Report on the Case Study of the Red Bull Brand Essay - 1

Report on the Case Study of the Red Bull Brand - Essay Example Although Red-Bull is a single product offering, it has been able to achieve brand equity across the world through its uniqueness and other factors that enable customers to identify it as unique and different from other soft drink and energy drink offerings on the market. In summary, it's unique packaging (the blue, silver and red 250ml can) is famous around the world. Also, the unique content and effects on users is a very strong element of brand equity since it gives consumers a very positive physical, mental and health advantages that most competitors do not give. The Burnett model states that a brand equity has four main facades: personality image, source, differences and functions (Randall, 2000). In terms of personality image, customers around the world feel good about the health and mental alertness that Red Bull provides. They respect it as a premier energy drink because it does what a normal cup of coffee would do but with a very positive impact on the individual. Secondly, Red Bull seems to stand for good health, vitality, and productivity and that is exactly how it is promoted and packaged as a revitalized. Also, Red Bull was originally created to be different from all other soft and energy drink offerings on the market. Now that several similar products are available, Red Bull still maintains its distinct packaging and content which keeps it embedded in the mind of consumers. In spite of the universal nature of Red Bulls brand, there was the need for some variation in the brand offering in markets around the world. Dunn (2004) points out that there are six main processes that a business needs to go through before they can create brand equity and they are: Market analysis involves scanning the dominant environmental factors in a country before offering your products in a country.

Theories of Cognitive Development by Piaget and Vygotsky Essay Example for Free

Theories of Cognitive Development by Piaget and Vygotsky Essay Jean Piaget’s and Lev Semionovich Vygotsky’s theories on cognitive development both play a significant role in addressing the intellectual growth of children (Lain, 2006). Psychologists and educators alike, rely on these theories in constructing the standards by which children are being brought up and taught today. Essentially, cognitive development is the process by which our intellectual ability grows and progresses. Slavin (2003), maintains that cognitive development, â€Å"is the gradual and orderly changes that occur making ones mental process more complex and sophisticated† (as cited in Lain, 2006, Cognitive Development section, para. 1). As the children’s learning process is crucial to the development of their learning ability and critical thought process, educators must have a good grasp of these theories to fully address the children’s individual learning needs. Jean Piaget’s theory is marked by several developmental stages that define the child’s corresponding cognitive level. On the other hand, Lev Vygotsky developed the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) based on the assumption that children learn more quickly under the guidance of a more experienced adult (Maccarelli, 2006). Considered as constructivists, both renowned theorists believed that children learn by formulating new ideas by combining old ones. The Hawaii Department of Education E-School also claims that, â€Å"constructivists believe that learning is affected by the context in which an idea is taught as well as by students beliefs and attitudes† (as cited in Davison, 2006, Piaget vs Vygotsky: The Cognitive Development Theory section, para. 1). As society determines the amount of knowledge a child gains, it also sets the limit to the students’ cognitive development. However, the principal ideas between the two theorists vary greatly. Piaget strongly believed that learning occurs after development. He indicated that a child will start the learning process after the child has reached a certain developmental stage. Contrarily, Vygotsky claimed that the child develops as a result of learning. Furthermore, Vygotsky placed a large amount of emphasis on the importance of outside influence to the child’s overall cognitive development, where as Piaget barely acknowledged the significance of outside influence on the child’s development in his theorems. Moreover, while Piaget’s theory has four distinct and set standards of development, Vygotsky’s theory does not support predetermined stages at all. Instead, he stressed the importance of private speech and ZPD on the child’s development. Living in a society that is an integration of multiple cultures, classified by age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, and economic status, each of us is a product of our social interactions to these various cultures. If we examine Vygotsky’s theory, a large part of a child’s development is placed on the input of others, it is therefore reasonable to assume that a multicultural society places a great deal of input on the child’s development. However, since a child’s development is limited to his or her surroundings, and his thoughts and ideas mainly influenced by that of his early caregivers, sometimes the child is not exposed to different cultures other than his own. This gives rise to multicultural issues that we see nowadays. And as the study of multicultural psychology is greatly concerned with exploring, understanding, and appreciating the differences in culture, based on Piaget’s and Vygotsky’s theory, these multicultural issues could be avoided if children are exposed or introduced to diverse cultures early in life. References Davison, B. (2006). Piaget vs Vygotsky: The Cognitive Development Theory. Associated Content. Retrieved on January 01, 2009, from http://www. associatedcontent. com/article/94974/piaget_vs_vygotsky_the_cognitive_development. html? cat=4 Lain, (2006). Cognitive Development: A Comparison Between the Work of Piaget, Bruner, and Vygotsky. Associated Content. Retrieved on January 01, 2009, from http://www. associatedcontent. com/article/41531/cognitive_development. html? cat=4 Maccarelli, S. (2006). Vygotsky’s Theory of Cognitive Development: The Socio-Cultural Perspective. Associated Content. Retrieved on January 01, 2009, from http://www. associatedcontent. com/article/29997/vygotskys_theory_of_cognitive_development. html? cat=4 Uncgrad, (2006). Piagets Stages of Cognitive Development. Associated Content. Retrieved on January 01, 2009, from http://www. associatedcontent. com/article/452881/piagets_stages_of_cognitive_development. html? cat=4

The Journey of Self-discovery Brian Moores The Luck of Ginger Coffey E

The Journey of Self-discovery Brian Moore's The Luck of Ginger Coffey When Ginger Coffey brought his family to Canada from Ireland, little did he know that he would attain partial triumph by discovering "himself and the refugee among the lame and the old". With the aid of those around him, Coffey pursued personal freedom and status in his adopted country. He stumbled through a journey of self-discovery while materialism obstructed his vision. The importance of his family rooted Coffey to his homeland and to his moral values while he tried to discover himself as an immigrant. All the world appeared hostile to Ginger Coffey when he tried to carve a niche for himself in this new country, for he felt insecure as a New Canadian—and he was faced with midlife crises to boost. As a schoolboy, Coffey had been warned by old Father Cogley that boys who didn’t settle like everyone else would sink in this world and the next, "because that class of boy is unable to accept his God-given limitations†¦has no love of God in him†¦is an ordinary, lazy lump and his talk of finding adventures is only wanting an excuse to get away and commit mortal sins." (The Luck of Ginger Coffey, 18) Coffey dreamed of a world in which "all men had reached the top of the hill; there were no dull jobs, no humiliating interviews, no turndowns; no man was saddled with ungrateful daughters, there were unlimited funds to spend†¦You were free." (40) Indeed, Coffey was a dreamer who longed for personal freedom. Having hopped from job to job because he detested being a "glorified office boy," (13) Coffey could not face the "misleading facts of a life" (7) and he was unprepared to scale the steep ascent to a successful career. While hunting for a job, Ginger Coffey no... ...use she needs [him]; it’s knowing [he] and she will still care about each other when sex and daydreams, fights and futures—when all that’s on the shelf and done with." (243) Mingling amongst the "lame and the old," Ginger Coffey saw reflections of himself as a New Canadian everywhere. He had learned that life was the victory, and that going on was the victory. The little triumphs in life have liberated him. Coffey, in his adjustment period as an immigrant, has found materialism to have a negative impact on his life. Concerned with the welfare of his family, Coffey was able to discover his tender-most self. Certainly, the weak and the poor have acted as the best guides for Ginger Coffey who, through a tumultuous journey, found himself at last. Work Cited Moore, Brian. The Luck of Ginger Coffey. Boston and Toronto: Atlantic-Little, Brown and Company, 1960.

