Critical Review Malcolm X by Spike Lee

Science Versus Superstition in Dracula and Victoria England Essays

Science Versus Superstition in Dracula and Victoria England Essays Science Versus Superstition in Dracula and Victoria England Paper Science Versus Superstition in Dracula and Victoria England Paper Essay Topic: Dracula Literature During the Victorian Era in Britain, British citizens began to explore the east and became fascinated with it. There was a great interest in the orient and the objects and culture that came from it. Although the people were mystified by the superstitious nature of the orient learned from their eastern excursions, they were afraid of the east being able to travel to the west. Although the British consumed eastern culture, they were still afraid of too much infiltration by the east. They didnt want their pure British culture to be tainted. Because of this, they used science to explain, classify, and control the unknown superstitious nature of the orient. This push of science onto the eastern world is seen in several scenes throughout the novel Dracula, which was written by Bram Stoker during the Victorian Era in Britain. The proper British characters are constantly trying to overcome Dracula with science. British Imperialism and the British Empires attitude towards the east are shown through the relationship through science and superstition in Dracula. While traveling east, the British encountered a lot of new and previously unknown commodities, cultures, and people. These eastern cultures were seen as backwards to the British people. They had a sort of superstitious quality about them and were thought to be improper because of it. Britain didnt want their proper society contaminated by the superstitious cultures of the orient. There existed a fear that the east would begin to travel west and come back to Britain. The unknown societies and practices were so foreign to them. Britain feared the unknown and so took control by using science to try to understand and classify the cultures. By using proper science, the British were also showing their sense of superiority and elitism. It was believed that the Eastern notion of honor was skewed. It was driven by superstition, which resulted in easterners having flawed notions of what honorable behavior is1. This chaos and backwardness justified a need for a forced British order. Attempting to classify everything around them lead to the comfort that there was nothing they couldnt handle and that they had gained control over everything. There was nothing to be afraid of because the world was under proper Britain and their elitist science. This is similar to how proper Britain in the novel Dracula did not want to be tainted by the superstitious ways of Dracula from the east. From the very beginning of the novel, orientalism is prevalent in the comparisons made between the east and west. There is a sense of us versus them that Jonathan Harker has before he even arrives in Transylvania and meets Dracula. He speaks of leaving the west and entering the east. Steve Patterson describes how the British at the time represented progress, enlightenment, and modernity while the east represented chaos, superstition, and backwardness2. Jonathan is aware that the trains are getting later and later. He states, It seems to [him] that the further East you go the more unpunctual are the trains3. He associates lateness and chaos with the east, which was a common assumption at the time. The British thought the opposite of their proper order, was superstitious chaos. And since east is the opposite of west, the east must be chaotic and uncivilized. He goes on to describe the unfamiliar gar of the people he sees. He speaks of barbarian people wearing high boots and having heavy moustaches and long black hair. The mere comparison between himself and the Slavic people show Jonathans racist oriental views of the east. He is validating his clean cut British appearance by comparing it to barbaric people. Although the British were afraid of the orient and found the people to be backwards, they were also enthralled with it at the same time. When travelers came back form the east and came home to the west, they brought with them commodities and most importantly culture. British homes were filled with oriental rugs, vases, even hookahs. Teas, spices, and sugar became a part of everyday life. Even the most proper of gentlemen had their heirlooms and smoked their hookah pipes. Exotic animals were brought back along with exotic garb, plants, and customs. Oriental culture became intertwined with British culture. The two became inseparable. For a people who were so scared of letting eastern culture tarnish their proper ways, they sure welcomes the consumption of it with open arms. Although there was a large consumption of Eastern culture, the British still remained weary of their properness. They wanted their foreign treasures to be exotic, but still fit into the conservative structure of British society. There was a push and pull of oriental culture. The British were fascinated by the newness and wanted to immerse themselves, but still keep it distant enough to retain their Victorian pureness. In the same way that the British were interested in eastern culture, the characters in Dracula were unwillingly drawn to the mystery of the oriental Dracula. The power that Dracula had over the characters is reminiscent of the way that eastern culture had a powerful draw for the Victorian British. The characters are afraid of Dracula and his unknown superstitions, yet cannot shake their unexplained attraction to his eastern mysteriousness. When Jonathan is in the castle and encounters the three voluptuous women, he senses that they have an eastern animalistic evil about them, yet is drawn to them. He says there was something about them that made me uneasy, some longing and at the same time some deadly fear. 4 He is drawn to them even though he knows they are so completely opposite of proper Victorian Britain. There is an appeal to what is taboo in the strict Victorian society. Regardless that Dracula is Fiction, this speaks volumes about the Victorian British at the time and how they were so drawn to the superstitious culture of the east, even though they knew they should be upholding the conventional values that British society hold so highly. Just as the British in the Victorian era feared the east and tried to find comfort in science, the fictitious characters in Dracula attempted to defeat Eastern Dracula with science. Van Helsing explains that to save Lucy from Draculas induced illness he must perform several blood transfusions. He plans to use the blood from her initial three suitors to refill her body after Dracula has sucked most of it out. Van Helsing tries to use Victorian science and reason to overcome Draculas evil from the east. Even before Jonathan returns to England, he uses reason to overcome his fear in Draculas castle. While writing to Mina about he saw Dracula crawling down the side of the castle, he begins his entry by saying, Let me begin with facts-bare, meager facts, verified by books and figures, and of which there can be no doubt. While immersed in Draculas eastern castle surrounded by superstitions, the thing that comforts Jonathan and reminds him of his home in England, he uses the science and reason that England relies on so heavily to stay grounded while classifying the unknowns of the east. However, just as the British could not contain the superstitious east and stop it form penetrating their proper society, the characters in Dracula could not restrain Dracula with science alone. T he transfusions ultimately failed and Dracula continued to keep draining Lucy of her blood. When the transfusions fail and Van Helsing resorts to superstitious garlic. He is aware of the limitation of modern science6. The others in the group are confused by Van Helsings use of superstition. Dr. Seward exclaims to Van Helsing, Well Professor, I know you always have a reason for what you do, but this certainly puzzles me. 7 The others realize he is straying from science and moving on to superstition and are a bit uneasy about it, but they trust Van Helsing because they have faith in his scientific past. Just as the British peoples use of science and reason failed to keep the east out and they had to succumb to the permeation of eastern culture and accept it into their culture, the characters in Dracula have to accept the superstition into their lives and trust that it will be more beneficial than the previous use of science and reason. The oriental culture had made its way into British culture, seeped in, and shaken up proper Victorian society. Much like the failure to keep away Dracula, no matter how hard the British tried to keep oriental culture out, the ways of the east breached Englands shores. The order in British society was mimicked in the order of their science. Trying to solve eastern superstitions with science is similar to trying to impose order on the world to retain the comfortable, pure order of proper Britain. The characters in Stokers Dracula are constantly trying to control Dracula with science and constantly failing. They eventually have to resort to superstition. This mirrors the effect of eastern culture on British society. As much as Britain tried to contain the orient with science, the orient penetrated proper Britain and seeped into British culture, where it still remains today.

