Thursday, October 31, 2019

Outsourcing Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Outsourcing - Term Paper Example focus more on core competences, allows organization to provide products and services to consumers on much cheaper rate, it allows best utilization of time and factors of production, and with activities it also transfers the risk attached to those activities. With advantages, outsourcing has some disadvantages as well, which includes Increase in unemployment in outsourcing country, it often eradicates direct communication between an organization and its clients which hinders organization to build strong relationship with employees, it rises the risk of losing control over operations, it makes the sensitive information vulnerable as chances of leakage of information increases with outsourcing, and it makes organizations largely dependent upon the outsourced partner (Bettis, Bradley, & Hamel, 1992). There are number reasons which explain why organizations outsource their functions and business processes, one of the basic and major reasons is that it saves money and allows organization to pool that money in more productive activity There are many things which companies consider while looking to outsource as the success of outsourcing such as, Companies’ capability to manage in mobile locations; Companies’ capacities to expand and to build outsource partnerships, and companies’ skills and abilities to what to produce and not to produce while being competitive in the market (Boudreaux, 2008). There are number of exogenous factors which also need to be considered by companies while looking for outsourcing, which are Political stability of a country where function or process is outsourced, Language skills of outsourced partner, Infrastructure stability of outsourced partner, and flexibility of intellectual property rights and business contracts in the country of outsourced partner. Companies should concern about handing over technology to other businesses as this practice is quite worrying for them who outsource functions or business processes in order to save

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

The Short Story and Essay Writing Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Short Story and Writing - Essay Example Also I would try to look at the narrative point of view and the attitude of the writer towards the subject matter. But mainly, I would focus on the efficacy of the opening paragraph and gauge if it was effective enough in capturing my attention by comparing the two short stories. Araby (27-33) is a short story written by James Joyce that is narrated in the first person point of view. The story discussed the subject matter of discovering sexual desires from the perspective of a boy at the brink of adulthood. Although the topic of the story is not something that I have discovered on the latter part, the opening paragraph did contain in a nutshell the attitude of the writer towards the subject matter—â€Å"North Richmond Street, being blind, was a quiet street†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Joyce 27) As a boy, the narrator was blinded by his youth towards his perception on sexuality and love. And upon finally arriving at Araby late at night, was symbolic because he saw ‘adulthood’ for its true colours. It was not what he imagined it to be—of shops with their wares and bustling people but instead, â€Å"nearly all the stalls were closed and the greater part of the hall was in darkness.† In the end, the boy realized his folly: â€Å"Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger† (Joyce 32-33) Though there have been a truck-load use of metaphor and symbolism used throughout the story, the opening paragraph, on my opinion was not effective enough in capturing my attention. For me, it lacks interest. There was nothing familiar in North Richmond Street that could spark my interest that though it was an exact location that could symbolize any typical English suburban street during the early 18th century, it was insignificant, detached; greatly because it was very time/ era

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Disney And The French Media Essay

