The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost Essays - 475 Words

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost In his poem The Road Not Taken Frosts theme is about how the choices one makes affect life. When we come to a fork in the road, a decision needs to be made. Both paths are different and choosing the right one – if there is a right one – will depend on where we have been. Each choice that we make plays out differently in our lives. We can look back and wonder what would have happened if we choose differently. But that is outweighed in what we would have missed. Each choice affects who we are, where we are going, and moreover our lives. The persona had two roads to chose from and wonders what would have happened had he taken the other road. Frost’s title reflects this. The first three†¦show more content†¦And that at this point in time one of the roads must be chosen. After the choice of roads is described and considered, Frost writes Oh, I kept the first for another day! /Yet knowing how way leads on to way, /I doubted if I should ever come back. This is where the narrator makes his choice. Here, he knows he is bound by that choice. He wants to hold on to the other possibility, but knows this cannot be. His choice becomes the road taken. The choice he did not make, becomes The Road Not Taken. He takes the other road that is â€Å"grassy and wanted wear.† The road he chooses has a â€Å"better claim,† because it is the road that is less traveled on. By taking this road, a clue to his personality is revealed. He is the type of person that wants to try something new and different. He makes the choice based on who he is and what choices he has made in the past. Knowing that this choice will again change his life and bring him new experiences. In the third stanza, the image of the leaves that cover the ground have not been stepped on and â€Å"no step had trodden black,† indicates that no one has walked down the road since the leaves have fallen, therefore describing a road not traveled. That path does not fit who he is at this juncture in life. †I kept the first for another day,† relates to his desire to travel down both paths. â€Å"knowing how way leads on toShow MoreRelatedThe Road Not Taken By Robert Frost983 Words   |  4 PagesThe poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken was written by Robert Frost, a four-time Pulitzer Prize winner in poetry, and also a special guest at President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration (Robert Frost Biography). Frost was born on March 26, 1874 in San Francisco, California and he died of complications from prostate surgery on January 29, 1963. Much of Robert’s popularity was gained throughout Europe (An Analysis of Robert Frost’s Poem: The Road Not Taken). Frost became a poetic force, and the unofficial poetRead MoreThe Road Not Taken by Robert Frost764 Words   |  3 PagesWritten by Robert Frost, â€Å"The Road Not Taken† deals with about making choices in life and how those choices affect your whole life. The meter of this poem is iambic tetrameter, for the most part. In most lines, the meter follows the rule with four iambs, which means that there is one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. But the meter is not normal since, in some lines, an anapest, which means there are two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable, is substituted forRead MoreThe Road Not Taken By Robert Frost1173 Words   |  5 PagesRobert Frost, one of America’s well-known poets is highly regarded for his realistic illustrations of rural life and poetry which is still relevant in today’s society. After being honoured on numerous occasions, he became one of America’s most popular public figures. Fro sts’ poems reflect his greatness and his life in a variety of ways after he was confronted with such despair and grief after the passing of his father due to tuberculosis at just eleven years of age and his mother who passed awayRead MoreThe Road Not Taken By Robert Frost995 Words   |  4 Pagesthey can only move forward hoping for the best. â€Å"The Road Not Taken†, Robert Frost, 1916. In â€Å"The Road Not Taken† a traveler is strolling through the woods and comes across two different roads he could take, and unable to travel both the poet eventually chooses which path to take. The theme conveyed is about making choices. Frost does this through the use of diction, the use of figure of speech, and the use of imagery. To start with, Frost displays the main idea of decision making by the wordsRead MoreThe Road Not Taken By Robert Frost1055 Words   |  5 Pagesago. Either way, if you admit it now or in the wee hours of the night, like most people, you will come across this question at least once in your life. Robert Frost was able to grasp this raw, vulnerable life changing moment in the palm of his hand. Then he beautifully laid it out in the form of words in the narrative poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken†. Frost is able to take you back to a time when you have been faced with a life-changing decision. Then, causing you to ask yourself â€Å"Did I make the right choiceRead MoreThe Road Not Taken By Robert Frost940 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Road Not Taken† was written by Robert Frost in 1916, and it was the first poem in the collection Mountain Interval (Shmoop). Even though it was written many years ago, people of all ages still study this enticing poem. Frost wrote about coming to a fork in the woods and examining which path he should take and whether he might ever come back; the speaker believes each path is fine to take, but he takes the less used path (line 6). He wrote about this decision in clear, standard English. â€Å"TheRead MoreThe Road Not Taken, By Robert Frost968 Words   |  4 PagesPersonal Response 3 Title: The Road Not Taken Text Type: Poem Author: Robert Frost The poem, ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost is about the â€Å"roads† and different paths we take in our lives. Frost wrote about a traveler who had to chose between two roads. He had to decide if he wanted to go down the well used or less used path. In the end, he went down the less used path. The theme of decision making and choices is shown in this poem. I think that this is a way of describing the choices we makeRead MoreThe Road Not Taken By Robert Frost863 Words   |  4 PagesThe Poem, â€Å"The Road Not Taken†, by Robert Frost is a detailed poem about a conflict in a person’s life, dealing with having to take the right path throughout life. The Narrator of this poem is faced with a predicament when he comes across two paths. The choices that he makes in his life, can alter the future for better or worse. This poem describes his attitude and emotion towards his choices as well as, shows examples of themes, mood, and different literary devi ces. The title of this poem canRead MoreRoad Not Taken, Robert Frost942 Words   |  4 PagesEnglish 101 Burstrem October 7, 2009 The Road Not Taken Life is full of choices and decisions that could ultimately change the outcome of our lives. In the poem, â€Å"The Road Not Taken† by Robert Frost, a traveler is destined to make that decision. This traveler man has to decide which road to take, one that is frequently traveled, and the one that is not. After contemplating which road to follow, he comes to the decision to take the road less traveled because he doesn’t want to follow inRead MoreThe Road Not Taken By Robert Frost1100 Words   |  5 PagesRobert Frost reflects that poetry â€Å"begins in delight and ends in wisdom†¦.It runs a course of lucky events , and ends in a clarification of life—not necessarily a great clarification, such as sects and cults are found on, but in a momentary stay against confusion† (931). His poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken† is a clarification of life. This paper will analyze and evaluate the formal elements of â€Å"The Road Not Taken† and consid er how these elements work together to fit the author’s purpose and clarification

Gun Control in America - 1313 Words

Gun Control in America Peter Z Bliss ENG/215 February 2, 2012 Kim Holloway Gun Control in America Gun control is a debate topic that comes up every election and when a major event happens that involving guns. Pro-gun lobbyists say â€Å"Guns don’t kill people, people kill people† [ (Hagan, 2007) ] the anti-gun advocates want to take away the right to bear arms. This topic has no right or wrong answer it is a preference of the individual. This is why gun control is such a fiercely debated topic. Implementing gun control Gun control cannot determine an accurate measurement according to research as there are two key components to the research lacking. What is the crime rate with no gun control? There is no documented research†¦show more content†¦This Act would require background checks on gun purchases [ (Medlock, 2005) ]. There are those who believe that the NRA has too much political pull in Washington. One such case Representative Peter Smith (R-NH) chose to sponsor a bill that would ban assault weapons. This was after telling the NRA that he opposed gun control. The following election the NRA targeted him and he lost his election race. The NRA has an uncanny ability to feed on the fears of the U.S. citizens. They helped to prevent the renewal of the assault weapon ban in 1994. Five years later two teenagers opened fire at their high school outside of Denver. With the horrific incident still fresh in legislator’s minds the NRS help to defeat a measure that would have prevented these teenagers from purchasing their firearms. As these teenagers had purchased their weapons at a gun show, which did not require the dealer’s to run a background check on them. To say that the NRA has a stance on the subject of gun control is an understatement. Regardless of the positive effects a law will have in preventing violent crimes involving guns. The NRA purposefully refutes those acts and uses its ability to enact fear into its members and citizens. This fear is used to prevent these laws from getting past legislation. Pro-gun control For every anti-gun control argument there is a disputing argument from the pro-gun control group. Studies do show that the gunShow MoreRelatedGun Control in America785 Words   |  3 Pages There has always been and always will be a problem with crime in America. Gun control has become a hot topic when talking about crime prevention. Gun control is any law, policy, or practice created to regulate the possession, production, sale, and use of firearms by private citizens. The majority of the American citizens believe that we should be able to own firearms for protection, leisure and sporting purposes. These people believe that denial of ownership of firearms infringes our SecondRead MoreGun Control in America1480 Words   |  6 PagesGun Control in America On March 24, 1998, firing from the woods overlooking their school, 13-year-old Andrew Golden and 11-year-old Mitchell Johnson shot and killed four middle school students and a teacher and injured ten other students in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The two boys had a semiautomatic M-1 carbine with a large ammunition magazine, two other rifles, seven handguns and more than 500 rounds of ammunition which they took from the home of one of the boy?s grandfather, who had a large arsenalRead MoreGun Control in America758 Words   |  4 PagesNathan 3/30/08 Gun Control in America Ever since the days of the pioneers, firearms have been an element of the American tradition as defense and a means of hunting or activity. As we progress through the 21st century the use of guns has changed significantly. The reason that the use of the gun is changing is fast and steady increase in crime and the battle for the right to have possession of a hand gun, the introduction of legislation for gun control, to try to decrease the felony in theRead MoreGun Control in America2011 Words   |  8 PagesGun control is one of the biggest issues in America. Alfred Blumstein states, â€Å"As Americans, violence is a priority in everybody’s concerns in this country.† America is fighting a constant battle against crime and violence in this country. Murder is one of the biggest incidents happening on a daily basis in this country. 70% of homicides are reported to have some sort of firearm used in the crime. The depressing truth is that gun violence is increasing in you ng teens. Since 1985 people younger thanRead MoreThe Issue of Guns and Gun Control in America1146 Words   |  5 PagesIn America guns have been a part of the country’s society since it’s birth. Throughout history the citizens of the US have used firearms to protect the nation, protect their families, to hunt for food and to engage in sporting activities. The issue of Guns and gun control takes on a proportion of extreme magnitude. Weighing the rights and liberties of the individual against the welfare and safety of the public has always been a precarious balancing act. In the United States, gun control is one ofRead MoreThe Gun Control Debate in America1159 Words   |  5 PagesGUN CONTROL DEBATE IN AMERICA Gun control has become a very hot topic of contention in America today. What seems to echo here are two words: â€Å"guns† and â€Å"crime†, in a sense that are these words mutually exclusive to each other? Does the use of guns ultimately lead to crime? On the flip side, have the laws in America restricting firearm use been effective enough to protect the lives of the citizens? These are some of the questions that strike the hearts of many when the gun control debate music isRead MoreGun Control Laws On America1369 Words   |  6 Pages Many activist think that they could control the gun violence in America, just by taking away weapons from the people and making new laws. What they don’t know is that there are many loopholes in the laws that they make so peoples find ways to get guns. We already have gun control laws from back then. the government just passed more laws instead of enforcing the laws that we already. †The activists pass more and more laws thinking that the more laws we have the better they would be enforced.† (Drake)Read MoreGun Control in America Essay765 Words   |  4 Pages Gun control laws in America have been a long standing issue that is still a problem today. In America it is excessively easier to obtain a gun license than to obtain a driver’s license. Americans who want to obtain a license to drive in the United States must pass a written and a driving test with a government official driving instructor. Some states require a drug and alcohol course before issuing a license to drive. The same concept should apply for obtaining a gun license. Due to guns licensesRead MoreGun Control in America Essay828 Words   |  4 Pages Guns Control Living a life in America, we all get to have all the rights that included in the Constitution. One of those was the Second Amendment which is the rights to bear arm, the purpose was to protect ourselves from danger but nowadays a lot of people have take advantage of it and use it in the wrong way. I believe our government need to have a strict limit on guns possession. Gun control had been a phenomenal issue in our country. In December 15, 1791 the second amendment establishedRead MoreThe Effects Of Gun Control On America Essay1492 Words   |  6 PagesThe Effect of Gun Control on America Guns have been prevalent in the United State’s culture for hundreds of years. Firearms have been, and still are being used for hunting, protection and even sport. In fact, if it was not for the help of firearms, we would not be graced with the many freedoms we have today. Currently, owning and obtaining a firearm is a controversial topic that sparks heavy emotions. Many people argue for eliminating all guns, and applying heavier regulations to prevent tragic

