Friday, December 27, 2019

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Essay - 631 Words

Chapter one of the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is a very important chapter to the novel; it introduces the reader to the novel. Charles Dickens uses a number of different methods and techniques to do this. At the beginning of the chapter Dickens introduces Pip, the main character in the novel. The audience get to know a little about Pips background and his life, Dickens makes it evident right from the beginning that this story is about Pip. We notice that Dickens writes in the first person, he writes as if he is Pip. We see the story through Pips eyes, through the eyes of a child because of this. By using this technique, Dickens makes us feel like we are closer to Pip. It makes us feel as if we are actually†¦show more content†¦This jibbet also gives us a hint about the Convict who is condemned to death. Just as everything seems quiet and plane Dickens uses the convicts shock entrance to shatter the description before it. Everything on the marshes is disrupted by the convict shouting Hold your noise! Dickens uses language that is fierce and terrifying to describe the convict. The negative lexis shows Pips negative feelings towards the convict and because we see that Pip feels scared of the convict we, the audience feel hatred towards him as we have come to care about Pip in the short part of the story that we have already read. We feel this way about the convict right up until Jo sympathises with him saying Poor fellow human creature, we also begin to sympathise when we see Jo acting like this. Dickens fools us by allowing us to believe that the convict is gone for good. We forget about him, we dont think that he is an important part of the story until later on in the novel. Later in the novel we are shocked to find out that ironically, Miss Havisham did not give Pip the great expectations at all, but the convict did. We learn that the convict did everything in his power; he did everything he possibly could have done for Pip and then he died at the end of it all for him. Our first impressions of the convict are all wrong, but we are let to believe them to be true so weShow MoreRelatedGreat Expectations By Charles Dickens1113 Words   |  5 Pagesadventures that the male characters go on. This seems to be relevant in a lot of movies and books like the story Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. In Great Expectations there are multiple female characters like Estella, Biddy, and Miss Havisham who all play a large part in the main character, Pip’s life. One of the first that we meet the character Estella in Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations is when Pip goes to Miss Havisham’s to play with her. The two kids play the game beggar my neighbor when EstellaRead MoreGreat Expectations By Charles Dickens1347 Words   |  6 Pagespoor status of the economy, social mobility does not seem to be occurring at high rates, with the poor getting poorer and rich getting richer. Despite this, social mobility is alive and well, and has been for centuries. In his novel, Great Expectations, Charles Dickens voices the concerns of many that lived in Victorian England during the 19th century by promoting such a desire to live life in a more prosperous social class. One of the most fundamental and reoccurring themes in the novel is that ofRead MoreGreat Expectations By Charles Dickens1426 Words   |  6 Pages Twelve-year-old Charles dickens gets ready for bed after a long day at the blacking house. These Victorian-aged memories will provide him with many ideas for his highly acclaimed novel Great Expectations. Set in 1830 England, Great Expectations is a coming-of-age story about a common innocent boy named Pip and his road to becoming a gentleman through the influence of others. Pip is influenced both positively and negatively by Estella, Herbert, and Magwitch. Estella left a huge impression on PipRead MoreGreat Expectations by Charles Dickens984 Words   |  4 PagesCharles Dickens utilizes his life for inspiration for the protagonist Pip in his novel Great Expectations. They both struggle with their social standing. Dickens loved plays and theatre and therefore incorporated them into Pip’s life. Dickens died happy in the middle class and Pip died happy in the middle class. The connection Dickens makes with his life to Pip’s life is undeniable. If readers understand Dickens and his upbringing then readers can understand how and why he created Pip’s upbringingRead MoreCharles Dickens Great Expectations943 Words   |  4 Pages This is true in many cases but none as much as in Great Expectations. In many ways the narrator/protagonist Pip is Charles Dickens in body and mind. While there are many differences between the story and Charles Dickens life there remains one constant. This constant is the way Pip as the narra tor feels, because these feelings are Dickens s own feelings about the life he lead. Since Great Expectations was written towards end of Charles Dickens life, he was wiser and able to make out the mistakesRead MoreGreat Expectations By Charles Dickens1375 Words   |  6 PagesGreat Expectations by Charles Dickens and The Talented Mr Ripley by Anthony Minghella present similar criticisms of society to a large extent. Both of these texts consider the criticisms of rich social contexts (wealth and status), societal morality (whether a society is good or not. Status [can lead to the wrong people being in a high position i.e. making bad decisions affecting the community/society] Appearance [society appears to be moral/good (if you’re from a higher status) {dickens criticisesRead MoreCharles Dickens Great Expectations1223 Words   |  5 PagesBeloved author Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth, England. Growing up in a life of poverty, his childhood hardshi ps provided the inspiration to write a myriad of classic novels including his 1861 seminole masterpiece, Great Expectations (â€Å"BBC History - Charles Dickens†). Great Expectations follows the life of an orphan named Pip, who’s perspective of the world is altered when he is attacked by an escaped convict in his parents’ graveyard in the town of Kent. Throughout hisRead MoreGreat Expectations By Charles Dickens924 Words   |  4 Pagesa character driven novel, or a mix of the two. In order for a novel to be character driven, it must revolve more around the characters’ individual thoughts, feelings, and inner struggles, rather than around the quest of the story. Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, is a character driven novel. While the story does have a plot, it is not contingent upon that plot, but rather is reliant upon its characters and their natures. This is evident from the beginning of the novel. From the opening ofRead MoreCharles Dickens Great Expectations1669 Words   |  7 PagesCharles Dickens He was one of England s greatest authors of the 1800 s, better known as the Victorian era. The various themes and ideas of that time are perfectly showcased in his many novels and short stories, such as Nicholas Nickelby, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, and A Christmas Carol. Much of the inspiration for these works came from the trials and conflicts that he dealt with in his own life. His volumes of fictional writing show the greatRead MoreCharles Dickens Great Expectations1017 Words   |  5 Pagesexperiencer is somewhere else absorbing knowledge of a different setting.This abstract adventure is seized by author Charles Dickens in Great Expectations. Great Expectations is historical fiction giving readers comprehension of the Victorian Era.Upon the reading, readers begin to catch on the intended purpose and its significance. A person who lived during the Victorian Era was Charles Dickens himself.He grew up during a time where differences in social class were to an extreme degree.Dickens went through

Thursday, December 19, 2019

The Life of Fidel Castro - 631 Words

Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, born in Birà ¡n, Cuba on August 13, 1926, changed his country ever since he came to power. Castro’s father, à ngel Castro y Argiz, was a wealthy plantation owner and was an immigrant from Galicia, Spain. His mother, Lina Ruz Gonzà ¡lez, was à ngel’s mistress and house servant while à ngel was still married to Maria Luisa Argota. Castro was educated in many Jesuit boarding schools, from grade school to middle school, in which he was a mediocre student and was not well behaved, only focusing on playing sports. Although Castro attended a religious boarding school, it did not affect him in any way and was still getting into trouble as a young child. After Castro graduated from high school he studied law at the University of Havana. In his classes, he became very fond of anti-imperialism, socialism, and the political climate of Cuban nationalism, which had helped him while in power. On February 16,1959, Fidel Alejandro Ruz Castro was sworn in as Prime Minister of Cuba. Castro secretly started to turn to Communism. He wanted to nationalize plantations and factories. The U.S. is known for its strong opinion on democracy, so when the U.S. heard this, it caused lots of friction between Cuba and the U.S. so Castro denied that he wanted to control Cuba as a communist. Castro then signed the First Agrarian Reform Law, which prohibited foreigners from owning land in Cuba while also only allowing 993 acres of land per citizen. Castro was then trying to developShow MoreRelatedThe Life of Fidel Castro Essay760 Words   |  4 PagesFidel Castro Throughout history, when you look back, you find many countries that fall under a control that turns things in an opposite direction of where they were pointed. In Cuba, this was under Prime Minister, Fidel Castro. Born on August 13, 1926 in the wedlock at his father’s farm, Castro would live here until age 8 when he would go live with his teacher. He was not well behaved, and would find himself traveling in out of different schools. He did not excel academically and found his placeRead MoreEssay on Life of Fidel Castro834 Words   |  4 PagesThe Life of Fidel Castro Fidel Castro, is the well-known dictatorial leader of Cuba for nearly five decades. His leadership has been the focus of international controversy. How is it that a man of this privileged upbringing, became the leader of a socialist revolution in Cuba, brought the world to the brink of destruction, and ultimately became one of the most famous political leaders in the history of Latin America. He was born on a farm in Birà ¡n, Cuba near mayaà ± on August 13, 1926. He receivedRead MoreTo What Extent Was Brutality Used by Fidel Castro During the Cuban Revolution1440 Words   |  6 Pagesa struggle to the death between the future and the past.† – Fidel Castro, 1961. This statement was certainly true for Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries during the Cuban Revolution, an armed revolt that took place between July 26th 1953 and January 1st 1959, which ended successfully. During this revolt, many of Fidel Castro’s fellow revolutionaries were killed in this process of violent revolution (My Life, p133, 2006). However, Castro and his accompanying revolutionaries, of which he was the leaderRead MoreFidel Castro Is Alive1443 Words   |  6 Pages Upon his release, Castro went to Mexico where he spent the next year organizing the 26th of July Movement, which was based on the date of the failed Santiago de Cuba barracks attack. On December 2, 1956, Castro and the rest his fellow rebels of the 26th of July Movement landed on Cuban soil with the intention of starting a revolution. They were only met with the welcome of heavy Batista defenses, causing nearly everyone in the Movement to be killed. Barely anyone escaped, and those who did whichRead MoreFidel Castro : Hero Or Villain1323 Words   |  6 PagesFidel Castro a Hero or Villain The time of the Cuban Revolution was a great deal of turmoil, not just in Cuba but in almost every corner of the world. It was 1945, shortly after the end of World War Two, the Cold War was taking off between the United States and the Soviet Union. Cuba, in the middle of its own war, was caught up in the international politics of the Cold War. The interaction between international and domestic politics played a major role in the outcome of the revolution. The resultRead MoreThe Other Side Of Castro850 Words   |  4 PagesThe Other Side of Castro In my 27 years on this planet, I have heard little to nothing about the revolutionist and Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Of the small amount of conversation which has occurred in front of me, Castro was always described in a negative way. He was described as a cruel, selfish Communist dictator who is against the ideas and beliefs of my own country. For those reasons, I have never bothered educating myself about Castro and his life. Now that I am older, my education has presentedRead MoreFidel Castro: The Clown of Cuba1612 Words   |  7 Pages Current leader and dictator of Cuba, Fidel Castro, was born on August 13, 1926 in Biran Cuba. As a child, Fidel Castro had a good life because his father was very wealthy. His fathers name was Angel Castro. He was very wealthy because he owned plantations and lands. Additionally, he was originally from Spain but then moved to Cuba. Angel Castro married to Lina Gonzalez. Fidel Castro had one brother named Raul Castro. Fidel And Raul al ways had a special bond between their brother relationshipRead MoreFidel Castros Impact on Cuba, America, and the World1359 Words   |  6 Pages Fidel Castro, resigned now, and still living, was the dictator of the Cuban nation. He has had an big impact on America, and he an impact on our world. Fidel Castro was a Cuban dictator for a long time coming. Fidel Castro becoming a dictator not only affected the United States, but his arrival affected the world around us. Fidel Castro was a man who had a target on his head. Lots of people from all over the world wanted him dead. Fidel Castro wasn’t a capitalist person, he was a CommunistRead MoreCuban Revolution And The Revolution1309 Words   |  6 PagesFidel Castro once said â€Å"I do not fear the fury of the miserable tyrant who took the lives of 70 of my comrades. Condemn me. It does not matter. History will absolve me.† This iconic line triggered one of the greatest events in Cuba’s history, the Cuban revolution. The factors that caused the revolution and the main events during changed the lives of Cuba’s people as well as North Americans. Cuba was a poor, uneducated, country controlled by a brutal dictator in 1953. The attack on the Moncoda barracksRead MoreCub A Political Leader Of Cuba1707 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"A revolution is a struggle to the death between the future and the past.† Fidel Castro has had a tremendous impact on Cuba. Castro was a political leader of Cuba (1959–2008) who transformed his country into the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere. Castro became a symbol of communist revolution in Latin America. Before Fidel Castro took rein Cuba was the island of sin, a society consumed by the illnesses, gambling, the Mafia, and prostitution. In 1969 Cuba changed drastically, but still

