Genetically Modified Organisms Research Proposal

Genetically Modified Organisms - Research Proposal Example However, the main argument against consumption of genetically modified organisms is that they might have dome harmful effects to their consumers. The data that will be used in this research will be collected using a number of data collection methods. The method that will be the most used is literature review. There are sufficient information from literature materials such as books, journals, blogs that can give more insight on the advantages and limitations of genetically modified organisms (Munhall and Chenail 167). There will also be a study on the statistics on the health difference of people who consume more genetically modified organism and those who consume more. Genetic engineering and health official will also be interviewed with the aim of getting their views on the advantages and limitations of genetically modified organisms (Denscombe 97). With the data that will be collected through the above mentioned methods, the researchers will carry out analysis through techniques such as filtering, retrieving value, computation, and sorting to come up with a clear conclusion on the total number of viable advantages and disadvantages that genetically modified organisms have (Ogden and Goldberg 175). With the result the researchers will be able to give a conclusion stating their thoughts on whether or not genetically modified organisms should be

Coursework Biology Essay Example for Free

Coursework Biology Essay Biology coursework: Substrate specificity in yeast AIM: To find out which substrate (glucose, starch, maltose, sucrose or lactose), does yeast, the organism containing the enzyme, breaks down the quickest. Introduction: Usually, every enzyme has a specific substrate that is what we call the â€Å"lock and key† theory. We can try the reaction of an enzyme with different substrates and this enzyme will just work well with one of those substrates. One type of reaction catalyzed by enzymes is anaerobic respiration. (fermentation), made by yeast that uses a sugar as a substrate. This reaction will produce CO2 and energy. Measuring how much CO2 the reaction produces we could know how well the enzyme is working with a substrate, checking thus its specificity. Materials: 5 Ignition tubes Pipette Glucose Maltose Sucrose Lactose Yeast Cotton wool Test tubes Stop watch Ruler Variables: Independent variable: substrate (glucose, starch, maltose, lactose, sucrose), enzyme (yeast), volume of substrate, volume of enzyme. Dependent: volume of CO2 released (measured in mm) Controlled variables: Temperature, pressure, time. Method: 1- Fill 5 ignition tubes, half with yeast (2.0 ml) and half with each corresponding substrate (2.0 ml), using a pipette. 2- Quickly after the mixture is done, place the ignition tubes upside down in a test tube, helping yourself with a pen. 3- Start the stop watch once the ignition tube is upside down in the test tube, and measure the space left (this will be time 0) 4- Place some cotton wool on the top of each test tube in order to block oxygen, and therefore, for anaerobic respiration to occur. 5- Prepare one mixture with the yeast (enzyme), and with water, to act as a control. Treat the control in the same way you have done it with the samples. 6- As anaerobic respiration occurs, CO2 is released displacing the mixture of yeast and substrate into the test tube. Measure the amount of CO2 released during 20 minutes, taking a reading of the empty space inside the ignition tube every 5 minutes. 7- Repeat the experiment 3 times for statistical purposes.

An Indian Woman In Guatemala Essay -- Guatemala India History Historic

An Indian Woman In Guatemala Guatemala is the land of Eternal Springs and the home of the richly cultured and historic Mayan people. It it also the country of Rigoberta Menchu, an illiterate farm worker, turned voice of oppressed people everywhere. Guatemala also has the sad distinction of being home to Latin America's oldest civil war. "For more than three decades, left-wing guerrillas have fought a series of rightist governments in Guatemala. The war has killed an estimated 140,000 in the country, which has 11 million people." (N.Y. Times June 14, 1996 pA4 col 2) This is a story of a people in crisis, and one woman's struggle to use truth, as a means of setting her people free. The majority of the population are Indians, and much of the struggles arise out of the ashes of the past. Spain conquered Guatemala in 1524, which was the start of the oppression of the native people of Guatemala. Since this time the native people have been ruled by the Spanish speaking minority, the Ladinos, many of which are descended from the Spanish colonists. Beginning in 1954, when Guatemala's elected government was overthrown by the army, the military began a brutal war against the Indian people. This type of torture and oppression continued, and during the 1970's the repression was especially harsh; during this time more and more Indians began to resist. It was during this time that Rigoberta Menchu's family became involved in the resistance. The situation in Guatemala is similar to South Africa, where the black majority are ruled with absolute power by the white minority. Like South Africa, the Indians in Guatemala are lacking in even the most basic of human rights. "Indeed the so-called forest Indians are being systematically exterminated in the name of progress. But unlike the Indian rebels of the past, who wanted to go back to pre-Columbian times, Rigoberta Menchu is not fighting in the name of an idealized or mythical past." (Menchu xiii) Rigoberta is working toward drawing attention to the plight of native people around the globe. Once an illiterate farm worker, she has taught herself to read and write Spanish, the language of her oppressor, as a means of relating her story to the world. She tells the story of her life with honesty and integrity in hopes of impressing upon the world the indignation of the oppressed. In additi... ...She has been accused of supporting the country's leftist actions and harming Guatemala's image abroad. In awarding the prize, the Nobel committee wanted to draw attention to the plight of Guatemala's Indians in the hope that it would lead to improved conditions. Recently, Guatemalans have found cause for that hope, as a peace accord is due to be signed in January 1997, ending the fighting between the rebels and the government. In addition, a truth commission has been formed to help families of disappeared members find answers relating to their deaths, by uncovering the country's many unmarked mass graves. Rigoberta Menchu continues to live in exile under death threghts upon her return to Guatemala. She is well adapted to the life which has been handed down to her, by generations of poor and oppressed Indians. Yet when she speaks, she speaks of her beautiful culture, and of the many joys that her family had over the years, all without a trace of bitterness in her voice. Works Cited Menchu, Rigoberta. I, Rigoberta Menchu: An Indian Woman In Guatemala. London: Verso, 1984. "Guatemalans Take New Step Toward Peace." The New York Times 14 June 1996, pA4 col 2

The Use of Metaphors, Repetition of Words and Biblical References in Obama’s Speech of Inauguration Based on “Analyzing Political Discourses” Theory and Practice by Paul Chilton

