What do you think has been the most profound and enduring consequence Essay

What do you think has been the most profound and enduring consequence of colonialism in Africa Can it be said that colonialism had positive consequences - Essay Example onists normally govern the possessions, work force, and the trading aspects of the colony, and may enforce certain rules on the local people of that particular colony. In Africa, colonialism has most profound and enduring consequences that can either be positive or negative consequences. This paper, therefore, highlights some of the most profound and enduring consequences of colonialism, in Africa. It further argues whether or not colonialism had positive consequences, in Africa. The process of colonialism on the African land significantly transformed its account forever. Every way of living of the Africans changed completely from the way they think to culture, which were forever put in place by the change in their political system that was brought about by the process of colonialism (Thomson 67). The economy of Africa also transformed due to the slave trade through imperialism and the economic strategies that were imposed by the colonists. The major impacts and long lasting effects of colonialism, in Africa, include racial discrimination to Africans, tribal violence, and total poverty. According to Ali Mazrui, racial expression is the major lasting effect of colonialism in Africa, taking the example of the South African’s apartheid era, which took a long time to end even after they got their independent from the European colonists (Mazrui 116). The Europeans most awful heritage was the presence of the White racist state, which existed up to the year 1994, in South Africa. Apartheid was an acceptable racial discrimination method that was centered upon different ethnic backgrounds in South Africa. The people of South Africa were discriminated according to their races, and the local black population was denied the citizenship (Mazrui 112). The Whites were offered quality education, proper housing, good jobs, and excellent medical care. The apartheid system was so unreasonable with only whites who were less than te n percent trying to rule upon a larger population

The Parthenon.-history background and architectural structure Essay

The Parthenon.-history background and architectural structure - Essay Example Built circa 477 to 438 B.C.E., the Parthenon has come to stand for the ideals of the ancient Greek civilization. Despite is fame, there is only one brief description of the Parthenon, written by a Greek speaker named Pausanias, that has come down through the generations from the ancient period itself, although well after 600 years. The main focus of this short account was of the phenomenal statue of Athena, made of an overlay of gold and silver over a wooden frame (Beard, 2002, p. 25). The Parthenon is known as the â€Å"twenty-second wonder of the world† (Bipu, 2009). Through Greek-engineered techniques and currently-available masonry, the great architects of the Greek Empire have demonstrated marvelous feats of mounting stone cut figures into fully-formed foundations and architecturally-aesthetic amenities. It has been described as the primary wonder which resembles the aspects of science, art, and democracy. â€Å"It stands at 19.8 meters (65 feet) high inclusive of the su perstructure and three steps acting as the base. Each step is also of distinct from one another: the lowest step, the stereobate, is at a length 72.5 meters (238 feet) by width 33.8 meters (111 feet); the stylobate (top step) is at length 68.5 meters (228 feet) by width 30.8 meters (101 feet)† (Fletcher, 112). The superstructure itself consists of colonnades resembling the Doric style in the peristyle formation. The total number of columns results in 46 columns which are 10.4 meters (34 feet) in height, with the largest diameter at 1.8 meters (6 feet). The average spacing between the ends of each column is 2.4 meters (8 feet) while those in the porticos of the Parthenon are reduced to a diameter of 1.7 meters (5 ? feet). The column system applied to its Doric colonnade follows an optical illusion technique known as the entasis, which makes use of varying intervals in order to provide a logical symmetry to the building’s exterior (Lambrinou, 2010). The main openings of t he Parthenon lie in the porticos through the east – west orientation axis. Their entry doors are measured 7.3 meters (24 feet) high, 2.1. meters (7 feet) wide and 31 centimetres (1 foot) long.† (Matthews, 2011.). The rooms are clearly defined as the Parthenon is a place of divine worship for the highest among the Greek gods. The temple primarily devotes worship to the goddess Athena Parthenos, who is significant as the deity of the city-state. The interior of the temple had been highly-decorated with sculptures of mythological heroes, both mortal and immortal, of the Greek era, while the exterior mouldings within the pediment symbolize significant events of both historical and mythological accounts. These also utilized indispensable cornerstones to an advantage, portraying the complex according to the flourishing lifestyle typical of the ancient Athenians. Through its geography, they have mastered the art of seemed proportions regardless of the uneven terrain of the Acr opolis. Its colonnade arrangement suggested masculinity conveyed in the hard, stable form of the columns and straight figures, embodying both the stability of the foundation and the artistic nature of the structure (Matthews, 2011). â€Å"Designed by Greek masons Ictinus, Callicrates and Phidias,† (Matthews, 2011) the Parthenon was meant to withstand the harsh climatic effects of Mediterranean wind storms and heat waves. Because of this, the colonnade and portico assembly had been made by the designers. However, the presence of

