Saturday, August 31, 2019

Poe’s Devices for Heightening the Effect of Terror and Horror in Short Stories Essay

Edgar Allan Poe, an American poet, critic and writer of the XIX-th century, is a world- recognised master of the horror genre. Poe’s Tales of Arabesque clearly demonstrate his talent for cultivation of mystery, terror, and macabre. The process of this horror cultivation is very subtle and complicated. Poe, like an artist of arabesque who intertwines and interlaces flowers into an elaborate pattern, weaves a net of mystery and horror and entangles the reader in it. Poe starts any work ‘with consideration of the effect’ it would have on the reader. All other stages of story creation and literary devices used for it depend on that main effect. Thus, the genre of Poe’s works, their plot structure, type of narration, word choice, and imagery are the devices, with the help of which Poe creates and heightens the effect of terror and horror. Such works as ‘The Cask of Amontillado’, ‘MS Found in a Bottle’, and ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ serve as vivid examples of Poe’s sophisticated but very effective horror creating technique. The effect produced by the work on its reader largely depends on the genre of this work. It is no mere chance that Poe chooses the genre of a short story for his works of horror. On the one hand, a short story provides the writer with enough space to intrigue the reader, to rouse his interest in the plot. ‘MS Found in a Bottle’, for example, invites the reader to take part in a fantastic adventure in the midst of the stormy ocean. On the other hand, the plot unfolds very quickly, leaving no time for reasoning and meditation, keeping the senses heightened and sharp. Thus the perception of horror deepens and strengthens. Short forms of a short story bind the reader to pay closer attention to every word, to every comma and exclamation mark. Words used to create the atmosphere of terror and mystery become more colourful, more significant and profound: metaphors grow into symbols, symbols – to allegories. In ‘The Cask of Amontillado’, for example, the suspense of something terrible increases with every step Fortunato makes into the depth of the Montresors’ catacombs, with his every cough, with every proposal of Montresor to come back. But the effect of horror is heightened not only by length of a story, but also by its plot structure. A very short introduction or its complete absence and the disjunction placed at the very beginning of the story put the reader into the coarse of events at once. The events are mostly proleptic; being unaware of their meaning readers start experiencing nervousness and alarm, they feel that some dark, arcane mystery is about to uncover. The reversal in a short story comes to the end and it always comes unexpectedly. With the help of this device the writer shocks the reader, greatly intensifying his horror. Thus, terrified with the gloomy atmosphere of the Roderick’s castle and the constant sensation of trouble, the reader gets truly horrified at the sight of Roderick’s dead sister, lady Madeline, suddenly revived to life. The absence of a resolution prolongs the shock from the terrible mystery uncovered; or, as it is in ‘MS Found in a Bottle’, – the mystery that can never be resolved. The manner in which the story is narrated is no less important for heightening the effect of horror than its very plot. Though all the three stories proposed for this study are narrated in the first person, they are told in various types of the first person. These types differ by four main aspects. The first one is the part that the narrator plays in the story and his influence on the course of events. The narrator of the ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ is the central figure of the plot, moreover, he is its moving force. The reality of the story is revealed to us through Montresor’s eyes and is estimated by him. The reader is always with the narrator and as the narrator is a murderer the reader becomes his unwilling accomplice to murder. The horror of being a murderer is absolute. The narrator of ‘MS Found in a Bottle’ is also the central figure of the plot, all the events happen to him and are described by him. Being always together with the narrator, the reader embarks on a dangerous, perilous, hair-rising adventure, which ends as unexpectedly as it begins. Unlike the previous two stories, ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ is not a story about the narrator. It is Roderick Usher who is in the centre of the plot, it is his mind and his life that we are interested in. But as we are with the narrator, who is an observer and estimator of events, we can only feel the dark mystery of the House of Usher, but can not penetrate into. There is no greater horror than that of mystery and no greater terror than that of the unknown. The second aspect in which the three first person narrations differ is the use of tenses. Poe intentionally tells ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ in the past and presents all the events in chronological order. This device helps the writer to show the mind and actions of an insane person, who carefully plans a murder and methodically carries it out. Because of such step- by-step development of the plot the feeling of horror progressively grows higher and sensations of terror deposit. In ‘MS Found in a Bottle’ the writer builds up the narration in a way to bring the story closer to the reality and to the reader. That’s why he makes use not only of the past tense, but also of the present and even the present continuous. By describing the mysterious ship in the present the writer transports the reader on its deck, makes him feel the tossing of the ship, inhale the salty air. The use of the present continuous in the very end of the story heightens the horror and despair of being ‘amid a roaring, and bellowing, and thundering of ocean and of tempest’. The syntactic structure of the final passage – short abrupt sentences separated by dashes – creates the effect of the stream of consciousness and makes the reader not only the witness, but a participant of the final scene. The three main tenses of ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’- past perfect, past, and future – expand the borders of the events narrated. The past tense helps the writer to describe Roderick Usher as a reserved, mysterious, gloomy, melancholic, and abnormally sensitive person. The flash back made into Roderick’s childhood with the help of the past perfect shows that he has always been that kind of person and all his ancestors were like him. The future shows that though the House of Usher fell the mystery of it will never be solved. Thus the sense of ‘insufferable gloom’ and FEAR, which Roderick and his house arouse in the reader, roots in the ancient past and prolongs itself into the future. The final aspect that makes each of the three stories unique is the structure of the narration. ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ is formed of a combination of dialog, monologue, and description. These are the dialogues here that are of particular interest to the study. Dialogues of ‘The Cask’ are short and abrupt. Answers given to the questions are brief and concrete ( ‘Nitre? ‘ he asked, at length. ‘Nitre,’ I replied. ). This device makes every single word symbolic. Dialogues here are the part of the imagery that helps to draw the picture of horror and expectation of threat. Dialogues of ‘The House of Usher’ differ from those of ‘The Cask’. They are long, descriptive, and complicated. Some dialogues between the narrator and his friend grow into the monologues of Roderick. The final monologue of Roderick composed of broken and disconnected sentences shows the shock of horror Roderick experienced when he felt that Madeline was back from her tomb. This shock extends to the narrator and to the reader. ‘MS Found in a Bottle’ consists of a single monologue. The changing speech of the narrator reflects his mood and influences the mood of the reader. But the main function of this monologue is to create the hostile, tense, and gloomy atmosphere of the confusing reality. The main thing that influences the way in which the story effects the reader is the setting. Poe uses various stylistic devices to create a sinister setting and thus heighten the effect of horror and terror in his short stories. Metaphor is one of the most important stylistic devices. It enables the writer to describe implicitly the thing or notion for which there is no name in the common language, or a feeling ‘which will admit to no analysis’. Thus, for example, the supernatural wild ocean is named ‘watery hell’ or ‘chaos of water’. Simile helps to describe the indescribable in a more explicit form. Such similes as ‘waters rear heads like demons of the deep’, or ‘crew glide like the ghosts of the buried centuries’ arouse associations with death, mystery, and myth. And the comparison of the windows of the house of Usher with blind eyes inspires us to take the house as a living creature, strange and dangerous. Another device, used to animate inanimate objects is personification. Whatever Poe personifies – the wind (‘breath of wind’), silence (‘obstinate silence’), tempest (‘bellow of the tempest’), or air (‘wild air’) -it becomes brighter and more profound. Epithets carry out a chief function in creating the main images of the stories and drawing their sinister and horrifying settings. Thus, the ocean in ‘MS Found in a Bottle’ is described as unfathomable, terrible and thundering; the ship is gigantic and supernatural; the house of Usher is melancholy and ancient, it has bleak walls, dark intricate passages, Gothic archways, vaulted ceilings, and it inspires a ‘sense of insufferable gloom’ and ‘unredeemed dreariness’; the vaults of the Montresors are dark, damp and sombre. Poe frequently uses epithets that show the extreme quality, power, or size of an object described. Such epithets as intolerably hot wind, extreme fury, immense pressure, terrific breakers, and colossal supports form the fantastic reality of Poe’s works. An immense impact on our senses and feelings is made by colour and light words. Poe paints his gloomy settings with four main colours: black, red, grey, and yellow. These colours, however, never repeat those that we are used to, they are always unique and special. Poe sees every subtle hue of the colour and observes the way it ‘behaves’. Red, for example, is presented in two main hues: dusky-red and blood-red; it glares, streams down, or gleams in encrimsoned light. Red is the colour of blood and is therefore associated with pain and murder. Black, ebony black, and deep dingy black are the colours of ‘eternal night’ and ‘pitchy darkness’. They symbolise death, burial, fear, horror, and misfortune. Grey and leaden-hued arouse associations with ghosts, shadows, something elusive, mysterious, and imperceptible. Yellow or sickly yellow is traditionally regarded as the colour of disease, sickness, and insanity. The light in the stories is never bright but is always indiscrete, feeble, sluggish, faintly discernible, ghastly and mystic. And the gloomy setting created with the help of these hues of light can arouse in the reader nothing but the sensation of growing fear. In the conclusion it would be necessary to mention, that Edgar Allan Poe is an unsurpassed master of the horror creating technique. He uses such devices as genre, structure of the plot, type and structure of narration, vivid imagery, settings, colour, and light to heighten the effect of terror and horror in his short stories. The contribution he made into the development of the horror genre can not be overestimated.

