Tuesday, November 26, 2019

I tweet, therefore I am - Emphasis

I tweet, therefore I am I tweet, therefore I am Thinking about jumping onto this bandwagon. But where will it all end? So might read my inaugural tweet by definition: an answer to the question what are you doing? in 140 characters or fewer on the micro-blogging site Twitter. And bandwagon begets bandwagon: those not tweeting are bleating about tweeting. The public is being divided into for and against camps; and perhaps the real question posed is: is there anything left now that is considered not appropriate to write about? Twitter has seen some incredible successes in its young life. It is a popular medium for celebrities, who get to by-pass the media and connect directly with their fans. Barack Obamas presidential campaign succeeded in large part because he embraced such types of social media. He updated subscribers via the site, keeping them up-to-date on his public appearances and decisions. No doubt this was key in working himself and his message into the nations psyche, while reinforcing his image as a modern man of the people. The potential of Twitter from a marketing point of view is evidently enormous. And so it is working its way into schools and university curriculums. A recent book, by money-making strategist Joel Comm, teaches the ways of Twitter Power How to Dominate Your Market One Tweet at a Time. Supporters predict a day when users will be able to search the consciousness of the planet in real-time. With a mere 140 characters to work with, Twitterers have no choice but to be succinct; and we Emphasisers are all in favour of keeping it short and simple. Whats missing is content control. Granted, escape from Big Brother (in all its forms) is generally welcome. And of course people have the right to express themselves creatively. But were considering writing instructions for this exciting new toy. The Daily Mail is using the service to send out nuggets of news to those for whom newspapers are just too darn heavy. The BBC experimented with including Twitter updates in its coverage of the Mumbai terror attacks back in November 2008, in an apparent desire to be first with the news. This rather clumsy attempt to cover a fast-moving story with equally fast-moving technology caused a considerable backlash on their website, amid accusations of inaccuracy and lazy journalism. Sky news rather glibly (and arguably massively inappropriately) sent tweets out from the courtroom where Joseph Fritzl stood trial for his horrendous crimes against his own daughter. Of course, skill in writing has little or nothing to do with Twitter, barring perhaps the occasional impressive haiku. What does is the attitude that whether youve just survived a plane crash (see the Guardians article) or youve just sat down with a cup of Bovril, the immediate prevailing thought is to publish oneself. Faced with this unrelenting, unverified barrage of thought bubbles, will we all have to become active editors of our own (and everyone elses) lives? Or will we just be tweeting while Rome burns?

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Heterogeneous Definition (Science)

Heterogeneous Definition (Science) The word heterogeneous is an adjective that means composed of different constituents or dissimilar components. In chemistry, the word is most often applied to a heterogeneous mixture. This is one which has a non-uniform composition. A mixture of sand and water is heterogeneous. Concrete is heterogeneous. In contrast, a homogeneous mixture has a uniform composition. An example is a mixture of sugar dissolved in water. Whether a mixture is heterogeneous or homogeneous is largely dependent on the scale or sample size. For example, if you look at a container of sand, it may appear to have evenly distributed particles (be homogeneous). If you viewed the sand under a microscope, you might find unevenly distributed clumps of different materials (heterogeneous). In materials science, specimens may consist entirely of the same metal, element, or alloy, yet display heterogeneous phases or crystal structure. For example, a piece of iron, while homogeneous in composition, might have regions of martensite and others of ferrite. A sample of the element phosphorus might contain both white and red phosphorus. In the broader sense, any group of dissimilar objects may be described as being heterogeneous. A group of people might be heterogeneous with respect to age, weight, height, etc.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Superman and Batman Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Superman and Batman - Essay Example The superhero’s socioeconomic status brings up another disparity. When Batman is living his civilian role as Bruce Wayne, he is a successful businessman (a billionaire) while Clark Kent, Superman’s alter ego, is just an ordinary writer for a newspaper making a modest salary. These differences make the ordinary citizen side of each character like night and day. But the differences do not end there, especially when it comes to their families and relationships. It should also be noted that Superman is raised by two parents (even though not his own), while Batman is raised by his butler, Alfred Pennyworth, who he continues to live with throughout adulthood. Furthermore, Batman has a partner, the Boy Wonder, also known as Robin, to assist him in his fight against crime, whereas Superman is always a one-man show with no sidekick. The people the superheroes surround themselves with are worlds apart. Another major difference between the two characters can be seen when looking at the settings in which they were raised. Superman grew up in the modest rural setting of a Kansas farm, while Batman grew up in a very luxurious lifestyle in a mansion, in the crowded metropolitan area known as Gotham City. These places of their upbringing are almost polar opposites. And finally, there are the physical and material differences between the two. Batman wears a mask, whereas the other caped crusader does not, as Superman’s disguise (or mask) is essentially the glasses he wears and his nerdy personality as Clark Kent. Furthermore, Superman’s sole means of transportation is his flying ability, whereas Batman primarily uses his popular Batmobile to speedily get from place to place, not to mention his other high-tech rides, including a plane, helicopter, motorcycle, and speedboat. Even though all of these differences may seem great in number, they pale in comparison to the striking similarities one can find between the two by digging a little deeper. There are many likenesses shared between the caped crusaders. The first key similarity to note between the superheroes is that both Superman and Batman were conceived (in the imagination) in the 1930s as comic book heroes. In Cleveland, Ohio, in June 1932, Jerry Siegel, an American writer created Superman and Canadian American artist Joe Shuster drew him before they sold the concept to Action Comics,