Lotus Car Rental Essay

The Lotus Rental Car company is the world’s leading company in a multimillion dollar industry and can take this great opportunity to provide the consumer with alternative options in vehicles by adding alternative fuel vehicles to its fleet in Los Angeles, California, it would be a good move for this company because alternative vehicles like hybrids offer a less contaminated environment, better fuel economy, and the best in its money worth. Electric vehicles produce zero contamination, but are limited to the distance they can travel. Compare to gas powered vehicles offering lower mileage and higher emissions, which is a factor to the contamination of the air we breathe in. Also by adding the alternative vehicle can improve the company’s image and show that we as a provider do care about what we rent out to our consumer, and by providing that image the consumer would be motivated to drive a much cleaner vehicle that will protect the environment. With more car companies coming out with alternative vehicles this would be the right move to make in investing in alternative vehicles and gaining that momentum that would push this company over the top of all our competitors. The standard engine vehicle has come a long way; Conventional vehicles have only grown more reliable. And year after year they come out with more improvements for the vehicle’s engine. The gasoline car has improved from decades before, and in the past century. Modern civilization depends on automobiles for much of its daily existence, to travel to work and back. Gas stations are everywhere and it’s easier to go and fill up your car with gas, rather than go and sit and plug into a charging station. That being a one of pros to having a gas powered vehicle. However a growing disadvantage to having the gas powered vehicle are the gas prices rising. For every gallon of gas you put in your tank, only 1/5 produces mechanical energy that moves your car. The other 4/5 is lost as heat which is why the gas powered car has more engine parts (The Amazing Rate, 2012). The more parts help the gas powered vehicle in cooling down and maintaining power. The parts convert gas that is flowed through the motor into energy, and more parts to manage the excessive heat. Take a Honda Civic EX, for example, normally the Civic would get about 24 mpg around the city and about 36 on the highway, thanks to developments such as the VTEC valve train profiling system that adjusts as speed adjusts and keeps the engine working at optimal levels (Autos.com, 2014). The hybrid and electric cars that they have out for sale only make up one percent of 250 million sold in America. The maintenance of the car would add up after a couple years of having it, but would still cost you less than the alternative vehicle that would’ve got purchased over a gas powered car. The cost of maintenance is lower compared to hybrid vehicle. Spare parts and replacement kits are readily available on car service centers auto body part centers as well. The maintenance of gas powered vehicle is simple as regular oil changes, air-filter changes, and spark plug replacements, keeping the vehicle in good condition will better the emissions and lengthen the lifespan of the vehicle and improve the gas mileage of the car. For most vehicles now dealers offer you more mileage and better coverage on the vehicle of choice, take for example the Ford 150 it offers you a flex-fuel, Eco-Boost truck and the offer more warranty on the vehicle per miles and years. The point in that is for the company to lengthen the life of the truck and offer better gas mileage to the consumer. The gas powered car, truck, SUV all have the one thing in common and that is that they all run on gas and all vary on gas mileage. Maintenance would also vary, because it is not as cost effective as an alternative vehicle. The Gas powered vehicle has been the one vehicle around for decades and still will improve in making better and less cost effective vehicles for people to drive. Since the first electric car was made in 1900 by William Morrison there have been major technological advances throughout the century that have made today’s electric car a more popular choice for the American consumer (Berman, 2009). It was not until 1999 when interest in electric cars began to increase due to growing concerns about the environment and drastic increases in gas prices (Berman, 2009). The electric car runs on an electric motor and battery to increase a vehicle’s miles per gallon ratio and does not require gasoline. The reason Lotus Car Rental did not jump on to this opportunity was because at the time there was a $15,000 price difference between electric and gas engine vehicles. As of 2012 there is  only a $5,000 difference which is a more acceptable amount to consider and there are now electri c cars that are in the $15,000 to $20,000 range (Cars Direct, 2012). The positives of electric cars are that they require no gas and they can be charged by electric stations around Los Angeles and they do not emit pollution and that fact alone might persuade the consumer to rent an electric car (KBB, 2014). The average miles per full battery charge in the city are about 120 miles and highway about 100 miles in town. The maintenance of an electric car is extremely low because there is no longer a need to purchase gasoline and the company no longer has to do oil changes, air filter changes and emissions tests on a yearly basis thus creating a higher profit margin plus whatever major mechanical problem happens it will more likely be covered by the warranty provided by the dealer when buying the electric car brand new from the lot (Cars Direct, 2012). The average dealer warranty is about six year or 100,000 mile whichever comes first but because we are a car rental company, we will reach the mileage first. Insurance for electric cars are considerably low because they offer discounts for owing that type of car so it will be easier to pass on the savings to the consumer if they decide to purchase it (KBB, 2014). One problem with electric cars is that they are low on horse power which might be a problem for consumers considering that they are more than likely to want to exceed the speed limit on the highway and it might make it a difficult drive when going up on hills and mountains. Another problem with electric cars is that depending on the make and model, the average energy span only lasts about 120 miles before the consumer has to stop and recharge the battery. The main complaint among consumers is the amount of time it takes for the battery to recharge. The average charge time is about 4 to 8 hours if the consumer does not use a rapid recharge station which will charge the battery in between thirty minutes to an hour again depending on make and model (KBB, 2014). There are about sixty rapid recharge stations in and around Los Angeles but it more likely recommended that electric cars be used for in town usage instead of long trips because of the lack of rapid recharge stations. Although not considered as an alternative for the fuel vehicle, such as the electric, hydrogen, ethanol, and propane. The hybrid vehicle operates using advanced technology that combines the electric motor, fuel motor, and generator, to create a more efficient use of regular fuel.  Hybrids have become the new sensation of invention since slice bread. There are many reasons why Lotus Rental Car should add hybrid cars to their fleet. Consumer reports and background information backing up on the hybrid vehicle, it also shows how their popularity has grown among the world and the American population. Hybrids have their own unique way of operating, having an electric motor and a fuel motor, which makes them real fuel-efficient. Hybrids also offer a special braking system that allows the braking energy to be captured and stored in an onboard battery. Costumers report that this type of vehicle will offer a substantial savings in fuel costs because of the engine’s efficiency. Some cars typically getting 48 to 60 mpg, and offering 20% to 35% better fuel efficiency than a typical gasoline car. A typical car for example a Honda Civic only offers a range of 36 mpg on the highway. Costumers also report that hybrid vehicles have almost the same maintenance routine as regular vehicles. As, hybrid vehicles switch back and forth between an electric motor, and a traditional fuel engine depending on road conditions. This switch between power sources saves a lot of wear and tear on both of the motors, and increase the fuel range dramatically. The repair costs are high but repair is not as common as it is on traditional vehicles, and as long as maintenance is done properly these vehicles can outlast a traditional vehicle because the technology saves on wear and tear. The typical cost of a hybrid ranges from $19,000 to $25,000 price range. These prices are a quite pricey compare to those of a gas saver car, which range from $14,000 to $17,000. Even though that initial cost of these vehicles is more than the comparable traditional style car, over the long run all of these technologies will save money. When comparing both vehicles the hybrid is still the best investment, on average hybrids offer a ten-year/ 150,000-mile warranty on the batteries and power training, and a three-year/ 36,000 warranty on the rest of the vehicle. Hybrids batteries and motors do not require any more maintenance than any other car, hybrid brakes even last longer than those of a regular car. Hybrids also have tax incentives in the U.S., which can reduce the cost up to $3,400. After all the research we believe that hybrid vehicles are the best pick of an alternative energy vehicle for Lotus Rental Car Company fleet. Given all of this information on the multiple types of vehicles available we at Lotus Car Rental, Inc. have decided to focus on purchasing hybrid cars. The reason for  this decision is because the prices of the new hybrid cars are acceptable even though they are more expensive than regular cars but the price difference is more acceptable now than when it is compared to a few years ago. The cost of maintenance will not be an issue because by purchasing a brand new hybrid car the manufacturer warranty will be able to cover any major mechanical problems that will happen. This is an important factor for our decision because all rental companies including ourselves never keep vehicles for more than four years because the higher the mileage a car has the more likely that there will be mechanical problems that can happen. As soon a vehicle comes close to exceeding the manufacturer warranty that is when it will be put up for sale. Another reason is that we want to show the consumer that we care about their concerns for the environment and gas prices. Today’s consumer will more likely rent a hybrid car if the rental price difference is not a lot and the insurance fee stays the same. Eventually Lotus Car Rental, Inc. will switch over to electric cars in the future when the concept is upgraded with technological advances. What we mean by this is that the miles for a fully charged battery will increase as the years pass by and there will also be way more Rapid Recharge Stations throughout the United States. For now the focus will be on switching over to hybrid vehicles because this will show the consumer that this company is adapting to change and that we care. This will create an image that will to financial success. References Autos.com. (2014, April). Electric Power Car Vs. Gas Powered Car. Retrieved from http://www.autos.com/car-buying/electric-power-car-vs-gas-powered-car?&session-id=d1fa38119d76b5d16b7f062d6bf474f0 Berman, B. (2009, October 30). Timeline: History of the Electric Car. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/223/electric-car-timeline.html Cars Direct. (2012, March 08). Electric Car Costs vs Gasoline Cars vs Hybrids. Retrieved from http://www.carsdirect.com/car-pricing/new-electric-car-costs-vs-standard-gasoline-vehicles ConsumerReports.org. (2013, February). Hybrid/EV buying guide. Retrieved from

Chinese Philosophy Essay Essay

Three areas of philosophy emerged amidst the chaos and constant warring of the Zhou era. The three were called Confucianism, Daoism, and legalism. They were Chinese philosophies that were thought to be the best ways to rule and achieve order in the society. Confucianism believed that a ruler’s job was to set a good example, and not order. Since people were thought of as naturally good, they would following the right path based on their own conscience. Legalism was a more harsh way of ruling, led by Hanfeizi. They thought people were evil, and needed strict laws and punishment to keep them in line. Daoism was very different from either of the other two. It was led by Laozi, who taught that the best kind of government was one who governed the least. They allowed things to simply take their natural course and work themselves out. Although both Daoism and legalism were working philosophies, Confucianism was the most effective in obtaining order. At the time of the three philosophies, Ancient China was in a state of complete chaos. The duration of anarchy was named The Warring States Period, a period in which small feuding kingdoms or fiefdoms struggled for supremacy. It took place in the Zhou dynasty from 403 bc. to 221bc. The period was dominated by seven or more small feuding Chinese kingdoms. It was the age of Confucian thinkers Mencius and Xunzi, and the time when many of the government institutions and cultural patterns that would characterize China for the next 2,000 years were established. Legalism achieved what all the other philosophies strove for, unification of China. The Qin Dynasty, operating under the Legalist philosophy, finally unified China in 221 BC. Legalism was a success. However, the Qin Dynasty dissolved only 14 years after it’s founding. The Qin emperor was ruthless in his use of Legalism, punishing even small crimes with decapitation or the loss of a hand or foot. Han Feizi, legalisms founder, did not believe in gaining the respect of the people. He stated † Those who are ignorant about government insistently say: â€Å"Win the hearts of the people â€Å"† (Document H). To uphold his beliefs books and scholars which held beliefs against Legalism (such as Confucianism) were destroyed. The people were heavily taxed and forced into labor on major government projects. He successfully put the fear and respect of the law and government into the people, but it was too much. After his death, peasant rebellions caused the end of Legalism as the ruling philosophy of China. The harshness of the Legalist Qin would be remembered afterwards, and in response the following dynasty, the Han, distanced itself from Legalism and made Confucianism the official philosophy. Daoism adds spirituality to the otherwise melancholy world of Chinese philosophy. The quote â€Å"Look to simplicity; cleave the uncarved block; Diminish self and curb desires† (Document G) is a perfect example of the views held by Daoist followers. Its teachings appealed to those who wished to withdraw from the politics and deception of society. Daoism’s concepts of harmony and relativity make a lot of sense even today. The idea of using nature as the model, which people look up to, is reflected in the religion. Because of its anti-society attitude, Daoism obviously never made its way into any systems of government. It survived among the private citizens and to this day, Daoist monks still exist in China. Daoism was founded by Laozi in the sixth century BC. His teachings were passed down orally before they were compiled in the third century BC in a book called the â€Å"Classic of the Way and Its Power. † Dao means â€Å"way. † It is understood that the Dao is the underlying pattern of the universe, which can neither be described in words nor conceived in thought. The goal of Daoism is to bring all elements of existence- heaven, earth, and man- into harmony. To be in accordance with the Dao, the individual must empty himself of doctrines and knowledge, act with simplicity and humility, and above all seek Nature. The idea of turning to Nature for peace and harmony had a great effect on East Asian cultures, especially in the arts, where idealized and imaginary landscapes and natural art forms are profoundly linked to the beliefs of Daoism. At first, Confucianism was unsuccessful and Confucius, during his lifetime only managed to collect a few followers. After his death, however, his followers passed on the Confucian tradition. It survived, with a few changes, to the Han dynasty (221 BC) and became established as China’s official philosophy. From then it was firmly well established in Chinese culture, and its values can still be seen today. The Five Classics of Confucianism were works from the Zhou Dynasty, which preceded the Warring States Period. They were collected and edited by members of the original  Confucian school. After Confucianism became the official state philosophy, one had to know the philosophy well in order to gain the coveted position of government official. The Analects are a collection of sayings by Confucius, recorded by his disciples. As a result, the Analects are not a widespread proposal of Confucianism. Rather, it is a collection of quotations and stories. Because of this, Confucianism according to Confucius is open to interpretation. The main idea of the philosophy is, righteousness, relationships and generosity towards others. Since the time of the Han dynasty (206 CE) four life passages have been recognized and regulated by Confucian tradition. There are approximately 6 million Confucians in the world. About 26,000 live in North America; almost all of the remainder are found throughout China and the rest of Asia. In Chinese tradition, filial piety was the key duty. In one of Confucious’ analects he stated, † The superior man while his parents are alive, reverently nourishes them; and when they are dead, reverently sacrifices to them. His chief thought is how, to the end of life, not to disgrace them† (Document B). Being a filial son meant absolute obedience to one’s parents during their lifetime and as they grew older, taking the best possible care of them. After their death the eldest son was required to perform ritual sacrifices at their gravesite or in the ancestral temple. A son could also express his devotion to his parents by passing the Civil Service examinations, winning prestige for the whole family. Most important of all, a son had to make sure that the family line would be continued. Dying without a son therefore was one of the worst offenses against the concept of filial piety. If a marriage remained barren, it was a son’s duty to take a second wife or adopt a child in order to continue the family. Since Chinese women became part of their husband’s family through marriage, filial conduct for a woman meant faithfully serving her in-laws, in particular her mother-in-law, and giving birth to a son. By fulfilling these duties, she also gained prestige for her own family. If the mother and daughter-in-law did not get along, filial piety demanded that a man should get rid of his wife in order to please his mother. He could always get another wife, but he would only have one mother. These social rules in the culture helped in the unification of families in China Some might argue that Daoism and Legalism were more efficient ways of acquiring harmony. Legalism was the most effective way of governing a society. The legalist tradition derives from the principle that the best way to control human behavior was through written law rather than through ritual, custom or ethics. The legalist tradition was derived from the principle that the best way to control human behavior was through written law rather than through ritual, custom or ethics. Daoism shaped Chinese life for more than 2,000 years. Daoism placed emphasis upon individual freedom and impulsiveness, non-interventionist government and social primitivism and ideas of self-transformation, and so represents in many ways the reverse of Confucian concern with individual moral duties, community standards, and governmental responsibilities. Both philosophies add up many pros, but fall short of Confucianism’s vast accomplishments. The inner pole of Confucianism was reformist, idealistic, and spiritual. It generated a high ideal for family interaction: members were to treat each other with love, respect, and consideration for the needs of all. The school of thought founded by Confucius has had the biggest impact on Chinese culture. It has lasted throughout the ages and literally pulled the Han Dynasty out of ruin and chaos. Even to this day, the influence of Confucianism can be espied in many matters of China.

