I.B. Comparative Politics and Economics (SL) Essay

In this article, The Economist talks about how the price for a barrel of oil has dropped below the fifty dollar mark, resting at $47.36. Though many people would be happy with this, it talks about how this could be cause for alarm as a possible indicator for a worsening economy. The main economic concept described in the article would have to be consumption because it ties in with many changes that will occur as an effect of oil prices going down. Consumption is basically what it says it is: the total spending by consumers of domestic goods and services. Another concept described in this article is that of aggregate demand, mainly because consumption is bound to it. Aggregate demand is the total spending on goods or services in a period of time at a given price. Lastly, Monetary Policy is touched on in this article since there is a deflation in prices those who control monetary policy cut interest rates. * Consumption: Because of the drop in oil and also economist’s predictions that it will drop even lower, we can probably guess that consumers will save more money when they buy gas. With this extra money, incomes change and go up. Income is one of the main factors of consumption because, when it rises, people have more money to spend on other things, which increases aggregate demand. Consumer confidence also plays a role in consumption and especially in this case because, if consumers believe that gas prices will become lower, then they will have a greater chance or spending more on various goods and services. * Aggregate Demand: Changes in any of the four determinants of aggregate demand will shift it, making it lower or higher depending on which way the determinant shifts. In this case, a graph of aggregate demand would be shifting to the left because price levels are going down as the cost of oil is decreasing. * Monetary Policy: Though not discussed to a deep extent in the article, it does say that in response to the price for a barrel of oil dropping â€Å"those setting monetary policy have had no hesitation in cutting interest rates dramatically.† They’re probably cutting them do to fears of deflation which would create a greater unemployment due to a decrease in profit. Cutting interest rates would decrease the incentive to save because the cost of borrowing would be lower, this would also increase investment. In this graph you can see that aggregate demand will shift from a change in price level. So, if we make the price level oil and it goes down, then we have our demand for it go up and the aggregate demand line will shift to the left (AD2). If we increase the price for oil, the exact opposite will occur and the line will shift to the right (AD3). This all comes back to monetary policy and the article talking about people cutting interest so that it could build up consumer confidence in spending. In terms of completeness of this article, I think The Economist does an overall decent job at explaining what was going on and what could come of it but I don’t think it really touched on what we should do (or what we are doing) as a country to prevent a shortage of oil. I think the article does a good job of assuming that, although we are pursuing renewable energy, oil will be with us for a while longer and that we need to jack up the prices to reduce demand so that we don’t have the shortage too soon. In the short term, the lowering of oil prices is immensely beneficial because it increases the amount of money consumers have to spend on goods and services, and it also increases consumer confidence, making them want to get loans and mortgages.

Sloan School of Management

I am really pleased to have some discussion about my interest to apply for Sloan MBA program. I am determined to take admission in an MBA program in a reputable school and Sloan School of Management is one of my top priorities. The reason that I’ve chosen your school is that MIT Sloan is most popular and reliable in administrating and imparting education to business professionals. It has been able to launch change in our current business environment.Its reputation is much known among professionals and still its well educated and learned faculty is still contributing to this culture. I am much acquainted with the culture you promote and also easy and compassionate essay questions you ask. By taking MBA program at Sloan School of Management I hope that I will learn a lot about business dealings and can perform much better in the construction business.Our company is a recognized name in construction industry of China. We have been engaged in steel structural design, manufacture, and installation for more than ten years. Amazingly, our sales have grown tenfold in the last two years.Though it appeared that we were flourishing but there were uncontrollable crisis through which we were passing. For several months we worked under great pressure and none had time to consider company’s long-term goals.As I’ve spent uncountable hours in allocating assignments, monitoring status, solving problems, and handling nonstop incidents. My experience shows that we need a change in company’s environment.We have to change current project-based model to a mass production and commercialize our products. In order to enhance my career as a ‘project manager’ and my working knowledge in this business I am very keen to take this program. During my management career I’ve successfully dealt with several complex situations and led a team to complete most difficult and time consuming projects in rural China.I have also shown outstanding quantitat ive analysis skills and innovated new and extremely useful operational modes in the company. I want to excel my skills and compete in this business as a successful businessman.My capabilities show that I am a proven leader not just an entrepreneur. In order to put my vision into practice I must continue my studies and complete my MBA from Sloan institute of Management. I hope Sloan will play important role in transition of my career success.My visions are clear and I am determined to pursue my career in this field. After graduating from Sloan, I will return to my family business to take charge of overseas market expansion, and form a total solutions transnational steel-structure on partnership basis. I have planned to combine our unparalleled design originality with competitive cost advantage to broaden our business scope by promoting customized Composite Steel Structural Villa.Besides, I have also planned to establish Green House Business Group and Material Innovation Team for bett er environmental protection. Furthermore, my plan also includes developing multilateral investment strategies and conducting upstream industrial integration. Finally, I aim to capture venture capital for carrying out IPO in 2015. My ultimate objective is to lead my business as a driving force in the world’s economy with a clear mission and improve living standards.

Strengths and Weaknesses of different Interview Modes Assignment

Strengths and Weaknesses of different Interview Modes - Assignment Example The responses to the questions will rather provide the researcher information which qualifies as insights in probing the research question that the study poses. Thus, the interview process has to combine with the systematic analytical skills of the interviewer. In this process of analysis, there are number of associated elements which come to the aid of the interviewer in the case of a face to face interview. Kvalve (1996) has opined that the process of a research interview includes techniques to understand and describe the meanings underlying the central themes on which the interview is based on. This means that the process of interview does not limit to the direct outputs from the interviewee. The important task in an interview is analyzing the meaning of the direct inputs from the interviewee. However, for this to happen in a proper manner, there are a number of other factors which contribute towards it. The physical setting of the interview is one of the most important out of the se elements. The success of an interview in bringing out reliable qualitative information depends largely on the trust that the interviewee has on the interviewee and the associated systems. In this context, the physical environment influences the perception of the interviewee.

The Globalisation of McDonalds and the Role of Management Essay

The Globalisation of McDonalds and the Role of Management - Essay Example McDonald’s Conquers the world. Fortune, October, 17, 103-116. 12 VIGNALI, C. 2001. McDonald’s:â€Å"think global, act local†Ã¢â‚¬â€œthe marketing mix. British Food Journal, 103, 97-111. 12 WATSON, J. L. 2006. Golden arches east: McDonald's in East Asia, Stanford Univ Pr. 12 Executive Summary McDonalds is a widely known brand that is recognised throughout the world. It was begun by Ray Kroc who saw potential in a small drive-in restaurant ran by two brothers. Through his passion and leadership the company grew to its current standing and continues to grow. This report focus on four aspects, first it examines what traits made Ray Kroc and James Cantalupo good leaders and good managers for the company. Following this it examines the elements of business strategies for the company and how they increase the business. Then it considers the fast food industry as a whole and finally looks at changes in organisation to make it more globalized. Introduction McDonalds is a multinational corporation that spans the globe, and is often considered one of the most successful business empires. The franchise was originally born from a drive-in restaurant named McDonald’s Bar-B-Que which began in 1940. In 1948 the restaurant was shut down for alterations and reopened as a drive-in restaurant, selling a total of nine items, the most important of which was the 15 cent hamburger. The big change to the business came when salesman 52-year old Ray Kroc visited McDonalds and takes a position as a nationwide franchising agent for the company (McDonalds, 2011). Following the introduction of Kroc to the company McDonalds become connected to many of the icons and symbols that it is associated with today. The first restaurant had red and white tiles as well as the now famous Golden Arches which... McDonalds is a multinational corporation that spans the globe, and is often considered one of the most successful business empires. The franchise was originally born from a drive-in restaurant named McDonald’s Bar-B-Que which began in 1940. In 1948 the restaurant was shut down for alterations and reopened as a drive-in restaurant, selling a total of nine items, the most important of which was the 15 cent hamburger. The big change to the business came when salesman 52-year old Ray Kroc visited McDonalds and takes a position as a nationwide franchising agent for the company. Following the introduction of Kroc to the company McDonalds become connected to many of the icons and symbols that it is associated with today. The first restaurant had red and white tiles as well as the now famous Golden Arches which were designed for the brand. Within the space of ten years more than 700 McDonald’s restaurants had opened across the United States. McDonalds expanded internationally in 1967 by opening restaurants in Puerto Rico and Canada. In the present day, the corporation has restaurants in 117 countries worldwide, with the total restaurant number totalling over 32,000. McDonalds faced many challenges with its worldwide expansion. An example of this was its expansion into India. In 1996 it opened its first restaurant in New Delhi, where it drew substantial criticism for the sale of beef I its other restaurants, even though it was not offering beef products in New Delhi.

Final test Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Final test - Essay Example The passage reveals that she accepts this fact, and decides to live the submissive role. 2. â€Å"No, dearest Georgiana†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This passage has been taken from Natalie Georgiana’s â€Å"The Birthmark†. This passage tells about Aylmer’s discontentment with the little birthmark that Georgiana had on her cheek. He believed that his wife’s beauty was imperfect due to that birthmark. This passage points out the discontentment of man, and also the imperfection of human beings. The perfect beauty of Georgiana’s was made imperfect by way of the birthmark, which implies that only God is perfect, and human beings can never become perfect. This passage also reveals that man is very thankless toward the blessings of God. No matter how much God blesses man with, he is always complaining and looking for faults instead of appreciating positive things. 3. â€Å"Live with your head†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This passage is from Ralph Ellison’s â€Å"Battle Roya l†. This passage is very significant as it portrays a very important theme: compliance. The grandfather is advising his grandson that the only way he can survive in the white-dominated society is compliance. He should never show open rebellion against the discrimination. He should pretend to be okay with the demeaning racism he would be experiencing in the future life, and should sit back and see what happens. However, the advice of the old man is based upon self-denial. The narrator wishes to be true to his self throughout, but the words of his grandfather echo in his mind and teach him treachery. 4. â€Å"She saw the man’s face†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . This passage has been taken from Flannery O’Connor’s â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard to Find†. This passage contains the redemption and epiphany the grandmother shows for the first time in the whole story, and this is what makes this passage so significant. She used to live in her own world of selfishness and indif ference, where she is not ready to consider the importance and views of others around her. But she comes to realize this just before she is going to die. Her head gets cleared for a moment, and she understands the Misfit and his inner person. But it is too late. In short, the passage is about sudden self-realization of one’s self-centeredness. Part II- Essay Questions Q. 1: Symbol in â€Å"The Hand† Colette has not only described the spiritual dominance of the husband in the short story â€Å"The Hand†, but has also described how physically dominant was he, by giving special focus on his hands. Hand depicts power, control, masculinity, and aggression. â€Å"†¦powerful knuckles and the veins engorged by the pressure on his arm† (Colette, qtd. in Meyer 241) shows how powerful the hands of the husband are, which basically portrays the height of male dominance. The powerful hands, the hair on the arms, and the wife’s feeling of lying with an anima l, all shows the animal-like fierceness and ruthless dominance exhibited by the husband. She thinks of the hands as â€Å"apelike†, and calls them â€Å"claws†, which strengthens the symbolic meaning of hand. At one point, the wife describes hand as â€Å"offended, reared back and tensed up in the shape of a crab and waited, ready for battle† (Colette, qtd. in Meyer 242), which again depicts the animal like ferocity and domination. The man can make his hand defensive when the wife feels disgusted. This shows the level of prowess and cleverness the

