Strategies of Modern Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Strategies of Modern Art - Essay Example The essay "Strategies of Modern Art" investigates the modern art and its strategies. It does this by alluding to Paul Gauguin’s transformative primitivism and synthetist styles. Having been born at a time of European imperialism, Gauguin did not allow himself to succumb to the superiority euphoria of shunning away anything non-European. After distinguishing himself as a painter, print-maker and a sculptor, he could not entertain the impressionist work of art which had been mainly focused on appealing to the eyes of his audience. Instead, he chose to adopt a new strategy that would greatly transform art. His obsession with the Tahiti culture was not only manifested in his obsession with their women, but in the way he depicted their nudity in his paintings. In his strategy, he opted to adopt the new culture and fuse it into his paintings. Thus, he managed to produce excellent pieces that would greatly appeal to his audience. The new strategy introduced by Gauguin was indeed a st ep in the development of modern art. As a father of primitivism, he did a great job by introducing a new style of painting in which he was using bold colors to help in eliciting inherent meanings. Besides, he came up with the idea of using bold colors and evenly distributed throughout the painting. Through this, he managed to ensure that all colors are equally applied without any of them dominating others. Actually, this was a brilliant idea since it transformed painting from the traditional impressionist styles.

Teacher education in Qatar Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Teacher education in Qatar - Research Paper Example A key aim of this study is to find out why TESOL education is floundering in Qatar, and suggest improvements to this situation using modern technology. The aim of the fieldwork is to identify barriers to the use of technology in TESOL and to propose strategies for integrating more technology into Qatari TESOL teacher training and thereby strengthen TESOL provision for all future students and teachers of English in Qatar. Empirical data is gathered by means of questionnaires and structured interviews. The aim of this fieldwork is to establish how technology is being used in teacher education and how far it meets the current needs of teacher trainees. The views of student teachers and their lecturers are gathered and compared, and any strengths and weaknesses are identified. The results are analyzed and recommendations are made on appropriate ways to remedy any deficiencies in TESOL teacher training provision in Qatar. Significance of the study in the Qatari context Along with other de veloping nations, most Arabic speaking countries in the Gulf region are engaged in a comprehensive program of reform in their education systems (Brewer et al. 2006). This is driven partly by forces of globalization, which make demands on the local population such as an ability to speak foreign languages and operate in a multi-cultural work environment, and partly by internal adjustments to phenomena like the need to train students and staff in the use of new technologies (Alghazo, 2006) and a drive for quality improvement across the board.board. There has been an increasing privatisation of schools, in line with Ministry of Education’s policy since 2009, and this places considerable demands on the teacher training programmes which supply newly qualified teachers and some in service training to these schools (Constant et al, 2010). Qatar’s program of education reform is at a critical stage in its development. On the one hand great progress has been made in agreeing new priorities, both in terms of teaching methods and attainment targets, but on the other hand, the lingering presence of outdated methodologies and practices in the classroom is holding students back from achieving the best possible outcomes. English was made compulsory throughout Qatari schools, colleges and universities , and there has been an increasing emphasis on providing subject specific tuition in English as well as pure English language classes (Mansareh, 2011). Very recently, however, there has been a partial revision of this policy, with a new ministry decree encouraging some university courses to revert back to Arabic, and the likelihood that schools may follow suit (Fenton, 2012). There appears to be an on-going debate at the highest level in Qatar about the effectiveness of its English language provision, and its place in the education system. It is vital that the gap between Qatar’s ambitions for English language education and its current practice, is understood, along with the reasons why these problems remain, and potential solutions for addressing any deficiencies. Despite a long tradition of teaching English in Qatar, some of the results have not been ideal. It may be unrealistic to make up for deficiencies in previous planning and practices, but it is both possible and necessary to make better plans for the present and future. Teacher educational programs are the key to the future of Qatar’s education system, and so this study uses a literature review to

Scanning the Environment IP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Scanning the Environment IP - Essay Example It is head quartered in Cupertino, California and employs 21,600 employees. The company recorded revenues of $24,006 million during the fiscal year ended September 2007, an increase of 24.3% over 2006. The company’s revenue grew on account of increased sale of Mac systems and downloads of digital content. The operating profit of the company was $4,409 million during fiscal year 2007, an increase of 79.7% over 2006. The net profit was $3,496 million in fiscal year 2007, an increase of 75.8% over 2006.† 1. Brand Value and Recognition – This is the biggest strength of Apple. Right from Apple PCs (MACs) which was their first product introduced to the very recent iPHONE, all their products are positioned as luxury products and are designed with features to delight the customers and give them a â€Å"WOW† feeling on using the products. This has created strong brand recognition among the consumers. 2. Product Design – All their products are developed after thorough research and design and invariably are of premium look, feel and quality. The MAC operating system, the iPHONE, the iPOD, etc. are all examples of excellence in product design. 3. Product Functions and Features – The features and functionalities of their products are state of the art and highly innovative. All their products are feature rich and absolute delight to the users. 4. Innovation – Apple has always come out with innovative products and product lines. It started with the Apple PC and Mac Operating System followed by various Apple software applications and computer peripherals. Later they introduced totally different and innovative product line through the launch of iPODs as mobile music players. They were accompanied by innovative accessories such as speakers, podcasts, etc. This innovation in seen continued with launch of iPHONES which have touch screen technology combined with music rich features. 5. Accessories – Accessories to accompany differentiated

Child Labour Essay Example for Free

Child Labour Essay What is child labour? According to wikipedia, Child labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour. In many countries child labour is a well known factor for employment, especially in the under developed places. Approximately 153 million children, aged between 5 and 14 are children that work in labour. Although, child labour is recognized as being children preforming work under the age of 18. There are approximately 218 million child labourers around the world. Making children do the work that adults should be doing is morally incorrect. There are many organizations that help broadcast (describe) the issue of child labour, but overall the issue is not overly recognized. The basic, easy definition of child labour is long hours of work on a full-time, regular basis, being treated abusively by the employer, either no acces or very poor access to any education. The jobs that would be considered child labour would be selling thins on the streets or working in someone elses house as a servant. Its not so much the work itself that’s bad, but how the child is treated, how many hours a day they work and whether the work prevents school attendance. Meaning that the work is not the only bad thing, it can do some good. It is the way that the child is treated that is the worse part, if the child is treated with respect and with part time hours, as well as having access to schooling, would be a great opportunity for the child. Although, that is not the case. The children are treated with poor respect, or none, which is the number one issue, they are not treated as equals. Development cooperation and poverty reduction are central aspects of Canada’s child labour strategy The number of child labourers fell by 16 percent between 2000 and 2004. Around one in three children in Sub-Saharan Africa are workers. While the percentage of child labourers is decreasing across Africa, there are actually more children in the workforce now than 10 years ago. Out of 10 working children, seven work in agriculture, two in services and one in industry. It is estimated to take $760 billion over 20 years to eliminate child labour completely. The estimated benefit in terms of better education and health is over $4 trillion, a six-to-one difference Child labour is defined as: Its not so much the work itself that’s bad, but how the child is treated, how many hours a day they work and whether the work prevents school attendance. In the worst cases, children are trapped in these situations by debts or outright slavery. Then there are extreme kinds of child labour. One type of what are called the â€Å"worst forms† of child labour is â€Å"hazardous work,† work that is very difficult and harmful to the child’s physical development. This includes anything from carrying heavy loads and using dangerous machinery to spraying pesticides and working in unclean environments. The other worst type of child labour is called â€Å"unconditional worst forms. † That means that no matter what the circumstances are, no matter how much is paid or how little the child does, it is illegal—even for adults. Every effort must be made to end this form of labour. This includes slavery, the buying and selling of a human being (called â€Å"human trafficking†), forced or bonded labour, using children in armed conflict, prostitution, pornography and involvement in drugs or any other illegal activity. there are some 250 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 years who are in economic activity in developing countries alone.? Child labour means that they toil in mines and quarries, are exposed to chemicals in agriculture, squat in crippling positions to weave rugs and carpets, and scavenge in rubbish piles. Too many are enslaved in bonded labour, isolated in domestic service, and traumatized and abused in the commercial sex trade. according to the World Bank over 70 per cent of child workers are unpaid family workers, especially in rural areas where working girls outnumber working boys. They are engaged in domestic service, agriculture, and small family enterprises, whether in rural or urban areas. This means that four in five children are not paid, or if they are paid it is much less than most legal minimum wages These children are forced to put at stake their education, their health, their normal development to adulthood, and even risk losing their lives. Child labour and the poverty cycle are intertwined. A family living in poverty cannot send their children to school. Therefore, in order to survive, children are forced to work and therefore receive little or no education. Children who grow up without an education are much more likely to remain in low-paying (and potentially dangerous) work. It also means that girls may marry young and have children young. The cycle begins again as the young family has children to support with very little income. However, child labour should not be automatically associated with children who engage in non-harmful work. Non-harmful work is part-time and does not stop children from having access to an education. It can be beneficial in the sense that is gives them an income and the ability to help to support their families. It is also important in many instances for children to gain useful social and work-related skills. Therefore, it is vitally important to not only eliminate harmful child labour, but to also support children who do have to work so that they are able to continue their studies and gain an education. Strict bans on child labour may cause more harm than good, forcing child to work in more underground and dangerous conditions than they would otherwise. These children are forced to put at stake their education, their health, their normal development to adulthood, and even risk losing their lives. Child labour and the poverty cycle are intertwined. A family living in poverty cannot send their children to school. Therefore, in order to survive, children are forced to work and therefore receive little or no education. Children who grow up without an education are much more likely to remain in low-paying (and potentially dangerous) work. It also means that girls may marry young and have children young. The cycle begins again as the young family has children to support with very little income. However, child labour should not be automatically associated with children who engage in non-harmful work. Non-harmful work is part-time and does not stop children from having access to an education. It can be beneficial in the sense that is gives them an income and the ability to help to support their families. It is also important in many instances for children to gain useful social and work-related skills. Therefore, it is vitally important to not only eliminate harmful child labour, but to also support children who do have to work so that they are able to continue their studies and gain an education. Strict bans on child labour may cause more harm than good, forcing child to work in more underground and dangerous conditions than they would otherwise.

Acid Rain :: Free Essay Writer

For years ever since most of the world has been industrialized, the effects of pollution have plagued nations alike. Acid rain is one of the largest contributors to this industrialized form of pollution. Throughout this report an explanation of the devastating effects to the environment caused by acid rain will be given along with what is being done to stop it. Acid rain is made when pollutants arise from the use of coal in the production of electricity, from base- metal smelting and from fuel combustion in vehicles. Once the sulfur and nitrogen oxides from these man made causes are released into the air they are caught by wind currents and are blown hundreds of miles away. The gas pollutants drift along with clouds until the rain eventually converts the sulfuric dioxide into sulfuric acid, and the nitrogen oxide into nitric acid. The newly transformed acid rain, acid snow or fog, falls to the earth where the effects on aquatic habitats, humans, animals, trees, crops, and other forms of plant life are devastating. When acid rain comes in contact with aquatic ecosystems the chemistry of the effects can be extremely complex. If one species or group of species changes or dies out in response to the acid rain, then the whole entire body of water, especially in lakes, is affected through the predator- prey relationship of the food web. In some places where the acid deposition falls, natural substances absorb and neutralize the acid but in most places they build up and the water becomes as sour as lemon juice. In these instances the chance of a food web being disrupted are more likely to happen. When the acidity of the water is around the ph level of 6.0 fish cannot lay eggs. When they can’t reproduce and the acidity level grows then the fish out, and when in lakes are extremely difficult to be replaced. Around this acidity level plants also die out and are poisoned. Insects no longer have a food source and soon they are gone. The water fowl and other birds in the area that fed on fish and insects no longer have a food source and they are the next to go. As the whole entire food web come toppling down the aquatic ecosystems become quiet; quiet as a grave. Acid rain also effects crops and other plant life. Surprisingly though acid rain can actually help out some crops such as strawberries, corn, and tomatoes.

