Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Abnormal Psychology- Psychosis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Unusual Psychology-Psychosis - Essay Example Atypical enemy of maniacal medications are normally utilized in rewarding intense madness, bipolar confusion, marginal character issue, psychosis, and schizo-full of feeling issue. (Leslie, Hankey, and Lean, 2007) In accordance with the antagonistic wellbeing impacts of these medications, a few examinations show that atypical enemy of crazy prescriptions especially the Olanzapine and Clozapine; against misery medication, for example, Nortriptyline, Doxepin, and Amitriptyline; Lithium; Valproate; just as beta-adrenergic blocking specialist like Propranolol profoundly adds to the unnecessary weight increase or heftiness. (Science Daily, 2008; Leslie, Hankey, and Lean, 2007; Czobor et al., 2002; Rossner et al., 1990) Stoutness is a genuine wellbeing and social issue since it could make an individual arrangement with social modification issue or social separation. (Pearce et al., 2002) As a typical information, weight could likewise build the danger of an individual to experience the ill effects of a wide-scope of genuine wellbeing concerns, for example, diabetes especially the Type 2 diabetes or the non-insulin subordinate diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) (Alberti et al., 2007; Wilding, 2004), cerebral discharge and coronary heart ailments (Nanchahal et al., 2005; Montaye at el., 2000), hypertension, athersclerosis and elevated cholesterol (Yuan et al., 1998; Berenson et al., 1993), atherosclerosis (Nazario, 2007), osteoarthritis (Lau et al., 2000), rest apnea (Ballington, 2002), just as malignant growth (Vainio and Bianchini, 2002) identified with colon (Murphy et al. 2000), rectum (Giascosa et al., 1999), post menopausal related bosom malignant growth and uterus (Vainio and Bianchini, 2002; Friedenrei ch, 2001; van lair Brandt et al., 2000; Goodman et al., 1997), kidney (Yuan et al., 1998; Goodman et al., 1997), gallbladder (Lowenfels et al., 1999; Moerman and Bueno-de-Mesquita, 1999), ovaries and pancreas (Vainio and Bianchini, 2002). Self-destructive inclination is viewed as a significant difficulty that has been related with the withdrawal from hostile to crazy medications like

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Critically discuss the view that anti-globalisation arguments Essay - 4

Basically examine the view that enemy of globalization contentions genuinely underestimate the advantages that globalization has conveyed for all nations 01296 - Essay Example In this paper, job of against globalization contentions in underestimating advantages of globalization has been fundamentally evaluated to decide its legitimacy. As indicated by various researchers, no particular meaning of globalization exists and thusly the discussions starts at this very point. In any case, in like manner language, globalization can be characterized as mix of a few national markets into one regular worldwide gathering where national limits are to a great extent reduced (Das, 2010). It is a heightening of interconnectivity and development of exchange, account, human and non-HR, culture and speculation (Robertson, 1992). As indicated by examines, monetary globalization can be considered as the most compelling power that has molded the globe since the wars (Das, 2010; Huwart and Verdier, 2013). Over the time, globalization got one of the drivers of basic changes as for worldwide, provincial and national economies. It is additionally alluded to as an incredible transformative power on the substance of world economy (Amin, 2004; Das, 2010). It was seen that globalization has brought about huge ascent in esteem just as volume of universal exchange merchandise and ventures alongside extension in long and short intermittent progression of capital (Amin, 2004; Huwart and Verdier, 2013). It was additionally assembled that progression as a piece of globalization development cause exchange and money related reconciliation and raised financial development rate and gaining rate. As the overall monetary combination advanced and heightened, it caused increment in productivity of different substantial and immaterial assets and use of information sources (Das, 2010). As indicated by concentrates in 2007, the volume of merchandise and ventures in worldwide multilateral exchange was proportionate to $16.9 trillion and it was around 34 percent of all out worldwide GDP (Huwart and Verdier, 2013). Around the same time, private

Friday, August 21, 2020

Stanton, Edwin McMasters

Stanton, Edwin McMasters Stanton, Edwin McMasters, 1814â€"69, American statesman, b. Steubenville, Ohio. He was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1836 and began to practice law in Cadiz. As his reputation grew, he moved first to Steubenville (1839), then to Pittsburgh (1847), and finally to Washington, D.C. (1856), becoming ever more prominent in his profession. In Dec., 1860, Stanton, a Democrat but a strong Unionist, succeeded Jeremiah S. Black as U.S. Attorney General in President Buchanan's cabinet. Later, he became legal adviser to Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of War, Simon Cameron. Appointed to take Cameron's place in Jan., 1862, he proved to be an extremely forceful and able Secretary of War. Contracts ceased to be opportunities for graft; the railroads were placed under military control; and Union generals in the field were supplied with necessary men and matériel. One of the leading radicals in the Lincoln administration, Stanton worked closely with the radicals in Congress and used his influence with Lincoln to advance their program. Deeply grieved by Lincoln's death, he arranged for a swift trial of the alleged conspirators by a military court. Stanton remained in President Andrew Johnson's cabinet, but serious differences over Reconstruction policy led Johnson to demand (Aug., 1867) his resignation. When he refused to resign, Johnson suspended him, first appointing Ulysses S. Grant as secretary ad interim and then appointing Lorenzo Thomas as permanent Secretary of War. Stanton, however, barricaded himself in his office, and the radicals in Congress, claiming that Johnson's actions violated the Tenure of Office Act, initiated impeachment proceedings against him. When Johnson was acquitted (May, 1868), Stanton resigned. He died shortly after President Grant appointed him to the U.S. Supreme Court. See biographies by F. Pratt (1953, repr. 1970), B. P. Thomas and H. M. Hyman (1962), and W. Stahr (2017); study by R. G. Mangrum (1980). The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. History: Biographies

Sunday, May 24, 2020

The Role Of Renewable Energy In Poland - 1015 Words

In the power sector of Poland, coal takes the gold. It is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions as well as a major employer. Under Poland’s new energy plan, it is set to prioritise long-term energy security, putting a strong hold on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, while increasing energy efficiency and decarbonising the transport system (IEA 2017). There are over 770 hydropower plants in poland. For many years, water has been a dominant source of energy produced from renewable sources. Most polish hydropower resources are located in the area of the Vistula River. In certain policy documents, such as Poland’s Energy Policy until 2030 and he National Action Plan in the Field of Renewable Energy, hydropower is†¦show more content†¦Poland’s economy steadily improves, but weaker growth left its mark on public finances, forcing the government to take steps to avoid mandatory spending cuts. They have a large and diversified economy , with a domestic market and lower economic openness. Supply chain integration with neighboring Germany contributes to business-cycle coincidences.On the negative side, elevated public debt levels limit budgetary space. Recurrent sizeable budget deficits and weaker economic growth since the onset of the global economic crisis, Poland’s public debt level is approaching constitutional limits that impose pro-cyclic fiscal consolidation measures (Briegel 2013). Being the 6th largest country of the EU, it constitutes a very big selling market for goods and services. There is always opportunities for the economy to grow, especially if the population increases. Right now while having over 38 million citizens, which accounts for â…“ of the total population of new EU member states (Wellington 2012). When you have such a broad population, not everything is always going to be perfect. In Poland, up to 38% of the society suffer from depression. People who suffer from stress, and ha ving depression, act without any ethics (World Forum 2010). Poland’s working condition and production of goods and services mainly go on without a hitch. Ethical issues are almost unheard of. There is no talk of sweatshops, child labor, or misproduction of chemicals. Poland’s trade partners areShow MoreRelatedThe Global Trend Of The European Union1260 Words   |  6 Pagesscarce resources energy efficiency and renewable energy become increasingly important. It is also well-known that the climate-change as a result of high CO2-emissions, among others, can only be stopped or at least slowed down by reducing these emissions. The general global trend therefore should move towards an increasing use of renewable energies while gradually stopping dependence on non-renewable energies, such as coal or oil. Despite trade-offs in terms of a possible rise in energy prices and impactsRead More What is Geothermal Energy? An Overview Essay1739 Words   |  7 PagesWhat is Geotherm al Energy? An Overview The term geothermal comes from the Greek geo meaning earth and therine meaning heat thus geothermal energy is energy derived from the natural heat of the earth. The heat that flows from the Earths hot interior due to crustal plate movements, zones of high heat flow, may be located close to the surface where convective circulation plays a signifcant role in bringing the heat close to the surface (World Bank Group, 2004). earth coreThe Earths crustRead More Technology Transfers: Developing Renewable Energy Sources Essay1748 Words   |  7 PagesClimate change is an increasingly demanding issue as global population continues to grow, energy sources are being depleted and cooperation between actors to take action is often difficult to enforce. Renewable energy is a growing technology. With the depletion of fossil fuels as well as increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to fossil fuel burning, energy dependency will have to shift to renewable technologies such as solar photovoltaic, wind, hydroelectric and geothermal. UnfortunatelyRead MoreTaking a Look at the Clean Up the World Campaign Essay1145 Words   |  5 Pagescarry out the activities considerable to an environment. The campaign itself includes a wide variety of activities from planting a tree and waste recycling projects up to cleaning rivers and environmental educational events. ‘Clean Up The World’ in Poland called â₠¬ËœOur Earth Information – Fundacja Naszra Ziemia’ mobilized up to 150,000 volunteers in 2009. Amount of waste collected reached 340 tons across the country. Volunteers have cleaned up local forests, parks, beaches, rivers and even Baltic SeaRead MoreAcciona3354 Words   |  14 Pagesmanagement of renewable energy, water and infrastructure with the minimum environmental impact. This achievement would not have been possible without ACCIONA’s pioneering background. It was created by the first merger in Spain’s construction industry and, in the 1990s, it was the first non-utility to move into renewable energy. ACCIONA is the construction company that has most successfully diversified followed by a process of concentration. Sustainability is a core axis of its strategy, and energy, infrastructureRead MoreHow Solar Power Has Many Different Applications For All Nations Around The World Essay1401 Words   |  6 PagesMogadishu which is the capital of Somalia. The area is on the Horn of Africa and to the west of the Indian Ocean. The area is made of mostly plains and highlands giving it a lot of potential to create solar energy. In this area on average on a clear day it will produce about 7 Kilowatts of energy making it a very good place for solar panels to be able to create electricity to run things. Somali has recently come under much political unrest forcing a lot of people to flee from the country and a lotRead MoreWhat Are The Differences Between Climate Change And Global Warming?1318 Words   |  6 Pagesfrozen water is enough to lower sea levels. DISCOVER: 6. What roles do trees play in the carbon cycle and in controlling the level of greenhouse gases? Trees help to remove CO2 from the air—although in small quantities, however, forest degradation and logging has prevented the amount of CO2 being removed from the air. This is why planting forests is an ecologically ‘healthy’ strategy to help remove C02 from the atmosphere. Combined with energy from the sun, trees are able to convert carbon into trunksRead MoreCoal Energy in Germany1887 Words   |  8 PagesGermany’s Energy Producers The largest energy producer in Germany is the RWE Company that mainly burns lignite and hard coal to generate electricity. The company’s head office is located in Essen, Northrhine-Westphalia. The company has large open lignite pit mines and has been recorded as the largest greenhouse gas emitter in Europe. In 2012 alone, RWE’s hard coal imports from Columbia amounted to 29%, 18.5% came from Russia, 12% from the U.S. and 4.5% from South Africa. The second largest energyRead MoreWestern And Northern Hemispheres On The European Continent Essay1558 Words   |  7 Pagesof the African continent, south of the Arctic continent, west of the Asian continent and east of the North Atlantic Ocean. Europe is known as one of the most dense natural environments due to the nation’s strong laws and regulations on recycling, energy efficiency, and pollution. In addition to this, Europe is a trendsetter when it comes to addressing issues related to climate change and global w arming. Europe’s current population is 743.1 million and has little to no population growth. Lack of immigrationRead MoreThe Eu, Nafta And The Wto1489 Words   |  6 Pagesfirms. Some groups act to equalize the level of development within the grouping. The EU has allocated funds to support the underdeveloped regions of the EU. They have provided funds to support their countries to conform to the standards of the EU. Poland for instance has benefitted from investment to shift to a greater market orientation from a state-controlled economy, infrastructure funds to improve the road system and particularly its links to EU neighbours, such as Germany. CAP helps develop its

