Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Gaslan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Gaslan - Essay Example Therefore, I see that Gasland will continue to bring more profits and jobs in the economy of China. I know the department is wondering about the safety of using coal in China. In regards to safety when using coal, am aware of migration of methane when coal is used for long as seen in places like Colorado, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Methane is a natural gas which migrates to aquifers when there is a combination of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Therefore, there is a need to avoid driving down natural gas costs and pollution of environment by coal plants. The department should understand about the hydraulic fracturing or fracking. It is a method whereby the chemical fluid is added to earth to free natural gas trapped far underground. The fracking change is actually good news, because it helps in national security and boost the economy of the government. This is achieved since it reduces imports and creates more jobs in the economy and brings about new investment in China. Th e department confirmed that the critics given can be solved it the people take their time to understand that pollution is actually reduced because the amount of coal used in plants is reduced. This clearly shows that boost in fracking increases productivity. Any economist know that without energy China cannot grow economically, therefore, energy is a fundamental service for each and every day living. We know companies like Sinopec and Recon technology which boost the economy of China. Without fuel in the economy, it leads to poverty, although it has effect to the environment, the need of fuel is more important. Meeting the increasing requirements for energy in the entire world is hard to achieve. Therefore, there is a need for fracking even if it has environmental effects. Our choices have to weigh between environmental effects against the economic and social benefits of current supply availability. When fracking is adopted in China, the economy is transformed, it become self-suffic ient than when natural gas is used and could become the biggest exporter this will automatically boost the economy of China. Economists know that a big investment is made through fracking than renewable energy. Therefore, fracking should be encouraged. The shutdown of all fracking will drastically affect the domestic and international markets. In short the oil industry should increase its plans to increase oil production with hydraulic fracturing to increase oil recovery even if it’s threatening the communities’ air and drinking water. Economists should know that the process of hydrofracking is controversial gas and oil extraction methods develop in late 1940s to have access to fossil energy deposits which are inaccessible by drilling machines. The methods actually involve smashing of the rock with a lot of water with sand and a lot of chemicals so that to bring the gas into the surface. The process involve drilling of vertical well bores into the earth, via sediment l ayers, the water table and other rocks to reach oil and gas. (Ralph & Peter 2012) Drilling is done in a horizontally angled and smashed with a lot of water and fracking fluid, chemicals and sand to break the rock and shale. Small explosives are used to open up the bedrock and allow the gas and oil to be removed from the rock formations. Fracking has been there for decades and the process of doing it has been varying from deep fracking to other methods. In conclusion, economists should use fracking approach but try

Monday, October 28, 2019

Portfolio Models Essay Example for Free

Portfolio Models Essay The use of portfolio models in marketing has been gaining increasing use since 1960s. The portfolio models were developed with the aim of helping in the development of market share and growth. These models have been used as strategic thinking model in the making of business decision. These models include BCG, General electric/shell, Hofner-Schendel, Experience Curve and Porters Competitive models. Each model has been criticized on the capabilities and according to its scope on market share. These models have been found to lead to the wrong decision in investment and other business processes. The portfolio models assume a causal relationship between the market share and the profitability of a product in the market. The common scope of portfolio models is the way it tries to ignores some of the most relevant strategic issues in business. Therefore, all models cannot be taken as an effective strategic decision making model. It should however be discarded or it should be used with caution. This paper does not recommend the use of portfolio models and an alternative way should be sought to replace this. Introduction Portfolio models can be defined as a method or strategy in which a new product will be introduced in the market and perform as it was expected. In the 1960s, there was growing assertion of the use of portfolio models in marketing. There was growing interest on the development of market share and growth strategy which later came to be known as marketing portfolio. The BCG matrix, Hofner-Schendel, Experience Curve and Porters Competitive models and GE/S were meant to achieve the marketing needs especially when introducing new products in the market. They were meant to stimulate strategic thinking especially among the senior marketing executives in the turbulent business environment. However, there has been dysfunction of these models in the way they are taught and the way they are applied in the market. This study will look into the applicability of portfolio models in strategic decision making in marketing. The study will evaluate the view from a number of literature to understand whether the model can really be applied to the decision making process or not. This paper therefore evaluates the available literature which has given an insight into this model to understand how it can be applied in strategic marketing decision. There are other methods that were introduced to give a product a distinctive market share especially when it’s introduced. There are four commonly used methods to approach this matter, the Boston consulting group (BCG), the General electric/shell (GE/S), Hofner-Schendel, Experience Curve and Porters Competitive models. Therefore to give the clear meaning of the portfolio model, there is a need to understand how the portfolio models work. The first step to be taken when using the above models is to understand the different business/ marketing strategies of the company. Portfolio models in marketing decisions Portfolio models management generally defines the way business comes up with strategic decision to venture into the market. In this definition, the strategic marketing decision is a method by which marketing ideas are made and implemented in order for a product to have stronger grounds in the market. At any one time, company will be coming up with new product which will need to be introduced to the market in the most successful way. Portfolio models therefore provide the business with important tools for analyzing of the strategic decision to determine their effectiveness in the market (Abell and Hammond, 1979, p. 42). Purpose of portfolio models in strategic decision making in marketing There are mainly four main purpose of using the portfolio models in the strategic marketing decisions which are pursued in portfolio management and must be achieved through any model that is used. These goals include the maximization of portfolio, seeking of the right balance of the available projects, aligning of the portfolio strategically, and aligning the projects to the available resource (Ansoff, 1984, p. 12). Smith and Swinyard (1999, p. 2) also show that portfolio marketing models are important for an organization to assess the overall success of a new product in the market before a lot of money is used in the development of the product. They both call for the use of multiple marketing models in order to achieve the overall success of introducing new products in the market. This will reduce the failure rate of the products and extend their life cycle in the market. (Thomas, 2002, p. 61) The models can also be used as important tools to forecast the level of competition and therefore draw upon effective way of beating this competition. They help to forecast the performance of a product in the market so as to draw up strategies to effectively introduce it in the market. Edgett, Cooper, and Kleinschmidt (2002, p. 2) showed that in order to achieve full development of a new product in the market, there has to be effective portfolio management. There are different types of portfolio models that include the BCG, GE/S, Hofner-Schendel, Experience Curve and Porters Competitive models. In his review of the portfolio models, Day (1977, p. 32) showed that the use of bubble diagrams had been gaining increasing use in business. Day shows that these models resemble the portfolio models with stars, cash cows, dogs, and others. He showed that these models could be used successfully to forecast the market in the future. Day therefore asserted the role of matrix like Boston matrix in marketing. The Boston matrix could be used to show four quadrants as has been shown by Day and corresponding strategies which could be used in each quadrant. However Day criticizes the matrix on the sense that it is too narrow on its scope. He asserts that the BCG matrix has a narrow focus on the market share of the product. On the other hand Morrison and Wensley (1991, p. 106) provided an insight into the portfolio planning models as used in making business decision. They asserted that the use of BCG matrix in portfolio management is inhibited by difficulties in measurement of the rate of market growth and the relative market share of the product. This is due to a number of reasons. They gave the most prominent reason being the fact that market boundaries are often very difficult to fix which meant the different matrix methods will give different recommendations for a given situation. Therefore they argue that the common scope of BCG matrix in a way ignores some of the most relevant strategic issues in business. Though these other models are not as famous as BCG, Day still argues that use of them could also lead to success in the market. Day advocated and recommended the use of Porters competitiveness that he viewed to have higher possibilities of success than other models if its well implemented. It is commonly used in an already operating business with other products in the market. The experience curve can only be help to the company that has been in the market for sometime with a different product. The experience that the company has gained in the given period will determine the strength of the company in the market. This has been used by several companies like coca-cola in the introduction their mineral water. It would be hard for a company that has not been doing well in the market to succeed with the new product. They showed that Boston matrix was a technique for one season and not for all the season. This is because its popularity and use increased in the 1960s and 1970s and then plummeted due to the challenges faced in the market. They showed that the single chart could be successfully used to determine the growth potential and the competitive strength of a product in the market but this has rapidly changed with time. Armstrong and Brodie (1994, p. 38) evaluation on the applicability of the Boston matrix concluded that the use of the matrix to guide investors often would result to wrong decision through the use of BCG. General Electric and Shell, Porters competitive models are designed for long term use in the market, once the product has been introduced in the market, the models techniques still continues to support the product through the entire life in the market. Whichever model is used, it has to be used for entire life of the company because no other model will fit without altering the companies business especially when the company is introducing new product in the market. Although they based their study on a small number of graduates in a class, they gave a further warning against the use of the matrix in a simple mind. Armstrong and Brodie (1994, p. 3) carried out a study on the effect of the portfolio planning methods on the overall decision making process. Their study pointed out the weakness in the use of BCG matrix in making strategic decision in an organization. Their study revealed that the use of BCG matrix in making investment decisions was highly likely to lead to unprofitable investment while Robert and Merton (1989, p. 210) advocates that the implementation of other models instead of matrix were intended for lifetime decision making. If not well implemented, there is a probability of causing life time losses and would be hard to recover unless the product is withdrawn from the market. Each model has some weaknesses bas they are exposed out in the way models assume a casual relationship between the market share and the profitability of a product in the market. Morison and Wesley (1991, p. 26) also pointed out lack of consistency in the use of the portfolio models in determining market growth and profits. These studies give varied views on the use of Boston matrix, GE/S, Hofner-Schendel, Experience Curve and Porters Competitive models in making marketing decision. They all seem to point out on the weaknesses of these models in light of their theory and application. There are other ways a business can prosper other than using portfolio models. The strategies used in introducing the product in the market is all that matters, portfolios are just to give the business a rough idea on how to approach the marketing matter but not to give a conclusive tread which the business should follow. Conclusion Portfolio models are applied in portfolio management. They are applied in management to make strategic marketing decision. Though they had gained increasing use in different times, they have some weaknesses that are fatal to the welfare of the business in future. On the other hand they may give a rough idea on how to approach the market issues and on how to introduce the new product in the market. In all portfolios, not is able to predict the growth and the profit margins or losses on the other hand for the product, thus making them less important tool for the marketing. However the use of models should be discarded and there be implemented new strategies that would be able to address the issues of the business on long term and in both growth and revenues that are likely to be gained by the introduced product. Recommendations: The use of portfolio models is not recommended and if they have to be used, they must be implemented with great caution. None of all models has proofed an effective strategic decision making in regard to the marketing issues. It should however be discarded or it should be used with caution. This paper does not recommend the use of portfolio models and an alternative way should be sought to replace this.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Essay --

