Back to the Moon

More than thirty years after America’s first landed on the moon, the current President of the United States, George W. Bush, recently announced his plan of sending American astronauts back to the moon (BBC News). The President’s target is to accomplish this goal by the year 2015 (Lane, 2004). The project can be said to be merely preliminary to Bush’s more flamboyant plan, which is to prepare the exploration to Mars. Moreover, the program also intends to make up for the setbacks experienced by the United States space program, such as the Columbia shuttle disaster (BBC News).The Columbia disaster prompted Bush and a group of administration officials to develop a new plan that would use the existing space shuttles to â€Å"complete assembly of the International Space Station (ISS) by 2010† (Lane, 2004). Bush revealed his new vision for the United States human space program in a speech delivered at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) headq uarters. He called for the retirement of the space shuttle to give way for building new space vehicles that would, in the future, allow travel to Mars (Lane, 2004).The space shuttle is expected to fly in about 13 or 14 more missions before its expected retirement in 2010 (Hunt, 2007; BBC News). Bush’s vision also calls for the use of robots and human manpower in the exploration of the moon. The ultimate aim of the vision is to prepare the moon as a living base and to develop means for explorations to Mars (BBC News). The Space Shuttle The space shuttle is a brainchild of improvements and inventions in rocketry. The craft contains three main engines that provide huge amounts of force compared to previous spacecrafts.It also boasts of a reusable engine and engines that weighs quite lightly considering their power (The History of Moon Exploration). Considering its characteristics, it is no wonder that Boeing boasts of it as the â€Å"most sophisticated human-rated launch vehicl e in the history of space flight† (Boeing). The space shuttle had its first flight in 1981, and since then it was able to aid more than a hundred missions involving hundreds of astronauts (Boeing). Boeing claims that the spacecraft still has 75 percent of its design life to spare (Boeing).The space shuttle plays a major role in sustaining the International Space Station, being the ISS’ heavy-lift cargo vehicle. The space shuttle is responsible for having lifted the now existing structure in orbit, which comprises two-thirds of the ISS (Boeing). Bush wants to retire the space shuttle by 2010 at the earliest, hoping that by then the International Space Station is already complete (Hunt, 2007; BBC News). Bush also hopes that by the said time, the Crew Exploration Vehicle already becomes operational (Hunt, 2007; BBC News).However, before such goals are realized and as long as the shuttle remains safe to carry on its tasks, it shall remain as the primary spacecraft aiding th e United States’ projects towards space (Boeing). Picture 2. The Space Shuttle. Photo retrieved March 6, 2007, from www. boeing. com/†¦ / hsfe_shuttle/what_is. html The Crew Exploration Vehicle Bush’s vision is an echo of a similar dream by his father in 1989, which did not come to fruition because the cost estimates ballooned up to $400 billion (Lane, 2004).Working on the premise that the desire to explore is part of human character, Bush said that his dream is to build space vehicles that could travel far beyond the capacity of the space shuttle, which only reaches 386 miles (Lane, 2004). Bush thus announced his plans to develop a new spacecraft called the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV). This vehicle would be the first to take man to outer space since the Apollo spaceships (BBC News). The CEV is expected to be a versatile crewed vehicle that could carry American teams in a mission projected to be undertaken in 2014 or 2015.The CEV is expected to begin flight tes ts by the year 2008 (Lane, 2004). The CEV’s look is designed to look similarly with the bullet-like style of the Apollo-style command module (Lane, 2004). Aside from the design, however, NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe says that no design has yet been approved regarding the way of keeping the CEV boosted in the air (Lane, 2004). Robots in Space It is believed by some that robotic exploration is more beneficial than human exploration, since the former is less expensive (The Washington Post Writers Group, 2007).Moreover, Professor Robert Park of the University of Maryland claim that robots have less physical limitations than humans, which means robots have better chances of discovering scientific finds over humans (BBC News). Even other countries that spend resources on space explorations, such as China and Russia, are encouraged to use robots in such ventures (BBC News). There are current efforts using robots in space exploration. Just recently, the United States celebrated th e successful landing of its robot rover Spirit on Mars (BBC News). Budgetary ConstraintsSince the previous space plans formulated by Bush’s father failed because of budgetary constraints (Lane, 2004), Bush is careful to get around the same drawback. Naturally, huge projects such as space explorations would cost loads of money and other resources. Thus, Bush’s ambitious new vision would entail modifications on the current budget of the NASA. The NASA currently has a five-year budget plan. However, Bush requests a $1 billion boost on this budget (Lane, 2004). This means that additional $200 million per year would be allotted for the project (Lane, 2004).This amounts to a 5% yearly increase to NASA’s current budget, which amounts to $15. 4 billion per year (BBC News). A rise of another 1% after the first three years is also requested by the U. S. President (BBC News). It is reported that Bush wants that $11 billion from the existing budget be earmarked for his new vision (Lane, 2004). The exact cost of the vision was not given (BBC News), but one thing is certain: the budget would have to be approved by Congress. (Lane, 2004). The White House, however, maintains that a â€Å"sustained focus over time† would help keep the budget for the exploration in check (Lane, 2004).There is also a need to reorient the current programs of NASA, so that NASA would not exceed its current spending, which only amounts to less than 1 percent of the federal budget, despite the additional goal (Lane, 2004). The Orion Currently, a ship has been built to carry humans to the moon. This spacecraft, called the Orion, is scheduled to debut in 2014 (Hunt, 2007). However, budgetary constraints will cause a delay of about four to six months. The Orion is now set to fly in 2015 (Hunt, 2007).NASA administrator Michael Griffin stated that Congress only approved the amount in NASA’s budget in 2006, which means that the approved budget is $545 million short of Bu sh’s request (Hunt, 2007). NASA does not welcome this lack of funding and the concomitant delay in the project, as strategic and practical concerns such as the degradation of equipment and facilities, besiege the institution (Hunt, 2007). A Brief History of Explorations to the Moon A brief review of the development of moon exploration is in order, so that a clear perspective can be had as to the propriety and utility of Bush’s proposed space exploration.Chinese astronomers were perhaps the first people to notice the Moon. For thousands of years, man has been captivated by the Moon, and man’s curiosity for it has been first assuaged by the invention of the telescope in 1609 (The History of Moon Exploration). The telescope, invented by Leppershey, made thorough observations possible despite the immense distance between the Earth and the Moon (The History of Moon Exploration). However, this invention was a double-edged sword: man developed an even more intense curi osity for the moon, leading man to dream of someday setting foot on the distant place (The History of Moon Exploration).Because of the enormous distance of the Moon from the Earth, reaching it would only be possible through flight. Unfortunately, air transportation took quite a while to be fully developed. The groundbreaking invention of the Wright brothers can be considered the first step towards space travel, because they invented the aeroplane, which allowed man to fly (The History of Moon Exploration). In 1943, another milestone in space exploration occurred with the development of rocketry by Von Braun. Braun was responsible for the A 4, which was the first successful ballistic rocket (The History of Moon Exploration).Despite the United States’ exposure to the latest technology at the time, such as the rocketry of Braun, it was Russia that made one of the most significant developments in space exploration. 1957 witnessed the launch of Sputnik I, which was the first artif icial satellite in space (The History of Moon Exploration). Russia was also the first to take pictures of the Moon. In 1959, its Luna satellites were able to obtain pictures of the far side of the Moon (The History of Moon Exploration). In 1963, the United States followed in the affair of obtaining pictures in space.Its Mariner Series satellites were able to acquire detailed pictures of Venus, and a year later, of Mars (The History of Moon Exploration). Saturn rockers were the next to be developed by the United States; these rockets were later used to power the Apollo Missions (The History of Moon Exploration). The country also ventured into designing moon landing vehicles, and was successful with Surveyor 6 and the Lunar Module, which proved that rocketry could bring man to the Moon (The History of Moon Exploration).The United States is also responsible for the Command and Service Module, a vehicle designed for the trip back to Earth from the Moon (The History of Moon Exploration). Man’s First Walk on the Moon The United States has the credit for sending the first man to walk on the Moon. On 21 July 1969, the whole world watched in awe as clips of Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the Moon were aired in international television (BBC News). The video clips were taken by television cameras installed on the Eagle landing craft (BBC News).

Comparing Fermentation Rate of the S. Cerevisiae Yeast in the Presence of Mgso4, Naf and Sodium Pyruvate

