Biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 14

Biology - Essay Example According to The American Lung Association (2007) pneumonia is a serious infection and/or inflammation of the lungs. The air sacs in the lungs fill with pus and other liquid. Oxygen has trouble reaching the blood. If there is too little oxygen in the blood, the body cells cant work properly. Because of this and spreading infection through the body pneumonia can cause death. Different causes of pneumonia manifest different signs and symptoms. In patients with pneumonia caused by bacteria (streptococcus pneumoniae), the temperature may rise as high as 105Â º F. The patient sweats profusely, and breathing and pulse rate increase rapidly. Lips and nailbeds may have a bluish color due to lack of oxygen in the blood. A patients mental state may be confused or delirious. If caused by a virus (influenza), there are fever, dry cough, headache, muscle pain, and weakness. Within 12 to 36 hours, there is increasing breathlessness; the cough becomes worse and produces a small amount of mucus. Th ere is a high fever and there may be blueness of the lips. In mycoplasma (are the smallest free-living agents of disease in humankind, unclassified as to whether bacteria or viruses, but having characteristics of both) pneumonia, there is a cough that tends to come in violent attacks, but produces only sparse whitish mucus. Chills and fever are early symptoms, and some patients experience nausea or vomiting. Patients may experience profound weakness that lasts for a long time. Other causes of pneumonia are fungi and other chemicals. Some types of pneumonia develop when the immune system weakened. Pneumonia can be acquired from community, hospital, and thru aspiration when foreign bodies enter the lungs (The Patient Education Institute, Inc., 2008). According to MayoClinic.com (2008), pneumonia treatments vary, depending on the severity of symptoms and the type of pneumonia that the patient have. Bacterial and mycoplasma pneumonias are treated with

Popular magazine Essay Example for Free

Popular magazine Essay The concept behind this method is concerned with signs and in particular three different component parts, signified, signifier and sign. To help in the explanation of these terms it will be useful to examine a recent advert taken from a popular magazine. One such advert within a current publication of OK magazine illustrates a woman smiling having used a certain brand of washing powder to clean clothes; the headline states Another load of your mind. (OK, 2002, p65) Within this particular advert the signifier would be the washing powder. The signified however would relate to the headline as another job done, whereas the sign would suggest that washing powder equals happy family with clean clothes, time to do other jobs around the house and its a mothers job to worry about dirty washing. However if this is the meaning then how was it arrived at because this particular advert does not state what is conveyed above. It may be that semiotics recognises that viewers interact with material presented, they do not just take it at face value, and they bring other meanings they may have encountered elsewhere in the social world. Indeed in support of this argument Kline tells us that for advertising to create meaning the observer has to do some work. (Kline, 1990, p202) Without denying this advert could have different signs for different individuals there may be a case here whereby advertisers are not reinforcing gender stereotypes, it is the reader bringing their own social background or life experience to the reading of the advertisement therefore reinforcing their own stereotypes. Williamson makes the point that although peopleinvent adverts these adverts do not claim to speak for them. (Williamson, 1978, p13) Therefore the interpretations individuals bring may be governed by codes and constraints within our social lives that may well affect the way adverts are constructed and presented Ideology is a code that is arguably influential on how adverts are put together and can change over time. For example if one looks at advertising of the 40s and 50s there was possibly many more obvious signs of hierarchy between the sexes. Indeed in many of the adverts used by Goffman in his gender advertisements publication, men were seen as breadwinners working outside of the home and women were seen as homemakers and carers with no indication of an occupation. Incidentally he defines ideology as a meaning made necessary by the conditions of society while helping to perpetuate those conditions. In other words leading people to believe certain values to gain agreement in an objective, in this case gender roles. (Goffman, 1979, p28-82) To reiterate this position Winship takes the argument a stage further and states that it is the ideology of patriarchy with its structures of domination that sets up inequality. (Winship, 1980, p17) so for Winship there is an influence of a ruling ideology that affects many facets of social life- beauty, sexuality and independence etc- that advertisers are bound to use because within that ruling ideology, society would expect or demand different roles from individuals therefore advertisers would reflect this. If however advertisers and individuals are constrained by a ruling ideology that again suggests that individuals have lost or never had the ability to think for themselves. Indeed akin to a hypodermic model whereby people are injected-metaphorically speaking- with information that does not get processed and comes out exactly as it went in. Gender stereotyping in advertising is therefore very subjective in that whatever way we measure and analyse the subject it must be stressed that we have the ability to disagree with any message that is conveyed by advertisers. Through the use of semiotics we can build up a picture of what is behind the images we are confronted with. By the same degree content analysis can give one the idea that the result is conclusive. However no method is perfect and in the same way it can be useful it can also be misleading as has been shown above. When one is also faced with the argument of ideology within advertising it is akin with all aspects of social life. It is true to say we follow rules and regulation in our every day social lives that may constrain some of our actions, in the same way that advertisers are constrained by bodies such as the BSC. However in the same way we are constrained, we are also protected by the same ideology, therefore we have some powers available to disagree with, contest and challenge messages or actions deemed unfair or stereotypical. As a result it is difficult to establish whether adverts reinforce gender stereotypes or if indeed we do that perfectly well for ourselves.

Ithaca :: Religion Greece Greeks Essays

Ithaca When you set out on your journey to Ithaca pray that the road is long, full of adventure, full of knowledge.' Constantinos Kavafis, Ithaca (1911) Ithaca, a Greek island in the lonean Sea, was the island that gave birth to Ulysses, one of the smartest Greek commanders, who through his invention of the `Trojan Horse' led the Greeks to a victory over the Trojans. Immediately after this victory, Ulysses set out on his journey to return to Ithaca. To return home, to kiss his wife, to see his now grown-up son, to meet his friends and his parents, all these were Ulysses' goals. 'To arrive there is your ultimate goal' as Kavafis states later in the poem. Like Ulysses, every person has his or her own goals and therefore is immersed in a journey towards the accomplishment of this goal. However, it is possible for someone to be in a journey without an `ultimate goal' in mind. More often than not, this goal will appear in the way. It was during Christmas 1992, that I received a very special present from my grandmother, Orthodoxia. She had knitted a sweater especially for me. She had started knitting this sweater, as I later found out, because she wanted me to have something from her. And what's better than a hand-knitted sweater? It could keep me warm during chilly winter nights while reminding me of my relationship with my grandmother. Having as her goal to offer me a present to remember her, she created an original sweater, which for me will always be unique. On the blue background of the sweater, two familiar figures are shaped, the figures of a grandmother holding her grandson in her warm embrace. I have it in my wardrobe at home, even though it is way too small for me to wear, and whenever I see it, it reminds me of my beloved grandmother. I remember her smile whenever she saw me, the way her face lit up when she recognized I was happy and the worry and eagerness to help when I was feeling dispirited. Alt hough my grandmother passed away six years ago, her memory is still alive through this sweater. Having a goal is not, however, a necessary condition for creation. In the documentary 'Dancemaker', for example, the featured dancer does not always start dancing with a goal in his mind, as Ulysses and my grandmother both did.

Free Affirmative Action Essays - Affirmative Action is Discrimination :: affirmative action argumentative persuasive

Affirmative Action is Discrimination Affirmative action is a plan designed to end discrimination by guaranteeing minorities will be hired, regardless of race or gender. While our country hires such groups based upon these guarantees, the qualifications of such people are occasionally overlooked. Many believe that affirmative action is a very effective plan; however, the population which opposes such action frequently includes people of various minorities, as well as many others who have been wronged by this plan In several cases, this plan causes minorities to be perceived as being under-qualified when hired; in addition, it also causes a new minority, the white male. Our government must acknowledge the fact that affirmative action is not putting an end to discrimination; in all actuality, this plan has succeeded in creating new minorities, and more reasons for discrimination. Affirmative action frequently causes qualified employees to be looked down upon because some believe them to be "affirmative action hires". Two of my female relatives are currently on the police force; as a result, I have encountered many discriminatory comments pertaining to their positions. The first remark I usually receive suggests that they were hired for their position solely based on gender. Another comment which I usually receive is, "Well, being a woman probably didn't hurt their resume." Both of my relatives are very good at their jobs; one was even on the popular television show, Cops. Neither of them are "wimps", yet most males look down upon them as being hired because of affirmative action. This type of criticism is received by many minorities holding good jobs, whether they are qualified or not. To quote William Reynolds, assistant attorney general in the civil rights division: In many cases, affirmative action takes away from legitimate minority success. People look at the black banker downtown who has made it on his own and say, "He got his job because of affirmative action." Or, an employer hires a few talented minority people who would have succeeded anyway and says, "Those are my affirmative-action hires." (26) In this particular case, affirmative action may, or may not, have been the reason for hiring, yet that is what most perceive.

