Safe systems of work employee perception and the implications for Essay

Safe systems of work employee perception and the implications for management - Essay Example Attributing incidents to human error has often been seen as a sufficient explanation in itself and something which is beyond the control of managers. This view is no longer acceptable to society as a whole. Organisations must recognise that they need to consider human factors as a distinct element which must be recognised and managed effectively in order to control risk. ( Health and Safety Executive HSG 48 Reducing error and influencing behaviour, 1999) Managers in industry know that accidents cost money. Whether people are injured, plant and machinery damaged or product wasted, organisations lose money. Large scale losses such as those arising from major fires or explosion, or involving loss of life, are very visible and some have been costed on an individual basis. For example the Piper Alpha explosion involved the loss of 167 lives and is estimated to have cost over  £2 billion including  £746 million in direct insurance payouts (Health and Safety Executive The costs of Accid ents at wWork, 2000). Another illustration of major accidents which can be contributed to by human factors is the case of Three Mile Island when serious damage occurred to the core of a nuclear reactor due to operator failure to diagnose a stuck open valve due to poor design of control panel, distraction of 100 alarms activating and inadequate operator training (Health and Safety Executive, HSG48 Reducing aAccidents and iInfluencing Behaviour ,2000). Maintenance failures had occurred before, but no steps had been taken to prevent them recurring. Accidents can occur through peoples involvement with their work. As technical systems have become more reliable, the focus has turned to human causes of accidents. It is estimated that up to 80% of accidents may be attributed, at least in part, to the actions or omissions of people (Health and Safety Executive HSG48 Reducing aAccidents and Influencing Behaviour

Media Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Media Studies - Essay Example The weakness of this, however, is that it may sideline other important issues which deserve attention (Gilbert, 3). It may also alter how the public views certain matters, like matters of little importance into a very important issue while those genuinely important may be ignored (Gilbert, 3). Through the powerful media, scandals may also have an effect on how the public puts their trust on the government, which may produce confusion, insecurity or even a revolt (Gilbert, 3). Scandals may also become the basis for a country’s democracy, but may still depend on different factors including the culture of a country (Gilbert, 9). The treatment of the public on issues concerning â€Å"money, power and sex† may vary for different cultures or change in time (Gilbert, 9). For instance, the sexual scandal previously involving the President, was not noticeable before not because of deficient media information but more into delineating that which is public and private (Gilbert, 9) . This perception however waned and became a significant issue on people (Gilbert, 9). One way on how groups are presented in a biased way through the media is in photography for instance. Stereotyping is common especially if a group is of color or some ethnic group, creating either an affirmative or a negative image (Public Broadcasting Service, 1). Photographers involved in photojournalism take into consideration the significance of managing an image and the representation it makes to other people but nevertheless show some bias especially if the audience is white or not belonging to such ethnicity or race (Public Broadcasting Service, 1). The source of a certain story presented by the media can also reflect some bias as to the political perspective (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, 1). Media may rely on the government, established think tank, corporate sources

Thin layer chromatography (TLC)

Thin layer chromatography (TLC) It stands for Thin Layer Chromatography. Its a simple technique used by chemists in separation of Mixtures in addition to supporting the identification of the separated compounds by comparing the Retention Factor of the separated compound with that of a known compound. The TLC plate on which the Thin Layer Chromatography is performed is usually a sheet of glass, aluminum or plastic. Its has a coat of adsorbent material ( known as stationary phase ) such as silica gel, alumina or cellulose. First step is application of the sample to the plate, then in a capillary action- the chemist draws the solvent up the plate. Separation occurs due to the different ascendance rates of analytes on the plate. Advantages of TLC over other types of chromatography Paper Chromatography TLC is faster than paper chromatography. Its more sensitive to many substances. Its preparation is usually sharper. It requires smaller quantity of sample. Potential application of different types of reagents without causing damage to the plate. Column chromatography TLC has smaller apparatus It has more speed Previous points leads to cheaper over all procedure It provides easier measurement of the Retention Factor. The above advantages makes it more suitable for analytical purposes rather than separation purposes. Preparation of TLC plate To prepare the TLC plate, first we must mix a small quantity of an inert substance such as calcium sulfate with adsorbent substance like Silica gel and water. The second step is spreading this mixture on sheet of unreactive substance such as glass or plastic. The third step is activation of the plate that results from the previous procedures by heating it in an oven at 110oC for nearly half an hour. The adsorbent layers thickness depends on the purpose of TLC as in case of analytical purposes, it ranges from 0.1 to 0.25 mm. In case of preparative TLC it ranges from 0.5 to 2.0 mm. Technique A small amount of the samples solution is poured on the plate to cover about one centimeter high from the base. Then the plate is soaked in a convenient solvent like Hexane and put in a container thats well sealed. Using capillary action, the solvent goes up the plate to meet the samples mixture which it helps to move up the plate and dissolves as well. Differences between rates of the compounds in the mixture are because each compound has different affinity to the adsorbent layer (stationary phase) from the other compounds and also each compound has different solubility in the mixture. If the solvent is changed, the compounds can be separated (using Retention Factors value). Applications of TLC in the Pharmaceutical field Thin-layer chromatography technique is used for separation of amino acids that are the main components of antibiotics, enzymes and hormones. TLC-UV spectrometry was used to determine salidroside in 8 Rhodiola species ( Rhodiola is a herb that has been used for long time for treatment of cold and flu symptoms in addition to relieving mental and physical stresses. In China, its recently considered as promising anti-aging drug in addition to having causative agent for improvement of athletic performance and enhancing memory). The combination of advanced chromatographic resolution of 2D-TLC with simple bioautography is used in discovering new natural products that are active against important fungal pathogens of plants. Thin-layer chromatography in addition to HPLC are used for the identification of Pogostemoni herba which is a crude drug and a Kampo medicines-component. TLC-colourimetric was used to estimate free and combined emodine, physcione and chrysophanol in Indian Rhubarb and it turned out to contain (0.07%)of free emodin of (0.08%) of C-glycosidic emodin, (0.30%) of O-glycosidic emodin, (0.40%) of free physcione, (0.18%) of O-glycosidic physcione, (0.17 %) of C-glycosidic physcione, (0.15%) of free chrysophanol, (0.06%) of O-glycosidic chrysophanol and (0.21%) of C-glycosidic chrysophanol. TLC-UV Densitometric method is used in Misai Kucing Capsules for Simultaneous Quantification of Sinensetin and Tetramethoxyflavone. TLC is used for determination of different compounds in analgesic tablets. TLC-densitometric procedure is used for determination of the contents of Plumbagin which is a naphthoquinone that acts as antimalarial , antimalarial , anticancer, cardiotonic and antifertilityaction. Quantitative Thin-Layer Chromatography is used for the determination of Propranolol in human plasma. Determination of Steroidal Alkaloid Glycosides using Thin-Layer chromatography Immunostaining. TLC is used to determine Phenytoin in pharmaceutical preparations and identify its Hydroxylated Urinary Metabolites. Isolation of antioxidants from Perilla frutescens var. acuta fruit is carried out using TLC. TLC- densitometric method is used to analyse artemisinin in the planlets of Artemisia annua L. TLC is used to detect as well as identify opiates in urine in addition to reveilind adultration in heroin. TLC-Densitometry is used in the Quantitative Analysis of Curcumin, Demethoxycurcumin and Bisdemethoxycurcumin in the Crude Curcuminoid Extract from Curcuma longa.

Success of Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew :: Taming Shrew Essays

Success of Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew The Taming of the Shrew written by William Shakespeare depicts the common roles of men and women in the early seventeenth century. Shakespeare writes of Petruchio and Kate, a male and female who sharply oppose each other. Petruicho must "tame" his wife Kate without breaking her true inner spirit. Shakespeare touches on Kate's changing character and allows her to undergo three phases: Kate's character in the beginning, the methods Petruicho uses to tame Kate and the final outcome (how Kate has changed). The Taming of the Shrew unravels to reveal a wild beastly Katharine lacking respect for her family, herself and others around her. Kate is a very outspoken and vulgar woman without respect to authority. Katharine, although depicted as a beautiful woman quickly becomes the talk of Padua. Kate has found that if she is loud and obnoxious she can have her way. She screams and grunts and pushes those who she does not get along with. The general character of Katharine seems to be that of a small child. Peturicho's methods of pursuit in some cases border along the lines of torture. Peturicho manipulates and exploits Kate's character in order to change her outward actions. Although Peturicho does not want to change Kate's inward thoughts, he does not want to break her spirit. The greatest example can be quoted below. Petruchio says, "Thy gown's Why, aye. Come, tailor, let us see'st. / O mercy, God! What masquing stuff is here's / What's this's A sleeve's Tis like a demi-cannon. / What, up and down, carved like an apple tart's / Here's snip and nip and cut and slish and slash, Like to a censer in a barber's shop." (4.3.86-92) Petruciho uses the beautiful gown to show Kate that she will no longer have her way. Petruicho also uses several other instances to tame Kate. Petruicho is "fashionably late" to his wedding with Katharine and upon arrival is dresed as a jester. Petruciho "kidnaps" Kate from her wedding reception, and upon arrival to his home only allows Kate to smell the delicious food. Petruicho conduct himself in this manner to show Kate how she looks and behaves.