History of Art and Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

History of Art and Design - Essay Example This write up gives an account of the plan of the house and activities that were carried out there. The Romans valued space in relation to setting up buildings that they would use for various purposes such as rituals. This would be compared to the design of the temple together with the forum within the Roman Empire. The Romans participated in various rituals that required people to come together in spacious structures. This meant that every structure considered space aspects when being constructed because ritual activities were to be performed in such a setting (Clarke, 1991, 65). The houses were built based on a public perspective. This meant that enough space was provided within the house for visitors and even those uninvited. These houses formed the focal point of activities that would be political, social and even business related. The houses were also decorated, and this revealed the minds and perceptions of the ancient Romans. This is the place that served as the meeting point for people in which they would discuss different issues that would be political, economic or even social. In the context of the roman houses, the domus is valued because of its importance in the ancient period. Those who made plans for its construction were required to ensure that its spaces had proper proportions. The domus had party walls on its flanks and was structured in a way that ensured that a back area was enclosed in it (Tang, 2005, 20). In addition to this, its main opening to the outside was located on the street front and formed an entryway. The houses above also had fauces that marked the axis from the point of entry which was long and narrow. The central part of the roof was also designed to allow rainwater to flow from the top to the basin below the impluvium. The compluvium was within the central space and served as a source of light to the atrium and those that would be found within it. The domus being the most common structures within this setting served to hold s alutationes activities. The domus held that paterfamilias, patrons of paterfamilias and the extended family. This was in regard to social and economic reasons that were far beyond the immediate family. This formed the clientela which was composed of relatives who did not have paterfamilias status and included slaves, freemen and other people who made daily salutationes guarantee their economic and political safety. Part two Byzantine churches Byzantine architects based their drawing on Roman temple features that were widely known within Italy. For instance, they combined ideas that were used to construct the basilica and other central-plan religious structures. This resulted on a structure with a square, central mass that had four arms of equal size. The most striking feature in these structures was the domed roof above the square area. The dome shape was suspended above the square by arches on each of the corners of the square, and this resulted into an octagon shape which would be referred to as a pendentive. These structures were characterized by towering spaces and luxurious decorations. In addition, this, marble columns, mosaic, inlay and inlaid stone pavements were also incorporated within this setting. These structures are believed to have extended in Christian East and other places such as Russia (Gagarin & Elaine, 2010, 443). The interior of the structures incorporated mosaic aspects, paintings and other arts. For instance, the painting was based on devotional panels. This was because the cult of icons was

Critical diference between java and C# Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Critical diference between java and C# - Essay Example loper the earlier sentence could be explained as ‘a short description of the Java language and platform’ instead the words C# and the .NET platform were replaced with words Java and the Java platform ( Obasanjo, 2007). C# is developed by Microsoft as part of the .NET initiative and later got consented as a standard by European Computers Manufacturing Association (ECMA) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The development of the C# language was led by Anders Hejlsberg and has a procedural, object-oriented syntax based on C++ and comprises features of several other programming languages with a special attention on simplification. C# is supposed to be a simple, modern, general-purpose, object-oriented programming language (Wikipedia, 2008). Java is another programming language basically developed by Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a most important element of Suns Java platform. This programming language receives most of its syntax from C and C++ and has a pure object model and fewer low-level facilities. Java usages are normally compiled to byte code which can run on any Java virtual machine (JVM) regardless of computer architecture. The basic and reference implementation Java compilers, and class libraries were progressed by Sun from 1995. In acquiescence with the specifications of the Java Community Process, Sun presented most of their Java technologies as free software under the GNU General Public License in May, 2007. Others too advanced alternative implementations of these Sun technologies, such as the GNU Compiler for Java and GNU Class path (Wikipedia, 2008). Java and C# are not the same.   There are some areas somewhere they are considerably dissimilar, and the execution of properties is one of those areas.   Hence, so as to be capable in both languages, one needs to know the dissimilarities in the way that properties are implemented in each of the two languages. For this purpose, there is a need to understand the

Art History writing assignment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Art History writing assignment - Research Paper Example Each individual is looking to load his or her pockets with money while most of rich folks traded their character, soul and honor with wealth. In the past, artists’ belly was empty but his or her soul was full of life. But, the demon of technology recently transformed the traditional art and science of painting into a mechanized practice. The modern artists are shamelessly working towards attainment of economies of scale by producing paintings and artworks in bulk. Furthermore, the contemporary filmmakers are engaged in joining several parts of the existing works in order to develop a new one. The true nature and feel of human emotions is withering away from the cinema and the meaningless glamour and sexuality is replacing the everlasting messages of human emotions. The key message of Benjamin’s work stated that humans have lost their basic and fundamental attribute that made them humans. The artist attempted to communicate his frustration and emotional agony by arguing that the humans of the modern world will become incapable of practicing and demonstrating compensation and love (Benjamin pp.230). The society of the so-called 21st century is a living instance of Benjamin’s predictions. Additionally, the humans have learned the method of evaluating close relations on an economic basis. The mothers and fathers are fighting with their children, as they do not financially participate in covering up the expenses. The being analyzed work discussed degrading human involvement in the field of arts and then, it extrapolated that lack of artistry in humans simply mean s that they are not living an internal and cognitive life that is the elementary essence of human existence. The work entitled â€Å"Blessed Art Thou Among Women† on the other hand, depicted an important and bitter reality of human community that is a breaking bond of love and affection that is known to exist between mother and her child. The historical love of parent and offspring was highlighted in the form of a painting so that people should and must understand the value of human relations (Kasebier, Blessed Art Thou Among Women). Nevertheless, the works of both abovementioned legendary artists did not have any significant and notable impact on the course of human evolution that is going into the deep and dark pit of individualism. The growing individualism in all parts and regions of the world is going to make all humans alone. In the near future, people are going to live and die in loneliness because they will never have true human relations and feelings. All of the divine religions emphasized on human relations and few technological geeks are going to take humanity away from th e golden and heavenly rules. Historically, people lived in joint families and had a habit and tradition of practicing concern about their neighborhoods. The life was rich and people were more than happy in arranging parties and festivals at weekends. The professionals were punctual about observing office timings and job turnover rate was also low because there was a sense of family in workplaces of that era. The rape cases were recorded rarely. The sons and daughter did cry on the sad occasion of their parents’ departure from this world. The movies and artworks of the period promoted the notion of peace and tranquility. Based on the

Your Creative Thinking Profile Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Your Creative Thinking Profile - Essay Example These aspects can be apparently observed as clarifying any sort of problem, creating ideas, developing solutions and also implementing effective plans. However, at certain conditions, I become a â€Å"Hare.† This is because of having improper knowledge about implementing required skills. Moreover, at certain times, I also become an â€Å"Optimist.†This is because of having deficiency in clarity with regards to the problems faced at certain adverse situations (Pucciuo, n.d.). The role, which I aspire to have, is of a top managerial position of an organization. In this regard, I must possess certain roles about resolving several issues within the organization. Hence, from the organizational perspective, it is quite essential to have all the desired qualities in the creative thinking profile. Being the â€Å"Integrator†, it is desirable for the organization to have me as the top managerial position, based on which several issues can be resolved in an efficient manner. Moreover, at certain times, I also lack in clarifying any sort of problem. Thus, the job role, which best suits me besides the top managerial position, is the idea along with solution provider (Pucciuo, n.d.). It is worth mentioning that as a manger of an organization, it is quite important to learn, respect and collaborate with other individuals for attaining predetermined business or operational targets. This can be made possible by encouraging the colleagues and the subordinates along with others to have and share a common goal. As per my understanding, arranging team meetings and other events would certainly lead towards forming greater collaboration with the members. In addition, forming greater communication with the colleagues and the others would also lead towards strong collaboration (Meador, 1997; Pucciuo, n.d.). It has been evident that each and every organization possesses diverse nature of people working in a collaborative manner towards the attainment of desired

Ghost Story - The Caretaker Essay Example for Free

Ghost Story The Caretaker Essay OI LOSER! PICK UP THE CRAP! This is the way he always got treated. No one gave a second thought about him. They thought that just because he was the caretaker who picked up the rubbish, he didnt deserve any respect.but they wished theyd have gave him some. After 10 years of cleaning up after people who just didnt care. People who laughed at him for dont his job, picking up their rubbish. Peeling up snotty tissues in the rain in his bright yellow Rain Mack, whilst they laughed at him through the window, he pretended he couldnt see them. After 10 years or this, every day, he has had enough. On his 10 yeah anniversary of being shouted at and just being disregarded, he had decided, this was it. The end, for him anyway. He walked into his stockroom, the one they banged on the door every single time they walked past, every single person. They thought it was funny, but they didnt know that he sat in there crying, through the pain of how they treat him. He didnt even get treated right by the teachers; they shoved him in a room with the boiler. This was it. He walked, slowly, slowly walking. But then he tripped over a mop. He could imagine the laugher of the kids if they had seen that, then theyd run away with his rubbish picker and hide it, so hed have to spend the rest of the day looking for it. He couldnt tell anyone, who would care. He got back up and climbed onto the steel chair, and put the noose round his neck and tied it to one of the pipes. He was rocking the chair, from side to side, slowly, trying to knock it from under his feat, but then, no, he wouldnt let them know that they had got to him. He wouldnt give them that satisfaction. He took the noose off from around his neck, and decided. He was going to make a change. He wouldnt let them get to him anymore not matter how hard they tried. He got off the chair, but then he slipped, he fell, the chair as well. The chair fell toward the boiler. He didnt realise that when he had fallen over the mop it had knocked a valve off the boiler, gas was leaking out, he could smell it. The chair was going for the boiler, he tried to get up but he hit a shelf and it fell off. Cleaning products, bleach, and floor cleaner poured all over him. This chair hit the boiler, and made a spark, then there was no more, he was no moreor was he? BE QUITE CASEY! shouted a nervous Anne. Whats there to worry about? No ones here. We saw it go up in flames, only that freaky caretaker was here, and hes long gone. Casey smirked, Helen and Mark gave out a little giggle, but Anne didnt. Why do we have to do this here? Why are we doing it? Anne asked. Why Not? said Casey Dont be a dick Casey! Anne exclaimed. OK Anne! Its just a Ouji Board, its not like they really work! So why are we doing it Casey? Just shut up! shrieked Helen to Anne, Its just a bit of fun, why dont you go home if youre so bothered? Maybe I will! At this Anne started to make her way back through the ruins of the old high school, what were left of it after it blew up. Loser! muttered Casey, Helen and Mark laughed. OK! This is it. You ready? Yeah! said Helen, a bit nervously Whatever! Mark said coolly as ever. They sat down in a circle, which the Ouji board in the middle, they all put a finger on the glass and then Casey asked Is there anyone there? The glass slowly moved towards yes, OH MY GOD! WHICH ONE OF YOU IS DOING THAT? asked Helen, quite scared by now. Not Me! exclaimed Mark and Casey at the same time. Whatever, said Casey, Lets carry on. Helen was quite nervous by now, she was scared, she wasnt expecting anything to happen. Who were you? Casey asked, as he watched the glass, it moved again, and pointed to the letters G, E, O, R, G, and E. George? Mark muttered. Whos George? The glass began to shake angrily it violently it moved to T, H, E, C, A, R, E, T, A, K, E, R. The Caretaker? Casey asked, Isnt he dead? Isnt that kind of the point of this? Said Mark. Whatever! Said Casey, I know one of you is behind this, I dont remember no George! As If! Said Helen, we know its you, this stuff isnt even real! Well then! said Casey quietly, Well find out now! GEORGE WHOEVER YOU ARE! WILL YOU COME TO US? At this it all went silent, and then they all looked at each other and started to giggle, then the floor started to shake, the glass shoot out of their hands and landed on YES! There was a bright light, and more shaking. But then it stopped. All was silent and dark again, apart from a small ball of light inside the glass. They looked at each other in shock. Then Helen quickly rose to her feet. This isnt funny any more you tw.! She had stopped, Casey and Mark didnt know why. She looked in pain, then she rose from the ground, then they noticed, she had a mop through her stomach, and she was suspended in the air. Then moved to the side and they saw itthe horribledisfigured, ghost. Helen was there, dead, attached to the mop; the ghost opened its mouth and said, Remember me now?! The ghost was burnt, all over, his skin melted and hanging off! He wasdisgusting. Mark jumped up and ran for the door, he got passed George and then he cackled evil. Mark ran down the corridor, as fast as he could, then he heard a sound behind him, he looked round and George was chasing after him with the floor cleaning machine. He was getting faster, and faster. Mark ran round the corner and bang into someone. ANNE! Mark screamed, I thought youd gone! Mark, what wrong? What was that noise? Theres no time to explain! Hes coming! Who? Anne asked ME! Mark was being lifted up off the floor by a rubbish picker, and then thrown onto the floor. From where he once stood, now stood George. Anne screamed, and turned around, and ran. ANNE WAIT! Mark screamed, but Anne was running, and he tried to, but George stood there with his floor cleaner, Mark tried to run away, he couldnt get up, so he crawled. But he wasnt fast enough. George ran at him with the floor cleaner and ran over him with it. It chopped him in to pieces. He was gone. NOOOOOO! Screamed Anne, she ran back, Why, why are you doing this? You called me! Ill see you soon At this George just disappeared and left the Remains of Mark, and Anne, who lay there crying on the floor. She sat their crying for at least 30 minutes, she couldnt bring herself to move. Then she heard it. ANNE?! It was Casey, he was still alive. She ran down the corridor, CASEY! WHERE ARE YOU? she ran around screaming. She couldnt find him, where was he, then she say him, lying on the floor, by the stairs. CASEY, She ran up to him, he was hurt, badly. Casey are you OK? Anne, I thought youd gone I came back, come on, we have to go, George, hell come for us! I cant move, he beat me with a broom, but I escaped, then I fell down the stairs. You need to stop him, you have to. How Casey, how can I? Im not as strong as him! Why is he doing this? We called him, he came, not hes getting revenge for all the things we did to him But it wasnt just us. Anne said, starting to cry. I know. But were here now. How do I stop him? Asked Anne rising to her feet! The Glass! Then she heard a noise, George came from round the corner with a Lawnmower. He ran up to Casey and lunged at him with it. Anne knew he was dead. So she ran, and ran, and ran. It seemed like she has been running for hours. She knew she had to hide, she couldnt find an exit, and the ones she could has collapsed during the explosion. She saw a small room, and ran it, and locked the door. Then she looked around and realised where she was. She was in Georges room; she saw the Ouji board on the floor, then George, stood there in the corner. He had a pair of tree trimmers in his hand. Anne knew this was it for her. Even if she could reach the door in time, she wouldnt be able to open it. Ready to die Anne? George asked, but the she noticed and thought back to what Casey has told her, the glass THE GLASS! She shouted What? George asked? The Glass, youre not going to kill me, or anyone else! She ran across the room and picked up the glass with the small ball of light in it. No Anne, NO! I WONT GO BACK AGAIN! George screamed. Its too late now She threw the glass on the floor, it smashed and a bright white light flooded the room. Anne was blinded by it. And then it was gone, she was alone in the room. She got up, and slowly unlocked the door and walked out. She walked around the school and looked for an exit. Eventually she found one and walked out. As she walked away, she didnt know what to do first, tell Mark, Casey and Helen parent what had happened, go to the police or just go home and cry, but she knew she has to get away from the school. But as she walked, she heard a low laugh, more like a cackle, coming from inside the school.

