Through a close analysis of The Crying Game, Essay Example

Through a close analysis of The Crying Game, Essay Example Through a close analysis of The Crying Game, Paper Through a close analysis of The Crying Game, Paper ‘woman’ , ‘masculinity’ and ‘femininity’ . The undermentioned analysis seeks to demo how Butler’s ideas managed to pervade Jordan’s movie, which is – it should be noted – a much more complex film than a mere survey of gender issues. First, nevertheless, a definition of the ‘performativity’ of gender must be attempted so as to set up a conceptual model for the balance of the treatment. Judith Butler’s theory on gender should be interpreted within the broader societal and political context of feminist theory that came in two distinguishable ‘waves’ during the 1960’s and the 1970’s. After procuring the needed political accomplishments gained by the progresss of the first moving ridge, the 2nd, more radicalised moving ridge of feminism sought to dispute historical impressions of adult male and adult female in western society, â€Å"which maintains male laterality by co?opting adult females and stamp downing the feminine. These statements link dominant western signifiers of reason with male power and control over adult females and nature, which is associated with force, subjugation and destruction.† [ 1 ] Therefore, while Butler’s positions are undoubtedly radical, they should besides be read within this dominant feminist clime of deep?seated alteration that characterised the 2nd half of the 20th century in the West, which sought to intentionally make divisions between heterosexual work forces and heterosexual adult females in order to foster the womens rightist cause. This is besides the ground behind the confederation between extremist feminism and the homosexual and sapphic communities, which was forged at this clip and which is straight relevant to the performativity of gender as seen inThe Crying Game. Butler’s positions pervert from the feminist norm with respects to the manner in which she formulates the thought of holding to ‘perform’ the parts of adult male and adult female in modern-day society. In this sense, she sees both maleness and muliebrity as being manufactured by civilization and she workss the thought that if this civilization were struct ured along less visibly male?female lines, so the two genders would act in a discernibly different mode. This is the thought which is used inThe Crying Gameto which attending must now be turned. The Crying Gameis a film that is every bit much about the Troubles of the IRA as it is a movie about trans?gender analysis. The secret plan concerns the karyon of a little set of Irish terrorists who kidnap a British soldier ( Forest Whitaker ) for the intent of interchanging him in order to procure the release of confined IRA secret agents in UK gaols. The pack is led by Maguire ( Adrian Dunbar ) and besides contains Jude ( Miranda Richardson ) and Fergus ( Stephen Rea. ) It is the character of Fergus who will go the chief focal point of the movie as first he finds himself unable to the kill the British soldier, Jody and later he embarks upon detecting the dead man’s lover, Dil ( Jaye Davidson ) to whom he finds himself instantly attracted. This burgeoning relationship between Fergus and Dil is fraught with tenseness as Fergus feels tortured by guilt for the decease of Jody ( although Fergus lets him travel, the soldier is still by chance killed by a British armored combat ve hicle ) . This tenseness is an indispensable cinematic precursor to the movie’s cardinal secret plan turn, which comes as a major surprise to the sing audience. Before traveling towards a critical assessment of the disclosure that occurs within the relationship of Dil and Fergus, reference must be made of the manner in which Neil Jordan manages to work the traditional impressions of adult female in movie. By picking an androgynous looking histrion to play Dil, the manager tricks the audience into believing a traditional heterosexual relationship between a adult male and a adult female is about to take topographic point – a relationship rendered tragic by the loss both characters have already suffered. This yoke, in movie history, has normally seen the adult male scoring the adult female who acts as the aesthetically beautiful centerpiece of the action. â€Å"In the synthetic whorehouse of the film, where the ware may be eyed infinitely but neer purchased, the tenseness between the beauty of the adult female, which is admirable, and the denial of the gender which is the beginning of that beauty but is besides immoral, reaches a perfect impasse.† [ 2 ] Therefore, when it easy transpires that Dil is non yet another illustration of the cinematic female beauty but is in fact a adult male, the sense of daze is all the more marked. As with Butler’s thought on the performativity of gender, Jordan stops abruptly of saying this development as a fact ; alternatively, it is left unfastened to speculate as a philosophical inquiry: does Dil’s biological science mean that he is a adult male no affair what or does the fact that he has assumed a female function mean that he has transgressed the gender divide to go a adult female in the cultural sense? This is a cardinal line of enquiry in extremist womens rightist political orientation and 1 that has no direct reply. For case, although diehards would reason that no?one can of all time change by reversal the gender of their birth progressives would likewise province that gender is a concept of society and that both males and females should be freely able to take non merely their gend er but besides their gender. This is a direct descendant of Judith Butler’sGender Troublewhere the writer argues the instance that work forces and adult females both perform the functions of masculine and feminine without of all time oppugning its cogency in this manner. â€Å"Gender is †¦ a building that on a regular basis conceals its generation ; the silent corporate understanding to execute, bring forth and prolong distinct and polar genders as cultural fictions is obscured by the credibleness of those productions – and the penalties that attend non holding to believe in them.† [ 3 ] Fergus’ response to the realization that Dil is a cross-dresser is typically male and typical of society’s general horror at such evildoings of gender and gender. His first response is to plug Dil in the face and abjure his old statements of fondness. He exits the scene, go forthing Dil lying bloodied on the floor. Fergus’ disgust is mirrored in the daze felt by the modern-day film audience, which was manifested in mass protests from Christian and conformist communities when the movie was released both in the UK and abroad. The manager makes certainly non to over or under dramatise the disclosure of Dil’s evildoing of gender, preferring alternatively to allow the balance of the secret plan play out to the background of the daze of the ongoing relationship between the two chief characters. With the apparition of the IRA out of the blue re?appearing towards the terminal of the movie, the audience is transported off from the impression of the performativity of gender to see how Fergus is able to lift above his initial feeling of disgust to salvage Dil from prison after the shot of Fergus’ old companion, Jude. Interestingly, Dil is compelled to slay Jude when it transpires that she had enjoyed a sexual relationship with Jody while the soldier was in her imprisonment. Therefore, there is no uncertainty that – after all that has transpired – Dil still identifies herself as a adult female and is straight challenged by the more evidently feminine Jude. At this point, reference must b e made of the difference between Butler’s impression of the performativity of gender and the sort of transgender constructs encapsulated in retarding force and cross?dressing. â€Å"In the bulk of the plants that have followed in Butler’s aftermath, retarding force ( as the parodic passage of gender ) is represented as something one can take to make: the imputation is that one can be whatever type of gender one wants to be, and can execute gender in whatever manner one illusion. This is what you might name a voluntarist theoretical account of individuality because it assumes that it is possible to freely and consciously make one’s ain individuality. Whilst in many ways this voluntarist history of gender public presentation is in direct contrast with Butler’s impression of performativity, it is besides, at least in portion, a effect of the ambiguity of Butler’s ain history of the differentiation between public presentation and performativity inGender Trouble.† [ 4 ] Appropriately, Neil Jordan neer alludes to whether or non Dill is voluntarily offending gender or whether it is a biological necessity for adult male to hold morphed into adult female. This mirrors Butler’s ambiguity and the ambiguity that pervades every facet of the impression of traversing gender, which is one of the more intellectually ambitious constructs for any society to cope with. Ultimately, though,The Crying Gameterminals with a intimation of the director’s positions on the topic. During the concluding scene, which is set old ages later, Dil asks Fergus why he took the incrimination for her. Telling an earlier scene, Fergus answers, â€Å"It’s in my nature.† This implies that there is no pick with respects to gender, gender and public presentation. We are what we are. Decision The Crying Gameis a ambitious movie that operates on a assortment of degrees. Politicss, race and gender are all topic to scrutiny without being dealt with in a moralistic manner. Judith Butler’s impression refering to the performativity of gender is similarly a multifaceted survey that has greatly influenced feminist political orientation and has clearly infiltrated the head of manager Neil Jordan. In the concluding analysis, there can be no uncertainty that there is a strong nexus between the two without any simple, broad?based decision being put frontward by either party. In both cases, it is left up to the reader and spectator to do their heads up refering gender and the wider issue of whether it is nature that constructs our sexual being or whether it is cultural fostering that subconsciously encourages us to play the functions of heterosexual work forces and adult females. This is a hard reasonable equilibrating act to keep, yet it is besides finally reasonable as bothTh e Crying GameandGender Troublearrive at the sentiment that there can be no one tax write-off that manages to fulfill everyone. The decision, like the pick of gender and gender, must in the terminal be entirely subjective. Bibliography Butler, J. ( 1990 )Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of IdentityLondon: Routledge Carter, A. ( 1978 )The Saideian Woman and the Ideology of PornographyNew York: Harper A ; Row Featherstone, M. ( Ed. ) ( 2000 )Body AlterationLondon: Sage Shaviro, S. ( 1993 )The Cinematic Body: Theory out of Bounds, Volume 2Minneapolis and London: University of Minnesota Press Stallybrass, P. and White, A. ( 1986 )The Politics and Poetics of TransgressionLondon: Routledge Sullivan, N. ( 2003 )A Critical Introduction to Queer TheoryEdinburgh: Edinburgh University Press Weedon, C. ( 1987 )Feminist Practice and Poststructuralist TheoryLondon and New York: Blackwell Movies The Crying Game( Neil Jordan ; 1992 )