ERP Systems Essay

1.Explain the conditions or circumstances that would lead a company to use the IWM features available within SAP ERP. What capabilities does IWM add to the features available within the Sales and Distribution, Materials Management, and Production Planning and Execution areas of SAP ERP? The conditions and circumstances that would lead a company to use the IWM features available within SAP ERP are due to increased cost pressure, higher customer expectations, shorter cycles of innovation and high differentiation of consumer goods within the same industry. Additionally, customers are demanding more efficient ways of delivery. IWM features are able to improve timeliness and flexibility of deliveries. IWM has the capabilities to support increasingly complex supply chains. There are many capabilities provided within the Sales and Distribution, Materials Management, and Production Planning and Execution areas. Some capabilities include the ability to track orders and inventory in real time, display inventory value, control the movement of goods internally between plants, initiate the transfer of goods, and creating sales orders pertaining to materials management and warehouse management. Additionally, running bin status reports of goods in the warehouse, purchasing/selling goods internally by STOs and controlling the fulfillment process. 2.What is the purpose of using a â€Å"stock transport order†? Why would a â€Å"stock transport order† be used rather than an ordinary â€Å"stock transfer,† or a combination of â€Å"sales order† (sending plant) and â€Å"purchase order† (receiving plant)? The purpose of a stock transport order (STO) is to request materials from another plant within the same company code instead of procuring the material from a normal vendor. Hence, one plant is purchasing materials from another plant that sells the materials. Additionally, the IWM process is triggered by the STO from the manufacturing facility to a warehouse managed storage location. STOs are more complex in nature and can be performed with deliveries, without deliveries, and with deliveries and billing. A STO would be used instead of a â€Å"purchase order.† This is due to the plant purchasing goods from the other plant as a transport under the same company code. A purchase order is purchasing goods/materials from a normal vendor, not a plant within the same company code. The same reasoning applies to the sales order. The sending plant is sending goods/materials to their customers, not a plant within the same company code. As for a stock transfer, they are used to transfer materials within a company from one location to another. Movements include within one plant, between plants, and etc†¦Stock transfers are a simple way of moving goods, not internal purchasing/selling of goods like STOs.

Engineering Hours Accounting System Essay

Introduction Avitronics is a medium sized engineering company that produces components for the aerospace industry. Employees keep track of the hours they work on different projects and at the end of the week turn in a timecard with this information on it. The company can take up to roughly 12 contracts a year; each of these contracts is assigned a ‘Job-Code’. The Current System At present each employee keeps track of their hours using their own system. This could be as informal as a rough tally on a scrap of paper. At the end of the week, the employees fill their hours into a formal timecard, which is handed in and tallied by a clerk. Objectives of The New System Mr. Salomon (the chief accountant) would like a system with data entry forms so that each employee can input their own hours into the system at the end of each week. He would like to have pull-down menus for the job-codes, so that clumsy engineers entering complicated codes do not make mistakes. Hours should be rounded to the nearest quarter-hour. Data entry should be quick and simple. Each individual employee should not be able to see the hours worked by everyone else. The information should be sent to a database from Mr. Salomon can produce reports. He wants to be able to get a report that shows how many hours each employee works each week (these should be sorted by employee number). Mr. Salomon would also like to have a graphical report, which shows the total number of hours worked each week against each contract. He would like to start a fresh new system at the start of each year. Mr. Salomon would also like an easy to understand user guide, which should include complete instructions for a novice, using no jargon. Performance Indicators My solution will have to: * Prevent all employees seeing other employees’ hours. * Be simple to use, and not waste employees’ time. * Prevent errors wherever possible by using validation and combo-boxes. * Allow Mr. Salomon to create reports (with graphs) from entered data. * Include a template for Mr. Salomon to reset the system at the start of the year. * Provide Mr. Salomon with a User Guide designed to assist novice users when they are using the solution. * Accurately calculate the total hours for each employee per week, accurate to each quarter hour. Accurately calculate the number of hours worked on each contract per week, accurate to each quarter-hour. If all of these criteria are met then my solution will be successful. Design Choice of Software A Spreadsheet is the best solution to the problem because I can use the software well already and I know how to solve the problem using this software. I have chosen to use Microsoft Excel because it is the most common piece of spreadsheet software in general use. I could use an equivalent spreadsheet package from a different company, but this may not be compatible with Mr. Salomon’s computer. Features of Excel that make it ideal for solving the problem: * Ability to create a blank template * Pivot tables to create sophisticated reports with graphs * Formatting to help make it clear to the user where to enter data * Macros to automate various functions * Macros which will execute automatically on opening and closing workbooks * Validation and Protection of cells to prevent tampering and errors Systems Overview My system will be based on one workbook, with three sheets (excluding reports). The Hours Entry sheet will be the main input form, where employees will enter the hours they have worked, on what days and on which contract. The Admin Options Sheet is where the Administrator changes Contract numbers and groups, he/she also sets the week beginning date. The database sheet is where reports and charts will be produced form. Detailed Design Follows on the next 6 pages†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Workbook and Sheet Discussion Hours Entry Sheet – This sheet is designed to let the employees enter their hours in a quick and simple way. It is important to keep it simple so that employees do not become disgruntled and frustrated with the system. This sheet has a simple colour scheme that distinguishes input cells from cells where input is not required. Combo boxes are used to keep certain aspects simple and to prevent mistakes. Buttons are used to execute macros that clear the sheet and transfer relevant data to the spreadsheet. As hours have to be recorded by the closest quarter-of-an-hour, I have used a ‘ceiling’ formula in the total cells to prevent mistakes being made when data is transferred to the database. Admin Options Sheet – This sheet contains any options the administrator may need to set concerning the system He/She can add/remove contracts and add/remove groups of workers. At the start of each working week He/She has to set the ‘Week Beginning date’ that is needed throughout the system, it is essential they enter this date correctly. The colour scheme for this sheet is simple, every cell is white, input cells have borders to distinguish them form non-input cells. This sheet contains two buttons that execute macros: – Protect Workbook – This macro opens up the protect workbook dialog, where the administrator can protect the whole workbook, with the exception with cells that are not ‘Locked’ (input cells). – Start New Year – This macro erases all the data in the workbook, and prepares the system for a new year. A warning box automatically pops up when this button is clicked to warn the user that they will be deleting all entered data from the previous year. This is to prevent all the data being removed accidentally. Database Sheet – This sheet contains all the data that has been transferred from the ‘Hours Entry Sheet’. It contains – Employee #, Hours Worked for each employee. – Job Code, Hours Worked for each contract. From this data, an employee report can be created, this is a report listing all the employees, and the number they have worked in a given week. From this data, a contract report can be created; this is a report listing all the contracts and the number of hours worked on them for a given week. From this data a contract graph can be created, this is a graph showing the number of hours worked for a given contract over the past month (4 weeks). These outputs will need to look professional and be suitable for their purpose. Data entry and Validation These are the fields in which data will be entered into my system: Last Name – The employee will type this in. I chose this method, as there is no reasonable alternative. Employee # – This will be typed in by the employee. I chose this method because there is no reasonable alternative. Employee number is a four-digit number. This cell will be validated so that numbers bigger than 9999 are not accepted; also text is prevented from being entered. I use this validation so that problems do not occur further on the process, when reports sorted by employee number are being produced. Group – The user will select this via a combo box this ensures no typographical errors are made when typing it in. I am choosing to use a drop down box as there are few options for the employee to choose from. Job-Code – This will be selected from a drop down box to prevent typographical errors being made. If it were a plain cell, with no validation or input aids, if an error was made it could cause unwanted consequences throughout the system. Monday – Employees enter their hours by typing the number in the correct cell. Any number they enter will later be rounded up to the nearest quarter hour, by the use of a ceiling formula. The validation on this cell will be that it has to be a number between 0 and 20. Tuesday – Employees enter their hours by typing the number in the correct cell. Any number they enter will later be rounded up to the nearest quarter hour, by the use of a ceiling formula. The validation on this cell will be that it has to be a number between 0 and 20. Wednesday – Employees enter their hours by typing the number in the correct cell. Any number they enter will later be rounded up to the nearest quarter hour, by the use of a ceiling formula. The validation on this cell will be that it has to be a number between 0 and 20. Thursday – Employees enter their hours by typing the number in the correct cell. Any number they enter will later be rounded up to the nearest quarter hour, by the use of a ceiling formula. The validation on this cell will be that it has to be a number between 0 and 20. Friday – Employees enter their hours by typing the number in the correct cell. Any number they enter will later be rounded up to the nearest quarter hour, by the use of a ceiling formula. The validation on this cell will be that it has to be a number between 0 and 20. Saturday – Employees enter their hours by typing the number in the correct cell. Any number they enter will later be rounded up to the nearest quarter hour, by the use of a ceiling formula. The validation on this cell will be that it has to be a number between 0 and 20. Sunday – Employees enter their hours by typing the number in the correct cell. Any number they enter will later be rounded up to the nearest quarter hour, by the use of a ceiling formula. The validation on this cell will be that it has to be a number between 0 and 20. User Aids to Operation User Aids to Operation that I have used are combo boxes, and buttons that execute useful macros. Combo boxes assist the user with entering data when there are only a few options to choose from. They also help prevent mistakes from being made when typing out something complicated. For example in my system, the user uses a combo-box to select a job code, if they had to type every job code in it is more than likely that every week several mistakes would be made. By using combo-boxes I have eliminated the probability of this occurring. By using buttons that execute macros I have enabled the employees to enter their hours in a simple entry form. If I did not use macros then each individual would have to type hours into the database, this could cause a huge number of problems for the company. Protection Sheet 1, Hours Entry Sheet The following cells on this sheet will NOT be protected: C6, Last Name C5, Employee # C10:C16, Monday’s Hour Entry Cells D10:D16, Tuesday’s Hour Entry Cells E10:E16, Wednesday’s Hour Entry Cells F10:F16, Thursday’s Hour Entry Cells G10:G16, Friday’s Hour Entry Cells H10:H16, Saturday’s Hour Entry Cells I10:I16, Sunday’s Hour Entry Cells These cells will not be protected because when I protect the sheet, I want them to be ‘editable’. Eg the employees need to enter data into them. Macros Transfer_Macro – This macro will be executed from a button on the ‘Hours Entry Sheet’. The macro transfers required data from this sheet into the database. After it has transferred the data it will return the user to the ‘Hours Entry Sheet’, where they can exit the spreadsheet when they are ready. If the transfer is completed successfully then a message box will popup saying ‘Transfer Successful’. Create_Employees_Report – This macro will create a report on the employees. It will copy selected data from the database, paste it into a new sheet and format it appropriately. The report will show the employee number, last name, hours worked for each week for each employee stored in the database. Create_Contracts_Graph – This macro will use selected data from the database to create a graph showing how many hours are spent on each job code over a period of weeks. The graph will show all of the job-codes and all of the data about each job code that is stored in the database. Auto_Open – This will execute automatically when the spreadsheet is opened, it shows the ‘Hours Entry Sheet’ and clear all of the white input cells. It will select the ‘Employee #’ input box ready for the user to begin. Clear – This macro clears all of the white input cells in the ‘Hours Entry Sheet’. If the employee enters a few mistakes or realises he has entered totally wrong data, instead of having to delete every piece of data separately he/she can simply click the button that executes this macro. Protect_Workbook – This macro will be executed via a button on the ‘Admin Options’ page, this will hide all menus and the taskbar and take the user to the ‘Hours Entry Sheet’. It will also run the ‘Clear’ macro so that the ‘Hours Entry Sheet’ is always blank when it shows up. Start_New_Year – This macro erases all data from the database ready for the system to begin a new year. The employees and job codes will stay on the admin options page as it would be unreasonable to assume that all the jobs were finished at the end of the last year. Data Flow Diagram Testing Test Strategy This is what my solution is required to do, as outlined in the Performance Indicators section of the Analysis: * Prevent all employees seeing other employees’ hours. * Be simple to use, and not waste employees’ time. * Prevent errors wherever possible by using validation and combo-boxes. * Allow Mr. Salomon to create reports (with graphs) from entered data. * Include a template for Mr. Salomon to reset the system at the start of the year. * Provide Mr. Salomon with a User Guide designed to assist novice users when they are using the solution. * Accurately calculate the total hours for each employee per week, accurate to each quarter hour. Accurately calculate the number of hours worked on each contract per week, accurate to each quarter-hour. Here is an outline of the tests I will have to carry out on my spreadsheet: * Does my system open correctly? * Ensure that the Database and Admin sections are hidden from the employees. * Ease of Use, as little complications as possible. * Tests of Validation (effects of incorrect/extreme data entry) * Tests of Protection * Accurate calculation of hours * Does my spreadsheet cause problems after closing? Test Plan The following tests will be performed: Basic Function Tests: 1. Open my spreadsheet. 2. Add data as outlined in test data set 1. 3. Test the ‘Submit Hours’ button. 4. Add data as outlined in test data set 2. 5. Test the ‘Clear Form’ Button. 6. Add data as outlined in test data set 3. 7. Test the ‘Submit Hours’ button. 8. Test the ‘Exit System’ button. 9. Reopen the spreadsheet. 10. Try entering data from test data set 4. 11. Try entering data in a locked cell (eg. The cell containing the word ‘Group’ and the cell containing the word ‘Totals’). Admin Function Tests: 12. Open my spreadsheet. 13. Test ‘Admin Options’ button, enter password from test data set 5. 14. Test ‘Admin Options’ button, enter password from test data set 6. 15. Test the ‘Enter New Employee’ button. Enter the data as outlined in test data set 7. 16. Select cell ‘F19’, Test the ‘Delete Job Code’ button. 17. Select cell ‘B11’, click the ‘Delete Job Code’ button. 18. Test the ‘Enter New Job-Code’ button, enter the data as outlined in test data set 8. 19. Test the ‘Enter New Job-Code’ button. 20. Test the ‘Create Contract-Chart’ button. 21. Test the ‘Employee Report’ button. 22. Test the ‘Change System Password’ button. Enter the password as outlined in test data set 9. 23. Test the ‘Protect System’ button. 24. Test the ‘Admin Options’ button. Enter the password as outlined in test data set 6. Error massage should appear. 25. Test the ‘Admin Options’ button. Enter the password as outlined in test data set 9. 26. Test the ‘Change System Password’ button; enter the original password again as outlined in test data set 6. 27. Test the ‘Start New Year’ button. 28. Click ‘File’ then ‘Exit’ please do not save any changes to the spreadsheet. Jonathan Stamp – ICT Excel Coursework Page 1 of 17 Jonathan Stamp – ICT Excel Coursework Page 1 of 17