Friday, August 30, 2019

World Wide Web and E-commerce Winter

Introduction to E-Commerce Revenue Models Objectives In this chapter, you will learn about: Revenue models How some companies move from one revenue model to another to achieve success Revenue strategy issues that companies face when selling on the Web An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 2 1 Objectives (continued) Creating an effective business presence on the Web Web site usability Communicating effectively with customers on the Web An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 3 Revenue Models Mail order or catalog model Proven to be successful for a wide variety of consumer items Web catalog revenue model Taking the catalog model to the WebAn Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 4 2 Computers and Consumer Electronics Apple, Dell, Gateway, and Sun Microsystems have had great success selling on the Web Dell created value by designing its entire business around offering a high degree of configuration flexibility to its customers An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 5 Books, Music , and Videos Retailers use the Web catalog model to sell books, music, and videos Among the most visible examples of electronic commerce Jeff Bezos Formed Amazon. com Jason and Matthew Olim Formed an online music store they called CDnow Used the Web catalog revenue model An Introduction to E-CommerceWinter 85, 6 3 Luxury Goods People are still reluctant to buy luxury goods through a Web site Web sites of Vera Wang and Versace Constructed to provide information to shoppers, not to generate revenue Web site of Evian Designed for a select, affluent group of customers An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 7 Clothing Retailers Lands’ End Pioneered the idea of online Web shopping assistance with its Lands’ End Live feature in 1999 Personal shopper Intelligent agent program that learns customer’s preferences and makes suggestions Virtual model Graphic image built from customer measurements An Introduction to E-CommerceWinter 85, 8 4 Flowers and Gifts 1-800-Flowers C reated an online extension to its telephone order business Chocolatier Godiva Offers business gift plans on its site An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 9 Digital Content Revenue Models Firms that own intellectual property have embraced the Web as a new and highly efficient distribution mechanism Lexis. com Provides full-text search of court cases, laws, patent databases, and tax regulations ProQuest Sells digital copies of published documents An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 10 5 Advertising-Supported Revenue Models Broadcasters provide free programming to an udience along with advertising messages Success of Web advertising is hampered by No consensus on how to measure and charge for site visitor views Stickiness of a Web site: the ability to keep visitors and attract repeat visitors Very few Web sites have sufficient visitors to interest large advertisers An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 11 Web Portals Web directory A listing of hyperlinks to Web pages Portal or Web portal Site used as a launching point to enter the Web Almost always includes a Web directory and search engine Examples: Yahoo! , AOL, AltaVista An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 12 6 Advertising-SubscriptionMixed Revenue Models Subscribers Pay a fee and accept some level of advertising Typically are subjected to much less advertising Used by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 13 Advertising-Subscription Mixed Revenue Models (continued) Business Week Offers some free content at its Business Week online site Requires visitors to buy a subscription to the Business Week print magazine An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 14 7 Fee-for-Transaction Revenue Models Businesses offer services and charge a fee based on the number or size of transactions processed DisintermediationRemoval of an intermediary from a value chain Reintermediation Introduction of a new intermediary An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 15 Fe e-for-Service Revenue Models Fee based on the value of a service provided Services range from games and entertainment to financial advice Online games Growing number of sites include premium games in their offerings Site visitors must pay to play these premium games An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 16 8 Fee-for-Service Revenue Models (continued) Concerts and films As more households obtain broadband access to the Internet, companies are providing streaming video of concerts and films to paying ubscribers Professional Services State laws are one of the main forces preventing U. S. professionals from extending their practices to the Web An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 17 Revenue Models in Transition Subscription to advertising-supported model Microsoft founded its Slate magazine Web site An upscale news and current events publication Charged an annual subscription fee after a limited free introductory period Was unable to draw sufficient number of paid subscribers Now operated as an advertising-supported site An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 18 9 Advertising-Supported to AdvertisingSubscription Mixed Model Salon. om Operated for several years as an advertisingsupported site Now offers an optional subscription version of its site Subscription offering was motivated by the company’s inability to raise additional money from investors An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 19 Advertising-Supported to Feefor-Services Model Xdrive Technologies Opened its original advertising-supported Web site in 1999 Offered free disk storage space online to users After two years, it was unable to pay the costs of providing the service with the advertising revenue generated Later switched to a subscription-supported model An Introduction to E-CommerceWinter 85, 20 10 Advertising-Supported to Subscription Model Northern Light Founded in August 1997 as a search engine with a twist Revenue model Combination of advertising-supported model plus a fee-base d information access service January 2002 Converted to a new revenue model that was primarily subscription supported An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 21 Multiple Transitions Encyclop? dia Britannica Original offerings The Britannica Internet Guide Free Web navigation aid Encyclop? dia Britannica Online Available for a subscription fee or as part of a CD package 1999 Converted to a free, advertiser-supported site 001 Returned to a mixed model An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 22 11 Revenue Strategy Issues Channel conflict Occurs whenever sales activities on a company’s Web site interfere with existing sales outlets Also called cannibalization Channel cooperation Giving customers access to the company’s products through a coordinated presence in all distribution channels An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 23 Strategic Alliances and Channel Distribution Management Strategic alliance When two or more companies join forces to undertake an activity over a long period of time Account aggregation servicesIncrease the propensity of customers to return to the site Channel distribution managers Companies that take over the responsibility for a particular product line within a retail store An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 24 12 Creating an Effective Web Presence An organization’s presence The public image it conveys to its stakeholders Stakeholders of a firm Include its customers, suppliers, employees, stockholders, neighbors, and the general public An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 25 Achieving Web Presence Goals Objectives of the business Attracting visitors to the Web site Making the site interesting enough that visitors tay and explore Convincing visitors to follow the site’s links to obtain information An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 26 13 Achieving Web Presence Goals (continued) Objectives of the business Creating an impression consistent with the organization’s desired image Building a trusting relationship with visitors Reinforcing positive images that the visitor might already have about the organization Encouraging visitors to return to the site An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 27 Profit-Driven Organizations Toyota site A good example of an effective Web presence Provides links to Detailed information about each vehicle modelA dealer locator page Information about the company and the financing services it offers An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 28 14 Toyota U. S. Home page An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 29 Profit-Driven Organizations (continued) Quaker Oats Web site does not offer a particularly strong sense of corporate presence Site is a straightforward presentation of links to information about the firm Redesigned site is essentially the same as the previous version An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 30 15 Quaker Oats Old Home Page An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 31 Quaker Oats Home Page: 1999 RedesignAn Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 32 16 Not-for-Profit Organizations Key goal for the Web sites Information dissemination Key element on any successful electronic commerce Web site Combination of information dissemination and a two-way contact channel An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 33 Web Site Usability Motivations of Web site visitors Learning about products or services that the company offers Buying products or services that the company offers Obtaining information about warranty, service, or repair policies for products they purchased Obtaining general information about the company or organizationAn Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 34 17 Web Site Usability (continued) Motivations of Web site visitors Obtaining financial information for making an investment or credit granting decision Identifying the people who manage the company or organization Obtaining contact information for a person or department in the organization An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 35 Making Web Sites Accessible One of the best ways to accommodate a broad range of visitor needs is to build flexibility into the Web site’s interface Good site design lets visitors choose among information attributes Web sites can offer visitors multiple nformation formats by including links to files in those formats An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 36 18 Making Web Sites Accessible (continued) Goals that should be met when constructing Web sites Offer easily accessible facts about the organization Allow visitors to experience the site in different ways and at different levels Sustain visitor attention and encourage return visits Offer easily accessible information An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 37 Trust and Loyalty A 5 percent increase in customer loyalty can yield profit increases between 25% and 80% Repetition of satisfactory service can build ustomer loyalty Customer service is a problem for many electronic commerce sites An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 38 19 Usability Testing Companies that have done usability tests Conduct focus groups Watch how different customers navigate through a series of Web site test designs Cost of usability testing is low compared to the total cost of a Web site design or overhaul to E-Commerce An Introduction Winter 85, 39 Customer-Centric Web Site Design Putting the customer at the center of all site designs Guidelines Design the site around how visitors will navigate the links Allow visitors to access information quicklyAvoid using inflated marketing statements An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 40 20 Customer-Centric Web Site Design (continued) Guidelines Avoid using business jargon and terms that visitors might not understand Be consistent in use of design features and colors Make sure navigation controls are clearly labeled Test text visibility on smaller monitors Conduct usability tests An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 41 Connecting With Customers Personal contact model Firm’s e mployees individually search for, qualify, and contact potential customers Prospecting Personal contact approach to identifying and reaching customersMass media approach Firms prepare advertising and promotional materials about the firm and its products An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 42 21 Connecting With Customers (continued) Addressable media Advertising efforts directed to a known addressee Also called mass media One-to-many communication model Communication flows from one advertiser to many potential buyers One-to-one communication model Both buyer and seller participate in information exchange An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 43 Business Communication Modes An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 44 22 Summary Models used to generate revenue on the WebWeb catalog Digital content sales Advertising-supported Advertising-subscription mixed Fee-for-transaction and fee-for-service Companies undertaking electronic commerce initiatives sometimes Form strategic allia nces Contract with channel distribution managers An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 45 Summary (continued) Firms must understand how the Web differs from other media Enlisting the help of users when building test versions of the Web site is a good way to create a site that represents the organization well Firms must also understand the nature of communication on the Web An Introduction to E-Commerce Winter 85, 46 23