Disney And The French Media Essay Disneys first theme park, called Disneyland, is located in Anaheim, California and opened in 1955. Its Floridian counterpart DisneyWorld, located in Orlando, opened in 1971. The success of these parks and the success of Tokyo Disneyland which opened in 1983 motivated the company to expand further in order to achieve optimal market domination. The fourth theme park was to be built in Europe. Spain was long in the running as future site, but eventually France was chosen in 1987. The theme park was to be built in the French town Marne-La-Vallà ©e, a town located 32 kilometers outside of Paris. The centrality of this location was deemed perfect, and it was easily accessible by plane, train and car. In addition, the French government also facilitated the decision making process by guaranteeing financial incentives and by extending its transportation network to include the park. These promises perfectly compensated for the northern French climate that initially troubled the Disney planner s. After the official implementation of the partnership between Disney and the French government, the Disney theme park was built on 4,700 acres of farm land. Euro Disney, as it was called in 1992, was the biggest amusement park and resort in Europe upon completion. Nevertheless, its opening on April 12, 1992 was not as successful as its grand scale suggested it would be. The coming months further exemplified this as attendance levels, souvenir and food sales, as well as Disney hotels occupancy rates remained painfully low. Euro Disney was labeled by the entertainment industry as being an ideal case study on how not to open a theme park. Many French critics echoed this argument. Euro Disney was called a cultural Chernobyl, and seen as culturally insensitive to European guests. Overall, antagonism towards American popular culture was widespread among French intellectuals. They were supported by a prevalent nationalistic sentiment that promoted French culture in order to protect it from t he supposed global hegemony of American culture. This anti-American context was the main problem that troubled Disneys search for acceptance. The park went nearly bankrupt in 1994 which forced Disney to reevaluate its strategies to counter the French anti-American mindset. In other words, the company soon realized that it was too focused on American culture instead of European culture, thus the company started to make essential modifications to cater to the local European context. Adaptations based on cultural differences were made on services, attractions, products and practices which eventually reestablished the Disney formulas appeal. The analysis of these adaptations and the context of the problems that predated them is the framework of this paper. Findings based on this analysis support this papers thesis statement: cultural hybridization spelled the success of Disneyland Paris. The first part of the research question that is related to this statement is: to what extent did French and other European responses to the park affect Disneys strategies? These responses are put into context by addressing the acceptance of American popular culture abroad. American popular culture was not easily accepted in France due to a long history of Anti-Americanism and this severely affected Disneys chances of success. This notion provides the foundation for the second part of the research question, namely in how far is cultural resistance towards the Disney theme parks automatic?. The latter of this research question is researched briefly by comparing Disneyland Paris reception to the reception of the Disney theme parks in Asia. The reception of Tokyo Disneyland was overwhelmingly positive as mentioned earlier, mainly because the Japanese preferred an exact copy of the American model. The reception of Hong Kong Disneyland was also very positive, mostly because of the adaptati ons Disney made to local tastes and because of its extensive marketing campaigns . All in all, this comparison further proves that the cultural resistance towards the Disney theme parks depends on the larger cultural attitude towards American popular culture. Studies including Disneyland Paris are often connected to debates regarding global American influence. However, most of these debates focus solely on the economic aspect of the venture as is exemplified by the large number of economic journals that discuss Disneys global expansion. Those journals talk of profits and marketing schemes, but they often neglect to take into account a cultural approach. In recent years, scholars have started to do in-depth research on the role that Disney plays in the development of culture, thus putting economics on the sideline. The book The Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney and the American Way of Life by Steven Watts is one of the first books which gives a detailed account of the huge role the Disney company plays within American society. Watts discusses topics ranging from Disney and American values to Disney and American identity construction, ultimately drawing the conclusion that Disney is a major architect of modern American culture. This premise is fre quently used as a foundation for studies dealing with the European Disney park, because Disneys Americanness is seen by some scholars as an obstacle for its reception in Europe. Especially French scholars prefer this standpoint as most of them view Disneys expansion as merely being part of Americas cultural imperialism. This standpoint is taken into account in the current academic debate on the European park, but it plays a limited role in discussions. Recent publications on Disneyland Paris focus on the idea that the park has a high entertainment factor, thus it is not solely seen as an entity which spreads American culture or philosophy. Andrew Lainsburys Once Upon an American Dream: the Story of Euro Disneyland is an excellent example of a book that discusses Disneys professionalism in the entertainment industry rather than its possible ties to cultural imperialism. Other publications such as Kathy Merlock Jacksons Disneyland and Culture: Essays on the Parks and their Influence t ie in with Lainsburys thesis as they put emphasis on the fact that Walt Disney invented the American theme park, consequently uniting professional entertainment with culture. The two sides of this academic debate are combined in cultural studies that take into account Europeans ability to pick and choose from American culture. As a result, drawing the conclusion that Europeans do not passively absorb everything that American culture has to offer. This paper will follow this line of thought by including theories put forward by scholars Rob Kroes, Richard Kuisel, and Richard Pells, who all acknowledge Europeans skill to adapt American cultural products to fit into local contexts. To conclude, doing this kind of research on Disneyland Paris is relevant within the American Studies discipline as it provides an interpretation of an American company in multicultural Europe. Moreover, it also illustrates that there are constant tensions between local adaptation and global standardization. Disney and the French: a difficult relation Disneys model for theme parks might be new for the French, but they were already accustomed to theme parks in general. Seventy parks could be visited in France before the opening of Euro Disney. However, not all of them were making profit. Zygofolies Park near Nice had to close down and Mirapolis Park and Smurfs Park had to make huge budget reductions in order to stay afloat. The general idea was that the French were not that interested in theme parks or that the parks were not extraordinary enough to impress French guests. Nevertheless, Parc Asterix which opened in 1989 is still open today and it is considered to be the most successful competitor of the Disney park. Many ascribe the parks success to its detailed theming, exciting attractions and its link to French nationalism. Asterix and Obelix are after all French icons. Still, some scholars believe that the existence of Parc Asterix could not have prepared the French for the arrival of a European Disney park as Christian Renaut e xplains in his article Disneyland Paris: A Clash of Cultures He states that few French people had actually traveled to the American parks in California and Florida, hence the majority of French were uninformed about the Disney theme park formula. Disney spokesman Nicolas de Schonen elaborated on this in the Kansas City Star in 1991: misunderstandings have arisen with the union because people in Europe do not understand what an American-style resort is . Renaut certainly has a valid argument, however one should not forget Disneys marketing expertise. The two American parks had been marketed extensively in France with the help of Disney films, television shows and comics, whereby the comic series Le Journal Mickey played a crucial role. This successful comic series was established as early as 1934 and it portrays all the Disney characters from Mickey Mouse to Daisy Duck, yet it has a very French feel to it. In other words, the characters are foreign, but they are put into a French context. This of course influences the Mickey character itself as he is often shown having more brains than its American counterpart, which might suggest why the French find the American Mickey less interesting. Moreover, the first commercials promoting the park were too American in style, something that put off many parents. In a teaser commercial from 1992, the parks bigness and extravagance was stressed with the help of bombastic music, fast Hollywood-sty le cuts and a voice-over telling the following: a new world of holiday dreamsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦come and discover the magicà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Euro Disney Paris, the most spectacular holiday in Europe!. Clearly this was not a commercial that was adapted to European tastes, and its efficiency remains doubtful as these kinds of American oriented commercials could not erase the image that most French had of the Disney park, namely a piece of land filled with merry-go-rounds, and one or two Mickeys walking around to take pictures with. Surely not something which would spur many return visits. As for French intellectuals, they felt that they knew more about the Disney parks and the kinds of ideologies that they promote, consequently drawing the conclusion that the European park was part of a grand scheme promoting Americas supremacy over Europe. French editor Jean Cau called it a horror made of cardboards, plastic and appalling colors, a construction of hardened chewing gum. Others called it the invasion of American culture and the symbol of the loss of European culture. Thus, the idea of a Disney park in Europe soon developed into a threat on European culture, more specifically French culture. Numerous intellectuals, journalists and politicians started to express their disagreement, sometimes transforming it into pure loathing. The backdrop to all of this turmoil is of course the relationship between the United States and France. From the moment that the Marquis de La Fayette set foot on American soil the relationship has been one of the love/hate category. Frustrated pol iticians and French-oriented journalists continue to emphasize this special relation. A recent event dealing with this is the 2003 Iraq war and the disagreement that the United States and France had over their involvement. As the conflict heated up, the American press urged the American public to boycott French products, ultimately relabeling French fries to Freedom Fries. However, the past of the relationship also shows the strength of it, as the French population owes much to the Americans, especially with regards to the post-World War II reconstruction period. I.e. the Marshall Plan was essential for France to get back up on its feet after it had been severely hurt by the German occupation. Furthermore, this plan aided the spread of American cultural products in France. Taking the love and hate aspects of the relationship into account it is quickly concluded that the French pay much attention to their identity. The French identity is one which is strongly defended, as throughout the years French generations have created categories such as the French, Frenchness, and the French way of life. Richard Kuisel elaborates on this Frenchness in much detail in his book Seducing the French: The Dilemma of Americanization since it greatly affects how the French viewed the Americans in the 1990s. They believed that their Frenchness was at risk due to the emerging power, prosperity and prestige of America, hence they were initially very critical of the country. Moreover, Christian Renaut makes clear that the French-American relation also has much to do with pride and jealousy. He explains how on the one hand, the French continue to find it difficult to accept that Americas multiculturalism resulting from cultural invasion does not seem to have an impact on Ameri cas economy. On the other hand, the Americans envy France for its artistic and cultural legacies, and how those legacies remain attractive despite Frances limited attempts to hide its arrogance about them. Taking Renauts arguments into account, it is not difficult to understand that when the Disney company decided to open a theme park in the country of Claude Monet, Victor Hugo and Voltaire with Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Dopey, many would not welcome them with open arms. In addition, the fact that the development of Euro Disney took place in the 1980s also hurt the companys chances of success in France. Its American theme parks were successful as well as its Japanese counterpart, yet Disneys animation studio was doing very poorly. The fact that its animation studio has to run successfully is crucial for Disneys reception around the world as the films spread the Disney message. After all, bad films create negative reviews for the Disney company. Both The Black Cauldron (1985) and Oliver and Company (1988) failed in France, as was the case in the rest of the world, hence those movies cannot be seen as good promotion material for a theme park. Later successes of The Little Mermaid (1989) and Beauty and the Beast (1991) had little effect on French critics view on Disney films. The idea that Disney harmed original European fairytales remained too popular in those circles. Very quickly, Ariane Mnouchkine, a successful French theatre director, labeled the E uro Disney park a cultural Chernobyl. This phrase would be recycled dozens of times by French intellectuals criticizing Disneys European venture. One of the most vocal critics was French Culture and Education Minister Jack Lang. At a Mexican UNESCO conference in 1981, Lang attacked certain great nations which have no other morality than that of profit, and seek to impose a uniform culture on the whole world. He called this intellectual and financial imperialism. Later on he labeled Euro Disney as being an enclave of American leisure industry in France. Still, he did not object to Disneys investment in the French economy and the many jobs it would create. This is confirmed by an article published in Panorama in 1992: After criticizing the American culture and denouncing its wild imperialism until 1981, the left wing government had but to negotiate with Disney to fight against unemployment and carry on with the development of the Ile-de-France region. Fortunately for Disney, not all intellectuals would take part in harshly criticizing the arrival of the park. Joffre Dumazedier, a sociologist, stated in Le Journal du Dimanche in 1991: at the time of Louis XIV, Europe spoke French. Then England fascinated the 19th century. Today it is up to the Americans, then it will be the Japanese. It is a stupid scare. Who cares Disney is American as long as it is well made. Basically the key to the project in France had to do with money issues and job opportunities. No government would turn down Disneys offer, as it had the potential to make a lot of money. In 1995, Right-wing President Jacques Chirac followed up Francois Mitterand. Chirac had a pro-Disneyland mindset as it fit with the right-wing tradition of admiring a sense of enterprise, whatever the cost, in addition to following the American model. Michael Eisner, CEO of the Walt Disney Company, confirms this in his autobiography Chirac would prove more sympathetic to our project, but his arrival meant dealing with an entirely new group of officials. Overall, the reality of the presence of a Disney theme park near Paris started a wave of criticism, especially from left-wingers. Disney tried to counter this criticism by continuously repeating that a majority of Disney films were based on European fairytales, hence they reasoned that they were paying homage to those classic tales from France, Germany and Denmark. In addition, Disney promoted the strong link France had with the company, since it had been present in the country for many years, covering various generations. Disney even went as far as showing that Walt Disney himself had drawn inspiration from Tivoli Gardens of Copenhagen in Denmark for the construction of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Thus, uncovering Disneys European roots. These actions were successful to some extent, but they were not able to stop the negative views towards the park entirely. To conclude, Disney took into account these initial responses to the park and especially the Imagineering department acted upon French criticism. They designed the looks and feels of the park and tried to incorporate some aspects of European culture. Thus, the Imagineers attempts should be given some credit as they can be considered to be the first who acknowledged Disneys new European context. This raises the question, in how far were the Imagineers successful in creating a European style Disney park? Grand American designs with European details The parks architecture is an aspect which is very hard to criticize. The Imagineers knew that they had to design a park which was located in the very land of medieval castles and chateaus. Experience that they had gained from the construction of the American parks and Tokyo park was used to the fullest. One can therefore easily draw the conclusion that the European park is the most beautiful of them all. Popular American attractions such as Splash Mountain, New Orleans Square and Country Bear Jamboree are not included in the park, but this has no effect on its attractiveness. A key aspect of the European park is its landscaping. All themed areas have their own detailed gardens which brings a visitor immediately to the lands portrayed. For example, Fantasyland is filled with French garden architecture. This type of gardening has a mythical and magical feel to it that perfectly connects to the fairytales theme of Fantasyland. However, one has to remain critical when it comes to Disneys architectural adaptations that were made to fit the European context. Mostly because one has to look very closely in order to discover European traits. Victorian America is still represented in Main Street. Adventureland is not a place to pay attention to Europe as it is focused on Caribbean exotism. Best exemplified by the popular attraction Pirates of the Caribbean. Frontier land covers the heroic conquest of the West, also not a topic were Europeaness could be easily inserted. Fantasyland is the best area in the park when it comes to adapting to Europeans contexts, but Disney has not succeeded in reaching its full potential. The lands carrousel is called Lancelots Carrousel, but the Knights of the Round Table are never referred to. The same applies for attractions such as Peter Pans flight and the Mad Hatters Tea Cups. Literature refers to Alices Garden labyrinth as the key example of European adaptation by the Disney company, but it is based on Disneys version of the story and not Lewis Carolls. Thus, absolutely nothing has been done to add an extra European layer to the attractions. The only land where one finds some hints of E uropeanness of the park is Discovery Land. The Imagineers originally wanted to copy the American version of Tomorrowland with its emphasis on American technology and space adventure. But even the Imagineers agreed that this would be unsuitable for a park located in Europe. Thus, they constructed a land based on Jules Verne and gave it a nineteenth-century look. They included the Nautilus, a movie theatre showing documentaries on Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, created a Jules Verne inspired balloon for the faà §ade of Videopolis, and developed Space Mountain, a rollercoaster ride themed in Jules Verne style and following a Jules Vernes type of story. The remaining attractions in the land, Star Tours, and Michael Jacksons Captain EO completely lack any links with Europe, because they are exact copies of the American versions. Exiting the resort will also not bring guests into European atmospheres as both the Disney village as the hotels are American oriented. The Villages Planet Hollywo od, and its Buffalo Bill Wild West Show extravaganza are proof of this, as well as the themes of the hotels which can be drawn from their names: Newport Bay Club, Cheyenne Hotel, Santa Fe hotel, New York Hotel, Davy Crockett Ranch and Sequoia Lodge. As for the castle, the Sleeping Beauty Castle is not an exact copy of the castles in the other parks, yet is it also not typically European. It is absolutely stunning, but it is not more European than its counter parts, since it remains a creation based on fantasy. The idea that it is based on the German Neuschwanstein castle is a poor attempt by Disney to give the castle a European background. However, there is one aspect of the Sleeping Beauty Castle which is very European oriented, and that is the fact that it has a second floor. In the first year of the park, the imagineers came aware of the different reactions Europeans and Americans have towards the Disney castle. Both Europeans and Americans were impressed by its outer design, but Europeans were also interested in its interior design. This is exemplified by the fact that many European visitors ran to the castles stairs to see what was located on the upper levels. The Imagineers were never aware of the notion that castle interi ors were also important, mostly because the American Disney castles are only decorated on the ground level. After all, castles are not part of the local scenery in America, so why would American visitors be interested in lavish interiors? Intrigued by European visitors reactions, the imagineers designed La Galerie de la Belle au Bois-Dormant located on the mezzanine level of the castle. This is a walk-trough attraction depicting the story of Sleeping Beauty by means of stained-glass windows, tapestries and illuminated story-books. The attraction ends on the balcony of the castle so that guests have the opportunity to view Fantasy Land from above which hopefully results in feeling like a prince or princess. Despite this European oriented addition to the castle, Disneys architecture in France remains very American in nature. However, other aspects of the park have been Europeanized based on European feedback or at least that is what the Disney company promotes to its guests. These Europeanized aspects will be discussed later on, but first one has to establish the differences between European and American behaviors towards and within Disney parks in order to fully understand the adaptations that were made by the Disney company. Thus, to what extent does European behavior in Disney parks differ from American behavior? American culture vs. European culture in the Disney park The park struggled economically in the early years of its existence. Mostly, because Disney forgot to realize that the American visitor is not the same as the European visitor. First of all, the European visitor will not spend his or her money in the same way, most often it is not even spend at all. Secondly, the European visitor does not have a close connection with American Disney culture. For most American families it is normal to be raised with the Mickey Mouse Club, Disney songs and television shows. This is not the case in France and the rest of Europe, because animation celebrities extent beyond Mickey and Minnie. The French have Asterix, and Obelix, whereby jokes from the these comic books have become staples in the French language. The Belgians have Spike and Suzy (Suske and Wiske in Dutch). The Dutch have Oliver B. Bumble and Tom Puss (Olivier B. Bommel and Tom Poes in Dutch) to name a few European comic celebrities. Mickey and company cannot therefore be considered to be t he most important characters in European upbringing. This suggests that Europeans are more reserved when it comes to the popular notion of a Disney park being a must-see attraction. Thirdly, European people, especially from France, Holland, Germany and Scandinavia, remain very reserved when it comes to showing excitement towards Disney characters. The American parks are traditionally filled with parents dressed up in Disney merchandise, trying to channel their inner child. The European mindset simply does not comply with this. Many researchers have tried to find reasons for this, yet no consensus among conclusions has been reached, although some researchers connect Europes reserved mindset to its old cultural heritage. The same cultural differences can be seen in visitors reactions to parades and shows. American entertainment is accompanied by much applause and audience participation, while Europeans often prefer distance between performer and audience. This is of course not the cas e for people from the south regions of Europe, as their social codes support close contact, yet their visitor numbers are lower than the ones from the north regions of Europe, hence their presence has little effect on the general European reaction. All of these cultural differences cannot be changed by the Disney company, as they are so deeply rooted within Europe, yet the Disney company was able and willing to change some aspects of the Disney formula to fit European tastes. It must be noted, however, that these changes were mostly motivated by financial loses. By 1993, the park was on the verge of bankruptcy and essential modifications had to be made in order to keep the park from closing down. Thus, in how far was the Disney company successful in changing traits of its formula to European tastes? And have these changes affected the parks appeal for European visitors?. Adaptations that will be the discussed are found in food offerings, merchandise and employee policies in order to examine the parks cultural hybridity. Disneys attempts to adapt to local tastes Food The European park originally copied its food offerings to the ones on offer in the American parks, however, the company soon discovered that European eating habits had to be taken into account, more specifically European meal times. French travel editor Pierre Alamou commented on this by stating: Unlike grazing Americans, all Europeans eat lunch at the same time,with the exception of Spanish and Italians, fortunately. Before the parks opening the Disney company had already catered to Europeans preference for table-service restaurants. Main Street is the home to Walts, a restaurant specialized in American cuisine and decorated to the life of Walt Disney. Located in Fantasyland is Auberge de Cendrillon, a restaurant themed to the Cinderella story. The restaurant is famous for its French cuisine and for its focus on French culture. However, its French culture is seen through Disneys eyes as it is portrayed as the culture of lavish royal banquets and dances. The Blue Lagoon Restaurant in Adventureland specializes in seafood and offers a perfect setting for quiet elaborate meals. Overall, the table service restaurants serve to European tastes, yet their popularity is frequently challenged by high menu prices. This was the topic of many newspaper headlines in the early 1990s, for example Europe chokes on Euro Disney! Food and drinks very expensive! and Pricey day out! Feedback like this motivated Disney to quickly begin to focus on counter-service restaurants which offer quick and relatively cheap meals. Examples of such restaurants are Captain Hooks Galley and Caseys Corner. The existence of one counter-service restaurant in particular is interesting, namely Toad Hall Restaurant. This restaurant is built in the English manor style and its interior refers to the adventures of Mr. Toad. These adventures probably do not immediately ring a bell with European customers as their popularity is mostly found in America. Despite the fact that it is based on a story that is popular in America, the restaurant offers English food, as in fish and chips. This shows how Disney planners welcomed international cuisine to cater to European tastes. In addition, croissants, croquet monsieurs and Italian pizza are also offered in the park. As a result, international cuisine and American-style food are both equally featured in the park, although typical American Disney food such as corn dogs, cinnamon rolls and turkey legs have not been imported. Probably because these types of food are still too foreign for European guests. Food that is quintessential Disneyland Paris is the pizza burger, which was invented in Buzz Lightyears Pizza Planet Restaurant. Its name covers its content perfectly, it is a burger with pizza buns. One could argue that it is a perfect example of Disneys Europeanization as it combines the American burger with the Italian Pizza. However, it still feels very American, despite the fact that it has never been introduced in the American parks. One can draw the conclusion that the pizza burger encapsulates Disneys attempts to portray American food to Europeans. It has European details, but those are dominated by American designs. The serving of alcoholic beverages in the Disney Park is a highly debated topic. Initially the park banned alcohol as it could potentially harm the creation of a safe family haven. An idea invented by Walt Disney himself. However, in 1993, alcohol was introduced in the park. It was first only on offer in table-service restaurants, but it slowly made its way to counter-service. In this way, Disney paid respect to European dining habits, but more importantly it created much more revenue. This decision definitely played a role in the rise of ticket sales. Next to adaptations made in food offerings and restaurant services, Disney also adapted its merchandise to European contexts. Souvenirs Expensive upscale goods initially dominated the Disney stores in the park. Disney planners decided to do this as those goods were very successful in Japan. Moreover, it would show that Disney merchandise was not tacky or distasteful, an image that dominated European views on Disney memorabilia. However, the high price of these products as well as their designs were not accepted by visitors. Some visitors wanted an exact copy of the American merchandise. i.e. big Goofy hats, Mickey Mouse tie-dye shirts and princess dresses. Other visitors preferred fashionable merchandise with underemphasized Disney symbols much in the style of Belgian fashion brand Donaldson. This brand was a Disney licensee and produced stylish trench coats with Minnie Mouse embroidery among other things. In general, Disney took the best of both worlds. It offers typical American merchandise, but it also offers a European oriented line, called Produit exclusive Disneyland Paris, as it name suggests , this line inclu des products that are only on offer in Disneyland Paris. Employee policy The imposition of American customs on French workers and management was disastrous for the Disney company. It clearly showed a cultural gap between French and Americans. The restrictions imposed by Disney on how one has to look for the company were very strict. Bill Bryson commented on this in an article he wrote in 1993 for Observer Magazine: No one on the Disney pay roll is allowed to smoke

