Saturday, August 31, 2019

Globalization on Chinese Society Essay

Our research aims to discover peculiarities of ideology in China. It’s going to highlight integrating values, legitimating the government’s policies and continued authority. The study is a review of articles by David Lynch, Gordon White and Feng Chen. From the recent past years up to this point of time, China has been taking part in extensive economic globalization activities like facilitating free trade policy. China’s new economic openness has resulted to remarkable growth trends. It has been practicing its â€Å"go out policy† by participating in the international market competitions. Observers have also noted some major changes in the Chinese media in coping up with globalization. With China’s entry to the World Trade Organization, structural reforms have taken place and more and more researchers have focused their interest on the interaction between Chinese media particularly television and the world at large. Currently, China is still in a whirl and sways with various ideologies such as a waning communist ideology, an increasing conservatism, as well as liberalism. Various ideological trends such as globalism, nationalism, individualism and pragmatism are likewise alive and under further exploration especially by Chinese youths. The pursuit of the leftists who adhere to the theory of socialism, elect to preserve the fundamental purity of the socialist economy and state authority. Meanwhile, reformists have argued that China should rather enrich its market economy and the rights to property. Besides, reformists want to recognize private entrepreneurship to join the Party. There exists some few numbers of youths having true belief in communism. Most of them, however, want membership to the Party as a stepping ladder in gaining their individual objectives. In some of the researches, David Lynch (2000 (Lynch, 1999, p173) has focused his objects on what expectations the intellectual and political elites expect leading to same changes in China for the years ahead. The objects include linked issues on some domestic and political affairs, the power capability of China as a nation, how the party state would defend its national identity as well as its cultural heritage and integrity in the face of the raging and deepening effects of globalization. Besides, Lynch assesses on how China aligns its new development and technology in directing its society’s future. With the continued transformation of the media including print, TV, the Internet, the entry of some foreign TV programming and the likes now depends mostly on the supply and demand and the behavior of the controlling party. The improvements of local or domestic contents have rivalled foreign counterparts. Lynch also assessed the trends in censorship and found some possible means by which media could possibly find ways of overcoming or avoiding rules, laws, problems, or difficulty to government restrictions of imported as well as local media contents. Briefly, Lynch tries to arrive at a point when the communist government’s hold on China’s domestic affairs would become loose due to the use of new technology. â€Å"Dilemmas of ‘Thought Work’ in Fin-de-Siecle China† reports that in May 1997 was established special organ of the Party Central Committee – Central Guidance Committee on Spiritual Civilization Construction. This fact indicates the seriousness of intentions in pursuing the spiritual civilization line. â€Å"Thought work† refers to Chinese Communist Party’s attempts to transmit socialist ideology and to control ideas of the masses so that they will comply to the demands of the national development plan. In his article Lynch argued that the government’s efforts to build a socialist spiritual civilization in China failed. He concluded that government’s attempts to limit access to global media and control political discourse turn out to be ineffective. Lynch reports the Chinese Ministry of Public Security’s estimate that as many as 620,000 Chinese had access to the internet in 1997, with a rise to 4 million expected by 2000 (Lynch, 1999, p. 193). The propaganda state is indeed crumbling. The author reports that Chinese children play cops and robbers who require the cops to inform the robbers of their rights before taking them into detention, as they have seen in American movies (Lynch, 1999). Other political writers like Feng Chen and Gordon White agree that China’s Chinese Communist Party is capable of adapting itself to the changing political climate. Moreover, China’s leaders could strengthen its position like having political legitimacy by re-inventing itself and continue some evolutionary tuning to reinforce the CCP’s legitimacy. Nevertheless, evolutionary refining is a hit and miss system that nobody can guaranty its success. Gordon White primarily focused on the politically engaged society in China. According to White politically-engaged society proved to be a durable theme in Chinese politics. Riding the Tiger concludes that society’s political engagement with the state will shape future of the state. For example, There may be a form of Chinese ‘Brezhnevism’ to see out the millennium as the current leadership tries to stay in power. If this is indeed the case, then the political contradictions and trends which I have identified will intensify and make it more likely that the transition, when it comes, will be sudden, radical and possibly violent. (White, 1993, p. 255) Even if the market becomes predominant through radical reform and even if it takes a capitalist form, which is very probable, there is a continuing need for a new form of developmental state to tackle†¦social and economic problems [such as market failure and its consequences for the poor]. In the short term, moreover, the role of the state is even more crucial because of the need to break through the ‘hard policy constraint’ and manage the transition from a planned to a market economy. This is a process†¦which is fraught with instability and tensions arising from the opposition of vested interests, threats to economic security, inflation and growing inequality. A strong state is needed to provide the political order and direction necessary to underpin this transition and regulate an emergent market economy in a huge and increasingly complex country. (White, 1993, pp. 238-9) As Gordon White has observed in Riding the Tiger, an attempt to establish a political system that can serve as an alternative to both capitalist economics and liberal politics has not appeared to be possible in China: â€Å"Marxist-Leninist socialism has been incapable of reforming itself and that ‘market socialism’ rather than saving its bacon, cooks its goose† (White, 1993, p. 12). White was writing at the start of the 1990s. Civil society-like forms emerged in China in the 1990s. That process the result collapse of the state structure, as it was in Soviet Union. But for the time being the Party-state still remains in command. As it was noted in Riding the Tiger, â€Å"to the extent the economic reforms were the spearhead of an attempt to resuscitate the political fortunes of Chinese state socialism, they can be judged to be a dismal failure†(White, 1993, p. 233). By the millennium China was certainly the most successful of the socialist states in adjusting to capitalism. Yet at the same time socialism remains in place in China and power is monopolized by the Communist Party. White denoted this combination as â€Å"market Stalinism† (White, 1993, p. 256). White suggests that the increasing prevalence of the elements of a civil society does not point toward an evolution into more liberal regime with market-oriented economy and multiparty political system. The author also noted that in Chinese society there are some groups that didn’t make benefits from the reforms. These would include state officials and state workers, women and the unemployed and floating populations: Fear of threats to status, power or income; disappointment because the reforms were delivering less than they had promised; disgruntlement arising from the â€Å"red-eye disease†; concerns that gains already achieved were in danger of erosion (through inflation and leadership mismanagement); contrarily, impatience at a deceleration of the reforms and anxiety at an acceleration. (White, 1993, p. 217) Some observers have concluded that the efforts of the Central Party in building some thought works on socialism in China has been not effective. Moreover, they gravitate to some extent. Formerly, China firmly opposed globalization as it disrupts some global institutions. Today, China is one of the firm advocates of liberalization and globalization, opening its trading system to the world. Slowly but surely, the Chinese system has now been updating itself on the rule of law, adapting many foreign laws to transform its civilization. China’s success through globalization, which happened in a short time, has indeed uplifted the standards of living of many workers. With such economic success arising from the impact of globalization, China has learned some stressful and painful lessons adjusting itself. Some of the effects include the decline of state employment from 110 million in 1995 to 66 million in March 2005, the lost of 25 million jobs in the manufacturing establishments, and the consolidation of some 125 car companies to just six firms. Its recent economic growth has revived and revved up the economy of Japan and kept safe its neighboring countries from recession, which otherwise could have led to a risky global downturn. With the prevailing trend of globalization, the process has deeply influenced the study habits, culture, and consumption styles of the youth (ACYF). They now believe that English is a basic skill and reference for one to acquire a degree. As more and more Chinese youths go out to study abroad, more and more of them have returned home, which benefits their culture. The youths now could avail some entertainments made in the USA, Europe, and elsewhere via television, films, videos, and the internet. Even internet games or serial TV programs from Japan or Korea have become the favorite of young students. Young people now in China are learning more the facts of life, society, and world affairs through the said media. When educators, scholars, officials, and artists speak of culture, this includes both the physical and non-physical aspects. The physical or material aspects include sites, landscapes, monuments, buildings, and like objects whereas non-physical aspects include music dance, language, poetry, and the like, which have been associated with China’s social practices. The non-physical culture is China’s living heritage is passed from one generation to the other. In reality, one should accept the fact that culture cannot be easily isolated from the influence or effects of globalization (UICIFD). To conclude the work we should note that ideology is still alive in China. The Chinese communist regime didn’t decline its ideological absolutism. The Communist Party alone that possesses the universal truth and represents the fundamental interest of the people (Guo, 1995, p. 84). In fact, â€Å"Mao Zedong thought† or â€Å"Deng Xiaoping theory† was adapted by the post-Mao party leadership in accordance with the changes of the China’s specific conditions. But this modification does not suggest discarding the fundamental principles and norms, but renovation within the same basic framework of development of Marxism. But post-Mao regime has cautiously modified some of Mao’s doctrines through the official interpretation of the sacred text (Guo, 1995, p. 84-85). As Feng Chen asserted, agricultural decollectivization in China was not an equivalent of â€Å"privatization,† but only the transformation of the rural economy into â€Å"a new type of collective economy, characterized by combining public ownership of the land with totally individualized operations of production† (Feng Chen, 1998, p. 82). To the post- Mao leadership, such an arrangement is defined as the â€Å"separation of land ownership rights and land use rights† (Feng Chen, 1998, p. 88). Land in China remains under public ownership. Reference List White, G. (1993). Riding the Tiger: The Politics of Economic Reform in Post-Mao China. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press; London: Macmillan. Lynch, D. (1999). Dilemmas of ‘Thought Work’ in Fin-de-Siecle China. China Quarterly, 157. Guo, S. (1995). Totalitarianism: An Outdated Paradigm for Post-Mao China? Journal of Northeast Asian Studies, 14 (2). Chen, F. (1998). Rebuilding the Party’s Normative Authority: China’s Socialist Spiritual Civilization Campaign. Problems of Post-Communism, 45 (6).

