Modern Microecon, Consumer Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Modern Microecon, Consumer Theory - Essay Example In raw economic terms, utility is a measure of consumer satisfaction, that is, how much satisfaction a consumer derives from the consumption of a good or a service. Budget constraint on the other hand represents the combination of goods or services an individual can consume or purchase in consideration to given prices with his or her limited income. Combining the two concepts forms the foundation of consumer theory. The utility theory provides a methodological framework whereby usually, all individuals, organizations and firms evaluate given options. Utility is a term used to describe the satisfaction that each of the given options provide to the one making the decision. Hence, the basis of the utility theory is that each individual will choose that option which tends to maximize utility, working on what is called the ‘maximization principle’. This principle states that the most desirable choice is the one with the highest level of satisfaction. However, while making the se decisions, the individual must also consider his income earned along with the respective prices of the goods and services in question. ... Total utility continuously rises as consumption increases. This rise becomes smaller as more units of a product are consumed, it can also decline after a certain level of consumption. On the other hand, marginal utility measures the change in consumption benefit as a result of consuming one more or one less unit of a product. In other words, marginal utility tracks the change in total utility as the number of units consumed changes. The behavior of marginal utility is such that it tends to fall continuously as consumption of a product increases. This is because the first few units consumed of a product provide a higher level of satisfaction than the later few. For example, the first drink of water is worth a lot more to a thirsty individual than his seventh one. For a consumer to be in equilibrium certain conditions need to be met. The consumers are assumed to be rational in their decision whereby they aim to maximize the utility derived from the consumption of any product. It is als o assumed that consumers have limited incomes and that the value of utility can be quantified in monetary terms. The equi-marginal principle states that a consumer will be in equilibrium if it is not possible to switch expenditure from good X in favour of good Y to achieve an increase in total utility. In other word this principle is satisfied when the marginal utility of every dollar spent on a good is equal to the price paid for that good. If a basket of goods is in question, an individual will continue to alter the mix of consumption of the products until the marginal utility of a dollar spent on each of the goods is equal. Therefore, the equilibrium principle can be expressed as MUx/Px=MUy/Py, where MU is the marginal utility and P is the price of the good. Consumer

Literature Review of the Industrial Wireless

Literature Review of the Industrial Wireless Industrial wireless infrastructure goes beyond a hand full of WSN in the field sending back information to a localised host system, the broader picture of a truly industrial wireless infrastructure envisages a system where the entire oil and gas facility is integrated wirelessly and all arms of the organisation can wirelessly access data from approved wireless devices from any location in the world. This provides a wireless platform for more efficient management, operation and maintenance of the oil and gas facility. This review focuses on WSN in the oil and gas industry, WSN resides in level zero of the ISA 95.01 hierarchy model. The oil and gas industry have utilised WSN for a number of years, up until the release of industry specific wireless technologies i.e. Wireless HART and ISA 100.11a, all of the oil and gas WSN install base were based on vendor proprietary technology, as a result there several operability issues with other vendors device and host systems [13]. Oil and gas facility operators and maintenance teams found themselves requiring multiple vendor devices and systems to meet the process application needs, resulting in high maintenance and operational costs defeating the purpose for having WSNs. The vast majority of the first generation WSN were based on basic office wireless technologies, as a result the first generation WSN where plagued with a number of issues namely; signal reliability, power usage, device processing capabilities, coverage area, suitability for use in hazardous areas, security and data latency issues. All these issues were a cause of major concern in the oil and gas industry towards the deployment of WSN. [14] Communication in the oil and gas industry demands the selected technology provides high availability, reliability, can coexistence with other networks on the plant, conform to an international standard, can operate in hazardous area, can transmit data in real time, is easily interoperable and is secure to outside intrusion and is cost effective [25]. All these requirements plus the ever changing RF environment and high levels electromagnetic noise from heavy duty machinery on an oil and gas facility has made it difficult over the years for WSN to prove successful and be considered the norm when considering communication technologies. The release of process industry specific WSN technologies like WirelessHART and ISA 100.11a, has significantly increased the interest in WSN in the oil and gas industry, it is estimated that investment in wireless infrastructure in the oil and gas industry will more than double from 1.2 million devices to over 3 million device between 2009 to 2015 [30]. With the advances in WSN technology, the potential of WSN to deliver a reduced CAPEX and OPEX cost savings, and possible health and safety and environmental benefits [25], is proving too attractive to be overlooked by oil and gas industry looking to reduce cost and improve plant safety. WSN are primarily based on the IEEE 802.15 family of technologies, which are designated as WPAN, WPAN typically consist of low data rates and a short coverage area [17]. WSN utilise a range of frequencies in the ISM band of frequencies i.e. 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz, these frequencies propagate through office cubicles, drywall, wood and other materials found in homes and offices but tend to bounce of large object like steel and concrete. Due to the high density of steel structures in an oil and gas facility, the first generation of WSN where plague by signal echo or multi path fading , high levels of signal echo and multipath fading lead to transmissions been cancelled [14]. Some of the wireless technologies used in Industrial applications include; Bluetooth, ZigBee, WirelessHART, ISA 100.11a etc. IEEE 802.15.1 AKA Bluetooth is a short range radio technology which operates in 2.4 GHz ISM frequency band; it was first introduced by the telecom vendor Ericsson in 1994 as a wireless alternative for RS232 communication [18]. Bluetooth is relatively low-power, low-rate wireless network technology, intended for point-to-point communications [19]. Bluetooth operates with three different classes of devices namely Class 1 devices which have a range of about 100meters, class 2 devices which have a range of about 10 meters, and class 3 devices with a range of 1m [20]. Bluetooth operates based on the features of Adaptive Frequency Hopping (AFH) and Forward Error Correction (FEC), AFH detects the potential for channel interference and blacklists channels found to have interference, to handle temporary interference the scheme re-tries the blacklisted channels and if the interference is no longer present channel can be used [31]. For security and authentication purposes an acknowledgement is sent by the receiver to the transmitter before a connection can be made between devices, Bluetooth also uses FHSS which adds an inherent level of security, the hop sequence switches channels 1,600 times per second making capturing a single hop extremely difficult. Data transmitted using Bluetooth is encoded before transmission increasing the security of the transmission also password protection ensures only devices with identical passwords can participate on the network. Bluetooth also utilises a controlled device pairing process to determine which products can co mmunicate, making devices invincible so they cannot be discovered by other devices [22]. Bluetooth is limited to eight devices per network and also has a limitation on the packet sizes [21]. This limitation in the number of device per network makes the Bluetooth technology an impractical solution for WSN in the Oil and gas industry. Typically the quantity of nodes in an oil and gas application would be in the hundreds which would mean have several Bluetooth networks on the facility. ZigBee is based on the IEEE 802.15.4 and originally developed for home automation. It is a low-cost, low-power, short range, wireless, mesh network technology which operates in the 2.4 GHz ISM band and uses DSSS modulation. All nodes in a ZigBee network share the same channel and frequency hopping is not permitted, at start-up of a ZigBee network scans are carried to establish a channel with little or no interference, this channel is then used for its data transmission [23]. A ZigBee network is capable of supporting hundreds of devices, the network architecture can be star, tree or mesh topologies. The technology uses three different types of devices namely ZigBee end devices, ZigBee router and a ZigBee coordinator. ZigBee supports both non beacon and beacon enabled networks, non-beacon networks are allowed to transmit any time that the radio channel is open and idle. This creates a ‘free-for-all’ environment in which collisions occur regularly when two or more devices try to transmit at the same time. In this mode, the co-ordinator and routers must be active at all times, and so it is best suited to mains powered devices [24]. A beacon enabled network can transmit only in its designated time slot; this regulates transmissions making collisions less likely. All nodes in the network are expected to synchronize their on-board clocks to this frame. Each node is allocated a specific time-slot within this super-frame during which it, and only it, is allowed to transmit and receive its data [24]. ZigBee utilizes the security mechanisms defined by IEEE 802.15.4, it using counter with cipher block chaining message authentication code (CCM) and AES-128 encryption, giving the option to use encryption-only or integrity-only [23]. The technology permits the use of three keys namely Network key, Link key and Master key. To join the network the master key is required, for end-to-end data encryption the link key is required and provides the highest level of security, the network key is shared between all devices on the network and provides a lower level of security [23]. ZigBee networks offer no diversity in frequency since the whole network shares a single static channel, this makes the network highly susceptible to signal jamming. Frequency selective fading due to the high density of concrete and steel structures present in an oil and gas facility is also a major concern as this can stop all ZigBee communication. The use of a single static channel increases the chance of interference from other systems and increases delay as the network size grows. In non-beacon enabled networks collisions forces retransmissions and this increase latency time making the technology unsuitable for critical monitor or control applications [23]. ZigBee has existed for some time now and has been updated a number of times to improve features like reliability, latency and security which are of uttermost importance but ZigBee has still not been able to cope with the stringent requirements needed for reliable and secure data transmission on an oil and gas facility. Wireless HART is one of only two released open wireless technology specific for process measurement and control applications [25]. It is modelled on the OSI model with its physical layer bases on the IEEE 802.15.4 for low rate WPAN, it operates in the 2.4 GHz ISM frequency band. The application layer is based on the oil and gas industry wide accepted HART protocol. The technology was released in 2007, and was developed on a set of fundamental requirements namely: it must be easy to use and deploy, it should be a self- organising and self- healing network and it should be scalable, reliable and secure [23]. Wireless HART employs TDMA where all devices on the network are time synchronised and communicate in a prescheduled 10ms fixed time slot, this reduces data collision on the network and also reduces the power consumption of network devices [23]. The Wireless HART network is made up of different devices which include field devices, network gateways which include network and security managers. Field devices are organized in either mesh or star topology with the gateway acting as a bridge between the field device network and the host system [20]. Mechanisms like DSSS, FHSS, CSMA/CA, channel hopping, channel black listing are adopted by the technology to improve coexistence with other wireless networks in the environs. WirelessHART adopts two routing mechanisms to ensure data reliability and availability these routing mechanisms are called graph and source routing. During graph routing the network manager establishes the different routes which form the graph, each device on the network stores these routes and uses the predefined routes to identify the next device to forward data to during data transmission. During source routing a definitive list of the devices from the source device through to the destination which the data is to be routed is included the data packet header [20]. Graph routing gives the WirelessHART the ability to self-heal if predetermined routes on the graph is unavailable an alternate route can be taken. WirelessHART adopts a mandatory security requirement, both the sending device and receiving device uses counter with cipher block chaining message authentication code (CCM) together with AES-128 as the underlining encryption methods. Session keys, joint keys and network keys ar e generated by the security manager and network manager to prevent intrusion and attacks against the network [23]. WirelessHART since its release has proven to be a reliable technology, it is well researched in both the academic and industrial fields with reputable instrumentation suppliers investing heavily the production and continued research and development of devices operating on the technology. The features and capabilities of the technology are addressed in more detail in section 4.1 of this report. ISA100.11a is the second of the two open wireless technology’s specific for process measurement and control applications, ISA 100.11a is a Low data rate wireless mesh network technology operating in the 2.4 GHz ISM frequency band, it is modelled on the OSI model and adopts IEEE 802. 15.4 as its Physical layer. The technology was released in 2009 and is suitable for process applications where delays of up to 100ms can be tolerated [27]. ISA 100.11a technology aims to deliver Low energy consumption devices, easy scalable networks, interoperability with legacy infrastructure and applications, a secure and robust wireless network which is capable of coexisting with other wireless devices in the industrial work space [29]. An ISA-100.11a network is made up of non-routing and routing field devices, a system manager, a security manager, backbone routers and gateways. Non-routing devices are the field sensors / actuators, while routing devices could also act as field sensor/actuator or a router. Routing devices are important in the mesh network, data is transmitted from the source to the destination through a number of hops, with the routers responsible for routing the data to the right destination. They can also use alternative paths to improve reliability similar to WirelessHART network. Data packets are routed from one subnet over the backbone network to its destination, the backbone router is responsible for this routing function, the routing destination can be another subnet or the gateway. Thegatewayis the physical interface between the field network and the plant host network. The system manager is responsible for the administrative functions and communication configuration of the network [29]. ISA 100.11a supports frequency hopping and channel blacklisting, this eliminates faulty frequency bands and improves robustness against interference. The technology also uses DSSS modulation technique which divides the signal into small fragments and spreads it over the available frequency channels, this disguises the signal making it appear as noise to the other wireless technologies with in the range as a result overcoming interference and increasing communication reliability [28]. ISA.100.11a is a very robust technology, in addition to DSSS, the technology utilises three different diversity techniques, namely space diversity, frequency diversity and time diversity [28]. ISA100.11a utilises integrity checks and optional encryption to guarantee the security of the network, the technology also utilises AES-128 bits, message authentication and encryption codes. In addition to this a shared global key, a private symmetric key or certificate are required in order a for a sensor node to be permitted to join an ISA100.11a network [28]. The technology provides a synchronizing sampling mechanism, this mechanism provides reduction of reporting rates and transmissions can be configured to take place when the rate of change of the measured data exceeds a certain defined threshold. Adaptive transmission power control is also adopted by ISA 100.11a devices, this provides field devices the ability to dynamically select a transmit power level, thereby optimizing the power used by the device. Finally the routing capability of field devices can be turned on or off depending on the location of a device here by reducing the power demands of the device to suit the design requirements [28]. The application layer of ISA 100.11a is flexible and has tunnelling capabilities, this permits the user to maintain compatibility with oil and gas facility legacy protocols like Fieldbus Foundation, HART, Profibus, Modbus, and others [29]. ISA.100.11a adopts 6LoWPAN protocol for its network and transport layers, this offers interoperability with internet based hosts and sensor nodes in other WSN networks with IPv6 compatibility [20]. ISA 100.11a has proven to be a reliable WSN in the oil and gas industry, monitoring and alerting, asset management, predictive maintenance, condition monitoring are the application areas which have specific requirements and performance characteristics that can be covered by ISA.100.11a technology. ZigBee and Bluetooth are some of the technologies which have not really been accepted by the oil and gas industry as a means of wireless communication for process monitoring due to some shortfalls such as, ZigBee cannot provide the required QoS support for handling latency and message flow determinism required by industrial applications, ZigBee only utilizes DSSS hence its performance can easily degrade in case of continuous noise in the environs. Bluetooth on the other hand, isn’t sufficiently scalable to handle the vast number of measuring points on an oil and gas facility. However, WirelessHART and ISA100.11a technologies have been adopted for industrial applications due to their ability to deterministic data transmission, reliability, security, reduced data latency and low-cost features. WirelessHART does not support multiple protocols as ISA100.11a does, the transmission of HART messages are the only information specified and supported by WirelessHART while ISA 100.11a support most of the oil and gas legacy communication protocols like Foundation fieldbus, MODBUS, Profibus, HART etc. [28]. The extreme environments experienced on an oil and gas facility i.e. high temperatures, high level of EMI, large steel and concrete structures and constant movement of heavy machinery makes wireless communication highly unreliable in this environment. The release of industry specific technologies i.e. Wireless HART and ISA 100.11a has somewhat addressed the concerns over reliability, security, signal latency of a WSN, compliancy to the standards by wireless device vendors has also lead to operability across multiple vendor devices. Confidence has grown in the use of WSN since the release of industry specific technologies with a hand full of vendors and end users championing the way on WSN. The install base of WSN is continually increasing and this will aid the industry gain a better understand the technology. Till date majority of the install base are on purely monitoring only points due to latency concerns with WSN, further academic and industry based research is required in the use of WSN for fast acting closed loop control and safety critical applications with the aim resolving the latency issues associated with WSN.