Thursday, August 29, 2019

MGMT Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MGMT - Assignment Example For example, managers are only recently beginning to be coached in order to relay responsibilities and duties to team leads under them. This has led to a somewhat distant employee/manager relationship with improvement based solely on written and verbal warnings. Secondly, there is a certain lack of communication between employee and management which is seen from the fact that to date none of the employee suggestions and opinions on policies or projects have been applied or even considered. Managers have only begun to be trained to communicate with their leads and hear their ideas. Even though employee performance management is effectively measured with monthly and annual reviews, three still isn’t a standard system in place for recording and evaluating employee complaints. Thus far, they are only able to put forth their concerns via email, which lacks anonymity, further discouraging many who would like to remain anonymous Thirdly, ERC also needs to develop a regular approach t o rewarding and appreciating its employees. It does intermittently hand out bonuses and rewards but on the whole needs a lot of improvement in reinforcing its employee’s hard work, motivation and dedication. For example, there still aren’t any programs rewarding employees of the month or handing out performance appraisals.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

No Child Left Behind Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

No Child Left Behind - Essay Example According to the research findings Wang and Fahey do not propose any particular questions but write that their research project had to examine the â€Å"growth patterns of parent volunteerism by national region, metropolitan status, gender, ethnicity, and immigrant status†. Later in their article, Wang and Fahey specify that their main hypothesis is that parents living in regions with strong civic traditions are more likely to volunteer than those living in large metropolitan areas. Wang and Fahey hypothesized that, in metropolitan communities, the lack of the sense of closeness failed to encourage parents to participate in their children’s learning, whereas parents in nonmetropolitan communities would be guided by the sense of cohesion and display stronger intentions to participate. There is no explicit conceptual framework for parental volunteerism and its implications for education. However, Wang and Fahey build on previous studies and use the results of their litera ture review to create a complex conceptual image of parental volunteerism and the factors affecting it. As such, Wang and Fahey link the concept of parental volunteerism to region and metropolitan status, gender, ethnicity, and immigrant status. Since parental volunteerism is not a theoretical but practical construct, no connections between the authors’ empirical observations and real-world settings have been provided. The analysis of previous findings makes it easier for the reader to develop theoretical-empirical links based on the study results. That Wang and Fahey (2010) provide a detailed discussion of the dependent and independent variables is one of the strongest sides of their research. In this study, the dependent variable was Volunteer, whereas independent variables included the time trend (Year 2002, Year 2004, and Year 2006), the regional status trend, gender, race/ethnicity and citizenship (Wang & Fahey, 2010). The notion of trends is extremely vague, and it is r ather difficult for the reader to develop and understand strong connections between the dependent and independent variables. Unfortunately, the researchers do not explain the meaning of these dependent variables, nor do they provide any detailed explanation of the components that make up these trends. Consequentially, tracing the process and progress of the statistical analysis is rather problematic, although the research design and procedure fit in the purpose and conditions of the discussed study. Wang and Fahey (2010) used the benefits of cross-sectional study design and relied on quantitative methods of data analysis. Statistical analyses were performed with the help of SAS 9.2. The benefits of statistical analyses cannot be overstated, as they ensure greater precision and accuracy of study results. The choice of logistic regressions was justified by the need to find and explain correlations among independent and dependent variables. In this sense, the statistical procedure is c onsistent with the goal and expected outcomes of the discussed research. Nevertheless, the choice of statistical methods raises the question of the applicability and practicality of the study findings and their implications for understanding the major education processes under the influence of NCLB. Wang and Fahey (2010) claim, that they collected their data from the Current

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 74

History - Essay Example The treasury was dedicated to protecting the member cities of the League from attack by Persia and Pericles used his persuasion to ensure that Athens benefits the most from the treasury. Pericles could be labeled as tyrannical because he was also arrogant. For example, Thucydides recounts that Pericles spoke with pride, saying that there was no living Athenian who ever put on mourning because of him (Thucydides 180). Pericles acted tyrannically as can be seen when he influence the Dalian League to send troops to engage the Peloponnese. Even though the League lost in the end, Pericles led the fight against the Peloponnesian war and this brought it many victories between 410 and 406. Finally, Pericles’ tyranny is best seen in his ability to manipulate his opponents’ arguments to his favor. For example, when confronted by some members of the Assembly about a fault they had noted in one of the policies they had passed under his influence, Pericles was candid. He countered that he could not change easily. He blatantly told them that they were the ones who changed but they initially took his advice gladly thinking that all would work out but only regretted later when it did not (Thucydides

Monday, August 26, 2019

Legal job protections Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Legal job protections - Essay Example Social Security Act enacted August 14, 1935, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) of 1986, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 may protect Amanda. The 1935 Social Security Act requires eligible people to receive unemployment benefits when due (State of Wisconsin, 2014). Title VII protects employees from unlawful termination of employment (U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2014). The COBRA guarantees Health Care Benefits to eligible employees who have lost their jobs. The 1935 Social Security Act may protect Amanda because she will qualify for unemployment benefits. The company will fire Amanda for unintentional actions. She has also worked for more than 680 hours in the company and received significant wages to launch a claim (The Employment Development Department, 2014). Amanda will be available and able to work though wholly unemployed. Amanda may enjoy unemployment benefits for 46 weeks. The COBRA may protect her health benefits for a limited period if the company terminates her employment. Indeed, Amanda and her family will enjoy their health benefits since her termination may not relate to gross misconduct. Moreover, the firm has more than 20 employees, and Amanda was a participant in the company’s health plan that mandates the company to continue maintaining the health scheme (U.S. Department of Labor, 2014). After termination, COBRA may guarantee health benefits to Amanda for a maximum of 18

Sunday, August 25, 2019

GlobShops Management of Outsourcing to Date Case Study

GlobShops Management of Outsourcing to Date - Case Study Example The paper tells that in this age, globalization and introduction of internet facilities enhanced the pace of outsourcing. In order to amplify the productivity and profitability of an organization, the concept of outsourcing of information technology are recognized as one of the most important business strategies so as to improve the position and ranking of the organizations in the market among many other rival players. The prime aim behind such type of outsourcing or offshore mergers is to reduce the amount of cost that may amplify the total revenue and operating income of the organization. Keeping this aspect in mind, the global travel retail organization, Globshop also decided to outsource, the activities of information technology. Such a tactical and strategic decision is taken by the CEO of the organization, Mr. Roger Deen in order to mitigate the challenges aroused due to terrorist attract in the year 2001 in 11th September. In addition to this, Mr. Deen implemented such type of decisions, in order to amplify the competitive advantage and reliability of the business by outsourcing, informational technology activities to Indian firms at a quite cheap cost and easy shipping facilities. The prime aim of this paper is to evaluate the perspective of management of Globshop in regard to the process of outsourcing varied services of information technology. Along with this, it also highlights, the benefits and risks associated with such type of corporate strategies, rather than cost savings. Along with this, the pros and cons of the concept of outsourcing are also described with the help of various theories so as to analyze its effectiveness as a corporate strategy.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

What security policies and systems are in place to prevent Essay

What security policies and systems are in place to prevent unauthorized access to the EMR and other sources of sensitive patient information - Essay Example Electronic medical records incline to be a part of the system of healthcare information which facilitates storage, repossession and alteration of the records. EMR enables to augment sharing as well as accessibility of health related records among certified individuals (Skolnik, 2010). Policies in Place to Prevent Unauthorized Access to the EMR The security policies related to EMR have been considered as a major concern under the Health Information and Accessibility Act (AnestaWeb, Inc, 2011). The security policies should be provided major consideration in any organization in order to create an effective functioning environment. Various security policies in relation to EMR have been initiated under certain important measures which are needed to be considered for its development. They are as follows: 1. What the operators want to obtain from the system (i.e. functional requirements). 2. The objects that are required to be protected 3. The objectives which are needed to be acquired with the resources in hand. In the first part, the function of the security policy is to maintain equilibrium between the functional as well as the security aspects of the systems. The requirements for security can be quite difficult due to the costs incurred for the systems and also with the problems faced by the operators while implementing the security systems (Barrows & Clayton, 1996). In the second part, â€Å"Inside attacks† is another important aspect of security policy in relation to EMR (Barrows & Clayton, 1996). These attacks are mainly faced by individuals who are the actual users of the system. The actual users can manipulate or abuse the rights for searching different data for their personal motive or to harm the financial viability of the organization. If the information is leaked it can bring disastrous consequences and can affect the functioning environment of the organization. Policies such as management of access control as well as encryption method can enable t o prevent such occurrences. Another important aspect for the security policy of EMR depicts threats generated from managed care corporations and insurance companies among others (Barrows & Clayton, 1996). These organizations can attempt to reveal protected patient information for their own benefits. The threats which are discussed describe about the secrecy of the patients information and also about the data available to be kept secure. If such information is leaked, it would be disastrous for the organizations’ welfare. In the third part, the security policies or standards for the data, which are needed to be safeguarded for the organization, are depicted in the threat model, which is provided by the Mayo Clinic/Foundation. These policies are as follows: a. Physical security in relation to data center sites: It deals with issues relating to prevention of theft, disaster recovery, backup of the required data and security of susceptible terminal locations among others (Barrows & Clayton, 1996). b. ‘Access control to system resources’: Issues related to controlling the physical devices as well as logical mechanism including computer programs (Barrows & Clayton, 1996). c. Data protection policies: Certain issues related to ensuring consistent protection of crucial data of organizational system is ascertained under this policy. Moreover, measures to be taken against the users who misuse the rights to use the systems properly (Barrows & Clayton, 1996). d. Security of hard copy materials: This security policy ensures to take relevant measures against security breaches of certain delicate documents, which can occur from paper copies of susceptible patient related data and electronic documents (Barrows &

