Developments in the Last Century Essay

In detail this paper will show how the media played an important role in the culture today. It will answer the questions What were the major developments in the evolution of mass media in the last century? It will also ask How did each development influence American culture? And What is ment by the term media convergence and how it affected everyday life? How we conceive mass media comes in different ways such as: television (24 -hour news channels,) (hoarders to fashion models,) (music videos, nature documentaries, and reality shows). With videos on demand provided by the local cable company plus online streaming or down loading. Media literacy on one hand, is the growth of the internet as the primary information source exposes the public to increased levels of text, thereby increasing the level of literacy. What were the major developments in the evolution of mass media in the last century? The three major developments in the last century were (print, electrical, and digital). In terms of print media books are durable and contain a large amount of information. Books are expensive to produce. As for newspapers they are cheaper and can be made quickly. In the 1800 hundreds the newspaper faced a new threat called penny press. These papers were cheaper than the regular newspapers. The penny press also printed more of murder and scandal rather than of the political news of the day. Another form of mass media is the radio. Radio was not that expensive less than television and more available. Radio gave the people the opportunity to listen to a live event at the same time. Specifically the radio was made for advertising. Radio accessed a large audience. Radio also made listening in the privacy of one’s own home to be pleasure seeking and curious. With radio one can listen to a story and imagine in one’s own head how the story plays out, thus creating imagination. Television is another form of mass media. The television was invented in 1923. Broadcast television was the most dominant form of mass media. By 1946 more than 17,000 televisions existed. There were at the time only three major networks, they controlled more than 90% of the news programs. By the 1960s television televised the conflict of the Vietnam war. The telegraph is part of the mass media seen also. Any part of information received via radio, television, newspaper, and Internet have been considered to be mass media. In today’s society more people tend to receive their news and other information via the Internet. How did each development influence American culture? Each development influenced the American culture in many ways. The way we receive the news is very different today. Newspapers came a long way from just black and white to color. Before anything what we had was newspaper that is how one would get the facts regarding what is going on in the world. With newspaper they do not get to see the vast aura of colors as television. The newspaper made people want to read what was written. For the television world was more in tuned to today’s society. Television has the visual aspect and as for the news per say the electronic media has come full circle from radio to television. For print people did not have to rely on teachers, preachers, or story tellers. They were allowed to read what was published and interpret it how they seen it. The telegraph led to radio, fax machine, and phones. Instant communication is how print and electrical mass media influenced America. They are able to put more information out there along with visual aspects . What is ment by the term media convergence and how it affected everyday life? Media convergence is the merging of all the technology together. A merger of mass media. It affects us in many ways such as fax machines and e-mail. We as humans no longer have to hand write a letter any more when we have e-mail. We went from writing letters by hand to typing them on a type writer to writing an e-mail on computers to texting on phones. With the simple click of a button the letter is sent through millions of power lines to get to the person it is intended for. Media convergence is a link between old and new technologies. They come together to share the same tasks and resources. There are five kinds of convergences they are Economic, Organic, Cultural, Global, and Technological. a) Economic involves such things as internet, phone, and cable regarding the provider one chose for these services. b) Organic occurs when one can stream video listen to music and text a friend all at the same time. c) Cultural occurs when a person turns a book into a movie, film, and even toys such as Spiderman. d) Global occurs when the process of geographically distance cultures influencing one another despite the distance that physically separates them. e) Technological occurs when the merging of technologies come together, such as the ability to watch television shows online on sites like crackle. Conclusion In conclusion the media has changed in many ways, such as how one receives the news and communicates with one another. We have gone from the telegraph to radio, television, phones, and computers regarding how we receive information. It is completely up to the individual how one use the various forms of media technologies out there today. However, a few things have stayed the same major media companies own popular media content sites such as Hulu, and YouTube and control access to a great deal of online information. Perhaps the standards for literacy will shift to an emphasis on simplicity and directness.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Spiritual Needs Among Patients with Cancer and Family

Running head: PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF SPIRITUAL Prevalence and Associated Factors of Spiritual Needs Among Patients With Cancer and Family Caregivers Prevalence and Associated Factors of Spiritual Needs Among Patients With Cancer and Family Caregiver Problem Statement Identify cancer patients and their caregivers spiritual needs and measure the prevalence of these spiritual needs. The patients and their caregivers can have similar spiritual needs that may require care. However, a nurse’s help with these spiritual needs, may not always be wanted. So how does the nurse identify the spiritual needs? If and when these needs are identified, how is the nurse to approach these needs? Study Purpose This study is significant to nursing because it reveals â€Å"nurses must be educated to recognize and nurture various spiritual needs† (Johnston Taylor, 2006, p. 734). Research Questions 1. ) How prevalent are the spiritual needs of patients with cancer and family caregivers, from their perspective? 2. ) What demographic and illness-related factors are associated with type and frequency of perceived spiritual needs? . ) What are the patients’ and family caregivers’ expectations regarding nurses addressing their spiritual needs? ((Johnston Taylor, 2006, p. 730) Hypothesis/Hypotheses The study hypothesis is all people have spiritual needs, but the importance varies as do their beliefs. The desire for nurses to assist in these spiritual needs vary according to what is the patient’s religion, are they an inpatient , and perception of an incurable disease. Study Variables The independent variable is the questionnaire. The dependent variables are the research participants. Conceptual Model/Theoretical Framework A theoretical framework was used to guide this study by examining peoples definition of spiritual needs, surveying oncology nurses, and looking at studies done measuring spiritual needs of cancer patients. The Institute of Medicine defined spiritual needs as â€Å"the needs and expectations that humans have to find meaning, purpose and value in their life† ((Murray, Kendall, Boyd, Worth, & Benton, 2004, p. 730). Whether religious or not, all people have various ways of believing to give their life purpose and meaning. Some may connect spiritually with what they call a higher power, nature, or other human beings. A survey was done in 1995 with 181 oncology nurses and their perception of patients spiritual needs. They identified factors as patients talking about God or faith, meaning of life, or hopelessness or guilt. But â€Å"also identified more subtle expressions of spiritual need (e. g. , anxiety, anger, restlessness, sadness, withdrawal, difficulty coping)† ((Johnston Taylor, Amenta, & Highfield, 1995, p. 730). There have been many studies done measuring spiritual well-being and quality of life, but there has been only one that focused on the spiritual needs of those with cancer. ((Moadel et al. , 1999, p. 730) Review of Related Literature The literature supports the need for this study because all people believe in spirituality in some form and have needs. Cancer patients in previous studies have discussed their spiritual well-being and quality of life, but only one study focused on their spiritual needs. As healthcare providers we need to become educated to these spiritual needs and how to address them. Study Design This study is a descriptive design because of the need to gain more information about spiritual needs in cancer patients and their family caregivers. And also if patients require or request a nurse’s care regarding their spiritual needs. At least 2 threats to the internal validity of this design would be selection due to inadequate number of non-Euro-Americans in the study and mortality due to the small number of research participants at 156 cancer patients and 68 family caregivers. There were no threats found to the external validity of this study design. Sample and Setting The sample included 156 cancer patients and 68 family caregivers. This sample of research participants represented the target population for this study by focusing on individuals and their family affected by cancer and their spiritual needs. The setting was appropriate because each individual was given the option to speak face to face with a research team member or take home the Spiritual Interests Related to Illness Tool (SpIRIT) questionnaire. They all chose the questionnaire that was developed specifically for this study. Each participant completed the questionnaire without help from the research team and then returned to a neutral party that was not a member of the research team and chosen by the institutional research board. Identification and Control of Extraneous Variables The one extraneous variable noted was the SpIRIT questionnaire had not be offered prior to this study. By using a neutral party to receive the completed questionnaires helped alleviate potential problems. Study Instruments/Tools Used the Spiritual Interests Related to Illness Tool (SpIRIT) questionnaire Data Collection/Methods The data collection methods were appropriate for this study because of offering this study without pressure to participate and to remain anonymous. Data Analysis Procedures The data analysis procedure was appropriate for this type of data collected because they measured the central tendency (average) from the SpIRIT and the Information About You form; checked all SpIRIT items and removed one item that correlated poorly; and performed a factor analysis to determine SpIRIT validity. Then computed coefficient alphas. Strengths The 2 major strengths of the scientific merit of this study were: * â€Å"Those that who perceive more spiritual needs may be most receptive to nurses’ spiritual caregiving ((Johnston Taylor, 2006, p. 733) * â€Å"Religious people (as indicated by frequency of attendance at religious services) not only are more apt to consider spiritual needs important but also have more * Desire for nurses’ assistance with such needs ((Johnston Taylor, 2006, p. 733) Limitations The 2 major limitations of the scientific merit of this study were: * Samples of patients and family caregivers were from cancer patients that were not life threatening. SpIRIT was a new test performed. Extent that study findings are valid are evidenced by the spiritual needs cancer patients and their family caregivers do have. The study findings are practical for nursing practice and education because the analysis suggest cancer patients that may be a higher risk for spiritual distress and would benefit from a more-focused spiritual assessment. Implications Implications for practice would be to include admission questions related to the patients spiritual beliefs and/or values; any special needs related to religion or spirituality. And follow-up to have their needs met, record on patient electronic medical record for all involved in care to continue same care throughout patient stay. Implications for education would be attend classes related to cultural and religious differences, meanings and needs. Implications for research would be to extend this study to a larger group and different cultures, religions, and terminally ill. References Johnston Taylor, E. (2006). Prevalence and Associated Factors of Spiritual Needs Among Patients With Cancer and Family Caregivers. Oncology Nursing Forum, 33 (4), 729-735. Johnston Taylor, E. , Amenta, M. & Highfield, M. (1995). Spiritual care practices of oncology nurses. Oncology Nursing Forum, 22(), 31-39. Moadel, A. , Morgan, C. , Fatone, A. , Grennan, J. , Carter, J. , & Laruffa, G. et al. (1999). Seeking meaning and hope: Self-reported spiritual and existential needs among an ethnically diverse cancer patient population. Psycho-Oncology, 8, 378-385. Murray, S. , Kendall, M . , Boyd, K. , Worth, A. , & Benton, T. (2004). Exploring the spiritual needs of people dying of lung cancer or heart failure: A prospective qualitative interview study of patients and their carers. Palliative Medicine, 18(), 39-45.

