Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Problems with the Channel Tunnel Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words
Problems with the Channel Tunnel Project - Essay Example This paper discusses that the Channel Tunnel project represents one of the greatest engineering feats executed in the twentieth century. The tunnel project connects England and France through a railway link that exists in the ground layer under water. This project effectively reduced the dependency on the English Channel as a means of transportation between England and France. Moreover, this project can be seen as laying the basis for larger and longer tunnel projects that might one day even connect the Atlantic. On the business front, the Channel Tunnel project represents one of the largest privately funded projects ever undertaken. The project relied on the cooperation between two governments, several bankers providing the funding and several contractors along with numerous regulatory agencies. As mentioned before, the engineering aspects of the tunnel and its railway traffic represented new unbroken ground. This in itself represented new challenges as the Channel Tunnel forced eng ineers to do what was previously seen as impossible. As the Channel Tunnel project proceeded, several major and myriad minor changes had to be undertaken to make the project a success. The Channel Tunnel project represented something that had never been done before so the challenges confronting all teams on all fronts were new and required innovation to be dealt with successfully. Later changes in the structure of the project also mandated some large changes. Finally, as the Channel Tunnel project was commissioned, it was found that the project was both over budget and late. A number of complex factors and situations were responsible for creating delays and overruns through the life of the project. This text will attempt to analyse the complex factors that were responsible for these delays and overruns while also suggesting solutions that could be implemented in the future to avoid similar problems. These factors will be looked at in detail from the perspective of the planning and i mplementation phases that represent the greatest project management problems. 2. Problems with the Channel Tunnel Project 2.1. Planning Issues The initial planning phase demarcated that the Channel Project was to provide a fixed transportation system that connected England and France. This new transportation connection was expected to spur economic growth and development. In addition, the Channel Project was expected to aid the integration of Britain with mainland Europe in order to improve European trade. Moreover, the tunnel between England and France was expected to provide cheaper alternatives to more expensive modes of transportation such as shipping and air transport. The railway system envisioned for the purpose was also better in that it was a high-speed system when compared to both shipping and air transport. Although working for the Channel Tunnel had been on going in the seventies but the real concrete measures came through in 1984. The British and French governments agre ed to common proposals for safety, security and environmental concerns before the project was opened up for bidding. Both governments in 1985 requested the first proposals for the Channel Project. A number of proposals were submitted for the Channel Project. After an evaluation from both the British and French sides, the proposal submitted by Channel Tunnel Group / FranceManche (later Eurotunnel) was accepted. The initial proposal delineated a 32-mile double rail tunnel that was to accommodate passenger trains as well as cargo trains and a special truck and car carrying shuttle service. The initial bid price was set at some $5.5 billion for the entire project. 2.2. Shortage of Time for Planning The initial proposals were submitted in a short period and this in turn led to many oversights that could have been avoided by detailed studies. When put in a project management perspective, it could be surmised that high-level design estimates along with rough order of magnitude estimates co uld have led to better estimates as to the total scope and cost of the project. The shortage of
Monday, October 28, 2019
Biography of Aldous Huxley Essay Example for Free
Biography of Aldous Huxley Essay Aldous Leonard Huxley was born on July 26, 1894 in Surrey, England, as the third son of Dr. Leonard Huxley and Julia Arnold. Huxley was born into a long line of scientists and intellectuals. His grandfather Thomas Henry Huxley had the nickname ââ¬Å"Darwins Bulldogâ⬠for his fierce defense of evolutionary science and for his passion for teaching Victorian scientific advancements to Britains working classes. Aldous Huxley was also related to the poet Matthew Arnold on his mothers side of the family. These two disciplines, literature and science, converged at the end of the Victorian era and characterize Huxleys own career and ambitions as an author, journalist, and humanist. Educated at Eton, Aldous Huxley was forced to leave the school at the age of seventeen due to an affliction of the eyes. He was partially blind for two or three years and therefore was unable to complete the rigorous scientific training he had undertaken. Though problems with his eyes would remain with him for the rest of his life, Huxley was able to attend Oxford where he received a degree in English literature. Huxleys career began in journalism and included music and artistic criticism as well as book reviews. He also began writing poems, essays, and historical pieces. Huxleys first introduction to British intellectual society occurred while working as a farm laborer at Garsington Manor, the site of the ââ¬Å"Bloomsbury Society,â⬠a group of public intellectuals that included Bertrand Russell. There he would marry Maria Nys and they would have one child, Matthew Huxley. He also wrote his first book, a volume of poetry called The Burning Wheel. While working as an editor for ââ¬Å"House and Gardenâ⬠during the1920s, Huxley wrote many novels including Brave New World. Huxley spent several years in Italy where he formed a friendship with D.H. Lawrence. They would remain close friends and Huxley would later edit Lawrences collected letters after his death. In 1937, Huxley moved back to the United States to live in Hollywood, California, where he helped write scripts for several Hollywood movies of the time, although he never had a lasting career in movies. After World War II, he famously became involved with the early psychedelic drug movement. Huxley was an early proponent of the use of LSD, mescaline, and peyote for their mind-altering effects. His 1954 book The Doors of Perception argued that through the use of psychedelic drugs, people would be able to ââ¬Å"cleanseâ⬠the doors of perception in order to embrace the infinite reality of the world. A controversial figure for most of his life, Huxley died from cancer on November 22, 1963, only hours after President John F. Kennedyââ¬â¢s assassination in Dallas, Texas. By the time of his death, he was embraced in some circles as an intellectual and writer of the highest class, especially for his creation of the dystopian fantasy in his novel Brave New World and his engagement of the theme of commercialization in modern society. Others, however, saw him as a pseudo-scientist for his work in mystical traditions and his insistence on experiencing alternate realities through meditation, Eastern religions, and drug use. For his accomplishments, Huxley received the Award of Merit for the Novel from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1959.
Saturday, October 26, 2019
The Journey Of Odysseus And Te :: essays research papers
In The Odyssey written by Homer and translated by Richard Lattimore, several themes are made evident, conceived by the nature of the time period, and customs of the Greek people. These molded and shaped the actual flow of events and outcomes of the poem. Beliefs of this characteristic were represented by the sheer reverence towards the gods and the humanities the Greek society exhibited, and are both deeply rooted within the story. In the intricate and well-developed plot of The Odyssey, Homer harmonized several subjects. One of these, was the quest of Telemachos, (titled "Telemachy") in correlation with the journey of his father. In this, he is developed from a childish, passive, and untested boy, to a young man preparing to stand by his fathers side. This is directly connected to the voyage of Odysseus, in that they both lead to the same finale, and are both stepping stones towards wisdom, manhood, and scholarship. Through these voyages certain parallels are drawn concerning Odysseus and Telemachos: the physical journeys, the mental preparations they have produced, and what their emotional status has resulted in. These all partake a immense role in the way the story is set up, stemming from the purpose of each characterââ¬â¢s journey, their personal challenges, and the difficulties that surround them. The story commences when Odysseus, a valiant hero of the Trojan war, journeys back home. Together with his courageous comrades, and a several vessels, he set sail for his homeland Ithaca. Fated to wander for a full ten years, Odysseusââ¬â¢s ships were immediately blown to Thrace by a powerful storm. The expedition had begun. Upon this misfortune, he and his men started a raid on the land of the Cicones. However, this only provided them with temporary success. The Cicones had struck back and defeated a vast majority of Odysseusââ¬â¢s crew. This was their first of many disastrous experiences to come. Storms then blew his ships to Libya and the land of the Lotus-eaters, where the crew was given Lotus fruit from which most lost their entire memories from home. Odysseus, and the others who had not tasted it, recovered the sailors by force, and set sail again, westward, this time to the island of the Cyclops, a wild race of one-eyed giants. Leaving most of his men in a sheltered cove, Odysseus then entered the island with one crew only. They wandered around, encountering, and foolishly entering an immense cave, awaiting the owner.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Recreation and Wellness Intranet Project Essay
Need to reduce internal costs. MYH, Inc. pays 20% more on healthcare premiums than the industrial average. This project would save $30 per employee per year for the next four years. Employees will benefit from the company sponsored recreational programs. Healhcare Coverage costs Business Model This will reduce internal cost by allowing business modeling of various scenarios as well as tracking past employee expenses. This project would save $20 per employee per year for the next four years and cost about $100,000 to develop. This will help revise policies and help negotiate for lower premiums. Cross-selling System This project will increase sales to current customers. This project will increase profits by $1 million for the next three years. Development and maintenance cost each year is $800,000 This project develops an application to improve cross-selling to current customers when purchasing multiple products/services. Web Enhanced Communication System This project will increase sales to current customers. Will save the company $2 million for the next three years. It will cost $3 million to develop and 20% a year to maintain. Web-based application that will improve development and delivery of products and services. Recreation and Wellness Intranet Project allows employees to register for company-based programs and classes, such as soccer, bowling, jogging, walking, and other sports. This project also allows the employees and employers to track data on the recreational and health management programs.à This will offer incentives for people to join the programs and do well in them. this in return will help to negotiate a lower insurance premium. Health Coverage Costs Business Model Is an application that tracks employees health care expenses and company health care costs. This application allows business modeling of various scenarios as well as tracking and analyzing current and past employee healthcare expenses and company healthcare costs. Cross-Selling System helps improve cross-selling to current customers. The current sales management has separate sections for major products/services categories and different sales based on these products and services sales to the current customers by providing the customer with discounts when purchasing multiple products. Web-Enhanced Communications System is a web-based application to improve development and delivery of products and services. These are currently several incompatible systems related to the development and delivery of products and services. This application allows customers and suppliers to provide suggestions, enter orders, view the status and history of orders. 1.0 Introduction/ Background Manage Your Health, Inc. (MYH) is a Fortune 500 company that provides a variety of healthcare services across the globe. 2.0 Business Objective MYH recently updated its strategic plan, and key goals include reducing internal cost, increasing cross-selling of products, and exploiting new Web-based technologies to help employees, customers, and suppliers work together to improve the development and delivery of health care products and services. 3.0 Current Situation and Problem/Opportunity Statement A recent study found that MYH, Inc. pays 20 percent more than the industry average for employee health care premiums, primarily due to the poor health of its employees. By developing a program to help employee wellness and track employee involvement and progress. This would also offer incentives for employees that join and do well. 4.0 Critical Assumption and Constraints Recreation and Wellness Intranet Project would organize current services and provide easy access to new services. The new system will run on existing hardware and software and will be easily accessible by employees. 5.0 Analysis of Option and Recommendation There are three options for addressing this opportunity: 1. Do nothing. We can continue to operate without the new project 2. Design and implement the new intranet capabilities in-house using existing hardware and software. 3. Require employees to pay a higher rate for insurance. Based on discussions with stakeholders, we believe that option 2 is the best option. 6.0 Preliminary Project Requirements The main feature of the Recreation and Wellness site includes the following: 1. Allow employees to register for company-sponsored recreational programs. 2. Allow employees to register for company classes and programs. 3. Track data and progress of employee involvement in these programs. 4. Offer incentives for employees to join the programs. 7.0 Budget Estimate and Financial Analysis The estimated costs for the project is $200,000 based on the cost to develop the new system. Maintenance costs of $50,000 to update the information and changes. Reducing the insurance cost per employee by $30 each year for four years. Project benefits are about $600,000 per year for four years. 8.0 Schedule Estimate Project completion within six months and the new system will have a lifespan of at least four years. 9.0 Potential Risks Lack of interest in the new system by employees which will hinder lower insurance premiums. putting money in the project and unable to recoup theà costs.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