Friday, August 30, 2019

Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious Essay

As Antonia Peacocke quotes in her essay, â€Å"The show Family Guy is one of the first in history that has been canceled not just once, but twice† (300-301). The show was brought back in August 2000 and again in July 2001 when fans could not get enough of the adult cartoon. As well as being a fan favorite, Family Guy is also a controversial topic for critics all over the world. In the essay, â€Å"Family Guy and Freud: Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious†, Antonia Peacocke analyzes the show and gives her reasons why it is not all negative and crude humor. Antonia Peacocke is a student at Harvard University. She is also a National Merit Scholar, and has won awards such as the Catherine Fairfax MacRae prize for Excellence in both English and Mathematics. She was asked to write this essay specifically for the book They Say, I say: with readings. The Peacocke’s main point of her entire essay is that she wants to let readers know why Family Guy is not a bad show, in her and others opinions, but one that has been criticized for solely bringing entertainment. Peacocke does a successful job in portraying this, but it is not completely clear until the end, where her thesis can be found. The very last sentence of the essay is her thesis: â€Å"While I love Family Guy as much as any fan, it’s important not to lose sight of what’s truly unfunny in real life – even as we appreciate what is hilarious in fiction† (Peacocke 308). Peacocke’s thesis could be a little more clear throughout her essay, therefore, I do not feel it is as effective as it could be, but the author clearly states her argument and presents her case. Peacocke starts the essay of by saying, â€Å" Before I was such a devotee, however, I was adamantly opposed to the program for its particular brand of humor† (Peacocke 300). She makes it clear her feelings about the show in the very beginning. Although she is a fan, she at one time disliked the show. She quotes Stephen Dubner, co-author of Freakonomics, as saying â€Å"a cartoon comedy that packs more gags per minute about race, sex, incest, bestiality, etc. than any other show [he] can think of† (Peacocke 300). She backs up her one time opinions by saying â€Å"It will come as no surprise that I was not alone in this view; many still denounce Family Guy as bigoted and crude† (Peacocke 300). Although the show is currently very successful, she says â€Å"It must be one of the few shows in television history that has been canceled not only once, but twice†¦ The show ran until August 2000, but was besieged by so many complaints†¦that Fox shelved it until July 2001† (Peacocke 300). Also, she says, â€Å"I must admit, I can see how parts of the show might seem offensive if taken at face value† (Peacocke 302). At one point Peacocke realized, â€Å" [I found myself] forced to give Family Guy a chance. It was simply everywhere â€Å" (Peacocke 302). One of Peacocke’s main points is that Family Guy has gained much positive attention. On Facebook, as Peacocke explains, â€Å"there are 23 universal separate Family Guy groups with a combined membership of 1,669 people (compared with only 6 groups protesting against Family Guy, with 105 members total). Users of the well-respected Internet Movie Database rate the show 8.8 out of 10† (Peacocke 303). As you can see, â€Å"among the public and within the industry, the show receives fantastic acclaim; it has won eight awards, including three primetime Emmys† (Peacocke 303). Also, when the show was on the brink of cancellation, â€Å" fans provided the brute source necessary to get it back on the air† (Peacocke 303). The more she was around the show, the more positively she viewed it. Peacocke then goes on to say that those who do not often watch the show, â€Å"could easily come to think that the cartoon takes pleasure in controversial humor just for its own s ake† Peacocke 303). The next main point that Peacocke claims is that viewers who â€Å"pay more attention and think about the creators’ intentions can see that Family Guy intelligently satirizes some aspects of American culture† (Peacocke 304). The next paragraph is a segment from an episode in season 4, which shows Stewie reading a book only because it was on the Oprah reading list. Peacocke says â€Å" [Brian and] Stewie demonstrate insightfully and comically how Americans are willing to follow the instructions of a celebrity blindly – and less willing to admit that they are doing so† (Peacocke 304). The jokes that Family Guy is known for, â€Å"attract a different kind of viewer. Such viewers are†¦conscious and critical viewers† (Peacocke 304). In my opinion, the very last sentence is the most powerful in the whole essay. Peacocke states â€Å"They are not – and I cannot stress this enough, self serving as it may seem – immoral or easily manipula ted people† (304). Peacocke says that it sheds light on, and allows viewers â€Å" the ability to analyze what they are watching, the creators of Family Guy point out the weaknesses and defects of U.S. society in a mocking and sometimes intolerant way† (Peacocke 305). A good example of this is the segment from the episode â€Å"I Am Peter, Hear Me Roar.† In this episode, â€Å"the ‘instructional video’ quoted above becomes not only funny but also insightful. In its satire, viewers can recognize the sickly sweet and falsely sensitive sexism of the 1950s in observing just how conveniently self-serving the speaker of the video appears. The message of the clips denounces and ridicules sexism rather than condoning it† (Peacocke 305). The last main point that Peacocke makes is that â€Å"Family Guy does not aim to hurt, and its creators take certain measures to keep it from hitting too hard†¦ Seth MacFarlane plainly states that there are certain jokes too upsetting to certain groups to go on the air† (Peacocke 307). Also, Peacocke states that â€Å"I believe Family Guy has its intelligent points, and some of its seemingly ‘coarse’ scenes often have hidden merit† (Peacocke 308). In the next sentence Peacocke does admit that â€Å"sometimes the creators do seem cross – or, perhaps, eagerly race past – the line of indecency† (Peacocke 308). In her closing paragraph, Peacocke questions the fact that â€Å"while Family Guy can provide a sort of relief by breaking down taboos, we must still wonder whether or not these taboos exist for a reason† (Peacocke 308). All three main points that the author makes are valid, and as seen in quotes, each main topic is backed up by main points. The first main point is that Family Guy is gaining positive attention. Although this is a valid point, as seen by the popularity, and the awards, this isn’t reason enough to call the show ‘good.’ As the author states, at one point she was not a fan of the show but it later turned onto it by exposure. The content of the show did not change for her opinion to change, she just gave the show a chance and realized she liked the humor. The second main point is that the show makes intellectual references to American culture. This is a valid point as to why the show is good. Any show with a little bit of substance makes references to the past and current topics. It tells what is going on in the world, and explains topics everybody should be aware of. The last main point is that Family Guy breaks rules that no other major TV program or network has been able to break. Although many critics believe these are rules that shouldn’t be broken, the creators believe it needs to be done. This makes it a ‘good’ because it crosses boundaries that others are afraid to cross. Conclusion will link back to first comparison to Freud. Work Cited Peacocke, Antonia. â€Å"Family Guy and Freud: Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious.† They Say, I Say: with readings. Ed. Cathy Birkenstein, Russel Durst, and Gerald Graff. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. 300-308. Print.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