Software engineering principles

Software engineering principles Chapter 1 Software is a great combination between artistry and engineering. When you finally get done and get to appreciate what you have done it is like a part of yourself that youve put together. I think a lot of the people here feel that way. Introduction This report discusses Software Engineering principles in context with Service-Oriented applications. Software Engineering covers a very vast area. It encourages the development of high quality and sustainable software,using quality software engineering tools and techniques. Service Orientation on the other hand is a trend in Software Engineering, its an approach, a way of thinking, a value system that promotes the construction of applications based on activities called services. It was very complicated to conclude the basic principles of Software Engineering and then to make a decision which of these principles are applicable and which are not applicable to the development of Service Oriented Applications. There exists so much information on Software Engineering and Service-Oriented applications but very few talks about the Software Engineering principles and their relation with SOA. However, after browsing through the internet and digging into many Software Engineering and SOA books and journals some conclusion is made which is described in detail in following pages. Like most of the researches, this research also takes into consideration few assumptions which are stated clearly. Chapter 2 In order to be acquainted with the principles of Software Engineering it is essential to have a brief idea about it. The paragraph below will assist in giving some idea about Software Engineering. About Software Engineering. As mentioned above Software Engineering covers a very huge part in a development of any software. It is not a complex approach but over the years everyone has presented a different definition for Software Engineering because of its diversity. To get the more precise and clear picture, a few definitions from different sources are presented below. The establishment and use of sound engineering principles (methods) in order to obtain economically software that is reliable and works on real machines [Bauer 1972]. Software engineering is that form of engineering that applies the principles of computer science and mathematics to achieving cost-effective solutions to software problems. [CMU/SEI-90-TR-003] The application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software [IEEE 1990]. There are aspects of each of these definitions that have a say to the viewpoint of software engineering used in the construction of this report. One particularly important aspect is that software engineering builds on computer science and mathematics. Software engineering encompasses a process, the management of activities, technical methods, and use of tools to develop high-quality, systematic, controlled, and efficient software products. Software is engineered by applying three discrete phases definition, development, and support. Subsequently, there are significant emphasis on analysis and evaluation, specification, design, and evolution of software. In accumulation, there are issues related to management and quality, to novelty and creativity, to standards, to individual skills, and to teamwork and professional practice that play a vital role in software engineering. Chapter 3 Service Orientation is a trend in software engineering that promotes the construction of application based on entities called services [9]. Service-Oriented Architecture A service-oriented architecture is the organizational and technical framework that enables an enterprise to deliver self-describing, platform-independent business functionality and make it available as building blocks of current and future applications. Simply speaking, in an SOA, a business is viewed as a portfolio of services that can be delivered independently and recombined without requiring detailed knowledge of how that service is implemented. [8] According to Wikipedia, incomputing,service-oriented architecture(SOA) has different non-standard and openly-debated definitions. Basically, it is an attempt to provide set of principles or governing concepts used during phases ofsystems developmentandintegration. Such architecture is supposed to package functionality asinteroperableservices within the context of variousbusiness domainsinvolved. Several departments within a company or different organizations may integrate or use such services à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ software modules provided as a service à ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ even if their respectiveclientsystems are substantially different. It is an attempt to develop yet another means for software module integration. Rather than defining anAPI, SOA defines the interface in terms of protocols and functionality. Anendpointis the entry point to such an SOA implementation. Chapter 4 Principles of Software Engineering A set of fundamental principles can act as an enabler in the establishment of a discipline; however, software engineering still lacks a set of universally recognized fundamental principles. A fundamental principle is less specific and more enduring than methodologies and techniques. It should be phrased to withstand the test of time. It should not contradict a more general engineering principle and should have some correspondence with best practice. It should be precise enough to be capable of support and contradiction and should not conceal a trade off. It should also relate to one or more computer science or engineering concepts. [1] Principles are common and conceptual statements describing desirable properties of software products and processes. Principles become practice through methods and techniques, often methods and techniques are packaged in a methodology. Methodologies can be enforced by tools. Principles of Software Engineering have a good impact on the process of software engineering and also on the final product. These principles facilitate to develop software in such a manner that it posses all the qualities like: efficiency, functionality, adaptability, maintainability, and usability. Principles are general, abstract statements describing desirable properties of software processes and products. The principles are applicable throughout the lifecycle of the software. Principles are the set of statements which describe the advantageous features of the product and process. Focus on both process and product is needed to deliver software systems. These principles help in controlling process which in turn helps to control the quality of the product. Only the control of process will not guarantee a quality product therefore it is important to concentrate on both process and quality. As said earlier there are no fundamentally recognized principles of Software Engineering but we can list down few that may be used in all phases of software development. Rigor and formality Separation of concerns Modularity and decomposition Abstraction Anticipation of change Generality Incremental Development Reliability Principles explained. Rigor and formality Webster defines Rigor as. harsh inflexibility in opinion, temper, or judgment : severity the quality of being unyielding or inflexible : strictness severity of life : austerity b: an act or instance of strictness, severity, or cruelty 2: a tremor caused by a chill 3: a condition that makes life difficult, challenging, or uncomfortable; especially : extremity of cold strict precision : exactness Webster defines Rigor as harsh inflexibility in opinion, but thats not the general meaning of rigor in project management. In general Rigor means the strict precision with which you follow some project management belief or practice. Advancements of this approach enable us to construct more consistent product, organize their cost, and boost our confidence in their reliability. Formality is a stronger requisite than rigor; it requires the software process to be driven and evaluated by mathematical laws. As it is seen that Software engineering is a very imaginative design activity, so it must be practiced systematically. Rigor is an essential match to imagination that increases our confidence in our developments. Formality is rigor at the highest degree. Software development can accept neither ambiguity nor inaccuracy. Where rigidness helps to produce consistent products, controlling cost and increases discretion in products, Formality checks the process of software production using mathematical laws. Rigor and formality in context with SOA SOA aims to improve flexibility. The key reason for using SOA is that it should help you in your business. For example, you may need IT solutions that store and manage your data, and allow you to automate the usual processes that deal with this data. A critical factor for business success these days is keeping time to market share. To deliver a quality solution right on time, you need flexibility. But flexibility has a lot to do with clear organization, roles, processes, and so on. Therefore, SOA has to deal with all these aspects. [10] Conclusion For Software Engineering, Rigor means the strict precision with which you follow some project management belief or practice. On the other hand SOA follows agile methodology which can be described as iterative and incremental. As SOA is intended to enable flexibility, adaptability and reusability, this principle is not applicable to SOA. Separation of concerns There is a very popular saying Divide and conquer, it holds good in software development process also. This principle teaches to first divide or break the problem into small and different modules. This helps in dealing with different individual aspects of a problem and we can concentrate on each part separately. A problem can be divided with respect to time, quality, complexity etc. Once the problem is divided into pieces a project leader can thus easily separate the responsibilities among the developers. By doing this development of a big part of the project can be done in parallel, thus saving time. Separation of concerns in context with SOA SOA is all about services. SOA is nothing without services. Services are primary assets of SOA. Services in SOA are modules of business or application functionality with exposed interfaces that are invoked by messages from service consumers. [11]. Conclusion In SOA, complex problems are divided into different modules to design various reusable and interoperable services. Thus this principle does applicable to SOA. Modularity and decomposition Modularity is a kind of Separation of concerns. A complex problem can be divided into simpler parts called modules, allowing details of each module being handled in isolation and separately. A system that is collected of modules is called modular. When dealing with different modules we can ignore details of some not so important modules. Each separated module should be highly interconnected with the rest of the modules so that each module should be understandable as a meaningful unit. Components of a each module should be closely related to one another. Modules should exhibit low coupling means they should have low interactions with other modules. Too much interaction with other modules makes a module dependent on other, thus making it less reusable. Modularity in context with SOA Service contracts impose low consumer coupling requirements and are themselves decoupled from their surrounding environment. [12] Conclusion Loose Coupling is one of the basic principles of SOA. The principle of Service Loose Coupling promotes the independent design and evolution of a services logic and implementation while still guaranteeing baseline interoperability with consumers that have come to rely on the services capabilities [12]. This principle does applicable to SOA. Abstraction A software developer cannot deal with more than a few concepts and their relationships simultaneously. An abstraction allows suppressing details that are unimportant to him/her and emphasize the important information [2]. Abstraction helps manage the intellectual complexity of software [3]. Abstracting means that a higher-level concept disregards certain properties altogether [4, 5]. Abstraction is also related to Separation of Concerns. Here the modules are separated on the basis of purpose of the module. Actually we separate what from how. Then we can easily make out the central aspects of a phenomenon and overlook its details. Abstraction is the only tool through which we can actually master the complexity of the problem. Abstraction depends on the functionality of the module (What) or point of view. To decide which type of abstraction is to apply mainly depends on the purpose of the particular problem. Abstraction in context with SOA Service contracts only contain essential information and information about services is limited to what is published in service contracts. [12] Conclusion Abstraction ties into many aspects of service-orientation. On a fundamental level, this principle emphasizes the need to hide as much of the underlying details of a service as possible. Doing so directly enables and preserves the previously described loosely coupled relationship. Service Abstraction also plays a significant role in the positioning and design of service compositions. [12]. This principle does applicable to SOA. Anticipation of change The only constant is change. Change is everywhere. Even in Software development change always happens. It is very important to identify any likely change in the early phase of software development. When expected changes are recognized, a particular care must be taken to progress in a way that will make future changes easy to apply. The changes occur because usually the entire software requirement is not understood by the development team and this happens because of the communication gap between client and software team. Also most of the times the users and the environment of the requirement changes which leads to the minor and some time even major changes in the application. Such major changes affect the supervision of the software process. A small change in the application pushes the finished product back into the software development life cycle. It becomes necessary to do a regression testing with maintenance. Maintenance is the process where modifications are done to the application to reflect the changing requirements. Anticipation of change in context with SOA Conclusion Generality Generality can be characterized as a state or quality of being not limited to one particular case. Generalisation, as an inductive process, collects information about a number of particulars and presents it in a single description [6]. General description collects a set of individuals according to the features that are applicable to the whole as well as to every member of a set. As noted in Navrat [5], generalisation moves things along the set-superset relation. Specialization, as an opposite operation, moves things in set-subset relation. Less general description determines a smaller set of things, while its transformation to a more general description will determine a superset of the original set. Every member of less general set is a member of more general superset. While breaking a big problem into small modules one should generalize the problem to make the solution more potential for being reused. But a careful balance between performance and cost is necessary while generalizing a problem. Generalization often helps in solving some special case easily. Incremental Development Keep developing until you get it right. Incremental development is based on agile methodology. Agile methods generally promote a disciplined project management process that encourages frequent inspection and adaptation, a leadership philosophy that encourages teamwork, self-organization and accountability, a set of engineering best practices that allow for rapid delivery of high-quality software, and a business approach that aligns development with customer needs and company goals. [7] Incremental development means development in a stepwise fashion. According to this principle a subset of the system is delivered early to get the feedback from the users in the early stages of the development. New features or changes , if any, can thus be added incrementally during the early stages without doing much of changes in the structure of the system. It focuses first, more on the functionality, then turn to performance. It is a step-wise process which makes closer approximations to reach a desired goal. But a closer and careful management interference and documentation is necessary during all the steps. Incremental Development in context with SOA. As stated earlier, SOA is based on agile methodology. A disciplined Agile software development definition can be An iterative and incremental (evolutionary) approach to software development which is performed in a highly collaborative manner by self-organizing teams within an effective governance framework with just enough ceremony that produces high quality software in a cost effective and timely mannerwhich meets the changing needs of its stakeholders. [13] Conclusion Reliability According to ANSI, Software Reliability is defined as: the probability of failure-free software operation for a specified period of time in a specified environment.[ANSI91][Lyu95]. The NASA Software Assurance Standard, NASA-STD-8739.8, defines software reliability as a discipline of software assurance that: Defines the requirements for software controlled system fault/failure detection, isolation, and recovery; Reviews the software development processes and products for software error prevention and/or reduced functionality states; and, Defines the process for measuring and analyzing defects and defines/derives the reliability and maintainability factors. Reliability in context of SOA For services to carry out their capabilities consistently and reliably, their underlying solution logic needs to have a significant degree of control over its environment and resources. The principle of Service Autonomy supports the extent to which other design principles can be effectively realized in real world production environments by fostering design characteristics that increase a services reliability and behavioural predictability. [12] Conclusion Principle of Autonomy is one of the principles of SOA which talks about the reliability and behavioural predictability. This principle does applicable to SOA. References Abstracts from Fundamentals of Software Engineering, Second Edition, by Carlo Ghezzi, Mehdi Jazayeri, and Dino Mandrioli. Krueger, Ch. W., 1992. Software Reuse. ACM Computing Surveys, 24: 131-83. Pree, W., 1994. Design Patterns for Object-Oriented Software Development. Addison-Wesley. NÃÆ' ¡vrat, P., 1994. Hierarchies of programming concepts. Abstraction, generality and beyond. ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, 26: 17-21, 28. NÃÆ' ¡vrat, P., 1996. A Closer Look at Programming Expertise. Critical Survey of Some Methodological Issues. Information and Software Technol., 1: 37-46. Czarnecki, K. and U.W. Eisenecker, 2000. Generative Programming. Methods, Tools and Application. Addison Wesley. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Cartwright and Doernenburg 48 (3): 26. (2006) Zoran Stojanovic Ajantha Dahanayake. Service-Oriented Software System Engineering, Challenges and Practices. 1 Nicolai. M. Josuttis, 2007. SOA in practice. The art of distributed system design. 12-13. Eric A. Marks Michael Bell, 2006. Service-Oriented Architecture, A Planning and Implementation Guide for Business and Technology. 33-34 http://www.soaprinciples.com SOA: Principles of Service Design, byThomas Erl http://www.agilemodeling.com/essays/agileSoftwareDevelopment.htm http://www.agilemodeling.com/essays/agileSoftwareDevelopment.htm http://www.soaprinciples.com/service_autonomy.asp