Talisman Energy

Talisman Energy 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The following report outline research that will evaluate the goals and objective within organization. In doing so a series of interview with the relevant personal of Talisman (M) Sdn Bhd is done. Talisman Energy (Talisman) is an independent international upstream oil and gas company undertaking exploration, development, production, transportation, and marketing of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). Talisman was establish in 1992. The company primarily operates in North America, the North Sea, and Southeast Asia. It is headquartered in Alberta, Canada and employs over 2,600 people. The Malaysia branch is located at Menara Citibank Kuala Lumpur. Refer to appendix 1 for location and subsidiaries. Talisman is listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol TLM. Talisman is also part of the SP/TSX 60 Index. At year end, the company value was over $16 billion with 1,1019 million shares outstanding 2.0 INTRODUCTION The history of Talisman Energy (Talisman) dates back to 1953, when the company was established as BP Canada. It later became an independent company, in 1992. In the same year, Talisman Energy discontinued its mining operations in order to focus on its core areas. Talisman Energy (Talisman) is one of the largest independent oil and gas producers in Canada. Its main business activities include exploration, development, production, transportation, and marketing of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). It has about seven operating subsidiaries. Talisman has ongoing production, development, and exploration operations in North America, the North Sea, Southeast Asia and Australia, North Africa, and Trinidad and Tobago. Talismans operations are conducted principally in five geographic segments: North America, UK, Scandinavia, Southeast Asia, and other. The company produced over 430,000 boe/d in 2008, approximately 50% oil and 50% natural gas. The North America segment includes operations in Canada and the US. The UK segment includes operations in the UK and the Netherlands. The Scandinavia segment includes operations in Norway and Denmark. The Southeast Asia segment includes operations in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia, and Papua New Guinea. The other segment includes operations in North Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, Peru, and Qatar as well as other international exploration areas. 3.0 ANALYSIS AND FINDING OF THE SUMMARY SCENARIO 3.1 Company Goal and objective In any planning process, objectives and goals must be carefully established. Starting from the proposed objectives and goals, the strategies to reach them will be outlined The lack of clarity of the proposed objectives can compromise the whole sequence. According to Oliveira (2002), the objectives serve the following company purposes: 1. provide to people the feeling of a specific and adequate role in the company 2. give consistency to decision making among a large number of different executives; 3. encourage dedication and fulfillment based on expected results; and 4. supply a base for corrective actions and control. In charting direction of the company Talisman Energy (Talisman) has set three priorities objectives. Refer Table 1 Developing long-term growth opportunities Building high impact exploration Continue focusing on current portfolio Table 1 Goal Strategy The main elements of Talismans objective are: †¢ To establish sustainable, profitable growth from its unconventional gas business in North America, as well as Southeast Asia, and Norway. †¢ To create an exploration portfolio, which contributes to renewal by finding material hydrocarbons over time. †¢ And to underpin this with sustainable sources of cash from mature areas, as well as focusing the portfolio. Two main reasons the objective was introduced were to lower finding and development (FD) costs, and to increase the reserve life index over time. FD costs will be bought down in several ways: †¢ The unconventional business model has structurally lower FD costs than the conventional gas business model. †¢ Talisman is looking to expand activity in Southeast Asia, where FD costs are generally lower. †¢ If the exploration shift to larger prospects is successful, FD costs will fall. 3.2 SWOT Analysis Strengths Weaknesses Strong market position Diversified geographical presence Lack of scale High debt Opportunities Threats Acquisitions and agreements New oil and gas production Economic slowdown in the US and Euro zone Environmental regulations Saturation of resources Table 2 Swot Analysis Table Strengths Strong market position Talisman Energy is an independent, international upstream oil and gas company whose main business activities include exploration, development, production, transportation, and marketing of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The companys three core areas are North America, the North Sea, and Southeast Asia. In North America, Talisman is a leading deep gas explorer and has significant unconventional natural gas potential. In the North Sea, the company operates more than 40 oilfields and has extensive exploration acreage in Norway. In Southeast Asia, Talisman has substantial long-life natural gas reserves and highly prospective exploration acreage. Opportunity : A strong market position helps the company to leverage its market share. Diversified geographical presence Talisman Energy has ongoing production, development, and exploration operations in North America, the North Sea, Southeast Asia and Australia, North Africa, and Trinidad and Tobago. The companys operations are conducted principally in five geographic segments: North America, UK, Scandinavia, Southeast Asia, and others (comprising North Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, Peru, and Qatar). Talismans aggregate production for the year ended December 31, 2008 was approximately 452,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), consisting of approximately 189,000 boe/d from North America, 117,000 boe/d from the UK segment, 33,000 boe/d from the Scandinavia segment, 92,000 boe/d from Southeast Asia, and 21,000 boe/d from the rest of the world. Opportunity : A diversified geographical presence enables the company to reduce business risks arising in a particular geography. Weaknesses Lack of scale The company lacks the desired scale to compete with large players in the industry. Many of the companys competitors are much larger in size in terms of revenue generated, number of employees, and their presence in Europe and other developing market. One of its key competitors, British Petroleum (BP), generated revenues of about $288,951 million and employed about 97,600 people worldwide for the financial year ended December 2007 (FY2007). Another key competitor of the company Exxon Mobil Corporation (Exxon Mobil) generated revenues of about $390,328 million and employed 81,000 people as on FY2007. However, Talisman generated revenues of about C$7,919 million during the FY2008, and employed about 2,600 people worldwide as of FY2008. Problem : Owing to its relatively small scale of operations, the company could find it difficult to face competition. High debt The company has a significant amount of debt. For the FY2008, the company has an outstanding debt of C$3,949 million. Even though it is a decrease of 9% from FY2007 which stood at CAD$4,341 million, this figure is still high especially during the credit crunch. The companys substantial debt could limit its ability to obtain additional financing to operate its business. Further, it would make it difficult for the company to satisfy its obligations including making interest payments on debt obligations. Opportunities Acquisitions and agreements The company has been expanding its geographic reach through acquisitions and agreements. In January 2008, Talisman announced that one of its subsidiaries have acquired all the shares of CNOOC Wiriagar Overseas from a subsidiary of CNOOC for a consideration of $212.5 million. CNOOC Wiriagar Overseas holds a 3.06% interest in the Tangguh LNG Project. The Tangguh LNG Project, located in West Papua, Indonesia, consists of a number of offshore gas wells, production facilities, pipelines, and LNG plant facilities with a nameplate capacity of 7.6 million tons per year. In June 2008, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of Talisman Energy entered into agreements with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) within Iraq for interests in Blocks K44 and K39 respectively. In the same month, Talisman Energy announced that its wholly-owned limited partnership FEI Shale (Fortuna) reached agreement to earn up to a one-third working interest in US properties owned by Hallwood Energy (Hallwood). Upon completion of the capital program, Fortuna will have earned a one-third interest in substantially all of Hallwoods assets, including properties in Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana, for a total of 108,000 acres (net to Fortuna). These agreements and acquisitions would provide Talisman with growth opportunities and drive its revenue growth. New oil and gas production New oil and gas production Talisman Energy has considerably increased its oil and gas production in recent times. In December 2008, Talisman (Vietnam 46/02), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Talisman, announced first oil production from the Song Doc field in Block 46/02 offshore Vietnam. Gross production from five pre-drilled wells is expected to reach approximately 25,000 bbls/d by early 2009. An additional three development wells are currently being drilled. Talismans share of proved and probable reserves in the Song Doc field is estimated at six million barrels (mmbbls), with proved reserves of three mmbbls. Talisman Energy announced first gas production from the Rev Field in Norway, in January 2009. The field is expected to produce at a plateau rate of 100 mmcf/d of gas and 6,000 bbls/d of condensate and natural gas liquids from two subsea wells. A third producer, the Rev East well, is expected to be brought on-stream later in 2009. Talismans share of proved and probable reserves in the Rev Field at year end 2007 is estimated at 26 million boe, with proved reserves of 16 million boe.Talisman Energy Norge, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Talisman, has a 70% interest in the Field, with Petoro holding the remaining 30%. Production is transported via a nine kilometer pipeline to the Armada platform in the UK, operated by BG International (CNS), for processing and final export to the UK. The new oil and gas production would increase the companys output which in turn increases its revenues. Threats Economic slowdown in the US and Eurozone The US and European Union are the two key markets for Talisman. According to International Monetary Funds (IMF) World Economic Outlook, January 2009, the US and Eurozone economies could face slowdown in 2009. The GDP growth rate in the US has decreased from 2% in 2007 to 1.1% in 2008 and is projected to record a negative growth of 1.6% in 2009. The GDP growth rate in the Eurozone has declined from 2.6% in 2007 to 1% in 2008 and is projected to record a negative growth of 2% in 2009. A weak economic outlook for Eurozone and the US would put pressure on the revenues of the company. Economic slow down in the US and Eurozone could impact industrial development, which could adversely affect demand for Talismans products. Environmental regulations As a result of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and the worldwide Port State Control initiative, stringent new regulations have been enacted. These regulations pose the possibility of unlimited financial liability for pollution damages. Companies operating in the oil and gas industry are subject to strict environmental regulations. Distribution and storage houses need to strictly comply with environmental regulations which keep changing frequently. Compliance with these regulations forces distributors, such as Talisman, to incur high costs. These factors can have a potential negative impact on the companys margins. Saturation of resources The maturity of the North America basin reserve continues to give rise to increases in both replacement costs and operating costs. Larger companies are finding it increasingly difficult to increase their North American production as conventional production is declining in these more mature basins. Furthermore, output from proven natural gas reserves in Canada has been declining significantly. Although the development of Mackenzie Valley reserves would boost gas reserves to some extent, decreasing output is a long-term threat for Canadian oil and gas companies such as Talisman. In addition, offshore exploration space and the existing reserves are maturing and are slowly being saturated. There has been a succession of dry holes being drilled in the region in the last two years. The saturation of reserves in North America would severely impact the companys operations. 3.3 Current Year Performance Talisman generated a record $3.5 billion in net income in 2008, benefiting from high commodity prices during the year. Net income included a $1.7 billion recorded gain on held-for-trading financial instruments, primarily commodity contracts. Talisman entered into these contracts to protect 2009 cash flow and their capital program against a significant drop in prices. They also set a new record for cash flow of $6.2 billion, an increase of 42% over the previous year. Production from continuing operations averaged 419,000 boe/d for the year, 3% above 2007. Including non-core assets that were sold or are scheduled for sale, production was down 4%. Talisman used this record cash flow to strengthen the balance sheet, reducing long-term net debt to $3.9 billion, down from $4.3 billion a year earlier. In total, they paid down approximately $900 million in debt. The Company also spent a record $5.1 billion on exploration and development. North America accounted for 48% of spending, North Sea development projects 25%, Southeast Asia development 9% and international exploration 17%. Talisman replaced 75% of its production with proved reserves from drilling and non-price revisions in 2008. Refer to table 3 for further details (millions of C$ unless otherwise stated) 2008 2007 2006 Cash flow1 6,163 4,327 4,748 Net income 3,519 2,078 2,005 Earnings from continuing operations1,2 2,544 952 1,424 Per common share Cash flow ($)1 6.06 4.19 4.35 Net income ($) 3.46 2.01 1.84 Earnings from continuing operations ($)1,2 2.5 0.92 1.3 Oil production (mbbls/d) 3 224 241 262 Gas production (mmcf/d) 3 1,247 1,265 1,342 Total production (mboe/d) 3,4 432 452 485 Total production from continuing operations (mboe/d) 2,4 419 405 410 Average sales price ($/boe) 76.03 59.57 57.45 Exploration and development spending 5,106 4,449 4,578 Net debt1 3,949 4,341 4,496 Table 3 Current Year Performance 3.4 Recommended Strategies From the SWOT we found a few problems arising from the analysis below are the few strategies recommended in order to ensure the efficiency of the performance Weakness High Debt In order to reduce the high debt the company should emphasize on the strategic areas and exiting the non strategic areas. By selling of the non strategic area could increase the cash flow and therefore the company could drastically reduce greater amount of debt. Lack of scale In order to gain competitive advantages against the large scale companies such as BP (British Petroleum). The company should using the differentiate strategy. According to Micheal Porter differentiation advantage occurs when a firm delivers greater services for the same price of its competitors. They are collectively known as positional advantages because they denote the firms position in its industry as a leader in either superior services or cost. A firm possesses a sustainable competitive advantage when its value-creating processes and position have not been able to be duplicated or imitated by other firms Threat Economic slowdown in the US and Euro zone -This issue based on global issue the best way to mitigate the impact of economic slowdown is by improving the efficiency. During economic crisis the company must focus on their bottom line. Productivity, energy usage, etc. all must be made more effective. Environmental regulations Due to stringent and frequently change of oil pollution act the company might incurred high cost on compliance to the act. The best strategy for the company is to setup a team on monitoring closely on the compliance process. This is to avoid sudden change or adhoc changing process. Any sudden changes without a proper planning definitely incurred a very high cost. Saturation of resources Saturation of resources could have an impact on the company operation. The best way to deal with it is through Focusing on portfolio strategy. By focusing on high impact exploration area and exiting on depleting area or countries 3.4 Action programme The following action programme express on how Talisman could aligns with the goals and objectives of many diverse sites 1. Focus the Portfolio (core asset) Exit non strategic areas †¢ Potential non-core asset sales of 35,000-45,000 boe/d, with expected proceeds of $1.5-2.0 billion by the end of 2009. †¢ Exit some countries (i.e., the Netherlands, Denmark, Trinidad Tobago). †¢ Additional non-core asset sales in the UK and North America. 2. Grow Existing Base Maintain existing assets as firm base †¢ Size the UK to produce 80,000-100,000 boe/d through at least 2013 from existing assets. †¢ Continue to invest in core conventional North America natural gas areas with a view to keeping conventional production relatively flat. †¢ Southeast Asia production has doubled in the past five years and has the potential to double again in the next five (e.g. increasing Corridor volumes, Northern Fields development, Song Doc). 3. Findings on new Growth Opportunities Determine unconventional potential †¢ Talisman has built a large (2.5 million net acre) unconventional land base. †¢ The Company plans to spend $800-900 million on unconventional development projects over the next 18 months. †¢ An additional $300-400 million is planned for unconventional pilots over the same period. †¢ A total of 240-290 wells could be drilled as part of these program. Potential Future Growth in North Africa, South America †¢ Talisman has been active in Algeria since 1994. This is a very prolific hydrocarbon basin. †¢ The Company plans to drill up to eight exploration wells in Colombia and Peru through the end of 2009. 4. Optimize Global Exploration Support core area growth in the short term †¢ The Company will maintain active exploration programs in its core areas. †¢ Exploration spending is expected to average $700 million per year through 2010. Increase focus toward larger pool sizes †¢ Future focus areas include the Barents Sea (Norway), the central North Sea (UK), Colombia and Peru. †¢ The Company plans to drill up to 28 key exploration wells over the next 18 months. 3.4 Implementation Control Developing an effective company goals and objective is only half the battle. Getting it implemented is the other, and generally it is the tougher half. The most important part of implementation is monitoring taking a periodic look at how its going. Monitoring the implementation of objective is important for a number of reasons. First, it helps to assure that the efforts conform to the plan. Meaning the company is on track. Second, to make sure the results achieved align with objectives. Monitoring allows for corrective action and making the necessary changes along the way. To fine tune, not only strategies, but planning process as well. And since monitoring is part of a control process, it encourages improved performance. Knowing theyll be measured stimulates employees to do a better job. Finally, and most importantly, monitoring provides the essential link between the written plan and the day-to-day operation of your business. It demonstrates to all that the company are really managing the business according to plan. A significant benefit of the monitoring process is that it serves as your early warning system. It gives Talisman the opportunity to communicate how they are doing. For example, In Focus the Portfolio action program, the company may run into a technical problem such as delay on bidding process and slip its schedule by six weeks. The management needs to know about it. Through such feedback, the company can improve the implementation and reinforce the spirit of cooperation within organization. But lets be realistic. The company will run into implementation problems. Every company does. Some of the strategies may prove ineffective or strategies wont work as intended. The company can take one of four corrective actions. First, the company can change the schedule slipping in due date. Second, they can change the tactics in performing to implement the strategy. Third, by changing the strategy. Finally, as a last resort, the organisation can compromise the objective. Each of these corrective actions is applicable under specific circumstances 4.0 Conclusion Goals serve as a stimulus for effort by giving company something to strive for, the most important things must know where they are heading so they can effectively plan to get there. Goal setting, when supported by careful planning, provides a sense of direction to keep company focused on the most important activities. For Talisman they emphasize on three main objectives which are developing long-term growth opportunities, building high impact exploration and continue focusing on current portfolio. From the research we can conclude that goals serve as filters to eliminate extraneous demands. Over a period time, goals can bring to life order, meaning, and purpose that will sustain interest of stakeholder and motivation. By setting goals, an individual expresses their desire to achieve, to improve life, and to be more effective, more productive, and more successful tomorrow than today. Being a successful organization does not come by accident. It depends on following a practice of goal-setting and continuous growth (kaizen), as well as seeking predetermined goals. We could say then Success is the progressive realization of worthwhile, predetermined goals. Abbreviation Definitions bbl barrel bbls/d barrels per day bcfe/d billion cubic feet of gas equivalent per day boe barrels of oil equivalent boe/d barrels of oil equivalent per day C$ Canadian dollar LNG Liquefied Natural Gas mbbls/d thousand barrels per day mboe/d thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day mcf thousand cubic feet mcfe/d thousands of cubic feet of gas equivalent per day mmboe million barrels of oil equivalent mmcf/d million cubic feet per day mmcfe/d million cubic feet of gas equivalent per day Reference and Bibliography Goh Ing King, Lecturer Notes Purchasing Management Azlina Ghazaly, Senior Buyer Talisman Malaysia Sdn Bhd Menara Citibank CIPS Course Book. Level 5 study guide Management in the Purchasing Function Micheal E. Porter, From Competitive Advantage to Corporate Strategy Talisman Energy Inc. http://www.talisman-energy.com Appendix Appendix 1 : Location and Subsidiaries