Free Essays on My Goddess

My Goddess Ever since I was little I can remember my nana and I having a special relationship. I know she loved my cousins and brothers with all of her heart and would do anything for them, but we had the kind of bond that they were envious of. She would never out right say that she loved me more, rather it was shown in the way she looked at me, spoiled me, or thought everything I did, even normal or stupid things, were brilliant. In her eyes I could do no wrong, and in my eyes she was an angel. I gave her a birthday card one year that had two women on the front wearing bathing suits in a jungle. They had a sign that said â€Å"Home of the Jungle Gods† on it. When you opened it, it read,† Happy Birthday from one Goddess to Another.† From then on she referred to me as her Goddess; likewise she was mine. My nana was my friend, provider, and the greatest role model a girl could ask for. When she passed away a part of me went with her. Her death was unexpected and she passed before her time. Maybe she just left before I was ready to say goodbye. I had been living in Boston that summer with some friends in order to take classes at Bentley College. I was returning home for the weekend to see my family and celebrate the Fourth of July with friends. A few days prior to my visit, my nana had contracted a case of pneumonia and was in the hospital. My plans were to stop by and see her on the way home so I could give her a card and some flowers. As I made my way down 95 south my phone rang and it was my dad. He knew of my plans and called to say that my nana had been taken for some tests and would be gone most of the afternoon. He suggested that I go home instead and go to see her tomorrow morning. I agreed and went home. Upon returning home, I made myself a sandwich and sat down with my older brother to watch some TV. As I took my first bite the phone rang and my brother answered it. As the conversation grew... Free Essays on My Goddess Free Essays on My Goddess My Goddess Ever since I was little I can remember my nana and I having a special relationship. I know she loved my cousins and brothers with all of her heart and would do anything for them, but we had the kind of bond that they were envious of. She would never out right say that she loved me more, rather it was shown in the way she looked at me, spoiled me, or thought everything I did, even normal or stupid things, were brilliant. In her eyes I could do no wrong, and in my eyes she was an angel. I gave her a birthday card one year that had two women on the front wearing bathing suits in a jungle. They had a sign that said â€Å"Home of the Jungle Gods† on it. When you opened it, it read,† Happy Birthday from one Goddess to Another.† From then on she referred to me as her Goddess; likewise she was mine. My nana was my friend, provider, and the greatest role model a girl could ask for. When she passed away a part of me went with her. Her death was unexpected and she passed before her time. Maybe she just left before I was ready to say goodbye. I had been living in Boston that summer with some friends in order to take classes at Bentley College. I was returning home for the weekend to see my family and celebrate the Fourth of July with friends. A few days prior to my visit, my nana had contracted a case of pneumonia and was in the hospital. My plans were to stop by and see her on the way home so I could give her a card and some flowers. As I made my way down 95 south my phone rang and it was my dad. He knew of my plans and called to say that my nana had been taken for some tests and would be gone most of the afternoon. He suggested that I go home instead and go to see her tomorrow morning. I agreed and went home. Upon returning home, I made myself a sandwich and sat down with my older brother to watch some TV. As I took my first bite the phone rang and my brother answered it. As the conversation grew...

Explain how the body obtains energy from fat, carbohydrates and proteins The WritePass Journal

Explain how the body obtains energy from fat, carbohydrates and proteins Introduction Explain how the body obtains energy from fat, carbohydrates and proteins Introduction Nutrients to Energy- Three Main Stages ConclusionRelated Introduction All living things requires energy to stay warm (mammals in this case) and to carry out other life process i.e. maintenance, growth, movement, daily activities etc. All of the dietary energy in humans is obtained from the main food sources including carbohydrates, fat and proteins. These major food types are also known as macronutrients and each has its own energy content that provides energy by breaking their chemical bond energy in food molecules. Sugars and fat generate higher energy levels than proteins in non photosynthetic organisms. Fat provide far more energy per gram than carbohydrate or protein for example carbohydrate and protein provides 16.8 KJ/g whereas fat provides 37.8 kJ of energy per gram. Metabolism a set of chemical reaction plays an important role in providing energy that helps an organism to maintain life. Metabolic process is organised in different pathways that leads a chemical reaction to another through the help of enzymes and coenzymes. The breakdown of food molecules leads to a process known as oxidative phosphorylation that occurs in mitochondria. This process is essential for providing Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a primary source of energy for cellular activities. As the metabolic pathway is organised in to different stages, each stage should be explored in details to understand the process. Hence these stages will be explored later in the essay to answer the essay question in full. Nutrients to Energy- Three Main Stages The macronutrients presented in our food are the main source of energy for our body and all three nutrients must be broken down into smaller molecules before the cells can utilize them to produce energy. The breakdown of the larger molecules and oxidisation of those molecules are known as catabolism. The breakdown happens in digestion system where the breakdown is relatively similar for each nutrient. Specialised enzymes, a catalyst, digest specific polymers into monomers, for instant protease are specialised to catabolise proteins into amino acid and glycoside hydrolases turn polysaccharides into monosaccharides and fats are hydrolysed into fatty acids and glycerol by lipase. Oxidation of these molecules occurs once the small subunits are filtered into the cytosol of a cell through an active transport protein. Glycolysis reaction, which happens under anaerobic conditions, is a metabolic pathway that takes placehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycolysis inside all living cells. Glycolysis breaks sugar molecules glucose, a 6 carbon atom, and fructose into two pyruvate molecules, that contains 3 carbon atoms in each molecule. A difference exists during the combustion of carbohydrate molecule that can occur anaerobically while this is not true for the other two macronutrients. The transformation of glucose into pyruvate happens in 10 different stages. Each stage has a different enzyme to catalyse 10 different sugar molecules. In the first 5 stages, called preparatory phase, two molecules of ATP per each glucose molecule are used to provide energy to drive the reaction. At the start of last five stages known as pay off phase 2 NAD+ and GAPDH enzyme turn the NAD+ into a NADH molecule by pulling off a hydrogen molecule from GAPDH, two H+ are also produced at this stage. At the end of the stages two NADH are given and four ATP molecules are given from ADP plus P1. The resulted pyruvate proceeds to mitochondria from cytosol to lose two carbon dioxide molecules and change to two carbon acetyl group that joins with coenzyme A to produce acetyl CoA before it enters the citric acid cycle. Triglycerides, main form of fat, are oxidised in order to break them into smaller units such as fatty acid and glycerol inside the cytoplasm. Fatty acids are activated in cytoplasm before they enter cytosol, a same medium for glucose to citric acid. The activation must be done before the oxidation of fatty acid begins. During the activation, fatty acids change to fatty acyl CoA and ATP turns into AMP. Glycerol is transmitted to the glycolysis while the fatty acids are oxidised through beta-oxidation inside the mitochondria. There are four main enzymes located in mitochondria, therefore a series of four stages occur that convert acyl CoA to acetyl CoA. Two molecules of carbon from an acyl CoA is shortened at each stage to create a molecule of acetyl CoA and a molecule of NADH and FADH2. The resulted acetyl CoA is passed to the citric acid cycle and NADH plus FADH is entered into the electron transport chain. Proteins consist of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. Although carbohydrates and proteins hold a similar structure but there is still a difference among their structure. Carbohydrates are made out of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen while protein has an addition of nitrogen and sulfur. Nitrogen is responsible for the creation of essential amino acids. There are all together 20 essential amino acids that build all body cells in animals. Body cell metabolise amino acids into fats or glycogen if excessive proteins are consumed in human diet. The breakdown of proteins to amino acids through digestion opens the path to energy metabolism of proteins. If amino acids are used to generate energy it must be done through deamination process where amino acids are broken into their constituent parts. Vitamin B6 associate with its enzyme in transamination cause nitrogen to transfer to a kito acid causing amino acid to lose its nitrogen and amino group. Ammonia is synthesised when amino acid in transformed to L glutamate through transamination process. Ammonia produces urea that travels through the blood to the kidney and excreted in urine. Now that urea is removed from the process the carbon skeleton of amino acids can be used in different ways i.e. for protein synthesis or ATP formation. Carbon skeleton can also be stored, mainly in livers, as glucose by gluconeogenesis. This starts by converting carbon skeleton into acetyl CoA so that the coenzyme can be transmitted to the citric acid cycle where acetyl CoA is oxidised to generate ATP. Gluconeogenesis (a metabolic pathway) aims to form glucose from using non carbohydrate carbon substrate including glycerol, glycogenic amino acid. The resulted glucose can be converted to glucose 6 phosphates from phosphoenolpyruvate. The end product is pyruvate; notice the end product of glucose in glycolysis is same. The process requires energy in order to provide energy during starvation in fasting or extreme exercise. Citric acid cycle (also known as Kerb’s cycle) is a chain of eight reaction taking place in mitochondria. It is true for each macronutrient to go through this chain of cycle and the oxidation on all of the acetyl CoA carbons entered from different nutrients is similar. This is an important stage as most of the energy produced in mitochondria happens after this cycle is completed to produce molecule carrying electrons. The carbon present in acetyl CoA is fully oxidised to a COÂ ­2 molecule during this reaction. Acetyl CoA filters its two carbon molecules to critic acid cycle and a reaction between acetyl and oxaloacetate produce citrate in the first chain of the cycle. Activated carrier molecules are generated from the oxidation of citrate molecules. Every cycle generates 3 NADH molecules, 1 GTP molecule and 1 FADH2 molecule. Two molecules of COÂ ­2 are given off as waste. The NADH and FADH2 molecules carry hydrogen and electrons which then proceeds to an oxidative phosphoryl ation process. The oxidative phosphorylation provides most of the energy in the whole system. The cycle does not require oxygen to carry out the process but the oxidisation of pyruvate requires oxygen. Hence the cycle works under the aerobic condition. The next and final step occurs along an electron transport chain in the mitochondrion inner membrane. The electron transport chain structure in four different proteins consists of five complexes. The high energy electrons from reduced electron carriers, NADH and FADH2, are bombarded to the electron transport chain where the electron moves from an electron donor to a terminal electron acceptor. These electrons are added to the NADH and FADH2 molecules in the citric acid cycle. The electrons from NADH enters complex I where it’s oxidised back to NAD+. Therefore one electron is captured and joins a proton to form a Hydrogen atom and one electron is lost during NADH losses its hydrogen. The electron from the hydrogen carries onto next stage while the proton moves back the inner membrane after the production of FMN to FMNH2. The electron in last complex embeds to the molecules of O2 gas and combines to two H+ to produce water H2O. While the electrons travel through these four complexes and provides enough energy to pump H+ ions (protons) outside the inner membrane. The concentration gradient of H+ is gained due to the movement of these protons. This gradient stores energy that is sufficient for the production of ATP by phosphorylation of ADP. This process is known as oxidative phosphorylation where the electron is in its lowest form of energy therefore all the energy from the food molecules are oxidised to synthesis enormous amount of ATP. There are approximately 30 molecules of ATP gained after the complete oxidation per molecule of glucose or fatty acids or amino acids to H2O and CO2. Complete combustion of proteins also produces NH3 as waste products. Conclusion As the essay reaches its conclusion we can suggest that these macronutrients follow a similar pathway to generate ATP. Although the means of getting to the citric acid cycle for each macronutrient is different i.e. fat must be activated before it enters cytosol whereas protein goes through deamination process, not true for either glucose or fat. Also the function of glucose and protein is quiet different glucose only provide energy to the cells but proteins can participate in protein synthesis to formation of enzymes and carry important materials through the body etc. Molecular Biology of the Cell 4th edition, Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, et al. New York: Garland Science; 2002.