Religion in Europe During the Life of Karl Marx :: Essays Papers

Religion in Europe During the Life of Karl Marx Religion as an institution has evolved throughout human history. When it began during the primitive stages of human existence, religion was concerned with society rather than the individual. Its role was to better society as a whole. At a later time religion began to take a greater interest in the individual, changing its role as a social institution.[1] This change in the role of religion led to the institution as a whole supporting personal growth and success, including wealth. In the Manifesto of the Communist Party, the authors denounce the separation of classes and the upper class in general, saying, â€Å"Society can no longer live under this bourgeoisie†.[2] As a result, the authors also denounced religion because by supporting wealth and encouraging capitalism it served to promote the upper class. Marx and other Communists felt that the evolution of religion throughout history was spurred on by changing economic and social conditions.[3] These two factors are very similar, and a change in one usually leads to a change in the other. At the time that Marx and Engels were formulating their ideas concerning Communism, radical changes were sweeping across the better part of Europe. The Industrial Revolution was in full swing with new inventions and industries growing rapidly. The demand for products increased dramatically and the entire lifestyle of many Europeans, especially the English, changed. The Revolution led people away from the rural farm life to the mass production of the urban scene. Workers were needed in booming industries such as cotton, iron production, and coal mining. As a result, people flocked to the cities to meet the need. These industries were controlled by the bourgeoisie, the wealthy upper class. They wanted to take advantage of the new technology and the intense demand for new products, which translated into money. These owners sent the poor farmers straight to work, and exploited them from the start. The workers received low pay and worked long hours in extremely unfavorable, and even dangerous, conditions.[4] This continued and the bourgeoisie prospered at the expense of the oppressed proletariat. Once the Industrial Revolution started it became rather efficient.

Women Have the Right to Abortion Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Arg

Women Have the Right to Abortion Webster's New World Dictionary defines the word abortion as, "any spontaneous expulsion of an embryo or a fetus before it is sufficiently developed to survive" (Webster's 1988; Pps. 3- 4). Assuming the reader of this essay agrees with the above definition, I will explore the following thesis, and support my answer with appropriate, adequate documentation, from "Conversations": "Should abortion be legal? At what point in time, and under what criteria should it be restricted?" Let me begin with a rather neutral source. Sallie Tisdale, a registered nurse and writer (Tisdale, 737) in her essay, 'We Do Abortions Here', states: "Like many women my age, I took the pill as soon as I was sexually active. To risk pregnancy when it was so easy to avoid seemed stupid, and my contraceptive success, as it were, was part of the promise of social enlightenment. But birth control fails, far more frequently than laboratory trials predict" (Tisdale, 738) According to the 'left', abortion shouldn't be legal for anyone, regardless of the circumstances. What about this first example? Do those with this philosophy imply that women just shouldn't have sex, plain and simple, until they're ready to handle caring for a child? How does this conflict with the reality in our society that young men and women are having sex at an earlier age, then in previous generations? Is it possible that although this idea is well-intentioned, it may not take into account a person's need to be sexual, which is just part of the human condition? What's a woman to do, if she's taken the necessary precautions, including one of several choices, including condoms (both for men and women), or the pill, and either method fails... ...ld have the option to terminate the pregnancy immediately, as such conditions arise, regardless of the developmental stage of the unborn fetus. Works Cited Irving, John. Pornography and the New Puritans. 1992. Conversations: Readings for Writing. Ed. Jack Selzer. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1997. 617. Tisdale, Sallie. We Do Abortions Here. 1987. Conversations: Readings for Writing. Ed. Jack Selzer. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1997. 737-741. Quinn, Sally. Our Choices, Ourselves. 1992. Conversations: Readings for Writing. Ed. Jack Selzer. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1997. 756. Meehan, Mary. Abortion: The Left Has Betrayed The Sanctity of Life. 1980. Conversations: Readings for Writing. Ed. Jack Selzer. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1997.747-752. "Abortion." Webster's New World Dictionary. 1988 ed. "Murder." Webster's New World Dictionary. 1988 ed. Women Have the Right to Abortion Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Arg Women Have the Right to Abortion Webster's New World Dictionary defines the word abortion as, "any spontaneous expulsion of an embryo or a fetus before it is sufficiently developed to survive" (Webster's 1988; Pps. 3- 4). Assuming the reader of this essay agrees with the above definition, I will explore the following thesis, and support my answer with appropriate, adequate documentation, from "Conversations": "Should abortion be legal? At what point in time, and under what criteria should it be restricted?" Let me begin with a rather neutral source. Sallie Tisdale, a registered nurse and writer (Tisdale, 737) in her essay, 'We Do Abortions Here', states: "Like many women my age, I took the pill as soon as I was sexually active. To risk pregnancy when it was so easy to avoid seemed stupid, and my contraceptive success, as it were, was part of the promise of social enlightenment. But birth control fails, far more frequently than laboratory trials predict" (Tisdale, 738) According to the 'left', abortion shouldn't be legal for anyone, regardless of the circumstances. What about this first example? Do those with this philosophy imply that women just shouldn't have sex, plain and simple, until they're ready to handle caring for a child? How does this conflict with the reality in our society that young men and women are having sex at an earlier age, then in previous generations? Is it possible that although this idea is well-intentioned, it may not take into account a person's need to be sexual, which is just part of the human condition? What's a woman to do, if she's taken the necessary precautions, including one of several choices, including condoms (both for men and women), or the pill, and either method fails... ...ld have the option to terminate the pregnancy immediately, as such conditions arise, regardless of the developmental stage of the unborn fetus. Works Cited Irving, John. Pornography and the New Puritans. 1992. Conversations: Readings for Writing. Ed. Jack Selzer. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1997. 617. Tisdale, Sallie. We Do Abortions Here. 1987. Conversations: Readings for Writing. Ed. Jack Selzer. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1997. 737-741. Quinn, Sally. Our Choices, Ourselves. 1992. Conversations: Readings for Writing. Ed. Jack Selzer. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1997. 756. Meehan, Mary. Abortion: The Left Has Betrayed The Sanctity of Life. 1980. Conversations: Readings for Writing. Ed. Jack Selzer. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1997.747-752. "Abortion." Webster's New World Dictionary. 1988 ed. "Murder." Webster's New World Dictionary. 1988 ed.