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Globalization Has Had Positive Impacts On Most Workers In The Third Essay

Globalization Has Had Positive Impacts On Most Workers In The Third World - Essay Example Although globalization has contributed to increased environmental consequences and widened the wage gap, it has contributed to the high demand for employment opportunities, increased competition and cultural diversity; thereby, creating instantaneous changes within the social structures of many cultural societies. History of Globilisation Globilisation can be traced back to the historical process, which began during the immigration of people from Africa to other parts of the globe. The migration process of merchants and labor force across the borders contributed to new changes including the new ideas, cultural diversity and new products. The first phase of globalization began in the 16th century during the pre-modern period where there were some improvements in maritime technologies (Lindio-McGovern and Wallimann (2009, p. 123). This period contributed to varied changes including maritime exploration, discovery, and centralization tendencies associated with monarchies and development of modern states. The second stage of globalization started on the late of 18th century, and this phase was marked by extensive Industrial Revolution. This was the time when human technology began flourishing, productivity increased and the consumption level for commodities increased. Globalization increased in 19th century and major developments were experienced in all sectors across the globe. The economic growth in many countries started expanding in the mid 1980s and the earlier 20th century. The modern globalization is the latest age of globalization that began in late 19th century throughout the 20th century; thus this period can be marked with rapid industrialization that allowed cheap production and labor force (Roberts and Hite 2007, p. 56). The... The research study indicates that globalization has significantly increased the amount of economic activities taking place across national boundaries, however, this has had huge impact on the lives of labor force and other communities everywhere. This is because the current globalization with diverse international policies and regulations underpinning it has contributed to increased hardships in the third world economies. This paper makes a conclusion that although globalization has contributed to increased environmental consequences and widened the wage gap, it has contributed to the high demand for employment opportunities, increased competition and cultural diversity; thereby, creating instantaneous changes within the social structures of many cultural societies. Therefore, to a larger extent, globalization has had impacts on the third world countries and many of them are positive impacts, which have contributed to economic growth in many of the third world nations. Developing nations have benefited from globalization because of increased employment opportunities and many of them are able to compete favorably with their competitors. It has also promoted free trade and increased cultural diversity, as well as, changes in income levels has companies have increasingly found access to international markets that offer outsourcing. However, to a smaller extent, globalization have contributed to increased environmental degradation, created capitalist society, widened income inequalities and increased poverty levels as capital flows are repatriated to the companies investing in developing nations.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