Airplane Warfare During World War I Essays - Aerial Warfare

Airplane Warfare During World War I Essays - Aerial Warfare Airplane Warfare During World War I During World War One, the role of airplanes and how they were used changed greatly. At first planes were only used for sport, but people started realize that not only could airplanes be useful but they could even influence an outcome of the war greatly. Soon the war was filled with blimps, planes, and tethered balloons. By the end of the war, planes became a symbol of fear, but they were not always treated with such respect. In the time leading up to the war, the general feeling about planes was, they were a sneaky, unfair tactic that should not be used in warfare. During The 1899 Hague Peace Conference it was put on record that the dropping or shooting of any projectiles or explosives from the air during a time of war was forbidden and was considered a crime of war. It was also decided that airplanes could only be used for reconnaissance or spying missions. (Villard-227) ?The airplane may be all very well for sport, but for the army it is useless? (Quoted in Villard-227) Even by the beginning of the war in 1912, the use of planes in war was still prohibited by the War Office. Shortly thereafter this changed, people awakened to the possibilities of air warfare. The world soon started to realize the effectiveness of planes in war and how the control of the skies could influence the outcome. Although the French were the first to have a working, conscripting air force and to license fliers, their trust in airplanes still was not up to par. Their lack of trust was justified, for the planes had no armaments, too many wires, and no reliable motor. (Villard-228) Soon all countries in the war effort had their own little air force, built hangers, and started to train pilots. The first bombing occurred in November 1911. Although the first bomb was dropped by the Italians, soon all countries were involved in bombing raids. (Villard-229) It was followed by the first aerial dogfight in 1912. This consisted of a primitive exchange of pistol fire between British and German planes . (Harvey-95) The first flying experience for the United States occurred in 1862, during the Civil War. General McClellan went into battle against the South with a balloon corps floated by hydrogen and pulled by four horses. (Saga-51) Literary fiction started to breed ideas about the use of planes in warfare. The most famous writer to explore the idea was H.G. Wells. He wrote The War In The Air, a book about the future in which battle is conducted with planes. (Wohl-70). In Germany, literary fiction preceded the actual development of warfare in the air. Rudolph Martin was a writer who predicted that the German?s future was not on the sea, but in the air. He also believed that further development in aviation would kill the importance of diezce and help to lead toward the German unification of the world. (Wohl-81) Martin?s novel helped to prepare the Germans for their use of planes in the war. The fiction soon became scientific fact. (Wohl-71) The United States, ultimately was slower than France and Germany to develop an air force. On March 3, 1911, Congress appropriated $125,000 to start an air force, which consisted of five planes. The first squadron was organized by the Americans on March 5, 1913, in Texas City. It consisted of nine planes. Although the United States entered the war in 1917, it did not use planes in the war at that time. (Villard-231) U.S. pilots had little or no experience in ?cross-country navigation.? They did not have good maps and sometimes they became lost, ran out of fuel and would have to land behind enemy lines. (Villard-233) As the Americans advanced in the use of planes in warfare, so did the Germans. Initially, the Germans made no effort to hide their skepticism about the use of planes in warfare. In the beginning of the war, many Germans raised in newspaper articles and on government committees the possibilities of warfare in the air, but the country as a whole was not quick to initiate the effort. (Wohl-70) This quickly changed, however, because the development of airplanes during the war