POEMS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

POEMS - Essay Example June Jordan herself a civil rights activist who fervently fight for the rights of African-Americans. Her radical beliefs and principles are vividly echoed in her poem. On the other hand, Ted Kooser’s poem sounds simple on the surface due to its terse and straightforward style. My initial interpretation of the poem is that the author is unhappily celebrating his birthday, celebrating an important day of his life alone. But when I read Kooser’s biography, my interpretation of the poem changed. When I learned that he is recognized as a poet with a remarkable grasp of metaphors I thought that perhaps the poem is not even talking about him or, specifically, his own gloomy disposition, but about the simple things that are usually taken for granted, like a book, darkness, a window. What the author, I think, is trying to convey is that these simple things can bring happiness, like the happiness that a birthday celebration can

Friday, August 23, 2019

See Attachment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

See Attachment - Essay Example The author has derived solutions from various students in different media such as Facebook and emails. The students talk about their experiences and therefore they can give definite answers about the topic. The most significant convection in the particular text is the mechanic, usage, and the sentence formation. First the author uses quotation marks to highlight the responses are given concerning a particular topic. The author does this to show that the ideas are not his. This helps the reader to understand the topic from first person’s point of view (Mohan 2015). The use of the quotation marks also shows that the writer has followed the formal way of writing whereby it requires one to quote other people’s ideas. The writer could also have used commas to ensure that the reader does not strain while reading. The author has also used commas in complex sentences. The author has also used the first person tone in some of the answers. For instance, in the case whereby in one of the responses the student talks about how he/she used all their savings during the first weeks in school. To establish her credibility, the author uses other people’s arguments. In this case, the writer ensures that the readers get the facts from first person’s experiences. To achieve this, the author derives the answers from various social media such as Facebook and emails. While reading the text one also realizes that the answers are based on first person’s experiences thus giving the text the credibility it deserves. To emphasize on the reliability of the text the author has also ensured that she includes where the fact is from. The author does this by acknowledging the contributor and the place where the answer was posted. In formal writing, it is advisable to ensure that one cites any idea that it is not there’s. The author also uses logos appeal whereby she uses one person’s experience and then generalize it. In

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Problems of Library Automation in Africa Essay Example for Free

Problems of Library Automation in Africa Essay In 1981, IBM introduced its personal computer (PC) for use in the home, office and schools. Prior to that time, there had been several MS-DOS compatible personal computers that ran DOS programs. As computers became more widespread in the workplace (ie. an independent agent’s office), new  ways to unleash their potential developed. As smaller computers became more powerful, they could be linked together, or networked, to share memory space, software and information, and communicate with each other. So where does the insurance industry enter the â€Å"automation† picture? A word from our sponsor: Whats so difficult about combining personal and commercial umbrella coverage? Not much. Get a quote online now! Independent agents have come a long way in using technology over the past 20 years. From the early 1980s through the mid-1990s, independent agents for the most part used PC-based automation systems to boost efficiency and cut costs. Since 1970, ACORD, a not-for-profit standards-setting association for the insurance industry, has been involved in automation. The association is comprised of carriers, agents, vendors, solution providers, associations and other interested parties. â€Å"We aren’t the ones who ‘built’ the automation system,† said Carolyn â€Å"Cal† Durland, managing director of Standards for ACORD. â€Å"What we did and still do is provide standards-Forms and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) upon which the vendors or solution providers base their automation systems.† She explained that to find out how the industry became automated, one must look to the vendors and solution providers. In 1972, the first ACORD form, a property loss notice, went into use. Today, ACORD’s standards include Forms, AL3 (Automation Level 3), XML, OLife and ObjX. The Forms are point of sale, data collection vehicles, AL3 is ACORD’s EDI standard (or machine-to-machine, business-to-business, data transmission formats or components), OLife is a data integration standard and ObjX is â€Å"much more than EDI.† In the 1980s-when the number of PCs in use increased dramatically-ACORD members asked for standardized electronic transmissions between the agents’  computers and the carriers’ computers. â€Å"The industry has come to ACORD to consolidate efforts to eliminate duplication of work,† Durland said. â€Å"For example, without one approved, countrywide ACORD application, all of the 2,400-plus insurance carriers would have to have their own form. And the vendors or solution providers who automate those forms would have to customize each form.† Now that ACORD and the industry are working hand-in-hand, there is one form accepted and used by many of those carriers. In addition, the vendors or solution providers have the option to become licensed by ACORD to redistribute the Forms. â€Å"ACORD provides them with tools†¦to print the ACORD Forms,† Durland said. â€Å"ACORD’s Forms efforts have stripped the costs out of this distribution channel.† According to Durland, in the same manner that the industry came together with ACORD to do Forms, they have also worked to develop EDI Standards. â€Å"Through our subcommittee process and strict compliance to anti-trust guidelines, we bring together carriers, agents, vendors, solution providers and other interested parties to discuss what is needed to transmit the data collected,† she said. Change is good The industry on the whole, according to Durland, is slow to make changes, â€Å"although there are some carriers that have the resources to be on the leading edge of technology.† The beginning was a bit archaic. â€Å"Carriers realized the benefits of automation and developed proprietary systems that they placed in the agents’ offices,† Durland said. â€Å"This resulted in the agents having to physically go from one terminal to another to interface with the carriers automating their process.† With the inception of the agency management vendors and ACORD’s standards implemented in those systems, the agents were conceptually able to eliminate  those proprietary terminals and work through one system. â€Å"This concept called SEMCI, Single Entry Multiple Company Interface, allowed the agents to keep the data in one place and transmit it electronically to any of the carriers it was licensed to represent,† Durland explained. One step forward, two steps back Ten years ago, when Durland joined ACORD, there were many agency management systems attempting to enable SEMCI. â€Å"Today, due to acquisitions and mergers, there are three primary vendors and a few smaller ones,† she said. â€Å"SEMCI is still the goal for the agents and the carriers. However, with the inception of Web enabled processes, the carriers-in an effort to streamline their costs-reverted back to proprietary applications. â€Å"Those leading edge carriers put up Web sites that required the agent to go to the site and enter the information. So instead of going to a separate terminal in their office, they now had to connect to a Web site and rekey the data that was already in their databases.† This resulted in the acceptance of the new standard XML. â€Å"XML is a standard that enables connectivity between Web applications and agency management systems, in addition to business-to-business, business-to-customer, etc.,† Durland said. The goal to secure SEMCI, according to Durland, can still happen with the implementation of XML. â€Å"Plus it broadens the trading partner base to be more than the agent to insurance carrier,† she said. A push for implementation In the 1990s, implementation guides were written and a certification process was developed. Today, there are more than 12,000 upload and 40,000 download implementations using AL3 standards. AL3 continues to evolve and there are new implementations every day, including using AL3 standards over the Internet. Ever since the dawn of the industry’s automation, forms standardization  continued and still continues to be an important focus for ACORD as the standards-setting association works with many different trading partners within the industry. Today there are roughly 400 ACORD forms. And although it’s important to note how many forms there are, what is even more important to note is the fact that these ACORD forms have eliminated or prevented 80,000 proprietary forms-saving the industry millions of dollars. Communicating on a global basis According to Durland, ACORD has staff dedicated to building relationships with other standards-setting organizations. The fact is, the industry handles business on a global basis, so it just makes sense that the goal is to be able to communicate on a global basis. As an example, Durland pointed out that carriers write coverage for properties owned by people all over the world. In turn, these carriers work with other carriers or reinsurers to share the exposure. When asked why it is so important for the industry to be automated, Durland said, â€Å"Automation strips costs out of workflows.† Simply put, to only have to go to one place for information and to be able to service customers quickly and efficiently is key. â€Å"For example, the agent and carrier agree to indemnify the customer if they have a loss which is covered under their policy. The customer pays a fee based on that promise. When the loss occurs, they want someone to handle it promptly†¦to be given information on the progression of the resolution and be paid or have the item replaced ASAP,† Durland said. Automation makes it possible. â€Å"With the technology and automation available to us today, the opportunities to share information are unlimited,† Durland said. â€Å"The industry realizes that and is working together to figure out how to communicate electronically  with each other.†

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Vitamin D Deficiency Among Subfertile Women: Case Study