How Golding Uses Symbols in Lord of the Flies Essay Example for Free

How Golding Uses Symbols in Lord of the Flies Essay William Goldings book, Lord of the Flies (published in 1954) tells the story of a group of boys, who are stranded on an unknown island, when their plane crashes. On the surface, it is an interesting story of how the civilised English boys, during their time on the island, gradually lose their veneer of respectability and decent behaviour and devolve to the basest and barest form of humanity. Eventually, the boys almost entirely shake off the civilisation of the world they once knew. If we scratch beneath that surface, what we find is a much more complicated observation of society, laden with corporeal, philosophical and religious symbols. Indeed, the superb use of symbolism in the book is one of the contributing factors to the profundity of the book. The symbols that stand out the most are the conch; the gradual destruction of the island; Piggys spectacles; fire, and how it is used; and the beast, or the Lord of the Flies (another name given to the Devil), the crucial symbol, used throughout the book. All of these will be looked at into more detail, and, also, whether the beast is real or a physical manifestation of the boys fears, as well as the key comment that it is the evil which resides within man, will also be discussed. First, is the conch. This is the shell, which is discovered by Ralph and Piggy, and is used to represent power, authority and rules. From the very first time it is mentioned, Golding describes it as: pretty and a worthy plaything. It is, like everything else on the island, a simple and innocent object: and immediately afterwards, it becomes something so precious, due to its apparent beauty. Also, in the beginning, it is a mere utility: Piggy suggests that, when blown, it would be able to call the other boys, scattered around the area of the crash, to have a meeting. The fact that it is used to call already highlights its importance in the book, as it has instant results. The sound is, as Jack later says, like that of a trumpet, using the metaphor of summoning the boys: it has an authority all on its own. By the time of the next meeting, in the afternoon of that same day, Ralph, now elected leader, decides that it will be used during meetings, where only the person with it may speak. Ill give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when hes speakingAnd he wont be interrupted. Except by me.' Rules have been established, and the conch is at the centre if them, so it, now, is the means of putting across ones feelings and/or ideas. Naturally, everyone agrees, including Jack. Golding puts this into the book, commenting on mans need for rules within a society, and a code of behaviour, thus demonstrating what the conch symbolises. As well as these, it also symbolises democracy and free speech in our modern society, one of the few positive statements on humanity within the book, in the fact that all the boys are able to say something, as opposed to rule by force, or an autocracy, as demonstrated by Jacks leadership, later on in the book. By chapter Five, things have already drastically changed among the boys. The threat of the beast has been lurking among them all for some time, now, and it has been left to grow to such an extent, that more and more people are behaving differently towards the island and each other. When Ralph has to call an assembly concerning these issues, he finds it difficult to get anything across, or even to be listened to, without brandishing the conch, or repeatedly reminding them that he has it. This symbolises that the power and authority of the conch is weakening, as the boys are tiring of adhering to the rules. Ralph even comments on this during his speech, when he says: things are breaking upWe began well; we were happy. And then-. It also makes a sly comment on rules and authority among real human societies, saying that we are unable to keep to them because of our nature as free beings, and therefore, the very idea of a rule, something that will confine us, is only temporarily effective, because we just cannot rigidly or lastingly keep to them. Many have argued for and against this theory, and much of it has to do with where we believe our origins as humans lie. For instance, if one believes in the Christian God, they believe that we are the way we are, because of the Original Sin; if Atheist, one may believe in evolution, and that we should, possibly each of us, create our own rules and boundaries, and not let any one person or body decide for us. It is, indeed an interesting debate. The idea of power corrupting, and being corruptible in return, is also evident in the way that Jack speaks out openly against Ralph, repeatedly, either with or without the conch. He even says, during the assembly scene in chapter Five, bollocks to the rules! In chapter Eleven, by which time Jack has succeeded in taking almost complete control over the island, the idea of the conch has become a laughing stock, and it has physically become worn and faded, and less beautiful. Golding shows how everyone, including Ralph and Piggy, regards the conch. Despite them knowing, and seeing in practice, that the conch is virtually useless, Piggy still tells Ralph to call an assembly, and use it, because he is so rule-rigid and loyal to Ralph, that he refuses to undermine him by abandoning the rules; while even Ralph only uses it, under the direction of Piggy: You call an assembly, Ralph, we got to decide what to do. An assembly for only us? Its all we gotBlow the conch,' This strict allegiance of Piggys, even now, to Ralph and the conch proves to be his fatal feature, as, when he, Ralph, Sam and Eric go up to the Castle Rock of Jacks tribe, among jeers, insults and being ignored, Piggy still says: Ive got the conch! This annoys Jack and Roger so much, that both he, and the conch, now having lost its glow, are destroyed by the boulder, the conch being: exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceas[ing] to exist. Although there has been no real authority or rules for some time, by now, apart from Jacks, the end of the conch marks the real end, as even the husk, the last remaining vestige of organisation and rules, has been done away with. The fact that it is destroyed along with its one true follower, and the way that Golding writes it, links it with the idea of a murder: not only of Piggy, but of the conch, itself. Golding cleverly emphasises how insignificant it has become by putting its destruction into half of a sentence, and concentrating on the main part of the event, Piggys death. The next symbol to be discussed in the book is that of the island, and its gradual and subsequent ruin. Like the conch, it is a beautiful, peaceful and untouched world, but it is constantly affected by the boys actions throughout, even from before the book. From the first paragraph, the site of the crash is referred to as the scar, as if it were an injury to a living being, which, it could be argued, it is. Nevertheless, in chapter One, Golding creates a beautiful image of the island as a whole, using vivid description to emphasise its natural beauty, and this is continued right up to the point of the discovery of the conch: a great platform of pink granite; a criss-cross pattern of trunks, very convenient to sit on; bright with the efflorescence of tropical weed and coral; a golden light danced and shattered just over his face; the brilliance of the lagoon. Goldings intense description of the lagoon and the watery areas all create the calming effect of water, due to his detailing th eir appealing aspects. The boys initial reactions to it are similar to what the reader should have. They find it amazing and exotic, seeing their whole situation as an adventure, likening it to popular adventure stories, aimed, mainly, at boys, such as Swallows and Amazons, Treasure Island, and Coral Island, which they say. Their excitement overpowers their sense of reality, and the fact that they are alone, without any parents or adults, which piggy reminds them of. But in chapter two, only just after Jack, Ralph and Simon have surveyed the island, and told everyone else how big and beautiful it is, their enthusiasm leads them to make an irreparable mistake. In an attempt to make some sort of signal to the outside world, they start a fire, which subsequently ends up scorching a large chunk of the islands vegetation. This clearly symbolises mans effect on the natural world, and how selfish and inconsiderate we have been, in furthering our own society. The excitement and vigour with which the boys readily execute the fire also comments on this: A fire! Make a fire! At once half the boys were on their feet. Just like the young and carefree boys, man has created and used industry and technology to advance his own civilization, without the slightest thought for anything else. Already the intrinsic beauty of the island has been permanently tarnished twice. Piggy says, sarcastically, when commenting on the fire: You got your small fire all right. This theme of the gradual destruction of the island is continued throughout the rest of the book, which charts, in a way, the time and scale of mans destruction of the Earth. In chapter Six, the mother pig is brutally murdered, meaning that, now, although there will be plenty of meat, there wont be any new pigs to hunt, when they are all hunted down. And, of course, it all comes to an end, when the fire courses through the island, at the end, in chapter Twelve, finally completely obliterating anything natural, or pure, about the island. [Ralph] heard a curious trickling soundas if someone were unwrapping great sheets of cellophaneSmoke was seeping through the branches in white and yellow wispsand then the smoke billowed around him. Concerning the island, and what it represents, Golding has used such vivid imagery in his description, that, when the island is being razed to the ground, the reader is left to feel slightly sorrowful about its end, and it encourages the reader to reflect on what has happened on it ever since the boys arrived. This ties in very well with the religious connection, the island even being described as an Eden: the idea of the Original Sin being the cause of mans present physical and moral condition. At the beginning, the boys enjoy the island and are treating the whole experience as a great big adventure; after time elapses, and the boys have become afraid of the beast, lurking around the island, their terror and fear causes them to fight back against the island, thus doing things which, though they are not fully aware of it, are ruining their environment. Towards the end, they are conducting an all-out attack on the island, with the beast on it (though, with the leadership of Jack, this is somewhat directed against Ralph). Another distinctive symbol in the book, is Piggys spectacles. Not only are these a utility, when being used as the means to start a fire, but they also symbolise more: Piggys (or just, on its own) intelligence. It is the only asset that Piggy has over the others on the island, and it also ties in with him, his behaviour, and what they symbolise. Like the conch, and what it symbolises, Piggy holds dear his spectacles: this can be argued as natural, for realitys sake, but he is not the only boy who has such high esteem for them. Jack seizes them from him twice, and it could be said that Jack only does it partly for their usefulness, partly for what they symbolise (intelligence and foresight), and partly because Jack just hates Piggy and will do anything to cause harm or suffering towards him. When in chapter Four, they are damaged, with one of the lenses being broken, he doesnt care, as he mimics Piggys cry of Just you wait. And, in chapter Ten, Jack behaves triumphantly, when it is revealed that he and a couple of members of his tribe have raided the huts, and stolen Piggys spectacles: The chief led themexulting in