The use of metaphors, repetition of words and biblical references in Obama’s speech of inauguration based on â€Å"Analyzing Political Discourses† Theory and Practice by Paul Chilton Number of Words: 2589 Introduction: Political discourses are made to impress, persuade and to underline ideas to change a country. Politicians use specialized writers to write for them their discourses or use a lot of time to write one, as political discourses are important for the future outcome. For example: To be voted by the people or explain bad situation on an adequate way so that the people don’t offended.To achieve this goal, several methods are used. But in this essay I will focus on metaphors, the repetition of specified words and the use of Biblical references, using methods given by Paul Chilton in his book â€Å"Analyzing Political Discourse, Theory and Practice†. As experimental territory I used the inaugural speech of Barrack Obama, which he used for his first c andidature to become the president of the United States of America. The Speech by Barrack Obama can be found in the Appendix. My goal is not only to see what and how he used the methods but also what goal he tried to achieve.It is important to have some background information and what the people thought of him. As for America and other parts in the world, Obama stands for a new ideology, he promises America better healthcare, the end of the War and solutions to many problems, always emphasizing that this goal can only achieved as a team/nation but does he succeed to give us this image? What tricks did he use? What is a metaphor? Metaphors are used in political discourses to replace words that the audience doesn’t want to hear or could react badly. But what is a metaphor?In literary use, a metaphor (from the Greek: metapherin rhetorical trope)[1] is defined as an indirect comparison between two or more subjects that are typically linked by a â€Å"is a† to join the two subjects. As an example we can take following sentence: † This Man is a beast â€Å". This is an elliptical form to emphasize the sentence that the Man is like a beast. Paul Chilton is the opinion that, Metaphors, qua models of political realities, as he calls them, are part of political discourses of today and used as vehicles to bring an opinion to a target. [2] We realize now that all of us speak in metaphors whether we realize it or not.For example Mark Johnson, a philosopher, suggests that metaphors not only make our thoughts more vivid and interesting but that they actually structure and individualize our perceptions and understanding such that each person has a different understanding and thoughts about a common subject. [3] Metaphor is for many people a device of poetic and rhetorical imagination and development rather than the ordinary language, which is wrong as proven above. Metaphor analysis in Barrack Obama’s Speech: In the following points I will reveal s everal metaphors Obama used and will try to reveal why he used them.But also the Biblical references used as a metaphor, or as a bridge to transfer his Ideas. 1. CHANGE IS A MOVEMENT Citation out of the Speech: 1) â€Å"Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. â€Å" 2) â€Å"The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works – whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. †In the first citation â€Å"rising tides† and â€Å"still waters† are used as source domains, whereas the target domain is the word â€Å"prosperity† and â€Å"peace†. As it can be seen in the phrases: â€Å"rising tides of prosperity† and â€Å"the still waters of peace† here, the movement is a change of location (rising) or a stationary moment (still). If it involves a movement as change of location, it can be associated with the words: forward, backward, upward, downward, etc†¦ so different directions and movements. The â€Å"rising tide of prosperity† can be seen as a state of prosperity that has moved and is changing, while peace has still not changed.This movement of which Obama is talking about can also be seen as a: flow of natural force (â€Å"the rising tides†) and substance (â€Å"still waters†). In the metaphorical expression in citation 2) the part which acts as source is the phrase â€Å"We intend to move forward† and â€Å"programs will end† where Obama is talking about the ideas of the US-government to provide jobs and a better social warranty. [4] In both metaphorical expressions, I think Obama wants to tell us that all presidents of America had taken the presidenti al oath to develop America.All of their effort had the aim of raising economic development and prosperity and that all of these can only be achieved as a nation with a strong political support from the people. So, the â€Å"WE† as a nation, which he uses a lot in his speeches. 2. POLITIC IS A JOURNEY 1) This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. 2) Our journey has never been one of short cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted – for those who prefer leisure to work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame.Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things – some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, which have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom. In the metaphorical expression of the first citation the part which acts as a source domain is the phrase: â€Å"This is the journey we continue todayâ €  whereas the focus of the citation is the American Political life. By saying the sentence â€Å"This is the journey we continue today† gave me the impression that the American people are compared to travelers having a journey to a certain destination.Even though we know that politics is no journey as such but can be seen as such in a metaphorical way. In the metaphorical expression of the second citation the part that interacts as source is the phrase â€Å"Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted† whereas the target is also the American political life, like in the first citation with another connotation but keeping the idea of a journey in mind. We can see that in both citations have the same idea of a journey which is given to the audience.The idea behind is that the audiences who are involved in political life are like travelers on a journey, with their common need in life seen as the goal of this journey. The political activities and relation is their vehicle used to reach the goal of common interest. [5] 3. BIBLICAL REFERANCES AS A LIFESTYLE The citations I used here are taken again in a separate chapter using the theoretical rapprochement given by Paul Chilton in part III chapter 10. 1)â€Å"We remain a young nation, but, in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. † 2) â€Å"Love is patient, love is kind.It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails. † In the 1st citation the source domain given is the phrase â€Å"time has come to set aside childish things† where he targets the lifestyle of the Americans. It gives the impression that the fights they had about poli tical problems are childish and that they should focus to strive a common goal.In the second citation he uses the same idea, again using a citation out of a religious text using as source domain â€Å"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking† like before the target is the lifestyle of the Americans which Obama criticizes. It is clear that through these citations Obama tries to reason the population quoting biblical references. Comparing America with childhood and telling them that through love only, again the idea of working together, all goals can be achieved.I wont go deeper into this comparison as I will come back to it later on in the text. Frequency of words: To see what words Obama used in his speech frequently and how many times we had to know how many words are in his whole speech, which lies around 2403 words. As such I was able to give the percentage of the most used words. The word O bama laid the most emphasizes is â€Å"WE† which he used 62 times, which can be understood as his speech is about working together as a nation and is also a word used in his slogan: â€Å"Yes WE can†. Other words he used frequently are:[6] KeywordRepeatsDensity Nation 12 0,50 New 11 0,46America 9 0,37 Today 7 0,29 People 7 0,29 The repetition of these words sticks with the listeners as such the listener will always remember this words and will combine them with the discourse of Obama. As for mind manipulation it is the repetition that stays in our mind. [7]When we are learning or looking at advertisements or when we are learning a song, we always repeat them until we know them by heart. In the case of marketing the advertisements are kept easy and shown more than one so that they stick in our minds and when we have to choose between two product we will chose the one we â€Å"know† or that we can remember of.The same is in political discourses. The more often it is repeated the more we will remember them and believe them. In Obama’s case using the words Nation, New etc†¦ he tries to underline the idea of freshness in the United States and that it can only work as a NATION. As all presidents the repetition of AMERICA, motivates the American listeners and they feel directly talked to, strengthening also the bond between the people and the nation. Paul Chilton underlines in his book that discourses often use a container concept, which is created by the words used.This container ideology is divided in three structures: in interior and a exterior which are defined by a boundary which are formed in political discourses to a container- nation with political borders given by the speech. As such it is able for politicians to give the fault to others, outside of the container while securing the interior of the container. Analysis of Biblical references Apparently it is customary in American political discourse to employ biblical language[ 8], which is an inherent part of the old American public way of speaking.However, given that Obama is a non-traditional and liberal candidate for president,[9] it is even more interesting to analyze the biblical references he used and give possible explanations why used following citations for his speech. â€Å"We remain a young nation, but, in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. † Obama quoted here, the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 13:11, dealing with St. Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth.The goal he tried to achieve of this particular example is to also aims at the Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and non-believing Americans, to include them too into the speech, for it is a text that is usually read at wedding ceremonies and is not specified to one religion specifically, as it speaks about true love in the following manner: â€Å"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is n ot self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes an always perseveres.Love never fails. † (1 Corinthians, 13:4) â€Å"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. † (1 Corinthians, 13:11) These Letters were written by St. Paul to the church in Corinth in the times of internal struggles and divisions in the church, and when the church was hreatened by immoral influences surrounding the community. St. Paul’s letter was a letter of criticism and implorement to the Corinthians to stop the arguing and fighting around different problems and embrace, what he called, the most important virtue: love. [10] The choice of this particular biblical reference could be perceived as Obama’s attempt to spread the ideology of love â€Å"loving thy neighbor† so that the American people can embrace a notion of racial inclusiveness and ideological diversity, necessary in the time of economic and international crises.Again we can find the idea of a â€Å"WE†. Conclusion: It is now obvious that Paul Chilton theory can be applied. We can see that it is the play together of the different methods and many more make a discourse unique and manipulative. But it is important to know in which context the discourse has been written as the context can change the words, emotions and message in a political discourse. In Obama’s speech we can find the concept of pragmatism, liberalism, inclusiveness, acceptance of religious and ethnic diversity and unity. As such the result of keywords of hi s run for presidency.This is shown by the prominent words employed by Obama: nation, new and America, and a overall dominance of the personal pronoun We understood as necessary in the time of national peril†¦ The results of the biblical references, which Paul Chilton explains as â€Å"only† way to motivate and capture America’s population, have shown that Obama’s choice of citations (quoting the Corinthians) was to strengthen the notion of unity and brotherly love among the various members of the American diverse society. As such we can see that his methods were well used and can be found by the methods of Paul Chilton.Obama stands for his candidature through his speech and ideology, world wide as a new wind for America that will rebuild and strengthen the country. And we have to remember that Obama is the first president that has been accepted as young and black person as president. Sources Primary source: Analyzing Political Discourse, Theory and Practice , Paul Chilton, Routledge, 2004 Bibliography: – Article Discourse Society January 1993 vol. 4 no. 1 7-31 : Metaphor in Political Discourse: The Case of the `Common European House' by Paul Chilton and Mikhail Ilyin Moral Imagination: Implications of Cognitive Science for Ethics, University of Chicago, 1993. Secondary Sources: – University of Louisville, Article by Judith D. Fischer: http://www. law. louisville. edu/node/2720 – Online Document, Critical Discourse Analysis by Juraj Harvath: https://docs. google. com/viewer? a=v=cache:j-4vhWbO6a8J:www. pulib. sk/elpub2/FF/Ferencik2/pdf_doc/6. pdf+=de=lu=bl=ADGEESgDn7GSv6cJcZ6acGq5vk-rpp0mNE_qyGy5vUUCMEdg4d1M9efiWLiSgl3CRzYChNf3gQkZQ-saUZib0C5oBU-XVpDkee3pDul94RL3VlIR6nWc4j-OIJTNBkD9oZuSmxh4ybhM=AHIEtbRfcX_PIha4KZfnvwVFTzxPnRNSDA – Obama, the Lion in Winter: ttp://www. exec-comms. com/blog/2009/01/20/obama-the-lion-in-winter/ -5 Speechwriting Lessons from Obama’s Inaugural Speech by Andrew Dlugan: http: //sixminutes. dlugan. com/inauguration-speech-analysis-barack-obama-inaugural/ – Online Document: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Barack Obama’s Speeches By Junling Wang: https://docs. google. com/viewer? a=v=cache:HzMPBXpzbW8J:ojs. academypublisher. com/index. php/jltr/article/download/0103254261/1807+=de=lu=bl=ADGEEShaYaCyse11UxuFQk1KY0Zb0oOh15Ng1vgnuIdLSpdkL4Ia5nqoDh1DV-aO46J-bKQV9Fyfc3mz1MrZ5VTIrAnm85bmHXzt4cJZgNLYXFeuExE4wl1-SjUvUuEWd78WR0jiI5aV=AHIEtbT3Yd_sOMwtzg1_LtcSsaQh2FbYGw – Wikipedia article about metaphors: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Metaphor visited on 21 November 2012 – St Paul’s Letters: http://biblescripture. net/1Corinthians. html Apendix: The whole speech of Obama can be found on BBC: http://news. bbc. co. uk/2/hi/americas/obama_inauguration/7840646. stm ———————– [1] http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Metaphor, visited on 21 November 2012 [2] Paul Chilton, Analyzing politi cal discourses, Page 49 [3] Moral Imagination: Implications of Cognitive Science for Ethics, University of Chicago, 1993. 4] Obama, the Lion in Winter: http://www. exec-comms. com/blog/2009/01/20/obama-the-lion-in-winter/ [5] Paul Chilton, Analyzing political discourses, Page 51 [6] Statistics taken out of: Critical discourse analysis by Juraj Harvath (controlled by myself again) [7] A Critical Discourse Analysis of Barack Obama’s Speeches By Junling Wang [8] Paul Chilton, Analyzing political discourses, Page 174 [9] Obama, the Lion in Winter: http://www. exec-comms. com/blog/2009/01/20/obama-the-lion-in-winter/ [10] St Paul’s Letters: http://biblescripture. net/1Corinthians. html