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Mccaw Cellular Communications the atT/Mccaw Merger...

SGMT 6050 – Case Write- ­Ã¢â‚¬ Up McCaw Cellular Communications: The ATT/McCaw Merger Negotiation Armin Ezatagha Student Number ⠏ Ã¯ £ ¦ 205 576 707 eMail ⠏ Ã¯ £ ¦ aezatagha12@schulich.yorku.ca Schulich School of Business Tuesday, March 05, 2013 Current Telecommunications Ecosystem McCaw Cellular Communications (MCC), although positioned†¦show more content†¦Precedent Transaction Analysis When comparing the potential MCC acquisition to precedent transactions of similar firms by size and by transaction date, we found a valuation of approximately $11.5 Billion (Appendix 2). The precedent transaction analysis can tell us how to deal with a negotiation based on historical transactions already completed. However, it is important that we understand the limitations of this method as every situation in which a merger or acquisition deal is made; there are multiple dependant variables at play with different strengths of correlation. As for this case, we decided to address the companies that were 2 most similar in size to MCC and that were most recent since the industry is rapidly evolving, and therefore, valuations are also rapidly changing. Discounted Cash Flow Analysis Finally,Show MoreRelatedMccaw Cellular Communications: the atT/Mccaw Merger Negotiation2593 Words   |  11 PagesATT and McCaw merger negotiation, provides us with an opportunity to negotiate the terms of the merger between McCaw cellular and ATT. McCaw was the largest competitor in the rapidly growing cellular telephone communications industry. ATT was the dominant competitor in long-distance telephone communications in the United States, and one of the largest corporations. Prior to the negotiations, it had no position in cellular communications. Brief Insight: McCaw Cellular Communications McCaw CellularRead MoreATT/McCaw Merger Negotiation.1250 Words   |  5 Pages1. What do you believe McCaw is worth? Prepare a careful DCF using the financial forecast of FCFs given in the case and in the associated spreadsheet. What key assumptions determine the range of high and low values in your valuation analysis? Also draw on any other valuation approaches and information that you can. For the sake of consistency, all groups should use a (low, Darden) risk premium of 5.5%. We performed a DCF Analysis for two scenarios: 1) assuming the purchase of the residual equityRead MoreAtTs Acquisition of Mccaw2285 Words   |  10 PagesIntroduction: McCaw Cellular Communications is a cellular telephone  pioneer in the  United States is faced with a challenging decision regarding the future of the firm. The direction of the company will depend on whether CEOs of McCaw Cellular Communication and ATT agree on an appropriate price of the company. In order to capture the value of McCaw Cellular Communications, three financial valuation models were developed while taking into account the trends in the industry and potential synergiesRead MoreNegotiations between AT and T and McCaw1962 Words   |  8 PagesMERGER BETWEEN ATT AND McCAW By: Shilpa Keswani Lakhani Kashif Khan Satyameet Singh Ahuja Moin Akhtar Madhur Chaudhary With multiple valuation numbers being arrived at ranging from 5.4 billion dollars to 173 billion, we believe that the most appropriate value for the organization is 12 billion dollars. It has been arrived at, by maintaining the industry standard of pricing a potentialRead MoreProject Managment Case Studies214937 Words   |  860 Pagesinstructor) An International Project Manager s Day (D) (see handout provided by instructor) Ellen Moore (A): Living and Working in Korea 177 Ji nan Broadcasting Corporation 196 4 PROJECT MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES 205 Quasar Communications, Inc. 207 Jones and Shephard Accountants, Inc. 212 Fargo Foods 216 Government Project Management 220 Falls Engineering 222 White Manufacturing 227 Martig Construction Company 229 Mohawk National Bank 231 5 NEGOTIATING FOR RESOURCES 235 Read MoreManaging Information Technology (7th Edition)239873 Words   |  960 PagesImplementing a Student Management System at Jefferson County School System CASE STUDY IV-1 The Clarion School for Boys, Inc.– Milwaukee Division: Making Information Systems Investments CASE STUDY IV-2 FastTrack IT Integration for the Sallie Mae Merger CASE STUDY IV-3 IT Infrastructure Outsourcing at Schaeffer (A): The Outsourcing Decision CASE STUDY IV-4 IT Infrastructure Outsourcing at Schaeffer (B): Managing the Contract CASE STUDY IV-5 Systems Support for a New Baxter ManufacturingRead MoreDamodaran Book on Investment Valuation, 2nd Edition398423 Words   |  1594 Pagesfinances them and on its dividend policy. Understanding this relationship is key to making value-increasing decisions and to sensible financial restructuring. Conclusion Valuation plays a key role in many areas of finance -- in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and portfolio management. The models presented in this book will provide a range of tools that analysts in each of these areas will find useful, but the cautionary note sounded in this chapter bears repeating. Valuation is not anRead MoreContemporary Issues in Management Accounting211377 Words   |  846 Pagesinvestments. He is the author of more than eighty-five articles, published in such journals as The Accounting Review; Journal of Computer Security; Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis; ACM Transactions on Information and System Security; Communications of the ACM; Accounting Organizations and Society; Journal of Accounting and Public Policy; Journal of Business Finance and Accounting; Computer Security Journal; Managerial and Decision Economics; and Management Accounting Research. Dr. Gordon