Fences Play According to Aristotle Essay

Using Aristotle’s descriptions of Tragedy, I classify Fences by August Wilson as a tragic play. The elements of tragedy, Troy Maxson as a tragic hero, and tragic plot were evident throughout the play. Also, the feeling of catharsis at the end-which is proper of tragedy, was clearly identifiable. I. Fences fits into the tragic genre based on the points given by Aristotle. In Poetics, he defines tragedy as â€Å"the imitation of an action that is serious and also as having magnitude, complete in itself.† †¢ Aristotle’s idea is that the plot has a beginning middle and end and all parts follow each other in concise fashion. o In the beginning, the hero is a garbage man, who previously was given a chance to participate in professional baseball, becomes the first black to drive a garbage truck, is loved by his wife, looked up to by his friend, Bono and receives demanded respect from his sons Lyons and Cory. o In the middle, the hero confesses to his wife that he is going to be a daddy to another woman’s child. He struggles with his son Cory and ultimately loses the love and respect of his family. He needs to ask Rose to help him raise his baby and be her mama. He also admits to the infant that he is scared. Act II Scene 3 p. 73 â€Å"And right now your daddy’s scared cause we sitting out here and ain’t got no home.† o In the end, the hero dies. By then a lonely man who is no longer respected by his family nor has the admiration of his friend. Troy’s believes fate is his downfall. He thinks the color of his skin is the decisive factor in the workplace, the playing field and the street. (Pereira 42) †¢ A complex plot includes reversal and recognition. o Troy is happy and stress free when with Alberta. Even when he tells Rose, she continues to stay with him until later when she issues an ultimatum. Act II Scene 1 pg. 66 â€Å"†¦I’m responsible for it. I locked myself into a pattern trying to take care of you all that I forgot about myself.† His belief of providing for his family and his refusal to accept that other people had ideas and times were changing kept him stagnant in life. o Alberta then dies during childbirth. Troy sees how he has lost everything and challenges death to stay away until it is ready to take him. II. Using Aristotle’s description of a tragic hero in Poetics, Troy Maxson,  the main character in August Wilson’s play, Fences, is an example of a tragic hero. †¢Aristotle describes a tragic hero to be a â€Å"man who is not eminently good and just, yet whose misfortune is brought about not by vice or depravity, but by some error or frailty†. This means the hero need not be perfect nor a villain, but basically good and decent. His downfall usually results from a tragic flaw or error in judgment, not due to wickedness. †¢ In Chapter 15 of Poetics, Aristotle says â€Å"the character will be good if the purpose is good†. o Troy’s intentions for his family are good. He provides a paycheck to his family, handing the money over to Rose each Friday, he wants Lyons to get his own job and support his wife and stay out of trouble, and he wants Cory to be educated and find a good job to support himself. o Act 1 Scene 3 pg. 39-40 â€Å"†¦Itâ €™s my job. It’s my responsibility! You understand that? A man got to take care of his family. You live in my house†¦sleep you behind on my bedclothes†¦fill you belly up with my food†¦cause you my son. You my flesh and blood. Not cause I like you! Cause it’s my duty to take care of you†¦Ã¢â‚¬  †¢ Aristotle says â€Å"the second thing to aim at is propriety†. o In the book, August Wilson, The African-American Odyssey, Kim Pereira says â€Å" Troy becomes a slave to bitterness which stunts the development of his full potential as a father, husband and friend. â€Å" o Troy’s believes responsibility is the greatest virtue and his aim is to be a provider for his family. While Troy’s behavior is dominating and unaffectionate, his aim is to be the provider of his family and to make sure that they do not suffer the injustices he did. o â€Å"If a hero is one who goes into a battle that he may or may not win, Troy Maxson possesses, in full measure, the †¦warrior spirit†¦he wants complete satisfaction or nothing at all. The promise of change is empty; he cares only about change itself†¦The so-called realities of the social world around him matter little, for he dances to an internal rhythm, answering a call for self-authentication that springs from a cultural, even cosmological, dimension.† (Pereira 38) †¢ Aristotle then says in his descriptions, â€Å"Thirdly, character must be true to life: for this is a distinct thing from goodness and propriety, as here described.† oTroy fits a character who would have lived in the 1950’s, having experienced discrimination, an abusive father and a changing society towards African-Americans in that period. o Troy says in Act 1, Scene 3 pg. 37 â€Å"†¦The white man ain’t gonna let  you get nowhere with that football noway.† Troy’s beliefs ran true to his experiences all through the play. †¢ The last characteristic of a tragic hero is that he must be consistent. o Troy was consistent in his belief that the black man could not get ahead in America. o He behaved and learned from the examples given by his own father. o â€Å"The events of almost a century had underscored the distinction between de jure and de facto. Legally, blacks had been free for ninety four years, but practically they had little or no access to any of the benefits that ordinary citizens take for granted-recourse to the law, equal employment opportunitites, education.† (Pereira 36) III. Troy’s tragic flaw is in trying to protect his family and discover himself in the process. His frailty is colored by his experience with racism (especially in professional sports) and his inability to accept that times are changing. †¢ Troy says Cory should make his own way in the world, but it is he who won’t let him take a chance. †¢Troy’s desire to prevent his son succumbing to the same outcome in sports ends with Troy trapping him into the same lifestyle by not allowing him to grow and refusing to believe that times have changed. o â€Å"I don’t want him to be like me! I want him as far away from my life as he can get†¦..I decided seventeen years ago that boy wasn’t getting involved in no sports. Not after what they did to me in the sports† (39 Fences). †¢ Troy’s excuse for betraying Rose is because he has been standing on first base for ever. He doesn’t relate this to anyone else in his family who have stood right behind him. †¢ â€Å"Troy has inherited the legacy of fear of emotional commitment†¦Troy has never learned to receive and give true love† (Monaco) IV. â€Å"Despite his flaws, or, perhaps, because of them, he taught his family how to â€Å"take the straights with the crooked†; to recognize and play to their strengths; â€Å"not to make the same mistakes†¦to take life as it comes along and keep putting one foot in front of the other.† As all of them move toward their individual destinies, they have a surer sense of who they are and a greater instinct for survival because of Troy Maxson.† (Monaco) †¢ â€Å"Like his father, Cory believes that denying his father is the â€Å"way to get rid of that shadow† (Fences 89). o When Cory decides to go to the funeral, he has come  to accept his father’s faults and looked to the man himself. Singing the song of Blue with Raynell†¦..Cory demonstrates that he can embrace the song of his father without becoming his father. (Monaco) †¢ â€Å"†¦Wilson shows that it is only through the willingness to face and accept the forces of the past that the protagonists will be given hope, power, and ultimately, deliverance.†(Monaco) †¢ Troy is contained by death while the others are able to move on in their lives. o Cory has joined the Marines and is getting married, Rose is involved with church and raising Raynell, Gabriel is in the hospital, Bono is happily married to Lucille and Raynell has a family. Troy is contained by death. The play Fences definitely fits Aristotle’s description of Tragedy. Troy Maxson was a tragic hero, although he gave us reasons to believe he was not worthy of this title. In the end, his lessons and actions are what spurred his family into survival and healing and gave them a positive outlook and the ability to move forward in the changing future ahead of them.

How to Conjugate the Verb Studiare in Italian

How to Conjugate the Verb Studiare in Italian To studyTo learnTo practiceTo devise What to Know About â€Å"Studiare†: It’s a regular verb, so it follows the typical -are verb ending patternIt’s a transitive verb, so it takes a direct object, but it can also be an intransitive verb, which does not take an indirect object when conjugated with the auxiliary verb â€Å"avere†.The infinito is â€Å"studiare†.The participio passato is â€Å"studiato†.The gerund form is â€Å"studiando†.The past gerund form is â€Å"avendo studiato†. INDICATIVO/INDICATIVE Il presente io studio noi studiamo tu studi voi studiate lui, lei, Lei studia essi, Loro studiano Ad esempio: Studio l’italiano ogni giorno. - I study Italian every day. Il passato prossimo io ho studiato noi abbiamo studiato tu hai studiato voi avete studiato lui, lei, Lei, ha studiato essi, Loro hanno studiato Ad esempio: Ieri sera ha studiato sei ore! Scommetto che superer l’esame. - He told me that he studied for six hours last night! I bet he’ll pass the exam. L’imperfetto io studiavo noi studiavamo tu studiavi voi studiavate lui, lei, Lei studiava essi, Loro studiavano Ad esempio: Era una ragazza intelligente, ma studiava poco, quindi non fu accettata all’universit. - She was a smart girl, but she studied very little, so she was not accepted to university. Il trapassato prossimo io avevo studiato noi avevamo studiato tu avevi studiato voi avevate studiato lui, lei, Lei aveva studiato essi, Loro avevano studiato Ad esempio: Non hanno passato l’esame perchà © non avevano studiato. - They failed the exam because they had not studied. Il passato remoto io studiai noi studiammo tu studiasti voi studiaste lui, lei, Lei studi essi, Loro studiarono Ad esempio: Gli studenti studiarono la poesia di Dante! - The students studied Dante’s poetry. Il trapassato remoto io ebbi studiato noi avemmo studiato tu avesti studiato voi aveste studiato lui, lei, Lei ebbe studiato essi, Loro ebbero studiato TIP: This tense is rarely used, so don’t worry too much about mastering it. You’ll find it in very sophisticated writing. Il futuro semplice io studier noi studieremo tu studierai voi studierete lui, lei, Lei studier essi, Loro studieranno Ad esempio: Studieremo domani. Ora andiamo a prendere un bel gelato! - We’ll study tomorrow. Now let’s go get ice cream! Il futuro anteriore io avr studiato noi avremo studiato tu avrai studiato voi avrete studiato lui, lei, Lei avr studiato essi, Loro avranno studiato Ad esempio: Avr studiato russo almeno tre ore al giorno per essere cosà ¬ fluente. - He must have studied Russian three hours every day to be so fluent. CONGIUNTIVO/SUBJUNCTIVE Il presente che io studi che noi studiamo che tu studi che voi studiate che lui, lei, Lei studi che essi, Loro studino Ad esempio: Peccato che lui non studi mai per gli esami di biologia. - It’s a shame that he never studies for the biology exams. Il passato io abbia studiato noi abbiamo studiato tu abbia studiato voi abbiate studiato lui, lei, egli abbia studiato essi, Loro abbiano studiato Ad esempio: Scommetto che (lei) abbia studiato quel pezzo di musica per mesi! - I bet she studied that piece of music for months! L’imperfetto io studiassi noi studiassimo tu studiassi voi studiaste lui, lei, egli studiasse essi, Loro studiassero Ad esempio: Voleva che tu studiassi chimica? Non ne sei affatto interessato! - He wanted you to study chemistry? You’re not interested in that at all! Il trapassato prossimo io avessi studiato noi avessimo studiato tu avessi studiato voi aveste studiato lui, lei, Lei avesse studiato essi, Loro avessero studiato Ad esempio: Pensavo avessi studiato   giurisprudenza, ma mi sbagliavo. - I thought you studied law, but I was wrong. CONDIZIONALE/CONDITIONAL Il presente io studierei noi studieremmo tu studieresti voi studiereste lui, lei, Lei studierebbe essi, Loro studierebbero Ad esempio: Se io fossi un miliardario, studierei le lingue straniere ogni giorno. - If I were a millionaire, I would study foreign languages every day. Il passato io avrei studiato noi avremmo studiato tu avresti studiato voi avreste studiato lui, lei, egli avrebbe studiato essi, Loro avrebbero studiato Ad esempio: Ho sempre pensato che avrebbe studiato letteratura, ma invece ha scelto matematica, strano, no? - I always thought he would study literature, but instead he chose math, weird, right?

