Philosophy and theory of architecture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words - 1

Philosophy and theory of architecture - Essay Example In so doing, it discusses the roots of this phenomenon, and surveys the different phases it has been and is going through and its physical spread and influence as well. That is, it takes a tour through both changes over time as well as spatially. The focus is mainly on the architecture of Buddhist temples, particularly those found in China. However, as the reader will come to know, if not known already, in Buddhism there is a variety of buildings that are considered as religious or spiritual spaces besides temples. A case study is made of the Baima Si, which is the White Horse Temple in the Henan province of China. This temple (Si) was chosen for its historical significance, as will be explained later, as well as the fact that it represents a unique amalgamation of architectural styles. It also functioned as a model for other such buildings and thereby played a pivotal role in moulding a special wave of thinking on architecture, which makes it deserve serious attention. For contrasti ve purposes, important comparisons are also drawn with architectural features belonging to Buddhist temples elsewhere in the world, especially in other Far Eastern countries that are heartlands of Buddhism. In addition, some comparisons are also highlighted between Buddhist architecture and what is found in other religious architectural expressions, especially of Christian, Hindu and Islamic origin. After the distinguishing and other special features are identified for Chinese Buddhist temples, an attempt is then made to explain these and the philosophy behind them. Buddhist architecture In Buddhism, although the temple is the main place for spiritual practices, there are also other spiritual spaces. These are the pagodas, which are towers like broader based minarets, stupas, which are dome shaped monuments, and grottos, which are caves used for specific spiritual practices within a more isolated environment. They are all holy and made to be serene and tranquil. The temples function more as monasteries for collective practices. As far as Chinese temples are concerned, Buddhist philosophy has been described as the greatest impetus behind religious art and architecture in China (Phuoc, 2010). Initially, Buddhism was practised in ordinary settings in China, such as people’s houses, but as demand grew, then special buildings were constructed. These buildings proved to be far more interesting than the Confucian and Taoist places and rich in architectural detail reflecting an equally richer philosophy. Hindu and Islamic philosophies of architecture share some commonality with Buddhist architecture. The Hindu influence is mostly evident in the early temples. Thus, there is a direct connection with Hindu architecture as they gave roots to Buddhist architecture. Connections with other religions are more indirect. A prominent style of Christian architecture was Gothic architecture during the medieval period. This was related with scholastic philosophy (Radding & Clark, 1994) in which there was an attempt to develop a comprehensive and integrated solution for various tasks including the construction of churches. An interesting parallel is drawn between the ideas of St. Thomas Aquinas who was one of these aforementioned philosophers and Buddhist architecture in that he saw churches as symbolising heaven on earth. This is similar in some ways to the Buddhist concept of heaven but with some fundamental differences. Whereas only one heaven is envisaged in Christianity

Contrasting Theories Of Social Capital Sociology Essay

Contrasting Theories Of Social Capital Sociology Essay The terms social capital is a rather complex one, as a variety of different versions of definitions are used by researchers in defining the concepts and ideas associated to social capital. However, generally speaking, there are two related dimensions of social capital seemingly agreed by many researchers. The first dimension of social capital is the network of affiliation, such as the family groups, friendship ties, professional co-workers, business partners or contacts, and any other formal or informal associations or relationship, where a person belongs to. The second dimension is about the general behaviors the respective individuals or groups rely on in the formation, retention and usage process of the networks. There are three important gurus in the development of theories concerning the subject of social capital, namely Bourdieu, Coleman and Putnam. It is interesting to observe that all of them develop different theories of social capital. In the following section, the various theories of social capital from the gurus will be discussed. Later, employing the concepts and theories asserted by the respective guru, the notion that social capital predicts that returns to intelligence, education, and seniority depend in some part on a persons location in the social structure of a market or hierarchy. Bourdieus Social Capital According to Bourdieu (1986), social capital is defined as the aggregate of the actual or potential resources which are linked to possession of a durable network of more or less institutionalized relationships of mutual acquaintance and recognition or in other words, to membership or a group which provides each of its members with the backing of the collectively-owned capital, a credential which entitles them to credit, in the various senses of the word. According to Bourdieus argument, the social capital is a form of capital or resources, similar to the concept of economic capital and cultural capital, which may be used for achievement, privilege treatment and to some extent, social exclusion. Social capital in such a definition is the source of networks and connections for a certain people, allowing continuing and future access to certain privilege. In Bourdieus framework, the capital is a form of power, and people with higher social capital are better position in the world for better achievement and privileges. The possession of social capital may influence a persons economic capital, or the return to the economic capital. For example, comparing two people with different level of social capital, but both of them have exactly the equal amount of economic capital; the person with higher level of social capital will be able to generate better return to the similar amount of economic capital. The person possessing the social capital is more competitive positioned in the economic realm. The main contribution of Bourdieus theory is that it suggests that possession of social capital or the impacts of social exclusion will influence a persons access to power and privilege as well as the inability to access power. Thus, according to the assertion of Bourdieus theory, social capital can predict and influence the returns to intelligence; education and seniority depend in some part on a persons location in the social structure of a market or hierarchy. Such a statement is reasonable and understandable, where the impacts of social exclusion may prevent someone to generate returns to intelligence, education and seniority. People with better networks and connections are better positioned and easier to apply their intelligence, education and seniority in generating returns. In contrast, people without social capital may not able to perform so, as due to lack of networks, connections and useful relationships, many actions and strategies may not be implementable, relevant or workable due to the effect of social exclusion. Colemans Social Capital According to Coleman (1988), the concept social capital can be comparable to the physical and human capital, whereby it may facilitates certain actions from the actors in a structure. Such a conception of social capital is very different to the one suggested by Bourdieus theory. According to Coleman (1988), social capitals are largely created or destroyed as by-products of other forms of activities. In such a definition, Coleman treats the concept of social capital not as a form of capital, power or advantages possessed only by a certain group of elites. His research is primarily concern about the possession of social capital impacts towards the accumulation of human capital in young people. Some findings from Coleman discovered that social capital arises from closed network of family members, church members and etc, will contribute positively to human capital development in the young people. Besides, parental involvement in teaching children will also create a form of social capital, which will significantly reduce the children drop out from school in the early days. Apart from that, he discovered that parents that frequently move to new cities have lesser human capital because these parents are unable to share information about their children with other parents on better quality education for their children. The concept of social capital suggested by Coleman, if applied to the statement asserted by Burt, where it is said that social capital predicts that returns to intelligence, education and seniority depend in some part on a persons location in the social structure, can be confusing and complex. Firstly, Coleman is primarily concern about the educational achievement of young people, but the assertion by Burt does include a dimension of seniority, which is irrelevant from the discussion of social capital by Coleman. However, social capital does affect the returns to intelligence and education, whereby it is not hard to imagine that children with better upbringing condition and more attentive parents will achieve better in schools academically. Two similarly smart and brilliant children, under different upbringing situation, may have different achievement educationally. The children with better social capital will have high return to intelligence, in this context, as compared to the equa lly smart children who live in a broken or problematic family. Putnams Social Capital Putnams theories on social capital are more influential and widely discussed. According to him, there are two forms of social capital, namely, (a) the bonding social capital and (b) the bridging social capital. In his framework, the bonding social capital is derived from exclusive network or connections primarily from the ethnic fraternal organizations, family and close friends network or religion based groups. The bonding social capital described by Putnam is similar to Bourdieus and Colemans assertions, where such a form of social capital often is used to separate people from different sociological groups, and thus determine the availability or access to special privileges or resources. On the other hand, the bridging social capital is often referred to the inclusive network such as the collegial, professional and civic groups. More specifically, Putnam explain social capital as closely related to a form of civic virtue, and further argued that civic virtue is most powerful when it is embedded in a concentrated network of reciprocal social networks and relationship. As such, following Putnam conception of social capital, a society of many isolated individuals may not have richness in terms of social capital. In this line of argument, the social capital is a property of the collectives (i.e., for the society), whereas the social capital describe by Bourdieu and Coleman is mainly a possession of a particular individual. With reference to Putnams framework and theory, the assertion of Burt, where the social capital predicts that returns to intelligence, education and seniority depends in some part on a persons location in the social structure is a vague and doubtful one. The social capital is a groups possession and attributes in Putnams theory, so the social capital in a society does not have any direct linkages to the returns to intelligence, education and seniority of a person in the society. If there are any relationships, the linkages will be an indirect one. Conclusion After comparing and contrasting the various definitions, theories, findings and framework presented by the gurus, it is clear that the assertion by Burt is mainly adopting the definition suggested by Bourdieu. With Bourdieus definition, the assertion by Burt can be interpreted logically and meaningfully. The concepts of social capital are complicated and the context in which the idea is being discussed will determine the definition and conception of social capital. It is very important for the readers to understand the various theories concerning the subject of social capital to follow the researches findings and argument in the literature. (1398 words)

Smoking Should be Banned in All Public Places Essay -- Papers Argument

Smoking Should be Banned in All Public Places Every year thousands of people die because of having cancer or other tobacco related illnesses due to smoking. Smoking is seen everywhere from our own television screens to even the world wide web; the internet. Tobacco is the substance that is in these cigarettes. These tobacco products are promoted through tobacco ads that are found almost everywhere you turn. They are in magazines, television screens, on the internet and even on cigarette boxes themselves. Alas, their tobacco ads do not tell the whole truth. Thus, many people fall prey to these tobacco cigarettes and once they try one cigarette, they are hooked on it. The reason this is so is the nicotine present in it, which is a kind of drug. So now, as you can see many have been addicted to the habit of smoking. Nowadays in almost all parts of the world has much controversy because people some people agree about smoke in public areas, but others who do not smoke complain about that; so much so that it has now become an issue. So, should smoking be banned in all public places? I would say yes, they should. Firstly, when many smokers smoke in public places, the people around them who do not smoke breathe in the smoke and they become passive smokers. These smokers can even get very ill due to the consequences of passive smoking. Researchers have even discovered that the onslaught of that kind of cigar smoke causes ninety-seven gases to malfunction. The Environment Protection Agency also reported that passive smoking causes 2500 to 3500 lung cancer deaths a year among non-smokers in just the U.S. alone. We may not know this but we... ...something that should be put into action. It is the only way smokers may reform their ways and start afresh. Although many others may also argue that air pollution does occur due to other factors, smoking is also a factor encouraging air pollution. So why not try stopping it while we can right now by taking a stand that smoking should be banned in all public places and turn it into a action that would prove the best all round? Smoke is very bad and the government should not authorize smoking in public places at all. It not only affects the people who smoke but also other innocent people. Moreover, if you smoke, you would have to think more about not only your own health but also for the other people whom you live with and who are around you. So, all in all, I conclude that smoking should be banned in all public places.