The English Only Movement in US

Language has always been an important part of a country†s culture and way of life. When the U. S. was founded, it was common to hear as many as 20 languages spoken along with many documents that were printed in different languages. There have been many debates over establishing a national language, and a movement arose that strives to establish English as the nation†s official language. This movement is known as the â€Å"English Only† movement, and it â€Å"promotes the enactment of legislation that restricts or prohibits the use of languages other than English by government agencies and, in some cases, by private businesses† (ALCU). Many people whom support the â€Å"English Only† movement believes that multilingualism is too costly and inefficient for the government to operate in. Making English as an official language will have little day-to-day effect on the population and their lifestyles or private lives. They believe that declaring English as the official language is the fairest way to handle over 300 languages spoken in the U. S. (LIA). Many people support multilingualism and oppose having English as an official language because it is unfair to individuals who are not fluent in English. Also, they create false stereotypes of immigrants and non-English speakers. They conclude that it violates the diversity embodied in our Constitution, creating restrictions and limits instead of protecting individual rights, and it does not help the integration of language minority citizens into the American mainstream. I personally support keeping the U. S. as a multilingual nation. I feel that the nation is running smoothly enough and it does not need to be changed in that way. There are many nations that hold multiple official languages that run very smoothly. I do not see why it is necessary for our nation to require English to be an official language with more than 30 percent of the nation coming from a different ethnic group or culture. Therefore, I believe that this nation should not enforce English as the official language. For more than 200 years, Americans have gotten by without declaring English our official language. Congress had never even considered declaring English the nation's official language until 1981. The only previous official-language legislation dates back to 1923: a bill designating â€Å"American† the national tongue. Americans have traditionally resisted language legislation, beginning in 1780, when John Adams proposed to establish an official Language Academy to set standards for English. This idea was rejected by the Continental Congress as an improper role for government and a threat to individual liberties. There was no English proficiency requirement to become naturalized as a U. S. citizen until 1906 – the first major language restriction to be enacted at the federal level. Before World War I, bilingual education was common in areas where nonanglophone groups enjoyed political clout. During the 19th century, state laws, constitutions, and legislative proceedings appeared in languages as diverse as Welsh, Czech, Norwegian, Spanish, French, and of course, German. At other times, Americans have imposed restrictive language policies. California rewrote its state constitution in 1879 to eliminate Spanish language rights. In 1897, Pennsylvania made English proficiency a condition of employment in its coal fields, a none-too-subtle way to exclude Italians and Slavs. Security fears during the World War I era led to unprecedented bans on public use of the German language – in schools, on the street, during religious services, and even on the telephone. (Crawford) Proposition 227 was passed by a substantial majority of California voters. Its passage is the direct result of the state's poor student performance in English. Until its passage, California embraced bilingual education. Proposition 227 virtually ends bilingual education in California and reintroduces phonics based programs. The California Content Standards and California Education Code clearly define the course requirements under Proposition 227 and the goals for grade level performance. Many groups and organizations feel that making English the official language is essential and beneficial for the U. S. government and its citizens. These groups believe that official English promotes unity. â€Å"This long tradition of assimilation has always included the adoption of English as the common means of communication† (USE). Many studies show that immigrants learn English slower when they are supported by their native language. Since multilingual government services actually encourage the growth of linguistic enclaves, this causes the U. S. to divide into separate language groups because of racial and ethnic conflicts (USE). Also, immigrants will benefit from learning English by being able to participate in the government and the workforce. If immigrants were not proficient in English, they would be subjected to the low-skilled and low-paying jobs. â€Å"Knowledge of English leads to the realization of the American dream of increased economic opportunity and the ability to become a more productive member of society, which benefits everyone† (USE). Many organizations also feel that official English can save money from the unnecessary duplication of government services in multiple languages. â€Å"It is not the responsibility of the government to provide services in the 329 different languages spoken in the United States. It is the responsibility of each individual to either learn English or to find a friend or family member to translate† (USE). Of course there are exceptions including emergencies, foreign language instruction, safety and health services, and tourism promotions. Also, official English does not affect private businesses, religious services, or private conversations (USE). On the opposing hand, organizations oppose official English because they feel it is a violation of individual†s rights. They believe that â€Å"such laws are contrary to the spirit of tolerance and diversity embodied in our Constitution. An English Language Amendment to the Constitution would transform that document from being a charter of liberties and individual freedom into a charter of restrictions that limits, rather than protects, individual rights† (ACLU). There are some versions of the proposed English Language Amendment that disregards the government from providing services in languages other than English. These groups that oppose the â€Å"English Only† laws believe that it violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. It interferes with the right to vote for individuals who can not read English and with the right of workers to be free of discrimination in certain workplaces. â€Å"Today, as in the past, ‘English Only† laws in the U. S. are founded on false stereotypes of immigrant groups. Such laws do not simply disparage the immigrants' native languages but assault the rights of the people who speak the languages (ACLU). With the debate over â€Å"English Only† laws, a topic of bilingual education arose. Many people who support official English oppose bilingual education. They feel that â€Å"bilingual education programs rely on the unproven theory that a child must spend years becoming literate in his native language before he or she can properly learn a second language. Under their own theory, bilingual educators should not have placed an English-speaking child in a Cantonese-speaking class† (USE). Wasted funds have gone into the support of bilingual education with the schools being inefficient at teaching English. Studies have shown that these bilingual education schools have little or no effect. â€Å"At the very least, federal and state bilingual education laws must be reformed to ensure that parents can easily remove their children from bilingual education programs. Because in America, a child shouldn†t be forced to file a lawsuit to get his education in English† (USE). Since the 1960s, research has shown that multiple language skills do not confuse the mind. Quite the contrary: when well-developed, they seem to provide cognitive advantages, although such effects are complex and difficult to measure (Crawford). Another discredited notion is that children will learn a second language rapidly if they are totally immersed in it. â€Å"For generations, this philosophy served to justify policies of educational neglect – assigning minority students to regular classrooms, with no special help in overcoming language barriers. Disproportionate numbers failed and dropped out of school as a result† (Crawford). The sink-or-swim approach was ruled illegal by the U. S. Supreme Court in Lau v. Nichols. Research has shown that the quality of English exposure is the major factor in English acquisition and not the quantity. Many believe that English as a second language is best taught in natural situations, â€Å"with the second language used in meaningful contexts rather than in repetitious drills of grammar and vocabulary† (Crawford). This approach is common in bilingual education programs, coordinated with lessons in students' native language. Also, native-language instruction also helps to make English comprehensible, by providing contextual knowledge that aids in understanding. Since language has always been an important part of a country†s culture and way of life, I feel that the U. S. should keep this nation a multilingual nation. If this nation can go 200 years without making English the official language, I believe that things should continue this way. I do not feel that the possibility of saving money should substitute the ease of life for immigrants and schools. I also believe that â€Å"an English Language Amendment to the Constitution would transform that document from being a charter of liberties and individual freedom into a charter of restrictions that limits, rather than protects, individual rights† (ALCU). Also, I feel that bilingual education should continue. I feel that it is the parent†s decision where their children go to school. I do not think that the government should interfere with that. Again, I do not believe that money should even be an issue in the rights of these individuals. I agree that English as a second language should be taught in a natural, relaxed environment, â€Å"with the second language used in meaningful contexts rather than in repetitious drills of grammar and vocabulary† (Crawford). It would be hypocritical since Americans learn a foreign language using English. For these reasons I believe that English should not be the nation†s official language, and that bilingual education should continue.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Michelangelos First Painting Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Michelangelos First Painting - Term Paper Example This essay discusses the Michelangelo’s first painting, that was the Torment of Saint Anthony. The researcher states that it is believed to be the â€Å"earliest known painting† of Michelangelo in the age of â€Å"12 or 13 years old†. It is dated back to â€Å"1487-88,† when Michelangelo had befriended an assistant in â€Å"the workshop of Domenico Ghirlandaio in Florence† which did an engraving of Saint Anthony from a â€Å"German master called Martin Schongauer†. The issue is discussed in the essay by the researcher whether it is the master – who spectacularly painted the Sistine Chapels in Vatican – has did the painting or other artists in the workshop is an immense matter of interest among art experts. But circumstances of the time of Michelangelo’s painting had magnified the possibility that indeed the Torment is Michelangelo’s first painting. It is also said that during the development of the said painting, t he Michelangelo visited fish market "portray fish scales†. The researcher also mentiones that if Torment is indeed Michelangelo’s, then it will be a prized find by the Kimbell Art Museum in America. The researcher describes the over-all composition of the work, it's visual elements and design principles as well as interpretation of the work and the aesthetics and the meaning of the work. The researcher then concluds that the painting itself is more than beautiful – it is meaningful even. All the elements complement well with the theme and the use of dramatic colors and striking lines made the painting simply meaningful.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

ALTERED HEALTH STATUS AND HEALTH PROMOTION IN MENTAL HEALTH NURSING Essay

ALTERED HEALTH STATUS AND HEALTH PROMOTION IN MENTAL HEALTH NURSING - Essay Example His unusual behaviours included the following. He entered without a licence and pointed a gun at a shop assistant. He stabbed a friend during an unprovoked argument. Also, he committed the offence of burglary, and his fingerprints were found at the scene of the crime. Mr. Abouja was imprisoned and then later transferred to a forensic ward due to mental illness. While in the forensic unit, Mr. Abouja suffered a cardiac arrest secondary to a bi-lateral massive pulmonary embolism. After having suffered a pulmonary embolism, Mr. Abouja should be assessed for further risk in the near future. â€Å"Confirmation of pulmonary embolism (PE) must be followed by risk stratification in order to obtain information on short-term prognosis and determine the need for more aggressive therapy such as thrombolysis or surgical interventional embolectomy† (Konstantinides, pp. 69). The medication Mr. Abouja has been placed on is Warfarin, also commonly known as rat poison. The levels of Warfarin ha ve to be carefully evaluated, to ensure that the patient is not poisoned himself. Basically, Warfarin is most likely going to be used for a lengthier amount of time in order to treat Mr. Abouja’s illness. â€Å"A vitamin K antagonist such as warfarin should be considered for long-term treatment† (Stein, 2007, pp. 129). There is a timetable for how long the Warfarin should be used. â€Å"Initial treatment [with Warfarin] is usually for a minimum of three to six months† (James, Ortel, & Tapson, 2007, pp. 42). However, the nurse should make sure â€Å"In healthy subjects, sildenafil alone or in combination with warfarin or aspirin did not affect bleeding time or prothrombin time. However, in a recent study, a transient prolongation of bleeding time 1 hour after administration of 100 mg of sildenafil was demonstrated† (Broderick, 2005, pp. 215). Therefore, bleeding complications are possible when taking Warfarin. Generally, Warfarin is used in these types of situations such as the one in which Mr. Abouja found himself in. â€Å"[Warfarin, also known as Coumadin, is] used to prevent the formation of blood clots in the heart and to prevent stroke in patients with conditions such as atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter†¦[usage] must be carefully monitored by a [regularly-administered] blood test†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Cohen, 2010, pp. 196). Mr. Abouja was given Warfarin for the Pulmonary Embolism. He is being given 3 mg of Risperdal (Risperidone) on a daily basis, a commonly-used antipsychotic. Some of the side effects Mr. Abouja is suffering, among others, are muscle weakness and sexual dysfunction. Mr. Abouja’s mother had a history of heart disease or PE; his father refused to be in touch due to his offences. Mr. Abouja was born in Angola. 2. Identify appropriate assessment tool/framework and provide rationale for ?your choice of tool/framework. (200 words) The assessment measures which would be appropriate to use as a framework f or care would be: 1) a physical assessment; 2) a psychological assessment; and 3) a emotional assessment. The patient had a physical assessment completed upon him. This physical assessment is rationalised by the fact that he needs to have an intervention for any physical problems that may come up since he has just had a major health issue with the cardiac arrest. Interestingly enough, Mr. Abouja had no pain in his upper left arm, which is recognizant of having heart problems—namely, risk of cardiac arrest. The physical assessme

China. Cultural background Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

China. Cultural background - Essay Example They would like to have the opportunity to seek their own preferences; however, there is a lot of pressure that comes from either family or the society. As everybody knows, China has a huge population, which means it is getting harder and harder for young people to find jobs. The society offers various opportunities for young people, but there are some differences and different requirements between each social class. Unlike in the United States, people will always be respected no matter what kind of job they do or what kind of lifestyle they choose for themselves. Moreover, many great opportunities are not only offered to people who are well educated but also to those who have working experience. Companies are more focused on personal skills and working experiences more than any other thing. Education is not the only major consideration for people who want to find a job. On the contrary, professional background and the level of education is a very important condition which can put on e in different positions available in China. As a result of pursuing interests by ignoring the competition within the society, the people in China will have less choice than others. Based on some researches, the rate of employment in China increased to over 87% by 2011 (Online).