Friday, October 25, 2019

Where Would I Be Without Freedom? :: essays research papers

I walk upon the earth and marvel at the ability to let the grass cushion my wandering feet. What if my feet could not wander? What if I were a slave to this rich soil, then where would I be?Society may not be controlled, and it may wander aimlessly perhaps, but it wanders on its own course. I walk with society and against it, and I have the freedom to do this. I would not be able to write such an essay if I didn’t have my freedom. It is this freedom that allows me to write an essay differently from other people and is what has taken many others and me as far along in our journey.Freedom is the grass that cushions my step, the softness that allows me to tread anywhere without the fear of persecution. Without this layer of protection I would not want to stray far from what I know. Without protection from the corrupt world, I would remain the same immature child who could not walk far from what I could not see.Light liberates darkness the same as freedom liberates slaves. Darkness is the absence of light just as slavery is merely the absence of freedom. Without the light of this freedom I would be in the shadow of darkness; confined to the barren ignorant lands that light never reaches. Grass ceases to grow and life as I know it would be useless – dead. The fire that burns within the soul is fueled by the sun, fueled by the liberation and freedom which allows us to fill ourselves with worldly and unworldly beliefs.There is little faith behind a society who does not have the ability to choose its own unworldly beliefs. Being spoon-fed from birth by my Orthodox Baptist parents, I rode my own spirit into the arms of God and the ways of Christianity. Faith may guide many a man and his heart, but freedom guides the soul. No one knows the truth concerning God, religion, or existence, but the freedom to seek the truth like I have has made me whole. Without freedom I would still place myself higher than everything else and perceive myself as my own master.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Kite Runner Essay

