Nanotechnology and its use in the Military Essay

Nanotechnology and its use in the Military - Essay Example example Sun blocks containing micro level Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) give white color appearance on the skin due to the scattered reflection of the light rays. But Sun blocks containing Nano particles of Titanium Dioxide, which are evenly spread and thinner, do not scatter light rays, and provide much transparent coating enabling the skin color to appear. Cloths produced incorporating nanotechnology and containing tiny Nano fibers do not retain dust or dirt because the holes of the cloth are tinier than the dust particles. These beneficial changes in the characteristics of the physical matter manipulated at the nano scale can be used in many areas such as medicine, sport, chemical industry etc. The concept of â€Å"Nanotechnology† was first introduced by a physicist, Richard Feynman in his speech â€Å"Theres Plenty of Room at the Bottom† delivered at a meeting of the American Physical Society in 1959 (Toumey, 16-23 & Taniguchi). In his speech he explained taking a human cell as an example for naturally existing highly effective, multi purpose nano scale machine and emphasized the usefulness of such small scale equipments. There are two approaches in the direction of handling materials and making products or equipments using Nanotechnology. The more conventional approach â€Å"Larger to smaller† or â€Å"Top to bottom† handling starts with larger physical materials and then shaped up or arranged to much smaller final product such as Nano particles of Titanium Dioxide, Nano fibers etc. The other approach â€Å"smaller to larger† or â€Å"bottom to top† starts with simple smaller molecules or atoms and then build up or assemble until the final expected product is achieved. The second approach, atomic assembly has many limitations and comparatively difficult than the first method because of the limitations in human ability to sense and handle materials of very small scale. Therefore sophisticated equipments are needed for the manipulation of these materials. Carbon

Victor Joseph Essay Example for Free

Victor Joseph Essay Not everybody can conclude or can judge what the real characteristic of a person is unless you get to know him better. We can never blame ourselves from keeping our eyes blind on the things that we don’t want to see, but in the end, what we need is a little touch of acceptance and moving on with our life without living in the past, can somehow set us free. As the main character of Smoke Signals, at first, I see Victor Joseph as a young man, who is full of grievance with his father. All his life, all he knows is that his father is alcoholic, abusive and he left him and his mother without returning. One famous line is this â€Å"Thomas you dont even know my father. Did you know that my father was the one that set your parents house on fire? Did you know that my father beat my mother? Did you know that my father beat me too†?. Victor’s language is vulgar as he utters, â€Å"You gotta look mean or people wont respect you† (Alexie, 1998) he seems to be a full grown man with full of hatred. One flashback scene in the story gave me a different view about Victor’s Father. It was when Victor’s father died. The climax begins to reveal when Victor decided to go to a trip to get the remains of Arnold. When Thomas Builds-the-Fire a young man from an Indian reservation met Victor Joseph and told him that his father has saved his life, it turns out to be a different kind of story. It’s such a twist about the characteristic of Victor’s father, Arnold, that puts Victor in great denial. Thomas and Arnold spent good times together as he always remembers him as a thoughtful person who always gives him a nice breakfast and will never forget how he saved his life. As the story ends, Victor lived his life without the guidance of his father and left him bad memories that he will never forget. Hence, we should learn to forgive and give chance to others because in every mistake, there is a corresponding will to make something good behind it. Alexie, S. 1998 Smoke Signals: A Screenplay. Hyperion, 179 pages

history :: essays research papers

Make a Gift Mission of CWF Information History Restored CW Journal Careers at CWF News Releases One visit to Colonial Williamsburg and it is hard not to stand back and be impressed by what is indeed a thrilling and awesome achievement. Once home to the budding ideas of independence and democracy and a catalyst to revolution, this historic town was literally restored from the ground up. Today it is a living and working town on 173 acres, with over 500 historic buildings. But more than just a snapshot of 18th-century life, Colonial Williamsburg serves as a testament to a time when colonists started down the path toward becoming Americans. The motivating force behind the town's ongoing operation is the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, a group of dedicated men and women with shared values and a shared mission: To help the future learn from the past... by preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg. by engaging, informing, and inspiring people as they learn about this historic colonial capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape our new nation. To understand the Foundation's goals, you must know Colonial Williamsburg's history: After serving as the capital of Britain's largest and most powerful colony and then as the seat of Virginia's government, Williamsburg saw history's path veer away. When Richmond became Virginia's new capital in 1780, Williamsburg was left a quiet country town with fond but fading memories. Later, the Civil War left scars in Williamsburg, but neither time nor war could extinguish its brilliance. The town stirred excitement in the Reverend Dr. W. A. R. Goodwin when he arrived in 1903 as rector of Bruton Parish Church. On evening walks, he sensed the patriots' unseen presence. "They were glad and gallant ghosts," he wrote, "companions of the silent hour of reverie." Inspired, Dr. Goodwin pursued a dream of restoring his beloved town. In 1926, one man's tireless quest met another's visionary generosity. Philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr., undertook restoration of the colonial capital on a scale never before attempted in American history. Legions of architects, archaeologists, and historians worked with masses of data. The earth yielded old foundations, walls, and cellars. Buried fragments of marble, brick, hardware, and tiles rendered authentic architectural and ornamental clues. When, in 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt came to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the restoration, he told the nation, "The atmosphere of a whole glorious chapter in our history has been recaptured.

The Issue of Gun Control Legislation Essay -- Gun Control Weapons Laws

The Issue of Gun Control Legislation One of the most controversial issues in our society is gun control legislation. Violence associated with guns is increasing every year and something must be done to stop it. Gun legislation varies in every state. In some states gun policy is stricter than in other states. Gun legislation should be abolished in favor of federal gun legislation. To analyze the problem with gun violence today you must understand the gun laws that are in effect. The gun legislation in the United States are mostly based on a state level. One federal law for example, prohibits the manufacture of all plastic guns. The federal government tightly restricts fully automatic guns. Manufactures stamp serial numbers on guns for law purposes. The government also has regulation on importation on guns brought into the country. Also, most states restrict the purchasing of long guns under the age of 18, and 21 for the purchase of handguns Most states prohibit the purchase of guns if you are: a convicted felon, alcoholic, drug addict, mentally ill person, alien, or a fugitive from justice. Some laws required prospective gun buyers, to get a purchase permit, which comes with applicant passing all background checks. A few states even require that all persons possessing guns must have a license to do so, even in their homes. Some states don’t ban guns from addicts. This is a problem. Gun conciliation is not the same in each state. If it was same, it would have been easier to decrease the criminal acts. Guns are a form of power. Many individuals, ‘including criminals’ feel powerful when carrying a gun. Half of the households in the United States possess a gun. Criminals use guns for satisfaction. For example, to obtain sexual gratification in a rape or money in a robbery, or more frequently, to frighten and dominate victims in some other assault. All of these things can be gained without an attack, and indeed the possession of a gun can serve as a substitute for attack, rather than its vehicle (Kleck,1991). A sample was done by police in 50 major cities to see who is more common to use a gun (Kleck,1991). The data included that gun use in homicides is more common when (1) the victim is male rather than female, (2) the victim is male and the attacker is female, (3) ... ...le will have question like â€Å"how will I protect my self from criminals? Many people argue that guns in households scare away many criminals. Criminals take major risks when they attempt an armed attack. They also can achieve major benefits. The benefits consist of the potential economic or other gains, however conceived, from the contemplated crime; the costs include the possibility of being caught and imprisoned, of being shot at in the course of the crime, either by the police or by the victim. The likelihood of social disapproval could be a negative factor. It has been known that one half of every household has at least one gun. If you restrict a victim’s options by limiting household guns, crime could rise highly. This new policy on gun control should help lead our nation in the right direction. The massacre at the Empire State Building was an example of how our gun legislation must be changed. The new federal gun legislation will provide equality among all states. Criminals will not have the option of buying a gun in a state with weak gun legislation. This new policy on gun legislation will cut down on violence dramatically.

Challenges Faced by the TCL of Household Brands

From the political perspective, China's accession to the WTO, the competitiveness of home appliances market will be growing; TCL will have to accept the challenge of many household brands. These challenges will bring our goods to exchange a big impact. Now farmers are getting richer, the consumption level increases. Later there will be more and more people use appliances. From economic factors, the current domestic economic impact of the economic crisis is not large, but gradually changed the domestic economy was getting better and better, the city people and rural people's spending power is increasing, but because the more tired goods more price increases Fast, so people need the degree of electronic products become low. From technical factors, the people now need more and more domestic TV, the products are constantly updated. However, the domestic production technology of new technologies, is still smaller than the level of international production technology, production technology, we may be big blow, and perhaps only get a small fee. From the social and cultural factors, China's population structure is complex, each of the requirements for electronic products are not the same, especially for mobile phone consumption among young people account for a large position. The consumption level of each person is different; the products are not the same need, so that people differ greatly in need of electronic products. As a large electronics company, TCL has been facing a lot of competitors. Fields in plasma, Panasonic, 20% market share and become market leader, Panasonic is the vanguard of technology with technology. In the LCD TV market, market share reach of first place, Sharp at 28% of the market occupies the second place. The stolen Chang Hong is the first to enter the field, and put the largest companies, in terms of Chang Hong’s rear-projection TV screen, functionality and price point of view still holds in the country's most eye-catching position. For TV, the buyer has a strong bargaining power, because most buyers of TV consumers, individual consumers will be very concerned about product prices. TV is not a necessity in life, is increasingly supported by computers and other electronic information products to replace, consumers are not eager to buy. Many electronics manufacturers, greatly reduced in order to seize the market price of the TV as an electronic information products consumers great choice, convenient channels of information, the information consumers want to know the market very easily. TCL is the internal environment from the following points. TCL lot of resources, from the tangible assets of view, TCL Company continued the production of emerging products. Many people like TCL’s electronics products. TCL latest production of LCD TVs, to protect people's eyes, can also reduce the energy consumption of the TV. From the perspective of intangible assets, TCL won many awards. For example, in 2009, received 60 years in China Brand Image Award; TCL's brand value in 2009 for the first time exceeded 400 billion Yuan. ?(Docin, 2011) TCL has a very good team, TCL of all employees are aware, do not build an internationally competitive corporate culture, can not become internationally competitive enterprises.