Mobile computing has been a is part of the enterprise for the last couple of decades, but not until the recent advancements in hardware, software, and wireless networks, has mobile computing has become a key part of enterprise. The cConsumerization of mobility has had the biggest influence on enterprise mobility in the past five years. SToday, smart phones, tablets, mobile infrastructure, management, and wireless data plans have become a trillion-dollar business. Today, the ability to connect wirelessly to the internet Internet or to a private network from almost anywhere has revolutionized the idea of mobility in the enterprise. The adoption of mobile devices in the enterprise has been started from with two-way radios with antennas to communicate simple voice or text messages. We have also saween the onset of personal digital assistants (PDAs) with screens that can could do some of the functions of personal computers. 1.1 Portable Computing Some of the first mobile computers that came to the market in late 1970s and early 1980s were inspired by Alan Kay’s Dynabook concept from 1968. In 1968, Alan Kay as a PhD candidate envisioned a mobile computing device. He later in his 1972 proposal (Kay 1972) "â€Å"A personal Personal Ccomputer for Cchildren of Aall agesAges" † (Kay 1972) described it as the Dynabook. The proposal outlines the requirements for a conceptual portable educational device that’s intended primarily for children. Although the Dynabook concept was originally presented as a mobile computing device for children, some entrepreneurs and thought- leaders, especially John Ellenby, saw the portable computing as a new market. John also realized that the initial price point for as innovative a concept as the Dynabook c... ...rs. Wireless connectivity probably had the biggest impact on mobile computing. It, Wireless connectivity allowed development of devices and applications that could communicate wirelessly with networks. The next era of innovations were focused on convergence. T, this helped in the designing of a hybrid device that combined the functionality of used to be multiple separate mobile devices. Multiple digital mobile devices, such as like Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), mobile phones, voice recorders, music players, cameras, and games, etc.,were now integrated into one integrated mobile device. The era of smart phones was focused on content rendering and consumption on mobile devices. Mobile apps becaome popular among smart phone users. To create more interactive and meaningful digital experiences, digital ecosystems and mobile data services came into existence.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Comparing Atkins and Weight Watchers Diets Essay -- Health Nutrition D

Comparing Atkins and Weight Watchers Diets Of the many diets on the market today, Atkins and Weight Watchers have a huge following. The followers of these two diets must adopt very different eating plans. You must decide before going on one of these, which advantages are you looking for and which disadvantages can you live with.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Atkins diet works on the notion that weight gain is caused not by fat intake or food portions, but the way our bodies break down carbohydrates (betterhealthusa.com). Carbohydrates will turn to fat if not burned by the body. If your body does not get enough carbohydrates, it will use stored fat. Atkins dieters are told not to eat carbohydrates in order to burn their stored fat, causing weight loss. This diet has some advantages and disadvantages. Dieters will notice in the first weeks of this plan that their weight comes off rapidly. Much of this weight is water. In these first weeks, total carbohydrate intake is less than 20 grams. One apple has 21 grams. You may eat all the meats and cheeses you desire. There is...

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Maltese Falcon Comparison Essay

Imagine, you knew of an object that looked ordinary, but was really worth thousands, or even millions of dollars? Now imagine that you were one, of a few people in the world who knew what it was worth, -you didn’t know where it was but you knew how you could get your hands on it? In the book the maltese falcon, that is exactly the case. Today I am going to be comparing the novel, the maltese falcon by Dashiell Hamtese, and the song Money by the beatles, as they both strongly focus and put importance on money, also a well-known symbol for greed, which is the main theme of the book and the song. In the maltese falcon, Greed is characteristic that all the characters in the book share and represent perfectly. Same with the song, money, where greed is present in the lyrics. The lines in the song â€Å"now give me money, that’s what I want, That’s what I want, yeah† was repeated throughout the whole song. This is expressed in the Maltese falcon, as this novel starts off with the plot being based around the money, and greed and lasted all the way to the end of the novel. Infact mr spade initially takes his assignment to ? d the maltese falcon because the money is good, and seems to be driven by payment throughout his search for the maltese falcon, and not as much as finding the killer of his partner. This is shown in the a quote from a conversation Brigid and mr spade were having. â€Å"surely your not considering it said brigid. Why not? Five thousand dollars is a lot of money†responded mr spade. And than again he says â€Å" 5 thousand dollars is a lot of money†. Secondly the line of lyrics â€Å"You’re lovin’ gives me a thrill, But you’re lovin’ don’t pay my bills† represents everyones relationships and love in the book. All characters, who were after the maltese falcon were selfish and only cared about the money and what was in it for them. They didn’t care, about one another and if someone got left behind, they would keep on marching on until they found what they wanted. They would do anything for themselves to get there hands on the maltese, even kill, a loved one. In the following quotes, it shows gutman, a character in search for the maltese falcon for secenteen years, give up his -son-like , as a fall-man to mr spade in exchange for the falcon. well wilmer, im sorry indeed to lose you, and I want you to know that I couldn’t be founder of you if you were my own son-but gad! -if I lose you a son its possible to get another and theres only one maltese falcon. † Finally, my last comparison are the lyrics at the beginning of the song â€Å" the best things in life are free But you can keep them for the birds and bees, Now give me money†, what the lyrics mean is that I know that the good things are life are free, but I don’t need those , give that to someone else, all I need is money, to make me happy, so give it to me money. hroughout the book, all the characters wanted was to find the maltes falcon, and they didn’t care about anything or anyone else. they all had there mind set on one thing only, the falcon. They were willing to giver up everything, close relationships, housing, and their life in order for the riches. This is shown whenever they heard mr spade mention he knew where the maltese falcon was, thier eyes would light up and get overly excited. In summary, the maltese falcon and the song money, are similar due to having the same theme based around greed caused by the money.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Golden Eagle Facts

Golden Eagle Facts The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is a large diurnal bird of prey whose range extends across the Holarctic region (a region that encircles the Arctic and encompasses areas within the Northern Hemisphere such as North America, Europe, northern Africa, and northern Asia). The golden eagle is among the largest birds in North America. They are among the most popular of national emblems of the world (they are the national bird of Albania, Austria, Mexico, Germany, and Kazakhstan). Fast Facts: Golden Eagle Scientific Name: Aquila chrysaetosCommon Name(s): Golden eagleBasic Animal Group:  BirdSize: 2.5 to 3 feet tall, a wingspan of 6.2 to 7.4 feet  Weight: 7.9 to 14.5 pounds  Lifespan: 30 yearsDiet:  CarnivoreHabitat:  Mexico through western North America to Alaska with occasional appearances in the east; Asia, northern Africa, and Europe.Population:  Global breeding population is 300,000Conservation  Status:  Least Concern Description Golden eagles have powerful talons and a strong, hooked bill. Their plumage is mostly dark brown. Adults have a shiny, golden swatch of feathers on their crown, ​nape, and sides of their face. They have dark brown eyes and long, broad wings, Their tail is a lighter, grayish brown as are the undersides of their wings. Young golden eagles have white patches located at the base of their tail as well as on their wings.   When viewed in profile, golden eagles heads appear  relatively small while the tail seems quite long and broad. Their legs are feathered their full length, all the way to their toes. Golden eagles either occur as solitary birds or are found in pairs. Anton Petrus/Getty Images Habitat and Distribution Golden eagles inhabit a wide range that stretches throughout the Northern Hemisphere and includes North America, Europe, northern Africa and the northern parts of Asia. In the United States, they are more common in the western half of the country and are only rarely spotted in the eastern states. Golden eagles prefer open or partially open habitats such as tundra, grasslands, sparse woodlands, scrublands and coniferous forests. They generally inhabit mountainous regions up to 12,000 feet in elevation. They also inhabit canyon lands, cliffs, and bluffs. They nest on cliffs and in rocky outcrops in grasslands, shrublands, and other similar habitats. They avoid urban and suburban areas and do not inhabit dense forests. Golden eagles migrate short to medium distances. Those that breed in the far northerly regions of their range migrate further southward during the winter than those that inhabit lower latitudes. Where climates are milder during the winter, golden eagles are year-round residents. Diet and Behavior Golden eagles feed on a variety of mammal prey such as rabbits, hares, ground squirrels, marmots, pronghorn, coyotes, foxes, deer, mountain goats, and ibex. They are capable of killing large animal prey but usually feed on relatively small mammals. They also eat reptiles, fish, birds or carrion if other prey is scarce. During the breeding season, pairs of golden eagles will hunt cooperatively when pursuing agile prey such as jackrabbits. Golden eagles are agile avian predators that can dive at impressive speeds (as much as 200 miles per hour). They dive not only to catch prey but also in territorial and courtship displays as well as regular flight patterns. Reproduction and Offspring Golden eagles construct nests out of sticks, vegetation and other materials such as bones and antlers. They line their nests with softer materials such as grasses, bark, mosses or leaves. Golden eagles often maintain and reuse their nests over the course of several years. Nests are usually positioned on cliffs but are also sometimes located in trees, on the ground or on high man-made structures (observation towers, nesting platforms, electrical towers). The nests are large and deep, sometimes as much as 6 feet wide and 2 feet high. They lay between 1 and 3 eggs per clutch and eggs incubate for about 45 days. After hatching, young remain in the next for about 81 days. W. Perry Conway/Getty Images Conservation Status There are large and stable populations of golden eagles in multiple locations around the world, and thus the species has a status of Least Concern. Much of the reason for their success is the result of conservation projects to protect both the birds and their habitats. The golden eagle has been a federally protected species since 1962, and several international groups dedicate themselves to the welfare of golden eagles and eagles in general. Bald or Golden Eagle? Juvenile bald eagles look very similar to golden eagles. They are about the same size with a similar wingspan, and, until bald eagles reach about a year of age, they have the same brown feathers covering their entire bodies. Juvenile bald eagles do have mottled underbellies, and they dont shine in the same way that golden eagles do- but its tough to spot these differences in a bird in flight. Its not until after their first year of life that bald eagles start to show their distinctive areas of white plumage. Because of this similarity, its common for birders (especially in the eastern part of the United States) to believe theyve spotted a golden eagle when theyve actually seen a juvenile (and more common) bald eagle. Sources â€Å"Golden Eagle.†Ã‚  National Geographic, 24 Sept. 2018, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/g/golden-eagle/.â€Å"Golden Eagle.†Ã‚  San Diego Zoo Global Animals and Plants, animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/golden-eagle.â€Å"Golden Eagle Demographics.†Ã‚  American Eagle Foundation, www.eagles.org/what-we-do/educate/learn-about-eagles/golden-eagle-demographics/#toggle-id-2.â€Å"Is That Golden Eagle Actually a Bald Eagle?†Ã‚  Audubon, 3 July 2018, www.audubon.org/news/is-golden-eagle-actually-bald-eagle.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Reviewing Prefix, Suffix, and Root Word Vocabulary

