Answer HR Question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Answer HR Question - Essay Example Form job seekers perspective, e-recruitment gave them the advantage of centralized job search and resume building services. Therefore, job seekers do not have to spend time looking for an opening in multiple newspapers. Number of options is available to employers for announcing their vacancies on internet. Most simple and cost effective approach is to maintain vacancy page on the employer website. Second, is to use specialist agency that has its operations on internet. These cyber agencies provide various advantages ranging from receiving resumes to short listing candidates. Third category is the jobsites linked to newspapers and journals. These websites republishes the advertisements, printed in careers section of newspapers. Similarly, there are jobsites operated by employment agencies. There are certain employment agents that have their presence on internet. Anyone who has access to internet, can access these channels (Taylor, 2002). It is up to the employers to select the medium he wants to advertise his vacancy. Some of these mentioned sources provide with extra services like online resume building, cover letters etc. Internet recruitment offers a number of advantages to recruiters. This method costs less than other methods of recruitment. It can save enormous time and efforts spent in recruitment process. Furthermore, internet can gather a large pool of applicants, as recruiting medium. However, it raises some issues for example, as the number of applicant increases, more be the chances of unqualified applicants sending their resumes. Similarly, some qualified candidates who do not have access to internet are not able to apply. Privacy is also an issue because you share your information on websites that can violate certain laws (Mathis, Jackson, 2007). Therefore, sometimes advantages of using internet for recruitment purpose turns into disadvantages. On one hand, e-recruitments save our money and

The Scream Essay Example for Free

The Scream Essay â€Å"I was walking along a path with two friends-the sun was setting-suddenly the sky turned blood red-I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence-there was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city-my friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety-and sensed an infinite scream passing through the nature† (Munch qtd. in Fineman). These were the words of the Norwegian painter Edvard Munch who, after a stroll along a road in Oslo, was inspired by his visionary experience and managed to come up with the world-renowned painting, â€Å"The Scream. † Munch’s work became one of the most recognizable art forms in history and was regarded as one of the most contemporary cultural icons. The art became much popular because of the parodies and copies that were reproduced and have appeared on various objects such as t-shirts, key-chains, mouse pads, coffee mugs, and even became a favorite subject for tattoos (Fineman). see more:essay pt3 english The scream is well known as a lithograph that was finished in 1895. However, before the final version came to its final touches, the scream was the result of a process of evolutions. Edvard Munch painted four versions of The Scream, all of which were done in 1893. The earliest trace of the art form was done out of a single drawing on a cardboard, and the final form was done as an oil painting (Taylor 176). The Scream was a part of Munch’s most important expressionist painting series, â€Å"The Frieze of life† which he produced during 1890’s. According to researchers, the â€Å"Frieze of life† series centers on the artist’s usual theme such as love, darkness, death, and anxiety. The latter was evident in his most famous painting which is The Scream (Porter and Prince 116-117). Aside from being the most popular painting of Edvard Munch, The Scream is also considered as the most famous painting of Norway. Yet, it is also said to be the most vulnerable among the many artworks in the world because The Scream has been the object of theft twice. The Scream Theft 1994 During the onset of the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, the National Art Museum in Oslo was robbed with its most important piece of art, The Scream. According to reports, two men climbed in a ladder and smashed one of the windows in the museum’s gallery and immediately stole the painting. The thieves used a wire cutter in order to remove the painting from the wall. Shortly after stealing the painting, the two men fled from the scene, leaving behind the cutters and the short ladder. The whole incident was caught by the museum’s security camera. During that time, Knut Berg, the director of the museum, pointed out that the exact value of the painting was impossible to be agreed upon, and it is also impossible to be sold (British Broadcasting Corporation [BBC]). Based from documents, the alarm of the museum went off at around 6:30 local time. This alerted the security guard who immediately called upon the authorities. Police officers started searching for a Mercedes vehicle which was thought as the getaway vehicle of the thieves. Speculations were made that the thieves were somehow connected to the Olympic events, and the theft was pulled by campaigners as a publicity stunt. Due to the incident, the art museum received criticisms for the lack of security. It was found that Munch’s masterpiece was originally placed in the first floor of the museum which was said to be more secured. However, The Scream was then placed at the museum’s ground floor for exhibition and as a highlight for the Norwegian Culture Festival, which was done as a part of the Winter Olympics (BBC). According to sources, a Norwegian anti-abortion group initially claimed that they were responsible for stealing the painting. However, authorities doubted their claim and continued the search for the missing masterpiece. In March 1994, the gallery received a ransom demand from the thieves. The perpetrators demanded for  £700,000 equivalent to $1,000,000 in exchange of The Scream. The board members of the gallery as well as the Norwegian government refused to pay because of the uncertainty of whether the demand was genuine or not. Two months after the gallery received the ransom demand and through the cooperation of Norwegian and British police, the painting was recovered unscathed. The painting was found in a hotel room located at a seaside town outside of Oslo. It was said that the area of recovery was the place where Edvard Munch created most of his masterpieces. By 1996, four men were arrested and convicted from stealing Edvard Munch’s most important version of â€Å"The Scream† (BBC). The Scream Theft 2004 In August 22, 2004, another version of The Scream was stolen at the Edvard Munch Museum. The armed and masked thieves barged in at the said museum in broad daylight. Eventually, the robbers ripped The Scream and another of Munch’s painting, â€Å"The Madonna,† from the gallery’s wall right in front of the stunned visitors and museum staffs. The robbers hurriedly loaded the art pieces into a vehicle. Hours after the incident, Oslo police recovered the get away car as well the paintings’ frames (Associated Press [AP]). According to reports, the museum was lightly guarded, and the police who immediately responded to the scene received tips from different people. The event led to a nationwide hunt for the missing artworks. Specific motives were unclear. However, experts claimed that the paintings must have been stolen for the thieves to demand ransom or to serve as a â€Å"trophy robbery† in order to impress other art thieves and criminals, yet no words were heard from the thieves (AP). Just like The Scream heist in 1994, The Scream version in Edvard Munch Museum has no set price. According to John Oeyaas, the managing director of Oslo Forsikring, the company which insured the paintings against damage, the work of Munch was not insured against burglary. Apart from this, Oeyaas noted that the artworks were irreplaceable and were impossible to be sold. Thus, insurance of an artwork is nothing because the loss of an irreplaceable piece cannot be compensated by anything (AP). In May 2006, three men were arrested and were found guilty of stealing the two paintings. A court in Norway pressed the verdict against the perpetrators. The thieves were identified as Peter Tharaldsen, who was the driver behind the heist, Bjoern Hoen, identified as the theft mastermind, and Stian Skjod, one of the gunmen who barged in the museum. Tharalsden and Hoen were both sentenced for nine years in prison while Skjold received five years of imprisonment. The other gunman died from drug overdose in that same year (â€Å"Scream Thieves†) Three months after the arrest of the thieves, the Olso police retrieved Munch’s two paintings. Both the items had minor marks and tears but were totally in good condition. By September of 2006, The Scream, alongside The Madonna, was once again exhibited and was later on restored in the museum with the protection of heavy glass boxes (BBC). It is evident that Edvard Munch’s the scream is one of the most important art pieces of today. Likewise, it serves as an inspiration for many artists and continuously pervades the popular culture (Porter and Prince 117). The Scream is one of the few artworks that truly expresses and discusses the meaning of anxiety in life. As such, this fragile piece of art has been so popular that after two times of becoming the object of theft, it was able to scream for escape and survived the ordeal to be seen by people who truly appreciate the depths of life. Works Cited Associated Press. â€Å"Munch’s famous ‘Scream,’ ‘Madonna’ stolen.† MSNBC. 23 August 2004. 08 October 2008 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5787000/#storyContinued. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). â€Å"1994: Art thieves snatch scream.† BBC News. 12 February 2008. 08 October 2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/12/newsid_3591000/35919 94.stm. Fineman, Mia. â€Å"Existential Superstar: Another look at Edvard Munch’s The Scream.† Slate. 22 November 2005. 08 October 2008 http://www.slate.com/id/2130897/. Porter, Darwin and Danforth Prince. Frommer’s Norway. Norway: Frommer’s, 2007. Taylor, Mark. Tears. Albany, New York: State University of New York Press, 1990. â€Å"The Scream Thieves Jailed.† Art News Blog. 24 April 2007. 08 October 2008 http://www.artnewsblog.com/2007/04/scream-thieves-jailed.htm.

