British Literature Mid-Term (The Canterbury Tales General Prologue) Flashcard

British Literature Mid-Term (The Canterbury Tales: General Prologue)

Pelagornis - Facts and Figures

Pelagornis - Facts and Figures Name: Pelagornis (Greek for pelagic bird); pronounced PELL-ah-GORE-niss Habitat: Skies worldwide Historical Epoch: Late Miocene (10-5 million years ago) Size and Weight: Wingspan of 15-20 feet and weight of 50-75 pounds Diet: Fish Distinguishing Characteristics: Large size; long, tooth-studded beak About Pelagornis One of the enduring mysteries of natural history is why the flying prehistoric birds of the Cenozoic Era never quite matched the size of the pterosaurs, or flying reptiles, of the preceding Mesozoic. The late Cretaceous Quetzalcoatlus, for example, attained wingspans of up to 35 feet, about the size of a small planeso while the late Miocene Pelagornis, which lived about 55 million years later, was still impressive, its wingspan of only about 15 to 20 feet places it firmly in the runner-up category. Still, theres no overstating the size of Pelagornis compared to modern flying birds. This soaring predator was over twice the size of a modern albatross, and even more intimidating, considering that its long, pointed beak was studded with tooth-like appendageswhich would have made it an easy matter to dive into the ocean at high speed and spear a large, wriggling prehistoric fish, or perhaps even a baby whale. As a testament to this birds evolutionary fitness, various species of Pelagornis have been found all over the world; a new fossil unearthed in Chile is the biggest yet. So why couldnt prehistoric birds match the size of the biggest pterosaurs? For one thing, feathers are fairly heavy, and covering a larger surface area might have made sustained flight a physical impossibility. And for another, bigger birds would have had to nurture their chicks for longer periods of time before their hatchlings achieved maturity, which may have put an evolutionary brake on avian gigantism after Pelagornis and its relatives (such as the comparably sized Osteodontornis) went extinct, probably as a result of global climate change.

Description of the Film Separation by Asghar Farhadi Assignment - 1

Description of the Film Separation by Asghar Farhadi - Assignment Example This provides the basis for the conflict within the movie. The characters in the movie are believable and have been developed effectively to depict the setting and themes of the story. The producer manages to use a mix of innocence, temperament, wisdom, and naivety among the characters to bring out the story. Within the conflict between Nader and Simin, the director manages to bring in a different perspective by introducing the innocence of their daughter Termeh. The judges of the family court are presented through the story as wise and prudent. This is evident from both cases involving the divorce filed by the warring family. In the first instance, they rebuffed the claims of Simin by insisting that the complications were insufficient. However, they finally warrant the divorce after analyzing the situation and the irreconcilable differences. The producer holds off Nader’s temper until the point where he boiled over. Symbolism has been used in the movies to great effect. The title of the movies, A Separation, is the main symbol used throughout the movie. The separation that was intended to be away from Tehran eventually turns into one between Simin and Nader as the story concludes. Other instances of separation within the movie include Razieh separating from the traditions in order to be able to provide for her family. Terhem is initially separated from her mother then later by her father. The other elements of separation within the story include Nader father’s death and the miscarriage. The separation, which was disclosed at the beginning of the story in the divorce case, was also a consequence of another attempt to separate from the environment in Teheran. There is an array of thought provoking themes that are presented in the movie A Separation. Social division is the major theme that is explored in the movie. The divisions within the movie have been perpetrated using perceptions around religion, occupation, gender, and age.  Ã‚  

Genetic Testing and Genetic Engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Genetic Testing and Genetic Engineering - Essay Example The question is whether it is ethical and right. This question is being raised through the variety of books and films. This paper will accept as a major focus of research the concepts of genetic testing and genetic engineering; the evidence of its observation would be presented through the film â€Å"Gattaca.† Genetic testing uses research facility systems to take a gander at your qualities, which are the DNA directions, which a person acquires from own parents. Hereditary tests may be utilized to distinguish expanded dangers of health issues, to pick medicines, or to evaluate reactions to medications. There are different methods of genetic testing. Molecular genetic tests explore single genes (or short lengths of DNA molecules) to define changes that may force a genetic disorder. Chromosomal genetic testing concerns whole chromosomes or DNAs long lengths to find out if there are severe genetic changes (like an additional copy of a chromosome) that influence on a genetic background. Biochemical genetic tests research the activity level of proteins or their amount. Abnormalities in any can point on changes in the DNA that may result in a disorder in genetics. Genetic testing is voluntary. The main purposes of genetic testing are, first of all, to diagnose disease, to identify changes within genes connected with it, to diagnose the severity of the disease, to help doctors to find the best treatment and medicines to enable to cure.