Recent Trends in Hrm free essay sample

Indian organizations are also witnessing a change in systems, management cultures and philosophy due to the global alignment of Indian organizations. There is a need for multi skill development. Role of HRM is becoming all the more important. Some of the recent trends that are being observed are as follows: †¢ The recent quality management standards ISO 9001 and ISO 9004 of 2000 focus more on people centric organizations. Organizations now need to prepare themselves in order to address people centered issues with commitment from the top management, with renewed thrust on HR issues, more particularly on training. Charles Handy also advocated future organizational models like Shamrock, Federal and Triple I. Such organizational models also refocus on people centric issues and call for redefining the future role of HR professionals. †¢ To leapfrog ahead of competition in this world of uncertainty, organizations have introduced six- sigma practices. Six- sigma uses rigorous anal ytical tools with leadership from the top and develops a method for sustainable improvement. We will write a custom essay sample on Recent Trends in Hrm or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page These practices improve organizational values and helps in creating defect free product or services at minimum cost. Human resource outsourcing is a new accession that makes a traditional HR department redundant in an organization. Exult, the international pioneer in HR BPO already roped in Bank of America, international players BP Amoco over the years plan to spread their business to most of the Fortune 500 companies. †¢ With the increase of global job mobility, recruiting competent people is also increasingly becoming difficult, especially in India. Therefore by creating an enabling culture, organizations are also required to work out a retention strategy for the existing skilled manpower. NEW TRENDS IN INTERNATIONAL HRM International HRM places greater emphasis on a number of responsibilities and functions such as relocation, orientation and translation services to help employees adapt to a new and different environment outside their own country. Selection of employees requires careful evaluation of the personal characteristics of the candidate and his/her spouse. Training and development extends beyond information and orientation training to include sensitivity training and field experiences that will enable the manager to understand cultural differences better. Managers need to be protected from career development risks, re-entry problems and culture shock. To balance the pros and cons of home country and host country evaluations, performance evaluations should combine the two sources of appraisal information. Compensation systems should support the overall strategic intent of the organization but should be customized for local conditions. In many European countries Germany for one, law establishes representation. Organizations typically negotiate the agreement with the unions at a national level. In Europe it is more likely for salaried employees and managers to be unionized. HR Managers should do the following things to ensure success- †¢ Use workforce skills and abilities in order to exploit environmental opportunities and neutralize threats. †¢ Employ innovative reward plans that recognize employee contributions and grant enhancements. †¢ Indulge in continuous quality improvement through TQM and HR contributions like training, development, counseling, etc †¢ Utilize people with distinctive capabilities to create unsurpassed competence in an area, e. g. Xerox in photocopiers, 3M in adhesives, Telco in trucks etc. †¢ Lay off workers in a smooth way explaining facts to unions, workers and other affected groups e. g. IBM, Kodak, Xerox, etc. HR Managers today are focusing attention on the following- †¢ Policies- HR policies based on trust, openness, equity and consensus. †¢ Motivation- Create conditions in which people are willing to work with zeal, initiative and enthusiasm; make people feel like winners. †¢ Relations- Fair treatment of people and prompt redress of grievances would pave the way for healthy work-place relations. Change agent- Prepare workers to accept technological changes by clarifying doubts. †¢ Quality Consciousness- Commitment to quality in all aspects of personnel administration will ensure success. †¢ Due to the new trends in HR, in a nutshell the HR manager should treat people as resources, reward them equitably, and integrate their aspirations with corporate goals through suitable à ‚  India is being widely recognized as one of the most exciting emerging economics in the world. Besides becoming a global hub of outsourcing, Indian firms are spreading their wings globally through mergers and acquisitions. During the first four months of 1997, Indian companies have bought 34 foreign companies for about U. S. $11 billion dollars. This impressive development has been due to a growth in inputs (capital and labor) as well as factor productivity. By the year 2020, India is expected to add about 250 million to its labour pool at the rate of about 18 million a year, which is more than the entire labour force of Germany. This so called ‘demographic dividend’ has drawn a new interest in the Human Resource concepts and practices in India. Indian HRM in Transition One of the noteworthy features of the Indian workplace is demographic uniqueness. It is estimated that both China and India will have a population of 1. 45 billion people by 2030; however, India will have a larger workforce than China. Indeed, it is likely India will have 986 million people of working age in 2030, which will probably be about 300 million more than in 2007. And by 2050, it is expected India will have 230 million more workers than China and about 500 million more than the United States of America (U. S. ). It may be noted that half of India’s current population of 1. 1 billion people are under of 25 years of age. While this fact is a demographic dividend for the economy, it is also a danger sign for the country’s ability to create new jobs at an unprecedented rate. With the retirement age being 55 to 58 years of age in most public sector organizations, Indian workplaces are dominated by youth. Increasing the etirement age in critical areas like universities, schools, hospitals, research institutions and public service is a topic of considerable current debate and agenda of political parties. The divergent view, that each society has a unique set of national nuances, which guide particular managerial beliefs and actions, is being challenged in Indian society. An emerging dominant perspective is the influence of globalization on technological advancements, business management, and education and communication infrastructures are leading to a converging effect on managerial mindsets and business behaviors. And when India embraced liberalization and economic reform in the early 1990s, dramatic changes were set in motion in terms of corporate mindsets and HRM practices as a result of global imperatives and accompanying changes in societal priorities. Indeed, the onset of a burgeoning competitive service sector compelled a demographic shift in worker educational status and heightened the demand for job relevant skills as well as regional diversity. Expectedly, there has been a marked shift towards valuing human resources (HR) in Indian organizations as they become increasingly strategy driven as opposed to the culture of the status quo.

Witchcraft In Hollywood Essays (1886 words) - Religion, Culture

Witchcraft In Hollywood Hollywood provides falsified information It is said by many that Hollywood is persuasive. People see something on television or in a motion picture and believe that what is shown is, in reality, true. Misconceptions will occur, and unless people are shown evidence against the delusions, it will be taken as fact. In the past, many groups have been poorly represented onscreen. Organizations such as the Mafia, the government, the military, spies, gods, monsters, and others are just a small example of those prejudiced. Since the misconceptions have occurred, much of the truth has come through for those mentioned. However, one topic that is repeatedly misrepresented in Hollywood is the practice of the Craft, more commonly known as witchcraft or Wicca according to Jeffrey Mann (personal communication, April 14, 1999). Witchcraft has been shown onscreen as evil, black magick, rather than a faith, and most people see spells cast by wiggling the nose or pointing a finger to be valid of the ?witchcraft fable' (1997, Bewitched online) . Is witchcraft a true, spiritual religion, and if so, are people willing to tolerate it? Many are uninformed of the religious aspect of the Craft, and those that are, believe it to be false or wrong according to Jeffrey Mann (personal communication, April 14, 1999). In today's society, religious tolerance of different groups of people or cultures is extremely important. By understanding and accepting the differences of real versus imaginary using witchcraft as the prime example, people will be able to see these groups as part of actual society and not just a fictitious, magickal portrayal in entertainment such as Bewitched, Charmed, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and The Craft. Hollywood's portrayal of witchcraft in movies and shows is invalid. Now on reruns, the television show, Bewitched, was once very popular. Samantha and Tabitha are shown casting spells nearly every other minute of the half-hour (1997, Bewitched online). The show brought forth a revival of the knowledge of witchcraft. In history, before Christianity, Paganism was a primary religion in Europe. Witchcraft is a form of Paganism, just as Wicca, Shamanism, and others are. When the Christian religion was being formed, many Pagan beliefs were still used (1998, A witches overview of Wicca online). The Pagan tradition of Yule, the winter solstice holiday, was to bring a live tree into the house and decorate it with food, balls, and a star on top to protect the household from the evil spirits (Adler, 1997). In the past century, a man named Gerald Gardener came forth with his ancestor's religious practice that has been passed down generation after generation called Paganism. He began bringing forth the Wiccan movement to modern witches according to Jeffrey Mann ( personal communication, April 14, 1999). Bewitched was made in the midst of the sort of ?coming out' of all that was practiced. Romanticizing witchcraft started with Bewitched, and from then on, a new fetish of shows and movies had begun. The Warner Brothers Network recently aired a new hour-long show featuring three sisters who have just discovered their witchy powers (see attached graphic one of Charmed sisters). They are referred to as the ?Charmed Ones', which are the most powerful of a long line of good witches. Their mission is to protect the innocent against all evil (1999, Charmed online). The show features many distinct realities of witchcraft. The show refers to the Book of Shadows, which is a book of memoirs, spells, thoughts, and goals, which must be handwritten and personal to that witch (1998, A witches overview of Wicca). The three sisters use this book for casting spells against evil, which is the basis for entertainment on the show. Freezing time, traveling to the past or future, and evaporating monsters are just some of the sisters' outlandish powers (1999, Charmed online). Religion has no part in the hour that the sisters are fighting the darkness. Witchcraft, in reality, has no ?natural' witches as implied in Charmed. Having ?power' is a belief that comes from within your soul, not from genetics (Valiente, 1998). The power of spells to witches is like the power of prayers to Christians. If Charmed was based on three Christian sisters, the show would be primarily about how they pray