Jose Rizal, National Hero of the Philippines

Jose Rizal, National Hero of the Philippines Josà ©Ã‚  Rizal (June 19,  1861–December 30,  1896) was a man of incredible intellectual power and amazing artistic talent. He excelled at anything that he put his mind to- medicine, poetry, sketching, architecture, sociology, and more. Rizals martyrdom by the Spanish colonial authorities, while he was still quite young, was a huge loss to ​the Philippines and to the world at large. Today, the people of the Philippines honor him as their national hero. Fast Facts: Josà © Rizal Known For: National hero of the Philippines for his key role inspiring and leading the Philippine Revolution against colonial SpainBorn: June 19, 1861 at Calamba, LagunaParents: Francisco Rizal Mercado and Teodora Alonzo y QuintosDied: December 30, 1896 in Barcelona, SpainEducation: Ateneo Municipal de Manila, studied medicine at the University of Santo Tomas and medicine and philosophy at the  Universidad Central de Madrid (1884); ophthalmology at the University of Paris and the University of HeidelbergPublished Works: Noli Me Tangere, El FilibusterismoSpouse(s): Josephine Bracken (married two hours before his death)Children: None Early Life Josà ©Ã‚  Rizal was born on June 19, 1861, at Calamba, Laguna, the seventh child of Francisco Rizal Mercado and Teodora Alonzo y Quintos. They named the boy Jose Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda. The Mercado family were wealthy farmers who rented land from the Dominican religious order. Descendants of a Chinese immigrant named Domingo Lam-co, they changed their name to Mercado (market) under the pressure of anti-Chinese feeling among the Spanish colonizers. From an early age, Jose Rizal Mercado showed a precocious intellect. He learned the alphabet from his mother at the age of 3 and could read and write at age 5. Education Josà ©Ã‚  Rizal Mercado attended the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, graduating at the age of 16 with the highest honors. He took a post-graduate course there in land surveying. Rizal Mercado completed his surveyors training in 1877 and passed the licensing exam in May 1878, but he could not receive a license to practice because he was only 17 years old. (He was eventually granted a license in 1881 when he reached the age of majority.) In 1878, the young man also enrolled in the University of Santo Tomas as a medical student. He later quit the school, alleging discrimination against Filipino students by the Dominican professors. In Madrid In May 1882, Josà ©Ã‚  Rizal got on a ship to Spain without informing his parents of his intentions. He enrolled at the Universidad Central de Madrid after arriving. In June 1884, he received his medical degree at the age of 23; the following year, he also graduated from the Philosophy and Letters department. Inspired by his mothers advancing blindness, Rizal next went to the University of Paris and then to the University of Heidelberg to complete further study in the field of ophthalmology. At Heidelberg, he studied under the famed professor Otto Becker. Rizal finished his second doctorate at Heidelberg in 1887. Rizals Life in Europe Jose Rizal lived in Europe for 10 years. During that time, he picked up a number of languages- he could converse in more than 10 different tongues. While in Europe, the young Filipino impressed everyone who met him with his charm, intelligence, and his mastery of an incredible range of different fields of study. Rizal excelled at martial arts, fencing, sculpture, painting, teaching, anthropology, and journalism, among other things. During his European sojourn, he also began to write novels. Rizal finished his first book, Noli Me Tangere, while living in Wilhemsfeld with the Reverend Karl Ullmer. Novels and Other Works Rizal wrote Noli Me Tangere in Spanish; it was published in 1887 in Berlin. The novel is a scathing indictment of the Catholic Church and Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines, and its publication cemented Jose Rizals position on the Spanish colonial governments list of troublemakers. When Rizal returned home for a visit, he received a summons from the Governor General and had to defend himself from charges of disseminating subversive ideas. Although the Spanish governor accepted Rizals explanations, the Catholic Church was less willing to forgive. In 1891, Rizal published a sequel, titled El Filibusterismo. Program of Reforms In both his novels and newspaper editorials, Jose Rizal called for a number of reforms of the Spanish colonial system in the Philippines. He advocated for freedom of speech and assembly, equal rights before the law for Filipinos, and Filipino priests in place of the often-corrupt Spanish churchmen. In addition, Rizal called for the Philippines to become a province of Spain, with representation in the Spanish legislature (the Cortes Generales). Rizal never called for independence for the Philippines. Nonetheless, the colonial government considered him a dangerous radical and declared him an enemy of the state. Exile and Courtship In 1892, Rizal returned to the Philippines. He was almost immediately accused of being involved in the brewing rebellion  and was exiled to Dapitan City, on the island of Mindanao. Rizal would stay there for four years, teaching school and encouraging agricultural reforms. During that same period, the people of the Philippines grew more eager to revolt against the Spanish colonial presence. Inspired in part by Rizals organization La Liga, rebel leaders like Andres Bonifacio began to press for military action against the Spanish regime. In Dapitan, Rizal met and fell in love with Josephine Bracken, who brought her stepfather to him for a cataract operation. The couple applied for a marriage license but were denied by the Church (which had excommunicated Rizal). Trial and Execution The Philippine Revolution broke out in 1896. Rizal denounced the violence  and received permission to travel to Cuba in order to tend victims of yellow fever in exchange for his freedom. Bonifacio and two associates sneaked aboard the ship to Cuba before it left the Philippines and tried to convince Rizal to escape with them, but Rizal refused. He was arrested by the Spanish on the way, taken to Barcelona, and then extradited to Manila for trial. Josà ©Ã‚  Rizal was tried by court-martial and charged with conspiracy, sedition, and rebellion. Despite a lack of any evidence of his complicity in the Revolution, Rizal was convicted on all counts and given a death sentence. He was allowed to marry Josephine two hours before his execution by firing squad on December 30, 1896. Jose Rizal was just 35 years old. Legacy Mariano Sayno / Getty Images Josà ©Ã‚  Rizal is remembered today throughout the Philippines for his brilliance, courage, peaceful resistance to tyranny, and his compassion. Filipino schoolchildren study his final literary work, a poem called Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Goodbye), and his two famous novels. Spurred on by Rizals martyrdom, the Philippine Revolution continued until 1898. With assistance from the United States, the Philippine archipelago was able to defeat the Spanish army. The Philippines declared its independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. It was the first democratic republic in Asia. Sources de Ocampo, Estaban A. Dr. Jose Rizal, Father of Filipino Nationalism. Journal of Southeast Asian History 3.1 (1962): 44-55.Rizal, Josà ©. One Hundred Letters of Josà ©Ã‚  Rizal. Manila: Philippine National Historical Society, 1959.Valenzuela, Maria Theresa. Constructing National Heroes: Postcolonial Philippine and Cuban Biographies of Josà © Rizal and Josà © Martà ­. Biography 37.3 (2014): 745-61.

Using the PHP Function to Find When a File Was Modified

Using the PHP Function to Find When a File Was Modified If your website contains time-sensitive information- or even if it doesnt- you may want to display the last time a file was modified on the website. This gives users an accurate idea of how up to date the information on a page is. You can automatically draw this information from the file itself using the ​filemtime() PHP function. The filemtime() PHP function retrieves the Unix timestamp from the file. The date function converts the Unix timestamp time. This timestamp indicates when the file was last changed. Example Code to Display File Modification Date   When you use this code,  replace myfile.txt with the actual name of the file you are dating.​ ?php // outputs myfile.txt was last modified: December 29 2002 22:16:23. $filename myfile.txt; if (file_exists($filename)) {  Ã‚  echo $filename was last modified: . date (F d Y H:i:s., filemtime($filename)); } ? Other Uses for Filemtime() Function In addition to time-stamping web articles, the filemtime() function can be used to select all articles older than a specified time for the purpose of deleting all old articles. It can also be used to sort articles by age for other purposes. The function can come in handy when dealing with browser caching. You can force the download of a revised version of a stylesheet or page using the filemtime()  function. Filemtime can be used to capture the modification time of an image or other file on a remote site. Information on Filemtime() Function The results  of the filemtime() function are cached. The  clearstatcache() function clears the cache.If the filemtime () function fails, the code returns false.

The various aspects of the functions of management which are Research Paper

The various aspects of the functions of management which are beneficial for managerial decision making - Research Paper Example The researcher states that management is regarded as a social process involving responsibility for effective and economic planning and regulation of operation of an organization in the fulfillment of the tasks and objectives. The functions of management would include allocation of resources, job design and enhancement of product development. It also enables monitoring which is an important aspect of control and design of well laid plans, activities. These functions are very important at each and every level or status. According to George &Terry there are usually four fundamental functions of management which includes planning, organizing, actuating and controlling. According to Henry Fayol to manage is to forecast, plan, organize, command and control. These four functions of function play pivotal role in determining the strategic process and completion of goals and objectives. These functions help in determining and setting goals and objectives and also developing accurate budgeting procedure. In theory the functions of management would be convenient and would not be separable from each other. The various functions of management would be inseparable from each other and affect the performance of each other. Management functions exist for a particular purpose and that includes manufacturing a product or service, responsibility for a mission accomplishment requires central figure and also to coordinate the primary activities. (Chruden & Sherman, 1980). The main objective of the functions of management would be as follows: Strategic High conceptual and low technical High human relations Tactical Moderately conceptual and technical High human relations Operational Low conceptual and high technical High human relations Planning: It is a systematic process in which the management makes managerial decisions about the future activities and the key goals that would be easily pursuable. It deals with designing of future course of action for the accomplishment of predeterm ined tasks. This deals with the understanding of the manager and contexts in which they operate and this activity starts with the commencement of planning process by examining the company’s operation (Drucker, 1972). Organizing: It shares with similar bonds and other management functions. Organizing helps in perfect job design and outlining the job description activities (Gomez-Mejia, Balkin & Cardy, 2005).Organizing is a process of bringing together resources and people to create products and services. Staffing: This function would enable modifications as new management functions necessitate and evolve. The achievement of the organizational goals through effective and efficient deployment of people is regarded as staffing. This includes filling of several organizational posts by hiring the required and qualified personnel. Controlling: It is regarded as the process of evaluation of the performance of the employees against the established goals. It is also regarded as a creat ion of methods appropriate to take corrective actions for the improvement in the overall performance of the organization. Effective control system are applied and implemented at every departments, functional area and individual levels. This helps in

Toyotas Strategy and Initiative in Europe Case Study

Toyotas Strategy and Initiative in Europe - Case Study Example However, instead of being engaged in price competition, companies are scaling down their operations. The uniqueness of Toyota's strategy was that it designed and manufactured locally adapted models. This strategy helped the company to increase sales: "by almost 50 percent from 2000 to 2005. The new strategy paid off financially, too. According to Business Week, the operating profit increased ninefold to $654 million in 2003" (Thompson et al 2008, p. C245). Research and innovation are a part of Toyota's success. The company launched its new car Aygo and "challenged many of its traditional views: the car was specifically designed for the European market and exclusively" (Thompson et al 2008, p. C245). For Toyota, this business decision is multi-dimensional and extremely complex. It is impossible to assume that business decisions even approach rationality, let alone perfect rationality. Toyota has to make complex decisions and, because of the multi-dimensionality of their decision conditions, they make many decisions (Annual Report Toyota 2008). Product adaptability and outsources are also key success factors. Today's consumer has a tremendous number of choices. Most of the products are complex and many of them have additives, preservatives, and other chemicals. Some of them are dangerous. Many of them have hazardous long-term effects. It is virtually impossible for the modern consumer to be rational and maximizing. Normal average consumers are typically confused and have difficulty making satisfactory decisions. Even though they may have the capability to evaluate functional product attributes in a rational manner, they lack the time and motivation to do so (Annual Report Toyota 2008). Global expansion and penetration to the North American market improves Toyota's position on the market "For 2006 Toyota was expected to reach 9 million units in production-with luxury brand Lexus reaching the 500,000 units mark for the first time (up from 400,000 units in 2004)" (Thompson et al 2008, p. C246). Toyota follows growth strategies based on the idea that expansion and market development will help it to attract new customers. According to its Annual repot: "Toyota expects to record net sales of 2,000.0 billion ahead of schedule for the fi scal year ending March 31, 2008" (Annual Report 2008, p. 3). The global car market is not only very complex but also not quite open for entry. Investment in research and development improve its position and increase opportunities on the global scale (Financial Results. Presentations 2008). 2. SWOT analysis shows that there is a strong correlation between successful strategies and direction selected by the company and its financial performance. The main strength is stable position on the market and loyal consumers. Financial statements highlight that in 2007 Toyota has increased its sales in 4.7% in comparison with 2006. Its operation income increased in 17.3% and income before income taxes and minority interests increased in 29.2 %. The net income is $40,309 million (2007) in comparison with 30,268 million in 2006 (see Appendix 1, 2). The main opportunity for Toyota is growth. Growth up until the 1990s meant expanding productive capabilities and market opportunities and making sure that this growth would yield better

