Monday, September 30, 2019

American Apparel Case Analysis Essay

Key Facts of the Case (no analysis) -Who is the decision maker? (Remember: in analyzing a case you have to put yourself in the position of the decision maker and try to figure out what YOU would do in his/her position). -maximum 5 key facts that summarize the case. Key Decision Maker Board of Directors (AA is a publicly traded company) Key Facts American Apparel minimized their use of outsourced labour. They localized their manufacturing activities and were known for their anti-sweatshop practices The company was also praised for their environmentally friendly practices such as using organic and recycled materials in several of their products, and participating in charitable causes Their advertising campaigns stirred up a lot of controversy for the company, as some consumers believed them to be too sexual and borderline pornographic Charney (CEO) took the ad pictures himself using women he found on the streets or his own employees. As a hiring practice, employees were required to provide full length self-portraits to him Charney brought heat to the company via sexual harassment lawsuits and by creating a hostile working environment (using foul language, walking around in his underwear, flirting with employees, etc.) Problem(s) Statement -What is the main problem(s) or opportunity(s) that you (as decision maker) must deal with? -How urgent and how important is this issue and why? Main Problem The main problem presented for American Apparel is that there are discrepancies between their controversial advertisements and workplace practices and their positive business initiatives, which has resulted in a loss of sales for the company. They must determine how they are going to move forward and inspire a turnaround. Urgency Moderately urgent The company forecast a turnaround by 2015 (3 years to the future) Problem(s) Analysis -What is the background that has led to the problem(s)? -What are the key points that the decision maker must consider when figuring out a solution? (eg. constraints that limit the possible solutions or opportunities that could arise) -If a financial analysis is required, outline that in this section. -Perhaps a different format for analysis is more appropriate? (eg. SWOT, PEST, Porter’s Five Forces). Background American Apparel strived to promote raw natural beauty. To do this, they used real, non-photo-shopped, airbrush-free models in their advertising campaigns Their signature advertisements featured women in racy outfits and poses Charney took the pictures himself and either found women on the streets or used his own employees Charney said it was the company’s way of marketing to millennials, targeting contemporary adults who desired sexual freedom, and fighting against the pressures on women to achieve perfection Charney’s strange and inappropriate workplace behaviours made some employees feel uncomfortable SWOT Strengths Pro-labor practices Anti-sweatshop Made in USA label Pay their employees nearly double minimum wage Provide job security and good benefits for employees Environmentally friendly practices Use of organic and recycled materials Strong international presence – 253+ retail stores in 20 different countries Reasonably priced and good quality products Weaknesses Provocative advertisements Store environment makes some customers feel uncomfortable – â€Å"reeked of sexual sin† CEO Dov Charney’s workplace behaviour and practices which have led to complaints and lawsuits The company’s cost of production is likely higher than their competitors because of their â€Å"made in USA† policy High labour costs $120 million in debt Opportunities The company has the opportunity to tame their provocative advertising campaigns They can also steer the focus back onto their positive business initiatives Ethical buying habits are on the rise – consumers are becoming more conscious of the environment Expand online and catalog business sectors – Focus product lines – eliminate those that aren’t as successful and profitable – Reform advertising campaign – focus more on AA’s  positive political activism and â€Å"homegrown† products – Restructure corporate-executive-suite and construct a more positive public image Expand online and catalog business sectors – Focus product lines – eliminate those that aren’t as successful and profitable – Reform advertising campaign – focus more on AA’s  positive political activism and â€Å"homegrown† products – Restructure corporate-executive-suite and construct a more positive public image Threats Their competition who offer similar products at equal or lower price points, and have cheaper production costs Threats of lawsuits against Charney which create a negative public image Threats of consumers shopping elsewhere due to dissatisfaction with AA’s sexual advertisements SWOT Findings: The SWOT analysis shows that American Apparel needs to bring the focus back onto the strengths of the company. They need to remind consumers of the ethics the company was built on and their goodwill and valuable contributions. Their weaknesses primarily revolve around being too overtly provocative, whether this is towards consumers or within the workplace itself. The company clearly cannot continue with this controversy, as they risk overshadowing the positive aspects of their business. Decision Criteria for Solutions -What goals or objectives must be achieved by any potential solution to the problem? (eg. Must maximize market share) -What constraints limit the range of solutions (eg. Can’t cost more than $1 Million) Goals and Objectives The goal is to save the company’s reputation which will in turn stop their money-losing streak Constraints Must not incur further debt 10 Identification of Realistic & Practical Alternatives available to the Decision Maker – In most situations there will be at least 3 alternatives, one of which can be status quo. One or two short sentences to describe each. – Each alternative MUST be a stand alone solution to your problem(s). Alternative 1: American Apparel should fire their current CEO, Dov Charney,  and elect a replacement. Alternative 2: American Apparel should change their advertising strategy by toning down their sexual nature and focusing on their business strengths to create positive publicity. Alternative 3: American Apparel should continue with their current advertising strategies. Pros and Cons of each Alternative Alternative 1 Pros Charney’s provocative vision and proneness to scandal will leave the company with him It shows that AA will not stand for sexual harassment and inappropriate workplace behaviours The company can bring in a new vision and have a fresh start Cons The company may lose customers who supported Charney and his vision The replacement CEO may not be any better than Charney at running the business Alternative 2 Pros It helps AA to fix the disconnect between their ethical and unethical practices It reminds consumers of the company’s positive values Cons Charney may not go for the new vision; he may push back It doesn’t solve the issue of unethical workplace incidents The company may lose customers who support the provocative and â€Å"natural† ads Alternative 3 Pros No changes will need to be made, therefore employees will not need to be trained or guided through any change The controversy surrounding the company may actually bring in customers Cons Discrepancies of the company’s business practices will not be solved Consumers who do not like the provocativeness of the company may continue or  start to avoid it Recommendation & Implementation Plan – You must have a sentence that says, â€Å"I recommend alternative†¦Ã¢â‚¬  – Do not combine alternatives. Pick just one. – Defend your choice of alternative. Explain WHY it is better than the others. – If applicable, explain how the alternative will be implemented. (who, what, where, when, how) Recommendation I recommend alternative 1 – firing Dov Charney. I do not believe alternative 3 is an option because the unethical advertisements and workplace practices would likely catch up with the company and really affect their performance in the long run. The reputation of American Apparel would just continue to deteriorate if nothing is changed, which would deter consumers from shopping there. Alternative 1 is a better path to take than alternative 2 because it really gets at the root cause of all the issues – Dov Charney. The provocative and controversial advertisements were largely inspired by the CEO himself. Simply changing the company’s advertising campaigns is good and well, but there is no guarantee that Charney will even go for that. And what’s to say he wouldn’t go back to his old ways in the future? Also, alternative 2 doesn’t fix the issue of employee complaints and sexual harassment lawsuits that have given the company a bad image. Alternative 1 has the potential to resolve both the advertising strategies and the inappropriate workplace incidents. Implementation Who Board of Directors What Fire Dov Charney Where At a board meeting When As soon as possible How Gather all documentation of Charney’s inappropriate behaviours Review the termination agreement that was made at the time of hiring Charney Review the company’s succession plan for the CEO – determine who may be able to take Charney’s place in the interim Seek counsel from the company’s lawyers on the best method to fire Charney Overall Quality (logical consistency & readability)

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Determination Lesson Essay

The greatest lesson I have learned in my life thus far. I have found this to be true in most aspects of my life, for all of my growth and success has come as a result of determination and perseverance. No matter how desperate the situation may be, no matter how badly it seems I will succeed. While I had experience failures and hardships, this experience taught me the most valuable lessons, making me a stronger person and building the character which drives the individual I am today. I was raised in a small household and participated in many different things growing up. Since I was young, I have striven to achieve my goals; I call it a â€Å"determination to succeed.† Without a â€Å"determination to succeed,† giving up in life, when a situation seems impossible to overcome, becomes second nature. The methods one uses to overcome the challenges faced in life affects how one acquires success. For example, my ancestors did not overcome their struggle for equality without s elf-determination to better their lives. Thus, their lives have been an inspiration for me. The motivation to excel, though sometimes forgotten in my generation, is a quality that needs nourishment. My parents taught me that it takes hard work and to be successful. They pushed me to follow my dreams from a young age child which has carried over into my adulthood. Their guidance and belief in me gave me the strength to believe in myself, which I consider to be main reason I have experienced so much success in my life so far. I learned to go back to school to get my degree. Learning is a never-ending road, and I truly believe that I must continue to learn in order to improve and excel in my career, as well in all other areas of life. During my first year at Wayne County Community College I developed a passion for the field of associates of arts and associates of general study’s degree. I enjoyed learning about all my classes, but found that analyzing the two degrees that I’m within the school to ensure efficient operation is very exciting and motivating for me. Although the opportunity was present, I knew it would take hard work and a great deal of learning to understand how to be successful. The experience my desire to learn and motivations to succeed are constantly growing stronger. I want to take this characteristics into my graduate studies, so that I may continue to develop on a different level. I believe the knowledge and experience I will receive with an associate’s degree will give me the expertise I need to excel in my future career. My greatest achievements in life is undoubtedly my greatest failures in life. To learn from my mistakes which I have lived all my life and will continue to live by. All my life all other humans have made mistake. However unlike others, I have squeezed through these huge walls of mistakes and have come out as reformed individual, with a positive outlook on life. They say that experience is the best teacher and what better way to get experience than from my own mistakes. May it be in terms of academic, self-reform or even in helping others, I have made mistakes? But I have never let them overpower my confidence and perseverance to succeed in life. It is rightfully said that mistakes are the stepping stone for success. In my past, I have countless mistakes, and thus I assume that I am on the right path. The desire to do off beaten-path things takes away my fear of failure and lets me take risks without thinking about the outcome. I have always tried to remain consistent throughout my en tire academic life, but to err is human, and that I am. By this I mean to say that like others