Charles Gains Conceptualism in Los Angeles Essay

Charles Gains Conceptualism in Los Angeles - Essay Example Ever since the 1960s2, when art in Los Angeles was defined by the introduction of abstract depictions, conceptualization has grown steadily amongst artists. Previous, one sees many faces in painting3 which had led to modernism by themed-nineteenth century. In conceptualization, the focus is on using abstract modes of expression to depict materials that we see around us in daily life, in an all new way. The main advantage of having such an art form was that lovers of art got a new perspective to look at nature and things around them. The perspective was believed to be initially impressionistic. Greenberg in his work Towards a Newer Laocoon, historically delineates how art has been evolving to become â€Å"pure† in its â€Å"medium† and in doing so it must retain the paint and the canvas for what it is and only convey sensation. Once this prescription has been satisfied the painter has achieved the â€Å"medium† of abstract art. Clark’s interpretation of Gre enberg’s Towards a Newer Laocoon, sparks a heated debate between him and Michael Fried. Clark argues that Greenberg is historicizing in his writing and ignoring that art is a reflection of the artist social environment. Formalism should not be the only thing accounted for in a painting but content as well. Artistic standards in history go hand in hand with social practice, which is evident in nineteenth-century Romantics. According to Clement Greenberg (1982), official painting and art forms were set to take a backseat in new forms of artistic depiction. Greenberg argues that if an artwork can be interpreted and agreed upon to be representative of a specific â€Å"situation† or â€Å" object†, then it is merely an imitation rather than a medium. Art (paintings and sculptures) in the 17th and 18th century was directly imitating literature, and so literature being the medium- art was just an illusion of literature.