Free Essays on Daniel Quinns Ishmael

In his novel, Ishmael, author Daniel Quinn (1992), uses the application sociological theories, developed by Emile Durkheim and numerous other sociologists, to illustrate the misconceptions in modern human society in a fictionalized setting. The main character of the novel, Ishmael, is a highly educated gorilla who is able to project an objective view into the societies of the world to his pupil living inside this world. The situation in the society discussed in Ishmael involves the societies of the â€Å"Takers† and the â€Å"Leavers† and the way â€Å"Mother Culture† influences their existence. The Takers indulge in a society where questions as to the origins of culture are never addressed; whereas, the Leavers are those peoples who choose not to see themselves as the center of the universe. Ishmael states that according to the culture in Taker society, â€Å"‘The Leavers were chapter one of human history- a long and uneventful chapter. Their chapter of human history ended about ten thousand years ago with the birth of agriculture in the New East. This event marked the beginning of chapter two, the chapter of the Takers’† (Quinn 1992:42). Yet, he directly contradicts this statement and issues that each of these societies are living out two different stories that are in direct opposition of one another. According to Ishmael, the Industrial Revolution c ause one society to diverge into two separate entities- the hunter-gatherers and the new industrialized society. The idea that culture is an ever-present, collective unconsciousness is stressed throughout Quinn’s (1992) novel. â€Å"‘This explanation of how things came to be this way is ambient in your culture. Everyone knows it and everyone accepts it without question’ (Ishmael)† (Quinn 1992:40). Every man, woman, and child know the story of creation in the Taker culture and automatically assume that God created man to rule the Earth. No one in the Taker society see... Free Essays on Daniel Quinn's Ishmael Free Essays on Daniel Quinn's Ishmael In his novel, Ishmael, author Daniel Quinn (1992), uses the application sociological theories, developed by Emile Durkheim and numerous other sociologists, to illustrate the misconceptions in modern human society in a fictionalized setting. The main character of the novel, Ishmael, is a highly educated gorilla who is able to project an objective view into the societies of the world to his pupil living inside this world. The situation in the society discussed in Ishmael involves the societies of the â€Å"Takers† and the â€Å"Leavers† and the way â€Å"Mother Culture† influences their existence. The Takers indulge in a society where questions as to the origins of culture are never addressed; whereas, the Leavers are those peoples who choose not to see themselves as the center of the universe. Ishmael states that according to the culture in Taker society, â€Å"‘The Leavers were chapter one of human history- a long and uneventful chapter. Their chapter of human history ended about ten thousand years ago with the birth of agriculture in the New East. This event marked the beginning of chapter two, the chapter of the Takers’† (Quinn 1992:42). Yet, he directly contradicts this statement and issues that each of these societies are living out two different stories that are in direct opposition of one another. According to Ishmael, the Industrial Revolution c ause one society to diverge into two separate entities- the hunter-gatherers and the new industrialized society. The idea that culture is an ever-present, collective unconsciousness is stressed throughout Quinn’s (1992) novel. â€Å"‘This explanation of how things came to be this way is ambient in your culture. Everyone knows it and everyone accepts it without question’ (Ishmael)† (Quinn 1992:40). Every man, woman, and child know the story of creation in the Taker culture and automatically assume that God created man to rule the Earth. No one in the Taker society see...

The History of Figure Skating and Ice Skates

The History of Figure Skating and Ice Skates Historians generally agree that ice skating, what we also today call figure skating, originated in  Europe several millennia ago, though its unclear when and where the first ice skates came into use. Ancient European Origins Archaeologists have been discovering ice skates made from bone throughout Northern Europe and Russia for years, leading scientists to posit that this method of transport was at one point not so much an activity as a necessity. A pair pulled  from the bottom of a lake in Switzerland, dated back to about 3000 B.C., are considered to be one of the oldest skates  ever found. They are made from the leg bones of large animals, with holes bored into each end of the bone into which leather straps were inserted and used to tie the skates to the foot. It is interesting to note that the  old Dutch word for skate is schenkel, which means leg bone. However, a 2008 study of northern European geography and terrain concluded that ice skates likely appeared first in Finland  over 4000 years ago.  This conclusion was based on the fact that, given the number of lakes in  Finland, its people would have had to invent a time-saving way to navigate across the country. Obviously, it would have saved precious time and energy to figure out a way to cross the lakes, rather than circumnavigate them. Metal Edged These early European skates didnt actually cut into the ice. Instead, users moved across the ice by gliding, rather than by what we have come to know as true skating. That came later, around the late 14th century, when the Dutch started sharpening the edges of their formerly flat-bottomed iron skates. This invention now made it possible to actually skate along the ice, and it made poles, which previously had been used to aid in propulsion and balance, obsolete. Skaters could now push and glide with their feet, a movement we still call the Dutch Roll. Ice Dancing The father of modern figure skating is Jackson Haines, an American skater, and dancer who in 1865 developed the two-plate, all-metal blade, which he tied directly to his boots. These allowed him to incorporate a host of ballet and dance moves into his skating- up until that point, most people could only go forward and backward and trace circles or figure eights. Once Haines added the first toe pick to skates in the 1870s, jumps now became possible for figure skaters. Today, increasingly spectacular leaps and bounds are one of the things that have made figure skating such a popular spectator sport, and one of the highlights of the Winter Olympic games. Sporting Developments  was developed in 1875 in Canada, although the first  mechanically refrigerated ice rink, named the Glaciarium, was built in 1876, at Chelsea, London, England, by John Gamgee.   The Dutch are also likely responsible for holding the first  skating competitions, however, the first official speed skating events were not held until 1863 in Oslo, Norway. The  Netherlands hosted the first World Championships in 1889, with teams from Russia, the United States, and England joining the Dutch. Speed skating made its Olympic debut at the winter games in 1924. In 1914, John E. Strauss, a blade maker from St. Paul, Minnesota, invented the  first closed-toe blade made from one piece of steel, making skates lighter and stronger. And, in 1949, Frank Zamboni trademarked the ice resurfacing machine that bears his name. The largest, man-made outdoor ice rink is the Fujikyu Highland Promenade Rink in Japan, built in  1967. It boasts an ice area of 165,750 square feet, the equivalent of 3.8 acres. It is still in use today.

Harlem Renaissance Poets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Harlem Renaissance Poets - Essay Example It was not just any literary event but it brought up a great change in African-American culture. This movement was marked by various African-American writers, artists, and poets who produced some of the most extraordinary art work for black American artistic world. Most of the famous artists of Harlem Renaissance were affected by the double consciousness they faced after migration and this double consciousness is very much evident in their poetry. This article will discuss two of the most cherished poets of Harlem Renaissance and their contributions. Countee Cullen: Countee Cullen was one of the most famous poets in Harlem Renaissance and he is often remembered for his great contribution in African-American poetry. â€Å"Incident† is one of the most cherished poems from Harlem Renaissance. Countee Cullen tried to express his views regarding the social status and condition of African-Americans in his poems. According to English (1999), Incident is one of his most cherished creations which explain the experience of the poet while his stay in Baltimore and Cullen expressed distress of his experience in very simple manner. Langston Hughes: Langston Hughes is among the central figures of the Harlem Renaissance and this poem is the proof of his great wisdom and quality to ink his feelings. Langston Hughes was often known as a poet who loved to display the folk traditions of African-Americans. He was successful in expressing the feelings of his people and gave it a perfect literary form with his poetic skills. Unlike Cullen who ignored the African folks and their culture in his creations, Hughes left a huge impression of his love for African folks in his poems. Incident by Countee Cullen: In the initial lines of the poem, the child is happy with a joy in his eyes and his heart ready to learn the new experiences of life. But the child was called a â€Å"Nigger† by a white boy of his same age as in the

Iker Casillass Girlfriend Sara Carbonero and Real Madrids Dressing Assignment

Iker Casillass Girlfriend Sara Carbonero and Real Madrids Dressing Room Scandal - Assignment Example This research tells that Iker revealed much of the team’s information to Sara, which she reported to her channel. This helped her to grab the attention of the viewers as well as the readers but it definitely had a negative impact on the career of Iker. According to the management team, what Iker did was unethical and therefore it made him sit on the bench for almost half of the season as the result of which the performance of â€Å"Real Madrid† suffered. The Media in this situation played a very critical role. Sara Carbonero and Iker Casillas were accused several times of leaking the information from the team’s locker room to the media that Sara worked for, but the media made the situation worse by broadcasting it and making it available for the competitors of the â€Å"Spain’s Football Team† and â€Å"Real Madrid†. The media on several occasions exposed some controversial information such as the weakened relationships between players or the views of management on the poor performance of any specific team player. Every time the media Sara worked for broadcasted any such news it created an atmosphere of distrust in the team’s dressing room, affecting the relationships of the players to some extent. Team players clashed because of the media issue. There have also been occasions when Iker thought about leaving the club that has been the most important part of his life. One of the sources also revealed that Iker was so close to leaving the club due to all the issues created by the media, but he changed his mind at the very last moment. Audiences become informed or misinformed by many channels and so do journalists as well. Ethical practice is important for media as it holds the power of influencing a large number of people. Although the fundamental rights of a citizen in Spain also include the right to know information, when it comes to journalists, they must use their right of expression within certain limitations.