his achievementFrom his left hand dangled Piggys broken glasses. This reaffirms how jack abuses intelligence, by stealing the spectacles, and glorifying his triumph. Another clear sign that the glasses represent intelligence is the fact that Piggy, the most rational and scientific boy there, is less confident, without them. In chapter Ten, after the damage, but before the raid, Piggy says, to Ralph: I only got one eye, now. You ought to know that'. Despite his reliability, even Ralph is beginning to lose hope in Piggy, his spectacles, and the meaningless conch. Golding makes the glasses now represent hope, or the lack of it. Because Piggys sight is dimmer, no one can see a way out of their predicament. This links with what Golding is saying about how man needs rules, with the conch: so, man must also need hope, otherwise, listlessness and hopelessness set in. Therefore, the link between rules and authority, hope, intelligence and foresight, and rationality is strongly emphasised. Golding is saying that we, as civilised humans need all four, which have made up our present society. Its also telling that their present society is in the middle of a nuclear war, which could be argued as whats happening on the island, anyway. This is most clearly represented by the fact that, at the end, where the island has been devastated, and the conch, Piggy and the glasses have all been done away with, there is no moral code. The island now mirrors both their and our present society. The next major symbol in the book is the fire, and it has many different uses in the story. In chapter One, the boys have the idea of making a fire, to act as a signal to any passing ships, despite their lack of concern or consideration for the rest of the island, already discussed. But, towards the end of the chapter, the fire is described as being something different: dangerous and destructive, as it burns down a part of the mountain. This is a hint of what is to come, both in terms of the plot, and Goldings way of using fire to symbolise how destructive humanity can be. All at once the lights flickering ahead of him merged together, the roar of the forest rose to thunder and a tall bush directly in his path burst into a great fan-shaped flamethe heat beating on his left side and the fire racing forward like a tide. It is telling, also, to what Golding believes about mans effect on the earth, as the fire has made the island a hell, compared to the paradise that it was at the beginning. When, in chapter Four, the fire goes out, it symbolises the loss of hope, in Ralph, as he is losing control of Jack and his hunters, and Jack is wresting the boys to his power. This is also where Piggys spectacles are damaged, and the chain of events, here, all symbolise the despair that Ralph is beginning to have. It also ties in with chapters Eight and Eleven, where Ralph speaks of Jack stealing the fire, or hope, that was keeping him and the boys sane, and working together. Here Golding is making another comment about our society: without hope, there is nothing worth fighting for or bothering with. The boys have become savage over a period of time, during which they were almost rescued, but due to their own selfishness in wanting to enjoy themselves, they have concerned themselves with fun and pleasure, seeing as there is no hope of anything else. And this is where fire, as a symbol, takes on a darker side. In chapter Nine, during the feast, and having used it to cook the meat of the mother-pig (though the utilisation of the fire for cooking the could be a positive thing), the boys dance around it, as if in some ritualistic sacrament: shouting, howling and chanting: Jack leapt on to the sand. Do our dance! Come on! Dance! A circling movement developed and a chantthe littluns ran and jumpedPiggy and Ralph, under the threat of the sky, found themselves eager to take a place in this demented but partly secure societyThe movementbegan to beat like a steady pulseThere was the throb and stamp of a single organism. The way that Golding describes it, conjures up the image of the boys transforming, literally, into the very same beast that they are all afraid of. The pace and the language of the words give off a feeling of great tension, signified by the coming storm in the scene. Also, the boys are described as a single organism. Due to the nature the story, Golding deliberately dehumanises the boys, and turns them into a mob, to comment on humanity as it acts in a very closed society. When one looks into human history, it is evident that in any one group, as factions, we have done terrible things to each other and to our environment. Simons death, included here, is probably the most lucid example of how destructive human beings are en masse. The final, and most distinctive, symbol to be discussed is that of the beast. This is the most profound icon used by Golding to convey his overall message of the evils within man, and his pessimism towards human nature. The beast is first introduced by one of the littleuns in chapter Two, after Ralph and Jack have explained their situation to the other boys. He wants to know what youre going to do about the snake-thing.Now he says it was a beastie' The idea that the beast is a snake-thing links in with the idea of the Original Sin: the Devil taking the shape of a serpent (snake) to tempt Eve, the mother of humanity, into wrongdoing. As looked at in discussion of the conch, the island, and the fire, we already know that things go wrong on the island, and that Golding attributes this to human nature. The beast, and this idea of it being inescapable represents this. For instance, the different methods by which the boys dream up its presence (from water, air, snake-like) al are natural, or biblical references. Every idea of the form of the beast is a comprehensible, human, one. Also, during the frequent discussions among the boys meetings, as the fear of the beast increases among the boys, so, too, does Simons understanding. In chapter Five, he says: Maybe there is a beastmaybe its only us This shows his comprehension of the idea of something evil and primitive growing within the society of the boys. This is made completely evident in chapter Eight, with his conversation (in actual fact, an epileptic fit) with the beast. Simon is in his special place, originally a peaceful area of contemplation, abused by Jacks placing the head of the hunted mother pig there, as an offering to the beast. The conversation itself is very insightful towards Goldings view of humanity and towards what Simon represents, also. The beast, or Lord of the Flies, as it is called, here, mentions Ralph, Jack, and Piggy, hinting at how they each represent an important aspect of human society (leadership, dictatorship, and rationality, respectively all of the secular, or physical features of humanity). The fact that the pig/beast is named as the Lord of the Flies links in with Goldings view that it is humanitys one true fault, that we have it in ourselves to be evil. Man is the beast; its simply the evil within the boys that motivates them to think of it. The Lord of the Flies says: You knew, didnt you? Im part of you?Im the reason why its no go? Why things are what they are? Of course, Simon isnt really talking to the Devil; the fact that its all taking place inside his own head highlights that he is merely seeing that this is the darker part of human nature. When Simon then goes up the mountain, to search for the truth about the beast which he, Ralph and Jack see, Golding is showing us that Simon is representative of Christ. He is the one who sees the problem with humanity, right from the beginning. He tries to explain this to his fellow man, and is laughed at about it, and considered to be mad or a fool; he eventually reaches enlightenment, when he finds out the truth (the figure they saw was only the dead body of a parachutist); and when, again, he tries to make this clear to the other boys, he is killed, tragically, during the feast-turned-ritual, while they are out of control: the crowd surged after it, poured down the rock, leapt on to the beast, screamed, struck, bit, torethe tearing of teeth and claws. Here, again, the boys are described as being the beast. Though extremely graphic and violent (as the death of Jesus was), Golding writes a beautiful aftermath, when describing the body being carried out to sea, paralleling the angelic ascension to heaven of Jesus: The edge of the lagoon became a streak of phosphorescence which advanced minutelyThe clear water mirrored the clear sky and the angular bright constellationsthe advancing clearness was full of strange, moonbeam-bodied creatures with fiery eyes. The way in which Golding has crafted the language to create this imagery, is conjuring up the thought of Simons spirit, as it were, drifting up. It also emphasises the idea of the calm after the storm. A storm, during which, dark and violent events have occurred amongst the boys, and on the island. Now, as an irredeemable act has been carried out, Golding helps the reader reflect on this, with the serenity and beauty of the aftermath. As we know, after Simons death, everything happens very quickly. Within two days, Jacks hunters raid Ralph, Piggy, Sam and Eric, and take Piggys glasses; Piggy is consciously murdered, in an attempt to retrieve them, and the conch is destroyed with him; Ralph is hunted down like a pig, and the island is destroyed completely by a raging fire, which, ironically, is the beacon that gets them rescued. The beast is Goldings main device, used to convey this overall theme of the evil within man and his society. Most of the events in the book revolve around it. Ralph, the leader, tries to reassure the boys that it doesnt exist, while being unsure of that himself; Piggy, the rational scientist, completely denies its existence, and pins the boys behaviour down to things which he can be certain of; Jack, the dictator, pragmatically uses the beast as fodder for the boys, denying its existence at one point, then offering it gifts at others. While Simon, the philosopher, is aware of its true form all along, but is ignored and killed for his speaking out about it. In conclusion, Goldings exceptionally complex novel is, probably, one of the grimmest, pessimistic, cynical, and yet extremely profound literatures ever written. His view of humanity and human nature is unparalleled in the way he conveys it. Whether it is realistic or not would need another essay to discuss it, but by studying all of his injected symbols, and the different purposes he creates for them, we are given a very vividly bleak image. The conch, a beautiful shell, used for a noble purpose, is abused and ridiculed, eventually unceremoniously destroyed, by which point it is dirty and uncared for. Its symbolising hope, authority, rules and freedom of speech comments on how we use these ideas today, in our society. The island, a paradise world, untouched and naturally beautiful, is ruined right from the boys very entrance, and is progressively destroyed, due to their unconcern for it. This shadows mans behaviour towards his surroundings and how he has advanced his own race without caution or care for the earth. Piggys glasses, rationality and intelligence, cherished by Ralph and Piggy, and abused by Jack, mirror how people have used science and philosophy for their own ends, so as to get away with terrible things. The fire is, at one point, a symbol of hope and rescue; and at other points, it symbolises destruction, danger, and fear. And, of course, the beast: Goldings main means. The evil within man, and how it is manifest. It is telling, however, that Lord of the Flies is only the first in a series of novels by Golding, used to convey his pessimistic view of humanity. As mentioned, there is so much to say about just the symbols he uses here, that makes this book one of literatures finest pieces.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Greek Gods :: essays research papers