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Adele Laurie Blue Essay Example for Free

Adele Laurie Blue Essay ? Adele Laurie Blue Adkins was born on May 5, 1988 in North London, England. She was the only child of Penny Adkins who was just 18 at the time of her birth, and a Welsh father, Mark, who left the family when Adele was only 4 years old. Mark, who never married Penny, stayed in contact with his daughter up until her teen years, when appeared problems with alcohol. That is the reason why Adele grew close to her mom, who said her young daughter â€Å"to explore, and not to stick with one thing†. Adele developed a passion for musicin her early years. Because of it her mother took Adele in the BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology, where Amy Winehouse studied. While at school, Adele made a three-track demo for a class project, which was posted on her MySpace page. When executives at XL Recordings heard the tracks, they contacted the singer and, just four months after Adele had graduated school, signed a contract. Adele’s debut album, 19, hit record stores because of two singles â€Å"Hometown Glory† and â€Å"Chasing Pavements† which became very popular. She won Grammy and the Critics’ Choice prize at the BRIT Awards. Her album 21, selling 352,000 copies by its first week. Her two singles, â€Å"Rolling in the Deep† and â€Å"Someone Like You†, became top and 19 and 21 became a top albums in the same week. Adele also broke the solo female artist record for staying at No. 1 for 11 weeks. At that year Adele won six Grammies. In this year Adele won her seventh Grammy for her hit single â€Å"Set Fire to the Rain†, an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for the song â€Å"Skyfall†. Also Adele has a child. The baby’s father is Adele’s boyfriend, Simon Konecki. She said that she wants to have three sons by the time she’s 30. Adele Laurie Blue. (2016, Sep 29).

Friday, September 27, 2019

Web security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Web security - Essay Example This is because websites, web applications and web services, all being components of web security, create integral part of the daily operations of these industries and organisations. Information sharing or business or service delivery of these organisations now faces a lot of dangers. From invasion of their privacy, information theft, sabotage, black mailing to compromising corporate operation and end user activities. Web security analysis by various stakeholders has established that the web security threats typically result from mistakes in coding or programming the website, poor input and output sanitisation of a website. These mistakes have left a hole exploited by the hackers’ community to launch attacks on websites. The security of the web application, underlying operating system and computer network is at risk. The existence of exploit paths on a web system and the magnitude of that exploit path can be evaluated continuously to assess the risk level to the business. The type of web attack launched by hackers depends on many factors. Most factors are unique to the web attack as will be discussed in this essay. The essay will also examines the nature of these web attacks, details of their vulnerabilities, the risk levels they may raise and how to control or reduce the risk web attacks poses to organisational information and business operations. Web security risks in the name of defaced, hacked or web broken into have increased with the significant increase of the internet usage. A threat is anything that causes worry or fear, especially, because of the events there after (Consequences). Web security threats are increasing and causing big fear in organisations or individuals. According to Stuttard and Pinto (2008), the most serious attacks against web application are those that expose sensitive data or gain unrestricted access to the backend systems on which the application is running. Apparently, the total number of reported web

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Write introduction about skydivers and paratroopers and various laws Essay

Write introduction about skydivers and paratroopers and various laws of conservation that work in this case - Essay Example The laws of conservation are applicable in this technique because of the transfer of energy to other parts of the body. One should place their feet together, bend their knees, and tip over to a chosen side just as the ground is touched. Through this, the weight of the fall does not concentrate on the feet, rather it spreads throughout the body. Momentum gained during a fall depends on mass and velocity. The longer the time taken to land, the lesser the impact, and in consequence, bending knees is an effort to elongate the period of the force of impact. A longer period of impact scientifically means that the effects of the impact are transferred and reduced. If a paratrooper or skydiver hits the ground with legs unfolded, he/she may break a bone or suffer worse injuries because of the sudden impact of force (Mei-Dan & Carmont, 2012). If the knees are bent, and one moves towards either side, the force of impact happens in a longer period, which is less deleterious to the person landing. In physics, the term conservation means that there is no loss in energy, only that it is transferred through objects without net change in the energy. It is necessary to roll as much as possible to ensure that the energy is tolerably transferred in the process of landing. Apart from mild and serious injury, poor landing causes unnecessary embarrassment to a paratrooper or a skydiver. For this reason, there are diverse safety measure that skydivers and paratroopers must take to ensure successful landing. It is necessary to understand basic factors such as terrain, wind direction, an oscillation of the paratrooper or skydiver. These factors often vary and no matter the intensity of training given (Orlick, 2014), without proper information on natural factors, landing may be catastrophic. Injuries are common on the ankles, but necessary security measures must also be taken to protect the torso,

Aviation Law Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Aviation Law Assignment - Essay Example In the Warsaw Convention chapter, three expounds three types of assertions to which liability confers: The claims based on individual injuries (Article 17), those based on damaged or lost luggage (Article 18) and those based on costs due to delays in the course of transportation (Article 19). Article 17 clearly states conditions that an international air transporter can have liability for damages to passengers. It provides that the transporter is only liable for injury sustained by a bodily harm to a passenger, their hurting, or the incident of death. Another way is if the mishap that caused the harm took place in the airplane or in the sequence of any operations of boarding and disembarking. Under the same Article, an air carrier is solitarily liable for passenger harm when the three circumstances are met: The occurrence of a mishap, in which the traveler succumbs to death, physical harm, or physical expression of the injury and the misfortune must have taken place inside the plane in the occurrence of operation of boarding and landing. Article 18 clearly explains that a transporter will have responsibility for injury sustained from obliteration or damage to any checked properties, if the incidence took place in the course of the transportation by flight. In relation to Article 19, a carrier will have accountability in the event of injury caused by delay in carriage of passengers by flight, and their goods, or baggage. In relation to Article 25, a carrier need not be obliged to avail themselves of the requirements of the Warsaw Convention. That exclude or limit their accountability when it is presented that the carrier has caused the loss suffered by the applicant was triggered by the carrier’s misconduct, as defined in the Law of forum.4 The Warsaw Convention impedes passengers from upholding an action for costs for personal harm under local law once the claim does not gratify the Convention’s conditions for carrier’s obligation for inter national air carriage. In article 29, Warsaw convention it outlines a two-year decree of restrictions. In this article, the right to compensations will be dismissed if no action is done accordingly within the first two years from the arrival date at the destination, or when the aircraft should have arrived, or when the transportation stopped.5 â€Å"The Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air drafted in Montreal known as Montreal Convention amended the Warsaw Convention†.6 In relation to the Montreal Convention, a carrier holds liability for any damage incurred in the occurrence of bereavement or body injury of a passenger with the condition that the accident that caused the harm or demise occurred on the plane or in the course of operations of boarding or debarking. This convention only applies to worldwide carriage of individuals, luggage, or cargo that originates in one of the state’s gathering to the Convention and dismisse s in that of an alternative. The Montreal convention has been labelled as an agreement that is beneficial mainly to passengers than airlines in contrast to the Warsaw Convention. The Montreal Convention offers four conditions that may be used by a court to base its authority. A complainant may take an action in the U.S for compensations in relation to the

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

The Great Athena Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Great Athena - Essay Example LeQuire found out that the original sculptor, Pheidias, built the Athena on with curved ivory on a wooden framework. The ivory acted as the gold wardrobe and skin for the original Athena. After sufficient research, LeQuire began to reconstruct the Athena. LeQuire began by first creating small clay models of the statue. From these models as starting points, the sculptor spent more than three years in enlarging the statue. This also involved the casting process which led to the building of the full Athena of Parthenon. The artist assembled the Great Athena by casting gymnasium cement in the Parthenon. The assembly involved casting of many moulds that enlarged the statue while giving it its beautiful look. In order to ensure that the statue had sufficient support, LeQuire attached each of the sections of the Athena into an armature made of steel. There are several different materials which were used in the surface materials of the statues. The most obvious of these is gold, which can be seen on Athena’s tunic, helmet, shield, and spear. However, the other elements used in the statue were ivory and silver. The sculptor put a Sphinx likeness in the center of the statue’s helmet to make it more appealing. The statue was const ructed and made upright with griffins on both sides of its helmet. The head of the status is one of the pieces of the work which is made of ivory, with a long, golden tunic that goes down to the Athena’s feet. Most of the elements of the statue, in addition to supplying it with physical beauty and attractiveness, were designed in order to have symbolic references to Athena’s role as a goddess. For example, the spear is held on the hand of the Athena which is symbolic of war. In the other hand, the Athena holds the statue of victory to signify successful engagement in a war. The shield in the feet of the Athena is symbolic of protection from the serpent which is near the shield. It is argued that the serpent was meant to

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Personal Statement for Bioinformatics Graduate Program