The Current Macro Environment Of South Africa Economics Essay

The Current Macro Environment Of South Africa Economics Essay Politically, the ANC has created 16 years of continuous rule and government stability but uncertainties surround their ability to manage union strikes and a steadily decreasing electorate vote. Economically, GDP is expected to show continuous growth despite a sharp drop in 2009. Business environment remains strong through FDIs although warning signs herald a weakening of the currency in the future. Socially, although economically viable to invest in this country when considering the low costs of entry, South Africas working population presents a lack of skilled labour required by our firm. Technologically, concentrated areas of RD, industry specific knowledge and improving transport infrastructure help to compensate the temporary shortcomings in energy supply. The legal system is generally supportive towards companies with strong regulation and employment laws. Environmentally, SA is an international leader in tackling global warming. It has great potential for producing renewable energy but environmental hazards and heavy reliance on coal for energy should be taken into concern. An extensive PESTLE framework will be used to highlight the major contributing factors that would affect such a strategic move. Political Government Stability The present government, the African National Congress (ANC), has shown relative stability, winning four consecutive elections since the fall of the apartheid in 1994. This has allowed continuous implementation of policies through sixteen years in power, the focus of which has been on improving social integration and employment generation. Source: Datamonitor, Aug 2009 Struggles under Political Unrest Despite strong governance indicators, SA still has much to develop as a democracy. The government is kept under pressure from the rising power of trade unions and an inability to control violent demonstrations. The ANC has also suffered a decreasing share of the electorate vote since first coming into power, receiving 65.9% in the recent 2009 election. Although a near two-thirds majority, commentators argue this is below the important threshold of 66% that allows the party to unilaterally alter the constitution. Implication: Pressure from trade unions may cause wariness in future business investment and a loss in consumer confidence. Economical Corporate Tax Rate There is a basic corporate tax rate of 30.2% of profit for all companies1 as of 2010. Interest Rates The South African Reserve Bank is independent and operates in much the same way as Western central banks, influencing interest rates and controlling liquidity through its interest rates on funds provided to private sector banks.2 Exchange Rates and Trading Unlike other African countries, SA prides itself as an open economy, benefiting from trade liberalization with many blocs3Â  . However, it has been posting a negative balance of payments since 2002. As of 2008, SAs total exports amounted to $96.1 billion, which was considerably higher than the total export value recorded at $83.0 billion in 2007. This has been exacerbated by the surge in inflation since monetary policies implemented in 2000. Recently, inflation has slowed to 6.89% year-on-year in June 2009 from 8.0% y/y in May 2009.4 Implication: An open economy will facilitate the expansion immensely, meaning less red-tape and cost savings. A negative trade balance can be advantageous as it will weaken the exchange rate, lowering costs for our firm. The lowered inflation will also help stabilise the economy. Foreign Direct Investments FDIs are highly valued in SA and the government has further encouraged them through the US ACU Trade, Investment and Development Cooperative Agreement signed in July 2008. This places special attention on customs cooperation, technical barriers to trade and investment promotion.5 Implication: Increases in FDIs will greatly aid entry into the country as these policies will help facilitate external investments such as ours. GDP Trends The GDP growth rate has been less than ideal with a sharp fall in 2009. However it is projected to bounce by 2011 with constant increase in GDP since. The economy is dominated by the services sector, which contributes 65.3% of its total GDP in 2008. 6 Implication: The increase in GDP shows that SAs economy is continually developing and could be a beneficial environment for setting up a company. Socio-cultural Unemployment The apartheid regime has resulted in social aspects wrought with conflicts. Despite high literacy rates and policies to improve this by the ANC, unemployment remains surprisingly high at 24.9%1. Implication: This highlights an underlying problem, which is the severe lack of skilled labor that does much in hindering business growth. High Crime Rate SA also presents a relatively high crime rate. A survey compiled by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime2 ranked South Africa second for assault and murder per capita, and first for rapes per capita. Implication: This results in a potential threat to the safety of both our physical and human capital. Effects of HIV There is also a growing impact of HIV on the supply of skills and productivity. The graph below shows the sources of indirect cost on a firm due to HIV.3 Lack of Skilled Labour More commonly, educated workers are deciding to move abroad, contributing to the rising brain drain and lack of skilled labour. Although there is a net emigration of -0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)4 This is due to the an increasing flow of unskilled labour from neighbouring countries in search of better economic opportunities and does not contribute to the necessary labour force required for the growth of the nation. Implication: This lack of skilled labour will require huge cost on the company in training workers. Technological Infrastructure SA has some of the best transport infrastructure in the world, placed in the top 20 countries for number of airports, length of rail and length of roads1. In the past four years $6.95bn was invested into improving infrastructure. In the next three years capital investment is planned to be $7.52bn to increase capacity for the 2010 World Cup.2 56% of funding in 2009 was used to expand current operations and the remainder was used to upgrade existing infrastructure. Figure 1: Transport Infrastructure Investment (2009)3 Figure 2: Planned Transport Infrastructure Investment (2010)4 Implication: Improving transportation provides potential employees locally, nationally or internationally with reliable and convenient means of transport to the companys location. Energy The energy situation has much to improve with state-owned firm, Eskom, struggling to meet the demand caused by the post-apartheid economic boom5. The industrial sector uses 68% of the supply but it is estimated that savings of up to 60% can be made with low-cost investment6. Alternative means of energy are currently being looked into and Nuclear Power plants have been proposed and could be in place by 2020 if approved.7 Implication: Electricity supply is currently inconsistent but demand side management and planned expansion in the future should solve any problems. Communications Current services are not up to UK standards but broadband is becoming widespread with wireless available in some locations. Fibre-optic cables were laid under the Atlantic Ocean in 2009 by Seacom with the intention of providing high capacity bandwidth linking communities in Southern and East Africa, Europe, and South Asia.7 Implication: International communications are well catered for and services in cities are comparable with UK standards. Research and Development RD with respect to science and technology has been a growing area since 2002 with the Innovation Hub created in Pretoria. It claims to be the leading knowledge-intensive business cluster in South Africa8 creating a community focusing on innovation and knowledge creation. Implication: Locating in an area within the Innovation Hub could provide us with a pool of potential employees with the correct skills, education and backgrounds. Legal Labour Laws SA has strong labour laws especially after the creation of the Labour Relations Act 1995, created to allow consultation between employees and employers to remove discrimination and ensure a diverse labour force. Employment regulations include: Compulsory by law to abide by Minimum Wage guidelines set out by government. These levels vary from sector to sector. The South African Labour Legislation encourages the freedom of collective bargaining. Implication: Structured legal system in place which contains laws to aid our entry into the country. Labour laws are similar to those in which we already operate so only small adjustments are needed to current practices. Intellectual Property Rights SA is currently not a member of the Madrid Union so filing for international trademarks is more complex than most countries. However, they intend to join within the next year. Copyright can only be registered for films, but arises automatically by law under the Berne Convention and applies to all countries that are signatories of it.1 Patents cost between $915 and $1300 initially, with an annual renewal fee of around $130 beginning in year three.2 Patent Co-operation Treaties (PCTs) are available which provides 30 months of international protection in 135 countries. Implication: PCTs allow any costs of patents to be deferred until the domestic countries in which to obtain the patent can be more carefully selected. This additional time also increases the chances of a successful patent application. Starting a Business The process for business setup is as follows: Source: DoingBusiness.org, 2009 Environmental Leader in Climate Change Environmental developments and climate change are issues close to SA. Having hosted the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 20021, the country also follows the Kyoto Protocol and featured prominently at the Copenhagen Conference in 2009. Incumbent President Jacob Zuma has pushed for plans to continue with CO2 reduction of 42% by 2025.2 Implication: Good international relationships with countries such as USA and UK, as well as a reputation in protecting global environments. The Department of Environmental Affairs has also implemented policies to subsidise firms who use renewable energy resources. With the local demand for environmental protection and reassurance of safety from environmental hazards, there are huge incentives for firm to improve energy usages efficiency1. Energy Reserves South Africa heavily relies on coal production for energy, coal providing 88% of total primary energy and 90 % of electricity generation. However, the nation has notable renewable energy potentials3. The country has an overflowing wind resource and the highest levels of solar radiation in the world. The expansion of renewable energy in South Africa is maintained and upheld by the White Paper on Renewable Energy (Nov 2003), which aims to generate 10,000 GWH of renewable energy for final energy consumption by 2013. Implication: The government has actively supported energy production development although some environmental hazards may be detrimental to a suitable working environment. Conclusion Through use of the PESTLE framework, we can conclude that the macro climate of South Africa is generally positive with much potential for expansion. The main areas of weakness found will undoubtedly require further investigations by management. However, breaking into the countrys technology sector can be a success given that the company is fully aware of the obstacles involved.