Reviewing Prefix, Suffix, and Root Word Vocabulary This exercise will give you practice in recognizing and using common prefixes, suffixes, and roots. Instructions For each sentence below, study the one word thats in bold print. See if you can identify the root word (or base) along with any prefixes and/or suffixes that are attached to it. After you have filled in all the blanks, compare your answers with those below. We watched a preview of the new Pixar movie.Root: ____________​Prefix: ____________The dancing cat was seen by more than two-million YouTube viewers.Root: ____________Suffix: ____________The teacher handed out paper hearts to the students who had done extra work.Root: ____________Suffix: ____________The magician made the rabbit disappear.Root: ____________Prefix: ____________At the end of his performance, the magician made a graceful bow to the audience.Root: ____________Suffix: ____________Shyla asked the magician for his autograph.Root: ____________Prefix: ____________Because of the lightness of the breeze, the sailboat moved quite slowly.Root: ____________Suffix: ____________Despite the heaviness of his backpack, Jack raced up the hill.Root: ____________Suffix: ____________Some dogs are shy or unfriendly, and they might bark or snap if you try to pet them.Root: ____________Prefix: ____________Suffix: ____________Esther quickly reopened the door and called for her cat.Root: ____________Prefix: ____________Suffix: ____________ We stood on a bluff overlooking the ocean.Root: ____________Prefix: ____________Suffix: ____________In todays world, no part of the globe is unreachable.Root: ____________Prefix: ____________Suffix: ____________My father never let anyone see him dressed informally.Root: ____________Prefix: ____________Suffix: ____________Everyone thought that Mr. Darcy was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world.Root: ____________Prefix: ____________Suffix: ____________Preschoolers should have plenty of opportunities to run, play, and listen to stories.Root: ____________Prefix: ____________Suffix: ____________The speaker pointed out the unfairness of blaming high schools for the poor preparation of college freshmen in reading, writing, and math.Root: ____________Prefix: ____________Suffix: ____________ Answers Below are the answers to the exercise: Root:Â  viewPrefix:Â  pre-Root:Â  viewSuffix:Â  -ersRoot:Â  teachSuffix:Â  -erRoot:Â  appearPrefix:Â  dis-Root:Â  graceSuffix:Â  -fulRoot:Â  graphPrefix:Â  auto-Root:Â  lightSuffix:Â  -nessRoot:Â  heavySuffix:Â  -nessRoot:Â  friendPrefix:Â  un-Suffix:Â  -lyRoot:Â  openPrefix:Â  re-Suffix:Â  -edRoot:Â  lookPrefix:Â  over-Suffix:Â  -ingRoot:Â  reachPrefix:Â  un-Suffix:Â  -ableRoot:Â  formalPrefix:Â  in-Suffix:Â  -lyRoot:Â  agreePrefix:Â  dis-Suffix:Â  -ableRoot:Â  schoolPrefix:Â  -preSuffix:Â  -ersRoot:Â  fairPrefix:Â  un-Suffix:Â  -ness

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Free Online Microeconomics Textbook

Free Online Microeconomics Textbook About.coms Online Microeconomics Textbook is a set of links to resources on various Microeconomics topics. As with most online microeconomics resources this is very much a work in progress, so if there is something youd like to see covered in more depth please contact me by using the feedback form. Each Microeconomics textbook covers the core material in a different order. The order here is adapted from Parkin and Bades text Economics but it should be fairly close to those in other Microeconomics texts. Online Microeconomics Textbook CHAPTER 1: What is Economics? CHAPTER 2: Production and Trade- Production Possibility Frontier- Gains From Trade and International Trade CHAPTER 3: Economic Growth CHAPTER 4: Opportunity Cost CHAPTER 5: Demand and Supply- Demand- Supply CHAPTER 6: Elasticity- Elasticity of Demand- Elasticity of Supply CHAPTER 7: Markets- Labor Markets and Minimum Wage- Taxes- Markets for Prohibited Goods CHAPTER 8: Utility CHAPTER 9: Indifference Curves CHAPTER 10: Budget Lines CHAPTER 11: Costs, Scale, and Timing- Short Run vs. Long Run- Total, Average, and Marginal Costs- Economies of Scale CHAPTER 12: Market Structure CHAPTER 13: Perfect Competition CHAPTER 14: Monopoly CHAPTER 15: Monopolistic Competition CHAPTER 16: Oligopoly and Duopoly CHAPTER 17: Factors of Production- Demand and Supply For Factors- Labor- Capital- Land CHAPTER 18: Labor Markets CHAPTER 19: Capital and Natural Resource Markets- Capital- Interest Rates- Natural Resource Markets CHAPTER 20: Uncertainty and Information- Uncertainty- Insurance- Information- Risk CHAPTER 21: Distribution of Income and Wealth CHAPTER 22: Market Failure- Government Spending- Public Goods- Externalities- Collective Action Problems If there are other topics youd like to see covered in the Online Microeconomics Textbook please contact me by using the feedback form.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Academic Paper Review Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Academic Paper Review - Assignment Example In addition, consumers can also purchase these commodities by using online transactions. This paper will look on the various security issues relating to e-commerce system (Al-Slamy, 2008). Apart from hardware or physical damages threats, e-commerce system is seriously influenced by the perils associated with its software and technical mechanism. The software and technical mechanism rely on three security components. The security concept entails three vital components including availability, integrity and confidentiality (McKegney & Khusial, 2005). Authorized individuals are permitted to access the highly confidential data and information connected to consumers. Leaking this confidential information to an unauthorized individual is breaching confidentiality. Data integrity is safeguarded by preserving the precise information contained in it even though the integrity may be violated by adding more payment demands in statements and bills (Gollmann, 2000). Availability makes sure that access to resources is safe and incase of any delays, availability may be influenced negatively. The main security features of e-commerce system include authorization, auditing, authentication and encryption. Encryption is created in enhancing maximum security measures by preserving private information (McKegney & Khusial, 2005). It prevents unauthorized individuals from accessing financial transactions occurring on the internet. Authentication is the act of making sure that a user retrieving information from the system is the same one and prevents unauthorized users from the log in. Another security feature is auditing. It is used by businesses in keeping online transaction records. This information is used by companies in proving the validity of transactions. In addition, authorization is taking command over personal resources found online and manipulating them through an exact mechanism. This

Friday, October 18, 2019

Baroque and Classic Periods Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Baroque and Classic Periods - Research Paper Example Baroque era saw the transition of music from the traditional to the classical. It was marked with composer expanding the range and size of the instrumental performance. The most prominent composers of the era include Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, George Frideric Handel, Arcangelo Corelli, etc. New instrumental playing techniques were developed in this era. Classical era stressed more on the form and symmetry in the arts. The elaborate ornamentation from baroque era gave way to elegance and simplicity in the classical era. The prominent composers of the classical era were Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonio Salieri, Christoph Willibald Gluck, etc. Following are the six pieces from the two eras that make my list that will be included in the time capsule: Air on a G String Air on a G String is work of Johann Sebastian Bach, not just the greatest composer of his era but one of the greatest composers of all time. This is originally a part of orchestral suite N o. 3 in D major, BWV 1068. A simple composition is a master piece for the fact that it is played only on the G string. The name â€Å"Air on a G string† was derived later in the 19th century when arrangements were made August Wilhelmj to play the original with a piano and violin, and the same name stuck to the original. The expression of ideas and feelings is extraordinary. Rhapsody Link: http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/various-artists/album/bach-for-the-brain-classical-music-to-make-you-smarter/track/air-on-a-g-string. Messiah by Handel Messiah composed by George Fredric Handel is an oratorio. This is one of the best-known works of Handel and one of the most performed Western Music coral works. Handel with numerous compositions defined the Baroque era along with Bach. The beauty of the piece is that it was composed for modest instruments and vocals. There was a deliberate change in direction with this composition as it did not resemble the conventional opera structure. This i s a master piece as it broke away from the conventional style and started a new way. It did not have any direct speech or takes any dramatic form. The main purpose of was to acclaim the â€Å"mystery of Godliness†. Also this makes the list for the time capsule because of its subject: Jesus Christ as the Messiah. Rhapsody Link: http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/george-frideric-handel/album/handel-messiah. â€Å"Spring† from the Concerto series ‘The Four Seasons’ Composed by Antonio Vivaldi, considered to be one of the greatest Baroque composers, â€Å"Spring† is a part of a set of 4 violin concertos. This is considered to be one of the best works of Vivaldi and is a popular piece from the era. It is cast in 3 movements like others in the set. Vivaldi has beautifully depicted scenes and events through this master piece. The music is imaginative and brings the event to life by adding vividry through short sonnets. Prior to Vivaldi, violin was not consider ed as a solo instrument but it was this work that brought violin from the background to the center. The pictorial depiction of spring season is an example of Vivaldi’s genius. In the first movement, the coming of the spring season is glorified while in the second movement we hear continuous barking of the shepherd’s dog. Rhapsody Link: http://www.rhapsody.com/artist/various-artists/album/classical-moods---100-top-classical-favorites-of-all-time-big-eye-music/track/spring-from-the-four-seasons---violin-concerto-in-e-major. Concerto for Flute and

