What's the Good of Plato's Republic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

What's the Good of Plato's Republic - Essay Example said to be parallel to ascent which is described in the cave parable implying that for all terms in epistemological promotion there exist corresponding different objects or object. Looking at the analogy of divided line, it is worth noting that forms are different from things which are perceptible. Also, accessing epistemic things is not related in any way to intelligent forms. The stages in the ascent of the cave are given as prisoners being chained, prisoners in the cave who are not chained, those who use sun’s light to view things which are perceptible and those who see the sun and understand the power of the sun. States of mind which are four in number are distinguished as for four unique stages using the ascent from the cave as3: The unchained prisoners who are not able to be up the steep which was considered to be steep saw artifacts and fire that casted shadows on walls4. Such prisoners are said to see more clearly and correctly since they were seeing what is closer to real or more real. However, before prisoners grew accustomed to what they saw, they are forced to think the shadows are true as compared with what they were then able to see. The prisoners, who managed to be in the cave via the rough steep wall, are said to be in day light and they are dazzled at the beginning. After the dazzling they saw shadows, reflections and perceptible things in that order5. Afterwards, they saw the sky, the moon and the stars. The prisoners who managed to be out of the cave are said to have seen the real sun or the sun as it is. After seeing the sun itself, they realized that the sun is responsible for the change of years and seasons. Such prisoners are said to have overseen everything in topos of visibility. This group of people is said to have seen all the visible; they have attained the final goal of visibility. The sun is responsible for the provision of light which is used in seeing things. This sun is viewed to be analogous to good6. The term good refers to

Consider how economics of law can provide helpful insights into Essay

Consider how economics of law can provide helpful insights into controlling an increase in crime rates - Essay Example According to Bodell & Kerton (1995) â€Å"The higher the cost of being detected, the lower is the expected profit† (Bodell & Kerton, 1995) This refers to the notion that offenders are always at risk, therefore they expect higher profit with greater rate of risk involved in committing crime. Thus they might use an accomplice to watch for police, buy more sophisticated equipment to break into cars more quickly, etc. On the other hand, some potential offenders find that the expected reward from crime is less than the expected cost. Similarly, if the opportunity which knocks at the door of offender which costs his devoted time to criminal activity, potential offenders are likely to reduce their criminal activity. The greater the opportunity, the higher would be the cost, thus we expect the supply of crime to decrease when good jobs in the legitimate sector are plentiful, and to increase when unemployment is high. In fact, several studies have confirmed this theory, by showing that crime rises and falls with the business cycle and the ups and downs of the economy. What about the â€Å"demand† side of the market? Potential victims can take costly actions such as installing burglar alarms, taking cabs instead of walking in high-crime areas, purchasing defensive firearms, and taking lessons in self-defence. All of these activities might affect the potential victim’s chances of being victimised. Although potential victims do not actually â€Å"demand† crime, they do demand-and devote considerable resources to trying to achieve-reductions in their chances of being victimised. This is the reason for why they â€Å"demand† less crime. However according to Kopcke et al (2004) â€Å"Workers react this way even if demand declines temporarily† (Kopcke et al, 2004) refers to the notion that even if the local authorities go on with penalties and punishments, that would not completely deter offenders.

Halal and Haram Issues in Food and Beverages Essay Example for Free

Halal and Haram Issues in Food and Beverages Essay Halal and Haram Issues in Food and Beverages In food industry, modern science and technology lead to creation of variety foods and beverages. The evolution comes together with booming of additives and ingredients to match with demands and perfections in food production. Different types of beverages as well as variety of foods offered in the market often confuse the consumers especially Muslims and most of them are unaware of what they have consumed. Generally Halal means clean and healthy food which has also being proven scientifically. In Islam, the consumption of Halal food and beverage and using Halal consumer products are obligatory in serving Allah, the Creator and the Almighty. Therefore, Muslims communities are very mindful of food ingredients, handling process and packaging of food products. The foods and beverages are only Halal if the raw materials and ingredients used are Halal and it is fully compatible to the Islamic guidelines. Nowadays, â€Å"Halal† oriented foods and beverages get food industry attention in all over the country as is expected to become a significant contributor to economic growth. It must be understood that the production of Halal food and beverage are not only beneficial to Muslims, but also to food producers, by means of increased market acceptance of their products. In food production, sugars are widely used as it could make the food and beverage taste sweet and delicious. There are many types of sugars such as glucose, fructose, lactose and maltose. A problem occurs as those sugars might transform to an alcohol named ethanol (or ethyl alcohol) by natural fermentation process which is not performed by enzymes. According to scientific review, both natural and manufactured products contain small amount of alcohol; for example, fruits, juices, vegetables, breads, cheeses, beef, and honey. Those food and beverage usually contain not more than 0. 5% of alcohol. Therefore, anything containing sugar is fermentable into alcohol. Other manufactured products such as Coca Cola, Pepsi, and Mirinda contain alcohol at percentage range of 0. 2% 0. 3% as Beta Carotene (the colouring used) is melted by using the alcohol method. In addition, according to Eastern Standard Time on July 8, 1999 (4:00 pm); â€Å"The oils that they use to make Pepsi have minute trace of alcohol which combined make up a percentage of alcohol. † The problem of alcohol that might contain in food or beverage has been debated by Mujamma’ Al-Fiqhi Al-Islami as certain types of alcohol are beneficial in food production. According to the Islam guidelines, Muslims are allow consuming ethanol as it is not harmful but only can be taken at small amount which is not more than the specified percentage.