International Interview Project Assignment Research Paper

International Interview Project Assignment - Research Paper Example Chan, personal communication, January 29, 2012). Located in Southeast Asia, the country shares its water borders with China in the form of the South China Sea which is east of Vietnam. It turns out that the Philippines has a long history of being colonized by other countries and their quest for independence as a country is still being fought for until today. The first and longest staying colonizers of the Philippines according to Jennifer were the Spaniards. The country was annexed by Ferdinand Magellan in the name of Spain which was the country that financed his expedition into Asia but, the management of the country was left mostly to their Mexican counterparts. It was during this colonization that the Chinese came to settle in the Philippines. This was followed by the American Occupation, the Japanese Occupation, American Liberation, and finally, independence for the republic that began as a Commonwealth country. Jennifers ancestors came to settle in the country during the American Liberation era and have become naturalized cit izens of their adopted country. I would be hard pressed to find a Filipino with pure Filipino blood she told me. Their population always carries a mix of either one, two, or all of the following bloodlines: Chinese, American, Spanish, Japanese, and Arab blood due to the interracial marriages that always freely happened even during their colonized periods. If there is one thing that always strikes any person who first meets Jennifer, it is the fact that she has such a bubbly personality and seems to always put the comfort of those around her before her own. The department of tourism website for the Philippines (2012) explains that this spirit of kinship and camaraderie is something that was inherited from their Malay forefathers. The local hospitality though, is something that seems to be hard wired into their DNA. Nobody really knows where the race inherited it from.

Humanitarian Action Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Humanitarian Action - Assignment Example Hieronymi main logic or deduction from his research is that interests and values based approaches to humanitarian action are not entirely mutually exclusive. However the effective combination of the two vices can significantly strengthen the arguments that are formulated in humanitarian’s action favor. Hieronymi supports this logic by referring to the humanitarian imperative. This is the value and ability engrained deep into the human soul that enables him to clearly distinguish between right and wrong.1 He argues that in everyday life, human beings are faced with various moral dilemmas. These dilemmas can be of varying nature and human beings are therefore placed in a precarious position where they have to decide whether to take action or not. For example when one witness an instance of child cruelty, there is the obvious urge to take intervene. However in certain circumstances, moral consideration may be out rightly rejected. This may be due to various political philosophies , for example in states under dictatorship where human cruelty may be a common norm. This is obviously a clear violation of human values and principles. Hieronymi uses various historical situations in the past to further support his argument. Hieronymi also elaborates on the interests that humanitarian crises touch and which inadvertly stimulates human beings to take action. The first one is the nature and values of the universe that the human being so closely covets. The second interest is the ‘importing’ of the suffering and trouble risk. The final interest is the aftermath costs of the crises, which would have been avoided had prevention measures been effected. Hieronymi further argues that when deciding whether to take humanitarian action, the interests of both the victims and the individuals or organizations of the people taking the action must be taken into consideration. There should therefore be a convergence of both interests. Hieronymi concludes his logic by s tating that values and interests are therefore the two most significant vices that govern humanitarian action consideration. David Rieff’s point of view in his publication A Bed for the Night is that humanitarian action may pose more problems if solved realistically. This is an opinion which clearly concurs with other critics like Waal, Michael Maren, Bernard Hours, and Peter Uvin. He argues that humanitarian action is a futile enterprise whose effects may be fatal and this makes him unique from other literature writers because he first acknowledges the complexity of the issue call for a proper preparedness. His writing seeks to attack the common approach of relief programs and advocacy initiatives that are increasingly being applied by humanitarian agencies.  

Cloud Computing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Cloud Computing - Essay Example Given the close linkages between financial services firms and cutting edge technology, it makes for eminent business sense to remain on top of the â€Å"convergence† that is happening between IT and financial services. Cloud computing is altering the way business is done and the way business services are provided by bringing about a paradigm shift in the way excess computing power and storage space can be used. Cloud Computing works by aggregating the computing power of individual computers and then centralizing the same so as to derive maximum advantage for the users. Since UVW does not have to invest in additional capacity whenever it takes on more users, we stand to gain from the double benefit of efficiencies from economies of scale and cost savings because of outsourcing our requirements to providers of cloud computing services. For UVW to remain competitive in the financial services market, we need to embrace next generation IT services like what other global financial conglomerates like Goldman Sachs are doing by renting out cloud providers to host their data and provide them computing power. The use of offshore datacenters by these financial services firms has helped them to cut their IT costs significantly. In the context of the financial services firms undergoing an era of rapid change in the way they do business, it is necessary for UVW to embrace innovation and be at the forefront of emerging technologies. By embracing cloud computing in its business, UVW can thus remain competitive as well as ride the wave of change that is sweeping the financial services

Scotland, the Stateless Nation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Scotland, the Stateless Nation - Essay Example Many attempted to settle in Central America through the Scottish sponsored Darien project with a hope of establishing the same success as the English. There they were fated to die, abandoned by both the Scottish and English government. The Scottish government and investors lost huge amounts of capital that contributed to the later depression of the 17th Century3. Large numbers of Scotsmen and their lassies relocated to Canada, North American Colonies as well as Australia and New Zealand. The motivation for leaving their homeland varied over the 18th, 19th and first decades of the 20th Century. However, the main causes of this startling Diaspora arose from the blunt fact that Scotland as a nation had lost as a rival to England. This process began much earlier than the era of colonization at least six hundred years earlier. England, the poor leadership from the aristocracy of both lands, the European wars of the 18th Century and the Imperial expansion of Great Britain in the 19th proved the death of the nation of Scotland. The conquest of England by the Normans brought about a six hundred year war between England’s’ new masters and Scotland, which culminated in 1688. Malcolm Canmore, Malcolm III, and William the conqueror hated each other at first sight. However, William the Conqueror forced Malcolm III by the Treaty of Abernathy in 1072 to surrender his son Duncan to the Norman court as a hostage. Malcolm III received in exchange for this fealty land in England4. The very use of hostages was a weakening stratagem because it influenced indirectly and directly the youthful heirs of one’s opponents, in a positive manner, towards the ways of their captor (host). Herein, the English turned the Scottish laird and chieftain to their purposes and ultimately through them destroyed the Scott ish nation. The Normans and the Scots continued in a never-ending battle between each other until after the middle of the 18th century.  

Concert Report Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Concert Report - Personal Statement Example Throughout this movement, imitative polyphony was the predominant texture as the melody created in the woodwinds was echoed by various other instruments especially the periodic feedbacks of the electric guitar played like a raw rock star by Kirk Hammet. The two songs played by the band were Nothing Else Matters and the most famous of their all, Master of Puppets. Through the experience of hearing these two very different works, I was able to comprehend the talents of the musicians. The very first performance by the one of the most famous band rouse a feeling of eagerness in the audience to listen more of their songs in the Apollo, but they left with striking sounds. (Wikipedia. /Metallica) The night could not have been made more rocking and entertaining once the heart throb of millions and my personal favorite of all female singers Madonna came to festoon the night. Smoke machines, lasers and all kinds of components which contribute collectively in producing a psychedelic show. She started her reign on stage with her all time favorite track Ray of Light followed by Hard Candy, Me against the Music and Miles Away. This portion was characterized by its dark and somber tone. The absence of the drums heard earlier left a weak beat and a suppressed meter. (Wikipedia. Madoona)

Financial Assignment of the Entrepreneurial World

Financial of the Entrepreneurial World - Assignment Example The major challenges faced by the cleaning businesses are; During the period of lower revenues, many contract cleaning companies are forced to redistribute resources, improve workforce performance and streamline back office functions such as human resources, accounting and IT this is in an attempt to heighten the efficiency and reduce costs. Amplified competition in the industry is forcing corporations to bargain contracts with very stiff margins. In addition, many customers are aimed at cutting down the costs of operation in their own occupation by altering the terms of their agreements and reducing the frequency of cleaning procedures. The poor economic conditions present has Limited the public spend. This means that their will only be a few opportunities for contract cleaning company growth in the long-term. The declined job opportunities in addition to the increasing costs of fuel and employees have resulted in UK companies cleaning industry making a loss. So as to face the challenges and persist in the market the cleaning businesses have integrated skill and abilities of employees to increase efficiency in the level of performance. The workers are equipped with; cleaning skills: these are applied skills required by a cleaner to undertake the role competently; for example, the capability to control machinery and equipment; mopping skills; and the ability to use chemical substances without harm. It will thus reduce operational cost. Multi-tasking skills: it is important that staff execute a range of varied tasks in order for the businesses to endure the competitive market and keep low costs. Multi-tasking allows the control to reduce the numbers of employees while still maintaining the level of output.

Identify Key Technological Influences On the Internationalisation Essay

Identify Key Technological Influences On the Internationalisation Process - Essay Example This essay stresses that if a company needs to decide the strategy to be used to help it improve the overall move and internationalisation process then the company requires to have the available knowledge to do so. Information overload is a high issue that is being faced by most professionals. Intelligent agent is a related technology, which provides a chance to roam networks and selectively refer users to information that would prove to be useful and beneficial. However, it is clear that the best intelligent agent is a human being by himself. It is obvious that computers are useful in KM as they do not slow down the learning, but help the KM to be more efficient and effective in order to support learning to a greater extent. This paper makes a conclusion that the main aspect and factors that affect the internationalisation of any business is the knowledge that is shared within the organisation and the ability of the company to transfer the data and raw information into understandable knowledge. Based on this, it is essential to understand that KM can be improved not only based on the amount of money spent on it but also a great deal of focus is required to be on the efforts of the management process. It is safe to say that knowledge has already grown largely and it has become one of the most essential aspects of any business. It has become a major driver and money is now slowly phasing out of the scene and as the old saying of ‘Knowledge is king’, is now being put to use in almost every industry and every company across the world.