For Bioinformatics Graduate Program - Personal Statement Example At High School, my plans for the future centered on my becoming a practicing doctor, with the skill of healing patients. I must admit that I had to overcome the disadvantage of a relatively weak foundation in Science, as a result of my Middle School curriculum in China, which did not include Biology. The language barrier also proved difficult to break during the initial years of my arrival in the USA, and my focus then was on mastering English and Mathematics, and understanding American culture. The scientific terms in Biology were difficult to come to grips with! However, my determination to enter the field of Medicine kept me going. The same determination is now my tool in my effort to overcome any shortcomings in my academic career. I am very aware that my GRE writing score of 3 could have been higher, and am determined to identify and address this through repeated practice of writing skills. A career in medicine continued to be my goal as I stood on the threshold of my freshman y ear at the University of California, Davis. However, the first Molecular Cellular Biology class I attended at the UC Davis, discussing gene therapy, proved to be a revelation to me: I had discovered the interest of my life! I was fascinated by the intricacies and application of genetics: especially in the area of finding epigenetic information. Here was a new front in the battle against chronic disease. As I continued to take additional technical electives in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, and Biotechnology, I came to realize that genetics is one of the most powerful tools available to humanity in the field of medicine. Gene association studies and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection can be used in disease prediction, thus potentially preventing disease formation. Genetics is the cutting-edge of health-care research and personalized medicine. The next step in my academic evolution was my realization of the power of technology. As the only child of immigrant parents who were focused on earning a living, the computer has been a good friend of mine, right from the age of twelve, when I moved to the USA. While working as a Laboratory Assistant at the Immunology and Histology Lab of UC Davis Veterinary School in 2009-2010, I became deeply aware of the vast amount of medical information stored and retrieved by accessing a database. This personal experience of the power and efficacy of computers impressed on me the importance of technology as a tool in research. I discovered that the hands-on processing of data gives me immense satisfaction. Gradually, my earlier interest in science and research shifted focus from the traditional bench sitting to a computer oriented approach. Therefore, in my junior year of college, I declared my major as Biotechnology, with a Bioinformatics option that combined my interests in both technology/informatics and biology/genetics. The Applied Bioinformatics course I took in the fall of 2010 confirmed that my special interest lay in the field of bioinformatics and its application in genetic/genomic studies. Craving further practical experience in this field, I opted for internships at different laboratories: Theg Lab, UC Davis; Molecular Anthropology Laboratory, UC Davis; Dubcovsky Wheat Genetic Lab, UC Davis;

Monday, September 23, 2019

Please detail the five-year plan for your career, including the jobs Essay

Please detail the five-year plan for your career, including the jobs you would like to have, how you would leverage your education, and how you would otherwise - Essay Example My background has given me adequate tools to grasp the fundamentals of international business, but I am strong believer that learning must never stop. Hence, in the first two years after completing my MBA, I fully intend to apply in a corporation where I will be exposed to the challenges of surviving in a global environment, and more importantly, learn to overcome those challenges. The goal, after all, is to thrive and not merely to survive. With my educational background and my work experiences, I see myself rising up the corporate ladder and finding myself in a position where I will be required to make judgment calls, and where I have discretion over business policies and strategies. After having â€Å"learned from the masters† so to speak, I intend to set up my own Korean trade company, marketing Korean raw materials or products to global markets. I believe that a company is only as good as its product and its people, so I intend to make sure that I have a viable product and a team of efficient, talented and committed individuals as passionate about global trade as I am, to manufacture and market those products under my leadership. A business is not merely about numbers and profits, it is also about human resource and I am intent on harnessing the best human resources available and making sure that my employees are amply rewarded, not only in the form of a competitive income package but also in terms of training and skills development. I am also committed to the concept of corporate responsibility, and I believe in setting up an international company that has a conscience and is aware of the role it plays in society. I believe in raising the bar when it comes to environmental-conscious practices, or labor practices, for instance. Lastly, as a way of giving back, my five-year-plan includes teaching young minds, and guiding those who want to embark on a similar journey. I have a

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Essay Example for Free

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan Essay Laotong: type of relationship within the Chinese culture that bonded two girls together for eternity as kindred sisters. Lisa See’s novel, â€Å"Snow Flower and the Secret Fan†, takes us through the journey of 19th- century Chine in which girls had their feet found, meaning crushing their bones to the size of lily flowers. This ritual was considered beauty for a women and a thrilling sensation for men to look at. Staring the binding at the age of six and excruciating painful process that took two years to complete, Lily tells her story as an eighty year old woman. Lily was the second daughter to a poor farming family, but later encounters the privilege to be married out to a wealthy family in the village of Tongkou. Lily was married out to a wealthy noble man, whom she might have loved. But Lily had no bigger love other than her laotong, sworn sister, Snow Flower. The two were matched together at the age of seven, when together they promised each other, through a contract that they would always be laotong. Both endured the agony of footbinding, married out and shared their most inner thoughts and loving ways of motherhood. Lisa See writes delicately, telling the life of these two remarkable girls on their journey to pleasing their husbands, and mother in laws. Love and Friendship keep Snow Flower’s and Lily’s spirits alive when they are not together. Once married out, they didn’t see each other as often as they would have loved to, but their thoughts were jotted down in a silk fan, which included their whole journey together written in nu shu-secret writing for women. Lily and Snow Flower become â€Å"old same†, perfect match. Even though Snow Flower came from a higher family , Snow Flower was married out to a butcher, her first son was weak, and her second passed away. Her husband beats her and her mother in law was cruel. Hoping sympathy from her laotong, Snow Flower gets criticism and â€Å"just keep trying† in return. As Snow Flower arouses new friends, Lily finds this as betrayal; therefore Lily stops any communication with Snow Flower, leaving her devastated, and empty. Even though Lily and Snow Flower experienced happiness, tragedies, and different events, Lily felt betrayed by her laotong so Lily keeps her distance and stops writing back. As Snow Flower’s death approaches Lily goes to Snow Flower and rejoins her, later discovering that Snow Flower did not become a sworn sister, like Lily thought, therefore there was no betrayal. As and eighty year old, Lily remembers Snow Flower. Trying to condemn her mistake Lily watches over Snow Flower’s children, as much as she can like she promised Snow Flower on her death bed. Lily calls out to Snow Flower even after she is dead. â€Å"But if the dead continue to have the needs and desire of the living, then I’m reaching out to Snow Flower†¦. Please hear my words. Please forgive me. † Snow Flower and the Secret Fan keeps the story plot alive, maintaining the theme of love and friendship, always feeling like you are reading Lily’s personal diary. Reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See does a remarkable job of taking you back in time to your childhood friends. I wonder if Lisa See wrote Snow Flower and the Secret Fan thinking of a close friend as well. Also, I would have loved if somewhere in the book, an entry or a piece of writing from Snow Flower was discovered so we can learn more about her own inner thoughts. In my opinion, this book is full of perfection. Throughout the book I recalled my sister. The bond that we share was very similar to the one of these â€Å"mandarin ducks†. What if Snow Flower’s father had not taken the pipe? Would she and Lily still be matched as soul sisters? Lisa See’s style of writing is a master piece in this book. Like The Washington Post Book World reviewed, â€Å" A triumph on every level, a beautiful, heartbreaking story. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan fascinated me. I recommend this book for the soul that understands what it feels like to love someone as much as you love yourself. Filled with different emotions that make you feel and experience the different obstacles that are brought upon Lily and Snow Flower. It is defiantly a love story. However, it is more than that. It involves friendship, kindness, understanding, and tragedy all in one read. â€Å"Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is fascinating. †- The Indianapolis Star.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

