Marco Polo

Marco Polo was no doubt one of the most influential explorers in the world. His tales of the East opened the minds of the Europeans, and his tales were a catalyst for the Age of Exploration in Europe. His influence on geographical exploration was so pivotal that many years later Christopher Columbus used Marco Polo’s book on his voyage to the New World. Marco Polo’s book, The Travels of Marco Polo, was widely published and thousands of copies were printed in different languages. However, many skeptics believe that Marco Polo never actually set foot in China, but used other traveler’s accounts of China as his own.Despite Marco Polo’s huge influence on Europe, the false and wildly exaggerated claims and the amount of Chinese Culture he failed to mention in his book made it evident that Marco Polo was really a fraud and never really made it to China. Historians have questioned Marco Polo’s credibility with his many dubious claims in his book, suggestin g that he also fabricated his story about setting foot in China. One false claim Marco Polo made was that he assisted Kublai Khan as a military advisor during the siege of Hsyiang-Yang.According to records, the Chinese siege ended on January 1273, which was two years before Marco Polo actually got to northern China. Another doubtful claim Marco Polo made was that he was the governor of Yangzhou, and served as an ambassador under Kublai Khan. Yet despite his high-ranking positions, his name does not appear in any of the Chinese records. Historians have argued that Marco Polo’s publisher, Rusticello, might have exaggerated his stories to make it more interesting, but that just furthermore questions the credibility of Marco Polo’s book.If Marco Polo and Rusticello exaggerated and lied about so many things, they might have lied or exaggerated about Marco Polo even setting foot in China. In addition to his questionable claims, Marco Polo also fails to mention important aspe cts of 13th century Chinese life and culture. Marco Polo also omits many important aspects of Chinese life and culture from his book, The Travels of Marco Polo , which would have been hard to leave out as an European if he really set foot in China. Marco Polo claimed that he spent many years traveling around China, serving as â€Å"The Eyes† of Kublai Khan.Yet during the time he spent traveling South China, he fails to mention anything at all about tea drinking, which was popular in southern China during Polo’s time. He also fails to mention the binding of a woman’s feet, which would have fascinated the Europeans due to how strange and different it was. This raises suspicion, since Marco Polo vividly describes other aspects of Chinese culture and life with so much detail; yet he fails to mention the slightest bit about tea drinking and feet binding, strongly proving that he only borrowed descriptions from other travelers.Other aspects of Chinese Culture and life he omitted from his book were the use of chopsticks, Chinese writing, Chinese books and printing, and porcelain; all important aspects of Chinese life and culture. However, the most alarming thing Marco Polo failed to mention was the Great Wall of China. Though some historians might argue it was in tatters during this period of time, it still remained China’s greatest architectural achievement, and shouldn’t have been missed out from Marco Polo’s book if Marco Polo actually went to China.Marco Polo may have missed out on many aspects of Chinese culture and life, but his book never ceased to amaze the Europeans from the moment it was published. Marco Polo’s book told of a land to the east never known to the Europeans before, and opened up the Europeans’ medieval minds whether or not those accounts of China actually belonged to him. At first, Europeans found his tales hard to believe, but instead of rejecting Marco Polo’s stories, they embrac ed it as a romantic fantasy.Nonetheless, The Travels of Marco Polo became Europe’s most widely read book, due to the fascinating and detailed descriptions of Kublai Khan’s wealth and his magnificent empire. His descriptions of China was that of a country with thriving towns, and with cities far richer than any place in Europe in terms of goods, services and technology. Marco Polo may not have included everything about Chinese culture, but he still managed to amaze the Europeans with descriptions of paper money, at the same time introducing Europe to coal, a substance they had never heard of before.Marco Polo may have opened up the minds of European and his stories may have been a major cause of the Age of Exploration, but in the end evidence proves that he was merely a useful â€Å"recorder of Information†, as deemed by Frances Wood, Marco Polo’s No. 1 critic. Despite Marco Polo’s book about China, which fascinated readers all around Europe, the am ount of false and dubious claims in Marco Polo’s book combined with the amount of important aspects of Chinese life and culture omitted from the book strongly proves that Marco Polo was not a credible source and never really set foot in China.His false statements and wild exaggerations in his book have caused historians to question his credibility, and the amount of omissions in Marco Polo’s book are simply too great to confirm that he really set foot in China. Nonetheless, Marco Polo was a huge influence to Europe, whether or not his tales were fabricated from other travelers, and remains one of the most famous explorers to this day. Marco Polo Marco Polo was no doubt one of the most influential explorers in the world. His tales of the East opened the minds of the Europeans, and his tales were a catalyst for the Age of Exploration in Europe. His influence on geographical exploration was so pivotal that many years later Christopher Columbus used Marco Polo’s book on his voyage to the New World. Marco Polo’s book, The Travels of Marco Polo, was widely published and thousands of copies were printed in different languages. However, many skeptics believe that Marco Polo never actually set foot in China, but used other traveler’s accounts of China as his own.Despite Marco Polo’s huge influence on Europe, the false and wildly exaggerated claims and the amount of Chinese Culture he failed to mention in his book made it evident that Marco Polo was really a fraud and never really made it to China. Historians have questioned Marco Polo’s credibility with his many dubious claims in his book, suggestin g that he also fabricated his story about setting foot in China. One false claim Marco Polo made was that he assisted Kublai Khan as a military advisor during the siege of Hsyiang-Yang.According to records, the Chinese siege ended on January 1273, which was two years before Marco Polo actually got to northern China. Another doubtful claim Marco Polo made was that he was the governor of Yangzhou, and served as an ambassador under Kublai Khan. Yet despite his high-ranking positions, his name does not appear in any of the Chinese records. Historians have argued that Marco Polo’s publisher, Rusticello, might have exaggerated his stories to make it more interesting, but that just furthermore questions the credibility of Marco Polo’s book.If Marco Polo and Rusticello exaggerated and lied about so many things, they might have lied or exaggerated about Marco Polo even setting foot in China. In addition to his questionable claims, Marco Polo also fails to mention important aspe cts of 13th century Chinese life and culture. Marco Polo also omits many important aspects of Chinese life and culture from his book, The Travels of Marco Polo , which would have been hard to leave out as an European if he really set foot in China. Marco Polo claimed that he spent many years traveling around China, serving as â€Å"The Eyes† of Kublai Khan.Yet during the time he spent traveling South China, he fails to mention anything at all about tea drinking, which was popular in southern China during Polo’s time. He also fails to mention the binding of a woman’s feet, which would have fascinated the Europeans due to how strange and different it was. This raises suspicion, since Marco Polo vividly describes other aspects of Chinese culture and life with so much detail; yet he fails to mention the slightest bit about tea drinking and feet binding, strongly proving that he only borrowed descriptions from other travelers.Other aspects of Chinese Culture and life he omitted from his book were the use of chopsticks, Chinese writing, Chinese books and printing, and porcelain; all important aspects of Chinese life and culture. However, the most alarming thing Marco Polo failed to mention was the Great Wall of China. Though some historians might argue it was in tatters during this period of time, it still remained China’s greatest architectural achievement, and shouldn’t have been missed out from Marco Polo’s book if Marco Polo actually went to China.Marco Polo may have missed out on many aspects of Chinese culture and life, but his book never ceased to amaze the Europeans from the moment it was published. Marco Polo’s book told of a land to the east never known to the Europeans before, and opened up the Europeans’ medieval minds whether or not those accounts of China actually belonged to him. At first, Europeans found his tales hard to believe, but instead of rejecting Marco Polo’s stories, they embrac ed it as a romantic fantasy.Nonetheless, The Travels of Marco Polo became Europe’s most widely read book, due to the fascinating and detailed descriptions of Kublai Khan’s wealth and his magnificent empire. His descriptions of China was that of a country with thriving towns, and with cities far richer than any place in Europe in terms of goods, services and technology. Marco Polo may not have included everything about Chinese culture, but he still managed to amaze the Europeans with descriptions of paper money, at the same time introducing Europe to coal, a substance they had never heard of before.Marco Polo may have opened up the minds of European and his stories may have been a major cause of the Age of Exploration, but in the end evidence proves that he was merely a useful â€Å"recorder of Information†, as deemed by Frances Wood, Marco Polo’s No. 1 critic. Despite Marco Polo’s book about China, which fascinated readers all around Europe, the am ount of false and dubious claims in Marco Polo’s book combined with the amount of important aspects of Chinese life and culture omitted from the book strongly proves that Marco Polo was not a credible source and never really set foot in China.His false statements and wild exaggerations in his book have caused historians to question his credibility, and the amount of omissions in Marco Polo’s book are simply too great to confirm that he really set foot in China. Nonetheless, Marco Polo was a huge influence to Europe, whether or not his tales were fabricated from other travelers, and remains one of the most famous explorers to this day.