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Consumer Neuroscience Belief-based Models of Attitude

Question: Discuss the relationship between regret on cognitive dissonance. Answer: Belief-based Models of Attitude: I think the basis of persuasive research in the marketing field thrives on the belief driven attitude towards an object. Attitude essentially comprises of three components as cognitive, affective and behavioral which in turn are related among them. Salient beliefs or self perceptions generally influence the strength and evaluation outcomes. Congruent with the evidences available I understand that the nature and extremity of the attitude determines the response in an individual. Mental states associated with normative considerations, self-efficacy and behavioral modifications strongly influence the consumer choice as well (Okeefe, 2015). I find that the consumer behavior majorly impact the decision of purchase rather than the attribute of the object being purchased (Claiborne Sirgy, 2015). In my opinion, although predicting the consumer behavior may be often challenging, nevertheless due attention given to the beliefs of the buyers culminating in the attitude change will definitely f ulfill the relevant demands thereby enhancing the credibility of the endorsed product. Cognitive Dissonance Theory: The theory pertaining to psychology proposed by Festinger states that every individual have an innate inclination of possessing a consistency among their cognitive abilities encompassing certain opinions and beliefs. In case of discrepancy in these thoughts and perceptions, these conflicting ideals require to be urgently eliminated to ally contradictions and prevent any ensuing discomfort or mental stress. I feel this philosophy of dissonance may be corroborated to the real life producer and consumer scenario, and facilitate better marketing strategy. In keeping with the supporting documentations from recent research, I support the action-based theory of dissonance that underpins the presence of a dormant motivation which may be identified as the root cause for the arising conflicts in behavior (Harmon-Jones Harmon-Jones, 2012). From the information acquired, I would like to summarize that to cater to the varied demands of the consumers, the persons associated with the marketing and accessibility of the products must take into account their beliefs, values, opinions and notions regarding the specific object so as to curb the possibility of any contrasting ideals. The relationship between regret on cognitive dissonance: In view of a proportionate expenditure incurred by the business companies together with the customer services modifications, due to returning of the retailed merchandise from the consumers, the reasons may be attributed to regret on their part, eventually resulting in cognitive dissonance. Therefore, the association of regret and cognitive dissonance should be considered to implement definite marketing strategies for business expansion. The two aspects of cognitive dissonance such as the emotional dissonance and product dissonance contribute to the frequency of returning the products. The three precursors involving flexible return policies, consumer opportunism and switching barriers, terms relevant to microeconomics play significant role in cognitive dissonance and resultant product returns activities. Evidences from studies concerning the surveys conducted by the Wall-Mart as well as target customers accustomed to product returns revealed the possible linkage through structural equ ation modeling, the tool to verify and evaluate the relationship. The products return frequency was positively associated with both the emotional dissonance and product dissonance. Liberal return policy ameliorated the dual components of cognitive dissonance. Contrarily, factors related to consumer opportunism and switching barriers caused escalation of both product dissonance and emotional dissonance. Moreover, gender variation and store brand affected the association between regret and cognitive dissonance and its allied components. Thus, understanding of the consumer attitudes and beliefs depicted through product return behavior is imperative to tackle the consumer grievance issues and suit their needs accordingly. Overview of the relationship between the regret and cognitive dissonance may resolve the issue and establish congruency of thoughts in terms of product selection and usage (Oliver, 2014). References: Claiborne, C. B., Sirgy, M. J. (2015). Self-image congruence as a model of consumer attitude formation and behavior: A conceptual review and guide for future research. InProceedings of the 1990 Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) Annual Conference(pp. 1-7). Springer International Publishing. Harmon-Jones, E., Harmon-Jones, C. (2012). Cognitive dissonance theory.Handbook of motivation science, 71. O'keefe, D. J. (2015).Persuasion: Theory and research. Sage Publications. Oliver, R. L. (2014).Satisfaction: A behavioral perspective on the consumer. Routledge.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Physiological Adaption Fish free essay sample

Adaptation of Fish to Its Environment BIO101 March 11,2013 Physiological Adaptation of Fish to Its Environment All organisms around the world are sparsely distributed depending on the environment that best suited to their modes of survival. Organisms undergo adaptation – an evolutionary process where they became well-suited to a particular. The process of adaptation happens through the natural selection, whereby nature selects those organisms that suit a certain habitat and sustain them for successive generation and ones that do not perish, hence the theme of survival for the fittest. The surviving species pass the same favorable features to their generation for their further survival after a progressive reproduction. Physiological adaptation of fish to their habitat depends on what the nature favors to suit them. Below is the illustration of the external and internal features of a fish (â€Å"Internal Salmon Anatomy Worksheet Key,† 2011): Water bodies have a diversity of conditions that enable fishes to adapt to their survival. We will write a custom essay sample on Physiological Adaption Fish or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The physiological adaptation of these animals varies to a particular habitat, and it relates to how their metabolism works to counter the changing environment. Fish metabolic activities seek to regulate their body functions in any opportune change of their environment and adapt to it. To control the body temperature, fishes undergo physiological thermoregulation. The physiological and metabolic activities regulate the body temperature and maintain it by means of countercurrent exchange system. The countercurrent exchange system is one where the hot blood in the blood vessels, as a result of muscular activities, passes along and gives up some heat to the blood in the adjacent blood vessels, which is flowing to the other parts of the body. This way fishes are able to keep warm. Fish also have the survival tactics in areas where water temperatures are on the point of freezing all the year round – like in the Antarctica region. In order to overcome the darkness due to the ice over the water surface, fish have a specialized sensory system called mechanosensory lateral line, which enables them to sense the motion of other animal in their environment and allows them to feed. However, some fish subspecies normally live in the freshwater and in seawater depending on the environmental opportunities that affects their chances to survive (WhyEvolutionIsTrue, 2012). Freshwater fish have a mechanism, which makes possible them to concentrate salt within their bodies in the environment of salt deficiency; consequently, marine fish have the capability to excrete excess salt in the hypertonic environment. The latter as well has chloride cell in their gills, which produce enzyme called gill Na+/K+ATPase that enables them to ride their plasma of excess salt build up when they drink seawater. The enzyme is applied to pump sodium out of their gills using the energy generated from the muscle. Freshwater fish have a physiological mechanism that allows them to concentrate salt and compensate their sanity environment. They achieve the balance of the body and that of the surrounding by producing very dilute, copious urine to rid them of the excess water in their body while taking ions through their gills (â€Å"Fish in Their Environments: Habitats amp; Adaptation,† 2010). Their adaptation favors their capability to adjust to the changing environment. The swordfish has a modified eye muscle with a concentration of mitochondrion cells. The mitochondrion organelles perform the duty of breaking down of food to obtain energy for normal eye movement and to provide heat for blood going to the brain. The physiological system of fish also operates within a fluid environment despite the change its environment. Osmoregulation in fish aims to get a stable balance of uptake and loss of water and solutes through their excretory organs. Marine fish, for example, bony fishes, are hypo-osmotic to seawater; respond to loosing water in their bodies by osmosis and gain salt by diffusion and from the food they eat. They also take up chloride ions through their skin and gills to balance osmotic condition of their environment. In conclusion, fish, like all other animals, have their mode of adaptation to survive in their habitat regarding the circumstances that occur. They will continue to reproduce passing those adaptations to their next generation. References Internal salmon anatomy worksheet key. (2011, January 14). U. S. Fish amp; Wildlife Service. Retrieved from http://www. fws. ov/r5crc/salmon/workbook/homework_salmon_anatomy_internal_key. htm Fish in their environments: Habitats amp; adaptation. (2010, March 3). Earthguide. Retrieved from http://earthguide. ucsd. edu/fishes/environment/environment_zones. html WhyEvolutionIsTrue. (2012, April 11). Parallel adaptation in fish: Same genes used over and over. Why Evolution Is True. Retrieved from http://whyevolutionistrue. wordpress. com/2012/04/11/parallel-adaptation-in-fish-same-genes-used-over-and-over/