Story Structure Three Models For Your Book

Story Structure Three Models For Your Book Story Structure: Three Models for Your Book Nothing makes the challenging task of writing a novel feel more attainable than adopting a story structure to help you plot out your narrative.While using a pre-existing blueprint might make authors worry they’ll end up with a formulaic, predictable story, you’ll find that most of your favorite books can be grouped into various narrative structures that writers have been using for decades.In this post, we’ll cover three story structures you can use to bring your own novel idea to fruition. Three narrative structures you can use to bring your own novel idea to fruition. What is narrative structure?Narrative structure is composed of two things: story and plot. Whereas the  plot  is a chain of events that dictate a book,  the  story  refers to the underlying factors that drive the dramatic action. Story, then, would encapsulate the protagonists,  key conflicts, and setting of the book. Meanwhile, plot would indicate the connected plot points that make up the narrative at hand.The importance of narrative structure is in its name. If a story didn't have structure, then it would be a formless blot without a clear beginning, middle, and end. It's story structure that lends definition and comprehensibility to a narrative - which is paramount to holding a reader's attention throughout a story. We covered three popular narrative structures in our series on story structure. To explore those particular story structures further, simply head below:the Three-Act Story Structurethe Hero’s Journey (otherwise known as Joseph Campbell's Monomyth)Dan Harmon’s Story Circle A slightly less detailed adaptation of The Hero’s Journey, the Seven-Point Story Structure focuses specifically on the highs and lows of a narrative arc. The Seven-Point Story Structure is made up of:The HookPlot Point 1Pinch Point 1MidpointPinch Point 2Plot Point 2ResolutionAccording to the  Seven-Point Story Structure-creator, author Dan Wells, writers are encouraged to start at the end, with the resolution. You should have an idea of what the final state for your protagonist/plot will look like. Once you’ve got that determined, go back to the starting point - the hook - and have your protagonist/plot begin in a state that contrasts the final one. From there, fill in the rest of the five plot points to flesh out how the protagonist/plot gets from that first state to the final one.Let’s elaborate on this narrative structure using Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone as example.The HookThe start of the seven-point narrative structure is meant to dr aw readers in by explaining the protagonist’s current situation. Their state of being at the beginning of the novel should be in direct contrast to what it will be at the end of the novel.Example: The novel starts out with Harry living a neglected life in the cupboard under the stairs of his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon’s home.Plot Point 1Whether it’s a person, an idea, an inciting incident, or something else - there should be a "Call to Adventure" that sets the narrative and character development in motion.Example: Hagrid arrives to tell Harry that he’s a wizard. With Hagrid, Harry escapes the Dursley’s and head off to Diagon Alley to prepare for his new life as a wizard-in-training.Pinch Point 1Things can’t be all sunshine and roses for your protagonist. Something should go wrong here that applies pressure on the main character, forcing them to step up and solve the problem.Example: A troll is found in Hogwarts on Halloween. Harry and Ro n go to find Hermione who is unaware of the troll. They end up luring it into and locking the troll in the girl’s bathroom - without realizing that’s exactly where Hermione is. Together, they take down the troll.MidpointA more apt name for this part might be â€Å"Turning Point† - as it doesn’t technically need to fall in the middle. But it does need to include the main character changing from a passive force to an active force in the novel. Whatever the narrative’s main conflict is, the protagonist decides to start meeting it head-on here.Example: Harry, Ron, and Hermione learn about the Philosopher’s Stone, and realize it’s being kept guard in Hogwarts. They also learn that Voldemort is after the stone and decide they must find it before he does.Pinch Point 2Not again! The second pinch point involves another hit to the protagonist - things go even more awry than they did during the first pinch point. Also called the â€Å"Dark N ight of the Soul,† this might involve the passing of a mentor, the failure of a plan, the reveal of a traitor, etc.Example: The trio journey through the magical protections set in place to protect the stone. Harry loses Ron and Hermione on the way, leaving him to confront Voldemort on his own.Plot Point 2Phew! After the calamity the protagonist undergoes in the Pinch Point 2, they learn that they’ve actually had the key to solving the conflict the whole time.Example: At the height of the story’s primary conflict, Harry looks in the Mirror of Erised. Because his intentions for finding the stone are pure, the stone appears in his pocket and he learns that if Voldemort touches Harry, it will harm the dark wizard and not himself.ResolutionThe story’s primary conflict is resolved - and the character goes through the final bit of development necessary to transform them from who they were at the start of the novel.Example: Armed with the discoveries the Mirror o f Erised gave to Harry, he defeats Voldemort. The seven-point narrative structure is all about the highs and lows of the narrative arc. We've said it before and we'll say it again: story structures aren't an exact science and you should feel welcome to stray from the path they present. They're simply there to help you find your narrative's footing - a blueprint for the world you're about to start building.

Business Organisation and policy report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Business Organisation and policy report - Essay Example A study by Harvard Business Review finds that companies spend over $2 trillion in acquisitions while the failure rate of M&As is between 70 to 90 percent There have been no efforts to learn why combinations fail and mergers and acquisitions continue to be mismanaged. Despite the large number of failures, executives still consider acquisition a key strategy to achieving business objectives. This investigation presents a report on why boards of directors continue to take over other firms. This would be derived through investigation of a successful and an unsuccessful merger. Exxon Corporation and Mobil Corporation, the two largest marketers of gasoline, were direct, significant and powerful competitors in at least 40 metropolitan areas from Maine to Virginia. Both these organizations competed in several products and geographic markets in the United States. This was a horizontal merger – merger of two competitors, which would result in the biggest non-government oil company in the world. There are two primary reasons of mergers and acquisitions – to boost current performance and to reinvent the business model. M&As are also driven by the need for market expansion and for product diversification. Exxon Corp. Chairman Lee R. Raymond and Mobil Corp. Chairman Lucio A. Noto were realistic in their expectations from the merger. They recognized the need to cut costs due to changes in the oil industry. In fact these were the precise reasons for the merger – changes in the oil industry and the need to cut costs. Early intentions can influence subsequent integration. Leadership has to put forward a clear and convincing rationale to people on both sides that the merger is more than a cost-cutting deal , which was done in the case of Exxon and Mobil.... There are two primary reasons of mergers and acquisitions – to boost current performance and to reinvent the business model (Christensen, Alton, Rising and Waldeck, 2011). M&As are also driven by the need for market expansion and for product diversification (Duncan and Mtar, 2006). Exxon Corp. Chairman Lee R. Raymond and Mobil Corp. Chairman Lucio A. Noto were realistic in their expectations from the merger. They recognized the need to cut costs due to changes in the oil industry. In fact these were the precise reasons for the merger – changes in the oil industry and the need to cut costs. Early intentions can influence subsequent integration. Leadership has to put forward a clear and convincing rationale to people on both sides that the merger is more than a cost-cutting deal (Baxter, 1999), which was done in the case of Exxon and Mobil. The merger of Exxon and Mobil was inspired by the merger of BP with Amoco and ARCO. They too wanted to reach the heights of the new m arket leader and they relied purely on financial analyses (Marks, Mirvis and Brajkovich, 2001). There was no strategic intent and the decisions were based on empire-building. 2.1 Speedy entry to new product/market area The most profitable part of business is this industry is oil exploration and this merger would give them a competitive edge in this activity. This merger was a response to aggressive and excessive exploration behaviour by competing major players as each of them was trying to maintain its relative standing in the industry (Krishnan, Joshi and Krishnan, 2004). This relative positioning was important because mature oligopoly was prevalent in the industry. Mergers such as this become a strategic tool to exit some players and contract the industry (Voola, 2006). Excessive capacity