In Khaled Hossenis tale of the vindictive pressures borne by those with antagonistic motives, ? The Kite Runner’ illustrates that for one to be relieved from their negative actions, they must undertake the support of heroic qualities. The novel suggests that for one to become closer to self realization they must adopt the use of altruism. Such trait can help lead the characters away from past horrors and grievances. In addition to such quality alone may not be enough, one must also utilize being brave and loyal towards the surrounding world, evoking these personalities allows one to be alleviated from and obtain a conscience free from guilt. However, the novel also displays the possibilities that if one does not enlist the support of such heroic qualities, they will be forced with vehement ramifications which will be burdened upon them, taking them away from a state of tranquillity. To grow closer to self realization, altruism must be evoked. A perfect example of such suggestion is Baba. Trying to be alleviated of his sins, Baba took in Ali and Hassan in order to hide from the pain and disloyalty caused by his earlier mistakes. Utilizing altruism as a positive trait Baba created an orphanage in order to help others in a quest to atone for his sins. Amir going older, had reached a certain stage of realization, he took in the fact that he had to be unselfish and had to sacrifice himself when saving Sohrab from the terrible Afghanistan. Sanaubar had also sought altruism, after coming back to Afghanistan to see her son who she had neglected after birth. â€Å"I have walked long and far t Even more† By obtaining such trait, it becomes easier for one to become closer to godliness. However altruism alone may not suffice. Evoking a since of strength and loyalty, Baba had been brave despite what others thought and their negative reactions, he still undertook the creation of the orphanage on his own. â€Å"Sceptics had urged him to stop . Of course, Baba refused. † Being brave Baba was also willing to sacrifice his life in order to save an innocent woman from being shot and rapped. â€Å"Tell him ill take a thousand of his bullets?.. Indecency take place† Bravery in Amir was unsought for until he was older. He flew back to the troublesome Afghanistan, and fought a once lost battle with the Neo Nazi Assef. Realising that Hassan was a true friend; Amir committed himself to being a loyal friend, and took in Sohrab, Hassans Son. Sanaubar had faced her inner demons and her acts of disgrace by showing up returning to the discrimination of Afghanistan to be with her son and spend her last dying days with him and his family. However, not reaching realization and being away from positive traits may lead to horrific consequences. Such acts include, Amir betraying his loyalty to Hassan, abusing such friendship, each betraying motif had lead to a new lie which soon enough being entrapped under the tangle of lies, being in that sort of state forever haunts him, disallowing him to even hear the words Hassan. Sanaubar could not achieve redemption by fleeing the new born Hassan to save her Reputation, leaving behind her life and her own flesh and blood. Baba had faced a difficult ? bear’ when being forced to commit extraordinary acts in order to admit to his actions and to receive true realization. ?The Kite Runner† has conveyed many possibilities that one may explore for them to redeem for their sins. The Novel illustrates and highlights the relative importance of facing burdensome obstacles and achieving a state of godliness. Without pursuing these demons one may be faced with many ramifications which may sooner or later change their life forever.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations Department

An efficient work force is important to the overall success of any organization and this also has implications for the overall success of a country’s economy.Not only do organizations require adequate numbers of workers to fill essential positions, these workers need to be highly productive so that the organization makes optimal use of the capital it invests in labour. It is evident therefore that the overall productivity of the workforce will go a far way in determining the eventual viability of the organization.Analysts have tended to link worker productivity with increased living standards, arguing that increased efficiency leads to increased remuneration which therefore improves individual as well as national living standards (Monthly Labour Review, 2007).The counter to this position is that employees who are producing below a certain minimum standard may affect the productivity of the entire organization, so much so, that organizational productivity decreases over time.In these days of harsh competition, organizations cannot afford to make such grave mistakes when it comes to recruiting new staff members. All current, new and aspiring employees must have in mind the vision and goal of the company and work towards their accomplishment in the most efficient way possible.Seeing the importance of a productive workforce in determining organizational success, it is evident that organizations have to adopt appropriate strategies to attract the best employees to fill all positions within the organization.While it is difficult to predict, at the initial stages, the level at which a potential employee will produce, it is essential that organizations ensure that mechanisms are put in place which ensure that the recruitment and selection process results in the hiring of employees that will contribute to the overall productivity of the firm by bringing to the job high productivity.Recruitment and selection of employees to a firm cannot be a light matter but must be dealt with by individuals who are themselves highly productive and committed to the overall vision and goals of the organization.Recruitment and selection are functions over which the human resource manager has universal control. It is this category of employees in an organization who are closely conversant with the overall goals of the organization and who are in the best position to decide on appropriate candidates for employment.Management is a process of effectively taking advantage of manpower, materials and resources as well as financial power, to realize the aims of an organization. Since the 1990s the science of management control has witnessed significant changes at both the governmental and organizational levels.The society seems now to be evolving from one that has traditionally been hierarchical to one that features plural management. Nowadays various managers function within a single organization to carry out certain specific functions, decentralizing control.Manage ment science as a field of enquiry developed within large corporations. In the western world the management control literature was piloted at the beginning of the 19th century by theorists such as Taylor and Fayol among others (see Taylor, 1911).In this early era control was seen as an essential aspect and function of management. Control primarily involved the management control of activities, cash flows, people, organizational units and managers. However, as time progressed, the concept of Human Resource Management emerged as an improvement on previous management control models.The HR department is the locus through which the organization is able to meet and sustain its employment needs. Continued and improved worker productivity is therefore one of the primary objectives of the HR department.This department needs to be aware of the organization’s employment strategy, in order to assist by looking for the right talents to help this strategy. It is becoming increasingly clear that the job market is much like the market for goods and services. Employee recruitment has therefore become a mechanism whereby potential employees market their capabilities on the one hand and businesses attempt to recruit the best workers in the particular field (Breaugh, 1992).At the same time, it is of outmost importance that the Human Resources are managed in the most effective way possible in order to achieve the final goal of management control.HR management, through processes such as recruitment and selection provides aspects that link its activities with the strategy of the business itself (McKenna & Beech, 1995). Recruitment and selection therefore represents the first step in the management control processes. Although successful recruitment and selection are not hereby means towards achieving successful management control, there must be a good recruitment and selection system in place to contribute towards this end.This dissertation will attempt to address the twin iss ue of recruitment and selection. Taking the form of a Case Study, this paper will explore and discuss the various methods and procedures of recruitment and selection being used in a specific company – the Yintao Golf Club Co., Ltd. located in China.Aspects pertinent to recruitment and selection, including job descriptions and interviewing practices will be examined in this case study. By examining a single, Chinese company, the researcher will be able to broaden understanding of the Chinese characteristics of HR management. The researcher will attempt therefore to produce an understanding of the nature of Chinese management control at a miniscule level.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Usha Martin Company