Nutrition for a childs health and welfare Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nutrition for a childs health and welfare - Essay Example Proper dieting and good nutrition for the age group is ensured by food safety and sanitation, food storage, food preparation, proper food handling and presentation. Safe food for consumption is well accounted for in terms of its stipulated expiry dates when purchasing. In case of purchasing meat ensure that the meat is free from bad or strange oduor/smell this possess a high risk of food poisoning to an individual .Proper food preservation is key: any well maintained and food fit for human consumption, one should ascertain that food especially highly perishable is well preserved in a cool dry place. In addition meat should be separated from fruits and vegetables as this would lead to contamination. Secondly food storage is the delicate point that sees long lasting foods and perishables well-kept before consumption. Basic rules do indicate that perishable foods should be stored in a cool place and even refrigerated to prevent them from going stale. Selecting food products whose labeling clearly indicates the mode of refrigeration for example: keep refrigerated, should be in a refrigerator and cold to touch. Again food storage is backed up by the clean environment at all times. Proper food handling and sanitation is key to healthy food practices. Hygiene should begin from an individual handling the food to the place where the food is being prepared. In case of eggs make sure they are cooked fully i.e. the yolk as well as the whites are firm.

MMP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

MMP - Essay Example 40% of the whole study sample will be composed of students who do not drink alcohol. Data will be collected through the survey techniques including face-to-face interviews, observation, and questionnaires. The study will focus on the drinking lifestyles or trends and its effects in the institutions of higher learning including. Through regression analysis, the data collected is analyzed to ascertain the effect of over indulgence in alcoholic beverages on students’ life, health, social life, and academic performance. The results from the drinking group are analyzed and compared with the control results of non-drinking students. The study should confirm that there is a great deal of dangers and effects of students consuming alcohol in campus. It affects their health since some of them are extremely addicted and cannot do without it. This makes them chronically ill with the conditions such as liver cirrhosis. Alcohol also leads to poor performance of students since some of them attend lectures when drunk; hence, they can barely understand anything at all. It is a cause of poor study life since one rarely has the time to sit down and read. Alcohol consumption lowers concentration to an extremely critical level. Alcohol has a great deal of dangers and effects in the institutions of higher learning. It not only affects the consumer but also the people around him or her. It makes daily learning difficult to those who are addicted to drinking. It can also affect the general learning process of an institution. This is a research project that was held to find out the relationship between the consumption of alcohol and the illnesses reported by the university students. It was found that those who drink heavily experience a wide range of chronic health problems; those who drink acutely suffer from less serious health conditions, such as mild

My Virtual Child Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

My Virtual Child Reflection - Essay Example My Virtual Child Reflection Genes and the environment account for the development of a human being. The two aspects are interrelated, and they affect both behavioral and physical maturation. The parent’s genes determine the limit of the child’s physical characteristics such as hair color and skin color, as well as behavioral traits. Bryan was no different, and his development was by large attributed to genetic factors. At the age of two, Bryan had some characteristics that were typical of me. Before enrolling him in a pre-school program, an early childhood specialist evaluated some of his cognitive and developmental skills. Bryan was hesitant in joining the group of children, but later integrated into the group very well. He would handle challenging tasks with ease, and his problem-solving skills were exemplary. He also gave attention to the tasks assigned by the instructor. These skills were typical to me as a parent. As stated in the personality quiz, I was not comfortable with working in groups of unfamiliar people but would enjoy with them later. I also had a strong focus on things I did and thought of them before execution. The behaviors are alike and can only be attributed to genetic factors. His first-grade report card also shows that Bryan demonstrates strength in mathematical problem solving, spatial understanding, and speaking. Environmental factors also affected Bryan’s development. At the age of 16, Bryan developed a close teen relationship with his peers. Just like his peers, he gets a girlfriend, and they experience some regular breakups.