Final Exam Questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Final Exam Questions - Assignment Example social, economic and environment. While assessing whether a program is sustainable the three dimensions should be considered with a view of determining the program’s social impacts, its effects on the environment as well as its economic benefits. A sustainable program therefore is one whose economic benefits are real, is environment friendly and does not elicit social and cultural conflicts. Anthropocene- This term is derived from anthropo which means man and cene which means new. The term is therefore is used in reference to the fact that human activities have impact to a great extent the major systems. Man for instance through deforestation, industrialization and urbanization has heavily polluted the environment and caused global warming with resultant disappearance of some ecosystems as well as extinction of certain life species. As population increases consumption also increases and so does the impacts. Earth Systems Engineering and Management – This is the ability of designing, engineering and managing by employing dialog and relying on constant feedback. It involves integrating both built and natural systems with the intention of achieving mutuality in terms of human goals which include environmental considerations, technological, economic and even personal desires while staying within the confines placed by nations and the adaptive systems that exist. Engineering programs must thus serve economic goals while considering the environment and social well being of humanity. ESEM projects usually come with critical concerns ranging from economic, scientific, technologic, theoretical, ethical, and technical to political ones. Governance of these projects therefore requires genuine democracy, transparency and accountability. The energy committee in the senate therefore while formulating policies to govern fuel standards in the United States must ensure inclusivity and embrace dialog in a multicultural style. There must be appreciation

Thursday, October 17, 2019

A Brief History of Noise Music Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

A Brief History of Noise Music - Essay Example Understanding the truth behind noise music is indeed a practical sense of understanding the roots of music as it is and the connection that it has upon the development of modern music that entertains, informs and establishes the cultural and the traditional evolution of music from then until now. Referred to as atonality and dissonance, noise music is simply the collection of different ‘noise’ created through the plucking, the strumming or the picking of different instruments. Without the sounds created by the said instruments, music could not be given birth to at all. Yes, ‘noise’ is the raw production of sound from the different procedures of utilizing the different instruments that are available for use. Basically, the process of creating the said sound craft paves the way towards a more innovative sense of producing music. Of course, music when first produced is basically a raw compilation of meaningless sounds that could not be directly used by the creators or that of the listeners yet. The innovative ways by which the creators add in the arrangement of the ‘noise music’ and the lyrics that could jive with the rhythm m and the notes of the produced noise music are then recreated along with the said collection of sounds. It is through this that an entire music presentation is completed. The birth of noise music has given birth to a different genre of musical arrangement that is far more different from that of the traditional creations and presentations of sound such as Jazz and classical music. Basically, listeners could actually see through the imposed consideration on the existence of noise music as a particular separation of old music from that of the new genres of music. Noise music are usually more lively, more emotionally provocative and matters as such in comparison with that of the traditional music creations. The pop

Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 39

Leadership - Essay Example Nobody was ready to settle for the status quo. In addition, everyone was looking for newer and better ways of accomplishing our goals through very practical ideas and highly original thoughts. Most of the members of the group were able to quickly discard impartibly ideas and adapt practical useful ones and every person took their responsibilities very seriously. It was so easy to work with our group because people were ready to work and ready to put in hard work both physically and mentally. We were amazed by each other and this led to peer respect among ourselves. It also made communication within the group very easy. We did not assign a leader for the group but we found out that Hether was the leader initially for the practical reason that we needed at least for one person to chair the discussions so we could go ahead with our work. This was also agreed upon without much ceremony among the group. There was really no reason for too much emphasis on the leader’s role since it was agreed that we would all participate on an equal basis within the group and that decisions would be arrived at democratically or because of what made the best sense. There was no power struggle as we all worked well together and no particular leader was assign to hold power. The only problem that was presented by this arrangement was that we had no leader to make the final decision. We solved this by deciding to take votes in order to adapt or sanction decisions through majority. The other challenge that we faced was the issue of time management because everybody had different schedules and finding the right time for us all to do our group activity was a bit of a challenge but we finally managed to pull through. The best description that fits my group’s situation is the democratic style, which is participative. This is because it values all the input of all group members. Our group’s morale was very high and everyone was

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

A Brief History of Noise Music Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

A Brief History of Noise Music - Essay Example Understanding the truth behind noise music is indeed a practical sense of understanding the roots of music as it is and the connection that it has upon the development of modern music that entertains, informs and establishes the cultural and the traditional evolution of music from then until now. Referred to as atonality and dissonance, noise music is simply the collection of different ‘noise’ created through the plucking, the strumming or the picking of different instruments. Without the sounds created by the said instruments, music could not be given birth to at all. Yes, ‘noise’ is the raw production of sound from the different procedures of utilizing the different instruments that are available for use. Basically, the process of creating the said sound craft paves the way towards a more innovative sense of producing music. Of course, music when first produced is basically a raw compilation of meaningless sounds that could not be directly used by the creators or that of the listeners yet. The innovative ways by which the creators add in the arrangement of the ‘noise music’ and the lyrics that could jive with the rhythm m and the notes of the produced noise music are then recreated along with the said collection of sounds. It is through this that an entire music presentation is completed. The birth of noise music has given birth to a different genre of musical arrangement that is far more different from that of the traditional creations and presentations of sound such as Jazz and classical music. Basically, listeners could actually see through the imposed consideration on the existence of noise music as a particular separation of old music from that of the new genres of music. Noise music are usually more lively, more emotionally provocative and matters as such in comparison with that of the traditional music creations. The pop

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Terrorism Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Terrorism Paper - Essay Example This covers the terrorist groups and activities originating from within the European continent, and also the involvement of terrorist organizations and activities from outside Europe. The paper also will also discuss how terrorism operates in both method and rationale, such as going over examples of their various modus operandi and goals. There will also be discussion of the foreign support and involvement of other countries to these groups, whether within or outside Europe, and their alleged agendas or reasons for doing so. At the tail end of this paper, there will be theoretical recommendations or applications in dealing with the issue of terrorism in Europe. As such, possible practical scenarios could be given as examples based from the analysis of the research made for this paper. Insight can also be given as a personal output in reference to the information studied for this research. Before discussing the various terrorist acts in 20th century Europe, it should first be understood what terrorism is and how one is defined as a terrorist. Usually, an individual is considered a terrorist if he or she has political goals or beliefs that are strong motivations to commit acts of violence against their enemies, regardless if done on non-combatants. It can be said then that terrorism is an act of violence made against non-combatants or civilians for the purpose of waging a psychological warfare of fear. This can be in the form of indiscriminate bombings, assassinations, and sabotage in highly populated civilian areas. These actions are done for a politically or culturally motivated goal and made aware through violent and fearful acts. Modern European history has many incidents and episodes of violent terrorist acts. Perhaps one of the most well known would be the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife by a Serbian nationalist radical by the name of Gavrilo Princip. The attack was motivated by an individual

The Effects of Water Shortages in the Last Decade Essay Example for Free

The Effects of Water Shortages in the Last Decade Essay The effects of water shortages in the last decade. New water purification technologies This oral presentation will be divided into few parts. The first one will deal with how the water supplies available to the people, have gradually decreased in the last decade; statistical data will be presented, together with some pictures and graphs. Also, it will make a projection of what could be the impact of the water shortages in the near future and will examine how devastating the need for drinking water could become if certain measures for retaining it are taken very soon. The next part will be about some of the innovations in the water purifications technologies. The last part will be a discussion, where your questions you will be welcomed and I will also ask a couple of questions. It is quite popular to refer to our planet Earth as the Blue Planet and probably all of us are aware why this nickname is given. That’s because of earth’s surface is 70% covered by water. Unfortunately, only around 2% of this is drinking water and the question are we using this small quantity responsively is getting more and more discussed recently. The shortest answer to this question is â€Å"No†; humanity needs too much fresh water and shortages have become highly noticeable. It’s needless to say that water is crucial for all life on earth. It plays an essential role for our health, economy, food production, and environment. Also, drinking fresh water is a compulsory element of the development of the public health, since 21 of the 37 primary diseases are related to water and sanitation. With the growing world population (over 7 billion so far), water consumption rate doubles every 20 years, a pace that is double the rate of population growth. If population and consumption trends persist, it is estimated that the demand for water will surpass its availability by 56%, and 1. 8 billion people will be living in regions of water scarcity by 2025. This situation is exacerbated by the fact that developing countries, already experiencing water-stress, often have the highest population growth rates—bringing more people into a region that already cannot support them. Here it’s important to explain the terms â€Å"water-stressed countries† and â€Å"water-scarce regions†, given the fact that in the near future they will become part of the geographical description of further more parts of the world. Water-stressed countries are regions with fewer than 1,700 m3 of water per capita per year. People living in water-stressed regions must make painful decisions about using water for personal consumption, agriculture, or industry. Regions with fewer than 1,000 m3 per person per year are defined as water-scarce. Water-scarcity hinders economic development, strains the environment, and drastically limits food availability. The 2009 World Water Development report revealed that nearly half of the global population will be living in regions of high water stress by 2030.