Should Guns Be Allowed On Campuses Criminology Essay

Should Guns Be Allowed On Campuses Criminology Essay Based on National Rifle Association, an estimated 39 percent of households have a gun and 24 percent have a handgun; there are also 65 million privately-owned handguns in the US and 127 million other firearms. Have you ever think one day handgun can be carried onto college campuses where we come to study every day? Our colleges and universities are safer sanctuaries for learning, and we believe they would be endangered by the presence of concealed handguns. claimed by Students for Gun Free Schools (SGFS) (Louise Gerdes). In contrast, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) have supposed: Current school policies and state laws against concealed carry on campus serve only to stack the odds in favor of dangerous criminals. (Louise Gerdes). SGFS and SCCC were formed after terrible shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University happened. These are two of the deadliest massacres on campus in the United States of America. For your information, on April 16, 2007, at Virgin ia Tech University, Seung-Hui Cho a formal student killed thirty-two people and then committed suicide. One year later, on February 14, graduate student Steven Kazmierczak killed five people and injured many others and then killed himself at Northern Illinois University. From that time, concealed guns are becoming a controversy in America, especially, concealed carry on campuses. Many colleges have accepted for their students and faculty to carry handguns to protect themselves such as public colleges and universities in Utah; Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, Virginiaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ On the other hand, almost 4314 colleges and universities prohibit their students and faculty from carrying concealed on their campuses. Each group has their own reasons for their action and belief. In my opinion, I think there are no needs to carry concealed weapons like handguns on campus. SGFS believes that Americas colleges and universities are some of the safest places and almost their campuses are gun-free zone. They claimed that homicides at American colleges and universities are unusual events. They also showed some evidences to prove their opinion, according to a study from the Department of Justice, 93% of violent crimes that victimize college students happen off campus and students on the campuses of post secondary institutions are significantly safer than both their off-campus counterparts and the nation as a whole (Louise Gerdes). They are really undeniable facts that our college campuses really have lower crime rates than the cities in which they reside (Louise Gerdes). In fact, even though, our public safety is not enough to control a whole campus but anyway they still give our students secure and safety. Also, SGFS have listed five important-results that can be recognized when concealed weapons are allowed on campuses: (1) Concealed handguns would detract from a healthy learning environment; (2) More guns on campus would create additional risk for students; (3) Shooters would not be deterred by concealed carry permit holders; (4) Concealed carry permit holders are not always law-abiding citizens, and finally (5) Concealed carry permit holders are not required to have law enforcement training. In the counterpart movement, SCCC also has given their list to cast doubt on SGFSs list: (1) Concealed handguns would not detract from a healthy learning environment; (2) More guns on campus would create little if any additional risk for students; (3) Shooters may or may not be deterred by concealed carry permit holders, but deterring shooting sprees is only one of several potential benefits; (4) Concealed carry permit holders are not always law-abiding citizens, but They are statistically more law-abiding than most SGFS unnecessarily points out and (5) Concealed carry permit holders are not required to have law enforcement training because they are not law enforcement officers. First, SGFS believe that if concealed carry were allowed on Americas campuses, there is no doubt that many students would feel uncomfortable about not knowing whether their professors and/or fellow students were carrying handguns and because campus is the place that has many discussion or debate so they afraid that the presence of handguns would inhibit this kind of dialogue by creating fear of possible retaliation (Louise Gerdes). But, SCCC claims that SGFS has ignored the fact that in the absence of metal detectors and X-ray machines at every campus entrance, students already have no way of knowing who is carrying a gun. Furthermore, in most states in the US, approximately 1% of the population is licensed to carry a concealed handgun (Louise Gerdes) so it is not true when SGFS said that the presence of handgun would affects our learning environment. I think SGFS is right at this point, the SCCCs point is also not wrong but it is not real. For example, if college allows their studen ts to carry handgun, and if some of their students have a license to carry it, how can you know that the guy that sit next to you has a gun or not and whether he is a hot-tempered guy or not. You cannot know kind of this information but it can affects your life really. So, do you want to risk your life with something you are not sure about? In addition, in one anonymous national survey, 94% of Americans answered No when asked, Do you think regular citizens should be allowed to bring their guns [onto] college campuses? (Louise Gerdes) Second, SGFS has noted that in a 2007 report by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, there are four reasons why crime gun-related would be increase if guns were allowed on campuses: (1) the prevalence of drugs and alcohol; (2) the risk of suicide and mental health issues; (3) the likelihood of gun thefts and (4) an increased risk of accidental shootings (Louise Gerdes). In order to prove this, SGFS has showed us another report that comes from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University: [N]early half of Americas 5.4 million full-time college students abuse drugs or drink alcohol on binges at least once a month. In addition, they claimed that alcohol is involved in 95% of the violent crime on campus. For the risk-of-suicide-and-mental-health-issues reason, SGFS showed us one anonymous study about this, 24% of college students had thought about attempting suicide and about 5% had actually attempted to kill themselves. And if there is presence of g uns, suicide attempts are successful more than 90% of the time, in the comparison, when the method used is drug overdose, such attempts are fatal only 3% of the time. About gun-theft reason, SGFS believe that college dorm rooms are typically small, with few places available to lock up or secure a handgun (Louise Gerdes). However, SCCC noted that SGFS forgot to mention the fact that after allowing concealed carry on campus for a combined total of one hundred semesters, none of the aforementioned US college that allow handguns have seen a single resulting incident of a student under the influence of drugs or alcohol using or brandishing a weapon on campus, a single resulting suicide, a single resulting gun theft, or a single resulting gun accidentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ and allowing concealed carry on college campuses would not change the rules about who can purchase a firearms or who can obtain a con concealed handgun license. It also would not change the rules at off-campus parties and bars , the places where individuals over the age of 21 are most likely to consume alcohol. Furthermore, to cast doubt on gun-theft reason, SCCC showed that at most colleges, on-campus housing is occupied primarily by freshman and sophomores, students typically too young to obtain a concealed handgun license (Louis Gerdes). In my opinion, I think SCCC has forgot that when someone really get drunk, they can control their behavior so it is very dangerous if they have gun along with them, because you will not know what they can and will do with this kind of dangerous and fatal thing. If there are some accidents that alcohol-related, who can SCCC blame it on? The next result that SGFS showed us is shooters would not be deterred by concealed carry permit holders. SGFS said that homicides and shootings at American colleges and universities are rare events because of many reasons. They showed that there were 11920 total gun homicides but only 10 total murders on the nations college campuses in 2003. They also believe that there is no way shooters would have been deterred by the knowledge that their fellow students (or campus faculty) might be armed. They also gave some example to strengthen their opinion: on May 8, 2006, at Fairfax County Police Sully District Station in Virginia, Michael Kennedy, 18, fired more than 70 rounds and killed two officers before police were able to take him down. There is no proof that suicidal shooters would be deterred from attacks on college campuses by concealed carry permit holders. Handguns just make the situation become more and more serious because campuses are crowded always so handguns just try to creat e additional mayhem only. Thats really a good point, because students or faculty is not like trained soldiers who know clearly how to use weapons or handguns in the chaos in which everyone just run for their life, they just run and maybe cause difficulties for anyone who is aiming at the shooter. In this situation, students who has handguns maybe cannot target accurately and absolutely they can injure their fellow students. Thats really not a good thing because when our lawmakers allow our students carry handguns on campuses, they just want our students feel safe and secure (Louis Gerdes). The next opinion that SGFS think it is very persuasive to prevent our lawmakers from pass the law to allow our students carry handguns on campuses: Concealed carry permit holders are not always Law-Abiding citizens. They give an example that Alaska and Vermont are two states in the US do not require their residents to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon, thats also means individuals in these states can buy a handgun through an unregulated private sale without background check required then use it in public (Louise Gerdes). Besides that, SGFSs essay also mentioned the main requirement to get a permit in 38 states that have a shall-issue policy for concealed carry permit is to pass a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) which just want to make sure whether the applicant is prohibited under federal law from owning and purchasing firearms (Louise Gerdes). But, NICS is also not foolproof. An anonymous study showed that the database of NICS is deeply flawed and missing millions of disqualifying records. For example, nine out of ten metal health records that would disqualify individuals from purchasing firearms are still not currently in the database and one-fourth of felony conviction records have also not been submitted to NICS by the states. SGFSs essay also claimed that Seung-Hui Cho, who takes responsibility for massacre in Virginia Tech, also passed background checks in acquiring the firearms used in his attack even though before, he had been diagnosed with a severe anxiety disorders (Wikipedia.org). You can notice that NICS is not a trusty system that our states can depend on it to judge someone in order to give them a permit or not. If we give permissions to wrong guys like Seung-Hui Cho, I believe there will be more and more Virginia Tech in the future. Finally, SGFS pointed out that concealed carry permit holders are not required to have law enforcement training. The fact is that 48 states in the US which allow their residents to carry handguns do not require them to have any formal law enforcement training. For example, in Virginia, which is famous for Virginia Tech massacre, a four-hour sit-down session in a classroom is sufficient to meet the states training requirement (Louise Gerdes). Thats not a training, thats also not that someone who will carry handgun have to have and have to do before they get a permit. Just sit down and listen is not a good idea or good method that can help our residents in the real life. Even trained law enforcement officers rarely hit their targets when firing at other human beings, so how can a formal resident, who just sit down and hear some lectures about gun can do that? When you factor in all of the other elements that are involved in shooting at an adversary, thats a high hit rate. The adrenalin e flow, the movement of the target, the movement of the shooter, the officer, the lighting conditions, the weatherà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ I think it is a high rate when you consider all of the variables, Ray Kelly, New York Police Commissioner said (Louise Gerdes). In 2005, there were a total of 12352 gun-related homicides in the US. In the same year, the FBI reported only 143 justifiable homicides or self-defense involving firearm. Guns are used to threaten and intimidate far more often than they are used in self-defense. Most self-reported self-defense gun uses may well be illegal and against the interests of society, a 2000 study by Harvard School of Public Health (Louise Gerdes). Nowadays, some Arizona Republican lawmakers have voiced to support SB 1467 that allow students who have concealed weapons permit to carry handguns on campuses throughout Arizona. If this bill is passed, Arizona will be a third state in the US after Utah and Texas to allow all students and professors on college campus to carry handguns. Harold Cranswick, an MCC economics teacher said: If the state of Arizona proceeds with any of the currently proposed gun legislation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ It is unrealistic to expect students to feel safe (Mesa Legend 10). It is time that the public stands up and says no more,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦That we want to be able to make sure our facilities are safe and allowing weapons in many of these facilities is not what the people of Arizona want, said State Senator Steve Gallardo at a protest against the bill on March 29 at state Capitol. At the same protest, Zachary Smith, the regents professor of politics and international affairs from Northern Arizona University c laimed: It is just that in an environment like a college where thins can be hot and where there can be disagreements and there can be debates, it is just not the place where people might know there would be concealed fire-arms. And Emily Connally, a graduate student from University of Arizona and a Students Against Guns in Education (SAGE) representative mentioned: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Guns are four times more likely to be used in an unintentional shooting than to be used to injure or kill in self-defense and only 1 percent of the time will a victim use a gun to protect themselves (Mesa Legend 13). Mesa Legend also conducted an online survey with the question: Would you feel safe if it were legal to carry a gun onto college campuses? And there is the feedback; 65% clicked No, it would lead to complete chaos or death, only 20% chose Yes, and I would carry, 8% for Yes, I would not carry but feel safe knowing others are, 4% for I have mixed feelings about it and 3% for I do not really care ( Mesa Legend 13). You can see that, there is really no need to carry handgun on college campuses because college is the place that all people come to expect to expand their knowledge and learn something new, it is not a place like battlefield like we come and worry whether our fellow students have a gun or not. It is not students job. However, thats not mean you do not care about your students secure, hire more public safety in order to get enough man to control the whole campus is just one wayà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Try to find another solution like teach our students how to be safe in dangerous situation or build the friendly learning environment to avoid some hard-to-solve disagreements on campus maybe can helps us not to use handgun in dailys conversation and relationship. The safest policy to limit potential violence is to prohibit students and faculty from keeping handguns on campus and allow trained law enforcement officers to provide for campus security (Louise Gerdes). College is where we make grades not graves. Work Cited Concealed Weapons. Gale Louis Gerdes in Context. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Louis Gerdes In Context. Web. 29 Apr. 2011. College Campuses Are Safer Without Concealed Weapons. Gun Violence. Ed. Louise Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Louis Gerdes. Gale Louis Gerdes In Context. Web. 29 Apr. 2011. College Campuses Are Less Safe Without Concealed Weapons. Gun Violence. Ed. Louise Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Louis Gerdes. Gale Louis Gerdes In Context. Web. 29 Apr. 2011. Virginia Tech massacre Wikipedia encyclopedia web. 5 May 2011. Legends One Poll. Mesa Legend 13 (2011): 3. Print. Ben Garcia. Ariz. lawmakers support concealed guns on campus. Mesa Legend 10 (2011): 5. Print. Ryan McCullough. Second amendment makes its way to college campuses. Mesa Legend 13 (2011): 16. Print.