CASE STUDY DAILY CARE OF A TERM INFANT

CASE STUDY DAILY CARE OF A TERM INFANT The purpose of this case study is to discuss an episode of Normal Midwifery, which in this instance, will relate to the Daily Care of a Term Infant. The case study will highlight the episode of care in detail, evaluate the management of the babys Physical care and the womans Educational, Psychosocial needs with relevant evidence based support. The anonymity of mother and baby will be maintained in accordance with NMC (2008) and ESC 1 (NMC, 2007) and will be referred to as the woman and the baby through out the Case Study. Consent was also requested from the woman for herself and baby to be included in the Case Study in line with ESC 1 (NMC, 2007). BACKGROUND The woman was a 28 year old who was parity 1+0, had a spontaneous vaginal delivery of a baby girl with only Entonox as pain relief and was now 2nd day postnatal. The baby girl weighed 3288 grams with no complications after delivery and had APGAR scores of 8 at 1 minutes and 9 at 5 minutes. The woman had 40 minutes uninterrupted skin-to-skin with the baby after birth and decided to artificially feed rather than breast feed, although benefits of breast feeding were explained to the woman. The Student Midwife first met the woman during her Labour the previous day and was present at the birth. As the Student Midwife was working a day shift with her Mentor, it was requested that the Student Midwife carry out the Daily Examination of the baby in line with KCND (NHSQIS, 2009), while the Mentor observed. The initial examination and assessment of the baby was done at birth by the Mentor as suggested by Demott, Bick, Norman (2006) and included assessing the newborns physiological adaptation to extra-uterine life, colour, tone, breathing and heart rate according to Resuscitation Council (2006). The purpose of the Daily Examination there after is to monitor the progress of the baby and for early detection of deviation from the normal established at Initial Examination. These findings were documented in SWMR Baby Post Natal notes in line with NMC (2008) and KCND (NHSQIS, 2009). The Student Midwife before entering the womans room to commence examination familiarised herself with the womans Medical case / SWMR notes and babys SWMR notes, to review the medical history including: family history, maternal, antenatal and perinatal history, fetal and neonatal history so as to be prepared to assist with any concerns the woman may have regarding Physical, Educational or Social needs as recommended by KCND (NHSQIS, 2009). PHYSICAL The Student Midwife greeted the woman on entering the room and enquired how the woman was feeling. It was established that the woman was pain free and feeling fairly rested after labour the previous day. The Student Midwife then asked how the woman had found the baby overnight, regarding specifically feeding, sleeping pattern, passing urine meconium. The woman confirmed that the baby had been feeding approximately every 3 4 hours taking 30 mls each time, between feeds the baby was reported to have been settled and sleeping. It was also reported that the baby had been having wet nappies and one episode of a large amount of meconium being passed. It was important to establish that meconium had been passed within the first 24 hours as failure to do so may have indicated a gastrointestinal problem including Hirshsprungs disease. The woman was reassured that the passing of urine and meconium was important as this ensures that the renal and gastrointestinal systems are functioning normal ly. The information given was recorded in the babys SWMR notes following NMC (2008). It was then explained to the woman that the Student Midwife was going to examine the baby from head to toe, this would involve the baby being completely undressed at some point during the examination and that it would be carried out in front of her. Any findings would be discussed with her at the time and any concerns that she may have would be answered. Consent was then sought from the woman in line with NMC (2008) for the examination to be carried out, as the baby could not give consent, which was duly given. As it is important that the baby does not become cold due to the inefficiency of regulating temperature due to immaturity of the hypothalamus as suggested by Farrell and Sittlington in Fraser and Cooper (2009), the Student Midwife ensured that all windows and doors were closed to exclude any draught before commencing the Daily Examination of the baby. Also the Student Midwife washed her hands and applied latex free gloves to protect herself from any of the babys bodily fluids and to protect the baby who is at risk of infection as suggested by Johnson and Taylor (2006). Whilst undressing the baby the Student Midwife was mindful to show respect to the baby by gentle handling and lack of excessive noise as suggested by Carbjal and Coudered (2003). Safety of the baby was also considered and the Student Midwife ensured that the cot was stable and in view of the mother prior to commencing the examination. The babys identity was confirmed by checking details on both identity bands on the baby with the mother and the mothers identity was also confirmed by checking her identity band in line with the Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) Standards and Competencies (NHS, 2008). A methodical examination was commenced by the Student Midwife which follows. All findings were discussed with the woman and documented in the babys SWMR notes as recommended by NMC (2007) who state that midwives must adhere to the guidelines for records and record keeping as a legal requirement. DAILY EXAMINATION Temperature Before removing the babys clothes, the Student Midwife took the babys temperature from the axilla site using an electronic thermometer whilst the baby lay in the cot. The reading was 36.8ËÅ ¡C which was within the normal range for an axilla reading (36.5 37.3ËÅ ¡C) as described by Bain in Fraser and Cooper (2009). Reassurance was given to the mother when she asked if the baby was warm enough that the reading was normal. The Student Midwife also offered the information of how the woman could check to see if the baby was too warm or cold by feeling under the babys clothes just below the neck and at the top of the babys back. Also a good indication was if the woman had two layers on, then generally the baby would require the same amount of layers. It was also advised that the baby would not require to wear a hat indoors if the room is at a comfortable temperature of between 18 21ËÅ ¡C but would require it outdoors due to cool air. General Appearance The Student Midwife removed the babys clothes, leaving only the nappy on which would be removed later in the examination, to observe the general appearance of the baby. The babys skin was noted to be pink all over showing no signs of central cyanosis, although hands and feet still showed slight signs of peripheral cyanosis which is normal during the first 24 48 hours according to Farrell and Sittlington in Fraser and Cooper (2009). This was explained to the mother so no undue worry was caused due to the blue tinge of the hands and feet. Also there was no sign of jaundice which is common after 48 hours from birth as all newborns have a transient rise in serum bilirubin which usually settles after 10 12 days post natal. The woman was advised to watch for any colour change of the babys skin from pink to yellow tinge or for the white of the eye (sclera) to be tinged with yellow. It was explained that this is a normal occurrence as suggested by Johnston, Flood, Spinks (2003) and as long as the baby had a good urine output, was awake regularly and fed well then there would be no cause for concern. However if the baby develops jaundice which last longer than expected, has excessive sleeping patterns, continually passes pale stools and dark urine, then the woman should get immediate attention for the baby as this is abnormal for a formula fed baby. The babys breathing was observed whilst lying in the cot and was noted to be within the normal range of 40 60 breaths/minute with the chest and abdomen rising and falling, showing no signs of distress. Being awake, alert and active the baby was seen to be moving all limbs as expected with good tone. Head The babys head was gently examined by the Student Midwife. This was done by gently running the finger tips across the babys head to feel along the suture lines and fontanelles. The Student Midwife when doing this was determining if any moulding, caput succedaneum or cephal haematoma had occurred during passage down the birth canal or from pressure from the cervical os. Slight moulding was detected and this was explained to the woman that this was normal and was caused by the bones in the skull overlapping during delivery and will resolve itself within a couple of days. The anterior fontanelle was then gently felt and found to be level. This indicated that there was no intracranial pressure which would cause it to rise or dehydration which would cause it to be depressed. It was explained that it is common to notice pulsating at the anterior fontanelle which is no cause of concern and that this soft spot closes over by the time the baby was 18 months old as confirmed by Wylie (2005). Eyes Both eyes were checked and found to be clear of any discharge. The Student Midwife suggested to the woman that if the eyes were to become sticky, which is common due to blocked tear ducts and can be seen as a crust on the eyelid, the eyes should be cleaned. To do this the woman should use cooled boiled water and cotton wool balls. Each eye should be cleaned from the inner eye outwards only using the cotton wool ball once then discarding. Each eye should be cleaned separately to avoid cross infection. Mouth Mouth was inspected by opening the mouth by gently pressing a finger against the angle of the jaw at the chin. This enabled the Student Midwife to look inside to assess the tongue, gums and palate. The Student Midwife did not insert small finger into mouth to check for a cleft palate or suck reflex as this had been established at Initial Examination of the newborn and no abnormalities had been detected. The mouth was seen to be moist and clear of any white plaques which may have suggested oral thrush as stated by Bain in Fraser and Cooper (2009). Skin Closer inspection was then done by the Student Midwife of the babys skin, looking in particular for any rashes, spots, bruising or infection. The babys nappy was removed and buttocks examined to ensure skin was intact. All appeared normal with no excoriation identified. The Student Midwife advised the woman that information on minor disorders would be given to her at the end of the examination as the Student Midwife was conscious of the babys temperature being maintained. Umbilicus Cord The umbilicus cord and clamp were inspected for signs of infection and separation. Nothing unusual was detected. The baby was redressed as quickly as possible to maintain body temperature and given to the woman to settle. Information was given to the woman on daily cord care which included that the umbilicus should be cleaned with warm tap water and patted dry which has been shown to aid separation as stated by Trotter (2003). This should be done daily and at a nappy change if required. It was explained to the woman that hand washing is essential before and after cord care as suggested by Farrell and Sittlington in Fraser and Cooper (2009) as the cord is a potential site for infection and Straphylococcus aureus is commonly found here as confirmed by Newell, Miller, Mogan et al (1997). When the woman asked when the clamp would be removed, it was confirmed that this may be done on the third or fourth day when the cord has dried out as suggested by World Health Organisation (WHO) (1999). The Student Midwife confirmed that the Daily Examination of the baby was complete and that she would now give the woman further information on minor disorders, safe baby care practice in particular Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and address any other concerns that the woman may have. EDUCATIONAL NEEDS Through out the examination the Student Midwife gave the woman information on day-to-day care and signs of illness. As previously mentioned further discussion took place with the woman regarding Minor disorders and safety issues, which is in line with NHS QIS (2004) who suggest that ay assessment or examination at birth or later should be seen as an opportunity for parental education or health promotion. This included the following ailments and explanation given to the woman: Skin Rashes Erythema toxicum. A red blotchy rash with white pinhead papules which is common during the first 7 days post natal and will disappear on its own. Miliaria. A sweat rash which occurs in babies who become too warm. It appears as clear papules on face, scalp, chest and areas where clothes rub due to unopened sweat glands. The baby should have excess clothing removed and placed in a cooler environment. The papules will disappear on their own. Milia. White or yellow papules commonly seen on cheeks, nose and forehead. Will disappear on their own. Sore buttocks/Nappy rash. The skin beneath the nappy area becomes red and excoriated due to either infrequent nappy changing, frequent loose stools or hot weather. By exposing the cleaned skin to a warm dry atmosphere aids the excoriated skin to heal. Care in using commercial barrier creams must be noted as they can prevent the one-way design of disposable nappies, blocking the perforations in the linings resulting in the urine and stools being next to the babys skin longer. Breast Engorgement of the Baby This can occur in both female and male babies around the 3rd day post natal. The breasts appear to have a lump under the nipple which is caused by the drop in oestrogen levels in the baby after birth which stimulates the breast to produce milk. No treatment is required and will rectify itself. It is important that mothers do not squeeze the breast as this may result in infection. Pseudo-menstruation It is common to notice a clear discharge or blood-stained vaginal discharge from baby girls during the withdrawal of the mothers hormone oestrogen after the birth. The mother was reassured that this is a normal physiological process which does not require treatment, although can be alarming if not aware of it. Safe Baby Care Practices The importance of reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is done by ensuring the baby sleeps in a cot in the parents room for the first 6 months. The baby should always be put on their back to sleep, with their feet to the foot of the cot. They should be lightly covered with the room at a normal temperature, not too hot. Bed sharing is not recommended especially after consuming alcohol, drugs or after smoking. The baby should be in a smoke-free atmosphere. These recommendations are formed by the Department of Health (1996). Following the birth of the baby the role of the Midwife is to observe and monitor the health of the mother and he newborn, offering information and support in breastfeeding, which is not applicable in this instance, parenting skills and signs of morbidity according to Merchant (2006). This involved effective communication with the woman through out the examination to ensure that the woman conveyed her concerns, maintained control over her decision making with regards to the baby, assisted her in making informed choices and reduced her anxiety levels and emotional distress as suggested by Raynor (2006). In order that the womans physical and emotional status was commensurate with effective communication, the Student Midwife had to assess the womans emotional state when receiving information, which was done by asking how the woman was feeling before commencing the babys Daily Examination. The womans state could have been effected by pain, tiredness, hormonal changes or if the baby was c rying/distressed due to being hungry or requiring changing. Therefore the timing of conducting the Examination was essential to ensure that the woman retained the majority of the information given to her without being distracted due to other factors. In this instance the woman was receptive to the information given, which would assist her in the daily care of her baby, as according to McCourt in Page and McCandlish (2006) the transition to parenthood is a time when adults are responsive to information and will look for it actively. As the Midwife becomes familiar with the appearance and behaviour of a normal term newborn, the recognition of signs and signals caused by morbidity are easily communicated to the mother to assist her in recognising when there are any deviations from the normal with her baby. The importance of this is in preparing the mother for discharge home as the length of time spent in hospital is decreasing according to Bain in Fraser and Cooper (2009). As well as educating the woman with clinical skills (e.g. daily care of the baby, recognising signs of illness) the Midwifes role also encapsulates being able to provide relevant information / advice on general health promotion, social support and mental health. PSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDS As the woman was a first time mother it was important to establish that the woman had adequate support in caring for herself and the baby. This was established by the Student Midwife by familiarising herself with the woman and babys SWMR and Case notes which would highlight any social issues that may have needed addressing as the social circumstances in which a woman lives and a newborn brought into play a major part in their health and well being according to Raynor (2006). In this instance the woman was in a stable relationship with no reported Domestic Abuse, was not in temporary housing, had no social work involvement, no mental health issues and had good family support as routinely asked during Booking appointment and recorded in SWMR notes. It was important for the Student Midwife to spend time with the woman and baby in quiet surroundings, free from interruption which offered privacy and allowed the communication of sensitive and confidential information to be shared between the woman and the Student Midwife following NIPE Standards and Competencies (NHS, 2008). This gave the Student Midwife the opportunity to assess the womans psychosocial well-being by asking how she was coping (defined as coming to terms with a situation according to Lazarus (1966)) so far with the baby / becoming a mother and also to ascertain the womans expectations of becoming a mother. It is known that in adjusting to motherhood, the woman can feel insecure and loses confidence in her own abilities in the early postnatal period, especially on the lead up to and after discharge as confirmed by Ward and Mitchell (2004). Factors which can influence this are the womans personality, previous learning, quality/quantity of support available and past ex periences of coping. The woman, in this instance stated that although she knew it would take some time to adjust to lack of sleep and was slightly anxious about going home, she had good support from her partner, mother and friends; she had no immediate concerns about caring for the baby. CONCLUSION In conclusion it is the Student Midwifes opinion that the Daily Examination of the Term Infant was carried out following KCND (NHS, 2009) guidelines and that the NIPE Standards and Competencies (NHS, 2008) were adhered to. The baby was examined in a safe and comfortable environment, was shown respect and care from the Student Midwife whilst performing Daily Examination and full explanation was given to the woman as to what was being checked and looked for. The Student Midwife ensured that the woman had the opportunity to ask questions or offer sensitive information through out this encounter by providing privacy and confidentiality in line with NMC (2008) and ESC (NHS, 2009). All findings and discussion were documented in mother and baby SWMR notes accordingly in line with NMC (2007) The role of the Midwife in Educational and Psychosocial needs is to give the woman, relevant health advice for the baby and themselves, reassurance and permission to say how they feel. This follows a health orientated and woman centred model of care, which recommends that the role of the Midwife is to encourage the womans self confidence, ability to take control and self esteem as suggested by Bates in Stewart (2004). In a recent study it was concluded that healthy, low risk women wanted attentive, proactive, professional support from the Midwife during the transition to motherhood according to Seefat-van Teeffelen, Nieuwenhuijze, Korstjens (2009) which the Student Midwife believes was given during this Daily Examination of a Term Infant.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Hybrid Spread Spectrum Techniques for Cell Phone Essay -- Technology

