Saturday, August 31, 2019

Application of Biotechnology 1

Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. The concept encompasses a wide range of procedures for modifying living organisms according to human purposes. For thousands of years, humans have used selective breeding to improve production of crops and livestock to use them for food. In selective breeding, organisms with desirable characteristics are mated to produce offspring with the same characteristics. For example, this technique was used with corn to produce the largest and sweetest crops. In the early twentieth century scientists gained a greater understanding of microbiology and explored ways of manufacturing specific products. Biotechnology has also led to the development of antibiotics. In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered the mold Penicillium. It is use to treat bacterial infections in humans. The first use of biotechnology was used in fermentation. Throughout the use of agriculture, farmers have inadvertently altered the genetics of their crops through introducing them to new environments and breeding them with other plants one of the first forms of biotechnology. Applications Biotechnology has applications in four major industrial areas, including health care (medical), crop production and agriculture, non food (industrial) uses of crops and other products (e. g. biodegradable plastics, vegetable oil, biofuels), and environmental uses. Biotechnology is also used to recycle, treat waste, clean up sites contaminated by industrial activities (bioremediation), and also to produce biological weapons. 1. Medicine a. Genetic testing: Genetic testing involves the direct examination of the DNA molecule itself. A scientist scans a patient's DNA sample for mutated sequences. The tests can detect mutations associated with rare genetic disorders like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, and Huntington's disease. Gene tests may not detect every mutation associated with a particular condition because many are as yet undiscovered Gene testing is used for: 1. Determining sex; 2. Forensic/identity testing; 3. Newborn screening; 4. Prenatal diagnostic screening. b. Human Genome Project: The Human Genome Project is an initiative of the U. S. Department of Energy. It has helped us to determine the exact chemical sequence that constitutes the DNA in every cell of a human body. It has the following advantages: 1. Doctors could drip droplets of our genes into a biochip to figure out if we have cancer that could kill or a disease that would respond to a particular drug. 2. Scientists could analyse selective genes from parents and could design babies before conception. c. Cloning: Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. It involves the removal of the nucleus from one cell and its placement in an unfertilized egg cell whose nucleus has either been deactivated or removed. There are two types of cloning: 1. Reproductive cloning. After a few divisions, the egg cell is placed into a uterus where it is allowed to develop into a fetus that is genetically identical to the donor of the original nucleus. 2. Therapeutic cloning. The egg is placed into a Petri dish where it develops into embryonic stem cells, which have shown potentials for treating several ailments. 2. Agriculture a. Crop yield: Using the techniques of modern biotechnology, one or two genes may be transferred to a highly developed crop variety to impart a new character that would increase its yield. However, while increases in crop yield are the most obvious applications of modern biotechnology in agriculture, it is also the most difficult one. Current genetic engineering techniques work best for effects that are controlled by a single gene. Many of the genetic characteristics associated with yield (e. g. , enhanced growth) are controlled by a large number of genes, each of which has a minimal effect on the overall yield. There is, therefore, much scientific work to be done in this area. b. Reduced vulnerability of crops to environmental stresses: Crops containing genes that will enable them to withstand biotic and abiotic stresses may be developed. For example, drought and excessively salty soil are two important limiting factors in crop productivity. Researchers have also created transgenic rice plants that are resistant to rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV). In Africa, this virus destroys majority of the rice crops and makes the surviving plants more susceptible to fungal infections. . Reduced dependence on fertilizers, pesticides and other agrochemicals: Most of the current commercial applications of modern biotechnology in agriculture are on reducing the dependence of farmers on agrochemicals. For example, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a soil bacterium that produces a protein with insecticidal qualities. Crops have also been genetically engineered to acquire tolerance to broad-spectrum herbicide. M ultiple applications of numerous herbicides were routinely used to control a wide range of weed species detrimental to agronomic crops. 3. Bioremediation and biodegradation Biotechnology is being used to engineer and adapt organisms especially microorganisms in an effort to find sustainable ways to clean up contaminated environments. The elimination of a wide range of pollutants and wastes from the environment is an absolute requirement to promote a sustainable development of our society with low environmental impact. Biological processes play a major role in the removal of contaminants and biotechnology is taking advantage of the astonishing catabolic versatility of microorganisms to degrade/convert such compounds. Marine environments are especially vulnerable since oil spills of coastal regions and the open sea are poorly containable and mitigation is difficult. In addition to pollution through human activities, millions of tons of petroleum enter the marine environment every year from natural seepages. Despite its toxicity, a considerable fraction of petroleum oil entering marine systems is eliminated by the hydrocarbon-degrading activities of microbial communities.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Ray Bradbury Comparative Paper Essay

Ray Bradbury, well-known American author, playwright, and poet, created his success on no more than his high school diploma. He did, however, learn many valuable lessons in life which he incorporates in his works. Ray Bradbury uses figurative language such as irony, personification, and imagery to artistically present his vision of life’s morals. Bradbury’s use of irony in his pieces establishes how mankind commonly contradicts himself. In â€Å"The Veldt†, George and Lydia hear screams that â€Å"sound familiar† but ignore them. The couple also finds their wallet and scarf and disregards how these items were chewed and covered in blood when they found them. George and Lydia receive their last clue when they enter the nursery and see the lions in the background feasting on an unknown prey. â€Å"They’ve just been eating†¦ [but they] don’t know what. † Ray Bradbury turns these foreshadowing events into irony when the parents are killed by the lions. It is ironic that they have seen the lions devouring something, saw the wallet and scarf, and heard the screams but do not realize that they were the lion’s meal and it was their screams that they heard and the scarf and wallet were chewed by the lions and covered in their own blood. Bradbury also uses irony in the â€Å"Happiness Machine. † Leo Auffmann created a machine which he claimed brought happiness to the occupant. He convinced his wife to â€Å"try it on† but when she got out she shouted, â€Å"It lies, that Sadness Machine. † This is ironic because what Leo thought was a Happiness Machine is really a Sadness Machine. Leo then finds that true happiness cannot be created by a machine but is found in the heart of his family. In â€Å"There Will Come Soft Rains†, the house reads a poem to the emptiness where a family once was. The poem explains how nature â€Å"would not mind†¦if mankind perished utterly. † It is ironic because the poem is warning the family how the war will destroy them but nature will continue on when that is exactly what has happened. The family has been killed and the house soon after dies but the sun continues to rise and set as if nothing has happened. Personification is another common literary device in Bradbury’s work. It is most prominent in â€Å"There Will Come Soft Rains. † Bradbury describes the house with human like qualities in how it defends itself against the fire which is also personified. The house â€Å"quivered at each sound† and is described as the attic being the brain and the exposed oak beams as â€Å"its bare skeleton† and all of â€Å"its nerves revealed. † The fire was personified when it â€Å"fed upon Picassos and Matisses†¦ [and] lay in beds, stood in windows. † Bradbury also described the fire as being â€Å"clever† as it attacked â€Å"the attic brain† and â€Å"rushed back into every closet and felt of the clothes hung there. † Bradbury also uses personification in â€Å"The Foghorn. † He gives the foghorn human-like characteristics when relating it to the monster. The foghorn made a â€Å"great deep cry† that vibrated in the â€Å"throat of the tower† as the â€Å"light, switching its tail,† shone bright in the distance. Bradbury continues to use personification in â€Å"The Veldt. † The nursery that Wendy and Peter spend most of their time in is described with human-like qualities. The walls changed from blankness to the veldt with a â€Å"purr† and â€Å"reproduced to the final pebble and bit of straw. † It is further personified when the room itself kills the parents. Bradbury also frequently uses imagery in his work. In â€Å"The Pedestrian†, he described the highways as â€Å"only dry riverbeds† empty of vehicles. Bradbury also points out the â€Å"tomblike buildings† and â€Å"gray phantoms† along the sides of the road. These vivid descriptions allow the reader to feel the loneliness and absence of life in the city and its streets. The imagery in â€Å"The Pedestrian† sets the mood and describes the setting. â€Å"The Foghorn† portrays another source of imagery. Bradbury makes the reader visualize the â€Å"long grey lawn of the sea stretching away into nothing and nowhere† with his descriptive vocabulary. He describes how the â€Å"stone tower† emitted a light that flashed red and white out to the â€Å"lonely ships† â€Å"in the cold water far from land. † This makes the reader understand how secluded McDunn and Johnny were out at the lighthouse and intensifies the oddness of the appearance of the sea monster. Imagery is also present when McDunn explains to Johnny how the monster â€Å"hid away in the Deeps. † The way he describes the â€Å"Deeps† makes it all seem magical yet realistic. Bradbury continues to use imagery in â€Å"The Happiness Machine. † Towards the end of the short story, Leo discovers a real happiness machine. When he describes this â€Å"machine,† he makes the reader visualize a pleasant and warm home filled with joy. This example of imagery contrasts how Bradbury typically uses his words to display desolation and despair. Ray Bradbury expresses similar patterns in his work by using irony, personification, and imagery. He writes with these three types of figurative language in different ways in all of his pieces of work. Bradbury takes common techniques of writing and makes them his own by using them in a certain way to present his ideas in a unique style.