A brief history of science education in ghana from the colonial era to present day Essay
Science education is the cultivation and disciplining the mind and other faculties of an individual to utilize science for improving his life, cope with an increasingly technological world, or pursue science academically and professionally, and for dealing responsibly with science related social issues (Akpan, 1992). Ghana, formerly known as the Gold Coast, was the first African country to the south of the Sahara to gain political independence from colonial rule in 1957. This former British colony of 92,000 square miles (about 238,000 square kilometers) shares boundaries with three French-speaking nations: the Cote dââ¬â¢Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north and Togo to the east. The Gulf of Guinea of the Atlantic Ocean is to the south of the country. EARLY HISTORY OF EDUCATION BEFORE INDEPENDENCE As was the case in many colonies during the early colonial period, the main goal of education was to ââ¬Ëmake civilization march hand-in-hand with evangelizationââ¬â¢ (Anum ââ¬âOdoom, 2013). This statement gives a clear description of how education in Ghana was implemented at that time. The formal, western-style education in Ghana is directly associated with the history of European activities on the Gold Coast The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive at the Guinea coast in 1471. Their intention to establish schools was expressed in imperial instructions that, in 1529, encouraged the Governor of the Portuguese Castle at Elmina to teach reading, writing, and the Catholic religion to the people. It is imply proven that the Danish, Dutch and the English merchants also set up schools in their forts and castle to educate their mulatto children by native women. Unmistakably linked to the implementation of formal education in Ghana with the Christian missionaries, who realized that in order to spread the word of God, they needed well- educated local assistants. Following the consolidation of the coastal region as the British Gold Coast Colony, the administration became more aggressive in pursuit of its educational policy. This was precipitated by the British purchase of the Danish property at Christiansborg in 1850 and the Dutch Elmina Castle in 1872. To help redress problems faced by the mission schoolsââ¬âsuch as training local teachers and improving the quality of educationââ¬âthe administration made grants to both the Wesleyan and Basel missions in 1874. In the Educational Ordinance of 1882, government grants to denominational schools were made dependent on an assessment of the level of efficiency. The schools receiving grant-in-aid were defined as ââ¬Å"government assisted schools,â⬠but their primary funding was to come from the missions themselves and from other private sources. On the Gold Coast, the appointment of Brigadier General Gordon Guggisberg as governor brought its own advantages. During his tenure from 1919 through 1927, Governor Guggisberg initiated several major developmental programs that included educational improvements as a critical ingredient in his construction of a modern Gold Coast. While the previous administration had seen the provision of elementary schools by the various Christian missions as adequate, Guggisberg was of the conviction that the current system could not sustain future developments. In fact, only a few months after his arrival, the governor presented a 10-year development plan for the Gold Coast. Among other things, funding was aggressively sought for post elementary education for boys and girls. Even though the administration proposed a technical college for Accra, the Prince of Wales College (now Achimota College) was the real trophy of the administrationââ¬â¢s educational program. This non denominational school catered for students from kindergarten to the pre university level. THE BIRTH OF SCIENCE EDUCATION The inadequacies inherent in the system of education were observed in the post-World War I appeal made by the Foreign Missions Conference of North America to the Phelps-Stokes Funds for a review of the state of education in Africa. The Phelps-Stokes Commission on Africa issued reports in 1922 and 1925 in which educators were criticized for inadequately catering to the social and economic needs of the continent. The commission of which James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey was a member, called for instructions in the mechanical operations necessary for the improvement of the condition of the mass majority of the people. This included science education and character training. The Phelps-Stokes fundââ¬â¢s founded in 1920, is an African Education Commission represented one of the early attempts to link black Africa with Negro America. The attempt to forge this link represented a concerted policy on the part of a number of missionary and philanthropic groups in the United Kingdom and the United States to draw attention to what seemed to be analogous situations-politically, socially, and economically. Ghana is said to be the first independent sub-Saharan African country outside South Africa to embark on a comprehensive drive to promote science education and the application of science in industrial and social development (Anamuah-Mensah, 1999). Science Education after Independence After Phelps- stokes commission had pushed for the birth of science education in Africa in general and in particular, Gold Coast, there has not been any clear cut national policy for science education in Ghana up to date (Ahmed, 2013). Dr Kwame Nkrumah who aimed at achieving Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education instituted an Act called 1961 Act, (Act 87) . This Act was to make Basic education free and Compulsory and anyone who fails to send his or her child to school was made to pay a fund by the Minister for education. The education system at that point consisted of six year of primary education, followed by four-years of secondary education. At the end of the four years suitable students went on to do a two-year sixth form course that could lead to a three year University course. Students, who were not suitable to continue, completed two- year of pre-vocational classes. The Nkrumah government encouraged the learning of science by instituting a special scholarship scheme which enabled science and agriculture undergraduates to enjoy scholarships a little higher than those of their counterparts in the humanities. This facility was withdrawn after 1966. Science and mathematics teachers were also paid a little more than their colleagues in the humanities. (Djangmah, 2007) The Reforms The seven year development plan instituted by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was short lived. The system was later regarded as too long and too academic. Thus Dzobo Education Reforms of 1974 saw a reform of the system, instating the Junior Secondary School (now Junior High School) on an experimental basis. The Junior Secondary School introduced practical subjects and activities allowing students to acquire occupational skills, which after an apprenticeship lead to the qualification for self-employment. Due to a wide range of factors such as the economic decline, bureaucracy and sheer lack of interest the JSS-system never went beyond the experimental phase. By 1983 the education system was in a state of crisis. It faced drastic reductions in Government financing, lack of educational materials, and deterioration of school structures, low enrollment levels and high dropout rates. With the assistance of several development partners (World Bank, Department for International Development (ODA) and international grants) the education system was reviewed and proposals were implemented in 1987 known as Evans-Anfom reforms. In 1987, Ghanaââ¬â¢s Ministry of Education introduced a restructured educational system that gradually replaced the British-based O-level and A-level system. The transition was completed in June, 1996, when the last class took A-level exams. The last O-level exams were administered in June 1994, although a remedial exam was offered through 1999 (Keteku, 2013) The 1987 Reforms had strengths as well as weaknesses. One of the strengths was that it provided a comprehensive Basic Education which improved access to education for more children of school-going age. Junior Secondary Schools were provided throughout the country and this helped to increase literacy levels. The reform also introduced Continuous Assessment which formed part of the final examination. This ensured that internal assessment in schools was included in the final examinations and this ended the single-shot examination existing in the old system. The Anamuah-Mensah Report recommended similar structure of education just like the Evans-Anfom Report of 1986. The difference was the inclusion of two (2) years of Kindergarten education as part of Basic Education and Apprenticeship training for leavers of the Junior Secondary School who unable to or do not want to continue in the formal sector. The implementation of the Anamuah-Mensah Reforms began in September 2007, and it was faced with initial problems. These problems included delay in the supply of syllabuses and textbooks for the smooth take-off of the programme, and teachers were not adequately prepared in terms of training to implement the reforms. These problems were later dealt with as the implementation of the reforms progressed. The next major problem being anticipated is the inadequate classrooms and other facilities as students will enter the fourth year of Senior High School in September 2010. The Way Forward For Science Education Promotion of science education in the country will depend on three drivers of change, namely, funding, teaching and interventions, and research (Akyeampong ,2007) Funding Knowledge is not cheap. Science, technology and mathematics knowledge required to move the country into the knowledge society can never be cheap. Governmentââ¬â¢s commitment to science education should be demonstrated in the level of resources allocated to science and technology. Laboratories and workshops in the schools, teacher training colleges, universities and polytechnics should be well equipped and new ones constructed to take into consideration the increasing student population. Research The knowledge society thrives on the creation of new knowledge. Research provides the means by which new knowledge is created. Resources, both material and human, for research in science and technology are woefully inadequate or non-existent. This has had a profound effect on the development of post graduate research in the universities. A number of measures need to be taken to strengthen research in science and technology in order to meet the demands of the country. The following are being suggested: â⬠¢Research in research institutions and the universities should be adequately funded. â⬠¢Most researches carried out in the universities are those that interest the researchers and are hence supply-driven; the Government should challenge our scientists and provide funds to carry out research on problems confronting the country. This can be done through the provision of research funds to be competed for by all scientists in the country. â⬠¢Establish a National Science Research Facilities Centre equipped with world class specialized facilities which are normally expensive and therefore beyond the means of single institutions, to provide opportunities for Ghanaian researchers to carry out scientific research and development and retain local researchers as well as attract foreign ones. â⬠¢To improve the quality of science education at all levels, research in science and technology should include research on teaching and learning science, technology and mathematics. â⬠¢Institute special awards for best researchers and science teachers. This could be termed the Presidentââ¬â¢s Award for Science to be given annually. We need to celebrate achievement. â⬠¢Set up a formal scheme for mentoring the Youth- This is critical to the development of a career path in science for the youth. Mentors excite interest in junior colleagues and help them