Usha Martin Company Introduction Founded in 1961, the Usha Martin Company has expanded its portfolio, product line, and physical structure outside India. The company has remained one of the most successful steel wire rope product manufacturers.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Usha Martin Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The company’s current dilemma is how to maintain and improve the past business performance through strategic decision science within its current and future growth plans. During its six decades of operations, the company has exercised such business strategies as internationalization and vertical integration. Thus, this analytical treatise will attempt to explicitly review and evaluate the benefits and risks of Usha Martin’s vertical integration strategy and internationalization strategy. Besides, the paper will present a five-year strategic plan for Usha Martin to ensure growth and success in the lo ng term. Discussion Vertical integration strategy: Benefits and risks Vertical integration, as a management style, involves integration of the supply chain to accommodate the different products that a company deals in. The Usha Martin Company boasts of a strong vertical integration in its industrial organization. From a single location, the company controls its designing, cutting, manufacturing, distribution and marketing process for its steel wire pipe product in India. The production segments such as raw material acquisition, power plant operation and coal mining, actual production, and distribution are segmented and disfranchised within a systematic control system that monitors production progress.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Benefits Reflectively, the vertical integration strategy has shielded the company from market swings, which create fluctuations in th e supply chain in terms of input availability and price. As earlier predicted by Mr. B.K Jhawar, the chairman of the Usha Martin Company, the vertical integration strategy enabled the company to save more than one billion Indian rupees. Besides, the company has been in a position to have full control of the quality of inputs used in manufacturing the steel wire pipes. Since the company operates and fully owns its sub production branches, it has been able to benefit from the aspect of cost competitiveness in production and the final price of the products. The topological structure of the Usha Martin Company consists of communication and operations management systems, which help in determining efficient performance and optimal resource use. As confirmed by Mr. B.K Jhawar, the company stresses on quality products, customer satisfaction, and cost effective production within accepted standards at the forefront. The vertical integration process has allowed the Usha Martin Company to produ ce, design, sell, and distribute its products globally within a short time span. This is possible due to internalization of a direct and complete control of the distribution and production process for its steel wire pipe brands. Basically, the vertical integration process at the Usha Martin Company includes the aspects of cost, dependability, speed, quality, and flexibility. These variables determine success or failure in business. These variables are achievable through value delivery, value addition, and creativity within a single production chain.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Usha Martin Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Reflectively, these concepts are techniques and tools, that are essential in the art of integrating the production and distribution processes. Besides, this process is inclusive of the scientific aspects, such as a technical process of understanding the operations involved in operations management, their application, and evaluation criteria. Risks The major part of the success puzzle for the integrated management operates on the periphery of the soft skills that involve the timeless vision of organizational principles, defining value of the business, determining requirements, clarifying the vision, building teams, mitigating task, resolving issues, and providing direction as incorporated in the vertical integration process at the Usha Martin Company. However, the vertical integration strategy may prove to be challenging when one of the above soft skills is not balanced. Besides, the strategy is costly to implement and manage. Since the Usha Martin Company operates in the sensitive manufacturing industry, its vertical integration strategy within the production department may become obsolescent as production technologies change frequently. Thus, a possible change in the production process for the steel wire pipe product may force the Usha Martin Company to invest in the new technology to remain competitive even if it is very expensive. Keeping up with any changes in technology would translate into additional costs to match the integrated process with the new technology.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This might hurt the profitability and business sustainability in the long run. Besides, the company may become a victim of disregarding the potential loss within the streams of existing income and eventually forget the initial specialization focus. Internationalization strategy: Benefits and risks Internationalization is vital in business management and operations, especially when a company intends to localize production tools such as labor, distribution, and culture in the market of operation. At its inception, the Usha Martin Company concentrated on the local market of India. The company has experienced growth in the last sixty years and has substantially expanded its markets beyond the traditional domestic market of India. The Usha Martin Company has successfully implemented its internalization strategy by penetrating and establishing sub branches in more than four countries. The company has active sub branches in the UK, Netherlands, Brunton, Singapore, Canada, Australia, Vietna m, and Indonesia. Benefits The company has adopted the strategies of product proliferation and product development to not only achieve the goal of internationalization, but also to maintain its competitiveness in the international steel wire pipes market. Reflectively, product proliferation is a strategy that companies adopt to create opaque barriers for their competitors. Through this approach, the market share leader will automatically have the discretion to reap maximum benefits ahead of its closest competitors. For instance, the internalization strategy has ensured that the Usha Martin Company has a market share for steel wire pipes within international markets such as the UK, Netherlands, Brunton, Singapore, Canada, Australia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Product development entails the innovation process aimed at modeling the existing product or improving on it to balance with the changing preferences of the customers. The company is associated with new innovations and attractive d esigns that appeal to their customers across the world. For instance, a steel wire pipe produced in the international branches is customized to meet the demands of foreign customers. This strategy guarantees increase in the market share for the companies in the UK, Netherlands, Brunton, Singapore, Canada, Australia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Risks When operating leverage, fixed and variable costs of labor should be separated from each other as outsourcing. When implementing the internalization strategy, outsourcing tends to change balance of this ratio. In addition, in contracting an outside source as a factor of production, there is a need to improve quality of duty for which such a job is required. This is possible when contract is constituted within acceptable levels of service agreement duly signed. Thus, the company is exposed to market dynamics such as labor laws, cost of production, and product prices within the foreign branches. Five-year strategic plan Essentially, the succes s of product management depends on a proper alignment of a functional idea with the creation of flexible, involuntary, and quantifiable measurement of perception by the target audience. Reflectively, this idea should have essential elements that can easily sway the mind, either positively or negatively. Knowing how to improve quality is crucial for the growth of a business. In fact, consumers normally go for products that perform best. Besides, quality improvement will serve the organization’s needs to improve on performance, durability, maintain economic viability, maintain visual and aesthetic appeal, maintain superiority in service delivery, and maintain good reputation due to quality assurance. Thus, quality improvement deployment and organizational change action plans present an a strategy that would facilitate the business gain in the long term operations through value and quality improvement in the global manufacturing industry. This is summarized in the strategic plan table below. Strategic Plan Therefore, the company should consider cross franchising in the business policies aimed at expanding and improving its position, without having to incur much cost. Cross platform franchising will enable the company to gain a strategic competitive advantage in a number of ways. Further, it will give a company the possibility to reduce the risk of market flop that results from the failure to carry out adequate market research. Conclusion The main activities in the control matrix of strategic management is the input and output tracking for the case of the Usha Martin Company. The activities are influenced by environmental, internal, and external factors in the business management strategy. Reflectively, the process should include organization charts, status reports, process map, compliance requirements, review structure, activities, dates, and resources employed within a specified period of time through benchmarking. The benchmarking initiative will involv e streamlining control activities to ensure efficiency via a proactive quality mitigation channel that reports progress of the intended quality improvement system.

Monday, October 21, 2019

SUPPRESSION OF THE ENGLISH MONASTERIES DURING THE Essays

SUPPRESSION OF THE ENGLISH MONASTERIES DURING THE Essays SUPPRESSION OF THE ENGLISH MONASTERIES DURING THE REIGN OF KING HENRY THE EIGHTH An Essay Submitted to the Department of History of the University of Notre Dame in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts by Guy Fairweather - Director Department of History University of Notre Dame May 11, 1974 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Chapter 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Chapter 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Chapter 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Chapter 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Chapter 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Chapter 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION TO IMPORTANT PERSONAGES AND PREVALENT SOCIAL CONDITIONS IN THE 1520's AND 1530's In the years 1536 and 1539 A. D. there occurred two events in England that were destined to alter its whole religious character. In these two years the King of England, Henry VIII, forced through the English Parliament two acts that sealed the fate of the Catholic Church in England. They were the "Act for the Dissolution of the Smaller Monasteries" and the "Act for the Dissolution of the Greater Monasteries", respectively. In this paper I will explore the events and the reasons behind these events, which led to this complete and total break with a religion that had been embraced by England for centuries. Naturally, the most important of the people involved in these suppressions was King Henry VIII for it was during his reign that the monasteries were suppressed. When Henry's father died in 1509 Henry ascended a throne which his father had made remarkably secure, he inherited a fortune which probably no English king had ever been bequeathed, he came to a kingdom which was the best governed and most obedient in Christendom. 1 Upon taking the throne Henry married his brother's

