Seoul as a Global City Essay Example

Seoul as a Global City Essay Seoul, the capital of South Korea is a key metropolis in the Far East. The Korean peninsula is quite small, comparable to the United Kingdom or New York State in terms of geographical spread. Its geographic location had subjected Seoul to both American and Far Eastern influences. But when it comes to economic prosperity and social equity, Seoul remains a city of contradictions and paradoxes. The rest of this essay will foray into these economic, social and demographic aspects of Seoul and infer its future role in the global stage. The long and colorful history of Seoul, in the broader context of the Korean peninsula gives some indication of the present expectations of it. For instance, the occasion of the Olympics that is slated for later this year presents an opportunity for the inhabitants to â€Å"show the world that their fiercely independent culture was never fully overwhelmed by either of its powerful neighbors† (Townsend, 2002). The speakers of one of the most advanced languages ever conceived, the Korean in general and residents of Seoul in particular are keen to regain the glorious past. For instance, â€Å"Guidebooks sometimes refer to the Korean people as the â€Å"Irish of the Orient,† partly because of their capacity for feuding with one another but mainly because of their feistiness and history of affliction. Again and again a visitor is told that the Korean alphabet is the greatest in the world, the Korean military the best educated and the Korean cuisine the spiciest† (Townsend, 2002). We will write a custom essay sample on Seoul as a Global City specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Seoul as a Global City specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Seoul as a Global City specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The city of Seoul, by East Asian standards, is one of the most modern and its inhabitants the most outgoing, volatile, boisterous and backslapping group of people. Seoul inhabitants are the â€Å"most ethnically and historically homogeneous peoples in the world†. The stoic spirit of the place and its citizens may be partly due to a history â€Å"of war, invasion, occupation, resistance, war, destruction, rebirth, peace-and war† (Louise, 2008). The legacy of such a tumultuous past is still being felt today. Take say, the region of Greater Seoul. It is home to close to 10 million people that include some of the richest industrialists. This part of the city is also the â€Å"political, cultural, educational, and business hub† (Louise, 2008). Seoul is also the favorite destination for some of the biggest transnational corporations to set up their production facilities. The place also attracts allied service providers like public relations industry and other business corporations. Seoul is second to no other city in terms of the research and development activity that is carried out there. The following passage substantiates Seoul claim to be regarded a true global city: â€Å"Manufacturing complexes surround the city. Seoul and its suburbs boast 9,000 factories, employing more than 360,000 workers. They’ve suffered in the last two years, but most Seoul businesses have recovered from the late-’90s Asian flu. It is home to small manufacturers such as Won’s and it also hosts complexes run by large corporations. They are drawn by the suburb’s proximity to Qingdao, Dalian, and other major cities in China, which vies with the U.S. as Korea’s top market for exports† (Smith and Timberlake, 2002). While the aforementioned qualities would place Seoul in the Global city bracket, a few other realities associated with the place might question this assertion. Setting apart the ever present political volatility in South Korea, the distribution of wealth in Seoul remains highly inequitable (Chang-Hee and Myung-Jin, 2003). While South Korea has had a tremendous economic growth period over the last twenty years or so, the percentage of the population of Seoul that lives close to subsistence levels is quite an anomaly. It is true that the annual per capita gross national product was close to 100 dollars five decades ago. Today, it hovers close to three thousand dollars – an impressive thirty-time increase (Louise, 2008). Yet, the statistics on class divisions and the proportions of different socio-economic classes within Seoul has remained quite static. This negative aspect of the city will weigh against it, in its aim to be considered a truly global city (Hill, 2000). The social inequities evident in the suburbs of Seoul are another significant factor going against its stature as a global city. For example, â€Å"South of Inchon lies the suburb of Chun-An, some 40 miles from downtown Seoul. Chun-An has lured financing and facilities from Korea’s financial giant to the East. Japanese manufacturers, especially electronics producers, have settled in the Chun-An Industrial Estate. Korea Industrial Complex Corp. (Kicox), which runs the 25 largest industrial parks across the nation, requires manufacturers who want space in that Industrial Estate to maintain at least a 30% foreign stake† (Shin and Timberlake, 2004). Despite the impressive array of industries set up in the suburbs of Seoul, the lifestyle and incomes of residents there have remained stagnant over the last two decades. For example, just twenty miles south of the city is the information technology region of Suwon, which boasts of hosting leading foreign technology manufacturers in the world. But, this evidence of technological advancement loses its shine when seen in light of the highly populated residential complexes surrounding Suwon, where the socio-economic conditions are very ordinary (Shin and Timberlake, 2004). While the economic aspects of Seoul, marked by the increase in size of its manufacturing and design industries is a sure sign of the city’s advancement into the global stage, certain anomalies associated with this condition undermines this status. For example, the whole of Korea hosts a fifteen billion dollar manufacturing and design industry, with Seoul being the epicenter of all this activity (Shin and Timberlake, 2004). With more growth slated for the immediate future, Seoul’s claim to be a global city seems quite legitimate. But competition from other prominent cities in East and South-East Asia is proving to be a formidable challenge to overcome. For instance, â€Å"Seoul isn’t alone in seeking to boost its global standing through design. Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Yokohama all hold ambitions to be design centers. Then there’s global competition from cities like London, Paris, Milan and New York, with many decades as leading arbiters of design. Yet design industry leaders insist there’s big potential in Korea. For one, Seoul beat some 20 rivals, including Singapore and Dubai, to be named ICSID’s first World Design Capital to be chosen through competition.† (BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, 2008) The volatile and unpredictable relations between and within the North and South Korea has disrupted the growth pattern of both economies. This is no insignificant factor to consider in the process of classifying Seoul as a truly world class city. After all, Seoul is not just the economic capital of South Korea, but also its political capital. And the implications of political instability to the economic scenario are only too well known, as the stark empirical documentation of their relation shows. The diplomatic efforts on part of both neighbors are bound to have a crucial impact on the future prosperity and stability of Seoul. In this context, the recent negotiations between the respective premiers to resolve some longstanding issues are a good sign. But to remind the international community of the delicate nature of North-South relations, the meeting was disrupted by protests from some prominent labor unions (BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, 2008). Ironically, the demands of the labor are as old as the nations themselves and any agenda of negotiation that does not pay heed to the concerns of the working class will only be an incomplete one. The social realities of this self-proclaimed global city are best captured from the following passage: â€Å"More than 700 disputes continue to fester following a rash of strikes that first broke out in July. At a Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan, where walkouts resumed after wage talks collapsed, a striker died and three others were seriously injured when a driver, whom they had beaten, got back into his truck and ran them over. Some 13,000 strikers occupied the yard, smashing windows, setting fire to cars and battling riot police. Late in the week police raided Hyundai and a second occupied plant and dragged away 200 strikers. Alarmed by the disturbances, Kim and Roh vowed to push for revision of South Korea’s labor laws, which largely favor management† (Hieyeon, 2000). What we gather from the above description is a typical case of oppression of the working classes. Consistent with a Marxian view of the world, the legislative climate in Seoul is loaded heavily in favor of vested corporate interests, undermining democratic progress. Until such social inequalities are addressed earnestly, Seoul’s image to the world community will remain tarnished and any pretences of being a truly global city will only be such (Hieyeon, 2000).

Progeny and Other Offspring

Progeny and Other Offspring Progeny and Other Offspring Progeny and Other Offspring By Maeve Maddox A reader asks for clarification: Please tell me under which situation I use the word progeny and where to use  offspring, with examples. English is blessed with numerous words to refer to the product of sexual union; progeny and offspring are only two of them. The gen in progeny, like the gen in genital, goes back to a Latin word for beget. Progeny, therefore, is a good all-purpose word to describe people, plants, and animals that are the product of sexual reproduction. Offspring is not so literal a word as progeny; it combines the verb spring with the adverb off. Offspring are what â€Å"jump off† from the parent. It has a friendlier, less formal connotation than progeny. Compare, for example, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbreth brought up their progeny according to strict ideas of efficiency. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbreth treated their offspring to a day at the beach. Here’s a list of synonyms that are or have been used with the meaning of progeny: babies brood children descendants family fruit of one’s loins fruit of one’s womb heirs issue offspring posterity progeny scions seed sons and daughters successors spawn young Like all synonyms, these words have different connotations. We speak of babies, children, family, and sons and daughters when we are talking about people in general. In matters of law, the words heirs and issue are used with specific legal meaning. A man’s children are called issue, usually in the sense of children who have a legal right to inherit. An heir is the person entitled by law to succeed another â€Å"in the enjoyment of property or rank.† Prince Charles is referred to as â€Å"heir to the British throne,† but according to the OED, legally speaking, he won’t be the heir until his mother dies: nemo est heres viventis, â€Å"nobody is a living heir.† Genealogists talk in terms of descendants. Historians speak of posterity, the people who come after those living in the present: For it has been wisely said that if the judgment of the time must be corrected by that of posterity, it is no less true that the judgment of posterity must be corrected by that of the time.† Felix Frankfurter The horticultural term scion is often used in speaking of the descendants of noble or wealthy families: Originally built by Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, a scion of the wealthy Vanderbilt family, the 1909 property [the Vanderbilt Grace hotel] is a vintage Newport mansion that has been restored to its former glory In gardening terms, a scion is a slip taken from a tree or other plant and used for grafting. Another gardening word, seed, is also used to mean progeny: Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. –Galatians 3:16. The expression â€Å"fruit of loins/womb† is familiar from the KJ translation of the Bible, as in the greeting of Mary’s cousin Elisabeth: And she [Elisabeth] spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Luke 1:42. The word brood for children has a warm, motherly connotation. Its figurative use derives from the way a hen sits on her eggs to keep them warm. Indeed, brood is cognate with Middle High German bruot, ‘heat, warmth, hatching, that which is hatched.† The only word in the list that has an out-and-out negative connotation is spawn. Literally the eggs of aquatic creatures, spawn is used figuratively as both noun and verb to suggest that the progeny spoken of is undesirable. Because spawn is frequently used to refer to demons, as in â€Å"hell-spawn† and â€Å"spawn of the devil,† the word has become popular in the world of comics and novels about the forces of good and evil. As a noun, spawn can refer to any type of progeny that may be seen as potentially as bad as the parent. As a verb, spawn is often used to mean â€Å"to create something bad†: Joblessness, poverty, crime spawn violence Delinquent Parents Spawn Teenage Criminals Suburban hazing scandals spawn new criminal offense Computers Spawn A New Criminal Breed Some journalists use negative spawn where a word like initiate or even beget would be more appropriate: Dedicated Leaders Spawn Island Cooperative Scholar’s research spawns international remembrance effort The surest way to develop an ear for connotation is to read widely from the English literary canon, a practice that is becoming less frequent among the nominally educated. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Beautiful and Ugly Words5 Brainstorming Strategies for WritersThe Difference Between "Un-" and "Dis-"