Factors That Restrict Success Within Youth Sport

Factors That Restrict Success Within Youth Sport Part 1 With reference to the theory undertaken in this module, evaluate the key factors that restrict success within youth sport. Theory that has already been undertaken in this module includes details of the factors that restrict success in Youth Sport. Factors that have been researched prior to this piece of work are Participation Rates, Support Structures, Maturation Rates, Talent Identification and School Sport Competition. Follows, will be a detailed report underpinning three of these factors and it will stress why they each restrict success in Youth Sport. Youth is another common title for a young person or young people (Konopka, G., 1973). People have different views on how they would define sport, people suggest that sport is an activity governed by rules or customs and often engaged competitively whilst others suggest differently. Sporting people have different attitudes when it comes to playing sport. Sportsmanship is an attitude that strives for fair play, courtesy toward teammates and opponents, ethical behaviour and integrity, and grace in victory or defeat (Fish and Magee 2003). Sports are most of ten played just for fun or for the simple fact that people need exercise to stay in good physical condition. Although they do not always succeed, sports participants are expected to display good sportsmanship, standards of conduct such as being respectful of opponents and officials. The three factors that will be that will be detailed are Relative Age Effects, Talent Identification and Significant Others. These seem to be the most contrasting factors that restrict success therefore there will be outcome of an understanding from different views and aspects of the sporting world for youths. Depending on the dates of a childs birth, they will be in either one season or the other to determine what school year they will be entering. For sports players, physical appearance is an agenda when it comes to selecting players off an appearance basis and measuring biological maturity is a way of finding best players; (Vaegans et al 2005). Youths that are involved in sport must be adequately prepared for a life in sport Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) provides a model that they can work from. Phase 1 FUNdamentals (FUN) Objective TO LEARN FUNDAMENTAL MOVEMENT SKILLS Content Overall development, focusing on the ABCs (Agility, Balance, Coordination, Speed) to underpin the generic skills used in many sports: Running, jumping and throwing. Frequency Perform physical activity 5-6 times per week. Phase2 Learning to Train (L2T) Objective TO LEARN FUNDAMENTALS SPORTS SKILLS Content Concentration on the range of FUNdamental sports skills, such as throwing, catching, jumping and running. Introduction to readiness: being mentally and physically prepared. Basic FUNdamental tactics, e.g. if fielding, net/wall, invasion games can be introduced. Cognitive and emotional developments are central Skills are practised in challenging formats Frequency As above. If there is a favoured sport, it is suggested that at least 50% of the time is allocated to other sports/activities that develop a range of skills. Phase3 Training to Train (T2T) Objective TO BUILD FITNESS SPECIFIC SPORTS SKILLS Content This phase ideally occurs post-puberty and attention switches to: Fitness Training Detailed mental preparation A focus on sport-specific skill development, including perceptual skills (reading the game/tactical understanding). Decision making Detailed and extensive evaluation Frequency For the aspiring performer, sport specific practice will now be 6-9 times per week. Phase 4 Training to Compete (T2C) Objective TO REFINE SKILLS FOR A SPECIFIC EVENT OR POSITION Content Event and position specific training Physical conditioning Technical and tactical preparation Advanced mental practice All of the above come together and are developed under competition conditions. Frequency Training could be up to 12 timesper week. Phase5 Training to Win (T2W) Objective TO MAXIMISE PERFORMANCE IN COMPETITION Content Development and refinement of the aspects above, but with more use in competition modelling and more attention to rest periods and prevention of injury due to heavier load. Frequency Training could be up to 15 times per week Phase6 Retainment For athletes/players retiring from competitive sport, many sports are developing Masters Programmes. An additional phase retainment- keeps the players/athletes involved in physical activity. Experiences gained as competitors can be invaluable, should they move into administration, coaching or officiating. A move to another sport, perhaps at a more recreational level, may better suit some. There are consequences that the sports person could be faced with as well as the advantages and disadvantages. According to research it has been found that approximately 70% of successful hockey and football players had a relative age advantage because they were born in the first-half of the defined age-group for their respective sports. By comparison, only 30% of these top-level players were born in the last 6 months of the respective â€Å"sport year†. One consequence that has been found is an increased drop-out rate for those youthful hockey players that had been disadvantaged by age in the past (Barnsley Thompson 1988), suggesting that given the choice, younger children will seek to leave or avoid an activity in which their competitive position is hampered by their relative age. Interestingly and predictably, the relative age effect has also been found in other competitive sports such as baseball (Thompson et al 1991). Steven Gerrard was affected as a youth when it came to playing football and furthering his career. Follows is a prime example of how he overcome his relative age effect. Steven Gerrard, one of Englands most talented footballers, was born in May 1980 and was also a late developer. He describes in his autobiography his huge disappointment at not getting into the FA school at Lilleshall and subsequently not playing for England under-16s. Michael Owen, born some six months earlier in December and more physically developed made both squads easily. Steve Gerrard wrote in his autobiography: â€Å"The one nagging doubt in the back of my mind was that my rivals were bigger: I was really small and facing some tall, strong units in my position. â€Å" Steven resented his rejection but had coaches and mentors at Liverpool who knew he needed more time. Significant others can be described as the people who are around the sports performer. There are 4 sectors; Technical, Peers, Family and Supporters. These are also the key interpersonal support factors that affect a young persons participation and progress in sport. The technical others are the people who see the person as a sports performer. They could be their coach, teacher, club official, sport sciencetist or medical health sciencetist. Peers are made up of people such as friends, classmates and team mates. Family is made up of parents, grandparents and siblings. Finally, supporters are people such as fans and neighbours. All 4 sectors have some form of impact on the sports player whether it is a big one or a small one. Parents are major part for the youths life. It is the parent that has brought the child up and it is their duty, by nature, to mould the child into a young promising adolescent. Parents have empathy for their children, perceived sharing their childrens on court em otions. They are perceived to possess knowledge and expertise of the sport so they feel entitled to comment. They also have a continuum of reactions throughout their childs sport, good and bad. In-game negative comments are usually about 10%. (Holt et al 2008). Significant others can have a negative impact on the sports performer. These effects could include dropping out of sport all together. This could be caused by pressuring parents, lack of peers during adolescence and sibling rivalries. The parents could be either really demanding of the child and either expect too much of them in their sport or could be too strict towards them. Eccles and Harold (1991) proposed the parents expectations influence the child decision to engage in sport and activities including the intensity of effort expended and their childs actual performance level. Next is an extract which is a study examining parental influence on childrens participation in sport, giving an idea why the parents could restrict success in Youth Sport. X. Yang et al (1997) states ‘The purpose of this study was to examine parental influences on childrens participation in sport and their later physical activity. The population for the study consisted of a random sample of 1881 9- to 15-year-old boys and girls who were exposed to the extensive research program called Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns in 1980. They and their parents have been followed up for twelve years at three-year intervals by means of a short questionnaire concerning physical activity and other factors. The results indicated that the fathers physical activity in 1980 was related to their childrens habitual physical activity in the same year, and gave in boys and girls a significant prediction of PAI values twelve years later when the starting point was the age of 9, and also among boys from 15 years of age to 27. During the three years follow-up period, the extent of participation in sport was higher in families with active parents than in families with pas sive parents and single parents. The relationship of physical activity and sports participation with fathers socioeconomic status and education was not strong as with fathers physical activity. Talent Identification is a where a talent is found in a person. In this case it is when a talent is found in a Youth. There are different processes in which talent identification can be used in order to find potential sports persons. Scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scouts organization. Many scouts are former coaches or retired players, while others have made a career just of being scouts. Skilled scouts who help to determine which players will fit in well with an organization can be the major difference between success and failure for the team with regard to wins and losses. Talent can not only be identified by an official spectator, it can be identified by standard spectators e.g. team mates, coach, teachers. It can also be identified by parents and grandparents. If the non-official spectators were to recog nise a talent within a Youth playing Sport then they could hold the boost that the player needs in order to further themselves in their chosen sport. If the non-official spectator fails to let on to the sports person then it could restrict them from being successful in sport. UK Sport holds a number of talent identification programmes for youths and generally people aged 17-25. These are ‘Pitch 2 Podium, ‘Sporting Giants and ‘Girls4Gold. UK Sport (2008) and the English Institute of Sport (EIS)began asearch for highly competitive sportswomen with the potential to become Olympic champions in cycling and other targeted Olympic sports (bob skeleton, canoeing, modern pentathlon, rowing and sailing). Girls4Gold is the single most extensive female sporting talent recruitment drive ever undertaken in Great Britain. Girls4Gold can only take a number of people onto their programme, same with any other programme. Following the tremendous success of Team GB at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the Girls4Gold team received over 1300 applications and cant take on anymore applicants until the next opening. This could be a restriction in itself because this programme could be missing out on extreme sports people including male participants. This is only available for females and therefore could hold a feature which a sporting male might need for success but doesnt have on offer anywhere else on their sporting grounds. After summarising the three factors discussed in this essay, it is clear that they all hold possible restrictions for success in Youth Sport. Relative age effects take a greater approach to the physical side of the sports people body, as the older the sports person is, the more mature and developed their body is and the younger the person is the less developed they are. This could be a restriction when it comes to team games more than it could be a restriction to playing sport individually. This means that the player could have more chances of becoming successful in an individual sport rather than a team sport. The restriction depends on what the players sport is and which ‘school year the player is born into. Significant others can be a restriction in itself depending on who the ‘significant others are around the sports player. Provided that there are the right people, technically as well as emotional and mentally, the then player could be stable and could be successful. However, if those people arent in place to give the young sports person the interpersonal support they need then they could be self reluctant to take up opportunities in order to be successful. Talent identification is the main key to success in sport. If the payer is not recognised then the player is not faced with the opportunity to make their sport official or even turn it into a career for themselves. With this it could be argued that the sports person should not take chances and wait to be noticed and that they should help themselves be acknowledged by talent identifier. This is when they could apply for programmes such as ‘Girls4Gold. This is when it could be ‘make or break for the sports player, as sometimes they are not always faced with people on the search for talent.

Crime and Punishment - My name is Raskolnikov :: Dostoevsky Crime and Punishment

Crime and Punishment - My name is Raskolnikov  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is obvious that Raskolnikov did not kill Alyona. Nikolai did. He confessed, didn't he? Sure, sure, I know what you're saying: Raskolnikov confessed too. But it is obvious that his confession was not a true confession. Raskolnikov had seen Nikolai's true confession, and was so moved that he decided he'd like to try confessing too. And one must not overlook the Christ symbolism in the novel. Raskolnikov is the obvious Christ-figure; he's poor, he's generous, he's schizophrenic. It all adds up. Raskolnikov is Christ's second incarnation but nobody realizes it's Him. Kind of sad. One should not overlook Raskolnikov's superior man theory. Nikolai, on the other hand, is the scum of the earth. He's a minor character, and minor characters always commit murders in books. What else do they have to do? One should not only look at the psychology of the characters in the novel, but of the author as well. Dostoevsky wouldn't write a story about some vile murderer. No. Dostoevsky was a good Chri stian writer. C&P is a handbook for becoming a Christian, not some murder psychology thriller. Raskolnikov gives lots of reasons for the murder, and it is obvious from the sheer number of reasons that he gives that Raskolnikov is innocent. He can't even make up a realistic motive! No one is fooled. I sure wasn't. Raskolnikov is surely a messed up character. He is upset because he can't get any work, so he decides to plead guilty to a murder he knows nothing about just so he can get some hard labor in Siberia. Oh, sure, he want back to the apartment and questioned where the body was. Sure he could relate the entire murder in realistic detail. These are merely coincidences, just like his meeting with Marmeladov. C&P was often criticized for its overuse of coincidence. Perhaps the most confusing scene in that it leads many unwary readers astray is the actual description of the murder itself. This of course was just a dream. Dostoevsky was very fond of dream symbolism and used it often in C&P.    So it is now obvious, I am sure, that Raskolnikov did not kill Alyona, and that Nikolai did. But why did Nikolai kill Alyona? Well, Nikolai was an early existentialist. He just killed her for the thrill of it. Better than going to the movies.

Flood Stories of the Epic of Gilgamesh and Book of Genesis of the Christian Bible :: Epic Gilgamesh essays

The Flood Stories of Gilgamesh and the Bible The amazing stories of the great flood that are described in The Epic of Gilgamesh which is translated by N.K. Sandars and â€Å"The Story of the Flood† which is the King James version, both stories similarly. Many of the events of each story are very similar in ways and very different in some of them. From reading both stories I concluded that there was a huge flood that took place in that area of the world. Even though the way both stories describe the flood; The Epic of Gilgamesh is more imaginable. I say that because it is more realistic to have rain for six days, six nights than for forty days, forty nights. Both flood stories have a major similarity and difference though. Both stories described the same flood but they did it in different ways. One difference that backs it up is in The Epic of Gilgamesh the rains that cause the floods only last six days, six nights and in â€Å"The Flood Story in Genesis† the rains last forty days, forty nights. A quote that tells about the flood is when Utnapishtim said, â€Å"For six days and six nights the wind blew, torrent and tempest and flood overwhelmed the world, tempest and flood raged together like warring hosts (pg. 25).† This quote by Utnapishtim describes how bad the weather, rains, and wind were during the six days and six nights of the storm. On the other hand in â€Å"The Story of the Flood† it rained for forty days, forty nights. While God was talking to Noah he said, â€Å"For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth (pg. 48 line 4).† This quote describes how long God will have the rain go for. It also says th at he is doing it to destroy all of mankind. After reading the two stories I concluded that forty days and forty nights was too long for it to rain without stopping; that is why the flood in Gilgamesh is more realistic. The length of the rains in the flood story in The Epic of Gilgamesh is easier for someone to believe than the length of the rains in Genesis. Even though the stories were different there was many similarities in the stories.