Character Analysis of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight :: English Literature Essays

Character Analysis of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Depiction of a believable character has always been a difficult task for any writer. A true character must evoke emotions and make the readers want to learn more about him or her. The appearance, acts, words and nature of this character must be vivid and understandable by the audience. In medieval England, Arthurian literary works, such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight or "The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell," describe the character of Sir Gawain as a noble hero, having chivalrous and virtuous attributes. Sir Gawain is said to be the nephew of Arthur: "His parents are Lot of Orkney and Morgause (though his mother is said to be Anna in Geoffrey of Monmouth). Upon the death of Lot, be becomes the head of the Orkney clan, which includes in many sources his brothers Aggravain, Gaheris, and Gareth, and his half-brother Mordred" (Legends, online). He is also the youngest of the knights of the Round Table. Besides being the nephew of Arthur, he is one of his closest companions and an active participant in the numerous adventures which they encounter. Sir Gawain is a protagonist or a main hero in the earlier Arthurian legends, but he is often included in later stories of the fifteenth century as a confidant or a secondary character. For example in Morte Darthur, by Sir Thomas Malory, Gawain is a secondary character, and the main hero is Sir Lancelot. In the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight written by an anonymous author, we are given a description of Sir Gawain's appearance, as he is preparing to go on a quest to find the Green Knight and complete the yearlong beheading game (Norton, 215). His armor, clothing and horse all suggest that he is not a poor knight. His helmet is decorated with gems and embroidered with parrots and turtledoves; his shield has image of Virgin Mary on the inside and an "endless knot"(Norton, 215) or a pentangle on the outside. This figure is a star with five points that is drawn in an unbroken line, which also happens to be a symbol of Gawain's five virtues.

Indo-European languages Essay

The corpus of Sanskrit literature encompasses a rich tradition of poetry and drama as well as scientific, technical, philosophical and dharma texts. Sanskrit continues to be widely used as a ceremonial language in Hindu religious rituals and Buddhist practice in the forms of hymns and mantras. Spoken Sanskrit has been revised in some villages with traditional institutions, and there are attempts at further popularisation. The Sanskrit verbal adjective sa? sk? ta- may be translated as â€Å"put together, constructed, well or completely formed; refined, adorned, highly elaborated†. It is derived from the root sa? -skar- â€Å"to put together, compose, arrange, prepare†,[5] where sa? – â€Å"together† (as English same) and (s)kar- â€Å"do, make†. The term in the generic meaning of â€Å"made ready, prepared, completed, finished† is found in the Rigveda. Also in Vedic Sanskrit, as nominalised neuter sa? sk? tam, it means â€Å"preparation, prepared place† and thus â€Å"ritual enclosure, place for a sacrifice†. As a term for â€Å"refined or elaborated speech† the adjective appears only in Epic and Classical Sanskrit, in the Manusmriti and in the Mahabharata. The language referred to as sa? sk? ta â€Å"the cultured language† has by definition always been a â€Å"sacred† and â€Å"sophisticated† language, used for religious and learned discourse in ancient India, and contrasted with the languages spoken by the people, prak? ta- â€Å"natural, artless, normal, ordinary†. Classical Sanskrit is the standard register as laid out in the grammar of Pa? ini, around the 4th century BCE. [6] Its position in the cultures of Greater India is akin to that of Latin and Greek in Europe and it has significantly influenced most modern languages of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal. [7] The pre-Classical form of Sanskrit is known as Vedic Sanskrit, with the language of the Rigveda being the oldest and most archaic stage preserved, its oldest core dating back to as early as 1500 BCE. [8] This qualifies Rigvedic Sanskrit as one of the oldest attestations of any Indo-Iranian language, and one of the earliest attested members of the Indo-European languages, the family which includes English and most European languages. [9] Sanskrit, as defined by Pa? ini, had evolved out of the earlier â€Å"Vedic† form. The beginning of Vedic Sanskrit can be traced as early as 1500–1200 BCE (for Rig-vedic and Indo-Aryan superstrate in Mitanni). Scholars often distinguish Vedic Sanskrit and Classical or â€Å"Pa? inian† Sanskrit as separate ‘dialects’. Though they are quite similar, they differ in a number of essential points of phonology, vocabulary, grammar and syntax. Vedic Sanskrit is the language of the Vedas, a large collection of hymns, incantations (Samhitas), theological and religio-philosophical discussions in the Brahmanas and Upanishads. Modern linguists consider the metrical hymns of the Rigveda Samhita to be the earliest, composed by many authors over several centuries of oral tradition. The end of the Vedic period is marked by the composition of the Upanishads, which form the concluding part of the Vedic corpus in the traditional view; however the early Sutras are Vedic, too, both in language and content. [10] Around the mid-1st millennium BCE, Vedic Sanskrit began the transition from a first language to a second language of religion and learning. For nearly 2,000 years, a cultural order existed that exerted influence across South Asia, Inner Asia, Southeast Asia, and to a certain extent, East Asia. [11] A significant form of post-Vedic Sanskrit is found in the Sanskrit of the Hindu Epics—the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The deviations from Pa? ini in the epics are generally considered to be on account of interference from Prakrits, or â€Å"innovations† and not because they are pre-Paninean. [12] Traditional Sanskrit scholars call such deviations ar? a ( ), meaning ‘of the is’, the traditional title for the ancient authors. In some contexts, there are also more â€Å"prakritisms† (borrowings from common speech) than in Classical Sanskrit proper. Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit is a literary language heavily influenced by Middle Indic, based on early Buddhist prakrit texts which subsequently assimilated to the Classical Sanskrit standard in varying degrees. [13] According to Tiwari (1955), there were four principal dialects of classical Sanskrit: pascimottari (Northwestern, also called Northern or Western),madhyadesi (lit. , middle country), purvi (Eastern) and dak? i? i (Southern, arose in the Classical period). The predecessors of the first three dialects are even attested in Vedic Brahma? as, of which the first one was regarded as the purest (Kau? itaki Brahma? a, 7. 6).