How Music Defines You Essay

â€Å"I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music. † This famous quote said by Billy Joel does a good job describing the way music can affect people. Different songs can impact people, change their moods, or bring back memories related to a certain tune. Each person, however, has their own unique taste in music; one song can be loved by one but hated by another, it all depends on our personal taste and what we can relate to. This made me wonder, what does the music I listen to say about myself? Do the lyrics define who I am as a person, or do I simply like songs because of the beat? As I looked at my top ten playlist, I saw that some of my favorite songs do describe me to a certain point. The first song I examined in my playlist was â€Å"Kids† by MGMT. I have always loved the beat of the song, but the lyrics of it never made sense to me. The words are like a collage of random thoughts strung together with what seems like no relation. However, as I looked deeper into the lyrics, I started to realize the meaning of the words. This song is filled with many emotions of a typical college student. Feelings of happiness, sadness, naivety, and nostalgia are present throughout the entire song. Upon further digging, I discovered that this was the first song the artists, Goldwasser and VanWyngaeden, wrote on arriving at college. They were nineteen, in a fantasy college world, and had a happy-go-lucky attitude. At the same time, however, they were longing for childhood; they had a fear of growing up and losing innocence. â€Å"Kids† is a great example of the way many college students feel. For me, I do not fear growing up, but I often find myself missing the past. Childhood was bliss and easy. As I grow up, I long for the days when I was younger, when work, homework, school, and the stress of everyday life did not matter. When you are young, you have no responsibilities to deal with, and although I live a happy balanced life, I often find myself wishing I was a kid again. The second song I analyzed was â€Å"Paradise† by Coldplay. Similarly to â€Å"Kids†, the song â€Å"Paradise† starts with the idea of childhood. â€Å"When she was just a girl she expected the world. But it flew away from her reach so she ran away in her sleep and dreamed of paradise† is the opening verse for this tune. It talks of a young girl with big dreams expecting the world. As the girl in the song grows up she finds that life is not as simple as she believed. â€Å"Life goes on, it gets so heavy. The wheel breaks the butterfly. Every tear a waterfall. In the night the stormy night she’ll close her eyes. † Those lyrics are a good example of how life has some downs, tears, and storms, but it talks of how the girl stays positive when the song says, â€Å"She’d say, ‘I know the sun must set to rise. ’† I think this song is a good reflection of me. I have big dreams for myself, but as life goes on I go through some bumps in the road. I have encountered many of my own stormy nights, but I know the sun will rise to a clearer and brighter day in time. I have learned not to expect things to be handed to me, but to chase after my dreams, and my own perfect paradise to a path of success. My final and favorite song I looked at was the song â€Å"Pursuit of Happiness† by Kid Cudi. Kid Cudi is my favorite artist, so it makes sense that my favorite song is one of his most popular. However, when I tell people my favorite artist is Kid Cudi, they give me weird looks because most of his songs do not describe me. The song â€Å"Pursuit of Happiness† is actually fairly dark and depressing. It talks of a person being empty and doing things such as drugs, smoking, and getting drunk. The character in the song finds these things as his only escape from reality. I personally think the song is brilliant. When I uncover the deeper meanings of the song, Kid Cudi is someone who I can relate to. The person in his song has been through some real tough times. I see his journey of trying to escape the pain of the real world by getting involved in all these things that give temporary bliss, but at the end of the song it is obvious that partying, drugs, and alcohol will not give you true happiness. My three favorite songs â€Å"Kids†, â€Å"Paradise†, and â€Å"Pursuit of Happiness† ended up describing some aspects of my life. I found that I could relate to all three songs which could be the reason why they are important to me. However, I am unconvinced that every song I like defines the type of person I am. I love music and it was hard for me to narrow down my top three songs. If I were to go on and look at every song I love, I am positive more than half would not be a reflection of who I am. My ultimate songs may describe some aspects of me, but I am confident that they do not define who I am.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Diet and Digestion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Diet and Digestion - Essay Example These include monosaccharaides, disaccharides and polysaccharides (BRYNIE 2002, pg14). Proteins mainly aid in replenishing worn out tissues and are composed of strings of amino acids. On the other hand, fats, responsible for tendon maintenance can be grouped into saturated or unsaturated fatty acids. Essential fatty acids such as the omega 3 and omega 6 constitute building blocks of the body (JACOB 2013, pg22). The 13 different types of vitamins and minerals such as calcium and potassium constitute the micro nutrients necessary for body function. They can be obtained from the main diet or other sources. Breakfast: cereal, fresh fruit juice, ripe banana. Lunch: boiled pasta, steamed broccoli, fried fish fillet, nuts such as wall nuts or ground nuts and water (a few minutes after meal). Diner deep fried chicken, vegetable and fruit salad, fried fresh spinach and water (a few minutes after meal). Breakfast: oatmeal, banana, fresh fruit juice. Brunch: egg sandwich, 3 medium mango slices, hot beverage. Lunch Swanson chicken dumplings, mango slice or pineapple slice, fried rice and peas stew. Diner: spaghetti, meat balls and steamed broccoli. It is recommended that on daily basis, the meals of elderly patients should include five to twelve portions of grains, five to ten portions of vegetables and fruits, three portions lactose products and three servings of alternatives of meat or meat itself In simplest terms, the process of digestion is the only way in which nutrients and foods can be broken down and absorbed as useful energy or beneficiary compounds in the human body. For this purpose, digestion plays a more pivotal role in overall human health and development than most individuals would otherwise indicate. Without this vital and pivotal process, essential nutrients and energy could not be broken down and ultimately passed along into the bloodstream

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

'An awareness of the impact of (national) culture on people in work Essay - 1

'An awareness of the impact of (national) culture on people in work organisations' is important in today's world - Essay Example Despite this, there are theories that argue that cultural diversity has a tendency of contributing to lack of performance in the working environment (D’Almeida, 2007). According to Quappe and Cantatore (2007), Cultural awareness is defined as the foundation of communication and the ability of people to become aware of their cultural values, perceptions and beliefs. This answers the questions that people often have in the mind regarding why things are done in a certain way, how people perceive the world, and why they react the way they do. Cultural awareness becomes an important object when one has to interact with people from other cultures who see things differently, have different opinions, and ways of evaluating things. What is often more appropriate in ones culture could be different and inappropriate in the other’s culture, and this provides an opportunity for conflicts in the work place. With this view, it is therefore important to create awareness and have knowle dge on the impact of cultural diversity amongst work mates. Many researchers have been dwelling around the issue of cultural diversity in organizations and other work places and in the process, many theories have been put in place, the purpose of these researches is to ascertain the importance of having awareness of the impact of multiculturalism in organizations. D’Almeida (2007) found out that the integration of cultural diverse groups has been involved in many parts of team dynamics in organizations with different types of customers, this has increased misunderstandings, resulting in negative effects on the side of production, job togetherness, and the quality of service has been greatly affected. In order to address the issue of negative effects of cultural diversity in organizations, there are varieties of measures that organizations should undertake. One of them is leadership approaches and trainings, which should be good enough to address the issues faced with regard t o cultural diversity. Many issues have to be overcome so that individuals can reach the objective of increasing motivation and targeted productivity levels. Amongst the awareness created is knowledge on individuals’ identities, perceptions on various things, variations in geographical setup, together with the internal and external environments. Beck and Rubaii- Berret, who are cited in D’ Almeida (2007) point out that individuals in the work place must understand and observe morals towards other people in workplace; doing this brings about motivation and effectiveness to the workers and they can therefore reach the targeted production level in the organization. Cultural awareness is very crucial for multicultural groups to maximize their business potential. It helps members of a multicultural group to identify wrong doings and best ways of solving conflicts. This can be effected through training, and by also identifying the most crucial regions that need attention and formal cross cultural awareness. There are various ways in which cultural differences can manifest from within a group of closely related people, and in this case, the workmates. According to, Kwintessential (n.d) creating real cross cultural harmony is accomplished through appropriately designed cultural awareness training. Ways of Creating Cultural Awareness 1. Treating colleagues as individuals To effectively deal with the issue of diverse cultures, people have

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Critical Debates in Planning Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Critical Debates in Planning - Article Example 361). This a precise resolution to the ideology of devolution, and by so doing, the Scottish government shall be working to perfect their administrative goals in the field of devolution. Clifford and Morphet 2014: Devolution is different from the federation since devolved leadership of the sub-national authorities may be ultimate or temporarily reside in the central federation of a state. Therefore, a certain state may remain â€Å"de jure unitary† due to devolution. It is true that the past predictions on UK devolution, which leads to widespread policy in planning remains not materialized. The fact that there are similar themes handled in planning reforms of all UK and Ireland territories suggests that devolution has resulted in the creation of new space for policy mobility and experimentation. This is because political parties formed in each devolved nation has highly changed since their establishment, and new powers granted to them after implementation of devolution Acts (Clifford and Morphet 2014, p. 1). Arguably, the dynamic changes are contributing factors to the modern day democracies. There are related themes in planning reforms of all territories of Scotland and UK, and the form in which the particular concepts about a new approach can be found in a particular territory and appearance in another territory afterwards. The adaption towards consumption of renewable energy, for example solar and wind started in UK and was later on adapted by Scotland. This suggests that devolution in these nations has come up with a new space of policy mobility and experimentation (Tomaney and Colomb 2013, p. 8). The transfer has a higher probability to occur when there are proximate lessons (transferred from ideologically, geographically, or culturally proximate jurisdiction). This can definitely be witnessed with the devolved UK

Monday, August 26, 2019

Louis V Gerstner Jr Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Louis V Gerstner Jr - Research Paper Example In line with that, he also co-chaired Achieve, an organization that focus on improving the academic standards for public school in the U.S. In fact, he really supported quality education even when he was the CEO of IBM. He established Reinventing Education, an educational partnership with a number of states and school districts, enabling them to benefit from IBM technology, and technical assistance. His actions and advocacy did not go unnoticed; in fact, he was awarded honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in 2001. Social responsibility was already a concern for Gerstner even during his IBM days. In a speech addressed to Comdex, he already made mention of how technology and social responsibility go hand in hand, to wit: I think we will make our visions reality. I think that as stewards of our industry, we will step up to the challenges of social responsibility. We will improve the world, and the way we work, the way we communicate, live and learn as people.  (Transcript of Louis Gestner speech at Comdex) During that time that Louis Gerstner ruled IBM, social responsibility then was a concept that was uncommonly practiced by organizations. He contributed to social responsibility by erasing the barriers between class and gender within the organization which is a higher form of social responsibility. Unlike other organizations, that donated for a cause or planted a tree, Gerstner walked his talked. Gerstner established a diversity taskforce that addressed to diversity issues .Cohen (2010) perfectly describes from Drucker’s viewpoint how Gerstner practiced the It worked and understanding and its using its diversity became a major competitive advantage for IBM. As a result of Gerstner’s initiative the number of female executives in the company grew 370 percent and the number of ethnic minority executives increased by 233 percent. All of this had a

Sunday, August 25, 2019

EnERGY WEDGES Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

EnERGY WEDGES - Lab Report Example Increasing forest cover and vegetable is likely to reduce carbon in the atmosphere since the trees utilize the carbon for the process of photosynthesis. Water body mass such as the rivers and lakes also absorb carbon from the atmosphere hence reducing carbon in the atmosphere. Soil and other land covers also utilize carbon (Nesta, 2009). Planting cover crops and reducing soil erosion is estimated to reduce carbon emission in the next 50 years. Our second wedge deals with nuclear energy production. Nuclear energy produces no carbon. It is the most efficient and the most beneficial form of energy production. However, it is always faced with political interference since nuclear energy can easily be used as weapon of mass destruction hence indicated by red color. (UNEP, 2007). Although it will take time to transform from carbon energy immediately to other forms of energy, it is important that the public be educated on efficiently utilizing the current carbon energy. This cuts across mainly in transport and construction sectors. The two sectors are the major consumers of energy mainly in form of electricity and fuel. Our last energy wedge deals with shifting from carbon energy to bio-fuels. Bio-fuel is a product of plants. This is our last option designated by color blue. Use of bio-fuel reduces significantly the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. However, this strategy is still faced with major challenges sine it creates competition with food production (Wardlaw, 2009). The big question is whether the current land used in food production will be substituted for bio-fuel produce. The above energy wedge is likely to win the desires of many oil producing companies such as BP and other companies such as Ford that are actively involved in the motor vehicle industry. The wedge also complies with human rights activists such as the Kyoto Protocol and Copen Hagan reports that aims at sustainable development. The energy

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Current Macroeconomic Situation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Current Macroeconomic Situation - Essay Example The argument that one takes only meat and no pasta or read is for one to be likely to lose weight (Pollan, 2007). I think the argument is that the pasta and bread only add up to carbohydrates. The Atkins diet suggest eating meat only and no bread, I think there are many other risks associated with a lot of protein. Dr Robert C. Atkins may have invented the Atkins diet, but I must question how it happens; that people still prefer taking sliming pills or other fad diets. Though this may be the best diet, it does not make sense because; people need energy as source of energy boosters (Pollan, 2007). Fat and sugar and sources of energy, but the Atkins diet fails to recommend them. Perhaps the argument fails to consider the fact that carbohydrates are not the main cause of weight gain (Pollan, M. Chevat, 2009). There are many types of foods that people think contribute to the overweight, this feeling is true but it is just how much and how often one takes them. For example, fast foods con tribute significantly to overweight especially if one consumes them more often and on a daily basis. On the other hand, irregular consumption of fast foods do not have much effect on the body as fast as weight gain is concerned, it is important to consider consuming recommended quantity of such foods (Pollan, 2007). Based on the above argument, it is healthy to argue that the omnivores argument is wrong as not all foods contraindicated by the omnivores are bad. In fact, all those foods have well for health and they contribute to a healthy you. It is also imperative to note that the countries that the omnivores are believed to have a positive diet have overweight people, and if the omnivores thinks slimmer is healthy, I am a little confused because that is not what healthy means (Pollan, M. Chevat, 2009). Having read Rousseau’s, a lot seems to be misplaced because the information does not add u at all. For example, most of the works are borrowed from other texts and this does make Rousseau an expert. Additionally, his argument is not sounding like those of an expert. Rousseau, introduces the consumption of mushroom and does not come clean where mushroom fits in (Pollan, 2007). Firstly, mushroom is a vegetable that is relatively harmless but harmful if the wrong specie is taken. The fact that most of the text in these books does not make them authors because nothing in these books are original content but other people works. This only makes their work vague. There is also the feeling that their work is mainly commercial because there is a lot of reference to the availability of the foods in supermarkets (Atkins, 2002). This may be marketing gimmick. There are many mistakes in ignorance, for example, people tend to each whatever they come across without knowing the consequences of their diets and this may not be easy to change considering that, they are ignorant. People will easily eat what they want as long as they can afford these foods. It is just ingra ined in the mind of people to eat what they desire and this may not be easy to change (Pollan, 2007). As the supermarket is commercial entities, they are much into business and are focused on profitability. Most supermarket are only sell the products brought by their suppliers are may not be interested in knowing how their foods contribute to the health of their customers Westman, C et al. (2010). Therefore, it is the duty of the customers to