PTSD Sleep Disorders and Treatment Professor Ramos Blog

PTSD Sleep Disorders and Treatment There were 69,000 troops recruited into the armed forces last year. When veterans come home a percentage have long-term effects that haunt them daily and need to be treated by medical specialists. These issues include PTSD, depression and anxiety that make it hard to function as a civilian and lead to significant health problems. Many struggle to acclimate back into society with mental and physical issues that need to be addressed and treated. Studies regarding PTSD and sleep disturbances veterans experience and some treatments available for the issue, the effects for both the veteran and their families with quality of life as well as their relationships. Insomnia may be the most common among veterans with a complaint of sleep issues. Mood and anxiety result in lack of sleep with other psychological effects. Some can fall asleep but can’t stay asleep due to nightmares or just have difficulty falling asleep. In a study done my van -Liempt (470-471), shows the demographics of veteran involved and the issues they develop after being discharged. Other factors may play a part in how anxiety or stress levels but mainly due to PTSD disrupted sleep. Pre-deployment anxiety symptoms increase the risk in developing PTSD symptoms although all remain negatively affected. If REM sleep is disturbed or fragmented, nightmares may be triggered due to PTSD and lack of rest creating mental and physical distress. It may contribute directly to the development of PTSD disrupting the beneficial process of sleep on fear distinction. Those with nightmares may talk, scream or physically move and disturb their partner or create a hostile sleeping situatio n. Exhaustion may result in lack of sleep creating strain on relationships and personal life impacted and seclusion for the severely disturbed. There is a 75% to 90% increase in risk of a low quality of life including isolation, drinking, depression, suicidal ideation, and poor coping skills with basic life stressors are obstacles that veterans have to endure and overcome to live a normal life. Several studies report that female veterans with insomnia and probable PTSD had poorer sleep quality than veterans with insomnia alone. Combat veterans and their exposure to war zones endure mental trauma but women have the added possible sexual trauma in combat areas. For the young veterans who deal with sleep disturbances the cost is great both mentally and physically over their lifetime. They can be utilized for future studies for treatments options and data to reduce risk for veterans in the future. There are limited treatments for PTSD associated sleep disturbances. One possible option is explored in auricular acupuncture as described in Heather King et al. (582-590) being successful when studied in a small group of veterans with PTSD. Acupuncture increases endogenous opioid levels and melatonin and during interaction to promote sleep. There were no negative comments when the study was concluded. With a ninety five percent approval rating among those who were question one participant replied, â€Å"My sleep significantly improved due to acupuncture. I felt better rested and helped me concentrate on my days and I performed better on my daily activities†¦.(Heather King et al. pp.587). Although it is a primary study of a non-medication form of treatment. Although there are some with other severe issues that require medication and unclear if this treatment would work for them along with medication and psychiatric intervention. Medication is the first option given to veterans who suffer from PTSD and sleep disorders. Risperidone which is an antipsychotic drug may be prescribed for the more severe cases of PTSD. In the study conducted and reported by Daniella David et al. (489-491) nightmares shifted toward less trauma-replicating allowing better sleep. It did not cure or allow the participant to sleep consistently but may have eased some of the bad dreams decreasing the nighttime awakenings. There are many variables and case by case issues with treatments among the veterans with PTSD and sleep disorders. There may be more than one treatment that is required to alleviate the symptoms they experience. All require therapy and some need a sleep study to determine if a form of life support is needed. Medication is usually administered for a diagnosis of depression, hallucinations, suicidal ideation or insomnia. It is a combination of treatments to assist the veteran in being functional in life to assume the pursuit of the â€Å"American Dream.† Our veterans deserve to live a full, well adjusted and happy life when they return home from their duty in the service. Not all of us can volunteer for such a duty or aren’t as brave as the soldiers that continue to be part of this elite group of men and women. My husband is a combat veteran and has been diagnosed with PTSD once he returned home. Sleep is definitely a variable for him and at times it can affect me as well . Medication is a daily requirement and even so there are still effects that cannot be escaped or cured. New studies need to be conducted to explore alternative options for future veterans and those who still suffer from PTSD and sleep disorders. Winding down at the end of the day by taking a bath or avoiding coffee may help but the psychological trauma is what is most disruptive. The environment where they sleep should also be appropriate to feel comfortable and safe. Short naps throughout the day may keep from feeling so exhausted at the end of the day. The mental condition will never cease to exist and can be developed in more than this specific scenario. Sleep may be the only escape and unsuccessful attempts and nightmares create more issues that contribute to self-medicating such as drugs, alcohol or suicide. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers services and assistance of no- cost to veterans for those who seek help to resolve issues they may be suffering from. Accounts from veterans willing to share can be viewed at Meet the Connection website where Justin states at a certain point he walked into a VA and stated, â€Å"I need help immediately,† (maketheconnection.net).   He speaks of his life in chaos with relationships falling apart and suicidal ideation. Those who are willing to accept help and admit there is a problem can seek it through the VA system. Many go to individual and group therapy or may record their traumatic accounts and journal about their feelings. Their strength and resilience in and out of the service is part of what makes America great. Work Cited David, Daniella, et al. â€Å"Adjunctive Risperidone Treatment and Sleep Symptoms in Combat Veterans with Chronic PTSD.† Depression and Anxiety (1091-4269), vol. 23, no. 8, Dec. 2006, pp. 489-491 Hughes, Jaime et al. â€Å"Insomnia and Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Women Veterans.† Behavioral Sleep Medicine, vol. 11, no. 4, Sept. 2013, pp. 258-274 King, Heather C., et al. â€Å"Auricular Acupuncture for Sleep Disturbances in Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. A Feasibility Study. â€Å"Military Medicine, vol. 180, no. 5, May 2015, pp. 582-590 Straus, Laura D., â€Å"Sleep and Variability in Military-Related PTSD: A Comparison to Primary Insomnia and Healthy Controls.† Journal of Traumatic Stress, vol. 28, no. 1, Feb. 2015, pp. 8-16. Van Liempt, Saskia, et al. â€Å"Impact of Impaired Sleep on the Development of PTSD Symptoms in Combat Veterans: A Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study.† Depression and Anxiety (1091-4269), vol. 30, no. 5, May 2013, pp. 469-474. https://maketheconnection.net/symptoms/trouble-sleeping Accessed 10/2018 Photo Credits Twitter.com/VA_PTSD-Info Eopssleep.com/2014/09/11/ptsd Medicalexpress.com/news/2018-3 Green, Peter S. Post-Traumatic Sleep Disorders Are the New PTSD. Published 10/19/2015 Nature Reviews/Disease Primers PTSD. Published 8,Oct 2015 Rachel Yehuda et al.

Social Culture and Diversity in the Wrokplace Research Paper

Social Culture and Diversity in the Wrokplace - Research Paper Example ization because they feel appreciated and valued, thus significantly reducing the problem of turnover that is a threat to business continuity in most institutions. An organization that values diversity acknowledges differences among staffs through action by emphasizing on the rightful environment necessary to create flexibility and responsiveness where staff potential is recognized harnessed and developed. This paper will discuss the aspect of social culture and diversity in the workplace and explore the description of the subject matter in terms of social and cultural differences, managing cultural diversity, benefits accruing to a culturally diverse organization, potential impact, challenges and possible solutions for organizations that have embraced or are looking to achieve social and cultural diversity. Social and cultural diversity may be described to include a population that is culturally diverse made up of people from different parts of the globe meaning that organizations end up with a mix of multi-racial and multi-cultural employees. Demographics in any population of people are dynamic and this phenomenon trickles down to organizations where these people work. There are social and cultural differences in terms of races, national origins, ethnic backgrounds and religion. These differences in demographics among the working population bring valuable skills, knowledge and experiences which the organization can utilize to create a hybrid of human resources and capacity to develop its growth agenda and business success. As immigrants and expatriates from different national origins get employment in an organization, they come with many skills and abilities, as well as differences. Ethnic Backgrounds also comprise of diversity characteristics in an organization. Individuals are born and raised in different environments with rich cultural heritages from their parents and forefathers. These individuals bring with them different insights, ways of perceiving and

Classical Realism and Neo- Realism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Classical Realism and Neo- Realism - Essay Example Realism is basically a dimension to look at the relations between different states being insecure and constantly gaining power. In other words, it could be said that under the study of realism, states remain in state of war to exercise their power to get more privilege than other states of the world. As studied by Hans Morgenthau, all states seek power that makes them to remain in a state craft. It is the strength of realism in explaining the war that it defines the phenomenon of politics in a sole larger aspect of international system. Realism posits that it is mainly because there is no supreme authority above the states that would allow rules and policies for them to follow to restrain international relations with other states. It is because of the insecurity among states that leads to war. Realism falls short in explaining the causes of war in terms of international system being categorized in different polarity. This weakness has been addressed in theories which were coined late r. On the other hand, neo-realism refers to the causes of war being as the result of polarity of international system. This states that international systems being categorized in bipolar and multi-polar systems have different degree of probability for being at war. Under this position, multi-polar international system which is basically formed with the inclusion of more than two countries is safer and less likely to result in a war. This is merely because the bipolar international system including two states.