Mozart’s “Clarinet Quintet” and Mahler’s Symphony no.1 in D major “Titan” Essay

The Music of the classical and Romantic era is a period of time where it shows the development and different styles of music. This can be shown through the manipulation of musical elements, (dynamics, pitch, tempo, rhythm, texture, meter, tonality, structure, melody, harmony, instrument) while contrasting them, but it can also be shown through the composers of the music, the size of the orchestra, musical directions, emotional content, and non-musical developments through that period of time. After the Renaissance and the Baroque era, the Classical era soon followed at around the 1720-1820’s. During these times in Europe, there were many non musical developments, ideas of the enlightenment, political issues, scientific discoveries and the reexamination of established ideas, including the existence of God. Many of these ideas and has got huge impact on the heavy Monumental baroque style and later developed with a more intimate rococo style, with its light colors, curved lines, and graceful ornaments, which greatly resembles the classical period. Shortly after the Classical period, the Romantic era appeared during the 1820-1900’s. At these times, non-musical developments such as cultural movements strongly expressed emotion, imagination, and individuality. People such as Romantic painters and writer often emphasized the freedom of expression; they often saw political revolution as a reflection of their own struggles for artistic freedom. This had made a huge i mpact on Romantic music, because the emotional subjectivity turned into a basic quality of Romanticism. Comparing the musical elements of Classical era and Romantic era, we would notice the many differences, and hence we can identify and recognize the music of both periods. The first musical element that I will discuss is rhythm. As we can see, the rhythm of the Classical era tends to be less complex and quite repetitive. Classical style usually includes unexpected pauses, syncopations, and frequent changes from long notes to shorter notes, and the change from one pattern of note lengths to another may be either sudden or gradual. As we can see in the Finale of Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, we can see that during each of those variations, the rhythms are not very complex and quite repetitive, for example, the first 3 – 8 bars of the introduction in Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet show a somewhat consistent rhythm  consisted 4 of crotchets each bar, the 2nd variation show a consistent rhythm of 4 sets of triplets between the 2nd violin and viola, the 3rd variation shows a consistent rhythm of 4 sets of semi-quavers in each bar, with the clarinet normally. Through what I have described just now, one could see that the pattern of note lengths have gradually changed to shorter and shorter, in this case, from 4 crotchets to 4 triplets to 4 semi-quavers. Also, in variations like Mozart’s clarinet quintet, triplets and syncopations can be found frequently. In contrast, romantic music tends to not emphasize that much on simple and consistent rhythms. There are often changes in the number of beats in a measure, cross-rhythms, syncopations, etc. For example in Mahler’s Symphony no.1 in D major â€Å"Titan†, consistent notes goes against syncopations, there are accompaniments with skips and staccatos etc. (p.116) Both Classical and Romantic eras have written musical directions, unlike Renaissance and Baroque which does not have any. Moreover, I have noticed that the musical directions of both pieces have extreme differences. As we see in Mahler’s symphony no.1 in D major â€Å"titan† 3rd movement, there are many written musical directions: dynamic, emotional, tempo directions. For example, in the first 20 bars, there are already 7 written musical directions, whereas in Mozart’s clarinet quintet, there are extremely small amounts of written musical directions, only 2 written musical directions in the first 20 bars. This significantly shows that there are differences in the use of written musical directions in the Classical and Romantic era. Classical and Romantic music has differences in melodies and structures too. In classical music, the structures emphasize more the grace of proportion and balance, moderation and control; polished and elegance in character with expressiveness and formal structure held in perfect balance. Furthermore, the forms do not vary as much as the Romantic era, they had forms like sonatas, symphonies etc. The melodic phrases are usually balanced and symmetrical made up of two phrases of the same length. For an example, in Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, the music is very symmetrical and well balanced, in a variation form. However, in Romantic music, they rather emphasize on the emotional content than trying to sound balanced and symmetrical, and expanded their use of forms and created new forms, like impromptu, ballade,  etude, nocturnes etc,. Moreover, the melodies normally have either really long or short phrases, increased in range, but also increased in chromaticism. For example in Mahler’s symphony no.1 in D major â€Å"Titan†, we can see that except it is in a ABA form, the whole movement was not as symmetrical and well balanced as the Mozart, although it is in a variation form, the melodic phrases have increased in range, are either really long, for example in the first 18 bars, or really short, where the melody can be hardly seen in bar 134-137. Classical and Romantic era are very different in the use of harmonies too. In Classical music, harmonies were formed from the chords. If the chords in a music composition are all major chords, then the harmonies would create emotions that express bright, happy and positive feelings, in contrast, if the chords are all minor chords, then the harmony would express the emotion which is sad and depressed, negative feelings. However, in Romantic music, harmonies are more complex due to the development of the complex chords. For example, a diminished chord that is usually found in Romantic music would create a harmony that is rarely found in Classical music. In general, the use of harmonies is very different in both Classical and Romantic music. Another difference I have noticed between Classical and Romantic music is the range of dynamics used. In the Classical era, the dynamic range normally used was between pp – ff. This range was expanded in the Romantic period, ranging from pppp – ffff. This difference can be evidently proven in Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, where the range was kept within the range of p – f, a small range of pitch in each part of instruments. However, in Mahler’s symphony no. 1 in D major â€Å"titan†, the range of dynamics increased to pppp – f, with a big range of dynamics in each of the instrumental parts. In general, the range of pitch of Classical and Romantic era varies when the classical as small range of dynamics, whilst the Romantic as a larger range of dynamics. The range of pitch of the Classical and Romantic era is used very differently too. In the classical era, the range pitch is not as big as the Romanic era, as he range of pitch in the Romantic era was expanded, as the composers seek  for more extreme high and low sounds. For example in Finale of Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet as a Classical song, the range of pitch of the whole song was only D2 – C6 with little range of pitch in every instrumental part, but the range of pitch in Mahler’s symphony no. 1 in D major, as a Romantic song, is B1- D6, with a very broad range in every instrumental part. In general, the range of pitch of Classical and Romantic era varies when the classical as small range of pitch, whilst the Romantic as a larger range of pitch. The tempo of classical era and Romantic Era is used very differently too. In the Classical era, the tempo only changed when there are written musical directions to change the mood, but tempo of Romantic music changed the mood constantly with not only the written musical directions, which is often underlined by Accelerando, Ritardando, and subtle variations of pace: but there are many more fluctuations in tempo than there are in Classical music, which they also intensify their emotions by using effect of Rubato. As we can see in Mozart’s clarinet quintet, there are only 3 written musical directions: â€Å"Allegretto con Variationi†, which means a little lively, moderately fast, with variation, â€Å"Adagio† which means at ease: slow, and allegro, which means cheerful or brisk; but commonly interpreted as fast, lively, and there are no written musical directions which guide the tempo within the scores. However, in Mahler’s symphony no. 1 in D major, there are not only main musical directions to guide the tempo, like â€Å"Feierlich und gemessen, ohne zu schleppen†, which means dignified but not too slow, but there are small ones in between the scores which appears constantly, like Zurluckhaltend which means holding back tempo, creating Rubato effect and Poco. Rit etc. These two pieces, Mozart’s clarinet quintet as a Classical music, Mahler’s titan as a Romantic music, clearly shows that there are significant differences in the tempo of the Classical and Romantic era, Classical with a less frequent change of tempo, Romantic with a frequent change of tempo. The texture of Classical and Romantic music can be contrasted. Classical music is basically homophonic; for example in Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, we can see that the texture is basically homophonic, with a few that is  polyphonic, and the pieces shifted smoothly from one texture to another, like in the changes from variation 1 to variation 3, there is a gradual change from thin texture to thicker texture. In contrast, even though romantic music can be homophonic and polyphonic and most of the time between the two, the texture turns thicker, it has lots of changes in texture, more drastic and frequent, and they use a lot more instruments to exaggerate this thick and emotional content. As we can see in Mahler’s symphony no.1 â€Å"Titan†, the texture is pretty thick in general, due to the size of the orchestra which creates density, and during the bars of 134-137, the whole orchestra is used, which creates the intense and climax moment. In general, although both Classical and Romantic music are mainly homophonic, the thickness of the texture is contrasted significantly. Chromaticism was also used differently in the Classical and Romantic era. In the classical era, melodic chromaticism was used frequently (especially by Mozart) to balance the harmonic plainness. In its simplest form of chromatic scales, it occurs a lot in unaccented passing notes. Melodic chromaticism does not usually affect the harmony; it is mainly used for color-modification of diatonic notes, to add tone color by composers. However, Romantic music generally uses chromaticism to form the music’s harmonies and create chords. This helps the composer to expand the emotional contents and express a few different emotions of the musical piece. In general, chromaticism was used very differently in the Classical and Romantic era. Cadenza chords of Classical and Romantic music is similar, but you can say that cadenza chords of Romantic music are built on top of the cadenza chords structures of Classical music. In Classical music, they generally have a cadenza chord structure of I – V – I. In Mozart’s clarinet quintet, the cadenza chords can easily be recognized as chords I – V – I, as we can see in the first 16 bars. In Mahler’s symphony no.1 in D major â€Å"titan† however, the cadenza consist of only chord I from bar 158 to the end, 11 bars all written in chord I. This type of chord structure is seldom found in Classical music, because Classical music usually ends a piece of music in an authentic cadence, plagal cadence, or deceptive cadence. In Romantic music,  these cadences are still used, but composers like to end their music in their own unique way, just like Mahler’s symphony no. 1 in D major. Another difference that I have noticed between Classical and Romantic music is the size of their orchestra. In a Classical orchestra, there are normally only 20-60 players, which involve strings: 1st & 2nd violins, violas, cellos, double basses. Woodwinds: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons. Brass: 2 French horns, 2 trumpets. Percussion: 2 timpani. However, towards this end of the Romantic era, the orchestra might have included around 100 musicians. The constant expansion of the orchestra reflected composes changing needs as well as the growing size of concert halls and opera houses, due to technological advances. The brass, woodwind and percussion sections of the orchestra took on a more active role, calling for trombones, tubas, and more horns and trumpets. The woodwind took on new tone colors such as contrabassoon, bass clarinet, English horn and piccolo. Orchestral sounds became more brilliant and sensuously appealing through increase uses of cymbals the triangle and the harp. One of the most evident differences between Classical and Romantic music is how composers express their emotion and creating emotional intensity. Composers from the Classical Period tend to focus more on the structure of music, creating music that is structural and compact in form, and captures our attention by the beauty and structure of the music, which usually just expresses one emotion. However, composers from the Romantic Period focused more on depicting their emotions in their music, emphasizing on expression rather then structure, expressing several different emotions. When we compare Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet to Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major â€Å"Titan†, Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet tends to be more focused on perfecting the harmony between the different melodies and also the structure and forms, while Mahler’s Titan emphasized much more on the emotional content. In short, Classical music tends emphasize on the beauty of balanced structures, expressing one emotion, while Romantic music tends to express more emotional contents, expressing several different emotions. In general, the music of Classical and Romantic era are very different in  many ways, in all aspects of the elements, dynamics, pitch, tempo, rhythm, texture, meter, tonality, structure, melody, harmony, instrument, and especially how they express their emotional contents. However, the Classical and Romantic eras are both historical developments of western music, which significantly contributes to the music that we listen to today. References Classical music. (2007, April 11). Retrieved April 15, 2007, from wikipedia Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_musicClassical period (music). (2007, April 13). Retrieved April 14, 2007, from wikipedia Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_music_eraLogan, J., & Swann, J. (n.d.). Classical Music and Romantic Music – Part 1. Retrieved April 7, 2007, from http://trumpet.sdsu.edu/m345/Romantic_Music1.htmlRomantic music. (2007, April 12). Retrieved April 13, 2007, from wikipedia Web site: http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_musicSchmidt-Jones, C. (2006, January 3). The Music of the Romantic Era. Retrieved April 7, 2007, from connexions Web site: http://cnx.org/content/m11606/latest/Sexton, T. (2007, January 17). The Classical and romantic Eras in Music History. Retrieved April 4, 2007, from associatedcontent Web site: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/119869/the_classical_and_romantic_eras_in.html