Life Is a Dream Essay

Historical background: Spain was united after the Moorish occupation (711-1400s). However, it also left Spain as a cultural powerhouse in Europe which was still largely medieval in 15th century. Spanish philosophers and scholars exerted strong influence and their craftsmen were well known across Europe. Ferdinand and Isabella united Spain and by 1492 expelled the Moors entirely form the country. They were determined to Christianize Spain and instituted the Inquisition to hunt down and punish heretics/in addition to the Moors tey expelled all the Jews from the country. Influences from both the Moors and Catholics are evident in the Spanish drama: Moorish heritage in the attitude towards women and honor; Catholic influence-religious faith and doctrine-God and church. Spain was the dominant world power for almost two centuries-1492 expansion and occupation of many lands in America, Africa parts of Europe-Portugal, Sicily, Netherlands. This gave the nation a sense of stability, confidence, energy-also evident in the theater. Religious drama-auto sacramentale- were extremely popular and performed regularly even after they had become obsolete in the rest of Europe. Professional troupes were organized for this purpose-best writers were hired to write them. They were produced on carts (carros) roughly 16 feet long and 36 feet tall-thus having two levels. Eventually they used 4 carros as a permanent stage-actors were reharsing for a long time and were presenting for the city council before the performance could get approved for the public. Autos were performed for 200 years until the decline in mid 1700s By the end of the 16th century-several dramatic geners appeared Comedia-3 act dramas or comedies. Cape and Sword-about lowly gentlemen and Cuerpo (Noise) about kings and mythological characters, saints-actions in remote places. Lope de Vega 1562-1635- One of the most famous and prolific playwrights-a nobleman, soldier, businessman, lover and finally a priest. He wrote over 1600 plays some-450 have survived. Often compared to Shakespeare, he did not have the depth and insight into human nature-he preferred to end plays with happy endings-looking at the positive side. Pedro Calderon de La Barca 1600-1681 Wrote about 200 plays of which a 100 survived. He wrote â€Å"Cape and Sword† comedies-love triangles that are happily resolved. He also wrote serious plays about jealousy and honor. Most famously he wrote a number of autos-his were the most popular and the form declined after his death. LIFE IS A DREAM 1636 A philosophical allegory about the human situation and the mystery of life. It is a tragi-comedy-has elements of both. All major characters suspended between different duties-promises and expectations of what is to be done. Clotaldo has a duty to kill anyone who sees Segismundo but also can not kill his own daughter—as his duty is to protect her. Sgismundo kills his helpers the rebels as he has a duty to the kingdom. As in a classical comedy everyone gets married at the end but the couples are strange or unexpected-Segismundo marries Estrella instead of Rosaura-she marries Astolfo as he has ruined her honor. Analogies Dreams to theater as theater to life Dreams to life as life to afterlife Basilio is rebuked in the play as he wants to find out his fate-only God knows your fate. Women were allowed on stage from the end of the 16th century. Cross-dressing was forbidden so Rosaura appears as a half-monster-half-male, half female clothing.

Why Was Hitler Appointed Chancellor in January 1933

Why was Hitler appointed Chancellor in January 1933 On the 30th January 1933, one of the most important events of the twentieth century occurred, Adolf Hitler, leader of the Nazi Party, became Chancellor of Germany. From its foundations as a small, anti-communist party in the aftermath of World War I it was now the leading political party in Germany. Hitler would eventually become Fuhrer and provoke a second world war.Hitler’s rise to power was based upon long term factors and can not be attributed to one event but a mixture of factors including events occurring outside Germany, the strengths of the Nazi party, the weakness of the other parties within Germany, resentment in the German people, the weakness of the Weimar system which he took advantage of through propaganda, the terror of his storm troopers and the fineness of his speeches. Hitler used these factors to his benefit and in 1933 he legitimately gained power to become chancellor.November 1923 was when Hitler first tr ied to seize power in the Munich Putsch he marched to Berlin with his followers to take over control but they never actually left Munich. During this time 16 Nazi’s were killed and 3 policemen. Although Hitler went to prison for this, he used this time to dictate his book ‘Mein Kampf’, he had show trials which boosted propaganda and became an almost celebrity. Hitler was meant to be in jail for 5 years, but was let out after 9 months. By now he was already starting to catch the attention of the public – a strong nationalist leader appealed to them.In 1929 the American Stock Exchange collapsed and caused an economic depression this was called the Wall Street Crash and led to America calling in all of its foreign loans, which in turn destroyed Weimar Germany. Unemployment then rose to 6 million in Germany. The government cut expenditures, wages and unemployment pay and they started to print more money, by now Germany was in a really bad state and no one knew how they would get themselves out of this rut. Many workers turned to communism which inevitably frightened wealthy businessmen who ‘fueled the fire’ by giving Hitler the money to run his propaganda election campaigns.Deep anger about the First World War and the Treaty of Versailles created an underlying bitterness to which Hitler’s viciousness and expansionism appealed. Nazi propaganda persuaded the German masses to believe that the Jews were to blame and that Hitler was their last hope. In fact, there were many people in Germany who wanted a return to dictatorship. Hitler was a brilliant speaker; he was a good organiser and politician. He was a driven, unstable man, who believed that he had been called by God to become dictator of Germany and rule the world. This kept him going when other people might have given up.His self-belief persuaded people to believe in him. Propaganda alone was a really important factor in Hitler’s rise to power, it ‘brai nwashed’ the German people into electing them through techniques of persuasion and reinforced existing attitudes and beliefs. Parades, symbols, uniforms, banners, bands and the marching columns of the SA attracted attention and interest. Germans turned to Nazism because they were desperate, the number of Nazi seats in the Reichstag rose from 12 in 1928 to 230 in July 1932. In November 1932 elections the Nazis again failed to get a majority of seats in the Reichstag.Their share of the vote fell – from 230 seats to only 196. Franz von Papen who was the current Chancellor could not get enough support in the Reichstag, therefore Hindenburg and von Papen were having to govern by emergency decree under Article 48 of the Constitution and offered Hitler the post of vice-Chancellor if he promised to support them. Hitler refused – he demanded to be made Chancellor, so Von Papen and Hindenburg took a risk believing that by having only 2 other Nazis they would be able to ke ep control. Many people believe that Hitler took control by force but, in actual fact, he was given it.

Children’s Literature II: Young Adult Literature Essay

47, written by Walter Mosley, is the story of a 14 year old slave who lives on a cotton plantation in Georgia. 47 has lived in the house and barn all his life, thus giving him a clouded vision of what slave life is really like. One day he is relocated to the slave chambers where his universe is turned upside down. 47 meets a presumably runaway slave, named Tall John who in all reality is an extraterrestrial. Through their friendship Tall John teaches 47 all about freedom and his world. Through the text we are given a chance to find a new experience with the world of slave history, African American folklore, and science fiction. After researching articles the main focus of discussion is the unique combining of the slave narrative with the science fiction. Slavery is still a very touchy subject. Whites do not want to relive the horrid treatment that they put upon the slaves and slaves do not want to read and learn about the harm done to their ancestors. Walter Mosley chose to write this story to convey the story of slavery from a first person narrative but also to put a spin on it so that it wouldn’t be so depressing. The text has some amazing, out of this world gadgets and healing devices but I am even more compelled to think that the truth it brings to light is an even more powerful thing. As Hazel Rochman stated I have to fully agree, â€Å"slavery is the most unbelievable part of this whole story†. In â€Å"Conversations with Walter Mosley† by Owen Edward Brady we read that Walter Mosley’s novels are filled with â€Å"folk archetypes†. In 47 we are able to see the full l ist of archetypes being fulfilled. The archetypal seeker could be Tall John leaving his planet to come to earth to find 47. It could also be 47 leaving the big house to end up in the slave quarters. The Junex verses the Senex could be the conflict between Pritchard and 47. The Orphan could be Tall John, 47, 84’s children, or any other slaves that were torn away from their families. The Caregiver could be Mama Flore, Mud Albert, or Champ Noland. The Sage in the text is Tall John from beyond Africa. Friends are Tall John and 47. Lovers are Tall John and 84, Mama Flore and Mud Albert, 47’s parents. Warriors and Heroes are Mama Flore, Mud Albert, and Champ Noland. Villains are Mr. Stewart, Pike, and Calash. Rulers are portrayed to be Mr. Tobias and the whites. The Trickster in 47 is Tall John. He uses many different tricks be them for good or bad. The pros and cons of 47 are hard to distinguish. If you were to use this text in a secondary setting you would need to get the administrator’s and parent’s permission. The cons of using this text in a secondary setting are that the text has some brutal hardships that the slaves had to endure. Language, rape, torture, kidnapping, and slavery are some of the cons that might not be appropriate for a less mature audience. The pros of the text are astounding. The story points out so many truths about slavery, and the pains that it places upon each generation. 47 takes a huge stance against slavery and thus takes a stand against racial prejudices. â€Å"Neither master nor nigger be† are powerful words that ring true for 47, finally. 20 Minute Writing Assignment – Think about Tall John’s â€Å"yellow bag of tricks† and think back through the text. What are some items that should have been in his bag? You can create / design a new item or think of something that could have been there that could have helped them along their journey. Works Cited Mosley, Walter, and Owen Edward Brady. Conversations with Walter Mosley. Jackson: University of Mississippi, 2011. Print. Mosley, Walter. 47. New York: Little, Brown, 2006. Print. Rochman, Hazel. â€Å"Walter Mosley Literature.† Walter Mosley Literature. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2013.