Natural Gas Markets in Three Distinct Regions Essay Example for Free

Natural Gas Markets in Three Distinct Regions Essay Introduction As with many other products and commodities participating in a globalized supply chain, the three dominant market places are located in North America, Europe and Asia. This is no different for natural gas. While each region shares similarly a reliance on energy to support the tenets of the modern high-standard of living, all three are highly divergent in terms of demographic, culture, and history; and differ widely in policies concerning finance, monetary regulation, and of course, energy. These qualities and more have shaped generations of market development in terms of policy and practice, and in examining the results of those developments, or today’s key differences between the natural gas markets in Asia, Europe, and North America, differentiations will be made based on the following three criteria: market maturity, the sources of supply, and the dependence on imports. (McRae and Ruppel, 2011) Asia – Market Maturity Asia is the least developed natural gas market but shows the greatest growth potential. China in particular is rapidly modernizing; what was once a largely agrarian country is becoming a collection of burgeoning city-centers with growing energy needsproof can be found in any of over 100 cities with a population over one million (Perkowski, 2012). In addition, Chinese government has recently unveiled a policy whereby natural gas is prioritized for the transportation sector in an effort to displace diesel and reign in emissions. (Aishu and Hua, 2012) This suggests China, currently the eighth largest consumer of natural gas, may ascend that list to the top three—situating itself among Russia and the US. Despite China’s position to increase gas consumption, significant barriers exist to natural gas market maturity. Structural and regulatory issues concerning natural gas—including pricingare addressed ad hoc. (Huang, 2012 p.3058) Although industrialized Asia largely sets worldwide LNG prices (which are tied to oil-indexed long term contracts), the prices are not binding. China has pursued non-market concessions with India through bilateral agreements (McRae and Ruppel, 2011), and bypassed bidding processes with countries like Angola and Nigeria, who sign agreements without human rights or financial transparency requirements normally required by Western investors. (Mitchell, 2012) Absent any semblance of sound legal framework (let alone continuity of pricing practice), such actions show great unpredictability in China’s trading habits which reduce confidence of potential investors aspiring to enter China’s natural gas industry. These add up to significant barriers to natural gas market maturity. Asia – Sources of Supply Asian geography promotes trade by sea and larger economies have logically invested heavily in LNG—more than two-thirds of global LNG is traded in the Asia Pacific region (Mitchell, 2012) where flexibility exists to receive gas shipments from a variety sources. Australia (LNG) and Central Asia (pipeline) have traditionally supplied gas to China, but should global market conditions shift, China is easily able to accept shipments from Canada and the United States, and high-CAPEX projects like the Kitimat LNG terminal in British Colombia are indications that North America may grow in relevance to China’s gas supply chain. Asia – Dependence on Imports With limited local conventional gas, industrialized Asia is highly dependent on imported LNG from South East Asia, Australia and the Middle East. (McRae and Ruppel, 2011) However, recent assessments peg China’s recoverable tight-gas reserves at over 1,200TCF. Due to uniquely challenging reservoir lithology, (Faulkner, 2012) China will require assistance from Independent producers as their EP technology lags by world standard. (Faulkner, 2012) Even with Shell allocating USD1B per year to Chinese shale gas exploration (Hamilton, 2012), it may take a decade until Chinese shale gas flows to market. Therefore, it’s reasonable to expect Asia will continue importing roughly 40% of its gas (roughly half is from in-region) and may become increasingly dependent on supplies from Central Asia (Kazakhstan), the Middle East and Western Africa. (Mitchell, 2012) Europe – Market Maturity Europe contains a well-developed natural gas market which is considered open, although the lack of a uniform natural gas financial and legal framework for European Union (EU) nations is an encumbrance to efficient market operation. The complicated patchwork of cross-border pipelines must also comply with multiple and dissimilar legal and regulatory regimes which add complication to construction and operations. (McRae and Ruppel, 2011) The European market relies heavily on long term contracts with price terms based on a mix of competing fuels, and pipeline access is restricted. This policy was crafted by way of reaction to the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo; it’s inherently inapplicable to today’s market and serves as a hindrance to full development of the European spot market. (McRae and Ruppel, 2011) Europe – Sources of Supply Europe is at considerable disadvantage in terms of security of natural gas supply—there is access to Russian and Central Asian natural gas, but only through Russian pipeline systems monopolized by Gazprom and Transneft, meaning shipments are highly subject to disruption resulting from infighting between Russia and transit-nation Ukraine. (Mitchell, 2012) While France has been determined to contain a remarkable 180TCF of shale gas, Europe may never see the benefit as France has invested in nuclear to eliminate the need for hydrocarbon exploration, and holds a moratorium on same. Poland is the other European country with significant shale gas; they intend to monetize their resources expeditiously. (McRae and Ruppel, 