Discuss the relationship between ICAO and national aviation Essay

Discuss the relationship between ICAO and national aviation authorities. How does this relationship contribute to safety, economy and efficiency - Essay Example This paper is dedicated to discussing the issue of safety, economy and efficiency in the aviation industry and will be biased towards analyzing the roles of ICAO and National Aviation Authorities in the industry. Weber (2007) notes that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a special UN agency that was formed to develop international aviation safety standards. ICAO also promotes cooperation among its member countries as they strive to achieve the organization’s goal of maintaining secure, safe and sustainable civil aviation. The ICAO identifies and monitors any safety risks to civil aviation; the organization also develops and implements relevant as well as effective responses to these risks as they emerge. The body also monitors closely compliance of its policies in different states. The body also conducts oversight audits to identify any safety deficiencies and help come up with a resolution by different states. ICAO also tries to improve global civil aviation safety by encouraging the exchange of crucial information between different states. (Air Traffic Control Association, 1987) ICAO is committed to enhancing security in civil aviation at the global level by identifying and monitoring civil aviation security threats, and developing and implementing effective responses to emerging threats (Huang, 2009). ICAO also tries to improve the security of global civil aviation by encouraging the exchange of crucial information between different states. The body is also tasked with helping the local civil aviation authorities to train all levels of personnel who are involved in the implementation of civil aviation security policies. The body uses any given technical cooperation program to address the security deficiencies in each of its member states. (Huang, 2009) ICAO does this by ensuring that there is minimal effect of aircraft noise, engine emissions on the environment and people. The organization works

Failures are success Essay Example for Free

Failures are success Essay Kidney disease and when you will go in tabular under that mentioned use additional code to specify stage of kidney disesase, from that category you should also need to code One from 4xx series code hypertensive chronic kidney disease, and secondary from 5xx series code . Same with hypertensive cardiac disease. At the same site, code the maximum degree of burn for eg. Second and third degree on arm, code only third degree, if second degree on trunk and third degree on arm, code both according to degree and if u are cding third degree 948 series code also need to be code, which describe total body surface area involved in third degree. PAIN Check guidelines for chronic pain and postoperative pain. If patient comes for pain management, to code for pain. If it is mentioned it is chronic then take chronic (338.xx series) and if it is mentineod postoperative (9xxx series ). SEPTICEMIA 038.XX is always primary whether it is due to infection or noninfection Sepsis 995.91 or severe sepsis 995.92 will go secondary . In case of severe sepsis there is multiple organ failure which need to code after that For eg. 038.xx, 995.92, and then organ failures code. DIABETS MELLITUS Read the guidelines for how to take fifth digit in that 0 if unspecified and not stated as uncontrolled Prepare one anatomy theory Prepare for 5 medical terminoly words; Hepatomegaly, hysterectomy, salpingectomy etc. If it is poisoning, three codes will go Like for eg. Cerebral anoxia resulting in barbitures overdose suicidal attempt Pdx poisiong code 900 serioes check in drugs and chemnical under poisoning Sdx cerebral anoxia icd 9 (manifestation) Tdx E code under drugs and chemical table under barbiturates suicidal attempt E code

Old Testament Connections from Grapes of Wrath :: essays research papers

John Steinbeck makes many Biblical allusions in his book The Grapes of Wrath. Many of these connections are on a small layer, perhaps applying to only one individual. Jim Casy, the Christ figure, is one example of an allusion from the New Testament. However, the whole book can be seen as a Biblical allusion to the story of the Exodus and the life of Moses. Not only does the story of the fictional Joad family relate to the Exodus, but the story of the Okies and the great migration that took place during the Dust Bowl in the 1930’s. This compelling story of the migrants can be divided into three parts: the oppression, the exodus, and the Promised Land. The chronicle of the Exodus begins with the Hebrews being enslaved to the Egyptians. Because of this, God sent ten plagues to Egypt. After the tenth plague, the pharaoh agreed to let the Hebrews become free and their journey across the desert is known as the Exodus. Thus the modern word exodus refers to any mass migration or departure of a large group of people. The excursion of the migrant workers can be described as a modern day exodus (compared to time-period of the Biblical story). Like the Hebrews, the Joad family and the rest of the migrants end up fleeing from their oppressors, which happens to be the banks. The period of time when the Okies use Route 66 as a way to move cross-country is the true exodus of the story, as it is a migration of a people. The migrants reaching California can be compared to the Hebrews finally reaching the Promised Land of Israel. Not only does the book relate to the movement of the Israelites, but also to the legendary man who lead them: Moses. Christians, Jews, and Muslims consider Moses a great prophet. One reference to Moses comes when Uncle John puts Rose of Sharon’s baby in the river. This is much like the life of Moses, when he is sent down the Nile River as a child.

Life and Works of Rizal Essay

He continued his studies at the Universidad Central de Madrid, Spain, where he earned the degree of Licientiate in Medicine. He also attended the University of Paris in France and earned second doctorate at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. Having travelled the world extensively, Rizal became conversant in at least twenty-two languages. He was a prolific poet, essayist, diarist, correspondent, and novelist whose most famous works were his two novels, Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. These works fearlessly exposed the injustices committed by the Spanish civil and clerical officials in the Philippines amd spurred the militancy of armed revolutionaries and reformist against more than 300 years of Spanish rule. Rizal was proponent of institutional reforms by peaceful means rather than violence revolution. But he was associated with the growing insurgency movement and declared an enemy of the state by the Spanish authorities particularly because of the publication of his novels. He was deported to Dapitan in Zamboanga then incarcerated at Fort Santiago. When the Katipunan exploded into the full-blown revolution, the authorities were quick to incriminate him. After a mock trial, Rizal was convicted and sentence to die by firing squad at Bagubayan on December 30, 1896. Eventually, his martyred death proved to be the catalyst that precipitated the Philippine revolution and the downfall of the Spanish colonial rule.

Why Can’t Kmart Be Successful While Target and Walmart Thrive?

What drives some companies to succeed while others languish? Successful companies develop a system of a few truly unique capabilities that help them create differentiated value for their chosen customers. Retailers provide many case studies in capabilities-driven success, one of the most compelling of which is the big discounter triad of Walmart, Target and Kmart. And in this fourth-quarter retail season, we thought it would be helpful to take a closer look at what really distinguishes these competitors because they provide valuable insight into the key components of a winning corporate strategy. We believe that all successful companies — Walmart and Target included — know precisely how they provide value for customers. They make a deliberate choice about their â€Å"way to play† in the market, guided primarily by what those companies do uniquely well: their distinctive capabilities. We define capabilities not as â€Å"people capabilities,† but as the interconnected people, knowledge, systems, tools and processes that create differentiated value. They then select a set of products and services that best leverage those unique capabilities and optimally suit their chosen way to play. Most important, they avoid markets, products or services that require new or disparate capabilities, and thus threaten the company's focus. Focus for us, therefore, is not about picking just one market, but rather about choosing one coherent way of competing. The true story about Walmart's and Target's success is that they have gone to great lengths to focus internally on building capabilities and product offerings that suit their way to play. Kmart, by contrast, has failed to develop a unique or differentiated way to play, and all that goes with it. Let's take a closer look. Walmart's success doesn't just stem from impressive logistics, aggressive vendor management and its position as a low-cost retailer. What really underlies Walmart's advantage is a coherent and differentiated approach to the market. †¢ Their well-defined way to play focuses on â€Å"always low prices† for a wide range of consumer items, from food to prescriptions to electronics. †¢ They support their low-cost way to play with an integrated system of capabilities, including: real estate acquisition; no frills store design; and superior supply chain management involving among others expert point-of-sale data analytics. Their product and service mix is kept tightly aligned with their way to play and capabilities system: avoiding big-ticket items (e. g. , furniture or large appliances) where it has no cost advantage, or where new service capabilities might be required. And it innovates constantly within its chosen constraints: e. g. , tailoring product assortments to loca l trends. Target caters to a similar â€Å"money-saving† market, but offers a very different value proposition, focuses on different capabilities and has a different product portfolio. Target's way to play emphasizes design-forward apparel and home decor for image-conscious consumers. Everything from store layout to advertising to inventory conveys an eye for style. †¢ Its capabilities system supports this way to play with image advertising, â€Å"mass prestige† sourcing (with the use of private brand and exclusive offerings), pricing, and the management of urban locations. †¢ In product and service mix, Target is similar to Walmart in many ways, but Target satisfies the needs of its younger, image-conscious shoppers by stocking more furniture, clothing and exclusive designer merchandise than Walmart. Kmart, the least successful of the group, is struggling to define its way to play, describing itself as a â€Å"mass merchandising company that offers customers quality products through a portfolio of exclusive brands and labels. † Yet, that definition could describe just about any retailer. As a Walmart customer, you know you'll save money and still feel welcome. At Target, you know you'll get fashionable products at prices that feel reasonable. What, then, is Kmart's niche? Walk through a Kmart store and you'll discover designers like Jaclyn Smith in the low-budget ambience of a warehouse. They carry Kenmore appliances, which may require high-touch sales assistance that many Sears customers expect and many Kmart stores lack. In short, Kmart has not established an identifiable way to play that reflects both customers' needs and its own capabilities. Harry Cunningham, the founder of Kmart, allegedly admitted that Sam Walton (the founder of Walmart) â€Å"not only copied our concepts, he strengthened them. † The lack of a clear concept about how to reach the market, in our view, is the single most important factor in explaining why Kmart's fortunes have fallen so far, compared to its two rivals. Without a clear way to play, and capabilities to support it, a company cannot achieve the coherence it needs to truly excel at what it does, and thus outpace competitors. http://blogs. hbr. org/cs/2010/12/why_cant_kmart_be_successful_w. html Kmart (sometimes stylized as K-Mart), is an American chain of discount stores headquartered in the United States. The chain purchased Sears in 2005, forming a new corporation under the name Sears Holdings Corporation. The company was founded in 1962 and is the third largest discount store chain in the world, behind Walmart and Target, with stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands, and Guam (which houses the world's largest Kmart). [2] As of January 29, 2011, Kmart operated a total of 1,307 (6 closing by early 2011) Kmart stores across 49 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U. S. Virgin Islands. This store count included 1,278 discount stores, averaging 93,000 sq ft (8,600 m2), and 29 Super Centers, averaging 169,000 sq ft (15,700 m2). [3] Kmart became known for its â€Å"Blue Light Specials. † They occurred at surprise moments when a store worker would light up a mobile police light and offer a discount in a specific department of the store. At the height of Kmart's popularity, the phrase â€Å"attention Kmart shoppers† also entered into the American pop psyche, appearing in films and other media such as Troop Beverly Hills, Six Days Seven Nights, Rain Man, Beetlejuice, and Dawn of the Dead. Kmart's world headquarters was located in Troy, Michigan, but since the purchase of Sears, has been relocated to Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Kmart also exists in Australia and New Zealand (see Kmart Australia), although it now has no relation to the American stores except in name, after U. S. equity in the Australian business was purchased in the late 1970s. https://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Kmart As outlined in â€Å"Private Equity May Be The Only Way To Save Sears,† as restructuring and turnaround advisers and investors, we here at ACM Partners are often asked about the big retail â€Å"stories of the day† (meaning companies on the brink of distress). GAP, Tiffany & Co. and now Sears and Kmart are the most recent â€Å"big cases† we’ve received the majority of inquiries about. Here, then, is our take on what’s in store for Kmart (which hedge fund manager Eddie Lampert officially took control of in 2003, post-bankruptcy): Do we need Kmart anymore? While â€Å"during the early years, Kmart was the fastest-growing of the â€Å"big three† discounters (Kmart, Wal-Mart and Target), easily outpacing their key competition,† Kmart, like its parent-company Sears (which acquired the discount retailer in 2005), has lost significant market share through a ombination of poor market strategy and by being â€Å"squeezed out† by â€Å"sexier† (ie Target) or more affordable (ie Wal-Mart) competitors. In short, â€Å"Kmart is trapped between Wal-Mart and Target, becoming the merchandiser in the middle — and ultimately, the discounter in the muddle. † On the consumer side, it's difficult to say Kmart would be particularly missed – since the retailer provides few unique product or experiential offerings – except in geographic areas particularly dependent on the retailer. On a personal note, while I worked at a Kmart as a teenager, I don't believe I've stepped foot in one in more than decade (nor would have any particular reason to). I do, however, visit Target almost monthly. If yes, can Kmart be turned around? What does the executive team need to do? Here, then, it's a question again of â€Å"Where did Kmart go wrong? † Let's take a look at some core areas in which Kmart could generate a turnaround. Strategy, Strategy, Strategy: Kmart failed to see the writing on the retail wall before initially filing bankruptcy in 2002 (and, some would argue, continues to ignores it). All retailers, even discount ones, must have a coherent pricing-and-product strategy in order to appeal to core consumers. As the brand stands now, Kmart offers very little in terms of â€Å"must-have† items for any particular consumer segment. †¢ Management â€Å"Expansion†: By all accounts, Kmart is an exceptionally insular company, meaning very few outsid ers have been brought in to â€Å"refresh† the store's brand. Consequently, errors in judgment and purchasing have been magnified by continued mismanagement, while fights and fiefdoms have prevented the company from moving forward into the 21st century. Instead of squeezing every last penny from the dying brand, Lampert must insist on reviving both methods and management if Kmart is to reassert its relevance. †¢ Logistics: As a discount player, Kmart has lost nearly every round of the logistics game, from management of its supply-chain to in-store sku measurements. For instance, because Kmart measured potential profitability by gross margin ercentages rather than by sales-per-square, the retailer has and continues to stock higher-margined goods in place of faster-moving products, leading to a decrease in inventory turn-over. Furthermore, inefficient ordering and supply-chain management means everything's cost more and arrives later than at Kmart's competitors. Combine these factors, and you get a dying retailer on the brink of disappearing from the American landscape. Like we outlined in â€Å"Private Equity May Be Only Way To Save Sears,† â€Å"With a market cap of only $3. 5 billion, it wouldn’t be tough to get the financing for a going-private transaction † for Sears Holdings Corporate. In short, the market is not going to allow a $40B+ asset-based retailer simply disappear. Ergo, once again, private equity may end up being the only answer for what ails these dying retailers. Margaret Bogenrief is a partner with ACM Partners , a boutique crisis management and distressed investing firm serving companies and municipalities in financial distress. She can be reached at [email  protected] com.