Examining My Community's Source of Energy Essay

Examining My Community's Source of Energy - Essay Example This paper seeks to establish the sources of energy in Hillsborough County, Florida both at the basic home level and the community level. It will look into the type of energy in use and the approximate cost of energy from the household to the community. This will also include the impacts of the energy source to the community over the time it has been in use and seek to establish new alternative sources that can effectively replace the existing sources with consideration to the effects both to the household and the environment. Sources of energy for the community Hillsborough County in Florida is a community that has several choices on the sources of energy to use. This comes as a result of the availability of several companies that specialize in provision of the different types of energy. Currently, there are around sixteen energy production companies in the area. The common types of energy source in use are coal, electricity, solar energy and wood. However, is worth noting that thes e sources of energy are mostly generated locally which leads to the centralized pollution system to the environment by the well over sixteen companies in the area. ... The coal is also used for the same reason of heat and energy production by the companies though there are a small number of households that make home use of it. Impacts of available energy sources on home and community The discussion about use of coal, wood and the production of electricity are all embroiled in the fact that to some extent, they all pollute the environment. The United States of America is one of the countries with the highest use of coal. In the locality, the disaster caused by the use of coal cannot be undermined. One effect of coal use is the radiation exposure. Coal is known to contain traces of Uranium and Thorium which are radioactive materials that occur naturally occur naturally. The coal wastes from the plants are known to be highly disastrous than the direct emissions from a nuclear plant. The other long term effects of the gases released from the use of coal are those associated with the greenhouse gas release to the environment. These greenhouse gases are of great hazard especially to the ozone layer depletion. The third negated effect of coal use is that it causes so many annual deaths. In the United States at large, the deaths resulting from the coal particulate pollution and ground level ozone without effective pollution control measures is on the increase. The deaths are caused by probable development of lung cancer, heart attacks and the acute bronchitis to the victims. Coal also when used even in traces release methyl mercury to the environment. This is a mercury emission that is very fatal to the plant and animal life. The air emissions related to use of coal in this environment is of absolute interest. There are a

American Literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

American Literature - Essay Example These four pieces have been selected carefully to cover the most crucial aspects of the American lifestyle and the culture of the American society in general. The Godfather, The Great Gatsby, The Long GoodBye and The Social Network are four pieces which have been used in the paper to find out various patterns regarding the American way of life. All of these pieces are focusing a particular point in the history of America, where certain fads were apparent and various lawsuits had their own effects of the society, thus all such aspect will be covered in the paper. For instance, The Great Gatsby particularly focused on the post World War I period when the American Elites had their own way of life as they were highly indulged in a luxurious lifestyle full of lust and obsession with the material things. Similarly, The Godfather focuses on the post WWII period which represents a period of transition by portraying the story of a Mafia family which suffers badly due to the changes in the sys tem how the Mafia system works. Also, The Long Goodbye is another post WWII Classic literary piece which also tries to portray the world of Drug Mafia and the perils of the system prevailing at that time in the American way of life. The Social Network, however, is a completely new and a recent composition which reflects the current trends of the American lifestyle. ... The lust for money makes them even greedier; also the urge to flaunt their wealth in front of others makes their lives fall apart in the long run. Secondly, American lawsuits have always inflicted major problems in the system, and when the Americans try to use illegal methods, problem are further complicated. Also, all of the pieces tend to show a slight transition in the American culture, and they portray that change is inevitable, however the change brings along various implications which are hard to resolve. It was perceived that the virtual world which minimize the problems, however, this was never the case as reflected in the paper. To make generalizations regarding the American way of life via the literary texts composed by highly reputable artists it is first important to analyze the pieces one by one. â€Å"The Great Gatsby† is the classic and one of the most popular books composed by Scott Fitzgerald. The author has incorporated all kinds of evils as well as the good about the American society during the time, by introducing many different characters and connecting those though different stories. The novel is more of roller-coaster ride where events are events reveal various aspects, and the scariest ones, thereby creating a realistic scenario of the time. The story revolves around two main characters, i.e. Nick and Gatsby, however many different supporting characters have also been introduced. Nick was a war veteran who plans to shift to the city to make use of the metropolitan life to make some money. On doing so, he happens to live next to Gatsby, who is a millionaire and throws the most lavish parties in now every now and then. Nick also gets to meet Daisy, who was rather Gatsby`s cousin, and both Daisy and Gatsby also a love affair

Legalization of Marijuana for medical use (persuasive research paper ) Essay - 1

Legalization of Marijuana for medical use (persuasive research paper ) - Essay Example As Sages has it: â€Å"If you think legalizing medical marijuana would be a Reefer Madness-style catastrophe for society, dont tell Oregon grandmother Stormy Ray. For Ray, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1985, Oregons legalization meant something entirely different: Instead of being forced to use a harsh, legal medication-one that left her in a constant haze-she can now gain pain relief much more easily. Medical marijuana, she says, ‘has literally saved my life.’† (Sager 1999, np) That is why, even though the legalization of marijuana for medical use has such obvious disadvantages as the emergence of side effects from its use, many researchers claim that marijuana should be fully legalized as doctors can use it as painkillers and antiemetic, it has excellent quality/price ratio, and its full legalization will bring additional money to the budget. Marijuana can help people suffering from depression or migraine. However, marijuana has its side effects: e.g. the patients who are taking this substance are not recommended to perform tasks demanding particularly focused attention because they are likely to have coordination problems and slow reaction. Whereas many people get into the state of euphoria after taking marijuana, others might feel panic or experience hallucinations. Notwithstanding these possible side effects, the use of marijuana for medical purposes can be justified because marijuana can effectively be used as a painkiller and antiemetic, and its value for money is excellent and much better than of many other drugs. On the other side there are people who object to the legalization of marijuana, even for the medical purposes, and they claim that the legalization might result in an increase in the number of drug addicts. It is not a secret that some of those people who are addicted to cocaine, heroine or other â€Å"heavy† substances began as merely marijuana smokers. It is important to consider how the legalization of

Critically analysing the issues and effectiveness of the Code of Essay

Critically analysing the issues and effectiveness of the Code of Sustainable Homes and their contribution to helping UK Government to achieve the reductions in CO2 required - Essay Example necessitates the need to formulate strategies, framework, policies, regulations and any other method to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in to the atmosphere (Bergman et al, 2007). Presently the world is going through the global warming phase; the cause has been attributed to increasing green house gases from industrial, commercial and various other residential activities. Goodall (2007:3) mentions that fewer people know the details regarding the amount of carbon dioxide are generated in their day to day activities. It is further mentioned that only air travels, each person travelling by air is responsible for 12.5 tonnes of greenhouse gases per year in United Kingdom. It is important to mention that half of the total carbon emissions results from the way in which we live i.e. running our homes and getting from place to place in car or plane. Bergman et al (2007) states that household ownership of electronics, such as televisions, domestic IT and other gadgets has increased ra pidly and expected to continue to rise over the next years making the consumer electronics, the biggest single sector of home electricity consumption. And moreover, the number of households is increasing with the increased growth in population year by year causing an increased environmental burden and introducing social sustainability issues. It is further mentioned that the one person household in the UK has grown from 18% in 1971 to 30% in 2001 and are predicted to constitute 38% of households by 2026. In view of the involvement of residential activities in carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases, the governments from different countries evolved and formulated different strategies to cope with the increasing problem. The present paper looks into the policies adopted by United Kingdom to reduce the carbon emissions the residential sector by providing carbon free homes as stipulated in their Code for Sustainable Homes. According to the report for World Business Summit on Climate

TMJ syndrome Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

TMJ syndrome - Essay Example The arterial blood supply of the temporomandibular joint is mainly from the superficial temporal and the maxillary arteries. The venous supply is by the corresponding arteries. The nerve supply of the joint is derived from the auriculotemporal nerve and the masseteric nerve. The movements of the normal joint include forward movement of the mandible, side to side movements which occur while eating food, lowering of the jaw for opening the oral cavity and then subsequently elevation of the joint for closing the mouth. There are around 35 million cases of this condition in the United States. The condition is known to have a greater predisposition towards women with the females being more affected than males with this condition. TMJ syndrome has been associated with many diseases which include inflammation of the joints of the body as well as hormonal problems and the pathology also has a hereditary component and hence genetic factors also tend to play a role. It is also associated with trauma which may result due to accidental injury or as a result of punch to the mandible. Accidental injury may be due to not wearing helmets or putting on the seat belt while driving. The symptoms associated with the injury include severe pain in the jaw which may also present with pain in the face and the neck. The movements of the joints become limited and it becomes increasingly difficult for the person to talk as well as move the jaw.

Critically analysing the issues and effectiveness of the Code of Essay

Critically analysing the issues and effectiveness of the Code of Sustainable Homes and their contribution to helping UK Government to achieve the reductions in CO2 required - Essay Example necessitates the need to formulate strategies, framework, policies, regulations and any other method to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in to the atmosphere (Bergman et al, 2007). Presently the world is going through the global warming phase; the cause has been attributed to increasing green house gases from industrial, commercial and various other residential activities. Goodall (2007:3) mentions that fewer people know the details regarding the amount of carbon dioxide are generated in their day to day activities. It is further mentioned that only air travels, each person travelling by air is responsible for 12.5 tonnes of greenhouse gases per year in United Kingdom. It is important to mention that half of the total carbon emissions results from the way in which we live i.e. running our homes and getting from place to place in car or plane. Bergman et al (2007) states that household ownership of electronics, such as televisions, domestic IT and other gadgets has increased ra pidly and expected to continue to rise over the next years making the consumer electronics, the biggest single sector of home electricity consumption. And moreover, the number of households is increasing with the increased growth in population year by year causing an increased environmental burden and introducing social sustainability issues. It is further mentioned that the one person household in the UK has grown from 18% in 1971 to 30% in 2001 and are predicted to constitute 38% of households by 2026. In view of the involvement of residential activities in carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases, the governments from different countries evolved and formulated different strategies to cope with the increasing problem. The present paper looks into the policies adopted by United Kingdom to reduce the carbon emissions the residential sector by providing carbon free homes as stipulated in their Code for Sustainable Homes. According to the report for World Business Summit on Climate