Lewis Ranis-Fei Model of Economic Development

Lewis Ranis-Fei Model of Economic Development William Arthur Lewis, with his most famous published work, â€Å"Economic Development with Unlimited Supplies of Labour† (Manchester School, May 1954) and â€Å"The Theory of Economic Growth† (Allen and Unwin, 1955), made a great contribution to the theories of economic development. Based on his findings, Ranis and Fei succeeded to extend the initial Lewis model and assessed the changes in the agricultural and industrial labour in more detail. I will start this paper by introducing the foundations of the model before following with the implications, basing the majority of my arguments on the analysis by Ranis and Fei in â€Å"A Theory of Economic Development† (1961). The central idea behind the Lewis model is fairly simple. Lewis divided labour force into two differentiated groups â€Å"subsistence sector† and â€Å"capitalist sector† where the former is assumed to contain unlimited supply and consequently, a pool of surplus labour[1] that sets labour-supply conditions for the latter. The concept of a dual economy is heavily criticised. As Leeson (1982) pointed out, â€Å"dual economy† models are â€Å"held to imply a false picture of the nature of the historical process of change in underdeveloped countries†. In this paper, I will not assess the strengths or weaknesses of the model, but instead, for the sake of simplicity and clarity, assume that the sectors are agricultural and industrial, respectively. Subsequently, Ranis and Feis extension to Lewis model can be analysed. They observed the model by reading it from left to right and assessed the changes in the output and wage as more and more people moved from agriculture to the industry. A new concept was added namely, disguised unemployment, which appears in the traditional subsistence sector. The marginal product of labour, which is observed as the slope of the production function, in agricultural sector is lower than in industry in fact, it is zero before point B on Figure 1.3. Under competitive assumptions, the real wage rate would fall to zero, but due to the presence of institutional or non-market forces, the institutional wage is sustained. Therefore, there are gains to be had by switching resources away to the industrial sector. Nevertheless, it is generally not likely to happen because the market, left on its own, does not change. If the industrial sector does pay according to marginal product, then, as noted by Ray (199 8), there would be efficiency gains available as long as the marginal product of the agricultural labour is less than the wage, whether it is zero or not. By decreasing the labour force in agriculture by a small amount (whilst still remaining in the surplus labour area), the total wage bill in agriculture falls along the diagonal straight line in Figure 1.3 , provided that the wage in agriculture does not rise. Since output does not fall, the reduction in the total wage bill gives an economy an agricultural surplus. Only at point C will this process come to an end because there is no more disguised unemployment it only appears at points at which the marginal product of labour is less than the institutional wage. Hence, condition for the existence of disguised unemployment is: W > MPL Ranis and Fei subsequently claimed that the average wage bill in agricultural sector is no longer measured as a straight line. At point C, the slope of the production function is parallel to the wage bill line, yielding that the disguised unemployment is no longer observed. Furthermore, beyond point C (when the disguisedly unemployed have been absorbed) the marginal product of labour exceeds the traditionally given wage rate (Ranis and Fei, 1961). The wage in agriculture begins to rise, because it becomes profitable to bid for labour[2]. As a result, wage bill falls more slowly. This brings me to the central point of the paper capturing the â€Å"turning points† in the Lewis-Ranis-Fei model. Ranis and Fei divided the model into three phases[3]. I have used Figure 1.1. to illustrate this issue. This figure contains the demand curves for labour by industry (downward sloping). The supply curve is initially a vertical line, because of surplus labour. Hence, the intersection of the labour and demand curves gives the equivalent quantity of labour and wage rate x and w*, respectively. Since the economy is in the surplus phase, there will be a certain quantity of labour transferring from agricultural to industrial sector, which explains the increase of the labour in industry from x to y whilst keeping the wage rate constant. The wage rate remains constant as long as there is surplus labour in the agriculture that can be employed more productively in the industry at a constant subsistence wage rate (Berry, 1970). It must be noted though that for any further investment, the demand curve for labour is going to shift to a point where the compensatory wage must rise. The phase where the supply wage of labour tilts upwards is referred to as the â€Å"first turning point†. At this point, redundant labour disappears altogether (Jorgenson, 1967). Employment in the industry would have risen as far as point z had the turning point not occurred. However, since it did and since the wage rate began to rise as demand was pushed upwards, employment can only rise up to z where demand meets supply. As I briefly mentioned earlier, it is evident that as more and more agricultural workers are withdrawn and no longer demand a portion of the agricultural goods, the surplus of agricultural goods begins to appear. It must be noted that each individual that moves from agricultural sector to the industry carries their own subsistence bundle together with them, meaning that they must be compensated for the transfer. Ranis and Fei named the portion of total agricultural output in excess of the consumption requirements of the agricultural labour force at the institutional wage as the total agricultural surplus TAS (Ranis and Fei, 1961). They described the TAS (captured in Figure 1.3) as the vertical distance between the straight line OX and the total physical productivity curve (with the exception of phase 3 where the distance will be reduced). In order to find out the required minimum industrial wage, the average wage must be multiplied by the relative price between agriculture and industry. In the surplus phase, it remains constant, because the average agricultural surplus is not changing (captured in Figure 1.2.). At this point, an expansion in the industrial sector would not drive up the wage rate. If an individual that moves from agriculture to the industry when labour in agriculture is at the surplus phase, there will be no compensation needed for that particular individual, as he carries his own food basket to the industry. In fact, industrial wage is constant and this individual is not worse off as a result. At the second phase, however, the average agricultural surplus begins to decline, because there will not be sufficient agricultural output to feed all the new industrial arrivals at the institutional wage level (Ranis and Fei, 1961). In other words, the same wage would not compensate them for the move anymore, b ecause the agricultural surplus has fallen below the average wage (A.W.) and it is not possible for them to buy A.W. units of food. As a result, the supply curve tilts up. There appears to be a worsening of the terms of trade. The relative prices begin to increase and in order to compensate for this price effect and facilitate the move, the industrial wage must rise. The wage must also compensate for the declining agricultural surplus and a movement of the terms of trade against industry. Put differently, the shortage of agricultural goods measured in agricultural surplus lead to a rise in the industrial wage measured in terms of industrial goods. Simultaneously, the agriculture gains some extra resources, because the agricultural output is divided between less people as more and more people move away from agriculture. If it happened that the individuals at the surplus zone wanted to consume more than the average, the government could step in and tax them to restrict their consumption. That surplus could then be used up in the investment to feed those individuals that move to the industry. In addition, it could also be used to support the new industrial arrivals as the wage rate in industry is set to increase. During phase three, this process becomes even more apparent as the now commercialized wage in agriculture becomes operative. Hence, there is an even sharper decrease in the agricultural surplus. What is more, beyond the â€Å"commercialization† point, the contribution from a worker is greater than the wage (as MPL > W). This, on the other hand, increases agricultural wage rate as was seen in Figure 1.3. From the p revious results, it is clear that after a second turning point the industry would have to compensate even more to get the workers. As a result, it gives an incentive to bargain for a worker. According to Chen (2005), Lewis-Ranis-Fei model should be considered a classical model because of the usage of industrial wage. However, Jorgenson claims that once the commercialization point is reached, instead of the classical approach, the neo-classical theory of growth for an advanced economy is to be observed (Jorgenson, 1967). Berry came to a significant conclusion of the Lewis-Ranis-Fei model. In effect, a shift in the terms of trade has a negative effect on the industry, forcing capitalist employers to pay a higher wage and thus generating less profits and less investment (Berry, 1970). However, there is a role of interdependence between the two sectors (Ranis and Fei). In fact, raising the price of goods in agriculture would give an agricultural sector an incentive to raise the output, thus encouraging investments in agriculture, leading to a decline in the terms of trade, which in turn lowers wages, increases profits and generates more investment in the industry. Consequently, there will be a balanced expansion in both, agriculture and industry. In other words, what Ranis and Fei observed was that the allocation of investment funds must be such that as to â€Å"continuously sustain investment incentives in both sectors of the economy†. The terms of trade should not deteriorate substantially agai nst either sector. I have illustrated this in Figure 2. The lower diagram in Figure 2 contains a supply curve S and a demand curve D1. Initially, the size of industrial labour force is OB and the industrial sector is making a profit equal to the area B0. This profit can be considered as an investment fund and could be allocated in part to both sectors. Consequently, the demand curve shifts up and there will be a new intersection point which lies on the balanced-growth path and this new equilibrium allows the economy to enjoy even further profits. After the first turning point, there will be a small proportion of profit that will be forgone because the first turning point occurs, yet the overall amount of profit increases. Nevertheless, it becomes clear that it is reasonable to have a policy to invest in both sectors as the economy will then maintain the balanced growth path. To conclude, I have shown the main ideas behind the Lewis-Ranis-Fei model and used the consecutive analysis of the model to explain why it is important to invest in both sectors in order to remain on the balanced growth path and maintain the rate of industrialization. The existence of surplus labour in agriculture allows the industry to continue to pay the institutional wage and therefore enjoy further profits and continued investment. At the same time, as more and more people are moving away from agriculture, there will be some amount of agricultural surplus that can be used up to fuel further development. This process continues until the surplus labour is absorbed. Hence, saving and investment are a crucial part in the Lewis-Ranis-Fei to support economic development.