Treadway Tire Case Essays

Treadway Tire Case Essays Treadway Tire Case Paper Treadway Tire Case Paper Treadway Tire Case BY rocker0815 6N212: Management in Organizations Case: The Treadway Tire Company: Job Dissatisfaction and High Turnover at the Lima Tire Plant Harvard Brief Case: # 2190 Oune, 2008) Case Analysis Questions: 1 . Briefly describe the situation today at the Lima Tire plant. Treadway Tires plant in Lima, Ohio must confront strong Job dissatisfaction and high turnover among its line foremen. The foremen are caught in the middle of an adversarial relationship between the union and management, and they must cope with the needs and interests of both. They also perceive limited opportunity for areer advancement. Solving the problem requires rethinking the philosophy that guides workforce management and changing the Treadway culture that has grown up around that philosophy. Facing mounting pressure to reduce costs and increase productivity, director of human resources Ashley Wall must work quickly to analyze the root causes of the problem and provide an action plan to reduce turnover of the line foreman segment 2. What is the relationship between line foremen at Treadways Lima Plant and other groups within the plant: general supervisors and area managers, top management, he union, hourly workers, each other? Why do you believe the relationships are as they are? 3. How do you feel line foreman feel about their Jobs and why? Be specific about their sources of dissatisfaction. How engaged are the line foreman? How would they respond to Gallups 12 Questions of a Strong Workplace? Expand on your position. 4. What are the consequences of those feelings? What is the ripple effect of having disengaged line foreman? 5. What are the costs of turnover within the Lima plant? Direct? Indirect? How would you calculate the cost of turnover if you were Ashley Wall making a presentation to top management? (Hint: Look at number of hours worked per month, salary plus benefits, and how long it takes to come up to speed in the role) What is the magnitude of the turnover problem? Here is a formula for calculating the direct cost of turnover: Average Hours Worked/Month x Wage/Hour (including benefits) x Number of Months for Learning Curve x Productivity during Learning Curve x Number of Positions Turned Over = Direct Cost of Turnover 6. Discuss the elements of the current work system that are contributing to the problem. How does each negatively impact engagement and Job satisfaction? Out of a total of 50 foremen at the Lima facility, 23 of these positions have turn over. and resolve a variety of personnel, resources, and administrative issues in a 12-hour shift. On top of this, line for felt often pulled in different, often conflicting directions by management, the workers, and the union. Meeting performance goals is the most important duty of the line foreman. Every day a break out report of the previous days actual performance vs. orecast was circulated to all line foremen, general upervisor, area managers, and the plant operating committee. The report detailed such metrics as labor hours per unit, units completed, and units rejected owing to quality issues. If the results fell below forecasted levels, the foreman was subject to a severe tongue lashing and usually threatened with poor performance review. Responsibilities A foremans top priority was to start the tire production line each work day a nd ensure that no technical issues would stop production during the shift. Due o the Strenuous nature of long shifts, the scheduled hourly workers often came ate to work or called in sick, causing foremen to scramble for last minute substitute workers and assign them spontaneously to appropriate task. Morale No Matter what happens, were expected to meet or exceed targets, which get higher every year. Feel powerless to discipline the employee due to the union. They dont feel like they have authority, but yet they have all the responsibility. Hiring process-ok Training-Foreman did not receive formal training. The company did not want to invest in the training. Goals As long as you meet targets without aggravating the union or management too much, oure fine. Promotion Line foremen Just dont see any way to move up at Lima. No room for advancement. Survey The company did not offer clear opportunities for advancement Conclusion Morale and productivity were imperiled. The plant was not satisfactorily developing new managers. Relations between management and the union were threatened. Management is sensitive to employee problems. Did not feel prepared to accomplish duties Immediate supervisor is not a positive role model. Tone at the top Training 7. What action plan should Ashley Wall recommend? Be specific in describing your ecommended actions. 8. What key lessons will you take away from this case relative to building an engaged work culture and being an effective manager? Discuss the elements of the current work system that are contributing to the problem. How does each negatively impact engagement and Job satisfaction? In this case, there are many elements of the current work system that are contributing to the problem. The problem can be attributed to the inefficient training system in place, which resulted in undertrained foreman. The current training process was a sink or swim mentality forced upon the foreman. Due to the lack of proper training, the line foreman did not have the proper tools to do the Job right or run things properly. This lack of training has lead to a low Job satisfaction and low employee engagement among foremen. Another element contributing to the problem was the constant pressure from managers to meet or exceed targets no matter what happened in the factory. The foremen were under constant pressure and Judged on a daily basis on their production results. The bosses often threatened the foreman to get results. This type of leadership style caused tension between the supervisors and the foreman. The constant pressures on targets lead toa high stress environment, low employee morale, and low Job satisfaction among foremen. Foremen were also faced with long shifts and very substantial workload. These long work hours increase the stress and fatigue on foremen, which will lead to a less productive employee. Even if foremen are able to handle the long shifts and substantial workload, they are face with few opportunities to move up within the company. The long shifts, substantial work load, and the lack of opportunities have lead to low employee engagement, higher stress, and low Job satisfaction. What action plan should Ashley Wall recommend? Be specific in describing your recommended actions. Ashley should recommend a training program for new and current foremen that will prepare them on how to effectively do their Job adequately. This would be a good long term investment for the company. This training program would enable these foremen to have better experience and results in the workplace. Providing appropriate training and information will make employees feel more valuable and will result in better Job satisfaction. The company should have hiring process to promote from internal candidates. This process accompanied with the appropriate training and employee development will lead to employee retention. These steps will show the foreman that the company is loyal to qualified employees. satisfaction. The company should put less pressure on the foremen for immediate result on things that are outside their control, for example sick employee. The results should be adjusted based on the head count for that particular day. Introduce a productivity measure per employee, not per department. Ashley should also propose shorter shifts. Shorter shifts would improve the productivity of the plant. The longer the shifts lead to less productive employees at the end of a long shift. The current length of time for each shift could be reduced so that it causes less stress on the individuals and help with work life balance. People can work strong for a time, but once they reach fatigue, they begin to make more mistakes and theyre more irritable. The shorter shift will increase employee morale and Job satisfaction. 8. Empower your employees, treat them with respect, and be someone your employees would follow, Train. Empower your employees, treat them with respect, and be someone your employees would follow.