How Scrooge Changed Essay Example

How Scrooge Changed Essay Example How Scrooge Changed Paper How Scrooge Changed Paper I should have liked to have given him something. This shows that Scrooge is starting to change. He regrets that he didnt give anything when the boy was singing at his door. The ghost then took Scrooge to a warehouse. It was where he used to work for Mr. Fezziwig. They were having a Christmas party. People were dancing, there was food and everyone was having a good time. When the ghost said to Scrooge that Mr. Fezziwig doesnt deserve all the praise hes getting from everyone because he didnt spent a lot of money on the party. Scrooge replies He has the power to render us happy or unhappy A pleasure or a toil. This quote shows that Scrooge has already changed he disagrees with the ghost. He says it doesnt matter that Mr. Fezziwig hasnt spent a lot of money. It matters that he is making people have a good time and making them happy. The ghost then took Scrooge to another place. Where a woman is telling Scrooge that she does not want to marry him any more. She tells Scrooge that since hes become wealthy hes changed and she doesnt like him any more. Why do you delight to torture me Scrooge asks the ghost of Christmas past. Scrooges transformation from a selfish miser to a man who knew how to keep Christmas well is remarkable and miraculous. Nobody would have thought that a man who lived like that and was stepped so deeply in his own cesspool of sin could be changed so dramatically and quickly. To make sure that we dont accidentally confuse Scrooge with a nice person, Dickens only portrays him to us in incriminating circumstances to further convince us of his guilt (metaphorically). Dickens goes into great depth to depict Scrooge character with words. He did not have to be concise, as that way he would be able to get his full meaning across. The statements impact would be lowered if the sentences were to be shortened and fewer words were used e. g. Scrooge was a greedy, mean and cold-hearted person with no compassion for anything or anyone but himself! It wouldnt get across just how vile Scrooge was. Dickens presents Scrooges character to us throughout the novel in his many bad deeds, which show us what he is like. Dickens shows us scenes such the one in which Scrooge is cantankerous and grumpy with his clerk, Let me here another sound from you, and youll keep your Christmas by losing your situation! and Fred his nephew. The next description of Scrooge character is No eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master! This sentence helps to reinforce our views that Scrooge was mean-hearted. His bad looks were enough to inspire dislike towards him. The descriptions that Dickens uses are intense as they show the presentation of the character. Dickens goes into tremendous detail concerning the food around the Ghost of Christmas Present. He wants us to really be there, to taste the gravy, and smell the pies. He wants us to become part of the story, not just readers. Dickens uses powerful vocabulary to involve us. Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking-pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince pies, plum-puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immense twelfth-cakes, and seething bowls of punch, that made the chamber dim with their delicious steam. His vivid descriptions of the food are astounding. This was no ordinary Christmas dinner; it was fit for a king; the perfect Christmas dinner. The ghost of Christmas present was clothed in one simple rob. Its feet were bare; its dark brown curls were long and free. The ghost had a cheery voice. Scrooge knew and understood that what the ghost was doing for him was for his own good so he was eager to learn. Conduct me where you will I have learned a lesson which is working now. This quote shows that Scrooge has learnt from the ghost of Christmas past and is ready to learn from the ghost of Christmas present. The ghost took Scrooge to the house of one of his workers Bob Cratchit. The Cratchit family were poor, even so they were happy and grateful for what little they had. Even Bobs son Tiny Tim who was a cripple was grateful for what he had. As the Cratchits ate their Christmas dinner, although the goose wasnt a great meal they were still thankful. There never was such a goose, Bob says to the rest of the family. Scrooge asks the ghost Tell me if Tiny Tim will live. the ghost answers If the shadows remain unaltered tiny Tim will die Oh no, kind spirit? Say he will be spared. This quote shows that Scrooge is changing. At the start Scrooge says the poor people should just die and decrease the surplus population. But now Scrooge doesnt want Tiny Tim to die. When the ghost says Scrooges own words If they like to die he had better do it so. Scrooge hung his head to hear what he had said himself. There were no arguments in the Cratchit household until Bob Cratchit said Scrooge was the founder of their feast Scrooge was the ogre of the family. The ghost took Scrooge to another place to show him people who were happy and enjoying himself at Christmas. He was taken to a place were miners work, even though they were poor and working they were full of Christmas spirit. The ghost then took Scrooge to his nephews house. Scrooges nephew Fred says that although Scrooge has never done anything for him he will not have a bad word said about him. He goes on and says Scrooges wealth is no good to him, he doesnt do any good with it. Fred says that he will keep on inviting Scrooge to come to his house on Christmas whatever. Scrooge joined in with the games all the people were playing even though none of them knew he was there. One half hour, spirit, only one. This quote shows the change in Scrooge. He now realises that if he goes to his nephews house he might enjoy himself. He is begging for the ghost to let him stay for an extra half-hour. The scene where Scrooge meets the spirit is also painstakingly detailed (surprise, surprise! ). The details he has used set the atmosphere and draw in the reader. The reader just has to continue, or he may miss some vital little detail without which the picture is not complete. It was clothed in one simple green robe, or mantle, bordered with white fur. The dialogue in the book helps the story to go on and the characters to express their feelings through the dialogue. The last of the spirits to visit Scrooge was the ghost of Christmas future. The ghost was more frightening than the others. It wore a deep black garment, which covered its head, face and form. Ghost of the future! I fear you more then any specter I have ever seen. But I know your purpose is to do me good. Scrooge becomes anxious to see what lies ahead for him as he says Lead on! Lead on! The night is waning fast, and it is precious time to me, I know. Lead on, spirit! this quote from Scrooge shows that Scrooge wants to learn from the spirit. The ghost then took Scrooge to a place were a group of people were talking. I dont know much about I only know hes dead. , one of the men said to the others. The men discussed what was going to happen to the persons money. They said that they would attend the funeral if there were a free meal. The ghost then took Scrooge to another place. Here there was a person who was buying all of the possessions from other people, possessions that had bean taken from the house where the person had died. They had taken his bed curtains, bed sheets and even the clothes that he was wearing when he was lying dead on his bed. Scrooge realizes that if he does not change his ways and become a better person the dead person could be him. I see The case of this unhappy man might be my own. The ghost then took Scrooge to a dark room. Lying on the bed was the dead person who the group of men had been talking about. Scrooge walked up to the bed and lifted the sheets up. When Scrooge saw himself lying there dead he begins to cry and shows true emotion through the dialogue as he cries and pleads with the spirit to forgive him, as he believes that he is a changed man and that this is his final chance for redemption. Hear me! I am not the man I was! Scrooge is finally showing some bit of humanity behind that polished and fraudulent fai Ade, as he learned to be happy; he learned to be sad. After the visits by the four ghosts Scrooge slowly started to change. After the visits he changed from being a person who doesnt care about anyone else but himself. He regrets that he didnt give a carol singer any money. After the visit of the ghost of Christmas present he realizes that he was wrong when he said that the poor people should just die to decrease the surplus population. He also realizes that if he actually bothers to go to his nephew Freds house he would actually have a good time and enjoy himself. In the visit of the ghost of Christmas future Scrooge is shown both himself and Tiny Tim are going to die unless Scrooge can change. After the visits of all the ghosts, Scrooge wakes up on Christmas Day a new man. I am as light as a feather I am as happy as an angel. Scrooge goes out and buys a huge turkey and gives it to Bob Cratchit. Scrooge realizes that spreading happiness and being kind is far better than being a lonely old selfish man. At the beginning of the book Scrooge is a tight fisted heartless person but at the end he has changed and hes kind jolly and helps lots of people.

Management and leadership essays

Management and leadership essays Much has debated on leadership and management over the years. One-way of differentiating the two terms is to say that leaders "do the right things" and that managers "do things right" (Warren Bennis). Management is an ambiguous term. Lots of literature on traditional management deals with planning, organizing, administration, monitoring, control and short-term horizon of the organizations. Other literatures relates to the soft elements like motivation, inspiration, participation, vision and value-creation in long term perspectives. The later, reflects what we often refer as to leadership (Bass 1994). What differentiates the two elements of the organization? In addition, what are the roles of the leaders? Is the talking point of this paper? Difference between Management and Leadership Although these two terms can be use interchangeably, they are in fact two very different qualities, complete with different personalities and behaviors. By learning whether one is more of a leader than a manager is, he or she will gain insight and self-confidence that comes with knowing more about them. We are going to take a look at different personality style of managers versus leaders, the attitude towards the goals, their basic conceptions of what work entails, their relationships with others, and their sense of self-identity and how it develops. Manager emphasizes rationality and control; they are problem solvers (focusing on goals, resources, organization structure, or people). They often ask question, What problems have to be solved, and what are the best ways to achieve results so that people will continue to contribute to this organization? They are persistent, tough minded, hard working, intelligent, analytical, and tolerant and have good will towards others. (WBC). Leaders are perceive as brilliant, but sometimes lonely, achieve control of themselves before trying to control others. They can...