The Greek Gods Many people would blatantly state that the importance of the gods in Greek society derives from the fact that Gods in any society are usually used to explain phenomenon that people cannot logically comprehend, but in ancient Greece gods were actually entities that took part in the workings of society itself. Even simple aspects of day-to-day life such as sex and disputes between mortals were supposedly influenced by godly workings. Unlike modern religions such as Catholicism, Buddhism, and Hinduism, where an omnipotent force supposedly controls the workings of the world, a hierarchy of Gods characterized religion in ancient Greece. Working as one big family, which they actually were, each one of the Greek gods governed a certain aspect of the world in a way that usually reflected their own humanlike personalities. These unique personalities also contained many human flaws such as envy and greed, and were where the Greek God’s importance lay. Greek religion was more concentrated on the way an individual dealt with situations that popped up in the world around him than on understanding the world itself. In other words the Greeks were more interested in the workings of the mind than in the workings of the environment around them. This was so because unlike us, the Greeks believed that they already had explanations for trivial questions such as, “Where the world came from?'; “Who are we?'; and “Who controls the world around us?'; To them all these questions could simply be explained by looking at their own mythology. It is hard for us to really understand how deeply these beliefs were rooted into their personalities, to the Greeks if some natural phenomenon occurred it occurred because one of their gods had decided to make it occur, it was just as simple as that. The existence of the God’s to the Greeks was something just as simple as that the fact that the sky is blue is simple to us. The strength of these preconceived ideas can be seen in Strepsiades’s words while he argues with Socrates in Aristophanes’s The Clouds: STREPSIADES: “What on earth - ! You mean you don’t believe in Zeus?'; SOCRATES: “Zeus? Who’s Zeus?'; STREPSIADES: “Zeus who lives on Olympus, of course.';   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  SOCRATES: “Now really, you should know better. There is no Zeus.';   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  STREPSIADES: “What? Well, who sends the rain, then? Answer me that.';   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In General the Greeks respected and feared their gods because they understood that they were superior creatures, but they usually felt differently about different gods depending on that God’s personality and the myths that surrounded his existence.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Organizational Behavior across Cultures Essay