The Great Gatsby Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

The Great Gatsby - Essay Example The novel provides an exploration of Gatsby’s journey in achieving wealth, success and love with passionate optimism while ironically submitting into moral corruption and questionable lifestyle in the process. This paper aims to analyze how the conflict between Gatsby’s representation of an average American’s hopes, dreams and aspirations with his personal, professional and social life conditions affect his capacity to accomplish his ambitions. Wealthy New Yorker James Gatsby is the central character of the novel. Born as James Gatz, he longed to escape from the impoverished life that he was born into from rural South Dakota and possess wealth and sophistication. While studying in college, he worked as a janitor to support his finances but abruptly quitted because of the difficulty of the job. The one thing that inspired and deeply motivated Gatsby to achieve his goals is his love for Daisy Buchanan, a young girl born from luxury and grace that he met before leaving for the World War I as an enlisted officer in 1917. He firmly believed that he can convince her that he was good for her if he has already established his fortune and become a notable name in society. Daisy promised to wait for him though she married football player Tom Buchanan just after two years and settled in the old rich community of East Egg in New York. Heartbroken, Gatsby finished his studies in Oxford and concentrated on getting Daisy back by particip ating in organized crimes such as stealing bond securities and distributing illegal alcohol. His changing of his name symbolizes his reinvention as he improved his social and economic status. After acquiring millions of dollars, Gatsby bought a mansion in West Egg and threw weekly lavish parties in order to lure Daisy in joining such. Expectedly, Gatsby and Daisy’s paths crossed in the wealthy society of New York. Facing the moment that he prepared for several years, Gatsby showed his wealth and

Bibliography and Annotations Annotated Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

And Annotations - Annotated Bibliography Example She studied the social organization of the Santee before 1892 and compared it to the community she came across in 1935. According to Landes, the Mdewakantonwan was grouped into seven to ten villages with about 50 to 400 people per village (220). They had strong corporate features economically and politically independent and owned plenty of land. This book helps people understand the socio-cultural organization of the Santee; thus giving a better understanding of their cultural perspective. This book written by Charles Eastman and Ernest Blumenschein in 1971, traces the life of Eastman growing up as a native Santee Sioux. He mainly talks of his life in Canada, where he had gone to exile after separating with his father and siblings during the Dakota war, in 1862. Eastman claims that during his childhood in Santee, children were trained through several ways such as narration of stories and myths by adults, games and sports, and spiritual and moral training among others (54). The learning that Eastman expresses from his childhood is not much different from the learning that takes place in the society today. This is a nonfictional book written by Roy Meyer in 1968. According to Meyer, the Santee is an American Indian group, which consists of four divisions of the eastern Dakota (199). They include the Sisseton, Mdewakanton, Wahpeton and Wahpekute. The Santee spoke the languages of the Siouan of eastern Dakota that is strongly related to the Lakota language spoken by the Teton, and Nakota, which is spoken by Yanktonai and Yankton. The Yanktonai, Yankton, and the Teton are the other three divisions of the Dakota. Meyer argues that the traditions of the Santee shows that they originated from the northeast, probably near the â€Å"Lake of the Woods†, but the expanding Ojibwa community forced them out of their homeland to the South and West (200). They rose against the Whites in 1892 under the little cow, but lost the war, as well as their remaining Land in

Impact of Inflation in World Economics Dissertation

Impact of Inflation in World Economics - Dissertation Example Placing in the most generic term, inflation within an economy diminishes the value of money as a result of which the common people find it difficult to survive. Inflation and growth are such two terms of the economy that are comprehensively incompatible and can never be anticipated to meet (Economy Watch, 2011). The present research paper has been designed to critically evaluate the impact of inflation upon the Asian economies. The reason for selecting the Asian economies for study is the excessively elevating rate of inflation as compared to the rest of the world during the past a few years. The following demonstration of the inflation rate has led to the undertaking of present research. The rates of inflation depicted in the figure are those of the recent period. Source: (Trading Economics, 2011). The figure is a clear representation of the rate of inflation in various countries of the world inclusive of the western countries, European countries, Australia and the major Asian count ries in terms of economic growth and also population. It is evident from the figure that rate of inflation in India and China is the highest in the entire world in recent times. This is the basis of the present research that will be concerned with finding the causes of inflation along with its effects and most importantly finding an effective way of managing inflation. 2.0 Causes of Inflation in Asian Economies According to a special report from the Asian Development Bank (2008a), during the period from the year 2007 to 2008, both structural as well as cyclical factors have contributed towards the escalating prices of food products in Asia. Before that period, major cereal stocks in the global market were reducing radically. The harsh rate of failing stock was a clear indication that the world economy had been becoming incapable of meeting up the rate of consumption (ESCAP, 2011). As a result of this, the ratio of stock-to-use had been falling massively, before it reached one of its lowest rates during the same period of 2007-2008 as shown in the figure below: Source: (Asian Development Bank, 2011). The percentage figures in the above figure had been shown with respect to three important cereals: corn, wheat and rice. Various structural factors that have been influencing the increasing rate of food prices during the period 2007-2008 are observed to be continuing their impacts upon the present episode of ever increasing food prices within the Asian economies. The factors relevant on the demand-side of the economies are inclusive of huge rate of growth in population figures, sturdy rate of growth in people’s income within the emerging economies and varying diet habits of the people from staple items of food towards meat and several other processed foods. Increased consumption of processed food items requires huge amount of feedstock and raw materials. The factors in the supply side that contributes towards increased rate of inflation are the enhanced util isation of food grains, primarily rapeseed oil and corns for the purpose of producing biofuel; alteration of the agricultural lands in order to be utilised for business purposes; enhanced shortage of resources for irrigation; lower production of crops; increasing costs of raw materials; and

Contemporary Developments in Business and Management Essay - 6

Contemporary Developments in Business and Management - Essay Example So, in 2005, it actualized that plan by adopting the Diversity Program. This program apart from improving Nike’s ethical image, also positively impacted the business environment of Nike both in its external as well as in its internal environment, opening up a surge of opportunities and at the same time it also giving rise to challenges in certain aspects. So, this paper will analyze Nike’s internal as well as external business environment, focusing on how the current political and economic factors are influencing its decision making particularly regarding its Diversity program, ending with the recommendations on how to further optimize its functioning Nike Corporation is the world’s leading supplier and or manufacturer of sports equipments, athletic shoes and apparels. It was formed in 1964, and by 1980, it already had more than 50% market share in the United States. Nike has over five hundred factory or office locations in around 45 countries all over the world. Nike’s operations in UK are extensive with stores at many prominent places and manufacturing process is also going on. With such extensive locations, Nike, an American corporation has a sizeable percentage of employees from diverse groups. So, Nike is a very diverse company and focuses a great deal on improving diversity throughout the organisation. â€Å"This company operates on six continents, and employs around 23,000 people. Their suppliers, shippers, retailers and service providers employ close to 1 million people. The diversity inherent in such size is helping Nike evolve its role as a global company.† (Clarke et. al, 2005). But, as part of a p ositive image building exercise, Nike under the leadership of Phil Knight planned to increase that percentage to recognizable and optimum levels. So, in 2005, it actualized that plan by adopting the Diversity Program in its recruitment process. Phil

Impact of Inflation in World Economics Dissertation

Impact of Inflation in World Economics - Dissertation Example Placing in the most generic term, inflation within an economy diminishes the value of money as a result of which the common people find it difficult to survive. Inflation and growth are such two terms of the economy that are comprehensively incompatible and can never be anticipated to meet (Economy Watch, 2011). The present research paper has been designed to critically evaluate the impact of inflation upon the Asian economies. The reason for selecting the Asian economies for study is the excessively elevating rate of inflation as compared to the rest of the world during the past a few years. The following demonstration of the inflation rate has led to the undertaking of present research. The rates of inflation depicted in the figure are those of the recent period. Source: (Trading Economics, 2011). The figure is a clear representation of the rate of inflation in various countries of the world inclusive of the western countries, European countries, Australia and the major Asian count ries in terms of economic growth and also population. It is evident from the figure that rate of inflation in India and China is the highest in the entire world in recent times. This is the basis of the present research that will be concerned with finding the causes of inflation along with its effects and most importantly finding an effective way of managing inflation. 2.0 Causes of Inflation in Asian Economies According to a special report from the Asian Development Bank (2008a), during the period from the year 2007 to 2008, both structural as well as cyclical factors have contributed towards the escalating prices of food products in Asia. Before that period, major cereal stocks in the global market were reducing radically. The harsh rate of failing stock was a clear indication that the world economy had been becoming incapable of meeting up the rate of consumption (ESCAP, 2011). As a result of this, the ratio of stock-to-use had been falling massively, before it reached one of its lowest rates during the same period of 2007-2008 as shown in the figure below: Source: (Asian Development Bank, 2011). The percentage figures in the above figure had been shown with respect to three important cereals: corn, wheat and rice. Various structural factors that have been influencing the increasing rate of food prices during the period 2007-2008 are observed to be continuing their impacts upon the present episode of ever increasing food prices within the Asian economies. The factors relevant on the demand-side of the economies are inclusive of huge rate of growth in population figures, sturdy rate of growth in people’s income within the emerging economies and varying diet habits of the people from staple items of food towards meat and several other processed foods. Increased consumption of processed food items requires huge amount of feedstock and raw materials. The factors in the supply side that contributes towards increased rate of inflation are the enhanced util isation of food grains, primarily rapeseed oil and corns for the purpose of producing biofuel; alteration of the agricultural lands in order to be utilised for business purposes; enhanced shortage of resources for irrigation; lower production of crops; increasing costs of raw materials; and