Quiz Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 7

Quiz - Essay Example he computer screen behind the objective of staying connected to the people online, he does not know that to stay connected online, he is getting disconnected from the world around him, and is getting oblivious of those living around him, who need him and can make him happier than the online community. The social isolation creates adverse effects on the family relationships because online socializing works by dissociating social relationships from physical actuality. Today, we are always connected to the people we know, whether we are sitting on our couch or we are out of town, yet we are suffering from depression, anxiety and loneliness. Today, we are all the time getting updates from our friends, relatives and classmates; and, we do not have to schedule face-to-face meetings in order to stay in each other’s lives. And, all this has been possible thanks to the online social networking websites which offer great fun and mind-engaging applications in addition to letting us find people of our own interests and hobbies. However, this has resulted in people hesitating in interacting with others in the physical world. They are hiding from the bitter events that come with real relationships. They do not want to make commitments with physical world relationships. So, they find a way out in the form of online socializing. They are, however, unaware of the fact that this epidemic of social media will make them socially excluded; and, time will come when they will become totally oblivious to real feelings and

This work is about Geopolitics of Energy subject so please look Essay

This work is about Geopolitics of Energy subject so please look assignment criteria for topic - Essay Example However, in 2008 the notions of the impeding scarcity had a reverse effect with the producers wanting to make a large profit before the reserveswere depleted. This saw the prices rise continually. At that rate the country would be spending many billions of dollars on importation of petroleum and natural gas. This would create a distress in the economy because of the increased trade deficit. It is true that Asia is the new ground zero for growth of energy consumption.it is also true that Asia will be responsible for 85% of the energy consumption growth on the planet in the next 20 years. This has seen Russia try to form ties with the east to establish a proper market for its hydrocarbon exports3. The obvious deduction from this would be that Russia would wield more geopolitical power in the next few decades, which is not likely to be the case4. The current technological advancements have enabled rapid expansion of the shale gas industry in the US. In a decade, the industry has grown dramatically with the product now in abundant supply,seeing drastic reduction in prices. The policy debate has snow shifted to how much of the nation’s energy resource should be exported. The strengthening of the US’ geopolitical strength due to the shift in paradigms of the global energy market has greatly hindered China’s attempt to be the global leader. The best way to counter this influence would be to weaken the alliances that the US has with states in the region. The result has been the heightening of maritime tensions in the region with the East China Sea conflict providing a good illustration5. Both China and japan lay claim to a number of geographical features found in the sea. The features that comprise of a few islands and territorial waters could provide energy reserves and fishing grounds6. However, this is not the only reason behind the conflict. The key issue is that the waters are important choke

STEP Analysis and Market Segmentations for a Motorola Company Essay

STEP Analysis and Market Segmentations for a Motorola Company - Essay Example It is stated that widely distributed sales and system integration teams of Motorola company collaborated by improvised phone, e-mail, and paper processes. Motorola consists of three businesses: Connected Home Solutions, Networks & Enterprise, and Mobile Devices. Connected Home Solutions provides a scalable, integrated end-to-end system for the delivery of broadband services that keeps consumers informed, entertained and connected. Mobile Devices designs, manufactures, sells and services wireless subscriber and server equipment for cellular systems, portable energy storage products and systems, servers and software solutions and related software and accessory products. Networks & Enterprise solutions include secure two-way radio, cellular and wireless broadband systems to meet the needs of public safety, government, private, and service provider and enterprise customer’s world-wide. The researcher then focuses on the analysis of Motorola’s RAZR phone, that is used in mul ti-national business, which is characteristic of a social and cultural worldview today. In relation to Motorola’s RAZR business goals to retain more consumers, it becomes important to look at the improvements and continuations of the company’s strategy. It is concluded then by the researcher of this essay that the Motorola RAZR has identified with innovation, being one of the highest selling products in mobile communications history, that maintain a connection with customer culture and time the release of new products.

Electronic communication versus face toface Dissertation

Electronic communication versus face toface - Dissertation Example Face-to-face meetings and interactions are declining as technological and communication tools advance. My first hypothesis is that the increased use of electronic media will diminish face-to-face communication and the effectiveness of communication will be compromised until new communication cultures emerge. My second hypothesis is that the issues of gender, race and culture will tend to be minimised as the message becomes paramount, and also that prejudices are no longer trigged by personal interactions. My third hypothesis is that the effectiveness of Computer Managed Communication (CMC) in many aspects is an age-related issue, and that a generational transformation to new communication methods is underway. In my final chapter, I will consider whether the literature and other parts of the study support these hypotheses. The conclusion will examine the implications of this for professional relationships in the field of international business and sales in particular. This will lead t o recommendations as to what action companies, organisations and individuals need to take to maximise the advantages conferred by CMC, while overcoming the problems identified. Also, I will discuss about how different cultures can effectively communicate with each other and understand each other better. Lastly, my methodology will look specifically at the hotel industry and how modern technology is starting to play a key role in the industry’s growth. I will do this through a questionnaire that will be distributed to a wide variety of hotels in the local area. TABLE OF CONTENTS Title page Page Abstract 1 Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Literature Review 4 Methodology 5 Appendices and Reference List 6 CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION a) Addressing the problem There can be no doubt that e-mail, teleconferencing and instant messaging have brought about a revolution in communication (Corbett, 2004). The benefits of these things are that they are immediate, cost-free and limitless. As i t is so easy and efficient, it is no surprise to find it becoming the norm in both business and social interactions. However, there are problems with these forms of communication. In particular, these difficulties are linked to the loss of interpersonal aspects in communication, and no technology has managed to overcome this problem yet. There is plenty of research to back up the assumption that talking with people, in other words face-to-face communication, is infinitely more effective than posting a message into the air and hoping that it will be read with the same level of commitment as the writer put into composing it. It is well-known that actual spoken words make up less than ten percent of a message (Evans, 2010, p.8). Spoken speech is far outweighed by non-linguistic cues such as tone and body language in particular. Because CMC is here to stay, it is important to address this question in order to avoid misunderstanding and ambiguity, maintain meaningful relationships (busin ess and personal), ensure that sales pitches are effective and pick up the nuances of interaction. b) Nature and purpose of this study The purpose of this study is to explore the issues that arise from this difficulty, to examine what steps we need to take to address them and avoid becoming trapped in a virtual world where all communication is done through impersonal media. The study will consist partly of a synthesis of some of the literature and findings of

How does Machiavelli reflect the values and idea of humanism and Research Paper

How does Machiavelli reflect the values and idea of humanism and religion in The Prince - Research Paper Example The ‘Powerful Chairs’ (Kings, politicians, top bureaucrats etc) are always there to outsmart the ‘Chair--less Powers.’ (The common people) Machiavelli did advise the princes on how to hold on to power but he also advised the citizens seeking to maintain their liberty and how to go about it. He showed a new path for them and cautioned how his native Florence was getting engulfed in tyranny. He explained how ancient Rome preserved its freedom better, as the ordinary citizens there were more responsible and were able to checkmate the power of the elite. As a state employee Machiavelli led by example. His public life was spotless and free from corrupt practices. He was investigated for embezzlement and he came out with a clean slate and he was reimbursed the amount that was due to him. He would often say about him, â€Å"my poverty is evidence of my honesty†. Machiavelli articulated for a free city, where the citizens lived freely without any restrictions , without being absolutely controlled by a particular individual or group. A tyrant who emerges from within the political system is as dangerous for the country like the external invader. In the absence of constant vigil by the citizen body as a whole, and without their being organized properly, tyrannical individuals are bound to take over the reins of power. In essence, this proves the humanism in the approach of Machiavelli to the societal issues of his era. What a destructive weapon corruption is from the societal point of view, how adversely it affects the free-life—understand the advice of Machiavelli. In such a corrupt system, public interest is sacrificed at the altar of private or factional interests. Arbitrary interference does the maximum damage to the mass of people, according to him. The rulers must consider themselves to be the servants of public interest, not masters. Machiavelli is prophetic when he asserts that the resources of the elite combined with extensi ve discretion enjoyed by political office holders is the principal threat to the society and the nation. The expectations of the ordinary citizens are simple and straightforward. They are neither like power-hungry politicians nor like the ambitious elites. They have no desire for power to rule over others. At the same time, they have self-respect and essential dignity and do not desire to be dominated and would not like the arbitrary power to subjugate them. They are perpetually fearful of such societal developments. The sterling qualities of Machiavelli’s humanism are revealed in his opinion that the key to the resilience of Rome was its system and institutions—how they ensured the participation of ordinary citizens. They were the final guardians of freedom, not the grandi. He paid hearty compliments for the â€Å"tribunes of the plebs† (an institution of only the lower class) for exercising check and control over the power-grabbing craze of the grandi. Machiav elli goes a step further. The tribunes are vested with powers to frame charges against the members of the senate and indict them for corruption publicly and the private citizens will be punished accordingly if they try to exert pressure on the politics of the republic. That was a model system of punishment where

Electronic communication versus face toface Dissertation

Electronic communication versus face toface - Dissertation Example Face-to-face meetings and interactions are declining as technological and communication tools advance. My first hypothesis is that the increased use of electronic media will diminish face-to-face communication and the effectiveness of communication will be compromised until new communication cultures emerge. My second hypothesis is that the issues of gender, race and culture will tend to be minimised as the message becomes paramount, and also that prejudices are no longer trigged by personal interactions. My third hypothesis is that the effectiveness of Computer Managed Communication (CMC) in many aspects is an age-related issue, and that a generational transformation to new communication methods is underway. In my final chapter, I will consider whether the literature and other parts of the study support these hypotheses. The conclusion will examine the implications of this for professional relationships in the field of international business and sales in particular. This will lead t o recommendations as to what action companies, organisations and individuals need to take to maximise the advantages conferred by CMC, while overcoming the problems identified. Also, I will discuss about how different cultures can effectively communicate with each other and understand each other better. Lastly, my methodology will look specifically at the hotel industry and how modern technology is starting to play a key role in the industry’s growth. I will do this through a questionnaire that will be distributed to a wide variety of hotels in the local area. TABLE OF CONTENTS Title page Page Abstract 1 Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Literature Review 4 Methodology 5 Appendices and Reference List 6 CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION a) Addressing the problem There can be no doubt that e-mail, teleconferencing and instant messaging have brought about a revolution in communication (Corbett, 2004). The benefits of these things are that they are immediate, cost-free and limitless. As i t is so easy and efficient, it is no surprise to find it becoming the norm in both business and social interactions. However, there are problems with these forms of communication. In particular, these difficulties are linked to the loss of interpersonal aspects in communication, and no technology has managed to overcome this problem yet. There is plenty of research to back up the assumption that talking with people, in other words face-to-face communication, is infinitely more effective than posting a message into the air and hoping that it will be read with the same level of commitment as the writer put into composing it. It is well-known that actual spoken words make up less than ten percent of a message (Evans, 2010, p.8). Spoken speech is far outweighed by non-linguistic cues such as tone and body language in particular. Because CMC is here to stay, it is important to address this question in order to avoid misunderstanding and ambiguity, maintain meaningful relationships (busin ess and personal), ensure that sales pitches are effective and pick up the nuances of interaction. b) Nature and purpose of this study The purpose of this study is to explore the issues that arise from this difficulty, to examine what steps we need to take to address them and avoid becoming trapped in a virtual world where all communication is done through impersonal media. The study will consist partly of a synthesis of some of the literature and findings of