Educating a Patient to Fight Leukemia Essay -- Leukemia Patient Educat

Currently, in the Unites States there are more than 250,000 Americans living with leukemia. Leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells, which help your body fight infection. Your blood cells form in your bone marrow. In leukemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells; these cells crowd out the healthy blood cells, making it hard for blood to do its work ("Leukemia," 2013). Fifty four year old Regina was just diagnosed with leukemia. Upon assessment I gathered that she has never smoked in her life, she has the occasional glass of wine and loves to go for walk and hikes in the mountains. After interviewing her I learned she is ready to learn and battle this new cancer diagnosis, including her family in the teaching process is very important to Regina and she is a very visual learner. She has a very positive attitude and lots of support from her friends and family. Readiness to Learn From the beginning Regina has been ready to tackle this new diagnosis and is ready to get better. Being so young for this diagnosis, the patient understands the disease and it doesn’t affect her ability to learn. To provide a more comfortable learning environment for my patient I would not choose to do my teaching in the examination room. I feel that those rooms do not have a very warm comforting feeling and they can also be very loud and distracting. It would be better to provide a quiet, welcoming and comfortable environment. Interruptions could interfere with the patient teaching process so I would hang a â€Å"DO NOT DISTURB† sign on the door to eliminate distractions. It would also be very important to have her family there for the teaching process since they will be the ones that will provide some of her care. Th... ...ailable to them to reference if they were ever unsure. The second goal was also met. She stated two of the risk factors that she could face contracting a virus and that she will take the needed precautions to avoid death. Lastly the patient confided in me and discussed her feeling identifying three of her emotions and asked for more information on the support groups she could join. Regina also wrote down the websites I referred to her and I gave her a pamphlet on coping with leukemia. Even though she has already learned a lot about her diagnosis there is always more to be taught. Works Cited Leukemia. (2013, July 29). Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/leukemia.html Suszynski, M. (2011, January 04). Cooking and eating to fight leukemia. Retrieved from http://www.everydayhealth.com/leukemia/cooking-and-eating-to-fight-leukemia.aspx

Expectations For Boys and Girls

Expectations for boys and girls are extremely high in today’s society. A lot of people feel pressure in today’s society and so much so that some people feel the need to take their own lives. Some people are able to rise above societies expectations, but that is incredibly hard to do and not everybody is strong enough to overcome that. The pressures of society follow everyone everywhere and different people must handle it in different ways. Expectations for girls are a lot higher and a lot more pressured than expectations for boys.Girls are expected to be pretty and nice and clean, but that is not always the case with every girl. They are expected to cook and clean as stated in Barbie Doll. â€Å"The girlchild was born as usual and presented dolls that did pee-pee and miniature GE stoves and irons. † This really shows that girls are pressured into this kind of life from an early age. After she hits puberty, expectations start to change, especially with her peers. â€Å"Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said: you have a great big nose and fat legs.† Within her own peer group she is being mocked and put down until she can’t take it anymore. â€Å"In the casket displayed on satin she lay. † Only then did the people in her life comment on how she was pretty, but it was too late for her. In the other poem, Good Girl, girls are expected to hold up the world. â€Å"Hold up the universe, good girl. † She also gets compared to Atlas, the Greek God who holds the world on his shoulders. â€Å"Sever yourself, poor false Atlas. † Unfortunately, this is true because some women have to cook and clean the house for her family.â€Å"You are the universe about its pole. God’s not fair. † Some women even have to work for their families also and it is true that some women hold the world on their shoulders. Expectations for boys however are much different. In the poem, Dylan, a mother talks about how her y oung son doesn’t have a worry in the world and is so happy. â€Å"On Monday he was Spiderman. All it took was red P. J’s, gluey palms and two spools of thread. † She then goes on to talk about how she wishes she could bottle up that happiness, â€Å"It seems if I could stash just one of these get-ups and the way your heart soars.† The mother than says, â€Å"Little boy, you could don it the morning some girl wrecks you. † She wants to give him his happiness when he is sad so he can immediately be happy again. This speaks to the expectations of boys in society because they are expected to never be sad but in truth, there will always be times when one is sad. In the other poem, Rites of Passage, the little boys at the party feel the need to compare themselves to one another to see who the alpha male is.â€Å"One says to the other How old are you? Six. I’m seven. So? † Boys are expected to be rough and tough and must appear that way espe cially to other boys. â€Å"I could beat you up, a seven says to a six. † Boys are not allowed to show their sensitive side and if they do then they will be ridiculed. Later in the poem the host of the party, speaks to the group as a whole, â€Å"We could easily kill a two-year-old. † And all was well between the boys again, because they all found a common interest.

Basant Festival

Mela entertainment is widely recognized as a wholesome, complete events solution factory. It’s a team of young, creative, enthusiastic and dynamic professionals with a sparkling stream of ideas having vast experience in the field of Events & Entertainments. Our goal is to give each & every event a different Meaning, Identity and a Vision with true professionalism to chart the roads of informative & entertaining events.Mela entertainment is here to simplify & make things easier to provide excellent services to the clients. Every event organized / managed / coordinated by us is an excellent opportunity for entertainment, growth, personality development and confidence building. From our in-house staff to our many clients and participants; every one experiences the magic.Our Philosophy & Commitment is encapsulated in the following statement: â€Å"To provide & deliver event solutions & services with the highest standard of professionalism, creativity upholding at all times qualit y, integrity and innovation.†Our expertise covers all the aspects of Events: Planning, management, Coordination and Execution. We deliver cost effective events without compromising on the final outputs. And to say the least, we have a capability & ample of workforce to organize many events at a time without compromising on the quality of the event. Services we offer:†¢Corporate events †¢ Conferences & Seminars †¢ Product Launches †¢ B2B & B2C Events †¢ Networking Events †¢ VIP Visits †¢ Road Shows †¢ Facility Inaugurations †¢ Employee Motivation programs †¢ Residential Conferences †¢ Awards functions †¢ Media / Press meets †¢ Customer / Dealer interaction programs †¢ Brand Extension Exercises †¢ Celebrity Management †¢ Live Concerts & Stage ShowsEvent Production & Direction†¢ Integrated Communication / Event Strategy †¢ Budgeting †¢ Technical Consulting †¢ Multimedia Production †¢ Artiste, Dance Troops Management †¢ Creative ConceptualizationLogistical Planning / Production / Stage Management†¢ Public Relation Services †¢ CEO Visits †¢ PR †¢ CSR Projects †¢ Media monitoring †¢ Crisis Management †¢ Public AffairsPromotions†¢ Retail Visibility †¢ Product Awareness †¢ Product Sampling †¢ Consumer Insights †¢ Lead GenerationRetail Activation†¢ Exhibition †¢ Wedding PlanningLarge field force activation†¢ Market / Competition Intelligence & Analysis †¢ Sampling and Audits †¢ Mystery Shopper Programs †¢ Kiosks †¢ POP / POS †¢ Time bound Installations †¢ Permanent Installations †¢ RWA Activities †¢ BPO Activities †¢ Mall ActivitiesMissionWe love what we do†¦Our mission statement is:– to work with our clients for their long term benefit, – to constantly research and develop new strategies, technologies and skills, â₠¬â€œ to provide exceptional service, -to maintain constant communication.