In addition to the frequency hopped and direct sequence, spread spectrum multiple access technique, there are certain other hybrid combinations that provide the advantage in the area of cellular mobile communication system. The available wideband spectrum is divided in to a number of subspectras with smaller bandwidth. Frequency Hopped Multiple Access Technique (FHMAT) consists of a direct sequence modulated signal whose center frequency is made to hop periodically in a pseudorandom fashion. In this paper we provide a Hybrid Spread Spectrum Techniques using Time Division Code Division Multiple Access (TDCDMA) system in which different spreading codes are assigned to different cell within each cell, only one user per cell is allotted a particular time slot. Time Division Frequency Hopping Multiple Access (TDFHMA) Technique has an advantage in severe multipath or when severe co-channel interference occurs. The subscriber can hop to new frequency at the subscriber can hope to new freque ncy at the start of a new time division multiple access frame. These different areas covered by the antenna beam may be served by the same frequency or difference frequency. Keywords: Frequency Hopped Multiple Access, Time Division Code Division Multiple Access, Time Division Frequency Hopping, Space Division Multiple Access 1 Introduction Spread spectrum techniques spread information over a very large bandwidth specifically, a bandwidth that is much larger than the inverse of the data rate. In this paper we are discussing various ways of providing multiple access by spreading the spectrum. We start out with the conceptually simplest approach, Frequency Hopping (FH). We then proceed to the most popular form of spread spectrum, Direct Sequence-Code D... ... Hybrid Wireless Networks Using Autonomic Computing Principles† IEEE, CNSR, 2005 [4] C. Lo, E. Masry, and L. B. Milstein, â€Å"Design and Analysis of a Fast Frequency-Hopped DBPSK Communication System, Part I,† IEEE Trans. Commun., Vol. COM-41, pp. 1552-1564, 1993 [5] Masato Mizoguchi and Kazuhiko Seki ,† In-Chip Fast Frequency Hopped and Direct Sequence CDMA Systems for Indoor Wireless Communications†,IEEE Trans. Commun, pp.1508-1512, 1996 [6] Andreas F. Molsch, â€Å"Spread Spectrum Systems†, publisher by Wiley India Edition, pp. 469-471,2005. [7] Theodore S. Rappaport, â€Å"Multiple Access Technique for Wireless communications†, Second Edition pp. 451- 463, 1996. [8] Q. Chen, Q. Wang and V. K. Bhargava, â€Å"Error Performance of Coded SFHiDPSK in Tone Interference and AWGN,† IEEE Confrence Milcom, pp. 63-67, 1992.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

The Christâ€like Prospero of Shakespeare’s The Tempest Essay -- Tempest

The Christ–like Prospero of Shakespeare’s The Tempest It is not only the goodness of man which, according to traditional Christian concepts ,is not germane to himself. His very being, and his ultimate destiny stems alike from a principle that is infinitely beyond him (Morris 143). What was Prospero attempting to accomplish through the creation of the storm? Why would he go to that length of natural disaster, if the events would only end in an unharmed manner? Prospero. But are they, Ariel, safe? Ariel. Not a hair perished. On their sustaining garments not a blemish but fresher than before; (1.2.218-221). It was Prospero’s innate goodness that created a merciful storm, temporarily displacing his brother, the Duke, and the ship’s crew. Prospero use of magic allowed him to realize that his power surpassed the Duke’s. What might create empathy in the readers and viewers of this play is that Prospero had double the power of Antonio, the Duke and it showed through his merciful treatment of the storm’s creation. Prospero used intellect and did not operate on emotions solely, which could make the interpretation of the storm more philosophical, than vengeful. Because Prospero was a scholar, his plan became well thought out and the consequences were considered before hand, instead of acting on impulse, worrying about the outcome of those actions when it's too late. The power of nature was apparent to Prospero. His treatment of that power showed that he just wanted to return the rightful position of Duke to himself. "A man’s will, in order to be good, must be conformed to the Divine will†¦.a will must be referred to the common good as an end, and formally will the Divine and universal good in addition to a particular good"... ...peare's Plays. New York: Haskell House Publishers, 1964. Clark, Cumberland. Shakespeare and the Supernatural. New York: Haskell House Publishing, 1972. Encarta Online , Jan. 2001. Encarta> 16 March 2001. Greenblatt, Stephen. gen. ed. The Norton Shakespeare. New York: Norton Company, 1997. Knight, G. Wilson. Shakespeare and Religion: Essays of Forty Years. New York: Simon and Schuster Publishing, 1968. Knox , Bernard . The Tempest. New York: Penguin Group, 1987. "Magic". The Encyclopedia Britannica. 1971. ed. Morris, Ivor. Shakespeare's God. London: Rustin House, 1972. Smith, Hallet. Twentieth Century Interpretations of The Tempest. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1969. The New Oxford Annotated Bible. Bruce M. Metzger and Roland E. Murphy, ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Tourette Syndrome Essay -- essays research papers

Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by tics; involuntary, rapid, sudden movements or vocalizations that occur repeatedly in the same way. Diagnostic criteria include: both multiple motor and one or more vocal tics present at some time, although not necessarily simultaneously, the occurrence of tics many times a day (usually in bouts) nearly everyday or intermittently throughout the span of more than one year; period changes in the number, frequently, type and location of the tics, and in the waxing and waning of their severity. Symptoms can sometimes disappear for weeks and or months at a time; and the onset is before the age of 18.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to the Tourette syndrome Association there are not many schools in the nation that are familiar with Tourette syndrome. However, even though they remain few in number, more schools and educators are becoming familiar with Tourette Syndrome and are willing to provide the special care and attention that TS children need to enhance their learning ability and ease the emotional stress they often experience during school. Tourette Syndrome is something that should be researched and discussed in every school. No child should be turned away because they have different learning abilities. There is a number of challenges teachers face while teaching students with TS. For example, establishing the proper learning environment. It is important for teachers to know that many of the children with...