The Taming of the Shrew By William Shakespeare Essay Example for Free

The Taming of the Shrew By William Shakespeare Essay The sisters, Katherina and Bianca, are the principal subjects providing the main contrast in the play, The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. Katherina is the fire-breathing, man-eating, despised, older sister of Bianca, the pleasant, beautiful, younger sister, adored by all. When she first enters the play, Katherina appears to be a very unhappy, volatile young woman. We are told that she scares men when Gremio and Hortensio proceed to tell us: Shes too rough for me; No mates for you, unless you were of gentler, milder mould; From all such devils good Lord deliver us! . This suggests that she is so aggressive that she puts off men, however good her looks may be. It is also apparent when she answers to comments like these that she is hot-blooded: To comb your noddle with a three legged stool and paint your face and use you like a fool. Bianca on the other hand, appears to be the perfect woman. It is as if she lightens up rooms with her dazzling presence. All men adore her and never say a bad word against her. When she first speaks in the play, her words are peaceful and loving: Sister, content you in my discontent, attempting to calm her sisters fiery mood. Their father thinks very highly of her and this is shown when she is asked to enter the room with Gremio and Hortensio: Bianca get you in, and let it not displease thee, good Bianca for I will love thee neer the less, my girl. Bianca has also much better relationships with other men as they all adore her beautiful looks and perfect ways. Most importantly however, is the relationship between Katherina and Bianca themselves. During Act 1 Sc 2, we see Katherina and Bianca enter fighting and arguing. Bianca also has her hands tied behind her back suggesting that Katherina is the more powerful of the two sisters. Also we see that Bianca is not violent at all as during their argument she does not try to throw a kick or have any violent outburst (she appears to have the level head): Or what you will command me will I do, meaning that Bianca will do whatever her sister will ask of her. Although she is upset by this outburst of her sister, she keeps the voice of reason, always negotiating. When Katherina meets Petruchio, her attitude towards remains stays much the same as her attitude to all people, always arguing and fighting and she can not stand the thought of getting married to a person who treats her in the same way that she herself treats others. If I be waspish, beware my sting, this shows how much Katherina is against the idea of marrying Petruchio as she is threatening him to be cautious of her. Bianca, however, has completely the opposite attitude (yet again) towards getting married. She seems much more likely to enjoy a happy marriage and looks forward to the idea of settling down with a husband, whereas Katherina seems to despise the idea. Bianca is also much more intimate with her secret lover Lucentio. They spend a lot more time together talking whereas Katherina and Petruchio are either arguing or not together at all, as they do not share a very intimate affair. The sisters, Katherina and Bianca, are the principal subjects providing the main contrast in the play, The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. Katherina is the fire-breathing, man-eating, despised, older sister of Bianca, the pleasant, beautiful, younger sister, adored by all. When she first enters the play, Katherina appears to be a very unhappy, volatile young woman. We are told that she scares men when Gremio and Hortensio proceed to tell us: Shes too rough for me; No mates for you, unless you were of gentler, milder mould; From all such devils good Lord deliver us! . This suggests that she is so aggressive that she puts off men, however good her looks may be. It is also apparent when she answers to comments like these that she is hot-blooded: To comb your noddle with a three legged stool and paint your face and use you like a fool. Bianca on the other hand, appears to be the perfect woman. It is as if she lightens up rooms with her dazzling presence. All men adore her and never say a bad word against her. When she first speaks in the play, her words are peaceful and loving: Sister, content you in my discontent, attempting to calm her sisters fiery mood. Their father thinks very highly of her and this is shown when she is asked to enter the room with Gremio and Hortensio: Bianca get you in, and let it not displease thee, good Bianca for I will love thee neer the less, my girl. Bianca has also much better relationships with other men as they all adore her beautiful looks and perfect ways. Most importantly however, is the relationship between Katherina and Bianca themselves. During Act 1 Sc 2, we see Katherina and Bianca enter fighting and arguing. Bianca also has her hands tied behind her back suggesting that Katherina is the more powerful of the two sisters. Also we see that Bianca is not violent at all as during their argument she does not try to throw a kick or have any violent outburst (she appears to have the level head): Or what you will command me will I do, meaning that Bianca will do whatever her sister will ask of her. Although she is upset by this outburst of her sister, she keeps the voice of reason, always negotiating. When Katherina meets Petruchio, her attitude towards remains stays much the same as her attitude to all people, always arguing and fighting and she can not stand the thought of getting married to a person who treats her in the same way that she herself treats others. If I be waspish, beware my sting, this shows how much Katherina is against the idea of marrying Petruchio as she is threatening him to be cautious of her. Bianca, however, has completely the opposite attitude (yet again) towards getting married. She seems much more likely to enjoy a happy marriage and looks forward to the idea of settling down with a husband, whereas Katherina seems to despise the idea. Bianca is also much more intimate with her secret lover Lucentio. They spend a lot more time together talking whereas Katherina and Petruchio are either arguing or not together at all, as they do not share a very intimate affair.

The Men Who Knew Two Much A Compairson of Hitchocks Classic Original an

The Men Who Knew Two Much A Compairson of Hitchocks Classic Original and Remake Many works of art can be considered artifacts that hold volumes of information regarding the culture of the people that created them and the historical context in which they lived. Films are also treasures of culture, filled with clues and insights into the attitudes and perceptions of the people of the day. While documentary films obviously present a historical record of people and events, dramatic fictional movies can also reveal the same. Comparing the main characters in Hitchcock's 1934 The Man Who knew Too Much with their 1955 counterparts unveils many differences between American and English cultures, expectations of their women and the pre- and post-war world view. THE HEROES [top] The heroes, heroines and villains portrayed in the two versions of the film were drawn quite differently. Lawrence (1934) was assertive and took control of the situation, while McKenna (1955) seemed to let the situation control him. When Lawrence got the message from his wife about the cryptic note, he immediately ran into Louis' room to get it. He used his resources and wit to get him through sticky situations, from standing up to the authority of Scotland Yard, to tangling with the dentist to the chair fight at the church. Lawrence even recruited Clive to do most of the dirty work such as getting a tooth pulled or being hypnotized by the 7-fold ray. Unlike Lawrence, McKenna was largely ineffectual and kind of bumbling at times. It wasn't until the very end that he actually took any risk when he went to the hitman's box at Albert Hall and then when he tripped up Mr. Dreighton on the stairs. McKenna's wife seemed the stronger and smarter one throughout as she was suspicious of Louis in Marrakech and later figured out Ambrose Chapel was a place instead of a person. THE VILLAINS [top] The portrayal of the villain was different in both versions as well. In the first one, the villain was singularly personified in the form of Abbot, but the second film's villain was shared by the Dreightons and the foreigner who wanted to become Ambassador. In contrast, the motive of Abbot was rather ambiguous and only referred to as "the cause," while the assassination of the Ambassador in the color version was clearly a means for personal advancement... ...and hugged. However, the role of women in 1995 America is a little bit 1934, a little bit 1955 and a lot of neither. The following generalizations are just that: Today in this society, women are expected to be sexy and smart,but not too much of either one. If a girl is very glamorous, she is not expected (or desired) by males to be smart, and women see her as hurting the liberation movement, perpetuating the "object" stereotype. On the other hand, a smart, assertive woman is often viewed as being unfeminine and bitchy, especially in the workplace. Hillary Clinton personifies this dichotomy - she was applauded for abandoning the subservient First Lady role and at the same time criticized for overstepping her bounds. Wonder Woman is perhaps the only cultural hero to solve this problem. She could be sexy and strong in her little Wonder Woman outfit and tiara, as well as loyal and subordinate in her glasses as Diana Prince. But she only succeeded by becoming two people. We still have a long way to go. Bibliography: Â ©1996 Chris Sheridan All views expressed are the opinions of the author. Feel free to link to this page. For educational and informational purposes only.

Light in August Essay

William Faulkner’s celebrated novel Light in August says the tale of an orphan Joe Christmas, who has an unknown or doubtful ancestry who considers himself to be part-black. The novel includes excellent themes that involve issues of gender, race, community and religion. The capture of the racist identity and the portrayal of Calvinistic religion are the main features of the novel. Light in August is one of the best works of William Faulkner. The story starts with Lena Grove, a helpless pregnant girl (from Alabama) who set out of her house in search of her unborn baby’s father Lucas Burch. Lucas Burch had actually escaped from Lena so that he need not bear the burden of fatherhood. Lena’s hunting for Lucas Burch make her reach another man with the same name Byron Bunch. He was a simple man who makes friendship with Lena and later falls in love with her. Byron was kindhearted and provided Lena with home and security that the actual Byron Bunch (the child’s father) could not provide. After that we can see Byron narrating his feelings for Lena to the former Presbyterian minister Rev. Gail Hightower who was pushed to withdraw from his ministry as his wife committed suicide. In the middle of this strange story between Lena Grove and Lucas Burch, there appears Joe Christmas the roommate of Lucas Burch. He was an orphan working in the planing mill like Byron Bunch. The word ‘Christmas’ was added to his name as it was on the day of Christmas that he reached the orphanage. Christmas was also not sure about his ancestry as he wandered across in search of his lineage; a voyage for self-discovery. Christmas’ journey led him to Jefferson, Mississippi where he falls in a dangerous relation with Joanna Burden spinsterish civil rights activist. This affair led him to grave destruction. The most interesting theme of Light in August is the Southern issue with racial identity. Joe is mistreated and humiliated as people suspect that he has a black ancestry. They never him the way they treat white people (Dondlinger, 98-125). We can find in Light in August that majority of the characters are influenced by the notion of race disparity. For example, Joanna Burden, Joe Christmas, Doc Hines, Nathaniel Burde and lastly Percy Grimm are some or the other way influenced by the concept of race (Towner, 45-65). Some of the characters become victims of the senseless racial classification and suffer. Others who are out of this threat believe that there is nothing wrong in treating blacks inhumanly on the basis of racial difference. Racial discrimination is quite acceptable for them (Dondlinger, 98-125). For example The Jefferson sheriff, Watt Kennedy appears to be a decent man. However we can see him punishing a randomly chosen black person in an unwanted investigation (appeared unwanted at first). Similarly several other characters are found to be under the grip of the notion of race. Gender also plays a crucial role in the novel Light in August. Male-female identity and relations is an important topic. For example, we can find Joe being hostile to women. Lena’s baby’s father Lucas Burch also ran away from his pregnant wife; he was also fleeing away from women. Byron Bunch also did not have any plans to marry and was living a lonely life till Lena comes. He was adjusting his life in such a way that he could continue living alone. Rev. Gail Hightower also do not have a good fellowship with women as he led his wife to suicide. Another character Joanna Burden does not even marry. However we can find that the author never attempts to contrast the lonely life of these unfortunate characters with any happy or satisfied normal family or love relationships until the novel reaches the last chapter. We can see that the marriage of Hines and McEachern was also not a happy one. Moreover the Armstids also do not appear to have any love among them. Finally it appears to come to a happy end when Byron Bunch moves away with Lena Grove. But disappointment suddenly comes in she refuses him to share her bed. That relation also seems to be failure. The only relationship that appears to be happy is the relationship of the furniture dealer and his wife. They only had a relationship that had any trace of happiness or satisfaction.