The Social Position of Women in the late 19th century Europe essays

The Social Position of Women in the late 19th century Europe essays During the latter years of the nineteenth century women, as always, women held an inferior position to men, which usually reflected their social status. Though laws were helping to improve the womans role in society, she was still confronted with legal, educational, and economic setbacks. By the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century improvements aided in giving women more rights, and educational and occupational opportunities. Earlier on in the century women lacked the rights to own their own property no matter their rank in society. Women were forced to give obedience to their husbands, and had minimal opportunity to be divorced from their without going through numerous explanations and trials in courts. Women usually had to prove more than one offense against their husbands to be granted a divorce. Even cases of rape and maltreatment worked more to the advantage of the husband. Women were encumbered with the fact that they had little chance to go beyond being a house wife. Men on the other had were the head of the family, obtained the property rights, had more educational opportunities, and much more legal rights. Society was not for the benefit of women. Many women were illiterate because they were denied any type of primary or secondary education other than care taking. Many colleges didnt begin to accept women until after the 1860s. When they did accept women the numbers were limited because women lacked the education to be prepared for any type of higher learning. They were too helplessly unqualified to be admitted to universities. Often, the reasons for men not wanting women to be admitted included the fact that the schools might become overcrowded and women might create too much change and challenge traditional ways of gender roles. Without access to higher learning institutions women had no chance of advancing their individual social or economic status. ...

Values In The Phaeacian Societ essays

Values In The Phaeacian Societ essays The Importance of Values In The Phaeacian Society The Phaeacian societys values are what the basis of what their civilized community is built on. In Robert Fagles translation of The Odyssey by Homer, there are numerous references made to what kind of values are held by the Phaeacian society. In book VI, as well as the rest of the books, there are examples of how the societies values provide structure, regulation, and rules for the culture to live by. It is evident in the writing, not only directly, but also indirectly, such as peoples responses and reactions to certain activities or words. One of the most important and easily recognizable values of the Phaeacian society is hospitality. Throughout the book, there are numerous examples of the importance of hospitality to the culture. The encounter between Odysseus and Nausicaa is a perfect display of what great extents one is expected to go to provide a guest, especially a stranger, with superb hospitality. Nausicaa is well trained in her manners, and very well she should be, the daughter of a king. She is representing her family, and reflects this when she tells her maidens, heres an unlucky wanderer strayed our way and we must tend him well.... So, quick, my girls, give our newfound friend some food and drink and bathe the him in the river(VI. 226-231). This is an unusual act in todays culture; to feed and bathe a complete stranger met on a waterfront. Nausicaa further extends her hospitality by inviting Odysseus to come to her residence later in the evening to meet her mother and father. The fact that a famil y of great importance, or even royalty, doesnt scrutinize a stranger, but makes sure his every need is taken care of before anything else, illustrates just how important the value of hospitality is to the Phaeacian society. It represents their level of civility and refinement in their culture. This level is something that...