Sophocles :: essays research papers

Sophocles was born in Colonus, near Athens, c.497 B.C. Sophocles father was a wealthy armorer named Sophillus. When he reached adulthood he was already established as a great tragic playwright, and the citizens of Athens loved him. He was nicknamed Attic-bee by the Athenians because he could take pure honey from words. Sophocles was born in Colonus, near Athens, c. 497 B.C. Sophocles father was a wealthy armorer named Sophillus. Sophocles had a good childhood. Sophocles, at age sixteen, led a boy's chorus for the victory celebration over defeat of the Persians at Salamis. When he was twenty-eight, he beat Aeschylus in a dramatic contest. Already Sophocles was showing true talent in play writing. At this time he also wrote poetry, none of which has been recovered. As a young man Sophocles was popular, handsome, a good athlete, and a great writer. When he reached adulthood he was already established as a great tragic playwright, and the citizens of Athens loved him. He was nicknamed Attic-bee by the Athenians because he could take pure honey from words. Sophocles had many friends, one of which was the historian Herodotus. This friendship may be a reason that we know so much about Sophocles. After a long and prosperous career, he died of old age in Athens at the age of ninety. Sophocles wrote 123 plays, and won 24 dramatic victories for Athens. Of his 123 plays, only seven are preserved in entirety. However, there still remains a large portion of his satyr Ichbeutae that remains intact. His seven plays are Ajax, Antigone, Electra, Trachiniae, Philoctetes, Oedipus at Colonus, and Oedipus Rex. Sophocles went through three artistic periods. The first, his earliest years, were influenced greatly by Aeschylus. Ajax was produced in this period. The second was in a "harsh, contrived" style. Antigone was produced during this period. He produced all his other plays in his mature years, or his third period.