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Appositives and Descriptions

Appositives and Descriptions Appositives and Descriptions Appositives and Descriptions By Mark Nichol Writers easily confuse an appositive (a descriptive word or phrase that is equivalent to a person, place, or thing that is named) with a phrase that simply describes a person, place, or thing named, or create confusion by incorrectly wording or punctuating an appositive or a description. The following sentences demonstrate various types of such errors. 1. My name is John Smith, product manager for Global Tetrahedron. This construction creates the impression that â€Å"product manager for Global Tetrahedron† is part of John Smith’s name. That part of the sentence must be made distinct from the main clause as the basis of a separate independent clause (â€Å"My name is John Smith, and I am product manager for Global Tetrahedron†) or the subject must be reworded so that the sentence generically identifies John Smith rather than specifying what supposedly constitutes his name (â€Å"I am John Smith, product manager for Global Tetrahedron†). 2. Jane Jones, president of World Wide Widgets announced that the company will consolidate its product line. The phrase â€Å"president of World Wide Widgets† is an appositive of â€Å"Jane Jones† (Jane Jones is the president of World Wide Widgets, and the president of World Wide Widgets is Jane Jones), so one must be set off parenthetically from the other: â€Å"Jane Jones, president of World Wide Widgets, announced that the company will consolidate its product line.† 3. Jeb Bush’s presence in the race and his fund-raising potential werent enough to dissuade fellow Floridian, Senator Marco Rubio, and more than a dozen other Republicans from entering the race. Inclusion of a comma between a descriptive phrase and the noun or noun phrase it describes, as shown here, is a rampant uncorrected error that encourages even more writers to make the mistake. The problem is the resemblance of a simple descriptive phrase such as â€Å"fellow Floridian† to an appositive phrase such as â€Å"a fellow Floridian,† which is parenthetical and therefore expendable without sacrificing comprehension or completeness. However, â€Å"Fellow Floridian† cannot be excised from the sentence, nor can â€Å"Senator Marco Rubio,† which has been treated as an optional parenthetical. To resolve the problem, delete the parenthetical commas (but also delete Senator, which competes with â€Å"fellow Floridian† as a descriptor) or simply insert a before â€Å"fellow Floridian† (and retain Senator): â€Å"Jeb Bush’s presence in the race and his fund-raising potential werent enough to dissuade fellow Floridian Marco Rubio and more than a dozen other Republicans from entering the race† or â€Å"Jeb Bush’s presence in the race and his fund-raising potential werent enough to dissuade a fellow Floridian, Senator Marco Rubio, and more than a dozen other Republicans from entering the race.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Signs and Symbols You Should KnowTaser or Tazer? Tazing or Tasering?List of 50 Compliments and Nice Things to Say!

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Behavioral Aspects of People essays

Behavioral Aspects of People essays Have you ever wondered why you do something in a particular way? Or even why your family members act a certain way different from you? For years, it has been an age-old question. There are many reasons for this occurrence. Generally, they are because of physical appearance, emotional aspects, and society. Everyday, people judge each other on physical appearance. The way a person looks can determine an individuals behavior. Positive behavior towards physical appearance would be making new relationships, talking to people of different backgrounds, and helping someone in need. Negative behavior would be abusing somebody, whether it is verbally or physically, ending up in jail because of something you did, or making someone feel threatened just because you feel that they dont meet your standards of beauty. Emotional aspects also contribute to peoples behavior. For example, if an individual feels angry about something, he or she might let it out on somebody who didnt deserve it. On the other hand, if an individual portrays a positive behavior towards a person, it might help them in the long road. For example, my friend, Erica, was going to a job interview. Just before she walks into the building, somebody walks by looking depressed and down. She tries to lighten up their spirits with a joke and it worked. She enters the building and goes for her interview. Just as she enters the door, she sees the person she just joked with earlier. It is her interviewer and she gets the job because of what she did. Society is the hardest thing to face in any aspect of life. When society has been mixed with media, religion, and politics, people can behave in many different ways. Society can cause people to argue, fight, cheat, steal or kill for what society has said is right. On the other hand, society can make people more confident about themselves and others, open people to new ideas and express themselves in positive ways...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

The animal weapons arms race Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The animal weapons arms race - Essay Example The show is called science frantic, and the person hosting the show was Jordan Koski. The guest on the show is Douglas Emlen, who is the author of a book named animal weapons – the evolution battle. Douglas is also a professor of biology and lectures at the University of Montenor. I was amazed to realize that it was possible to conduct researches on the extremeness of animal weapons. Douglas claimed that the research leading to writing his book started with watching clips of animal fights. The professor had keen interest in small animals such as dung battles. He claimed that the weapons carried by small animal were very dangerous considering their body sizes (Science-Friday retrieved from http://www.sciencefriday.com/playlist/#play/segment/9594). It was interesting to realize that most fights among small animals were all because they needed access to females. Douglas noted that some animals had deadly weapons since they cannot swim fly or run fast to catch their prey. He gives the example of Smilodon, which has 7 inch canine teeth but cannot run after its prey. I was amazed to realize that some animals had to lose certain minerals in their body in order to make their weapons more deadly. He also noted that some species with fierce weapons had stunted testes and small genital organs. Some animals use their fierce weapons to scare away other animals of the same species. It overwhelmed me know that animals with the most vicious weapons fought less and were rarely involved in battles. He discussed an exceptional case where female animals are fiercer than their male counterparts. He said that Jacana females have bigger weapons that than Jacana males since the males take care of the youngness. The females have to fight for access to males, and hence they develop fierce fighting weapons (Science-Friday retrieved from

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Mrs Dalloway-Imbalance between the Inner and Outer Worlds Essay - 1

Mrs Dalloway-Imbalance between the Inner and Outer Worlds - Essay Example The paper will assess the ways in which Woolf has reflected modernism as the quality of thought and expression present in each character differently; and how these characters have different psychologies in the way they look at life around them, how they are alienated, and how they are stuck between nostalgia and modernism. Clarissa Dalloway is the main character in this novel. She is a woman who is seen constantly struggling with her internal life and thoughts with that of the outer world. She belongs to the high society where she hosts parties, wears classy dresses, and talk to people belonging to the high class. However, at the same time, she is seen walking to Bond Street in the first chapter to the flower shop to make preparations for her party the same night. As she is walking and looking at the world around, she imagines about life and is continuously searching for a deeper meaning of life. Woolf writes â€Å"For Heaven only knows why one loves it so, how one sees it so, making it up, building it round one, tumbling it, creating it every moment afresh; but the veriest frumps, the most dejected of miseries sitting on doorsteps do the same; can’t be dealt with, she felt positive, by Acts of Parliament for that very reason: they love life† (Woolf 8). This quote shows that Clarissa does not believe that happiness is anything related to high class. Woolf shows her strong positivity and attachment towards life believing that humans make their lives beautiful themselves. Clarissa is seen as the only character who can express her emotions and led herself free to the world around her unlike other characters but she doesn’t share her feelings with anyone else. However, at another place Woolf states â€Å"She had a perpetual sense, as she watched the taxi cabs, of being out, out, far out to sea and alone; she always had the feeling that it was very, very  dangerous to live even one day† (Woolf 11). This quote suddenly changes the direction of Clarissa’s thinking as she looks around at the crowd and starts feeling alienated. She feels that the public life is rather busy and noisy while her private life is silent and lonely.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

What are the advantages and disadvantages for society, when people Essay

What are the advantages and disadvantages for society, when people live longer lives - Essay Example This review will explicate the fact that when people live longer, it is both beneficial and detrimental to the societies in which they live. To start with, research has shown that contrary to the perception that when people live longer they are merely burden to society; there are actually some very significant benefits if people live longer. For instance, when people live longer lives, they are a valuable asset to society because of the vast amount of knowledge they have acquired about different issues throughout their lives. While old people may often be perceived as ancient and outdated, it is indisputable that the present-day advancements in most spheres of life were borne out of foundations that were set up when those who are in their old age today were younger (Johnson & De Souza, 2008, p. 24). As such, the opinions and expertise that can be attained from those who have lived long are invaluable to society. While the opinions of the elderly may not be given from a professional standpoint, the mere fact that they have spent more time alive makes their opinions worth seeking. For instance, in the current tough economic times, most people forget that there are people who have lived, and survived tougher economic times during the economic depressions that followed the two world wars. In this situation therefore, the opinion of someone who lived through both wars is clearly invaluable to society. Another advantage of people living longer is that they are able to pass on positive societal values to the younger generation. During recent decades, societies globally have been able to get rid of values that were detrimental to society. Such values include male chauvinism and racism. However, societies have also adopted some values that are of no benefit to them. In fact, the family unit which is the most basic unit of any society has been negatively affected by the current trend of doing away with any value that is considered ‘traditional’ irrespective of