2011) Europe – Dependence on Imports While dependency rates between EU nations varies, the EU imported 54.1% of its gross energy consumption in 2010 (European Commission, 2012), indicating great dependence on seller nations (primarily Russia, Nigeria, Algeria, Qatar and Norway). The EU receives almost 50% of its gas by pipeline, and LNG continues to support the Iberian Peninsula. Diversification of supply is a high priority. (McRae and Ruppel, 2011) One major step to liberalizing markets would be to establish pricing mechanisms not tied to oil. While potential exists for shale gas development to reduce European imports, stringent EU environmental regulations ensure Europe’s dependence on imports for years ahead. Lengthy disruptions are unlikely as Russia and Algeria have failed to reinvest hydrocarbon revenues for economic growth; they remain highly dependent on steady cash inflows to remain solvent. If a lengthy disruption did happen, Europe generally has powerful North American allies who may use diplomacy, sanctions or hostility to mitigate damage. In the event of conflict, North American surplus LNG export capacity may bolster gas shortfalls in Europe. North America – Market Maturity The United States and Canada enjoy the most developed and un-restricted natural gas market in the world. Natural gas infrastructure is highly developed and is the mechanism by which the US was able to consume 22% of the world’s natural gas in 2009. (Mitchell, 2012) Natural gas is produced by private companies with open access to the pipeline network and sold at prices set by the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) based on principles of supply and demand. Gas in North America trades at the greatest degree of independence to oil compared to other regions, indicating an exceptionally mature natural gas market. North America Sources of Supply By way of the North American Free Trade Agreement, the US receives natural gas supply by pipeline from Canada and Mexico, and LNG shipments from Trinidad. Canada receives shipments of American gas to eastern markets via pipeline. Importation of Canadian hydrocarbons may increase if authorization is granted to build the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the Gulf Coast. North America – Dependence on Imports North America possesses the reserves and technology to theoretically discontinue natural gas imports. Whether this makes political sense is debatable—doing so would financially impair many supply nations with whom North American countries participate in a variety of global affairs. Canada and the US are particularly well situated to conduct natural gas arbitrage. Environmental concerns have slowed the development of the Keystone XL pipeline. Left unresolved, natural gas may be reallocated for export to Asia. Conclusions In the West (US and EU), increased market share for NG will be an adjustment to an already well-functioning energy supply chain. In China, development of a natural gas market will be part of a paradigm shiftacknowledgement that Chinese people are earning and spending more, and expect higher standards of living. While the West currently enjoys relatively convenient pricing on natural gas, China will boost Asia’s competitiveness with Europe for supplies from Russia, West Africa, Iraq and Central Asia. This will cause an eastward shift of the global gas supply chain, (Mitchell, 2012) and may shine a brighter light of scrutiny on Asia’s standards of conduct that might not be in line with a Western sense of decency. The results of such confrontation on natural gas markets are impossible to predict. One thing we can be sure of is that natural gas as a commodity is more than just a tool by which we power our machines or heat our homes. Natural gas is a gift to the world that if used correctly, can drastically improve the human experience for a great many people. Whether buyer and seller nations can be pragmatic about international trade agreements, use the proceeds to grow internal economies, and establish transparency in the marketplace are the metrics by which we will know if this resource is being put to good use or merely squandered. REFERENCES 1) Mitchell, J. (Nov 2010) â€Å"More for Asia: Rebalancing World Oil and Gas† Chatham House 2) McRae, G. and Ruppel, C. (Jun 2011) â€Å"The Future of Natural Gas, An Interdisciplinary MIT Study† Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Available at: http://mitei.mit.edu/publications/reports-studies/future-natural-gas 3) Perkowski, J. (May 2012) â€Å"China’sBest kept Secrets: Mianyang and Other Tier 3 Cities† Forbes Magazine. [Online] Available at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/jackperkowski/2012/05/11/chinas-best-kept-secrets-mianyang-and-other-tier-3-cities/ 4) Huang, L. (May 2012) â€Å"Development in China’s Natural Gas Industry Regulation† Advanced Materials Research. [Online] Volume 527-527 pp 3058-3061. Available at: http://www.scientific.net/AMR.524-527.3058 5) Faulkner, C. (Sep 2012) â€Å"China’s Natural Gas Potential† Business Excellence [Online] 26 September. Available from: http://www.bus-ex.com/article/china%E2%80%99 s-natural-gas-potential 6) Aishu, C. and Hua, J. [Ed. Fernandez, C.] (Oct 2012) â€Å"China Prioritizes Use of Natural Gas By Vehicles, Ships† Reuters [Online] 31 October. Available from: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/31/china-gas-policy-idUSL3E8LV5DN20121031 7) Hamilton, G. (Aug 2012) â€Å"Shell Canada to go ahead with Kitimat LNG projects despite billion-dollar Chinese gas investment† [Online] 21 August. Available from: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/resources/Shell+Canada+ahead+with+Kitimat+projects+despite/7124608/story.html 8) Main Origin of Primary Energy Imports, EU-27, 2002-2010.[Online] European Commission Eurostat. Available from: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Energy_production_and_imports