Vitamin D Deficiency Among Subfertile Women: Case Study Abstract Objective: To compare the dietary vitamin D and calcium intake among subfertile women (cases) versus pregnant women (controls) and to determine the vitamin D levels in the subfertile and pregnant women Study design was an observational case-control study where a total of 181 (83 previously diagnosed subfertile cases from various causes and 98 pregnant controls) women of reproductive age (20-40 years old) attending the reproductive endocrinology and infertility clinics were recruited. Ethical approval was granted from the Institutional Review Board at KFMC and written informed consent was obtained from each participant prior to inclusion. A validated questionnaire was used where it focused on key indicators evaluating vitamin D related factors. Blood was withdrawn for the measurement of serum calcium, albumin and phosphate to exclude secondary causes that might affect Vitamin D level. Data Analysis Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). Frequencies were presented as percentages (%) and continuous variables were presented as mean  ± standard deviation. Chi-square was done to elicit differences in frequencies between cases and controls. Independent T-test was done to compare differences among continuous variables. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was significantly higher in the subfertile group than controls (59.0% versus 40.4%; p < 0.01). Calcium supplements intake was significantly higher in controls than the subfertile group (64.6% versus 10.0%; p-value < 0.001). Total dietary vitamin D intake (> 400IU/day) was significantly higher in the controls than the subfertile group. Conclusions: Total dietary vitamin D intake (> 400IU/day) was found to be significantly higher in the controls than the subfertile group. Thus, dietary vitamin D intake greater than 400IU/day and calcium supplementation should be encouraged amongst subfertile women since it may improve their fertility, but this needs to be proven prospectively. Optimization of serum calcium and vitamin D levels are encouraged. Key Words: Vitamin D, infertility, calcium, supplementation, Middle Eastern Condensation Dietary vitamin D intake and calcium supplementation may improve fertility. Optimization of serum calcium and vitamin D levels are encouraged. Introduction Vitamin D deficiency phenomenon over the recent years has earned the notorious reputation of being significantly associated to a plethora of many diseases, making it a major global public health burden [1]. Evidence that vitamin D is also associated with the reproductive physiology is just recently accumulating yet limited to animal models and very few human studies [2]. Animal and human studies have suggested vitamin D role in the reproductive system where vitamin D has recently been described to modulate reproductive processes in women and men [3]. Studies have found the presence of vitamin D receptor (VDR) and vitamin D metabolizing enzymes in reproductive tissues of women [3]. Additionally, low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels have been associated with obesity, metabolic, and endocrine disturbances in PCOS women and vitamin D supplementation has been suggested to improve menstrual frequency and metabolic disturbances in those women [3]. Moreover, vitamin D might influence ste roidogenesis of both estradiol and progesterone in healthy women where low levels of 25(OH)D levels might be associated with infertility and high levels might be associated with endometriosis [4]. The most up to date vitamin D studies outside its conventional role of calcium homeostasis in the Middle East so far have covered most of the obesity-related diseases including diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, and the full metabolic syndrome [5-9]. Despite the abundance and overflow of recent literature with respect to vitamin D role in health and disease, there are an equal overwhelming number of questions left unanswered and this probably explains the rationale to conduct more research on vitamin D, namely the reported association between vitamin D deficiency and infertility. In brief, the target effects of vitamin D on certain reproductive parameters including pregnancy, spermatogenesis, implantation and progeny have been studied in both animal and human studies [10,11,12,13], whereas folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis were only proven in animal models [11]. Studies involving humans have so far pointed the vitamin D role in the endometrial regulation [11, 12] rather than folliculogenesis [13, 14]. In the Middle East where most women of reproductive age are vitamin D deficient, follicular fluid has been observed to be reflective of vitamin D status, but does not have a role in assisted reproductive technology [15]. A recent large, prospective, cross-sectional study has shown that low serum levels of vitamin D may impair a woman's chances of conceiving through in vitro fertilization (IVF) [14]. The authors concluded that a serum vitamin D level of 20 ng/mL or more was associated with a significantly greater chance of obtaining 3 or more high-quality embryos and with successful embryo implantation and clinical pregnancy compared with lower levels [14,16]. Given the novel and emerging role of vitamin D in the field of reproductive biology, the present observational study aims to determine on a nutritional level, whether differences exist in the dietary intake of vitamin D among sub-fertile Middle-Eastern women attending in-vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics versus pregnant women which was assessed by 25 (OH) D serum level. Material and Methods A total of 181 (83 previously diagnosedsubfertile cases from various causes and 98 pregnant controls) Saudi women of reproductive age (20-40 years old) attendingthe reproductive endocrinology and infertility clinics at King Fahad Medical City (KFMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from August 2012 to January 2013 were recruited for this observational case-control study. Subjects requiring immediate medical attention and those with co-morbidities such as malignancies, chronic infection, chronic and cardiovascular-related diseases were excluded. Ethical approval was granted from the Institutional Review Board at KFMC and written informed consent was obtained from each participant prior to inclusion. Data Collection Variables include demographics (age and weight), subfertility types and causes. In addition, dichotomous variables (yes or no) on what type of vitamin D-rich food sources were also collected as well as data on other vitamin D related factors such as sunlight exposure for at least 10 minutes a day, use of Vitamin D supplement, and intake of Vitamin D rich food. A validated questionnaire was used to capture from recruited patients. It focused on key indicators evaluating vitamin D related factors. These indicators were adopted from pre-tested patient questionnaires used in various accredited hospitals. Our questionnaire was validated bybenchmarking against similar ones in the literature targeting diverse populations and using different approaches. Initially, the questionnaire was tested on 20 patients from KFMC to determinewhether the questions were clear, understandable, and in a logical order (face validity). Besides, 2 health professionalswho had experience in clinical research were asked to criticize the content of the questionnaire (content validity). Blood was withdrawn for the measurement of serum calcium, albumin and phosphate to exclude secondary causes that might affect Vitamin D level using routine laboratory methods. Serum 25(OH)vitamin D was also assessed using Cobas e411 (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany). For the purpose of this study, vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25(OH)vitamin D level less than 20ng/ml [2]. Data Analysis Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). Frequencies were presented as percentages (%) and continuous variables were presented as mean  ± standard deviation. Chi-square was done to elicit differences in frequencies between cases and controls. Variables exhibiting non-Gaussian distribution were logarithmically transformed prior to analysis. Independent T-test was done to compare differences among continuous variables. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was done using the grouping variable (presence or absence of subfertility) as the dependent variable and dietary vitamin D intake > 400IU/day as independent variables with obesity, sunlight exposure and skin color as co-variates. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results One hundred and eighty one patients were analyzed, 83 cases and 98 controls. There was no statistical difference between the mean age of cases ,29.5  ± 5.5 years, verses controls, 29.9  ± 5.2 (P=0.64).Vitamin D deficiency (< 20ng/ml) was observed in 48.9% of the entire cohort. Comparatively, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was significantly higher in the subfertile group than controls (59.0% versus 40.4%; p < 0.01). On the other hand, calcium supplements intake was significantly higher in controls than the subfertile group (64.6% versus 10.0%; p-value < 0.001). The controls significantly took more vitamin D supplements than the subfertile group (p < 0.05). The rest of the comparisons were unremarkable (Table 1). Table 2 shows the percentage differences in the vitamin D dietary intake of both controls and the subfertile group. The controls had significantly higher percentage consumption of food than the subfertile group in 9 out of 14 vitamin D dietary sources included in the study (wild salmon, farmed salmon, mushrooms, egg yolk, fortified milk, fo rtified orange juice, yogurts, butter and breakfast cereals; all p-values < 0.001). Consequently, total dietary vitamin D intake > 400IU/day was significantly higher in the controls than the subfertile group (p < 0.001) (Table 2). Table 3 shows the metabolic characteristics of subjects. There was a modest, borderline significance in BMI and vitamin D status between groups, with controls being higher than the subfertile group (p-values 0.051 and 0.08, respectively). The control group also had significantly higher levels of corrected calcium (p < 0.001) while the infertile group had significantly higher levels of circulating albumin (p < 0.001) (Table 3). Comments This study addresses the possible protective effects of increased dietary vitamin D intake and calcium supplementation among Middle Eastern women that harbor infertility conditions. Previous studies in Saudi Arabia considered obesity as a major risk factor for infertility [17]. Consequently, obesity is a major risk factor for vitamin D deficiency and both abnormal metabolic states can be manipulated through dietary interventions [18]. The issue of vitamin D status correction to improve fertility status among vitamin D deficient women of reproductive age may still require rigorous investigation since randomized trials are scarce. Nevertheless, several studies can already attest that micronutrient supplementation including vitamin D improves fertility outcomes [19,20]. Furthermore, available evidence confirms present findings in the beneficial effects of vitamin D in female infertility, with favorable outcomes among women with endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome [4,22]. Calcium supplementation to improve female fertility is not a surprise since it is directly regulated by vitamin D, receptors of which are found in various reproduction tissues, and correction of levels confer positive effects in terms of follicle maturation, menstrual regularity and improvement of hyperandrogenism especially among women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) [21,22]. The other equally important but less novel finding in the present study is the high vitamin D deficiency prevalent in both pregnant and sub fertile women. Vitamin D deficiency is relatively common in the Middle East in general, but more so for women because of cultural traditions and manner of clothing. Prevalence of hypovitaminosis D among this group ranges from 80-100% from the most recent local studies [23,24]. The modest but still insignificant difference in mean vitamin D status levels in both groups in our study could be attributed to a more vigilant behavior among pregnant women to ingest more food and vitamin supplements although comparison by prevalence clearly shows the high significant difference between the subfertile group and the control group. The authors acknowledge several limitations. Findings of the present study may only be true for women and as such a separate study should be done to reinforce if not negate the present results in non-pregnant women in comparison to subfertile women. Furthermore the case control nature of the study maybe subject to selection bias. Prospective studies are essential to determine whether vitamin D correction through dietary intervention and lifestyle modification can improve fertility among vitamin D deficient women. In conclusion, Middle-Eastern (Saudi) subfertile women have a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency as compared to apparently healthy controls, and this is aggravated by their lower intake of foodrich in vitamin D and lower calcium supplementation. Dietary vitamin D intake greater than 400IU/day and calcium supplementation may improve fertility in this population, but this needs to be proven prospectively. Optimization of vitamin D and calcium status among women of reproductive age are encouraged.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Poetry of Jimmy Santiago Baca