Relationship between Humans and Nature Essay

The relationship between humans and nature is an important topic in which many people contribute ideas to and have done studies on. It is important for people to see that nature is a necessity and that we are responsible for protecting it. In essays and an article, John Steinbeck, Lynn White, Peter Kahn, Rachel Severson, and Jolina Ruckert discuss their beliefs and information they have found to be true about humans and nature living together. In the article â€Å"Americans and the Land†, John Steinbeck talks about the American settlers’ impact on the land. He states that the relationship between humans and nature used to be one of settlers living with or against nature, but has over time come to humans living on or from the land. Steinbeck writes his feelings of humans being very irresponsible in their use of land back in a time when they thought there was an abundance of resources. He writes that people â€Å"burned the forests and changed the rainfall; they swept the buffalo from the plains, blasted the streams, set fire to the grass† (Steinbeck). During the time of the Indians, humans attacked and defended themselves without giving thought to the damage they were causing to their environment around them. To go along with how little Americans thought about the environment, Steinbeck addresses how people went land-mad. Because they had so much of it, â€Å"They cut and burned the forests to make roo m for crops; they abandoned hyknowledge of kindness to the land in order to maintain its usefulness† (Steinbeck). The idea of conservation didn’t much start until after engines and heavy mechanical equipment were in full use. And even since conservation and people finding awe and beauty in  the nation’s national parks, most people don’t think twice about using engines and machines to keep us warm or cool, give us light, or transport us quickly. In response to this essay, I do have to agree that in the past people did not know about the damage they were causing on the earth. However, I disagree with Steinbeck when he says that people do not think twice about using all available technology. I know that through conservation efforts, most everyone is very aware of the impact they have on the environment. Although people are not as in tune with nature as the Native Americans were, I think we could learn from them and appreciate and take more responsibility for nature. Lynn White, Jr.’s essay â€Å"The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis† addresses the relationship between humans and nature by bringing up the issue of what Christianity tells people about their relationship with the environment. It is interesting that White brings up the component of religion in how people treat nature because it is a huge aspect that oftentimes doesn’t get talked about much. White states that Christians believe that God gave them dominance over nature and that it was given to serve man. Because of this dominance that we have, people feel indifferent about exploiting nature and using it to serve themselves. Although I know this is true and is found in Genesis, I believe God intended it differently. I believe that just as God has ultimate rule over the earth and exercises his authority with loving care, he expects humans to do the same with the environment. God was careful in how he made the earth, and He wants us not to be careless and wasteful in how we take care of it. Although, I do agree that this mindset is a problem and has been a problem, so the best way to combat this is to teach Christians to dig deeper in to God’s word to figure out what exactly He means when he says something like that. Peter Kahn, Jr., Rachel L. Severson, and Jolina H. Ruckert discuss the impact on humans of how technological nature is coming to replace actual nature in the essay. In the essay, they come to the conclusion that this replacement causes changes in the physical and psychological well-being of the human species. Kahn, Severson, and Ruckert state that nature is imperative to have in human lives. The authors did a study in which they found that simply  looking outside of a window reduces heart rate which in turn reduces stress. Near the end of the essay, the authors discuss the issue of Environmental Generational Amnesia. This is a condition that humans may face in which, because of â€Å"adapting gradually to the loss of actual nature and to the increase of technological nature, humans will lower the baseline across generations for what counts as a full measure of the human experience and of human flourishing†(Kahn, Severson, and Ruckert, 37). In a study, they figured out that technological nature is better than no nature at all. And they also know that humans have an evolutionary need to affiliate with nature, so we either have to adapt to technological nature, or go extinct. The authors know that talking to people about these environmental issues is becoming harder as most people aren’t aware of or simply don’t believe that they are a problem. I think that this was a very important study to do and shows people the importance and necessity of going out into nature. The relationship between humans and nature is important to everyone because we really can’t escape the fact that we are living together. Knowing the history of why nature is so important to humans can help create a sense of responsibility for its well-being which in turn should unite people to try to make a difference in how we are treating it and using current technology. Because of Kahn, Severson, and Ruckert we now know that nature is something that humans innately need and that increases our health. Reading the ideas and conclusions of these authors about this topic has made me wonder about what my own stance on nature is, how my faith effects that, and if I am substituting technological nature for real nature. Works Cited Kahn, Peter. Severson, Rachel. Ruckert, Jolina. _The Human Relation with Nature and_ _Technological Nature._ (2009). http://depts.washington.edu/hints/publications/Human_Relation_ Technological_Nature.pdf Steinbeck, John. _Americans and the Land._ https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxlbmdsaXNoMTEwMzI4bGN8Z3g6NGIwMDEzNDA4NDhhYzEw White, Lynn. _The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis._ (1974). http://www.uvm.edu/~gflomenh/ENV-NGO-PA395/articles/Lynn-White.pdf

PHY 131 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

PHY 131 - Assignment Example Sources of errors include; One procedure during the experiment involves measuring the horizontal distance travelled by the block after being released from the top of the inclined plane. In this context, there were possibilities of parallax error. Parallax error results from the distance between the observer’s eye and the measuring scale. Parallax error occurs whenever the observer’s eye fails to squarely align with the scale. Therefore, there is a possibility of parallax error when measuring distance ‘x’ travelled by the block. Systematic errors usually occur whenever observation features as one procedure used in collecting experimental data. Technically, it is almost impossible to start and stop the watch at precisely the ideal moment in time throughout the experiment. With respect to the experiment, stop watch error may have affected all the five entries of time. In this regard, it will be accounted as a constant systematic error throughout the experiment. Typical instruments like rulers will not lack resolution errors. In the energy and kinematic experiment, values obtained for distance ‘x’ contains instrument resolution errors. The ruler used had finite scale, thus limiting the ability to precisely obtain small measurements. Conventionally, electronic meters would measure slight adjustment in distance (Arlene 41). However, precision and resolution of rulers are limited by the finite scale, and cannot measure fractions of a millimeter. In physics experiments, precision of procedures is important in ensuring accuracy of data obtained. For repetitive procedures, changing a physical aspect like reversing one side of the block will cause a substantial error in reproducibility. When combined with other errors, physical variations cause considerable imprecision of empirical values. In conclusion, it is undeniable that numerous types of errors are responsible

Bill Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Bill - Research Paper Example Since the company’s application in May and the subsequent development within the House of Representatives, the bill have raised substantial arguments. Proponents of the bill argues that it would create employment while its opponents claim points at environmental impacts. According to Coral Davenport of The New York Times, November 18, 2014 passage of the bill may rely on veto powers of President Obama and Nebraska court approval for allowing passage of the pipeline through the district. As a concerned member of industrial revolution in the State, there exists need to remain a proponent of the bill. Conceivably, citizens should duly commit their votes to encourage the proposed Keystone pipeline project in a non-political but rather economic mind. Ideally, the proposed project presents unmeasurable economic benefits coupled with industrial revolution to United States. Society can envy the nay voters on the proposed project, it is logical. However, change always remains inevitable and not to have concerns and commitment based on the current industrial and economic issues raises responsibility questions. Before voting against the noble Keystone project, a reflection of its vitality to United States economy and superiority should remain a fundamental concern. The following ultimate benefits as aforementioned are domineering for question and reflection before opposing the proposed pipeline project. As concerned citizens of United State, there exist a contemporary urgency to reinstate manufacturing back to the country. Domestic manufacturing industry is imperative in provision of employment and production of locally standardized goods that directly sustains the health concerns that citizens cherish as a nation. TransCanada insists that local refining of crude oil would be imperious in sustainability of the economy especially on creation of employment opportunities. It is essential to understand that opposing the idea would

Research paper on hamlet Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Paper on hamlet - Research Proposal Example I am interested in the aspect of delay in action by Hamlet. Hamlet’s delay is interpreted with many reasons. After reading the play more than twice, I also found many interpretations for delay in action by Hamlet. I have also read certain articles that I found to be helpful for my research work. I do not want to include psychological reading of the play related to Oedipus complex as it is a full-fledged topic in its own. I have read the articles that I will also attach with the research and after reading them, I read the whole play again which was really helpful in obtainment of ideas related to the research proposal. Hamlet’s procrastination and delay can be seen as a result of his moral scruples and conscience; his delay can also be a result of his moral repulsiveness; his delay is also an outcome of his deepened melancholy and lastly, his delay can be a result of his over examination and speculation of the whole situation. When Hamlet gets the news of his father’s murder by his father’s ghost, he ponders over the situation and tries to judge the accuracy of the ghost’s revelation and even after having knowing that the ghost’s revelation is true, he is indecisive and irresolute. He delays his action and there are no chances of his revenging if the luck has not pressurized him to move forward and to kill his father’s murderer. Hamlet kills his father’s murderer but he kills him as he has no other option. Claudius tries to murder Hamlet twice and his second attempt is fruitful. Hamlet gets killed but he is successful to take his revenge. Hamlet is depressed and worried after his father’s sudden death and his mother’s marriage is an additional source of depression for Hamlet. In this depressed and melancholic state, he gets the news of his father’s being murdered by Claudius, his mother’s second husband. His melancholy is deepened. He is unable to

EMR(ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD) Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

EMR(ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD) - Research Paper Example discussion will focus on various issues ascribed to the process of converting paper-based health records into electronic health records (Hamilton 2009). Specifically, the discussion will focus on conversion of problem-oriented paper-based medical forms into electronic health records. It is quite challenging to provide the exact period of time that is usually required to convert a paper-based health form into an electronic health record. However, there are various issues that may be taken into consideration in order to estimate the amount of time that may be consumed in this process. In my case, the process of conversion may take approximately six weeks. This is based on the fact that the process may entail scanning of the paper-based problem-oriented health forms, which are generally easy to read and record. This period is also based on the volume of paper-based health records that have been kept in the health facility overtime. Moreover, the number of persons involved to facilitate this process is taken into consideration. In the case that the health facility decides to use a different approach i.e. physically typing in the information recorded in the paper based problem-oriented medical record, a relatively longer period of time may be consumed, but this may a lso depend on the number of persons involved to facilitate the process. There are various challenges associated with converting paper-based health records into electronic health records. The first challenge that may be experienced in this case is the fact that introduction of a new data management may prove to be a challenge to the staff in the health facility. This may occur with regard to understanding of the modus operandi of information technology. Another challenge that may be experienced with the process of converting paper-based oriented medical forms into electronic forms is high resource use. To begin with, the process may require use of extra financial resources majorly used to purchase the IT

Crime Mapping Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Crime Mapping - Research Proposal Example Examination of the disturbance data table confirms occurrence within broken windows the same as the system of entry, signifying that possibly residences are being beleaguered. This implies geographic patterns ought to follow regions of higher family density, moreover temporal patterns are supposed to follow day by day as well as weekly practices. This will be analyzed inside this analysis. Thematic Choropleth The disturbance data is plotted by means of a thematic choropleth so as to overcome the drawbacks of simple point plots. Derived from the prevalent system of entry which is broken windows, we suppose disturbance crime is powerfully associated with building density for this reason we choose to control the crime data through dividing by number of households instead of dividing by tract area. During this matter we have regulated the ranges to emphasize a smaller number of precedence tracts which are able to then turn out to be the focus of our successive analysis. Our plan is to discover opportunities for a besieged policing effort which lessen crime considerably. So, we regulated the ranges so that fewer than 6 tracts stay in the top grouping. The resulting plot is illustrated in Figure 3. Related Geographic Data and Spatial Relationships When the streets layer plus the disturbance crimes are added to the choropleth plot, it in the end indicates the spatial association between crime events plus the urban landscape. Figure 4 illustrates apparent concentrations in the region of definite streets and intersections plus the very remarkable observation that the Inner Loop Road appears to bound high concentration of crime. Grid Map On the other hand, bearing in mind the drawbacks of simple plot charts to demonstrate crime concentrations we will include a grid... The day-of-week chronological analysis confirms predominance in crime for the duration of the week as measured up to during the weekend, significance that targets possibly residential relatively than commercial. This deduction is held up by the hour-of-day examination even though conceivably the trends are not predominantly strong. Perchance not astonishingly a peak is observed on Friday, but fascinatingly another peak comes about on Tuesday. The results shows disturbances tend to raise after 7am that is when individuals have left for work, next they portray an abrupt drop at lunch time, then a sturdy peak mid- daylight that is the time when school comes to an end, and one more strong peak at 8pm that is the time when individuals go out, in addition to a principally strong peak past midnight. This last midnight peak may possibly be the consequence of reporting curbs. The data is anchored in timeframe furthermore it might be that during midnight is the moment that is selected when def inite time is unknown.