Weight Problems Related to Problems with Fertility Essay -- Infertilit

Weight Problems Related to Problems with Fertility Infertility is a consequence of eating disorders that is not addressed as often as other consequences. What effect does eating disorders have infertility? Eating disorders can have people overweight, underweight and sometimes a normal weight. Body size has been related to several gynecological disorders. Higher risks of infertility have been found in both overweight and underweight women. To what extent being excessively under or overweight increases a woman’s risk for infertility is unknown. Women who are excessively underweight or overweight may be at increased risk of amenorrhea. Women need to have a certain amount of body fat in order to menstruate and conceive children. Many anorexic girls and women either never get their period or their period stops due to extreme weight loss. The cessation of menstruation, (amenorrhea), can be permanent depending on how long a woman has been suffering from anorexia. But for most women menstruation will start up when they begin to gain weight. Roughly 80% of anorexic women who successfully treat their eating disorder will regain their ability to conceive. When a woman's percentage of body fat falls below a certain minimum her body doesn't produce the levels of hormones necessary to stimulate ovulation. Rapid weight loss and undernourishment leads a woman's body into a state of emergency and she will not menstruate if she is just barely surviving. Low weight and weight loss is also associated with ovulatory dysfunction and thus infertility. Even a moderate weight loss of 10-15% under ideal body weight can result in menstrual irregularity. It does not need to be the weight alteration of 30% or more as seen in women with anorexia n... ...y a baby in a health environment. Works Cited 1.Bulik CM, Sullivan PF, Fear JL, Pickering A, Dawn A, and McCullin M: Fertility and Reproduction in Women With Anorexia Nervosa: A Controlled Study. J Clin Psychiatry 60:2,1999 2.Green BB, Weiss NS, and Daling JR: Risk of ovulatory infertility in relation to body weight. Fertility and Sterility 50:5,1988 3.Grodstein F, Goldman MB, and Cramer DW: Body Mass Index and Ovulatory Infertility. Epidemiology 5:2,1994 4.Lake JK, Power C, and Cole TJ: Women’s reproductive health: the role of the body mass index in early and adult life. International Journal of Obesity 21:6,1997 5.Reid RL, and Van Vugt DA: Weight-related changes in reproductive function. Fertility and Sterility 48:6,1987 6.Stewart DE, Robinson GE, Goldbloom DS, and Wright C: Infertility and eating disorders. Am J Obstet Gynecol 163:4,1990 Weight Problems Related to Problems with Fertility Essay -- Infertilit Weight Problems Related to Problems with Fertility Infertility is a consequence of eating disorders that is not addressed as often as other consequences. What effect does eating disorders have infertility? Eating disorders can have people overweight, underweight and sometimes a normal weight. Body size has been related to several gynecological disorders. Higher risks of infertility have been found in both overweight and underweight women. To what extent being excessively under or overweight increases a woman’s risk for infertility is unknown. Women who are excessively underweight or overweight may be at increased risk of amenorrhea. Women need to have a certain amount of body fat in order to menstruate and conceive children. Many anorexic girls and women either never get their period or their period stops due to extreme weight loss. The cessation of menstruation, (amenorrhea), can be permanent depending on how long a woman has been suffering from anorexia. But for most women menstruation will start up when they begin to gain weight. Roughly 80% of anorexic women who successfully treat their eating disorder will regain their ability to conceive. When a woman's percentage of body fat falls below a certain minimum her body doesn't produce the levels of hormones necessary to stimulate ovulation. Rapid weight loss and undernourishment leads a woman's body into a state of emergency and she will not menstruate if she is just barely surviving. Low weight and weight loss is also associated with ovulatory dysfunction and thus infertility. Even a moderate weight loss of 10-15% under ideal body weight can result in menstrual irregularity. It does not need to be the weight alteration of 30% or more as seen in women with anorexia n... ...y a baby in a health environment. Works Cited 1.Bulik CM, Sullivan PF, Fear JL, Pickering A, Dawn A, and McCullin M: Fertility and Reproduction in Women With Anorexia Nervosa: A Controlled Study. J Clin Psychiatry 60:2,1999 2.Green BB, Weiss NS, and Daling JR: Risk of ovulatory infertility in relation to body weight. Fertility and Sterility 50:5,1988 3.Grodstein F, Goldman MB, and Cramer DW: Body Mass Index and Ovulatory Infertility. Epidemiology 5:2,1994 4.Lake JK, Power C, and Cole TJ: Women’s reproductive health: the role of the body mass index in early and adult life. International Journal of Obesity 21:6,1997 5.Reid RL, and Van Vugt DA: Weight-related changes in reproductive function. Fertility and Sterility 48:6,1987 6.Stewart DE, Robinson GE, Goldbloom DS, and Wright C: Infertility and eating disorders. Am J Obstet Gynecol 163:4,1990

Nature View Case Study