To Fee or Not to Fee essays

To Fee or Not to Fee essays Like the old saying goes, "The best things in life are free." digital media is no exception. Digital media has lately been getting attention due to the legal accusations on a certain type of digital media, MP3s. MP3 stands for Mpeg (a common file compression format) audio layer 3 (which means it compresses any audio into 3 layers for about 1/15th the size). The lawsuits that have been springing up lately contain two arguments. In one corner, we have the argument that an artist should be able to put their music on the internet for everyone to retrieve freely. In the other corner we have the argument that musical artists are having their music "stolen" by ruthless, internet thieves hence the artist gets no "pay" for his work. Can you think of the last time you said to your friend, "you've got to read this book, it's so good!"? If your friend liked that book, he/she would probably go out and get the next book done by that author. This is the state that mp3s are in right now, except with mp3s, it's on a more convenient level. You download mp3s, through a program like napster, listen to them and if you like them, naturally, you'd keep them, if you don't, you simply press the delete key. The more songs you retrieve (download), the larger and more refined your library of songs gets. Then, another person sees your refined library of mp3s and adds their favorite songs to their refined list. Eventually you have every person on their computers listening and associating with their library of mp3s. This way only the best artists get spread across the internet, new artists are introduced instantly and of course your "friend" (in this case, whoever downloaded mp3s off of you), goes out and buys the next book by the esteemed author (in this case the next album released by the artist). This "natural selection" method is slowly revolutionizing the way that music is being spread and also bought. The antagonists point of view is ...

Definition and Examples of Overwriting

Definition and Examples of Overwriting Overwriting is a wordy writing style characterized by excessive detail, needless repetition, overwrought figures of speech, and/or convoluted sentence structures. For writers striving for color, advises author and editor Sol Stein, try, fly, experiment, but if it shows strain, if it isnt accurate, cut it (Stein on Writing, 1995). Examples and Observations Overwriting is the failure to make choices. . . . Linguistic bric-a-brac is literatures Elvis on velvet.(Paula LaRocque, Championship Writing: 50 Ways to Improve Your Writing. Marion Street, 2000)[Andrew] Davidsons approach is scattergun: for every lovely image (the unholy yoga of his crash), there is a horrible, almost parodic piece of overwriting (a cheese strand dangled from her mouth to the edge of her nipple, and I wanted to rappel it like a mozzarella commando).(James Smart, The Gargoyle. The Guardian, September 27, 2008)Even Great Writers Can OverwriteNote that some critics deeply admire the following passages by John Updike and Joan Didion. With uncommon perception, says Thomas L. Martin, Updike offers the beauty of these several figures which, lined up, converge in a significatory pattern as do these dropsin a single figurative mosaic (Poiesis and Possible Worlds, 2004). Likewise, the excerpt from On Self-Respect, one of Didions best-known essays, is frequently quoted approv ingly. Other readers, however, argue that Updikes images and Didions figurative comparisons are self-conscious and distractingin a word, overwritten. Decide for yourselves.- It was a window enchanted by the rarity with which I looked from it. Its panes were strewn with drops that as if by amoebic decision would abruptly merge and break and jerkily run downward, and the window screen, like a sampler half-stitched, or a crossword puzzle invisibly solved, was inlaid erratically with minute, translucent tesserae of rain.(John Updike, Of the Farm, 1965)- Although to be driven back upon oneself is an uneasy affair at best, rather like trying to cross a border with borrowed credentials, it seems to me now the one condition necessary to the beginnings of real self-respect. Most of our platitudes notwithstanding, self-deception remains the most difficult deception. The tricks that work on others count for nothing in that very well-lit back alley where one keeps assignations with oneself: no winning smiles will do here, no prettily drawn lists of good intentions. One shuffles flashily but in vain through ones marked cardsthe kindness done for the wrong reason, the apparent triumph which involved no real effort, the seemingly heroic act into which one had been shamed.(Joan Didion, On Self-Respect. Slouching Towards Bethlehem, 1968) Weltys WordinessSometimes writers get so excited about specificity and description that they begin to confuse them with mere wordiness. This is called overwriting and is a common early malady in apprentice writers. . . .Heres one of Eudora Weltys early first sentences: Monsieur Boule inserted a delicate dagger in Mademoiselles left side and departed with a poised immediacy.The solution to overcoming overwriting . . . is simply to exercise restraint and to remember the notion of immediacy. Weltys sentence, short of its too-fancy verbs and its excess of adjectives, might simply have read, Monsieur Boule stabbed Mademoiselle with a dagger and left the room in a hurry.(Julie Checkoway, Creating Fiction: Instruction and Insights From Teachers of the Associated Writing Programs. Writers Digest Books, 2001)Daniel Harris on OverwritingEven as my prose congealed into epic similes that grew more and more outlandish, I displayed absolute intolerance for the overwriting of others whose prose all owed me to study my own shortcomings at several removes, from a vantage point far above the vendetta I was waging as the self-appointed hatchet man of minority fiction. Often I was so blind to my tendency to write purple prose that I overwrote in the very act of criticizing overwriting, as . . . when I praised Patricia Highsmith, who, unlike other American writers, was so committed to telling her story that she never had any time to single out something for its own sake, to pluck it up from its context, and pet it from head to toe with long, voluptuous strokes of adjectives and metaphors. Far from being smug about my skills as a writer, I was bitterly frustrated, divided between my need to entertain my audience and my abhorrence of the prose that resulted from my acrobatic efforts to maintain my readers interest.(Daniel Harris, A Memoir Of No One In Particular. Basic Books, 2002) Do Not OverwriteRich, ornate prose is hard to digest, generally unwholesome, and sometimes nauseating. If the sickly sweet word, the overblown phrase are a writers natural form of expression, as is sometimes the case, he will have to compensate for it by a show of vigor, and by writing something as meritorious as the Song of Songs, which is Solomons.(William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, 3rd ed. Macmillan, 1979)

Left-Handed U.S. Presidents

Left-Handed U.S. Presidents There have been eight left-handed presidents that we know of. However, this number is not necessarily accurate because in the past left-handedness was actively discouraged. Many individuals who would have grown up left-handed were in fact forced  to learn how to write with their right hand. If recent history is any indication, left-handedness seems to be far more common among U.S. presidents than it is among the general population. Naturally, this apparent phenomenon has led to many speculations.   Left-Handed Presidents James Garfield  (March-September 1881) is considered by many to be the first president who was  left-handed. Anecdotes indicate  that he was ambidextrous and  could write with both hands at the same time. However, he served only six months before succumbing to gunshot wounds after Charles Guiteau shot him in July of his first term. James A. GarfieldHerbert HooverHarry S. TrumanGerald FordRonald ReaganGeorge H.W. BushBill ClintonBarack Obama Getty Images for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights / Getty Images Beating the Odds What is perhaps most noteworthy about left-handed presidents is how many there have been in recent decades. Of the last 15 presidents, seven (about 47%) have been left-handed. That might not mean much until you consider that the global percentage of left-handed people is about 10%. So among the general population, only 1 in 10 people are left-handed, while in the modern-era White House, almost 1 in 2 have been left-handed. And theres every reason to believe that this trend will continue because its no longer standard practice to steer children away from natural left-handedness.   Lefty Doesnt Mean  Left, But What Does It Mean? A quick count of political parties in the list above shows the Republicans slightly  ahead of the Democrats, with five of the eight lefties being Republican. If the numbers were reversed, perhaps someone would argue that left-handed people are more in line with left politics. After all, many people believe that left-handedness seems to correspond to creative, or at least out of the box thinking, pointing to famous lefty artists such as Pablo Picasso, Jimi Hendrix, and Leonardo Di Vinci. While this theory obviously wouldnt be supported by the history of left-handed presidents, the unusually high percentage of lefties in the White House may point to other characteristics that may give lefties an edge in leadership roles (or at least at winning elections):   Language development: According to scientists Sam Wang and Sandra Aamodt, authors of Welcome to Your Brain, 1  in 7 left-handed people use both hemispheres (left and right) of their brain to process language, while almost all right-handed people process language on only the left side of the brain (the left side controls the right hand, and vice versa). Its possible that this ambidextrous language processing gives lefties an advantage as orators.  Creative thinking: Studies have shown a correlation between left-handedness and creative thinking, or more specifically, divergent thinking, or an aptitude for developing multiple solutions to problems. Chris McManus, the author of Right-Hand, Left-Hand, suggests that left-handedness may be associated with a more highly developed right hemisphere of the brain, the side thats better at creative thinking. This may also explain the over-representation of left-handed artists.   So, if youre a lefty who gets annoyed with all the right-handed bias in the world, perhaps you can help change things  as our next president.

Are there any current issues in the news involving telecommunication Article

Are there any current issues in the news involving telecommunication law - Article Example Whenever a firm from a ‘sensitive’ country attempts to buy an American technology company (say a telecommunications company) which could in some way implicate national security matters, the American government almost always immediately opens an investigation. â€Å"The committee assesses the possible national security implications of planned transactions that would result in foreign powers gaining significant influence over U.S. companies† (Sternstein 2011). One problem with this process, according to critics, is that presently the US government only finds out about a potential purchase if the company volunteers the information, so it is possible that foreign powers have bought more than is publicly known. The difficulty, it seems, is balancing the need for national security with the obvious reality that the technology sector is a rapidly changing one and governments should not get in the way of organic and important growth in it. Concerning access to information at the local, state, and federal levels, there was a recent story about a lawsuit opened by a Pennsylvania utility company against the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC recently created a fund with federal monies to â€Å"support telecommunications service in high-cost areas† (Long 2011). This likely includes economically depressed urban areas and rural ones as well where high speed internet connections are not readily available. The utility company, fearing competition with a taxpayer-subsidized entity, is suing the FCC and claims that the new rules it recently created which started the fund are â€Å"arbitrary and capricious† (Long 2011). They change many of the laws governing access to information and thus have caused some

Motivation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Motivation - Assignment Example For instance, people who do menial jobs will always increase their performance if the wages are improved (Whiteley, 78). However, it is further seen that in cases where the job only requires even the most rudimentary cognitive skills to perform, then the higher the amount of reward then the poor the performance realized. This certainly contradicts the expectancy theory. In the same way, once the nature of the job requires above average cognitive skills, then an increase in the rewards will not always lead to better performance on the part of the workers. In fact the situation gets much worse for those people who get the largest rewards as their performance usually becomes the worst compared to those who are least rewarded. 2) In a way, the message of the speaker is a bit consistent with what is normally seen in real life situations. Across many organizations, the people at the lower levels usually receive the least wages and salaries. These people are therefore very sensitive to aspects of money and any slight increase in their wages will definitely increase their performance. For instance, people who do mechanical jobs tend to increase their input in the job in case they are promised higher pay. On the other hand, the top executives at the organization receive large amounts of money and are therefore very insensitive to such issues. Increase in their bonuses cannot therefore make them improve their performance. Since they get huge rewards to motivate them, such rewards are normally wasted in most cases since they do not really affect performance positively but negatively. I experienced such a case while working at a paper making factory where many people performed mechanical jobs while other worked i n the offices at the factory. 3) As a manager, the knowledge gained from the video would be very appropriate in enabling me to effectively know how to reward