Three Worlds, One Family essays

Three Worlds, One Family essays All over the world there are people of different cultures, colors, and beliefs. Some that are alike and some that are different. Although the world is full of different and unique people there are some cultural universals. Cultural universals are something all cultures possess. Three cultures, Yanomamo, Mbuti Pygmies, and the Inuit Eskimos have cultural universals. Understanding these cultures can be a difficult task, but with the knowledge of these cultural universals; economics, communication, and technology, understanding these three culture similarities and differences can be effortless. First of all, all cultures have an economic system. Though each system is slightly different each of the three cultures have one. The Yanomamo system includes a trading system within their groups. They only work up to three hours daily. The Mbuti Pygmies on the other hand trade with other tribes of other cultures. They use the forest for their materials for trade. The Inuit Eskimos also use other tribes to trade with. However these tribes are of the modern world. Trade is the foundation of these cultures economic systems and as much as they are different the all depend on their own system to survive. Secondly, every person in the world a has some way to communicate with another person. Whether you are English, German, Polish, deaf, blind, or unable to speak there is a way you can communicate. Every culture has their unique language. Body language, written language, or spoken languages are some examples. The Yanomamo speak with a cobari dialect. Their language is special to their culture it is called yanomam. The Mbuti Pygmies also have their own special language. The interesting fact about the Pygmies is that each individual tribes of their culture has a different languages, which can be understood by all groups of Pygmies. The Inuit Eskimos have a language called Evenk. An intriguing fact about the name Eskimos...

Top 7 Highest Paying Nursing Jobs

Top 7 Highest Paying Nursing Jobs So you want to be nurse. Or you are already working as one and are not feeling challenged enough. Or you’d just like to advance further in your career. Here are the top 7 highest paying nursing jobs  with some of the top salaries in each field:1. Nurse PractitionerYou’ll need more clinical training than a regular nurse, plus a master’s or doctorate degree, but your purview in the medical community would be so much broader. NPs function more or less as primary care physicians. You’d be able to order and interpret tests, write prescriptions, etc.If you’re super adept at patient care and a desire to be in a decision-making role, and you have a great head for medicine, this would be a great pick for you. And, you can make about $79k per year.2. Orthopedic NurseReally into all things musculoskeletal? This could be the job for you. You’d work directly with patients recovering from illnesses or injuries, and also help to educate their loved ones.Y ou’ll need to pass an ASN or BSN exam, plus the NCLEX-RN, but you can make about $81k per year. You’ll also have the option to pursue an additional certification from the Orthopedic Nurses Certificate Board.3. Pediatric EndocrinologyYou’ll need to be a licensed RN who is very good working with children, and then you’ll want to bone up on endocrinology a bit, but that’s easily done through job training, continuing education, and self-study, and you’ll expect to earn around $81k per year.4. Certified Nurse MidwifeA CNM doesn’t just deliver babies. CNMs counsel women throughout their entire reproductive lives. You’ll need a bachelor’s degree, plus you’ll have to pass a national certification exam and acquire a state license where you live, but this career can be quite rewarding. Expect to earn about $85k per year.5. Psychiatric NPIf you’ve got nerves of steel and plenty of compassion for mental illness, plus y ou already have what it takes to be an NP, this could be great specialization for you. It requires a great deal of preparation, beginning with an MS in Nursing with a psychiatry focus and becoming board certified, but the annual salary will be around $95k per year.6. Nurse ResearcherLove nursing, but no so great with patients? That’s okay! Work on the research side and focus more on data collection and analyzing. You’ll be making life better for both patients and your fellow nurses, but you won’t have to spend nearly as much time on your bedside manner.You’ll need an MS in Nursing, plus a PhD in Nursing, but then you can make up to $95k per year.7. Certified Registered Nurse AnesthetistThese are the big leagues of nursing. You’ll need at least 7 years of education to reach this level, but the compensation will be sweet- about $130k per year. If you’re already an RN, you’ll need an additional master’s in the subject, plus nation al certification and licensing, plus you’ll have to commit to at least 40 hours of continuing education every two years to keep your credentials.Don’t pick just based on salary. Really weigh your strengths and passions and then get ready to do the hard work involved in specializing as a nurse. Believe us, it will pay off.

Festivals in Barbados essays

Festivals in Barbados essays The Caribbean Island of Barbados is quickly becoming a hub for many tourists. In previous years sugar cane was our main source of income; however, it has been quickly overtaken by Tourism. Due to this rise in Tourism, the government had to put several activities in place to attract and keep their most welcomed guests well entertained also with the view of ensuring their return to our shore. Hence, the annual tourism calendar for the island, the government has made provision for seven major festivals billed by many persons as, The Magnificent Seven. These festivals are rich in history and they provide lots of entertainment for our numerous visitors and natives alike. The festivals are namely, the Crop Over festival, Holetown festival, Oistins fish festival, Gospelfest, National Independence festival of Creative Arts, the Congaline Carnival and the Barbados Jazz Festival. The Crop Over festival, the oldest of the festivals is the highlight of the summer. It is an all-island jubilation running from mid-July to early August (Pariser 77) Crop Over originated in the days of the plantation society. During this festival, there is the collision of British and African cultures. The Original event was know as the English Harvest Home Festivities or Harvest Time, signaling the end of the sugar cane harvest. The festival was a combination of a traditional harvest festival and West-African style yam celebrations (78). During this time, the slaves and their masters both had reasons to celebrate the end of the crop. For the planter, this signaled that the last of the crop for the year was ready for shipping to the merchant in England, who in return rewarded the planter with the luxuries of life. For the slave it was the end of the longest and most exhausting part of the year. Thus, the completion of the harvest season brought singing, dancing and general merriment. After the emancipation of the slaves, the fes...

U.S. Monetary Policy and International Implications Essay

U.S. Monetary Policy and International Implications - Essay Example e economy is growing seems insufficient to initiate and sustain considerably large up-gradation in the current job market, the FOMC has decided to take measures and modify its financial policies to bring significant changes in the employment levels. The rate of unemployment has been recorded at a high 7.8 percent in 2012, which is much higher than the projections made by analysts as the normal level of unemployment in the long run (Bernanke). There is a large level of slack in resources in the U.S. and it is being persistently maintained with high margins. This supports the restrained rates of inflation in the U.S. although there are short term fluctuations in prices of goods and services in the economy. Consumer price inflation at present shows lower than the expected level that is required to achieve the long run objective of 2 percent as set by the Federal Reserve (Press Release). Federal Reserve's Recent Policy Actions The monetary policy strategies of the Federal Reserve are ste ered by the dual mandate of promoting maximum level of employment and achieving stability in prices (Mayer 184). With the inadequate progress found in the US job markets coupled with subdued inflationary pressures, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) has taken certain important actions in 2012 with the aim of providing â€Å"additional policy accommodation† (Bernanke). In September of 2012 information collected from reliable sources continued to let out weak signals regarding labor markets. There were also no sign of noteworthy inflation pressures. This induced the FOMC to take additional steps for making provisions of policy accommodation. The span of time over which the FOMC has kept its expectations â€Å"to maintain exceptionally low levels of the federal funds rate† (Bernanke) has... This essay stresses that while the asset purchase program of the FOMC is aimed at increasing employment levels and improve job market conditions along with stabilizing the price of commodities in the U.S. economy, this policy action also has certain significant negative impacts. In my opinion, although the quantitative easing puts a positive influence on the economic performance of the country, the government has to increase subsidy on labor wages and increase demand for labor by the producers. An increase in wages would improve demand conditions in the economy which would increase productivity levels. While improving demand conditions in the economy, this process would take care of the problem of excess liquidity in the economy. This paper makes a conclusion that mixed views have been provided in the debate revolving around the asset purchasing by the FOMC. In terms of efficiency of the quantitative easing program, most of the members of the Committee have agreed that this policy creates a meaningful result by easing financial circumstances thereby accelerating the process of economic growth. According to these observers, less credit constraints and lower rates of interest would increase investment by investors. On the other hand, some members of the Committee consider this policy as having a diminishing impact on the economic condition of the country. This is because quantitative easing lessens the financial stress in the short term, but, no consensus has yet been reached with regard to the long term effects of the assets purchasing policy.