Portfolio Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Portfolio - Essay Example However, 40 percent of the people suggested that businesses perform better when the government is n control. Apparently, 52 percent of the population believes that a company that makes profits in all financial years satisfies the shareholders, customers and employees. However, 32 percent believe that a company making profits is a sign that it is exploiting its customers. Consequentially, issues have been looming over control of public utilities like energy and water. According to polls, 61 percent believed that the public sector was suited to control these public utilities as compared to 26 percent that supported private sector controlling these public utilities. Though the people have diverse opinions on a number of issues, when they were asked what the government should do, 49 percent stated that the government should help protect jobs, ensure there is full employment and increase spending power in the economy. However, 41 percent preferred the government to lower prices, lower inf lation and lower government borrowing. 2. Public Trust in Government MPs stated that the UK statistics authority has jeopardised the government statistics. A recent report stated that the UK statistics authority needed to work with utmost clarity and gain strict control measures while handling the data in departments. Andrew Dilnot was commended for highlighting the misinterpretation of official statistics and mentioned that the organisation should take an initiative of having greater control over the integrity and quality of the data. In addition to this, Dilnot stated that the concerned departments should limit pre-release of the data to ministers as it jeopardised the integrity and quality of the data. Apparently, it was explicitly expressed that the departments were â€Å"finding ways around† with the data, which was on the contrary according to the code of practice for government statistics. One of the recommendations from the report was that, the data should be presente d in a clearer and accessible manner. Secondly, the authority should improve its website as it had several concerns. In wrapping up the point, a respondent stated that there should be fine tuning of the current governance arrangement, which would be an appropriate manoeuvre. 3. Body Language Body language is a form of communications where nonverbal signs are used. Experts state that body language makes a larger part of communication, which includes facial expression and body movements. Apparently, most of the things that people do not say can be conveyed to the audience and pass volumes of information. Researchers have stated that body language accounts for a better part of communication which is between 50 to 70 percent. Therefore, the audience should understand body language to get the full information that is relayed. However, it is also important to remember focusing on other cues in the context. Similarly, there is a need to look at the signals as a group rather than focusing o n a single signal. This could lead to misinterpretation of the information that is relayed. 4. Current News In recent times, the Syria issue has been a news item in most of the media bulletins all over the globe. According to recent statistics, over 6,400 refugees have been recorded to have flocked to Jordan in fear of the unending violence. In recent time, Britain has provided a whooping ? 89.5

Benefits of computing gross profit on sales in contrast to contribution margin Essay Example for Free

Benefits of computing gross profit on sales in contrast to contribution margin Essay The computation of gross profit on sales, which can be derived under the absorption costing approach, is a profitability measure normally conducted under financial analysis.   This accounting ratio outlines the gross profit generated from every $100 of sales.   Such measure is highly useful in financial analysis, because it provides indications on the profitability potential and cost efficiency of the company.  Ã‚   For instance, if there was an increase in sales of 10%, but the gross profit margin declined by 4%. This indicates that the cost efficiency of the organization deteriorated during the period.    Such analysis cannot be conducted under the contribution margin approach, because gross profit is not present.   However, under the contribution margin approach one can calculate the contribution to sales ratio which indicates the contribution determined from every $100 of sales.   This would also provide indications on the control of variable costs once compared over time. Difference in Net Income arising from different approaches. In the example of ABC Company the profit under the two methods is the same.   However, this is not always the case.   Profits under the two methods differ whenever there is movement in inventory.   This is due to the fact that since under the absorption costing technique fixed manufacturing costs are included in the cost of goods sold, a proportion of fixed costs will be included in inventory leading to such a difference. Contribution margin approach not allowable for external reporting. The contribution margin approach, despite being highly useful to provide valuable information for decision making, is not acceptable for external reporting.   This is due to the fact that it does not comply with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). For example, under the GAAP the income statement layout should clearly outline the gross profit made by the company.   Under the contribution margin method this is not highlighted.   Another important reason why the absorption approach is allowable for external reporting and not the contribution approach is due to the way in which the income statement is classified. The GAAP state that the income statement is classified by function, like under the absorption method.   In the contribution approach it is classified by cost behavior.   Indeed separation between fixed and variable costs is made under such method. This conflicts with another requirement of the GAAP. Reference: Drury C. (1996). Management and Cost Accounting. Fourth Edition. New York: International Thomson Business Press.

Theories of Motivation and Conflict in the Workplace

Theories of Motivation and Conflict in the Workplace Abstract Conflict in any organization is a matter that can not be avoided. Conflict because from one viewpoint the individuals involved in the organization who have the character, vision, goals, and styles vary. In addition, the interdependence between each other that characterize each organization. Although not all adverse organizational conflict, moreover handled legitimately, can have a positive impact and will benefit the organization all in all. In addition, there should be transparency in managing conflict in organizations and patience as well as all parties involved in awareness and conflict within the organization. Introduction. This conflict is regularly associated with the individuals who are, conflict, violence and destruction. What has always lingered in our minds is the way by which the conflict that can happen, and how to define conflicts and how to handle conflict. The reaction regularly happens in life and cause us stretch, fear and tried to escape from dealing with conflict. At the same time, for individuals who adoration conflict is defined as an individual problem, and so on. Such is the diversity of views and reactions to conflict. The fact that the conflict is human nature. Conflicts are always together and grow dynamically along with human development. Conflicts can happen either on individuals, associations or organizations. At whatever point there is a conflict, obviously, will affect the parties involved either positive or negative from the point that indirectly may affect the performance and productivity of individuals and the organization all in all. In this manner, the perception of confl ict would facilitate forecasting methods, controls, changes and solutions to the problems that exist. In this regard, an initial exercise that needs to be researched is to identify the causes, factors and sorts of conflict, before the conflict management process, ie, problem solving or decision making implemented. Concept and levels of conflict. Conflict is a different idea from the perspective of politicians and members of management. With this, the scope of the investigation is very broad conflict is conflict, for example, family conflict, conflict within the organization, the conflict between the individual, the conflict in the middle of the house and so on. Generally, when there are different goals and different points of view, then there will be a variety of issues and differences in the perception of some aspects of the organization. In addition, the conflict is also defined as any form of dispute within the organization, both among people with one another in the assembly, in the middle between the council and the assembly with assembly or organization can also between the individual and the organization in general. Although the conflict refers to the need, importance, to something or someone in the middle of both parties with conflicting views. In my opinion, the conflict can be divided into two stages: the macro level and micro level. The macro-level conflicts usually occur at the level of institutions and conflicts are rare, for example, conflict is a conflict singles macro itself. Therefore, the micro-level conflict is like interpersonal and between organizations, it often happens in any place, for example between two or more parties. Process of Conflict. In addition, methods of conflict consists of four stages: first a potential conflict or incompatibility which is a source of conflict which is divided into three categories; communication, structure and personal variables. This is due to the differences and disputes between communities. Also, brains and personality conflicts will occur when viewed by the parties involved and bring the parties involved in emotions that lead to dissatisfaction, hate and fear. Therefore, there will be tension or pressure on the parties involved. Third is the intention to make the decision to act in a way misguidedly and causes disturbed or negative effects on the individual. Fourth is the action in which he makes the conflict became apparent that includes a statement issued, the action taken and the response by the parties involved in the conflict. This conflict will arise between individuals who do not take seriously in conflict. Resolving conflict in a team. Various ways that we can fathom conflicts like listening to all opinions or viewpoints of the actors involved and concentrated on talks on facts and behavior, not on feelings or personal elements. In addition, we also need to get the agreement and responsibility to find a solution and give encouragement to all parties to the conflict to cooperate to take care of problems accurately. All parties involved ought to play an important part in addressing conflict from spreading and provide an opportunity for all parties involved in the conflict to express his opinion. Identify conflicts are also important in resolving the conflict because this activity is necessary and requires special expertise. Conflicts can arise from a particular source or base of the problem, however the problem into a conflict if not managed with great emotions. Accordingly, we must pick which one to this problem, which became a problem because of emotional things. This problem is the underlying emotional conflicts w hile just exacerbate the problem alone. With this, we can handle the conflict regularly and can produce decent human beings. Theories of motivation and its effectiveness In prioritizing Herzberg two-factor hypothesis that encourages employees motivated intrinsic factor, namely the impetus arising from within oneself, and extrinsic factors, namely the impetus coming from outside oneself, especially from the organization where she lived up to expectations. Intrinsically motivated employees who delighted in the work that will enable utilization of reactivity and innovation, working with a high level of autonomy and dont have to be watched nearly. Satisfaction here is not primarily associated with the acquisition of things that are material. Instead, they are more motivated by extrinsic factors have a tendency to look to what is given to them by the organization and its work is directed to the acquisition of the things he wanted from the organization. According to Frederick Herzberg said that there are certain factors in the workplace that can lead to employment satisfaction, while in different parts there are also different factors that may cause dissat isfaction. With this, satisfaction and occupation dissatisfaction related to each other. In this way, divided into two specific factors in the workplace is by Frederick Herzberg identified as hygiene factors and motivation. Hygiene Factors Hygiene factors (health factors) is an important factor for their work motivation in the workplace. These factors do not lead to positive long-term satisfaction. At the same time if these factors are not present, then the dissatisfaction that. These factors are extrinsic to work. Hygiene factors also referred to as dissatisfaction or maintenance factors necessary to avoid dissatisfaction. Hygiene factors (health factors) is the image of the needs of individual physiological factors that are believed to be fulfilled. Hygiene (health factors) include salaries, personal life, the quality of supervision, working conditions, the stability of the employer, the relationship between the personal, intelligence and corporate governance. According to the hygiene factor / extrinsic factors Herzberg will not further the interests of workers to form it big, but if these factors cannot be considered satisfactory in many respects, for example, inadequate wages, working conditions unpleasant, factors that will be spring potential discontent. Motivation Factors Satisfaction creates a positive motivating factor. In addition, there are factors in the workplace and motivate employees to excel work called satiety factor. Employees only find motivation factors intrinsic value (satiety factor). Motivator which symbolizes psychological needs is seen as an additional benefit. Factors associated with achievement motivation job content protection, recognition, challenging work, improvement and development in the job. In addition, factors intrinsic motivation is a factor that promotes the spirit to achieve higher employment. Meanwhile, the high level of satisfaction of needs motivation allows one to form a more than satisfying needs lower. Meanwhile, there is also a motivating factor according to Herzberg is working itself achievement, opportunities for advancement, recognition of others, and responsibility. In general hygienic factors, for example, salaries and employee relations support associate to survive in the workplace. Salary will only deliver instant motivation. However not in the capacity factor of motivation, for example, the appointment of permanent staff. Cause a decrease in employee motivation to work. To motivate subordinates. Job satisfaction is basically something individual. Most individuals have a level of satisfaction vary and in accordance with the prevailing value system in itself. When assessed against the perceived height of the votes in accordance with the wishes of the individual, the higher the satisfaction of such activities. With this, an outline of job satisfaction can be interpreted as being pleasant or unpleasant, which looked officer of jobs. According to Herzberg behavioral traits that satisfied employees are those who have a high motivation to work. In addition, they are also more than happy to do his job, while its workers are less satisfied they are lazy to go to work at the workplace, and lazy in doing their jobs. Therefore, it can be concluded that job satisfaction is a feeling or attitude of someone in their work, which can be affected by various factors, both internal factors and external factors. Motivation or encouragement movement behavior of organisms is continuing to carry out an activity that is stimulated by incentives. With this, the existence of behavior because of physiological or psychological stretch and leading to the achievement of a goal. In addition, the driving motivation is a desire to be effective and to achieve something. Motivation can also be regarded as a stimulus for the achievement of a stimulus or to avoid failure. Individuals who have the motivation means he has already acquired the ability to exceed expectations in life. Conclusion Conflict is a part of human life that can never be settled all through the history of mankind. Sociologically, the conflict is defined as a social process between two or more persons where one party looks to prohibit different parties to pulverize it or make it frail. In addition, the conflict is motivated by differences in the characteristics of the individual got an interaction. Examples of these differences are related to the physical characteristics, information, understanding, beliefs, customs, and so on. Individual characteristics also participate in social interaction. Therefore, conflict is a desirable situation in each community and not a society that has never had any conflicts between members or with other community bunches. References http://www.dawama.com/Pengurusan-Konflik/q?pid=1752doit=order http://cintahatikami.blogspot.com/2012/04/konflik-dalam-organisasi.html http://capoenk-news.blogspot.com/2013/02/6-cara-menyelesaikan-konflik-secara.html http://perilakuorganisasi.com/teori-erg.html Silhanek, B. and Decenzo, D.A. (2007) Human Relations: Personal and Professional Development. London: Prentice Hall. Robbins, S.P. nad Judge, T.A. (2009) Organisational Behaviour. 5th and. London: Prentice Hall.