to ââ¬Å"walk the pathâ⬠. This experience is however rare in the universities. These days, newly recruited scientists struggle to keep afloat with little or no support. A formal mentoring system should be established in all institutions to ensure that young scientists recruited into the universities or research institutions are attached to professors and senior scientists in their fields of study to receive advice and support. The mentoring can take the form of joint research, publications and presentations at conferences and seminars. â⬠¢To raise the level of awareness of science and technology innovation (research) and foster a synergy among education, industry and research institutes, a project referred to as SMART MOVES in some countries should be established in secondary schools. This project will involve encouraging schools through visits, presentations and seminars to work on problem solving projects with support from the community. The projects will be assessed and students with innovative and creative projects will be invited to present their projects at a Junior Scientist Conference which will be attended by senior scientists who can later act as mentors for the students. Prizes will be given to students based on the quality of project and presentation. The Ghana Academy of Science and Arts can take up this. Conclusion The vision of the National Science and Technology Policy is: ââ¬Å"to support national socio-economic development goals with a view to lifting Ghana to a middle income status by the year 2020 through the perpetuation of a science and technology culture at all the levels of society, which is driven by the promotion of innovation and the mastery of known and proven technologies and their application in industry, and other sectors of the economyâ⬠. (MEST, 2000) This vision can become a reality when science education is given a boost at all levels of education. It has been suggested that the promotion of science education hinges on three pillars ââ¬â funding, teaching and intervention, and research. Without adequate funding, quality teachers, supportive intervention activities and research to illuminate our understanding, science education will have no impact on the everyday lives of Ghanaians; and the observation made by the National Development Planning Commission will remain true. Our national vision for science and technology will be therefore be meaningless. REFERENCES Ahmed, M. (2012). Ghana to launch National Science policy. Retrieved 4th October, 2013, from http://www. ghanaweb. com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel. php? ID=235350. Akpan, O. E. (1992) Toward Creative Science teaching and learning in West African school. Ghana: catholic Press Akyeampong, K. (Centre for International Education, University of Sussex, England) in his lecture on ââ¬Å"50 Years of Educational Progress and Challenge in Ghanaâ⬠, at Parliament House, London, England; 2007 Anamuah-Mensah, J. (1999). Science and Technology Education in Ghana. A paper delivered at the National education Forum on the theme: Towards Sustaining an Effective National Education System, held at the Accra International Conference Centre, Accra, 17-19th November. Anum-Odoom, A. K. M . Educational Reforms in Ghana, 1974-2007. Retrieved on 12th October, 2013, from http://www. ghanaweb. com/GhanaHomePage/blogs/blog. article. php? blog=2091&ID=1000004125- Djangmah, J. S. Clarifying Ghanaââ¬â¢s national vision for the application of science and technology to development. Retrieved on 12th October, 2013, from http://www. ghanansem. org/index. php? option=com_content&task=view&id=234 Keteku, N. W (EDUCATIONAL REFORM IN GHANA: THE SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL). Retrieved 10th October, 2013, from http://www. bibl. u-szeged. hu/oseas_adsec/ghana. htm Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) (2000). National Science and Technology Policy Document. Accra: MEST.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
5 Ways to Set Smothered Verbs Free
5 Ways to Set Smothered Verbs Free 5 Ways to Set Smothered Verbs Free 5 Ways to Set Smothered Verbs Free By Mark Nichol Nominalizations are nouns formed from verbs. Not that thereââ¬â¢s anything wrong with that; various parts of speech are transmogrified into others as part of the process of language. But such creations, colloquially known as smothered verbs, can easily complicate sentences, leading to wordiness and passive construction. Enable for more dynamic prose by allowing verbs to breathe free. Hereââ¬â¢s how to fix such overelaboration: 1. ââ¬Å"The companies acted as financial sponsors for the shows featuring their character toys.â⬠Step one: Find the suffocated verb. Sponsors can be a verb as well as a noun. But only one verb is necessary, so toss out the passive one (and any other extraneous words): ââ¬Å"The companies sponsored the shows featuring their character toys.â⬠2. ââ¬Å"The primary focus of this workshop is recent developments in computer scanning. The previous sample sentence started out well, but this oneââ¬â¢s subject is not the main event. Itââ¬â¢s all about the workshop, so letââ¬â¢s start there. For further fixes, remember this rule of thumb: If you can easily excise a verb that is a form of ââ¬Å"to beâ⬠(often, as in this case, is), do it, because the unsmothered verb will always be stronger than the weak link that is is: ââ¬Å"This workshop focuses on recent developments in computer scanning.â⬠3. ââ¬Å"Before the commencement of the program, there was a brunch served for the guests.â⬠Another weak link is the phrase ââ¬Å"of theâ⬠; the simple solution is to reverse the order of the words preceding and following this phrase, change the noun to a verb, and ditch the two weak little words: ââ¬Å"Before the program commenced, guests were served brunch.â⬠(Note that I altered the second part of the sentence, too. Yes, I retained were, a form of ââ¬Å"to be,â⬠but the idea is to minimize, not eliminate, such verbs; you could write ââ¬Å"guests ate brunch,â⬠but though that phrase is more active, it doesnââ¬â¢t mean quite the same thing.) 4. ââ¬Å"There was a strong disagreement between the two sides over the estimate of damages.â⬠Weak sentences frequently have one feature in common: They start with ââ¬Å"There isâ⬠or ââ¬Å"There are.â⬠Again, cut to the chase. Find the real subject and start there: ââ¬Å"The two sides disagreed strongly over damage estimates.â⬠5. ââ¬Å"The engineers could not provide an explanation for the malfunction.â⬠What did the engineers hope to do? What action had they been expected to take? They set out to explain. So say that: ââ¬Å"The engineers could explain the malfunction.â⬠Phrases written on the model of ââ¬Å"(verb) a/an (noun),â⬠as here (ââ¬Å"provide an explanationâ⬠) are signs of smothering. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:45 Synonyms for ââ¬Å"Foodâ⬠Yay, Hooray, Woo-hoo and Other AcclamationsWhat the Heck are "Peeps"?
Monday, October 21, 2019
Synonymous vs. Nonsynonymous Mutations - Definitions
Synonymous vs. Nonsynonymous Mutations - Definitions Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the carrier of all the genetic information in a living thing. DNA is like a blueprint for what genes an individual has and the characteristics the individual shows (the genotype and phenotype, respectively). The processes by which DNA is translated using Ribonucleic acid (RNA) into a protein is called transcription and translation. DNAs message is copied by messenger RNA during transcription and then that message is decoded during translation to make amino acids. Strings of amino acids are then put together in the right order to make proteins that express the right genes. This is an intricate process that happens quickly, so there are bound to be mistakes, most of which are caught before they are made into proteins, but some slip through the cracks. Some of these mutations are minor and do not change anything. These DNA mutations are called synonymous mutations. Others can change the gene that is expressed and the phenotype of the individual. Mutations that do change the amino acid, and usually the protein, are called nonsynonymous mutations. Synonymous Mutations Synonymous mutations are point mutations, meaning they are just a miscopied DNA nucleotide that only changes one base pair in the RNA copy of the DNA. A codon in RNA is a set of three nucleotides that encode a specific amino acid. Most amino acids have several RNA codons that translate into that particular amino acid. Most of the time, if the third nucleotide is the one with the mutation, it will result in coding for the same amino acid. This is called a synonymous mutation because, like a synonym in grammar, the mutated codon has the same meaning as the original codon and therefore does not change the amino acid. If the amino acid does not change, then the protein is also unaffected. Synonymous mutations do not change anything and no changes are made. That means they have no real role in the evolution of species since the gene or protein is not changed in any way. Synonymous mutations are actually fairly common, but since they have no effect, then they are not noticed. Nonsynonymous Mutations Nonsynonymous mutations have a much greater effect on an individual than a synonymous mutation. In a nonsynonymous mutation, there is usually an insertion or deletion of a single nucleotide in the sequence during transcription when the messenger RNA is copying the DNA. This single missing or added nucleotide causes a frameshift mutation which throws off the entire reading frame of the amino acid sequence and mixes up the codons. This usually does affect the amino acids that are coded for and change the resulting protein that is expressed. The severity of this kind of mutation depends on how early in the amino acid sequence it happens. If it happens near the beginning and the entire protein is changed, this could become a lethal mutation. Another way a nonsynonymous mutation can occur is if the point mutation changes the single nucleotide into a codon that does not translate into the same amino acid. A lot of times, the single amino acid change does not affect the protein very much and is still viable. If it happens early in the sequence and the codon is changed to translate into a stop signal, then the protein will not be made and it could cause serious consequences. Sometimes nonsynonymous mutations are actually positive changes. Natural selection may favor this new expression of the gene and the individual may have developed a favorable adaptation from the mutation. If that mutation occurs in the gametes, this adaptation will be passed down to the next generation of offspring. Nonsynonymous mutations increase the diversity in the gene pool for natural selection to work on and drive evolution on a microevolutionary level.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
10 Memorable Quotes
10 Memorable Quotes Some quotes eventually fade away with time, while a few become eternal and can have lasting impacts. Albert Einsteins comment that Imagination is more important than knowledge, for example, has the potential to stick with someone and change their perspectives on greatness and success. Memorable sayings pack a wealth of wisdom andà display attitude without being preachy or pushy. If you read this collection of memorableà sayings, they will stay with you forever: Anthony Robbinsà ââ¬â¹The past does not equal the future. Buddhaà Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Mother Teresaà Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.à Henry Ford Dont find fault. Find a remedy. Margaret Meadà Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, its the only thing that ever has. Winston Churchill Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm. Ayn Rand The question isnââ¬â¢t who is going to let me; itââ¬â¢s who is going to stop me. Albert Einstein Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind. Franklin D. Rooseveltà The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Oscar Wildeà Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone elses opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Democratic Awakening (1989 - 2009) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
Democratic Awakening (1989 - 2009) - Essay Example The fall of the Berlin Wall identified the turning point in the 20th-century history with the end of the Cold War in Europe. People were tired of the long period of misery in one of the worldââ¬â¢s greatest cities. The Berlin Wall divides Germany for 45 years, and its fall signified that German was once again one country (Sarotte, 2014). In the 20th century, Berlin went through violence and hatred that saw most of the city destroyed during the World War II (1939-1945). The city was separated amongst the nations that won the war during the period of peace. In the East Germany, the Soviet Union established a Communist government and took control of East Berlin. The West Berlin was further divided into three parts that were governed by the Americans, the British, and the French. The East Germany under communism was under a strict Soviet control while the West was made up of free democracies.à The East Berlin was poorer as compared to West Berlin. To stop the movement of people fro m East to West Berlin, the East Germans constructed a wall of iron and concrete through the city in 1961. The fall of the Berlin Wall on 10 November 1989, marked a new era in German (Williams, 2007). à à à The fall of Berlin Wall was the beginning of a key shift in Europe since the World War II. This is evident on November 9, 1989, where the East German government announced its effective opening of the Berlin Wall. The period of the collapse of Berlin Wall concentrated on the diplomacy that resulted in the unification of German and realignment of Europe (Wohlforth, 2010).