Marriage Expectations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marriage Expectations - Essay Example There are also some people who don’t want a marriage contract, because they see it as something that is just basically preparing for divorce, like a prenuptial agreement. To others, however, a marriage contract can have lasting symbolic value. â€Å"A marriage contract for some symbolizes the rational ability of a couple to have a business partnership. For others, marriage contracts symbolize betrayal, lack of trust, or insecurity. Symbols are the emotional meaning and interpretation with which we see the world.† (Ausman, 2009). The following are some points that I would stipulate in my own marriage contract. In terms of the division of household labor, I would negotiate a fair division by following the rule of halves. It does not really matter to me who does which chores, the man or the woman. I think it is funny that just because someone is a woman, they are expected to do the cooking and cleaning, as if a man can’t cook or run a laundry machine. Similarly, there is no law that says women are too fragile for yard work, or that they can’t fix cars. So I don’t think that the chores should be gender divided, but I do think that they should be divided. In terms of sexual responsibilities for each partner, I don’t think that this is something that should be under contractual obligation for anyone. It is not the way I think of sex. If partners are worried that they can’t conceive together, I think they should have a blood test, instead of putting something in a contract about being prepared for that eventuality. There should be a rough agreement as to how m any children, with room for a change of decision. And in terms of childcare, as mentioned above, I am not traditional about gender roles here: I feel that the man should share in childcare and raising activities: not just playing catch in the backyard, but also feeding, changing diapers, etc. One thing I am traditional about,

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman Essay - 2

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman - Essay Example or about the value, limitations, and ethical implications of ethnography as a way of making sense of social conduct, for instance – in your personal and professional roles? The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman is one of the modern classics in the medical anthropology genre. Tracing the immigration and the challenges of assimilation of a Hmong family into the USA, the book is admirable on many counts. Firstly, for medical professionals, it offers valuable insights into the symptoms, treatment options and overall management of epilepsy in children. Second, it presents the unique challenges faced by health care professionals in a multi-cultural environment. Third, the book documents the broader details of Hmong ethnography, adopting classical anthropological approaches. The rest of the essay will elaborate these features, as well as noting the personal and professional impact the book has had upon the writer. The central dialectic in the book is how the shaman istic animism followed by the Hmong conflicts with the rationality of Occidental medicine. While the cultural heritage of the Hmong is rich and colourful, it betrays its superstitious underpinnings when juxtaposed with modern scientific knowledge and advancement. In other words, in light of our overall increase in the knowledge of the world, much of the Hmong beliefs appear mythical. In the classic case of conflict illustrated in The Spirit Catches You, we see how Hmong culture is markedly at odds with modern science.

Global Geopolitics of the Middle East Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Global Geopolitics of the Middle East - Essay Example It is speculated that this US indifference is entrenched in the inexorable commitment with the state of Israel. This is why the ideology behind planning attacks against the US leading to 9/11 incident is reportedly related to violent disagreement of the masterminds with the US foreign policy which apparently primarily favors Israel. Similarly, majority of the Arabs in the Middle East opinion that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has never been evaluated and approached by the US with objectivity. There is widespread animosity for the US foreign policies and the Iraq war has only intensified the Arab anger for the America. To cap the chaotic political mess, extremely harsh ideas related to the Jews prevail in the Middle East. But, this speculation of US indifference is criticized on grounds that it is actually the flawed perceptions held by the Arabs against the US policies in the context of Zionism and Israelis which work to foster anti-Americanism and threat US’s national secu rity. This is why the mainstream Middle Eastern ideology that the US politics is based on nepotism has little to do with

BusinessMGT Unit2 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

BusinessMGT Unit2 - Assignment Example It is essential that effective technique should be selected based on an organization’s resources and needs. All business techniques of planning are effective, if they are implemented in a proper way and time. Organizations should build an organizational culture suitable for the planning technique before executing it. The organization has to opt for the planning technique that is flexible and most suitable for its business type. Planning and leadership is managed according to the goals of the organization. Objectives provide the organization with the direction of planning and actions. The main characteristic of objectives and goals is that they should be specific; they should indicate what the company wants to achieve. The objectives must be according to the mission statement. They should be realistic, achievable and motivating (Crow, 2006) Nestle is the world’s largest and leading food company with factories operating in almost all continents. Nestle is thoroughly dedic ated to food; it remains concerned about the quality of food and any problem related to nutrition. The main objective of Nestle is â€Å"to be recognized as the world’s leader in Nutrition, Health and wellness, trusted by all its stakeholders and to be the reference for financial performance in its industry† (Nestle, 2011). It wants to provide people with a variety of food, as well as better food so that they can live a better life. The leadership and trust provides people with good and healthy life. Its slogan â€Å"Good Food, Good Life† defines the ambition of Nestle. Over the years, Nestle has been achieving its goals. The reason behind its success is that it has accomplished what it strived for. The business principles that Nestle has set, help the company in achieving its goals. The company manufactures and markets the products in such a way as to create value that can be maintained over the long term. Nestle values it consumers. The consumers and the organ ization have developed a relation of trust. Without the trust of consumers, the company would not exist. The guidance to the employees in the form of principles has benefited the company and has ensured that highest standards are met. The professionalism and the responsible attitude of management is the reason behind the success of the company. The goals that were defined above are achieved by following the business principles. The principles are not followed by the employees only, but are followed by the top, lower, and middle management. Now the company is providing good life to people by supplying them with good food. The food includes everything from juices to dairy products and from dietary to infant food. References J. Crow, (2006), "What constitutes a good project goal statement?", http://www.projectkickstart.com/html/tips4.htm Nestle, 2011

Global Geopolitics of the Middle East Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Global Geopolitics of the Middle East - Essay Example It is speculated that this US indifference is entrenched in the inexorable commitment with the state of Israel. This is why the ideology behind planning attacks against the US leading to 9/11 incident is reportedly related to violent disagreement of the masterminds with the US foreign policy which apparently primarily favors Israel. Similarly, majority of the Arabs in the Middle East opinion that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has never been evaluated and approached by the US with objectivity. There is widespread animosity for the US foreign policies and the Iraq war has only intensified the Arab anger for the America. To cap the chaotic political mess, extremely harsh ideas related to the Jews prevail in the Middle East. But, this speculation of US indifference is criticized on grounds that it is actually the flawed perceptions held by the Arabs against the US policies in the context of Zionism and Israelis which work to foster anti-Americanism and threat US’s national secu rity. This is why the mainstream Middle Eastern ideology that the US politics is based on nepotism has little to do with

Value for health care managers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Value for health care managers - Essay Example In this gradual endeavor, healthcare managers may help a medical personnel carry out vital tasks efficiently in treating a patient by examining the set of necessities that matter to the working personnel who seeks to fulfil them to acquire a motivational tool for enhancing performance. It may be a tedious work to come to know and evaluate the concerns of each individual working in a medical firm. There are need-based theories of motivation, however, which a healthcare manager may look into and for which to invest some time to assist him in determining which would be most fitting and valuable at targeting to motivate a particular group or individual in the company. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the ERG theory of Clayton Alderfer, the Two-Factor theory of Frederick Herzberg, and D. McClelland’s Acquired Needs theory are the four need-based theories of motivation which to some extent attempt to demonstrate grounds for human needs and wants (Carpenter, Bauer, & Erdogan, 2009 ). Majority of these and related theories according to the specific needs of a man bring across the significance of having certain needs come to be satisfied prior to shifting focus on other priorities that are less relevant in the sense that they bear no direct impact upon motivation. By his Hierarchy of Needs, Abraham Maslow proposed ranking of human needs with the use of pyramid representation where the basic of all is the state of ‘physiology’. Maslow points out that only by satisfying such primary requirement through sufficient food, air, and water can the person proceed to deal with supplicating the need for safety which is on the next level since needs come in the order of importance and human desires attached with the needs, particularly those yet to be satisfied, affect human behavior (Cuizon, 2009). Using the pyramid model, Maslow further levels up safety to social need after which esteem is accounted for in order that self-actualization on the top-most level can be sustained by a character initially developed by self-worth. The hierarchy presents a systematic manner of assessing where a laborer stands within circumstances which allow him to display appropriate potentials where, in doing so, the process may inevitably reflect what he lacks or yearns for. Moreover, application of Maslow’s theory could bring out in each subject the type of response through which a behavior is delivered or that which suggests how the person feels about the situation in relation to himself and the people around him. Consequently, his strengths and weaknesses are also revealed in the course of communicating to others his set of attributes and principles which depict them. For instance, an employee who is trying to feed her esteem may be appreciative of a boss who receives an equal or higher degree of acclaim may rather find it unsuitable or awkward if she occurs to be at the stage of trying to be socially content, knowing that individual rewards would probably keep her further apart from the rest of the circle which she desires to be part of (Carpenter, et al., 2009). Considering the ability of a competent healthcare manager to execute

What Are the Benefits and Limitations of Using Second Life in Education Essay Example for Free

What Are the Benefits and Limitations of Using Second Life in Education Essay What are the benefits and limitations of using Second Life in Education? Use of the internet has increased exponentially in recent years, in both developed and developing countries, and educators are searching for ways of utilising the new technology and environment to enhance teaching and learning experiences. Second Life (SL) is a world which exists online. The world is complete with schools, universities, businesses and even criminal activity. As the use and popularity of SL grows, so too does the research regarding its viability as an educational tool. Both the apparent benefits and limitations have been considered in a variety of research papers (Baker, Wentz Woods, 2009; Taylor Chung, 2008). In order to determine whether SL is a useful option for educational institutions, the following aspects will be considered as part of this review: features of online learning, technical considerations and the overall potential uses. Some important features of online learning discussed by the authors include accessibility, popularity, and community. Access to online learning is an important aspect to consider, for both teachers and students. The flexibility of the online environment means that this type of technology can potentially be accessed at many different times and a variety of different places (Baker, Wentz and Woods, 2009). According to Baker et al. (2009), lecturers can make use of the technology by delivering their information via avatars. Taylor and Chung (2008) also consider the popularity of SL, and how this may encourage users to participate in online educational content. Indeed, as Baker et al. (2009) also suggest, students can be not only participants but can also â€Å"create their own content† (p. 60). They add that it is possible for students to meet together, attend discussion online and interact with tutors in an informal and relaxed way, as well as encouraging students who may otherwise be shy to have a ‘voice’. In this way they are building and sharing within their own communities and taking responsibility for their own learning. However, as Taylor and Chung (2008) assert, although SL might be popular, colourful, visual and interactive, students may not enjoy learning in this way, and using SL instead of more traditional methods may actually cause students to forget what they have learned. The authors suggest that the enjoyment of using an avatar and playing in SL may mean students do not focus on the aims of the lesson or lecture. Furthermore, Baker et al. (2009) suggest that there may be limitations of online interaction compared to face-to-face interaction. It is thus important for teacher to consider these issues before using SL. Not only that, there are also a few technical considerations such as cost and time, using SL and also technical knowledge been mentioned by the authors. Baker et al. (2009) claim that the cost of using SL could be differ. Anyone can use it for free yet there are also some charges for people to have a virtual land in SL. According to Baker et al. (2009), people need to consume time to get used to SL. There are initial times to create an avatar, control it, and communicate using computer. Taylor and Chung (2008) clarify that in order to get the benefits; people have to invest money and time for the programming content. Being failed to control avatar, learners might become de-motivated and not willing to use it. By using SL, Baker et al. (2009) remind teachers to consider the objective of online teaching, thinking if it is appropriate for the class or not, can they or the learners be familiarized with the technology and even developed new class management techniques. In fact, Baker et al. 2009) point out that the technical requirement of using SL is higher than basic requirement. Also, there might be some potential issues such as slow connection, slide show’s problem, and security issue. Taylor and Chung (2008) add that there are not a lot of document storages and the computer might get slow due to many graphics. In addition, the authors also insist that there are some overall potentials like new technology, uses in present fields and potential issues using SL in education and training purposes. Baker et al. 2009) reveal that SL is a new technology which launched in 2003, yet some educators already investigating the uses of SL in teaching and learning purposes. Its dominant is SL is not a game like Active Worlds, MMPORGs, and Whyville; it’s a space for social communication. There are some possible issues that people need to be careful as it may have serious effects. Students need to be informed the appropriate usage of the new technology–SL in learning. Besides that, they need to be taught the proper way to behave themselves and protect their privacy while using SL.  Furthermore, an emergency plan should be planned so that when the technology having problems and not performing well, students will not lost temper and cause severe impacts. Taylor and Chung (2008) suggest that SL is a powerful tool in helping training and development sectors. Nevertheless, they also discover that IBM still remains using text-based collaboration which leads to the efficacy of SL. It still has some difficulties to an effective transmission for instruction and content management. As a result, there are lots of potential to be found in the human-computer interaction, usability and instructional design. Through the articles reviewed it seems that the benefits and drawbacks of using SL are equal. Although SL can helps people in learning, people still have to pay much more efforts on it. To get used to SL, people have to spent money, time, and think out the appropriate way to use it wisely. Obviously, SL has the potential to facilitate people’s learning. In fact, to use it or not depends on the further research whether the benefits can overcome the limitations or not.