Bringing Fun to an Organization

The typical workplace is set up to enhance productivity and accomplishments. As such, most employees know the workplace as a place where they go to earn a living to earn a living, while accomplishing the goals set by the employer. Without putting specific effort at bringing fun to the workplace, only a small percentage of workers find some enjoyment or job satisfaction from their jobs. Seeing that this is common across many workplaces and directly affects the job output, employers have nowadays adopted ways of creating fun workplaces as a business strategy (Jeffcoat & Gibson 2006).The best way to start-off in bringing fun to the workplace is recruiting employees who have a sense of humor. According to Narisi (2008), the perfect way to gauge whether a job candidate poses a sense of humor is by watching the way he or she responds to interview questions. One of the important questions that the interviewer should answer is, is this person taking him or herself too seriously even in quest ions that do not require much seriousness? Narisi (2008) suggests the use of ‘dumb’ questions like, ‘why aren’t you married yet? ’, ‘what do you think of the paintings in our office?Among others. Greenwood (2009), states that a survey on 700 American CEOs revealed that 98 percent of them preferred interviewing job candidates with a sense of humor. Most of these CEOs attested to having a passion of not only attracting upbeat candidates, but also admitted to recruiting such and working hard to retain such in their respective organizations. After settling down with the workforce who satisfies the humor criteria, Ryan& associates (2004), suggests that employers should introduce other things like dressing for fun on specific days.Despite having the ‘dress for fun’ days in the office, the employer can encourage the staff to wear something frivolous that does not have to be visible, but serves to remind them that they should not take them selves too seriously. According to Urquhart (2003), it is the responsibility of managers to orchestrate fun in the workplace, but he or she should be cognizant of the fact that the employees create fun in the workplace. As such, the managers should act as facilitators to ensure that employees have all the resources and freedom needed to transform the workplace in to a fun place.There is controversy among analysts of just how productive a fun-filled workplace is. To this, Urquhart (2003) argues that a depressed mind is less productive than one that is jovial. In addition, fun creates a positive mental state, where employees learn to love their work and create a bond between employees who share jokes thus creating stronger work teams. Scientists also claim that fun and laughter stimulates the production of oxygen and endorphins to the brain, which results in increased creativity and clear thinking among employees (Urquhart, 2003). In the allbusimess.com (2008) website, employers are e ncouraged to allow the employees to have flextime in their job schedules. The website states that this shows the employees that the employer is concerned about their welfare. Accordingly, the employee perception motivates them leading to a less stressful and more productive workforce (allbusiness. com, 2008). This perception is backed up by countless other websites, which advocate for the use of fun in the workplace as a sure way of relieving stress, improving the individual health of employees and boosting the overall production of the organization.According to a study conducted by Karl & Peluchette (2006), and published in the Journal of Leadership and Organizational studies, employees who worked in fun environments had more confidence in their jobs and were able to serve their clientele better. This argument is backed by Jeffcoat & Gibson (2006), who agree that fun in the workplace results in lower downtimes, increased productivity, better job satisfaction and low absenteeism. Th is gives employers even more reasons to find ways of incorporating fun in the workplace.According to Lynn (2005), bringing fun to the work place is not as easy as many people might wan to believe. This is especially the case where employees and their managers have had conflicting paths regarding flexibility in the workplace. To beat the odds, Lynn (2005) suggests that employers need to create a trusting environment before adopting fun in the workplace. If they fail to create a trusting environment, chances are that the employees will reject any efforts to create fun in the work place.Trust in the workplace can be created through effective communication and respect, which wipes out negative emotions such as fear, hostility and scorn from the employees. According to jobsdb. com (2009), the major responsibility of bringing fun to the workplace lies with the manager. He or she is supposed to schedule breaks, during which employees can engage in fun-filled activities. In addition, he or she can seek employee opinions regarding cultivating fun in the workplace. Such could be by holding contests, celebrations or team-building activities.Another approach of bringing fun to an organization would be the use of morale officer’s who interact with the employees at all times, checking if there are any morale needs that needs to be addressed (Stafford, 2000). The Morale officers’ sole responsibility is to ensure that employees have a reason to look forward to the work environment with renewed anticipation each day. Fun is the one guaranteed way to achieve this. They may seek employee opinions on how best to achieve the organization objectives over lunch or tea.This breaks the office formality and leaves the employees more relaxed. To be successful in making the workplace a fun place, Stafford (2000) suggests that the morale officers should work on five pointers namely, i)feedback from employees, ii) humor, iii)bringing employees together, iv) a reward process f or the employees and v) Sticking to the organization’s mission by engaging in creative and innovative work. As noted earlier in this speech, the fun in the workplace is not an easy thing to achieve. According to McGarvey (2006, fun in the workplace does not happen.Rather, it takes hard work and creativity, mostly from the organization leaders. To bring fun to the work place hence requires the direct participation of the managerial leaders in the company. As such, it would be futile for the top organization management to issue orders for the employees to have fun, if they do not lead and demonstrate how fun in the company should be modeled. Even employees agree that the best fun trend in the workplace is set from the top management. A perfect example is the CEO and founder of Cognex Corporation, Dr.Robert Shillman, who indulges his employees to creative bonuses, where rather than giving them token money, he looks for fun alternative ways through which they can enjoy their bene fits. Shillman is renowned for his work hard and play hard style of management (cognex. com, 2009). To him, the adage â€Å"all work and no play make Jack a dull boy† stands true. The same spirit of leading from the front was exhibited by Wal-mart’s founder, Sam Walton, who not only wore a hula skirt, but also led employees in the giant retailer for a dance along Wall Street (Greenwood, 2009)..Shillman’s management style is celebrated by Joe Neulinger (quoted by Greenwood, 2009), who states that people who do not see the need for fun in the workplace are less likely to become CEOs. This observation is shared by Fry (2001), who states that managers who scores poorly on the fun scale are bad leaders whose lack of ‘a funny bone’ is evident through the unmotivated and less productive teams that they lead. Fry’s suggestion to managers is that they should begin meetings on good cheer, by maybe saying something nice about the workforce, the day or b y creating a fun-filled challenge for the group.According to Fry (2001), the possibilities of how much fun the managers can create in the work environment is limitless. However, as indicated elsewhere in the speech, it requires working on. As such, it will require a deliberate effort from the managers to create a fun workplace. Some of them might however dismiss this by saying that people should just do what they were hired to do. For this, the answer is just as blunt; managers, who expect their employee to do nothing else but work while at work, will most likely get less than the expected results.On the other hand, those who induce fun activities in the job environment ends up with an increased bottom line, without having to pressurize employees in to working harder (Fry, 2001). It is thus upon managers to choose, which of the two ways best suits them. Weinstein (1997) suggests that fun can be brought into the work place by doing things differently. For example, instead of generali zing the reward systems such that every employee gets the same reward, a little creativity can infuse fun in the reward program.When such happens, Weinstein, who is also the President PlayFair Inc reckons that the reward scheme becomes more personalized and memorable to each recipient employee. In addition, the employees take pride in not only the reward, but also the means through which the reward was presented to them. The employee can for example take the employees to a shopping mall, hand them money and instruct them to purchase personal gifts in a specified time limit. From such an activity, the employee not only appreciates the reward, but the shopping experience. However, it is not the responsibility of the managers to bring fun to the organization.The individual employees too have a responsibility that they enjoy their jobs, which is the most likely way to achieving job satisfaction amongst them. This however is partly dependent on whether the environment at work place allow s them to indulge in fun activities. Hemsath (1997) reckons that in the environment where employees are required to be optimally productive despite the stressful environment that the conventional workplace is, it is incumbent that employees find fun in the workplace without necessarily waiting for the employers hell-bent at changing nothing about the old workplace to affect the fun-changes for them.The best strategy for employees as stated by Hemsath (1997) starts with one self. Here the employee sets to become the fun-catalyst in the office and enliven the spontaneous spirit between him and his co-workers. This can be as effortless as changing one’s title, to take up a more funny title. Secondly, an individual employee can set it upon himself to inspire fun in his colleagues. This is done through encouraging them to take-up fun activities, recognizing and supporting their efforts at creating amusement.If the work environment allows, individual workers can carry toys, play fu nny music and even post colorful pictures that boost their spirits when at work. The employees can also influence the management to create rooms where the environment is less tense. Another way that individual employees can contribute to fun in an organization is by looking for humor in their situations (Hemsath, 1997). Every situation has its dark and lighter sides. An optimistic employee will concentrate more on the brighter sides of everything, which is more fun than the gloomy downside.To make the workplace comfortable for everyone however, the management and the employees must distinguish between beneficial fun, and jokes that may be deemed offensive by some parties. As such, Vikesland (2007), suggests that the workplace should have some fun rules that distinguish between what is acceptable and outright breach of company policies. As such, the employees should be made to understand that fun is not mocking, mimicking or teasing other co-workers or management. Off-color jokes, se xual innuendos, deception, sarcasm, dark humor and ethnic jokes do not qualify as fun in the workplace too.Conclusion The modern day manager realizes the benefits of bringing fun in an organization. With the countless resources propagating the benefits of bringing fun aboard the organization, well meaning CEOs, Managers or Corporate Strategists will no doubt try incorporating fun into their management styles. While there are countless ways to have fun in the workplace, the general guess however remains that some employees may be too distracted by the fun and hence loose out on the productivity.However, the success stories of same management styles that have adopted fun in the workplace indicates that there are variable ways of ensuring that despite the fun, employees not only meet their targets, but also exceed them. Companies like Google have demonstrated that fun and productivity can go hand-in-hand (Bryant, 2007). What Google offers – play station games, free food, scooter s and pets among other things- are just an example of what organizations can give or allow their employees to indulge in.A peak of what life in the Google offices is like can be viewed at http://www. cnn. com/video/#/video/business/2007/01/05/fortune. best. cos. to. work. for. cnn. cnn According to Bathurst (2008), fun in the work place has more than simple benefits. Besides improving productivity, organizations are using it today to battle employee turnover. This is because employees who enjoy the work environment are more likely to stick in the same job for longer than disgruntled employees are. Besides, employees today have more choices and can easily change jobs than was the case in the 1950’s.In conclusion, fun in the workplace has become the new business management trend that people believe encourages employee creativity, morale, satisfaction, productivity and increases employee retention. As such, fun has undeniably become an integral part of the modern corporate cultu re. References Allbusiness. com. (2008). Making the Workplace Fun. AllBusiness: A D& B company. Retrieved 06 May 2009 from http://www. allbusiness. com/human-resources/employee-development-team-building/11357-1. html Barthurst, Patricia. (2008). Having fun at work increases Loyalty, Productivity.AZcentral. com. Retrieved from http://www. azcentral. com/business/articles/2008/06/01/20080601biz-funatwork0601-ON. html Bryant, Steve. (2007). Perks du Soleil: Fun-Loving Google named Best place to Work. Retrieved from http://googlewatch. eweek. com/content/inside_google/perks_du_soleil_google_named_best_place_to_work. html Cognex. com. (2009). Cognex Corporation: Senior Management. Retrieved from http://www. cognex. com/CognexInfo/Leadership/default. aspx? id=210 Fry, Ann. (2001). Just Having Fun at work can boost productivity. Austin Business Journal.Retrieved http://austin. bizjournals. com/austin/stories/2001/06/04/smallb4. html Greenwood, Ramon. Are you Having Fun at Work? Career Know -how. Retrieved from http://www. careerknowhow. com/guidance/fun. htm Hemsath, Dave. (1997). Are we having Fun Yet? Journal of Quality and participation. Retrieved from http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_qa3616/is_199711/ai_n8773216/pg_2/? tag=content;col1 Jeffcoat & Gibson. (2006). Fun as Serious as Business: Creating a Fun Work Environment As an Effective Business Strategy. Journal of Business and Economic Research.Vol. 4. No. 2. Retrieved from http://www. cluteinstitute-onlinejournals. com/PDFs/2006321. pdf jobsdb. com. (2009). Making the Workplace Fun. JobsDB. com. Retrieved from http://th. jobsdb. com/TH/EN/V6HTML/Home/humanresource_editor26. htm Karl & Peluchette. (2006). How does Workplace Fun Impact employee Perceptions of Customer service Quality. Abst. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies. Vol. 13. No. 2. Retrieved from http://jlo. sagepub. com/cgi/content/abstract/13/2/2 Lynn, Harland. (2005). Attitudes toward Workplace fun: A Three-Sector Comparison.Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies. Retrieved http://www. allbusiness. com/buying_exiting_businesses/3503649-1. html Narisi, Sam. (2008). HR’s Funny side: What Kind of Fruit would you be? HR Recruiting Alert. com. Retrieved 06 May 2009 from http://www. hrrecruitingalert. com/hrs-funny-side-what-kind-of-nut-would-you-be/ McGarvey, Robert. (1996). Comic Relief- Having fun at Work. Entrepreneur Journal. Retrieved from http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m0DTI/is_n10_v24/ai_18726422/pg_2/? tag=content;col1 Ryan, Kevin. (2004). Humor in Business: 16 ways