Zinc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Zinc - Essay Example But it varies with different temperatures, as the appearance becomes ductile when heated at ranges 110-150  °C. Zinc is a reactive metal that was first discovered in 1746, and the person who discovered zinc was Andreas Marggraf. The symbol of zinc is denoted with â€Å"Zn†. Being in the group of transition metals, it is the property of zinc that it conducts electricity and heat. The valence electrons of zinc are present in more than one shell. Being placed in the transition metals, it has several oxidation states. Zinc has hexagonal crystalline structure. The atomic number of zinc is 30. It has the atomic mass of 65.39 a.m.u (atomic mass unit). Zinc has a melting point of 419.58  °C and it has a boiling point of 907.0  ° C. The density of zinc is 7.133 g/cm3. The numbers of neutrons are 30 and then numbers of protons/electrons are 35. ISOTOPES OF NEUTRON: The isotopes are the atoms containing different number of neutrons and same number of protons, responsible for alteri ng total number of nucleons. There are ten isotopes of zinc that are shown in the table below. Half Life Zn-62 9.26 hours Zn-63 38.5 minutes Zn-64 Stable Zn-65 243.8 days Zn-66 Stable Zn-67 Stable Zn-68 Stable Zn-69m 13.76 hours Zn-70 Stable Zn-72 46.5 hours Zinc has two oxidation states and the valence electrons are in s shell. ATOMIC STRUCTURE OF ZINC:- The atomic structure gives us an idea about the structure of atoms and its arrangement. The atomic structure includes atomic radius, atomic size, covalent radius, cross section, and crystal structure. The atomic radius of zinc is 1.53 A °, the atomic volume is 9.2 cm3/mol, the covalent radius is 1.25 A °, cross section of 1.11, and the structure is hexagonal in nature. ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION OF ZINC:- The electronic configuration tells us that how much electrons are placed in the specific shell. The electronic configuration of zinc is 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6, 3d10, 4s2.This electronic configuration makes the process easier to remove 2 of 4s electrons and easier to form compounds like ZnO, Zncl2 and ZnSO4.   SOURCES OF ZINC:- The annual production of zinc is 5,020,000 tons. It is found in the minerals such as zincite (ZnO), zinc blende (sphalerite) (ZnS), calamine, and franklinite. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES:- Zinc has electronegativity of 1.65 Pauling, Heat of fusion of 7.322 kJ/mol, electron work function of 4.33 eV, it has an electrochemical equivalent of 1.22g/amp-hr, and a valence electron potential of 38.9. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:- It is hard, brittle, bluish white transition metal. The enthalpy of fusion is 7.32 kJ/mol, enthalpy of atomization is 129.7 kJ/mol, average atomic mass of 65.39 and boiling point of 907 ° C. COMPOUNDS OF ZINC:- Many compounds of zinc are formed, but ten are discussed over here. 1. Zinc Borate: It is also called as fire brake ZB. Zinc borate has elements containing Zinc, Boron and oxygen. It has a chemical formula 3ZnO. 2B2O3. Its CAS number is 1332-07-6. Its casewell number is 909b. It is white powder. 2. Zinc carbonate: It is also called carbonic acid and zinc spar. It has a formula of ZnCo3, made up of zinc, carbon and oxygen. It has CAS number 3486-35-9. 3. Zinc sulphate: It has oxygen, sulphur and zinc. The formula is ZnsO4. The CAS number is 7733-02-0. Casewell number is 927. It is also called Bonazen having several other synonyms. 4. Zinc chloride: Is formula is ZnCl2. It has elements containing zinc and chlorine. Its CAS number is 7646-85-7. Its casewell number is 910. It is also called as butter of zinc. 5. Zinc Oxide: It has elements zinc and oxygen. Its chemical formula is ZnO2. Its CAS number is 1314-13-2. It casewell number is 920. It is also called as snow white. 6. Zinc stearate: Its formula is Zn(C18H35O2) 2. It has carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and zinc. Its

The Truth about Non Organic foods Essay Example for Free

The Truth about Non Organic foods Essay In today’s society, an individual can go into the grocery store to pick up some â€Å"fresh† lettuce and garnishing’s for a salad and think that they are doing something good for both them self and for the environment. This same person will likely purchase low calorie snacks, sugar free desserts, and perhaps even Splenda and then live under the misconception that they are in fact eating a â€Å"healthy† diet. Yet, within the so-called fresh salad and the other products mentioned above, are little secrets; secrets that most food sellers don’t want consumers to know. In fact, these types of products are what are commonly referred to as non-organic. Non-organic foods include chemicals and fertilizers and can be defined as deprived of living. As opposed to organic foods which are foods produced by using organic farming. Here, the word organic refers to the way the farmers grow and process these agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat. Organic farming practices are designed to encourage soil and water conversation and reduce pollution. Farmers who grow organic produce and meat dont use conventional methods to fertilize, or to control weeds and prevent livestock disease. For example, rather than using chemical weed killers, organic farmers may conduct more sophisticated crop rotations and spread mulch to keep seeds at bay. There are, of course many supporters of nonorganic food, who argue that there is little difference between non organic and organic food. According to a recent 2012 study conducted at Harvard University, eating organic fruits and vegetables may lower exposure to pesticides, however the amount measured from non-organic foods is still within safety limits, making it safe and still healthy for consumers to eat non organic products† (47). However, there are a growing number of critics of nonorganic food, who argue that nonorganic produce contain a larger amount of pesticides and chemicals that have been linked to cancer, problems with pregnancy, and development issues in children. These critics also argue that non organic produce have been found to contain a lot less nutrition when compared to organic produces. It seems clear after a careful consideration of all the issues that nonorganic foods are, in fact, harmful to the body. The most harmful aspect of nonorganic foods is the presence of chemicals, many of  which are linked to cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Non organic foods are full of  preservatives, pesticides, and chemicals proven to cause cancer. Pesticides are classified as a  toxin, which means that they kill living things. These toxins are often sprayed on the  nonorganic foods available in the marketplace. The problem with these toxins is the large  amount of health problems they have been linked to. In terms of current scientific data, it is  becoming clear that these types of these toxins do in fact cause Cancer and other life  threatening diseases. Indeed, the Breast Cancer Awareness Society in  Birmingham, Alabama alerts consumers about the link between pesticides and cancer:  Pesticides sprayed on Crops, antibiotics used on poultry, and hormones injected into cattle,  sheep and hogs expose Consumers involuntarily to contaminants that become part of our bodies .  Some of these exposures our found to increase breast cancer risk. (#) In addition, the  chemicals associated with nonorganic foods are also linked to a wide range of human health  hazards, ranging from short-term impacts such as headaches and nausea to chronic effects like  cancer, reproductive issues and endocrine disruption and even acute dangers, such as nerve, and  eye irritation, as well as headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and systemic poisoning. The  newest USDA research adds to the growing body of evidence that shows pesticide exposure  weakens the immune system, making people more susceptible to parasites and pathogens. A  dramatic example of the difference between organic and nonorganic food is the case of my Aunt  Amanda, who in 2012 was diagnosed with three types of cancer, including breast  Cancer. Aunt Amanda had heard about a treatment called the Gorgons diet, a diet formulated  around the eating of strictly organic foods. Amanda decided to follow this diet and ultimately,  by sticking to this diet and removing all forms of nonorganic food from her diet, her cancer has  gone into remission. And now, she has been full of energy and life ever since. Although this is  only one case, nevertheless, this particular example raises questions about the validity of  nonorganic foods and perhaps, the usefulness of organic foods in reversing harmful diseases. Nonorganic foods, also, tend to contain less vitamins than their organic counterparts and this, likewise, mitigates their use both as a proper food source and as a source of nutrition. First of all, nonorganic foods are very low in terms of vitamins. A two-year study led by John Reganold of Washington State University provided side-by-side comparisons of organic and conventional strawberry farms has shown organic farms produced more flavorful and nutritious berries while promoting healthier and more genetically diverse soils. According to †¦..[results] [(47)]. Another study was conducted by The Organic Center and professors from the University of Florida Department of Horticulture and Washington State University. This study foundthat there was a 25 percent higher concentration of 11 nutrients than their conventional counterparts (47). Obviously, as these studies tend to confirm, Organic foods really are better for an individual. And, in fact, as Florida study showed, organic foo ds are more nutritious than ordinary produce and may in fact lengthen peoples lives.(47). Obviously, organic foods are not only an alternative route to remaining safe from pesticides and chemical, but also these foods are healthier in the sense that they carry a larger amount of nutrition. Of course, many supporters of nonorganic foods will argue that organic foods are more  expensive. But when we look at the facts, organic foods are really not that much higher priced  Indeed, the slight differences in price do not compensate for all the harmful effects  described previously. A sensible, health-conscious consumer will see the logic of spending a  few more pennies and gaining in terms of overall health in their diet. Granted, organic food  does tend to be pricier than other food sources conventional, a box of organic cereal will  definitely carry a higher price tag than the cheap conventional store-brand version. But it is  also possible, without much effort, to fill a shopping cart with a week’s worth of conventional  foods and pay more than you would for a week’s worth of organic food. Conducting my own  research at the supermarket, I compared the cost of a homemade lunchbox, filled with organic  foods, with that of a typical Kraftâ⠂¬â„¢s Lunchable, which seems to be perpetually on sale, at $2.50. As it turns out, the homemade lunch (containing organic bread with organic hummus, organic  cheddar cheese, an organic apple, organic carrots and organic raisins) costs less than a Lunch  able (a typical box contains crackers or flatbread, Oscar Mayer ham, American cheese,  applesauce, a cookie or a bag of candy, and a juice box). It seems obvious that the price  differences is not truly a problem, because with careful consideration a person can easily spend  as much on organic food as they typically would spend on nonorganic foods. When one examines all the evidence provided above it becomes clear that non organic  Foods are in fact harmful to the human race. It doesn’t take much sense to realize that foods  grown with chemicals and pesticides sprayed on them all which are linked to causing health  issues as big as cancer are something people should try and stay away from. There are healthier  Alternatives none as organic foods, placed under a myth that they are more expensive, when in  fact above it was discovered they can actually cause less. It’s clear to see here nonorganic foods  are not a healthy choice and should be avoided as much as possible.