Comparing Fluid Flow Of Smooth And Rough Pipes

Comparing Fluid Flow Of Smooth And Rough Pipes The pipe flow investigation compared the fluid flow of smooth and rough pipes of varying diameters. The pressure drop across the pipes was recorded to find both the friction factors and Reynolds numbers. A moody diagram was plotted comparing the friction factor versus the Reynolds number. A graph of the experimental friction factor was compared to the theoretical friction factor for the transition of a pipe from smooth to rough. It is assumed that the fluid used for the pipe flow was incompressible and pipes were entirely horizontal with constant diameters throughout the tested length. The energy equation is used to compare the steady, uniform flows at the inlet and outlet. = pressure = density = kinetic energy flux coefficient = average fluid velocity = gravity z = vertical height of the pipe =total head loss = specific work done by the control volume. The change in pressure that is found for each pipe is equivalent to the loss of head across each respective pipe and related by the equation below. . (2) It is also assumed to have a constant volumetric flow rate, constant vertical height, no work involved in the flow of the fluid, and a constant flow velocity. By using the average velocity we can determine whether the fluid is laminar or turbulent. A Reynolds number below 2300 describes a laminar flow and that above 2300 is turbulent. , (3) = Reynolds number = pipe diameter = viscosity of the fluid. Below is the Darcy or Moody friction factor, , which is valid for laminar flows. This equation is independent of the roughness of the pipe. . (4) The friction produced by the roughness in the pipes causes head loss. Unlike Eq. 4, the next equation is valid for turbulent flows with Reynolds values above 2300. . (5) The Colebrook equation covers transitionally rough regions which are between smooth and rough walled piping. This equation is implicit for . , (6) where the relative roughness of the pipe is . Methods The Pipe Flow Lab equipment included: Four horizontal pipes of varying roughness and diameters arranged in a pipe flow apparatus with a self-contained water supply, valve to isolate pipe of interest, inlet flow control valve to control the flow rate, volumetric measuring tank collects water, sight tube, graduated cylinder, stopwatch, calipers, and electronic manometer to measure pressure. The change in pressure of one rough and three smooth pipes of varying diameters were measured. These values helped compare the friction factors to the Reynolds number of the fluid. Each pipe was individually experimented on by allowing the water to run through that particular pipe until it reached a constant flow rate. The change of pressure was read off the electronic manometer and a stop watch was used to measure the time it took to fill the tank to a particular volume. The pressure was lowered by a given increment for each trial until it reached a given value and repeated for each pipe. The temperature of the water was measured at the end of the experiment. Results and Discussion The data for the large smooth pipe, large rough pipe, medium smooth pipe, and small smooth pipe were compiled into Tables 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Eq. 3 was used to find the Reynolds number and the friction factor was calculated using Eq. 5. These values were then plotted in Fig. 1, which is a Moody diagram comparing the Reynolds number to friction factor of all the pipes. The Reynolds number gives the value of a fluids transition from a laminar flow to turbulence. This value is approximately 2300 according to Fig. 1. Since all the points on the Moody graph are greater than 2300, we can conclude that all the flows in this lab are turbulent. The decreasing straight laminar line was produced by using Eq. 4 which is independent of roughness. Then above the Reynolds number of 2300 is the theoretical rough turbulent and smooth turbulent lines. The smooth pipes follow the slightly downward slope of the smooth turbulent theoretical line. The small and medium tubes are for the most part above the theoretical line which is expected because there is probably build up in the tube causing a slight roughness which would increase the friction factor. The large smooth pipeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s values are below the theoretical line, which is impossible because the tube cannot be smoother than smooth. This error could be a cause of human error or inaccurate lab equipment. The friction factors of the smooth pipes in increasing order were large, medium, and small. This is what would be expected because the larger diameter pipes should allow for easier flow than a smaller diameter pipe. The large rough tube follows the theoretical rough turbulent trend. Since this tube is rough it should have more friction than the smooth pipes and an increased friction factor. Fig. 1 exhibits this fact because the large rough tube values are well above the smooth tubeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s values. As the Reynolds number gets very large, it becomes a function of only relative roughness e/D. Eq. 7 was used to find the theoretical rough, turbulent flow trend and a relative roughness of e/D, of 0.093 was determined. Table 2 shows the values that were recorded and has lower values for the experimental friction factor than the theoretical values. As with the large smooth pipe, this is not what we would expect and it is caused by lab errors. Both large pipes were located in the same Reynolds number region but with different friction factors. This is understandable since they have the same diameters but the only difference is the roughness inside the pipe causing friction. The fluctuations in friction factor values are due to errors that occurred during the investigation procedure. An error that could have affected the results of this investigation would be the actual smoothness of the pipes. The smooth pipes could have build up from the years of use that would cause some roughness. The roughness would in turn interfere with the fluid flow. Another form of error was with the stop watch and volume reading to find the flow rate. There is a percentage of human error in these measurements and the electronic manometer was also fluctuating during the experiment. These errors can account for the fact that the experimental friction factors were lower than the theoretical values for the large pipes seen in Table 1 and 2. The equations used were approximations and could also account for a slight source of error. Conclusions and Recommendations The values obtained in this investigation led to the calculation of the friction factors and Reynolds numbers for four different pipes. These values were then plotted in a Moody diagram to compare how the roughness and diameter of each individual pipe affected the flow rate of each. The small, medium, and large smooth pipes followed the smooth turbulent theoretical trend. The large pipe had values below the theoretical values. The experimental values should always have been above the theoretical since a pipe canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t be any smoother than smooth. These results could be caused by the lab errors that were listed above. The friction factors of the smooth pipes in increasing order were large, medium, and small. This is what would be expected because the larger diameter pipes should allow for easier flow than a smaller diameter pipe. The large, rough pipe followed the rough turbulent trend. As the Reynolds number became large the relative roughness became the relationship, e/ D. This pipe also had experimental friction factor values below the theoretical values which is impossible and caused by errors in the investigation. The friction factor of the rough pipe was much greater than the smooth pipes, which means that there is more friction in rough pipes. For future investigations, it would be beneficial to take more data points in order to more accurately represent the findings. This could also help keep the margin of error smaller since one or two inaccurate points could be disregarded with a larger data sample. More precise measurement tools would also be very beneficial since there was much uncertainty with the current apparatus.