Money Laundering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Money Laundering - Essay Example Money represents the lifeblood of a criminal or a terrorist organisation and it is for this reason that most countries and global institutions have an interest in detecting and preventing money laundering2. Researchers suggest that the estimated aggregate funds processed by money laundering activities from around the world range from US$ 590 billion to US$ 1.5 trillion3. However, approaches to regulation, implementation and enforcement of anti-money laundering legislation differ despite a consensus for global cooperation and affect the anti-money laundering efforts as nations try to balance regulation, cost of enforcement and rights4 . The major financial centres from around the world have presented a need for greatest vigilance and effort directed towards prevention and prosecution of those involved in money laundering because global flows of dirty money are either generated in affluent economies or flow through these centres. Thus, it makes sense to try to examine the nature, empha sis and implementation of the anti-money laundering regulation and efforts in London and the UK within a broader regional and global context involving other major financial centres from around the world. It is with the previously mentioned objectives of interest to all those with an interest in the topic of discussion that this dissertation attempts to examine critically the prevailing anti-money laundering regime in the UK. To try to examine the anti-money laundering approach in the United Kingdom from the perspectives of domestic concerns, rights, expenses incurred for enforcement and development of European and international law and regulation. To present an examination of the processes for money laundering, their evolution and the manner in which the United Kingdom anti-money laundering regime acts to effectively prevent and deter money laundering. To try to present suggestions for improvements in effectiveness of the anti-money laundering regime in the United Kingdom,
Friday, October 18, 2019
Critically consider the challenges and opportunities that social and Essay - 1
Critically consider the challenges and opportunities that social and community enterprises face in their pursuit to affect social change - Essay Example Such new generation of entrepreneurs uses new approaches from the commercial world and employ new types ofà technologyà to embrace the greater amount of socialà andà environmentalà problems that occurred recently. Now enterprises are socially and environmentally oriented and it does not matter whether it is a for-profit or a non-profit organization, its entrepreneurial solutions propose more engagement, jobs and hope in those areas where until today there were none of such enterprises (Branson, 2013). There appeared entrepreneurs with social passion, whose creativity skills and entrepreneurial frame is deeply in mind, those who are ready to create and implement ââ¬Å"something out of nothingâ⬠(Praszkier & Nowak, 2011). These individuals are the social entrepreneurs and these are their businesses, which have already created a phenomenon of social entrepreneurship in practice. Social entrepreneurs are aimed to address their activities to the unsolvable social problems and that is how these modern companies have earned a considerable success in motivating a people to generate a huge impact on the society (Defourny & Nyssens, 2010). By the time that social entrepreneurs became well known type of business makers, they have grown into a global movement earning the name of those who bring social- value creations to people and thus are appreciated by more and more people. However, due to the limited research in this sphere, there is no single opinion whether social entrepreneurs bring mainly good things to the society or whether their activities are underestimated (Short, Moss & Lumpkin, 2009). The following paper will try to analyze the challenges and opportunities that social enterprises face today and if it impacts social change. Due to many researches that were studied, there are several definitions of social entrepreneurship. One of such definitions claims that its aim is the ability of
The Future of Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
The Future of Power - Essay Example However, other sources have disapproved this argument terming it as inappropriate. They argue that the rise of other countries does not necessarily result into the decline of the previously powerful countries. They went ahead to state that no single country however powerful it may be, can rise without the help of the other countries. The emergence of technology has played a great role in the rise of power in several countries. For instance the internet has been of significant influence in empowering various countries. Through the internet the world politics can be conducted from anywhere in the world. Similarly, countries have been able to analyze the economic status and foreign policies of rival countries through the internet. (Lundestad 24) A group of economists recently projected the economy of China would surpass that of the United States of America come the year 2027. But Joseph Nye has refuted these claims arguing that the Chinese economy would require stability in its military force similar to that of the U.S before it can catch up. They state further that the Chinese economy is yet to face setbacks such as social challenges that could see it tumble. There are other factors in China that are also believed to be capable of causing stagnation in its economic growth. These include: the rising of the urban middle class, the one child policy, regional inequality, high level of rural poverty and an uprooted working class. Joseph Nye believes that these factors will always have the per capita income of America being superior to that of China. The rise of the Chinese economy has not gone down well with many American citizens with the recent research implicating that many American view China as a constant threat to their economic security and jobs. America has been viewed as using its role as a superpower to earn political stability, democracy and economic supremacy in the world stage. The United States has been involved in several activities including invading o ther in the name of eradicating international terrorism and promoting positive relations among countries. However, many countries have viewed this as an effort by America to enhance its power across the globe and refused to support the globe. (Lundestad 34) The growth of the Chinese economy has caused ripples across the world with many viewing China as a future power house on the world stage. China has experienced tremendous economic growth and diplomacy in the twenty first century which has been of huge significance in the entire East Asia region. This is due to the emergence of several new economic activities in the region resulting into industrialization and hence emergence of several urban centers. This has resulted into China acquiring more credibility and influence in handling world matters. Questions have risen as to whether China will join the world super powers or try to surpass them. Many analysts believe that as China gets more powerful, it will try to use its influence t o change the policies used in the operations of the international system to favour its interests. This has been the trend by many of the reigning world super powers such the United States. The rise of China may cause tension in the world stage as the reigning super powers view as a constant security threat to their dominance across the globe. This is said to be as result of Chinaââ¬â¢s rise from outside the established post World War II international order. The rapid growth in the economy of China is
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Piratesbay Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Piratesbay - Case Study Example Research has shown that websites that offer free music and movies do not control the content being accessed either by downloading or live streaming. Apparent, live streaming has become quite popular in the recent past compared to downloading. Pirate Bay is a renowned website that offers a platform for free downloads of movies and music without authorization from owners. The website has over two million users, and the number is expected to be greater in the coming few years. There exist several ways through which pirate bay earn money from the services it provides. Essentially, no one can conduct business without earning some profits. One of theà principalà approachesà through which the Pirate Bay make money is through advertisements on their website. Research has shown that Pirate Bay facilitates sharing of millions of files very month. This depicts that millions of people visit the website every month. Many companies have realized that if they use Pirate Bay website to advertise their business, enormous profits can be generated. As a result, manyà business entitiesà haveà establishedà contracts with Pirate Bay to advertise their products. As a result, advertisements have been the major sources of money for Pirate Bay. The Internet technology has revolutionizedà business processes and modes of operation. The Pirate Bay has realized the benefits of website development to include platforms that facilities links to other web pages. Sharing of links has been another way of making money for Pirate Bay. The companies wishing to popularize their websites pay the company a certain amount of money to share the links to such websites. Apparently, it can be observed the Pirate Bay operates a P2P business model since the contents in the website are shared among people of the same level. The cloud-based media sites make money through the sale of music and movies in the various online platforms. In addition, the sites
Strategic Planning for Tourism in Abu Dhabi Essay
Strategic Planning for Tourism in Abu Dhabi - Essay Example However, the primary aim of this paper is to identify role of Masdar in improving the travel and tourism industry Masdar City and to develop a set of plausible and actionable strategic recommendations to the company that will help it in this respect. Currently, the company has five units i.e. Masdar City, Masdar Power, Masdar Carbon, Masdar Capital and Masdar Institute (Masdar-b, n.d). This paper will attempt to deal with the companyââ¬â¢s Masdar City as this unit is engaged in infrastructural development that lead to the growth of the travel and tourism industry. This unit strives to develop a ââ¬Å"global clean-technology clusterâ⬠called Masdar City which is situated ââ¬Å"17km from downtown Abu Dhabiâ⬠(Masdar-c, n.d.). Masdar City can be developed as a major touristsââ¬â¢ destination. The company is aiming to develop this city backed with renewable energy and it is well designed with 40,000 residents. The primary essence of the Masdar City is on innovative tech nologies through R&D. United Arab Emirates (UAE) is now focusing on its tours and travel industry. The UAE Government has aimed to develop its important cities as a popular tourist attraction. For example, in Dubai, the leisure and hotel industry has grown significantly. The travel and tourism industry of Masdar City has a direct competition with Dubai. Moreover, other Gulf countries like Saudi Arab, Kuwait, and Oman etc are also trying to develop their travel and tourism industry. On the other hand, Middle East courtiers like Egypt are major tourist destinations and they are the major competitor of Masdar City in travel and tourism industry (Deulgaonkar, 2011). Tourism and travel industry primarily belong to global market as it targets entire global population. Therefore, the competition in travel and tourism industry is very high. 1.2. Communications Analysis The Masdar is highly respectable company of UAE and it has developed a higher corporate image in the market. The company is a focus-point for the entire nation as it is one the most developed renewable energy company. It has been continuously working for the development of the entire country especially for Abu Dhabi. One of the major tools for the company is its communicational and promotional activities. Its corporate website is critical medium for developing communication with its target audience. In order to develop ââ¬Ëtwo-wayââ¬â¢ communicational system, it has partnered with several social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter etc. It is also using its website for its advertising strategies and for delivering market signals. The organization generally communicates with target audience to spreading awareness regarding renewable energy, its projects, recent developments etc. Its communicational developments can play a very significantly role in developing the Masdar City as major touristsââ¬â¢ attraction. 1.3. Issue Analysis The Masdar has been successfully maintaining its public relation with its target audience through media partnering and through its corporate website. However, in order to develop the tourism industry of Masdar City in the global market, its communication is not unique and effective. It must be taken into consideration, that for competing in the global market, its communication must reach to global market.