Film “Crash” Essay

The inclusion of the 2006 film â€Å"Crash† in a multicultural psychology class is an interesting way to show that prejudices within certain cultures can develop because they are based on the reality of the situation and that prejudices develop equally within all racial groups. No one group is more or less prone to racial prejudice than any other. â€Å"Crash† is also a study is extremes as virtually every character in the movie presents a view of other races that is based on biases, anger and misconceptions. Unfortunately, two of the scenes in the movie seem to reinforce stereotypes and that was a bit disappointing. The initial scene with Anthony and Peter discussing the stereotypes of being black men in an all white neighborhood and other people shying away from them was impacting and disappointing when it turned out that they two of them were in fact there for nefarious reasons. And, when we discover that Kim Lee’s husband was trafficking in Chinese slaves was also a sad stereotype that made the movie more impacting, but also was a disappointment that the writer resorted to that stereotype. The movie is so full of examples of prejudice that it is hard to determine where the commentary on the racism begins and where it ends. For example, in an early scene, Farhad and Dorri are attempting to buy a handgun from a local gun shop and the store owner immediately assumes that they are Arabs, based on skin color and accent. In a later scene, Dorri is talking with her mother who says, in response to â€Å"raghead† and other slurs spray painted on their store walls, â€Å"they assume we are Muslims when we are Christian†. (Haggis, 2006). The gun store owner reacts with anger assuming that Farhad is a terrorist and attacks him with any number of racial slurs based on his broken English. Farhad assumes that the Caucasian gun store owner was attempting to cheat him and continues with that prejudice later when Daniel arrives to fix the broken lock on the door of his store. One of the saddest commentaries the movie makes on the affects of racism is the scene between Daniel and Farhad, resulting in Farhad’s accusation that Daniel is trying to cheat him. Daniel is one of two characters in the movie who generally is shown as treating people the same regardless of how they treat him. When Jean Cabot has a screaming fit about the fact that she has been robbed at gunpoint by African Americans and that her locksmith is Hispanic, Daniel says nothing, just slams the key on the counter and leaves. He does instigate the attack on Farhad’s store, but that is motivated by the fact that Farhad will not pay him, not by any racial animosity, or at least no animosity that is demonstrated in the movie. Farhad’s daughter Dorri is the only other character whose racial behavior is not offensive. Dorri expressed disappointment at other’s actions towards her father and her father’s actions towards others, but she herself does not exhibit racism. Another interesting study in racism in the movie is in the conversations between Anthony and Peter. At one point, Anthony lectures Peter on the difference between stealing from people outside of the African American community and within the community. He also argues that gangsta rap is a government conspiracy to make the black community fight within itself. Peter shows his racism in his assumption that all country music is a racist plot against African Americans. Later, Peter’s inability to let go of his own joke about the country music costs him his life. In the scene when he is killed, Peter is laughing about the music and virtually picking a fight with the police officer played by Ryan Phillipe who picks him up on a cold night while he is hitchhiking. The officer, Tom Hansen, who has objected to racism over and over throughout the movie to this point, shows his prejudice when Peter says that he wanted to play ice hockey and then get irritated with the way that Peter mocks his music. When Peter finally finds the common ground that could bring them together, a statue of St. Christopher on the dashboard, he fails to come right out and say so. Instead he pulls his own statute out of his pocket. Had he simply spoken instead of taking action, his death could have been avoided. Again, the death is a sad commentary on the way that prejudices develop. When Hansen first encounters racism on the police force, he is offended and wants to be removed from the partner, John Ryan, who was openly racist. Later, Ryan tells him, â€Å"Wait until you lived a little longer† (Haggis, 2006). Ryan’s character is a blatant racist, pulling over the Thayers, a 40-something black couple for no reason other than to screw with them and molest Christine Thayer under the pretense of a search for weapons. Hansen is offended by the way Ryan treats the Thayers and then a night later shoots and kills a black teen, dumps the body and torches his own car to cover the crim. Even the â€Å"good† character is racist in this movie. Ryan explains to the HMO representative Shaniqua why he has developed his racist attitude but does so only after insinuationg that she received her job only because she was a black woman and after insulting her. For her part, Shaniqua could have overcome Ryan’s racism by doing the right thing herself, but because she encountered so much racism over the course of her lifetime, she perpetuated the racism by not doing the right thing and approving additional care for Ryan’s father. Ryan later sort of redeems himself by going into Christine Thayer’s burning car to rescue her after an accident, proving that even a bigot can do the right thing sometimes. In many ways the most disturbing form of racism shown in the movie is that of Jean and Rick Cabot. Jean Cabot explodes in anger after being robbed, attacking her housekeeper for not putting away the dishes from the dishwasher and assuming that her locksmith will sell her house key to gang bangers who will then rob her. By the end of the movie, her attitude is changed when the only one who will come to her rescue is her housekeeper. After getting treatment, she tells her husband that her friend of 10 years wouldn’t come take her to the hospital because she was getting a massage. Her husband and his staff were unavailable and only the housekeeper, whom she had yelled at earlier in the day and was, contemplating firing for no apparent reason, would take care of her. At least her reactions to other races were genuine. More disturbing were the actions of Rick Cabot. He treated all the races as equal stepping stones to his political career. His only question about a hero firefighter was â€Å"Does he look black? † until he learned that the man’s name was Saddam. Then he spent the time yelling at his publicist to find a better way to spin things for him. He allowed his people to offer to fail to prosecute a black detective’s younger brother, peter, for car theft in an effort to add an investigator of color to his inner circle. He ignored evidence that a white cop killed a black cop because the black cop was corrupt, not because the white cop was a racist, which he might have been. The examples of racism in the movie are too frequent to list in a paper. There’s the Puerto Rican/Guatemalan police woman who mocks a Chinese driver for not seeing her â€Å"blake lights† and not being able to see over the steering wheel. Her African American boyfriend tells his mother he’s sleeping with a white woman, explaining to her that it will upset his mother more than saying he’s sleeping with a Mexican. The Chinese woman, Kim Lee, says with authority that Mexicans don’t know how to drive. In a bit part, Tony Danza argues with an African-American television director that his co-star â€Å"sounds less Black† and that his character is supposed to be the smart one. All in all, â€Å"Crash† is an interesting commentary on racism across the culture, showing that many races share the same wrong perceptions of the other races. The movie is one stereotype after another, both coming out of the mouths of the characters, and in the characterization of the people within the movie. However, it is in fact a good way to learn that all cultures make the same mistakes and that they all need to stop making such biased assumptions. WORKS CITED Haggis, Paul. (Writer/Director), 2006, â€Å"Crash† USA: Bull’s Eye Entertainment.

The Ambition in Nursing: Individual Growth and Development towards Providing Quality

The nursing health care system is as an integral part of the society as any other sectors promoting human development. The nursing profession has attended to the health care needs of the people for many years already. It is a profession which has endured many challenges, and progressed into an institutionalized sector in the health care system dedicated to commit and serve the society’s need. It is a profession embedded in the principles of dedication, care, and professionalism. However, as challenges persist in the nursing work force around the world, this has posed a serious challenge in the role of the nursing profession.Fagerberg (2002) stated in his study that the metaphor of nursing care is entailed in a woven fabric. The goal of nursing professionals is to create a role which is for the people’s health, rather than the entire health system. Nursing care entails the ambition of nursing to promote a need for consistent and clear statement of concern for patients. O ne of the pressing problems in the health care sector is the volatile supply and increasing demands for professional nurses as mentioned by Grene and Puetzer (2002).Different strategies have aimed to entice new nurses in the profession, and retain and support them in the delivery of high patient-care. As Grene and Puetzer (2002) mentioned, their lies a difficulty in the health care system to promote nursing as a future profession. The current nursing crisis has also developed a dilemma by which led some nurses towards another career because of disillusionment, and because they do not feel valued for their hard work. The crisis in the nursing profession must work on developing a new paradigm wherein opportunities and presented, and need of the nurses are met. Ambition in NursingCurtin (2001) describes ambition and integrity with significant influence of with and wisdom. For nursing professionals wanting to develop in the field, ambition governs their passion and desire to succeed and achieve. The motivation to attain an ambition can constitute various reasons depending on the subjective views of a nurse. However, in this paper, we briefly describe how the idea of succeeding one’s ambition must be attuned with attaining a character with integrity. Nurses who are essentially in the profession to succeed must realize the essence of the process, rather than the ultimate gain at the end.Having ambition in nursing must not be disillusioned with the current and persisting challenges of the profession. Some nurses have become discouraged over the fact that in real-life context, their idea of nursing while they were still studying becomes suddenly buried when they realize the problems they dealing. Some simply has become disillusioned and starts to find a new career path, others simply gets dismayed and lose the encouragement of growing as part of the health care system. Ambition is for personal gain.Nurses are faced with the difficulty to maintain as promoters o f moral leadership because of problem inherent in the system within they work. Hamric (1991) argues that repeated exposure of nurses in the insensitive and sometimes even immoral behaviors may influence a nurse’s personal conscience. Psychological pressures can greatly influence a nurse’s motivation to pursue his or her own ambition. Nash (1990) adds that existing problems in the health care system can also subvert good intentions and goals of an individual.Rognstad, Aasland, and Granum (2004) concluded in their recent study about the future career option of nursing students that 80% of their respondents regard getting their bachelors degree as a basis for building on a further education. Motives of the respondents were also measured through the variables human contact, helping others, and job security was significantly considered. Among the respondents who emphasized this ambition in graduating with a degree is shown to be less interested in giving care and help to ot hers. In the study, the authors were able to analyze and confirm this attitude through in-depth interviews.In another study, authors Ingersoll et al. (2002) determined the characteristics of New York nursing work force to assess their level of job satisfaction and commitment in their setting. Brought by the demands of the challenges surrounding the nursing profession, investigations have suggested the high dissatisfaction of nurses in the health care environment and their likelihood of leaving their profession. In the study, respondents of the study indicate that personal, organizational characteristics and commitment have contributed to their intent of pursuing their nursing ambition in a span of 1 to five years more.Also shown in this study is the intent of satisfied and committed nurses to leave within the next five years. Findings of this investigation suggest the organizational environment, educational preparation, and personal characteristics of currently employed registered n urses affect their current job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and plans for continuing as a nurse Ingersoll et al. (2002). The impeding challenges in the nursing health care system is bringing more nurses into a dilemma to stay committed and dedicated in pursuing their individual career ambitions.As nursing shortage and retention has lead to several nurses option to leave the profession, the system must encourage the new blood of younger generation nurses to pursue their options in the field. Several factors contributing to their commitment and dedication in the field is due to the inability of the system to promote individual development. Lack of opportunity and options or nurses also makes them vulnerable and makes them rethink of their options. Nursing must address the need of the system to uphold individual development and growth, along with providing quality health care and meeting the increasing demand.Changes have progressively developed strategies, and hopefully so on it will motivate nurses to pursue their ambition in the field. References: Curtin L. (2001). Preserving your integrity while building your career. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 25 (2), pp. 1-4. Fagerberg, A. M. (2002). The woven fabric – a metaphor of nursing care: the major subject in nursing education. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 16 (2), pp. 115-21. Grene, Maureen T. ; Puetzer, Mary (2002). The Value of Mentoring: A Strategic Approach to Retention and Recruitment. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 17 (1), p67-75. Hamric, Ann (1999).The Nurse as Moral Agent in Modern Health Care. Nursing Outlook, 47 (3), p. 106. Ingersoll G. L. , Olsan T, Drew-Cates, J. , DeVinney, B. C. , and Davies, J. (2002). Nurses' job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and career intent. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 32 (5), pp. 250-63. Nash, Lauren (1990). Good Intentions Aside: A Manager’s Guide to Resolving Ethical Problems. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Rognstad, M. K. , Aasland, O. , and Granum, V. (2004). How do nursing students regard their future career? Career preferences in the post-modern society. Nurse Education Today 24 (7), pp. 493-500.