Accident Analysis Essay Example for Free

Accident Analysis Essay In January 25, 1990, Avianca Flight 52, a Boeing 707 left Bogota, Colombia for New York. After more than an hour of delay, the plane ran out of fuel and crashed in the town of Cove Neck, Long Island, New York, killing 73 people, including 9 crew members and 65 of the 149 passengers, and injuring the rest. Analysis of this accident would show how human error, faulty systems and bad weather conditions caused this accident. The flight crew did not officially declare that they were running out of fuel until it was already too late. The accident could have been avoided if the flight crew has clearly stated that they were really in trouble. Language barrier could have played a part since the crew only asked for â€Å"priority† which in Spanish could mean that they were in trouble. The crew should have notified their fuel load to Air Traffic Control when they were put on hold for the first time. This simple information could have made the difference. ATC could have suggested earlier an alternate airport had they known this information. Instead, the pilots literally went around in circles waiting for further instructions. By the time the flight was cleared for landing, it only had enough fuel for one last approach. When the plane was on its final approach, it encountered wind shear, a change of wind direction over short distances. ATC only informed the flight crew of wind shear at 1500 feet. The crew had to abort their approach because they would fall short of the runway. The flight was doomed after that incident. Even if they were redirected to an alternate airport prior to the approach, they would not have enough fuel to make it to Boston. The question now is why the flight crew didn’t consult their flight dispatch about possible alternate airports which are not as busy as the John F. Kennedy International. The answer maybe the breaking of the sterile cockpit rule below 10,000 feet. The sterile cockpit rule below 10,000 feet states that pilots should not talk about things that are not necessary during crucial stages of the flight, which is usually below 10,000 feet. The pilots mind may have wandered off due to the long delay the Air Traffic Control has given them. In a sense, Air Traffic Control failed to prioritize air traffic in JFK international. Though Avianca flight 52 did not declare its fuel load problems earlier, it did say that it wanted priority. In like mentioned earlier, due to language barrier, â€Å"priority† may have been already a distress call. Air Traffic Control confirmed this request but what kind of priority is a seventy seven minute delay? Obviously, the failure of the flight crew and Air Traffic Control to communicate properly resulted to this horrible accident. This accident could have been avoided if the airline had their own operational control dispatch system that could have assisted them when Air Traffic Control has apparently ignored them. A standardized terminology in fuel related problems also contributed to the plane’s crash. If there was only a universal term to describe what the flight was actually experiencing, the language barrier between Air Traffic Control and the pilots would have been irrelevant. To sum up, the plane crash was a result of contributing factors, communication problems, probable mental lapse of the pilots, lack of proper terminology, and unfavorable winds. This accident proves that constant communication is important in air travel and a high level of concentration is required for the job. Pilots should be trained extensively before giving them their licences, including language training that ensures pilots can converse well in English. In this aspect, a standard language for aeronautical terms should be established. Though the wind shear caused further delay, the plane could have made another attempt if only it had not been idle for more than hour.

Visual Effects And Post Modernism In Logo Design Arts Essay

Visual Effects And Post Modernism In Logo Design Arts Essay The designing of logo is a particular aesthetic activity that is related to the special techniques under the modern cultural environment. An analysis of the special techniques used by modern designers reflects the fact that visual design devices are heavily influenced by new techniques, which in turn are impacted by the new features of life and thinking of the contemporary people. The visual effects of these works, as will be analyzed in the latter parts of this essay, imply that the influence of new notions and ideas concerning visual design are achieving profound impacts on the formation of designing philosophy of modern designers. It is as well an important trend of becoming a more complicated cultural phenomenon that is in turn impacting the aesthetic changes of the audience of logo designing as well (Bruner, J. 1990). In its very essence, the core of logo designing is the use of the most effective means to communicate with the audience about the needs, ideas as well as the effectiveness of the designing. To a large extent, such effectiveness is depended on the personal understanding of the visual effects by the designers. For many professional designers, they have to observe two aspects of things so as to achieve this effectiveness. On the one hand, they have to fully understand the inner mechanism of human beings in accepting visual information and on the other hand, they have to beware how designing can be effective in catching the attention of the audience (Bethel, E. et al 2003). It is only based on these two aspects that designing work can be regarded successful; otherwise it can not be possible to ensure the fidelity of the designing job. In many fields of designing, such as fashion design, mechanic design, architecture design or software design, designers have to pay attention to the combin ed effectiveness of these two aspects. In public facility design, since this type of design is closely related to the concentration of large audience, the visual designing problem seems to be more crucial for the success designing job. This essay will conduct a detailed analysis on the visual effects of logo design by observing the special techniques used. 2. Principles of visual design in logos By and large, the principles used in logo design reflects the peculiar needs to arouse the cultural feelings of the audience. That is to say, the purpose of logo design is to arouse up the cultural recognition of the audience toward a certain product or a certain idea (Tu, Zhuowen, Zhu, Song C. 2002). This is a cultural experience closely associated with the aesthetic feelings of the contemporary people, who, by being exposed to different visual effects in their busy life, have a strong aptitude to the understanding of colors and lights in the modern environment where different types of mass media are available in conveying these colors and lights. So, one of the major features of aesthetic feelings of modern people is their strong visual sense to recognize the implications of visual effectiveness. In logo design, for instance, both commercially and non-commercially, people can find some similarities related to the visual effectiveness and the implied significance represented by the colors and the visual effects. For instance, the double arches of MacDonald can be seen a best example to represent the relationship between the colors and the visual effects. So, by and large, this can be regarded as a special cultural aptitude of the people living at the contemporary time. Logo design necessarily involves the methods that help to popularize the influence of a product or an idea. It is important because it is believed by people to be the most effective and convenient way to make a brand or an idea better known to the public. A successful logo design can help the people know the implied feelings within the logo influence. In commerce, for instance, many famous brands in the world will are successful in designing an attractive logo that helps the business development and marketing expansion in the world, such as Coca Cola and Pepsi so and so forth. The success of a logo design is the combination of both artistic exhibition and idea promotion. This has been shown by many successful cases. To understand the function of visual design, we should first of all understand the influence of the artistic implication. That is to say, logo design should be guided by a conception that suits the specific culture and notion of the thing the logo represents. The behavior of artistic appreciation is in practice an activity of both ration and emotion. Thus, logo design should embrace the feelings, thinking, behavior and psychology of the audience. Based on this principle, logo design should be novel and unique. To achieve this, designers should analyze the psychological elements of the audience at the first place. Generally, to make a logo more attractive, creativity, fashion, individuality and aesthetics are the four major principles to be observed by logo (Lynch, Kevin. 1984). These are also the basic principles in visual designing problem too. I. Creativity Novel and creative thinking easily stimulates the attention and interest of the audience. This is the first important principle of logo design. Creativity comes from the careful observation of life and an imitation of peoples psychological tendency to accept the product. It is only through unique characteristic of the product can be attractive and creative. Take the following design for example: This is an advertisement of watchmaker IWC. In this design, we can see that bus straps have been comically fashioned from the striking images of IWCs Big Pilots Watch. The advantage of this design immediately attracts audiences by its novelty and creativity. People watching the advertisement all have the pulse to try the bus strap. In this way, the advertisement successfully stimulates the consumers psychological curiosity. II. Fashion The principle of fashion is not just to catch the attention of the audience. If so, anything that is colossal and unique would achieve this goal. To logo designers, fashion means the quality of meeting such psychological demand of the audience as curiosity and satisfaction. It also helps to create a novel environment that calls for the psychological recognition. III. Individuality This is another important feature of logo design. The feature of this principle lies in the uniqueness and novelty of ogos that emphasizes the recognition feelings of the audience. From the perspective of the consumer, only individuality can arouse their interest. Basically, it is only by individuality that audiences trust their tuition in choosing a certain products. IV. Aesthetics What logos represents is the aesthetic image of a product or an idea. This includes the images obtained from the different sense of feelings: hearing, touching, sight etc. This principle calls for the vivid aesthetic image of a product and improve the artistic taste of consumers. In the meanwhile, this also helps to build up a psychological satisfaction. Look at the following design: Obviously, the purpose of this designer is to highlight the hairstyle of the lady under the umbrella. Here, the half-transparent umbrella gives the audience an imagination beyond the picture itself. What they are strongly feeling is the aesthetic atmosphere that is hidden by the umbrella. In this way, the designer successfully conveys this feeling. 3. Visual effects and logo design Logo design, the purpose of which is to attract the attention of the audience, is in its nature a manifestation of the usage of visual effects to arouse the cultural feelings of the audience at large. This can be understood by many modern designers and artists. Take Barbara Kruger for instance, as a contemporary American conceptual artist, she is especially known for her fine art creation in logo designs that convey peculiar cultural sense. Many of her works are characterized by the combination of graphic design and short direct phrases. The advertisement of I shop, therefore I am can be seen as such an example: (Barbara Krugers I shop, therefore I am) Many of Krugers works are direct and are easy to evoke an immediate response. Her artistic style is most typically featured by the use of simple color combination of black and white. The short message that is stenciled on the image is often in white against a red background. The text and image used in the whole picture are unrelated for the purpose of creating anxiety, which, according to Kruger, reflects a kind of fear and uneasiness. Her representative video and film works include Pleasure, Pain, Desire, Disgust (1997) and Twelve (2004). By and large, logo design is a special artistic activity that needs deep understanding of visual effectiveness. Under the modern cultural environment, it is influenced by a series of complicated notions found in aesthetic, literary, political or social philosophy influenced by the creation of contemporary philosophy as well as the new belief of modern society. It has been regarded as the basis of the attempt to describe the features of the modern intellectualism, which particularly focuses on the use of visual device in designing. Culturally, logo design can be seen as a special way by which artists expose their life style as well as their special understanding of art influenced by new philosophical and conceptual development started by modern thinkers. So, in modern logo designing works, such terms as appropriation, humor (other people may use parody, irony or playfulness to refer to this special attitude of dealing with the creation of contemporary art), deconstruction, simulacra, self-reflexivity, eclecticism (or pluralism), pastiche and inter-textuality are what people can find to refer to the characteristics of modern art, which can be seen as specifically impacted by the visual effects of logos designed specifically to achieve concrete purposes. 4. Post-Modernism reflected by visual effects in logo design Visual effectiveness in logo design particularly reflected the post-modernistic perspective in artistic design. Modern critics agree that postmodern artists reject the notion of the fixed, objective nature of a piece of art (Hatuka, Tali, DHooghe, Alexander. 2007). According to this belief, all that is left in postmodern art is difference. Influenced by various sources of philosophical ideas triggered by the revolution of technological innovation, each person in this new age shapes his or her own concepts of reality. Reality, then, becomes a human construct that is shaped by each individuals dominant social group. There exists no center or authority, nor one lone, encompassing objective reality, but as many realities as there are many different individuals with different ways of life and different ways of thinking (Derntl, M., Motschnig-Pitrik, R. 2008). The interpretations by different people are different. No one has a claim to absolute truth; therefore, tolerance of each others p oints of view becomes the postmodernism maxim. As we know, postmodernism is also characterized by the color of the new age, which is featured by the application of modern technological innovation of and language of art creation. Take LaChapelles designing works for instance; if we have a careful look at his Elton John at Home (1997), we can roughly get a clue. In this piece of art, we can be touched by a strong tendency of expressing the chaos in modern family life. Is this a feature of life attitude perceived by the artist? At least, the brightness of the back color can give us a hint. In the picture, it seems that the pealed bananas and the falling apples can not be clearly distinguished as house decorations or the real objects in life. The existence of wild beasts in the house also seems to hint that the core concepts of family life are different from what have been traditionally accepted, or at least there have occurred significant changes. So, on the whole, the post-industrial influences to the life style of modern people ca n be clearly felt in this picture. The fast pace, the bewilderment of modern people are what dominate the characteristics of his artistic creation. (Elton John at Home by David LaChapelle) Postindustrial influence is also reflected in the various sources of impacts triggered by the innovation of technologies, say, the over-complicatedness or over-simplification of images which are made convenient by the adoption of computer technology. The design work of Barbara Kruger best illustrated such a method. In her trademark design, the large-scale photographic works usually cause people think of the post-industrial cultural images which are processed by the use of modern machinery technology (Nelson, H. G., Stolterman, E. 2003). In her 1989 work Your Body Is a Battleground), for example, she employed an oversized image of a models face and divided it into sections, giving the audience a strong visual impact. (Barbara Krugers Your Body is a Battleground) From these cases we can find the fact that logo designing is not an isolated cultural activity of human behavior in aesthetics. On the contrary, logo design at the contemporary cultural context reflects the cultural impacts of the human society as well as the new changes in aesthetic experiences of the modern world. The logo design for both commercial and non-commercial purposes reflect the particular cultural features of the contemporary time. Without the deep understanding of these features, one is not able to fully understand the essence of the specific visual effects of the logo design at the contemporary time (Bevir, Mark. 2000). 3. Conclusion By and large, logo design at the present time is a special artistic activity that reflects the cultural influence of the contemporary time. It specifically pursue the effectiveness of visual stimulation to the sense of sight of the human beings. In logo design, people can find the special feelings conveyed by the usage of various types of visual images. These images can be seen as the products of philosophical meditation of the modern people who have been influenced by the new ideas in life and in thinking. So, in this sense, logo design is not an isolated activity. On the contrary, it is an activity that is closely related to the aesthetic feelings of human race at the present time. It is as well the product of the aesthetic meditation by modern designers as well.