Cultural differences are inevitable in the world of today; the world is indeed an amalgamation of different cultures composed of diverse attitudes and values. People act in reference to the cultural features that define them. The distinctive nature of cultures brings sharp differences that people need to learn how to cope with, and embrace in their interactions (McFarlin & Sweeney, 2013). The most significant aspect is appreciating cultural differences and developing sensitivity towards cultural diversity. Without such, people from different cultural backgrounds often find it hard to relate effectively, and this leads to conflict. Organizational behavior is an example of many realms that cultural differences affect. Whenever an organization has employees from different cultural orientations, it is evident that the interaction amongst them will require cultural sensitivity in order to cultivate effective organizational relations. Literature Review                  In the wake of the globalization age, organizations are employing people from different cultures. Gelfand, Erez and Aycan (2007) assert that the importance of expatriates in the corporate world is increasing; hence, people are crossing boarders to find employment in other countries. Of course, this trend implies that different cultures will have to connect and meet organizational objectives. Certainly, an organization should develop structures of embracing cultural diversity by encouraging its employees to embrace sensitivity towards one another. In a cross-cultural environment, leadership is significant in realizing coherence among the employees. This fosters a robust organizational behavior by instilling cultural sensitivity among the employees (Gelfand, Erez and Aycan, 2007). In reference to the case study, John moves from Germany to the UAE for employment purposes. The culture at home is different from the culture in the UAE, thus he has to adjust to the organizational culture of the new environment. This emphasizes the point that different countries have different cultural trends. Saunders (2010) highlights that culture is richly embedded in values, norms and attitudes that defines it. People’s personalities and behavior stems from their cultural trends and beliefs. Thus, the organizational culture of an organization is influenced by the collective and individual cultural features of its employees. The unique features of the employees affect the way they relate to each other; hence influencing the organizational behavior (Saunders, 2010). For instance, a person’s religious beliefs and approach towards creating relationships have a huge impact on how he relates with other people. Cultural differences have being a source of conflict among employees, as every one seeks to practice his or her identity (Saunders, 2010). In such instances, it is important to note that managing the conflict from a cultural perspective is paramount. Since cultural diversity is the cause of the discontent, it is essential to address the cultural differences in a viable wa y. This will go a long way in creating a good environment for the employees. Based on the case study, it is true that Ahmad does not appreciate John’s insensitive nature to the culture of the UAE. As a devoted Muslim, Ahmad expected John to respect the month of Ramadan and ascribe to its rules because it is a significant religious practice in the UAE. The rude response from Ahmad surprises John because he did not violate the rules of Ramadan intentionally. Ahmad appears to uphold his cultural standards more than the professional standard, bearing in mind that John is his senior in the organization. Evidently, cultural differences have the capacity to influence the organizational behavior in an institution. Organizational behavior in a cross-cultural environment requires the individual and collective responses from the employees. It is evident that cultural diversity is a universal phenomenon that has an immense influence in the organizational culture of organizations. Fischer et al. (2005) posit that without effective management of cultural differences in an organization, it is certain that employees cannot develop feasible relationships to attain organizational goals and objectives. Fostering efficient relationships in a cross-cultural environment calls for employees and the leadership to enact cultural sensitive structures of adapting to the cultural diversity (Obinna and Farkas, 2011). Cultural intelligence is a significant element of embracing cultural diversity. Through cultural intelligence, an organization is able to appreciate the diverse cultural features in it, and work towards developing viable relationships aimed at achieving results. At the individual level, employees shou ld develop emotional intelligence in order to embrace and realize the beauty in cultural diversity. Valuing the cultural dimensions of fellow employees is paramount in encouraging a vibrant organizational behavior in a cross-cultural environment. The information above is true in relation to the case study. After realizing that he had violated the cultural rules of the UAE, John responded well by apologizing to Ahmad. Moreover, Ahmad also apologized to John for being rude and for not considering that he was from a different cultural background. The effective communication that ensued was vital in establishing a good relationship between John and the other employees. Cultural sensitivity was instrumental in developing efficient relationships in the organization. Conclusion                  Indeed, cultural diversity is a global trend that is not only unique to the UAE, but also to other parts of the world. It is important for the management of companies and organizations to manage cultural differences in the right way in order to build strong and efficient relationships among employees. This calls for embracing cultural diversity and valuing the contributions of every employee in an organization. References Gelfand, M.J., Erez, M. and Aycan, Z. (2007). Cross-Cultural Organizational Behavior. Annual Review of Psychology, 58 (479-514). Fischer, R., Ferreira, M.C., Asmar, E.R., Redford, P., and Harb, C. (2005). Organizational Behavior across Cultures. International Journal of Cross-Cultural Management, 5(1) 27-48. McFarlin, D. B., & Sweeney, P. D. (2013). International organizational behavior transcending borders and cultures. New York: Routledge. Obinna, A.K. and Farkas, M.K. (2011). Cultural Conflict Management for Firms and Organizations. International Journal of Business and Management Studies, 3(2). Saunders, M. (2010). Organizational trust: a cultural perspective. New York: Cambridge University Press. Source document