Greek Classicism And Hellenism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Greek Classicism And Hellenism - Assignment Example Greek sculptures of the human figure are further characterized by the harmonious and balanced anatomical proportions as featured via Polycleitos' "The Doryphorus" dated c. 450 – 480 B.C. as well as Myron's "Discobolus" inc. 450 B.C. Inform and style, sculpted Greek monuments and articles chiefly featured three-dimensional volumes of structures which bear real human shape in bust, torso, arm, limb, and facial detail. Moreover, construction of nude statues back then was widely prevalent as Greeks signified nudity to symbolize heroism, status, and defeat among males and through Praxiteles’ â€Å"Aphrodite of Cnidus†, however, the nudity of the female goddess conveys her divine birth from the sea and eternal youth. Define the Hellenistic Style. List the characteristics. Give at least one example from the textbook. In general, the Hellenistic Style projected stylistic evolution rendered upon a rich variety of subject matter whereby the artists in the era of Hellenism sought to become more flexible and innovative in their treatment of the core object of the piece. Hellenistic schemes of art may be observed to have focused on the historical setting or significant occurrence believed to reflect the role or identity of the figure designated in it. Rather than drawing the audience’s attention toward the countenance of the image, a Hellenistic work is able to captivate sights into the entire scene as though it is bound to come to life to communicate a particularly interesting narrative.... enistic work is able to captivate sights into the entire scene as though it is bound to come to life to communicate a particular interesting narrative. One who then looks at the piece would necessarily look into all that comprised it including the orientation of objects in space and what might facial expressions mean in the given context. â€Å"Laocoon and His Two Sons† in 1st century B.C.E. (p. 92) and â€Å"Nike of Samothrace† c. 190 B.C.E. (p. 92) are two of the prominent works by which the concept of Hellenism may be recognized via the intensity of emotion evoked, whether emerging out of tragedy, triumph, passion, or other sources that elicit strong reactions. (3) Why is the Parthenon considered an important achievement in the history of architecture? Besides the fact that the Parthenon is a temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, its conventions of design bore the intriguing aspect of its being tailored to become an â€Å"optical illusion†. To normal s ight, the Parthenon would appear to consist of straight lines, in truth however, every surface of it was carved for the edges to exhibit plain yet astounding linear perspective. Having been built in the time and rule of Pericles, hailed as one of the greatest Athenian statesmen of all time and Father of Democracy who had the Parthenon established with a vision of making Athens the center of Greek world, the architecture and engineering constituting the columnar temple took years and hundreds of craftsmen to be conducted such that it could withstand huge historical challenges. It has stood to this day, despite ruins, at the heart of the Acropolis to be viewed and studied based on the paradigm of classical architecture. (4) What factors contributed to Pax Romana (â€Å"Roman Peace†)? Pax Romana being a long period

Personal Statement for Urban and Regioanal Masters degree

For Urban and Regioanal Masters degree - Personal Statement Example My immediate plan is to take admission in an institute from where I can get a high quality education in urban and regional planning. My long-term goal is to serve the nation as a skilled project director by achieving a high post in some well-known organization. As I have studied urban development in my bachelors, I want to do further in this field by gaining perspectives in many areas, such as, historical preservation, planning law, economic development and transportation planning, and emergency preparedness planning in order to diversify my knowledge base and be able to apply new approaches to my work. With the knowledge I would attain with this degree, I would use my credentials to become a professional planner working in both development and policy streams and eventually become a planning executive supervising a large public organization in either Canada or the United States. As far as my professional experience is concerned, I have cultivated professional planning technical experience based on my interest in land use planning and have attained positions with progressive responsibilities. I have also been working within a public organization since graduating university. I have also gained leadership and teamwork experience by participating in some notable organizations, such as, Geography students association, Pre-Law society, model united nations society, and Sigma Nu fraternity kappa beta chapter. I wish to become a master’s degree candidate at your institution because I want to gain an accredited planning education from a prestigious university in order to remove any limitations in my career progress. My academic skills and relevant professional experience make me a suitable candidate to get admission in this university. I am sending this statement of purpose to get an opportunity to pursue my degree from this university. Having a

Graduate Schools Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Graduate Schools - Research Paper Example This essay stresses that graduate schools equip students to think with a high degree of open-mindedness. Graduates are not fixed in their thinking. They are open to debates and are quite flexible with respect to decision making. They are able to recognize and assess situations critically, make assumptions, implications and practical consequences of their actions. Accordingly, they act after assessing situations with sharp and open minds. This paper makes a conclusion that graduates also master great communication, human relations and communication skills. They go through intensive theoretical and practical learning that transforms them into useful assets in the society. They are relied upon to figure out solutions to complex problems at individual, group and societal levels. This is because the graduate schools have equipped them with knowledge and skills to solve such complex problems. Think tanks in virtually all fields of knowledge come from graduate schools. Whether in the field of medicine, technology, religion, humanities and social sciences, the leading brains are produced from the graduate schools. Strategic global thinkers with diversified knowledge and skills come from these graduate schools. From the foregoing, graduate schools play very significant roles towards the growth and development of the society. They contribute to research and development in economics, politics, social sciences, cultural aspects and religion. The society needs graduate schools to do research, enhance global competition and build a very vibrant economy

'Executive power in the UK is dominated by the Prime Minister' Essay

'Executive power in the UK is dominated by the Prime Minister'. Discuss - Essay Example According to Allen (2003), the monarch acts within the constraints of convention and precedent, and exercises prerogative powers on the advice of the prime minister. The prime minister holds a weekly audience with the monarch; the records of these audiences are not taken and the proceedings remain fully confidential (Stewart, 2010). The monarch may express their views, but as constitutional rulers, they must accept the decisions of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister dominates the executive power in the United Kingdom; however, there are cases where the Prime Minister does not have full control of the executive. Appointments The Queen appoints the Prime Minister, who then appoints all other members of the government. This power to hire and fire extends to all ministers and cabinet members, giving the Prime Minister substantial control over the careers of members of parliament and peers. The Prime Minister can also create and establish new posts, departments, committees, policy uni ts and even merge the existing ones at will (Allen, 2003). This implies that the Prime Minister controls most of the governmental departments and commissions. Additionally, the Prime Minister has the powers to appoint and dismiss the government ministers. Since the beginning of the 19th century, the Prime Minister has been the leader of the largest party in the House of Commons. The power of the Prime Minster is based on the Royal Prerogative, where they exercise power on behalf of the monarch. Thus, the Prime Minister dominates the executive power of determining the members of parliament, cabinet, and ministers. As the head of intelligence and security services, the Prime Minister determines the composition of these agencies (Booth, 2006). The Prime Minister regulates their roles and functions and can deny permission if the security services want to carry out a particular task. The Prime Minister also appoints senior officers of the armed forces, and thus controls their functions. Other appointments carried out by the Prime Minister include top ecclesiastical, regius professorships, public sector, appointments to royal commissions and the Mastership of Trinity College (Allen, 2003). Giving the Prime Minister power to do all these appointments makes them to dominate the executive power. This is because the power to appoint is given together with the power to control. Head of the Executive The Prime Minister is the head of the executive. As the head of the executive, the Prime Minister is the chief policy maker because of the pre-eminence in making the government’s policy (Stewart, 2010). The Royal Prerogative gives the Prime Minister the power to make and break the composition of ministers and reshuffle the cabinet to meet the needs of government requirements. For example, Tony Blair decided to build the Millennium Dome when the cabinet stood against it (Stewart, 2010). Regardless of the fact that the announcement and the cabinet occurred simultaneously , the Prime Minister made the overall decision. Even though the prime minister can make such quick decisions, the cabinet can overrule their decisions, and they cannot impose policies through reluctant officials. Meetings must be conducted to make any ruling and the agreements from these meetings are bound to be followed to the latter. Conduct Parliamentary and Cabinet Business The Prime Minister

Graduate Schools Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Graduate Schools - Research Paper Example This essay stresses that graduate schools equip students to think with a high degree of open-mindedness. Graduates are not fixed in their thinking. They are open to debates and are quite flexible with respect to decision making. They are able to recognize and assess situations critically, make assumptions, implications and practical consequences of their actions. Accordingly, they act after assessing situations with sharp and open minds. This paper makes a conclusion that graduates also master great communication, human relations and communication skills. They go through intensive theoretical and practical learning that transforms them into useful assets in the society. They are relied upon to figure out solutions to complex problems at individual, group and societal levels. This is because the graduate schools have equipped them with knowledge and skills to solve such complex problems. Think tanks in virtually all fields of knowledge come from graduate schools. Whether in the field of medicine, technology, religion, humanities and social sciences, the leading brains are produced from the graduate schools. Strategic global thinkers with diversified knowledge and skills come from these graduate schools. From the foregoing, graduate schools play very significant roles towards the growth and development of the society. They contribute to research and development in economics, politics, social sciences, cultural aspects and religion. The society needs graduate schools to do research, enhance global competition and build a very vibrant economy

Intro 4 questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Intro 4 questions - Essay Example As a result reformation of penology was formed which saw establishment of gate to sewer in order to improve hygiene of cells. The model incorporated both the New York and Pennsylvania models. Later, Moonachie introduced mark system that aimed at fiving hope to prisoners concerning their future. Following signs of marks model success, Irish model was introduced which advocated for release of prisoners upon attaining satisfactory good behavior. Lastly, Elmira model was introduced to modify Irish model through giving inmates indeterminate sentencing but prisoners had an opportunity to earn early release if their behavior improves (P, 356). Modern prisons are divided into state and federal prisons. The level of security required in prisons mainly depends on potential of prisons to escape i.e. minimum, low medium, maximum and super- maximum. There is difference in these prisons on matters of environment. The state correctional system controls prison farms and camps that are mainly for inmates with low offence. Others include boot camps which are mainly aimed at enabling the inmates to undergo physical conditioning and discipline. Military prisons on the other hand are different from state and federal prisons as it has its own criminal codes. Lastly, co-correctional prisons are those that provide normal prison environment through allowing both women and men to integrate together (p. 367). Jails mainly confine persons who are serving short sentences, person awaiting trial, conviction or sentencing, individual who have violated of their probation, mentally ill persons, person who is under protection e.g. witness or state inmates. Jails have undergone tremendous changes with origin of modern jails being traced back on 1166 and with the first jail having been built in 1650s. Colonial jails had small rooms which could accommodate approximately 30 inmates. At this era inmates had to buy food for on their own. Since then jails have gone through modern