Monday, August 26, 2019

Public Speaking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Public Speaking - Essay Example The truth is that the basic and daily communication amounts to some form of public speaking only that there is no conscious effort to perfect on it (Scherer and Volk, 2011). This paper will explore a few aspects of public speaking like the importance of public speaking, anxiety and skills and techniques of public speaking. Efficiently delivered speech is one that effectively communicates to the audience. Excellence public speaking has, for many people, defined their success or failure. First, public speaking enhances self confidence which boosts self esteem (Scherer and Volk, 2011). One is able to feel more comfortable interacting with people around them. Effective public speaking means better delivery of the message. For an employee, one stands above the rest and is more promotable to manage higher responsibilities owing to the confidence portrayed and the perception of being more knowledgeable. Knowledge increases owing to the fact that one researches deeply for every topic of discussion. Therefore, it is highly beneficial for one to speak in public as many times as opportunities may allow. The common problem with many people is the management of their anxiety while in front of gazing eyes and attentive ears. One all over sudden loses control of body actions at the most critical moment. One starts to sweat from everywhere; hands, face, feet and armpits and so on. The mouth mysteriously runs dry while the knees feel weak and start shaking. The heart beats faster and harder and the stomach feels full with butterflies and the voice becomes distorted (Bodie, 2010). This problem is best solved by properly and fully researching beforehand one’s topic and audience since this will create confidence. One needs also to set the goal of offering the best speech and focus on doing it and when a flaw happens, one should just proceed. In short, when delivering a speech, one needs to hold positive

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Industry and Company Analysis - strategy of management Assignment

Industry and Company Analysis - strategy of management - Assignment Example Customer loyalty is not really an issue in this sector as convenience stores will sell the same or similar produces across the board, leaving no buyer switching cost (IBIS World Market Research, 2011b). The second force is the threat of substitute services. The biggest threat to the convenience store sector is supermarkets, which have reported an annual growth of 3.4% in the last 5 years (compared to the -0.4% of convenience store sector). This is because of a general move towards supermarket sales in general, plus many of the supermarket chains entered into the convenience store sector. There is little to no cost to the consumer to change to a substitute service, increasing the threat. The bargaining power of the customer is dependent on many factors, including the location of the convenience store and surrounding options. However, in many cases (particularly in urban areas) customers will have a price sensitivity that may cause them to move to another rival chain. The buyer volume is much lower than for supermarkets, which means that the convenience store sector can be more sensitive to changes in customer power. The bargaining power of suppliers in this sector is interesting, because many of the companies within the convenience store sector will be using the same suppliers. This is because many stock brand name goods. This means there are strong distribution channels and almost no supplier competition. The impact of inputs on cost is high, but will affect all areas of the sector, plus the competing supermarkets (IBIS World Market Research, 2011b). The intensity of competitive rivalry is interesting in this sector. Whilst there are advertising campaigns for 7-Eleven and the other major convenience store chains, the main choice for a customer is the location and ease of access to the store. This means that much of the competitive rivalry in the sector is accumulating property in convenient

Saturday, August 24, 2019

History and Social Sciences Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

History and Social Sciences - Term Paper Example Provide a detailed description of the hunter-gatherer societies while including the development of early tools and the subsequent use of fire.  Provide a detailed description of the hunter-gatherer societies while including the development of early tools and the subsequent use of fire.  1.2. Question 2Provide a detailed description of the evolution of language and written forms of language.  1.3. Question 3Why was slash and burn agriculture practiced by the Stone Age people?A. To fulfill spiritual beliefs. To ease irrigation. To scare away wild animals  D. To clear land in readiness for farming  2. The constitution of the United States of America and the Early Republic2.1. Question 1Analyze the manner in which the American Revolution affected France.  2.2. Question 2Compare the lives and different opportunities for the free black Americans living in the north to those of free black Americans that lived in the south.  2.3. Question 3On what did the writers of the constit ution base their ideas while writing the legislative branch?A. Congress of Vienna. Council of Trent  C. English Parliament  D. French Estates General3. The civil wars and their aftermath  Provide a detailed discussion of the abolition of the slave trade in the United States of America.Provide a list of the original objectives of reconstruction and give a detailed description of the effects it had on social and political structures.  During the periods following the American Revolution, the constitutions of most Northern states called for†¦A. Adoption of a state religion. Gradual elimination of slavery  C. Obliteration of state property taxes  

Friday, August 23, 2019

Family and brotherhood Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Family and brotherhood - Essay Example But these words have become encompassing terms that it can connote a whole new different perspective that points toward unswerving loyalty, camaraderie and unity. â€Å"Infernal Affairs† has taken brotherhood toward a realm which yields multiple perspectives that all the notions of being one in a common goal and purpose in life makes a brotherhood, in crime and in justice, possible. Simultaneously, the film has taken a new look in outlining the existing perception of what a Chinese family is and how it should be then molds it in such a way that relationships may not be of blood but it remains to be thicker than water. This is not a new concept in terms of movie themes but the lack of family relationships in the Hong Kong blockbuster and the focus on alternative relations put a different strain on traditional relationships as commonly seen in Chinese culture and gears towards a modern conceptualization of family. The modification of a western genre involving the battle of good versus evil is something taken to new heights with this movie. The film has garnered international and local awards as proof of its success, critically and financially. â€Å"Many commentators have also raised questions about the export success story of recent Chinese cinema. They worry that Chinese filmmakers pander to Western audiences and that Western audiences and scholars appropriate and distort Chinese films for Orientalist and neo-imperialist ends† (Berry and Farquhar 204). ... Conversely, Ming has been perfecting his role as an ambitious cop by keeping his records immaculate when all along he has been a protege of triad kingpin Sam and his well thought-out scheme to penetrate the police force by enlisting young men to the Police Academy. Both Yan and Ming were tasked to find out who the infiltrator is within their respective groups. Whoever finds out first the other’s counterpart could mean the destructive end to one’s life and another’s career. Triad boss Sam takes the necessity of finding out who the mole is seriously. He executes a routine one-on-one conversation with each member of the group, asking them how many years they have worked for him and complimenting them for their contributions. He tells Yan that of all the brothers he trusts him the most. But some doubt had been cast on him earlier when Sam smashes Yan’s arm cask looking for a bugging device as their transaction with the Thais was tipped off to the OCTB, prompti ng them to throw the drugs into the water. The goose chase starts as both sides realized the other knew their every move to the very detail. Yan survived his boss’ suspicions narrowly and continued earning his respect. Keung, another triad member, later on confides that Sam talked to him in the same manner and asked if he would be willing to shoot any of his brothers if he finds out he is a mole and to which he answered yes to without hesitation. Later on as Keung was in the troughs of death, his final words endured to be an advice to Yan as his brother, â€Å"Remember this, if you see someone doing something but at the same time watching you... then he is a cop† (Infernal Affairs).

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Hydrolic Fracking Research Paper Essay Example for Free