Overview of Corn-Pone Opinions by Mark Twain

Overview of Corn-Pone Opinions by Mark Twain In an essay not published until several years after his death, humorist Mark Twain examines the effects of social pressures on our thoughts and beliefs. Corn-Pone Opinions is presented as an argument, says Davidson College English professor Ann M. Fox, not a sermon. Rhetorical questions, elevated language, and short clipped declarations . . . are part of this strategy. (The Mark Twain Encyclopedia, 1993) Corn-Pone Opinions by Mark Twain Fifty years ago, when I was a boy of fifteen and helping to inhabit a Missourian village on the banks of the Mississippi, I had a friend whose society was very dear to me because I was forbidden by my mother to partake of it. He was a gay and impudent and satirical and delightful young black mana slavewho daily preached sermons from the top of his masters woodpile, with me for sole audience. He imitated the pulpit style of the several clergymen of the village and did it well, and with fine passion and energy. To me, he was a wonder. I believed he was the greatest orator in the United States and would some day be heard from. But it did not happen; in the distribution of rewards, he was overlooked. It is the way, in this world. He interrupted his preaching, now and then, to saw a stick of wood; but the sawing was a pretensehe did it with his mouth; exactly imitating the sound the bucksaw makes in shrieking its way through the wood. But it served its purpose; it kept his master from coming out to see how the work was getting along. I listened to the sermons from the open window of a lumber room at the back of the house. One of his texts was this: You tell me whar a man gits his corn pone, en Ill tell you what his pinions is. I can never forget it. It was deeply impressed upon me. By my mother. Not upon my memory, but elsewhere. She had slipped in upon me while I was absorbed and not watching. The black philosophers idea was that a man is not independent, and cannot afford views which might interfere with his bread and butter. If he would prosper, he must train with the majority; in matters of large moment, like politics and religion, he must think and feel with the bulk of his neighbors or suffer damage in his social standing and in his business prosperities. He must restrict himself to corn-pone opinionsat least on the surface. He must get his opinions from other people; he must reason out none for himself; he must have no first-hand views. I think Jerry was right, in the main, but I think he did not go far enough. It was his idea that a man conforms to the majority view of his locality by calculation and intention.This happens, but I think it is not the rule.It was his idea that there is such a thing as a first-hand opinion; an original opinion; an opinion which is coldly reasoned out in a mans head, by a searching analysis of the facts involved, with the heart unconsulted, and the jury room closed against outside influences. It may be that such an opinion has been born somewhere, at some time or other, but I suppose it got away before they could catch it and stuff it and put it in the museum. I am persuaded that a coldly-thought-out and independent verdict upon a fashion in clothes, or manners, or literature, or politics, or religion, or any other matter that is projected into the field of our notice and interest, is a most rare thingif it has indeed ever existed. A new thing in costume appearsthe flaring hoopskirt, for exampleand the passers-by are shocked, and the irreverent laugh. Six months later everybody is reconciled; the fashion has established itself; it is admired, now, and no one laughs. Public opinion resented it before, public opinion accepts it now and is happy in it. Why? Was the resentment reasoned out? Was the acceptance reasoned out? No. The instinct that moves to conformity did the work. It is our nature to conform; it is a force which not many can successfully resist. What is its seat? The inborn requirement of self-approval. We all have to bow to that; there are no exceptions. Even the woman who refuses from first to last to wear the hoopskirt comes under that law and is its slave; she could not wear the skirt and have her own approval; and that she must have, she cannot help herself. But as a rule, our self-approval has its source in but one place and not elsewherethe approval of other people. A person of vast consequence s can introduce any kind of novelty in dress and the general world will presently adopt itmoved to do it, in the first place, by the natural instinct to passively yield to that vague something recognized as authority, and in the second place by the human instinct to train with the multitude and have its approval. An empress introduced the hoopskirt, and we know the result. A nobody introduced the bloomer, and we know the result. If Eve should come again, in her ripe renown, and reintroduce her quaint styleswell, we know what would happen. And we should be cruelly embarrassed, along at first. The hoopskirt runs its course and disappears. Nobody reasons about it. One woman abandons the fashion; her neighbor notices this and follows her lead; this influences the next woman; and so on and so on, and presently the skirt has vanished out of the world, no one knows how nor why, nor cares, for that matter. It will come again, by and by and in due course will go again. Twenty-five years ago, in England, six or eight wine glasses stood grouped by each persons plate at a dinner party, and they were used, not left idle and empty; today there are but three or four in the group, and the average guest sparingly uses about two of them. We have not adopted this new fashion yet, but we shall do it presently. We shall not think it out; we shall merely conform, and let it go at that. We get our notions and habits and opinions from outside influences; we do not have to study them out. Our table manners, and company manners, and street manners change from time to time, but the changes are not reasoned out; we merely notice and conform. We are creatures of outside influences; as a  rule, we do not think, we only imitate. We cannot invent standards that will stick; what we mistake for standards are only fashions, and perishable. We may continue to admire them, but we drop the use of them. We notice this in literature. Shakespeare is a standard, and fifty years ago we used to write tragedies which we couldnt tell fromfrom somebody elses; but we dont do it  any more, now. Our  prose  standard,  three quarters  of a century ago, was ornate and diffuse; some authority or other changed it in the direction of compactness and simplicity, and conformity followed, without argument. The historical novel starts up  suddenly and sweeps the land. Everybody writes one, and the nation is glad. We had historical novels before; but nobody read them, and the rest of us  conformedwithout reasoning it out. We are conforming in the other way, now, because it is another case of everybody. The outside influences are always pouring in upon us, and we are always obeying their orders and accepting their verdicts. The Smiths like the new play; the Joneses go to see it, and they copy the Smith verdict. Morals, religions, politics, get their following from surrounding influences and atmospheres, almost entirely; not from study, not from thinking. A man must and will have his own approval first of all, in each and every moment and circumstance of his lifeeven if he must repent of a self-approved act the moment after its commission, in order to get his self-approval again: but, speaking in general terms, a mans self-approval in the large concerns of life has its source in the approval of the peoples about him, and not in a searching personal examination of the matter. Mohammedans are Mohammedans because they are born and reared among that sect, not because they have thought it out and can furnish sound reasons for being Mohammedans; we know why Catholics are Catholics; why Pre sbyterians are Presbyterians; why Baptists are Baptists; why Mormons are Mormons; why thieves are thieves; why monarchists are monarchists; why Republicans are Republicans and Democrats, Democrats. We know it is a matter of association and sympathy, not reasoning and examination; that hardly a man in the world has an opinion upon morals, politics, or religion which he got otherwise than through his associations and sympathies. Broadly speaking, there are none but corn-pone opinions. And broadly speaking, corn-pone stands for self-approval. Self-approval is acquired mainly from the approval of other people. The result is conformity. Sometimes conformity has a sordid business interestthe bread-and-butter interestbut not in most cases, I think. I think that in the majority of cases it is unconscious and not calculated; that it is born of the human beings natural yearning to stand well with his fellows and have their inspiring approval and praisea yearning which is commonly so strong and so insistent that it cannot be effectually resisted, and must have its way. A political emergency brings out the corn-pone opinion in fine force in its two chief varietiesthe pocketbook variety, which has its origin in self-interest, and the bigger variety, the sentimental varietythe one which cant bear to be outside the pale; cant bear to be in disfavor; cant endure the averted face and the cold shoulder; wants to stand well with his friends, wants to be smiled upon, wants to be welcome, wants to hear the precious words, Hes on the right track! Uttered, perhaps by an ass, but still an ass of high degree, an ass whose approval is gold and diamonds to a smaller ass, and confers glory and honor and happiness, and membership in the herd. For these  gauds, many a man will dump his lifelong principles into the street, and his conscience along with them. We have seen it happen. In some millions of instances. Men think they think upon great political questions, and they do; but they think with their party, not independently; they read its literature, but not that of the other side; they arrive at convictions, but they are drawn from a partial view of the matter in hand and are of no particular value. They swarm with their party, they feel with their party, they are happy in their partys approval; and where the party leads they will follow, whether for right and  honor or through blood and dirt and a mush of mutilated morals. In our late canvass half of the nation passionately believed that in silver lay salvation, the other half as passionately believed that that way lay destruction. Do you believe that a tenth part of the people, on either side, had any rational excuse for having an opinion about the matter at all? I studied that mighty question to the bottomand came out empty. Half of our people passionately believe in high tariff, the other half believe otherwise. Does this mean study and examination, or only feeling? The latter, I think. I have deeply studied that question, tooand didnt arrive. We all do no end of feeling, and we mistake it for thinking. And out of  it, we  get an aggregation which we consider a Boon. Its name is Public Opinion. It is held in reverence. It settles everything. Some think it the Voice of God.  Praps. I suppose that in more cases than we should like to admit, we have two sets of opinions: one private, the other public; one secret and sincere, the other corn-pone, and more or less tainted. Written in 1901, Mark Twains Corn-Pone Opinions was first published in 1923 in Europe and Elsewhere, edited by Albert Bigelow Paine (Harper Brothers).

The Impact of Semi-Passive RFID Tags on the UK Warehouse Operations Essay

The Impact of Semi-Passive RFID Tags on the UK Warehouse Operations Performance - Essay Example ight be used in warehousing and, when they are used, what benefits have resulted from their use in both the warehouse situation and allied industries. The challenges to be overcome in the use of BAP tags and the solutions offered will also be studied. Thereafter the principal objective will be - through an in depth survey of the industry - to attempt to understand the concerns of non-users, asses the reactions of current users and their future intentions, and offer suggestions for greater application of, and improvements in, BAP tags for the warehousing industry. RFID technology was developed in World War II in order to distinguish between enemy and allied aircraft and to prevent â€Å"friendly fire† incidents (Mital & Ives, 2003; Weis, 2009). Refined in 1948 for ‘civilian’ use (Roberts, 2006) the system consists of â€Å"two basic components – a transponder [the tag itself] and a transceiver [the reader]. The tag comprises an antenna and an integrated circuit which requires a power input (Mital & Ives, 2003). This comes from the transceiver [reader] through a tiny antenna. The transponder gathers energy from the magnetic field, processes the information and passes it back to the reader for processing (Mital & Ives, 2003). There are three types of tag: (a) passive - draws energy from the transponder (b) active, containing a small battery and (c) semi-passive - battery powered but requires signal from the transponder for activation [i.e. conserves energy when dormant] (Angeles, 2005). Ambient vibration energy was s uccessfully used to boost BAP battery power (Lai et al., 2005). The performance of the tags depends on their type and the frequencies used. They may be divided roughly into three groups: (a) low [100-500 kHz] - tags are mostly passive and the reading distance is short [0-3.5 m]; (b) intermediate [10-15 MHz] - reading range of 0-10 m; (c) high [850-950 MHz and 2.4-5.8 GHz] - the reading distance is commonly 50-100 m with, under favourable

Companies from emerging markets are better equipped to conduct Essay

Companies from emerging markets are better equipped to conduct business in other emerging markets - Essay Example Emerging markets could be referred to the low income generation economies, or could be the developing markets or the economies currently in the growth stage. The emerging markets have shown more growth in the recent years, as compared to the more developed markets and economies. In such economies every opportunity is exploited to its fullest and such markets are important strategic factors to be considered by the companies willing to grow in emerging economies. In these economies the higher growth leads to higher returns and higher demand for investment and capital which further leads to favorable movement in the flow of capital and currency alignments. The growth in incomes and products are also seen in these economies which are important detriments of patterns of demand and pricing of products. These days the most significant strategic choice faced by the global companies is investing in the right emerging market. (JAIN. 2006) It is estimated that till 2050 the BRIC (Brazil, Russia , India, China) economies will become large forces in economy of the world. According to these projections based on growth in GDPs, income per capita and currency movements, if everything goes right these emerging economies will become greater than G6 in US dollars terms. ... tion and high level of risks faced by these countries, there are chances that these projections could go wrong due to policy change or any other factor that can affect the economy adversely. (JAIN. 2006) EMERGING ECONOMIES AND MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS: Due to such enormous effect of BRICs on world’s economy and the impact it would have in future years, it has become increasingly important for the Multinational Corporations (MNCs) all around the world to realize the importance of these emerging markets and the benefits the investment in these can provide. The major characteristics that attract the investors in these markets are increasing demand and group of wealthy people, educated work force and opportunities for low cost production. Many large MNCs such as P&G, IKEA, Coca Cola, HP etc have realized the importance of these markets and have expanded tremendously in these markets. (VAN DE KUIL. 2008) Out of BRICs, India and China are the strongest in the race of these emergin g markets. It is estimated that in next 20 years these both countries will become more than the size of mature countries like UK or Japan. Today’s advances markets and nations will lose their position and a drastic shift in spending would provide opportunities to global markets. China and India both have world’s largest population which together holds 37% population of the world. The population living in the mid-income segment of these both countries is constantly growing which means a demand of products and services is growing rapidly. (VAN DE KUIL. 2008) REASONS TO ENTER EMERGING ECONOMIES: Many MNCs have strategically planned to enter these emerging markets due to various reasons. Firstly it has become hard for the companies to grow in the mature markets; therefore the companies are now

Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What Personal Statement

Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you - Personal Statement Example Oftentimes, when given the opportunity, I will take my horse out into the desert and just enjoy the peace and solitude that such an environment can provide. Whereas many individuals might see the desert as a formidable and barren landscape, the fact of the matter is that to me it is tranquil, serene and quite lovely. I find myself experiencing feelings of complete contendeness when I am in such an environment and free to let my thoughts wander about on many different topics. For everyone there is a place or a situation in which they feel most content; for me, it is the time I spend alone on my horse in the wilds of the desert. It should not be understood that the only calm and contented times that I spend are in solitude. Rather, my friends and family often accompany me as I embark on either a short few-hour trip or a long over-the-weekend ride. Sharing the experience in being able to be outdoors and away from all of the concerns and worries of work or school allows for this to be the single most contented time that I have spent during my life. Another reason that the time spent in horseback riding is oftentimes the most contented has to do with the fact that I am able to forget about my other concerns in life. Whereas driving somewhere is of course possible and sometimes easier, it does not allow me to quietly observe all different types of wildlife that I get to see while horseback riding. As compared to the drone of the engine in a car, the quiet gait of the horse has the ability to free my nerves, and therefore allows for a much more observant and natural means to behold available wildlife. The ability to rapidly learn the skills of horseback riding and master them in a relatively short period of time is perhaps one of the greatest reasons why this has become one of the activities in which I have been the most content. Further, as with any experience, the experience that the reader may have can vary