The Effects of Global Warming on Wetlands :: Geology

The Effects of Global Warming on Wetlands Introduction Wetlands are highly productive ecosystems. Wetlands include marshes, estuaries, bogs, fens, swamps, deltas, shallow seas, and floodplains. Wetland habitats support a vast range of plant and animal life, and serve a variety of important functions, which include water regime regulation, flood control, erosion control, nursery areas for fishes, fish production, recreation, plant production, aesthetic enjoyment, and wildlife habitat. Wetlands account for about 6% of the global land area and are among the most valuable environmental resources. The Problem The potential impacts of climate change on wetlands are of great concern. Increasing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released by human activities are generally expected to warm the Earth a few degrees (C) in the next century by a mechanism known as the "greenhouse effect." Such warming could raise sea level by expanding ocean water, melting mountain glaciers, and eventually causing polar ice sheets to side into the oceans. Among the coastal areas of greatest risk in the United States are those low-lying coastal habitats that are easily eroded and which occur along the northern Gulf of Mexico and southern Atlantic coasts of the U.S. These coastal wetlands are especially vulnerable to direct, large-scale impacts of climate change, primarily because of their sensitivity to sea-level rise. Observational records indicate that sea level has already risen between 10 and 25 cm globally over the past 100 years. In addition, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has projected a sea-level rise of 15-95 cm as a consequence of global warming. Sea-level rise will also increase the depth of coastal waters and increase inland and upstream salinity intrusion, both of which affect fresh and brackish water wetlands. Sea-level rise has the potential for increasing the severity of storm surges, particularly in areas where coastal habitats and barrier shorelines are rapidly deteriorating. These direct consequences of global- and regional-scale changes will increase the vulnerability of coastal wetlands which are already heavily impacted by human activities. Analysis of sites in five coastal states indicate that many marshes and mangrove ecosystems receive adequate mineral sediments to produce enough organic sediment and root material to remain above sea level at the present rate of sea-level rise (1-2 mm per year globally). However, three of the twelve wetlands studied were not keeping pace with the current rate of sea-level rise. If sea-level rise accelerates, some additional sites would also begin to slowly deteriorate and submerge. The Effects of Global Warming on Wetlands :: Geology The Effects of Global Warming on Wetlands Introduction Wetlands are highly productive ecosystems. Wetlands include marshes, estuaries, bogs, fens, swamps, deltas, shallow seas, and floodplains. Wetland habitats support a vast range of plant and animal life, and serve a variety of important functions, which include water regime regulation, flood control, erosion control, nursery areas for fishes, fish production, recreation, plant production, aesthetic enjoyment, and wildlife habitat. Wetlands account for about 6% of the global land area and are among the most valuable environmental resources. The Problem The potential impacts of climate change on wetlands are of great concern. Increasing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released by human activities are generally expected to warm the Earth a few degrees (C) in the next century by a mechanism known as the "greenhouse effect." Such warming could raise sea level by expanding ocean water, melting mountain glaciers, and eventually causing polar ice sheets to side into the oceans. Among the coastal areas of greatest risk in the United States are those low-lying coastal habitats that are easily eroded and which occur along the northern Gulf of Mexico and southern Atlantic coasts of the U.S. These coastal wetlands are especially vulnerable to direct, large-scale impacts of climate change, primarily because of their sensitivity to sea-level rise. Observational records indicate that sea level has already risen between 10 and 25 cm globally over the past 100 years. In addition, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has projected a sea-level rise of 15-95 cm as a consequence of global warming. Sea-level rise will also increase the depth of coastal waters and increase inland and upstream salinity intrusion, both of which affect fresh and brackish water wetlands. Sea-level rise has the potential for increasing the severity of storm surges, particularly in areas where coastal habitats and barrier shorelines are rapidly deteriorating. These direct consequences of global- and regional-scale changes will increase the vulnerability of coastal wetlands which are already heavily impacted by human activities. Analysis of sites in five coastal states indicate that many marshes and mangrove ecosystems receive adequate mineral sediments to produce enough organic sediment and root material to remain above sea level at the present rate of sea-level rise (1-2 mm per year globally). However, three of the twelve wetlands studied were not keeping pace with the current rate of sea-level rise. If sea-level rise accelerates, some additional sites would also begin to slowly deteriorate and submerge.

