What The Problem Of Evil Is Under A General Scope

In this paper, I explain what the problem of evil is under a general scope in order to demonstrate the synthesis of my research. I also describe and evaluate four classic examples of solutions, or attempts, to solve the issues surrounding the problem of evil. These approaches to the problem were discussed in our textbook and include, karma, appeal to sovereignty, the consolation of promise, and dualism. I also include some selective quotations from a variety of scholars that compliment my evaluation and help further illuminate my insights. I discuss the reoccurring theme of possible indifference displayed by God in regards to humankind. I also touch on the possible implications of having an indifferent solution to the problem of evil†¦show more content†¦This event was so disturbing that it actually modified or destroyed the faith of many of the survivors. One of the explanations usually offered, is that through pain and suffering, vital life lessons can be ascertained. Mar k Stephen Murray Scott seems to echo this thought in his work, Theodicy at the margins: New trajectories for the problem of evil. Mark Stephen Murray Scott states (2011), Since Christ was the ultimate victim of oppression, he identifies with those who suffer from victimization. (p. 151) He discusses how when we embrace ours and other people s pain and suffering that we are effectively embracing God. I feel this is a weak argument though because how could so much excessive, grotesque pain and suffering be necessary? I agree that pain and suffering can help us evolve and become a better version of ourselves, but I don t agree with the cost. Could an excess of evil teach us important lessons? I believe the answer is yes, but so can a small or moderate amount of evil as well. There seems to be a disconnection with the cost versus the actual value of the information gained. Our text explores four different attempts at answering the issue of evil s existence. Our book describes the four common attempts at finding a solution to the problem of evil as, karma, the consolation of promise, the appeal to sovereignty, and dualism. The concept of karma involves the individual person being reborn repeatedly until they can learn

Essay about Its Time for More Bible and Less Welfare

Its Time for More Bible and Less Welfare Government has considered and tried many plans for dealing with poverty in the United States, from all different points of view-welfare, workfare, charities, economic interference, and the like. There is one method, however, which has fallen out of popularity in this age. This is the biblical method. What God says about the poor The Christian, or biblical, view of poverty is liberal in some respects and conservative in others. For example, Paul gives this rule to the early church: If a man will not work, he shall not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). At the same time, the leaders of the church placed great importance on providing food for the poor, and James says that†¦show more content†¦Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien (Leviticus 19:9-10). In ancient Israel, those who couldnt afford to buy food could go into the fields and vineyards, follow behind the harvesters, and glean the excess from the fields or vines. In this way, individual Hebrews provided for their less fortunate neighbors. It seems at first glance that many of the Bibles statements on poverty contradict themselves. Are those not working not entitled to assistance, or do all the poor have rights which we must protect? Is poverty the result of individual choices, or is it a situation in which the individual has no choice? Should government, whether church government or state government, care for the poor, or is that the job only of individuals? In fact, none of these statements are contradictory, because poverty is an issue with a wide range of questions, and the Bible addresses many of those questions in the statements above. All the poor have rights to assistance, but they also have a responsibility to work in some way-thus the Hebrew practice of gleaning, where the poor could obtain assistance only if they would go out and get it; gleaning was undoubtedly hard work. Poverty often is the result of individual choices, but in many situations the poor are not responsible for theirShow MoreRela tedThe Issue Of The Gay Rights Movement Essay867 Words   |  4 Pagespeople living off of Welfare, or even that we can’t seem to get an effective health care bill passed. Those are only minor issues. The real problem is that we give away rights like they are free to give away. We gave the blacks their rights, and look what it got us. Barack Obama. We gave women their rights, and look what it got us. Hillary Clinton. What’s next? The Gay Rights Movement. The main issue with giving the gays their rights is that homosexuality does not truly exist. It’s an infection of theRead MoreThe Legalization Of Polygamy1349 Words   |  6 Pagescoffee dates, even when someone is eavesdropping on a neighbor s endeavors with his mistress. Nowadays, it seems as if horror stories about infidelity are more common than happy marriages. Cheating on a spouse is morally wrong, so why not make it easy and legalize the act of polygamy? Polygamy is defined as willfully and knowingly ha ving more than one husband or wife. As unnatural as it seems, many successful people have been in multiple marriages at once. The founder of the Mormons, Joseph SmithRead MoreThe Relationship Between State and Church Essay901 Words   |  4 PagesEvery person has the human right to engage in worship during public forums. Thus every person has the right to pray in school. When prayer was still allowed in school crime was at a low rate. Basically there was less crime everywhere. We consider the good ole days when basic morals were taught at home. When the difference between right and wrong was enforced. When family and religion was considered the most valuable and precious things to have. Now look at the mess we have created. Children lookRead MoreAttitudes of Christianity and Islam Toward Merchants and Trade.1421 Words   |  6 PagesChristian and Muslims toward trade shifted as conditions in the Christian and Islamic worlds changed. In the beginning, Christian attitudes were mo re negative, while Muslims tended to encourage and respect trade and merchants. Over time, Muslims became more like early Christians in that they were suspicious of traders whereas the Christians became more like the early Muslims, equating merchants (at least honest ones) with doing God’s work, reflecting the changed importance of trade in the high MiddleRead MoreTaking a Look at Political Ideologies684 Words   |  3 PagesIt’s an understatement to say our ideology shapes the way we live our lives every day. It affects the way we view and react to different people. Ideology is a set of beliefs that affects our outlook on the entire world. Most of the time ideology refers to a set of political beliefs or a set of ideas that relate to religious views. In a simpler meaning, ideology means having a views or opinions based on your ideas of that thing. The Republican ideology today is based on conservatism. They believeRead MoreGay Civil Rights689 Words   |  3 Pagesbe around them, so the people like this in the military will focus more on them and not getting their job done. People also believe this could cause fighting and disorder, again leading to not getting their jobs done. On the other hand people believe not allowing homosexuals in the military might take away from our ability to fight. Allowing them puts more people into our military. Not just more people, more willing people. More people who actually want to go over. When they were kicking the homosexualsRead MoreEssay about Intolerance of Homosexuals in a Tolerant Culture578 Words   |  3 PagesIntolerance of Homosexuals in a Tolerant Culture In this country there is a serious problem. This land that was founded on All are created equal we have a problem: inequality. Culturally, we have welfare and other social programs to help racial minorities and any other minority you can think. Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity form the basis for the religious miasma that is the U.S. So you can see religious and cultural differences are accepted. We live in a tolerant societyRead MoreThe Importance Of Studying The Relationships And Subject Formations1688 Words   |  7 Pagesmost taxes, and we get paid the least. Upper classed people are more than likely overly wealthy, and their money isn’t being spent in the right places, the lower class people actually have more rights and advantages than the middle class because the united states love to place economic and social welfare programs in place to take care of those people. According to the United States census, 22% of the American population is opn welf are, and of that 22%, African Americans take up 53% and of that 53%Read More The Welfare Problem Essay2320 Words   |  10 PagesThe Welfare Problem The poor are everywhere it seems. They are on the street corner, in the local 7 Eleven, and in the plaza. Sometimes I get sick of them and even angry with them when they pester me for money. I ask myself, Is the best way to deal with poor, to give them money from my pocket? Its obvious that other people have given them money from their pockets at different times. If no one had ever given them money, then these people wouldnt be standing here asking for money. The factRead More Abortion: Common Ground Must Be Found Essay1722 Words   |  7 Pagestrimester of pregnancy, the stage called quickening. Church courts imposed more severe sanctions than secular courts, and were more concerned with unborn human life and abortions that occurred earlier in pregnancy. The first abortion legislation enacted in the English-speaking world was an English law of 1803 that punished whoever acted â€Å"to cause and procure the miscarriage of any woman then being quick with child.† Later enactm ents more strictly imposed liability on pregnant women themselves, and because