Oligopolistic Market Structures And Management Of Them Economics Essay

Oligopolistic Market Structures And Management Of Them Economics Essay One constructive approach of categorizing a market is by dividing it in terms of the number of firms on the supply side of the market and the buyers concentration on the demand side. Oligopoly represents one of the market structure where there are a very few firms on the supply side and a huge concentration of buyers on the demand side. As the buyers cannot affect the market conditions, they are going to adopt it as such and the supplier will be busy in anticipating the rival behavior. Oligopoly looms large in industries of steel, petroleum, automobiles etc. Many industries can operate geographically as oligopolies. For example banking in a small town operate as oligopoly since there will be one or two banks in the area and the residents will be forced to take their business to the local banks.( Friedman, 1983) Oligopoly a complex market structure Oligopoly is virtually a big business. Under this market structure, the rivalry takes on its worst form. Product innovations, aggressive advertising and innovative marketing tactics are frequently applied to outweigh each other. Oligopolistic market structures are the most difficult to analyze as they are highly interdependent and interwoven, where moves and countermoves are taken rapidly. For example a simple action by Ford may lead to a reaction by General Motors, which in turn cause a readjustment in Fords plan, thereby modifying GMs response and so on. So anything can happen anytime in oligopoly. There are few models that highlight oligopolistic behavior. They are: Cartels A case arises in monopoly when all the firms attempt to promote interdependence and they all mutually agree to set price and output. The firms through their mutual coordination try to create a giant monopoly. OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) is an example of a cartel platform. Price leadership and Tacit Collusion It is an arrangement in which one or two firms make an arrangement of the pricing for the entire firm. Other firms are forced to follow the same price pattern although no such agreement exists in the industry. For example: In the infant formula industry, Abbot laboratories, Bristol Myers Squibb and American Home Products deliberately set their prices closer to each other to dominate the industry. The Kinked Demand Curve This model elaborates the stickiness in pricing in an oligopolistic structure. It has been hypothesized in this model that if for example, a firm X lowers its price in an oligopolistic market, the rival will be forced to lower its price to in order to avoid the loss of its market base. The demand curve dd is thus the relevant curve in case of a price reduction. dHowever, if the firm X goes for a price increase, then the case wont be the same. The rivals will not imitate this time, and would continue to enjoy the customer support as they would flee the firm X products. In this case the demand curve would be DD. The firm then tries to remain in a segment of the elastic demand curve between dd and DD. The true demand curve is represented by DAd, known as the kinked demand curve which silently points out the fact heads you lose, tails you lose (Baumol and Blinder, 2009) D A Price 8 (Competitors prices are fixed) 7 D d (Competitors respond to price changes) 0 Quantity per year 1,400 1,100 1,000 Game theory and the Oligopoly Game theory has been formulated to understand the behavior of the firms in an oligopolistic market structure that do not work on a collaborated output and pricing. The underlying assumption is that the large bossy firms are like players in a game of poker. They make the moves of lowering or increasing the price, to advertise or not to advertise, to discount and so on, based on their rivals move. Understanding the payoffs can put a firm in a better position to compete with its rival and be in a profit maximizing and rational position. For example the game between two coffee shops is illustrated as below: C:Documents and SettingsAnumDesktop4th assignmentUnderstanding Oligopoly Behavior a Game Theory overview Economics in Plain English_filesgame-theory-1.jpeg Source: Welker, J. (2009).Understanding oligopoly behavior-A game theory overview. Available from: http://welkerswikinomics.com/blog/2009/12/15/understanding-oligopoly-behavior-a-game-theory-overview// According to the above figure, both San Francisco coffee and Starbucks is following a dominant strategy. They are working up to maximize their outcome through advertising, ignoring what their competitor does. If S.F advertises, Starbucks earns profit ($12 vs. $10) through advertising. This means the pay offs are the same. Since both firms are enjoying profit through advertising they will do so, though the total profits are less in case when both are advertising, as compared to when they are not advertising. But such a condition would be a condition of instability, as to advertise is likely to be beneficial for both. So we say that advertise/advertise is Nash equilibrium, as at this stage none of the firm is going to change its strategy since it is bringing incentives to both (Jason Welker, 2009). Market failure due to Oligopoly Keeping in view the above theories that try to explain oligopolistic behavior, the market failure due to oligopoly can be attributed to various causes. Inefficiency, instability and indeterminacy brought about by oligopoly may result in a market crash. The firms supremacy is established as the capacity is established more and more, but little is produced in order to create artificial barrier to entry. The competitors compete on the basis of non pricing factors such as heavy advertising, which gives more hold up to the artificial barrier to entry. Prices are well above cost and price discrimination prevails. Some of the firms also engage in self-regulation to preserve their own profits and market share that further detoriate the situation (Grewal and Kumnick, 2006). Oligopolistic firms output and prices substantially differ from what is socially accepted from them. It is also believed that the misleading advertisement by the large firms also deludes the consumers and compels them to b uy products that they do not want. They impose political and economic power and hover over the mind of the consumers working like an invisible hand. Market Form Number of firms in the market Frequency in Reality Entry Barriers Public Interest Results Long Run Profit Equilibrium Conditions Oligopoly Few Produces Large share of GDP Varies Varies Varies Varies Source: Economics: Principles and Policy By William J. Baumol, Alan S. Blinder MC=MR applies for a profit maximizing firm, under equilibrium. However, in oligopoly, MC is usually unequal to MR mainly because in oligopoly the firms are seeking to adopt strategies in accordance with the game theory, or they look for techniques such as increasing sales for profit maximization as their ultimate goal. Conclusion In a perfectly competitive market place the behavior of the firms automatically lead to a maximization of consumer benefits through an efficient allocation of resources. In oligopoly however, resource allocation is usually is not well set, more focused is paid on restricting output in an attempt to maneuver prices and profits. In an oligopoly everything is possible, can happen anytime anywhere, so the economists are still unable to clearly predict its behavior. Besides, its ability to lead the market down, some economists are of the belief that oligopoly has made a significant contribution towards the economic growth in the past two decades resulting in an increase in the average income of the rich countries.(Baumol and Blinder, 2009). Question two What are the implications for management of businesses in such structures? Introduction Oligopoly is a market characterized by a few firms. Managers of a firm in such a structure know that their firm enjoys a market power. But the other players have their share of power too. If the managers take the right course of action, properly assessing the behavior of their rivals in the industry, they are likely to make a profit. Strategic behavior Strategic behavior refers to the firms ability of proper consideration of their market power and awareness of their rivals move. Strategic behavior occurs in oligopolistic structures where there is less product differentiation and a competitive industry exists (Taylor and Weerapana, 2009) Implication for the managers The most important implication for the managers regarding oligopoly is the pricing practice on the basis of mutual interdependence. In case of monopoly, the absence of competition enables the managers to follow the MR=MC role to maximize its profit. However in Oligopoly, simply following the MR=MC isnt just enough. Example Consider, for example the case of Proctor and Gamble, where the manager hires a consultant for the thorough analysis of the cost, structure and demand. After a detailed analysis of the structure of the body soap products, the manager follows the MC=MR rule and set the retail price at $1.99.In a sudden move, the competitors Colgate-Palmolive , Lever brothers etc set the price of the comparable product 10 to 15 below to that of proctor and gamble. What the manager is likely to do? Either he can go for advertising and heavy promotion to compete against the lower prices of the competitors or can lower its prices down. Or he can simple do nothing if he is confident enough of the strong loyalty that his brand enjoys among consumers. The point is that, that pricing in oligopolistic structure cannot be done without taking into account your competitor. This is the essence of mutual interdependence (Young and McAuley,1994) The second implication for the managers is to understand that it can be extremely difficult to make money in a competitive market. Firms are required to be as much cost efficient as possible because they cannot control the prices. The managers are supposed to be vigilant enough to be able to spot opportunities and enter the market before the others could enter. They should be able to make their place before the demand gets high enough to support an above normal price. A situation could arise in oligopoly, where the managers in a firm become so successful in beating up the competition that the firm turns into a monopoly, or the one that can exercise monopolistic power. Such a case happened with IBM when In 1969, the firm dominated the computer market so much so, that the department of Justice had to issue an antitrust suit against it (Keat, Young and Benerjee, 2009) Global implication for managers The managers should keep in mind that the process of benchmarking in an oligopolistic structure strategy formulation should be done keeping in view both domestic as well as the global competitors. For example AT T communications not only took into account Northern telecom but also Siemens, Ericsson and NEC and Fujitsu. Many of the firms that refuse to take challenge from the foreign firms are likely to face consequences. Like many American firms got a serious blow from their Japanese competitors in the past 20 years. Companies like IBM and Caterpillar enjoys success because they established a strong hold in the Japanese market well before time. The oligopolistic structure also highlighted the importance of alliance for the managers. Alliances enable the firm to acquire technology from the rival firm. Whilst the acquisition of the technology can be a source of benefit for the firm, the firm giving up the technology can face causalities ( Yoffie,1993) Conclusion The managers of an oligopolistic market structure have to take into account several aspects in their decision making. The managers are plunged into complex pricing decision. They take into consideration the three Cs of Cost, customers and competition in their decision making. Price wars were common in an oligopolistic market, but they are becoming less frequent with the passage of time, mainly due to the realization of the managers. Managers have understood, through their bitter experiences, that the price wars are costly and do not bring any benefits. They chose to compete on the advertising and on product variations. So they have chosen not to compete on prices and have found for themselves a path of mutual advantage.