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The Sarcophagus of Pakal

The Sarcophagus of Pakal In 683 A.D., Pakal, the great King of Palenque who had ruled for almost seventy years, died. Pakals time had been one of great prosperity for his people, who honored him by entombing his body inside the Temple of the Inscriptions, a pyramid that Pakal himself had ordered built specifically to serve as his tomb. Pakal was buried in jade finery including a beautiful death mask, and placed over Pakals tomb was a massive sarcophagus stone, laboriously carved with an image of Pakal himself being reborn as a god. Pakals sarcophagus and its stone top are among the great all-time finds of archaeology. Discovery of Pakals Tomb The Maya city of Palenque had risen to greatness in the seventh century A.D. only to mysteriously go into decline. By 900 A.D. or so the once-mighty city was largely abandoned and the local vegetation began to reclaim the ruins.   In 1949, Mexican archaeologist Alberto Ruz Lhuillier began an investigation at the ruined Maya city, specifically at the Temple of the Inscriptions, one of the more imposing structures in the city. He found a stairway leading deep into the temple and followed it, carefully breaking down walls and removing rocks and debris as he did so. By 1952 he had reached the end of the passageway and found a magnificent tomb, which had been sealed off for more than a thousand years. There are many treasures and important works of art in Pakals tomb, but perhaps the most striking was the massive carved stone which covered Pakals body. The Great Sarcophagus Lid of Pakal Pakals sarcophagus lid is made of single stone. It is rectangular in shape, measuring between 245 and 290 millimeters (roughly 9-11.5 inches) thick in different places. It is 2.2 meters wide by 3.6 meters long (about 7 feet by 12 feet). The massive stone weighs seven tons. There are carvings on the top and sides. The massive stone would never have fit down the stairways from the top of the Temple of the Inscriptions; Pakals tomb was sealed first and then the temple was built around it. When Ruz Lhuillier discovered the tomb, he and his men painstakingly lifted it with four jacks, raising it a little bit at a time while putting small pieces of wood in the gaps to hold it in place. The tomb remained open until late 2010 when the massive lid was painstakingly lowered once again, covering Pakals remains, which had been returned to his tomb in 2009. The carved edges of the sarcophagus lid narrate events from the life of Pakal and those of his royal forebears. The southern side records the date of his birth and the date of his death. The other sides mention several other lords of Palenque and the dates of their deaths. The northern side shows Pakals parents, along with the dates of their deaths. The Sides of the Sarcophagus On the sides and ends of the sarcophagus itself, there are eight fascinating carvings of Pakals ancestors being reborn as trees: this shows that the spirits of departed ancestors continue to nourish their descendants. The depictions of Pakals ancestors and former rulers of Palenque include: Two images of Pakals father, Kan Mo Hix, being reborn as a nance tree.Two images of Pakals mother, Sak Kuk, being reborn as a cacao tree.Pakals great-grandmother, Yohl Iknal, is shown twice, reborn as a zapote tree and an avocado tree.Janahb Pakal I, Pakals grandfather, reborn as a guava treeKan Bahlam I (ruler of Palenque 572-583), reborn as a zapote tree.Kan Joy Chitam I (ruler of Palenque ca. 529-565 A.D.), reborn as an avocado tree.Ahkal Mo Nahb I (ruler of Palenque ca. 501-524 A.D.), reborn as a guava tree. The Top of the Sarcophagus Lid The magnificent artistic carving on the top of the sarcophagus lid is one of the masterpieces of Maya art. It depicts Pakal being reborn. Pakal is on his back, wearing his jewels, headdress, and skirt. Pakal is shown in the center of the cosmos, being reborn into eternal life. He has become one with the god Unen-Kawill, who was associated with maize, fertility, and abundance. He is emerging from a maize seed held by the so-called Earth Monster whose enormous teeth are clearly shown. Pakal is emerging along with the cosmic tree, visible behind him. The tree will carry him to the sky, where the god Itzamnaaj, the Sky Dragon, is awaiting him in the form of a bird and two serpent heads on either side. Importance of Pakals Sarcophagus Pakals Sarcophagus lid is a priceless piece of Maya art and one of the most important archaeological finds of all time. The glyphs on the lid have helped mayanist scholars pinpoint dates, events and familial relationships over a thousand years old. The central image of Pakal being reborn as a god is one of the classic icons of Maya art and has been crucial to understanding how the ancient Maya viewed death and rebirth. It should be noted that other interpretations of Pakals headstone exist. The most notable one, perhaps, is the notion that when viewed from the side (with Pakal roughly upright and facing to the left) it can appear as if he is operating the machinery of some sort. This has led to the Maya Astronaut theory which states that the figure is not necessarily Pakal, but rather a Maya astronaut piloting a spaceship. As entertaining as this theory may be, it has been thoroughly debunked by those historians who have deigned to justify it with any consideration in the first place.   Sources Bernal Romero, Guillermo. Kinich Jahahb Pakal (Resplandente Escudo Ave-Janahb) (603-683 d.C) Arqueologà ­a Mexicana XIX-110 (July-August 2011) 40-45. Guenter, Stanley. The Tomb of K’inich Janaab Pakal: The Temple of the Inscriptions at Palenque Lapida de Pakal, Palenque, Chiapas. Arqueologia Mexicana Edicion Especial 44 (June 2012), 72. Matos Moctezuma, Eduardo. Grandes Hallazgos de la Arqueologà ­a: De la Muerte a la Inmortalidad. Mexico: Tiempo de Memoria Tus Quets, 2013. Schele, Linda, and David Freidel. A Forest of Kings: The Untold Story of the Ancient Maya. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1990.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Assignment 8 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Assignment 8 - Essay Example standards of effectiveness for the person being supervised in terms of quality assurance and maintenance of functions as well as improving the competencies of the persons being supervised no matter how proficient they may be. Supervision also enhances collaborative effort to improve learning, which eventually helps in the attaining the goals of those being supervised. Without the supervision and the monitoring of efforts to improve the learning atmosphere, the supervisory responsibilities have increasingly encompassed other tasks, which are not usually within the arm bit of supervision. The question then is how one can he be an effective supervisor and deliver the desirable results of supervision. In order to understand how effective supervision should be, it is important to note that there are a variety of trends in the field of supervision, which influence one another (Eley and Murray, 2009). In order to be an effective supervisor, it is important to master your role as a front-line effective supervisor through strategies aimed at building success. The supervision style chosen by a person must endeavor to incorporate leadership skills in the supervision style chosen for the best results. It is important that effective supervision begins with the supervisor and how he is proficient in his role and the levels of the skills and this will require regular planning, acting, reflecting and reviewing of the supervision development progress. Effective supervision demands that the supervisor knows whomever he is supervising and how to motivate them for the best outcomes (Eley and Murray, 2009). This will require that the supervisor is aware of what drives the supervisees to achieve the desired results of an effective supervision strategy. The supervisor should educate and train by clearly defining his expectations, missions and the vision of the supervision that is to be carried out over the supervisees. Effective supervision will require that the supervisor builds a

Friday, October 18, 2019

Create a financial information system on pricing costing funding which Essay

Create a financial information system on pricing costing funding which is being implemented into the railway tickets and makes the prices dynamic - Essay Example was a technical support element to accomplish desktop data entry in the late 1990s has evolved into a strategic element for increasing the revenue through identifying new business development opportunities as well as providing efficient quality of service to the customers a company is serving. Public transportation in the UK serves more than 75% of the total commuters’ transportation in the UK as argued by Simon Taylor (2003)iii. Railways in the public transportation especially accounts for over 50% of the total market share in the public transport as identified by Simon Taylor (2003). This makes it clear that the rail transport market in the UK public transport industry not only forms an integral part of the public transportation but also contributes to the Gross Domestic Product. Alongside, the railway industry is also facing stiff competition from other forms of public transport like the road and air transport that is increasingly cost effective in the UK as argued by Simon Taylor (2003). From the aforementioned it is clear that the railway industry in the UK not only needs to address the competition through the effective use of information technology and managing the information for strategic advantage but also accomplish financial operational excellence ass argued by Helen Knight (2005)iv. The fact that the finance especially the billing and ticketing section of the railway industry is the gateway of income to the industry’s overall operations as argued by Helen Knight (2005) makes it clear that the efficient information management in the form of financial information management system is essential. In this report a critical analysis on the implementation of a Financial Information System in the Railway ticketing system from an information strategy perspective is presented to the reader. The essay presents a critical analysis on the macro and micro business environment for the railway business in the UK through PEST and SWOT Analyses respectively. This

Cookie jar accounting Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Cookie jar accounting - Coursework Example This can occur as an intentional plan of management in order to increase sales revenue. The incentives as to why managers would resort to extreme earnings management technique such as Channel stuffing include, First is to increase earnings, in given instances, managers and sales personnel are paid commissions and bonuses based on the overall performance of the company and since extreme earnings management technique such as channel stuffing increases sales volumes thereby having a positive result in relation to sales (LAI, et, al. 2009). This increases their earnings. This technique also creates some sense that the performance of the company is well hence in some ways assist in attracting financial institutions and investors to continue investing in the company with a hope of better proceeds (LAI, et, al. 2009). Secondly, these techniques do help a company to have a competitive advantage over their rivals. This is achieved by making sure that jamming effect is achieved for instance co nstant premature shipment of products into the market (LAI, et, al. 2009). This will give their competitor hard time to sell their products due to so many goods being offered in the market through this technique. Therefore the second reason gives a clear picture of how an organization can benefit from this technique which shows a well organized team of management (BRIGHAM, et, al 2010). Sales maximization will be achieved through these techniques and hence issues related to forecast analysis will be able to be achieved by the company. Thirdly is that the given company will be able to enjoy large scale production of goods and services and also distribute large volumes of the company’s product (BRIGHAM, et, al 2010). The effect of this is that the company will cut down their production costs that are fixed or variable because of the advantages associated with large scale production and hence higher returns (BRIGHAM, et, al 2010). This therefore helps managers in minimizing cost of production by producing and distributing large volumes of goods that results in low cost operations. The effect on this on the financial statement is that the company is guaranteed of good profits as will be reflected on the statements since the main objective of any business is to look for ways of reducing operational cost while maximizing profit (BRIGHAM, et, al 2010). The fourth reason is that the company may want to increase its proceeds from initial public offer. Most companies do raise their capital through initial public offer and so in order to gain the trust from the public, it has to indicate to the public that it is able to make high returns (LAI, et, al. 2009). This is because no investor would want to place its money in the company that will go down very soon. In order to gain such trust, the company has to be able to produce goods and services that can meet the demand in the market (LAI, et, al. 2009). Effectiveness of stuffing the channel from the stand point of a single year From the stand point of a single year, stuffing the channel seems effective because it is hard to detect and given that such can only be identified in the course of full disclosure, such as sales by product, segment, or area. Through careful analysis, the company will be able to reveal abnormal sales patterns. Nevertheless, it is not a guarantee for the company to provide full disclosure unless the auditor insists or as stipulated by (BHATTACHARYYA, H. 2004). Â  Incase of too much inventory, wholesalers can refuse to stock more inventory since they are not formally company employees. It is also difficult to keep these wholesalers from complaining to regulators. In order to avoid such complaints, the company can resort to

To what extent does personality predicts employee performance Essay

To what extent does personality predicts employee performance - Essay Example Moreover, this practice rewards HR professionals with sustainability and confidence inside the organization as they can foresee unwanted reactions and responses. Personality analysis is crucial to use in HR practices to advance hiring practices, predict behaviours and motivate employees at work. Personality tests as a common practice in HR management were developed as a result of meta-analytic studies in 90s. According to Hakstian & Ng (2005, p. 405), initially they were appraised because their results granted predictability and validity of employees’ performance. Since then personality tests have been actively integrated in HR management. Most of these tests are based on â€Å"Big Five† personality model. According to it, there are five main personality variables which influence people’s behaviour; they include openness to experience, extraversion, neuroticism, agreeableness and consciousness (Judge et al. 1999, p. 624). HR professionals design tests in order to identify these factors in each personality. Companies tend to conceal their testing practices as they exist for internal use only. It is the reason why there are not many sources available in regard to the studied issue. At the same time, there are some surveys, publications written by HR professionals and corporate reports which reveal that personality tests are successfully integrated in HR practices all over the world. For example, according to Rothstein & Goffin (2006, p. 155), 30% of corporations in the United States used special personality tests in their hiring procedures in 2003. Personality measures can target different characteristics of current or potential employees; they can test integrity, performance effectiveness or personal expectations. Integrity tests remain the most popular and one of the most complicated to analyse. Rothstein & Goffin (2006, p. 155) state that there are around 5 million applicants who do this tests and 20% of the Human Resource