Overcoming Challenges in a Multicultural Virtual Team free essay sample

When working in a multicultural virtual team, there are many challenges that you will most likely come across. Some of the problems that multi-cultural virtual teams experience include: time delays in replies, lack of synergy among cross-cultural team members, communications breakdowns, unresolved conflicts among members, limited hours allowed to be worked and different holidays. Multicultural teams often generate frustrating management dilemmas. Cultural differences alone can create substantial obstacles to effective teamwork. But these may be subtle and difficult to recognize until significant damage has already been done. The challenge in managing multicultural teams effectively is to recognize underlying cultural causes of conflict, and to intervene in ways that both get the team back on track and empower its members to deal with future challenges themselves. The good news is that cultural challenges are manageable if managers and team members choose the right strategy and avoid imposing single culture based approaches on multicultural situations. People tend to assume that challenges on multicultural teams arise from differing styles of communication. But this is only one of the four categories that, according to research, can create barriers to a team’s ultimate success. These categories are direct versus indirect communication; trouble with accents and fluency; differing attitudes toward hierarchy and authority; and conflict norms for decision making. (Brett 2006) Communication in Western cultures is typically direct and explicit. The meaning on the surface and a listener doesn’t have to know much about the context or the speaker to interpret it. This is not true in many other cultures, where meaning in imbedded in the way the message is presented. For example, Western negotiators get crucial information about the other parties’ preferences and priorities by asking direct question, such as â€Å"Do you prefer option A or option B? † In cultures that use indirect communication, negotiators may have to infer preferences and priorities from challenges or the lack of them and the other parties’ settlement proposal. In cross cultural negotiations, the non westerner can understand the direct communications of the westerner, but the westerner has difficulty nderstanding the indirect communications of the non westerner. The differences between indirect and direct communication can cause serious damage to relationships when team projects run into problems. (Brett 2006) Communications need to be carefully managed to take into account the cultural differences among team members. Communication is not necessarily the same when you match virtual teams in a multicultural environment. A major problem deals with the geographically dispersed virtual team members and how precisely they address questions or pass on information to their colleagues. Because many of these members reside in different time zone areas, it is a â€Å"rule of thumb† to be precise in what each member wants to know or how well they ask a question. If team members phrase their questions carefully the first time, they will get their point across successfully without having to deal with sending changes and making up for the time lost. Writing clearly and not using acronyms is another way to deal with this issue. Advances in technology have increased each person’s ability and likelihood of interacting with people of cultural backgrounds quite different from their own. (Vinaja 2003) There are a few issues that can arise from workers from different cultures. Maybe some workers will want to be aggressive about their work and others would not want to be like this because they do not believe in being that way. People from different cultures may tend to misunderstand each other’s behaviors or stereotype people from other countries and hence come to distrust one another. One cultural issue is the importance of social status within cultures. Americans have a â€Å"need for speed† and like the efficiency of targeted, sparse prose that is used when communicating by email. They also like fast responses. In other cultures, such as the Japanese, this form of communication collides with their work ethic. The Japanese are correct and proper, expecting to carefully craft their responses and the idea of a written message devoid of non verbal, social and grammar is an incomplete message. Virtual teams must recognize discrepancies between cultures in order to work efficiently and effectively. Working in a cross cultural virtual team can create awareness concerning the principle cultural differences that effect communication and working situation and it can provide techniques for lessening cultural based problems. Eventually with he growing use of the internet to conduct business to business transaction it is essential for cultures to learn to adapt and understand cultural issues. (Vinaja 2003) I believe that this team will spend quite some time before they reach the actual performing stage of their team. I think that there will definitely be some communication issues among the different cultural members among some other conflicts that with proper management can be successfully worked through. In my personal experience it is the Americans that have the hardest time coping with intercultural difference due the arrogance of our people. Some slight cultural awareness and diversity sensitivity may be in order to successfully integrate the team successfully but I think that it is fully achievable and that the team can be a great success with proper coordination and teamwork.

The Firemen of House 24 Essay Example For Students

The Firemen of House 24 Essay The firemen of house 24, a faded, red station known for its heroic endeavors, waited around their dining table playing poker. It had been weeks without a fire and the boredom had started to sink in. all of a suddenThe alarm began to ring; they sprang into action ready to fight. They arrived to a blazing inferno raging at the local mall, set by an arsonist who wanted to see the world burn. Hundreds of innocents trapped inside, the men rushed in to save as many as they could. It was all in vain as the arsonist used an accelerant and the fire burned too fast killing more than 400 including 6 firemen. We will write a custom essay on The Firemen of House 24 specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now It became a matter of blood for blood; they swore they would find him and make him pay. Warren was a volunteer firefighter and police officer who served along those the fallen. He took it upon himself to catch this man no matter what the cost. A week passed before there was another fire and this time the firefighters were ready and halted the fire in its tracks. The arsonist hadn’t planned on their fast response and became sloppy leaving behind evidence his can of gasoline and a lighter of his. Warren immediately started a finger print analysis test of them both, but the man was not in the system. Warren planned on catching him in the act instead. The mad man had been waiting and planning for his biggest attack on a gargantuan commercial church on Easter night where over 75, 000 people would be present. Warren began investigation into the lighter and discovered it had been custom made by only one man who makes the lighters. Easter day crept up, and both men were almost ready to complete their plans. Warren finally traced the lighter to a man in his fifties, an old explosives expert, named Mr. Jangles. Easter day arrived and Mr. Jangles hustled into the church to set up while warren searched his apartment because he had gotten a warrant. He found a map of the city in the room with a big x through it; it was the Church Of Life. He figured that’s him knocking over bystanders in his path, when Mr. Jangles noticed this he too began to run. When he ran out of breath, he stopped and pulled out a dead man switch and threatened to blow the place right there. Warren stood there thinking what to do he could be bluffing, but why would he. Warrens only choice was to shoot him where he stood, but the bomb might still go off. He aimed and fired his pistol shooting him in the leg injuring him, but stopping him from pressing the trigger. Then they wrestled for control of the switch only to find himself overwhelmed Mr. Jangles surrendered. He was arrested and taken to prison where he was to serve 3 consecutive life sentences in solitary confinement.

Does Cinematography Leave no Place for Imagination

Does Cinematography Leave no Place for Imagination The Novel and the Best Film Version The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is one of the most famous and most loved fantasy novels for children all over the world. The book reveals the magnificent and fabulous world of magic creatures struggling for their future. There have been various screen adaptations of the famous novel. Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Does Cinematography Leave no Place for Imagination? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) is one of the most majestic versions. It is possible to state that it portrays the world described by C.S. Lewis. The filmmakers managed to reveal the specific atmosphere of the brilliant world. Admittedly, there are some discrepancies as there can hardly be a film version that totally coincides with its literary ‘ancestor’. Nonetheless, it is necessary to admit that the film is a high-qual ity version that focuses on the same ideas and highlights the major points. However, it is also necessary to note that the film has certain downsides. The novel leaves a lot of space for children’s imagination. Thus, the author does not highlight some events giving children the opportunity to co-create the story. As far as the film version is concerned, the filmmakers left little space for children to imagine or co-create. At least some people think so. Therefore, some may claim that the film leaves no place for imagination. Though, it is also important to pay attention to another point. The film reveals the story in detail, but it excites children’s imagination and encourages them to create their own stories. So, should children read the book or rather watch the film? It is important to find out whether the film ‘kills’ children’s creativity or, vice versa, inspires them to use their imagination. Particular Images Help Children to Create Their Wor lds Admittedly, children love books with pictures. They want to see images which help them to recreate the story in their heads. Some authors provide detailed descriptions of the characters. However, Lewis gives no particular description of the major characters only noting that Lucy â€Å"was the youngest† and Edmund â€Å"was the next youngest† (3-4). The reader needs to picture the main characters somehow. Apparently, the author’s description is not enough. When it comes to the film, the viewers see the characters and the magic world. Of course, some may claim that children are forced to see the world in the way the filmmakers see it. Nonetheless, after watching the films, the viewers can still find lots of ways to discover new places in Narnia, places which are not revealed in the film.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Besides, the film cannot pos sibly cover all the events highlighted in the book. Therefore, children can use some images (modified by their own imagination) to picture events they read about. Thus, the film is a kind of visual aids which can be used while (or rather before) reading the book by Lewis. Things Lewis Left Uncovered Some of the most unforgettable events in the book as well as the film are battles. Lewis depicted a lot of battles in detail. Perhaps, this is one of the reasons why the book has become so successful. However, the author also left many things aside. For instance, the writer portrays the final battle when Aslan joins Peter’s army (Lewis 178). The writer only hints that Peter’s army was in a very difficult and dangerous position. The rest is left to the reader’s imagination. The reader is free to picture the beginning of the battle which was tragic, glorious, breathtaking, etc. However, the film reveals all the details of the battle. The entire battle was recreated by the filmmakers (The Chronicles of Narnia). It is a really majestic scene which is inspired by the novel itself. However, some may claim that the detailed depiction of the battle deprives the readers of possibility to recreate it using their imagination. Nonetheless, these claims are rather wrongful. The film provides the viewer with a specific sketch to be used while reading the book, or any other fantasy book. Children can modify the battle scene provided by the filmmakers to create their own battlefields. Hints or Particular Information It may also seem that the filmmakers changed the plot slightly when it comes to their life in the Professor’s house. The author did not mention that professor knew about the magic world, whereas in the film it is obvious that the professor was there at least once. Some may say that the filmmakers leave no room for any kind of intrigue. Nonetheless, it is clear that the filmmakers encourage the viewers to imagine the world the professor ha d discovered many years before the four children found it. The viewer is left to imagine the professor’s adventures in the beautiful magic world.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Does Cinematography Leave no Place for Imagination? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Conclusion To sum up, it is possible to state that the film and the book create a majestic world that inspires children to travel across their own imaginary kingdoms. Though, the book provides more details and seemingly deprives children from the opportunity to use their imagination, it is obvious that the book encourages children’s desire to discover new worlds and picture numerous uncovered adventures. The 2005 film is one of the best adaptations of the book as it is a bright illustration of the novel that has made children travel their own magic worlds. Lewis, Clive Staples. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, New York, NY: HarperCollins , 2000. Print. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. Ex. Prod. Andrew Adamson and David Minkowski. Burbank, CA: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Disney. 2005. DVD.