Consumer Behaviour in the Unisex Shoe Store Category :: Marketing, argumentative, persuasive

This report analyzes the role personal, social, and situational factors in consumer behaviour in the unisex shoe store category. Observations were made at three different shoe retailers including Town Shoes, Payless Shoe Source, and The Shoe Company. These three stores offer very diverse retail environments targeted towards different demographics of people. This report also found that the retail setting, such as music, light, and organization, had an effect on the actions of the consumers in the store. The time of day also had an effect on consumer’s purchasing behaviour. Environmental analysis Town Shoes: The store had bright lights and loud pop culture music without lyrics which attracted a younger demographic of customers. There were â€Å"Buy one get one half off† signs displayed all around the store, which encourages consumers to buy more than one pair of shoes. The shoes are displayed without any form of organization; brand name shoes are mixed in with non-brand low quality ones, all stocked in piles on the floor. There are no specific try-on areas for shoppers to try on their shoes and the sales people were mostly unavailable to answer questions because of the high turnover rate of customers entering and exiting the store. The sale racks that post 50% have mixed shoes of different color, style, and size. Most of the shoes are for the current season (i.e. sandals, pumps) and the majorities are female sandals and heels. Payless: The sale discount signs and cheap price of shoes is the big attention grabber for this store. The medium lighting with soft background music provides consumers a relaxing environment to shop. The shoes are displayed in a warehouse style according to size and gender and accessories. There are also medium quality bags and accessories located near the cashier that satisfies consumer’s desire to take part in the summer fashion. The store layout implies that there is no other inventory since all the shoes are out on display. Most of the shoes only targets the current season. There are limited numbers of try-on areas at the end of the aisles near the back of the store, encouraging shoppers to test out shoes. The employees do not seem to approach customers to help them, but are available for questions. The Shoe Company: The recognizable designer shoes are on the display to attract consumers who seek for quality shoes or the desire to identify themselves as having a higher social status.

Directed Variation by Jean Baptiste Lamarck

By comparing current species with fossil forms, Lamarck could see what appeared to be several lines of descent, each chronological series of older to younger fossils leading to modern species. On the ground floor were microscopic organisms, which Lamarck believed were continually generated spontaneously from inanimate material. At the top of evolutionary escalators were the most complex forms (plants and animals).Evolution was driven by innate tendency toward greater and greater complexity, which Lamarck seemed to equate with perfection. As organisms attained perfection, they became better and better adapted to their environments. Thus Lamarck believed that evolution responded to organisms’ sentiments interieurs, or â€Å"felt needs. †(Lamarck 1803). Lamarck is remembered most for the mechanism he proposed to explain how specific adaptations evolve. It entailed two principles.First is the use and disuse, the idea that those organs of the body used more frequently and ex tensively to cope with the environment become larger and stronger, while those organs that are not used deteriorate. Among the examples that Lamarck cited were the blacksmith developing a bigger bicep in the arm that works the hammer and a giraffe stretching its neck to new lengths in pursuit of leaves to eat (Lamarck 1803). Lamarck’s second principle of adaptation is the inheritance of acquired characteristics.Lamarck believed that the modifications an organism acquires during its lifetime can be passed along to its offspring. The long neck of the giraffe, Lamarck reasoned, evolved gradually as a cumulative product of a great many generations of ancestors stretching higher and higher. There’s however no evidence that acquired characteristics can be inherited. Blacksmith may increase strength and stamina by a life time of pounding with a heavy hammer, but these acquired traits do not change genes transmitted by gametes to offspring (Lamarck 1803).The Lamarckian theory of variation is ridiculed by some today because of its erroneous assumption that acquired characteristics are inherited; but in Lamarck’s era, the concept of inheritance was generally accepted. T o most of Lamarck’s contemporaries, however, the mechanism of evolution was an irrelevant issue. In the creationist- essentialist view that still prevailed, species were fixed and no theory of evolution could be taken seriously. Lamarck was vilified especially by Cuvier, who would have no part of evolution.In retrospect Lamarck deserves credit for his unorthodox theory which was quite visionary in many respects: in its claim evolution is the best explanation for both the fossil record and current diversity of life; in its emphasis on the great age of the earth; and its stress on adaptation to the environment as a primary product of evolution, (Lamarck 1803). Conclusion The major aspects of the Lamarkianism are founded on the fact that environment contributes much to the develo pment of new traits in population.Ignoring the basic principles of biology that acquired traits are never transmitted to the next generation, these biologists believe in the contrary and that eventually these acquired traits form part of the genome (Lamarck 1803). I have written on Lamarck because his evolutionary argument one of the toughest criticism. Therefore, reading on Lamarck can only help one revisit the biological knowledge on evolution with respect to the general knowledge in biology. In short, it was quite interesting reading about Lamarck.