Oakland, CA :: essays research papers

The Forgotten City This paper will discuss the many unique aspects of Oakland, California. Divided into five major parts, Oakland is a very diverse city. The five major parts include: Downtown Oakland which is located in the heart of the city, East Oakland which consists of the majority of the city, West Oakland, North Oakland, and the Oakland hills where the terrain is quite different from other parts of the city. While many may perceive the population to mainly consist of African Americans and Whites, there is a significant growing population of Latinos, and Asians. The topics covered in this paper will shed light on the city of Oakland itself, and discuss the unique city that it is. I will also give my personal experience and perception on the city, after living there for 16 years of my life. History In historical terms the city of Oakland was named after the many Oak trees that inhabited the land when the city was established. Oakland was first founded in 1852 and is located on the East side of the Bay Area in Northern California.(Oakland History) Native Americans had previously lived in the area for over 5 thousand years before many arrived for the Gold Rush, and put down their roots. The famous author Jack London also spent many of his earlier years in Oakland, and his works have said to have been influenced by the city. My personal perception of Oakland is that it has always been the forgotten city in the Bay Area. Almost no one would notice that famous actors Clint Eastwood, and Tom Hanks spent many of their childhood days in the city. Basketball future hall of famers Gary Payton and Jason Kidd also spent their childhood days there. Baseball hall of famers Reggie Jackson and Ricky Henderson still own homes in the city. In modern times Oakland is known as the main metropolitan city in the East Bay. The city possesses 3 professional sports teams, which have a population of just below 400,000. Oakland is also the 3rd largest metropolitan city in the Bay Area behind San Jose, and San Francisco.( Encyclopedia Britannica ) The city mayor is the ex Governor of California Jerry Brown. Located in Alameda County Oakland’s area consists of a total square mileage of 78.2 miles, of which 56.1 miles is land, and the latter consisting of water.( Encyclopedia Britannica ) Oakland also possesses the 3rd largest seaport on the west coast.