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Piratesbay Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Piratesbay - Case Study Example Research has shown that websites that offer free music and movies do not control the content being accessed either by downloading or live streaming. Apparent, live streaming has become quite popular in the recent past compared to downloading. Pirate Bay is a renowned website that offers a platform for free downloads of movies and music without authorization from owners. The website has over two million users, and the number is expected to be greater in the coming few years. There exist several ways through which pirate bay earn money from the services it provides. Essentially, no one can conduct business without earning some profits. One of theà principalà approachesà through which the Pirate Bay make money is through advertisements on their website. Research has shown that Pirate Bay facilitates sharing of millions of files very month. This depicts that millions of people visit the website every month. Many companies have realized that if they use Pirate Bay website to advertise their business, enormous profits can be generated. As a result, manyà business entitiesà haveà establishedà contracts with Pirate Bay to advertise their products. As a result, advertisements have been the major sources of money for Pirate Bay. The Internet technology has revolutionizedà business processes and modes of operation. The Pirate Bay has realized the benefits of website development to include platforms that facilities links to other web pages. Sharing of links has been another way of making money for Pirate Bay. The companies wishing to popularize their websites pay the company a certain amount of money to share the links to such websites. Apparently, it can be observed the Pirate Bay operates a P2P business model since the contents in the website are shared among people of the same level. The cloud-based media sites make money through the sale of music and movies in the various online platforms. In addition, the sites
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
AUDITING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
AUDITING - Essay Example The paper will also indicate any recommendation on furthering the audit in case of an audit problem. Finally the paper will outline the actions following the further work done on the audit. Analysis of the Four Items Debtors During interim audit preparation, a list of who owes the company and the total amount they owe is drafted. According to the trial balance dated 31st March 2011, the amount expected from the debtors amounts to 950,000 pounds. During auditing, the expectation is that the schedule of debtors or the accounts receivables should always agree with the figures in the financial statements (Loughran 2010). Audit problems normally arise as a result of not taking into considerations the risks involved when dealing with accounts receivables. The accounts receivables that have been listed may be inaccurate. It is also possible that the receivables may not be existing or may not be collectible. The audit should consider the write offs of the bad debts. The sales transaction sho uld always be processed at the right period to avoid recording of sales due the next period. In this case for instance, Multi gym which is a private company, may be defaulting from paying 95,000 pounds, the reason being the machines they purchased from Wentworth Brewster limited could be used for reasons related to jamming (Montgomery 2009). This therefore, has to be indicated in the bad debts and deducted from the accounts receivables. There debtors have balances at the end of the year that range from 5000 to 20000 pounds. The specific amount of the balances is not specified. This could lead to assumptions that may trigger false figures in the income statements. The schedule for the accounts receivables hold be reviewed so toà match with those in the financial statement. Claim for Damages During audit preparation, a schedule should be done relating to the creditors of the firm or those individuals or business that have a claim. The totals in the formulated list should always be e qual with the figures in the financial statement. According to the trial balance dated 31st March 2011, the total amount of money claimed for damages is 25000 pounds. This amount should be included in the schedule as amount payable to the individual claiming. However, the draft has not included provision for claims from other customers (Loughran 2010). For instance, the three customers have placed claims against retailers for suffering injuries as a result of vague instructions. For there to be a correct indication of the reality on the grounds, the draft should make a provision for such claims then they will be directed to the company. Stock The trial balance indicated stock amounting to 1.6 million pounds. According to the laid down accounting principles, it is required stock for the previous period to be reported in that period. This therefore presents an audit problem. In order to determine stock for the period, the amount of stock currently being held is subtracted from sales o f that period. This resulting figure indicates the stock that has been sold. This is therefore added to the beginning inventory to determine the total stock available for dale. This is where the audit discovers that 0.5 million stock was included in the previously concluded period. Rent Rent when considered as an income should be recorded in the period, it is received and not reported. According to
Monday, October 14, 2019
The first World War Essay Example for Free
The first World War Essay Part way through the Second World War Hitler occupied nearly all of Europe, including France. He decided to take Britain next. His first plan failed. So he resorted to the blitz. The blitz was the constant bombing of major cities in Britain, along with other targets such as food and railways. But this wasnt Hitlers ideal way to take Britain. But to understand why this and everything else previously occurred, we need to go back to the end of the First World War, when the allied countries, Italy, America, France, Britain and Belgium put together the treaty of Versailles. This treaty blamed Germany for the war, and made them pay compensation to the allied countries for the cost and damages expenses of the war. Their army was reduced to 100,000 men and 10% of their land was taken away. Soon after the end of the war came the Wall Street crash, this came as a result of the treaty of Versailles. The German people were in a mess, as was their country. They were looking for a strong leader who felt the same way as they did, and would promise them improvement. Hitler fitted the bill. In 1933 Hitler became the chancellor of Germany, and from then on he worked solely for war. He even went behind the backs of the allies to do so. He wanted to regain the land that had been taken from them, and he wanted to take extra to make room for his perfect race. So, in short, he built an army and marched to war. Hitler developed a tactic known as Blitzkrieg which means lightning war. This was a two way attack that surprised the enemy into submission. He would bomb the city he was advancing on at the same time as advancing on foot, then moving onto the next target very quickly. This resulted in a large amount of Europe being taken very quickly with these tactics. But the beginning of the Second World War was only signalled when Hitler decided to invade Poland, as Poland was allied with both France and Britain. The rest of Europe soon fell to the Germans, and now only two countries remained to be taken; Britain and Russia. Hitler chose Britain, as he had already made an agreement with Russia that stated that they would not attack each other. This meant that Hitler would only be attacking one country at once as Russia would not attack, just so long as he didnt invade them. Hitlers approach to invading Britain was slightly different to his approach with the rest of Europe, as the British channel separated Britain from him. So he decided to put into action operation sea lion. Operation sea lion required the Luftwaffe to bomb the British air bases, thereby gaining air superiority, and thus being able to cross the British channel safely. And so The Battle of Britain began. Over a period the Luftwaffe were defeated, due partly to the superiority of the British aircraft, such as the supermaire spitfire and the hawker hurricane. The invention of radar also played a big part, as it allowed British aircraft to see the Luftwaffe in advance. This forced Hitler to change his tactics and so he decided to use the blitz. On the 7th of September 1940 the continuous bombing of all major cities and some other targets began. On the first night alone over 2000 died or suffered from injuries. By doing this, Hitler aimed to shock Britain into surrender, as he believed that Britain didnt want a war. So his targets were designed to cause as much damage and unrest as possible, aiming for densely populated areas, such as cities, (but especially ones with ports) food supplies and factories. The blitz only stopped after the d-day landings, so Britain was bombed for 8 months. In which time many children had been evacuated, gas masks handed out, shelters had become many peoples second homes, and 40,000 men, women and children had died. 2 million were homeless. In bombing Britain, Hitler concentrated on several targets. A port, railways, food supplies, factories, etc. any city by the sea was heavily targeted, as they had every single one of the above. Coventry, Plymouth and Bristol were three heavily targeted cities. Coventry was bombed because it was the centre of Britains arms trade and machining industry. As it was quite a small city, the 450 German bombers in the raid caused enormous damage, totally demolishing the majority of the city centre. 554 people were killed and 865 were seriously injured. 30,000 fire bombs fell cut from the daily verald. This counter propaganda was released along with RAF Strikes Berlin and Coventry, Not a mortal blow. 450 bombers, and yet the factories were back to full production in only 6 weeks. Several other major attacks on Coventry took place, such as the one on November 14 1940. On this day, the Luftwaffe had pulled all the stops out. The raid was made by 515 German bombers, two thirds from Luftwaffe 3 and the rest from the pathfinders of Kampfgruppe 100. The attack, code-named Operation Moonlight Sonata, was intended to undermine Coventrys ability to supply the Royal Air Force and the British Army by demolishing factories and industrial infrastructure, although it was clear that the damage to the city, including monuments and residential areas, would be considerable. The initial wave was of 13 specially modified Heinkel He 111 aircraft of Kampfgruppe 100, which were equipped with X-Geri t navigational devices, accurately dropping marker flares at 19:20. The British and the Germans were fighting the Battle of the Beams and on this night the British failed to fully disrupt the X-Geri t signals. However, the cathedral was heavily bombed, which enticed Britain to retaliate by bombing Berlin, a very historical city in Germany. Plymouth was one of the United Kingdoms principal naval dockyards. The city was extensively blitzed during the Second World War, to the extent that approximately twice the amount of housing stock that existed prior to the war was destroyed during it (as a consequence of rebuilt houses being successively hit). Although the dockyards were the principal targets, civilian casualties were inevitably very high. The first bomb fell on the city on Saturday 6 July 1940 at Swilly, killing 3 people. The last attack came on 30 April 1944. Altogether 1,172 people were killed and 3,269 people were injured these figures do not include the many service casualties. At one point the population fell