Essay on Cruelty and Compassion in Homer’s Iliad -- Iliad essays

Cruelty and Compassion in The Iliad The Iliad, in that it is more about the Greek hero Achilles than any other particular person, portrays the Achaean in surprisingly shocking light at times throughout the story. In his encounter with Lycaon, who had previously been taken prisoner by Achilles long ago, Achilles demonstrates the extents to which his warlike demeanor can go. Yet it is equally surprising that he is capable of impressive compassion, as is depicted elsewhere in the Iliad. What seems to be an almost unbelievable fluctuation in attitude and mood is far from unexplained or contradictory, however. In fact, there is a well-defined regularity in Achilles' actions and demeanors, to the point of being capable of systematic classification. Achilles is not a loose cannon or an unpredictable firebrand. The method to his madness can be applied to his encounter with Lycaon as it can with any of his episodes in the Iliad. It is in Scroll XXI, at the height of his vengeful and destructive advance, that Achilles meets Lycaon. He has just captured twelve soldiers for sacrifice, and at the exact moment that he reaches Lycaon he is "thirsting for still further blood" (33). Lycaon entreats Achilles to have mercy on him. He mentions that he has been captured before by Achilles and has had precious little time to enjoy his regained freedom. He also distances himself from Hektor, who he knows has Achilles' enmity because of the death of Patroklos. In near desperation, Lycaon falls to his knees, declaring himself to Achilles as "suppliant" (64). Achilles' reaction at this instance is, along with his defilement of Hektor's body, among the most grim and bellicose moments in the Iliad and in Achilles' development as a character. H... ...rom being shocking, it is in fact completely consistent with the character of Achilles that we see throughout the Iliad†¹fearsome in combat, respectful of honor and courage otherwise. Works Cited and Consulted: Camps, W. A. An Introduction to Homer. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1980. Goodrich, Norma. Cruelty and Compassion in The Iliad . New York: Orion Press, 1962. Homer: Iliad. Trans. Stanley Lombardo. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Co., 1994. Richardson, Nicholas. The Iliad : A Commentary. Vol. VI: books 21-24. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1993. Schein, Seth L. The Mortal Hero: An Introduction to Homer's Iliad. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1984. Veiner, George, and Fagles, Robert, eds. Homer: A Collection of Critical Essays. Twentieth Century Views, ed. Maynard Mack. Englewood Cliffs, N. J.: Prentice Hall, 1962.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt Essay -- Midn

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt Savannah is the city of Southeast Georgia near the mouth of the Savannah River. James Ogelthorpe founded it in 1733, it is the oldest city in Georgia and has been a major port since the early 19th century (Soukhanov, p.1606). Savannah has been called that gently mannered city by the sea and indeed it is, with Spanish moss hanging from the huge oak trees and the shine of the moon reflecting off the pillars of Savannah’s grand mansions. Ones imagination can conjure up a simple setting where the clop of hooves on the cobblestone streets echo in the mind and sweat from the glass of a delicious madiera leaves a ring on the tabletop. I think that Jim Williams said it best. â€Å"You mustn’t be taken in by the moonlight and magnolias. There’s more to Savannah than that. Things can get very murky† (Berendt, p.11). The book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was written by John Berendt, it is his non-fiction account of the time he spent in Savannah. Berendt was sent from his home in New York to write a magazine article about Mr. Jim Williams grand Christmas parties in Savannah. Unbeknownst to Berendt, he had just stumbled into the middle of a much better story: the Hansford slaying and the subsequent legal battles of Williams. Berendt also met a host of eccentric, even preposterous Savannahians. Here, he realized, was the sort of local color that most novelists could only dream about (www.Savannahnow.co...

“300” Compare/Contrast Essay Essay

In this essay, I am going to compare and contrast three significant events in the film of 300. First, I will discuss the events leading up to the historical battle at Thermopylae. Then, I will compare the movie version battles at Thermopylae with historical accounts. Finally, I will contrast events after Thermopylae between the movie and actual history. As I recall, when I saw the movie several months ago (it’s not available for reviewing again from Blockbuster until July 31, 2007), the most significant event before the great battle was the visit of the Persian diplomats to King Leonidas offering him and his family great wealth and position with no one getting killed in a needless war, if he would only submit to Xerxes as ruler of a new Persian-Grecian Empire. When Leonidas and his outspoken wife asked them about the preservation of the Greek way of life, that is, freedom and democracy, the offer quickly turned into a threat, the threat of total destruction for Greek culture and a life of slavery for any Greek survivors. When the diplomats scolded the wife of Leonidas for interrupting their â€Å"man-to-man† talk with her criticisms, Leonidas became so furious that these strangers came into a king’s home, insulted his queen, that he threw them down to their death in a large, very, very deep well. There is no historical account that this is the way it really happened. But I think is was probably a good guess by Hollywood how negotiations may have gone except for the killings. I believe that was Hollywood overkill. It is historical fact that the Spartan woman was the most highly respected, independent woman in all the Greek city-states, but diplomats do not usually get murdered over verbal disagreements. After all, they only carry the message. They do not make policy. If these messengers don’t come back alive, they won’t be sent. They were a very important means of communication between armies in those days. In most cases, just the presence of the Persian million-man army scared the invaded city or country into surrendering or face certain defeat from so many soldiers. The basic movie is about two opposing armies, the Persians against the Greeks (led by 300 Spartans), meeting at the pass at Thermopylae to determine whether Greece would survive as the only democracy on earth or be conquered by the great Persian Empire expanding into Europe. On the Persian side,  their army had hundreds of thousands of soldiers ready to fight. On the Greek side, they only had approximately 1500 to defend the pass but, only when Leonidas knew for sure that he would be surrounded and that defeat was likely, he sent them all back to safety except for himself and 300 of his best Spartan warriors to defend the pass and slow down the Persian invasion while other Greek armies were being organized. I believe that this movie is quite accurate according to the historical events that took place during the time of 480 B.C. However, I think some events in the movie are not accurate such as all of those mystical-looking creatures that supposedly existed back then and used in tim es of war. This was bordering more on fantasy to make the movie more appealing to a younger audience instead of just those who follow history. The part of the movie which I think is accurate is Sparta’s army being very strong and disciplined. The Spartans had a good strong leader in Leonidas, constant combat training since they were children, and had superior weapons that were a part of them. The Persians, on the other hand, had many soldiers but there weapons and lack of armor were lighter because of the long distances the Persians had to travel to get to Greece. The movie showed the Spartans to have superior weaponry such as longer spears to resist charges, shorter swords for quick strokes during close-in combat to cut through Persian wicker-type shields, larger metal shields to deflect sword and arrow attacks. This is very accurate, historically. The movie also showed the Spartans to be very muscular and in top physical shape. Again, this is true because the Spartan child (if he was not abandoned in the hillside for being physically defective at birth) would be taken from his home at the age of seven to lead a very hard, military lifestyle until he was tweny-one years old, at which time he would go into the army as a fully trained soldier ready to do battle for the glory of Sparta. I think the movie was pretty much basically over after the battle of Thermopylae was done but, historically, this battle, even though it was a loss, was only the beginning of the Greek victory over Persia. Once word got back to other Greek city-states, it so inspired them to unite as one Greek nation to defend their freedom and culture as the Spartans had defended it, to the death. The Athenian navy finished off the Persian navy at the   of Salamis and destroyed the only way the Persians could have supplied their army if Persia was to hold conquered territory. Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/300_the_movie300 The movie, by Warner Bros.

Sex in Indian Society

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Letter Response to Customer Complaint Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Letter Response to Customer Complaint - Essay Example Pursuant to your rights as enunciated in the DPA and in accordance with our commitment to provide you with the best service we can give, upon receiving your letter, the customer support department has immediately processed your request. Rest assured that we do not intent to contravene nor circumvent the clear mandate of the law. We have endeavored to process and comply with your request within 40 days as you requested, and we apologize for whatever unforeseen delay that may have occurred. In any case, we are attaching with this letter your financial statements for the past six years in case you haven't received them yet. We understand from your letter that there is discrepancy in the financial statements between the actual charges for the period of April 2001- April 2002 period totals 1,571.09 and the estimated charges which amount to 5,000. We assure you that the discrepancy will be resolved at the soonest possible time.

International Ductile Iron Pipes Co. Ltd (INDIPCO) Essay

International Ductile Iron Pipes Co. Ltd (INDIPCO) - Essay Example Ltd (INDIPCO) is an associate member of FAL Group of Companies. The group specializes in the manufacture of large ductile iron pipes with diameters ranging from 100mm to 2200mm. The company is located within the Royal Commission of Yanbua and Jubail in Jubail industrial city, covering an area of about 155,000m2. The company has an estimated production of about 200,000 tons of pipes annually. The company has its main customers within the Kingdom, in Europe and the MENA region. All INDIPCO processes are highly developed with the most current state of the art technologies, with its main equipment mainly sourced from Germany, China, USA and other leading technological states. All the equipment is installed and tested for a period of time under the supervision of experts from the above counties, to ensure the machine performs optimally with little hiccups in its systems. Generally, any experts involved in the maintenance and installation processes are highly conversant with ductile iron p ipes plants, to ensure quality and high standards are maintained within the company. The pipes manufactured and exported by INDIPCO are mainly used for water, firefighting, sewerage, effluents slurries, industrial water, and other fluids, meaning the company has a wide variety of pipes that target different clients in different segments. 1.2 Current main Projects The company undertakes massive water transmission projects portraying its expertise and skills in pipe manufacture and water and fluid transmission. An example of such an large scale projects still ongoing are a water transmission system covering an approximately 74,000 linear meters of pipes from Hali, Qanona, AL-Laitha and Yebh dams to AL Shoiba, which covers the phase one of the project. Another project is installation of suction lines for reservoirs in AL Madina covering a length of 134.2 km (INDIPCO, 2012). The company has therefore carved its reputation from handling mega projects in fluid transmission and manufacture of different grades of pipes to transmit different fluids both corrosive and non-corrosive. 2.0 Plant operation Process Fig. 1Pipe Manufacturing process The chart above summarizes the entire plant operation process in iron ductile pipe manufacturing to storage of finished pipes. 2.1 Mold Preparation and Maintenance. Mold making requires machines for mold welding, gridding and peening, and a lathe machine. Molds are used over and over till they wear out and fail to produce the required dimensional accuracy. After each, shift, the mold has to be replaced and maintained. The internal surface of the mold has to be ground using a sand wheel to remove any rust. The mold is then dotted with peening head to increase its crack resistance, and to improve its adhesion properties. All cracks on the internal surface of a mold have to be removed through turning, after which the turned area is welded and excess metal turned again to maintain the required dimensional controls. Grinding and peening ensure the mold finally has a smooth surface and is free from any cracks that may impair its usability. 2.2 Molten iron Preparation Molten iron, scrap steel, alloy and any rejected pipes are melted at this stage. The melting equipment is a two and three