Euthanasia Essay - Lutheranism and Doctor-Assisted Suicide :: Euthanasia Physician Assisted Suicide

Evangelical Lutheranism and Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide   Ã‚   As a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, I feel it important to express in this essay the stand of the church on the question of euthanasia and assisted suicide. Our church has strong biblical and traditional reasons for adamantly opposing these new end-of-life approaches.    Increasingly, people know from their own experience some painful dilemmas involving elderly or handicapped individuals who are in pain. While the achievements of modern medicine have been used to prolong and enhance life for many, they have also helped create an often dreaded context for dying. Costly technology may keep persons alive, but frequently these persons are cut off from meaningful relationships with others and exist with little or no hope for recovery. Many fearfully imagine a situation at the end of their lives where they or their trusted ones will have no say in decisions about their treatment. In this context, new emphasis is being placed on the rights of patients. Recent federal legislation, for example, requires all health care facilities receiving Medicare or Medicaid monies to inform patients of their right to make medical treatment decisions. This includes the right to specify "advance directives," [1] which state what patients wish to be done in case they are no longer able to communicate adequately.    We consider the legislation consistent with the principle that "respect for that person [who is capable of participating] mandates that he or she be recognized as the prime decision-maker" in treatment. [2] The patient is a person in relationship, not an isolated individual. Her or his decisions should take others into account and be made in supportive consultation with family members, close friends, pastor, and health care professionals. Christians face end-of-life decisions in all their ambiguity, knowing we are responsible ultimately to God, whose grace comforts, forgives, and frees us in our dilemmas.    Which decisions about dying are morally acceptable to concernd Christians, and which ones go beyond morally acceptable limits? Which medical practices and public policies allow for more humane treatment for those who are dying and which ones open the door to abuse and the violation of human dignity? Proposals in various states to legalize physician-assisted death [3] point to renewed interest in these old questions. ELCA members, congregations, and institutions need to address these questions through prayer and careful reflection.    Euthanasia Essay - Lutheranism and Doctor-Assisted Suicide :: Euthanasia Physician Assisted Suicide Evangelical Lutheranism and Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide   Ã‚   As a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, I feel it important to express in this essay the stand of the church on the question of euthanasia and assisted suicide. Our church has strong biblical and traditional reasons for adamantly opposing these new end-of-life approaches.    Increasingly, people know from their own experience some painful dilemmas involving elderly or handicapped individuals who are in pain. While the achievements of modern medicine have been used to prolong and enhance life for many, they have also helped create an often dreaded context for dying. Costly technology may keep persons alive, but frequently these persons are cut off from meaningful relationships with others and exist with little or no hope for recovery. Many fearfully imagine a situation at the end of their lives where they or their trusted ones will have no say in decisions about their treatment. In this context, new emphasis is being placed on the rights of patients. Recent federal legislation, for example, requires all health care facilities receiving Medicare or Medicaid monies to inform patients of their right to make medical treatment decisions. This includes the right to specify "advance directives," [1] which state what patients wish to be done in case they are no longer able to communicate adequately.    We consider the legislation consistent with the principle that "respect for that person [who is capable of participating] mandates that he or she be recognized as the prime decision-maker" in treatment. [2] The patient is a person in relationship, not an isolated individual. Her or his decisions should take others into account and be made in supportive consultation with family members, close friends, pastor, and health care professionals. Christians face end-of-life decisions in all their ambiguity, knowing we are responsible ultimately to God, whose grace comforts, forgives, and frees us in our dilemmas.    Which decisions about dying are morally acceptable to concernd Christians, and which ones go beyond morally acceptable limits? Which medical practices and public policies allow for more humane treatment for those who are dying and which ones open the door to abuse and the violation of human dignity? Proposals in various states to legalize physician-assisted death [3] point to renewed interest in these old questions. ELCA members, congregations, and institutions need to address these questions through prayer and careful reflection.   

Feminism and Masculinity Essay -- Manhood Hegemonic Masculinity

In contemporary society, hegemonic masculinity is defined by physical strength and boldness, heterosexuality, economic independence, authority over women and other men, and an interest in sexual relationships. While most men do not embody all of these qualities, society supports hegemonic masculinity within all its institutions, including the educational institute, the religious institute and other institutes which form the ideological state apparatus. Standards of masculinity vary from time to time, from culture to culture. However, masculinity always defines itself as superior and different from femininity. For example, gay men and househusbands exemplify "subordinate" masculinities in our culture. They are not considered to be "real men". And yet, many still support hegemonic masculinity, for example, men being the main breadwinner for the family. Easthope (1990) states that, â€Å"masculinity tries to stay invisible by passing itself off as normal and universal† (Easthope, 1990: 1). The notion of masculinity tries to become a norm in society so then its counterpart, femininity is seen as different and deviant. Against this backdrop, femininity is constructed around the adaptation to male power. Its central feature is attractiveness to men, which includes physical appearance, suppression of "power", and nurturance of children, heterosexuality, sexual availability, and sociability. Masculinity and femininity are societal euphemisms for male dominance and female subordinat...