One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest Essay

In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Ken Kesey tells the story of Randle McMurphy, a rebellious, boisterous and overtly sexual man who utilizes his extroverted qualities to win over his fellow patients in the mental institution. McMurphy’s confident nature and non-conforming attitude brings hope to everyone living in the ward. Ultimately, he sparks dissent and inspires them to go against the oppressive head nurse, Nurse Ratchet. McMurphy’s confidence does not waver until he realizes that Nurse Ratchet will always have the upper hand over the patients. Nevertheless, this does not stop him from concocting plans to provoke and get rid of her. McMurphy receives many harsh punishments for his actions and eventually loses the battle against the head nurse. Not only does he lose against Nurse Ratchet, but he eventually loses himself through the process. Additionally, in the film The Experiment, the protagonist Travis, undergoes an adversity which is comparable to what Mc Murphy faces in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The development of both characters can parallel each other through the similarities of their actions. Kesey first introduces McMurphy to readers when he is brought to the mental institution. At first glance, McMurphy can be viewed as a con man. He committed the crime of statutory rape but instead of accepting a jail sentence he convinces the judge that he is not straight in the head and is thus sent to a mental institution. Most patients at the ward are unresponsive, yet when he first arrives at the institution, he introduces himself to everyone. The patients and nurses are taken aback by McMurphy’s feisty attitude. Unlike the other patients, McMurphy is loud, arrogant, and capable and it is evident to everyone that he does not belong in a place like that. After the wards group meeting, McMurphy sees firsthand how Nurse Ratchet abuses her power as head nurse. He makes a bet with all the patients in the ward that he can make lose her temper. The patients warn him and insist that Nurse Ratchet not one to be messed with but he still acts otherwise. In this instance, McMurphy’s rebellious nature shines through. It is made clear to readers that he will not allow Nurse Ratchet to win over the patients for long. He wants to give her a hard time and hopefully get rid of her. Nurse Ratchet sees McMurphy’s deviance and knows that she must break him, just like she broke all the other patients so she can continue her oppressive leadership over the ward. After numerous confrontations between McMurphy and Nurse Ratchet, the patients in the ward find the incidents quite amusing. Eventually, McMurphy is able to rile up all the patients and encourage them to watch the World Series on the television. Although it was not their allotted time to watch the television, they all participate in the rebellion. Through McMurphy actions, the patients see that they should not view Nurse Ratchet as an oppressive and domineering force. They begin to feel hope inside themselves and begin to envision that living in the ward will not be as miserable as it once was. Nurse Ratchet’s patience begins to wear thin and once McMurphy physically attacks her, she quickly makes the decision to have him lobotomized and leaves him neurologically disabled. After this event, the patients can no longer live in the ward. McMurphy was a friend to all and they could not stand living under Nurse Ratchet’s rule. She loses all control and the patients transfer to other wards or check out of the institution completely. McMurphy’s eventual destruction and death was not out of vain as he was able to transform the patients into believing that each person was an individual and should be able to freely express themselves. He left them with a belief that would aid them for the rest of their lives. Randle McMurphy’s feisty and strong-willed character can easily parallel many dominant male characters in films. For example, in the 2010 film The Experiment, Paul T. Scheuring directs the story of 26 men who are selected to take part in a 14 day experiment where some participants act as guards and others as inmates. The guards have only one rule to follow – they must make sure the inmates obey the basic rules of living in a prison. Eventually the power wielded by the guards gets to their heads. They abuse their roles and exploit and humiliate the inmates. They become great oppressors and being to forget that the inmates are only human. Violence begins to ensue. The protagonist, Travis, is selected to be an inmate in the prison. From the beginning, it is made apparent that Travis is not buying into the whole prisoner concept. Just like McMurphy, Travis acts out as an individual. He is not one to follow others and ceases any opportunity to give the guards a difficult time. He then begins to act out in defiant ways. He mobilizes the inmates and leads rebellions against the guards. He and many other inmates firmly decide that they will not be silenced into submission. Eventually, the experiment goes wildly out of control and is stopped by researchers. Like Randle McMurphy, Travis fights back against the oppressors. He did not like seeing his fellow inmates get taken advantage of. Travis begins rebelling and disobeying the rules in small ways, such as refusing to eat his meals. Eventually, he uses physical force to end the tyranny in the prison. Randle McMurphy and Travis are similar characters in many ways. They both were able to unite the group of men that were facing the same adversity. They did not like seeing any of their own getting harmed. Furthermore, just like McMurphy, Travis acts in defiant ways to get into the guards heads. And finally, both use physical force to hurt their oppressors at the very end. To sum it up, they are the spark that brings hope to the oppressed and lead the rebellions against the oppressors.

goals of psychological research essays

goals of psychological research essays III. The four goals of psychological research are to describe, explain, predict, and control the issue. The first goal of psychological research is the method to describe each behavior and the circumstances it brings about. The goal following describe is the goal to explain. The need to know why the behavior occurs is essential. Another psychological research is to predict. Comprehending a behavior is to know when it will happen or what are the results. The final goal of psychological research is the goal to control behavior (Heiman, 1999). IIIB. Heiman (1999) discussed that scientific evidence is obtained through empirical, objective, systematic, and control research. Empirical is types of evidence that can be obtained by observation. Observing of events will bring upon knowledge of this evidence. Everyone will partake is having the same beliefs regarding these observations. Objectivity is type of scientific evidence is obtained through the observation of the same event but still have different impression. Observations must be free from bias. Systematic is the ideas that research observation are obtained in a methodical, step-by-step fashion. The use of systematic determines the role of each factor and combination of factors as they apply to a behavior. Controlled research is another way to simplify the situation by eliminating any extraneous factors that might influence the observed behaviors, which in turn, creates confusion. Create a clearly defined situation in which to observe only the specific behavior and the relevant factors that interest them are the main importance (Heiman. 1999). VI. Scientific hypothesis must be testable, falsifiable, precise, rational, and parsimonious. Testable, which means that the test can show that the hypothesis is false. Precise is the requirements that a scientific hypothesis should hold terms that are distinctly defined. Rational is the necessity that a scientific hypothesis should rea ...

Definitions and Glosses

Definitions and Glosses Definitions and Glosses Definitions and Glosses By Mark Nichol A definition is a phrase or sentence (or more) that explains the meaning of a term, and a gloss is a brief definition offered parenthetically after the term. This post includes examples of sentences in which definitions and glosses are erroneously presented. Discussion after each sentence explains the error, and a revision demonstrates the correct treatment. 1. The term uncertainty is defined as not knowing how or if potential events may manifest themselves in the context of achieving future objectives and business strategies. Enclose explicit definitions (those preceded by means, â€Å"is defined as,† and the like) in quotation marks to signal that the definition is the exact wording from another source: â€Å"The term uncertainty is defined as ‘not knowing how or if potential events may manifest themselves in the context of achieving future objectives and business strategies.’† 2. The organization defines â€Å"relevant information† as information that facilitates informed decision-making. This sentence is constructed differently from the previous example, but the rule is the same: â€Å"The organization defines ‘relevant information’ as ‘information that facilitates informed decision-making.’† (In this case, because the term consists of more than one word, it is enclosed in quotation marks as well, rather than italicized.) However, if a definition follows is or another form of â€Å"to be,† do not set it off in quotation marks: â€Å"Relevant information is information that facilitates informed decision-making.† Note, too, that in this sentence, â€Å"relevant information† is treated as the thing itself, not the term for the thing, so the phrase is not set off with quotation marks. However, in some sentence constructions, the word or phrase may be emphasized because it is a reference to the term itself, and not the concept, while the definition is not treated as a quotation; see, for example, â€Å"‘Relevant information’ refers to information that facilitates informed decision-making.† 3. Administrative adjudication is one of several methods the agency may use to enforce compliance with federal consumer financial laws; it refers to the process by which an administrative agency engages in an adversarial proceeding with a supervised party. â€Å"Administrative adjudication† is referred to here as a concept, but â€Å"it refers to† implies that the reference is to the phrase for the concept, like relevant information in the parenthetical example in the discussion above. (Also, compare â€Å"A pencil is a writing instrument† and â€Å"Pencil denotes a writing instrument.†) It is equivalent to the concept, not the term for it, so the phrase preceding the definition must be revised to reflect this: â€Å"Administrative adjudication is one of several methods the agency may use to enforce compliance with federal consumer financial laws; the term refers to the process by which an administrative agency engages in an adversarial proceeding with a supervised party.† 4. The Gospel of Matthew, the only one of the four canonical gospels to mention the Wise Men, or Magi, makes no mention of the number who came to worship the baby Jesus. Here, two designations for the same thing, the group of men said to have visited Jesus shortly after his birth, are described, but it makes no sense to first provide the more transparent of the two terms, followed by the more esoteric one. The designation that is more well known should be offered as a subsequent gloss, or brief definition, of the more obscure term: â€Å"The Gospel of Matthew, the only one of the four canonical gospels to mention the Magi, or Wise Men, makes no mention of the number who came to worship the baby Jesus.† 5. Alice in Wonderland syndrome, or micropsia, is a neurological disease that affects the visual cortex and makes you see things much, much smaller than they really are. Again, why include a more technical term in addition to a vernacular alternative unless it is introduced first, followed by the more familiar or accessible name as a gloss? Revise as shown here: â€Å"Micropsia, or Alice in Wonderland syndrome, is a neurological disease that affects the visual cortex and makes you see things much, much smaller than they really are.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Common Mistakes category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:35 Synonyms for â€Å"Look†When to Form a Plural with an ApostropheCaptain vs. Master