Dick Spencer Case Essay

Spencer was a plant manager of Modrow Company, a Canadian Branch of the Tri-American Corporation. Tri-American was a major producer of primary aluminum with integrated operations ranging from mining of bauxite through the processing to fabrication of aluminum into variety of products. The company had also made and sold refractories and industrial chemicals. The parent company had wholly owned subsidiaries in five separate United States locations and had foreign affiliates in fifteen different countries. Tri-American employed approximately 22,000 employees in the total organization. The company was governed by a board of directors. The board set general policy, which was then interpreted and applied by the various plant managers. This decentralization in organizational structure increased the freedom and authority of the plant managers, but increase the pressure for profitability. Spencer started his career in Tri-American Corporation as salesman and he succeeded. After two years of successful work as salesman, he became the symbol of what salesman have to be. In his career in Tri-American, he had worked as salesman, troubleshooter, assistant plant manager in English branch in London UK, plant manager in Birmingham in UK and his last position was plant manager of Modrow company in Canada. It was another challenging position in his career and he had faced few problems regarding to management, organization culture, organization conflict and organization innovation. †¢ Spencer was a plant manager of Modrow Company, a Canadian Branch of the Tri-American Corporation. †¢ Tri-American was a major producer of primary aluminum with integrated operations ranging from the mining of bauxite through the processing to fabrication of aluminum into a variety of products. The company had also made and sold refractories and industrial chemicals. The parent company had wholly owned subsidiaries in five separated US locations and had foreign affiliates in 15 different countries. Tri-American employed approximately 22,000 employees in the total organization. The company was governed by a board of directors, which included chairman, vice chairman, president and 12 vice presidents. Subsidiaries and branches are organized as independent companies and decisions are decentralized. †¢ The Modrow Branch was located in a border town in Canada. The total work force in Modrow was 1,000. This Canadian subsidiary was primarily a fabricating unit. Its main products were foil and building products such as roofing and siding. Problem: 1. Resistance to change by employees, this problem shows when Dick as the plant manager asked the worker why he was using the saw when the material could easily be bent fifted into the barrels, resulting in saving time and equipment. And then the worker said â€Å"We’ve never done it that way, sir. We’ve always cut it†. After all the power saw are removed from the scalp area in order to adjust new method of bending rather than cutting. A few day later Dick find out that workmen using hand shears to cut each strip to cut. 2. Process of Production Problems. In his new position as Plant Manager at Modrow, he found that construction was slower in completion than originally planned; equipment arrived before the building was finished, employees were upset about the extent of change expected in their work routines with the installation of additional machinery, and in general morale was at low ebb. 3. Culture Change Problem; there is the difference between American and British philosophy and performance within the plant. Here, he also found that his power and authority were less than those of his superiors, so he constantly found himself in the position of having to soft pedal or withhold suggestions that he would have liked to make, or innovations that he would have liked to introduce. After a frustrating year and a half, Dick was suddenly made plant manager of an old British company which had just been purchased by Tri-American. He left his first English assignments with mixed and moved from London to Birmingham. In Birmingham, he become a plant manager and operated much as he had in his troubleshooting job for the first couple of years of his change from sales to administration. He did some changes in Birmingham. Training and reduction programs were instituted for all supervisors and managers who survive the initial purge. He tried to focus/ control on relationship between production and the needs from sales by simplifying and redesign in order to increase profit. Later the company showed a small profit for the first time in many years. For this successfulness, then he requested transferred back to United States. 4. Cost Reduction Problem, by the end of his first year at Modrow, the building program had been completed, although behind schedule, the new equipment had been installed, and some revamping of cost procedures had been incorporated. But, the financial picture at this time showed as a loss. Later, all managers of the various divisions had worked closely with their supervisors and accountants in planning the budget for the following year. 5. Human Relations/ Interaction Problems When he worked through his first year as plant manager, Dick developed the habit of strolling around the organization. He was apt to leave his office and appear anywhere on the plant floor, in the design office and at the plant cafeteria rather than in the executive dining room, or wherever there was activity concerned with Modrow. At first his presence disturbed those who noted him coming and going, but later, the workers came to accept his presence and continue their usual activities. Supervisors, managers, and foreman, however, did not feel as comfortable when they saw him in the area. 6. Different corporate culture in Canada, even though Canada is located in same geopolitical areas, geographically and nationally Canada is different country and corporate culture is bit different from USA. And Dick Spencer is American manager who started his career in USA. As we can see from the case, Dick Spencer is basically very stunning to adapt different corporate culture in different countries such as UK and Canada plant career. We can see it from this sentence: ‘†¦ In recalling his first year at Modrow, Dick had felt constantly pressured and badgered. He always sensed that the Canadians he worked with resented his presence since he has brought in over the heads of the operating staff’. At the same time he felt this subtle resistance from his Canadian work force†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. 7. Organization conflict in Modrow plant, there was an obvious conflict between workers and Dick Spencer. We can see it from this sentence: ‘†¦ In recalling his first year at Modrow, Dick had felt constantly pressured and badgered. He always sensed that the Canadians he worked with resented his presence since he has brought in over the heads of the operating staff †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. In the other words, other workers couldn’t live up with Dick’s arrival in the company. 8. Corporate innovation management, at the time of Dick Spencer’s arrival in the Modrow Branch, there was a lack of good corporate innovation management. We can see it from this sentence: ‘†¦ Prior to Dick’s appointment as plant manager at Modrow, extensive plans for plant expansion and improvement had been approved and started. Altough he had not been in on the original discussions and plans, he inherited all the problems that accompany large-scale changes in any organization. Construction was slower in completion than originally planned, equipment arrived before the building was finished, employees were upset about the extent of change expected in their work routines with installation of additional machinery, and, in general, morale was a low ebb†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ 9. Decentralization, basically this is American organization type and American one is more formalistic than European. Decentralization is basically increase the pressure from parent company management. We can see it from this sentence: ‘†¦ This decentralization in organizational structure increased the freedom and authority of the plant managers, but increased the pressure for profitability†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ 10. Lack of leadership for Dick Spencer, in terms of organization leader Dick Spencer shouldn’t include the all the works in the organization. He tried to do it by himself every single things and he aimed to attend every action. In terms of HRM, this is not good character for the good Leader. We can see it from this sentence: ‘†¦ As he worked through his first year as plant manager, Dick developed the habit of strolling around the organization†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. This created the conflict between him and workers. Also this creates dis-approvement from workers. We can see it from this sentence: ‘†¦Supervisors, managers and foreman, however didn’t feel as comfortable when they saw him in the area†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ 11. Lack of knowledge in Human resource and accounting knowledge, these two courses were disadvantage for Dick Spencer in this study in MBA and these two are very important for any organization. In the other way, he can find and hire someone who can do his unknowledgeable fields such as accounting and HR. 12. Too high expectation from management made pressure, we can see it from this sentence: ‘†¦he believed that the president and his friends in the home office were constantly on the alert, waiting for Dick to prove himself or fail flat on his face†¦