Friday, November 15, 2019

Luck Be a Lady: Ciroc Vodka Advertisement

Luck Be a Lady: Ciroc Vodka Advertisement LUCK BE A LADY: CIROC VODKA ADVERTISIMENT Stephen Astwood Luck Be a Lady Virtually every rapper today is citing British alcohol maker Diageo’s CIROC Ultra-Premium Vodka in their lyrics. The brand seems to have found an interesting niche, more specifically that of the premium liquor market. CIROC’s â€Å"Luck Be a Lady† advert, synonymous with the song of the same name made famous by Frank Sinatra, calls upon a all-star cast with public celebrities like hip-hop entrepreneur and investor in CIROC Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs, and a assortment of male actors and female models. The men are elegantly dressed in suits with Combs (2011) first statement suggesting the strategy of the campaign, â€Å"We have arrived.† He urges them to go out and amass millions of dollars, wanting the practice become a regular habit. Combs (2011) first full statement is, â€Å"Fellas, we have arrived†¦we gone win a couple million, break the bank out here, then we gone do it all over again.† The ads next scene is them disembarking a priv ate jet in Las Vegas, where there are beautiful women to greet them with actual shots of CIROC. (Jernigan, Ostroff Ross, 2005) says, â€Å"In modern alcohol markets, the advertising and promotion of alcohol are central to the product itself. Whereas in earlier eras, alcohol may have been marketed based on the quality, purity, and price of the product, now the identity of the brand is paramount† (p. 314). This campaign strives to tell the story that connects a life of luxury and leisure with the product itself. The commercial successfully fills the objective of the formerly mentioned narrative, and encapsulates the sensation of attainment one can appreciate with having consumed CIROC. However, the representation of this lifestyle associated with a brand can have false consequences when classism and consumption becomes more than the product itself (in this case CIROC), and more about trying to keep up with the exemplified way of life. It is of no surprise that the ad echoes th e culture of which Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs is a pioneer; that of hip-hop, which today is full of images purporting classism, consumerism and to put in urban vernacular, swag over substance. The campaign pays homage to Sinatra and his contemporaries the ‘Rat Pack’, with Combs (2011) telling Soul Culture Magazine that, The Rat Pack defined the art of celebrating in style. I cannot imagine a Spirit more suitable for commemorating life with family and friends than CIROC; a brand that has become synonymous with celebratory occasions.† Thorstein Veblen (1979) says that, â€Å"In order to gain and to hold the esteem of men it is not sufficient merely to possess wealth of power. The wealth or power must be put in evidence, for esteem is awarded only on evidence† (p. 24). As Combs (2011) declares, â€Å"We have arrived†, it not only takes into account the physical arrival at a private jet facility, but the arrival to a height of social status. The depiction of this status in the ad is realized through the collection of luxury products exhibited; from the Escalades, private jet, the many of beautiful women, and of course Las Vegas, which is symbolic for infamous gambling, one of many facets that endorse pleasure as a main motivation for using it as a location to film. Merchandise like this form the basis, or give confirmation to what Veblen (1979) notes as, â€Å"putting wealth and power in evidence† (p. 24). It is contrasted with the fact that they are just drinking a brand of vodka; it connects C IROC to these high-end products. Essentially, the ad is making the statement that CIROC is not just one of the many premium liquor brands, it exceeds the others’. Particular focus is given to excess—gambling in the casinos. While the characters mention that they are looking to â€Å"rake a couple million† and â€Å"break the bank†, inferences are that they are looking to spend a great amount of money. If they are talking about millions, expandable wealth is no object to them. Throughout the advertisement we are bombarded with messages that say if you are not a part of the wealthy class, then you are not worthy. Likewise, if you buy CIROC then you will become just as happy, attractive, and successful as the people portrayed in the commercial. It has been corporate practice that marketers feed—off the uncertainties of individuals who adopt a classist attitude, seeking to elevate themselves up the economic and social ladder. Debra Goldman (2002) state s, â€Å"New-luxury consumers account for a lot of this recession resistance. They are paying premium prices not just for material things (which the old mass market supplied very efficiently) but for emotional ones: comfort, adventure, identity, and esthetic pleasure.† The commercial advocate that anything less than CIROC means you are missing out on the true emotional significance of successes and all that entails. Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs in an interview with the publication Adweek (2011) was asked, â€Å"What do you think your brand stands for?† Combs (2011) responded by saying: â€Å"I think I stand for aspiration. [That] hard work pays off.  People from all walks of life and all over the world look at  me and know my humble beginnings and know that everything  I’ve done has been through hard work. People respect me as a  marketer and brand builder.† As mentioned beforehand, there are countless references of CIROC in hip-hop culture today, so much so that the brand epitomizes the approach to the music. Such adoration toward alcohol in music, and specifically in hip-hop is not unique to CIROC. For example, MOET and CRISTAL, rightly having been observed as premium brands, have been used in the lyrics of Combs protà ©gà © the late Notorious BIG (1994, 1997) in which he says, â€Å"The back of the club sipping ‘Moet’ is where you’ll find me† and â€Å"Take their spots, take their keys, make my faculty/Live happily ever after in laughter/Hah, never seen ‘Cristal’ pour faster/And to those bastards, knuckleheads squeeze lead.† Miller and Muir (2004) note that, â€Å"As a cultural and commercial force, hip-hop’s impact is formidable: Coke, Pepsi, Gucci, Bacardi, Burberry, Mercedes, Nike and McDonald’s are among the brands that have used hip hop to sell themselves† (p. 178). While hip-hop was shaped from much more serious questions than which bottle to ‘pop’ in the club, it is thanks to endorsements from rappers in various lyrics that certain brands have enjoyed a substantial boost in popularity. The campaign suggests another cultural perception, and that is how the women are represented. Amico (1998) says that, â€Å"Advertisements promoted the image of women as childlike and sexy† (p. 19). From the onset of the commercial, the women appear in a role that is subservient and playful, regarding them as another expression of the luxurious life. The women have one speaking part; following a trend in advertising that rarely do female characters have a voice in a commercial unless it is for something directly marketed to women. Wood (1999) notes, â€Å"To be feminine in the United States is to be attractive, differential, unaggressive, emotional, nurturing, and concerned with people and relationships† (as cited in Turow McAllister, 2009, p. 193). These concepts are depicted in the commercial and emphasize the historic belief about gender roles that women as the protagonist are expected to serve the male. Although the women are dressed in attire that suggests profess ionalism, as with many modern women, when they are portrayed this way, women are seen as having to work their â€Å"second job† when they arrive home. There is less evidence than usual to suggest this advert is working to undercut any progress made for women’s rights. However, the message sent to the viewers here is that the men is the one with authority—the one in control, and the womans role is to serve; and just because the women appear successful and having a good time, it is only on the condition that she still carries out her principal duties as hostess. The campaign, â€Å"Luck Be a Lady† debuted in mid-December 2011 on both US televisions as well as online. Diageo said that the ad will run on various channels that predominantly are dedicated to music and sports. The 30 second version of the ad campaign aired over the holiday season collection of NBA games; however the original format is that of a short film. CIROC (2011) has stated in their campaign marketing that, â€Å"Ciroc has taken the stance that their marketing video needed not backstory, narrative arc or a connection to reality. No one in a decision-making capacity on their marketing team thought to ask whether it mattered that, there’s no reason for these people to be hanging out, that nothing remotely interesting goes on outside of the visual, and that it’s just kind of weird.† The reason for this strategy forms the basis of advertising success. The intertextuality with the â€Å"Rat Pack† gives fundamental basis to what the commercial i s endorsing. Olsen et al. (2003, 1993, 1995, and 2004) notes that: â€Å"Advertisements have become an integrated part of popular  culture which they parody, and by drawing upon socially  situated codes, myths, cultural discourse, and national  ideologies to develop resonant associations for consumer  goods, advertisements both constitute prevailing ideologies  and construct new mythologies and ideologies for commodities  through these dialogical and intertextual relationships.† (as cited in Turow McAllister, 2009, p. 134) The references made to the ‘Rat Pack’ are deliberate because the target market is already familiar with them and what they symbolize as CIROC is used as a form of product placement. It isn’t a blatant use of it, but still generates links that are already drawn by the audience’s knowledge. Just as actors, musicians, artist and the like come to personify their brand, Sean ‘P. Diddy Combs has come to personify CIROC. There are very few places and very few songs nowadays that don’t associate the two. In ‘Luck Be a Lady’ a variety of roles become closely tied to the message of luxury and success. The image of the ‘Rat Pack’ according to Combs was considered because it sought to emphasize what Strasser (2009) says that, â€Å"Through advertising, leisure becomes a goal of modern living, not just an attribute used to sell a product† (as cited in Turow McAllister, 2009, p. 25). Having the resources to live life the way the campaign projects, is a desire of most western consumers. The commercials statement is made more striking knowing the success Combs has attained personally; that this could actually be a day in the life of Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs. The â€Å"match-up hypothesis† is described by Till Busler (20 13) as, â€Å"The differential impact that different types of endorsers, often celebrities, have on the endorsed brand† (p. 2). Diageo notes the business has had significant growth since they affiliated Sean â€Å"Diddy† Combs. Marketing and Research Company Symphony IRI says that, â€Å"Sales (of CIROC) jumped 41% to $6.8 million in the year ended Oct. 3 2007.† Initial brand management before Combs tended to focus on the grape according to MediaCom, CIROC’s media agency until January 2011. When Aegis’ Carat (2011) took over responsibilities they said, â€Å"That whole grape story just didn’t work, because nobody really cared. It didn’t carry around enough cachet.† Through the success of advertising campaign; â€Å"Lady Be Luck†, CIROC is now positioned as a brand amongst the most successful in the world with The Spirits Business (2012) reporting that, â€Å"The sale of 1.5m cases in 2011 has helped Ciroc to become the second largest ultra-premium vodka in the US.† Combs statement to Andrew Hampp (2007) in Ad Age, summed up his relevance to the brand and the brands success in the market. He said, â€Å"I’ve branded myself as the king of celebration, and that’s what this alliance is all about.† References Amico, E.B. (Ed.) (1998). Reader’s Guide to Women’s Studies. Chicago, IL: Fitzroy Dearborn. Combs, S. (2001). Luck Be a Lady (Starring Diddy, Eva Pigford More). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVMjRJJrQqY. Frith, K., Ping, S., Cheng, H. (2009). The Construction of Beauty: A Cultural Analysis of  Women’s Magazine Advertising. In J. Turow M.P. McAllister (Eds.), The Advertising  and Consumer Culture Reader (p. 193). New York, NY: Routledge. Goldman, D. (2002). ADWEEK: Consumer Republic. Retrieved from  http://www.adweek.com/news/consumer-republic-59788. Goldman, H. (2011). The Reel Front: Deconstructing Diddy’s Latest Ciroc Branded Film,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Ciroc Luck Be a Lady†. Retrieved from http://therealfront.tumblr.com/post/15053011045. Hampp, A. (2007) AdvertisingAge: Hes Gone by Puffy, Diddy and Now Brand Manager.  Retrived from http://adage.com/article/news/puffy-diddy-brand-manager/121489/. Jernigan, D., Ostroff., Ross, C. (2005). Alcohol Advertising and Youth: A Measured  Approach. Journal of Public Health Policy, 26, 312-325. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jphp.3200038 . Kelly, A., Lawlor K., O’Donohoe, S. (2009). Encoding Advertisements: The Creative Perspective. In J. Turow M.P. McAllister (Eds.), The Advertising and Consumer Culture Reader (p. 134). New York, NY: Routledge. Levine, D.M. (2011). ADWEEK: Fast Chat: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs The rap mogul on the Rat Pack, his brand and building a better mousetrap. Retrieved from http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/fast-chat-sean-diddy-combs-137229. Miller, J. Muir. (2004). The Business of Brands. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Stresser, S. (2009). The Alien Past: Consumer Culture in Historical Perspective. In J. Turow M.P. McAllister (Eds.), The Advertising and Consumer Culture Reader (p. 25). New York, NY: Routledge. The Spirits Business: Vodka-Brand Champions 2012. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2012/07/vodka-brand-champions-2012/. Till, B.D., Busler, M. (2002). The Match-Up Hypothesis: Physical Attractiveness, Expertise, and the role of Fit on Brand Attitude, Purchase Intent and Brand Beliefs. Journal of Advertising, 29 (3), 1-13. doi:10.1080/00913367.2000.10673613. Toney. (2011). Soul Culture: Diddy’s Luck Be a Lady Commercial. Retrieved from http://www.soulculture.co.uk/culture-2/film-tv/diddys-luck-be-a-lady-ciroc-commercial-extended-version-video/. Veblen, T. (1979). The Theory of the Leisure Class. New York, NY: Penguin Books. Wallace, C. (1994). Big Poppa. On Ready to Die [CD]. New York, New York: Universal Music Group. Wallace, C. (1997). You’re Nobody Till Somebody Kills You. On Life After Death [CD]. New York, New York: Universal Music Group. Types of business travel: An overview Types of business travel: An overview Types of business travel Travelling on business can take many forms. Individuals may be travelling to meetings, to exhibitions to make sales calls to customers. There are also a lot of occasions when high amount of groups of people travel individually, or together, to take part in a conference or corporate. Companies that organise business travel are operating in a different market to those who organise conferences and events and are often different companies. However, overlap does occur, for example Kuoni is a well known tour operator, yet has an arm of its company which specialises in event management. Incentive Travel The incentive travel is offered by the employer(company) to the employee which is like a entertainment gift for them as they are travelling for free. This will make the employee very happy as they can rest at the same time as well as having fun which overall it effects the work rate of the employee when they are back as it will make them much more motivated to work harder in the future as they may gain another reward. What effect incentive travel gives to the employee Facilitating communication and networking opportunities, especially in senior management cheering the companys socially Having a better company loyalty Creating eagerness for upcoming company period Strengthening the relationship between the employee and the company Advantages for employees Every employee will feel very special and be satisfied in their job as the company has given them an fantastic opportunity to go for an great holiday which they have gain the award. It automatically changes the employees feelings in work by making them feel successful and thinking they are the best in that work place because they were rewarded an incentive travel. That may also mean they had one of the best performance in the sales team for that business because they were rewarded as not many people experience this trip because its not often many people being offered an incentive travel by their company. Exhibitions and trade fairs There are exhibitions and trade fairs for just about every type of product. Business people attend trade fairs to keep up-to-date on the latest development in their industry which shows they are competing with each other as the find suppliers for products and services and to network with colleagues. There are two aspects of the organisation of fairs and exhibitions. Firstly, there are companies who organise the exhibitions and sell stands to exhibitors. An example is Reed Exhibitions. They have a division, Red Travel Exhibitions, who focus on travel events. Lastly, there are many of business to be gained in organising travel to exhibitions and accommodation for attendees. Conferences and meetings The meetings industry Association (MIA) is the largest association for meetings industry for the UK and Ireland, providing support for venues and suppliers in the meetings environment. A company who wants to organise a large meeting, or conference, could approach the MIA to find out about companies who can make the arrangements for them. Corporate events Corporate events and hospitality is a specialist industry within travel and tourism that focuses on providing events, hospitality and entertainment to business clients. It can be know as a an incentive to an consumer because they have place a business with a different employer or to persuade businesses that may have not yet customers to an arrangement with the business. It is also seen as a good way for a company to network and make new business contacts. Corporate events take many forms – from lavish events at Wimbledon or the Henley Regatta to the owner of a business inviting his or her bank manager for a meal in a local restaurant. Many corporate hospitality functions are centred on sports events, such as golf championships, cricket, tennis, rugby and football matches. There are many specialist companies that handle all the arrangements for corporate events, from sending our invitations and ‘meet and greet’ services to providing catering and entertainment. Business Agencies This section is the role of business travel agents and the different types of agents operating in the industry. Role Business travel is concerned with providing products and services for business people travelling to meetings, attending conferences and conventions, and taking part in trade fairs and exhibitions. It also includes incentive travel, where holidays, short breaks and other travel services are offered to members of staff as an incentive to reach work targets. big business travel agencies are regularly performing on behalf of two parties when they take on their job. They are providing help needed by their customer, referred to as the consumer, on whose behalf they are making the travel schedules. They are also an agent for the corporation that is supplying the product. These companies are recognized as ‘principals’ and comprise airlines, hotels and car hire companies. Business travel is an increasingly important industry, since it is often ‘high value tourism’, earning hoteliers, caterers, transport providers, travel agents and a host of other companies’ signià ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ cant income. Business travel is considered a high value industry because: Clients often have to travel at short notice, meaning that they are not able to take advantage of discounted advance purchase rates; Business people often use high quality accommodation; Business travel invariably includes an element of entertaining business clients Travel is often in upgraded services, e.g. business class or à ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ rst class. Business travel agencies can be divided into à ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ve distinct types: 1. Independent agencies 2. National agencies 3. Global agencies 4. Implant 5. E-agent. Each type has its own particular characteristics and products. Independent agencies Across the UK, there are many independent travel agents that offer business travel arrangements. They are not part of a national chain and are often managed by the owner and a small team of staff. They may be companies that deal exclusively with business travellers, but are more likely to deal with both leisure and business clients. Unlike national agents (see below), independent travel agents are free to offer their business clients travel services from a wide range of suppliers. Independent business travel agents trade on their ability to offer their clients a very personal service, relying on word-of-mouth recommendation from satisfied customers for extra business. As well as being members of ABTA – The Travel Association, many independent business agents join consortia such as Advantage Travel or World choice in order to benefit from supplier discounts, make useful business contacts and to have their voices heard. National Agencies These are UK-based companies that are part of a national chain of travel agencies, such as Thomas Cook, Co-op Travelcare and Thomson. These agencies deal primarily with holidays and other leisure travel products, but can meet the needs of business travellers as well. Agencies that are located in parts of the country with high concentrations of companies and a large business community often generate a sizeable proportion of their turnover from business clients. Organisations of all sizes and in all sectors of the economy often need their staff to travel on business. Sole traders, members of partnerships, company directors, public sector staff, junior and senior managers, all travel from time to time on business. This could be in their local area, elsewhere in the UK, to countries in continental Europe or further afield. Implants Implants are agents operating within a business premises, so that they are on hand to look after travel requirements as needed. The agent may often work alone and is employed by a business travel agency, not by the company in whose premises they are based. E-agents As in leisure travel, there is an expanding demand for online business travel services. Some of them may be familiar with the website offering travel services, Expedia. Expedia claims that is corporate travel business, launched in 2002, is the fifth largest by turnover worldwide. Products and services Business travel agents may be dealing with small companies sending individuals on business trips to corporate clients who want all of their business travel managed. Basic services will always include: Accommodation bookings Flight bookings – either scheduled or low-cost, business, first or even economy Transfer Cars hire or rail tickets Ancillary sales, such as car parking or insurance. The agency will book accommodation for a customer and that is to find where they will stay, arrange travel such as flight bookings on specific dates, transfers to the hotel etc. Ancillary services such as insurance and parking. Management of a customer’s travel expenditures This means analysing data so that a corporation knows exactly what is being spent on business travel and where. The travel management company manage the data and make it available to the customer 24-hours a day in a spreadsheet or database. Negotiation with suppliers The agent negotiates terms on the customer’s behalf with airlines, care hire companies and hotels for accommodation which this is for the agency to find the best deals for their consumers. Products and services provided by suppliers All hotels and airlines want to tap in to the lucrative business travel market and constantly bring out new products and services to entice business travellers. Hotels offer Wi-Fi and business centres as a matter. Business customers may choose executive rooms. Even cheaper hotels, such as the premier Inn chain, offer wireless internet and meeting rooms which is what the business customers expects to have. Is Blood Thicker Than Water? Is Blood Thicker Than Water? Literature Review Draft Is Blood is Thicker than Water? Blood is thicker than water, this idiom expresses the idea that family relationships are stronger and more durable than friendship ties. This idea is reinforced through customs, traditions, and laws that give familial relationships prerogative over non-familial ties and determine who may be defined as family (Muraco, 2006). In fact this theme is so pervasive in our society that, at times, it goes unrecognized for example; should a childs parents pass away all eyes look to the next of kin or closest living relative. It is the same if there was a collection of debts that need to be paid. In the case of hospitalization in an intensive care unit, often the rule is the admittance of immediate family only. In fact, according to the Uniform Probate Code of the United States section 2-103 in the event that one dies without a will, both children and the whole of their estate go to their family (source). Many find it intriguing that it is the conventional assumption within our society that in a time of crisis, it is the presence of those we are most concerned about in our lives our family- that is of most importance. The idea that familial relationships mean more than all other types of relationships, dates back almost 600 years to 1412 (source). The fact that this idea is still prevalent today, so many centuries later, leads the author to believe that there must be something fundamentally, or qualitatively different about the relationships we have with family (mother, father, sibling), and those we have with friends. If so, what is it? The aim of this paper examines these issues and as a result suggests further research that needs to be done. networks of family support tend to be denser than friendship networks (Wellman Wortley, 1989), creating a context in which responsibilities toward family members develop (Finch Mason, 1993); responsibility is further strengthened by norms within our (Himes Reidy, 2000; Stein et al., 1998). On one hand, family relationships are continued even if there is a degree of animosity and conflict (Allan, 1996). Friendship, on the other hand, can be seen as an independent relationship that tends to be based strongly on a sense of reciprocity (Buunk Prins, 1998). We therefore expect sibling relationships to be less strongly influenced than friendships by these mechanisms. With marriage being less stable, and with the number of children falling, peer relationships potentially become increasingly important. Friendship offers a way of inventing and re-inventing the self in an authentic way throughout ones life. As such it is particularly important to women whose idea of themselves is typically rooted in social relationships. (OConnor 1999: 118) By virtue of growing up in the same family, siblings know each other intimately and develop a body of shared knowledge that may facilitate a common basis for social understanding. In 2005 Schaf, Schulman and Spitz found that siblings provide emotional support for each other, resulting in reduced anxiety that can come with being an outcast with peers. The sibling relationship ahs been shown to be increasingly valuable being as it has been found associated with lower loneliness and depression and with higher self-esteem and overall life satisfaction. Also, sibling support has been found to compensate when there is an absence of not only parental support but friendship support aswell (Anderson, 2005).. In a study about social understanding and interpersonal relationships Clarke and Dunn found that the differences in the relationship between siblings and friends are based first on the fact that there is a choice involved. Children choose their friends however they do not choose their siblings and are typically faced with living with them. They also found that sibling relationships can have attributes like hostility and ambivalence which are rarely found in friendships (2005). Among the differences between these relationships are the expectations involved. In familial relationships the emphasis is not on equality, balance, and reciprocity as is the case in friendships (Mills, Clark, Ford, Johnson, 2004). However the sibling relationship, not unlike the friend relationship requires maintenance by regular positive interaction, its does not remain ready at all times to be activated whenever the need arises (Voorspstal, 2007). The general everyday understanding of what family entails is different from everyday understanding of what friendship entails. This does not mean that family and friend relationships have no commonality, nor does it mean that people never regard friends as family or family as friends. It does, however, suggest that different forms of unity and commitment usually differentiate the two sets of relationships; specifically, the demands that family and friends generally view as legitimate to expect of each other are usually patterned differe ntly, including the consequent effect on the emotional, practical, and material resources that they are prepared to give (Ueno Adams, 2006). In 2005 a study on the sibling relationship in emerging adulthood was conducted which included interviews as part of the method. One participant gave voice to what is a common cultural belief, he wrote, I dont like my siblingsthey dont like me. If we had a choice wed never see each other again. But a family is a group of people youre stuck with for life whether you like it or not.(Leh Ruppe, 2005). Other participants reported relying on their siblings for immediate help and for care in cases of sickness. Additionally, from the qualitative responses obtained, an overwhelming number of responses contained positive comments about sibling relationships. The shift from having a non-family closest friend to having a family member as closest friend is more likely to occur amongst women, older people, lower class and, interestingly, both by getting married or by being widow(ed). That these changes in marital status lead to a shift towards a family member as closest friend is an important finding. It is well established in the literature that those who are newly separated or divorced are more likely to look to non-family members as their closest friend. This is often to avoid the feeling of being judged by family specifically parents or siblings who may have developed a good relationship with their former spouse. In the case of the death of the partner, family members are more likely to provide sympathetic support and so it is less likely that the grieving person would be made to feel judged. In the longer term, however, those who remain widowed are likely to move on from having a relative as their closest friend to having someone outside the family as their closest friend. Importantly, at various phases within the lifespan, the particular structural circumstances of peoples lives may result in both a greater reliance on friends and a reduced involvement with family (Pahl Pevalin, 2005). For example, for some young adults who are establishing their independence from their family but not (yet) started their own, that is, involved in a committed partnerships or a parental phase of life, friends may be the main component of their emotional and practical support networks (Heath Cleaver, 2003). At this time, they may have relatively little involvement with their family relationships. Without necessarily rejecting these ties, their choice is to place more emphasis on friendships with others who may be in a similar situation like unto themselves (Allen, 2008).