Free Essays on Hospitality

The Breakers At he beginning of the semester when the term project was assigned I knew right away what resort I was going to pick. I chose The Breakers at Palm Beach Florida because I have very good memories with my family at this property. So I called the hotel and ask for brochures and whatever additional information they could send me. Less than one week later I had all of the information I needed and I will be presenting it to you in the next few pages. Henry Morrison Flagler built a hotel â€Å"The Palm Beach Inn† on the beach front portion of the Royal Poinciana’s property (one of his fist hotels). The Palm Beach Inn, which opened on January 16, 1896, was fully booked for most of that season because it was smaller and quieter than the vast Royal Poinciana and because if overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. Instead of asking for rooms at the Royal Poinciana, many regular Palm Beach guest asked for rooms â€Å"over by the breakers.† The name stuck. When Flagler doubled the size of the Palm beach Inn for the 1901 season, he renamed it the Breakers. On June 9, 1903, as workers were enlarging the wood building for the fourth time in less than decade, The Breakers burned down. The seventy three year old Flagler was shocked by the loss of his favorite hotel but definitely not beaten. Two weeks later he announced that The Breakers would not only be rebuilt but also would open for the upcoming winter season! On February 1, 1904, The Breakers reopened to universal acclaim. The new Breakers, a rambling four-story, colonial-style building constructed entirely of wood, contained 425 rooms and suites. Rooms started at four dollars a night, including three meals a day. As did its predecessor’s, The Breakers guest register real line a â€Å"who’s who† of early twentieth-century America: various Rockefellers, William Randolph Hearts; the five-and dime kigs W.T Grant and J.C. Penney; an even assorted European nobility and U.... Free Essays on Hospitality Free Essays on Hospitality The Breakers At he beginning of the semester when the term project was assigned I knew right away what resort I was going to pick. I chose The Breakers at Palm Beach Florida because I have very good memories with my family at this property. So I called the hotel and ask for brochures and whatever additional information they could send me. Less than one week later I had all of the information I needed and I will be presenting it to you in the next few pages. Henry Morrison Flagler built a hotel â€Å"The Palm Beach Inn† on the beach front portion of the Royal Poinciana’s property (one of his fist hotels). The Palm Beach Inn, which opened on January 16, 1896, was fully booked for most of that season because it was smaller and quieter than the vast Royal Poinciana and because if overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. Instead of asking for rooms at the Royal Poinciana, many regular Palm Beach guest asked for rooms â€Å"over by the breakers.† The name stuck. When Flagler doubled the size of the Palm beach Inn for the 1901 season, he renamed it the Breakers. On June 9, 1903, as workers were enlarging the wood building for the fourth time in less than decade, The Breakers burned down. The seventy three year old Flagler was shocked by the loss of his favorite hotel but definitely not beaten. Two weeks later he announced that The Breakers would not only be rebuilt but also would open for the upcoming winter season! On February 1, 1904, The Breakers reopened to universal acclaim. The new Breakers, a rambling four-story, colonial-style building constructed entirely of wood, contained 425 rooms and suites. Rooms started at four dollars a night, including three meals a day. As did its predecessor’s, The Breakers guest register real line a â€Å"who’s who† of early twentieth-century America: various Rockefellers, William Randolph Hearts; the five-and dime kigs W.T Grant and J.C. Penney; an even assorted European nobility and U....

The Cattle essays

The Cattle essays The cattle are domesticated herbivorous mammals that constitute the genus Bos, of the family Bovidae. The cattle are of great importance to humans because of the milk, meat, leather, gelatin, glue, hides and other items of trading they produce. Cattle today are divided into two species: B. indicus, which originated in India and is characterized by a hump at the withers, and B. taurus, which originated in Europe and includes most recent breeds of dairy and beef cattle. The common characteristics of cattle can be provided through classification. They belong to the order Artiodactyla (even-toed, hoofed mammals) and the suborder Ruminantia (decreased number of teeth, with the upper incisors missing and a four-compartmented stomachs). Like others of the family Bovidae, they have paired, hollow, unbranched horns that do not shed. Other Bovidae that are so closely related to true cattle that they can still interbreed include the anoa, bison, gaur, Indian and African buffalo, and yak. The wild cattle, B. primigenius, of Europe were first domesticated in southeastern Europe about 8500 years ago, which European cattle descended from. The zebu, or Brahman, cattle, B. indicus, were domesticated in southern Asia about the same time. Early records show that cattle were used for sacrifice, draft, milk, meat, and sport. Modern breeds of cattle were formed during the mid-1800s, and most modern breeds were formed in the latter half of that century. The definition of a breed is used to indicate animals that posses distinctive identity in color, size, conformation, and function. Cattle with similar characteristics, however, were present in these areas even before the idea of breeds became dominant. Today about 274 important recognized breeds exist, and new breeds continue to evolve (Encyclopedia Britannica). The male cattle is first a bull calf and if left intact becomes a bull. If the bull is fixed he becomes a steer and in about...

Proofreading and Formatting What’s the Difference

Proofreading and Formatting What’s the Difference Proofreading and Formatting: What’s the Difference? At Proofed, we do everything we can to make sure your written work is error free and well formatted. But what exactly is the difference between proofreading and formatting? To sum up, proofreading is about checking your work for mistakes, while formatting is about presentation. But the proofreading and formatting we do involves more than you might think. Comprehensive Proofreading The term â€Å"proofreading† comes from the â€Å"galley proofs† used by print publishers (early versions of written works, typically for editing or review). A â€Å"proof reader† is literally someone who checks these proofs for errors. Outside publishing, modern proofreading commonly includes an element of editing, such as making minor amendments to improve readability, sentence structure and word choice. We do this kind of proofreading at Proofed, and our expert proofreaders can offer assistance on everything from college papers and job applications to novels and advertising copy. This is made simple by the Track Changes function in Microsoft Word, which eliminates the need for a printed proof. The rise of digital proofreading has severely hit sales of red pens (Photo: Nics Events) As well as removing grammatical and spelling errors, our proofreading service ensures that vocabulary and references are used appropriately in college papers. As such, getting your work proofread can even boost your grades! And the Formatting? While proofreading focuses on the content of your written work, formatting encompasses everything about how the document is presented, including: A Title Page We can add a title page to meet your specifications, as well as abstract pages, acknowledgements or whatever else your document needs. Font Size and Type Formatting includes applying a font style, along with making sure paragraphs are clearly and consistently formatted throughout the document. Titles and Subtitles We’ll also apply specific font styles for all titles and subtitles in your work, thereby maximizing the clarity and visual impact of your writing. Charts and Figures Microsoft Word’s caption options allow us to add labels to all charts and figures, thereby boosting clarity. Dynamic Tables We can generate a table of contents or list of charts/figures that can be quickly updated at the touch of a button. Margins, Headers, and Footers As well as the options above, our formatting service incorporates all other elements of how your work is presented. Need the margins adjusting? No problem. Want page numbers added? Or chapter headers? Just let us know! Overall, the crucial thing with formatting is that your work is clearly and consistently presented throughout. Whatever your document, our service will make sure of this.

Whether the Current Rules, for Admitting Expert Evidence in Criminal Research Paper

Whether the Current Rules, for Admitting Expert Evidence in Criminal Proceedings, Are Too Laissez-Faire - Research Paper Example There are three criteria in which the judge is allowed to admit evidence from an expert. The first criteria state that â€Å"When the court needs any assistance from an expert; the expert’s evidence must deal with something† (McKie, 2012). This is so because, without instructions or advice from an expert, the court may be unable to reach a sound conclusion as to the subject matter† (McKie, 2012). The second criteria concern the fact that â€Å"the expert witness must have sufficient understanding of the theory and practice of the subject question† (McKie, 2012). Moreover, the last criteria check the possibility of substantial evidence proposed in the expert's reports being reliable. This issues a directive that all forensic experts must be part of a registered body of science. The expert should have extended experience in the field. They should also have a good reputation and acknowledgment in the field to guarantee justice in an opinion offered (Procedures for the Evidence Act, 1999). The entire discussion in this paper revolves around the fact that across the world justice systems are failing. This is due to the fact that error created by forensic expert’s evidence tabled cannot be validated by the courts (Bohan, 2004).To make the matter worse, the judiciary systems are not even talking about the weakness in evidence validation. This has increases vast doubt about the authenticity, accuracy, and admissibility of forensic evidence by judges (McKie, 2012). Although not all cases are faced with miscarriage of justice as a result of sham evidence, people who are innocent do end up behind the bar. Flawed experts evidence can result in criminal conviction and even execution by law courts. The truth of the matter is that how most judged verify the mentioned criteria is a bit of a misery.