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Has Devolution worked Free Essays

string(39) " the priorities of another government\." Abstract The purpose of this essay will be to consider whether the process of devolution in the United Kingdom since 1999 has been successful and consider some of the points of convergence and divergence, which have occurred in terms of policy development in the region, as well the impact which the austerity measures introduced by the Coalition government have had on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Introduction The process of devolution is one that can be considered as a response to widespread processes of restructuring in the forms of governance in the Western world and also a part of a global phenomenon (Rodriguez-Pose and Gill, 2005; Williams and Mooney, 2008; Keating et al. 2009). We will write a custom essay sample on Has Devolution worked? or any similar topic only for you Order Now In the context of the UK, the process of devolution should be understood as the process of granting semi-autonomous legislative powers to the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly of Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly on behalf of the UK parliament (Gov.uk, 2013). Devolution in the UK specifically should be considered as a phenomenon of the political climate which existed in the second half of the 1990s. The process of devolution itself can be considered as an alternative to the policy adopted by successive Conservative governments in both Scotland and Wales (Trench, 2007). In addition, it was aimed to challenge the agenda set by more nationalist parties in the UK, whose political ideas and manifestos gained popularity at the time (ibid.). Even though the newly established governing institutions had their predecessors in the past, which exercised similar legislative functions, the fact that they were now recognised as autonomous and sovereign was a major historical precedent (Rose, 1982). As a result of referendums taking place in September 1997 in Scotland and Wales, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh National Assembly were established. In Northern Ireland, as a result of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and following a national re ferendum in May 1998, the Northern Ireland Assembly was established (Birrell, 2009). In line with these developments in UK governance, the following essay will examine the impact which the process of devolution has had in terms of successful policy implementation. The impact of Devolution In the UK specifically, there are four different models of devolution, all reflecting the asymmetrical nature of the process and the different politics which characterise the different regions (Hazell, 2000). The Scottish parliament, for example, has a responsibility of developing policy in tackling the majority of domestic affairs without interference on behalf of the UK parliament. The Northern Ireland Assembly, on the other hand, has the capacity of passing legislation related to a wide range of issues; and the Welsh National Assembly has an elected assembly, which has been granted legislative powers following a referendum in 2011 (Gov.uk, 2013). In the rest of England outside London, where an elected mayor and assembly were established, the changes in administration were quite marginal and were reflected in the creation of Regional Development Agencies and unelected Regional Assemblies which have subsequently been abolished by the Conservative–Liberal Democratic Coalition Government. As this indicates, UK devolution is a process rather than an event (Shaw and MacKinnon, 2011). As a result of the implementation of UK devolution acts, the legislative competence over devolved matters and democratic representation and authority was transferred to the newly established devolved parliaments. Basing devolution on the functions previously exercised by the territorial departments served to reduce conflict over the distribution of powers and resources in the short-term, but at the expense of any long-term resolution of territorial imbalances and tensions (Jeffery, 2007). While Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own devolved institutions, England is governed centrally by the UK parliament, meaning that UK and English political institutions have effectively become fused. One of the unique features of UK devolution is reflected in the limited autonomy of the regions to raise their own taxes and be responsible for their re-investment (Gov.uk, 2013). This contrasts with many other devolved or federal states in which the national and sub-national tiers share responsibility for both the raising and distribution of revenue (MacKinnon, 2013). Arguably, this could have a negative impact on the overall performance of the devolved regions, as it puts them in a subordinate position to the UK parliament in terms of financing and self-sufficiency, a policy problem which in the occurrence of the global recession has affected all three of the devolved regions. Devolution has important repercussions for public policy (Greer, 2007; Greer, 2009; Jeffery 2007; Keating, 2002; Keating 2009). In effect, the process of devolution has allowed the newly established governments to design and implement policies which take into consideration the specific economic and social conditions of the regions, thereby presenting localised solution to localised problems (Jeffery 2002). Despite the differences which exist among the regions, some commonalities in policy development can also be observed, namely in the provision of health care and tackling public health problems. The common economic challenges, combined with a tight fiscal policy means that the convergence of healthcare politics in all the devolved regions are likely to the preserved for some time (Smith and Hellowell, 2012). With the ongoing debates of more financial independence of the regions, however, it appears more likely than not that in the near future a more pronounced divergence in healthca re policy could happen in the nearby future (ibid.). To summarise this section, the process of devolution can be considered a success, as it has enabled the devolved regions to take the initiative of developing and implementing tailored policy decisions which take into consideration the specific conditions and challenges which exist in every one of the regions, despite the austerity measures and the impact of the economic recession. Devolution has also brought with itself a political reconsideration and reprioritization equality and human-rights in compulsory-phase education and how these are promoted, following the government’s commitment to mainstreaming (Chaney, 2011). With the different dimensions which devolution has in the UK, it appears plausible that the priorities of one government will not necessarily coincide with the priorities of another government. You read "Has Devolution worked?" in category "Essay examples" Moreover, within the different contextual settings, it is more than likely that different definitions of equality will be used (ibid.). Although there is still a long way to go in terms of promoting equality and human rights, devolution in the long-term could be the ground upon which more equal societies could be built. However, this is a fragile and slow process, and which, despite the progress achieved in the previous phase, largely associated with the policy of the New Labour, has c ome under threat by the politics of the Coalition Government, as the next few paragraphs will show. The process of devolution can be characterised by two distinct phases (MacKinnon, 2013). The first phase of UK devolution between 1999 and 2007 was characterised by common Labour Party government at the devolved and UK levels, stable inter-government relations and substantial increases in public expenditure (ibid). Over the period, the budgets of the devolved governments rose substantially between 2001/2002 and 2009/2010, (61.5% in Scotland, 60% in Wales and 62.6% in Northern Ireland) as a result of spending decisions taken by the Labour Government in London (HM Treasury 2007; 2011, as cited in MacKinnon, 2013). A new phase of devolution and constitutional politics has become apparent since 2007, defined by three distinguishing features (Danson et al., 2012). First, nationalist parties entered into government in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast in 2007 as either minority governments or coalition partners. Second, there is the changed context of UK politics following the defeat of Labour in 2010 and the formation of a Coalition Government between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Third, the economic context has changed radically following the financial crisis of 2007–2008 and the ensuing economic recession. In response, the Coalition Government adopted a programme for reducing public expenditure by ?81 billion by 2015–16, thereby eliminating the UK’s structural deficit (Lowndes and Pratchett, 2012: 23). This has meant that the introduction of austerity measures designed to address the UK’s budget deficit by the Coalition Government since 2010 has also had sign ificant implications for the devolved governments, reducing their budgets and requiring them to administer cuts locally, although they have been vocal in their opposition to austerity and support of alternative policy approaches such as increased capital expenditure (McEwen, 2013). In this climate, the devolved governments have reaffirmed their commitment to social justice and solidarity (Scott and Mooney, 2009), with the Scottish Government, for instance, arguing that the UK Coalition Government’s welfare reform agenda threatens the social democratic values of ‘civic Scotland’ (McEwen, 2013). In summary, despite the fact that the process of devolution has been successful in several aspects, all associated with granting a certain level of autonomy to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, this could all prove in vain unless more revenue-raising responsibilities are given to the regions. Conclusion The aim of this essay was to review the impact which the process of devolution has had in the UK. As it was noted, the nature of UK devolution should be considered as a long-term evolving process, rather than a single even. Economic and political conditions have changed markedly since the establishment of the institutions in 1999, particularly in terms of changes of government at devolved and Westminster levels, the onset of recession from 2008 and the introduction of a new politics of austerity. The underlying asymmetries of UK devolution have become more pronounced with the tendency towards greater autonomy for Scotland and Wales contrasting with greater centralisation and the abolition of regional institutions in England. These contradictions raise some fundamental questions about the territorial integrity of the state and the possible dissolution of Britain (Nairn, 2003) in the context of the Scottish independence referendum which is to be held in September 2014. As this essay ha s demonstrated, the process of devolution has achieved some notable successes in terms of public health, education policy and promoting equality, though it is impossible to predict what the future might hold in terms of further developments. Bibliography Birrell, D. (2009). The impact of devolution on social policy. The Policy Press. Chaney, P. (2011). Education, equality and human rights: Exploring the impact of devolution in the UK. Critical Social Policy, 31(3), 431-453. Danson, M., MacLeod, G., Mooney, G. (2012). Devolution and the shifting political economic geographies of the United Kingdom. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 30(1), 1-9. Greer, S. (2007) ‘The fragile divergence machine: citizenship, policy divergence, and intergovernmental relations’ (pp. 136-159), in Trench, A. (ed.), Devolution and power in the United Kingdom. Manchester University Press. Greer, S. (ed.) (2009). Devolution and Social Citizenship in the UK. The Policy Press. Gov.uk (2013) Devolution of powers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/devolution-of-powers-to-scotland-wales-and-northern-ireland Hazell, R. (Ed.). (2000). The state and the nations: the first year of devolution in the United Kingdom. Imprint Academic. HM Treasury (2007) Public expenditure statistical analyses 2007, Cm 7091. London: The Stationery Office. HM Treasury (2011) Public expenditure statistical analyses 2007, Cm 8104. London: The Stationery Office. Jeffery, C. (2002). Devolution: Challenging local government. Joseph Rowntree. Jeffery, C. (2007). The Unfinished Business of Devolution Seven Open Questions. Public policy and administration, 22(1), 92-108. Keating, M. (2002) ‘Devolution and public policy in the United Kingdom: Divergence or convergence’ (pp.3-21), in Adams, J., Robinson, P. (eds.), Devolution in practice: public policy differences within the UK. Institute for Public Policy Research. Keating, M. (2009) The independence of Scotland: Self-government and the shifting politics of union. Oxford University Press. Keating, M., Cairney, P., Hepburn, E. (2009) Territorial policy communities and devolution in the UK. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 2(1), 51-66. Lowndes, V., Pratchett, L. (2012). Local governance under the Coalition government: austerity, localism and the ‘Big Society’. Local government studies, 38(1), 21-40. MacKinnon, D. (2013). Devolution, state restructuring and policy divergence in the UK. The Geographical Journal. doi: 10.1111/geoj.12057 McEwen, N. (2013) Independence and the territorial politics of welfare The David Hume Institute Research Paper No. 4/2013. Edinburgh: The David Hume Institute. Available at: http://www.scotlandfutureforum.org/assets/library/files/application/Research_Paper_4-McEwen.pdf Nairn, T. (2003). The break-up of Britain: crisis and neo-nationalism. Common Ground. Rodriguez?Pose, A., Gill, N. (2005). On the ‘economic dividend’of devolution. Regional Studies, 39(4), 405-420. Rose, R. (1982). The Territorial Dimension in Government: Understanding the United Kingdom. Chatham House. Scott, G., Mooney, G. (2009). Poverty and social justice in the devolved Scotland: neoliberalism meets social democracy. Social Policy and Society, 3(4), 379-389. Shaw, J., MacKinnon, D. (2011). Moving on with ‘filling in’Some thoughts on state restructuring after devolution. Area, 43(1), 23-30. Smith, K., Hellowell, M. (2012). Beyond Rhetorical Differences: A Cohesive Account of Post?devolution Developments in UK Health Policy. Social Policy Administration, 46(2), 178-198. Trench, A. (ed.). (2007). Devolution and power in the United Kingdom. Manchester University Press. Williams, C., Mooney, G. (2008) Decentring social policyDevolution and the discipline of social policy: A commentary. Journal of social policy, 37(3), 489. How to cite Has Devolution worked?, Essay examples