Essay on dickin’s journey to niagra Essay

Dickens felt transported by the sublimity of Niagara Falls when he visited it on his 1842 journey to the United States and Canada. In a letter to Forster (26 April 1842), he said of Horseshoe Falls (the Canadian side of Niagara) that â€Å"It would be hard for a man to stand nearer God than he does there† (Letters 3: 210). Dickens proceeds to effuse over the beauty and majesty of the falls in a passage that forms the chief part of his description of his experience in American Notes, although the letter actually offers the superior account: There was a bright rainbow at my feet; and from that I looked up to –great Heaven! To what a fall of bright green water! The broad, deep, mighty stream seems to die in the act of falling; and, from its unfathomable grave arises that tremendous ghost of spray and mist which is never laid, and has been haunting this place with the same dread solemnity–perhaps from the creation of the world (Letters 3: 210-11). In this essay, I analyze Dickens’s reaction to Niagara Falls in the context of other British travel narratives from the previous decade, and examine how Niagara speaks to Dickens of life after death (as he describes it above, the falls die and then rise again in ghostly mist). His profound experience at Niagara Falls shaped his treatment of climactic, transcendent moments in subsequent novels; in particular, from this point on Dickens repeatedly uses water imagery (especially seas, swamps and rivers) as symbols of death, rebirth, transformation and of being disturbed with â€Å"the joy of elevated thoughts,† to use Wordsworth’s phrase in â€Å"Tintern Abbey.† But Dickens’s reaction was more than just a typical Romantic experience, similar to those of other nineteenth-century British travelers; it was in part shaped by his overall disappointment in America and his relief to be on English ground again. Niagara Falls fulfills several definitions of the sublime. Philosophers since Longinus have used the term â€Å"sublime† to refer to experiences that go beyond the everyday, that inspire awe, that involve a sense of grandeur, that elevate one’s thoughts and feelings and that exceed the capacity of human descriptive powers. Longinus, of course, used the term in reference to rhetoric, but later philosophers found many of the same qualities in sublime scenes of nature. Edmund Burke in his Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful (1757) emphasized the role of terror in the sublime, for only the presence of fear, he felt, could account for the complete overwhelming of all other thoughts and sensations in experiencing sublime scenes in nature. Alexander Gerard in â€Å"An Essay on Taste† (1759) stressed the importance of physical immensity in the experience of the sublime: â€Å"When a large object is presented, the mind expands itself to the extent of that object, and is filled with one grand sensation, which totally possessing it, composes it into a solemn sedateness and strikes it with deep silent wonder and admiration† (11). Similarly, the Romantics, and particularly Wordsworth, felt that natural scenes that impress the viewer with their immensity and particularly their power, such as mountains or waterfalls, create sublime sensations that feed the soul and the poetic imagination both at the moment and in the future by the aid of imagination and memory. Niagara Falls embodies all the qualities traditionally associated with the sublime–its immensity, power, and beauty overawe viewers, reminding them, particularly in nineteenth-century accounts, of the presence of other awe-inspiring forces such as death and God. Niagara Falls, oddly enough, fits even the scientific definition of sublime, which is â€Å"to cause to pass from solid to the vapor state by heating and againcondense to solid form.† Not by heating but by motion and pressure the falls turn water into vapor, the ever present mist that surrounds them, and the vapor eventually returns again to the falls, a cycle that led Dickens to use death/resurrection imagery in the description quoted above (i.e. â€Å"The broad, deep, mighty stream seems to die in the act of falling; and, from its unfathomable grave arises that tremendous ghost of spray and mist which is never laid†). It is the never-ending presence of great volumes of spray that leads to the ever-present rainbows in descriptions and paintings of the falls, such as Frederic Church’s famous 1857 painting, â€Å"Niagara.† The rainbows naturally heighten the spiritual effect of the falls as they are the perfect image of a bridge between earth and heaven and are the symbol of God’s covenant with man in the flood story in Genesis. They are also a striking conjunction of energy (light) and matter (water particles) and as  such are a powerful metaphor for the presence of the divine on earth. It is the rainbows that seem to move Dickens the most on his second visit to Niagara in 1868, a quarter of a century after his first visit, a trip he took purely for pleasure. As he wrote to Forster on March 16, 1868: The majestic valley below the Falls, so seen through the vast cloud of spray, was made of rainbow. The high banks, the riven rocks, the forests, the bridge, the buildings, the air, the sky, were all made of rainbow. Nothing in Turner’s finest water-colour drawings, done in his greatest day, is so ethereal, so imaginative, so gorgeous in colour, as what I then beheld. I seemed to be lifted from the earth and to be looking into Heaven. What I once said to you, as I witnessed the scene five and twenty years ago, all came back at this most affecting and sublime sight (Letters 12: 75). Dickens was certainly not the only English tourist to be awed by Niagara Falls. In fact, his visit there, and even his mystical effusions about it, could be considered customary and necessary elements of any narrative of travels through America and Canada. As Amanda Claybaugh states in The Novel of Purpose: Literature and Social Reform in the Anglo-American World, â€Å"the conventional itinerary included the †¦ [main] natural sites (the Mississippi River, the prairies of the West, and above all else, Niagara Falls)† (71-2). In Domestic Manners of the Americans (1832), Frances Trollope refers to all the chief elements of the sublime in her description of Niagara Falls, repeatedly expressing that they defy description and that in viewing them â€Å"wonder, terror, and delight† overwhelmed her (337). â€Å"I wept with a strange mixture of pleasure and of pain,† she writes, â€Å"and certainly was, for some time, too violently affected†¦. to be capable of much pleasure; but when this emotion of the senses subsided †¦ my enjoyment was very great indeed.† She notes the mystical effect of the falls as well: â€Å"It has to me something beyond its vastness,† over which â€Å"a shadowy mystery hangs,† which â€Å"neither the eye nor even the imagination can penetrate† (337). Harriet Martineau visited the falls in 1834 and, like Trollope and Dickens, associated them with the mystical: â€Å"to offer an idea of Niagara by writing of hues and dimensions is much like representing the kingdom of  Heaven by images of jasper and topazes† (96). On her second visit to the falls months later, Martineau descended the stairs behind the falls and wrote: From the moment that I perceived that we were actually behind the cataract, and not in a mere cloud of spray, the enjoyment was intense. I not only saw the watery curtain before me like tempest-driven snow, but by momentary glances could see the crystal roof of this most wonderful of Nature’s palaces (104). Perhaps the oddest narrative of a British visit to Niagara Falls comes from Captain Frederick Marryat, who wrote about his 1837 trip to the falls in his Diary in America, published in 1839: As I stood on the brink above the falls, continuing for a considerable time to watch the great mass of water tumbling, dancing, capering, and rushing wildly along †¦ I could not help wishing that I too had been made of such stuff as would have enabled me to have joined it; with it to have rushed innocuously down the precipice; to have rolled uninjured into the deep unfathomable gulf below (111). The longer he stood there the more the urge to jump into the falls rose in him until he had to pull himself away, an experience that testifies to the terror that Burke argued was inherent in the sublime, a terror that Trollope experienced but Dickens denied feeling in viewing the falls. As it turns out, Marryat might have done himself a favor to jump, for as Jules Zanger, the editor of his diary, asserts, â€Å"of all the literary lions who have made their progress through †¦ America †¦ the most tactless and blundering was Captain Frederick Marryat.† Zanger points out that Marryat began his journey as an â€Å"honored guest,† but before he concluded his trip, â€Å"he had been threatened by a lynch mob, had watched his books burned in public bonfires, and †¦ had seen himself hung in effigy [twice] by angry crowds† (9). He had a habit, it seems, of regularly saying the wrong thing, a habit that at times carries over into his travel narrative, as in a bizarre passage where he wishes he could transport Niagara Falls to Italy and pour them down Mount Vesuvius and thereby â€Å"create the largest steamboiler that ever entered into the imagination of man† (111). Later, Marryat counters the oddness of this image with the more conventional statement that the voice of Niagara was the  voice of the Almighty, and that a Presbyterian minister he heard nearby should have preached on its message instead of on the uninspiring and hackneyed subject of temperance (112). These were the American journeys and narratives most in the British public eye when Dickens embarked on his trip to North America. In this context, his ecstatic description of the falls may seem rather ordinary. Romanticism was still the dominant cultural influence at the time, so one was expected to have Romantic effusions about iconic Romantic scenes. (1) But while the journey to the falls may have become customary, and the experiences of the sublime similar in most narratives, yet the effect was still profound for Dickens, as one can see particularly in the letters where he goes beyond the vague, mystical language often associated with the sublime and makes specific personal connections with the falls. As I have pointed out above, the falls made Dickens think almost immediately of the cycle of death and resurrection with the falls descending into the abyss and rising again in spray. But even more specifically they reminded him of his beloved sister-in-law Mary who had died suddenly seven years earlier. As he wrote to Forster from Niagara, â€Å"what would I give if the dear girl whose ashes lie in Kensal-green, had lived to come so far along with us.† But then he takes back the wish because he decides that she must have â€Å"been here many times, I doubt not, since her sweet face faded from my earthly sight† (Letters 3: 211). His associating the falls with Mary’s death and her continuing spiritual presence on earth allows Dickens to make the falls his own, at least in part. They become linked to a personal family tragedy and offer a consolation for her loss. But Dickens makes another personal connection with the falls. In letters written from Niagara, he repeatedly adds to the date the phrase â€Å"Niagara Falls (Upon the English Side)† with â€Å"English† underscored with as many as ten dashes. He only does this in letters to his English friends, of course–including Forster, Mitton and Beard, as if to express a sense of relief. After Dickens’s well-known disappointments with Americans–his exasperation with their greed, their spitting, their lack of respect for privacy and copyright laws, not to mention their slavery–topics covered  fully in American Notes and in letters–being among English on English turf must have been a welcome experience. Writing to Forster on 26 April 1842, Dickens mentions that there were two English officers with them as they first approached the falls, and he exclaims â€Å"ah! What gentlemen, what noblemen of nature they seemed,† implying that he had not seen much of their kind in the States (Letters 3: 210). In emphasizing the English side of the falls, Dickens once again seems to imagine a personal connection to something that transcends the personal. He tries to come to terms with the sublimity of the falls, reduce them at least in part to his level, make them part of himself, part of his family story, part of his Englishness. In this way he can own his experience of the falls, anchor it mentally and emotionally and then use it later in his fiction, as he indeed does. His account of the falls in American Notes lacks some of the interest of his descriptions in letters precisely because he leaves out the personal connections he makes in correspondence, no doubt deeming them inappropriate for the public narrative. Having made these personal associations between the falls and the death and spiritual presence of Mary and between the sublime and the English, it is not surprising, then, that Dickens would work the falls and other powerful images of water into his portrayals of death, transformations, and transcendent moments in his subsequent novels. In order to gauge the change we must first look at the imagery Dickens used for such moments in his earlier novels. In the novels Dickens published before visiting Niagara in 1842, he frequently gestured toward transcendence in death scenes and in concluding chapters, but the imagery he used tends to center on sunny little communities, flowers and other greenery, angels, and churches. Consider Mr. Pickwick’s cheery rural community at the end of his tale–not transcendent, perhaps, but in the bond between Pickwick and Sam which â€Å"nothing but death will sever† certainly leaning to the legendary (ch. 57). Or consider the â€Å"gentle light† that Rose Maylie sheds as she stands with Oliver by Agnes’s tomb in Oliver Twist (both characters are suffused with light in Cruikshank’s last illustration). Nicholas Nickleby ends with a summery community of Nicklebys and friends with their children strewing flowers on Smike’s grave–Phiz nicely captures the feeling of summer and sunshine in  his final illustration (Figure 1). As Dickens describes the scene: The grass was green above the dead boy’s grave, and trodden by feet so small and light, that not a daisy drooped its head beneath their pressure. Through all the spring and summer-time, garlands of fresh flowers wreathed by infant hands rested upon the stone, and when the children came to change them lest they should wither and be pleasant to him no longer, their eyes filled with tears, and they spoke low and softly of their poor dead cousin† (ch. 64). Barr, Alan P. â€Å"Mourning Becomes David: Loss and the Victorian Restoration of Young Copperfield.† Dickens Quarterly 24 (June 2007): 63-77. Berard, Jane. Dickens and Landscape Discourse. New York: Peter Lang, 2007. Claybaugh, Amanda. The Novel of Purpose: Literature and Social Reform in the Anglo-American World. Ithaca: Cornell UP, 2007. Dickens, Charles. The Pilgrim Edition of the Letters of Charles Dickens. Vols. 3, 12. Ed. Madeline House, et al. Oxford: Clarendon, 1974-2002. Gerard, Alexander. â€Å"An Essay on Taste.† Intro. Walter J. Hipple. 3rd ed. 1780. Gainesville: U of Florida P, 1963. Marryat, Captain Frederck. Diary in America. Ed. by Jules Zanger. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1960. Martineau, Harriet. Retrospect of Western Travel. Vol. 1. 1838. New York: Johnson, 1968. Metz, Nancy Aycock. The Companion to Martin Chuzzlewit. Robertsbridge: Helm Information, 2001. Page, Norman. Ed. and Intro. The Old Curiosity Shop. NY: Penguin, 2000. Poole, Adrian. Ed. and Intro. Our Mutual Friend. NY: Penguin, 1997. Slater, Michael. Ed. Dickens’ Journalism. Dent Uniform Edition. Vol. 2. London: J. M. Dent, 1997. Trollope, Frances. Domestic Manners of the Americans. London: Routledge, 1927. NATALIE MCKNIGHT (Boston University) NOTES (1) Jane Berard sees Dickens’s description of the falls simply as customary, but pays scant attention to his descriptions in letters (51). (2) Recent examples include Michelle Allen’s Cleansing the City: Sanitary Geographies in Victorian London, Athens, OH: U of Ohio P, 2007; Leon Litvack’s â€Å"Images of the River in Our Mutual Friend,† Dickens Quarterly 20.1 (2003): 34-55; and Pamela Gilbert’s â€Å"Medical Mapping: The Thames, the Body, and Our Mutual Friend,† in Filth, Dirt, Disgust and Modern Life, ed. by William A. Cohen and Ryan Johnson, Minneapolis: U of Minnesota P, 2005, 78-102. (3) â€Å"Transmutation of Species,† AYR (9 March 1861), 519-21. Dickens was aware of other theories related to evolution as well, and refers to â€Å"the Monboddo doctrine †¦ of the human race having once been monkeys† in the first chapter of Martin Chuzzlewit (Metz 37-9) and to Robert Chambers’s Vestiges (1844) in a review of Robert Hunt’s Poetry of Science published in The Examiner in 1848 (Slater 2: 129-34). In addition, Household Words included F. T. Buckland’s â€Å"Old Bones,† (24 Sept. 1853) and Henry Morley’s â€Å"Our Phantom Ship on an Antediluvian Cruise† (16 Aug. 1851). See also Natalie McKnight, â€Å"Dickens and Darwin: A Rhetoric of Pets,† The Dickensian 102 (2006), 131-43. COPYRIGHT 2009 Dickens Society of America No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder. Copyright 2009 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Please bookmark with social media, your votes are noticed and appreciated:

Meaning of Life and Success Essay

The United States has no more important foreign relation ship than that of which it enjoys with Mexico, and vice versa. These two countries share interwoven societies and economies. Although there have been disagreements and turbulence between the two countries, which partnership is without these? The Strength of each country’s democracy is fundamental to the other’s. This relationship that the two countries share directly affects that lives of millions of Mexican and United States citizens everyday. Recently these two countries have become even more unified than ever before. Tackling issues such as Border Control, Countering Narcotics, Dealing with multiple Law enforcement agencies, Human Rights laws, trade and development, etc. There are many issues that they are mutually interested in and must deal with. Yet, there are some vast differences in which these two countries are run. There are also many similarities, which we must take into account. Both Democratic Governments have similar structures, containing a legislative, judicial, and executive branch. Yet, these structures are very different internally, containing specific duties that the other country’s branch may not have. The Executive Branch refers to the Presidential seat in both governments. The Presidency is a paramount institution, not only of the Mexican Government but of the US Government as well. The Countries entire political system is positioned around the presidency. In the United States the President also serves as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. The President appoints the cabinet and oversees the various agencies and departments of the Federal Government. The Executive Branch is checked by Congress which would be the Legislative Branch. In order for someone to become President, he or she must be a natural -born citizen of the United States. He or she must be at least 35 years of age and must have resided in the US for at least fourteen years. Once elected, the President must serve a term of four years, and may be re-elected only once. Now, the Executive Branch of the Mexican government is very similar to that of its neighbors, but there are some pivotal differences in the institution. Presidents are elected by a majority of registered voters in the thirty-one states and the Federal District. The President holds the formal titles of chief of state, head of government, and commander in chief of armed forces. The candidates must also be at least thirty-five years of age by election day. And they must not only be Mexican citizens by birth but must also be the offspring of Mexican Citizens by birth. Unlike the US, the candidate cannot have held cabinet post or a governorship, nor have been on active military duty during the six months prior to the election. Critics have labeled the presidency the â€Å"six year monarchy† due to the length of the term being six years, and because of the seemingly unchecked power that has resided in the office. Much of the presidential power is derived from the presidents direct and unchallenged control over both the state and the ruling party, the PRI. One of the Unique features of the Mexican Presidency that has caused a great uproar since the 1930’s is the process of presidential succession. Mexicos PRI presidents have enjoyed the right to personally name their successor. This privilege is known as the dedazo, which means the Tap. Also, one huge difference in the executive branch between the two governments is the issue of Vice Presidency. Mexico simply has no Vice President. Further reinforcing the presidents unchallenged power. Meanwhile the United States does have a Vice Presidential position . A position that is voted on in the same campaign as the President. They are looked at as more of a team, a two for the price of one deal. Legislative powers consist of the congress, which is divided into two chambers, the senate and the House of Representatives. Each member of the congress is elected by the people of his or her state. The Senate holds 100 seats, two seats per state. The House of Representatives seats are based on the poplation of each state, holding about 435 seats. The difference between these two is that a representatives term is for two years, while senators are elected for six year terms. In Mexico the legislative branch of government consists of a bicameral congress, El Congreso de la Union. This congress, like the US’s, is divided into an upper chamber, the senate, and a lower chamber, chamber of deputies. Just like the US, both chambers are responsible for the discussion and approval of legislation and the ratification of high-level presidential appointments. The senate consisted of sixty-four members, two members for each state and two representing the Federal District elected by a direct vote from the population for a six year term. In later years, as part of electoral reforms the size of the senate doubled in size and now holds 128 members. Since 1986 the house of deputies consisted of 500 seats. 200 of these seats are elected by a proportional representation from among large districts. Members of the Chamber of Deputies serve three year terms, All members are not allowed to run for re-election, but they may serve non-consecutive terms.

Free Essays on Single Parented Families

‘To what extent are children bought up in single parented families worse off?’ In this essay I will be writing how children are affected by being bought up in single parented families. I will be looking at whether their lives are better or for worse. I will also question whether all single parented people are bad parents or are just as good as two parents. I will also look at some of my friends who have just one parent. Are break up marriages the cause of children being bought up for the worse? Or is it just general opinion by people? Well lets look at why marriages are broken up in the first place. There are plenty of reasons for failure in marriages, such as the two people who are getting married to each other did not really know each other in the beginning or one of them had changed after the marriage. Other reasons include that the husband was treating the wife badly. Another reason is that the partner of the couple had an affair with another person. Marriages might not break up, but it could be that the mother or the father of the family has died when the child was at a young age, causing the child to act differently due to the death of the father or the mother. Also the single parent might never have been married in the first place which would lead to the child hardly knowing his father. Many kids are offended when something is said about the fact that their parents are divorced and lea! d them into doing some stupid things. A single mother said, "Sometimes you don't feel like a real person, you don't feel like you're doing your job as a parent no matter how much you love them, because of money. You don't have any time with them because you're working all the time. It's going so fast. Suddenly your child is walking and talking, and you've missed it. But then there's the child-care bill, and you have to put it off with excuses, and your child runs a fever for three days and you haven't the money to pay for a docto... Free Essays on Single Parented Families Free Essays on Single Parented Families ‘To what extent are children bought up in single parented families worse off?’ In this essay I will be writing how children are affected by being bought up in single parented families. I will be looking at whether their lives are better or for worse. I will also question whether all single parented people are bad parents or are just as good as two parents. I will also look at some of my friends who have just one parent. Are break up marriages the cause of children being bought up for the worse? Or is it just general opinion by people? Well lets look at why marriages are broken up in the first place. There are plenty of reasons for failure in marriages, such as the two people who are getting married to each other did not really know each other in the beginning or one of them had changed after the marriage. Other reasons include that the husband was treating the wife badly. Another reason is that the partner of the couple had an affair with another person. Marriages might not break up, but it could be that the mother or the father of the family has died when the child was at a young age, causing the child to act differently due to the death of the father or the mother. Also the single parent might never have been married in the first place which would lead to the child hardly knowing his father. Many kids are offended when something is said about the fact that their parents are divorced and lea! d them into doing some stupid things. A single mother said, "Sometimes you don't feel like a real person, you don't feel like you're doing your job as a parent no matter how much you love them, because of money. You don't have any time with them because you're working all the time. It's going so fast. Suddenly your child is walking and talking, and you've missed it. But then there's the child-care bill, and you have to put it off with excuses, and your child runs a fever for three days and you haven't the money to pay for a docto...

Flashback in Creative Nonfiction

Flashback in Creative Nonfiction A flashback is a shift in a narrative to an earlier event that interrupts the normal chronological development of a story. Also called analepsis. Contrast with flashforward. Just as with the novelist, says Bronwyn T. Williams, the creative nonfiction writer can condense, expand, fold back, reorder, and otherwise play with space and time. Flashbacks, foreshadowing, changing perspectives, changing the order in which events are told, are all fair game and may be effective dramatically and stylistically (Writing Creative Nonfiction in A Companion to Creative Writing, 2013). Examples and Observations: For a flashback to succeed as part of your beginning, it should meet three criteria.First, it should follow a strong opening scene, one that roots us firmly in your characters present. . . .In addition, the second-scene flashback should bear some clear relation to the first scene weve just witnessed. . . .Finally, dont let your readers get lost in time. Indicate clearly how much earlier the flashback scene took place.(Nancy Kress, Beginnings, Middles Ends. Writers Digest Books, 1999)Flashbacks in the TV Series LostBackstorythats been a key element in the brilliance of Lost. Flashbacks are usually deadlybut the writers have used them here as the best novelists do. We only get a flashback that is (a) interesting in and of itself and (b) pertinent to the present action, so that we dont resent the interruptions.(Orson Scott Card, Introduction: What Is Lost Good For? Getting Lost: Survival, Baggage, and Starting Over in J.J. Abrams Lost, ed. by O.S. Card. BenBella, 2006) Advice on Using FlashbacksWhile the flashback is common in literary presentationsnovels, drama, television programsit need not be restricted to them. Indeed, it is very often used for expository writing. . . .Begin a flashback as close to the conclusion, the effect, as you can. Do not give the plot away in the first paragraph, but end the paragraph with a question, with a comment that the remainder of the theme will pertain to the flashback. In a short theme, your flashback should be short, certainly no longer than about one-fourth of your theme.(John McCall, How to Write Themes and Essays. Petersons, 2003)A rule of thumb: If you feel a need to have a flashback on the first or second page of your story, either your story should begin with the events of the flashback, or you should get us involved with some compelling present characters and events before flashing back.(Orson Scott Card, Elements of Fiction Writing: Characters and Viewpoint. Writers Digest Books, 2010)The Flashback Seq uence in the Movie CasablancaIn the example of Casablanca, the flashback sequence is positioned strategically in the plot to resolve a newly elaborated narrative enigma. The crucial characters of the flashback (Rick, Ilsa, and Sam) have been clearly introduced, and the films plot has raised a question about the relationship of Rick and IlsaWhat happened to them before the film proper has begun?that must be answered before the plot can proceed.(James Morrison, Passport to Hollywood. SUNY Press, 1998) See also: Chronological OrderForeshadowingPlot