Hydrolic Fracking Research Paper Essay Hydraulic fracturing is a process used in nine out of 10 natural gas wells in the United States, where millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals are pumped underground to break apart the rock and release the gas. Scientists are worried that the chemicals used in fracturing may pose a threat either underground or when waste fluids are handled and sometimes spilled on the surface. The natural gas industry defends hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking, as safe and efficient. Thomas J. Pyle, president of the Institute for Energy Research, a pro-industry non-profit organization, claims fracking has been â€Å"a widely deployed as safe extraction technique,† dating back to 1949. What he doesn’t say is that until recently energy companies had used low-pressure methods to extract natural gas from fields closer to the surface than the current high-pressure technology that extracts more gas, but uses significantly more water, chemicals, and elements. The industry claims well drilling in the Marcellus Shale will bring several hundred thousand jobs, and has minimal health and environmental risk. President Barack Obama in his January 2012 State of the Union, said he believes the development of natural gas as an energy source to replace fossil fuels could generate 600,000 jobs. However, research studies by many economists and others debunk the idea of significant job creation. Barry Russell, president of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, says â€Å"no evidence directly connects injection of fracking fluid into shale with aquifer contamination.† Fracking â€Å"has never been found to contaminate a water well,† says Christine Cronkright, communications director for the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Research studies and numerous incidents of water contamination prove otherwise. In late 2010, equipment failure may have led to toxic levels of chemicals in the well water of at least a dozen families in Co noquenessing Township in Bradford County. Township officials and Rex Energy, although acknowledging that two of the drilling wells had problems with the casings, claimed there were pollutants in the drinking water before Rex moved into the area. John Fair disagrees. â€Å"Everybody had good water a year ago,† Fair told environmental writer and activist Iris Marie Bloom in February 2012. Bloom says residents told her the color of water changed to red, orange, and gray after Rex began drilling. Among the chemicals detected in the well water, in addition to methane gas, were ammonia, arsenic, chloromethane, iron, manganese, t-butyl alcohol, and toluene. While not acknowledging that its actions could have caused the pollution, Rex did provide fresh water to the residents, but then stopped doing so on Feb. 29, 2012, after the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) said the well water was safe. The residents absolutely disagreed and staged protests against Rex; environmental activists and other residents trucked in portable water jugs to help the affected families. The Marcellus Outreach Butler blog (MOB) declared that residents’ â€Å"lives have been severely disrupted and their health has been severely impacted. To just ‘close the book’ on investigations into their troubles when so many indicators point to the accountability of the gas industry for the disruption of their lives is unbelievable . In April 2011, near Towanda, Pa., seven families were evacuated after about 10,000 gallons of wastewater contaminated an agricultural field and a stream that flows into the Susquehanna River, the result of an equipment failure, according to the Bradford County Emergency Management Agency.The following month, DEP fined Chesapeake Energy $900,000, the largest amount in the state’s history, for allowing methane gas to pollute the drinking water of 16 families in Bradford County during the previous year. The DEP noted there may have been toxic methane emissions from as many as six wells in five towns. The DEP also fined Chesapeake $188,000 for a fire at a well in Washington County that injured three workers. In January 2012, an equipment failure at a drill site in Susquehanna County led to a spill of several thousand gallons of fluid for almost a half-hour, causing potential pollution, according to the DEP. In its citation to Carizzo Oil and Gas, the DEP strongly recommended that the company cease drilling at all 67 wells â€Å"until the cause of this problem and a solution are identified.† In December 2011, the federal Environmental Protection Agency concluded that fracking operations could be responsible for groundwater pollution.â€Å"Today’s methods make gas drilling a filthy business. You know it’s bad when nearby residents can light the water coming out of their tap on fire,† says Larry Schweiger, president of the National Wildlife Federation. Whatâ €™s causing the fire is the methane from the drilling operations. A ProPublica investigation in 2009 revealed methane contamination was widespread in drinking water in areas around fracking operations in Colorado, Texas, Wyoming, and Pennsylvania. The presence of methane in drinking water in Dimock, Pa., had become the focal point for Josh Fox’s investigative documentary, Gasland, which received an Academy Award nomination in 2011 for Outstanding Documentary; Fox also received an Emmy for non-fiction directing. Fox’s interest in fracking intensified when a natural gas company offered $100,000 for mineral rights on property his family owned in Milanville, in the extreme northeast part of Pennsylvania, about 60 miles east of Dimock. Research by a team of scientists from Duke University revealed â€Å"methane contamination of shallow drinking water systems that is associated with shale-gas extraction.† The data and conclusions, published in the May 2011 issue of the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, note d that not only did most drinking wells near drilling sites have methane, but those closest to the drilling wells, about a half-mile, had an average of 17 times the methane of those of other wells. â€Å"Some of the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing—or liberated by it—are carcinogens,† Dr. Sandra Steingraber told members of the Environmental Conservation and Health committee of the New York State Assembly. Dr. Steingraber, a biologist and distinguished scholar in residence at Ithaca College, pointed out that some of the chemicals â€Å"are neurological poisons with suspected links to learning deficits in children,† while others â€Å"are asthma triggers. Some, especially the radioactive ones, are known to bioaccumulate in milk. Others are reproductive toxicants that can contribute to pregnancy loss.† An investigation by New York Times reporter Ian Urbina, based upon thousands of unreported EPA documents and a confidential study by the natural gas industry, concluded, â€Å"Radioactivity in drilling waste cannot be fully diluted in rivers and other waterways.† Urbina learned that wastewater from fracking operations was about 100 tim es more toxic than federal drinking water standards; 15 wells had readings about 1,000 times higher than standards. Research by Dr. Ronald Bishop, a biochemist at SUNY/Oneonta, suggests that fracking to extract methane gas â€Å"is highly likely to degrade air, surface water and ground-water quality, to harm humans, and to negatively impact aquatic and forest ecosystems.† He notes that â€Å"potential exposure effects for humans will include poisoning of susceptible tissues, endocrine disruption syndromes, and elevated risk for certain cancers.† Every well, says Dr. Bishop, â€Å"will generate a sediment discharge of approximately eight tons per year into local waterways, further threatening federally endangered mollusks and other aquatic organisms.† In addition to the environmental pollution by the fracking process, Dr. Bishop believes â€Å"intensive use of diesel-fuel equipment will degrade air quality [that could affect] humans, livestock, and crops.† Equally important are questions about the impact of as many as 200 diesel-fueled trucks each day bringing water to t he site and then removing the waste water. In addition to the normal diesel emissions of trucks, there are also problems of leaks of the contaminated water. â€Å"We need to know how diesel fuel got into our water supply,† says Diane Siegmund, a clinical psychologist from Towanda, Pa. â€Å"It wasn’t there before the companies drilled wells; it’s here now,† she says. Siegmund is also concerned about contaminated dust and mud. â€Å"There is no oversight on these,† she says, â€Å"but those trucks are muddy when they leave the well sites, and dust may have impact miles from the well sites.† Research â€Å"strongly implicates exposure to gas drilling operations in serious health effects on humans, companion animals, livestock, horses, and wildlife,† according to Dr. Michelle Bamberger, a veterinarian, and Dr. Robert E. Oswald, a biochemist and professor of molecular medicine at Cornell University. Their study, published in New Solutions, an academic journal in environmental health, documents evidence of milk contamination, breeding problems, and cow mortality in areas near fracking operation s as higher than in areas where no fracking occurred. Drs. Bamberger and Oswald noted that some of the symptoms present in humans from what may be polluted water from fracking operations include rashes, headaches, dizziness, vomiting, and severe irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. For animals, the symptoms often led to reproductive problems and death. Significant impact upon wildlife is also noted in a 900-page Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) conducted by New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation. According to the EIS, â€Å"In addition to loss of habitat, other potential direct impacts on wildlife from drilling in the Marcellus Shale include increased mortality . . . altered microclimates, and increased traffic, noise, lighting, and well flares.† The impact, according to the report, â€Å"may include a loss of genetic diversity, species isolation, population declines . . . increased predation, and an increase of invasive species.† The report concludes that because of fracking, there is â€Å"little to no place in the study areas where wildlife would not be impacted, [leading to] serious cascading ecological consequences.† The impact of course affects the quality of milk and meat production as animals drink and graze near areas that have been taken over by the natural gas industry. The response by the industry and its political allies to the scientific studies of the health and environmental effects of fracking â€Å"has approached the issue in a manner similar to the tobacco industry that for many years rejected the link between smoking and cancer,† say Drs. Bamberger and Oswald. Not only do they call for â€Å"full disclosure and testing of air, water, soil, animals, and humans,† but point out that with lax oversight, â€Å"the gas drilling boom . . . will remain an uncontrolled health experiment on an enormous scale.† Bibliography of Works Cited: http://www.marcellusoutreachbutler.org/ http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/03/19/the-perils-of-fracking/ www.coalitiontoprotectnewyork.org http://psehealthyenergy.net/data/Bamberger_Oswald_NS22_in_press.pdf http://www.scribd.com/doc/97449702/100-Fracking-Victims http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/04/us/04natgas.html?pagewanted=all http://steingraber.com/ http://frack.mixplex.com/content/scientific-study-links-flammable-drinking-water-fracking http://www.hydraulicfracturing.com/Pages/information.aspx http://www.epa.gov/hydraulicfracture/ http://geology.com/articles/hydraulic-fracturing/

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Jeff Bezos Essay Example for Free

Jeff Bezos Essay Jeff Bezos is an American entrepreneur who was very influential in the growth of e-commerce. He is the chief executive and founder of Amazon.com, Inc., a company that began as an online merchant of books before it expanded to a wide variety of products. Amazon.com is the largest retailer on the internet and the model for internet sales. According to Drexler (2007), Bezos began his early career in house school. He developed the Dream institute which promoted creative thinking among the young students. He graduated in 1986 from Princeton University with two degrees, computer science and electrical engineering. In 1990, he joined D.E Shaw Co. where he became the vice president. In 1994, he quit the company and opened a virtual bookstore in Seattle, Washington. He worked from his garage for a while as he developed the software for his site which he named Amazon.com. The greatest challenge for the company came in 1995, when Bezos needed money to launch his company. He needed $1 million to keep the company running for at least 2 years. It was very challenging because he needed the whole $1 million at once. According to him, this was a time when the company could have collapsed even before it got started. It was difficult for investors to fund his idea because they were skeptical about the potential of the internet. Ultimately, he managed to raise the whole amount from about 20 angel investors. Another challenge was convincing people to buy products via the internet when they could make a special order from retailers and get the product at their door step. In addition, every retailer streamed online (Drexler, 2007). Because of the competition, the companys market capital dropped from $32.1 billion to $8.9 billion in six years. Some people even called it Amazon.org because it seemed like a non-profit company. Bezos is eager to maintain the success of his business for many years. Kendrick Vershinina (2010) assert that he created an excellent brand that strives on adapting to the evolving business environment and constant growth. He believes that if customers get a great experience from a retailer, they will definitely tell others about it. Therefore, the word of mouth is a great marketing tool. He has been described by many as a laughable and goofy individual, a personality that is carried to the work environment. He keeps the employees happy but ensures that they accomplish  the companys goals. However, his word is always final. As much as everyone is allowed to be innovative, the final decision comes from Bezos. This kind of leadership limits what the executives can do but that is the culture at Amazon. One of the former employees alleged that Amazon.com is to some extend run as a sole proprietorship (Kendrick Vershinina, 2010). The culture of Amazon promotes openness among all employees. The top management, including Bezos, supports this culture and every other employee adheres to it. It has allowed everyone to share any innovations and different ideas that would make the company better. Because of the advance, a customer can use his previous payment information to buy other products, through the one-click ordering technology. Bezos management style is customer-centric (Marques, 2007). The company understands that it is all about providing what the customer wants. According to Daft Marcic (2010), Bezos management style also ensures that the leaders keep their egos in check. The needs of the company come before the managements whims. Nonetheless, he also ensures that the management works together to improve the brand and leadership style. Weekly management meetings are held for four hours. The executives are expected to make presentations regarding new products, pricing strategies, technologies, or cost-control measures in the company. He then asks questions to his satisfaction. Therefore he is very strict and precise on what should be done. He asks for every possible form of evidence or data on the problem being tackled. As a leader, he is also persevering and hardworking. Despite all the struggles he went through to begin his company. He persevered and worked hard to remain competitive. In fact, he argues that most investors give up too quickly. If he had given up, he would not have managed to raise $1million to launch his company. Moreover, he believes that ownership matters when building a good company (Marques, 2007). The owner of a company thinks long-term unlike an employee who thinks in terms of his salary. Therefore, the owner is able to plead passionately to ensure that his ideas and projects succeed. His hiring bar is raised higher. When hiring, he looks for people he can admire and learn from. Therefore, he looks for the best employees and does not compromise on the right skills and quality of work. However, Bezos asserts that Amazon is not always keen on what will happen in the next quarter. The company is willing to invest in an employee and wait to reap the benefits in future. Furthermore, he only spends money on the issues that matter. For the companys headquarters in 1990s was located on Seattles skid row. Even when the company was worth about $500 million, the company was still located in the same building. Bezos believes in spending money on things that matter (Daft Marcic, 2010). Nonetheless, there is the Just Do It award that is given to employees who come up with positive innovations for the company (Thompson, 2011). It encourages employees to be creative. He also encourages innovation by hosting monthly lectures from renowned scientists. The lectures are aimed to spark new ideas in the employees that could revolutionize the company. However, he also decides whether or not an employee can pursue a new idea. The company also has special days where employees can come to work with their children. There is a special room where children can play games as their parents work. He uses the top-to-bottom management style. In some instances, he personally manages a project to make sure that it is done to his specifications. He believes that every manager or leader has to spend some time in the trenches. Therefore, it is his responsibility to oversee activities in the company, ones in a while. In fact, every year he spends a week at each of the companys warehouses checking on how things are run and looking for better ways to improve the company and make more profit. Ideally the working environment at Amazon is dominated by Bezos (Thompson, 2011). According to Goethals et al. (2004), the partnership strategy at Amazon has also been very successful. The company partnered with various companies like Drugstore.com, Pets.com, Kozmo.com and living.com among others by buying an equity stake in the companies to share their prosperity. Additionally, it  charged them placement fees on the site to promote the sites. Therefore partnerships have helped the company to make more profits and attract more customers. Bezos has greatly impacted the business world because of his wisdom and innovation. He was intelligent enough to quiet a good paying job to start his own from scratch. Although he began with selling books, he now dominates the internet with his company, Amazon.com. He also revolutionized shopping. Currently, every item, from a toothbrush to a car can be bought online because of his innovations. He is also known for contributing towards politics. For instance, in 2008, he contributed towards $100,000 to the Democrats to ensure that the income tax initiative in Washington was defeated. Anders, G. (2012, April 4). Jeff Bezos reveals his no. 1 leadership secret. _Forbes._ Retrieved June 16, 2013, from http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2012/0423/ceo-compensation-12-amazon-technology-jeff-bezos-gets-it.html Lyons, D. (2009, Dec 20). The customer is always right. _Newsweek Magazine_. Retrieved June 16, 2013, from http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2009/12/20/the-customer-is-always-right.html Northouse, P. G. (2013). _Leadership: Theory and practice._ (6 ed.). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publishing. The Worlds Billionaires. (2013). Retrieved June 16, 2013, from http://www.forbes.com/profile/jeff-bezos/