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Atkins Diet Vs. Food Pyramid Essay Example For Students

Atkins Diet Vs. Food Pyramid Essay In todays society, peoples appearance means a lot to them. One of the major things that people focus on is their weight. There are dozens of new diets that people try every year. One of the more popular diets in the last few years is the Atkins diet. Even though it does help you lose weight quickly and easily, it doesnt provide a well nutritional eating style. The Atkins Diet plan was developed by Dr. Robert Atkins over 30 years ago. (5) It revolutionized the diet world. Despite the fact that the Atkins diet has been around for over 30 years, many people even to this day dismiss it as a passing fad. However, I dont think this diet is a passing fad. I believe this diet is going to be around for a long time. The Atkins diet has been used by millions of people across the globe, and many more try the diet every day. One of the basic principals of Atkins is controlling your carbohydrate intake. You must also eat unprocessed grains and other foods, and limit sugar or junk food consumption. In addition you must exercise regularly. It is just as important to take multivitamins and drink at least eight glasses of water per day. The Atkins diet consists of four distinct phases: induction, ongoing weight loss (OWL), pre-maintenance and lifetime maintenance. (5) The first phase of this diet is the most difficult. During this phase everyone must eliminate almost all carbohydrates from your diet. Many people quit the diet during this phase. The majority of the people dont have the necessary support from friends and family to help them over this stage. Additionally many people dont have access to enjoyable recipes without carbohydrates. To help keep off the weight there have been many foods created especially for the Atkins diet. Many people find the bars, shakes, and other products make the transition to the Atkins lifestyle easier, but they are not required. While many food manufacturers are now making specially prepackaged foods, you can also successfully follow it using foods obtained in your local supermarket. The Atkins diet seems to be a very safe diet. Many independent studies have been done about the Atkins diet. Some of these studies were done with the intent of proving that the Atkins plan didnt work. In addition to being safe, many studies have also proved Atkins is often more successful than the other diets. (1) There are supposed to be many health benefits from the Atkins diet. Recent researches confirm the efficiency and success of Atkins Diet weight loss program. The results of five scientific studies recently presented at conferences are remarkably consistent. Subjects on some form of the Atkins Diet plan lost twice as much weight as did subjects on the low-fat, low-calorie diets.(1) With the Atkins Diet approach in all five studies, cholesterol levels improved simil arly with both diets, but triglyceride levels remained considerably lower. It has also been proven that Atkins Diet provides great health benefits to the heart patients and shows promise for heavy heart patients. The Atkins diet is also supposed to help against high blood pressure. (5)People who start using Atkins diet tend to lose a lot of weight quickly. Once people learn the skills to maintain this diet, people tend to keep the weight off. But the problem is no one can ever go off this diet. Its a lifetime commitment and if you do choose to go off the diet, you tend to gain back the weight you started with. The majority of people also gain end up weighing more than what they had before they began the diet. Another negative effect about the Atkins diet is that it can result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Hence, a wide-range of nutritional supplements, including a multi-vitamin, is recommended. The following daily dosages are suggested: 300-600 micrograms (mcg) of chromium pi colinate, 100-400 milligrams (mg) of pantetheine, 200 mcg of selenium, and 450-675 mcg of biotin. (5) The final set back about the Atkins diet is that it is limited to certain people. The Atkins diet is not recommended for vegetarians, since it cannot be done as successfully without protein derived from animal products. Instead, Atkins recommends that vegetarian Atkins diet followers with a serious weight problem at least include fish in their vegetarian Atkins diet program. Furthermore, any woman who is pregnant or nursing is not suppose to be on the diet. The food pyramid is a suggested food guide for people who want to eat healthy. The food pyramid is broke down into sections of different types of food. The first one is grains. Any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley or another cereal grain is a grain product. Grains are divided into 2 subgroups, whole grains and refined grains. A whole grain is a grain that contains the bran, germ, and endosperm. (6) Refined grain s have been milled. Refined grain is grain in which the bran and germ are separated from the endosperm. (6) This process removes dietary fiber, iron, and many B vitamins. Popcorn, bread, pasta, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, tortillas, and grits are examples of grain products. The amount of grains you need to eat depends on your age, sex, and level of physical activity. Generally, the USDA recommends six ounce equivalents of grains with at least three of those coming from whole grains. (6)There is also the vegetable group. Any vegetable or 100% vegetable juice counts as a member of the vegetable group. Eating plenty of vegetables can help you ward off heart disease and stroke, control blood pressure and cholesterol, prevent some types of cancer, avoid a painful intestinal ailment called diverticulitis, and guard against cataract and macular degeneration which are two common causes of vision loss. (4) The amount of vegetables you need to eat depends on your age, sex, and level of physic al activity. Generally, the USDA recommends between 2-3 cups of vegetables per day. (6)In addition, there is also the fruit group. Any fruit or 100% fruit juice counts as part of the fruit group. Everyone is supposed to have the same benefits from eating fruit that you have when you eat vegetables. The amount of fruits you need to eat depends on your age, sex, and level of physical activity. Generally, the USDA recommends between 1 -2 cups of fruits per day. (6)Furthermore, there is also the milk group. All fluid milk products and many foods made from milk are considered part of this food group. Foods made from milk that retain their calcium content are part of the group, while foods made from milk that have little to no calcium, such as cream cheese, cream, and butter, are not.(3) Most milk group choices should be fat-free or low-fat. Having enough calcium is supposed to help prevent osteoporosis, the weakening of bones. Each year, osteoporosis leads to more than 1.5 million fractu res, including 300,000 broken hips. (4) Generally, the USDA recommends 3 cups of milk per day. (6)Also there is the meats and beans group. All foods made from meat, poultry, fish, dry beans or peas, eggs, nuts, and seeds are considered part of this group. Dry beans and peas are part of this group as well as the vegetable group. Most meat and poultry choices should be lean or low-fat. Fish, nuts, and seeds contain healthy oils, so choose these foods frequently instead of meat or poultry. The amount of food from the meat and beans group you need to eat depends on age, sex, and level of physical activity. Most Americans eat enough food from this group, but need to make leaner and more varied selections of these foods. .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f , .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f .postImageUrl , .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f , .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f:hover , .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f:visited , .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f:active { border:0!important; } .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f:active , .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u46f696c8c7c8a1ff21fb11a1e7d58a3f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Soap Operas EssayFinally, there is the oil, fats, and sweets group. Oils are fats that are liquid at room temperature, like the vegetable oils used in cooking (6). Oils come from many different plants and from fish. A number of foods are naturally high in oils, like, nuts, olives, some fish and avocados. Most oils are high in monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats, and low in saturated fats. Oils from plant sources (vegetable and nut oils) do not contain any cholesterol. In fact, no foods from plants sources contain cholesterol. Fats are a lipid that is solid at room temperature. (7) You are supposed to only have a few oils, fats and sweets in your daily meal. In addition to watching what you eat, you should also have some kind of physical activity. Physical activity simply means movement of the body that uses energy. Walking, gardening, briskly pushing a baby stroller, climbing the stairs, playing soccer, or dancing the night away are all good examples of being active. For health benefits, physical activity should be moderate or vigorous and add up to at least 30 minutes a day. (2) At a minimum, do moderate intensity activity for 30 minutes most days, or preferably every day. This is in addition to your usual daily activities. Increasing the intensity or the amount of time of activity can have additional health benefits and may be needed to control body weight. (8)Even though the Atkins diet sounds like a great diet, the food pyramid will have more long term benefits. You need to keep in mind that there have been not a lot of published scientific studies to support all the claims that Dr. Atkins claims. In addition, Atkins offers very limited food choices. In addition dehydration is possible if large amounts of water are not consumed. More importantly, the diet is low in calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, and folate. (8)Weight is a major issue in todays society. Even though the Atkins diet sounds great, its not the best way to go. If you use the food pyramid right then you are on the right track to having a healthier life style. Even though Atkins might help you lose more weight in a short term, it does a lot more damage is the long term!REFERENCES1. Atkins Can Help: http://atkins.com/why/index.html2. Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion:http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/3. Food and Nutrition Information Center:http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/Fpyr/pyramid.html4. Harvard School of Public Healthhttp://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/pyramids.html5. Healthcare in the News: http://www.mercyhealthplans.com/savvyshopper/healthheadlines/030528.aspx6. Nutrition for Foodservice ; Culinary Professionals 5th Edition; Karen Eich Dru mmond and Lisa M. Brefere. Copyright 2004 by John Wiley ; Sons, Inc. 7. Popular Diet Plans:http://www.holistic-online.com/Remedies/weight/weight_diet-Atkins-diet.htm8. United States Department of Agriculture:http://www.mypyramid.gov/