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Allelopathy

Allelopathic potential of crop residues for weed management in wheat under semi-arid conditions of Pakistan Muhammad Ashraf Professor of Agronomy, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. [email  protected] com RATIONALE †¢ Rainfed Wheat- Main winter crop grown by about 80% of the farmers on residual soil moisture, received during monsoon1. †¢ Weeds infestation- a major yield reducing factor (25-30%v); †¢ If weeds are controlled, crop yield can be enhanced by about 37%2. 1 Khaliq et al. , 2007) 2 (Bibi et al. , 2005). Cont†¦..Existing Weed Control systems: †¢ Traditional weed control methods (Hand weeding) are time consuming, weather dependent and labor intensive1 ; + Socio-economic issues:[small land holdings, family size =8, poverty, migration to cities] †¢ Herbicides use is limited in drylands + these are expensive with Environmental hazards2; Reduced Nutritive value of many crops 3 and Herbicide resistance4. 1 (Naveed et al. , 2008) 2 (Mancini et al. , 2008) 3 (Nazarko et al. , 2003). Cont†¦.. †¢ WM programs should focus on environmental safety along with benefits to the farmers. Alternate weed management systems need to be developed aimed to control weeds and raise the income of resource-poor farmers (increased crop yields) without despoiling the natural resource base. ALTERNATE WEED MANAGEMENT OPTIONS †¢ Allelopathy ? a mechanism of plant interference1 is a natural, inexpensive, environmentally safe and an organic approach to control weeds and increase crop yields while conserving the ecosystem2. †¢ Sorghum is highly allelopathic3 †¢ Sorghum residue may be effectively used to manage some of the important weeds in rainfed wheat without affecting crop in semi-arid environment4. (Weston, 2005) 2 (Inderjit and Duke, 2003) 1 (Weston and Duke, 2003) 2 (Inderjit and Duke, 2003) Cont†¦.. †¢ Water Extracts of different plant parts have different allelopathic potential 1. †¢ Sunf lower – possessed weed suppression ability 2 . †¢ The combination of two or more allelopathic aqueous extracts may act synergistically and cause more phyto-toxic effect on weeds 3. †¢ Mixing and applying sunflower and sorghum residue water extract (WE) may increase the spectrum of phytotoxic effects and may result in synergistic phytotoxic influences on weeds growth. 1 (Ben-Hammouda, et al. 001; Chung, et al. , 2003; Roth et al. , 2000) 2 (Bertholdsson, 2004; Singh et al. , 2001 ) 3 (Duke et al. , 2000; Cheema et al. , 2010) Cont†¦.. OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH Overall objective: Evaluate the use of allelopathic crop residue collected from summer crop plants grown under drought and mineral stress conditions for weed management in wheat in semi-arid areas of Pakistan: Specific Objectives: †¢ Test water extracts (WE)of different plant parts of sorghum residue for weeds suppression in wheat. †¢ Evaluate the effects of sorghum residue mulch and sorghum WE for weed management in wheat. Investigate the influence of sole and combined sorghum and sunflower WE spray on weeds in wheat. EXPERIMENTAL DETAILS †¢ Location: Three experiments were conducted at University Research Farm, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan (33o 46 N, 73o 08 E). / / †¢ ~500 m above the sea level †¢ Experimental years: successive Rabi (winter) seasons from 2007-2010. Cont†¦.. †¢ Environmental Characterization: Climate Rainfall and ET o 200 160 Rainfall and ET0 (mm) 160 143 120 ETo 80 40 0 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr Rain 140 121 Mean Monthly Rainfall (mm) 20 100 80 67 60 40 26 57 56 Sever Stress Period 27 21 7 15 39 43 20 0 Month Rainfall Distribution (1977-11) Source: Soil and water conservation Research Institute, Chakwal, Pakistan Growing Season Rainfall Period Monthly rain (mm) Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March April Total 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Long-term Av. (1977-07) 0 42 30 0 166 147 14 20 7 15 27 39 56 43 Soil charact eristics †¢ Rawal soil series (Inceptisol-silty-clay-loam, Typic Ustochrept USDA classification and Calcaric Cambisols FAO classification scheme) with †¢ Organic matter 0. 5%. †¢ pH 7. 40 †¢ Ece 3 dSm-1 Cont†¦.. Weed Flora †¢ Anagallis arvensis L. (Blue pimfernal), †¢ Chenopodium album L. (Lambs quarter), †¢ Fumaria indica L. (Fumitory), †¢ Medicago polymorpha L. (Bur clover) †¢ Avena fatua L. (Wild oat), †¢ Convolvulus arvensis L. (Field bindweed), †¢ Medicago denticulata L. (Denticulate Medick), †¢ Rumex dentatus L. (Toothed dock) and †¢ Melilotus indica L. (Sweet clover) The experimental area was free of noxious and perennial weed species. Treatments (Exp-1) †¢ Control (Un-weeded check) WE: Water extract Hand weeding at 60 days after sowing (DAS) †¢ Herbicide (Logron) @ 250 g ha-1 at 60 DAS †¢ Sorghum root WE spray @ 10 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS †¢ Sorghum stem WE spray @ 10 L ha-1 at 60 and 8 0 DAS †¢ Sorghum leaf WE spray @ 10 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS †¢ Sorghum stem + root WE @ 5+5 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS †¢ Sorghum stem + leaf WE @ 5+5 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS †¢ Sorghum root + leaf WE @ 5+5 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Treatments (Exp-2) WE: Water extract †¢ Control (Un-weeded check) †¢ Hand weeding at 50 and 80 DAS †¢ Sorghum mulch @ 5 Mg ha-1 (Soil incorporated) †¢ Sorghum mulch @ 10 Mg ha-1 Soil incorporated) †¢ Sorghum WE @ 10 L ha-1 at 50 DAS. †¢ Sorghum WE @ 10 L ha-1 at 50 and 80 DAS. †¢ Sorghum WE @ 20 L ha-1 at 50 DAS. †¢ Sorghum WE @ 20 L ha-1 at 50 and 80 DAS Treatments (Exp-3) †¢ Control (Un-weeded check) WE: Water extract †¢ Sunflower WE @ 20 L ha-1 at 50 DAS †¢ Sorghum WE @ 20 L ha-1 at 50 DAS †¢ Sunflower WE + sorghum WE @ 10 +10 L ha-1 at 50 DAS †¢ Sunflower WE @ 20 L ha-1 at 50 and 80 DAS †¢ Sorghum WE @ 20 L ha-1 at 50 and 80 DAS †¢ Sunflower WE + sorghum WE @ 10 + 10 L ha-1 at 50 and 80 DASResearch Methodology: Preparation of water extract †¢ Sunflower and sorghum plants were harvested at maturity, grains were separated and residue was sundried and chaffed with fodder cutter into 2 cm pieces. †¢ Chaffed residue was soaked in de-ionized water in 1:10 (1 kg each of herbage in 10 L of water) in separate containers for 24 h at room temperature to prepare water extract (WE) . †¢ WE from respective containers were obtained by filtering the mixture through a screen. The volume of respective filtrate was reduced twenty times by continuously boiling at 100 0C to prepare water extract (Cheema and Khaliq, 2000). Sowing and cultural practices †¢ Seedbed was prepared by giving four cultivations each followed by planking. †¢ Fertilizer @ 125- kg N and P2O5 ha-1 was applied at the time of seedbed preparation. †¢ Wheat cv. ‘Inqilab-91’ was seeded @125 kg ha-1 was during November with a single row hand drill in ro ws 30 cm apart. Layout design: RCBD with 4R; Eight rows 30 cm apart per treatment were maintained in plot size of 7. 0 x 2. 4 m. †¢ The wheat variety, sowing time, layout plan and other cultural practices were almost same for every year. Measures: Weeds †¢ Weed density †¢ Weed dry weight (biomass) Wheat †¢ Spike length (cm), †¢ Spikelets spike-1 †¢ Grains spike-1 †¢ Fertile tillers m-2 †¢ 1000-grain weight. Statistical analysis The data were subjected to analysis of variance technique. F-statistic was based on residual mean square error.The LSD at 5% level of probability was used for comparison of treatment means (Montgomery, 2001). RESULTS & DISCUSSION Experiment # 1 Phyto-toxic effects of root, stem and leaf water extract of mature sorghum on Weeds density & Dry weight Treatments Control (Un-weeded check) Hand weeding at 60 DAS Exp-1 Weed density ( m-2) 80 DAS 105 DAS Weeds dry weight (g m-2) 80 DAS 105 DAS 147 a 79 d (-46*) 132 a 78 f (-41) 36. 7 g (-72) 102 c (-22) 112 b (-15) 113 b (-14 88 e (-33) 94 de (-29) 102 cd (-23) 8. 52 2 a 12 e (-45) 5. 5 f (-75) 18 cd (-16) 20 b (-8) 20 b (-8) 17 d (-22) 17 cd (-20) 19 bc (-14) 1. 54 27 a 17 e (-38) 8. 77 f (-67) 21 c (-21) 24 b (-11) 23 b (-14) 18 e (-34) 20 d (-27) 27 c (-20) 1. 