Equality Rights: Feminism

Equality Rights: Feminism Equality Rights Feminism Equality a term associated with fairness, cohesion, and rights has been an important goal for various theoretical movements that have formed in Feminism. The debate surrounding equality has and continues to be of concern at all different levels feminism arose as a response to the inequalities between men and women. The question of equality itself puts up a parameter of analysis and critique that allows for investigation and speculation. To ponder equality, is to enlighten the senses to explore the possibilities of what is known, what needs to be done, and who or what is involved in seeking equality it challenges the word as well as the people framed within it. Catharine MacKinnon states that â€Å"Feminism is the discovery that women do not live in this world, that the person occupying this realm is a man, so much more a man if he is white and wealthy† (367). With this in mind, feminist movements emphasize the importance of every women’s position in social and political spaces. Various feminist movements can be used to achieve equality. However, each perspective provides a different contribution in obtaining such equality. Feminist theories of the liberal, Marxist, radical, and postcolonial perspectives all cover certain aspects of inequality while limiting in the acknowledgement of another. The integration of these perspectives will allow for a truly beneficial equality for women. Liberal feminism is a stance that argues for women to have equal rights to men and to achieve individual autonomy. They propose a model of individual autonomy by fighting for the right of women to have educational opportunities and to obtain a career that is outside of domesticity. This is part of their main focus of their strive for women to have the same rights that men hold â€Å"naturally† men being the gender of privilege and power (Whelehan 29). Liberal feminists are interested in the politics of law to maintain equality between women and men. From this perspective, equality for women is achievable but due to the nature and intensity of its movements, liberal feminism is considered as a starting point for equal rights and freedoms guaranteed to each individual. It takes a more â€Å"soft† lobbying approach to fight for the equal rights of women to those of men as they try to refrain from any direct challenge to institutions that cause them to be unequal. They would like to change laws but stay within the boundaries of institutions as they prove to be valuable to many women. Imelda Whelehan points out that the â€Å"liberal perspective on state intervention in people’s lives also proved problematic, since state support was crucial to many women’s lives, and any shrinkage of its services would probably mean that their living standards deteriorated† (34). As a result, liberal feminists were caught between fighting for women’s rights and expressing their victimization that is due to their differences in biological sex. Moreover, social change is restricted because if the current liberal state was overthrown, the male-dominant liberalistic status quo would be disrupted and many services provided by the state (especially services provided to women to improve their living standards) will be in jeopardy. Combining liberal thought and feminism provides many contradictions because their beliefs do not apply equally to both male and female due to the constraints of reality. If males and females are given equal rights (as hoped by liberal feminists), there will be strains on both sexes in terms of gender roles within and outside of the economy as well as an emphasis on the females biological anatomy of giving birth. As a result, liberal feminism’s concept of equality is an ideal that is contradictory due to reality, personal benefits, and environmental constraints (such as the state, education, and family needs). It is important to realize that this does not necessarily prove liberal feminism as an ineffective approach to equality. In fact, liberal feminism is the most widely known feminist movement in today’s society. The liberal feminist movement can be seen as the basis and the starting point for the fight towards gender equality. However, this approach needs to be combined with other perspectives for a more effective outcome. Another effective approach to strive for gender equality is to analyze the problem through the Marxian framework. Marxist feminism emphasizes that capitalism and patriarchy are organizing devices that hinder the contemplation of having a society that is equal between genders. They argue that class is a major factor that creates the division between men and women. In other words, the hierarchy system of class produces inequalities by placing power in the hands of a few while oppressing others that do not have this privilege. Marxist feminism focuses their attention on women’s position in labor and in the capitalist system women’s participation in the home and in wage work. Heidi Hartmann states that â€Å"the problem in the family, the labor market, economy, and society is not simply a division of labor between men and women, but a division that places men in a superior, and women in a subordinate, position† (7). As a result, Marxist feminists take on a revolutionary approach to overthrow capitalism in order to dismantle male privilege [really really really good clean cut statement]. They recognize that women are subordinated as a class and that women’s unpaid work in the home needs to be acknowledged because â€Å"women at home not only provide essential services for capital by reproducing the labor force, but also create surplus value through that work† (Hartmann 8). Moreover, Marxist feminism recognizes the social and historical context of all women’s work in paid and unpaid labor. By acknowledging women’s participation in society, women’s contribution will not be taken for granted hence elevating their gender status. Equality can therefore be achieved in a capitalistic sense. While the liberal approach focuses on gender equality in rights before the court of law, the Marxian perspective takes on a capitalistic approach strengthening women’s status in the economic system. These two approaches aim to fight for more power for oppressed women but, at the same time, they lack focus on a major source of this oppression the problematic male-dominant gender system. Radical feminism is useful in analyzing this issue as it focuses on patriarchy as the source of gender inequality. This binary gender system is seen to be a social construct that serves as the basis of gender inequality. Radical feminists argue that men’s privilege oppresses women though social institutions and cultural productions. As a result, men’s dominance over women is seen to take on a social hierarchy that produces unequal power relations. They stress that social organizations created male domination, which has forced upon society a type of thinking that is â€Å"malestream.† Moreover, violence towards women and the objectification of women’s bodies have placed women in a position of exploitation and victimization. Radical feminism coined the slogan â€Å"The personal is political† to emphasize that individual experiences brings out political issues that need to be addressed and acknowledged. They take on a revolutionary approach in that social and political changes are necessary in order to overthrow the structural framework of inequality between men and women. They argue that â€Å"individual female identity and experience [is] the first step to collective revolution† (Whelehan 36). Acknowledging female identity apart from the structural gender framework will allow the female gender to break free from â€Å"malestream† ideals. In other words, the elimination of this gender system will possibly bring the two genders into equality. Another feminist movement that aims to challenge existing social norms and constructs is postcolonial feminism. This movement focuses on rejecting all foundational thought that is known and used as truth. They argue that this truth is constructed and created by the powers of those that are the colonizers (middle-class, white males) who have power over the colonized. Moreover, this truth becomes part of the universal it is accepted to be true with little or no questioning. As a result, postcolonial feminist reject universalizing principles because it marginalizes those that are not part of the norm. Leela Gandhi argues that a â€Å"comprehensive dismantling of colonial hierarchies and structures needs to be matched by a reformed and imaginative reconception of colonized society and culture† (82). Postcolonial feminists stress that women are situated in a â€Å"double colonization† in which they are oppressed as women and colonized people as well as constructed as sexual objects. A reformation of the constructed male-dominant society should take place revamping all social norms that naturally set women as the subordinate. By destabilizing the colonization, ideals on gender that are taken for granted will be overthrown granting an opportunity for women to be acknowledged in society. With an increased level of appreciation of women’s contribution, equality between the genders can be achieved. With the unique standpoint of each perspective, inequality issues regarding different structures of society can be understood better. Each of these perspectives is effective in their own way as they all aim to bring equality between the genders. By incorporating the multiple perspectives, equality can be achieved to a certain extent. The issue of equality is based on people’s perspectives and the social contexts these people are positioned. No matter how hard these feminist movements try to strive for equality, gender differences will continue to exist biological differences can never be eliminated. If â€Å"absolute† equality is achieved, men and women will be seen as equal and existing protection for female’s biological differences will be removed. Protection such as laws regarding birth right allowing women to be released [better word?] from work for a recovery period is beneficial and should not be revoked due to â€Å"equality.† In a sense, rather than relieving female victims from oppression, this â€Å"absolute† equality may cause even more distress for the female community. With this in mind, achieving absolute gender equality should not be the main goal of feminist movements. These perspectives should be used to help strive to seek for the acknowledgement of women’s position in society. Equality does not necessarily have to be achieved in order for females to obtain a better life. Providing respect and recognition for the female gender will be more useful and beneficial. Based on people’s perspectives/attitudes and the social context people are positioned Equality may or may not be possible Possible for certain sectors but women still needs more rights (ex. birth Þ biological difference) May agree/accept certain aspects of a feminist perspective but don’t have to accept all of it All these feminist perspectives has helped strive to seek equality for women and have made significant contributions to the acknowledgement of women’s position in society Liberal and radical both aim at giving women more rights Even if they strive for equality, gender differences will still exist no matter what (biological difference) Would should still have more rights and be protected for those differences Works Cited Gandhi, Leela (1998). â€Å"Postcolonialism and Feminism† in Postcolonial Theory: A Critical Introduction (81-101). New York: Columbia University Press. Hartmann, Heidi (1981). â€Å"The Unhappy Marriage of Marxism and Feminism: Towards a More Progressive Union.† In Lydia Sargeant (Ed.) Women and Revolution (1-41). Montreal: Black Rose Books. MacKinnon, Catherine (1985). â€Å"Pornography, Civil Rights, and Free Speech.† In Rosemary Tong (Ed.) (1999) Feminist Philosophies. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Whelehan, Imelda (1995). â€Å"Liberal Feminism: The Origins of the Second Wave† in Modern Feminist Thought (25-43). New York: New York University Press. Question Three: Discuss the potential and limitations of feminist theories with respect to the analysis of gender and sexuality. Compare several perspectives and then draw your own conclusions about this issue. The social stratification of our society has placed boundaries on all aspects of our lives. With deeper exploration of these constructed issues, multifaceted debates arise in feminism. Moreover, by looking at the social organization of the everyday, feminist theories are able to take a closer look into the complex views surrounding gender, sex, and sexuality. It is important to make a clear distinction between the concepts of gender, sex, and sexuality to understand the underlying message that each of these words conveys each concept has a particular meaning and construction to its term. Gender is often referred to as the social construction of our identity of being â€Å"man/masculine† and â€Å"woman/feminine† (sometimes known as being â€Å"gendered†), whereas sex pertains to the biology of our species (male and/or female). Heidi Hartmann eloquently emphasizes that â€Å"we are born female and male, biological sexes, but we are created women and man, socially recognized genders† (16). Sexuality, on the other hand, refers to our emotional and intimate relationships (heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality). The work of liberal, Marxist, radical, postcolonial, lesbian, and third wave feminism all have considerable overlap in their analysis of gender, sex, and sexuality, but each of these perspectives has its own central focus. As a result, the dissimilar concepts have always resulted in contrasting debates. It is beneficial to analyze the potentials and limitations of each of these feminist theories in order to fully understand the complexity of gender, sex, and sexuality. The integration of these various perspectives will provide a deeper understanding and awareness of the diverse issues that our social structure tries to mask. As a mainstream feminist movement, liberal feminism claims that differences in gender are not based in biology. They believe women and men are not very different due to their common humanity. As a result, they argue that women and men should not be treated any differently under the law women should have the same opportunities and legal rights as men by striving to eliminate laws that differentiate people by gender (Whelehan 29). Liberal feminism has the potential of slowly changing people’s attitudes toward gender and sexuality by increasing women’s participation in what is known to be male occupations as well as encouraging support networks for women. They also provide great contribution by socializing and educating the young with gender-neutral terminology. However, liberal feminism is limited in their focus there is too much emphasis on the macro and very little on the micro. The private sphere of women’s experiences in their home is not brought to the forefront. As a result, many troubling issues such as domestic violence and marital rape are not spoken about. This limitation undermines liberal feminism’s goal to have men and women being treated equally. The silencing of the private and personal life has hindered the individual autonomy and freedom of speech of women women’s domestic and sexual lives become unacknowledged (Whelehan 38). Moreover, Imelda Whelehan states that there is a â€Å"limit to how far liberal feminists will ‘pry’ into individual’s private social/sexual choices† (38). As a result, they do not directly challenge capitalism (the main contributor to the oppression of women), which undermines the idea of changing the institutions that maintain gender bias and censors sexuality. Whelehan also emphasizes that liberal feminism is problematic in that its views are predominately white, middle class, heterosexuals this ignores women who do not inhabit what is a relatively privileged social position (41). Although liberal feminism has created conditions to fight for equality, it is only a stepping stone for the other feminist theories that follow it is limited in the macro and public realm of politics. Another way to approach the problematic concepts of gender, sex, and sexuality is through the Marxian perspective. Marxist feminism suggests that the dual system of roles as paid and unpaid workers in a capitalist economy is the reason behind women’s oppression. They argue that in the workplace, women are exploited by capitalism whereas in the home, they are exploited by patriarchy (Hartmann 5). Moreover, women have fewer economic resources due to their low paying wages as compared to men. Heidi Hartmann argues that sexist ideology has adopted a capitalist form in that patriarchal relations bolster capitalism the subjugation of women in the private and public sphere has allowed for the continuance of patriarchal and capitalistic needs. Women’s work is devalued even though they are the major source to an efficient economy they are caregivers, housekeepers, and work for the paid marketplace. Marxist feminism greatly focuses their analysis on gender being a source of job segregation that exploits women as paid and unpaid workers in the workplace and in the family. They argue that women are subordinated as a class and that â€Å"the problem in the family, the labor market, economy, and society is not simply a division of labor between men and women, but a division that places men in a superior, and women in a subordinate, position† (Hartmann 7). However, Marxist feminism is limited in its macro analysis of society because the individual and private lives of people (especially the exploration of sexuality in regards to producing products of capital) need to be analyzed. It covers feministic issues within the economic system but, due to its limited framework, it is inefficient in addressing problems surrounding individual issues that women are facing in today’s male-dominant society. To analyze these problematic individual issues, the radical feminist framework has proven to be effective. Radical feminism is a conscious-raising group that addresses intense debates surrounding issues of women’s everyday lives. They argue that â€Å"the personal is political† in that the â€Å"original and basic class division is between the sexes, and that the motive force of history is the striving of men for power and domination over women, the dialectic of sex† (Hartmann 13). Radical feminism are greatly concerned about violence towards women due to the depictions of women as sexual objects to be used, abused, and produced in the mass media. Catharine MacKinnon argues that â€Å"maleness is a form of power and femaleness is a form of powerlessness† (369). As a result, according to radical feminism, patriarchy results in the sexual exploitation of women through social control and construction. However, radical feminisms limitation is that the creation of a women-only space includes particular â€Å"women† while excluding those that do not conform to certain gender assumptions such as transgenders it creates another form of power. This exclusion will lead to another type of inequality and oppression that will once again damage society as a whole. The liberal, Marxist, and radical feminist perspectives all focus on the major structures that act as the basis of society’s gender concepts. Postcolonial feminism, on the other hand, challenges the gender blindness that is masked in traditional colonial history it focuses on problematic gender concepts rather than the major structures behind them. In traditional thought, the â€Å"Third World Women† is represented as the colonized women of nonindustrial societies and developing countries who are brought into civilization by imperial, patriarchal domination of Western and European masculinity. Feminist postcolonial theorists argue that the basis of these women’s gender and race places them under imperial circumstances of being women of â€Å"double colonization† â€Å"Third-World Woman† are seen â€Å"as victim par excellence the forgotten casualty of both imperial ideology, and native and foreign patriarchies† (Gandhi 83). This is problematic because the â€Å"Third-World Women† are placed in contrast with Western woman as opposites, othered, and marginalized a position of inferiority to ones gender of not being a dominant, white, middle-class woman. Leela Gandhi exemplifies that this â€Å"implied cultural lack of the ‘third-world woman’ fortifies the redemptive ideological/political plenitude of Western feminism†¦seen yet as another object of Western knowledges, simultaneously knowable and unknowing† (86). As a result, postcolonial and feminist theories challenges discourses that are about women by highlighting the anti-colonial gender blindness and to acknowledge â€Å"Third-World Woman† as a voice of difference instead of an object to be silenced by the power and privilege of colonialism. However, postcolonial feminism is limited in that, like the above perspectives, a more macro-level of analysis is taken whereas the micro-level analysis of sexuality. Postcolonial feminism focuses their attention on the social organization of the â€Å"third-world woman† in relation to colonial practices and exploitation. Lesbian feminism, unlike other perspectives, acknowledges the oppression of compulsory heterosexuality. By challenging traditional norms and heterosexuality, they fight for both women’s and homosexual rights. Lesbian feminism has the potential to combat homophobia by empowering women to explore sexuality and to understand of heterosexual relationships. They argue that the diverse range of â€Å"woman-identified experience† needs to take into account the history and individual experience of each woman’s life (Rich 648). Adrienne Rich argues that compulsory heterosexuality is not examined but accepted as the â€Å"sexual preference† of our society (633). As a result, the perspective of lesbian feminism has implications of dismantling compulsory heterosexuality by recognizing the central truth of women’s history in that the â€Å"preference† of heterosexuality has been â€Å"naturally† imposed on women and that â€Å"women have always resisted male tyranny† (Rich 652). It allows women to move away from the prescribed scripts produced by the distorted lie of compulsory female heterosexuality as â€Å"normal† and a â€Å"preference† a form of liberation for all women. However, lesbian feminism is limited in that they do not address the power issues may still exist in lesbian relationships just as they do in heterosexual relationships. It also neglects larger oppression issues that are bringing distress to the female gender. Contrasting other perspectives, third wave feminism guides their analysis towards a more micro perspective and emphasizes that individual identities are unique and complex. They strive for women to have agency and acknowledge that female sexuality is a form of power to express oneself. They find the category of â€Å"woman† to be problematic because, as stated by Himani Bannerji, women’s issues should not be located on a broad and generalized way of â€Å"Woman a singular yet universal entity† of patriarchal social construction (48). Third wave feminism embraces sexuality and the act of sex as fun rather than deviant or dangerous. They see themselves as empowering and as women of choice. Third wave feminism appreciates and views the internet as an important source for opening up lines of communication and support networks for young scholars (Alfonso and Trigilio 7). They stress the importance of speaking and writing about individual personal experiences in order to resist universal assumptions. However, this is limiting in that they do not evaluate certain issues that arise. Third-wave feminism provides a more micro-approach to analyze everyday conversations. This can be problematic because the specificity of these conversations becomes hard to apply to societal issues. In Rita Alfonso’s dialogue to Jo Trigilio, Rita acknowledges that a â€Å"political generation can account for subject positions across historical waves of feminism, as well as for the existence of two relatively distinct waves of feminism (9-10). However, Trigilio stresses that the use of â€Å"political generation† needs to accompanied with concerns about which groups are empowered to give them a voice (10). Trigilio also fears that there is becoming less class-consciousness in third wave feminism and highlights the increasing problems of academic discourses (written in a form that is only accessible to a few and again oppresses). All perspectives have their own unique qualities that provide insight into the deeper issues that underlie our social and political structures in society. Each stance is beneficial to our understanding even though they are limited due to their specific nature. The combination of liberal, Marxist, radical, postcolonial, lesbian, and third wave feminism will allow us to recognize the historical shifts of these perspectives all these perspectives have risen at certain points in time due to societal issues concerning gender and sexuality. Society is a gradual process that slowly finds acceptance in issues (especially in sexuality) that surface as a result of progressive movements that fight for change. The problematic issues surrounding gender, sex, and sexuality have always brought a lot of distress to women in society. On a larger scale, these problems exist in the economical, political, and patriarchal aspects of society. From a micro viewpoint, domestic oppression and heterosexual gender ideologies are also the concerns of the female gender. Sexuality is a major concern because not only is it seen to be deviant but talk of having sex is seen to be sacred. Instead of finding pleasure in explore ones sexuality, traditional ideology has oppressed the talk and the act of engaging in this private and personal sphere of the individual. Historically, many issues were shunned because of dominant discourses but over time, it has been a gradual movement to give rise to these issues that were always present. By incorporating the multiple perspectives discussed, society can continue to evolve and move towards better social structures and norms that will help improve the living standard of the female gender. Works Cited Alfonso, Rita and Jo Trigilio (1997). â€Å"Surfing the Thrid Wave: A Dialogue Between Two Third Wave Feminists.† Hypatia 12, 3: 7-16. Bannerji, Himani (1999). â€Å"Inroducing Racism: Notes Towards an Anti-Racist Feminism† in Thinking Through: Essays on Feminism, Marxism, and Anti-Racism (41-53). Toronto: Women’s Press. Gandhi, Leela (1998). â€Å"Postcolonialism and Feminism† in Postcolonial Theory: A Critical Introduction (81-101). New York: Columbia University Press. Hartmann, Heidi (1981). â€Å"The Unhappy Marriage of Marxism and Feminism: Towards a More Progressive Union.† In Lydia Sargeant (Ed.) Women and Revolution (1-41). Montreal: Black Rose Books. Rich, Adrienne (1980). â€Å"Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence.† Signs 5, 4: 631-660. MacKinnon, Catherine (1985). â€Å"Pornography, Civil Rights, and Free Speech.† In Rosemary Tong (Ed.) (1999) Feminist Philosophies. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Whelehan, Imelda (1995). â€Å"Liberal Feminism: The Origins of the Second Wave† in Modern Feminist Thought (25-43). New York: New York University Press.