Impact of Emirates Airlines Operations on the Environment

Impact of Emirates Airlines Operations on the Environment Abstract Emirates Airlines is a major global air transport company that is based in Dubai, UAE. The company’s operations cause significant impacts in terms of environmental degradation.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Impact of Emirates Airlines’ Operations on the Environment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The company has established an environmental policy that seeks to highlight its commitment in addressing its associated carbon footprint. These policies and statements, however, have no impact in assisting the company to curb environmental degradation that is caused by its operations. Instead, Emirates continues to cause grave environmental effects each year. The engine combustion of aircrafts emits carbon dioxide (CO2), as well as other gases like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and water vapour. CO2 and water vapour are greenhouse gases that are responsible for the increasing global warming phenome non. This causes a rise in earth temperatures beyond the average. The greenhouse gases remain trapped in the atmosphere for long durations, thus allowing the ultraviolet rays from the sun to reach the earth surface. Emirates operations also cause noise pollution that affects residents living near Dubai Airport and those living near all the other airports that are served by the airlines. The environmental policy by the company falls short of addressing the actual problem because Emirates has no direct say in the technology applied by aircrafts manufacturers.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Thus, the company is only a consumer of readymade technology and cannot purport to alter the technology through its internal policies to achieve zero impact on environmental footprint. Introduction Literature review The growth and emergence of the United Arab Emiratesâ₠¬â„¢ aviation industry dates back to about four decades ago when the Dubai Airport was opened for the first time. A series of initiations and developments have continuously been witnessed within the industry, further propelling it to the greater international heights that are evident today. In 1968, another of the Emirates’ airports opened its doors in Abu Dhabi. The airport was referred to as â€Å"Al Bateen Airport† (Jain para. 10). The Ras Al Khaimah airport became operational eight years after the inauguration of the Abu Dhabi Airport in 1976, adding to the limited number of airport facilities that existed in the country back then (Jain para 64). However, 1985 witnessed a landmark development in the country’s aviation industry when the Emirates airline was born. The great journey to global stardom of the Emirates Airlines had begun with a paltry capital of $10 million and two aircrafts. The company was started in Dubai, which remains to be its headquarters t o date (O’Connell 339). The Etihad Airways, which is UAE’s national flag carrier, entered the country’s aviation industry in 2003. Unlike Emirates Airlines, Etihad has its home in Abu Dhabi, which is also considered to be the capital of the UAE. According to expert estimates, it is anticipated that the Emirates Airlines could emerge as the largest wide-body carrier in the world by the year 2015 (Grimme 333).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Impact of Emirates Airlines’ Operations on the Environment specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Today, the Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways have not only become household brands in the United Arab Emirates, but their fame and popularity spreads across the globe (Melly 18). Both companies fly to numerous destinations worldwide and have steady revenue that also translates to high profits each year (â€Å"UAE Aviation Industry-Review 2012† 64). Emirates Airlines is among the world’s ten leading carriers as per scheduled international passenger-kilometres covered annually, as well as the scheduled freight tonne-kilometres. Despite the tremendous growth and expansion of the global aviation industry, there have been numerous repercussions that mainly have far-reaching consequences on the environment. Noise pollution is one aspect of environmental pollution that is closely tied to the aviation industry (Whitelegg 5). Populations living around airports are the most affected by the continuous noise that is made by airplanes landing and those leaving the airports. Noise pollution has the potential of damaging health, as well as distracting people from their anticipated quality of life. It hinders the affected people from enjoying peace within their neighbourhoods. Apart from noise pollution affecting human beings, wildlife is also disturbed by noise emitted from airplanes.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As Whitelegg (5) points out, there are numerous effects that noise pollution from the aviation industry cause. These include hearing impairment, pain, sleep disturbance, stress, cardiovascular effects, as well as interfered communication and speech awareness or perception. Additionally, noise pollution has the effect of mental disorders in humans, interrupted task performance and level of productivity, deficits in reading capabilities, especially among children, and psychoendoctrine effects. The other aspect of environmental pollution that is associated with the aviation industry is the ground level air emissions. Aircrafts continue to emit additional ground level ozone antecedents, also known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) every passing year. The air around airports and fields is also heavy with nitrogen oxides that are poisonous if inhaled for long periods (Whitelegg 8). Apart from the direct contribution of gaseous emissions from airplanes, the aviation industry at large al so contributes indirectly to environmental degradation. Airports generate significant traffic as they are busy freight centres. Airports around the world have numerous bus stations and taxis that bring in passengers and freight or offer logistical links to arrivals at the termini. The combined carbon footprint from this industry is large and causes serious environmental degradation. People continue to be concerned about the climate change that has for long continued to be an issue around the world. Aircrafts have their fair share of contribution to this alarming phenomenon that threatens to affect life with adverse consequences. Aircrafts depend on aviation gasoline and jet fuel to be able to be powered. The aftermath of the combined combustion emits carbon dioxide, water vapour, and a mixture of other emissions. These gases are emitted in ratios of 70% to 30% to 1% respectively (ICAO 31). As the ICAO report (31) further concludes, both the CO2 and water vapour that form the bulk of the emissions comprise the greenhouse gases. The resultant effect of the emissions last for varied periods. In particular, CO2 lasts for very long periods in the atmosphere, although water vapour comparatively lasts for a shorter duration. Although the aviation industry is only responsible for 2% of the global CO2 that is emitted into the atmosphere, international flights are responsible for 62% of the emissions. Experts’ projections by environmentalists point at the growth of CO2 emissions resulting from the aviation industry growing by between 3% and 4% every year (ICAO 31). Although there is a likelihood of CO2 emissions from the aviation industry being mitigated in the short term using improved fuel efficiency, the improvements are only partial in as far as their impacts in the long term are concerned (ICAO 31). Forecasts tell of a sharp rise in NOx coming from the aviation sector. For instance, it is anticipated that by 2015 the earth will experience increase in nitroge n oxide emissions to the tune of 210% (Whitelegg, Williams, and Evans 20). By 2050, the same emissions could increase by up to 600% (Whitelegg, Williams, and Evans 20). As the emissions into the atmosphere increase over the years, more aircraft contrails will become commonplace across the global sky. The result of these aviation effects is increased global warming and erratic environmental phenomena that could have far-reaching consequences to all inhabitants on earth (Whitelegg, Williams, and Evans 20). Proposed Hypothesis The environmental policy adopted by Emirates Airlines is only a public statement that seeks to give the company better image rather than address the environmental issues associated with its operations. The annual environmental reports and findings that are periodically released by Emirates Airlines lack any facts that prove their positivity in reducing the environmental impact of the company. Methodology Different organisations in society, such as governments, environmental agencies, and individual companies actively provide details about their sustainability plans. However, such information is many times discursive because it only provides part of the relevant aspects towards an equally balanced understanding of the relevant issue at hand. This report focuses on interpreting the environmental performance of the aviation industry. The study is particularly limited to the Emirates Airlines, which is a leading company in the UAE and the Gulf region at large. This research has mainly relied on secondary sources of information to draw out its analysis and conclusions about the environmental impact caused by the aviation industry and in particular the Emirates Airline. Various in-flight magazines, brochures, journals, as well as magazines and reports about Emirates Airlines were analysed with focus on the environmental issues and effects that are associated with the performance of the company. In total, Emirates’ environmental policy st atements were identified and used as the basis of analysing the environmental performance, as well as sustainability of the airline (â€Å"Emirates Airlines Is Increasing† 68). The following four statements used as part of Emirates’ environmental policy are the basis for the argument in this research: ‘Acquiring the latest technology in terms of aircrafts, engines, as well as ground equipment that are eco-efficient.’ ‘Educating members of staff on environmental-related issues by use of ‘Environment Champions’ programme in order to welcome their contributions and initiatives on the environment.’ ‘Operating the company’s assets in a way that takes into consideration environmental responsibility. This will enhance compliance with environmental regulations as well as applicable standards.’ ‘Initiating and using particular environmental policies that are relevant to sustainable practices in procurement, waste minimisation and management, efficient use of water and energy, together with sustainable ground transport.’ These environmental policy statements of the Emirates are, thereafter, evaluated using the materials and data available from independent scientific publications. The main reason is to determine whether there is any relation between the scientific insights given and the policy statements of the organisation. Findings First Statement: ‘Investment in modern technology that is eco-efficient in engines, aircraft, and ground equipment’ This statement is meant to show that acquisition of the latest technology has negligible environmental footprint. It gives the erroneous picture that portrays technology in engine manufacturing and other equipment as having the ability to render environmental implications as invalid. However, this statement represents a discourse because Emirates is recognised for wide-bodied fleet of aircrafts that comprise of the Airbus 380 (à ¢â‚¬Å"Emirates Airlines, Airbus† 7). The wingspan of these aircrafts has been limited by the ability of airports to accommodate them. As Dalhuijsen and Slingerland (4) point out, it results in loss in fuel efficiency by up to 11% compared to optimising the wingspan to the requisite size of 90.2 m. Second statement: ‘Training staff on environmental issues, using ‘Environment Champions’ programme, in order to involve them in initiatives related to the environment’ This statement appears to suggest that staff awareness of environmental issues can potentially eliminate the environmental impact of Emirates Airlines. A critical examination of the organisation’s operations, however, indicates that workers have a limited role in influencing environmental footprint of the company. Emirates acquires all its aircrafts from foreign firms in Europe and the USA, which arrive when they are fully built. The combustion of these aircrafts is set right at the man ufacturer’s location and employees have a limited role in reducing the environmental impact. Third statement: ‘Operating our assets in a manner that highlights environmental responsibility in order to comply with environmental regulations as well as standards that are applicable’ While Emirates seeks to operate within the acceptable environmental standards and regulations, it is important to note that these regulations do not mean zero environmental impacts. The regulations only mean to reduce the amount of environmental footprints that are attributable to the organisation. Given that the gaseous emissions from aircrafts remain in the atmosphere for prolonged periods, it is noteworthy that the standards and regulations do not offer any lasting solution to the problem. The accumulated emissions occurring over the years because of Emirates’ operations still has a major impact on the global environment. Fourth statement: ‘Development and application of particular environmental policies that relate to sustainable procurement, minimisation and management of waste, water and energy efficiency, as well as sustainable ground transport’ This statement appears to proclaim the fact that Emirates Airlines has total control over its environmental impact and can potentially manage the resultant consequences. However, this statement fails to recognise that the company is only a consumer of a technology piece whose total control lies with the manufacturer. Unless the aircraft manufacturers take the initiative to invent new technologies that are environmentally friendly, there is little that Emirates can do in terms of their choices. The main determinant is with the manufacturers of the technology, no matter how efficient the environmental policies by the company may turn out to be. Limitation of the Research This research has heavily relied on secondary sources of data to base its argument. Secondary data has its own limitations and it is difficult to verify some details that are contained in it. The data may also be biased depending on the motive of the person carrying out the research. Future research on this topical area should entail carrying out primary research to obtain first hand data. Conclusion A critical analysis of the environmental policy and statements adopted by Emirates Airlines highlight the fact that it is only a move aimed at achieving a positive image for the company. The statements borrow scientific terms and often use facts that may appear to be undisputed in the first instance. However, a critical analysis of these facts and statements against independent scientific research reveals the fact that Emirates Airlines is not capable of managing its environmental footprint as the company would appear to suggest. As an airliner, Emirates is causing too much degradation of the environment, which affects the residents of Dubai, as well as all other residents across the globe whose local airports are served by the airliner. The company is only a consumer of technology that is manufactured by a third party. This makes it difficult for Emirates to develop policies that can have a direct influence on the environmental performance of the aircrafts. The environmental impacts caused by Emirates’ operations include noise pollution that causes disturbance and annoyance to the people living around Dubai Airport, as well as other airports in UAE and across the globe where the company serves. Emirates equally contributes to the global warming problem that is experienced every year through emitting CO2 and water vapour that result from the engine combustion of the aircrafts. These are also referred to as the greenhouse gases that take a considerable period within the atmosphere. Recommendations Emirates should consider a more forceful position in seeking to address the environmental footprint that results from its operations. The company should compel aircraft manufacturers to manuf acturer aircrafts that are 100% environmental friendly. Such technology would involve the use of natural energy only to power the aircrafts, such as use of solar power. Emissions resulting from this kind of technology will not have far-reaching consequences to the environment as is the case with the current aircraft models. Emirates should also consider acquiring its ground equipment that uses natural energy sources in their operations. Buses, taxis, and other freight carriers operating at the Dubai Airport should strictly be powered by natural energies, such as solar energy, to curb the overall carbon footprint that is associated with Emirates’ operations. Emirates Airlines Is Increasing. Aviation Week Space Technology 166.1 (2007): 68. Print. Emirates Airlines, Airbus. Airguide Business (2010): 7-7. Print. UAE Aviation Industry-Review 2012. Pakistan Gulf Economist 32.1 (2013): 64-65. Print. Dalhuijsen, Jansma, and Slingerland, Rudy. â€Å"Preliminary Wing Optimization f or Very Large Transport Aircraft with Wingspan Constraints.† 42nd AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibition. Reno: AIAA, 2004. Print. Grimme, Wolfgang. The Growth of Arabian Airlines From a German Perspective – a Study of the Impacts of New Air Services to Asia. Journal of Air Transport Management 17.6 (2011): 333-338. Print. ICAO. â€Å"Environmental Report 2010: Aviation and Climate Change.† Montreal: ICAO, 2010. Web. Jain, Shweta. UAE Aviation: A Story of Takeoffs and Landings. Gulf News. 2011. Web. Melly, Paul. Emirates. MEED: Middle East Economic Digest (2013): 18-18. Print. O’Connell, John F. The Rise of the Arabian Gulf Carriers: An Insight into the Business Model of Emirates Airline. Journal of Air Transport Management 17.6 (2011): 339-346. Print. Whitelegg, John, Nick Williams, and Chris Evans, eds. The Plane Truth: Aviation and the Environment. Aero habitat. The Ashden Trust. Web. Whitelegg, John. â€Å"Aviation: The Social, Economic and En vironmental Impact of Flying. Ashden Trust, n.d. Web.