Reliable Help for Anyone Applying for a Scholarship Program

Reliable Help for Anyone Applying for a Scholarship Program There are several types of supports, but the scholarship you will get depends on how well your essay will persuade the reader. Use the wrong words, and your paper might end up in the rejection pile. But not everyone can naturally write a high-quality text that showcases your uniqueness or ability. However, if you are going to apply for an aid program, you must increase your chances of your application getting accepted by submitting flawless content. Rarely an application process will require transcripts only. You will also need a well-written content, which means that you must know how to write a good scholarship essay. One of the best ways to help your application to stand out is to understand what is a scholarship essay and read successful examples. We have been writing these types of tasks for many years hence know what to include to help your document make a lasting first impression. While we will craft the text according to your specifications, our proficient writer will include all the necessary information that will showcase who you are, what you are most passionate about and your goals. As our customer, you will also get access to various samples. Apart from crafting top-notch content, we also give tips to clients who want to craft the scholarship papers by themselves so that they can submit texts with the correct format, structure and standards. With the right online writer by your side, you will send a unique custom paper. Easy Way on How to Write a Scholarship Essay You are likely to need financial help once you join college. Some people prefer to get a part-time job to help pay for tuition. However, in most cases, sponsorship can help eradicate the burden. If you are going to apply for funding, then you have two options: either write the application yourself or hire a reputable online site to help you submit a high-quality document. If you want to do the task yourself, we can help you know how to write a scholarship essay step by step. Read the instructions Your application can be quickly denied if the reader finds that you did not follow all the given instructions. Follow the format and structure and stick to the required word count. Let the introduction capture the attention of the reader Always start your paper with a captivating introduction. Use a personal anecdote or a funny story as it helps the reader to relate to the message you are trying to convey. Keep your intro short and interesting. Use the body to stay focused on the topic The sentences in your body should be clear and straightforward to understand. Avoid complicated words as they can result in misunderstanding. Remember to include some of the goals of the institution sponsoring the grant and try to relate their values with yours. Have a compelling conclusion Do not let your ending paragraph be a summary of what you have written. 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Before you start to begin jotting down words, make sure you have structured your main points and know where they will appear. In your introduction, include a thesis statement that will act as your central argument. For this type of paper, your case will be giving reasons why you should get financial aid. Be honest and tell your audience what makes you unique. Tips for Writing a Scholarship Essay That Will Impress Your Reader With so many applications received every year, the committee tends to select those that stand out and meet all requirements. Here are some tips that our experts have used over the years to write successful content. Start Working on Your Application Before the Deadline Writing a scholarship application is not easy. You will need ample time to ensure you send out a quality document. Waiting until a few hours or days before the deadline will cause you to rush and end up submitting substandard work. 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Decomposition Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Decomposition - Lab Report Example Nutrient is beef broth plus yeast. Beech (fagus): - belongs to the family fagaceae. Leaves are entirely or sparsely toothed, 5 - 15 cms long and 4- 10 cm broad. Rate of decomposition is faster due to low lignin content, which is a decay resistant. Decay of leaves can be estimated by the change in 1. Their mass 2. Quality (which is calculated as ratio of C: N of decayed dry material. 3. Their chemical content. 4. Changes in soil or water, which act as medium. 5. Linear wave equation Wt = Wo - Kt where Wt = mass observed after specific time period, Wo = initial weight, K = decay constant. PAGE 2PREDICTION Rate of decomposition will increase with increase in temperature and will be negligible at very high and very low temperatures. METHODAgar jelly and mini-petri dishes were used. The agar had no feed in it. It was only used as a Base to keep the leaf circles in place. The leaf circles would act as food for the microbes to Grow on. To test different temperatures 5C, 20C, 30C and 65C were used. In each dish 10 leafcircles were put . Each leaf circle had a diameter of 5mm. To make sure that thisexperiment was safe, the lid was cello taped and wasn't opened till the experiment was over .The leaf circles were then observed during a 4-week period. Any change in size of the leafMaterial could be measured.Graph paper was put behind each petri dish when measuring....an optimal temperature for microbial activity is between 35 to 45 degree C. Agar: - it is a phycocolloid extracted from red purple marine algae, which belong to class rhodophyceae. Agar is a gel at room temperature and remains firm at as high as 65 degree C. Nutrient agar will grow the largest number of different types of microbes fungi and bacteria. Nutrient is beef broth plus yeast. Beech (fagus): - belongs to the family fagaceae. Leaves are entirely or sparsely toothed, 5 - 15 cms long and 4- 10 cm broad. Rate of decomposition is faster due to low lignin content, which is a decay resistant. Based on the results above it can be said that decomposition at extreme high and extreme low temperatures is zero and the decay process increases with increase in temperature as depicted in the temperature vs. mean diameter graph. There is minimal or no microbial activity at extreme temperatures. There fore the process of decay is slow at such temperatures. Decaying process tends to be faster at warmer temperatures as it facilitates microbial growth therefore as the temperature increases the decayi9ng process also increases. 7. NUMBER OF OBSERVATIONS: Adequate numbers of observations were not made. Instead of increasing the number of dishes to 10, less number of dishes should have been used and observations made at more frequent temperatures so that optimal temperature could be calculated, 8.

Economic paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Economic paper - Essay Example Shelly has already indicated that she would not consider any buyer who intends to relocate the L.A. Clippers franchise. In addition, she is keen to get a sale price that would leave the Sterlings with â€Å"enough† money after the hefty tax obligations (Shelbourne). This presents an issue with the evaluation of such a sports franchise. Sports franchises are often valued at significant amounts. For instance, the L.A. Clippers was valued at $575 million in January 2014 (Forbes). The values of basketball, football and hockey teams may seem astonishing as well as ambiguous because it might not be clear how the values of the teams are arrived at. This is because many people do cannot ascertain how a team’s performance, qualities, assets, accomplishments, ticket prices, venue, concession sales and broadcasting revenue contribute to the overall value. There are various approaches that are use in valuation: income approach; market comparison, and asset-based approach. According to Baum, Baum and Nunnington (67), the value of a team would be computed on the present value of the future net cash flows that it will be in existence. This method utilizes a value estimate based on on expected cash flow obtained through the discounted cash flows method. An anlyst makes assumptions on how the various value drivers contribute to expected earnings and work backwards to compute the present value. This is a common method in valuing sports franchises and it utilizes factors such as team performance, ticket sales and stadium attributes. The market comparison approach uses the competition principles in a free market and depends on the hypothesis that the price of one investment applies comparable investments with little mofifications (Munizzo and Musial 126). Analyst looks at the actual data on generated revenues, one can make comparisons between a franchise that is being valued and other franchises that have recently been traded. Some of the important

Digitizing the Physical World - Hoe organizations can benefit from Thesis

Digitizing the Physical World - Hoe organizations can benefit from digitization - Thesis Example This is happening because â€Å"individual UC (ubiquitous computing) technologies have today reached a level of maturity which allows for the development of productive business applications† (Fleisch and Thiesse, n.d., p.1930). A sea change brought in by this new advent of technologies has been that the slogan, ‘content is the king’ can now be replaced by- â€Å"user intent and context† are the determinant factors in a changed scenario (Ernst, 2008, p.3). It is from this realization that any researcher of information systems and digitization needs to start moving towards the knowledge of how organizations can benefit from digitization. The full picture of digitization in organizations can only be viewed from the perspectives of â€Å"experiential computing† (Yoo, 2010, p.215), â€Å"pervasive computing,† (De Roure, 2003) and â€Å"ubiquitous computing† (Weiser, 1993, p.2). While the utmost concern of any organization that goes for digit ization still remaining to be â€Å"permanent accessibility† of whatever is preserved or processed by the organization, a huge transformation is taking place, taking this very concern towards new heights (Morris, 2005, p.2). There is an angle shift from preservation to processing, as far as digitized data is concerned, more so in an organizational ambience. It is in relation to these changes that the question, how digitization benefits organizations, needs to be pursued. Organizations have been always using technologies â€Å"to make operations run better, faster, and cheaper† (Blair, 2004, p.64). And in an information age, the success of any organization depends on managing information in a better way (Blair, 2004, p.64). The extent of information flow via digitized media has grown to titanic proportions. For example, â€Å"estimates say the volume of business e-mail is growing at a rate of 300 percent each year, and 800 megabytes (MB) of new information is created for every man, woman, and child on the face of the earth†

Technological change in organizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Technological change in organizations - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the development of technology has changed the entire world of business. This change has encompassed activities from very basic level of idea generation such as through CAD (Computer Aided Design) to product or service production by CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) and post business activities.   From the computer revolution to the Internet and most recently and constantly growing Internet based applications such as trading on the Internet, social media, etc., have all forced businesses to harness their adaption to high-paced change by anticipating it rather than following the change merely for survival. Fast pace of technological change has also proved to be proportional to the benefits it brings to business. Immense literature has been developed based on studying various aspects of the technological change to business. ISACA, global nonprofit IT association, has predicted that the entire year 2012, IT departments of business will be collecting huge data from various sources. Growingly conducting a complex procedure to manage the bulk of zeros and ones in a way that benefits the firm with growing return on investment will remain a challenge for IT departments of businesses. This big handling of data constantly grows on the horizontal as well the vertical bases with more of 40 percent projected growth in global data generated in year 2010 while spending on IT has increased by only 5 percent. The rise in demand for people handling big data is so steep that availability of big data analytical talent in US in year 2018 is expected to override the supply (Manyika et al., 2011). (Manyika et al., 2011) Data sources range from consumer behavior at physical outlets to a large number of internet subsections. The emergence of a ubiquitous phenomenon in 2000 has changed the entire business model, constantly challenging IT department to increase capacity to manage (Kenney, and Marshall, 2000). (Kenney, and Marshall, 2000) For instance, technique in retail industry such as bar code, radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and vendor-managed inventory (VMI),  etc. (Smaros, and Holmstrom, 2000), and similar techniques multiply pressure as retrieving and constantly updating data remains with the IT section. Similarly, Self Service Technologies (SST’s), mainly adopted in the financial sector with the Internet banking and ATM, etc., has already put extensive pressure on the IT section. Though these techniques have been developed in the past, constant efforts from the marketing side of business to offer various promotions and extracting information based on consumer activity require increased efforts from the IT section in respect of the program development, i.e. the way information can be retrieved or updated. Applications of social media such as Facebook, twitter, blogs; heavy video content such as Multimedia content, which already accounts for more than half of the Internet traffic, is expected to grow by 70 percent in year 2013, with

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

Market - Research Paper Example Other characteristics of free market economy are free trade fairs without subsidies or tariffs from the government. One of the most outstanding free market economies is that the government has very limited powers in a free market economy because marker powers regarding price control are set by buyers and sellers. Since the government lacks direct control of business operations regarding prices, sellers are likely to exhaust buyers through high prices (Chai 24). The government powers are restricted to providing law and order in the market operations and ensuring that only fair competition is charged. The government does not have control over participants’ entry to the market. This means that the government does not stipulate any rules regarding tariffs and subsides. Therefore, it is an economic system whereby only the fittest survive. In such economy, the government does not play any role that may favour or discourage business partners as only the involved parties regulate the transactions and prices. The government is restricted to making possible flow and functioning of the business environment through implementing policies and laws that guarantee people rights and freedoms to property. Therefore, the government is not a competitor or a market player but enhances business operations by creating a suitable business environment (Friedman 19). China is a mixed economy since the government and the private sector have an influence in the economy thus having both characteristics of both free market economies and controlled economy. Majority of mixed economies have strong government regulations as the government provides public goods and government run enterprises. In mixed economies like china, production of goods and services are mainly conducted by the private sector whereby markets are the major controllers and coordinators of economy. The driving forces within mixed markets are profit seeking enterprises and capital accumulation. Unlike pure free market e conomy in china, the government has larger indirect control over the economy by implementing monetary and fiscal policies and regulations. These policies counteract economic challenges and capitalisms’ influence towards financial crisis and challenges towards unemployment. The government has a central place in providing social welfare and making sure that public goods are available to the public (Chai 52). In general, the degree of freedom in a mixed economy against government regulations varies. The government is often responsible for providing environmental protection, maintaining unemployment standards, and controlling competition. China may not fit to be a free market economy since the government has strong control over inflation and rural spending (Friedman 35). China has been successful since its government is vibrant ion deficit funding programs since 1998 as well as endorsement of exports by tax rebates. When public demand is low due to anti-inflation, export promotio ns and monetary policies chip in to create a difference. When public demand is strong, the promotion of external export by government relaxes. Statistics show that the stock market activities are high because households and other enterprises prefer their funds in more liquid forms. Due to inflation surge, the government sets policies and regulations to correct the economic situation. Government policies in