Sexuality on Television and Teen Pregnancy Essay Example

Sexuality on Television and Teen Pregnancy Essay Example Sexuality on Television and Teen Pregnancy Essay Sexuality on Television and Teen Pregnancy Essay By Nichole Crawford We live in a society that is fueled by instant gratification, exaggerated sexuality and an ever-increasing lack of moral values. Through both poor role models and a highly sexualized media, the adolescents of today are constantly presented with a â€Å"lassiez-faire† projection of sex. Rarely do these images accurately portray the very real damage that irresponsibility and a lack of planning can do to the lives of young adults. In fact, some of the portrayals in today’s media do just the opposite, by encouraging teens to behave irresponsibly in regard to their sex lives. This is evidence in reality-style shows like â€Å"Teen Mom† and â€Å"16 and Pregnant†, which glorify teen sexuality and the consequences it can lead to. By airing television shows about teen moms on television, we are encouraging our young girls to repeat the behavior they see. Glorifying these girls’ choices to have unprotected sex at such a young age is irresponsible. There is little doubt in anyone’s mind of the turbulence that accompanies adolescence. It is a hormone-filled roller coaster of confusion, excitement and increased interest in sexuality. In recent years, with the internet boom and the increase in available television channels, it has become the norm for sex to be the topic in almost any available programming. From regular primetime shows to cable shows to commercials, sex can be found as a central theme. With children, teenagers, and young adults being exposed to so much sexuality, we can assume that it must have an impact on the development of their sexuality and their sexually-based decisions. The parents of teenagers and their children participated in one study in which they were asked questions in an attempt to determine how the media influenced them sexually (Werner-Wilson 303-311). The results were conclusive, and showed that teens did not believe the media had much influence of their decisions. Their parents, however, expressed more concern. As one parent put it the images on television were â€Å"pornography set to music† (page 310) and the concern was widespread that it would have a negative impact on their children’s’ choices. This is a concern that should not be easily dismissed. The study concluded that the teens were essentially unaware of the influence the media had on their decision making (311). Because it is unlikely for teenagers to be able to make a distinction on their own, parents should make an effort to sit with their children on occasion and observe their television choices, to monitor their intake of televised sexuality and discuss the unhealthy or dangerous decisions being made in the programming. Essentially, parents should assume a watchful and careful role in their children’s television decisions. We can hope that by taking such an interest in the television programming their children watch, parents can ward off any negative influence that sexually-charged programming can have on behavior. Another such study performed in a Northeastern high school had a goal of profiling television use among high school television viewers, with a specific interest in the sexual content in these programs (Schooler, pg. 484-508). The study divided the participants into groups and measured the amount of sexual content in each group’s television consumption. They found that the programs with higher sexual content was viewed by more of the study participants as a whole then were the programs with low sexual content, regardless of the genre of the show (503). This finding suggests that these adolescents do not realize the extent to which they are influences by the sexual content, because they believed that they were choosing the shows based on the genre, not the sexual content. As the author of the study findings puts it: â€Å"it appears that some teens who regularly watch higher levels of sexual content may be doing so somewhat inadvertently (504). This finding further emphasizes the need for parents to take an active role in helping their teenagers become aware of what they are watching, and how it impacts their thinking and behavior, because if they are unknowingly watching these highly sexualized shows, they may also unknowingly behave in a way that is portrayed in these programs. When taking these facts into consideration regarding teen sexuality and teen pregnancy, it can be safely assumed that these shows play at least a small role in the way that today’s teens view sexuality and, in turn, their own sexual behavior. One form of sexual content that poses a particular problem is so-called â€Å"reality† television. Shows that show romantic and sexual themes, presented in a realistic format give teenagers, especially female teenagers, a false sense of reality. The shows fail to depict accurate scenarios in the dating world, which leads to unrealistic expectations. When combined with insufficient knowledge about the dangers of risky sexual behavior, the shows perpetuate the possible problems that exist for teenagers in both romantic and sexual scenarios. These shows, while being called â€Å"reality TV† are unrealistic about the actual dating world as it exists today. Rarely do the characters on these shows experience real consequences from their behavior, such as pregnancy or STD’s, and in that sense, they fail to prepare the viewers for what is actual reality. This leads teens into situations with unrealistic expectations for their own encounters. In a study performed to determine the correlation between romantically themed reality television and teenage behavior, it was found that â€Å"[Romantically themed reality television] is a significant of girls’ frequency of sexual conversations with their peers and boys’ perceptions of the sexual experience levels of their peers (Vandenbosch, page 578). When these shows are viewed adolescents who watch them talk about sex more frequently with their friends; without also increasing the frequency of educational conversations about sex, this increases the risk of sexually irresponsible behavior. These shows do not depict sex and romance in a way that encourages furthered learning abo ut responsible sex, rather, it depicts sex as having little or no consequences in the lives of the people engaging in it. It is human nature that the things to which we devote our energy become increasingly a part of our lives, so if the adolescent’s time is increasingly spent watching sexually themed television, and then subsequently talking about it, they will spend an increasing amount of time involved in related behaviors. This leads to an increased risk of unplanned pregnancy and STD’s simply because the amount of sexual experiences should increase according to the amount of time spent watching and then discussing sexually themed television and other media. Not only does a sexually-themed medium increase the likelihood of sexual behavior in adolescents, but it also increases the likelihood that teens will experience consequences or regrets after such behavior. For example, after watching and discussing a show with a high amount of sexual content, a female teenage viewer may go and behave similarly to a character on the show. She may be misguided in her expectation because of the outcome on the show, and when her encounter fails to meet her expectations, she may come to regret her experience. Not only is regret a very real risk, but if the shows fails to depict necessary protection use by the character, it is likely that the teen may not think to use such measures in her own encounters. In this way, television content about romantic and sexual encounters sets adolescents for disappointment and an increased risk of unwanted consequences. According to one study involving teens’ media exposure to sex and the likelihood of regretting their first sexual encounter: â€Å"teenagers exposed to high levels of sex on television will be more likely than their peers to regret their first sexual experience† (Berry, page 93). While this may be related to an emotional aspect of the encounter, it is also fairly likely that it is due to the experience of unwanted consequences to the sexual behavior such as pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. The study found also that increased television exposure led to earlier sexual experiences and also states that â€Å"earlier age at first sex is correlated with elevates risks of both pregnancy and STD’s. (Berry, 97)† Given these findings, as well as the findings in other studies regarding the media influence on adolescents, we can draw the following conclusions. First, teenagers who watch television programming are largely unaware of the influence it has on their own personal sexual behavior. Parents of such teens seem to be more aware of the influence it can have, although are unlikely to try to change the media intake of their children. Secondly, the viewing of sexual media leads to an increase in discussions of, and possibly involvement in, sexual activity. The involvement in such activity is rarely paired with education about sexual safety when it is influenced by sexual media. Lastly, teens who watch a high volume of sexually themed television are more likely to regret their first sexual experience. This can be because of unrealistic expectations, or can come from unwanted consequences such as STD’s and pregnancy. All of these facts should be taken into consideration when choosing what to allow our children to watch. While it would be nearly impossible to completely eliminate sexual content, it is possible and probably necessary to attempt to regulate it for children and teenagers. By oing so, we can probably reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Berry, Sandra H et al. â€Å"It’s Better on TV: Does Television Set Teenagers Up For Regret Following Sexual Initiation? † Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Volume 41, Number 2, June 2009. Pages 92-96. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Nov. 2012 Schooler, Deborah et al. â€Å"Beyond Exposure: A Person-Oriented Approach to Adolescent Media Di ets† Journal of Research on Adolescence; Volume 19 (3) 2009, Page 484-508. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Nov. 2012 Vandenbosch, Laura, and Steven Eggermont. Temptation Island, The Bachelor, Joe Millionaire : A Prospective Cohort Study On The Role Of Romantically Themed Reality Television In Adolescents Sexual Development.   Journal Of Broadcasting amp; Electronic Media  55. 4 (2011): 563-580. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Nov. 2012. Werner-Wilson, Ronald Jay et al. â€Å"Adolescent and Parent Perceptions of Media Influence on Adolescent Sexuality† Adolescence; summer 2004, Vol. 39 Issue 154, p303-313. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Nov. 2012

PROJECT 1- DERIVING MEANING Example

PROJECT 1 PROJECT 1 Deriving meaning Deriving meaning form an art Figure Reference art: Relief caving from the Kandarya Mahedeva temple Khajurao India on page 177The strategies in deriving meaningFormal analysisElements in this picture comprise images of people enjoying sexual contacts evident from images of men masturbating besides other related acts (Arntz, n.d.). It shows a form of togetherness among the people in the societal setting. Masturbating people in this portrait embrace women and men whereby they seem to be in a state of celebration intended to please each other. Hence, integrating with each other to show heightened level of fantasies, which the involved parties seem to enjoy. The other idea in the art according to the combination of the elements is the sign of pleasure and reunion among the people addressed by the presentation art.Psychoanalytical strategyThe art in this situation also shows the culture of people within a given community. It clearly shows that there was an element of meani ng of sexuality in the previous times. It shows that there was past experience in terms of lack of freedom to enjoy certain elements of life (Arntz, n.d.). The picture also shows an element of reunion to show in the past separation of people within a given community.Feminism criticismThe art also shows an element of gender in the art. It explains the roles of women and men in their line of marriage. It exploits the relationship that the community expects from a man and woman who are together in marriage (Arntz, n.d.). This shows they have the role of satisfying one another in their marital life though one aspect is more of erotic than it ought to be, which masturbation. In addition, it shows the aspect of feminism that exists in terms of gender interactions whereby each woman within the society in question ought to be submissive to their polygamous husbands.Personal interpretationWhen I look at the picture, what comes into my mind is the perception of people towards sexuality. The e rotic practices shown in the picture dictates the current society that consists of exposure of certain social evils. Hence, aligning with the current society’s perception towards sexuality whereby most people term sex as an art of celebrating amongst themselves by pleasing each other with their bodies, which is evident in the above portrait. ReferencesArntz, C. (n.d.). Reproduction & Sexuality.

