in various places, he settled down in Heiden, a small Swiss village. Here a village teacher named Wilhelm Sonderegger found him in 1890 and informed the world that Dunant was alive, but the world took little note. Because he was ill, Dunant was moved in 1892 to the hospice at Heiden. And here, in Room 12, he spent the remaining eighteen years of his life. Not, however, as an unknown. After 1895 when he was once more rediscovered, the world heaped prizes and awards upon him.

In 1901, Dunant was awarded the first-ever Nobel Peace Prize for his role in founding the International Red Cross Movement and initiating the Geneva Convention. Norwegian military physician Hans Daae, who had received a copy of Rudolf Müller's book, advocated Dunant's case on the Nobel committee. The award was jointly given to French pacifist Frédéric Passy, founder of the Peace League and active with Dunant in the Alliance for Order and Civilization. The official congratulations which he received from the International Committee finally represented the long overdue rehabilitation of Dunant's reputation:

"There is no man who more deserves this honour, for it was you, forty years ago, who set on foot the international organization for the relief of the wounded on the battlefield. Without you, the Red Cross, the supreme humanitarian achievement of the nineteenth century would probably have never been undertaken."

martes, 11 de septiembre de 2007

Pages about successful people were born in Switzerland

Pages about successful people were born in Switzerland


Dunant, Jean Henri (Nobel Peace Prize 1901): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Dunant
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1901/dunant-bio.html




Ducommun, Elie (Nobel Peace Prize 1902):




Charles Albert Gobat (Nobel Peace Prize 1902):

Descriptive essay 3 - Switzerland

Descriptive essay
Working Opportunities in Switzerland

Switzerland has the high economic growth because is one of the countries more industrialized and important in the world and for this reason offers a lot of opportunities of working. In this country the women and men are recognized in the same way.

In the camp of law the people have been finding many opportunities because Switzerland is a country with an excellent humanitarian tradition and for this reason if the people are in applying for the position as a Human Right Consultant possible will find an amazing work, the principal reason for the humanitarian tradition is that Switzerland is the birth place of the Red Cross Movement and hosts the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Geneva is the principal city where the Human Right Consultants will find a good job, because Geneva is the “capital of peace”. In this region the Human Right Consultants can get an excellent work in the seat of ONU or in good international organizations.


However is important that the people think all the time that need some require contacts and luck. In Switzerland there are special requirements to work, first of all the people need have to be older than 18 years, not to have penal antecedents, have the capacity, vocation, a good health and experience for the job that the person going to develop.


Finally the most important thing would have for will get a good work as a human right consultant is: to be a person energetic, punctual, analytical, a good listener, have an eye for detail, keep calm under pressure and hard – working, the person would enjoy working with people, the most important for this work is help people whit their problems. My advised for that you will get an amazing work is: if you worked much in your education, values and skills, you would have a work in the in the seat of ONU or in good international organizations.

domingo, 9 de septiembre de 2007

Descriptive essay 2 - Switzerland

Descriptive essay
Living in Switzerland

Switzerland offers a lifestyle that most of us dream of, and it remains deservedly popular. For example:

The Health: the Switzerland has a reputation of efficient healthcare because all residents have medical coverage.
Shopping: In all the country you can find a lot of smaller shops, with different things for the home and for the personal necessities. The supermarkets in Switzerland close very late because the people need a lot of things every, for this reason closing times are 12:15 and 2 p.m. In the other hand the cost of food is high, for this reason the people al the time are thinking in work because if the people want a excellent lifestyle need have money.

Socializing: The Swiss historically are very reserved; however went other people is friendly with they the answer will be favourably the most important is that the foreign people learn the language because this is important to know good friends and to receive help. Other thing important is that the Swiss are people very punctually and for this single reason they wait for 5 minutes to the people with whom they have appointments.


Accommodations: the Swiss live in comfortable apartments locate in Zurich or Geneva. Its apartments are very comfortable because have communal laundry rooms and communal heating systems that help the people with the cost. Other thing important is that in these apartments the people are very calm at night because all are very calm after certain hours, in the other hand all the community are very clean and for this reason recycling is a way of life in Switzerland.

Transport: in Switzerland the transport is amazing because the people can find an excellent train system that is very economic.




Food: for the Swiss the chocolate is the most important food and for this reason historically the Swiss have been eating more than 10 kilos of chocolate every year. The chocolate is an obsession for this reason all the people prefer an excellent chocolate than a fruit or vegetables.

Atmosphere: the crime in Switzerland is very low and for this reason a lot of foreign people have been thinking that this country is a good place to raise the family. Lives in Switzerland motivate the people to do extreme something as hiking, cycling, water-sports, skiing, and snowboarding but the important is that the extreme sport are very safe.