Iditarod History and Overview of The Last Great Race

Iditarod History and Overview of The Last Great Race Each year in March, men, women, and dogs from around the world converge on the state of Alaska to take part in what has become known as the Last Great Race on the planet. This race is, of course, the Iditarod and though it doesnt have a long official history as a sporting event, dog sledding does have a long history in Alaska. Today the race has become a popular event for many people throughout the world. Iditarod History The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race officially started in 1973, but the trail itself and the use of dog teams as a mode of transportation has a long and storied past. In the 1920s for example, newly arrived settlers looking for gold used dog teams in the winter to travel along the historic Iditarod Trail and into the gold fields. In 1925, the same Iditarod Trail was used to move medicine from Nenana to Nome after an outbreak of diphtheria threatened the lives of nearly everyone in the small, remote Alaskan town. The journey was nearly 700 miles (1,127 km) through incredibly harsh terrain but showed how reliable and strong dog teams were. Dogs were also used to deliver mail and carry other supplies to the many isolated areas of Alaska during this time and many years later. Throughout the years, however, technological advances led to the replacement of sled dog teams by airplanes in some cases and finally, snowmobiles. In an effort to recognize the long history and tradition of dog sledding in Alaska, Dorothy G. Page, chairman of the Wasilla-Knik Centennial helped set up a short race on the Iditarod Trail in 1967 with musher Joe Redington, Sr. to celebrate Alaskas Centennial Year. The success of that race led to another one in 1969 and the development of the longer Iditarod that is famous today. The original goal of the race was for it to end in Iditarod, an Alaskan ghost town, but after the United States Army reopened that area for its own use, it was decided that the race would go all the way to Nome, making the final race approximately 1,000 miles (1,610 km) long. How the Race Works Today Since 1983, the race has ceremonially started from downtown Anchorage on the first Saturday in March. Starting at 10 a.m. Alaska time, teams leave in two-minute intervals and ride for a short distance. The dogs are then taken home for the rest of the day to prepare for the actual race. After a nights rest, the teams then leave for their official start from Wasilla, about 40 miles (65 km) north of Anchorage the next day. Today, the route of the race follows two trails. In odd years the southern one is used and in even years they run on the northern one. Both, however, have the same starting point and diverge approximately 444 miles (715 km) from there. They join each other again about 441 miles (710 km) from Nome, giving them the same ending point as well. The development of two trails was done in order to reduce the impact that the race and its fans have on the towns along its length. The mushers (dog sled drivers) have 26 checkpoints on the northern route and 27 on the southern. These are areas where they can stop to rest both themselves and their dogs, eat, sometimes communicate with family, and get the health of their dogs checked, which is the main priority. The only mandatory rest time however usually consists of one 24-hour stop and two eight hour stops during the nine- to twelve-day race. When the race is over, the different teams split a pot that is now approximately $875,000. Whoever finishes first is awarded the most and each successive team to come in after that receives a little less. Those finishing after 31st place, however, get about $1,049 each. The Dogs Originally, sled dogs were Alaskan Malamutes, but over the years, the dogs have been crossbred for speed and endurance in the harsh climate, the length of the races they participate in and the other work they are trained to do. These dogs are usually called Alaskan Huskies, not to be confused with Siberian Huskies, and are what most mushers prefer. Each dog team is made up of twelve to sixteen dogs and the smartest and fastest dogs are picked to be the lead dogs, running in the front of the pack. Those who are capable of moving the team around curves are the swing dogs and they run behind the lead dogs. The largest and strongest dogs then run in the back, closest to the sled and are called the wheel dogs. Before embarking on the Iditarod trail, mushers train their dogs in late summer and fall using wheeled carts and all-terrain vehicles when there is no snow. The training is then the most intense between November and March. Once they are on the trail, mushers put the dogs on a strict diet and keep a veterinary diary to monitor their health. If needed, there are also veterinarians at the checkpoints and dog-drop sites where sick or injured dogs can be transported for medical care. Most of the teams also go through a large amount of gear to protect the dogs health and they usually spend anywhere from $10,000-80,000 per year on gear such as booties, food, and veterinary care during training and the race itself. Despite these high costs along with the hazards of the race such as harsh weather and terrain, stress, and sometimes loneliness on the trail, mushers and their dogs still enjoy participating in the Iditarod and fans from around the world continue to tune in or actually visit portions of the trail in large numbers to partake in the action and drama that is all part of The Last Great Race.

Interactive Language Skills and Communication 2 Essay

Interactive Language Skills and Communication 2 - Essay Example 9). Management is, on the other hand, the process by which organizational goals are achieved. Therefore, the task of accomplishing the achievement of the organizational goals is the assignment of a manager. Fundamentally, important functions that managers employ in this pursuit have been universally identified. They include planning along with budgeting, organizing and staffing, problem-solving and controlling. A necessary disambiguation process will be covered in this paper in the subsequent illustrations provided to contrast the roles played by a leader distinct from those of a manager. In addition, the paper will elaborate on the interrelatedness of the two personnel’s roles in a smooth flowing of an organization. An elaborately well-balanced organization has been observed to be one which has a mix of leaders and managers in the organization’s pursuit of success. Important to note, equilibrium is ideally set when few great leaders influence relatively many first-class managers in the process. Leaders play a significant part in setting a direction, aligning people, inspiring and motivating them. The leader gives the employees (including managers) of a firm a sense of direction, aligns and elicits inspiration and motivation (Crossan, Gandz, Seijts, Stephenson, & Richard Ivey School of Business, 2010, p. 17). By so doing, the managers can take the managerial roles assigned to them with a sense of inspiration, direction, and more importantly motivation to do so. This influence, as passed on by a leader, can be contagious such that the behavior the managers exhibit is characteristically that of the leader. Consequently, managers can develop to become leaders who play a paramount role in the setting of an excellent working environment for their workers. The working together of a manager and a leader can be symbolically represented. For instance, a leader can be perceived as the symbol of passion, creativity and most importantly the

Dallas TX weather over a 5 day period Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dallas TX weather over a 5 day period - Essay Example Weather tools like radars, barometers and thermometers help to predict weather and to report accurate conditions. Over the past five days the weather was predicted at about 75% percent accuracy. Temperature predictions were near accurate but cloud cover and actual wind gusts were off. Predictions were based off of the study of the earth’s rotation and how this affects different fronts that enter an area, sometimes this cannot always prove to be 100% accurate. Day one of the observation was held on Nov 18th. The minimum temperature for the day was 43 degrees with a high of 65 degrees. The weather was predicted to be sunny but there was a slight overcast of clouds. The dew point was 34 degrees and there were no accumulations of rain or snow. The wind was gustier then predicted and was reported at 25mph. The humidity started out around 50% then rose gradually with the temperature to around 70%. Due to the coriolis affect, there were much higher winds than usual. A midlatitutidinal cyclone was present since there was low pressure around 30%. Day two of the five day weather evaluation on Nov 19th had a high temperature of 78 degrees and a low temperature of 63 degrees. This is a large increase in temperature versus the previous day. The dew point was 61 degrees. There was zero precipitation. The wind was gustier then the day before and came in around 32 mph. The warm air was brought in by southern winds and there was little sun seen throughout the day. The weather was warmer than predicted. The pressure also began to drop due to a midlatitudinal cyclone. Day three of the five day weather evaluation on Nov 20th was different than usual. The temperature was near a record high for the time of year and over ten degrees above the average. The high was 76 degrees with a low of 43. The dew point dropped from 68 to 41degrees within 24 hours. This was because a new system was moving in. The pressure began to increase from the day before and winds began to