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

The Fisherman by Kurt Brown

Life is filled with pleasures and uncertainties. We have ups and downs, and enjoy the better days because we have survived the worst. The â€Å"Fisherman† by Kurt Brown, tells a tale of a man fishing every day in hopes of catching something beyond him. This poem represents our lives and is a direct metaphor of the duality of success and failure. Our lives can relate to this poem because there comes a time in our lives, when we realize the world has so much to offer us. In order to see and feel the many wonders in life, risk needs to be put forth.Life does do not come to us, like the fisherman; who continues to cast his line into the deep, dark, and thundering waters, perseverance is required. Someday the catch will be rewarding and others will leave empty handed. However, it was enjoyable to go out and risk catching something glorious. Fishing is sport that involves any body of water. Theses body of waters are always bigger than our self’s. â€Å"Maybe it's the shadow of other fish, greater than his, the shadow of other men's souls passing over him,† (Brown 6,7) after analyzing this line, I concluded Brown was referencing life and how it continues without us.There is always a Goliath in life that towers over us all. However, we should not let it pass without attempting to grasp the monstrosity that is life. Not all catches are easy; sharks, marlin and other big game fish will all struggle to pull you down with them into the depths of the deep, dark Ocean. Once you hook the fish, a fight is ensured that will test the limits of your heart. Whether it is with bigger fish or bigger men, strength is required to overcome them. I believe this is one message brown intended to convey in his poem.In a way, Brown tells an aspiring tale of the fisherman's success and failures. â€Å"Each day he grabs his gear and makes his way to the ocean,† (Brown 8,9) determined to catch the best in the salty waters, yet satisfied knowing if he goes home empty handed, the best of him was put forth. Brown was trying to showcase the relentlessness of the fisherman's pride. Each day was different and offered a better catch than before, even if nothing as caught in the previous days, the fisherman continued to have faith and cast his line.In life, we feel like this. Some days we feel like all the choices made up to this point have been pointless. Then we remember, after time spent sulking about our mistakes, that we still have a chance our luck and livelihood. In a way, we all have a little fisherman in all of us. Failure in life is expected, like death, everyone has to face it head on. However, others charge right into it, hoping for the best outcome. We like to think control is always in our hands and the outcomes in majority of situations will tip towards our favor.However, all we have to rely on is uncertainty. Yes we can plan the lives we wish to live out, pursue the goals in life that will allow happiness to flow, but the only real goa l we all achieve knows that uncertainty reigns supreme. â€Å"He'll go back soon, thinking: â€Å"Maybe tonight. † (Brown 17) Brown conveyed the doubt that plagues the fisherman's conscious. â€Å"Maybe tonight,† he is unsure whether the trip back is worth it. Although he may be optimistic and determined, he can't shake the uncertainty.Like a double-edged sword, you cannot have one without the other. In this case, it's doubt that attacks his unyielding perseverance. In closing, despite all of the contrasts of success and failure, Brown started his poem with a strong message â€Å"A man spends his whole life fishing in himself for something grand,† we all want to be the best versions of ourselves. But the thing is; if allowed, we get better as time goes on. We become wiser, and look back on all of the great things that we allowed ourselves to experience.So, to continue becoming grand, we have to constantly pull the greatness out of our souls and temper it. Like a blacksmith creating a fine piece of metal from raw material, it takes time, work, and fire to create a truly fine piece of work. We must constantly fuel the fire and if that fire should go out, it must be relight within to continue on. Like the fisherman in Brown's poem, preparation is required to fish properly. Otherwise, if a strong fish comes your way, how do you expect to make it yours?