57 Herbicide (Logron) @ 250 g ha-1 34 e (-77) at 60 DAS Sorghum root WE spray @ 10 L 117 c (-21) ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Sorghum stem WE spray @ 10 L 129 b (-12) ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Sorghum leaf WE spray @ 10 L 127 b (-14) ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Sorghum stem + root [email  protected] 5+5 L 113 c (-23) ha-1 at 60 and 80DAS Sorghum stem + leaf [email  protected] 5+5 L 111 c (-24) ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Sorghum root + leaf WE @ 5+ 5 121 bc (-18) L ha-1 60 and 80 DAS LSD (0. 05) 10. 41 * Figures in parenthesis show % decrease in weed density/dry weight compared to control. Effect of root, stem and leaf water extract of mature sorghum on yield components and wheat grain yield Treatments Control (Un- weeded check) Tillers (m-2) Spike length (cm) Spikelet # spike-1 Grains # 1000-Grain spike-1 weight (g) Exp-1Grain yield (T ha-1) 345e Hand weeding at 60 DAS 396b Herbicide (Logron) @ 250 g 427a ha-1 at 60 DAS Sorghum root WE spray @ 10 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Sorghum stem WE spray @ 10 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Sorghum leaf WE spray @ 10 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Sorghum stem + root [email  protected] 5+5 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Sorghum stem + leaf [email  protected] 5+5 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS Sorghum root + leaf WE @ 5+ 5 L ha-1 60 and 80 DAS LSD (0. 05) 9. 0e 10. 3abcd 11. 2a 10. 0bcde 9. 5de 9. 8cde 10. 9 ab 10. abc 10. 7 abc 1. 03 20. 7 21. 0 20. 9 21. 1 20. 5 21. 1 20. 2 21. 0 20. 2 – 41. 7c 47. 3ab 49. 4a 48. 8ab 47. 3ab 46. 1b 49. 0ab 48. 0ab 48. 0ab 3. 04 32. 5e 33. 7d 34. 6bc 35. 6a 33. 6d 33. 1de 36. 0a 33. 9cd 35. 2ab 0. 90 2. 76f 3. 2bc (+18) 3. 5a (+26) 3. 1cde (+12) 3. 0de 2. 9ef (+8) (+6) 365cde 353de 349e 357de 385bc 376bcd 54. 45 3. 3ab (+20) 3. 3abc (+19) 3. 2bcd (+14) 213. 2 * Figures in parenthesis show % decrease in weed density/dry weight compared to control.FINDINGS FROM EXPERIMENT # 1: †¢ Sorghum stem + root [email  protected] 5+5 L ha-1 at 60 and 80 DAS treatment caused 33% reduction in weed density and dry weight by about; †¢ This reduction was 41% in hand weeding and 72% by the application of Logron @ 250 g ha-1 at 60 DAS †¢ The increase in grain yield in stem + root and stem + leaf WE treatments were statistically same as in hand weeding and herbicide application. Cont†¦.. Experiment # 2 RESULTS & DISCUSSIONFINDINGS FROM EXPERIMENT # 2: †¢ Data showed that incorporation of sorghum herbage mulch @ 10 Mg ha-1 and twotimes sprays of Sorghum water extract @ 20 L ha-1 at 50 and 80 DAS decreased weeds density by about 42%, and weeds dry weight by 34%, respectively compared to control measured at 95DAS. †¢ Maximum increase (33%) in wheat grain yield was recorded in plots where two times Sorghum WE @ 20 L ha-1 was sprayed at 50 and 80 DAS over control. Cont†¦.. Experiment # 3 RESULTS & DISCUSSIONFINDING FROM EXPERIMENT # 3: †¢ Sorghum water extract was more effective than sunflower water extract and combination of both these extracts performed better than their sole application. Cont†¦.. CONCLUSION I. Stem + root water extract suppressed weed density by 33% over control i. e. about half of the effects of herbicide â€Å"Logron† application (72%) in wheat. The increase in grain yield in stem + root and stem + leaf WE treatments was statistically at par with hand weeding and herbicide application.Although root WE alone and in combination with stem or leaf WE was more effective in suppressing weeds and improving wheat yields but using whole plant sorghum herbage seems more practicable. II. Incorporation of sorghum herbage mulch @ 10 Mg ha-1 and two times sprays of sorghum WE @ 20 L ha-1 at 50 and 80 DAS decreased weeds density by about 42%, and weeds dry weig ht by 34%, respectively compared to control measured at 95 DAS. Maximum increase in wheat grain yield by 33% over control was recorded in plots where two times sorghum WE @ 20 L ha-1 was sprayed at 50 and 80 DAS.III. Sorghum WE was more effective than sunflower WE and mixture of sorghum and sunflower reduced weed density and weed dry weight by 27% and 26% over control respectively, and increased wheat yields by 48% over control. RECOMMENDATION †¢ The mixture of preceding allelopathic crop herbage use as mulch or water extract for weed management both for summer and winter crops need to be further investigated under different ecological zones of Pakistan. Muhammad Ashraf Professor of Agronomy [email  protected] com

Sunday, November 10, 2019

The Jade Peony

Thesis: one’s personal culture and sense of tradition will always be a strong part of the self, regardless of external factors which can have a profound influence on one’s life. Subtopic 1: one’s value, habits and loyalty to his culture and tradition are not easily changed. Example:â€Å" But we collect for the heart, Kiam-Kim,† Father said. â€Å"We help all the people of China. † I was puzzled. â€Å"Even those who kill other Chinese? † â€Å"Yes,† Father said. â€Å"Of course. † â€Å"But never help the Japanese? † â€Å"Never. †(Page 208) Explanation: This discussion is between Kiam-Kim and his father, which is a Chinese family in Canada for a long time. At that time, there is just a war between China and Japanese, and Kiam-Kim, who is the main character in the novel, is collecting money for the donation of Chinese soldiers. Kiam-Kim thinks this money is for blankets, medical supplies, food for orphans but not for bullets or guns. Because at that time, Kiam-Kim just 9 years old, his child’s mind wants everyone in peace but not in war. But in fact, there are so many wars in China. Not only between Chinese people but also between China and Japan. When he asks his father about what these denotation is for, his father tells him that is for all Chinese people including the people who is fighting with another Chinese people. Because of the hatred of Japan, his father never wants to give anything to Japan. That proves that he will never help his country’s enemy because of his loyalty of China . Subtopic 2: One’s culture can have a profound hold on one’s personality, gravity influencing a course of behavior. Example: â€Å"Teach Jung-sum how to kick and pass the ball,† Father said to me. â€Å"Canada never need soldiers. † â€Å"Need soldiers in China,† Poh-Poh said, slapping the last bandage on my arm. She poured her stinging homemade lotion on one of Jung’s battle wounds. â€Å"Fight the warlords!Fight the Japanese! †(Page 230 ) Explanation: Poh-Poh is an old lady from old China; she used to be in China for such a long time so the impression of China’s culture has a important part in her life. Although she is in Canada, but she still memorizes the Old China and cares about the things happening here. When the war between China and Japan is broken out, she is always worried about the Old China’s situation although there is not any war in Canada, so no soldiers are needed. But Kiam-Kim’s father said â€Å"Canada never needs soldiers†. Poh-Poh thinks about her country, the old China, which needs so many soldiers to attend to the war. So she said â€Å" Need soldiers in China! † because the culture of China has such a influence to her. Subtopic 3: We are all placed in a category and perceived in a certain way become of our background’s culture, and the human aspect of prejudgment will probably never changed. Example: Overnight, the news ran through Chinatown. Perfect Meiying had given herself to a Japanese boy. She had to do something and failed terribly. She had bled to death. Two ambulance arrived, and a crowd gathered to watch them take away the bundled body. Explanation: When the war between China and Japan becomes more and more intensely, every Chinese people including the aboard hate Japan because Japan invade their land and attack their compatriots. But Meiying, who is a wonderful girl in Chinatown, has a boyfriend as a Japanese people. In that time, it is such a terrible thing because the Chinese people believe that people who has communication with Japanese is a traitor. Meiying keeps the secret for such a long time but finally it is exposed so she can not be under this hard pressure and also don't want to Implicate her parents so she decides to kill herself. So at that time, people think all Japanese people are bad and harmful and attribute them into a category which is bad. So whether the people is good or bad, if he is a Japanese, he will be judged into a harmful people.