Friday, August 23, 2019

Pl see in details section Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Pl see in details section - Essay Example Mental health is â€Å"a state of well being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community† (World Health Organization 2004, citing its earlier work in 2001). Despite the importance of mental health and a claim by Chantrill (2013) that the UK health budget has increased, Healthcare Today (2012) reported that UK government spending for mental health dropped by 1% in 2011-2012. According to Healthcare Today (2012, 2nd paragraph), â€Å"expenditure on mental health for the elderly was particularly affected, decreasing by 3.1% to ?2.83 billion.† II. External Policy Environment and Mental Health in the UK Given an external policy environment of austerity and yet providing the mental health services at high quality, several policy thrusts have been articulated. One of the policy thrust is indicated in the document, Working ou r way to better mental health: A framework for action, produced in 2007. The document recognizes that â€Å"poor mental health is very common† in the United Kingdom (Burnham & Cooper 2007, p. 7). In the estimate of the Secretaries of the Department for Work Pensions and the Department of Health, â€Å"at any one time, one in three of our working-age population may be experiencing some kind of distress or mental health condition such as depression† (Burnham & Cooper 2007, p. 8). This is significantly large and is basically saying that mental health problems are highly prevalent in the working age population. Worst, the document pointed out that â€Å"mental ill-health is now the most common reason for claiming health-related benefits and 86 percent remain on the benefits for more than three months† (Burnham & Cooper 2007, p. 8). Burnham & Cooper (2007) that evidence show that the longer people are out of work because of mental ill-health, the less likely they hav e a chance of returning back to work. This indicates that policy must be designed to allow people with ill mental health to return to work as soon as possible, provided that support mechanisms are in created such that therapy continues while a person is at work. Related to this, the National Mental Health Development Unit (2009a) emphasized that work is good for people with mental problems. It also pointed out that â€Å"people with mental health conditions can and do work, with many thousands of people with mental health conditions working in a broad range of roles† (National Mental Health Development Unit 2009a, p. 4). Thus, the key message of the National Mental Health Development Unit (2009a) material is that â€Å"work is good for mental health and is central to recovery for people with mental health conditions† (p. 4). Meanwhile, McDaid (2008) pointed out that although death rate from suicide in the United Kingdom went down by at least 20% in 2010, the problem is still bad because â€Å"1 in 10 children and young people aged 5-16 had a clinically recognizable mental disorder† (p. 1). Further, 14% of the population of the United Kingdom â€Å"have or had chronic anxiety or depression, and 12% say that they are undergoing medical treatment for this reason.†

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Microbiology Assessment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Microbiology Assessment - Assignment Example Similarly, S. aureus is also involved in many foodborne illnesses. It is highly salt tolerant and may survive in cheeses and foods with high salt content. Salmonella is notorious for its pathogenic properties in relation to food. It can survive strongly in desiccated conditions and is present in a number of foods like eggs, meat, milk and vegetables. Therefore, it is important to study the internal and external conditions of food so that the food infections may be controlled and quality of food be maintained. The growth and metabolic behavior of food-borne pathogens is highly dependent upon intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Therefore, it is mandatory to examine the environmental conditions for the control and elimination of pathogen-associated risks in food. The microbiological safety and food quality is largely dependent upon the detailed analysis of such factors. In view of Ross and Mckeen (1994, p. 241-264), the response of microorganisms to external and internal environmental factors forms the basis of predictive microbiology. In this study, three food-borne pathogens such as E. coli O157:H7, S. aureus and Salmonella are examined in relation to their survival in respective environmental conditions so that food safety and microbiological quality of food maybe ensured. Acid incorporation into foods as a mechanism of lowering the pH is an essential food preservation method. Low pH prevents the growth of spoilage organisms. Moreover, reduction in water activity is employed as a food preservation method. Therefore, we can say that low aW and decreased pH, are important elements involved in stability of foods having longer shelf life. However, the safety of current food techniques has been challenged by the release of E. coli O157:H7 infections from foods that were thought to be too acid rich that no enteric pathogen could have been survived. This has also changed the general perception that the conditions under which

Importance Of Values Essay Example for Free

Importance Of Values Essay Importance of Values 1. Values are guides for our behaviour. 2. It is signi? cant to our life and the society in general. 3. It gives direc? on to our lives. Its value are clear and consistent. 4. Values tell us the importance of people. What things are desirable and sa? sfying. 5. Values are principle by which individuals are guided on their proper behaviour in a society. 6. Values have something to do with the total forma? on of a person. 7. Value mean whatever is actually prized, esteemed, desired, approved, or enjoyed by anyone at a ? me. 8. Values allow the members of an organiza? on to interact harmoniously. Values a(ect their forma? on and development as individuals, and make it easier to reach goals that would be impossible to achieve individually. 9. Values is being itself or the richness of being in as much as it has power to a+ract the cogni? ve and appe ve poten? als of men. 10. Values refer to the major priori? es that one chooses to act on. 11. Values are seen as growing from a person’s experiences. It is, therefore, expected that di(erent experiences would give rise to di(erent values. Process of Valuing Louis Raths, et al. de? ned value or the process of valuing as having seven aspects and made it clear that unless all the seven are present, then what person has chosen is not a value. Values possess criteria which can be divided into three categories: CHOOSING, PRIZING, and ACTING. Hence: C – Choosing 1. To choose freely 2. To choose from alterna? ves 3. To choose alterna? ves a=er considering the consequences of such alterna? ves. P – Prizing 4. To cherish and be happy with the choice 5. To be willing to a? rm the choice publicly A – Ac? ng 6. To actually do something about the choice 7. To act repeatedly to a? rm the choice publicly. In the area of choice, the value must be chosen freely and he person is totally accountable for the choice he made. The choice must consider the consequences of the alterna? ve evident. Essen? al to the valuing process is that the choice must be acted upon and should become part of the life of the person. Finally, the person must be happy with the choice, a choice that enhances the emo? onal and spiritual development of that individual. Values, therefore, are major priori? es that a person choses to act on, that crea? vely enhances his life and the lives of those with whom he associates. Our live are mo? vated and guided by values. In the words of hall, all of life is worth living when we have sincerely commited ourselves top the realiza? on of our goals. Fr. Jaime Bulatao, a Filipino psychologist in his ar? cle â€Å" The Manilenos Mainspring,† gave four large areas of values from the total ? eld of values: 1. Emo? onal closeness and security in a family. In any society, the home always provides love, understanding, acceptance, a place where, no ma+er how far or how wrongly one has wandered he can always return. The Filipinos are noted for manifes? ng close ? es in the family. As many Filipinos would say, â€Å"There is no place like home. † 2. The authority value. This may be de? ned as â€Å"approval by the authority ? gure and by society. † A part of the Filipino tradi? on is that children may marry only with the consent of parents; even when they elope, the parents are s? ll expected to work for reconcilia? on. Authority ? gures must be respected and obeyed within the limits. Authority ? gures are feared and served with awe, but some? mes are not really loved. One looks at authority ? gures for help in obtaining a job and other bene? ts. 3. Economic and social be? erment. This value o=en refers to a desire to raise the standard of living of one’s family, or of one’s hometown. O=en it is repayment of one’s debt of gra? tude to parents and rela? ves. 4. Pa? ence, su? ering, and endurance. This value has been fused with the religious value since it seems that God is called upon when other means fail. It is associated with women more than with men.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Components of Effective Teamwork

Components of Effective Teamwork There are many components of effective teamwork such as communication, cohesiveness, commitment and collaboration among members to confronting problems directly, coordinating efforts, managing conflict and making decision via consensus, which requires some time compromisation (Heineman,1994). According to Zander,1994,team goal are desirable state of affair members intend to bring about through combined effort. A clear understanding of groups objective through well-articulated goals is the most common characteristic of successful team (Larson and LaFasto, 1996).The team member had never been together before the assignment given. The team established a common purpose that is decided to complete the given task with the allocated time. The team member was randomly selected and joined together, the members undergo the 5 stages Tuckman theory, accomplishing group assignment.In every team, there are team composition needed for a team to work well. According to Guzzo Dickson (1996), composi tion refer to the nature and attributes of team members.Whereas there are large and small groups or team within organization, the important point the composition of the groups or teams. According to Hackman, 1987 the effective team need members who have relevant expertise, interpersonal skills and moderate differences in their background. In a way, there is no point of including many people into a team or group if they do not have complementary relevant skills to contribute to teams goals. Other than that, in many group or team, what generally happen is that individual get appointed onto team where they feel they are wasting their time in the meeting rather than being a contributing member. Thus, it is imperative that a team has combination of the right mix of workforce, expertise right people skills. In discussion of the group assignment, there are different value embed in three main ethics in this group(Malays, Chinese and Indians) including non-assertive, good manners, cooperati on and harmony; trust and relationship building. These values will to some extent influence group norms and cohesiveness (Abdullah and Low, 2001). Apart from that, it is imperative that members understand their roles in their teams or groups. Roles are expected behavior pattern attributed to someone occupying a given position in a social unit (Robbin Judge, 2007).There are many roles that member that members can play within their team or group. According to Margerison and McCann (1990), there are nine roles commonly played by group. Robbin and Judge nine roles include Linker, Creator, Promoter, Assessor, Organizer, Producer, Controller, Maintainer and the Advisor. Each team role has particular strengths wan weakness which is essential for team member to identify themselves and more importantly they need to match the roles with their skills and preference for compensating each other weakness with their strength. Moreover, cohesiveness will bring about positive effect to satisfaction and communication. In teamwork context, it is important that all team members build cohesiveness through understanding and respects of each others roles and contribution trying to accomplish the group task and goals. People who are part of cohesiveness groups are more satisfied than are member of non-cohesive group(Hackman1992).Group cohesion also helps to reduce stress because members are supportive to each other .Effective team work have norms that support high quality performance and a level of group cohesiveness that provide social support to its members. Effective leaders are those who personal qualities enable them to articulate a vision for a given group. It is therefore important that the leader, by his [or her] behavior manifest a loyalty to the needs and aspiration of group members. These things must matter to him [or her] in ways that to view because such evidence of good faith sincere accessible serve to elicit greater acceptance of influence. ( Hollander,1964,pg231;). In addition, Hollander found that, In order the group to function as effectively as possible, the leader needs to be attuned to the need of followers, the perception and expectancies,(1995,pg75).In other words, when followers trust a leader, theyre willing to be subjected to the leader actions, for they are convinced that their rights and interest will not be neglected. Besides effective leadership, an affective membership is also important to achieve successful teamwork. Team membership performs its task then is better able to perform the next task assigned to it. The main reason in forming a team is to complete given task. Not only that, it is also helping maintain good social relations, promotes its members personal and professional development. Therefore, it is essential for member require the right type of people, good internal group process and understand team dynamic to work towards a common goal. This is the social relations, group maintenance, or viability aspect of teamwork (Sundstorm, 1990).For creating effective membership, there is necessary diversity of knowledge and skills. Management teams with members of different backgrounds are more innovative that homogenous team. (Guzzo and Dickson, 1996)