It 284 Week 9 Capstone Checkpoint

IT/284 Week 9 Capstone Checkpoint: Establishing Seamless Support Establishing Seamless Support Enterprise computer support has experienced on-going development to better serve various consumer bases. Write a 200- to 300-word response encompassing strategies that would help minimize miscommunication between the two parties. What components of the problem solving strategy have the greatest effect within a computer support atmosphere?Miscommunication occurs often between two parties depending upon the scenario; the main focus is how the person that is communicating holds the audience. It is critical to tear down the communication lines and that by itself, would not be enough action open the lines of communication enough to conduct proper business. How might the support specialist and customer both be satisfied if there has to be compromise from one side of the conversation?Communication is directed towards an audience solely based on their comprehension of the entire thought process of the person presenting the material, in the message being delivered. Regardless of formatting, messages for the most part, are highly predictable, and repetitive; which helps individuals conquer difficulties brought on by barriers within the communication process.Also; repeating information effectively helps get the point across to an audience as the main part of the message, and this allows the audience to retain the focus points of the communication. An example of this would be, if the speaker gives a long presentation, which includes key elements of the message. In this case key elements would be lost, so it is imperative to emphasize the points of the message with a method of repetitious messaging; another method that can be utilized for the purpose of communicating main points.

The Dagenham Womens Strike of 1968

The Dagenham Women's Strike of 1968 Nearly 200 female workers walked out of the Ford Motor Co. plant in Dagenham, England, during the summer of 1968, protesting their unequal treatment. The Dagenham womens strike led to widespread attention and important equal pay legislation in the United Kingdom. Skilled Women The 187 Dagenham women were sewing machinists who made seat covers for the many cars produced by Ford. They protested being placed in the unions B grade of unskilled workers when men who did the same level of work were placed in the semi-skilled C grade. The women also received less pay than men, even men who were also in the B grade or who swept the factory floors. Eventually, the Dagenham womens strike stopped production entirely, since Ford was unable to sell cars without seats. This helped the women and the people watching them realize how important their jobs were. Union Support At first, the union did not support the women strikers. Divisive tactics had often been used by employers to keep male workers from supporting an increase in womens pay. The women of Dagenham said that union leaders did not think much about losing a mere 187 womens union dues out of thousands of workers. However, they remained steadfast and were joined by 195 more women from another Ford plant in England. The Results The Dagenham strike ended after Secretary of State for Employment Barbara Castle met with the women and took up their cause to get them back to work. The women were awarded a pay increase, but the re-grading issue was not resolved until after another strike years later, in 1984, when they were finally classified as skilled workers. Working women throughout the UK benefited from the Dagenham womens strike, which was a precursor to the UKs Equal Pay Act of 1970. The law makes it illegal to have separate pay scales for men and women based on their sex. The Movie The film Made in Dagenham, released in 2010, stars Sally Hawkins as the leader of the strike and features Miranda Richardson as Barbara Castle.

A Guide to In-Line Lists

A Guide to In-Line Lists A Guide to In-Line Lists A Guide to In-Line Lists By Mark Nichol This post describes how to organize in-line lists, those that occur within a sentence, as compared to vertical lists, those organized by setting the items on the list apart from each other, distinguished by numbers, letters, or other symbols, on consecutive lines. (Vertical lists will be described in a separate post.) An in-line list may consist of a set of words, phrases, or clauses, or a combination of the three. The simplest in-line list is one that consists of one-word items: â€Å"The colors of the American flag are red, white, and blue.† (Style guides differ on whether the comma preceding and, called a serial comma- or, sometimes, an Oxford comma- is necessary, but consistent use helps writers avoid creating ambiguously organized sentences.) More complex lists invite errors. For example, in the following sentence, the syntax of the list items is not consistent: â€Å"Children raised in a traditional two-parent household tend to be physically and emotionally healthier, less likely to use drugs and alcohol, engage in crime, or become pregnant outside of marriage.† One can analyze the sentence by converting it into an introductory phrase followed by a vertical list. Note how the items are not parallel in structure: Children raised in a traditional two-parent household tend to be physically and emotionally healthier less likely to use drugs and alcohol engage in crime become pregnant outside of marriage. A technically correct revision follows: Children raised in a traditional two-parent household tend to be physically and emotionally healthier less likely to use drugs and alcohol less likely to engage in crime less likely to become pregnant outside of marriage. However, the repetition of the phrase â€Å"less likely to† is distracting and is redundant to â€Å"tend to be,† and further revision of this vertical list is recommended if it is to be converted back to an in-line list. Because the four elements in this sentence are not consistently supported by verbs or verb phrases, it is best to separate the first item from the rest of the items, resulting in a sentence consisting of two elements that include examples- the first example standing on its own, and the other three retained as a three-item list: â€Å"Children raised in a traditional two-parent household tend to be physically and emotionally healthier and are less likely to use drugs and alcohol, engage in crime, or become pregnant outside of marriage.† If one or more elements in an in-line list include a comma, a stronger punctuation mark, the semicolon, must be employed to clarify the organization of the sentence. This is true when at least one element includes a single comma that sets off, for example, the name of a city and the name of a state, as in this example: Unusual names of cities and towns include Cut and Shoot, Texas; Truth or Consequences, New Mexico; and Rough and Ready, California. Semicolons are also called for when one or more items in an in-line list are themselves lists, as shown here: Unusual names of cities and towns include Cut and Shoot, Truth or Consequences, and Rough and Ready; Embarrass, Uncertain, and Waterproof; and Accident, Hazard, and Protection. Note that although some writers use semicolons to separate items in a list when the items are long and complex, doing so is unnecessary. Thus, the intervening punctuation marks in the following example are safely converted to commas: â€Å"Uncertainties include the volatility in oil and gas prices; concerns about the impact of economic sanctions in Russia to U.S. and European markets; questions about slowdowns in China; and the effects on U.S. economic policy resulting from the shift in power in the U.S. Senate in January 2015.† This is especially true if an additional clause follows the last list item, creating the implication that the clause applies only to the final item. Here, it is necessary to convert the semicolons after function and shareholders to commas: â€Å"If the chief executive officer is not willing to pay attention to the warning signs posted by the risk management function; the reward system is not sufficiently balanced with the long-term interests of shareholders; or the board is not asking tough questions about the assumptions and risks underlying the strategy, it is not likely risk management will have an impact at the crucial moment when a contrarian voice is needed.† Otherwise, the phrase beginning â€Å"it is not likely risk management . . .† would have appeared (at least when first read) to pertain only to the phrase beginning â€Å"the board is not asking tough questions . . . .† Also, semicolons are not necessary when separating only two sets of list items, rather than three or more. In the following example, or is sufficient to distinguish the two lists, and the semicolon should be omitted: â€Å"This strategy may span several departments- for example, legal, procurement, and finance; or  marketing, sales, and customer service.† Also, to aid in distinguishing items in a list, the items are sometimes preceded by sequential numbers (or, occasionally, lowercase letters) followed by a close parenthesis rather than a period, as in this example: â€Å"The three forms of rock are 1) igneous, 2) metamorphic, and 3) sedimentary.† This method of organization can be useful for enumerating and setting off complex list items (or, in the case of letters, offering options), but it is usually unnecessary, or a vertical list (without numbers or letters) may be a better option. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Common Mistakes category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Great Similes from Literature to Inspire You7 Patterns of Sentence StructureEpidemic vs. Pandemic vs. Endemic

Leadership and innovation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Leadership and innovation - Essay Example This was supposed to be the case in innovation system that my group was supposed to come up with and present to hospitals (Northouse, 2012). However, team work does not always work out as one would like it to be and with this, there is bound to be friction between the members of the team. Furthermore, there is the possibility that, despite the urgency of the task, there is always bound to be the one person that would be considered as dead weight to the team. The aim of this paper is to act as a reflective diary to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of team work and the best way to deal with conflict in a team. To effectively analyze the strengths and weaknesses of team working and conflict management, I visited various hospitals, and this visit was part of an innovation trip that was supposed to be carried out as a team to make sure that the findings that were collected were to be compiled and presented to the different team members. However, this was not the case. When the team members met for the first day, there was a lot of friction between my team members due to the fact that some of the team members did not exhibit any of their findings or an interest in the task because they had not done anything. The fact that there were different people who had carried out the task at hand and others had not, caused tempers to flare and soon one team member was gunning for the others head. However, the point that arose was that there were different viewpoints on the same topic. This gave me as a leader whose team comprised of people of multidisciplinary backgrounds an opportunity to lead diverse people, and this was proving to be a problem in the long run. In a bid to curb the ensuing anger and conflict among the team member, I opted that the team members that had a background in nursing help those who were not as familiar with the topic. This put a spanner into the progress that the team was supposed to