Study Guide for French Revolution

Study Guide for French Revolution * Brinton’s model of a revolution: * Symptomatic Phase- all social classes are unhappy (peasants are scared of change, bourgeoisie want change) * Moderate Phase- revolution begins in hopes of control (radicals feel like there isn’t ENOUGH change) * Radical Phase- a strong men from a radical group gains and assumes power * Convalescence Phase- revolution has a setback; moderate groups regain power * Estates: First Estate: Clergy (less than 1% of population) * Upper Clergy: noble by birth/bishops * Lower Clergy: peasant class/priests * Second Estate: Nobility (less than 2% of population) * Privileged class * Absolute monarch would cause them to lose power * Third Estate: Common People (97% of population) * They pay all the taxes for the country * Includes the bourgeoisie, urban workers, peasants and serfs * Sans-culottes: radical lower class workers Louis XVI: King of France during the revolution; he was slow to make decisions about the r evolution * Marie Antoinette: France disliked her from the minute she married Louis XVI because she was Austrian and did not have a child for the first 7 or 8 years, and disregarded the struggle the public was going through * Old Regime: the social and political system before the revolution began * Cahiers- nobility Estates-General: under the Old Regime there was a legislative assembly with representatives from each estate; this system is very unfair because the 1st and 2nd estates would usually agree with one another and the third estate (which was obviously much larger than the other estates) was left in the dust; Louis XVI called them together when he heard about the revolution * Abbe Sieyes: a priest that wrote a pamphlet about the 3rd estate, which created the revolution to some extent because it made the third estate think about how little power they have; also this pamphlet helped the Old Regime urn into the National Assembly * National Assembly: the new legislative system in which the amount of representatives from the third estate was doubled, but the voting didn’t change (so in the end it helped with nothing) * Tennis Court Oath: Louis XVI locks the National Assembly out of their meeting spot at Versailles, so they go to an inside tennis court that’s near; the National Assembly took an oath saying that they would not separate, but reassemble whenever certain situations required a reorganization, at least until the constitution of France was created * The Bastille: July 14th, 1789;a large group of people bombarded the royal prison; it was a symbol of tyranny * The Great Fear: riots and violence spread to the countryside of France; people went on a rampage because they were afraid the king was forming an army and was going to attack them; National Assembly takes action to keep things in order * The Law of the Fourth of August: National Assembly abolishes feudalism (on paper, but in reality it doesn’t actually stop) * Emigres: Frenc h term meaning someone who has left/migrated out of the country * Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen: influenced by Rousseau; not a radical document; only benefit wealthy men * â€Å"Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity†: French motto March of the Women to Versailles: the goal was to bring the King back to Paris, so people could speak to him about important situations whenever they wanted * Civil Constitution of the Clergy: a law created that made the State have control of Church; priests were forced to swear an oath of loyalty to the revolution * Olympe de Gouges- a girondist woman who created the Declaration of the Rights of Woman, which was after the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was created * Jacobins- the most radical group that wanted Paris to be the center of government; represented interests of sans-culottes * Girondists- another radical group that favored decentralized government; feared sans-culottes * Legislative Assembly: National Assembly vo ted themselves out of existence and created this new assembly; it lacked experience because there was a rule that said anyone from the National Assembly couldn’t be in the Legislative Assembly * The Marseillaise- France National Anthem; also it is an area in France * Flight to Varennes: the royal family tried to escape and flee to Austria to live with Marie’s family; unfortunately they were caught ecause common people knew Louis XVI’s face from the currency (money) in France; after this people saw Louis as a traitor * National Convention: the NEW government of France during the Reign of Terror (radical phase of the revolution) * Robespierre- radical Jacobin; dictator of the Radical Phase; led the Committee of Public Safety * Committee of Public Safety: a radical group that tried to eliminate anyone who was against the revolution; killed them using the guillotine * Danton- led/roused up the sans-culottes; Robespierre eventually executed him * Jean Paul Marat- bit ter, angry newspaper writer, who took his anger out on the revolution; killed by the girondist, Charlotte Corday * Universal manhood suffrage- every man can vote, class doesn’t matter * Reign of Terror- period of time (during the radical phase) were there was a lot of violence stirred up by conflicts between the Jacobins and the Girondists; over 25,000 people were killed * Republic of Virtue- Robespierre tried to create this as part of the de-Christianization in France * Guillotine- an enlightened, democratic, and humane way to kill people; it was equal for everyone and someone’s class didn’t change the way they were killed * Levee en Masse- a law that said that everyone should someone support the revolution; men could fight in battles, old men could sell things; and women could be nurses for the injured men * Directory- government of France after the Reign of Terror; very corrupt; their only success was creating a better army by increasing patriotism; people wh o were originally involved in the Reign of Terror were now being attacked in what is known as the â€Å"White Terror†; they revived Catholicism; ruled by rich bourgeoisie * Napoleon Bonaparte: short, but extraordinarily energetic man from the island of Corsica, who believed he was destined to do great. In order to succeed and get what he wanted, he would do anything (Machiavellian). He created a new government: consulate. He tricked people into voting for him by making it seem like it was a democracy when he was going to dictate the country anyway; declared himself Emperor and crowned himself as a symbol of true power; he made sure that there was no freedom of speech for citizens and he restored Catholic Church * Josephine de Beauharnais: Napoleon’s first wife * Coup de’ etat: French term for overthrowing something * Plebiscite: everyone votes for something and someone simply counts to see how many greed or disagreed (very democratic) * Napoleonic Code: legal co de that Napoleon created and brought everywhere; based on old Roman law and influenced modern day French law * Continental System: main goal was to hurt Great Britain economically, but it backfired on Napoleon * Duke of Wellington: the man who defeated Napoleon in his last battle (Battle of Waterloo) * Peninsular War: fought Portugal * Guerilla Warfare: hide and ambush * Russian campaign: on June 24th, 1812, Napoleon ignores the advice from his advisors and invades Russia; the weather randomly turned winter-like plus the unfamiliar size of Russia helped defeat Napoleon * Scorched-earth policy: Russians would burn everything in their path to create hardship for their enemies * Elba: an island that Napoleon was exiled to * Hundred Days: Napoleon came back to France after he was exiled, Louis XVIII was afraid so he fled, Napoleon was in control for 100 days * St.Helena: the second island Napoleon was exiled to; he died there * Klemens von Metternich: the Prince of Austria; also the Pre sident of the Congress * Congress of Vienna: a meeting in Austria; nobles who were in the Congress wanted everything to just go back to the way it was before the Revolution, which was reactionary * Balance of Power- a new diplomatic system that created an equal amount of power for different sections of government * Lord Castlereagh- British representative in the Congress of Vienna * Talleyrand- French representative in the Congress of Vienna * Principles of Peace Statement: * Legitimacy- if someone was legitimate or not, so they could rule * Compensation- something, typically money, awarded to someone as to make amends for loss, injury, or suffering * German Confederation- the Congress of Vienna voted to destroy the Holy Roman Empire and create the German Confederation, taking hundreds of miniscule states and creating 15 main states within the association

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Pressure switch |[pic][pi| |c] | A pressure responsive switch senses a change in pressure and responds to such changes by alternately making and breaking an electrical connection. Pressure-sensitive switches are used in a variety of applications where it is desired to switch apparatus on or off at predetermined pressures. These switches are utilized in a wide variety of applications, as in automobiles [pic] , aircrafts and in various other environments. Pressure switches include set-point pressure switches that actuate when a specified pressure is reached and pressure measuring switches that are capable of measuring the ambient pressure and reacting accordingly. A pressure responsive switch generally comprises a diaphragm responsive to a pressure change, a rigid ring for securing the diaphragm, and a pair of electrically conductive contacts that break contact based on movement of the diaphragm. Mechanical pressure switches typically provide an output signal in the form of a switch closure in response to application of mechanical or atmospheric pressure. A differential pressure switch [pic] is a device which utilizes differential fluid pressure from low and high pressure sources to actuate an electric switch at a pre-set actuation point. Differential pressure switches are commonly employed to control the operation of snap action switches. Flow switch |[pic][pi| |c] | A flow switch is used to sense the flow of a fluid passing through its valve body and to send an electrical control signal to control the switching unit. In many applications, it is essential to be able to determine whether fluid is flowing in a pipeline, duct or other conduit and to respond accordingly to such a determination. For example, flow responsive devices for producing a control signal which is used to de-energize a pump when the flow rate falls below a preselected minimum are commonly employed in systems for transferring fluid between reservoirs. Fluid flow switch sensing devices have been developed for monitoring fluid flow in pipelines, ducts, and other conduits. A flow switch produces an electrical signal which is commensurate with a preselected rate of flow of a fluid in a conduit. Various flow switches have been developed to be responsive to the flow rate of a fluid within a flow line. Usually the flow switch is connected into the flow line so that the flow path of the fluid passes through the flow switch. Several such devices rely on the pivotal movement of a rod supported blade which is deflected depending on the amount of fluid flow. Limit switch |[pic][pi| c] | Switches are commonly employed as input devices to indicate the presence or absence of a particular condition in a system or process that is being monitored and/or controlled. In motorized electromechanical systems, limit switches provide the function of making and breaking electrical contacts and consequently electrical circuits. A limit switch is configured to detect when a system's element has moved to a certain position. A system operation is triggered when a limit switch is tripped. Limit switches are widely used in various industrial applications, and they can detect a limit of movement of an article and passage of an article by displacement of an actuating part such as a pivotally supported arm or a linear plunger. The limit switches are designed to control the movement of a mechanical part. Limit switches are typically utilized in industrial control applications to automatically monitor and indicate whether the travel limits of a particular device have been exceeded. Level switch |[pic][pi| |c] | Various instruments have found use for applications requiring level sensing. Such instruments include float level switches, ultrasonic level switches and capacitance point level switches. Various devices have been proposed for indicating when liquid or other fluent material in a container or channel reaches a particular level. Liquid level sensors are used in a wide variety of applications to detect the levels of fluids within various forms of reservoirs. For example, such sensors are employed in the automotive industry to sense the level of oil in an oil pan or sump, or the level of transmission fluid. Liquid level sensors contain switches to indicate whether a sensed liquid is above or below a predetermined level. Switches responsive to fluid levels have utilized a variety of approaches for opening and closing an electrical circuit. Fluid level switch devices usually incorporate a float buoy for sensing the fluid level, the float buoy being operatively connected to a switch device. Temperature switch |[pic][pi| |c] | A temperature switch is a switch that is responsive to temperature changes. Temperature switches generally are provided with a temperature responsive element which will open or close a switch when a predetermined minimum pressure or temperature is sensed by the responsive element. For protection against thermal overload, semiconductor switches are provided with integrated temperature sensors. The temperature sensors acquire the temperature of the power switch and convert this into a temperature-dependent, analog signal which then can be interpreted in a circuit. Temperature sensitive switches, such as a thermostat, typically comprise a temperature sensor which is used to open or close electrical contacts at specified temperatures. A bimetal strip of dissimilar metals is used as the sensing element for temperature sensitive switches. Temperature sensitive switches are often used for thermal protection purposes. If a device gets too hot, the temperature sensitive switch opens the electrical circuit, thereby eliminating power to the circuit. For example, temperature responsive tip-switches are particularly useful in connection with electric heaters.