Monday, October 14, 2019

The Nature Of The State Sovereignty

The Nature Of The State Sovereignty In order to complete this analysis, it is necessary to examine the history and the evolution of concept sovereignty. Hence I will firstly define notion of sovereignty and its origins. In the latter part I will present how sovereignty has changed over period of time, particularly after the Cold War. In the final part I will provide conclusion summoning if the change of sovereignty nature has been positive or negative. Sovereignty is relatively recent innovation in international relations. It was first developed in Europe, at the peace of Westphalia in 1648. Treaty of Westphalia has been the outcome of around 8 decades of wars fought in name of religions. The result of Westphalian Treaty was establishment of new international law system which was going to be applied to the modern states. The underpinning of this system is the sovereign character of the state and the prevention against external interference in internal affairs by other states. Sovereignty is one among the inherent and essential elements of a state, which defines its supreme power and its own independence.  [1]  Sovereignty has two dimension and these are: authority of internal government and territory. Leader of the government has an ultimate and legitimate right to exercise power within the borders of that particular state and suppose to be obeyed by its citizens.  [2]  Noteworthy, the core elements of state sovereignty hav e been established in 1933 Montevideo convention on the Rights and Duties of States. They include three main requirements: a permanent populations, defined territory and body of power functioning government.  [3]   Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau were most important members of the social contract school. They shared the same idea about the concept of sovereignty. They believed that whatever are origins of sovereignty, it all comes down to contractual agreement between the members. However, their theories differed significantly in other respects.  [4]   State sovereignty has for the past several hundred years, been a defining principle of a relations between states and in a way a foundation of worlds order. This concept is one of the most important principles of United Nation Charter and it is still important component of the maintenance of peace in the world and defence of weak states against the powerful ones. At the same time, however the concept has never been unchallengeable as such, either in law or practice as the formal definition may suggest. According to former secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali; The time of absolute sovereignty has passed; its theory was never matched by reality.  [5]   Knowing that the international rules of the notion of sovereignty set out in the Treat of Westphalia have been modified over the years, most recently and significantly by the Charter of the United Nations they remained merely intact until June 1990, this was when UN Security Council approved Resolution 1244. According to that resolution the attacks in Kosovo were justified. The post-Cold War world has segued into what might now be called post-Westphalian world. Resolution 1244 is the momentum of a series of acts of decisions and actions which, taken together, change the legal and theoretical structure of international relations. This means that the first principle of the nation sovereignty is the power that the nation holds as a State those in power are in charge.  [6]   In practice international legal sovereignty and Westphalian sovereignty are the key manifestations of sovereignty. In particular cases, for example; Somalia or Andorra, these attributes camouflage glaring failings in other areas ostensibly central to sovereignty. The humanitarian intervention in Kosovo and the invocation of self-Defence as a rationale for the intervention in Afghanistan are examples of rights reserved for powerful states which are not intended for use by the majority of states.  [7]   As Krasner summarizesthe principles associated with both Westphalian and international legal sovereignty have always been violated.  [8]   After the end of Cold War, the sovereignty of each nation involved in the war has changed significantly and quite diminished. Meanwhile the Cold War is the longest war that took place between 1940-1980 involving United Union of soviet socialist and America and it was merely a war of rights and beliefs. The changes to the notion of Sovereignty changed and the changes were influenced by the development that happened after the Cold War.  [9]   Pragmatically, concept of sovereignty has often been challenged and violated by the powerful states. In current globalizing world, it is recognised that cultural, environmental and economic influences neither respect borders, nor require an entry visa. The concept of state sovereignty is well stretched in political and legal discourses. Furthermore, states borders have diminished significantly as a result of contemporary international relations arena. Current international disorder and suffering are the main causes of technology and communication fast development. Consequently, perspectives on the range and role of state sovereignty have, especially over the past ten years, evolved very quickly. Today, sovereignty confronts the challenge of globalism. It is commonly held that the conditions which support globalism, such as technological advances, the communications revolution, and advances in business organization do not necessarily promote sovereignty. Furthermore political activism, terrorism, and organized crime conspire to undermine territorial boundaries and permit the exchange of science, culture, political economy, and the growth of beneficent and malevolent global civil society. However according to Anthony Coughlans effects of globalization o the concept of the sovereignty of Sate is often taken out of context or exaggerated. In his view States have always been interdependent to some extent. In his opinion there was more to globalisation in the late 19th Century, such as free movement of labour, trade and capital, although the volumes involved were smaller than today. In that time most states were economically more powerful due to international businesses. In Coughlans view Modern States do more for their citizens and are expected by them to do more and impinge more intimately on peoples lives than at any time in history.  [10]   Sovereignty may undeniably be strengthened as it changes to meet new needs and opportunities. In other ways, sovereignty may be limited in its capacity to deny international responsibilities and domestic obligations. An analysis of the world social process will give a way to a vast number of participants and institutions that comprise the global society. Among these are State sovereigns, international and regional organizations, political parties, business groups, pressure groups, NGOs, and individuals in various roles relevant to social relations within and across State and national lines.  [11]   It should be added that there are many other complex outcomes of this process, which include, for example, the constitutional architecture of the European Union, the African Union, the Organization of American States, and even the framework of military alliances under the changing character of NATO. These regional organizations carry the attributes of authority and control and, in turn, reconfigure the framework of decision-making competences that are exclusive to the sovereign State, those which are sometimes shared concurrently with the nation-State, and those which are to be exercised in complex patterns of sequential authority. This makes the interplay between the constitutional architecture of the various forms of political and legal association under current world order conditions, a complex and technical, but vitally important matter. Among the important outcomes of the world community process is the relatively specialized process of effective power, which involves connecting linkages between interactions and inters determination operating in micro social institutions, large-scale social formations such as the State, even larger aggregates of States, and a still larger and complex world process of effective power. It is perhaps a paradox that sovereign independence is now often accompanied by sovereign membership in various regional associations and international organizations, which juridical limits sovereignty. For example, membership in the United Nations conditions sovereignty; in other words, sovereignty cannot trump the obligations and international responsibilities of the UN. Even more prominent are State claims to associate with supranational regional compacts and, in so doing, abandon some autonomy in exchange for the benefits of membership. Examples of this include the European Union, the African Union, and the Organization of American States. The current crisis of terrorism and world order will tell as much about the changes that international law might secure for the practice of international relations based on the authority of the UN Charter. One trend however, is clear. Sovereignty as State absolutism is no longer a tenable precept in international law and international relations. Sovereignty based on the authority of peoples expectations is a vital and critical element in promoting international peace and security, enhancing human rights and is a basic element in the foundations and possibilities of good governance as well as transparent and responsible authority. To conclude this does not mean the demise of sovereignty but it means change.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Misunderstandings in Culturally Diverse Workplaces Essay -- social iss

This essay will explain issues that occur in culturally diverse workplaces and describe how personal conceptions may contribute to misunderstandings when working with others in culturally diverse workplaces. This essay will also discuss the impact of cultural differences when conflict occurs and it will give suggestions on how to resolve and manage this conflict. An explanation of who to discuss the conflict with in a work environment will also be discussed in this essay. The issues that arise in a culturally diverse workplace need to be known and identified by counsellors to ensure they are aware of any obstacle forming. Cross-cultural conflict can arise from a range of issues. These issues include language barriers, customs, roles and status, differences in non-verbal behaviour, personal space, appearance, gender, religion and responses to authority (Open Colleges, 2012, p.47-49). While working as a professional in a multi-cultural country it is important for counsellors to understand the influence these issues can have on relationships in the workplace with both clients and colleagues. Fontes states, when the client and counsellor come from different cultures, obtaining correct basic demographic information can be challenging due to atypical family configurations, facts that have been lost or changed in the process of immigration and lying (2008, p.282). These issues may be overcome with honesty and confidence once the counsellor and client have strong rapport. It is important for counsellors to understand their own cultural concepts and how they may contribute to conflict when working with others. As a young female, I understand that in many cultures I would be recognised as incompetent and unhelpful. However, by using le... ...of how to resolve it successfully. A reflection on my own cultural concepts has enabled me to understand how personal values and beliefs may contribute to misunderstandings when working with others and how the impact of cultural differences can affect conflict. It has also explained where to get assistance if needed if conflict arose. This information will be used in my work when counselling clients from a different cultural background. Works Cited Open Colleges (2012) Student Workbook: Work within a structured counselling framework. Open Colleges Sydney, Australia Geldard, D., and Geldard, K. (2012) Basic Personal Counselling: A training manual for counsellors (7th Ed.) Frenchs Forest: Pearson Education Australia Fontes, Lisa Aronson, May 23, 2008, Interviewing Clients across Cultures: A Practitioner's Guide Guilford Press, New York, ISBN: 9781606230534

Friday, October 11, 2019

Essay on Contrasting Settings in Hardys Tess of the dUrbervilles

Contrasting Settings in Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles The setting or settings in a novel are often an important element in the work. Many novels use contrasting places such as cities or towns, to represent opposing forces or ideas that are central to the meaning of the work. In Thomas Hardy's novel, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, the contrasting settings of Talbothays Dairy and Flintcomb-Ash represent the opposing forces of good and evil in Tess' life. A significant portion of the novel taks place at Talbothays Dairy, which represents the force of good in Tess' life. At Talbothays, the air is "clear, bracing, and ethereal"; the river flows like the " pure River of Life" and the air "set up [Tess'] spirits wonderfully." The author describes the valley as a kind of paradise, with clean, fresh air and a flowing river. Upon entering the region, Tess reaches an emotional high encouraged by the beautiful atmosphere. At Talbothays, the milkers form "a little battalion of men and women," often "singing songs to entice the cows...