How the sex ratio affects obtaining a spouse

How the sex ratio affects obtaining a spouse Free Online Research Papers Question: How does the sex ratio affect advantage and/or disadvantage in obtaining a spouse? The sex ratio can play a large role in determining the number of available spouses a person could choose at any given time. According to out textbook â€Å"The obvious flip side of the discussion is that sex ratios affect bargaining for a spouse.† In terms of exchange theory, the sex that is lower in number becomes the more valuable sex and the sex in greater number becomes the less valuable sex. This can have huge consequences on marriage patterns. For example when there are more men than women mend tend to value women more and thus they are more likely to want to get married in order to keep their woman. The opposite is true when the sex ratio is lower. Women are seen as less valuable in this case, and so men don’t have the same need to keep them by marriage. Men in this case feel like there are plenty of other women available, so marriage isn’t necessary to keep their valued commodity. The low sex ratio in the United States today makes men, especially men who have good jobs, the more valuable sex. This gives men more to trade or bargain with. The textbook reads â€Å"Moreover, not only the relative number of eligible men is salient; their employment prospects also affect woman’s chances for marrying – and if they do marry, their chances of getting a good bargain.† Since the man is in the better bargaining position in the United States today, he can expect more out of his potential spouse than if the sex ratio were higher. For example, the man can expect the woman to bring home a salary as well as any domestic duties she might be expected to do. The man can do this directly because women have to be competing for him, since there is not a man for every woman with the low sex ratio. Also in the United States, as people get older the sex ratio gets even lower. This makes it increasingly difficult for older women to have much bargaining power in the exchange. African American women face the lowest sex ratio at average marrying age, as by ages 25-34 the sex ratio is 88.8 as show by Table 7.1 in the textbook. The direct result of the sex ratio is the value it places on each sex. By doing this it exercises the highest form of power in society, and heavily influences the ability of either sex to obtain a spouse, giving the advantage to the sex fewest in number. Research Papers on How the sex ratio affects obtaining a spouseInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesResearch Process Part OneThe Fifth HorsemanThe Effects of Illegal Immigration19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseHip-Hop is ArtDefinition of Export QuotasBringing Democracy to Africa