Casing Research Essay Example for Free

Casing Research Essay PLYWOOD Plywood is a manufactured board. It is used to case speakers. Birch-faced ply is a light coloured, high-quality plywood that colour-stains and varnishes easily. CHIPBOARD Chipboard is also a manufactured board. It is cheap and will not warp or curl. Chipboard comes in two forms, plain and woodgrain, both of which are usually coated in plastic foil or veneered to improve the finish and looks. MDF MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) is another manufactured board. It used to fabricate boxes, and close-textured MDF is cut and sanded to make moulds for vacuum forming plastics. MDF must be glued using PVA carefully and precisely, and requires coating with paint many times to give a good finish, as it absorbs liquids readily. Mild Steel Mild steel can be found in many different forms. Sheet steel, for example, is made into casings and a variety of brackets an fixings. Bright drawn steel is made into round, square, tubular, angled and flat bar versions. Mild steel can be cut and shape into components that are to be permanently fixed to the product. This is done by welding, brazing and using silver solder. Aluminium Aluminium is a light metal in its elemental form. It comes in sheet, bright drawn and mild forms (similar to steel) and can be cast. If a strong lightweight product is needed, aluminium is the only choice. Aluminium can be joined using nuts and bolts, rivets or epoxy resin glue. Aluminium also is superior, in terms of lifespan, to steel because it has an outer layer of aluminium oxide that prevents it from corroding for a long time. Casing Research There are many types of plastics used and many forms of manufacture used to construct both industrial and small-scale casings. The two most relevant to my project are acrylics and polystyrene. ACRYLIC Acrylic is a rigid, strong and smooth-looking plastic. It comes in many colours and forms (e.g. Cast Acrylic). It is durable (10 times the impact resistance of glass), and therefore suitable for outdoor use. Acrylics non-toxic properties make it safe to be used with food or made into a toy; however, in the unlikely event that it is broken, it will splinter and expose sharp points. Acrylic becomes malleable when heated and can be easily machined. It is also possible to cement pieces of acrylic together using methylene chloride glue. When polished, acrylic must be handled carefully as its surface dents and scratches easily. POLYSTYRENE Polystyrene comes in many forms. One such form is a thin sheet of polystyrene that is used in vacuum forming machines to fabricate a casing. It has a low melting point and is fairly weak, but unlike acrylic it is not brittle. Polystyrene is also an excellent insulator, minimising any chance of electrocution by the product. It can be cut and assembled rapidly, but it takes time, precision care and effort to manufacture a quality product casing. Plastic casings can be made in a variety of ways. Injection moulding is the most common method of manufacturing casings in industry. The machine makes a casing in three stages: Step 1: The mould is warmed and the thermoplastic substance is placed in the heating chamber. Step 2: The thermoplastic is melted and then pushed into the mould by the plunger, which maintains the pressure for a set dwell time to prevent shrunk or hollow products from being formed by stopping any molten plastic from returning to the chamber. Step 3: When the plastic has solidified, it is removed from the mould by hand or by a mechanism built in the machine (this is more likely to be found in industry). Casing Research Vacuum forming is more likely to be used on a smaller scale (e.g. in schools) to produce casings, but is used in industry to make egg boxes and food containers. There is a range of vac. forming machines, but every one works from the same principle and is designed to: 1. Seal a plastic sheet on to the vac. chamber. 2. Heat the plastic sheet. 3. Create a vacuum so air pressure presses the heated plastic over the mould. The vac. forming process occurs like so: Step 1 The plastic sheet is clamed on top of the machine, resting on the heat resistant silicone rubber pads, after the mould of the desired shape has been placed on the raising platform inside the machine. Step 2 A heating element is pulled across the top of the plastic sheet, heating it until it crinkles, then becomes taught again. Step 3 The platform is raised, and the mould is pushed into the plastic. Step 4 The air is then pumped out of the chamber, and air pressure (now greater than inside the machine) presses the sheet over the mould. Step 5 The sheet is removed from the machine (assisted using a taper, which angles all vertical sides of the casing). Excess plastic is trimmed from the casing. The mould is usually constructed from layers of MDF. It is solid because air pressure given no resistance can crush hollow moulds. If the mould is too far down, webbing (plastic sticking together in corners) occurs, not leaving enough plastic to give a full coating on the mould. The mould is smoothed to avoid bumps and lines on the casing. Air pockets are prevented by drilling holes in the mould, allowing excess air to flow into the vacuum.

John Dereks Tarzan the Ape Man Essay -- Film Movies

John Derek's Tarzan the Ape Man For the last one hundred years, Tarzan has graced movie screens all around the world. Edgar Rice Burroughs’ creation has caught the eye of entertainment in a major way. While movies of Tarzan have come and gone, a unique 1981 version of Tarzan the Ape Man stuck out. This controversial film uses the book from Jane Porter’s (Bo Derek, who is also the producer) point of view. It is a sexy film, where fantasies are fulfilled and dreams come true. The motion picture primarily focuses on Jane’s take of her relationship with Tarzan (Miles O’Keeffe). This modern version of Burroughs’ Tarzan of the Apes has a distinctively romantic theme throughout. Jane Porter’s role as damsel in distress is shown through her first interaction with Tarzan. A quick dip in the water turns into a battle with an enormous boa constrictor. Fulfilling his role as heroic savage, Tarzan swings into the water from the treetops and wrestles the snake off of Jane. Interesting enough, he does so without his infamous knife. The knife was a symbol of his civilization in Burroughs’ book. Derek takes away this civilization in order to create the perfect primitive savage. A person, particularly a woman, would not see a man thrashing at an animal with blood flying everywhere, as an attractive scene. Since this film is a woman’s fantasy, Derek leaves out the knife for it is an impurity to Tarzan’s appealing role. At the conclusion of the fight with the snake, Tarzan carries Jane into the jungle to safety where Tarzan himself passes out. The first sign of Jane’s infatuation with Tarzan is revealed as she comfo rts him. While Tarzan is unconscious, Jane strokes his body, everywhere. She makes it ... ... Tarzan runs off. In the final epic rescue of Jane, Tarzan attacks the tribe which has abducted her and her father. After killing the tribe’s greatest warrior, Tarzan frees Jane, and runs off with her to the jungle. Jane sees the nighttime as an opportunity to carry out her fantasy with the Great White Ape. They gaze into each other’s eyes and proceed to spend the rest of the night intertwined. Throughout the film, Jane’s fixation with Tarzan is apparent. It takes a contrasting perspective compared to Burroughs’ Tarzan, where Tarzan has the fixation with Jane. Bo Derek transforms the â€Å"innocent Victorian† Jane into a powerful, demanding woman. Initially hearing â€Å"there is much to fear† about Tarzan, Jane decides against common thought. Tarzan’s primitive savagery appeals greatly to Jane. Her passion for the noblest of savages is everlasting.