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Global Challenges in Information Systems

Global Challenges in Information Systems Intro: In this modern times, the world operates on numerous information systems. It is evolving rapidly and the functionality of it is seemingly increasing and so information system is becoming a requirement and not a choice. Today, an electronic network which is the internet allows access to a vast amount of information sources. This indicates every single individual and organisations can obtain information with no problems if the entity has internet access. Currently, information is accessible from database, WAIS (Wide Area Information Servers), gopher, and a wide variety of sites which contains information across the web. Every large company worldwide that relies on e-commerce have been globalized through the internet and so companies such as Amazon, VF, Ebay or Walmart are very successful in terms of marketing and sales. However, opportunities in a global scale presents several challenges including culture and language, distance and time. With the creation of the internet, the augmentation of global markets is feasible. There is an abundance in terms of the number of business transactions that occurs each day through the internet globally. The use of information technology provides support to business processes that allows operations such as business-to-customer or business-to-business transaction to be easier. Cultural challenge The information system is conflicted internationally by cultural differences in various other countries and areas of the world. Every country in the world has its own traditions and culture that may differ from and not accustomed to other country.ÂÂ   These dissimilarities form a cultural barrier in which affects companies that endeavor global trade. The difficulties that businesses will encounter are managing people, tastes, issue with ethics, gestures and specific groups averse to Westernisation. An American commercial fast-food franchise company such as McDonalds may find it difficult to establish other franchisee in other continent like Asia due to preference of taste. The technologies applied to entice the customers in the United States to McDonalds taste of food could be irrelevant as it may not work in Asia. Therefore, organisations managing food products must examine and alter the taste of their food to ensure that they satisfy the local demands. Language challenge: On the internet, the most common language used is English. However, there is only a fraction of 26.3 percent that speaks English as opposed to 74.7 percent of non-English speaking countries. (https://www.statista.com/statistics/262946/share-of-the-most-common-languages-on-the-internet/). There is a seemingly an issue with the translation of information to other languages which causes a laborious process of translating the precise meaning of the info from one language to another. Google has provided a solution in translating dialogue, text, pictures, or real-time videos into 103 different languages. (http://www.bgr.in/news/google-translate-turns-10-now-supports-103-languages-translates-100-billion-words-every-day/). The challenge that large companies which retains international partners must decide on choosing a common language. Information is required to be translated due to the lack of computers capability to accurately translate words. The Challenge of distance and time: Time differences is a challenge for people to communicate with others that resides in a different part of the world. The products may have a delivery time of days, weeks or even months to be received to other countries. This creates delays and disruption with business transaction which causes employees and customers located in different countries to have difficulty with getting connected. VF, an apparel manufacturer company has formed an idea of constructing new communication tools that make it easier for everyone to work together. (reading review1) By doing this, it allowed them to combat these challenges and provided a solution they need to increase the longevity of their company. Conclusion: Looking at the global challenges in information system stated above shows us the overview of companies that uses e-commerce must deal with.ÂÂ   Modern technology and the use of internet is changing how Businesses and organisations around the globe is operating. More and more are advertising their products online to effectively make sales. Companies utitlise technology to ensure handling good teamwork is attained across geographical boundaries. However, there is a concern for challenges that come with the development of technology in information systems.

God’s Transition to a Feared, Cruel Deity in Modernist Literature and P

Previous literary schools, such as the Renaissance writers and Romanticism, depicted God as an extremely powerful, but benevolent deity that ensured that the conclusion to most events turned out in a positive fashion. After World War I’s catastrophic cost in lives, souls, and property, many authors and poets changed their views of God. Instead of a loving, all-powerful force for good, God turned into a cruel, supernatural being that chooses not to intervene when humans suffer. Many modernists felt that if God could not prevent a disaster such as World War I, he either looked passively at humans or even assisted in their abilities to destroy fellow men, women, and children. Authors such as T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, and Ernest Hemingway described God in this manner, especially during their European expatriate periods. Since God gave humans, the power to be cruel, God must also possess a cruel side to his image. Among such finest literary artists, the name of T.S Eliot tops the list. His work illustrates a clear view of modernism. Being a spectator of the critical conditions of the twentieth century, his demonstrations in poetry and essays confirms a supreme blend of thoughts towards religion and belief (William). Eliot’s another distinction in poetry The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock was taken as an upper hand with appreciation. He mentioned the thesis of simplicity and silence in human nature. Turning towards the religious side even in his practical life as well, Eliot expressed a variety of such themes. In The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, he symbolized how men try to decipher the feelings of women as after the World War I they came out to be working on their new function of bread earner. The measures of women exhibit the def... ...so Rises. EPub Edition. New York: Harper Collins, 2012. 115. eBook. MacDonald, Harold, ed. "Ash Wednesday: Ash Wednesday by T.S. Eliot." Insight. Lenten Poems, 2012. Web. 10 Apr 2012. Moody, Anthony David. The Cambridge Companion to T.S. Eliot. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1994. 121. Print. Pound, Ezra. "Ballad for Gloom." Bartleby.com. Bartleby. Web. 6 Apr. 2012 Pound, Ezra. â€Å"The Cantos.† Baym, Nina, Wayne Franklin 1492-98. Read, Forrest. "The Pattern of the Pisan Cantos." Sewanee Review 65.3 (1957): 400-19. jam. 12 Apr. 2012. Rodgers, Audrey T. â€Å"T. S. Eliot's â€Å"Purgatorio†: The Structure of Ash Wednesday.† Comparative Literature Studies 7.1 (1970): 97-112. JSTOR. 8 Apr. 2012. Videnov, Valentin A. "Human voices in silent seas: a reading of Eliot's Love Song." The Explicator 67.2 (2009): 126+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 1 May 2012.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Promotional Mix for the Tide Racing Campaign Essay -- BTEC Business Ma