McDonald’s vs Burger King: Which is Healthier Essay

The United States has the largest fast food industry in the world, and American fast food restaurants are in over 100 countries. That alone tells you that millions of consumers partake in fast food. By definition, fast food is food that can be prepared and served very quickly. A typical fast food meal in the United States includes a hamburger, French fries, and a soft drink. Out of all of the fast food restaurants in the United States, there are two companies that comes to mind that are the biggest chains in the country. Those two fast food chains are Burger King and McDonald’s. These two companies own more than half of the fast food market in the U. S. With that said, in the past couple of years there has been concern over the obesity rate in the United States. People believe that fast food is a factor because of how easy it is to get it and the price range of it. Because of the perceptions of fast food, every one is looking to the biggest fast food chains to set the example and make their menus healthier. McDonald’s and Burger King are the two fast food chains trying to convert their menu to provide healthier foods, each in their own way. Before looking at the menus of both fast food chains, one has to understand the history. What made them who they are today? How was it created? When did it go public? The first restaurant is McDonald’s. In 1937, Patrick McDonald opened â€Å"The Airdome†, which was a food stand in Monrovia, California. Hamburgers were ten cents and all you can drink. In 1940, his two sons, Maurice and Richard, brought the food stand from their father and moved the entire operation 40 miles and changed the name to â€Å"McDonald’s Bar-B-Q† and served 25 barbecued items on their menu. In October 1948, the brothers realized that most of their profits came from selling hamburgers so they closed down the establishment. On December 12, 1948, the restaurant’s name was once again changed to â€Å"McDonald’s† and went to a menu of hamburgers, cheeseburgers, French fries, shakes, soft drinks, and apple pie. After 5 years of growing popularity and success the brothers decided to start franchising the restaurant. One year later, Ray Kroc, who sold Multi-mixer milkshakes machines, learned that one of the McDonald’s restaurants were using eight of his machines and he decided to take a look for himself. After meeting with the McDonald brothers, Kroc thought that they could franchise the restaurants throughout the country. The brothers did not think the same way so Kroc decided to take it upon himself to do so. By 1959, Kroc had 102 successful restaurants in the United States and by 1961 Kroc brought the business rights from the McDonald brothers for about three million dollars. Like McDonald’s, Burger King also has a long and rich history. It was founded in 1953 in Jacksonville, Florida as Insta-Burger King. Inspired by the McDonald brother’s original store location in San Bernardino, California, the founders and owners, Keith J. Kramer and his wife’s uncle Matthew Burns, began searching for a concept to open a new restaurant around. After purchasing the rights to two pieces of equipment called â€Å"Insta† machines, the two opened their first stores around a cooking device known as the Insta-Broiler. The Insta-Broiler over proved to be so successful at cooking burgers; they required all of their franchises to carry the device. With their new success in the way they cooked burgers, the company had rapidly expanded throughout the state of Florida until its operations totaled more than 40 locations in 1955. By 1961, Insta-Burger King ran into financial difficulties and the pair of McLamore and Edgarton purchased the national rights to the chain. It was rechristened as Burger King of Miami. The company would eventually become the Burger King Corporation and began selling territorial franchise licenses to private owners across the United States by 1961. As I stated in the beginning of my essay, I wanted to compare the two menus between Burger King and McDonald’s. Even though both restaurants are into selling hamburgers, how they are cooked and presented separate these two companies tremendously. For McDonald’s, they have added other items to their menu since the original restaurants opened back in 1948. They added a breakfast menu back in 1972 in which they sold certain breakfast sandwiches such as the McMuffin, which came in certain amounts of variations. There are also types of biscuits and breakfast burritos. Additional breakfast items include hotcakes, several breakfast platters with eggs, hash browns, and meats or breads. As you know, for lunch, McDonald’s serves many sandwich options such as the Quarter Pounder, the McDouble, which is the double cheeseburger, and chicken sandwiches, which they call a McChicken. The trademark sandwich for McDonald’s is called a Big Mac. It was introduced nationwide in 1968. It consists of two 100 percent beef patties, American cheese, â€Å"special sauce†, which is based off a Thousand Island dressing, iceberg lettuce, pickles, onions, and served in a three-part sesame seed bun. Other items on the menu consist of Chicken McNuggets, Chicken Selects, which is the McDonald’s version of chicken strips, Filet-O-Fish, and a McRib, the McDonald’s Rib Sandwich. Burger King’s menu predominantly consisted of hamburgers, French fries, soft drinks, milkshakes, and desserts. In 1978, the company introduced the first iteration of its breakfast menu. The breakfast menu remained almost identical to the McDonald’s offerings until 1983 when Burger King introduced its Croissan’Wich, which comes in many variations like the McDonald’s counterpart, McMuffin sandwich. For the lunch menu, there is little difference between the Burger King and McDonald’s Menu. The counterpart of McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets is called the BK Chicken Tenders, which made its debut in 1985. For Burger King, they have two trademark sandwiches. The first one is the counterpart of the McChicken, which Burger King calls the BK Original Chicken Sandwich. It made its debut in 1978. The other sandwich is called the Whopper. Introduced in 1957, it is one of the best known sandwiches in the fast food industry. The Whopper consists of a flame grilled quarter-pound beef patty, sesame seed bun, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, and sliced onion. Now we get to the meat of the conversation. Both companies have been trying to add healthier choices to their menu for years now. For example, McDonald’s had to battle its public image as a purveyor of fatty, unhealthy food. Consumers began filling lawsuits contending that years of eating at McDonald’s had made them overweight. So in 2003, McDonald’s introduced a low calorie menu of low-calorie items and they also switched to more healthful cooking oil for the French fries. Burger king is no different to the criticism of their food. Since the 1980s, several parties, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the British Heart Foundation and the City of New York argued that Burger King has contributed to obesity and unhealthy eating behaviors in Western nations by producing products that contain large amounts of salt, fat, trans-fat, and calories. With that said, it is common knowledge that neither McDonald’s nor Burger King is the healthiest option if you are trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Let’s examine at the major items that both of these fast food chains provide and see which one is healthier. Starting with the French fries, a medium order from Burger King will make the customer consume 400 calories, 20 grams of fat, 43 grams of carbohydrates and 5 grams of protein. The same amount for McDonald’s will provide 20 calories, 7 grams of fat, 19 grams of carbohydrates, and 3 grams of protein less than Burger King’s French fries. So apparently McDonald’s wins in French Fries, for cheeseburgers, McDonald’s are not only lower in calories versus Burger King at 300 to 360, but also in fat and carbohydrates as well. They are also significantly higher in protein. Now for the main event, the Big Mac versus the Whopper, both of these burgers are the most popular menu item for both of these respected fast food chains. Which one is healthier? The Big Mac contains 540 calories, 29 grams of fat, 45 grams of carbohydrates and 25 grams of protein. The Whopper, on the other hand, contains 670 calories, 39 grams of fat, 51 grams of carbohydrates, and 27 grams of protein. So in other words, the Big Mac is Healthier. After looking at the other items that Burger King and McDonald’s provides head to head, Burger King has the edge in terms of its chicken products. Now the big question is who has the healthiest menu? To be honest, it depends on the menu item you choose to buy from either one of these food chains. If you want a good burger that will not do that much damage to your diet then McDonald’s is the way to go. If you are looking to eat a Chicken Sandwich, it looks like the Burger King should change their name. In conclusion, when asking the question of which fast food chain is healthier it is safe to say that there is no clear-cut answer. Even through McDonald’s, when looking at the nutritional stats of each item compared to Burger King, wins in the Burger section. We as consumers have to realize that â€Å"fast food† is not healthy in the first place. These two fast food chains have rich and interesting histories that contributed to how and what they sell to their customers. Each menu has been tweaked in order to fulfill the needs of the consumer over the years. Every consumer prefer to have their own method of buying items, so the best advice I can give is to do your own research beforehand. It is also important to show that you should limit the amount of fast food you eat on a regular basis in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Native Americans & Christopher Columbus Essay