Why we shouldn’t have more school days

The roots to education are bitter, but the fruit Is sweet. † unfortunately, our fruit hasn't become the sweetest. The recent Programmer for International Student Assessment (PISA) has shown that although the US may spend the most on Its students, we aren't all high and mighty. U. S students ranked 36 In Math, 28 in Science, and 24 in Language Arts. Shanghai, China ranked number one in every subject. You have proposed many times before on extending school hours or days to help students reach their full potential.I wish it were that simple, but nothing comes to us that easily. If this were to happen, it would surpass the real reasons we aren't ranking high enough. Let's take a look at high ranking countries such as Finland, Australia, and of course China. China Is number one, but also very high on another list. China's suicide rate Is among the highest In the world, ranking number 6. When you add more school, you add more stress. Students are stressed out enough with trying to be that perfect body they see In the magazines. School shouldn't add onto that, school should be a unforgettable and fun learning environment for kids.In China, falling Is not an option. You must attend school 260 days a year and if you con not, a parent steps in place to take notes for you. That is no way to live. Students are put under so much pressure they think the only way to be freed is to take their own life. Education and intelligence isn't worth it at the cost of someone's life. Both countries ranked significantly lower on the list of countries by suicide rate, Finland ranking at 22 and Australia ranking at 50. Although Peru, ranked last on the PISA, they ranked 99 on the sit of countries by suicide rate. It isn't worth the risk.As If school wasn't hard enough! School breaks are treasured by families because It Is the only time they really have together. Family time Is cherished by many and overlooked by many. I am one of the people that cherishes family time. With family tha t lives in the randomness parts of the country, I count down until breaks to be given the opportunity to wrap my arms around them again. Parents have jobs, students have homework, and after school activities. All the more reason to cherish family time. Whether you like it or not, they are your family, and you can't get rid of them.You are pretty much stuck with them so why would you take away the fun memories? Lastly, three simple words: quality over quantity. It doesn't matter how many school hours we have or school days. It how we spend that time Is what matters. Ever since I can remember, I have always spent my time In school preparing for a standardized test. These evil green monsters bring more stressed, but that Is a completely different topic. In Finland, they only take one standardized test when they are 16. Finnish schools have an educational system the US should new.In Finland students have smaller class sizes, and have little to know homework. Whereas in China, they were very well mannered students that wear uniform, learn in large class sizes, and have many hours of homework when they return home. Finland ranked 12 in Math, 5 in Science, and 6 in Language Arts. The Finnish education system has to be doing something right. They even have the same amount of school days as us, thus proving the amount of time spent in school isn't the greatest factor even if other states have men improvement.Speaking of same amount of school days, we have the same amount of days as Australian children. But instead of having a long two month break, they have smaller breaks given each season throughout the year. Australia ranked 19 in Math, 16 in Science, and 13 in Language Arts, all ranks are better than ours. Even Peru, that ranked last in every subject, has the same amount of school days as us. It is all about what we doing the time we have not the actual amount. In summation, school can be stressful, we should cherish family time, and it is all bout quality over quan tity.You can be the smartest person in the world, but if you don't share your intelligence, it is put to waste. As you can see, its not about the hours or the days. In order to fix the dent in our system, we can't Just put a piece of duct tape and call it a day. We have to investigate and connect the correct wires. These wires include such things like the school environment and students working to their full potential. We will get better in time, our system Just needs a few tweaks. Sincerely, Alexandra

Home Schooling vs Public Education

Home Schooling vs Public Education Ann Brickler COM/155 University Compostion and Communication I March 10, 2013 Stephanie Cook Home Schooling vs Public Education The debate continues and often will turn into heated arguments between the two opposing sides. The side of the fence that you choose is ultimately your decision on what type of education your child receives. Homeschooling may have many benefits, a public school education may provide a better learning environment for a student to learn and succeed.There are so many forms of education that a person may receive today with two of the forms as home schooling and public education. There are some benefits to the individual of home schooling, such as being able to learn on your own time and having one-on-one instruction. Child safety is a pro for the parent as they are not having to worry about bullying in school and not having their child exposed to drugs or alcohol by their peers. There are also pros and cons of public education with the pros being the child is receiving an education from a professionally trained teacher.They are better prepared in everyday teachings that the child will receive. The curriculum is outlined for the year on what the child will be taught and what is expected to be taught to the child by way of a school board developing the curriculum. Children are also learning on how to socialize with other children and realizing on how diverse a world we have. The cons of home schooling outweigh what some people believe as a benefit. One being that the parent is not a professional teacher such as English or music class. The parent does not have the technique in giving their child a quality and prolific education.Another con is the student is not being exposed to a diverse environment. The child is not able to grow with their peers and associate themselves with reality and what is out there on the streets that children have to deal with when they are in a public school setting. Child safety ca n be a con in public education with what has recently been happening with the shootings in schools and bullying by other children. You should not shelter a child because of the cons as this is something that can be dealt with while growing up. Children learn how to deal with issues such as these and grow more because of them.Another con is the standardized testing that children are expected each year to take at the beginning of each school year. This test gives the school board a better concept on where each child is in their learning grade. It also is one factor on whether a child will move ahead in their grade level in the fifth and eighth grade. Children are tested and quizzed weekly in their classes and that determination in itself will give each teacher a concept on what the child is retaining and whether they should move along in each grade level. Socialization for home schooled children as an individual or a group can be a challenge for them.Public schooled children have a be tter advantage to them when they are put in a group together to socialize amongst themselves relating to a topic they may be learning about in their class or to do a project together. They are able to gather ideas and listen to other ideas which enable more learning for them. When you are home schooled the only type of socialization in a group you are going to have is with either your sibling or with your parent. That can be a good thing only if that child is a type of introvert and has a difficult time relating to others in a traditional school setting.There are homeschool groups that you can join with your child to meet other parents and children, but there may not be many of these groups out there for you to select from as there are children whom are more likely to receive a public education. Another advantage the child in a public school has is being able to play in sports that are offered. The home schooled child does not have that offered to them. A child who is home schooled can request to join a sports team in their school district but that does not always work for them. The district can say no to them joining a school sport.A public school child can join a school sport at any time it is offered; however, they are expected to maintain a grade point average of a C. If they do not, they are suspended from the team if they are involved or denied completely from trying out for the team. Public school provides a more diverse and social experience in contrast to homeschooling. Parents whom are homeschooling their children should be qualified to teach as a public schoolteacher. A public school education can be much more fulfilling and gives children the tools they need to succeed.Socialization and interaction with other children is a benefit to any child to help them learn and grow with others in their age group. Home schooled children may not be susceptible to drugs and alcohol or school bullying but sometimes the risks outweigh these factors. There is no te sting done by the district of the home schooled child and to know exactly where they are in their grade level. Standardized testing does aide the district for public school children but is essentially given at the beginning of a school year where it can be a misleading statistic on what the child in a public school does know by the end of the school year.Whether you choose to send your child to a public school or teach them on your own, be sure that you have the proper tools to do this. Your child’s future depends on you and the education they receive. Overall, the knowledge the child gains and the scores they receive between the two, home schooling and public education has each of its own benefits and each of its own drawbacks. As long as the student’s needs are being met, regardless the choice you make for your children, whether it be home schooling or public education, either type of teaching will be the best choice because you made the choice.