Jhumpa Lahiri

The Criterion: An International Journal in English ISSN-0976-8165 The Treatment of Immigrant Experience in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Name Sake D. Ebina Cordelia Assistant Professor in English Holy Cross College,Tiruchirappalli Tamilnadu. Indian writing in English is one of the voices in which India speaks. It spreads the traditional and cultural heritage of India within India and also introduces it to the whole world.It is Indian in sensibility, thought, feeling and emotion and experience but submits itself to the discipline of English for expression. The contemporary novelists tread new paths and this shows the vitality of Indian fiction. Arun Joshi, Khushwant Singh, Salman Rushdie and Vikram Seth depict the Indian social scene, the partition scene, the theme of alienation and the social, economic and psychological problems of modern man.Writers who are cultural hybrids like Maxine Hongkinstun, Gloria Naylor, Alice Walker, Bharati Mukherjee, Jhumpa Lahiri and many others take up is sues like identity crisis, nationalism, alienation, marginalization, insider – outsider and the hegemonic power discourses in the fiction that they are writing today. Jhumpa Lahiri as an immigrant novelist clearly fits into the school of writers better known as the writers of the ‘Indian Diaspora’. The word ‘diaspora’ has been taken from Greek, meaning â€Å"to disperse†. ‘Diaspora’, is the voluntary or forcible movement of peoples from their homelands into new regions†¦. Ashcroft, Griffiths, Tiffin] Normally, disapora fiction lingers over alienation, loneliness, homelessness, existential rootlessness, nostalgia, questioning, protest and assertions and the quest for identity; it also addresses issues related to amalgamation or disintegration of cultures, discriminating margins of two different social milieus, internalizing nostalgia and suffering a forced amnesia. We may call it a literary / cultural phenomenon with a distinc t melting pot syndrome or that of a salad bowl where the identity of each ingredient is under question. Diaspora is the communities of people living ogether in one country who â€Å"acknowledge that the old country as a nation often buried deep in language, religion, custom or folklore, always has some claim on their loyalty and emotions†. (qtd. in. Kaur, 192) Diasporic experience is a spring of agonized inspiration, multiple identities, new subjectivities, creative memories and fresh perspectives of language and life. The earlier immigrant works of the neo-colonial and post-colonial works were often a product of forced immigration of people running away from religious and other political or social persecution.But several Indians who migrated to America in the mid 1970s and afterwards were in search of a better life, and material success and prosperity. Vol. II. Issue. IV Th e C rit 1 er io n December 2011 www. the-criterion. com The Criterion: An International Journal in Eng lish ISSN-0976-8165 Jhumpa Lahiri was born in 1967 and raised in Rhode Island. She was the daughter of Bengali parents. She was influenced by both Indian and American culture and heritage. This multi-cultural life style plays a central role in many of her stories, which depict the alienation and loneliness of immigrants caught between two drastically different worlds.Her novel, The Namesake focuses on the lives of Indians and Asians who have migrated abroad. Her writings tell us about the adjustment problems of Indians (both first and second generations) who have now settled in America. The tension between adhering to Indian culture and imbibing American culture, between upholding family tradition and subscribing to the individual freedom and realization that one is an outsider even though one is born there is beautifully highlighted in her works. Jhumpa Lahiri portrays immigrant experience and the clash of cultures.The conflicts portrayed in the novel bring great empathy to Gogol a s he stumbles along the first – generation path, strewn with conflicting loyalities, comic detours and wrenching love-affairs. With penetrating insight, she reveals not only the defining power of the names and expectations bestowed upon us by our parents but also the means by which we slowly, sometimes painfully, come to define ourselves. The Namesake, is the story of the Ganguli family. Following an arranged marriage in Calcutta, Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli move to the U. S. and settle in Cambridge and Massachusetts.An engineer working at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ashoke adapts more quickly to life in America in contrast to his wife, who resists all things American and pines for her family, in Kolkatta. When a son is born to Gangulis, they are faced with the realization that they cannot wait for a suitable name for the child. Ashoke names the boy Gogol after a Russian writer, whose book he credits with saving his life. But Gogol who does not know the reason for gi ving him this name, is unable to identify either with the Americans or with the Indians.Intimately interacting with the American environment, the Indian diaspora continues to feel that they are the outsiders even though they have an insider’s insight. The question of cultural identity occurs in Lahiri’s writings. In India no single culture exists. Too many cultures have crossed and blended here, and produced a hybridity in us that cannot now unmix. The Indian cultural identity has acquired a heterogeneous composition with today’s youth who are on the move in search of better jobs.Hence the bonding between the people and the settlement is fast disappearing. The familiarity and uniformity of basic cultures across communities in the states of India makes for easier assimilation and preservation of one’s own culture. But when one leaves India and goes abroad, one realizes that even though one may try and assimilate with that culture, yet it is a baffling new world. The west which appeared alluring when one viewed it from one’s locale, appears complex and complicated when one settles there and realizes that one is exiled by choice from one’s home.Immigration is the movement of people from one country or area of the world to another to establish a new permanent residence. People become immigrants primarily for economic, political or religious motives. The U. S. has often been called the â€Å"melting pot†. The name is delivered from the United States’ rich tradition of Vol. II. Issue. IV Th e C rit 2 er io n December 2011 www. the-criterion. com The Criterion: An International Journal in English ISSN-0976-8165 immigrants coming to the U. S. looking for lucrative jobs and having their cultures melted and incorporated into the fabric of the country.Most of them (immigrants) were not highly educated and did not possess wealth or power in their home countries other than these few commonalities of what they didnâ₠¬â„¢t possess, their backgrounds were vastly different. The thread, however, that bound these immigrants together was their vision of improving their current situation. Emma Lazarus, in a poem entitled â€Å"The New Colossus†, which is inscribed on the pedestal of the statue of liberty tells of the invitation extended to those wanting to make the U. S. their home. â€Å"†¦. Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free†. Encyclopedia Americana, 1998, Vol. 637) To a question in an internet interview, regarding Lahiri as a child of immigrants in America and the conflicts she felt while growing up, she says, It was always a question of allegiance of choice. I wanted to please my parents and meet their expectations. I also wanted to meet the expectations of my American peers, and the expectations I placed on myself to fit into American society. She adds that it’s a classic case of divided identity, but depending on the degree to whi ch the immigrants in question are willing to assimilate, the conflict is more or less pronounced.Her parents were fearful and suspicious of America and American culture when she was growing up. Maintaining ties with India, and preserving the Indian tradition in America, meant a lot to them. The first generation immigrants try to stick to the mannerisms, values and beliefs of their own culture and any clash between their concept of â€Å"home† and their beliefs baffle them. In most of the second generation people these emotional links and ties with the past in most of the matters are loosened. They mainly go by American styles in food and habits, and their marital relations too are crumbling.The term first generation immigrant may be used to describe either of two classes of people. One may be, an immigrant to a country, possible with the caveat that they must be naturalized to receive this title. The second class may be the children of immigrant parents, first in a family lin e to be born in the new country. The ambiguity of this term extends to the term â€Å"second generation immigrant†, which may refer to the first generation born in the new country, or the first generation born to parents who were themselves born in the new country.The living ‘in-between’ condition is very painful and marginalizing for them. There is the yearning for â€Å"home†, to go back to â€Å"the lost origin†, and â€Å"imaginary homelands† are created from the fragmentary and partial memories of their homelands. The novel opens with Ashima recalling her homeland fondly. She is in an advanced state of pregnancy, admitted in a hospital for her delivery. To quote, †¦. nothing feels normal to Ashima. For the past eighteen months, ever since she’s arrived in Cambridge, nothing has felt normal at all.Its not so much the pain, which she knows, somehow, she will survive. It’s the consequence: Motherhood in a foreign land. â € ¦. It was happening so far from home, unmonitored and unobserved by those she loved. (The Namesake 6) Vol. II. Issue. IV Th e C rit 3 er io n December 2011 www. the-criterion. com The Criterion: An International Journal in English ISSN-0976-8165 They also face cultural dilemma when their cultural practices are mocked at and there is a threat to their cultural identity. They stand bewildered and confused, and show resistance also to the discourse of power in various forms.In the following generations these confusions, problems and yearnings become less intense as they get influenced by the culture of that country and also adapt themselves to it. To a question in an internet interview, regarding her immigrant experience, Jhumpa Lahiri says, †¦The way my parents explain it to me is that they have spent their immigrant lives feeling as if they are on a river with a foot in two different boats. Each boat wants to pull them in a separate direction, and my parents are always torn between the two. They are always hovering, literally straddling two worlds†¦.She feels an immigrant must teach us so much about the world and about human beings, things we can’t understand if we are born and raised and live our whole life in one place. â€Å"The generational differences† of the migrants and their children occupy different spaces in the ‘representative’ culture but their experiences of feeling rootless and displaced can be similar on nature. Though the children born to migrant peoples enjoy better settlement and place in that country â€Å"their sense of identity borne from living in a diaspora community is influenced by the past migrant history of their parents or grand parents†.Ashima tries to settle in and adjust herself to her surroundings, but she feels strange and lost in this country and spends hours remembering her parents and family, and reading the same five Bengali novels time and again. While waiting for the child to be born, she relives the past until the point of her depature for Boston. The thought of bringing up a baby in an alien land terrifies her. †¦to raise a child in a country where she is related to no one, where she knows so little, where life seems so tentative and spare. (The Namesake 6) Ashima gives birth to a boy and he is named Gogol after the Russian writer Nikolai Gogol.She feels, without a single grandparent or uncle or aunt, at her side, the baby’s birth, like most everything else in America, feels somehow haphazard, only half true †¦. She never known of a person entering the world so alone, so deprived. (The Namesake 25) Gogol who does not know the reason for giving him this name, is unable to identify either with the Americans or with the Indians. Gradually Ashoke and Ashima’s circle of Bengali acquaintances grow and the cultural spirit of Bengal is recreated whenever the friends meet. Robert Cohen comments that distinct diaspora communities are con structed out of the, †¦. onference of narratives of the old country to the new which create the sense of shared history. As Ashoke and Ashima continue to maintain a solidarity with the community, they identify Gogol continues to search for his own identity, for a set code that will not make him feel an â€Å"insider – outsider†. Vol. II. Issue. IV Th e C rit 4 er io n December 2011 www. the-criterion. com The Criterion: An International Journal in English ISSN-0976-8165 The first time his parents leave him alone overnight he goes with his friends Colin, Jason and Marc to a party