from 220,000, at the start of the conflict, to 127,000. Probably the worst single raid of the blitz was on a central area of the town called Portland Square. On the evening of the 22 April 1941 the communal air raid shelter took a direct hit, killing 70 people. As a result of one of the first raids, 26 people were killed, 60 houses demolished, 400 houses seriously damages and 2,000 slightly damaged. The citys electricity was restored in the afternoon, but gas was not available until 3 weeks later. After raids, locals teamed together and sang the national anthem as they dug out survivors. As this helped maintain and lift moral, it was strongly encouraged. On Monday 6th January meat rations were reduced from1s 10d to 1s 6d. Then on the Thursday of the same week, their majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Plymouth and toured the service establishments. Then, the very next day, Mr Winston Churchill visited Plymouth and Britains reconstruction chief recommended they plan boldly, and plan now! To conclude, my answer to the question why did Hitler bomb British cities? is Hitler bombed Britain to try and force them into surrender. Because he couldnt risk sending his fleet across the British channel he tried to take out our air bases, but because he failed to gain air superiority he changed tackics. He was hoping that the British civilians could be so demoralised by the relentless dropping of bombs that they would force Churchill to surrender. But he failed. What effect did the blitz have on Britain? In the summer of 1939, the British government were making plans. Hitler was still making threats and war seemed imminent. And so they began to plan for the event of war, majoring on air defences. And so, when the attacks did come, the nation was prepared. Taking into account that aerial attacks would, undoubtedly kill many civilians, the government began to evacuate children out of the cities, thereby protecting the future generations. Many young children were evacuated prior to the first bombings. The government had portrayed the idea that when your children arrived in the country they would be brought into loving homes and would be looked after as if they were part of the family. They sent out propaganda films showing children running in and out of the woods and having school lessons on fields with butterflies. However, the real events were quite different. When the children arrived in the village they would be staying in, they would be lined up and hand picked. The larger, healthier children were picked first, leaving the scrawnier, dirtier children to be picked last. Many parents didnt like the thought of their children going to stay with strangers, and in many cases, quite rightly so. Some children received regular beatings from their new families and some were even sexually abused. And so, when the parents began to get letters from their children, or in some cases no letters came, the parents began to call their children home, but by that time, some had already run away. However, after the first air raid, many parents saw the sense in evacuation and sent their children back into the countryside. The blitz had another major effect on Britain: the government foresaw that if the Germans bombed them, then they would easily find their targets, as they would be lit up like a spot light, so they introduced the blackouts. At first, everything was totally blacked out. From street lamps to torches, everything was gone. However, this did cause a few problems, such as there was a large increase in the amount of Car crashes, so slits were introduces to help combat that. It worked too, as there were fewer crashes and the desired effect was still accomplished. The blackouts also had the effect of giving that illusion that the bombers were in the wrong place. In addition to getting rid of the lights in the cities, they also would place lots of lights on top of hills all around, giving the wrong impression again, and therefore minimise damage. For 8 months the blackouts plunged Britain into darkness, and the near constant darkness didnt help with moral. But is was necessary as it not only protected the cities, but airbases and in coastal regions a shore-side blackout of city lights would also help protect ships from being seen and attacked by enemy submarines farther out to sea. Overall, the blackouts played a vital part in keeping Britain in the war. War is notorious for causing civil panic, and as a result lower moral and more deaths. The government needed to educate. That way, when first raids did come, the people didnt simply run around like headless chickens, but they all knew exactly what they had to do, and proceeded to do it. To educate the people they introduced drills and news reels before films. The news reels acted as an education program, stating the procedure that would take place in the event of a raid. The drills were a practical procedure that everyone learnt. You were taught the different signals, stating the different type of raid (e. g. Gas, fire bomb, etc). These drills had a major effect in the long run, as they save many lives and helped to keep the country orderly when under attack. Rationing was another dramatic change for Britain. At the beginning of World War II, the UK imported 55 million tons of foodstuffs per year (70%), including more than 50% of its meat, 70% of its cheese and sugar, nearly 80% of fruits and about 90% of cereals and fats. One of the principal strategies Germany used was to attack shipping bound for the UK, restricting British industry and potentially starving the nation into submission. In order to deal with the extreme shortages the Ministry of Food instituted a system of rationing. It was introduced on the 8th of January 1940, with bacon, butter and sugar being rationed. Next then came meat, tea, jam, biscuits, breakfast cereals, cheese, eggs, milk and canned fruit. Each person would register with their local shops, and was provided with a ration book containing coupons. The shopkeeper was then provided with enough food for his or her registered customers. When purchasing goods, the purchaser had to hand over the coupon as well as the money for the purchase. Strict rationing caused many people to buy food on the black market and thus having a negative effect on British society. Everyone was issued the same amount of food, (per person, so bigger families didnt go without). The typical weekly ration per person was Bacon 6oz Cheese 4oz Butter 4oz Eggs 2 Milk 1 pint Tea 3oz Sugar 12oz Dried milk 4 pints Dried eggs 12 per eight weeks Sweets 3oz Food like bread, fish, fruit and vegetables were not rationed, but the queues were very long. Initially, this benefited the poorer families, as they were entitled to the same amount to food and therefore ended up eating more than they had done prior to the war. The way the government ensured that people got their fair share was to issue ration books. Each was different, depending on you age, for instance, babies were blue, childrens green, and adults brown. The general public were also encouraged to convert their gardens into allotments, thus providing more food for each family. Clothes were also rationed from June 1941. Each person was issued with 66 coupons per year, with which they had to buy all their cloths. For example, a coat would cost 14 coupons and its money value. Petrol was very hard to come by, so most people cycled or walked, as fuel was used for emergency purposes or government needs. As the war developed, almost everything was rationed. Towels, cutlery, furniture, sheets were all in short supply. In 1942, even soap was rationed. Without rationing, Britain would have almost certainly have fallen to Germany. It was only because everyone knew that they were getting the same amount of food as their neighbour that a civil revolt didnt break out and Britain didnt surrender. In the 20th centaury, many houses were small, and fairly basic. They werent very sturdy either. And if a raid came, and a bomb landed on your house, then you would be dead.
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Employment practices of wal-mart
Employment practices of wal-mart Introduction In the current global business world, companies are required to take consideration about its employees values and to follow ethically sound practices. Business ethics is the term people use in dealing with proper business behavior and is related to being fully aware of the consequences of the companys actions. Being aware means two things: first, adhering to the rules, laws, principles of morality, and other concerns regarding fairness and the needs of others; and second, taking responsibility of the effects to the customers, employees, and the society as a whole of the processes by which the company uses in making and rendering products and services. Founded in 1962, Wal-Mart is the worlds leader in sustainability, employment opportunities, and corporate philanthropy. It ranked first in Fortune Magazines 2010 Most Admired Companies survey and is now employing 2.1 million people worldwide (Wal-Mart, 2011). With competitive prices it sets for its products, Wal-Mart was able to destroy competitors such as Kmart and thousands of small businesses. Moreover, through profit savings from their exceptional relationship with the suppliers and operational efficiency, Wal-Mart was able to pass on its cost savings to its customers, thereby attracting them and expanding their market share in the retail industry. However, to maintain its profitability and sustainable growth, the company needs to reevaluate its strategies through internal environmental scanning. This paper will deal with the business ethics of Wal-Mart particularly its employment practices and how its organizational leadership comes into play. The writer believes that Wal-Marts employment practices are unattractive to peoples minds and include discrimination, inhumane practices, and undocumented workers. The paper will touch these ethical dilemmas, provide evidences to support each practice, and identify the principles in conflict under the Global Business Standards Codex. The paper will come into conclusion by proposing strategies on how these ethical standards can be changed in order to resolve the problem. Arguments and Discussions The Global Business Standards (GBS) Codex is a benchmark for businesses wanting to develop their own world-class code (International Monetary Fund, 2009). It comprises of simplified picture of the expected conducts of todays corporations. The authors of GBS identified eight principles (Carroll and Buchholtz, 2008) that companies must follow in creating new codes of conduct or assessing existing ones, namely, the principles of fiduciary, reliability, fairness, dignity, transparency, responsiveness, and citizenship. The creating or assessment of the code of conduct is the preliminary step for companies attempting to deal with global business ethics. The first conflict of Wal-Marts policies with the GBS Codex is with regard to the principle of fairness. Individuals finding jobs in work organizations may find that some companies incorporate opportunities for advancement while others do not. Jobs lacking in career path are less likely to offer promotions and salary increases. The common people taken out from then managerial career path are the women and minorities (Konrad, 2006). The companys old-fashioned culture reflects to the store policies. Many policies have been implemented that somehow discriminate employees especially women and strict employee to employee relationships. Women are rarely seen in management positions and at most they are not allowed to be in the top management. The federal class suit Dukes et al. v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Spangler et al. 2008). in 2001, is the largest civil rights suit regarding discrimination based on gender. It was represented by 1.6 million women workers of Wal-Mart who were