Indubitably, the acts made upon Indians for the sake of progress were atrocious. Brutal and cruel murders of millions of Indian peoples resound to this day. Their populations may never recover from such an incredible loss; the past can be ignored but never erased. However, we as Americans, celebrate Christopher Columbus day with joy. We think only of ‘The Founding of America’ and not by the means of which our country was constructed. To Indians everywhere this holiday is simply a remembrance of the murder, torture, rape, and enslavement of their people that last hundreds of years. So why do we celebrate such an insidious act? Because we justify the imposition of others for the sake of human progress. However is this tactic progressive at all? When Zinn writes â€Å"If there are necessary sacrifices to be made for human progress, is it not essential to hold to the principle that those to be sacrificed must make the decision themselves? † he is simply asking if there is something to be lost for the gain of progress, shouldn’t the ones who are to lose make the decision to be the â€Å"necessary sacrifice†. Indeed, I believe that if the imposed party were given the choice to either be sacrificed or not, for even the sake of progress, they would not be willing. Its basic human nature, self preservation, and so the majority of people, I feel would not be logically able to make such a choice. Therefore, yes, I do believe that until people as a whole are able to make peaceful resolution and keep their word, that necessary sacrifices must be made but with only with the heaviest of heart. No one can refute that the destruction of the Native Americans and their homes was a terrible time in history that should not be repeated. I feel the genocide of these Indians was necessary to get where we are as humans today. If the Spaniards and other conquerors had led peaceful resolutions the United States would neither function, nor geographically look the same as it does today. We cannot say what a peaceful relationship between foreigners and the Native Americans could have brought, for we did not experience it and must only rely on what we know. What we know is, though terrible, the deaths of those people have brought us to the modern face of America and all the technological advances that have been achieved with it. This should not be celebrated with holidays such as Christopher Columbus Day, for it was indeed only the beginning of mass extinction for the American Indian and should only be respected for the many souls that lost their life for the sake of â€Å"human progress†. From my perspective the Columbian exchange should be viewed in a negative light. This occurrence in history has most often had a positive connotation attached to it; however, the murder of millions should never be looked upon as a positive. Crops, animals, diseases and culture were traded among the Indians and foreigners. Many of which made the America’s desirable to be cultivated and populated. It is for these reasons that historians typically categorize this event as a positive instead of the damaging situation it was. History is as said, history. We cannot alter it to suite our present or future; however we can learn from it. Humans as a whole will continue on making mistakes, minor and major, tense and bloody but the Columbian Exchange has taught Americans that they cannot repeat his occurrence in any shape form or fashion. Peaceful resolution should be met if possible, if not reached, then may with the most apprehension and fear, should war be approached. Native American numbers may never recover but we will no longer make them suffer.