An Analysis of John Updikes A&P :: John Updike A&P

Interpretation of A&P  Ã‚   This Story takes place in 1961, in a small New England town's A&P grocery store.   Sammy, the narrator, is introduced as a grocery checker and an observer of the store's patrons.   He finds himself fascinated by a particular group of girls.   Just in from the beach and still in their bathing suits, they are a stark contrast, to the otherwise plain store interior.   As they go about their errands, Sammy observes the reactions, of the other customers, to this trio of young women.   He uses the word "Sheep" to describe the store regulars, as they seem to follow one and other, in their actions and reactions.   The girls, however, appear to be unique in all aspects of their beings: walking, down the isles, against the grain: going barefoot and in swim suits, amongst the properly attired clientele. They are different and this is what catches and holds Sammy's attention.   He sees them in such detail, that he can even see the queen of the bunch.   Sammy observes their moveme nts and gestures, up until the time of their checkout.   At which point, they are confronted by the store manager and chastised for their unacceptable appearance.   He believes their attire to be indecent.   Sammy, feeling that the managerial display was unnecessary and unduly embarrassing for the girls, decides to quit his position as checker.   Thought he knows that his decision may be hasty, he knows that he has to follow through and he can never go back.   He leaves, with a clean conscious, but the burden of not knowing what the future has in store.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This story represents a coming-of-age for Sammy.   Though it takes place over the period of a few minutes, it represents a much larger process of maturation.   From the time the girls enter the grocery store, to the moment they leave, you can see changes in Sammy.   At first, he sees only the physicality of the girls:   how they look and what they are wearing, seem to be his only observations.   As the story progresses, he notices the interactions between the girls, and he even determines the hierarchy of the small dynamic.   He observes their actions and how they affect the other patrons of the business.   Rather, how the other people view the girl's actions.   His thought process is maturing and he starts to see things as an adult might see them.

The Impact of Social Media on Terminally Ill Patients Essay -- commun

1. Introduction Social media is changing the way that doctors and patients communicate. It is reshaping health care with the help of modern technical innovations such as internet connectivity, smart phones, tablets, and desktops. This ranges from patient support groups to instant messaging (Aishwarya, 2012:[sp]). Media usage has evolved over the last few years and research in this field has shown how children’s psychological factors are linked to social media (Heim, et al, 2007:49). These factors suggest that the internet is a powerful communication tool that not only connects children with others but also empowers them by providing a learning environment and social support (Heim, et al, 2007:52-53). A rapid and innovated advance in social media offers numerous opportunities for modifying health behaviour by allowing the users to conduct research, review previous experiences, seek out medical advice, and lets users choose whether they would like to be identified or anonymous. Although there is a considerable potential for these media tools such as, video chat, weblogs and social networks, this media usage, requires careful application with regards to how the information is used, and may not always give the desired results when seeking medical advice or solutions (Korda, Itani, 2013:15). Carleen Hawn (2009:361) explains that across the health care industry, new media tools are changing the way that patients and doctors interact which is why people are adopting this method of using social media for health related issues (Korda, Itani, 2013:15). Bates (2013:[sp]) identifies that animation is an excellent and ingenious way to encourage children to communicate stories, ideas and concepts in a creative and original way. As explained... ...M- WEBSTER. 2014. Support Group. [online]. Available from: http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/support%20group [Accessed 12/03/2014]. SEIVERS, C. 2012. 20 hospitals with inspiring social media strategies. [online]. Available from: http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/20_hospitals_with_inspiring_social_media_strategie_10655.aspx [Accessed 12/03/2014]. TEXAS, D. Dialysis and Social Networking. 2013. [online]. Available from: http://devontexas.com/2013/03/30/dialysis-and-social-networking/ [Accessed 26/02/2014]. WIENER, L. CRUM, C. GRADY, C. MERCHANT,M. 2012. To Friend or Not to Friend: The Use of Social Media in Clinical Oncology. 8(2), 103-106. ZANNI, G, R. BROWNE III, C, L. Coping with Terminal Illness. 2010. [online]. Available from: http://www.pharmacytimes.com/publications/issue/2010/August2010/CounselingTerminalIllness-0810 [Accessed 28/02/2014].