Human resource is the most important asset for an organisation Essay

We know that manpower is playing a very important role in the entire organization as well as in economic. Why is the manpower very affecting toward every organization? Human resource can be defined as labor as well as all the employees within the entire organization regardless of rank. Human resource is a resource provided by labor. Peoples whoever working in a company consider employee including of higher management such as general manager and operation manager. For every organization needed labor in order to maintain the productivity of every sector. Meanwhile, organization must require professional to manage the labor, we call that human resource management. Human resource management is to maintain and manage in the labor sector of an organization. Human resource department is a group of professional that doing labor management such as recruitment, labor welfare, academic and research of staff training, management of performance appraisal of staff, benefits and compensation and em ployee relationship. When comes to human resource, it is also discuss about productivity in every sector of an organization. Nowadays, we understand that technology is growing rapidly in past decade, it brings huge impact for every sector including of human resource. It could be in positive and negative. We understand from Jared Lewis (n.d), some of the areas in human resource had significantly impacted by technology such as recruiting, training and data storage. Recruitment traditionally relies on publication on multimedia such as newspaper and poster. Since the technology was growing in past decade, we are realize that job vacancy are lesser appear in newspaper or street poster but Internet. Now people are more easy to seek opportunity in one platform which is Job website. I believe everyone has been through some training. Read more:  What are Human Resources? We could realize that most of the training was conducted with technology. In human resource, HR professional could be more efficient to reach every single employee by using technology such as training and access of personal particular of employees. On the other hand, some of the industries have more negative impact in human resource. Example in production industry, we know that machines provide efficiency and productivity; in the same time human resource are affected. Contrary, some of the industry required more human resource such as retail and food & beverage industry. For my point of view, technology critically impacted human resource sector. However, in certain way that human resource still irreplaceable. In economic, people study different impacts toward the economic growth; one of the critical factor could affect economic is unemployment. As we know Singapore is a country with no natural resources. Report from UNESCO Singapore in 2008, Singapore treated human capital is the most valuable asset for the country. Within an organizations. Human resource is also one of the most important assets. How could human capital affect the entire organizations? As we know people manage the entire system of an organization. In every sector of an organization needed human capital in order to process. Therefore, we realize high turn over rate of a company is not a good sign. Labor keep changing within a company lower the productivity; labor low confident and low morale brings huge impact in productivity. Some of the companies realize this valuable asset has high potential growth opportunity toward the company. We could see most of the company really taking care of their labor, which they will implement, benefits or provide allowance for their workers such as attendance allowance, best worker of the month rewards. Some of the small enterprise may also provide company trip as well. As we know that all above benefits and allowance had given to the workers is to maintain high morale and encourage workers; this is of the common strategy used in human resource management. Beside reward, there are some strategy was implemented to sustain low turn over rate such as sending employee to training and skill development courses to improve in quality of work force. Not necessary only HR department uses human resource management. In every single department in a company needed human resource management, which handled by the head of department. In order to ensure the operation well progress, superior have to be manageable and interactive to the subordinates. Compare to past decade, we realize that most of the industry were computerized and it brought huge impact toward labor force. However, human resource is still very important in every sector. Human resource is flexible, high potential of growth and manageable. As we know, in every  sector needed people to operate and ensure the operation flow going smooth including machine and computer operation. Changes in human source could affect every single corner in an organization. Nowadays, companies are more concern the issue of human resource; companies are trying as best as they can to sustain low turn over rate and improve quality of labor in order to bring the company towards growth. In every field, human resource is one of the keys to success and we realize human resource is the most valuable and important asset to the organization.

Reactions to Extreme Danger

Reactions to danger vary greatly in different types of situations and different types of people. A few known reactions to grave danger are actually in pairs of completely opposite reactions. What I mean by that is that is that in a moment of distress, one can act in ways that are completely different from each other. For example, one can either freak out or stay calm,, freeze or keep going, run or stay, ect. These actions, of course, depend on the person, place, and situation. There are dozens, probably hundreds, of different situations in which danger is present.Some usual situations are things such as kidnappings, fires, assaults, shootings, and being held hostage. Although some people may react calmly to a given dilemma, others may completely freak out in the spur of the moment and go to extreme measures in order to get out. Some of these extreme measures include doing things you may regret for the rest of your life. An example of these extreme choices is killing. Suppose you†™re being held hostage. The only way to survive is to kill your holder and run away.If you’re desperate, you’ll probably do it. Another example of these extreme measures is cannibalism. People usually resort to this when they are stranded and desperate for food. If a person dies, the best thing to feed the rest is to eat the body of the deceased. Psychosis can sometimes set in after such events. But as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures. All in all, different reactions to different types of danger vary depending on the person and situation. Usually, saving your life will be the ultimate goal.You’ll do anything in order to get out of the situation quickly and safely. One can even resort to the extreme measures mentioned previously. Killing and cannibalism are also usual choices people make to save their or a loved ones life. We as humans sometimes feel the need to protect not only ourselves, but others as well. The human mind and body can do great things when distressed. For example, a mother can lift a car under which her infant child is lying. In that case, saving her child’s life is the ultimate goal.

The ethical dilemmas surrounding gay marriages Research Paper

The ethical dilemmas surrounding gay marriages - Research Paper Example Despite that, the past Christianity was much stricter than the present (Jonathan, 2004). Regardless of such, there are ethical implications that surround such relations. They have not been accorded certain basic benefits, rights and protection granted to heterosexual couples under the state from the federal law. Though gay couple lives in relationships that have a strong commitment on love among one other, responsibility and a right to enter into relation with a partner they choose, they are denied certain human rights legal and economic stability given by institution of marriages. Gay Rights have been denied at many instances. From the article, wedding professionals in at least six states were reported on a case of antidiscrimination. The cake baker refused on religious Grounds offer services to gay couples. In another case at New Mexico, a supreme court ruled against Albuquerque photography business. They had violated state antidiscrimination law. They refused to take photos of a lesbian couple’s commitment ceremony. Moreover, a number of cases were pending in other states such as Colorado, Illinois, and New York and other (Jonathan, 2004). Religious rights deny Gays Equality. The acceptance of gays has continued to grow in America ,but most still strongly convict them that homosexuality is abhorrent ,as gays violates some of gods most basic commandment for humanity and that acceptance of gays in America in abhorrent to God. From the article, a person is quoted saying that his refusal to cake baking on same sex marriages was not motivated by â€Å"hatred of gays† but rather a â€Å"desire to live his life in obeying Gods word." Despite such, constitution guarantee of religious liberty that protects them both there believe the right to act on their belief. They are wrong. Religious Beliefs and Religious Acts-Religiously motivated discrimination is rampant among conservative Christians. They have failed to convince

Decision Analysis Business Project Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Decision Analysis Business Project - Case Study Example On the other hand, if James decides to start a new business, a new problem of how to start the new business presents itself. This brief report characterizes the two problems. For problem one, it weighs the benefits of starting a new business against the disadvantages and recommends accordingly. For problem two, it analyzes the different choices available for forming a new business. Given that James is 51 years, it is advisable that he starts this new business since he is about to retire. After retirement, he will not have any other significant source of income if the business will not be operational. Moreover, given the advantages of the patent, a ready market, and a method of production that costs less, the growth of the business will require his full attention. Another factor to consider is that many of his children have already finished school, hence his family operational expenses are not too high. Again, many of his family members are able and willing to start aid in the family business. Specifically, his wife can participate in the management of the business, his eldest son wants to come home and if possible follow the father’s footstep. So, for his family, and also given that the business is sure to grow due to the ready market, and for the patent that protects his young business from any potential completion he has enough reasons to start this n ew business. To do so, since he is the one who is conversant with the production process he has to be fully involved in the business. Based on the above considerations, I recommend that James starts a new business and the wife, Mary, participates in part-time and continues with her homemaker business so as to cater for family expenses at least for the first one year before the business generates income. To avoid conflicts in the future, the other children can continue earning their income except for the eldest son who has an interest in the business. The second problem requires

Efficacy of institutions in the global system Research Paper

Efficacy of institutions in the global system - Research Paper Example This denotes the significance of international institutions, such as International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Trade Organization (WTO), and World Bank in helping countries respond more to the challenges of globalization (Milner 836). This paper attempts to demonstrate the significance of international institutions to enhance the economy of various countries. It also provides evidence that these multilateral institutions have a valuable impact on the economy of developing nations. Role of International Institutions The primary goal of International Monetary Fund (IMF) is to help improve the economy of less developed countries by providing them with short and long term loans at low interest rates. The institution has been active in delivering this role which is evident in the various programs that it has successfully implemented in over sixty developing countries in 2000 alone. Moreover, the mission of World Bank was also to support the growth of less developed nations and to help them overcome the financial crisis. This goal was efficiently carried out through the provision of grants and loans at zero interest to poor nations especially in Africa. In fact, over 50% of the fund of World Bank for 2003 went to projects in the nearby countries of Sahara. On the other hand, the mission of World Trade Organization (WTO) was to enhance bilateral partnerships among countries and to encourage them to adopt trade liberalization as an effective strategy for enhancing their economy (Milner 836). The WTO has successfully performed this mission which is evident in the emergence of various multinational companies in developing countries. These giant companies significantly contribute to the economy of emerging countries through the creation of jobs. This was revealed in the study of Greenaway and Wright on the effects of trade liberalization in the economy of developing countries. The findings showed that liberalization of trade policies and entry barriers has a significant po sitive impact to the economic growth of less developed countries (229). Impact of International Institutions on Economic Growth The WTO plays a significant role in enhancing the value international trade of its member countries. For instance, Rose conducted a study on whether or not WTO together with its previous counterpart (Generalised Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) has been effective in promoting the value of international trade among its 175 member countries for 50 years. Through the analysis of the gravity model, the study revealed that WTO has a direct contribution for doubling the value of trade among member nations (98). In addition, Subramanian and Wei also conducted a study on whether or not WTO has a significant impact on the trading condition of its member countries. Their findings revealed that WTO provides a significant positive impact on trade which translates to 120% marginal increase for 2000. However, the study revealed that the positive impact of WTO is not evenly achieved by its member countries. In addition, increase in bilateral trade is high when each partner nation adopt liberalization while countries without trade liberalizations did not acquire trade increase. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) plays a significant role in creating and enforcing relevant trading rules across different countries. This has been supported by various research showing the relevance of WTO in

Brand management and research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Brand management and research - Essay Example This increased wave of competition in the business markets has forced firms to devise strategies that tend to enhance their competitive advantage in the market. The increased wave of competition in the market has enhanced the importance of branding and brand image towards generating competitive advantage. The aspect of branding assumes even more importance as customers largely use the brand to distinguish between products and services of different market players. Firms are therefore trying out different strategies that tend to increase their brand value so as to gain competitive advantage. The aspect of branding has assumed so much importance that well known brand like Apple are being valued in billions for their brand image and their image on the minds of the customers. Aspects like brand equity which involves the extra value addition in the product or service offering have also assumed large scale importance for business organizations (Stadtler, 2010, p.1). The present study would try to analyse the different dimensions of branding including elements like brand value, brand image and brand positioning. The organization selected for the study is Nintendo which is an organization that deals with the manufacture and sales of gaming consoles in many nations across the world. The study would highlight the relative strengths and weakness of the organizations with regards to the aspect of branding. Company Background Nintendo is a Japanese organization that deals in the manufacture of gaming consoles. The company started its business in the year 1985 as a manufacturer of games and gaming consoles. The initial operations of the firm were restricted to Japan. After initial success the company expanded into different nations like USA, UK and is presently operating in about 20 nations across the globe. The company’s initial products of Mario and Zelda became instant hit with the target audience and still continue to be largely popular among the members of the tar get audience. The company by virtue of its highly innovative products has established a strong brand image in the minds of the customers. The other products of the company include Nintendo Ds, Nintendo Game cube which have been huge hits with the customers across the world. In the year 2006 the company launched the Nintendo Wii that was a revolution in the world of gaming industry which had exiting and unmatched product features. The core competence of the firm includes its innovative product line and a continuous and uniform diffusion of innovation that helps it to establish itself as a unique brand in the minds of the customers (Nintendo, 2011). The subsequent sections would try to analyze the different aspects of branding including the elements of value, image and positioning towards generation of competitive advantage. Brand Position Brand position implies the image of the brand in the minds of the target market audience. Knox (2004) undertook a study on the aspect of brand posi tioning and stated that in order to stay competitive firms need to look beyond the realm of the product and service mix so as to generate greater value and image of the brand in the minds of the consumers. The author cites the example of Coca Cola by stating that most of its value comes from its brand image rather than its other existing assets (Knox, 2004, p. 105-106). Grad et.al