The core focus of the case for us is to look at alternative strategies for going to market, which are the issues raised in questions 1, 2, 4, and 5. It is sometimes useful to create models in excel to help evaluate one’s options which I have referenced in 3a and thru the link included below. 1. How has Natureview succeeded in the natural foods channel? Nature View has succeeded in the natural foods channel through the use of brokers who sell its product (yogurt) to natural foods retailers. Their brokers have the direct relationship with the retailers, meaning: the retailers purchase the Natureview yogurt from the brokers and not directly from Natureview itself. Using this broker distribution channel system Natureview has succeeded in capturing 25% of the natural food market. This system has also enabled an increase in sales for its 8 ounce and 32 ounce products. Perhaps more importantly, the health food channel was successful because of its success in reaching the target market. Health conscious women were Natureview’s target market and their brokers worked with retailers that had access to that demographic. More specifically they targeted women who earned high incomes, were education, and lived in the Northeastern or Western USA 2. What are the two primary types of growth strategies under consideration by Natureview? The first strategy was to remain in the natural/healthy foods channels of distribution and make little change to their current model. The second growth strategy was to enter select supermarkets for broader exposure. The first strategy involved increasing the market share of Natureview in the natural foods market in which they were already present. They would have focused their marketing efforts on the target audience with greater intensity. Natureview would have to modify its product to satisfy the needs of this segment by using price differentiation and it would have to launch advertisement campaigns/promotions to support this strategy. The second strategy was to enter select supermarkets and break into the grocery market segment. The motivating factor for entering supermarkets was based in the fact that 97% of all yogurts are sold in super-markets. More importantly to Natureview, 46% of organic food eaters shop at supermarkets. If Natureview wanted a successful presence in supermarkets it would need to develop a yogurt product line specifically for supermarkets with appropriate price points, advertising and promotional plans. Additionally, they would need to negotiate terms and conditions with the supermarkets because of the different relationship without their usual brokers. 3a. How do the three options compare financially in terms of yearly revenue, gross margin, required investment, and profit potential? Note: to help you evaluate this I have posted an excel model to HuskyCT. The three options are distinct with options one and two being more similar than option three. Initial annual revenue for option three is the only one in the positive; however, five years into each option, options one and two are roughly six and four times higher than option three respectively. Gross margins for options one and two are relatively equal, but the margin for is half for the distributer yet greater by seven percent for the retailers. The required investment for option three ($400+) pales by comparison with options one and two being nearly four and five million dollars respectively. This intial cost is offset by the potential profits over the lifespan of the options; option three yield of only $4. 8M , option two coming in at $10. 6M, and option one with a walloping $11. 0M of respective net present values. 3b. If the venture capitalists extended their deadline for meeting the $20 million revenue target by 12 to 18 months, would that change your recommended action plan? The supermarket options would have to be chosen to raise the $20M with the extra time given. With distribution through supermarkets they wwold be able to realize their target by 2001. The larger customer base of the supermarkets provides a strategic advantage that the health foolds market doesn’t. The inherent risk of this option is that the profitability of Natureview will diminish and jeopardize the premium price it currently enjoys in the natural food segment. 4. What are the strategic advantages and risks of each option? What channel management and conflict issues are involved? Natureview will have to deal with significant channel management issues if it pursues the supermarket options. It will thrust the company into direct competition with large national brands, forcing it to adjust its price to match the prices of those national brands. Natureview would also have to negotiate with supermarket chains and obtain favorable conditions for the retail of their products. Most significant to brand management, selling Natureview yoghurt may change the brand-value perception of the consumer by reposition the brand of Natureview in the less exclusive supermarkets. It may lose its perceived value as a high-value natural yoghurt and instead be seen more as an ordinary yogurt. Customers that bought Natureview from healthy foods retailers may instead buy Natureview from the supermarkets at lower prices, hence reducing the volume of sales through healthy food retailers. If the company stays in healthy foods markets only then the company misses out on huge sales volumes and profits. 5. What action plan should the company pursue? What changes in the current marketing mix, sales, brand, and channel partner arrangements do you recommend in order to implement the action plan? Natureview should choose the option to enter the supermarkets segment because of its investors’ demands. The venture capitalists’ decision to cash out, has forced Natureview to court more agreeable investors. In order to get the right class of investor, Natureview must increase its revenues to $20 million. Entering the supermarket segment suits the company best because this plan provides the highest possibility of achieving Natureview's sales revenue targets. Natureview also gets access to a larger base of yogurt consumers through this strategy. Even though the marketing and channel development costs will be high at first, this option provides the best available plan for achieving their short term revenue targets.