Archetype and Nationalism in Tolkien’s Silmarillion

ABSTRACT This thesis demonstrates the relationship of fantasy fiction, archetypes, and nationalism in one of fantasy fiction, namely Tolkien’s The Silmarillion. Fantasy fiction, with the stereotype of escapism, is less appreciated. This thesis is written in attempt to give more appreciation to fantasy fiction. Analysis to show the relationship of fantasy fiction, archetype, and nationalism is carried out by applying archetypal approach and Frye’s concept of mythos. This analysis is aimed at determining the position of the story in Frye’s mythos taxonomy and its values.The values, then, are compared with values found in English nationalistic discourse. The result of this analysis indicates that the story of The Silmarillion can be classified as tragic mythos. However, tragedy in the Silmarillion is elaborated differently from the characteristics of the mythos suggested by Frye. Tragedy of The Silmarillion is collective in its nature. The uniqueness of tragedy in T he Silmarillion is read as representation of fellowship spirit value in English nationalistic discourse.The Silmarillion also shows wisdom and historical continuity values parallel with values found English nationalistic discourse. From these values The Silmarillion shows that pastoral life with its collectivity, wisdom and tranquility as an ideal life for English people. Keywords: fantasy, archetypes, nationalism, Tolkien v ABSTRAK Tesis ini menunjukkan keterkaitan fiksi fantasi, arketipe, dan nasionalisme yang muncul di dalam salah satu karya sastra fantasi, yaitu The Silmarillion karya J. R. R . Tolkien.Fiksi fantasi, dengan stereotip sebagai fiksi yang dianggap hanya memberikan tempat untuk melarikan diri dari kenyataan dan fiksi yang lepas dari nilai-nilai realitas, kurang mendapat apresiasi yang cukup. Untuk memberikan apresiasi terhadap fiksi fantasilah tesis ini ditulis. Analisis untuk menunjukkan keterkaitan fiksi fantasi, arketipe dan nilainilai nasionalisme pertama-tama d ilakukan dengan melakukan analisis plot cerita dengan menggunakan pendekatan arketipe dan teori mythos Northrop Frye. Analisis plot ini dilakukan untuk menentukan posisi cerita di dalam taksonomi mythos Frye dan nilai-nilai yang dikandungnya.Nilai-nilai ini kemudian akan dibandingkan dengan nilai-nilai yang ada dalam wacana nasionalisme Inggris (England). Dari analisis yang dilakukan terlihat bahwa cerita The Silmarillion tergolong dalam mythos tragedi. Namun, sifat tragedi dalam The Silmarillion berbeda dari ciri mythos tragedi Frye yang terkonsentrasi pada satu individu. Tragedi dalam The Silmarillion bersifat kolektif. Keunikan tragedi di dalam The Silmarillion ini dianggap mewakili nilai kebersamaan yang juga merupakan salah satu nilai keinggrisan dalam wacana nasionalisme Inggris.The Silmarillion juga menunjukkan nilai-nilai kebijaksanaan dan keberlanjutan sejarah yang di dalam wacana nasionalisme Inggris dianggap merupakan nilai-nilai yang khas Inggris. Dari nilai-nilai dalam The Silmarillion yang paralel dengan nilai-nilai dalam wacana nasionalisme Inggris tergambar bahwa kehidupan ideal Inggris adalah kehidupan pedesaan yang penuh kebersamaan, kebijaksanaan, ketenangan dan memiliki keberlanjutan sejarah. Kata kunci: fantasi, arketipe, nasionalisme, Tolkien vi

Beowulf’s Fame, Fate and Destiny in His Life

Beowulf was really a man who wanted to achieve a long lasting fame. The last words of the Anglo Saxon epic showed much tribute to his fame as it stated that he was the most enthusiastic man for praise. This is evidence that Beowulf did not only want to achieve fame but also he ensured that the fame is of adulatory kind. He struggled to achieve fame by engaging himself in extraordinary exploits which were much daring in contest and other heroic deeds. Hrothgar beheld the enormous arm of Grendel hanging from the steep roof of his great wall and praised Beowulf. Through this action, Beowulf earned fame throughout his kinship.Beowulf did everything that was possible to achieve fame. For instance, Beowulf was only looking for fame as he leaped into battle. He engaged himself in risk moments such as battles with the dragon with an aim of only gaining fame. He continually fought to gain more fame in his life. Despite the fact that Beowulf had fame, he kept fighting fruitfully in order to pr otect and keep his fame. He gave up his life only to receive fame for that particular minute. Nevertheless, during the fight with the dragon, Beowulf’s men ran away but he does not give up fighting and he remains alone (Breeden, 1).However, Beowulf died but his fame still remains up to date. Fame was highly desired and valued for the needs of the Anglo-Saxon’s crave to live forever. Beowulf was known as a very famous warrior and he achieved his fame when he sailed to the Danes to kill a monster who was murdering their people. During his fight with the dragon, he managed to kill Grendal, Grendal’s mother and a dragon. Every moment, he receives more fame and more glory. Fate in a person’s life occurs when that particular individual is often involved in a series of events that can lead to predictable death at some point or another.The main character in the poem Beowulf is very much moved by fate and it is this drive that they acknowledge his mortality as hum an a being. Despite the fact that the people had Christian or Pagans beliefs that may have been related to their individual view on fate, Beowulf seemed not to have any comportment on his conviction in fate. It is evidenced throughout the poem that, Beowulf fought evil demons with an aim of protecting his people (Breeden, 2). This generates a form of safety that would not have existed were it not for his great potency and audacity.In struggle to achieve fate as one main purpose in his life, Beowulf is involved in villainous dragon fight . This hero identified the fact that many of his actions are strongly ruled by his belief in fate and whatever might happen was meant to happen in his life. He controlled every move throughout his subjugations and victories. Beowulf predicted a likeness of himself in the warriors who have died in the wrath of the dragons. This is clearly evidenced during his speech with Hrothgar where he says that it is better to avenge dear ones than to indulge in b ereavement.He says that although his time may come to an end someday, his life will have been spent wisely fighting in battles, proclaiming his courage and living each day to his fullest latent. Beowulf achieved his fate when in a great fight is killed by the dragon and remained to be one of the greatest heroes. He dedicated his last breadth with an aim of saving his people from the ravages of a deadly monster. Beowulf lived in a feudal society as a warrior-king figure and he valued loyalty, strength and courage.Despite the fact that Beowulf never new the outcome of the fight with Grendel, he stated that fate goes ever fate and he had to fight with full strength to see the outcome. Additionally, he believed in the inevitability of fate. Beowulf’s society was ruled by kings and noblemen and therefore destiny was the most common indication of greatness in the society. It was mainly measured by investigating the heritage of a young man or a soldier. Beowulf’s fight with t he dragons and his dying words demonstrates his desire and much effort to achieve destiny as one of his main purpose in life.Beowulf was destined to take part in great acts of heroic magnitudes. The King Hrothgar recognized him as a man who was destined to be a great warrior in Denmark by the fact that the king knew his father (Breeden, 4). Therefore, Beowulf’s destiny is partly determined by his father’s accomplishment and bequest. The songs in the poem literally foreshadowed Beowulf’s predestined fate in life and battle. His dying words and wishes, for instance â€Å"fate swept us away, / sent my whole brave high-born clan/to their final doom/ now I must follow them† clearly show and explain how he was committed in the battle to achieve his destiny.His participation in the fight with the dragons shows how he believed his life is destined and fated to die during the fight so as to leave the terrestrial world and join the monarchy of the eternal. The grea t warrior always spoke of his death as his destiny. In the final moments of Beowulf’s life, there is a transition between the livings and finally eternal worlds transpire in the conqueror. Works Cited Breeden D. Beowulf. nd. Viewed, August 13 2010 from