Your Attitude Is Showing :: Business Marketing

Your Attitude Is Showing: A Primer of Human Relations I enjoyed reading "Your Attitude Is Showing" a great deal more than I expected to. I normally hate to read because I am not very good at it, and I am usually uninterested in the subject. I found that this book to be quite easy to read. The language that the authors used was very easy to understand. Also, it was divided into many chapters with many sections in each chapter. This made it easy for me to keep my attention on the book. When reading I normally become tired and bored, but I was able to focus well on this book. The content of the book also helped keep me interested. I felt that the authors addressed many important points throughout the book. Though I knew much of the information discussed, I also learned a lot from it. This is why I enjoyed the book the most, because it taught me things that I will use, and that are very important for how successful my life is, professionally and personally. Key Points When reading this book I found there to be many important points that were addressed in each chapter. I found three points in particular to be more valuable to me than the others. The first key point that I found was in chapter 2. â€Å"All organizations are built around people. And when you build healthy relationships with your fellow workers and supervisors, you open doors that would otherwise be closed.† I found this statement to be very interesting. This section went on to explain how knowledge of a particular job is not all that is important to succeed in a career. I had previously not realized this in my life, even though I have had personal experiences that reflect this. I was recently offered a management position at my current job. I thought that it was strange because I had relatively no experience working in retail, and I had only been working with the company for a few months. But after reading this section I realized that, most likely, the reason why they off ered me the job was because of the strong relationships I had developed with my supervisors and co-workers in such a short period of time. From now on I plan on keeping this point in mind whenever I begin a new job. The second key point that I found was discussed in chapters 3 and 4.

Legal, Safety, and Regulatory Requirements Essay

Abstract The workplace can be a very dynamic place; there are so many different people with all kinds of personalities. Because there are so many different personalities, there are different needs of safety which can create obstacles in the organization. This is where the Human Resource Department comes into play, they make sure that the needs of all employees are met and that they are working in a safe environment. Litigation has taken the place of common sense and compassion within organizations over the past years. Litigation has become a main priority and the Department of Labor, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and also the Department of Homeland Security all have been regulating this. Although some may disagree that litigation has created a more structured work environment, there are a lot that would say it has. Litigation has balanced out the differences in the workplace. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission There once was a time when common sense and compassion were used to decide what to do with issues, but now that there are laws put in place to ensure that legal, safety, and regulatory requirements are obeyed there are less issues. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is one of those regulations. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces federal laws which make it illegal for any organization to discriminate against someone applying for the position or someone who is already an employee for reasons like their race, gender, color of skin, age, disability, or religion. (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2011) This also ensures that a person who is claiming that they were discriminated against is not discriminated for that. These laws are applied to any type of work situations, like harassments, wages/benefits, hiring/firing, promotions, or any type of training. If a company discriminates based on any of these assumptions they will be investigated and possibly prosecuted if found guilty. (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2011) Department of Labor Department of Labor is another one that focuses on employee-related regulations. The Department of Labor  enforces well over 180 laws; these laws regulate many activities that go on in the work environment. The Fair Labor Standards Act is one of these laws and it ensures that employees that are working overtime are paid fairly. (United States Department of Labor, 2011) Another federal law that the Department of Labor regulates is the Occupational Safety and Health Act which ensures that private industries are regulated on a regular basis and they must be approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Act state programs. This is only two acts that ensure litigation for the Department of Labor, but there are many more. (United States Department of Labor, 2011) American with Disabilities Act Another law that was passed to regulate legal and safety requirements was the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This law was passed by congress to ensure that nobody with a disability regardless of what kind of disability it may be cannot be discriminated against simply for that reason. The disability has to be further evaluated before any decisions are made. (U.S. Department of Justice, 2011) If the applicant has a disability such as abuse form a substance or their vision is impaired, but can be corrected with prescribed lenses than they cannot be discriminated against. In 2008 former President George W. Bush passed the American Disability Act of 2008 which made the protection of disabled workers a little broader. (U.S. Department of Justice, 2011) U.S. Department of Homeland Security The U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulates our nation and makes sure that all threats are taken seriously and handled properly. They have a goal which entails that the federal agency must make sure that environmental justice is a top priority. (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2011) Conclusion I personally feel that all of these laws are set in place to ensure that all work related issues are handled without any favor. Before any of these laws it was he said she said, there was a lot of discrimination against people, so most of the time decisions were not made fairly. Human Resources have to regulate all of these laws, they deal with all of the issues in an organization and they handle them all based on federal laws. All problems  are evaluated and decided based on litigation, not by common sense or compassion because one person’s view on common sense or compassion may not be fair or just. References: United States Department of Labor, (2011). Rulemaking and Regulations. Retrieved February 14, 2012 from http://www.dol.gov/asp/regs/rulemaking.htm U.S. Department of Homeland Security, (2011). About. Retrieved February 14, 2012 from http://www.dhs.gov/files/prepresprecovery.shtm U.S. Department of Justice, (2011). ADA Regulations and Technical Assistance Materials. Retrieved February 15, 2012 from http://www.ada.gov/publicat.htm#Anchor-14210 U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, (2011). Overview. Retrieved February 14, 2012 from http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/index.cfm