Comprehensive Balance Sheet and Income Statement

Course Project Comprehensive Balance Sheet December 31st 2012 Assets Current Assets Cash $42,485 Account Receivable$165,824 Allowance for Doubtful accounts 1,850 Net Accounts Receivable 163,974 Inventories 499,493 Securities (available for sale/at fair market value) 28,250 Notes Receivable (due next year) 23,000 Prepaid Expenses 16,252 Total Current Assets†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦$773,454 Non-Current Assets Investments in Warren Co. $87,500 Land 125,000 Building$975,800 Accumulated Depreciation 341,200 Net building 634,600 Goodwill 100,000 Patents 125,000Copyrights 105,000 Trademarks 80,000 Deposits with Vendors 50,000 Total Noncurrent Assets†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢ € ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ $1,307,100 Total Assets $2,080,554 Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity Liabilities Current Liabilities Accounts Payable $197,532 Income Taxes Payable 62,520 Salaries Payable52,000 Notes Payable to Banks50,000 Mortgage Payable-current portion18,000 Accrued Liabilities 9,500 Accrued Interest on Notes payable 500 Customer Deposits (expected to be paid next year) 420 Total Current Liabilities†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. $390,472Non-Current Liabilities Mortgage Payable $290,000 Twenty-year, 12% Bonds, due 1/01/13500,000 Total Non-current Liabilities†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. $790,000 Total Liabilities$1,180,472 Stockholder’s equity Preferred Stock, 7%$300,000 Common Stock 400,000 Additional Paid-in Capital 37,500 Retained Earnings 162,582 Total Stockholders’ equity†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ $900,000 Total Liabilities and stockholders’ equity$2,080,554 Income Statement For the Year ending December 31st 2012 Sales Revenue$2,000,000 Sales Discounts 120,000 Net Sales Revenue $1,880,000 Costs of Goods Sold 1,000,000Gross Profit $880,000 Less: Operating Expenses Selling Expenses Selling Expenses$300,000 Depreciation Expenses 60,000 Total Selling Expenses†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã ¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 360,000 Administrative Expenses Administration Expenses$350,000 Depreciation Expenses 40,000 Total Admin Expenses†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 390,000 Total Operating Expenses 750,000 Total Operating Income $130,000 Other Operating Income Rental Income$50,000 Dividend Income 30,000 Interest Revenue 25,000 105,000 Earnings before taxes $235,000 Income Tax expense 82,250 Net income $152,750

Seeds of Change essays

Seeds of Change essays People are afraid of change. If something is new or foreign or simply different, we tend to be fearful of it. We have seen this reaction throughout history, ranging from communism to anti-Semitism; this reaction can also take form in men who fear that treating women as equals will totally change the face of our patriarchal society. These men do not want women to become educated or join the work force, and they will use almost any means necessary to keep women in their place and maintain their own role as boss, as shown in James Overfields Sources of Twentieth Century Global History, through the writings of Egyptian feminist Bahithat al-Badiya, American feminist Anna Howard Shaw, and Chinese feminist Qiu Jin. These sources reveal the perspectives of feminists around the world, showing their response to the oppressed and stifled role of women in society, and their initiatives to bring change and equality to women everywhere. A Lecture in the Club of the Umma Party, written in 1909 by Bahithat al-Badiya, shows her response to the many hardships that Egyptian women experienced in their everyday lives. This piece is a lecture given to the Umma Party, written in very logical and formulated arguments. For example, she states that men are hypocritical, and then goes on to provide evidence through many specific instances. Her speech is also very practical and pragmatic, containing eight concrete methods for bringing change to the inequality of womens daily lives. The speaker wrote this piece to give women hope, and assure them that they are not alone in their struggles against oppression from male society. A reason that al-Badiya highlights for certain men oppressing women and prohibiting them from becoming educated and joining the work force is that these men fear losing their jobs, and therefore their superiority, to the women. Society believes that when [wom...