Hamlet and the Man in the Iron Mask Essay

The Man in the Iron Mask, by Alexandre Dumas, and Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, both follow similar plot lines and relate to each other through their themes. Shakespeare and Dumas both discuss themes of family, justice and judgement, lies and deceit, loyalty and the consequences of revenge. These major themes blend seamlessly in the stories of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and The Man in the Iron Mask. The themes are consistent throughout the play and the book, ultimately addressing the search for truth and justice in each of the protagonist’s situations. Although a number of similarities exist between the two stories, they approach the subject of loyalty differently. What Shakespeare and Dumas have discussed in their stories demonstrates a similar challenge, the search for the truth behind the lies. Hamlet and Philippe suffer mentally as they consider the consequences of their actions and inaction. As other characters become tied to their reactions, they too pay a price for their involvement. First, in both books there are themes about the consequences of revenge. The main theme is that revenge leads to destruction instead of solving the problem, ultimately escalating the primary problem further. Both forms show justice and judgement in the revenge displayed towards the kings. In the play of Hamlet, the main character is confronted with the ghost of his father who reveals that his death was not an accident but a murder. As Hamlet takes revenge, other people become involved and a cycle of revenge for death takes place. In order to accomplish what he knows as justice, Hamlet uses sound judgement as he takes revenge, both physically and emotionally, on those around him. In the Man in the Iron Mask, the musketeers want to take their own revenge on the king for the lack of food for the starving people in the village and his cruelty in general toward his people. Vengeance in this book turns into a cycle as the three musketeers take revenge on the king; the king later takes revenge onto his people. The son of the recently deceased king is known to us as a young man named Hamlet. The truth of the death of his father becomes known to Hamlet when his father’s ghost appears to him, explaining that he was murdered with poison at the hand of his own brother, Hamlets uncle. This method of death by poisoning foreshadows the death of the main characters later in the play. Prince Hamlet then devotes himself to avenging his father’s death, but delays the physical death of his uncle in order to torture him psychologically. The people involved enter into a deep melancholy and madness as Hamlet lets go of his closest relationships, judging family and friends for their disrespect toward his dead father. Hamlet psychologically tortures his uncle by arranging for a play named â€Å"Mouse Trap. † Hamlet plans it so that it parallels his father’s death, in an effort to witness Claudius’, Hamlet’s uncle’s, reaction. Claudius goes through physiological distress as he begins to wonder if Hamlet knows the truth behind the death of his father. Claudius then runs out of the theatre in order to pray for forgiveness. Hamlet follows and begins to draw his sword as this becomes the ideal moment to enact justice onto his uncle. However, Hamlet takes notice that Claudius killed his father while his father’s sins were unforgiven. King Hamlet had no time to repent due to the fact of his murder and was left to the divine to judge him. Hamlet decided to kill Claudius another time, perhaps when the king is drunk, angry or in the middle of an immoral act. This way, there would be no uncertainty about whether Claudius would go to Hell or not. Hamlet admires his father to the extent that he is determined not only to kill Claudius but also to make him suffer the wrath and judgement, sending him to a similar afterlife in Hell. (Shakespeare pg. 85 Act III, Scene 3). As Hamlet goes to his mother in anger, he is determined to inflict pain on her emotionally, using his own judgement again to enact justice. â€Å"Nay, but to live in the rank sweat of an enseamed bed, Stewed in corruption, honeying and making love Over the nasty sty. † (Shakespeare pg. 89. Act III, Scene 4). As the queen cries out for help, Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius, Claudius’ adviser, as he thrashes his sword into the curtain in hopes that it is Claudius. This causes Ophelia, Polonius’ daughter, great distress as she quickly becomes psychologically distressed and senseless. â€Å"And will ‘a not come again? And will ‘a not come again? No, no he is dead, Go to thy deathbed, He never will come again. † (Shakespeare pg. 109. Act IV, Scene 5). In this state of mind, she dances to the river and falls in, drowning to her death. Laertes, Ophelia’s brother and Polonius’ son, arrives from his travels. He is enraged and takes revenge for the death in his family. King Claudius takes this opportunity to turn Laertes against Hamlet as he devises a plan with Laertes so that they both can take their revenge on him. Again poison is used for the death. Poison is placed in a cup of water that is offered to Hamlet during a sword fight. Furthermore, Laertes places poison on his sword before the duel. This scheme radically backfires on the King as his new wife, Gertrude, drinks out of the cup, and Laertes and Hamlet get stabbed with the poison. In the end Claudius is forced by Hamlet to drink the poison and all four major characters die to poison. Shakespeare pg. 140 Act X, Scene 2). Fortunately, before his death, Hamlet was finally successful in his revenge as the details surrounding the death of Hamlet’s father become revealed to the crowd of people watching the dual. Therefore, by taking revenge, it leads the avengers to their own destruction as they took justice and judgement into their own hands and accomplished what they had promised. In The Man in the Iron Mask the theme on the consequences of revenge in justice and judgement are similar to that in Hamlet, as it begins a cycle of death. In this novel, justice is whatever King Louis XIV says it is. This explains how the system of government worked in France during the 16th and 17th century. At the beginning of the novel, Paris is starving but King Louis XIV is more interested in economic gain and seducing women. Madame de la Valliere becomes the woman after whom the king is lusting and sends Raoul, her finance to war. As Raoul begins to become depressed from his broken heart, he is sent off to battle. According to the king’s orders, he is sent to the front lines and all men are to abandon him. Raoul inevitably dies in battle. When Athos, Raoul’s father, hears about the death of his son, he becomes enraged at the king. Athos forcefully criticized the King for his behaviour regarding La Valliere and the death of his son. Aramis, Athos and Porthos band together with a plan to replace the king (Alexandre Dumas, chapter 10. pg. 79). This plan involves the replacement of King Louis XIV with his twin brother. The three musketeers free the imprisoned Philippe who has been behind prison doors for six years and placed in an iron mask. In the end, all three musketeers die and Philippe is placed back in prison hidden, forever beneath the mask of iron. Although all of the characters in the novel seek out revenge, their efforts fall short of being truly successful. The Man in the Iron Mask and Hamlet show the consequences of revenge depicted in each of the characters’ struggles to take justice into their own hands. Their revenge ultimately results in a cycle of death. The main difference between the play Hamlet and the novel The Man in the Iron Mask is the theme of loyalty. In the play, loyalty remains consistent as Hamlet is loyal to his father and his vengeance. However, in The Man in the Iron Mask, loyalties are continually being changed as the characters are pitted against each other. The characters in the novel are expected to always be loyal to King Louis XIV; however, this requirement in the king’s subjects conflicts with loyalties between friends, family, and the self-interest of the musketeers. This main theme demonstrates that the search for the revelation of truth comes at the price of either breaking loyalties or staying true to loyalties, and facing death in the process. In Hamlet, there are several different characters that portray loyalty continuously throughout the novel. The main character, Hamlet, shows his loyalty to his father, growing angry at the fact that he was murdered by his uncle. When his father asks Hamlet to take revenge on Claudius, Hamlet becomes enraged and his willingness to take revenge becomes revealed. â€Å"Ghost: Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. Hamlet: Murder? Ghost: Murder most foul, as in the best it is But this most foul strange and unnatural. Hamlet: Haste me to know’t, that I, with wings as swift, As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge. † (Shakespeare pg. 29 Act I, Scene 5). Hamlet stays loyal to his father’s memory through the whole novel, seeking revenge on Claudius until he is able to kill him, accomplishing this task as he dies alongside Claudius. Loyalty is also shown by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, courtiers and former friends of Hamlet from Wittenberg. They are summoned by the new king, Claudius, to discover the cause of Hamlet’s strange, negative and morbid behaviour. Their loyalty to the king causes them to lose Hamlet’s friendship and respect. As Hamlet discovers this, he arranges their death, making them pay for their betrayal to him with their lives. Loyalty is also shown in Act I, when Horatio, Marcellus and Bernardo reveal to Hamlet what they see of ghost of his father. They also swear to keep silent about the event, which remains kept secret throughout the novel. Again, Horatio shows loyalty to Hamlet as he watches the reaction of the king during the play â€Å"Mouse Trap† performed by the players. He later tells Hamlet about the facial reactions of the king as he watched the performer kill the fake king, revealing his guilt in the murder of Hamlet’s father. However, in The Man in the Iron Mask, loyalties change continuously, most notably demonstrated in the ending of the famous friendship of the three musketeers. The broken loyalties within the kingdom break the trust of all characters through scandals and lies. For xample, the queen gives her loyalty to Philippe but sacrifices Philippe for her political stability. Also, Aramis demonstrates betrayal in his disloyalty to the new prince Philippe. At the beginning of the novel, Aramis praises Philippe through his love, respect and service; however, he leaves Philippe to fend for himself without a backward glance. Aramis chooses his career advancement over his friendships and loyal ties. This is revealed to us by his treatment of Porthos and Philippe, when he suggests Porthos be killed to preserve the secret of Philippe. Another example of disloyalty is when Aramis, one of the main three musketeers shows true and loyal feelings to Philippe, but chooses political stability gain over faithfulness to Philippe. â€Å"A friend’s word is the truth itself. If I think of touching, even with one finger, the son of Anne of Austria, the true King of this realm of France; if I have not the firm intention of prostrating myself before his throne; if, according to my wishes, to-morrow here at Vaux will not be the most glorious day my King ever enjoyed, – may Heaven’s lightning blast me where I stand! Aramis had pronounced these words with his face turned towards the alcove of his bedroom, where d’Artagnan, seated with his back towards the alcove, could not suspect that any one was lying concealed. The earnestness of his words, the studied slowness with which he pronounced them, the solemnity of his oath, gave the Musketeer the most complete satisfaction. (Alexandre Dumas, chapter 14. pg . 104) Later on in the novel it is clear that Aramis no longer feels any real loyalty to Prince Philippe. â€Å"Warn the Prince, and then- do what? Take him with me? Carry this accusing witness about with me everywhere? War, too, would follow,- civil war, implacable in its nature! And without any resource- alas, it is impossible! What will he do without me? Without me he will be utterly destroyed! Yet who knows? let destiny be fulfilled! Condemned he was, let him remain so, then! (Dumas, chapter 21 pg. 231) By the end of the novel, King Louis XIV has obtained absolute power, where his word is law, accepting no disagreement to what he says. Aramis desires to have influence and power alongside of King Louis XIV. Soldier, priest, and diplomat; gallant, greedy, and cunning; Aramis took the good things in this life as steppingstones to rise to bad ones. Generous in mind, if not noble in heart, he never did ill but for the sake of shining a little more brilliantly. † (Alexandre Dumas chapter 6. pg. 34). In order to live and have power, loyalty needed to be kept to the king. Philippe’s friends chose loyalty to Philippe; and they were killed as a result. In the end, after the death of his friends, Aramis retreats to a Spanish estate in his glorious riches. The Queen, however, wants the kingdom to succeed and she sees that the only way to do so is to listen to the people. The people beg for food and help from the king. However, King Louis XIV shows no compassion towards his people and is only interested in personal pleasure. For the sake of the country, Anne of Austria, the Queen and mother of Philippe, chooses to help her son, but as her power begins to decline she sacrifices Philippe for her political stability. In Hamlet and The Man in the Iron Mask loyalty is portrayed differently. Both stories show that being loyal exacts a high price. The death of all those who are loyal in these stories is an example of the high price that must be paid. In Hamlet, loyalty is continuous throughout the play, but in The Man in the Iron Mask, there is no loyalty when power begins to corrupt the characters. Therefore, all these examples show that the portrayals of the themes of loyalty in Hamlet and The Man in the Iron Mask are very different. In Hamlet, the truth is found through the loyal bonds of Horatio as he tells the story of the death of the true king. In The Man in the Iron Mask the truth of Philippe is revealed to the kingdom through the courageous acts of the three musketeers.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Memory: Bullying and Life Essay