Connective Tissue Types and Examples

Connective Tissue Types and Examples As the name implies, connective tissue serves a connecting function. It supports and binds other tissues in the body. Unlike epithelial tissue, which has cells that are closely packed together, connective tissue typically has cells scattered throughout an extracellular matrix of fibrous proteins and glycoproteins attached to a basement membrane. The primary elements of connective tissue include a ground substance, fibers, and cells. There are three main groups of connective tissues:Loose connective tissue holds organs in place and attaches epithelial tissue to other underlying tissues.Dense connective tissue helps attach muscles to bones and link bones together at joints.Specialized connective tissue encompasses a number of different tissues with specialized cells and unique ground substances. Some are solid and strong, while others are fluid and flexible. Examples include adipose, cartilage, bone, blood, and lymph. The ground substance acts as a fluid matrix that suspends the cells and fibers within the particular connective tissue type. Connective tissue fibers and matrix are synthesized by specialized cells called fibroblasts. There are three main groups of connective tissues: loose connective tissue, dense connective tissue, and specialized connective tissue. Loose Connective Tissue This image of loose connective tissue shows collagenous fibers (red), elastic fibers (black), matrix, and fibroblasts (cells that produce the fibers). Ed Reschke/Photolibrary/Getty Images In vertebrates, the most common type of connective tissue is loose connective tissue. It holds organs in place and attaches epithelial tissue to other underlying tissues. Loose connective tissue is named so because of the weave and type of its constituent fibers. These fibers form an irregular network with spaces between the fibers. The spaces are filled with ground substance. The three main types of loose connective fibers include collagenous, elastic, and reticular fibers. Collagenous fibers are made of collagen and consist of bundles of fibrils that are coils of collagen molecules. These fibers help to strengthen connective tissue.Elastic fibers  are made of the protein elastin and are stretchable.  They help to give connective tissue elasticity.Reticular fibers  join connective tissues to other tissues. Loose connective tissues provide support, flexibility, and strength required to support internal organs and structures such as blood vessels, lymph vessels, and nerves. Dense Connective Tissue This image of the dermis of the skin shows dense fibrous connective tissue. Irregular collagenous fibers (pink) and fibroblast nuclei (purple) can be seen. Ed Reschke/Photolibrary/Getty Images Another type of connective tissue is dense or fibrous connective tissue, which can be found in tendons and ligaments. These structures help attach muscles to bones and link bones together at joints. Dense connective tissue is composed of large amounts of closely packed collagenous fibers. In comparison to loose connective tissue, dense tissue has a higher proportion of collagenous fibers to ground substance. It is thicker and stronger than loose connective tissue and forms a protective capsule layer around organs such as the liver and kidneys. Dense connective tissue can be categorized into dense regular, dense irregular, and elastic connective tissues. Dense regular: Tendons and ligaments are examples of dense regular connective tissue.Dense irregular: Much of the dermis layer of the skin is composed of dense irregular connective tissue. The membrane capsule surrounding several organs is also dense irregular tissue.Elastic: These tissues enable stretching in structures such as arteries, vocal cords, the trachea, and bronchial tubes in the lungs. Specialized Connective Tissues This image shows a sample of fat tissue with fat cells (adipocytes, blue) surrounded by fine strands of supportive connective tissue. Adipose tissue forms an insulating layer under the skin, storing energy in the form of fat. Steve Gschmeissner/Science Photo Library/Getty Images Specialized connective tissues include a number of different tissues with specialized cells and unique ground substances. Some of these tissues are solid and strong, while others are fluid and flexible. Examples include adipose, cartilage, bone, blood, and lymph. Adipose Tissue Adipose tissue is a form of loose connective tissue that stores fat. Adipose lines organs and body cavities to protect organs and insulate the body against heat loss. Adipose tissue also produces endocrine hormones that influence activities such as blood clotting, insulin sensitivity, and fat storage. The primary cells of adipose are adipocytes. These cells store fat in the form of triglycerides. Adipocytes appear round and swollen when fat is being stored and shrink as fat is used. Most adipose tissue is described as white adipose which functions in the storage of energy. Both brown and beige adipose burn fat and produce heat. Cartilage This micrograph shows hyaline cartilage, a semi-rigid connective tissue from a human trachea (windpipe). Steve Gschmeissner/Science Photo Library/Getty Images Cartilage is a form of fibrous connective tissue that is composed of closely packed collagenous fibers in a rubbery gelatinous substance called chondrin. The skeletons of sharks and human embryos are composed of cartilage. Cartilage also provides flexible support for certain structures in adult humans including the nose, trachea, and ears. There are three different types of cartilage, each with different characteristics. Hyaline cartilage is the most common type and is found in areas such as the trachea, ribs, and nose. Hyaline cartilage is flexible, elastic, and surrounded by a dense membrane called perichondrium. Fibrocartilage is the strongest type of cartilage and composed of hyaline and dense collagen fibers. It is inflexible, tough, and located in areas such as between vertebrae, in some joints, and in heart valves. Fibrocartilage does not have perichondrium. Elastic cartilage contains elastic fibers and is the most flexible type of cartilage. It is found in locations such as the ear and larynx (voice box). Bone Tissue This micrograph shows cancellous (spongy) bone from a vertebra. Cancellous bone is characterized by a honeycomb arrangement, comprising a network of trabeculae (rod-shaped tissue). These structures provide support and strength to the bone. Susumu Nishinaga/Science Photo Library/Getty Images Bone is a type of mineralized connective tissue that contains collagen and calcium phosphate, a mineral crystal. Calcium phosphate gives bone its firmness. There are two types of bone tissue: spongy and compact. Spongy bone, also called cancellous bone, gets its name because of its spongy appearance. The large spaces, or vascular cavities, in this type of bone tissue contain blood vessels and bone marrow. Spongy bone is the first bone type formed during bone formation and is surrounded by compact bone. Compact bone, or cortical bone, is strong, dense, and forms the hard outer bone surface. Small canals within the tissue allow for the passage of blood vessels and nerves. Mature bone cells, or osteocytes, are found in compact bone. Blood and Lymph This is a micrograph of a group of red blood cells (erythrocytes) traveling through an arteriole (small branch of an artery). P.M. Motta S. Correr/Science Photo Library/Getty Images Interestingly enough, blood is considered to be a type of connective tissue. Like other connective tissue types, blood is derived from mesoderm, the middle germ layer of developing embryos. Blood also serves to connect other organ systems together by supplying them with nutrients and transporting signal molecules between cells. Plasma is the extracellular matrix of blood with red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets suspended in the plasma. Lymph is another type of fluid connective tissue. This clear fluid originates from blood plasma that exits blood vessels at capillary beds. A component of the lymphatic system, lymph contains immune system cells that protect the body against pathogens. Lymph is delivered back to blood circulation via lymphatic vessels. Animal Tissue Types In addition to connective tissue, other tissue types of the body include: Epithelial Tissue: This tissue type covers body surfaces and lines body cavities providing protection and allowing for the absorption and secretion of substances.Muscle Tissue: Excitable cells capable of contraction allow muscle tissue to generate body movement.Nervous Tissue: This primary tissue of the nervous system allows for communication between various organs and tissues. It is composed of neurons and glial cells. Sources Animal Tissues - Bone. Atlas of Plant and Animal Histology, mmegias.webs.uvigo.es/02-english/guiada_a_oseo.php. Animal Tissues - Cartilage. Atlas of Plant and Animal Histology, mmegias.webs.uvigo.es/02-english/guiada_a_cartilaginoso.php. Stephens, Jacqueline M. The Fat Controller: Adipocyte Development. PLoS Biology, vol. 10, no. 11, 2012, doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1001436.