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Kandos Choco

Market Chocolates – like ice cream, toothpaste and milk powder – have universal appeal across all demographics and cultures. But unlike toothpaste and milk powder, chocolate is not considered an absolute necessity; nor is it endorsed by opinion leaders. In fact, dentists and nutritionists often ‘De-market' the product – especially since it is perceived as being a product that is generally not suitable for children. Despite these constraints, the Western influence of chocolate as a snack, reward or gift has gained universal acceptance.The habit of housecoat being given as a gift between loved ones, friends and relatives is widespread – and in this respect, chocolate often triumphs over flowers as the gift of choice. The best evidence of this is on Valentine's Day, seasonal and religious events such as Christmas and New Year, and birthdays and anniversaries. Chocolate is also a popular impulse item, where purchasing is influenced by visibility in store s and by packaging. The Sir Lankan chocolate market has been dominated by many local players. But Kansas is the undisputed market leader, enjoying a 56% market share.The total imported brand share is sees than 5% in Sir Lankan, which is unusual considering the fact that India as well as other markets in the region are being dominated by foreign brands, which account for more than 90% of their chocolate brands. Kansas, however, has a strong base. It was the premier chocolate long before foreign competitors and local imitators arrived on the scene. The local consumer has been exposed to the unique taste of Kansas for the past 44 years, thereby ensuring brand loyalty. The market is now quite sophisticated, with many pack designs, display configurations,

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Samuel Clemens essays

Samuel Clemens essays The Life of Samuel Clemens A.K.A. Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens is better known as Mark Twain, the distinguished novelist, short story writer, essayist, journalist, and literary critic who ranks among the great figures of American Literature. Twain was born in Florida Missouri, in 1835, To John Marshall Clemens and Jane Lampton. As a new born Twain already had moved four times westward. In 1839 the family moved again, this time eastward to Hannibal, Missouri. Hannibal was a frontier town of less than 500 residents. As small as the town was it offered valuable materials and opportunities for a young writer. Most of the residents knew Samuel well, considering they were on the lower half of the social scale, such as poor whites and slaves. The town of Hannibal was mostly used for farmers coming in from the countryside. It was also a river town, swamped with travelers moving up stream and down stream. Some of the travelers were steamboat men, circus performers, minstrel companies, and showboat actors. Since all this action was going on all the time, that opened a big door to the beginning of Samuels stories. It provided a huge source of literary material. Shortly after the death of his father in 1847, he ended the brief period of his schooling to become a printers apprentice. Like many nineteenth century authors, he was preparing for his writing career later in life. Working as a Printers apprentice he got practice as a typesetter and miscellaneous reading. The first thing Samuel wrote as a used piece was a few skits for his brothers Orions Hannibal newspaper and a sketch, for The Dandy Frightening The Squatter, published in Boston in 1852. The first real book ever published by Mark Twain was Life on the Mississippi River. Between 1853 and 1857 Clemens worked a journeyman printer in seven different places. During this trip of making sketches and writing stories, he began eastward by ...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Synonyms for Works