The Gushi Kingdom - Steppe Societies in Turpan, China

The Gushi Kingdom - Steppe Societies in Turpan, China The people of the Gushi Kingdom, referred to in the  archaeological literature as the Subeixi culture, were the first permanent residents of the arid land-locked region called the Turpan basin of Xinjiang Province of western China, beginning about 3,000 years ago. The Turpan basin suffers from extreme temperatures, ranging between -27 and 32 degrees Celsius (-16 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit; within it lies the Turpan oasis, created and maintained by a massive qanat system, built long after the Subeixi had been conquered. Eventually, over the span of 1,000 years or so, the Subeixi developed into an agro-pastoral society, with wide-ranging contacts across Asia; this later Subeixi is believed to represent the Cheshi (Chà ¼-shih) state reported in historical Chinese records as having battled and lost against the Western Han. Who Were the Subeixi? The Subeixi were one of several Bronze Age Eurasian steppe societies who roamed the vast central steppes and built and maintained the trade network known as the Silk Road. Subeixi weaponry, horse euipment and garments are said to be similar to those of the Pazyryk culture, suggesting contacts between Subeixi and Scythians of the Altai mountains in Turkey. Astoundingly well-preserved human remains found in Subeixi culture tombs show that the people had fair hair and caucasian physical characteristics, and recent research maintains that there were historical and linguistic ties to the ancient Scythians or Rouzhi people. The Subeixi inhabited the Turpan basin between ca 1250 BC and 100 AD  when they were conquered by the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-9 AD) who were eager to expand their control over the Silk Road trade system. Crops and Houses of the Gushi Kingdom The earliest Subeixi settlers were pastoralist nomads, who herded sheep, goats, cattle and horses. Beginning about 850 BC, the nomads began to grow domesticated cereals like bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum) and naked barley (Hordeum vulgare var. coeleste). Two small settlement sites have been identified within the Turpan basin at Subeixi and Yuergou, which have not been extensively published in English as of yet. Three houses were found at Subiexi, and excavated in the 1980s. Each house contained three rooms; House 1 was the best preserved. It was rectangular, measuring 13.6x8.1 meters (44.6x26.6 feet). In the western room, an oblong trough near the west wall may have functioned as an animal byre. The middle room contained a hearth on the east side. The eastern room was dedicated to a pottery workshop, with a kiln, two rectangular shallow tanks, and three large pits. Artifacts recovered from this house included pottery and stone tools, including 23 grindstones and 15 pestles. Radiocarbon dates on the site returned calibrated dates between 2220-2420 cal BP, or about 500-300 BC. Yuergou was discovered in 2008. It included five stone houses with roughly circular rooms, and several free-standing walls, all made of enormous boulders. The largest of the houses at Yuergou had four rooms, and organic materials within the site were carbon dated and ranged in age between 200-760 cal BC. The later, farming Subeixi grew cannabis, used both for its fiber and for its psychoactive properties. A cache of caper seeds (Capparis spinosa) mixed with cannabis was recovered from what scholars have interpreted as a shamans tomb at Yanghai, who died about 2700 BP. Other probable Subeixi medicines include Artemisia annua, found in a package within a tomb at Shengjindian. Artemeinini is an effective therapy for many different diseases including malaria. It has a fragrant scent, and Jiang et al feel it was likely placed in the tomb to eliminate the odors that accompany death rituals. Wild plants collected from Subeixi tombs include a range of materials used for fiber, oil and construction materials, including reed stems Phragmites australis and bulrush leaf fibers (Typha spp). Mat making, weaving, metal smelting, and woodworking were developed handicrafts by the later period. Cemeteries The early Subiexi were nomadic, and what is most known about this period comes from large cemeteries. Preservation in these tombs is excellent, with human remains, organic objects and plant and animal remains recovered from thousands of tombs in cemeteries at Aidinghu, Yanghai, Alagou, Yuergou, Shengjindian, Sangeqiao, Wulabu, and Subeixi cemeteries, among others. Among the evidence found in the Shengjindian tombs (about 35 km east of modern Turfan in contexts dated to 2200-2000 years ago) was also Vitis vinifera, in the form of mature grape seeds which indicate that the people had access to ripe grapes, and were thus likely cultivated locally. A grape vine was also recovered at Yanghai tombs, dated to 2,300 years ago. Wooden Prosthesis Also discovered at Shengjindian was a wooden leg on a 50-65-year-old man. Investigations show  that he lost the use of the leg as a result of tuberculosis infection, which caused osseous ankylosis of his knee which would have made walking impossible. The knee was supported with an externally fitted wooden prosthesis, which consisted of a thigh stabilizer and leather straps, and a peg at the bottom made of horse/ass hoof. Wear and tear on the prosthesis  and lack of muscle atrophy in that leg  suggest the man wore the prosthesis for some years. The most probable age of the burial is 300-200 BC, making it the oldest functional leg prosthesis to date. A wooden toe was found in an Egyptian tomb dated to 950-710 BC; a wooden foot was reported by Herodotus in the 5th century BC; and the oldest case of a prosthetic leg use is from Capua Italy, dated to about 300 BC. This article is a part of the About.com guide to the Steppe Societies, and the Dictionary of Archaeology. Chen T, Yao S, Merlin M, Mai H, Qiu Z, Hu Y, Wang B, Wang C, and Jiang H. 2014. Identification of Cannabis Fiber from the Astana Cemeteries, Xinjiang, China, with Reference to Its Unique Decorative Utilization. Economic Botany 68(1):59-66. doi: 10.1007/s12231-014-9261-z Gong Y, Yang Y, Ferguson DK, Tao D, Li W, Wang C, Là ¼ E, and Jiang H. 2011. Investigation of ancient noodles, cakes, and millet at the Subeixi Site, Xinjiang, China. Journal of Archaeological Science 38(2):470-479. doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2010.10.006 Jiang H-E, Li X, Ferguson DK, Wang Y-F, Liu C-J, and Li C-S. 2007. The discovery of Capparis spinosa L. (Capparidaceae) in the Yanghai Tombs (2800 years b.p.), NW China, and its medicinal implications. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 113(3):409-420. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2007.06.020 Jiang H-E, Li X, Liu C-J, Wang Y-F, and Li C-S. 2007. Fruits of Lithospermum officinale L. (Boraginaceae) used as an early plant decoration (2500 years BP) in Xinjiang, China. Journal of Archaeological Science 34(2):167-170. doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2006.04.003 Jiang H-E, Li X, Zhao Y-X, Ferguson DK, Hueber F, Bera S, Wang Y-F, Zhao L-C, Liu C-J, and Li C-S. 2006. A new insight into Cannabis sativa (Cannabaceae) utilization from 2500-year-old Yanghai Tombs, Xinjiang, China. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 108(3):414-422. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2006.05.034 Jiang H-E, Wu Y, Wang H, Ferguson DK, and Li C-S. 2013. Ancient plant use at the site of Yuergou, Xinjiang, China: implications from desiccated and charred plant remains. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 22(2):129-140. doi: 10.1007/s00334-012-0365-z Jiang H-E, Zhang Y, Là ¼ E, and Wang C. 2015. Archaeobotanical evidence of plant utilization in the ancient Turpan of Xinjiang, China: a case study at the Shengjindian cemetery. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 24(1):165-177. doi: 10.1007/s00334-014-0495-6 Jiang H-E, Zhang Y-B, Li X, Yao Y-F, Ferguson DK, Là ¼ E-G, and Li C-S. 2009. Evidence for early viticulture in China: proof of a grapevine (Vitis vinifera L., Vitaceae) in the Yanghai Tombs, Xinjiang. Journal of Archaeological Science 36(7):1458-1465. doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2009.02.010 Kramell A, Li X, Csuk R, Wagner M, Goslar T, Tarasov PE, Kreusel N, Kluge R, and Wunderlich C-H. 2014. Dyes of late Bronze Age textile clothes and accessories from the Yanghai archaeological site, Turfan, China: Determination of the fibers, color analysis and dating. Quaternary International 348(0):214-223. doi; 10.1016/j.quaint.2014.05.012 Li X, Wagner M, Wu X, Tarasov P, Zhang Y, Schmidt A, Goslar T, and Gresky J. 2013. Archaeological and palaeopathological study on the third/second century BC grave from Turfan, China: Individual health history and regional implications. Quaternary International 290–291(0):335-343. doi: 10.1016/j.quaint.2012.05.010 Qiu Z, Zhang Y, Bedigian D, Li X, Wang C, and Jiang H. 2012. Sesame Utilization in China: New Archaeobotanical Evidence from Xinjiang. Economic Botany 66(3):255-263. doi: 10.1007/s12231-012-9204-5