Elements Of Irony In Native Son Essay

Elements of Irony in Native Son Native Son paints a disturbing, harsh picture of life within the â€Å"Black Belt† of Chicago in the 1940s. Wright uses irony; sometimes subtly and at other times obviously to shape the view of the reader and as a foreshadowing mechanism. From our initial scene to Bigger’s death, the technique of irony employed by Wright is effective, and devastating. Our initial symbol which foreshadows the fate of our protagonist is the â€Å"huge black rat† (5). The rat represents the feelings which Wright explores within Bigger. The rat is killed right away, before it really has a chance, yet it is able to attack Bigger before it is destroyed. By attacking instead of fleeing, the rat is caught and destroyed, much like Bigger as the novel progresses. Much like the rat, Bigger teeters between the predatory (the initial response to the rat) and the hunted (the rat as killed by Bigger). The fact that the rat is destroyed by Bigger makes this scene even more ironic. The idea of blindness permeates the novel in several ways. We can see the psychological and emotional blindness of Bigger, the blindness to reality by the hyper-religious Ma, and the blindness to the real role and ideals of the Communist party by both Jan and Mary. Perhaps the best use of irony is the physical blindness of Mrs. Dalton. Mrs. Dalton is the epitome of blind; she has very sensitive senses (she notices the smell of alcohol in Mary’s room, saying: â€Å"You’re dead drunk! You stink with whiskey! † (86)) but she is unable to see Bigger killing her daughter. Her extra sensitive hearing and lack of sight give Bigger the reason and opportunity to smother Mary. Yet, the true irony falls into the situation surrounding Mr. and Mrs. Dalton’s participation with groups such as the NAACP. While they believe that contributions of ping pong tables to inner city youth will help, their insulting charity to Bigger, coupled with Mr. Dalton’s excessive rent charges, ultimately causes the death of their daughter. Bigger is the most ironic element of the entire novel. From his name, we expect this character to make something out of himself, to escape from the ghettoes of Chicago and end up rich, successful and important. Wright does not allow this. The idea that Bigger will be destroyed is planted into his own head and into the readers right away. The naming of this character is a clever device utilized by Wright, though it’s irony is bitter. Bigger is not ironic simply due to his name. His actions also represent a sort of sick irony. Perhaps the saddest, sickest display of this is the rape of Bessie. While we are uncertain, and it would be impossible to prove that Bigger raped Mary prior to killing and decapitating her, by raping and murdering Bessie, a portrait of Bigger as the violent monster is created. This is important because it not only shapes the view of the public within the novel, but also that of the reader. Wright changes the tone stating: â€Å"He had done this. He had brought all this about† (239). Wright seems to do this for a reason, to illustrate how easy it is for the opinion of Bigger to shift, but also to show what a man is capable of when it is expected of him. The irony is that Bigger has, in effect, done himself in by murdering and raping Bessie. He believes that by killing her and tossing her body down the air shaft he shall escape, though just the opposite occurs. Ma represents a religious and foreshadowing irony that follows her character throughout Native Son. When she warns Bigger that â€Å"the gallows is at the end of the road [he] is traveling†, she is foreshadowing the fate of her son by the end of the novel (9). She tells Bigger to acknowledge his manhood by killing (the rat), which manifests into his killing Bessie. Through religion, however, we see the most obvious and devastating irony represented by Ma. She attempts to pray for the soul of her son, and gives him a wooden cross to wear around his neck. This cross, particularly due to its construction, appears identical to the burning cross of the Klu Klux Klan which Bigger sees out his jail cell window. Ma has effectively turned Bigger away from Christianity forever, in spite of her desire to do nothing other than save her son’s soul. Bigger ends up feeling that he â€Å"can die without a cross.. . [that he] ain’t got no soul! † (338) Irony follows Bigger throughout his life, and ultimately in his death. The introduction of Boris A. Max in Native Son represents a change; this is the first time Bigger has been able to explore some of his feelings, and with a white Jewish man! It is important to look at Max as a Communist and a Jew, because this makes him suspect in the eyes of popular opinion. Max is able to ask Bigger questions which are uncomfortable, but which make him think, which finally make him a man. Max states: â€Å"You’re human, Bigger† (424). This is the only time that anyone really says anything of this sort to Bigger. Bigger recognizes this and makes point of it, ironically, as he is about to be put to death. It is a difficult and important change which Wright employs at this point. Bigger Thomas was doomed from the beginning of the novel. We could see this foreshadowed by the rat, we could quickly sense the irony in his name and his very being. The world in which Bigger Thomas lived was cruel, unyielding in its destruction. We learn early that Bigger could not beat his fate, and we can see this in David Buckley. The district attorney is able to defeat Bigger and gain public acceptance by putting him to death. There is an ironic twist, if we look back to the beginning of the novel. We can see Bigger reading a sign with Buckley’s picture and the slogan, â€Å"YOU CAN’T WIN! † (13). Sadly, we find this to be true, with Bigger Thomas’s death by the novel’s end. Work Cited Wright, Richard. Native Son.

Free Essays on Dextromethorphan(dxm) Cough Syrup Or Addictive Drug

Image this your teenager goes out for the night. He asks, â€Å"Could I have some money to eat later.† Of course you give him the money because he is leaving before supper. So you had him five dollars, thinking he will use the money to eat, but in fact he uses that five dollars and goes to the local Walgreens and buys a bottle of Robotussin DM. He then proceeds to drink a full 4 oz. bottle of cough syrup. Your probably thinking why would someone do that. Well because a lot of cough syrups have a drug called dextromethorphan, which can cause an experience that is compared to acid or PCP. Acid and PCP are illegal, but dextromethorphan is not and is easily accessible for a cheap price. Dextromethorphan should be illegal as well for obvious reasons. Dextromethorphan is more commonly known as DM or DXM. It acts as the main ingredient to suppress a cough. Dextromethorphan was brought into cough syrups in the 1960s to replace codeine. DXM is an opioid, which means it is part of a family of psychoactive drugs that have the effects of opium, but do not contain or are made up of opium. Although dextromethorphan is safe at recommended dosages, it is abused for recreational use to get a feeling of a â€Å"trip†(Erowid). Dextromethorphan is still legal for two main reasons. The main one being there is no substitute for DXM at the time. The reasons behind this are unknown because dextromethorphan has little medical research or studies on the drug. Codeine was made a prescription drug because of its addiction and abuse, but little is being done to do the same for dextromethorphan. The second reason is pharmaceutical companies do not want to lose a major part of their income because dextromethorphan works well. In recent years many companies denied the fact that dextromethorphan causes a psychedelic effect when abused. Although there have been some cough medicines that are no longer available in the United States. The main one is Drixoral Cough ... Free Essays on Dextromethorphan(dxm) Cough Syrup Or Addictive Drug Free Essays on Dextromethorphan(dxm) Cough Syrup Or Addictive Drug Image this your teenager goes out for the night. He asks, â€Å"Could I have some money to eat later.† Of course you give him the money because he is leaving before supper. So you had him five dollars, thinking he will use the money to eat, but in fact he uses that five dollars and goes to the local Walgreens and buys a bottle of Robotussin DM. He then proceeds to drink a full 4 oz. bottle of cough syrup. Your probably thinking why would someone do that. Well because a lot of cough syrups have a drug called dextromethorphan, which can cause an experience that is compared to acid or PCP. Acid and PCP are illegal, but dextromethorphan is not and is easily accessible for a cheap price. Dextromethorphan should be illegal as well for obvious reasons. Dextromethorphan is more commonly known as DM or DXM. It acts as the main ingredient to suppress a cough. Dextromethorphan was brought into cough syrups in the 1960s to replace codeine. DXM is an opioid, which means it is part of a family of psychoactive drugs that have the effects of opium, but do not contain or are made up of opium. Although dextromethorphan is safe at recommended dosages, it is abused for recreational use to get a feeling of a â€Å"trip†(Erowid). Dextromethorphan is still legal for two main reasons. The main one being there is no substitute for DXM at the time. The reasons behind this are unknown because dextromethorphan has little medical research or studies on the drug. Codeine was made a prescription drug because of its addiction and abuse, but little is being done to do the same for dextromethorphan. The second reason is pharmaceutical companies do not want to lose a major part of their income because dextromethorphan works well. In recent years many companies denied the fact that dextromethorphan causes a psychedelic effect when abused. Although there have been some cough medicines that are no longer available in the United States. The main one is Drixoral Cough ...