in the university where his father teaches.This is his first visit to a dorm. There he meets a girl and he introduces himself as Nikhil and â€Å"he feels at once guilty and exhilarated†. (The Namesake 96)â€Å"Stunned at how easy it is† to say Nikhil, he who never dated a girl before and feels brave. He manages to kiss her before he goes. But it hadn’t been Gogol but Nikhil, â€Å"That Gogol had nothing to do with it†(The Name Sake 96) One must note the dual identity or identity crisis in Gogol. Prior to his depature for college, Gogol officially changes his name to Nikhil. But even though he had longed to change his name, he finds that he has to get used to being called Nikhil.And when his parents also refer to him as Nikhil he feels, â€Å"†¦ in that instant that he is not related to them, not their child†. (The Namesake 106) Ashoke and Ashima make adjustments which are absolutely necessary. They try to bring up their children the way it is done in India. Sonia and Gogol try to assert their individuality, and Gogol goes to the extent of reminding his parents that he is eighteen. Ashoke and Ashima cannot think of Pemberton Road as their home, but Nikhil refers to his New Haven hostel as his home. Ashima is outraged by his remark. â€Å"†¦. Sorry, I left it at home† (The Name Sake 108). Ashima says †¦. hat aft er twenty years in America, She still cannot bring Herself to refer to Pemberton Road as home. (The Namesake 108) Though Ashoke and Ashima have a large circle of Bengali migrants as their friends; the sense of alienation can be felt in them. Gogol and Sonia, American born and educated, want to be accepted as Americans. However, they feel alienated both from their parents and from their American friends who consider them as outsiders. The insider outsider feeling is prevalent in all migrants. It is through the eyes of the first generation settlers that the second generation learns about their homeland.The idea of ‘home’ is central to all human beings in every culture. Having sampled the pleasures and pains of the world, one longs to return to one’s home. Ashoke and Ashima’s body language and demeanour change, the minute they are in India. They are more confident and assertive. It is true that every time one returns one comes back to a different home, becaus e times change and so do people, but nevertheless it is a home where one’s roots are anchored. The first generation wants to preserve their culture and customs in the foreign land.It is significant that every other Saturday Ashoke and Ashima send Gogol for Bengali language and culture classes at the home of one of their Bengali friends. But, The children in the class study without interest, wishing they could be at a ballet or softball practice instead. (The Namesake 66) Lahiri also shows that most of the first generation people adjust well and make a space for themselves in the new country. Ashima is a good example of Lahiri’s first generation people. She tries to adapt herself with the society, she tries to work in a library and manages to drive a car by herself.They concede to Sonia and Gogol’s demand of celebrating Christmas, and having an American dinner once a week. However, when Gogol gets involved with Ruth, they disapprove openly saying ‘Youâ€⠄¢re too young to get involved this way. (The Namesake 117) Vol. II. Issue. IV Th e C rit 5 er io n December 2011 www. the-criterion. com The Criterion: An International Journal in English ISSN-0976-8165 When Ruth goes off to oxford to do a course he misses her and he, †¦longs for her as his parents have longed, all these years, for the people they love in India†¦ for the first time in his life, he knows this feeling. The Namesake 117) He attends a panel discussion about Indian novels written in English. There the question about marginality is discussed. Teleologically speaking, ABCDs are unable to answer the question ‘where are you from? ’ the sociologist on the panel declares. (The Namesake 118) Gogol realizes that ABCD [ABCD stands for American born confused â€Å"desi†] refers to him also. He ponders over the question of identity. After graduating Gogol gets a job in a firm and is posted in New York. He meets Maxine and is invited by her for dinner. While eating dinner with Maxine’s parents, he recalls his mother’s hospitable nature and how, â€Å"She would never have served so few dishes to a quest. † (The Namesake 133) Lahiri shows that comparisons and contrast between Indian culture and Western culture are bound to occur. Cultural displacement involves the loss of language, family ties and a support system. Salman Rushdie says, A full migrant suffers, traditionally, a triple disruption. He loses his place, he enters into alien language, he finds himself surrounded by beings whose social behavior and codes are unlike and sometimes even offensive to his own.And this is what makes a migrant such a pathetic figure, because roots, language and social norms have been three of the most important parts of the definition of what it is to be human being. For the second generation the question of identity is a complicated issue. At home Indian culture and value system are adhered to, while in public the American co de of conduct is followed. This becomes doubly problematic. Added to this is the fact that Ashoke, Ashima and all first generation settlers want their children to do well and get good jobs.The American dream looms in their eyes and they want their children to exploit the situation and derive the maximum benefit for themselves, but they must follow the Indian moral and cultural code at home. However, Gogol, Sonia, as well Moushumi want to chart out their own lives. Gogol’s shifting in with Maxine is an assertion of his independence, and his desire to completely merge with the American culture. Gogol eventually marries Moushumi, but they are not happy and so they part. Ashoke dies, and Ashima decides to sell the house on Pemberton Road. Hence forth she would spend six months in India and six months in the states.True to the meaning of her name, she will be without borders, without a home of her own, a resident everywhere and nowhere (The Namesake 276) Initially when she had com e in 1967, she had been petrified of living in America. But now as she makes the journey back home alone, she is no longer terrified. Vol. II. Issue. IV Th e C rit 6 er io n December 2011 www. the-criterion. com The Criterion: An International Journal in English ISSN-0976-8165 It is the last Christmas party at Pemberton Road after the death of Ashoke. Gogol, Sonia and her fiance Ben, and other guests gather around Ashima to enjoy this moment.Gogol goes to get his father’s camera and finds the book, which his father had given him on his birthday and which he had never bothered to open and read. As the party goes on downstairs, he sits on his bed and begins to read the book. The first generation migrants face cultural dilemma but do their best to retain their cultural identity and cultural practices in their beliefs, values, cloths and eating habits. These ‘beliefs, traditions, customs, behaviours and values along with their ‘possessions and belongings’ are c arried by migrants with them when they arrive in â€Å"new places†.The children of the migrants do not face the same problems because of their parents living â€Å"here now†. Thus Lahiri has shown dynamically the shifting concepts of ‘home’ and ‘displacement’ in the successive generations of migrants. Lahiri uses her own craft, technique, style, format and structure. Her narrative voice is elegant, bitter sweet and gentle. Her novel talks of Indian culture, traditions, including food and festival, clothes and customs. Her novel, The Namesake, exhibits her signature style and in it she revisits issues that she knows well, those of cultural displacement, sense of identity, and belonging with one foot in two words.Lahiri gracefully shifts the narrative focus from the Ganguli parents to Gogol as he reaches school age. Gogol struggles with his name, which he regards as absurd and inappropriate. The issue of culture permeates the novel, from the ear ly dislocation of immigration in the first half of the novel to Gogol’s departure from home to Yale University. This transition is marked by Gogol’s decision to change his name to Nikhil. Gogol’s college experience in one way resembles what might be called typical; he falls in love; he discovers architecture; he begins to assert, against his parent’s desires, his independence and individuality.And yet his experiences are always complicated by the particular, as in any life. Gogol can never, even when he moves to New York to work in a large architecture firm, shake his past, his culture or his name as he wishes to do. The novel exposes the fallacy of the American myth of selfcreation. Gogol grows up, moves out and goes through life suffering personal tragedies that also shape his identity. The novel ends with Gogol in his early thirties. Although the novel never feels busy or hectic, the characters are always in transit. America and the west have always be en idealized by the Indians.But when qualified Indian migrate to America then the adjustment problems begin between the traditions, one has inherited and the day to day life one encounters there. There is a gradual adjustment, and assimilation and then a hybrid culture comes to the fore. Gradually one develops a respect for other cultures even though one’s own culture remains ingrained within oneself. Culture is not defined now-a-days by a place, it is defined by time ‘the now’. As identity becomes the core issue, names become quite significant. The expressive function of a name varies from culture to culture.In Lahiri’s novel, Indian names, the Indian identity of her characters become potent symbols and tools to highlight the immigrant identity. Lahiri’s works are scattered with details of Vol. II. Issue. IV Th e C rit 7 er io n December 2011 www. the-criterion. com The Criterion: An International Journal in English ISSN-0976-8165 Works Cited Bhadu r, Gaiutra. â€Å"An interview with Jhumpa Lahiri† www. citypaper. net Bhagava, Rajul, ed. , â€Å"Indian writing in English The Last Decade. Rawat Publications: New Delhi. , 2002 Dodiya, Jaydipsinh, K, ed. â€Å"Critical Essays on Indian writing in English†. – New Delhi : Sarup & Sons. 2006 Edwards, Paul. â€Å"The Encyclopedia of Philosophy 8 Vols. New York. Macmillan Publishing co. , Jha, Gaurishankar, ed. , â€Å"Current Perspectives in Indian English Literature. New Delhi : Atlantic Publishers & Distributors. , 2006 Lahiri, Jhumpa. The Namesake. New Delhi : Harper Collins Publishers Ltd. , 2007. Vol. II. Issue. IV Th traditional Indian names, food items, cooking details and wardrobe lists providing the Indian an ethnic touch. In Lahiri’s novel The Namesake the role of memory in a process of change is often used by the writer in an effective way. Memory plays tricks on all of us.Memory often idealises its perception of a place to convince oneself t hat there is one entity which remained constant in world of flux. Food in the novel is a talisman, a reassuring bit of the homeland to cling to. Spices and flavor waft through like themes in a piece of music as evidenced by the following passage. †¦with the samosas, there are breaded chicken, cutlets, chickpeas with tamarind sauce, lamb biriyani, chutney made with tomatoes from the garden. (The Namesake 148) Lahiri uses food as a tool to explain Bengali culture: and also tries to distinguish it from other cultures.For example : †¦. Gogol’s annaprasan, his rice ceremony thre is no baptism for Bengali babies, No ritualistic naming in the eyes of God. Instead, the first formal ceremony of their lives centers around the consumption of Solid food. (The Namesake 38) Ashima is shocked to see whiskey and wine bottles instead of cereals and tea on top of the refrigerator in Judy’s house. Here Lahiri emphasizes cultural difference through food. Lahiri is keenly sensiti ve to the fine ruptures and sudden disjunctures which make the familiar alien, which delink one from the ies of humanity, family kin leaving one with the acute sense of being alone. She maps the emotional lines of her characters. Lahiri’s elegant prose guides us through their lives. Toward the end of the novel Gogol’s mother, Ashima, thinks, â€Å"They are not willing to accept, to adjust, to settle for something less than their ideal of happiness† That pressure has given way, in the case of the subsequent generation, to American common sense†. The perpetual tensions between cultures, between individual minds, between the mind and the world beyond it, runs through this empathetic, beautiful novel. eC rit 8 er io n December 2011 www. the-criterion. com The Criterion: An International Journal in English ISSN-0976-8165 Naikar, Basavaraj, ed. â€Å"Indian English Literature. Vol. 2† New Delhi : Atlantic Publisher & Distributors. , 2002. Patel, Vibhuti. â€Å"Interview : The Maladies of Belonging†. Newsweek International, 20 Sep 1999. Prasad, Amarnath, and John Peter Joseph. â€Å"Indian Writing in English : Critical Ruminations. New Delhi : Sarup & Sons. , 2006 Shankar, Radhika. â€Å"A writer Free to write All Day† . http. //www. rediff. com/news/1999/aug23 Vol. II. Issue. IV Th 9 e C rit December 2011 er io n