Cyber Crimes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Cyber Crimes - Essay Example The first of these that will be discussed is that of piracy. Although piracy has traditionally been viewed as a problem that is specific to a young generation of music down loaders and video game players, the fact of the matter is that the market for software, video, music, and data piracy has exploded within recent years and is a multi-billion dollar a year loss for the industries whose intellectual rights are being infringed upon. Moreover, if the firm in question is one that distributes or creates a software product, their overall revenues are in dire danger of being lowered as a result of the actions of pirates. Likewise, the firm must be aware of the fact that software piracy usually takes place from within first as an unscrupulous employee having access to the information in question usually is responsible for taking this information home on their own and uploading it to any number of a host of sites as a means of beginning the snow-ball effect of data piracy. As such, one of t he ways in which a firm can seek to ameliorate the way in which it is exposed to the risk of software piracy is to ensure that all data movements within the firm are well tracked as well as having a robust legal department that operates in close concert with the human resources department to ensure that limited numbers of the employees have access to the finished product and those that do are well accounted for and have been explained to the ramifications, both ethical and criminal, with relation to stealing the company’s product. Secondly, if the firm itself is not one that relies on the development of software as a means to earn its revenues, the firm will need to be responsible for the ways in which its employees download and utilize the data that they might find on the internet. For this reason, a robust internet usage policy must be delineated to the employees upon their employment and watch groups should be established to ensure that compliance is met at every step of t he process. The second issue that relates to cyber crimes is that of cyber terrorism. Although this is of course a lower level incidence than the one that has been thus far mentioned, it is of primary importance not only to governmental instruments but to the very foundations of a nation’s economy. Therefore, the threat of cyber terrorism can include any and all firms that deal with an entire litany of different industries and/or businesses. In order to guard against the threat of cyber terrorism, it should be the goal of the firms in question to seek to review their security policies in dept on a quarterly and yearly basis as a means of ensuring that key oversights are addressed and no blatant flaws are exhibited in their systems. Even though it is never possible to ensure that a given firm will be 100% secure from cyber terrorism, the engagement of key assets to review the security procedures is integral in protecting the firm from such an eventuality. Finally, this analysi s will discuss the threat of fraud. This is perhaps the easiest of the three to seek to prevent as it involves the instruction of shareholders with regards to how to interpret threats that present themselves on a daily basis. Furthermore, with respect to fraud, this is almost always the type of situation in which employee lack of knowledge

Discuss the meaning of MRP terms, such as planned order release and Assignment

Discuss the meaning of MRP terms, such as planned order release and schedule order receipts - Assignment Example Moreover, the proposed order is determined by balancing the expected order receipt in the procurement lead-time of the item. Therefore, a planned order release transaction incorporates within a particular time, for it to schedule within a companies or organizations procedure. Confirmation of the order is determined by balancing the amount of the order in the receipts of procurement over a particular period (Coyle et al., 2012). It is a scheduled order designed to meet the customers’ demand in a market within the firms planned orders and forecasted demand. Planned order within the materials requirement planning of a company meets the customers’ demand the time speculated to reach a customer. Demand in MRP systems originates from finished goods within forecast design or components of products. Moreover, the sources of MRP system fall under independent and dependent requirements. An Independent order affects the demand for finished goods while dependent demand refers to demand items, which are subassemblies or component parts used in the production of finished

Discussion Topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Discussion Topic - Essay Example The rise in technological advancement and the sophistication of the war crimes simply means that some of the principles of war adapted in the ancient warfare will certainly become obsolete. Thus, principle 4: Economy of force is one of the principles of war that is likely to change. This is because, this principle was formulated based on the ancient conditions of warfare which emphasized more on combat than unconventional warfare, thus requiring that minimum essential combat power should be allocated to secondary efforts (Paret, et al., 1986). However, owing to the technological changes and the sophistication of the networking of the enemy, there is a need to allocate more resources and combat power on the secondary efforts. This would become an effective deterrence strategy, which will serve the current warfare situation better than the battlefront confrontations with the enemy. Thus, new principles could appear that are aligned to the technological sophistication of the modern warf are. However, it is never possible that war will become obsolete since social conflict is a constant occurrence through

IT Business Alignment Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7000 words

IT Business Alignment - Coursework Example This essay aims at reviewing how IT should be greater aligned with the business requirements and strategic goals in order to avoid falling into the misalignment trap. This goal could be achieved by realizing that IT has become a critical tool -or even a driver- for the achievement of business strategic goals. The essay defines "IT business alignment" and "IT governance" and the relationship between them in the first place. Then, it gives an idea about the importance of IT business alignment, IT business alignment current state in order to realize the gap between IT and business strategic goals and the increasing awareness and need for alignment. First of all to realize exactly what is meant by IT business alignment concept, the essay will define the "IT business alignment" concept talking into consideration that "the history of theory-building around the concept of alignment is still young and has only been going on approximately 15 years" Ekstedt, Mathias et al (2005). Tapia, Roberto Santana (2006) gives a simple definition for IT Business alignment as "the problem of matching services offered by IT with the requirements of the business". Also, Kavin W. Moody (2003) mentioned, "the term IT alignment is generally used in reference to the alignment of an organization's IT resources with the objectives of its business units". Neil Macehiter and Neil Macehiter and Neil Ward-Dutton (2005), define IT-business alignment as "the process through which businesspeople and IT delivery organizations collaborate to create an environment in which investment in IT and delivery of IT services reflect business priorities, whether IT services are sourced internally or externally; and in which business priorities are influenced by understanding of IT capabilities and limitations." Figure (1): IT-business alignment Source: Neil Macehiter, Neil Ward-Dutton (2005), On IT-Business Alignment So, according to this definition, there are three important elements in IT-business alignment: (1) investment, (2) service delivery, and (3) collaboration in change management. The relationship between the alignment and IT governance is shown in Figure (1). Steven De Haes and Wim Van Grembergen (2004) concluded that IT business alignment is the key element in IT governance so, it can be achieved by acknowledging IT governance as a part of enterprise governance and by setting up an IT governance framework with best practices". They define IT governance as "the leadership and organizational structures, processes and relational mechanisms that ensure that an organization IT sustain and extends its strategy and objectives". However, Ortiz, Aurora Sanchez (2003) defines IT governance as "specifying the decision rights and accountability framework to encourage desirable behavior in the use of IT" After defining IT business alignment giving its elements and its relationship with IT governance, the essay will discuss the transformation of the role of IT in business in order to realize the importance and the need for IT business alignment. Rathnam, R. G. (2004) mentioned that "during the last 30 years, information technology (IT) has become an increasingly integral part of business operations, at the beginning, the use of

Discussion Topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Discussion Topic - Essay Example The rise in technological advancement and the sophistication of the war crimes simply means that some of the principles of war adapted in the ancient warfare will certainly become obsolete. Thus, principle 4: Economy of force is one of the principles of war that is likely to change. This is because, this principle was formulated based on the ancient conditions of warfare which emphasized more on combat than unconventional warfare, thus requiring that minimum essential combat power should be allocated to secondary efforts (Paret, et al., 1986). However, owing to the technological changes and the sophistication of the networking of the enemy, there is a need to allocate more resources and combat power on the secondary efforts. This would become an effective deterrence strategy, which will serve the current warfare situation better than the battlefront confrontations with the enemy. Thus, new principles could appear that are aligned to the technological sophistication of the modern warf are. However, it is never possible that war will become obsolete since social conflict is a constant occurrence through

Suggest one Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Suggest one - Essay Example The challenges such that LTE devices faces are called VoWLAN. These include the quality of service security challenges. The paper will also discuss various Cloud-RAN technologies which have been applied to solve these issues. LTE ISSUES There are three key issues that the devices using LTE technology faces. These include packet loss, delay, jitter and the issues with the original wireless security standards. Packet loss It has been realized that the number of packets that reaches the destination is always less that the number of packets that were sent. This implies that some packets are lost along the network. The loss are attributed to two major ways. The first is through network packet loss as a result of overflow in the router buffer, transmission error, rerouting and link failures. The other packet loss is as a result of excessive delay (Guan Kolding, & Merz 2010). Delay The time that packets take from the source to the destination is a critical factor. The delay originates from different points such as at the receiver, at the network or at the source. The delay that occurring in either the source or the receiver result from coding such at the transformation of a signal from digital to analogue or from analogue to digital (Lorca & Cucala 2013). The delay also accrues as a result of packetization while the transmission, propagation or queuing causes network delay Jitter Jitter is the difference in the time taken by a packet to reach the destination. This issue is very common and the only way to handle it is to use a jet-buffer that contains both dynamic software base and the hardware. However, the implementation of jet-buffer should be done with intense care as it can cause other delays such as memory over-flows (Fletcher, 2009). Initial IEEE 802.11 MAC layer The original MAC layer used by IEEE 802.11 does not incorporate applications to support voice data especially its sensitivity to delay jitter. This is because the ordinary MAC layer utilizes DCF and PCF to allocate the medium. DCT depends on Carrier Sense Multiple Access with collision avoidance. This property as far as sharing the medium among station is optional in 802.11 RTS/CTS. The issue with DCF is the delay since the packets will wait until the medium is free in case there is a collision. Such an incident causes delay since the bandwidth is wasted. This is basically because of absence of Quality of service priority and guarantee for traffic such as data and voice. In addition, when a node detects that the medium is free and start to communicate; all the others have to wait until the communicating node frees the medium (Guan, Kolding, & Merz, 2010). PCF is mostly prominent in LTE since it is optional and only uses the infrastructure setups which are linked by a single access point. Cloud –RAN capabilities With the rising need for high data speed, the existing technologies and infrastructure can no longer provide the required performance at a cost effective level. The current radio access network should be very flexible and able to support various technological standards. It should also be cost effective and simple to upgrade. Cloud-RAN has proved to be the solution to all the issues in the LTE (Chang 2013). Cloud-RAN is a modern RAN topology that solves the issues present in the previous technologies. In C-RAN configuration, the baseband processing units are concentrated in a single base

Strong relationship Essay Example for Free

Strong relationship Essay Perhaps, growing up as a member of the third sex, most especially in a black community, is one of the most significant challenges that one could face. Black communities are centered on the traditional function of an institution, which is mainly directed in opposing the lifestyles that are deemed to be transgressing the code of morality. Historically, people of color have been faced with serious hardships and obstacles, and these add up to the pressure of being a part of the third sex. Fortunately, such experiences have been my stepping stone to become aware of what it is like to be involved in a subject that few have dared to discuss. Though I am lucky enough to grow up with a strong support system, I still had and continue to have my share of difficulties which eventually changed my perspective in the governing body that permeates our community. I was once a member of the Navy, and I was discharged from the service on the basis of sexual orientation. My firsthand account of the institutional discrimination became my guiding force to pursue a legal profession which I believe would pave the way for me to bring to public interest an issue that is often taken for granted. As an individual who has spent a considerable time working in the paralegal environment, I believe that education and exposure are imperative tools in bringing changes in the perspective of individuals. Likewise, the attainment of understanding towards an issue can only be possible if individuals are aware of the current situation. Hence, armed with a strong desire to pursue law, I will strive to bridge the gap between the gay community and the public. Similar to other applicants who wish to apply for the university’s law program, I offer credentials that highlight my capability as an individual. Alongside my education and work experiences as a paralegal practitioner in both the international and local landscape, I also actively participated in community outreach programs which became a ground for me to fully recognize my capabilities as a legal practitioner. From there, I managed to have an account of providing legal assistance and education among people of different backgrounds specially those that were impacted with the discriminatory practices present in the workplace. Likewise, I was able to share my experience as a person of color and a member of the third gender. I account the continuous increase of my professional knowledge to all my experiences in working with people of diverse background. Having been able to deal with individuals who offer varied and inspirational stories catapulted my desire to understand further the ins and outs of the industry. For these reasons, I strongly believe that (name of university) would offer me the education that would bring me a step closer to attaining my goal of becoming an attorney. My strong commitment to diversity as well as excellent program would enable me to achieve my objectives and broaden my perspective in legal aspects. In addition, when identifying potential schools, I sought out institutions that extend their efforts to areas that would prepare me excellently for public interest works and would fully equip me with academic input which, in the long run, would enable me to give out possible improvements with the issues present in the field of law. I also believe that (name of university) is a ground for me to reconstruct my plans for a better career path and would allow me to take on valuable options that are essential for establishing strong relationship with the community that I am about to work with. The combination of my strong educational background, practical experiences and my pursuit to expose and rectify the injustices permeating in our society would ensure my success in the university’s law program. For the foregoing, I believe that (name of university), with its purpose-driven programs, is the ideal institution to embark upon the study of law.