Promotional Mix for the Tide Racing Campaign There are hundreds of different ways top notch companies promote their products. When companies combine the many promotional methods used to promote a specific product, they represent the promotion mix for the product. The promotion mix is made up of four elements: advertising, personal selling, public relations, and sales promotion. Our assignment was to collect five items from the promotional mix in one campaign. Tom Utz works as a salesman for Proctor & Gamble. He works directly with the Nash Finch wholesaler based out of Minneapolis, MN, which owns several grocery chains such as Buy N’ Save, Albertson’s and Econo Foods. Tom specializes in selling laundry detergent soaps such as Tide, Gain, Era, and Cheer to Nash Finch retail stores. One of his biggest campaigns is selling Tide laundry detergent in the Tide Racing campaign. Advertising Advertising is a paid non-personal communication about an organization and its products transmitted to a target audience through mass media. Some examples are television, radio, newspapers, Internet, and direct mail. Proctor & Gamble’s most prominent form of advertising are television ads. Many people do not realize the products they use are even made by Proctor & Gamble. I have collected a Spanish direct mailing by Proctor & Gamble called â€Å"avanzando: con tu familia†, which means better living with your family. The magazine offers tips for using beauty products such as shampoo, make-up, deodorants, and toothpaste. It also offers advice for selling your home and cooking tips. The end of the direct mailing magazine has many coupons for purchasing the items they learned about. Proctor & Gamble hopes to get the consumer to try t... ...am include a t-shirt, hat, hot wheels car, water jug, and even a remote control car. These are all items donated by Proctor & Gamble to the retail stores in order to catch the attention of consumers. Thousands of people are willing to sign their names up for a chance to win in a free drawing. The drawings will benefit the company because they are getting their name and product featured, and the store benefits because it will lure customers into the store and extra purchases. This is a win-win situation for both parties. I have found various items from all four of the promotional mix elements. Effective promotional campaigns require a solid mix of items from the four elements. Companies seek to find the right variety from the four elements, and sometimes do not use all four elements. Tide racing uses all four items to promote their sponsorship with NASCAR.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Pedagogical Grammar Essay -- Education, Language Instructors

Introduction Pedagogical grammar is a rather new concept that has been applied by a number of language instructors to impart new language knowledge to students (Nordquist 2011, p. 1). The teaching methodology has its own structures in the sense that it is divided into two aspects: the first talks about the grammatical composition of language while the second talks about the articulation of language rules (of the new language). In comprehensively analyzing how the teaching methodology works, it is important to understand that when grammatical arrangement of words is to be done, the most appropriate arrangement of the words should be considered before the exercise. This approach is observed in the above sequence because pedagogical grammar has a definite, coherent and heuristic set of rules (Chalker 1994). These features should enable students to easily learn the second language through the development of an axiomatic system between L1 and L2 languages (Allwright 2009). Pedagogical grammar is however very unique in its purposes (especially regarding grammatical composition) because f...

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Symbolism in a Seperate Peace

â€Å"A Separate Peace† Throughout the novel, many settings reveal characters and events that had great importance in the book. The tree, the Assembly Room and the White Marble Staircase revealed Finny’s accident, and how the characters reacted. At the tree, Phineas is shaken from the tree and into the Devon River. Finny breaks his leg, creating the climax of the novel and a while after, Brinker hosts a trial to discover the truth about what really happened at the tree in the Assembly Room. During the trial Gene is revealed as a coward.He begins to make up lies to show that he didn’t push Finny out of the tree. He eventually starts to proclaim that he was standing at the bottom of the tree when Finny fell. When Brinker and the other young boy who had been questioning him came closer and closer to the truth, he began to come off very defensive to the audience; arguing with what they were accusing him of. As Brinker went on and on about what may or may not have hap pened, Phineas will not listen, and this portrays his character as very naive.For example, Phineas seems to be blindsided by the friendship he and Gene share, and believes that Gene truly was at the bottom of the tree, and also that he just simply lost his balance. Further into the trial, Leper Lepellier is called into the Assembly Room and clarifies what really happened the day at the tree. The truth was, Gene was standing on the limb right next to Finny and jounced the limb, causing the fall. Hearing this news, Finny is completely dumbfounded. He leaves during the trial very quietly and when Gene calls out to him, he responds, â€Å"Never mind.I don’t care. † This concluded the trial. The Marble Staircase is also a very significant setting in the novel. After the trial, Finny stumbles down the marble stairs, re-breaking his leg, Finny soon after dies from bone marrow entering his blood streams. This setting and the event that took place here impact Gene immensely. â €Å"Then these separate sounds collided into the general tumult of his body falling clumsily down the while marble stairs. † Gene says this as he is listening to his ‘best pal’ fall to his death. Fifteen years later, Gene revisits Devon School.Gene’s first visit was the Marble Staircase, where he reminisces about his best friend. Many settings John Knowles incorporated in the novel also reveal Finny, Gene and many of the other boys’ personalities. For example, one setting that was very substantial during the novel was the Playing Fields. At the Playing Fields Finny invented a gamer called Blitzball. Many of the boys enjoyed playing Blitzball (instead of the instructed game of Badminton) because Finny made the rules as the game progressed, showing his leadership as well as athletic side.During the game, Finny created a rule that there will be no teams, showing that he wants everyone to be included. John Knowles portrays Gene as a follower within the game of Blitzball. For example, Gene does exactly what Finny tells him to, when he tells him to. Additionally, Leper Lepellier’s character is also shown within the game. At one point, Gene throws the ball to Leper, he says â€Å"Leper looked up in anguish, shrank away from the ball and voiced his first thought, a typical one, â€Å"I don’t want it! This scene shows through Lepers tone and actions that he is very shy and lonely, hence his given nick-name of ‘Leper’. In chapter three Finny and Gene take a trip to the beach. When Finny convinces Gene to go to the beach to go to the beach with him, it reveals that Gene is willing to do everything in his power to earn Finny’s approval; even if it means failing the math test he should be studying for he would attend the next morning. While being at the beach the boys do activities such as swimming in the ocean and drinking in the bar.This represents the main theme of the novel, â€Å"A Separate Peace,à ¢â‚¬  which is the reason this setting has such great importance. At the end of the night Finny tells Gene that he is his best pal. When Gene doesn’t say the same, it reveals that Gene may not truly feel the same. Another example of a setting that reveals the characters and events is the tree. Many important events take place at the tree. For example, one night Gene and Finny take a walk to the tree and climb it together. They then decide to form the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session.Finny, again showing his leadership, made the rule that he and the other new members of the society would meet every night, creating something fun for the boys; creating peace. Also at the tree, Gene shows a huge betrayal when he causes Finny’s fall, and also the climax of the novel. This happened because of Gene’s extreme jealousy of Phineas. The settings John Knowles includes throughout the book help the reader understand the characters and events that happened further in depth. The settings also show the main theme of the book; creating a separate peace for the boys of the summer of 1942.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Case Study in Waste Management of Philippines Essay

Bart Meehan Facilities and Services Division, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia Keywords Australasia, Environmental management strategy, Universities Abstract Discusses the extent to which environmental management is considered a mainstream business activity within Australian and New Zealand universities. Describes how a survey instrument was used to collect data on environmental programs, their resourcing and control processes, and the level of community involvement in their development and ongoing management. These indicators of mainstreaming are discussed and particular reference is made to the Australian National University (ANU) and its experience with mainstreaming environmental management. The survey data indicate that in the majority of the surveyed institutions, environmental management cannot be considered a mainstream business activity. To aid universities in assessing their progress towards mainstreaming, a conceptual framework is presented and a model of organi sational change is discussed. Introduction In response to the calls for ecologically sustainable development (WCED, 1987) and for leadership in environmental protection (Leal Filho et al., 1996), many universities throughout the world are recognising the need to adopt environmental management systems and to integrate these systems into their business operations. However, in the USA  and Europe, at least, few universities are vigorously pursuing green initiatives (Dahle and Neumayer, 2001). One reason for this may be that environmental management remains a peripheral management issue. This article suggests that if environmental programs are to succeed, they must be mainstreamed into university operations, rather than sidelined as a soft management issue. Read more:  Waste Management in the Philippines This article provides an analysis of environmental management in ten universities surveyed throughout Australia and New Zealand. While much information about environmental management in both US (e.g. HammondCreighton, 1998; Herremans and Allright, 2000), and European (e.g. Delakowitz and Hoffman, 2000; Noeke, 2000; Dahle and Neumayer, 2001) tertiary institutions has been forthcoming, aside from Howard et al.’s (2000) case study of the Charles Sturt University, little information about environmental management at Australian and New Zealand universities is available. Hopefully this contribution will stimulate discussion and interest and encourage further empirical studies on environmental management in Australasian universities. The aim of this investigation is to identify the extent to which environmental management systems are underpinned by business management practice and thus mainstreamed into university management processes. Herremans and Allright (2000) have suggested that the level of financial investment, and the level of senior executive involvement indicate how mainstreamed environmental management programs are within tertiary institutions. While agreeing, we feel that there are other indicators of mainstreaming that demonstrate organisational commitment. These include community involvement, the development of environmental plans and the presence of control processes. This article examines features of each of the environmental programs surveyed, with particular emphasis on the following:  The presence of an environmental management p lan and the level of financial and human resources available. . The control processes that exist (e.g. environmental management systems, audits, reports to management). . The level of campus community involvement in the program. After discussing the surveys, a brief case study of the Australian National University (ANU) will be presented. This is included because of the authors’ familiarity with the issues and not because it necessarily offers an example of best practice. Indeed, if the analysis shows anything, it is that while much has been done to improve environmental performance at the surveyed universities, there is still much more to do. Methodology and survey results The authors developed a simple survey instrument to gather information about the environmental management systems of Australasian universities. An invitation to complete the survey was issued to all universities in Australia and New Zealand via the Australian Universities Environmental Managers Network (AUEMN) and the mailing list of the Australasian Higher Education Facilities Managers Association (AAPPA). Of the 46 possible universities (38 Australian; eight New Zealand), ten complete surveys were received  ± a response rate of 21.7 per cent. The response rate for New Zealand universities (37.5 per cent) was much higher than that of Australian universities (18.4 per cent). The participating universities were: . The University of Western Australia. . The University of Newcastle. . The University of New South Wales. . University of Wollongong. . Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. The results of the surveys are shown in Tables I, II and III[1]. Table I shows base information about the environmental policy of the participating universities, including whether or not an environmental plan exists and the  level of financial support. Table II contains information about community involvement. Table III contains details of control processes such as reporting and auditing. Not surprisingly, as indicated by Table I, the survey showed that all participating universities had an environmental policy approved at the executive level. All policies where established between 1994 and 1998. Either working groups or formal committees developed the majority of policies; only two policies were established by employees without feedback from a working group or committee. All the policies established by the participating universities make energy conservation, waste management and â€Å"sustainability’’ key aims of the environmental program. Seven policies also make broad references to the teaching and research activities of the universities and the importance of consistency between the principles espoused in teaching and the actions of the corporate university. Only one policy makes a specific reference to â€Å"greening the curriculum’’. Seven respondents indicated that an environmental management plan was developed following the approval of a policy and that these plans are used to operationalise the principles detailed in the policy documents. Of the universities who did not have a formal plan, one stated that a plan was currently being developed, another that they â€Å"work from the policy’’, and yet another that the â€Å"university has an appropriate vision and objective which is driven by a well represented working party’’. One university without a plan also indicated that it was â€Å"becoming increasingly recognised that one would be useful . . . [to bring] various programs together and give them momentum’’. The survey asked respondents to comment on what, if any, management structure and budget had been established to facilitate the implementation of the environmental management program. Six universities stated that they had a formally established environmental management committee overseeing the implementation of the policy; four respondents indicated that there was no committee structure, with one of these respondents noting that the pre-existing management committee had â€Å"ceased meeting in 1998 and has not reconvened’’. The surveys indicated that the facilities management department played a strong role in the implementation of environmental management objectives, in all but one of the participating universities.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

What part does deception of one kind or another play in Twelfth Night?