Sunday, March 8, 2020

Enemy at the Gates, Fly Away Peter combination essay

Enemy at the Gates, Fly Away Peter combination essay Free Online Research Papers The two texts offer readers and viewers different insights into the nature of war. Both texts use very graphic imagery which is disturbing and often macabre to illustrate the confronting reality of war. Annaud utilises visual imagery and music to help create an effectively realistic mise-en-scene throughout the film. Annaud affirms the importance of hope and love whilst demonstrating the brutal political nature of war. In â€Å"Fly Away Peter† Malouf constructs characters to show how war affects people. He juxtaposes the violence of war against the calm sanctuary like, home of Jim. Malouf creates powerful scenes which convey how soldiers dealt with the tragedy of the slaughter of fallen comrades and which reveal the fear within each soldier. He also affirms hope and a positive sense of renewal in life which emphasises that the cycle of life continues despite the horrific and unnatural nature of war. The preface by G.K. Chesterton which Malouf uses applies to the intentions of both texts. â€Å"We can only say that one of the animals went entirely off its head.† Both texts explore the way humanity goes â€Å"off its head† in times of war. This implies that people in times of war behave in an insane fashion. The graphic imagery used by each text is compelling and provocative. â€Å"Fly Away Peter† demonstrates this when Eric, Clancy and Jim were at base and were about to have lunch. A â€Å"Minnie† explodes near them and Malouf comments, â€Å"He found out that he was entirely covered in blood – his uniform, his face, his hair – he was drenched in it, it couldn’t all be Eric’s; and if it was his own he must be dead, and this standing up whole an illusion or the beginning of another life.† This description is powerful because it reveals that in war there were no safe places and anything could happen at any time. In â€Å"Enemy at the Gates† Annaud similarly shows this when Vassilij, Koulikov and Volodya left the base and Vassilij spots a German sniper. The sniper had his eyes clawed out and had no index finger while still lying there looking like he was still alive. This graphic visual image emphasises the savage nature of war and wh at people do for money in times of dire need. Both texts rely on brutally realistic moments like those above to illustrate the nature of war. Annaud uses a range of different music themes to create an appropriate mise-en-scene throughout the film. He utilises sombre music most frequently. This is used most powerfully when the German Major Konig hangs young Sasha Filipov to get Vassilij angry and lose patience to find him. This scene shocks viewers as it implies that in war people will do anything to win. The mood of the music helps develop the anger and sadness to help emphasise this idea. Annaud also intensifies the film’s element of suspense through the use of music. This is evident when Major Konig traps Vassilij behind a broken stove and Vassilij is trying to get his rifle with his pocket knife because the music turns from a slow rhythm to a quick tempo style, which makes the mood tense and suspenseful. Annaud also uses the juxtaposition of sombre themes with up-beat joyful music in certain scenes. This is most effectively used when Vassilij is sitting with Tania in the base while everyone in the sniper squad is drinking and celebrating being alive. Vassilij says, â€Å"All these men here know they are going to die. So, each night when they make it back, it’s a bonus. So, every cup of tea, every cigarette is like a little celebration. You just have to accept that.† This scene demonstrates for viewers that the soldiers know that it is very likely that they will not survive the next day and so when they get back each night, they party and celebrate while they can. Again the music is significant in conveying the despair of the scene and to cause the viewer to gain insight into the nature of war and how humans respond to its horror. Annaud affirms the importance of hope and love by having an optimistic ending where Vassilij and Tania meet after the war and live on happily. It is also evident in the sex scene, between Tania and Vassilij at the sniper base. This is powerful because the film demonstrates that people even in war can find love and beauty. The beauty of love is juxtaposed against the horror of the war scenes. It also gives the viewer a sense of hope that people can still be human in the inhuman situations of war. Annaud explores the political inequality of war when Koulikov says, â€Å"Nobody gives a shit about the telephone guys.† This is powerful because most of the â€Å"telephone guys† were poor citizens. As in most wars Annaud reminds viewers how war often oppresses and exploits the poorest members of society. Malouf constructs different types of characters to illustrate how war affects people even if they aren’t fighting. This is emphasised when Jim goes out to a pub with Clancy and Eric and Jim ordered Vin Blanc with syrup which was not what he usually drank, this is showed when it says â€Å"Jim craved the sweetness. For some reason, up here, he couldn’t get enough of it.† This is a powerful scene because it shows that Jim has changed because of his experience of the harshness of war. Malouf also explores this in Imogen’s description, â€Å"Jim, she moaned silently, somewhere deep inside. Jim. Jim. There was in there a mourning woman who rocked eternally back and forth; who would not be seen.† This moment is powerful because it shows that not only soldiers were affected by the war. It was also their family and friends who were affected and changed because of war. Like Annaud, Malouf employs juxtaposition as a device. He contrasts war with the tranqui l harmony of the bird sanctuary where Jim worked and lived before the war. He does this to show that a man can get thrown into the savagery of war no matter how peaceful a personality he had before the war. Malouf creates powerful scenes which convey how soldiers dealt with the tragedy of the slaughter of fallen comrades to examine the psychological fear this instilled in each soldier. This is used in two very powerful scenes, first when Clancy gets blown to smithereens. Malouf says â€Å"He tried to cry but no sound came out. He fell to his knees in the dirt and his screams came up without sound as a rush of vomit, and through it all he kept trying to cry out, till at last, after a few bubbly failures, his voice returned.† This is powerful because it shows that the soldiers made friends and became intimate comrades with the guys in their platoon. It also illustrates how painful it was for soldiers to see their mates die. The second powerful scene is when Malouf says, â€Å"Wizzer began to quake. His shoulders first, then his jaw. He had drawn himself up into a ball and was rocking back and forth, clenching his fists to his chest.† This is so shocking because it creates a portrait of the fear that devastated soldiers during the war. Malouf’s understanding of the psychological terror caused by exposure to violence is one of his most powerful devices to cause the reader to understand the nature of war. The ending is an affirmation that this insanity in war is only one aspect of life and living. This is also emphasised when Malouf says, â€Å"There was a garden in the clearing, neat rows of what looked like potatoes, and figures, dark-backed and slowly moving, were on their knees between the plants, digging. Falling on his knees he began awkwardly to knead the earth, and then to claw at it as the others were doing. It felt good.† Such moments of normality provide an important sense of relief from the abnormality when humanity goes off its head. The reader is reminded of the natural cycle of life, which continues despite the unnatural quality of war. Malouf creates a sense of the renewal of life and of hope at the end of the novel. This is evident when Miss Harcourt looks out at the sea and sees a surfer, â€Å"He rode rapidly towards her; then, on the crest of the wave, sharply outlined against the sky. She stood there. Fascinated. That too was an image she would hold in her mind.† This is powerful because it shows that life continues despite the brutality of war. Malouf’s preface is â€Å"We can only say that one of the animals went entirely off its head.† This is powerful because it is saying that out of all the species of animals only one has gone insane and that is humans. Malouf’s novel allows us to understand how war by its nature shows humanity â€Å"sliding† into an abyss. In Jim’s words â€Å"He would slide with the rest. Down into the pit.† Annaud uses lighting most effectively in the film. Most of the film’s composition is so dark that you can just see the actors’ reactions. At the end of the film however, when Vassilij finds Tania, a bright light illuminates their reunion. This is evocative because, like Fly Away Peter it reinforces the concepts of hope and love in the film. Both texts use journey motifs to emphasise the nature of war, even though each text employs a different type of journey. â€Å"Fly Away Peter† has a journey of self discovery. Malouf explores this when Jim realises â€Å"If he didn’t go, he decided, he would never understand, when it was over, why his life and everything he had known were so changed, and nobody would be able to tell him.† While â€Å"Enemy at the Gates† explores the journey of not just one person, but of three people in the film. It is a journey involving love for a woman and also a journey of love for one’s country which has the pr otagonists fighting off the invaders. In both texts characters grow and become strong, brave and compassionate, who try to save the lives of their comrades. Again this sense of sacrifice and love for comrades is evident in both texts and is seen as the only positive quality to emerge from the inhumane nature of war. Each text offers a different insight into the nature of war. Malouf may not have as many ways as film to emphasise the nature of war but yet constructs a very powerful narrative that includes many different insights in its own right. Annaud is able to utilise cinematic techniques to emphasise the nature of war and its consequences and creates a very strong film about the Russian perspective of the Battle of Stalingrad. Both texts caused me as a reader to deliberate about how gruelling it must be for a soldier in any war. Both Malouf and Annaud have given me greater awareness of how sadistic the nature of war really is and yet how men maintain their human virtues. Research Papers on Enemy at the Gates, Fly Away Peter combination essayWhere Wild and West MeetAnalysis Of A Cosmetics AdvertisementMind TravelHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsHip-Hop is ArtThe Hockey GameRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 Europe