Poetry of Jimmy Santiago Baca Many writers and poets have drawn inspiration and motivation from their childhood, past experiences, and hope for the future. Abandoned to an orphanage at a young age, Jimmy Santiago Baca was convicted of drug possession by the age of twenty-one. During his many years in prison, Baca learned how to read and write, eventually publishing his early poems from within the prison walls.   Despite his accomplishments and prestigious awards, Baca remains a humble person by helping kids who are facing the same struggles he faced growing up. Through his poems he shows â€Å"the splendor of human existence amidst the desolate surroundings of prison life† (Baca 7). In his poems, Jimmy Santiago Baca takes the reader through the feelings of loss, dejection, and the quest for identity that relates to his life in prison. Jimmy Santiago Baca grew up with a tough childhood. His parents divorced at an early age, and he was shuffled between relatives and orphanages. During his teenage years, he was in and out of detention centers and was always found spending his time on Albuquerques streets and urban barrios. Baca first began to write poetry during his stay in prison, realizing how to express his thoughts and ideals through poetry. While Baca was in prison for drug charges, he immersed himself in the world of books, reading the works of many famous poets. Through the process of self-discovery, he taught himself English and Spanish, and finally received his GED. His experience in prison consisted of â€Å"lockdowns, solitary confinements, electroshock therapy session, and beatings by prison guards [pushing] him to the lowest ebb of his life† (Baca, CW: SS 3). After prison, Baca left for North Carolina before returning to New Mexico, where he spent time living in Albuquerque working odd jobs such a s a night watchman, janitor, and laborer. Once the birth of his first child occurred, Baca finally settled down with his wife and began â€Å"fully [embracing] his past†¦ with the predominantly Chicano community† (Baca, CW: SS 6). Since then, Baca has begun to seriously publish his works of literature to the public. Jimmy Santiago Baca is considered a renowned Chicano poet because of his â€Å"rich imagery and lyricism of his poetry† (Baca, DA 1). In his works, he suggests that poetry is not always restorative, but resilient when human life is given a chance. When he was given that chance, Baca discovered a state of freedom and humanity away from the dreary realities, by celebrating the human spirit in extreme situations through his poems. Each poem represents a little part of his life from the process of reestablishing his life after his years in prison. His poems never have had a consistent pattern, some may have rhythms similar to prose, but others are very lyrical. The line lengths may vary from short to long, while some poems might have a blend of short and longer lines. With his line maneuvering, Baca had skills in switching tones (Duane, CP 1, 2).The subject of his poems were developed from his experiences, which include his personal responses to the troubled life he lived as a you ng adult. Bacas poetry include the reoccurring â€Å"themes of transformation, metamorphosis, and self-actualization† (Baca, CW: SS 4), which were constant thoughts and changes of Baca. Therefore, his works display the truths of the human heart while in hardship, with the help of â€Å"wisdom, courage, beauty, and above all, hope† (Taylor, KYAPBG 1). The central focus of Bacas poetry is said to bring compassion from the heart and embracing humanity in times of extreme dislocation. Bacas poem – â€Å"Who Understands Me But Me† contains many elements of perseverance, determination, and realization which are evident in most of his poetry. The poem starts off with the speaker receiving new restrictions, but the speaker finds a way to live with the restrictions. Among the restraints and negativity, the speaker develops a positive attitude. With the new restrictions and experiences in hand, he begins to realize his own identity; the speaker learns to â€Å"[find] parts of [himself] never dreamed of by [him].† The poem ends with the speaker questioning who understands him when he says something is beautiful. Mainly, the poem seems forthright and lifeless, repetitive and simple, but this poem has great meaning behind what is seen on the surface level. Throughout the poem, the readers are able to experience â€Å"the physical and mental barriers† (Baca, DA 2). which occur during prison life. The restrictions in the beginning of the poem are represented using anaphora to add emphasis on the continuous struggles which are faced in prison. â€Å"They take my heart and rip it open, I live without heart† creates an indifferent tone from the speaker. â€Å"I followed these signs like an old tracker and followed the tracks deep in myself† explains that his experiences paved a way for the speaker to â€Å"explore the universal theme of an individuals painful search for identity and meaning† (Baca, DA 2). The tone of the poem shifts from indifferent to uplifting and empowering to show that the experiences learned were positive improvements for the speaker. Since the spea ker has gone through many sufferings, he proves that those sufferings helped him for the future. Everyone evolves within themselves every day, but when the time comes for hardships to be encountered, the experiences may become beneficial for their prospect of life. The feelings of loss, dejection, and the quest for identity experiences from Jimmy Santiago Bacas life in prison are shown throughout his poetry. Baca offers means on how to rebuild a broken life, rather than dwell on the painful past. Ever since then, he has been able to change the lives of many Hispanic and Amerindian peoples, by displaying the true insight from the intimidating prisons that guide the changing views of their lives.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Domino Theory :: essays papers

Domino Theory The Domino Theory Here is my report on the Domino Theory The ?Domino Theory? is a complex and interesting theory. It is based on a simple rule of physics. That rule is inertia. Inertia is defined in the dictionary as, ?the tendency of matter to remain at rest or to continue in a fixed direction unless affected by some outside force.?1 This can be seen by making a line of dominoes, one right after the other and pushing the first domino over. The rest of the dominoes will fall over until the last one is down. They gain speed and power as the process is carried out. This analogy can be used to show what could happen to the political make-up of a specific geographical area in the world. The analogy, though, uses domino?s instead of countries. That is to say that if one country in a region practiced one particular type of government this might influence neighboring or bordering to adopt this type of government, for example the underlying principle behind the domino theory. Although the domino theory has physically been occurring since the beginning of time, it was only given a specific name and meaning 44 years ago by president Dwight D. Eisenhower. He used this theory to refer to the potential spread of communism in Southeast-Asia. He specifically said that,?You have a row of dominoes set up, you knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is the certainty that it will go over very quickly. So you could have a beginning of a disintegration that would have the most profoun d influences.?2 The influences that he was talking about were the influences of communism. He believed as many others did that if one country in Southeast-Asia fell to communism then all of the surrounding countries would also. President Eisenhower had led the allied coalition against Hitler in Europe during WWII. He was deeply disturbed by the way that Communism had taken hold of Eastern Europe after the war. He was also concerned by the way that Asia had been taken over by Japan so easily in WWII. This build-up can be shown in the maps below. As you can see the size of Japan?s power at the end of its rule is about twice as large as its power at the beginning. The countries which bordered Japan fell over to Japan very quickly as the war went on and giving Japan more power while doing so.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

George Washington: Flaws and All Essay -- Informative Essay

There are many individuals in American History, whom we as Americans regard for their courage and audacity in shaping our nation. We learn in our history classes the great accomplishments of our founding fathers such as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Ben Franklin. One other great founding father and our First President, George Washington was one whom we learned much about. We learn in school that he is as a prime example of leadership, citizenship, and overall individual achievement for his many contributions to our nation’s earliest struggles. But although we are taught that George Washington was this man of great disposition, no man is without his flaws. Many scholars have sought to enlighten individuals to these cracks in the Nation’s perspective of our first president. The following composition will give an analysis of literature that shows George Washington was in consistent regarding his views on slavery. Although Washington is well-known for his many political accomplishments little is spoken about his views regarding slavery. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732. Despite losing his father at a juvenile age, 11, Lawrence his half-brother, 14 years older, quickly took over as a surrogate father figure to all of his younger siblings. Washington’s mother, Mary, became very protecting after the death of her husband (Georges father), Augustine. She kept George from enlisting in the British Navy contrary to the wishes of older brother, Lawrence. George lived with his older brother from the time he was about 15 and attended school in Virginia and never went to college. He was very good at mathematics which was quite suitable to his later occupation as a surveyor. In 1752, Lawrence also passed away his c... ...ntributions that they have made to our society. But it may be that we are disillusioned by what we are taught as children that we assume these people don’t have any faults. Maybe knowing these great men had faults helps to see them as more human. Minus the character flaw George Washington was still one of the framers of American society. Works Cited 1. Bordewich, Fergus M. Washington: The Making of the American Capital. HarperCollins Publisher, 2008. 2. Colbert, David. Eyewitness to America: 500 Years of America in the Words of Those Who Saw It Happen. New York. Pantheon Books, 1997. 3. Ellis, Joseph J. His Excellency George Washington. New York. Alfred A. Knopf, 2004. 4. McCullough, David. 1776. New York. Simon & Schuster, 2005. 5. Stevenson, Jay PhD and Budman, Matthew. The Complete Idiots Guide to American Heroes. New York. Alpha Books, 1999.