Toulmin Essay on how DOD buget cuts affect the basic member of the

Toulmin on how DOD buget cuts affect the basic member of the Military - Essay Example I did decide to write on the topic because as simple as it is, it can bring a justifiable case to concerned persons on the need to look at a wider perspective before deciding to do budget cuts. The military budget is part of a country’s discretionary total budget, which is mainly allocated to the department of defence. Broadly, such budgets go to any defence related budgets, which may include: paying military salaries, giving military personnel trainings, healthcare of personnel and in some cases buying equipment for the military. In measure, the DOD can cut its budget to its members, which can affect them positively or negatively. It is argued that when such budget cuts are implemented, it would result to lack of co-operation among its member states. The members of the military have become dependent on the budget. Due to this, they are able to co-operate with the DOD in any policy. But when there is a budget cut, the members will start becoming unco-operative, and at times may pull out completely from the DOD membership(Smith, page 13). Such budget cuts are useful when dealing with other priority areas that need to be funded. Budget cuts by DOD will help its members to use the money saved for other purposes like paying for healthcare insurances or providing for pensions. The money can be used to continue training and educating the military personnel. For its members, the budget cut monies can only have a positive impact if they are used directly to support the members of the military (Sullivan & Sheffrin, pages 245) . Another argument is that the military budget cuts are appropriate because in cancelling such high budget cuts on the military, there is no existing justification that they are funding a threat that may likely to occur. The argument is that it is appropriate to continue spending money for many years on what will not eventually happen, instead of using the money in diplomatic processes to

Music and Adolescence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Music and Adolescence - Essay Example Each adolescent has their own individual preferences with the type of music they regularly listen to. Some of the past research studies have tried examining how the music preferences of the listeners affect their mood (happiness, sadness, anger, fear, tenderness, power, brightness, melancholy, relaxation, and grace) (Zacharopoulou & Kyriakidou, 2009) while others have tried to examine the impact of tempo, rhythmic clarity, rhythmic complexity, pitch level, harmonic complexity, variation of loudness, variation of tempo, rapid changes in loudness, and rapid changes of tempo over the listeners’ mood (Saarikallio & Erkkilà ¤, 2007). To determine the common type of music that captures the interest of the adolescence, a quantitative and qualitative research survey study combined with a personal one-on-one interview with a couple of randomly selected individuals will be invited to participate in the study. Basically, the proposed research study will be conducted to examine the factors that could possibly contribute to the listeners’ preferences.

Business project management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business project management - Essay Example Includes uniqueness, multiple objectives, specific provisions, flexibility, time bound, interlinked process and well planned. They are unique as Ait uses both international and local bench markers. It also has multiple objectives to be achieved by only trained individuals responsible for managing the project thus making it have specific provision. It is also an interlinked process that follows specific steps thus making it well planned. The process is also flexible as it can be changed with time if the project objectives are not met. Has many advantages including increased concentration on specific objectives of the project, more efficient and good use of the company resources as well as making a company have a healthy competition. In addition, it increases product development, production speed and also improve team cohesion spirit Project management is an expensive venture that consumes a lot of time. Many resources both human and materials are usually needed to run the complete cycle of project management. It can also cause wrangles between the project manager and the members of the project management committee thus making the manager feel

Statement of Purpose Essay Example for Free

Statement of Purpose Essay Firstly I would like to introduce myself as an undergraduate student of the bachelor of engineering program From the M.S.Ramaiah institute of technology, one of the most prestigious institutions of the Bangalore U university . I have completed my course of engineering in the field of Industrial Engineering’, which was for a period of four years. I graduated in the first class with distinction. I was ranked among the top five in the class. During these four years of my undergraduate course, I gained in-depth understanding of the various techniques involved in problem solving, mainly to cater to the services of the industries. Manufacturing Processes, Operations Research, Industrial Management, Quantitative techniques were the other subjects which enabled me to blend the required action whenever an problem was posed to me. Behavioral Science was the most interesting subject which I mastered during this four year peroid.This subject provided me with valuable information which helped me to develop leadership skills .The factor of empathy really coerced me to instigate leadership skills.. Since computers have become inseparable part of INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING I deemed it fit to learn more about computers and I am presently doing my course in C,C++. I have worked on software packages like MS Project,LINDO, LOTUS 123.To meet my B.E. Degree requirement ,I executed a project titled REDUCTION OF LEAD CYCLE FOR MANUFACTURE OF STEAM TURBINES under the expert guidance of N.V.R.Naidu and this project was presented in the O.R. Society of India. The main aim of the project was to reduce the lead cycle of manufacture of a particular class of turbine so as to reduce the inventory costs and enable the industry to forecast accurately for the period ahead. The techniques involved LINE OF BALANCE METHOD for scheduling and Controlling and Post college, I AM presently working in KIRLOSKAR ELECTRIC COMPANY WHERE IN I am going through a rigorous training program which will be completed very shortly. The undergraduate course as well as my training at KIRLOSKAR ELECTRIC COMPANY has provided me with a strong base for further growth in any of my desired fields. I would like to delve deeper into the fields of my choice and their technical aspects completely. I hope to acquire the requisite professional skills and develop a thorough understanding in these following areas. I wish to contribute towards these areas and indulge in research which ultimately should have a meaningful contribution to science and technology. I AM confident that my academic capability and analytical skills coupled with my perseverance and single minded devotion will see me through to this goal. To this end, the first step is a sound graduate study. I have chosen the graduate program to further my interests. It is my belief that knowledge gained has to be shared. I believe that imparting knowledge is an enjoyable and satisfying experience. I have enjoyed giving ideas, lectures and making presentations on technical/non technical topics at college and at the workplace. Hence, I am eager to obtain An assistantship.Consequently,I understand that the choice of the University is of paramount importance. After perusing your brochures and consulting my professors, I reached the conclusion that the with its reputed faculty, excellent facilities and tradition of academic excellence will be the ideal place to work towards the fulfillment o my goal. Moreover, I am confident that the wholesome education that I will receive at the will stand me in good stead throughout my career. Thanking you,