Joan Alexandra Molinsky Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Joan Alexandra Molinsky - Essay Example In 1987, however, Rivers life began to spiral downward when her husband, Edgar Rosenberg, committed suicide. This event, combined with a declining career, was the onset of a deep depression for Rivers, as well as the beginnings of bulimia. Rivers states how a devastating loss affects hunger in two ways - erasing it or launch it to new heights. "For me the suicide inspired a gastronomic space program." she claims (Rivers, 1997, p.98). She describes the beginnings of a binge - overeating rich foods until she felt bloated and her clothes became too small - at which point she reached the solution of self-induced vomiting. Occasional purges soon evolved into weekly then twice a day rituals. Rivers timed her purges to happen roughly a half hour after a meal; she realized she must admit the problem to her therapist when she pulled over to vomit in a rest area bathroom. When she finally admitted her bulimia to her therapist Dr. Michael Greenstein, his observation reflects the general state of her life: out of control. Because of this, one of the few things she has been able to control is her bodily intake and output, which has manifested itself in the form of bulimia. Eating disorders are actually psychological disorders and can frequently be triggered by traumatizing events. The proper name of bulimia is Bulimia Nervosa (BN), which translates as "ox hunger", and refers specifically to a binge and purge cycle happening at least twice a week for at least six months. Purging methods include self-induced vomiting, or the abuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas. Bulimics may also resort to fasting or exhibit obsessive compulsions to exercise. Sufferers often share similar personality traits: they tend towards perfectionism, while retaining a sense of low self-esteem despite their accomplishments. Depression is a frequent contributor to the disorder's development as well. Unfortunately, since the psychology of bulimia is often related to larger emotional issues, both the condition and the original problems complement and augment each other, resulting in a worsening of all symptoms (Eating Disorders, 2005). There are several Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment (CB) methods for BN: such as various behavior, psychodynamic, family, or experiential therapies, or a Twelve-Step program using the disorder as an addiction. CBT is a process by which the patient comes to recognizes the true psychological issues, learn more constructive coping mechanisms in relation to these, and then modify their behavior to return to more acceptable eating patterns while preventing relapses. Anti-depressants frequently help, as they curb the appetite while inhibiting the root depression; different anti-depressants seem to work equally well (Wilson and Pike, 2001). With Dr. Greenstein, Joan Rivers learned to identify her grief of her husband's suicide and was able to return to host a daytime talk show through the years 1989-1993 (Wikkipedia, 2006), the ending of which coincided with the death of her therapist and her returning to live in New York. Her depression was growing worse. The combination of her husband's los s, her talk show ending, a brief Broadway show collapsing and the failure of her jewelry venture

Middle east studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Middle east studies - Essay Example ere still relatively fresh and had no experience, for this purpose these countries along with Palestine was brought into the reign and control through the colonial expansion (Anderson). It was during this era and span that the Jewish settlement took place and large number of immigrants started settling in, in these areas (Boger). This in turn led to the development of hatred between the two nations and ultimately multiple wars in long run in the form of 1948, 1967 and 1973 wars between the Arab world and Israel. This agreement regarding the Palestine’s future was reached through a mutual consent based accord between France and Great Britain. Great Britain at that time was at the zenith of its power and authority and under the wings and umbrella of common wealth, it had large number of regions as colonies. Iraq was another instance that fell under the system of Mandates being introduced in the post First World War scenario. It was around 1919 to 1921 when Great Britain formally took over it after the Ottoman Empire succumbed to the injuries and troubles it had long been tasted with through the entire part of 18th and 19th century. Iraqi forces had initially come up with a revolt and rebellion and had taken arms for this purpose. Finally succumbing to the force, a locally sued treaty was brought into it. It was done so through Anglo Iraq treaty that was signed towards the days when Ottoman empire had nearly collapsed (Mirza, p324) and was only away from formal burial in form of declaration by the Western powers. The next in line was Jordan. Jordan has had an important history in the affairs of Middle East politics. It was under the auspices of the British Empire for major part of the 20th century. It was only after 1946 when Jordan formally came into being as an independent state. Lebanon on other hand remained under the influence of France for greater part of the 20th century politics. Lebanon also remained part of the European influence and remained a colony

Paper on social works theoretical approaches Assignment

Paper on social works theoretical approaches - Assignment Example f the main characters and presenting core of conflicts in the case study, systems section begins by explaining the systems perspective and then describing what happens systematically in the institution, the structural section starts by explaining the structural perspective and then discusses how institutionally embedded injustices are influencing specific members of the family and the family as a whole and discussing how race, class, gender and/or other oppressions impact the family’s experiences and their understandings of themselves and others, the community section begins by explaining the community perspective and then name one social problem that exists in this community and identify the root causes of this problem or issue. There are different types of organizational changes like anticipatory, reactive, incremental, strategic and changes through tuning, adaptation, reorientation and recreation and these changes are inevitable in the organization towards which people react in various ways. Anticipatory changes are the expected changes in the organization through planned and prepared activities. Reactive changes mean a change made after meeting an unexpected situation in the organization while incremental changes happen by way of introducing new subsystems in the organization. Strategic change is meant an alteration in the organization in result of the application of the new strategy in order to shape and lead the organization in the proper direction. Individuals react to these changes in different ways like in unrealistic optimism, feeling shocked on the reality and direction in the constructive way and the various patterns of responding to the change are coming to the right track, laughing it off, havi ng suspicion about the change and buying in. organizational change or any alteration is perceived in many ways by the different individuals. Amy is an eight year experienced professor in the department of social work. She liked to work in a health agency

Middle east studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Middle east studies - Essay Example ere still relatively fresh and had no experience, for this purpose these countries along with Palestine was brought into the reign and control through the colonial expansion (Anderson). It was during this era and span that the Jewish settlement took place and large number of immigrants started settling in, in these areas (Boger). This in turn led to the development of hatred between the two nations and ultimately multiple wars in long run in the form of 1948, 1967 and 1973 wars between the Arab world and Israel. This agreement regarding the Palestine’s future was reached through a mutual consent based accord between France and Great Britain. Great Britain at that time was at the zenith of its power and authority and under the wings and umbrella of common wealth, it had large number of regions as colonies. Iraq was another instance that fell under the system of Mandates being introduced in the post First World War scenario. It was around 1919 to 1921 when Great Britain formally took over it after the Ottoman Empire succumbed to the injuries and troubles it had long been tasted with through the entire part of 18th and 19th century. Iraqi forces had initially come up with a revolt and rebellion and had taken arms for this purpose. Finally succumbing to the force, a locally sued treaty was brought into it. It was done so through Anglo Iraq treaty that was signed towards the days when Ottoman empire had nearly collapsed (Mirza, p324) and was only away from formal burial in form of declaration by the Western powers. The next in line was Jordan. Jordan has had an important history in the affairs of Middle East politics. It was under the auspices of the British Empire for major part of the 20th century. It was only after 1946 when Jordan formally came into being as an independent state. Lebanon on other hand remained under the influence of France for greater part of the 20th century politics. Lebanon also remained part of the European influence and remained a colony

What are the benefits of globalizing processes How the international Essay

What are the benefits of globalizing processes How the international relations are affected by this - Essay Example The concept is oversimplified and exaggerated (Scholte, 1). This is because the term globalization has diverse concepts of which five can be distinguished. As the first one, globalization can be defined from the internationalization perspective. It indicates economic and trade relations between different countries. It refers to flow of capital investments as well as movement of people and ideas between countries. The second concept of globalization which is liberalization refers to removal of trade and border restrictions in order to promote free trade among countries. With this concept, amalgamation of international trade relations is generated. This kind of globalization can be actually seen in reduction and in many cases abolition of trade obstructions, visas and capital controls. Then there is the third concept that relates globalization with universalization. It can be defined as spreading of ideas and cultural experiences to people in every country to promote a common perspecti ve of culture in global humanism. This concept is becoming more common with globalization of automobiles, Chinese restaurants, cattle rearing and so on. The fourth concept of globalization is modernization; it is a radical concept that spreads the notions of modernism like capitalism, industrialism, individualism all over the world. This process essentially destroys the prevalent cultures and regional concepts. This concept of globalization is evident in the imperialism of McDonalds, Hollywood and CNN. A fifth approach that has defined globalization is respatialization. It includes restructure of social borders with a growing transplanetary relation with people. Under the fifth concept, social space can no longer by defined by territorial borders and distances (Scholte, 16-17). The benefit of globalization is very often a debatable issue wherein the major concern is the conditions of the developing third world countries. With the advent of globalization, some argue

The Role Of Civil Disobedience To Fight Social Injustice Essay Example for Free

The Role Of Civil Disobedience To Fight Social Injustice Essay All contents of the law are not always favorable to everyone. In one way or another, at least one law is disagreeable to one person. Civil disobedience was first conceptualized by Henry David Thoreau, a philosopher, development critic, tax resister, transcendentalist, naturalist and an American author. He was once arrested for not paying poll tax. It was his choice not to conform to the law by paying poll tax because he was not in favor of where the money will go. Thoreau believed that the money tax he will pay for will be for the funding of the Mexican War, which he was not in favor of at all (DuBrin, 2008). Civil disobedience refers to an active refusal to adapt the commands and demands of a government or a power currently occupying the land or to put it shortly, refusal to abide by the law. It is simply not conforming to whatever the government is feeding its people. One main identifying factor of civil disobedience, though, is that resistance, in this context, is not violent. Scholars call civil disobedience a different shape of respectful disagreement. Civil obedience is being practiced widely in different parts of the world. The Indians, for example, practiced civil disobedience for their struggle for freedom. According to Dr. Jyotsna Kamat, a respected teacher, researcher and broadcaster in India, today, civil disobedience in India was as simple as non-cooperation. An All-White Commission as a political platform in India was detested by Indians. Civil disobedience was done by boycotting the laws of all the political and social platforms in India. First, they were repressive. Second, these were in favor of the British Parliament only. Even the members of Simon Commission in India had members from the British Parliament alone. Mahatma Gandhi, a political and spiritual leader in India, led civil disobedience in India and made it a point to avoid violence at all costs. Indias purpose was to paralyze the Indian government. All supports were withdrawn, and India became highly revolutionary. Gandhi, among many other leaders in India like Amar Patel, led civil disobedience in India because the laws of the government were considered repressive (Kamat, 2005).