Battle of Stoney Creek in the War of 1812

Battle of Stoney Creek in the War of 1812 The Battle of Stoney Creek was fought June 6, 1813, during the War of 1812 (1812-1815). Having conducted a successful amphibious landing on the Lake Ontario side of the Niagara Peninsula in late May, American forces succeeded in capturing Fort George. Slowly pushing west after the retreating British, U.S. troops encamped on the night of June 5-6, 1813. Seeking to regain the initiative, the British launched a night attack that resulted in the enemy retreating and the capture of two American commanders. The victory led Major General Henry Dearborn to consolidate his army around Fort George and largely ended the American threat on the peninsula. Background On May 27, 1813, American forces succeeded in capturing Fort George on the Niagara frontier. Having been defeated, the British commander, Brigadier General John Vincent, abandoned his posts along the Niagara River and withdrew west to Burlington Heights with around 1,600 men. As the British retreated, the American commander, Major General Henry Dearborn, consolidated his position around Fort George. A veteran of the American Revolution, Dearborn had become an inactive and ineffective commander in his old age. Ill, Dearborn was slow to pursue Vincent. Finally organizing his forces to chase Vincent, Dearborn delegated the task to Brigadier General William H. Winder, a political appointee from Maryland. Moving west with his brigade, Winder halted at Forty Mile Creek as he believed the British force was too strong to attack. Here was joined by an additional brigade commanded by Brigadier General John Chandler. Senior, Chandler assumed overall command of the American force which now numbered around 3,400 men. Pushing on, they reached Stoney Creek on June 5 and encamped. The two generals established their headquarters at the Gage Farm. Scouting the Americans Seeking information on the approaching American force, Vincent dispatched his deputy assistant adjutant general, Lieutenant Colonel John Harvey, to scout the camp at Stoney Creek. Returning from this mission, Harvey reported that the American camp was poorly guarded and that Chandlers men were badly positioned to support each other. As a result of this information, Vincent decided to move forward with a night attack against the American position at Stoney Creek. To execute the mission, Vincent formed a force of 700 men. Though he traveled with the column, Vincent delegated operational control to Harvey. Battle of Stoney Creek Conflict: War of 1812Date: June 6, 1813Armies Commanders:AmericansBrigadier General William H. WinderBrigadier General John Chandler1,328 men (engaged)BritishBrigadier General John VincentLieutenant Colonel John Harvey700 menCasualties:Americans: 17 killed, 38 wounded, 100 missingBritish: 23 killed, 136 wounded, 52 captured, 3 missing The British Move Departing Burlington Heights around 11:30 p.m. on June 5, the British force marched east through the darkness. In an effort to maintain the element of surprise, Harvey ordered his men to remove the flints from their muskets. Approaching the American outposts, the British had the advantage of knowing the American password for the day. Stories regarding how this was obtained vary from Harvey learning it to it being passed on the British by a local. In either case, the British succeeded in eliminating the first American outpost they encountered. Advancing, they approached the former camp of the U.S. 25th Infantry. Earlier in the day, the regiment had moved after deciding that the site was too exposed to attack. As a result, only its cooks remained at the campfires making meals for the following day. Around 2:00 a.m., the British were discovered as some of Major John Nortons Native American warriors attacked an American outpost and noise discipline was broken. As the American troops rushed to battle, Harveys men re-inserted their flints as the element of surprise had been lost. Battle of Stoney Creek, June 6, 1813. Public Domain Fighting in the Night Situated on high ground with their artillery on Smiths Knoll, the Americans were in a strong position once they had regained their poise from the initial surprise. Maintaining a steady fire, they inflicted heavy losses on the British and turned back several attacks. Despite this success, the situation began to quickly deteriorate as the darkness caused confusion on the battlefield. Learning of a threat to the American left, Winder ordered the U.S. 5th Infantry to that area. In doing so, he left the American artillery unsupported. As Winder was making this error, Chandler rode to investigate firing on the right. Riding through the darkness, he was temporarily removed from the battle when his horse fell (or was shot). Hitting the ground, he was knocked out for some time. Seeking to regain the momentum, Major Charles Plenderleath of the British 49th Regiment gathered 20-30 men for an attack on the American artillery. Charging up Gages Lane, they succeeded in overwhelming Captain Nathaniel Towsons artillerymen and turning the four guns on their former owners. Returning to his senses, Chandler heard fighting around the guns. Unaware of their capture, he approached the position and was quickly taken prisoner. A similar fate befell Winder a short time later. With both generals in enemy hands, command of the American forces fell to cavalryman Colonel James Burn. Seeking to turn the tide, he led his men forward but due to the darkness mistakenly attacked the U.S. 16th Infantry. After forty-five minutes of confused fighting, and believing the British to have more men, the Americans withdrew east. Aftermath Concerned that the Americans would learn the small size of his force, Harvey retreated west into the woods at dawn after carrying off two of the captured guns. The next morning, they watched as Burns men returned to their former camp. Burning excess provisions and equipment, the Americans then retreated to Forty Mile Creek. British losses in the fighting numbered 23 killed, 136 wounded, 52 captured, and three missing. American casualties numbered 17 killed, 38 wounded, and 100 captured, including both Winder and Chandler. Retreating to Forty Mile Creek, Burn encountered reinforcements from Fort George under Major General Morgan Lewis. Bombarded by British warships in Lake Ontario, Lewis became concerned about his supply lines and began retreating towards Fort George. Having been shaken by the defeat, Dearborn lost his nerve and consolidated his army into a tight perimeter around the fort. The situation worsened on June 24 when an American force was captured at the Battle of Beaver Dams. Angered by Dearborns repeated failures, Secretary of War John Armstrong removed him on July 6 and dispatched Major General James Wilkinson to take command. Winder would later be exchanged and commanded American troops at the Battle of Bladensburg in 1814. His defeat there allowed British troops to capture and burn Washington, DC.

Postural Changes associated with Pregnancy Dissertation

Postural Changes associated with Pregnancy - Dissertation Example INTRODUCTION Posture is defined as the arrangement of body parts with reference to each other. Thus a good posture refers to the optimum alignment of musculoskeletal system so as to enable body movement with maximum efficiency (Britnell et al., 2005). Pregnancy brings about multiple changes in the women’s body affecting almost every biological system. While some of these changes go with pregnancy, others continue to affect for longer duration. There is an increase in body mass and dimensions with non-uniform distribution of both of these parameters. Thus the centre of gravity of the body and therefore, its equilibrium is disturbed and in order to regain it the body must lean backwards. The skeletal and muscular system of the women’s body undergoes several biomechanical changes to accommodate the growing uterus, maintain body balance and facilitate smooth delivery. Moreover the hormonal changes during pregnancy too affect the musculoskeletal system. Later weeks of pregna ncy are characterized by lordosis or a significantly increased curvature of the spine. Thus changes are observed in both the static and dynamic posture of the women during pregnancy. Along with these postural changes are observed discomforts such as low back pain which may or may not be associated with the postural changes. Moreover the postural changes have also been linked to increased vulnerability to fall incidences. Research has shown that the major postural adaptations associated with pregnancy include forward shift in centre of gravity, and subsequent anterior pelvic tilt, with some cases of lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis. Approximately 75% of women exhibit a more posterior posture wherein the mass of the expanding uterus with the fetus is shifted posterior to the prior centre of gravity (Britnell et al., 2005). While pregnancy itself is associated with different levels of multiple discomforts both physical and mental, an understanding of the mechanism and nature of ch anges associated with pregnancy is imperative for developing measures to deal with these problems. This literature review aims to study the various aspects of postural changes associated with pregnancy. 2. PURPOSE Bipedalism is a distinguishing character of hominids and the human skeleton has developed several adaptations to enable it. One of the chief adaptations was an elongated lumbar region with both an increased length of individual vertebra and also increase in number of vertebra. Besides this, the lumbar vertebra are also arranged in a significantly concave curve, the feature being specifically termed as lumbar lordosis. As a consequence of lumbar lordosis the trunk’s centre of mass (COM) is shifted to a position above the hips thereby imparting stability to the upper part of body (Whitcome et al., 2007). The second major adaptation is sagittal pelvic tilt. Human posture and motion is thus defined by two biomechanical components responsible for imparting stability viz lumbar lordosis and sagittal pelvic tilt. However, pregnancy related marked changes in body shape and mass pose significant challenges to the bipedal stability (Whitcome et al.

Is the US still a global hegemonic power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Is the US still a global hegemonic power - Essay Example The break-up of the Soviet regime in the late twentieth century, however, changed all that, leaving the United States in a uniquely powerful position in the world. This situation has been labelled a â€Å"global hegemony† based on the Greek word hegemon meaning leader. A hegemony demonstrates supremacy and leadership, but it also implies that there are others who more or less willingly follow this leadership and sustain the hegemony with their support. In modern times the phrase â€Å"global hegemony† the phrase has been defined with an emphasis on economics as a situation which â€Å"requires a preponderance of material resources, in terms of raw materials, sources of capital, market dominance and advantages in the production of highly valued goods.† (Kehoane, 1984, p. ) The supremacy of the United states in technology and its ability to influence international organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund , which support capitalist fr ee market economy ideals, has helped to ensure that America maintained a hegemonic position in the mid twentieth century. Other analysts view the situation of the United States in terms of a â€Å"theory of hegemonic stability† which maintains that â€Å"the presence of a single, strongly dominant actor in international politics leads to collectively desirable outcomes for all states in the international system.† (Snidal, 1985, 579) Snidal argues that the dominance can be exercised in both coercive leadership and benevolent leadership and of course the leader can determine at any point which type to apply. There are two ways in which such a hegemonic power can decline: â€Å"the absolute decline of the dominant actor (e.g. Spain beginning in the late 16th century) or from positive but differential growth rates through which secondary powers ‘catch up’ with a former leader (e.g. the ‘decline with growth of the United States after 1960).† (Snida l, 1985, 585) It seems that in the new millennium a number of other players have finally begun to â€Å"catch up† with the United States, notably the European Union which increasingly acts in a unified strategy on international issues, and China, which is emerging as a new world economic power which has the potential to dwarf even the United States. American hegemony is now being questioned both in terms of its current ability to provide benefits for other countries lower down in the hierarchy, and in terms of its ability to sustain itself in the face of emerging competition. This paper starts from the assumption that the United States was a global hegemonic power, jointly with the U.S.S.R. from 1945 and then in its own right from the late 1980s at least. It then examines arguments which support the idea that the United States is still a global hegemonic power and arguments against. Economic, political, military and cultural factors are considered in turn, and then the argume nts are discussed, explaining why the hegemonic power of the United States is currently under threat, and concluding in the end that the United States is still a hegemonic power, but that this situation is not likely to last very much longer. 2. Arguments