Friday, November 8, 2019

To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes

To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes To Kill a Mockingbird is narrated by Jenna Louise ‛Scout’ Finch as n adult woman recalling her childhood so thoroughly the adult voice vanishes. One result of this layered narration is that the six-year old Scout seems very precocious both in her understanding of life and her vocabulary, both of which are subtly elevated for a child of her age. This technique allows Lee to explores her dark themes with both the light innocence of childhood and the complexity of adulthood, resulting in a timeless story that remains a beloved American classic. Quotes From To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes about Racism â€Å"Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up, is something I dont pretend to understand.† [Chapter 9] While Atticus Finch is deservedly one of the most beloved characters in American literature for his wisdom, compassion, and courage, he’s not perfect. One of his noble imperfections is a sometimes blind faith in justice and fairness, and a bafflement at the racist and unfair attitudes of those around him. Here he expresses an honest befuddlement that other people forget their principles of empathy and fairness whenever a black person is involved. â€Å"I think theres just one kind of folks. Folks.† [Chapter 23] This simple line, spoken by Jem at the end of the novel, may be the simplest expression of the fundamental theme of the story. Jem and Scout’s adventures throughout the story have shown them many sides of many different people, and Jem’s conclusion is a powerful one: All people have flaws and struggles, strengths and weaknesses. Jem’s conclusion is not the starry-eyed faith of childhood, but a more measured and mature realization that no one group of people is better- or worse- in general than any other. Quotes about Growing Up â€Å"Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.† [Chapter 2] Part of Scout’s journey in the story is the slow broadening of her awareness. Just six years old when the story begins, she has a very narrow view of the world and her role in it. But by bit her experiences over the years change her. She sees how gender and race, class and economics affect the way people treat you. She sees that her universe is not eternal and guaranteed, and thus begins to appreciate the aspects of her life that she took for granted- like reading. â€Å"Scout, I think Im beginning to understand something. I think Im beginning to understand why Boo Radleys stayed shut up in the house all this time... its because he wants to stay inside.† [Chapter 23] Jem’s quote towards the end of the story is heartbreaking. In his teen years by this point, Jem has seen the bad parts of his neighbors and is disappointed and disturbed by the realization that there is so much violence, hatred, and prejudice in the world. His expression of empathy for Boo Radley is also significant- like his sister, Jem has progressed from viewing Boo as a phantom and an object of fun to seeing him as a human being, and, even more importantly, being able to imagine Boo’s motivations for his actions and behavior. â€Å"Bad language is a stage all children go through, and it dies with time when they learn theyre not attracting attention with it.† [Chapter 9] Atticus is often perceived by his neighbors as an unqualified parent, in part because of his gender- in 1930s American society men were not seen as having the proper emotional and domestic skills to be single parents- and in part because of his bookish, mild-mannered nature. He is, however, a very smart and loving father and a man who has an almost supernatural understanding of the childish psyche. When Scout begins using profanities as a novelty, his reaction is mild and unconcerned because he understands this is just part of Scout growing up, testing boundaries, and play-acting with adult things. This also demonstrates his understanding that Scout is intelligent and verbal, and is excited by forbidden and mysterious vocabularies. Quotes about Justice â€Å"There are just some kind of men who- whore so busy worrying about the next world theyve never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.† [Chapter 5] Lee crafts a subtly iconoclastic and liberal tone in the novel. Here Miss Maudie is complaining specifically about the local Baptists who disapprove of her garden because it supposedly represents pridefulness that offends god, but it is also a general admonishment to anyone who seeks to impose their own sense of propriety on other people. This concept forms a part of Scout’s evolving understanding of the difference between what’s morally right and what society insists is correct. â€Å"Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.† [Chapter 9] In the beginning of the novel, Scout’s concept of justice and right and wrong is very and simple (as is appropriate for a girl of her age). She believes it is easy to know what is right, she is always willing to fight for it, and she believes that by fighting she will be victorious. Her experiences with racism, Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley teach her that not only is right and wrong often more difficult to parse, but sometimes you fight for what you believe in even if you are bound to lose- just as Atticus fights for Tom even though he is doomed to fail. â€Å"The one place where a man ought to get a square deal is in a courtroom, be he any color of the rainbow, but people have a way of carrying their resentments right into a jury box. As you grow older, youll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and dont you forget it- whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash.† [Chapter 23] Atticus has immense faith in the fundamental systems of America, in particular the court system. Here he states two beliefs that define him: One, the supreme confidence that the legal system is impartial and fair; two, that all men are deserving of the same fair treatment and respect and those who would treat you differently because of your race or social position are unworthy. Atticus is forced to admit the former is not as true as he would like when Tom is convicted despite the robust defense Atticus provides, but his faith in the latter remains by the end of the book. Quotes about Innocence â€Å"Mockingbirds dont do one thing but make music for us to enjoy... but sing their hearts out for us. Thats why its a sin to kill a mockingbird.† [Chapter 10] The central symbol of the novel is the Mockingbird, which is held as sacred because it does no harm- it only provides music, making it a sin to kill one. Several characters are obliquely or explicitly identified with Mockingbirds throughout the novel- The Finches are linked through their evocative last name, for example, and Scout thinks that doing any harm to Boo Radley would be like shooting a Mockingbird when she finally see him for the innocent, childlike soul he is.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Make your reports irresistibly interesting - Emphasis

Make your reports irresistibly interesting Make your reports irresistibly interesting People who are extraordinarily knowledgeable unfortunately have an extraordinary capacity for being boring. So when you’re writing reports, how do you make sure they impart all the information they need to, without putting the reader to sleep? The chap in the picture knows a tip or two, and well come back to him a bit later. One thing that can make knowledgeable writers boring is an imbalance in information between writer and reader. If you know a lot, and your reader knows very little, there is a danger of factual overload. This can be very dull. (If the reader is polite, they will probably call it ‘dense’ or ‘technical’ – at least to your face.) It’s context that’s the problem. Context is the medium within which facts make sense. You, having immersed yourself studiously in your subject for months or years, are positively dripping with context. Your reader, coming face to face with the subject for the first time, isn’t. As a result, what you may find interesting, they may find rather dry. As a question-setter for the BBC quiz show Mastermind, I’m routinely confronted by this kind of imbalance. I stand by the principle that knowledge is never boring. To those who know all there is to know about their specialist subject, it’s all interesting: when you know that Joseph Gayetty is said to have invented the first commercial toilet paper in 1857, it’s interesting that Emperor Hongwu of China was ordering custom-made toilet paper for the imperial court back in the 14th century. When you know that, in cricket, the googly is usually delivered out of the back of the bowler’s hand, it’s interesting that the Australian Jack Iverson found a way to deliver it from between his thumb and forefinger. Every field of endeavour and every sector of business is stuffed with this sort of arcana. Not all facts are equally interesting So how do you persuade your readers that they should find these things just as interesting as you do? It’s not about compromising on accuracy. Without integrity, without a commitment to the facts, your reports won’t do the job you need them to do. Putting reader-appeal before accuracy might suit a tabloid newspaper, but it’s simply self-defeating when your primary goal is effective communication. Instead, it’s about identifying the elements of your report or proposal that are able to flourish without a support network of life-giving context. We might call them ‘mudskippers’, after the fish that have the ability to breathe and move around on land as well as underwater. How do you spot a mudskipper? Let’s say I have room in my report for 50 facts. Let’s say that the central, critical message of my report constitutes 20 of these. These are the facts that simply have to go in, ditchwater-dull or mudskipper-interesting, and that’s fine – this is a business report, after all. What we’re discussing here are those other 30 facts, the information that comprises your supporting argument and turns a stark list of take-home statements into an effective and fully rounded report. This is where your mudskipper-spotting skills can make the difference. As a knowledgeable person, you’re in the privileged position of being able to see the goings-on behind the green curtain. You’re the scuba diver who can see the vast, vibrant coral atoll that to the airline passenger flying overhead is just a bleak bollard in the middle of the ocean. This privileged position is hard-earned – but it’s one you have to relinquish if you want to do a good job of communicating your expertise. You have to swallow the unpalatable reality that, to your readers, not all facts are equally interesting. You’ll soon understand how Charles Darwin felt when, after spending decades establishing himself as an all-time world expert on barnacles, all anyone ever wanted to ask him about was On The Origin Of Species. It’s frustrating, but it’s necessary. How to spot a mudskipper Mudskippers – those versatile ideas that don’t perish when taken out of context – needn’t be sensational. If they are, treat them with extreme caution. And they shouldn’t be trivial. They should help the reader understand your message, but, just as importantly, they should make the reader want to understand. They’ll often jump out at you during the research process. They might be of a different category to the surrounding information (a name, rather than a number, say). They might have a hinterland (historical, geographical, cross-sectoral). They might introduce an element of humanity (a quotation might sometimes be a mudskipper). Mudskippers are facts with flavour. They’re the information equivalent of umami – that fifth flavour of savoury hard-to-describe ‘meatiness’ – the quality that makes everything just that bit more moreish. Knowledge is power. But only when you know how to use it.