The Themes of How Sharp Snaffles got his Capital and Wife Essay exampl

The Themes of â€Å"How Sharp Snaffles got his Capital and Wife† Romance, ‘The Big Lie’, humor, and Moral, â€Å"How Sharp Snaffles got his Capital and Wife† contains all of these in a wonderfully written story by William Gilmore Simms. Sit back and enjoy a â€Å"potation†(423) from a â€Å"corpulent barrel of Western uisquebaugh †(422) while I argue my truths or is that ‘Lie’. This romantic story is about the trails and tribulations Sam Snaffles endured to capture the affections of Mary Ann Hopson. Sam describes Mary Ann as â€Å", and so all over beautiful! O Lawd! When I thinks of it and them times, I don’t see how ‘twas possible to think of buck-hunting when thar was sich a doe, with sich eyes shining me on!† (426) After Sam is denied Mary Ann’s hand in marriage, because he has no capital, they meet in the forest outside of Mary Ann’s home she tells Sam â€Å"I’ll be true to you, Sam. I loves nobody in all the world so much as I loves you†(434) Sam gets the capital needed to satisfy her father and marry his true love in the end. The Webster’s definition of ‘Big Lie’ is â€Å"a deliberate gross distortion of the truth used especially as a propaganda tactic† and this is well illustrated in the story. The story opens at the end of a week of hunting and the group is sitting around the fire awaiting â€Å"The Lying Camp!† The main character Sam Snaffles is requested to tell the story of how he found ‘Capital ‘ so he could marry his true love, Mary Ann Hopson. As Sam begins his story he is called down by the ‘Big Lie’ saying, â€Å"All you’ve been a-saying is jest nothing but the naked truth as I know it.†(426) Sam’s reply is â€Å"And how’s a man to lie decently onless you lets him hev a bit of truth to go upon? The truth’s nothing but a peg in the wall that I hangs the lie upon.†(426) Sam’s story of how he got the ‘capital’ is amazing and just to show how big it grew, here’s a descripti on of the total capital Sam got, â€Å"From the b’ar . . . First, thar waur the hide, $20; then 450 pounds of meat, at 10 cents, was $45; then the grease, 14 pounds, $14; and the tallow, some $6 more; and the biled marrow, $11.† The geese â€Å"2700 wild-geese, at 50 cents, you sees, must be more than $1350.† The honey â€Å"got something over two thousand gallons of the purest, sweetest, yellowest honey you ever did see.† Humor is located throughout this story. One of my favorite parts is when Mary Ann’s father asked Sam’s horse if Sa... ... look in the mirror and asked him what he saw: that won’t edzactly do. I tell you now, look good, and ax yourself ef you’re the sawt of looking man that hes any right to be feyther-in-law to a fine, young, handsome-looking fellow like me, what’s got the â€Å"capital?†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Then he laughed out at the humor of the situation; and he says, ‘Well, Sam Snaffles, you’ve got me dead this time. You’re a different man from what I thought you. But, Sam, you’ll confess, I reckon, that ef I hedn’t sent you off with a flea in your ear when I hed you up afore the looking-glass, you’d never ha’ gone to work to git the â€Å"capital.†(461)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This is a humorous story that tells of romance and gives us a lesson in life and full of honesty (lies). This merging of all these themes has created a wonderful story that will make me read more of William Gilmore Simms stories. I wonder what Bald Head Billy Baldly did during the Flurriday War? Work Cited Simms, William Gilmore. â€Å"How Sharp Snaffles got his Capital and Wife†. The Writings of William Gilmore Simms Vol V Stories and Tales. Columbia, SC: Guilds, John C. 1st ed. University South Carolina Press, 1974.

edmundlear Edmunds Soliliquy in Act 5 Scene 1 of Shakespeares King L

Analysis of Edmund's Soliliquy in Act 5 Scene 1 in King Lear The portion of `The Tragedy of King Lear' I chose begins on line 55 of act five scene one and continues to line 64. I chose this selection because it includes much information about plot and character. Prior to my selection Regan questions Edmund closely about his relationship with her sister, Goneril, because Regan suspects they have been intimate. Edmund denies these accusations at the beginning of act five scene one, but states his true intentions in his soliloquy starting on line 55. Shortly afterwards at the beginning of act five scene three Cordelia and King Lear are captured and held prisoner. In the selection I chose, Edmund expresses his true feelings about the love triangle he and the sisters Goneril and Reagan are in. "... Neither can be enjoyed, If both remain alive: to take the widow Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril; And hardly shall I carry out my side," (V, i, ll 58-61) Edmund conveys how though both sisters are vying for his love and eventually his hand in marriage, he does not love either, and is only playing them for his own benefit; he just wants to increase his power. "Stands on me to defend, not to debate." (V, i, ll 69) The selection I chose develops character in the play. Edmund's soliloquy shows how foolish the sisters really are, competing for the love of someone who is repulsed by the thought of them. Also it is ironic their rivalry that helped them get their land from Lear by outdoing each other with flattery for him is that what kills them, while their sister who didn't compete with false flattery against the two and got no ... ... Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril; And hardly shall I carry out my side, Her husband being alive." (V, i, ll 58-62) This also reveals that Edmund is incapable of loving anyone because he is so overwhelmed with attaining power. Goneril and Regan's characters are also developed in this selection. Both of the sisters are blinded by their `love' for Edmund to the point where they put all other things aside to get his love, and ironically the one they both love so much kills them, as Goneril poisoned Regan because she feared Regan would steal Edmund from her. After finding out that Edmund is defeated, she takes her own life as well. Without this soliloquy, a great void would be left in the play. Goneril, Regan and Edmunds characters would not be fully developed, the plot would not be as complex or entertaining.

Constructivism and the Syrian Civil War Essay

Constructivism is a normative international relations theory that seeks to understand the importance of society’s actions and extrapolate its meaning (Adler, 1997, pp. 319-320). According to constructivism, any actor can have xan agency in international relations such as states, institutions and individuals and is dissimilar to realism and liberalism where instead of the assumption that states are self-interested and rational, it accepts that these actor’s interests and rationality are socially constructed and are constitutive of and by its identity (Bozdaglioglu, 2007, pp. 122-123). The formation of the state’s interests is inborn in its identity, whereas realism shapes them for survival of the state, and liberalism states they are derived from cooperation and interdependence. Interests are not innate or intrinsic (Risse-Kappen, 1995, p. 502). As it is socially ‘constructed’, a state can then be deconstructed and changed when all interests, identities and assumptions have been recognised. These interests, such as law, rules, norms and institutions are ingrained in the system of international relations and are fundamental for instating change. Constructivism is the best theory for understanding the events in Syria because it shows how social identities and an actors’ interests and preferences are socially constructed and can instigate conflict. Due to the multiple groups motivated in this conflict multiple social identities are present which are incompatible. Ultimately, the Syrian Civil War is an identity conflict with each identity consisting of their own beliefs that each find exclusive. As identities and interests are constitutive, the interests of a group serve as a propellant for social action (Bozdaglioglu, 2007, pp. 131-132). Therefore these constructed interests motivate the social identities of the groups and need to be redefined in order for trust to be established. A social identity can be defined as a socially constructed set of meanings that one attributes to oneself (Bozdaglioglu, 2007, p. 132). It is created predominately through the political choices and the actor’s interactions, assumptions, interpretation and collective meanings and serves a core role in the Syrian conflict (Adler, 1997, p. 324). The presence of multiple different social identities with numerous beliefs in the Syrian conflict is incompatible and result in societal ‘friction’. Al-Assad’s regime does not represent the general public, in the  sense that it favours the Shia minority and suppresses all other identities (Vallely, 2014). This is a conflict of cultural identity where all groups hold different interests in which each find exclusive. Constructivism is the only theory in which acknowledges this identity crisis between the parties involved in the Syrian civil war. Trust and peace need to be fortified and in order to do so a common identity needs to be worked towards and founded by all reasonable parties. As President Barack Obama states in relation to Syria: â€Å"Peace can be achieved by allowing opposing parties to freely express and discuss their respective opinions which would ideally result in peaceful resolutions based on views held in common by these parties† (Obama, 2 013) To do so, the structure of norms in which develops behaviour and interests must be deconstructed and changed (Checkel, 1998, p. 328). An actor’s behaviour is complex to understand as identities are not fixed and known, and therefore it cannot be deduced from the character that is assumed a state represents (Palan, 2004, p. 14). Looking through a constructivist lens, norms are collective understandings that motivate actors and therefore effect the identity and interest (Checkel, 1998, pp. 327-328). A dominant conflict in which sparked and fuels the Syrian civil war is that of the sectarian tension between the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam (Hinnebusch, 2008, pp. 263-265). Deeply embedded in the Syrian civil war is that of a religious uproar between sects (Vallely, 2014). The uprising in Syria consists of sectarian religious overtones in which resulted in a domestic clash between Shia and Sunni sects. With a government predominately Shia and 75% of the population Sunni (United States Central Intelligence Agency, 2014) a domestic clash between Shia government and Sunni population must be resolved in order for a common identity of the state to be formed and trust established. The al-Assad regime’s Shia representation clashes with the general Sunni public and in order for this struggle to be resolved, an impartial and independent government identity must be formed. Constructivism is the only theory in which recognises these relations and its authoritative role in the civil war. It shows how the Sunni-Shia relations are an important sector of the social structure of Syria in which the actions of actors with certain identities and interests are possible (Wendt, 1995). Constructivism distinguishes two core assumptions of realism and liberalism in which allow for a more advanced understanding of the social structure of  Syria. Firstly, that institutions and structures only inhibit behaviour of states with fixed interests and secondly, that the identity of a state is perceived only through physical capabilities (Checkel, 1998). Relaxing these assumptions allows social structures to become important and allows the formation of identities and interests t o be defined by more than just behavioural constraints (Checkel, 1998). This is exemplified by the role religious institutions have in the Syria. As the Shia minority came into power, the protests become stronger and the demonstrations from the Sunni population are seen by the al-Assad regime as terroristic. This lead to a redefining of the parties’ identities, conclusively leading to each side identifying the other as terrorists or criminal gangs. The identity and interests of the state are therefore constitutive of and by the other parties and not only through physical capabilities. Social structures such as norms and culture, have a profound effect on agents, being characteristic of each parties’ identities and therefore interests (Checkel, 1998). In conclusion, constructivism is the best theory to explain what is happening in Syria. By analysing the central determinants of state behaviour, identity and interests, the current dissatisfaction of the status quo can be deconstructed and changed to form one common identity. Only social interaction and meaningful dialogue can guide the agents in identifying interests that is shared by the general public. Only when one common identity is defined, will trust and peace, as well as domestic, social and legal norms be established. Bibliography Adler, E. (1997). Seizing the Middle Ground: Constructivism in World Politics. European Journal of Internation Relations, 3(3), 319 – 363. Bozdaglioglu, Y. (2007). Constructivism and Identity Formation: An Interactive Approach. Uluslararasi Hukuk ve Politika, 3(11), 121-144. Checkel, J. T. (1998). The Constructivist Turn in International Relations Theory. World Politics, 50, 324-348. Hinnebusch, R. (2008). Modern Syria Politics. History Compass, 6(1), 263-285. Obama, B. (2013). U.N General Assembly Speech. United Nations. New York: United Nations General Assembly. Palan, R. (2004). Constructivism and Globalisation: From Units to Encounters in International Affairs. Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 17(1), 11-23. Risse-Kappen, T. (1995). Democratic Peace – Warlike Democracies? A Social Constructivist Interpretation of the Liberal Argument. Eurpoean Journal of International Relations, 1(4), 491-517. United States Central Intelligence Agency. (2014, April 2). The World Factbook: Syria. Retrieved from Central Intelligence Agency: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sy.html Vallely, P. (2014, February 19). The vicious schism between Sunni and Shia has been poisoning Islam for 1,400 years – and it’s getting worse . The Independent . Wendt, A. (1992). Anarchy is what states make of it: the social construction of power politics. International Organisation, 46(2), 391-425. Wendt, A. (1995). Constructing International Politics. International Security, 20(1), 71-81.