Pop Culture Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Pop Culture - Research Paper Example The young ones like to connect with the pop music because they believe this is them when they hum along to songs, attend concerts, be a part of the karaoke nights and basically have a good time within the pop domains. The pop culture within music has always been a good subject to comprehend because the pop music is more about loudness and bang-bang than any other thing. They focus less on how things are followed by the book but understand how things are done in a quick and hassle-free way. This is, therefore, some of the best-known reasons why pop music has been able to showcase the young artists, the teenage sensations, and so on and so forth. The pop music and indeed the pop culture does not represent or take into consideration the people from the older age segments or the ones who are facing mid-life issues. Lady Gaga’s influence on the pop music and indeed the generation of present times is something to write home about. She is one pop singer that has touched the zenith of success during her brief pop career. However, she has touched hearts of millions around the globe and has represented the pop culture in a way that has not been known to be linked with others in the pop music industry. Therefore the role of pop music within the popular culture of present times is an acknowledged one and is manifested for a number of different reasons. People have started to think that pop culture will basically put the young ones on the right track, whereby the latter can listen to songs all day long and remain calm all this while. If they indulge in some other activities which are unbecoming of their own selves, then that would not be a pardonable excuse at all. So it is always an appreciable act on the part of the elders in the current times to allow the manifestation of the pop music in its diverse forms. Pop Culture on Television How programming has been affected with television and how the same has been inter-linked with the pop culture is somewhat of an inter esting debate. This is because the pop culture has brought about a number of programming advancements within the realms of this select audience (McNicol, 2009). The young ones now feel that they have a separate and unique identity of their own, which is being represented through the different pop music channels and distinctive programs – all of which cater to the needs and requirements of the time. The children and teenagers know that they need to keep a close track of what is happening within the pop culture regimes so that they can come along well with the changing times and be considered hip and happening within their respective social circles. The need is to remain fast track with the amending technological documentations and this has been in the form of immense progress that has come about with the advent of the pop culture. The pop culture on

Critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of the different models Essay

Critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of the different models of Strategic Human Resource Management - Essay Example Personnel Management involved hiring the best employees, keeping employees productive, monitoring employees in their operations, payment, motivation and development of employees (Biz Bite Consulting Group, 2011). Personnel management was mainly focusebd on ensuring that workers made to provide the best results and this was done in a very isolated manner that was independent of central organizational goals and objectives (Becker and Gerhart, 1996: Thomson, 1999). This meant that employee matters were simply grouped under this aspect of the business and it enabled the business to remain in control of affairs in organisations. Also, personnel management involved a unit that ensured that employee matters were dealt with and employee challenges were revolved. It existed as a necessary unit but not a vital component that was manipulated by management to meet the overall goal of the organisation. Strategic human resource management, on the other hand, evolved to blend personnel management w ith the goals of the organisation (Thomson, 1999). In other words, the personnel management unit is designed and ran in such a way that it contributes directly to the long-term organisational plan and goals (Galbraith and Nathanson, 1978). This integration meant that the strategy of the organisation was integrated into the personnel department and this department was ran to meet organisational strategic goals. In linking the old personnel management unit of a business to the strategic units and levels of businesses, there are four main methods and approaches that are used to link the two systems. They are: 1. Universalistic Approach 2. Contingency Approach 3. Resource-based Approach and 4. Institutionalist Approach Each of these four approaches to strategic human resource management comes with various strengths and weaknesses. This paper examines each of the approaches and undertakes a critical analysis of all of them. This will involve an examination of the main theory that underli nes the approach and an assessment of the merits and demerits of each approach. Universalistic Approach to Strategic Human Resource Management. The universalistic approach assumes that there is one best way of carrying carrying out the human resource management function strategically (Pfeffer, 1998). In other words, the management spend time to crystallize a system of managing people that they consider to be foolproof and appropriate to the organisation in all circumstances. The best way of doing human resource management becomes a universal set of rules that are used to run the human resource management unit as a strategic business unit that works to meet strategic goals of the organisation. There are three yardsticks that are used in defining the 'best way'. These yardsticks come up as a result of the need to define what is best and what will eventually become the universally accepted human resource management system. The first yardstick is a commitment based system which involves the choice of a strategic human resource management system that helps employees to become more committed (Guest, 1987). This way, the basis for choosing a system of implementation is to find out what best enhances employee commitment. The second yardstick is the concern for employee motivated system (Wood, 1999). I doing this, what is defined as the best human resource management system is judged by how sensitive it is to the needs of employees. The third model is quite opposite to the second model. This is a concern for work model. In other words, the universalistic approach is based on the ability of an HRM model to make employees provide the highest level of outcome and results for the

Evolution and Revolution as Organizations Grow Assignment

Evolution and Revolution as Organizations Grow - Assignment Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that the term revolution of growth has been used to describe substantial turmoil in the trading periods of the organization. Established companies have been able to distinguish the clues that will define their future. On the other hand, those that fail to establish these clues are not lucky to realize their main goal of doing business. Many organizations are in apposition to overcome the external force but do face challenges dealing with their own history of management. This can be termed as direction phase where the company needs the directions. The third phase is the delegation phase. The main aim to start any form of business is not only to make profits but also grow and develop. These developments can be subdivided into phases. There are key forces of developments in this paper will discuss. This paper highlights the main dimensions used to determine the model of any organization development. To start with, the age of the business, the si ze of the business, the various stages of evolution, the stages of the revolution and the general growth in the industry. All this needs good management team in place as well illustrated in BPW Australia. The fourth phase is the coordination phase. Each stage of evolution gives birth to a new revolution. The managerial team is busy looking for solutions and this revolution dictates the next evolution in the business sector. Another important model is the age of the organization, the experience that the company gains over time helps a lot in its growth and development. Every procedure is extensively reviewed. The top executives are there to maintain high business standards. The fifth phase is the collaboration phase. The Size of the business has now fully grown sales volumes of the company have increased, its employees and the like. The level of the hierarchy is established, creating more opportunities within the organization internally and externally. This has the effects that evolu tion can be prolonged whereas revolution can delay when the profits of the business are achieved in a faster way. Again at this phase regular top management meeting are done regularly, to spot any issues arising.

Critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of the different models Essay

Critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of the different models of Strategic Human Resource Management - Essay Example Personnel Management involved hiring the best employees, keeping employees productive, monitoring employees in their operations, payment, motivation and development of employees (Biz Bite Consulting Group, 2011). Personnel management was mainly focusebd on ensuring that workers made to provide the best results and this was done in a very isolated manner that was independent of central organizational goals and objectives (Becker and Gerhart, 1996: Thomson, 1999). This meant that employee matters were simply grouped under this aspect of the business and it enabled the business to remain in control of affairs in organisations. Also, personnel management involved a unit that ensured that employee matters were dealt with and employee challenges were revolved. It existed as a necessary unit but not a vital component that was manipulated by management to meet the overall goal of the organisation. Strategic human resource management, on the other hand, evolved to blend personnel management w ith the goals of the organisation (Thomson, 1999). In other words, the personnel management unit is designed and ran in such a way that it contributes directly to the long-term organisational plan and goals (Galbraith and Nathanson, 1978). This integration meant that the strategy of the organisation was integrated into the personnel department and this department was ran to meet organisational strategic goals. In linking the old personnel management unit of a business to the strategic units and levels of businesses, there are four main methods and approaches that are used to link the two systems. They are: 1. Universalistic Approach 2. Contingency Approach 3. Resource-based Approach and 4. Institutionalist Approach Each of these four approaches to strategic human resource management comes with various strengths and weaknesses. This paper examines each of the approaches and undertakes a critical analysis of all of them. This will involve an examination of the main theory that underli nes the approach and an assessment of the merits and demerits of each approach. Universalistic Approach to Strategic Human Resource Management. The universalistic approach assumes that there is one best way of carrying carrying out the human resource management function strategically (Pfeffer, 1998). In other words, the management spend time to crystallize a system of managing people that they consider to be foolproof and appropriate to the organisation in all circumstances. The best way of doing human resource management becomes a universal set of rules that are used to run the human resource management unit as a strategic business unit that works to meet strategic goals of the organisation. There are three yardsticks that are used in defining the 'best way'. These yardsticks come up as a result of the need to define what is best and what will eventually become the universally accepted human resource management system. The first yardstick is a commitment based system which involves the choice of a strategic human resource management system that helps employees to become more committed (Guest, 1987). This way, the basis for choosing a system of implementation is to find out what best enhances employee commitment. The second yardstick is the concern for employee motivated system (Wood, 1999). I doing this, what is defined as the best human resource management system is judged by how sensitive it is to the needs of employees. The third model is quite opposite to the second model. This is a concern for work model. In other words, the universalistic approach is based on the ability of an HRM model to make employees provide the highest level of outcome and results for the

Fast Moving Consumer Goods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fast Moving Consumer Goods - Essay Example This essay demonstrates that at the same time, they develop trust and loyalty towards their brands. Due to the dynamic changes that FMCG companies operate in, penetrating the UK, and their supermarket has been a challenge. There has been a success and at the same time failures, this depending on the strategies employed in promoting the products. A specialized team appointed by Zeal Creative undertaking consultancy on various issues concerning FMCG companies in UK supermarkets found that different approaches, in communicating to customers, has been the key to either success or market failure. in consultancy, different products are to be sampled from leading supermarkets in the United Kingdom and strategies that various FMCG companies used and how best the succeeded in implementing these communication avenues. The consultancy working for Zeal Creatives conducted both primary and secondary research looking into the newspaper, company financial reports, marketing website and any other re levant research material that could help the consultancy analyze the reasons for success or failure of penetration into UK supermarkets. The research covers and analyses both in of the store and out of store communications. The research is interested in all UK supermarkets and using both the primary and secondary data the research focuses on the best practices to be adopted by FMCG companies. This is key to prior identification of the big winners and losers in terms of market penetration. The report sampled companies such as ASDA, Bacardi, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Weetabix and, Johnson & Johnson. These companies both within the five years of concern used various strategies in communicating with their customers. Various in of the store and out of store communications approaches will be analyzed, and informed judgment made on the best approach applicable in future.  