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Programs & Activities of MCA(Muslim Community Association) Bay Area Essay

Programs & Activities of MCA(Muslim Community Association) Bay Area - Essay Example MCA provides the local community with a variety of services. Most importantly especially in San Francisco, MCA provides prayer opportunity five times a day. Besides, MCA offers educational programs for both adults and young children. The organization offers a school to the children of the Muslim communities in the bay area so that they can learn modern education in an Islamic environment. At present the association has three schools namely Granada Islamic School (K-8), Weekend (Sunday ) Islamic School and Al Arqam School. MCA also provides financial assistance to the needy people (about). There are many other activities and programs that MCA undertake. MCA offers free access to the knowledge of Islam not only through its website but also through different activities like Dawah, youth discussions, counseling, and other programs, for example visiting scholars. It provides information about the basic teachings of Islam needed by every Muslim to practice in all the spheres of life. MCA also tries to outreach the public in general as well as Muslims to inform them about Islam. It tries to dispel any misconceptions about Islam. It also organizes discussions and encourages community involvement for better understanding of Islam and developing close relationships. The major emphasis, however, the association lays is on the conduct and behavior of Muslims to attract the non-Muslims towards Islam towards serving the society (Islamic Services) . MCA provides various services to the students. The association offers different resources to help them in writing a college paper or a report on Islam. Furthermore, the association conducts interviews to point students to the right direction. A library is also available for use having a reasonably good number of books. Beside this, presentations are arranged for improving the knowledge of the people in the community about Islam. These presentations also offer opportunity to the audience to ask any

Fine and popular art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fine and popular art - Essay Example Such processes, although perhaps considered the results of skilled craftsmanship and artisanship in both the academy and the popular mind, were not generally believed to lend themselves to the type of refined art-making that the serious artist pursued. By emphasizing the role that art plays in popular culture and vice-versa, however, the pop art movement attempted to bridge the gap between what had been for the last several hundred years a strict division between the fine arts and the popular arts. ... While both may deal with such topics as race, economics, poverty, gender, and the like through their approaches to meeting human needs and providing form that shapes human content, the fine arts have traditionally been considered to be driven by a special refined quality that is sensitive and sensible and that revolves around a particular kind of insight and training, while the popular arts have traditionally been viewed as meeting economic needs with skilled action. The difference, in other words, seems to be a psychological one as well as an economic one. Popular artists apply skills to developing products and goods that, while beautiful, are primarily functional. Fine artists develop products which are primarily communicative. Larry Shriner, in his book The Invention of Art, argues that it was only in the 18th Century that the fine arts split off from the popular arts. Until that time many of the artists that today are considered serious fine artists from the past were essentially considered to very highly skilled artisans in their own day, and their works were considered to be highly representative forms of skilled craftsmanship. In 18th Century Europe, however, a cultural elite began to make distinctions between craftsmanship and â€Å"art† in order to separate themselves from the masses in taste and practice. The effort was so successful that they began to define art backwards, and works of skilled artisanship that were, for example, found in the colonies conquered by this cultural elite came to be called â€Å"primative art† – as though such products were approaching fine art but had not yet arrived. Shriner’s argument suggests that the distinction between fine art and the popular arts is largely

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Programs & Activities of MCA(Muslim Community Association) Bay Area Essay

Programs & Activities of MCA(Muslim Community Association) Bay Area - Essay Example MCA provides the local community with a variety of services. Most importantly especially in San Francisco, MCA provides prayer opportunity five times a day. Besides, MCA offers educational programs for both adults and young children. The organization offers a school to the children of the Muslim communities in the bay area so that they can learn modern education in an Islamic environment. At present the association has three schools namely Granada Islamic School (K-8), Weekend (Sunday ) Islamic School and Al Arqam School. MCA also provides financial assistance to the needy people (about). There are many other activities and programs that MCA undertake. MCA offers free access to the knowledge of Islam not only through its website but also through different activities like Dawah, youth discussions, counseling, and other programs, for example visiting scholars. It provides information about the basic teachings of Islam needed by every Muslim to practice in all the spheres of life. MCA also tries to outreach the public in general as well as Muslims to inform them about Islam. It tries to dispel any misconceptions about Islam. It also organizes discussions and encourages community involvement for better understanding of Islam and developing close relationships. The major emphasis, however, the association lays is on the conduct and behavior of Muslims to attract the non-Muslims towards Islam towards serving the society (Islamic Services) . MCA provides various services to the students. The association offers different resources to help them in writing a college paper or a report on Islam. Furthermore, the association conducts interviews to point students to the right direction. A library is also available for use having a reasonably good number of books. Beside this, presentations are arranged for improving the knowledge of the people in the community about Islam. These presentations also offer opportunity to the audience to ask any

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Preparation and analysis of inorganic and organic compounds Essay Example for Free

Preparation and analysis of inorganic and organic compounds Essay Task 1 titration of sodium hydroxide with hydrochloric acid In this experiment the sodium hydroxide is neutralized with Hydrochloric acid to produce sodium chloride (the soluble salt) it is then crystallized in a dish. The equation for the above reaction is →NaOH(aq) + HCl(aq) → NaCl(aq) + H20(l) Method Add 25cm3 of sodium hydroxide into a conical flask then add couple of drops of methyl orange indicator Next fill the burette with HCL using a funnel to the 0 mark Add HCL to sodium hydroxide in small amounts swirling constantly keep adding until the solution changes to a red colour record your result Using the same volume of HCL now add it to another 25 cm3 of sodium hydroxide to produce a neutral solution Use a Bunsen burner and an evaporating dish to reduce the volume to half Finally leave to evaporate in a crystallizing dish to produce a white crystalline solid Average Volume = 26. 35 Mass of Evaporating dish = 53.86 (Mass = 55.04 – 53.86 = 1.18g) Mass = n x Mr = 0.025 x 58.5 = 1.4625 Calculating Percentage Yield 1.18 x 100 = 80.7 % 1.4625 Test for ions present Sodium Na+ test carried out = flame test – result golden yellow This happens as the electrons move to higher energy level and then fall back down when heated which gives out yellow light. Chloride test → test carried out = add silver nitrate – result white precipitate of silver chloride was formed Task (e) Purity analysis of NaCl In this task I will be showing the purity analysis of NaCl the same procedure will be carried out as before but this time 0.1 moldm-3 of sodium chloride is titrated with 0.05 moldm-3 silver nitrate the indicator will be the chromate indicator The chemical formula for the following reaction is:NaCl(aq) + AgNO3(aq) → AgCl(s) + NaNo3(aq) RESULTS These are the results obtained for the following experiment: Rough 1 2 Final burette reading 19.9 20.5 20.6 Initial Burette Reading 0.00 0.00 0.00 Titre 19.9 20.5 20.6 Average Volume = 20.55 Converted to dm3 /1000 1)calculate no of moles of silver nitrate N= C x V =0.05 x 0.02055 = 0.010275 moles 2)answer = no of mole of NaCl (1 : 1 ratio) 3) Calculate the actual concentration of NaCl C= n/V = 0.010275 = 0.10275moldm-3 0.01 4)percentage purity ppurity = 0.1 x 100 = 97.3%) 0.010275 Task 2 Method: 1)shake 2g of 2- hydroxybenzoic acid with 4 cm3 of ethanoic anhydride in a 100cm3 conical flask 2) add five drops of concentrated sulphuric acid agitating the flask for about 10 mins the whole wil form a crystalline mush 3) Dilute by stirring it in 4cm3 of cold glacial ethanoic acid and cool by placing in a water bath containing crushed ice 4) filter off the crystals using a Hirsch funnel and wash once with ice cold water 5) place the crude aspirin in a 100cm3 beaker add hot water not boiling water till it dissolves 6)cool and filter of crystals this process is known as recrystallisation 7) Take 4 test tubes add 2cm3 of distilled water in each and in 1 tube add one crystal of the product before recrystallisation and shake 8) Second tube add one crystal of the recrystallised product and shake 9) Third tube add one crystal of 2-hydroxybenzoic acid and shake 10) In last tube add one crystal of known pure aspirin and shake 11)To each tube add 2 drops in turn of neutral iron (III) chloride and shake Following this method I got the following results Mass at start was 2.04 Finishing mass was 2.08 Amount of yield: 138 →180 1 →180/138 1 →1.3 2.04 → 2.652 2.08 x 100 = 78.4% 2.652 Organic testing To test for a phenol group Method: Add neutral iron III chloride(if a phenol group is present it will change into purple complex and if theres no purple then the aspirin is pure) Using the following method my result showed a purple complex showing that my aspirin was impure Melting point analysis