Syl Rogers Bio 210 Comparing Fermentation Rate of the S. cerevisiae Yeast in the presence of MgSO4, NaF and Sodium Pyruvate Hypothesis In the fermentation of rate of yeast, S. Cerevisiae, there will be a higher/ faster rate of ethanol production, However, using catalytic enzymes would make the rate more faster, and MgSo4 will have a higher rate of CO2 than that of NaF and Sodium pyruvate as it act as a more better catalytic enzyme than the others. Methods Preparation of Tubes A solution of yeast and glucose was prepared with different concentration of enzymes.In All the tubes water, 0. 3M glucose and yeast was placed; with the exception of some tubes in which 0. 2M MgSo4 and 2. 5mL and 1. 4ML 0. 2 NaF was placed respectively. In another tube was placed both MgSO4 and NaF. The different solutions were prepared and placed in separate tubes for the experiment. A 45oC water bath was setup to be used for the fermentation process. Data acquiring The tubes were placed in the water bath. A s top watch was used which aids in determining the reaction time.After Every 15 min, data was collected from all tubes by measuring the amount of CO2 being produced. This process continued for a total of 75min allowing enough time for Fermentation to occur in all tubes. Result For the first 15min, In the tube containing 8. 5mL water and 2. 5mL yeast only, the rate of the reaction was 0mm/min whiles the tube with the glucose has a rate of 233. 864mm/min. This is followed by the tube containing 2. 5mL of MgSo4 which has a rate of 165. 8573mm/min. The tube containing the MgSo4 and NaF has a rate of 69. 5mm/min which is followed by the 1. 24mL NaF tube that has a rate of 40. 63mm/min followed by 2. 5mL NaF tube which has a rate of 31. 08mm/min which was the lowest. After 30minutes, the tube containing only water and yeast has a rate of 0mm/min whiles the tube with the glucose has a rate of 208. 97mm/min. This is followed by the tube containing the MgSo4 which has a rate of 174. 1137mm/min . The tube containing the MgSo4 and NaF increased to a rate of 169. 59mm/min which is followed by the 1. 24mL NaF tube that has a rate of 57. 77mm/min followed by 2. mL NaF tube which has a rate of 35. 08mm/min which was the lowest. After an hour of reaction time, the MgSo4 and NaF tube has increased to a rate of 193. 17mm/min which is followed by the glucose tube with a rate CO2 rate of 176. 52mm/min followed by the MgSO4 Tube with a rate of 171. 73mm/min. The 1. 4mL NaF tube has increased to 61. 68mm/min followed by the 2. 4mL tube which was the lowest with a CO2 rate of 31. 31mm/min. For the final 15min of the experiment, the glucose tube has a rate of 176. 48mm/min followed by the MgSO4 and NaF tube with a rate of 169. 7mm/min. the MgSo4 tube has a rate of 157. 40mm/min which is followed by the 1. 24NaF tube with a rate CO2 rate of 57. 46mm/min followed by the 2. 5mL Tube with a rate of 29. 34mm/min which was the lowest CO2 production rate. Fig 1: Rate of CO2 production in the f ermentation of Glucose by S. cereviae Discussion: The fermentation of glucose by S. cerevisiae, which yields equal molar amounts of carbon dioxide and ethanol, showed higher production levels of carbon dioxideunder controlled conditions than any other implying the same for production of ethanol.Fermentation affected by a magnesium sulfate solution ranked second in carbon dioxideproduction while sodium fluoride yielded the least amount of carbon dioxide. These results suggest that magnesium has a positive influence on the production rate of carbon dioxide during the fermentation process and that the control contained an amount of magnesium that was neutralized by the presence of the fluoride anion. Though mean production was lower for the magnesium sulfate solution than the ontrol, a few specific results overlapped suggesting the addition of magnesium sulfate had no affect for those instances. A lower mean value for the magnesium sulfate solution suggests either that the fermentation process was supersaturated by magnesium or that the sulfate anion adversely affected the production of carbon dioxide. Further experimentation should be performed to determine the affects of magnesium sulfate in comparison to other magnesium and non-magnesium containing salts such as calcium sulfate or magnesium chloride to determine which ion has the greatest affect.Unknown variables such as the age of the S. cerevisiae samples may have affected the outcome of this experiment. Verification of S. cerevisiae batch age would allow for additional experiments to determine whether magnesium supplementation affects yeast of a certain age differently than that of another. Additionally, the experimental test tube/vial container allowed for some of each solution to be pushed out of the experimental test tube as the level of carbon dioxide increased.Further experimentation should utilize a better method of measuring the production of the entire original solution, not a fraction of the soluti on as a function of time. An alternative would be to attach a balloon to the tip of the solution-filled test tube, measure the diameter of the balloon, let an hour elapse and then measure the diameter again to determine carbon dioxide gas production. Decreased carbon dioxide production levels for S. erevisiae in the presence of a sodium fluoride solution suggest that an absence of available magnesium during fermentation results in an inefficient fermentation process; some level of magnesium is required in order for the process of fermentation to operate at maximum efficiency. Additional magnesium does not guarantee a faster or more efficient means of fermentation/ethanol production and can have an adverse affect on the fermentation process.

Asthma as a Relatively Common Lung Disease

Asthma as a Relatively Common Lung Disease Asthma is a relatively common lung disease which causes the airways to become inflamed and, in turn, swell. This causes shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, and wheezing and/or coughing when attempting to breathe. The severity is solely dependent on the case at hand; some people only experience slight discomfort, while others experience extremely painful attacks (Chen, 2015). Attacks are usually triggered by inhaling a certain substance that reacts with the bronchial muscles. Developing a better understanding of the nature of asthma, its effects, contributing factors, and who it affects have contributed to the process of treating asthma. To fully understand the disease, one must understand exactly what it does to the body. With asthma, when a certain substance is inhaled, it will cause the bronchial muscles in the airways to become inflamed. This restricts the amount of air that makes its way to the lungs, causing discomfort and difficulty breathing. The amount of mucus produced may also rise, which can worsen the conditions by making the airways even more narrow. This can become fatal if the airways become completely closed. The exact cause of asthma is currently unknown, though it is believed by researchers that one large contributor for the development of the disease is simply genetics. Like most diseases, if there is a family history of asthma within your kin, you are at risk of the disease as well. Shumaker (2013) believes â€Å"Asthma can also develop due to certain types of respiratory complications during early childhood.† Exposure to certain toxins in the air has also been ruled in as one of the possible factors. This chronic disease can affect anyone at any age, though the majority of cases develop during childhood. This disease can be managed with the help of your doctor. Asthma medicine is typically self-administered through a device called an inhaler. The most popular type of inhaler is known as the beta-agonist bronchodilator. Beta-agonist drugs are used to provide quick relief for the coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness associated with an asthma attack. They work by smoothing the bronchial muscle in the airways that have become inflamed, allowing air to travel to the lungs with considerably more ease. One or two puffs from the inhaler can be taken every four to six hours to safely ensure that the symptoms subside and all discomfort ceases. If the inhaler fails to do its intended job and symptoms continue or worsen, it is very strongly recommended to take a trip to the hospital. In conclusion, asthma is a disease that affects the lungs. For most people, symptoms may be brought on by exposure to things like pollen, pet dander, or large amounts of dust. Exercise and cold air have also been known to be common triggers (Bennett, 2016). Attacks or symptoms of asthma can be avoided by avoiding trigger substances. For the average modern person, coping with asthma is easy and safe with the proper knowledge and precautions.

ISA Server Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

ISA Server - Research Paper Example However, the first edition has many restrictions and it was designed to be compatible with only a few of the Internet protocols. Furthermore, the second version was useful and it has expected function and one of its great functions, is to use Windows NT account databases. Finally, they came up with ISA Server, which has many tools and functions. ISA Server supports so many functions that its editions before. In addition, ISA Server components a lot of options and one of most important options is that Firewall. Moreover, it can support any version of Windows Server from Windows 2000 and they are used to offer certain security functions either at individual level or group level. Other than that, the Policy-based administration, Virtual Private network support, Proxy Server, Web Cache, and Dynamic IP filtering are other functions or tools that ISA Server provides. Finally, this paper is continuing talking about its functions and what hardware and software are required to use it also method of installed it and configured it (Shinder, Shinder, & Grasdal). The Internet Security and Acceleration Server (ISA Server) is a specialized server that offers a network layer firewalls for organizations and Web Cache solutions for windows. It is also helpful in providing secured and reliable internet connectivity. ISA server is multi featured product that can help any organization in a variety of ways and helps in providing a unique system of securing the internet connectivity with incorporated firewall, VPN server, and gateway along with a Web proxy. ISA server can be configured to provide all of the above facilities or can be set up for any one of the sub set requirement. This feature has an edge for the ISA server with other servers that the installation of the program is without any disruption or interference in the activities of work at the same time

Benefits of Merger and Acquisition over Partnership Essay

Benefits of Merger and Acquisition over Partnership - Essay Example Mergers are necessitated by firm’s need to improve on profitability, change of management and administration system, need to conquer or acquire a significant market share and/or improve on productivity from its operations as a single entity to a stronger merged entity. The merged entity enjoys stronger management and administration base as the leadership of the merging firms take respective roles in their area of specialization and they pool their expertise towards running this new merged firm (Enkel & Covin, 2012). It should be noted that since the merging firms were operating as sole entities before, then the size and scale of operations may vary from each other and thus merger clauses are spelt out on the benefits and contributions of each firm in terms of segments and roles which in a big picture, defines the expected targets (Clark, 2009). Acquisition or simply a takeover involves purchase of a firm by another firm with an aim of maximising profits and management expertise or gaining market share and /or expansion motive. The acquiring company may decide to retain its name after acquiring the new firm or depending on the purchase clauses, if for instance the acquirer purchases a given percentage of the firm, they may decide to consolidate the two firms with a new name, new image and operation targets (Warde, 2010). Partnership can be viewed as an alliance between business entities on contractual basis and/or an exclusive bond with an aim of achieving a short term objective. Some partnerships are viewed as differentiation in which firms form alliances with an aim impressing customers and/or competitors with the size of network but with a business commitment of not allying with third party entities. Depending with the motive of the alliance, partnerships can take forms of: an exclusive supplier, customer, an intermediary channel and a vendor of a given complementary or supplementary offering of the firm’s products. For instance, a telecommunication company can partner with Internet service provider to provide a certain region or class of customers with some customized internet services for a given period. This is meant to attract more customers to the class and try to lure the internet providing firm into business with its telecommunication company’s operations within that period wi thout the provider engaging with other third parties (Deering & Murphy, 2008). In this paper we will analyse the benefits of merger and acquisition over the partnership agreements. Question 1: Under what circumstances is merging with or acquisitions of other companies a better solution than entering into partnerships or alliances with this companies? To answer this question we shall look at the circumstances that necessitate mergers and acquisitions, the benefits then compare with those of partnerships /alliances. For instance, when a firm acquires another firm on the grounds of productivity, both the acquirer and the acquired firms enjoy mutual benefits of improved productivity. For example, firm â€Å"A†, with a significant economies of scale, a stronger investment/capital base and effective management/administration acquires firm â€Å"B† which has a competitive advantage of market share due to their edge cut technological advancement in their products but with a we ak management and capital base, there are defined clauses of the acquisition in that for instance firm B has weak production methods but has a considerable market share in terms of the products it produces. Firm A’s acquisition will strengthen productivity and /or cut the total costs that could have been incurred by firm B and they benefit with the returns of their investments as there will be increased output by combination of