Disastrous success prompt Essay

Success does not last forever and problems still arise even after achieving it. Unfortunately, it is a common misapprehension that achieving success will solve every difficulty in life, which is why many strive to achieve it. Success is only a brief moment where one has reached his or her goals in life through hard work and perseverance. There is no guarantee that no problems will exist in one’s life after attaining success. In fact, success could also lead to a disaster and detrimental consequences. Some events that took place during World War II are perfect examples of the above. The misunderstanding of many is that achieving success is the resolution to every problem. Regrettably, if that was the case, we would live in a perfect world. The old saying, â€Å"be careful what you wish for† could apply here as a disclaimer to succeeding because it very well could be disastrous. Adolf Hitler would be a perfect example of disastrous success. Before World War II, he drove the Nazi Party to its pinnacle during the Great Depression in Germany. He promised Germans to regain all the land lost in World War I, to purify the German race and eradicate all Jews, and to bring Germany out of the depression. His success in the country proved to be extremely catastrophic for the Jews. During the war, Hitler ordered the extermination of the Jewish race. By the end of the war he had massacred 11,000,000 people. His success was the tragedy, suffering, and death of numerous Jews. Also, when he lost the war and was captured and died, it led Germany to another period of anarchy and another change in government. Another example that would relate to ruinous success, also from World War II, would be from the end of the war when Germany had surrendered to US forces but Japan would not. To get Japan to surrender, a group a scientists used Albert Einstein’s theories to create the first ever atomic bomb. The scientists knew the damaging effects of the bomb’s success but still allowed its use on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to get Japan to surrender. Even though the bomb was effective and allowed the US and allied forces to win the war, it massacred countless lives and devastated two major cities. Unfortunately, the creation of the atomic bomb led to the Cold War, the Nuclear Arms Race, and the creation of numerous nuclear weapons. Even though the bomb was successful in its immediate purpose, it became a leeway to the invention of many other deadly weapons. All in all, success can become very disastrous even though many perceive it as a positive event in life. Hitler’s reign on Germany and the invention of the atomic bomb both demonstrate the devastating effects of success. It can either be help or hindrance in life. Therefore, one must be mindful of the long lasting negative consequences of one’s success.

Biology Interest Among Asasipintar Students

biology interest among ASASIPINTAR STUDENTS | A MINI PROJECT REPORT| Submitted by 1. AHMAD SYAZWAN BIN SUHAIMI AP00161 2. IZZATY SHAIMA BINTI SHAMSUDIN AP00164 3. MUHAMMAD FAIZUAN BIN AMINUDDIN AP00159 4. SITI NABILA AMIRA BINTI SAMSUDIN AP00158| Submitted toMiss Noraniza Binti IbrahimSTATISTICS (PNAP0154)ASASIpintarPUSAT PERMATApintarTM NEGARAUNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA (UKM)APRIL 2013| Table of Contents Content| Page| Abstract| | Introduction to project topic| |Methods of Data Analysis| | Analysis and Results| | Conclusion| | References| | Appendix| | | ABSTRACT Most students have to take biology as one of the subjects graded in their CGPA. But not all students want to be a doctor or have much interest in biology. Quizzes and test are frequently used to measure the level of understanding of students towards specific topic of a subject Biology quizzes are common, and their marks or scores in these quizzes can be used to measure either their effort in the quizzes or their interest in biology or maybe both.This research paper discussed the relationship between the interest in biology and their total score, gender and their study style and lastly the relationship between scores 1. INTRODUCTION 2. 1. Overview Biology is one of the compulsory courses that have to be taken by ASASIpintar students. This course aims to enhance the students’ understanding and knowledge in biological sciences. Teaching methods include small group lecture, tutorial, laboratory experiments, independent learning and problem based learning. Students will be assessed by weekly quizzes, lab reports, and mid-semester and final semester examination.However, the interest level of students in Biology differs from one another. Other than that, their style of studying Biology or doing their revision on this particular subject is also different between students. This project aims to study the relationship between these two factors, which are the level of interest in Biology and their style of learning and studying the subject with the scores that these students gained in their topical quizzes. 2. 2. Objectives 2. 3. 1. To investigate the relationship between interest and total score 2. 3. 2.To investigate the distribution of interest in biology among student 2. 3. 3. To investigate the relationship between gender and study style 2. 3. Research Question 2. 4. 4. Does interest has any relationship with the total scores gain by student in their quizzes? 2. 4. 5. What are the distribution of interest in biology among student? 2. 4. 6. Is there any relationship between gender and their style of study biology? 2. 4. Research Hypothesis A statistical hypothesis is a conjecture about the population parameter. This conjecture may or may not be true.Null hypothesis (Ho) is a statistical hypothesis states that there is no difference between a parameter and a specific value, or that there is no difference between the two parameters while alternative hypothesis (H1) is a statisti cal hypothesis that states the existence of a difference between a parameter and a specific value, or states that there is a difference between two parameters. 2. 5. 7. Hypothesis 1 Ho: There is no relationship between interest and total score H1: There is relationship between interest and total score 2. 5. 8. Hypothesis 3 Ho: The students’ interest in biology are distributed as follows; 17. % are not interested, 20% are moderate and 62. 5% are interested in biology. H1: The distribution are not the same as stated in Ho. 2. 5. 9. Hypothesis 2 Ho: There is no relationship between gender and study style H1: There is relationship between gender and study style 2. 5. 10. Hypothesis 4 Ho: There is no relationship between interest and study style H1: There is relationship between interest and study style 2. METHODOLOGY Herein, the chosen respondents were randomly selected from ASASIpintar students. The survey methods are the research instruments used for the data collection. 0 stud ents of ASASIpintar were chosen in this study accomplished a questionnaire to assess their biology quizzes’ marks. The computed values are compared to the Likert scale for data interpretation. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software. These will be presented below: 3. 5. Descriptive statistics The descriptive method is used to collect the necessary data. In the descriptive statistic, the measures of tendency (mean, mode, median and variance) will be calculated. Measures of tendency are numerical values that locate, in some sense, the center of a data set.The data will be presented in bar chart or pie chart for qualitative data and histogram for quantitative data. 3. 6. Inferential statistics The inferential statistics using sample data to draw coclusions about the ASASIpintar students. The sample random is selected and the information gained from it is used to make generalizations about the ASASIpintar students. 3. 7. 11. Correlation 3. 7. 12. 1. Pearson’s correlation coefficient test was used to determine the relationship of non-parametric data. One of the tests is to check the relationship between gender and the study style.The linear correlation coefficient (r) is used to measure the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two variables 3. 7. 12. 2. Spearman’s correlation coefficient test was used to determine the relationship between parametric and non-parametric data. One of the tests is to check the relationship between interest of the students towards biology and their total score. The linear correlation coefficient (r) is used to measure the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two variables 3. 7. 12. Comparison Test 3. 7. 13. 3. Chi-squareThe Chi-square goodness-of-fit test is used to how well a particular statistical distribution, such as a binomial or a normal. The null hypothesis Ho is that the particular distribution does provide a model for the data; the alternative hypothesis H1 is that it does not. 3. ANALYSIS AND RESULTS 4. 7. Descriptive statistics 4. 8. Inferential statistics 4. 9. 13. Relationship between interest and total score VARIABLES| R| R SQUARE| Interest and Total score| . 399| . 159| Since r = 0. 399, there is weak positive correlation between total score and interest. Since r= 0. 159, this indicates that 15. % of the variation in total score can be attributed to the linear relationship with the interest. 15. 9% of total variation in total score is explained by regression line using the interest. Another 84. 1% is explained by other variable. Since the P-value is 0. 011 and it is less than ? -value, the null hypothesis is rejected. There is sufficient evidence to show that there is relationship between the interest and the total score. It is proven that the interest does affect the total score. 4. 9. 14. Distribution of interest in biology VARIABLES| P-VALUE| Interest in biology| 0. 190|Since the P-value is 0. 19 and it is more than ? -value, the null hypothesis is failed to be rejected. There is sufficient evidence to show that the students’ interest in Biology are distributed as follows; 17. 5% are not interested, 20% are moderate and 62. 5% are interested in biology. 4. 9. 15. Relationship between style and gender VARIABLES| P-VALUE| Style and Gender| 0. 558| Since the P-value is 0. 558 and it is more than ? -value, the null hypothesis is failed to be rejected. There is sufficient evidence to show that there is no relationship between the study style and gender.It is proven that the gender is independent to the study style. The study style may affected by environment and the students’ self. 4. CONCLUSION 5. REFERENCES 6. APPENDIX 7. 9. Questionnaire Personal information| | Age | | Gender | | Interest in biology| 1| 2| 3| 4| 5| | | | | | | Which of the following is the way you study? | | Study alone| | Group study| | Continuous study| | Stay up| | What is your marks in following quizzes? | | The cell| | Cellular respiration| | Biochemistry | | Photosynthesis | | Plant physiology | | 7. 10. Analysis of interest & total score Correlations| | TotalScore| Interest|Spearman's rho| TotalScore| Correlation Coefficient| 1. 000| . 399*| | | Sig. (2-tailed)| . | . 011| | | N| 40| 40| | Interest| Correlation Coefficient| . 399*| 1. 000| | | Sig. (2-tailed)| . 011| . | | | N| 40| 40| *. Correlation is significant at the 0. 05 level (2-tailed). | 7. 11. Analysis of gender ; style Correlations| | Style| Gender| Style| Pearson Correlation| 1| -. 095| | Sig. (2-tailed)| | . 558| | N| 40| 40| Gender| Pearson Correlation| -. 095| 1| | Sig. (2-tailed)| . 558| | | N| 40| 40| Case Processing Summary| | Cases| | Valid| Missing| Total| | N| Percent| N| Percent| N| Percent|Gender * Style| 40| 100. 0%| 0| 0. 0%| 40| 100. 0%| Gender * Style Crosstabulation| | Style| Total| | Discussion| Study Alone| Stay up| continuous study| | Gender| Male| Count| 4| 6| 5| 5| 20| | | Expected Count| 4. 0| 7. 5| 4. 0| 4. 5| 20. 0| | female| Count| 4| 9| 3| 4| 20| | | Expected Count| 4. 0| 7. 5| 4. 0| 4. 5| 20. 0| Total| Count| 8| 15| 8| 9| 40| | Expected Count| 8. 0| 15. 0| 8. 0| 9. 0| 40. 0| Chi-Square Tests| | Value| df| Asymp. Sig. (2-sided)| Pearson Chi-Square| 1. 211a| 3| . 750| Likelihood Ratio| 1. 221| 3| . 748| Linear-by-Linear Association| . 355| 1| . 551| N of Valid Cases| 40| | | . 6 cells (75. 0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 4. 00. | 7. 12. Analysis of gender ; interest Case Processing Summary| | Cases| | Valid| Missing| Total| | N| Percent| N| Percent| N| Percent| Gender * int| 40| 100. 0%| 0| 0. 0%| 40| 100. 0%| Gender * int Crosstabulation| | int| Total| | not interested| moderate| interested| | Gender| Male| Count| 2| 6| 12| 20| | | Expected Count| 3. 5| 4. 0| 12. 5| 20. 0| | | % within Gender| 10. 0%| 30. 0%| 60. 0%| 100. 0%| | | % within int| 28. 6%| 75. 0%| 48. 0%| 50. 0%| | | % of Total| 5. 0%| 15. 0%| 30. 0%| 50. 0%| female| Count| 5| 2| 13| 20| | | Expected Count| 3. 5| 4. 0| 12. 5| 20. 0| | | % within Gender| 25. 0%| 10. 0%| 65. 0%| 100. 0%| | | % within int| 71. 4%| 25. 0%| 52. 0%| 50. 0%| | | % of Total| 12. 5%| 5. 0%| 32. 5%| 50. 0%| Total| Count| 7| 8| 25| 40| | Expected Count| 7. 0| 8. 0| 25. 0| 40. 0| | % within Gender| 17. 5%| 20. 0%| 62. 5%| 100. 0%| | % within int| 100. 0%| 100. 0%| 100. 0%| 100. 0%| | % of Total| 17. 5%| 20. 0%| 62. 5%| 100. 0%| Chi-Square Tests| | Value| df| Asymp. Sig. (2-sided)| Pearson Chi-Square| 3. 326a| 2| . 190| Likelihood Ratio| 3. 461| 2| . 177| Linear-by-Linear Association| . 63| 1| . 686| N of Valid Cases| 40| | | a. 4 cells (66. 7%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 3. 50. | ANOVA| | Sum of Squares| df| Mean Square| F| Sig. | Score1| Between Groups| 87. 811| 4| 21. 953| 2. 331| . 075| | Within Groups| 329. 689| 35| 9. 420| | | | Total| 417. 500| 39| | | | Score2| Between Groups| 31. 709| 4| 7. 927| 1. 950| . 124| | Within Groups| 142. 266| 35| 4. 065| | | | Total| 173. 975| 39| | | | Score3| Between Groups| 9. 376| 4| 2. 344| . 710| . 591| | Within Groups| 115. 599| 35| 3. 303| | | | Total| 124. 975| 39| | | | Score4| Between Groups| 21. 78| 4| 5. 494| 1. 217| . 321| | Within Groups| 158. 022| 35| 4. 515| | | | Total| 180. 000| 39| | | | Score5| Between Groups| 24. 961| 4| 6. 240| 1. 195| . 330| | Within Groups| 182. 814| 35| 5. 223| | | | Total| 207. 775| 39| | | | We used the Other than that, Check relationship between interest and total score – weak relationship Style and total score – no correlation Between score – correlation pearson Correlation coefficient – spearman Style and interest – no correlation – pearson Gender and score – -weak relationship – spearman Style and gender – chi square test = no relationship