Five Facts About Oktoberfest

Five Facts About Oktoberfest As September inevitably segues from summer to autumn, Germany’s daylight hours shorten appreciably. This change of seasons is worldwide, but, in Munich (Mà ¼nchen), in southern Germany, the locals and the tourists brace for a festive event of an altogether different sort. Munich, a modern city in all senses of the word, is the capital of Bavaria (Bayern). It lies on the edge of the Alps; it’s Bavaria’s largest city and Germany’s third largest. The Isar River, which originates near Innsbruck, Austria, flows through Munich on its way to join the Danube (Donau) near Regensberg. At this time of year, some say the flow of the Isar is more than matched by the flow of ​beer. For two weeks this year, from 19 September through 04 October, Munich’s huge assortment of international companies, world-renowned brands, high-technology resources, and exquisitely graceful fairy-tale-like architecture compose the backdrop for the annual German clichà ©, the 182nd Oktoberfest. For those living in Munich, it will be two thrilling weeks of lederhosen, beer, and tipsy tourists. If raucous revelry on a city-wide scale is not to your liking, you’d be well advised to leave downtown Munich until the festivities end. If you live near the Festwiese, the epicenter of the partying, you better close your windows tightly and get used to the smell of spilled beer mixed with puke. There are not only nice things to tell about the Wiesn, but also endearing ones. Here are five important, lesser-known facts about Oktoberfest which might surprise you. 1. The First Day of Oktoberfest Oktoberfest embraces numerous traditions, most of them commemorated at the very beginning of this annual celebration. The first day of the so-called â€Å"Wiesn† is the most traditional one and it follows a strict timetable. In the morning, the â€Å"Festzug† (parade) takes place. The â€Å"Wiesnwirte,† the landlords of the fest-tents, are the main participants. They are soon joined by waitresses, brewers, and old-fashioned Bavarian shooting associations. The two parades head toward the â€Å"Theresienwiese† where the actual Oktoberfest takes place. Horses pull big wagons with wooden kegs of beer, gunners fire salutes, and the Mà ¼nchner Kindl, the personified coat of arms of the city of Munich showing a child in a hood, leads the parade. At the same time, thousands of people, sitting in the 14 huge tents, await Oktoberfest’s official opening. The atmosphere will be convivial, but dry: They won’t get a sip of the good Bavarian brew before . . . 2. Ozapft Is! . . . the mayor of Munich starts Oktoberfest at high noon by tapping the first keg. This tradition began in 1950, when mayor Thomas Wimmer initiated the ceremonial tapping of the keg. It took Wimmer 19 hits to fix the big tap properly into the huge wooden keg- traditionally called a â€Å"Hirsch† (deer). All wooden kegs come with the names of different animals. The deer has a capacity of 200 liters which is the weight of a deer. The mayor will tap the keg at exactly high noon on the first Saturday of Oktoberfest and call the famous and eagerly anticipated phrase: â€Å"O’zapft is! Auf eine friedliche Wiesn!† (It is tapped!- for a peaceful Wiesn). It’s the signal for the waitresses to serve the first mugs. This tapping ceremony is broadcast live on television and the number of strokes the mayor will need to tap the keg are wildly speculated on before the event. By the way, the best performance was delivered by Christian Ude, mayor between 1993-2014, with on ly two hits (opening the 2013 Oktoberfest). Traditional Bavarian gunners will immediately fire two shots out of a â€Å"Bà ¶llerkanone† just below the memorial of the Bavaria, an 18ÃŽ ©-meter tall statue which is the female personification of the Bavarian homeland and, by extension, its strength and glory. The first Maß, i.e., the first beer of the Oktoberfest, is traditionally reserved for the Bavarian prime-minister. â€Å"Wiesn† is local Bavarian dialect for both Oktoberfest itself and for â€Å"Theresienwiese,† i.e., the meadow where it all began decades ago.   3. The Ma The typical Oktoberfest mug contains one liter of â€Å"Festbier,† which is a special brew made for the Oktoberfest by a few select breweries. The mugs can be filled very quickly (an experienced waiter can fill one in 1.5 seconds) and, from time to time, a mug could end up with less than a liter of beer. Such a tragedy is deemed a â€Å"Schankbetrug† (pouring-fraud). There is even an association, the â€Å"Verein gegen betrà ¼gerisches Einschenken e.V.† (association against fraudulent pouring), which makes spot checks to guarantee that everybody will get the right amount of beer. To make fraud even more difficult, the â€Å"Maßkrà ¼ge† are made of glass. If you want to drink your beer out of a traditional â€Å"Stein† (stone mug), you can visit the â€Å"Oide Wiesn† (old Wiesn), a special Oktoberfest area where you can experience Oktoberfest as it was practiced in days of yore, with old-fashioned â€Å"Blasmusik† (brass-band music ) and original attractions from 1900 through the 1980s. Taking your Maß home isn’t a good idea because it is seen as theft and might lead to getting acquainted with the Bavarian police. But, of course, you can buy one as a souvenir. Sadly, the delightful beer, with its slightly higher alcohol content, combined with a heavy mug in one’s hand, frequently leads to harsh â€Å"Bierzeltschlgereien† (beer-tent brawling), fights that can end very seriously. To avoid that and other criminal acts,  the police patrol the Festwiese. 4. The Police Every officer on duty volunteers his/her time for Oktoberfest. For most of them, it’s both an honor and a significant challenge. The high amounts of alcohol consumed on the Wiesn lead to numerous fights and beatings. Besides that, the dark sides of Oktoberfest include theft and rape. Three hundred police officers are therefore on duty in the local police-station which is located in an underground building beneath the Theresienwiese. Additionally, over 300 more officers make sure that this mass event remains safe. If you plan to visit this episode of Bavarian madness, you should be aware of the dangers caused by thousands of drunk people all over the place. Especially as a tourist or non-Bavarian, you should also be aware of the beer. 5. The Beer It is not harmless, but it is, or can be, delightfully mischievous. Oktoberfestbier is not an ordinary beer, especially for those who come from the USA or Australia. German beer itself is rather strong in taste and alcohol, but Oktoberfestbier is even stronger. It must contain between 5.8% to 6.4% alcohol and be brewed in one of the six Munich-based breweries. Besides that, the beer is very â€Å"sà ¼ffig† (tasty), which means that you will empty your mug much quicker than you might have intended- one does not sip â€Å"Festbier† daintily. That’s why so many tourists, unfamiliar with German beer, can be found on the â€Å"Besoffenenhà ¼gel† (hill of the drunks) after three or four Maß- a little hill where all the wasted people sleep off their Wiesn experience. If you don’t want to end up there, just enjoy the fest as the locals do: have a â€Å"Brezn† (a typical Munich pretzel), drink slowly, and enjoy the annual Bavarian madhouse.

Greek Goddess Athena, Minerva, Goddess of Wisdom

Greek Goddess Athena, Minerva, Goddess of Wisdom She sums up many of the Greeks gifts to Western culture, from philosophy to olive oil to the Parthenon. Athena, daughter of Zeus, joined the Olympians in a dramatic way and figured in many founding myths, including taking an active part in the Trojan War. She was the patron of the city of Athens; its iconic Parthenon was her shrine. And as the goddess of wisdom, the strategy of war, and the arts and crafts (agriculture, navigation, spinning, weaving, and needlework), she was one of the most important gods to the ancient Greeks. The Birth of Athena Athena is said to have emerged fully formed from the head of Zeus, but there is a backstory. One of Zeus many loves was an Oceanid named Metis. When she became pregnant, the King of Gods remembered the danger he posed to his own father, Cronos, and in turn, how Cronos dealt with his father Ouranos. Wary of continuing the cycle of patricide, Zeus swallowed his lover. But Metis, in the darkness of Zeus interior, continued to carry her child. After some time, the King of Gods came down with a royal headache. Calling upon the blacksmith god Hephaestus (some myths  say it was Prometheus), Zeus asked that his head be split open, whereupon sprang gray-eyed Athena in her glory. Myths About Athena Befitting the patron of one of Hellas greatest city-states, Greek goddess Athena appears in many classic myths. Some of the most famous ones include: Athena and Arachne: Here, the Goddess of the Loom takes a skilled but boastful human down a peg, and by transforming Arachne into tiny, eight-legged weaver, invents the spider. The Gorgon Medusa: Another tale of Athenas vengeful side, the fate of Medusa was sealed when this beautiful priestess of Athena was wooed by Poseidon in the goddess own shrine. Snakes for hair and a petrifying gaze ensued. The Contest for Athens: Once again pitting the grey-eyed goddess against her uncle Poseidon, the contest for the patronage of Athens was decided for the god who bestowed the best gift to the city. Poseidon brought forth a magnificent (salt water) spring, but wise Athena gifted an olive tree- a source of fruit, oil, and wood. She won. The Judgement of Paris: In the unenviable position of judging a beauty contest between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite, the Trojan Paris put his money on the one Romans would call Venus. His prize: Helen of Troy, nà ©e Helen of Sparta, and the enmity of Athena, who would tirelessly back the Greeks in the Trojan War. Athena Fact File Occupation: Goddess of Wisdom, Warcraft, Weaving, and Crafts Other Names: Pallas Athena, Athena Parthenos, and the Romans called her Minerva Attributes: Aegis- a cloak with the head of Medusa upon it, spear, pomegranate, owl, helmet. Athena is described as gray-eyed (glaukos). Powers of Athena: Athena is the goddess of wisdom and crafts. She is the patron of Athens. Sources: Ancient sources for Athena include: Aeschylus, Apollodorus, Callimachus, Diodorus Siculus, Euripides, Hesiod, Homer, Nonnius, Pausanias, Sophocles and Strabo. A Son for a Virgin Goddess: Athena is a virgin goddess, but she has a son. Athena is credited with being part-mother of Erichthonius, a half-snake half-man creature, through an attempted rape by Hephaestus, whose seed spilled on her leg. When Athena wiped it off, it fell to earth (Gaia) who became the other part-mother. The Parthenon: The people of Athens built a great temple for Athena on the acropolis, or high point, of the city. The temple is known as the Parthenon. In it was a colossal gold and ivory statue of the goddess. During the annual Panathenaia festival, a procession was made to the statue and she was clothed in a new outfit. More: Since Athena was born without a mother sprung from her fathers head in an important murder trial, she decided that the role of the mother was less essential in creation than the role of the father. Specifically, she sided with the matricide Orestes, who had killed his mother Clytemnestra after she had killed her husband and his father Agamemnon.