Effective Pieces of Advice on How to Write a Fantasy Novel

Effective Pieces of Advice on How to Write a Fantasy Novel How to Write Your First Fantasy Novel Many people are passionate about fantasy novels. Such stories expand our imagination, excite our emotions, and take us to a journey we have never been before. Fantastic fiction is everywhere in pop culture. With this unpredictable genre, many modern authors like George R. R. Martin, Joe Abercrombie, and Scott Lynch continue to stretch, overturn, and interpret the plots to attain exciting punchlines. However, creating a unique and convincing fantasy story is complicated. You should realize that you are creating an entirely new world with original characters, personified things and ideas, in which people should believe. This process requires thorough consideration and planning. To establish an imaginary world, you must create characters that will captivate and engage the audience. Although fantasy stories take place in fictional world, they still have certain rules. The genre fantasy is divided into plenty of subgenres where high fantasy is the thing which writers and readers admire the most. It is not enough to include magical objects and characters in the plot. The author’s main aim is to subvert the readers’ expectations and make him/her perceive the world as an entirely different place. If you are interested in how to write a fantasy novel, you must let loose your imagination. This article provides some tips that are designed to assist you in composing a fascinating story. Tips to Write a Fascinating Story Study the Useful Insights of the Genre Certainly, reading is essential if you want to become a good writer. This should be your first step to get into the fantasy fiction world. It is necessary for you to get a clear understanding of the elements that make fantasy novels different. It is also important to read extensively, as this will help you examine the specific features of the genre. Here are some pieces of advice: Examine the ways different writers create complex and immersive universes. Compare the examples from various fictional plots. For instance, think how differs the peaceful village from â€Å"The Lord of the Rings† from Mordor. Study the ways the writers develop the characters. If you want your first fantasy novel to be well-written, you should observe everything in other authors’ characters, from their demeanor to their quirks and vexes. Note the ways they go through all the challenges. Compare the internal logic of every imaginary world. What’s great in fantasy novels is that they never bind their readers’ thinking. Even some minor events in the plot always have certain logic. Every magic system has its own rules to follow. If you try to create your own magical world, you should examine the internal logic of any other fictional world. Thus, on the first stage of creating a fantasy novel, you have to learn to think beyond the boundaries of the real world. Now, your aim is to study the approach of the best fictional authors. Examine the ways they manage difficulties in fantasy writing process. It is very important to read a lot until you have an idea on how to create a convincing fictional world. Not only will it improve your writing skills but also help you create good outlines for your stories. Explore Various Ideas To learn how to write fantasy stories it is important to explore some exciting fantasy novel ideas. Some of the most known fantasy novels were only able to persuade readers because they contained original ideas. This genre has a great opportunity for exploring creative freedom. A huge number of young-adult fantasy stories, over the last time, have significantly explored the boundaries of science-fiction and reality. The main aim of this was creating something that will help the readers escape the present and run into the imaginary world. Therefore, to create a fictional universe, you must develop unique and fascinating ideas – particularly for the setting. Actually, you can find inspiration anywhere, for example: Watch a documentary on Animal Planet, which may trigger an idea to create an imaginary world for animals and other fantastic creatures Explore unusual settings and observe exceptional things Read top fantastic fiction series and compare settings while making notes of some interesting elements which make them unique Make sure to jot down all your ideas, including minute details such as weather, housing, and scenery to have a clearer picture of your fantasy universe. Describe Your Imaginary World Every good writer has his own tips for writing a fantasy novel and uses them to make the readers see the fantasy world through his/her eyes. Thus, if you want your novel to be more realistic, you should pay special attention to the description of the settings’ and the characters’ physical features. Make sure you already have a clear vision of your fantasy world so that you are able to describe it in detail. Depict physical features of the countryside, universe, or even a teeny hut, where your story takes place. Make every effort to provide your reader with the ability to picture the environment of the characters. Here are some ways to practice this: Start observing and depicting everything that is going on around you by using descriptive language. Describe everything, including feelings, smells, and looks. Connect all these scenes while illustrating them on the paper. Use this same strategy to describe your imaginary world. Describe plants, their appearance, colors, and smell. Describe the environment, weather, sounds, and so on. Add some contrasts to the atmosphere to enhance your readers’ perception. The most critical thing is describing your characters’ appearance, details which make them different so that your readers are able to create their pictures in mind. Map out Your Story By drawing a map with the story, you make it easier to write understandable fantasy novels. For this reason, many known writers practice this to incline their audience artistically. If it seems to you that it will help the readers understand the complex set of your story, you should draw it. Furthermore, include some significant landmarks and mark seas and rivers. It would be also great if you create symbols that will indicate cities and towns. Set the Time Frame It is one more important part of your story. It should be set in a specific timeframe as the story’s characters and setting greatly depend on the timeframe. For example, stories that are set in future mostly revolve around technological achievements. If the novel describes a specific historical era, the timeframe might represent a primitive society. Therefore, keep it in mind while looking for ideas to write a fantasy novel. Look through many ideas of timeframe and learn the ways various writers incorporate it into their stories’ themes. If you are going to write a futuristic story, it might be useful to do some research into the technology. It will help you do some assumes about the changes in human life, as well as get a better image of your characters and settings. If your story takes place in the ancient world, you should get sufficient information about past cultures and traditions. To write the most realistic novel, include the details which will portray the timeframe in your plot, like traveling, cultures, and ancient people’s appearance. Make Social Conventions Different social classes and lifestyles are inherent to our society. To write a fantasy novel step by step, make sure to include certain rituals and customs. One of the options is incorporating various aspects of the actual social conventions. Do the characters of your story have any festivals? How do they mark death? Think over these or similar ideas so that your audience is able to relate to them. One more great way to come up with some ideas of new social conventions is researching different cultures. Many writers borrow certain ideas of rituals from older cultures. Make an Outline of the Story As soon as you decide on the topic, plot, and other important aspects, you are strongly encouraged to write down the outline in the sequence. Draft an outline before you start writing. It will provide you an opportunity to analyze all the twists and turns of the plot. Besides, it is very convenient to create headings and divide the story into the chapters on this stage. The best way to structure the novel is by dividing it into three main phases: beginning, the body, and climax. Additionally, you can compile the events by describing the course of actions, turning points, conflicts, and resolution. Final Phase Now, it is about time you edited your novel. Go back and make final changes if needed. It is best told be great if you ask for feedback of an experienced writer or publisher to improve your novel before publishing it. In general, creating a fantasy story is mostly about playing with your imagination. Good luck to you with writing an original and fascinating fictional story.

An Evaluation Of The Impacts Of Tourism Tourism Essay

An Evaluation Of The Impacts Of Tourism Tourism Essay In this project I would like to take a look at the relationship between tourism and the people living in popular tourist locations; specifically the deep impact tourism has on local culture. This topic interests me as although I have never visited the global south myself, many of my friends and acquaintances travel there frequently for vacations. Tourism is sure to have many effects on these ‘destination’ type communities. I know that many of these destinations are in poorer areas of the world. Some significant effects that tourism has on these areas manifest themselves economically, socially and culturally. Though tourism may create jobs and stimulate the local economy there are some downsides to tourism and aspects of the influx of visitors that may be harmful to local cultures. In my research paper I will analyze the benefits that tourism has on local economies in relation to the social and cultural impact on the community. I hope to evaluate just how beneficial pote ntially short-term economic stimulus is in the face of potential harm to the economy in the long term, local people and local culture. I will discuss this topic globally but with a focus on Southeast Asia and specifically India. My paper will emphasize the important question: is vacationing in a ‘third world’ country potentially unethical? Or does the stimulus to a developing country’s economy justify the social and cultural implications of tourism and the development that tourism brings in the area. Looking at the ethical issues surrounding this will also be an important factor in determining whether the cultural impacts of tourism is acceptable or justifiable by the economic benefits. In my opinion, although tourism does support economic growth in many communities there is deep and irreversible cultural impact. In ‘Tourism in Destination Communities’ Shalini Singh looks at an idea by Jafar Jafari the author of â€Å"Encyclopedia of Tourism†. Jafari created the consolidated platforms of tourism. One of Jafari’s four platforms is advocacy- that is to say that tourism is capable of economic good. Another platform, the cautionary platform, emphasizes the importance of noting the complex interactions at the local level. The other two platforms are â€Å"Adaptancy† (which is described as ‘pro community tourism’) and Knowledge based – which is a holistic treatment for community-based tourism (Jafari cited in Singh 2003). Singh and S.W. Boyd (26-30) discuss relationships between tourism and destination communities in terms of ‘win-win,’ ‘win-lose,’ ‘lose-win’ or ‘lose-lose’ paradigms (Carter and Lowman, 1944; Nepal, 2000). Examples of ‘win-win’ situations do exist and this indicates that tourism can indeed be economically beneficial to a destination community. The example given by Boyd and Singh is that of Ayers rock (Uluru) whic h is one of Australia’s most famous tourist attractions. Although Australia is not a country typically considered to be part of the global south I believe this example is relevant as the aboriginal communities in the area could easily be marginalized and exploited by tourism. The community however takes an active role by defining their relationship with tourism as having control and choice. (Mercer cited in S.W. Boyd and S. Singh: 1994:37). The community participates by providing educational services, which allows them to convey that the religious and cultural significance of Uluru is something to be respected. (Wells, cited in S.W. Boyd and S. Singh 1996:37). The local businesses in the area benefit and are owned by the people of the aboriginal community. This example is congruent to Jafari’s platforms of Advocacy and Adaptancy and it shows tourism in this scenario as ‘pro community’ and capable of economic good. As this situation is economically benefici al to this area, without compromising or de-valuing the local culture, it is an excellent means of development. Another example where the local community benefits is the ‘win-lose’ situation, a very salient example being Cuba. The community benefits economically, although mass tourism does not. This is achieved through policies and marketing that emphasizes quality tourism by restricting the number and type of tourists (high spenders, low numbers). The tourism is marketed for exclusivity and affluence and this is done through selective marketing and catering the services towards wealthier people. Cuba’s tourism industry’s markets strategically to target Canadian ‘snowbirds’ who also take long-term vacations in Florida (Peters 2002:4). Their vacationing for long periods of time in a US location and their ability to spend US currency indicates their affluence. Another strategy is the development of golf courses in the area. Miguel Figueras, a to urism ministry economist and advisor in Cuba, says that golf is a feature that can attract higher spending tourists (Peters 2002:5). Strategic tourism planning allows a country to tap into the wealth of the global north’s wealthiest tourists allowing maximum economic benefit without mass sharing of what they have to offer.

Strategy and Strategic management Research Essay

Strategy and Strategic management Research - Essay Example By embracing Best Practice the industry would gain; There is no single accepted definition of 'strategy' (Price and Newson, 2003, p. 184).5 A 1999 study by Price, McCaffer and Thorpe (cited by Price and Newson, 2003, p. 190) established that the construction industry prefers the definition given by Johnson and Scholes in 1999: "Strategy is the direction and scope of an organization over the long term: which achieves competitive advantage for the organization through its configuration of resources within a changing environment, to meet the needs of markets and to fulfil stakeholder expectations." Chinowsky's (2001, p. 60)6 research into existing models of strategic management, combined with interviews with executives, led him to devolve seven key considerations for executives when attempting to formulate strategic management plans: In 1998 they surveyed the ENR Top 400 Contractors in the United States. Most organisations intended to leverage technological tools and capitalise on greater market knowledge. However the research also found that there was no such emphasis on life-long learning and protecting existing market share from competitors. Critique: In answer to the obvious question: 'Where precisely will a project-focused organisation find time to grapple with 'strategy' Chinowsky and Meredith (... The need to identify, find and pursue new markets; and Improved communications between project teams and peripheral departments. In 1998 they surveyed the ENR Top 400 Contractors in the United States. Most organisations intended to leverage technological tools and capitalise on greater market knowledge. However the research also found that there was no such emphasis on life-long learning and protecting existing market share from competitors. Critique: In answer to the obvious question: 'Where precisely will a project-focused organisation find time to grapple with 'strategy' Chinowsky and Meredith (2001, p. 3) reply that without a strategic plan - which clearly identifies the tasks and evaluation measures to be undertaken at departmental level - this will be a very difficult undertaking. Given that multi-billion dollar organisations are having difficulty grappling with strategy management and strategy planning, what hope for the small employer (1-10 employees), or sole-trader who supplies to larger organisations 3. Strategic Management Process Price and Newson (2003, p184) favour the 'positioning' school of strategic theory, as exemplified by Professor Michael Porter, and look at strategy in terms of process, content and context: Strategy process is defined as the ''manner in which strategies come about'' and is concerned with the how, who, and when of strategy. Strategy content is described as "the product of the strategy process and is the what of strategy". Strategy context is concerned with the "where" of strategy and refers to "the organizational and environmental circumstances under which the strategy process and strategy content are determined". Strategic management process can be broken down into analysis, formation and