Monday, October 14, 2019

An analysis of age gap relationships

An analysis of age gap relationships Views towards age-gap relationships should not be viewed through stereotypical eyes; instead they should be viewed with an open mind, for they are more than what you see. Age-gap relationships have been around since the dawn of human life. Historically age-gap relationships have been between an older male and younger female, and many cultures arranged marriages with this pattern. Age-gap relationships are not socially constructed, but have evolved. They are also seen often in nature. Stereotypes and negative opinions are heard often in media, by friends and by family. Many famous celebrities, royalty, and rock stars have been in age-gap relationships. In many cultures, arranged marriages have been between a young girl and an older man, this could have been to prevent marriage outside of the culture, to increase political power, for livestock, or to resolve inter political issues. Doing this helped to increase the number of the community members, because a young girl could produce many more children than an older woman. Older men had more resources to support the girl and her offspring than a young boy. By arranging the marriages in this way the parents were insuring a greater number of surviving grandchildren to pass on their genes, wealth, legacy and land. At an evolutionary stand point age-gap relationships should be more common as well as less criticized. .. men are predisposed to produce as many offspring as possible, to increase the probability that their genes will be passes onà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦women prefer a mate who has adequate resources, or the potential to obtain resources,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.(Banks and Arnold 2001) By learning to seek these qualities we have subconsciously insured the survival of the human race. This evolutionary process is not much different from the way animals use to choose their mates. Mate preferences may have evolved, rather than being socially constructed (Banks and Arnold 2001), therefore age-gaps should be considered the social norm, and similar age relationships should be considered abnormal. Age-gap relationships have a rollercoaster history, where they were once accepted, then they werent, and now they are becoming accepted once again. Women older relationships however are still considered taboo, but that doesnt mean they should be discriminated more. Age-gap relationships whether female older or male older should be looked at as a regular relationship. The same challenges and problems should be considered when the relationship itself is being evaluated. Criticism of age gap relationships is similar in the way which different races and gay couples are criticized, people look at what is on the outside and not at what they really are. There is an old adage Dont judge a book by its cover and I feel that more people should follow this, not only when dealing with age-gap relationships but when dealing with all situations in which it is not as it appears. There are many different stereotypes put towards age-gap relationships. Such as: The younger partner is either looking for a parental figure or is in it solely for monetary gain, and the older partner is only after youth and physical attributes (Anisman-Reiner 2008). Sadly these stereotypes are true in some situations, but it does not mean that every age-gap relationship is like that. The relationship in question should be examined first, then the age of the partners. Many relationships that were healthy and actually had love in them, were broken up due to constant harassment from family, friends, and even strangers. Criticism that age-gap relationships receive are based on extreme instances. The older partner will get dirty looks and be called a cradle robber or be accused of cheating on their spouse (which other than the younger partner doesnt exist). Other things people say are: what could you possibly have to talk about, can they even keep up with you physically or they are holding you back from experiencing your youth this usually causes stress for the couple. These are not always true but it causes the couple to focus on what people say about them, instead of other things in their relationship. Its possible for couples with large age gaps to be able to have common interests, as well as have the same amount of physical activity. For example a 45 year old man can play a game of tennis at the same level as a woman in her 20s, or both could be into classic rock or horror movies. It is true that sometimes when you enter an age-gap relationship you are risking losing some life experiences, but yo u can create new ones that neither of you have had. That way the older partner is not repeating life experiences, and they younger partner is gaining life experiences. Either way age-gap couples get around these obstacles and have healthy lasting relationships. Many people will admit that they have been in an age-gap relationship or they know someone has. These relationships are becoming increasingly common nowadays and yet they still receive criticism. Although men and women report a preference for and openness to age gaps in their own relationships, they typically disapprove of age gaps in others relationships. (Lehmiller and Agnew 2008) Why would you be willing to consider something for yourself, but then tell your friend that they shouldnt do it? If it is because you know you could handle it and your friend couldnt, what makes you think you know your friends capabilities better than they do? Better yet if your friend doesnt know herself, then what makes you think you know your own self? These are questions you should ask yourself before you make the decision to discriminate against others being in age-gap relationships. My grandmother and her husband were 25 years apart and yet they did not receive criticism, but when I entered into a r elationship with a 14 year age difference she made a big deal about it. Sadly this occurs often to people by their family and friends. We are all born with an incest avoidance instinct, sometimes depending on your upbringing it could go away, but normally we tend to react to what we see before we have a chance to think about it. A difference in age of 15 years and greater would mean that a couple could, in terms of age be parent and child and so we suggest that social opposition to these age-differences will be greater, because people would wish to avoid the suggestion of incest (Banks and Arnold 2001). Due to the appearance of the couple we instantly think that the older partner could be the younger partners parent. Because of this instinct we become so focused on the difference in age that we dont notice anything else about the relationship. Parents are often worried that when and if their young son or daughter enters into a age-gap relationship, that the older partner will exploit them for sex and not truly love them, or that the partner is closer in age to themselves than their child. I feel that though the parents mean well, they should evaluate the relationship and get to know the older partner before being so quick to judge, and find out if it is healthy for their son or daughter. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone (John 8:7). Due to the different rates at which boys and girls mature, age-gap relationships could even be considered ideal to insure the survival of a relationship. Its possible for two people at different ages even with a 20 or 30 year age gap to be equally mature, however you define the term.(Anisman-Reiner 2008) Everyone growing up has heard that girls mature faster than boys, and it makes sense that this would make it easier for age-gap relationships to work and last. It also answers why many similar-age relationships (especially high school relationships) dont last. As you get older the age-gap in the relationship matters less, because both partners are maturing. Many famous couples both present and throughout history were involved in age-gap relationships. The gaps range from less to one year to more than thirty years. Billy Joel and Katie Lee had thirty-two years between them, and Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have sixteen years between them. These are people we idolize, we watch on television, on movies, and whose music we listen to. One day the media will pick them for cutest couple and then the next day they criticize them, and we just go along with it, instead of using our own minds. The criticism increases more if the woman is the older partner, and they have been labeled by the media as cougars. Such as Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher (15 years difference), they receive tons of criticism and yet remain happily married, so far for 5 years. It is not only in present times that age-gap relationships exist, they have been around for centuries. Cleopatra and Julius Caesar had more than 30 years between them when their romance began. Another co uple would be Frank E. Butler and Annie Oakley who had 22 years between them. During my personal experience in an age-gap relationship I have been lucky to have friends and family to support me, well most of my family. We do get dirty looks in public even though my boyfriend doesnt look that much older than me and definitely doesnt act older than me. If we just focused on what other people thought of us, we wouldnt last. Together we have accomplished so much, and continue to climb mountains! I guarantee that if we did not receive the support we have, we would not have made it. You should not discourage an age-gap relationship unless you know for an absolute fact that it would be damaging to one or both parties, you may find that age-gap relationships are a wonderful positive experience. In conclusion age-gap relationships are criticized, stereotyped, and put down. Even though they are becoming more common, have been around for centuries, occur in nature, and have proven to have lower divorce rates. Society should look at the relationship, not the ages of the people, and maybe more of these relationships would succeed. Age-gap relationships are just like normal relationships and should, according to evolution, be the social norm though due to social influences this is not the case. Nobody likes to be picked-on especially for something that makes them happy, so we should follow the golden rule Do onto others as you would have them do unto you. Age-gap relationships should be looked at for what they are, not what they seem.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Rhetorical Reading Essay -- essays research papers

Rhetorical Reading Essay(Revision)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since they started pouring the concrete for the dam Lake Powell has been a center of controversy. From nature preservationists to ancient ruins advocates the subject has been heated and intense. On the other hand, those who support Lake Powell are just as avid and active in their defense of the reservoir. One of the former, Edward Abbey, sets forth his plea, hoping it does not fall upon deaf ears.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Abbey attempts in his article to help the reader visualize Glen Canyon before it was dammed up. He uses a lot of pathos to help the reader â€Å"feel† the beauty of the previous Glen Canyon and the ugliness of the present. His article seems to be written not to the supporters of Lake Powell, but to those who side with Abbey, perhaps in an attempt to strengthen their resolve to do something about their beliefs. Abbey advocates the draining and naturalizing of the reservoir, allowing it to regress back to its natural state. Although the author is very talented at using connotations and figurative language, he focuses too much on pathos and a 20th century view of nature and lacks sufficient logos and ethos. This essay while very passionate is poorly done. The author, Edward Abbey, admits that he is a â€Å"butterfly chaser, googly eyed bleeding heart and wild conservative†(Abbey, 144). His constant appeals to nostalgia and tree hugging are repetitive and long-winded. However, as mentioned above, he is an expert in figurative language and connotation. Right from the beginning Abbey uses a great metaphor comparing Glen Canyon to the living heart of the canyon lands, and throws in another about the Colorado River being golden. He tries to form a beautiful picture of what Glen Canyon used to be like by sharing an experience that he and a buddy had almost 50 years ago. Although picturesque and ideal, we all understand that change is a natural part of both mankind and nature and that all things have an end. Later in the article Abbey uses more great connotations and points out that the reservoir has had negative effects on the environment in that area. â€Å"†¦Debris brought down into them by desert storms, no longer carried away by the river, must unavoidably build up in the area where flood meets reservoir†(147). And later, â€Å"Anyone who has tried to pilot a motorboat through a raft... ...birds, 800 different mammals and more that a dozen reptile species (Lake Powell). And anyone who has been there will ask, if there is a slight lack of insects, which I am not sure there is, how is that a bad thing? This hardly seems the sterile, lifeless scene that Abbey paints for us and is simply one of the many examples of omission he uses.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I feel that although Abbey means well in trying to preserve the natural form and environment of Glen Canyons, he is unable to see that many, many more people are out enjoying the beauties of Lake Powell than ever graced the shores of the Colorado River in that area. This is what people want. Abbey poorly surmises that the majority of people agree with his viewpoints, â€Å"I am not alone, for I belong to that ever-growing number of Americans, probably a good majority now, who have become aware that a fully industrialized, thoroughly urbanized, elegantly computerized social system is not suitable for human habitation†(Abbey, 144). If that were so Lake Powell would have been drained and dry decades ago. The truth is that with few exceptions, people like Lake Powell just the way it is.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