The Ancient Art of Feng Shui Essay -- History Research Papers China Es

The Ancient Art of Feng Shui The History of Feng Shui Feng Shui has been practiced in China for thousands of years and is believed to have started in 2953 B.C. when Hu of Hsia found a tortoise that had a perfect "magic square" on its back. From this discovery evolved the I Ching, the oldest book in Chinese history, and possibly the world (Webster 1). This book contains the first written instructions on the theory of Feng Shui. Feng Shui was seen as a sacred power, so much so that in ancient China, only the privileged class had access to the knowledge. There are even stories of members of the Imperial family who went out of their way to obscure the texts in order to prevent those who might be a threat to them from obtaining the sacred knowledge. The first Ming emperor even ordered that the country be flooded with books containing misleading theories and incorrect guidelines on Feng Shui (Too 2). When Chiang Kai Shek fled the mainland he took thousands of books on Feng Shui with him to Taiwan and used its principles in building a regime there. From there it traveled to Hong Kong and eventually to the Western World through Marco Polo (Cassidy). Modern Feng Shui is based on the commentaries from Wang Chi and other scholars from the Sung dynasty, 1126-960 B.C. (Webster 3). What is Feng Shui? Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of living in harmony with nature and your surroundings, in order to maximize your health, prosperity and luck. It literally translates as "wind and water" and it involves the placement of buildings in relation to their surroundings, and the placement of furniture within the building in order to maximize the ch’i, the original energy source on the earth, from which everything else was created (Webster 4). As the dragon is seen as the most revered celestial creature of Chinese philosophy, ch’i has been called the breath of the dragon. Ch’i is an invisible energy that circulates throughout the world but also gathers in certain areas. The basic idea of Feng Shui is to harness as much ch’i as possible by allowing it to gather where you are, whether it is in your home or in your office. Ch’i is the life force that is all living things, and can be found, in its perfection wherever things are done perfectly. An arti st who creates a masterpiece is creating ch’i. Through Feng Shui, we are looking for places where ch’i is ac... ...ents and residential, family dwellings. It is the art of placement, a science and a philosophy that was meant to bring harmony through the observance of our environments and how the balance of the energies created can affect all the aspects of our lives. "All we do is connected to Mother Earth and Ch’i, the Natural Order or Energy which permeates the universe" (Feng Shui Innovations). Within the past ten years there has been an amazing amount of interest in this science in the western world as people, for various reasons, look for answers, and search for a way to be in harmony with the world. An ancient Chinese saying lists the five basic principles of successful living: "First comes destiny, and then comes luck. Third comes Feng Shui, and with that comes philanthropy and education" (Webster 33). Works Cited: Cassidy, William L. "www.qi-whiz.com". Feng Shui Innovations. "www.fengshui-innovations.com". Feng Shui Society. "www.fengshuisociety.org.uk/". Too, Lillian. Basic Feng Shui. Oriental Publications, Australia:1997. Webster, Daniel. Feng Shui for Beginners. Llewellyn Publication, St. Paul:1997. Xing, Wu. The Feng Shui Workbook. Tuttle Pub., Boston:1998.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

My personal Workplace Observation Paper Essay

A great deal can be learned about an organization by analyzing and exploring the various aspects of an organizational observation. Currently I am employed at This ‘nÂ’ That, a discount retail store, which focuses on providing customers with quality products at a below market price. Organizational diversity, dress and language, and communication flow are all factors that influence my organizations culture. There are several factors that shape diversity in my workplace. Diversity can be a beneficial attribute or can cause dilemmas in the workplace. At This ‘nÂ’ That all the various factors of diversity are present, embraced and accepted. All of our staff at This ‘nÂ’ That has value for one another and are seen as equals. This allows for unproblematic diversity in our workplace. The main factors that create diversity in my workplace are age, race, and religion. My organization has employees from the age of 19 years old to the oldest of 67 years. I have yet to see that gap in age cause any conflict, if anything the age difference allows for constructive criticism and encourages growth as an organization. Race and religion allow for different view points which help form our workplace in an optimistic way. Diversity is about learning from others who are different (Schmidle, 2009). Diversity is dignity and respect for all, and about establishing settings and practices that encourage learning from others and capture the advantage of diverse perspectives. Dress and language is very critical to the perception and professionalism of the workplace. I do not feel that my workplaceÂ’s dress and language give off the professionalism that our organization is looking for. Our employees are permitted to wear whatever they desire. Some employees choose to wear sweat pants and shirts with sayings on them that could be offensive to some customers. I have witnessed several of our staff using offensive language when speaking to customers and during conversations between themselves. Customers who witness this offensive language may feel insulted and could lead to loss of customers. Attracting and retaining customers in a workplace culture is one that values and prioritizes respectful dress and language. Good workplace communication is vital to the success of any organization.  Communication is key to a strong business relationship; this can be the relationship between customers and employees. Communication at This ‘nÂ’ That consist of telephone calls, word of mouth, and a bulletin board for postings on needed information. The way our workplace communicates internally could be modernized, but has shown, thus far, to be efficient for our organization. Although internal communication has been successful, it is external communication that some of our employees lack. The ability to get a message across effectively is the public face of a business. Listening has shown to be an underdeveloped skill for some of our managers and employees, as customers are not getting the information and liaison they desire. Some of our managers complain about various things our customers do, for example: unremitting complaints regarding not putting stuff back in its place. These complaints lead to pessimistic attitudes amongst themselves, towards customers and other employees, which can also affect how communication flows to customers. The performance of my workplace can be improved by a combination of useful communication skills, which can be provided through training. Improving my workplaces communication skills will permit us to establish better working relations. Poor workplace communication skills will have harmful effects on our business relations and may result in decreased productivity. Organizational culture is the personality of the organization. Culture contains the assumptions, ethics, and norms of organizations members and their behaviors. Members of an organization quickly come to sense the particular culture of an organization. An organization’s culture develops to help it cope with its environment. Today, organizational leaders are confronted with various complex issues throughout their attempt to achieve organizational success. An organizations success will depend, to a vast degree, upon understanding organizational culture. References Schmidle, D. (2009). Catherwood Library. Cornell University. Retrieved May 26, 2009, from http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/library/research/subjectGuides/workplaceDiversity.htm

Friday, August 16, 2019

Reflective Statement Essay

For this module, we are required to do an assignment with regards of SME company. The purpose of writing the report is to analyze the key internal issues the management is likely to face when strategizing their marketing formula. Besides, we are also required to provide a practical recommendation for the company. For this project, the class was divided into 3 groups and each group consists of 3 members. My group members are Miss Tai Geok Yeong and Miss Sharanya. Discussions among group members were held 4 times, on the 29th October, 2nd November, 4th November and 6th November, respectively. Besides of our normal eeting in college, the discussions also were held through the MSN chat and email. Each of our group members was allocated with task and although conflicts arise during the discussion, we still managed to solve the problem. In my opinion, conflict in a group is not necessarily bad and we use several of techniques in order to resolve conflicts like compromising and exercises work delegation. Throughout completing the task – CareKoolTint Sdn Bhd, I have gained lots of new information about SME and the company. In order to get more facts about the company, we held an interview with one of their sales representatives on 2nd November 2009. From the 1 hour interview, we managed to gather the information needed for this project, which for example are, their current marketing strategies and the company’s internal issues. One important lesson I learnt from the interview is that, even though small firms is not properly structured, it does not mean that SMEs do not engage in marketing. It is only that, they are doing marketing according to their own terms and not according to a theoretical framework. Other than interviewing the sales representatives, my group and I also did a research based from their websites and also by reading books. It is important so that e will have a broader view on the business environment and help us to write the task more accurately. In order to complete the task, I read Marketing and Entrepreneurship in SMEs, Principles of Marketing by Philip Kotler and Fundamentals of Management to have a better understanding about SME and its management as well as several websites related to the topic which for example SME Info Portal. This whole process, I believe has improved both my knowledge and skills. I learnt how to work with others as a team, it taught me how to compromise as I need to be open in accepting other people ideas or opinion and also in handling conflicts. In addition to that, basically, I am more knowledgeable on this topic. From the research, I discovered various type of SME in Malaysia which can classified under 3 category that are Primary Agriculture, Manufacturing (including Agro-Based) ; MRS, Services Sector (including ‘CT) . Furthermore, I am also more aware on characteristics needed to be an entrepreneur, and one essential trait they must have is to be a risk taker. This is important as SME business environment is very uncertain and whenever they make a wrong decision, it may affect their business as a whole.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Police Diversity Essay