Synonyms for Works Synonyms for Works Synonyms for Works By Mark Nichol Several words available to writers seeking to succinctly refer to the entirety of a person’s artistic or literary works are listed and described in this post. Canon, often confused with cannon, is from the Greek noun kanon, â€Å"meaning rule,† and has multiple meanings. In this context, it refers to a body of works generally accepted or approved as categorized together. As the word pertains to franchises of content in multiple media within popular culture, such as Star Wars films, television series, books, and so on, it is used to describe a piece of content or an element within such content that is considered authentic, as opposed to a work or an element thereof not (or no longer) authorized or sanctioned by the copyright holder, or a parody, or a piece of fan fiction (unsolicited, freely distributed amateur-produced content). A similar word is corpus, which has several meanings but refers in this context to the body of work produced by a writer or all the works that pertain to a particular subject or category; the word, directly borrowed from Latin, means â€Å"body† and is cognate with corporal, corporation, corps, corpse, and other words. Opus, from the Latin word for â€Å"work† (also the basis of operate), most often refers to a single musical composition or a set of compositions- opera is, along with opuses, simply a plural form of opus- but it also applies loosely to one work or all works by an artist or a writer. The artistic or literary effort considered the best produced by a particular person is referred to as his or her magnum opus; that phrase, directly adopted from Latin, means â€Å"great work.† A related word is oeuvre, the French descendant of opera; it pertains to the body of works produced by a particular artist or writer. (Oeuvre is the basis of â€Å"hors d’oeuvre,† directly taken from the French synonym for appetizers; the phrase literally means â€Å"outside the work,† referring to the fact that such delicacies are traditionally served before the first course of a meal or between courses.) Output is a prosaic synonym describing what has been put out, or produced, by someone. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Avoid Beginning a Sentence with â€Å"With†Latin Plural EndingsProverb vs. Adage

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Preparedness of Intensive Care Unit Nurses Case Study

Preparedness of Intensive Care Unit Nurses - Case Study Example Just by the looks of it, not only are researchers in agreement as to what good palliative care is; there is also a tall task that is assigned to nurses in palliative care. Amidst constant cry for better training and preparation, palliative care nurses are expected to perform these tasks that entail not only academic inputs but psychological and emotional preparedness as well. As we have seen above, even oncology nurses find themselves still wanting when it comes to providing quality end-of-life care, though, no one can deny that palliative nurses are supposed to be the model for end-of-life care. Given these demands of palliative care, and given the fact that even the conference cites palliative care as the guide for quality end-of-life care in the ICU, let us now turn to examine the present situation of UK ICU nurses. After which, we shall see whether they are prepared for end-of-life care, as discussed above, or if they are still wanting. Let us first look at some facts about UK IC U Nurses. We will do the assessment as to their preparedness or unpreparedness after.   ICU nurses may receive training for advanced life support skills.   That nurses may undergo training to be able to provide the following: manual defibrillation, shock advisory defibrillation, intravenous cannulation, intravenous adrenaline administration, laryngeal mask airway insertion, and tracheal intubation (O’Higgins et al. 2001: 46-47). This is an improvement in line with an earlier survey which states that only â€Å"12 percent of British nurses regularly performed arterial puncture† compared to 75 percent of Swedish nurses that regularly do such a procedure (Depasse et al. 1998: 939). Within the same report, it was also stated that British nurses are less involved in invasive procedures, in spite of higher levels of staffing (1998: 944). In the magazine, Nursing (2000: 32 cc6), it was reported that aside from ICU nurses being overworked which may result in increased mortality rate, other factors exist that may contribute to higher mortality rates during peak hours.

Friday, November 1, 2019

TQM (total quality management) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

TQM (total quality management) - Essay Example These concerns, alongside various others, gave rise to the breed of management called Total Quality Management.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Total Quality Management (TQM) is a management system that aims to achieve the ultimate customer experience, whether meeting the expectation of the customers or going beyond what they anticipated (Dale, 1999). Dale (1999) expresses that in order achieve the goal of TQM, strong cooperation and involvement from the entirety of the company is needed. Thus, TQM requires active participation and synergy of all employees and focusing that synergy towards meeting the customers expectations and improving overall business processes. To attain improvement in the company, various researchers said that the key to improvement is constant upgrading and development (Goetsch & Davis, 1994). Management should not stop upgrading because all processes can still be improve and be better. Once they stop improving, they could be left behind by their competitors. Based on this discussion, TQM seems to be a management concept only. However, TQM also has a quantitative and more defin ed facet (Priporas and Psychogios, 2007). Priporas and Psychogios (2007) identified some of the quantitative aspect or measure of TQM, which includes Statistical Process Control, ISO 9000 standards, Pareto Analysis, Histograms, among others. On the other hand, the qualitative ideas that constitute TQM are overall workers’ participation; uninterrupted upgrading; incessant coaching; cooperative relation among employees; self-motivated employees; full dedication and support from high-tiered officers; independent and autonomous administration approach; consumer happiness; and business surrounding alterations (Priporas and Psychogios, 2007).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The main purpose of TQM is already well-known to everyone—customer satisfaction. However, to achieve this employee satisfaction should be fulfilled. Once the employee is satisfied and happy, it will be his innate response and goal to