Sustainability and Global Warming Research Paper

Sustainability and Global Warming - Research Paper Example The consequences are varied and many. Global warming is world phenomenon that has a number of effects on the universal level. Global warming has a number of effects that range from the effects to the economy, atmosphere, environment and the health of the human beings. There are varied effects to the atmosphere and nature. One of the most serious effects of the global warming is its effects on human beings in relation to health of the individual, civilizations and nations. There is need to integrate global warming risks and their impact in the risk management and strategic planning activities in the private and public sector organizations (Dincer, Hepbasil and Midilli 424). Sustainable expansion and growth entails a wide range of knowledge with guiding issues and principles that are beyond the understanding of the economic and scientific certainty (Corricut 1). Global warming is taken to be a kind of sustainability factor and it should be considered during the sustainability managemen t concept. Sustainability management is so useful when it comes to managing the global warming based factors and events. The Link between Global Warming and Sustainability The global warming events can either have negative impacts and positive impacts or both at the same time. Risks are always represented by events that have negative impacts; these risks (can) prevent the value of creation or even grind down the existing values. Events that are associated with the positive impacts sometimes offset the negative impacts or rather represent more opportunities. These opportunities are considered to be possibilities, the possibilities of events occurring and positively affecting the achievements of objectives that are in support of value creation or even preservation (Karakoc and Yilmaz 3). The assessment of global warming is quite difficult because of the uncertainty it possesses. The intensity of global warming and its impact is not well known. Uncertainty also comes in among the decis ion makers because they do not know the extent of the impact of global warming at a certain level for their organization. The sustainability management is taken to be not a development (or a onetime event). As the sustainability management (SM) is embedded in the culture it is the necessity of the effective threat to the management performance. The holistic sustainability management (SM) in the basis of environmental, Safety functions and health is considered important to any institution (organization) but more important to the sustainability of the world. The global warming threats more the sustainability of the world. The global warming impacts create very important negative results to the economic, social and environmental systems. Its (global warming) risk is controlled by the holistic management that provides sustainability. The risk management is considered to be a major factor between the global warming and sustainability. Threat Global warming sustainability Global warming r isk management sustainability Sustainability Management Sustainability is based more on the recognition that resources are consumed faster more than they are produced/ manufactured. The resources are depleted and in the end get used up. The societies demand on nature is always in balance with the nature’s capacity of meeting the demand in a sustainable world.

Why do uae nationals don't use public transportation Research Paper

Why do uae nationals don't use public transportation - Research Paper Example In light of the recent calls to ban the use of private means of transport for people from lower economic classes in Abu Dhabi (Oueiti, 2014), it is clear that there are issues to be looked into surrounding the issue of transportation. This essay will look into some of the reasons as to why nationals of the UAE avoid public transportation and some of the proposed remedies for the situation. The main forms of transport in the countries of the UAE are buses and trams Olson, 2012). Different countries in the UAE are all facing similar issues with their public transport system. That is, most of the nationals prefer to use private transport for commuting. As a result, officials report that there is congestion on their roads (Ruiz, 2013). Policy makers have because of this been forced to take drastic measures to encourage more commuters to make of the public transport system. For example, in Dubai, parking fees imposed on drivers of private cars have been raised (Bouyamourn, 2014) to discourage drivers from taking their cars to work. Apart from this is the ban on private transport for poor nationals in Abu Dhabi, also meant to encourage citizens to use public transport. One of the reasons for the poor use of public transportation is the poor state of buses in the region. The main issue is the fact that the air-conditioned bus shelters are in dilapidated states. As such, many are completely out of order and closed down, while some have inadequate power (National Editorial, 2014). Given the fact that the UAE experiences hot summers, this presents a problem with commuters, who do not want to suffer from excessive heat. Commuters that use public transportation have cited this as the main disadvantage of the system. In addition to this, the minimum standards of buses desperately need to be raised; commuters complain of unhygienic conditions. These factors make it hard to attract new users to the public

Human sexuality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human sexuality - Essay Example The ancient Greeks are notorious for their fixation on the male genitalia, making it the focal point of various types of art and pageantry (â€Å"History of Sex†, 2004). This has led many to believe that they were primarily a race of homosexuals, who only copulated with their wives when necessary for the purpose of procreation. To a certain extent, especially as it applies to the life of the wife, this is quite true. When the wives are thought of at all, it’s typically in the context of, â€Å"gee, I wonder why those women put up with their men out partying with their guy friends all the time?† Very little consideration is ever given to the concept of a sex life for the women of ancient Greece. â€Å"The male idea of female sexuality was that Greek men believed that women envied their penises† (â€Å"History of Sex†, 2004). Despite this rather skewed view of female sexuality, there is a wide body of information regarding the rather formalized viewpo ints this society held regarding their women as they became sexual beings. Basically, these women were relegated to two very distinct general categories – they were either wives or they were prostitutes (Thompson, 2005). It was in the role of a prostitute that a woman had the greatest societal flexibility, but this did not mean they were able to live better lives than the wives, who were essentially ignored other than to have children (Thompson, 2005).