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

An Analysis Of The Human Need Theory Politics Essay

An Analysis Of The Human Need Theory Politics Essay This statement has been adapted from Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology Reducing Direct and Structural Violence: the Human Needs Theory by Daniel J Christie. Prof. Daniel J Christie is a Professor of Psychology at the Ohio State University. He is the former head and President of the Division of Peace Psychology of the American Psychology Association. He has served as President of Psychologists for social responsibility, and undertakes work on both local and international programs that enhance the educational and economic opportunities of minorities and Indigenous ethnic groups. The above mentioned statement has a profound and deep meaning and stresses on the importance of Human needs for the management of Peace in the society. I would like to agree with the authors statement and in my opinion, in order for peace to prevail in the community, society and the world; the basic human needs like security, identity, well-being and self-determination have to be satisfied. Human needs act as very deterrent force in the description of Human behaviour and in their communication with other beings in the society. Every human being irrespective of origin, race, colour, caste has individual needs that are of great significance to him/her and which he tries to fulfil and satisfy throughout his life through his actions and deeds. In this essay I am mainly going to deal with these needs which act as a driving force in every human beings life and how these needs affect conflict and its resolution management. I will also be looking at the importance of the Human Needs theory and criticism towards it, the role human needs play in Conflict formation, the birth of a conflict, its prevention and analysis. In my opinion, the infringement or denial of Human needs and wants leads to torment, agony and social deprivation which eventually leads to conflict. Significance of Human Needs Theory The Human needs theory is significant and important as it shows us how conflicts can be managed and resolved through the satisfaction of basic human needs. Human Needs can be defined as State of felt deprivation and necessity which have to satisfied. (Burton, 1990) Burton in his book Conflict: Resolution Provention states that the nature of human needs remain constant and find their air under the changing environment. An example for this is the Human need for safety, which remains constant and is only visible when there is a perceived threat towards it. Needs form an integral part of a human being and actions are directed towards the satisfaction of these needs. According to Daniel J Christie, Human Needs policy is critical of the policy of deterrence, which relies on the assumption that a would-be aggressor will refrain from committing violence against an opponent because of threat of retaliation (Christie, 1997). Human Needs theory is an alternate to the theory of power politics. Human needs theory lays stress on the satisfaction of needs essential for human beings, required for his survival, which when compromised act as a major source of conflict. An example in this regard is the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, which has been going on f or so long now. This conflict is centred towards the unsatisfied security and identity needs of the countries. The Palestinians are of the opinion that their identity, their land is being denied to them whereas the Israelis lack the sense of security because of the numerous killings and suicide attacks as their land is also unrecognised by its harbouring countries. Therefore, the only viable solution to this conflict is when the identity needs of the Palestinians and the security needs of the Israelis are addressed to and worked at. One of the main advantages about the Human Needs theory is its wide applicability and coverage. The Human Needs theory can be used in all the strata of community, for intergroup and intra-group disputes, and even conflicts which are international in nature. The Needs theory stresses on the source or the origin of the dispute and looks towards resolution by satisfying the needs of the parties involved. Another reason why the Human needs theory is treated as an asset is because it works towards uniting human beings, makes us understand how the other party feels when their needs are deprived and provides us with a platform to aid in Conflict Resolution and Management. Criticism towards the Human Needs Theory Even though the utility of the Human needs theory has been widely discussed, I would just like to bring to the readers attention that there are some fallacies and criticism regarding these theories. The most apparent and major criticism comes in the way Needs are identified. Is there any concrete or stable way of mapping or identifying Human needs? In a conflict situation it would be difficult to judge which needs of the parties have been unmet and not satisfied. Another major criticism this theory faces is regarding the prioritising of the interests. The question raised here is how some needs can be prioritised over others? For ex: How can we prioritise need for well being over the need for security? These are all important questions, to which the researchers have not been able to provide answers. Another censure to this theory is the fact that it is not practical that parties in conflict would sit down together and try to identify self and the others needs. These facts all suggest more research and work into the Human needs theory but there have been many real life cases, where the application of this theory, have bought successful results, and this makes the theory favourable to mediators and negotiators across the world. The Human Needs theory revolves around the satisfaction of Human Needs and so now, let us studies in detail what exactly a need is and how its deprivation can lead to conflict. Need- Fundamental Element of the Human Needs Theory Needs are defined as an integral part of the Human Being. Burton, J. (1990). Human Needs Theory. In J. Burton (Ed.), Conflict: Resolution and Provention It is defined as a state of felt deprivation which needs to be satisfied. It is something which is needed by Human beings to lead a healthy and secure life. Needs are different from wants as these are required by the human beings to lead their normal life. Needs are non-negotiable and irreplaceable whereas wants are desires which arise out of needs. For example: Need for food- Anything to satisfy hunger Want Tandoori Chicken for food. To make the concept of needs clear, let us have a look at Abraham Maslows Hierarchy of needs. The hierarchy of needs, as suggested by Maslow is a linear progression of needs which have to be satisfied by the Human being. Maslows Hierarchy of Needs (www.omafra.gov.on.ca) The above illustrated diagram is the pictorial representation of Abraham Maslows Hierarchy of needs. Maslows hierarchy of needs is illustrated using a pyramid. The lowest or the bottom most level of the pyramid consist of the basic survival essential needs such as need for water, food, shelter etc, whereas the more complex needs are placed at the top of the pyramid such as self actualization need for development, creativity. Maslow suggests that once the basic or the lower level needs of the pyramid are satisfied and met, the human being can move up to higher needs which are more complex in nature. Thus needs are non-negotiable and have o be met and satisfied. It is when these needs are not met, when conflict occurs and the Human Needs theory acts as a tool for mediators and negotiators to use the needs of the parties towards the resolution of conflict. Now, let us look back at the original statement made by the author. The author says that in order for peace to prevail or be created, at least the human needs of security, identity, well-being and self-determination have to be satisfied. Let us now look at these individual elements and study how they contribute towards the formation of a conflict, violence and eventually how peace can be attained through the attainment of these needs; Need for Security There has always existed an adverse relationship between the need for security conflict/violence. The need for security is a basic need for a human being which he experiences at all times and places irrespective of environment or situation. But, this need for security is not always apparently visible and it only comes into the open or the light when it is threatened or when fear is instilled. Thus, fear always acts as a prominent inhibitor of the security and safety needs of the Human being. As long as the human being does not feel safe or secure, there will be no peace prevailing over him, in his family and in the society. Thus, the feeling of security is of utmost importance and this need must be satisfied in order to maintain peace and harmony in the society. Now, let me illustrate with the help of an example the result of need for security not being met; Ex: The Serbian invasion into Bosnia (1996), Pakistan invading India (1971). Need for Identity The need for identity is very important and required in every human beings life. The need to distinguish oneself from others, be identified in a group, have a unique piece of resource or asset which no outsider has access to or can share with, all these are attributes resulting from the need for identity. The example I had mentioned before about the ongoing fiasco between the Palestinians and the Israelis is a result of unmet need for identity on the part of the Palestinian government and people. The Palestinians feel that by taking the land, the Israelis are trying to invade their identity and try to rob it off them. Ex: Israel- Palestinian Conflict. Need for Well-being The need for well-being refers to the needs which are to be met by the human being to ensure development and sustainable growth. These refer to the acquirement of materialistic and immaterialist resources which are required by the human being to attain self-growth and development. If these needs are not met, they can result in disturbances and eventually lead to a conflict. By well being the author refers to those people who live above the poverty line and are well to do. The need for well-being arises out of the basic needs and in order for the human being to lead a happy and healthy life; these needs have to be met. For Example: The Government of India issued a new relief package for the people in its population who were below the poverty line. The relief package ensures every family a house built of concrete and enough ration and resources to last them for every month. This plan was deployed by the former President of India, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam and was a huge success as the government was successful in alleviating the condition of the impoverished section of the population to some extent. Need for Self-Determination The need for self-development is similar to a self-actualization role portrayed in the Maslows Hierarchy of needs. The need for self-development stresses on the need for providing equal opportunities to all human beings to improve the standards of their living. This level of need helps the human being to establish or estimate his potential and shows him how he can reach or attain that potential. This need when unmet can result in a dispute which can be intra-personal, interpersonal, Intra-group or intergroup conflicts and disputes. For Example: The Racism/Apartheid regime is a good example. The minority, that is the blacks, were not awarded the same facilities awarded to the whites which eventually led to their oppression, slavery, and this went on for many years before they attained the need for self-development through inspirational leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela..Etc, who finally broke the apartheid regime. If the need for security, identity, well-being and self-determination are met, then conflict can be avoided and peace will prevail as the human being will not fell threatened or under pressure by any external force. Now that we have seen the how each individual element mentioned by the author contributes to the formation of conflict, Let us have a brief look at how conflicts are formed when these needs are not met or satisfied.. Formation of Conflicts/ Conflict Evolution Even though there are many steps in the formation of conflict, there are always some common factors which lead to the conflict or which are responsible for the conflict evolution. Mainly, conflicts are characterized by the emergence of aggressive positions and their eventual resolution and settlement through determining the underlying causes of the conflict and employing problem solving tactics (Jeong H.W, 2010). Unmet needs are one important source of conflict and they mostly lead to conflict evolution or conflict formation. Lack of feeling of security, identity, well-being and self-determination can result in misunderstandings between the parties and can eventually lead to conflict. The Human Needs theory provides parties with strategies to deal with conflicts and resolve them in a mutually peaceful manner without the use of violence or shed of blood. Prof. John Burton is renowned for his work with the theory of human needs. In Prof. Burtons view, the needs most salient to an understanding of the dynamics of destructive social conflicts are those for security, identity, recognition and personal development (John Burton: Deviance, Terrorism and war; the process of solving unsolved social and political problems, Oxford: Martin Robertson, 1979). Human Needs theory supports the integrative approach to conflict resolution and aims at a win-win solution for all the parties involved in the conflict. Conflicts are analysed by studying and identifying the needs of the parties involved in the conflict. The unmet or the unsatisfied needs which are contributing to the conflict are identified and using the integrative approach a negotiated settlement is sought after for all the parties in the dispute. This is one of the main advantages of the Human Needs Theory and this integrative approach is the undermining factor of this theories success towards conflict resolution and management, when compared to other conflict resolution theories. Dealing with a conflict using Human Needs Theory Now that we have seen how conflicts evolve when needs are unsatisfied or unmet, let us now approach the Human Needs Theory with a practical approach. I am going to demonstrate this with the help of an example. The example I have select is the ongoing tension and conflict between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue, which has been now going on for almost 6 decades. I will give a brief explanation about the conflict and then we will approach the conflict and map it using the Human Needs theory approach. India Pakistan- The Kashmir Issue refers to a territorial dispute over the state of Kashmir, a state in Northern India. The main parties involved in this issue are the nations of India, Pakistan and the people of the state of Kashmir. China is also a stakeholder in this issue but we will ignore it for the sake of simplicity of the exercise. India claims that the northern state of Kashmir is an integral part of India and approximately administers around 45% of the region which is constituted by most of the Kashmir valley, Jammu, Ladakh and the Siachen glacier. On the other hand, Pakistan claims that Kashmir should be a part of Pakistan and it holds around 37% of Kashmir including areas of Azad Kashmir, northern areas of Gilgit and Baltistan. The conflict is mainly between India and Pakistan with India claiming that Kashmir was, is and will always remain an integral part of India, whereas Pakistan refute this claim and maintain that Kashmir is a disputed territory whose fate must be decided by the people of Kashmir Many wars have been fought between the two nations, millions of lives have been lost to this conflict and a lot of blood has been she, with the conflict showing no signs of being resolved. This is the case and we will just try to map this case with the help of the Human needs theory. This is just a practical example and in no way should the result be assumed to be accurate. So, now let us try to approach this conflict using the Human Needs theory and let us examine the sources behind the conflict and look at ways possible for conflict resolution. In the Human Needs theory the essence is to identify the needs which have not been met and try to work on them. It is always better when dealing with such complex conflicts to deal with a single party at a time. The Indian Government doesnt want to let go of Kashmir as it feels that Kashmir has always been an integral part of India and should remain so. For the Indian government it is a need for identity which makes Kashmir so valuable for them, as Kashmir was once known as the gem of Northern India. There is also a need for security which the Indian Government is looking for because if Pakistan occupies the whole of Kashmir, the Pakistan militants can easily infiltrate into Indian land, which will be a cause for great concern. Whereas for Pakistan, they have always felt that they have got the raw end of the bargain after the partition in 1947, and it is their need for identity, well being and self-determination, which is driving them to occupy the whole of Kashmir. Thus Pakistan is looking to occupy the whole of Kashmir to make it a totally Muslim state under the control of its government, as the majority of the population in the state is of Muslims The major reason for the conflict is the lack of trust between the two parties because of the various wars that have been fought and the unhealthy tricks that have been employed by both the nations to gain the state of Kashmir. Now, that we have identified the major issues and the need deprivations relating to both the parties, let us put it in a table for better understanding and analysis. INDIA PAKISTAN Status/ Tactics to be employed Underlying Need Status/Tactics to be employed Underlying Need Integral part Identity, security, respect Want to own Kashmir fully Identity, Recognition, Autonomy Insurgency and Terrorism by Pakistan Security India not adhere to two-nation theory Recognition, Identity, consideration INDIA PAKISTAN Status/Tactics to be employed Underlying Need Status/Tactics to be employed Underlying Need Offer compromise Trust, peace, security Assist aid of United Nation Respect, trust, subsistence. Hold Peace talks Trust, Identity Reduce infiltration Security, Trust International Assistance Wellbeing, self-determination, respect Offer the whole of Kashmir in return for proposals Peace, trust, well being, security. Thus, we have managed to map to some extent using the Human Needs Theory the India-Pakistan conflict by identifying the needs which are relevant to the conflict and then formulating strategies to resolve these issues. The aim is to reach a win-win solution for both the parties in the conflict, as this is the essence of Human Needs theory. Solving the Conflict As said earlier, the key to Human needs theory is the identification of the needs that are unmet which would lead to the conflict. The Human Needs model states that in order for resolution both the parties must sit together and acknowledge each other and their views, opinions regarding the issue. This mode of acknowledging and stepping into the other partys shoe is called as Empathy. Empathy is essential in the process of conflict resolution and analysis. The major issue between the two nations is the lack of trust due to the number of wars and tactics that have been employed by the nations over the decades, and thus in order for the conflict to be resolved, trust building exercises are a must between the nations, and sitting together and empathising with each other is surely a start. Other examples of trust building exercises can include bringing troops back from tense areas and cooling the tense environment between the armed forces of the two nations. Human Needs Strategies aims at the integrative approach and tries to make the situation win-win for both the parties, thus any solution which encompasses the issues relating to both the nation shall be considered and eventually the conflict would cool down and be resolved. If all the needs of the parties are satisfied, then it is probable o find a win-win solution. Now we have seen the impact Human Needs theory makes on Conflict formation, analysis and finally resolution. Thus we can say that Human needs theory makes a profound impact and positive contribution to Conflict analysis. Conclusion The best thing about the Human Needs theory is that it would provide objective platform, transforming local political and cultural differences, making it relatively easier to understand the various sources of conflict and the whole process of conflict resolution. By focussing on the underlying issues and needs such as security, identity, well-being and self-determination, and their satisfaction, it becomes viable to attain the favourable win-win situation for all the parties involved in the conflict. Through this paper, I have tried to highlight in the importance of the Human needs theory and its contribution towards the process of conflict analysis, I have identified the various key fundamental elements of the human need theory and how their deprival can lead to conflict. We have also studied how conflicts are evolved and we have seen through the example of the India-Pakistan Conflict, how Human needs theory can be useful and significant in conflict analysis, management and resoluti on. Thus, to conclude I will agree once again with the authors statement that A just and sustainable peace will require, at a minimum, the equitable satisfaction of human needs for security, identity, well-being, and self-determination.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Forecasting Best Practices Essay -- essays research papers