Biography of Tiberius, 1st Century Roman Emperor

Biography of Tiberius, 1st Century Roman Emperor The Roman emperor Tiberius (November 16, 42 BCE–March 16, 37 CE) was a very capable military leader and a sensible civic leader who tried to restrain Romes out-of-control budget. But he was also dour and unpopular. He is known primarily for his trial for treason, sexual perversion, and eventually shirking his responsibility by going into seclusion. Fast Facts: Tiberius Known For: Roman Emperor in the first century CEBorn: November 16, 42 BCE on the Palatine Hill, RomeParents: Tiberius Claudius Nero (85–33 BC) and Livia DrusillaDied: March 16, 37 CE in RomeEducation: Studied with Theodous of Gadara and Nestor the AcademicSpouse(s): Vipsania Agrippina (m. 19 BCE), Livia Julia the Elder, (m. 11 BCE)Children: Drusus Julius Caesar (with Vipsania), Julia, Ti Gemellus, Germanicus (all with Julia) Early Life Tiberius was born on November 16, 42 BCE on the Palatine Hill or at Fundi; he was the son of the Roman quaestor Tiberius Claudius Nero (85–33 BC) and  his wife Livia Drusilla. In 38 BCE, Livia was forced to divorce Tiberius Nero to become the wife of the first Roman emperor Augustus. Tiberius Nero died when Tiberius was 9 years old. Tiberius studied rhetoric with Theodorus of Gadara, with Nestor the Academic and perhaps with Athaneaus the Peripatetic. He became fluent in Greek and meticulous in Latin. In his early civic career, Tiberius defended and prosecuted at court and before the Senate. His successes at court included the securing of a charge of high treason against Fannius Caepio and Varro Murena. He reorganized the grain supply and investigated irregularities in slave barracks where free people were detained improperly and where draft dodgers pretended to be slaves. Tiberius political career soared: he became quaestor, praetor, and consul at a young age, and  received the power of a tribune for five years. Marriage and Family In 19 BCE, he married Vipsania Agrippina, the daughter of the renowned general Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa (Agrippa); and they had a son, Drusus Julius Caesar. In 11 BCE, Augustus forced Tiberius to divorce Vipsania and marry his daughter Livia Julia the Elder, who was also the widow of Agrippa. Julia had three children with Tiberius: Julia, Ti Gemellus, and Germanicus. Early Military Accomplishments Tiberiuss first military campaign was against the Cantabrians. He then went to Armenia where he restored Tigranes to the throne. He collected missing Roman standards from the Parthian court. Tiberius was sent to govern the long-haired Gauls and fought in the Alps, Pannonia, and Germany. He subjugated various Germanic peoples and took 40,000 of them  as prisoners. He then settled them in homes in Gaul. Tiberius received an ovation and a triumph in 9 and 7 BCE. In 6 BCE, he was ready to accept command of the eastern Roman forces, but instead, at what would seem to be a height of power, he abruptly retired to the island of Rhodes. Julia and Exile By 6 BCE, Tiberius marriage to Julia had gone sour: by all accounts, he regretted leaving Vipsania. When he retired from public life, Julia was banished by her father for her immoral behavior. His stay on Rhodes lasted at least eight years, between 6 BCE and 2 CE, during which time he wore a Greek cloak and slippers, spoke Greek to the townspeople, and attended philosophical lectures. Tiberius tried earlier to return to Rome when his tribunician power ended, but his petition was denied: thenceforth he was referred to as The Exile. After Lucius Caesar died in 2 CE, Tiberius mother Livia arranged for his recall, but to do that, Tiberius had to renounce all political aspirations. However, in 4 CE after all other likely successors had died, Augustus adopted his step-son Tiberius, who in turn had to adopt his nephew Germanicus. For this, Tiberius received tribunician power and a share of Augustuss power and then came home to Rome. Later Military Accomplishments and Ascension to Emperor Tiberius was given tribunician power for three years, during which time his responsibilities would be to pacify Germany and suppress the Illyrian revolt. The German pacification ended in disaster in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest (9 CE), when an alliance of Germanic tribes destroyed three Roman legions and their auxiliaries, led by Publius Quinctilius Varus. Tiberius did achieve complete submission of the Illyrians, for which he was voted a triumph. He postponed the triumph celebration out of deference to Varus disaster in Germany: but after two years more in Germany, he settled things and put on a triumphal banquet with 1,000 tables. With the sale of his spoils, he restored the temples of Concord and Castor and Pollux. As a result, in 12 CE, the consuls awarded Tiberius joint control of the provinces (co-princeps) with Augustus. When Augustus died, Tiberius, as tribune, convened the Senate where a freedman read Augustus will naming Tiberius as successor. Tiberius called on the praetorians to provide him a bodyguard  but didnt take the title of emperor immediately nor even his inherited title of Augustus. Tiberius as Emperor At first, Tiberius despised sycophants, intervened in matters of state to check abuses and excesses, abolished Egyptian and Jewish cults in Rome, and banished astrologers. He consolidated the Praetorians for efficiency, crushed city riots, and abolished the right of sanctuary. However, his reign turned sour when informers accused Roman men and women of many, even silly crimes that led to capital punishment and confiscation of their estates. In 26 CE, Tiberius exiled himself to Capri, leaving the empire in control of his Socius Laborum (partner of my labors), Lucius Aelius Sejanus. In Capri, Tiberius stopped fulfilling his civic obligations  but instead engaged in licentious acts. Most notorious is his training of little boys to act as nipping minnows or tiddlers, to chase him when he went swimming in the imperial pool, nibbling between his legs. Tiberius mean and vengeful streak caught his erstwhile confidant, Sejanus, accused of conspiracy against the emperor. Sejanus was executed for treason in 31 CE. Until Sejanus was destroyed, people had blamed him for the excesses of the emperor, but with his death, the blame rested solely on Tiberius. The empire continued to run on without the direct input of the emperor, who remained in Capri. During Tiberius exile in Capri, Gaius (Caligula) came to live with Tiberius, who was his adopted grandfather. Tiberius included Caligula as joint heir in his will. The other heir was Tiberius brother Drusus child, still a teenager. Death Tiberius died on March 16, 37 CE, at age 77. He had ruled for nearly 23 years. According to Tacitus, when it looked as though Tiberius would die naturally, Caligula tried to take sole control of the empire. Tiberius, however, recovered. At the request of Caligula, the head of the Praetorian Guard, Macro, stepped in and had the old emperor smothered. Caligula was named emperor. Sources Balmaceda, Catalina. The Virtues of Tiberius in Velleius Histories. Historia: Zeitschrift fà ¼r Alte Geschichte 63.3 (2014): 340–63.Rutledge, Steven H. Tiberius Philhellenism. The Classical World 101.4 (2008): 453–67.Seager, Robin. Tiberius. 2nd edition. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell, 1972, 2005.  Syme, Ronald. History or Biography. The Case of Tiberius Caesar. Historia: Zeitschrift fà ¼r Alte Geschichte 23.4 (1974): 481–96.