An Exploration of the ways Shakespeare dramatises Essay

Shakespeare’s portrayal of teenage experience in Romeo and Juliet is one of the most well known and often imitated in existence, and this is because of how well he captures some of it’s aspects – the idea of first love, isolation and rebellion – but with enough melodrama and exaggeration to make it the basis for entertainment on stage. Despite being written nearly half a millennia ago, Shakespeare’s play is still studied in schools today because so much of the subject matter is still relevant – the star crossed lovers are as much at home in modern Miami in Baz Luhrman’s film adaptation as they are in feudal Verona – and while the details may have changed, Romeo and Juliet would lead us to conclude that teenage experience in particular has many of the same elements now as it did in Shakespearean times. Romeo and Juliet are a pair of love-struck teenagers trapped between their desire to be together and the long and bloody feud between their families. However the play begins as Romeo is pining for another girl he professes to be in love with, Rosaline. She represents the petrarchan ideal; an unattainable woman Romeo idolises and rarefies, who his love for is unrequited – a direct contrast with the immediate mutual amorousness he and Juliet share. Here, Shakespeare chooses to depict teenage love as melodramatic, superficial and fickle. Romeo seems to almost obsess over Rosaline, though only upon her good looks and the fact that she has decided to ‘remain chaste’ despite his advances upon her. In scene one of Act one, Romeo bombards Benvolio with a torrent of oxymorons – â€Å"O brawling love, O loving hate! † – to describe the depression and emotional turmoil his love for Rosaline is causing inside him, a girl whom he barely knows but says is â€Å"†¦ rich in beauty†. Romeo describes being in love as being a weight upon him, in act one scene one love is a â€Å"heavy lightness† and a â€Å"feather of lead†, and then in scene four before entering the Capulet’s masked ball he says he has â€Å"a soul of lead†. In spite of this, later when he sneaks into the Capulet’s garden to see Juliet, he describes himself as having â€Å"love’s light wings† further contrasting his love for Juliet against his previous feelings for Rosaline, showing this is a different, higher form of love. In a moment of male camaraderie, Mercutio jokes with Romeo, implying the heavy weight he feels is that which lovers feel on each other during intercourse, and suggests he â€Å"borrow cupid’s wings†. After he meets Juliet the language he uses changes, and becomes far less coarse and less fraught with innuendo – later, they talk in sonnet and rhyme each other’s lines in order to show there is a deeper connection between them. As they share their first kiss, both Romeo and Juliet’s speech becomes rich with religious imagery â€Å"For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch, and palm to palm is holy palmers kiss† presenting their love here as something spiritual and sacred, and after the kiss Romeo even says â€Å"my sin is purged†, likening it to a divine and religious experience. The idea of love is shown from a completely different perspective in act one scene two, as Capulet and Count Paris discuss arranging a marriage between him and Juliet. Capulet shows a level of kindness and understanding which he seems to lose later in the play, as he says it is Juliet’s decision whether she marries and that it would be a mistake for her to marry so young, â€Å"too soon marred are those early made† although this could mean spoiled by childbirth, increasing the degree to which Juliet is treated like an object in the conversation. Paris comes off as being rather shamelessly lecherous, as he protests Capulet stating that Juliet is a child and too young to be married by saying â€Å"Younger than she are happy mothers made†. Even without the war between their families, it is clear that there are heavy societal constraints burdening both Romeo and Juliet, especially regarding their relationships with their parents. Juliet doesn’t get along with her mother, and when in the play she is told she must marry Paris she pleads with her mother to try and stop it she is met with a withering verbal blow, â€Å"Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word†¦ I have done with thee. † Clearly her relationship with her mother isn’t very strong, unlike her relationship with her nurse. In Act three scene one Lady Capulet asks the nurse to fetch Juliet so she may broach the subject of marriage with her, and it is obvious from the nurse’s fawning over Juliet and the way she talks about her that they are much closer than Juliet and her mother, and the nurse says â€Å"I might live to see thee married once, I have my wish. † – vocalising an ambition usually held by a mother to see her own daughter married, making the disparity between Lady Capulet’s cold and clinical appraisal of the situation and the nurses bawdy, vulgar one even more noticeable. The nurse is genial and kind and has a penchant for making coarse remarks and often makes them without realising it, when Lady Capulet says marrying Paris will make Juliet â€Å"no less† the nurse agrees saying â€Å"No less? Nay, bigger! Women grow by men. † She is a role model for Juliet and gives her advice and counsel, but her irresponsibility is shown when after goading Juliet on with her relationship with Romeo and facilitating their marriage, following Romeo’s exile she completely changes her mind and advises Juliet to marry Paris: â€Å"Since the case stands as now it doth, I think it best you married with the County† She realises she has made a mistake encouraging Juliet and had not fully thought about the consequences. Romeo shares a similar relationship with Friar Lawrence, except more of one of two close friends than a father and son. Romeo is never on stage with either of his parents at any time during the play; his absence demonstrates both an inability to communicate and show of teenage rebellion. He rejects them and the society and responsibilities they represent in favour of the Friar’s advice – which while often more sensible than the Nurse’s and driven by his naiveti in hoping to unite the families by encouraging Romeo and Juliet to marry, is still irresponsible.

4 cases analysis about strategic managmnent Essay

4 cases analysis about strategic managmnent - Essay Example h at this point, it is more correct to say he started assembling his own PCs) and soon targeted large corporate accounts with his low-cost computers. He also started to be more aggressive in his marketing campaigns, putting out ads in computer trade publications in time with the first-ever sales and product catalog of his company. About a decade later, sales reached nearly US$3.5 billion annually and by 2001, reached the top rank in global market share in computer sales (also number one in the U.S.). However, this rapid growth soon reached a plateau due to a disorganized corporate structure from having a very rapid growth. It abandoned its retail outlet distribution system and went back to direct distribution which was its original business model responsible for its success. Its business model is anchored on an efficient supply-chain management and logistics system that delivers made-to-order PCs direct to consumers. It also deliberately waits for few months for any new computer technology (whether hardware or software) to become standardized for it to be able to leverage its core competence in fast assembly of PCs. This minimizes its risks to technological obsolescence in an industry that is characterized by very rapid changes. Main Strategic Issues – Dell, Inc. is faced with a changed business and economic environment in which its competitors were able to catch up or match its low-cost pricing. This put pressure on the companys finances as profit margins were squeezed. The reductions of its overhead expenses plus manufacturing efficiencies gave it virtual monopoly of low-cost PCs but not anymore. Further, its leverage in terms of purchasing power from its supplies had been somewhat dented with the slowdown in PC sales worldwide to just 5% annually compared to torrid growth rates in prior years. Lastly, the biggest challenge facing the company is the vast change in consumer behaviors. The trend is now for a potential buyer to go to a retail store to

Case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Case - Essay Example The goal was not consistent with the definition of effective goals as it did not conform to the elements identified in SMART goals (Author 453). Likewise, every strategy implemented by Ruth, as deemed crucial towards the achievement of the defined goal by Hoffman has not be appropriately supported and thereby enhanced negative, rather than positive emotional arousal. By providing insufficient information as to the extent of leeway given to Ruth regarding company policies (like providing credit in excess of $1,000), all the more Hoffman diminished Ruth’s confidence in running the branch. On the part of Ruth Cummings, the guidelines that were apparently violated are as follows: (1) modeling; (2) providing information; and (3) creating confidence. When Ruth applied strategies that were innovative (hiring an administrative assistant and appearing in a local TV show), she failed to appropriately advise Hoffman to seek approval and support for the strategies. Also, hiring the administrative assistance and paying above norm potentially diminishes the morale and confidence of internal human resources (top sales clerks). Pursuant to the guidelines of empowerment that were violated, the advice that an outside consultant could give to Ken are as follows: (1) provide clear (SMART) objectives to Ruth to enable her to design appropriate strategies that conform to these goals; (2) provide positive social and emotional support; (3) clearly provide information for scope of approving authorities through identification of details from company policies that could be waived (if any) in terms of providing credit beyond the stipulated amounts or needed protocols requiring management’s approval prior to implementation (hiring or firing human resources, for that matter). These moves would create the needed confidence to be exuded by Ruth in carrying out her responsibilities as the branch manager. On the other hand, the advice that would assist empowering

Financial Analysis Of J Sainsbury PLC And Morrison PLC Essay

Financial Analysis Of J Sainsbury PLC And Morrison PLC - Essay Example Although short term liquidity of Sainsbury is lesser than Morrisons, it could be justified by the fact that the company has more working capital available as compared to Morrisons. This proves the liquidity health of the Sainsbury as against Morrisons. The receivable’s turnover rate of the Sainsbury is more than the competitor which is because of the fact that the company is focusing on expanding the customer base. Once the customer relationship is developed, it would be easier for Sainsbury to lock the customers and attract them to purchase more. It is evident from the inventory turnover rate that both the companies fetch the sales from inventory in a reasonable period of time. This shows that Sainsbury is working as per planning; its sales are increasing but they are not over-stocking as it will disturb their short term liquidity ratio.The debt ratio of both the companies is similar which indicates that this ratio is maintained across the industry. The ratio reveals positive results as 50% of the assets are financed by equity financing. This reduces the role of external creditors affecting the decisions of Sainsbury. Despite the fact that interest coverage of Morrison’s is much better than Sainsbury, it does not affect the decision to invest in Sainsbury. Despite the lower interest coverage of Sainsbury, its interest expenses are still 6 times lesser than its operating profit which shows that there is no potential threat of credit risk or bankruptcy for the company.

Value shares and Growth Shares in the UK market (FTSE 350) Research Paper

Value shares and Growth Shares in the UK market (FTSE 350) - Research Paper Example This means that the significance level of the test is 0.05 or 5%. The null hypotheses are usually accepted when the test is significant statistically at chosen significance level of 5%. When Null hypothesis is rejected it implies that all sample means are not equal. If this is true, it may not be sufficient to give required inference. In such case it might be required to know which sample means differ. To find that out proper confidence interval has to be chosen using small sample procedures based on t-distribution. A parametric correlation test of coefficient and non parametric run test was further used to test the auto correlation for the stock returns over time. When the null hypothesis will be accepted at 5% or 10% level then it can be said that the regression model developed earlier was statistically significant. The marginal significance in the regression model is given by the p-value. When the probability for observing the t-values is large, then the null hypothesis will be tr ue. The value of p ranges from 0 to 1 and it gives the researcher the cut-off level or the lowest significance level below which the null hypothesis may be rejected. If the p-values are very small then the significance of null hypothesis is reduced. Smaller p-values indicate that null hypothesis is not significant and hence should be rejected.

Why Is Homeschooling Better than Public Schools Speech Essay - 10

Why Is Homeschooling Better than Public Schools Speech - Essay Example In less than two months, all of us we will be through with our assignments and syllabus. No influence from other children and outsiders, the health of our children will be under close monitoring of the parent and every stage of the child development will be noted (Stevens, 2001). If you have not guessed of what I am touching on, I am talking about homeschooling. In 2013 alone more than 2.05 million US students were homeschooling. This was an increase of 75% from 1999. Not only in the US where homeschooling has been adopted, in Indonesia as indicated by Home School Legal Defense Association, more than 3000 families have now turned to homeschool as their best way to educate and shape their children. a. It is obvious that the major difference between homeschooling and public school is that the former is safer since the parent is with her or his child all the time. In public schools, bullying is very common, a vice affects the motivation of the children leading to poor performance. While parents who take their children to public school are not aware of what may happen to the child, parents who educate their children at home closely monitor their children and in case of any behavioural deviation, they address it on time. a. A major misconception about homeschooling is that it makes the children not to be exposed to life experiences. This is not true as far as I am concerned. Homeschooling children have adequate time to go for outing and meet their friends for example during the weekends (Welner and Kevin, 1999). Through social media, they can intermingle with their colleagues. There is no discrimination based on race, religion or nationality at home. Just by being comfortable during and after studying, the children are motivated to study the following day and they do not worry school as compared to their public school counterparts. b. More than 70% of homeschooling children take the career they choose. They are not influenced by their friends neither do the parents force them.