Gender Essay Essay Example for Free

Gender Essay Essay During this essay I will be assessing the view that over the recent years the roles of both men and women have changed affecting society and the majority of households. In 1957 Elizabeth Bott as one of the first sociologists to study how the change of leisure, employment and lifestyle affected the roles of husbands and wives. She called these conjugal roles and claimed that there were two main types, segregated and joint. Segregated roles consisted of the splitting of the domestic tasks, where the men took care of the DIY tasks they carried the instrumental role. Womens tasks consisted of the cleaning, the cooking etc. they carried the expressive role. Joint roles meant the domestic labour within a household as distributed evenly. Willmott and Young studied the symmetrical family offering an alternative perspective on conjugal roles, claiming they had become increasingly similar. It appeared that division of labour based on gender was breaking down. Although, many did support this idea their work was challenged by feminist sociologists such as Ann Oakley. She provided some imperial research which dismissed the view of the sharing caring husband. Oakley based her research on interviews in which she had conducted on 40 married women with 1 or more dependant children. It showed that women saw housework and childcare as their prime responsibility and received little help from their husbands. Whereas Willmott and Young had claimed that 72% of men help in the house, this figure indicates that husbands only had to perform one household chore a week. Oakley stated that this is hardly convincing evidence of male domestication and women carried a dual burden, they go to work come home a follow out the domestic labour. However this evidence is 30 years out of date, but it does show that the roles of men and women are gradually moving towards equality and the symmetrical family but are still a long way from it. Fiona Devine conducted a small scale study of car workers families in Luton indicating that mens contribution to domestic labour increased when their wives re-entered paid employment. But the mans role is still secondary; all women remain responsible for childcare and housework where their husbands merely help them. This evidence clearly shows a pure suggestion of division of labour in most household tasks, although the equality and change indicates the tasks are becoming joint due to women working. To help show this trend another piece of research came into focus by Jonathon Gershuny, in which he analysed data from 1974-1987. It showed a gradual increase in the amount of domestic tasks preformed by men, and this increase is greatest when women are in full-time paid employment. Husbands whose wives worked spent double the amount of time cooking and cleaning. Gershuny concludes that women still bear the main burden of domestic labour, and there is a process of lagged adaptation. He thinks it may take up a generation or more until men catch up and make an equal contribution.