Free Essays on Into Thin Air

A FEW years ago, after reading Jon Krakauer's horrifying account of the 1996 expeditions to Everest (Into Thin Air) in which 11 climbers died (nine on a single night) due to a combination of bad luck, bad weather and inexperience, I got a bit put off by this mountain climbing business. To "prove" themselves, people had begun paying vast sums of money to be literally pushed or carried up the great mountain, at great risk not only to themselves, but to others as well, just so that later, they could boast that they had "conquered Everest". Right at the beginning of this book, Bear Grylls, at 23, the youngest Briton to have made it to the summit and back (which is what this book is about), admits: I didn't conquer Everest - Everest allowed me to crawl up one side and stay on the peak for a few minutes. This humility stays with the book throughout and is all the more refreshing as Grylls is at an age at which most young men swagger around being excessively macho and gung-ho. And Grylls had more reason than most to swagger. Two years before making his attempt, while serving with the British army, he broke his back in a freefall when his parachute failed to open during a jump. You might think that recovering from a broken back is adventure enough for a lifetime - but there is that dreadful demon in the human spirit, which awakens at such times and demands its pound of flesh. You have to do more - much more than merely recover and be normal. And you will find no peace until you do so. For Bear Grylls, always an avid climber, that meant an attempt on Everest - a mountain that has fascinated countless and drawn hundreds to its icy slopes. (The mountain claims one life for every six successful summit attempts.) This book recounts that story: from the run-around for sponsors, the hard training involved, the formation of the team, the wait at base camp and the attempt itself. What comes through clearly is how mountaineering cuts out all the ... Free Essays on Into Thin Air Free Essays on Into Thin Air A FEW years ago, after reading Jon Krakauer's horrifying account of the 1996 expeditions to Everest (Into Thin Air) in which 11 climbers died (nine on a single night) due to a combination of bad luck, bad weather and inexperience, I got a bit put off by this mountain climbing business. To "prove" themselves, people had begun paying vast sums of money to be literally pushed or carried up the great mountain, at great risk not only to themselves, but to others as well, just so that later, they could boast that they had "conquered Everest". Right at the beginning of this book, Bear Grylls, at 23, the youngest Briton to have made it to the summit and back (which is what this book is about), admits: I didn't conquer Everest - Everest allowed me to crawl up one side and stay on the peak for a few minutes. This humility stays with the book throughout and is all the more refreshing as Grylls is at an age at which most young men swagger around being excessively macho and gung-ho. And Grylls had more reason than most to swagger. Two years before making his attempt, while serving with the British army, he broke his back in a freefall when his parachute failed to open during a jump. You might think that recovering from a broken back is adventure enough for a lifetime - but there is that dreadful demon in the human spirit, which awakens at such times and demands its pound of flesh. You have to do more - much more than merely recover and be normal. And you will find no peace until you do so. For Bear Grylls, always an avid climber, that meant an attempt on Everest - a mountain that has fascinated countless and drawn hundreds to its icy slopes. (The mountain claims one life for every six successful summit attempts.) This book recounts that story: from the run-around for sponsors, the hard training involved, the formation of the team, the wait at base camp and the attempt itself. What comes through clearly is how mountaineering cuts out all the ... Free Essays on Into Thin Air Into Thin Air is without a doubt a unique and outstanding novel that grips the reader’s interest and holds onto it until the very last paragraph. What makes it so unique is the fact that the story is told in the first person by one of the few survivors of the deadly climb. Each tragic episode is described in grotesque detail which is clear right from the beginning. The first chapter of the book catapults the reader to the summit of Mt. Everest, moments before the tragic chain of events that made up the disaster begin. The narrative hook is clear within the first couple of paragraphs. The narrator reaches the summit and then shortly after begins his decent where he suffers from a great loss of oxygen. He then looks down the side of the mountain to see a deadly storm building. The first chapter ends with the statement that the storm ahead â€Å"by the end of the day, every minute will count.† There after the author spends time educating the reader of the background of the mountain and events leading up to what happened in the first chapter. Krakauer does a good job of explaining how the highest point on earth was discovered with a short history lesson on Everest. Krakauer writes of the many expeditions that scaled Everest and how over the years the attempts were becoming more for the wealthy egotistical extremists who were in it for the publicity rather than those mountaineers who were in it for the love of the sport. It is this fact that is the reason for the author to join a team to climb Everest. He writes for Outsider magazine and was offered a cheap price to achieve his life goal in return for substantial advertisement in the magazine. Krakauer retells his Everest account in a way that even a person who knows nothing about climbing could understand and follow the story line. He explains the long and detailed process a climber must go through to be able to withstand the scarce oxygen levels. The less wildly known te...

Writing and childrens learning in the 21st century Essay

Writing and childrens learning in the 21st century - Essay Example However, as a result, this might create pedagogic implications to a practitioner. In the 21st century, technology has been encouraged to be used throughout the learning activities in the classroom (Eristi et al, 2012). Throughout the 21st century, there has been an extensive use of technology. This is particularly true with the manner in which technology has been introduced to the classrooms and is still developing further. Hence, many of the learners in today’s society, including those in primary years are involved in using technology of some sort, whether inside or outside the classroom. Most of the technologies that have been implemented in the classrooms include projectors, smart white boards and Ipads as well. Thus, as with the implementation of these technologies, it is vital that students’ learning process deal with technology. According to the Board of Studies Syllabus, (2012), it is a key component. Through an objective A, ‘communicate through speaking, listening, reading, writing, viewing and representing’ the outcomes in the classrooms do indicate the use of technology. This is seen through outcomes, ENe-3A, EN1-3A, EN2-3A, EN3-3A, (Board of Studies, 2012). Most importantly is that, as the learners are involved in technology, they get to create texts for different reasons and audiences. For instance, learners may use their computers at home to compose a text as a message to a friend on a blog. However, while in the classroom, the learner may use the classroom computer to write a story or even analyse literary texts found online. Thus, while at home, the learner creates a text using technology for different purposes and different audiences, whereas in the classroom, the audience is the teacher who is expected to read the story and award marks based on the performance of the student. At home the audience is a friend whom the child probably is chatting with. When children experience the learning required of them or

Kingdom Tower Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Kingdom Tower - Essay Example At the same time, concrete technology to be applied, the designs for the structure have much to be admired. Construction of the Kingdom Tower has both social and political implications in the region as well as the world. Saudi Gazette (web) states that the enormous structure is to consume 80,000 tons of steel, 500,000m ³ concrete, covering construction area of 530,000m ², incurring a total cost of US $ 1.23 billion. This implies that the project will have great impact on the social, environmental and political spheres. Socially, the project will create employment in the region, for example; Advanced Construction Technology Services (ACTS) is the consulting organization responsible for quality control for the project and offers job employment to 100 experts (Gizmodo web). This will be accompanied by cross-cutting issues in construction such as labor related issues, tourism attraction site, as well as environmental impact assessment. One of the political factors driving the construction is that the Saudis want to be the best in the West and Asian continents. The project is undertaken near the coast, a harsh environment for concrete structures. However, there are new innovations in concrete technology. These areas of innovation are worth implementation for the building. There is need to prolong the service life for reinforcement used for the structure since vast resources have been invested. Use of corrosion-inhibiting admixtures, epoxycoated steel reinforcement, of cathodic protection, and application of protective coating on the surface of the concrete are some of the new innovations in concrete technology that can be applied (Mehta pp.