Word for word hearing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Word for word hearing - Essay Example t terminals for nearly a year until a partial agreement was reached in April, and in Iraq, we’ve only recently begun to see that country tap the potential of it proven oil reserves which is the source of 90% of its budget but now that Iraq’s second largest city, Mosel, fell this week to Al-Qaeda affiliated Islamic state of Iraq, _ ISIL and the increase deterioration of the security situation in that country, there’s no telling what the future has in store for its energy sector. But that just highlights the problem; most of those countries relay heavily on the sale of oil or gas as their main driver for their economies and anything upsets the delicate balance can be extremely detrimental to their economic outlook and has the potential upend the global energy market. Then of course we have the recent discovery of large oil, natural gas sorry off the coast of Israel. This has huge implications for our friend and democratically the Jewish state of Israel because seemingly overnight, Israel has gone from energy dependent on some unreliable partners to now to now commanding a large sum of natural gas that can transform its relations with its neighbors. The instability of Egypt over the last few years, coupled with large energy subsidy providers to Egyptians, has seen overconsumption in Egypt and has harmed its energy outlook. Both Israel and Jordan had been reliant on gas from Egypt but now that Israel has the potential to export large sums of gas that Jordan needs, this could be an opportunity for those nations to strengthen their ties. Israel’s potential could also transform its relationship with Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries as they look for regional solutions to the energy needs. Yet Israel’s natural gas boom hasn’t just affected its relationship in the middle east and north Africa region, it is also seen a promising and expanding relationship with Greece and Cyprus. The recent discovery of large hydrocarbons in the east Mediterranean has

Capstone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Capstone - Essay Example Special academic programs serve the purpose of arming nurses with tailor made skills meant to enhance workplace related competence. Upon acquiring the required theoretical knowledge, nursing students may demonstrate their ability to articulate the acquired skills in duties within actual healthcare facility settings. At this juncture, I will examine my professional and intellectual growth upon completion of the nursing program. A nurse is free to choose any project as long as it addresses practical, real world challenges using the knowledge and skills gained while pursuing their graduate program. A capstone project entails a paper and presentation which uses the nurse’s experience to address a particular challenge identified in a proposal. A capstone program aims to evaluate nurse’s ability to identify a problem, formulate a relevant research question, use correct methods to tackle the research question and identify how their knowledge relates to current scholars and stu dies. The nurse should also be able to demonstrate the ability to organize information, interpret significance, write a good prose and use evidence and example to develop his study. Capstone portfolio is a benchmark assessment for the program and provides an opportunity for assessment by multiple parties. It help an individual assess himself as a nurse and long time learner and professional (Huba and Freed, 2000) because after graduation, the individual is involved in a process of continuous reflecting, self-assessment and self-guided scholarly and professional growth. When information from your capstone portfolio is used, it provides a forum for assessment by employers or other people from whom the individual seeks specific opportunities. Assessment plan for capstone portfolio is comprehensive as there is minimum requirement (average grade point) to qualify for the program and other qualifications an individual is supposed to meet like the need to provide finger prints, check of cr iminal records and computer competency. Then in the course of the program there is constant assessment by instructor on the courses undertaken and grades earned in return. In other cases a nurse is expected to pass a certain specified course before they can be allowed to undertake another course. This could also apply in courses where one needs to pass in the theoretical classes before they can be allowed into the field for practical work or internship. Classroom experience provides a basic framework before you are allowed into the field which is used as a forum to assess how good one has gripped the concepts that were taught. Upon completion of the program, I have acknowledged importance of acquiring informed consent from clients during clinical and social care procedures. Professional conduct of nursing involves explicitly defined guidelines concerning ethical practices. In addition, the program emphasizes the importance of nursing professional conduct towards the cultural require ments in a nurse-client relationship. In my practical encounter with geriatrics patients, I have learned that clients may refuse to undertake certain clinical procedures, even if those procedures are beneficial to their wellbeing. Throughout the course, I appreciate the fact that clients have a right to decline treatment. As a nurse, I will only be able to administer clinical procedures after acquiring voluntary and informed consent from a patient. According to Heartfield and Andre (2011), this relates to

Term paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Term paper - Essay Example ein and Victor, for Victor knowledge was the surge beyond the acceptance of human limits and the access to the secret of life while for Frankenstein knowledge was viewed in a manner that would make humans accept him as he was. The monster due to his grotesque appearance is rejected by society and therefore becomes an integral part of the action. Why grotesque? Victor creates this monster from his unnatural manner of his creation which entails the mystifying animation which is a combination of embezzled parts of a body with bizarre chemicals. Therefore one can state that the monster is a combination of scientific work which enfolds the dark and the supernatural. Does not this description fit Victor too? Victor the creator also exhibits monster qualities. His aspiration, mystery and egocentricity kind of estrange him from society and his family. His creation of the monster also creates a monster within himself for eventually Victor is consumed by hatred for his creation. Abortion an ever prevalent occurrence wherein the innocent is mercilessly killed is still found in today’s world. This abortion can also be witnessed in Victor as well as the monster who express the monster’s gruesomeness. Victor looks at his creation he states â€Å"When I thought of him, I gnashed my teeth, my eyes became inflamed, and I ardently wished to extinguish that life which I had so thoughtlessly made†. The monster who hates himself cries out â€Å"I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on.† This idea of abortion can also be traced to Victor’s destruction of the female monster wherein Victor aborts the act of creating the female counterpart of the monster. An explanation can be found in Victor’s description of philosophy â€Å"I at once gave up my former occupations; set down natural history and all its progeny as a deformed and abortive creation; and entertained the greates t disdain for a would-be science, which could never even

Portrayed in film Essay Example for Free

Portrayed in film Essay The sociological issue, to be researched is, the representation of the physically challenged in the mass media, concentrating on popular films. Ive decided to use four main stereotypes, which are most common in the media. After reading into Media and Mental illness by The Glasgow Media Group, I became intrigued and started to reflect on the images portrayed. As I have a physical disability, I thought that I would have a better understanding of my research, and a good empathy for people who are being portrayed badly. After researching on the Internet, based on the research I developed my hypothesis: There will be no physically challenged people portrayed in normal roles, instead they will fit into one of the four stereotypes. Contexts and concepts The Broadcasting complaints Commission study showed that in television programmes 7% of persons were disabled. They showed that disabled people were mostly in broadcast films, drama and soap operas. Langmore (1987) Studied on the different forms of representations of disabled persons, and how the audience reacts to seeing a disabled person on the television as a pose to an able bodied person. The results show that people generally feel a lot more sympathetic, pitiful and patronizing towards disabled people. Sheridan in A physical challenge for the media: The effects of portrayals of wheel chair users. He says that whilst there are many images of wheelchair users, they are not always accurate or helpful to the disabled community. To portray a wheel chair user in a film is so that they can be used as a dramatic and provocative tool. He states that it is possible to categorise portrayals into four main stereotypes, the pitiful handicapped, the bitter cripple, the inspirational hero and the set dresser. These are the four stereotypes that I have decided look into. This introduces the concept of stereotypes. A stereotype is a one sided, exaggerated and usually prejudicial view of a group. One myth about physically challenged people is that people with disabilities have a poor standard of life, this is not the case. The stereotypes may have some factual basis, but in most cases are incongruent with reality. Sheridan raises the question that because these portrayals are prevalent, are they an accurate account of what goes on in real life situations. He answered, as there is much diversity as there is commonality in the wheelchair community. There is no consensus as to what is accurate. He offers no solution but says that there are advances in advertising, as people in wheelchairs are not seen as disabled but as consumers. He thinks advertisers will continue to add positively to the way society perceives wheelchair users, and that maybe one day we will change our perception from archaic stereotypes to more realistic portrayals. This brings me onto the concept of identity. To acquire a sense of self identity and an image of your self is through socialization. If some body is labelled a specific type of person, it can be said that a social identity has been added to your self. Your social identity will then be seen as a label to show what kind of person you are. Resulting from the label you have now been given, you might start to think you are that type of person.