Key learning point Essay Example for Free

Key learning point Essay Power refers to the extent to which one can satisfy their target goals, needs or desires. Power can be used either to dominate or control the other, or can be used to work together with the other party involved. Whichever way power is used it gives one an edge over the other party in negotiations. Information provides an important source and a means of acquiring power. Reason for Selection: Informational power comes from a person’s ability to assemble data to support his positions, arguments, or desired outcomes. This resource provides an important tool in challenging the other party’s position, or undermine their arguments or propositions during negotiations. Application to a business or personal situation: A year ago, I was talking to a doctor who was new at one of the centers I am marketing my pharmaceutical products. The doctor openly rubbished my product saying he had absolutely no scope for it in his medical practice basing his argument on the position of a respected doctor in the area of medicine in which my product is applied. What this doctor did not know is that from my market survey on my product and competitor brands momentum in the market, the doctor he claimed was the top prescriber of my product in that town . I provided the evidence and within a month I received a call from my manager that the doctor had placed an LPO for my product. Action or steps taken to improve: I read widely and extensively on new trends in my area of work; undertake market survey on different issues; seek the opinion of experts; attend seminars and conferences on various topics; and in general try to keep an open mind, maintain my curiosity about life and watch informative programs. References Squidoo (2010). A goldmine of journal Writing Prompts. Retrieved on 30th July, 2010, from http://www. squidoo. com/journalwritingprompts

Impact of Informality on Consumption

Impact of Informality on Consumption Abstract By using a simple model, it will be analyzed the impact that informality has in the amount of consumption of the workers during their life cycle. This paper deals with the interconnections of under-reported earnings, savings and old-age pension. The workers sampled for this analys have been divided into three groups: 1. Low income emloyees, 2. Higher income employees who declare all incomes, 3. Employees who under-report their incomes .In this paper the analysis is based on two pension models: the model that calculates pension in conformity with the incomes (proportional model) and the basic model, whose objective is poverty reduction for the â€Å"third age†. The major result is as follows: Given the fact that the basic pension system favors employees that under-report their incomes and the fact that the impact of informality is greater in the basic system than in the propotional pension system, the application of basic pension system in the Albanian might be problematic. KEY WORDS: informality, pensions, proportional model, basic model, Albania Introduction There are many examples around the world, how different countries have adapted their pension system in comformity with the important changes they are experiencing. However what works well in a country does not necessarly work well in an other country. Pension reforms should be in accordance with the economic, political and social characteristics of the country. The issue referring to the appropriate scheme to be implemented in Albania has been the concern of the governments. . In such circumstances, when the â€Å"Pay-As-You-Go† system is failing every day, the problem of a reform seems as urgent as it is necessary. Pension systems have been one of the serious issues, which all Albanian governments have been facing. They have been a constant source of criticism from international bodies and are one of the schemes that aggravate the state budget a lot, therefor impeding the development of the Albanian economy (Treichel, 2001) As a result of a misconception of this scheme since the beginning, the current system has generated high evasion and informality, distorting effects on the labor market and not providing a long term solution for the pensions. The main problem has to do with the amount of contributions and incentives to pay these contributions. Using a simple model, it will be given an idea about the impact that informality has in the amount of the workers consumption during their life cycle. For this reason two pension models have been analyzed: the model that calculates pension in conformity with the incomes and the basic model, whose objective is poverty reduction for the â€Å"third age†. Augusztinovics, (2005) concludes that increasingly social tensions can be reduced by e replacing the pension system related to incomes with a basic pension system. Given that this topic presents a great complexity and at the same time is so current and present in our daily lives, it would be interesting to treat it in order to provide an alternative for solving such a so sharp problem. 2Proportional pensions In recent years, the Hungarian Economists of the Academy of Sciences have conducted a series of empirical studies regarding pension systems, especially in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The assumptions used in their model, have a lot in common with the Albanian reality. According to (Simonovits, 2008), the assumptions of the model are: †¢ The population is taken unchanged †¢ The young population is active in the labor market †¢ Every elder person has retired Consequently, R is the number an employee working years and S, the years of an individuals’ retirement. Dependency rate, expressed as the ratio of pension years to those of work, is marked with ÃŽ ¼ = S / R. Although, the difference between the contribution rate of employers and employees is clear in the current pension system clear, in this analysis, this difference is not taken into account. The total salary, which represents the total cost of the work, is marked by w. Individual contribution, paid to the pension system, is calculated at the rate t, of the total reported salary. Health insurance contributions and income tax impacts have been left out of the model. To be closer to the Albanian reality, it is assumed that the rate of employed persons who declare their exact income, are not directly related to the pension system. The system is suposed in equilibrium; the revenues of the system are equal to its expenditures. The scale of the informal economy in Albania is one of the highest in the Central and Eastern Europe countries. The informal economy is assumed at 34 percent according to (Schneider, Buehn, Montenegro, 2010). For this reason, it is foreseen to classify the employees in three different groups: 1. Low income emloyees, who are marked with (U) It is presumed, that employees who do not fully declare their income are part of the second group. For this group, it is made the following subdivision: 2. Higher income employees who declare all incomes, who are marked with (P) 3. Higher income employees who under-report their incomes, who are marked with (N) The frequency of these employees is: Æ’U, Æ’P and Æ’N. These frequencies are positive numbers, the amount of which shall be equal to 1. Considering all the employment as a unit, the number of employees is marked by 1. In special cases it may occur that one of the frequencies is equal to 0, as it is the case of economies where informality is in very low levels near 0. In this model, it is assumed that pensioners receive their pensions, in proportion to the income declared, which are marked with *, (t*, is the rate of the contribution to the system). The current income of workers according to salary levels, are: wP = wN and wU. While the benefits from the system during the retirement period, are: bP* and bN* =bU*. Based on the above assumptions, the benefits are commensurate with the income declared; bP* = ÃŽ ²* wP and bN* = ÃŽ ²* wU, where ÃŽ ²* is the replacement rate of the pension system related to income (proportional). As it is observedou, wU represents the minimum wage and any potential changes will affect the overall level of formal employment. This problem will not be considered, because of the complexity that it presents. In the following equations are presented: total real income (WP) and the total income declared (WU). WP = (Æ’P + Æ’N)wP + Æ’UwU and WU = Æ’PwP + (Æ’N+ Æ’U)wU Since the system is in equilibrium, then, t * WU = ÃŽ ¼ÃŽ ² * WU. Consequently, subsequent connection between the contribution fee (t *) and the replacement ratio is: ÃŽ ²* : t* =  µÃŽ ²* It is assumed that those who declare all the incomes do not save for theretirement period, as they believe that the replacement ratio is sufficiently high. In contrast, people who do not report their total incomes, are supposed to save for the retirement, that hidden amounts. In some cases these rates may be even lower than the rate of social security system, which would make them save for their whole lifetime. So the saving rate is marked with ÏÆ', which is: 0 and the annual savings are: ÏÆ'(wP wU). It is assume that the hidden savings during the R years of work are used for consumption Ï (wP wU) during the S retirement years. For comparative reasons the level of consumption is analyzed during two stages of life (work and pension). This analysis will provide a more complete picture throughout the whole life cycle, of the consumption during the work period, which is labeled â€Å"youth consumption† and the consumption during retirement, which is labeled â€Å"elderly consumption†. Based on the above equations, â€Å"youth consumption† would be: cP* = (1 – t*)wP ; cN* = (1 – t*)wU + (1 – ÏÆ')(wP – wU) ; cU* = (1 – t*)wU While the â€Å"elderly consumption† would be dP* = bP* ; dN* = bU* + Ï (wP – wU) ; dU* = bU* Basic pension system Some researchers (Augusztinovics Kà ¶llÅ‘, 2008), (Kollo, 2008), (Kertesi G., Bonn 2003) consider the replacement of the proportional pension system with a basic pension system as a way to reduce the increasing social tensions. Since the goal of this system is the reduction of poverty during the â€Å"third age†, it is assumed that it is given a definit benefit b0 which is funded by a consumption tax rate à ®. Each individual pays his/her taxes proportionally after spending money for consumption and for mathematical simplicity it is assumed that the basic benefits are net. Pensions obtained from this system are: One of the innovations that this model offers is the assumption which does not take into account the possibility of consumption tax evasion, in contrast to the case of non-payment of pension contributions. The implementation of this model faces with some difficulties in our country, such as problems with the informal economy (tax evasion) and the indirectly calculation method of VAT. In the model analyzed there is no total savings and total consumption is equal to total income. Based on the equation that shows the dependency ratio, the tax equation is as follows: The decreasing contributions, tw finance only the reduced pensions of employees. , pra For comparative reasons, it is assumed that the total costs of pensions are invariable. This assumption is clearly expressed in the following equation: By substituting à ® from the previous equation to the new equation the following formula is obtained: Consequently, the reduced contributions will be as follows: In order for the contribution to be a positive rate, it should be assumed that: . So, The â€Å"youth consumption† is: ; ; While the â€Å"elderly consumption† is: ; ; As it can be noticed from the above equations, consumption and benefits of employees who declare all their incomes has decreased, while consumption and benefit of employees with low incomes and workers that under-report their incomes have increased in comparison with the proportional pension system. 4The Albanian Case For study reasons it is worth presenting a numerical simulation. In the above mentioned models are used features of Albanian pension system. Based on the Albanian legislation for social security, the working years that an employee must have to obtain a retirement pension, are 35. Consequently, R = 35 years. According to official data from the World Bank (2012), the average of life expectancy for the Albanian population is 77 years. By subtracting from this age the average age of the entry into the labor market, which is 22 years (qualified employees, as well as unqualified have been considered as), it is concluded that the average number of years spent in retirement for every Albanian, is S = 20 years. Dependency rate, which represents the ratio of average years spent in retirement, with the average years spent in work, is ÃŽ ¼ = S / R = 20/35 = 0.57. The calculation of incomes is attained based on the data on employment and average salary for each sector of the economy. It is assumed that: †¢ All employees of public and private sector and non-agricultural privat sector are classified as employees with high average incomes. †¢ For purposes of analysis, the informal economy is assumed at 34 percent according to (Schneider, Buehn, Montenegro, 2010). So, 34 percent of private sector employees do not declare their real incomes. †¢ Employees of the agricultural sector are assumed as employees with low income. Based on the above assumptions and on the (INSTAT, 2014) data the distribution of workers by sector is: Æ’U = 0.49 , Æ’P = 0.39 , Æ’N = 0.12 According to INSTAT data (2013), the average salary in the public sector is 52,150 ALL (Albanian lek), the average of high salary in the private sector is 97,000 ALL and in the agriculture sector it is assumed that the salary is equal to the minimum wage 22,000 ALL. Based on these data, the income distribution is: wP = 4.4 dhe wU = 1 While the average stated salary is: WU = 2.326 So, the average salary declared, based on the above analysis, is: 2.326 x 22’000 = 51’172 ALL. This indicator has a outcome close to the average salary of 52’150 ALL declared in Albania. It is assumed that the amount of benefit in the basic system is equal to half of the benefit of the pension system related directly to income. b0 = tWU/ 2 µ Also, it is assumed that the worker that does not declare his/her real income, saves half of the money, ÏÆ' = t/2, which, Social Security, would make the employee save from the income that are not declared. Table no 1: The Key Indicators Source: Author Calculations 4.1Basic Model The distribution as per basic assumption is: Æ’P = 0.39, Æ’N = 0.12, Æ’U = 0.49 In the table below have been presented the characteristics of both pension systems that are being analyzed Tabel no 2: Characteristics of pension systems Source: Author Calculations The above characteristics are calculated in the case of Albania, where the contribution rate paid to the social security, is 21.6 percent for the proportional pension system. As it can be observed from the above data, when moving from a proportional pension system to the basic pension system, the contribution rate paid to the pension system is halved. A consumption tax at the rate of 9.2 percent is added to the basic pension system in contrast to the proportional pension system. Refering to the calculations, there is a significant difference regarding the replacement ratio between the two pension systems. In the proportional pension system the value of this ratio is 38 percent, which is reduced to 18.9 percent in the basic pension system. We see the impact of two pension systems to the amount of consumption for the three groups taken into consideration. Table no 3. Consumption amount Source: Author Calculations By analyzing the above results, it can be observed that: †¢ The â€Å"youth consumption† is the highest in three groups on the basic pension system compared with the proportional pension system. †¢ As expected, the â€Å"elderly consumption† with low income at basic pension system is higher than the consumption of the other system. Characteristic of the basic pension system is the support for people with low incomes. †¢ The â€Å"elderly consumption† with high incomes at the proportional pension system compared with the consumption at the basic pension system is about 50 percent higher. †¢ A weakness in the basic pension system is that it favors the group of pensioners who under-report their incomes. 4.2Full reporting of incomes The analys of the â€Å"ideal case† where all employees report all their income, although it seems utopian, it is worthwhile analyzing. Division of employees according to the declaration is: Æ’P = 0.51; Æ’N = 0; Æ’U = 0.49 Table no 4. Characteristics of pension systems Source: Author Calculations The rate of contribution to the proportional pension system is 21.6 per cent, as it was in the case of the basic model. As observed from the above table, the characteristics of the basic pension system, has changed in the â€Å"ideal case† compared to the basic model. The rate of contribution in the â€Å"ideal case† decreased at 10.7 percent compared with 10.8 percent in the basic model. While the tax rate has increased to 11 percent from 9.2 percent in the basic model. Changes in the ratio of replacement are negligible. We see the impact that the two pension systems have to the consumption quantity of the three groups who have been analyzed. Table no 5. Consumption amount Source: Author Calculations By analyzing the results above, we can say that: †¢ The â€Å"youth consumption† and the â€Å"elderly consumption† have not changed for the proportional pension system for both cases. †¢ Into the basic pension system there is a reduction in the consumption quantity at the young age and a very small increase in the consumption during the â€Å"third age†. †¢ So, the basic pension system is more sensitive toward informal economy than the other pension system that is taken into consideration. 5Conlusions The elementary model.has already been analized. Finally, by analyzing the cases discussed above, it can be concluded that: The consumption and benefits of employees who report all their incomes has decreased in the basic pension system compared to the proportional pensions system. The consumption and benefits of employees with low incomes and those of the employees who under-report their incomes increased in the basic pension system compared to the proportional pensions system. The basic pension system favors employees that under-report their incomes. The impact of informality is greater in the basic pension system than in the proportional pension system. So, in the Albanian reality the application of basic pension system might be problematic.