Political Events and Shipping Demand Essay

Introduction Modern shipping is the life-blood of the world; without it, much of the demand for imports and exports would not be met. In 2006, world seaborne trade was estimated to have reached 30,686 billion ton-miles, having grown by 5. 5% over the previous year. Despite the prevalence of air transport, up to 90% of world trade is carried over the oceans in humble ships. The demand for seaborne trade is driven primarily by the world economy; various industries produce the goods that need to reach different parts of the world. In its most recent World Economic Outlook , the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasted global growth of 3. per cent for the rest of 2008, lower by 0. 2 per cent from the previous month’s estimate. In spite of the dip, the world economy is still growing annually, led by the emerging markets that are hungry for resources to fuel their growth. Beyond the economy, there are several other factors that determine demand for shipping. This paper seeks to evaluate the role of political events and its impact. In addition, it seeks to look into which commodity is most affected by such incidents. In his book, Maritime Economics, Martin Stopford writes that ‘no discussion of sea transport demand would be complete without reference to the impact of politics’. In the following paragraphs, this paper will address the main types of events that affect shipping demand both positively and adversely. 2. 0Political events that have affected shipping demand the most 2. 1Opening-up of the Chinese economy The accession of China into the ranks of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Beijing winning the bid to host the Olympics in 2001 were events that had large political motivations and caused a tremendous rise in demand for shipping. Since then, China’s economy has seen astronomical growth. In order to fuel this development, the country has increased both its imports and exports in almost every industry. This has taken the world by storm as countries the world over compete to feed and fuel the world’s most populous country. Hence, seaborne trade and demand for shipping worldwide has been skyrocketing as a result of China’s booming economy. 2. 2War and the economic embargoes Conversely, war and economic embargoes and sanctions are the leading cause of a drop in maritime activity. In broad terms, the hostilities in the Middle-East region have led to disruptions in movements of oil shipments to the developed world. In the 1950s, the Suez Crisis between Britain, France and Israel against Egypt, led to the diversion of ships around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the tensions. Two decades later on 17 October 1973, the ongoing Yam Kippur War caused the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries to stop shipping oil to nations that supported Israel’s war efforts. The impact of this embargo on shipping was the collapse of the oil tanker market and led to a series of recessions and periods of high inflation that persisted until the 1980s. Other examples would include the Korean War in 1950 and the Gulf War in the early 1990s. . 0Commodities affected Crude oil accounted for 26. 9 per cent of total goods loaded in 2006. Due to the sheer quantity of oil being shipped worldwide, any political event jeopardizing seaborne trade would usually entail oil shipments being affected. This is because the resource is abundant in only certain parts of the world; the Middle-East is one such region that is plagued with rogue political regimes and instability. In the above-mentioned events in the region, the hostilities resulted in disruptions to the oil trade and consequently, oil price. This would be discussed in the section on Iran. Another sector that would be affected would be the metal industry trades and in particular, that of iron ore. Western Australia and Brazil are major exporters of iron ore to growing markets like China which need it for its continued development. 4. 0Opening of China’s economy Since the 1970s, China has been gradually introducing economic reforms and providing enterprises with autonomy. However, it was only in the last 2 decades that the world’s 2nd largest economy has opened itself up to greater foreign investment and world trade. This was carried out through the relaxation of import and export controls and trade reforms in the form of reduced tariffs. All this led to a significant milestone for China and the world – its ascension into the ranks of the WTO on 11 December 2001. In addition, Beijing won the bid to host the 2008 Olympics that same year. These 2 events have set the stage for China’s rapid development. In the following paragraphs, this paper will explain its effects on the world and global trade and shipping. Based on a working paper by the IMF written in 2004, the international impact of China’s ascension into the WTO is far reaching. Firstly, sustaining the growth of China would provide benefits to its trading partners; beyond the processing of trade, there has been significant growth in imports for domestic use and outbound tourism. Secondly, China’s insatiable thirst for energy and metal imports have since fuelled the rapid rise in imports of such commodities. Lastly, multinational companies are tapping into the large domestic market especially with the freeing up of the country’s banking sector. This paper believes that China’s meteoric rise over the last two decades and more significantly, since the dawn of the new millennia, have created a surge in demand for world seaborne trade and shipping. 4. 1China’s role in transforming Western Australia and beyond As a result of China’s booming steel industry, Australian exports of iron ore to China reached more than A$4 billion last year. BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, two of the world’s largest resource companies, share the metal-rich Pilbara of Western Australia to feed China’s demand. The latter is hoping to double its 2007 iron-ore production in four years. This mining boom in the traditionally ‘sleepy’ side of Australia spells good news for its economy and residents. In an interview with the Economist , Eric Ripper, finance minister of Western Australia, said that his state has been fighting to bring in a A$9 million surplus seven years ago. Last year, the country’s largest state (by land area) grew by 6. 3%, twice that of the entire country. In addition, it now boasts a healthy surplus of A$2 billion. Besides iron ore, China has a tremendous hunger for other natural resources. All across the world, Chinese firms are finding new sources for crude oil, natural gas, metal and coal. Ships have been queuing off Newcastle in Australia to load cargo bound for China; at one point in June 2007, the queue was 79 ships long . In short, the rise in import demand by the Mainland has helped countries in Latin America and Africa grow their own economy. Another country that has seen business grow is the shipping giant of Greece. 60 per cent of China’s imports of raw materials and energy are carried on the backs of Greek ships. Greek ship owners want to capitalize and many have made orders to build ships in China which has caused the order books of the large manufacturers to bulge and many smaller players to join in the fray. . 2China’s effect on shipping demand In terms of shipping, China is a force to be reckoned with. Just 2 years after joining the WTO, China handled 48 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) in 2003, an increase of 11 million TEUs the year before. This made the country the largest container shipping market for the first time with both Sh anghai and Shenzhen joining the mega-port league of over 10 million TEUs throughputs . On two of the most important container trades from Asia to North America and Europe, mainland China and Hong Kong corner 60 per cent of the market share. More recently, with an increasing portion of China’s imports of oil products coming from Latin America and West Africa, ton-miles demanded associated with this trade has increased. Referring back to the example of Australian iron ore, China’s high volumes mean that Chinese companies are sourcing for metals from further abroad such as Brazil. In addition, China has always been a net exporter of coal. However, in the last few years, China has become a net importer; this forces its neighbors to source for coal from further afield. All these factors serve to increase ton-miles demanded. It is important to note that though ton-miles demanded may increase, actual volume may remain unchanged. 5. 0Iran and the Strait of Hormuz The on-going tension between Israel, the United States of America (USA) and Iran over its suspected nuclear-weapons programme has brought about fluctuations in oil prices in recent times. Several factors have made this all the more pressing in the last few months. These include a weakening Bush administration, Iran’s continued uranium-enrichment programme, a lackluster Western diplomatic approach to handling the situation and Israel’s jitters have raised the idea of a possible war in the Middle-East. In retaliation to suggestions of a military strike, Iran has threatened to cut oil exports and close the Strait of Hormuz . This strait’s importance lies in that it is the only viable path for much of the oil from the gulf to reach the rest of the world. By comparison, the Suez and Panama Canals are passages that have alternative albeit costlier, routes. A horseshoe-shaped body of water that stretches between Iran and the northern tip of Oman, the Strait is the only passage in and out of the Gulf. Every day, around 50 tankers carry between 4 million and 17 million barrels of oil and oil products through the 180km-long strait – roughly 40 per cent of the world’s internationally traded supplies . If Iran were able to close this waterway by use of anti-ship missiles, only 3 million barrels would be able to be diverted via the Red Sea. Thus, oil and oil product shipment would be greatly hit worldwide. In addition to oil, Jebel Ali, a port-town in the United Arab Emir ates, handles about half of all maritime trade between Europe and Asia. Currently, it is the largest port between Rotterdam and Singapore. Large portions of what enters some of these free zones in the gulf are transshipped to other parts of the world. Experts who have monitored the Suez Crisis in the 1950s and how it led to the Six-Day War understand that such an action from Iran would result in the Middle-East suffering economically. On a larger scale, the world would be faced with supply cuts in almost all goods. 6. 0Maritime terrorism Another threat to the maritime industry is terrorism at sea. Terrorism is broadly defined as attacks to create fear and often have an underlying belief that the terrorists want to spread. Since the world-changing September 11th attacks on the United States of America in 2001, many other acts of violence have been carried out with ships as targets. An example would be the infamous Al-Qaeda attack on the French oil tanker, the Limburg, in Yemen in 2002. Such attacks create not only a sense of uncertainty in the shipping industry, but have raised the costs of shipping as well. In the case of the Limburg, the insurance payout reached US$70 million . This example highlights the trend of insurance companies charging higher insurance premiums to shipping companies whose ships sail through more ‘dangerous’ waters. As a result, shipping cost has risen over the years and this has led to a dip in demand. Amongst the main trunk routes that ships often ply, the greatest number of such incidents happens in the South China Sea and the Straits of Malacca. These acts of terror also do not differentiate between the types of ships they target; almost everything from boats to tankers has been looted for their cargo and entire ships stolen. This paper would like to caution that the distinction between maritime terrorism and piracy is blurring. 7. 0Conclusion This paper has looked at examples of how political events have caused a stir in the maritime world. This is largely a result of the correlation between world trade, shipping and movement of commodities. Such incidents can spark both a decrease as well as an increase in demand for shipping. In the case of China’s reforms towards a more open economy, trade between this country and the rest of the world has increased dramatically. This has spurred the shipping industry not just in terms of seaborne trade but in other forms such as ports and shipbuilding. Beyond its shores, it has helped to lift the economies of countries that enjoy a high level of trade with China. On the other hand, the tensions in the Middle-East have brought about uncertainty throughout the world over oil prices and world trade. The strategic position of the most hostile nations in the region has given them leverage over the Western world in terms of threats to block the major waterway, the Strait of Hormuz. Lastly, the concerns over maritime safety and rising insurance costs to cover ships and their owners have caused a dip in demand for shipping. This is because of the higher costs now associated with shipping; it is intuitive yet unfortunate that the world’s major shipping routes are also the most dangerous.