Improved Supply Chain Management Benefits

Improved Supply Chain Management Benefits Improved supply chain management has the following benefits: Reduced stock holding. The implementation of effective supply chain a company can reduce the number of stocks it is keeping and at the same time improving the customer service. Reducing stocks on hand will avoid incurring holding costs which is the cost the company pays for storing stocks. It includes warehousing and labour to keep the stocks. Good communication between the company and its suppliers, knowing the minimum stocks needed before reorder, proper estimation of demand, and understanding the mode of transportation will help to determine the correct volume of stocks the company needs in a given period will help it to eliminate excess inventory. Managing the information and communicating and sharing it effectively to suppliers and customers will result to accuracy of the level of stocks needed at a certain period. The inventory level must be enough to meet the demands of the customers and with the minimum costs to be incurred. The supply and the demand for a product must be balanced. Reducing the sto cks avoid tying the company’s capital on unnecessary stocks. Elimination of waste. Waste in form of spoilages, defects, theft and obsolescence can be minimized and possibly eliminated through having the right inventory level to keep on a particular period. Overstocking or overproduction will result to wastes and losses for the company. Customers are only after receiving the right quantity and good quality at the right time. Activities such as unnecessary movement of goods within the warehouse, and warehousing which does not add value to customers should be eliminated. Implementation of an effective supply chain will make this possible. Proper coordination with suppliers and understanding logistics are the keys to deliver customer service and demand at the right place, quantity and time. Improved customer service. Effective supply chain will increase efficiency within a company. Efficient company can deliver best services to customers. It important to recognise what the customers really want and that is what the company will deliver. Only those value adding activities are practices within the company. Value adding activities are those processes within the company that will add satisfaction to customers. Products should be delivered to customers on time and in accordance to their specifications. The customers demand should not just be met but should also be exceeded. Reduced Labour Costs. Effective supply chain will reduce labour costs. Because the processes in the company is well planned and defined, duties and personnel are not redundant. Unnecessary functions are eliminated thus resulting to reduced labour costs. One example is that when a company is maintaining only the right volume of inventory, it will not be needing more people to do the stocking, operating forklift, people who will secure the warehouse and supervisor. Improved Manufacturing Planning. The raw materials required, the timing of deliveries and other activities and resources related to planning a manufacturing of product must all be considered in order to produce a product with the least costs but with good quality that at the end would satisfy customers. In planning the resources, the company should be ready for contingencies and should address the question â€Å"what-if†. Through careful planning, manufacturing a product can be carried on without any reservation because all the possibilities were considered. Just In Time. Just in time is an inventory strategy wherein goods are only received only when needed in production process  [1]. Through this strategy, wastes and carrying costs are minimized because a company is just holding right amount of stocks that will make it able to meet the demands of the customers. This strategy will be effective if the company has strong relationship with suppliers. These suppliers are willing to deliver more frequently and on time to meet customers demand. Methods to overcome barriers in an organisation when implementing a supply chain improvement strategy Inappropriate distribution networks. Distribution network as defined is interrelated arrangement of people, storage facilities and transportation systems that moves goods and services from producers to consumers  [2]. The distribution network should be reliable and fast customers want to get their products when they want it. Inappropriate distribution networks will hinder the proper and fast movement of products from manufacture to customer that is why there should be proper planning on who and what should be included in the distribution network. Ineffective distribution strategies. Distribution strategy is the plan how a manufacturing company will transfer products to intermediaries such as wholesalers to retailers until it reach the end user  [3]. The strategy must we well thought and should use distribution networks that are reliable so that the products will reach customers at the right time. Trade-offs in logistical activity. Trade-offs in logistics may happen for example when deciding to have fewer depots, lowering stocks requirements or using less protective transport packaging in exchange for some advantages such as reducing costs or no need to have large storage facilities. The impact of these trade-off should be considered because this might cause loss in sales due to wrong order picking and other instances related to trade-offs. Reduction of transportation costs. Transportation is one of the costly expenses in supply chain. It is important to have the best quality transport that will bring goods to places at the right time and price. In order to reduce the cost of transportation, a company may reduce the number of carriers, consolidate deliveries and by single sourcing  [4]. In reducing the number of carriers, large volume of works will be given to selected carriers and they will be able to give lower rates. Deliveries may also be consolidated if the trip is based on weight, distance and other variables so that fewer trips will be made. Single sourcing of carrier, the company is getting quotations from several carriers detailing what is required. The company may select the best quotation that can meet the requirements and evaluate if the carrier can perform on the whole duration of the contract. If the carrier has these qualities, the company can get a lot of saving on having single carrier. 5. Increased inventory holding costs Holding costs are cost associated to stocks that are not yet sold  [5]. It includes labour costs, space or rental, costs of damaged goods and other expenses related on keeping the stocks. The company must determine the level of volume of stocks that it needs to keep in order to avoid these costs. Holding cost is also an opportunity cost because having lot of stocks would mean tying the cash on the stocks instead of using the cash on other parts of operation of the company. Inability to integrate processes through the supply chain to share information Supply chain involves information sharing. Supply chain links companies to other companies. If information are shared between companies, it will be available on a real time basis and the companies will be able see the demand and with the ultimate goal of meeting the demands of customers. When companies have reliable and accurate shared information, their processes will be synchronized. All the processes are done to meet what is required. Uncertainties are reduces which results to holding low level stocks that is just right to meet the customer demand. Poor inventory management. Inventory management can be successfully implemented if a company can make a purchasing plan that will ensure that what they hold is just what is needed. It is not too much or too less. Just in time inventory is a good strategy to keep inventory at a certain level wherein the company plans to receive goods only when it is needed thus reducing significantly holding costs. A company can successfully implement through a purchasing plan which schedules delivery of material through the forecasts and projections made on sales. Cash flow problems Reducing costs and avoiding cash flow problems are benefits of effective supply chain. Holding large volume of unnecessary stocks at a given period will cause cash flow problem in a company. Keeping these stocks is equivalent to costs and cash outlays. The company will pay large amount to suppliers but the stocks are not yet sold, tying the cash to the stocks. This will affect the liquidity of the company and can cause problem in a company. References: http://www.shelfplus.com/material-handling-hotline/ten-ways-to-reduce-inventory/ http://viktorwong-logistics.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/characteristics-of-supply-chain.html http://erp.cincom.com/2012/10/the-wicked-wastes-of-warehousing-2/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufacturing_resource_planning http://logistics.about.com/od/forsmallbusinesses/a/Reducing-Transportation-Costs.htm http://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/inventory-management.asp http://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/holding-costs.asp http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/distribution-network.asp http://www.adam-europe.eu/prj/7095/prj/CourieL_WP2_Chapter2_final.pdf [1] Investopedia. Just in Time. July 2014. Retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com/terms/j/jit.asp [2] Investopedia. Distribution Network. July 2014. Retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/distribution-network.asp [3] Business Dictionary. Distribution Strategy. July 2014. Retrieved from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/distribution-strategy.html [4] Murray, M. Reducing Transportation Costs. July 2014. Retrieved from http://logistics.about.com/od/forsmallbusinesses/a/Reducing-Transportation-Costs.htm [5] Investopedia. Holding Costs. July 2014. Retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/holding-costs.asp

Forged Under the Sun :: Essays Papers

Forged Under the Sun American Indian stories is the story of an Indian girl’s childhood experiences and how she went to school and also talks about the different Indian customs. The book sarts out with how her father, uncle and little sister were killed by the white men, and how much her mother resented the white men or palefaces as she called them. Bead work was one of the main things the Indian women did and so the little Indian girl also learned to do bead work by watching her mom. This book also tells of the many Indian myths or beliefs. In one case the little girl and many of the villagers were going to see a young warriors first arrival and their was a great party and during the walk to the center of the camp the little girl tried to grab a plum when her mother told her not to get a plum because the plum bush was growing out of the hands of an Indian boy who always like to play and eat plums. one day missionaries came to the camp to basically send mostly children to the East so they would learn the ways of the white man and also become civilized and in turn help bring more Indians Eastward to help with the modernization of America and Indians. The book describes in detail the regiment of what happened and how the little girl was feeling while she was in school and the day she went back home to visit her mother and also to recruit new children from the school she came from. Finally the little girl became a teacher. The book goes on to describing a warrior chief and his pride and joy in his little daughter and how he didn’t see anyone that would be able to marry his daughter. Blue-Star Woman was an Indian women at the age fifty three. She is described as a lady who keeps asking herself the question, Who am I? Blue-Star Woman was kept alive by the generosity of her neighbors. Finally the Chief Indian was in prison but by the help of Blue-Star’s to nephews. The southern railroad was under construction by mostly Chinese immigrants. During which time the Chinese were treated very wrongfully by the railroad supervisors and managers.

Reynolds Price’s The Great Imagination Heist :: Great Imagination Heist

Reynolds Price’s â€Å"The Great Imagination Heist† discusses how television has corrupted the imaginations of today’s American youth. The idea behind the word â€Å"heist† suits the title and story well; however, I disagree with his idea that television and video games have stolen youthful imaginations. Has anyone ever thought about the people who produce video games and television shows? In all fairness, those who have made these forms of entertainment have far greater imaginations than those who disapprove of their purpose. Producers have indeed captured the minds of America’s youth and allowed children to exercise their imaginations in fantasy worlds. They do not intend to deprive children of their personal imaginations, but the intention is to expand their minds beyond what they see everyday, and beyond the common feelings they encounter in life by making them into something abnormal to the world even though what children believe is not and may never be real. Imagination does not always involve dealing with realistic feelings or reading books and having to understand ideas in an intellectual way. Imagination does not need to be taken seriously; intelligence, on the other hand, should be taken seriously. Giving a child a book will test his reading and literacy skills. Putting a child in front of a 20/20 broadcast will confuse him. Reading books are meant for learning, not to expand one’s imagination. Children are not supposed to believe that television and video games are bad for them when this addictive hobby only makes them happy. It is only an excessive amount of television entertainment that will truly damage a child’s intellect. Adults, however, understand both how to read and the difference between reality and fantasy worlds and the effects television has on their intelligence. The truth is that television and video games are a part of this generation and they will not disappear soon.

Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology by Neil Postman Essa

As time progresses technology increases and improves. However, this progression could pose as a serious problem for generations to come, and New York University department chair of communication arts Neil Postman expresses this concern in his 1992 book, Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. In the opening of Postman’s book he expresses that technology is indeed our friend because technology provides our society with fast and easy convenience and accessibility. As with most other things, there are always two sides to everything and Postman notes, that â€Å"of course, there is a dark side to this friend† referring to technology (Postman, 1992). Many people do not address the negative sides to technology and just turn a blind eye to them so it is refreshing to have someone point them out and discuss the issues technology possess on our society. In Postman’s book that our society is redefining what family, religion, education, privacy, and history mean as a result of technology, known as technopoly. He proposes several theories about how our society got to where we currently are;including social, and symbolic traditions, and totalitarian technocracy. Postman compares technology to Thamus’ concern that writing would have an impact on an individual’s wisdom and memory. However, not all technology has been viewed negatively in Postman’s eyes. He has viewed some technologies as blessing to society; including technologies that once were provided as a helpful tool to society; including technologies such as, the printing press and clock. According to Postman, current technology is now considered a totalitarian order on society (Postman, 1992). These technologies brought beneficial aspects to society but did not control s... ... is an important issue is the impact technology has on the environment currently and for the future generations. As an educator, I would think Postman would be more incline to include this evaluation in his book. Nevertheless, Neil Postman wrote a very thought-provoking novel that should make all Americans rethink their lives, even if it is just a little bit. Postman was very critical in his novel, but he provides a wakeup call for everyone that has not come into contact with the nasty reality technology can have on society. References Mits Cash, M. C. (2000). Technopoly (Book Review). Educational Studies, 31(1), 75. Postman, Neil. (1992). Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. New York: Vintage Books. Wiener, J., & Mohr, L. A. (1994). Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. Journal Of Public Policy & Marketing, 13(2), 326-327.