Antidepressant Drugs: Types, Effects and Developments

Antidepressant Drugs: Types, Effects and Developments Introduction: Depression is one of the parts of mental disorder which is affecting millions of people worldwide. [6] The logical analytical approach used in clinical and forensic toxicology for the identification of one or more Antidepressant Drugs as a cause of intoxication is largely based on both simple and fast screening methods which cover their extraction and identification including detection of their possible metabolites is been tried to reviewed. Antidepressant: Types Functions Antidepressant drugs cover many varieties of drugs having different modes of actions like [16] etc. Adverse effects Antidepressants are supposed to increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children accompanying other disorders like depressive and psychiatric disorders. [17] [18] [19] The European Medicines Agency showed warning on the use of Antidepressants which might be increased the risk of suicidal behavior in children and adolescents. [31] TCAs and MAOIs can produce similar kind of side effects like Tachycardia, blurred vision, urinary retention, cardiovascular effects , hypotension, respiratory depression, coma etc. [4] Thus, these drugs may be responsible for the fatality and intoxication and can produce severe effects. Also their growing rate all over the world may show threatening effects which is the matter of global concern. Thus, its increasing prescription rate and adverse effects resulting in a growing interest for determination methods in the Clinical and Forensic field. Biological Samples use for the Screening of Antidepressant Drugs Biological samples are the basic requirement of Forensic and Clinical Toxicology as it solve several related questions which make basis of judgement, consultation and expertise for the above two fields. The matrices generally encountered for analysis are urine [34], hair, nails, vitrous humour etc. The most important biosample used for analytical purposes is Blood. It is a liquid connective tissue of the body composed of different kinds of blood cells suspended in a fluid called plasma. Blood (plasma, serum) is one of the best choices for quantitative and qualitative measurements of drugs of interest because pharmacological or toxicological effects correlate more effectively with their concentrations in blood. [42] Another important biological sample is Urine which is a widely used specimen employed for screening, identification and testing of unknown drugs, forms in high amount, readily available, easy to collect and contains much useful information about the major metabolic functions of the body. [43] Taking Forensic concept in postmortem cases if the positive finding of drug occurs in urine shows that the detected substance or its parent compound might be present in the body some time before death [48] A next alternative to the blood and urine specimen found is Oral fluid for their applications in therapeutic and toxicological drug monitoring [54] When analytical studies get concern with long duration of exposure to the detection window Hair could be as a best biological matrix for the identification and analysis of drugs. It is supposed that drugs or chemicals enter in to hair by passive diffusion from blood capillaries into growing cells and the mechanisms of substance incorporation, analytical methods, result interpretation and practical applications of hair analysis has been well reviewed showing practical utility of hair analysis. [62] Except from all the above given matrices one very precise and rarely encountered biological sample is Vitreous Humor. Its a fluid found between the lens and retina of the eye proved to be the best choice for analytical examinations as it is relatively well isolated and protected from putrefaction. Two different fatality cases were reported where the extraction of drugs is done from Vitreous humor. One case has been reported of citalopram fatality where the extraction of drug is done from Vitreous humor yeilding concentration of citalopram (SSRI) less than 0.04mg/L and in second case venlafaxine fatality is reported where postmortem analysis revealed the concentrations of Fluoxetine (SSRI) and its metabolite Norfluoxetine as 5.2 mg/l and 2.2mg/l respectively. [64] Other than these specimens, body tissues like liver [71], cerebrospinal fluid etc. canalso encounter for toxic and therapeutic drug monitoring biological matrices. Techniques for Sample Preparation Several methods have been published for the determination of one or more antidepressants in biological fluids for therapeutic monitoring or for toxicological purposes. For making biological samples suitable for analytical purposes some treatments should be given to overcome the matrix effects such that the other materials should not interfere with the analytical separation that is the extractability of the analytes in the sample inturn the results of the analysis. [96] These kinds of techniques are rapidly gaining acceptance in bioanalytical applications to reduce both time and labor required to produce bioanalytical results. Thus we can say that these methods give a high selectivity and sensitivity over a wide dynamic range and contribute in formulating very fine detection techniques. Some Commonly Prescribed New Generation Antidepressant Drugs and their Metabolites Several new antidepressants that inhibit the Serotonin (SERT) and Norepinephrine transporters (NET) have been consistently use for therapeutic purposes. [108] are showing below. Sertraline is an effective and highly utilized SSRIs group of drug and â€Å"its principle metabolite is desmethylsertraline.† [41] Another SSRIs group of Antidepressant drug, Fluoxetine has been used worldwide in the therapy of major depression. (3) â€Å"It is primarily metabolized via N-demethylation by the [117] Citalopram is a selective and potent serotonin reuptake inhibitor. [78] Another very important group of Antidepressant drug is SNRIs which includes drugs like Venlafaxine which inhibits serotonin, noradrenaline, and to a lesser extent dopamine reuptake. [39] In the majority of published analytical methods for determination of Antidepressant drugs, gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography, in combination to different kinds of colums operating under different separation conditions, mobile phases and detectors has been used. These were tried to review in the table given below. With high-performance liquid chromatography the analysis is done by using different kinds of detectors like Fluorescence detector, UV detector, Mass detectors etc. For ex. a high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) in human plasma where Fluorescence detector was used. [140] A survey of most recent multiresidue analytical methods developed for the determination of different kinds of Antidepressant drugs in different types of biological test matrices with their specific cleanup procedures including the choice of mobile phase, stationary phase, detector system and validation data is summarized in the tabular form below. TABLE Abbreviations:APCI atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation, ESI eletrospray ionisation, LLE liquid-liquid extraction, LOD limitation of detection, LOQ limit of quantification, SIM single ion monitoring, SPE solid-phase extraction, SRM selected reaction monitoring , ESI electron spray ionization, UV ultraviolet, FD fluorescence detector, LC_TMS liquid chromatography tandom mass spectrometry, LC_MS, GC_MS gas chromatography mass spectrometry, RP-HPLC reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. Thus, this table is framed for the comparative study of the major analytical approaches used in the detection and identification of Antidepressant Drugs and their metabolites in different biological matrices in order to develop the new methods with the aim to increase the sample throughput and to improve the quality of analytical methods. Thus, analytical methods for the detection of ADs and their metabolites in biological matrices are of interest in the field of forensic toxicology which involves the analysis of drugs and poisons in biological specimens and interpretation of the results to be applied in a court of law. Several analytical methods have been developed for analysis of these antidepressants in biological matrices. These methods provide a good precision and accuracy over the entire analytical range and allowing the development of very rapid and efficient analytical methods by using newer kind of analytical techniques. Conclusion: As the subject of Antidepressants toxicity is evolving, newer methods for their analysis are also evolving. However, some classes of Antidepressants drugs are less toxic and well tolerated but can lead to Toxic or Fatal Drug interaction. The research in this field is very active and results in a large number of papers published every year. Therefore they may be encountered in many Clinical and Forensic cases. Therefore, this review is mainly aimed to target latest analytical and instrumental methods used for detection and characterization of Antidepressant drugs and their metabolites in biological test matrices in turn focus on their toxic as well as therapeutic aspects which would be definitely prove to be helpful in future research and still there is lots of work required in this area as its prescription rate and toxicity is evolving day by day all over the world and by using non-destructive and sophisticated newer instrumental techniques we can also built a new strategy of examina tion and investigation for the drugs of interest. However, in this study, a decision about whether a studys findings are positive or negative cannot always be based strictly on the primary outcome measure. Future trials should also consider, using different kinds of detecting techniques and methods which would allow for easier comparison and interpretation of results across studies as the subject is of global concern and despite the success of such methods there is a continuing need for sustained innovations. Thus, future work in this area will definitely prove to be a promising from both clinical as well as from forensic prospect.

China: Threat or Friend? Essay -- Economics

China: Threat or Friend? If you input â€Å"China’s GDP† by using a Google search, the first result jumps into your eyes should be a chart presented by World Bank, which indicates how dramatically the economy has grown in China from 0.10 trillion dollars in the year 1960 to 5.93 trillion in 2010. As Professor Stephen S. Roach wrote in his article ‘10 reasons why China is different’, China’s economy has made a break-through indeed due to its tremendous changes and unremitting efforts among: â€Å"strategy, commitment, wherewithal to deliver, saving, rural-urban migration, consumption, services, foreign direct investment, education and innovation. †Ã¯ ¼Ë†Stephen S. Roach ï ¼Å'10 reasons why china is different ï ¼â€°So many cases illustrated how China’s immense impacts not only in domestic but also on universe. By focusing on its worldwide influences, one evidential example in domestic was Lenovo purchased the giant IBM’s PC branch in the year 2005. With the completion of the 1.75 billion bill, which was expected to happen before the end of the second quarter, June 30, 2005, made Lenovo become a much larger company and had more than quadrupled of its annual revenue. â€Å"The company, which owned just under $3 billion in annual revenue before the acquisition, now has annual revenue of around $13 billion and is the world's third-largest PC vendor, behind Dell and Hewlett-Packard.†(Sumner Lemon, IDG News) Lenovo, as an indigenous computer enterprise in mainland of China, was firstly incorporated in Hong Kong in the year 1988. It used to be a tiny computer producer and gained little influence in its market. After expanding its areas, Lenovo has become a multinational technology company as a technologic legend in China. Its products include personal computer... ...â€Å"Chindia-Threat or Opportunity† New Presence: The Prague Journal of Central European Affairs, Winter2010, Vol. 12 Issue 4, p47-50. Economist, 6/26/2004, Vol. 371 Issue 8381, p44-45. Edward, Friedman and Barrett, McCormick, What If China Doesn't Democratize?(Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2000). Peter Hays Gries, China's New Nationalism (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2004). David M. Lampton, Same Bed, Different Dreams: Managing U.S.-China Relations: 1989-2000 (Berkeley, CA: California University Press, 2001). Robert ,Sutter, China's Rise in Asia: Promises and Perils (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2005). Ming, Xia. â€Å"China threat or a peaceful rise of China†, The New York Times, March, 2006.Web. Wikipedia, List of Countries by GDP (nominal) per capita. World Economic Outlook Database-April 2012, International Monetary Fund. 18 April 2012.