THEATRE CH Essay

THEATRE CH Essay THEATRE CH Essay Theatre is a form of art that places actors before a group of people in an act of engagement and discovery about life Theatrical performances have taken place for thousands of years and in all world cultures with few exceptions. The great societies of Europe, China and India first nurtured theatre as a means of gathering citizens together to celebrate civic accomplishments, warn of personal errors, or ridicule society’s fools. Because of that, ancient civilizations in the East and West created dramatic art and stage traditions lasting centuries. Immediacy and presence have set theatrical art apart from other forms of art. Actors present themselves to their audience in a story involving intensely personal aspects of human behavior. Theatre has been defined as a way of seeing men and women in action, observing what they do and why, and the results of their actions. It can be said that theatre is an immediate way of experiencing what it means to be human. Thornton Wilder’s, The Match Maker is an example of how theatre engages actors in a very human story about true love. In his play it shows the course of true love failing to run smoothly because their elders did not approve but went over their heads and saw each other anyway. Theatres living quality- it’s immediacy, aliveness, spaces and spectators. Theatre is different from T.V, films, etc. is the live interaction of the physical presence audience and actors. The Lion King, The Wicked, and The Addams Family are all examples of diversion from serious events like civil unrest and unfolding wars. A theatrical event is restricted to a fixed number of seats in a single building. In New York or London playhouses seat approximately 700-2,000 people nightly. In contrast to the interactivity of digital media, theatre engages us in an active and kinetic physical construction of behavior and meaning. Theatre cannot be replicated in another medium, once the performance ends it is gone forever. What’s unique and disheartening is that theatre is being lost to future generations. Theatre’s living quality on both sides of the â€Å"footlights† sets it apart from its popular mass media competitors. Theatre parallels life- representing our humanness in an imitation of human truths and realities. Theatre is â€Å"alive† as actors tell a story in immediate communion with its audience. Film and theatre are equally convincing in their story telling powers, but their modes of presentation are vastly different. 6 ESSENTIAL PARALLELS: Actors - Humanity Simulation - Reality Rehearsal - Discovery Improvisation - Spontaneity Stage - World Audiences - Society At all times in theatre there is doubleness. The actors are human beings representing the playwright’s imaginative expression of our humanity and the human condition; the stage is a platform that convinces us it’s another world. Theatre’s doubleness- art mirroring life, and life mirroring art- is another special quality of this complex art. Doubleness reflects a sense of life lived on stage during a theatrical experience. The audience experiences the actor both as actor- the living presence of another being- and fictional character. The Elizabethan idea of the stage as a mirror, related as it is to the act of seeing, can help understand the dynamics of theatre and its aesthetics. As reflected in the mirror, our humanity has shape, color, form, attitude and emotion; it is even capable of movement within the limits of the mirror’s frame. It is both a stage world and an illusion of a real world. Theatre is life’s double, it is a selected reflection organized into stories and fictions about events and people to tell us something about our humanity. Theatre creates illusion, as we watch, that we are sharing an experience with others for the first time. In theatre we both believe in what is happening before us (â€Å"suspend our disbelief,† as the poet Coleridge said) and disbelieve in the stage-world before us. The word