Zamyatin's We Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Zamyatin's We - Essay Example Before loving her everything was calm, happy and in perfect order for him, but now he is tormented with emotions of jealousy, anger, agony and fear his calm existence is shattered and he cannot sleep and when he does he is tormented by dreams. On one such agonized occasion when he has not met I-330 for a long time, he wanders around the glass city seeing and feeling strange things at the time for going to work, which is a crime punishable by death, when S-4711 a guardian who seems to be following him guides him to the medical office. Here D-503 is met by two doctors, 88 and 89 he recognizes one doctor 89 from his previous visit and starts telling him about shadows, a yellow world, insomnia and dreams. The doctor tells him that these signs mean that he has developed an incurable disease, he has developed a soul! Frightened D-503 asks him about this long forgotten word â€Å"soul† and why he has developed it and why no one else has it. The doctor tries to explain him the concept of soul in mathematical terms; he tells him that a soul is like a glass that instead of reflecting the glass had started to absorb things, maybe due to fire that has softened the glass’s surface. Just like D-503 had been softened by the love of I-330. The doctor further says that not everyone has it because the soul has become redundant just like feathers are not needed because man no longer needs to fly as he has invented machines also because he no longer needed to go anywhere as he had arrived in the place he was looking for the ‘perfect’ One State. The other doctor 88 states that the soul is becoming an epidemic â€Å"Extirpate imagination. Nothing but surgery, nothing but surgery will do___" and asks D-503 to become a part of an experiment as â€Å"It would be extremely useful to the One State. ... It would help us prevent an epidemic. .. Of course, unless you have some special

Dqweek 7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Dqweek 7 - Essay Example to do with how the powers and privileges of society, as well as within the companies themselves, are affected by large organizations . These three, Clegg, Hinings and Greenwood feel that this sociological perspective is required in order that companies can find for themselves the most suitable ways to solve their problems, ways that are both efficient an defective. . Clegg in 2002 ( p 430) drew a parallel with the planning of the Holocaust in World War II. He describes an organization then which worked at optimum efficiency, and achieved its aims effectively, but as far as moral values and ethics were concerned was totally abhorrent. He also stresses that researchers seeking both funding and access to organisations, must focus their research on real problems faced by the businesses concerned. ( page 436) Grey (2010, p 686) and Clegg (2002, 434) point out how between Europe and America there are differences in the way universities operate with Europeans generally being more open to alternative points of view. Grey talks about the ways in which systems of ranking make the positivist/functionalist viewpoint dominant in North American academic circles. He concludes that this ranking system enables the American universities and the academic journals from that part of the world to prevail when it comes to proving the knowledge creation agenda which therefore tends to fit in with their preference for the positivist/functionalist trend. Knowledge creation cannot be allowed to remain as the select domain of an elite group of American scholars and those academic journals which are overly concerned with their own rankings. There are other ways to create knowledge as our DBA programme reveals when it shows how Critical Action Learning when used by scholars who are also practitioners will also generate knowledge. Whether or not it then goes on to publication in a high ranking American journal, it can still be used within our own organisations to

Proposal for Jamba Juice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Proposal for Jamba Juice - Essay Example After running the successful business of only nutritious beverages that include, healthy smoothies, squeezed fruit juices and fresh blend of juices, teas and coffees and oatmeal later, Jamba Juice adopted a new line of healthy items. These include baked items and fresh salads, wraps, and sandwiches and fruit yogurts. And, now Jamba Juice is motivated to open its new store at ‘San Antonio International Airport’. Jamba Juice Company actively works for a nonprofit organization named â€Å"Bay Area Leadership Foundation (BALF)†. As a matter of fact, they chose Jamba Juice as a ‘Corporate Citizen of the Year’ (Globenewswire, 2015). Jamba Juice Company is looking forward to establish its new restaurant at ‘San Antonio International Airport’ as it has a capacity of dealing around eight million travelers in a year domestic and international (Aviation Department, 2014). Idea of expanding the business at a populous place that deals with non-stop public operations can be very effective way to conduct profitable operations. There are number of restaurants already present at San Antonio Airport, But Jamba Juice Company has a unique selling point of providing fresh and full of nourishment fruit blends. In order to start a new restaurant, the company needs to invest in major goods; some of them are going to be their assets as they will last longer and need to spend in expenses like Deposit for building’s security. It remains as the major expense because legal fee registration and certification are legally advised; company can restate its budget in marketing expense. Since the restaurant manage day to day fruit buying, transportation cost is going to be the highest among all the operating expenses. According to the table above, Jamba Juice Company has a potential to establish its store at its new location, San Antonio Airport, as the company is rising with the growth rate of 8% annually, and eligible to