employed from 1998-2001. The plaintiffs challenged the recruitment, promotion and payment policies of the company as a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title VII, which prohibited workplace discrimination (Cq Researcher, 2009). The women claimed that Wal-Mart and its Sams Club division deny equal pay and promotions especially for managerial positions against women who were working on hourly and salaried bases. Moreover, according to them, during conversations about promotions or assignment to another department, they receive friendly and casual reminders or suggestions, yet in reality, these are discouragements. Despite the debates on the legality of the class suit, maintaining the ruling in Dukes will force Wal-Mart in complyi ng with the provisions of Title VII (Sherwyn, 2009). Other evidence of discrimination were the categorization of men and women into homogeneity by deciding on what is beneficial for them rather than asking them about their preferences (Bessen and Kimmel, 2006). For instance, the top management assumes that women employees would not be interested in the meat and sports goods department so they assign men on those departments instead. The departments where women are assigned at also consist of more walks and problems as well as lesser opportunities for advancement. Furthermore, most women experienced being assigned to a second shift for the reason that they have to continue the unfinished woks of their male colleagues. These practices of the company are not limited during work hours but also after in places beyond the companys premises which create anomic situations against women. The second unethical employment practice of Wal-Mart is the inhumane treatment of employees, a violation of the principle of dignity under GBS Codex. One instance of this was the locking up of two workers in order to clean the stores overnight (Mayhew, 2008). This issue was featured in the movie Wal-Mart and was written on the front page in New York Times.The justification of the company was to prevent these people from stealing goods since it is logical that when employees are locked off, it would be difficult for them to get away with the merchandise (Fishman, 2006). There were also reports that two nongovernmental organizations in the United States filed a suit against the company for subjecting factory workers to inhumane conditions and hazardous chemicals, and in Bangladesh for letting the factory workers work at 19-hour shifts (Kline, 2010). Other inhuman practice of the company involves forcing the employees to work even after they had punched out because according to the mana gement, they havent finished effectively their jobs yet. Critics view this as an excuse of the company to drive down overtime payment costs (Fishman, 2006). The third conflict against GBS Codex by Wal-Mart is with regard to the principle of transparency by failing to document the true names and numbers of workers. The U.S Immigration and Naturalization Service arrested 250 undocumented workers during their inspection in some Wal-Mart stores (Glicken, 2010). In 2003, the federal government arrested 300 undocumented workers and in March 2005, the company gave a settlement fee of $11 million for utilizing undocumented workers in its 21 stores (Atkins, 2008). Profit making is likely the primary motivation of Wal-Mart in hiring these undocumented workers (Hing, 2010). The use of these undocumented workers gives the company high labor savings since the former have lower wage rates and are not given fringe benefits. Conclusions Taking care of employees is more than giving them fair compensation. It also touches on the companys concern for the nurturing of their skills, mental and emotional health. In other words, the company should deal with the totality of their being as it strives to attain their financial goals. Wal-Mart failed these by practicing discrimination against women, employing inhumane practices especially to their factory workers, and utilizing undocumented workers. Women already won the debate over working equally with men. A lot of women are working as effectively as the men in the same job. To motivate Wal-Marts employees in terms of policies, the company should revise those policies that show discrimination and unequal opportunities. One way to resolve this is to increase the number of managerial positions or create a more stringent basis of promoting employees. With regard to the inhuman practices of the company, they should support and enhance unionism to give the workers stronger voice in enforcing their rights against such unethical practice. The company as well should revise its policy of giving low prices to consumers yet sacrificing employees welfare. There should be a balance between profit maximization and enhancement of employees well-being. On the issue of undocumented workers, the workers should first obtain a legal status in order to represent themselves. Moreover, the governments where Wal-Mart operates should have a more efficient documentation of the workers coming to and fro the country. In this way, the use of undocumented workers will easily be detected and addressed. On the part of Wal-Mart, it should review its delegation of tasks so that there would be no way to exploit undocumented workers.
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Radcliffe and Wordsworth: Nature, Travel, and Memory Essay -- Traveli
Radcliffe and Wordsworth: Nature, Travel, and Memory In preparation for my presentation on the character of M. St. Aubert in Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho, I examined various passages from the novel's first few chapters which described St. Aubert's responses to nature in terms of the picturesque, the sublime, and sensibility. One passage which especially attracted my attention, but which ultimately fell outside the coverage of our group's presentation, is Radcliffe's account of St. Aubert's feelings about the "small estate in Gascony" (Radcliffe 6) where he and his family lived: To this spot he had been attached from his infancy. He had often made excursions to it when he was a boy, and the impressions of delight given to his mind . . . had not been obliterated by succeeding circumstances. The green pastures along which he had so often bounded in the exultation of health, and youthful freedom - the woods, under whose refreshing shade he had first indulged that pensive melancholy . . . the wild walks of the mountains, the river, on whose waves he had floated, and the distant plains, which seemed boundless as his early hopes - were never after remembered by St. Aubert but with enthusiasm and regret. (Radcliffe 6) This passage was interesting to me because many of the travel writings we have read so far tend to focus more on the travellers' immediate responses to relatively new and unfamiliar environments which they are visiting for the first time, rather than on a return to a familiar place or the memories evoked by those familiar places. However, St. Aubert's emotional responses to familiar places - as well as his responses to less familiar places he sees on his travels - form a significant part of his characte... ...remembered them when we had been there before - in a similar manner to the way in which Wordsworth does this in Tintern Abbey. As well, though on the more recent trips I have been more acutely aware of the ways in which my relationships with my family have changed over the years - perhaps a side effect of travelling with three other people in a small space for a period of ten days - it is still easy for me to sympathize with Radcliffe's evocation of "the memory of those we love . . . all tender and harmonious as this landscape" (47). Works Cited Radcliffe, Ann. The Mysteries of Udolpho. 1794. Ed. Jacqueline Howard. London: Penguin, 2001. Wordsworth, William. "Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey, on Revisiting the Banks of the Wye During a Tour, 13 July 1798." 1798. Romanticism: An Anthology. Ed. Duncan Wu. Oxford: Blackwell, 1998. 265-269.
Friday, October 11, 2019
Community Health Nursing Essay
The implementation of a program which makes health care accessible is a goal of any society. In line with this goal, the establishment of community health nursing was formed. This provided better opportunities for people to acquire the right health care assistance for each of their concerns. There were some factors that may be attributed in the formation of a health nursing. These influenced the creation of the program which intended to provide resolutions for problems that have long been encountered. The first source of influence may be justified even before the 19th century Europe. In the past, family members who were sick were just attended by female members of the family and were not able to access full health care from a professional or a specialist (Allender, 2004). One of the great problems which were encountered by societies was the minimal opportunity for ordinary people to go to a medical specialist. Almost always the case, only those who have the economic capability were able to avail these types of services. Add to that the seemingly underdeveloped infrastructures back then. This paved the way for an idea to bring at least satellite health care units in small communities to service the general public. One more attribute which lead to the development of community health care can be pointed out to religious charities. The monks in Florence, Italy had committed a historical health care service for those who encountered accidents. They even provided first aid solutions for people who needed their help even on a 24 hour basis. As a matter of fact, these religious figures even provided the necessary health care for various pilgrims to some of the considered holy lands based on religious beliefs. During the medieval times, there have also been great developments in community based health services. There was a time when a law catering to the poor of England was passed in 1601. This rule designated the instructions for health specialists to render their services to the poor who did not have any means of availing health care. Since the governing sector is centralized in the royal institution, it was really easy to disseminate the services to identifiable poor communities in the country. Another historic event took place in France when the Friendly Visitor Volunteers was formed. In 17th century France, there was a great deal in re-establishing the economy. This prompted the organization to render public health services by sending the service directly to the homes of the poor and disabled. The main funding process of the organization was initiated by wealthy women individuals of the society who cared for the welfare of the general public. The community health nursing was definitely a very good approach in caring for the needy and unfortunate. However, by the time the Industrial Revolution hit Europe and America, the group of these community based health units were greatly reduced. This paved the way for what the present health care structure societies have today. Hospitals and health centers were established even in bigger units and concentrated near urban areas. This was in direct contrast to the former approach of delegating specific health units among communities. Even though the extent of community health nursing is already reduced, newer counterparts in modern society today still has the same principle. Home nursing can be availed today via appointments with doctors and nurses. There are also some programs among todayââ¬â¢s hospitals which can provide an extended health care service at home based on agreements. Moreover, the establishment of home care nursing centers provides at least a refuge for patients outside of hospitals. The modern day health professionals are partnering directly with individuals who want to improve their communities in promoting optimum health care (Richmond Health, 2001).