Mergers And Acquisitions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Mergers And Acquisitions - Essay Example The companies are keen to reach out to a global customer base in a bid to respond to the increased pressures of achieving scale (Finkelstein, 1999, pp.1). This is also one of the motives in the case of Kraft and Cadbury deal as it will open new markets for the company. A thorough analysis of this deal covering aspects like long term strategies, regulatory implications, financing, defence mechanisms etc has been presented in the paper. Strategy of Kraft Inc Recently there has been a spate of merger and acquisition activities across the globe with the ‘bidder’ taking advantage of the low ‘target’ valuation. Besides the low valuations the other incentives in a merger and acquisition deal are tapping developing markets, acquiring access to the customer base of the target company, capitalising on the good-will of the target, generating business synergies etc. The global growth strategy of Kraft Foods is also based on the aforementioned objectives. By way of this strategy the company is anticipating an organic growth in its revenue base by 5% or higher; accompanied by a growth of 9% to 11% in the earnings per share (EPS) placing it in a good stead in the worldwide food industry. Irene Rosenfeld, Kraft Foods Chairman & CEO, takes pride in the market positioning of the company which has now entrenched itself as â€Å"global snacks powerhouse† based on its unparalleled portfolio of leading local and regional brands. By virtue of this unique combination and its significant market presence in the emerging markets the company is expected to register a consistent growth. The global growth strategy has enabled Kraft to lay the foundation for strong growth. The company aims at taking its performance to a higher level by leveraging on its scale and investing strategically in sales, marketing, innovation and create a high-class cost-structure. The acquisition of Cadbury has made Kraft Food an undisputed leader in Snacks, a high-margin and high g rowth category which comprises more than fifty percent of the total revenue of the company. The Snacks portfolio of the company is complemented by iconic local and regional brands in grocery, cheese, beverage etc. A majority of these iconic heritage brands are placed in top positions and is the favourite of the consumers who tend to be extremely loyal towards these brands. They generate high margins and have robust cash flows. The popular heritage brands offer Kraft Inc the unique opportunity of investing profits from its stable cash rich businesses to fast growing and high margin yielding developing markets. Kraft and Cadbury combination offers the scale required to grow distribution and sales in existing and new markets. The company anticipates revenue synergies and cost synergies to the tune of $1 billion and $750 million by 2013. Based on its anticipated growth in EPS and organic revenue Kraft Inc aims at becoming a top-rung performer in the food industry (Kraft Foods Inc.-a, 20 10). Regulatory implications The takeover of Cadbury by Kraft has been spoiled by the controversy surrounding the closure of Somerdale factory thereby creating sentiments of mistrust in the manner the Kraft is held. Now the company faces a stiff challenge in restoring its image in UK. The evidences gathered from

Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 40

Ethics - Essay Example In joining an organization, the employee signs a document in agreement to the terms and conditions of employment (Giacalone & Promislo, 2014). The document many at time is known to constitute ethical policies in detail otherwise an employee is presented with a separate document with ethics rules. In a situation where a coworker who is a friend is involved in violating the company’s ethics, dealing with the situation at hand in a professional manner without being bias is the right thing to do. Biasness is an unethical behavior in both the work place and personal life. In handling the situation, it is rational to have a candid formal talk with the coworker in the work place regarding the issue at hand. For reference purposes, it is vital to present a copy of the company’s ethics rules to the coworker highlighting the violated rule. After the talk, urging the coworkers to present themselves to the appropriate authority on grounds of ethical behavior is the best option in dealing with the issue at hand (OBrien, James Marakas, George, 2010). Security violations place the company at risk in terms of confidential information and the lives of human resource. The most appropriate penalty to a security violation is to let go of the involved personnel after thorough investigations prove the employee guilty of misconduct. On the other hand ethical violations are best penalized by placing the involved employee on probation for a period of time depending on the weight of the unethical behavior. Such a penalty serves as a disciplinary action to the personnel. While on probation the employee is meant to work on rectifying, where they went

Baking Class-Research Terms Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Baking Class- Terms - Research Paper Example This method is founded on whipping sugar and eggs/yolks to the ribbon stage, dry ingredients are then folded, the egg white is whipped to stiff peaks then folded into the sugar, egg/egg yolk, and dry mixture, lastly fat is folded into the batter. 9) Rolled in fat dough- This is dough in which the fat or filling is incorporated in many layers by using a rolling or folding procedure. It is used for flaky baked goods like croissants, puff pastry and Danish breads. 12) Creaming method- This method is initiated by the blending of sugar with butter until fluffy, eggs are added one by one and allowed to mix into the batter, dry and liquid ingredients are then added. This method is used for preparation of cookies, certain muffins, cakes, and quick breads. 14) Parchment paper- This is heat resistant paper that has been treated and is used in the kitchen for tasks like lining baking pans, wrapping foods to be cooked for instance en papillote, and covering foods when shallow

The impacts on the financial decision process of human elements Essay - 1

The impacts on the financial decision process of human elements - Essay Example Financial decisions are made in a systematic process. Organization factions are run by individuals who are entrusted with carrying on the vision and the mission of the company. As such, human elements is one the key components in the formula of financial decisions success. This paper will evaluate the impacts of the human elements in the process of making financial decisions. As preamble, the paper commences by reviewing types of financial decisions that are made in the organization. The financial decision making process is then assessed. The study then evaluates the types of human elements that characterize the contemporary organization. The impacts of the identified human elements are then analysed with the intent of revealing the extent to which they affect the whole process of making the financial decisions. The study then concludes the findings by giving a brief summary of all the main ideas given in the whole study. Strategic financial decisions are mainly made by the senior management of the organization after the approval by the shareholders. There are three main financial decisions that are made within the organizations, that is, investment, financing and dividend policy decisions. The investment decisions involve identifying the available opportunities for the investment and investing the shareholders funds in the best investment that has high returns and low risks. The financing decisions are the decisions that are made to identify the possible sources of fund to the organization and then selecting three best source of fund. The main sources of fund for the investment to the organization are commercial loans, organization has retained earnings, fund sourced from the capital market, the grants from other organizations and issuing of the corporate bonds (Cascio, John and Boudreau 2010, p.255) On the other hand, the dividend decisions are the decisions, which are made to determine how the

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 6

Assignment - Essay Example In this case, managing an IT company requires one to have management functions such change management, budgeting, controlling, and organizing unique aspects of technology. The main purpose of IT management is to ensure that a firm is utilizing IT resources effectively and efficiently. The management team sets goals and objectives that align with technology. Unlike management in other functions, technology plays a crucial role in IT management. Management of other functions do not specialize in a specific field. The management team utilize all resources of the organization to grow from one level of growth to another. The management team creates a strong organization culture that encourages employees from all departments to achieve the set goals and objectives. The main purpose of other management is to ensure that a firm utilize all resources in all discipline. The management of other functions enables managers and leaders to evaluate the firm’s external and internal situation and further take actions to prevent future failure. 2. What did Barton learn from his trip to the bookstore and late night of studying? In his trip to the bookstore and late night of studying, Barton learnt that one has to have adequate skills in all fields of operation. As highlighted by Austin, Richard, and Shannon (12), Barton knew nothing about IT management. In his late night of studying, he wondered whether all managers were experts in technology. Barton was challenged by the team he was with since they had been doing IT in their entire career. The team had adequate skills and abilities to handle every challenge that emerged in IT. Barton wondered whether the team understood that he lacked skills and expertise in the field of IT. From his trip, Barton learnt that IT management is different from management of other functions. He established the need to have adequate skills in IT and utilize resources in the organization. Barton realized that some people are more talented in som e specialist than other people. It was clear to him that, there some people who are smarter than him, but lack interest in performing the work he does. 3. Why did Barton's meeting with senior IT operations staff not go as he planned? Baton’s meeting with Senior IT operations staff did not go as he planned because he had no idea to create a system or a solution in the field of IT. After the morning discussion and meeting with Ruben, Barton believed that the meeting was crucial area of IT management. Despite having a strong desire to lead the IT department, he encountered serious challenges that he never expected. In the meeting, he would ask Jenny, his assistant to provide him with IT organizational chart. During the meeting, Barton could not remember any of his goals to his plan. Barton pointed that he require five people in the off site. He encountered a big challenge to support his plan. He depended on other members suggestions and agreed on their contribution. Barton could not fit well in the meeting, since he lacked adequate skills in IT. It seemed to him that the members in meeting made the situation difficult. 4. Why the IT organization is structured the way it is?   IT organization is structured the way it is because technology is moving at a high pace. IT specialists should be equipped with new skills and abilities every century. As technology advances at a high rate, there is a strong need of having experts that will solve problems that emerge. An IT organization i

Interservice Cpabilities for Crisis Response Essay

Interservice Cpabilities for Crisis Response - Essay Example lly, in shall explicit various ways through, which the United States’ Inter-Service Capabilities can be improved in order to ensure that their efforts directed towards eliminating or reducing the crises in the region is improved. It is apparent that there are various issues that triggered the military conflicts in Algeria and Morocco. However, taking a closer analysis of the issues provided in the case study it is apparent that trigger of conflict in Algeria and Morocco are quite different, but the concerned individuals are majorly driven by personal interests. The effective capabilities that can be used by the United States’ Service include: Facilitating Negotiations between the Concerned Parties: It is important that the United States engage create a platform between the concerned parties in Algeria and Morocco in order to determine the root causes of the conflict thereby formulating appropriate solutions. In Algeria, there is a major problem between the Military and the central Government, the United States, through its envoys can facilitate for negotiations between the military and the government in order to create peace between the two groups through reconciliation. Peaceful negotiations are evidently more important as compared to the application of military interventions that basically involve utilization of tremendous use of resources as well as the loss of lives. Peaceful negotiations can also be extended towards countries that support violence conflicts through provision of weapons and funds i.e. in the case of Iran and Sudan. Intensive Awareness Creation among the Groups on the Importance of Peace: In as much as many countries are aware of the importance of peace in social and economic development, it seems that in many cases this information is usually overlooked. It is therefore important that the United States, through its envoys i.e. the US Naval Service or a panel of Diplomats engage in a program that would basically focus not only on military