Perhaps Othello Essay

Perhaps Othello cannot be regarded as the greatest of William Shakespeare’s tragedies, but many readers and viewers have found it incredibly exciting, logical, and most intense of all of Shakespeare’s plays. When performed, Othello is implacable in its drive toward tragedy, drawing spectators into the greatly shocking play of a husband quickly pushed to murder his blameless wife. Moreover, the Afro-American warrior Othello – the only black character in Shakespeare – becomes a husband of a white woman. Thus, the tragedy also touches on important issues that have become pressing in present period: racial prejudice and attraction to the â€Å"Other† (Othello Study Guide). Othello also allows readers to consider such important human issues as the nature of sexual jealousy and the difficulty of feeling certain about anything or anyone in this world. This paper is designed, first, to draw attention to these relevant issues in the play. Second, it will attempt to analyze these issues by exploring their many contexts so that it is possible to present various ways of understanding Othello from theoretical perspectives. Othello Shakespeare’s chief source for Othello was a story found in Giraldi Cinthio Hecatommithi, a collection of interesting tales where the major topic is marriage (Othello Study Guide). If one compares Italian story with Shakespeare’s, he or she can see English playwright’s incredible skills in transforming an ordinary story into logical and effective drama. Shakespeare modifies some parts of the story to emphasize dramatic plot and make character presentation much sharper. Further, he makes significant changes in the text, inserting and removing some parts, to dignify his protagonist and turn a melodramatic story into excellent tragedy. Othello is not created on such a huge scale as Shakespeare’s other famous tragedies. The play has neither the superhuman and magical dimensions of Hamlet and Macbeth, where the readers meet Ghost and Witches, nor King Lear’s unceasing feeling of doubt and uncertainty regarding â€Å"Nature† and the gods. Nevertheless, Othello is the only one of the four tragedies to present the reader with two separate countries as locations: civilized world of Renaissance Venice and the island of Cyprus. A. C. Bradley (1962) describes Othello as the most â€Å"masterly† of Shakespeare’s tragedies in its construction (144). Bradley stresses the fact that Shakespeare uses virtually no delaying tactics to slow down the action in the play, as, for example, in Hamlet where the hero delays his revenge, and no subplot to develop complicating consequences, as the reader finds in King Lear. Acts from 2 to 5, taking place in Cyprus, form a persistent sequence without significant interruptions. Further, however, there are some variations in pace – the slower tempo of the willow scene in acts 4 and 3, where Desdemona and Emilia take stock of the situation. In this regard, Ned B. Allen (1968) arrives at a conclusion that the instances of long time, for the most part in acts 3 and 4, are the result of Shakespeare’s sticking to Giraldi Cinthio’s slow-paced tale more densely there than the playwright does in acts 1 and 2 (13-29). Arguing that â€Å"double time† is a skilful device to heighten the credibility of the action, Ridley expresses admiration for Shakespeare’s â€Å"astonishing skill† in placing close together allusions to long time with a strong impression of a thirty-three-hour time span on Cyprus (lxx). It is, Ridley believes, a literary technique of lulling the reader into thinking that more time has passed than the action declares. In this manner, the reader does not question why, logically, Othello would be killing his wife for her supposed unfaithfulness the very night after he has brought to completion their marriage. Interestingly, among Shakespeare’s tragedies, Othello may be regarded as the least connected with social or political developments and transformations. The play does not appear to have been written on the topic of a specific historical event or social movement in the beginning of 1600s. Othello is a domestic tragedy. Thus, it exposes power plays inside relations between representatives of patriarchal society – in particular, in father-daughter and husband-wife relationships. But not like King Lear, that constantly expresses uncertainty about received â€Å"authority† as the king’s status is depreciated, Othello does not deal with the wider political branches of this social power. Nor does Othello take into consideration faults in state power that the reader can observe in Shakespeare’s history plays and Coriolanus. Although Othello is of aristocratic birth, he is not the real or possible leader of his realm (while Lear, Macbeth, and Hamlet are all kings), upon whose decisions and thoughts depend the whole state and its people. At the same time, however, Othello is concerned with important cultural and social issues. Precisely, Othello’s exact color has been much considered with references to racist issues (Shakespearean Criticism). What is important is that Othello is a black warrior, in all likelihood from North Africa, and now dwelling in a white European society. The issue of racial difference is deeply embedded in the tragedy and is very well obvious in performance. How would the character have been considered by the Jacobean public, and how is he understood this day? Does Othello make effort to incorporate or refuse to accept racist stereotypes of that time? How much does Desdemona, a white upper-class representative, breaks the moral rules of her society by making decision to marry a black warrior, and finally does Othello give approval to or reject her open and bold resistance to authority and power? Taking into consideration these questions, one can analyze ways in which Othello contributes to the discussion on two groups – black African men and white women – that were often made seem unimportant in the beginning of seventeenth century. Even though it cannot be equated with present day racial discrimination issues, color prejudice appears to have developed in England under Queen Elizabeth and King James. Black was associated with evil, Africans’ dark skins was considered to belong to the devil. Taking into account the racial prejudices of the time, it is unusual that Shakespeare decides to make his tragic hero an Afro-American and his villain the white Iago. Critic John Salway, for example, considers that Shakespeare introduces the general preconceptions regarding Africans by means of the racist discourse of Iago and Brabantio – Iago glibly utters slander about Othello as â€Å"lusty Moor† and â€Å"devil†, while Brabantio, who â€Å"lov’d† Othello as a warrior, ascribes responsibility to him for winning his daughter’s love through â€Å"damned† witchcraft (30). John Salway considers that the playwright does so only to explode these prejudices in the course of the play. In this respect, Othello’s mistake is a natural human weakness rather than a fault coming from his race. John Salway also acknowledges the long-established medieval tradition, literary and decorative, that connected the black man with lower rank in society and damnation. The author argues, at the same time, that a countercurrent of religious discourse and art, for example, the special importance given to inner holiness over outward appearance and the description of Balthazar, one of the Magi bearing gifts for the infant Christ, as a black man, provided Shakespeare with an opportunity to develop Othello as a â€Å"great Christian gentleman† (45). Salway finds no prove in the tragedy that the character is really savage, since he gains his nobility again after his tragic loss of faith in Desdemona (55-56). Martin Orkin (1987), a South African scholar keenly aware of how Shakespeare’s Othello gives occasion for racist responses, is in basic agreement with Salway’s statements. He believes that Shakespeare works â€Å"consciously against the color prejudice that can be seen in â€Å"the language of Iago, Roderigo, and Brabantio† and denies such prejudices giving emphasis to the â€Å"limitations† of â€Å"human judgment† in general as the real cause of Othello’s tragedy (170-181). All this is right from the one side: Shakespeare creates his characterization of â€Å"valiant Othello† far beyond that of the traditional stereotype. On the other side, however, there are situations in the play when Othello’s actions do generate the sinful barbarian image. This is specifically the case in act 4, where the character loses his mind in a frantic mania of jealousy (â€Å"savage madness† is how Iago gives account of it), promises to â€Å"chop† Desdemona into â€Å"messes† after overhearing the dialogue that takes place between Iago and Cassio. Moreover, Othello behaves immorally by making a physical attack on Desdemona in public. Does Shakespeare try to demonstrate color prejudice by making Othello returning again and again to the traditional image of ‘black savage’? One resistance against attack on Othello’s behavior in the play is to claim that it is a victory of Iago’s hard-hearted intrigue with him, combined with the Moor’s dramatic readiness to consider as true the negative, oversimplified stereotype of himself. It seems that Othello’s humiliating performance is almost destined to cause the audience to become unfriendly, both Jacobean and present. By the concluding part of the play, Othello is divided between the individual characteristics he has attempted to maintain as an honorary white in Venice – where the Senate has allowed him military services and even more, in contrast to Brabantio, forgave his relationship with a white woman – and his strong inner sense of himself as an African â€Å"Other†. In being fatally overwhelmed by jealousy and murdering his wife, Othello eventually describes himself as more related by blood to the ignoble Judean and the malicious Muslim Turk than to the civilized and noble Christian. Some readers and viewers may feel that Othello compensates his rank as an inspiring tragic hero in the culmination, while others may dissent in opinion. And while it is right to claim that Othello does not give approval to the deeply felt prejudices of an Iago, how does the audience feel about Emilia’s racist comments in the final part of the play? Emilia becomes the center of tragic attention when she reveals Othello’s dreadful mistake and dismantles any â€Å"just grounds† for his believing that Desdemona committed sexual intercourse with other man. Preoccupied with her frank truth-telling, the spectators are encouraged to become accomplices of her views even though they are full of racial intense dislike. Emilia refers to Othello as the â€Å"blacker devil† describing his behavior as â€Å"ignorant as dirt† and feels sorry that Desdemona was â€Å"too fond of her most filthy bargain†. These examples demonstrate the difficulty of reaching an exact decision where the play stands regarding Othello’s blackness and racial prejudice. Because of the fact that the balance of dramatic sympathies shifts from episode to episode, readers are likely to agree with Emilia’s angry release of prejudice while rejecting Iago’s coldly malicious racism, in spite of the close relationship he has established with the reader. In this regard, one can compare Othello with Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. Just as The Merchant of Venice may at the same time destroy anti-Semitic prejudice (in Shylock’s probing speech â€Å"Hath not a Jew eyes? † and support it (with Shylock’s absurdly incongruous behavior and wish that his daughter â€Å"were hears’d at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin! †), it can be stated that Othello stimulates discourse regarding the racist stereotypes of the sixteenth-century life even though it supports them to some extent. It should be observed, however, that to be totally free of racism and any discrimination, the playwright would have to invent a new language with no words containing a hidden implication, no unfair treatment of a color character, and no connection in the play between blackness and evil, whiteness and good. Expressing the same idea but differently, Othello cannot go beyond the language and traditions of its culture. According to Juliet Dusinberre (1976), if black-skinned men were considered as the â€Å"Other† in the sixteenth-century Europe, then women could be also called as a painful Other in patriarchal communities. The Reformation in England is at times thought as a period when attitudes and views toward female roles, at least inside marriage relations, were becoming more liberal and humanistic (Dusinberre 3-5). Puritans encouraged an equal marriage partnership, in contrast to the accepted without question subordination of wife to her husband, and valued married chastity above celibacy. However, it can be supposed that this elevation of the married relationships might have served as a method to contain women’s uncontrollable desire rather than to encourage a real self-dependence for them. It is easy to see that Desdemona is committed to the ideal of married chastity, but she is also a woman who tries to rebel. Obviously, her courageous rejection of her father’s wishes (and, globally, those of the Venetian upper class) so that it is possible to marry a black warrior and her honest desire to follow the â€Å"rites† for which she married Othello create behavior not conforming to accepted rules and standards in Venetia. The woman has stepped beyond the permitted boundaries of her race – â€Å"Against all rules of nature,† as Brabantio describes this – and the modesty that most people expect of female gender. Shakespeare, in spite of her faults, presents the rebellious and disobedient Desdemona as a character deserving admiration. Her powerful and effective language in explaining why she chose Othello despite her father’s unwillingness, her brave strong passion for the Moor, and her spirited and powerful (even though unreasonable) defense of Cassio are all probable to win the sympathies and admiration of the readers. Desdemona’s boldness, as well as Othello’s initial approval and praise of it (he describes her as his â€Å"fair warrior† when he comes to Cyprus), all say about a marriage with mutual love and respect for each other. When living in Cyprus, however, Desdemona becomes more isolated and open to temptation and persuasion. Once Othello incorporates Iago’s views, interpreting the meaning of Desdemona’s behavior as unfaithful and indiscriminate actions, the woman has no means of opposing her husband’s violent desire to control her life. It would seem, taking into consideration these issues, that there are contradictory messages present throughout the play about what behavior is right for women. The uncontrollable female who calls into question her place in the male-dominated community is given some capacity for independent action but ironically is then punished, primarily because Othello misinterprets her actions, but also, the drama may suggest, because of her desires going beyond acceptable boundaries of taste and convention of the time. Like with the issue of racism regarding Othello’s personality, Emilia’s role emphasizes the contradictory treatment of women in the tragedy. Her passionate defense of wives in act 4 produces the double sexual standard by which relationships between men and women are determined: And have not we affections? Desires for sport? and frailty? as men have? Then let them use us well; else let them know, The ills we do, their ills instruct us so. Since Emilia expresses a convinced belief that women are men’s equals in desire and have the full right to live and act like their husbands, her declaration is potentially ungrounded in its denial of gender qualities that work only to the advantage of men. At the same time, however, the meaning of the speech, as well as what the reader knows of Emilia so far, tends to decrease the power of the statement. Emilia has the similar gender of Desdemona but not social position. As a result, Shakespeare’s readers might make little of the sense of her statements, justifying them as fitting for serving women but not actual for upper-class women. Interestingly, Emilia has surrendered to her husband’s â€Å"fantasy† herself. She subordinated herself to his fanciful idea and thus affirmed the opposite of her philosophy of independence — by presenting him the gift. Conclusion Regarded by many scholars as one of Shakespeare greatest tragedies, together with Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear, Othello has a traditional tragic plot, tracing the hero’s fall from splendor and combining together human qualities of nobility with actins and decisions that lead to unavoidable suffering and loss. Othello is, at the same time, one of Shakespeare’s most emotionally touching works. The driving power with which the extremely effective but destructive series of events develops creates an exciting sense of chaotic violent and confused movement that captivates both readers and viewers almost as much as it drives the characters. Shakespeare’s character development and his incorporation of difficult issues in the play produced an incredibly complex play that considers a number of important moral and social questions. Works Cited Allen, Ned B. â€Å"The Two Parts of Othello†, ShS, 2, 1968, in Honigmann, E. A. J. Othello. Cengage Learning EMEA, 2001. Bradley, A. C. Shakespearean Tragedy. London: Macmillan, 1962. Dusinberre, J. Shakespeare and the Nature of Women. London and Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1976. Orkin, M. Othello and the Plain Face of Racism, SQ, 38. 2, 1987. Othello Study Guide. Available from: http://www. shakespearefest. org/Othello%20Study%20Guide. htm Othello. Shakespearean Criticism. Available from: http://www. enotes. com/shakespearean-criticism/othello-vol-68 Salway, J. â€Å"Veritable Negroes and Circumcised Dogs: Racial Disturbances in Shakespeare†, in Lesley Aers and Nigel Wheale (eds. ), Shakespeare in the Changing Curriculum (London and New York: Routledge, 1991). Shakespeare, W. â€Å"Othello, the Moore of Venice†. Shakespeare Homepage. Available from: http://shakespeare. mit. edu/othello/full. html