Leadership Essay A Good Leader

Leadership Essay A Good Leader The Qualities Of A Good Leader Introduction Leaders have an important role within an organisation related to its success, productivity and the performance of the employees. The fundamental task of a leader is to build and maintain a high performing team (Furnham, 2005, p.566). However, Yukl (2013, p.18) argues that there are numerous and diverse definitions concerning the concept of a leader as well as the term leadership, although a general consensus appears to suggest it involves a process of influencing and guiding relationships within an organisation . Guirdham (2002, p.15) emphasises the importance of leaders having good interpersonal and communication skills, which as Yukl suggest involves the ability to persuade others. Yukl (2013, p.18) further states there are additional factors that contribute to good leadership such as the situational context and the use of power. Another issue regarding the characteristics of leaders is that many theories and models have been based on Western perspectives (House and Aditya, 1997, p.409) and typically based on research with white males (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, CIPD, 2008, p.7). There is some cultural crossover in servant leadership, which according to Northouse (2013, p.219), was originally proposed by Greenleaf in the 1970s, and also has origins in ancient Eastern and Western philosophies; for example, it is deeply embedded in Arab-Islamic culture (Sarayrah, 2004, p.59). A further concern is raised by Mullins (2008, p.265) who states that determining who is a good leader is a subjective judgement and cannot be based, for example, on financial performance alone. The aim of the following essay is to investigate whether certain characteristics are related to good leadership and which can be identified in theories and models of leadership such as trait theory, transformational and charismatic leadership as well as authentic and servant leadership. Finally, there will be a brief discussion regarding interpersonal characteristics such as emotional intelligence and communication skills. Theories and Models of Leadership Trait Theories Trait theories of leadership proposed that successful leaders possessed distinctive traits or characteristics that differentiated them from unsuccessful leaders and subordinates. As Northouse (2013, p.7) mentions there are common phrases in use in society such as he was born to be a leader or she is a natural leader which suggest that people tend to think good leaders are born and not trained. The concept of leaders having certain characteristics dominated research prior to the Second World War. It was thought that individuals could be selected for leadership positions if they showed the appropriate characteristics or alternatively that traits could be taught to leaders (Furnham, 2005, p.571). Popular books, such as Stephen Coveys book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, propose that certain traits or characteristics can be learned. Covey (2004, p.46) states that our character, basically, is a composite of our habits. Covey continues saying that habits are consistent, can be learned or unlearned and express an individuals character and how effective or ineffective they are (Covey, 2004, p.46). Covey suggests that effective people are proactive, have a clarity regarding their life-goals, manage themselves, value and respect other people, are empathic and encourage positive teamwork (Covey, 2004, p.65). The seventh habit involves taking time to sharpen the saw which Covey translates as meaning time to refresh physical, spiritual, psychological and socio-emotional dimensions of a persons character (Covey, 2004, pp.287-288). A number of characteristics and traits related to good leaders have been identified; for example, Smith and Foti (1998, p.147) undertook a study investigating the characteristics of emergent leaders and found that the traits of dominance, intelligence and self-efficacy were significantly higher in emergent leaders than other individuals who were not classified as emergent leaders. According to Furnham (2005, p.572), good leaders usually possess characteristics such as persistence, innovation and a willingness to take responsibility for their actions. Yukl (2013, p.146) similarly identifies certain characteristics related to good leaders which include a high tolerance of stress, emotional maturity, personal integrity, motivation and self-confidence. However, Furnham (2005, p.574) suggests that although there are numerous traits, there appears to be little agreement regarding which characteristics contribute to a leader being effective. According to Zaccaro, (2007, p.6) trait theories are not able to explain how leaders characteristics adapt to different situations and contexts and thus a major criticism of trait theories is that they do not consider the wider context of culture, society or the interactions with the characteristics of subordinates (Zaccaro, 2007, p.7). Examining the characteristics of good leaders implies that leaders innately possess certain personality traits although it could be suggested that some good leaders can learn through experience (Bryman, Collinson, Grint, Jackson and Uhl-Bien, 2011, p.78). The notion that good leaders can learn skills through a dynamic learning experience is supported by other researchers; for example, Rodd (2006, p.13) proposes that practitioners within the Early Years profession can become leaders through demonstrating increasing competence and by developing the personal skills necessary to become a leader. Daly and Byers (2004, p.7) suggest that good leaders will also ensure that employees have the opportunity for training and professional development which in turn may help them to become good leaders. Kolb (1984, p.25) similarly supports the idea of learning leadership skills through experience and suggests that learning involves a constant change of ideas, perspectives and opinions which are not fixed and thoughts are formed and reformed through experience and continually modified by experience. The importance of having a flexible approach is emphasised by Daly and Byers (2004, p.187) ensuring that the leader is adaptable and can implement new ideas or procedures when necessary. Even early theorists such as Taylor (1911, p.7) argued that good leaders are not born and required systematic training instead of being reliant on some unusual or extraordinary man. It is further argued by Zaccaro (2007, p.10) that because being a good leader is complex there is probably an interaction of the leaders characteristics as well as an interaction with the variables present in different situations and contexts. Theories such as Fiedlers contingency theory (Fiedler 1967, cited in Northouse, 2013, pp.123-125) were developed primarily with leaders in the military and focused on how compatible the characteristics and style of the leader were with a specific situation. Thus, effective leadership is contingent on matching a leaders style to the right setting (Northouse, 2013, p.123). A problem with both trait theories and contingency theories is that they appear to focus on the characteristics of the leader and do not consider the characteristics of, the interactions with, or the role of, subordinates. Contingency theory does not explain why some leaders are better in certain situations than other leaders and also how organisations deal with a mismatch between leaders and certain situations (Northouse, 2013, p.129). Transactional and Transformational Leaders Furnham (2005, p.588) suggests that transactional leadership can be defined as a contract between the leader and a worker where the leader achieves what they want by offering some sort of reward which is desired by the employee. There is typically a limited relationship between the leader as in certain situations (for example in the military) transactional leadership is necessary as certain actions need to be undertaken without subordinates questioning or debating issues (Bass and Bass, 2008, p.41; Bryman et al. 2011, p.55). Transactional leadership does not appear to be concerned with the characteristics of leaders and is more concerned with creating structures and systems which allow the sharing of information (Bryman et al. 2011, p.61). Transactional leadership depends on contingency reinforcement which means the subordinate understands that a reward will be received when performance goals are achieved (Bass and Riggio, 2006, p.8). Transformational leadership developed from the foundations of transactional leadership with four further characteristics namely; charisma and idealised influence which indicates that the leader is admired, respected, and trusted; inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and consideration towards individual workers (Bass, Avolio, Jung and Berson, 2003, p.208; McKenna, 2005, p.411). By showing an interest in the personal development of followers there can be a subsequent increase in performance and productivity as well as creativity and innovation subordinates can often be creative which can then have an impact on the competitive advantage of the company (Bass, et al 2003,p.208). Bass and Bass (2006, p.41) also suggest that transformational leaders usually believe and support the goals of the organisation and are able to articulate the goals to subordinates and engage their support and commitment. Other characteristics identified in transformational leaders is that they show consistent behaviour and tend to have a strong focus on integrity, ethical principles and values together with being flexible and able to adapt to change (Judge and Piccolo, 2004, p.755). McKenna (2005, p.408) states that transformational leaders have characteristics such as vision and are able to motivate and inspire subordinates to share their vision. As Sir John Harvey-Jones, MBE, who was the chairman of Imperial Chemical Industries from 1982 to 1987 and has recently helped failing business shown in a BBC television programme called Troubleshooter states:- The vision is absolutely key to getting your troops together. It has to be qualitative, daring and grab the imagination. The test of it should be how quickly people will latch on to where you are going†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ (cited in Mullins, 2008, p.261). The characteristics of transformational leaders are important in an organisation because they are viewed as a more effective leadership style than transactional leadership for example. Bass and Riggio (2008, p.10) suggest that many subordinates are very loyal to transformational leaders and are committed to the organisation so productivity increases and improves which Bass and Riggio (2008, p.10) suggest is one way of demonstrating the efficiency of the leader. The characteristics of transactional and transformational leaders are not mutually exclusive and there may be occasions when a leader has to show transactional characteristics as well as transformational characteristics. An example is cited by Bass and Bass (2008, p.51) which states that famous leaders such as John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln displayed characteristics of both transactional and transformational leaders. Transactional leadership, for example, has been found to be more effective in a well-ordered, stable environment whereas transformational leadership is suitable in organisations that are changing rapidly such as in times of financial upheaval (McKenna, 2006, p.418). Characteristics of Charismatic Leaders As discussed previously, one characteristic of transformational leaders is charisma (Bass, et al. 2003, p.216) although there are some leaders who are characterised as being so charismatic that they are referred to as charismatic leaders. Chio (2006, p.24) defines charismatic leaders as having three additional, core characteristics which are an ability to predict future trends and be visionary; being a creative thinker, and showing empathy and empowering colleagues. According to House, 1977, (cited in McKenna, 2006, p.411) charismatic leaders can motivate subordinates to perform effectively without having to invoke their position of power; they have a vision and the ability to convince subordinates to support that vision. Further characteristics include determination, energy, self-confidence and ability; in addition they are not afraid to be unconventional (McKenna, 2006, p.411). Although charismatic leaders are unusual and exceptional in the business world, Hellriegel and Slocum (2007, p.240) use as an example Richard Branson who demonstrates the characteristic of both a transformational and a charismatic leader. Branson is characterised as someone who is prepared to follow his instincts and take risks, venturing into new territories (Boje and Smith, 2010, p.308). Branson has a flair for being slightly eccentric and is not afraid of being unconventional which Choi, as discussed previously, describes as a characteristic of charismatic leadership. Branson makes a clear statement about his company, Virgin, as being different, colourful, iconoclastic and fun-loving (Crainer and Dearlove, 2008, p.43). Bransons character appears to reflect the character of his company; for example, he appeared dressed as a Virgin bride and also abseiled down a skyscraper to promote his company (Business Pundit, 2011, n/p). The CIPD (2008, p.8) report that there is some dislike for the celebrity-like focus on so-called charismatic leaders. In the US a study investigated fifty-nine CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and investigated the link between charisma and performance over a ten year period and found there was no relationship (Tosi et al. 2004, cited in CIPD, 2008 p.8). A criticism made by Alvesson and Spicer (2010, p.9) claims that by endowing leaders with characteristics such as charisma, gives them a heroic and unselfish quality which enables them to persuade followers to pursue goals almost unquestioningly. Furthermore, Alvesson and Spicer (2010, p.64) maintain that some transformational leaders can be perceived as saint-like. Chio (2006, p.37) claims that frequently the positive aspects of charismatic leadership are emphasised and dysfunctional characteristics, such as the abuse of power, are often minimised. Chio (2006, p.36) reports that there can be very strong emotional bonds between a charismatic leader and their subordinates and in certain situations individuals may sacrifice themselves for the sake of the group to maintain harmonious relationships with others (Triandis, 1995, cited in Chio, 2006, p.36). Thus charismatic leaders can use their influence malignantly; for example, there have been reports of charismatic leaders of religious sects who are able to persuade followers to commit mass suicide. The CIPD (2008, p.8) also report on the dark-side of charisma and suggest that although some leaders may superficially appear charismatic they hide undesirable characteristics such as dishonesty and greed. By the time such characteristics are discovered the organisation and employees may have suffered irreparable harm. Research undertaken by Collins (2001, cited in CIPD, 2008, p.8) investigated common characteristics in US companies quoted on the Stock Exchange whose performance was outstanding. The findings indicated that common characteristics included an unshakable belief in their company and also a deep personal humility. These CEOs were not at all charismatic and appeared to be quite unassuming. Collins also noted that failing companies had a CEO with a gargantuan ego causing the company to fail (Collins 2001, cited in CIPD, 2008, p.8). Interpersonal Characteristics of Leaders. Characteristics of Authentic Leaders As discussed in the previous sections there have been concerns regarding unscrupulous leaders; for example, although they may appear to be charismatic they may in fact have exploitative motives (Bass and Riggio, 2008, p.5). Consequently there is a desire for leaders who are genuine and authentic (Bass and Riggio, 2008, p.xii). There appears to be some parallels between authentic leaders and servant leaders although currently there is limited research in this area according to Northouse (2013, p.235). Servant leadership focuses on the empathic characteristics of a leader towards subordinates and nurturing each employees talents and potential which is beneficial for the organisation (Northouse, 2013, p.233). Servant leadership proposes that leaders want to serve others and emphasises the altruistic characteristics of leaders who are focused on the needs of their subordinates (Greenleaf, 1977, cited in Northouse, 2013, p.219). The characteristic of the servant leader are numerous and the underlying principles involve the way in which the leader treats subordinates in terms of honesty and treating them fairly. A successful relationship between the servant leader and followers is a two-way process and followers must be accepting of the principles of empowerment and the opportunity to grow. A characteristic of leaders which seems to be related to good leadership is emotional intelligence. Goleman (1998, p.317) defines emotional intelligence as the capacity for recognising our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves and for managing emotions in ourselves and in our relationships. Emotional intelligence involves five key factors; self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills (Goleman, 1998, p.9). It is argued that emotional intelligence is of benefit to leaders as it contributes to an awareness of their own emotions and how to regulate them as well as recognising emotions in others and having the social skills necessary to deal with other peoples emotions (Goleman, Boyatzis and McKee, 2001, n/p). Guirdham (2002, p.545) suggests that there are certain qualities that followers look for in leaders and that a leader does not automatically gain the respect from subordinates. However, such qualities vary with different situations and the type of subordinates who are expected to follow. Gaining acceptance as a leader is also more difficult where there is prejudice concerning gender, race and ethnic group, and disability. Guirdham (2002, p.545) states that in general to be accepted by subordinates the characteristics of the leader need to include knowledge, competence, status, identification with the group, motivation, being proactive in promoting the groups goals and good communication skills. As Sir John Harvey says:- You only get a company going where you want it to by leadership by example and by honest and endless communication (cited in Mullins 2008, p.261). Communication appears to be a very important characteristic of a good leader together with interpersonal relationships which is also related to emotional intelligence as discussed previously. It has been found that directive, coherent and positive communication is an effective style for leaders (Guirdham, 2002, p.550). However, other characteristics are also necessary such as trust, the way in which leaders try to persuade or influence followers and the way in which subordinates are encouraged to participate in decision making. Conclusion It can be seen from the evidence presented that identifying the characteristics of a good manager is a complex task as there are many different traits or personality characteristics involved. Additionally characteristics cannot be identified in isolation and the situation or context must also be considered. Early research, for example trait theories, focused on the leader and did not consider the role or characteristics of the subordinates. This would appear to be relevant in contemporary society as employees are more empowered than they were in the past and are therefore less likely to blindly follow a leader. Transformational and charismatic theories of leadership identify many positive qualities in leaders; however, there is the issue identified by many researchers of deceitful leaders who can cause a company to collapse as in the case of Enron and other similar examples. The characteristics of a leader need to be genuine and authentic and the theoretical perspective of servant leadership emphasises the caring aspect of leaders towards their followers. Typically servant leaders are altruistic and are concerned about the well-being of others. There are a number of characteristics which appear to be more important than others although it is difficult to isolate only a few. However, one characteristic that does seem to be high on the list for good leaders is good communication and interpersonal skills (Guirdham, 2002, p.550). References Alvesson, M. and Spicer, A. (2010). Metaphors we Lead by: Understanding Leadership in the Real World. London: Routledge. Bass, B.M., Avolio, B.J., Jung, D.I. and Berson, Y. (2003). Predicting unit performance by assessing Transformational and Transactional leadership, Journal of Applied Psychology, 88 ,207-218. Bass, B.M. and Bass, R. (2008). The Bass Handbook of Leadership: Theory, Research, and Managerial Applications (4th Ed) New York, NY: Free Press. Bass, B.M. and Riggio, R.E. (2006). Transformational Leadership (2nd Ed), Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc., New Jersey. Boje, D. and Smith, R. (2010). Re-storying and visualising the changing entrepreneurial identities of Bill Gates and Richard Branson, Culture and Organisation,16(4), 307-331 Bono, J.E. and Judge, T.E. (2004). Personality and transformational and transactional leadership: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology 89(5) 901–910 Bryman,A., Collinson, D., Grint, K., Jackson, B. and Uhl-Bien, M. (2011). The Sage Handbook of Leadership. London: Sage. Business Pundit (2011). Retrieved on 10/10/2014 from: http://www.businesspundit.com/10-greatest-virgin-pr-stunts-of-all-time/ Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD, 2008). Engaging Leadership: Creating Organisations that Maximize the Potential of their People. London, CIPD. Choi, J. (2006) A Motivational Theory of Charismatic Leadership: EnvisioningEmpathy, and Empowerment, Journal of Leadership Organizational Studies, 13, 24-43. Covey, S.R. (2004). The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. New York: Simon and Schuster Inc. Crainer, S. and Dearlove, D. (2008). The heart of leadership, Business Strategy Review, The London Business School, (Autumn), 41-45. Daly, M., Byers, E. and Taylor, W. (2004). Early Years Management in Practice: A Handbook for Early Years Managers. Oxford Heinmann Education. Furnham, A. (2005). The Psychology of Behaviour at Work. East Sussex UK: Psychology Press. Goleman, D., Boyatzis, R. and McKee, A. (2001). Primal Leadership: The Hidden Driver of Great Performance. Harvard Business Review, 44-51 retrieved on 9/10/2014 from: http://hbr.org/2001/12/primal-leadership-the-hidden-driver-of-great-performance/ar/1 Goleman, D. (1998). Working with Emotional Intelligence. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. Guirdham, M. (2002) Interactive Behaviour at Work (3rd Edition) Essex UK: Financial Times/Prentice Hall. Hellriegel, D. and Slocum, J.W. (2007) Organisational Behaviour (11th edition) Thomson South-Western. House, R.J. and Aditya, R.N. (1997). The Social Scientific Study of Leadership: Quo Vadis? Journal of Management, 23(3), 409-473. Judge, T.A. and Piccolo, R.F. (2004) Transformational and transactional leadership: A meta-analytic test of their relative validity Journal of Applied Psychology 89(5) 755-768 Kolb, D.A. (1984). Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall. McKenna, E. (2006) Business Psychology and Organisational Behaviour, 4th edition New York: Psychology Press. Mullins, L.J. (2008). Essentials of Organisational Behaviour. (2nd edition). Essex, UK: Prentice Hall. Northouse, G. (2013). Leadership: Theory and Practice. London: Sage. Rodd, J. (2006). Leadership in Early Childhood, 3rd Edition. Maidenhead, Berkshire: Open University Press. Sarayrah, Y.K. (2004). Servant leadership in the Bedouin-Arab culture. Global Virtual Ethics Review, 5(3), 58-79. Smith, J.A. and Foti, R.J. (1998). A pattern approach to the study of leader emergence. The Leadership Quarterly, 9(2), 147-160 Taylor, F.W. (1911). Principles of Scientific Management. New York: Harper Brothers Publishers. Yukl, G. (2013). Leadership in Organizations (8th edition). London: Pearson Education Zaccaro, S.J. (2007). Trait-based perspectives of leadership. American Psychologist, 62, 6-16.