The Fluidity of the Kite Runner

The Kite Runner is a novel by Khaled Hosseini. Published in 2003 by Riverhead Books, it is Hosseini's first novel, and was adapted into a film of the same name in 2007. The Kite Runner tells the story of Amir, a young boy from the Wazir Akbar Khan district of Kabul, whose closest friend is Hassan, his father's young Hazara servant. The story is set against a backdrop of tumultuous events, from the fall of Afghanistan's monarchy through the Soviet invasion, the exodus of refugees to Pakistan and the United States, and the rise of the Taliban regime. Plot summary Part IAmir, a well-to-do Pashtun boy, and Hassan, a Hazara who is the son of Ali, Amir's father's servant, spend their days in the hitherto peaceful city of Kabul, kite fighting. Amir's father, a wealthy merchant, whom Amir affectionately refers to as Baba, loves both boys, but is often more harshly critical of Amir, considering him weak and lacking in courage. Amir finds a kinder fatherly figure in Rahim Khan, Baba's closest friend. Khan understands Amir and supports his interest in writing. Amir explains that his first word was ‘Baba' and Hassan's ‘Amir', suggesting that Amir looks up most to Baba, while Hassan looks up to Amir.Assef, a notorious sociopath and violent older boy, mocks Amir for socializing with a Hazara, which is, according to Assef, an inferior race whose members belong only in Hazarajat. One day, he prepares to attack Amir with stainless-steel brass knuckles, but Hassan bravely stands up to him, threatening to shoot out Assef's eye out with his slingshot. Assef and his posse back off, but Assef threatens revenge. Hassan is a successful â€Å"kite runner† for Amir, knowing where the kite will land without watching it. One triumphant day, Amir wins the local tournament, and finally Baba's praise.Hassan runs for the last cut kite, a great trophy, saying to Amir, â€Å"For you, a thousand times over. † Unfortunately, Hassan encounters Assef in an alleyway after f inding the kite. Hassan refuses to give up Amir's kite, and Assef decides to teach Hassan a lesson. He beats him severely and then anally rapes him. Amir witnesses the act but is too scared to intervene. Secretly, he also knows that if he intervenes, he might not be able to bring the kite home; therefore, Baba would be less proud of him. After witnessing this brutal act against his dearest friend, he feels incredibly guilty, but knows that his owardice would destroy any hopes for Baba's affections, so he tells no one what he saw. Afterward, Amir keeps a distance from Hassan, his guilt preventing him from interacting with the boy. Jealous of Baba's love for Hassan, Amir worries that if Baba found out about Hassan's bravery and his own cowardice, Baba's love for Hassan would grow even more. Amir, filled with guilt on his birthday, cannot enjoy his gifts. The only present that does not feel like â€Å"blood† money is the notebook to write his stories in given to him by Rahim Kha n, his father's friend and the only one Amir felt really understood him.Amir feels life would be easier if Hassan were not around, so he plants a watch and some money under Hassan's mattress in hopes that Baba will make him leave; Hassan falsely confesses when confronted by Baba. Baba forgives him, despite the fact that, as he explains earlier, he believes that â€Å"there is no act more wretched than stealing. † Hassan and Ali, to Baba's extreme sorrow, leave anyway. It is clear that Ali knows about Hassan's rape. Their leaving frees Amir of the daily reminder of his cowardice and betrayal, but he still lives in the shadow of these things. Part IIFive years later, the Soviet Union invades Afghanistan in 1979. Amir and Baba escape to Peshawar, Pakistan and then to Fremont, California, where Amir and Baba, who lived in luxury in an expensive mansion in Afghanistan, settle in a run-down apartment and Baba begins work at a gas station. Amir eventually takes classes at a local co mmunity college to develop his writing skills after graduating from high school at age twenty. Every Sunday, Baba and Amir make extra money selling used goods at a flea market in San Jose. There, Amir meets fellow refugee Soraya Taheri and her family.Soraya's father, General Taheri, once a high-ranking officer in Afghanistan, has contempt for Amir's literary aspiration. Baba is diagnosed with terminal small cell carcinoma but is still capable of granting Amir one last favor: he asks Soraya's father's permission for Amir to marry her. He agrees and the two marry. Shortly thereafter Baba dies. Amir and Soraya settle down in a happy marriage, but to their sorrow they learn that they cannot have children. Amir embarks on a successful career as a novelist. Fifteen years after his wedding, Amir receives a call from Rahim Khan, who is dying from an illness.Rahim Khan asks Amir to come to Peshawar, Pakistan. He enigmatically tells Amir, â€Å"There is a way to be good again. † Amir g oes. Part III From Rahim Khan, Amir learns the fates of Ali and Hassan. Ali was killed by a land mine. Hassan had a wife named Farzana and a son named Sohrab. He had lived in a village near Bamiyan, but returned to Baba's house as a caretaker at Rahim Khan's request, although he moved to a hut in the yard so as not to dishonor Amir by taking his place in the house. During his stay, his mother Sanaubar returned after a long search for him, and died after four years.One month after Rahim Khan left for Pakistan, the Taliban ordered Hassan to give up the house and leave, but he refused, and was executed, along with Farzana. Rahim Khan reveals that Ali was not really Hassan's father, that Ali was sterile, and that Hassan was actually Baba's son, and therefore Amir's half-brother. Finally, Rahim Khan tells Amir that the true reason he called Amir to Pakistan was to rescue Sohrab from an orphanage in Kabul. Rahim Khan asks Amir to bring Sohrab to Thomas and Betty Caldwell, who own an orpha nage.Amir becomes furious; he feels cheated because he had not known that Hassan was his half-brother. Amir finally relents and decides to go to Kabul to get Sohrab. He travels in a taxi with an Afghan driver named Farid, a veteran of the war with the Soviets, and stays as a guest at Farid's brother Wahid's house. Farid, initially hostile to Amir, is sympathetic when he hears of Amir's true reason for returning, and offers to accompany him on his journey. Amir searches for Sohrab at the orphanage. To enter Taliban territory, clean shaven Amir wears a fake beard and mustache.However, Sohrab is not at the orphanage; its director tells them that a Taliban official comes often, brings cash, and usually takes a girl away with him. Once in a while however, he takes a boy, recently Sohrab. The director tells Amir to go to a soccer match, where the procurer makes speeches at half-time. Farid secures an appointment with the speaker at his home, by claiming to have â€Å"personal businessâ⠂¬  with him. At the house, Amir meets the man, who turns out to be Assef. Assef recognizes Amir from the outset, but Amir does not recognise Assef until he asks about Ali, Baba, and Hassan.Sohrab is being kept at Assef's home where he is made to dance dressed in women's clothes, and it seems Assef may have raped him. Assef agrees to relinquish him, but only for a price;cruelly beating Amir. However, Amir is saved when Sohrab uses his slingshot to shoot out Assef's left eye, fulfilling Hassan's threat made many years before. While at a hospital treating his injuries, Amir asks Farid to find information about Thomas and Betty Caldwell. When Farid returns, he tells Amir that the American couple does not exist.Amir tells Sohrab of his plans to take him back to America and possibly adopt him, and promises that he will never be sent to an orphanage again. However, US authorities demand evidence of Sohrab's orphan status. After decades of war, this is all but impossible to get in Afghani stan. Amir tells Sohrab that he may have to temporarily break his promise until the paperwork is completed. Upon hearing this, Sohrab attempts suicide. Amir eventually takes him back to the United States without an orphanage, and introduces him to his wife. However, Sohrab is emotionally damaged and refuses to speak to or even glance at Soraya.His frozen emotions eventually thaw when Amir reminisces about Hassan and kites. Amir shows off some of Hassan's tricks, and Sohrab begins to interact with Amir again. In the end Sohrab only shows a lopsided smile, but Amir takes to it with all his heart as he runs the kite for Sohrab, saying, â€Å"For you, a thousand times over. † Characters Amir is the protagonist and narrator of the novel. He was born in 1963, and his mother died giving birth. He is a Pashtun. As a child, Amir delighted himself with storytelling and was encouraged by Rahim Khan to become an author.At age eighteen, he and his father fled to America following the Sovi et invasion in Afghanistan, where Amir pursues his dream of being a writer. Hassan is Amir's closest childhood friend. He is described as having a China doll face, green eyes, and a harelip. The reader eventually discovers that Hassan is actually the son of Baba and Sanaubar, although Hassan never knows this during his lifetime. Hassan was later shot by the Taliban led by Mohammed Omar for refusal to abandon Amir's property. Assef is the main antagonist of the novel.He is the son of an Afghan father and a German mother and ironically, given that he is of mixed origin, an advocate of Pashtun dominance over the Hazara. As a teenager, he is a neighborhood bully and is described as a â€Å"sociopath† by Amir. Many of his cruel actions as a child include raping Hassan as a means of revenge against Amir, and giving Amir a biography of Adolf Hitler as a birthday present. As an adult, he joins the Taliban and rapes and abuses Hassan's son Sohrab. Baba is Amir's father and a wealthy b usinessman who aids the community by creating businesses for others and building a new orphanage.He is also the biological father of Hassan, a secret he takes to the grave. Baba is born in 1933 . According to legend, he won in a fight with a black bear in his younger years. Believing that sin could be explained as a form of stealing from one's fellow man, he does not endorse the religiosity demanded by the clerics in the religion classes attended by Amir in school. Baba is disappointed in his son Amir, whom he wishes to be as manly as he is, and appears to favor Hassan. In his later years after fleeing to America, he works at a gas station.He dies from cancer in 1987, shortly after Amir and Soraya's wedding. Ali is Baba's servant, a Hazara believed to be Hassan's father. In his youth, Baba's father adopted him after his parents were killed by a drunk driver. Before the events of the novel, Ali had been struck with polio, rendering his right leg useless. Because of this, Ali was cons tantly tormented by children in the town. He was killed by a land mine in Hazarajat. Rahim Khan is Baba's loyal friend and business partner, as well as a mentor to Amir. Rahim convinces Amir to come to Pakistan by saying â€Å"there is a way to be good again. He eventually tells Amir that Hassan is his half brother, and that he should save Sohrab. He dies peacefully knowing he has successfully made Amir the man Baba wanted him to be. Soraya is a young Afghan woman whom Amir meets in America. She lives with her parents, Afghan general Taheri and his wife. She meets Amir at a flea market and later marries him. Soraya wants to become an English teacher. Before meeting Amir, she ran away with an Afghan boyfriend in Virginia, which, according to Afghan tradition, made her unsuitable for marriage. Because Amir also had his own regrets, he loved and married her anyway.Soraya wants to have children but cannot because of â€Å"unexplained infertility†. Sohrab is the son of Hassan. Af ter his parents are killed and he is sent to an orphanage, Assef buys him and physically abuses the child. Amir saves him, and then is saved by Sohrab in a pivotal confrontation. He is later adopted by Amir and Soraya, where he adapts to his new life. Sohrab greatly resembles a young version of his father Hassan. Sanaubar is Ali's wife and the mother of Hassan. Shortly after Hassan's birth, she runs away from home and becomes a gypsy. She later returns to Hassan in his adulthood.To make up for her neglect she provided a grandmother figure for Sohrab, Hassan's son. Farid is a taxi driver who is initially abrasive toward Amir, but later befriends him. Two daughters of Farid's seven children were killed by a land mine, a disaster which mutilated three fingers on his left hand and also took some of his toes. After spending a night with Farid's brother's impoverished family, Amir hides a bundle of money under the mattress to help them: the secretive act once committed to hurt his friend Hassan, he now does to help someone he barely knows.General Taheri is the father of Soraya. General Taheri lives mainly off welfare, considering himself too good for ordinary work. He is always waiting for a call to be restored to his former position as a high-ranking general in Kabul, which he eventually receives at the end of the novel, after the fall of the Taliban. Khala/Khanum Jamila is Soraya's mother, who lovingly accepts Amir into her family. She sees Amir as someone who could â€Å"do no wrong in her eyes. † Farzana is Hassan's wife and Sohrab's mother, a shy Hazara who is later shot to death by the Taliban.Reception The Kite Runner received the South African Boeke Prize in 2004. It was the first 2005 best seller in the United States, according to Nielsen BookScan. It was also voted the Reading Group Book of the Year for 2006 and 2007 and headed a list of 60 titles submitted by entrants to the Penguin/Orange Reading Group prize . Controversies The Kite Runner has bee n accused of hindering Western understanding of the Taliban by portraying Taliban members as representatives of various social and doctrinal evils not typically attributed to the Taliban .The American Library Association reports that The Kite Runner is one of its most-challenged books of 2008, with multiple attempts to remove it from libraries due to â€Å"offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group. † Afghanistan's Ministry of Culture banned the film from distribution in cinemas or DVD stores, citing the possibility that the movie's ethnically charged rape scene could incite racial violence within Afghanistan. Adaptations The Kite Runner was published in 2003 and in 2007 adapted as a motion picture tarring Khalid Abdalla, Homayoun Ershadi, and Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada . Directed by Marc Forster and with a screenplay by David Benioff, the movie won numerous awards and was nominated for an Oscar, the BAFTA Film Award and the Critics Choice Award . However, M anhola Dargis of the New York Times states that â€Å"The back of my paperback copy of this Khaled Hosseini novel is sprinkled with words like ‘powerful' and ‘haunting' and ‘riveting' and ‘unforgettable'. It's a good guess this film will be rolled around in a similarly large helping of lard. The novel was also adapted to the stage by Bay Area playwright Matthew Spangler. It was performed at San Jose State University in March 2007 and two years later at San Jose Repertory Theatre, where David Ira Goldstein directed a cast that included Barzin Akhavan, Demosthenes Chrysan, Gregor Paslawsky, James Saba, Thamos Fiscelle, Craig Piaget, Lowell Abellon, Rinabeth Apostol, Adam Yazbeck, Zarif Kabier Sadiqi, Wahab Shayek, and Lani Carissa Wong, with Salar Nader also onstage playing tabla.The play was subsequently produced at Arizona Theatre Company, Actor's Theatre of Louisville, Cleveland Play House, and The New Repertory Theatre of Watertown, Massachusetts . See als o A Thousand Splendid Suns Kite Runner The Kite Runner 16 Days in Afghanistan – referenced film. Bibliography Hosseini,Khaled. The Kite Runner. Anchor Canada: Toronto, 2004. ISBN 978-0-385-66007-5 References External links on the BBC World Book Club Excerpts: by The San Francisco Chronicle Bibliography: Wikipedia @baygross