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 6

Assignment - Essay Example In this case, managing an IT company requires one to have management functions such change management, budgeting, controlling, and organizing unique aspects of technology. The main purpose of IT management is to ensure that a firm is utilizing IT resources effectively and efficiently. The management team sets goals and objectives that align with technology. Unlike management in other functions, technology plays a crucial role in IT management. Management of other functions do not specialize in a specific field. The management team utilize all resources of the organization to grow from one level of growth to another. The management team creates a strong organization culture that encourages employees from all departments to achieve the set goals and objectives. The main purpose of other management is to ensure that a firm utilize all resources in all discipline. The management of other functions enables managers and leaders to evaluate the firm’s external and internal situation and further take actions to prevent future failure. 2. What did Barton learn from his trip to the bookstore and late night of studying? In his trip to the bookstore and late night of studying, Barton learnt that one has to have adequate skills in all fields of operation. As highlighted by Austin, Richard, and Shannon (12), Barton knew nothing about IT management. In his late night of studying, he wondered whether all managers were experts in technology. Barton was challenged by the team he was with since they had been doing IT in their entire career. The team had adequate skills and abilities to handle every challenge that emerged in IT. Barton wondered whether the team understood that he lacked skills and expertise in the field of IT. From his trip, Barton learnt that IT management is different from management of other functions. He established the need to have adequate skills in IT and utilize resources in the organization. Barton realized that some people are more talented in som e specialist than other people. It was clear to him that, there some people who are smarter than him, but lack interest in performing the work he does. 3. Why did Barton's meeting with senior IT operations staff not go as he planned? Baton’s meeting with Senior IT operations staff did not go as he planned because he had no idea to create a system or a solution in the field of IT. After the morning discussion and meeting with Ruben, Barton believed that the meeting was crucial area of IT management. Despite having a strong desire to lead the IT department, he encountered serious challenges that he never expected. In the meeting, he would ask Jenny, his assistant to provide him with IT organizational chart. During the meeting, Barton could not remember any of his goals to his plan. Barton pointed that he require five people in the off site. He encountered a big challenge to support his plan. He depended on other members suggestions and agreed on their contribution. Barton could not fit well in the meeting, since he lacked adequate skills in IT. It seemed to him that the members in meeting made the situation difficult. 4. Why the IT organization is structured the way it is?   IT organization is structured the way it is because technology is moving at a high pace. IT specialists should be equipped with new skills and abilities every century. As technology advances at a high rate, there is a strong need of having experts that will solve problems that emerge. An IT organization i

Education in International Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Education in International Development - Essay Example till, it has been noted that the problem is not inherently linked to the political process and could be linked to disconnect between the citizens’ needs and the country’s policies. Gewald et al (2012: p29) emphasize the critical link between political participation and education, especially noting that education is essential to the social, economic, and political development of Zambia. Zambia’s Ministry of Education has since the early 90s been determined enhance access and quality of education in accordance to the societies needs (Sardanis, 2014: p21). This paper will seek to discuss the effects of underdevelopment on the provision of education in Zambia, while also evaluating the impact of policies, practices, and projects on schooling in Zambia. First, an overview of Zambia’s current economic development and political situation will be given. Zambia’s economy is heavily reliant on the mining industry, specifically copper mining. However, the costs of production continues to rise as copper reserves are depleted, while income is unstable due to copper prices on the world market, which has been identified as a reason why Zambia should diversify its economic base (Baldini & IMF, 2012: p35). The agricultural industry is poorly developed, while major investments both public and foreign in the manufacturing industry only took place following the country’s independence from Britain. Involvement of the state in almost every economic aspect has led to a highly bureaucratic and centralized economic structure. In real terms, economic growth in 2013 in Zambia declined by 6.5%, particularly because of a fall in output of cotton and maize that makes up most of the country’s economic output (Baldini & IMF, 2012: p35). Largely, real GDP growth is driven by the public, transportation, construction, communications, min ing, and manufacturing sector. Copper contributes to at least 70% of Zambia’s export earnings, although non-traditional exports like agriculture