Globalization for the Arab Countries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Globalization for the Arab Countries - Essay Example Then in 1973, "King Faisal of Saudi Arabia cuts off his country's oil exports to the United States, triggering an oil crisis, long lines at the gas pumps and a recession." (Newton, p 53) Globalization is typically defined as a shift from internal local human societies (including financial, politics and religions) to linking distant communities of people and levels of industry, expanding them across regions and continents - in other words removing boundaries from the world. Globalization can reduce the deficiencies of third world countries with technological advances and with equal allocation of resources. An advantage to globalization is the lowering of trade barriers, for example, the reduction of export tariffs to the developing countries charged by industrialized nations. The lowering of the trade barriers then allow the developing countries to also move towards industrialization with the realized gains. Globalization is also said to liberalize countries with less than democratic political processes, for example, the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Organization according to the theory of globalization One might argue that the GCC is a regional rather than a global organization, but they formed together because of globalization. They wish to base their common goal on the creed of Islam, believing they have a common destiny. However, it is notable that Yemen, Jordan, Iraq and Iran are not included in the regional organization. Saudi Arabia was the primary in setting up the Gulf Cooperation Council in 1981. Other members are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Gulf Cooperation Council aims to coordinate resistance to outside intervention in the Gulf. Progress towards economic integration has been slow during the 1980s economic downturn in the region. The presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council rotates yearly among members. Council headquarters are in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Gulf Cooperation Council was initially formed in response to the out break of the Iran-Iraq war. ("Gulf Cooperation Council - GCC.") During that time and after the 1973 Oil Em bargoes it has been estimated that the population of the GCC is about 35 percent expatriates from the surrounding countries. (IOM, LAS 2004). The practice of globalization theory will lead countries to gain of knowledge even if the theory turns out wrong for them. It can also be used to rule out non-working solutions to diagnose and treat economic events. Liberalism of culture, religion, language by GCC Liberalism ('liberate') is opening up the local cultures, religions and languages (internal human societies) to compatibility with global cultures, religions and languages (distant across regions and even continents). In fact, one might say that liberalism wants to synthesize all of the local areas of

Configuration Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Configuration Management - Essay Example This paper would particularly discuss the research paper of I. Hsin Chou1 and his proposed methods to implement change in a nuclear power plant without compromising on the security of the system. In a nuclear power plant security is given utmost priority. Any lapse in security could have serious consequences. To ensure that there is no lapse in security during the implementation of any change regarding the software of the system some steps, related to security, needs to be included in the system development life cycle. 1. Introduction Software configuration management is the study of managing and tracking changes during the development of software. The main purpose of software configuration management is to provide coordination among individuals working on a change regarding particular software through a series of managerial and technical decisions2. 1.1 Importance of change management Proper change management could help increase the coordination between different departments and emp loyees. Change management also reduces the chances of errors and bugs in a program. The project manager is provided with complete knowledge, from the resources needed to the time of completion that the team needs to complete the change3. 1.2 Importance of tracking change As mentioned before software configuration helps with the management and tracking of the changes in software. It is understandable why there is a need to manage change but why track it. Tracking of change helps keep the project manager informed about the status of the change or what phase is the change going through, providing a general idea about the completion of the software4. 2. Use Of Software Configuration Management to Develop Nuclear Safety Software The difference between the development of commercial software and nuclear safety software is the increase in the risk factors. A fault in the safety system of a nuclear power plant could have dire economic and physical consequences. With so much at risk there is practically no room for error and the authorities responsible must be vigilante and make sure that no errors are left unchecked when it comes to nuclear safety. However safety during the development of nuclear based software has been ignored. 2.1 Problem As mentioned above software configuration helps manage change. The first step to configuration management is identifying the configuration items. Configuration items are the basic structural units of a configuration management system. These configuration items can range from the tools being used to the models being followed. After identifying the configuration items the next step is to bring about the required changes to these configuration items. In most of the cases these configuration items are controlled by the operations department. The software related incidents in nuclear power plants caused the loss of more than 1.6 million MW-hours5. However the use of software and hardware products available in the market can lead to a lap se in the security and would make nuclear power plants an easy target for hackers. A recent attack on Iran’s Nuclear power plant is an example of such attacks. The power plant was attacked by the Stuxnet worm, a bug that hinders the working of the Uranium enriching machine6. From software configuration point of view there are three main threats to the system7. The first threat is from unauthorized users working from outside the system. These personnel are neither employees of the power plant nor are they working with the development team. The

Motivation Bulletin Board Post Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Motivation Bulletin Board Post - Assignment Example The driven-reduction theory can apply to my guilt over leaving my homework too late, or the stress of knowing how much I have been putting off and how much I will have to do to catch up. Regardless of which, these feelings increase as I put off what I have to do, and what should have been done days ago. Not wanting to feel guilty or stressed, I feel the need to actually do the tasks to deplete these feelings. The less that I want to experience these feelings, the more I get done in regard to school and homework. The longer I can put off experiencing these emotions, the more willing I am to get work done. The optimal arousal theory relates to the success that I want to feel as a student. When I have my work done and I am feeling good about where I am with school, then I have reached my optimal level. I become inspired to do my best so that I may inherently feel that I have indeed done the best of my abilities. It is a wonderful feeling of accomplishment when I focus hours on end to finish my work, and actually finish my work. The incentive theory, in regards to my school situation, allows me to reward myself for getting good grades on tests or homework, or for completing projects well before they are due. When I offer myself an award prior to my doing something, I feel more eager to complete the task and obtain that treat. Once I realized that I was more anxious to get something done knowing that something better was waiting for me, I would focus more on the task at hand. Such rewards would vary from simply taking a break or going out to the movies with friends. I would treat myself for a job well

Women as Property and Marriage as Slavery (responses) Assignment

Women as Property and Marriage as Slavery (responses) - Assignment Example Also, I agree with Anthony’s arguments on the need to list women in the property rights and ownership. This is because men are less responsible in managing property and children through their ill behaviors of drunkenness and licentiousness. In this case, women stand a greater chance of suffering in the society given that they depend on men for daily bread and property. That is why Anthony states, â€Å"Most prosecutions in our courts concern breach of promise, divorce, adultery, bigamy, seduction and rape.† I disagree with John Stuart Mill’s arguments on the subjection of women. It is essential for women to have rights and freedom of existence in a free world. The legal subordination of women to men due to the natural acts that state, â€Å"The conquered should obey the conquerors† should be a forgotten past. Women and men should have a perfect equality where both have powers, privileges, independence and development records on a personal ground (Mill 74). I also support the arguments of Engels on the need to create a worker-run state socialism where there would be formation of trade and wage labor unions and abolish capitalism. Engels derived his argument from the fact that women suffered inequality in a capitalist society where there was inequality in workplaces and homes. He states, â€Å"The division of labor between two sexes is determined by quite other causes than by position of women in the society.† Consequently, the society should empower women since they take part in agriculture, amassing surplus wealth and property yet they are not entitled to ownership in the government (Engels,

The Relationship of Self Esteem of Skin Color in African American Culture Essay Example for Free

The Relationship of Self Esteem of Skin Color in African American Culture Essay The Relationship of Self Esteem and Skin Color 2 This paper explores the relationship between skin tone preference and the effect it has on self esteem in the African American community. As early as slavery in America there has been an assumed preference to lighter or more fair skinned African Americans. Many in the culture seem to believe that lighter skin represents beauty and equates to greater earning potential and increased opportunity. Articles by McAdoo, 1998; Ross, 1997; Russell, Wilson and Hall 1992, discuss how skin tone is used to differentiate and apply social values and self worth for African Americans. This belief led to self hate for some in the community and an increase in the use of skin whitening products in an effort to become more socially accepted and increase attractiveness to the opposite sex. Whitening appeared to be a boost to self esteem on the outside, but it really only created a false sense of confidence and acceptance. Since slavery, skin color has been used as a means of separation among those in the black community. The darker skinned slaves were usually resigned to work out in the sun in the fields while the lighter skinned slaves, who were generally the offspring of the master and a female slave were usually allowed to perform work inside the house. This led to anger by the darker field worker that still lingers on to this day. Growing up as a young boy the difference of skin tone never really seemed to be an issue but when I reached adolescence and started attending junior high school I experienced this ugliness for the first time. I was growing up in the eighties when most of the most successful blacks seen on television were lighter skinned. I particularly remember the family group Debarge as the teen heartthrobs of black teens at that time. They were all light skinned, with what we The Relationship of Self Esteem and Skin Color 3 called â€Å"good hair† due to their mixed heritage. If a kid did not fit that criterion he was not considered to be one of the â€Å"it† guys and your chances of dating were exponentially decreased. I and many began to see early that it was assumed that lighter skin meant better and received more privilege. I, at times, had feelings of self hate because I felt I was not good enough. I soon began to see members of my family using skin lightening cream to brighten their skin even by the ones who were not really dark at all. This leads me to the election of the United States first African American president. This was a joyous occasion in the African American community as many thought they would never see this happen in their lifetimes. Although, this was a historic moment some people questioned if President Obama would have been elected if he â€Å"looked more black† and less Eurocentric. Was it his clean cut look and light skin that made him seem less threatening to mainstream America? This sentiment was echoed by Senator Harry Reid in the Book Game Change: Obama and the Clinton’s, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime (Heilemann and Halperin, 2010), â€Å"He (Reid) was wowed by Obama’s oratorical gifts and believed that the country was ready to embrace a black presidential candidate, especially one such as Obama- a ‘light skinned’ African American ‘with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one’ †. Senator Reid would go on to apologize for his insensitive remarks but the those words were proof positive that this type of stereotyping not only existed in the African American community but was alive and well in the conscience of main stream America as well. The thought of skin tone separation seems antiquated to most, but from time to time we get occasionally reminders that we still have a ways to go to rid ourselves of the self hatred of The Relationship of Self Esteem and Skin Color 4 past generations. The words of those like Senator Reid will soon be forgotten by the general public, but for those in the African American community who have experienced this type of bias will never forget.