Anne Frank Essays -- essays research papers

Jews have perished because of their beliefs since the beginning of time but never have so many Jews been persecuted worldwide as they were in World War II. Anne Frank’s diary reaches a place within all of our hearts because it reminds us how easily the innocents can suffer. Sometimes we may choose to close our eyes or look the other way when unjustifiable things happen in our society and Anne’s tale reminds us that ignorance, in part, claimed her life. Sadly, her story is but one of many of those who died in the Holocaust and as with other Jews, her fate was determined by the country she lived in, her sex and her age. Jews all over Europe feared for their lives and many were aware that the punishment for their religion depended on the country they were fortunate, or unfortunate, enough to live in. Hitler not only held prejudice against Jews, homosexuals, gypsies and those who harboured any of the above, but also held firm convictions that some countries’ citizens were fit to die, no matter their religion. No one was hit harder by this prejudice as was Poland. Hitler hated all Polish citizens and hated Polish Jews even more. In Warsaw, Jews were confined to a blocked off area which came to be known as the Warsaw Ghetto. Many of these Jews never saw outside the Ghetto again and for those who did it was only en route to a concentration camp or labour prison. Food rations inside the Ghetto were very low and though many outsiders smuggled food in, there was not nearly enough to keep everyone alive. Many died of starvation or died due to illness they had contracted because their bodies had grown so weak. Throughout the war, Sweden remained neutral and many Jews from neighbouring countries were smuggled in. Nazi police soon realized that they had to find ways to prevent this from happening and turned to the animal world. Dogs were trained to detect the scent of humans and soon, all boats leaving for Sweden were searched to detect any Jews that were hiding in basement compartments. Most Jews were discovered before they could escape and this discouraged many more from attempting to do the same. Jews that were apprehended were not treated much differently by the Nazis but the Jews left behind received the brunt of the their anger. Danish Jews in particular were often accused of planning to escape because of their proximity to Sweden. There are stories of countless ... ...opted children. When the war ended, many children did not return to their biological families because they were so young when they were stolen that they didn’t know the truth. Many that could remember were too scared to leave or feared that their parents had already been killed. Children were trained to lie without understanding why and the lies caused them to lose the ability to separate reality from fiction. Children should never have been forced to deal with so much, so quickly. They were robbed of a real childhood when they should have been encouraged to explore their surroundings. The youth, like Anne, who grew up in World War II were tainted by these events and have undergone much more trauma than most of us can even imagine. The Holocaust will forever remain one of the most horrific events in history and it is important to remember that there were many different endings for the many different Jews affected. It should not have mattered where the Jews lived, how old they were or the sex they were, none of them should have been persecuted in the first place. Reflecting on the tragic events of the war, all we can do is make sure that these horrific things never happen again.

Loss of Faith in Night by Elie Wiesel :: essays research papers

Eliezer Wiesel loses his faith in god, family and humanity through the experiences he has from the Nazi concentration camp. Eliezer loses faith in god. He struggles physically and mentally for life and no longer believes there is a god. "Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my god and my soul and turned my dreams to dust..."(pg 32). Elie worked hard to save himself and asks god many times to help him and take him out of his misery. "Why should I bless his name? The eternal, lord of the universe, the all-powerful and terrible was silent..."(pg 31). Eliezer is confused, because he does not know why the Germans would kill his face, and does not know why god could let such a thing happen. "I did not deny god's existence, but I doubted his absolute justice..."(pg 42). These conditions gave him confidence, and courage to live. Eliezer loses faith in his family. He and his mother and sister were parted at the camp and he has no hope to see them ever again. "Men to the left! Women to the right..."(pg 27). His father is getting old, and weak, and Elie realizes his father does not have the strength to survive on his own, and it is too late to save him. "It's too late to save your old father, I said to myself..."(pg 105). He felt guilty because he could not help his father, but he knew the only way to live is to watch out for himself. "Here, every man has to fight for himself and not think of anyone else. Even of his father..."(pg 105). He thinks of himself, and Eliezer loses hope, trust, and his beliefs. He begins to rely on himself because he knew that only he can help himself and he could not depend on anyone else. "Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever..."(pg 32). Elie's father was struck, and that was when he realized he was afraid of death, and he felt guilty because he did not help his father.