Monday, September 16, 2019

Multi-Disciplinary

Effects of Multi-Disciplinary Approaches There are various ways to approach and solve problems. Such approaches include multi-disciplinary perspectives and strictly disciplinary perspectives. To effectively solve a problem a person should gather an array of information from a series of different sources. When a person takes this approach towards a certain problem or situation, they are taking a multi-disciplinary approach. As defined in the Webster’s American Dictionary: College Edition, multidisciplinary is the â€Å"combining of several specialized branches of learning or fields of expertise† (Multidisciplinary 526).However, if one choses to â€Å"relate to a specific field of study† versus a variety of fields, they are taking a strictly disciplinary approach when resolving a certain situation or issue (Disciplinary 228). There are advantages and disadvantages to both a multidisciplinary approach and a disciplinary approach however one may find a multidisciplin ary approach to be more efficient. Advantages to a multi-disciplinary approach include being able to apply different aspects to a certain situation as well as weighing the pros and cons.When a person has a decision to make, they have a solution that they think is best for that decision. If multiple people add their insights to help make the decision, a better solution is made. By adding different aspects to a certain problem or issue, a better solution is resulted. Also, through a multi-disciplinary approach, a person is able to obtain ideas that have worked for people in the past and ideas that have not been successful to evaluate the best solution to a problem.A disadvantage to multi-disciplinary approaches is that with more aspects presented, it could take more time to reach a conclusion due to some people disagreeing with others. Nonetheless, a solution is usually eventually reached where most parties are satisfied. With certain societal problems, multi-disciplinary approaches o ften lead to better solutions. When there is a problem in society, society has to come up with a solution that will benefit everybody, not just a select few.If society used a strictly disciplinary approach to these problems, not everyone would be satisfied leading to other problems within society. By taking a multi-disciplinary approach to these societal problems, society has the chance to cater and please a greater amount of people. Taking a multi-disciplinary approach can lead to better solutions with a greater amount of people pleased but society cannot please everyone. Although a multi-disciplinary approach to societal problems is not the ultimate solution, it still has a better effect than a strictly disciplinary approach.When a person takes a multi-disciplinary approach, they are getting feedback and information from a variety of different sources. If many different aspects are presented in a situation, it allows someone to gather information and then decide what points they w ill use in their situation. For example when deciding what was important to make New Orleans an excellent city, our First Year Experience class researched different fields of study and components of a city to answer the question of what was necessary for New Orleans to strive.By taking parts of all the different fields of study including the arts, government, education and sports, and applying them to New Orleans, an excellent city with variation could be made. However, if New Orleans only focused on one field of study, the city would not have any variation. Although multi-disciplinary approaches usually result in better solutions than strictly disciplinary approaches, difficulties still arise with multi-disciplinary approaches. For example with more than one source being contributed to a situation, little problems could arise with not everyone agreeing with a conclusion.Also, when making a multi-disciplinary decision, one has to decide what aspects to use from others, making it lon ger to obtain a solution. Not all aspects presented in a multi-disciplinary approach are applicable to the solution that is being made as well. In a disciplinary approach, a person can make a decision quickly and easily but they lack the insight from others. For instance if a doctor needed help making a decision about what medicine to prescribe for their patient, he would not consult someone who is not educated to do so, but instead make the decision on his own because he is trained to.In this situation, a disciplinary approach may be the better option. Overall the advantages of a multi-disciplinary approach outweigh the disadvantages. Being able to obtain outside sources to solve a problem presents more information to make a better and more adequate solution to problems. A strictly disciplinary approach is still a good approach to certain issues but it does not always provide the best answer to the issue.Even though there are obstacles when making a multi-disciplinary decision such as time and not all parties agreeing, a solution is eventually made to benefit all parties and to resolve a problem. Without multi-disciplinary approaches in society and everyday life, we would not be able to get outside information to make better life choices and decisions.Works Cited â€Å"Disciplinary. † Def. Webster’s American Dictionary. College Edition. 1997. Print. â€Å"Multidisciplinary. † Def. Webster’s American Dictionary. College Edition. 1997. Print.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Symbolism and Imagery in Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies Symbolism and Imagery Throughout everyday life people use certain symbols, or images, to relate their feelings and unconscious thoughts to something more tangible and concrete. To a young child, a special blanket might provide them with a sense of security and comfort; furthermore, said blanket may include the ability to calm the child in a state of distress. Someone who had recently lost a loved one, might use objects that contain a degree of sentimental value in order to better hold onto the memories of the lost relationship.The symbol of the maple leaf, to Canadians, represents a sense of belonging and acceptance, a sense of pride and loyalty to a society and culture unique to that of Canada. In his novel Lord of the Flies, Golding provides his audience with endless amounts of symbolism and imagery. Some of the more prominent ones demonstrated in his novel include that of the Conch; representing order and democracy, the Fire; representing hope and rescue, and las tly, but possibly most importantly, that of the Beast; representing Fear and uncertainty.As the novel progresses and evolves, so too, do the symbols of the conch, fire, and beast. Through the use of his symbols, Golding challenges his audience’s pre-societal-conceived views, provides an overall commentary about the devolvement of mankind, and emphasizes his grander ideas about humanity and the mounting savagery that exists on the island. In the earliest stages of the novel, the symbol of the conch holds an inexplicably awe-inspiring compulsion over the boys. Piggy, being the first to point it out among the creepers, is amazed by its beauty and intricacies.Described as â€Å"glistening† and â€Å"delicate† the conch demands attention, not only in description but as well as sound. â€Å"Gosh! † Ralph had whispered in a sense of wonder following the initial sounding of the booming horn. As the children gather from all corners of the island they are immediate ly drawn to Ralph; â€Å"But there was stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out: there was his size, his appearance, and most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch. †(Golding 19). Through electing Ralph as their chosen leader, the boys make the unconscious decision of emocracy, clinging to their traditions of society and, in turn, their civility and, what could arguably be, their inner â€Å"goodness. † As one of his first roles as Chief, Ralph establishes what is known as the â€Å"Rule of the Conch†: if one wishes to speak, they must hold the conch and cannot be interrupted, except by Ralph thus creating a divide between himself and the average individual of the island civilization- Sufficiently furthering the theory that the conch stands for democratic rule and society.After all, what is society other than rules and regulations made by those in a position of authority meant for the common man to fallow? As the concept of time, both na tural (day and night) and well as artistic (plot development), progresses the conch’s power, and, in turn, Ralphs’, start to diminish. Jacks presence and the evil he represents grow increasingly more powerful and dominant; â€Å"Jack broke in, contemptuously. ‘You’re always scared’ ‘I got the conch. ’ ‘Conch! Conch! Shouted Jack, ‘We don’t need the conch anymore. †(Golding, 37) indicates that the power of democratic society is crumbling under the weight of the growing savagery on the island. Jack begins to outwardly and publicly undermine and oppose Ralph, the rule of the conch and, more largely, society and civility itself. He speaks out of turn, accuses Ralph of being a coward and takes over leadership on multiple occasions; demonstrated in their hunt for the Beast in chapters six and seven- Jack continuously takes the lead while Ralph strays behind to ponder inwardly and with Simon. The conch’s symbol ic meaning depends on the state of the children’s minds. Once power becomes more real to Jack than rules, the conch is meaningless. † (Kinkead-Weekes and Gregor, 7) illustrates that there is no real, physical power to the conch; it is simply a shell- that power is in what society, and individuals within society, allow it to be. In chapter eleven, Castle Rock, Piggy is brutally murdered by Roger while clinging desperately to the conch in his last stand against Jack, his tribe, and, ultimately, barbarity. The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist. † (Golding, 200) through the destruction of the conch in such a violent manner Golding extinguishes any lingering hope for Ralph and civility. The audience experiences a complete and utter sense of loss and hopelessness at this point, they mourn not only for the death of Piggy but the realization that their pre-conceived optimistic views on society have been challenged and finally shattered; both literally and metaphorically. The shell, whose sound began as a summons to society, ends as a murderous explosion on the rocks† (Kinkead-Weekes and Gregor, 4) adequately demonstrating that society, like humanity is ultimately flawed, and will collapse when confronted with an opposing force of darkness or even the slightest hint of a barbaric nature and tendency. The symbol of the fire is similar to that of the conch in the respect that it develops thoughout the course of the novel, but differs in the fact that it does not so much devolve, but rather changes shape and takes on two meanings.The fire in fact, becomes a â€Å"double-edged† sword. When one is asked; â€Å"what are the first three things you would do if stranded on an island? † Most would reply with; â€Å"find food, water, and shelter, of course. † Ralphs main priority on the island, after his adventurous exploration with Jack and Simo n, is to be rescued. In the beginning he is dead set on the notion that sooner or later a ship will come by the island and when it does, that the â€Å"grown-ups† will coincidentally pass by, he wants to be ready; â€Å"We can help them to find us. If a ship comes near the island they may not notice us.So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. We must make a fire. †(Golding, 37) indicates that the boys, and Ralph in particular, are mainly focused and devoted to the concept of rescue. All the children go charging up the mountain in eager abandonment to create a fire in the hope that it will increase their chances of salvage; suitably emphasizing the remaining touches of society present within the boys and on the island. Once the fire is made and lit, through the use of Piggy’s glasses, the boys quickly realize that if not controlled and kept in check, the fire can become rapidly dark and dangerous. On ones side the air was cool, but on the other the fire thru st out a savage arm of heat that crinkled hair on the instant† (Golding, 41) through the use of imagery Golding depicts the fire as something â€Å"savage† and threatening, effectively foreshadowing the boys’ barbaric decline. The destructiveness of the fire could also be used as a symbol to parallel the outside world’s perils of atomic warfare; â€Å"A tree exploded in the fire like a bomb. † (47) The loss and assumed death of the boy with the mulberry mark parallels the deaths of thousands of innocent bystanders at the mercy of manmade creations i. e. the fire and the atomic bomb. The chaos and destruction that the fire evolves into corresponds with that of the uncontrolled mass chaos that is warfare. The vigorous importance with which Ralph views the fire becomes the bone of contention that eventually drives him and Jack apart. While Ralph holds steadfast to the importance of the fire , Jack, and most of the other boys, abandon it and allot all t heir time and energy to hunting, regressing into their base instincts of savagery, emphasizing Golding’s theory about humanity that, if given the choice, man will always choose to resort to their barbaric nature.Ironically, by the end of the novel, Ralph is driven from hiding and hunted through the use of the fire. Jacks tribe sets an all-consuming raging fire that envelops the island and destroys all life within it; â€Å"meant as a signal fire for passing ships of planes it becomes, though misuse, a wild beast with a life of its own which invades the whole place†¦ What happens accidentally in the second chapter is done deliberately at the end by the boys turned savages. † (Delbaere-Grant, 78). Golding illustrates the boys making the conscious and all too thought out decision to resort to this act of barbarism.And only through said acts, were they able to achieve a smoke signal large enough to attract the attention of a passing ship; â€Å"We saw your smoke. Wha t have you been doing? Having a war or something? † (Golding, 223) Ralph replies with a sincere nod of the head, but the naval officer continues to treat it all as a joke. The officers’ naivety and complete lack of seriousness pertaining to the events taken place on the island is a symbolic reference to mankind as a whole and it’s propensity for violent ignorance.He could not see that the events taken place on the island were a direct reenactment of the war he himself had participated in and an example that even the most â€Å"civilized† of men are capable of the horrors of murder. No one of Golding’s symbols is more prominently demonstrated than that of the Beast, he allots multiple chapters in the novel to the concept of the Beast. In the first stages of its evolution, there is much speculation as to what the beast actually is. The children contemplate that the â€Å"Beastie† is a â€Å"snake-thing† which then evolves to the imaginar y form a ghost and then to that of a children’s-fable concept of the squid.They use their imaginations to justify and explain the fear and uncertainty that is becoming predominately present with the ever evolving concept of â€Å"the Beast. † Like children anywhere they experience nightmares and illusions about the Beast; they take the unknown component of its existence and turn into something more relatable in order to justify their fear. â€Å"The thing is- Fear can’t hurt you anymore than a dream. There aren’t any beasts to be afraid of on this island. †(88) at this point in the novel all the evidence pertaining to that of the beast is based on imagination and fear. There is no physical manifestation of the beast.Simon is the only who begins to speculate that â€Å"maybe it’s just us† In chapter six, Beast form Air, a dead parachutist falls from the sky to land on the top of the mountain where Samneric are maintaining the fire. Due to the fear already instilled in them by the groups’ speculations of the beast, they immediately become frightened and run away. This physical manifestation and the illustration that it is, indeed, human, greatly contributes to Golding’s intentions regarding the Beast; â€Å" The tangle of lines showed him the mechanics of this parody; he examined the white nasal bones, the teeth, the colors of corruption† (162).The figure that had fallen from the sky, thought to be the beast, is human and, ironically, Beast all in once- furthering Golding’s overall proposition that within all mankind, there holds the innate capacity and propensity towards evil and our own, personal, inner beast. In addition, the manner in which the parachutist is introduced, through the act of falling, is a theme that repeatedly occurs throughout the novel both literally; the planes fall from the sky after it is shot down and Piggy’s fall to his death on the rock protruding from the sea, and metaphorically; the fall of mankind.The fall of the parachutist parallels that of the fall of Lucifer which, discussed in Dantes inferno, is â€Å"neither angelic nor demonic, but profoundly a human reality. † The fall of Lucifer, which theologists describe as the fall from grace, and, in turn, a loss of civility is the result of hubris, otherwise known as excessive pride. The boys, and most in particular, Jack demonstrate pride in the way they view their new society in the beginning.The boys’ view that they are â€Å"proper English boys† and somehow superiorly unflawed, leads to the ultimate downfall of their humanity and lead them straight into the grasp of their barbaric roots. At a key point in chapter nine, A Gift for Darkness, Simon speaks to the lord of the flies, but rather his inner beast; â€Å"You knew, didn’t you? I’m apart of you! Close, close, close! †(158) confirms what he had been thinking all along, that the bea st is something that dwells within, there is no externalization of a beast, simply the evils we see within ourselves and our companions.Through Simon and his foreboding chat with the pig head, Golding demonstrates most sufficiently and prominently the nature of mankind, and externalizes the inner conflict that humanity is sure to face, pertaining to the certain devolvement they face when left to their own devices, stripped of societal law. Golding also states in contrast that the beast is both â€Å"harmless and horrible† (162) meaning that unless confronted and accepted it will take siege.The boys, in their persistent and vigorous denial of fact that â€Å"maybe it’s just us† give fuel to the ever-growing and present fire that is the beast. By fighting so hard to deny their inner beasts the boy unconsciously become beasts themselves; â€Å"Their defense against an imagined external beast allows the beast within them to gain absolute and transform them into mur ders† (Boyd, 16). As the Beast changes and evolves, gaining speed and momentum, the boys’ civil nature diminishes, allowing them to commit terrible and unimaginable horrors ill thought of by society.By regarding the Beast as God-like, offering a ritualistic sacrifice, the boys completely give in to their base instincts and tendencies for barbarism and savagery. They become awed by the power of the Beast and the possibilities it withholds. By the end of his novel, Lord of the Flies, and through his careful use of symbolism and imagery, Golding challenges his audiences view on society, thoroughly and sufficiently enforcing his comments about to the issues pertaining to the devolvement of mankind.He methodically emphasizes his theories regarding humanity and the increasing savagery that exists on the island. Golding demonstrates the conch’s transformation from order and democracy to that of chaos and dictatorship. The symbol of the fire goes from that of hope and re scue to that of danger and destruction. The Beast, on the other hand, transforms symbolically from that of fear and uncertainty to awe and reverence.Through closer observation of Golding’s uses of symbolism and imagery, no matter how diverse and complex the said symbol may be, there is always a reoccurring theme and connection present; savagery. Every path of every symbol leads back to one root, one destination; the savagery in which the boys ultimately resort to on the island, as well as the common link they all have regarding the outside â€Å"real† world. Golding’s symbols do an exceptional job in helping his audience grasp the larger picture that is his novel; mankind’s certain devolvement into savagery.Works Cited Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. London: Faber and Faber Limited, 1954. Print Boyd, S. J. â€Å"The Nature of the Beast† The Novels of William Golding. Sussex, UK. University of St Andrew Press. 1988. Delbaere-Grant, Jeanne. â₠¬Å"Rhythm and Expansion in Lord of the Flies† William Golding: Some Critical Considerations. Ed. Jack Biles & Robert Evask. University of Kentucky Press. Lexington, 1975. Print. Kinkead-Weekes, Mark. Gregor, Ian. William Golding: A Critical Study of the Novels. Faber and Faber Press, 1984. Print.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Comlaw Essay