The Process of Successful Change

The Process of Successful Change Norma Taylor HCS 325 July 10, 2012 The Process of Successful Change There are many responsibilities involved with the title of manager. Implementing and rolling out change to your employees can be overwhelming. There are different techniques used to ensure a smooth, uneventful transition to change. Some techniques are not as useful and successful as others, depending on what type of change is involved. Motivational techniques to implement change in a company are not an easy task, but it is possible.Expectancy theory, two-factor theory, goal-setting theory, and equity theory are a few different techniques that I would use in my company. The expectancy theory is a unique way to motivate employees during a time of change. Victor Vroom’s expectancy theory suggests that â€Å"people will do what they can do when they want to do it† (Lombardi & Schermerhorn, 2007). This theory depends on three different factors: Expectancy, Instrumentality, an d Valence. Expectancy is the belief that working hard will result in a desired level of task achieved.Instrumentality is defined as a person’s belief that successful performance will be rewarded and has other good outcomes. Valance is the value a person assigns to the possible rewards and other work related outcomes. There are pros and cons to the expectancy theory. One pro is that this theory is a commonly recognized for supporting an employee’s decision-making method. A shortcoming of this theory is that it has numerous elements that may make this theory not as successful. For example, this theory does not take the emotional state of the individual into consideration.The individual's personality, abilities, skills, knowledge as well as previous experiences are factors that may affect the outcome of this model. The expectancy theory of motivation is a â€Å"perception† based model. The manager needs to guess the motivational force (the value) of a reward for an employee. The theory can be difficult to implement in the group environment (Leadership-Central. com, 2012). As a leader using the expectancy theory, I would set realistic goals for the employees. In addition, I would also ensure that they are setting realistic goals for themselves.Failure to set a realistic goal will result in a low motivation as the expectancy will yield a low result. Rewards are a form of motivation to everyone and I would set realistic rewards. As a leader I need to understand what my employee’s value and I would link the reward with the goal. The trick here is to ensure that you operate within your constraints as well as make sure not to exaggerate the reward in comparison to the effort they will need to express. High reward with low effort will create an expectation effect and may work against you.I believe the expectancy theory technique would work well in a small office. Implementing change and offering a reward to committed employees with positive r esults will give effective outcomes. The two-factor theory is another motivational techniques used in the workplace developed by Frederick Herzberg. This theory states that there are certain factors in the workplace that cause job satisfaction as well as a separate set of factors that cause dissatisfaction. This theory used as a motivational technique can cause great outcomes in the workplace. Job satisfaction can be achieved in the simplest ways.Acknowledging great performance would give employees a sense of job satisfaction at their workplace, thus creating a positive outcome. According to Herzberg job satisfaction can be a sense of achievement, feelings of recognition, sense of responsibility, opportunity for advancement and feelings of personal growth (Lombardi ; Schermerhorn, 2007). Job gratification can indicate a great degree of incentive or productivity with workers. J. Stacy Adams developed the equity theory, which assists in the explanation that wages and environments do n ot conclude motivation to employees.His theory indicates that the perceived unfairness is a motivating state. When people believe they have been inequitably treated in comparison to others, they will try to eradicate the discomfort and reestablish a sense of fairness to the situation (Lombardi ; Schermerhorn, 2007). As a leader this type of motivation is essential to a work environment. According to Adams’ prediction, he believes that employees would deal with unfairness by changing their work contributions and decreasing their labor.He also believes that employees will ask for incentives, or simply terminate their position in the company because of unfair or unjust treatment compared to fellow employees. Treating everyone equally and fair is a practice required in any type of work environment. Using this tool as a motivation to implement change would be necessary. It would aid in the impartiality of rewards for doing an excellent job during the change as well as the repriman ds needed for employees not embracing the change as necessary.In 1960’s, Edwin Locke put forward the goal-setting theory of motivation. This theory states that goal setting is essentially linked to task performance. The theory states that specific and challenging goals along with appropriate feedback contribute to higher and better task performance. In simple words, goals indicate, and give direction to an employee about what needs to be done and how much effort is required. This is one of my favorite theories because I believe that it is the most effective theory to use when implementing a change in a work setting.There are numerous important features in this theory. For example, Edwin Locke states that the employee’s willingness to work toward the attainment of a goal is a main source of job motivation. A clear, difficult, and specific goals are greater motivating factors than having easy, general and vague goals. Specific and clear goals lead to greater output and b etter performance (Management Study Guide, 2012). Goals ought to be reasonable and challenging to give employees a sense of gratification and accomplishment when attained.The more challenging the goal, the greater the reward, and the higher the employee’s desire are for achieving it. Feedback is a means of gaining reputation, making clarifications and regulating goal. There are many theories to implement change and motivate employees; some may work while others may not. Change in a workplace is a process. As a leader I would start with what would benefit the company. Once the notice of change has been communicated, setting up training would be the next step.Using the goal-setting theory I would let the employees know clearly what is expected from them and continue to implement the change. To motivate the workers and make the change a little more pleasant, I would reward them once the goal is achieved. Change is not always bad, but it is definitely a challenging task, because of the various needs and desires of each individual. References In-Tuition. (2012). Follow These Strategies for Managing Change. Retrieved from http://www. practical-management-skills. com/strategies-for-mamaging-change. htm

International Business Mnc Essay

Introduction Multi National Corporation engages in domestic and foreign product development. Sometimes the host country has a product (labor, ingredient, part, etc) that is rare or less costly than producing it in the home country; therefore establishing a Multinational Corporation is a win-win for the host country as far as supply, demand, labor and cost. Many corporations currently engage in Multinational Enterprise and are successful in their efforts. Having businesses that are active in MNC truly creates a global business community where mutual interests and product development are core to the needs of the customer, business and boost foreign economies with jobs, businesses and exporting goods. Country Economic system Political environment Legal environment Technological China Mixed economy Socialism Complex regulations Japan Mixed economy Capitalism Complexity France Mixed economy Capitalist/Socialist Complexity Ethical system Social responsibility indicators Cultural dimension Confucianism Laws & regulations Collectivism Laws & regulations Collectivism Laws & regulations Collectivism Product, Business Plan and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Acai berry is native to Central and South America and the plant is a great anti-oxidant that can be used for several purposes. My company, Natural Beauty, has partnered with Acai palm tree companies in Belize to provide the product and have manufacturing warehouses located in Belize. This foreign direct investment offers a win-win situation for all of the companies involved. We have chosen the downstream vertical FDI as a means to partner with Acai palm tree farms and companies in Belize. The home country is the U. S. and although the product is not sold in Belize however it is distributed in other countries such as the United States, Brazil, France, England, China, Japan, and Qatar. There are multiple advantages of an FDI as show in the ownership, location, and internalization (OLI) framework (Peng, 2011). Understanding the framework I understand that ownership allows for possession and leveraging of resources, value and other added components to allow a competitive market. The Location component ensures that we are close to our main ingredient with the product, that we are able to have labor, ingredients and manufacturing at the lowest cost available while providing a boost to the host countries local economy and creating global competition. We are in several countries which provide internalization and we have intellectual property rights over all of our products, processes and business plan. We protect our businesses by knowing our dissemination risks and safeguarding against them as much as possible. Since we know our dissemination risks we are able to safeguard against direct competitors that may branch out from local distributors. We also are aware of market imperfections and do our best through our international legal team to stay abreast of international trade, business and government regulations. We also have safeguards against agglomeration due to the international craze over the Acai berry, plant and trees. We do this through our contract clauses which state other companies cannot be located within a certain distance, city, or space as ours in host countries. Natural Beauty, Inc. understands the intricacies of business and politics, especially within an international structure. We are in no way operating as a monopoly or radical imperialist (Peng, 2011) business. We believe in free market and working with our host country partners to ensure that each of them are maximizing their capacity and invested in the good and services provided by our joint venture. It is important that the FDIs benefits outweigh the costs and it is truly a win-win for all parties involved. Cost and Benefits of FDI As we can only imagine, there are benefits and costs to both the host and the home countries involved in Multinational Corporation. The benefits for Belize are the capital inflow, technology, management and job creation. The other countries of distribution have the same benefits that boost local knowledge, economy and globalization. The costs for the host countries are loss of sovereignty, capital outflow, and competition. The largest benefit is creation of jobs and expanded knowledge. The largest cost is loss of sovereignty. The benefits for the host countries must outweigh the costs and only the local governments and direct companies involved can project overtime which is more beneficial for them. The benefits for the Natural Beauty in the U.S. are earnings, exports, and learning from abroad whereas the costs are capital outflow and job loss. The latter can be quite devastating if the proper precautions and business plans are not in place in addition to being aware of local/international politics. However job loss here means possible savings in salary/wages in other host countries where the earning are not as high which saves the company money. The largest benefits are earnings and learning from abroad. The largest cost is job loss and the political climate around American companies that take their businesses abroad (remember NAFTA). Another threat is that local business can learn your process and then become your largest competitor and they have the â€Å"home field† advantage. This is known as the contagion effect (Peng, 2011). We recognize that FDIs can be complex and must be mutually beneficial for all parties involved and therefore we make a conscientious effort to recognize the need for location advantages, licensing and outsourcing knowledge/expertise and understanding of constraints (political and business in order to be successful). Future of MNC The future of Multinational Enterprise is contingent upon true understanding of global communities and global business. Understanding that free market, consciousness and international trade laws will dictate most of the business efforts and establishments. Many companies are already engaging in MNC successfully (BMW, Coca Cola, etc) and those interested in exploring this option should create several case studies looking at the successful and not so successful efforts in this realm to learn from them. I think that host MNC countries participating in FDI should be careful not to lose their power and prestige in the name of partnering for monetary gain. It is easy for smaller less powerful countries to get lost in the MNC FDI advantage for the sake of job creation and boosting local economy; however not at the cost of their culture, citizens and green space (for those working with rainforest communities or those with precious agriculture). The future of MNC can be bright when all partie s involved are up front and conscious about maintaining and win-win business. References Peng, M., (2011). Global. 1st Edition; Mason, OH, Cengage Learning www.alibaba.com/†¦/CN/technological-environment.html Luthans, F., & Doh, J. P. (2012). International management: Culture, strategy, and behavior (8th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill.