Earth-Like Planets

Running head: Earth-Like Planets Earth-Like Planets T. Nailor Miller-Motte College Online Critical Thinking – GS235 Dr. Marshall Lloyd Earth-Like Planets Introduction Do you believe that there is life on other planets? Better yet, do you believe that there is another planet that looks like earth? As far as I can remember, there has always been the question of â€Å"is there life in outer space? I remember being in grade school wondering if there were humans or aliens on other planets and if they were trying to communicate with us. Around January 1986 the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded during takeoff in front of the entire world.As a teenager, this event was tragic and amazing at the same time because I felt that we were on our way to discovering new planets, solar systems, and other life forms. This tragic event was the start of my interest in outer space. Fast forward to 2012, the science community has greatly advanced our technology since the mid-eighties. Today, we have computers in everything, all types of space probes orbiting the universe, and unbelievable amounts of knowledge about outer space and other planets, but yet, and still, no proof of life in outer space. Will we ever know?Will we ever meet aliens? Only time will tell and personally I think we will, soon! After searching for an interesting subject to cover for this paper, I have discovered a very interesting article on the U. S. News website titled â€Å"Earth-Like Planet Found in Nearest Star System†. According to the article scientist say they have discovered a planet that looks like earth orbiting a star that bears a resemblance to our sun. The planet is said to be about 25 trillion miles away, making it very difficult for a space probe to reach the planet using current technology.It is estimated to take about 40,000 years to reach this planet, even though it is in the next closest planetary system to ours. â€Å"The planet, dubbed Alpha Centauri Bb, orbits a star in the Al pha Centauri system, a clump of three stars that are closer to us than any others in the night sky. It's called Alpha Centauri Bb because the planet orbits the clump's second-closest star, Alpha Centauri B (Cline, 2012)†. The question here is does this planet really exist, being that it is so far away?The science community and other publications believe that it does. The articles give some clues that are questionable and not all researchers agree that the planet is there. However, there are those who are absolutely convince that it actually exist. â€Å"The exquisitely high-quality data required to find an Earth-like planet doesn't just happen by chance,† UC Berkeley astronomer Geoff Marcy wrote in an email (Khan, 2012). The writer seems to be very interested in this subject, but he only presented a few sources to start with.The main source is the lead scientist along with ten other scientists, who first published the original paper detailing and describing the entire d iscovery at eso. org. The reasons to accept this is that the writer provides information in the article that quotes a well-known scientist named Xavier Dumusque, a scientist at Geneva Observatory and lead author of the paper that published the discovery. Plus, the recent findings of other earth like planets, the huge amount of evidence available and the shear advancement of our technology are all motives to continue our search.Use of a special instrument that detects signal variations attached to the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) telescope in La Silla, Chile (Cline S. , 2012), the excitement of the science community, and a special scientific technique called radial velocity (the velocity of an object in the direction of the line of sight) suggests this discovery is a major accomplishment. The writer also quoted Dumusque saying â€Å"It's an extraordinary discovery and it has pushed our technique to the limit! † (Cline S. , 2012). What technique or techniques is the sc ientist referring to?What are our technical and technological limits at this point in time? Although we are able to send man to the moon, build an international space station, and send space probes deep into outer space, does not necessarily explain our technological abilities in detail. However, this information does suggest to the public that we are getting closer and closer to discovering other earth like planets. â€Å"We can’t be alone† The science community is getting very close to discovering earth-like planets and extraterrestrial life in outer space. This is considered a alued assumption among many researchers and astronomers. To date, they have actually discovered more than 800 of these exoplanets amongst the billions and billions of stars in our galaxy. The more planets found like HD40307g, the more they resemble earth with earth-like characteristics (the spinning on its axis, having a night and a day, and orbiting in the habitable zone). Astronomers are als o finding them closer to our solar system. Another assumption of these findings are that humans are developing and advancing technology to communicate, navigate, and live in outer space in the near future.NASA said no candidate planet discovered thus far by Kepler â€Å"is exactly like Earth,† but noted that the spacecraft â€Å"has collected enough data to begin finding true sun-Earth analogs—Earth-size planets with a one-year orbit around stars similar to the sun. † (Poeter, 2012) According to space. com, private companies and NASA are working together to take the next step forward of launching humans into outer space. Entering the term space settlement, suggest that people can or will be living and working outside of earth, on the moon, mars, or in huge rotating orbital space settlements.The total energy resources of this solar system are about 2. 3 billion times the energy available on Earth. This is simply the Sun's energy output — and the Sun is an enormous nuclear fusion reactor that works perfectly right now, today, and is perfectly safe — or at least isn't going away (Globus, 2007). The claim regarding the existence of earth-like planets, do not contain any fallacies or reasoning tricks. The researchers, scientists, and astronomers are providing honest, verifiable, and creditable evidence regarding this subject.Their approach to discover earth-like planets may be from the heart and they may be very diligent in the exploration of the universe. Most of those involved including journalists who report these findings are well educated, intelligent, and experienced in the science of space study. â€Å"The interesting thing is that if they threw out some of their data, they got more precise measurements,† Eric Ford, an astronomer at the University of Florida at Gainesville, said in an interview (Khan, 2012). The use of misconceptions or myths would damage and be detrimental to their careers, reputation, and progress. Delusional reporting will only distort previous evidence of other exoplanets in outer space and therefore would challenge all findings. The clear and obvious evidence is the universal agreement among the science community in regards to the technological advancements, development of new techniques, quality of data and the cooperation and collaborative efforts of them all. The productivity of 21st century devices used to explore space produce unimaginable audio, visual, and tangible information that was never before possible.For example, the International Space Station is near completion, the Hubble Telescope orbits at the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy, and the recent landing of a space probe on Mars, are great accomplishments towards this effort in discovering life outside of earth. This supports the progression in science and is clear evidence that supports information reported by researchers, journalists, and scientists. The finding (of HD40307g) has yet to be confirmed by other ana lysis or observations. Not everyone is convinced this particular planet exists (Khan, 2012).There are those who are critical of the discovery of exoplanets. Eventually this will lead to more studies, research, and input on behalf of the critics. Either way this will also add to the efforts of space science as a whole. The conclusion is the science community and research scientists have found earth-like planets and we humans are closer to finding extraterrestrial life in outer space. According to several websites in the astronomer’s community, an extra-solar planet, or exoplanet, is a planet outside our Solar System but still within our Milky Way galaxy.A total of 846 such planets (665 planetary systems, including 126 multiple planetary systems) have been identified as of November 8, 2012, all of them within the Milky Way galaxy (â€Å"The extrasolar encyclopaedia,† 2012). Scientists around the world are very excited about the discovery of these exoplanets, especially A lpha Centauri Bb. According to The Independent and the L. A. Times, a new earth like planet that could have a climate that supports life and water adds to the excitement.The new planet, HD40307g is said to be in a multi-world solar system about 42 light years from our sun and sits at the right distance from its sun to allow liquid water on its surface. â€Å"It orbits well within in the stars habitable or Goldilocks zone – the region where temperatures are neither too hot nor too cold to sustain life (Hall, 2012). † With the discoveries of these planets and the rapid advancement of technology, discovering life in outer space appears to be believable and achievable. References 1. Cline, S. (2012, October 17).Earth-like planet found in nearest star system. Retrieved from http://www. usnews. com/news/articles/2012/10/17/earth-like-planet-found-in-nearest-star-system_print. html 2. The extrasolar encyclopaedia . (2012, November 8). Retrieved from http://exoplanet. eu/ 3. K han, A. (2012, November 7). Possible earth-like planet could hold water; scientists cautious. Retrieved from http://articles. latimes. com/2012/nov/07/science/la-sci-sn-earthlike-planet-water-atmosphere-red-light-20121107 4. Hall, J. (2012, November 8).Revealed: New earth-like planet that could have a life-supporting climate and water. Retrieved from http://www. independent. co. uk/news/science/revealed-new-earthlike-planet-that-could-have-a-lifesupporting-climate-and-water-8297750. html – (Hall, 2012) 5. Globus, A. (2007, August 2). Space settlement and war. Retrieved from http://www. space. com/4140-space-settlement-war. html – (Globus, 2007) 6. Poeter, D. (2012, November 17). NASA’s Kepler renews hunt for earth-like planets. Retrieved from http://www. pcmag. com/article2/0,2817,2412264,00. asp – (Poeter, 2012)

Zodiac Sign

Thomas Hotte  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ms. Boyd Personality profile  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Period 3 The article on Cancer fits me for the most part. It says my positive traits are â€Å"loyal, dependable, caring, adaptable, and responsive. † A cancer is a very complex person when it comes to independence. They’re very contradicting and they’re independence has to do with there state of mind. I’m like the description of a cancer because it says we have the perseverance and drive to do what we need to do and can be self sufficient. Although we don’t need someone to depend or we prefer to have someone there to help and support us like our family and close friends. What’s not as accurate is that it says we crave attention but I don’t like drawing attention to myself most of the time, I usually just like blending in. Like the horoscope says I am loyal to my friends and family who appreciate me and support me. I always do look out for my friends and I hate seeing my friends who are girls be sad so I always try to make them feel better like it says. Its also true that even though im good at listening to other people I never talk about my own feelings. Its also true because once I get past all of my emotional and personal problems I can do whatever I set my mind to I wouldn’t really say im psychic but I can be intuitive at times intelligent and observing. i have money and financial sensibility. I am complex, unpredictable, and tempermental. Im not really a fragile person, a lot of things don’t bother me. I can be