Analysis of retail marketing

Analysis of retail marketing Retailing involves the selling of goods, services or merchandise from a fixed location (like departmental store, boutique), by mail or through the internet, in smaller lots for direct consumption by the customers. Subordinate services like delivery may be included. (Wikipedia) After studying the nature and role of retail and the global environment in which it operates, following is my research in this area: 1) Retail Internationalisation is much more than the opening of stores abroad: Retailing had always been a domestic market activity. However, an increasing number of retailers are no more confining their trading activities to the home-market (Moore and Fernie, International Retail Marketing). Fashion retailers like The Gap, H&M, Zara, Gucci, etc recognised the benefits of crossing boundaries and thus, have sought to exploit international opportunities. Retail internationalisation is an essential ingredient for the global economy. Consumers are increasingly becoming international in their outlook due to business/pleasure travelling, access to internet, television, magazines, etc and are always seeking new experiences and a global appeal while shopping. International retailing satisfies the increasingly complex and demanding needs of global consumers. As retailers are cost-driven, consideration of key activities and procedures is necessary to achieve the tag of an international retailing business that is profitable. Internationalising retailers also gain sustainable competitive advantage. Wal-Mart and Tesco enjoy cost leadership & the benefits of operational efficiency. Brand strength is well known with Starbucks. Zara and H&M achieved fashion leadership whereas category dominance is prominent with IKEA. The motivations for international expansion: According to Williams, 1991, it is important to note those factors that motivate retailers to consider international markets as a strategy for growth. Amongst the various theoretical frameworks, the â€Å"push and pull† factors proposed by Alexander (1997) have emerged as key in interpreting retailer’s motives behind expansion into foreign markets. It focuses on why retailers are ‘pulled’ towards a foreign market and/or why they are ‘pushed’ to move out of their home market. According to Alexander (1997), retail internationalisation was a reaction to the bad internal market conditions, or the desire to further exploit trade competencies and opportunities abroad due to home-market saturation. The 21st century has given rise to an elite group of trans-national grocery retailers (like Wal-Mart, Tesco, Carrefour) for whom internationalisation is a defining element of their corporate philosophy. E.g. Tesco, with 15% turnover from outside the UK & 65,000 overseas staff, declares internationalisation as one of the four defining elements of its corporate strategy. Likewise, rigorous international strategy is being pursued by the Spanish footwear brand Camper, b y recognising their brand appeal, product range and limited sector-competition. (Moore and Fernie, International Retail Marketing) To conclude, retail internationalisation is not just about opening of stores abroad. It also involves: Synchronising cultural diversity Transferring knowledge and experience Sustainability and ethical aspects of retailing Young consumers and global trends Cross-boundary service quality The need to develop & manage stores in new markets The transfer of ‘invisible’ dimensions of retail such as know-how and expertise from one market to another Cost-saving reasons Achieving market differentiation 2) Provide a critique of the various methods of market entry that are available to the international retailer:

A Career As A Film Editor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

A Career As A Film Editor - Essay Example The skill of an editor is extremely valuable in the post production process because film editing determines the quality and delivery of the resulting product. A film editor plays a significantly vital role in the overall film production process, in the film industry. This can be both as a television programs editor, or a movie editor. Film editing mostly involves the general assemblage of the footage to be viewed on the screen. It can also be compared to artwork such as the shaping of final exhibit sculptures form the various raw materials as provided by the directors (Dickens, 2008). The process of film editing requires that an editor should be in close relation with the director in the film production. This is because the editor needs to understand the storyline of the film just as the director because the work is a combination of ideas from the two parties in telling the story of the film. The editor mostly ensures of the occurrence of continuity which is the seamless unfolding of the story form part to part. The job of the editor officially starts once the shooting of the film or movie wraps up. This is because the shooting of a film involves random scene shooting mostly due to the convenience and other influential factors. In line with this, shots get disarranged and does not flow with the real story intended for the film such as having a scene of the beginning at the end and/or vice versa. It is, therefore, up to the editor to arrange them and link them to flow continuously (Knight, 2007). This requires long working periods and patience in working under strict deadlines and pressure. The editor formulates the imagery and synchronization of the various sound effects which may include the soundtracks, voice covers and/or sound effects. In the culmination to the final presentation of the film’s production, the editor also incorporates added visual effects. William Hal Ashby is a films editor based in Hollywood films Productions Company. He began his f ilms career in the 1960s in Utah, California. He got his big break by winning the academy awards for films editing in his editor role, in the film, â€Å"in the heat of the night† (Hal, 2006: p.9). Looking into his life from when he decided to venture into the career to what he has become in the film industry will be a considerable contribution into the research. Research Rationale The film industry has undergone revolutionary changes with the advent of technology (Dmytryk, 2004). As a result, there has been the development of a better film production and also the categorization of films as a complex world of production. In addition, more people have become interested in film editing mostly because of the recognition that film editors receive. The title of a film editor in the overall production and film making industry is eye catching for most people. Consequently, interested individuals need to understand the role of a film editor well because of the challenges, as well as the opportunities. They should be able to conduct their efficiently and professionally. As a norm mostly witnessed in many industries, the popularization of a role in production more often than not leads to the eroding of the value of the role and the end product. Therefore, in order to ensure that the integrity and efficiency of production of films by film editors is not at risk, it is vital to understand, carry out and uphold the integrity of the editor’s role in this fast evolving technological world (Murch, 2001). This is also in conjunction with the increased uptake of studies for the role of films editors by most students, as well as increased numbers of film

Business Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words - 1

Business Plan - Essay Example Modern concept of marketing is different from the traditional concept. According to modern view, marketing consists of sensing, stimulating, servicing and satisfying the needs and wants of present and potential customers in more effective and efficient manner than its competitors. The modern concept of marketing holds that the key task of organization is to determine the needs wants and values of the customers and to adopt the organization to delivering the desired satisfaction more effectively and efficiently than its competitors. There are two key elements in this concept. (b) Integrating the marking planning and control with those of other departments (like manufacturing, finance purchase, inventory control, personnel research and development) keeping in view the ultimate goal of customers’ satisfaction. It may be noted that the customers expect satisfaction not only in terms of genuine and wholesome products and services but also several other considerations such as prompt and regular supply of production/services reasonable price, availability of efficient after sales service and so on. â€Å"Marketing management is the analysis, planning, implementation and control of programmes designed to create, build maintain mutually beneficial exchanges and relationship with target markets for the purpose of achieving organizational goals.† 3M Company Learning System is a new generation of microcomputer-aided education device that uses an innovative dot matrix coding technology to combine traditional paper book with microprocessor technology for electronic publishing. The system consists of textbooks printed with dot matrix codes as light background and/or as small icons inserted between texts, an electronic pen with optical sensor, a hand-held device with microprocessor, and a flash memory card stored with digital audio contents of paper textbooks. The dot matrix coding system and the speech processing and comparison was first-time innovation that

Igor Stravinsky Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Igor Stravinsky - Essay Example The exploitation of these ideals and the exploration of how music reflected the time were the main initiatives that Stravinsky took with the compositions written during this time frame. Changing Culture of 1914-1918 The region of Europe and the exposure that was occurring within the arts during this time had one of the most influential aspects in terms of culture and politics. The several outbreaks of war, specifically which led through World War I, began to change the outlook of the artists that were in various countries. A sense of patriotism and pride toward the country was one of the growing influences that many of the artists began to look into. More important, there was a focus on the outbreaks and outcomes of the war and the destructions and victories which were associated with this. â€Å"The burden of the national ordeal and the wartime experiences led to the formation of a new worldview and a new self awareness†¦. On the one hand, the Great War became a touchstone for the humanistic yearnings of the intellectuals. On the other, it acted as a catalyst for new aesthetic directions. † The cultural direction which was influenced by the war then created a component of new expressions and values that most could work toward in building a different understanding of humanistic and political expressions. The expressions of culture were furthered by the political leaders and outlooks associated with this. Many of the artists of this time were interested in making a statement that either opposed or was for the patriotism that was within various regions of Europe. Before 1914, there was a movement that was based on anti – politics, specifically with those who either were patriotic or opposed the changes that were occurring within Europe. Social policies, conflicts of those who were involved in politics and the outcome from various groups led to different and opposing ideologies about the war and the political stance. Those involved in the politics, or which were opposed to this, were also interested in creating social change and statements that were reflective of the need to find new solutions. When the war began, this was heightened and became intensified by artists who were interested in a change with the politics. This either led to a sense of propaganda among the artists or opposed the reforms which were taking place2. Stravinsky and World War I The perspectives that Stravinsky held during 1914-1918 were pivotal in how he worked toward the creation of his music and the pieces which were associated with this. While he was from Russia and the Poland territory, there was also an international outlook which he held because of his recognition at this time. Before this time, Stravinsky was noted to have a more exploratory outlook with the works, such as through Pierrot Lunaire. While the exploration of music continued in 1914, there were several personal and cultural conflicts that changed the music. For instance, the funding for arts was more conservative because of the war, leaving many of the works unpublished unless they were more conservativ e in nature. Many of his works weren’t published until the 1920s when a sense of recovery began to occur in the country. This was combined with the understanding that a new culture was being born, specifically which Stravinsky saw through the destruction

Can computer technology improve the lives of people in the developing Essay

Can computer technology improve the lives of people in the developing world - Essay Example In a developing country, usually the infrastructure is not very strong and people find it difficult to travel from one place to another. This usually creates the urban-rural divide and people in the rural areas are often unable to receive better facilities. With the use of computer technology and internet, the patients in the rural areas can consult the doctors in the cities via video conferencing. In some cases, the doctors can even assist in surgeries at rural locations via video conferencing. This video conferencing could also help the doctors in developing countries to connect to doctors in developed countries and seek their advice and support. In developing countries, the internet becomes a powerful means of communication, especially amongst the youth. It serves to connect the youth together. Through this internet, governments and health agencies can disseminate important information related to health to the young population. This includes information on HIV or several other diseases. This can help in making the people more aware and preventing the spread of these diseases. Normally, developing countries usually face lots of disasters, either manmade or natural. This includes earthquakes, wars and other such calamities. There is lots of damage to life and the victims of these disasters are often in need of blood. Computer technology can enable the government or independent organizations to develop a database of blood donors, and in case of an emergency, these people can instantly be contacted. This will definitely help in saving plenty of lives. Lieberman, D. (n.d.). The Computers Potential Role in Health Education . Retrieved December 15, 2009, from Informaworld:

Pestle analysis for Crowne Plaza Hotels in UK Essay

Pestle analysis for Crowne Plaza Hotels in UK - Essay Example Currency fluctuations are common but with the Euro being the common currency all over Europe, it provides some stability. The economic condition is stable. The hospitality sector can create 236,000 jobs in the next five years (Nand, 2011). The sector is a major contributor to the UK economy as it generates 8 percent of the total employment (BHA, 2010). The nation has the highest GDP growth rates in Europe (Crown, 2011). The UK economy shows a turn for the better after the recession but there is still short to medium term risks of a robust economy (PWC, 2010). UK is the gateway to Europe and has the world’s single largest market – the European Union – at its doorstep (Crown, 2011). The average weekly household expenditure on restaurant and hotels was approximately  £40 in 2007 (Dugmore, 2010). However, consumers are price conscious and it would be difficult to increase average achieved room rate (eHotelier, 2008). Moreover, the domestic business market has shrunk both in terms of leisure holidays and corporate travel. Not much of occupancy growth expected in 2011 (PWC, 2010). Consumer spending is expected to grow but could be impacted by higher taxes. The sector uses multimedia technologies to enhance productivity and improve business opportunities. It is now an indispensable tool for all business functions from production to marketing (Sigala, Airey, Jones & Lockwood, 2001). As competition intensifies employees are required to demonstrate their ability to use and create knowledge from the information gathered. Thus, hotels have to be equipped with the latest information system and must have a strategy and process in place to use the information gathered. Online reservation system enhances advance bookings from across the globe. The government has raised the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate in the United Kingdom to 20% which is the highest in the hotels in the European Union (Nand, 2011). This could

Response to Intervention Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Response to Intervention - Term Paper Example RTI once again bring the focus back to the endeavor of improving the performance of the students of all shades and hues while adhering to a common system. Response to Intervention Response to Intervention or RTI is a program for academic intervention adhered to in the United States of America. The main objective of RTI is to extend systematic and organized intervention to the students who have difficulty learning, at an early stage. The primary advantage of RTI is that it dilutes the chances of academic failure by resorting to research based intensive interventions for children who have learning difficulties (Brown-Chidsey & Steege, 2005, p. 3). RTI allows for a systematic and frequent appraisal and measurement of the performance of such students. RTI also helps the accrual of data and information that could be used to make educational decisions on a long term basis. RTI primarily resorts to such interventions that tend to be scientific in their nature and scope and that had been fou nd to be effective and successful in randomized controlled trials (Brown-Chidsey & Steege, 2005). ... It is very important to intervene early in a student’s learning experience. It enables the educators and parents to respond the specific needs of the children who may evince signs of having learning difficulties, thereby helping these children to be successful in their early learning endeavors (Brown-Chidsey & Steege, 2005, p. 22). Intervention into the learning experiences of the students at an early stage helps the educators and parents to prevent the problem from getting out of control. This allows the educators to identify students who may be open to the risk of having learning disabilities. The response and recognition provision inherent in Response to Intervention enable the teachers and parents to adhere to scientific strategies aimed at helping such children, right from the start. This early intervention prevents many young students from being academic failures, or being selected for advanced and more formal evaluations or being subjected to special education programs (Brown-Chidsey & Steege, 2005, p. 100). Early intervention enables the teachers to promptly respond to the specific needs of the students and the students are not required to fail before they are subjected to apt interventions. Response to Intervention approach has many salient benefits. First and foremost, the most important benefit of the Response to Intervention approach is that the students having difficulty learning do not have to succumb to the standard â€Å"wait to fail† criteria before their problem gets recognized. This enables these students to receive help while affiliating to a general education setting. Considering the scarce resources accessible to the contemporary education system and the high cost of extending special education, Response to

Pestle analysis for Crowne Plaza Hotels in UK Essay

Pestle analysis for Crowne Plaza Hotels in UK - Essay Example Currency fluctuations are common but with the Euro being the common currency all over Europe, it provides some stability. The economic condition is stable. The hospitality sector can create 236,000 jobs in the next five years (Nand, 2011). The sector is a major contributor to the UK economy as it generates 8 percent of the total employment (BHA, 2010). The nation has the highest GDP growth rates in Europe (Crown, 2011). The UK economy shows a turn for the better after the recession but there is still short to medium term risks of a robust economy (PWC, 2010). UK is the gateway to Europe and has the world’s single largest market – the European Union – at its doorstep (Crown, 2011). The average weekly household expenditure on restaurant and hotels was approximately  £40 in 2007 (Dugmore, 2010). However, consumers are price conscious and it would be difficult to increase average achieved room rate (eHotelier, 2008). Moreover, the domestic business market has shrunk both in terms of leisure holidays and corporate travel. Not much of occupancy growth expected in 2011 (PWC, 2010). Consumer spending is expected to grow but could be impacted by higher taxes. The sector uses multimedia technologies to enhance productivity and improve business opportunities. It is now an indispensable tool for all business functions from production to marketing (Sigala, Airey, Jones & Lockwood, 2001). As competition intensifies employees are required to demonstrate their ability to use and create knowledge from the information gathered. Thus, hotels have to be equipped with the latest information system and must have a strategy and process in place to use the information gathered. Online reservation system enhances advance bookings from across the globe. The government has raised the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate in the United Kingdom to 20% which is the highest in the hotels in the European Union (Nand, 2011). This could

Leadership Styles in Professional Nursing Essay Example for Free

Leadership Styles in Professional Nursing Essay According to Hood (as cited in Agnes, 2005) â€Å"Leadership is defined as a process of influencing others or guiding or directing others to attain mutually agreed upon goals† (p. 457). This paper will describe four different leadership styles, and the effectiveness of each style as dependent upon the situation. Review of the Professional Nursing Literature All nurses are leaders but may not recognize the different types of leadership or traits of an effective leader (Sims, 2009). There are four leadership styles to consider, the first one is autocratic or authoritarian. The autocratic leader is someone who usually needs to dominate others. The autocratic approach is often one-sided and the leader is likely attempting to achieve a single goal or objective (Sims, 2009). Autocratic leadership is a behavior in which a leader makes choices with no involvement from any peers, regardless if those ideas are better suited for the organization. This type of leader requires constant pressure and direction to get the task done. This type of leader provides clear expectations for what, when, and how a process should be done without consulting employees. Organizations that have this type of leader tend to see a high turn-over of employees and absenteeism for the simple fact that employees don’t feel valued. This approach would not be the way to get the best performance from the team. The implementation of this style of leadership could be used in a situation where an immediate decision needs to be made such as a crisis in an emergency room. The second leadership style is democratic or participative. This style is one that encourages employees to be a part of the decision making process. This type of leader keeps employees informed about everything that affects the work being done, and shares in the problem solving situation. A drawback of this type of leader is that the leader could be viewed as not being able to make a decision; therefore, the employees may not respect this style and view this leader as not being a true leader. The democratic leader uses the team approach and is the coach in the process, but has the final say when the group comes to a consensus. Implementation of a democratic leadership style can best be executed in a situation where a process or practice change is needed, such as documentation on electronic medical records. With this leadership style the leader can get staff ideas and suggestions for a smooth transition to the change. This not only increases job satisfaction by involving team members, but it also helps to develop people’s skills. This method inspires a group effort, but it can take lots of time for the leader to develop and come to an end to the topic at hand (Sims, 2009). The leader may spend a lot of time in discussions, sending emails, or scheduling meetings. This leader may be happy to do this to see that staff are working together to achieve a better outcome, but it can also be a time-consuming process. A good democratic leader encourages staff participation, is supportive, but never loses sight that the leader is the one responsible for the final decision. This leader must accept that the outcome may turn out differently than originally planned. Transactional leadership is the third style, and is one where the leader focuses on the day to day tasks of the team, and makes sure that the work is completed. Transactional leadership is really a type of management, not a true leader style, because the focus is on short-term tasks. Transactional leaders set a goal, provide directions, and then reward the employee if performance is met at an acceptable level (McGuire Kennerly, 2006). Transactional leadership style can best be used when a state survey is taking place and if successful, then reward will be given to the employees. These leaders use this style to get the desired outcomes. Transactional leaders give tasks to be done by the employee, and if it’s done wrong then the employee is accountable. If the task is completed to this leader’s standard, then the employee is rewarded. This type of leader doesn’t focus on the staff’s needs, or personal development, instead the staff must adhere to what the leader wants. Transactional leaders often work under the assumption that if everything is working fine, then there is no need to fix anything. Under this type of leader, there is no interest in change, and the employee will not feel any job satisfaction. The fourth leadership style is the transformational leader. This style of leadership is one that’s very appropriate in many corporate situations because of the wide range of abilities and approaches that are drawn upon. This style focuses on the leader and the employee working together for a common goal. This type of leader has a vision for the organization, and inspires employees to solve problems creatively in a way that provides support and encouragement without diminishing the nursing role (Kleinman, 2004). Transformational leaders have several traits that inspire the employee to utilize the strengths to improve the team, have better staff satisfaction, and reduce stress (Weberg, 2010). Transformational leaders are coaches, or mentors; they show respect, have empathy, and utilize individual leader skills to promote change. These leaders are very energetic and passionate about the job, and concerned about all staff in succeeding. These leaders set good examples, clear goals, and recognizes good work from the team. Transformational leaders should remain a part of the team and share in the work load to better understand the team’s viewpoint. With this leader style, there is a higher level of committed employees, reduced stress, and increased morale (Dunham Klafehn, 1990). This in turn creates an employee who will provide a positive outlook when change is taking place and increases employee job satisfaction. Application of Clinical Example A clinical example of when transformational leader style would work best is when an organization is going through a change process, such as the way report is given. Transformational leaders motivate staff to work towards a greater good and create a positive change (Dunham Klafehn, 1990). Many nurses don’t like change in the way care is provided, but when it’s important for patient safety change is inevitable.