Forecasting â€Å"Best Practices† â€Å"Effective demand planning and sales forecasting across the supply chain can bring a host of benefits. Specifically, it can help improve labor productivity, reduce head count, cut inventories, and speed up production flows, and increase revenues and profits.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  -Edward J. Marien To find the â€Å"best practices† for forecasting, our team researched many cases of forecasting success, and found five companies with a common theme. Rayovac, the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, AAi. FosterGrant, the Sara Lee Corporation, and the Scotts Company all had major problems with forecasting, some of them very similar. To address and solve these problems each of these companies made major improvements to their forecasting systems. Although some used similar methods and others very different, these companies found that the right people, process and information technology was the key to efficient and accurate forecasting. Rayovac  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rayovac discovered the proper use of forecasting when it implemented its consensus decision-making teams to improve their performance. They believe that the best information comes directly from the customer. Therefore, their forecasting takes place from the bottom-up. Sales, marketing, finance, and supply chain builds a consensus for forecasting, inventory management, scheduling, warehousing, and transportation. Their consensus forecasting is the responsibility of a cross-functional team.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For their annual planning process, a bottom-up and a top-down forecasting procedure is used. The top Key Results Measures (KRMs) are compared with the bottom-up forecast which is developed by the consensus teams. Meetings are held to align the two when there are discrepancies. Monthly meetings are held to update the bottom-up forecast and actions are taken to bring the forecast and annual plan into alignment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rayovac has discovered some key guidelines to be used for successful forecasting and planning: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Actually using the forecast to drive the business and not... ...orecasting cannot be understated. Many companies have found that after successful forecasting and proper use of people, process, and technology have led to increased performance of the company as a whole. This has been proven in our analysis of the current best practices of forecasting in the workplace. References 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Bowman, Robert J. â€Å"Scotts Cultivates a Customer Centric Supply Chain Strategy.† Global Logistics and Supply Chain Strategies, July 2004. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hoffman, Kurt C. â€Å"Who’s That Behind FosterGrant’s Demand.† Global Logistics and Supply Chain Strategies, December 2003. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marien, Edward J. Demand Planning and Sales Forecasting: A Supply Chain Essential. Supply Chain Management Review, 1999 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Murphy, Jean V. â€Å"More Accurate Forecasts Give Sales, Operations Planning New Life at Sara Lee Unit.† Global Logistics and Supply Chain Strategies, March 2003. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Murphy, Jean V. â€Å"Special Issue: Collaborative Commerce Forecasting Tool Lowers Coke Bottler’s Inventory.† Global Logistics and Supply Chain Strategies, November 2002.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Fight Club: A Narrative Analysis Essay -- Cinema

Barsam and Monahan define a narrative as, â€Å"A cinematic structure in which content is selected and arranged in a cause-and-effect sequence of events occurring over time† (553). David Fincher’s Fight Club uses a very unique narrative mode in that the whole film is self-narrated by the unnamed main character and has one of the best surprise endings in this writer’s opinion. This makes the film a prime specimen to be broken apart for further narrative analysis. The film starts out with the nameless narrator played by Edward Norton in a nameless city. The narrator, stuck in a dead-end white collar job, suffers from insomnia and is told he can’t receive medication. This paints Norton’s character as someone who is stuck, without any visible options to alleviate his pains. He then proceeds to visit support groups to see people worse off than himself. Eventually he finds relief from his insomnia in the emotional release he gets from these different support groups he pretends to be a part of. Then he meets the femme fatale of the film, Marla Singer. She too is feeding off the emotional release from the support groups which leads to the first conflict of the film. On a flight back from a business trip the narrator befriends Tyler Durden, a physically fit soap salesman played by Brad Pitt. This is the point where you realize that for the first thirty minutes of the film random flashes of a tall blonde man appear on the screen for le ss than a second. Foreshadowing his importance, if someone is quick enough to catch a good enough glance of these flashes they will recognize that it is Tyler Durden, and so the plot thickens. Tyler Durden is what some people would consider a muscle head, but he has much too many ideas for those stereotypes t... ...sumed he has gone through the required change most protagonists go through in narratives. With characters, plots and tones that throw the viewer through more loops than a roller coaster, Fight Club explores several of the narrative elements with many twists, turns, and plot devices that leave the mind pondering for days after viewing the film. Wrought with symbolism and the powerful themes of anti-consumerism and breaking down the walls we put around ourselves, there are several lessons to be taken from watching this film. Works Cited Barsam, Richard., and Dave Monahan. Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film. New York: W. W. Norton, 2010. Print. Fight Club. Dir. David Fincher. Perf. Brad Pitt and Edward Norton. 1999. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2000. DVD. "Fight Club." IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 05 May 2012. . Fight Club: A Narrative Analysis Essay -- Cinema Barsam and Monahan define a narrative as, â€Å"A cinematic structure in which content is selected and arranged in a cause-and-effect sequence of events occurring over time† (553). David Fincher’s Fight Club uses a very unique narrative mode in that the whole film is self-narrated by the unnamed main character and has one of the best surprise endings in this writer’s opinion. This makes the film a prime specimen to be broken apart for further narrative analysis. The film starts out with the nameless narrator played by Edward Norton in a nameless city. The narrator, stuck in a dead-end white collar job, suffers from insomnia and is told he can’t receive medication. This paints Norton’s character as someone who is stuck, without any visible options to alleviate his pains. He then proceeds to visit support groups to see people worse off than himself. Eventually he finds relief from his insomnia in the emotional release he gets from these different support groups he pretends to be a part of. Then he meets the femme fatale of the film, Marla Singer. She too is feeding off the emotional release from the support groups which leads to the first conflict of the film. On a flight back from a business trip the narrator befriends Tyler Durden, a physically fit soap salesman played by Brad Pitt. This is the point where you realize that for the first thirty minutes of the film random flashes of a tall blonde man appear on the screen for le ss than a second. Foreshadowing his importance, if someone is quick enough to catch a good enough glance of these flashes they will recognize that it is Tyler Durden, and so the plot thickens. Tyler Durden is what some people would consider a muscle head, but he has much too many ideas for those stereotypes t... ...sumed he has gone through the required change most protagonists go through in narratives. With characters, plots and tones that throw the viewer through more loops than a roller coaster, Fight Club explores several of the narrative elements with many twists, turns, and plot devices that leave the mind pondering for days after viewing the film. Wrought with symbolism and the powerful themes of anti-consumerism and breaking down the walls we put around ourselves, there are several lessons to be taken from watching this film. Works Cited Barsam, Richard., and Dave Monahan. Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film. New York: W. W. Norton, 2010. Print. Fight Club. Dir. David Fincher. Perf. Brad Pitt and Edward Norton. 1999. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2000. DVD. "Fight Club." IMDb. IMDb.com. Web. 05 May 2012. .