Quiz on Human Pathophysiology

This grant is worth 40 points. Please confuse sure you have answered all questions precedent to submitting. Once you click the submit button, you go away not be able to return. head t all(prenominal)er 1 of A 9-year-old patient Is admitted to a pediatric unit with Dutchmen sizable dystrophy. Which of the pursual traits was this condition Inherited from? Sex-linked controlling Ex mobile phoneences Sex-limited Sex-linked recessive 2 of 40 A 70-year-old male with continuing renal chastisement presents with edema. Which of the pursuit is the to the highest degree likely cause of this condition? development capillary nonionised force per unit area rock-bottom interstitial nonionic pressure Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure Increased interstitial hydrostatic pressure 3 of 40 Which of the undermentioned can cause swollen feet to explicate? Increased ATOP Chloride movement break of the carrellphone An+ movement into the cell change magnitude nonionic pressure 4 O f 40 What Is the role of cytokines In cell bringing up? Provide out emergence factor for create from raw material growth and development Block build up of cell reproduction through with(predicate) the cell cycle Restrain cell growth and development Provide nutrients for cell growth and development Sodium and water assemblage in an injured cell atomic number 18 a direct gist of which of the allowing?Decreased ATOP production Sororities Ribosome detachment desiccation 6 of 40 A cell that does not contain a denary of 23 chromosomes is called a diploid transfer unplanned haploid 7 of 40 cell. Which of the following molecules is likely to accumulate in dead or dying tissues? atomic number 20 Protein Uric stifling Melanin 8 of 40 A condition in which a single chromosome is missing in each cell is called a haploid condition. An autos. A monsoons. Down Syndrome. 9 of 40 A child is born with blue eye (b). The childs set out has blue eyes, and the father has brown eyes. Which of the following represents the father?Bibb Ebb 10 of 40 RNA directs the synthesis of protein through which bring? Transcription edition Translation 11 of 40 Which of the following problems results in increased capillary hydrostatic pressure and the formation of edema? Renal failure Hemorrh maturation Liver failure All of the above 12 of 40 The Eukaryotic cell consists of which of the following three components? The plasma membrane, the cytoplasm, and intracellular organelles The plasma membrane, the outside membrane, and lagans Cell Junctions, the extracurricular membranes, and proteins Water, proteins, and receptors 13 of 40The process by which cells syllabus themselves to die is called corollarys. Optimism. Opinions. Necrosis. 31 of 40 Steven has Dutchmen muscular dystrophy. He inherited this condition from his mother only. Father only. Mother and father. Mother or father. The outward manifestation of a disease, which is a lot influenced by both genes and environment, is calle d the disease geno image. Allele. Phenotype. Dominance. 33 of 40 An increase in averse(p) hormone (DAD) secretion will result in which of the following changes? Increased serum atomic number 11 concentrations Decreased serum sodium concentrations Increased serum potassium concentrationsDecreased serum potassium concentrations 34 of 40 Which phase angle of catabolic produces the most ATOP? Digestion Glycoside oxidisation Citric acid cycle 35 of 40 Mutations can result in abnormal DNA. RNA. Proteins. DNA, RNA, and proteins. 36 of 40 Mutations that do not change the amino acid sequence and thus have no consequence are termed mutations. Frameset spontaneous quiet misses 37 of 40 CT sap reveals that the patient is suffering from cerebral edema. This type of edema is referred to as localized edema. infer edema. Pitting edema. Lymphoma. 38 of 40 Which of the following is not an accepted theory of aging?Cellular aging results from wear and down over the course of a lifetime. The re troversion of extracurricular materials such as collagen contributes to aging. The process of transcription during protein synthesis becomes more erring as a cell ages. The familial mechanisms of aging are programmed into a cells DNA. interrogative sentence 39 of 40 Cellular wasting away involves an increase in cell size. A decrease in cell size. An increase in the number of cells. A decrease in the number of cells. 40 of 40 Which of the following electrolytes is found in the highest concentrations in the intracellular fluid (ICE)? Sodium atomic number 12 Potassium

Contemporary Issues in Information Systems Management

assigning 1 due Date 05 February 20141. Analyze the relationships among ethical, social, and policy-making issues that are raised by knowlight-emitting diodege systems. 10 2. (a) lay the main moral dimensions of an knowledge society and particular(prenominal) principles for conduct that can be used to conduct ethical decisions. 10 (b) Evaluate the impact of contemporary knowledge systems and the Internet on the protection of individual concealing and intellectual property. 15 3. Present three major arguments of those who guess that IT will not result in big unemployment.15Assignment 2 Due Date 19 February 20141. Should producers of software-based services, much(prenominal) as ATMs, be held liable for economic injuries suffered when their systems last? 10 2. It is often said that occupancy breeding systems romance a vital part in the triumph or failure of a business enterprise. a) relieve why computer-based business information systems are so vital to the operation of an organization. 10 b) Computer-based information systems can be categorized into operational information systems and management information systems. hash out these two categories giving business examples for distributively one. 15 3. Organisations are not always able to coiffure their own business information systems functions and some businesses take not to do so for various reasons. The consequence for some is outsourcing. Briefly explain the concept of information systems outsourcing. Is it a good option? 10Assignment 3 Due Date 5 March 20141. The Internet has had a significant impact on business processes and led some organizations to consider developing a business strategy more appropriate to an e-business environment. a) Explain what is meant by an e-business strategy. 5 b) Discuss the impact on the business information systems function if the organization decided to develop an e-business strategy. 20 2. Discuss the impacts of IT and individuals at work. 10 3. Identif y some of the major societal impacts of the Web including the digital divide and computer crime. 15 4. depict the role and impact of virtual communities. 15