Interpersonal communication Essay

Interpersonal communication Essay   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Interpersonal communication is defined as the interaction between two or more individuals. Where this is the case, the tendency for conflicts to take place is almost inevitable. This is because most people do not have the same opinions, needs and/or mindsets. The effects of conflicts can be disruptive to relationships. However, if handled well, conflicts can contribute positively by improving understanding and tolerance among people, as well as strengthening the bonds between them. Thus, the style that one employs in expressing and managing interpersonal conflicts plays a crucial role in maintaining and improving the quality of communication in his/her relationship.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The movie Parenthood features several conflicts between its characters. The nature of conflicts varies, as well as the style characters adopt in reacting to and resolving conflicts which arise. Gill and Karen, the main characters of the movie, often face disagreements like every married couple does. However, the greatest argument between them arises when Gill comes home angry after quitting his job one day and having Karen inform him that she is pregnant. Being in an easily irritable state at that time, Karens pregnancy did not bring joy to him. Instead, he reacts to her negatively, making her feel as if he did not want the baby. This created a disconfirming communication climate between them. Karen feels that she is underappreciated and the defensive mechanism in her is activated. They begin arguing about the severity of each others lost because of the unexpected baby. They both react to the situation with direct aggressio n; verbally attacking and insulting the other partys position. As a result, the issue was not resolved but amplified.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In actual fact, the impact of the conflict could have been reduced if a different style of expression was used. For example, having known that Gill had just lost his job and was in a foul mood, Karen could choose to withhold the news of her pregnancy until later when Gills emotional turbulence has settled. This non-assertive style may be more appropriate in view of the situation at hand. Also, she could be more supportive and understanding towards his decision. According to Jack Gibb, empathy contributes greatly to a positive relational climate. Being able to accept anothers feelings and putting oneself in their place would make them feel valued and cared about. This encourages them to open up to the other party, making communication much more effective.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  However, non-assertion should only be used sparingly because it does not go to the root of the problem. In order to achieve a satisfying resolution, Gill and Karen should discuss the issue later in a calm and peaceful manner, adopting the assertive style of communication. They should allow each other to express their thoughts and feelings directly about the issue and then coming up with a win-win solution. Both parties should respect each other and their discussion should be problem oriented- finding a way in which both parties needs are satisfied and working out some arrangement which makes everyone feel like a winner (Adler, 2003, p.229).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another instance of conflict also occurs between Suzan, Gills sister, and her husband, Nathan. Their problem revolves around the upbringing style of their daughter, Patty. Nathan insists that Patty should be given strict education in all aspects, despite her young age, in order for her full potential to be utilised. Suzan, on the other hand, feels that her daughter should be given a normal childhood. Besides that, she also feels that her husband is being too uptight and controlling, always behaving as if he knows best. This is seen when Nathan insists that they should only have one child despite Suzans attempt to re-discuss the issue with him. However, instead of confronting the problem, Suzan chooses to be passive aggressive. She pretends to put up with his practices such as power-eating but secretly chows down sweets and chocolates as a symbol of anger and discontent. Eventually, her approach no longer calms her anger and she finally tells Nathan that she is leaving him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are several factors which contribute to the aggravation of their conflict. Primarily, Nathans controlling and always certain behavior often causes Suzan to feel that her opinions and feelings are unimportant. He often imposes his way of life on her with little regard to her needs. In addition to that, he also rarely accepts and acknowledges her suggestions and ideas. For instance, when Suzan tells him that Patty should be allowed to behave more like a normal child instead of constantly being strictly guided, he ridicules her frustration and rejects her concern. In another context, Suzans method of handling her unhappiness- passive aggression- is also not an effective manner. It not only does not allow Nathan to know his mistakes, it creates an illusion which shows as if she is happy with her situation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The resolution of the conflict, as seen in the ending of the movie, was when Nathan finally realises his fault after having Suzan leave him. This indirect communication used by Suzan is nonetheless effective, even though there could be a possibility of Nathan misinterpreting her intentions. Her extreme measures lead Nathan to re-evaluate his behavior and discover that his methods in handling their relationship are inappropriate. Finally, he apologises to her sincerely and receives her forgiveness. Since then, his behavior changes for the better and their relationship becomes stronger.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aside from marital conflicts, there are also conflicts between parent and child in the movie. For example, the relationship between Gill and his son, Kevin. Kevin is a very sensitive and emotional child. As a result, Gill has to be extra careful in handling him. Conflicts often arise when Kevin becomes upset by something trivial. For example, when Kevin thinks of himself as being abnormal because he was seeing a psychiatrist, Gill has to comfort and ensure him that things were alright. In this situation, Gill adopts an indirect communication approach. He tells Kevin that he was seeing a psychiatrist not because he was sick or abnormal, only more prone to worry than others and that the doctor was there to help him conquer this anxiety. He then shifts Kevins focus from the topic to his upcoming birthday celebration. This lights up Kevins mood and resolves the tension between them. Gills method, in this case, is effective beca use any other method may have irritated Kevin further. Also, as a loving and supportive father, Gill often tries to maintain a confirming communication climate between them. He displays great levels of empathy and equality when interacting with Kevin. He tries to understand his sons needs and emotions instead of dictating them based on his personal experiences. Thus, because of his efforts, the conflicts that arise between them each time is resolved appropriately.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In conclusion, conflicts will always be prevalent in any interpersonal relationships. Be it between husband and wife, parent and child or friends, conflict is sure to arise because of the unique difference between every individual. It is how people manage and express the conflicts that would determine whether the resolution is satisfying for all parties. Thus, it is crucial that one be able to adopt the proper style in expressing his/her dissatisfaction based on the situation at hand in order to reduce the impact of conflicts and maintain healthy interpersonal relationships. Bibliography: Adler, R.B., Rodman, G. (2003) Understanding Human Communication. New York: Oxford University Press.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Myself :: Personal Narrative, Essay About Myself

Ariel and Marie were sisters. Marie was two years younger than Ariel, one year younger than me, and I fit between them nicely, in age as well as personality. They lived in two different hemispheres of existence, and I hovered around the equator, bouncing from pole to pole depending on which sister I was with. For me, Ariel was the personification of cool. Even her name was cooler than mine. My name was wooden, it fell to the ground with a thump, but Ariel's danced. When she scratched the energetic verticals of her name--Ariel Acosta--the letters became edgy and hip. My swirling cursive seemed clichÃ… ½ in comparison. I liked hanging out with Ariel because she made me feel cool too. I was insecure with my conformity. I felt guilty that I owned clothes from the Gap, that I had cried at Titanic, that I worried about my hair. With Ariel I felt validated. If Ariel thought I was cool, well, then maybe I was. Ariel was everything I wanted to be. She was brilliant, and she seemed to know something about everything worth knowing about. She shopped at thrift stores and wore big black boots and clothes that didn't match and her thin blond hair was spiky and went every which way. She played the violin and the piano. She was a photographer. She went to Guatemala for the summer. She was into hardcore, ska, punk, and everything "indie," she was straight edge and went to lots of shows. She dated guys much older than she. She liked Vietnamese food and watched soccer on the Spanish-language station. Ariel was unpredictable, and I loved discovering new facets of her personality. She often seemed lost in her thoughts, which I was convinced were deeper than mine, and I was always dying to hear them; to be admitted into the club of deep thinkers. Ever her fallibilities were infallible to me; even the dorky things were cool when she did them. (She confided in me about her profound childhood love for New Kids on the Block--Jordan was her favorite.) We went to used CD stores, where I loved the bargain bin and the soothing click click sound of the practiced browser hunting for gems. She introduced me to Pho, Vietnamese noodle soup, and I was incredibly relieved that I actually liked it. This was hope for what I saw as my bland and unsophisticated palate, which preferred pizza and mashed potatoes to more worldly cuisine.

Examine the development and effects of the relationship between Pip Ess

Examine the development and effects of the relationship between Pip and Estella Pip and Estella's story is not about living happily ever after. Dickens never tells us what happens, if anything, between them in the end. He leaves it only that they remain friends. There is a purpose for this. Dickens novel is about Pip's quest for Estella's love and what he is willing to do to gain it. I think that the story is never about the love itself. We can see this because in the majority of the story, Estella is only present in Pip's heart and thoughts. The actual interaction between the characters Dickens keeps at a minimum. To make this a love story, the characters would have to carry out some sort of loving affection towards each other, which they don't do, although I do believe that Pip loves Estella but she thinks it is impossible that she will ever love, and so does not ever like the idea of Pip's affection; as a friend she repeatedly warns him off. I think that most of us regard a woman without feeling, who torments others, with disapproval, but it is not Estella's faul... Examine the development and effects of the relationship between Pip Ess Examine the development and effects of the relationship between Pip and Estella Pip and Estella's story is not about living happily ever after. Dickens never tells us what happens, if anything, between them in the end. He leaves it only that they remain friends. There is a purpose for this. Dickens novel is about Pip's quest for Estella's love and what he is willing to do to gain it. I think that the story is never about the love itself. We can see this because in the majority of the story, Estella is only present in Pip's heart and thoughts. The actual interaction between the characters Dickens keeps at a minimum. To make this a love story, the characters would have to carry out some sort of loving affection towards each other, which they don't do, although I do believe that Pip loves Estella but she thinks it is impossible that she will ever love, and so does not ever like the idea of Pip's affection; as a friend she repeatedly warns him off. I think that most of us regard a woman without feeling, who torments others, with disapproval, but it is not Estella's faul...