Nokia’s Luxury Mobile Phone for the Urban Rich Case Study Analysis Essay

Introduction Nokia, which is known to be a luxury cellular phone, is located in Finland and is a manufacturer of telecommunication equipment, including an extravagant mobile device. It is apparent that the cellular phone, which was originated and presented by Frank Nuovo in 1997. It appears that this luxury mobile device was directed mainly for the rich, and not the normal, everyday mobile phone user. The device is appealing to many, but is not realistically priced for the everyday individual. The manufacture of this luxury phone is Vertu, a manufacturer who aims toward luxury services, including the finest designs, engineering and manufacturing. They have put together this luxury mobile phone using innovations in the making and the technology of mobile phones, along with the normal workmanship, but at high-end prices. Vertu’s headquarters are located in England and their products are in over 500 stores, across 66 countries. Synopsis of the Situation Nokia’s CEO, Stephen Elop joined the company and within 5 months, on February 11, 2011, Stephen Elop proclaimed that Nokia was implementing a new mobile phone with Microsoft’s new Windows program, which was unconfirmed as Nokia’s main smart phone. After making this announcement on February 11, 2011, the stock dropped and the share price went down by 14 cents, because the market was not interested in a smart phone that had not proved itself. With the stock dropping, Elop went full force to save Nokia and partnered up with Microsoft to manufacture and introduce a new global ecosystem in a mobile phone. The partnership led Nokia to producing the Vertu Luxury cell phone. This luxury mobile device was created by Frank Nuovo. Key Issues Because of the 14 cent share drop in stock, Nokia had to implement a plan to better their company. Nokia’s market was decreasing and this is when Stephen Elop was hired, in order to make the changes to allow the company and the product to improve. Elop decided to utilize the newer Window’s technology in connection with the mobile device. This was something that was new to the market, and the market was not familiar with this sort of mobile device technology. The problems that Nokia was facing were explained in a memo as there being an absence of leadership, along with accountability and  collaboration internally, leading to the inability of Nokia to sufficiently, effectively and timely provide innovative products to the people. Define the Problem The problem that is at hand is that Nokia had decided to take on a new technology and operating system, allowing the possibility of things going negatively and the company’s shares dropping even more, because new technology and operating systems is what caused the shares to drop, to begin with. With Nokia operating with the Symbian operating system, it left it outdated because the software was one that was definitely outdated. Apple came in with a high technology and highly updated operating system, leaving Nokia in a position where they were not keeping up with the competition and having difficulty delivering innovative products quickly enough. Selected Solution to the Problem With this new luxury mobile device that Nokia was producing, it was rapidly growing and spreading around in the luxury mobile device market. This made the device look promising along with attracting new customers. Other brands joined the growing new market, such as Gresso and GoldVish and Mobiado. Elop knew he had to do something and he solved this problem by choosing Vertu Luxury Mobile Phone. Since both Nokia and Microsoft have been popular and present for a long period of time, they were able to join forces and develop a product which was an outstanding one. Although the cost is high and the product tends to serve just the rich, this was the plan that was put into place from the start, working and operating in an ever changing area. Apple’s phones are able to be affordable and dominate its area of services, and with Nokia joining forces with Microsoft, they were able to create their luxury line for the rich. Implementation There was originally an entry level luxury mobile device, which Nokia had propelled, before the subsidiary of Nokia, Vertu, was released. This luxury mobile device was the Nokia branded 8800 Series which sold for $1,300. The Nokia 8800 series special edition was announced in 2006, with Aston Martin and then the 24 karat gold plated device came along, the Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold, in 2007. Nokia continued to move forward and in 2008 they presented  the Nokia 8800 Carbon Arte. As long as Nokia was able to continue to enable Vertu to lead in the high-end luxury mobile device, they were able to empower Vertu.

Understanding the Arts Essays

Understanding the Arts Essays Understanding the Arts Essay Understanding the Arts Essay Understanding the Arts Name: Course: Institution: Instructor: Date: Understanding and Evaluating the Arts â€Å"Art is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power† (Oxford dictionary, 2012). It can also be taken to be â€Å"A selective re-creation of reality according to an artist’s metaphysical value judgments† (Aynrand, 2012). Art can be expressed via various forms. Painting, sculpture, and printmaking are just a few examples of this. As shown by the overall definition, all types of art are interconnected. Painting â€Å"At the Lapin Agile† is a painting by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso in 1905. The medium used is oil on canvas measuring 39 by 39.5 inches. It depicts a bar scene in Montmartre featuring the painter as a sad clown nursing a drink. There is also a gaudy woman and a guitarist sitting against a wall (Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2012). The painting exemplifies the art via the painter’s vivid interpretation of his reality in the bar scene and the emotions expressed in the characters. This work was based on real life. Sculpture American artist Harriet Whitney Frishmuth lived from 1880 to 1980. One of her most famous works â€Å"The vine† created in 1924 was inspired by famous female dancers. The bronze sculpture measures 83.5 by 28.5 inches. It depicts a nude female dancer caught up in her performance, a moving portrayal of a living vine. She is holding a grapevine on outstretched hands (Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2012). The application of creativity in bringing movement to a bronze figure to show the beauty of dance is in line with the definition of art. Architecture The Taj Mahal in Agra, India was built as a tomb by an Emperor called Jahan for his second wife Mumtaz in the 17th century. It was designed by a Persian called Ustad Issa Khan Effendi. The white marble assumes different tones depending on the light changes. It has a variety of rich fittings such as Persian carpets, silver and gold lamps. The walls have detailed carvings and abstract motifs. Some of them have writings of the Koran as a decorative feature. A red sandstone path leads to a three-storey sandstone octagon shaped entrance with two smaller rooms at its side (Agra India Organization, 2012). Art in the form of architecture was used as an expression of the emperor’s deep emotions. The creative skill of the designer is shown by the keen attention to detail of the carvings and the resultant beauty. Photography Aaron Siskind’s photograph â€Å"Harlem, Most Crowded Block† was taken in 1940. The medium used is Gelatin silver print, and it measures 14 by 11 inches. Contrary to what its title suggests, the composition of the photograph is anything but crowded. It features a young woman with one hand akimbo talking to a little boy on a sidewalk. The wall behind them is dirty and so big that it dwarfs the two (Silverstein, 2012). This photograph demonstrates the use of art to be appreciated by its emotive power. The expression of the little boy evokes a feeling of curiosity and the desire to know the topic under discussion in the viewer. Conceptual Art Conceptual art is well demonstrated by the works of modern British conceptual artist David Shrigley, in particular by his work the â€Å"Light Switch†. This downloadable game features an animated hand and a light switch on an iPhone screen. â€Å"Players control the hand to poke the light switch, and as the switch alternates, the player’s screen goes black, as if the light had gone off on their phones. A counter in the top left marks the number of times the light is flipped† (Chayka, 2010). The use of the artist’s interpretation of reality to form a message concurs with the definition of art as the selective interpretation of reality. Printmaking Sebald Beham`s woodcut print â€Å"Large Church Festival† is a rich composition of several scenes depicting the rowdy Sunday peasant party scenes common in 16th century in Nuremberg city, Germany. The Print is officially dated in 1535 A.D. by the British museum and is 360mm high and 140mm wide (Britishmuseum, 2012). This work demonstrates the creative skill of the artist by the intricate detail depicting realistic scenes of day-to-day life. It has the emotive power of age-old human, social activities that people can identify with. Installation Art An interesting example of Installation Art is the scale model of a part of the â€Å"Running Fence† of Sonoma and Marin Counties in California. It was constructed from May to August in 1976. Creation of the model was a collaboration between Christo, a Bulgarian, Jeanne Claude, a Moroccan ,and Gregory Johnson, an American. The model is made of wood, cardboard, and paper. It measures an average of 22 x 57x 36inches on a scale of 1:200 metric (Smithsonian, 2012) The artist’s creative power is shown by his unique idea of displaying the beauty of a simple object. It sends the message of the reality of work often needed to make simple items of great importance. Performance Art â€Å"Ballet is an artistic dance form performed to music, using precise and highly formalized set steps and gestures.† It is characterized by light, graceful movements and the use of pointed shoes with reinforced toes (Oxford, 2012). Ballet is exemplified as an art form by its expression of feelings and stories via rhythmic movements of the body. These stories are often the metaphysical reality of the dancers being projected to audience. The movements also display the creativity involved in using movement to imitate the realistic characters of objects and individuals. References Agra India organization. (2012). Architecture of Taj Mahal. Retrieved from: agraindia.org.uk/taj-mahal/architecture/index.html Ayn Rand Institute. (2012). Essentials of Objectivism. Retrieved from: www.aynrand.org/ British Museum. (2012). Sebald Beham, Large Church Festival. Retrieved from: www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pd/s/sebald_beham,_large_church_fes.aspx Buce silverstein gallery of Aaron Siskind Foundation. (2012). Retrieved from: http://brucesilverstein.com/galleries.php?gid=543i=8page=next Chayka, K. (2012). David Shrigley`s â€Å"Light Switch† iphone application. Retrieved from: www.artinfo.com/news/story/760302/app-art-david-shrigleys-light-switch-takes-a-swipe-at-conceptual-art-on-the-iphone Metropolitan Museum of art. (2012). â€Å"Harriet Whitney Frishmuth: The Vine (27.66)†. In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved from: metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/27.66 Metropolitan Museum of art. (2012). â€Å"Pablo Picasso: At the Lapin Agile (1992.391)†. In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved from: www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1992.391 Oxford dictionary. (2012). Retrieved from: www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/art Smithsonian American Art Museum. (2012). Installation exterior. Retrieved from: www.americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artwork/?id=77578 Wolf, J. (2012). Conceptual Art. Retrieved from: www.theartstory.org/movement-conceptual-art.htm