Change Strategy within a Specific Organizational Frame Term Paper

Change Strategy within a Specific Organizational Frame - Term Paper Example It was revealed in 2013 that Tesco’s beef burgers had at least 30% of horse meat, which led the organization to make a statement to the effect that its customers had been betrayed by the company’s suppliers, promising to get to the bottom of the scandal (bbc.com, 2013). In effect, the company promised to uncover what had happened, to get back to its customers with an explanation, and to work harder to ensure that such a problem never occurred again (Meikle & Lawrence, 2013). Moreover, Tesco also promised to refund customers who still had the contaminated food in their houses in full. In relation to Tesco’s current threatening issue, an urgent change is required. To begin with, all the products from the identified supplier must be withdrawn from sale immediately, which requires the company’s staff to be urgently involved in the process of elimination. In addition, the company has to rescue its reputation with consumers in the market place, which requires a long term strategy of change to influence consumers. For instance, Tesco could entirely stop selling meat products before bringing back their meat sales gradually with highly regarded suppliers (Morris, 2014). There are four main frames under which an organization’s change can be framed, which are structural, political, human resources, and symbolic. Pollack and Pollack (2014) note that organizations operate simultaneously at all times on the four levels, and that addressing a problem in the organization may require an organization to pay special attention to one frame, while the other frames remain strong and functional. In Tesco’s case, the structural frame will be the main frame used, specifically because of its image of the organization as a rational machine system. In addition, this frame also reinforces the critical nature of creating structural forms that are aligned to the goals, environment, technology, and task of the

Advanced Writing for Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Advanced Writing for Marketing - Essay Example The document helps the President improve job performance evaluation, in terms of sale manager’s performance. The document is intended to replace the current job evaluation rubric, in terms of the manager’s job benchmarks. The document explains the superiority of the proposed annual report-based benchmark over the current attendance based criteria. It is highly recommended that that annual report, income statement, replace the current job performance benchmark (Weaver 2007 293). The current benchmark pales in comparison with the proposed annual report rubric. The income statement is used by most business entities as job performance yardstick. Judging from the use of the income statement as the standard global criteria, it is highly recommended that you, my president friend, follow suit. Further, implementing your current attendance-based criteria is understandable. You are reducing the manager’s job responsibilities. The human resource department is tasked with collection the attendance reports of the managers. All the managers have to do is to â€Å"time in† by swiping one’s identification card through the attendance machine. When the manager leaves the office, all the manager has to do is to â€Å"log out†. Logging out is done by swiping one’s identification card through the time recording machine strategically located near the entrance / exit pathways. The human resource department presents the attendance report to you, President, indicating your sales managers’ tardiness report. Furthermore, this is comprehensible. Your current impression of the best employee is one who is devoted to one’s job. A loyal employee will normally reduce absences and tardiness to allowable levels. Your company allows excused absences on reasonable ground. Reasonable grounds include unexpected traffic from home to the work area, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other reasonable causes. Lastly, labor law regulations allow absences your employee is