Fasting, Feasting Style Essay

Point of View The novel is written in the third person limited point of view. This means that the author tells the story from an objective position, as if viewing the story’s events without benefit of any thoughts or feelings coming directly from the individual characters. The author presents the chain of events in the story and then interjects what the characters may be thinking or experiencing based on their reactions, facial expression, and tone of voice. This point of view is especially pertinent for the content of the novel, which revolves around the issue of repression, especially for the female characters. The women are not allowed authentic voices in their homes or their societies. So the author restricts what the reader can know to mimic the repression experienced by the characters. Genre A speedy, intense narrative switching point of view and tense as needed. There are many unheralded transitions from scene to scene and flashback (15-63) is used to excellent effect. Threads of the story are left unfinished only to be taken up again later in the novel and given a deeper significance (see Anamika’s or Aruna’s story). General Vision or Viewpoint Think well about this question from a couple of standpoints. It might be easy to dismiss Uma’s world as oppressive to women and to the servant underclass and to decide that life could not be a fulfilled experience in such circumstances. You might think that Uma’s life is a tragic injustice; that she is used and misused by a patriarchal family and society. You might see Arun as a narrow-minded, judgemental outsider unable to adjust to a culture different to his own and whose life is quite unfulfilled. But this might be to miss the humour and love that is invested in daily living. In India people have a warmth and a variety to their lives that is enviable. 1. Read these notes taken from different sources on the web. Do you agree with what they say? Does the point of view used by Desai make you sympathise with a certain character? Explain the use of point of view and provide quotations to support your ideas. Themes Family Life Although the novel has action in two separate countries and has many characters, there is the central theme of family life that unites them all. In India, the immediate family has great importance; but the extended family also has an impact on the characters’ lives. This is evidenced by the coming together of family members for securing bridegrooms and making wedding arrangements for Uma and Aruna. There is also huge family support and involvement related to times of sorrow, such as the coming together after the death of Anamika. The rituals for both these happy and sad occasions are marked with tradition and purpose. These elements seem to be sorely lacking in the Patton household in America. It is understood that the time period of Arun’s stay with the Pattons encompasses only three months and does not represent a comprehensive look at the Patton family. Themes and issues Suffering Human suffering is depicted frequently in both parts of the novel. Uma is made to suffer by her parents and men who take advantage of her. The unusual thing about her is her response to this suffering. She seems to maintain optimism throughout her ordeals. Anamika’s terrible life and the abuse she suffers may illuminate your discussion of suffering as would the plight of Melanie who suffers mental illness and bulimia and is a sad example of American youth. Loneliness The plight of Arun in America will yield many examples of loneliness as will Uma herself who despite her large extended family keeping her busy she seems quite isolated. Loyalty/Betrayal  You might advance the notion that Uma and Anamika are betrayed by their parents in that they treat them very badly when it comes to marriage and relationships. Both girls are seen as burdens to be disposed of and you could say they were betrayed. Similarly, Melanie’s plight is so ignored by her mother that the word betrayal might not be too strong. 2. Can you think of other themes in the novel? Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work. Provide quotations to justify your choice. 3Example of an analysis of passages Do you agree with him? Can you find more examples of how Desai uses X to  create Y ? Now analyse the following passage. 4 Questions 5. Poetry Pied Beauty Gerard Manley Hopkins Follow this link: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/gerard-manley-hopkins 1. Listen to the poem and read it at least twice. Hopkins was born in 1844, and died just 45 years later, in 1889, but in this relatively short life he wrote some of the most startling and original poetry of the whole 19th Century. He was a deeply intellectual and religious man, and became a Jesuit priest in 1877, the same year in which he wrote ‘Pied Beauty’. Throughout his life Hopkins was deeply fond of the countryside and its beauty, in which he could see the work and power of God. In ‘Pied Beauty’ he expresses his delight and astonishment at the sheer diversity of nature. What do the things Hopkins describes have in common? How does Hopkins celebrate diversity? How does the image of the chestnut link the physical with the spiritual world? How is the human world linked to the physical world in the poem? How are both the physical and the human world linked to God? Comment on the following compound nouns /verbs: ‘couple-colour’, ‘fresh-firecoal’, fathers-forth’. Comment on the use of sound in the poem and the effect it creates. Comment on the rhythm (metre) of the poem N.B. it is irregular). How does it contribute to its meaning? Annotate the rhyme scheme. What comments can you make on its effect? The poem begins and ends in a symmetrical way. Why? What is the effect of the short final line? In what way are the first and second parts of the poem the reverse of each other? What is the effect of delaying the verb ‘fathers-forth’ to the beginning of the penultimate line? Examination Question: How does this poem seek to convey the ‘glory’ and grandeur of God for Hopkins? After reading the poem, write in paragraphs a summary of what you think the poem is about and your analysis of it. You can work in groups (not more than four in each group) and hand in your work to Carolina, please. What does Curnow’s reading of his poem adds to your appreciation of it? 2. Read the following which will help you to analyse the poem. Entrapments at Home and Abroad in Anita Desai’s Fasting, Feasting T. Ravichandran Assistant Professor of English, Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, IIT Kanpur Anita Desai’s Fasting, Feasting, as it is implied in the title itself, is a novel of contrast between two cultures, the one, Indian, known for its pious and longstanding customs representing ‘fasting,’ and the other, American, a country of opulence and sumptuousness epitomising ‘feasting.’ The plot unveils through the perceptions of Uma, in India, and of Arun, in America. Both of them are entrapped, irrespective of the culture and enveloping milieu, by oppressive bonds exercised by their own parents, MamaPapa. They are just MamaPapa or PapaMama but remain nameless throughout the novel. Yet, this namelessness does not indicate their anonymity but signifies their universality. They are the prototypical parents found everywhere in the middle-class families of India, who discuss, plan, plot, control, govern the activities of their children, be it marriage or going abroad for studies. And in their over-domineering concern, they tend to ignore the inadverte nt possibility of entrapping their own offspring. Thus, they do not give contingency to the fact that perhaps their children too can have a life to call their own. May be even their own preoccupations, their own priorities, maybe an agenda for themselves that goes beyond what they actually want for their children. The novel beings with a snapshot of MamaPapa in a contemplative mood: â€Å"The parents sit, rhythmically swinging, back and forth. They could be asleep, dozing—their eyes are hooded—but sometimes they speak.† That is when a sudden deluge of ideas hit them and they order their eldest daughter, Uma, to carry out them without delay. Uma is asked first to inform the cook to prepare sweets for her father, with neglectful impatience she states that she has been already asked to pack a parcel to be sent to her brother, Arun, in America. While she comes literally running on her toes, she is entrusted with an additional job of writing a letter to their son. Somewhere in the middle of the novel, the reader understands that it is the usual scene that goes on in the household of MamaPapa. â€Å"All morning MamaPapa have found things for Uma to do. It is as if Papa’s retirement is to be spent in this manner—sitting on the red swing in the veranda with Mama, rocking, and finding ways to keep Uma occupied. As long as they can do that, they themselves feel busy and occupied† (133). In th is manner, living under the demanding rule of MamaPapa, Uma is repressed, suppressed and is imprisoned at home. The first part of the novel tells us in a flashback how she became a reluctant victim of entrapment at home. The second part of the novel shows how her brother Arun, who leaves his home for higher studies feels trapped by the very education that is meant to liberate him. Usually, at home, it would be an oppressive atmosphere even if one of the parents is overpowering. With regard to Uma, both of her parents appear to have merged into a single identity MamaPapa/PapaMama, as if they have a â€Å"Siamese twin existence†(6). Hence, whenever MamaPapa say something, and whoever says it, it comes with double the intensity and power that it cannot be defied at all. â€Å"Having fused into one, they had gained so much in substance, in stature, in authority, that they loomed large enough as it was; they did not need separate histories and backgrounds to make them even more immense†(6). Despite a slight variation in the roles they have chosen to play, Papa’s of â€Å"scowling† and â€Å"Mama’s scolding†(10), in terms of opinion, they never differed from each other. Therefore, if one refused there would not be any â€Å"point in appealing to the other parent for a different verdict: none was expected, or given†(14 ). Furthermore, the women are not allowed for outings usually, but when Papa feels that the women laze around the house too much, then they would be taken to the park for walk. On one such occasion, Uma gets easily distracted and fails to keep pace with her Papa. Though Papa is far away, and she is left in the company of Mama, she would not dare attempt  to buy some eatables on her wish though it is highly tempting: â€Å"Uma finds saliva gathering at the corners of her mouth at the smell of the spiced, roasted gram but decides to say nothing† (12-13). In the end, Uma is blamed for being â€Å"slow† when all the while Uma could not reconcile herself as why they are hurrying just to go back home. Likewise, the children are not allowed to have any sense of privacy even when they have grown-up. They are not allowed to shut any doors in the household. For this meant secrets, especially nasty secrets, which are impermissible: â€Å"It meant authority would come stalking in and make a search to seize upon the nastiness, the unclean blot†(15). MamaPapa also decide which of their children should have education and how much of it. As far as Uma is concerned, a pleasant escape from her claustrophobic conditions at home is her school-going. The convent school for her is â€Å"streaked with golden promise†(20). Hence, she always goes early to the school and later finds some excuse to linger there for longer time. Conversely, she feels deprived during dull weekends when she is left at home: â€Å"There were the wretched weekends when she was plucked back into the trivialities of her home, which seemed a denial, a negation of life as it ought to be, somber and splendid, and then the endless summer vacation when the heat reduced even that pointless existence to further vacuity†(21). Regardless of Uma’s verve for convent education, she is forced to stop going to school when Mama gives birth to the third baby, Arun. Even as Uma shows disagreement, she is coaxed, cajoled and finally threatened to accept her Mamaà ¢â‚¬â„¢s decision: ‘But ayah can do this—ayah can do that—’ Uma tried to protest when the orders began to come thick and fast. This made Mama look stern again. ‘You know we can’t leave the baby to the servant,’ she said severely. ‘He needs proper attention.’ When Uma pointed out that ayah had looked after her and Aruna as babies, Mama’s expression made it clear it was quite a different matter now, and she repeated threateningly: ‘Proper attention’ (31). Later, Uma looks forward towards her marriage to give her the much-needed relief, yet, unfortunately, she returns home frustrated after a deceitful marriage and subsequent divorce. Back at home, she gets a rare, job offer  through Dr. Dutt, but MamaPapa refuse to send her. When Dr. Dutt persists on taking Uma for the job, Mama lies of an illness for which she needs Uma to nurse her. In like manner, when Uma receives an invitation for a coffee party from Mrs. O’Henry, MamaPapa refuse to send her to the party because of the apprehension that Mrs. O’Henry might ensnare her and convert her into a Christian nun. Reduced thus to a baby-sitter at her earlier days and an unpaid servant for her self-centred parents for the rest of her life, Uma finds no escape from her entrapment. Uma experiences, however, a brief repose of happiness and freedom once when she is allowed to accompany her ailing aunt, Mira-Masi, on her pilgrimage. During her stay at night in an ashram, Uma finds a strange link of her life with the barks and howls of the dogs: At night she lay quietly on her mat, listening to the ashram dog bark. Then other dogs in distant villages, out along the river bed and over in the pampas grass, or in wayside shacks and hovels by the highway—barked back. They howled long messages to each other. Their messages traveled back and forth through the night darkness which was total, absolute. Gradually the barks sank into it and drowned. Then it was silent. That was what Uma felt her own life to have been—full of barks, howls, messages, and now—silence (61). At this juncture, one is reminded of Anita Desai’s characteristic way of making her internally turbulent protagonists find expression by association with external surroundings. Thus, for instance, in Cry, the Peacock, Maya’s feelings of isolation and longings are coupled with those of the crying of the peacocks. Still, one locates a kind of sublimity in the agonised inner cry of Maya when it is likened with peacocks. When Uma’s pain is related to the barks and howls of dogs, the poetry of Maya’s anguish is to be seen in sharp contrast to that of the excruciating poverty of Uma’s entrapment. Catering to the whims and fancies of MamaPapa, but keeping her remorse selfcontained, at one point of the novel, Uma feels utterly friendless and alone, even when she is at home and surrounded by her MamaPapa. In desperation, she thinks of writing a letter to a friend to share her grief but it only ends up with the realisation that she has none to confide with: She could write a letter to a friend—a private message of despair, dissatisfaction, yearning; she has a packet of notepaper, pale violet with a pink rose embossed in the corner—but who is the friend? Mrs. Joshi? But since she lives next door, she would be surprised. Aruna? But Aruna would pay no attention, she is too busy. Cousin Ramu? Where was he? Had his farm swallowed him up? And Anamika—had marriage devoured her? (134). However, it would be wrong to presuppose that Anita Desai shows Uma’s unattractiveness, clumsiness and dullness of mind as causes for her entrapment. Uma’s polar opposite, her graceful, beautiful and brilliant cousin, Anamika’s confinement is more poignant. While Uma’s failure in her school exams pressurises her to stay at home, Anamika does so excellently in her final school exams, that she wins a scholarship to Oxford. Yet, Anamika lives in a patriarchal society that considers higher education to be the prerogative of males, and marriage as the major preoccupation of females. The scholarship obtained is used only as a means to win her a husband who is considered an equal to the family’s prestige. Anamika’s parents are unperturbed by the fact that he is so much older than her, so grim-faced and conscious of his own superiority, and is â€Å"totally impervious to Anamika’s beauty and grace and distinction† (70). But it is Anamik a, who starts another life of entrapment the moment she enters her in-laws’ house. Anamika’s husband is a typical ‘Mama’s boy’ to the extent he could be a silent witness to his mother’s beating of his wife regularly. Anamika, who won a scholarship to Oxford, spends her entire time in the kitchen cooking for a very large family that eats in shifts—â€Å"first the men, then the children, finally the women† (70). After a miscarriage, which followed a brutal beating, and the belief that she could not bear more children, finally, the family ties her up in a nylon saree, pours the kerosene over her, and burns her to death. Here again Desai is not implying that the un-burnt brides and the well-settled ones may live a content life. In this regard, she portrays the story of Aruna, Uma’s smart and pretty younger sister who makes a discreet choice and marries â€Å"the wisest, †¦ the handsomest, the richest, the most exciting of the suitors who presented themselves†(101). Aruna’s marriage to Arvind who has a job in Bombay and a flat in a housing block in Juhu, facing the beach is just a like a  dream-come-true. Yet to live that dream-life fully she transforms hersel f and desperately seeks to introduce change in the lives of others. She cuts her hair, takes her make-up kit wherever she goes, and calls her sister and mother as ‘villagers’ once they refuse to accept her sophisticated and flashy style of life. For that reason, she avoids visiting her parents’ home and the rare occasions of her short visits are spent in blaming the untidiness of the surrounding and the inhabitants. Even she goes to the extent of scolding her husband when he splits tea in his saucer, or wears a shirt, which does not match, with his trousers. In this way, Aruna’s entrapment is different from the rest. She has liberated herself from the customs and dominating home rules that bind the rest of the characters like Uma and Anamika. Yet, in negating those codes, she ensnares herself in her mad pursuit towards a vision of perfection. And in order to reach that perfection she needs to constantly uncover and rectify the flaws of her own family as well as of Arvind’s. When none other than Uma sees through the entrapment of Aruna, she feels pity for her: Seeing Aruna vexed to the point of tears because the cook’s pudding had sunk and spread instead of remaining upright and solid, or because Arvind had come to dinner in his bedroom slippers, or Papa was wearing a t-shirt with a hole under one arm, Uma felt pity for her: was this the realm of ease and comfort for which Ar una had always pined and that some might say she had attained? Certainly it brought her no pleasure: there was always a crease of discontent between her eyebrows and an agitation that made her eyelids flutter, disturbing Uma who noticed it (109). While Uma, Anamika, Aruna present the female versions of entrapment in Fasting, Feasting, Arun pictures the male version of it. Unlike his sisters, right from his birth, Arun desists eating the food of his family which is symbolic of its values. Much to the dismay of his father, he shows his preference for vegetarian food. Simply because it revolutionised the life-style of his father, Arun can not be forced to eat non-vegetarian food. This, of course, is a cause of disappointment for Papa: Papa was always scornful of those of their relatives who came to visit and insisted on clinging to their cereal-and vegetable-eating ways, shying away from the meat dishes Papa insisted on having cooked for dinner. Now his own son, his  one son, displayed this completely baffling desire to return to the ways of his forefathers, meek and puny men who had got nowhere in life. Papa was deeply vexed (32- 33). Nonetheless, Arun cannot fully come out of the clutches of Papa, especially, in terms of his education. And ironic enough, it is education, which instead of offering the desired autonomy, paves way for Arun’s entrapment. Papa, in order to give â€Å"the best, the most, the highest† (119) education for his son, takes charge of Arun’s life from his childhood. Although Arun’s school examinations are over, Papa cannot allow him to go to his sister’s house in Bombay during holidays, since he has planned that time for taking up entrance examinations and preparation for sending applications to go abroad for ‘higher studies’. However, in the eyes of Aruna, her father’s manic determination to get a foreign scholarship for Arun, is actually on account of his unfulfilled dreams, which he tries to impose on his son. That is why, when the letter of acceptance from Massachusetts finally arrives, it stirs no emotions in Arun: Uma watched Arun too, when he read the fateful letter. She watched and searched for an expression, of relief, of joy, doubt, fear, anything at all. But there was none†¦. There was nothing else—not the hint of a smile, frown, laugh or anything: these had been ground down till they had disappeared. This blank face now stared at the letter and faced another phase of his existence arranged for him by Papa (121). As a reviewer rightly observes, â€Å"With a deft touch, Desai shows us that MamaPapa’s ambitions for Arun are as stifling as their lack of ambition for Uma, †¦.† From America, Arun’s letters come just to indicate his endurance and survival. His messages are diluted, and are devoid of any emotion and substance. â€Å"The most personal note he struck was a poignant, frequently repeated complaint: ‘The food is not very good’† (123). The ties, though invisible, are so overwhelming that even in a country that feasts on individuality, Arun fails to manifest his identity as an individual. Caught in the prison house of his own family’s food habits, he can neither nourish the alien food nor develop a sense of belonging with Patton’s family that  shelters him during his vacation. The smell of the raw meat being charred over the fire by Mr. Patton for steak or hamburger is loathsome for Arun. Conversely, Mr. Patton fails to understa nd why Arun really refuses to eat a good piece of meat. While Mrs. Patton symphathises with Arun, and gives him the vegetarian food items, particularly tomato slices and lettuce on bread, Arun finds them detestable too. Because he thinks that â€Å"in his time in America he has developed a hearty abhorrence for the raw foods everyone here thinks the natural diet of a vegetarian† (167). Hence when Mrs. Patton, quite satisfied with her job of a host, watches him eating with pride and complicity, Arun ate with an expression of woe and a sense of mistreatment. How was he to tell Mrs. Patton that these were not the foods that figured in his culture? That his digestive system did not know how to turn them into nourishment? (184-185). Where Mrs. Patton’s daughter, Melanie, bluntly says she finds the food revolting, and refuses to taste it, Arun has to helplessly eat it. Melanie, however, suffers from bulimia—a disorder in which overeating alternates with self-induced vomiting, fasting, etc. Her bulimia, along with her mother ’s frenzy for buying food items to fill the freezer, signifies the consumerist society that she hails from, where excess becomes the malady. This seen in contrast to Rod, the fitness fanatic, who spends all his time and energy in jogging, baffles Arun who wonders that â€Å"one can’t tell what is more dangerous in this country, the pursuit of health or of sickness†(204-205). He apprehends that like Melanie, who eats, vomits and lies on her vomit most of the time, the people of her country too, go through an inexplicable pain and a real hunger. Yet he cannot reconcile his mind to the unanswerable question: â€Å"But what hunger a person so sated can feel?†(224). Anita Desai, in portraying the stories of entrapment in Fasting, Feasting, presents one version after another; each contributing together to a master version, and each simultaneously subverting the other towards an open and contingent version. Accordingly, in the story of Uma, we find her unattractiveness leading to her eventual entrapment. Yet, if we pass a final verdict on this account, we would be proved erroneous since Desai presents the versions of Aruna and Anamika, Uma’s appealing sister and charming cousin, respectively. Beauty cannot offer them escape from entrapments; in truth, it is rather their good looks that victimise them. Further, if we think again that it is Uma†™s lack of  education that has led to her entrapped situation, Desai presents us the subversion of Anamika, where foreign scholarship fetches her an equal match but fails to provide her the required escape, it suffocates and kills her literally. In like manner, if as Uma thinks, â€Å"A CAREER. Leaving home. Living alone† (130) would bring in the necessary freedom from entrapment, Desai presents us the story of Arun, who leaves home, lives alone for a career but feels the pangs of entrapment despite it. Also, in providing a male version through the story of Arun’s entrapment, Desai negates any feministic verdict based on the other female versions of entrapment that is likely to put the blame on the patriarchal, male-centred society. Thus, Anita Desai, often described as one of the finest writers of this country, has moved from her earlier, typical way of sympathising with her characters, females especially, to a different level of sensibility now. Where it would be easy to presuppose her overt feministic concerns in a novel like Cry, the Peacock, it would be unwise to approach her Fasting, Feasting with any such preconceived notions. Desai herself speaks out in a recent interview that she has been deliberately shifting her focus from female characters to male characters. She rather feels she needs to address and voice out themes which concern males too. She says: â€Å"Specially in my earlier work I found myself addressing the same things over and over again: very much about the life of women, specially those women who are confined to home and family, also the solitude from which a person can suffer even if living within a big family or surrounded by crowds. But after several years and several books I began to feel suffocated myself by the confinement of these subjects. I felt I was limiting the territory to such an extent that it created a kind of suffocation even for me. So I deliberately opened the doors, to widen the canvas, and started writing more about male characters and their lives, because I felt they had a wider experience of the world, and I could address a greater variety of experiences.† Finally, if we consider the male version represented by Arun and the female versions constituted by Uma, Anamika and Aruna as Indian versions, Desai offers American versions to counter them. The story, thus dangling between two countries and cultures shows to prove through the characters of Uma and Arun, and their counterparts Melanie and Rod, that attempts of escape from entrapments can only be temporary, illusory and self-destructively futile since entrapments through familial knots are ubiquitous, all encompassing and universal. And perhaps the salvation comes when one accepts entrapment of one kind or another envisioned as an inescapable fact of life. References 1Anita Desai, Fasting, Feasting (London: Vintage, 1999) 3. All subsequent page references are to this edition. 2Sylvia Brownrigg, â€Å"Fasting, Feasting† by Anita Desai. http://archive.salon.com/books/review/2000/02/17/desai/print.html. [9/15/2002]. Magda Costa, â€Å"Interview with Anita Desai, Lateral (March 2001). http://www.umiacs.umd.edu/users/sawweb/sawnet/books/desai_interview.html. [9/15/2002]. http://www.sawnet.org/books/writing/desai_interview.html