Physics of the Arctic :: physics arctic

The Arctic is a strange and unusual place where nature still rules with and icy fist. In the land of the "high noon moon", the extreme cold has a strange effect on the environment, the people, and even everyday objects that we take for granted act different. Ice rules the land and shapes it to it's will. Layers of cold air change a normal scene into a wonderland of color and mystery. Normal, everyday items take on unusual characteristics in the sub-zero climate. Ice wedges are structures where water has filled a crack or hole in the ground and froze over the winter. As the water freezes, it expands, making the crack bigger. As the Wedge gets bigger, the whole it creates gets bigger and gets fovered with sediments and dirt. On the surface, these ice wedges make the ground look like a patchwork of tiles, called polygons. As the wedge gets deeper, it begins to melt and the water is then put under high pressure from the surrounding ice and dirt. This causes the water to be forced to the surface. As it moves twards the surface, the rock and soil above it are pushed out of the way, making pingos. These pingos are usually a small hill with a ring or rock and soil at the center. Many pingos, thought, can reach the size of a house or other large building. When we think of a mirage, we usually think of a hot desert. In the arctic, though, the thermal layering of the cold air causes a similar effect. The effect is the opposite of a heat mirage though. Here, you can see that the mountain looks to be up-side down and mushroom shaped. In the winter in the far north, the temperatures can get real low! This was the coldest temperature during the winter of '03-'04. The extreme cold allowed me to have a little fun and also caused a few problems. On the morning that the temperature reached -54F, i decided to get up early and go into town to get a picture of a sign so all my friends would beleave me when i told them how cold it had been, when i started to move in the car, however, i noticed that the tired felt wierd as i drove. When the air in the tires is supercooled, he presure drops and the tires arreap to deflate, causing the bottoms to become flattened against the ground.

Case Study Ryanair and Virgin Atlantic

Case Study Coursework LEADERSHIP and ORGANISATIONS BABA SDL 2012-13’B’ Virgin Atlantic and Ryanair This case examines two organisations that have many similarities as well as a number of significant differences. The essential technology and systems behind each organisation may be very similar, but the nature and style of management and its consequent impact on the way people working in these organisations think, feel and behave have created very different organisational cultures.So what are the similarities and what are the differences? The most obvious similarity is that both Virgin Atlantic and Ryanair operate in the UK passenger air transport industry. Both are relatively recent creations and might be seen as new entrants to the sector: Virgin's air transport business was founded by Richard Branson in 1984 and Michael O'Leary took over as Chief Executive at Ryanair, a small Irish airline which had been founded as Guinness Peat Aviation in 1985 (Creation, 2004).Both s tarted life in competition with major national flag carrier airlines (British Airways and Aer Lingus respectively) and grew to be major challengers to these established companies. As they grew, their scale of operations brought them into competition with a much larger number and range of airlines operating from the UK: Branson's Virgin Atlantic competes with some major US and other intercontinental companies such as American Airlines and United Airlines; O'Leary competes with the likes of Flybe and EasyJet in the short-haul market.Both Branson, who was born in 1950, and O'Leary, who is ten years younger, are individuals with strong and distinctive personalities, who have a relentless appetite for media presence and who make extensive use of themselves in their frequent marketing communications. They engage in advertising stunts, readily appear on the news media in relation to stories about the industry, and their faces and personalities are easily associated with their companies. Ch arting different courses There are, however, some major differences. First, they differ in their choice of markets.Virgin's air transport business originated in the long-haul, mainly transatlantic market which might be highly profitable but is also extremely competitive. As the business grew, offshoots were founded as independent companies; for instance, Virgin Blue in Australia and Virgin Express which has its hub in Brussels and serves European destinations outside the UK and does not compete directly with Ryanair. Ryanair started as a short-haul carrier and has remained so, focusing on European destinations from a small number of airports in the UK and Eire. The two companies' competitive positioning is also very different.Ryanair is well known as ‘The Low Cost Airline'; the first thing that hits you in its publicity material is the price and this is very clearly the core of its business strategy (Ryanair website). The ‘no frills' approach means just that: even the in -flight food is limited to sandwiches and costs extra. Virgin, by contrast, attracts passengers by offering a superior experience and is firmly positioned at the quality end of the market: Publicity material emphasises style and comfort, and there is a range of in 1/4 Case Study Coursework LEADERSHIP and ORGANISATIONS BABA SDL 2012-13’B’ light extras which, even at the economy end of the price range, includes in-flight food and drinks and packs of ‘amenities' such as flight socks, eye shades and lip balm. As was noted, both men love publicity stunts and often use humour in their public communications. Branson is usually smiling and in poses which indicate fun and a desire to show close links with his staff and popularity with employees, customers and the public in general. O'Leary is much more likely to be acerbic, critical and uses what might euphemistically be called ‘colourful' language in his public statements.He seems to care little about public opinio n of him as an individual and has been in trouble with the advertising standards authorities in the UK and Eire on more than one occasion for ‘offensive' adverts that have upset people from British Airways (who were accused of being ‘Expensive ba * * * * ds' in an Evening Standard advert in 1999) and the Catholic Church (the ‘Fourth Secret of Fatima’ advert of 2000 featured the Pope) (Creation, 2004). The brand values are also very different. Virgin as a collection of businesses does everything from running trains, manufacturing contraceptives and cosmetics o offering financial services. All these enterprises are linked by the single powerful central image of the founder and the characteristic red livery; Ryanair does one thing and one thing only, but in doing so sets an almost buccaneering tone, readily taking on authorities such as the European Union over competition policy and the British Airports Authorities over charging practices. Branson has certainly had his conflicts with British Airways, notably over the ‘dirty tricks' affair of the early 1990s, but is not likely to challenge governments.Virgin tries hard to build customer loyalty and gain repeat business through brandrelated service values; Ryanair's repeat business (and for some customers the Ryanair experience is one which inspires the thought ‘never again') is on price, not loyalty to the brand. These differences have a significant effect on the nature of employment relations and the psychological contract between the two companies and their employees. Working for Richard and Michael Each company's brand image and treatment of customers have a bearing on the nature of organisational relationship with staff, and vice versa.Aspects of organisational behaviour therefore show through in a variety of interconnected ways to create consistent and very different cultures. At Virgin Atlantic, cabin crew are there to be helpful and welcoming; they are important projecto rs of the brand image and their job is partly to encourage the allimportant customer loyalty which generates continuing profit. The importance of staff as carriers of company values is clearly reflected in the recruitment material and other statements about the nature of work at Virgin Atlantic.Virgin Atlantic brings together all manner of people in all manner of roles, all playing a crucial role in the smooth running of a very complex operation. But whoever you are and wherever you join us, you'll never stop thinking of our customers and what 2/4 Case Study Coursework LEADERSHIP and ORGANISATIONS BABA SDL 2012-13’B’ we can do for them. From frontline cabin crew to IT analysts, everyone here plays a role in delivering the Virgin brand. That means using initiative, taking responsibility for your actions and being ready to support those around you at all times.Similarly, you'll play your part in maintaining the friendly, unconventional professionalism that makes Virgin A tlantic such a unique place of work (Virgin Altantic website). The recruitment process is lengthy and includes a group interview which acts as a filter for further tests before job offers are made. Training programmes for cabin crew and other staff are run from a dedicated training centre, and there is a wide range of benefits for full-time staff including seven free flights a year, private pensions and medical schemes and discounted goods and services across the Virgin group.At Ryanair, the cabin crew work for a supplier organisation called Crewlink. You can discover whether you qualify to apply for a job by answering a series of 11 on line questions. Successful applicants for cabin crew posts are trained at one of Crewlink's centres and are expected to pay an up-front charge of â‚ ¬1,200 for the fiveweek course (or with a â‚ ¬400 deposit it can be offset against initial year's salary at a total cost of â‚ ¬1,300). Students are not paid to attend the course; successful gra duates get a three-year contract with Crewlink to work on Ryanair flights on a shift-work basis.Ryanair crew are not expected to make overnight stops at its destinations. Post-tax starting salary is listed as being ? 1,100 per month (? 13,200 pa); Crewlink suggests that after the initial three years, and subject to satisfactory performance, a permanent job with Ryanair itself might be available at a salary of up to ? 25,000 pa. Staff must be flexible in terms of their work location across the 15 European centres and Crewlink does not guarantee work if individuals specify a preferred work location (Crewlink website).By comparison with long haul, a short-haul operation involves very tight turnaround times and Ryanair aims for 20 minutes. This creates a very different pace and set of pressures on the workforce compared with those at Virgin, which is likely to have higher staffing levels and to give crew longer rest breaks in the destination locations between flights. The nature of cust omer relations, by contrast, might be more demanding at Virgin than at Ryanair – staff and customers are together for longer and the brand image must be maintained.Complaints and horror stories can be found about work at both organisations; however, Ryanair is subject to a more systematic and organised campaign of criticism for its employment practices by trade union organisations. In particular, the International Transport Workers' Federation has run a major campaign on its website since 2004 called ‘Ryan-be-fair', the purpose of which is to pressurise the management at Ryanair into accepting the role of trade unions in representing the workforce.It collects comments from disgruntled crew and former workers which give a flavour of the operational stresses and organisational culture. Both organisations have been successful – Ryanair has turned in significant profits for several years in a sector which is prone to disruption and financial loss and which has seen a number of brands disappear (Buzz, Go and Debonair) (BBC, 2005). Virgin also continues to go from strength to strength commercially. But the cultures and values which get them off the ground could hardly be more different (BBC, 2006). /4 Case Study Coursework LEADERSHIP and ORGANISATIONS BABA SDL 2012-13’B’ References Creation, S. (2004) Ryanair – How a Small Irish Airline Conquered Europe. Arum Crewlink website www. crewlink. ie International Transport Workers’ Federation website www. iftglobal. org Ryanair website www. ryanair. com Virgin Atlantic website, Working for Us, http://www. virginatlantic. com/en/gb/careers/workingforus/index. jsp BBC News articles: News website: www. news. bbc. co. k Profits Jump at Virgin Atlantic (27 May 2005) Ryanair Profits Jump on Hot Spots (1 August 2006) Question: Using relevant leadership and organisational theory, explore the impact of organisational features and external environment influences on the leadership and management styles and performance of Richard Branson and Michael O’Leary. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of their leadership approaches in their specific context with their specific set of strategic challenges. (1500 words) Closing date: 1st April 2013, submit on StudyNet by 23. 30 UK time 4/4