Critical Analysis of Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Critical Analysis of - Research Paper Example In addition, history has much borrowing to do from political science. Individuals’ understanding of history remains meaningless supposing the political bearings of occurrences and movements are sufficiently connected. For instance, there cannot be a complete understanding of the accounts of the 19th century in Europe devoid of bringing out the importance of the movements such as imperialism, socialism, individualism, and nationalism. This does not imply that political science and history have a similar inkling. There exist fundamental dissimilarities between political science and history. History denotes accounts of previous occurrences and movements that embrace revolution, warfare, military campaigns, and political, economic, religious, as well as, social upheavals. No aforementioned are essential for political science purposes. The major concern of a political science student would be studies on the progression of political institutions alongside supplementary actualities t hat influence openly or indirectly the state. As such, political science selects particulars out of history. Accordingly, even though, history and political science are different subjects, they cut-across each other on numerous points. In Praise of Difficult People: A Portrait of the Committed _Whistleblower Philip H. Jos, College of Charleston Mark E. Tompkins, University of South Carolina Steven W. Hays, University of South Carolina According to the authors of the mentioned investigation, opponents of large organizations consider principled personal dissent including whistleblowing to be significant for making sure responsibility in otherwise irresponsible bureaucracies. There is a broad commentary of whistleblowing being an expensive action for the whistleblower that many consider as additional proof of the necessity for enhanced legal safeguarding along with prodigious outside control over the organizations tangled. The conflict stimulated through dissent entails superior incent ives for the organizations, as well. Besides challenging numerous societal prohibitions, whistleblowing frequently pits loyalty to an individual’s customers or counterparts in opposition to the public loyalty and entails accusation, which the superiors of an individual or fellow colleagues have abused or neglected the trust of the public1. Consequently, whistleblowing denotes one of the mainly threatening sorts of organizational dissent, probable to result in considerable hostility alongside various kinds of organizational retribution. Overall, the understanding of whistleblowing remains anecdotal, even though restricting knowledge of individuals sounding these apprehensions, their inspiration, alongside their ensuing fate. The authors address numerous fundamental issues raised through the legislative deliberations and academic investigation concerning whistleblowing. Foremost is the concern of what happens to individuals who have opted to become whistleblowers. The concern f ocuses on whether the retaliations could be as unembellished as numerous persons have proposed. Subsequently, discerning what inspires the whistleblowers is necessary by centering on the influences that prompt such individuals into risking career sanctions, ostracism, alongside other retribution forms whilst most of their counterparts stay complacently silent. Idyllically, whistleblowing studies would integrate employee attitude measures along with conduct taken

The types of leadership styles that are at work and acess their Essay

The types of leadership styles that are at work and acess their effectiveness - Essay Example This kind of leadership has control on all spheres of society’s activity. Some experts argue that a number of chief executives in the business world practice this kind of leadership like feudal lords in medieval Europe (Legacee, 2012). These are the kind of leaders who maintain absolute control on entrepreneurial structure and do not agree on the democratization of thoughts and decision. This leadership is weak because its followers are rendered passive. Since it’s a little close to tyranny, it’s likely that this kind of leadership will inspire upheaval from constituents. Transformational leadership is a principle-based leadership with combined features of charismatic and participative type of leadership. This type of leadership inspires involvement of people in decision-making through teambuilding and consensus. It’s a leadership that respects democracy and motivates its human resources to advance their empowerment as stakeholder of development and change (Gumusluoglu. & Ilsev, 2009). This kind of leadership leads by example and implore on the necessity of vision and mission that guides an organization to its targeted goal. They are good in strategizing the framework for optimized organizational performance. Transactional leadership on the other hand deals about the bureaucratic aspect of managing an organization. Oppose to transformational leadership, this kind of leadership wanted the retention of status quo and rest more on completing its goals by rules and stringent rules (Hugo, Dimovski, & Ã…  kerlavaj, 2009). There is less employee-employer interaction in this leadership style hence, misunderstanding is very potent which could lead to disenfranchisement of members. Hugo, Z., Dimovski, V. & Ã…  kerlavaj, M. (2009). Transactional and transformational leadership impacts on organizational learning, Journal for East European Management Studies, Rainer Hampp Verlag, vol. 14(2), pages 145 -

Political Systems of Tribes

Political Systems of Tribes The importance of a tribe as a political system and its reluctance to subdue to the state efforts to erase it INTRODUCTION The tribe is an important political system that existed in the world mainly in the area of the Middle East. The Rwala and the Pathans are two examples of existing tribes that play a major role in the area in which they are located, proved by the fact that their tribal system coexist within the states boundary. The two tribes not only do they exit in one country but they maintain their existence within different countries. Due to their geographical location in which the two tribes live, the border zone, each country left them alone with their political system without interference from the central government. The Rwala have good relations within the countries they lived in its borders with the exception of Iraq, while the Pathans were free from state control until recently, when the US invaded Afghanistan and pressured Pakistan to take control of the tribal areas of Pakistan as they harbor Taliban. Why does the tribal political system still exist in the era of the Westphalian state sys tem? And why are the tribes resilient towards the state actions to take control of their area? These are the questions that this research paper is going to investigate. The research paper is divided into three parts. The first one is devoted to giving background information about the two tribes of Pathans and Rwala. The second part explores the reasons behind the strength of the tribes and the last part probes the reasons behind the reluctance of tribes towards the policies of the state to detribalize them. Background Information about the Rawala and the Pathans In order to understand the reasons behind the coexistence of the tribe as a political system with the current political system of the state, a basic definition for the tribe in needed. The tribe is: a notional form of human social organization based on a set of smaller groups having temporary or permanent political integration, and defined by traditions of common descent, language, culture, and ideology.[1] The members of a tribe share many characteristic with each other that make them similar and the most important one is common descent which denotes having relation to the family of the prophet, his companions or his tribe Quraish. For a tribe to legitimize its rule and survive it must trace its geology to the prophet. Any connection to the prophet or his surroundings serves as the basic instrument to justify the rule of the tribe. This can be both true and fictive, for instance many Berber tribes in Northern Africa changed their names from Berber to Arabic to point to their relatio ns to the prophet. While in the Ottomans were using such names as Ali and Hussein to justify their rule of Islamic empire to the extent that in any mosque in Turkey the name Hussein and Ali are engraved which make people to mistake the mosque for a Shiite one, which is not. Without lineage to the prophet, the tribe will lose ground and cannot legitimate its power within its population, therefore honor lies in lineage. The tribe exists because its members insure its existence by following a particular code that serves as the base of order and law. This code might change from one tribe to another but the basic idea is that the code insures that each member of the tribe is abiding by the customs of the tribe; this is done through the participation of individuals in decision-makings that are done through consensus. For instance, the tribal code within the Rwala is very different from the Islamic law to the extent that when a case involves a man and a women the tribal court tend to favor women, while among the Pathans the tribal code Pukhtunwali tend to be influenced by Islamic law to the extent that both the tribal law and Islamic law are two face of one coin. The Rwala are a tribe that is divided into five sections: the Murath, the Doghman, the Ga`adza`a, the Frejje and the Kwatzbe[2] that live in the border zone of four countries: Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iraq. While the Pathans are a tribe that live in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, particularly in the border zone between the two countries, both the Pathans that live in Afghanistan and those that live in Pakistan do not recognizes the physical border and regard themselves as one united tribe. For example, whenever their fellow tribes are in trouble they immediately help them as it is shown in the movie, the Pathans Disappearing World, the Pakistani Pathans gathered to help their fellow Pathans in Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion, and one of the Pathans justified this act as helping their brother in time of need. This sense of brotherhood is not only present among Pathans but also among the Rwala, this help is a responsibility that each person in tribe is required to fulfill for his family members, this responsibility is not obligatory. For example, a person may refuse to help his uncle and be scot-free; however his reputation is going to be tarnished. The Political Importance of the Tribe The political importance of the tribe lies in the way of life of tribal people which values consensus, solidarity, reputation and revenge. There is no person with utmost authority in the tribe nor is power hereditary. Each tribe has a chief but this chief cannot oblige his tribe to do certain actions without going through consensus, as every person in the tribe has a right to express an opinion over matter that concerns the tribe. This need for consensus among tribal people makes it hard for any state to control the tribe or influence it, because when the tribes perceive its chief as being a government agent or accepting bribes from government his reputation will be unsavory and will the population will elect a new chief; and even when tribes are being outstripped of their heads, they still remain intact. Reputation is in an important aspect of tribal people because chiefs cannot coerce or compel his population; however the only political force available to him is to influence decisi on making. And in order for a chief to influence his population he needs four factors: good information, the ability to give good advice, a reputation for sound counsel and an audience to influence,[3] the sources of reputation for the Rwala come from Lineage, honor, raiding, generosity, bravery, hospitality. Besides, the fact of having a consensus in which every individuals opinion is valued which makes it hard to reach a unified view about any matter, to the extent that the tribe is being under the tyranny of the minority. The consensus involves major issues such as helping those who are at war or a very small matter such as a domestic scuffle between a father and his son. In the movie, the Jirga, the body responsible for making consensus among the Pathans, gather to make his opinion about the father that complained about his son not paying him enough. The result of the consensus was interesting because even though the son did not like the decision, in the end he subdue to the dec ision of the Jirga by kissing the white bribe of his father. The Islamic influence helps to explain the decision made by the Jurga as parents are giving special status in Islamic law. The absence of a central power in the tribal structure makes it hard to control the tribe because no individual has political power, no group has political power and no family has political power; power is restricted to the workings of public opinion. Even public opinion has no formal coercive power; co-operation can be withdrawn and that is all.[4] The tribal population does have loyalties to their tribe but not to the state, because the state is a resented system by the both Pathans and Rwala for one reason: it interferes in their lifestyle and tribal people do not like to be interfered with. Even when the tribal population exerts loyalty to a particular state it does so with the idea of paying tribute to the ruling family and not to the state itself. For instance, the Rwala members who are in the soil of Saudi Arabia pledge their loyalty outside the tribe to the family of Al Saud and not the state of Saudi Arabia.[5] Solidarity is another aspect that explains the strength of the tribe. Each member of the tribe is responsible for his family members and the tribe is responsible for its members. This solidarity does not only involve crucial issues but also mundane and quotidian ones like re-sewing a tents, as it is stated by William Lancaster: resewing a tent is a good example of how co-operation is achievedit would be a formidable task for one or two people, but it is always a co-operative effort.[6] This presence of solidarity does not mean that tribal people do not have problems or that they do not create troubles between themselves, problems and disagreements exist within tribes. However, the ways problems are resolved differ in a way that they are resolved but not to the extent of requiring interference outside the tribe. Because the tribe needs always to show strength and that its members are not divided, as it is pointed by William Lancaster The struggle between the two brothers for the smugg ling franchise was resolved, on the surface at least, by the need to present a united face towards intervention.[7] Revenge is an important characteristic of the tribe; this vindictiveness is allowed when a person from the tribe is killed. Therefore his family members have the duty to take his revenge not necessarily by killing the culprit but by killing any member of the family or the tribe of the culprit. Nobody can stop revenge or prevent the killing from taking place, unless the family of the bereaved accepted a financial retribution for the death of her family member.[8] The revenge process involves a cycle that is hard to stop without blood to the extent that the reason behind the feud might be forgotten. As it is pointed out by William Lancaster: the Mu`abhil have been involved in a single feud for fifteen twenty years. It started with a row over a camel or a sheep, no one can remember A Mu`abhil killed a Sabih. A settlement was arranged and the Mu`abhil paid about forty-five camels in compensation.[9] However, the problem did not completely end because the dead man left a son who was 4-ye ar old at the time of the compensation deal and when he grew up he demanded for his share that the Mu`abhil refused to pay due to the rising prices of camel. Revenge is best understood that none of the tribes members blood is cheap and that killing its population will involve a long fight before being it resolved. The tribes are reluctant to follow the bureaucracy of the state by going to civil courts to get their right as it will take time and probably the ruling will not be something they expected. Therefore, they prefer to take revenge instead. This is another reason which makes the state unattractive to the tribal population. The Reasons behind the Failure of the State in Subduing Tribes One of the reasons behind the reluctance of tribes to be urbanized and fall under the rule of the state lies in its distrust of interference. While the Rwala and Pathan both welcome new ideas they, however, dislike any change exerted by force. According to William Lancaster changed imposed from outside is another matter and they will resist it bitterly, not because its imposition does not allow them to react and partake in accordance with other factors.[10] The same thing goes for the Pathans, the United States of America is influencing Pakistan to get hold of the areas where Pathans live. However, the Pathans are not willing to subdue because they do not like any change to be imposed on them from the outside.[11] The two tribes of Rwala and Pathans both live in very sensitive areas to the extent that countries do not try to impose state rule their areas and allow them have their tribal law, not because both Jordan and Pakistan (before the US-Afghan war) are not able to destroy them but because simply suppressing them is not worth it; it would just bring more troubles than benefits. Furthermore, both tribes have relations with the states they live in. For instance, the Rwala maintain good relations with Saudi Arabia through marriage relations to the family of Al Saud while in Syria they are representatives in the parliament, therefore serving the interest of their tribe. Regarding the Pathans, the current present of Afghanistan Hamid Karazai is Pathan from the Durrani section. The economic autonomy of the tribal people is also one of the reasons that give a state a hard time when dealing with tribes. Especially as the means used by tribes are not illegal. For instance, the livelihood of many Rwala Population lies on smuggling which works well for the tribe as it is situated in a border area. Although this smuggling is much resented by states such as Jordan, it is tolerated for two reasons. First, the state gives certain autonomy as long as they patrol the border. Second, even smuggling can be beneficial to countries such Iraq during the Gulf War where the embargo prevented its population from getting its basic needs such as tires, while Saudi Arabia gets fruits from Styria in return for cars. As it is discussed above revenge is an important aspect that defines a tribe, it is one of the most misunderstood terms about the tribes, because revenge does not necessitate the killing the person who committed the murder. But killing anybody from his family, tribe or country is sufficient to quench the need for revenge. When Americans bomb areas in Waziristan and Swat Valley and kill many people, the Pathans feel the need to take revenge for the killings of their family members by killing any American soldier that they come across, and this revenge cycle is hard to stop as long as any person dead requires a revenge, save in case the family accepts a financial retribution. Other options of detribalizing the tribes lies on either urbanizing them or make them kill each other but then the questions rise of whether it is worth it and who will patrol the border in case of the border zone between Jordan, Syria , Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The British tried to introduce education in the Pathan tribal areas but they failed and so did the Pakistani government which succeeded in just including Pakistani national anthems in schools. However, the Pathans were keen on not letting the central government make them dependent on their education and health system. The Pathans revere the Islamic law which is the cornerstone of Pukhtunwali and want to maintain their autonomy health by basing it on the prophet`s medicine practices through herb and Koran. Conclusion The tribe is a political system that has survived within the epoch of the nation -state. The social equality and the political importance that the tribe gives to its individual make the tribe a powerful entity that proved to be hard for states to erase. Tribal people are proud of their tribe due to their lineage to the prophet and cherish the qualities of solidarity, reputation, hospitality, and honor in addition to revenge. The failure of understanding the tribal traits makes it hard to suppress them let alone communicate with them. For instance, the reason why the Taliban refused to turn in Osama Bin Laden to the US is rooted in the fact that he was a guest, therefore turning him in is a transgression of one of the components of their Pukhtunwali: hospitality. And going further to suppressing them through military actions will just exacerbate matters as the American do not understand how revenge is dealt with, which would make any person with an American military uniform a revenge target. Bibiliography Lancaster, William. The Rwala Bedouin Today(Second Edition). Long Grove, Illinois: Waveland Press, 1981. Summer, Andrew, Director. The Pathans Disappearing World. Akbar, Ahmed anthropologist, Discovery Channel, 1988. tribe. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, 2010. Web. 7 Apr. 2010 .