A teacher affects eternity, he can never tell where his influence stops

More and more, teachers are becoming a primary influence in children’s lives. Therefore, it stands to reason that a teacher’s personality and teaching style can have a profound impact on children’s academic performance and general development. A teacher is like a sculptor: he moulds a personality out of a child like a sculptor creates a beautiful statue out of clay. So a teacher has the greatest impact on student‘s character, knowledge, values and this affect can go on for years even after they are not in contact with one another.Firstly, a teacher has the core affect on student‘s knowledge, which they can use in all life situations later on. Teaching requires utter dedication and selflessness to be able to impart your learning and knowledge to the students. It not only deals with academic knowledge alone. Being very knowledgeable will not immediately qualify as a good teacher. What is more important is the attitude and the skill of being able to tran sfer the lessons effectively to the students. A teacher is dealing with many students of different personalities.Some are like a sponge who grasps the main ideas very easily, but other students require more patience as they find it more difficult to understand the subject matter. As a teacher, it is his role to take care of all of these students, making sure no one is left behind. Thus, if a teacher has built a good foundation, students will use the knowledge in future. That's why it is said, that a teacher creats other professions. Secondly, a teacher plays a great role in forming student‘s character. It is very difficult, because character is formed not only in the classroom, but every student has it‘s individual resources.Despite the fact, the classroom climate influenced by a teacher has a major impact on pupils’ motivation, attitude towards learning and charater development. A teacher must respect the individuality of each child and must not attack the self d ignity of a particular student. A teacher should take an interest in every child. Because the better you get to know your students, the more influence you will have on their attitude towards your subject, and on their lives in general. However it should not be forgotten constantly to provide benchmarks for improvement for your students.Praise should be given when it is due, and find positive things to tell students before making suggestions on how to improve something. Draw gently alongside those who are in need of help and find creative ways to assist them to improve their grades. Thirdly, a teacher has a huge impact on student‘s values. They are not passed on from parents to children in the form of DNA. However, it does not necessarily follow that if they are learned, they must have been learned as a result of deliberate teaching. The consequences of our value systems are not understood in abstractions but in deeds.A teacher can't really â€Å"teach† values as he do o ther parts of the curriculum, but he can and should help students develop values through his own behaviors and modeling. The purpose of this is the belief that a clearly defined and meaningful set of values will help students, in the years to come, to do the right thing, especially when doing the right thing is hard. To sum up, teaching, like any other responsible profession is quite a challenge especially in the present fast moving world, however it can leave huge impact on the young minds. But a teacher plays the biggest role in forming children‘s knowledge, character and values.

Process Essay

Jeana Hughes English 101 Process Essay Draft February 19, 2013 No Bake Cookies Peanutbutter Chocolate No Bake Cookies recipe is one of the most easiest recipe I have ever made. My reason for saying this is because there is no baking involved. The steps for making is really quite easy. I am going to first start out with a list of ingredients and supplies I use. ? Cup Milk 2 sticks butter 2 Cups sugar ? Cup cocoa ? tsp vanilla 3 Cups quick oats ? Cup peanutbutter 8 Qt pan, 2 sheets waxpaper, and two spoonsI start out going ahead and laying out waxpaper so that it is ready when the cookie dough is done. I then get my pan on the stove. I add the milk, sticks of butter, sugar and cocoa. Once I have added all the ingredients I turn the stove on high. I stir constantly until mixture comes to a boil. I then let it boil without stirring for 1 minute. Then I remove from heat. Thus will bring me to my second step. I will then add the vanilla, quick oats, and peanutbutter, stirring mixture well. I consider this my third step. I bring my pan with the cookie dough over to where I have my wax paper layed out.I then use two teaspoons one for scooping and one for scraping off. I start getting teaspoonfuls of cookie dough and dropping it on wax paper. I continue doing this till all cookie dough is used. My final step is waiting. Usually if I have boiled the ingredients long enough the cookies will be ready in 30 minutes to an hour. I can tell this by pulling one of the cookies off the wax paper and it does not stick. I find this recipe to be very quick and easy. I hope if you attempt this recipe you will feel the same way. Process Essay Jeana Hughes English 101 Process Essay Draft February 19, 2013 No Bake Cookies Peanutbutter Chocolate No Bake Cookies recipe is one of the most easiest recipe I have ever made. My reason for saying this is because there is no baking involved. The steps for making is really quite easy. I am going to first start out with a list of ingredients and supplies I use. ? Cup Milk 2 sticks butter 2 Cups sugar ? Cup cocoa ? tsp vanilla 3 Cups quick oats ? Cup peanutbutter 8 Qt pan, 2 sheets waxpaper, and two spoonsI start out going ahead and laying out waxpaper so that it is ready when the cookie dough is done. I then get my pan on the stove. I add the milk, sticks of butter, sugar and cocoa. Once I have added all the ingredients I turn the stove on high. I stir constantly until mixture comes to a boil. I then let it boil without stirring for 1 minute. Then I remove from heat. Thus will bring me to my second step. I will then add the vanilla, quick oats, and peanutbutter, stirring mixture well. I consider this my third step. I bring my pan with the cookie dough over to where I have my wax paper layed out.I then use two teaspoons one for scooping and one for scraping off. I start getting teaspoonfuls of cookie dough and dropping it on wax paper. I continue doing this till all cookie dough is used. My final step is waiting. Usually if I have boiled the ingredients long enough the cookies will be ready in 30 minutes to an hour. I can tell this by pulling one of the cookies off the wax paper and it does not stick. I find this recipe to be very quick and easy. I hope if you attempt this recipe you will feel the same way.