Objectification of women Essay Example for Free

Objectification of women Essay Should prostitution be legalised and monitored or illegal and unmonitored? Main Arguments Primoratz â€Å"what’s wrong with prostitution?† ( Vol. 68, No. 264, Apr., 1993 ) Nussbaum â€Å"taking money for bodily services† Yolanda Estes â€Å"moral reflections on prostitution† Sources The philosophy of sex contemporary readings, Alan Soble and Nicholas.P.Power, Rowman Littlefield, Jan 1, 2002 Prostitution and pornography: â€Å"philosophical debate about the sex industry† Charges against prostitution: an attempt at a philosophical assessment, Chicago journals, Vol. 90, No. 3, Apr., 1980 Lars.O.Ericsson Introduction and thesis I will clearly state how my argument will be structured for prostitution through the various articles and philosophers I have studied. I shall also outline how I will come to my conclusion. Body An outline of my basic arguments will be presented with supporting sub arguments, these will include all the above references. I will use both Primoratz and Nussbaum to back up my conclusion. I will then evaluate and analyse their arguments in order to further support my view for prostitution. Then I will look at views that are opposed to the legalisation of prostitution through Yolanda Estes who defends Kantian ethics. After evaluating this I will come up with various responses. Conclusion Look at objections I was unable to argue against as lack of space, also look  at my overall argument and see implications of accepting the conclusion. Essay plan Although we are sometimes justified in withdrawing or withholding life sustaining treatment for someone who is terminally ill and suffering, we could never be justified in killing such a person? Critically discuss the claim? Intro Define what passive and active euthanasia are and their basic differences, Discuss the various arguments that you will look at and show your point of view for the essay State the part of the world that you will be discussing, both the us and uk Main body Body will be split into two main arguments, my first argument will discuss the moral difference between killing and letting a person die. I will use various references and examples from the articles and books noted. My argument will attempt to show that their can be no yes or no answer to the question as each case is very specific and should be taken on its own merits and not by one law. I will then look at various examples where courts have both ruled for and against passive and active euthanasia, critically discussing the decisions and as to weather they were morally permissible. I will then attempt to add a philosophical standpoint such as utilitarianism or Kantian ethics to further prove my original argument. After this I will also add counter arguments and attempt to provide possible responses in order to strengthen my argument. Conclusion Here I will summarise my viewpoint and show various arguments that I may have added if I had more space. I will then attempt to finish my essay with a quotation from one of the various articles that both agrees with and summarises my stance. Books and articles Euthanasia and physician assisted euthanasia, (Gerald Dworkin, Cambridge University Print, August 28 1998) Euthanasia: a reference handbook Jennifer Fecio Mcdougall, Martha Gormen, 2008) Euthanasia: death with dignity and the law, Hasel Biggs, Hart publishing, jan 1, 2008) Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (why active euthanasia should be allowed, article, 2001, navlo, Brithish medical journal)

The Lamentation over the Dead Christ

The Lamentation over the Dead Christ Classicism in â€Å"The Lamentation over the Dead Christ† The Renaissance Era was an epoch of artistic resurgence in the history of Europe. This period was marked by developments in Italian Renaissance paintings with the renewal of classical forms, motifs and subjects. In edict to discern the Classicism that prospered during this age, conceivably without need, from the Classical architecture of the ancient Romans. The exploration for cerebral legitimacy through art set apart the period. During this period, contemporary Classicism was described as the â€Å"proper technique†. Methodically, this set in motion a blitz against Baroque art, which, with its highlighting of embellishment and delusion, was considered to be distinctly fictitious. Andrea Mantegna (1431-1506), in particular, modeled his work entitled â€Å"The Lamentation over the Dead Christ† (c.1480) in rudiments of Classicism. Mantegna used mainly foreshortening, a perspective used for compressing objects from a definitive viewpoint and chiaroscuro, the contrast between light and shadows bring this painting to life with essentials of Classicism. In this period, Classicism took on more visibly structural insinuations of the use of perspective, chiefly by the use of Foreshortening. Foreshortening occurs when an object appears compressed when seen from a particular viewpoint, and the effect of perspective causes distortion. Foreshortening is a predominantly constructive creative mechanism, used to give the sense of three-dimensional capacity and generate emotion in a picture. To sensationalize the supine Christ in perception, Mantegna paints his light source higher up the horizon line, to create illusion that the viewer will appear to be looking at an angle. The more askew the vanishing point, the more slanted the icon will be, as seen in the painting. Because the body of Christ is supine and symmetrical, the vanishing point is diametrically in the core of the perspective line. Because the spectators plane is parallel to Christs head at this point, the base perspective line appears to be horizontal. This imaginary line gives the fundamental, foreshortening perspective. The farther away the image is from the viewer, the nearer the illusion is to being perpendicular to the portrait plane, as seen in the Dead Christ. The position of the mourners (The Virgin Mary and St. John) are on the horizon line, to th e left the desertion point (Christs Head), as another foremost model to carry this position of foreshortening. The expanse from this point to the center of the perspective line denotes the distance within the painting for the viewer. If the point is isolated from the vanishing point, the mourners will appear condensed, and distant. If it is too close, they will emerge lengthened, as if it is too close to the observer. Essentially distorting the ray of light traveling from its origin to the onlookers judgment and ruining the illusion within the painting. This element is key to understanding Mantegnas brilliance of perspective in this fresco. In the case of the holes in Christs hands and feet; the perspective of the light source that illuminates (at an angle) the area of the holes also represents the use of foreshortening on the picture plane. When the light source hits the area of the holes, it hits at the appropriate angle on the picture plane. In order for the resulting image to ap pear identical to the intended scene, the eyewitness of the perspective must scrutinize the image from the exact vantage point used in the geometric calculations comparative to Christ. This proper use of foreshortening abandons visual imperfections that what would appear to be alterations in the painting when analyzed from a discrete point. These conspicuous distortions in foreshortening are more evident when viewing Christs thorax; as the perspective estimated from the surroundings, to the spectator becomes more finely tuned and comparative to the portrait base. In application, unless the viewer desires a radical perspective, like viewing the body of Christ from the base, the perspective on the whole, is in all probability accurate. It has been recommended that a painting in standpoint still seems to be in perspective at other spots because the individual still distinguishes it as a painting, because of the quality in its profundity of field indications due to the use of foreshortening. For a emblematic perspective, conversely, the field of view in the Dead Christ is tapered to the point, that the distortions are negligible and the fresco can be viewed from a site other than the tangible designed vantage point without seeming distorted, which in turn, buttress Mantegnas conclusion to paint the feet of Christ less significant than the customary individuals. While speaking at a summit on Greek mathematics and philosophy, Plato (429-347 B.C.E.) was quoted in repute to artwork, as stating, Thus (through perspective) every sort of confusion is revealed within us; and this is that weakness of the human mind on which the art of conjuring and of deceiving by light and shadow and other ingenious devices imposes, having an effect upon us like magic And the arts of measuring and numbering and weighing come to the rescue of the human understanding (Plato qtd. in Kahn) The applied use of the expression â€Å"chiaroscuro†, is the outcome of light representation in painting, in which three- dimensional capacity is advocated by the measure of color and the systematic partition of light and shadow contours on a two dimensional plane in a model of artwork. The creation of these belongings in the West, Skiagraphia or shadow-painting to the primeval Greeks, was attributed to the celebrated Athenian painter of the 5th century BC, Apollodoros. In the print of the Dead Christ, the light is approaching in from one encoded course exceeding Christs body, then light and silhouette will match to a set of natural conventions. An underscore of luminosity on Christs shroud symbolizes the summit where the brilliance is being revealed most unswervingly. This is most often attributed as a lightened white area, as seen in the shroud in Figure 1. As the viewers eye moves away from this emphasis, radiance strikes the article less candidly and consequently broadcast s a darker assessment of hues on the shroud. This changeover continues until the onlooker reaches the point where the darkness of the piercingly drawn material meets the lighted portion of the shroud. Here, there is a more abrupt conversion to darker values since no light is salient between Christs feet. Some oblique light is offered on the underside of Christs feet as the muted side does not turn unyieldingly dark. This is the product of reflected and refracted daylight that logically become apparent within the painting. As the viewer looks at the intense frame of the body of Christ, it is noticeable that it is patently lighter than the shadowed area of the mourners. Light in the environment is illuminating the background. The throw shadows are at odds, with separate values as well. Then, as light becomes more available, the same cast shadow lightens in increments until it reaches the shadows circumference. Craigie Aitchison (1923-2009), a Scottish painter and one of the better kno wn critically esteemed Royal Academians (Members Royal Academy of Arts have a exclusive position in being recognized as reputed artists and architects whose sole objective is to endorse the creation, pleasure and awarnessof the visual arts through exhibitions, education and debate), recalls the Dead Christ as his favorite painting, stating, â€Å"I like it because it tells a Story Its a wonderful reddy colour and terrifically drawn If ever a painting was clear, its this one. Its fantastically clear about the story its telling theres no muddling about. It couldnt be any other way.† (Aitchison). Mantegna dominates and operates this modus operandi to generate a inventive sense of pathos in the mourners and character in the Dead Christ. The Mantegna painting, with light entering from above, illustrates a faint modeling of chiaroscuro to give quantity to the body of Christ, which in turn, confirms the strong stimulus of Greek inspired Classicism in this fresco. The contrasts betw een light and shadows bring this painting to life with essentials of Classicism. The Renaissance Era was an epoch of artistic resurgence in the history of Europe. This period was marked by developments in Italian Renaissance paintings with the renewal of classical forms, motifs and subjects. In edict to discern the Classicism that prospered during this age, conceivably without need, from the Classical architecture of the ancient Romans. The exploration for cerebral legitimacy through art set apart the period. During this period, contemporary Classicism was described as the â€Å"proper technique†. Methodically, this set in motion a blitz against Baroque art, which, with its highlighting of embellishment and delusion, was considered to be distinctly fictitious. Andrea Mantegna (1431-1506), in particular, modeled his work entitled â€Å"The Lamentation over the Dead Christ† (c.1480) in rudiments of Classicism. Mantegna used mainly foreshortening, a perspective used for compressing objects from a definitive viewpoint and chiaroscuro, the contrast between light and shadows bring this painting to life with essentials of Classicism. Mantegnas version of the Dead Christ, is regarded as an indispensable art piece exemplifying the use of Classicism. Thus, he deserves the acclaim for the merit of these essentials in his work of art.