Epic of Beowulf - Christian Morals in Beowulf :: Epic Beowulf christbeo

Christian Morals in Beowulf Beowulf is an epic tale that has been changed over time to try and express a christian moral. While this transformation over time has added a new variable to the plot, it is still impossible to try and erase the original pagan plot completely. It has become evident that the original epic was pagan and had no mention of the biblical references or the christian morality that it contains now. However, it is also evident that the original story dealt with the concept of a higher being or beings. The overriding christian view has many facets and deals with them all as a new way of proposing christianity into the theme of the story. The reason that Grendel becomes outraged is that the bard in the mead hall is singing a song that has to do with creation. This shows Grendel's apparent disregard for God and he proceeds to go to the hall and capture men and eat them while they are asleep. As we progress into the story, we learn that Grendel carries the curse of Cain with him. "He bore the curse of the seed of Cain/ Whereby God punished the grievous guilt of Abel's murder." Cain was the son of Adam and Eve and was the one who murdered Abel, his brother, out of a jealous rage for God's favor to Abel. This shows us that Grendel had more than just a dislike for the men, the song was showing Grendel that his ancestor was looked upon as the bad person and was therefore the underlying concept for Grendel's rage. This was the constant reminder to Grendel of his evil past and thus his reasoning for his actions. We learn to see Grendel as a less than human being, but in actuality, he is a monster who has a degree of humanity in him and that is the reason that he is so hard for Beowulf to kill. He has the human emotion of pride which ultimately is the cause of his downfall. While this seems to be a major part of the story line, it can be removed and the story will only lose the background of Grendel's evil side. This could have been where the real story of Grendel originally was. As with many of the classic medieval stories there is a sense of a higher being and fate is a major factor in Beowulf.

Evaluation of my ICT Database, Spreadsheet and Newsletter

Health and Safety I followed the school rules, and didn’t bring any food/drink into any computer rooms that could be damaging the electrical appliances if any beverages split on it. I didn’t bring my bag or coat into the classroom to reduce chance of someone tripping over, and I made sure that all wires were safely under my desk so that no-one could trip over them. When it was sunny and I was sat facing a computer I made sure that the blinds were closed so that I didn’t get a headache. When I had a double lesson we had a 5minute break between the 2 periods. This was to reduce chances of getting a headache, poor circulation or even backache. I adjusted my chair’s height so that my eyes were at the same level as the screen to reduce eye strain. I watched out for any trailing cables from the mouse or headphones and I used wrist rests to prevent RSI. Security I made sure that I never told anyone my password, or that I didn’t write it down so that no one could alter my work in any way, or delete it. I had no internet access so no viruses could be downloaded. I saved my work regularly just in case of a power cut, or if I knocked the wires, or if some other thing happened. My work was regularly backed up, every night, and saved on an external hard-drive. I followed safe, healthy and secure working times at all times. I can load software and save work in folders without help. I can also print, and use the computer network without aid. Database Evaluation Fields Firstly, I have 13 fields in my database, but to improve I could add more ‘Yes/No’ fields such as: ‘free flight meal’, ‘room service’, etc. Also, the lengths of fields, in the table view, were not restricted. This leads to memory loss – which could be a vital aspect later on. To make improvements I made sure that I used a field restriction from 255 to 75. A good point of the fields in my database is that ‘Date/Time’ (departure, arrival) fields used a ‘NN/NN/NN’ format. (N meaning number) This saves the user from having to write out the date, this could also lead to human error. Data Entry I have many types of data entry, such as: ‘Currency’, ‘Text’, ‘Date/Time’, ‘Number’, ‘Yes/No’. I have used all the data entry types that I think fit this task. Validation I used a range check on my Number of People, Reference Number, etc. To make sure that only a certain number can be entered. Forms My colour scheme for my database is colourful, but not too bright. I don’t feel the need to improve my colour scheme as it’s very basic. The font I used is easier to read and is adequately sized. There are advantages in using a form, for example – you don’t need to scroll down to view all the table, this could prevent RSI, because they isn’t a need to scroll down/up. Sorts I sorted my holiday dates in order to make it easier to find holidays closer to the current date. Searches I did searches on holidays with cruises. By using a search, it was quicker and easier to find the holidays that catered for my specific holiday. The searches would be very useful to a working company as it would be much quicker to fin d a holiday to a certain specification. I also did advanced search to find specific words to do with my holiday. Reports My report was organised into the type of country, then the destination. The size of the fields allowed all, if not the majority, of information to be displayed and the information is set out quite simply. The report is much easier to read than in a table because you don’t have to scroll down or anything. However, some of the fields have being cut of the edge. I could do other reports based on the prices of holidays, etc. Spread sheet Evaluation Layout and Data The labels of my different fields are clear and easily understandable. The data I have included in realistic and I know this because I used a travel website as a guideline – so that it was easier for me to do mine. And I also went to a travel agency and they showed me they’re website and some of the features I could use in mine. The cell merging was used when starting how many in a group. I have used grids to separate each bit of the spread sheet, so people don’t get confused about where the information is supposed to be. I could have used extra labels such as the type of holiday each is or whether there are disabled facilities. Formulas In my spread sheet, there is automatic recalculation if data changes, as shown in my What If Investigations. This is helpful if there is a sudden change in hotel costs as it automatically recalculates the total cost. The calculations are also accurate and do not need checking. To improve, I could use other formulas such as a ‘count’ or use a ‘3d cell reference’. Realistic Data and Outcomes All my prices, including the cost of the hotel extras and the cost of the different travel options, were realistic. I know this because I used a number of websites to get ideas for the right price and averaged the cost. To make the data more realistic, I should use the same website to find out all the guide prices. General Advantages or Disadvantages Using a spread sheet saves time when searching for data. The prices of my holidays are easy to find and realistic. The graphs I used make the different data for the different holidays come together in one easy to find place. The information that needs to be found can be found quickly with no hassle. Future Developments There are other spreadsheets that could be useful to the company. There could be a spread sheet that shows the different costs of different airline companies or train companies to find out the cheapest way to get to your destination. I could also add in other sheets to the spreadsheet I have already, like a sheet displaying the discounts available of each holiday or a sheet showing the cost of a holiday to each destination for one adult, two adults, three adults etc. Newsletter Evaluation Good Points I agree with some of the points given, but I disagree with others. I agree that the use of my variety of fonts and use of techniques such as centred, underlining, bold – which added empathy to my information. I have displayed the prices in an appropriate manner, with techniques such as bold, underlining. I think the theme I used for my newsletter fits well with the Holiday theme because it’s not dark. My newsletter is more appealing to Adults, because of the cruise. Bad Points There are some bad points, or points that I think need improving about my newsletter. I could of used more auto shapes to add more depth to my newsletter, it looks plain. The pictures I added to my master page are a little too small, although they are set of in a good way. Also the writing size I have chosen is too small to read. The colours I have used do not over-whelm the reader, it’s very plain and easily read – despite the size of the font. Improvements To improve my newsletter I need to do the following:- I could change the colour of my existing tables so that they fit the colour scheme throughout my pages in my newsletter. I could make the font bigger so that the read wouldn’t have any trouble in reading the information I have put in my newsletter. I could increase the size of my master-page images so that they are easily viewed, since that is one of the main features of my newsletter. I could use different customized bullet points, since I haven’t added any bullet points in my newsletter. PowerPoint Evaluation Good Points I agree with some points made and, again, I disagree with some. I agree that the colour scheme I have used is appropriate to the target audience, it’s quite sophisticated. I have not used headers and footers – this would of being easier to give the powerpoint slides specific titles so the reader could easily identify the holiday they want to look at. My pictures are a adequate size, and the positioning is good. I used different fonts and techniques to make my powerpoint more interesting to the reader. Bad Points On the other hand, there are some bad points about my powerpoint:- I didn’t use coloured text, which would of made it more interesting. I haven’t used headers and footers (explained in good points.) Improvements To improve my powerpoint I could:- Put colour on my text, to make the readers more interested. I could put headers and footers so the reader knows straight away what type of holiday this is.