Scripture Inerrancy Thesis Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Scripture Inerrancy - Thesis Proposal Example (The CRI Voice, 2006) From the era that such reservations were raised, Christian scholars and even ordinary historians have come clear with findings, facts and proof that try to confirm the perfection of the bible. Scripture inerrancy therefore has to do with the belief that the bible is free from any errors. The justifications given as far as accuracy of the scriptures is concerned are varied. For example Rhodes (2004) uses several instances of Jesus’ view of the bible to explain why the bible could be regarded as accurate. Some of his defense has to do with Divine Inspiration: Matthew 22:43; Indestructibility: Matthew 5:17-18; Infallibility: John 10:35; Final Authority: Matthew 4:4,7,10; Historicity: Matthew 12:40; 24:37; Scientific Accuracy: Matthew 19:2-5; Factual Inerrancy: John 17:17; Matthew 22:29; Christ-Centered Unity: Luke 24:27; John 5:39; Spiritual Clarity: Luke 24:25; Faith and Life Sufficiency: Luke 16:31. The research design to be employed for this study will be survey research. Research Connections (2011) explain that â€Å"Survey research is a commonly used method of collecting information about a population of interest.† In this study, the population of interest will be Christianity; whereby scripture inerrancy shall be bought under strict scrutiny. The sample population shall be a group of Christian scholars, historians and critics of scripture inerrancy. These three categories of participants will help in ensuring fairness and balance in data collection and presentation of facts in the study. This is to say that the inclusive of critics is necessary in bringing about fairness in the line of argument. There shall be two major data collection procedures, which will be primary data collection and secondary data collection. Secondary data collection will deal with the collection of data from existing literature on

Geography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Geography - Essay Example ch has focused on so-called transitions or changes in the population’s death rates and birth rates, as they pertain to populations in the industrialized world, stretching back two centuries. The model has four stages: stage 1, known as the pre-modern stage; stage 2, or the urbanizing/industrializing stage; stage 3, or the mature industrial stage; and stage 4, or the post-industrial stage. The early stages are characterized by high CBR and high CDR figures, at around 35-40 for every thousand. At stage four, or the post-industrial stage, the population is at its highest, even as CBR and CDR figures are at their lowest, at around 10 for every thousand people. In the model, the CBR and CDR figures trend downwards slowly from stage 1 to stage 2, but the downwards trend accelerates at stage 3, until the figures plateu at stage 4, at the levels described above, around 10 for every 1,000 population. The stages of the model, and the CDR, CBR, and population figures for every stage, are identified and plotted in this graph by way of illustration (Montgomery; Lee 167-190; Galor 1-10): In the plot above, the large population at stage 4 and the low CBR and CDR figures there are graphically illustrated. In the first stage, the birth and death rates are similar, with CBR being only fractionally larger than CDR, so that the population was almost static, and population doubling was measured in thousands of years. Stage One is characterized by high levels of infant mortality, from poor hygiene that resulted in many diseases such as diarrhea and cholera. With the advent of industrialization and urbanization. Medicine was also archaic at that time, with knowledge on disease management and prevention being basic or unavailable altogether, and the threat of hunger from famines eventually coming to pass. The high death rates countered the effect of high birth rates, or CBR, at this stage (Montgomery; Lee 167-190; Galor 1-10). In the industrialization and urbanization stage, or stage

Negligent training Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Negligent training - Essay Example and drink arrangement and administration; establishing essential building efforts to establish safety; and making moves to maintain a strategic distance from a rehash of past mishaps by your employs through training them. A standout amongst the most well-known types of mischance at cordiality venues is a slip-and-fall mishap. The recurrence is so extraordinary; this expression is currently a typical legitimate term. Basic reasons for these mishaps incorporate covers not appropriately secured to the floor, electrical lines laid crosswise over floors, wet floors created by spilling roofs or janitorial work, protests or fluids on stairs, and hand railings that fizzle. In the event that you have an exchange show or gatherings where exhibitors or speakers use electronic presentation gear, oblige them to utilize your electrical ropes and demand that your staff introduce them to guarantee they are legitimately laid, taped and secured. A protection safeguard lawyer or your protection bearer ought to have the capacity to provide for you a rundown of slip-and-fall insurances your office can take. Proper instructions and training can prevent this otherwise you can’t stop this. (Ashe, S. (n.d.). Types of Negligence in the Hospitality Industry) There are many steps to reduce negligent training like improving management communication as all administrators will continually and reliably show the adequate behavior, as expressed in the approaches, in their own particular conduct and by taking part in consistent, continuous preparing for all representatives to make economical behavioral change that is in arrangement with organization arrangements and techniques. Other step can be creating a healthy environment for employs to learn like administrators must figure out how to manufacture trust and admiration among their representatives so workers trust it is protected to approach administration without alarm of responses and report episodes where representative behavior

Policy research memo Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Policy memo - Research Paper Example ld Left Behind Act was meant to assure the quality of education and develop accountability it seems that its goals are attainable and beyond the scope of the law. The No Child Left Behind Act meant to model education among children from disadvantaged backgrounds and to ensure that irrespective of race, colour or health status, each child had the right to access to quality education. The policy required that the performance of the students be assessed from time to time to ensure that children performed well between 2rd grade and 8th grade (Olivert 23-27). The ability of the policy to set the standards of education and find ways of measuring performance is an important aspect of ensuring that all students become responsible citizens. To ensure that all students, including those from struggling families performed well, the policy stated that all student who do not attain the minimum score be provided with extra tuition or have their study time extended. This would go on until they attain they attain the benchmark grades to proceed with their education. This is crucial in ensuring that all students get good grades to acquire employment despite an y economic constraints. To maintain accountability, the Act required that the teachers regularly report on the performance of students and provide results at the each of year. The Act achieved accountability by compelling the teachers to account for the performance of the student throughout the learning process. The teachers had to monitor the students’ results every time to ensure that all children achieve good grades (Roberts 12). The Act required that the schools and the district boards provide detailed report cards to the parents reflecting the performance of every child. Secondly, the NCLB Act required that strict measures be taken against teachers who do not deliver in terms of education performance in schools. The extreme measures include the change of the worker structure in the learning institutions. The policy

Geography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Geography - Essay Example ch has focused on so-called transitions or changes in the population’s death rates and birth rates, as they pertain to populations in the industrialized world, stretching back two centuries. The model has four stages: stage 1, known as the pre-modern stage; stage 2, or the urbanizing/industrializing stage; stage 3, or the mature industrial stage; and stage 4, or the post-industrial stage. The early stages are characterized by high CBR and high CDR figures, at around 35-40 for every thousand. At stage four, or the post-industrial stage, the population is at its highest, even as CBR and CDR figures are at their lowest, at around 10 for every thousand people. In the model, the CBR and CDR figures trend downwards slowly from stage 1 to stage 2, but the downwards trend accelerates at stage 3, until the figures plateu at stage 4, at the levels described above, around 10 for every 1,000 population. The stages of the model, and the CDR, CBR, and population figures for every stage, are identified and plotted in this graph by way of illustration (Montgomery; Lee 167-190; Galor 1-10): In the plot above, the large population at stage 4 and the low CBR and CDR figures there are graphically illustrated. In the first stage, the birth and death rates are similar, with CBR being only fractionally larger than CDR, so that the population was almost static, and population doubling was measured in thousands of years. Stage One is characterized by high levels of infant mortality, from poor hygiene that resulted in many diseases such as diarrhea and cholera. With the advent of industrialization and urbanization. Medicine was also archaic at that time, with knowledge on disease management and prevention being basic or unavailable altogether, and the threat of hunger from famines eventually coming to pass. The high death rates countered the effect of high birth rates, or CBR, at this stage (Montgomery; Lee 167-190; Galor 1-10). In the industrialization and urbanization stage, or stage

Policy research memo Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Policy memo - Research Paper Example ld Left Behind Act was meant to assure the quality of education and develop accountability it seems that its goals are attainable and beyond the scope of the law. The No Child Left Behind Act meant to model education among children from disadvantaged backgrounds and to ensure that irrespective of race, colour or health status, each child had the right to access to quality education. The policy required that the performance of the students be assessed from time to time to ensure that children performed well between 2rd grade and 8th grade (Olivert 23-27). The ability of the policy to set the standards of education and find ways of measuring performance is an important aspect of ensuring that all students become responsible citizens. To ensure that all students, including those from struggling families performed well, the policy stated that all student who do not attain the minimum score be provided with extra tuition or have their study time extended. This would go on until they attain they attain the benchmark grades to proceed with their education. This is crucial in ensuring that all students get good grades to acquire employment despite an y economic constraints. To maintain accountability, the Act required that the teachers regularly report on the performance of students and provide results at the each of year. The Act achieved accountability by compelling the teachers to account for the performance of the student throughout the learning process. The teachers had to monitor the students’ results every time to ensure that all children achieve good grades (Roberts 12). The Act required that the schools and the district boards provide detailed report cards to the parents reflecting the performance of every child. Secondly, the NCLB Act required that strict measures be taken against teachers who do not deliver in terms of education performance in schools. The extreme measures include the change of the worker structure in the learning institutions. The policy