Importance of Informed Consent in Client Decision-making

Importance of Informed Consent in Client Decision-making Informed consent is not only a basic right of all clients, but it also helps to protect the clients privacy and can be utilized to empower them to make their own educated decisions about aspects of their own therapy. Ideally, the goal of the practice of informed consent is to provide patients with the most relevant and accurate information regarding their own treatment, so that they can decide for themselves to become involved and willing participants in their own therapy sessions. One of the best methods for instituting informed consent practices is to establish a protocol for enabling clients to make their own educated decisions. It is important to note that the practice of informed consent carries with it a number of legal implications as well, primarily due to the fact that its purpose is to protect the rights and privacy of the client. From a legal standpoint, there are three aspects of informed consent that are of primary concern: the clients capacity for rational decision-making, the clients comprehension or understanding of the information, and the clients voluntariness, which ensures that decisions made by the client are of their own free will. For the therapist, informed consent governs many aspects of administrative duties as well, such as confidentiality, record-keeping and maintenance, and the transfer and disclosure of client files. While these aspects are more clearly defined in terms of what therapists can and cannot do, therapists are also left with the additional task of ensuring that all clients are properly educated and informed about procedures and the legal implications and also that each individual client has the ability to comprehend such information and make decisions regarding their own treatment. It is this aspect of informed consent that often lacks such clearly defined rules and is often a matter of judgment on the part of the therapist. Adequate informed consent is becoming increasingly important for todays mental health professionals, as more and more people are seeking individual or marital counseling as a means of improving aspects of their own lives or relationships. In all aspects of healthcare, the appropriate procedures for obtaining adequate informed consent are still debatable. Because therapists have the unique opportunity to be able to work with clients in order to improve decision-making skills, this process is even more important. The goal is not to steer clients in any one direction or another, but rather provide each client with all of the information in a manner which they understand, be able to answer questions regarding the policies, and enable each client to make their own educated decision about what is best for them and their particular situation. Informed consent for therapists is often more difficult when faced with clients who may be in danger, under psychological distress, or faced with a domestic violence situation. Often, these clients may lack the ability to make rational decisions or may be fearful of participating in their own therapy due to the risk of confidentiality breaches and concern for their own personal safety. In this instance, it is often the therapists responsibility to not only offer additional reassurance regarding confidentiality, but also accurately represent the legal implications of informed consent and if and when records may be disclosed, along with what kind of information can be shared and under what circumstances. In addition, when there is a great deal of psychological distress present, it may be necessary to reiterate policies at a time when clients are more stable, and also take greater measures to enable the clients to adequately make their own decisions. In cases where a client lacks the capacity to make informed decisions on their own, due to age or disability, a parent or guardian may be necessary in order to provide adequate protection of the clients rights and sign legal documents. In terms of comprehension of the information provided, therapists should frequently have question and answer sessions with the client regarding the goals of treatment, client participation, availability of other services, expectations, and any risks involved. Clear communication and guidelines are the best way to ensure that a client adequately understands not only the purpose of treatment but their roles and responsibilities as well. Informed consent procedures for therapy can be seen as more than just legal practices. The continuously evolving methods of ensuring informed consent for clients also further enable and empower clients to educate themselves, take an active role in ensuring their own well-being, and learn to make more choices regarding their own personal care.

Jane Eyre :: essays research papers

Jane Eyre was taken in by her Uncle Reed at a young age. He loved her and cared for her which made his wife very jealous. When Mr. Reed died, he requested that Mrs. Reed raise Jane as if she were her own child. She agreed by treated Jane very badly. Jane, being of strong character, endured the endless hours of beating from her evil cousin John and the relentless insults from her aunt and cousins, Georgiana and Eliza. One day Mrs. Reed found a way to finally get rid of Jane, she sent her to the Lowood School for girls. The girls had to make their own cloths, live in a filthy environment, and eat food that was barely good enough to eat. She was forced to endure the harsh living conditions of Mr. Brocklehurst’s school while the headmaster and his family lived in comfort. The state of this school eventually caused an epidemic that caused the death of Jane’s best friend Helen. This brought attention to the school and a nicer man took control of the facility. Jane finished h er years there and stayed for two more as a teacher.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Eventually Jane became tired of her surroundings and went out in search of a new life. She accepted the position of governess to a little French girl named Adele. Adele was a little spoiled but soon started to accomplish a lot under the care of Jane. One day Jane meets the rude and unconventional Mr. Rochester. She eventually finds herself falling in love with him when he brings a woman home. Jane has convinced herself that he is going to propose to the spoiled, snobby Blanche Ingram. Mr. Rochester proposes to Jane but at the wedding she finds out that he is already married. The strange noises in the attic that supposedly come from the drunk servant named Grace Poole really come from Bertha Mason, the insane wife of Mr. Rochester. Jane decides that the marriage would never work, runs away, and is forced to live on the streets. She is taken in by three nice people by the names of Mary, Diana, and St. John Rivers. They help her get work and eventually tell her that they are really her cousins. She inherits money from her late uncle which she shares with her cousins. St. John asks her to marry him but she refuses because she does not love him.

Juvenile Bootcamps Essay -- Teens History Boot Camp Essays

Boot camp is an alternative to incarceration. In this paper I will prove that Boot Camps for youthful offenders are effective. Boot camps started in the year 1888 by Warden Zebulon Brockway at the Elmira Reformatory located in Elmira, New York. The warden did this because he wanted to invoke a new way of disciplining and keeping the inmates active. The reasoning that this style of imprisonment worked was because there were virtually no prison guards which saved thousands of dollars. Another reason that it worked was because the men would work day and night producing quality goods that were much less then the competitors. Yates Law prohibited the inmates from competing in the open market which eventually lead to the end of the military like structure. Another reason for and end of this type of incarceration was due to World War I. Prior to the war local citizens were invited to the facility to witness the military like drills and ceremonies. As soon as the war ended the people didnâ €™t like the military which shut down the program.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The United States Army used basic training to rehabilitate soldiers who committed crimes. They used this system because prisons were overcrowded and very expensive. This way reduced the cost and allowed the return of 42,000 soldiers into active duty.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1965 shock incarceration was developed in Ohio. This was an attempt to â€Å"shock† inmates by making them think twice about what they were going to do. The length the incarceration was on for 90-180 days. An analysis of the program in Ohio proved to be successful. There was a 130 percent less recidivism then those with prior records.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Kentucky they had the highest rates of rearrest, reconviction and the return to prison. There reincarceration rare was only 21.4 percent. This was consistent with the finking form other shock probation programs that were heralded as effective (Vito and Ellis).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The First Juvenile boot camp was established in 1985 in Orleans Parish, Louisiana. The kids who were accepted into boot camps were between the ages of 17-26 and the offence had to be one that was nonviolent or less then one first degree offense.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Boot camp incorporates military drill and ceremonies and physical training. After care is now one of the steps in a successful program. Most states now believe that group counseling are vital for the inmates succ... ... graduates of boot camps and the recidivism rate was at 21 percent but the prison rate is at 34 percent. This seems to be the key when wanting to help and lower the rate of recidivism. Proper aftercare and close monitoring will in fact help these troubled teens as you can tell by the number stated above.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The future of boot camps as well as shock incarceration will grow because of their success. My feeling is that if one troubled teen is helped then it is all worth while. Why stop trying to help if the majority is not willing to change but if that one will work hard and follow what they have learned in the boot camps then we should continue what were are doing. References   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Anderson, J. , Burns, J. , & Dyson, L. , (1999). Boot Camps: An Intermediate Sanction. New York: University Press of America. Hebert, E. , & MacKenzie, D. , (Eds.). (1996). Correctional Boot Cmaps: A Tough Intermediate   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sanction. New York: Russel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Vito, G. F. And Ellis, J. (1985). An offender-based tacking system study of three districts in the commonwealth of Kentucky Research Report Series: No. 4). Louisville, KY: University of Louisville, College of Urban And Public Affairs.