National identity in music: The Beatles

National identity in music: The Beatles Evaluate depictions of Britishness in the songs of the Beatles and 1990s Brit pop groups and discuss the relation between politics and music. A feature that is evident in the music of the Beatles from 1966 on wards is the way in which they use representations of everyday British cultural life. Such representations are not contained to the latter of the Beatles work but do take on a much more important role in the way the music is formed and words are written. Tracks like Eleanor Rigby, A Day in the Life, Penny Lane and Polythene Pam are all connected by their distinctive British sound and context. The Small Faces and the Kinks were also bands that had a keen eye for writing about different aspects of the lower to middle-class British peoples lives in the 1960s. A resurgence of this type of writing appeared in the 1990s with such Brit pop groups as Blur, Pulp and Oasis portraying an ever-changing view of Britain. I will begin my discussion by briefly looking at what it means to be British and discuss the connections between music and national identity. I will then analyse how the Beatles developed a distinctly British sound by looking at their influences and then give examples of this sound by referencing the bands music. National Identity in music and what it means to be British What does it mean to be British? Freedom? Democracy? Trial by jury? Freedom of speech? Acceptance? Tolerance? White? It would seem that politicians were unaware of what it meant until it started to fall away from us and deteriorate. The national flag, the Union Jack or Union Flag, is not a proud flag that we as one nation unite under as the Americans do with the Star-Spangled Banner. A regulation was previously in place across government that meant the Union Jack could only be flown 18 fixed days a year on government buildings (The governance of Britain green paper 2007). A regulation now waved. The government for specific forms of the military reserves the flag. It is used by the Royal Navy and as a way to display the rank of admiral of the fleet, which is the reason why it is still illegal for a civilian ship to fly it. In war time Britain we were defined by our one nation joining together to fight for a common purpose. The common man was out fighting against an evil dictatorship. We had one of the most advanced Naval forces in the world bringing technology in Britain to the forefront and an outs tanding air force, which repelled an overwhelming German attack at the Battle of Britain. But in the 64 years since the end of world war two Britain has seen many changes in its cultural make up. America has had a very powerful influence over the music we listen to, the way we dress and eat and we seek to replicate their dominant cultural traditions (Mundy 1999). We have seen an influx in the number of immigrants coming to Britain to live and work. Injecting a little of their culture into our own. Furthermore, the industries such as the ship building in Glasgow and Liverpool, the shoe factories in Northampton and the steal works in Scunthorpe and Sheffield have all but disappeared. The traditions that shaped the country and gave it international acclaim and recognition have been lost to overseas countries that have the technology to produce it cheaper. I will revise the sociological aspects of our changing culture later and analyse whether British society has changed over the years and if this has made Brit Pop differ from music of the 1960s. For now I will touch upon music and national identity and the reasons for national patriotism. Music has long been a fundamental tool in the study and assembly of national identities. Its intricate framework has been studied in great depth. Possibly one of the most obvious ways in which music is amalgamated with national identity is the national anthem. It provides an opportunity for people to obtain a state of deep heart felt emotion towards their country and is used in Britain before various sporting events, before the Queens Christmas Message and in the event of a royal announcement or death. Perhaps the oldest form of national pride is found in folk music, commonly described as an accurate look at a way of life as it was or a life about to fade away. Richard Middleton explains the real meaning of folk music well. The Romantics, who originated the concept, often thought of the people in the sense of a national essence. Or and this later became more common they thought of a particular part of the people, a lower layer, or even class. Middletons thoughts therefore could be applied to Brit Pop. With the eighties at an end, Margaret Thatchers government leaving record unemployment rates of 3 million unemployed, factories closed and there were cuts in spending. Things looked bleak and it was hard for young people to get a job. In the nineties Brit Pop, backed by this 60s inspired form of pop/rock with the qualities of folk music, exploded onto the scene. Artists such as Damon Albarn from Blur were writing songs that echoed issues regarding the lower classes and once again music was recognizable as being British. It is vital to understand what this British sound consists of and more importantly where it came from and who pioneered it. I will now go on to discuss the Beatles development as British artists and their everlasting footprint on music. The Beatles developing a British sound The Beatles were the first of a selection of bands from the 1960s to start a movement called the British Invasion. The name British Invasion was invented by the press to describe British bands that travelled to America and made a name for themselves. This all began in 1964 with the appearance of the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show but was continually used to describe many British bands who made a huge impact on the American music market. Namely the Rolling Stones, The Who, The Small Faces, The Yardbirds and The Kinks with the Beatles making the largest impact. The Beatles cannot be so neatly categorised as the archetypal British band, as their style is so eclectic and borrows from many different cultures. Early on in their career, the band had been mainly focused on writing songs about love and the loss of a love with not much indication of Britishness in the lyrics but there were a few facts that made their style stand out from their American competitors. One such fact is the accent the group sang with. In the early 1960s, radio was populated with simple two-minute pop songs from American artists like Elvis Presley and British artists who sounded American like Cliff Richard and the Shadows. However, Lennon and McCartney were singing songs like I Wanna Hold Your Hand with a British accent. The Beatles were different, fusing exciting melodies with classical harmonies and a guitar sound that was full bodied and dominant. This brand new sound was one that defined the British sound of the sixties. When one says sound of the sixties it really m eans the period from 1963-1970, the Beatles era. Between 1955 and 1963 would be described as the sound of the fifties (Zarecki 2007). The Beatles changed music to a point that a child growing up in the 60s would call the records of the 50s oldies, a word still used today to describe the same records (Wald 2009). The musical education the Beatles received can be traced back as far as the mid 1930s when Robert Johnson, kindly named the Grandfather of Rock n Roll, was recording the blues/rock tracks which would be an inspiration for artists like the Memphis born B.B. King who in turn was greatly admired by another king, Elvis Presley. Elvis forged the rock n roll sound of the fifties that the Beatles loved. They covered many songs by Chuck Berry and Little Richard during their time in Hamburg in the early 1960s. John Lennon is famously quoted as saying, Nothing really affected me until I heard Elvis. If there hadnt been Elvis, there would not have been The Beatles But there was more to the Beatles sound. Although most of their influences came from America, they were not a band trying to replicate the American sound. Harmonies that the band integrated into songs were reminiscent of early Motown records and the Everly Brothers provided a strong influence when it came to producing close harmonies, a technique where the notes of a chord are sang within a narrow range. Influences of the Beatles were not confined to what had come before them. Throughout their career they continued to remain open to new influences. Paul McCartney sites one of his favourite albums as the 1966 album Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys and talks about its importance over the idea for creating the Beatles 1967 album Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. It was Pet Sounds that blew me out of the water. I love the album so muchthat, I think, was probably the big influence that set me thinking when we recorded Pepper The Beatles were at the vanguard from 1966 onwards when music began to progress from the pop/rock love songs into something altogether more experimental and risky. Looking at the memoirs of Kate Paul (2000) makes it clear the significance art school training had on new artists, fashion and music. It was becoming more common for teenagers to attend Art School and this training is said to have shifted the thinking behind the writing of many bands and change British music forever. As musical ideas were changing so was the way people were thinking about art. Music and art were becoming more abstract and new and radical thinking was being poured into both. In 1961, a group of artists graduated from the Royal College of Art including David Hockey and Patrick Caulfield. This pair along with other young artists put the Pop Art style on the map. The style quickly became very popular and the artists involved in its production became fashionable celebrities receiving much notification in the pr ess. By 1968 for the very first time in the Twentieth Century, London had risen to become the world focus in art and Britain the focus for new and innovative art and music. Pop Art was not solely the reason for the popularity of the art scene in London. It was very diverse, and more artists were turning their hand to abstraction, which involved more gestural marks, block colours and interesting shapes. Sculpture also went through a great transformation in the sixties with sculptors such as Anthony Caro, whose interest in shape and colour came straight from America. Gone were the days of bronzed statues on plinths, now it was all about sheet metal and plastic arranged on the floor in amazing shapes. This environment of such an eclectic mix of artists and so much competition would have forced students to think in an original way. Just as artists were using new materials to create their work, musicians like the Beatles were using new instruments such as the Indian Sitar and using new t echniques like playing tape recordings in reverse to create never before heard sounds. George Martin often said that John Lennon would enter the studio every morning with the intent of sounding different to yesterday. John Lennon attended Liverpool Art College with friend and short term fifth Beatle Stuart Sutcliffe. John was always a disruptive pupil and continued to be through art school. Although John failed an annual exam and eventually dropped out of art school before his final year the impact it made would stay with him, encouraging him to push the boundaries and keep his music inspirational and contemporary. John always had a devoted interest in the art world, even deep into the Beatles experimental career. Their use of orchestral scores accompanied only by voice, three part harmonies and psychedelic arrangements would stand to become a major influence to Brit Pop bands. This entwined with the shifting context of the Beatles lyrics would shape the music of the late 60s and pr ove to be the very essence of what Brit Pop came to embody. The most noticeable example of this experimental and contemporary writing is found in the album Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. Released in June 1967 Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band was a groundbreaking album that combined revolutionary engineering and musical techniques. It is believed to be the first concept album and also the first album to print the lyrics to the songs on the sleeve. All the songs on the album except possibly George Harrisons experimental Within you without you either lyrically or musically express a sense of British culture. Sgt Peppers is steeped in images of brass bands playing in bandstands, Punch and Judy, cream teas, donkey rides and naughty postcards. In When Im Sixty four, Paul McCartney gives us a description of what life can be like growing old in Britain. He talks of going for a drive on a Sunday, doing some gardening and renting a cottage in the Isle of Wight, If its not too dear. Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite arouses clear images of the great British past time of the circus and also creates a joyous atmosphere with the merry go round sound playing along with the main organ melody. This effect was created when producer George Martin told engineer Geoff Emerick to splice up old Victorian tapes of organ music and throw them into the air. He was then ordered to piece the tapes back together in a completely random order to create an energetic looping sound (Martin 2008). The images Lennon and McCartney present in a lot of their songs make it hard for the listener to fully understand the content. Their writing would often stumble into the surreal, and perplexing words would be used to compliment the music. Some of their music however, seems to be more clear in the way it comments and often ridicules observations of ordinary British cultural life. In the final track on the Sgt Pepper album, A Day in the Life, this trait seems to be evident. The lyrics were inspired by two newspaper articles and contain many haunting but also some quite comical images. Within the song Lennon mentions three distinct British places, The House of Commons, Blackburn in Lancashire and the Royal Albert Hall. In the first verse John talks loosely about the death of Tara Browne the Guinness heir who died in a car crash. Lennon said, I didnt copy the accident. Tara didnt blow his mind out, but it was in my mind when I was writing that verse. The Line Theyd seen his face before/N obody was really sure if he was from the House of Lords refers to the British public turning what should be a solemn moment into some cheap excitement. Some people in the crowd may know the individual involved in the car crash as a face on television or in a newspaper but he is no more than that. The second verse came from a newspaper article concerning the state of the roads in Blackburn which Lennon jokes could fill the Albert Hall. This type of ironic and sarcastic view of Britain was commonly found in John Lennons writing. Andy Bennett writes, Tracks like A Day in the Life, are clearly meant to be seen, in part at least, as satirical commentaries on aspects of British society. Lennons descriptions of the slavish counting of the holes in the streets of Blackburn, andto the double life led by politicianswould appear not merely to poke fun at British society but also to criticize it. On the other hand, the song Penny Lane doesnt appear to criticize British culture but instead runs like a commentary of what can be seen. Penny Lane was written by Paul McCartney and released alongside Strawberry Fields Forever as a double-A side single in 1967. It was common practice to release singles that were not on the album at the time. George Martin always believed it wasnt fair to the public that singles should come from the album. The title Penny Lane came from a street in the bands hometown of Liverpool. Lennon and McCartney would often meet at Penny Lane Junction to catch a bus into the centre of town and had met up with friends around the area as teenagers. Penny lane is a study of the humdrum lives of people, evoking feelings of blissful memories and describing the ordinary sights and sounds of a suburban British neighbourhood. Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes/There beneath the blue suburban skies. During this line a brass section plays a small musical fill couple d together with McCartneys quaint English tone to create an altogether exultant sound. This song, different from A Day in the Life, has a strong feeling today of harking back to a happier and simpler Britain now lost and forgotten. The man who has popped into the barbers for a shave, the fireman who carries a picture of the queen in his pocket and the standard procedure of carrying an hourglass now seem long-gone. Its a song that takes the listener on a ride and brings up various emotions ranging from nostalgia to a pride of Britain during the piccolo trumpet solo and to laughter at the sexual slang of the time A four of fish and finger pie. The qualities found in both these Beatles songs can also be found in songs from other British bands from the 1960s. The Small Faces song Rene tells the unpleasant tale of a woman parading the quayside every night to welcome sailors from Kuala Lumpur who have docked with plenty of readies (ready money) to spend at the pub having a good time. Whil e Lazy Sunday rebels against the neighbours that complain when Steve Marriott and his friends play their music loud. The Small faces songs Rene and Lazy Sunday are both sung in ridiculously thick Cockney accents and seem almost to make fun of their London ancestry. The same examination can be made in the music of The Kinks who gave us their keenly observed satires A Well Respected Man and Dedicated Follower of Fashion (which lampooned the characters of Carnaby Street in swinging London). The contrast of Britpop In the early 1990s Britpop emerged fusing new British ideals with the pop music of the 1960s. The two main aims of Britpop were to drown out the electronic sound of the eighties and to react against the grunge sound of Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Britpop made British alternative rock mainstream and formed the foundations for a larger British cultural movement called Cool Britannia. This phrase, a pun on the patriotic song Rule, Britannia, was first used as a song title by the Bonzo dog Doo Dah Band in 1967. It emerged in the 1990s as the name of one of the company Ben and Jerrys ice cream flavours. The name came about through a competition the company were running. An American lawyer living in London named Sarah Moynihan-Williams won with her suggestion and recipe for Cool Britannia, which was in relation to the New Labour era. The media quickly picked up on this term, and seeing a young Prime minister in power and the fashionable nature of London at the time gave the idea new scope. Looking now at the representations of Britishness in the music of Britpop bands from the 1990s presents a different argument. The Beatles and other bands from the same era such as The Kinks and The Small Faces heavily influenced Brit Pop. Musical pioneers of the nineties such as Blur, Pulp and Oasis completely dropped the synthesizers and the electric drums of the eighties and began creating music with full guitars and raw drumming. The orchestral and brass band instruments were introduced once again to achieve the complete British sound of the 1960s. An example of this resurrection can be established through the Blur song Sunday Sunday. The song featured on the apt 1993 album Modern Life is Rubbish, features a trumpet solo that could easily have been found on any later Beatles track. The lyrics in the first verse read much like a social commentary with lines such as You read the colour supplement, the T.V. guide and Together the family round the table. Both bring to mind visions of a quiet ordinary Sunday at home with the family. The second verse however mentions a walk in the park where the writer meets a soldier who fought in both world wars and says, The England he knew is no more. Quite unlike the interpretation of a British Sunday morning the second verse takes a nostalgic look back with a conceivable chance of the soldier appearing as a metaphor for a Britain that used to be. Britpop resonated with a sound of the past. Singers and back up singers were producing exciting harmonies like the ones found on the Oasis record Cast no shadow. Artists were being commended for their song writing abilities and musical talent unlike the dry and dreary song-writing period of the eighties, which featured Duran Duran, Gary Newman and Depeche mode. The mod subculture of the 60s also became popular again. People began growing their hair with the Beatles various styles in mind. Jarvis Cocker from the band Pulp used to wear suits which echoed the mod style. The Whos manag er Pete Meaden famously described modism saying, Modism, mod living, is an aphorism for clean living under difficult circumstances Not everyone believed that Britpop reminisced of a past idea of Britishness. Some suggested that bands crafted an entirely new image altogether, focusing on an attitude based not on a nostalgic Carry On Mr Kipling Britain, but a Britain that you will recognise as the one you live in (Jones 1994). Undoubtedly the song Girls and Boys which is performed in front of a club 18-30s holiday backdrop with its subject matter of casual sex is one which is more contemporary rather than the wistful longing for old England found in Sunday Sunday. Also, Oasiss accounts of throwing up on a Sunday and their wild views that cigarettes, alcohol and drugs are a remedy for a dull, ordinary life may have appealed to the young generation of the 1990s but it was miles apart from the Beatles idealized and glamorized version of Britain. It appears that this type of topical writing is in the minority and more songs relate to similar representations conjured up by the Beatles in the 1960s. There is another are a that is imperative to study when analysing depictions of Britain and that is the view created through the music video. The Beatles and the Birth of the Music Video One main important difference in the way in which music is presented in the 1990s is the availability of the music video, which further enhances depictions of Britishness. The Birth of the music video may to some be credited to the band Queen. In November 1975 due to tour commitments they could not appear on Top of The Pops and so produced a video to promote their new single Bohemian Rhapsody. But as much as a decade before, the Beatles were generating videos to be broadcast on television shows all over the world. In 1996, with the release of the Beatles Anthology film box set, George Harrison received an interview and in relation to the promotional video made for the song Rain he made the statement: So I suppose, in a way, we invented MTV Now that the music video is fast becoming an art form in itself it is interesting to analyze how Lennon and McCartneys influence on the British social commentary style of writing transposed into video format. I will begin by analysing the reflection of Britain the Beatles achieved through their use of video and the reasons for them depicting society in this way, then I will compare this to the music videos in the 1990s. The first Beatles film was released in 1964 entitled A Hard Days Night. With prospects of an accompanying soundtrack album, the film was released as a way to make more money from the bands growing success. As Bob Neaverson said: The project was initially envisaged by the American-owned company as little more than another low budget exploitation picture which would capitalize on the groups fleeting success with the teenage market No matter which way it is looked at, the decision to release a Beatles film came about because of a money making business deal. Although it turned out much more was achieved than simply money. Director Richard Lester broke rules that had been associated with the pop music format since the 1950s. To begin, one of the opening scenes is filmed in an unconventional train carriage, a setting with no musical connection. His use of free hand documentary filming not only added excitement and energy but also made the viewer feel as if he or she were in the film closely interacting with the band. This made the Beatles able to be shown as the guys next-door, seemingly unaffected by fame, instead of fictional characters. Whereas realism had already been established in British films through the working class genre known as kitchen sink drama with films like The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962) and A Taste of Honey (1961), A Hard Days Night was the first music video to incorporate thi s into its style and content. This working class image was an important factor that shone through the films of the Beatles. In a time when all well-known artists were predominantly imported, any British act doing significantly well was a joy. The bands natural working class attitudes coupled together with their down to earth, oblivious out look on fame only endeared them to the British public who Neaverson says, upheld them as symbols of the new social mobility and classlessness of sixties Britain. In this sense, this approach broke down barriers and was vital to the modernization of British national identity in the 1960s. Having looked at how the Beatles became symbols for a cultural shift I will now investigate how music videos in the 1990s adapted the skills that Richard Lester put into practice and decide if the substance of the video is similar to that of Lennon and McCartneys writing. One such video that involves strong British connotations is Park Life by Blur. It is a song that lyrically documents parts of British life with examples including being wakened by the dustmen, cups of tea and feeding the pigeons. Although these are very banal actions the visuals found in the video take on a different, more contemporary feel. In the video actor Phil Daniels plays a creepy door-to-door double-glazing salesman driving around in his Ford Granada Coupe Mk1. It seems at times that the video is not related to the song until the rapid images of British life the row of terraced houses, the red post boxes, the arrival of the ice cream van and the playful nature of the band meeting up with friends in 90s style attire spinning each other in a trolley crop up. In many ways the video resonates with a feeling not to dissimilar from Penny Lane, which I mentioned earlier. This parallel is continued through the use of characters in the video the man with the four King Charles dogs, the fat man in the shirt and braces, the jogger and the couple sprawled across their sports car with their names printed above the drivers and passengers window. These are visually very interesting characters and like McCartneys fireman; banker and nurse could easily be fantastic characters in a book of British cultural life. The Park Life music video is obviously based around actual everyday encounters experienced by Damon Albarn that have been tweaked to appear more surreal much the same format as the lyrics take on in the song. Using Pop Music to Promote Political Interests Popular music has long been associated with showing dissatisfaction or opposition with the government and the government has always shown an interest in securing for itself a stake in the management of powerful bands. Conversely, today in China, leader Hu Jintao has spoken out frequently about building a harmonious society. He has great power and influence over the media, mainly monitoring everything that is broadcast on the radio. The governments ideas to create harmony are through censorship of the media. All music heard on Chinese radio consists of love songs or upbeat ballads. These gentle songs are not damaging to Chinas image of a stable and harmonious country. Pop and Pop/Rock songs where politics, rebellion and casual sex are the themes are disregarded for fear of a revolution. The state cannot completely censor music they find harmful, although they do have complete ownership of all broadcasting media giving them a loophole through which they can have the majority rule. Chin ese people believe the popular music they hear on the radio all sounds the same and if youve heard one song you know them all. Even musicians asked to submit songs for the Olympic games in Beijing were too worried to write anything with fear of going against the state policies. In this example the state is controlling the music. They are keeping a lid on the pot of society to prevent the revolution inside over spilling. In addition something that is so carefully prohibited may incite curiosity within youths of any culture and a notion to rebel will ensue. An example of this use of music to revolt was apparent in Germany during world war two. If music can be said to be associated with nationalism and national identity then it can also be criticized for supposed destabilization of the nations culture. During world war two, young German music fans sought after the British and American way of life and defined themselves through the music of Swing. Although they were not an organised political opposition group, they refused the culture of National Socialism. The group made such an impact in 1941 that the Gestapo violently repressed them and police ordered anyone under the age of 21 to stay out of dance bars (Whiteley, Bennett and Hawkins 2005). Whether a connection is made as a shared goal for public popularity or a way to manipulate or even to revolt, music and politics have a bond. Throughout the 1960s and again in the 1990s political groups created a connection with pop stars of the time. In 1965, current Prime Minister Harold Wilson showed he was in touch with the younger generation by awarding the Beatles with the honour of an MBE. It proved a popular move with young people. This move did however spark some controversy. Protestors and picketers who had received the award for military service showed their displeasure towards Harold Wilson but there were too few of them to make any real impact. Attackers thought it a clever and crafty plan to solicit votes for the next years general election but defenders argued the fan base of the Beatles were generally under the age of 21, too young to vote at the time. In any case, bestowing an MBE on the Beatles showed that Harold Wilson was a modern leader willing to embrace new ideas and be part of a contemporary Britain that culturally, the Beatles were helping to shape. A year later George Harrison would write the song Taxman as a retort to the 95% super taxes introduced by Harold Wilson and even included a harmony within the song incorporating his name. John Blacking argues that, Cultural politics, the use of culture and the arts to promote political interests, invariably exploits and contains the power of music to restrict political argument. It diverts attention from the real political issues or simply asserts the hegemony of its promoters (Blacking) On the other hand, not all people would agree with John Blackings statement. Some believe that in the right hands music can open up avenues and make people pay attention to various issues. Khaver Siddiqi would argue that, In an era where politics uses as many avenues it can to reach the people, it is ultimately the words of song and rhyme that will attract the attention more, than speeches ever will. (Siddiqi 2009) This thought can be put into practice if we look at the issues of race in the 1960s. In 1968 James Brown wrote a song called Say it Loud (Im Black and Im Proud) that become a very successful black power anthem. It was a racially chaotic period during the 1960s and this song filled black Americans with pride. This elevated Brown to the status of icon and also made him the face for a movement that shaped the 1960s. In 1997, after a period of predominantly conservative power in Britain, a new Prime Minister was elected, Tony Bl