Research Project Data Collection 1,2,3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Research Project Data Collection 1,2,3 - Essay Example The number of ATM uses is presented as a bar chart as shown in Figures A.1, B.1, and C.1. A bar chart is, "†¦a way of summarising a set of categorical data. It is often used in exploratory data analysis to illustrate the major features of the distribution of the data in a convenient form. It displays the data using a number of rectangles, of the same width, each of which represents a particular category" (Easton and McColl). The regression line on the scatter plots indicates the degree of correlation between account balance and the number of ATM uses. The data does not indicate that the number of ATM uses increases when the customer has a debit card (see table D.1). Appendix D indicates that the mean number of ATM transactions declined from 10.35 to 10.23 when the customer had a debit card. The table D.1 in Appendix D also includes the Standard Deviation of the account balance and the number of uses. Standard Deviation is "†¦a measure of the spread or dispersion of a set of data" (Easton and McColl, 1997). The standard deviation is the area around the mean where 95 percent of the data exists. For example, customers with no card had a mean of 10.35 uses and a standard deviation of 4.32. This indicates that 95 percent of the banks customers who do not have a debit card will use the ATM between 6.03 and 14.67 times. In addition, the median use of a customer with no card was also higher than the customer that had a card. These results were different from the theory that a debit card would lead to an increase in ATM transaction. However, Figures A.2, B.2, and C.2 show a strong positive correlation between the account balance and the number of ATM transactions as would be expected. This was true for all customers whether they had a debit card or not. Data could be collected through a variety of mechanisms that each have their strength and weaknesses. If the research

Deficiency in the Neo-Classical Labour Market Model and Possible Essay

Deficiency in the Neo-Classical Labour Market Model and Possible Solution - Essay Example Neo-Classical theorists argue that households are suppliers of labour, and that they are rational in seeking to maximize their usefulness in return for payment. In the Neo-Classical model this usefulness are determined by the choice of workers between work and leisure, which is also constrained by the available hours per day. The graph below gives indication of a workers choice of allocating time between work and leisure. Point A in graph 1 gives an indication of what a worker's usefulness may be with the choice he makes between work and leisure. However, this graph will be influenced by other variables as well, such as the wage rate and the cost of living. If for example the wage rate rises, workers will forgo more of their leisure time and increase working hours to earn more. On the graph point W1 shift to W2 when wages increase, and this leisure time decrease to point L2, as less time is available due to more time being spend at work. The marginal revenue product of labour can be used as the demand for labour curve for this firm in the short run. In competitive markets, a firm faces a perfectly elastic supply of labour which corresponds with the wage rate and the marginal resource cost of labour. In a inperfect market this curve will have to be adjusted to reflect the wage rate divided by marginal costs. Graph 3: Labour Market Demand Curve In a perfect world the supply and demand curve would have adjusted to the optimal equilibrium point through market influences alone. The amount of workers in the market would compete on the same level for the available jobs and the wages firms will be willing to pay for labour. But due to facts such as unions, automation, economical sentiment, the actual productivity of workers and continuous unemployment rate the Neo-Classical method is insufficient to predict how the labour market behaves in reality. Theorist argues that one of the reasons the Neo-Classical method is not working is due to the fact that employees already in the market are protected and those that is outside the market, the unemployed or those looking for alternative work cannot compete on the same level with the employed. This is called the inside/outside theory, and according to Blanchard and Summers (1986, 1987) when an employment shock takes place, and workers loose their jobs, they not only become un-employed but loose their protection from the real market, such as their union membership.1 This prevents the labour market's rapid return to pre-shock employment levels. This theory is supported by Lindbeck and Snower (1988, 2001) as they argue that the cost to Firms in replacing their employees with un-employed will dramatically increase their turn-over cost. Turn-over cost includes hiring, training and firing cost, making it unprofitable for firms to employ outsiders. They also continue by arguing that newly employed workers have to go through several stages before they are accepted as insiders. Layard et al (1991), identified that workers that became unemployed and stayed unemployed for long will