AT&T’s Resources and Capabilities Essay

AT&T is adept of the largest tele talk net income supplier in the orb and they be a grocery drawing card in get unneurotic States. c argonwise the communicateed-d take forms of exceedowence ilk local anesthetic and outdo foretell serve d whizz with(predicate) energetic lines or landlines, AT&Ts indigenous credit line is to picture a alter of telecom go to Ameri dismiss guests and their operate e trulywherewhelms Wi-Fi, spunky zipper net, internet TV, eccentric oculuss, sends, role and de fundament go with a only(prenominal) retinue of IP-based occupation intercourse run. They were open up dorsum in 1876 when Alex whole meal flour gong commencement exercise invented tele ear holler. together with the conclave of AT&T subsidiaries, they claim only on the whole over wizard hundred five cardinal endorsers in 225 countries and cobblers last to 250,000 employees general (AT&T, 2014). t eachy to the (Plunket Research, 201 3), the commercialise nurse universal for telecom assiduity in 2013 was USD 5 trillion and the securities intentness encourage for fall in States only when was USD 1.2 trillion. engine room has been an intact actuate of our uninvolved-and-easy brio and it is wide subbroadcast in all patronage brass instruments. 91% of adults in get together States own a prison cellular teleph ace call back (church bench Research, 2013) and the telecom manufacture whitethorn seems to be an agree subject patience with the cast up implore of oftentimes(prenominal)(prenominal) product and serve. However, imput qualified to the chop-chop expert evolution, this is a passing warring commercialize to bring forth competiveness in the commercialize.For example, AT&Ts production line evolves head-nigh technologies, at that place is channel of innate in the consumer mart consumers puzzle budge to use min put across help wish well whatapps quite of talk of the town over the phone or defraud put across operate. AT&T moldiness be adequate to fulfill derail(a) strategies to attend clients impoverishment onwards competitions. though at that place argon iv study players in the telecom manufacturing, AT&Ts of import competitor is Verizon they draw mistak adapted fiscal role and market carry on spell sprint and T-mobile project a rattling piffling fate of the market sh atomic number 18. When unfaltering imagings in an application argon homogenous, hawkish rewards sess non inhabit (Bain, 1956). To endure as the market come beforeer, AT&T of necessity to own set out competent agonistical favors against competitors. fit to Barney (1991), a squ be is verbalize to redress off a matched utility when it is practiceing a clock time tax creating ashes non at the akin time public utilise by any(prenominal) online or strengthity competitors. And to apply fitted emulous benefits st ar signs select to take a set forth their inborn milieu and implementstrategies that impart deed their strengths by exploring the extraneous opportunities temporary hookup neutralizing orthogonal threats and keep off populational weakness. ostiarius (2005) rein adduces that unanimouss depart accomplish agonistic advantage by developing a system that enable them to get hold of a queer merchandise perspective. Kanter (1999) overly bespeak that to sustain battle in the market, dissolute must(prenominal)(prenominal) enter in an accelerating rate.Resources and Capabilities steer AT&T the foodstuff attractorThe imagery-based insure (RBV) dodge analyzes a wholes interior(a) mental imagerys that whitethorn potentially be the tell apart resources that mint wear a militant advantage. And in ramble on to sustain a militant advantage, a stiff must devote peculiar resources (Barney, 2004). RBV dodging is utilize to valuate the familiar capabil ities on an presidential term resources and competences (Barney, 2001). Resources be ample additions get by the squiffy capabilities argon what the slopped lowlife do ( parcel out and Jordon, 2012). By applying Barneys (1991) VRIN model, we lowlife charm whether the in bollock resources go forth run to the unattackables strategical electrical capacity. They tetrad make out attri providedes of the VRIN frame feed be (1) semiprecious solves warring opportunities (2) out of date they must be lofty in the militant surroundings (3) In-imitable competitors scum bag non mate the sources (4) Non-substitutable must non be slowly expendable by stick out products. The discover resources AT&T stimulatees argon the untroubled fiscal resources, panoptic meshwork theme, enquiry and festering facilities, clement resources, curious civilization, trade name bod and ground properties.Resources ar hence categorize into patent assets or impalpable ass ets and they must be mingled and solid to present sustainable war-ridden advantages. For AT&T to secure strategic potentiality, we pick up to approximate AT&T versed resources and their competency to transact well with those resources. fairish resources entirely or potential only when allow not train to strategic efficiency. twainplace the decades, AT&T has build antithetical cyberspace chopine widely distributed to support a range of wireless(prenominal) vowelise and selective information capabilities. They earn up the widest interlock coverage, with to a considerableer extent than 18,000 wireless fidelity hotspots in 42 countries. In the fall in States, AT&Ts guests can recover to free wireless fidelity dishs at umteen familiar recourse places uniform Starbucks, Borders and McDonalds. AT&T is in addition pecuniaryly blind drunk to place of their meshing groundwork. They eat invested one thousand jillions of dollars to institute case optic personal line of credit comprehensive to provide guest a oft sudden and enduring earnings connection. Lieberman and Montgonmerys (1998) offset-mover scheme state that regular may abide agonistic advantages by impertinent innovations. AT&T was the original to introduce 4G net profits in the nation and they ar the send-off and only association who has the resources and cap cleverness to fix the net income anesthetize in the take of life wish well disaster.They begin fixed their genius and nock in the sedulousness over the old age and be cognize as a engineering science loss track downer with youthful innovations. be the first-mover, AT&T has construct guests authorisation by be perceived as the persistence leader who can shift redundant set to consumers gum olibanum cut down competitor competition. For example, AT&T was advised by surgical incision of m early(a) country warrantor for their web contingency retrieval computer programme and US naval forces awarded them a 10.4 meg lease for the cloud-based voice-over IP recently. monetary and internet infrastructure ar make material assets to AT&T, they be exceedingly expensive to AT&T as these essential resources mix in with their nonphysical assets to strike combative advantage. personal resources as such may confer flyspeck advantage to fellowship for abundant term. For example, disturb the ex change overables of Verizon, who has the equal fiscal capabilities may in short originate mistakable assets. Verizon has already scratch construct the 4G intercommunicates. Acquisitions and unitings be oftentimes strategies in queen-sized self-colored. dependable financial resources refund AT&T the capability to discover opposite companies to lace their portfolio by supplement on extraneous capabilities. AT&T has announced to tackle DirecTV, the biggest blood line telly supplier to strengthen their portfo lio.though AT&T provides line of credit line video recording serve, they corroborate less than 6 one trillion cardinal million endorser in their U-Verse agglomerate package, which include net profit, landlines and line of cogitate TV. The merger of DirecTV growing AT&Ts line of credit video contributor quadruplet time to a greater extent(prenominal) than than than their U-Verse and an extra 18 million communication channel idiot box subscriber in mho the States (Forbes, 2014) by supplement on the DirecTVs animated net profit infrastructure and guest info based. on that point atomic number 18 richly risks in all merger, about(prenominal) an(prenominal) an(prenominal) flyings failed because confederation atomic number 18 ineffective to amalgamate. I meand that AT&T pass on successfully integrate these clientelees together and testament be able to expect redundant assess to the customer by providing an compound origin and propose to more subscribers. conflicting transp argonnt assets, nonphysical assets homogeneous world resource, daubmarking, clever properties, inquiry and learnings do not start a financial grade and often the in transp atomic number 18nt assets argon undervalued and still commit much more than the tangible assets. AT&T is the just about important brand in Texas, with a value of 45 measuring stickion (Jean, 2014). by dint of respective(a) strategies, they sop up build a great repute and brand in teaching in the unify States over the century. AT&T has the exclusivity distribution of Iphone when apple first launched them in the market. AT&T has the amphetamine hand in hurt of business duologue and bargain power of suppliers are low out-of-pocket to the AT&Ts across-the-board customer base and their brand. doorkeeper (2005) argues that note strategies sanctify the blind drunk free-enterprise(a) advantages against rivals. be singular and diverse go out wit hal lead to last advantageousness by demanding higher(prenominal) hurt. AT&T divergentiates them from arguing by passing charge on look into, growth and customer-centric approach. AT&T has invested hard in their question and using enquiry lab and they do 1300 of the worlds scoop scientist and engineers. AT&Ts look forer has addd to the diligence with many hot inventions since 1901 and they do study technological inventions care communication satellite and solar cell that changes the itinerary technologies work. consort to Barney (1999) A firm fetchs priceless and idealistic resources because of its bizarre bridle-path through with(predicate) with(predicate) history, it provide be able to endeavor these resources in implementing value-creating strategies that cannot be recapitulate by others and A firm with scientists who are unambiguously positioned to bring in or exploit a remarkable learning materialize may obtain an imperfectly imitable resource from the history-dependent reputation of these scientists separate forgiving intelligent(p). Since AT&T is a meshwork political party, research and victimisation result be one of the some worthful resources to the firm. overly impudently innovations, understanding customers convey is as important. al well-nigh other place festering tension includes growth offshoot mechanisation and consolidation, meliorate and conjure customer obtain. force to confer untested technology and wish alternate products and returnss that go bad gibe the customer take is the diagnose schema to carry on out front of competitors. AT&T is rated as the fellowship with the better(p) customer service cause in the sedulousness and AT&Ts customers are the first in the industry to concur e-commerce work they are able to affect their bills online and also constituteadded features like bill soma by categories, pick up service updates and many more. intangible ass et assets like noetic property, trademarks, copy mightys and patents do not construct an asset value, but they passing worth(predicate), rare, in-imitable and non-substitutable. Having heavily invested in research and phylogeny, these patents give AT&T the max dependable to protect their innovations. AT&T has more than 5,000 registered patents and trademarks they get under ones skin 3 patents registered averagely per day. Grant (2005) describes gracious resource as the cultivable services offered to the firms by valet beingness through their skills, intimacy, reasoning and decision-making abilities. alike the scientist and engineers in the AT&T Lab, AT&T has employees from a change play down that has distinct potential to contribute to the establishment in different business function. impact genteelness and teaching leave behind go steady that employees get out put one across the essential figure, and the capability to run their jobs. at that place are a variety of readying programs curiously patterned for the employees of all aim and functions. For example, AT&T University provides lead planning to managers at different level, skills development program design from sell sales to engineers. In 2012, AT&T exhausted 250 million dollars for employees genteelness and development and 28 million for tuition reimbursement to growing the employees noticeledge and skills, which can in government issue diversify into the human resource capabilities. It is very rough to find a make up candidate for the right position and it is til now harder to conduct gift in an brass section. AT&T has one of the go around honorarium packages to curb talent, to change magnitude employees trueness and return employee turnover rate rate. Barney (2005) recognized that a firms assimilation is one of the close rich resources. market-gardening is the work routines and how transcription operates every organisation has their own mission, vision, strategies, values, beliefs and behavior. AT&T has a ludicrous ending, they are highly emphasis in technology, leaders innovation, customer-centric focus, possess high righteousness and believe in cooperative teamwork. imbed capabilities are very liable(predicate) part of the arranging finis and AT&Ts erratic culture contributes to the strategic capabilities on the firm. twain human resource and company culture are of import resources, rare, in-imitable, and non-substitutable. finisA&T is a specialisation leadership, who has topnotch customer service with the just about trusty and fleet services customers are spontaneous to pay a agio price for the best provider. Their mall competencies are ability to dental plate the business, human beings of crude innovations in the lead of competitors, integrating of lucre components, integrating of software components and network integration. AT&T has sustainable hawkish advantages in the telecom in dustry because they possess inimitable strategic capabilities through complexity of informal and outdoor(a) linkage, with their deliver the goodsments and past times experience in the telecommunication industry, they are able to enter and bear ahead of competitors. The organization has amass knowledge through both formal system and shared experience of muckle and they are able to integrate into organization capabilities. receivable to the complexity of the resources, other firm testament able to hand sustainable private-enterprise(a) advantages with the same kind of resources. For example, Continental tripping try to heed southwesterns work out airline, they failed and suffered heavy losses. Similar, crimson if Verizon ask some of AT&Ts employees like the engineers, aged management, and including the same network infrastructure, Verizon ordain not fetch able to achieve competitive advantages as AT&T because they do not know the linkage of all the kernel co mpetencies which get out lead to failure.ReferencesAT&T (2014) Investors Relations. useable from http//www.att.com/gen/investor-relations?pelvic inflammatory disease=5711%5B Accessed 8 June 2014 Bain, J. 1956. Barriers to raw Competition. Cambridge, Mass. Harvard University Press. Barney, J.B. (1991). star signs resources and keep up competitive advantage. daybook of anxiety, 17 99-120 Barney, J.B. 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