My earliest memory of my childhood joy was when I was four years old. I was sitting on the kitchen counter next to my mom helping her fix dinner. I do not remember what we cooked but I do remember having fun with my mom, it was the first time she taught me how to prepare food. I remember my mom cutting an onion and the juice squirted into my eye; it hurt so bad I screamed and yelled. To this day I still do not like to use onions when I am cooking, for this reason I have someone else cut the onions for me. I have always loved cooking with my mom and still love how we joke around when we are in the kitchen. I loved that I could tell her anything that is going on with me in my life when we are alone in the kitchen cooking together. Looking back at these moments in the kitchen with my mom, I realized more than ever that I wanted to start learning how to cook when I was four years old. We shared our lives while we were in that kitchen, and she taught me how to use many different types of recipes that I could use with many types of food. I love how we shared things and would tell each other our juicy secrets that we would never share with anyone else. She would also give me advice on problems that I had going on in my life. In the future, I will use this method to develop a relationship when I have my own daughter. I know she will ask me how to cook and show her step by step how prepare delicious food, that’s when I will cleverly ask her about her life. I want her to be able to come and talk to me about any problems that she has and when she needs a solution, I will help her resolve it quickly. Hopefully we will develop the kind of friendship that I have with my mother now and I hope this can be a stronger friendship that can never be broken and thrown away over silly things. My earliest unpleasant memory of school was getting bullied. I started getting bullied when I was starting middle school. Every day when I would go to school, the bullies would be there waiting for me to come so they could bully me until I would cry out in front of the whole school, I was so embarrassed and horrified of what they did to me in those days. Sometimes I am scared to tell my parents because I don’t know how they will react to the situation. I would get bullied because I didn’t have the right clothes that everybody else had on and because I was fat and they would say that people would never hang out with me or become my friend. I hated that my friends would not help me fight the bullies. They would just stand there clueless and not standing up against the bullies because they did not want to become the next target or get picked on. The bullies also picked on me because I had a learning disability. This means that I cannot defend myself because I was slow and could not comprehend what they were doing to me at school. In middle school I was a quiet kid who never bothered anyone, I was kind and I kept to myself. I didn’t know I was different or â€Å"uncool† until I started middle school. Sometimes being bullied makes me feel like I am the only one getting bullied on and I hated that so much. I was verbally and physically bullied every day and I couldn’t take anymore, I was getting harassed so much that they soon had nothing left to bring me down. I even tried to tell a teacher but she would not listen to me or believe my story. I was so scared for my life and nobody would help me; they would just stand there and laugh at me. At one point, I was constantly getting ridiculed by the popular kids and they always called me all sorts of names in the â€Å"bully book†. Getting bullied as a child scarred me for life and sometime I have a hard time forgetting what they did to me and how they did it. Four years later, I think back to all of things the bullies did to me and how I could have prevented it from happening in the first place. To this day, it still makes me cry every time I think about it. I feel like I will never be able to shake off the damage that was done to me. Will I ever be a complete person again? Getting bullied has affected me in so many ways but bullies do not really realized nor do they care how much agony they are causing the kids that they are picking on. I really want to tell the kids that are getting bullied today to realized that they can talk to someone about this. When this was happening to me I felt so alone and it is horrible to have no one you can turn to for help. It is also horrible in having going to school every day knowing those kids are getting enjoyment out of their misery. I hope one day I can talk to kids that are being bullied by other kids at school and encourage them to talk to a counselor or the principal about what’s going on. I have learned that I cannot let people bring me down because that can follow me in life. I have to make sure that I stand up for myself and what I believed in because fighting is not going to solve anything and I need to be stronger against my enemies that tried to bring me down. I can always know that I will have God by my side no matter what because I am not in this alone. My most vivid memory of my adolescent defiance is that I was easily agitated, I had a very explosive temper that I could not control during my adolescents years. I was so resentful, spiteful to my parents, my friends and to others that I treated badly. I would always get in an argument with someone that was getting on my nerves or talking my ears off about nonsense that I didn’t care about. At some point, I was desperate to prove that I was â€Å"an adult† to my parents and friends because they were not acknowledging me as one. Sometimes I often feel like I did not receive the respect and autonomy that I deserve. I would get so mad that I slammed the doors and would yell obscenities at people or my family members that did not deserve to be yelled at in the first place. I would just leave the house so that I can clear my head and think about my behavior and how I was vindictive to my family members and my friends that cared about me and loved me so much. I hated that I was disrespectful to them and that I called them names and cursed at them for no reason at all. As a teenager, it was tough for me to get along with people that did not like me or did not want to hang out with me. In high school, it was hard for me not to curse at the other kids who were saying bad things about me while they did not even know me. I had no idea why would they do that and I guess never will. As I was growing up, I learned that you should never be disrespectful to your elders but I was in that stage where it was funny to do it because other people were doing it too. I could tell that I was changing because of my negative attitude and how I was talking to others that were trying to help me feel better. I did not feel better because I felt like I was still filled with anger, frustration, and depression that I could not control my emotions cause they were all over the place. I didn’t even know how to hide my feelings from people. As I have grown older, I have changed my ways because I prayed to God that I wanted to change and become a different person that people will love and adore. I did not want to be that girl that disrespects people for no apparent reason. I want be a nicer person that will help people with their problems or difficult situations. I want to be able to control my anger and my emotions because I don’t want to do something I will someday regre t doing.

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Staffing Organizations-Part 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Staffing Organizations-Part 1 - Essay Example Be clear. Be polite. Know people’s names, and use them. Recognize that everyone has a life outside work. Show sensitivity, be accommodating, and don’t pry†Ã‚  (Fox, 2012). The employees should be told how they are to address those in authority. The names should be said clearly and slowly during introduction sessions with new workers so that they recognize the correct pronunciation. Spelling the name would not hurt and will only help. Follow these rules to maintain harmonious relations with the staff: keep an even tone while talking, as tone plays an important role in communication. Correcting mistakes, one of the best ways to help employees reach their potential, can be done very politely and in a private space. Shouting at people, even those of them who deserve it, is infrequently effective. Try maximum as to provide clear directions. Nobody is perfect and this just opens room for even the authoritarians to commit errors, which requires them to own up to their mi stakes. If someone else is responsible for a mistake, the error should not be focused on more, rather the circumstances and solutions should be sought after. 2. Suggest ways in which you can avoid claims of disparate treatment. Human Resource Departments require handling circumstances efficiently with similar treatment of every employee in order to avoid discrimination under human rights and further federal discrimination laws covering various elements such as age and disabilities. Follow a detailed process of documentation as well as keep a checklist to avoid bias complaints in the industry. Disparate treatment care for employees should be provided less positively based on religious views, age, sex, race, national identity or ethnicity. An outline of discrimination of laws in the US would lead to an illegal execution of lawsuit that can provide the courts with a reason to allow a worker on disparate treatment. If some employees are warned before termination while others are not, bu siness shows weakness under discrimination laws and disparate treatment. 3. Identify the type of external influences that could hinder staffing and how you would address  them. Staffing procedures are very important to any institution, as they determine the value of workers. Many internal issues influence the staffing procedure along with external issues.  If workers are to perform well, certain actions need to be taken to ensure calm and planned work surroundings.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"In the staffing organizations model, staffing system management is needed to provide direction and control for the staffing system components and external influences.   Essential to that process is the concept of business ethics.   Ethical practices seek to raise ethical expectations, encourage ethics discussions, encourage ethical decision making, and prevent and/or identify misconduct†Ã‚  (Staffing Organizations, n.d.). Some of the major external issues that could hinder staffing include the foll owing: Micro-management Poor leadership Low compensation Not enough training Little appreciation 4. Create a plan that you can use to deal with employee shortages and surpluses. The biggest labor problem that a small business owner would confront is definitely that

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Research course - critical analysis paper Term Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Research course - critical analysis - Term Paper Example In the course of this absenteeism, patients crowd the Nephrology facilities due to lack of adequate personnel to care of them. Their condition may worsen due to the delay in treatment. The purpose of this research is, therefore, to provide an outline of relationship among psychological empowerment, structural empowerment, and burnout in registered staff nurses working in outpatient Hemodialysis settings. This problem statement builds a strong statement by stating the Nephrology nurses usually go through during the burnout. It also clearly states the risks involved by mentioning the consequences of the burnout. From the problem statement, it is clear that the patients’ health is at risk. However, we are not told about the mechanisms through which the burnout comes about. Besides, Janice does not seem to take sides; one cannot easily tell the view from which the researcher argues (Houser, 2013). A research question is normally formulated before the onset of any field study. It normally addresses the cause and effect of the problem on the ground. In a research question, the researcher has no immediate answers. The researchers may design a set of questions that must only be answered by the analysis of the data collected in the field. However, it is not always obvious that the answers for the research questions are going to be obtained; some phenomena may remain ambiguity. An example of a research question in this context would be: What are the consequences of the burnout experienced by the Nephrology nurses? No research question was used in this study. Hypothesis, on the contrary, tries to make assumptions of the research questions. It tries to answer the questions prior to the field study. Hypotheses are, in essence, just the expected outcomes of the research. After data analysis, the hypotheses may be proved right or wrong. In this research, a number of hypotheses had been put forward by the author. They were

Monday, October 7, 2019

Further discussion on last paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Further discussion on last paper - Essay Example Moreover, the aging population was increasing incredibly (Plichta and Laurel 34). The number of trained nurses was also decreasing. In addition, there was the lack of respect from the physicians, which contributed to the shortage. This data is trustworthy as it bases its research because of the evidences that researchers provide from studies they carry out. For instance, Suzanne Gordon notes that women in the nursing sector do not make much gain in their workplaces like their counterparts in other professions (Huston 44). This acts as another reason for the job the job dissatisfaction that nurses encounter at their places of work. Additionally, these researches argue that there was shorting-staffing and restructuring in many nursing organizations that drove many nurses away from the sector. This lead to job burnout and many nurses realized that they could not bear the increasing burnout and professional responsibilities at work. Moreover, there has been an increasing concern on the quality of the services that nurses provide. People link this problem to the nursing shortage (Huston 50). We can trust these findings since the researcher suggests solutions to the problem, which include encouraging people to join the nursing sector. Moreover, the US government encourages nursing schools to enroll more people into the sector so that they curb the problem. However, these researchers provide conflicting points on the nursing shortage. For instance, one research projects a shortage of nurses of 600000 in the US by the year 2020 (Plichta and Laurel 36). This means that the US will need to educate more than 1.5 million new nurses by the 2015, which would help alleviate the problem. This problem can be catastrophic on the nation’s ability to respond to an event with mass casualty. On the other hand, the American Hospital Association projects a shortage of nurses of 800000 by 2020, which