Styal Mill Coursework Notes

Coursework factors Finally he decided on Styal, a small hamlet north of Wilmslow. Styal is located close to Manchester, the Bridge water canal is only 8 miles away and the land was big enough. One of the important reasons Greg chose the site is because of the transport links. The bridge water canal would provide easy shipping of cotton near to the mill, then the last few miles would have to be done by horse and cart. Manchester is close to Styal, this is good because Manchester was one of the biggest industrial cities and this would provide Greg with workers and raw materials.Liverpool is relatively close to Styal. Geographical factors also played a part in the choosing of the Styal location because on that land the river Bolin flowed through. Greg used the river Bolin as a power source for his mill and the machinery. Arkwrites water frame was invented to use the water to drive the wheel and drive lots of cogs and shafts that made the machinery run. Another factor is the land was che ap. This is because the land was infertile and wasn't very good for farming crops, so Greg got a good deal – cheap land with an added bonus, the river Bolin.Also the land was a good environment for cotton making because it had a damp atmosphere; this helps the cotton to not break as its being spun. Another factor was workers. Styal was close to many towns and cities. The main one was Manchester. Greg could employ workers from workhouses in Manchester to come and work in his mill. This was easy because Manchester was very close. Greg could also employ people from Liverpool for the same reasons. Also Greg employed a few people from as far as London also. Another factor was money. Greg came into a lot of money, ? 800. Samuel Greg chose the site for Quarry Bank Mill because: – It was near a river.The machines were powered by water and Samuel Greg needed a lot of water. Water – power is a cheap, reliable, fast flowing and easy source of getting power. Water was also needed to give to the workers to drink and put into the food. -There was a lot of land in the countryside. The more land Samuel Greg had, the bigger his factory could be and the more machines he could have. Samuel Greg got investors to pay towards him buying the land, as well as the huge amount of money he already had. The land he did choose was cheap anyway so not many investors were needed. -With the land being in the countryside, there was a lot of soil to grow crops in.The crops that were grown were given to the workers to eat at meal times. -Quarry Bank Mill was quite close to the main destinations Liverpool and Manchester. This was probably so that goods could travel to both of the destinations at the same amount of time. Lots of the cotton that Quarry Bank Mill produced was taken to the main destinations as cotton was popular there and could easily be sold for the price Samuel Greg wanted. Liverpool gave Quarry bank Mill the materials it needed to make cotton and Manchester s old the cotton. Transport like canals ; factor

October Sky Psychology Write-Up

Film Write-up 1 October Sky is a based on a true story about a mining town called Coalwood and one boy’s journey. Homer Hickam is an adolescent boy whose life has been predetermined by his father, a foreman at the coalmine, to work down in the mines but he has a different plan for his life. In October 1957, everything changes when the first artificial satellite, Sputnik goes into orbit. After he sees the satellite flying across the night’s sky, Homer becomes inspired to learn how to build rockets.With his friends, who also are destined for the mines, and the local nerd, Homer sets to do just that by trial and a lot of error. Unfortunately, most of the town, especially Homer's father, thinks that the boys are wasting their time. They don’t believe in what these kids are trying to accomplish, the only one who has faith in them is their high school teacher, Miss Riley. She understands what they’re trying to do and gives them the support and encouragement they need to become contenders in the national science fair with a college scholarships and a life out of the mines being the prize.The four boys, Homer being their leader, fight through accusations by the law and attempts to destroy their dreams. They ban together along with the help of their once doubting town, in particular Homer’s father, to bring home the first prize at the science fair and go on to change their stars. Throughout the movie you could see there was great tension between Homer and his father and I think it affects the relationships that he makes in the movie. At first we see Homer pining after one of the beautiful popular girls in his school but she is unattainable.Just like his father’s relationship, he can’t have the affection that he wants and because of this he overlooks the girl who it quiet but beautiful inside and out who is clearly in love with him. Once Homer figures out his place in the community and realizes he doesn’t need to wo rk hard for a love that’s not there he opens himself up to a real true love. I would characterize this as Erikson’s stage, intimacy versus isolation where young adults need to form intimate, loving relationships and failure leads to loneliness and isolation.Because he struck out with the popular girl he went into isolation and focused only on his rockets. We also see Homer in Erikson’s stage of identity versus role confusion, while he was figuring out what his heart wanted we also see him trying to figure himself out. In the beginning, Homer didn’t know who he was, or what his life path was going to be. He knew his father and the rest of the town had the idea that he would be a coal miner but he wasn’t so sure what life held for him.It wasn’t until his teacher encouraged him to push himself intellectually that he found his love for rocketry and science that he really began to find his identity. In the end when he becomes this town hero and w ins the science fair, his father shows up to his final rocket launch for the first time and we see Homer really feeling like he’s become his own man and he has that respect he’s always wanted from his father. I would also say that Homer exhibits two of the characteristics of adolescent egocentrism; he shows invincibility fable and personal fable.In the very beginning of the movie when Homer starts out testing his very first rockets they weren’t well made or accurate but he still went ahead and tested out his ideas without throwing any caution to the wind. His very first rocket blew up his mother’s fence but he still carried on making his ideas into a reality without testing them in a safe environment, the next rocket flew into the mining site and almost hit the workers. As Homer became more seasoned in his rocket making and more serious about his craft, he moved his test launches to an empty field which proved to be much safer for him and the community ar ound him.The other characteristic he exhibits is personal fable. He feels that his life is destined for something bigger than what has been set out for him. He believes there is something unique about himself that he needs to share with the world. While his father and everyone else, including his friends, look down on this idea of breaking out of the mold he still stuck with his idea of becoming something bigger and better. At the end of the story he does in fact become the town hero and his dreams of greatness come to fruition as he grows up.

A Historical Recording of a Fictitious Story Essay

One powerful factor in effective storytelling lies in the strong characterization of the figures in the story, and the novel, â€Å"Don Quixote† sustains this factor. In the beginning of the novel, Miguel de Cervantes warns his â€Å"idle readers† (Cervantes, page __) that he simply wants to relate the story of a stepson who lived a ridiculous but great life, saying thus: â€Å"My wish would be simply to present it to thee plain and unadorned, without any embellishment of preface or uncountable muster of customary sonnets, epigrams, and eulogies, such as are commonly put at the beginning of books. † (Cervantes, page__). The second part of the novel reveals a similar contention, this time uttered by Cide Hamete Benengeli in Chapter LXXIV. The reputed father of Don Quixote de La Mancha, Benengeli says, â€Å"For me alone Don Quixote was born and I for him. His was the power of action, mine of writing. † (Cervantes, page ___). By repeating these contentions, Miguel de Cervantes emphasizes and reiterates the idea that Don Quixote is a real character, a man who is not merely a product of a novelist’s imagination, but a tangible entity. Cervantes and his phantom figure, Benengeli, claim that they are merely recorders of Don Quixote’s deeds and misdeeds. Cervantes declares thus in his preface: â€Å"In belief of the good reception and honours that Your Excellency bestows on all sort of books, as prince so inclined to favor good arts, chiefly those who by their nobleness do not Customer’s last name 2 submit to the service and bribery of the vulgar, I have determined bringing to light The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of la Mancha. † (Cervantes, page__). Cervantes distances himself from the character by saying that he is merely a recorder of a person’s history, not a creator of a person so intriguingly chivalrous and comical at the same time. In doing so, Cervantes strengthens the character of Don Quixote, making him a mystery, and an enigma. Was he real, or was he imaginary? This intriguing question has kept readers all over the world and across generations to keep turning the pages of this humorous novel, and in this respect, Cervantes achieves his triumph in making the adventures of a tragic and comic knight-errant, a very engaging read. The two mentioned passages delineating one contention are significant in the reading of the novel as a whole. Promoting Don Quixote as a tangible entity, a real character, makes the novel more humorous, more effective, and more influential; the themes and sentiments imbibed in the story are therefore communicated more strongly. Cervantes provides a critical commentary on the Spanish lifestyle and morals at the time the novel was written, and one way to take a humorous novel seriously, is to project it as a palpable, realistic account of one person’s adventures and misadventures. This in itself is an ingenious literary style. Making Don Quixote an enigma and claiming that he is real, reflects the ridiculous and preposterous nature of the novel. Cervantes is ultimately making a literary statement: that in a world and in a time when chivalric ideals are appropriate, yet overrated, a society that is suspended between the grandiose aspects of chivalry and the humility of noble chivalric ideals must examine its principles very closely. If it fails to do, it may likewise fight windmills instead of giants, and therein lays a societal problem too unbelievably difficult to overcome. Works Cited Cervantes, M. Don Quixote. (Publication Information).

Teflon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Teflon - Essay Example Years after its discovery, it is commercially produced and sold in 1946 while the acquisition of DuPont of Kinetic Chemicals paved way for the usage of PTFE in consumer goods (DuPont 2008). The manufacture of Teflon is modified in order to suit the specific application where it will be utilized. Some of the processes remain proprietor secrets for manufacturers in order to safeguard their competitive advantage. Scientifically, there are two ways of making Teflon. One is through suspension polymerization while the other is through dispersion (Teflon 2008). The starting point for each of the two methods is the synthesis of tetrafluoroethelyne which is undertaken by combining its three components namely fluorspar, hydrofluoric acid, and chloroform in chemical reaction chambers. The main difference between the polymerization processes is by the amount and the strength of force used. In suspension polymerization, the next step will be the addition of water and a reaction agent inhibitor which will cause the TFE to polymerize. On the other hand, the dispersion process introduces TFE into the water-filled chamber together with the initiating chemical. The suspension process requires vigorous shaking while in the dispersion, the reaction is facilitated through gentle agitation only. Thus, tinier beads are formed in the second method making it suitable for metal and fabric coatings (Teflon 2008). The outlined manufacturing process creates a white solid substance with a density of 2.2 grams per square centimeter. Teflon is also known as the solid with the lowest coefficient of friction next to diamond carbon at 0.1 or less which gives it its most notable characteristic of being very slippery and non-stick. Teflon also has very high corrosion resistance making it non-reactive to substances like ozone, chlorine, ammonia, and others. Because of this, Teflon is also non-wetting and adhesion is less likely. Even at extreme temperatures, Teflon maintains its form because of the strong bond of the chemicals comprising it (Polytetrafluoroethylene 2008). Use of fluoropolymers The unique properties of PTFE makes it suitable for various applications in numerous fields namely cookware and medical devices. Manufacturers in these industries have long relied on the characteristics mentioned above in designing more efficient products which can be used by customers in their everyday lives. Aside from these fields, PTFE is also present in more devices and instruments which are indispensible to a typical consumer. Since Dupont holds the copyright for Teflon, cookwares with this brand of non-stick coating source their PTFE from the company. In their manufacturing plant, PTFE is applied directly in the metal surfaces pots and pans. In a normal process, two coatings are sufficient however, some manufacturers sometimes give up to three coatings to achieve the desired output (DuPont 2008). Teflon has become an essential in kitchens because of its ability to make cookware non-stick and easier to clean. The product also gains popularity because of the growing health consciousness globally. As Teflon is non-stick, it enables consumers to fry eggs or sausages without using oil or butter