Best Toe Kick Dimensions for Cabinet Design

Best Toe Kick Dimensions for Cabinet Design At the bottom of every base floor cabinet in your kitchen or bathroom, you will notice a notched profile below the front door of the cabinet. This notched profile, called a toe kick, is an ergonomic feature designed to make it safer and more comfortable to work at the cabinets countertop. This might seem like a small advantage, but long experience shows that this small amount makes it much easier for a user to stand for long periods without uncomfortable leaning and without struggling to maintain balance. As with many other standard features of home and furniture design, the toe kick follows a fairly common measurement standard.  So universal is this standard that factory-made stock cabinets always follow these standard dimensions for a toe kick,  and an experienced carpenter or woodworker who constructs  a base cabinet will include the toe kick with these standard dimensions. Standards such as these are neither  legal requirements nor mandated by building code. Rather, builders have established over time that such measurements make for greater comfort and safety, so it is wisest to follow these measurements unless specifically directed otherwise.    Standard Dimensions for Toe Kicks The optimal depth for a toe kick is 3 inches. This provides an adequate recess to stand comfortably and maintain balance while working at a countertop. Almost all factory-made stock cabinets will comply with this depth standard.   Toe-kick depths greater than 3 inches do not hurt the effectiveness of the toe kick, but depths less than 3 inches should usually be avoided, as they interfere with ergonomic effectiveness.   The optimal height for a toe kick is 3 1/2 inches, and heights up to 4 inches are common. Increasing the height over 3 1/2 inches does not hurt the effectiveness of the toe kick, but it may very slightly reduce the space in your base cabinet. Is There Any Reason to Change the Dimensions of Your Toe Kick? Its quite rare that a reason presents itself to vary from these standard dimensions for your base cabinet toe kicks. It is actually only possible at all in custom cabinets built to specifications or having a carpenter alter the installation of factory cabinets.   Family need for altered dimensions is generally the catalyst for requests for alteration of such specs. For example, a very tall person with large feet might find a larger toe kick more accommodating. The likelihood of a need to reduce the size of the toe kick is slim, although a very short person might consider this as a means of slightly lowering the countertop height to provide an added level of comfort to a workspace.

The Things You Can Learn From Death Records

The Things You Can Learn From Death Records Many people looking for information about their ancestors skip right past the death record, making a beeline for their marriage and birth certificates. Sometimes we already know where and when our ancestor died, and figure its not worth the time and money to track down the death certificate. Another scenario has our ancestor disappearing between one census and the next, but after a half-hearted search, we decide its not worth the effort since we already know most of his other vital facts. Those death records, however, can tell us much more about our ancestor than where and when he died. Death records, including death certificates, obituaries and funeral home records, can include a wealth of information on the deceased, including the names of their parents, siblings, children, and spouse; when and where they were born and/or married; the occupation of the deceased; possible military service; and cause of death. All of these clues can be helpful in telling us more about our ancestor, as well as leading us to new sources of information on his life. Date Place of Birth or Marriage Does the death certificate, obituary or other death record give a date and place of birth? A clue to the spouses maiden name? Information found in death records can often provide the clue you need to locate a birth or marriage record. Names of Family Members Death records are often a good source for names of parents, spouse, children and next of kin. The death certificate will usually list at least the next of kin or the informant (often a family member) who provided the information on the death certificate, while an obituary notice may list numerous family members - both living and deceased. Occupation of the Deceased Whether they were a farmer, an accountant or a coal miner, their choice of occupation probably defined at least a part of who they were as a person. You may choose to just record this in your interesting tidbits folder or, possibly, follow up for further research. Certain occupations, such as railroad workers, may have employment, pension or other occupational records available. Possible Military Service Obituaries, tombstones and, occasionally, death certificates are a good place to look if you suspect that your ancestor may have served in the military. They will often list the military branch and unit, and possibly information on rank and the years in which your ancestor served. With these details, you can then look for further information about your ancestor in military records. Cause of Death An important clue for anyone compiling a medical family history, the cause of death can often be found listed on a death certificate. If you cant find it there, then the funeral home (if still in existence) may be able to provide you with further information. As you go back in time, however, youll begin to find interesting causes of death, such as bad blood (which often meant syphilis) and dropsy, meaning edema or swelling. You may also find clues to newsworthy deaths such as occupational accidents, fires or surgical mishaps, that could lead to additional records. Death records also offer information that may lead to further research avenues. A death certificate, for example, may list the burial place and the funeral home - leading to a search in cemetery or funeral home records. An obituary or funeral notice may mention a church where the funeral service is being held, another source for further research. Since about 1967, most death certificates in the United States list the deceaseds Social Security number, which makes it easy to request a copy of the original application (SS-5) for a Social Security card, full of genealogical details.

Developing a marketing plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Developing a marketing plan - Assignment Example Sony’s products are advertised through the world by sales companies and unaffiliated suppliers as well as direct trades via the Internet. Sony is also involved in advertising agency business and network services business in Japan among so many other activities. This paper seeks to establish Sony’s current industrial status in the market share and unearth the company’s secrets of success. Principally, the sole intention of this treatise is to bring into focus the Marketing Plan for Sony Corporation (Fujiwara, 2006). With many main products reputable and substantial market share, one can note that it is improbable for new competitors to overcome product identities that are conventional to maintain consumer trustworthiness. The copyrights that are possessed by Sony are a resilient obstacle since competitors find it costly to enter the same industry of production due to placement of patents and licenses and raised prices for the product. Sony Corporation, for a long time, has been, and still is, dominant in the electronic business. With its capacity to deliver durable and high-end products, Sony has built long-lasting relationships with their dealers. Their high business uniqueness and a worldwide network of business entities has enabled them establish a bargaining power of the suppliers and dealers like no other company. Because of this, dealers have found it hard to bargain down prices due to their loyalty, and high quality products produced by Sony. The introduction of the new Sony LED TV and the quality that comes in this product, is an example as to why dealers have lowered their bargaining power thus increasing level of Industry profits. The bargaining power of retailers and suppliers will depend mostly on the bargain power of end-users. This chain is what makes this phenomena a threat and may force a company to lower its prices that might lead to

Gran Torino and Race Relations and Ethics Essay

Gran Torino and Race Relations and Ethics - Essay Example The movie has things to teach about ethics to people in the world. Racism is still very much an issue in today’s world(Bonilla, 2010), and Walt was as racism as anybody could be. He called the next door neighbors â€Å"gooks,† even after he came to love them and protect them. He called his barber a â€Å"Dago† and â€Å"Italian Prick.† It was obvious that he was a man who had a lot of bad feelings in his heart about people who are of different races. He was, perhaps, representative of many people who see people of different races as being somehow â€Å"other.† These people from Laos, who live next door, were people that Walt evidently felt were beneath him from the beginning of the film. However, Walt changed throughout the course of the film, and, soon, he was taking Thao and Sue under his wing. Walt went out of his way to bond with young Thao, showing him the ropes of carpentry, once he figured out that Thao had an interest in carpentry and tools, and making sure that Thao got to meet the barber and know how to converse with other men in a way that would be acceptable in America. When Sue was raped by some men who were relatives of Thao and Sue, Walt became protective of her and went to confront the men. In fact, all through the film, Walt comes to the aid and protection of these neighbors. It was feasible that Walt could have lived his life in an insular way, and stayed out of the way of the gang members who were harassing his next door neighbors.... What happens to our brother or our sister is what happens to us, and we have to make sure that we do everything that we can to help those who are oppressed. Walt learned this lesson, even though he personally had feelings for the Hmong that were not so flattering. There was some possible indication that Walt was also redeeming himself for things that happened during the Korean War – he implied that he killed some Korean men even though he wasn’t under orders to do so. So, this might have also given him his sense of ethics as well. My own personal feelings about what happened during the movie was somewhat mixed. While I understood the need for Walt to do what he did in the movie, it was also difficult to see. Yes, the gang members were harassing the family of Sue and Thao, and, yes, the black men were harassing Sue and there was the distinct possibility that they were going to rape her. So, in a sense, what Walt ended up doing at the end of the movie was extremely justif ied. In fact, he didn’t really do anything at all, except stand outside the house of the gang members and pretend that he had some kind of weapon on him. Considering that he had shown the gang members earlier that he had access to these types of weapons, it was reasonable for the gang members to assume that this was still the case, and that he, in fact, was packing heat when he went to visit the boys. Another point is probably the most important point to make about the movie – the movie portrays a society that is color blind, in the end. The surface of the people in the movie was that everybody is segregated and that Walt was somebody who didn’t want anything to do with