Othellos Flaw in Shakespeares The Tragedy of Othello Essays -- Paper

Othello's Flaw in Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Othello In Shakespeare?s play Othello, Othello himself is the tragic hero. He is an individual of high stature who is destroyed by his surroundings, his own actions, and his fate. His destruction is essentially precipitated by his own actions, as well as by the actions of the characters surrounding him. The tragedy of Othello is not a fault of a single person, but is rather the consequence of a wide range of feelings, judgments, misjudgments, and attempts for personal justification revealed by the characters. Othello is first shown as a hero of war and a man of great pride and courage. As the play continues, his character begins to deteriorate and become less noble. Throughout the play, Othello?s character changes from a flawless military leader, to a murderer. He has certain traits which make him seem naive and unsophisticated compared to many other people. Iago knows Othello is a proud man, Othello?s open and trusting nature in the beginning of the play lets Iago, whom is cunning, untrustworthy, selfish, and plotting, use him as a scapegoat. Othello, the Moor, as many call him, is a strong character. He is very proud and in control of every move throughout the play. The control is not only of power but also of the sense of his being, who he is, a great warrior. In Act I, Othello has a fight with Brabantio, who has come to kill him, but before anything could happen, Othello said: "Hold your hands, both of you of my inclining and the rest. Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it without a prompter" (I, ii, lines 97-100). The power shown here is quite surprising. The nature of Othello's character is of a dark man. Not only because he is black, but also because he... ...hat's a fable If that thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee? (V, II, Lines 333-334) He couldn't handle the anguish of knowing he had murdered in jealousy rather for justice. He carried out his sentence, by taking a knife and stabbing himself. He then said: "I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss" (V, ii, line 413-414). Othello was jealous. He thought his wife was cheating on him and he thought he was killing for justice. He said that he loved not wisely but too well. It was not very smart of him to believe another man about something he should know more about. This is why I think of Othello as a tragic hero in this play. His character was brought to light of a horrible situation by a deceitful devil named Iago. Bibliography: Shakespeare, William. Othello. Ed. Alfred Harbab. Middlesex, England: Penguin, 1970.

Poem Analysis of Meeting at Night, by Robert Browning Essay -- Poetry

Poem Analysis of "Meeting at Night," by Robert Browning Robert Browning's poem "Meeting at Night" is essentially a narrative of a man who is journeying to meet his lover. The man recounts his journey as he undertakes it, mentioning or observing different portions of the trip, each in turn. One by one, he briefly describes his surroundings as he passes by them, merely noting them as if they bear only fleeting significance to him. However, although his descriptions are unpretentious and abruptly forgotten as he continues onward toward his goal, each line of the poem contains striking imagery. In fact, it should be noted that this poem consists entirely of imagery. Every line depicts a scene of the landscape that Browning's narrator encounters; that is, at least, until he finally reaches his destination, when his focus is diverted to his lover. Throughout the entire poem he offers no personal insight or reflection on his situation, and he instead is content to merely report his perceptions and observations as they come and go. Althoug h each of these little vignettes is of seemingly small consequence in itself, these individual images are each portrayed with remarkable style and feeling, and Browning skillfully strings these images together to elicit specific feelings and reactions from his readers. His masterful application of imagery, mood, and dynamic movement serve to shape the poem's emotion in such a way that the reader can tap into a plentiful well of information pertaining to the state of the speaker and his emotions -- information that initially goes unnoticed from a strictly literal observation. Browning is particularly well-known for this above-mentioned technique. On the surface level, his writing is trivi... ... image. Additionally, the color blue is unique; it casts an eerie feeling on the scene, almost as if their joining is holy or sacred. Finally, the last two lines are the culmination of this `saga': "And a voice less loud, thro' its joys and fears, / Than the two hearts beating each to each!" (ll. 11-12). Thus the poem concludes with boundless passion and bliss, and their love is represented by the powerful beating of their hearts. Browning's amazing command of words and their effects makes this poem infinitely more pleasurable to the reader. Through simple, brief imagery, he is able to depict the lovers' passion, the speaker's impatience in reaching his love, and the stealth and secrecy of their meeting. He accomplishes this feat within twelve lines of specific rhyme scheme and beautiful language, never forsaking aesthetic quality for his higher purposes.

Urban vs Rural

Urban After reading Reran Harmonica's essay â€Å"Giving up my small-town fantasy† that was published in 3rd September 2014 in NY times, opinions section, I do agree her when she told us about her experience in living in two deferent places (rural and urban). And when she pointed out how big cities differ from small towns.. However, I disagree In others thoughts. In the beginning, she started by complaining from urban life style and how it is very hard to make enough money there, she also considered it a waste f time and effort. â€Å"We could not buy, we could not move, we were stuck.And we were getting older. There was nowhere to grow. That's why she moved from San Francisco to Hudson (a small town in New Jersey) with her boyfriend to have a better life after getting bored from the city life. Harriman and her boyfriend life started well, their financial situation was great there; they bought a house, she started a new work at a media start-up called modern farmer and Patric k (her boyfriend) also was very happy with his new work especially because he had the relaxation and the peaceful fife that he was deprived from due to the hustle and bustle of the urban.However Harriman could not stay there because she was feeling depressed and lonely with no social life, and that's why she went back to Manhattan. The article contains a picture of a lonely woman that couldn't find a friend to be with so she preferred to gather her things In boxes to travel far away without having any hope to stay, which means It was obvious that Harriman could not find a real solution for her problem, because she had to choose between making money with a lonely life or interesting life without enough money.The author words were clear and she transferred her opinion in a direct way. Harriman earns the readers' respect by the way of writing and by choosing social life instead of money. The author mentioned a study was published in 2010 by the Journal of economic geography that report s the reasons of the continually growing of some rural areas Instead of being disintegrated also she mention a research by the university of Minnesota confirms this information.The article warned to a very important point of why people usually think about traveling room one place to another that might be to meet their personal needs and individual interests because big cities is characterized by high building, malls, shopping centers, restaurants, a lot of activities, Hassle and bustle, and good services. While small towns are more comfortable and peaceful also housing and living expenses there are cheaper than big cycles. Harriman writing way convinced me because It comes from personal experience and reasonable arguments and I think that she did a great Job.However, I think Harriman could do something more to adapt the new life Tyler, like if she was more patient she might make new friends there. In addition, I think it's easier to make true friends in small town especially I have come to Evansville recently after living In two capital cities In two different countries and I do has his special needs, interests, and situation that decide which place is better for him to live in, big cities or small towns. Work Cited Reran Harriman. † Giving up my small-town fantasy', published in 3rd September 2014 in NY times, opinions section.