Racial discrimination is an issue that so many professionals know about. Dealing with it may be the problem, but attempts to deal with it have been shown since the early times when it was noticed. According to Zeisel, there is evidence that the federal courts of appeal have been urged to take action on the administration of death sentences. Zeises notes that the death sentences in the federal courts, which he writes as a Florida experience, were administered discriminating against the black people (1981). In his writing, Zeisel states that two petitioners had provided evidence showing that the black offenders were being discriminated. The petitioners are, Maxwell V. Bishop who provided evidence to show that the black offenders were being discriminated against, and a petitioner in Spinkerllink v. Wainwright, who provided data showing that murderers of the white people were being discriminated against. This report by the petitioner from Spinkerllink indicated that there were high chances of murderers of the white to end up in death rows than murderers of the black people Zeisel, 1981). This though never received any action as the courts are noted to have refused to obtain evidence of racial discrimination. Zeisel notes that the data available in the criminal justice system of Florida, prove that there have been such kinds of discrimination (1981). This is a case that was identified in the 1980’s, but does it exist today? Has the system changed? Racial discrimination has been a major problem in most federal courts with most minorities, especially the black people, facing cruel judgments than the white people. Some reports indicate that more blacks are found behind bars than whites considering their number in the total American population. The people are few in number, yet if the number of people in prison is compared to the white people in prison, they are almost half the whites total. This is the aim of this paper. Analysis of data about arrests made in Florida will be done to determine if the minorities are arrested more and if still, there is racial discrimination. Data to be analyzed was obtained from the Florida department of Law enforcement, which was recorded in the year 2004 by UCR. Analysis Do minority commit more crimes? According to the statistics on arrests by age and race in Florida, there are several offenses for which the white, Indians and the black people were arrested. Whites constituted a bigger group of people arrested with a total of 672,987, this is followed by the black people who were a total of 351,871. The total Indians arrested were 1,496 (Department of Law Enforcement, 2005). There are some offenses that no Indian was arrested at all, for example bribery and embezzlement. Comparing this to the other groups, a total of 38 whites were arrested for bribery and 20 black people for the same offense. In the case of embezzlement, 363 blacks were arrested while 749 whites were arrested(Department of Law Enforcement, 2005. The offense categorized as miscellaneous had the highest number of offenders with 299, 442 white offenders, 159,378 black offenders and 1,034 Indian offenders. Drug arrest and simple assault also had high numbers of offenders. White people arrested for simple assault were 60, 018, while the black offenders in this case were 29,650, and the Indian offenders arrested for this case were 89. Drug arrests had these numbers; whites 84,829, black people 65,167 and Indians 112 (Department of Law Enforcement, 2005. These are examples from the data obtained about arrests made in the year 2004 under various offenses. Generally, the minority, which in this case is the black people, committed more crime. This is because the number of black people in Florida compared to the total population is small. Research reports show that in the year 2000, the percentage of non white people was 17. 8. The total population of Florida then was 15,982,824 (Schenker, 2008). From this data, it means that the non white people were only 2,844,943. This includes even the Indians. The population in the year 2007 is noted to be 18,680,367 indicating a growth of 16. 9%. This means that on average, each year, there was an approximate growth increase of 449,591 making an approximate of 177, 811,88 total population of Florida as at 2004. The rate of increase of the the non white population per year is approximated as 0. 31% (8,819) based on the fact that the total percentage increase of the total population by 2010 is 19. 8% (Schenker, 2008). This means that the total non white population based on the yearly increase was approximately 2,880,219 in 2004. If this population is compared with the approximated total population in 2004, then the number of non white people is small compared to white. This is proof that more blacks commit more crimes according to the data from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. An example is in drug arrests. The number of white people arrested in this case is 84, 829. The total number of white people if approximated in the year 2004 was 14,900,969. From this the percentage of the white people arrested is 0. 569%. If this is compared to the number of black people arrested which is 65,167 on drug arrests, the percentage arrested to the nonwhite population is 2. 263%. This calculation is done using the total of non white people which includes Indians. If the number of Indians were excluded, then it means the total percentage would be higher. From this calculation, the number of black people arrested is higher by 1. 694%. How can this be judged? That these people commit more crimes? According to several sources, there have been so many cases of discrimination against black people living in America. This could just be a proof to it. It is though just an assumption since the number of people arrested cannot prove that the people are being discriminated against, though is a strong indication. Domnitiz and Knowles noted after research that black people were found to be guilty in police practices more than the white people. The economists note that â€Å"unbiased police practices as the police plans to do, can not prove that the guilt rates of motorists will be equalized among all races† This implies that however much the police try to show that they do not practice any racism in their policing, there is still knowledge by the public that there is racial discrimination in police practices. Domnitiz and Knowles indicated that motor vehicle search statistics show that the black motorists are singled out more that the white people (2006). The above case could therefore be considered as racial discrimination. Conclusion  From the above analysis, it is quite evident that there is racism. Just from the many sources that information is obtained, most of the cases are just indicating discrimination against the black people. In some sources though, black policemen were also found to be discriminative (Jaynes and Williams, 2007). This though is not indicated in the discussion but is an indication that even the black can discriminate against the other races. It may be therefore that, discrimination is due to the fact that the black are a minority. It is not easy to conclude this way though as there are other races in Florida too. What then can be the reason?

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Martha Graham Essay

Throughout history, Modern Dance has been pioneered by inspirational choreographers such as Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham. Martha Graham in particular, revolutionised the dance industry with her numerous choreographed works. By experimenting with foreign movements and establishing the fundamental technique in Modern Dance, Martha Graham clearly expressed this dramatic dance style as a new form of life. Her style, created from raw emotion, challenges the technical barriers of traditional ballet and has evolved into today’s contemporary dance form. Born into a privileged life in 1894 near Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, Graham was inspired from her father being a specialised physician interested in the way the human body moves. In 1915, she studied dance with Ted Shawn and Ruth St Denis, the innovative teachers at Denishawn. She then moved to the Greenwhich Village Follies for two years to establish her lengthy career. Living in a time of misconceived ideas, Martha Graham used her dancing genius to represent the many issues in American society in an abstract form. Martha Graham’s technique is classically based but tweaks the usual symmetrical body alignment with sharp, precise and angular shapes. Graham’s moves communicate through the dancer, her emotion and stance on American social issues. These moves are expressed through; contraction, release, spirals, flexed hands and feet, rolls, flexion and suspension, clenched fists, fall and recover, curl and twist. Her stimulus for creating movements was breathing and the way she could emotionally express how she felt about life. The contraction starts from the pelvis and travels up the spine. This curvature in the upper body is developed from an exhalation of breath. The release brings the body back to a neutral position with an inhalation of breath. All of the dancers in her company have an extremely strong core and maintain flexibility even though strength is the dominating component. To train the dancers, Graham would often perform classes with just floor work to strengthen the technical elements (contract, release and spiral) as well as learning control. Here the discipline of dance was drilled before allowing the freedom of performing. Graham was quoted, â€Å"Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired. † Her experimental technique allowed her dramatic view on life to be performed through Modern Dance. One of Graham’s theatrical works Night Journey, displays her established technical elements of modern dance. Inspired by Sophocles’ Greek Tragedy, the dance begins with King Oedipus and his Queen Jacosta complementing each other in their arms. As the dynamics in the music develop, intruding onto the stage are six chorus members (Daughters of the Night) in a grieving state. Lunging forward in a contraction with their fists covering their eyes, they repeat this sequence around the stage recovering to a release in between each contraction. As the contraction is a Graham interpreted symbol of the human emotion grief, this has been consequently used multiple times throughout. Showing locomotion in unison as they clench their fists and flex their hands demonstrates this pleading state. These movements, contractions, releases, developpes, attitudes and shuffling of feet, depict the women as vulnerable to lustful desires. Graham was quoted, â€Å"The body is your instrument in dance, but your art is outside that creature, the body. † The expression of the upper body is sharp and angular with the reoccurring contraction and release. Non-locomotor movements are often in isolated poses of fear positioned around the males. At the time, women were often discriminated against not having the same power as men. Graham has used this theme to display the social inequality sending a message that men have been in control of women for centuries and that women need to break free. The males use dominating gestures throughout, with the blind-seer Tiresias, portraying power and purpose with the repetition of arabesque promenades and high levels. These foreign movements have expressed the themes in a dramatic way developed from her dance style. In this Greek themed performance, the women wore long black dresses with stripes down the side and crown-like head pieces. King Oedipus wears a simple black tunic revealing most of his body. Tiresias dresses in a black flowing coat, carries a wooden staff, and wears mask to show he is blind. Tiresias uses this wooden staff to indicate his wisdom and this symbolizes truth. The silk rope used to hang Queen Jacosta symbolises the connection to Oedipus from birth til death. The music is an extension to the dancers and enhances this performance dramatically. Wild, fierce and harsh would be a way to describe William Schumann’s dynamic instrumental score. The dancers reacted with the music emotionally as well as physically increasing the overall effect of the performance. This choreographic style has allowed modern dance to communicate life’s emotions through drama intertwining with physical movement and relationships. Martha Graham has created countless choreographic pieces that have revolutionised the traditional outlook on dance. The Martha Graham Company was established in 1926 and is still a leading company to date. She has pioneered the Modern Dance industry by creating the fundamental technique and applying it to her 181 choreographed performances. Martha Graham has created a dance style to express a new form of life which has changed the dance world forever.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

State of the Art of Behavioural Accounting Research Literature review

State of the Art of Behavioural Accounting Research - Literature review Example Several academic writers and professional institutes have paid utmost attention towards the state of the art of behavioural accounting research wherein the prime intention has always remained focussed towards identifying the research assumptions of the same, which usually imposes considerable impacts on the decision-making procedure of accounting. Contextually, behavioural accounting assumptions help in preventing cognitive limitations in case of accounting and auditing, as it primarily emphasises understanding reasons to biases in the procedure and hence, offers better scope for enhancing transparency therewith. On the other hand, behavioural accounting assumptions also assist business organisations to maximize their expected utilities. Additionally, behavioural accounting theories also help an organisation to attain profit maximization in a more effective manner (Gillenkirch & Arnold, n.d.). According to the viewpoints of Gillenkirch & Arnold (n.d.), the behavioural accounting theory is utilised in preparing internal financial reports. Larger organisations are also involved in using the approach of behavioural accounting with the aim of preparing and disseminating financial information to the potential investors. In alignment with the above context, it can be inferred that behavioural accounting concepts help the global organisations to conduct their respective financial as well as management accounting procedures more accurately. It is therefore worth mentioning that with the assistance of behavioural accounting concepts, modern organisations are able to effectively implement the principles and guidelines of financial (external) auditing functions. This, in turn, supports them to utilise their respective tax accounting mechanisms more accurately (Gillenkirch & Arnold, n.d.). The prime objective of this study is to identify the key assumptions