Organization Structure

Organization Structure Introduction My colleague Carswell has raised a valid point of view regarding the problems we now face. I have only worked in this company for the past four years as an I/O consultant, and frankly, I have witnessed a lot of changes, not all of them in the positive direction. It is clearly evident that Benson Metal Company is under crises.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Organization Structure Benson Metal Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is also clear that the main cause of this crisis has not been investigated and it is due to this that the situation has escalated this much. It is sad that at this point in time, when the industry is harsh and struggling, that we are about to lose one of our most dedicated customers. As I see it, the main problem lies in our organization structure and conflicting lines of authority. Organization Structure As some of you know, a company’s organization structure defines the formal reporting relationships in the company including the level of power welded by the supervisors and the amount of levels within the organization (Daft, 2009). The organization structure also identifies the grouping together of individuals into departments within the organization as well as the design of systems that will guarantee effective coordination and communication between different departments (Baligh, 2006). Clearly, the organization structure of Benson Metal Company has failed to meet its intended purpose. The organization structure specifies three main things that include: required work activities, the reporting relationships and departmental groupings. The company main problem lays in reporting relationships while the other two factors are quite stable. Reporting Relationships The biggest problem in the company is and has always been reporting relationships or more specifically, the chain of command. The chain of command denotes the uninterrupted lines o f authority that links everyone in the company and indicates who reports to whom (Jones, 2010). Most of the individual holding places of power within the company are finding it hard to carry out their tasks. This may be attributed to people being designated jobs that they are unfamiliar with and have no skills in. The assistant to the president position is occupied with an individual who does not have the correct skills or experiences required for running the company or overseeing the welfare of our employees.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Our vice president has been unable to effectively lay out the correct lines of authority and has poor management skills. Generally, a body cannot function without a head and that is one of the main problems. Reporting relationships also involves setting up lines of authority important to ensure effective coordination betwe en the departments. Honestly, Ramsey Stockwell has failed in this regard. Time and time again, Mr. Stockwell has been antagonistic in our efforts to improve communication and coordination. He has not designed effective reporting relationships within his own department and even though those who serve beneath him are loyal, his attitudes are affecting the general attitude of his department regarding the company. Mr. Stockwell has proved to be very effective in ensuring that his department is up and running. However, his job does not end there and involves improving morale in his department, developing a schedule for his workers, laying out the correct reporting relationship within his department to avoid conflicts and respecting the general chain of command in the company. Mr. Stockwell has taken over the department and seeks to carry out all the jobs in his company. This would be well and good if he could actually deliver however as it can be seen, he is unable to deliver the require d results and his actions have only led to increased confusion in his department as well as others in the company. The relationship between Mr. Stockwell and the sales department is truly disturbing. Mr. Stockwell should learn that this is not a research facility but a company that needs to sell items in order to gain profits as well as meet its expenses. His antagonism and opposition to provide relevant information to the sales department is making us shortsighted thus losing our competitive advantage. We have failed to deliver products in time to our most trusted customers and frankly that is unacceptable. Information sharing within the department is of outmost importance but Mr. Stockwell has set up a bureaucratic system that most members within his organization seldom know what is required of them or the progress they are making.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Organization Structure Benson Metal Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/ page Learn More Conclusion Looking at the above problems, we can conclude that several things have to change. First of all, the required work activities should be specified especially considering the strain the production of the aerospace materials has on the company. Secondly, communication both within the departments and across different departments has to be improved. Communication and coordination between the departments can be improved in several ways. The first method is through improving teamwork between the two departments i.e. production and sales. Members of the two departments should freely intermix and be involved in the actual process involved in both departments. Another method is by setting up an organization structure based on divisional grouping. Divisional grouping involves organizing employees according to whatever products the company produces (Fow, 2007). Members of both the sales team and the production team should be grouped together under one department ensuring information flow between the in every stop of material production. I thank you for your time and hope we can resolve these issues in the shortest time possible. References Baligh, H. (2006). Organization Structures: Theory and Design, Analysis and  Prescription. New York: Springer Science + Media Inc. Daft, R. (2009). Organization Theory and Design. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning Fow, W. (2007). Managing Organizational Behavior. Cape Town: Junta Co.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Jones, G. R. (2010). Organizational theory, design, and change (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson-Prentice Hall.

March Madness Bracket Statistics

March Madness Bracket Statistics Every March in the U.S. marks the beginning of the Men’s NCAA Division I basketball tournament. Dubbed March Madness, the modern version of the first round of the tournament consists of 64 teams in a single elimination bracket  format. Office pools and Internet contests challenge fans to correctly guess the outcomes of all 63 games in the tournament. This is no small undertaking. In the first round of the tournament alone there are 232 4,294,967,296 possible brackets that could result. Statistics and probability can be used to knock this number of over four trillion down to a somewhat more manageable size. Each team is assigned a ranking or seed from #1 to #16 based upon a number of criteria. The first round of the tournament always follows the same format, featuring four games each of the following types: #1 seed vs. #16 seed#2 seed vs. #15 seed#3 seed vs. #14 seed#4 seed vs. #13 seed#5 seed vs. #12 seed#6 seed vs. #11 seed#7 seed vs. #10 seed#8 seed vs. #9 seed Making Predictions Predicting the winner of each game is a complicated process that involves comparing several different variables from each team. To simplify matters, results from previous tournaments can be helpful to make predictions for the current year’s tournament bracket. The tournament has had the same 64-team structure since 1985, so there is a wealth of data to analyze. A prediction strategy using this idea looks at all instances where a #1 seed played a #16 seed. The results from these prior outcomes give a probability that can be used to make a prediction in the present tournament. Historical Results Such a strategy of picking the winner based on previous seed results is limited. However, there are some interesting patterns that start to emerge when examining the results from the first round of the tournament. For example, a #1 seed has never lost against a #16 seed. Despite a higher ranking, #8 seeds lose more often than not against #9 seeds. The following percentages are based on 27 years of March Madness with four of the same types of matchups in each tournament. #1 seed vs. #16 seed – The #1 seed has won 100% of the time against the #16 seed.#2 seed vs. #15 seed – The #2 seed has won 96% of the time against the #15 seed.#3 seed vs. #14 seed – The #3 seed has won 85% of the time against the #14 seed.#4 seed vs. #13 seed – The #4 seed has won 79% of the time against the #13 seed.#5 seed vs. #12 seed – The #5 seed has won 67% of the time against the #12 seed.#6 seed vs. #11 seed – The #6 seed has won 67% of the time against the #11 seed.#7 seed vs. #10 seed – The #7 seed has won 60% of the time against the #10 seed.#8 seed vs. #9 seed – The #8 seed has won 47% of the time against the #9 seed. Other Statistics In addition to the above, there are other interesting facts pertaining to the NCAA tournament. Since the 1985 tournament: Only once (4% of the time) has all four #1 seeds made it to the Final Four.Three times (12% of the time) no #1 seeds have made it to the Final Four.14 times (52% of the time) a #1 seed has won the entire tournament.The lowest seed to win the tournament is a #8 seed.The lowest seed to make it to the Final Four is a #11 seed. Use the above statistics at your own discretion. As the saying goes, Past performance is not an indicator of future success. You never know when a #16 team will score an upset.

Summary Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Summary - Case Study Example Mrs. Fairlie's son Hamish benefited from this program and now goes to regular school. Miss Taylor's chosen charity was Make a Difference, a small charity that supports children and their families in Sydney suffering from financial crisis. These Sydney families would be directly supported by the funds raised here. Both ladies were awarded $15000 each to visit their charities of choice, as well as a trip to Hawaii. APEC summits usually draw their share of protesters to each meet, and the businesses of the CBD at Sydney are being asked to beef up security in anticipation of untoward events or damages to property by protesters. According to the NSW Business chamber's chief executive, Kevin MacDonald, the challenge for the businesses would be to cope with upsets in everyday business due to security and transport measures taken by the government as well as taking on additional individual security measures. The reinforced security measures could include simple things like locking doors, limiting access to vital areas and increasing the amount of security at the shop fronts. Businesses with shop fronts would be particularly vulnerable, and both Australian as well as international businesses could be targeted. These conclusions are based on previous experiences of demonstrations by protesters at APEC summits. All businesses are therefore taking the threat of possible damage to property very seriously . This year, the theme of the one of t... Since Bowral is the home of the cricket icon Don Bradman, and the McGrath Foundation is founded by former Australian cricketer Glenn McGrath, the natural association of cricket into the cause of breast awareness is marked by two remarkable themed gardens. Other than the100,000 tulips in the Corbett Gardens, some exotic private gardens can be seen on the "Garden Trail", and art, textile and pottery exhibitions enjoyed on the "Garden and Art Trail" spread across the Southern Highlands. The weekend would also be marked by a food and wine festival, a special charity cricket day, and a gala dinner. ---------------------------------------- The APEC summit would end with a short, five-minute fireworks display. This is supposed to mark the end of the summit, and would complement the appearance of the APEC logo that would be shining on the Sydney Harbour Bridge from September 2 to 9. The fireworks would be sent off from various tall ships and yachts, but not from the Sydney Bridge itself, and the entire display would be called "River of Fire". The show would be exclusive to the visiting dignitaries who would be attending a 45-minute performance featuring young Australian artists inside the nearby Sydney Opera House. Since the fireworks display would be very short, and would be held inside the area under APEC security restrictions, APEC spokeswoman Anne Fulwood felt that the general public would enjoy it better on their television sets. This would also prevent any disruptions in the area under the APEC strict security lock-down. ----------------------------- A new music, art and media festival called Up! would be presented by the Frontier Touring Company this spring. It would be headed by