Deception is present in Twelfth Night on a number of levels. To examine the role of deception in Twelfth Night in relation to the plot, we must consider what may have occurred if in fact there was no deception in the piece. Deception sets the whole story in motion, and is pivotal in creating the irony and comedy that abounds in Twelfth Night. It is through deceit and deception that the topsy-turvy web of comedy and confusion that entangles the characters of Twelfth Night is spun. The deception exhibited in the play can be divided into two groups. Firstly, let us consider cases of self-deception. Orsino is a classic sufferer, and continually pines away for his darling Olivia. The self absorbed Orsino believes himself to be in love with the Countess Olivia; however, it would appear that Orsino is more in love with the notion of being in love than anything else. In his opening lines he talks of his love, but it is not until seventeen lines later that he first mentions Olivia. He does not talk to Olivia, and is content to mope around his house in self-involved sorrow while he sends courtiers to woo her on his behalf. Ironically, Olivia is in a similar situation. She uses the unfortunate excuse of her brother's demise to hide herself away from the world, and shows no interest in relating to the other Illyrians. If these two characters were free of their self-deceit, and able to see themselves as they truly are, a tremendous impact would be had on the play. Perhaps Olivia would have returned Orsino's apparent love, after all he is of very noble birth. In this scenario Viola and Sebastian would be cut out of the story entirely, and the original trickery and chaos would not come about. Alternatively, Orsino may have realised the truth about his emotions and stopped his pursuit of Olivia. Cesario would not be sent to her, and Olivia would not fall in love with ‘him'. Furthermore, Sebastian and Olivia's final union would also be impossible, and Cesario would remain bound by ‘his' disguise. Olivia's steward, Malvolio, struggles to see his real self. He is of the opinion that he is in some way superior to others of his social class and deserves to be elevated to the nobility because of his supremacy. He sees himself as surrounded by ‘idle, shallow things', not of his ‘element ‘ and this feeds his unexpected ambition to the point where he is able to be fooled by Sir Toby and Maria's trickery. He is deceived completely, and Sir Toby remarks ‘. . . thou hast put him in such a dream, that when the image of it leaves him, he must run mad.' If Malvolio was not so deceived, he would not have this belief of superiority, nor would his holding of this belief be exploited. He would find the letter's message unbelievable and escape the suffering caused by his original trust in its words. His strong ambitions would remain a secret, and the sense of pity and respect we gain for Malvolio through his struggle to be deemed sane would also be non-existent. The comedy of the puritan's trials would also be lost. Sir Andrew's self-deception provides nothing but comedy. The deluded clumsy simpleton thinks he is sophisticated, noble, and a marriage prospect for Olivia. Had Sir Andrew known his chances truthfully, he would have ended his pursuit of Olivia's love. Sir Andrew's absence would result in a loss of a number of humorous debacles; however the major events of the story would be largely unaffected. The other kind of deception in the play is the deception of others. Viola is undoubtedly the most deceptive of the characters, and her deception plays the greatest role in the play. Her original desire to be disguised as a man facilitates the formation of the dreaded love triangle and the resulting complexities that make up the story of Twelfth Night. Viola's decision to conceal her true gender is the basis and foundation for the entire plot. She makes a conscious decision to hide her true self, saying: Conceal me what I am, and be my aid For such disguise as haply shall become The form of my intent. When talking with Olivia, Viola even states that she is concealing herself: Viola: †¦you do think you are not what you are. Olivia: If I think so, I think the same of you. Viola: Then think you right: I am not what I am. Was it not for Viola's deceptive disguise, she would not have become a member of Orsino's court. She would not have been sent to Olivia, nor would the mislead Olivia fall in love with Cesario, and later Sebastian. It was Olivia's love for Cesario that saved her from becoming a recluse, and this would have been her fate were it not for Cesario's arrival. Cesario would remain unknown to Orsino, and Orsino and Viola's marriage would not occur. The Duke would almost certainly have continued to wallow in his sorrows as he languished over Olivia. Viola soon becomes anxious at the massive effects of her deception: Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness Wherein the pregnant enemy does much. The major events concerning the main characters would not take place, if Viola had not deceitfully donned the disguise of Cesario. Her deceit has drastic consequences, and huge meaning for all. Even Sir Andrew would have been saved from his embarrassing duel, it Viola was not disguised. Viola's deception provides the extra dimension of dramatic irony that is present throughout the piece. The troubles created by her deception in regard to gender, and mismatched love provide many ironically comedic moments. Olivia falls head over heels in love with none other than a woman in disguise, who is in turn in love with a man, who ironically believes her to also be a man. Each character says or thinks a number of things that are ironically false and often humorous, while the audience has the luxury of seeing past the deception and realising how wrong the characters are about one another. Sir Toby, Fabian and Maria are the conspirators behind Malvolio's downfall, who is the unsuspecting victim of Maria's deceitful letter. Later Feste delivers the cruellest blow when he disguises himself as Sir Topas, the curate. Here Malvolio endures his greatest suffering as his sanity is questioned and his limits tested. Without their scheme to get square with Malvolio, we would not see him suffer or discover his other side as discussed earlier. It is only through Maria and Sir Toby's deception, that Malvolio's respectable, pitiable and admirable qualities are revealed. Sir Toby and Fabian are also behind Sir Andrew's deception. Sir Toby's false friendship and advice leads only to his enjoyment and Sir Andrew's misery. He is manipulated incredibly by Sir Toby, at all times for his personal benefit. Toward the end Sir Toby shows his true feelings for Sir Andrew calling him ‘An asshead, and a coxcomb, and a knave†¦' The resulting comedy of his suit to Olivia and his duel with Cesario, would not occur were it not for Sir Toby's deception. Antonio would also be relieved of his confusion, as he would not step in to save Viola whom he mistook for Sebastian. Near the end, Sebastian realises there is something in the extraordinary situation ‘That is deceivable'. Olivia bade Malvolio ‘return' Orsino's ring to Cesario, in the hope that he would return to her. This was fraudulent trickery on Olivia's behalf in order to see her new love again. Later she apologises for her deceptive ‘cunning ‘ but it is through this deception that the love triangle between Orsino, Olivia and Viola is strengthened. Deception facilitates the formation of Twelfth Night's intricate plot. Shakespeare uses deception on a number of levels. He alludes to the deception in the play right from the beginning, in the title. Historically Twelfth Night is the last night of twelve days of celebration following Christmas, in which social order is upturned and anything and everything goes. The subtitle, ‘Or What you will', fits well with the attitude of Twelfth Night's festivities when people could do whatever and be whoever they liked. Not only is deception essential in the construction of the plot, but it is also present so that Shakespeare can relate to us the outcomes of those who practice deception and those who are deceived. There does not seem to be a concrete system with which a character's rewards or punishment can be determined in respect to their deception. Viola, Sir Toby and Maria are some of the chief deceivers, and yet they are rewarded with wedded bliss. These characters are also able to see past much of the other character's deception. Olivia and Orsino suffer from self-deception, and nonetheless receive the same reward. Malvolio and Sir Andrew see themselves even less truly, and can find no happiness. Feste is arguably the least deceived of the Illyrians, but for this he receives no consolation. Perhaps Shakespeare is trying to show that those involved with deception, are taking a risk. Whether you are being deceived or deceiving others, you can never control, or be sure of your outcome. Shakespeare also uses deception in relation to the concept of fate. Despite the immense deception of the play, Shakespeare ensures the right people still end up together; and although deception affects their journey, their destination remains unchanged. The celebrations of Twelfth Night must come to an end, as does the play, and the happiness of some of its characters. Feste's melancholy final song does nothing to assure us of even the handful of happy characters' continued happiness. Feste's song tells a story of growing up and growing old, recounting a story of the discovery of the unkindness and harshness life. Shakespeare's ending for Malvolio and Feste, who are at opposite ends of the spectrum of deception, serve as reminders to the uncertainty of life. Both the comic plot and the romantic plot are constructed in deception. The confusion, trickery, comedy and chaos of Twelfth Night is present only because of the characters' deception of themselves and one another. Deception makes Twelfth Night what it is. It is the cause of the story, and without it Twelfth Night would be a very straight-forward, linear bore without any twists or turns. It is through deception that Shakespeare shows us the triumph of fate and the uncertainty of life, and the play gives an insight into what awaits those who gamble with deception and false judgement. Deception plays a huge part in Twelfth Night and is essential in making it the topsy-turvy, ironic, chaotic comedy that it is.