Essay --

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy is a multifaceted novel structured in a complex style. Roy has stealthily intertwined and connected her thoughts which require a deeper than surface level analysis from the readers. Creating an unusual yet successful narrative that achieved praise from most literary critics. The novel narrates the story of the Ipe family from Aymenem, India. The numerous members of the household each add to the unraveling series of events and the result of Sophie Mol’s death. The novel uses a wide range of literary devices such as symbolism and themes like the caste system. Roy creates vibrant imagery through the use of colors, more specifically blue, red, and yellow, that aim to stir up precise affect on the readers as well as to convey certain themes such as colonialism and oppression. There are three major colors that show up in The God of Small Things, which consist of blue, red, and yellow. But, the central color throughout the novel is blue. Blue merely symbolizes imperialism. â€Å"Pappachi, Baby Kochamma and Margaret Kochamma are the main representatives of the old social order that is under the threat of losing its grip on the local community" (Sadaf 74). In particular, the characters Pappachi and Baby Kochamma try to spread their love for the English culture in their post-colonial society. Ironically, the characters support Anglophilia instead of trying to salvage whatever is left of their rapidly diminishing Indian heritage and culture. Therefore, Roy might be attempting to portray these characters loyalty to the British culture by constantly associating them with the color blue. As a result, these characters along with the color blue aid in spreading Roy’s warnings about the negative effect... ... readers and created a realistic, nerve-racking mood. It is evident that while writing the novel, Roy laid the foundations of her story and then began to build and enrich the story line, as she would with a building. Roy jumps from present time to flashback each time creating a new puzzle for her audience to piece together. As we peel away the multiple layers of the story, Roy’s surprising talent in writing becomes obvious. She has somehow taken such a simple device like imagery, focused on specific colors and as a result, designed such a memorable story that revolves around colors. Roy instills certain feelings in her audience and depicts the themes of oppression and colonialism through her use of color symbolism and imagery. As we begin to comprehend the meanings of these colors, we successfully start to grasp the multiple messages Roy attempts to pass on.

Solutions to Global Poverty

There are different solutions to Global Poverty nowadays. Foreign aid is considered one of the most effective because it helps in pioneering new ideas for development and solves the budgeting problem that might ruin even the brightest project. There is considerable scope for improving on the current level of foreign aid, around $120 billion per annum. Another solution is tax recovery. Multinational corporations and wealthy elites minimize tax burdens so that poor countries are denied tax revenues from each of these sources exceeding in aggregate the current level of foreign aid. Besides this, investment in the rural economy always pays off. Rewards of economic growth are to be spent on payments for the poor and for immunisation. Of equal importance to local communities and individual households is greater power to control their own affairs.  Control Key and Word – Text and Graphics. An infusion of accountability through democracy and individual rights creates the environment in which governments come under pressure to end wasteful practices and corruption. However the removal of agricultural subsidies that protect American and European farmers is needed to create a favorable atmosphere for the real business competition to take place. A fundamental reordering of priorities is the surest remedy for the poor, as indeed it may be for all of us in search of a sustainable future. Plenty of issues call for fundamental reform of global governance. Undoubtedly, some other sectors where developing countries struggle for treatment are trade, investment, intellectual property rights, climate change and energy. It’s a well-known fact that Brazil, China and Vietnam are countries with the greatest success in poverty reduction. Only their governments control key sectors of their economies and show little inclination to relax those restrictions on human rights and democratic freedom. That’s why we need to find another solution of this consequential issue.

Gastronomy †Pasta as a Favourite Food Essay

Trying to narrow down my favourite food wasn’t very easy, but if I had to choose one, it would have to be pasta. The reason being is that pasta can be dressed up in so many different types of sauces and there are many different types of noodles. I also like the fact that pasta is such an old type of food but is still loved by everyone. There are stories that say that Marco Polo brought pasta back when returning from one of his journeys to China, but in fact that is not the case. Pasta was already around during the years of Polo. The Arab invasion, during the eighth century was shown to be the biggest influence for pasta, and it wasn’t until 1839 when pasta and tomatoes (the recipe that most people use now) was first heard of. Pasta for me is my everything food. It’s something that I can make quickly when I am in a rush if I simply buy noodles and sauce at the store, it’s something that you can take hours to make, it’s something that you can make when having people over, because you know that everyone will like it and it is also something that you can have while out on a date. What’s great about pasta is that you can make it really quickly with an Aglio E Olio sauce (which is a butter and garlic sauce) and store bought pasta or you can take your time and make your own noodles from scratch as well as make you sauce. Also when making the basic tomato sauce you can choose whether or not you want to make it completely from scratch by cutting and roasting the tomatoes or if you want to use canned tomatoes. When I was little, my older sister and brothers Nona would make pasta noodles from scratch. My sister would always take some home and sometimes bring some over to our house. It was always a treat to be able to have fresh made pasta, especially when you knew that recipe had been pasted down from generation to generation originating in Italy. These are some of the reasons why I love pasta, and while I’m here at school I hope to learn how to make fresh pasta like the way my sister and brothers Nona did.

Family and Tan Ling Wei

I am an ordinary soon to be 20 years old girl from an ordinary family with extraordinary fantasies. My name is Tan Ling Wei, but since everybody is having a difficult time to pronounce Chinese names, I would rather be called as Zoey. I’m a Malaysian Chinese, and I was born in a big city with big shopping malls – Kuala Lumpur. When I was younger, I used to stay in Bentong which is my hometown in Pahang with my parents together with my grandparents. Since my parents were busy earning for a living, my grandparents were my guardians. Grandpa was my favourite person because he was the one who pampered me the most.He would grant whatever wish I wished for, even if it was the stars in the sky which takes about more than 50,000 years to make the journey. I remembered there was once, my grandpa took me out on a bike to buy me a school bag. I was so young and I did not know how to place my legs on the passenger seat, consequently I hurt my foot by getting it trapped in the bicycl e wheel. I was crying very loudly on the way home because I couldn’t stand the pain and there was a lot of blood. Grandpa’s face was full with guilt when he saw his beloved grandchild got hurt. Eventually, the crying stopped after grandpa’s continuous comforting.The biggest gratitude goes to my mom. She’s not only an ordinary fulltime housewife, but also my dad’s part time personal assistant. On the other hand, she is the one who travels up and down to send me to university and my brother to school. Well, to put it in a nutshell, she has no time for herself at all. When I was 2 years old, I was admitted into the hospital and told that I had bronchitis. She was the one who took up the responsibility to take care of me, staying in the ward with me even when she was pregnant with my brother. A mother’s love is indeed instinctual, unconditional and forever for her child.The closest person when I was young was my dad. He was the one who would pat iently read me poems and stories when I was a baby. Whenever he got back from his work, he would snuggle me in his arms and sing me nursery rhymes. But as I age and hit puberty, our relationship drifted apart. I stopped having physical contacts with dad. Perhaps I was shy since I started noticing changes between females and males. However, the love I had for dad has never changed. Instead of expressing, it lays hidden. Ever heard of love and hate and relationship? Well, that’s the relationship I have with my 17 years old brother.When we were young, we were like cats and dogs, fighting for toys, practically we fight for everything even until today. Even so, blood is thicker than water. Whenever we face any problems in life, we would console each other, and of course be there for each other. My brother and I have one thing in common, that is we love playing computer games. Whenever there’s free time, both of us would spend time playing Blackshot together either as team m ates or rival to kill the time. Which girl would ever play computer games? That’s the common question whenever I come across to any of my friends.Well, that would be me. The reason why am I so boyish is because when I was a toddler, I mixed mostly with my cousin brothers. When I finally got into a primary school, my friends were all boys, because they were less dramatic. During the recess time, the boys would invite me to the field for football. Overtime, my character died hard and hence the boyishness and clumsiness. I love to read since I started my high school. According to one of my Indian good friend, my English was very bad when I was in form 1. We still laugh about it today whenever she tells the story of me speaking broken English in class.I started mixing around with the English educated friends to improve my English. Whenever I’ve difficulty understanding any English vocabulary, I would reach out to my friends and ask for an explanation. Furthermore, I starte d to build up the interest in reading. In the year 2008, when I was in my form 3, Twilight Saga had become famous as a romance novel about vampire love story. Since then, I started to have crazy fantasies of becoming a vampire as I could be an immortal and that I could keep my youth forever. As silly as I could be, reality is always cruel. No one can ever live as an immortal.Everyone’s life will come to an end eventually when the time comes. Well, that’s my autobiography, a really simple one but of course, there’s much more in life that I couldn’t express in words here in this essay. I believe nobody is perfect. Everyone has their own flaws, so do I. Life is just like a roller coaster with ups and downs. It just boils down to every individual on how they deal with it. Last but not leaset, I would like to end with a favourite quote of mine about life, â€Å"Life doesn't require that we be the best, only that we try our best. †- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.