Thursday, February 20, 2020

How Gene Luen Yang's Life contributes To the Novel American Born Essay

How Gene Luen Yang's Life contributes To the Novel American Born Chinese - Essay Example Monkey King is a master of the kung-fu arts, and this makes him be adored by his subjects and the most powerful monkey on the earth. However, the Monkey King wants to be recognized as god and not a monkey. Chin-Kee is a typical Chinese stereotype and he keeps on ruining his cousin’s (Danny) life. Danny is a great basketball player and a famous kid at school. However, each year Chin-Kee visits; he is forced to transfer to another school so that he escapes the shame. These three unrelated stories make up the comic novel â€Å"American Born Chinese† (Barnes&Noble 1). Themes The main theme in the comic novel is the attempt to fit in. There is tension between cultural forces and the essential self. In the storyline â€Å"Everyone Ruvs Chin-Kee,† American stereotypes are expressed by Gene Luen Yang’s narration as sitcom. The use of sitcom in this novel is proper because it is a genre that is mostly used in describing stereotypes. Chin-Kee as a typical Chinese is the part that Yang wants to deny in order to fit in with his white friends or peers. Chin-Kee offers nothing important to others in the context of the Chinese culture. This is because he is antiquated and dressed in the Chinese attire, speaks in Chinese accent, and instigates practices that the westerners find to be detestable (Pulliam 1). Chin-Kee eats cats and he is intensely patriarchal. He wants to look for an American girl who is big-breasted and whose feet he is able to bind so that he can have children with her. He plays horrible jokes on his peers, and he does not at all understand proper western behavior. Although Chin-Kee conforms to the stereotypic culture that all Asians are smart, in his case, the knowledge he has, is not useful at all. All the knowledge he has, is to popularize himself in the class and this makes him a laughing stock in an American high school. Yang has become completely assimilated as a Caucasian just like his parents. When it is time for Chin-Kee to leave, each of the parents believes that Chin-Kee is the relative of the other. This demonstrates the degree Jin’s parents have become assimilated (Pulliam 1). The Monkey King story represents the instance of Yang in regard to whom he really is and his culture. Just like the Monkey King, Yang tries to deny his actual self. At the end, the Monkey King must humbly accept who he is just like the monk Wong Lai-Tsao. According to Wong Lai-Tsao, this is the strategy to true transcendence, and it removes the suffering. The monk (Wong Lai-Tsao), â€Å"is free of want because he is free of ego that would make him want what he cannot have† (Pulliam 1). Among the four monks, he is the only monk who has attained legendary status in ancient times and his gifts are said to be remarkable. Wong Lai-Tsao was a master of being humble unlike the other monks who were either masters of bodily needs for movement or food or master rhetoricians. The monk is able to free the Monkey King from prison; he does this by telling him to accept his monkey form and give up all the other forms. If the Monkey King could have done that a long time, he would have been freed from prison. Just like Wong Lai-Tsao, the Monkey King is happy in his true form (the monkey form). Thus, Yang can only find happiness when he accepts who he is (Pulliam 1). Style The comic novel unfolds in three sections: a modern version of the Monkey King myth; the fake-sitcom of â€Å"

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

The Role of International Organizations in Global Politics Coursework

The Role of International Organizations in Global Politics - Coursework Example Who regulates world politics and resolves the conflicts that naturally arise? And who regulates this regulatory body? The answer to that is a body that is not only answerable to by other countries but also answerable for itself to itself. These bodies are collectively known as International Organizations. The Penguin Dictionary of International Relations (2004) defines International Organizations as â€Å"formal institutional structures transcending national boundaries which are created by multilateral agreement among nation states. What is the role these structures play, and how do they transcend these boundaries? How are these multilateral agreements reached and how is it ensured that they are abided by. These are the questions this essay hopes to explore. The main purpose of international organizations is to foster international cooperation in areas such as security, law, economic and social matters, and diplomacy.†Ã‚   In other words, international organizations are organizations that have global participants and therefore a global influence and mainly are either government or semi-government in nature. As the name suggests, the former refers to global organizations that have a global influence, but they are organizations without government influence of involvement, such as International Committee of the Red Cross or even certain multi-national corporations, as strictly speaking, they too fit under the definition of an international organization. The latter is the better-understood form on an international organization. Intergovernmental International Organizations refer to organizations that are made up of representatives of sovereign states from all over the globe. Examples of these organizations are famously, but naturally n ot confined to, the United Nations or the European Union. This essay will explore the role of international organizations in global politics in reference to the second category, with a particular focus on the two examples given as well as several others.