Company Law, Business Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Company Law, Business Law - Essay Example Adam does have several options that he can choose should he decide. Adam can decide to accept the decisions of the board of directors and understand that they do not need the approval of shareholders for certain high-value transactions. The magnitude of special resolutions will determine whether the board of directors would have needed the approval of the shareholders. Further, Adam has the option as a stockholder and a member of the general public to trade his shares publicly, or he also has the option of selling his shares of the company to the majority of the shareholders who agree with the special resolutions that were implemented by the board of directors. In the case of First American Bank v. Shivers, Robert W. Shivers, a shareholder, voted against a merger agreement with FABM Acquisition Bank. He and his fellow shareholders comprised less than the number of bank shareholders needed to defeat the proposal. Adam also has the right to propose questions to the board of directors r egarding the two recent special resolutions. ... Further, Anton does enter into a contract with a local computing company that is operated by one of his friends. During the business transactions, Anton receives a laptop computer and gives it to his son as a birthday present. Samantha is very satisfied with the quality of her new IT system; however, she does discover that Anton has received a laptop computer, and has given it to his son as a birthday present. Samantha should confront Anton about the situation with the laptop computer, and instruct him that he cannot personally give merchandise to his family and friends that have been acquired within the business. Samantha should also instruct Anton to retrieve the laptop computer that he has given to his son. Anton should return the laptop computer of the local computing business if it was given to him as a favor because the company is operated by one of his friends. If the laptop computer was given to Anton for company use, then he still needs to retrieve the laptop computer, and i t needs to be used by Samantha's company for business use. In the case of IBG Insurance Services Corp v. Superior Court - No. 3153400 (Cal. Ct. App. 2002), Robert Zieminski, a senior executive for IBG Insurance Services Corporation, violated the "electronic and telephone equipment" policy statement of the company when he accessed certain explicit websites from his computer at work. He used two computers, one computer at home and one computer at work. When he was caught accessing certain websites from his computer at work, IBG demanded that the computer that Zieminski was utilizing at home be returned. However, Zieminski explained that his wife and children were utilizing the computer at home for personal

Environmental causes of violence Research Paper

Environmental causes of violence - Research Paper Example The American psychological association defined violence as an extreme act of aggression committed by an individual to another such as rape, murder or assault.1 Furthermore, the American psychological association implied that violence is the intentional application of power or force, actual or threatened against another person, community, and group or against oneself.2 This application of violence mostly leads to physical harm, physiological harm, deprivation or mal development. On the other hand, environment is primarily defined as the circumstances and conditions which surround an individual or community. Furthermore, the Medical Dictionary went a step further and defined the term environment as the combination of cultural and social conditions that have an influence on an individual’s life.3 Violence and the different types of abuse are mostly viewed as a behavioral pattern which is intended to maintain and establish control over household members, family, individuals, groups, intimate partners or colleagues. Although most violent offenders tend to be known by their victims (i.e. estranged spouses and partners, relatives, family members, colleagues and peers), strangers may also commit various acts of violence. The occurrence of violence might be once or it may happen on a frequent basis. Over time, the single incidences of violence tend to escalate into frequent bouts of violence.4 Abuse and violence in any form negatively affects the well-being and health of individuals. The primary roots of violence can be attributed to the many environmental factors which even today continue to grow and increase in society. The Newfoundland Labrador states that violence is often a choice and is thus preventable.5 Self-directed violence is behavior that deliberately leads to injury or has a potential to result in harm to oneself. As such, it is

European Union Essay Example for Free

European Union Essay The European Union of today is the result of a process that began half a century ago with the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community. After the two world wars the overall situation of Europe was so pathetic especially in economic terms and peace and prosperity was far away. In order to bring peace and to lead Europe to the path of progress it was necessary to unite it under one roof. For this purpose the European leaders started thinking about it in late 1940’s and finally Robert Schuman the French Foreign Minister proposed the union of Europe which ended up in the merging of coal and steel industries and the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was set up . â€Å"The ECSC was so successful that within a few years the decision was made to put together other parts of the countries economies. In 1957, the Treaties of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM), and the six member states undertook to eliminate trade barriers among themselves by forming a common market. In 1967, the institutions of all three communities were formally merged into the European Community (EC), creating a single Commission, a single Council of Ministers, and the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament were initially selected by national parliaments, but in 1979 the first direct elections were undertaken and they have been held every five years since. In 1973, the first enlargement of the EC took place with the addition of Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The 1980s saw further membership expansion with Greece joining in 1981 and Spain and Portugal in 1986. The 1992 Treaty of Maastricht laid the basis for further forms of cooperation in foreign and defense policy, in judicial and internal affairs, and in the creation of an economic and monetary union including a common currency. This further integration created the European Union (EU). The evolution of the European Union (EU) from a regional economic agreement among six neighboring states in 1951 to todays supranational organization of 27 countries across the European continent stands as an unmatched occurrence in the records of history. Although the EU is not a federation in the strict sense, it is far more than a free-trade association such as ASEAN, NAFTA, or Mercosur, and it has many of the attributes associated with independent nations: its own flag, anthem, founding date, and currency, as well as an incipient common foreign and security policy in its dealings with other nations.  In the future, many of these nation-like characteristics are likely to be expanded†. (European Union Facts and Map – Yahoo! Education) Motive Lets unite. And the world will listen to us Pro-European ad campaign, September 1992 Government: European Union Union Name and Member States â€Å"Conventional long form: European Union abbreviation: EU . Political structure: a mixture of supranational organizations . Capital: name: Brussels (Belgium), Strasbourg (France), Luxembourg. 27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK; note Canary Islands (Spain), Azores and Madeira (Portugal), French Guyana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Reunion (France) are sometimes listed separately even though they are legally a part of Spain, Portugal, and France; candidate countries: Croatia, Macedonia, Turkey†. CIA The World Factbook European Union) Independence 7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed establishing the EU); 1 November 1993 (Maastricht Treaty entered into force). National holiday Europe Day 9 May (1950); note a Union-wide holiday, the day that Robert SCHUMAN proposed the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community to achieve an organized Europe Impact of EU on International Trade The worlds largest trader and a strong block in the international political economy, is not an easy bargainer to deal with. The fact that the EU speaks with an influence in trade has enabled it to affect the distributional outcomes of international trade negotiations and shape the global political economy. Trade being the only forum in which the EU speaks to the United States with an equal voice, The EU is currently the worlds largest trader and one of the main players. Trade Relations between EU and US The steady increase in the breadth and depth of transatlantic foreign policy cooperation has been one of the most striking developments in recent years. Enhanced EU–US communication has been essential in developing a closer understanding of our respective policy positions and the better coordination of our activities. The EU and the USA are each other’s main trading partners (taking goods and services together) and account for the largest bilateral trade relationship in the world: together, they account for almost 40 % of world trade. Every day, about EUR 1. 7 billion of transatlantic trade (in goods and services) takes place. The transatlantic relationship defines the shape of the global economy as a whole as either the EU or the USA is also the largest trade and investment partner for almost all other countries. Contribution towards Human Rights and Democracy â€Å"I want to emphasize our shared commitment to promoting democracy, freedom all over the world. The very enlargement of European Union has been one of the greatest achievements in terms of promotion of democracy from Southern Europe, West Europe, to Eastern Europe, North Europe, from the Iberian Peninsula to the Baltic countries, now most recently; European Union is a great success story in terms of promoting democracy. And we want to do it also globally, and we are doing it globally. And thats one of the fields where I see that the United States and European Union can do, and should do, even more together. † President Barroso, EU-US Summit Press conference, 21 June 2006, Vienna. Most Important Economic Relation in the World This is the most important economic relation in the world, the relation between the United States of America and the European Union. And we believe we can achieve more if we look at it in a comprehensive manner. And I hope that now there will be some concrete work so that in our regular institutional summit between the European Union and the United States we can achieve some more complete results†. President Barroso, Visit to the White House 8 January 2007, Washington DC Quick Facts The EU and the USA jointly represent 10 % of the world’s population and account for roughly 40 % of world trade and over 60 % of world GDP. Worlds’ Strongest Relationship â€Å"The relationship between the United States and Europe constitutes the world’s strongest, most comprehensive and strategically most important partnership. † European Commission President Barroso Brussels, 9 February 2005. Trade Conflict between EU-US: Since its beginning in 1995, more than 330 disputes have been raised under the WTO Dispute Settlement System. The major disputes between the EU and the USA (mini trade wars) are analyzed with GTAP5: the Hormones, the Bananas, the FSC and the Steel cases. 1. The use of biotechnology in food production has emerged as the central issue in a trade conflict that has been between the U. S. and the European Union for years 2. The use of hormones in beef cattle is another issue . They promotes growth and produces a leaner shell that is more appealing to health-conscious consumers. However, the European Union refuses to import such meat, suggesting that there are insufficient studies to prove its safety for human consumption. Some think that economic motives, not genuine concern for the health of consumers, lie behind this decision. In addition to above mention major conflicts in trade between EU and US is the EU’s conversion of their currency of each member countries to a single form of money that is the EURO (Except UK and Denmark). Since these two countries have very strong trade relations and the exchange of money in the money market shows a higher value of EURO against Dollar this is something which is disliked by some of the corporations in the US. While doing transactions by importing goods from Europe, US have to pay more in terms of Dollars to the EU. Conclusion Still there are some problems which Americans and Europeans agree in seeing as critical. While there are obvious drawbacks in having a bad relationship to the US . Along with major disputes taken place between US and EU as a result I draw conclusion that some US corporations are pleased with its work while others are upset, this is in my point of view due to two reasons first the EU being independent, united and a big challenge for US which is a super power and second is of the currency value of EU which is higher in the money market than the dollar which displeases some corporations while doing transactions. Today, security and justice and prosperity for our world depend on America and Europe working in common purpose. That makes our transatlantic ties as vital as they have ever been. † US President Bush, 19 February 2005.