Mitch Albom’s Altered View of Life

After Mitch graduated from college, he headed for New York to start working on his dream of being a renowned musician of which he later discovered of failing for the first time in his life. When he lost his favorite uncle to pancreatic cancer, he realized how valuable time is and decided to get a master’s degree in journalism instead of pursuing a career in music. He became a sports writer then became a man driven by career and ambition. He later on became successful that he wrote for sports books, did radio shows and appeared recurrently on TV until he saw his old friend who was also his favorite professor in college, Morrie Schwartz, on TV.   He learned that Morrie had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) which has no cure. When he decided to visit Morrie after so many years of not seeing him, it became a regular weekly meeting for them every Tuesday, talking about life, from which Mitch learned a different perspective, a different view. Morrie told him, â€Å"Dying is only one thing to be sad over Mitch.   Living unhappily is something else.†Ã‚   Morrie also said that people become mean only when they are threatened which is what our culture does then they start looking out only for themselves and make money their god. Morrie made him realize how he has been giving more priority to his work instead of starting a family with his wife Janine.     Mitch realized that he really did need to invest in the human family and in people as what Morrie advised him.   Morrie showed him how to courageously face things in life even on the verge of death.   Having the last few weeks of Morrie’s life spent with him taught Mitch so many things that he would always hold dear. Mitch learned what mistakes to avoid, what to look out for, when to pay attention to his loved ones and hear them as if it were for the last time.   Morrie also made him understand that there is no such thing as â€Å"too late† for anything in this life. WORKS CITED Albom, Mitch. Tuesdays with Morrie. New York: Doubleday,1997               

Deductive Method Versus Inductive Method

Written Report in Principles of Teaching DEDUCTIVE METHOD VERSUS INDUCTIVE METHOD All teaching methods can be classified into two, namely deductive method and inductive method. The deductive method, the teacher tells or shows directly what he/she wants to teach. The inductive method begins with questions, problems and details and end up with answers, generalizations and conclusions. Deductive method, in this method the teacher presents first the main topic she will discuss. Explain the subject matter before students make activities.The advantage of deductive method the students will not have a lot of questions because they already understand the topic, and it will be easy for them to answer the different activities. And the disadvantage of this method, the students can’t participate because only the teacher is the one who is discussing the topic. Inductive method, in this method the students are more involved in teaching learning process the students can give a lot of ideas ab out the topic and the teacher will be the facilitator and the guide , they will correct the wrong ideas of the learners.And the learners will be more creative and knowledgeable because the class will start in the different activities and exercises. But it also have disadvantages , because in this method it requires more time, because the class started at the activities and exercises , a lot of time are uses in answering the different activities and exercises and there is only a little time to discuss the topic.It also has different approaches the blended learning, reflective teaching, metacognitive approach and constructivist approach. The blended learning is learning that is facilitated by the effective combination of different modes of delivery, the reflective teaching students/teachers learn through an analysis and evaluation of past experiences. Metacognitive approach is an approach that makes our students thinks about their thinking.The constructivist approach is anchored on th e belief that every individual constructs and reconstructs meanings depending on past experiences. As a future teacher we should be familiar to this different methods and approaches so we will know what kind of method and approaches that we should use on how the students will learn most. Donalyn S. Alicpala BEED II-A

Charles by Shirley Jackson Analysis Essay

Laurie creates an alter ego named â€Å"Charles† and uses him to take all the flaws that Laurie has in kindergarten. 2. a) The underlying message, central idea, or moral discussed in a story. b) The story teaches us that something can be going on and we may not even notice it. The mother refuses to look at what is right under her nose, for trepidation of realizing something that she doesn’t want to see- her dear, naà ¯ve little boy causing serious trouble. She adored listening to the stories her son would tell her about â€Å"Charles†. In fact, she couldn’t wait for Laurie to get home from school so she could hear them. All the while Laurie was misbehaving at home. Instead, she would relatively think that it is another little boy named Charles. Another minor theme can be: if you lie then you will in time get caught red-handed. 3. â€Å"The teacher spanked a boy, though †¦ For being fresh† (pg 8) was Laurie’s replay to his mother asking him what happened in school. When I reread this I thought that this was where Laurie decided to put on his act. Another foreshadowing example was the unusual way Laurie kept on taking about â€Å"Charles†. Another observation I made was about Laurie’s behavior. His mother also notes changes in his behavior: he no longer waves goodbye to her, slams the door when he comes home and speaks insolently to his father. Since they adore their son, his parents believe all he has to say, and this belief stops them from seeing that what he says is not the full truth. 4. When the mother discovers at the end of the story that there is no child named Charles in the class and that it is Laurie who has had trouble bending into kindergarten and has done all the bad things he credited to Charles, the reader no less than the mother is surprised. The mother’s reaction would be quite embarrassed since she is the mother of ‘Charles’. Laurie creates a double of him to do â€Å"bad† so that he might stay good in the eyes of his parents. Loving but narrow-minded, the parents do not get involved. I think after realizing that Charles is indeed Laurie, this might affect the way his parents treat him from now on. Not only that, but I think their attitude towards their own unobservant behavior might change as well. 5. This story made me think of when I was younger and the kids who acted this way to get attention from their parents. This story shows the ways children invent shadow figures as a means of confronting problematic feelings while forming their identities. I know that a lot of young children are clever enough to do a lot of things, and some times they go unnoticed, like Laurie’s travesty. In Laurie’s example mentioning Charles so much, the family’s bound to make Charlie a part of daily conversation. Why was Laurie hinting to his parents instead of coming right out and telling them? Was it because he wants his parents to shape it out on their own little heads? I too indeed might’ve lied a couple of times as of way of being included and known. Although my parents were observant and I was quick to learn that it’s not good to lie. 6. Verbal irony – contrast between what is said and what is meant. In other words, sarcasm. Dramatic irony –between what the character thinks to be true and what we (the reader) know to be true. For example: In City Lights the audience knows that Charlie Chaplin’s character is not a millionaire, but the blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill) is unaware and believes he’s rich. Situational irony – a certain fact is perhaps highlighted by an event that is in contrast to that fact. For example: An old man turned ninety-eight. He won the lottery and died the next day. 7. The point at which we the readers realize that Laurie is tricking his parents and from then on we also know— or suspect — more than the narrator about his misbehaving and amused the mothers lack of observance is an example of dramatic irony. Parents, by definition are thought to be mentally advanced than their children (when they are at such a young age such as Laurie) but are outsmarted by the imagination and creativity of a clever little nipper.

NBA- National Basketball Association Research Paper

NBA- National Basketball Association - Research Paper Example Not only is the NBA among the four main North American professional sports leagues but its players are also the world’s most lucratively paid sportsmen, going by the average annual salary per player. Many attribute the success of the NBA to its culture and the manner in which it has managed to integrate its culture to its operations and goals, as will be seen in the discussion which ensues forthwith. First, it is important to consider the fact that the NBA has a wide culture, with this wideness taking on both formal and informal aspects. The formal culture of the NBA has mainly been consistent with the organizational policies, while the informal one has mainly been subject to socio-cultural preferences. According to Maymin, Maymin, and Shen (2011), to show for the similarity between NBA and business culture, NBA has also used creations and mergers to extend itself. Having been founded in 1946, the Basketball Association of America merged with NBL on August 3rd, 1949. This deve lopment culminated into the creation of the National Basketball Association. To extend its interests further, NBA has used franchising as its business culture. NBA in 1949 had 17 franchises that at the time were located in large and small cities, and large and small arenas. Through the 1950s, NBA consolidated its 11 franchises. In a closely related wavelength, it is important to note that NBA has also used contraction to move its franchises that had been located in smaller cities to get to larger cities. For instance, it is against this backdrop that the Hawks moved from Quad Cities to Milwaukee, then to Missouri, St. Louis, while the Royals moved from Rochester, New York, to Cincinnati. In the same respect, Pistons moved from Indiana (Fort Wayne) to Detroit in 1957. The culture of merging, franchising and contraction started from the need to expand. The growth of NBA into national and regional importance and the global recognition of NBA as the principal basketball league in the Un ited States underscore the success of these management cultures- franchising, merging and contracting. One of the informal cultures of NBA is its identification with the African American and hip hop culture. The fact that rappers such as Sean Carter and Cornell Iral Hayness Jr. are major stakeholders in NBA teams (namely, Charlotte Bobcats and Brooklyn Nets respectively), underscore this. In like manner, a number of artists have managed to wear NBA throwback jerseys in their music videos. Likewise, NBA plays hip hop and rap music in basketball arenas during games. As if this is not enough, NBA video games NBA Live, ABC-ESPN and NBA 2K use hip hop music in their soundtracks and coverage. Some of the players in NBA have rapped or tried to rap, with Shaquille O’Neal, Tony parker, Kobe Bryant, Chris Webber, Allen Iverson and Metta World Peace serving as examples of these basketball-players-cum-rappers. It is also not at all uncommon to find several NBA players who act or dress in ways that are consistent with rap and hip hop culture. It is for this same reason that many NBA players and members wear jewelry and spot tattoos, both inside and outside basketball courts. A. Maymin, P. Maymin, and Shen (2011) contend that the close affiliation between the NBA and hip hop culture dates back to the late 1970s. This development follows the fact that the 1970s fall within the Cold