Monday, January 27, 2020

Zara: Expanding Overseas | SWOT, Porters Five and PEST

Zara: Expanding Overseas | SWOT, Porters Five and PEST Zara is one of the most well known brands in the world and is also one of the largest international fashion companies. They are the third largest brand in the garment industry and are a unit of Inditex. It their flagship range of chain stores and are headquartered in Spain. Zara opened its first outlet in Spain in 1975. The headquarters of the company is based in Galicia. There are more than 2600 stores across 73 countries in the world. The Zara clothing line accounts for a huge bulk of its parent groups revenues. There are other clothing brands owned by Inditex such as KiddyÂÂ ´s Class (childrens fashion), Pull and Bear (youth casual clothes), Massimo Dutti (quality and conventional fashion), Bershka (avant-garde clothing), Stradivarius (trendy garments for young woman), Oysho (undergarment chain) and Zara Home (household textiles). Inditex owns all Zara outlets except for places where they are not allowed ownership of stores (thats where Franchises step in). Zara is renowned for coming up with products on a short timescale instead of taking forever. They are known for taking around 2 weeks to develop products and have been known to come up with around 10,000 new designs every year (which is an industry record). They have bucked the trend by making productions in Europe instead of shifting their entire production to Third World or Developing countries. However some of their clothes are manufactured in parts of Asia due to the fact that they have a longer shelf life. They make most of their own products inside Spain or other European Countries as they own a large number of factories in both Spain and Portugal. They also dont have to depend on anyone else as they can get everything done by themselves. Zara is unique in the way that it does not spend money on marketing and instead concentrates on opening new stores instead. Their brave experiments have led them to be labeled as one of the most innovative retailers in the world. Zara started out with low priced products which were pale imitations of high end fashion products. This move led to Zara being a smashing success and allowed them to expand by opening more stores in Spain. The company management also managed to reduce the time it took to create new designs and came up with the term instant fashions which allowed them to capitalize on new trends really fast. Zara is known to use teams of designers instead of individuals. Zara has to face a lot of competition from HM, Gap and Bentton internationally. Fortunately Zara is considered to be more fashionable than the rest of the brands despite the fact that its price is less than Benetton and Gap. HM is still cheaper than Zara but is equally fashionable as Zara. Gap and Benetton are less fashionable and more pricy. SWOT Analysis (S)trengths Zaras biggest strength is the fact that it provides cost leadership strategy by aiming at efficiency and cost reduction on products. There is a lot of efficiency merely due to the fact that products are put on fast track and costs are kept really low. They dont take a long time to come up with new collections. Zara is able to come up with collections really fast (around 2 weeks to get a collection ready). Zara focuses on what its customers want and thats why they have managed to do so well. They are able to get the opinions of its customers on a daily basis. The data is sent over to the headquarters where it is analyzed. This is a great way of saving time and helps them understand what sort of trends to follow. Since it does not take them a long time to come up with products they are able to cash in on the trends. They are also able to design, manufacture and send out the new products in less than 2 weeks. They are also very efficient when it comes to delivery of the products. Zara employs a huge team of designers who are able to design the clothes they require. Most of these designers are fresh out of Fashion schools and are able to do more for less. Most of the clothes manufactured are made in Spain and there is no need for outsourcing. Zara manufactures and distributes its clothes so it manages to cut out the middle man. This is one reason why they are able to get clothes out there so fast. They also have a great Information technology solution in place which allows for decentralized decision making. (W)eaknesses Zara does not spend any money on marketing or advertising. This is a huge weakness for them as its competitors spend a lot of money on advertising. Zara relies on goodwill and word of mouth so that people can shop at their stores. This is a weakness which can be exploited in the future by its competitors. Another weakness is the fact that Zara only has one manufacturing and distribution centre in the world. This is a double edged sword as it is both a weakness and strength. The fact that they have a huge distribution centre makes it an asset but then if it is hit by some sort of natural disaster or some logistical problem then it can have an adverse effect on its revenues. (O)pportunities There are a lot of opportunities for Zara lying ahead. They need to expand their presence in the USA where they face competition from the likes of GAP. They only have around 49 stores in the US which is not bad but then based on the size of the US that is equivalent to around one store per state. In comparison there are more than 300 stores in Spain which is a fraction of the size of the US. They may have conquered Europe but they still need to expand into the US market so they can give Gap a run for its money. They can grow properly if they expand their presence in the US. Zara is only going for markets where it is doing well such as Italy. However there is a huge opportunity for them to tap into the Indian market. The Indian Economy is doing really well and people over there love to buy good quality brand names at a reasonable price. Zara already has 2 outlets in India but then it wouldnt hurt to expand a bit more and form alliances with local manufacturers. This will make it easier for them to slowly grow within the Indian market. (T)hreats The biggest threat facing Zara is the fact that it is Europe Based. Zara is based in Spain and has a huge number of stores in Europe. Critics believe that there is an over saturation of stores in Europe and that having such a huge number of stores will dent the revenues over the longer term. The other reason is the fact that the Euro tends to be stronger than the Dollar. This is one reason why merchandise from Zara tends to be more expensive in other countries. This can be a big turn off and can have an adverse effect on their revenues in the longer term. Porters Five Forces Porters Five Forces allows us to look at the five forces which help us determine the competitive intensity and the attractiveness of a market. Some of these forces are related to competition from external sources while the rest are internal threats. These are basically all related to the macro environment. The various Forces are threat of substitute products, the threat of established rivals, the threat of new entrants, the bargaining power of suppliers and the bargaining power of customers. Porters Five Forces Analysis Threat of Competitors Zara faces a lot of competition in the market. There are a large number of competitors in the market such as HM, Benetton, Gap, etc. Fortunately The high level of competition makes it tough for everyone as they are all struggling to get a piece of the pie . The biggest problem is that due to the large number of competitors the growth rate is low due to the number of manufacturers around. The clothing industry has peaked and it is very difficult for people to stay in the industry as the competition is cut throat. Customers are spoiled for choice due to the number of brands within the market. They are also very fickle minded and base their buying habits on the basis of new trends. They will only buy based on price and brand recognition and this is why the manufacturers have to keep changing what they do and come up with new ways of gaining customers. The costs of manufacturing new goods are quite high plus it is not easy to procure raw material so thats why the ones who have the resour ces and the ability to do so are able to survive within the market. Threat of New Entrants There is always the threat of new entrants but then the risk is not so much as Zara already has a huge presence in most parts of the world. The barriers for entry for distribution are quite low in Spain ( where the bulk of their clothes come from.) New entrants will have it easy as the cost of distribution is quite low as they only need to rent a shop and need a bit of capital to start out. However when it comes to manufacturing then the barriers of entry are really high mainly due to the fact that it requires a huge investment to get started within the market. Substitutes There is no threat of substitutes as it is a basic necessity for everyone. Customers Bargaining Power Customers have varying levels of bargaining power as they can decide what they want. Customers are quite fickle when it comes to buying clothes. However the good thing is that each customer has a love purchase volume and that means that even if some tend to change their brand there will still be some who will buy Zara. It is not an item like a burger or a snack which is available easily anywhere for a low price. The good thing about the clothing business is that there is no risk nonpayment because customers pay for clothes during purchase. Supplier Negotiation Power There are too many suppliers in the market which is one reason why the suppliers dont have much negotiating power. The fact that Zara procures or makes most of the stuff itself is also another factor which doesnt work in the suppliers favor. If the supplier decides to cut down the supplies the manufacturer can easily go to another manufacturer. PEST Analysis The PEST analysis is a study of the environment before a company begins its marketing process. It is a study of the external macro environment. It stands for Political, Economic, Social, and Technological analysis and is an environmental scanning component of strategic management (P)olitical The political factors affecting Zara are when the government intervenes into the economy and comes up with laws which change the way things are done in the country. The government can easily change its policy and change the ways a business can operate in the country. They can change the laws and do drastic things like changing the interest rate. Zara needs to know the entire system and to be prepared for any potential problems it can face from the government due to a change in policies. (E)conomical Economic factors come into play as they are related to factors such as interest rates, taxation changes, economic growth, inflation and exchange rates. These have the potential to create many problems in the future. There are different duties and levels of tariffs in different countries and this can cause the prices of products to vary in different countries. The price of goods will also vary based on the country of origin and thats what Zara needs to keep in mind. (S)ocial If there are Changes in social trends it will have a huge impact on the demand for Zaras products and the availability and willingness of individuals to work. However that is not likely to happen as its not as if Zara makes niche products. They focus on a huge market and make different types of products so it is quite unlikely that there will be a social shift in this part. However the company still needs to work on trends and to make sure its updated with the times so that it can satisfy its customers and meet the demands of its demographics. (T)echnology Due to advances in technology companies have to make sure that they keep up. Zara has to make sure that they have the latest technology and that they are innovative in every way. The more advanced the technology the more it can bring about some quality. Zara has invested in technology and it has to keep improvising because if they dont then their competitors will get a head start on them. Part 2: Zara is the biggest contributor towards Inditexs profits. Its the most well known brand in the group and has played a huge role in the growth of the group as well as bringing about huge sales and profits. Zaras success has brought about a large number of case studies and reports. It has consolidated its position in the fashion industry and has made a good name for itself. Zaras business model is basically based on the principle that it can sell medium quality fashion clothing at affordable prices. Basically vertical integration and the ability to come up with a quick-response is a key factor to Zaras successful business model otherwise they would be no where without it. The process for Zara has been designed in such a way that it has the various functions within the business system such as designing, sourcing and manufacturing, distribution and retailing. They do all of these themselves and that is one reason why their growth is at a good rate. However what goes up must come down and Zara is not immune to the problems in the world. The way they operate can also prove to be their undoing due to the model they are currently utilizing. The fact that they have their own distribution centre and manufacturing unit is a very weak point. This can be discussed further in this document. The management at Zara have come up four fundamental success factors: short cycle time for creation of product, small quantity per product (and not too much of the same stock) , extensive variety of product every season (so that users can choose easily) as well as a huge investment in information and communication technology to allow them to stay on track . Zara knows what its customers want by tracking their preferences on a year round basis. They have their own team of designers who have been recruited fresh out of fashion school. It is not a tough job to tell them what they want based on the input they receive. They make around a limited quantity of clothes based on the 11000 various items designed by its in-house staff. Zara does not make any losses as they only order a limited quantity of each item which they believe is stylish and will be more restricted season wise. For example if they have miniskirts in design they will only be available for a short time due to the short summer period in Europe. Other clothes which can work the year around and for which the trend does not change are outsourced to Asia as the cost wont be so high. The outsourcing operation is very handy mainly because these clothes have a longer shelf life. It does not take a long time for the clothes to be prepared as it merely takes around 4 weeks total for the whole process : from design to the finished product in the stores. The fact that Zara knows what sort of trends are there in the market and are quick enough to change their strategy to match the trends in the fashion industry gives them a huge advantage. They are able to modify their timetable easily to adjust for a change in the trends in the market. Normally it takes around 8 to 12 months for any normal retailer to forecast trends and come up with a style and send it for production. They are unable to match what Zara does and they end up losing big time. Even if a style fails to sell much, Zara can easily sell the clothes on a discount. The fact that they quantity of clothes manufactured was so low that they lose much. Their low volume strategy has helped them have a very low number of discount sales every year as compared to a high rate for the rest of the industry. However this leads to higher costs which is a disadvantage but then they dont have to worry about having higher inventories. This method allows for a low inventory and high profit margins. They dont save any money here with costs but then they get the maximum out of their clothing line. A problem they face is the fact that since Zara controls everything it is not easy for them to expand or relocate as they have to stay put in one place or the whole operation will suffer and the goods will cost more to distribute. Zaras business model is wonderful in the sense that it has a very fashion forward line as they know which trends to cash in on. They seem to have the midas touch of turning everything into gold. Their policy is to have a mostly young and fashion conscious staff so that they will also be able to double as trend setters. If for instance a certain item in a store sells well then the management decides to sell the same item in other locations as well. The key is that most of the items are in short supply and people presume that there is a shortage of items which ends up making consumers want to buy more. A key factor in Zaras success is the fact that it has sourced its products from the right places. They have based their procurement offices in a couple of fashionable cities in the world. This allows them to witness the trends first hand and then to quickly come up with a solution of their own. They dont buy all the raw products on their own as they use one of their parent groups procurement units to do all its purchasing. One clever move on their part is that they buy most of their fabric in grey so that there is greater flexibility. It doesnt take long for the fabric to be prepared. The main distribution artery is in Spain where they have their biggest distribution centre. They also have some smaller distribution centers in countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. The problem with the distribution centre is that it is purely based in Spain and does not have the capacity for a heavy load. It is a huge distribution centre and occupies around 500,000 square feet in total. They only have the capability of processing around 60,000 folded garments in an hour. They need to find a new distribution centre or increase their operations so that they can save more time. However the biggest advantage for them is the fact that they have vertical integration which allows them to manufacture and distribute their own stuff without having to be at the mercy of any supplier. It is not tough to move any of their products as they have their own railway network which allows them to move goods easily to its distribution centre. Once the goods are ready they are shipped out immed iately though the shipping schedule is only twice a week. European stores get their goods early (around 24-36 hours) while other destinations get them within 2 days. This system has allowed them to achieve a very high level of accuracy in its shipments. The other good thing is that the outlets dont take long to display the new outfits once they reach their destination and this allows them to show new stock to their customers. The clothes are also coded according to their color so that the staff knows where to place them. This makes it easier for the customers to go around color matching the items they want to buy. Problems with Zara Zara is facing a large number of issues which can cause them a number of problems in the future. Despite the fact that Zara has a consistent business system which gives them a competitive advantage it is always in the danger of tanking badly. Zaras biggest advantage is the fact that its economies of scale are really good and that they have been able to ramp up their distribution system. The continued growth is good for them in every way. They have been helped a lot by their expansion in the international market. However their growth in the international market will be curtailed due to the reason that Zara has a very centralized logistics model. It is understandable that Zara has to expand its distribution centers and to increase its capacity. Zara has its main distribution centre in Spain and it wont be easy going trying to expand when their base is only in Spain. This will affect their plans to go international and to target more regions. They cant simply survive with a European presence alone. It is true that they do have a presence in other countries but then it is not as much as it should be. They have a huge presence in Spain but quite limited when it comes to other countries. They can easily target the North American region where they dont have much of a presence compared to the huge size of the region. The problem is that there are a lot of outlets there and a lot of competition coupled with the need for plus sized clothing, high cost of operations and a very mature market. Zara needs to come up with a strategy so they can compete very aggressively over there. They can also target South America but the problem is that it is not a very stable region and any geopolitical problems can lead to profits being low. A good market would be the ever reliable Middle East where Zara already has a small presence. However with talks of revolution in the air and other geo political problems it can be a risky bet. There are a few countries in the region which will lead it to be profitable but then the market is small compared to other regions. They can easily opt for countries such as the South East Asian markets and South Asia which have a lot of potential. Recommendations Zara can easily go around and expand its operations in many ways. The best thing would be to take it easy for the short term and to go for further expansion in Europe. Spain and Italy are neighbors and the fact that Zara has its main distribution centre in Spain will make it easy for Zara. For the time being they dont need to open any more distribution centers as they can work with regions which are quite near in proximity to them. Italy is one of the most fashion savy countries in Europe along with France. Zara already has 70 plus stores in the country but then they can do a lot better. They can enhance their presence in the market and try and take some share from some of its know rivals such as Benetton and HM. the biggest way for Zara to expand is to try and open another Distribution Centre in Eastern Europe and to be able to expand its operations in Eastern Europe. A number of countries are coming into the European Union and are ripe for the picking. They already have a presence in some countries but the number of stores per region is not as much as it should be. Zara should expand further in the Asian markets once they have been able to do their bit in Europe. They have already tested the waters in Asia despite the fact that there is a lot of competition from local vendors there. However the fact that people in the developing countries and with surging economies will be sure to try out Foreign brands and that would be one reason why its a good idea to expand further in Asia. The only problem is that Zara is based in Spain and that all their designs come from that region. The fact that they make items in limited quantities ensuring a low inventory will scuttle their plans to expand easily. If Zara decentralizes its manufacturing policy it can easily set up its own operations and distribution centre in Asia. It wont be easy as they will still have to procure items via local vendors. If they are unable to create a distribution centre in Asia they can still create a larger upscale distribution centre in Spain where they are able to take the load of supplying to a larger number of stores. In this way they will be able to keep up with the demand and supply. This will help in the growth of the company and allow them to face challenges. It wouldnt be a bad idea to expand in the US market in the long term even if it is not so friendly towards European labels. Competitors such as Benetton and HM have faced problems with the US market in the past. However Zara has the resources and the ability to be able to expand within the market. They can expand easily in the US market only if they manage to curb their costs which are quite high at the moment. They also need to invest in a proper high end IT system which can help them go with the trends. They will not have the advantage of the system they have in Spain as its a totally different ball game over there. There will be different political and economic circumstances which will dictate the way they do everything. It wont be easy to change their entire business model just for another region. This would mean that they have to decentralize the way they work so that they can work in the US. They would have to establish a distribution centre in Mexico or another cheaper place so that they can cater to the needs. The cost of labor wont be so much but the fact that it is decentralized and not under the control of the Spanish HQ. On the bright side it will be cheaper to ship products and the tariffs will be low. This will allow them to save a lot on costs and they will be able to keep their prices the same way they are in the origin countries. They will also be able to enjoy greater margins in this way. They will also be able to resolve other matters such as retailing overcapacity, less fashion-forwardness, need for larger sizes, and considerable internal variation. Risks The risks associated with expanding overseas are that it will require a lot of capital. They need to establish new facilities and it is not an easy task. They have to do a number of studies and research the market properly before they go ahead. It wont be an easy feat setting up everything from scratch. They will also have to train people the way they operate in Spain. However they can still keep the design and procurement process centralized as technology will allow their units to do what they want. Its just the units which need to be decentralized. There is the huge possibility that they will face a number of obstacles and losses before they can actually do something. The only problem is that they will face problems with their margin while they are at it. They will have to face increased costs and will have to pass on the buck to consumers so that their bottom line is not affected. Hypothetically they can also opt for joint ventures or franchising if they dont want to go and expand in the US. The only problem is that joint ventures and franchises dont always pan out as required. It can create problems for their brand name and can cause many unforeseen problems in the future. It is never a good idea to give out a franchise or work in a joint venture unless there is synergy between the two partners. Conclusion In the end it is highly recommended that Zara keep its house and affairs in order before they can think of expansion. Due to the environmental factors and the fact that the Euro Zone will not always be so stable should shake it out of its comfort zone. Expansion is the key but they have to play their cards right and plan their move properly before they end up making some costly mistakes.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Casting a Circle :: essays research papers