Teaching Morals and Ethics in Public Schools Essay -- Religion in Publ

Teaching Morals and Ethics in Public Schools I find myself disagreeing with Kozol and his statement that schools should be an institution where morals can be taught and developed. It is my belief that schools should not be held responsible for instilling morals and ethics into the minds of America's children. Of course, it is true that schools should instill and reinforce morals that are part of our everyday existence. Those of the Golden Rule, as well as the wrongs of death and destruction can be, not so much taught, rather restated in institutions of learning. It is my opinion, however, those morals should be taught in the home. Most classrooms are made up of people of various religious and ethnic backgrounds. I t is impossible, therefore, to instill one set of beliefs into such a diverse group. Many people would argue that parents are away too much to raise their children to be moral beings. However, it is my belief that parents should be able to make time for instilling such beliefs. If you want to have a moral and ethical child, then you must work for it. Rather than sitting in front of the TV for 4 hours and then going to bed, parents must find time to speak to children about such issues. I personally do not ever remember being introduced to the concept of God and of heaven. It wasn't as if my parents sat me down one day and explained these theological ideas to me. Merely by spending time with my parents, I was able to gain much perspective into their own morals and ethical patterns. It was, in fact, through schooling, and the facts that I was taught there, that I was able to expand on the ideals that I wished to achieve and model them more towards the world in which I was now living. If one were to ask a grown ... ...with the fact that many people are unwilling to allow their children to be taught such things in a place that should be focusing on the classic three R's. The government made its stand on this issue through the separation of church and state. Not only were theological teachings left out of the school curriculum, but also, so were the morals that went along with these teachings. This is how I feel the issue of teaching morals and ethics to today's children should be dealt with in America. There must be a complete overhaul of the school system we have in place, or a remarkable change of heart of many people whom have been fighting for centuries over minor differences in religious teachings. Otherwise, there will be no other way to ensure that children in America are growing up with a sense of values, which will allow them to make a difference in tomorrow's world.

Oscar Wilde Essay -- GCSE English Literature Coursework

Oscar Wilde Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth. On October 16, 1854 Oscar (Fingal O’Flaghertie Wills) Wilde was born in Dublin. He is the son of Dr. William Wilde and the Irish Nationalist poet Jane F. Wilde (known as "Speranza", her pen name). Oscar grew up with very high expectations of him by his mother. He was enrolled at Trinity College, where he graduated by the age of seventeen and continued his schooling on a scholarship to Oxford. At Oxford he was known as aesthete. Under the influence of the aesthetic movement of the late 19th century, Oscar found the notions of "art for art’s sake" and dedicating one’s life to art suitable to his temperament and talents. Although Oscar didn’t have any substantial achievements in his to be well known from 1878 to 1881, he was still quite popular in London. He categorized himself into the class of people labeled as "the beautiful people." As a "beautiful [person]" he wore outrageous clothes, passed himself off as an art critic and aesthete, and built a reputation for saying shocking things and doing amusing things. These "beautiful people" were often called dandies, wearing clothes similar to Wilde’s manner of dress: velvet coat, knee breeches, silk stockings, pale green tie, shoulder length hair, loose silk shirts, and a lily he occasionally would carry. Oscar’s popularity, flamboyance, and of course literary talent led him closer and closer to the fame he desired. Oscar published his first volume of poems in 1881. In 1882, upon arriving in New York City, he began a yearlong tour of North America. His lectures were more on aestheticism and "art for art’s sake" than on the strength of his reputation as a writer. W... ...e "The Ballad of Reading Gaol" (pronounced "redding jail"), a poem that explored the harsh nature of prison life. It was published anonymously under the pseudonym of C33 (Wilde’s prison number), and became his last significant work. Oscar Wilde died at the age of 46 on November 30, 1990 of cerebral meningitis. Bibliography Beckson, Karl. Aesthetes and Decadents of the 1890’s. Vintage Books, New York, 1966. Charlesworth, Barbara. Dark Passages-The Decadent Consciousness in Victorian Literature. The University of Wisconsin Press. Madison, Wisconsin, 1965. Harris, Frank. Oscar Wilde. Dorset Press, New York, 1989. Montgomery Hyde, H. Oscar Wilde- The Aftermath. Farrar, Strauss & Company, New York, 1963. University Books. The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde- The verbatim Transcripts and an introduction by H. Montgomery Hyde. University Books, New York, January 1956. Oscar Wilde Essay -- GCSE English Literature Coursework Oscar Wilde Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth. On October 16, 1854 Oscar (Fingal O’Flaghertie Wills) Wilde was born in Dublin. He is the son of Dr. William Wilde and the Irish Nationalist poet Jane F. Wilde (known as "Speranza", her pen name). Oscar grew up with very high expectations of him by his mother. He was enrolled at Trinity College, where he graduated by the age of seventeen and continued his schooling on a scholarship to Oxford. At Oxford he was known as aesthete. Under the influence of the aesthetic movement of the late 19th century, Oscar found the notions of "art for art’s sake" and dedicating one’s life to art suitable to his temperament and talents. Although Oscar didn’t have any substantial achievements in his to be well known from 1878 to 1881, he was still quite popular in London. He categorized himself into the class of people labeled as "the beautiful people." As a "beautiful [person]" he wore outrageous clothes, passed himself off as an art critic and aesthete, and built a reputation for saying shocking things and doing amusing things. These "beautiful people" were often called dandies, wearing clothes similar to Wilde’s manner of dress: velvet coat, knee breeches, silk stockings, pale green tie, shoulder length hair, loose silk shirts, and a lily he occasionally would carry. Oscar’s popularity, flamboyance, and of course literary talent led him closer and closer to the fame he desired. Oscar published his first volume of poems in 1881. In 1882, upon arriving in New York City, he began a yearlong tour of North America. His lectures were more on aestheticism and "art for art’s sake" than on the strength of his reputation as a writer. W... ...e "The Ballad of Reading Gaol" (pronounced "redding jail"), a poem that explored the harsh nature of prison life. It was published anonymously under the pseudonym of C33 (Wilde’s prison number), and became his last significant work. Oscar Wilde died at the age of 46 on November 30, 1990 of cerebral meningitis. Bibliography Beckson, Karl. Aesthetes and Decadents of the 1890’s. Vintage Books, New York, 1966. Charlesworth, Barbara. Dark Passages-The Decadent Consciousness in Victorian Literature. The University of Wisconsin Press. Madison, Wisconsin, 1965. Harris, Frank. Oscar Wilde. Dorset Press, New York, 1989. Montgomery Hyde, H. Oscar Wilde- The Aftermath. Farrar, Strauss & Company, New York, 1963. University Books. The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde- The verbatim Transcripts and an introduction by H. Montgomery Hyde. University Books, New York, January 1956.