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Marx and arnold †individual in the class

Karl Marx was one of the most influential ideologues of all times. His ideas fired men to revolutions and empowered them as a class denoted by the proletariat to wage struggle against domination by the bourgeois. (Marx. Engels. Et Al.:1998). His ideology of individual empowerment contributing to class control over society holds sway amongst a large swathe of humanity even to this day. While Marx was a powerful believer in individual power, it was through its regulation that change in society was brought about. This change was not the way a person pleased or sought it to be but on the basis of history and as per existing circumstances. (Marx. Engels: 1986).   In the struggle of the classes, Marx believed that it was individual influence as denoted in labor power which had been undermined over the years by the bourgeoisie. The control granted to individuals through their work denoted labor power which comprised of the prime energy which created a vital force in nations. (Marx: 1999). Marx values labor power as it is the only means which can produce more value than its worth, thus this is the productive value of individuals.   (Marx: 2003).   Class struggle as per Marx begins with individual power generated by personal toil which is coagulated to destroy those elements which work against their interests. Thus Marx believed that the exploitative nature of individual power particularly amongst the bourgeoisie will be brought to an end through collective authority of individuals of the proletariat. (Karl Marx: 2006). Marx states that each man in a capitalist system works in his own interest and thus ultimately results in the destruction of the organism as a whole. (Aron: 1965). The ideal structure for harnessing individual power is thus felt to be the communist system wherein the power of each individual can be channelised for the collective good. An individual’s role is related to his role in class and economic relations and thus his power is also channelised in that direction. (Marx: 1999). The view of individual power held by Marx is thus of production, material creation and contribution to the class struggle. The individual soul loses its power in the collectivity of the class to which he belongs. Arnold was a poet in the Victorian era who is said to have guidance and rationality in an age which was increasingly industrialized and when individuals were losing their moorings to increased vocationalisation of human activity. By adopting the analogies of the Barbarians, Philistines and Populace wherein individuality was subordinated, Arnold attempted to bring back a sense of power to the individual. (Arnold EB: 2006). Arnold’s philosophy of individualism was based on the ability of the individual to change society by following a contrarian approach rather than just blindly following reality. Arnold abhorred the average man who he believed failed to contribute to quality in society. It is the individual who is not average, the, â€Å"remnant† as he called it who contributes most to the social order and democracy. A remnant is required to be humble and should look upwards to some standard. Once a majority of the people assume such a quality, as per Arnold, the whole society will rise above the normal. For raising such a social order, education was a key parameter. Education has to be humanist and religious and not merely utilitarian or sentimental. The scientific temper of education has been reducing the humane standards that people have.   There was a greater need for reinventing education to enable a holistic approach. (The Dialogue: 2006). Arnold calls for finding the best amongst oneself and then follow it. This self needs to be one which is the best and not what is upper most in the mind. An individual should not go against this, â€Å"best light† and ensure that this light is not darkness. (Arnold : 2000). Pursuit of culture which generates beauty and intelligence or what Arnold has called sweetness and light in individual is its main purpose. (Arnold : 2000)   Action by individuals should be guided by such sweetness and light. There should be no fear that such men cannot bear the trials of a tough life, by avoiding rough action. By relying on less random action people can confront such acts. Arnold believed that the central theme of British society was assertion of personal liberty. However he was clearly against individualism resulting in anarchy. (Arnold : 2000) Arnolds identified religion as per Christ as a force which was based on individual proclivities acting on himself rather than injunctions from outside. Thus the individual can gain control over himself and thus contribute to society. (Style : 2006). Arnold spawned the movement of humanism in the United Staes which provided the guiding light of morality from past civilisations for individuals to survive in a world which was turning towards greater individualism and materialism. (New Humanism : 2006). The strength of Arnold’s style lay lies in his use of the satirical and analytic to denote his theories which made them more explicit. (Genre : 2006). The individual power denoted by Marx is one which has been harnessed for creation, production and destruction. (Marx. Engels: 1986). It is power in the individual for action resulting from his labor, as against intrinsic power developed through intermix with education and culture. Marx wants to harness individual power to change society, to bring class struggle; Arnold wants individual power to raise the resistance of humans to survive in an increasingly materialistic and industrialized World. (Marx. Engels: 1986). The strength or power in an individual as per Arnold came from within, while Marx believed that individual power came from the society and the environment surrounding him. The power of individuals as per Marx rests in his ability to produce value through labor, it is to be harnessed collectively, on the other hand, Arnold believes in power of the individual which is derived from his culture and sensitivities and which guides him to do the right things for the overall good of society. (Arnold : 2000). Thus there was a major differentiation between the identification and use of power between Marx and Arnold. Reference 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Dialogue. 2006. The Dialogue Of The Mind With Itself† http://www.nhumanities.org/arnold.htm† (30 May 2006). 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Culture and Anarchy. http://www.authorama.com/culture-and-anarchy-4.html. (31 May 2006). 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Arnold, Matthew. 2000. Culture and Anarchy : An Essay in Political an Social Criticism (Collected Works of Matthew Arnold). Classic Books. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Arnold, Matthew. EB 2006. â€Å"Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Premium Service.http://wwwa.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=9009580>. (30 May 2006). 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   New Humanism. (2006). In Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Premium Service: http://wwwa.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=9055477. (30 May 2006). 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Style. 2006. http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/arnold/style1.html. (31 May 2006). 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.victorianweb.org/genre/ej/2c4.html. (31 May 2006). 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Karl Marx. 2006. http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/classics/manifesto.htmlKarl Marx. (31 May 2006). 9.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Marx. 2003. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/marx/. (31 May 2006). 10.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Aron, Raymond. 1965. Main Currents in Sociological Thought. Basic Books. New York. 11.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Marx, Karl. 1999. Das Kapital. Gateway. New York. 12.   Marx, Karl. Engels, Friedrich McLellan, David. 1998. The Communist Manifesto. Oxford University Press, New York. New Ed edition. 13.   Marx Engels. 1986.   Collected Works. International Publishers.

Nurse Education Essay

Nursing has always seemed to be a profession in which the nurse is the follower of the doctor such as their personal minion only doing the nominal things that the doctor does not want to do. However in Florence Nightingale’s Notes on Nursing and the article â€Å"Quality and Nursing† by Hall, Moore, and Barnsteiner you can see that nurses can have a much larger impact on the healthcare system. In Nightingale’s book the author takes an in-depth look at nursing and exclaims that it should not be the mere, â€Å"administration of medicines and application of poultices† (Florence 2). The article â€Å"Quality and Nursing† looks into what nursing is and the potential it has to make a larger impact on the healthcare system. These two informative pieces make a claim that the nurse’s job has been inhibited by the lack of knowledge of what elements make a good nurse, and that it is time for them to not merely be a follower of a doctor but through bett er communication and continued education nurses could improve the healthcare system. Patient’s safety is a key issue in both documents and with the right nurse you can increase the efficiency of their safety. Nightingale notes that with â€Å"bad sanitary, bad architectural, and bad administrative arrangements,† it is impossible for a nurse to work effectively (Florence 2). What the author is trying to say here is that they do not really know how to keep things running in a smooth fashion in a hospital to increase the safety of the patients. This in turn has an adverse affect on the nurses because it keeps nurses from advancing and limits them to simply be administers of medicine and bandages. The author later goes on to reveal that the elements of nursing are really unknown in that the art of nursing has been one that tries to, â€Å"unmake what God had made a disease to be, a reparative process† (Florence 2). In contrast the article on â€Å"Quality and Nursing,† says that today it is not the lack of knowledge in patient safety but a lac k of communication between nurses within a hospital and across the country. The writers of this article are making the point that patient safety has become a major focus for virtually every health system within the past ten years. For example it was noted in a study from 2000 that 3% to 4% of hospitalized patients died from adverse effects of being in the hospital (Hall 418). Another study in 2004 revealed that 1 in 200 patients died of preventable diseases that were caused from being hospitalized (Hall 418). Through evaluation of efficiency and effectiveness of operations in the hospitals they have noted that health professionals need to acquire skills relating to quality control just as much as having knowledge of how to perform surgery. Just as Nightingale exclaimed, in 1859, it is not the lack of advancement in medicine but rather the lack of patient safety that is holding nurses back from performing successfully (Florence 4). Within the articles one can see that both authors note the need for better quality of care in the hospitals. Nightingale is mesmerized by the fact that we can advance so much in the laws of motion and astronomy but we can not better understand the human body which is under observation every minute of everyday. The author is criticizing us on being more experienced about astronomy than simple hygiene. She suggests that there is something that the hospital could do to increase sanitation and better quality. While Nightingale shows that there is a need for better quality in healthcare she does not suggest anything that could be done. However, she states that the hospital should be responsible for it. On the other hand the article by Hall, Moore and Barnsteiner show that specific programs have been made to improve the quality in the workplace. They include that systematic improvement initiatives will improve, â€Å"patient flow problems, communication around complex patients, and improv ing medication safety† (Hall 419). Not only does it improve those things but also as these qualities improve it will increase the joy of the nurses in the work place in turn leading to higher patient satisfaction. With further education nurses can also serve as better patient advocates through, †integration of care, provision of emotional support, education of patients and families, assistance with compensation for loss of function, and monitoring of patient status† (Hall 419). Programs that aid with the implement of those topics patients and families can be introduced to a common ground between medicine and natural healing. When nurses are able to fulfill this balance there can be a better atmosphere for the patient and families as well as the medical staff.  Nightingale originally established this principle with her theory on what nursing is, and what it is not and one can see how it is finally being implemented today in the modern day of nursing. This being said the theories started in Nightingales time period really just needed time and realization to be understood. Through these points we can see that Florence Nightingale was a very smart individual and laid the basis for what nursing is today with her confrontation of the things hospitals need to improve on. This historic text relates directly to the modern text found today in the article on quality and nursing. Once one has read both articles it can be noted that there has been a tremendous effort to increase the quality of healthcare in the last ten years which can and will benefit the patient while also making the job of nurses more enjoyable. The shift in these time periods has led to greater initiatives that deal with the problems in the hospital by creating safer and more cutting-edge environments. All the resources that nurses have and will be exposed to in the modern world is leading to a more proficient health system that is increasing the quality and well being of the medical field. Works Cited Hall, Leslie W., Shirley M. Moore, and Jane H. Barnsteiner. â€Å"Quality And Nursing: Moving From A Concept To A Core Competency.† Urologic Nursing 28.6 (2008): 417-425. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Feb. 2014. Florence Nightingale. Notes on Nursing. NY. Barnes & Noble, 2003.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Kaleidoscope Strategy Resume Essay