Reports as an Important Kind of Academic Writing Essay - 5

Reports as an Important Kind of Academic Writing - Essay Example As such, the authors of the book dedicate the chapter to discussing the types of available reports and the best ways of developing effective researches. Just as is the case with many other chapters in the book, the first section of the chapter discusses the process of inventing report content. As explained in the introduction, reports are systematic documents used to present research findings. Inventing report content, therefore, begins with an effective research that investigates a specific knowledge gap. After carrying out an investigation on a topical issue, a student or any other scholar obtains the vital content to include in a report. The second section then discusses the appropriate styles used in developing reports. The style of a report affects the consumption of the report contents. The authors, therefore, advise students to select appropriate styles, an appropriate style in that a student understands and can, therefore, use efficiently. The authors advise the use of appropriate grammar since reports are professional documents. As such, one can use appropriate jargons that best describes the terms in the discipline. However, the authors contend that students must employ simple grammatical structures since they enhance the consumption of any kind of writing. The chapter is an important section of the book that discusses an equally important kind of writing. The authors adopt a systematic approach to the topic as they discuss one important point after another. This provides the audience with an effective understanding of the topical issue. The book is an important reference in schools owing to its orderly and chronological presentation of ideas. The authors employ simple sentence structures since they enhance the consumption of any type f literature. This way, they explain the various section of the chapter thereby providing their target audience with the vivid description of all the necessary scenarios that may enhance the creation of effective reports.  Ã‚  

Educational Trends Education Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Educational Trends Education - Research Paper Example In such an immersive computing environment, where notebooks and pens are replaced with smart phones, iPods and laptops this era of pervasive education technology, is marked with revolutionary educational trends. The development and rising popularity of social networking and micro-blogging sites has upped the ante, making access to information just a click away. Such trends within the domains of primary and secondary education, has significant implications on the manner in which such education is imparted across the globe (Leu, 2001; Gilster, 1997). This paper, on â€Å"Educational tends† aims to discuss both the current as well as future trends in education, and the use of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) within classrooms and its likely impact in shaping, nurturing and developing the knowledge and cognitive learning abilities of students over the years. Historical Background: ICT in Classrooms The twentieth century was swept away by technological makeover, and c omputers entered the classrooms as educators realized its power and impact as an effective teaching aid (Dwyer et al., 1991). However, during this era, computers were merely used as a data management tool for tracking grades, attendance and reviewing test results. Moreover the ratio of computers per student was low. During the mid 20th century, this highly rigid approach towards computer usage changed significantly from predominantly conventional behavioral attitudes to a more constructivist approach (Anderson, Speck, 2001). Current trends: Overview The 21st century classrooms have had a drastic makeover from that compared to the 20th century classroom, in the sense that it has now become more interactive as opposed to passive learning, and includes the addition of various gadgets which are incorporated on a large scale across various schools. The technological tools in used in the past were mostly passive in nature which involved little or no interaction from the students, and were limited to just listening, watching, or at the most, taking notes. However, the tools used today include greater participation from the students via the use of interactive media where they are encouraged to make presentations and communicate and share their experiences via blogs and vlogs (Smolin, Lawless, 2003). Figure 1: Instructional technologies timeline from the year 1900 - 2004 Source: Whelan (2005) Pp.14 The use of interactive whiteboards has drastically increased and remains one of the most popular tools of teaching across American classrooms. Furthermore gadgets such as PDAs and hand-helds are also being used primarily for middle school and high-school students. Also, there are various online resources which offer interactive learning to students by way of games, puzzles and quizzes which help them in understanding key concepts in a fun entertaining and engaging way. Future trends: The conventional definitions of schools as buildings made of bricks and walls are likely to change to 'nerve centers' virtual space occupied by e-teachers and e-learners, connected by technology. The role of teachers in such a space is likely to expand from merely the providers of education to that of information and knowledge generators. Until recently, students were accustomed to access education through schools, but the

Technology Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Technology Plan - Assignment Example This paper will examine a technology plan for a health care services organization. A health care services organization (HCSO) can function a lot better if it has the right kind of information at its disposal without any wastage of time. Efficiency and effectiveness are two important necessities for the smooth functioning of such an organization. Thus, it would be necessary for a HCSO to have a computer network covering all the terminals inside the building linking their records and data together. A centralized server with direct wireless connectivity with all the nodes would be an idealistic way to provide real-time data from one PC to another without the hassle of paper or wastage of time and human resource. Careful planning can even see a paperless management system being implemented at the Indus Hospital, Pakistan which made the greatest technological advancement in terms of a hospital by adopting to a purely paperless system (Garib, 2008). Truly speaking, such a feat would give an HCSO a competitive advantage in terms of productivity and efficacy. With wireless connectivity instead of wired terminals, the HCSO can also have distributed printers within the organization so as to facilitate the printing of various slips or documents near the customer or the doctor instead of a centralized print server. The use of computerized logs with regards to the number of hours devoted by each doctor or healthcare specialist will give an HCSO the flexibility to focus on its core operations. Such systems work with near field communications devices or RFID tags and perform at extremely impressive perfection rates giving the organization the ease of doing away with manual and troublesome payroll processing systems. Auto-payroll systems are quite the norm and can be easily implemented at an HCSO with slight modifications to suit the scenario. Technological advancements are the light of the day and thus if

Consumer experience and Luxury Branding Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Consumer experience and Luxury Branding - Essay Example   There are various ways in which the consumers experience fashion retail on a global scale. These experiences can either be seen or felt. The first experience is psychological or emotional. Saprikis, Chouliara, and Broekhuizen (2010, p.2) observed that an individual’s purchasing choices are influenced by four major psychological factors, including perception, motivation, learning, beliefs, and attitude. Liu and Forsythe (2010, p.83) illustrate that the intention of the customer to shop is positively linked with the attitude towards purchasing, and affects their decision-making and purchasing behavior. Khitoliya (2014, p.18) argue that perceived usefulness, convenience, and perceived enjoyment are the dominant factors that affect consumer perceptions about a brand. Cao, Xu, and Douma add that enjoyment in intrinsic motivation. When a customer enjoys a product, it impacts positively on the sales of that particular brand. It is equally important to note that when the employees are motivated and satisfied with their job, it translates into a good feeling to the customer since they are able to interact well with the staff and get quality products that make them be satisfied. Schmitt claims that products and services that emerge from the brand’s real soul connect psychologically to the consumers. As a result, it generates emotionally positive experience from the customers. Zara uses emotional client experience of increased self-confidence, self-esteem, and happiness to meet the customer preferences.

Reasearch Paper on the Book A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway Research

Reasearch on the Book A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway - Research Paper Example The work was published after Hemingway’s death and as a consequence is often considered unfinished. It was edited extensively before it was published with editors wanting the work to appear in a form which Hemingway would be proud of, rather than incomplete. It is likely that Hemingway would have written and edited the novel further had he lived. Written in simple sentences and with non-complex structure which is typical of Hemingway’s work, the book focuses on the content itself, telling a story of Hemingway as a young, often struggling, artist. Before examining the themes of the book it is important to understand how the two versions differ, as there is significant difference between the two published editions of the book. These differences can potentially blur the themes of the novel, despite the attempts of editors for both versions to stay true to Hemingway. The Restored Edition, which is the version which is being considered in this study, is an edited edition of the book which was released 45 years after the publication of the original work. The changes were made by Hemingway’s grandson, and consists of reordering of some of the stories, the restoration of some portions of the book that were cut from the original and the removal of some edits . In the forward by Sean Hemingway, he considers that the difference between the two editions is much like the differences between different versions of the Bible. There is no way of knowing what the original intent was of the author, thus both versions are different interpretations rather than one version being correct and the other not. The overarching theme of the novel which ties together the stories and the characters is that of hunger. This hunger is not just hunger in the physical sense, but also in the artistic and the emotional sense. The title of the book draws reference to this theme, suggesting that Paris itself acts in some measure to sate this hunger. Likewise, Paris can be conside red a moveable feast in the manner that the memories that are made in Paris stay with the person and influence them for the rest of their life. Paris is by many counts, a city of fantastic opportunities, of art, culture and food. Because of this, it can become a feast which one can deeply indulge in. Early in the book, the author extensively describes his physical hunger. He had given up journalism in order to focus on his art and as a consequence he had no money and little food. He spoke of the way that walking along the sidewalk one could smell the food that people were eating. He considered that being hungry was good for discipline and that it helped him to understand art. He had a clearer, sharper view when he was hungry and found that he saw beauty much clearer. At this point he is married, and hides from his wife the fact that he does not plan on eating for the day, instead telling her that he is eating out with friends. This physical hunger is not consistent across all the st ories, instead, the focus shifts to artistic and emotional senses of hunger. Throughout the stories, Hemingway wanders the city as an artist looking for inspiration and stimulation. He moves from one such event to another as if they were meals through which he is seeking to fill himself. He appears to feast on the gossip, the scandal and intrigue that surround him, using it as fuel for his writing, and for his passion.

World Civilizations To 1500 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

World Civilizations To 1500 - Essay Example 2. Geographical location of Ancient Mesopotamia determined early populating of these fertile territories. Mesopotamia is translated as "The land between rivers": it was situated between the Tigris and the Euphrates. The rivers and the climate of Mesopotamia attracted people: geographical location allowed them to grow different crops and contributed much to the state origin. But the geographical and environmental factor is not the only one which influenced the development of Mesopotamia. Political division of Mesopotamia as a combination of city-states - Uruk, Ur, Eridu and some others - determined its development as a constant struggle between them for political domination in the region. Economics was linked with geographical factor: irrigation allowed people to grow more food, and they were able to trade services and goods. The rivers also were good transport routes. Geographical factor partially influenced the social structure of Mesopotamia - great amount of slaves and peasants co uld irrigate the territory and provide its fertility. Social structure provided economic development of Mesopotamia: class structure became a fundament of further development of city-states. Women position was not the same as men's, but there were many women gods in city-states pantheons. Religion and intellectual achievements also influenced the development of Mesopotamia. Cuneiform writing system, science and religious structure provided high development of Mesopotamian civilization. 3. Geographical position of Ancient Egypt had a similar feature with that of Mesopotamia: the Egyptian civilization was originated in the valley of the Nile which provided the population with fertile soil which was the source of the economic growth of Ancient Egypt. The Nile was also a principal way of travel and trade. Agricultural development resulted in economical and social structure changes: plentiful harvest gave much food which could be exchanged for other goods. Economics of Egypt was very important factor of its development, and it influenced social structure of the population: food and wealth abundance led to class structure origination, and Ancient Egyptian society became highly developed. The main classes of Ancient Egypt were slaves, warriors, peasants, craftsmen and priests. Such strict class structure provided possibility of cultural development. There were priests who developed science and religious knowledge in Egypt. The life of ancient Egyptians was very tightly co nnected with their religious views. The religion of Ancient Egypt was rather rich: the pantheon of gods was presented very widely and their images were so different, but there were some main gods which symbolized the basic mythological, religious and political views of ancient Egyptians. Ra (Sun god and the symbol of pharaoh's power) and Osiris (symbolized nature resurrection connected with the Nile flood, later the god of the underworld) were the main gods in Egypt. So, such factor as geography is one of the main factors of Ancient Egyptian civilization, but economic and social structure, as well as cultural achievements (including hieroglyphic writing system) contributed very much in general development of Ancient Egypt. 4. Ancient India civilization development also was influenced by the