McGraw-Hill Financial Performance

It is reported that there was an 8.6% increase in the earnings per share to $2.40 for the year 2006 that due to the increase in the revenue by 4.2% amounting to $6.3 billion.   Another successful year for the McGraw-Hill, but before that, let’s take a look on the past few years where the evaluation on this research must focus. The net income of the McGraw-Hill for the year 2003 is $687.7 million.   During 2004, the net income had reached to an amount of $755.8 million, a 9.9% increase from the previous year.   In addition to this, the company’s revenue increased by 7.4% amounting to $5.3 billion. In accordance with the Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 00-10, â€Å"Accounting for Shipping and Handling Fees Costs†, the corporation had made reclassification of the revenues resulting to an increase in the revenue of $62.5 million and $62.5 million during the year 2004 and 2003 respectively. There is an increased of 14.3% in the McGraw-Hill revenue during 2005 which had reached about $6 billion.   Together with it is the increase in the net income of 11.7% reaching to an amount of $844.3 million and also an increase in the earnings per share of 12.8%.   The company had also returned an amount greater than $924 million to the shareholders prior to the increase of 14.4% compared to as before of 4.9%. Pearson PLC Financial Performance In the year 2003, changes in the company’s portfolios had made revenue to increase by  £89 million and  £24 million on the profit.   However, due to the movements of currency, there is  £181 million reduction on the revenues and  £27 million on the profits. During the year 2004, the revenues of the Pearson PLC had decreased by  £302 million and  £51 million on the profits due to the currency movements that happened that time.   However, the changes in the portfolio had made an increase of  £41 million on the revenues but still the profit dropped down by  £8 million. However, the movements of the currency in 2005 had made a positive effect on the Pearson PLC.   Regarding the continuing business basis, there is an increase in the sails by  £46 million and the profit had also increased by  £12 million.   In addition to this, the portfolio changes also made the sales to increase by  £29 million and profits by  £9 million. Also during the year 2005, the fastest growth of sales happened in comparison on the past five years of the corporation.   The sales increased by 9%.   There is also a 22% increase in the profit amounting to  £509 million and with the margins going up to 12.4%.   There is also an increase of more than 33% in the operating cash flow of Pearson and more than 50% on the free cash flow, reaching to an amount of  £431 million. These results to the most cash generated in Pearson that ever happened before.   The biggest contributor on these success is the –education- having sale of up to 12% generating an amount of  £2.66 billion and making the profit to go up by 22% to the amount of  £348 million. McGraw-Hill Stock Performance A 10% increase was approved by the Board of Directors of the McGraw-Hill Companies on the Corporation’s common stock regular quarterly cash dividend.   It was the 32nd of the consecutive increase in the annual dividend of the Corporation’s common stock. In 2004, an amount of $630 million was returned by the McGraw-Hill Companies to their shareholder.   There was a 50% increase on the dividend payments compared to the previous year (2003).   There is a new annualized rate amounting to $1.32 per share brought by the Corporation’s increase by 3 cents to 33 cents per share in the regularly quarterly dividend on the common stock.   There was a history of continued increase in the McGraw-Hill dividends for 32 consecutive years.   Also, during this year, the acquisition of the 5 million shares of its repurchase range happened on the Corporation. There was an increase of a 10.3% average on the McGraw-Hill Companies annualized total return over the past 5 years. In 2005, the expanded stock repurchase program continued for 45 million shares which is far greater than the outlook of the Corporation on 2004 of between three to five million shares.   In addition to this, it has been a 33 consecutive years of an increase in the dividend.   Since 1974, a 10.3% had been the average compound annual growth rate. Pearson Stock Performance The shareholders had approved the amount of 17 pence per ordinary share as a final dividend in 2005 and the he total dividend had reached the amount of 27 pence (adding the already paid interim dividend).   There is an increase from the previous year dividend from 25.4 pence (2004). In 2004, an adjustment of up to 5% amounting to 30 pence (57.6 cents) per share occurred and also there was an increase on the dividends by 5%. In 2003, a dividend per share amounts to 24.2 pence or 43.3 cents.   The price of the share at this year is  £5.72 and  £6.25 on the following year (2004) and on 2005, the share price is  £6.52. Stock Performance Analysis In 2004, the stock performance of the McGraw-Hill dramatically increased from 17.8% of return putting it on its peak having a record giving a 32.9% in return to the shareholders.   However, it has not been good during the year 2005 due to the currency movement thus dropping down to 14.4%.   However, it was a disaster for Pearson PLC’s stock to be performing to the down low having its percent of return down to its lowest return of 1.5%.   The stock performance trend from 2003 until 2005 has been continuously going down.   Currency movement and the changed company portfolio didn’t make a resistance for the company at these times. Long-Term Commitment Until 2005, McGraw-Hill Companies had succeeded and made the constant average return on investments through dividends of 10.3% for 33 consecutive years since 1974.   By simply looking at these numbers, the possibility of McGraw-Hill to a long-term commitment would bring up more success to the Corporation. Pearson had been facing trouble in their past years before 2003.   Those years have been tough for the Corporation.   But their claim is they had made three of their companies, namely education, business information and consumer publishing to becoming world leaders. These happenings made them to think of two things; making their operations efficient and selling of better products and services compared to their competitors.   This strategy made them sold more than  £250 million worth of products and services through combining of two or more parts of Pearson, both working together.   The results of this had reduced costs, increased revenues, assets, and working capitals that will continue planning on a long-term commitment. McGraw-Hill. (2007). The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.: Financial Statement.  Ã‚   Retrieved March 10, 2007, from http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/invsub/results/statemnt.aspx?Symbol=MHP&lstStatement=Balance&stmtView=Ann PLC, P. (2007). Financial Statement.  Ã‚   Retrieved March 10, 2007, from http://finance.google.com/finance?fstype=ci&cid=664805      

Review of “Mass Man” by Derek Walcott

Mass Man by Derek Walcott, is a poem written in free verse, that describes some aspects of playing mass in a Caribbean setting while alluding to the history behind the celebrations. In the poem Walcott’s role is that of an observer. He is on the outside meticulously processing all that he witnesses while procuring it in his memory so that it can later be recorded for posterity. No detail is too inconsequential; no action above scrutiny. As an observer of a custom whose history is tied to the oppression of the people who created it, Walcott is not celebrating with his countrymen, rather, he is mocking that they celebrate their freedom by impersonating and imitating their former oppressors. Walcott’s very description of the things that he sees is therefore derisive and laden with double meaning. In stanza one of the poem, Walcott is showing how black men, the ordinary descendants of slaves, are trying to imitate those who once enslaved them, via their mass costumes. â€Å"Through a great lion’s head clouded by mange / a black clerk growls. At first glance, it reads that a black man, who is a clerk, is wearing a costume that is supposed to be the head of a great lion, but instead the costume looks haggard and diseased. Its symbolic representation however, is tied to the literal representation through the common history that unite both connotation. The black clerk represents the slaves that once inhabited the island, whereas the lion’s head denote their British oppressors. That the lion’s head is â€Å"clouded by mange† suggests the imperfection of the great British conquerors. Next, a gold-wired peacock withholds a man† indicates that the costume is overpowering the man who occupies its space. Here Walcott continues with his allusion to slaves and slave owners. The slave owners, like the peacock were proud, believed themselves superior, and exercised control over the slaves, much like the costume is getting the better of the man. Just like the costume â€Å"withholds† the masquerader, so too did the slave owners use everything within their power to suppress to the slaves. Slaves were separated from their kinsmen and divided into groups so that there were no common languages between them. Their culture were stripped from them as they were not allowed to practice their religious beliefs, rituals or anything that connected them to who they were before they became the property of the slave owners. They were not even allowed to learn how to read and write. They were deliberate strategies to quell even the thought of rebellion and to keep them oppressed. Walcott, continues his comparison of the slave owners to a proud peacock with â€Å"a fan, flaunting its oval, jewelled eyes. † By appealing to the reader’s sense of sight, Walcott is able to present an image that parallels the false pride of the slave owners. Walcott’s uses alliteration – â€Å"fan flaunting† – to place further emphasis on how supercilious the slave owners believed themselves to be. They held their language, religion, education, customs and culture as something that should provoke the admiration of the slaves, as in their eyes those were the things that it made them superior. The persona’s expression of â€Å"what metaphors! † shows that he is not afraid of using his acuity on himself. Here the persona is mocking himself for having used such interesting metaphors in the preceding lines. What coruscating, mincing fantasies† continues his wry tone. In referring to how the men are pretending to be superior to what they really are, one can almost hear Walcott’s terse vocals. Stanza two of the poem continues in the third person narrative mode, as the persona gives additional information based on his observations. The first line – â€Å"Hector Mannix, waterworks cle rk, San Juan, has entered a lion† simply informs the reader of the costume portrayal of one of the mass men. There is no concrete evidence that determines whether it is the same lion costume mentioned in the previous stanza. Next, Walcott uses a simile to compare Boysie’s gait while in his mass costume to that of Cleopatra’s – â€Å"Boysie, two golden mangoes bobbing for breastplates, barges / like Cleopatra down her river, making style. † In those two lines, Walcott continues with his allusion to the slave masters attitude of superiority and self-importance. There is a subtle change in the fourth line of stanza two. While the undertone in the first half is reflective, the fourth line keeps us strictly in the present. The mass men call out to a child to join them in their celebration, then commented on the child not being able to dance in an offhanded manner. Symbolically, there appears to be a disconnection between the fourth line and the rest of stanza two, as the subsequent lines resumes the tone of the first three lines. â€Å"But somewhere in that whirlwind’s radiance / a child, rigged like a bat, collapses, sobbing† tells of the inhumanity of older people to younger children both in the present situation of playing mass, and in the past where children were also forced into labour as slaves. The persona used alternating point of views, switching from third to first person and even second person narrative mode. While both stanza one and two is written in third person narrative mode, stanza three shifts to first person mode. â€Å"But I am dancing, look, from an old gibbet / my bull-whipped body swings, a metronome! † is a metaphor that evokes an incredibly perfervid image of slaves being hung. While Walcott’s allusions to slavery in the previous stanzas were somewhat muted, with this metaphor, there is no dubiety about what he is referring to. It is a prodigious metaphor that compares the persona’s dancing form to the motion made by the bodies of slaves who were left swaying on the gibbet after they had been hung. The appeal to the readers’ visual and auditory senses are graphic. One can see the scourged body of a slave who had been hung, tied to a post, swaying, keeping time to some unheard rhythm that only his/her dead ears can hear. Walcott’s tone here is very sardonic. Walcott used a simile (â€Å"Like a fruit bat dropped in the silk-cotton’s shade / my mania, my mania is a terrible calm†) to compare his madness to a fruit bat descending into the shade of a silk cotton tree. â€Å"Like a fruit bat dropped in the silk-cotton’s shade† is an image that relates to slavery in the West Indies. When Walcott says, â€Å"my mania, my mania is a terrible calm† he is being introspective. His repetition of â€Å"my mania† emphasizes the scope of his preoccupation with the past, while his use of the oxymoron â€Å"terrible calm† shows the depth of his rumination. The fourth and final stanza of the poem, like the previous stanza, utilizes a different narrative mode. In the fourth stanza, the persona through the use of â€Å"your† has employed the second-person narrative mode. In this stanza, the mass portrayals have finished. It is the morning after, when those who took part in the revelry seek penance. â€Å"Upon your penitential morning, / ome skull must rub its memory with ashes† conjures up images of priests rubbing ashes on the foreheads of those individuals who come seeking atonement for the sins they committed while playing mass. Walcott’s tone here is flippant, as if to scoff at the idea that getting ashes on one’s forehead means that one is so easily forgiven for sins that have become ritualistic. Walcott is referring to himself when he said, â€Å"some mind must squat down howling in your dust, / some hand must crawl and recollect your rubbish, / someone must write your poems. † It is exactly what he has been doing as an observer. He is saying that the same way in which someone has to clean up after the mass, so too, does he have a job to do. His job is to observe, remember and document all that he has witnessed for future generations. The poem Mass Man, though complex, was quite elementary in its symbolism. Walcott’s use of mass as a facade to talk about the deeper affairs of slavery, while connecting both events, was skillfully done. His detachment from what was occurring around him, allowed him to see and interpret the mass portrayals in a way that someone who was personally invested in the celebrations would not.