Pursuing success can feel like shooting in a landscape of moving targets: Every time you hit one, five more pop up from another direction. We are under constant pressure to do more, get more, be more. But is that really what success is all about? Laura Nash and Howard Stevenson interviewed and surveyed hundreds of professionals to study the assumptions behind the idea of success. They then built a practical framework for a new way of thinking about success—a way that leads to personal and professional fulfillment instead of feelings of anxiety and stress. The authors’ research uncovered four irreducible components of success: 1.- happiness: (feelings of pleasure or contentment about your life); 2.- achievement (accomplishments that compare favorably against similar goals others have strived for); 3.- significance (the sense that you’ve made a positive impact on people you care about); and 4.- legacy (a way to establish your values or accomplishments so as to help others find future success). Unless you hit on all four categories with regularity, any one win will fail to satisfy. People who achieve lasting success, the authors learned, tend to rely on a kaleidoscope strategy to structure their aspirations and activities. This article explains how to build your own kaleidoscope framework. The process can help you determine which tasks you should undertake to fulfill the different components of success and uncover areas where there are holes. It can also help you make better choices about what you spend your time on and the level of energy you put into each activity. According to Nash and Stevenson, successful people who experience real satisfaction achieve it through the deliberate imposition of limits. Cultivating your sense of â€Å"just enough† can help you set reachable goals, tally up more true wins, and enjoy lasting.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Spanish & Russian Empires

The age of exploration, a period of expansion for many Eurasian empires occured between 1450 and 1800. During this period both the Spanish and thep Russian empires were able to advance economically from their connections with societies westward. Both empires used some form of a labor system in order to support their social structures, despite the fact that where the laborers originated was different within the two empires. From a political standpoint, both empires were run under an autocratic government. This period was extremely crtical to the development of both the Spanish and Russian empires. Both the Spanish and Russian empires were goeverned by an autocratic body of government. The Russian empire was ruled by a czar, while the title of the head of Spain is a king. The set up of the government of the Spanish empire was probably was developed by the catholic church, while the Russians probably modeled their government after ideas borrowed from the west. From a pollitical standpoint the major difference between the empires was that the Spanish was a maritime empire while the Russian were a landbased empire. While the Spanish focused primarily on expanding overseas, the Russians felt it was better to expandm without traveling overseas. Since the Spanish also controlled land overseas they developed a system known as viceroyalty, where a govenor was put in place to oversee the control of the Spanish colonies in the new world. The Spanish and Russian empires both developed a similar social structure. At the bottom of social structure within both empires were the labor workers. Since both economies flourished based on agricultural successes, both societies required a group of people to work the lands. The Spanish relied primarily on forced laborers from outside of their colonies, typically consisting of slaves from Africa and the native Americans. Unlike the Spanish, the Russians looked towards locals to take part in a form of serfdom. Both the Spanish and Russian empires looked westward for ways to move foreward. The Spanish focused on economical advancements while the Russian empire focused mainly on social aspects. The Russians focused on social aspects because they felt that thier submission to the mongols had put them at a severe disadvantage to the europeans. The Russians borrowed estern ideas such as those used in art, architecture, and justice. The Spanish and Russian empires were both agricullturally based. The Spanish was an empire that not only developed domestic trade but also traded overseas. The Spanish basically single-handedly brought the new world into the worldwide economy. The Spanish were at the forefront of the triangle trade which pumped alot of money into th e European economy. The Columbian Exchange brought a lot of new cash and staple crops into Europe such as potatoes and tobacco. The Russian empire however focused on developing a local economy. The local peasentry was forced into serfdom. The strict enforcement of serfdom was put in place to work the land that supports Russian economy. The age of exploration, from 1450 to 1800 was a critical point in the development of many of the Eurasian empires. Despite being seperated by vast expanses of geographical features, ideas were able to blend profusely within seperate cultures. Clearly no amount of division can stop the bridge between the building of two different empires. ———————————————————————————–