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STRATEGY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STRATEGY - Essay Example In most cases many firms are moved from countries that are not industrialised to highly industrialised ones in terms of technology, infrastructural developments, jobs, wealth and more consumers. Jeremy Moon has a vision for his firm and that is the reason he thinks of expanding it to Chinese Market. Chinese market is well industrialised with a great deal of consumers, technologically developed and possesses a good market for his products. Industrialised countries experience rapid economic growth which opens an opportunity for one to expand their own business and increase productivity level. This is due to the presence of established markets that provide quality produce and competitive prices. International business strategy is efficiently and effectively matching the strengths of a competitor in relation to the challenges and opportunities found in a certain market environment that is dispersed across borders. International business strategy focuses on getting into foreign market through the use of structured meetings by the top management (Chhabra 1996). Selling in China is a priority in that there is a ready market. Chinese network of fashion distribution was evolving, extensive and willing to experiment with western goods. This was a major advantage to Jeremy Moon where China is an industrialized country with ready consumers, good transport and communication facilities and improved technology. Good transport and communication enhances one to travel easily to the market. Passing of information will also be enhanced by the good communication facilities available in China. The technological advancement will enhance production of quality products and services to the consumers. Good communication, advanced technology and transport facilities speed up growth of business enterprises globally (Gregory & Marilyn 2004). There is globalization of markets in China; as a result there are more

Rabbit-Proof Fence Essay Example for Free

Rabbit-Proof Fence Essay * How do the filmmakers begin the film and engage us in the story and at the beginning of the film what do you think you are seeing at first? The Australian film based on the true story about â€Å"The Stolen Generation† titled â€Å"Rabbit-Proof Fence† begins with a brief written summary about the Australian Aborigines Act of 1931. This historical information is just enough to really grasp the viewer’s curiosity before moving on to what is initially, the unidentifiable aerial footage of the endless desert plains of Australia. This is footage is only further complicated by the voice of an unknown women speaking in an unfamiliar language and the native sounding instruments fading in slowly from the background. At first, I was unsure of the geographical location, thinking it was possibly that of a sandy or muddy beach. It then crossed my mind that perhaps I had mistakenly selected a non-English version of the film which would explain the foreign language, but not the English text at the beginning. It wasn’t until the view included the unmistakably blue sky along the horizon of the desert that the location became completely recognizable and my previous thoughts were extinguished. * What impressions do you gain of life in the desert Aboriginal community?   Living among nothing more than the dry and dusty Australian plains scattered with sagebrush and a few desert trees, the film showed how desolate of a landscape the Aborigines called home. With nothing more than simple huts constructed from small sticks and branches, their homes didn’t appear to provide adequate shelter much less protection from the elements such as the unrelenting heat and sun. It was clear that their lives had been disrupted by â€Å"white† European settlers whom had depleted their lands of natural resources needed for survival, as the community was forced to rely upon government rations for food, water, clothing, etc. As seen in the film, the community rations were distributed to the native people by a â€Å"white† government worker at the Jigalong depot which gave the state every opportunity to evoke complete control over their lives. * Very early in the film, we see the eagle, Molly’s totem, her spirit bird. Her mother tells her the eagle will look after her. When does the bird appear again in the film and why? The eagle first appears in the very beginning of film as Molly stares up to the blue sky watching intently as an eagle circles overhead. Soon joined by her mother, together they both gaze up as her mother speaks to her in native tongue; she explains the meaning of the totem to Molly and its promise for protection and guidance. Then after Molly and her sisters are taken to the settlement, the eagle appears again circling overhead in her dream signaling that the time had come for the girls to make their escape. Finally, after walking over a thousand miles the two remaining sisters collapse from pure exhaustion in the endless desert when again the eagle appears in Molly’s dreams. Awakening her from near death, the eagle seemingly provides the strength and encouragement needed for Molly to contin ue on, with promise of home. Out of curiosity, I did some further research about the totem and the Aboriginal people. In the Aborigine culture each individual family has a totem with different animal symbols on it which represent their descended mythical â€Å"Being of Dreamtime†: the belief in a spiritual connection between land, animal, and man in a time before time. For indigenous aborigines the religious significance of the totem is conceptually similar to the religious significance of the cross for Christians; both carry symbolic meaning representing a spiritual life. * Why do you think that some children just accepted their fate, whereas others were desperate to escape? After being kidnapped from their family and taken to the Moore River Native Settlement, the Aboriginal children were forced to conform to the strict authority of the sisters and Mr. Neville’s staff, including the tracker. The children were warned from the beginning that if they were to attempt an escape they would be tracked and surely brought back to receive the punishments they had deserved. Those who dare attempt were immediately tracked and returned to the settlement where they would be brutally punished in front of their peers by the Mr. Neville or his staff; after which they were then locked up in the isolation room for hours or even days. For the majority of the children the fear of punishment was enough for them to accept their fate and obey the endless rules. Additionally, it seemed that for many of the children the settlement had become their home and they didn’t want to leave. Clearly this was not the case for Molly, and the other girl seen punished in the movie for sneaking out to visit her boyfriend. * What kind of activities were the children involved in to â€Å"civilize and Christianize† them? Once the children arrived at the Moore River Native Settlement they were expected to dress, speak, and behave as instructed by Mr. Neville’s staff. The children were each scrubbed by one of the sister’s before being dressed all alike in plain smocks and shoes. At the start of each meal they were required to stand and all say a uniform prayer before eating. They were required to address their elders by â€Å"Ms. or Mr.† only, able to speak only when spoken to, allowed only to speak in English instead of their native tongue which was commonly referred to as â€Å"jabber†. All the children were forced to attend classes, and church as instructed, as well as daily chores like sweeping, mopping, and sewing. * After their escape, when ever Mollly is asked where she is going, the answer is always the one word: â€Å"home†, what does this mean to Molly? For Molly, the word â€Å"home† is where she belongs, the place where her mom is, the only place she knows, the place she must return to at all costs. Unlike some of the other children who had been made to believe that the settlement was their home, and that they no longer had a mother; Molly knew better, she knew that they still had a mother. For fourteen years, wherever her family was at was â€Å"home† and she dearly longed to be reunited with the family that she loved and she knew loved her. * The girls stumble across a remote farm where they meet Mavis, another Stolen Generations Aboriginal girl who is working as a domestic helper. What evidence is there to suggest that life is very difficult for Mavis? Why was she so keen for the girls to shelter with her for the night? One of the few people that the sisters encountered on their incredibly long journey across the desolate Australian plains was a young woman by the name of Mavis. They came across a homestead where they found Mavis hanging laundry, deciding to stop and take the chance by asking for food. As the girls soon would learn, she too had been kidnapped from her family and brought to the compound where she lived until she was old enough to go to work as a domestic worker for the white family with whom she lived. Immediately upon seeing the girls, Mavis r ecognized the trio as having escaped from Moore River. She instructed the girls to wait in the brush until later that evening when she would bring them food and insist upon them staying with her for the night. That night as the girls lay fast asleep in Mavis’ bed they were woke by the white boss man attempts to crawl into bed with whom he clearly had thought to be only Mavis. After the discovery, Mavis briefly spoke with boss man before pleading with the girls to stay with her for the remainder of night out. Clearly she was fearful that if they left her bed he would return to finish what he had started. Unfortunately, despite her promise, Mavis boss did in fact call the authorities and again the girls were woke, only luckily this time narrowly escaping capture by outwitting the trackers. * Imagine you are Molly aged about thirty and the mother of two children. Tell your children what you learned from your experiences in 1931. First of all, I want to acknowledge that it is impossible for me to comprehend what Molly, or any Aboriginal child endured at the hands of the Western Australian government; I can only do my best to imagine what I would be like after such an experience. As forty four year old Molly with two children, I anticipate that I would be open and honest with my children about the events in my life while doing my absolute best to teach my chil dren about the necessity of forgiveness. I would try to explain that the actions of the Australian government were the result of ignorance and fear. It is our job as parents to prepare our children for the future and to hopefully avoid repeating the mistakes of our past; as such I feel that it would do no good to teach them to be angry or hateful towards the â€Å"white† people, but feel sorry for their ignorance. * Many Aboriginal Australians today are still suffering from the effects of loss of identity and family brought about by the practice of removing Aboriginal children. What do you understand by the word â€Å"reconciliation†? To me personally, the word reconciliation means the act of making something right that has been wronged and I don’t know if the past in instances like this can be made right. After the movie, I went on to view several other pieces about the Stolen Generations and some of the stories were heart breaking to say the least. It is very true that many Aboriginal families are still suffering today; many who have lost every bit of their real heritage as a result. It’s hard to imagine not having any idea where you came from, but it’s even harder to imagine those whose last memory of their mother was her heartbroken face as they were ripped from her arms. To have no idea what became of your people is something I can only begin to imagine. Therefore, I don’t think that there ever will be any reconciliation possible between the government and the Aboriginal people, an apology sure but the wrong will never be able to be right. What I do believe can take place, is for the Australian government to accept responsibility for the mistakes of their predecessor’s against the Aboriginal people and to provide any and all resources that may help this culture heal.