Objectives And Responsibilities Of The Hilton Hotels Group Tourism Essay

Objectives And Responsibilities Of The Hilton Hotels Group Tourism Essay Chapter 1 Hilton Hotels in groups UK is known as one of the leading hotel group in the world. The Hilton Hotels group was found with its very first hotel established by Mr. Conrad in 1919 in Cisco, Texas. But, today the Hilton Hotels group has expanded geographically, produced original hotel and travel concepts, and developed modern technologies to enhance the experiences of the valuable guests. Today, it consists of more than 3600 hotels all over the world also with nearly 500,000 luxurious rooms in 81 countries with the continuously growing crew of over 135,000 members internationally (Hilton Hotels, 2011). Depending on that, it is clear and it was proven that the Hilton Hotels group has the capability of satisfying the interest of their customers as well as their stake holders. The Hilton Hotels consists of well reputed and highest quality popular brands with in their group such as, Hilton Conrad hotels and resorts, double tree by Hilton, Hampton inn by Hilton, Hilton garden inn, Hilton Grand vacations and home woods suites by Hilton and Waldorf Astoria collection. The whole Hilton Hotels group is running adherence to the Mr. Conrad Hiltons philosophy, the vision of the hotel Hilton Hotels group is To fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality (Hilton Hotels, 2011). Accordingly, the Hilton Hotels group believes it is their insight to convey the message of kindness and generosity all over the world, simply known as hospitability. According to the core values of the Hilton Hotels group, their brand name HILTON stands for, H HOSPITALITY   We are passionate about delivering exceptional guest experiences. I INTEGRITY   We do the right thing, all the time. L LEADERSHIP   We are leaders in our industry and in our communities. T TEAMWORK   We are team players in everything we do. O OWNERSHIP   We are the owners of our actions and decisions. N NOW   We operate with a sense of urgency and discipline (Hilton Hotels, 2011). At present, Hilton worldwide can be considered as one of the leading global hospitality company, crossing over the accommodation sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. The Hilton Hotels group is operated as an innovative and dynamic company which is mainly focused on administrating their business operations following the eco-friendly concepts and also with the services to the global community and enhancing the guest experience. Since the foundation formed by Mr. Conrad Hilton 90 years ago, Hiltons commitment to creating exceptional guest experiences still remains unaltered, and our more than 130,000 team members continue to bring the highest quality of service to the global visitors also achieving the interests of the stake holders with the mission of We will be the preeminent global hospitality company the first choice of guests, team members and owners alike (Hilton Hotels, 2011). 1.2 Groups of stakeholder and achieving their objectives Stakeholder can be considered as a person or people who have a stake also known as share in a particular organization or system. Stakeholders can be groups of people, organisations, institutions and sometimes even individuals. Sometimes the terms either actors or interest groups are used to describe the term stake holders. Accordingly, the word actor emphasizes that stakeholders are active in order to make interactions with each other. The use of the words interest group suggests that people can be grouped to achieve common goal. In some occasions, stake holder can be identified as a corporate  stakeholder, a party that may have the potential to affect or be affected by the actions of the business as a whole. This concept was first used in a 1963 internal memorandum at the Stanford Research institute. It defined stakeholders as those groups without whose support the organization would cease to exist (Grimble and Wellard, 1997). The theory was presently developed by  R. Edward Freeman  in the 1980s. Since then it has gained wide acceptance in business practice and in theorizing relating to  strategic management,  corporate governance,  business purpose  and  CSR together. Stakeholders can be found at any level or position in society, from the international to the national, regional, household or intra-household level. It is clear that, stakeholders may include all the people who affect and may get affected by the policies, decisions or actions within a particular system or an organization. Referring to the Hilton Hotels group, the stake holders can be identified at three major levels depending on their institutional levels. Local National Global or International Locally, the Hilton Hotel group is a business which is based on the ancient cultural environments as well as the aesthetic beauty in the country encouraging their customers as well as their stakeholders to incorporate those things to their beings. Therefore, it is clear that Hilton Hotel is being achieved the objectives of their local stakeholders objectives at a satisfactory level. Nationally, the Hilton hotels group is known as a business which is mainly focussed on the development of tourism in UK. By providing the lodging facilities by enhancing the customer experiences on travelling through their branded partners such as Hilton Conrad hotels and resorts, double tree by Hilton, Hampton inn by Hilton they have achieved their objective of development of tourism commercially in order to achieve their national stake holders objectives. Statistically it is proven that, the Hilton Hotels group consists of more than three hundred hotels all over the world also with nearly 500,000 luxurious rooms in 80 countries with the crew of over 135,000 members internationally (Hilton Hotels, 2011) and the group is still expanding all over the world. Therefore, the contribution of the international investors may lie at a higher level referring to that statistics. Because of that, it can be concluded that the Hilton Hotel group is being achieving their International Stake holders objectives. 1.3 The key responsibilities of the hotel group and the strategies The key responsibilities that should be possessed by the Hilton Hotel group can be divided in to three major dimensions. The Customer Dimension The Employee Dimension Internal process and financial dimensions The Customer Dimension consists of increment of the market shares, guest satisfaction, improve the customers profitability, increased the awareness of brand name and the increment of the MICE conversion rate. At present, Hilton Hotels group is incorporated with several partners all over the world such as double tree by Hilton, Hampton inn by Hilton. Therefore, the Hilton Hotel has got the potential to establish as the market leader. At past few decades, Hilton Hotels market revenue index increased from 104% to 106% and customer retention has increased Customer retention increased 6% to 56% (Balanced Scorecard Collaborative Hall of Fame Case Study on Hilton Hotels Corporation, 2003). The employee dimension may include, adherence to recruitment procedures, conducting training and development programs completion of the performance appraisals, control of the staff turnover and control the payroll as % of turnover. Proper management of human resources with the incorporation of employees are may be the strategy behind the achievement of these targets. Reservations efficiency, improved check-in efficiency, time and motion cleaning of rooms, food beverage cost efficiency, and control property maintenance may be the responsibilities that can be taken under the internal process dimensions. Increment of average room rate and revenue per available room, increment of non-room revenue, proper management of variable cost and reduction of fixed cost can be considered under financial dimension of responsibilities. At past few decades, RevPAR of Hilton Hotels has been increased by 2.7% (Balanced Scorecard Collaborative Hall of Fame Case Study on Hilton Hotels Corporation, 2003). Chapter 2 Economic, Social and Global Environment 2.1 Planned and mixed economic systems and impacts Planned economy is an  economic system  in which the  government  directs the whole  economy of a country.  This economic system is driven by the central government and it may control and makes critical decisions regarding the production and supply of goods and services. The planners may decide what should be done regarding the production process and hoe to direct lower-level enterprises to produce those goods in collaboration with national and social objectives. Under the planned economy, state sector may involve in the environmental protection, maintenance of the standards of the employments and maintenance of competition and also the economic planning. Beginning in the 1980s and 1990s, many governments of different countries, commanding over planned economies began deregulating. For an example, after fragmentation of the Soviet Union the economy is being moving towards the market-based economies by allowing the private sector to make the pricing for goods and services, production, and distribution decisions. Although most economies today are  market economies  or  mixed economies. Examples for the countries for the existence of planned economies are as  Cuba,  Libya,  North Korea,  Saudi Arabia, and  Myanmar ( Brabant and Jozef , 1991). Considering the impacts of the planned economy on Hilton Hotels group, there may be a regulation of the production and services according to the decision which are made from the government. Accordingly, there may be economic barriers for the foreign investors and stake holders to invest their properties in relation to the hotel industry. This may negatively affect on the Hilton Hotels group also. In contrast the mixed economy reflecting the features of both socialism and capitalism. In some occasions, it is also known as balanced economy. It is described as market economies with strong lapses, in addition to containing various government sponsored aspects. It is believed the term mixed economy should include the degree of private economic freedom mixed with a degree of government regulation process of markets. Countries may differ in relation to the relative weakness of each component. For an example, economies which are ranging from US to Cuba have been identified as mixed economies. The economic freedom may include individual freedom, economic efficiency and also the incentives to innovation provided by competition. When considering the Hilton Hotels group, individual competition may be very important between the partners to improve their capabilities in marketing. For an example, if there is a competition between Hilton Conrad hotels and resorts and Hampton inn Hilton, the separate partners may tend to improve their marketing capabilities in order to increase their market shares. This may be beneficial for the Hilton Hotels as the mother company. On the other hand, some times the whole marketing process can be negatively affected by the individual competition. Referring the government side of the mixed economy, it may consists of several processes such as environmental protection, maintenance of the standards of the employments and maintenance of competition and also the centralized economic planning some situations. Those are the things that the private sector may not capable to address. Referring to the Hilton Hotels group, due to the environment protection policies implemented by the government, the marketing process can be affected. For an example, if the government is implementing an environmental policy restricting the private access to the places with an aesthetic beauty such as beaches and forests, if the hotel group rely on that places whole marketing process can be negatively affected. In contrast, the establishment of the centralized economic planning may generate positive results in the relation of Hilton Hotels, at marketing process. 2.2 Social welfare policy and industrial policy measures in the UK The United Kingdom can be considered as a unitary state in which central government considerably lead the most of the state activities. But, when considering the structure of some regions such as Scotland, Wales it differs in certain degrees. Each region occupies a secretary of state and administrative department located in central government, and its own congress and executive, which participate in the region of certain central state ministries. Accordingly, the laws which apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland may differ from those in England and Wales. This framework has been subjected to the frequent changes. The most critical changes in recent years have been the renovation of the department of social security into the department of work and pensions, the significant transfer of income maintenance to the HMRC and the flattening of the department of transport, the regions and local government, whose key social policy responsibilities were positioned in the office of the deputy prime minister and have now been resettled mainly into communities and local government. There are some main government departments which are dealing with social policy in the UK are, the ministry of justice, the department for education, the department of health and the Department for Communities and Local Government. Referring to the administration of the welfare, UK has undergone two major phases of modifications. The first phase was applied in for 1960s and 1970s, saw central government transformed in order to allow the planning and control of public expenditure by the treasury. The objectives of these changes were to improve the managerial efficiency and economic planning. The effect was the generation of a system in which the treasury allocated resources to departments, and departments to services. The second phase was taken place in has led in 1980s and 1990s to modify the structure of the civil service and the administration of welfare. It consists of three major elements viz., the change of administration  into agencies, the introduction of management and the formation of quasi markets. Due to that implementation of social welfare policies, the hotel field can be affected in several ways. Formation of new laws regarding to the economy and welfare, management there were some barriers against the growing of the company. That may negatively affect on the Hilton Hotels group. Referring to the industrial policies in UK, multi- sector industrial policy is critical. Current mainstream economic thinking believes that industrial policy is ineffective, and that market forces should determine the fortunes of companies and industries. In the credit crisis, however, the UK state and most other governments felt obliged to step in. They established a  de facto  industrial policy strongly favouring the financial sector, at the expense of the rest of the economy. Consequently, the part of the economy that did not fail, was left playing by the old free-market rules, heavily penalised by austerity measures implemented to reduce the budget deficit. For the UK, there are a number of problems with the theory and practice of this approach. First, SMEs which provide majority of UK private sector employment are starved of credit despite Government entreaties for banks to lend more. This may be acts as a negative impact on the growth of the hotel industry, with no end in sight. Similar way, the private capital concentration in the shadow-banking sector remains surprisingly high, and may lead to volatility and crises in the non-banking sector. Finally, some of the UKs competitors, such as China and Korea, already have successful, multi-sector industrial strategies. 2.3 Impact of macroeconomic policy measures in the UK and US The belief that economic growth requires sound macroeconomic policy is a central element of in relation to the development. Even those questioning about that it may be possible to believe that macroeconomic stability is a precondition for successful economic development. At the broadest level, the macroeconomic stability of East Asian countries between the early 1960s and the late 1990s could help to explain why East Asian countries have sustained high growth rates. In contrast, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America have endured a painful combination of macroeconomic disarray and slow growth. As most economists would expect, improper management of macro economy could explain not only slow growth, but also why some developing countries have become heavily in obligated. Even if slow growth is attributed to problems with external arrears, the origins of a debt crisis can typically be traced back to policy decisions. Easterly (2002) finds that the group of the HIPCs had worse macroeconomic policies over 1980-97 than other developing countries, even after controlling for income levels. At present, the global economy has deteriorated rapidly and faced with a synchronised recession in most of the worlds major economies. These developments will have a reflective impact on the UK economy and raise the prospects of an especially severe downturn. The source of the current recession can be traced to the unsustainable rises in lending, bond, equity and house prices and compression of risk that have been evident since the start of decade across many developed economies also common for both US and UK. As poor as economic prospects currently are the situation is being getting worse without the various policy initiatives that have been adopted. For example, the Bank recapitalization scheme has clearly helped to avoid a collapse of the UK financial sector. Therefore, those factors can be generating adverse effects on many industries especially in the hotel industry. Chapter 3 Behaviour of organisations and the market environment 3.1 Shortcomings of market models relevant to the hotel group Market model can be identified as a mathematical representation of the interactions among various participants in the market, variety of economic forces, and variety of choices made during the process of marketing. There are number of market models are used to explain or predict the behaviour of one or more aspects of a market. In the framework of the securities market, for example, one model may used to express the outcome on a particular portfolio and how it can be maximized. When considering the hotel industry, there are several types of market models can be identified such as future orientation model, results managing model , proactive approach and the on going process model. Referring to the future orientation model, strategic management implies a future-oriented decision-making process. The objective of this model is to act now in order to survive and improve performance in the future. This can be implemented as 5-10 years year plans. As a fundamental, this model can be identified as an attempt to set future-oriented objectives, to predict and assess future trends in the organisations environment and to devise means to ensure meeting the objectives. According to this model, it may be difficult to predict some market trends due to the unexpected situations. For an example natural disasters may create different market trends. This may be the major draw back of this model. Considering the on going process, the responsibility of the marketing process lies clearly with top management. Their support and commitment is a requirement for both the design and application of any strategic plan. Furthermore, managing strategically implies a distinct way of managing organisations, i.e. not sporadic efforts to solve problems, but rather a logical framework for perceiving and managing organisations and their environments. The major draw back of this method is it may be difficult to pre identify the failures of the marketing system and trends before it happens. 3.2 Impact by the different factors Supply and demand play an important role in the marketing process. There should be a balance between demand and supply in terms of achieving the goals of marketing. When considering those factors such as income, price, weather and substitutes can create both positive and negative impacts on the hotel industry. For an example, status of the personal income can be directly affected on the demand. Because, low income people may prefer to use facilities at low level hotel industry, while high income group prefer higher standards. Price of the good and services can be generated by the costs plus profit margin of an organization. Therefore, if the industry is not going to use proper cross cutting methods and value addition techniques, the prices may increase. It may affect on the accessibility of that goods or service. Especially in the hotel industry this can be a great issue. Weather also can be generated both positive and negative effects on the demand. If the customers are well interested in travelling and they are willing to enjoy the aesthetic beauty bad weather may lead to problems. This also can be affected on demand. Substitution may lead the customers away from the loyalty. If the service is available at higher quality at cheaper price they may tend to purchase that one instead of earlier service. Considering the above facts, it can be concluded that, managing those factors is critical for the hotel industry. 3.3 Competitive strategies in the UK Competitiveness is defined as the only complete indicator that defines the concept of competitiveness at a national level is national productivity (Porter, 1990). The current situation manifested by globalization and the increasing recognition of interrelations has imposed new rules of conduct: the prosperity of nations is based on competitiveness on international markets, and that of enterprises, on the integration in the worldwide value chains. Because of that, the competitiveness has become a major issue for all the actors in economy, from the regional level to the organizational level. Therefore, it is clear that importance of implementation of competitive strategies in relation to the marketing process. Considering the tourism as a business it is a sector in which the structure of supply is extremely volatile and the solid and reliable part is the demand. Tourism can be exists for various reasons such as pleasure, business etc. People may want to travel and are willing to spend money; consequently, they may generate demand for tourism products and services. Thus, the decision to travel precedes the acts of consumption (Keller, 2005). The key to attracting and making clients loyal is offering a remarkable experience and not just lodgings; hotel chains innovate to create a unique environment, from hotel rooms to lobbies and the restaurant. Thus, changes in the design of Marriott restaurants and in the menus so as to reflect the particularities of different regions have lead to up to 50% increases in sales recorded in rapport to the number of rooms occupied (Hotels, 2004). In company with innovation, technology also can be considered as an important strategic asset that allows hotel chains to improve their performance and competitiveness. On a global scale, the role of technology in strengthening the competitive advantage of a hotel is recognized, hence its contribution to the hotels success (Nyheim, 2004). Since the hospitality industry, as any other branch of services, is capital intensive, human resources may represent a source of competitive advantage for a company. Failite Ireland (2005) , in the research conducted among 3, 4 and 5 star hotels in Dublin to analyze successful practices in hotels underline the fact that the industry depends on the know-how of personnel, of the knowledge and understanding of the clients requirements that would make the client feel at home. By considering the above facts, it is clear that hotel industry should follow competitive strategies to survive in the market. Chapter 4 International trade and the European dimension 4.1 Pros and cons of trade between the UK and other countries Because of the rapid development of the international relationship between countries, Globalization process can be considered as critical in the marketing process. Therefore, globalization process may have the capabilities of generating both positive and negative effects on trade referring to the hotel industry. Considering the positive effects, the hotel groups can trade in the working force from the countries at a cheaper price where the working force is available at lower cost. This may lead to cutting their additional cost in relation to human resources and beneficial for the hospitality industry. Through the strong international relationship, the hotel groups reputation can be published and marketed. This may lead to bring in foreign investors to the country who may have the capabilities of investment for hotel industry as well as for the other industries. Referring to the negative points of international trade, increased job insecurity of workers may play a critical role. When the industry is demanding the working force at a lower price, the workers may not survive unless they provide their services at that lower price. Except that, the uniqueness of the culture of the country can be affected through the globalization referring to the international trade. Especially, through the development of the hospitality industry there may be a tendency to develop a globalized sub culture based on the tourism. This may lead to interfere with the uniqueness of the original culture in the country. 4.2 The impact of European Union policies on UK organisations and the hotel group The  EU can be identified as is  economic  and  political union  of 27  member states  which are located primarily in Europe. The EU was originated from the  European Coal and Steel Community  and the  European Economic formed by  six countries  in the 1950s. At present, the EU has grown in size by  the appointment of new member states, and in power by the addition of policy areas to its responsibilities. The Maastricht Treaty  established the European Union under its current name in 1993. The last modification to the constitution of the EU, the  Treaty of Lisbon, joined with the EU in 2009. EU member states keep all powers not openly handed to the Union. In some areas the EU enjoys exclusive competence. These are areas in which member states have renounced any capacity to endorse legislation. In other areas the EU and its member states share the competence to legislate. While both can legislate, member states can only legislate to the extent to which the EU has not. In other policy areas the EU can only co-ordinate, support and supplement member state action but cannot endorse legislation with the aim of incorporating national laws. Under the exclusive competence it states that The Union has exclusive competence to make directives and conclude international agreements when provided for in a Union legislative act. Accordingly the monetary policy for the member is established as Euro. Not only that, the establishment of the competition rules for the internal market has been adopted. Those things can generate both positive and negative impacts on the hotel groups. Considering the supporting competence it states that The Union can carry out actions to support, coordinate or supplement Member States actions in. Referring to that, industries, culture as well as the tourism are being regulated. This also can create positive and negative impacts on hotel group. 4.3 EMU and the economy of UK The  term Economic and Monetary Union  is used as a  collective term  for the group of policies aimed at meet the economies of members of the  European Union  in three stages so as to allow them to adopt a single currency, the  euro. All members of the  EU are expected to participate in the EMU. The implication of UK becoming a member of EMU can be explained as both positive and negative impacts. For an example it is clear that, Exchange rate on locking with the Euro regarding the members as well as for UK. It may improve the stability of the value of the money against the inflation. On the other way, it may negatively affect on foreign investors. Similarly, some policies implemented by the EMU may also affect both negatively and positively on the industries. Chapter 5 Conclusion Referring to the mission, core values and key objectives of the Hilton Hotels group as a worldwide business it is clear that the objectives are being achieved up to the satisfactory level. Though the impacts of the sudden changes in the business environment, still the Hilton Hotels group has been survived in their business of hospitality with the proven capabilities in successful marketing. But, when considering the market modelling marketing mix modelling is being a developing trend at innovative marketing strategies.MMM means the use of statistical analysis such as  multivariate  regressions  on sales and marketing  time series  data to estimate the impact of various marketing  tactics on sales and then predict the impact of future sets of strategies. It is often used to optimize advertising mix and promotional tactics with respect to sales revenue or profit. Therefore, implementation of MMM on Hilton Hotels group may improve the trustworthiness as a marketing tool among its major rival companies.