Dramatic scene Essay Example

Dramatic scene Essay Example Dramatic scene Paper Dramatic scene Paper Note how Marco realises what Eddie is trying to do, so he challenges Eddie to a chair lifting contest, showing Eddie he isnt the strongest man around. Act I ends on a dramatic note with Marco triumphantly lifting the chair above Eddies head like a weapon, giving us a parallel with the end of Act II, when Marco again defeats Eddie in a physical struggle. 16. The Catherine Rodolpho Eddie Triangle A highly dramatic scene In another highly dramatic scene, when a drunk Eddie returns home to find Rodolpho and Catherine emerging from the bedroom, he attempts to humiliate Rodolpho in two ways: First he kisses him full on the mouth, implying to Catherine that Rodolpho is gay. Then he kisses Catherine passionately himself (this first expression of his true feelings for her probably happens because the drink has reduced his inhibitions) to try to show Rodolpho that Catherine is already his (Eddies) and not available. Kissing Catherine marks the point of no return for Eddie. He could no longer disguise his passion for her and he realises, after this scene, that, if he forces Rodolpho out of the flat, Catherine will leave with her fianci so he will need to do something drastic if he is to prevent their marriage. In desperation Eddie goes to Alfieri, the lawyer, to ask if there is anything which can be done legally to prevent the marriage. Eddie says of Rodolpho; the guy aint right. Alfieri informs Eddie that there is nothing the law can do. However, the obsessed, tortured Eddie remembers there is one thing he can do if he is prepared to pay the price. The Conclusion. Realising that there is nothing the law can do to prevent the marriage of Rodolpho and Catherine, Eddie remembers Alfieris words. The lawyer had told him that the only thing he could do to prevent the marriage would be to report to the Immigration Service that he had two illegal immigrants in his house. To do this would amount to a betrayal of his wife, his family and his community and he would be an outcast, shunned by everyone. In schools, pupils who grass on others are despised, so you can imagine what Eddie would have to endure Alfieri had warned Eddie what would happen if he phoned: You wont have a friend in the world, Eddie. Even those who understand will turn against you. Put it out if your mind. But he cant. The rest of the play shows what desperate measures a human being is prepared to take when  he (or she) is in the grip of a great passion or obsession. Eddie has lost control of himself. His brain and common sense have been overwhelmed by his physical and emotional desires even to the point of self- destruction. It is frightening to watch and shows us that a passion, if strong enough, can lead us to betray our community and friends. It is Eddies bad luck that two other illegal immigrants, relations of Lipari, the butcher, have moved into the flat above without his knowing. When he gives the address to the Immigration Service it means he has betrayed these men too and it makes his rejection by his community certain. Marco spitting in Eddies face and naming him as the betrayer are important acts in marking Eddie as a social outcast. The final section of the play opens poignantly with Eddie alone in the rocker, rocking back and forth, emphasising his isolation from his family and community. He reminds me of a wounded lion still trying to prove he is powerful. On the day of Catherine and Rodolphos wedding (emphasising that his act of betrayal had not managed to achieve his aim of destroying their relationship), he is still trying to exert his authority over Beatrice. Eddie: You walk out that door to that wedding you aint coming back here Beatrice. Beatrice: Why? What do you want? Eddie: I want my respect. Didnt you ever hear of that? From my wife. Probably because he knows in his heart that he has lost it, Eddie is preoccupied in these final moments of the play with having respect from his wife and from the community. Catherine tells him openly that he has lost the right to any respect but Beatrice still seems to want to obey and love him. Beatrice says one very important thing, which makes us think hard about the events in the play: Whatever happened we all done it, and dont you ever forget it, Catherine. Beatrice certainly doesnt believe that Eddie is the only one to blame. Do you? There is an important conversation between Marco (awaiting his deportation trial) and Alfieri in prison. You will remember that Eddie was amazed that the law was powerless to stop Rodolpho marrying Catherine; Marco is equally astounded that there is no law to punish Eddie for his betrayal which, as Marco puts it, degraded my brother. My blood. He robbed my children, he mocks my work. Marco realises that, as his family have been insulted, he has a duty, under the code of vendetta, to satisfy the familys honour by gaining revenge on Eddie. So Marco, despite promises to the contrary, seeks out Eddie as soon as he is let out of prison to await his trial. It is easy to miss one significant point. Rodolpho mentions to Eddie that Marco is coming. Hes praying in the church. Part of the ritual of the vendetta was that the person prayed for Gods help and for success in the act of vengeance. It is interesting that murder for revenge was seen not as an act of unjustified violence but divine justice, doing what the law was unable to do. You will note that Marco says, of Eddie, to Alfieri: In my country he would be dead now. He would not live this long. Those who violate the communitys code face the prospect of revenge from the family of the victim. We have learned enough about Eddie to know that he will not try to escape when he knows Marco is coming, although Rodolpho, Beatrice and Catherine urge him to do so. Eddie would have considered this cowardice and he is also determined to make Marco apologise for spitting in his face and making his public accusation of betrayal. Eddie probably knows that he faces a life of loneliness and of being shunned by his community. To him such a life would not be worth living and he would rather risk death in a confrontation with Marco in the hope of perhaps regaining his good name by making Marco apologise. It is a faint hope, but Eddie has to cling to it. In the event, Marco merely repeats his accusations and, in the ensuing fight, kills Eddie. It is a powerful, dramatic ending to the play. The audience is left with many thoughts. Alfieri proclaims Eddies epitaph: He would not settle for half, whereas most of the time, in these civilised days, most of us do. Throughout the play, Eddie has refused to compromise, whereas most of us do, most of the time. He is driven to his death by this aspect of his personality,because of his own, however has refused to accept the fact that he is powerless to prevent his niece from loving someone else and cannot accept that the law is sometimes unable to provide what he, Eddie, considers to be justice. Speaking of Eddies death, Arthur Miller wrote in the preface to the play: We are in the presence of a character who is ready to lay down his life, if need be, to secure one thing his sense of personal dignity and to gain his rightful position in society. He refuses to remain passive in the face of what he conceives to be a challenge to his dignity. Only the passive, only those who accept their lot without active retaliation, are flawless. Most of us are in that category. Eddie, then, is an exceptional man, more prepared to press things to the limit than most of us are. All works of literature have a number of themes. These are ideas which the author has which she or he wants to share with the audience or with readers, for us to think about. So what are the main themes of A View from the Bridge? Betrayal Arthur Miller was particularly interested in what makes a person (in this case, Eddie) betray the trust even of people he loves and of the community in which she or he lives. In most cases it is passion (often sexual desire)which leads a person into betrayal. Eddie betrays Marco, Rodolpho, Liparis relations and their families when he telephones the Immigration Service. He betrays Beatrices love for him by his passion for her niece. He also betrays Catherines love for him as a father-figure and he betrays his own principles, all because he is in the grip of his strong sexual passion. Illusions Many of Millers characters suffer from illusions about what the world is like. This eventually leads to some lack of reality about the nature of the world. Eddies great illusion is that he can keep Catherine as a baby all her life and prevent her having contact with the more unpleasant aspects of life. He also seems to have illusions about what a dangerous world it is and how untrustworthy people are. You may remember the rather cynical advice he gave Catherine: Dont trust nobody. Believe me, Katie, the less you trust, the less you be sorry. The great irony is that Eddie is the one who is less worthy of trust than anyone in the play. Reputation and Community Many of us are content if we believe we have acted properly. If our own conscience is satisfied, we do not worry unnecessarily what others think of us. For many of Arthur Millers heroes, including Eddie, this is not enough. They need to have the communitys approval and respect. You will remember Eddies comment when he is being urged to run from Marco. Eddie says: I want my name. In order to live happily, Eddie needs his good name restored. Many of Millers heroes, including Eddie, would rather die than lose their good name with the rest of the community. Law and Justice A View from the Bridge makes us think about the issues of law and justice. The character, Alfieri, despite knowing in his heart about the probable tragic ending, is unable to do anything because the law is not adequate to deal with the strongest of human emotions. Neither is the law the same as justice. Marco believes that justice would be for Eddie to die because he has, in effect, caused Marcos family to starve. Yet the American law approves of Eddies action in reporting illegal immigrants. Miller, therefore, makes us question whether the law of a country is concerned with justice. The law of the government may be different from the law of the community in keeping the law of the country. Try to think of it in terms of schools. There are the rules (laws) made by the teachers; dont misbehave in class etc. , and the rules of the pupils; dont grass on your friends. Keeping the laws of the teachers may cause you to break the laws of the pupils, and vice versa. The Importance of Fate There seems to be little to be done to avoid the tragedy of Eddies death. It all seems predestined because of the situation Eddie is in and the powerful emotions he has. Miller makes us think about the extent to which human beings are able to control events. Certainly the intelligent Alfieri is incapable of preventing the tragedy. The Style of the Play. There are a few important points: The importance of conflict Note how many conversations in the play have two or more characters in conflict over an issue. This gives the play more energy. Dramatic moments Note how the conversations are broken up by scenes of dramatic action: e. g. the lifting of the chair the kissing scene the boxing scene the fight at the end of the play This means the audiences emotions fluctuate; quiet moments of conversation are broken up by sections of action which raise the emotions of the audience. Links with Greek tragedies.