PC from a local electronics shop, he is making an offer to the shop; which is an invitation to treat. Since the local electronics shop (offered) has had acceptance on Arthur (offer)'s offer, a contract has been formed. Therefore, Arthur has the obligation to pay for the product and the local electronics shop has the obligation to deliver the product.Though, some Issues between these 2 parties' have appeared: The PC was not running, power cable was missing and no manual was provided while Arthur has realized his check used to pay he PC was returned to him by the bank because the computer company's name was spelt Incorrectly on an â€Å"account payee only' check.Since the power cable was mammals, the local electronics shop has obligation to provide that because the local electronics shop and Arthur has formed a contract, If not, the local electronics would be considered as breach of contract: Also, according to the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, since the PC was not running, the local electronics shop has to repair the PC or refund all reasonable costs incurred in fixing he PC if Arthur required someone else to fix the PC, otherwise the electronics shop would be considered as breach of the Act.On the other hand, Arthur also has also had the obligation to pay for the PC, if not; Arthur has breached the contract as well. Therefore, I would advise Arthur to pay the electronics shop for the PC and collect the PC because he and the electronics shop were legally bind due to the contract. If the electronics shop failed to repair the PC and was unable to provide the power cable after he has paid the check, he should sue the electronics shop.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Opportunities and Challenges of E-commerce Development in China Essay

Opportunities and Challenges of E-commerce Development in China - Essay Example China has the potential to be the largest market for about everything and e-commerce is no exception. E-commerce is the trend which is opening an opportunity for companies if they capture the quickly changing marketplace. It is not very hard to estimate how big this market can be. In 2010, Chinas e-commerce sales exceeded RMB 460 billion. The expectations are that this figure will triple in the next three years and exceed RMB 1.5 trillion. China might overtake the US in three years as the world’s largest e-commerce marketplace. Its online market would grow to 7% of all retail trade. In 2011 this trade was only 3% which lags the e-commerce activity in the US and Europe. Taobao.com dominates the marketplace in the consumer to consumer (C2C) trade. It holds 80% market share compared to 20% of business to consumer activity. But rapid activity regarding business to consumer (B2C) is underway. And this will have a huge impact on the e-commerce industry in China. Big businesses are realizing the potential of e-commerce and names such as Walmart are gearing up to seize this opportunity. They have already opened the China e-commerce headquarters in Shanghai. To understand how the dynamics of e-commerce work in China a study by Bain & Company surveyed 600 Chinese shoppers. It inquired what motivated them to online buying and what the drawbacks of this trend were. The survey suggested that convenience was the second most important factor in price that motivated them to shop online. The majority also showed their interest in the product variety they got while shopping online. In fact, 19% of the participants stated that convenience was their primary reason for shopping online and 15% stated that variety inspired them to shop online.

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Develop a social networking strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Develop a social networking strategy - Essay Example Social media marketing is the promotional activity through which the business targets the prospect or potential customers via various social media sites in order, to increase the sales, enhance the brand loyalty and accomplish the business goals. It is very different from the traditional marketing, where promotion is highly dependent on the high-traffic Media, such as print and television. Unlike traditional means marketing through social media sites does not requires any paid placement that are charged to the business, but requires the marketer to devise methods in which information can be presented, so that the target audiences can assign value to the offerings. A social media marketing plan can take various forms like creating page of Facebook, developing a blog that focuses on issues related to the business segment in which the organization is dealing, new tools like Foursquare and reward on returning to visit the store through virtual badges (Powell, Groves & Dimos, 2011). This study focuses on the social media as a marketing tool for Book Bunker. Figure 1 Source: (Roberts, 2002) Figure 2 Source: (Roberts, 2002) Social Media Social media includes online tools that allow people with similar interest to share information and learn from each other or network over an open process. The information that is found on these sites are referred to as user generated content, which signifies that any individual can post their comments or suggestion on these sites with almost no or minimal restriction. This type of user-supplied content can vary over a wide range starting from bookmarked links to written posts, photos, original music and videos. It can be unstructured as well, such as family photos on Facebook or in a very formal and detailed structure such as article on Wikipedia. A partial list of structures that are available for a social media site includes combination of blogs, forums, micro-blogs, video-sharing, photo-sharing, customer reviews, online publishing, social and professional networking, or any other traditional website that accepts post from online communities. The media has become a significant element in driving the page visits and views and some sort of social media feature is always available on web (Wankel, 2011). It should be noted that the veracity of the contents that are posted on the social media outlets are not scrutinized. This may acts as one of the defining characteristics. This in turn also signifies a broad spectrum of mankind. It can be dull or insightful, biased or balanced, too revealing or guarded and most significantly outrageously libelous and verifiably true. False or accurate, anything can be posted on the websites or any other online sources with either a malicious intention or with the best intention. This makes it important for the readers or the users of these contents to scrutinize the validity and importance of the material that they read (Zarrella, 2010; Newson, Houghton & Patten, 2009; Al-Deen & He ndricks, 2012). Utilization of social media There are huge variations of websites and social media applications, which makes it impossible to list

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Week Seven Discussion Topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Week Seven Discussion Topic - Essay Example Lastly, people should understand the diseases that affect the human anatomy like Fibromyalgia so that they can be able to take necessary precautions to prevent them. Wrinkles affect how people look and how others perceive of them hence, scientists have researched on how Botox toxin can be utilized for treating wrinkles (â€Å"A Guide to Skin Care†). Exercise and diet as a very common topic in today’s society, and nutritionists have advised on their use so as to benefit the body (Sukovaty). Tropical treatments have been used over the years and some doctors have suggested their advantages, and why they should be used for treatment of skin disorders (Shailesh). Finally, Fibromyalgia is a very confusing condition and various attempts have been made to demystify its causes hence, it is said to be brought about by various factors (Harvey). Botox treatment for facial wrinkles involves the use of injections to paralyze and block some muscles and nerves on the face. Botox is extracted from food poisoning bacteria that affect the human body. Zelickson highlights that this bacteria can be purified and used in the treatment of wrinkles and other similar ailments through injection of muscles. In my opinion, I think Botox treatment is appropriate for treating wrinkles. This is because the results of treatment are experienced starting from the third day of treatment. Secondly, this method seems to be harmless to other body parts because it only affects the skin muscles, which are injected, or are wrinkled, and not the whole body. The treatment is also a lifestyle treatment because it is optional and the procedure can be repeated after some months. Lastly, this method has no known permanent side effects to doctors and hence, this makes it a safe method with no fear, unlike other suggested methods. Healthy living can be determined by how an

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

A Madmans Diary by Lu Xun Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

A Madmans Diary by Lu Xun - Essay Example From the visit, he learns about the younger brother’s tribulations; he suffered from a mental condition, but he recovered and has since relocated to another area. The narrator is given a diary by the older brother whereby an account of the younger brother’s illness was kept. This is the diary referred to as the ‘Madman’s Diary’ by the narrator, and its contents constitute the bulk of the story. From the diary, we learn of the extreme paranoia of the protagonist during the time of his illness (Xun & Nadolny 36). The story describes about social conditions in china at the time. The diary talks about cannibalism, which is a common practice in Chinese history and culture. During the early 1900s, Chinese people were desperate as a result of the extreme famine, and this culminated into cannibalism. It is this cannibalism that the protagonist describes during his illness by being paranoid that those surrounding him would soon or later eat him up. A deeper analysis of the story shows that the author was castigating and condemning Chinese culture at this time, whereby the strong in society devoured the weaker ones. The character that catches my attention is the madman himself. Even though he has crazy ideas about cannibalism, he typifies change in society. Despite his hardships, he struggles to get better, and later he gets a good job in another city. From his diary, he has given us insight into the Chinese society at that time whereby strong people ‘ate up’ weaker ones (Hsun & Yang

Monday, September 9, 2019

Book Report Mythologies by Roland Barthes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Book Report Mythologies by Roland Barthes - Essay Example He says that "All the toys one commonly sees are essentially a microcosm of the adult world" (Barthes, 1972, p.53), and that for instance, a girls doll is "meant to...'condition' her to her future role as mother" (Barthes, 1972, p.53). If we apply this to videogames, we can immediately see that semiotics, especially as applied to ideology, might shed more light on the role that games play in our globalised society. According to Barthes, French toys are an illustration of the belief that children are a miniature reflection of adults -toys offer too much direction - they do not allow children to engage in their own imaginative play. By providing children with "artificial" materials and toys are we, in turn, providing them with an "artificial" view of the world Mythologies is a text which is not one but plural. It contains fifty-four (only twenty-eight in the Annette Lavers's English translation) short journalistic articles on a variety of subjects. These texts were written between 1954 and 1956 for the left-wing magazine Les Lettres nouvelles and very clearly belong to Barthes's priode "journalistique"' (Calvet: 1973 p.37). They all show a topicality, typical of good journalism. Because of their very topicality they provide the contemporary reader with a panorama of the events and trends that took place in the France of the 1950s. Although the texts are very much of and about their times, many still have an unsettling contemporary relevance to us today. The majority of the fifty-four texts focus on various manifestations of mass culture, la culture de masse: films, advertizing, newspapers and magazines, photographs, cars, children's toys, popular pastimes and the like. Mythologies, however, includes an important theoretical essay entitled Le Mythe aujourd'hui' (Barthes: 1970 pp.193-247). In Le Mythe aujourd'hui', Barthes is at the barber's and is handed a copy of the Paris-Match. As he sees a photograph of a black soldier saluting the French flag, the arrangement of coloured dots on a white background, he understood it to be embedded with a signifier and a signified, constituting the idea of French imperialism and that France's empire treats all its subjects equally. It is a retrospectively imposed where its position after the journalistic articles is also significant. This expressed not simply the chronological order in which they were written, but also to make more explicit some of the concerns that underpin the fifty-four essays. There is, then, a certain amount of continuity between the two parts' of Mythologies. If there is a certain amount of thematic continuity between the two parts' of Mythologies then it is here, where Barthes claimed that he wanted to challenge the innocence' and naturalness' of cultural texts and practices. Although objects, gestures and practices have a certain utilitarian function, they are not resistant to the imposition of meaning. There is no such thing, to take but one example, as a car which is a purely functional object devoid of connotations and resistant to the imposition of meaning. A BMW and a Citron 2CV share the same functional utility, they do essentially the same job but connote different things about their owners: thrusting,