Feasibility study for creating a furniture business Essay

This feasibility study is unusual and hard to make,,,,,we have to submit it on Tuesday,,,,,, we need to have our conclusion and find information for it,,,,,,,,, 1.history 2.business objectives 3.current situation and problems,  Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping. Furniture is also used to hold objects at a convenient height for work (as horizontal surfaces above the ground), or to store things. Furniture can be a product of design and is considered a form of decorative art. In addition to furniture’s functional role, it can serve a symbolic or religious purpose. It can be made from many materials, including metal, plastic, and wood. Furniture can be made using a variety of woodworking joints which often reflect the local culture. Contents [hide] 1 History 1.1 Neolithic period 1.2 Classical world 1.3 Early modern Europe 1.4 19th century 1.5 Early North American 1.6 Modernism 1.7 Ecodesign 1.8 Contemporary 1.9 Asian history 2 Types of furniture 3 Types of wood to make furniture 4 Standards for design, functionality and safety 5 See also 6 References 7 External links History[edit] Furniture has been a part of the human experience since the development of non-nomadic cultures. Evidence of furniture survives from the Neolithic Period and later in antiquity in the form of paintings, such as the wall  Murals discovered at Pompeii; sculpture, and examples have been excavated in Egypt and found in tombs in Ghiordes, in modern day Turkey. Neolithic period[edit] Skara Brae house Orkney Scotland evidence of home furnishings i.e. a dresser containing shelves. A range of unique stone furniture has been excavated in Skara Brae, a Neolithic village located in Orkney. The site dates from 3100–2500 BC and due to a shortage of wood in Orkney, the people of Skara Brae were forced to build with stone, a readily available material that could be worked easily and turned into items for use within the household. Each house shows a high degree of sophistication and was equipped with an extensive assortment of stone furniture, ranging from cupboards, dressers and beds to shelves, stone seats, and limpet tanks. The stone dresser was regarded as the most important as it symbolically faces the entrance in each house and is therefore the first item seen when entering, perhaps displaying symbolic objects, including decorative artwork such as several Neolithic Carved Stone Balls also found at the site. Classical world[edit] Ancient furniture has been excavated from the 8th-century BC Phrygian tumulus, the Midas Mound, in Gordion, Turkey. Pieces found here include tables and inlaid serving stands. There are also surviving works from the 9th-8th-century BC Assyrian palace of Nimrud. The earliest surviving carpet, the Pazyryk Carpet was discovered in a frozen tomb in Siberia and has been dated between the 6th and 3rd century BC. Recovered Ancient Egyptian furniture includes 3rd millennium BC beds discovered at Tarkhan as place for the deceased, a c. 2550 BC gilded bed and two chairs from the tomb of Queen Hetepheres I, and many examples (boxes, beds, chairs) from c. 1550 to 1200 BC from Thebes. Ancient Greek furniture design beginning in the 2nd millennium BC, including beds and the klismos chair, is preserved not only by extant works, but by images on Greek vases. The 1738 and 1748 excavations of Herculaneum and Pompeii revealed Roman furniture, preserved in the ashes of the 79 A.D. eruption of Vesuvius, to the eighteenth century. Early modern Europe[edit] Florentine cassone from the 15th century The furniture of the Middle Ages was usually heavy, oak, and ornamented with carved designs. Along with the other arts, the Italian Renaissance of the fourteenth and fifteenth century marked a rebirth in design, often inspired by the Greco-Roman tradition. A similar explosion of design, and renaissance of culture in general, occurred in Northern Europe, starting in the fifteenth century. The seventeenth century, in both Southern and Northern Europe, was characterized by opulent, often gilded Baroque designs that frequently incorporated a profusion of vegetal and scrolling ornament. Starting in the eighteenth century, furniture designs began to develop more rapidly. Although there were some styles that belonged primarily to one nation, such as Palladianism in Great Britain or Louis Quinze in French furniture, others, such as the Rococo and Neoclassicism were perpetuated throughout Western Europe. 19th century[edit] The furniture maker by Ludwig Deutsch The nineteenth century is usually defined by concurrent revival styles, including Gothic, Neoclassicism, Rococo, and the EastHaven Movement. The design reforms of the late century introduced the Aesthetic movement and the Arts and Crafts movement. Art Nouveau was influenced by both of these movements. Early North American[edit] This design was in many ways rooted in necessity and emphasizes both form and materials. Early American chairs and tables are often constructed with turned spindles and chair backs often constructed with steaming to bend the wood. Wood choices tend to be deciduous hardwoods with a particular emphasis on the wood of edible or fruit bearing trees such as Cherry or Walnut. Modernism[edit] Red and Blue Chair (1917), designed by Gerrit Rietveld The first three-quarters of the twentieth century are often seen as the march towards Modernism. Art Deco, De Stijl, Bauhaus, Wiener Werkstà ¤tte, and Vienna Secession designers all worked to some degree within the Modernist idiom. Born from the Bauhaus and Art Deco/Streamline styles came the post WWII â€Å"Mid-Century Modern† style using materials developed during the war including lamenated plywood, plastics and fiberglass. Prime examples include  furniture designed by George Nelson Associates, Charles and Ray Eames, Paul McCobb, Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia, Eero Saarinen, Harvey Probber, Vladamir Kagan and Danish modern designers including Finn Juhl and Arne Jacobsen. Postmodern design, intersecting the Pop art movement, gained steam in the 1960s and 70s, promoted in the 80s by groups such as the Italy-based Memphis movement. Transitional furniture is intended to fill a place between Traditional and Modern tastes. Stainless Steel Table with FSC Teca Wood – Brazil Ecodesign Ecodesign[edit] Great efforts from individuals, governments, and companies has led to the manufacturing of products with higher sustainability known as Ecodesign. This new line of furniture is based on environmentally friendly design. Its use and popularity are increasing each year.[citation needed] Contemporary[edit] One unique outgrowth of post-modern furniture design is Live edge, heralding a return to natural shapes and textures within the home.[1] Asian history[edit] Sendai-dansu for kimono, zelkova wood, note the elaborate ironwork, handles on side for transportation, and lockable compartment Asian furniture has a quite distinct history. The traditions out of India, China, Pakistan, Indonesia (Bali and Java) and Japan are some of the best known, but places such as Korea, Mongolia, and the countries of South East Asia have unique facets of their own. The use of uncarved wood and bamboo and the use of heavy lacquers are well known Chinese styles. It is worth noting that Chinese furniture varies dramatically from one dynasty to the next. Traditional Japanese furniture is well known for its minimalist style, extensive use of wood, high-quality craftsmanship and reliance on wood grain instead of painting or thick lacquer. Japanese chests are known as Tansu, known for elaborate decorative iron work, and are some of the most sought-after of Japanese antiques. The antiques available generally date back to the Tokugawa era and Meiji era. Types of furniture[edit] Main article: List of furniture types Types of wood to make furniture[edit] Main article: List of woods All different type of woods have unique signature marks, that can help in easy identification of the type. There are hardwoods and softwoods. Both are used in furniture manufacturing, and each have their own specific uses[2] Standards for design, functionality and safety[edit] Universal furniture test-rig for linaer tests, drop tests and swivel tests (Hegewald & Peschke) EN 527 Office furniture – Work tables and desks  EN 581 Outdoor furniture – Seating and tables for camping, domestic and contract use EN 1730 Furniture – Tables – Test methods for the determination of stability, strength and durability– withdrawn and superseded by BS EN 1730:2012. All testing methods used in European Standards are now to be found in a single document [3] EN 13150 Workbenches for laboratories – Safety requirements and test methods BS 4875 Furniture. Strength and stability of furniture. Methods for determination of stability of non-domestic storage furniture (British Standard) EN 1335 Office furniture – Office work chair EN 1728 Furniture – Seating – Test methods for the determination of strength and durability– updated in 2012: All testing methods used in European Standards are now to be found in a single document, Clarified and simplified test methods, Includes a static load test for headrests. ANSI/BIFMA X 5.1 Office Seating EN 1335 Office furniture – Office work chair DIN 4551 Office furniture; revolving office chair with adjustable back with or without arm rests, adjustable in height NEN 1812 Furniture standard from the Netherlands EN 747 Furniture – Bunk beds and high beds – Test methods for the determination of stability, strength and durability GB 28007-2011 Children’s furniture – General technical requirements for children’s furniture designed  and manufactured for children between 3 and 14 years old[4]