Casting a Circle   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Casting a circle is one of the most basic magickal acts that a Witch does. Circles are used for rituals and sometimes magickal workings. A circle does a number of things. Most importantly, it protects the practitioner(s) from spirits, negative energies, and other nasty things out there. With that in mind, please be sure to practice with extreme care and be sincere in what you are doing. Abide by the Wiccan Reed* and you should be fine. The circle also serves as a sacred place in which to do ritual workings like sabbat celebrations and certain spells. The circle keeps the energy in a contained area so that it can be concentrated and strengthened as much as possible before it goes out to do its job. So without â€Å"further ado† here is how... Ok, first things first. Prepare your area. There are two ways to do this. One walk around the circumference of where the circle will be and sprinkle water to wash the area, or two, water mixed with salt for a stronger purification. Try doing both and stick with which ever works better for you. Now you may cast. A circle is created with energy, and you are the director of that energy. Make sure you know where the boundaries will be before you cast it and have everything that you are going to use inside of this area because breaking the circle drains a lot of energy and is just not fun to do.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Start out by clearing your mind. Next, visualize the energy of nature and the universe mixing with your own, building up inside of you. Simply see yourself glowing a bright purple or blue. On the other hand, any other color if you feel more comfortable, do whatever you feel is the best way to do it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Now, pick a quarter or cardinal point at which to start. I usually pick North because it is what I've always been taught, but some Celtic traditions start with East, I've heard. Point your athame, wand, finger, or whatever you use towards the ground and see the energy flowing out. Begin to walk clockwise (Towards your right) and walk the circumference of the circle. While you're doing this, be sure to imagine a circle forming. Don't see it as a circle on the ground, but as a giant sphere with you inside. Half of it is above the ground, you are walking on a plane through the diameter, and the other half is below the ground.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Alliteracy Definition Essay

Alliteracy is defined by Merriam-Webster’s dictionary as the quality or state of being able to read but uninterested in doing so. I, myself, am an example of the definition Merriam-Webster gives. I am fully competent of picking up a book and reading it. When I have spare time available, I could easily walk over to the book shelf in my house, where my wife has many books ranging from romance to science fiction, pick one out and read it. However, it is not a something that draws my attention or seems of interest to do. I only read when it is required of me, such as work related text and school related text. On the contrary, Mortimer Adler was a man who loves books! In his 1940 essay, â€Å"How to Mark a Book,† Adler defines how reading is more than just reading. It is the act of active reading- a skill- that requires using certain strategies in order to remember and understand what you read by highlighting, underlining, and make annotations in the book to help you remembe r and understand what you’ve read. Adler states, â€Å"Marking up a book is not an act of mutilation but of love.† (Adler, 1940) Adler’s form of reading requires putting forth effort that people who are alliterate may not see as relevant for reasons such as technological advances and an expensive hobby during a time of recession. One technological advance that has replaced books is through the invention of the television, which was a modern day marvel of its time and still continues to be. The invention of the television brought news and entertainment to the general population easier and faster than any book or newspaper ever could. People started relying on television more and more and reduced or eliminated reading from their daily activities. Between 1955 and 1975, when television were predominately introduced, a study showed that the average amount of time a person spent reading fell from 5 hours a day to 3.6 hours a day. However, as time went on and a larger variety of shows became available and tele vision hours extended those figures changed significantly. The same study shows that by 1995, the average person spent 9 percent of the spare time reading in comparison to 21 percent in 1955. Adler states, â€Å"They forget that it is possible for a man to acquire the idea, to process beauty, which a great book contains.† (Adler, 1940) However, does it truly mean that because people don’t read, they cannot acquire ideas or process the beauty behind ideas and creativity? I disagree. Television has been a wonderful source for information as we learn tons of information about places and people that we seldom learn about in written literature. We can easily learn about new cultures, different places, and how to do things without turning through page after page of words. Television, furthermore, helps improve memory as we are able to recall what we see easier than by what we’ve read. Another factor that has helped to cause alliteracy is money. People just don’t have the funds to purchase the high prices that are placed on books especially during these recessive times. Buying books is an expensive hobby and outside of the reach of the average person who is struggling just to pay their bills. According the National Endowment for the Arts, reading participation increases quite progressively for each increase in family income. Based on the survey, which was taken in 2002, approximately one-third of family with an income under $10,000 read literature during the survey year. This was in comparison to 61 percent of family with incomes of $75,000 or more. Based on these surveys, it is proven that lower family incomes are linked with alliteracy rates. In Adler’s How to Mark a Book, Adler makes the statement, â€Å"†¦buy yourself a cheap edition and pay your respects to the author,† (Adler, 1940) for the sole purpose to â€Å"Mark† the book up. Adler throws this idea out freely as if everyone is able to afford the cost of books. However, Adler was American professor, philosopher, and educational theorist who was more than likely in the 61 percentile that the National Endowment for the Arts surveyed. It is not feasible to assume that everyone can afford the price of books and may face allitaracy for that reason. Adler’s form of reading requires putting forth effort that people who are alliterate may not see as relevant for reasons such as technological advances and an expensive hobby during a time of recession. If the purpose of Adler’s reasoning in marking a book is to share an intimate relationship with the author, then maybe technological advances will one day bring that to the masses in a more affordable way.