Concepts And Definitions Of Disability Essay Example for Free

Concepts And Definitions Of Disability Essay The contemporary conception of disability proposed in the WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) views disability as an umbrella term for impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions. Disability is the interaction between individuals with a health condition (e.g. cerebral palsy, Down syndrome or depression) and personal and environmental factors (e.g. negative attitudes, inaccessible transportation, or limited social supports). Long ago there was great confusion over the meaning of terms such as impairment, handicap, or disability. Then, in 1980, the WHO provided great service by offering a clear way of thinking about it all in a little book called International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps. All these terms refer to the consequences of disease, but consider the consequences at different levels. The disease produces some form of pathology, and then the individual may become aware of this: they experience symptoms. Later, the performance or behaviour of the person may be affected, and because of this the person may suffer consequences such as being unable to work. In this general scenario, Impairment was defined as any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological, or anatomical structure or function. Impairment is a deviation from normal organ function; it may be visible or invisible (screening tests generally seek to identify impairments). Disability was defined as any restriction or lack (resulting from an impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being. Impairment does not necessarily lead to a disability, for the impairment may be corrected. I am, for example, wearing eye glasses, but do not perceive that any disability arises from my impaired vision. A disability refers to the function of the individual (rather than of an organ, as with impairment). In turn, Handicap was defined as a disadvantage for a given individual, resulting from impairment or a disability that limits or prevents the fulfillment of a role that is normal (depending on age, sex, and social and cultural factors) for that individual. Handicap considers the persons participation in their social context. For example, if there is a wheel-chair access ramp at work, a disabled person may not be handicapped in coming to work there. Here are some examples: Impairment Speech production; Disability Speaking clearly enough to be understood; Handicap Communication I Hearing; D Understanding; H Communication I Vision; D Seeing; H Orientation I Motor control, balance, joint stiffness; D Dressing, feeding, walking; H Independence, mobility I Affective, cognitive limitations; D Behaving, interacting, supporting; H Social interaction, reasonableness Here is a diagram that suggests possible parallels between the impairment, disability handicap triad, and the disease, illness and sickness triad. (The squiggly arrows are intended to indicate a rough correspondence) Patients do not come to their physicians to find out what ICD code they have, they come to get help for what is bothering them. A Positive Perspective? Quality of Life and the International Classification of Function The focus on disability takes a somewhat negative approach to health, perhaps not unreasonable since doctors are supposed to cure diseases. But starting in the 1980s clinicians began to set goals to achieve when the disease could not be cured, beyong merely controlling symptoms. The notion of Quality of Life gained prominence as a way to emphasize a positive perspective on health health as a capacity to function and to live, even if the patient has a chronic condition. A central aim of care was to enhance the quality of the patients function, and hence their ability to life as normal a life as possible, even if the disorder could not be cured. This notion was a further extension of handicap, covering maintenance of normal function, but adding psychological well-being and, if possible, positive feelings of engagement. Measurements of quality of life extend the disability focus beyond the ability to perform activities of daily living to include a broad range of functioning (work, home, play) and also the persons feelings of satisfaction and well-being. This is necessarily a qualitative and subjective concept, judged by the patient in terms of the extent to which they are able to do the things they wish to do. In this medical context, quality of life is distinct from wealth or possessions, and to amke this clear you may see the term health-related quality of life. Reflecting these evolving ideas, the WHO revised its  Impairment, Disability and Handicap triad in 2001, re-naming it the International Classification of Function (ICF). This classification system provides codes for the complete range of functional states; codes cover body structures and functions, impairments, activities and participation in society. The ICF also considers contextual factors that may influence activity levels, so function is viewed as an interaction between health conditions (a disease or injury) and the context in which the person lives (both physical environment and cultural norms relevant to the disease). It establishes a common language for describing functional states that can be used in comparing across diseases and countries. The ICF therefore uses positive language, so that activity and participation replace disability and handicap. The ICF is described on the WHO web site. Impairment, Disability and Handicap Sheena L. Carter, Ph.D. The words â€Å"impairment,† â€Å"disability,† and â€Å"handicap,† are often used interchangeably. They have very different meanings, however. The differences in meaning are important for understanding the effects of neurological injury on development. The most commonly cited definitions are those provided by the World Health Organization (1980) in The International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities, and Handicaps: Impairment: any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function. Disability: any restriction or lack (resulting from an impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for a human being. Handicap: a disadvantage for a given individual that limits or prevents the fulfillment of a role that is normal As traditionally used, impairment refers to a problem with a structure or  organ of the body; disability is a functional limitation with regard to a particular activity; and handicap refers to a disadvantage in filling a role in life relative to a peer group. Examples to illustrate the differences among the terms impairment, disability, and handicap. 1. CP example: David is a 4-yr.-old who has a form of cerebral palsy (CP) called spastic diplegia. Davids CP causes his legs to be stiff, tight, and difficult to move. He cannot stand or walk. Impairment: The inability to move the legs easily at the joints and inability to bear weight on the feet is an impairment. Without orthotics and surgery to release abnormally contracted muscles, Davids level of impairment may increase as imbalanced muscle contraction over a period of time can cause hip dislocation and deformed bone growth. No treatment may be currently available to lessen Davids impairment. Disability: Davids inability to walk is a disability. His level of disability can be improved with physical therapy and special equipment. For example, if he learns to use a walker, with braces, his level of disability will improve considerably. Handicap: Davids cerebral palsy is handicapping to the extent that it prevents him from fulfilling a normal role at home, in preschool, and in the community. His level of handicap has been only very mild in the early years as he has been well-supported to be able to play with other children, interact normally with family members and participate fully in family and community activities. As he gets older, his handicap will increase where certain sports and physical activities are considered normal activities for children of the same age. He has little handicap in his preschool classroom, though he needs some assistance to move about the classroom and from one activity to another outside the classroom. Appropriate services and equipment can reduce the extent to which cerebral palsy prevents David from fulfilling a normal role in the home, school and community as he grows. 2. LD example: Cindy is an 8-year-old who has extreme difficulty with reading (severe dyslexia). She has good vision and hearing and scores well on tests of intelligence. She went to an excellent preschool and several different special reading programs have been tried since early in kindergarten. Impairment: While no brain injury or malformation has been identified, some impairment is presumed to exist in how Cindys brain puts together visual and auditory information. The impairment may be inability to associate sounds with symbols, for example. Disability: In Cindys case, the inability to read is a disability. The disability can probably be improved by trying different teaching methods and using those that seem most effective with Cindy. If the impairment can be explained, it may be possible to dramatically improve the disability by using a method of teaching that does not require skills that are impaired (That is, if the difficulty involves learning sounds for letters, a sight-reading approach can improve her level of disability). Handicap: Cindy already experiences a handicap as compared with other children in her class at school, and she may fail third grade. Her condition will become more handicapping as she gets older if an effective approach is not found to improve her reading or to teach her to compensate for her reading difficulties. Even if the level of disability stays severe (that is, she never learns to read well), this will be less handicapping if she learns to tape lectures and read books on audiotapes. Using such approaches, even in elementary school, can prevent her reading disability from interfering with her progress in other academic areas (increasing her handicap). Gale Encyclopedia of Education: History of Special Education Top Home Library History, Politics Society Education Encyclopedia Special education, as its name suggests, is a specialized branch of education. Claiming lineage to such persons as Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard (1775 1838), the physician who tamed the wild boy of Aveyron, and Anne Sullivan Macy (1866 1936), the teacher who worked miracles with Helen Keller, special educators teach those students who have physical, cognitive, language, learning, sensory, and/or emotional abilities that deviate from those of the general population. Special educators provide instruction specifically tailored to meet individualized needs, making education available to students who otherwise would have limited access to education. In 2001, special education in the United States was serving over five million students. Although federally mandated special education is relatively new in the United States, students with disabilities have been present in every era and in every society. Historical records have consistently documented the most severe disabilities those that transcend task and setting. Itards description of the wild boy of Aveyron documents a variety of behaviors consistent with both mental retardation and behavioral disorders. Nineteenth-century reports of deviant behavior describe conditions that could easily be interpreted as severe mental retardation, autism, or schizophrenia. Milder forms of disability became apparent only after the advent of universal public education. When literacy became a goal for all children, teachers began observing disabilities specific to task and setting that is, less severe disabilities. After decades of research and legislation, special education now provides services to students with varying degrees and forms of disabilities, including mental retardation, emotional disturbance, learning disabilities, speech-language (communication) disabilities, impaired hearing and deafness, low vision and blindness, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairments, and severe and multiple disabilities. Development of the Field of Special Education At its inception in the early nineteenth century, leaders of social change set out to cure many ills of society. Physicians and clergy, including Itard, Edouard O. Seguin (1812 1880), Samuel Gridley Howe (1801 1876), and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet (1787 1851), wanted to ameliorate the neglectful, often abusive treatment of individuals with disabilities. A rich  literature describes the treatment provided to individuals with disabilities in the 1800s: They were often confined in jails and almshouses without decent food, clothing, personal hygiene, and exercise. During much of the nineteenth century, and early in the twentieth, professionals believed individuals with disabilities were best treated in residential facilities in rural environments. Advocates of these institutions argued that environmental conditions such as urban poverty and vices induced behavioral problems. Reformers such as Dorothea Dix (1802 1887) prevailed upon state governments to provide funds for bigger and mo re specialized institutions. These facilities focused more on a particular disability, such as mental retardation, then known as feeble-mindedness or idiocy; mental illness, then labeled insanity or madness; sensory impairment such as deafness or blindness; and behavioral disorders such as criminality and juvenile delinquency. Children who were judged to be delinquent or aggressive, but not insane, were sent to houses ofrefuge or reform schools, whereas children and adults judged to be mad were admitted to psychiatric hospitals. Dix and her followers believed that institutionalization of individuals with disabilities would end their abuse (confinement without treatment in jails and poorhouses) and provide effective treatment. Moral treatment was the dominant approach of the early nineteenth century in psychiatric hospitals, the aim being cure. Moral treatment employed methods analogous to todays occupational therapy, systematic instruction, and positive reinforcement. Evidence suggests this approach was humane and effective in some cases, but the treatment was generally abandoned by the late nineteenth century, due largely to the failure of moral therapists to train others in their techniques and the rise of the belief that mental illness was always a result of brain disease. By the end of the nineteenth c entury, pessimism about cure and emphasis on physiological causes led to a change in orientation that would later bring about the warehouse-like institutions that have become a symbol for abuse and neglect of societys most vulnerable citizens. The practice of moral treatment was replaced by the belief that most disabilities were incurable. This led to keeping individuals with disabilities ininstitutions both for their own protection and for the betterment of society. Although the transformation took many years, by the end of the nineteenth century the size of institutions had increased so  dramatically that the goal of rehabilitation was no longer possible. Institutions became instruments for permanent segregation. Many special education professionals became critics of institutions. Howe, one of the first to argue for in stitutions for people with disabilities, began advocating placing out residents into families. Unfortunately this practice became a logistical and pragmatic problem before it could become a viable alternative to institutionalization. At the close of the nineteenth century, state governments established juvenile courts and social welfare programs, including foster homes, for children and adolescents. The child study movement became prominent in the early twentieth century. Using the approach pioneered by G. Stanley Hall (1844 1924; considered the founder of child psychology), researchers attempted to study child development scientifically in relation to education and in so doing established a place for psychology within public schools. In 1931, the Bradley Home, the first psychiatric hospital for children in the United States, was established in East Providence, Rhode Island. The treatment offered in this hospital, as well as most of the other hospitals of the early twentieth century, was psychodynamic. Psychodynamic ideas fanned interest in the diagnosis and classification of disabili ties. In 1951 the first institution for research on exceptional children opened at the University of Illinois and began what was to become the newest focus of the field of special education: the slow learner and, eventually, what we know today as learning disability. The Development of Special Education in Institutions and Schools Although Itard failed to normalize Victor, the wild boy of Averyon, he did produce dramatic changes in Victors behavior through education. Modern special education practices can be traced to Itard, and his work marks the beginning of widespread attempts to instruct students with disabilities. In 1817 the first special education school in the United States, the American Asylum for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb (now called the American School for the Deaf), was established in Hartford, Connecticut, by Gallaudet. By the middle of the nineteenth century, special educational programs were being provided in many asylums. Education was a prominent part of moral therapy. By the close of the nineteenth century, special classes within regular public schools had been launched in major cities. These special classes were initially established for immigrant students who were  not proficient in English and stude nts who had mild mental retardation or behavioral disorders. Descriptions of these children included terms such as steamer children, backward, truant, and incorrigible. Procedures for identifying defectives were included in the Worlds Fair of 1904. By the 1920s special classes for students judged unsuitable for regular classes had become common in major cities. In 1840 Rhode Island passed a law mandating compulsory education for children, but not all states had compulsory education until 1918. With compulsory schooling and the swelling tide of anti-institution sentiment in the twentieth century, many children with disabilities were moved out of institutional settings and into public schools. However, by the mid-twentieth century children with disabilities were still often excluded from public schools and kept at home if not institutionalized. In order to respond to the new population of students with special needs entering schools, school officials created still more special classes in public schools. The number of special classes and compleme ntary support services (assistance given to teachers in managing behavior and learning problems) increased dramatically after World War II. During the early 1900s there was also an increased attention to mental health and a consequent interest in establishing child guidance clinics. By 1930 child guidance clinics and counseling services were relatively common features of major cities, and by 1950 special education had become an identifiable part of urban public education in nearly every school district. By 1960 special educators were instructing their students in a continuum of settings that included hospital schools for those with the most severe disabilities, specialized day schools for students with severe disabilities who were able to live at home, and special classes in regular public schools for students whose disabilities could be managed in small groups. During this period special educators also began to take on the role of consultant, assisting other teachers in instructing students with disabilities. Thus, by 1970 the field of special education was offering a variety of educational placements to students with varying disabilities and needs; however, public schools were not yet required to educate all students regardless of their disabilities. During the middle decades of the twentieth century, instruction of children with disabilities often was based on process training which involves attempts to improve childrens academic  performance by teaching them cognitive or motor processes, such as perceptualmotor skills, visual memory, auditory memory, or auditory-vocal processing. These are ancient ideas that found twentieth-century proponents. Process training enthusiasts taught children various perceptual skills (e.g., identifying different sounds or objects by touch) or perceptual motor skills (e.g., balancing) with the notion that fluency in these skills would generalize to reading, writing, arithmetic, and other basic academic tasks. After many years of research, however, such training was shown not to be effective in improving academic skills. Many of these same ideas were recycled in the late twentieth century as learning styles, multiple intelligences, and other notions that the underlying process of learning varies with gender, ethnicity, or other physiological differences. None of these theories has found much support in reliable research, although direct instruction, mnemonic (memory) devices, and a few other instructional strategies have been supported reliably by research. The History of Legislation in Special Education Although many contend that special education was born with the passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) in 1975, it is clear that special educators were beginning to respond to the needs of children with disabilities in public schools nearly a century earlier. It is also clear that EAHCA did not spring from a vacuum. This landmark law naturally evolved from events in both special education and the larger society and came about in large part due to the work of grass roots organizations composed of both parents and professionals. These groups dated back to the 1870s, when the American Association of Instructors of the Blind and the American Association on Mental Deficiency (the latter is now the American Association on Mental Retardation) were formed. In 1922 the Council for Exceptional Children, now the major professional organization of special educators, was organized. In the 1930s and 1940s parent groups began to band together on a national level. These groups worked to make changes in their own communities and, consequently, set the stage for changes on a national level. Two of the most influential parent advocacy groups were the National Association for Retarded Citizens (now ARC/USA), organized in 1950, and the Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, organized in 1963. Throughout the first  half of the twentieth century, advocacy groups were securing local ordinances that would protect and serve individuals with disabilities in their communities. For example, in 1930, in Peoria, Illinois, the first white cane ordinance gave individuals with blindness the right-of-way when crossing the street. By mid-century all states had legislation providing for education of students with disabilities. However, legislation was still noncompulsory. In the late 1950s federal money was allocated for educating children with disabilities and for the training of special educators. Thus the federal government became formally involved in research and in training special education professionals, but limited its involvement to these functions until the 1970s. In 1971, this support was reinforced and extended to the state level when the Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children (PARC) filed a class action suit against their Commonwealth. This suit, resolved by consent agreement, specified that all children age six through twenty-one were to be provided free public education in the least restrictive alternative (LRA, which would later become the least restrictive environment [LRE] clause in EAHCA). In 1973 the Rehabilitation Act prohibited discriminatory practices in programs receiving federal financial assistance but imposed no affirmative obligations with respect to special education. In 1975 the legal action begun under the Kennedy and Johnson administrations resulted in EAHCA, which was signed into law by President Gerald Ford. EAHCA reached full implementation in 1977 and required school districts to provide free and appropriate education to all of their students with disabilities. In return for federal funding, each state was to ensure that students with disabilities received non-discriminatory testing, evaluation, and placement; the right to due process; education in the least restrictive environment; and a fre e and appropriate education. The centerpiece of this public law (known since 1990 as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA) was, and is, a free appropriate public education (FAPE). To ensure FAPE, the law mandated that each student receiving special education receive an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Under EAHCA, students with identified disabilities were to receive FAPE and an IEP that included relevant instructional goals and objectives, specifications as to length of school year, determination of the most appropriate educational placement, and descriptions of criteria to be used  in evaluation and measurement. The IEP was designed to ensure that all students with disabilities received educational programs specific to their unique needs. Thus, the education of students with disabilities became federally controlled. In the 1982 case of Board of Education of the Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley, the U.S. Supreme Court clarified the level of services to be afforded students with special needs and ruled that special education services need only provide some educational benefit to students public schools were not required to maximize the educational progress of students with disabilities. In so doing the Supreme Court further defined what was meant by a free and appropriate education. In 1990 EAHCA was amended to include a change to person-first language, replacing the term handicapped student with student with disabilities. The 1990 amendments also added new classification categories for students with autism and traumatic brain injury and transition plans within IEPs for students age fourteen or older. In 1997, IDEA was reauthorized under President Clinton and amended to require the inclusion of students with disabilities in statewide and districtwide assessments, measurable IEP goals and objectives, and functional behavioral assessment and behavior intervention plans for students with emotional or behavioral needs. Because IDEA is amended and reauthorized every few years, it is impossible to predict the future of this law. It is possible that it will be repealed or altered dramatically by a future Congress. The special education story, both past and future, can be written in many different ways.