Polaroid Case Study

BACKDROP Polaroid is manufacturer of photographic equipment, accessories and related items used in instant photography. The organization was divided into two main divisions – The Consumer Photography Division and the Technical and Industrial Division with each of these divisions contributing around 40% of Polaroid’s revenues of $ 1. 3 billion in 1984. The company produced two main types of films: 1. The peel apart film which required the user to physically pull the film out of the camera and, 2. The integral film, which came out of the camera automatically. The integral films were manufactured in the R2 building at the Waltham Massachusetts site. The operations at R2 included production of sheet metal springs, pods, plastic cartridges and plastic end caps and then assembled these into film cartridges. R2 ran three shifts, five days a week, employing approximately 900 workers out of which 700 were part time. QUALITY AND PROCESS CONTROL PROCEDURES AT R2 All films were vetted by the Quality Control Department before being released into the market. The QC procedure included sampling of 15 finished cartridges (each containing 10 frames) out of every lot of 5000 cartridges. If the sampled cartridges contained defects in excess of allowable limits, the lot was held and further testing was done. Additional testing usually led to reworking, or rejection of a portion or all of the lot. Subsequent lots were the subjected to even more rigorous testing by increasing the sample size tested. Quality checks were not the sole responsibility of the QC department. The operators usually sampled around 32 samples out of every lot. If the measurements went against the knowledge of the operator, the sample was rejected. After process control was initiated in R2 in the late 1970’s, process engineering technicians were made responsible for gathering data and making rough analyses. PROBLEMS WITH EXISTING QUALITY CONTROL Since the testing of cartridges was destructive, it resulted in sampled scrap. This, along with the product that failed acceptance sampling resulted in $3. 28 million in 1984. Another issue was that sampling did nothing to improve quality, it only improved the AOQ. In fact, due to the large production and low defect rates, if the production and quality control sampling were halved, the outgoing defectives would be 0. 3% of production. On the other hand, increasing the AOQ further would lead to prohibitively high costs due to increased sampling. The sampling process employed was also inaccurate. Time was spent on trying to reduce beta or consumer risk. Cartridges which were inspected and passed were sent back to production to be repackaged. But the handling of these cartridges its elf increased the chances of their developing defects which resulted in a vicious cycle of tests and retests and did not contribute to improving quality significantly while increasing costs considerably. To avoid losing production, operators often ‘salted’ boxes. Operators did not record frequently collected data and if they were in doubt, they would pass the component on to the QC Department believing that they would be able to detect the defect and reject the component if the defect was serious enough. â€Å"Tweaking† machines was an accepted practice in the plant. The objective of the exercise was to enable machines running and different speeds and variations to produce at their maximum capacity. The QC department did not focus on defects that were normally detected by consumers. For example, the most stringent auditors tested for excess reagent by flipping the film over right after exposing it, a defect that would not be noticed by a consumer. These stringent auditors averaged about 10% defectives. The conditions under which the tests were simulated were also out of sync with current market realities. External customers often used cameras which did not function precisely to specification, whereas the QC Department used ‘perfect’ cameras to test the film. This precluded the possibility of finding defects which would occur with imprecisely functioning cameras. GREENLIGHT The project objective was quality monitoring costs reduction while at the same time improving the quality of the product. The improvements in quality control processes were focused along with reducing the number of samples. The plan consisted of three distinct elements: 1. Statistical process control would be adapted as processes in control and capable of producing within specifications would produce more consistent quality. 2. Production operators would be given the process control tools that the process engineering technicians had been using and in conjunction with sampling would be expected to make disposition decisions themselves. 3. Quality control auditors would concentrate on training operators and operationalizing specifications on their new products. The statistical process control system involving both acceptance sampling and automated process control was to be implemented. SPC involved testing for productions within a pre-specified range. If the production went beyond the range, the production process had to be shut down maintenance was to be called to perform maintenance and recalibration. As a part of the process, the operators were to take six random measurements of a process characteristic during the course of their shift and then plot the mean measured value. This led to a drastic reduction in the number of samples tested and consequently the scrapping costs. The central problem in this project was the estimation of the central level and the control limits. Initially, the Quality Control auditors helped the operators in plotting the ranges and the operators’ protocol was to immediately shut down the machines and call for help whenever, the characteristic crossed the specified range. Moreover, eight consecutive mean values lying into the upper or lower zones near the control limits, or consistently upward trends were to be investigated by maintenance as well. The idea behind the project was to cut down the defect and testing losses. However, the idea backfired when the average defects detection by auditors shot up to 10% from 1% while at the operator level, it halved to about 0. 5%. Another problem was the lack of trust between the auditors and the operators. Standardized maintenance procedures also met with a lot of resistance as they were seen as making the whole maintenance process impersonalized and bureaucratic. The operators believed that they could obtain better results by ‘tweaking’ the machines. At the same time, operators refused to come out of the â€Å"maximize output† mindset and kept adjusting the machines for increased output. Also, the operators were sampling and testing more units than they were recording and adjusted the machines on the basis of the unrecorded defects. The nature of defects also changed. The variability in the kinds of defects detected increased, as the defects recorded by the auditors were markedly different from the defects recorded by the operators. ANALYSIS The purpose of inspection is to determine the level to which the product manufactured conforms to the specifications. Control charts and run tests are used for process control with the objective being to identify the causes of assignable variation, and to leave the system alone if the variation is random and the process is under control. The data given in exhibit 5 was used to calculate the means and ranges of the variables (pod weight and finger height) and the control limits for them were calculated. These have been plotted on control charts. Pod Weight  · Both the X bar and the R chart show that the process is in control, and that the process is capable. The variation present is random variation. Although the X bar chart shows that the process is in control, the last four readings may indicate a trend if further values move towards the lower control limit. Also, between the 16th and 28th readings, there are making of trends.  · The R chart shows that though the values of R lie within the control limits the range variation is high. Also, the behaviour of the readings is erratic which is a reas on for investigation. Finger Length  · The X bar graph shows that the process is out of control very often, signifying that an assignable cause of variation may be present. The values in the R chart are within the control limits. Thus, although the process mean is out of control, the process variability is in control. Other Analysis  · The random sample of defects from Exhibit 4 is tabulated below. Operator Defects Auditor Defects Excess Reagent 4 11 Excess Flash on box 2 2 Negative sheet defect 3 2 Positive sheet defect 3 3 Double feed 3 3 Frame feed failure 2 9 Damaged spring 3 3 Malformed box 1 3 Insufficient reagent 1 4 Misalignment 1 3 Marginal lamination 1 2 Dirt from assembly 0 5 After Greenlight was initiated, the number of defects reported by operators has halved from 1% to 0. % while those reported by auditors has increased from 1% to 10%. This may be due to the fact that the operators are not recording all the defective samples which they are using to adjust their mac hines. Also, since the auditors feel that asking the operators to be incharge of the quality is like handing over the henhouse to the foxes, most of them may have shifted to stringent checking of the cartridges which would explain the jump from 1% rejects to 10% rejects, which was the level of rejects which only the stringent auditors had earlier. There is some evidence for both the above points. The tweaking of the machines by the operators may explain why so many readings are out of the control limits, though the machine should have undergone maintenance and calibration as soon as the first reading was outside the control limits, which explains why the auditors are finding many more rejects due to the feed than the operators. Also, the auditors are finding more rejects due to the reagent, although the process is under control. This may be due to stringent checking. Another indication of stringent checking is that cartridges are being rejected due to their having dirt which has been attributed to assembly. RECOMMENDATIONS Control measures need to be incorporated at the injection molding machines in order to minimize defect rates, and defects need to be prioritized, to help in setting control limits and the ratings on the quality of products.  · The operators need to realize that the process downstream is the customer, and they need to shutdown the machine for maintenance a s soon as the process goes out of control rather than waiting for the machine to start producing defective pieces.  · Polaroid can carry out a market research exercise on consumers, to determine which attributes need compliance from the customer’s point of view. It will also need to establish the technical specification limits for various components. These will need to build into a 6-sigma process to increase quality by improving the processes and reduce variation in outputs.  · The people, especially the top management, need to be convinced about the effectiveness of process control, which doesn’t have any problem with the quality apart from above observations.  · Proper documentation of all the procedures and processes should be assured, in order to keep people focused on quality once defect rates drop significantly below 1%. This documentation should be accessible to all concerned people and they should be instructed unambiguously to adhere to the norms.  · Automated methods for data collection need to be adopted, like the ones mentioned in the case, since the operators have proved to be unreliable. The investment is not large enough to make a serious dent in the company’s bottom line, and should be considered.  · A better and more comprehensive training model needs to be introduced to train the workers and supervisors in basic statistics and the application to process control The high-volume driven mindset of the people needs to be changed, and an atmosphere needs to be built which engenders mutual trust between operators and auditors. Appendix Sample Statistical Process Control Measurements Pod Weight (grams) Sample Number Day Shift 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mean Range 3-Aug A 2. 800 2. 799 2. 760 2. 802 2. 805 2. 803 2. 795 0. 045 B 2. 750 2. 820 2. 850 2. 740 2. 850 2. 790 2. 800 0. 110 C 2. 768 2. 807 2. 807 2. 804 2. 804 2. 803 2. 799 0. 039 4-Aug A 2. 841 2. 802 2. 802 2. 806 2. 807 2. 807 2. 811 0. 039 B 2. 801 2. 770 2. 833 2. 770 2. 840 2. 741 2. 93 0. 099 C 2. 778 2. 807 2. 804 2. 804 2. 803 2. 804 2. 800 0. 029 5-Aug A 2. 760 2. 804 2. 804 2. 806 2. 805 2. 806 2. 798 0. 046 B 2. 829 2. 804 2. 805 2. 806 2. 807 2. 807 2. 810 0. 025 C 2. 741 2. 850 2. 744 2. 766 2. 767 2. 808 2. 779 0. 109 6-Aug A 2. 814 2. 804 2. 803 2. 805 2. 807 2. 804 2. 806 0. 011 B 2. 787 2. 802 2. 805 2. 804 2. 805 2. 804 2. 801 0. 018 C 2. 766 2. 805 2. 804 2. 802 2. 804 2. 806 2. 798 0. 040 7-Aug A 2. 774 2. 801 2. 805 2. 805 2. 805 2. 804 2. 799 0. 031 B 2. 770 2. 801 2. 833 2. 770 2. 840 2. 741 2. 793 0. 099 C 2. 832 2. 836 2. 794 2. 843 2. 13 2. 743 2. 810 0. 100 10-Aug A 2. 829 2. 846 2. 760 2. 854 2. 817 2. 805 2. 819 0. 094 B 2. 850 2. 804 2. 805 2. 806 2. 807 2. 807 2. 813 0. 046 C 2. 803 2. 803 2. 773 2. 837 2. 808 2. 808 2. 805 0. 064 11-Aug A 2. 815 2. 804 2. 803 2. 804 2. 803 2. 802 2. 80 5 0. 013 B 2. 782 2. 806 2. 806 2. 804 2. 803 2. 802 2. 801 0. 024 C 2. 779 2. 807 2. 808 2. 803 2. 803 2. 803 2. 801 0. 029 12-Aug A 2. 815 2. 815 2. 803 2. 864 2. 834 2. 803 2. 822 0. 061 B 2. 846 2. 854 2. 760 2. 829 2. 817 2. 805 2. 819 0. 094 C 2. 767 2. 804 2. 834 2. 803 2. 803 2. 803 2. 802 0. 067 13-Aug A 2. 850 2. 04 2. 804 2. 804 2. 804 2. 804 2. 812 0. 046 B 2. 810 2. 820 2. 814 2. 794 2. 798 2. 787 2. 804 0. 033 C 2. 850 2. 820 2. 750 2. 740 2. 850 2. 790 2. 800 0. 110 14-Aug A 2. 750 2. 765 2. 850 2. 760 2. 790 2. 840 2. 793 0. 100 B 2. 830 2. 770 2. 848 2. 760 2. 750 2. 830 2. 798 0. 098 C 2. 740 2. 770 2. 833 2. 770 2. 840 2. 800 2. 792 0. 100 17-Aug A 2. 753 2. 807 2. 805 2. 804 2. 802 2. 804 2. 796 0. 054 B 2. 851 2. 751 2. 752 2. 773 2. 849 2. 806 2. 797 0. 100 C 2. 845 2. 804 2. 803 2. 806 2. 805 2. 806 2. 812 0. 042 18-Aug A 2. 844 2. 777 2. 754 2. 791 2. 833 2. 811 2. 802 0. 90 B 2. 806 2. 839 2. 805 2. 804 2. 850 2. 740 2. 807 0. 110 C 2. 849 2. 801 2. 804 2. 7 62 2. 814 2. 791 2. 804 0. 087 19-Aug A 2. 820 2. 793 2. 812 2. 833 2. 853 2. 812 2. 821 0. 060 B 2. 790 2. 780 2. 764 2. 843 2. 843 2. 818 2. 806 0. 079 C 2. 850 2. 806 2. 805 2. 814 2. 807 2. 807 2. 815 0. 045 20-Aug A 2. 767 2. 831 2. 808 2. 793 2. 836 2. 811 2. 808 0. 069 B 2. 833 2. 825 2. 793 2. 813 2. 823 2. 766 2. 809 0. 067 C 2. 824 2. 799 2. 790 2. 764 2. 817 2. 805 2. 800 0. 060 21-Aug A 2. 778 2. 775 2. 799 2. 805 2. 833 2. 772 2. 794 0. 061 B 2. 801 2. 832 2. 758 2. 759 2. 773 2. 14 2. 790 0. 074 C 2. 770 2. 787 2. 744 2. 766 2. 807 2. 803 2. 780 0. 063 Average 2. 8025 0. 0640 UCL for mean = 2. 8332 UCL for Range = 0. 1280 LCL for mean = 2. 7718 LCL for Range = 0. 0000 Sample Statistical Process Control Measurements Finger Height (mm) Sample Number Day Shift 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mean Range 3-Aug A 1. 90 1. 95 1. 94 2. 00 2. 05 2. 16 2. 00 0. 26 B 2. 15 2. 17 2. 11 2. 13 2. 02 2. 03 2. 10 0. 15 C 1. 73 1. 90 2. 07 1. 89 1. 76 1. 88 1. 87 0. 34 4-Aug A 2. 30 2. 41 2. 54 2. 37 2. 3 2 2. 16 2. 35 0. 38 B 2. 28 2. 16 2. 19 2. 08 2. 25 2. 24 2. 20 0. 20 C 1. 92 2. 24 2. 1 1. 89 1. 88 2. 17 2. 04 0. 36 5-Aug A 2. 39 2. 28 2. 10 2. 36 2. 54 2. 25 2. 32 0. 44 B 2. 11 2. 21 2. 24 2. 21 2. 17 2. 24 2. 20 0. 13 C 1. 89 1. 90 1. 73 2. 07 1. 89 1. 76 1. 87 0. 34 6-Aug A 2. 51 2. 25 2. 08 2. 35 2. 29 2. 32 2. 30 0. 43 B 2. 22 2. 19 2. 22 2. 24 2. 01 2. 23 2. 19 0. 23 C 1. 89 1. 90 1. 78 2. 07 1. 89 1. 76 1. 88 0. 31 7-Aug A 1. 95 2. 07 2. 25 1. 95 2. 11 2. 16 2. 08 0. 30 B 2. 08 2. 03 2. 27 2. 23 2. 24 2. 13 2. 16 0. 24 C 2. 31 1. 90 1. 86 1. 91 1. 89 1. 87 1. 96 0. 45 10-Aug A 2. 23 2. 25 2. 21 1. 89 2. 15 2. 11 2. 14 0. 36 B 2. 23 2. 21 2. 05 2. 19 2. 7 2. 16 2. 15 0. 18 C 1. 73 2. 00 1. 79 1. 75 1. 84 1. 74 1. 81 0. 27 11-Aug A 2. 21 2. 11 2. 21 2. 44 2. 17 2. 30 2. 24 0. 33 B 2. 17 2. 19 2. 15 2. 04 2. 07 2. 22 2. 14 0. 18 C 2. 01 1. 90 1. 90 1. 81 2. 06 1. 89 1. 93 0. 25 12-Aug A 2. 08 2. 19 2. 28 2. 29 2. 21 2. 45 2. 25 0. 37 B 1. 93 2. 09 1. 90 1. 95 2. 04 2. 09 2. 00 0. 19 C 1. 84 2. 12 1. 90 1. 89 2. 01 1. 75 1. 92 0. 37 13-Aug A 2. 23 2. 01 2. 25 2. 11 2. 39 2. 15 2. 19 0. 38 B 2. 19 2. 22 2. 18 2. 15 2. 23 2. 04 2. 17 0. 19 C 1. 96 2. 05 2. 16 1. 87 2. 13 1. 90 2. 01 0. 29 14-Aug A 2. 27 2. 00 2. 06 1. 97 2. 13 2. 05