Atmospheric Conditions Compared to Indoor Air Pollution Essay Example for Free

Atmospheric Conditions Compared to Indoor Air Pollution Essay There are many different air pollution problems that exist today. Ozone depletion, climate change conditions, volcanic eruptions, acid rains, and motor vehicle exhaust to name a few. One particular problem that is wide spread is â€Å"acid rain†. Acid rain is an effect caused by natural as well as man-made pollution, with a mixture of wet and dry deposited materials in our atmosphere containing nitric and sulfuric acids higher than normal amounts. Increase of these chemical compounds is caused from exhaust from burning of fossil fuels such as automobiles, electric power generation as well as volcanic eruptions and activity and natural plant decay. www. epa. gov). Nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides are emitted from power generation and other sources where acid rain is created when these gases react with other components of the atmosphere, water, oxygen, and other acid compounds resulting in creation of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Prevailing winds cause these particulates to spread out over long distances over wide spread regions. These acid rains are of environmental and quality of living concerns. Water vapors from acid rain can enter into the homes through open windows, poor insulation around doors and windows, ventilation systems and vent pipes that can affect air quality of the home as well as outside environments. Some of the environmental effects of acid rain can cause paint to peel, steal corrosion of bridges and structures, erosion of stone buildings and statues affecting the quality of air and life in residential and commercial areas. (http://en. wikipedia. org). Ground water supply sources can become contaminated and affects everything the water is used for. Acid rain can have harmful effects on animals, aquatic life, plants and their ecosystems. The effects are greater lakes, streams, wetlands and aquatic environments. Acid rain causes waters to become acidic and absorb aluminum deposits from runoff from the soils around them. The combination of this and the results of the chemical reaction make the water toxic to shell fish, crayfish and other aquatic species. Even though some species tolerate acidic waters, interconnected ecosystems that impact certain species will eventually impact others along the food chain. The damaging effects of acid rain on plant life are quite dramatic. Damage to forests in higher elevations is more apparent than lower lying regions. The acid content is at a higher level and leaches the soil nutrients and releasing aluminum making it harder for trees and plant life to absorb water. In lower lying areas the effects of acid rain, environmental stressors, and poor soil quality on plant life and trees cause them to become weaker where they cannot tolerate temperatures too cold or too hot, resist infestation of insects and susceptible to disease, and inhibit the ability to reproduce. Some areas the soil is better equipped to neutralize the acids in a â€Å"buffering capacity† that varies from region to region. (www. environment. nationalgeographic). By curbing the use of fossil fuel burning will decrease the forming of acid rains and conservation efforts of individuals. Not only is acid rain damaging to the outside environment, but also on inside air quality of the home. Physical contact of acid rain from rain droplets or swimming in acidic recreational waterways has little effect on human health. However, the pollutants that cause acid rain are associated with increasing the risks of health problems including respiratory and other illnesses. These pollutants infiltrate into indoor living spaces and cause many respiratory illnesses, breathing disorders including asthma and can even cause death. By improving ventilation systems and air purification techniques of the home, using better insulation and installing energy efficient windows and doors will greatly improve air quality of the home and diminish the risk factors from outside air pollution. http://greenliving. nationlageographic. com). Laws, such as the Clean Air Act has improved greatly the air quality. The EPA, through monitoring, and imposing strict guidelines on release of toxins in fossil fuel burning industries. The EPA has reported that from 1980 and 2009, the national average of sulfur dioxide content in the air has decreased by 76 percent, and the amount of nitrogen dioxide decreased by 48 percent. Congress has also created the Acid Rain Program Title IV of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendment. Some of the EPA’s initiatives are the SO2 Reductions and Allowances Trading under the Acid Rain Program involves Phase 1, which imposed tightened annual emission limits of higher emitting plants by installing pollution control devices. Allowance trading systems contributes the low-cost rules of exchange minimizing government intrusions and allowance trading to prepare for a viable compliance tool in reduction of SO2. (www. epa. gov). Another asset implemented by the EPA and Congress in the Clean Air Act Amendment is the reduction of NOx beginning in 1995 through 2000 as a two phase program concerning coal-fired electric electricity utility boilers. Phase 1 covered Group 1 Boilers and Phase 2 covered Group 1 and 2 boilers. Group 1 boilers are tangentially dry bottom fired boilers which has a tendency to give off higher NOx concentrations than Group 2 wet bottom wall fired boilers. Although the NOx reduction program incorporates many of the same characteristics as the SO2 program, it does not include allowance trading or caps the NOx emissions. www. epa. gov). The EPA also requires participants of programs to install, monitor and report data so tracking of the progress can be compiled on quarterly, semi-annually, and yearly bases. Monitoring devices known as CEMS (Continuous Emissions Monitoring System) are required to be installed and maintained by the participants. In the event that data is not compiled or not reported during a reporting period, the applicants will be considered non-compliant and the units deemed out of control for that period and fines incurred to the applicants. (www. epa. gov). The EPA requires any new or upgraded boilers or generating plants to install pollution control devices to capture, or remove sulfur before burning the fuel, and stack collectors for NOx particulates. There are several types of pollution control devices in use, and, depending on the fuels burned, amount of fuel burned, boiler types, amount of electricity produced and type of â€Å"stacks† used for venting on which device will meet the appropriate application. With the aide of the EPA and other government and private pollution control departments involved our air quality has improved greatly in the past few decades. With contributions of these departments and each individual persons working together to improve air quality of our open spaces and within businesses and homes will bring us that much closer to improving our world air quality for the new generation growing now, and even better for future generations. Keeping due diligence in our efforts ensures the planets recovery not only in air pollution, not only, but also our environment as a whole improving quality of life for all organisms large and small.