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Assessment Task Facial expression Essay
Electronic communication plays vast roles in the way individuals communicate in todayââ¬â¢s society, this has created a significant change to the quality of interpersonal communication. Using instant text messaging as a channel of communication detracts from the quality of interpersonal communication as it eliminates important components conveyed through face-to-face communication. Eye contact, body movements and facial expressions are all important elements that contribute to interpersonal communication. Eye contact can provide important information through non-verbal communication it can convey and enhance messages that may not be interpreted verbally. Body movement enhances information that is being expressed or received and sends strong messages through verbal and non-verbal communication. Facial expressions can communicate non-verbal signals with only minor movements of the face. When exchanging information these non-verbal signals can help display emotion and response. These important components of interpersonal communication play fundamental roles in communicating information and cannot be expressed through electronic pathways such as instant text messaging. Eye contact and eye behavior is an important element in interpersonal communication. Understanding information can at times be a difficult process, some would say without eye contact it makes it hard to verify whether the information they are conveying is being comprehended (Davidhizar 1992). Eye contact plays a fundamental role through non-verbal communication as it can be substituted for verbal communication. Using a direct gaze or certain eye behavior can be interpreted as many things such as signaling or acknowledging an individual (Davidhizar 1992; Eunson 2012). Additionally eye contact in verbal communication can enhance the information being expressed engaging the listener and helping them comprehend the information promptly (Davidhizar 1992). Absence of eye contact in interpersonal communication can result in misinterpreted information. It is likely that the sender of the message will interpret that the listener is disinterested and has minimal concern as to what is being communicated (Davidhizar 1992). Interpersonal communication is a process in which senders and receivers exchange messages between each other either verbally or non-verbally. This can be enhanced by visual elements to share information and feelings (Gardner and Kleiner 2009). Therefore using interpersonal communication through an electronic communication channel such as instant text messaging is not a sufficient way in making sure information is received adequately as eye contact is a vital element that is absent in the communication channel. Body movement is a powerful tool and strong indicator as to how we communicate with others. Eunson (2012, p. 267) states ââ¬Ë orientation, or the attitude, inclination or body angle we adopt in relation to others, can send powerful nonverbal messagesââ¬â¢. There are various types of movements that can be indicated through the body as communication. Affect displays is a main type of movement of the body. These are movements of the face, hands and general body (Devito 2012). Face movements can include certain facial expressions such as frowning or smiling, hand movements that help illustrate verbal messages for example, referring to something to the left or right and the general body can illustrate body tension or relaxation (DeVito 2002). Affect displays help communicate emotional meaning at times during communication. They can be done intentionally to help display the message such as smiling to express enjoyment or approval (DeVito 2002). Alternatively Affect displays may be done unintentionally when messages are being communicated the sender or receiver may smile or frown unconsciously (DeVito 2002). When exchanging information and messages through instant text messaging the movements of affect displays cannot be communicated and visible to the sender or receiver. Consequently making instant text messaging an un-reliable way of exchanging information effectively. Facial expressions through non-verbal communication are a sufficient way in listening, expressing emotion and giving feedback. Non-verbal communication is a vital element of interpersonal communication as it helps express emotion and personality through the process of exchanging information (Eunson 2012). Non-verbal signals such as facial expressions can be defined as non-verbal behavior. Ellgring (1989, p.5) describes it as ââ¬Ë A code matches signs of one set to signs of another setââ¬â¢. When a person uses facial expressions it can convey many emotions, this can be done with only minor movements of the face. Some emotions that can be expressed are happiness, surprise, fear and anger (DeVito 2002). Facial expressions are relied upon to comprehend messages sufficiently and to understand one another especially in non-verbal communication (Goldmann and Mallory 1992). Ekman (cited in Calero 2005, p. 64) states ââ¬Å"when a facial expression is used as a signal ââ¬â such as winking an eye as a gesture of approval, or sticking out the tongue to signify playful distaste ââ¬â they are very easy to comprehendâ⬠. Instant text messaging has become a more widespread and convenient mode of communication in every day life (Huang et al 2007). However when messages are being communicated through an electronic channel such as instant text messaging comprehension of information can at times be misinterpreted or difficult to understand (Galushkin 2003). When communicating face-to-face receiving verbal and non-verbal signals aids the sender or receiver to interpret information sufficiently (Huang et al. 2007). Accordingly facial expressions play a vital role in sending and receiving verbal and non-verbal signals (Huang et el. 2007). This making face-to face communication a more efficient and effective way of exchanging information and messages, than electronic communication. Eye contact, body movement and facial expressions are fundamental features in the exchange of information in interpersonal communication. Using eye contact effectively in communication guarantees information is being interpreted sufficiently and the sender or receiver is engaged in what is being expressed. The use of body movement in communication aids in the interpretation of information and sends powerful messages that can communicate emotional meaning. Facial expressions such as frowning or smiling help communicate emotion and personality through the exchange of information. They are sufficient in making sure messages are clearly understood especially in non-verbal communication. Therefore the elements of eye contact, body movement and facial expressions are all significant mechanisms to ensure adequate communication. Electronic communication is unable to utilize these elements of information transfer, and can therefore be considered an inferior method of communication when compared to face-to-face communication. References Calero, H 2005, The Power of Nonverbal Communication How you act is more important than what you say, silver lake publishing, Aberdeen, WA. Davidhizar, R 1992, Interpersonal communication: A review of eye contact, The University of Chicago press, Vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 222-225, Viewed 22 August 2013, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30147101. Devito, J A 2012, Human communication: The basic course, 9E, Pearson, New York. Ellgring, H 1989, Non-verbal communication in depression, Cambridge University press, New York. Eunson, B 2012, Communication in the 21st century, 3rd edn, John Wiley & Sons, Milton, Queensland. Galushkin, I 2003, Text Messages: A potentially rich medium in distributed organizations, prismjournal, Vol.1, no.1, pp. 1-13, viewed 30 August 2013,http://www.prismjournal.org/fileadmin/Praxis/Files/Journal_Files/issue1/refereed_articles_paper4.pdf. Gardner H, Kleiner F S 2009, Understanding interpersonal communication: A concise global history, Cengage learning, Boston, MA. Goldmann, R W, Mallory J R 1992, Overcoming communication barriers: communication with deaf people, Library trends, Vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 21-30, Viewed 2 September 2013,
Discovering the Identity behind History: Days of Awe Essay
Dealing with the past opens many opportunities in unveiling the mysteries that life is continuously giving us. By looking at the details where we can see the picture not only in a two dimensional perspective, but to all the sides that we can, a broader explanation and exploration can be made. This is an important part of humansââ¬â¢ experiences because it gives way for them to reveal the roots and explain the things that serve as a puzzle to them. Puzzle that gives question that many people think will never be answered. But, through the persistence of different forces, a new way of enlightening the path towards the truth will be open for them to be set free. As the story in Days of Awe written by Archy Obejas, dealing with the protagonistââ¬â¢s main conflict can be associated in our daily lives. We can see how she was able to find the real meanings behind her doubts and questions and how she was able to find the answers in her own queries. By putting into the consideration all the factors that she think might affect her perception in the things she know, she should be the one to first understand the things her own conflict with her own beliefs had made. This story teaches us a great lesson in life that can be applied in our daily interaction with different kind of people as we continue our own odyssey towards lifeââ¬â¢s great journey. This lesson is not new to us, but in fact, can be found even in the smallest things that we are doing but we are too distracted by our own personal attachments to certain things that forbid us to open up our selves in many opportunities that life is offering us. This lesson is in great value especially in dealing with the things that we know is too valuable for us to lose. By giving this importance, we will be successfully forge a deal that will benefit a greater part of humanity. This lesson is acceptance. Accepting the things that we know are real and existent although sometimes, it comes with a great deal of pain and suffering. Even though how much we suffer and realize that there are many hindrances in the world that make things more difficult and harder for us, we should not let it control our direction and lead us to another way, than listening to what our future discoveries can be. This is a challenge that had been made by various problems that hones our personality and our lifeââ¬â¢s point of view. By accepting that these things are part of the life of human society, we will be able to understand more the things that we donââ¬â¢t understand before. And in effect, will cost us a greater price that no one before had managed to do so. Brief Summary: Born in the New Yearââ¬â¢s Day, year 1951, a girl named Alejandra San Jose was born in Havana where there are conflicts that had been arising due to the opposing powers and beliefs of the higher people in the place. And because of this, her parents decided to escape from the danger they foresee that will be brought by these opposing parties. Making this decision is not easy for her parents because they will not only leave their house but also their heritage that they treasured in many years. Their go to the shores of North America but later joined the group of Cuban Refugees in Chicago. This settlement gave them another opportunity for them to live their life as normal. Although she had knowledge in her home place in her childhood, she got distracted due to her youthful days but later on brought back her passion and curiosity in the said culture. In her teen age, where she learned different things through her father who was a linguist himself, she later on developed her skills in that field. As a translator, she had given an opportunity to go back to her homeland where she worked with her mage as an American and highly different from the natives living there. She had the notion that she does not belong there because of she think that she is really an American. Later on, she discovered that her ancestors were Jews and not as Catholics, as she always believed. Because of that, she learned different things in life. The essence of being a Catholic and Jews, the definition of difference between religion, the culture and beliefs and how it affects ones perspective in looking at life, these factors taught her the essence of life and its mysteries, as it gives people the chance to understand it, and the people have all the prerogative which lessons they want to pick. Historical Background: Jews, as defined by most scholars, are people who associate themselves as having a trace of their ancestry to the ancient Hebrews or people who converted themselves on the religion of Jews, which is Judaism. Talking about it, Judaism is one of the oldest religion in the world, and also, the mother religion of the worldââ¬â¢s largest and most powerful religions, Islam and Christianity. It is a religion believed to be founded way back to history. Traditionally, one can be a Jew in two primary reasons. First, if her mother is a Jew and second, if he or she voluntarily converted him or herself to Judaism. If he or she satisfied any of the condition, he or she can freely call him or herself as a Jew. (Spector, 11-13) It is said that before, Jews are the people being said by the old scriptures and claims had been made that it is their contribution to the foundation of civilization. They are the first one who devised different rules that will govern not only their church but also their societies as well. In dealing with this, they had opened the opportunity to integrate the core values of their beliefs to the way of life of the people. By doing so, they had the utmost control to the flow of the society where people view them as sacred and too holy to be disregarded. In doing such, people had become connected with it at the same time, makes things possible for the religion to conquer their own beliefs and perceptions to their experiences. But, as the time passed by and many religions had made their way in being recognized by the people, and they become more and more established, Jews began to weaken its impact to the world. They became the minority group in almost all places where they fist began to explore and share their faith. And history had proven that some times, there are conflicts and bloody wars because of the Jews persistence to value their faith and their beliefs as their own heritage and the identity of their own cultural inclination. (Akiva & Gottlieb, 23-41) History marked the times when they are almost extinguished by people who want to eliminate their beliefs in the world. Some of these steps had ended the lives of millions of Jews all over the world. That is why, the number of Jews all over the world started to fall in number because of the many attempts to persecute them. Jews contribution to the human civilization is their rich culture and their beliefs in many aspects of life. They had developed certain guidelines that made them advanced compared to the other people living in the world. In having so, many people had misinterpreted their values in their beliefs making pre-judgment that affected their interactions with them. Many people had developed stereotypes and discriminated them in many ways that had affect their personal understanding to what is happening to his or her environment. This tragic interaction with the Jews and many other member of society became a social phenomenon, where the Jews are now living not only on their own standards but also, to the definition of the people watching their moves. Because of their drive to promote the teachings of their own beliefs and the way of life they want people to do so, they kept their traditional ways of life and adapt to their environment as the world is dynamically changing with regards to the modern things and elements that somehow interfere with their way of life. This is a condition where they had different outlook in life, as they give another meaning to the details of their actions and the peopleââ¬â¢s defined action to them. In looking this matter at a higher level of thinking, we can see that the social system which discriminated the people in their own personal environment spaces, had became a venue where they experience problems and conflicts, that should be a part of their pre-understanding of the world. (Barnavi, 18-21)
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