Relations Between Women In The 18th And 19th Centuries. Essay -- essay

Relations between women in the 18th and 19th centuries. Theme: Relations between women in the 18th and 19th centuries. Thesis: Relationships between women in the nineteenth century America created a web of love and support for women. Mothers and daughters, sisters and friends from childhood formed emotional and sometimes physical bonds that lasted lifetimes. These ties were acknowledged and easily accepted in their societies. Many women survived unthinkable hardships such as geographical isolation, child birth, and loss of children because of the unconditional love found in their relations with other women. I.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Introduction A. Female friendship of 19th century not really studied before B. Abundance of evidence suggests very strong emotional ties between women.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  C. All types of relationships are suggested from sisterly love to passion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  D. In this world men are hardly noted II.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Defining and analyzing these relations   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A. Question of method and interpretation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  B. How to view same sex relations   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.Psychopathology   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2.dichotomy between normal and abnormal   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  C. Viewing within a cultural and social setting   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  D. Based on the diaries of women from 35 families from 1760s to 1880s   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.Represents brood range of women   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2.Middle class III.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sensual and platonic   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A. Sarah Butler Wister and Jeannie Field Musgrove   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1. Met while families vacationed; spent 2 years   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  together at boarding school   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2. throughout life wrote to eachother talking of   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  their deep affection and their anguish when apart   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3. Marriage brought physical separation but nor   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ... ... friends and relatives were present through the entire process. VII. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The relationships between women during this era was core to their lives and survival. Without the love, support, and rituals surrounding their daily lives together, many of the women would not have survived the hardships that often presented themselves in life. Point of Analysis: I feel that the author was a bit long winded in her explanations of some things. There are many things that she repeats. I also feel that she could have presented more about the lives of men. After reading this, I wonder what the men did all day and if they had relationships like this with their friends and male kin. It is a great essay and does show vividly the lives of women during this time Point of Synthesis: This article really helped me to understand the women during this time much more. To see their lives on a much more personal level, and how they socialized really creates a deeper and more personal understanding of women here. Connecting this with their political lives, regional, and religious helps to make the circle complete and create a true understanding of women during this era.

Analyzing Search Engines :: essays research papers

<div style="sub-title">1. Formulate five criteria for the evaluation of search engines To effectively evaluate three different search engines from the perspective of an advanced web user, the following criteria were established: 1. Relevance and accuracy of search results 2. Search speed 3. Advanced search options 4. Other services 5. Site design and layout More information about these criteria and how they were used is available below. 2. Test three search engines against your criteria For this evaluation, the following three search engines were tested: 1. AltaVista - http://www.altavista.com/ 2. Google - http://www.google.com/ 3. DirectHit - http://www.directhit.com/ <div style="sub-title">3. Explain your methodology The criteria outlined in Part 1 were reached by considering the things that would be important to an advanced user. Of course, factors like Relevance and Speed are critical to such a user (particularly in a work environment). The search options criteria is particularly important to advanced users who are after a specific page and do not want to waste time 'wading' through results from a 'standard' search. The other criteria are important to most users and mean that the search engines are more usable and useful. The search results from the three test search engines (Part 2) were evaluate according the criteria, explained it more detail below. Criteria 1 - Relevance and Accuracy of Results This criterion was to evaluate the usefulness of a particular search engine according to the accuracy of its results. I defined the relevance, according to personal standards, after browsing the pages in the results, for three separate search terms. The Relevance Percentage is calculated by counting the number of relevant pages that appear in the first 20 search 'hits' and then multiplying by 20 (for a percentage). Criteria 2 - Search Speed This criterion was to evaluate which of the test search engines returns results quicker. However, it is important to note that the speed test is both a test of the Internet connection to the remote machine, as well as the time taken by the search engine to perform the search. Furthermore, tests of Internet speeds are very variable based on time of day, other internet traffic etc and are therefore of only limited accuracy. For this reason, no 'hard numbers' were calculated (ie timed searches). Instead, I rated each search engine based on 5 searches per engine at the same time, same day. The possible Speed Ratings are as follows: Excellent, Good, Poor Criteria 3 - Search Options This criteria was to evaluate the search engines advanced search options.