Total Quality Management In The Software Industry

Total Quality Management In The Software Industry As total quality management has a great demand in todays software environment it is always better to understand not only this concept, but any concept with the help of a case study. In this case we have chosen American multinational technology and consulting firm which has its head office at Armonk, New York (IBM). In this case study we will try to strike an understanding of what is total quality management (TQM) and what are the essential steps to be followed to have a successful TQM implementation. We even discuss briefly about the management seven (M7) and quality seven (Q7) tools which are commonly used in TQM process. We also provide recommendation for the people to ensure success during (TQM) implementation. IBM is a globally renowned organization which is operating over 170 destinations across the world. Today there are about 40000 employees putting their heart and soul to bring in innovative solutions to a diverse client base to encounter some of the toughest challenges in their business. IBM is not just the worlds largest IT firm it also known to bring innovation and solution for various worldly problems. It is well known for its research and development. It partners with various governments to build a smarter planet. IBM can be called as the leading information technology and services in the planet today. It main services include: IT services Business consulting Application services Outsourcing services Services for small and medium business(SMEs) Software service Asset recovery Its main products include: Software Storage Systems Services Internet security Semiconductors(US) Point of scale(US) Printing systems from info point IBM certified pre owned equipment Its main support includes: Download Troubleshoot Documentation Install Open a technical service request Support by product Customer support Customers: There a range of customers from a verity of business sectors and a range of countries, few of them are listed below Winn-Dixie Stores (US) Tran zaps (US) Allied Irish bank Post bank Ag(Germany) Japan airlines Ps bank(Philippines) Industrial bank of korea IBM Qualifiers: End to End IT Enterprise Services: Ranging from single onsite resource deployment on a time and materials basis to fully managed services of entire system areas. Sector Expertise: Core IT sector skills, expertise and experience of working across software, Banking, Utilities, Government, Healthcare and Manufacturing, Hardware and Software.. Cost Effective Global Delivery Model: IBM provides clients with cost-effective solutions through worldwide for successful execution of project. Service Oriented Architecture (SOA): Provides services to the clients and operates progressively. Shows eight Web pages, different processes but same design Source:www.ibm.com/developerworks/rational/library/edge/08/jul08/peraire/index.html Winners: Industry Standard best practices: Quality initiative at ISL is driven by ISO 9001:2002, SEI CMM Level 5, SEI CMMi Level 5, SEI PCMM Level 5 backed by IBM processes and methodologies. Technology Collaborations: In global market IMB associations created own repos and given access to all the customers. Operational Processes: IBM solutions main Operational process: The main operational process that confers to the services delivery of the company can be discept in greater detail as below: Technology Division: Generally the development of any IT applications and services delivery project usually requires the following main iterations: Project Planning: The Project planning is key for any project success. This phase prioritizes the identification of potential aspects such as scheduling and developing. Requirements Specification: The document that specifies the functional, operational, design and reference points requirements of the project is called requirement specific document, this document is generally put together by the inputs taken from the high level authority of the project. Design Development: Design is the next step that follows after the requirement specification document is created, This is the phase where the intended features, process diagram, functional hierarchy templates and ER diagram are listed, This phase is immediately followed by the development process, developers use these design elements to develop their source code. Integration Testing: Integration is the process where the various modules of the project are integrated in to once system, I E code developed by various developers is put in to one place and the software is now ready to de tested , The testing process is used to test the correctness, reliability and the completeness of the software and defects and incompleteness identified in this phase are corrected by the developers and then again tested, this cycle continues until all the bugs in the software are eliminated. Installation Acceptance: Once the software is tested completely and all the imperfections are eliminated the next phase is the installation phase, In this phase the developed software is installed for the clients to use the software, Though this is not the last phase, once the installation is done, the project is almost complete, the final phase of the software implementation process is the User acceptance test(UAT), Here a personal or a team from the users test the application or the software to confirm that all the initial requirements laid out in the SRS document are achieved and there are not bugs in the application Maintenance Support: This basically depends on the agreement that the client and the development company have agreed, it may occur that the company that has developed the software is responsible for the maintenance and support or the user may hire professionals to do this job for him, any further enhancements to the software can also be added to the finished software. The other business functions or supporting processes involved are: Customer Services: This is an ongoing process where any suggestions and complaints or requests from the client are communicated to the development team for any further changes to the application .This process also involves providing technical assistance to the customers. Marketing Sales: This is a very important aspect where any future business is generated, this team is responsible for finding new customers for the product, this team is responsible for giving demonstrations of the product in an effort to improve business. They also have the responsibility of extending the current time bound contracts to generate further business and following up with existing and new clients until the deal is sealed and the case is handed over to the technical heads. Accounting Finance: All the financial aspects starting from the pricing of the product to the employees pay scales are handled by this department. Any audit to tax payments are carefully invoiced and documented by this department. Human Resources: Human resource department need to ensure the recruitment of new talent, satisfaction and retention of the existing staff, maintaining the training and learning needs of the staff and ensuring minimum wage levels and tracking the attendance of all the employees of the organization. They form the back bone of the firm in the sense that they provide the technical manpower to satisfy the clients requirements for skills. Literature review: According to the Websters Dictionary, quality is a degree of excellence; a distinguishing attribute. That is, quality is the degree to which a product lives up to its performance, endurance, maintainability, and other attributes that a customer expects to receive from purchasing this product. In order to produce quality product, one must adopt TQM concept into ones product development process. TQM is a management technique for continuously improving the performance at every level and in every area of responsibility to ensure customer satisfaction (Schulmeyer McManus,2007). It is a way of managing an enterprise towards achieving business excellence (Dahlgaard et al., 1998). TQM can be traced to the work of Dr. Edwardss Deming and dr. Joseph M. Juran during the rebuilding of the Japanese economy in the after math of World War 2. Since American business discovered TQM in the 1980s it has been successfully implemented in a number of well known corporation in the US and XEROX, federal express and IBM (capezio. 1995). Deming (1986) suggested the use of statistical techniques for quality control, and hence mentioned the following principles on quality: The Deming Management Method: Although Walter Shewhart is considered as the founding father of statistical quality control system, W. Edwards Deming is the first one who introduced the TQM concept. Deming offered the management his fourteen points of management obligations and identified seven deadly diseases and some obstacles of TQM implementation. The fourteen points as listed below are also known as the Deming management method [Walton, 1986]. Juran (1986) emphasizing on the vitality of both technical and managerial aspects mentioned the following aspects of quality: Planning organization Control The aim of the management is to reduce the cost of mistakes, reaching a point where the total costs of quality are minimal (Juran Gryna, 1993). TQM Techniques, tools and systems Statistical Process Control ISO 9000 series Pareto Analysis Matrix Diagram Histograms Tree Decision Diagram Critical Path Analysis Fishbone or Ishakawa Diagram TABLE: Hard TQM Practices Identified in Quality Management Literature ISO 9000 series: The International Standards Organization (ISO) 9000 is perhaps the most popular quality improvement system. It is an international set of documents widely known as standards written by a worldwide organization known as the ISO/Technical Committee 176 (Lamprecht, 1992). Critical path analysis (CPA). This tool is associated with managing projects. It is related to TQM because project management is critical to the implementation of quality programs within an organization (Bicheno, 1998). CPA seeks to establish, through the use of a network of arrows or nodes, a logical order of activities in terms of time and importance for the completion of a project (Bicheno). Fishbone or Ishakawa Diagram: This is one of the classic TQM tools called fishbone or Ishakawa diagram. The fishbone diagram is used to identify causes of a problem without using statistical methods (Bicheno, 1998; Goetsch Davis, 1994). According to Goetsch and Davis, the fishbone diagram serves as an excellent reminder for the things that have to be done. Crosby (1979) defined 14 steps for quality improvement, including top and intermediate management commitment, quality measurement, evaluation of quality costs, corrective action, training, a zero-defect philosophy, objective setting and employee recognition(Crosby, 1979) cited in (Tarà ­, 2005). The key components required to carry out the TQM process include top management commitment, employee involvement, problem-solving tools, continuous improvement and customer satisfaction, based on the work of Deming, Juran, and Crosby (Haag et al., 1996). The research by all these authors shows both strengths and weaknesses, for none of them offers the solutions to all the problems encountered by firms (Dale, 1999). Total Quality Management for Software: Process Improvement: The TQM philosophy described above can be applied to any development process, be it product development or software development. The Product Development Life Cycle (PDLC): This phase generally involves intelligence, design, choice, and review [Simon, 1977]. The System Development Life Cycle (SDLC): This phase involves planning, analysis, design, implementation and support [Whitten and Bently, 1998]. The application of TQM to software: Software development is a process in which the developer precisely converts the requirement specifications into software products. It is clear that the quality of software is largely determined by the quality of the process used to develop and maintain it (Sanders Curran, 1994). A number of authors have advocated the adoption of TQM for the development and maintenance of software systems (Rowe Neal, 1993).Specific frameworks do exist for the software industry like ISO 9000 and CMM which act as stepping stone towards attaining TQM. Software quality management: Major quality management processes identified by Schwalbe (2004) are: Quality planning: determining which quality standards are relevant to this specific project and deciding how these standards will be met. Quality assurance: involves evaluating overall performance regularly to ensure conformance to the set standards. Quality audits or reviews can support this function. Quality control: monitoring the activities and end results of the project to ensure compliance with the standards utilizing various available tools and techniques. TQM Concepts Total Employee Involvement Continuous Improvement Continuous Training Teamwork Empowerment Top-management Commitment and Support Democratic Management Style Customer/Citizen Satisfaction Table: Soft TQM Concepts Identified in Quality Management Literature Challenges: Many of the firms implements CMM or ISO 9000 series for improvement and reach their TQM goals. For any Organization to have a successful implementation of TQM it must ensure that the majority of its employees and those part of the value chain are willing to participate and embrace the TQM philosophy before embarking on the journey. Everyone involved in the chain need to actively play participate and engage themselves in the journey to TQM realization otherwise the whole process will be hindered. The difficulty or factors which need to be taken care off while implementing TQM: Improper Management support Less knowledge and improper market analysis. Short term involvement inability to stay on target for long Failure to get worker input Measuring profits in short term span Financial problems- not possible to invest requisite amounts to bring the change Despite the benefits TQM brings, problems have been encountered while implementation. Firms must develop a number of components in an integrated way for successful implementation (Easton Jarrell, 1998). Future of TQM: The new age TQM is being built upon the information contained in databases rather than on generic and research models. Thus, TQM will be informed and shaped by customer requirements reflected in accurate data and information systems (Aurand et al., 1996).In summary, technology would remain the key driver of TQM through the use of IT and e-business. The future of the TQM is being designed to address the needs of service based and SMEs, rather than on the conventional product based framework of TQM. Also there would be fast track TQM implementation processes as firms are trying to march ahead on the technology change front.Thus, there is likely to be a requirement for more interdisciplinary research as the future of TQM develops (Dale et al., 2001). Also, newer environmental legislation, quality standards, carbon footprint and quality-award model development related issues would be redefining the future versions of TQM.

Authors Treatment of Fate and the Supernatural in Short Stories Written Before 1914 :: Short Stories Yellow Wallpaper Lost Hearts Essays

Author's Treatment of Fate and the Supernatural in Short Stories Written Before 1914 Using a selection of short stories written before 1914, compare and contrast their authors’ treatment of fate and/or the supernatural I understand the term supernatural to be an event or being that is abnormal in some way and for which there is no rational explanation. Although traditionally the supernatural is confined to spiritual beings, such as ghosts, I perceive it to have a much wider meaning. I will be investigating how certain writers of short stories view the supernatural and how they adapt it into their stories. The authors I will be looking at in this essay are M.R.James, Thomas Hardy and Charlotte Perkins Gilman; their stories, Lost Hearts The Withered Arm and â€Å"Yellow Wallpaper,† respectively. I will be focussing mostly on the supernatural in this essay, but will also investigate the question of fate briefly. Fate is the suggestion that all events happen for a reason, and that there is a greater power watching over us. Both these subjects are ones that greatly interested the Victorians, the era in which these stories are written. They were especially intrigued by the spiritual world, and the upper classes held sà ©ances, attempting to contact the dead. This preoccupation with the supernatural, and indeed fate, is one that emerges repeatedly in these short stories. The first story that I will be looking at is The Withered Arm by Thomas Hardy. Hardy’s style was very progressive for the time, but also reactionary; conservative, even, in certain aspects. His stories have a preoccupation with fate and the inevitability of death. The main supernatural aspect is the vision of Mrs Lodge that Rhoda sees. The vision taunts her, and Rhoda retaliates by grabbing its arm. The vision appears sitting on her chest whilst she is in bed: â€Å"The pressure of Mrs Lodge’s person became heavier,† and yet is not Mrs Lodge as she should be – â€Å"But the features were shockingly distorted, and wrinkled as by age.† Although Rhoda can feel its presence, it is extremely strange that it should be sitting on her chest in the middle of the night, and it is undoubtedly a vision or a distortion of a dream. Harding even describes it as a â€Å"spectre.† This is further confirmed by its sudden disappearance, â€Å"She looked on the floor whither she had whirled the spectre, but there was nothing to be seen.† The whole story really revolves around the actions of the spectre or vision, and this is the definite supernatural element in the story. Later on however, both women go to see a â€Å"Conjurer Trendle,† and Mrs Lodge sees the face of the person who cursed her in