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Succubus Shadows Chapter 4

I spent the whole morning waiting restlessly for Roman. Surely he had to come home at some point to sleep, right? Of course, being part greater immortal, he'd have a lot of the traits of his angelic parentage – and angels and demons never needed to sleep. Roman could likely get by on very little rest and simply chose to sleep in as often as he did for the fun of it. I left a message on Jerome's cell phone, which was useless more often than not. I also kind of wished I hadn't parted from Carter so soon. Caught up in the Pictionary absurdity, I'd totally forgotten about my siren song encounters. Indeed, I'd nearly written them off until last night's repeat. But if Jerome was hard to get a hold of, Carter was impossible. He kept no cell phone and seemed to take personal pride in showing up at unexpected moments. Left with no other options, I called my friend Erik. He was a human who ran a store specializing in esoteric and pagan goods. He was often my backup for bizarre supernatural situations, sometimes knowing more than my friends did. As I dialed his store's number, I couldn't help but marvel at the circles my life seemed to run on. I was repeating the same pattern over and over. Something weird would happen, I'd fruitlessly attempt to contact my superiors, and end up seeking Erik for help. â€Å"Why the fuck does this keep happening to me?† I muttered as the phone rang. Cody never got stalked by paranormal forces. Neither did any of the others. It was like I was specifically being targeted. Or cursed. Or simply imbued with bad luck. Yes, my life was a never-ending spiral, doomed to repeat the same patterns of annoying immortal threats – and miserable romantic situations. â€Å"Hello?† â€Å"Erik? This is Georgina.† â€Å"Miss Kincaid,† he said in his usual genteel voice. â€Å"A pleasure to hear from you.† â€Å"I need your help with something. Again. Are you around? I wanted to swing by before work.† There was a pause, and then I heard regret in his voice. â€Å"Unfortunately, I have to run errands and close the store today. I'll be back this evening. When do you finish work?† â€Å"I'll probably be free at ten.† Another evening shift. â€Å"I can meet you then.† I felt bad. His store usually closed around five. â€Å"No, no†¦that's too late. We could try tomorrow†¦.† â€Å"Miss Kincaid,† he said gently, â€Å"I'm always happy to see you. It's no difficulty at all.† I still felt guilty when we disconnected. Erik was getting old. Shouldn't he be in bed by ten? Nine? There was nothing to be done for it now, though. He said he'd do it, and I'd seen him when he was obstinate. I had nothing to do but wait now and hope Roman would surface before I had to work. When he didn't, I simply left him a note saying I needed to talk to him immediately. It was the best I could do. At work, no one was out or – best of all – hungover. I was caught up on my paperwork, which gave me a lot of free time. Whether that was good or bad, I couldn't say. It kept me from messing up my job but merely left me in a cycle of rumination. It was nearly closing time when I noticed Seth at his usual station in the caf? ¦. Maddie had worked the day shift, which meant I didn't have to face their cute couple antics. He caught my eye as I walked through, and against my better judgment, I sat down across from him. â€Å"How goes it?† I asked. My usual romantic fixation with him was put on pause when I saw that he looked agitated. He tapped the screen in annoyance. â€Å"Bad. I've been staring at this screen for two hours and haven't gotten anything done.† He paused. â€Å"No, that's not quite true. I ordered a Wonder Twins T-shirt and watched some videos on YouTube.† I smiled and propped my chin up in my hand. â€Å"Doesn't sound like a bad day's work.† â€Å"It is when it's been going on all week. My muse is an ungrateful harlot who's abandoned me to actually come up with my own plots.† â€Å"That's a record for you,† I observed. I'd seen him have fits of writer's block when we dated, but it never lasted more than a few days. â€Å"When's your deadline?† â€Å"Not for a while, but still†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He sighed. â€Å"I don't like to be stalled out. I'm not really sure what to do with my days if I'm not writing.† I started to say that he must have wedding stuff to do but then thought better of it. I kept to lighter topics. â€Å"Maybe it's time to pick up a hobby. Fencing? Origami?† That slightly bemused smile that was so characteristic for him crossed his lips. â€Å"I tried latch hook once.† â€Å"You did not.† â€Å"I did. Do you know how hard that is to do?† â€Å"It's actually pretty easy,† I said, trying to hide my laughter. â€Å"Kids do it, you know. Your nieces could probably do it.† â€Å"They can. And you're not making me feel better.† But those beautiful brown eyes were amused. I studied them for a moment, loving the way they would sometimes turn amber. A moment later, I snapped myself out of my lovesick spell. â€Å"There's always dancing,† I said mischievously. This made him laugh too. â€Å"I think we've proven how futile that is.† I'd tried twice to teach him how to do it – swing and salsa – all with disastrous results. Seth's talents lay in his mind, not his body. Well, upon further consideration, I realized that wasn't entirely true. â€Å"You haven't found the right kind,† I said. I'd given up on hiding my grin. â€Å"What's left? Riverdance? Square dancing? And do not even suggest jazz. I saw Newsies and was traumatized for, like, five years.† â€Å"Harsh,† I said. â€Å"You could still probably wear your T-shirts with jazz dancing. I know you must have a ‘Dancing Queen' shirt somewhere.† His shirt today sported Chuck Norris. â€Å"Unless, of course, you wanted some variety. Square dancers have some pretty sweet costumes.† He shook his head in exasperation. â€Å"I'll leave the dancing getup to you. And no, no ‘Dancing Queen' shirt yet – though I do have an Abba one. I think a ‘Dancing Queen' shirt would be better for you anyway, not me.† His eyes moved from my face to what he could see of my body at the table. â€Å"You look like you could go dancing right now.† I started to feel myself flush at his gaze and immediately utilized shape-shifting to nix it. The unseasonably warm weather lent itself to sundresses, and I had another on today. It was a cream-colored trapeze, sleeveless with a keyhole top that may or may not have been showing managerial-appropriate cleavage. He wasn't ogling me or anything, but I had learned long ago that Seth was good at keeping his emotions off of his face. I wondered what went through his mind. Simple aesthetic admiration? Lust? Disapproval of non-managerial cleavage? â€Å"This old thing?† I asked breezily, uncomfortable for reasons I couldn't explain. â€Å"You were wearing that color the first time we met.† He suddenly seemed embarrassed. â€Å"Not sure why I remember that.† â€Å"You don't,† I said. â€Å"I was wearing purple.† Now I felt flustered to remember that. He frowned in a way I found cute. â€Å"Were you? Oh, yeah. I guess you were. The violet top and flowered skirt.† Every detail. If he'd mentioned me wearing a snakeskin jacket, I might have passed out. Yet, I had a feeling he did remember that. Probably my shoes and the way I'd styled my hair too. An awkward silence grew. I might have been keeping the flush off of my face, but there was warmth spreading through me. And only half of it was desire. The rest was something else†¦something sweeter and deeper. I cleared my throat. â€Å"What's the book about? Cady and O'Neill, right?† He nodded, looking grateful for the subject change. â€Å"The usual. Mystery and intrigue, sexual tension and life-threatening situations.† He hesitated. â€Å"It's the last one.† â€Å"I – what?† I felt my jaw drop. Whatever romantic feelings that had been stirring in me immediately got pushed to the back burner. â€Å"You mean like†¦the end of the series?† Seth had written a lot of mysteries over his career, but Cady and O'Neill – his intrepid art and archaeology explorer duo – was his flagship series. â€Å"Why?† He shrugged, eyes moving back to the laptop screen. â€Å"Because it's time.† â€Å"How†¦how will you make your living?† His smile turned wry as he looked back up at me. â€Å"I've written other books that aren't about them, Georgina. Besides, you don't think my fans'll have enough faith to follow me to a new series?† â€Å"True,† I said softly. â€Å"We'll follow you anywhere.† I'd meant to say â€Å"they'll,† but it was too late. â€Å"I hope so,† he said, averting his eyes for a moment. When he looked back, I saw a spark of excitement. â€Å"But I'm actually into doing something new. I've got this idea – and it's really great. I just want to lose myself in it, you know?† I did know. I'd seen him forget parts of his real life plenty of times while caught up in a book. I wondered if this new project he was so enthusiastic about would intensify that zeal. â€Å"So you've got the ending for Cady and O'Neill figured out?† I asked. â€Å"No,† he said with a sigh, glow dimming. â€Å"That's the problem. I don't know how this is going to end.† I suddenly wondered if he was still talking about the books. Our gazes met again, and whatever might have come next was interrupted when Beth appeared at my side. â€Å"Georgina? A friend of yours is here to see you.† My heart leapt. Roman. Roman had read my note. His advice on that eerie siren song was about the only thing that could have dragged me away from Seth. I sprang up from my seat, giving Seth an apologetic look. â€Å"I've got to go.† He nodded, some troubled emotion in his eyes that I couldn't identify. That troubled me in return. He might be good at keeping his emotions off of his face, but at one time, I'd been pretty good at figuring them out. â€Å"No problem,† he said. Wistfulness? Was that the mystery emotion? I couldn't ponder it any longer. Roman was more important. I took the steps downstairs two at a time, anxious to see him. But when I reached the registers, where Beth had said my friend was waiting, it wasn't Roman I saw. It was Cody. Or, well, I think it was. It took me a moment to figure it out. He was dressed all in black – and not just jeans and a T-shirt. We were talking full regalia: a studded-leather jacket, steel-toed boots, and an – ugh – mesh shirt. His blond hair had black streaks in it, and heavy black eyeliner and lipstick over white foundation completed the look. I didn't know what to say, so I simply grabbed his arm and dragged him into my office before anyone else could see him. â€Å"What the hell are you doing?† The sun had only just gone down, which meant he must have doubled the speed limit to make it here so quickly. â€Å"I'm here to see Gabrielle,† he explained, casting an anxious glance at my doorway. â€Å"Where is she? I wanted to get here before you guys closed.† â€Å"She's not working tonight.† His face fell, but I couldn't help but add, â€Å"And honestly, I think that's a good thing.† â€Å"Why? Peter had a copy of The Seattle Sinner, and after going through it, we thought this would be the way to get her attention. He helped dress me.† â€Å"Wait. Peter had a copy of – ? Never mind. I don't want to know. Believe me, you would have gotten her attention. But I'm not sure it'd be the kind you want.† Cody gestured to his attire. â€Å"But she's into this scene. You said yourself that she dresses all in black.† â€Å"Yeah,† I admitted. â€Å"But yours seems†¦I don't know. Overdone. People like her are always on the lookout for wannabes. You try too hard, and you'll just put her further off.† He sighed and slumped into my desk's chair, dejected. â€Å"Then what am I supposed to do? That newspaper was my only lead.† â€Å"Well, for starters, don't let Peter dress you again. Ever. As for the rest†¦I don't know. Let me ask around and see if I can get you more to go on. Just please don't wear this outfit again.† â€Å"Okay,† he agreed. Just then, Doug stuck his head in. It wasn't his night to work, so I was kind of surprised, but not nearly as surprised as he was. â€Å"Hey, Kincaid, I had a question about the schedu – Jesus Fucking Christ! What is that?† â€Å"It's Cody,† I said. Doug walked gingerly into the office and peered at Cody's face. â€Å"Well, I'll be damned. It is. I thought it was the ghost of Gene Simmons.† â€Å"Gene Simmons isn't dead,† said Cody. â€Å"Cody's trying to impress Gabrielle,† I explained. Doug opened his mouth, no doubt to comment on the impossibility of that, but I held up a hand to stop him. â€Å"Yeah, yeah. I know. What did you need?† Doug needed to switch some shifts, and without his ladylove around, Cody decided to leave. I let him out the back door, not wanting to cause a panic in the store. Once the schedule was set, Doug and I bantered about the Cody and Gabrielle situation. Before long, I lost track of time, and closing announcements were being made on the intercom. Doug said his farewells – half afraid I'd put him to work if he stayed – and I set off to finish my own tasks. My meeting with Erik was getting closer, and I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. An hour after the doors were locked, staff began to go home. I made one last sweep of the store and found Seth still sitting in the caf? ¦. No surprise. My coworkers could never bring themselves to kick him out when we closed. He'd actually gotten locked in once and accidentally set off the alarm. I walked over to his table, noting the enraptured look on his face as his fingers danced along the laptop's keys. â€Å"Hey, Mortensen,† I said. â€Å"You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here.† It took almost thirty seconds for him to look up, and even then, he seemed surprised to see me. â€Å"Oh. Hey.† I could feel a smile playing on my lips. This was picture perfect Seth behavior. â€Å"Hey, we're all closed down. Time to go.† He glanced around, noting the dark windows and lack of people in the store. â€Å"Oh, man. Sorry. I didn't even notice.† â€Å"I take it the muse came back?† â€Å"She did.† â€Å"So you know how it's going to end now?† â€Å"No. Not yet.† I walked Seth to the back door and armed the alarm before letting myself out. He told me good-bye, and if he'd had any dreamy affection for me earlier in the night, it was gone now. His characters now consumed his heart. It was something I'd had to accept when we were together, and watching him walk down the street, I decided that was how it should be. Seth's writing was too much of his being. I let my own dreamy affection go and drove up north of the city to Erik's store. I still felt a little bad about him meeting me so late, but the lights in his windows gleamed out into the night. And inside, the usual music and incense were going strong, just as they would during business hours. Glancing around, I didn't see him right away. Then, I noticed him kneeling down in front of some palmistry books. â€Å"Hey, Erik.† â€Å"Miss Kincaid.† He rose to his feet, but the motions were jerky and unsteady. And when he finally turned to face me, there was a gauntness in his dark-skinned face that hadn't been there the last time I saw him. My instinct was to rush over and support him, but I had a feeling he wouldn't welcome that. Still, I asked the obvious. â€Å"Are you okay? Have you been sick?† He gave me a gentle smile and began moving – slowly – toward the store's main counter. â€Å"A passing cold. They seem to last longer than they used to, but I'll be fine.† I wasn't so certain. I'd known Erik for a long time†¦. I'd lost track of the years, actually. It wasn't an uncommon thing with mortals, one that often blindsided me. One moment they'd seem young and healthy†¦the next, they were old and dying. It never hurt any less, either. Part of the reason Seth had broken up with me was to spare me the pain of that loss because I began growing overly paranoid about his well-being. Now, watching Erik, I felt even worse for keeping him out so late. I also felt bad because I realized I never visited except when I needed something. When had I last seen him? Months ago, when Jerome had been summoned. I'd sought Erik's help then and hadn't been by since. â€Å"Tea?† he offered, just like always. â€Å"No, no. I don't want to delay you,† I said. I leaned against the counter and felt relieved when he settled down on a stool. â€Å"I just wanted to ask you a couple things. Something weird happened.† I almost laughed as the words left my mouth. That was such a typical opening statement for me. Again, that earlier thought returned: my life was one big circle, repeating and repeating. I gave him the rundown on my weird encounters with the unknown and – for the large part – indescribable force. He listened carefully, bushy gray eyebrows knit into a frown. â€Å"I hate to tell you this,† he said when I finished, â€Å"but there are probably a number of things that could describe.† â€Å"Surprise, surprise,† I murmured. That was more a commentary on my life, not his abilities. â€Å"The fact that your†¦uh, friend couldn't identify it is intriguing.† Erik was one of the handful of people who knew Roman was in Seattle. Erik had no interest in Heaven and Hell's policies and wouldn't be tattling anytime soon. â€Å"Of course, he lacks the full skill set his relatives have. I don't suppose you've spoken to any greater immortals?† I shook my head. â€Å"No. They're notoriously absent, as usual. I think I'll be seeing Jerome soon.† He'd probably want to check in with Roman. â€Å"So we'll see then.† â€Å"I'm sorry I don't have any ready answers. I never seem to.† â€Å"Not in the beginning,† I said. â€Å"But you always come through in the end. More patterns.† â€Å"Hmm?† â€Å"Nothing,† I said with a small sigh. â€Å"Sometimes I just feel like the same things are happening to me over and over. Like, even this siren thing. Why me? In the last year, I've been targeted over and over. What are the odds? Why does this keep happening?† Erik's eyes studied me for several moments. â€Å"There are some people around whom the powers and supernatural beings of the world will always circle. You appear to be one of them.† â€Å"But why?† I asked, surprised at the childish tone in my voice. â€Å"I'm just another succubus. There are tons of us out there. And why recently? Why only in the last year?† It had to be the cruelest joke in the world that all these paranormal mishaps had started happening right when my romantic ones had. Apparently, one source of pain just wasn't enough. â€Å"I don't know,† Erik admitted. â€Å"Things change. Forces move that we can't see.† He paused and coughed, making me wince. How sick was he? â€Å"Again, I feel like I'm useless to you.† I reached out and gently squeezed his shoulder. â€Å"No, no. You're invaluable to me. I don't know how I would have gotten by all these years without you.† This earned me a smile. Wanting him to go to bed, I picked up my purse to leave. As I was heading to the door, he suddenly said, â€Å"Miss Kincaid?† I glanced back. â€Å"Yeah?† â€Å"Do you still talk to Mr. Mortensen?† The question caught me by surprise. Erik had been intrigued when Seth and I were dating, marveling at the connection between a human and a succubus, though he didn't have the crazy obsession that Carter used to. â€Å"Sure. Sometimes.† My earlier conversation with Seth came back to me, the ease and warmth that had surrounded us. â€Å"And things are amicable?† â€Å"More or less.† Aside from his impending marriage, of course. â€Å"That's good. It doesn't always happen in these situations.† â€Å"Yeah, I know. Although – † I bit off my words. Erik tilted his head, studying me curiously. â€Å"Although what?† â€Å"It's amicable, except sometimes†¦sometimes this whole situation with him. It's like having my soul split in two.† â€Å"Understandable,† he said. Those eyes burned with compassion, and I felt tears spring up in my own. â€Å"I'm sorry I brought it up. I was just curious.† I assured him it was okay and said good-bye again. The mention of Seth and the recollection of being with him earlier had made my mood go melancholy. I drove back to West Seattle, miserable that I'd be helping with his wedding tomorrow and worried over Erik's sickly state. As heavily as those thoughts weighed on me, they immediately flew from my mind as soon as I walked into my living room. â€Å"Roman!† He sat on the couch as he had last time, now eating a microwavable chicken pot pie. The TV was on, but he didn't seem to be watching it. When he looked up at me, he didn't wear that amused, teasing look. His expression was dark. Troubled, even. â€Å"I've been waiting for you to get home,† I exclaimed, tossing my purse and keys to the floor. â€Å"You won't believe what happened.† Roman sighed. â€Å"No, you won't believe what happened.† â€Å"Yeah, but this is – â€Å" He held up a hand to interrupt me. â€Å"Let me get this out first. It's been driving me crazy.† I swallowed my impatience. â€Å"Okay. I'll bite. Does it have something to do with Simone?† He nodded. â€Å"Yeah. I followed her tonight to this twenty-four-hour coffee shop called Bird of Paradise.† He eyed me carefully. â€Å"Do you know it?† Now I felt a frown creeping over my face. â€Å"Yeah†¦it's in Queen Anne, right around the corner from Emerald City. What was she doing there? I mean, aside from getting coffee?† Roman's expression turned darker and – unless I was mistaken – sympathetic. â€Å"She was there hitting on a guy,† he said. â€Å"Seth.†