The Organizations Restructuring Programs and HRD Practices Research Paper

The Organizations Restructuring Programs and HRD Practices - Research Paper Example This study basically draws on the HRD policy based convergence/divergence parameters of the organization for the continuous analysis for proper articulation of the HRD strategy at a broader level through its theoretical underpinnings are based on the need to focus attention on the evolving environment of competition. HRD policies and initiatives have received greater attention in the current period due to highly articulate employee skills training and development strategies at the individual firm level. Thus the theoretical and empirical analysis of this paper is based on the available literature on the subject at a global level along with an analysis based on the business organizations’ own HRD practices. In other words, an HRD policy and initiative based analysis is a near approximation of an otherwise intractable continuum which lacks definable contours and a logical conceptual framework of reference. While theoretical constructs underlying this approach have been presented as a uniform analysis there is very little attention being focused on the qualitative paradigm shift caused by the a priori and a posteriori catalytic changes. Thus the qualitative shift in this study is essentially based on these outcomes and the latest calibrations and/or benchmarks enunciated by researchers to establish a conceptual framework for analysis. This paper just focuses on the latest HRD related practices and theoretical evolutionary process with reference to the global level. HRD function as against HRM is much facilitated when the scale of operations expands beyond a certain minimum level.

Lives of girls and women by Alice Munro Research Paper

Lives of girls and women by Alice Munro - Research Paper Example Every story reveals more about Del’s experiences from being a young, innocent girl to becoming an adult, living with her family that comprises of her parents, younger brother, and Uncle Benny; the work focuses mainly on issues of girls and women, thus the prominence of female characters and its feminist bias (DeFalco 377). In this analysis, I propose that the repeated crises encountered by Del in Alice Munro’s Lives of girls and women, are partial illusions camouflaging a looming decay, and that everyday life is a grand illusion. Structure Dell narrates the stories from a first person’s point of view, and the whole cycle is structured in eight chapters, each detailing a self-contained tale that espouses additional facts concerning Del’s evolving identity. The cycle opens up with a fundamental retrospective focus on Del’s childhood when she is first awakened to the romance of everyday, surrounded by chaotic and eccentric misfits (Awano 91), the likes of Uncle Benny, whose concept of the world was a distorted reflection of reality. From these early experiences, Del learns to focus on the deeper meanings and details of life rather than merely on the shadows and reflections that individual lives often cast as she sharpens her wits and senses for a future career as a writer (McDonald). Through the subsequent chapters, the writer portrays various models of womanhood that come into constant interaction with Del as she grows up, from Naomi, Del’s best friend who lives up to the expected role of ingenue, wife on one end, and her mother Ada who sometimes speaks for ‘the world’ and on others for what â€Å"the world† fears and despises. Text Analysis In the first chapter, the Flat Roads, Munro establishes a symbolic geography in which she thoroughly contrasts the town of Jubilee, the epitome of society, sociability, and propriety, from the Flats Road, where drunkenness, sexual looseness, dirty language, haphaza rd lives, and content ignorance are the norm of everyday (McDonald). Del, still a child, grapples with the assimilation of Munro’s two countries but is yet to encounter the lurking struggle to belong to both worlds and the subsequent inner conflict due to a split personality. The distinctions between the town of Jubilee â€Å"the world† and the Flat Roads â€Å"the other country† are clear, but Uncle Benny, who represents the â€Å"other country,† espouses both a sense of potential for chaos in the world, and a hope for change through ecstatic faith, unlike the garrisons through the allusion of the ark (Monro 27). The title of the chapter suggests Del’s compromise by unconsciously sharing Uncle Benny’s vision yet not forfeiting the security offered through her mother’s ordered perception. Chapter two, titled Heirs of the Living Body, Del herself confronts the dilemma of Munro’s two countries, the Garrison’s world, repres ented by Del’s two aunts, and Uncle from her father’s side; unlike Uncle Benny, Uncle Craig perceives a reassuring pattern of everyday events. Unlike the disordered setting of the Flat Roads, the garrison world is highly structured that no sense of chaos and potential terror is recognized in Ada’s viewpoint, and Craig’s sisters Elspeth and Grace who are bound in the domestic sphere represent a subtle yet profound aspect of the garrison for they are excellent housekeepers and adept socializers (McDonald). Unlike her mother who embraces directness and

Flexible Learning Essay Example for Free

Flexible Learning Essay Education is a broadly debated topic, now there is a new concept emerging, ’flexible learning’. This essay will discuss what is understood by this term and how it could affect the way of the future in education. Furthermore it will discuss how flexible learning has engaged technology and how it has made education more accessible and equitable. Next it will demonstrate how individual students have benefited through the use of technology with flexible learning, and how students are able to be the central focus of their own education. Technology brings with it many advantages for the future of education, however not without some setbacks, this essay will also discuss these. This essay will argue that because of the increasing accessibility and improvements in technology, flexible learning should be the way of the future in education. Flexible learning is quickly becoming the way of the future for education, as it engages and implements the use of sophisticated technology. According to George and Luke (cited in Andrews Ferman 2001) flexible learning is a multi-directional approach to learning using different methods of delivery. On the other hand, Nunan (cited in Andrews Ferman 2001, p. 2) considers that ‘flexible delivery is often taken to mean the same thing as increasing flexibility in learning’. Summarising Harmes (2010) explains flexible learning engages technology, allowing the use of the internet, e-mail, and other digital interactive technology. It also allows the student to freely access online lectures and study material and more importantly it enables teachers to position the student as the central focus of the learning experience. This can be seen at universities including the relatively new University of Queensland campus at Ipswich who are using technology to promote flexible learning. It was in fact the purpose built with this in mind; and included computer rooms, a self-directed learning centre and even wireless laptops (AndrewsFerman 2001). Another example of flexible learning is discussed by Huijser, Bedford and Bull (2008) who describe the Tertiary Preparation Program (TPP); this is a course which is accessed online and on-campus. TPP students can engage in online lectures, Wimba classrooms and forums, study material can also be submitted online and feedback returned to student, again online. Using technology students have engaged in flexible learning all over Australia, including international students. Furthermore TPP is currently funded by the government making it free; this allows students to prepare for higher study prior to investment. The outcome of this should be a higher intake of fee paying students, which in turn should lead to increased government funding for universities. Flexible learning through technology has made education more accessible and therefore equitable. Harmes (2010) discusses how the internet has increased the number of students to able to study degrees through online study material and lectures. As a result of technological advances the world has become a â€Å"global village â€Å"and students can participate in a global classroom. Worldwide opportunities using technology and flexible learning should be funded locally (Zhao 2009). Ultimately this will enable there to be proximity through distance, and will allow students to study anytime and anywhere, thus making education more equitable explains Harmes (2010). There are students from as far away as remote Western Australia studying through the University of Southern Queensland (USQ). They are able to access all the lectures and tutorials online, and USQ plans to offer many more academic programs online by 2012 (The Chronicle 2009). ‘Technology is the tool used to provide a facility for a teacher facilitated, learner centred environment’ (Bonanno, 2005). It is only through the many improvements and advances in technology that education has been so accessible and with it flexible learning has been implemented. Flexible learning has made education more accessible because, study is teacher facilitated and enables the student to be positioned as the central focus of education. According to Harmes there are many benefits of flexible learning, students are able to access their study any time they like, and this means that they are able to co-ordinate study around work and family life. The flexibility that technology provides has enabled students to study at their own pace (Andrews Ferman, 2001). Additionally students have a sense of freedom with their study, slotting it in whenever they please. Knowles (cited in Choy and Delahaye 2002) researched how adult learners are more likely to be motivated and experienced in life, and that they are ready to embrace learning with deeper appreciation and understanding. Knowles (1973) continues by discussing how this self-driven learning is assisted through flexible delivery and how students benefit from a mature independent approach to education with the option for teacher help when needed. As a result of this Bonanno suggests that with good self-discipline and time management students are able to have freedom and access to study anytime and place, thus enabling many styles of learning. Technology has increased the flexibility that students have, thus allowing greater access to education. Despite the fact that education has embraced technology, there are still some problems which must be resolved. According to Ralston (1999) it appears that although many have embraced technology for learning, there are still many who are either too afraid to or do not have the skills and confidence to do so. Furthermore he suggests that that those who do not attempt to engage technology will be severely disadvantaged, because the twenty-first century is the age of technology. Andrews and Ferman (2000) noted on their study of the University of Queensland, -Ipswich campus that many students found the course material limited, that there was a lack of structure, and there were also a significant number of technical difficulties. Additionally Bonanno (2005) discusses some of the disadvantages of technology and states that the learner can easily lose motivation partly due to a lack of classroom spirit and teacher facilitated learning. Technology can be out of date or difficult to understand and often it can be confusing and sometimes it can just be that there is no technical support available. Bonanno’s (2005) comments that many problems occurring are learner related and that in order to be successful the learner must be self-motivated and have a reasonable degree of self-competency. She also comments that the facilitator or teacher must be motivated as well and be able to produce engaging study material for the student to work with; they must also be able to direct, listen and support students. Despite some complications, changes in technology help to make sure education is more accessible and equitable. Universities are able to capture larger numbers of students enabling more funding from the government. Students are able to be in control of their own education pathway and are able to be flexible about when and where they choose to study. Students can also choose to study gregariously in online classrooms and even traditional classrooms. Problematic areas will in time be improved as technology upgrades on a daily basis; including faster internet options. With this evolving technology people’s knowledge and experience will increase and in time student numbers and study options will grow. It is realistic that flexible learning will be and indeed should be the way of the future in education and that there will be a worldwide classroom. References Andrews, T Ferman, T 2001, ‘The flexible learning experience – how good is it really? ’ in L Richardson J Lidstone (eds), Flexible learning for a flexible society, pp. 39-45. Proceedings of ASET-HERDSA 2000 Conference, Toowoomba, Qld, 2-5 July 2000. ASET and HERDSA http://www. aset. org. au/confs/aset-herdsa2000/procs/andrews-t. html. Bonanno, K 2005, Online learning : the good the bad and the ugly, Proceedings of the XIX Biennial Conference Meeting the Challenge, Australian School Library Association, Zillmere, QLD, pp. 1-7 Choy, SC Delahaye, BL 2002, Andragogy in vocational education and training: learners perspective, Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference, Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association (AVETRA), Melbourne, VIC University of Southern Queensland 2009, University offers online options to its students, The Chronicle, 10 Jul, p. 41. Collis, B Moonen, J 2002, Flexible learning in a digital world: experiences and expectations, Kogan Page, London, UK, pp. 8-10,17,26-27. Harmes, M 2011,TPP7120 Studying to succeed ,Appendix 3’Flexible and Blended Learning’, University of Southern Queensland,Toowoomba,viewed 25 September 2011,http://usqstudydesk. usq. au/ Huijser, H, Bedford, T Bull, D 2008, OpenCourseWare global access and the right to education: real access or marketing ploy? , International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 1-13. Ralston, P 1999, Education for IT equity, The Australian, 12 Jan, p. 44. Zhao, Y 2009, Catching up or leading the way: American education in the age of globalization, ASCD, Alexandria, VA, pp. 98-113.