Sunday, October 6, 2019

Hebrews essay 3 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Hebrews 3 - Essay Example Priesthood is relevant to a better covenant and a better relationship with God. Jesus brought forth a new covenant doing away with the old covenant. From doing so, Hebrews believe that they will have a stellar relationship with God by following Jesus & his new covenant (Douglas 48). The belief regarding Hebrews believing that following Jesus as the new covenant will lead to a better working relationship with God and fellow men. As such, it is only with probable cause that the author explains how such a faith in Jesus shows his authority and superiority. Upon believing in the new covenant, a Hebrew believes there is no need for the old covenant. Not only religion-wise but also custom wise where traditional practices in the old covenant like circumcision, various rituals, festivals & Sabbaths were refused hence spiritually held no merit. Christianity circumnavigates around the fact that Jesus is their true path to God. The title that Jesus holds as the high priest clothed with holiness, blamelessness, pure and holy constitutes the major requirements that a Christian needs. Notably so, Christians to accept Jesus and follow his ways shows his superiority as a leader & figurehead in the church (Douglas 48). Clergymen in the Old Testament had to create sin forfeit every day, displaying that the ultimate remedy had not arrived yet. The arrival of Jesus Christ was so efficient relevant to meeting the requirements of the church. The arrival of Jesus ensured that the church implemented policies that only glorified God and that idol worship was refused and rebuked. In order to fully implement this, Jesus gave instructions to the Levitical priests to offer sacrifices & offerings to God as a sign of worshiping him. As a sign of portraying the significance of offering sacrifices to God, Jesus offered himself as a sign of obedience to God & sacrificing himself for his people. He offered

Saturday, October 5, 2019

Assignment presentation QAHE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Assignment presentation QAHE - Essay Example of which 265 are in the United States and 182 outside America.The importance of this research is to evaluate the internal and external environment in which Apple Incorporation operates. Apple incorporation external environment will be analysed using the PEST analysis model. PEST stands for its political, economic, social and technological aspects of the company in order to determine Apple’s feasibility in relation to its growth, market, size, its performance position and possible operation ventures (Newlands & Hooper, 2009). Apple’s political environmentincludes the external problems that can hinder its routine operations,which can be caused by the instability of the national government. The problems can include terrorism, civil wars, corruption, health concerns and political instability. All these uncertainties can affect the sales of Apple products worldwide. In order for Apple to reduce its overall operational costs and external calamities, it has outsourced its activities in various countries. The countries include the Republic of China, Cork, Ireland, Korea and the Republic of Czech.Apple’s business activities can be hindered if these countries encounter political instability, which can otherwise affect its manufacturing processes. The hindrances of products manufacturing can cause a delay; resulting inshortages and dissatisfaction from the customers and its loyal dealers (Gendron, 2013). The economic environment can be analyzed by the global economic condition. The purchase of the company’s products can be hindered by the unemployment level of the country. If the unemployment rate is high, the consumers will have a low purchasing power and subsequently,a decrease in disposable income. Inflation is another robust problem which can adversely affect Apple’s revenue values.Inflation can be brought about by the increase in oil prices leading to inflation in the global economy. Due to the rise in operational costs, the costs arelater transferred to the

Friday, October 4, 2019

Music and Cognitive Functioning Essay Example for Free

Music and Cognitive Functioning Essay Music is an art form and one of the most popular media utilized to convey ideas, views, and emotions. It plays various, significant part in everyones life. It can calm one’s mood and emotion. It can relax a person’s tensed body. However, it can also hype and motivate people. Music is also a means that we can use to express our ideas and messages. It can also be an extension of our personality and a manifestation of our identity. The type of music that we listen reflects what kind of person we are. It is often suggested to pregnant women to listen to classical music for it is believed that listening to classical music stimulates the babys activity inside the mothers womb. It is also believed that listening to music by pregnant women increases the probability that their child will be intelligent. Some students can also study their lessons well while listening to music. The melodies and tunes make the environment conducive to learning. They tend to absorb and understand their lessons well while they are listening to their favorite songs. This idea poses the possibility of enhancing peoples cognitive capacity through music. Thus, this paper aims to discuss the relationship of music and a persons cognitive capacity, and whether music increases a person’s intelligence. Music Music is an art, a craft, and an organized representation of sounds, silence, notes, and melodic tunes subjected in a time framework. Music includes a wide array of activities. It could be in the form of a mother putting her child to sleep through a lullaby, a group of kids singing their favorite nursery rhyme, a rock band playing their heart throbbing hits, or simply a person humming unconsciously (Miller 3). Music is a succession of arranged tones that produce a rhythm (Miller 3). This definition does not cover the characteristics of music, but it covers the description of the different genres people may be affiliated with. Music is relative and subjective. It conforms to the taste and preference of the person. Music lessons taught us that music is comprised of notes, staffs, pitch, and voice. These are the superficial discernible characteristics of music. These are the things you will learn in your music class. Music has different forms in various cultures, and it is experienced by individuals through different ways. Music has two subdivisions based on culture. These are the â€Å"high culture† and â€Å"low culture† types of music. High culture music is eminent in U. S. and Europe. This type of music includes the music of the western world formed during the different periods—Classical, Baroque, and Romantic, among others. It is considered as the art music and is performed in the concert halls and churches. It is treasured by people in the conventional music industry. The other type of music includes the contemporary kinds of music like jazz, blues, country, rock, pop, etc. Nowadays, the distinction between the high and low culture of music is widely accepted for it separates the quality of music of better quality, more advanced art music from the music played in the nightclubs and dance halls. Music and Intelligence People always look for ways and means to increase their intelligence. This is inherently true for parents, especially the first-time parents who want to practically boost the cognitive functioning of their children. There is news proliferated by the media that the music of Mozart can actually make a person smarter. Due to this evidence, some educators and policy makers even suggest that playing Mozart’s music in elementary schools should be mandated (Nairne 346). Everyone has been bestowed a gift to excel in different fields. Everyone has his or her own discernible characteristics that enable him or her to take on tasks. However, it was believed that people with high musical aptitude possess low academic aptitude. Nevertheless, in reality, there is no clear correlation between musical inclination and affinity and the academic performance or ability of a person (Gordon 22). Recently, there has been a media fuss questioning if the involvement in music makes a person smarter. There is a significant query of whether there is a â€Å"Mozart effect† if a person is involved in music. Does music enhance a person’s cognitive capacity? There are various studies reporting that music increases learning capability, while other research conducted shows otherwise. Hence, this only shows the limitations and the discrepancy in studying the impact of music on cognitive ability (Crowe 143). The researches conducted regarding the relationship of music and cognitive skills fall under music cognition. This particular field of study involves examination of the different aspects of cognition, including how music is processed by its listeners. It seeks to understand the underlying processes over the standard practices of analyzing, composing, and listening to music. Music has a significant impact on the brain processes. Learning is a complex process that cannot be reduced to a simple human process or experience. In learning, the development of a particular ability will enhance the abilities of a person (Crowe 143). There are really no sufficient analyses on the cognitive effects of long-term exposure to music and passive listening of music on intelligence. The most celebrated short-term effect of music on the increase in intelligence was the interpretation of the 1993 Mozart Effect study. Researchers claimed that 10 minutes exposure to compositions of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart could increase general IQ scores by 8 points (Brown and Volgsten 137). However, there are claims that the study lacks sufficient evidence that exposure to Mozart songs actually render the improvements on the cognitive functioning of an individual. An interesting article that was written by the proponents of the studies on Mozart effects states that there are other types of music which render similar effects, such as folk music, minimalist music, and other types of music that cause relaxation. They also compared the tests of their participants and saw no particular difference on the results on the tests which required remembering numbers and general tests of intelligence. Yet, the Mozart effect manifested in tests which required recognizing visual patterns and mentally rotating objects. The researchers, therefore, concluded that the exposure to Mozarts composition only affects the persons spatial-reasoning abilities (Miche 16). Mozart songs may result in improvement for its omnificent and innovative schema. These songs activate the part of the brain which controls our spatial-reasoning tasks. Thus, this suggests that the persons involved may feel so relaxed and in a good mood, which allows them to perform the reasoning tasks better (Nairne 346). Furthermore, listening to Stephen Kings stories could also render Mozart effect, for the listeners find it enjoyable and entertaining. It relaxes them and enhances their spatial-reasoning skills. On the other hand, a study was conducted exposing participants to slow and sad selection of classical music, and significant findings failed to produce the Mozart effect. It greatly suggests that it is indeed the setting of the mood and arousal that are responsible for the improvements of the spatial-reasoning abilities of people (Nairne 346). The numerous studies mentioned earlier in the text only shows how psychological findings could be inaccurate and misused by the popular media. Although the various studies present valid findings, the improvements on the people’s abilities attributed to music were relatively minute and merely focused on a particular part of brain functioning. There are no stipulated evidences that suggest listening to Mozart or Stephen King produce lasting increase on the general intelligence. However, there may be ephemeral effects on the level of intelligence of a person. For instance, consuming anything that will make a person feel good and light would render the same improvements discussed by the researchers of Mozart effect. Thus, relaxing music makes one feel better about performing tasks, but it does not make hi or her smarter in any way (Nairne 346). Conclusion Music plays a significant role in everyones life. It is a tool for expressing our ideas and messages through the lyrics, melody, and rhythm of a song. It is an extension of our personality. We manifest ourselves—the kind of people we are—through the genre of music we listen to. Music inclination and intelligence have no significant correlation. There is a celebrated study which created hype in the media that exposure to Mozarts composition have a significant increase on the general intelligence of a person. The Mozart effect is a study conducted which concluded that exposure to his music activates the brain functioning which controls the spatial-reasoning abilities. Another study conducted suggests that using slow and sad classical compositions to increase cognitive capacity. However, these types of music failed to render similar effects as the impact of Mozart’s songs. It therefore concludes that anything that makes you feel good and relaxed can make you perform a task better. Works Cited Brown, Steven and Ulrik Volgsten. Music and Manipulation: On the Social Uses and Social Control of Music. New York: Berghahn Books, Inc. , 2006. Crowe, Barbara J. Music and Soulmaking: Toward a New Theory of Music Therapy. Maryland: Scarecrow Press, Inc. , 2004. Gordon, Edwin E. A Music Learning Theory for Newborn and Young Children. Chicago, IL: GIA Publications, Inc. , 2003.